Here we go the next chapter where the Dragon Gems will begin the heist of the Museum.

Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 18

The Museum Heist

The next day Aqua was on the train heading to school, she found a seat and as sitting on the seat.

"Ah, we were able to grab a seat!" Gatomon said smiling "Why don't you read something until we get there?"

Aqua nods and decide Buchiko's Story she read it in her head 'And so…Buchiko kept waiting…'

"Buchiko…The story about this dog makes me cry every time…" Gatomon said wiping his eye with his paw.

Aqua read it but was only able to read about halfway through the book before they arrived at that station and have to disembark.

Once Aqua got to class the lessons began with their homeroom teacher Yor.

"Okay, let's begin homeroom." Yor said to the group. "First, I have an announcement about an upcoming school event. As part of a city beautification project, the entire school will be participating in a public cleanup campaign….That means we're going to Everfree Park to pick up trash." This made majority of the class chatter complaining about this "Settle down. The cleanup will take place next week, on the 30th. All students are to wear their gym uniforms during the event, so don't forget to dress the part."

Aqua and Alexis get a notification on their phones in the Dragon Gems Phantom Thief group char and see Uzi has messaged "You guys hear about this cleanup junk at Everfree Park? I guess it's the principal's idea. Damage control after Gaston scandaled up the school's rep."

"Pretty sure 'scandal's not a verb." Alexis points out in her message "But I get what you mean. Even the counselling stuff seems like a desperate move."

"Pretty sure they're scrambling right now." Aqua messages.

"All the other guys in our class have been freaking out over this new guy, too." Uzi messages "I've been hearing Starlight's 'hot,' 'kind,' 'sensative'…Basically everyone thinks she's their type."

"Whoa, I guess she's pretty popular, then." Alexis said in her message "Oh yeah, did you guys go to his councelling yet?"

"Oh damn. I forgot." Uzi messages "But I don't know…I don't really feel like going. You know what I mean, right Aqua?"

"I already went to mine." Aqua messages.

"Whoa, really?" Uzi messages.

"You should just go already." Alexis messages. "If your slacking draws attention to us, we're the ones who'll have to pay for it."

"Fiiine…" Uzi messages

A while later after school, we come to the nurse's office where Starlight was working and she hears a knock on the door.

"Come on in" Starlight said smiling.

Uzi walks into the room and says "What's up."

"Miss. Doorman! Here for a counselling session?" Starlight said smiling.

"Well…it's not like I wanted to or nothing." Uzi said shrugging arms crossed.

"Ahaha, sorry you were forced into this." Starlight chuckles "But anyway come in, come in!"

Uzi sits on a chair and after getting herself a juice box Starlight sits on another chair. The two were quiet for a while.

"Sooo…This is pretty awkward." Uzi admitted.

"Oh? Why's that?" Starlight asked.

"I mean, I don't really go see teachers unless they want to chew me out for doing something wrong…" Uzi admits

"Oh, I'm not a teacher here. If anything, well…I'm here to be on the students' side." Starlight told her.

"Oh, yeah…" Uzi asked sitting back. "So…am I supposed to tell you about Gaston now?"

"Oh, no, no this isn't some kind of interrogation." Starlight told her "You're free to just kick back and talk about whatever you want."

"Liiike…what?" Uzi asked her.

"Hmmm, how about…is there anyone in your class that you like?" Starlight suggested.

Uzi sweat drops and said "That's not exactly easy to talk about either and it's not like there IS anybody…"

"Uh-Oh sorry!" Starlight said panicked a bit "I just meant, you're in the middle of your teenage years and all, right? High schoolers are just discovering romance and all, so…"

"That how it went for you?" Uzi asked her.

Starlight looks down and said "…Not…exactly. But, um, that's just because I fell in love with my studies first! Heheh…" They both sweat dropped and she said "I'm sorry…I'm supposed to be hearing you out, but instead I'm just bring down the room. Oh, how about this instead what do you do in you free time, Miss. Doorman? On the weekend, after school…"

"Uhhh, hang out with my buds, mostly though I just started doing that recently." Uzi said thinking "Before that, I was just angry all the time, and even before that…I was only all about the Drone track team."

"Ah…" Starlight said nodding. "So…is your leg better now?"

Uzi looks down "…Oh, so you know about that, too. Well, yeah, pretty much but it couldn't be repaired fully but it's find so long as I don't strain it or nothing."

"I see…" Starlight said to that. "You really do enjoy running, don't you?"

"Guess so after anime and tinkering with gadgets…I mean, after all that training I did, it maskes sense I'd like it…" Uzi said leans forward. "I'd be training constantly, getting sweet times at meets along with everyone else…Eventually I was gonna get my hands on some running scholarships to make it easier on my dad…" She then looks down sadly and sighs "But all of that's in the past now. It's cool, though. I got way more important stuff to do now."

"More important, huh?" Starlight asked smiling "Well, no matter what path you might have to take to get there…I hope your track dreams will still do you some good in the end."

"Heh, thanks…" Uzi said sitting up straight.

"And, you know what they say, right? If you wish hard enough, your dreams can come true!" Starlight said smiling.

"Huh? You trying to sell me some kind of line now?" Uzi asked sweat dropping.

"Oh no, this is actually a genuine phenomenon, with a lot of research going into it even now." Starlight explained to her "Looks at it this way, Miss. Doorman what do you want most out of like, right now?"

"Uhhhh…" Uzi thinks "I want something to drink, I guess."

"Oh!" Starlight said realizing something.

"Uh, what…?" Uzi asked concerned.

"I lucked into a coupon for a free can of drink choice at the convenience store this morning!" Starlight said smiling "And now, I'd like for you to have it." She places it on the table before Uzi.

Uzi looks at it and said "…Thanks?"

"See? Your wish came true!" Starlight said smiling.

"Yeaaah…" Uzi said looking at Starlight bemused "Hey, Dr. Glim…ah, I mean Doc. Anyone ever tell you you're kind of…not normal?"

"You think so? …Ooh, could that be a compliment, coming from you?" Starlight asked curious.

"Uhhh, no?" Uzi said holding in a laugh.

"O-Oh…" Starlight said looking down sweat dropping.

The two continue their talk

Meanwhile with Aqua she goes to the library and meets with Ami

"Hey Ami, I'm here to return The Alluring Dancer book I borrowed" Aqua said taking the book out and handing it too her.

"Thank you for returning it." Ami said smiling accepting it. "Would you like to borrow another one, we have some new options for you."

Aqua sees The Gallant Rogue which was about Zane's Persona Goemon and said "I'll take The Gallant Rogue please."

"Okay, be careful with it." Ami said giving her the book.

"The Gallant Rogue, eh? Sounds interesting!" Gatomon said seeing the book enter the bag.

Aqua nods and then calls a team meeting at the hideout in the access way.

Once everyone had gathered, they began the meeting.

"We can now take him down, yes?" Zane asked.

"Lysandre's going to be a changed man." Gatomon told them. "There won't be any way to revert it though. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

"I have thought it over carefully, and I cannot think of a future in which he does not pay his dues." Zane explained. "He has preyed not only on the art world, but on countless talents…so, I humbly request your help."

"All right." Aqua said nodding.

"I apologize for making you do this…" Zane said sighing.

"Not at all." Alexis said "We just didn't want to impose if you weren't feeling up to it, Zane. But if you're already determined to do it, then there's nothing more for us to say."

"If I recall, our next step is sending a 'calling card,' correct?" Zane said thinking "What a suave manoeuvre."

"It's not about acting cool." Gatomon said and explained "The calling card is a way to trigger a change in his cognition."

"A change in cognition…That reminds me, you went through some trouble regarding that before…" Zane said thinking on it.

"Ah, you must be talking about when we forced open that security gate in the courtyard." Gatomon said.

"The Palace is a cognitive world, so changing its ruler's cognition changes the topography!" Alexis explained smiling. "…I believe that is the case!"

"Very nicely put, Lady Alexis!" Gatomon said nodding "You're absolutely correct. This will be a vital tactic from here forward."

"Actually, may I ask a truly basic question?" Zane asked "You continue to mention cognition quite readily…But why does this world formed from materialized cognitions even exist to begin with? Don't tell me…Has it always existed, while we go about our daily lives completely oblivious?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure." Gatomon admits "At the very least, I know it existed before the Gaston incident…but that's all."

"I see." Zane said in thought.

"Dammit, he totally caught me off guard with that…" Uzi said "It's kind of weird thinking there might be whole worlds we just don't know a damn thing about…Did the thought ever cross your mind, Aqua?"

"If I'm honest, of course it did." Aqua said nodding.

"Don't be so anxious." Gatomon said "You don't even know everything about the city you live in, after all. All that's important is that we know how to make use of that world and how to traverse it."

"Well in any case, let's send that calling card." Aqua said nodding.

"Then it's decided! Let's prepare the calling card at once." Gatomon said smiling.

"A calling card, hm? Will he take it seriously?" Zane asked. "He is famous, after all… He has often received slanderous letters till now, as well."

"He'll know best whether the crime written on it is for real or not." Uzi said smiling

"Wait. Are you going to write it again, Uzi? The last one was questionable at best…" Gatomon said worried.

"You should do it then, Zane!" Alexis suggested smiling "Oh! Make it really artistic and stuff!"

"No. It'll end with him figuring it out." Zane said to her "He knows my drawing and writing styles all too well."

"Oh, then I'll think it up, and you make it cooler!" Uzi suggested standing up.

"Designing a calling card, hm…interesting." Zane said smiling "It shall become proof that the Phantom Thieves do exist."

"It's decided then!" Uzi said smiling.

"Great! All that's left is to make the Tresure ours!" Gatomon said "You guys better come full prepared"

The group nod and head out.

Aqua and Gatomon arrived back at Leblanc. Aqua's phone dings and she sees a message in the group chat. Uzi messaging "Yo, I tried changing the chat icon."

"Looks the same to me." Alexis messages

"Maybe it's just for the group and doesn't show up here…" Uzi messages "Well you should take a look later. It's that Phantom Thieves logo I had Zane draw for us. The calling card turned out great because of him too. Anyways, this is the first job for the Phantom Thieves. We really can't screw this up, kay?"

"I am not underestimating anything I assure you." Alexis messages.

"And make sure Zane gets a lot of rest today, okay?" Uzi said.

"Yeah." Alexis messages

"Well, see you tomorrow!" Uzi messages

"Night." Aqua messages.

"See you tomorrow!" Alexis messages.

Aqua exits the chat and looks at the icon, it was a draconic mask with a gem like eye with a tophat, she admits it looks nice.

She then studies in the middle booth, getting some schoolwork done and increase her knowledge. She then heads to bed, tomorrow will be an important day.

The next day we come to the station where Aqua was standing waiting for the train and looks at her phone.

"We meet again." J said approaching her smiling "It appears you're lying low lately. What's with the change?"

"Uh…what do you mean exactly?" Aqua asked.

"Don't worry about it. It must've been my imagination." J said thinking "Anyway…I wish the culprit would come forward soon…It's absurd to pretend I can do the police trooper's job…I wish he considered my feelings before asking me this."

Aqua nods as they board the train together.

Around the time after school, we come to the art exhibit, Lysandre was talking with some of the guest when one of the Exhibit Staff, dressed like a Team Flare grunt approaches him.

"Pardon me, sir. There's a matter we need to notify you about…" The Exhibit Staff said.

"Please excuse me for a moment." Lysandre said to the people and goes to talk in private with the staff "What is it?"

"We found this outside…" The Exhibit Staff said showing a letter.

"A letter?" Lysandre said taking it and opens it.

"It's…uh…" The Exhibit Staff said nervous as it was the calling card, he reads it "Sir Lysandre, a great sinner of vanity whose talent has been exhausted. You are an artist who uses his authority to shamelessly steal the ideas of his pupils. We have decided to make you confess all your crimes with your own month. We will take your distorted desires without fail. From, The Dragon Gems…"

Lysandre in anger crumples it up and asked "Whose doing is this?!"

"We don't know! The same letter has been posted everywhere…" The Exhibit Staff said.

"What about the security cameras?!" Lysandre asked.

"There were no signs of the culprit...As we saw was a cat in the recordings…" The Exhibit Staff explained.

"Remove these at once!" Lysandre ordered him.

"Of course," The Exhibit Staff said nodding. Lysandre tries to calm down. "Um…"

"…What now?!" Lysandre asked looking at him.

"It's about this affecting the exhibit…We believe it's just a prank, but what of the mass media?" The Exhibit Staff asked.

"Are you insinuating that this slander is true?" Lysandre asked annoyed.

"Of course not!" The Exhibit Staff said.

The world distorts and Zane was in a dark void and sees Shadow Lysandre where Lysandre stood, he briefly transforms into a orange haired creature with a blade like head and metal claws before turning back.

"It's those damn brats' doing, isn't it?" Shadow Lysandre said annoyed "Well, it means nothing…They'll only be able to do as they please until this exhibit is over…" Alarm sounds as the Palace was on high alert now.

We return to reality and Zane goes over to the others and asked, "Will that do?"

"Yup! It was perfect!" Alexis said smiling "The composition was way cooler too!"

"The Tresure should appear right about now." Gatomon said smiling.

"You better enjoy the air of freedom while you still can, old man." Uzi said looking at Lysandre, she then turns and smiles at the group "Anyways, do you guys check online? People are already talking about that calling card. We'll show them…We're going to surprise them all!"

"I'm sure you know, but we only get one shot to pull this off!" Gatomon tells them.

"I'm counting on you guys." Aqua said smiling.

"We'll be counting on you too." Alexis said nodding.

"You have no reservations about this either, right, Zane?" Gatomon said to the robot.

"Of course not." Zane said in response. "…We'll do this."

The group head out to enter the Metaverse.

They enter the area and see the museum on high alert.

"The atmosphere in here seem significantly different…" Zane notes.

"I mean, we did basically declare war on him by sending that card." Uzi said smiling.

"But there nothing to fear." Gatomon said. "We're secured a route, and we're ready to go. We'll take the Treasure in style!"

Aqua arranges her, Uzi, Gatomon and Zane as the front line and they head for the safe room closet to the control room for the hook dodging the Shadow Basherbots and getting any minor treasure they can.

They then put their plan into action going to the control room.

"It's finally time…" Uzi said.

"There will be no turning back once we begin the operation." Zane said.

"And if worst comes to worst, we might have to fight…" Alexis points out.

"That's right. Are you ready, Waterwave?" Gatomon asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be Gaon." Aqua said.

"Okay! Everyone to your position!" Gatomon said to the group. The group separate.

We come to outside the security room with Alexis and Uzi who see a Shadow Basherbot in the room.

"There's an enemy inside, just as expected…" Alexis said.

"I mean, we've done a tone in here. It ain't surprising." Uzi states. "Anyway, I'm gonna try and draw it out, so I'll leave the switch to you guys."

"Will you be, okay? What if it catches up to you?" Alexis asked concerned.

"Heh don't underestimate an ex-runner. I'm definatly gonna shake it off!" Uzi said smiling. Soon Alexis goes to hide and when ready, Uzi bashes on the door and said "Heyyy, ther'es some weird people over here! Heyyy, I need some helllp!" She then rushes off.

"Hm?! What's the matter?!" The Shadow Basherbot said rushing out the room, looks around then goes the same direction Uzi did.

Alexis comes out and watches them and said "You'd better make it, Circuit…" She goes into the security room getting into positon.

We then see above Zane helps secure Gatomon to the hook. "Is this good?" The ninja robot asked.

"Yeah, it's perfect!" Gatomon said smiling.

"You seem to be enjoying this." Zane points out.

"Only the best can appreciate these critical moments." Gatomon said smiling "Plus, this feels like we're really phantom thieves!"

"We'll be counting on you, Gaon. And Prima as well!" Zane said nodding. He then looks to the security room seeing Alexis and waves.

"That's Ninja's signal! That means they're ready to go!" Alexis said smiling. "Good luck, everyone! Let's do this!" She then uses the security terminal to shut off all the lights by cutting the main power.

"Waterwave, now!" Zane called out when the lights went out.

"On it!" Aqua said and pulls the switch lowering the hook.

"Hyaaaaaah!" Gatomon said as he was lowered and grabs a hold of the Tresure, which was a painting covered in a red purple sheet.

"Sorry for the wait!" Alexis said arriving into the room.

"My bad! It took me ages to get that guy off my trail!" Uzi said arriving as well.

"Wait, where's Gaon?" Alexis asked.

"Let's us reconvene with Gaon." Zane said and the four go to the ceiling board walks to the hook.

They arrive as the hook lifts up and Gatomon smiles holding the Tresure. He said "Hehehe! How's that for a skilled plan?"

"That was amazing, Gaon!" Uzi said smiling

"Lord Lysandre! Th-The piece is gone!" A Shadow Basherbot Captain said in shock.

"Ngh….How dare those vermin…" Shadow Lysandre said in anger struggling to keep his Lysandre appearance. "But now we'll corner them like the rat they are! Lock all the doors at once! They have nowhere to run!"

"So? What'd the Tresure turn out being?" Uzi asked "I'm guessing it's a painting based on the shape."

"We can look into that later. For now, we must escape." Zane tells her.

"Yeah, it's time to go!" Gatomon said smiling and straps the painting to his back.

The group head to the door they used to enter the hook control room but found the door won't open.

"Dude, no way! It's not opening?!" Uzi said shocked.

"Seriously?!" Gatomon said surprised.

"I heard sounds coming from the crane! Check up above!" The Shadow Basherbot captain said.

"Wh-wh-what do we do?!" Gatomon asked.

"You don't got a plan about how to get out of here?! What kind of master thief are you?!" Uzi asked.

"In any case, let's us search for another way out. We must escape!" Zane said.

"Everyone follow me!" Aqua said and leads them back to the ceiling board walk and to the open window.

"Oh, a window! But, where's it go?" Uzi asked.

"Now is no time to be lost in thought. We must go!" Zane said.

The group leap out the window and end up out on the roof of the Treasure hall.

"Whoa, this stuff's real high up…" Uzi said.

"But at least we're outside! Is there a way down out here?!" Gatomon asked.

Aqua nods and leads the way down to the ground. Not knowing they were falling into Shadow Lysandre's trap.

Well plan is going according to plan but the final battle with Shadow Lysandre is coming up beware what is coming, get ready.

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