Catch-22: The History Lessons
By: M14Mouse
Summary: History tends to repeat itself.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Many thanks to AKatsinTcups for betaing this chapter.
"Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny." ― Steve Maraboli
Ren just stared at the fox who lifted her hindleg to scratch her ear. Hiroko looked disgusted with the fox, which was strange, normally, she has such a calm and peaceful expression on her face.
If looks could kill…
On the positive, they were finally able to get out of the damn tunnel. It was luck that Ryuji turned around and started walking backwards.
"Hey…Hey, guys! Turn around!" Ryuji shouted.
"Skull…this is no time to play around!" Ann shouted back.
"No, turn around! Look the entrance is getting smaller!"
Finally, Ren turned around and looked at the opposite way. The door they came in was still quite bit of distant away.
"It looks the same, Skull," Makoto pointed out.
"Start walking. Trust me!" Ryuji shouted.
They started walking backwards and soon enough, the exit started coming closer.
"Clever. It was an illusion," Makoto said.
"He was probably trying to wear us out," Morgana said.
"Correct. By walking forward, we were never going to get any closer to the exit."
"Asshole," Ryuji mumbled.
It was awkward to walk backwards towards a door. Once, they made it, Ren just twisted the knob on the door to reveal a huge room. At least, he thought it was a room. It was too dark to make out anything expect another solid metal door with a red-light overhead, graffiti on the walls next to door, and Hiroko and a fox…?
Bringing the group up to their current predicament of Hiroko trying to kill the fox with a look.
"Hiroko!" Yusuke and Lila shouted. The little group of shadows run over to her and started talking a mile a minute.
"We were in this creepy area where there was a ton of dolls, they were actually very cute, Oracle and I want to take them home."
"I ate a doll and it taste bad."
"MaDe NeW FriEnD!"
"Hee Hoo!"
"Oh, hello, little one," Hiroko said to Mint.
Mint gave Hiroko a creepy smile.
"Will you die for me?" Mint asked.
Hiroko made a tsked sound at Mint.
"I have no time to die. There is much to be done," She said.
Mint looked so confused at the statement.
"What? How did you get here?" Makoto asked as the rest of group approached her.
"A hole. I have been trying to find a way in. This one followed me. When I asked why, she said to offer her services for a price. I told her that her services weren't needed," Hiroko said as she gave the fox a look.
"Wait a minute…didn't Sensei know a fox?" Ann said.
"That is right. Uhh…Sensei….Sensei!" Ryuji shouted.
Yes?
"Do you know a fox?"
Ren was about to point out how confusing that is when Yusuke beat him to the punch.
"Skull, you are going to confuse Sensei."
"Okay. Okay. I think that it's a regular fox with something around its neck. I mean, kind of regular a fox. Okay, not normal since he is here but…"
"Hiriko looks very annoyed at the creature. She says that it shouldn't change yen for services. I believe that she wants to borrow one of Lila's vases," Yusuke added.
Oh, that fox. Hello, old friend.
"Ahhhaooooo" the Fox howled.
Is your mother and sisters okay?
The fox made yipping noise.
That is good. What brings you here?
The fox started yipping and howling.
Apparently, Sensei talking and understanding strange shadows and animals is a thing.
No, you can't set up shop here.
More yipping and howling.
No, I'm not worried about your safety. I'm more worried about your going rate, I remember how much your mother charged me.
"How much does she charge?" He asked.
Depends on her mood. If she was nice, it could be around 3,000 to 5,000 yen for her herbs. If she was in a bad mood, it was more around 10,000 yen.
Ren's eyes widen a little. He was better off going to the doc.
The fox made some more noises.
No, you won't.
"Ahhhaaaoooo."
My rate or no deal.
The fox made more yapping noises.
There are plenty of shadows here who need your services and have the yen to get them. So, my students get my rate.
"Hee Hoo!" Black Frost said with a clap of his hands.
"Black Frost! That is your snack money!" Lila shouted.
"He Ho!"
The little guy took off his hat and pulled out some yen to give the fox. The fox seemed to dance in place before taking the money from Black Frost's hand. It put the yen into the pouch around its neck before taking out some type of plant and dropping it into Black Frost's hand.
Thank you, Black Frost. You didn't have to do that. So, we have a deal?
"Ahhaoooo!" The fox said before it took off.
Don't be insulted. She gets excited when she gets money. Sadly, she will be back.
Mint pouted.
"I was going to ask the fox to die for me," She said.
"Hee Hoo?" Black Frost stared at the herb in his hand then poked it with his finger.
It is an herb that restore strength.
Black Frost poked it again before breaking off a piece and handed it to Ren.
"Thanks, Black Frost," He said as he took a piece. He stared at the leaf for a moment then shrugged his shoulders before popping it into his mouth. He made a face, then glanced around to see everyone else's reactions. Yusuke, Nue, and Daito looked like that they wanted more. Makoto, Lila and Ann looked like that they wanted to spit it out. Futaba and Morgana refused to try it. Ryuji made face like he swallowed a bug. Mint looked like that she wanted to go after the fox and kill it.
And I should warn you that it tastes pretty bad, but it works.
"It doesn't taste bad," Yusuke said.
"It tastes terrible," Ann said.
"Man, it tastes like one of my energy drinks," Ryuji said.
"I think that the fox will have to die for me," Mint said.
"Although, I do feel better," Makoto pointed out.
"It does work. Sensei was right. It tastes awful but works. Hey, thanks, Black Frost. I own you some snacks," Ren said.
Black Frost gave him a thumbs up before returning to Mint and Lila's sides.
Ren turned his attention to the door.
"Do you know what's behind the door, Hiroko?" He asked the shadow.
"Sacrifice," She said softly.
"What does that mean?" He asked in confusion.
"Death isn't permanent, but sacrifice is, young one. I will try to guide the others to aid you, but I won't go inside that room." Hiroko said sadly as she shook her head.
He still didn't understand what she meant but it gave him uneasy feeling.
"Thanks, Hiroko."
She nodded her head before disappearing into the darkness.
He turned his attention to the door. He didn't need to pick it like the last door, but it didn't stop the uneasy feeling.
"Everyone ready?" He asked.
He heard a mumbling yes from the others and Ann's gasp when he opened the door.
Now, he knew why Hiroko refused to step into the room.
There was a stone path in front of them that stretch to a long staircase. What got his attention was the walls.
There were bodies hanging from walls. Hundreds of bodies line the walls in vary states of decay.
He was going to be sick.
"Man, this is fucked up," Ryuji said behind him.
"I agree," Morgana said.
"Do you think…they were sacrificed like Hiroko said," Ann said.
"I don't know. She said something interesting. Death isn't final but sacrifice is," Makoto said.
"Because it isn't? Your soul return to the sea of souls like we do. Your reborn, live, and die. It is a cycle. You just don't remember it," Lila pointed out.
"Sacrifice is different. It is permanent. A soul for a soul. Blood for blood. Life for life. The soul doesn't return to the sea," Mint added.
"Do you remember it?" He asked to the shadows before him and the personas in his head.
Fragments.
Some of his personas mumbled into his ears.
"Nope!" Nom Nom said.
"Then how do you know this?" He asked in confusion.
"I asked Sensei. He knows everything," Lila said with the nod of her head.
"A boy told me. I miss him. He shouldn't have died for me," Mint said sadly.
"Mint…" Ann said as she touched the girl's shoulders.
"Hee Hoo…." Black Frost said as he took her hand.
"It is no surprise that shadows will have more sense than the humans that dare to travel through these hollow walls," Saklas's voice boomed through the hall.
"WE didn't come down here because we wanted too. We want our Sensei back," Ryuji shouted at the lion headed shadow.
Saklas laughed.
"Ah, your treasure. His knowledge and power are impressive. I'm surprised even he knew about this," Saklas said as he spread his arms.
"Man, what are you babbling about?"
Saklas chuckled to himself as he stepped down the stairs.
"The knowledge of death and sacrifice. Then again, he was a sacrifice. He was offered to a goddess for her game, but they have been so many others. Just like you," Saklas said with a wave of his hand.
Ren felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Joker isn't some sacrifice," Morgana said angrily.
"Don't lie, little one. You would sacrifice him in a moment for your heart's desires."
He glanced over at Morgana's panicked expression.
"That's…that's not true!"
Saklas laughed.
"Yes, you would. All of you would. He would do willingly and every single time. Just like these poor souls that hang on these hollow walls or travel through the hollow woods. Best of all, the players don't care. They rewind and rewrite. They let their sacrifices do it again and again."
Saklas stood before him. He could almost touch him, but he froze in place. Saklas's glowing red eyes bore into him.
"The price of the powers you use. The Fool. The Sun. The Aeon. The World. The Wild Card. Infinite possibilities, and utterly empty. You are nothing but an empty shell, my boy. To be throw away after they are done."
"You son of a…"
"Take that back you asshole."
"You are a…"
He heard his friends' voices and the absence of others. His hands tightened into fists. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Makoto and Daito sneaking behind him.
Distract him.
"You are a liar."
"I never lie, little boy."
He smirked.
"You do. You know why? You are scared."
He watched Saklas's face twisted into rage.
"Of you? Never, little boy."
"Only a little bit because you are trying to get into my head. I think that you are more scared of Sensei."
"I'm not scared of the fool."
"Scratch that. Terrified."
Saklas roared.
"Daito!" Makoto shouted.
Saklas screamed as Daito bite his leg. Makoto let out a series of punches and kicks on Saklas that he almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
"AHHHH! YOU STUPID CREATURES! Come my horde! Eat them! They will be your sacrifices to become whole again. COME!" Saklas shouted.
That is when the walls came alive. The hundreds of decaying bodies rushing toward them. They chanted over and over again.
"WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE!"
"Everyone, make a circle around Oracle and the others. Make sure everyone's back is covered. Slowly, make our way back toward the entrance," Ren shouted over the noise.
"No, we fight!" Lila said as she ready her clipboard
"Nom Nom will eat bad babies!"
"HEE HOO!"
He only nodded his head before the horde attacked them. He called Isis forward to casted a Terkeran spell.
He heard the familiar shattering sound of Lila's clipboard hitting flesh. Felt the familiar heat of Ann's fire attacks and, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Black Frost and Morgana riding Nom Nom like a horse casting ice and wind spells.
He heard Mint's scream over and over again how they were going to die for her.
Daito was splitting out stuff for Makoto and Lila to throw at the horde. Ryuji was hitting them with his bat. Yusuke was using his persona to cut through the horde of bodies. Makoto was casting healing spell after healing spell when not pelting the horde with random objects. He heard Futaba shout warnings.
He focused on recasting Terkeran over and over again.
He heard Lila asking Daito to hold her pencils or something then he heard a loud crack sound.
He made a promise to himself to get Lila another clipboard.
His head was starting to pound.
"The exit is gone! The exit is gone!" Futaba shouted.
Finally, his shield cracked and one of the bodies grabbed his jacket.
"WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE!"
He grabbed his knife from his jacket and slashed at its arm.
"WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE!"
He fell to the ground as one tackled him, and another jumped onto his back.
He felt a wave of panic overcome him.
"WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE!"
He heard Futaba and Morgana scream as one reached for his throat.
"WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE! WE ARE HORDE!"
He closed his eyes to summon anyone.
Be at ease.
His eyes snapped open at a whispering voice. He noticed the ground underneath him was glowing green and started to tremble. The horde scrambled away from them. He heard a loud crack noise and Ann's gasp. He turned around to see a tree starting to grow. It was just the truck but as it grew, branches began to form. As branches grew, leaves began blossom and bloom.
"It is so pretty," Lila said in awe.
Finally, the tree stopped growing as if an invisible wind came through, the leaves flew off its branches. He watched as the leaves twist and turn around them. When the leaves touch his skin, they felt warm.
It felt like a healing spell but different. Stronger. He felt renewed energy run through his veins.
He turned around to watch as the leaves pushed back the horde. Apparently, the leaves had the opposite effect on them. The leaves ate away at what was left of their bodies. In a flash of green light, the tree and the horde were gone.
"NEaT! DO AgAin!" Daito said to Ann.
"That wasn't me," Ann said to Daito.
"I don't know any healing spells," Ryuji added.
"Me either," Yusuke said.
"It wasn't me," Morgana said as he shook his head.
"AhAHh," Daito said sadly.
Makoto patted Daito's head.
"Hehehe…"
He turned to see Futaba stared off into the distance and laughing like she was…no, she is planning something.
"Did you do this, Oracle?" He asked.
"Heheh…oh, no. I don't have that type of power, but the exit is opened!" She said as she pointed in the direction of the stairs. He looked over to see a newly formed door at the top of the stairs.
"Yes! Let's get out of here before more of them show up!" Ann shouted to the group.
"Hee Hoo!"
"Let's go," Ren said to the group before they ran up the stairs. Once they made it through the exit, they entered into a large empty room lined with TVs.
The screens were flashing red like the emergency door from before. He couldn't make out an exit anywhere.
"Okay…at least, it isn't dolls," Makoto said.
"Hey, I liked the dolls," Futaba mumbled.
He shook his head and turned around.
"Oracle, do you sense-" He asked before he felt something grab his jacket.
"Joker! Look out!' Futaba shouted as he felt himself flying through the air. He grumbled in pain when he hit the ground hard. Then twisted his body to force himself to his feet. His eyes widen when he saw Saklas above him.
"I was going to wait but I'm tired of waiting. You die now," Saklas shouted as he hit him again.
He fell back onto the floor on his back. Saklas loomed over him and pressed his boot against his chest. He glanced over at his friends as they pound and scream against some invisible shield.
"No, let him go!"
"YOU SON OF…"
"NOM NOM WILL EAT YOU!"
"DAITO, get my fuzzy pencils! I'm going to gorge his eyes out."
"No more games. No more fools. No more wild cards. Nothing but ruin. Just like it should be. I will be your final opponent. Be honored, little boy. This will be your last," Saklas said with grin as he rose his arm to hit him.
He saw a hand grab Saklas's arm in mid strike.
"No, Saklas, he won't be. I will be your final opponent," A familiar voice said calmly.
Sensei….
End of The History Lesson
Next Chapter: The Player
A/N: One chapter…I promise. You will know who GOMP is. This was a fun little chapter to write. I got to make a load of references to other games. I plan for Alice to show up pretty early on but I wasn't sure where. In my notes, she was supposed to show up during Sai's palace. Of course, that didn't happen. She is here now. Anyway, thank you for the wonderful reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. It means the world to me. Read and review if you wish.
Future Chapters:
1. The Player
2. The Waiting Game
3. The Visitor
4. The Things That Were Bound to Happen
5 The Group Meeting
I also have Twitter now. You guys can follow me at M14Mouse. Feel free to ask me questions about the story or hear me complain about videogames. XD (My current complains are about Dark Cloud 2 and Legend of Heroes 3)