Chapter 8: The Fall of Mad Rabbit Alice.
Chatroom: Flames of Rebellion.
Joker: Sorry for interrupting everyone, but there's something that you need to know.
Guernica: Wuts up?
Devil: Does this have something to do with the 'Changes of Heart' happening around the country?
Queen: No surprise you're on that Devil.
Queen: But it is related to that.
Joker: Simply put, the Metaverse is back and being abused.
Joker: Again.
Fortune: I had a feeling.
Fortune: My card readings have not been great this past month.
Sensei: So I take it the Phantom Thieves are to make their return?
Panther: Not like we have a choice.
Panther: PubSec is after us as the main suspects.
Guernica: WHAT!?
King: But why!? What proof do they have!?
Athena: I share King's question.
Athena: Oracle and I made sure to wipe the SIU's data.
Oracle: Apparently, not all of it.
Oracle: A single photo survived of the eleven of us and Mona.
Oracle: And they are using that as their main suspects for the Thieves.
Rebel: That sounds completely unreliable.
Rebel: How are they allowing such a shred of flimsy evidence to pass through?
Fox: The one who told us this, Inspector Zenkichi Hasegawa, also said so.
Fox: However, his superiors are following through like hawks.
Fox: So much that they are threatening to use false evidence to bring us in.
Athena: Such evidence would not hold up in a court of law!
Sensei: I agree.
Sensei: If they try to do so, I will publicly denounce PubSec.
Boss: I'm afraid it is not just the kids in their sights.
Boss: They may have all of us in their sights.
Gecko: Let them try.
Gecko: I still have contacts with the Yakuza if we need them.
Guernica: They'll have trouble finding me as well!
Guernica: And I'll paint all over them if they arrest any of us on false charges!
Crow: While the support is appreciated, please don't do anything to give yourselves away.
Crow: They are focusing on us at the moment. The rest of you are under the radar as it is.
Medic: Even you are under suspicion Crow?
Crow: Considering how I was uninformed of this, I believe so.
Violet: On the plus side, we are planning to make our return in a big way!
Skull: It should help deflect some suspicion off us.
Doc: So long as you don't do anything crazy.
Doc: None of us are around to help you in case things go bad.
Teach: Don't worry. Boss and I are around.
Teach: We'll keep them safe.
Sophie: Thank you, Teach.
King: Who is this?
Guernica: When did they join?
Queen: Sophia. What have we said about joining unannounced?
Sophie: Sorry Queen…
Oracle: Ohhhhh… Queen using the real name treatment…
Athena: Mind sharing with us?
Joker: Right.
Joker: Everyone, this is our newest ally, Sophia. Codename, Sophie
Noir: Yes, we know we only changed one letter in her name.
Noir: But she likes it.
Sophie: I can confirm.
Edelweiss: And she's an A.I. like me!
Devil: For real!?
Sophie: For real.
Sensei: This is a remarkable find.
Sensei: How did you come across her?
Outlaw: We found her in the Metaverse.
Outlaw: Inside Alice Hiiragi's Jail.
Devil: Alice Hiiragi? The Idol?
Spring: The very same.
Gecko: I'm more concerned that this new place is called a Jail.
Shadow: That is what EMMA refers to it as.
Guernica: Hold up.
Guernica: The EMMA app is the new 'Meta-Nav'?
Noir: Indeed. And it works the same as well.
Rebel: I take it you are already close to removing this 'Jail' then?
Joker: We are.
Joker: We plan to explain more, but we are about to start work on the Calling Card.
Joker: We wanted to give you all a heads-up so you aren't taken by surprise.
Athena: And we appreciate it.
Athena: That said, we are expecting a full explanation later on.
Queen: And we will, sis.
Queen: But right now, we have a Card to make.
"Okay, that's everyone informed. All that's left I sendin' the Calling Card. What should it say?" Ryuji asks around the table. The Thieves had retreated back to Ren's room after returning from the Jail. With PubSec in the area, they were not taking any chances.
"Well, we're after the Desires that Alice took, right? It should definitely be about that." Shiho remarks, tilting her head.
"Smart. Using the same logic for Treasures should be our best way forward." Morgana agrees with a serious look.
"I think we should also mention about the changes of hearts happening around the country. Put the heat on those who are initiating them and call them out, even if we don't know who they are yet." Hifumi suggests.
"That should also put pressure on PubSec as well." Futaba remarks. "If we go out and say we are not causing these changes of heart but are going after those who are doing it, that should also help our case."
"And once the Desires have taken form, we can steal it. Although going by our past experiences, we will be for a fight with Alice." Makoto comments, brushing some hair back. "And it will be a tough fight."
"Which also means that Alice should also have a Change of Heart herself and confess to what she's done." Ann comments with a frown. "Still… to think the cause of all of this was the bullying she received back at Shujin…"
"It is distressing to know." Yusuke remarks, shaking his head. "And… puts us in a similar light. If we did not have Personas, and allowed fate to continue as it were, would we have also become like Alice? Distorted and tyrannical?"
"Urgh… I don't want to even think about that." Mishima replies, shaking his head with a shiver.
"But still, we're stealing other people's Desires. Not Alice's." Akechi warns. "There is no guarantee that she will have a Change of Heart like the others. There are still too many things we don't know about this Jail."
"Meaning that even if we rescue those she has charmed, if we don't change her heart, the cycle will begin again?" Sumire asks with a worried look.
"That is a concerning possibility…" Haru comments with a nervous look.
"Man… this reminds me of when we first changed Kamoshida's heart. I was such a nervous wreck…" Ryuji comments, shaking his head.
"You weren't the only one." Ren agrees, nodding his head.
"If you folks are worried that sealing the Desires won't change her, then why not aim for her Shadow as well?" Sojiro asks, folding his arms as all eyes turn to him. "You said so yourself. She will be there to stop us. And if she is the other half of Alice, wouldn't convincing her Shadow self also affect her real-world self?"
"That…could work." Ren comments, rubbing his chin. "We did always have a final one-on-one with a target Personal Shadow when we stole the Treasure. Maybe that also has an effect…"
"Then let's do it! Let's take Alice head-on!" Ann suddenly shouts, standing up tall.
"Ann?" Shiho asks in surprise as An looks around with an apologetic look.
"Sorry about that… I know that fighting her is the dangerous route… But if you guys are all up for it… I want to rescue Alice too, not just her victims."
"Because she was like you, once? Bullied for your looks?" Ryuji asks with a knowing smile. "Well, far be it from me to say no. I'm always by your side, Ann. What about you guys? Think we can save Alice from her own trauma?"
"Trauma?" Sophia asks from Ren's phone, prompting Isara to turn to look at her.
"It's like a wound on a person's heart. Only you can't see it. And it comes from living through very painful experiences. Something that nearly all of us here have…"
"A wound in the heart…" Sophia repeats in a subdued tone.
"So, you are saying that the trauma she experienced is what led to her distortion. Creating the Jail that we see now." Akechi comments, rubbing his chin. "That does sound logical."
"It also sounds like how my Palace was formed from the guilt I felt with my mom's death. Only different." Futaba adds, glancing away for a moment as Sojiro lets out a sigh.
"And you think Alice's current behaviour is influenced by her trauma?" Kawakami asks, glancing at Ann, who nods back.
"Yeah. This is just a hunch, but I think Alice sees what she's doing as some form of revenge—like how that girl we heard stole her boyfriend from her or how badly they were treating her."
"For real. Stealing someone's partner right in front of them? That's just wrong." Shiho remarks, missing the look she got from Ryuji.
"But her operations are already way too big. Even if we do save her, she's already made way too many victims." Isara points out calmly.
"But what if she continues to escalate due to no one stopping her?" Haru asks, hand on chest. "Becoming a Monarch must create an awful amount of distortion…"
"All that wants to make me help Alice even more." Ann replies, shaking her head. "If her heart has grown that distorted, then I want her to at least remember how it feels to be a ray of light for somebody again. Is she beyond saving at this point? I don't know… But there has to be someone who at least tries! We can't just abandon Alice."
"Because everyone deserves a Second Chance." Ren comments, nodding his head. "Well, almost everyone, but after hearing what Alice has gone through, she is one of the people who deserves one. Just like how we all got one."
"I agree. If we denied Alice a chance to try again, we would be hypocritical of ourselves." Makoto remarks with a smile. "I'm in favour."
"No objections here either." Yusuke agrees with a grin.
"Or here." Haru adds with a smile.
"It would seem that it is unanimous then." Hifumi remarks, seeing the grins on Mishima and Shiho.
"Just remember to avoid killing her at all costs." Akechi adds with a warning. "After all, PubSec is on the case. We mess up, and it's jail for us all."
"All the more reason to not take any chances!" Sumire comments, nodding her head at him.
"So, you want to write the Calling Card, Ann?" Futaba asks with a grin.
"Just the part going to Alice. You guys can decide how we address the nation about the changes of hearts." Ann replies. "You can help me with the phrasing, Sophia."
"Can I?" She asks, turning in her virtual space towards Ren, who nods back.
"Go ahead."
"Yay!"
"That is all well and god, but how are you going to deliver it?" Kawakami asks before a gremlin chuckle from Futaba catches her eras. "And that tells me all I need to know…"
"Hoo boy…" Sojiro remarks, shaking his head.
July 23rd, 2017.
Night had fallen over Japan as its citizens continued to go about their business. The heat wave was coming in, and so everyone was prepping for the summer break. Students finishing up their studies while families made their last minute holiday plans. Nothing to suggest that something was going to happen tonight as billboards played the latest news and commercials.
Until that was, they started to glitch out, drawing all eyes to the boards as they all began to malfunction. Before, all turned black, sending a chill down everyone's spines until a large booming voice echoed from all the speakers around them.
"Okay, folks, listen up!"
"Good evening."
"Been a while, huh?"
"Perhaps you remember us?"
"We…are the Phantom Thieves."
At that, the emblem of the Phantom Thieves roars to life on the boards, framed by a background of black and red rings while the phrase 'Take Your Heart' shines below.
"You might be surprised to see us return, but we have a reason for doing so."
"See, it's come to our attention that some folks think they can steal our gimmick!"
"That's right. We are referring to the numerous Changes of Heart plaguing our country."
"We said this before when we brought down Shido, but we only target the hearts of the corrupt."
"Yet these changes are anything but. They are a false aggravation."
"We may not know who is doing this or why, but we have someone in our sights tonight."
"A wicked witch who treats people like toys, Alice Hiiragi!"
The screens change to show an image of Alice at the live interview with her disarming smile. Sending shockwaves through the crowds as they stare at the screens in either awe, amazement, fear or shock.
"You pretend to be a ray of light, but all you do is hurt people to indulge in your own darkness."
The screen changes once again, showing the Thieves standing around or sitting on Edelweiss in her tank form. Before those sitting on her jump-off, allowing her to turn into her humanoid form, sending gasps of shock through the crowds. Including a certain Investigator, standing in the streets of Shibuya as he watches on with a smile.
"You're a bad person, and bad people have to be stopped."
"And all those Desire's you've stole?"
"Tonight. We are taking them back!"
At that, the middle figure tosses a Calling Card towards the screen. The message on the back is clear as day.
The Phantom Thieves of Heart have returned.
Meanwhile, at a TV station, Alice was walking down the halls by herself. Her smile was still plastered on her face. "Let's see. Next, I'm scheduled aaat…" Her thoughts are interrupted by her phone vibrating. Pulling it out, she was expecting to see another partnership or news update from her manager. But instead, it was an email from him titled 'Urgent!' Tilting her head, Alice opened it up, only to feel her heart stop.
"What in the… The Phantom Thieves of Heart?!" She could feel a cold sweat building on her as she read the card from the broadcast. A chilling knife digging into her heart. While in her Jail, her Shadow Self stood beside her throne. Petrified as her other self read the card.
"They're taking…my Desires? All the Desires I have collected!?" She starts to pace, fear eating away at her. "No, they can't! I need those! That's what makes me a Monarch! I need those to… Without those, I'll…" She stops pacing, her hands falling by her sides as she tightly grasps her cane with rage. "…All right. I'll wait for you. I don't want toys that don't do as they're told… I'll smash you for certain this time, Joker!"
"Mweheheheh! The return of the Futaba Canon! Hope it was a blast!" Futaba remarks with a large grin as the Thieves ready up to head to Shibuya.
"Well, seeing how suddenly active the Phansite is, I'd think it was a success." Mishima remarks, holding his phone and showing the storm of comments.
"I'm still surprised that site is still active." Hifumi remarks, shaking her head.
"Well, it did its job. The whole of Shibuya is back in a Phantom Thief frenzy." Sojiro remarks, the news playing on his own phone detailing the recent nationwide broadcast.
"Alice should have her Calling Card by now. Let's not waste any more time and head on into her Jail." Ren comments, putting on a grin as he picks up Morgana's bag. "It's Showtime!"
As one, the team left for Shibuya, the commotion of the broadcast raging through the streets. It certainly made it easy to blend in and avoid any PubSec officers who were out looking for them as the streets became crowded with onlookers.
Eventually, the team made it to their entry point and, after making sure no one was nearby, crossed over into Alice's Jail. Where the atmosphere was of heightened alert, just like the Palace's before.
"The place is on high alert. Looks like the Calling Card did its job once again." Queen remarks with a grin, looking at Alice's Castel before spying on a long chain. "Hey, it looks like one of the chains around the birdcage is still connected to it and has landed right in front of the castle."
"For real?" Oracle asks, zooming in as Skull lets out a grunt. "Hey, you're right! That chain leads right up to the cage! We have a shortcut!"
"Let's go, everyone! We have a heart to change!" Joker shouts, leaping from the platform and towards the ground. Followed closely by the team. Crossing over the surprisingly empty Shibuya quickly, they soon reach the fallen chain and begin to climb. Moving along, they could see all the cop shadows had taken residence inside the Castle. No doubt to stop or slow them down. A pity that they had a shortcut to the top.
And soon enough, the team had finally reached the Cage of Lust, along with a shocking surprise.
"Whoa… that's…big…" Mona eloquently remarks as the team takes the size of a giant pink jewel hanging from the ceiling of the cage.
"Big? Its GINORMOUS! How is it even so big in the first place!?" Oracle asks in shock.
"It must represent how many Desire's Alice has stolen. Hence, it's large size." Crow comments with a frown. "So many people enslaved…"
"At least it actually materialized for us… that's a relief…" Noir comments with a smile.
"Indeed. The only question now is, how do we move it. Even between all of us, I fear we would have great difficulty." Fox comments.
"I think I could carry it in tank form…but we're on a tower." Edelweiss remarks with a shrug.
"What do we do know? Who does one steal something so big?" Teach asks as Boss folds his arms.
"I admit, I don't know either…" Queen admits before a sudden sound from the stage at the far back grabs their attention. Where they only now realise there is a tall dancing pole in the centre of the arena.
"What was that?" Spring asks, hand already reaching for her spear. Her question was soon answered as a trap door opened on the stage, revealing Alice sitting on her throne, eyeing up the team.
"It's her!" Outlaw shouts as the team rushes forward. Weapons drawn and ready for battle.
"It would appear we are in for a fight no matter what." Boss remarks, his book already moving around him.
"Oh dear, you thought you'd just sneak in like that?" Shadow Alice asks, doing a sultry walk up to the edge of her stage. "And what exactly do you plan on doing with my Desires?"
"You weren't kidding when you said she looked like a female Kamoshida…" Spring says quietly to Outlaw with a grimace. Shadow Alice glances around, seeing the familiar faces as she puts on a wide smile.
"Why Joker, Skull, Crow, Outlaw…did you four come back to me so you could be mine? And did you bring the one called Fox with you as well as an apology?"
"HELL NO!" All four of them shout as one while Fox lets out an irritated huff.
As if I would ever fall to the whims of you. I have my Noir. And you are not her." He tells her, wrapping an arm around Noir in response. Following him, Violet, Queen, Panther and Spring do the same with their boyfriends, putting up a united front against Shadow Alice, who looks on with disinterest.
"Really? These are your girlfriends? You could so do so much more with me than them. They are all so bland…"
"Beauty isn't skin deep bitch." Outlaw replies with a growl.
"Alice Hiiragi. We know all about the horrible things you've done." Mona tells her, falchion on his shoulder. "You seized people's Desires and forced them into your puppets. Your slaves."
"You toyed with people's emotions to make them mistrust each other." Shadow picks up, already spinning her kunai around.
"You even opened up your stores so you can brainwash people in bulk!" Oracle shouts with Edelweiss by her side.
"We can no longer overlook the wicked changes of heart you forced on the people!" Noir shouts up, hand gripping her axe.
"The Phantom Thieves are going to beat those distortions out of you. Whether you like it or not, young lady!" Teach remarks, spinning her two daggers in her hands.
"Really? All this hate for me? Why not go for Takamaki-san? She is so beautiful. There is no way she could ever understand what I've been through. No clue whatsoever." Panther growls under her mask, forgetting how their cognition hides them from others.
"You mean like what happened to you at Shujin Academy?" Panther asks back. The question forces Shadow Alice to take a step back as her face converts into shock.
"Where did—how!? How did you find out!?"
"It doesn't matter how. We know all of it." Panther tells her, grasping her whip as she and the girls let their grips on their boyfriends drop. Even if they still stood close to them. "How you were bullied. How you were tortured. And how your boyfriend was stolen right in front of your eyes. But I still—"
"Oh, okay…. so you found out…" Shadow Alice interrupts in a calm manner. But her face was anything but calm. "No matter how much I hide it, the past always comes back to bite me! How pathetic… what a mess! But that doesn't matter now. With this power, I can have everything. Everything I've always wanted… Mine!"
"And now…I'm going to make you all mine… All mine!" At that moment, a stream of red and black energy rushes out around Shadow Alice, empowering and growing her into a monstrous size. Even as her body begins to contort and change form.
Her outfit somehow became even more stripper-like, while a bunny tail with a mouth and tongue appeared on her butt. Carrots are placed in stripper stockings running up her legs while a pair of rabbit ears emerge from her head. Rabbit fur appears around her neck and upper arms, while her hands turn into giant claws. Her legs also became rabbit legs past the knees, while her face now had two mismatched eyes, with numerous stitches around her mouth and eyelids. Her cane remains the same as she leaps over the Thieves, laughing maniacally as a giant stadium attaches itself to the central arena. Filled with Personal Shadows that Alice had charmed.
"What the hell!? She turned into a giant rabbit!?" Skull shouts as the team readies for a fight.
"So this really is Alice in Wonderland…" Queen remarks, falling into her combat stance.
"Oh my, I'm late for a very important date. Come along, come along! I have such wonders to show you!" Mad Rabbit Alice tells the team, hopping around on the spot.
"What wonders?" Sophie innocently asks, only for Queen and Joker to stand in front of her.
"Nothing you need to know." They both tell her instinctively.
"Ah, what's wrong? Afraid your daughter will get corrupted? It's only some harmless fun!" Mad Rabbit Alice taunts the two, causing them to blush as she hops around.
"Alice. I'm going to make you see the light! Agidyne!" Panther shouts, blasting Alice with the fire spell and singing her fur.
"Ow! That singed my fur!" Shadow Alice shouts, sweeping her cane forward and forcing the Thieves back. "I am going to take all those boys' hearts!"
"Not on your life! Lucifer! Inferno!" Joker shouts, blasting Alice with the high-powered spell and forcing her back.
"Keep it up, guys! Alice is weak to fire and wind! Huh…kinda like that Lock Keeper…"
"Then let me join in on the fun! Garudyne!" Mona shouts, blasting Alice with wind, yet growling when he sees a shield around her. "Grrr, she's got a shield!"
"Just means we have to hit harder then!" Skull shouts, slamming his mace against Alice as Fox follows up. Katana sparks against the cane as she tries to force him back. Spinning around, Alice unleashes a Psiodyne on the area around her, forcing the team back but landing a hit on Queen.
"Feast your eyes, gentlemen!" Alice shouts, leaping onto the central poll and starts spinning. Sending out pink starts in all directions and forcing the Thieves on the defensive. Violet lands next to a giant party popper aimed at the dancing pole and, getting an idea, kneels next to it and fires. The party popper manages to knock Alice off her dancing poll with a stagger as Joker, Panther, Skull, and Mona unleash an All-Out Attack on her.
"Ow! That hurt!" Alice shouts, kicking the group away with her feet before sweeping her cane around in an arc. Forcing Noir, Spring and Outlaw back
"Alice! Why are you doing this!? You've hurt too many people!" Panther shouts, whipping her fire-infused whip at Alice. Smacking her in the leg.
"Huh? Don't blame me. It's not my fault everyone is in love with me. What can I do if they only have eyes for me?"
"None of them saying that means anything! They are only doing so because you brainwashed them!" Spring shouts, leaping down from above and smashing her spear into Alice's shoulder. Alice grabs her in retaliation and throws her at the dancing pole, only for Spring to grab onto it and spin around eloquently.
"Oh, so you know all about that, huh? I suppose it should come with the territory for a Phantom Thief." Alice dismisses before being hit in the head but bless magic from Boss as Edelweiss follows up with a storm of missiles.
"Then lets find out who's heart will get changed at the end of this! Agidyne!" Panther shouts alongside Teach as the two burn the ground around Alice. Forcing her to jump out of the way as her shield starts to crack. But not without a burn, something that Queen was all too happy to follow up on.
"Atomic Flare!" She shouts, blasting Alice with a larger blast than normal thanks to the burn. Yet her shield was still up, even if it had numerous cracks within it. Leaping into the air, Alice once again leaps onto the dancing pole and starts to spin. Unfortunately for her, Crow was already at one of the party poppers around the ring and fired it at her. Knocking her off once more.
"What the hell!?" Alice shouts in irritation, getting back on her feet.
"Sorry. But we are in no mood for a pole dance." Crow remarks as Violet joins him, just as the star in Joker's pocket begins to glow.
"But we can show you a different one instead!"
"It's Showtime!"
As one, the two jump into the air as a Red Curtain once more falls on the battle. Parting away, it shows Mad Rabbit Alice sitting at a lone table while Violet stands on a stage decorated in the designs of the Thieves. Giving a bow, she begins to gymnastically dance around, keeping Alice's eyes on her as Crow sneaks around in the shadows. Violet spots him above, letting a smirk cross her face as she turns to look at Alice.
Suddenly, Violet releases a wave of hearts infused with bless magic at the tables around the stage, hitting Alice and causing her to become obsessed with her. As Violet nears the end of her dance, she suddenly shoots her grapple into the sky and takes off, just as Crow leaps from the shadow and slashes across Alice's back with a curse-infused blade.
At the same time, Violet fires from above with her gun, hitting Alice with bless rounds as Crow leaps backwards towards the stage and throws a lone curse grenade towards her. Violet sniped it with her last shot. Engulfing Alice in a single blast of curse and bless magic as she lands next to Crow. Pirouetting into a dive with him.
"That is how you do a dance." Violet intones as the area changes back to normal, with Mad Rabbit Alice hopping back to her feet. Her shield almost broken.
"Why you! Don't think you'll get away with that!" Alice shouts, sending a blast of Psiodyne towards the two as they leap away. Only to be shot in the back by Panther, Fox and Boss. "Why won't you give up!? You can't beat me!"
"That's what the others always said, and look what happened to them!" Mona shouts, transforming into bus form and ramming into Alice several times as Noir comes in from above. Slashing at her with a heavy axe swing. Irritated, Alice pushes herself backwards, aiming to land on anyone behind her. Only to just miss Outlaw who dodges out of the way just in time. Leaving her open to Teach, who runs up to her and slashes her face with her twin daggers before jumping into the air and firing an RPG at her. Finally shattering her shield.
"NOW! ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker shouts as the entire team smashes into Alice from all directions. Leaving many slash marks over her body before detonating an explosion under her. Alice stumbles back a few paces, using her cane to steady herself as she glares at the Thieves with hate.
"Why are you being like this? I was finally able to find some happiness…"
"Happiness at the expense of others is not true happiness." Joker tells her firmly, eyes narrow.
"And what makes you say that!? Are you going to take everything away from me then!? Just like she did!? JUST TRY ME!" With that, she snaps her cane in half before throwing both pieces at the Thieves and going on all fours. "I'LL BREAK YOU!" She shouts as she leaps into the air and slams right into the centre of the Thieves. Scattering them as they are taken aback by her sudden increase in speed.
"Watch out, guy! She's super-fast now!" Oracle shouts in worry as Alice suddenly becomes a whirlwind of claws. Spinning around like a tornado as she attacks from almost every angle. Not giving the Thieves a moment to breathe.
"It's time to take you all to school!" Alice shouts, lashing out with her claws as Fox and Noir do their best to block her.
"She refuses to give up…Alice, what made you like this?" Panther questions before leaping away as Alice continues to lash out around her.
"None of you would ever get it! I've been treated like shit all my life! I had everything taken from me, including my love! You don't know what it's like!" Alice screams, blasting out with a Mapsiodyne at the Thieves. "The further up the social ladder, the shittier they were to me! Even if they saw someone getting tortured, they'd just smile and keep on walking like I don't matter! How could trash like that NOT deserve it! That's why I made sure they were my first victims! So they had a taste of their own medicine!"
"All you're doing is keeping the cycle of hate going!" Panther shouts back, blasting an Agidyne towards Alice and stopping her mad spin attack.
"So what I am!? Once I've got a man in my grasp, there's no letting go! I'll turn your Skull on you, and then you'll learn true despair!" With that, she fires a Marin Karin towards Skull and manages to land a perfect hit on him.
"Skull!" Panther shouts in worry as Skull gets to his feet. Alice grins in victory, only to be stumped as a bolt of lightning for him smacks her in the face. As Panther smiles in relief.
"WHY!? WHY ARE YOU IMMUNE TO ME!?" She screams in rage as Skull glares at her with anger.
"I already WAS brainwashed once! And none of us are going to get brainwashed again!" Skull yells in anger, blasting more lighting towards Alice as she jumps away.
"Then let's try someone else!" She screams, sending another blast of Marin Karin out and managing to hit several people. Only for her annoyance to growl as Joker, Queen, Outlaw, and Oracle proved to be immune as well. Until she hit Crow, she watched in glee as the Marin Karin took hold, and he began to attack Joker.
"Crap! Someone cleanse him!" Moan shouts in alarm as Spring looks at him.
"Persephone! Me Patra!" Spring cries, cleansing Crow of the Marin Karin as Violet vigorously attacks Alice in retaliation.
"You okay, Crow?" Joker asks, watching as Crow shakes his head.
"In a bit… I suppose you lot getting brainwashed by Marie has its advantages now…"
"Apparently…" Joker remarks, shaking his head before turning back to Alice. The shield that he reformed around her was starting to crack, and it was time to shatter it. "Panther! The final hits are all yours!"
"Ngh…what are you all doing? I'm not the villain. I'm the victim!" Alice shouts in dismay as her attacks start to slow down. Even with the shield around her, the attacks from the Thieves were striking true, including her weakness to fire and wind. In anger, she rabbit kicks behind her, sending Mona and Shadow flying into the audience and knocking some Personal Shadows down. Thankfully not killing any of them. "All those girls looking down on me… They'll see! They'll see how every man is mine!"
"Is that what you really want, Alice? Don't be stupid!" Panther shouts back, her whip crackling with fire. "I remember your real answer. You have to remember too! Tell me, what do you really WANT!? Because if you can't remember, then we will MAKE you remember! Skull!"
"Right!" With a leap, he jumps to Panther's side as the Wishing Star glows once more.
"It's Showtime!"
Once again, red curtains fall over the battle before quickly retracting. Leaving Mad Rabbit Alice in the centre of what looked to be a dance hall, with banners of the Thieves draped across the roof. Two spotlights shine down, illuminating Skull and Panther as Skull gently grasps Panther's hand.
"May I take this dance?" He asks. Panther chuckles slightly at him as the two get into a traditional ballroom dance pose and begin to dance away gently. Leaving sparks of thunder and fire at their feet.
"You may…" Panther replies as the two take a few steps before Skull spins Panther around, and she whips out an SMG. "A dance of death!" She shoots while spinning as a top, her fire-infused bullets slamming into Alice before she grabs Skull and throws him into the air, where he unloads buckshot infused with lightning from his shotgun from above before slamming his mace into her head just as Panther whips her whip around Alice's feet. Sending her tumbling to the ground.
Skull lands next to Panther as the two drop grenades next to Mad Rabbit Alice, which explode in a glorious blast of thunder and fire. Illuminating the two as Skull doing a romantic dip with Panther.
"Beautifully done."
"Such a charmer…" The two look at each other as the curtains come back, returning the place back to the battle Alice gets back to her feet only just barely as her shield finally breaks for the final time. Alice's eyes widened in fear as she knew what was coming next.
"All-Out Attack!" the Thieves shout as one as they lash out in every direction. Overwhelming her as Alice finally collapses to the ground, engulfed in one final explosion as her body turns back to normal.
The Thieves were victorious.
"No…how could I not be strong enough? Still not strong enough?" Shadow Alice asks with sadness in her voice. Pushing herself onto her knees. "Why can't I change!?" She screams, slamming her fist on the ground as tears run down her face. "I'm not the victim anymore!"
"Enough, Alice." Panther says gently, walking up to her as she removes her mask. "It's over. If you keep going, you'll just make yourself feel even worse."
"T-Takamaki-san…You are…" Shadow Alice stammers, shocked at seeing who was before her. And looking at her with not anger but pity. "How could you ever know!?"
"Because we both suffered." She says gently, shocking Alice. "You're not the only one who was bullied in the past. I certainly had my fair share as well for my looks. Being half foreign does that to you…" Shadow Alice goes quiet, turning her face to look away.
"I just can't compete with you, Takamaki-san…All my life, I'm no match for real winners… And I tried SO HARD to change! But I was still made fun of—still bullied! I just wanted to stop being miserable… I poured my heart into fashion and worked to get so far! But then…she showed up again! And start running her mouth off about my past! She told everyone what a pathetic little shit I was!"
"Crow…" Violet whispers, with him nodding his head.
"Yes… this is more than bullying… this is a person making it their mission to ruin someone else… I'll see what the police can do to find out about her…"
"That's why I took everything from her! Her boyfriend, her social circle, everything! So she could feel the pain that I had! So she would just leave me alone! But it STILL wasn't enough for me! Before long, everyone behind my back, all the people who just stood there… I'd destroy every single one of them!"
"So…this is a wound on the heart…" Sophie comments as Joker and Queen lightly hug her.
"This power lets me get revenge! So I…"
"Became the bully instead? You idiot! What good does that do!? Now, you are just as bad as the people who attacked you! Can't you see that? Is that how you want to live? Like one of the bullies? Didn't you say you wanted to be something else? A ray of light for others—including yourself!" Panther gets down on her knees, forcing Shadow Alice to look at her. "Don't give up because of those selfish bastards!"
"Takamaki-san… You're right… I wanted to save others…rescue others… All of the people…going through the same thing as me… what have I become?" She reaches up to grab the crown on her head, taking it off and placing it in Panther's hands. "…I'll atone for my crimes. Takamaki-san…I…I want to apologise to the people I hurt and start over again!" Panther smiles gently at her, rubbing her head with her right hand.
"I know you will turn it around. No matter how long it will take. You can show those naysayers just how wrong they are about you. Trust me, all of us have been through that at some point. But…it's thanks to the family that we all formed that we were able to push through that. That we could stand up for ourselves. And I know you can do the same. Once you're back to your old self, let's be friends, okay?"
"Even if I'll be spending time in jail for a while?" Shadow Alice asks with some uncertainty. But Panther never drops her smile as she nods back at her. "You really are something…Ann…Thank you…" At the back, Sophie watches on with wrapped attention. Taking every word, every action onto her memory banks. Even as Shadow Alice began to glow. "I'll return to my other self now. Where I belong. But this time, I'm going to be…" Before she could finish, she vanished into light. Leaving the Thieves with a heavy sense of pride for their actions. Before the Cage of Lust began to shake violently.
"Now what!?" Boss shouts as he struggles to keep his balance.
"It's coming down! Everyone out now!" Mona shouts, rushing outside the cage on cartoon legs. No one bothered to question as they chased after him, just as the cage began to fall apart. With the giant jewel coming down hard. Crashing into the floor and crushing the dancing pole. Cracks scatter over its surface before it erupts into a giant blue of pink energy. Reaching far into the sky before dissipating. With tiny jewels falling gently from the sky like snow moments later.
The Jewels fall over Shibuya, landing in the Prison Keeps and bouncing off the floor. Landing into the chests of the imprisoned Personal Shadows. Re-joining with them and freeing them as they dissipate into motes of light.
All the while, the Thieves stand atop Alice's ruined castle, taking in the sight with awe as they stare at the night sky.
"Amazing…" Sophie comments, looking around as Queen places a hand on her shoulder.
"It certainly is." She tells her, keeping her gaze on the falling jewels.
"Well, this is a sight I won't be forgetting anytime soon." Boss remarks, glancing to shoulder. "I feel honoured to be here."
"Just as we are to have you here, Boss." Joker replies with a grin before keeping his eyes forward. "But…something is off. This place should be collapsing since the Desires are now free. But it's not."
"Yeah, we always had to haul ass outa here. So, why isn't it going away?" Skull remarks, folding his arms.
"That is most assuredly not happening now. In fact, it has grown eerily quiet…" Fox comments, looking around the area. Not a single cop shadow could be seen.
"Another indication of the difference between Palaces and this Jail. Despite our victory, more questions surface than are sunk." Crow comments with a worried stare. "Would truly do need to find the true cause of this Jail. It would not surprise me if other Jails are scatted around the country."
"I wonder how the real Alice is taking things?" Outlaw asks.
"Fascinating…" Sophie suddenly says, dragging all eyes to her. "Just as the Phantom Thieves predicted, Alice Hiiragi has apparently changed her logic. It would appear the conversation her Shadow had with Panther has had an effect. This would not be possible had we only defeated her."
"We did it. We changed her heart despite our worries." Queen remarks with a smile. "That is a weight off our shoulders. Being able to change is what makes someone human."
"Someone is human… because they can change…" Sophie comments quietly, with Edelweiss looking at her in concern. A concern that was mirrored on Joker and Queen's faces.
"The human heart is much more complicated than we ever knew about." Noir comments as she glances around. "Just when you think you've grown beyond your pain, the smallest thing can bring you all the way back down again." Sophie looks to the floor as she lets Noir's words bounce in her mind.
"Well, if we're counting mysterious, Sophie is at the top of that list. Aren't you, dear?" Teach asks with a grin.
"No, I'm—"
"Sophia, Humanities' Companion'. Right?" Skull interrupts with a grin. One that Sophie gleefully returns.
"You got it, Skull." She replies as the group lets out a subdued laugh. They had triumphed over the Mad Rabbit and brought a Jail low. But questions still hung in their minds.
And would this be enough to get PubSec off their backs, even for a little while?
"Hey, Ren? I have a question."
"What is it, Sophia?" Ren asks, making himself comfortable on his bed, glancing at the phone dock and holding his phone.
"It is about earlier. Ann was very angry at Alice's Shadow earlier. By the end, though, she was really happy. Why was that? Why wasn't she angry?"
"I see. I can understand why you'd be confused, Sophia." Ren tells her gently. "The reason why, is because she finally allowed to say her true feelings on the matter. And through that, they were able to come to terms with and an understanding with each other."
"Okay… So, anger is not just for hurting people. It can be used to help and save as well."
"So long as it is used in the right situations." Ren adds on with a smile. "Sometimes it's not enough, but it can help when used with other emotions."
"If somehow in the wrong, anger can be used to help show them the errors of their way. The human heart is such a mystery…" Sophia glances around her space, flicking away a simulated bubble before looking back at Ren. "But, thanks to you, I've gained valuable experience. Thank you, Ren."
"You're welcome, Sophia. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Sophia replies, watching as Ren falls asleep. But her mind wanders back to another thing that was said during the fight with Shadow Alice. She called her the daughter of Ren and Makoto.
What is a daughter? And why did they blush when she said that? And…why did I feel strange when she said that?