Guernica stumbled back home to base, groaning and holding her head in agony. Her head just wouldn't stop aching and it was driving her insane! "This...agony...why won't it...go away!? Ever since I saw that damn graffiti...that damned brat and masked woman..." Something was about to break through and she could feel it. It hurt so much. "Am I...close to remem..."
Before she could come close to finishing that thought, Jerri quickly flapped over, perching herself in front of the trembling woman. "What's wrong, Guernica? You're downright trembling..."
Guernica remained silent for a thought. There were some questions that she needed answers to. Questions that didn't pop up in her mind until now...or maybe they did, and she just forgot them. "Jerri, I...I...what am I doing here...? Why am I...doing these things?" The weight of her actions caught up to her. Her consciousness felt like it was in a haze. Like she was watching herself do things from a bystander's perspective.
"Really now, have you forgotten?" Jerri replied dismissively. "All of this is simply what you wished for. You were slowly losing your artistic vision - no your ability entirely. You attempted to get back to your roots. To rediscover your rage, remember?"
"Y-Yeah...that's...the one thing I do remember..." Guernica calmed down a little bit. Jerri's words weren't wrong. She could feel it in the depths of her soul. At the same time, she remembered what Viper told her as well. "That disgusting hellhole where the strong make excuses so they can shamelessly use and abuse the weak! That stupid goddamn world took the most important thing in my life!"
There it was, that rage Jerri was so happy to foster and fuel. "That's right. And that's why you created The Street - to find and stoke that fury. Eventually, your rage will burn so hot that it won't be contained within you." Jerri's expression turned to an exhilarated one. "It will spread from person to person like wildfire until the entire world is nothing but cinders! Your wish is almost within your grasp. Understand?"
"Yeah...yeah. I can remember that now..." Guernica slowly nodded. But there was something still nagging at her nonstop. "But...what was it that I lost? No matter how hard I try, I can't remember..."
"Ah, Guernica..." Jerri pouted. "What does it matter what you've forgotten?"
"H-Huh...!?" Guernica sucked in a tight breath.
Jerri leaned forward on her perch. "The flames have already been stoked. All that's left is to set them loose and to watch the world burn. And it'll all be thanks to your precious art...!" A sinister smile appeared on the parrot's lips.
Guernica could feel and hear the white noise in her head. That head splitting pain was back. "J-Jerri, what's happening to me!?"
"Relax, dearie. I'm simply taking care of you." Jerri smiled. "There's no need to worry about anything anymore." A black aura started to appear around Guernica, who was letting out choked cries of pain.
"Agh...gh...!" Guernica cried out in pain, gripping her head in agony. "What's happening to me...!?"
"You feel this pain because of those disgusting humans, Guernica! You must wipe them clean off your Streets!" Jerri wasn't just goading her into this, she was trying to push her into this as violently as possible.
"Fine...! I'll do it! Just make it stop!" Guernica pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Guernica. There's simply no stopping now." Jerri frowned. "Not until your deadly art eradicates every last bit of humanity's will of rebellion." The bird then chuckled quietly to herself. "This silly ruse ahs nearly reached a most satisfactory end. My my...our Lord surely would not approve of such extreme measures. But, if the tranquility that arises from this...I'm sure..."
"Where's the real Guernica?" That voice...who was it again...no use...she couldn't...
.
.
Two pieces down, one to go. Luca was ultimately ecstatic that they were making progress in restoring Guernica's statement piece. "We've almost finished the statement piece! Just one slab left to find!"
Mika crossed her arms into an X, letting out a noise similar to a loud, incorrect buzzer. "BZZT. Nope. Nu-huh. I'm not lifting another finger until you start telling us the truth. If you're going to lie to someone, it's suppose to inconvenience them! Don't lie to me when my life is on the line!"
"I agree with the snake." Akechi crossed his arms. "I believe it's time you started telling us everything you know. All of the details."
"I am not accusing you of withholding information maliciously." Hifumi began. "But if we are to help you, we need to know everything."
"I'm accusing her of it." Mika quickly added.
"We are friends, so we help and trust each other." Sumire was trying to soften the blow Mika and Akechi were giving.
"Sorry for the harshness." Ren said.
"No, no...it's okay." Luca shook her head, giving a smile. "They're right. I won't keep you in the dark anymore. The truth is...I'm Guernica's big sister."
"Whaaat!?" Sumire's eyes were wide.
"But...if that is the case, then how..." Yusuke was going to ask how Luca was here. A question she already had the answer to.
"More accurately, I'm not exactly her big sister. I'm more like...a memory of her." Luca explained. She closed her eyes, thinking back to the days of their childhood. Guernica and Luca, the two of them, shifting through the back alleys for food...
"What do you mean...a memory...?" Sumire asked carefully.
"The real Luca...died a long time ago." Luca said with a small sigh. "I don't really remember how things ended. I do remember being hungry...and tired." A heavy silence fell in the area. "Guernica and I were abandoned as kids. Since no one wanted us, we had to live off whatever scraps we could scrounge up. We were just two more sewer rats living in the streets - people wouldn't even spare us a look, let alone help. That's why Guernica and I started painting."
"...I can only imagine how rough that must have been." Yusuke closed his eyes. If not for Madarame, there was a chance he could've shared the same fate as Guernica and Luca. And even then...
"Well, once we started painting, it became our whole world." Luca said with a fond smile. "We came across this one mural in a random back alley, it inspired us to make one ourselves. We worked on it all night long - we were so absorbed that we even forgot how hungry we were. It was a way for us to leave our mark, so we decided to make it as big as we could!"
"So you're saying that these slabs..." Hifumi glanced towards the two slabs they had.
"They're the memory of the mural we made together. That was her first statement piece." Luca said with a smile. "No matter how hard things got for Guernica, she always had that memory to keep her going. When it got destroyed, she lost her mind. She was never like this before..."
"..." Mika crossed her arms and glanced away. Even if she was far from the nicest person in the world, and claimed she had no heart, even a story like that deserved a moment of silence. There was another feeling brewing within her as well, festering into annoyance because she wasn't sure what it was.
"Now I understand." Yusuke stared at the two statement pieces. "I knew I resonated with Guernica's art for a reason. If something that precious was stolen from her...I completely understand why it must have shattered her psyche and broke her heart."
"Yusuke..." Ren said softly. Yusuke's expression was so serious; it wasn't one he was unfamiliar with, but it was a rarity.
"Guernica put her heart and soul into that painting. Having it destroyed and trampled upon...that is not something any artist should have to endure." Yusuke crossed his arms. He was always willing to help Guernica, but hearing this story turned that will to help into a burning desire. "I want to do everything in my power to prevent something like that from happening again."
"R-Really?" Luca looked towards Yusuke, surprised at how passionate he was about this.
"I am an artist myself." Yusuke told Luca. "While my upbringing was different than Guernica's, my passion for art was just as strong. If it were not for the Phantom Thieves, my eyes never would have opened. Guernica is on the wrong path, so it is up to us to bring her back to it."
"Helping people is what we do." Ren responded, sliding his hand into his coat pockets. "When someone's in trouble, I can't help but stick my nose into it. It's gotten me into trouble a few times, but I've never once regretted what I've done. If I walked away now, I know I'd regret it."
"I refuse to yield now." Hifumi said. "We made a promise to help you, and we are not going back on it now. Whatever the challenge we may face, I assure you, Luca...we shall not lose."
"I intend to see this through to the end." Akechi crossed his arms. "As I stated before, attempts at manipulation put me in a bad mood. So if Jerri is the mastermind behind this, putting her down will bring me something akin to joy."
"Bleh." Mika huffed. "I'm not turning back now, but not for the same reasons. I want that bird dead too. Also, someone's going to have to smack some more sense into Guernica again."
"At least you're willing to help." Ren said with a faint smile. Mika was still far from a team player, but it was nice to have her assistance to the end, at least.
"Yeah, yeah, don't get too cozy with me, Ben. It's gross." Mika waved her hand dismissively. Hifumi could tell that this ran a little bit deeper than Mika was letting on. "By the way." Mika turned to Luca. "Why did you lie to us?"
"Ah, well..." Luca looked away, mildly ashamed. "I thought if I told you my relationship with Guernica, you guys would think I was on her side..." A fair enough reason.
"A conflict between Sisters..." Sumire placed her hand on her chest for a moment. After hearing that story, something stirred within her. The strongest desire to help Luca, no matter what. This went beyond anything and anything she'd ever felt before. "I understand this all too well. I used to have a sister too, Luca..."
"Used to...?" Luca looked towards Sumire, confused.
"She lost her life in an accident..." Sumire said. This caused Akechi, Ren, and Hifumi to look over at her. Luca gaped, but Sumire held a smile. "The two of us were inseparable - no matter what one of us did, we both had to do it. But as we got older, we started to argue more and couldn't see eye to eye. I just couldn't get her to understand me...and as I was pining for the days we could talk again, that accident happened. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be standing here, right now. The dream we both shared...I'm carrying it for the both of us. I know that you're only a memory, Luca-san, and that we can't bring you back to her. But I want to help you...and Guernica as well. The longer that Guernica's lost you from her heart, the more likely things will end badly for her. That's why I'm going to do everything I can to see you reunited Guernica in her right mind! I know it's selfish of me, but I can't stand to see two Sisters fight like this!"
"Hah..." Ren let out a faint chuckle. Sumire sure came a long way since that incident earlier in the year. It made him smile.
"Well spoken." Yusuke crossed his arms with a smile. "It appears that we're all motivated to set things right. I would prefer it no other way."
Mika took Hifumi by the arm and quickly dragged her off to a corner. Since she didn't want anyone else to overhear what she was about to say. "Hifumi-chan, listen to me for a second."
"Uh...yes?" Hifumi blinked. "Are you alright, Mika? You've seemed a little irritable since this whole ordeal started..."
"Aside from the fact I've been dragged into this funky world against my will..." Mika took a deep breath. "Hearing Luca's story made something bubble in my chest. Not like...my heart doing that beating thing. But it's an irritating feeling. I'm so...pissed off."
"Are you upset over Guernica?" Hifumi tilted her head.
"Maybe. I mean, Luca's story did put things into perspective. They had it rough..." Mika grumbled, glancing off to the side. "...I told you I went to Kosei, right? Well...I also used to do art."
"Y...You did?" Hifumi was shocked at this. "Is that why you draw...?"
"Only sometimes." Mika looked a bit...embarrassed. "It's not like I draw for anyone other than myself. Having other people see that stuff...I don't like it. It's why I quit and went to modeling instead." She said, looking at the two pieces of Guernica's statement. "But even so...I got the gist of art. Drawing, painting, whatever. I can resonate with it, I can tell what someone was aiming for. I'm not like your weirdo friend over there...I'm not an artist. He's got more knowledge at it than I do..."
"So what's bothering you, then...?" Hifumi asked, reaching out to place a hand on Mika's shoulder.
"...I'm pissed off at how Guernica's being used. That's it." Mika realized. "The art I saw of her back home, there was genuine passion behind it. That bird is trying to use that rage for some bullshit purpose. I can't stand it. I'll yank that stupid woman's heart from her chest if it means getting her to see what she's lost."
"If I didn't know any better, it sounds like you really want to help her." Hifumi teased. Mika was a very selfish person, but...
"Don't get it twisted, Hifumi-chan!" Mika quickly exclaimed. "I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing this for me. I'm pissed off and I won't feel better until I can flaunt my victory."
Hifumi's smile was a little exasperated now. But that was the Mika she knew and loved. "I know."
"Are you two done?" Akechi tapped his foot on the ground. "The sooner we get this done, the better."
"Don't rush me." Mika flipped her hair, walking back towards the group. "I'm good to go."
"I am as well." Hifumi said, putting her mask back on. "We've broken through the enemy lines twice now. We should prepare for anything going forward."
"I'm going to open the path up now!" Luca told everyone. They were mentally prepared for the final stretch of this journey. "Let's go!"
.
.
The Phantom Thieves weren't wasting any time. The next area of The Streets had a different, ominous aura compared to the rest. The lightning was dimmer and gloomier. "The last slab should be around here." Luca reported. "But, I admit, I don't know much about this area. I've always had a bad feeling about it, so I steered clear."
"A bad feeling...?" Violet tilted her head.
"It's hard to explain. I just start getting really agitated whenever I'm here..." Luca couldn't put it into words. It was just a feeling...
"No, I get it. This plans gives me a serious case of the ick." Viper gagged.
"It's...oddly quiet here." Fox stated.
"...I'm picking up a strange presence...no..." Luca corrected herself. "It's a really bad smell..."
"So it wasn't just me?" Dragon mumbled.
"...That smell is death." Crow stated. It was a stench he would never forget.
"What!?" Violet's eyes widened.
"It isn't just the smell - I can hear voices - the sound of people suffering! Come on, we have to save them!" Luca started to run, but Crow stopped her.
"Hold it." Crow began. "If we go that way, it will lead us straight into a fight. Our stamina is not unlimited."
"Even so...! I can't just leave them to suffer! They're still a apart of Guernica's heart!" Luca objected. "Please...Please, I'm begging you! Help me save Guernica before it's too late."
"..." Crow said nothing at first, but then relented with a sigh. Had this been the him of old, he would've scoffed at this plea. But now? "The decision is ultimately not up to me. Joker, what do you think?"
"We have to save them. But you knew that's how it was going to end, didn't you?" Joker flashed Crow a mildly annoying smile. Crow just groaned in response.
"Let us not waste any time then!" Fox exclaimed.
"Thank you, thank you!" Luca beamed.
"I bet you weren't expecting that from a hyper rational bastard, were you?" Crow responded, still slightly bitter about that comment from before.
"I sure didn't! Thank you!" Luca beamed and just ran off. This left Crow stewing in some mild annoyance. Viper laughed at him.
"D-Don't sweat it, Akechi-san..." Violet said with an exasperated smile. They all rushed after Luca.
After a few moments of running, Luca found it. "Guys, guys! Over here! I found where the smell is coming...from..." She stopped in her tracks, eyes widen in horrific shock.
"Wait, Luca-san! Don't get too far ahead of u..." Violet stopped in her tracks. "N-No, don't look!" What awaited them? A mountain of mouse corpses piled on top of each other.
"W-What the hell..." Joker was in shock.
"T-This is awful..." The color drained from Dragon's face.
"I'm gonna be sick..." Viper felt the vile rising up from her stomach. Even if these were just cognitive beings, this was still a real, horrifying sight.
"How could anyone do such a thing..." Fox grunted, grimacing under his mask.
"..." Crow had no words. But he did not look away from the pile of corpses.
"Is it...already too late...?" Luca said, weakly.
"Quit running your mouth like you know me, you little shit." The woman of the hour herself appeared. Guernica waltz forward with an indifferent expression, arms crossed.
"Back already?" Viper narrowed her eyes.
"If it isn't the children harassing us! How convenient!" Jerri was here as well, perched nearby. "Here's an idea - why don't you top off the corpse pile with your bodies?"
"I prefer the Jerri on top!" Viper wasn't going to stand around and listen to this bird speak. It was on sight. She pulled out one of her guns, beginning to open fire without any warning. Jerri squawked in surprise and quickly flew into the air, high enough to where bullets wouldn't reach. "God damn stupid bird..."
"Jerriiii! What the hell have you done!" Luca screamed up at Jerri.
"I've told you time and time again - everything here is thanks to Guernica's wish." Jerri sighed, tired of repeating herself over and over to this nuisance.
"She wished for this?" Violet's tone lowered.
"Yes! This is the exact sight Guernica has always longed to see!" Jerri smiled in response. "Guernica's artistic vision is born from fury - and her rage will drive the masses into a frenzy! Soon, they'll shake off their yoke of oppressions, then obliterate their own diseased society. The end result? A tower of corpses piled so high, it reaches the very heavens! Understand now? Guernica built the Streets to create this in the real world!"
"You are a wretched creature!" Fox exclaimed.
"No, no no! Guernica would NEVER wish for something like that!" Luca screamed.
"What makes you think you know anything about me?" Guernica scoffed. "I'm finally about to make my wish a reality."
"Guernica, don't be stupid! You've only been killing your own heart! Why can't you see how much this is making you suffer!?" Luca felt the tears in her eyes. Seeing her own sister like this. "Tao...!"
"This is exactly what I need - channeling my hatred to blot out the past." Guernica said with a wicked smile. "All the pain that I've been through...it's time society got its own taste!"
"Exactly, and there's only one thing left to do first." Jerri had a wicked grin of her own. "It's time to kill these brats."
"Is this what you're going to?" Viper looked at Guernica. "Are you really this kind of person now?"
"You have to stop this!" Dragon pleaded.
"This isn't the real you." Joker added.
"Don't you remember!? That Luca is your own sister!?" Violet exclaimed.
"What the hell do you know about me!?" Guernica scoffed. "I don't have any damn sisters! And even if I didn't, I don't care! All that matters now is my dream, Relatives mean nothing to me - get in my way and I'll kill you!"
Violet gasped softly. But in that moment... "No, you won't."
"Huh?" Guernica tilted her head. In the next instant, Violet's heel collided against Guernica's cheek, surprising everyone with how quickly she moved. Guernica tumbled across the ground from the impact.
"She beat me to it...!" Viper said, annoyed. She was just about to get her running start!
"How could you even think of killing your sister. To just take her life and never see her again, no matter what you do? You have someone risking everything to try and help you, and you're going to try and get rid of her? I won't allow it! I'm going to regret making you think that way!" Violet exclaimed.
Guernica felt a bruise on her cheek. "What the hell's with her? She's not making sense. The kid's not..." She trailed off, flashes off memories occurring in her mind. "Ah...ngh!?"
This began to worry Jerri. She just did all that work trying to force those memories down, but...1 "Guernica, ignore their blathering. Anyone standing in your way is an enemy - someone who must be cut down!" Right after she said this, Fox, Dragon, Crow, and Viper used the nearby buildings to propel themselves at the airborne Jerri. They tried to cut her down, but she was just barely able to avoid them by flying to the side. "Ah...!?"
"Damn...!" Viper hissed.
"Curse..." Dragon grumbled. They were so close, yet so far. If they could just get rid of Jerri, it would save them a lot of trouble...!
"The one who deserves to be cut down is you!" Fox yelled.
"Slippery menace, aren't you?" Crow glared as Jerri avoided their strikes.
Guernica held her head in her hands as that painful white noise tore her head apart. "Yes...I have to...kill them...every last one...I"M GONNA KILL THEM!"
"She's losing it." Joker said while narrowing his eyes.
"Guernica-san! We're going to save you!" Violet declared, pointing her rapier forward. As she did, the others landed and prepared to fight as well. "Count on it!"
