"AAAAAHHHHHHH!" Guernica cried out in agony as dark wisps flowed from her body. The pain in her head was completely unbearable by this point. She felt like her head was going to split in half at this rate. "My head...it's splitting! It hurts, it hurts! Help me, Jerri!"
Jerri was nearby, glancing at her nicked wing. Viper's bullet did some damage. Not enough for a lasting injury, but the sting was more than enough to annoy her...not to mention, Guernica's constant whining and begging was finally driving her up a wall. She was reaching the limits of her patience with this artist. "..." She approached Guernica, but she did not respond. Instead, a vaguely annoyed huff escaped her beak.
"W-What's happening to me?!" Guernica demanded to know. "How can this happen in The Streets!? Answer me, Jerri! Huh!? Why! Why does it hurt so much!?"
"Quit your puling." Jerri spread her wings, her expression annoyed. Her mask was finally starting to drop. She was growing tired of this façade. "Yet another reason why artist disgust me. Do you all really need so much coddling?"
Guernica's expression shifted to one of confusion. Jerri had always been so kind to her, but this tone and attitude...to her, it was completely out of left field. "What...are you saying, Jerri...?"
"I've gone through so much trouble to break you, yet you still retain some vestige of your true heart! Anyone else would be completely under my control by now. You have no idea how annoying this is." Jerri groaned. This was slowly becoming more trouble than it was worth. But she was already so close to the fruition of her plans, she had to see it through.
Guernica felt a sharp sense of betrayal in her heart. Her memories flashed in her head, and she was quickly realizing now, that Jerri was not on her side at all. "Help...it hurts! Sis, please help me!"
"Ugh, this again, really?" Jerri was surprised, only because no matter what she did, Guernica always cried out for her sister at some point. "No matter how many times I try breaking you, you just won't let her go. Well, that's neither here nor there. I'll just scrub as much of your mind as I can! And I'll wipe your precious sister out soon enough as well. I'll make it quite a spectacle for you!"
Guernica started to cower, backing away as tears began rolling down her cheeks. She was scared and alone... "N-No...stop...please...!"
Jerri just chuckled darkly in response to this. It didn't matter what Guernica felt. "Now let's get you ready! You have important guest to receive! It's almost time for the grand finale!"
.
.
Luca led the way directly into Jerri's HQ. "Here we are..." And compared to the state of The Streets, everyone could see how...eerily pristine it was.
"It looks much different than The Streets..." Violet pointed out.
"It reminds me of that madman's Palace. I already don't like it." Crow spat.
"I wonder where Guernica and Jerri are..." Joker wondered aloud. That wasn't a question that would remain unanswered for long, because Jerri appeared before the Phantom Thieves.
"Welcome, welcome! We've been expecting you!" Jerri greeted the Phantom Thieves.
"Oh, look who's here! How's that wing treating you?" Viper placed her hands on her hips, leaning forward with an annoying smirk.
"We've come to put an end to this charade." Dragon said firmly.
"We will not be leaving until you are defeated, you wretch." Fox added.
"Give me back my sister, right now!" Luca demanded!
Jerri leaned back on her perch, with wide eyes. "Why, you make it sound like I've been holding her against her will! But look, she's come to greet you herself! Isn't that right, Guernica?"
Guernica slowly stepped forward, a malicious black aura oozing off of her body. She was hunched over, drooling, breathing heavily, and her eyes were blazing red. She didn't even look human. "...die..."
Everyone gasped at the sight of Guernica. The last time they saw her, which wasn't even long ago, she was at least coherent! But now... Viper glared at Jerri. "...What did you do to that girl?"
"G-Guernica? What's wrong?" Luca gasped softly.
"Die...die, die, die, die die DIE, DIE!" Each utterance of the word was more and more violent by Guernica, and the aura around her was growing more intense with each passing second. "I'm gonna kill you! And paint with your BLOOD!"
"This is wrong." Crow said while stepping forward. The bloodlust coming off of Guernica was in waves. Crow was more susceptible to this sort of thing, but this was the most visible bloodlust anyone else had ever seen.
Violet's expression was one of shock and horror. "Were we too late...?"
"I'M GONNA SPREAD YOU ALL OVER THESE WAAAAALLLLLS!" Guernica shouted while leaping into the air.
"She's coming!" Dragon warned. Everyone dodged in separate directions. Violet grabbed Luca just before Guernica crashed down onto the ground, an explosion of paint spewing outwards in every direction.
"You're dead meat, you hear me!? DEAD MEAT!" Guernica roared as that dark aura only intensified. The fight was on and they had no choice. Jerri was watching in the background, chuckling at the display before her. It was already turning into a wonderous show!
"Her bloodlust is incredibly strong...if that's the game she wants to play..." Crow's black aura began to waver around him. Guernica's killing intent was through the roof; he could literally taste it. It was making him want to respond in kind.
"Wait, don't!" Joker exclaimed, causing Crow to grit his teeth. "If you do that now, we're not going to be able to stop either of you! We're here to rescue her, remember?"
"Tch..." Crow sucked his teeth in annoyance. This was the one time where his methods felt like the easiest solution. Fighting fire with fire...but he knew that Joker was right, as much as he hated to admit it. If they fought Guernica's wild blaze with his own, there wouldn't be anything left. They had to douse those flames. "What do you suggest we do then!?"
"Same as before!" Joker said while leaping ahead. Luckily there were some paint barrels nearby, so he attached his grappling hook to one of them, used his momentum to lift it up, and toss it into Guernica! It was a direct hit, and an explosion of green paint splattered in every direction. "Now!"
"Hereward!"
"Bella!"
Crow and Dragon attacked at once. Arrows of curse and swords of almighty crashed down on Guernica, who was currently covered in the immobilizing paint. But as the dust from the attacks settled, Guernica was not only still standing, but walking forward! Each breath of hers was heavy, and her steps heavier still. "What the...!?" Dragon's eyes were wide.
"She's still moving..." Crow narrowed his eyes in response. So far, the rules of The Streets were fairly consistent! But while Guernica was like this, there was nothing that could bound or stop her.
"IT'S OOOOOOOOVER! I'M GONNA END EVERYTHING!" Guernica screamed while slamming her hands on the ground. Paint burst outward in all directions, nearly causing everyone to scatter from the sheer force of the explosion.
"Tao, we're here to deliver this to you! This is how it all began - your first statement!" Luca shouted. Guernica's head snapped in that instance, and she lunged towards Luca.
"Do not forget that feeling of your soul statement!" Fox slid between Guernica and Luca, swinging his sword upwards to create a wall of ice between them. It didn't last very long, as Guernica barreled straight through it. Fox took Luca and dodged out of the way, sucking his teeth at how unstoppable Guernica appeared. "Not even that slowed her down!"
"Look, Guernica! It's the piece we made together! Don't you remember?!" Luca called out to Guernica, but nothing was working.
"I think that's quite enough of your yapping!" Jerri flapped her wings, causing a number of Shadows to join the battle as well. There were a lot, and now the Phantom Thieves had to deal with these on top of Guernica!
"More of them!?" Viper groaned.
"Guernica already takes up most of our attention, now we have to deal with these grunts as well?" Crow said while taking. The rampaging Guernica, and the enemies shooting at them. This was looking more annoying by the second.
"Ho ho ho...!" Jerri snickered. This was exactly what she wanted! They walked straight into her trap, and now she could wipe out every single annoyance with one fell swoop! "Why don't you stay right where you are, and let our budding artist paint our pristine white walls crimson!"
"I'm really tired of this annoying ass bird..." Joker grunted.
"We need a plan..." Dragon was trying to think of something. This would've been a prime moment to have the others with them...
"I have a plan!" Viper stood up, a look of determination in her eyes. Jerri mocking them only ignited her defiant spirit. She would do anything and everything to spite this stupid bird. "We're going to handle the madwoman." By that, she meant herself, Violet, and Fox. All of them had something personal they wanted to say to Guernica, and it was the best way to take her on. "Dragon-chan, can you lead those two and deal with the bugs?"
"Hehe...of course!" Dragon grinned.
"Jester, Raven, you two better not slow her down!" Viper said before rushing off with Fox and Violet.
"Hah..." Joker had a bit of a laugh while adjusting one of his gloves. "...Let's have a little fun with this. Whoever takes out the most wins?"
"Are you serious?" Crow shook his head. "Do you really think I'll partake in such a juvenile contest? I was already planning on killing every single last one of them."
"At least he's direct about it." Dragon shrugged her shoulders. But if they were working with a divide and conquer strategy, she would gladly partake!
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Guernica shouted at the three coming towards her. Violet flipped in front of her, and Guernica pointed her gun forward. Each shot had killing intent, and Violet had to flip through each one as best she could. "OR DIIIIIE!"
"I'm not budging an inch!" Violet shouted, spinning around to swing her leg at Guernica's arm. Even if her attacks weren't causing any pain, she was able to kick Guernica's gun off aim, causing her shots to go somewhere else. Once on her feet, she began to slash with her rapier numerous times. Each slash hit, and Guernica was enduring it. "Can't you hear it!? The sound of your sister calling for you! You aren't alone! Your sister is here to help you, and we're here to make sure she can do it!"
"SHUT UPPPP!" Guernica felt that pain in her head again at the mention of her sister. She wailed and cried out in a bit of rage, grabbing Violet's arm and slamming her into the ground. She was getting ready to toss her, but she was immediately stopped by Nuwa wrapping around her own body. "Gnk...!?"
Viper was exuding a ton of effort into this. She let out a battle cry, allowing Nuwa to flip around in the air, and then slam Guernica right into the ground, on top of a few paint barrels. The paint didn't do anything, but damn did that feel good. "I guess you just aren't leaving me a choice, are you? I'll rip that heart of yours out myself, damn it. If your ego is anywhere near as strong as your art suggests, then you should have no problems pushing that stupid bird out of your head! Where is the REAL Guernica!? Because I don't see her right now! Just some shaking, angry puppet that can't think for herself!?"
"Do you have to be so harsh...?" Violet gasped. The answer was yes.
"NGH! S-Shut up...! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Guernica began to shoot at Violet and Viper again, the intensity of the fire nearly destroying the cover they hid behind.
"Damn, girl! Relax..." Viper hissed.
At that moment, Fox jumped in, slashing at Guernica's gun. She was able to pull back in time, but he used his ice to freeze the barrel. This prevented her from shooting. "We are here to save you from yourself. Your rage has swallowed you whole! Your art...that is you. As long as I wield this mask and this sword, I will not allow you to lose the sensation of your first statement! That feeling, deep within your soul...that is what Luca is here for!" Fox swung his sword once again, as Gorokichi appeared to instantly freeze everything around Guernica, including the girl herself.
"I'll destroy the world! None of this matters!" Guernica said while rampaging, shattering the ice Fox put up. She leapt into the air, the ice from her gun breaking, and fired a gigantic downward blast that caught Fox, Viper, and Violet, blowing them away. They all tumbled around for a bit, covered in paint, but...
"Guys...!" Luca exclaimed worriedly.
"Alright...now I'm pissed off!" Viper snarled. "You don't wanna listen!? FINE!" She started to sprint ahead.
"Viper-san!" Violet had no idea what Viper thought she was going to do, but...!
"It's reckless!" Fox had no choice but to follow suit, and Violet did too.
"You hate this world so damn much!? Well, too bad! The world isn't fair!" Viper said while leaping over Guernica. Her mask burned off and Nuwa fired a bolt of lightning that landed directly. It paralyzed Guernica, but she forced her body to slowly move. "The only way to survive in this world is to kick back. I'm not letting you destroy the world where I met Dragon-chan!"
"I'll...destroy it all...!" Guernica grit her teeth. In the next instant, Violet and Ella kicked at her chest, taking advantage of this chance to knock the woman down.
"This is our opening!" Fox exclaimed. From three angles, Viper, Fox, and Violet initiated an All Out Attack! Guns drawn, they began to swarm Guernica and open fire.
"GAAAAH!" Guernica was feeling the pain now. She tried to shoot back, but she just wasn't able to get a hit on them.
Viper loaded her twin machine guns with magic and open fired! An explosive blast of lightning and almighty erupted on Guernica as she landed, tilting her head back to glance at the explosion. "Just give up." And at that moment, Joker, Dragon, and Crow finished off the Shadows as well. The only thing left was...
Even after all that, Guernica was still standing, but her agony was extremely noticeable now. "DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!"
"Are you for real!?" Viper's jaw dropped.
"She's so strong...! How are we going to stop her...!?" Violet asked while sweating. They just threw everything they had at Guernica, but she was still...!
"She's rage incarnate..." Crow felt like their options were really limited. At this rate, they'd have to make a choice of her or them, and then...!
"Tao..." Luca slowly stepped forward, much to everyone's surprise. "Do you really hate this world that much...?"
"Luca-san, it's too dangerous!" Violet shouted.
"Stupid child. You're wasting your breath." Jerri scoffed.
"I do hate this world..." Guernica said with labored breaths. "Because it took away...the one thing...that mattered to me...So now I'll kill it...destroy it...if I'm going to lose it all...I might as well watch everything burn...!"
Luca shook her head slowly. "You've only lost sight of the truth. Back home, on the streets, you actually gained things too, didn't you?" In response to this, Guernica gasped softly. Luca went on. "Not just rage, either. Things like love, kindness, and family - we learned all those on the street. It was where we found our greatest treasure: hope for the future. Even when we were fighting tooth and nail to survive, we had that to keep us going. Guernica - No, Tao...you remember that, right...?"
"..." Guernica didn't respond. But she was slowly calming down... "Lu...ca...?"
Luca took a step forward, smiling gently. "If you don't have any hope...I'll give you some of mine."
"STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Jerri shouted. She was about to fly forward, but the Phantom Thieves stood in her way.
"Not happening. You're going to leave them alone." Violet demanded.
"You're donewith your tricks on them." Joker said with a low tone.
"Get out of my way right now, or I'll flay you alive!" Jerri shouted.
"Looks like your true colors are finally showing." Crow commented.
"But I already knew you were a bitch. You're next." Viper hissed. Jerri scowled in response.
"We scurried all over The Streets to get this for you, Tao. Remember our first mural?" With tears in her eyes, she held Guernica's hands within her own. That contact...began to cleanse Guernica of the hatred that was welling up within her. The skin that was pale returned to its normal tan...and her white hair turned blue. "Luca...sis...?" And then she realized that Luca had fallen to the ground, so she immediately went to cradle her in her arms. "Luca!"
Luca let out a pained laugh, but she had a smile on her face. "You finally remembered me..."
"Sis, I'm so sorry, I...!" Guernica had tears in her eyes. She remembered all the terrible things she did, and now, her sister was...!
"Don't be sorry..." Luca said, reaching up to cup Guernica's cheek. "It's just the natural way of things. And your big sis...will always be there for you. Always...Remember now...?"
Guernica held Luca's hand. This was the memory of her sister... "I do! Luca was always like that! If we didn't have enough food, Luca would just tell me she was full...Even when I knew...it wasn't true...I knew she was suffering! That's why...why I lost her...oh, Luca...!"
"And do you remember, Tao...the promise we made?" Luca whispered softly.
"Yes, I do..." Guernica sniffled. "We said we would create art that spoke for the people like us - the people on the bottom. And that our art would be so massive - and your message so loud - that no one could turn away from it...that was the promise we made together."
"That's good..." Luca nodded slowly. "Now I'm ready..." Her body was then beginning to fade away. The memory of Luca worked so hard to fight and get Guernica back to normal. Now that she had...she could finally rest.
"No, wait...!" Guernica shook her head frantically. "I can't lose you again! I can't! Luca, please...!"
"Hey, don't be so clingy..." Luca said with one final giggle. "Remember, I'll always live on through our promise, for as long as you keep it...and that's why...I know we'll be fine."
"Yeah...we will." Guernica nodded slowly.
"Well...see ya..." Luca gave her sister one last smile. With that, her spirit faded away...
"Later..." Guernica whispered. Her sister saved her yet again...
The poignant moment was shattered by Jerri's complete and utter shock. "What!? How did this happen!? Guernica shouldn't have been able to recover!"
"Well, it happened. And you'll never understand how." Violet said with a bit of bite. Jerri would never understand human emotion, or the bond between sisters. That bond the Phantom Thieves fought so hard to protect finally showed its true power.
"It's checkmate, Jerri." Dragon had her hands on her staff.
"Time to give up." Joker adjusted his glove once more. Jerri was the only one left standing.
"So, what's your next move?" Crow said while pulling out his gun. "I'd recommend surrendering. But I'd prefer cleaning up any loose ends before leaving."
"Looks like you're out of tricks." Fox said, gun at the ready.
Guernica slowly approached Jerri, looking straight at her. "Jerri..."
"Guernica!" Jerri shouted, desperately. "These wretches stand in the way of your dream! They are enemies of art! You must kill them al-!"
"Jerri, what the hell did you do to me!?" Guernica shouted. Now that she was in her right mind, she had plenty of rage and planned to funnel it into the most constructive way possible. "What did you do my my sister!? You were right about one thing: my art is fueled by rage. But my rage is at my own mistreatment! At what all the outcasts of society have suffered! How would killing everyone in the world solve that!? Jerri, you manipulated me!"
"Tch, what a joke - and a poor one, at that?" Jerri sighed.
"What was that!?" Guernica growled.
"You heard me. Who even gives a shit about art?" Jerri was done pretending now. This experiment was a complete and utter failure! "Absolute dolls who like feeling smart. People with pointless lives." The instant she finished speaking, Fox lunged at her with his sword, attempting to cut her down then and there. Of course, Jerri dodged it and flapped into the air. "You do it for representation? To speak for the unheard? There's a reason nobody listens to street trash."
"Don't you DARE talk about art, you vile monster! I'll slice you where you stand for defiling the sanctity of someone's soul with your pitch black ambitions!" Fox yelled, his rage spilling over. Viper's hand clenched into a fist; as if she didn't have enough reasons to hate this stupid bird!
"Did I touch a nerve!?" Jerri said with a mocking laugh. "Are you an artist too? Color me surprised! All you've done is hide your self gratification with a punk-flavored sugar coating of empathy!"
"You're full of SHIT, Jerri!" Guernica was beyond angry now. "What the hell do you even want with me anyway!?"
"I need your ability to influence others." Jerri answered honestly. "It's the linchpin to my plan. I'm going to amass every single pathetic human on Earth and burn them alive through their precious art! Soon there will be nothing but a serene world of ash and silence. Any flames of rebellion will be snuffed out in the fires of this destruction."
"What the hell is she talking about!?" Viper pointed at Jerri, completely confused.
"She's highly delusional." Crow spat.
"Stupid little human! You put on your intellectual airs, but you can't even grasp what I see!" Jerri shot back.
Joker knew that tone a little too well. "When you speak like that...you make me roll my eyes at the thought of fighting another higher being."
"Don't speak of things you can't comprehend!" Jerri didn't deny that accusation.
"This is not our first dealing with beings like you." Dragon pointed out. "You are no better than the previous either!"
"This idle chitchat has grown boring." Jerri was no longer in the mood to entertain these humans. "I'm merely here to carry out my duty. And I kill anything that gets in my way. Oh, but Guernica...you, I'm going to spare. When this is done, we'll have ourselves a nice, fresh start! I'll begin by scrubbing your mind until there's not a single trace of your sister left in your memory." With those words, Violet violently lunged forward with her rapier, attempting to stab Jerri for threatening that sisterly bond. Unfortunately, she missed.
"You leave Guernica alone!" Violet demanded.
"JERRI! You're dead!" Guernica howled in rage.
"This is your last stop, parrot!" Joker said while stepping forward. "We're with you, Guernica! Let's beat this bird!"
Guernica was shocked at Joker's words. "You guys..."
"We made a promise to your sister! We've got your back!" Violet said.
"Feeling better?" Viper glanced back at Guernica. "Good. because I want to wring the life out of this bird with my bare hands. But if anyone should get that honor first...it's you."
"...Thank you." Guernica nodded towards the Phantom Thieves.
"I tire of this farce! It's time to reveal my true glory!" Jerri flew into the air as pieces of the base started to spread apart. What was one a pink parrot, turned into large angelic being! This being had two arms, holding a bird's head in front of their chest. This was the true form of Jerri, towering over the Phantom Thieves. "I will kill you all where you stand, and paint this world in a tranquil color!"
"Oh...you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this." Viper said with an excited grin.
It was finally time to bring the battle in The Streets to an end! Jerri was the only thing standing between them and total victory! And the Phantom Thieves had no intention of backing down. They never did, and they never would.
