Captain Blues: And here we are, another chapter in this special.
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Sidequest Chapter Three
"I must ask, Will, why are we returning to Grand Trad? Do we have business there?" Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg inquired as she sat to his left.
Hulkenberg was a tall Roussainte woman, with blue eyes, long bright red hair with bangs that covered her forehead, and long pointed ears that had dark brown tufts on the ends. She wore a black, low-cut full-body suit with white ruffled trim along the bustline, a black bolero that ends with white buttoned cuffs, a black choker with a red flower ornament, and black high-heeled boots.
"I too am curious," Leon Strohl da Haliaetus followed as he leaned back in the chair to Will's right. "We just visited Maria just shortly before our jaunt into the Dragon Temple. What is so urgent that we must return there so soon?"
Strohl is a tall and young Clemar man with shaggy silver hair, gray eyes, and distinctive horns on the side of his head. He wore a white dress shirt with ruffled sleeve cuffs, black pants with a gray belt, a long white cravat, and brown boots.
"Especially when we have to meet with Louis fairly soon," Heismay Noctule concluded as he sat to the right of Hulkenberg with his arms crossed.
Heismay is a Eugief with red eyes and pale cream-colored fur accented with brown striping atop his head and two stripes under both eyes, two long bat ears, with his left ear having a deep horizontal cut that has partially clipped it, and bat wings under his arms.
Heismay wore black tights up to his thigh on each leg which leave his toes free to hang from surfaces and a triangular navy garment with a loose white cloth around his neck which laces along his shoulders.
"I know it's short notice," Will told three of his companions, with only Junah, Basilio, Fidelio, and Eupha missing as Junah was talking to the two Magnus brothers and Eupha sleeping in her bed. "But it's imperative that we get there as soon as possible."
"He's right," Gallica told the others. "And when we get there, we should prepared for a battle."
"A battle?" Strohl asked. "Is it another contender to the throne?"
"No," Will said. "But it is someone that will determine if we're strong enough to take down Louis."
"Who determined such a thing?" Hulkenberg inquired. "Was it one of the brothers?"
"I, too, am curious," Heismay followed. "Who is our challenger and how will he determine our strength?"
"His name is Amamiya Ren," Gallica answered. "We were told that he has power similar to your archetypes. It is known as a…Persona. He's extremely versatile and strong. Thankfully, there is only one of him, so it should be easy."
"Do not underestimate him," Hulkenberg said. "I made the same mistake of underestimating that cruel assassin that struck the prince down, though they were only one opponent. And with our upcoming battle with Louis, there may be a chance he fights alone as well."
"Persona?" Strohl repeated. "How strange. However, I am sure that his Persona will not hold a candle to that of our heroic will. But I ask, where did you both find this information?"
"An informant," Gallica answered before Will could open his mouth. "Back on the islands."
The three nodded.
"Very well," Heismay said. "Metal is tested within the forge to determine its ability in a life or death situation. I say we welcome this challenge."
"I concur," Hulkenberg agreed. "This test could prove that we are capable of saving the prince…We have two days before we reach the mainland and another two days before we reach Grand Trad. We'll have plenty of time to train."
"However, that brings up a new issue," Heismay stated. "The two Paripus. They will not take it kindly for us not to return to Louis in Altabury Heights with Drakodios in hand in a timely matter. How shall we handle their scrutiny?"
"We're letting Junah handle that," Will answered. "We already told her what was going on before we left so she's running defense."
"Yeah, and since we know Fidelio is sweet on her, he'll cave…eventually," Gallica said with a smug expression.
"True…Truthfully, I am glad to be returning to Grand Trad," Strohl sighed. "It would be nice to see Maria and Fabienne again. I missed them terribly."
Will and Gallica exchanged sly looks. It was no secret that Strohl was sweet on Fabienne. Grius even teased the noble about his crush on Fabienne when the two met.
Will couldn't help but smile warmly at the memory.
[Scene Change: Royal Capital Grand Trad – Hushed Honeybee Inn (Night - Flashback)
Theme of Hushed Honeybee Inn: Breakfast at the Inn from Metaphor: ReFantazio]
"Will. I'm going to heighten your hearing but don't react to anything," Gallica warned Will with a stern expression.
"What? Why?" Will asked.
Gallica shushed him and uttered a small spell before Will was able to overhear Grius and Strohl's conversation.
"Boy," Grius' gruff voice started. "You're hiding something, aren't you? I saw it in your eyes when you met Fabienne. I know tension when I see it, boy."
"What?" Strohl's panicked voice replied.
"Out with it!" Gruis demanded. "What do you know about this Inn's circumstances?!"
"What? Uh..uh..nothing!" Strohl hastily replied, stumbling over his words. "I mean…it's just…she's, y'know, I'm..I'm not—" Strohl took a shaky breath. "I-I'm not trying to hide anything! I'm just trying not to embarrass myself."
There was a moment of silence before Grius' demanding tone faded away into heartfelt laughter. "So that's it," Grius laughed. "All that bluster and nobility in battle, but one pretty lady, and you turn to mush. Say no more, lad, say no more."
"Oh shut it!" Strohl exclaimed.
Will and Gallica immediately started to snicker under their breath before they exploded into laughter.
[Scene Change: Gauntlet Runner – Hushed Honeybee Inn (Daytime - Present)
Theme of Gauntlet Runner (Ground): Journey's Legs from Metaphor: ReFantazio]
It was the first, and last time, they heard Grius laugh and Will cherished the memory. And deep down, he knew that Strohl did too, despite his growing crush on Grius' former paramour. Gallica often teased Strohl about it, leaving the normal steadfast noble a flustered mess. However, since Grius' passing, Gallica and Will noticed that Fabienne seemed to be excited to see Strohl as well.
Perhaps Strohl's crush wasn't so one-sided anymore…
"I miss Maria too," Will agreed. "If it wasn't so dangerous and if Fabienne wouldn't be alone, I'd love to have her aboard. But, with her work in feeding the homeless, she's keeping herself busy."
"Perhaps in a time of peace, we can afford to bring her along," Hulkenberg said with a small smile. "But, that is for the future. For now, we must ensure that there will be a time of peace."
"And the only way to do that is to take down Louis," Will said with determination in his eyes.
And the penultimate step was taking down his stand-in, Amamiya Ren.
[Scene Change: Royal Capital Grand Trad – Hushed Honeybee Inn (Inside)
Theme of Hushed Honeybee Inn: Breakfast at the Inn from Metaphor: ReFantazio]
Ren knew from his grumbling stomach that he was hungry but he didn't know how hungry he was until he took a bite of the Redgrass-Roasted Bidou. From the first bite, he immediately understood how Ryuji would lose his mind over deliciously cooked meat.
From there, it was like a voracious beast took over his body.
Five servings deep into the food and he felt like he could still go for more.
"I see that you're enjoying the meal," a deeply attractive voice teased, prompting Ren to look up from his plate, only to nearly have a heart attack at the sight of the woman. The pale-skinned, golden-eyed woman had ash-blonde hair with fox ears and a tail to match, a gray dress with lacy black sleeves attached that formed her body so well, Ren was unable to stop gawking at her curves, and black boots.
"I-I'm…" Ren struggled to find the words.
"Mum! Ren's face is getting so red," Maria giggled while the woman chuckled softly, further deepening Ren's embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry," Ren apologized. "I didn't mean to stare." He hadn't felt this flustered since he met Tae the first few days in Shibuya.
"Do not be embarrassed," the woman consoled, a warm smile on her face. "I tend to get those types of looks everywhere I go. I'm quite used to it." She held out her hand toward him. "My name is Fabienne Lagopus Vulpes. I'm the fine owner of the Hushed Honeybee Inn."
"A-Amamiya Ren," Ren introduced, his face still flustered as he shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Fabienne."
"Likewise," Fabienne smiled. "My daughter told me that you're new to Grand Trad. How are you enjoying your experience here?"
"Truthfully, I haven't seen much," Ren admitted. "I kind of just woke up in front of your establishment. I don't how I got here or why I'm even here. I don't even know how long I'll even be here…"
"Hm, I see," Fabienne murmured before she placed a loving hand on Maria's head. "Maria? Would you be so kind as to show him around Grand Trad? It would be good for him to experience the capital."
Maria hummed in agreement and bobbed her head.
"Meanwhile, I have an unused room that you can stay in for the night," Fabienne continued. "Free of charge."
"R-Really?" Ren stammered. "Are you sure?"
"I am sure. Maria made sure to vouch for you," Fabienne replied.
Ren looked at Maria, whose small cheeks reddened. "Thank you, Maria," Ren thanked.
Maria ducked her head with a smile.
"Well, I guess I should eat before I take this tour, yeah?" Ren smiled.
"Then we'll leave you to it," Fabienne told him before she ushered Maria away, leaving Ren to his half-finished sixth plate. He continued to eat while his thoughts took him to his team.
Despite finding himself enjoying the food and the two people he'd met so far, he knew that he had a mission to do in his world and had to return to it soon. But how long would it take, he wondered.
"I wonder too," Pixie's voice said. "This world feels strange to me."
Ren jumped and whirled around to see Pixie floating and tangible. "Pixie? What are you doing here? How are you here? I didn't summon you." Ren asked her.
"I don't know," Pixie answered with a frown. "I felt this strange magic and I found myself here. Why was I the one that woke up?"
"Woke up?" Ren asked.
[Theme of Sea of Souls: Poem of Everyone's Soul (Arrange Version) from Megami Ibunroku Persona]
Pixie nodded and replied, "Yeah. When we aren't in that other world, we sleep within the sea of your soul until you call upon us and our powers. I was sleeping when I heard a female voice, beckoning me to awaken…And then I came here…"
Ren blinked and stared down at his food.
That was a piece of information he wasn't expecting.
His personas…They slept within his soul until they entered the Metaverse.
"Wait, so does that mean Arsène is there as well?" Ren asked.
"Arsène?" Pixie questioned, her face twisted into a confused expression. "No…I don't think he was there when I awakened."
"I see…" Ren frowned. "And you're certain that the others remained asleep?"
Pixie nodded.
Ren furrowed his brow.
"Do you remember what the voice said to you?" Ren asked.
[Theme of Heed Thy Call: Prelude to a Heroic Tale -another version- from Metaphor: ReFantazio]
Pixie frowned and looked at the ceiling. "I do…that voice, she said, 'Hark: Child born within the sea of souls, heed thy call. Guide the 'Resilient Lodestar of the Wild Card' through this unknown world, til his fated duel,'" Pixie recited.
"Resilient Lodestar of the Wild Card?" Ren repeated. "The hell is a Lodestar?" Pixie shrugged. "Ah well, then I guess you're with me, Pixie."
"As I always am," Pixie smiled.
[Theme of Hushed Honeybee Inn: Breakfast at the Inn from Metaphor: ReFantazio]
"But…um…I feel a strange sensation in my stomach at the scent of that stuff," Pixie held her stomach with a confused expression on her face.
Ren stared at her for a moment before he smiled.
"I think that's called "hunger" Pixie. Come, let's share this last plate," Ren said as he held out the plate for her.