Time of the long awaited ninth chapter of the Crimson Arc, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Crimson Arc Chapter 9
Velvet Room Lockdown
Aqua arrives at the Central Street and she takes out one of the Frei cards and hands it to Ame-no-Uzume "Here you need to learn this for the Wardens."
"Alright then understood." Ame said nodding and learns the skill
Aqua smiles and enters the Velvet Room.
After she entered Gardine notices something and lets out "Hm?"
"Ooh, that's…!" Galla also notes as he and Gardine notice Ame.
"I see you have brought us an Ame-no-Uzume with Frei." Gardine said nodding.
"Heh…Very well. Your assignment's done." Galla said with a smile.
"That is good to hear." Aqua said sitting down on the ground.
"It is commendable that you have chosen to work so diligently toward your rehabilitation." Gardine said smiling.
"Hmph. I guess at least you've got the will to work." Galla just said to that.
"Of course." Aqua said with a nod.
"Don't give me that smug attitude! This is your duty, inmate!" Galla told her.
"That said, you have completed the task surprisingly easily." Gardine said thinking.
"You might actually be worth out time after all." Galla said nodding. "Gardine, tell her, her next task. It's on that list, right?"
"Indeed…" Gardine said nodding pulling up the list on her holo-pad "Now then, I will assign your next task. Be aware that the tasks on this list will increase in difficulty as we go. Are you prepared?"
"Wait, wait, what list?" Aqua asked confused.
Galla bangs his baton onto the cell door and said "You don't have the right to be asking us questions! Your only response should be, 'Yes, sir or ma'am!'"
"Is something the matter?" Yen Sid asked looking up from his desk "It's quite noisy over there."
"N-Not at all, Master…The inmate was just being disrespectful…" Galla said a bit nervous.
"Our apologies." Gardine added to that.
"…Very well. Continue on with the rehabilitation." Yen Sid said going back to his own work.
The two cyborg Pokemon turn back to Aqua and Galla the Gallade said to Aqua "Listen up, Inmate. We're going out of our way to help you here. So you'd better give this everything you've got! Are we clear?!"
"Of course, I was only curious." Aqua said nodding as she feels her bond with Galla and Gardine growing deeper. Indeed she sees the Strength Arcana card go up to Rank 2.
"Once again, we would like to bestow a new privilege upon you…" Gardine the Gardivoir tells Aqua and explained "However, it is exceedingly powerful. We ask that you fulfil another task before receiving it."
Galla snickers and said "Life isn't going to just hand you success!"
"Understandable" Aqua said as she goes to stand up.
"Now, I will assign you your next task…" Gardine said checking the list "Try to harbor a Flauros with Tarukaja within you. You only need to speak with us once you optain it. We will be able to tell."
"Got it?! A Flauros! With the skill Tarukaja!" Galla states
"I know." Aqua said nodding.
"Hmmm…I think you can make that now" Eligor states to Aqua.
"Yes, he along with Berith and Orobas are the three needed to make Flauros" Matador said.
"Then I will go ahead" Aqua said as she stummons forth the two missing pieces then use Advanced Fusion to summon the red fiery leopard demon Flauros ensuring he had Tarukaja as one of the inherited skills.
"I am Flauros." The new Persona announces "I shall become a fiery mask of thine, with my powers to see the past and future…"
"Well welcome to the time Flauros" Aqua said taking the new mask, she then resummons Eligar and Orobas "Hey, got that penal labor you asked of me."
"You did indeed bring a Flauros with the skill Tarukaja." Gardine said smiling. "That completes your current assignment…"
Aqua sits back down on the floor and Galla said grinning "You're better that I thought, Inmate. I was thinking you'd just give up straight away."
"It is to be expected of the human our master saw potential in." Gardine said thinking.
"You're dedicated, I'll give you that. Just keep it up, all right?" Galla told Aqua.
"I understand." Aqua said with a nod.
"That is a find attitude to have." Gardine said smiling.
"Talk's cheap though. You're going to have to put your money where your mouth is." Galla states and looks at his sister grinning "I got to say, Gardine, it's an accomplishment that she hasn't thrown in the towel yet."
"How so?" Gardine asked confused.
"That task list you wrote. It's not only keeping her on her toes but helping her improve too." Galla explained smiling
Gardine more confused said "…Hm? I am not the one who wrote it." Galla hearing that his grin turned confused. "I have always assumed it was you…"
"What?! I don't know anything about that thing." Galla said surprised.
Gardine looks at the list and said "…I suppose now that I consider it, that list is far too precise for you to have written it."
"Quiet! You didn't need to stay that!" Galla said annoyed but pauses thinking "But wait…Who wrote it then? It wasn't our master, was it?"
"No, I have not heard him mention anything of the sort…" Gardine said shaking her head thinking "..How long have we had this list?"
"Is something wrong?" Aqua asked them.
"Sh-Shut up! Don't read too much into this!" Galla told her. "Just keep quiet and focus on finishing your tasks, Inmate!"
"Galla, should we consult with our master about this?" Gardine asked thinking. Both of them look over at Yen Sid.
"All our master told us to do is oversee the rehabilitation, and it's our duty to follow orders." Galla simply states. "We shouldn't waste his time on something this pointless."
"…Indeed. It does not matter who conceived the list." Gardine said in agreement
Galla looks at Aqua and said firmly "Now quit prying, Inmate. Got that?!"
"Of course, we will continue to offer benefits to you if you can further fulfil our tasks" Gardine explained "All that we ask is that you work hard in the duty you are assigned….We shall do the the same."
"Understood" Aqua said as she feels her bond with them grow deeper again as the Strength Arcana card went up to Rank 3 and earned a new ability Lockdown which allows Aqua to leave a Persona to learn an attribute resistance.
"As promised and you see, I have granted you an ability that will prove greatly beneficial." Gardine said nodding. "You may now place a Persona into Lockdown and train it to learn new skills."
"While you're lazily wasting away, your Persona's going to grow all on its own. Talk about hospitality! You can even leave it with some incense to increase its growth" Galla explained. "…Anyway, time for your next task! According to the list, it's…uh…What is it, Gardine?"
"The next task it…Please bring us a Phoenix with Counter. Speak to us again once you have obtained it." Gardine said. "One more thing…The next privilege we provide for you will unlock great power. Therefore, we will need you to fulfil two more tasks before we can hand it over to you."
"Heh…The world's no so easy, is it?!" Galla said grinning. "First up, bring us a Phoenix that has Counter!"
"Right." Aqua said nodding she has a Phoenix but no Counter cards so have to wait on that.
"If it you want, you can leave me in Lockdown if you want me to improve my skills." Flauros suggests.
"Good idea" Aqua said and does so leaving Flauros with an Incense MA Galla gives her before leaving Galla informs Aqua not to leave Flauro in Lockdown too long of he may leave.
Back in the real world Aqua heads to Voya-Nui to explore leads on the old man harassing people and while exploring spots a figure with swords for hands named Bob standing in an alley who upon seeing her motions for her to come over.
"Hey, you. Got a minute?" Bob asked Aqua "I am just someone who is collecting rare goods for personal reasons."
"Rare goods?" Aqua asked confused.
"Yes, you see, I knew that'd get your attention." Bob said smiling "A trader must constantly fulfil his clients needs, regardlerss of an item being sold out or worth a premium. But a lone person can only do so much. I've been racking my brain over how I'm going to purchase the item…Then you cam along my lady, and I just knew I could talk to you! What do you say? Will you help a fella collect goods?"
"Okay but what do I get in return?" Aqua asked.
"Don't worry, I have rewards ready for you. If you get me what I ask for, we'll trade. Sound fair?" Bob told her. "Just buy the item when you can, and bring it to me at any time. Unfortunately, consumer demand is always in constant state of flux. So sometimes an item you bring to me may no longer be needed. Sorry, buddy, that's just how it is."
"You know, he looks and talks funny, but depending on the item, this might not be a bad deal." Gatomon said to Aqua. "Why don't you accept the job? It sounds easy enough you just have to buy him stuff." Aqua nods in agreement
"Then we have deal. From now on, please call me Bob." Bob said smiling
"Of course, as phantom theieves, we have to be careful about procuring the item and appraising it, all right?" Gatomon tells Aqua. "I don't think this guy has any ill itentions, but he's still a bit suspicious. I don't want us to get in trouble."
"Oh, one thing I need you to remember: I don't want any trouble. Wouldn't want to burden the clients as well as myself." Bob tells Aqua. "That means no stealing! You got to buy the item through legitimate channels, got it?" Aqua nods "Good, now let's discuss our first deal. My request for today is Imported Protein, if you have one I will trade you for it with this Decorative While I have."
"Huh, that might be handy new upgrade weapon for Alexis." Aqua said smiling and accepts the trade.
"Pleasure doing buisness with you." Bob said as the two trade. He looks at the Imported Protein "Ahh, so this is whey protein made from pig's milk…No additives, artificial colouring, or preservatives! Safe for even kids to drink! I knre you would be able to deliver. I'll be counting on you again!"
Aqua then goes and sees a man talking to a worker of one of the bars and listens in. The man a Sake Reporter said "That old man hasn't come here yet. No wonder I'm drinking in peace."
The worker known as Aproned Man saying "I don't like bad-mouthing my customers, but he makes so much trouble…"
"An old man making touble…?" Gatomon whispered thinking "Hey, do you think they're talking about the elderly man causing trouble in Voya-Nui?"
The Sake Reporter sees Aqua and said "Hey, this ain't no place for a young'un like you. You looking for something around here?"
"Yeah, I am here about that elderly troublemaker." Aqua said to the two.
"Hoo boy…So even kids like you know about him." The Aproned Man said sighing.
"The old man's out of control. He takes drinks from strangers, he starts fights…And when he gets in trouble, he causes a ruckus and tries to mooch money off people." The Sake Reporter said. "What's creepy is the more trouble he makes, the wider his smile gets."
"Tell me more about him." Aqua asked.
"Oh yeah, the old man's always shouting his name over and over, Stanly Pines, right?" The Sake Reporter said.
"Yep, that's the name." The Aproned Man said nodding.
"All right, we got the name of our target!" Gatomon said smiling.
"But you know…I can't be that hard on him. He's around my dad's age." The Aproned Man added "When he complains about his joints hurting on rainy days…I can't help but feel sorry for the old man. I wish he didn't hang around here, but stayed warm with his family instead."
"You might sound awfully sympathetic but I know you really think he's a pain in the butts" The Sake Reporter told him.
"Well, yeah, I'm not denying that…" The Aproned Man said shrugging.
"His joints hurt on rainy days? Poor guy" Gatomon said sadly.
Aqua nods and leaves Voya-Nui and goes to where Optimus usually gives his speeches and approaches him.
"…Many of you suffer greatly from this distorted world of disparilty." Optimus said giving his speech "Please know that you can direct your criticism and outrage at me! I, Optimus Prime, will someday find a way to address your concerns in Captial…" Optimus then sees Aqua and said "Oh, Aqua. How's your schoolwork?"
"It's going well" Aqua said smiling
"I'm about to give a speech. Do you think you can help me with it?" Optimus asked her. "I feel more confident when you're around."
Aqua feels her bond will get stronger helping Optimus and said "Sure I can help you out."
"Well hen, let's get started." Optimus said smiling.
We then come to Optimus giving his main speech, Aqua helping by holding up his sign while standing next to him, she looks around and notices watching the speech was another Cybertronian, one who was grey with a Deception logo next to him was a Purple bot with a single yellow optic and a decepticon logo as well
"That you possess free will does not mean that you can always do as you please." Optimus said giving his speech. "To make your decisions based simply on loss and gain is to act like a sparkless machine. The reason so few people care about their fellow person is because so few have the energy to do so. We politicians have fallen short of our goal to change society. We need your support more than ever!"
"That approach isn't going to work!" The grey Cybertronian said "You have to get the voters more excited! You're going to completely lose the hearts and minds of the people."
"Again, what I'd like to say is…" Optimus said and looks in the Cybertroanins direction and optics widen "Council member Megatron!"
"It's been a long time since we last spoke." Megatron said approaching "I wanted to stop by to see how you were doing."
A while later after the speech was done and they put Optimus speech stuff away Megatron looks at Aqua and said to Optimus "Oh, you have a earthling high schooler volunteering for you, huh? My, how the times have changed. Do you know of the Teridax children or as they more publicly called the Mata-Nui Children?"
"Yes, Optimus told me about them." Aqua said nodding.
"That was nearly twenty years ago. Oh and this next to me is Shockwave my assistant" Megatron said sighing as Shockwave nods "I'm impressed that you're so interested in Galactic politics. I was a member of the Mata-Nui Children as well when Mata-Nui was in charge before his younger brother Teridax took over. Optimus and I joined the same year. I made an amazing career change, going from a Gladiator warrior to a Galatic Senator. I was elected easily, but I had no idea what I was doing." He sighs again and continued "I realized I wasn't elected on my own merit when I failed to be re-elected fro a second term." He looks to Optimus "That was true for the both of us."
"You made a great comeback, though. You're truly an inspiration." Optimus said smiling.
Megatron nods smiling "As are you, old friend. You're working harder than anyone on the campaign trail."
"Oh, there's no need for false praise to impress the girl here." Optimus told him.
"Optimus' well-informed about the inner working of politics, so I'm sure he'll be a great teacher." Megatron said to Aqua. "However, I suggest you only do as he says and not as he does, if you want to become a Galactic Senator."
"…Abd what might that mean?" Optimus asked arms folding.
"I'm guessing she doesn't know…?" Megatron asked Optimus taking the Autobot aback. "You really think you can win the election by being completely honest and making good arguments? You've got to secure votes! Or else you'll be forever known as No-Good Orian?"
"Without honesty and good arguments, there can be no political justice!" Optimus told him
"Heh…It's been a while since I've heard one of your grandiose speeches." Megatron chuckled and Optimus chuckles as well
"Miss. Aqua, was it?" Shockwave said finally speaking "May I ask, what about Optimus here drew you in?"
"It has to be his speaking skills." Aqua said thinking.
"Aqua…" Optimus said amazed by her answer.
"Well…that's quite impressive." Shockwave said "You may have the potential to become a Galactic Senator."
"Indeed, you address matters quite directly for a young earthling." Megatron said with a nod "It seems you have been taught well."
"I intend to teach him everything I know." Optimus said to the two. "That's what we agreed on."
Aqua smiles feeling her bond with Optimus grow deeper. She then sees the stars on the Sun Arcana card go up to 3 and she gained a new ability 'Fundraising' it now allows her to ask for large amounts of money during negotiations.
"By the way, how are things between you and old man Teridax?" Megatron asked Optimus.
"We're still not on speaking terms." Optimus said sighing.
"Sir, it is time for us to leave. "Shockwave said to Megatron.
"Understood" Megatron said and looks to Optimus "There's something I'd like to get your opinion on, so I'll be in touch."
"Very well." Optimus said nodding.
Megatron was about to leave with Shockwave and said "…Oh, that reminds me. You may still distrust me because of what happened with the missing party funds…But I'm not the one who pointed the finger at you. That's all I'm going to say." With that he leaves.
"Why did he have to mention that…?" Optimus said sighing hand in his face. "Ah, my apologies. That's all for today." He said to Aqua smiling "Good job…"
Aqua after getting her back and Gatomon heads home to the café but before she enters her phone rings. She answers and Optimus said "Hello. Thanks again for your help today. What a mess…Past mistakes can really come back to bite you. It's hard to feel like you've ever truly escaped them."
"Some people can fight their way back up, like Megatron…but many end up suffering under the weight of labels." Optimus explained "Even after twenty years, I'm still nothing more than No-Good Orian…But I will not give up…! It's true that I lost a lot, but…I did learn a great many things along the way. Somewhere in the middle of it all, my old stubbornness was tempered into conviction. My one redeeming quality. That is why…I want you to use your experiences to forge your own conviction."
"You think I'll ever find it?" Aqua asked.
"Don't worry. I can already see you're on your way. You just have to refine your experience into knowledge." Optimus said with a smile. "…Ah, I ended up talking longer that I expected. Well, until next time."
Aqua nods and ends the call and goes to inside to get some sleep.
Here we go another hard night done, next time the Phantom Thieves will get an offer they can't refuse.
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