Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
4/30
"So…A Palace is the innerworld of a person, and a Treasure is the keystone to their distortion… Removing the Treasure removes the distortion forcing a change in their cognition leading them to understand their wrong doings?" Hakuno had heard a lot of weird things and done some stranger things… but talking to a cat while she drank tea on the school roof about how a different world worked was… an experience.
"Yes, Treasures are something that represents the person, such as the case with Kamoshida's medal, in the Cognitive world it was a Crown because from his point of view he was king of his castle." Morgana made sense.
It reminded her of something she couldn't remember… that's been happening more and more…
Ann and her friends had decided to leave Morgana with Hakuno as they chatted, leaving the two on the school roof. Apparently it's their idea for a hideout.
"So tell me more about your world, what was it like?" Morgana seemed to say it a bit stiff… but she wasn't sure if it was because he was a cat or not…
"The Earth that I lived in was… different, a few changes in history but most of all was Magecraft and the Great Collapse of 1970, where all the Mana left the world… and with it life and other natural resources dried up, at least that's what I was told."
"What do you mean?"
Hakuno debated with herself for a moment before stopping, "The world was already at war by the time I was born, then I was put in cryosleep due to having an incurable memory related illness. Leading to my participation," She used that word lightly, "in the Holy Grail War."
"So it was a war for the Holy Grail?" Morgana's tail swished.
"Not really a war.. More like a tournament? You only fought one person at a time… There was also the Sak-" Hakuno clutched her head.
"Hakuno you ok!?" Morgana was by her side in a moment.
"I'll be fine… just some memories are harder to remember… "Hakuno wasn't sure why but she has grown to accept it. "The Holy Grail could grant wishes… so it was a contest to see who could obtain it amongst the Wizards."
"... How about you tell me about your magic?" Morgana looked unconvinced but Hakuno just scratched his ear.
"Code Casts, you can think of it like programming… just in the digital world it was influenced by your Soul and had actual affects… I wasn't too good at it. Could only use them because certain items had them built in."
"Hmmm very different from Personas, They are a part of us… Anyone with a Rebellious Spirit could awaken one, if the right conditions are met they are a part of our Soul in a way." Hakuno nodded, they seemed like a weaker Servant… without the ability to form in the real world.
"Similar to Heroic Spirits… in a way. They are legends made real… I had two" Hakuno stopped herself from saying four, "Caster and Saber, Servants are separated into classes, their true names hidden from the other contestants… more so if you have one with an obvious weakness."
"Do you think your friends would be able to turn me back to human?"
Hakuno saw the pure desperation in his eyes as she petted his head, "They would be… if they could come here. I'm sure of it. I'm sorry I can't help you… But I do understand your wish.. More than others would."
There was shuffling at the rooftop door as it was pulled open, familiar red eyes appeared looking slightly annoyed, "Hakuno…"
Hakuno gave her a weak smile, "Sorry… Was just here to get some fresh air… I'll take Kurusu's cat with me."
"I AM NOT A CAT." Morgana complained as she scooped him up with her bag.
"It's ok…" Makoto looked behind her, "I planted the bugs, Kamoshida taking a temporary leave was good timing."
Hakuno nodded, now knowing that the bugs were useless… as he himself would confess soon enough…
"Thank you Makoto, hopefully we find some good evidence." Hakuno didn't like lying to her friend because it hurt something deep inside of her.
She could still feel the iron in her mouth as she watched her friend d-
Hakuno attempted to smile, "I'll talk to you later, be safe Makoto."
"Hey guys I got some new info." The group met up in Akira's room above Leblanc as Morgana informed them of their talk.
"So Miss Prez actually bugged Kamoshida's office!?" Ann couldn't help but be surprised, after all she has only seen Makoto suck up to the teachers…
Maybe she isn't so bad…
"Do you think Hakuno could get more of those bugs?" Akira asked and Ann had no idea where she even got the ones in the first place.
"But I think I got our way there! We should be able to get to it directly! She was able to get to it from the internet."
"We just have to make sure that she doesn't find out about this."
"Internet… Wizards… this is just getting weirder and weirder…" Ryuji mumbled.
"Well… let's check it out!"
"WAIT!"
Hakuno sneezed. She might be getting a cold. Hakuno shrugged as she continued their grocery shopping. Deciding to buy some cold medicine just in case.
Akira took a quick scan around him, when he heard the keyword was Ocean, he was half expecting to be on a boat, or submarine or anything really.
But this was under the sea. And they were totally fine in breathing. He could barely make out distant buildings and can see the outline of glass leading them down as if they were hallways.
But what was most shocking was rings in the sky acting as a sun. And they were on fire… because of course they were. He picked at his red gloves as he took time to look around.
"Skull! Quit jumping into things!"
"Sorry." Skull attempted to look admonished but it failed.
"Oh? What are you four doing here? This is no place for kids."
Akira and the rest of the thieves froze, as a man appeared in front of them, out of nowhere. Half his body was broken and jagged flakes of his body reformed and disappeared at random times, his red cloak and black armor not hiding any weapons.
"What cat got your tongue?" Morgana, their resident cat and his roommate perked up from that.
"I AM NOT A CAT!"
The man lazily looked down at him as Akira brought out his knife. Akira felt his Third Eye flare as the man showed up as nothing.
"Tsk. Could've fooled me."
"Who the hell are you!"
"Isn't it proper to give your name first. Afterall you are in our home." Akira watched the man carefully, every warning signal in his head going off as his Personas stayed silent.
Morgana crept up to Akira and whispered, "This is a powerful cognition… we should be careful."
"Skull, Mona, Panther and Joker."
"Hmmm. Fake names. Good, you four should leave. Before any of the others find you. Your presence is Loud and Irritating."
"What was that you bastard?" Skull was easily riled up and Ann held his arm back.
"Skull calm down." Ann took a breath as she continued, "Is this Hakuno's Palace?"
The guy looked irritated, "Don't speak our Master's name. Leave, Phantom Thieves."
"I WON'T LEAVE!" Ann yelled, "She is my family, I just want to help her."
A silent staring match occurred between them, the man in red frowned and then shook his head turning his back to the party until a large pillar of fire erupted from the distance smashing into a pillar of ice.
The Man in Red looked even more irritated, "Fine. Come with me. I know a safe spot, the rest are on their way and you don't want them to see you..."
The guy in red led them to a hole in the mirror paths. Ann was hesitant to go in, but he seemed to walk through the weird water that surrounded it leading to a small cave.
"You can call me Archer… We should be safe here, except if Goldy gets his ass up. But the Bastard won't leave his den." He sat down at the face of the cave, keeping an eye on the Ice and Flame battle in the distance.
"I know what you thieves do. And I hate to break it to you, but the Treasure in this place is drastically different then any other ones you might any of those Shadows those have been taken care of already."
Ann looked down at Morgana who was shaking like a leaf, "He is right… There are no Shadows in the whole palace… how is that possible?"
"This isn't a Real Palace… It's closer to a pseudo-Palace, an incomplete copy of the Moon Cell Automaton, a perfect place to hide someone broken."
"You four are in a three way battle, for the Sovereign of the Moon, or as you know her… Hakuno Kishinami."
"Why do you call her that?"
"Hmmm… She didn't explain the Holy Grail War did she…" Archer looked… perplexed?
A coughing fit was heard from deeper in, "Archer… where are you?" Ann heard shuffling as…
"And here comes.. What you see is the closest thing to Treasure that is here."
A girl in a long flowing white dress with a small green sash around her waist approached, her brown eyes looking at the group, it was Hakuno.
Hakuno twirled her pen as she finished her homework, checking the time Hakuno decided she wanted to check the one way she kind of had to see if Futaba wanted to talk…
They played an MMO called… Innocent Sin 2… she would check at random times to see if she could catch Futaba…
She never did.
And this time was the same as the rest, not online for years now. She sighed as she logged off, patting the gifted computer maybe… maybe she should stop. She sighed as she stood up, 'Maybe I should get a part time job to keep busy…'
She felt her phone buzz.
:Kamoshida won't be in for the next week.
Hakuno nodded to herself as she replied to Makoto,
:Ok, Not sure if we wll find anything soon he seemed spooked.
:Hey… Hakuno. You don't intend to join the student council right?
Hakuno sighed, she really didn't… something about being part of it made her thoughts on edge.
:No srry but we can stay friends?"
:I would like that, Sorry I have to go, my sis is here.
:Good Night.
Hakuno had a small smile on her face as she got up. She felt the need to cook something… Maybe she should try her hand at curry again?
The last few times didn't end well… But she feels like she can do it this time.
Archer had taken her hand. Comfort.
Hakuno smiled softly, "Who are you?"
"Master… you should be in bed, you need to rest."
"I'm tired of being in bed…" Hakuno was tired of being tired… Ever since they got here she has been getting more and more tired… she wasn't sure why.
And now there are People here!
She has to know what the world is like!
"You're cute." Hakuno had let go of Archer's hand as she cupped the strange chibi cat. It started purring!
"H-hey Hakuno. Do you know who I am?"The girl in red spoke, she was cute too.
Hakuno shook her head. Memories.. Came hard to her, she knows Archer. Her Protector.
"Yo dude." The guy in the skull mask and the fluffy boy went to the back to talk to Archer.
Archer will be fine, he is Archer afterall.
"Hey Hakuno.. Can you tell me about Archer?"
Hakuno's eyes shined, "Archer is Archer… he makes sure I'm safe. But he has always been with me. He protected me from the others~"
"The others?" The cat spoke.
The Cat spoke.
Hakuno hugged the cat's head.
"Careful!"
"Mmm the others… they are someone. Somewhere? I haven't seen them in a looooong time. I do… miss them though?"
Ryuji was hella confused.
That sadly isn't something new to him, but this whole Palace was fucking wack.
"She doesn't know us?"
"This…" Archer looked in pain? "Is Hakuno as she would be… if she was just her Body and a small sliver of her Mind to keep her stable, she is the missing part of the one outside…"
"What the heck does that mean?"
The dude sighed, "A person is three parts… a Mind, Body, Soul. Each part is an aspect of them, the Hakuno you know is mostly the Mind and Soul that ended the Holy Grail War."
"She did mention she won…" Akira noted, but what the fuck does that mean. This is all getting complicated even more so.
"What even is the Grail War thing?"
Archer paused and closed his eyes. Ryuji was tired of waiting, he was tired of all this confusing shit.
"If you know this.. You may not be able to face her again."
"You wanna bet!? Hakuno is Ann's cousin!" Ryuji was heated up, he was pissed.
"I see…"
"The Holy Grail War is a war where you execute your opponents where you have no choice but to fight or die and the trophy was a wish… she doomed a world to its death. All so an AI can have her own wish." Archer spoke slowly, and for once.
Ryuji didn't know what to say.
Author's Note: Yeahhhhhh We see good ole Curious bubble Hakuno~.
Her Body went through the CCC incident and is the same Body she faced in the finale of the Holy Grail War detailed as Fate/Extella Zero. I'm basing her Body off of what I remember her being like in the beginning of her route in Extella.
Anyways.
Cyall next time.