Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
Yet another extra chapter… I really need to slow down a bit before I burn out.
5/4
Ann picked up the crimson ring, a small amount of mist distorting the surroundings. A hazy scene covered the throne retelling something.
The two girls sat on a throne, Hakuno was brushing the other's Golden Hair lightly, "Tell me.. Another wish you have for the Holy Grail Nero."
"Umu I don't really care about the Holy Grail… I have no desire that needs to be fulfilled with a miracle… But.. Well, I have a simple wish. I would want someone by my side when I die. Dying alone was so… lonely."
"Then I swear I will not leave you alone, Saber. If you want someone to be by your side when you die… My wish is to be by your side until the very end, beloved."
The scene changed, the girl in white sat upon her throne unmoving as the one in red rested her golden hair on her arm, "My beloved… Altera's army is at the gates… Gawain has held them off for as long as he could…Please… Wake up. With you at our side we can still win this."
Ann threw the ring away as if it shocked her. Archer quickly grabbed it before it clattered on the floor.
"A Will Seed…"
"This… is part of her. A her from another time, someone she has to accept that she was."
Ann watched as he carefully placed it in one of his pockets, "I will hold onto it until we get the other piece."
"Great… more timeline bullshit."
"Will Seeds typically show the source of the Trauma… Maybe the others will show her real timeline?"
Archer grunted as they made their way slowly back to the cave in silence, Ann watched as parts of the castle began to fall apart, turning to dust behind them.
"I think we should take the next few days off, Hakuno's Palace is small and we just finished a hard fight." Akira brought up as they were leaving.
Archer nodded, "That's reasonable."
5/5
Hakuno was feeling light headed as she sat down on the train. She wasn't sure why… maybe she was getting sick? She made a mental note to head to the do- oh wait… she hasn't looked for a new doctor yet…
When did she become scatterbrained?
Hakuno shook her head, Ann and her friends were going to a buffet to celebrate the Phantom Thieves victory against Kamoshida leaving Hakuno to figure out what to do with her day.
She wonders if they will continue the whole Phantom Thief business… probably to find a way to help Morgana? She should ask them about it later.
Hakuno looked at her phone, Makoto was busy as well, apparently the principal had a job for her? Hakuno sighed as she put away her phone. She should catch up on her studying…
Perhaps she should go visit Shiho with Ann soon.
Making her way to her and Ann's apartment only took her a moment and putting away the few groceries she bought took even less time.
Pumping herself up for another dull session she took out her textbooks. Until her phone buzzed.
Makoto: Hey… Hakuno, Has Ann said anything about the Phantom Thieves?
Hakuno thought for a moment before responding.
Hakuno: She did want to thank them for what they did to Kamoshida.
Makoto: ... Alright thanks
May 6th
Ann noticed Hakuno was getting tired more often. Typically between the two she was the one that was late in the morning.
But lately it has been the opposite, at least the last few days.
"We need to be better prepared next time we go into Hakuno's Palace, Nero showed that we lack quite a bit of power to deal with stronger enemies. We should also see if there are any accessories to boost us."
"We could practice in Mementos, that… Phan-Site Mishima made should have some leads now, you mentioned that we can find some smaller dudes Shadows in there?"
Morgana nodded, "I was hoping to start exploring after Hakuno's Palace but with Hakuno's being so difficult… I feel like going and taking care of some small fry will be better first."
"Then let's see if we can't find anyone…"
"Oo look, we found a hit. A Natsuhiko Nakanohara, seems that he has been stalking his ex-girlfriend. Sounds like a scumbag that is perfect for us to deal with."
"Let's train the rest of the day today, and tomorrow take a rest. Then we can try and face Caster."
Seeing their nods Akira activated the Meta-Nav.
5/7
"Madarame huh… Where have I heard that name before…" Ann muttered.
"Is this more Phantom Thief business?" Hakuno asked as she and Ann were eating dinner. Hakuno vaguely could tell something was bothering her…But if Ann didn't want to say anything…
"Hmm oh yeah, just the name sounds familiar. Do you have any ideas?" Hakuno thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"None come to my mind… Other than the Artist? He is fairly popular. Is he your guy's next target?" Ann sighed.
"Not too sure… A Shadow mentioned him by name, but we don't even know if it's the same guy. Have you… been feeling ok Hakuno?"
Hakuno blinked at the change in conversation, "Just.. a bit tired, it's fine."
"Mhm… You have to be a bit more careful on the trains, I've been getting some weird feelings lately."
"Ann… you're a model, I'm not… Are you ready for your exams?"
Ann's eyes grew wide. "Shut up… They start soon huh."
Hakuno nodded which led to Ann having a grim look on her face.
"Hakunoooo"
"We can try and do some last minute cramming…"
5/8
Hakuno was growing bored… Archer and the others left, she knows that Archer wants her to be safe, as the cave is safe.
She isn't too sure what the cave is safe from but Archer told her that so it must be true. But… her curiosity is mounting…
Hakuno stood from her bed.
She is going to follow them!
"I see… You are here for my piece as well. Have you no shame, Nameless." The woman in blue spoke, as her fox ears and tails showed how annoyed she was with the group.
"Tamamo, You know as well as I do that she needs to be free."
"SHUT UP! You are the one that failed her! All those times! YOUR TIMELINE ENDED! Ours didn't! WE STILL HAD A CHANCE!"
"Hakuno… is living a great life in the real world. She has family and friends that care about her!"
"Oh? And you petty thieves are the ones giving courage to Nameless here? Do you even know the sins of the man you walk beside?"
Akira watched as Archer sighed, "This talk is going nowhere." Archer drew back his black bow and fired.
A mirror came from behind and stopped the arrow, "You are facing Tamamo-no-Mae, bunrei of Amaterasu! You will not take Hakuno from me!"
Bunrei… A part of the god of the sun!?
Akira dodges quickly as his mind's eye tells him of the incoming bolt of fire, switching to Succubus he is slightly annoyed he removed Jack-O-Lantern, the two Servants of Hakuno seem to love fire.
"Tch." Panther was throwing around Agi's to counter the waves of fire.
"CURSE:FRIGID HEAVEN!"
A pillar of ice hit Panther and froze her, quickly running through his options he switched to Pixie to heal as he gave her used the Nohar-M thawed her instantly though she was still greatly wounded.
"Tamamo can cast multiple elemental magic!" Archer shouted as he fired arrow after arrow at the Caster.
"Then I'll just hit her where it hurts!" Ryuji managed to somehow dodge the waves of elemental magic and smash his Hell Slugger into her…
Which she caught with her mirror in her hands.
"Tough, aren't you!" She said as she flipped backwards, "I know martial arts as well!" She sent several jabs at Ryuji who barely braced himself as the hits landed.
"I got you Skull!" Morgana said as a familiar green aura covered him.
"Tch. Stupid Cat."
"I AM NOT A CAT!"
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR IT!" Akira managed to say as he managed to get a stab into her side she managed to get away with only a knick but it was the first time they were able to hit her.
Akira counts that as a win.
"Charm: Spirit Theft!" Akira didn't know what to expect, but her taking a weird pose and then dashing towards them wasn't what he was really expecting
Losing a bit of his mental willpower was even more disturbing. He could feel his connection to his Persona's growing a bit fuzzy as he switched to Obariyon to counter her now physical damage.
She swung her mirror to the side to stop another arrow letting Ann hit her with a spray of bullets where she grunted a bit in pain.
"Batter up!" Ryuji swung with all the force he could muster as his bat hit her mirror causing it to go flying off of her for a second.
She didn't look surprised as she threw more Ofunda containing her weird spells.
Fire, Ice, and Wind were summoned as Akira wracked his brain to figure out which Persona he could call upon and pulled forth Kelpie while he did his best to dodge.
"Sukukaja!" Buffing his speed even further he managed to do a few pot shots with his pistol before having to continue to dodge.
"Well now…" The group was pushed back as she summoned a large Chaos Heaven blocking their ranged attacks.
She looked to be hurt, a few of the arrows were still snapped off inside of her and her mirror hung lower. Akira did his best to ignore the black looking blood that clung to her now ruined miko outfit. He could feel waves of energy coming off of her as she began to speak.
"God who resides in Izumo.
Aesthetically certain,
Breath of the soul.
Residing in the mountains and watery heavens, Amaterasu."
"GET BACK!" Archer shouted.
"From the imperial graves… neverending from the underworld…"
The group scattered to find any cover as she rose into the air. Akira was already feeling the wave of lethargy of using a Rakukaja on everyone.
Special Torii gates appeared as she jumped from one to another, "Overturning and returning are the marks of Yomi, falling over and down the Ifuya hills…"
She rose even higher as she spoke numerous balls of fire and ice now surrounded her causing Ren to gulp in fear.
'So this… is a Noble Phantasm'
He switched to his Succubus to resist the flames as she finished the balls of Ice and Flame came crashing down on them.
"I CALL FORTH THE YAKUSAIKAZUCHI NO KAMI!"
Akira could barely make out glowing green flashes appear as he could barely make out his friends using either Dia or medicine to heal.
Akira gulped and was thankful that none of them were weak to flames as another larger ball of flame was thrown down onto them.
"HERE'S ONE MORE!"
They were all greatly injured, but they survived, Akira quickly drank some more of Takemi's medicine. Akira could see Morgana pushing a Revivadrin into Ann and Ryuji's respective mouths.
"I see… this… is where I fade…"
The fox bunrei was already half dissolved as the smoke cleared, The group barely got back to the center where she was.
"Is… is she happy in her life?"
"Yes… she has friends, a mom and a dad that love her. She goes to school."
Tamamo let out a soft chuckle, "I bet she looks beautiful in her uniform… she did the last time. Her amazing shining soul…"
"Make sure… she doesn't fall in love again." Tamamo said as she faded away, leaving a small blue ring.
Archer walked over and picked it up, another scene playing.
Golden rings fell as The Blue Fox and Her Master were standing in front of a Cube of deep blue, signs of battle where all around them and a man in white layed on a coffin turning into pure data. "Your wish… will doom the world."
"I know."
"You still wish to continue?"
"I do."
"Then good luck. Oh Great Sinner. Perhaps.. Humanity will have a chance… if they do not repeat their failures again."
They watched as Hakuno nodded, and with tears in her eyes Tamamo and her touched the core of SERAPH
"Moon Cell Automaton, Holy Grail of Seraph grants us our wish. Return everything as it was… Reset it back and give Humanity a second chance."
Another Will Seed… "We will need a few days of rest. And we have exams coming up so we will be busy…We are also…" Akira looked at his group.
"Not one-hundred percent sure we will change her heart yet. Coming here originally was to get her side of the story, not about other timelines."
"Her memory is getting spotty, but I think… we will talk to her about it after our exams." Ann stated.
Archer looked like he had both feet in the grave as he nodded, "I understand. Decide amongst yourselves, I will keep my Master safe here. I will find a way to contact you if something happens."
Hakuno watched the fight from a distance, she nearly screamed when she saw them engulfed by a large flame. But calmed down when the memory played, an unknown emotion flashed inside of her as she raced back to their cave, the scene from before playing over and over again in her head.
'What am I?'
Unknown to the girl, her shadow split and shook as something with yellow eyes stepped out breathing its first breath.
"You are the sinner, you're the one who is dead."
Hakuno froze as she heard her own voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Who are you!?"
The look-alike with gleaming yellow eyes stood in front of her blocking her path to the safety of the cave.
"Come on, Hakuno Kishinami, or is it HAKUNO, or perhaps Hakunon, we are the same, failed timelines, ones whose base wish was never truly granted."
"Shut up."
"All the deaths, murders, all we wanted to do was live. We never did care about the people we stepped on, the people we used. The fools we called friends."
"SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Come onnnnnn Hakuno, you know I only speak the truth. Afterall I am you."
"YOU'RE NOT ME!"
The yellow eyes shone with unnatural light and her smile became unearthly large as Hakuno screamed.
"You don't feel anything about lying to those thieves. Do you Faker?"
"Of course not, our duty is to help our Master."
"We will fail."
"I know, but we must try. How long do you need?"
"A month at most, to make this King do so much work… Creating a whole new Mind and Soul is taxing. That fool better be grateful after this."
Author's Note: I felt this was a good spot to end it. Each Hakuno is a 'dead end' Hakuno, Nero's was her ending in Extella while Tamamo's was a variant ending for the Fate/Extra Last Encore anime. Archer's ending is the dead end Body's ending.
So to explain, to my knowledge Morgana only said he doesn't know what could happen to someone in their own palace, and at the end of the base game, Mementos, which is everyone's Palace, people are just fine for the most part. Under control, yes. But not dead or anything. And this Hakuno which is the Body that clung onto Hakuno as OUR Hakuno made her wish is in a place similar enough to be considered a Palace. That's why it's a 'fake' palace.
I never did say it was our Hakuno's Palace did I.