Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
1st Author's Note: If you are reading this without reading the rewrite of chapter 15 I would highly recommend it as it builds off of what is happening in the new version of the chapter.
Warning for Arachnophobia in this chapter btw
5/27
Hakuno could feel something shifting. Deep within her… Her body felt on fire, the darkness was finally doing something and it felt like it was attempting to digest her…
Hakuno felt for her reserve of Od, something was forcing it to stagnate, but with a simple flex of her circuits it responded to her as if it was waiting for her. She forced it to circulate as she pushed her hand into the darkness.
Ann wasn't expecting Archer to be able to rewrite the Metaverse with a fucking chant.
Ann was forced to dodge as blades came from the ground as he entered Melee with Joker, Fox, and Skull. The three close range specialists of their little group were having a hard time dodging the thousands of swords that just kept coming.
A quick glance at Mona as he shook his head, Ann has never seen the not-a-cat be so afraid.
"Master… WHAT IS THIS!?" Ann had to grab Mona as a sword was threatening to impale the stunned cat.
"Focus Mona! We need our Navigator!"
Mona's eyes that were once clouded focused "Sorry Panther!"
"Mona Panther! See if you can't melt these swords!"
"As if it would be that easy." A gold spear erupted from one of the nearby hills as it stabbed through Joker's outfit like it was nothing.
"Joker!" Mona scampered as fast as he could, taking his place with a spinning slash forcing the Archer to block.
Panther ran towards their fallen leader searching his pocket for the medicine she knew was in it. "Heh.. Skull would be mad if he saw you in my pockets."
"This isn't the time for jokes!" Finding the pill bottle she forced the pills into his mouth, letting the healing energy work its magic. Panther stood her mind was already growing tired from the continual use of fire and healing.
So she brought out her gun.
Blanketing the area with gun fire the Archer was forced to summon a small shield that warped the bullets towards it.
Skull stepped into his guard as he smashed his hammer into his side sending him back a few feet.
"Goemon!" The Japanese outlaw appeared and froze the man in red giving them a moment to catch their breath.
Blades danced as Fox brought his Katana forth, knocking them out of the air as Joker stood up shaking the dust off his coat.
"We have to find our way out of here."
"You can not." A mountain of a sword came barrelling towards them as Archer broke free from the ice.
Ereshkigal… slowly made her way up, the clash of Noble Phantasms had drained her and only through her determination was she able to even climb the stairs.
She couldn't even confirm if Gilgamesh and Robin were dead, though she doubts either of them could have survived. Flakes of gold dripped from her as she held her body together.
She has to see Hakuno, one last time.
Akira was sweating seeing the mountain of a sword falling at them at speeds that didn't make sense forced him to think as fast as he could.
"My friend… put you in this position…" A gentle voice reached his ears, "I have… no power here but a small nudge won't hurt will it?"
Chains erupted and slammed into the mountain-sized sword leaving Archer gobsmacked.
"All-out Attack!" Focusing solely on the stunned man the thieves warped the Metaverse, the two sides attempted at warping the very fabric of the world they were in, allowing them to push faster and faster speeds as their weapons racked dozens of hits against the man in red.
"Arsene!" His other self appeared as he brought forth waves of blackened crimson onto the Man in red.
The area began to flicker.
Ereshkigal watched as the flames died down, Archer stood, somehow, in front of his Master as she held her hands on the pathetic attempt of a Holy Grail, the black mud spewing forth from it a clear sign it was falling apart.
The thieves appeared only a heartbeat later tired looking but alive. A lot better off than the one who used a Reality Marble…
"Nameless… you couldn't even kill a bunch of kids? Do you wish for them to live?"
Ereshkigal shook her head, clenching her fist holding herself together as she began walking closer and closer to the group.
"Ah… Rin… It has been too long." Shadow Hakuno's smile was sickly sweet.
"Quiet… Body… You're still trying to fight yourself… I know you forgot but this is just pathetic." A quick glance at the Thieves showed they were taking some sort of medicine…
Shadow Hakuno's smile fell as she glared at her. Glaring was so unnatural on the stoic girl's face. "Pathetic? Survival isn't pathetic!"
"Hakuno… You…" Ereshkigal shook her head… "You are by far the most stubborn idiot I have ever come across. You knew what would happen at the end… you were dying and died, is it not enough that one of you escaped the impossible?"
"Silence! SHE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! Nameless! Even if it kills you… don't stop fighting."
"Understood… Master."
Picking himself up, the red Archer shook off golden motes as he readied his twin blades.
"Now… Kishinami… why are you just sitting there waiting to be saved! You who struggled against fate itself!"
"I am the bone of my Sword."
Hakuno was floating in an endless stream of pitch black tar. She could hear the tone and mana accompanying the voice.
She knew it was a Noble Phantasm, and had a strong inkling of who it was being used against Hakuno struggled, she felt her hand as her Od forced itself into the birthmark.
She knew what she needed to do. The only virtue, the key that allowed her to survive that she had forgotten… Hakuno Kishinami will never give up again.
"Let Spiritrons and my Soul be the essence…" Flashes of her time in the Moon Cell appeared.
"Are you ready?! You the Child Born of love ready to take Vengeance against the world!?"
Ereshkigal probably shouldn't have taunted her but…. Hearing the voice from the mud confirmed that Hakuno is now going to fight.
Ereshkigal summoned her dwindling Od as she fired Gandr as Shadow Hakuno Hacked the curse.
"Let Stone and the Moon make the foundation. Let the four cardinal gates close…"
"Kuahahaha! Yes! You who shoulder the Wishes of Man!"
Ereshkigal ducked as a blade came close to her, several of her golden hairs fell as she clung onto existence.
"Let it be filled. Again. Again. Again. it be filled fivefold for every turn, simply shattering asunder with every filling!"
Crimson light glowed from the Corruption as Ereshkigal Summoned forth her keyboard, "Call_Beam (256)!" She fired a thin laser of red forcing Shadow Hakuno to dodge away from the corruption.
"There it is! The Forever Burning Hope!"
"My fate shall be with your sword."
"You who are the one who REBELLED Against Fate itself!"
Ereshkigal sent a Freischütz the empowered Gandr crashing into the Red Archer forcing him off Fox.
Crimson light forced Hakuno Kishinami out of the Mud, her body donning a crescent moon mask as she grabbed the side and ripped. A pillar of blue flames drew everyone's attention as Ereshkigal felt herself smirking.
"Now vow to me! I AM THOU!"
"Thou art I."
"Prove to me Child of Love! The Spirit of Vengeance has answered your summons! Show me what exists beyond Love and Hate!"
"Come to me… AVENGER!"
A man in a blue-green suit stood above her his black hat, a cloak shrouding his form as blue and black lightning danced around his body. His crimson eyes glowed gold as he took in their surroundings. Hakuno knew it was both her Persona and Servant…
"Avenger! Eiga!" Waves of black and red smashed into the Red Servant as she shook her staff and flung off the mud from her new outfit… A black skirt and shoulder cloak dotted with stars… Vaguely looked like what Rin was wearing…
Rin?
Hakuno blinked as she saw her friend. She looked exhausted. Forcing herself from the Mud she ran as Avenger floated behind her before dissolving into data.
"Rin? Is that you?" Hakuno had a feeling she knew where she was…
"Sorry Hakuno… I'm not your Rin." She was right. Her Rin only had blonde hair in the Real World of… The Moon Cell World as she will call it in her head for now. "I am just… a cognitive-spirit… just here to help out a specific idiot."
Hakuno smiled softly at her friend. Metal grinding altered them that Archer still was ready to fight. Glancing at the rest of the thieves, her eyes paused slightly at the newcomer… Yusuke?
"Are you ready? Oh victor of the Holy Grail?" A false version of herself stood behind her Servant, her hand already raised as the crimson light glowed from her hand.
"Nameless… do not hold back!" Archer held out his hand as golden light came off of his body.
"Well…" Rin patted her dress, "Let's show this fake what the true Sovereign can do!"
Hakuno gave a quick nod to the rest of the thieves as they smiled wide, their weapons at the ready…
"This is my other Self!" Blades of wind erupted from the feline cutting into Her doppelganger's Servant.
"Avenger!" Black lightning came forth as Avenger charged at the man a manic grin upon her Servant's Face. A slash forced him to take a step back as Avenger dissipated.
"This light… is the sword of the king that can never be reached." Pure light came from his hand as he raised a golden blade.
Hakuno slammed her staff into the floor as the Metaverse responded to her call. Walls of black flame formed around them and the thieves as she braced for the incoming attack.
"Goemon/Carmen!" Fire and Ice danced around the flames slamming into the man in red who only gave off a small smile.
"The Breath of the planet awakens…Excalibur…IMAGE!"
Blinding white light clashed against the black and blue fire as Rin raised her hand, "Red Lightning!" Crimson Lightning danced around, the three colors held firm against the white light as Hakuno felt a large decrease in her Od reserves…
Seeing lightning and fire, she could hear… Skull? "Captain Kidd!" as Yellow lightning danced around aiding somewhat.
The light faded as Shadow Hakuno stood alone once more golden motes of light dancing in the air as Archer had dissolved.
"Are you ready to give up?" Joker said as he pointed his gun at her doppelganger who now stood next to the grail…
"You… took everything from me again…" She was mumbling but her voice came out easy over the deathly silence of the place, "False Grail! Heed my call!"
"Avenger!"
Avenger dashed forward black lightning forming claws. Bad, very bad feeling!
"Grant me the strength to stop these MONSTERS!" Her doppelganger dissolved into the ground as the Chalice,no, Holy Grail dissolved alongside her.
Hakuno waited for a breath… then another as nothing happened, a moment longer than she expected a long leg erupted from the mud. Then another… and another as eight legs came from the mud an upturned copy of her face on both sides of this… overly large spider.
"We will live!" Her mouth opened and a beam of crackling red light came forth. "SO THE SOVEREIGN SHALL FALL!"
Hakuno ducked as she felt the Metaverse aid her in her movements. She knew for sure that in the real world she wouldn't have been able to dodge the laser.
"Oh god! Hakuno! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SPIDERS!?" Panther screeched out as she held her head as waves of flame burnt small spiders that leaked off of the main body.
Yusuke dashed forward "I am thou!" Goemon appeared and slashed at one of its many legs as the ephemeral blades just bounced off of the spider's leg. Arachne kicked out forcing Yusuke to dodge.
"Immune to Physical!" Mona shouted switching to a … slingshot? Which pellets just bounced with seemingly no effect on the spider causing Arachne to fire a short blast at the cat who caught it with the edge of his blade. "And guns as well!"
"Avenger Block!" Avenger appeared crossing his arms as the spider leg stabbed into him, his hands pushing back against the leg as the cursed flames rolled up the legs.
"Immune to Curse!" Mona shouted dodging another laser beam.
"Electricity is a no go!" Skull shouted.
The spider shrieked as one of its faces was laced with fire. "Fire works! Joker shouted as a twin headed dog dissipated from behind him.
Panther washed the side of the spider as the flames did nothing.
"Aim for the head!" Hakuno could already see Panther panting slightly. Thinking quick "Count! Evil Smile!" Avenger appeared in front of one of the faces and smirked. The spider shrieked.
"Captain Kidd!" A lightning induced hammer slammed into the spider's body sending it crashing to the side, an unfamiliar red glow fading off Skull.
"Gandr!" A ball of curse slammed into the head sending a beam of light screaming off into the distance.
"Avenger!" Hakuno channeled her remaining od into her Servant as he became slightly solid. A manic grin on his face as he dashed forward slamming his cursed claws into one of the faces ripping it off.
The Spider shrieked in pain as dozens of spiders came from the leaking body. "Let's do this! Dance Carmen!" Fire erupted from her cousin's Persona as she fell to the ground clutching her head.
"Panther's out of SP!" Mona shrieked as the not-a-cat ran towards their fallen ally fiddling with his fanny pack.
Why does a cat have a fanny pack?
Hakuno shook her head. It was going slow but they are winning.
Rin was… glowing. Clutching her hands she seemed to will herself to stop. "Sorry… Watch out!"
Rin pushed her out of the way of one of the many smaller spiders that were trying to bite their ankles.
"Avenger! Maeiha!" Waves of azure blackness washed over the spiders as they began shriveling up.
Less effective than fire, Hakuno noticed.
Hakuno felt the Metaverse warp as the remaining head, began absorbing the light given off by the distant moon.
"Here comes a big one!" Joker shouted.
Hakuno felt for her Od Reserves.. Then found something else deeper… almost empty but enough.
"Avenger!" Hakuno watched as Avenger manifested in front of her, his golden eyes gleaming. "Flames of Love and Hate!" Spheres of cursed flames came from his hands as he dashed forward.
Hakuno felt her Od and the… possible SP reserve dwindling to nearly nothing, the ball of moonlight fired as it clashed with Avenger's own beam of cursed flames.
Rin was helping her stand as she felt her outfit revert back to her school uniform… "Attack! While Avenger has its attention!" She shouted at the thieves.
"Understood! This is my other self!" Ice washed from under the Spider as Yusuke jumped around the mockery of her face before sheathing the blade. Numerous slashes appeared behind him as Joker fired his grappling hook bringing the kitsune looking man towards him.
The beam battle ended with Avenger turning back into her mask, she was too tired to even attempt to summon him again. The spider seemed drained as well as a black tar-like substance dripped from its mouth.
"Skull, Mona! Tempest!" Lightning and wind whipped as the two elements clashed into both sides of the face.
The spider fell.
Hakuno took a deep breath as the spider slowly flaked off into black dust.
"Hakuno… I want to say a lot to you. But… you already know what I would say, don't you?" Rin admonished her as Hakuno smiled weakly at her friend.
"Hakuno!" Panther ran up to her and gave her a gentle hug as the rest of the thieves kept an eye on the fading spider.
Rin waved at her as her body began dissolving into golden light, "You know we never did blame you. You held our wishes, our hope... Live for us ok? Just… remember our promise."
Hakuno nodded a smile on her lips, "I will… enjoy their smiles."
Rin's smile made Hakuno's heart flutter for a moment as the red eyed girl turned to dust on the wind.
The Metaverse groaned as parts of the mansion that somehow endured all the fighting began falling apart.
"Come on! That's our que!" Skull then grabbed Mona before throwing him into the air, "Yeet!"
Yeet?
Mona then in a puff of cartoonish smoke turned into a bus.
Ah yes… Cognition… Totoro something… If she recalls. Her mind felt like it was going extremely slow...
"Man… you're not even phased by that are ya?" Hakuno chuckled as her head rang with pain and her hand burned as her command seals took on the typical crimson glow.
"Hurry up! Get in!" Mona shouted at them as a bus form Joker to the lead as they drove recklessly off the mansion.
You have Returned to the Real World
Hakuno was exhausted. She felt like she had just escaped from a several hour long trip from the Arena… Though… she wasn't too sure where they were, it didn't seem like they were in Madarame's Shack… Some sort of temple?
Ann was hugging her and saying something that to her didn't sound like any actual felt her phone vibrate rapidly as it received signal, she struggled to bring it up as Ann wouldn't let her go.
A lot of texts from Makoto… none from her parents?
Strange.
"Ann… I think we should go home?" Hakuno yawned as the rest of the thieves looked exhausted as well.
"Come on Ann…" Ann nodded as they made their way to the station, departing from the rest of the thieves. Hakuno was lucky and got a seat.
Makoto Niijima: Hakuno?
Makoto Niijima: Hakuno are you ok?
Makoto Niijima: Ann turned in a sick note. Are you feeling alright?
Makoto Niijima: Why aren't you responding?
Makoto Niijima: I entered the Metaverse, your… friends told me what happened. Respond when you can
A quick reply to her friend shouldn't hurt…
Hakuno: Hey… I'm ok, really tired, see you tomorrow?
Makoto Niijima: I am so glad you're ok. Be safe, see you soon.
Hakuno rested her head on the window of the train as she barely stayed awake until they reached their home.
2nd Author's Note: A lot changed. A lot didn't change. The general feel of both chapters led to me deciding to go with Edmond Dantes, as they both are in a way 'born from love.' Hakuno managed to win the hearts of several people in her Holy Grail War where she was born. While Edmond is stated to be an Avenger born from love that speaks only of Vengeance.
People reading it for the first time, Hakuno's outfit is that of Ninkigal, aka Ereshkigal-Alter. Those that have read the previous un updated chapter it is the same outfit as before. Cause again, I think the outfit is hella cool.
While admittedly Hakuno doesn't seek vengeance against anyone in particular she is willing to shoulder the responsibility of the ones she slew. Each one gives her the strength to fight on and protect the ones she cares about, and in her own way get revenge against those that hurt her friends. Like what she was planning to do with Kamoshida in bugging his office with Makoto. And some things that will be shown further down the line.
Gameplay wise Hakuno is still a magic dealing Persona user, except instead of Bless it's now Curse. Avenger can still manifest in the Real World at the cost of a massive drain on her Od, mitigated by his skills. Such as his Wisdom of Predicament skill, which is the one most compatible with her. Her… trait isn't so much a trait but her knowledge of fighting with an extension of herself, allowing her to block and dodge by summoning Avenger. Idk a name for it yet.
Anyways, I hope people like these two chapters more, as I do think they are better than the previous attempt.