Chapter Text
April 15th, 20XX
The Castle of Lust was, surprisingly considering recent circumstances, still the same as it had been when Ace, Karasu and Ghost had last entered. Not much indicated Kuroda’s role in Kana’s suicide attempt - which Ace presumed to the the case.
The same terrifying chambers full of semi-naked male students. It was downright haunting, especially now that Ace and Karasu had witnessed Kuroda’s assault of Mishina. Sure, they both were aware that Kuroda was a sexual deviant, but seeing Mishina’s naked body in the faculty office made it feel more real.
It was like she was celebrating ‘getting rid’ of Kana the only way she knew how. It made Ace sick to his stomach.
In order to distract themselves from that, they decided to look for where the treasure would be. Dashing and sneaking around every nook and cranny, they scoured for loot and Personas in every location. Ace had managed to collect a Mad Marsh Horse - also known as a Kelpie -, a Crypt Dwelling Pyromaniac - also known as Jack O’Lantern - and one of the Dirty Two Horned Beasts from before - now known as Bicorn.
“Alright,” Karasu said upon the group’s arrival to another safe room on the second floor, “how close are we to finding the Treasure?”
“You’re going too fast, Karasu,” Ghost shook her head, “if the Treasure was obvious, there wouldn’t be a point of having a Palace. Most times, the treasure is either at the top or the bottom of the Palace.”
She looked down at the table, and - using her mask as a projector screen - placed a holographic copy of the map on the table. A small little star appeared next to where they were, saying ‘YOU ARE HERE’ in big, friendly letters. Ace looked at the location, and placed his finger on the star.
“We’re only on floor two,” he said, moving his hand from the star to the centre tower, “there’s multiple floors above and below us - I think that tower in the centre could be where the treasure is.”
“And considering this Palace is based on fairytales…” Karasu grit his teeth, “there’s probably a guard protecting that tower…”
“If the treasure is on the lower floors, there’s probably a sewerage system,” Ghost explained, “we could traverse through there.”
Karasu scoffed, “sewers… Gross.”
“Are you scared of getting dirty, Karasu?” Ace asked, causing Karasu to gape in surprise.
“W-What?!” He exclaimed, “n-no, it’s just… Do you really want to be walking around in Kuroda’s shit tunnels?”
Ace paused for a second, seriously pondering the question.
“Do you want me to repeat what I said?” Karasu said, disgusted, “shit. Tunnels.”
Ace shrugged.
“It’s not real excrement.”
“That makes it worse!” Karasu exclaimed.
“How though?” Ace asked, “it’s not real.”
“I-It’s the implications of it!” Karasu floundered, but the pair’s conversation was interrupted when the group heard the voices of two guards outside the safe room.
“I can’t believe one of the slaves escaped.”
“God, Kuroda’s gonna be on our asses if she finds out.”
“Let’s just get her back to the dungeons…” The guard’s murmuring was interrupted by a familiar wincing noise, “gah, can’t the bitch stop squirming?!”
Both boys' eyes widened.
“Isshiki-san,” they both gasped.
“You mean the girl who followed us here?” Ghost asked, causing Ace to nod.
“That means she’s got the app,” he said, “how’d she get it?”
“Doesn’t matter! We have to get to the dungeons, now!” Karasu exclaimed, “before Kuroda tries anything with her.”
Ace and Ghost nodded, and the group began to skulk out of the safe room. They saw the guards leaving with Futaba over one of their shoulders, her body dangling as she squirmed and wriggled awkwardly.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to follow them discretely,” Ace whispered.
“They said they were going to the dungeons,” Ghost explained, “there’s a staircase close by, if my map is correct.”
“Then let’s go!” Karasu exclaimed, “we have to save Isshiki!”
Ace nodded, and the group raced to the nearest staircase.
Once they got to the lower levels, they found themselves in a dungeon – the pastel colouration of the higher floors of the Palace was long gone, now replaced with dingy reds and browns, stone covering the walls and rusty metals decorating the stones. The only connection it had to the main Palace floor was the vines that decorated the walls, covered in thorns and roses.
The drip, drip, drip of water echoed against the group’s ears. Ghost activated her glowing eyes to act as a flashlight.
“There,” she said, “now we can see clearly.”
The glowing blue light from her eyes scanned over the location, and immediately, both Karasu and Ace flinched. The blue light settled on a female student, her arms and legs chained to the wall… Mostly naked. Karasu winced.
“D-Did we really need to see this?” He asked, watching as Ghost’s light passed through a crack in the wall.
“There’s a pathway behind her.”
Karasu shuddered, “okay, let’s just get this over with…”
Ace nodded, and the pair tip-toed around the strung up teenage girl. They continued going, squeezing through the crack and passing other girls who were held up in similar manners, all mostly naked - one had a chain tied around her neck in a visage of hanging, another was strapped, arms and legs wide, as if in crucifixion. Karasu grit his teeth.
“Isshiki must be close by,” he whispered.
“Yes,” Ace said, “we have to save her before she becomes another one of Kuroda’s toys here.”
Karasu nodded, “right… I’m just hoping we aren’t too late.”
Ghost’s light glowed into a dank, dusty room. As she scanned around the room, the trio noticed guards placed at every wall, and in the centre tied to a crucifix by metal manacles was Futaba. Her arms and legs were stretched up and her teeth were grit as she struggled in the device.
“L-Look!” She exclaimed, “I-I didn’t mean to touch your armor! I-I just thought this was like, a LARP thing, yknow?!”
A familiar, cloying laugh interrupted her complaints as Shadow Kuroda walked into the room, surrounded by guards, and holding the cognitive Futaba by the wrist.
“Oh? Look what we have here!” She began, “two for the price of one - how generous!”
She tossed the cognitive Futaba to the floor behind her real life counterpart. The guards swarmed her and moved her to her own crucifix. Unlike Futaba, she didn’t struggle against her restraints. Kuroda glared at her guards.
“Although I appreciate the extra slut,” she said, “could you at least check to see if she’s one of mine?”
“We saw her running around the grounds, Queen Kuroda,” the golden lead guard explained, “we assumed she was one of your slaves.”
“Oh well… I get to have some fun.”
“Kuroda?” Futaba asked, looking at the woman as she arrived. “What is this place? And what’s with the outfit?”
Kuroda scoffed.
“Are you truly that dense?” She smirked, “this is my castle - the world of my desires. And you were found trespassing! What a naughty girl! You know what happens to naughty girls, don’t you?”
“Naughty girls must be punished,” Futaba’s cognitive double said, her voice weakened and defeated.
Futaba looked stunned by that statement.
“Wh-What even is this?” She gasped, “it has to be some sick joke!”
Kuroda folded her arms, appearing rather childish.
“Aw… Didn’t your mommy tell you not to talk back to adults?” She commented, “but considering what you’ve been doing in your free time… I’ll punish you like one!”
She picked up her halberd from the floor, and placed it on her shoulders.
“Guards - you torture the real slave,” Kuroda smirked, “I’ll deal with the phony.”
As she placed the halberd to the real Futaba’s neck, Ace, Karasu and Ghost entered the room. Kuroda’s eyes narrowed.
“And just when I was about to have my fun…” She growled, “you three come in and ruin it!”
“Let go of Isshiki, Kuroda!” Karasu exclaimed, pulling out his shotgun.
“If you three dare take a step closer,” Kuroda threatened, “I’ll cut her head clean off!”
The guards stood around threateningly as Kuroda smirked at Futaba, appearing rather helpless in her position.
“Awww… You look so cute hopeless,” she cooed, “if only it didn’t make me sick. Such a shame that your precious friend had to die for you to get here.”
Futaba’s eyes widened.
“Wh-What?!”
“If you had just followed my orders,” Kuroda continued, “then maybe I wouldn’t have told your friend how much of a burden you are. Then, she wouldn’t have killed herself - ‘cause she found out her ‘best friend’ was more focused on her stupid streaming career than her!”
“No!” Futaba exclaimed, her eyes beginning to well with tears, “I-I’m sorry, Kana-chan…”
“Well, ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t gonna bring your friend back, Isshiki.” Kuroda scowled, “now, bow your head in subservience to your queen.”
Futaba did so. Seeing her almost give up caused Karasu to shout out.
“Hey! Isshiki!” He exclaimed, “Kana isn’t dead! You know this - she’s in a coma! She’s recovering! You met her at the hospital! Are you really going to listen to what Kuroda has to say to you?! She doesn’t know shit about you!”
Futaba, for a split second, looked up. She saw Karasu, holding his baseball bat tightly as if ready to run towards her and fight the Shadows that surrounded her. Next to him was Ace - Futaba remembered the conversation they had the previous afternoon; he had said that there could be a way to save Kana… She just had to believe.
“He’s right.”
Kuroda stopped, her hands gripping on the halberd.
“What did you say?!”
“He’s right…” Futaba continued, “I’d be a real pathetic coward to believe your lies. Kana didn’t attempt suicide ‘cause of me - it was because of you, Kuroda! You don’t know the first thing about me - and you never did!”
Kuroda’s anger was palpable. Her brow was slick with rage filled sweat.
“How dare you say that to me?!” She gasped, “don’t you fucking know who I am? You’re nothing but scum!”
“You’re the real scum, Kuroda!” Futaba exclaimed, “you made me hurt people… You hurt Kana! And now… I’ll never forgive you for any of this!”
My, my… And you thought you would die here, mon coeur…
The soft voice rang through Futaba’s ears like a gunshot. She lurched backwards, her body shaking against the crucifix as time seemed to stop. She looked over her shoulder, and saw the cognitive Futaba looking at her… and speaking to her.
The cognitive Futaba appeared less fragile than the version of her that had appeared before - the one who said naughty girls must be punished. Almost like Futaba standing up to Kuroda had changed the woman’s image of her.
An image of rebellion.
Her lies, her treachery, her cruelty… All leading towards your reputation and life being destroyed… But tell me, mon coeur, who will avenge your friend if you don’t? Who will cry the chorus of rebellion that screams out in your heart?
Futaba winced in agony, letting out an expressive scream. Her eyes were welling with tears. She wouldn’t let Kuroda get away with this… Not again. Not after all this time. Her mind went back to the conversation that she and Yusuke had at the Big Bang Burger; I don’t know what else to do, where else to turn! Is there anything I can do?! This was what she could do.
I AM THOU. THOU ART I.
Let our contract finally commence!
“I hear you…” Futaba grit her teeth, pushing herself forward, as her eyes welled with tears, “Charlotte.”
She then looked up, suddenly feeling a thick plating covering the top half of her face. A black jackal mask, marked with a golden Eye of Horus on its forehead, as well as golden accents around the eyes and cheeks.
“You’re right!” She exclaimed, “I’m not holding back anymore!”
Excellent!
Futaba pulled one arm off the crucifix, the clasp that held it tightly snapping like a twig under Futaba’s newfound strength.
Your truth cannot be found if you choose to stay restrained.
Her other arm came off just as easily, her body hitting the floor in one fell swoop.
Do you understand? Then your strength shall become mine!
Futaba struggled to her feet as she grabbed the mask with both hands. It was incredibly painful, like it had been glued to her face as she grit her teeth in agony. But her Persona’s calming words helped her move forwards. With one movement, she removed the jackal mask as she let out a giant scream of pain.
A pillar of flame covered her body, before it separated to reveal the voice that had been speaking to her. The figure was tall, lined in titanium and lacking a head. Instead, its ‘head’ resembled a television screen, with a large, neon green heart in the centre.
Its torso was a black bodice lined in lime green, with matching ‘speaker’ like protrusions out of the chest and sides.
It wore a large hoop skirt that resembled a UFO, marked with lime green lines that glowed in the dark. The skirt’s hem was serrated, like a kitchen knife, giving it an almost threatening appearance. On the waist of the skirt was a two tiered belt, with one half small and deep black, and the other wider, acting as a disk.
The disk was covered in similar markings that resembled the rest of the figures' appearance. In its right hand was a disk, similar to the one on the skirt - black with lime green, glowing accents that shone so bright it could potentially blind a man.
Futaba’s attire had also changed - she was now dressed in a short, three-quarter sleeved, black coat, with a lime green insert and white fur lining. Beneath the coat was a dark grey top with a large, golden ankh on her chest. She wore high waisted, black shorts, with twin belts strapped onto them - one a dark grey, and another a lime green, decorated with studs - and a matching lime green garter on her right leg.
She wore black fingerless gloves, but beneath the gloves were matching lime green, fingered gloves. She wore lime green gloves that were layered beneath black fingerless gloves. The cuffs of the fingerless gloves were folded up to give an almost cartoonish appearance. The pointed toe boots on her feet were black, with lime green cuffs that were folded over, adding some more contrast to her outfit.
Strapped to her back was a cartoony, oversized hammer, and she was holding a crossbow in her right hand.
She shot the crossbow at the clone Futaba. She vanished into a puff of black goop and smoke, causing the guard in front of her to turn to face her in anger. Futaba then turned to face Kuroda, and aimed the hand crossbow right between her eyes.
“Alright!” Karasu exclaimed, as he, Ace and Ghost rushed towards her, “get her!”
“You read my mind!” Futaba exclaimed, “you took everything from Kana and I, you tried to destroy us! And for what? Jealousy? Give me a break. Now, you’re gonna pay for everything you've done!”
Kuroda appeared flustered, adjusting her outfit and trying to put on a brave face.
“GUARDS!” She ordered, “finish off the whore while I fix my dress!”
She snapped her fingers, ordering the golden guard that had been torturing the clone Futaba towards the trio.
“How dare you!” It shouted, transforming into a large demon sitting on a toilet seat, “enough of your insolence!”
“That isn’t gonna stop me now!” Futaba grinned, “you hear that, Charlotte? That one’s gotta go!”
She fired off an agi at the Ambassador of Filth, much to the guard’s surprise. It stumbled back, ready to prepare a strike at the group.
“You disrespectful wench!” The Ambassador of Filth rushed forward, “how dare you defy Queen Kuroda’s perfection!”
“Perfection?!” Futaba exclaimed, dodging the attack and summoning Charlotte once more, “don’t make me laugh - she’s a high school bully who hasn’t grown up yet!”
Another agi forced the Ambassador of Filth back once more. Ace picked up on the weakness and switched his persona from Pixie to the newly acquired Jack O’Lantern. He blasted the Ambassador of Filth with their own agi, forcing the creature into a pillar of fire while Karasu targeted the creature with dead shot.
Ghost raced towards the creature, attacking it with her chakrams before jumping back, summoning Futura and firing off a garu at the being.
However, once the Ambassador of Filth returned to its full height, it blasted off a magaru of its own. This took Ghost and Ace down, before it healed itself up with dia.
“I’ll keep it busy!” Karasu shouted. Futaba nodded.
“Got it!” She said, watching as Karasu raced towards the Ambassador of Filth with his shotgun drawn.
She ran towards Ace and placed her hand on his wound.
“C’mon, we have to keep going!” She exclaimed, “dia!”
The use of healing magic sealed Ace’s wounds, allowing him to return to his feet. He quickly switched from Jack O’Lantern to Bicorn, hitting the Ambassador of Filth with a tarunda, as Karasu shot the creature with his shotgun. The bullets dug into the purple skin of the creature as Ghost struggled to her feet.
She healed herself with dia, as the creature roared in agony. Ace and Futaba both summoned their Personas - Ace switching to Jack O’Lantern -, but the creature was about to hit them with a magaru. However, both Ace and Futaba were prepared. They managed to dodge at the last second, which the creature stared at in confusion.
“What the–”
Its expletive was interrupted by dual agis, burning his physical form to a crisp. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
By the time the fight was over, Kuroda was long gone. Futaba tried to run after her, but her legs felt like jelly. Ace quickly grabbed her, as she struggled up.
“Gah… I’m feeling a bit woozy here…” She groaned, before looking down, “huh? I mean, it’s cute, but where’d this come from?”
“We’ll explain later.” Ace said, “come on, let’s go back to the real world.”
Futaba paused for a second, but realised that she would be unable to keep up with Kuroda at this state. So, reluctantly, she let Ace and Karasu drag her back to the real world.
PERSONA FILES
❝GG EZ!❞
Name: Futaba Isshiki
Age: 16
Gender: Cis Woman
Sexuality: Asexual, Biromantic
Persona: Charlotte
❝Nicknamed the Angel of Assassination, Charlotte is best known for her assassination of Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat. Her reasoning for assassinating him was due to thinking he would cause conflict in the revolution.❞
Affinity: Fire
Weakness: Ice