Chapter Text
“Deary me, what have we here?”
“It would seem our Trickster’s Journey has not been completed quite yet… a fragment of the usurper seems to have escaped our notice.”
“Seems like it has escaped back to its prime, Igor.”
“Indeed…”
-=V=-
Ren Amamiya didn’t expect to find himself back in the Velvet Room today. Absurd shades of blue surrounded him, only rather than the prison cell walls he had seen many times in the past, this time a familiar scent wafted into his nose.
Coffee. A floral scent, faintly butterscotch-y.
“Jamaican Blue Mountain? You shouldn’t have, Igor.” the raven-haired young man. To his surprise, the person behind the counter was a small girl, maybe around eleven or twelve, locks of platinum blonde hair hidden behind a blue baseball cap bearing a butterfly insignia. “I had figured you would recognize that, Trickster. The velvet room takes the form derived by the state of your heart, after all.”
Ah yes, Lavenza. There since the beginning of his Journey, in some form. “Your fellow Phantom Thieves should be arriving momentarily.”, the soft-spoken young resident of the Velvet Room stated. “In the meantime, perhaps a cup of coffee would soothe you?”
And so, one by one, figures entered from different places around the cafe. On the booth seats of three tables: a young teenaged boy with spiky blonde hair wearing biker gear and a red ascot; a young blonde teenaged girl with twin blonde ponytails; wearing a red catsuit with a clip-on tail attached to her rear, and a younger teenager; with long orange hair, wearing a black bodysuit with green circuit lines and black cargo pants, with a black cat wearing a yellow collar sitting on the same table as the ginger girl, each fading into existence one at a time.
Fading in near an ornate blue door with a window seeming to lead to an infinite expanse, a lanky blue haired young man, wearing a navy blue and white jumpsuit with puff sleeves, carefully sketching on a sketchpad. Next to him; a woman with fluffy chestnut brown hair, wearing a musketeer’s outfit complete with feathered hat enjoyed her coffee, with a brown-haired woman wearing a dark blue bodysuit and metallic armor leaning her head on her shoulder, seemingly relaxed.
In the back, a childlike redhead with pixie-cut hair and wearing a white sweater dress sat down near a grand piano, seemingly moving by itself; though on the piano’s bench was a redheaded gymnast wearing a black leotard, under a bolero jacket. Sitting at the counter was a strange pair, an older man wearing a black trenchcoat, armor, and a black tricorne hat, and a younger child wearing a gothic-style armored dress, though with the same hat. Lastly, up on a raised stage sitting on a stool was a young man with chestnut hair, wearing ochre-tinted regalia, seemingly tuning an acoustic guitar.
Of course, Ren could identify each of them. His classmates Ryuji Sakamoto and Ann Takamaki, his adoptive sister Futaba Sakura, his cat Morgana, the artist Yusuke Kitagawa, the warrior CEO Haru Okumura, the aspiring commissioner Makoto Niijima, the artificial intelligence construct Sophia, his graceful girlfriend Sumire Yoshizawa, the inspector Zenkichi Hasegawa and his middle-school daughter Akane Hasegawa (for he could only assume), and Goro Akechi, his on-again-off-again rival.
Ren could count each of them as his friends and allies. And their presence in the Velvet Room, together, could only mean one thing. As Lavenza would explain, a shard of Yaldabaoth found itself traveling back to just before Yaldabaoth was in control of the Velvet Room.
“The rules of the game have changed significantly. We cannot deal with Yaldabaoth until he regains his full power, for he is invulnerable at this point. You shall have a full year until Yaldabaoth becomes open to attack, and you may prepare however you so wish. You will find that the nature of your Journey will change. New bonds will become available, new chances to alter the future lying in front of you.”
Lavenza looked at the Thieves, her expression steely.
“I ask of you, Phantom Thieves of Hearts, will you break the yoke Yaldabaoth has over this world, once and for all?”
The Thieves didn’t need to say anything. They knew what each other was thinking.
“I think I speak for everyone here, when I say: Lavenza, send us back.”
The attendant smiled. “Then I will be glad to assist you. I will do what I can to stay in touch.”
-=C=-
The Thieves Return
#mainchat
Hahamamiya: sound off everyone. This is Joker. Morgana is with me.
TheRunningMan: Yo, it’s Skull
AnnSweetheart: Panther here!
AzureLobter: Fox, reporting
Johanna_Justice: This is Queen.
TheInkling: This is Oracle. Fear me!
Harvester: Greetings, this is Noir! :D
Rookery: It’s Crow. I don’t even know what I am even doing here.
ViolaStardust: this is Violet, but you already know that senpais!
Wolfpack: Wolf here. Akane’s coming soon, she’s just trying to think of a codename.
SophiaV137: Sophie, logged on!
Wolfcub: I cannot believe you guys are the actual Phantom Thieves!
Wolfcub: this is Akane, by the way. When were you going to tell me?
SophiaV137: In our defense, why do you think we visited your house?
TheRunningMan: Shorty’s got a point, squirt.
Wolfcub: In hindsight, I really should’ve seen that coming.
Hahamamiya: I suppose we have a proper welcome to celebrate.
Hahamamiya: welcome aboard, Akane. Hopefully you forgive us for being dorks.
TheInkling: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Hahamamiya: some more than others.
Hahamamiya: really, futaba?
Hahamamiya: at any rate, me and Soph are on my way to Yongen right now.
TheInkling: I’ll be there!
TheInkling: wht the odds that Lavenza ws rite and that hell be one of the people who kept their memories? It wold succ if he didnt
Wolfcub: Fairly certain he would be, from what you guys told me while we were in that Velvet place.
Wolfpack: What if he doesn’t?
TheInkling: then Soji would have a heart attack once he sees me outta the house.
Wolfpack: You guys will let me in, right?
Hahamamiya: That’s up to Sojiro. Where are you right now, inspector?
Wolfpack: We’ve rented an apartment in Nerima-ku, so we won’t be terribly far.
Wolfpack: Akane actually skipped a grade, so…
ViolaStardust: we get to be in the same grade, Akane-chan!
Wolfcub: *faints*
Hahamamiya: point of order, don’t transfer her just yet. We need to deal with Kamoshida before we even think about getting her a spot in Shujin.
AzureLobter: this is just a suggestion, but Akane-chan could apply to Kosei.
Wolfpack: nah, Shujin already accepted our application.
Wolfpack: lemme know when you deal with that asshat.
AnnSweetheart: …hold on Shiho.
AnnSweetheart: …we’re coming.
-=C=-
TokyoVelvet to Hahamamiya
#direct-message
TokyoVelvet: I will be joining you on your Journey in May. I am still getting logistics done, and my powers will be sealed for the most part so I cannot partake in your heists. This is to prevent Yaldabaoth from catching on.
Hahamamiya: That’s fine, Lavenza. We’ll appreciate your company anyway. Who’s gonna handle my Compendium, though?
TokyoVelvet: I have my ways :)
-=R=-
Early Morning
Wed, April 11, 20XX
Ren had only just got on the Ginza subway line, before he spotted some familiar faces. Makoto, of course, can’t exactly forget a face like that; he also saw Sumire get on the train a few stops back as well. He thought he spotted a black-haired girl with a ponytail wearing the Shujin girls’ uniform, that must be Shiho. He didn’t realize that she rode the Ginza line. Might have to file that away for future reference.
But that said, who was the girl next to her? Black hair down below her shoulder blades, arguably even fluffier than his own, oddly wearing another Shujin uniform, only she wore a navy blue beret to go with the ensemble. She didn’t wear a blazer; having an indigo hoodie draped around her shoulders and tied off at the front, and her turtleneck was an odd light gray color, rather than the white that Ren’s was. The standard Shujin male uniform’s plaid pants completed the ensemble, with black suspenders hanging off her hips like hip-chains.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a glimpse of recognition. He could’ve swore she looked familiar, too.
“Oh my god, oh my god, Renny!” squeaked the girl, her voice obnoxiously high in octave, even if it was tempered by a softer tone.
Oh. There was only one person in the whole world who was allowed to call him Renny.
Akira Amamiya. His twin sister.
“Aki-Aki? I didn’t know you went to Shujin!”
“I… uh really I didn’t until a few days ago. I went to Hikarigaoka Girls’ Academy last year.” Akira gave her brother a wink. Apparently she knew more than she let on.
“Might need to talk to Lavenza about this. I did not realize Akira would be here this time,” Ren contemplated. “Actually, we could use her help.”
“Say Aki, would you do me a favor?” Ren asked his sister. He explained a little bit of information, carefully omitting the time travel aspect in case anyone was listening in. “So you want me to keep an eye on that one, huh?” Akira affirmed, “No worries, bro. She’ll be safe and sound before you know it.”
“Watch yourself around Kamoshida, ok?”
-=R=-
Morning
April 11, 20XX
Soon enough, Ren Amamiya found himself with Ryuji, although this time they were joined by Ann, having refused Kamoshida’s car ride this time. He had thought about actually attending his morning classes like he was supposed to. Kawakami would be rather annoyed with him, but then when wasn’t she around this time? No, the real issue would be Shujin’s rumor mill.
Luckily, the Metanav had been altered this go around. Rather than a red-and-black eye, the app took the form of a blue crest, bearing an ornate gold V. the app didn’t have a title, but Ren knew what this was: a Velvet-enhanced Metaverse Navigator. Odds are, this was sent to each of the Phantom Thieves, as well.
“Kawakami says we’ve got three hours to work with. So keep an eye on the clock, make sure not to enter through the front door this time, and get as far as we can.”
Ren booted up the Velvet MetaNav, and inputted the keywords: Suguru Kamoshida. Shujin Academy. Castle. The rest filled in from there.
“Suguru Kamoshida. Shujin Academy. Castle. Pervert. Accessing the Palace… Good Luck.”
By the time anyone noticed their movements, three high school students were gone.
-=M=-
Kamoshida’s Palace -Outside-
Outside the Metaverse, Ren Amamiya was an above-average student, noteworthy for his grades and his ill-earned criminal record, but other than that he wasn’t much more different than the rest of Japan’s populace. However, it was in the Metaverse that Ren Amamiya thrived, for it was here that the student became Joker, of the Phantom Thieves. By his side, his stalwart bruiser Ryuji Sakamoto, also known as Skull; and the fiery femme fatale Ann Takamaki, better known here as Panther. Rounding out the team was their feline metaversal mentor Morgana, or simply Mona; and a synthesized cyber collaborator named Sophia Ichinose v1.37, going by the shorthand of Sophie.
The plan was to get as far as they could into the castle, probably a safe room in or two, getting a head start on that infiltration route. At least, that was the plan, until Skull brought up an interesting point.
“You know guys, I never noticed this, but everything besides the Palace mirrors the real world. Strange, right?”
Mona, the expert in the field, added, “It makes sense, Skull. The Castle is located within Tokyo’s boundaries. I wonder…”
Approaching where Shujin’s school gates were was no problem. The problem was seeking out a different entrance. By using his Third Eye ability, Joker was able to find a side entrance to the Palace, but unfortunately it was barred from the outside. They’d have to get there and open it from the inside. “ Guess we’re opening the front door.” Joker thought.
-=M=-
Kamoshida’s Palace -Corridor, near Training Hall of Love-
The girl with black hair patiently waited. She had no thoughts, she had no desires other than to please her King. And yet, her King was not present at this time. That is alright, though. She will wait for- wait, was that the Princess?
A part of her knew she would get punished for this, but that was okay. She was a silly rabbit and a glutton for punishment. Such was she, and such she will be. Then she felt a weight being removed from her head. Feeling around her head, she noticed… her tiara!
And that was when something amazing happened to her. Something she’d remember forever.
“...what am I doing here?”
After seeing a glint and a blue light in front of her, she realized that the tiara was tethering her to this castle. She could think clearly now, so maybe that was why. “I better get out of here!” she realized. Taking off her heels, she ran off, away from that accursed training hall.
“Huh. that girl looked a little like Shiho.” a blonde, sounding eerily close to Kamoshida’s favorite punching dummy, the one he broke last year and left a shell. She always felt pity for that boy, and yet here he was, with two other figures, one looking just like the Princess…
The Princess, Kamoshida’s favorite doll aside from her, or rather a facsimile of her, which meant… were they here to save her?
Only one way to find out.
“E-excuse me!” she called out in her soft, mousy voice. “A-a-are you the rebel thieves?”
The thieves, one wearing a white domino mask, one with a gunmetal gray skull mask, one more wearing a white hood emblazoned with a black digital readout visor covering her face, another with an oversized head bearing clear feline features, and the last - the one most resembling the Princess - wearing a red cat-inspired mask, nearly got into combat stances, until the latter raised a hand. “Yeah! And we’re going to change the heart of that rotten king of yours!” the one wearing the cat mask proudly declared.
“H-h-h-he is no king of mine. Pl-please save the p-pr-princess… save me…” she begged, bowing in desperation.
The one in the domino mask asked for her name. She gave it; Shiho . That usurper calling himself the king said it was a beautiful name for a toy, and there would have been a time she would have agreed. But she was no toy, she would come to realize.
“Come with us. We’ll protect you.”
The one in the red cat mask bearing a distinct resemblance to her Princess looked her in the eye, and reached out for her hand, red latex sheathing her fingertips. Shiho, who was looking at the cuff links on her wrists, returned her gaze at once and took it in hers.
This was the first step that the Cognitive clone of Shiho Suzui took to a life free of Kamoshida’s reign.
-=M=-
Kamoshida’s Palace, Safe Room 2-D
“Right, so time check. Sophie?” Joker reminded his team that they could only be around for a few hours, keeping a careful watch on their cognitive passenger. “You have roughly one hour remaining before you will be marked tardy, Joker. I would advise extraction.” the AI responded.
Mona, Joker’s faithful companion, added, “I can keep watch on Cognitive Shiho in the Palace. The shadows are probably trying desperately to look for her. I even heard them saying they’d double guards on the Princess.”
“Cognitive me, huh. I never really liked her, to be honest.” Panther, the Fire user of the Phantom Thieves, began. “Still, how are we going to get her to follow us? The fake Shiho here is one thing, but that bimbo?”
The cognitive Shiho adjusted her outfit, a one piece bunnysuit given to her by that vile king. “I r-realize I am no-not your Shiho, L-lady Panther. I am not off-offended.” she pointed to her head and began hinting, “m-maybe if you w-w-were to knock her t-tiara off her head…”
“...Then she’d be more open!” Panther finished. “Good idea. We’ll have to get that done next time.”
“I w-w-will wait for you… t-this room feels s-s-safe.”
As Joker pulled out his phone and booted up the Velvet Metanav, he made a note of the progress they’ve accomplished in this session. Already, there were some changes made to this timeline. Something he’d have to ask Lavenza about. He clicked the exit button, and all five Phantom Thieves vanished from the Safe Room, out of the Palace and then the Metaverse’s view.
They didn’t notice a small cerulean figure, not that much larger than Mona’s oversized head, leave with them…
“Now navigating to the Real World. Welcome back.”
-=EYECATCH=-
Royal Guard ~Soundscape of Lunar Tokyo~
Episode 1 “It’s A Whole New Game”
1-00 "Belladonna's Lament ~ Velvet Room"
Aria of the Soul - Persona (Series)
1-01 "Sign In ~ Chat 01"
Surface of SR388 (Ambience) - Metroid: Samus Returns
1-02 "A Constant ~ Theme of Akira"
Bottoms Up (Hugo Stage) - Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack
1-03 “King, Queen and Slave -Time Travel Mix-”
Dilapidated Town - Streets of Rage
1-04 “Why? ~ Theme of Shiho”
We’re Here Now - Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
1-05 “Origin of Aeon”
Screens of Rage - Streets of Rage Remake
-=JIKAI=-
The Phantom Thieves have found their first new mechanic in this new game, and their mission to save Shiho Suzui begins in earnest. Meanwhile, an advisor from the Real World assumes her role next to her Pharaoh, and Shujin Academy enrolls its first otherworldly student…
Royal Guard; Stage 2: “She Came from the Metaverse!”
When next we meet, it will be of your own volition…