P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 3: Versailles
Ren and Ann looked around at their new surroundings. “Wh-What’s going on?!” Ann demanded. “We need to call someone!” She got out her phone. Her face went pale. “Huh?”
Ren looked over her shoulder to see that Ann now had the app she had. Ren took out her phone and tapped the app. She looked at it. In black were the words “Kamoshida” and “School” but in white was the word “Revolution”. Ren was curious about that, but didn’t think that it was the most important thing going on right now. “We should get out of here,” she said.
Ann turned to her. “Huh? Oh, right. Yeah.” They looked around. “Where should we go?”
Ren shrugged. “I guess we could see if people are here.”
Ann nodded. “Good idea.” The two girls wandered the city calling out to people. They managed to catch a glimpse of a person, but they went into hiding as soon as they were spotted. “Hey! Get back here!” Ann called, running up to them. Ren followed her.
Eventually the two caught up to the person to find a boy with short blue hair wearing a peasant’s wardrobe. Ann was shocked. “Hey, aren’t you on the volleyball team? And you’re in our class, right? Your name’s Mishima.”
Ren did recognize the boy from her class. From what Ren could tell, he seemed like the type that could break down at the drop of a hat. After hearing he was on the volleyball team, it made sense.
Mishima spoke up. “You’re...you’re not agents of the king, are you?”
“Huh? King?” Ann said, confused. “No! We just got here! We need to get out!”
“But, wasn’t there a decree from the king for her to be summoned?” Mishima said, pointing at Ren.
The two girls were confused. “Decree?” Ann said.
Trumpets blared. “ATTENTION! ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING!”
Mishima gasped. “I gotta get outta here.” Mishima ran and hid.
Ann looked determined to figure this out. “Let’s go see what this ‘king’ thing is about!” Ren nodded and the two went towards the sound of the announcement. When they got to the square, they were shocked and hauled by the sight they were greeted with. “What the hell?”
Four strange-looking knights were carrying a litter in the shape of a throne made of gold. And on it was an all too familiar face. Kamoshida. He was wearing a crown, a cape adorned with hearts, boxers also adorned with hearts, and nothing else.
Ann and Ren looked at the litter some more. “WHAT THE HELL?!” Next to Kamoshida was Ann. But this Ann was wearing a bikini and cat ears. They looked more. They saw a figure of Ren at Kamoshida’s feet, wearing torn up prison garb that accentuated her feminine features. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Listen up!” said Kamoshida. “I’ve heard tell that SOME people don’t like how I treat this town, and are planning on overthrowing me! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?! They need to be THOROUGHLY PUNISHED!” Ren and Ann looked around. All over, they could see townspeople hiding. “WELL?!”
Ann clenched her fists. “WHAT’S GOING ON?!” she yelled. That caught the attention of the knights and King Kamoshida. “WHAT IS ALL THIS?!”
Kamoshida looked her and Ren over. “So. You think you can impersonate my queen and newest toy and get away with it?!”
“What?!” Ann said.
“Like, she’s totally not doing, like, a good job of it,” said the other Ann. “Isn’t that right?” She was addressing the other Ren. The other Ren seemed too scared to say anything, simply nodding in agreement. “I, like, thought so. Isn’t the punishment for that, like, death?”
Kamoshida looked the real versions of them over. “Well, as pale of imitations as they are, they still look rather stunning… Tell you what: I’m going to go easy on you. Guards! Rough them up a bit, then bring them to my chambers!”
Yes sir!” said the knights.
“HELL NO!” Ann screamed. “I’d rather die!”
Kamoshida scoffed. “Very well. If you insist.” He waved his hand and more knights showed up. “This oughta be fun.”
The knights surrounded Ann and Ren. “For King Kamoshida!” one called out.
“For King Kamoshida!” The other knights called out.
The knights were simply too powerful, and pushed Ann to the ground. “No...this can’t be it…” Ann called.
Ren was frightened. Knights were surrounding her as well, but she tried to keep her distance. Just what was she getting involved in? And why did her new friend get brought into it as well? Maybe I’m in over my head.
“What’s the matter?” a voice in Ren’s head called out. She remembered that voice. It was the same as when she rejected that figure’s offer. Only this time, it was much louder, causing Ren to struggle. “Are you simply going to watch? Or run away? Death awaits her if you do nothing. Was your previous decision a mistake?”
Ren remembered saving that woman. Even though it went bad for her, she knew in her heart that she would do it again if given the opportunity. “No” Ren told the voice.
The voice answered back. “Very well. I have heeded your resolve. Vow to me! I am thou! Thou art I! Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!"
A mask formed on Ren’s face. Ren grabbed it with both hands. She struggled to tear it off. She shouted “Arsene!” and her mask came off. Her face was pouring blood. She was also wearing a dress shirt, black pants, black shoes, red gloves, and a black coat. Standing behind her was a figure, wearing a similar dress shirt with a white cravat, pink sleeves and legs, black shoes, a black mask, a blue flame for a head, long wispy brown hair, a black top hat, black clawed hands, and black wings.
“What?!” said Kamoshida. “Stop her!” The knights charged her, but Ren directed Arsene to defeat them, which they did. Ren continued her assault on the knights and eventually freed Ann. Kamoshida was now shaken. “You’re going to regret this! Get me out of here!”
“Yes sir!” said the knights carrying him turned around and ran back to his castle in the distance.
Arsene disappeared and Ren’s mask reappeared on her face. Ann looked off at the fleeing Kamoshida. “Well…THAT was something.” She turned to look at Ren. “Woah! What’s with the look?” Ren looked over her new clothes. “They look…”
Ren smiled. “Cute? Dashing? Tre Manifique? All of the above?” she said. Ann looked uncertain. “The answer is D. ‘All of the Above.’”
Ann eventually cracked a smile, giggled, and said “If you say so.” She looked around. “While, whatever just happened was cool and everything, we’re still no closer to escaping whatever this place is.”
“You’re right,” Ren said. “Let’s keep looking.”
The two went further into the village when they were approached by two girls also dressed as peasants. “Hey! What you did back there was really cool!” one of them said.
“Yeah!” the other one said. “We could really use someone like for.” “Me?” Ren said.
“For what?” Ann asked.
The first girl answered. “Well, remember when the king said people were plotting to overthrow him. Well, it’s true.”
The other girl added “Our leader just began rallying people for this endeavor. And we think you two might just fit in!”
“Us?” Ann said. She thought about it. “Well, if it’s about taking Kamoshida down a peg, then sure. We’ll help.” Ren looked at Ann confused. “Well, it’s not like we’re getting out of here anytime soon. And who knows? Maybe this could be fun.”
“NO!” shouted a voice. A slingshot pellet landed between the four girls. Ren and Ann turned around to see a cat-looking thing on its hind legs with a yellow scarf aiming a slingshot. The two peasant girls ran away.
“What was that for?” Ann asked.
“Follow me” the cat said.
Ann wasn’t sure what to make of this, but Ren somehow knew to trust this cat. She put her hand on Ann’s shoulder and said “I think this cat’s alright.”
“I’m more than alright” they said. “I’m amazing! Now let’s go. You wanna get out of here, right?” They walked off. Ren followed after.
Ann was shocked, wondering what’s going on. She decided to go with them as well. “Hey! Wait for me!” The three of them were walking for a bit. Soon, they were outside of the village, and at a bridge over a moat leading to a castle. “Where are we going anyways? You said you’d let us out of here.”
“Just hold on,” said the cat. “We’re almost there.”
“Halt!” said a voice. Two knights showed up. “We’re under orders from the king to capture you!”
The cat smirked. “Hm. Judging by your outfit, you’ve awakened to your Perona as well. Wanna show these two what for?”
Ren nodded. “Arsene!”
The cat faced the other knight. “Zorro!” A Persona appeared above the cat. The knights then morphed into Pixie and Jack O'Lantern. With the two of them working together, they made easy work of the shadows. “Looks like you’ve got a real knack for this. Now let’s go!”
“WAIT!” Ann shouted. “I’m not going ANYWHERE until someone explains what’s going on!”
The cat had an uneasy look on their face. “...Fine,” they said. “My name is Morgana. I was created by Igor to assist this person” he said, pointing to Ren.
“Huh?” Ann said.
Ren was rather embarrassed. “Sorry” she said. “I’ll explain.” Ren detailed the information she was given to Ann.
“Woah! I can hardly believe it” Ann said. “So, you were supposed to fight this Yaldabaoth thing, but someone hijacked their plan?”
“Basically” said Ren
“But, how does that explain any of this?!” Ann asked.
“Tag me in!” Morgana said. Ren raised her hand. Morgana jumped and they high-fived. “Now, what you are seeing around you is the Metaverse.”
“Metaverse?” Ann said.
“Yes,” said Morgana. “Basically, think of it as the collective unconscious of all of humanity. Now, sometimes, when a human’s desires become so warped, it leads to the creation of these things called Palaces.”
Ann looked around. “But, this doesn’t look like much of a palace. It looks more like a village.”
“Yes, well…” Morgana said. “Due to this figure taking over Yaldabaoth’s plan, the nature of the palaces have changed.” Morgana looked at Ren. “You noticed it too, right? On your phone?”
Ren took out her phone and loaded up the app. “You mean the difference in the text?”
Morgana nodded. “That’s exactly right. The two words in black represent the original distortion.”
“‘Kamoshida’ and ‘School’” Ren clarified.
“Yes,” Morgana said. “But the text in white represents how the cognition has changed.”
“‘Revolution’” Ren pointed out.
Ann frowned. “Oh. So it’s my fault we’re here” she said.
Ren placed her hand on her shoulder. “Hey” she said. Ann looked up. “I was told I’d have to face this anyway. In a way, you’ve helped me. And in another way, I should be the one apologizing. You shouldn’t have been dragged into something like this.”
Ann smiled. “Thanks. But, now that I am here, I’d like to help however I can. After all, we’re in this together.” Ren nodded.
“Anyway” Morgana said. “While the cognition has changed, the goal remains the same.”
“What do you mean?” Ren asked.
“In order for this cognition to subside, we need to steal a treasure!” Morgana clarified.
“Treasure?” Ann said.
Morgana nodded. “It is the source of the palace ruler’s distorted desires. If we take that, the ruler will have a change of heart.”
“I see,” Ann said. “So, what does that mean?”
“It means that this Kamoshida person will confess their crimes!” Morgana said.
“Oh” said Ann. She looked determined. “Then definitely count me in! But hold on, wasn’t that what the village people were going to do. They said they wanted to overthrow Kamoshida.”
Morgana glared at Ann. “That’s part of this new figure’s trick,” he explained. “The takeover of the cognition is only the beginning. Their end goal is the death of Kamoshida.”
“D-Death?!” Ann said. “Hold on! While that bastard might deserve a lot, no one deserves to die!”
“So, how does this death play out?” Ren asked.
“Most of the beings you’ve seen are cognitions; part of the universe here” Morgana explained. “They have no connection to their real-world counterparts. However, Kamoshida does. If the Kamoshida here dies, the Kamoshida of the real world will suffer a mental breakdown and die as well.”
“Wait, that sounds like those mental shutdown things that are happening” Ann said. Ren was confused. “Huh? Oh right. I guess you just got here. Recently, there’s been a series of unexplained incidents where people have suffered mental shutdowns or mental breakdowns. It’s really bizarre.”
“Another part of Yaldabaoth’s original plan” Morgana said. “I guess that had to carry over.”
“So, we just need to go and steal Kamoshida’s treasure here and he won’t die and will be punished for his crimes?” Ann said. “I’m in.”
Ren had another question. “How is this cognition being hijacked?” she asked.
“Good question,” Morgana said. “Just as this place was created out of Kamoshida’s distorted desires, it was hijacked by someone else’s desire for revenge.”
“Do you know who that is?” Ren asked.
“That, I don’t know,” Morgana said. “Would either of you know anyone who hate Kamoshida so much that they would want to kill him?”
“Believe me, I can count on one hand the number of people who DON’T want him dead” Ann said.
“I see,” Morgana said. “Well, if that’s the case, I’ll do some more investigation over here. For now, you two need to leave. I’ll contact you when I have more information.”
“Right,” Ann said. “So, where is the exit?”
“Over here” Morgana said. He guided them to the exit and soon the two girls found themselves outside of Shujin Academy, and Ren had changed back into her school uniform.
“Man, what a day” Ann said. Their stomachs growled. “Hey, why don’t we get something to eat. My treat.” Ren nodded. On their way, Ren called Sojiro to tell him that she’s grabbing dinner with a friend. “Here we are,” said Ann. Ren looked up to see a monjayaki place. “Trust me, this place is great.” The two headed inside.
When the two started eating their food, Ren immediately loved it. “See? I told you this was great!” Ann said. Ren nodded. “So, there’s something that’s been kind of bothering me. About Kamoshida’s cognition.”
“Of you?” Ren asked.
Ann looked sad. She sighed. “As much as it sickens me, I’m not surprised Kamoshida thinks of me that way. A lot of people seem to think of me like that.”
“I’m sorry,” Ren said.
Ann smiled. “It’s OK. I have people like Shiho who see me for who I really am.” She then got more serious. “What concerns me is how Kamoshida saw you.” Ren was shocked. “You were wearing this prison garb, and you looked scared to death. Like you had no choice but to be submissive to Kamoshida.” Ren started to shake a little. “Hey! Sorry. It’s OK if you don't want to tell me.”
Ren looked at Ann and smiled. She sighed. “I just don’t want you to stop being my friend…”
Ann took Ren’s hand. “Ren, listen. After everything we’ve been through today, there’s no way we’d stop being friends.”
Ren smiled and nodded. She sighed. “The truth is, I have a record.”
“Record? Of what?” Ann asked.
“An arrest record” Ren clarified.
Ann was stunned. “Oh.”
“And Kamoshida knows about it,” Ren said. “And he told me he’d tell the whole school if I didn’t do as he says.”
It was silent for a moment. Ann broke the silence “That bastard!” she said. Ren sighed a sigh of relief. “So, what did you get arrested for anyway? Being too cute?”
Ren snickered. “Thanks. But no…” Ren explained what had happened. She figured that if Ann was willing to not be scared of her for her record, she could tell her the truth about this. “See, what happened was, some guy was harassing this woman. I stepped in to help her, and the guy fell. He then claimed that I pushed him down, and the police sided with him instantly.”
Ann was clearly angry. “What a jerk,” she said. “He sounds like Kamoshida. Manipulating things to get his way.” Ren smiled, relaxing completely. “Listen, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask me, OK?”
Ren nodded. “Same goes for me too.”
Ann giggled. “Of course!”
Ren felt a surge of energy inside her.
I am thou... Thou art I… Thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Lovers Persona I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power
Lovers-Ann Takamaki: Rank 1
“Well, it’s getting kind of late,” Ann said. “We should head home for now. I’m sure that cat thing, Morgana was it, will find something. We should get rested up for then.” Ren nodded. The two left to go home for the night.
