This could be as a vacation or them setting up shop in a new location. (IDK yet)
The PToH do their thing. Going into the Metaverse and exploring both the Mementos and any Palaces they come across
It all goes well for the PToH team.
The Akumas are weird. but it seems that Ladybug & Chat Noir can deal with them.
It helps the team find their next mark
Needless to say the Palaces the team come across in Paris are all unique compared to what they were in Japan.
(while Japan were based off of the Seven Deadly Sins. It seems that Paris’ Palaces are based off Saints and Virtues... maybe could be fun)
One Palace they haven’t yet to find the treasure of belongs to one Lila Rossi. From what they have come to understand is that she has already been akumatized several times
Her Palace is what the team expects in all honesty
Ornate and shiny, full of fake gold and other such things
They have seen this type of person before back in Japan
To the team she is self-centered and views herself as a queen of her own little world
It will only be a matter of time before they find the treasure and can steal her treasure, changing her heart for the better hopefully
For the most part the team adjust to Paris fairly quickly
That is until one day the get a notice from the Metaverse Navigator about a Palace that is near by.
It is unprompted and has all three keywords needed to enter.
Name: Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Location: Boulangerire Patisserie
Distortion: St.(saint) Seraphim of Sarov Correctional
(personal note: idk any of the saints so please forgive me if this ins’t right. Reason why I chose this)
1: it is the saint of self-control
2: after google searching “saint of self-control” I found it and it spells S.o.S... which is perfect for this story
They all agree that having a Palace pop up unprompted AND already having all three keywords to enter is a bit odd, but they wave it off.
because there is a lot in Paris that hasn’t made a lot of sense, so they don’t question it.
The thing about this Palace, it is MASSIVE.
Biggest Palace in all of Paris. easily. Ranks up there pretty high when they compare it to all Palaces even including the ones from Japan.
It is themed like a Prison/insane asylum.
This Palace is different from all others they have come across in Paris.
Unlike others that show off its opulence in some way, this one doesn’t and even seems a bit bland with its brick and mortar.
The team get the feeling that this Palace is a subconsciously constructed one. Just like Futaba’s was
When they make it in the Palace their hearts sink into their stomachs
Every minor shadow of the Palace, more like Prison, is of the same girl.
And each and every one of them are held up in a room/jail cell. Each of the countless doors they have come across have a window looking in.
Some of the ones that stick out to the team are:
One is mad and hateful, bound in chains
She lashes out out anything she thinks could be dishonest
On the door is a phrase “Take the High Road.”
Another is scared and clearly trying to stop herself from crying at the jeers and insults blaring at her from the in-room speakers
the door says “Set a good example”
Another still is making all sorts of heart shaped things, obviously love struck for someone.
but instead of giving them away she stacks them to the side with a sad expression
On the door “don’t be jealous.”
Others range from a mad-hatter-esk girl worrying about maintaining schedules and deadlines, to a sleuth trying to find out ‘Who is he’
The last door they come across is the only double door so far
on one is the girl’s name “Marinette”
on the other is the name of a local hero “Ladybug”
On Marinette’s door it says “Our everyday Ladybug” and on Ladybug’s it says “Must never faultier”
When the team go in they see a stage with two of girl on it.
Marinette is keeping up a smile and using niceties while a ball and chain is on both ankles
Ladybug is capturing an akuma, purifying it, then releasing it.
With everything they have seen and with what is in front of them, the Team’s heart break a little
Every Palace before this one was of someone lording their position of power, or hiding a secret.
this girl’s Palace doesn't show any desire at all. It looks to be actively policing any desire the girl may have.
This isn’t a Palace at all. this is a Prison locking and sealing away the very heart that created it.
The Thieves don’t get long to dwell on that revelation as a third version of the girl passes by them with a quick “Pardon monsieurs, mademoisells.”
Other than that she doesn’t pay them any attention
This version of the girl is obviously the true shadow self of the poor girl
She looks well dressed and business like.
Similar to Caroline and Justine’s outfits if not a rank up from that though
No hat, but her hair is done up in a bun
A plain porcelain mask with a kind smile hides everything but her eyes
draped over her shoulders is a, shoulder length, cape that has the world’s continents stitched into it.
She is the de facto warden of this Palace turned Prison
She addresses the two on stage with a cool and calm demeanor
She tells them how to correct what they are doing and how to do it right
The pair on stage repeat their actions they did before as the warden has them do it again until it is perfect
The team can’t help but think that it is like a pair of puppets being placed and posed to be set in the perfect position
Seeing enough the Phantom Thieves try and deal with the warden
it could be through combat like the game, or just talking to her (either way it ends the same)
The mask falls off the warden and reveals the same girl they have seen this entire infiltration.
When the mask hits the floor it flies straight to the Marinette on stage.
When it does the two girls outfits change instantly.
The new warden walks off the stage and chastises the new Marinette for loosing focus.
“if Ladybug can handle a jab like that, then so can you.”
It is a sickly calm to her voice when she speaks. (and it sounds wrong to the team)
The new Marinette gives a shaky “R-right” before she gets on stage and takes the old marinette’s place, practicing the same scene as before.
The Warden looks at the band of thieves “How may I help you?”
with her yellow/golden glowing with intensity and the calm way she says it sends a chill up their spines.
“There must be some way I can help you correct those errant behaviors of yours.”
As she says that, and with her eyes on them, do the Phantom Thieves understand that this will be their toughest fight/heist yet.
And they are right, because when they try and reengage the Warden they lose ground quickly and have to retreat.
Each time they defeat a warden the mask flies to another Marinette and the fight starts anew with a refreshed Warden.
While running to safety a little red mote light leads them to a safe room.
the red light is formless (it’s Tikki, but they don’t know that)
She tells them that; she had been trying to help Marinette but there is only so much they can do to off set all the negativity/chaos in Marinette’s life.
The team thank the little light and head out to find the treasure of this Prison
Sneaking around they meet other motes of light, all willing to help the team out (guardian Mari gets all the Kwami)
Even with the help of the little lights the team still have to retreat and regroup from the Prison. Because the Warden is too strong any time they come across her
Once in the real world the team agree to learn more about this girl and how to help her.
To do that they need to get to know Marinette.
Skull and Panther meet her at the bakery.
( Ryuji and Ann). as both can play off the tourist looking for good food and light conversation
They find her to be very nice and well meaning. even going as far as to offer places to visit in Paris
Fox and Queen meet her at school as teacher’s aids
(Yusuke and Makoto) they are the most likely to be able to actually be of help to the teachers and students
They find her to be the class-president that rivals Queen’s own work ethic back when they were all still in school.
Noir and Crow meet her when she is touring the city.
(Haru and Goro) are the best at one on ones in their own right.
Find out about her passion of being a fashion designer (maybe add in her sketches of the Phantom Thieves’ outfits with little changes here and there)
Oracle (Futaba) looks up her online presence
She finds out that Marinette is connected to every major personality that has roots in Paris some way or another. and that the girl’s fashion website is top tier.
Joker & Morgana (Protagonist and mascot) meet her during her nightly patrols as a hero.
Ladybug was suspicious of them at first but when they calmed her down and reassuring her that they aren’t akuma they find out exactly what is going on in Paris and find out who the main villain is.
They all see the same thing however.
A young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Worse part is that she hides it so well behind that mask of hers.
The one with a kind smile and friendly tone.
(side note just because I couldn’t figure out a way to put this in: the Phantom Thieves are immune to Hawkmoth. I am gonna say that their Personas keep them safe by destroying/purifying the akuma right away or hiding them from Hawkmoths perception)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to thank @miraculous786 for letting me bounce another idea off of them.
1) I don’t know to much about Persona 5, just the basics.
2) When I came up with this it turned into a POV from the Phantom Thieves
3) It is more geared to be a sad/angst fic, au, prompt.
4) anything that doesn’t make sense as far as references go (realworld or otherwise) is because it was the end result of a quick google search. Please forgive me if I don’t have it right.
