Of Phantoms and Thieves

Distasteful Demise

Haru swung her axe at the strings that were attached to the Shadow. The axe connected with the target but was thrown back, bouncing off the strings and knocking Haru over.

"Did it not connect?" Ann inquired.

"No, it connected alright," Futaba murmured.

"Our objective is different this time," Morgana pointed out. "Negotiate with the perpetrator... I'm guessing that's how he sees himself..."

"How sad..." Haru breathed. "He really does believe that he's the one at fault..."

"How are we supposed to negotiate with this Shadow?" Yusuke questioned.

"Talk to it?" Ann suggested.

"I don't think that will work," Futaba stated. "I doubt it will listen to us." She rubbed the side of her head as the music grew louder, the beat reminiscent of a pulse. "I hardly believe it will hear us in the first place."

"Well then, what are we supposed to do? Dance with it?"

"The strings must be attached to something above," Morgana pondered. "Why don't we attack at the source?"

"That's not a bad idea," Futaba mused. "Get out your guns and open fire!"

The Phantom Thieves yanked out their guns and aimed upwards. Pulling the trigger, nothing happened.

"What's going on?" Haru exclaimed in confusion.

"We're out of ammo? But how?!" Morgana cried.

"It must have been stolen from us," Yusuke muttered. "Or we were simply ignorant."

"Persona!" Ann shouted, summoning Carmen behind her.

She launched a volley of flames above, illuminating the hand of the puppeteer. The hand jerked back brushing against the curtains that covered backstage. The rope connected to the Shadow burned and the puppet fell to the floor. It melted into blood just as the others had. Ren's mother disappeared, fading out of existance.

"Agh, I said to negotiate!" Joker's voice growled. "You're supposed to obey my orders!"

"Not anymore!" Futaba shouted.

"We've come to steal your treasure!" Morgana exclaimed, pointing. "Along with your heart!"

The curtains were now on fire, quickly burning up and dropping ashes on the tilted stage. A figure stepped out from the smoke, glaring at the Phantom Thieves that had come so far to foil the show.

"Fine," Joker murmured coldly. "We can't waste another moment, can we? I encouraged you to rebel, but I never would have guessed that you'd turn your back on me."

"We're not turning our backs on you, we're trying to help you!" Ann corrected.

"She's right," Yusuke chimed in. "All this was for your sake."

"We want to take this pain away from you, all you need to do is let us have this moment!" Morgana exclaimed.

"Why can you not see our purpose?" Haru cried.

"Why do you shut us out?" Futaba shouted.

Joker shook his head. "I can't let you see the terrible things I've done. I'm just trying to protect you from myself."

"What are you talking about?" Ann asked incredulously.

"I'm a monster, stay away from me!" Joker screamed, a blast of wind pushing the Phantom Thieves back.

"Where did this wind come from?!" Morgana questioned.

"Over there!" Yusuke pointed.

The theater's ceiling opened up, and the stage began to rise. The Phantom Thieves caught a glance of black wings behind their leader before it disappeared. The rain outside had stopped, and the clouds had cleared to reveal a crescent moon. The stage continued to ascend until they were above the entire building, overlooking the vast expanse of city below.

"W-Whoa...!" Futaba remarked. "Are we seriously going to fight up here?!?"

Joker drew his knife and hunched over in an almost protective stance.

"I wish I hated you all," he breathed. "I really wish I hated you..."

"Don't wish for such a thing," Yusuke spoke up. "You're still our friend, no matter how terrible you may think you are."

"S-Stop."

"We may not know all the terrible things you think you've done," Ann added, "but you've done plenty good in our eyes."

"We're your friends, and friends don't turn their backs on each other no matter how hard things get," Morgana noted. "I had to learn that the hard way."

"Mona-chan..." Haru breathed.

"Changing your heart is the least we can do for you," Futaba stated. "After all, we owe you."

Joker backed away. "No, I never asked for this...!"

"You don't have to ask," Ann explained. "You want it. We could all see in your eyes that you needed help. You've aided us so much, without any complaint. It's only natural that we repay you."

"I can't let you suffer like this... They've already suffered, chasing after the same goals as you!"

"Talking is pointless now..." Futaba breathed. "No matter what we say, he's still going to counter us."

"We don't want to fight you!" Ann told him. "Please, just listen to us!"

Joker began to laugh, and the Phantom Thieves were taken aback.

"You really want the treasure, don't you?!" he screamed in an alarming tone. "Well you're too late!!! You've already destroyed it! It's only a matter of time before the palace collapses...!"

Joker burst out laughing, falling out of his defensive stance and doubling over.

"This is getting us nowhere..." Yusuke muttered.

"He's at the peak of his corruption..." Morgana breathed.

"And the peak of his sanity," Futaba said with a shudder.

"He said we destroyed the treasure," Haru mumbled. "But it was backstage, we never touched it or saw it manifest..."

"Maybe it was moved?" Ann suggested.

They glanced over at Joker who was giggling hysterically on his knees.

"Oh...! Aha...! You're so stupid...!"

"What exactly was the treasure?" Morgana asked.

Joker threw another fit of laughter.

"I haven't laughed... so hard... It hurts to breathe..."

"Guys, wait," Futaba said. "Backstage. What goes backstage?"

"Actors?" Ann answered.

"And the puppets?"

"They were... the actors..." Her eyes widened. "Guys, did we really just destroy the treasure?"