Of Phantoms and Thieves

Are You Done Yet?

(I decided to split the chapter! I hope you enjoy!)

"Are you done bickering yet?" Joker exclaimed, throwing his arms out in a mocking fashion, his voice taking on a terrifying tone. "If you cause the palace to collapse now, you'll kill me and everyone inside."

"Is he bluffing?" Yusuke wondered out loud.

"We can't be sure, we should take this seriously, guys!" Morgana responded.

"Well, how are we supposed to get down from here?!?" Ann shouted. "This is insane!"

"If you die, we all die!" Joker gleefully squeaked, pushing his closed palms together. "I warned you of the monster that would come... Now you must face the consequences!!!"

"You can't be serious!" Futaba commented as Joker flicked out his knife. "He's definitely a threat, everyone! We're beyond the point of talking now, you'll have to beat some sense into him!"

"Persona!" Haru shouted, summoning Milady.

The persona appeared, and Milady's dress opened to reveal a large assortment of guns. She fired a barrage at the Shadow. Joker didn't see it coming and was knocked over.

"Get him while he's down!" Futaba ordered.

Ann leaped into action, lashing out with her whip and slicing into the Shadow. He cried out and stumbled to his feet, jumping away.

"Is this how it is, then?!?" he shouted. "You really have turned your backs on me!"

"Shut up!" Ann snapped back. "You're talking nonsense!"

"Don't you dare look at me like that!" Joker screamed. "I built us up using my own pride! I wasted it knowing that I was getting nowhere, knowing that I used all of you for the thrill of it! So why?! Why don't you despise me?!"

"You must stop this madness!" Yusuke called out.

Joker furiously shook his head. "Why do you not hate me...?" He lashed his arm out. "WHY DON'T YOU HATE ME?!? TELL ME!!"

"We don't have time for this," Morgana groaned. "Whether he's tricking us or not, we've got to put some sense into him before this place collapses!"

Morgana summoned Zorro and created a blast of wind, sending it in Joker's direction. He dodged and threw his dagger, striking Morgana's arm.

"Gah!" he cried out.

"Mona-chan!" Haru exclaimed.

"I'll be fine, it's just a scratch," Morgana interjected, healing himself.

While the thieves had been distracted, Joker ran and tackled Morgana, pulling out a gun and pointing it at his head. The others grabbed his arms and legs, attempting to restrain him.

"Let me go!!!" Joker shrieked. "No witnesses! No witnesses!!!"

Black wings shot out of his back, pushing the teens back. Joker shot into the air and they watched in awe.

"No one can know of my sins!" Joker yelled. "You can't purge me of disaster!"

"Ah, he's finally showing his corrupted form..." Morgana noted, standing up.

"This is quite a twist," Yusuke murmured. "His main persona is a demon yet this form is a fallen angel..."

"It shows how he feels that he's disgraced us, that he should be locked out of our presence," Morgana explained. "Hence the shut in and degrading himself."

"I don't know about you guys but this seems diabolical," Futaba muttered. "We need to save him, no matter the cost."

Joker raised a finger to the sky and a streak of light appeared in the distance.

"Prepare yourselves," he said, his expression neutral. "There will be no chance at redemption."