Persona 4:Luigi's Adventure

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Velvet Room(Part 1)

"This can't be happening...this can't be happening!!!" I found myself saying this as I looked at the monster standing before me. Well, floating above me, but that's not important right now. " Loo-Wi-Gee, this is bad! Red is gonna be killed by his shadow self!!! We should get outta here!" I stood rigid and began to sweat hard at that. "Are you-a kidding me Nobody!? I can't leave my bro here! Mario..."

Sensing our hesitation, the shadow starts making squeaking noises in quick succession; probably laughing. "Oh right...I forgot. Little bro can't do anything without me. Guess I might as well wrap this up then...*Yawnnn*." He doesn't waste another second as he lifts the cage up and opens his mouth, attempting to swallow it whole. "I...can't do anything without Mario...? That..." The fear welling up within me subsides after I hear that, my posture straightening not from alarm, but from confidence. "That..." I repeat as memories of me and bro play in front of my eyes. "That's!!!" I can feel a burning in my chest as an image of a blue butterfly comes to mind. "THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE!!!"

A blue flame bursts from under me and I extend my right hand to summon my other self. "PERSONA!!!" I crush the card that materialized and from behind me comes Narcissus, the being from my dream. (So it was real...wait, now's not the time! I gotta save bro!!!) "Narcissus! Use Agi!!" At my command, Narcissus combusts the air around the shadow's hand. "OH!!!" It yells before dropping the cage. "MARIOOOOO!!!!!" As if he heard the pleas of my heart, my persona charges forward to catch the cage and lowers it to the ground next to me. Inside the cage, Mario is passed out. His breathing is shallow, but he seems alright. (Thank goodness...hold on bro...now it's my turn to be player one!)

Focusing back on shadow Mario, I see him nursing his singed hand. He looks at me with pure hatred, and grits his teeth. "How...DARE YOU!? WHY!!?DON'T I DESERVE A REST ONCE IN A WHILE!!?! GRRR....THE WHOLE KINGDOM CAN JUST GO TO HELL!!!!" The shadow raises up his arm as though he will strike, but suddenly stops. Above him, clouds can be seen sliding down the strings. As they near his hat they jump off to the sides and form legless bodies with large fists. The three minions look down on me with eyes portraying happiness, anger, and sadness. " Wah! Loo-Wi-Gee, this is bad...really bad!" Nobody speaks up for the first time in ages and his mask looks frightened. "These goons are protecting him! If you don't defeat the shadow soon, it'll get stronger!!! Take 'em out!" I turn back to the new threat and find the space empty.

*BAM!* Before I realized it, I was flying through the air. Looking back, I see the goons. The angry one has its fist extended, so I assume that's the one that hit me. I slam into the stands and find myself too weak to move. Summoning Narcissus and being in this weird fog for so long must have been bad for my health. I'm slowly losing conciousness as the goons creep up on me. I hear Nobody yelling my name, but I am already gone...

*???*

.................................

...........(...Huh...?) I can feel myself slowly regaining conciousness. The first thing I am able to process is the sound of piano music and opera coming from somewhere close, yet far away. Second is the blue, which is literally everywhere. Then I notice the room itself. The room looks like some sort of train car, but the interior is so large, it could be mistaken for a dining room. Doors are lined up along the walls of the room, connected to seemingly nothing. The windows were covered by blue curtains. "Welcome to the Velvet Room."

A voice rings out from directly in front of me and I quickly turn to a strange sight. A man with an abnormally long nose and crazed eyes sits with his hands folded in front of a large table. To his right is a sophisticated looking woman clad in the blue of this room. Her hair is stark white, and covers one side of her face like a mask. Her eyes are yellow like the shadows', but less hostile. She looked, in a sense, like a princess. I found myself baffled by these strange characters.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name, is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance." The man with the long nose speaks up. "This woman here is my assistant, Beatrice." He gestures to the woman and she bows. "It is a pleasure meeting you, honored guest." Her voice is soft, yet firm. I nod back and start to introduce myself. Igor speaks again before I can take a breath. "Ah, do not worry about your introduction. We know who you are, and have summoned you for a reason. First however, we'll need you to sign this contract. It is just stating that you'll take full responsibility for your actions in the coming ordeals." A contract descends from nowhere into my hands with a pen, and I sign my name. I feel at ease here, and for some reason can't help but trust this man.

After I sign, the contract disappears as suddenly as it came. "Now, although our first meeting must be kept brief because of the threat in the outside world, I must inform you of a power that you hold within." The man snaps and a card floats down. The card shows two hands holding a blue flame, eyes, and the infinity sign at the top with a number one on the bottom. "You are a bit different from our other guests, and as such, so will be your power. Do you remember the name of the power that sleeps within you?" Igor asks me this and I say almost naturally the name that has become engraved in my heart. "Narcissus..." Igor's smile widens and he nods. "Yes. This power, known to you as a persona, is going to bring about great changes within you. The first of these, is the ability to summon forth new power. " "Power...?" I repeat, slightly confused. "All in due time guest, but now, you must wake up. Time marches on in your world, and a great threat seeks to claim your life. Remember...your bonds will shape your power." With these cryptic words, darkness creeps up on my vision as I'm whisked away.

*To be continued....*