Chapter 17

"Why do you fight against your own desires?" Tuonen Piika asked. "Yosuke, would you not like to be reunited with your precious Saki?"

"After finding out how she really felt about me, not really." Yosuke said. "She wouldn't want to see me, so what's the point?"

"Kanji, your father is deceased." Tuonen Piika continued. "You could see him again."

"My old man was kind of an asshole." Kanji admitted. "His death tore me up but I'm over it. I'm ready to live my own life."

"Naoto, you're so lonely without your parents." Tuonen Piika charged. "Surely you would gain comfort from their company."

"It's true, I have been lonely." Naoto said. "But I have accepted it, and with my friends, I'm not lonely anymore. Enough of these mind games; we are going to stop you. The pain of loss may be great, but to give up on life is a cowardly solution. You have misread humanity's desires, and we will not allow you to carry out this atrocity."

"Very well." Tuonen Piika concluded. "It is clear that you will not be swayed. You shall have your battle." The monster opened the battle with a tremendous blast of fire, engulfing all the Investigation Team's Personas. They had braced for the hit, and with the exception of Chie, took it rather well. Chie was forced to fall back, Teddie following to offer healing. "Impressive, it seems separating you from your Personas will be more difficult than anticipated."

Yukiko was charged up by the attack and unleashed an inferno of her own, relentlessly blasting the monster with fire. It was an ideal time for teamwork, so Yosuke and Yu – wielding Norn – fanned the flames to make the attack all the more intense. Tuonen Piika groaned with pain before unleashing counter attack of wind. It blew the flames, now more intense than ever, back at the attackers. Yukiko was unperturbed but Yu and Yosuke soon found things too hot to handle. The counter also had the knock-on effect of forcing Kanji out of the battle, as his Persona was weak to wind.

"It's invulnerable to darkness and light, and is resistant to everything." Rise reported. "You're going to have to wear it down." Yu switched to Izanagi and charged at Tuonen Piika, slashing it with the Persona's sword. Chie, back in action, sent in her Persona as well, and the two sliced away at the monster. Yukiko healed Kanji, and together with Naoto's, his Persona joined in the melee as well. Tuonen Piika seemed annoyed at worst and swiped at her attackers with a series of frenzied slashes of her massive claws. Kanji's and Chie's large and rather slow moving Personas were easy prey and soon the monster's attacks caused them to fade away, taking their wielders' consciousness with them.

Izanagi and Yamato Sumeragi were quick enough to continue landing hit-and-run attacks on Tuonen Piika. Teddie moved in to lend assistance by launching a series of ice attacks at the monster, while Yukiko kept hitting it with fire when the opportunity presented itself. Tuonen Piika soon resembled a bear being assailed by bees. Each individual attack was insignificant, but together they were making progress, and the creature found it difficult to do anything about it. Tuonen Piika yelled in pain and anger. "How would you like to fight each other?" The monster reached in arm out in the direction of Teddie. His face went blank and his body fell limp. Suddenly, he jerked into the air as if on the strings of a marionette. His Persona's ice attacks changed target to Yukiko, and she and her Persona were almost instantly downed.

"Sorry Teddie." Yu said. Izanagi abandoned its attack on Tuonen Piika and shot a powerful bolt of lightning at Teddie's Persona. Teddie and his Persona writhed in pain before it disappeared and he fell to the ground motionless. Tuonen Piika's focus shifted to Yosuke. He was controlled and a blast of wind from his Persona pushed Yu to the edge of unconsciousness. He hastily withdrew Izanagi, replacing it with Norn, and absorbed the next attack. The creature abandoned its control of Yosuke, and once he recovered, he joined a renewed assault. Yu switched back to Izanagi and the three fast Personas resumed their assault on Tuonen Piika.

"Enough!" Tuonen Piika shouted. She slammed her claws together and black circles appeared beneath the three Personas. The circles collapsed. Yu and Naoto were unharmed but Yosuke's Persona instantly disappeared and he was unconscious before he hit the ground. "I am tired of this! I will end you! You will crumble without your leader!" A black circle appeared beneath Yu, but there was something different about this one. This was no normal darkness.

"Senpai, look out!" Rise yelled in desperation. She rushed toward Yu and pushed him out of the way. Darkness enveloped her and when it cleared, she lay motionless, not even breathing.

"Rise!" Yu shouted, racing to her side. "Don't die on me!"

"It's too late for that." Tuonen Piika taunted.

"I'll hold her off, just save Rise." Naoto ordered. Her Persona made lightning quick attacks on the monster.

"Come on, stay with me." Yu pleaded. He summoned Isis and focused all his energy into healing Rise. Light engulfed them both. When it faded, Yu lay on his side, trying to catch his breath. Rise coughed. Her breathing was shallow and irregular, but she was alive. Yu smiled but lacked the strength to move any more than that. He had put everything into healing Rise.

"Fine, I shall crush you then." Tuonen Piika said. The monster approached Yu and Rise, ignoring Naoto's persistent attacks. Even shots from her pistol did not slow the monster. It raised a massive claw high into the air and slammed it down at the helpless duo.

"Shield of Justice!" Naoto shouted at the last possible second. A dome of light appeared above Rise and Yu just as Tuonen Piika's claw crashed down onto it. The thunderous impact shattered the monster's claw. Tuonen Piika recoiled in pain and staggered away from Yu and Rise. Dead shadows, formerly part of the monster, melted away and its arm disintegrated. It retreated and shed part of itself, forming a shield of its own.

The sound of an explosion thundered through the throne room, shaking the ground. "What was that?" Yang asked. Ruby had just run off to help Yu and his friends fight Tuonen Piika while the rest of Team RWBY kept an eye on the defeated Rosso Victrix.

"We need to help them." Blake said.

"We can't just leave him here." Weiss said. "We can't afford him attacking us from behind when we're distracted."

"I won't be causing you any more trouble." Rosso said. "I may hate you and wish for your failure, but I also have a great respect for you. You have fought bravely and honorably, and shown me mercy though I do not desire it. I will remain here. Take my weapons if it makes you feel more secure, win or lose I shall not need them any longer."

"Can we trust him?" Weiss asked cautiously.

"No, but we have to." Blake replied. "Let's go."

"Just die!" Tuonen Piika raged. From inside its protective bubble, it launched wild attacks with random elemental properties.

"We've got to kill it while it's weak!" Naoto shouted. "Come on Senpai, I know you can do this!" She focused again on Tuonen Piika. "Megidolaon!" A blinding light and deafening explosion engulfed the monster. Faint cracks appeared in its shield. "It's working!" Naoto said, exhausted. "Help me finish it off!"

Yu did not really have a Persona to do the job, even if he could muster the energy. He decided to ignore the damn limitations and just go for it. "Magatsu-Izanagi!" Yu shouted. He should not have been able to wield the evil doppelganger of his usual Persona, but his desperation made it happen. "Together now." He commanded.

"Megidolaon!" Yu and Naoto shouted in unison. Another tremendous blast, larger than the first, assailed Tuonen Piika. The cracks in its shield grew larger but it remained intact. They dropped to their knees in exhaustion.

"I don't think I have another in me." Naoto admitted. Yu shook his head. He did not have the strength either. Tuonen Piika's attacks, though random in direction and type, were sure to get them at some point. Their Personas were now basically autonomous, valiantly trying to block any attacks that might hit the pair. "If I have to die here, I'm glad it's at your side." Naoto said. "I love you."

"I'm so sorry." Yu said. "I should never have dragged you into this, any of you." A massive ball of ice sailed through the air. Their Personas jumped in front of it, absorbing the hit before disappearing. Both dropped to the ground in pain.

"Don't be ridiculous." Naoto admonished him. "There's no place I'd rather be than with you." A colossal fireball headed straight for them. They looked into each other's eyes and waited for the end.

Yu saw a flash out of the corner of his eye. The fireball exploded just a few feet away from them. There stood Ruby. She had taken the hit herself but seemed uninjured. "I'm going to stop you." Ruby said resolutely. She summoned Summer Rose, but her Persona immediately began to change. Instead of the visage of her mother, her Persona transformed into an angelic being, her mother as a goddess. Summer Rose became Angelic Rose and Ruby could feel the surge in power. Naoto and Yu looked on in awe. "Get up." Ruby commanded. "Let's finish this, together."

Yu and Naoto struggled to their feet, inspired by the sight before them. Ruby and Angelic Rose continued to block incoming attack without so much as flinching. Yu and Naoto stood on either side of Ruby, their shared resolve powering them. "Megidolaon!" The three said in unison. White light filled surrounded them. It was followed by a thunderous explosion and a blast that knocked them off their feet. Little remained of Tuonen Piika, just the original small woman she had been introduced as. She lay on the ground surrounded by dead shadows as they dissolved and disappeared.

"Perhaps I have misjudged the people of this world." Tuonen Piika said. Ruby, Yu and Naoto were only just barely conscious to hear her. "You win. This world will live on as before, with all the pain, suffering and joy it contains." With that, Tuonen Piika disappeared, leaving behind no trace. Yu and Naoto passed out. Ruby hung on, but only just. She could hear voices, but they sounded far away. She was so tired. She closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

Ruby awoke in an unfamiliar place. It was dark and damp. She looked around and found herself surrounded by friends. They were in a cave, and with all of them inside the space was quite cramped. She looked toward the exit. It was raining outside and a bit difficult to see, but she knew where she was. It was the cave that had led them to the shadow world. With all the worlds it had contained, she expected it to be bigger. Aside from her friends, Rosso Victrix was there as well. He sat in a plain shirt and pants, his armor piled beside him and his weapons nowhere to be seen. He stared at the floor with a look of despair.

"Ruby's awake." Yukiko said excitedly. Ruby looked at everyone. They appeared to be pretty beaten up.

Yang walked over and sat next to Ruby. Blood soaked her shirt, but she seemed to be in a rather cheerful mood. "We showed up just after you defeated Tuonen Piika." Yang explained. "We patched you guys up as best we could and then carried you out. Once we left, the portal disappeared and left behind this cave. It was raining so we decided to rest here for a while."

"We called the authorities to pick up Rosso." Blake added. "It turns out Helia is working with the police, and she's coming out to meet us and make the arrest. She didn't waste any time getting back to work."

"You did a really go job." Yu said from somewhere behind Ruby. She turned around to find him lying on the ground a few feet away. He looked exhausted. "We would have been goners without you."

"You truly are amazing." Naoto added, lying nearby. She too looked to be in rougher shape than most of the others. "First you captured the culprit, then you defeated a goddess, case closed. Thank you for saving us."

"It's nothing, really." Ruby said. "I'd do anything for my friends."

Helia arrived with some police officers in an airship. They picked up Rosso for transport back to the village and its jail. She thanked them for their assistance, but they would have to walk back on their own. Naturally, the conversation turned to what they would do next.

"Who knows how long we'll be stuck here." Yosuke said. "We might just have to start new lives." The others looked at him angrily. He may have been right, but no one wanted to hear it.

"You could come to Beacon." Yang said. "You certainly pass for Hunters and Huntresses, even if your abilities are unorthodox. Then again, there's nothing orthodox about most of the students there. There's even a perfect number of you to form two teams."

"We might have to take you up on that offer." Chie said. "It would be really cool to learn how to fight like you guys."

"You could meet our other friends too." Ruby added. "They're really interesting."

"That's one way to put it." Weiss said. "I think you guys would fit right in. I'm not sure if that's an insult or not."

"I'm sure if they're your friends they're great." Yu said confidently.

"Are there any more hot babes?" Teddie inquired. They just ignored him.

"They must be so worried about us back home." Yukiko frowned. "I bet the whole town's in a panic."

"I saw to it that that would not be a problem." Standing in front of the group was Margaret. A quick survey of their surroundings identified this as they place where they had first met. "I'm sorry for the rather rough way I left you here. I would have liked to give you a full explanation of the situation, but I had to stay in Inaba. I knew it would take some time to resolve things here, long enough that you would surely be missed. To solve this problem, I altered the flow of time. It was quite a bit more difficult than expected, and I could not follow you here."

"Altered the flow of time?" Yu was confused.

"You have been here for a number of days." Margaret said. "Back in Inaba, however, only a few hours has passed. There have been some side effects. You can use your Personas outside the shadow world. The Wild Card has been altered significantly. I would also expect you to feel somewhat ill upon your return, though there should be no lasting effects. I'm glad to see you've made friends here. They were no doubt vital to your success. I can sense the power of the Wild Card in this one as well." Margaret stared at Ruby for a few seconds. It made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. "Your fates are tightly intertwined."

"Theodore said that." Ruby said.

"So you've met my brother." Margaret said. "I hope he did not cause you too much trouble. He can be rather strange." Coming from Margaret, this was saying something. "I'm sure the two of you are wondering about your powers. When you return home, your powers will return to normal. As for you Ruby, I suspect they will remain mostly the same. The condition under which the Fool is nurtured is integral to the nature of its expression. You will no longer be able to use your powers outside of the shadow world any longer though."

"If we got rid of the shadow world, where could we use our powers then?" Yang asked.

"Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for you." Margaret replied. "Perhaps you will not be able to use your Personas any longer. Perhaps another opportunity will arise. I cannot say." She turned to the Investigation Team. "Anyway, I have come to return you to your home. The connection is somewhat unstable, so sooner would be better." It seemed there would be little time for goodbyes. Everyone looked a bit sad. "In the future I may be able to facilitate temporary connections between worlds." Margaret assured them.

"Is there anything we need to do before we leave?" Naoto asked.

"Please leave behind any artifacts of this world." Margaret said. "You all have weapons or ammunition that utilizes the technology of this place. They must not be taken to earth."

The group set about saying their farewells. "You've saved me in more ways than you know." Yu said to Ruby. "Thanks."

"I'll never forget you." Ruby promised, hugging Yu tightly. It was a bit too tight for his liking. "Thank you for helping us, and thank you for being such a good friend."

The groups parted, tears in their eyes. Somehow, even Teddie's suit was crying. "We're ready." Yu said to Margaret. She nodded and a door appeared beside her. The Investigation Team stepped through the door and disappeared.

Yu's head was spinning. He was vaguely aware of his friends but more concerned about the sick feeling in his stomach. There was a river nearby, Samegawa. He stumbled over to the water, sure he would vomit. He crouched for a few seconds and before long the nausea passed. He still felt a bit dizzy, but he needed to make sure his friends were alright. They were, mostly. They looked like they had just gotten off the wildest roller coaster ride of their lives. Somehow they all managed to keep the contents of their stomachs where they belonged.

"I thought it would be wise to let you out here." Margaret said. "You would likely be seen in a more crowded area, and that would be a problem."

"Thanks." Yosuke said weakly. He sat down on the grass. "I've got to admit, as much as I'll miss those guys, I'm happy to be home. This little town seems even better when you've been away for a while." The others voiced their agreement. Yu was not so sure. He was really going to miss Team RWBY, and unlike the others, he knew what Margaret meant when she talked about the possibility of them seeing each other again. The chances would be slim to none. It was subtle, but Margaret looked noticeably tired. She could not send them back and forth on a whim. She would only facilitate a connection if it was an emergency, not for a social call.

Margaret seemed to sense Yu's sadness. "You will see them again." Margaret promised. Yu was not so sure, but he could sense kindness behind her usual cold manner. "Right now you need to enjoy the time you have left with the friends you have here. Be happy for them." She was right. If Yu kept worrying about things beyond his control, it would bring everyone down. He smiled and nodded.

"So, what do you say we all go celebrate?" Yosuke said. "We just took down another villain and another evil god!" The others were excited by the idea.

"You're paying." Chie said happily. "To Junes!" Yosuke and Chie began arguing, and everyone was soon back to their old selves. Yu had great friends, in this place and beyond, and he was happy for every moment they shared.

"I'm going to miss them." Ruby said sadly. The Investigation Team had departed and the door they had left through soon disappeared.

"I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear from them." Yang encouraged her. "So, how was he?"

"Who?" Ruby asked. "What do you mean?"

"Yu of course." Yang answered. "How was he in bed? He was you first wasn't he?"

"W-what?!" Ruby stammered. "We didn't…that is we never…I sort of shot him down."

"Really?" Yang responded with surprise. "Well, your loss."

"Seriously." Weiss added.

"No kidding." Blake said.

They stood there silently for a moment. "Wait, did you all…" Ruby started.

"Let's get going." Yang said. "I think we all need a rest." She Blake and Weiss started to walk away toward the village. Ruby did not move.

"Hold on!" Ruby called after them. She waited a moment longer before giving chase. "You're all just messing with me right? Right?!"