AN: This story uses characters of my creation and of Kate's creation. All other characters are property of either Capcom or Atlus. Thanks go out again to Kate for letting me use her characters! Please, e-mail all comments to FrankMayn@comcast.net
"Well..." Ellen said as she eyed the clock tower from behind the gates of St. Hermelin. "It all started here... just a typical day at school..."
"Which lead to us being sent to a different dimension, living there for awhile, before ultimately returning to finish what was started..." Frank finished up.
It was eerily quiet around St. Hermelin High School. The last time the group was there, they had to watch and listen for some demons that were hiding out in the shadows. But now...
"It's too quiet... I dun like this..." Diane said as she looked around.
"It's too quiet because... there are no demons around anymore... save for some minor demons who possibly don't want to fight." Yuki explained.
"You keep mentioning minor demons and major demons..." Alex asked as he scratched the back of his head. "What exactly is the difference?"
"Simple, love..." Ellen began to explain. Besides her boyfriend, the other Windia natives began to listen to her as well.
"There are three classes of demons; minor, major, and true. Minor demons are generally weak and have hardly any power. There are a few exceptions. Take Neko-Chan for example." Ellen said before glancing at the cat-girl.
"Myah!" Neko-Chan answered before posing, which elicited a giggle from most of the group.
"She's a high level minor demon, meaning that she can hold her own in battle. However, with the demons that were roaming around here recently..."
"Meow... Ellen... please don't remind me... Mrowr... those damn Death Golems!" Neko-Chan's two tails began to whip around furiously.
"Hey... calm down..." Frank said before laying a hand on Neko-Chan's shoulder, which seemed to have an immediate calming effect on the catgirl.
"Myah... thank you Frank..." Neko-Chan replied as her tails began to slow down to a normal pace.
Kate looked around the courtyard and began to shiver. "Tellka... I'm scared... It's like... the coliseum again..."
"Kate... you'll be okay. I'm here. Don't worry about it." The older woren said before twirling her staff.
"... I guess, Tellka... I've got you and Frank here with me... along with my other friends..." She replied to her guardian after looking at her claws for a moment.
Frank overheard his girlfriend and approached her with Neko-Chan on his heels.
"Meow? Kate??? Are you okay?" Neko-Chan asked while she looked the woren over.
Kate just managed a slight nod to both the Persona User and the demoness.
"We're here for you Kate..." Frank said quietly as he looked his girlfriend straight in the eyes. "I promise... nothing will happen to you, okay? Tellka and I will protect you." The Persona User stole a glance at Kate's guardian who was nodding in agreement.
"Okay... if you say so... and Frank?" Kate asked, tail waving lightly.
"Yeah Kate?"
"Thanks..." She replied, before giving him a light kiss and hugging him, which the Persona User returned. As the couple was embracing, the clock tower bell began to ring, as if it were some type of omen, or at the least, a signal.
"Well love..." Alex said as he turned to Ellen. "Why don't we get this over with, hmm?"
"Huh? What?" Ellen replied as she shook her head.
"Ellie? Are you okay? It's like you're out of it or something..." Alex said with his tail waving in worry.
"Just thinking, that's all..." Ellen said quietly.
"About what?" The woren asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Honestly, love? My parents... See, my father is a police officer... and mom works at the museum. I didn't see either one when we went through those places..." The Persona User said while tears began to form in her eyes.
Alex immediately pulled his girlfriend into a big tiger hug. Ellen began to cry against her boyfriend's chest, which was unusual for the Persona User.
"Ellie... if they're like you, then I'm sure they're okay..." Alex said quietly as he ran a hand along Ellen's ponytail.
"Alex... I'm kind of reckless! I admit it! I nearly got killed in SEBEC... when I tried to check Guido's office by myself..." She managed to get out between sobs.
"But you're still alive. You're a survivor, Ellie... and when I berserked... I'm sorry... but you survived... despite that I was..." Alex choked out. It was obvious that he was still spooked by the fact that he had nearly killed his sister and his girlfriend when he turned into a weretiger back in SEBEC.
Both the woren and his girlfriend stood there, whispering to one another, obviously trying to find comfort in each other's words. After a few moments both of them stopped crying, but still stayed in each other's space.
Frank looked around the snow covered front area of St. Hermelin High School. He saw the front doors, and finally made a decision.
"All right..." Frank said to his friends. He still kept an arm around Kate as he spoke. "Let's get this over with... Ms. Smith is one of the nicest teachers that I had ever had..."
Ellen looked over at Frank from where she was standing with Alex. She was about to say something, when Diane interrupted her.
"Hey! Ya never finished explaining what the demons are! Major and true..."
"I'll do that..." Yuki said. "Major demons are high level demons. Take the one that Janet and Frank ran into down into the ruins. They generally exhibit high levels of power, but even the weakest true demon could kill them easily."
"Okay..." Janet said as she was looking over her Beretta once more. "So what's a true demon?"
Brad was going to reply, when another male voice interrupted him from the school's entrance.
"True demons are powerful... The ones that I know of right now are Yoga Jr., Pandora, and the Snow Queen..."
Everyone turned and saw a red-haired teenager watching them from the school's entrance.
"... Alex?" Frank said before blinking in disbelief.
"Yeah Frank?" Alex Brandshire responded.
"No... not you... That Alex... Alex Meyers, another friend of mine." Frank responded before pointing at the teenager, who happened to be wearing the exact same letter jacket that Janet was wearing.
"Frank... It's been awhile... you too, Ellie... What's been going on?" The red-haired teenager asked. The Windia natives all noticed that this Persona User didn't smile.
"Nothing much, Lex... just been trying to find these shards... we're about to take on the Snow Queen... and save Ms. Smith as well as our homes..."
Alex Meyers nodded at Frank before lowering his voice. "Frank... Philemon told us... Mark, Chris, and I... Nate knew... I'm... sorry... I'm sorry for what that asshole did..."
Frank grew deathly silent.
"We... killed him Frank. Guido is gone now... Mary, Chris, Mark and I did him in... to avenge you, Nate, and Ellen... and ultimately, all those who died because of what he did..." Alex said quietly.
"Guido's... dead..." Frank muttered, without blinking.
"He is... his soul came to peace as we killed him... we had no choice... His Persona used him, Frank. It was too powerful for him and it took his body over..." Alex explained.
"I... see... Alex... thank you..." The Persona User told his friend.
Alex said nothing to his friend.
"Anyway..." Frank said after wiping some tears from his eyes. "Where are the others? Mark, Chris, Nate, Mary?"
"Well..." Alex said without smiling. "Nate and Mark are being themselves again... arguing about something stupid. Chris is looking around the school, trying to make sure everyone is okay..." Alex took a look and saw Ellen huddled close to her boyfriend.
"Um... Frank... please tell me... you know how Chris is... He never asked her out... and..."
"Yeah, Alex... That's Ellen's boyfriend, Alex Brandshire. I think it'd be best if we kept Chris away from her at the moment..." Frank replied.
"Very well... why don't you introduce me to your friends?" Alex asked.
"Hold up..." Frank said as he looked around. "Where's Mary?"
"In the hospital, now a whole person." Alex stated simply.
Ellen approached Frank and Alex Meyers, with her boyfriend in tow. "In the hospital?"
"A whole person???" Alex Brandshire said as he followed Ellen. "What in Ladon's name do you mean by that???"
Alex Meyers cracked a smile. "You're from the world Ellen, Frank, and Nate were sent to... I'm Alex... Alex Meyers... pleased to meet you." The Persona User extended a hand.
"So you're the Alex that Ellie, Nate, and Frank have been talking about... I'm Alex Brandshire. Nice to meet you as well..." With that, both Alexes shook hands.
"Meyers?" Janet said as she approached the red-haired Persona User. "You're the owner of this ja-" Janet stopped when she noticed that he was wearing a copy of the letter jacket.
Alex Meyers chuckled. "You must be Janet Meyers... Philemon told me about you. Hey... thanks for saving Frank... And as for the jacket... Let's trade later... I'd like the original back..."
Janet laughed. "I suppose... and don't worry about it! Like I told Frank, he'd have done the same for me. Ladon, it's odd talking to another person with the same last name as me... knowing that we're not related and all..."
Alex still held his neutral face. "Tell me about it... Anyway... Why don't we get into the school? I'm pretty sure that it's uncomfortable standing out here in the cold..."
Everyone managed a slight nod at once. As the group of adventurers headed into St. Hermelin, those who had not introduced themselves to Alex Meyers did so. What each Windian native and a curious demoness noticed was that this Persona User rarely smiled. He always seemed to hold a neutral look about him. As soon as the group was in the lobby, they all noticed a familiar voice and another, unfamiliar voice, save for the Persona Users.
"God dammit, Mark! Why do you always have to be so damn STUPID???" Nate yelled at the African American teenager.
"Nate, shut the hell up! Do you want me to pound your face in so you can be as stupid as me??? I swear..." Mark muttered before adjusting his yellow baseball cap.
"Yeah... definitely Nate and Mark..." Brad said before shaking his head.
Both Persona Users in question turned when they heard Brad. Nate's eyes immediately lit up when he saw Frank and Ellen.
"Frank... Ellen..." Nate said before adjusting his scarf. "Thank God both of you are okay... When word got out around Windia High that you guys..." Nate stopped cold when he saw Janet.
"What now?" Janet said with a sigh.
Nate was going to answer, when Mark jumped in.
"Hah! Nate's afraid of the cute chick! That's rich!" Mark was now doubling over in laughter.
Nate glared at Mark before turning to the Windian and giving her a hated glare. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Janet returned Nate's glare with the same intensity. "I could be asking you the same thing, boy. We had to risk our lives to save your teacher, and this is the thanks you're giving us? We've been through hell-"
Nate fingered his high tech sword that was on his back, beside the Heaven's Gate rifle. Frank and Ellie noticed the weapon, which wasn't the one that he had in Windia. Before either could say anything, Nate began to yell at Janet again.
"You've been through hell? Listen... you don't know what hell is! With the way you've been acting, you're going to wind up there! We've been through a lot! Avidea World, Pandora... and I've -" Nate was cut off when Janet slapped him.
"Listen Nate... I've worked hard with my friends here. I want to go home. Ellen wants to go home, and I'm sure as hell that Frank wants to go home as well. Our parents are worried. Ryan and Mrs. Chiba are probably worried about Ellen, Ms. Harlow is probably worried about Kate, and I'm sure that Mr. Brandshire is worried about Diane and Alex. As for you, I don't know what the hell your damn problem is, but you're not helping us at all. I don't care if you want to go back to Windia or not... But we do. Now if you don't mind, I do believe that we've got to help your teacher." Janet turned away from the snobbish Persona User and back to the people she had been traveling with.
Nate had his mouth open in shock. Eventually, he managed to close it and began to rub his still sore cheek, much to Mark's amusement.
Friends??? Nate thought as he continued to rub the side of his face. Psh... whatever... she looks like she's changed a little... But I bet that deep down, she's still the same, cold-hearted bitch that I know...
However, Mark was still laughing at Nate because of the entire scene.
"Damn, Nate! She told you!!!" Mark said between chuckles. "I have never seen you that shocked before! That was too good!!!"
Anger clouded Nate's judgment. In an instant, Nate reached behind his back and drew his weapon, activating the lasers that were in place of the blade.
"You want to make something of it, Hawthorne???" Nate growled out.
"Psh... man... Nate, now you know..." Mark began before drawing a jet-black one-handed axe that was marked with runes. "You could never, kick my ass."
Nate was about to charge at Mark when Alex Meyers stopped him.
"Nate, stop it!" Alex yelled at his friend.
"Double for you, Mark!" Frank said as he stepped in between the calm teenager and the enraged one.
Nate gave Mark another glare before shutting off the laser emitters on his sword and placing it on his back.
"Look..." Tellka said as she approached the group of Persona Users. "Nate... your attitude has got to stop. And I thought I had a bad temper..."
"Shut the hell up, kitty!" Nate yelled at Tellka.
It took all of Tellka's will not to belt the Persona User right there. She knew that Nate had an attitude problem, but he always seemed to take it out on people he deems inferior.
"Look, snob..." Tellka started. "I don't know what your problem is, nor do I care what it is. But you've got to stop acting like this!" Tellka bent over and whispered to Nate. "It's Alfred, isn't it? Well, Frank had to go through SEBEC, and he's somewhat okay. Get on with your life! He's a part of you now!"
Nate looked at the checkered floor beneath his feet after Tellka's words finally hit home. He finally looked up at the woren warrior.
"I suppose you're right... Tellka?" Nate said quietly.
"What?"
"Thanks... first in the dungeon... then here. Thanks." Nate said quietly.
Tellka just offered a nod at the Persona User. Nate looked around and noticed that Frank, Alex Meyers, and Diane had managed to calm Mark down. He chuckled to himself lightly as Diane blatantly pushed away Mark's attempts for a date.
"Myah? Frank???" Neko-Chan said as she tugged on his sleeve.
Frank turned and saw both Kate and the catgirl demoness standing there.
Kate shuffled her feet before talking to her boyfriend.
"Frank... can we... I'd like to go home... Carrie's probably worried about me..."
The Persona User looked at his girlfriend and noticed that her tail was waving in worry.
She's scared... Heck... I'll admit it. So am I. We've got Windia and Earth at stake... I'd also like to get home... Jess is worried about me...
Diane took her eyes off of Nate's sword for a moment, and turned to Frank.
"Jes a sec... What is tha' thing?" Diane asked as she pointed to the high tech sword that was now in Nate's possession.
"What, this?" Nate said as he pulled the sword from his back and activated it in one smooth motion. "It's the LaserBlade. It does not have an edge."
"Wha???" Diane asked in confusion. "How th' heck is it supposed ta cut if it doesn't have an edge?"
"Simple..." Nate replied. "These are powerful beams of light known as lasers here. They can cut through just about anything."
"La... laz... lasers???" Diane asked, trying to roll the unfamiliar word off her tongue. "What's a laser?" Her tail was now waving around in confusion.
"It's hard to explain..." Frank said, interrupting Nate. "Look... let's finish this up... Alex? Nate? Mark? You guys gonna help?"
Alex Meyers shook his head. "We would, but after dealing with Pandora, Avidea World, and the high level demons in there..."
Dr. Kotter walked into the lobby. "Then rest, you three. Chris is in the infirmary, sleeping on one of the cots."
Alex nodded. "Well then... Nate, Mark, you heard her. Let's catch some z's. Frank and the others can handle it."
Nate and Mark actually agreed on something and followed Alex out a set of double doors. Before leaving, Nate turned back in.
"Frank... Janet..."
Janet rolled her eyes, but didn't answer. Frank however...
"Yeah man?"
"Be careful... both of you. Save Ms. Smith, and for God's sake, come back alive!" The Persona User left the room and made his way to the infirmary.
"Well..." Frank said as he adjusted his jacket. "Let's finish what we started, shall we?"
The group left the lobby and made their way to the courtyard across the hall. Each of them was surprised to find that the ice was now gone.
Frank trembled as he slowly reached out toward the door's handle. As he put his hand on it, he noticed that it was as cold as ice. Breathing hard, the Persona User pushed the door open and was assaulted by a blast of cool air.
Now or never...
The group slowly made their way into the courtyard, ready for their final battle.