AN: This is the final regular chapter, before an epilogue. First off, I'd like to thank anyone who has been reading my story. But now, on to the legal stuff. This story uses characters of Kate's and my creation. All other characters are either property of Atlus or Capcom. Thanks go out again to Kate for letting me use her characters. Please, e-mail all comments to FrankMayn@comcast.net
Location: Lunarvale
St. Hermelin High School
Normal flow of time, in sync with Windia
The students, one demoness, and a woren warrior emerged for St. Hermelin's courtyard. Immediately, they were all greeted by cheers and clapping from the student body and most of the faculty. Dean Harding just glared at Frank and Ellen hatefully.Dean pushed his way through the crowds of students and stalked straight up to the two Persona Users. He pushed both of them against the glass doors.
"HEY!!!" Janet yelled. "Leave them alone!!!"
The Dean of administrations ignored the Windian. He growled at the two students hatefully.
"You little bastards..." Dean Harding said as he pushed the two roughly against the doors to the courtyard. "How DARE you both abandon your school like that!"
"Dean..." Frank started.
"SHUT UP!!! I DIDN'T SAY THAT YOU WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK!!!"
"We're not even your students anymore! How can you..." Ellen started.
"Stuff it, Ms. Johnson! I don't believe that I gave you permission to speak!"
Frank and Ellen's friends were there, watching the scene unfold. No one, not even the student body (who by now had quieted down) dared to say a word to the enraged teacher.
Dean continued to glare hatefully at the two Persona Users.
"And it's your god damn faults that the school is messed up!!! Do you both have any idea how much it will cost???" Dean growled out.
"We had to help Ms. Smith! If we didn't... She wouldn't be alive right now! Neither would you!" Frank yelled out. He was at the end of his rope.
Dean grabbed Frank by his uniform collar and slammed him into the wall.
"You little punk! I'm a goddamn teacher in this school! You had better show me the respect that I deserve! I should talk to your parents about your attitude, you slacker! Oh wait... that's right. They're dead. I could care less, you little, piece of shit!" Dean said with a sadistic smile on his face.
Frank went quiet at the mention of his parents. Ellen looked at Dean Harding in shock, not believing that a teacher, of all people, was doing this to a student.
"What's wrong, Maynard? You're awfully quiet all of a sudden! Well??? ANSWER ME!!!" Dean yelled before spitting in Frank's face.
In the back, everyone was doing their best to hold Tellka Chanikasu from killing Frank and Ellen's former teacher.
Frank was looking at the ground, clutching his fists in anger.
"You want an answer..." The Persona User said in a mixture of coldness and anger. "I'll give you a fucking answer!!!"
Frank's friends were shocked. He normally kept his temper in check, and hardly swore. But something was different now. Something in the young man was pushed over the edge.
The Persona User looked up and had a look of fire in his eyes, which seemed to be magnified by his eyeglasses. He shoved Dean Harding away from him roughly.
"You little prick! I ought to..." That's all that Dean got out. Frank reared back and punched him in the face... hard.
Dr. Kotter gasped. She knew that Dean Harding had gone far enough. Beside her, Ms. Smith and Mr. LeVert were also in shock. This was totally uncharacteristic of Frank, and they each knew it. But all of them heard what Dean had said, and knew that he was asking for it.
"You ASSHOLE!!! I could have you arrested, you no good, piece of shit! I bet your father beat your mother! And you inherited his temper!!!" Dean yelled at Frank before wiping some blood from his lips.
"Shut... up... Shut... the... fuck... up... Don't you even dare..." Frank said as he stomped up to Dean Harding. "Talk about my parents..." Frank reared back again. "EVER!!!" The Persona User let loose with a quick jab to the gut followed by an uppercut, which sent Dean Harding sprawling toward Ms. Smith, Dr. Kotter, and Mr. LeVert.
"Dean Harding, that is enough!" Dr. Kotter yelled at the bleeding teacher.
"What? He's the one who assaulted me, and you're telling me to stop?" Dean yelled at the principal of St. Hermelin High School.
"You deserve it, for all you've done." Mr. LeVert replied calmly. "What goes around, comes around. You've abused the students here long enough."
Dean Harding smirked. "You three have no proof at all. Besides, when I get to Seven Sisters next year..."
"You're not going anywhere next year. Saeko, if you would?" Dr. Kotter asked.
Ms. Smith pulled a micro-cassette recorder from the pocket of her sweater. She calmly rewound it, and played back everything that Dean had said from the moment he cornered Frank and Ellen.
Dean Harding glared at Saeko Smith hatefully before jumping up and lunging at her.
"Give me that tape!" The dean of administrations yelled at Frank's former homeroom teacher. Thankfully, Mr. LeVert managed to restrain him.
"Let go of me Joe! I want that tape! Now!!!"
Mr. LeVert just shook his head. "I can't do that George. I won't let you hurt Saeko, Frank, or Ellen."
"Dammit Joe! That little bastard was the one who hurt me! I swear to God..."
"George Harding! That is enough!" Dr. Kotter said with a stern voice. "As of today, you are suspended. I will be calling the Board of Education ASAP. Got it? Good. Now go to your office and clean out your desk. Joseph, if you would please escort him to his office."
Mr. LeVert took Mr. Harding to his office. As they passed Ellen, Nate, and Frank, George Harding gave all three a look of death.
"I swear to God... If I ever see any of you three again, I'll kill you where you stand! Especially you, Frank... for turning the faculty against me! Go to hell! So you can be with you damn parents again, you little bastard!" Mr. Harding sneered at his former student.
Frank had had it. He was about to charge at Mr. Harding again, but Ellen and Nate were stopping him.
"Let... me... go!!!" Frank growled to both of them.
"Easy Frank..." Nate said quietly. "It's what he wants."
"Don't give in to him, okay?" Ellen added as she tightened her grip on Frank's arm.
"Let go of me! I swear... I won't let him talk about my parents like that!" Frank nearly yelled as he continued to struggle in the grips of his two friends.
"Jes let him go! That asshole deserves wha he's got comin' ta him..." Diane said with a smirk. Alex just glared at his sister.
Frank was still struggling when he heard a sniffling coming from behind him. Kate tugged the sleeve of his jacket lightly. When the Persona User turned, he saw his girlfriend with tears in her eyes.
"Frank... please... you're... you're scaring me..." Kate said quietly while sobbing.
That had a profound effect on Frank. He immediately cooled down and realized many things. Most of them were what he had just done.
"Oh my God..." Frank said quietly... "Kate... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Kate hugged her boyfriend after Ellen and Nate had finally let him go.
"You are okay now, I hope? You were really scaring me..." She said quietly.
Frank wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. In response, she wrapped her tail around him, sort of like to reassure herself that he was still who he was.
"I... don't know what happened Kate... I just snapped... He pushed me too far... I can't believe..."
"Frank..." Kate said quietly.
"He still had... no right to... say anything like that... Of all the people... a teacher... harming a student... and liking it..." Frank said as he held Kate in his arms.
Kate purred. She could tell that he was definitely feeling better. "I'm just glad that you're okay now..."
"Thank you Kate..." Frank replied before kissing his girlfriend gently.
"Frank..." Dr. Kotter said from behind him. "Ms. Smith and I would like to talk to you."
Great... I lost my temper... and now I'm gonna pay.
"Yes ma'am..." Frank replied. He slowly separated from Kate and made his way to his former principal.
"Um... before you both say anything... I'd like to apologize for what I did. I know it was wrong, but... I couldn't help it. He just..."
Ms. Smith just waved her hand. "I just wanted to thank you and your friends for all you've done... Despite what Mr. Harding did, we're all proud of you. You guys managed to save me, and our world. And from what Dr. Kotter told me, you managed to save your new home as well..."
"Frank..." Dr. Kotter said to her former student. "He was asking for it. He had no right to say anything like that at all. I just wish that you hadn't been so quick to punch him..."
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. I just... lost it." Frank said quietly before looking at the ground.
"Don't worry about it, Frank. It was better that you hit him, instead of someone turning around and killing him, because of the way he is... Anyhow..."
Frank was going to say something, when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
"Hey... isn't that..." Tellka started.
"Yeah... yeah it is." Nate continued.
"Philemon..." Alex Meyers continued.
"Dude... I think it's time." Brad replied.
The party that killed the Snow Queen, plus Alex Meyers, Mark Hawthorne, and Nate Trinity began to follow the butterfly as it flitted toward a certain place. Ms. Smith and Dr. Kotter began to follow as well.
As soon as the group entered St. Hermelin's gym, a bright flash illuminated the room, and Philemon's voice entered the head of each and everyone who had done something about either the Snow Queen, or Pandora.
You have passed the trials and challenges that were set by fate for all of you. I am impressed! You have shown that you all can overcome adversity by working together. Out of all the groups I had chosen in the past, you have been one of the best. Tammy, you will still keep your powers as a Devil Summoner as well as the powers of a Persona User. Frank, I have taken the Holy Mirror. Mrs. Chan and I will be doing research on the relic. It may have power to do more than just unpossess people.
Mrs. Chan spoke directly to her daughter, thanks to the link from Philemon.
Kate... I am so proud of you! You managed to play a key role in saving Earth and Torana! I will miss you thought... but Philemon and I are working on the Holy Mirror. If we find a way to see you again, we'll let Igor know.
Philemon began to speak to Frank, Nate, and Ellen.
Ladon has permitted me to open a portal to the Velvet Room in your new hometown, since you three will be staying there. Many things will be happening in the future, so be ready for anything... I will see you in the future! Take care, children...
"I guess this is good-bye then..." Yuki said quietly.
Ellen nodded. "Alex, Mark, Yuki... Please... if you find out anything about my parents, please... find someway to let me know."
"Aww... don't worry Ellie! We won't let you down..." Mark said before tipping the bill of his cap.
"Janet..." Alex Meyers said before slipping out of his letter jacket. "Here... Can I get the original back? This is the one I used when it started snowing in the Alternate Lunarvale."
"Sure." Janet said as she slipped out of her jacket. She handed it to Alex, who in turn handed the copy he had to the Windian.
"Keep it." Alex said with his usual neutral look on his face. "Who knows? Maybe we can all visit you guys sometime... and Janet?"
"Hmm?" Janet said as she looked at the jacket.
"Look after Frank. He's a nice guy, but... something's different in him now... He usually doesn't blow up like that. I think what happened to his parents... May have done something to him."
Janet raised an eyebrow.
He noticed it too... Frank's usually calm, even before this adventure started... Something did happen...
"All right Alex... I'll keep an eye on him." Janet said quietly.
"Thanks Janet." Alex Meyers said without a smile.
"Guys..." Ellen said as she looked at the center of the basketball court. "It's time."
Frank, Ellen, Nate, Neko-Chan, Alex Brandshire, Diane, Kate, and Tellka saw a portal swirling.
"If we find a way back... we'll visit, okay? Until then... Alex, Mark... Tell the others good-bye for us..." Frank said to his former classmates.
"We will, Frank." Mark replied. "Just get going already!"
Frank nodded, and approached the portal with his friends. All of them waved goodbye once more before walking through the portal and leaving Lunarvale. No one noticed that a JackFrost had followed them through.
Location: Windia
Windia High School, Courtyard
Time permanently in sync with Lunarvale
"What the..." Lucy Conwing said as she saw a portal open up in the middle of the courtyard."Stay back!" Maria yelled in a commanding voice as she pulled her revolver out.
Oddly enough, Brandon and Ray stood side by side to protect Lucy.
The portal glowed blue before spitting out the adventurers that had crossed dimensions earlier. After the JackFrost was spit out, he managed to hide in the shadows of the courtyard to watch the others.
"Ouch..." Frank said as he rubbed his head. "That was some ride..."
"But we're home now, right?" Janet asked.
"Myah? This is... home? Where are we, meow?" Neko-Chan said from beside Frank.
"We're at Windia High School." Nate replied. "In the Courtyard."
"Janet??? Is it you? Ladon... it really is!!!" Lucy said as she raced toward her friend.
"Lucy!!!" Janet replied as she ran in her direction. Both of them caught each other and hugged.
In the ensuing scene, Ray Bendrel just smiled once before leaving silently.
"Where did you go? What happened? And your dress? Where... St. Hermelin? What?" Lucy said as she eyed her friend.
"It's a long story, Lucy. One I'm not ready to tell. I just want to go home..." Janet said.
"Well... Brandon and I will take you back, okay?" Lucy said with one of her rare smiles.
"That'd be great! Let's go!" Janet said. As she, Lucy and Brandon turned to leave, she looked at Frank one last time.
"Frank... thank you... For all that you did for me back there... Hey... I'll see you tomorrow at school..." Janet said with a smile.
"Sure thing... see you Janet." Frank replied.
"Well..." Alex said as he rubbed the back of his head. "That was some adventure... but Dad's worried. Diane, let's take Ellie home before heading back ourselves, okay?"
"Sure thing bro! Frank, Nate, see ya at school tomorrow!" Diane said enthusiastically.
Diane, Alex, and Ellen left together, leaving only Nate, Frank, Neko-Chan, Kate, Tellka and Maria in the courtyard.
"Frank..." Nate said as he cleaned his glasses. "I'll bring the LaserBlade by your place tomorrow. I'm sure Jess would be interested in it. Anyhow, I've got to get home... Thomas is probably worried sick about me..." With those words and a wave, Nate left and headed toward home.
"Hey..." Maria said before absently moving a strand of blonde hair from her eyes. "Where did you all go, and who's this?"
"Well..." Frank said before crossing his arms. "It's a long story, Maria. One that you may not believe. I'll introduce you two later... she's out of it..."
Sure enough, Neko-Chan had curled up on the snow covered grass and was asleep. Frank picked her up gently, and heard a purring coming from the catgirl demoness.
"Hey..." Tellka started. "I'll take Kate home. Frank, I think it's important that you go home and let her rest. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Frank..." Kate said quietly. "Thanks for keeping your promise... to get us home... I knew you wouldn't let us down. Take care now, okay?" With those words, Tellka and Kate left.
"So..." Maria said. "What happened anyhow?"
"Well..." Frank said as he and Maria left the courtyard and headed toward the Reverse Edge. "I went home... but nothing's the same. So I came back... to my new home."
Maria said nothing to that, knowing what happened to Frank's parents.
"I made a return trip home... twice." Frank said to the Windian Guard.
"Well then, Frank... Welcome home."
All the Persona User could do was offer a smile to his friend.
~Fin~