Ann, Makoto, Haru, Futaba, and Ren (Persona 5)

March 1, 2019. A shopping mall in Tokyo. An innocuous gathering of four in a crowded clothes store. The young adults standing there were dressed in drab yet fashionable clothes that made them look stylish without making them stand out. They browsed the racks of women's clothing with levels of interest ranging from feigned to genuine.

The four were waiting for a signal. They wouldn't be waiting long. Before the most enthusiastic among them, a tall blonde in twintails, could finish eyeing her first rack of camisoles, a strange buzzing began to fill the air. Initially, it was reminiscent of summer cicadas; as it spread, however, it became a cacophony of the same message played at slightly different starting times. Throughout the store, phones were going off, every one receiving a single message that played regardless of its owner's will: a video, displaying a stylized black top hat, a sharp red background, and bold text.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT'S ALMOST SHOWTIME. LOOK OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOWS, NOW."

Years had passed since the mysterious group known as the Phantom Thieves had last appeared, but back then they'd made a big enough splash that they were still talked about, to the day. Ignoring that, even those who didn't recognize the group's signature style could hardly ignore a phone hijacking with an alarming message. Customers began shuffling over to the edges of the building first, followed by store staff.

Once the lady manning the nearby counter hurried her heels to join the crowd, the four alone were left.

The oldest among them, a tall brunette, broke from her faked surprise at the phone message to address the youngest. "Good work. I trust the cameras are down as well?"

"Who do ya think you're talking to?" The orange-haired shortest member shrugged and sighed. "Naturally. This is a sneaking mission, and we're operating on a shoestring budget, but I got the job done. That calling card, though... Was that cool enough? I feel like the Phantom Thieves' first message in 2 years shoulda been more like 'How are you, gentlemen?! All your base are belong to us!' What, did we leave this one to Ryuji?"

The curly-haired and fair-skinned brunette, the second oldest and second shortest, spoke up in a meek whisper."... I was responsible for the message. I thought it was cool."

"O-Oh, issat so...?" The shortest scrambled to apologize. "Um, y'know, thinking about it again, sure, sure! I guess my Cool-dar is busted from the time off! Once we're back in the swing of things, I'm sure it'll hit me. For a critical, for sure!"

The oldest interrupted the two of them, hurrying them to the backrooms with a wave of her hands. "Sorry to rush you all, but the clock's ticking. Let's stay on topic." Having gotten the two of them moving, she turned to the tall blonde who was still browsing clothes. "Coming?"

"Oh... Oh yeah! I'm sorry." She apologized with a quick and informal bow before joining the brunette in moving. "Maybe it was a mistake to stage our stake out next to the new season's collection... I got a little caught up!"

Now that she'd succeeded in herding her teammates, the apparent leader relaxed and chuckled. "I understand, but there's no point in thinking about new clothes now. After all, we've all got something a bit more nostalgic to slip into, haven't we?"

The four had arrived in the stocking room of the store. Unless the Phantom Thieves were looking to swipe some shoes, this might seem like an especially unusual target for a heist. In this world, that is...

"It's just like the request said," the orange-haired hacker announced, having lugged a laptop out of her shoulder bag and begun typing in an almost casual stomach-down posture on the floor. "What was it again? 'Help, Phantom Thieves! A door to a new reality will open! Steal the treasure at all costs!' Welp, here's the door. I was half-expectin' it to be a troll... Still kinda feels like somethin's off, but eh. When is it not? Ready for the keyword?"

The curly-haired one tittered. "My... It sure is nice to see some things don't change, after all."

"Things don't change?!" The member on the floor took offense. "I'm, like, attending classes now! Writing college entry letters! The most normie of normie-isms, with all the other normies!"

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant, you're still so cool!" She pumped her fists at her sides in excitement. "I'll do my best and show I haven't lost a step, either."

"Heh, as if. Once a Phantom Thief, always a Phantom Thief. So, in Joker's absence, I turn to our interim leader! Queen, you want to do the honors?"

"Oh, me?" The tall, ordinarily severe brunette looked caught off-guard in a rare instance. "It's been such a while since I heard that name... By the way, I'm not crazy about you using our code names when we're not safely in the Metaverse yet. Also, we all need to remember this is just a scouting mission. We're leaving as soon as we scope out what we're up against." Seeing that her cautious speech was killing the mood, the woman called "Queen" cleared her throat. "That said... Ladies, it's showtime!"

Embarrassing her, the other two women not on the floor gave small claps while the hacker performed the final step. "Keyword... 'Defeat'!"

The four of them immediately recognized the distortion of space around them. It was strange, traveling without Morgana to guide them: the (not) feline member of the Phantom Thieves tended to have a sixth sense to warn them of exactly what they were stepping into when moving between worlds.

Still, these four had been part of a team which had conquered the unknown and fought for justice multiple times since its formation three short years ago. While the Phantom Thieves were no longer active, their members scattered across Japan, each individual member was as prepared to fight as they'd ever been, despite a little rust. Plus, the sudden call back to adventure had awakened a part of each of them that had been dormant since the crazy adventures they'd gotten up to in years past, being lately busy with studies and finding their way into adulthood. In that way, each of them welcomed the masquerade, the return to a "life of crime" and a familiar disguise they'd left behind, along with the Persona that accompanied it:

Ann Takamaki (19). A tall, knockout blonde one quarter American, she was already an up-and-coming fashion model by day, dedicated to inspiring women into living their dreams without bending to expectations. As the sultry Panther, this Thief stole hearts with the speed and stealth of the jungle cat she was named for. Cutting a head-turning figure in a full-red latex catsuit, bearing a cleavage window on the front, a tail in the back, and zippers all around, her red cat-like mask warned men of danger. If that wasn't enough, her skill with a whip and the flames summoned by her Persona, Carmen, would get the job done. With the appearance of an alluring dancer carrying bound, tuxedo-clad men along in her wake, Carmen was the crystallization of Ann's determination to never let evil go unpunished.

Makoto Niijima (20). Nearly as tall as Ann and with a fair bit more muscle, the short-haired brunette was as straight-laced and unyielding as they come. She was on a fast track to follow in her father's footsteps in the ****, working towards becoming an officer and, eventually, a police commissioner. However, her passion for the law could never be confused by any for complacency and blind tolerance. As the steely Queen, Makoto rained blows on those who would evade justice with the iron knuckles equipped on her gloves. Although her outfit tended to draw jokes from her less wise teammates, any villain who saw her metal visor, trailing scarf, and two-toned dark jumpsuit, including a menacing mix of spikes and padded armor, would be in no joking mood. Her Persona, a silver motorcycle bearing a mask and the name Johanna, was her tool to follow her own justice, and did so with magic blasts carrying all the weight of nuclear explosion.

Haru Okumura (20). The beautiful, slender daughter of the late President of Okumura Foods, she was an apparent prim and proper woman with politeness for everyone. After freeing herself from her status as a pawn in her father's ambitions, she'd taken to finding her own path in life by applying herself to her studies and broadening her horizons. A bright future surely waited for her in her family company. However, as the dark hero Noir, this self-proclaimed "Beauty Thief" was more about ending futures: in the name of carving her own path, she wouldn't hesitate to carve enemies with the tremendous axe she wielded. In a dark, wide-brimmed cavalier hat and matching eye mask, along with a jaunty pink blouse, white neck jabot, black corset, royal purple bloomers and dark leggings, she cut a heroic figure while cutting down foes. Her Persona, Milady, was no less vicious: garbed in a tremendous pink and black Rococo style dress with puffy shoulders and long sleeves, the Persona held a handled mask to where its head ought to be while spreading its skirts to reveal ranged weaponry, heavy and artillery, saying nothing of its additional psionic powers.

Futaba Sakura (18). The eccentric computer enthusiast with the long orange hair and the slightest figure of the bunch, even having moved into adulthood, she once gained worldwide notoriety behind the screen as the faceless hacker Medjed. A former shut-in and dire social recluse, she faced both her trauma and her mother's killers, gaining friends and power of her own. As the group's support, the Thief Oracle never fought on the front lines: rather, she provided vital support to the other Phantom Thieves from her console. Dressed in a black bodysuit traced with glowing green lines and accents, as well as a matching pair of goggles with round orange lenses, the hacker looked like she stepped off the set of a sci-fi movie. Similarly, her Persona, Necronomicon, appeared as what could be described as a UFO, a flying saucer covered in mysterious glyphs and bearing a small gargoyle. From inside, Futaba was equipped to provide enemy analysis, tactical recommendations, and pop-culture references as needed.

It wasn't clear where this team of young ladies was headed, but no mission was too dangerous, no heart too corrupt, and no treasure too well-guarded for the Phantom Thieves! Needless to say, the four capable women were looking forward to finishing their recon, maybe getting some shopping done, meeting up with Joker and the others, and then wrapping up with a night of catching up and curry at old Cafe Leblanc.

A young man awoke in a familiar blue jail cell. An odd dream for an odd nap he'd taken in the middle of the day. The first time he'd awoken here had been a stressful experience, but by now, it was almost like greeting an old friend. Still... This was a friend that he hadn't said hello to in years, and a friend who only seemed to show up with bad news to share.

Running his hand through his curled, dark hair, the handsome (if disheveled) young man rose to his feet. Instinctively, he searched his cell for his glasses before remembering he never had them when he came here; instead, he wore only a typical banded prisoner's jumpsuit. Not that he needed the glasses, which were previously for a disguise and now purely for fashion; old habits died hard.

Speaking of old habits... The reliable leader of the Phantom Thieves, Ren Amamiya (19), found himself looking for the one who ordinarily greeted him. When he walked to the bars of his cell, there was no one in sight... not anyone short enough to look down on, nor anyone with a big nose seated at a desk. Not anyone at all.

The prison was eerily silent. Ren knew he was dreaming; he could just go back to sleep. But this place never showed up without a reason, and an explanation, no matter how cryptic it may be. As his search intensified, his eyes finally fell upon the note that had been left for him on the floor outside his cell. Not a note... a tarot card. Stretching his arm out, he was able to reach it and use his fingertips to inch it closer, then reveal it.

Both the artwork and the message showed it outright: The Tower.

Joker could feel the power of his Personas, his masks, calling to him once again. There was his first form, Arsene, the phantom gentleman... but, also, many others. His Arcana, the Fool, was the power of the wildcard, allowing him to summon a vast array of Personas from across all human myth, legend, and folklore to aid him in battle.

But what battle? Joker was seriously lacking in information-

... That was it. Information. After years of doing their own thing, Futaba had announced that they'd received an unusual request for the Phantom Thieves. In a rush, they'd arranged a recon team of whoever was close and available. And now, this: a single tarot card, depicting The Tower. Joker didn't know too much about tarot reading, but, having come across the cards plenty during his encounters with this, the familiar Velvet Room, he'd done his basic research.

The Tower... It meant danger. Crisis. Liberation. And... sudden change.

A shiver traveled through him. Yet, as his trepidation rose, his body began to grow heavy. He knew that meant he'd seen what he was meant to see. Now, he had to hurry, before something terrible happened.

To gain their powers, to fight evil, the Phantom Thieves had fought for change. However, a formidable **** was now beckoning them... A **** completely resistant to change in its own twisted means and goals, one that couldn't be reasoned with and refused to be denied. Where the Phantom Thieves favored style and flair, this **** tended to prefer things decidedly less so. Whether this would stand to be their most epic battle yet, or their most lowly, remained to be seen.