Prologue

Chapter 8: Love and Hate

A month passed with no sign of Michael, Takaya, Marcus, or Nyx. Matt and Milton had grown tense with expectation, but Minato kept his cool. They used the lull in action to build up their strength, growing steadily more powerful. Then an ultimatum came in the form of large letters written in black across the floor of Tartarus. It was a challenge, written out formally. They wanted to meet four of the group for a final show down, to the death, in one week. After much arguing it was decided that Minato, Mika, Matt, and Milton would go. Minato to fight Nyx, Mika for Marcus, Matt for Takaya, and Milton to use his now very impressive Persona form against Dark, Michael’s Shadow. The four of them began training even harder, traveling into the basement of Tartarus, known as Monad, to fight creatures that put those higher in the tower to shame. They developed strategies, sometimes staying up all night to perfect them. Meanwhile Dark did little to improve himself, feeling victory was surely in his grasp. He became arrogant, and easy to fool. Marcus enacted the beginnings of his plan. It took an entire week, but finally he gained Nyx’s trust. She was open to the plan, and more than happy to agree to it. She admitted to never truly liking Dark, she felt he was too powerful for his own good, a useful tool, not a being that deserved an existence of its own. She began to express a feeling she had had about Michael since they first met, one she couldn’t describe. Marcus accounted it to a kind of kinship, she saw him as someone that could understand her life. Nyx and Marcus were very careful in their planning, even though Dark had become complacent, Takaya had not. He constant dogged Nyx's footsteps, a hazard that was annoying to the point of maddening, but not unlivable. A week passed, each side growing confident in their victory.

The appointed night finally came, Dark near giddy with anticipation. He kept taunting Marcus with Mika’s death, never allowing him to forget what he was going to do. Marcus was helpless, unable even to speak. Nyx played her role perfectly, acting as if she had come around to Dark’s way of thinking. Marcus prayed with all his heart Mika wasn’t there, or that she would steer clear of him.

Matt and Milton prepared in silence. Minato took his time in selecting a weapon, he was skilled in many. In the end he chose a thin, one hand sword. Mika spent her time focusing her hate for Nyx and Dark, getting it ready to use as a weapon.

Both parties arrived right on time at the chosen location, In front of Tartarus, Fu and Ken had tagged along, Fu for support, Ken to protect her. Matt slammed his hammer into the ground, Milton bared his claws, and Minato held his Evoker tightly in is left hand, sword in his right. Mika rubbed her hands. Takaya casually fiddled with his gun. Nyx glanced momentarily from Marcus to Mika, uttering a silent prayer for their safety, before laughing at herself. A Shadow praying was completely new to her. Dark laughed aloud, taunting Matt and Milton, insulting Michael, trying to get under their skin. Marcus stood motionless, sword in hand. His body showed none of the fear his eyes were screaming. He wasn’t afraid for himself, but for Mika. In a flash, the fight began. Takaya made the first move, unloading his revolver at Minato. Matt swatted the bullets out of the air with his hammer, and rushed at Takaya. Takaya ducked, narrowly avoiding a blow that would have caved in his skull. Milton lashed out, striking Dark squarely in the face. Dark laughed and sank his fist into Milton’s stomach. Minato used Messiah, his Persona, to fire a volley of shots at Nyx, who fled from them, or blocked them, but never retaliated. Marcus’ body fought brutally, putting all its strength into every slash and chop. Mika held nothing back; she knew holding back would only get her killed. As they fought she looked into his eyes, and saw the truth, he was helpless, a prisoner, and he was begging her to run. Matt had Takaya by the throat, holding him up in the air. Takaya squirmed and finally kicked Matt in the side of the head. Matt’s grip loosened, and Takaya fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Milton and Dark were trading punches, and neither showed any signs of slowing down, until Nyx kicked Dark, hard, in the back, throwing off his balance. Dark turned on her, firing a bolt of energy from his hand right into her gut. Milton then smashed his knee with all his might into Dark’s groin. Dark crumpled on the ground, winded and near crying. Mika became distracted by Nyx’s betrayal, and Marcus ran his blade through her stomach. Marcus felt his eyes go wide; felt tears beginning to form in his eyes, and felt a hot surge of pure hate rise form the deaths of his heart. Only one thought occupied his mind, Mika. As he stood, stunned, the blank matter that Dark had used to control him began to peel away from his body. Everyone watched, unbelieving as Dark struggled in vain to maintain his grip, to regain control. With sickening rips and tears the blackness continued to be torn away, as if a giant invisible child were tearing into a present’s wrapping. In one final effort Dark tried to crush Marcus in blackness, completely enveloping him. In an instant the black stuff was throw, blasted in every direction by an incredible force. It splattered over wall and ground, and in the center of blast stood Marcus, holding Mika in his arms, tear streaming down his cheeks. Beside him stood Eros, but Eros was covered with cracks, thin lines, and parts of his skin were falling away. In a brilliant flash of light, Eros exploded, and in his place a new Persona stood. It had the shape of a man, but stood easily three times the size, and its entire body the black of space. In a thunderous voice that shook them all to the core it said, “I am Chaos.” Chaos moved its faceless head, turning the place a face would have been toward Marcus. It knelt by his side, and held out its hand in the direction of Mika’s wound. In an instant it healed, leaving not even a scar. Then Chaos stood tall, and turned to face Dark. “You,” It said, “You are the cause much pain, so I shall in turn be a source of much pain for you.” Before Dark could respond Chaos had him in one of its mammoth hands. It lightly tossed him high, high into the air, far higher than any human could survive, and jumped up after him. In midair it began to juggle him with devastating punches, while Dark drifted, helpless. Then Chaos grabbed him again and flung him to the ground, following in fast pursuit. As Dark struck the ground he was in turn crushed into it by Chaos. Chaos was about to continue the onslaught, but Marcus stopped him with a word. Milton, Matt, and Nyx were quick to detain Dark; it was neither the time or place to free Michael. Chaos faded and Mika awoke. She looked around, form the unconscious Dark, held up by Matt and Milton, to Minato, who looked quite amused, to Nyx, who had betrayed Dark and Takaya, and finally up to Marcus, tears still pouring from his eyes. “Hey.”, she said. “Hey.”, he said. “Well if you two love birds can pull it together…” Minato interrupted Milton, and told Mika what she had missed. Ken and Fu came rushing up, Fu worried about Mika, Ken to tell her in detail about Chaos. Minato stepped back, admiring the four youths. No one noticed Takaya until he began to laugh. “Ha, ha, ha, ha, I, I am, I am going to kill, kill you all!” It was obvious he had lost his mind. But that made him no less dangerous. He drew his gun, aiming at Marcus, who’s hand shot to his Evoker, but he was beaten to the punch. Takaya shot backwards, thrown by some unseen force. Out of thin air a Persona stepped, a beautiful woman. Marcus glanced at it, and back to Mika, who had a slight smile on her face. “She’s yours, isn’t she?”

“Yep.”

“Pretty, but not as much as you.”

“Whatever. Venus, let him have it.”

“I’m not kidding here!”

“I know Marcus, but death really tires you out. I just don’t feel like having a gushy moment right now. Besides, you love me; I love you, what more is there to say?”

“Your Personas are a testament to that love. Chaos and Venus, two Personas of unreal power. Where did you think it came from, sunspots?” Minato spoke softly, watching as Venus continued to toss Takaya like a beanbag. “A Persona’s power is born of two sources, the heart of its user, and the bond that heart forms with others. Now I’d say the bond of love you two share is quite strong, quite possibly unbreakable, and for that I am happy. That love so strong can exist is a sure sign that no matter what happens, humanity will prevail.” Mika called Venus off, let Takaya fall to the ground. They all dismissed him as too weak to be a further problem. The eight of them left him, lying in the dirt, out cold. Mika and the others were suspicious of Nyx, but Marcus and Minato, to everyone’s surprise, stood up for her. Nyx herself acknowledged her past actions, and apologized for them. It didn’t take long for Nyx to be welcomed. Marcus thought he saw a true happiness in her eyes. He hoped he was right.