Part 93: 12/02/09: Under A Revealing Moon

So, we've finally made it. The first full moon after we accidentally helped Ikutsuki with his evil plan, by killing all 12 Arcana Shadows. There's probably not much gonna happen today, but we'll see.

An Unpleasant Premonition



...I intend to do my best to protect everyone.
Is something wrong?
No, please do not worry. I just wanted to share my feelings.

Changing Seasons (Reincarnation) / Sun



Ryoji's not around again today, and as soon as the bell rang, Aigis just legged it outta here. Curious, that.



Since I was gonna take a quick trip to the Velvet Room, I opted to sell some of the older tat we had lying around and... apparently I had 2 Luxury Coins from Harabah. Not really worth a ton, relative to our compendium, but its a nice amount if you're on Normal like a sensible person.



While in the Velvet Room, I took the chance to make Melchizedek. At level 64, he picks up Akasha Arts (giving it to us at the earliest possible level). As you may recall, The Hanged Man had this before. It's a multi-target Strike attack that hits every enemy 1-2 times with a base power of 350 for each hit, with a crit rate of 5%... but its accuracy is only 80%. Yeesh.

Melchizedek DOES learn one skill after this... at level 69. Yeah. Not worth the hassle, really, even though its gating off a Heart Item. He would learn Repel Dark at 65, but its super easy to fuse onto him so I've already done that.



But, we were there to pick up something to help with Yukari, because getting her to rank up again now is a bit of a pain.



Even with the Arcana Boost here, she's still not even close to the next rank.

...Also I mathed it out and today was straight up our last chance to hang out with Yukari before she reversed. Cut that one close...

Iwatodai Dorm



...but we won't be conducting an operation.
Maybe I should summon Juno, though, just in case...
By the way, have you seen Aigis?
No, I haven't. Isn't she in her room?
Aigis has been returning late these days.
She never used to...
I wonder what happened.



So, we won't be going to Tartarus tonight.

Despite how we've got the opportunity to talk to folks, only Fuuka has something new to say at all. Not even the TV has anything worth caring about! So, that's all we've got today. Just another day after all.



...Mostly.

Under A Revealing Moon
100% just watch this instead it covers the rest of the update

The Voice Someone Calls



You... You're...
What are you doing here?
...Oh, that's right. You don't really like me, do you?



It's strange... The sky and the ground look so weird, and there's no one here...
Something terrible has happened here, and yet I feel at peace.

That Which Comes From The Darkness

...Have you forgotten?
Forgotten what?
The Dark Hour--a time period few people are active during.



I'm really not sure how Aigis even remotely came to this conclusion this quickly.

......
Yes... It's all so clear.
Now I understand the reason behind this feeling I sense when you're around.



Your enemy...?
That's right... On a night like tonight... the moon was full...
It was long ago...
Yes... We met once before...



Who... Who am I?
Who are you...?
I am Aigis.
The last remaining Anti-Shadow Emergency Control Weapon.
A machine created to destroy Shadows.
Created to... destroy Shadows...





!?

Aigis vs Ryoji
no seriously just watch the video instead

Silence



In her infinite wisdom, as we enter the animezone, Aigis kicks off her solo battle against Ryoji by activating Orgia Mode.



Mostly because I guess it helps her get mad air...




Y'know, in hindsight I probably should've been adding subtitles to the anime scenes from the start.



We even get this rad shot of the moon being replacing Ryoji's iris...

Memories from 10 Years Ago



And cue grainy flashback scenes!





Obviously, he's referring to the Arcana Shadows here, not the actual Major Arcana.



...leaving me incomplete... as I was when I met you.



This is still part of the flashback, and its Aigis attempting to gun down the shadowy... Shadow.



The only possible alternative was to seal you away...











And then...

Silence



Aigis landing in front of Ryoji here, after her Dramatic Leap before, is the official signal that we're back in the present.

It all makes sense now...
Who, and what, I am.





Unavoidable Battle



Stop, don't be foolish, Aigis.









Unfortunately for Aigis, Palladion seems to be incredibly ineffective here. She really should've cast Tarukaja and not used Orgia Mode!

It doesn't have to be that way...



Aigis' brilliant plan of "keep hitting the inpenetrable barrier" sure doesn't seem to be working.

Silence



Instead, all it does is stall her until Orgia Mode wears off and Palladion just disappears!



I am sorry...

To make matters worse, the sheer exertion she put herself through in the interim requires a bit more than a minor cool down. She's actively falling apart!

I have failed.



I'm sorry...





From Ryoji...



To a young Makoto...



To Death.



Meanwhile, somewhere else entirely...

The Voice Someone Calls



Is something wrong?
Well, it's a full moon tonight...
You noticed it too, didn't you, Senpai? Geez, I'm starting to feel like a workaholic!



We don't know anything for sure... However, we can't find Aigis.
Huh? Where would she have gone?



Could it have been Strega...?
Well, she hasn't sensed any of their members, but we can't be positive.



She's on the Moonlight Bridge!

Just in case there was somehow any doubt about it, this confirms that Aigis and Ryoji just battled on the same bridge we fought Strega and The Hanged Man.

Alright, call the others. Let's see what's going on there.

Quick scene transition straight to the bridge...

Silence



Aigis!?





I... remember everything...
Who I am... Who "he" is...



Odd that Aigis opts to play the pronoun game for once. At least she instantly makes it clear she means Makoto by pointing right in his direction.



I'm sorry... I failed...
Save your energy.
I'm... sorry...





Ryoji-kun...?
Wait, what're you doing here!?



Aigis!

> Aigis doesn't seem to be functioning properly.

What's going on...?





Akihiko's the only one to move right now, and he tries to approach Ryoji only to get stopped by Mitsuru.

Akihiko, wait. He's not showing any signs of aggression.
Tell us...
Who are you? ...WHAT are you?

Mistic



You're a Shadow!?
I'm the embodiment of all Shadows...



The Appriser...?
I remember everything now...
The frightening truth about myself... and Shadows...
It's all so hard to believe...
...You know the "truth" about Shadows?



She will begin to awaken as she is drawn to me...
The Appriser.
You? You're The Appriser?
What is this "maternal being"...?



Ten years ago, a man collected a great number of Shadows and contained them in a laboratory...
That's where I was born.
...But the unification was interrupted, and I awoke in an incomplete state.

There's a little bit more to this story, that we'll cover later. Much, much later.



Aigis...!?
Is that true!? ...Ryoji?
She knew she could not defeat me...



That child grew up, carrying me inside him. And by a twist of fate, he later returned here...
...as a transfer student.



You mean...
Yes...



His special Persona awakened...
...as did the 12 Shadows, all in order to become one with me.
Ryoji, you're The Appriser? A-And you were inside HIM!?



It's all my fault...
I'm sorry.
There's more I need... to tell you...



Ryoji-kun!

> Ryoji is unconscious...

He appears to be exhausted...



We'll continue our talk later.

Silence



> Ryoji lived inside you for ten years, waiting to make contact with the 12 Shadows...



This was kiiiinda foreshadowed mostly by the sequence of events. Pharos disappeared because all the Arcana Shadows were defeated, and Ryoji appeared a few days later. Its worth noting that in the most technical sense, Ryoji's character design and voice actor is meant to be a clue as well but neither of those are particularly reliable. Especially in the English release.

> So many questions remain unanswered. However, Ryoji is unconscious...



End