Rita's Besieged Castle (Prime Awakening)

Naomi nodded in agreement, “We need to go as fast as we can and not stop. Although, there may be some fights we can’t avoid. These things are persistent little bastards.” Experience told her they would chase the two of them down if they weren’t planning things carefully. Months of dealing with the Shadows had taught her a few things. Most of those things were how to have fire thrown at you and act like it was nothing, but it was still something. This is where her uncanny ability to plan came in handy. Well, she hope it would at least.

Tommie floated next to her, bobbing up and down. He seemed to follow the conversation more than Intertwined ever could, but he still kept his attention split in different directions. He was new to all of this, and Naomi still had no idea what he was really like. He seemed fine, but he also gave her chills for some reason. More so, she could see past his cute façade. He was her Persona, and she knew what he was really like. It’s why she was cautious about having him out. Still, he was here now and she couldn’t change that. He was really weak though, having far less experience than Intertwined.

She took the lead and ventured further ahead, where she saw the next problem, “There’s a Shadow up here, and judging by where I am now, it can definitely see me. Sorry, I’m going to have to fight it, or it’ll attack us first. Trust me, you don’t want that. These things don’t play nice.” How strong would this one be though? She remembered that her realm had Shadows that got stronger the closer they got to the real her. She had to assume that Rita’s world was the same. At least her world was not showing off personal memories. Then again, Naomi hoped her was respectful enough not to invade in someone else’s realm without their permission. She wondered if Rita knew what it would be like to fight the other her; someone that knows all your insecurities and tries to use them against you, “Rita, I know she’s probably a little bit away, but… do you know what’s going to happen when we find the other you?” She couldn’t imagine that she was looking forward to it. It lifted burdens off your shoulders, sure, but it was hard. Facing yourself was never an easy feat.

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Good news was that Shadows didn’t seem to be very smart. She had never tried the running option, but they were short on time here. The question was if they could run. Well, she could, but Rita was slow. She would have to stall for time until Rita could either join her, or get to a safer difference. She readied her Persona. This time she would try to get some use out of Tommie. He definitely wasn’t as strong, but he had his own set of skills that could come in handy here. She would shake her head when Nero stepped in front of her, “Let Tommie get in some practice. I think he’s tired of sitting on the sidelines. In the meantime, you get some ground.” The Persona agreed to that statement.

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Naomi would notice the look in the Shadows’ faces when Tommie did his thing. The little thing was powerful. Terrifying and powerful, if he could hit. She would need to work on that. He needed to be stronger still. As he was now, he would work. Now, she needed him to do something else. Before that though, she stepped in Rita’s way to take one of the Shadow’s attacks. She thought it wouldn’t hurt, as it never had before, but this time she felt pain. Intertwined would have given her the strength the take all of that. Tommie, on the other hand, did not. He had a whole different set of skills. Ones that the two of them couldn’t couldn’t share. She would have to remember that.

“Tommie, do ‘em in.” The Persona’s eyes lit up for a brief moment and it opened its mouth. In sounded like nothing was coming out to the three of them, but the fearing enemies would hear a strange screeching chant coming from the Persona. The kind that would drive a living creature into madness or, in their case, lead them straight to hell. Tommie was truly terrifying. She was grateful he was one their side.

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Tommie seemed very pleased with himself. He juggled the sushi he carried with him and moved up to snuggle Naomi. She almost looked reluctant. She was honestly a little afraid of her own Persona. She knew it would never harm her, but that didn’t make it any better. In fact, it almost made her more afraid. Her Persona was her. Was Tommie really something inside of her. Was she really that scary deep down. The worst part was that Tommie didn’t even blink. He seemed to take joy in what he did.

She was only distracted by Nero. She nodded at her words, “I understand. I did this once myself. I know what it’s like.” Tommie looked at both Naomi and Nero meaningfully at that, “If being quiet is what you both want out of me, it’s what I will do.” She had no interest in overstepping her grounds. She was here for Rita, not for herself. Tommie rested on her head and stared at them. He was the prize for her facing herself, meaning Rita would probably get her own second Persona after this. She wondered if she was ready for it. Switching between them was more planning than before, “Just… be there for her, okay?” Nero was Rita’s Persona, after all. She didn’t think they would ever be separated, but you never knew.

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She smiled, “Okay. I need to spend more time getting to know you and Rita better anyway. I need to be a good big sister.” She was looking forward to it. She had met so many people because of these weird situations, “But only once were not dealing with this place. This isn’t really the time or place, if you ask me.” She was trying to keep this light, “You know, you could probably be less rigid. You are her Persona, but you are also there for her. You’re like family or a friend.” Tommie seemed please at her words, as if she had been speaking to him. He was quite the strange one. He seemed to sense the Shadows approaching as well, which made him bubble and play around as they continued onward. Actually, he seemed to follow Nero’s example and hang out with the other User. He was floating beside Rita with a carefree, happy look on his face, “I don’t know if rushing is the best option.I’m trying to stay within a certain distance right now. Give her some space to deal with her thoughts right now. I will stay close enough to help if needed though.” She didn’t see any problematic Shadows at the moment, “That one right there looks like it’s guarding the door, so it won’t rush to us. That’s why I’m in no hurry. It’ll wait for us to get to it. I don’t think it wants a fight unless we are aggressive.” She was just spitting out things she had learned previously.

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