Chapter 32: Rise of the Queen!

(Marinette's pov)

After some more conversation, we decided to bring Makoto to the Metaverse. She was in so deep that we had no choice. Yusuke activated the nav, and I felt the familiar sensation of entering the Metaverse run through my body. My friends' and my clothes also changed to our Phantom Thief attire, Makoto's clothes didn't. She looked shocked at the sudden change.

"A canine?" She asked, looking at Fox.

"It's Fox..." Fox said.

"Be quiet! The shadows are going to notice us!" Mona scolded.

"A monster cat?!" Makoto said, looking at Mona.

"I'm not!" Mona sighed.

"That's Morgana, the Cat in Akira's bag." Panther explained.

"He looks like this whenever we enter this place!" I said, picking him up.

"He's adorable! Isn't he?" I said, holding him up to Makoto.

"Your voice... Mari-san? Takamaki-san?" Makoto asked. I gave her a nod.

"Where are we?" She asked, looking around.

"Well... we are in a place that is formed from Kaneshiro's cognition... inside his "heart," you could say," I explained.

"What?" Makoto asked.

"We are in another reality that is created by Kaneshiro's distorted desires..." Fox explained.

"Another reality?!" Makoto asked, looking scared. She turned around and saw Kaneshiro's flying Roomba bank floating above the buildings. She was freaking out, and I went to her side, hoping to comfort her.

"Mari-san... this is reality?" She asked, looking overwhelmed.

"Another reality... but a reality nonetheless..." I told her.

"A reality that shows one's heart..." Makoto muttered.

"Is it like the application of optical illusions in social cognitive psychology?" She asked.

"Erm..." I muttered.

"We have no idea..." Panther said. We then retreated to a place where we would be safe from dangerous shadows and explained everything we knew to Makoto. She understood and was willing to help.

"If I become a customer at this bank..." She muttered.

"Then... you can get us in!" I finished.

"Wait, really?" Skull asked.

"Worth a shot!" Joker said. Makoto stood in the street, and the floating bank lowered. A bridge appeared, leading to the bank entrance.

"Yes! It worked!" I said, hopping a little in excitement.

"Let's go," Joker said, leading the way.

(Time skip! Brought to you by motivation!)

We made our way into the bank and went to reception. We entered a room with a mound of neatly stacked cash on a table. As we examined the bills, Kaneshiro's voice was heard. He started to drone about unauthorized entry, property damage, and other B.S. A T.V screen turned on, and shadow Kaneshiro's face appeared. And... wow... just... wow... that hairstyle and mustache are doing him no favors!

(A/N: To those unfamiliar with Shadow Kaneshiro... Google a picture... you'll understand...)

He continued his shpeal about money and greed. I was getting angrier by the second. When he said he'll rob us of our lives as quickly as he breathes, I snapped. I took out my sniper-riffle and took aim at the screen. I pulled the trigger, and the bullet embedded itself in the T.V screen. Reload... Bang! Reload... Bang! The two shadow guards beside the T.V fell down and dissolved with bullet holes in their foreheads.

"Oops~," I said in mock apology. Everyone else in the room stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"I was getting tired of listening to him rambling!" I said.

"Periodic reminder you take no sh*t aside... we've got incoming!" Joker said while more guards come swarming in. The guards then turned into some oni-looking things and attacked. We took care of the first wave, but they were coming in too fast, and we had to retreat.

"Why did the guards turn into monsters?!" Makoto asked as we ran.

"Makoto now is not the time! Once we get to safety, we'll tell you more!" I told her, grabbing her hand as we ran. When we made it to the exit, guards were blocking our way.

"You seem to be in quite the pickle..." The voice of Shadow Kaneshiro mused. We turned around to find Shadow Kaneshiro walking towards us... and, yup! A toothbrush mustache and neatly combed hair were there and made me want to beat the sh*t out of him even more! He started to prattle and gloat. I wanted to cuss him out, but Makoto beat me to it. She yelled at him to shut up and called him a few of the more tamer names I was thinking of.

Just then, her eyes started to glow yellow. She began to pant and yell, holding her head in her hands. She writhed around and stomped her foot so hard the floortiles below her broke. A metallic mask appeared on her face. She ripped it off with a painful yell as blue flames engulfed her. Joker and I exchanged a look... the awakening of a persona is something that is truly a sight to behold.

When the flames died down, an unusual sight met my eyes. Instead of a giant being standing over Makoto, a glowing blue motorcycle was revving its engine. Makoto was in the driver's seat in skin-tight, apocalyptic movie-style attire. I had to admit, she looked bada**!

"A persona?" Fox asked.

"No, dude... that's a bike..." Skull said.

"Whatever it is, GO MAKOTO!!!" I cheered. Makoto looked back and gave a slight nod before turning back to Shadow Kaneshiro.

"I can feel it... myself... me..." Makoto muttered.

"Gun it!" She yelled, stepping on the gas. The bike shot forward, hitting the two guards standing near Shadow Kaneshiro. Shadow Kaneshiro looked scared, looking around nervously.

"What is that? I've never seen anything like it!" Mona said, looking amazed.

"I will not lose heart again, ever. I will go full speed, nonstop. Right, Johanna?!" Makoto yelled, facing the guards charging towards her, looking angry and ready to fight.

Without thinking, I ran to her side, summoning Joan of Arc. I was ready to help my friend.

"Johanna... the female pope..." I heard Joan's voice say in my head.

"She will be a valuable ally to you, mon Cherie. Give it your all!" Joan encouraged. I nodded and looked to Makoto. She gave me an exciting look, and we charged.

(Time skip! Brought to you by Author-chan's muffins! (Chocolate chip Banana!))

We defeated the enemies around us, but more guards came.

"We should retreat!" I said.

"But how?" Panther asked.

"There's only one exit, right?" Makoto asked.

"So, you're totally the fist of the Phantom Star now, huh?" Skull asked.

"Do you want to be smacked?" Makoto asked.

"I'm going on ahead, so follow me!" Makoto said. She then knocked out the guards around us and drove into the locked exit door. The door broke, and she drove off.

"That works! Let's go!" I said.

"Right!" Mona said, running forward and turning into his car form.

"Get in!" Mona urged. We did, and we drove off.

Back in the real world... we went to our hideout, and Makoto was... embarrassed, to say the least. She was sitting on the floor in a fetal position. Ann and Ryuji talked about how wild Makoto was and how they don't want to p*ss her off.

"Stop it!" Makoto whined.

"But, you were really cool back there!" I told her, bending down to her level.

"I didn't know you could drive a bike!" I said, offering my hand to her. She took it, and I helped her up.

"Thanks, Mari-san... I haven't felt this exhausted in a while..." She said.

"But, it felt great! I never thought I would become a member of the Phantom Thieves I was after. Sis might faint if she finds out!" Makoto laughed. I looked at her... she looked so relaxed. It felt nice to see her like that. She looked like a true Queen!