The Paintings in the Museum.

(Guess who is ordering some art of Phantom Thief Takemi?)

— — —

[The mission is go.] Futaba's voice resounded over everyone's ears as they began their infiltration into the palace.

After spending a day together, the new Thieves grew more comfortable with the rest. Equipped and ready, they decided to dive into the Palace, knowing that fighting side by side would further strengthen their trust in each other.

With their path to the main lobby already set in place, they made their way in without much trouble. This time, the teams were perfectly split into groups of four. The first team was Ren, Shiho, Ryuji, and Takemi. The second was Makoto, Ann, Yusuke, and Morgana.

Since the two teams had met in the middle last time, Ren's team would take a different route that Futaba had discovered, while Makoto's team would continue with the usual infiltration.

As Yusuke made his way through the art gallery, his eyes couldn't help but widen as he saw the countless paintings depicting both his former classmates and the people he had taught. Each artwork seemed to breathe with a life of its own. Yet, even then, they all appeared to have dull, almost dead expressions, as if their entire hope and inspiration had vanished.

When he reached the spot where his own painting hung, with a broken light bulb and glass shards sitting all across the floor, Yusuke stopped dead. The painting was a detailed timeline of his growth from a child to the man he is now. It was more than a mere portrait; it was a map of his life as seen through Madarame's eyes. Taking a moment to himself, Yusuke summoned a surge of resolve, then tightened his fists with resolve.

Ahead, the path led to a massive statue, grotesquely depicting his fellow students, each figure in pain as they grieved over their stolen paintings. 

"Is this... really how he sees us?" Yusuke's voice was a mix of bewilderment and hurt.

Makoto, stepping closer, her expression solemn, replied.

"Palaces and shadows are glimpses into how people truly view the world, Yusuke. As painful as it is, this is the real Madarame."

Ann gently placed her hand on Yusuke's shoulder, offering silent support. Yusuke took a deep, steadying breath, his resolve hardening. 

"Let us, then, save my Sensei from himself." he declared, gripping tightly the sword Ren had handed him earlier. "Lead the way, Queen."

Makoto nodded, her own determination mirrored in her eyes. She pushed the doors open with a decisive movement, leading the team deeper into the heart of the palace. As they moved forward, the shadows seemed to dance menacingly along the walls as a chill hung in the air.

— — —

In another part of the palace, Ren's team faced a colossal painting of a ship tossed in a tempestuous ocean. Thunder roared ominously within the canvas, a vivid storm raging around a ship.

"Oracle… are you sure about this?" Ren's voice carried a tinge of uncertainty. He had a strange feeling as he looked at the painting.

[Absolutely, I see a path inside the painting that leads directly to a deeper part of the Palace. All you have to do is follow the whale. You should see another painting that will take you out.] Futaba replied, her voice resolute.

[This is the only painting with an exit near us; the rest are infested with shadows or loop endlessly.]

With a nod of determination, Ren addressed the group, 

"In the worst-case scenario, I have the star and the scalpel, so I should be able to get us out. However, we should only use them if they are absolutely needed since the star takes a while to recharge. Is everyone ready?" His gaze met each of his companions, finding nods of agreement in return.

Takemi, though slightly hesitant, adjusted her plague doctor's mask, the scent of lavender coming from within calming her nerves. She took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

Together, they leaped into the painting.

Landing on the deck, the storm's fury enveloped them instantly. A gigantic wave slammed into the ship, sending everyone but Ryuji sprawling to the soaked wooden planks.

"This…" Ryuji muttered, an inexplicable familiarity surging within him as if the ship was a part of his very being. Captain Kidd's laughter echoed in his mind, spurring him on as Ryuji's mask began to glow.

"Hahaha, come on, kid. We know this feeling all too well… Grab the helm." 

With no time to ponder the strange sensation, Ryuji dashed toward the helm. His movements instinctively synchronized with the rolling waves.

Ren's sharp instincts kicked in as he spotted Takemi losing her footing again, sliding dangerously close to the ship's edge and stumbling over the railing. 

"Raven!" he shouted, vaulting over the rail. As he called upon Anzu, the majestic, winged lion appeared in a burst of blue flame. Mid-air, Anzu's talon clasped Ren, who clutched Takemi tightly. With a powerful flap, Anzu returned them safely to the deck, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

As Ryuji gripped the helm, steering through the spectral waves, shadowy figures began to materialize on the deck, their eyes glinting malevolently in the storm's erratic flashes of lightning.

Shiho's eyes widened as she recognized some of the faces of the shadows from the portraits she had seen during their last visit. Before she could react, the figures burst and transformed into various menacing shadows. 

Among them were spectral horses made out of kelp named Kelpie, a snake with six arms and a human face known as Vasuki, some golden-scaled half-human half-serpent called Naga Raja, and bizarre starfishes with one human eye, Decarabia.

Ryuji, firmly at the helm, felt an ancestral pull to the sea, as if Captain Kidd's spirit surged through him. He expertly maneuvered the ship, his hands steady despite the chaos around him. The ship pitched violently under the assault of both wind and waves. Yet, Ryuji's eyes stayed fixed on a shadowy outline in the distance, an immense whale, its form barely visible through the torrential rain.

"Hahahaha!" Captain Kidd's jovial laughter echoed in Ryuji's mind, encouraging him. "Good job, Captain. Let me help the crew. Remember to focus on the whale."

On the deck, Ren summoned Byakko, the white tiger. Its sturdy form was ideal for maintaining balance in the tumultuous storm. Takemi, standing back to back with Ren, called forth her persona, Frankenstein, who let out mad laughter as lightning began to gather in his hands.

Shiho, caught in the middle of some shadows, swiftly summoned Circe. Instantly, the enchantress's song weaved through the storm, her melodic voice confusing them. The shadows, caught in her enchantment, turned on each other, their forms clashing in a chaotic dance driven by Circe's manipulation.

Meanwhile, Ren and Takemi coordinated their attacks as best as they could. 

Byakko, embodying the fury of the storm, unleashed a ferocious roar, sending a chilling blast of icy wind across the rain-soaked deck. Ice crystals formed mid-air, freezing several shadow figures in grotesque poses amidst their attack.

Frankenstein, animated by Takemi's guidance, raised its lightning rod. Electricity crackled ominously around it as it struck out at Kelpie and Vasuki. The kelp horse neighed in agony before dissolving into a burst of ethereal mist, its form collapsing under the electric assault. 

However, Vasuki, the serpent with human cunning, smirked at the futile attempt, the lightning bouncing harmlessly off from his scales. With a deft snap of his fingers, a golden arrow materialized and struck Frankenstein with unerring precision, causing Takemi to stumble backward with a cry of pain.

In addition, Vasuki conjured a shimmering blue barrier around Decarabia, protecting the starfish-like creature from immediate danger. Ren, witnessing the unfolding chaos, narrowed his eyes, quickly assessing the battlefield for a new approach. 

Ren's eyes narrowed as he examined the battlefield, making a plan of attack before a gigantic wave struck the ship and sent him tumbling to the ground, breaking his attention for just the right amount of time to allow Decarabia to shoot Byakko with a wave of fire.

Gritting his teeth against the surge of pain that numbed his mind, Ren pushed himself upright with focus. 

"Raven, focus lightning on the horses. Try using curse skills on the six-armed snake."

On the other side, the battle raged with renewed ferocity as the shadows momentarily shook off their confusion. They turned their focus towards Shiho, who maneuvered as best she could across the unstable deck, trying to reach Ren and Takemi. 

Just as a Naga Raja raised his spear to attack Shiho, Captain Kidd's spectral ship intervened. Its ethereal form collided with the attacker, sending him plummeting into the ocean below.

With feline precision, Byakko dashed toward Shiho as she dodged another attack. Its claws dug into the soaked wooden floor, anchoring it against the swaying deck. With each breath, it exhaled gusts of freezing air, turning advancing enemies into statues of ice. Then, it stood next to Shiho in a protective manner.

At the same time, Ren acted swiftly, his grappling hook whistling through the stormy air to latch onto a massive wooden post near Vasuki. With a sharp tug, he propelled himself towards the snake-like shadow, his movements a blur against the chaotic backdrop of the ship and storm.

Raising the dagger he had secured from Mementos, Ren launched himself at Vasuki, the blade gleaming with a sinister light as it stabbed into him. 

Vasuki's face contorted in fury as he grasped the knife, but before he could retaliate, a needle pierced the air. Ren had bought enough time for Takemi to regain her footing, which allowed her to call Frankenstein to attack.

The needle exploded the moment it made contact with Vasuki, releasing the cursed fire within and causing crimson energy to fly from his body to Takemi, healing some of her injuries. Thankfully, this happened just as Ren clenched his teeth in pain from an attack Byakko had received.

The shadow reeled backward from the cursed fire, opening another window of opportunity, which Ren took to attack once again. Each successive attack was perfectly timed with another of Takemi's cursed needles. The combined assault eventually caused the shadow to dissolve away.

Meanwhile, Shiho stood shielded by Byakko, who roared with anger as it used its body to block any attacks directed toward her. With each roar, it would release another wave of frost, turning the shadows into frozen statues. This set the stage for Captain Kidd to slam into them, shattering the statues and dealing massive damage thanks to Shiho's strengthening.

As the last of the shadows fell, the sea continued to batter the ship. Yet, thanks to Ryuji's handling of the helm, they were able to keep up with the whale long enough for him to spot something in the distance. A shining painting floating above the ocean.

"There it is!" Ryuji shouted to the group. "Our way out!"

— — —

Moving through the quiet museum, Makoto led the way, her footsteps echoing softly in the vast, dimly lit halls of Madarame's Palace. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness that seemed to seep from the distorted paintings lining the walls, each piece giving an unsettling feeling.

[I can see there is a strange location close to you. It must be a will seed. Do you want me to guide you to it?] Futaba's voice, echoing in their minds, broke the silence. Since Ren had entered the painting, Futaba had lost connection with his group and had redirected her full attention to aiding Makoto's team.

"Yes, guide us, Oracle," Makoto responded, her voice resolute. Although the responsibility of leading the team weighed on her, her tone remained composed and determined.

As they advanced, the museum's architecture seemed to twist and contort. The hallways were lined with black and white paint, creating dizzying optical illusions that warped perception and depth. The floor appeared to swell and dip with each step, making navigation a challenge.

Yusuke's eyes, accustomed to analyzing art, sparkled with recognition and caution. 

"This place… It plays on the perception of its visitors," he noted, gesturing toward the surrounding chaos. "Watch the floor. It might not be as it seems."

Nodding, Makoto took the lead on her own, her boots touching the painted floor and sending ripples across the surface, distorting the image further. She took a few steps when Futaba's urgent voice halted her.

[Wait! Something's wrong Turn-.] Futaba shouted, her voice becoming distorted and faint as she spoke

Makoto froze, then turned to signal her team, but the optical illusion had intensified. Looking back, she found herself alone. Her team seemingly vanished, swallowed by the painted maze.

Since she couldn't find her way out, Makoto spoke up and explained her situation to Futaba. But no one answered.

[Damn it, I can't reach Makoto. The paintings here mess with my communication, so if you are inside one or touching paint, I won't be able to reach you.] Futaba's frustrated voice reached Ann, Yusuke, and Morgana, who could still see Makoto, albeit faintly, her figure blurred and distorted by the illusion.

Trapped in a world of optical illusion, Makoto stood alone, her disorientation growing with each passing moment. Closing her eyes to shut out the chaos, she took a deep breath and trusted her instincts. Retracing her steps, she moved forward with precision. In just a moment, she was able to hear the voice of her team again.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Makoto quickly briefed the group about what she saw and her thoughts. 

"I think it's all a trick of the mind. As long as we keep our eyes closed, we should be able to make our way through," she explained, peering back at the daunting optical illusion hallway. "We might even be able to navigate if we hold onto a wall."

[From my side, I don't see anything strange, so that should work. However, keep in mind that the door to the will seed is somewhere in the middle of that hallway. I'll show you where to stand; as long as you walk forward, you should be able to reach it.] Futaba's voice advised, offering a glimmer of guidance through the eerie silence that enveloped them.

Nodding her head, Makoto issued a command with a tone of certainty. 

"Everyone, hold onto each other. The last thing we want is to lose one of us in there."

Obeying Makoto's orders, the team formed a tight chain, each member grasping the shoulder of the one in front, with Mona climbing on top of Ann's shoulder. With a collective breath, they closed their eyes and stepped forward.

As they progressed, the sensation of holding onto each other diminished; though they no longer felt the physical presence of their teammates, an inexplicable force seemed to pull them forward, showing that they were still connected to each other, even if they couldn't feel it.

The air grew colder, and whispers echoed around them, words unintelligible yet filled with an urging tone, begging them to open their eyes. However, they pressed on, following the guiding force that was Makoto and keeping their eyes tightly shut.

Before they knew it, Makoto had stumbled onto a door, and as she reached to open it, she felt the whole group stumble behind her, pushing them into the room with a crimson will seed sitting in the middle. 

As they looked back, they saw the optical illusion hallway behind them.

[Can you hear me?] Futaba asked as she saw her connection to the group return. After getting a confirmation, she began to prepare a way for them to get out once they got the seed.

~A/N~

(I'm taking some "artistic"{hehe} liberties with the palaces from now on. So, while they will still be the main concept from the original, I will change stuff like in this chap to make it more fun to write and read. 

I got some great suggestions for Takemis' gun from Dragowar, Shlok_Verma, and Sunnnny. Didn't go with it just yet, but I think I will in the future once I go more into modifying guns, so just giving them a shoutout before I forget who suggested it.

Also, RagingDrake suggested the Thieves could get some knowledge or skills from their connection to their personas, which is where my boy Ryuji learned to sail. I have some ideas for where to use it in the future, but if you have some suggestions, drop them down. I'll give you a cookie for them.)