The true exspance of Anzu's power erupted from her body and reveal itself to be Oziys, the Greek goddess of depression and woe.

Anzu stood tall, feeling determined and ready. "COME AT ME!"

The shadow growled as she attempted to null Anzu with Ehia, but it didn't work. She didn't take damage!

Anzu scoffed. "Is that the best you've got?! Cause I've got more! Oziys! Maeiha!"

With an elegant spin, Oziys casted Maehia, knocking out one of Shadow Anzu's faces, which shattered upon impact. It caused enough of a distraction to break Suki out of her trance.

"Ichika-Senpai! Are you okay?" Anzu yelled.

Suki nodded, although her head was still in a fog. "Y-yeah...! I'm good!"

"Then get your ass over here and help me!"

Suki nodded as she charged over to Anzu and summoned Hegemone. "PERSONA!"

Anzu managed to crack a small smile. "There we go! Go! OZIYS!"

Oziys emerged along side Hegemone, preparing for battle.

"Are you sure you're ready to fight?" Suki asked.

Anzu glanced over at her. "What? Did you really think I was going to let you fight me alone? Please. Don't worry, Suki-San. I can handle this."

"Okay then, let's do this. Hegemone! MAGNADYNE!"

Hegemone lifted large chucks of earth into the air and hurled them at the left side of the rollercoaster, rendering it out of commission.

Isas finally stood, bring Jumin to his feet and healing Jumin with Dia. Yasahiro crawled out from where he was hiding and joined them. Kimi waltz over to them, good as new and ready to fight.

"Looks like we've got a new teammate." She said.

"And where the hell have you been?" Anzu asked.

"I-I was healing up! Anyways, enough talking! Let's fight this big bitch before it's too late!"

Anzu scoffed. "Whatever you say, Kiyoshi."

Kimi blushed embarrassed, taking her m9 out of her hat and began shooting. Isas and Jumin made a mad dash towards the towering shadow for a dual sword attack.

"Y-you're getting good with your sword skills." Isas said.

"You tired,Chikako-Senpai?" Jumin asked.

He shook his head. "Just winded is all!"

"Ugh! Annoying little bugs!" Shadow Anzu groaned, stamping her foot as she tried to squash the two.

Suki aimed her bow and fired into the heart of the shadow, calling out to her team, "EVERYONE! IT'S TUME FOR AN ALL OUT ATTACK!"

"ALRIGHT!"

"LET'S DO THIS!"

All of the members of the Quaran-Team charged into battle, weapons ready, and all screaming like a bunch of banshees.

With every ounce of strength they had, the teens pummeled the towering shadow. Kimi beating on its head with her bat, Suki and Isas using their personas to take it down by destroying its knees, Jumin and Yasahiro using their weapons to take down its arms.

Anzu watched in awe at the team and how they worked together. They were still just amateurs swing swords around like it was nobody's business, but they had passion.

They were fighting and fighting hard. This meant so much to them-so important to them.

And it was important to her.

All of her time was spent in absolute isolation and darkness, but this was a new chance at life.

And she wasn't going to let it go to waste!

Channeling all of her energy and strength into her and her persona for one final blow right into the heart.

"NO! NO! NO! I CAN'T LOSE! I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO LOSE!" The shadow wailed.

"You already have...." Anzu muttered, "goodbye."

In a brilliant flash of blue light, Anzu's final blow ripped through the shadow's body like a piece of paper as she screamed in anguish.

Debris fell all around them and even destroyed the circus tent. Anzu watched as the massive structure went down, breathing easy for the first time in a while.

"It's over..." She murmured.

"Yeah, it is." Suki said in agreement.

"You. You knew about this? This place? What would happen to me?"

Suki shrugged. "I had an idea. But you have to thank our boy Yasahiro for figuring out that it would be you next."

She placed a hand on Yasahiro's shoulder as he smiled, bashfully.

"I-I just wanted to be useful...I-I wanted to help."

Anzu walked over to him, kneeling down, and embraced him tightly.

"Thank you...thank you so much."

Yasahiro smiled tearfully, feelimg a strong sense of accomplishment.

I saved her...I saved someone.

The ground beneath them began to rumble amd crack out.

"Guys! We have to leave or this place'll crumble down on top of us!" Jumin yelled.

Suki turned back to Anzu. "Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine. You just gotta make sure you make it back in one piece, okay?"

Suki nodded, taking Yasahiro's hand as they ran off to join the others.

"We'll see you on the other side, Ayako-chan!" Jumin yelled.

"See you on the other side!" She shouted back.

The Quaran-Team made their way out of the carnival, Yasahiro stopping for one last longing gaze with Anzu before running of and joining the others.

Anzu took one last look at the world that was crumbling around her, and she smiled.

"It's over now....it's all over now...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Quaran-Team were ejected from the waterfall and flew face first into the water.

Kimi was the first to pop her head out of the water, spitting water out of her mouth. "UGH! FUCKING HATE THIS!" She shouted.

Suki surfaced as well. "I know...I know..." She huffed.

The boys surfaced as well, Yasahiro gagging and spitting up a tadpole. He was screaming. "Oh my god, oh my god! Frogs! The frogs!"

"Hey, hey! Calm down! I'm...sure it was just the one that you swallowed."

Yasahiro still continued to freak out, however, worrying about the possible idea of hosting a family of frogs inside of him.

Jumin helped him as the Quaran-Team swam back to shore, breathing heavily from exhaustion.

"Well-" Kimi said, gulping for air, "we did it. We made it."

"Now we just have to wait for the outcome and hope for the best for Anzu-Chan." Isas added.

"I'm sure everything will work out. Now, let's go home and-?"

Suki stopped, hearing a distant rustling in the woods.

"You guys hear that?"

"Someone's coming..."

"Don't freak out. I doubt they saw anything...."

The Quaran-Team waiting until the mysterious visitor revealed themselves to be...Chiyoko.

"Chiyoko, what are you doing here?!" Isas questioned, walking over to his little sister.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing." She replied, crossing her arms.

"I-it's simply normal teenager stuff."

"Going for a swim in the lake with your clothes on is normal teenager stuff?"

Isas glanced back for guidance from his friends, but they were all equally confused as well.

He shook his head. "I'll explain one day. But you, young lady, are not supposed to be here by yourself-especially without telling Grandma. Who I know you did not tell."

Chiyoko pouted as Isas picked her up and turned back to the Quaran-Team. "I have to go. Meet again tomorrow?"

"Yeah, dude."

"Later, Isa!"

He waved goodbye as Yasahiro joined him on their walk home. Chiyoko stared intently at Suki, obviously wanting to get her attention somehow.

Suki gave her a small wave before the group went their separate ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 24th, 20XX

Narharu Regional Hospital

Anzu awoke to a blinding light, her body aching. There was a ringing in her ears that almost deafening.

Where was she? Was she still in that awful circus? Was she dead? Was she actually dead?

"Ayako Chan...? Can you hear us?" Someone called.

"Annie, honey, say somethin'!"

Wait...that's dad!

The light dispersed and she could finally see. She was in her hospital room, surrounded by doctors, nurses, her father, and the Quaran-team, staring at her.

"D-dad...?" She groaned.

Tears ran down her father's cheeks as he embraced her tightly. Anzu had her own tears fall as she buried her face in his shoulder. "D-dad...I-I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

He shook his head. "D-don't apologize....you didn't do anything wrong...."

"But, I-"

"Let's just...be happy you're okay."

Anzu nodded although she was not done with what she had to say.

"Well Ayako-San, you gave us quite a scare. We thought we lost you." The doctor said, walking beside her. "You seem to be in a stable condition, but as a precaution, we'll need to keep you here for another 48 hours just to be sure."

"Great, then after that, I can leave-"

"Don't get too excited. There's still the matter of your anemia."

"My what?"

"You have severe anemia and you lost a lot of blood over these past few days. You'll have to be on a lot of medication for these next couple of weeks-maybe even months."

Anzu groaned, flopping back on her bed.

"Don't be too disheartened. Anemia isn't so bad, as long as you managed It properly."

Anzu nodded, letting out a deep sigh. Deviant pressed a kiss to her forehead as he followed the doctor out to take care of some paper work.

She was now left alone with the Quaran-Team.

"So, how're you feeling?" Kimi asked.

"Like shit, but this what I get..." She said.

"At least you made it out alive..."

She nodded, sitting up. "So...that...that was me, right?"

Isas nodded. "A part of you, yes. It's a part of you that was...'infected.' Something that has been causing you pain for a long time..."

"Like you, Senpai?" She asked.

His hand went to his eye. "...yes."

"And that thing...my persona....you all have it too?"

They nodded collectively.

"Yeah. They're pretty cool, huh?" Jumin said.

She nodded, looking down at her legs.

"You wanna tell us what's up?" Kimi asked.

Anzu gripped the sheets. "I...I was...I hated her. She reminded me of...all the awful things I ever thought or said..."

Yasahiro held her head, caressing her knuckles. "Take your time..."

Anzu nodded, taking a deep breath in. "I...I've always felt...wrong. Like I was an eyesore walking the earth. Kids made fun of me, called me a circus freak. When I got older, they would beat the shit outta me and...tell me I didn't belong. Somehow, they found out about my mom abandoning me and everything just got worse...it didn't that...my mind was getting worse as the days by. Tricking me, destroying my sanity....I just...I was just...tired. I just wanted to get out. And I thought...I thought ending it all was the only way. The only way to finally have peace."

Jumin gripped the middle of his hoodie as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

"Jumin, no."

"What?"

"Don't feel bad for me. Don't feel sorry for me. It was my fault that I got in this position. Don't give me your sympathy. I don't deserve it..."

"But...you were hurting. You didn't have anyone."

"You're wrong. I had a lot of people. I had you, Isa-Senpai, my dad...I just...I dod it to myself. But...I'm better now. I feel like I can finally...open up now."

"We're here for you, Anzu. We may not totally know what's going on with you or what you're feeling, but if you need us, we'll be there."

Anzu smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Thanks you guys...I appreciate it."

Suki felt trust radiating from Anzu.

"I am thou, thou art I,

Thou has birthed new life and blossomed forth the vow of the Death Arcana..."

Death Arcana: Rank 1

"Hey, so, there's this concert out of town. I-it shouldn't be too big, it's just a garage band called The Pillows. It's next Saturday. M-maybe if you feel better...you would want to join us?" Jumin asked.

"...."

"Well...?"

"....I'll....think about it." She said with a content smile.

He smiled. "C-cool! T-take your time. I'll add you to the group chat just in case!"

"Well, we would've had to do that anyway."

"Why would that be?"

"Because, you're an honorary member of the Quaran-Team!" Kimi exclaimed.

"....what the hell-?"

"It's a team name."

"Riiighttt...."

Anzu rested her head against her pillow, closing her eyes.

"H-hey, are you-?!"

"Relax, Jumin-kun....I'm just tired...." She mumbled before drifting off to sleep.

The team shared a collective look and walked out of the room, Yasahiro leaving a small gift on her bedside table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suki returned home, feeling the thick tension in the atmosphere. Akiniko was sitting on the couch, flipping through the T.V. channels.

She bit her lip. "Hey, I'm back."

He didn't look up. "Hey...welcome home. How's Ayako-Chan?"

"She's...fine. Gonna make a full recovery..."

"Great."

Suki was about to walk into her room, but decided to break the silence. "Are we gonna talk about what happened?"

Akiniko sighed. "Nothing happened, Suki. She was a friend of your mom. We just...wanted to talk."

"So, you weren't trying to replace her?"

"No...I would never replace someone I love..."

But you left us so....isn't that the same thing?

Akiniko stood, turning off the television and stretching. "Well, I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late, m'kay?"

She nodded, sighing. "Yeah...okay...goodnight."

I'm sorry...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isas had rented a car and was waiting for the members of the Quaran-team to show up, leaning against the door. Yasahiro was inside, rummaging through the glove box.

A black car pulled up beside them, and out from it was Deviant and Anzu. Isas smiled.

"Hi! I'm glad you could make it!"

Anzu smiled awkwardly, tucking on her sleeves. "Y-yeah...never want to turn down free stuff from the Prince."

Isas chuckled, his smile dropping once he caught a glimpse of her father.

"S-sir, I promise nothing bad will happen to your daughter, we're just-"

Deviant laughed, patting his back hard. "Relax, boy. I trust her with you."

Isas chuckled nervously. "I-I'm glad, sir."

He chuckled, turning back to Anzu. "Have fun, okay hun? Call me if you need anything."

"I know, dad." She replied, pressing a quick kiss on his cheek.

He smiled, motioning to the end of the parking lot. "Looks like your other friends showed up too."

They turned and saw the others hoping over the chain fence-Kimi holding a big pack of soda and Jumin, a huge bag of movie popcorn.

"Yo! We brought stuff!" She exclaimed.

"What's with the popcorn?" Anzu asked.

"Just had it lying around my pantry, so I thought I'd bring it." Jumin replied.

"You have a whole thing of popcorn in your pantry?" Deviant asked.

"Just a little something for all nighters."

Anzu chuckled, shaking her head. Deviant patted her back, smiling.

"Alright kids, take care of her, have fun, yada yada, and if something happens to her-you're dead."

All of them smiled nervously as Deviant waved goodbye and went off into his car.

"Okay, everybody ready?" Isas asked, hoping into the driver's seat.

"Yeah!" Jumin said, sliding in beside Suki and Anzu, Kimi squeezing in between them.

"So, did you talk to him?" Suki whispered to Anzu.

She shook her head. "Not...yet. Soon though. Very soon."

She nodded.

"Hey Senpai! Why didn't you get a bigger car?! My ass is already numb!" Kimi complained.

"I can't spend too much on my parent's cards."

"Cards? Plural?"

He nodded. "Don't worry. It shouldn't be too far away."

"Isas-kun, do you have a license?" Suki asked.

"Nope. But it shouldn't be too hard."

Given that information, everyone gripped on for dear life as Isas started the car and sped off into the night.

"ISA, WHAT THE HELL?!"

"WHAT?! THIS IS FUN!"

"THIS IS GONNA KILL US!"

"YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A LICENSE!"

"AND DO ANY OF YOU?"

The car was silent.

"Exactly. So, please. Let me drive and we can be there in....20 minutes?"

"Not unless we get pulled over." Jumin muttered.

"We won't! Most likely."

Anzu laughed, and she laughed loud, snorting and everything.

Suki smiled, reaching over and turning up the radio, seeing a familiar face pull up next to them.

"Hey! Hey! Roll down the window!" She poked her head out, "Haruko?!"

The vibrant woman looked up at her with a huge grin on her face. "Suki-San! What's up?"

"What're you doing here?!"

"I've got a concert to play!"

"You're in the band?!"

"Yup!"

"Suki, do you know this woman?" Kimi asked.

"Uhh, sorta..."

"Hey, are you gonna keep yapping? You got a show to get to!"

Haruko sped in front, Isas recklessly followed behind.

Jumin laughed nervously, terrified and excited for the night ahead but a sudden text distracted him.