Here's the final chapter for my Persona 5 and Love Victor crossover. Having to be reunited with Victor and to awaken his Persona, Benji joins forces with the Phantom Thieves to change Shade De Porter's heart.
Love Victor X Persona 5 The Drag Phantom Thieves
Chapter 4 - Stopping the Press
Used this Persona 5 soundtrack for this section
Victor, Benji, and the Phantom Thieves hurried back to Shade’s palace, now on high alert. “Can’t wait to get revenge on Shade!” Benji said as he and Victor fought side by side. “It’s just like fighting for equality,” Victor agreed. Morgana added, “The real battle starts now.”
A shadow was about to ambush Benji, but Victor spotted it first and hid behind a wall for Benji to ambush the shadow first. “Your sneak attacks have been improving, Striker”, said Ren. “Thanks, Joker, it’s all for Benji”, said Victor with Benji (who looked at Victor with a warm smile) and the Phantom Thieves taking advantage of the shadow guard being dropped.
They encountered more shadows, with Victor being confronted by some larger shadows, but Benji helped him out by providing them with Alec’s vines. “After you, Victor”, said Benji as they gazed at each other, admiring their drag-like outfits for a moment. “Thanks, Benji”, said Victor with a smile on his face, and he helped the others to take out the shadows. “Great use of your Persona’s powers, Java. Also, you could pay a visit to Leblanc and teach Sojiro how to make these American coffees of yours,” said Futaba. “I’ll consider that. I would like to learn more about the coffee culture in Japan,” replied Benji.
As star-crossed lovers, Victor and Benji watch over each other while also helping the Phantom Thieves as their way for repaying them for standing up for them including Victor and Benji obstructing the shadows’ visions with their Seregil and Alec’s sun spheres and gust of leaves, giving the Phantom Thieves an opportunity to sneak up on them as said by Yusuke “Now that’s a creative yet refrined way to surprise our enemies“Yeah, it’s creative work, Striker and Java!” cheered Futaba.
They made it back to the treasure room, which shows a sceptre. “Once we steal it, he’ll have a change of heart as he confesses all of his wrongdoings,” said Morgana. “We’ll expose his crimes just like his scummy tabloids”, said Benji with his tone that shows his disgust for Shade. But before they can do so, Shadow Shade has shown up, saying, “Think you aliens can come back crawling my fortress as you please?! I shall be the king who’ll make Japan great by getting rid of Faggots, immigrants, foreigners and anyone who is beneath me!” “You? Make Japan great? As if we need any more corrupt adults ruining our country!” said Ryuji mockingly.
Victor and Benji were wary of encountering Shade De Porter, even if it’s his shadow self, but they had the courage to stand up to him. “Victor and I have the right to be here and to love who we love. There’s no way you’ll scare us!” said Benji fiercely. “Just what do you have against those who are different? Diversity is what makes the world beautiful,” said Victor assertively.
Shadow Shade explained that he became disillusioned that, in his eyes, Japan is being polluted by foreigners (including those who are staying in Japan, whom he believes are overpopulating his home country) and minority people who are more progressive, including LGBTQ+ people, accusing them of making society complicated and leaving tradtionalist like him behind. Shade happened to be an expert on journalism, so he decided to use that profession to stalk minority people for him to catch anything that he could use to dish dirt on them, casting them in a negative light.
His first article has been getting attention, gaining followers who agree with his ideology, which he uses to persecute anyone whom he deems an outcast. “I shall be the king who’ll convince my people that those outcasts are ruining our country!” declared Shadow Shade. “But wouldn’t want to learn from those who are different? You’ll get to understand them better!” said Victor trying to be diplomatic. “Pfft, as if I swallow my pride to those filthy trash who don’t belong to my country!” sneered Shadow Shade. "You claim that you feel left behind with progressive people yet you refused to consider their lives and build bridges. As if that's an excuse to take it out on them" said Yusuke bluntly.
“You ruin lives with your gossip... you’re a scandal!” Makoto cried. “Ha! As long as people praise me, I’ll rise to the top!” said Shadow Shade mockingly. “What about your wife and son?” Ann asked. “What about them? My wife is nothing but a traitor for standing up for my gay son who doesn’t deserve to be my son” he answered coldly. “You’re not just close-minded; you’re a monster!” Haru exclaimed. “It’s time to end your hate!” Ren declared. “And we’ll fight for those you’ve judged—including Benji and me!” said Victor. “Try and stop me! I’ll spread dirt about you unruly kids for the world to see,” Shadow Shade threatened as the fight began.
Meanwhile, outside of Shade’s bureau in the real world, his son Aikazu happened to be nearby, working on picking up litter as part of his voluntary work while remaining hidden from his Father. It made him wary of being near his Father’s bureau after what he did to his Mother and how he treated him after finding out his sexuality. Still, he continued with cleaning up the environment as his way to make the world a better place, just like with the Phantom Thieves, for which he hoped that they fulfilled his request.
Use this Persona 5 Strikers soundtrack for this battle
Back at Shade’s palace, Shadow Shade fights by summoning barriers that block attacks as he fires explosive blasts from his rifle while exclaiming, “All trash shall stay away from my country!” “Is he insane? It’s not like he owns our country!” ranted Ryuji as he was pushed back by the barrier that moved towards him. “He really wants to keep us away,” said Yusuke dryly.
Victor summoned Seregil’s sun spheres to defend Benji from Shadow Shade’s rifle attacks, which also hit the barrier that was nearby. It appeared to weaken it. Futaba spotted that and said, “It looks like we can break through the barriers with our attacks!” “Good thinking there, Victor!” cheered Benji. “Really? I just happened to protect you,” said Victor, who blushed as Benji praised him. “No time to stay modest, we’re bursting our way through!” said Ann, encouraging him as everyone used their Personas to repeatedly attack the barriers until they shatter, allowing them to make their way towards Shadow Shade. “After you, Benji,” said Victor after Seregil shattered a barrier. Benji couldn’t help but be swooned by Victor’s gentlemanly politeness.
Shadow Shade still wouldn’t let The Phantom Thieves get anywhere near him, firing his rifles at them. “You trash are better off dead!” declared Shadow Shade. “You need to have more love in your heart!” said Victor assertively, with Seregil blinding him with his sun spheres. “As long as you hate on others, including those who are different, you’ll only get lonelier!” said Ren as he and the others used this chance to strike Shadow Shade.
“It’s lights out for you all!” said Shadow Shade, who summoned a misty gas that surrounded The Phantom Thieves, which not only obstructs their visibility but also poisons them. “What’s this? I can’t...breathe,” cried Makoto as she was choking. “I don’t feel so good,” said Victor weakly. “Uh oh, I am detecting toxic readings,” said Futaba nervously. “Ha! You lower-lives are better off hiding in the shadows or learn your place!” taunted Shadow Shade as he fired his rifles at the Phantom Thieves while they were covered by the gas.
“We've got to get rid of the gas quickly,” said Morgana, who is getting breathless. “May you all be healed with nature,” said Benji as Alec repelled the gas by summoning a healing fragrance that cured everyone. “That feels so much better,” said Victor, smiling at Benji to show his appreciation. “Yeah, I guess this shows that it’s good to be with nature,” said Haru with delight. Everyone has regained the strength to attack Shadow Shade, dodging the rifle shots.
“Anyone beneath me shall burn!” said Shadow Shade, who then fired huge fireballs towards The Phantom Thieves, causing huge flames to spread as they dodged them. “It’s like burning bridges; literally!” said Yusuke. As the Phantom Thieves used their aerobatic leaps to evade the fireballs, Victor and Benji became separated as one of the fireballs landed in between them. “Victor? Where are you?!” cried Benji with anxiety. “Benji? Benji!” called Victor desperately. The Phantom Thieves acted quickly to rescue them.
Ren, Morgana, Ryuji and Ann focus on rescuing Victor while Yusuke, Makoto and Hau work on saving Benji with Morgana and Makoto using their Personas to repel the flames. However, several shadows that Shadow Shade has summoned, including Nagas, have appeared as warned by Futaba, “Everyone! We have incoming reinforcements!”
“Ugh, why now?!” cried Ryuji as the shadows were getting in the way of rescuing Victor and Benji. “We just have to give them what for!” said Ann as Carmen cast Lullaby on the shadows to put them to sleep. The others followed her strategy, including Yusuke using Goemon’s ice powers to freeze the shadows and Ryuji shocking them with Captain Kidd’s electrical-based moves. Their teamwork allowed Ren and Haru to rescue Victor and Benji, reuniting them. They held each other tightly, relieved for each other’s safety. “Thank goodness you’re ok”, said Benji with relief. “I won’t let anything tear us apart”, said Victor as they looked at each other in the eye.
They then helped out The Phantom Thieves to fight Shadow Shade in return, including Victor shielding them with Seregil’s sun barriers or powering them up with Seregil’s sunlight, and Benji using Alec’s grassy terrain to restore their health, or countering Shadow Shade’s rifle attacks with Alex’s blossom-like bombs. “It’s like we’re fighting for pride and equality!” said Victor. “And for our love!” said Victor. “And for justice!” said Ren as they delivered a powerful blow on Shadow Shade, knocking him down, which gives The Phantom Thieves an opening for an all-out attack, with Benji following their lead, yet it comes naturally to him as they rushed towards a downed Shadow Shade, darting around him and finishing him off with no mercy. After executing the all-out attack, Benji finds himself saying, “This makes a fine tune.”
“No!... How could I lose to aliens who don’t belong in this world! Why can’t everything be the same?! Just you wait until I write an article on how you kids beat up an innocent man like me,” moaned Shadow Shade, who is weakened. “Aliens? Us? The only alien is you, who attack anyone who is different!” said Ryuji mockingly. “This makes you more alien than those shadows”, said Morgana, agreeing with Ryuji.
“Not everything can always be the same. We work on making an equal society as the world moves forward with progress. It’s not always easy, but as long as people support each other with unity and acceptance, that‘s how love wins. You have no love, which is why you lost,” said Victor. “An article about how you allowed us kids to defeat you because you couldn’t accept who we are would look bad on you, wouldn’t it? Unless you learn to treat others equally and maybe focus on writing actual news, then you’re better off staying quiet,” said Benji.
With Shadow Shade defeated, the Phantom Thieves moved past him and obtained his sceptre. “Now he’ll have a change of heart”, said Morgana. “It’ll be the kind of scandal I like to read!” said Haru. “It’ll be for those lives he ruined with his tabloid, for his family and for getting in the way of our vacation!” said Benji.
Meanwhile, in the real world, however, Shade was sensing that he was about to have a change of heart. “What’s this? I am...changing? No...I can’t...let anyone find out about the truth...or allow myself to change,” said Shade as he stepped outside on the rooftop. “I would rather...take them down with me!” said Shade, who jumped off the roof, intending to kill himself to prevent him from confessing.
Aikazu heard a crashing sound from behind. He turned and found his Father lying on the trash bags with the bins nearby knocked over, his body seemingly lifeless. Even after everything he had done, Aikazu knew that he wouldn’t be better than his Dad if he left him there, so he called the ambulance.
Shade’s attempted suicide has caused his palace to collapse, as exclaimed by Makoto, “He’s seriously trying to take us down with him?!” “We've got to get out of here!” screamed Ann as everyone made a run towards the exit. As they were near the exit, several bricks were falling towards Victor, but Benji pushed him out of the way to save him, causing him to get covered by the bricks in the process, knocking him out. “No! Benji!” yelled Victor as he and the Phantom Thieves frantically removed the bricks and dragged out Benji’s unconscious body, quickly carrying him out of the exit.
Once they got back into the real world, Victor, holding Benji’s unconscious body, desperately cried out to him, “Benji! Are you ok? Please wake up!” Ren and the others watched helplessly, but fortunately, Aikazu happened to be nearby, overhearing Victor’s cries. He rushed over and asked, “What happened?” “Help! Our friend had an accident!” said Ren. Aikazu called the doctors who were carrying Shade’s body, telling them that there was another patient who needed medical care. Benji was rushed to the hospital.
Victor and the Phantom Thieves were waiting outside Benji’s room as he was treated by the doctors. “Please, will Benji be alright? I can’t lose him again,” cried Victor anxiously. The Phantom Thieves felt sorry for Victor. They knew that the way Benji rescued him meant that he truly loved him. They did their best to comfort him. “I’m sure he’ll make it through,” said Makoto softly. “Yeah, I know he will,” said Ann, giving him some encouragement. “It’s a good thing that the paramedics happened to be nearby. Still, I can only hope that they’ll make it so,” said Yusuke, trying to stay calm. “The nerve of Shade, he must have deliberately caused his palace to collapse! I swear that I...” said Futaba, but it was that moment that the door opened with the doctor saying, “Your friend has just woken up from a mild concussion. It was thanks to your swift actions that we were able to treat him, but just make sure that he takes it easy”.
Victor and the Phantom Thieves were relieved and delighted, with Victor rushing over to Benji, hugging him tightly. “Benji! I’m so glad that you’re alright!” cried Victor with joy. Benji smiled and said, “I swear that I’ll never leave your side again.” “Nothing shall ever tear us apart again,” said Victor, and they kissed each other. The Phantom Thieves were happy for them.
Meanwhile, in another ward, Shade has woken up too, surrounded by the press who heard about his fall. “It looks like our freelance journalist Shade De Porter has made a miraculous recovery,” said one of the reporters. “What were you thinking, making a jump like that?” said another reporter.
Having to have his treasure stolen, Shade finds himself confessing that he has been spreading lies and rumours about LGBTQ+ and other minority people solely to spread fear and hate while stalking them as well as beating up his wife for defending Aikazu, much to the disbelief of the press. A woman who is his wife happened to pass by his ward and videotaped Shade’s confession, intending to put it on the internet for everyone to see. Elsewhere, the thugs who harassed Victor and Benji felt depleted and defeated.
It wasn’t long before Benji was discharged from the hospital to recover. Victor, Benji and the Phantom Thieves have met up with Aikazu. They all looked up Shade’s confession on the internet, with news saying that Shade’s career will be in shambles, and those whom he has persecuted will be telling their side of the story, damaging his reputation further.
“So you all must be the Phantom Thieves? I am Shade’s son, Aikazu. I can’t thank you all enough for fulfilling my request, and I’m glad that you have made it through. I apologize for causing all the trouble,” said Aikazu. “It was no trouble. We can’t turn down anyone in need, regardless of who they are,” said Ryuji. “As someone who’s on the same boat, you’re not alone, and there will be those who’ll love you,” said Victor. “And your Father’s confession is the kind of news we want to see,” said Haru. Yusuke was holding Shade’s sceptre, was became manifested in the real world as the first newspaper article that Shade has written about LGBTQ+ people spreading disease, which gained attention despite it being hearsay. “As if this propaganda was newsworthy in the first place,” said Yusuke, tossing it in the bin. Aikazu thanked them again and said that he’ll be making a fresh new start with his Mom, making his leave.
It was time for Victor and Benji to make their leave to enjoy the rest of their vacation. “It was great meeting you, Phantom Thieves,” said Victor. “We can’t thank you all enough,” said Benji as he and Victor held hands. “We’re glad to keep you both safe,” said Ren. “Remember that we Phantom Thieves are on your side,” said Morgana. “I hope you both will enjoy what Japan has to offer,” said Futaba. “I would never expect us to awaken our Personas during our vacation, which was an experience. Still, it reminded us that we still have a lot to do for equality,” said Benji. “Nevertheless, what matters is that we have made it through together,” said Victor as he and Benji looked at each other warmly.
They all bid their farewell, hoping to meet up again someday. Victor and Benji continued to spend time together in Japan without any more incidents. Having to meet up with the Phantom Thieves and fight with their Personas is something that they won’t forget for their vacation. Their bond may have been tested, but it has only made them stronger as they grow, while making great memories together, including riding on a Ferris Wheel at a theme park on their last day in Japan, with Victor and Benji gazing at the night sky, giving them a romantic feeling as they embraced each other and exchanged a tender loving kiss.
Mega McBustedeon
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