Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

We begin our story at Wellston. The town, not the private school. A tall teenager with black hair and burnt gold eyes steps through the street, carrying his luggage in one hand and his phone in the other.

“Next, I have to take a turn here.” He spoke in murmurs as he waited for the light to turn green.

This is John Doe, an ordinary teen in an ordinary world. He just recently transferred to Wellston Private Highschool as a second year and decided to move into the town. 

However as John made it halfway across the street, time seemed to freeze around him. Cars stopped moving, people as well even birds.

“What the hell?” John asked as he looked around, until his eyes landed in the middle of the fourway. And what he saw shocked him to his very core.

A large pillar of blue flames erupted from the ground. John, mesmerized by the flames, focused his sight at the center of the flames and saw a figure.

Was that him?

Before he could make any sense of it, time resumed and cars honked at him to get off the street.

After crossing the street, John was still left confused by what just happened. “Did i… imagine that? Was it someone’s ability?” He questioned out loud. Looking down at his phone, John saw an app that wasn’t on his phone before. The app was red and black in color and in the middle, a strange eye with a star shaped pupil.

“The hell? When did this get on my phone?” John wondered for a bit, before quickly deleting it.

A short while later, the teen would arrive at his new residence at Walnut Street. He smiled excited at the prospect of having his own home. After unpacking, John went to sleep without a care in the world, ready to start life at his new school.

The next time John opened his eyes, he was in a prison cell of velvet blue. The teen rose up from his resting position only to realize that his hands were tied in handcuffs and he was wearing a black and white prison garb.

Before John could make any sense of this strange dream, a mischievous chuckle filled his ears. Looking to his right his gaze was met by two strange twins standing outside of his cell.

Both looked to young girls no older than ten. They both share platinum blonde hair and yellow eyes. The twins both wear a black eye patch with the letter "V" over one of their eyes and a blue prison guard outfit. The right twin has a long braid and a hat with the letters "O-Y-O-O," while the right one has hair buns and a hat with the letters "X-M-R-N." They wear a brassard on their left arms. They also have matching black ties.

Both twins move away from his cell door and John could see a singular person sitting in the middle. A bizarre old man with a long nose, pointed ears and bulging, bloodshot eyes. He wears a black suit, white gloves, white or black socks and black shoes. 

"Trickster... Welcome to my Velvet Room." The bizarre old man spoke with a deep voice that didn’t seem to match his appearance.

John stood up from his cell bed, nervously staring at the man with the long nose.

(Now playing- Persona 5 OST - Aria Of The Soul)

Location: Velvet Room
Time: Night

John grabbed the bars of his cell door and tried to open it.

“So you’ve come to, inmate.” The left twin spoke.

“The you in reality is currently fast asleep. You are only experiencing this as a dream.” The right twin spoke, confirming John’s early suspicion of this situation being a dream.

“You’re in the presence of our master. Stand up straight!” The left twin ordered John.

John did so, while still holding the bars of his cell. He focused his gaze on the man in front of him, waiting for answers. 

“Welcome. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter.” The ‘master’ spoke with a deep voice, sending chills down John’s spine. “It is a room that only those who are bound by a contract may enter.”

“Contract? I didn’t sign shit, old man! Let me ou-” Before John could finish, the right twin slammed her electric baton on John’s door, hitting his finger. “OW!”

“Know your place, inmate! Who do you think you’re talking to!?” The right twin called out.

The long nosed man decided to give an answer anyhow. “I am Igor, the master of this place. Remember it well.” The now named Igor introduced himself. “I summoned you here to speak of important matters. It involves your life as well.”

John swallowed nervously, not wanting to anger either twins. “Important matters?” John asked for clarification.

Alas Igor wouldn’t answer in kind. “Still this is a surprise…” He said, looking around the velvet blue prison. “The state of this room reflects the state of your own heart. To think a prison would appear as such. You truly are a 'prisoner' of fate. In the future, there is no mistake that ruin awaits you.”

John shook with slight anger. “Prisoner of fate? Ruin?” He came to Wellston to avoid all of that! So even with all his efforts it meant nothing!?

“However there is a means to oppose such a fate.” Igor spoke, gaining John’s interest once more. “You must be 'rehabilitated'. Rehabilitated towards freedom. That is your only means to avoid ruin.”

Memories of a red haired man flashed in John’s mind. He wanted to refuse, but the prospect of ruin made him curious.

“...Do you have the resolve to challenge the distortion of the world?”

John thought about it a bit. He came to Wellston just for that. A fresh start. And now some ruin is going to come for him. “I’d rather avoid ruin.” He answered, like any normal person would.

Igor’s unnatural smile seemed to grow even more. “Allow me to observe the path of your rehabilitation.”

John was really starting to hate that word.

The twin girl spun on their heels to face John once more. “Ah, pardon me for not introducing you to the others. To your right is Caroline; to your left, Justine. They serve as wardens here.”

Caroline smirked with confidence. “Hmph, try and struggle as hard as you like.”

Justine remained calm and seemingly neutral. “The duty of wardens is to protect inmates. We are also you collaborators. …That is, if you remain obedient.”

“I shall explain their roles at another occasion.” Igor clarified. The twins spun a full 180, facing away from John. “Now then, it seems the night is waning… It is almost time. Take your time to slowly come to understand this place. We will surely meet again, eventually.”

With a slight wave of Igor’s hand an alarm began to go off in the Velvet Room.

John stood back from his cell door and Caroline looked back at John. “Time’s up. Now hurry up and go back to sleep.”

And with that everything went black for John.

Social stats: John Doe

Ability: ??? 
Level: ???

Knowledge: Rank 2(Learned)
Guts: Rank 3(Staunch)
Proficiency: Rank 2(Decent)
Kindness: Rank 2(Considerate)
Charm: Rank 1(Existent)

???: ???

(End- Persona 5 OST - Aria Of The Soul)

Location: Walnut Street, John’s house
Time: Early Morning

John quickly stood up from his sleep. “What the hell? A dream? No, that felt way too real.” John contemplated his strange dream. If he could even call it that.

Glancing at the time, the teen sighed and got ready for school.

Location: Outside 
Time: Day

John, now dawning his Wellston Private Highschool uniform and his hair gelled like his father, is ready to tackle his first day at Wellston.

The teen took out his phone and opened the map app to find the fastest way to school. “Wait, that weird app is back?” John saw the red and black app cover the current app he had open. He let out a weak sigh. “Don’t tell me I got a virus on this thing already! It;s brand new too.” He would just have to go with memory to reach his new school.

Minutes later, John looked around confused holding his phone, this damn virus was really ruining his day. “Okay and if i'm recalling right, i gotta make a right turn here?” But right as he did turn, he bumped into someone.

“OOF!” Both people let out, falling on their rears.

“Shit! Sorry!” The person who bumped into John called out.

“No, no! It’s my fault, I should've been more careful!” John responded back.

John took a good look at the person he bumped into. It was a fellow Wellston student like him and a moderately tall, fair-skinned teenager with reddish crimson hair and golden eyes.

The black haired teen quickly stood up and offered a hand to his fellow classmate. “I’m John, I just transferred. It’s my first day.”

The crimson haired teen accepted John’s hand. “I’m Blyke, nice to meet you.” The now named Blyke introduced himself. “I guess it’s a good thing we bumped into each other, I know a shortcut to the school.”

John smiled. “Alright, lead the way!” And with that, John followed Blyke to his new school.

But unknown to John he had touched the red and black app on his phone. 

While on the way, Blyke decided to make small talk with John. “So I'm gonna guess you aren’t living in the dorms?” 

John shook his head sideways. “No, why?” 

“Tch, lucky.”

“What, wrong?”

“Well there’s this asshole in charge of Wellston’s Dorms. Zeke.” Blyke said with clear disgust.

John’s phone silently pinged. “I take it you ain’t a fan?” The black hair teen asked.

Blyke scoffed. “Don’t even get me started. The guy thinks he’s the King of the Castle, even though he’s only tough to be the next Jack.” The crimson haired teen vented his frustrations.

“And I'm guessing that makes the living situation there unbearable?” After a nod from Blyke, John was glad he got his own small house. “Well I guess it’s a good thing I got a place far from there. Out of curiosity what's his ability?”

Blyke scratched his hair a bit. "If I recall correctly, I think it's called Phase Shift and his level is 5.0."

John winced. "Damn, so an High Tier."

Out of nowhere a strong headache hit both John and Blyke as the world distorted around them.

Blyke moaned in annoyance. “Great, now I have a headache. This day sucks already.”

John grunted in agreement, although he found it strange how both he and Blyke got hit at the same time, but didn't bother voicing his thoughts. 

A few minutes later both teens found themselves in front of Wellston’s front gate and while the school was in front of them, off to the side of the dormitories, where it was supposed to be, stood a large castle in its place.

John and Blyke could only say a single thing at the sight of the building.

“What the hell?”

Social Stats: Blyke

Ability: Energy Beam 
Level: 4.5

Knowledge: Rank 2(Learned)
Guts: Rank 2(Bold)
Proficiency: Rank 3(Skilled)
Kindness: Rank 3(Empathetic)
Charm: Rank 2(Head-turning)

???: ???

Next Time on UnOrdinary Phantom:

Blyke: What the fuck happened to the dorms!?

John: I don’t know! I don't live here!

???: Who dares enter my castle, without my permission?

Blyke: JOHN, GO! GET OUT OF HERE!

???: This is truly an unjust game.

???: Very well. I have heeded your resolve!

Episode 2: The Pillager of Twilight

Chapter Text

John and Blyke stared confused at the castle in front of them. Both students saw the gold sign confirming that the castle was in fact Wellston’s dormitories.

Blyke scratched his head in confusion. “Um, is this a prank? Like someone using their ability to make it look like a castle?” The crimson haired teen asked.

John shook his head sideways. “I don’t think so. An illusion of this scale; you'd have to be a god tier to do it.” The black haired teen looked at Blyke. “Is there a god tier in Wellston with an illusion ability?”

Blyke shook his head. “Nah, the only god tiers we have are Arlo, our King and Seraphina, our Queen. And last I checked neither of them have an illusion ability.” He clarified, before his eyes widened in surprise. “WAIT, MY STUFF IS STILL IN THE DORMS!!” Blyke ran into the castle hoping to find his belongings.

John, understandably concerned, followed after Blyke. “Wait, Blyke! We’re already late for class!”

Location: Wellston Dormitories(?)
Time: Day

John and Blyke now stood at the center of the castle trying to find their way around. Only to realize that neither had any way of navigating the castle.

Blyke took out his phone to try and call a friend, only to find out; “The hell? There’s no signal and none of my other apps work?”

John, surprised, tried to turn on his phone, which he still had in his hand, and tried to turn it on, only for a singular app to open. 

The red and black app that appeared yesterday.

“Metaverse-Navigator?” John read the name of the app.

Alas before he could make sense of it, the sound of metal came towards John and Blyke. John was shocked to see a large man in a suit of armor, holding a sword and shield march towards them. Both teens jump back in surprise at the sight of the hulking knight.

After the short scare, Blyke saluted the knight. “Jeez you scared the shit out of me. What’s with the cosplay?” 
John stepped back a bit. ‘That thing, it doesn't have an Aura.’ The black haired teen gulped. “Blyke, I don't think that's a cosplay!” He called out nervously as more knights began to surround the duo.

Blyke also realized the situation. “Oh, shit!” He exclaimed, as he activated his ability. Shooting two beams at a random knight, he smirked in victory. Only to realize that his ability did absolutely nothing to the knight. “What the hell!” 

John looked back just in time to see a knight strike him with the hilt of their sword, knocking him down.

The last thing he heard was Blyke calling out his name, before slipping to darkness.

Location: Wellston Dormitories(?)
Time: Day

“Hey!”

“John?”

“John!”

“Monster.”

“WAKE UP JOHN!”

John jolted awake in a bead of sweat. Before he could make sense of his surroundings someone grabbed his shoulders. Once his eyes adjusted, he realized that Blyke was the one shaking him awake.

“Hey, you okay?” Blyke asked worriedly.

John nodded, now realizing that he and Blyke were in the castle’s dungeon. “Yeah, I'm good. How about you?” Blyke responded that he was alright. “How long have we been out?”

Blyke shrugged. “From my phone’s clock only 20 minutes.”

John cursed under his breath. He's already late on his first day of school.

Blyke rubbed the back of his head. “Looks like this ain’t no dream.” The red haired teen proceeded to activate his ability once more and fire two red beams of energy at the door bars. Once the smoke cleared, it revealed the door still intact, without so much as a scratch on it. “What the hell? Why isn’t my ability working?” He threw John a glance. “Hey, think you can use your ability to try and bust this open?”

John shook his head. “Nah, I don't have an ability.” He responded nervously, which thankfully went unnoticed by Blyke.

Blyke sighed. “Great, that means all options are out.”

Before they could brainstorm any ideas a loud pained scream filled their ears.

“Wh-what was that?” John asked fearfully as the screaming continued.

“Whoa… Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa…” Blyke panicked. “You’re shittin’ me right?”

In the corner of John’s eye he could see three knights and another figure marching to their cell.

“Be glad that your punishment has been decided upon.” The Leading Knight spoke, with a slightly distorted voice. “Your charge is ‘unlawful entry’. Thus you will be sentenced to death.”

“What!” John and Blyke cried out in shock at the punishment.

From behind the Leading Knight, a seemingly normal person marched forward. 

Blyke’s eyes widen, realizing who this person is. “ZEKE!?” He asked in surprise.

Zeke(?) is a very tall, pale-skinned teenager with bismark-colored hair. But the strangest thing was that his eyes were yellow with a slight glow to them. His attire seemed to suggest that he is the king of this strange castle. 

If John had to describe Zeke’s king attire, it would be cheaply made. Made from pieces of other attires and poorly stitched together. The golden crown on his head held no shine at all.

“No one’s allowed to do as they please in my castle.” Zeke(?) spoke with an authoritative tone of voice. “Here I thought it was just some petty thief. But to think it would be you Blyke. Can’t say I'm that surprised.”

The knights opened the cell gates and entered. Blyke activated his ability to strike the knights once more. Only for the Knights to walk through his attacks. “You’ve gotta be shittin’ me!” Blyke cried out in frustration as he tried firing more laser shots, only succeeding in sending John to the wall thanks to the wind.

Zeke(?) smirked, enjoying Blyke’s struggle. “It’s time for an execution! Take him out!” Two of the knights surround Blyke, pinning him down.

John’s eyes widened in response. He tries to save the pinned boy. “Wait, stop!” Before he could reach Blyke, the third knight grabbed his shoulder and pinned him to the wall.

The cripple tried to resist but one of the knights holding Blyke down released his grip on the teen and held John by the other shoulder. The knight holding Blyke lifted the Elite-Tier in the air.

The realization really began hitting Blyke as he tearfully pleaded for his life.

John's eyes flickered a faint golden glow as he tried to fight the knight's hold. ‘NO! I can’t, no!’ He closed his eyes shut! He could copy Blyke’s ability and try to escape, but if Blyke's ability was ineffective then maybe his version would yield the same result.

The world seemed to darken around John and everything slowed down. But before he could make sense of it a blue butterfly flew around John. “This is truly an unjust game… Your chances of winning are almost none. But if my voice is reaching you, there may yet be a possibility open for you…” A soft feminine voice came from the butterfly as it vanished from John's sight and the world returned to normal.

‘What’s the matter? Are you simply going to watch?’ A much deeper, masculine voice spoke this time, making John freeze in place. 

‘Are you forsaking him to save yourself?’ The voice continued as John tried to look for the source, but found no one. ‘Death awaits him if you do nothing.’ John knew he was talking about Blyke. ‘Tell me, were your previous decisions mistakes then?’ John thought back to Adrion and Claire.

“Monster.”

John's face paled. ‘Yeah, it was.’ He weakly admitted.

‘Even after she had betrayed you and used you as a tool?’

‘So what? It’s not like I didn't deserve it.’ He shot back at the mysterious voice as he began to rebel against the grip of the knights.

A moment of pause and voice responded.

‘Very well… you have accepted your mistakes and I have heeded your resolve.’

Out of nowhere, intense pain shot through John’s head. The teen began to cry out in pain.

‘Vow to me. I am thou, thou art I... Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!’ The pain in John’s head continued during the entirety of the voice’s monologue and once the voice stopped talking, John stared forward with rebelling vengeance. 

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!” The rebellious teen called out, stopping the knight from striking Blyke.

Zeke(?) turned to John, annoyed. “You desire to be killed that much? Fine!” He gestured to one of the knights and they struck John in the face.

Now John was being held back by two of the knights and the third one had released it’s hold on Blyke raised it’s sword in the air ready to strike John down.

Suddenly John’s eyes shot open and a powerful gust of wind sent the knights back a few feet.

Zeke covered his face to protect himself from the wind. Once the wind died down, he looked at John once more, who was now dawning a white, birdlike domino mask with black designs around the eyes reminiscent of full eyeliner and sharp lashes over his eyes.

John reached up and pulled on it but felt it stuck to his face. He pulled even harder and it still wouldn’t move.

(Now playing- Persona 5 OST - Awakening)

“AAAAAGH!!” John screamed in pain as he tore the mask off his face and blood poured from where the mask used to be. John stared back at Zeke(?) and the knights with a devilish smile etched on his face and his eyes the same yellow as Zeke’s.

Blue flames erupted from his face, spreading to consume his body while evaporating the blood on his face as well as his hair gel. A demonic laugh could be heard while the blue flames consumed John.

Once the blue flames consumed him fully, John kneeled down slightly as the blue flames separated from his body, revealing him in a new attire and his eyes returned to normal. No longer did he donned Wellston’s uniform, but a black ankle-length tailcoat, a high-necked waistcoat with gold accents, cinched black pants, brown-black winklepickers boots with taller heels and a pair of red gloves.

The flames that separated from John began to take shape behind him. Once the flames vanished everyone could see; from top to bottom: a very tall top hat, a long-horned mask for its face, a cropped red eighteenth century-esque suit worn open with the collar popped, stitched heart designs on the shoulders, a white ruffle tie, a black, tailed corset running down its torso; claws; red coverings on its legs resembling pants and boots with blade-like heels.

John outstretched his arms and the being behind had revealed it’s large, black, feathery wings sending Zeke(?) and the knights flying backwards.
Blyke stared in awe at John, who held the most confident devilish smile in the world. “What the…” Was the only thing he could mutter.

(End - Persona 5 OST - Awakening)

Social stats: John Doe

Ability: ??? 
Level: ???

Knowledge: Rank 2(Learned)
Guts: Rank 3(Staunch)
Proficiency: Rank 2(Decent)
Kindness: Rank 2(Considerate)
Charm: Rank 2(Head-turning)

Persona: Arsène
Arcana: Fool

(Now playing - Persona 5 OST - Will Power)

"I am the pillager of twilight, Arsène!!" The being behind John announced. “I am the rebel’s soul that resides within you.” Arsène said as John looked at the Persona, his true self. “If you so desire, I shall consider granting you the power to break through this crisis.”

John grinned as he fixed his gloves. “Yeah, give me your power.”

“Hmph, very well… This power of mine is yours! Kill them however you want! Run wild to your heart's content!” 

Zeke(?), with anger on his face, ordered the knights to kill John. The knights erupted into black shadows and their forms changed to be that of pumpkin headed wizards. “HA! Now you will face the true power of my men!”

John scoffed. “Please, they looked far more threatening as knights!” He raised his hand. “EIHA!” The teen called out as Arsène threw a burst of red and black energy striking at the wizards, which destroyed them with ease. 

(End- Persona 5 OST - Will Power)

Next time on UnOrdinary Phantoms:

John: Blyke, quick! Get the keys!

???: Hey! Over here! Let me out!

Blyke: Oh shit more of them!?

???: You amatures! Hey, you! You could fight right?

Episode 3: The Outlaw