THE NEXT DAY 7/30
After ballet lessons were over for Hana, the entire gang arrived at the steps of the Joffery to see not a single soul at the academy's entrance. Ryuji groaned, "Oh come on, we have all of the dirt we need and she's not even here!" Morgana popped out of the bag,"Relax Ryuji she could still be in the building. Let's just go look for her. Split up to cover more ground." All of them then ran off in different directions calling for Hana's name as their voices echoed down the empty halls of the building.
A few minutes later, Yusuke's ears picked up a familiar sound coming from the rooftop. "Wait a minute, this is from the auditions." He dashed towards the staircase with the melody getting louder. Once he got to the door, he glimpsed through a window to see Hana in her training leotard and pointe shoes dancing her variation from yesterday. Except, Hana's dancing wasn't falling on itself or wilting, her dancing was as swift as an eagle soaring through the air, graceful as a flamingo in the water, and as passionate as the giant grin on her face. "She's completely different from yesterday. I've never seen someone dance with this much passion before." When the music stopped, Hana was panting with that giant grin still on her face.
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP! She turned around and gasped at Yusuke's applause before she crouched down and hid her face away from him. "I-I'm sorry you saw that, Yusuke." She whimpered. He crouched to her level,"Hana, don't apologize. That was the most amazing dancing I've ever seen. You were a completely different person than the one from yesterday. It was pure artistry in motion. Why must you hide your real skills?" Before Hana could say anything another voice called, "Yusuke!" And the rest of the crew arrived. "Oh thank God you finally found her." Said Ann wiping her forehead.
Akira crouched near Yusuke and explained, "Hana, we think it is important for you to know something right now about your teacher." Hana's eyes popped, "Wha? About Madame Nuage? What is it?" She stood up. Ryuji blurted,"Nuage is intimidating and sabotaging other students to benefit her daughters and herself. Did you know about this?"
Silence came from the young dancer. Ann inquired, "Hana, please tell us. Did you know about the sabotages? Your friend, Maria told me everything." Hana's mouth refused to budge. Makoto stepped in and declared, "Maybe we shouldn't just tell Hana about this. We have to show her." Within seconds, they were once again transported to the metaverse and all of their clothes changed. Once Hana caught sight of everything, her body jolted and was left stammering. "Wha-WHAT IS THIS!?"
Morgana hopped in front of her, "It's Nuage's palace." Hana caught sight of the entire group in their new outfits and her entire body began to scuttle backward. "W-Who are you!?" Each of them removed their masks, "Hana it's us." Akira revealed. "Akira? This doesn't make any sense. I need to know what's going on and what this cat thing is." She panicked as her heart beat a million miles a minute.
Morgana informed, "Hana if you've heard of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, we're them. Right now you're in the Metaverse." Hana's nerves began to settle, "O-Okay." The cat creature continued, "Back in Japan, it disappeared. But some remnants have gone overseas. Thanks to that, your teacher seems to have a palace. Palaces happen when an individual's distorted desires become so intense that they materialize in their heart. This is happening because your teacher sees the dance academy as her own theater." Hana accepted, "I see." Makoto followed, "If you want to know Hana, we found things that were extremely disturbing about Nuage that I think you should see them. So please come with us." Hana nodded, "Alright then."
As she followed the entire group down the halls they explored yesterday, Hana's jaw could almost touch the floor at the sights. "This is awful! And they were here yesterday? Why didn't you help them!?"She queried while clenching her fists. Ann turned her towards the group and notified, "It would've been useless to try and save them. These aren't real people, they're just cognitions of her heart." Hana's head cocked and questioned,"Cognitions?" Morgana further described, "Meaning this is how Nuage sees other dancers."
"Now do you believe us about the sabotages Hana?" Asked Futaba. Hana sighed and her face began to leak, "Not only do I believe you, I-I knew." Ryuji's entire body bolted back,"What the eff? You knew about the sabotages and the fear she strikes into you this whole time!? Then why didn't you say something?"
Hana shook her head,"No, I mean I only knew about Nuage holding dancers back and intimidating them, not sabotages. It's the main reason why I can never dance the way I want to. I worked hard to get here and Nuage has the power to kick me out." Akira came to her side and reassured her, "Hana, as the Phantom Thieves we're going to change her heart. We just need to secure a route to her treasure first."
As they made their way to the main lobby, it appeared to be the entrance area for royalty. The entire hall had a grand staircase that was made of marble and connected to other stairs and columns that were lined up like books on the shelves in a library. In the middle, there was a door that was wide enough to be a wall and tall enough to touch the ceiling. The Thieves and Hana pushed and pulled the giant door as hard as they could, but nothing budged. "Locked! Must be where the treasure is kept." Observed Morgana as he jiggled the handles. "Still, we should look for another way." Suggested Yusuke.
Before they could get to another hall two giant usher shadows appeared right in front of them. "Looks like we're gonna need to fight our way through. Everyone be ready!" Ordered Makoto. Once the battle began, all of the thieves were wrapped in a battle while Hana was watching on the side at the elements and attacks being exchanged between the enemies. However, it wasn't long until an usher came from behind and silenced her mouth before taking her away. "Looks like we need a little discipline for this dancer." The shadow dragged Hana away from the thieves and when the battle was over, she was completely out of their sight. "OH CRAP! WHERE'S HANA!? JOKER WE NEED TO FIND HER!" Ryuji shouted.
Akira put his hand on his forehead, concentrated his mind and he found a path. "She went down the left hall, let's go." After sneaking in the shadows and roaming around another hallway, they came to a room with a banner that read 'Nuage's disciplinary committee for destructive dancers.' "This doesn't look good. But we have to go in." Futaba declared. CRASH! Went the door as they barged in.
In the room, Hana was on her knees with her arms and legs were restrained to limited movement by chains. "Guys please don't come any closer, it's a trap!" As if on cue there was a cackle coming from the darkness that emerged in front of the thieves. Attached to the laugh was a young woman with glowing gold eyes dressed in a tutu that looked as if it was made of black feathers, a silver tiara on her head decorated with black gems and a dark aura surrounding her entire body.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the infamous Phantom Thieves? I see you've come to look at the performance of the greatest Prima Ballerina, Rochelle Nuage." The entire group had reached for their weapons only to be confronted by guards. She approached closer to Hana and taunted, "Oh, trying to free the wilting flower? Don't even bother wasting your time. She and other dancers can never surpass me no matter how hard they try." She went into an arabesque and smirked. "Just look at her now. Held in place and chained back like she should be."
Then she landed in a croise deviant. "Regardless of what any students even try to do. I will always get the parts." Hana lifted her head and asked like a timid shivering chihuahua, "B-but Madame, what about your own daughters? A-aren't they the ones dancing?" Nuage laughed at the statement and lifted her chin like an upper-class snob, "They may be the ones dancing, but they are my blood. Even if it means that auditions have to be sabotaged or they have to bully the other students under my command to break their spirits."
Then something hit Morgana like a boxing glove square in the face, "I don't believe it. She's commanding her daughters to bully others." "Correct my observant little cat. And to make sure nothing is mentioned, I just use my position to get rid of them. It reminds me so much of the time I had to do it to the flower's little friend who tried to rebel. She caught my ways so I had to get rid of her." Hana's fists clenched under the chains and her eyebrows furrowed as her meekness disappeared, "YOU ASSHOLE!" She shouted.
"Ah ah ah, that's not very ladylike my little flower. Since I can't expel you in my theater, it looks like the ushers will have to dispose of you, permanently. You're ultimately powerless to even defeat me and..." Hana shouted again, "Shut up!" She stood up with her entire faced scrunched, fire in her eyes and spat out, "I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU ANYMORE NUAGE! YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO HOLD ME BACK AGAIN!"
A voice suddenly whispered to her, "It's been far too long my growing flower. Are you going to let her scare you away from what you love to do?" Hana's head began to pulse and her gray eyes turned a bright gold. She grabbed her head as she crouched to her knees while her head felt like it was in a hydraulic press. The voice continued, "If you keep letting this happen then you'll never blossom into your full potential and live your dreams. I am thou, thou art I. You are now free from the chains of fear and shall do what you love from now on as a true flower in bloom." Blue flames broke her shackles, surrounded her eyes and created a masquerade mask made out of white feathers with a little swan neck nestled in between her brows.
As she got up, she breathed heavily and grabbed the edge of the mask, "Lend me your power, Giselle!" And tore it off like a bandage. Her eye area was bleeding but the blue flames encased her again. Once they freed her, Hana's outfit transformed into a skintight white blouse with a light gray corset hugging her figure. On her hands were white gloves that touched her elbows decorated with white and gray feathers. She also wore a feather-like skirt that touched her thighs while a translucent tulle overskirt flowed to the back of her knees. Her legs were covered by thick long white tights and it was all finished with white shin high boots that had square toed designs and short block heels.
Behind her was a giant pale blonde woman whose face was completely covered by a short opaque veil. In her right hand was a bouquet of roses that she held like a bride would, and in her left hand was a sprig of rosemary with small purple flowers on it that was held like a wand. The giant woman's outfit consisted of a white leotard, a translucent veil that flowed across her entire body like a waterfall, and black pointe shoes.
"You know something, Nuage. I have been holding myself back because you instilled fear in me and so many other dancers for a long time. But now I want to dance the way I want. I'm not some mere robot you can tinker with for your preferences, you conniving piece of shit!" The shadow Nuage scoffed at her comment. "Tell me Madame, all of the students who looked at you for guidance. How many of those hopes, dreams, and passions did you trample upon for your own desires? Regardless of what it takes, I won't let you trample on them anymore!"
As Nuage's guards came forward, the rest of the crew came with Hana and were presented with witch-like shadows in front of them. "You may have been a mentor for many Nuage, but now that I know your true colors you shouldn't underestimate me now. What you did to Maria was unforgivable! Let's do this Giselle, we'll show her what real dancing is like!"
As the thieves lunged and used their spells on the shadows, Hana stepped forward and called, "NOW GISELLE! Kouha!" And bright lights crippled the shadows, "Woah, you can use bless spells, Hana?" Futaba pondered as her computer charts went wild. "I can!" When all of them were on the ground, the group jumped in and rapidly beat them. After the battle, Hana fell to her knees and cried, "Gah! Why do I feel so worn out!?" Morgana commanded, "Joker, let's get her out of here." And they vanished from the Metaverse.
Back on the Joffery rooftop, Hana apologized again," I'm really sorry I had to hide the truth like that. The fact that I knew about the intimidation is something I wish I had mentioned after you saw my audition. But I couldn't do it. I worked hard to get into this school and I would've gotten expelled." Akira assured her, "Don't apologize, we know that fear can get the best in everyone, especially when their dream school is on the line."
Then Morgana commented, "What matters now is that Nuage's heart gets changed soon." Hana faced the cat in the bag, "You can talk?" Makoto explained, "When you enter the Metaverse, you can understand him, and then when you exit you can understand Morgana in this form." "That makes sense. Still, I'll be glad to help you change Madame Nuage's heart if it means that the rest of my classmates can dance the way they want to."
Here are some details about Hana's persona
Giselle: The main character from the ballet of the same name. In the ballet, Giselle was a beautiful and shy peasant girl who loved dancing and was loved by many, including a village gamekeeper named Hilarion. One day, Giselle is wooed by a man named Loys and fell in love with him. However, she had a fragile heart and a mother who greatly disapproved of Giselle finding love and dancing. Once Hilarion reveals to Giselle that Loys was really Duke Albrecht, she felt betrayed and heartbroken due to him being engaged to another woman. Her heartbreak led to her death and her spirit was recruited by willi maidens. As a willi, Giselle and the other maidens were lead by Queen Mythra to seek revenge on any man they encountered in the forest by casting a spell that made their target dance until they died of exhaustion, with Hilarion being the first target. However, upon seeing Albrecht again, he asks her for forgiveness. Since Giselle's love never vanished, he is forgiven by her but not by the other willi maidens or Mythras. The other maidens place him under their deadly spell, yet Giselle's love counters the spell and he is free. After his life is spared from death, Giselle is free from being a willi and returns to her grave to rest in peace.
As a Persona, Giselle's story represents how Hana was always prevented from doing what she loved to her fullest and that following her true self will set her free. In battle, Giselle uses bless skills on enemies. Meanwhile, Hana's weapons are double edged staffs (melee) and crossbows (ranged).