"I Am Me"

Is EVERYTHING about that character’s existence a goddamn pun!?

Want a detailed Persona 4 Dancing All Night Liveblog WITH TRANSLATION?

Search no more, my pained, danceless friend, here is the place to go! This blog  exists for the sole purpose of liveblogging P4D while translating/summarizing the entirety of the story mode (and commenting on the dances). Some comments may be In-character (by the Persona characters), most will be simply the player (me) commenting. 

Above all, there will be plenty and plenty of dialog translation!

So:

If you want spoilers -> Follow this blog!

If you want to avoid them -> Block this blog

“Richter, I’m not done yet! Twenty seconds!”

Okay, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to make the shadow seem like a monster to Emil.

“Oh you gotta be- EMIL! Chill down!” While he was saying this, Gogo tried to hit Shadow Marta again and failed.

Midori had to get faster, but right now, he had no time to copy anything.

So he had to use attacks that weren’t dodgeable or make that shadow slower.

He took a deep breath and forced his magic, Agility Bind, into the normal bullets. They would not be able to keep it in for more than a few seconds.

The persona user only needed a few seconds.

“Swallow Dance…”

The technique of his mother, with the left revolver. He holstered the right gun and held the other gun with both hands.Then he shot the bullets. The moment it seemed that it would past the shadow, Midori made a quick movement with his hands. The bullets changed directions, as if the projectiles were part of an invisible whip.

Midori only neeeded to hit one in order to gain an advantage for the group. As long as Shadow Marta didn’t have any resistances.

Richter knew that Raine was right. In his condition, he had no chance to survive a fight. And yet, seeing Emil under attack like this... Especially by an enemy like this one... It angered him beyond belief. Feeling helpless in this moment brought back all the worst emotions for him.

“...A monster, wearing the face one wishes to protect, like a shade of one’s fears and darkest suspicions... A beast like this must have come straight from the deepest pits of hell.”

“And yet, this creature definitely carries the Mana signatures of both, Lord Ratatosk and Lady Marta.”

Tenebrae materialized besides Richter and Raine.

“This fake Lady Marta appeared in this place, not long after Lord Emil ended communication with Richter. Aqua and I have been working at the utmost of our power to protect the seal from her... But I’m afraid us Centurions are about the reach the limits of our power. Against  the power of Lord Ratatosk himself, we’re helpless.”

“...What is it that it is trying to do anyway? If it were merely trying to break the seal it would have been long finished.”

“I am not entirely sure... But seems that she is trying to accelerate the draining  of Mana from all living beings indefinitely,” Tenebrae replied. “Targeting even Summon Spirits and the World Tree itself.”

“W-What!?”

“A change like this would doubtlessly lead to the death of these lands. In the world’s current state, even the World Tree cannot live if drained of the last of its Mana...”

As this conversation was happening, Emil’s sword and Shadow Marta’s Spinner clashed with the loud sound of sparking metal. Emil clenched his teeth together. He had been unable to circumvent her... its guard. He starred up at her. He would have to pull back, find an opening, then thrust his blade--

--Into Marta’s chest-

The tension in his body was lost for a moment. It was all Shadow needed. Emil slipped out  of the blade-lock, and Shadow Marta used the chance to throw her foot into his chest, pressing him harshly to the ground.

“AAHHH-!!”

In his pain, he let go of his sword and it slid away, out of his reach. He was nailed down now, on the floor, starring up at the creature wearing that familiar face. 

She bent down and lowered the blade of her Spinner to his neck.

“Hey, Emil...” Marta’s serene smile was looking down onto him with those piercing, yellow eyes. “I always wanted to tell you...The truth is...I really, really hate you.”

“...!” Emil’s irises shrunk down to tiny dots at once. “Mar...ta...”

“You’re always so indecisive. You can’t even decide who you want to be. You switch around, like that means you’re being the ‘real you’, but... Let’s be honest, OK? You don’t even know what the ‘real you’ is, do you? How can you blame me for not knowing it either?” She pushed the blade against his throat a bit more. Soon she would be drawing blood. “But... That’s OK. As long as I’m the only one for you, that’s OK. As long as I’m the center of your whole world... Your whole world itself, like I’m the only person that exists, everything is OK. Because, you know... I don’t really care for anyone. I really just want to be the most important thing there is. Even if it means having to love someone as sad and pathetic as you. And I mean both of you.”

“...”

Emil was unable to act. Like frozen, he stared through her face, numb, dizzy... What she was saying... The things she were saying... Was this really...from Marta’s heart? Was this really how she felt...? 

Was he really... just such a tool to her...?

“...So-”

Before Shadow Marta could say anything else, it had happened. She had been careless in her monologue. Midori’s bullet hit her right in the side. 

“G-GYAAAAAAAA!!”

With those sarcastic words, Midori and Gogo began to shower Marta with normal bullets and energy bullets. Which did jack shit, since the bullets either didn’t hurt in the former case or were dodged in the latter case The persona user never cursed so much at having no magic bullets at hand.

“Emil! That thing is not Marta! A monster, made of her negative feeling, exaggerated and twisted as fuck!” The Fool yelled as he ran over to Raine and Richter. The healing wasn’t done yet, so he had to go up and personal. Given that Shadow Marta didn’t transform yet, this was all he expected for now.

“I am thou…Ose!” Copying a rather mediocore Fool persona and Gogo had two swords and a cape. Those swords were used to block the shadows attempt on Richter’s life.

“Okay, you fucking abomination…what could you monologue about more…How Emil belongs only to you…maybe a sob story about mommy…hell, do me a favor and talk about your non existant assets, I need a laugh,” Midori taunted, while making sure that Gogo was keeping her busy.

“Raine, how much longer?!” The persona user yelled, hoping that he did not have to do this solo.

“A minute or two!”

“That’s a lie!!” Emil got back up on his feet. He was yelling. “You are not Marta... Marta is a gentle, kind person! She’s always cared for what others feel and has always felt sorry whenever she hurt anyone, even when she felt that she was in the right! You’re no bit like her!!”

He raised his sword...

“I... I don’t care what you are... But...”

At once, Richter seemed alarmed.

“E...Emil! Do not lose your composure!! You can’t let yourself be confused by-!”

“Don’t you DARE use Marta’s face!!”

It was too late. Emil was storming against the Shadow without any plan or order behind his movements. 

“Emil!!”

And Richter knew that he wouldn’t hit her. He wouldn’t be able too. It was a feeling he knew just too well.

Crossover Time!

A Shadow-Version of Marta Lualdi from “Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World”. I drew this for a thread on my RP blog, acquiredhumanity.

The iconinc yellow eyes were there, but the shadow wore a dress fitting a noble.

Raine ran over to Richter and Midori immediately shot at the shadow in order to make her widen the distance, which she did.

“Emil, get your head in the game! Her shadow is going to kill us, so you better prepare yourself.” With those words, the persona user looked back at Shadow Marta and pointed his revolvers at it, with Gogo copying his movements.

“So, let me guess your gimmick… You want to keep Emil to yourself, obviously, with violence if necessary. You are a princess given your clothes, so you want to conquer the world and with Mr. Blondie as your, mind my language, bitch. Did I miss something?” Despite the casual words, Midori’s voice had a sarcastic edge behind it.

Emil was confused for a moment, still trying to process how to deal with the brutal greeting “Marta” had given him, and also worried for Richter and wanting to help him. Despite knowing that he had no healing powers to help him, he felt the strong need to protect his friend. But at the same time, there was that “Marta” taking large steps up to him, her piercing, gleaming eyes focused on him with this merciless smile.

She only briefly left off him to turn her attention to Midori. She dodged his bullets with surprising ease given her attire and gave him a dismissive look.

“Tsk... Is this how you speak to the heir of the grand Sylverant Dynasty? Worthless peasant.”

“The Sylverant Dynasty...” Emil repeated the words. “I remember that. Your father said that the two of you were descendants of the royal family of the fallen Sylverant Kingdom.

“Exactly!” The Marta-lookalike said with a melodic tone in her harsh voice. “In me flows the blood of a long, lo~ng lines of beautiful, powerful queens! Isn’t that amazing? And so, Daddy wanted to take his rightful place as king, and I would have been the Princess of Sylverant!”

“But... he was wrong!!” Emil looked up. “Marta, you said it yourself, didn’t you!? Bringing back that ancient kingdom and trying to lead Sylverant as a tyrant would not be a good idea!! ...Did you forget that?”

“Oh... It’s not like I forgot, actually,” she replied. “It’s more like I was never~ serious~ to~ begin~ with~! Yep! I~ lied~”

“Y-You... lied?” Emil blinked at the girl in confusion.

“Oh, yes! I do that a lot, E~mil~!” She came close to Emil, close enough to touch him. Which she did. She led her fingers under his chin and raised it with a gentle push. “You didn’t know? Your MartMart here is a girl of many, many lies~. I just open my mouth and I lie, lie, lie, all day long! Isn’t that also amazing?” 

Emil didn’t resist the Shadow’s invasion of his personal space. He stared right into her eyes, trying to make sense of what she was saying.

“...MartMart...? M-Marta, listen to yourself! You sound just like Alice!!”

“Hm? And that’s wrong?” she tilted her head a little, returning his confused look. “Why? Where’s the difference between Alice and me? Well, aside from the fact that she was a filthy, impure half-elf of course! Hah, I’m so glad I killed her~!”

“M...Marta...”

Emil couldn’t believe what he was hearing... Was this really her? His Marta? None of these were things the Marta he knew would ever be saying...

She continued to stroke his chin.

“Well, of course it’s not done with just getting rid of her, right? That’s no good! No, no~! Richie here will have to be next~!”

At the sound of that sentence, Emil yelled up,

“Stop it!! Richter didn’t do anything to you!”

“Oh? What was that? Did we forget already that THIS ASSHOLE TRIED TO MURDER ME!?”

Mid-sentence, her voice had changed abruptly, from a childish, playful tone, into the shrieking and screaming of a legendary beast such a the furies or harpies. Her eyes slanted and she pushed Emil aside, throwing him to the ground once more.

“Ugh...!” 

That done, “Marta” focused her attention on Richter again.

“Ah, Richie... I hate that face so, so much! So handsome, so stern and unfunny, how flustered you always look at my Emil and are oh-so nice-to-him, and make him look back at you like that! Ewww, it’s so disgusting! Your face makes me so sick!” The Shadow raised her arm. Out of pure energy, a weapon that resembled Marta’s Spinner appeared on it. She smiled serenly and tilted her head. “I don’t want to see that head on these shoulders anymore~! ...Now be good and DIE!”

Since I really can’t get over how ridiculous Raine’s and Genis’ Japanese names are (for the record: They’re “Refill” and “Genius”), I have come up with the headcanon that they’re actually old, Kharlan-Elfish names that are supposed to be written “Ri’ifil” and “Jeení’as”, meaning “Graceful Pride” and “Ambition”. The sound-system would even fit with the fictional language used in the first OVA Opening, “Almateria”, which I also personally believe to be in sung in Kharlan-Elfish/”The Language of the Angels”. 

acquiredhumanity replied to your post “If you’re hearing this, consider yourself invited to my birthday…”

Teddie: “YAAAAY!! PARTY TIIIME!!”

“Ahhh, Teddie-kun! I’ve missed you…!“ the woman enthused, scooping the blond up for a hug “You are coming to my party, right?“

“But of course I’m coming! Ma-ya-chan~!”

Ahhh, getting greeted with warm hugs. Teddie was in heaven. He tightly cuddled back. Why couldn’t Maya be a regular customer at Junes?

Midori’s speech sounded full of confidence and he had a grin on his face.

Despite being a leader of a squad, Midori did not learn how to do speeches.

“I am ready, Emil.”

He closed his eyes and took a breath. He was going to face Marta... As Emil Castagnier.

Emil raised his hand towards the door.

“Tenebrae...” 

“Yes, Lord Emil,” A voice echoed, then a short pause followed. The door began to open “...You’re not a moment to soon.”

The sound of the heavy door’s wings sliding aside to reveal the room broke the silence, loud and boomingly. The tone in Tenebrae’s voice had already heightened the worry in Emil’s heart. His worst suspicions were only confirmed when the line of sight into the hall cleared... And Emil saw what was going on inside.

“...!”

The first thing that caught his eyes was the form of a man. Richter Abend. He was kneeling on the ground, supporting himself with his ax, clearly wounded and exhausted.

With the opening of the door he turned his head in their direction, panting, clenching his teeth.

“Nghh... Hahh... E...Emil...”

“R-RICHTER!!”

Immediately Emil dashed off to his friend’s side. 

“Are you alright!? Those wound... Have you been-”

Before Emil could go on, something struck him in the chest. 

“UGH-!!”

A hard, precise kick to his sternum smashed him out of the way, throwing him to the ground. A sound like a little, echoing  laugh reached him.

“Hm~, Emil~? What do you think you’re doing? Is Richter really that important? Really? Tch... You’re so horrible, Emil.”

...The voice hurt more than the the footprint in his chest ever could. Emil was breathing heavily.

“M...Mar...ta...”

“Ahahahaha...”