Sumaru City: The city's gotten a new look. Hirasaka hosts the Aquarius shrine, Yumezaki the Scorpio shrine, Konan the Taurus shrine, and Aoba the Leo shrine. Only Regendai remains untouched. You can go to the shrines in whichever order you like, but it's recommended that you follow the natural order, [ie, the elements that each shrine represents--wind, water, earth, and fire] because the dungeons will not be as difficult. The monster and boss levels are all the same in each shrine, but depending on the order you go in, there will be more or less mazes, pools that drain HP/SP, etc. It's your choice. 

City Talk: As you can well imagine, the people are rather tizzied up in Sumaru city. They talk about Sumaru taking flight, the shrines that have popped up, the end of the world, people identical to your characters, and new religions.

Friends: Sumaru Prison is closed off for good. Similarly, at W-Slash, Mami and Miho have disappeared completely.

On a happier note, Eri, Brown, and Maki are hanging out at Tony's, supposedly working at defending the city. Yukino apparently chewed them out for doing nothing. Eri mentions that Nanjou was also supposed to come, but he hadn't arrived yet. Ulala is hanging out at Maya's apartment, surprised that Maya has yet another young male friend (Jun). Ulala contemplates getting herself a young boyfriend.

Character Talk: Jun angsts here and there about having to fight his father ("But I must! Or he'll destroy the earth!") and his actions as the Joker. Other than that, everyone is fairly upbeat--they talk fondly of games that they used to play, how they should do this or that once the earth is safe again, etc. They also talk about how they have to get the Crystal Skulls, their Shadow counterparts, the meaning of life, and rumors. 

Rumors: Those danged Rumormongers, they've been dry forever! Forget them and head over to Sumaru TV. If you talk to the guy in blue, he will tell you about the rumor-monster Kudan. If you want to fight a frustrating battle in the chaos factory, go have Kuzunoha spread the rumor for you. Be warned: if any of your Persona are leveled up when you meet Kudan, he will reduce them all back to Level 1 and run away immediately. A tactic that seems to work is to get low-level Personae [ex. Pixie], keep them at Level 1 and kill him using your hands. If your Personae are at Level 1, he won't run away, and you can pummel him within a few rounds. He can also undo mutations; he will turn Cronos back into Hermes, and there's no way to regain Cronos after that. Be careful.

Contacts: If you go to the Velvet Room, Eikichi will decide to invite Jun to join Gas Chamber. If you talk to Eikichi, he and Jun will develop a new monster contact where they play music together. Eventually, Eikichi will ask Tatsuya if he can play an instrument. If you tell him you can play the guitar (first choice) the Gas Chamber contact will become a (hilariously crappy) three-man concert.

[Honmaru Park]
EIKICHI: Hey, wait a minute! Why's there a crowd here?
LISA: Aiya? Is this a new religion? They've gone and started a new religion?! Isn't this taking things too far?
MAYA: They must be thinking that by evolving they can run away from the destruction of earth. People are... sad, sometimes. 
JUN: A way to create pleasure and happiness... to grant wishes... I was just looking for a way to make everybody happy. But the path to evolution leads to destruction and other problems. It's even created new religions like this. Is there no path to happiness? No, there must be. It's to keep your dreams alive and follow them--that's how humans can be happy.
HEAD OF RELIGION: Those who have been chosen to ride the holy ship, look well, for this is our God's world, and it will ascend to the heavens! We will evolve towards the Idealian, and come closer than ever to being God's friends! Now, pray, believe! We are to evolve! Nyarushutan, nyarugashana...nyarushutan, nyarugashana...Viva Xibalba!
MEMBERS: Nyarushutan, nyarugashana...nyarushutan, nyarugashana...viva Xibalba!
BELIEVER: Nyarugadana, nyarugadana...nyarugadana, nyarugadana...viva Lover! What? Am I saying it wrong?

[Konan Map]
KATSUYA: Without more men we can't protect anyone, even though there are undoubtably fools running around in the shrines, we can't do anything but sit here and twiddle our thumbs! 

[Silverman House]
LISA’S DAD: Oh, so it was the Last Battalion? They ignored us and tried to take over the house. They made me fight them! By the way, Tatsuya-kun, I saw on TV that you're fighting them. I doubt I'll be able to stop my beloved daughter, so I ask you to look after her. Please take care of her.
MAYA: Lisa's father defeated Last Battalion soldiers single-handedly? He must be even stronger than my Persona!
LISA: Dad’s style is close to Aikido. He uses his worries as part of his strength. No matter what I'm sure he'll be okay.
EIKICHI: Any guy who tries to date Ginko isn't in for an easy ride; you get the feeling he's like that in love and war.
JUN: So that's Lisa's father? I vaguely remember him. Even back then he always wore a haori.
 

[Head into the Aquarius shrine. You can leave whenever you want, but once you enter one of the shrines, you can't enter any of the others until you've completed the first.]

[Relief Room, Second floor]
[When you walk in, Nazi soldiers and members of the Masquerade are fighting. The Masquerade members win, and turn to fight you instead. Fight the five Aquarius Masquers.]

TEXT ON THE RELIEF (this is the same in all the Relief Rooms of all four shrines):
Earth is weakened by wind and nurtures water
Water flows alongside earth and controls fire
Fire is suppressed by water, and awakens wind
Wind is born of fire, and levels earth.

[Talk to characters]
MAYA: That relief... it symbolizes the four shrines, but why? I wonder what it means... is it Order? Balance?
JUN: The four astrological signs forming the Grand Cross each have their own element--earth, water, fire, and wind. These four elements keep the earth's balance, and each have their own weakness and strength. My father told me about this strange philosophy a long time ago. You could call Xibalba a mold for the new world... there might be a connection between the shrine's symbols and the earth's balance. 
LISA: Joker, who granted everybody's ideals, died at Caracol. What gave Joker his power were rumors... and Xibalba flies because of rumors, right? Philemon said that "someone" had made rumors real, but who could it be?
EIKICHI: Everyone in the city and Jun’s followers... it was all to make their dreams come true. Nobody thinks that was a good thing. Even so, if they knew they'd be able to reach their dreams easily, they wouldn't have clung to him... humans... we’re complicated, huh?

[Relief Room, Third floor]
[Again, Nazi soldiers and Masquerade members are fighting each other. This time the Nazis win, and you must fight them.]

[Talk to characters]
JUN: Aquarius... embracing wind, symbolizing movement towards revolution and destruction, evolution and philanthropy... that's in name alone... the truth is, it represents fools with lofty ideas. How could someone like me ever help make dreams come true?
MAYA: That's not true, Jun-kun! When you were younger, didn't you say that you wanted to be a teacher? It's the teacher's duty to encourage student's dreams, right? You should become the kind of teacher who shows the importance of dreams!
LISA: There he goes again. He always starts thinking like this--it's a bad habit of his. Hey, Jun, didja know that 'hoh san luo' means 'be happy'? Hoh san luo, hoh san luo!
EIKICHI: Heh heh. Leave this to me! Okay, everybody! All together now! Leeeeeet's.... HOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

[Room of Aquarius]
LONGINUS 7: Alas. The humans, revelling in their ignorance, have arrived.
LONGINUS 5: Flowers are things to be plucked. Can we count on the balance of stars? 
JUN: Even if a flower is a mere flower, it's irreplaceable... We'll get back the Wind Crystal Skull!
LONGINUS 5: Hahhahha! Have you remembered everything, Marionette?
JUN: What do you mean by that? I remember it all! Everyone's suffering and I caused it!
LONGINUS 5: Fool...try plucking us, if you can!

[A boss battle begins. You've got to fight against Longinus 5, 6, and 7. 5 is weak against water, 6 against wind, and 7 is weak against magic in general. These guys are no worse than the Longini at Caracol, but no better either. Make sure you have Hermes equipped on Jun! If not, you won't get his Ultimate Persona, and won't be able to do the Grand Cross fusion.]

LONGINUS 6: Ho ho ho, fools... they don't even know who the mastermind behind it all is--
JUN: What? Damn... urgh... Ma...ma?
MAYA: What's wrong, Jun-kun, are you okay?
JUN: Y-yes, I'm fine...quick, the Wind Crystal Skull.
WIND CRYSTAL SKULL: I am the Crystal Skull of fierce Wind. If you put me at peace, this world will lose the Fire carrying it high.
[Jun gets the Wind Crystal Skull.]
JUN: Now, let's hurry, to the other shrines!

You'll get Hermes' mutation ability as a reward for finishing the battle, so go to the Velvet Room and mutate Hermes into Cronos as soon as you're done. This is what he says when you mutate him:

CRONOS: I am Cronos... with a false sickle in its hand, the deep black sun murders the Heavenly Father. I watch the deeds of Time that control destiny with my own eyes...
 

This dungeon is much like the one before it. The only difference is the dungeon decor and the kind of Masquerade members you'll run into--they'll be water-based. If Hades isn't up to Level 5, Eikichi will be a little useless. Be sure to get Eikichi up to Level 5 before the boss fight, and to use Hades for the boss fight.

Shadow Eikichi is not all that difficult to beat--the worst problem he throws at you is charming your character (who will be lost for several turns), but that's nothing new. Use fusions, fire works great against him, and avoid water-based attacks.

[Relief Room, Second floor]
[Fight a group of Nazis.]

[Talk to characters]
LISA: The Masquerade lives on... do we really have to kill Jun's father?
JUN: Even now I feel my father's power... his mind cloaks the city. Dad? Yes, it's Dad.
MAYA: Earth, water, fire, wind; the four elements. Earth is the bull, water is the serpent, fire is lion... and wind is the water carrier. This relief depicts the ties amongst the elements.
EIKICHI: What! You wanna mess with me? I'll get you! Bring it on, he says--the fake me. He's here, above us...

[Relief Room, Second floor]
[Fight a group of water-based Masquerade Members.]

[Talk to characters]
JUN: Scorpio... embracing the element of Water, it represents death and rebirth, sexuality and leadership... it's also characterized by silent cruelty and crime, but Michel seems to have overcome the negative aspects.
LISA: Ahahahah! Yaumei-shi, how funny! It's totally off! 
EIKICHI: Say what? I ain't quiet, and I haven't committed any crimes! Cruelty... I have made someone cry... leadership... I quit as captain. But, ooh! Sexuality is a perfect hit! Mmm, I’m simply irresistable.
MAYA [to her bunny key chain]: Dead people can't be reborn. Once gone, they can't come back to life... huh? A-are you done talking? Then, what are we waiting for?

[Hallway]
EIKICHI: That asshole! Someone's crying. Wait, I'm coming!

[Room of Heavenly Scorpion.]
[The lights are off.]
EIKICHI’S VOICE: Ladies and Gentlemen! This evening we present to you... Dumb and Lame Eikichi-kun's Demented Love Story!
LISA’S VOICE: What are you saying? True or not, you should’t beat yourself up like that.
EIKICHI’S VOICE: You! Watch your mouth!
[With a drum roll, the lights come back on to reveal...Shadow Eikichi and Miyabi embracing.]
EIKICHI: Ha-Hana-Hana-Hana-Hana-Hanakouji-san?!
MIYABI: W-what? T, there's two Eikichi-kuns?
EIKICHI: W-wh-wh-why?! Y-you're with my fake! And you got so skinny...
SHADOW EIKICHI: Miss Miyabi joined the Masquerade! Hey, now! It's silly to blame it on her. You're the one she wanted!
EIKICHI: Hanakouji-san was chasing after me?
MIYABI: I'm so sorry, Eikichi-kun! I've--ever since I was a little girl, I've... loved you... but I was so embarrassed, in front of the others... I couldn't say what was in my heart... I hurt you...
EIKICHI: So because of that you went and joined the Masquerade?!
SHADOW EIKICHI: Non, non, non... you don't understand the lady at all! Take a look at how the girl who told you "I hate you 'cause you're fat!" has become even more stylish than you! Even better, hearing how she hated fat people, you became twisted and turned into a narcissist. To lessen her own guilt, she stuffed her face until she became as pudgy as you had been and no longer had the courage to face you. Now do you understand?
EIKICHI: Is that it...? You didn't want to be seen by me... so you didn't tell me your real name and ran away?
MIYABI: I'm sorry... even though I knew... that the Masquerade was your enemy, I--
SHADOW EIKICHI: You're such a pretty little thing. You're mine now, Honey. Forget that hard-hearted boy. Say you can't forgive him...
EIKICHI: Get your filthy hands off of her, you fucking fake! Miyabi is my woman!
MIYABI: Eikichi-kun!
SHADOW EIKICHI: Fuck.

[Begin Battle]

[Begin the boss fight. Make sure you have Hades equipped on Eikichi. Doing this works twofold-you'll get different dialogue, and also, the Persona will have its two sides joined. For example, prior to the fight with Shadow Eikichi, Hades voids Water and Dark, and is weak against Fire, Nuclear, and Holy. But after its two sides come together, Hades will void Water, Dark, and Holy. The same is true of Venus and Apollo, albeit with different elements, so even if you've been using different Persona on and off, make sure you have the appropriate person's Ultimate equipped in the battle against that person's Shadow.]

SHADOW EIKICHI: Bad Feeling! Becaaaaaaause! You and your Persona are totally cramping my style!
REVERSE HADES: Should I slay you, I would become the new Lord of Hell. Come, submit to me!
EIKICHI: Ha! Your face is the only joke here! 
HADES: To be slain by my shadow would be absurd. I am thou, and thou art I. Let us accompany one another...
SHADOW EIKICHI and EIKICHI: Oraaaaaaaa!
EIKICHI: Shut the hell up! I'm sick of listening to your garbage!

[After Battle]

SHADOW EIKICHI: Impossible! But this isn't the end...I'm always watching you.
EIKICHI: Do what you want. I know that you're me.
HADES: My Self's alternate form--the two selves within you have joined. You have my gratitude. Your yin and yang are now harmonious; they will protect you. [1]

EIKICHI: Miyabi!
MIYABI: Eikichi-kun!
[They hug.]
EIKICHI: I couldn't care less about how you look; it's your warm heart that matters the most. Back then, when they used to make fun of me, I admired how you looked past my appearance to the person I truly was.
MIYABI: Thank you...thank you!
[They hug again, and in case you didn't get the hint, a huge pink heart appears on with the letters L-O-V-E flashing on the screen.]
LISA: Wow, your popularity's gone through the roof!
JUN: You were so cool, Michel!
MAYA: What a man you've become, Eikichi-kun! Now if only you could get over your fear of your father, maybe then you'd be perfect.
EIKICHI: Things were going so well just now; did you really have to bring that up?
JUN: Now...let's...
EIKICHI: Yeah, I know. Sorry, Miyabi. I've still got things I need to do.
MIYABI: It's okay. I'll wait, however long it takes.
WATER CRYSTAL SKULL: I am the Crystal Skull, blue from Water. If you put me to rest, the Fire will grow stronger, and the Earth will lose its power through thirst.
[Eikichi takes hold of the Water Crystal Skull.]
EIKICHI: There, done. Onto the next shrine!

[1] ["Your yin and yang are now harmonious, they will protect you."] I'm afraid that my linguistic side of me got a very big kick out of this. What I translate here as 'yin and yang,' Hades used the kanji of 'hikari' and 'kage.' Hikari is your typical kanji for light, but 'kage' is not the traditional kanji signifying shadow--it means, among other things: gender; [male] sexual organs; yin: and darkness. So apparently Eikichi and Shadow Eikichi are opposites in more than one way.

The next destination is the Taurus Shrine in Konan. There are weapon upgrades in the Jolly Roger, and armor upgrades at London-ya in Konan.

[Dialogue isn't all that different around town. However, Jun says something interesting about the Shadows in the Cleir-de-Lune.]
JUN: "Shadow" refers to another side of you, even a completely different you. For example, the me that Lisa knows and the me that Tatsuya knows must be different in many ways.
JUN: If you two were to both talk about me at the same time to someone, that person might get the impression of two completely different people. The Shadows are the same. Two rumors were spread in the city about the people on the wanted posters. 
JUN: Both of them became real, producing a new set of personalities that hadn't existed before. The Shadows are the group produced by the thoughts of the people of the city.