Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Hakurei Shrine~ => Patchouli's Scarlet Library => Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore => Topic started by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:40:17 PM

Title: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:40:17 PM
Yep, I'm still around. As one may have guessed, I'm reposting/continuing Thought's End and Embodiement of Dreams here. This may be a good thing, because if the better portion of the story is all in one place, it may be easier for those new to the story to get into it. I payed a little attention to the Terms of Agreement, and "Profane" was one of the big no-nos when it comes to posting here, so for this reposting, I'll replace all the F-bombs from the original with other words (actually, part of me felt like doing this from the start). If there are other words that are unacceptable, just say the word and I'll see what I can do about fixing those too. One final thing, since it's going to be just story for awhile, any posts I make that are non-story in this thread will be in brackets [like this,] so it will be easier to tell, though that won't be for awhile. Only with new installments.

At any rate, enjoy!
-----------------------------


At an initial glance, everything appears simple, but behind all that, there is a much deeper meaning.

What is the true nature of ?life?? What is the true nature of ?death?? What is the true nature of ?existence??

Are we who we think we are? Do you know who you are?

Do the things we believe we see, hear, taste, feel, and smell truly are what we believe? Are they what we think they are? Is there a grander meaning behind all the things we take for granted?

What is the universe? What are the possibilities?


               
TOUHOU PROJECT Episode ?: THOUGHT'S END


I?m flying on my broomstick at roughly 45 miles per hour across a lake to an island; an island I have visited many times before, all for the same reason, save the very first time, and this time is no different.

My blonde hair blows in the wind and I keep my large black pointed hat from flying off by holding it down with my left hand.

My name is Marisa Kirisame, magician extraordinaire! The world I live in is known as Gensokyo. It is a land that was originally inhabited by youkai until humans started living in it as well. Youkai come in many forms. Most of them are unintelligent creatures that try to live by eating humans, but there are others that are very intelligent and sometimes can?t be told apart from humans in any easy sense. My best friend Reimu, a miko, and I used to live by hunting youkai that endanger human lives, but since then, we?ve befriended quite a few of the stronger youkai in Gensokyo.

I am on my way to Scarlet Devil Mansion, a castle-like building, which is the home of one of those said youkai, a vampire named Remilia Scarlet. Besides Remilia, however, there are also a number of other residents that live there: Aside from its staff of maids, composed purely of low-level youkai, there is Flandre Scarlet, Remilia?s younger sister, who is insane and can cause horrifying amounts of destruction when she gets angry or wants to have some sadistic fun. However, she is usually spoiled, and thus, docile. She also seems to have a crazed crush on me, much to my dismay. Another resident is Hong Meiling, who guards the mansion?s front gate, who is an expert martial artist and can control her chi. There is also Patchouli Knowledge, who lives in the mansion?s library and spends most of her time reading, which makes sense, considering she?s not in the best of health. She can cast powerful elemental spells, however. Lastly, there is Sakuya Izayoi, the sole human in Scarlet Devil Mansion, who works as the head maid. She?s good with knives and can control time to a degree. Even though she?s generally viewed as Remilia?s loyal dog, Reimu and I have a better relationship with her than anyone else in the mansion. Remilia once tried to cover Gensokyo in a red mist, blocking out the sun, which is fatal to vampires like her and Flandre. Of course, this caused crops to stop growing and everything to become cold. Reimu and I fought through the mansion and convinced Remilia to recall her mist. Later, Flandre escaped the mansion and attacked a village. After a rough battle, Reimu and I stopped her and brought her home. Since then, Sakuya had been an ally of ours in stopping subsequent disasters that befell Gensokyo.

While I?m on generally friendly terms with Scarlet Devil Mansion?s residents, Patchouli doesn?t like me stealing books from her library. She?s very protective of them, so it?s probably useless to ask to borrow them. Well, that?s what I plan to do. Sneak into the library and steal some books without getting caught. No big deal. After all, she?s a youkai and I?m a human, so between us, I?ll probably die first, at which point, no one is going to stop her from taking her things back? Of course, considering Patchouli?s resistance to diseases, or lack thereof, I just might outlast her, at which point, her books will be all mine!

The island shortly comes into sight, along with the mansion, which always surprises me by how big it is, even though I?ve been here many times before. Within minutes, I?m close to the front gate. Standing in front of it is a red-headed girl wearing a green Chinese dress, the door guard, Hong Meiling. She?s a youkai, even though she looks exactly like a human. In fact, there are quite a few youkai that are hard to tell from humans. Even though she?s pretty tough as youkai go, she?s pretty easy to get past. From a distance, I observe Meiling?s posture. She?s leaning against the wall next to the gate. I pause for a few seconds and I hear her snore. Bingo! She tends to take naps on the job, which makes things easier for me. I fly over the gate and slowly open the front door. I sneak across the vacant lobby, which is the closest location leading to the library. I made it this far. It would be bad if I get caught now?

?EEEK! You?re?!? A fairy maid comes out of one of the guest rooms to the side. Shit!

?Sorry,? I say as I extend my hand toward the maid and fire a small blast of magical energy from my hand, knocking the fairy out cold. I hope her scream didn?t alert others in the mansion. I run to the door leading down to the library.

After descending a long flight of spiral stairs, I?m in the mansion?s basement, where all the books are kept. It has a ton of tall bookcases, making the place feel like a maze. Without them, however, you could make an underground gymnasium out of the place. I tiptoe around, trying to remain silent. Patchouli rarely leaves this room, so she?s here? somewhere? I just have to get what I?m after and split. After a few minutes, I find what I?m looking for: a book entitled ?Elemental Spells.? I?ve wanted that one for a while, but it?s so deep in the library, that there?s a high risk of getting caught. I must be lucky today. I remove the book, which is about 1,638 pages thick, from the shelf, but suddenly, I hear a high pitched noise, which makes me flinch upon hearing it. Suddenly, all the bookshelves lower into the ground, completely blowing my cover. In front of me, beyond where the bookshelf was, there is a girl with long purple hair and pale skin, wearing something that looks like a nightgown: Patchouli Knowledge herself. Behind her, there is a red-haired girl with bat-like wings extending from her head, wearing a black dress: Patchouli?s assistant, Koakuma.

Aware of my situation, I mutter, ?Oh shit??

Patchouli says, in her one-tone voice, ?Marisa Kirisame. That alarm indicates one thing: you tried to steal my book on elemental spells.?

I shrug and say, ?Yes. Why is there an alarm for that one??

Patchouli?s eyes narrow, ?I?m sure even you can figure out that book, which I read seventy years ago, taught me the magic I wield today. I take it you had the goal in mind to mimic my spells??

I answer, ?Well, yeah. That was kinda what I was planning??

Patchouli says, ?I may be a sickly girl who spends 95.8% of her time in this basement, but even I have pride in my abilities and I intend to be the only one in Gensokyo who wields elemental magic. I shall keep that book from entering the outside world? through force if needed. Koakuma.?

Koakuma steps up, ?Yes, Miss Knowledge??

?Stop Marisa.?

?Understood,? Koakuma pulls a piece of paper with a complex character painted on it out of her pocket. It?s a spell card. Among Gensokyo?s higher-level residents, those are a common tool in combat. There is only so much someone can do on their own, so spell cards are used to extend that limit. They provide their users with extra energy, so they can cast high-level spells or techniques. They require a degree of the user?s energy too, however, so overusing them can be disastrous. ?Cold Sign!? She makes her initial declaration. The spell card turns into blue energy, which fills Koakuma, which indicates that?s she can make the actual casting of her spell at any time. She extends her hand toward me, ?Icicle Mist!? Several tiny blades of ice form around Koakuma out of thin air and fly toward me.

I jump back, throwing the book to the side and pulling out a spell card of my own, ?Magic Sign!? My card turns into gold and violet energy, which flows into me. I feel more powerful and energized. The first time, it was the greatest sensation in the world, but it became a regular feeling every subsequent time. I extend my hand toward Koakuma, ?Stardust Reverie!? The energy in my body converts into a flurry of blasts of magic in the shape of stars. I feel a split second of dizziness, but recover instantly, with only a slight decrease in my physical stamina. My stars intercept Koakuma?s icicles. I jump to the side, dodging the icy blades that got through my counterattack, but Koakuma isn?t as fast and she gets bombarded by my attack. She gets knocked off her feet and hits the floor back-first, defeated. Well, since I?ve been caught and I?m being fought by two librarians, I might as well enjoy this. I look at Patchouli, ?C?mon, Patch! Are you gonna have your little bitch fight your battles for you??

Patchouli responds, ?I was merely trying to wear you down so I can defeat you easily.?

I grin, ?Well it didn?t work very well. I?m good to go for several more rounds.?

?We shall see?? Patchouli draws a spell card, ?Metal & Water Sign.? Gray and blue energy fills Patchouli, ?Mercury Poison.? A terrible smell fills the room as a shiny green blob of liquid metal appears in front of the librarian. A spiked tentacle shoots out of the blob and toward me. I roll to the side and take to the air on my broomstick. It will be bad of that thing touches me! ?There is no escape, Marisa.? Patchouli?s blob sends several tentacles lashing at me. I stay ahead of most of them, but one intercepts me, knocking my broomstick out from under me. I plummet down toward the blob.

Shit! Not good! Not good at all! In a ditch effort, I thrust my hand toward Patchouli?s face and fire a white laser. The librarian staggers back and her blob vanishes as I distracted her enough to break her focus on her spell. With the spell broken, I hit the wooden floor with a thud. ?Owwww?? Damn! That still really hurt!

?Ahh! Marisa?? Patchouli covers her face with her hands, trying to regain her proper vision. I take advantage of her stunned state and draw another spell card.

?Love Sign!? Golden energy flows into me. I jump toward Patchouli and thrust my hand toward her at point-blank, ?Master Spark!? I fire a large beam of magical energy, which sends Patchouli flying toward the back of the library.

?AHHHHHH!? She hits one of the large bookshelves on the edge of the room (those didn?t lower into the floor) and become buried in books.

?Miss Knowledge?? mutters the weakened Koakuma.

I grab my broomstick and Patchouli?s book, saying, ?Well, I?m gonna get going now! Better luck next time, Patch!?

Patchouli?s voice, muffled from her burial under the books declares, ?Metal Sign: Metal Fatigue.? A few metal blades shoot out of Patchouli?s pile and toward me. Luckily, there is enough distance between us for me to see them coming, so I turn my body and dodge them with ease.

With a victorious smile, I turn toward the exit. However, from my destination?s general direction, I hear a voice asking, ?What is all the commotion down here?? Oh shit! That voice belongs to Sakuya! While we are generally friends, she doesn?t take kindly to uninvited visitors. I?m predicting one hell of an escape?

A girl with semi-long silver hair, braided down the side of her face, wearing a maid?s uniform arrives. As you probably figured, this is Sakuya. She is the head maid of the mansion and Remilia Scarlet?s closest servant, even though there had been some rivalry between them recently, ?Marisa??

Another figure enters the library beside Sakuya. She has semi-long light-blue hair and wears a pink dress and hat. Most noticeably, however, are the two bat-like wings extending out of her back, her blood-red eyes, and the fangs among her teeth. She is Remilia Scarlet, the mistress of this mansion. Remilia glares at me, ?What the hell are YOU doing here uninvited??

I take a couple steps backward, ?Well??

Behind me, Koakuma slowly gets back on her feet and Patchouli pushes some books out of her way and gets out from under the pile. Four against one. I don?t stand a chance. I close my eyes in defeat .

?Did someone say ?Marisa???  I hear a very cute voice coming from the upper floor and upon hearing it, defeat is probably the better thing I'm feeling! Within seconds, another girl, with similar youkai attributes to Remilia?s, only with steel wings with prism-like shards dangling from them, blonde hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a red dress comes running toward me excitedly. She?s Remilia?s vampire sister, Flandre: the last person I wanted to run into here. My mission has officially become an utter failure? She leaps to hug me and probably suck the blood out of my arm, because that?s her twisted way of expressing affection.

?Shit?? I close my eyes, preparing for the impact? but I don?t feel anything. I open my eyes and look ahead, but Flandre isn?t there. I turn around and see her on the floor. Did she pass through me or something? Out of nowhere and for no reason I can figure out, her form starts to become transparent. "Huh?"
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:41:19 PM
Apparently, Flandre realizes this and she looks toward Remilia fearfully, ?Onee-sama? What?s going on? What?s happening to me??

?Well?? As Remilia is trying to figure out Flandre?s predicament, she notices the same thing is happening to her.

?Remilia-sama? Remilia-sama! What is happening to you?? Sakuya tries to grab her mistress? arm, but her hand passes through.

?I don?t know?? growls Remilia ?? I?m fading? I can?t touch anything??

I look at Koakuma, who is also fading, who asks Patchouli, ?Miss Knowledge! What is happening??

Beyond her, Patchouli is also fading, ?I? I? I don?t know!? Okay? if Patchouli doesn?t know, then we are all completely stumped. She?s oftentimes had an answer to every question that?s arisen in the past.

I yell, ?Just what the hell is happening to everyone?? I look at myself, but I?m as opaque as I always have been. I turn toward Sakuya, who is the only one in the room who isn?t crying out at the sudden and unknown occurrence. Sure enough, she isn?t disappearing either. What is happening all the sudden and why are Sakuya and I not affected by this?

Sakuya looks toward Patchouli intensely, ?Are you sure you don?t know??

Patchouli, now practically blending in with the background, says, looking like she?s about to cry, ?I really don?t know? I?ve never heard of anything like this before? I?m scared? What?s happening to us? Why aren?t you or Marisa vanishing like the rest of us??

??? Neither of us have an answer for that question.

A terrifying minute passes as Remilia, Patchouli, Flandre, and Koakuma continue to cry out at their situation as they continue to fade more and more as Sakuya and I are helpless to do anything. Finally, they completely vanish, their voices gone with their bodies. ?REMILIA-SAMA!? Sakuya and I are left with eerie silence, which makes sense. Neither of us knows what the hell just happened. Remilia and the others just disappeared. It?s like they don?t exist anymore. Sakuya breaks the silence, ?Marisa? What_? FLASH! There is a sudden flash of white light. It didn?t seem to come from a particular source, but rather it came from everywhere. Both Sakuya and I cover our eyes to the unexpected happening. This whole situation is messed up! As my eyes adjust, there are a couple more flashes, followed by shaking, like an earthquake. The ground shakes violently, especially since we are in a basement. I open one of my eyes, squinting as a result of the flashes, just in time to see an overhead beam of wood fall down toward Sakuya.

?SAKUYA!? Wasting no time, I toss the book to the side, as it is now a moot concern and hop on my broomstick, approaching the maid as quickly as it can take me. Within mere seconds, I reach her and tackle her out of the way of the beam.

There is a long pause and we both sigh with relief. ?Thank you, Marisa,? says Sakuya gratefully.

I say, ?We gotta get out of here! If the earthquake continues, we?ll be in big trouble.?

We both want to try to make heads or tails of why everyone disappeared and the sudden flashes, but it?s dangerous here. ?Yes,? nods Sakuya in agreement.

We move to the spiral stairs as the earthquake continues. The quake had already knocked some steps from the staircase, so Sakuya and I fly up through the middle, dodging chunks falling from the ceiling. I can fly using my broomstick as a flight tool, but a lot of people in Gensokyo, like Sakuya, can fly using a basic form of magic to carry them.

Finally, we reach the top and enter the lobby. All around us, there are fairy maids in the process of vanishing, just like Remilia and the others had and chunks of rubble from the crumbling mansion. A chandelier (which is unlit. It?s just there for show) loses its grip on the ceiling high above and plunges toward one of the maids. I doubt it would harm her, as she?s vanishing, but it doesn?t feel right just to let it fall on her either. However a sudden blast shatters the chandelier to pieces, which fly everywhere, forcing me and Sakuya to shield ourselves with our arms. Meiling had fired a blast of chi, ?saving? the fairy maid. She too, is in the process of vanishing.

Sakuya rushes over to Meiling, ?Meiling! You?re disappearing too!?

Meiling says, trying to make the situation seem less serious than it really is, ?Looks that way. So are the fairy maids, but it looks like you and Marisa, however the heck she got in here past me, are alright.?

I point out, ?Remilia, Flandre, Patch, and Koakuma have all disappeared.?

Meiling?s eyes widen, ?All of them??

??? I nod without a word.

?I see?? mutters Meiling, her form becoming more transparent as the maids vanish completely. ?I don?t know what the hell?s going on, but it looks like it?s not much longer for me, either??

Sakuya slumps to her knees, ?Meiling? not you too??

Meiling instructs, ?Get out of here. Both of you. I saw the mansion from the outside and it?s worse than it seems from here. The clock tower had completely crumbled and? I just have a bad feeling??

?You have to escape with us!? Sakuya tires to grab Meiling?s arm, but, like with Remilia, her hand just passes through.

Meiling smiles nervously, ?I don?t think I?ll be worth worrying about in a few seconds. Just escape. Please?? With that, Meiling?s form vanishes completely.

?Meiling?? Sakuya sobs.

The ground shakes again and several more chunks of debris fall from the ceiling. I tightly grab Sakuya?s arm, ?Sakuya, we gotta get out of here NOW! If what Meiling said was true, there?s no telling when this whole building will become rubble!?

The two of us run out the front door and away from Scarlet Devil Mansion as fast as possible. Behind us, there are loud noises of the mansion?s foundations breaking. We run past the gate and to the outer wall, which is a far enough distance away. We turn around and see the mansion collapse to the ground, reduced to a massive pile of debris. Sakuya slumps to the ground, her eyes agape with disbelief. I can understand. Her mistress? her friends? her home? all in a matter of minutes, all those things disappeared from her life. Honestly, I feel like crying too. Scarlet Devil Mansion, the place where Reimu and I had so many adventures, is now destroyed, and the friends we made there, save Sakuya, have vanished mysteriously. Are they gone? Are they dead? Will we ever see them again? With these thoughts plaguing my mind, I slump to the ground as well. We stay this way for a half-hour. The earthquake stops, but the flashes become more consistent.

?Marisa! Sakuya!? A familiar voice comes from in front of us. A ?portal? opens and inside, there is a girl with golden hair, wearing a white and purple dress and a white hat with a red ribbon. She?s Yukari Yakumo, a youkai, also hard to tell apart from a human, with a WEIRD power. She has the ability to control boundaries. That means she can freely venture through the dimensional fabric of Gensokyo and other places. Thanks to her, we learned about parallel worlds that exist alongside this one. She once tried to trap Gensokyo in an eternal winter and revive her long-lost best friend. Don?t ask. It?s a long story. Anyway, my friends and I defeated her and she learned the folly of her ways. Now she?s a friend whose powers have come in very handy to us.

??? Sakuya doesn?t respond.

I ask, ?Hey, Yukari? Do you know what?s going on? There are these flashes? these earthquakes? and people are disappearing??

?Disappearing? like this?? Yukari extends her arm to the outside of her portal and it starts to become transparent. I try to touch it, but, as expected, my hand just passes through, like it was nothing but air. She withdraws her hand back into her portal, where it solidifies once again.

?Yeah?? I answer, ?It?s so weird? It all happened so fast, but? it?s almost like it?s the end of the world, or something??

?It just might be?? says Yukari softly.

?Huh? Do you know what?s going on?? I ask.

Yukari closes her eyes, ?I?m not 100% sure, but I might. Could the two of you do me a favor? Find Reimu.?

Sakuya breaks her silence, ?Reimu? What might she have to do with this??

Yukari says solemnly, ?It?s possible she is a central figure in these occurrences.?

I demand, ?What the hell are you talking about, Yukari? Why would Reimu do this? HOW would Reimu do this??

Yukari answers, ?If it?s what I think, then I?ll tell you. For now, I want the two of you to go to the Hakurei Shrine. I?m going to investigate something else that might be connected to this.?

I shrug and say, ?I don?t know what you?re talking about, but I guess I?ll do it. What the hell??

Yukari throws something at me, which I catch. It is something that looks like a blue ball. ?This will open a portal to a ?safe place? for five seconds. Just drop it on the ground when you're ready.?

?What is the meaning of this?? I ask.

Yukari answers, ?Gensokyo is becoming a dangerous place. I don?t know how much longer it will last, so if things get bad, escape to that ?safe place.? I?ll meet you there later.?

?Wait! Yukar_? Yukari disappears into her portal before I can ask any more questions.

Sakuya whispers, ?The end of the world???

There are a few seconds of silence. I put a reassuring hand on Sakuya?s shoulder, ?C?mon, Sakuya. Let?s go to Reimu?s. I don?t understand what?s happening, but maybe we can reverse this whole thing. Maybe we can stop what?s happening. Maybe we can get everyone back??

Sakuya smiles slightly, ?Yes, you may be right??

We take to the sky and fly in the direction of Reimu?s shrine. Along the way, we see wild youkai disappearing and villages crumbled to the ground, along with cries from people who are vanishing. Both Sakuya and I are helpless to do anything, and along with the mysterious flashes and the sky that had suddenly turned dark and the temperature around us becoming uncomfortably cold, it feels like a horrible nightmare. It has that apocalyptic feeling in many ways I can imagine.

Along the way, Sakuya points out, ?Yukari? when she reached out of her portal, her hand became transparent, but when she withdrew it, it became normal. Obviously, Yukari is subject to the things that are happening to everyone else, but perhaps it only affects things that are inside Gensokyo??
   
?But why aren?t we disappearing?? I ask, ?We?re still here, we aren?t fading, and I feel fine. Why the hell are we exempt from this??

Sakuya points out, ?Well, we are both human. Might that be it, perhaps??

I sigh, ?Maybe. This is weird??

After a half-hour, we arrive at the stairs leading up to Reimu?s shrine and we dash up to its front walkway, hearing a very creepy laugh, ?Tee hee hee!? Ugh! That laugh gives me the creeps!

We reach the top of the stairs and find out who that laugh belongs to: A girl with long black hair and brown eyes, wearing a red dress with white sleeves separate from the main portion of the outfit, and a red hair ribbon, namely, my long-time best friend, Reimu? or at least that?s what she LOOKS like. The thing is, she?s not acting like herself. She is skipping around, laughing that spine-chilling giggle. Normally, she is fairly unenergetic and lazy, despite being a talented miko. But here, she is the opposite from how I know her. She looks like she?s having the time of her life as Gensokyo is crumbling around her.

Nearby, Reimu?s student (more or less), a short girl with orange hair, with long horns extending out of her head, wearing a purple dress with chains, and carrying a large purple gourd around, Suika Ibuki, is disappearing, and seems to be just as surprised by Reimu?s behavior as Sakuya and I are. Suika is an oni, a top-level youkai, who LOVES having wild and drunken parties. Her gourd contains a limitless amount of sake, which she CONSTANTLY drinks out of. As a result, she is usually drunk. In spite of that, however, she is a powerful youkai, who can turn into mist, alter her size, and split into several smaller versions of herself. She once tried to make Gensokyo into a big endless party zone, but me, Reimu, and my friend-slash-neighbor, Alice Margatroid managed to stop her. Afterward, Reimu took her under her wing as a student.

Suika cries, in her drunkenly slurred voice, ?Raymoo! Wye ar yoo aktin? dat way? Whut?s hapnin? ta Gensohkeeyoh??

Reimu looks at the fading Suika with a smile you?d expect a pedophiliac rapist to have, ?Silence, child! You are but a mere figment! Now begone to the fiction that you are!?

?RAYMOOooooo!? Suika vanishes from existence, just like so many before her.

?REIMU! Just what the hell is going on? What?s happened to you?? I yell, outraged.

Reimu laughs, ?HahahahaHAHAHAHA! It?s happening at last, Marisa! It?s time! It?s time to leave!? She looks straight at me. Her eyes are void and empty, like she?s missing her soul.

?What are you talking about?? asks Sakuya.

?It?s time!? yells Reimu, ?It?s almost here! Our goodbyes draw nigh!?

I run over to Reimu, grab her by the shoulders, and shake her, ?What are you talking about? Snap out of it!? Suddenly, there are several flashes of light and a pulse erupts from Reimu?s body, knocking me back. When my eyes adjust, I see that Reimu?s clothes had transformed into a completely white outfit. The sight makes me depressed somehow.?

Reimu smiles creepily, ?My friends and family await! Enjoy this while you still can! Teehehehehehehehe!? With that, Reimu vanishes into thin air.

Sakuya and I are left to the hell that surrounds us. Sakuya says, ?Yukari was right! Reimu does seem to have some involvement in this??

?But what?? I ask, ?She wasn?t herself! She didn?t speak the slightest iota of sense!?

Sakuya sighs and says, ?I hope Yukari can fill in the blanks. At least we now have a lead??

I whisper, ?Reimu? what?s happened to you? Why have you become so? deranged?? My train of thought is derailed by a loud noise right in front of me. I look at the Hakurei Shrine and realize it had just burst into flames. However, that is secondary to something else I?m seeing.

A figure materializes in front of the burning shrine. It?s a girl with long green hair and green eyes, wearing a blue dress and blue hat with blue ribbons, holding a staff with a shape that looks like a crescent moon at the end of it, ?The time has arrived, it seems??

I glare at the mystery girl, ?Just who the hell are you? What?s going on??

The girl answers, ?My name is Mima. You can think of me as a harbinger of the mere thought that is Gensokyo is about to end.?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:42:09 PM
Behind Mima, the Hakurei Shrine, the home of my best friend, who had fought to save Gensokyo on numerous occasions, burns down, as to symbolize that all will be ruination. The girl who was once a savior appears to have become a destroyer for reasons that are still beyond my understanding. As the shrine casts a large flame, other disasters occur all around. Besides the flashes, the dark sky, casting a depressing shadow over the once happy and beautiful land, the acute decrease in temperature, and all, but a few vanishing, all the plants start to whither too. Having seen at one point first-hand where the souls of the dead go and what happens, I thought the idea of death wasn?t so bad for awhile, but for everything to end like this reconfirms the fear. However, I try to maintain a strong front in front of Mima, so I can get some answers and possibly find Reimu and end this disaster, ?What do you mean ?thought???

Mima says flatly, ?That?s a way of describing what Gensokyo is. Something temporary. Something that ends. Something that disappears. This is the thought?s end.?

Sakuya asks, ?Why did Remilia-sama and the others disappear??

Mima answers, ?As befits this ?thought,? there are ?figments? of imagination. That?s all the residents of Gensokyo are: figments. They never truly existed and they faded into the inexistence that they are.? Just a couple minutes ago, Reimu referred to Suika as a ?figment.? Now Mima is doing the same. Just what does it mean?

Sakuya yells, ?That?s not true! Remilia-sama? Flandre? Meiling? Patchouli? They were real living people!?

Mima chuckles, ?To you, it sure seemed that way, didn?t it. But they were actually figments of the fleeting imagination. Pure fiction.?

Sakuya persists with her position in the argument, ?No! My mistress was real! When I was confused and depressed, approaching a dead-end in life, Remilia-sama gave me a new purpose! She changed my life! What she taught me, what she gave me, how I felt! It was real! Remilia-sama was a real person!?

Mima pauses, then throws her head back, laughing, ?HAHAHAHAHA!?

?Gr?? Sakuya?s eyes narrow. I have a feeling this is not going to go over well, but I understand why Sakuya is so pissed. I find it hard to accept that my friends, like Alice and Cirno didn?t really exist. I spoke to them, I laughed with them, I cried with them, they gave me encouragement when I felt down, and in return, I cheered them up. Cirno trying so hard to become a powerful youkai and Alice trying so hard to teach Cirno! It was real! I can?t accept what Mima is telling us! Sure enough, I silently share Sakuya?s feelings.

Mima says, as if she had just heard the funniest one-liner ever, ?Oh, this is TOO good! ?Remilia-sama taught me!? ?Remilia-sama gave me a purpose!? Sorry, maid, but ?Remilia-sama? was nothing but a character. You might as well mourn a cartoon!?

?Damn you!? snarls Sakuya, as she tosses a couple knives at Mima.

?Vengeance from inexistence. How absurd.? Mima swings her arm, causing an invisible force to deflect the knives.

I could debate all day, but I doubt Mima will change her position. Instead, I ask, ?Just what the hell are you, Mima? What are you doing here at this time??

Mima smiles, ?Finally, an intelligent statement. I?m here? only for THIS?? Mima extends her hand toward me and fires a thin laser.

?Marisa!? At the last second, Sakuya shoves me out of the way, though the laser still manages to graze my cheek. There is a slight burning pain and blood trickles down, but no major damage was inflicted.

I glare at Mima, ?What? the? hell??

Mima says, ?THAT?S why I?m here: to take your lives.?

?Why?? asks Sakuya.

Mima spreads her arms, ?Look around you! This thought is ending! It?s horrible! Eventually, all that will remain is a black void. Everyone left over will be damned to float in that hellish solitude? and even then, there is no relief. The void has no boundaries. It is nothing but inexistence. Even after death, the souls can?t leave the void. All that remains is the despair? the impending insanity that will be heard by no one. My mission is one of mercy: to ensure that those who can?t vanish, like the two of you, will depart this realm, to the afterlife, before the thought completely ends. Once my mission is finished, I too will find my eternal rest. Now hold still and let me kill you. Do you want to be lost for eternity, even after your death??

Sakuya says, ?It?s fairly irrelevant to me?? One thing I forgot to mention: Sakuya is immortal. Yup, a long time ago, she drank an elixir that gave her eternal life, or so I was told, according to what she was told. She will stay young forever, and if she dies, she will shortly return to life. However, she drank another potion that would erase her memories if she died again. She would return to life, of course, but she?d be nothing more than a vegetable? for eternity. That sounds like a fate worse than death, although it seems to beat what Mima said. At least Sakuya wouldn?t be consciously aware of it ?? However, do you know why Marisa and I didn?t disappear like everyone else??

Mima says, ?You don?t need to know. Now just surrender your lives. Time is running out, and I have a steep workload ahead of me!?

I say, ?Normally, I?d accept your offer, Mima, but I feel like all this can be reversed. All I need to do is find Reimu and get shit straightened out.?

?I won?t accept that,? says Mima, ?I have a duty I?ve been entrusted with by Princess Yuyuko Saigyouji of the Netherworld. I?ve waited patiently, and the time has arrived. I will complete my mission and go home!?

?Yuyuko?? Yes, I know her. She?s a ghost princess that rules over the gardens of the Netherworld, Hakugyokurou. She has power over death? and she?s had that, even in life? at which point, she went by the name, Yuko Saigyou. According to her best friend, Yukari Yakumo, people feared and rejected her because of that. Eventually, there was a youkai tree called the Saigyou Ayakashi, which sucked the life from Gensokyo. Yuko sacrificed her soul to seal the tree, and moved on to the Netherworld, as a spirit without a soul, thus she wasn?t subject to being sent to Heaven, Hell, or reincarnation. As a result, she became an eternal resident of the Netherworld and she was given her position by the Yama, Sikieiki Yamaxanadu. Yukari once gathered spring essence, which makes seasons possible in Gensokyo (without it, there is only winter), in order to unseal the Saigyou Ayakashi, (which she moved to Hakugyokurou) and become reunited with her friend, Yuko, trapping humans who rejected her in an eternal winter at the same time. Luckily, I, Reimu, Sakuya, with a little help from Yuyuko and her gardener-slash-protector, Youmu Konpaku, fought back, but it was Yuko?s soul which convinced Yukari of the folly of her ways.

Sakuya says, ?With people like me, your efforts will be in vain. Even so, I?d have no intention of dying when I can set things right.?

Mima?s eyes narrow, ?I will kill you whether you like it or not. It?s largely a matter of the time it takes and the pain you?ll feel. En garde!? Mima points her staff at me and fires a blast of magic, which I duck under while running toward her. I attempt to hit her, using my broomstick as a staff, but she blocks with her own staff.

Sakuya backs me up by tossing a couple knives at the ghost, but she repels me and deflects them with her staff. Mima draws a spell card, ?Magic Sign!? Rainbow-colored energy flows into her staff, ?Twinkle Star Wave!? She points the staff at us and a flurry of star-shaped magic blasts (like the ones I used against Koakuma) flies toward us.

Sakuya jumps back, as do I, as she readies a spell card of her own, ?Blade Sign!? Several knives materialize around Sakuya and fly toward the blasts, cutting through and dispelling them. Sakuya directs her arm in Mima?s direction, ?Beginning of Trembling!? The knives left over suddenly home in on the surprised Mima. They cut through her, her wounds producing silver smoke. She loses her focus and the remaining blasts vanish.

I draw a spell card to take advantage of Mima?s weakening, ?Magicannon!? Rainbow-colored energy flows into me. The surge is exhilarating! ?Final Spark!? I fire a massive beam of magic, of various colors, at Mima, larger than the Master Spark. Final Spark is my second strongest ?spark? spell, surpassed only by Magicannon: Final Master Spark.

However, Mima recovers faster than I expected, and draws another spell card, ?Magic?s Might!? A ton of golden energy flows into her staff, ?Twilight Spark!? Huh? Before I can comprehend, she points her staff at my beam and fires a magical beam of magic of her own, as big as, or maybe even larger, as mine.

Our two ?sparks? clash. Even though I got the initiative, Mima?s attack is holding out quite well. We both pour some extra energy into our attacks. Sakuya tries to provide me with backup and tosses a knife at Mima, but the force of our spells release energy, which knocks it away.

Our power struggle lasts for about a minute, but my stamina starts to reach its limit and Mima overpowers me. I?m knocked back, feeling like I was hit by a flying boulder, and fly back so far, I land on the middle of the staircase.

I slowly rise back to my feet, feeling like shit. Up above, I hear Sakuya picking up where I was beaten. I slowly run up the stairs and reach the top. Sakuya and Mima are about even, but Mima is breathing faster. I guess her struggle with me took a lot out of her too.

Mima draws a spell card, pauses to catch her breath, and then declares, ?Flash Sign!? She?s using a spell card in her condition? She?s got to be getting there? Several magic circles appear above, pointing downward. Magic circles are like portals: they are two-dimensional and they are like a gateway for things to go through. They are white circles with a star-shape in the middle. Almost everyone in Gensokyo can use them. Everyone has a personal ?subspace? in which energy (like the case with me) or objects (in Sakuya?s case, for example) are stored, and they are released through the magic circles. ?Earth Light Nova!? The magic circles fire a number of large lasers downward at Sakuya, who dives forward, though the force of them hitting the ground seemed to have knocked her a bit. Another magic circle forms while Sakuya is on her belly after dodging the first attack and fires its laser, scoring a direct hit.

However, Sakuya manages to endure the blast and draws a spell card while she is on her hands and knees, ?Illusion Existence!? Several magic circles materialize around Sakuya, ?Clock Corpse!? The circles fire out knives, which home in on Mima. However, she sidesteps the knives without breaking her focus. Several more magic circles appear above Sakuya.

Mima yells, ?This is_ Huh??

A voice from out of nowhere declares, ?Immortal: Fire Bird ?Flying Phoenix-!? Suddenly, a flame in the shape of a bird swoops down and tears through Mima, breaking her focus, causing her magic circles to vanish. Sakuya and I turn around to see our sudden ally hovering in the air, a girl with aqua hair, extending down to the back of her knees, and red eyes (though not as bright as Remilia and Flandre?s), wearing a brown shirt and red overalls. She?s Fujiwara no Mokou. Like Sakuya, she drank the immortality elixir, so she is also immortal, though she won?t lose her memory if she dies. She also has the ability to control fire. Mokou lives in a bamboo forest, close to a village populated by humans. She has a fairly antisocial lifestyle. She once tried to erase the moon to prevent an alien invasion, but me and my friends defeated her. We?ve been? neutral since then. It seems like she hadn?t disappeared, nor is she in the process of vanishing, so I guess she?s like me and Sakuya.

?Mokou!? Sakuya yells out, relieved.

Mokou shrugs and says, ?I don?t know what the hell?s going on around here all the sudden. Keine, Akyu, and all the human villagers disappear mysteriously. Gensokyo becomes weird in general. I go to ask Reimu what?s going on, only to see her shrine burning down and the two of you fighting some weirdo. What an unusual day. Oh well, at least I did my good deed.?

Mima, who has probably reached her limit, rises into the air, ?Ugh? Looks like I can?t do much more. Very well, I shall leave you to whatever business you are trying to conduct, but remember that you brought this on yourselves, and for what? Beings that don?t exist. Don?t regret this later!? With that, Mima flies into the distance.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:42:44 PM
Sakuya says to Mokou, ?Thank you. She would have had me if you didn?t show up when you did??

Mokou folds her arms in front of her as she descends to ground level, ?If you guys really want to thank me, you?ll tell me just what the hell is going on around here. What is this, the apocalypse or something??

??? Sakuya and I silently nod.

Mokou puts her hand over her mouth as she gasps in surprise, ?Oh my god!?

I explain to Mokou what we?ve learned. About the occurrences around Gensokyo, about Reimu, and about what Mima said about Gensokyo being a ?thought? and everyone being ?figments.?

Before Mokou can respond, however, another voice comes from the general direction of the stairs, ?So it really is the end of Gensokyo, huh? Funny, I always thought I would be the cause of it. Not that damned miko?? The owner of the voice comes into sight: a girl with short green hair, wearing a red dress and white blouse. She?s Yuka Kazami, a mad youkai that can control flowers. She once covered Gensokyo with poisonous flowers. She calls herself Gensokyo?s strongest youkai. While I don?t know if she?s really the most powerful, she?s definitely up there. She?s half-faded.

I say solemnly, ?Yuka? It seems not even you could resist what?s happening to everyone??

Yuka looks at the ground, depressed, an emotion I didn?t even think she was capable of, ?So I don?t really exist, huh? Right now, my whole definition of ?existing? has gone straight to hell. Everything that I?ve done and worked for? in the end, I?m regulated to the status of inexistence. What a way to live? and end??

Even though Yuka?s an enemy to me, and even Gensokyo at times, I can?t help but feel a little bad for her right now. I take a few seconds to find the right words, ?Yuka, no matter what you are, you are real to me. I refuse to acknowledge you as anything less than that.?

Yuka blushes slightly, ?I? I don?t want or need your pity, witch. After all? I? I am? the strongest?? She tries to act tough, but she?s scared, just like everyone else. I wonder what happens to the consciousness of those that vanished. I find it hard to imagine they just disappear like they never existed in the first place. Yuka vanishes? there goes another one?

There are several minutes of silence between myself, Sakuya, and Mokou. Mokou asks, ?So what are we gonna do? How are we going to get Gensokyo out of THIS situation?? She points at the area at the bottom of the hill we are standing on. Dead plants and ruined buildings as far as the eye can see. Yeah, I can understand why she?s so skeptical.

I answer, ?Well? Yukari said she would meet with us. I guess that?s the first thing to do. The thing is, Reimu just disappeared. I don?t know where the hell she went, but wherever she is, we gotta get there. Hopefully Yukari knows, because I don?t know shit right now??

?Huh? You haven?t disappeared either?? Three more people approach.

One of them has very long black hair and wears a pink shirt with many white bows down the front and a dark red skirt. She?s Kaguya Houraisan. Believe it or not, she used to be a princess from the moon, but she was exiled to our world, where she eventually found her way to Gensokyo.  She drank the same elixir that Sakuya and Mokou drank, thus she?s immortal as well. She has power over eternity and has a past history with Mokou, which had caused the two of them to become bitter rivals. They patched up some of their differences, but they keep on fighting. I guess it?s just their nature?

The second person has long silver hair tied into a large braid in the back and wears a dress which is half red and half blue, split down through the middle, and wears a blue cap. She?s Eirin Yagokoro, one of Kaguya?s servants, and she also came from the moon. She has a genius IQ and can make any kind of potion? including the immortality elixir. In fact, she was its original creator, so naturally, she?s immortal as well.

Lastly, there is a girl with long lavender hair and red eyes, wearing a black business suit over a white shirt and red tie, and a pink skirt. More noticeably, though, are the two rabbit-like ears extending from her head. Her name is Reisen Udongein Inaba. Like Kaguya and Eirin, she?s also from the moon and came to Gensokyo looking for them. She?s a moon rabbit, a type of youkai from the moon, of course. She can inflict mental stress on someone, just by looking into their eyes and create illusions through a similar nature.

Being from the moon, Kaguya, Eirin, and Reisen are called Lunarians? and one more fun fact about Sakuya: so is she, although she didn?t find that out until recently. They are hiding in Gensokyo, in the bamboo forest, in a castle they built, called Eientei, in order to escape from their fellow moon people. They don?t want to return to the moon, which is apparently locked in an unending war with one of Gensokyo?s parallel realms. We learned that the Lunarians are planning on invading Gensokyo as well, so we?ve been trying to prepare for them, although under these current circumstances, that?s the least of our problems. Kaguya tried to delay their arrival by replacing the moon with one that will never become full, since Lunarians can only plane-walk when it?s full, which also emitted a light, causing almost everyone to obey her wishes, all as a means to prepare for war. Me, Reimu, Sakuya, and Youmu managed to stop her though, and since then, we?ve decided to prepare without disrupting Gensokyo?s way of life.

Mokou looks at Kaguya, ?It seems that whole disappearing thing didn?t erase you, princess. Joy.?

Kaguya smiles slightly, ?I should say the same to you, Fujiwara no Mokou.?

I ask, ?What brings the three of you here??

?I think it?s rather obvious,? states Reisen, ?Gensokyo is falling apart, the bamboo forest is withering, Tewi and all the other earth rabbits have just?? Reisen snaps her fingers, ?? vanished into thin air, and finally, there were some violent earthquakes, which reduced Eientei to a pile of broken wood. We were wondering if Reimu knew anything about what?s going on, hoping she didn?t disappear either??

?Welcome to the apocalypse!? says Mokou sarcastically.

Eirin?s eyes widen, ?The apocalypse? It?s the end of Gensokyo??

?Apparently,? answers Mokou, nodding her head slowly.

?How could this happen?? asks Kaguya.

Mokou explains the situation in a nutshell, ?Well, we were told that Gensokyo is a ?thought? and everyone is not real, so they disappeared. Apparently, Reimu is in the middle of all this and she acted weird, or so I was told. Everyone left over, namely us, are doomed to be a part of this crumbling world and float for eternity in a black void. To prevent that, some weirdo came and tried to kill us, but we sent her packing, so here we are now, the six of us standing in a disappearing world. This dream world has officially become a nightmare, people.?

Kaguya looks at me and Sakuya, ?Is this true.?

I nod and answer, ?Yeah. It?s the end of the world. I think we might have a chance of undoing this if we can find where Reimu went. Unfortunately, I don?t have a clue right now. Yukari might, though, so we should wait for her, after she?s done doing her investigating.?

We wait. I look out at the land from the hill. Under the dark shadow, everything is brown. Nothing but a wasteland. I look in the direction of the bamboo forest, where Eientei was barely visible on the horizon, but of course, it?s gone, just like Reisen said. Looking in another direction, a number of distant mountains had crumbed, including the Mountain of Faith, formerly known as Youkai Mountain, which had a massive shrine built into it. The world which held so many memories is facing complete destruction. Yukari, where are you?? Suddenly, I notice something else at the foot of the hill: the ground is starting to cave into itself, forming a dark hole, which rapidly spreads. A frigid wind blows through, which hits me like several needles.

?AHHH!? The patch of ground Kaguya is standing on suddenly caves in. She manages to grab the ledge, however.

?Kaguya!? all of us yell.

Sakuya asks, ?Can you fly back up??

?I can?t!? yells Kaguya in a strained voice, ?It?s sucking me i_ Ah!? The ledge Kaguya was holding onto crumbles and the princess starts to get sucked into the void. Before any of us can react, however, Kaguya?s arm is grabbed by the most unlikely savior: Mokou.

Kaguya?s eyes widen, ?Mokou! Why???

Mokou answers, ?If anything?s gonna do you in, princess, it will be me, not the freaking apocalypse! It doesn?t end here!? Mokou pulls Kaguya out of the hole.

I realize the hazardousness of the situation has now reached a whole new level. Is this what Yukari meant by ?Gensokyo becoming a dangerous place?? I recall that ball-thing she gave me. It definitely looks like we?ll need a ?safe place? now, especially that Gensokyo is crumbling in many different places. I pull it out of my pocket and tell everyone, ?Yukari gave me this. It will take us to a ?safe place.? However, there?s six of us and she said the portal will be open for five seconds, so we?d better be fast!?

Sakuya, Mokou, Kaguya, Eirin, and Reisen come closer to me as I drop the ball. As expected, a portal, blue in color, just wide enough for a person to fit through, opens. Wasting no time, I drop in first, followed by Kaguya, then Mokou, then Sakuya, then Eirin, and finally Reisen, as I imagine it closes. We all made it through and that?s what important.

I look around where we are now: We?re in the middle of a field, which is covered in snow. There are several icy mountains in the distance. In spite of this, however, the temperature is about 50 degrees. Pretty pleasant. Up above, it is nighttime, with the sky completely clear with a crescent moon and enough stars visible to see the various constellations.

?What is this place?? asks Kaguya.

Eirin adds, ?It seems so cold, yet it?s so nice. Beautiful, even??

Mokou says, ?Well, the important thing is that it?s not a mess like Gensokyo? and that?s IF there?s anything left of it...?

I mention, ?Yukari said she?d meet us here? but I wonder what ?here? is??

?Marisa?? Behind me, I hear a familiar voice saying my name. I turn around and see two familiar faces in this unknown land.

The first one has semi-long blonde hair, managed with a red headband and blue eyes, wearing a blue dress with white highlights. She is accompanied by a doll with yellow hair, wearing a blue dress. She?s Alice Margatroid, she was the only other resident in the area of Gensokyo I called home: the Forest of Magic. She is a magician like me, but also a youkai. She has the ability to control dolls, like the one with her, Shanghai. She?s intelligent and had taken five other youkai under her wing as students. We used to be rivals, but we?ve gotten to be very close friends.

With Alice is a much shorter girl with short light-blue hair with a blue ribbon, wearing a blue dress. She has two light-blue wings extending out of her back. She?s Cirno, one of those five students of Alice I mentioned, the first one, in fact. She?s not very bright, but she has potential to be elite among youkai, which is Alice?s goal with this girl. Ironically, Alice considers Cirno her star pupil. However, lately, she has shown improvement and even some surprising smarts.

Surprised, I say, ?Alice? Is that really you? How did you get here? What is this place??

Alice answers, ?I?ve had some past connection with this particular realm, and I?ve managed to escape here with Cirno when it was clear that Gensokyo won?t survive, not to mention that we were starting to fade. This is Makai, the demon world.?

Cirno smiles cheerfully and says, ?Isn?t it pretty? I like it here!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:43:27 PM
I take a few steps back, ??De-demon world?? Aren?t demons merciless killers that destroy things for fun? kinda like Yuka??

Alice shakes her head, ?You shouldn?t think like that, Marisa. Demons are greatly misunderstood. They are a lot like you and me, except they live here. That?s the only difference between us and them.?

Sakuya asks, ?You said you have a connection to this place. May I ask what??

A soothing voice with a slight accent, which I can?t identify, comes from a distance and draws closer, ?Alice Margatroid used to study this realm and its inhabitants for about seven months. During that time, she practically became one of us. She?s special to me?? A figure materializes out of thin air behind Alice, a woman with long silver hair, partly braided into a small pigtail, gray eyes, and wears a flowing red robe. She wraps her arms around Alice from behind as a hug ?? like a daughter??

?Who are you?? I ask the mystery woman.

She introduces herself, ?My name is Shinki. I am the queen? no? the goddess of the demon world that surrounds you. All born here are my children??

Cirno?s eyes widen, ?She?s your mother, Alice? You didn?t tell me that!?

Alice says, ?No, you got it all wrong. Shinki-sama is not my mother. She had just been a mother figure to me!?

Shinki lets go of Alice and laughs, ?Don?t be so modest, Alice. You can call me your mother. I accept you as one of my own.?

?If you want? mother?? Alice quickly changes the subject as if she?s embarrassed, ?So? um? Marisa? Sakuya? Mokou? Lunarians? How did you get here??

Mokou starts off, ?Marisa used something, like a ball, to open a portal, which led us here.?

I pick up, explaining in a more specific fashion, ?Yukari gave me that ?ball.? She said it would open a portal to a ?safe place,? which just happens to be here. Now, Alice, let me ask you the same question: how did YOU get here??

?It was? rather sudden,? explains Alice, ?All kinds of disasters occurred around Gensokyo and people were disappearing. My students vanished one by one. Wriggle, Rumia, Medicine, and finally Mystia. Cirno was about to disappear and I started to fade myself??

Shinki picks up, ?Makai has a boundary link to Gensokyo, and I can open a gateway here as I see fit. I managed to get Alice and her remaining student here just in time.?

Alice looks at the ground, ?Just what is happening to Gensokyo? and everyone??

Sakuya explains what we learned from Mima, ?We learned that Gensokyo is coming to an end. The one we learned this from compared Gensokyo to a ?thought? and everyone within it as ?fragments? that didn?t truly exist, fading away. This had happened to everyone: Remilia-sama, Meiling, Patchouli, Koakuma, Flandre, Yuka? However, Marisa, Eirin, Mokou, Kaguya, Reisen, and I didn?t disappear at all for some reason??

Shinki suggests, ?Perhaps there is something all six of you hold in common??

We take a few seconds to think.

?We?re all human?? guesses Sakuya.

?I?m not,? says Reisen.

Mokou adds, ?The people of the human village disappeared too.?

Sakuya puts on an embarrassed smile, ?My mistake??

Mokou makes another guess, ?We?re immortal??

?I?m not immortal,? I respond.

?Neither am I,? says Reisen again.


?Um? um?? Kaguya tries hard to come up with an idea, ?We?re all Lunarians??

Another wrong idea, as I point out, ?I?m not a Lunarian.?

?Neither am I,? says Mokou.

Eirin, who was silent the whole time, takes a shot, ?We?re not from Gensokyo??

There?s a long silence between us.

?Let?s see,? says Alice, ?Kaguya, Eirin, Reisen, and Sakuya were all from the moon in a different realm??

Mokou adds, ?I wasn?t, but I came from another realm too.?

?But I lived in Gensokyo my whole life!? I say, ?That can?t be it!?

Shinki says to me, ?Even if that?s so, it seems like the most logical conclusion. If Gensokyo and the residents born there are all part of the same thought, then outside elements may have a different set of rules.?

I?m getting confused. Just where do I fit in? ?That makes sense, but I?ve lived in Gensokyo for as long as I can remember. How did I not disappear??

Shinki closes her eyes, ?That I do not know??

Sakuya mentions, ?And just WHAT exactly is Reimu? How could she cause all this? Sure, she saved Gensokyo on many different occasions, but she was just as human as all the others! Why that change??

?What are you talking about?? asks Cirno.

Alice?s eyes widen, ?Reimu? What do you mean she ?caused? this??

I explain, ?Yukari asked us to go to the Hakurei Shrine and see Reimu. Apparently, she had some suspicions about her? and while I didn?t want to believe it, those suspicions were right on. She said some weird things, and then disappeared.?

?I can?t believe it,? says Alice in disbelief.

?So everything was confirmed on your end?? Suddenly, Yukari appears from out of a portal.

Relieved, I say, ?Yukari! You made it, just like you said!

?Hello, Yukari,? greets Shinki, ?What brings you here??

Yukari greets back, ?It?s been a long time Shinki?? I guess when you go from one realm to the next, you meet plenty of people ?? I?ve come to speak to the individuals that have come here.? She turns her attention back to me, ?From what you just said, Reimu was acting strangely??

?Yeah,? I answer, ?What about you investigation??

?It?s just as I thought,? answers Yukari.

?You know something,? says Sakuya, ?So what?s going on? Why did Reimu act the way she did? What did you research??

Yukari opens a portal, ?I will show you. Follow me.?

?Certainly,? responds Alice as she walks toward the portal.

Cirno cries, ?But I wanna stay here! And I want to be with someone from Gensokyo!?

Reisen says to Cirno, ?I?ll stay with you. I know little about what?s going on and I agree, this is a pretty nice place.?

?I?ll stay too,? volunteers Eirin, ?I?m curious about the materials I can find here to make potions with, but I want to know what you?ll find out.?

Kaguya and Mokou stare at the portal. Kaguya says, ?I?m? curious? All this time, Gensokyo was not what it seemed. I want to know more??

Mokou responds, ?Strangely enough, this is something I want to look further into??

?Okay,? says Yukari, ?Beyond this portal awaits the absolute truth; the reason behind Gensokyo?s existence. The reason it began and there reason for its impending end.?

I step forward, ?It could be the key to saving Gensokyo. Count me in!?

Alice turns to Shinki, ?I?ll be back again. I just really want to know the truth behind what I?ve known for so long. Please take care of Cirno for me.?

?I understand,? acknowledges Shinki, ?I?ll see you again. I?m happy to have seen you again, Alice.?

?Let?s go!? Sakuya, Alice, Kaguya, Mokou, Yukari, and I jump into the portal.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:44:11 PM
On the other end of the portal, we emerge in a room. The walls and ceiling are white and the floor is made up of white and blue tiles. In the back of the room, there is a large rectangle-shaped window with blue curtains spread open, allowing the sunlight from the outside in. Outside, there are several tower-like structures and below, there are gray roads with several metal and glass contraptions moving around on wheels. There is not a lot of furniture in the room, except for a table with a green vase of flowers, with some bouquets leaning against it and some paper cranes. There is another table with another contraption on it (Rinnosuke would like this place), with something on it that looks like zigzags and a wire leading to a bed, which lays parallel to the window. I notice there?s someone lying in the bed: It?s a girl, probably in her late teens, with long black hair. I can?t tell the color of her eyes, since they?re closed. Even so, I recognize this girl! Sure, she?s wearing a sailor suit type of school uniform and she has some bandages wrapped around her head, but she is definitely? Reimu!

?Reimu!? I cry out, ?How is this possible? She?s in Gensokyo, acting all weird and stuff! How can she be here, in this strange place??

?Quite the turn,? comments Alice.

Yukari explains, ?The girl you are looking at is not Reimu Hakurei. Her name is Reimu Kiribayashi. Hakurei is nothing more than a persona.?

?A persona?? asks Sakuya.

?Just what is this girl?? asks Kaguya.

Yukari says, ?You know how Gensokyo is known as a dream world, right??

??? We all nod.

Yukari smiles slightly, ?Well, it most certainly is a dream world? in every sense of the word.?

?Huh??

?Gensokyo, in all its form and splendor, originated right?? Yukari points at Reimu?s forehead ?? here.?

Alice confirms, ?So you?re saying Gensokyo was this girl?s dream? People born there, like me, were all a part of that dream?? What Mima said is starting to make sense! If it was all a dream, then Gensokyo really was a thought and everyone a figment, but there is still so much that doesn?t add up?

Kaguya states, ?But those of us that hadn?t disappeared? we all got to Gensokyo, but if it was just a dream, how can that be possible? It should all be a thought, which no one can physically enter.?

Yukari says, ?Even though I have control over boundaries, even I don?t know their nature? what triggers them into being??

Mokou looks at Reimu ?Kiribayashi?s? bandages, ?So what happened to her? Why is she like this??

Yukari answers, ?An accident, apparently. I did some research: 7 months ago, Reimu got into that accident, which knocked her into a coma; a deep sleep. In that period, Gensokyo was born. Gensokyo is like this girl?s dream. As Reimu Hakurei, she was like the central character of a story taking place in a world of her creation.?

??? There is a long silence between us.

Kaguya looks out at the futuristic cityscape beyond the room?s window, ?What is this place? Another realm apparently, but??

Yukari answers, ?We are in a hospital in a country called Japan? Ah!? Yukari realizes something, looking at Kaguya and Mokou.

Mokou?s eyes widen, ?THIS is Japan? I can?t believe it!?

?What about it?? asks Alice.

Kaguya answers, ?Mokou and I used to live here. Of course, it looked nothing like what it does now. It was back in a feudal era, where?? Kaguya realizes something herself, ?Yukari, what you said about Gensokyo coming into being because of this girl?s dream can?t be true! You took me and Eirin to Gensokyo way back then, and Mokou sometime after that. I imagine that was long before ?Reimu Kiribayashi? was even born!?

Yukari closes her eyes, ?The nature of dreams is a mysterious thing. When you?ve dreamt, have you ever felt like an eternity had passed in an instant in real time, or a dream instant had lasted for many real hours? Dreams defy all logic? and even time itself when Gensokyo came into being.?

?What do you mean?? asks Sakuya.

?Gensokyo had existed for many of thousands of years. During the early stages of that time, people like me were born. However, to Reimu, it was all setting the stage for her time in the spotlight. To her consciousness, I imagine the time before her existence in Gensokyo was all fast-forwarded, but to all other beings, that time moved naturally. The boundary created by her dream created another line of history to exist alongside other realms??

I?m shocked, ?You?re saying SHE created history through a dream? That?s crazy!?

Yukari states, ?The creation of boundaries, in all of its mystery, even history is a trivial thing that becomes easily changed. What one believes one day can be warped and twisted for the next.? Is everything I believe really what it used to be? Could it have been, changed without me consciously being aware of it?

Thankfully, Mokou cuts into the sci-fi twist that whole situation had just taken, ?Okay, so this Reimu had created Gensokyo through a dream, and with that, a history that me and Kaguya joined into at one point. Am I right so far??

?Yes,? answers Yukari.

?Princess here, Eirin, Reisen, Sakuya, and I were not a part of the ?dream,? so we weren?t affected by what is happening in Gensokyo??

?You?re still right,? says Yukari.

?So WHY is Gensokyo ending? Why is everyone disappearing??

I have a guess to Mokou?s question, but I decide to let Yukari answer. She points at the machine with the zigzags that form. They are long lines and sharp curves, ?That?s why. This Reimu is recovering; waking up from the coma? and the dream that is Gensokyo. The moment she wakes up is the moment Gensokyo ends. Right now, she?s beginning to regain her consciousness, which is why Gensokyo is slowly, but surely, falling apart.?

Sakuya says, ?So if she doesn?t wake up, Gensokyo will be revived and everyone, including Remilia-sama, will return??

?I would imagine so,? answers Yukari.

?It could be done right now, then?? Sakuya draws a knife and points it down at the sleeping Reimu.

Shocked, I yell, ?Sakuya, what the hell are you doing??

Sakuya answers, ?If I do this, she won?t awaken. Remilia-sama and my friends will return and Reimu, as I know and love her, will return as well.?

Mokou protests, ?What you?re doing is trying to kill an injured comatose girl! There has to be another way!?

?But this is?? Sakuya?s arm trembles, then she stops, ?I can?t, even if she isn?t the Reimu I know. Even though she threatens to end everything and everyone, she still created Gensokyo as well!? Sakuya slumps to the floor sobbing, ?Reimu? if only I knew what you really wanted??

Yukari states, ?Killing this Reimu won?t solve anything. She needs a consciously living mind to sustain Gensokyo.?

I ask, ?Hey, Yukari. Do you know why Reimu was acting weird before? She wasn?t herself at all. It was creepy??

Yukari guesses, ?I believe that?s Reimu Kiribayashi?s will upon awakening leaking through her persona, Reimu Hakurei. Her true presence is reemerging, but I don?t know why she would act as unusual as you say. I?d estimate she?s was speaking out of pure confusion??

Sakuya dries her tears and asks, ?Is there anything we can do to keep this Reimu from waking up, without killing her??

Yukari answers, ?Well? there is the boundary between Dreams and Awakening. However, I can only access that from the Netherworld??

?Then we should go there!? I announce, ?That?s the key to saving Gensokyo and everyone!?

Yukari?s eyes turn to the side, as if she?s conflicted by something, ?I? I suppose.?

Alice asks Yukari, ?Something I?m curious about? Do all dreams create realms? Are there other places like Gensokyo??

Yukari answers, ?No, actually. Gensokyo was a? unique case??

?How so?? asks Kaguya.

?Concentrated energies,? answers Yukari. ?A dream so great that it broke beyond the boundaries of the individual mind. Of course, that?s well beyond the power of a single person??

I ask, ?Are you saying someone else is also responsible for this??

Yukari answers, ?Yes and no. Reimu was the original dreamer, and thus, created and had power over Gensokyo, but there is another, through whom enough thought energy was generated to create a realm from the dream.?

?Who would that be?? asks Alice.

?I will show you?? Yukari opens another portal.

We step through and end up in another white room. However, while the room Reimu is in was somewhat homey, this one is a lot more depressing. There are no windows and the room itself is lit only by a few dim lights from the ceiling. A side of the room is occupied by a counter covered with needles, bottles of stuff, bandages, and a lot of other stuff with a purpose beyond my understanding.

Yukari explains, ?This is another hospital located in another part of this realm called ?Los Angeles.??

In the middle of the room, though, there is a bed with white sheets and there is another girl in that bed. We look over and we simultaneously gasp. She has wavy blonde hair and is wearing a white gown. The girl in that bed is? me! She has injuries similar to Reimu?s.

?It?s another Marisa!? yells Alice.

?Yeah,? says Mokou, ?This is getting weirder??

?What the hell IS this?? I demand of Yukari.

Yukari answers, ?You?re a lot like Reimu. You too have been living in the dream world that is Gensokyo, while your true self has been sleeping here. This is Marisa Starr. ?Marisa Kirisame? is also a persona.?

I look at my hands, saying, ?I?m? just a product of THIS girl?s thoughts??

Yukari?s eyes turn to the side ?? Yes??

?I can?t believe it!? says the wide-eyed Alice.

I can?t believe it either! I want to think this is a joke, but looking at the other Marisa is like looking into a mirror and it?s hard to deny a possible connection, ?But? I don?t remember being this person? I remember living my entire life in Gensokyo??

Yukari says, ?Of course you don?t. You are the same, and yet you are different. This girl?s life, upon experiencing an accident, at almost the same exact time as Reimu, had been put on hold? and began anew in the dream world of Gensokyo.?

?But it was Reimu?s dream, wasn?t it?? asks Kaguya.

?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?and as a result of that, Gensokyo?s very foundations revolve around her, but Marisa, as I said, got injured and went into a deep coma at virtually the same exact time as Reimu did on the other side of this world. In fact, the time difference was only a few seconds. It took me some time to gather that information. Now I don?t know what happened exactly, but it seems apparent to me that somehow, Marisa?s mind crossed with Reimu?s. She became a part of Reimu?s dream and that focusing of two minds broke the boundary of the dream and created something that was more than a mere dream: Gensokyo.?

I?m a little confused, but I think I understand what Yukari?s point is: ?You?re saying that I?m like Gensokyo?s other creator??

Yukari answers, ?It was Reimu that shaped the world, but it was you who unknowingly helped her in creating a whole new realm.?

I put my hand over my forehead, ?Wow??

Everything we learned is hard to accept and just as hard to absorb. An eerie silence fills the room.

Yukari asks, after a few minutes, ?What are you going to do, Marisa? Reimu and you are dreaming at the same time and I?ve heard you? Marisa Starr, that is, is starting to show signs of recovery. I?d imagine that the end of Reimu?s dream will also be the end of your dream. You will both return to this world, and like so many other dreams, forget about or have very vague memories of Gensokyo and everything you did, as you return to life in this realm.?

I close my eyes, ?If it?s as you say, then awakening is the way it should be??

Sakuya gives me a sympathetic look, ?Marisa??

I open my eyes, ?But as far as I?m concerned, Gensokyo is the one and only world I?ve ever known and I have precious memories and made friends that I care about? that I want back! I have no desire for this world! I want to continue living as Marisa Kirisame and I will stop Reimu to keep the only life I understand!? Perhaps I?m only speaking through the fact that I can?t understand the perspective of the other me, but I feel I should stick with what I believe in.

Yukari sighs and responds, ?Very well, Marisa. You can certainly try to accomplish your task.?

Sakuya says, ?Well then, let?s go to the Netherworld. If the situation is truly getting there, it won?t be long until Reimu awakens. You said the boundary between Dreams and Awakening is only accessible from there.?

?Yes,? says Yukari, ?We should get going?? Yukari opens a portal, which she, Sakuya, Alice, Mokou, and Kaguya enter. I look back at Marisa Starr, my other self in a deep sleep. It doesn?t feel fair that I can only exist if she never wakes up. I enter the portal myself.

We emerge from the portal. Around us, there are small chunks of land floating above a black void. Below us is a large crater, which I imagine was filled with water, but was drained dry. Up above, there are clouds swirling toward one round point in the sky. I realize that this is not the Netherworld. To confirm my suspicions, I look in Yukari and Alice?s direction. Sure enough, they are fading. We?re back in Gensokyo? but how?

Yukari realizes the situation and opens a portal, which she enters, but doesn?t leave through, ?Alice! Get in here! I don?t know how, but we?re back in Gensokyo! This will keep you from disappearing!?

?Y-yes!? Alice enters the portal with Yukari, becoming opaque again.

Mokou looks around, ?What the hell??

Kaguya comments, ?Gensokyo looks worse than ever! We don?t have much time left??

Sakuya asks, ?But how did Yukari?s portal take us here? I thought we were going to the Netherworld??

The point that the clouds are swirling around up above is Gensokyo?s gate, which leads to the Netherworld. Below, there used to be a lake, which I once fought Alice above.

?Teehehehehe!? We hear a creepy laugh, which I remember very well. We look up and see Reimu, with her empty eyes and white outfit, saying, ?I merely manipulated Gensokyo?s boundary to redirect you here. I want to have some fun before I go!?

?Reimu!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:45:02 PM
?Teehehe!? Reimu extends her arm and fires several blasts of white energy at us, which we dodge.

?Reimu!? I yell, ?I know who you are? what Gensokyo is!?

Reimu?s eyes narrow, ?Oh??

?You?re a mental product of a girl named Reimu Kiribayashi! She was knocked into a coma and dreamt of Gensokyo. So was, I, making this place into an actual realm!?

Reimu claps her hands slowly, ?Very good, Marisa... My ?co-creator.? You?ve done your homework, I see. Yes, I am the persona of Reimu Kiribayashi, age 17, from Japan, only daughter of an ordinary working-class family, and student at Yumakura High School, senior class. Soon, all those things shall be mine once again. Soon this lie that I?ve been living will be erased forever.? Reimu glances at Yukari, ?I take it you revealed that to them, Yukari. You certainly are an unusual figment. One in an infinite, I?d say. I?m amazed I created you.?

?Lie?? yells Sakuya, ?Is that truly what you think of all you?ve gone through here? What do you think of me??

Reimu answers, ?A foreign element.? She glances at Kaguya and Mokou, ?You two as well. You never should have come and lived here. Everything you?ve loved about this place was nothing more than a result of an active imagination. You shall be condemned for performing such unnatural acts.?

?Even if I am,? yells Sakuya, ?I won?t just write off everything about this place I love off as an untruth! Even if Remilia-sama and the others were figments of Kiribayashi?s imagination, they were precious to me! What I felt with them? what I experienced! It was real! The feeling I had could not be faked! And you, Reimu! For you? I?ve felt no different? no? you were special to me in a different way? Reimu Hakurei was a kind person who didn?t take herself too seriously, wanted to live life her own way, easygoing, yet genuinely caring for her friends, was compassionate enough to understand what others were going through, and was powerful, yet endlessly forgiving, even becoming friends with those that were her mortal enemies! Before I met her, I was considered to be Remilia?s mindless follower, and before that, a cold-blooded hunter, but she were the first to acknowledge me as a real person! She was also the only other person I?ve felt so strongly about, other than Remilia-sama?? Sakuya looks intensely at Reimu, blushing slightly, ?I? I really like you, Reimu! You may act different now, but behind all of that, I know there is the one??

Reimu stares at Sakuya for a few seconds. Even though Sakuya was always obedient to Remilia, Reimu was the one subject where the two of them had differences regarding. Remilia had an adorable crush on Reimu since we defeated her when she unleashed the mist. Apparently, Sakuya, in spite of knowing how her mistress felt, also developed feeling for Reimu herself, causing the normally inseparable pair to clash on occasions.

A smirk crosses Reimu?s lips, ?How moving, Sakuya. You?ve clearly poured out your heart and feelings. However, that doesn?t change the fact that? Reimu Hakurei was never a real person. Your feelings are directed toward nothing more than an illusion. Something inexistent. Still, those were rather entertaining sentiments. Teehehe!?

?Ugh!? Tears pour out of Sakuya?s eyes as she grips her chest tightly. I glare at Reimu. Even if what she said was true, she had gone too far and Sakuya?s affections were truly pure. How could she look down on us to such a degree? I can?t believe she was once the kind girl Sakuya described.

Apparently, my disbelief was not just my own. Mokou yells, ?Damn you, Reimu! How could you say that? Do you even understand what you are doing??

Reimu smiles, ?Of course. I?m having fun with a part of my dream world. Even if she is not of my world, she became a part of it and I can do what I want with my ?toys.? That includes you too, Mokou.?

?ARGH!? In her rage, Mokou sends a wave of fire at Reimu, who forms an invisible shield around her protecting her. Mokou?s fist ignites and she flies toward Reimu, preparing to throw a punch, ?Go to hell!?

?Hmph.? Reimu warps a foot to the side, dodging Mokou?s attack, then grabs the immortal?s arm.

Reimu smiles, ?My toy. So easy to break?? Energy flows through Reimu?s arm into Mokou?s.

?AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!? Mokou howls in agony as the energy flows through her right arm. Reimu lets go and warps a few feet away. In that instant, Mokou?s arm explodes in a gruesome explosion of flesh, bone, and blood. ?UUUGGHH?? Mokou clutches the place where her right arm used to be with her left hand.

?Mokou!? yells Kaguya.

I float in place, completely appalled. Sakuya, in her own despair, didn?t even notice. Alice covers her mouth, retching in disgust. Yukari?s eyes narrow at Reimu.

Reimu floats in place with a guiltless smile, ?That will show you your place.? An invisible force pushes Mokou back.

?D-damn?? whimpers Mokou.

I float over to Yukari, whispering, ?Yukari, take Alice and Mokou and go ahead to Hakugyokurou. The rest of us will keep Reimu distracted so she can?t control the boundary at the same time.?

?What about you?? asks Alice.

I answer, ?We?ll go the long way. With luck, maybe we can get Reimu to revive Gensokyo. We may have a chance.?

?Okay,? says Yukari.

I tell Mokou, ?Mokou, you?re hurt! Go with Yukari. The rest of us can handle this!?

Mokou responds, ?No way, Marisa! I?m still fighting! I can deal with it. I?ve lost my arm before and I?ve still beaten Kaguya.?

?That?s a lie,? says Kaguya with a pout.

?Well I?m sure I came close?? responds the exposed Mokou.

?True??

I yell to Reimu, ?Reimu! We?ll do whatever it takes to save Gensokyo, even if it means forcing you from leaving!?

Reimu spreads her arms, ?Try it! Know that I am Gensokyo and Gensokyo is me! If you cross me, you cross every force Gensokyo has to offer!? Reimu draws a spell card, declaring, ?Remilia Sign!? An aura shaped like Remilia Scarlet?s silhouette surrounds Reimu.

Sakuya snaps out of her trance, ?What? Remilia-sama?? The rest of us are surprised as well.

Reimu, appearing to be amused by our reactions, smirks and draws a second spell card, ?Scarlet Sign: Scarlet Shoot!? Reimu extends her right arm and fires a volley of blood-red orbs at us. We barely dodge. I counterattack by firing a large blast of green magic, but Reimu fires one last orb, intercepting my attack. During that time, Yukari closes her portal, escaping with Alice.

Sakuya looks at Reimu, wide-eyed, ?What was that, Reimu? That was one of Remilia-sama?s techniques!?

Reimu says, like she?s proud of herself, ?I told you, didn?t I? I have every force Gensokyo has to offer! Everyone, who had vanished, returning to my mind, have powers that I now wield! I would have loved to have added Yukari and Alice to that repertoire, but oh well, I have more than enough to render all of you powerless against the might I wield.?

Mokou draws a spell card, yelling, ?Screw you! I can handle anything you can deal!?

Reimu says calmly, ?If that?s so, Mokou, then why did you foolishly attack me, losing your arm in the process??

Mokou stammers, ?Sh-shut up! You won?t catch me off guard again! Immortal!? A fiery aura, in the shape of a bird forms around Mokou, ?Fire Bird -Flying Phoenix-!? Several flames, in the shape of birds, materialize around Mokou and fly toward Reimu, who pulls two spell cards from her pocket.

?Nitori Sign!? the shape of Reimu?s Remilia-aura shifts into that of Nitori Kawashiro, a kappa engineer responsible for building a massive shrine into Youkai Mountain, who can control water. ?Water Sign: Hydro Camouflage!? Using one of Nitori?s techniques, several magic circles appear around Reimu and each fires out a sizable jet of water, extinguishing Mokou?s firebirds. At the same time, Reimu blends in with her surroundings.

?Dammit!? growls Mokou.

Kaguya provides support for her rival and prepares a spell card of her own, ?New Impossible Request: Shining Trapezohedron!? Several blades of light appear in front of the princess and fly all around, searching for the hidden Reimu. Finally, one hits Reimu?s shield, revealing her location. ?There!? The other blades change course and home in on where the first blade hit.

At the same time, Sakuya and I back up Kaguya?s attack.

?Love Sign: Master Spark!? I fire my massive magical laser at Reimu?s location.

?Illusion Sign: Killing Doll!? Several knives materialize around Sakuya and fly toward Reimu?s location in a concentrated formation.

Our attacks hit, blocked by Reimu?s shield, which soon shatters, revealing her form at the same time. Her aura vanishes and she rears back, stunned.

Mokou grins, ?Got you now, bitch!? Her entire body ignites (probably to make sure there are no accidents this time) and she flies straight at Reimu, delivering a flaming left-handed punch to the side of her face.

However, Reimu?s reaction to the attack was minimal and as Mokou?s fist presses against her face, her eyes turn toward her attacker, indicating no signs of pain. After a few seconds, she laughs, ?Teehehehe! You?re so weak, Mokou? all of you! You?re fighting Gensokyo itself!? Reimu?s body pulses with energy and sends Mokou flying back again. She prepares another two spell cards, ?Suwako Sign!? Reimu?s aura appears again, this time in the form of Suwako Moriya, a goddess from the other side of Gensokyo, who was sealed until recently. ?Divine Tool: Moreya's Iron Ring!? Disks of red energy materialize in Reimu?s hands and she tosses them at us.

Kaguya draws another spell card, ?Divine Treasure!? Five small objects materialize around the princess as she flies in front of us, each glowing with silver energy: A stone bowl, a jeweled branch, a red cloak, a rainbow-colored shell, and a necklace of many valuable stones, ?Buddhist Diamond!? A massive clear shield forms in front of Kaguya, which the disks harmlessly bounce off of. Magic circles appear on the shield and fire lasers at Reimu, who dodges to the side, drawing two more spell cards.

?Meiling Sign!? The Suwako-aura takes Meiling?s shape, ?Colorful Flower: Rainbow Taijiquan!? Colorful chi gathers in Reimu?s hands and legs as she flies around Kaguya?s counterattack, with enhanced speed, preventing the rest of us from backing Kaguya up, and toward the shield. She delivers a series of powerful punches, then kicks, creating large cracks in the shield, and finally finishes her combo with a final punch, breaking through the shield and sinking into Kaguya?s gut.

?ACK!? Kaguya coughs out blood, as she slowly backs away from Reimu.

?Princess!? yells Mokou.

Sakuya says, ?Forgive me,? then tosses several knives, but Reimu, still under the effects of Meiling?s spell card, skillfully deflects each knife.

Reimu draws another spell card, ?Colorful Sign: Colorful Rain!? Reimu fires a blast of chi upward, which bursts above us can comes raining down as small blades. While we try our best to dodge, a few still manage to hit all of us, leaving us somewhat weakened as a result.

Sakuya admits, ?She?s too powerful! She?s not the same Reimu at all??

?Yeah,? agrees Mokou, ?She?s nothing like the one we?ve come to know, personality OR ability??

Kaguya says, ?We are completely within Reimu?s clutches while we are here. Reimu has complete control over this realm! THIS is the power of an awakening dreamer within her mind??

Reimu draws two more spell cards, ?Keine Sign!? Reimu?s Meiling-aura shifts into that of Keine, a school teacher who lived in a human-populated village, who transformed into a monster on full moons. A friend of Mokou?s. ?Shroud Sign: Rain in Showa!? Reimu follows through on her aerial attack and several magic circles appear high above and many laser pour down.

I draw a spell card, intending to counter Reimu?s attack, ?Light Blast!? Several magic circles appear around and below me, ?Shoot the Moon!? The magic circles fires lasers upward as an attack that is similar to Reimu?s technique, but goes up instead of down. The lasers clash with one another, canceling each other out. Only a few of Reimu?s lasers pass through, but we dodge them with ease.

Sakuya follows up with a spell card, ?Silver Sign!? Several knives materialize around the maid, aimed at Reimu, ?Perfect Maid!? The knives fly toward Reimu, who teleports through the swarm.

Mokou readies a spell card of her own as Sakuya?s attack was in progress, ?Exalted Personage!? Mokou?s bird-like aura appears, ?Advice of St. Germain!? Several wisps of fire fly from Mokou?s hand and home in on Reimu, who takes evasive action. However, Mokou?s flames are too numerous and Reimu gets hit and stunned by one, then bombarded by the rest. ?Gotcha!?

?Ugh!?

Kaguya fires several blasts of silver energy at Reimu as she?s stunned by Mokou?s attack.

The smoke clears, however, only Reimu?s clothes show signs of harm. Her expression and posture show no signs of wear. She laughs, ?Teehehehe! It?s no good. I have all the energy of Gensokyo in and around me! My wounds only take mere seconds to heal from those tenth-rate spells?? She?s right. Whatever damage we had inflicted on her had shortly disappeared. Hell, even as she?s talking, her clothes start to mend themselves ?? and my stamina is unlimited! I can use all the spell cards I please, but not get tired. As for the rest of you?? Reimu notices how worn out the rest of us have become. Between the battle, getting damaged, and using spell card, we?ve started to become pretty weary. Is Reimu really invincible?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:45:38 PM
?Damn it?? whispers Mokou under her breath, ?No matter what we do, we?re completely outclassed??

?Within one?s own mind?? observes Kaguya, ?It?s like confronting a god??

Sakuya says, ?We have to get OUR Reimu back somehow! Is this solving anything??

I point out, ?Well, if we knock her out, Gensokyo?s crumbling may stop. Or we could weaken her somehow. She?s too caught up with her awakening to listen to us??

Kaguya asks, ?But how do we weaken her? We?ve used so many of our best techniques? and?? Kaguya seemed to realize something. ?Hold on, we have one last shot: Our most powerful techniques, surpassing everything else we?re capable of. It?s a long shot, but it?s worth a try.? Kaguya nods at Mokou and Mokou nods back, both with solemn expressions on their faces. They both pull spell cards out of their pocket. I have a guess on what they?re planning.

Reimu says, arrogantly, ?So what futile attempt should I expect this time? Have you not realized that it?s worthless the way I am right now? After all, you?re only my toys while you?re here!?

Kaguya retorts, ?Well each ?toy? is known to have a share of hazards to children, Reimu!?

Reimu raises an eyebrow, ?Hm??

Kaguya and Mokou both raises their spell cards at the same time, declaring, ?Last Word!? Last Words are the coup de grace of spell cards, vastly surpassing all other spells and techniques a person can cast or execute. The difference is noticeable right away as the casters? appearances change slightly after the initial declaration. Two flaming wings emerge from Mokou?s back, spanning several feet. Kaguya glows with brilliant golden light. When the light disappears, her clothes change to a white gown with blue and silver highlights, long sleeves, and complete with a silver tiara, making Kaguya look more like a princess than she normally does. Last Word was originally a mystery, but after its discovery, many of us sought to master these spells in order to counter the invasion of the Lunarians, who didn?t know of such powers. While these spells represent the ultimate power of their respective wielders, there is a major trade-off: the caster dies. It makes little difference to people like Kaguya, Mokou, and Eirin, who are immortal and only come back to life an hour after using their Last Words, but everyone else needs to drink a potion, created by Eirin, prior to casting the spell, which barely preserves the person?s life, leaving them temporarily unconscious afterward. Considering Last Words operate on a person?s life force, rather than their physical energy, like with all other spell cards, they are strictly a last resort.

Mokou declares, ?Phoenix Rebirth!? Intense flames envelop Mokou, taking the shape of a large firebird with long blue feathers extending from its head and glowing white eyes, potentially becoming like a phoenix..

Kaguya declares her spell too, ?Rainbow Facet!? A bright stone materializes in Kaguya?s hand her body radiates rainbow-colored energy.

Mokou, as a phoenix flies toward Reimu as Kaguya hold her hand out and sends fires a salvo of massive energy bursts, leaving trails of multi-colored light in their wake.

Reimu raises two spell cards as Mokou closes in on her, ?Yuka Sign!? Reimu?s aura takes the shape of Yuka Kazami, which, by now, we know indicates she?s about to use one of Yuka?s spell cards, ?Duel Spell: Twin Spark!? Reimu suddenly splits into two images of herself, one being fake. Mokou, during her pass, breathes a stream of intense fire at one image, which only passes through it, making it the fake. Kaguya?s attack also passes through. The two Reimus turn toward Mokou and extend their arms, releasing two massive lasers, slamming into the phoenix.

?Ugh!? Mokou reels as the attack hits.

?Gr?? Kaguya sends another flurry of bursts at the other Reimu, who dodges the first few, but gets hit hard by the subsequent attacks.

?Ugh!?

As Reimu is stunned, Mokou takes advantage of her state and prepares a second attack. She wraps her wings around Reimu and her body flares up, burning her all over.

?AHHHHH!?

Mokou completes the attack by kicking Reimu in Kaguya?s direction and breathing another stream of flame into her back.

Kaguya powers up for one final attack, as Mokou follows through, charging at the reeling Reimu. Kaguya?s body becomes completely energized with rainbow-energy and she charges as well at an immense speed. Sakuya and I watch on in awe. C?mon, this HAS to do it! I?m not expecting them to destroy her or anything, but at least knock her unconscious! The two attacks connect and there is a large explosion, leaving a cloud of smoke too thick for me to see what?s happening in there.

Suddenly, at the bottom, I see Kaguya and Mokou falling, too weak to even fly at this point.

?Kaguya!? I ride down after them. They?re done for if they fall into the dark void below.

?Mokou!? Sakuya chases after them as well.

How could I have been so stupid? I should have known they wouldn?t have any power left to fly above the void, and I was ignorant of that fact until it was too late! They?re too close to the void for me to make it in time now! Sakuya can freeze time, but she?s never done anything that involved moving anyone or anything, so I don?t know if she?s capable of helping them, even with that ability. Even though it is futile, I continue to chase them and Sakuya prepares a spell card, even though it?s questionable if she could help, as they?re too close to the void at this point.

?Don?t bother?? says Mokou weakly.

?What?? yell Sakuya and I at the same time.

Kaguya says, ?We?ll only slow you down at this point. If you want to help us, get Gensokyo back to normal! I?d imagine it would revive around us. We?ll be okay if you do that!?

Mokou says, somewhat unsure of herself, ?Um? That?s right! Just get Reimu back to normal! Don?t worry about us!?

I don?t want to admit it, but they?re right. Their best chance is Gensokyo?s revival. Both Sakuya and I stop as both rivals disappear into the blackness.

I grit my teeth as we turn back in Reimu?s direction. Well, it seems their attacks worked. She?s bleeding in several areas and is breathing faster.

Reimu forces a smirk, ?Heh. They should have known that wouldn?t defeat me? and now they are doomed to float in a non-existent space. What a pitiful waste of life!?

Kaguya! Mokou! I promise I?ll find a way to return Reimu and Gensokyo back to normal! Your sacrifices won?t be for nothing!

Sakuya attacks Reimu by charging at her, tossing several knives as Reimu prepares another spell card, ?Aya Sign!? An aura forms around Reimu in the shape of Aya Shameimaru, a tengu reporter with power over wind. Her reports often poked fun at Reimu, so there had been a lot of enmity between them. It?s weird to see Reimu using her powers. I guess it?s clear who ultimately came up on top in their rivalry. Instead of using one of Aya?s spell cards in particular, however, Reimu simply sends a strong gust of wind at Sakuya?s knives, reflecting them back at the maid.

?AH!? Sakuya attempts to guard herself, but she still gets cut a number of times by her own weapons, and is left bleeding in several places, blood dripping into the void below.

I draw a spell card, ?Comet!? Blue energy flows into my broom, ?Blazing Star!? Moving rapidly, I fly toward Reimu, intending to ram her.

However, Reimu reacts very fast and has enough time to declare a spell card, ?Wind Sign: Wind God?s Fan!? Reimu releases a powerful gust of wind, which I manage to break through, though it still severely minimizes the power of my attack. I crash into her, sends her reeling, but she recovers very fast and knocks me back, near Sakuya, with a blast of wind.

Reimu prepares another spell card, ?Wind God: Storm Day!? Chilly wind starts to spiral around, soon to result in a tornado. I grab Sakuya?s hand and try to get us to the outside of the wind?s zone, when suddenly, the wind stops.

?Huh??

We look toward Reimu, who has a serene expression on her face, ?It?s? almost time??

I ask, ?What are you talking about, Reimu.?

Reimu says, ?The time is not far off, Marisa. I?m recovering. My awakening is mere hours away. It?s the end for Gensokyo, and Marisa, no matter where you go, you will wake up the moment I do. You may believe in who you are right now, but it?s not your true self. Do accept that fact in the time you have remaining. Farewell.? With that, Reimu disappears into thin air. Frigid winds blow around in the now-desolate Gensokyo. The piece of land we were above starts to crumble.

Sakuya says, ?We can think about this later! She said this is the end for Gensokyo! If that?s true, we have to get to the Netherworld NOW!?

I reluctantly nod as the suction from the void starts to strengthen. We fly up toward the sky into the point the clouds swirl around, entering a dark tunnel of clouds. At the end, we reach four pillars with a gate beyond them and a barrier in front of the gate. We fly up and over the barrier and through the gateway. At the other side of the gateway, the scenery is greatly different and improved from that of Gensokyo, like it has ?stability,? as we are now at the edge of the Netherworld, but we are not in the clear yet. Before us lies a very long stone staircase, which is the point where Gensokyo and the Netherworld connect, meaning this area is partly Gensokyo?s. We fly up the stairs as fast as we can, not knowing how much time we have before this area starts disappearing.

Along the way, Sakuya, sweating heavily from her injuries inflicted by Reimu, asks, ?Marisa? Reimu said? she only had a few hours left? until awakening???

?Yes,? I answer with a nod.

?Where she disappeared to? could it be? that boundary between Dreams and Awakening? Yukari mentioned??

?That would be a safe bet, I imagine. We gotta get to Hakugyokurou very soon and find Yukari.? Suddenly, we see something gaining on us from behind: a wave of darkness swallowing the area behind us, ?Shit! This area is starting to vanish as well! We gotta hurry!?

Sakuya wearily pulls a spell card from her pocket, which has a slightly different characters than her others, ?You go ahead, Marisa, I can?t handle this much longer. I?m fading fast??

I grab Sakuya?s arm, ?C?mon, Sakuya! Just hop on! I?ll take us up!?

?No, I?ll slow you down and we?ll get caught by that void for sure. Listen to me carefully, Marisa. You have to get to Hakugyokurou, find Yukari, and get Reimu back. We?ve lost too many to fail now. I?ll give you one last helping of my energy. You have 45 minutes! Please go!?

?Sakuya, you can?t_?

Before I can finish my sentence, Sakuya breaks free of my grip and declares, ?Chrono Sign!? Silver energy swirls around her, which she then sends over to me, ?Silence Elongate!? The world around me becomes monochrome and eerily silent. Everything had stopped in their tracks, except me. I realize what Sakuya had done: she passed the energy of her spell card to me, so I get the benefits of it. I?ve seen her use that particular spell before. According to her, it freezes time for a period of 45 minutes of the user?s time, an effective way to get ahead when under a time limit. So this is what it?s like when Sakuya freezes time, huh? That means she gave me 45 minutes to go ahead to Hakugyokurou. Even so, I refuse to leave Sakuya behind.

I put my arm around the frozen Sakuya and say, ?C?mon, even though you want me to go alone, I?ll just take you with me anyway! We have time!? I try to move, but Sakuya won?t budge a millimeter, even though she?s flying like me. On top of that, her entire body is harder than steel. I realize why she can?t move anything, other than herself, when freezing time and why she didn?t just stab someone in their suspended animation during a battle. With no options at all, I can only do what Sakuya asked me to do. ?? Thank you, Sakuya?? I fly ahead, my tears staining the stairs behind me, like Sakuya?s blood had been before. I can?t fail! I won?t fail! It?s like Sakuya said: We?ve lost too many to fail now? and now I?ve lost another.

It?s my most dramatic loss yet. Next to Reimu and Alice, Sakuya is one of my closest friends. It was two years ago, but it doesn?t feel that long. When Sakuya and I had entered this place for the first time, Sakuya was completely focused on her mission, which was to get spring back at the time, and the solution was in Hakugyokurou. She apparently felt Reimu and I were slowing her down, so she used the spell, which I am currently under, to go ahead and ditch us. I was pissed off about that. Yet now, Sakuya did something noble and used that same spell so I could get ahead. She had changed since then, and even acknowledged Reimu, Alice, Youmu, and me as her ?friends? after we defeated Mokou. I didn?t fully appreciate that change until now.

I zoom ahead, making the best of Sakuya?s final act. Goodbye, Sakuya?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:46:21 PM
When time resumes, I am several miles ahead of the wave of darkness. Behind me, it doesn?t look as frightening as it did up close. It won?t catch up to me anytime soon and, as I?ve ascended these stairs quite a few times before, I should be pretty close to the gardens?

And I?m right! I reach Hakugyokurou in no more than 15 minutes after Sakuya?s spell ends. Before me, there is a massive sea of pink, with some brown and green. That?s always the most noticeable feature about Hakugyokurou: Its gardens. There are countless cherry blossom trees, the air and ground filled with pink petals. Among all that, there are ghosts, some as transparent beings, and others as wisps (I guess they choose what form they take). This is where people go and stay for one hundred some odd years after their lives end, before their final judgment of going to Heaven, Hell, or being reincarnated back into the cycle of life. As few people are pure enough to go to Heaven, or evil enough to go to Hell, reincarnation is the most common outcome, or so I?m told. Beyond the sea of trees, there is a large palace, which just has a traditional look to it, but nothing outstanding, other than its size. It?s where Yuyuko Saigyouji resides. Compared to Kaguya?s palace, Eientei, it has less height, but more width. Behind the palace, however, towering over it, there is a withered tree. I only saw it bloomed a couple times, and both times meant disaster for Gensokyo. The first time, Yuyuko, set up by Yukari, had Youmu steal spring essence to bloom it, but Reimu, Sakuya, and I stopped them. The second time, Yukari herself was stealing the essence, and almost succeeded, before she was convinced that what she was doing was wrong. That tree is the Saigyou Ayakashi, a tree that Yuyuko?s soul is confined to.

I fly over the gardens, headed in the general direction of the palace. Hopefully Yukari and Alice are over there. Along the way, I hear a familiar voice, yelling from behind, ?Hey! You! Wait!?

I stop and turn, seeing Mima approach. I demand, ?What? YOU? What do you want?

Mima says, ?Don?t worry. I?m not going to try to kill you this time. In fact, I want to thank you.?

?For what??

?You took the only people left over in Gensokyo to another realm, didn?t you? I didn?t sense anyone else after that. You completed my mission for me.?

I rub the back of my head at my unintended favor, ?Um? you?re welcome??

Mima looks around, ?What happened to the others? Where is that girl in the maid outfit and that tomboyish one with the flames??

??? I explain what happened to Sakuya, Mokou, and the others.

?I see?? says Mima ?? I didn?t think you?d return to Gensokyo. I should have stayed longer??

?There?s nothing you could have done,? I tell Mima, ?Everyone I was with when confronting Reimu was immortal. You couldn?t kill them in any permanent sense??

Mima?s eyes turn to the side, ?I see? It?s unfortunate? I don?t want to imagine what horrors they are facing right now??

I declare, ?Whatever they are, it won?t be for long. I intend to find Reimu and return Gensokyo to normal, getting them back too.?

Mima sighs, ?I told you, what you are fighting for is a thought? but it?s none of my business anymore. Do what you must. I guess what you believe in is what matters??

??? Without a word, I nod and continue in the direction of the palace.

I land at a series of stone steps, with cherry blossom trees lined at the sides, leading up to the front door of the palace. At a small walkway at the top of one flight of stairs and at the bottom of another, I see Yukari standing in wait.

?You made it,? says Yukari ?? Where are the others??

?They didn?t make it?? I answer.

Yukari looks at the ground, ?I see??

I explain, ?They were swallowed by the void. Reimu disappeared, saying that her awakening is only hours away. Might she have gone to the boundary between Dreams and Awakening??

?Yes,? answers Yukari.

I say, ?If I stop her, she may bring Gensokyo back? and it might revive around Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou. Please open it, Yukari.?

?Okay,? responds Yukari with a nod, ?However, it?s a very restricted boundary and will take me some time to open. It will take me a little over an hour to do. Come back here by then.?

I?m a little irked that I?ll have to wait for Yukari when there is so little time remaining, but there?s nothing I can do to help it. I simply respond, ?I understand, Yukari. Please hurry.? With that, I head out to the gardens, intending to come back in an hour.

Fatigued, both emotionally and physically from the battle and recent events, I find a tree in the garden to rest under. I look at the Netherworld residents wandering around, like they don?t have a care in the world? and they probably don?t. It looks nice? and it reminds me that so many people, who had disappeared in Gensokyo don?t even have that chance. Now the sense of urgency is more apparent than before. Compassion is not a particularly strong point of mine, but it?s depressing to think of what they?d miss out on.

?Marisa?? I turn in the direction of the voice that just called my name and see two girls.

The first one has red eyes and semi-long pink hair, wearing a blue and white kimono and hat, with a swirl-like insignia on it, and has a few small ghostly wisps circling her. She?s Yuyuko Saigyouji, the ghost princess of the Netherworld.

The other girl has blue eyes and semi-short platinum hair, who wears a green and white dress, and has two sheathed swords with her, and is accompanied by a large ghostly wisp. She?s Youmu Konpaku, Hakugyokurou?s gardener and Yuyuko?s sworn protector. She was the one who originally stole Gensokyo?s spring essence in order to bloom the Saigyou Ayakashi, and tried to stop Reimu, Sakuya, and me from reaching it, but at the same time, helped us to a small extent. Since then, she?s fought alongside us when Yukari stole spring, when Kaguya made a fake moon, when Mokou tried to erase the moon, and when Yuka covered Gensokyo with poisonous flowers. As one might guess, she?s handy with a sword and carries around the Roukanken and Hakurouken, two powerful blades. She also is capable of putting acute focus into her attack and the wisp with her is a part of her. She?s probably the fourth most important person in my life.

?Hey,? I greet half-heartedly, ?How?s it going??

?I?m fine,? answers Youmu.

Yuyuko says, cutting to the point, ?I?m sorry about Gensokyo, Marisa, but are you really sure you want to go after Reimu??

?Of course!? I answer, ?She?s strong, but I?ll find a way.?

Yuyuko shakes her head, ?It?s not that, Marisa.?

?Then what?? I ask.

Yuyuko explains, ?Don?t take this defensively, Marisa, but Gensokyo?s creation was an accident. I heard about everything from Yukari before you arrived here.?

??Accident??? I ask.

?Gensokyo came into being because of injuries Reimu?s real self and yours received, putting you into deep sleeps, thus dreaming of Gensokyo, right??

?Yeah. So what??

?Neither of your true selves planned to create Gensokyo in the first place. It was all a result of an unfortunate circumstance. None of it was planned, and, even if you don?t feel that way, having no knowledge of your other self, Marisa, none of it was desired.?

Getting somewhat fed up by that revelation, I respond, ?Whatever. Gensokyo was created, and I?m happy. I don?t want to go back to being ?Marisa Starr,? or whoever I am. As far as I?m concerned, I?m Marisa Kirisame, now, then, and forever.?

?Then what about Reimu Kiribayashi??

?Huh? What about her??

?Keeping her from awakening and reviving Gensokyo means taking away everything that poor sleeping girl has. Her future? her family??

Yuyuko caught me off guard, but my concern for Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou outweighs whatever concern I have for our other selves, ?Reimu was happy being here. I?m sure she will be.?

?That?s not what?s important.?

I?m starting to get angry. I have a chance to get back everyone I lost, and now, someone is trying to talk me out of it. I sort of understand what Yuyuko is talking about, but I?ve made up my mind, ?Then what the hell do you want me to do, huh? Abandon Gensokyo? Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou are stuck in the void that remains of it! It?s because of Gensokyo that Yukari exists. Hell, it?s because of Gensokyo that YOU? Yuko existed!?

Yuyuko?s eyes turn to the side, ?Well? that is true. I?m not saying that I like the idea of its disappearance, but it?s something that has to happen. It was only a dream, and it has to end??

I look away from Yuyuko, ?Think of it however the hell you want. It?s my reality and I?m not giving it up.?

?I see?? Yuyuko walks away.

??? Youmu gives me a somewhat sympathetic look, and then follows her mistress.

Maybe I am being selfish. I don?t know what Reimu?s other life is like. Hell, I don?t even know about my own. But the way we were in Gensokyo, we had done so much, made so many friends, and have been very happy. No matter what it really was, they were good times and precious memories. If Reimu wakes up, and in turn, me, I will lose all those memories and what I know about myself now. It would have been a fleeting dream? and I don?t want all of our experiences to be reduced to something like that! It?s too precious to just let go of?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:47:06 PM
Several minutes pass as I try to rest a little. I suddenly hear another voice, which is deeper than Yuyuko?s and has a slight accent, ?Marisa Kirisame. Are you truly sure you want to go through with the sin you?ve chosen?? Damn? Just who I need right now? I look up at who?s talking: A girl with blue eyes and semi-long green hair, wearing a blue and black dress with gold highlights, and a blue hat with white ribbons and a gold emblem in the front. She?s Sikieiki Yamaxanadu, the Yama of Gensokyo, who judges the souls of the dead, after their ?waiting period? in the Netherworld, and decides whether salvation, damnation, or reincarnation awaits them. I guess she doesn?t like damning people or reincarnating them, because whenever she has the time, she lectures people about their sins, usually to the point where they break down and start crying. All in all, I dislike being spoken to by her.

I sigh and ask, ?I?m just going to bring Reimu back, get Gensokyo back, and save everyone. How the hell is that a sin??

Sikieiki answers, ?In doing so, Marisa, you are going to take the life away from Reimu?s true self in another realm, Reimu Kiribayashi.? Shit! Not this again? ?The actions you currently intend on are on the same level of sinfulness as that of murder. Kiribayashi wasn?t prepared to have her life changed in such a way and it?s only right she continues with what she was naturally born with, not an artificial existence within her mind. Mankind shouldn?t be allowed to rely on something so perfect in any permanent sense. If you deny Kiribayashi of her real self, you will most certainly fall into Hell. Please reconsider before it?s too late, Marisa Kirisame. Now listen closely, for the first instant of the sin before you occurred over a thousand years ago, when??

Dammit, if I let her continue, she?ll go on for hours! I cut in, ?Okay! Okay! I get it! Just shut up already! I still refuse to atone. Besides, you were still gonna send me to Hell without this, right??

Sikieiki flinches, but then calmly responds, ?That is correct, Marisa, and that?s all the more reason for Reimu to wake up, as you will be Marisa Starr again, who has a mostly clean slate.?

I hold out my hand in front of me, ?Hold on! Let me get this straight: Are you saying you would judge me on whomever I am when I die??

Sikieiki responds, ?Marisa, all living things are complex. You are a persona of Marisa Starr, existing within a dream world, yet you have dreams as you are right now, am I correct??

Sikieiki brought up an interesting point. Even if I am a dream, I have dreams, ?Ye-yeah??

?Every living thing has endless depth? multiple souls. It?s the soul that?s alive that faces judgment, while all the others are permanently dormant. Thus, it to one?s best advantage to exist within the best soul they have when judgment comes.?

?I understand, Sikieiki. But I refuse to abandon those who got trapped in the leftover void.?

?So be it,? says Sikieiki, ?You got my warning. It?s your choice whether or not you choose to heed it.? She starts to walk away.

?Sikieiki,? I call out.

Sikieiki pauses, ?What is it??

?You are the Yama for Gensokyo, but without Gensokyo, what is gonna happen to you??

Sikieiki answers, sounding a little saddened, ?I?ll be assigned to a new realm. So will Komachi?? Komachi is a shinigami, who harvests the souls from Gensokyo and sends them to the Netherworld. She?s not a very diligent worker, but she somehow manages to get her job done.

?I see. Would you rather Gensokyo remain, then??

?To tell you the personal truth, yes?? It?s rare that Sikieiki actually talks about herself ?? but from a moral standpoint, I?m asking you to do the right thing. Gensokyo was never meant to last, so let the cycle of dreams naturally take its course. I can handle whatever changes my job provides?? With that, Sikieiki takes to the air and leaves. Everyone is against me. First Yuyuko, and now Sikieiki. Also, I remember Yukari acting strangely in the idea of preventing Reimu?s awakening as well, but she?s gone along with it. What is bothering her?

A few more minutes pass. Eventually, I get a third visitor. Alice walks up to me, ?Marisa? you made it. I?m so glad!?

I turn my eyes to the side, ?Yeah? Unfortunately, Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou didn?t??

Alice closes her eyes, ?I?m sorry??

?It?s no problem. All I gotta do is stop Reimu, right? That might work??

?Perhaps??

There is a long pause between us. Alice sits down next to me and we watch the cherry blossoms fall from the tree branches above us, looking out at the bright and beautiful landscape. It?s hard to believe we were in the nightmarish remains of Gensokyo not too long ago.

Alice asks, ?Marisa, is it true that none of us? except for Sakuya, Mokou, Kaguya, Eirin, Reisen? and you, actually exist??

I answer, ?Well, you are a part of Reimu?s dream. Basically characters in a mental world? but I don?t think of you that way. Gensokyo was a realm in itself, right? There must be some degree of realism, if that?s the case. Besides, Yuyuko was born of Gensokyo, and she came here, not to mention, Gensokyo had a Yama and shinigami assigned to it, so you obviously have spirits, souls, and afterlives too. Right now, you may be seen as figments in Gensokyo, but you are real anyplace else??

?I see,? says Alice, ?I just refuse to accept everything that I am to be a fantasy. I feel things. I cry, I laugh, I feel happy, I feel pain?? Shanghai, possibly responding to Alice?s will, pricks a small needle into Alice?s finger. A drop of blood trickles down her hand, ?My heart pumps blood, I breath when I need air, I blink when my eyes need to be moist, I yawn and sleep when I feel tired, I scratch when I have an itch. I may not be you, Marisa, but you are ?real,? so do you feel all those things??

?Everything you said,? I respond, ?You and everyone else is real to me. Even if it is a dream, it?s too realistic to be thought of as fantasy. If you simply came off as mere thoughts, I don?t think I?d care for you as much as I do. No matter what others say, you exist. You and the others are real breathing people. You shouldn?t consider yourself to be anything other than that.?

I reach out and gently grab Alice?s hand. She blushes slightly, ?M-Marisa??

?I can touch you. That can?t be done with something that doesn?t exist. It isn?t the nature of your origins that?s important. It?s what you believe in. That?s what I?ve learned from this. Even if Gensokyo is a dream, I, myself, can?t accept it as anything other than a reality, so it, and everyone in it, are real to me... and should be to you too.?

?Marisa?? Suddenly, before I could predict what is going to happen next, Alice moves in front of me, presses her lips against mine, then pulls away a split second later.

I was caught by surprise, ?Um? Alice??

Alice gets up to her feet and says, trying to hide her embarrassment, ?I just? wanted to? confirm our existence? Thank you, Marisa.? With that, Alice frantically runs away. What the hell? Well THAT certainly felt real. It's hard to believe people like her are thought of as inexistant beings by Reimu and Mima...

A few more minutes pass. At this point, I guess I should go back to Yukari, see if she has that portal open, and go finish this! I hop on my broom and fly toward the walkway leading up to the palace at a low altitude, but fast pace.

Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice declaring, ?Celestial Star Sword: Silent Nirvana!? I can?t see her from beyond several cherry blossom trees, but the voice and spell card name indicates that it?s Youmu. Several blasts of white spirit energy, resembling small meteors, fly toward me. I take evasive action, performing numerous barrel rolls, dodging through the storm and continuing forward? at least until the next declaration, ?Human Era Sword: Approaching Disillusion!? A silver and green streak dashes by, several feet in front of me, followed by a fissure in the ground, which geysers silver spirit energy out of it. I come to a sudden stop and fall to the ground. The geyser subsides and Youmu stands at the other side of the fissure, with both the Roukanken and Hakurouken drawn.

I get to my feet, demanding, ?What the hell are you doing, Youmu? Get out of my way!?

Youmu says, ?I?m sorry, Marisa. I was ordered by Yuyuko-sama to keep you from reaching Yukari?s portal. She wants Reimu to wake up, and it?s my duty to honor her wishes.?

?I understand where she?s coming from,? I say, ?but I intend to keep Reimu from awakening! Time?s running out, so step aside!?

?Only if you defeat me in this duel,? responds Youmu, striking a ?ready? stance.

Youmu and I are friends, but when it comes down to it, her orders from Yuyuko get first priority. When spring was stolen, I fought Youmu, and she?s pretty tough, but I?m more familiar with her capabilities by this point, and I?m more powerful than I was back then.

I draw a spell card, ?Light Sign: Earth Light Ray!? A magic circle appears under Youmu. However, she notices and leaps back as a laser shoots out of it. More magic circles appear, but she dodges each of the attacks. I prepare another spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I extend my arm toward Youmu and fire out a focused flurry of star-shaped blasts of magic, which she manages to defend against by deflecting them with her two swords. Eventually, however, one of my blasts manages to get past Youmu defenses and strikes her in the face.

?AHHHHH!? Youmu puts her arms over her eyes and staggers backward, as her ghost-half blindly fires out numerous shots of spirit energy, which I dodge by jumping to the side as I approach.

I jump over the fissure and draw one last spell card, ?Love Sign!? It?s for Master Spark, but I decide to use a little trick I recently taught myself. Instead of firing my laser, I focus the spell?s energy into my right hand and deliver a powered-up punch to the stunned Youmu?s gut. It?s the spell I have the most control over, so it?s the only one with which I can perform it. It rarely comes in handy, but at least it saves quite a bit of energy.

?ACK! Mar? i? sa?? Youmu doubles over, coughing out blood.

With no more use for my latest spell card, I yell, ?Disengage!? The energy inside me returns to its card form. I walk past Youmu and say, ?Sorry about that, Youmu. I hope we?re still friends after this?? I hop on my broom and fly ahead to the walkway. Damn! Yuyuko sure is serious about Kiribayashi?s awakening if she sent Youmu to stop me?

I arrive at the spot where Yukari was, but there is only a black portal. Yukari isn?t around anywhere. Oh well, at least it?s open. Time to find Reimu and put an end to this! I jump into the portal.

On the other side, it is? dark. The bright stars above make the area visible, though. I?m flying above a sea of clouds, though the air feels normal. A few dead trees poke up from under the clouds. A fairly depressing place, though the sky is beautiful. So this is Reimu?s boundary between Dream and Awakening, huh? At any rate, Reimu must be around here somewhere?

I fly ahead in search of Reimu, ?Reimu! Where are you??

A familiar voice, belonging to Yukari, says, ?She?s up ahead??

Another voice, belonging to Yuyuko adds, ?? however, we won?t let you get that far??

From above, Yukari and Yuyuko descend.

?What are you two doing?? I ask.

Yukari says, ?I?m sorry, Marisa? but we?re going to try to stop you right here.?

?You too, Yukari? Just what the hell?s going on?? I demand.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:48:01 PM
?You too, Yukari? Just what the hell?s going on?? I demand.

Yukari answers, ?I didn?t tell you before, but there was something I witnessed after confirming the coming awakening of Kiribayashi: Hiding inside one of my portals, keeping a miniscule rip open, I heard one of the doctors talking to her parents. They were tearful and relieved to know that their daughter was going to be with them again. It was? heartwarming? and it seems cruel to let you take her away from them! On the other hand, Gensokyo is my home and I want it back. Of course, I can?t have both. It?s one or the other. I want you to fail, but I want you to succeed. That?s my conflict, Marisa. Here?s the deal, Yuyuko and I will try to stop you. If you can get past us, we?ll leave you alone. You can go ahead and perform your business with Reimu.?

?There?s one other thing,? adds Yuyuko.

?What??

Yukari answers, ?See how it?s night here? Well, the sunrise of this boundary is also the sunrise of Reimu?s life, and yours. You need to stop her before dawn arrives.?

I grab the shaft of my broom tightly, ?Damn it!?

Yukari spreads her arms, challenging me, ?So come on, Marisa! Give us all you got!?

Shit! Looks like I gotta get them out of my way before I can go ahead to Reimu. What a pain in the ass this is gonna be!

Yuyuko extends her arm in my direction and fires a white laser of spiritual energy, which closes in on me fast, but I fly to the side at the last second and it grazes my arm.

I?m under a freakin? time limit and these two are in my way. It may affect my chances against Reimu slightly, but at least I should get to her. Not intending to pull any punches, I draw a spell card right away, ?Black Magic: Event Horizon!? Magic circles appear around me, and then spread out, spraying star-shaped blast of magic everywhere.

Yuyuko reacts to my attack by materializing a circular formation of butterflies, made from her spirit energy, in front of her, with an invisible barrier in the middle, acting as a shield to defend herself against my attack, while Yukari enters a portal, getting out of the way of my spell. Yukari will probably use this chance to reappear nearby, catching me off-guard, but since I?m predicting that, I?m already a step ahead of her. I quickly whirl around, just in time to see her emerge from her portal, with a stunned expression.

??Know thy enemy,? Yukari!? I fly at Yukari and unleash a sharp kick, sending her rocketing into the swarm of stars my spell created. At the same time, Yuyuko?s defenses became overwhelmed by the numerous blasts and, her shield broken, she gets hit by numerous stars as well. ?I?m not screwing around,? I growl, ?Get the hell outta my way before I use something that will REALLY leave a mark!? The effects of my spell end.

Yukari dusts herself off, ?I?d like to, Marisa, but I honestly don?t know what?s right at this point. If you believe preventing Reimu?s awakening is the right thing, then prove your resolve here and now. Convince me, Marisa!? Yukari declares a spell card, ?Bounded Field: Mesh of Light and Darkness!? Several portals open around Yukari and fire lasers. I take evasive action and fly as the storm of lasers follows behind me, occasionally grazing the bristles of my broom.

Meanwhile, Yuyuko, obviously planning to aid Yukari, readies a spell card of her own, ?Ghostly Elegance!? Energy flows into Yuyuko?s body and a large purple ?fan? opens behind her, ?Fatal Light Trap!? A massive swarm of butterflies flies out of the fan, with no distinguishable point of origin, in edition to red blasts of energy. This had just become much busier, as I dodge around Yuyuko?s butterflies and blasts, while still staying ahead of Yukari?s lasers, a few of both attacks nicking me, gradually wearing me down.

Shit! I need to get these two bitches outta my way, while still having enough energy to confront Reimu with. Of course, Yuyuko and Yukari are no pushovers themselves, and I need a degree of potential to take care of them. This situation is really bad. If this gets me, there will be no confronting Reimu, however. With some reluctance, I draw another spell card, intending to use one of my more energy-costly spells, ?Loving Heart!? Golden energy gathers into both of my arms. I?m intending to use Double Spark, which allows me to fire off two Master Spark-level beams. Concerned with getting past Yukari and Yuyuko as soon as possible, I fly straight toward Yuyuko, barrel-rolling around her butterflies. However, she fires a large ball of energy at me, which slams into me head on, shaking me quite a bit. Damn! Must stay? focused! I barely manage to maintain control over my spell, as I get very close to the ghost princess and extend my left arm, firing my first laser.

?EEK!? Yuyuko lets out a cute scream as my spell slams into her, breaking her focus on her spell card. I start to inch in Yukari?s direction. I have my broom catapult me upward, above Yukari and I aim my right arm down at her.

?Double Spark!? I fire my second laser. However, Yukari has her lasers merge, forming a giant laser, rivaling the size and power of my own. Our spells clash and try to overpower one another. Luckily, my spell has the advantage, being fired off first, but, unlike me, Yukari has nothing to lose by focusing more of her power into hers? and she knows it.

?Hmhmhm?? Yukari chuckles as she boosts the power of her spell, which quickly starts to overpower mine.

?I?ll help, Yukari!? Yuyuko, who recovered from my last attack, decides to back Yukari up again, and fires a thin white laser at me.

Tch. I weaken and store the flow of my spell and dive down the side of Yukari?s laser, narrowly dodging Yuyuko?s attack. I fall down and past Yukari, landing on my broom, which swooped down and direct my arm up at her, as she notices and gasps. I shoot off the final burst of my spell at the now-vulnerable boundary youkai. ?UGH!? Yukari staggers as her spell breaks.

?Yukari!? yells Yuyuko.

Yukari recovers, ?That? was pretty good, Marisa? ? ? ? Just maybe??

Yuyuko interrupts, ?Yukari, shall we use THAT??

I ask, ?What the hell is ?THAT???

Yuyuko draws a spell card. Yukari shrugs, enters a portal and emerges next to Yuyuko, and then draws one too. At the same time, they declare, ?Fantasy!?

?Huh?? I move backward a few feet. A combined spell? Between those two? The only instance of something like that I?ve only HEARD about was some of the techniques the Prismriver Sisters, three poltergeist musicians serving Yuyuko. Reimu fought them during the winter incident. Looks like I?m about to witness something of a similar nature.

Several ghostly wisps appear in front of Yuyuko and several of Yukari?s portals open all over the general area. They then declare, ?Beauties of Nature!? Yuyuko?s wisps fires off a number of pink lasers, similar to the spell card Yukari previously used, only with less frequency and fewer sources, and sward of butterflies fly continuously out of Yukari?s portal. I move to avoid the lasers, but the butterflies are obstructing my view! I can?t even see the ghost and youkai anymore, there are so many! Shit! My back?s against the wall! I fire several blast of magic, but the cloud of butterflies is so dense, I don?t even know if Yukari is in my line of fire. I can tell Yuyuko?s location by the lasers shooting out. I?m no longer being aimed at, which means she can?t see me either, and she?s now firing her beams at random, but regardless, the butterflies break up my shots. The cloud expands, with me on the outside, being forced back, as the swarm will cut me to shreds if I get caught up in it.

Out loud, I express my bitter dismay, ?Dammit! DAMMIT!? I reach into my pocket and pull out a spell card crumpled in my fist. I was going for potency, but still holding back enough for Reimu, but now I?m forced into a tight situation. Time to friggin? end this! Reimu will no doubt have a major advantage over me, but at least I can face her! ?Comet!? A transparent blue barrier surrounds me. ?BLAZING STAR!? Focusing more energy into my spell than usual, I fly into the cloud at a blinding speed. My barrier protects me from the butterflies and lasers, though it gradually wears down. I zero in on where I know Yuyuko is. I break through the other end of the cloud and zoom toward the shocked Yuyuko, as Yukari watches on, equally surprised. ?DAMN YOU!? I break into a series of barrel rolls, giving the shaft of my broom a ?drill? effect, and slam into the ghost princess, broom shaft first. White smoke pours out of her, the ghostly equivalent to blood, and behind me, the cloud instantly vanishes, indicating that the spell broke. Yuyuko falls, unconscious. Yukari emerges from a portal, catching her fallen friend.

Yukari says, ?You win, Marisa. Go ahead and decide Gensokyo?s fate with Reimu.?

Breathing fast, I say, ?It?s rather? obvious who has? the advantage now??

Yukari give me an unsure smile, ?Well? you?ll think of something. If the sun rises, you two wake up and Gensokyo completely fades into nonexistence. If you convince Reimu to not wake up, or knock her out and bring her back, you stay in this dram realm, and hopefully, continue your lives as you know it.?

?We?ll? see? When is? the sun supposed to rise??

Yukari says, ?Don?t know. Could be anytime. Well, I?ll bring Yuyuko back home, and then? watch you two or something. Have fun! Fufufu~? With her trademark giggle, Yukari disappears into a portal.

Tch. The odds are stacked against me now. I fly ahead. Gradually, my breathing regulates, but I?m still significantly worn down from the battle. I take a couple deep breaths, then yell, ?SHOW YOURSELF, REIMU!? My words echo for what seems like endlessly.

Suddenly, red mist, resembling what Remilia covered Gensokyo with, fills the air. Above, a pink incomplete moon, resembling the fake Kaguya used to control Gensokyo appears. Apparently, it has the same effects, but I?m resistant to the mind control. White flowers, unbloomed suzuran to be exact, grow on the previously dead trees, resembling Yuka?s previous actions. In the distance, to my left, the Mountain of Faith appears. To my distant right, a fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi appears. All around, various other sights, reminding me of former crisis? Gensokyo faced, materialize. Reimu appears, the lunatic moon appearing to emphasize her presence, ?Isn?t it nostalgic, Marisa??

?Reimu!?

?Our dream is almost over. Soon, we will return to our everyday lives. For now, however, let us reminisce on our adventures together.?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:49:33 PM
Suddenly, red mist, resembling what Remilia covered Gensokyo with, fills the air. Above, a pink incomplete moon, resembling the fake Kaguya used to control Gensokyo appears. Apparently, it has the same effects, but I?m resistant to the mind control. White flowers, unbloomed suzuran to be exact, grow on the previously dead trees, resembling Yuka?s previous actions. In the distance, to my left, the Mountain of Faith appears. To my distant right, a fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi appears. All around, various other sights, reminding me of former crisis? Gensokyo faced, materialize. Reimu appears, the lunatic moon appearing to emphasize her presence, ?Isn?t it nostalgic, Marisa??

?Reimu!?

?Our dream is almost over. Soon, we will return to our everyday lives. For now, however, let us reminisce on our adventures together.?

?Reminisce? We could have many more adventures together! Just come back with me!?

Reimu shakes her head, ?I?m afraid not. Gensokyo was fun, but it was just a way of keeping myself entertained until I got my life back. At the end, the true form of my existence awaits me. You should want to get your life back too.?

I turn my head to the side, ?Reimu? will nothing I say convince you to come back and revive Gensokyo? We have friends trapped in the void that remains of it. Are you just gonna leave them??

Reimu sighs, ?It?s unfortunate, but that?s just the way it?s going to have to be. There is no stopping the natural course of dreams.?

Shit. I guess reason is not going to affect Reimu. Her position is not budging at all, ?Will nothing I say convince you to come back with me? To continue the dream??

?I?m sorry, Marisa, but no.?

I make a fist, ?You must, Reimu! Sakuya? Kaguya? Mokou? You are their only hope? and everyone else in Gensokyo!?

Reimu responds, ?How many times do you have to be reminded, Marisa? Those that disappeared? they are not real. They do not exist. They are pure fiction. Having any lasting emotional attachment to them is childish and silly.?

I grit my teeth, ?Damn it, Reimu! I WILL take you back with me, even if it means dragging your unconscious body back with me! I?ll do whatever it takes!?

Reimu sighs, ?It?s the last moment we?ll spend together and you want the situation to be a violent one??

?I?ll make sure we?ll spend MANY peaceful moments together after this!?

?Marisa, do you truly believe you are in the right??

?I do!?

?I see. Then we?ll let this battle be a contest of who is right and who is wrong. If you defeat me by any chance, I will return Gensokyo.?

?Fine by me.?

?Then let?s do this.? Reimu descends and lands on an invisible surface. I follow her. Sure enough, we are standing on solid ground, although it?s invisible. Reimu opens her hand, and her 5-foot-long gohei staff materializes. I grab my broom, intending to use it as a weapon too. Although Reimu?s gohei and my broom are wooden, they were imbued with powerful magic, so they are as durable as steel, although they still weigh as much as wood.

?REIMU!? I charge at Reimu and swing my broom. However, she turns her body, narrow evading my attack.

?Teehee! Your attacks are still as predictable as ever, Marisa.? Reimu ducks down and knocks me to the ground with a sweep kick.

?Ah!? Even though I hit the ground rather hard, I recover fast enough and extend my left hand toward Reimu and fire off a green burst of magical energy. Reimu jumps away, remaining inches in front of the blast and deflects it with her gohei. She lands then jumps again, with several ofuda appearing in her left hand she tosses them at me. I quickly get my right foot firmly on the ground a spring away as the ofuda close in. Upon hitting the ground where I was, they explode in a blast of white holy energy. The force of the explosion pushes me back, and the brightness of the light stings my eyes. Luckily, I manage to adjust my eyes just in time as Reimu jumps at me and swings her gohei. I raise my broom and block her attack. She attempts a low attack, but I block that too, and she follows it with a second high attack, in which our weapons clash again and press together as we try to overpower each other. I?m the first to wise up to the circumstances, however. I grin as I step to the side and lower my weapon as Reimu?s suddenly wasted strength causes her to stumble forward, dropping her defenses. I attempt a quick counterattack; however, Reimu uses her right foot to spring upward and, using her flying ability as a means of performing an otherwise physically ineffective attack, launches a midair reverse-roundhouse kick. Her heel connects with my cheek and I?m sent flying several feet, the motion blowing my hat off in midair. I hit the ground, back-first. Reimu jumps up and above me with her right leg raised, intending to hit me with an axe-kick. At the last second, I roll out of the way as her heel hits the ground. I thrust my broom?s shaft up at her and it connects with her jaw.

?Ah?? Reimu stagger back as I return to my feet. I swing my broom at her like a baseball bat, but she quickly ducks below my attack then springs up, performing a back flip, the tip of her foot connecting with my chin, launching me upward. I aim my hand toward the ground while the rest of me is stunned and blindly fires off a laser. ?UGH!? Reimu grunts, which indicates to me that my attack hit. I recover in midair and land on my feet. Reimu recovers as well. A needle materializes in her hand which she tosses at me, but I deflect it with my broom.

?YAAAAA!? We both charge at each other. Our makeshift staves clash. Out left hand both let go and glow with magical energy and holy energy respectively. We both throw a punch, which connects with the side of each other?s faces, the force sending us both flying several feet. We both hit the ground, recover, and rise back to our feet at the exact same time, panting.

?Not? bad?? says Reimu, in between breaths.

?Just what? I was? expecting?? I say. With both take a few seconds for our breathes to catch up.

Reimu pulls a spell card from her pocket, ?That was quite fun, Marisa, but I think it?s time to take this up another level.?

?What are you gonna do?? I ask, ?Use the spell cards of people like Remilia, Meiling, Suwako, and Aya??

Reimu shakes her head, ?We aren?t in Gensokyo anymore. I lost that power with my departure from that world. We are no longer in a world specifically of my mind?s creation. As a result, I?m somewhat weaker that I was when I fought you, Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou. However, as long as I?m like this, I have one more power to draw out with my spell cards.?

?What?s that?? I ask.

?My memories,? answers Reimu, ?Time to reminisce.? She raises her spell card, declaring, ?Scarlet Dream: Cogwheels of Fate!?

The red mist around us vanishes, making the view of the area a great deal clearer. A red aura emanates from Reimu. Just what does she have going??

?L?vatein!? A red beam, about 7 feet in length, extends from the tip of Reimu?s gohei and she swings it as me, catching me off-guard, as I wasn?t expecting it. ?Hailstorm!? Several blades of ice start to rain down from the sky diagonally.

I recover and use a spell card, ?Ritualic Space: Orreries Solar System!? Six shining orbs materialize around me. I jump toward the hail of blades and my orbs smash through them. I then launch them at Reimu, but she suddenly fades into the darkness, and then reappears after my attack flies by, unscathed.

?Killing Doll!? Several knives materialize around Reimu then launch toward me in a concentrated fashion. I step to the side, though the series of knives grazes my right arm. Reimu?s red aura vanishes, ?What do you think??

?What? the? hell?? What was that? Those attacks were??

?? From my memories? If that was what you were thinking, then you?re absolutely right. My past battles play a part in this present battle.?

I was actually thinking that those attacks weren?t actually hers, but she had a point about the past battles. During the mist incident, Reimu fought Sakuya, Flandre, Cirno, and Rumia, a darkness youkai that recently became one of Alice?s students more recently. She used spell card techniques belonging to Flandre, Cirno, and Sakuya, and Rumia?s ability to fade into darkness. She can take on the abilities of opponents she fought during specific incidents?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:50:05 PM
Reimu pulls out another spell card, ?Let?s move onto the next memory of our adventures, Marisa. Ghostly Dream: Wakeless Spring Slumber!? In the distance, the fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi, the Perfect Cherry Blossom vanishes and a pink aura emanates from Reimu.

Time to think? Whose abilities will Reimu use? She fought Lunasa, Merlin, and Lyrica Prismriver, poltergeist musicians of Yuyuko, Chen, a nekomata shikigami belonging to Yukari?s kitsune shikigami, Ran, and Yukari herself.

Reimu smiles and declares, ?Prism Concerto!? Two Reimu clones appear at her side, one in red clothes, more so than her usual outfit, and the other in black clothes, and with the original Reimu?s white clothes, the three clones sort of resemble the Prismrivers. A bow of light appears in one black Reimu?s hand and a sword with a curved blade appears in the hand of the red Reimu. All three of them draw spell cards, ?Flight of Idaten!? They suddenly vanish? or rather take off at an intense speed, as I have to really concentrate to follow their movement. As if their speed wasn?t enough, however, they are also using Yukari?s boundary manipulation skills to open portals, disappearing an emerging from another portal in varying locations. I can?t predict them at all!

I try to keep my distance, firing bolts of my magic, but always missing. Finally, the Reimus decide to stop confusing me with their movement and go on the offensive. The red Reimu emerges from a portal that opens in front of me and swings her sword. I jump back, barely avoiding the attack. However, from a portal above ?Red,? ?Black? emerges and fires an arrow of bright light at me, which pierces me clean through the left shoulder. ?Errghhh!? Okay, it didn?t hurt as much as I thought it would, but it was still somewhat painful. ?Red? and ?Black? vanish into their portals and, floating behind them, Reimu (the original) materializes a large number of rainbow-colored blades around her and sends them at me. I deflect as many as I can with my broom and magic, buts finally, one breaks through my defenses and the others tear through. After the attack, ?Red? and ?Black? appear in front of me again, their weapons readied at point-black range. This is not good?

?Okay! Now then? huh?? As the original Reimu is about to give an order to the two duplicates, she notices something in the air above and behind me.

?Marisa! Hold on!? A familiar voice yells as a red laser shoots down at the black Reimu, piercing her through the chest, causing her to fade into thin air. A doll armed with a sword dives down at the red Reimu, who jumps up and cuts through it, but another ?sword doll? backs up its fallen comrade and also pierces her through the chest, causing her to vanish.

Although I know who just came to my aid, I look back anyway, ?Whew! Thank you, Alice! I was in sort of a tight spot there?? Alice descends to my side.

Reimu sighs and says, ?Alice Margatroid. Do you know what you are doing? I am the reason you are here. I am like a mother to you.?

Alice responds, ?Even if I am a part of your dream, Reimu, I cannot think of you as my mother. After all, you lived as an equal with the rest of us for a long time. I fail to see you as anything different, even now. Even if it is as you say, I will protect and help Marisa and the rest of my friends, and take you back with us.?

Reimu chuckles, ?It?s strange? how the figments of my own dream are trying to prevent ME from awakening. Very well, Alice. You can try to stop me. After all, there are only a few more minutes and the sun rises and this all ends.? I won?t doubt what she?s saying, but the sky hadn?t gotten any brighter since I got here. I find it hard to believe?

I glance at Alice, ?We?d better not waste any time??

?Yes,? responds Alice with a nod.

Reimu readies her next spell card, ?Imperishable Dream: Nocturne at Two o'clock!? The pink glow of the lunatic moon vanishes and it expands into a full moon. At the same time, the sky turns from black to a dull blue. Shit, NOW it?s easy to believe that our time is almost up. Kaguya?s moon made sure that it was always night! Reimu turns toward Alice, extends her arm, and cracks a mysterious smile, ?Master Spark!?

?Wh_?? Before Alice could figure out what was happening, Reimu engulfs her with a massive laser, with the same name and appearance as mine. Oh yeah, she DID fight ME during the moon incident, while I was under Reisen?s mind control? When Reimu?s attack ends, Alice is on the ground, several feet away from her original location, ?Ugh??

I ready a spell card, preparing to counterattack, but Reimu glances at me and snaps her fingers, ?Force Crisis!? A purple meteor-thing rockets down from the sky and toward me. I jumps back, but an explosion follows, with enough force to knock me away. I land next to where Alice was knocked to, landing on my feet, just as she is getting back on hers?.

Alice declares a spell card, ?Corps Command!? Alice?s doll, which is always around her, Shanghai, multiplies into tens of duplicates. ?Shanghai Battalion!? Spears, rapiers, axes, bows, scythes, old-style firearms, and various other weapons materialize in the hands of the many Shanghai dolls. All at once, the charge at Reimu or prepare to shoot at her from a distance.

Reimu smirks slightly, ?Impressive, Alice. If I hadn?t the appropriate countermeasures, I might even be intimidated. Butterfly Storm!? Several glowing butterflies materialize around Reimu and charge at Alice?s incoming army. Both forces clash. However, Reimu?s butterflies gain the upper hand by guarding against the dolls? attacks by blocking with the razor-sharp edges of their wings, then crashing into the dolls and exploding. Reimu picks off the dolls that broke through her counterattack by throwing ofuda at them, which detonate on contact. The result is a large cloud of gray and pink smoke.

In an attempt to catch Reimu off guard, I declare a spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I send a flurry of star-shaped magical blasts into the cloud. On the other end, I hear some light bursting sounds and some grunts from Reimu?s voice. The smoke clears and Reimu is down on one knee, supporting herself with her gohei.

Reimu return to her feet, ?Not bad, Marisa. I figured you might do that, but it was before I could properly prepare. However, that was not good enough. Now get ready for the next memory! View Dream: Revolving Lantern of the Tenth Year!? Reimu declares her next spell card. The unbloomed suzuran on the trees whither away. Coins, each with holes in the middle, materialize in Reimu?s hand. They are afterlife currency, called karma, but Komachi, back when we fought her, has the ability to infuse them with energy and use them as powerful weapons. ?Storm Day!? There is suddenly a cool breeze around us? which quickly picks up and becomes a tornado, sucking me and Alice in. We both grab my broom to keep us from getting separated and to move in this windstorm? at least a little. Reimu appears at the middle of the cyclone, seemingly unaffected by it, as Alice and I spiral around her. Alice summons a doll, which appears in front of Reimu and fires a red laser before getting swept up as well. However, Reimu extends her hand and blocks it. ?Higan Retour!? Reimu throws the coins at us, which multiply along the way, which also get caught up in the whirlwind, making the going very hazardous. Both me and Alice get hit and burned several times by the energy-infused coins.

A coin hits my shoulder, ?Agh! Damn it! We gotta end this soon, or?? I grab a spell card with my free hand and declare, ?Magicannon!? Intense magical energy flows into me as I instruct Alice, ?Alice, don?t let go of the broom!? I pull myself up, kick off the broom?s shaft, and dive toward Reimu, who suddenly has six beams extending from her back. ?FINAL MASTER SPARK!? I cast my ultimate ?spark? spell. My massive laser flies toward Reimu. I summon my broom over to me to keep myself in place, barely resisting the tornado?s wind.

However, Reimu was not unprepared this time. ?Last Judgment!? Reimu fires a large purple laser at me, of equal size, a technique belonging to Sikieiki. Our beams clash and the magical and divine energy from our respective attacks goes crazy, flying outward, causing the coins to explode. I?m barely holding on, but Reimu doesn?t seem to be having much trouble, ?Oh, Marisa. I may be weaker than I was when you fought me with Sakuya, Mokou, and Kaguya, but my power still outclasses yours!? Reimu?s laser gradually overpowers mine. Damn it, this is not good to say the least.

?Arcane Craft: Magical Marisa Dolls ?Master Spark-!? Alice declares a spell card I?ve never heard of. I look out the corners of my eyes. In one direction, then the other. Alice had summoned two dolls, which look just like ME! They even have the hat ribbons and aprons! Both dolls extend a hand in Reimu?s direction and fire slightly smaller versions of my Master Spark. They join with my Final Master Spark, making the laser even more powerful! The status of the power struggle becomes neutral, with either side gaining the advantage. I glance at Alice with a serious expression. Alice nods in return. We both focus all the power we can into the attack, making our beam quickly overpower Reimu?s.

?WHAT?? Reimu?s eyes widen in awe and dismay as the laser completely engulfs her. The spell is broken. The tornado stops and the three of us are sent flying in various directions. We all hit the ground hard. The taste of blood is in my mouth as I crawl in the fallen Reimu?s direction. Reimu looks at me and smiles wearily, ?That was pretty good, Marisa. I guess I shouldn?t have underestimated Alice?s power.

Alice recovers slowly, ?When I have such an important goal in mind, not even you can stop me, Reimu.?

?I see,? responds Reimu.

I say, ?Come back with us, Reimu. Please. Is the life that awaits you on the other side really that important??

Reimu slowly rises to her feet, ?Of course. It?s my family? my friends? my life? Dreams like this are fine, but in the end, that?s all they are: dreams. We all have to wake up sometime. Even you, Marisa. You may lack the memories of you other self, so you fail to realize the significance of what you have.?

?I don?t??

?Ah! Marisa! L-look?? Alice gets to her feet and points at the sky. I get back to my feet as well. Up above, the sun appears over the horizon.

?It?s time,? says Reimu.

Suddenly, there is an acute pain through my head, like the kind of headache that makes it suck to be alive at the moment. I feel the information in my brain rearrange in ways I can?t describe. I close my eyes tightly and slump to my knees as I hold my head with my hands. I remember things? that are not of my life as Marisa Kirisame. My parents, my friends, my school, my experiences, both good and bad, my ambitions, my desires, my passions? my life! I?m?

?Marisa, your clothes!? Alice shouts out.

I look and see that my clothes had changed color. Instead of black, they turned white, like Reimu?s.

More memories come flowing back to me. I was staying at school late to complete an important project. As such, I missed the bus home. As my house was not within walking distance, I decided to take the subway instead. As I was crossing the last crosswalk, a truck ran a red light and? ? ? ? Wow? Life bites you in the ass when you're not expecting it at all. I guess that's a... unfortunate, yet charming aspect of it? Still, it?s not like all bad came of it?

Reimu looks at me with a welcoming smile, ?I see you are now with us? Marisa Starr.?

A portal opens up nearby. Yukari emerges from it, saying, ?So it?s too late. Things couldn?t be changed??

?Shoot. I was rather aware of this possibility, but? Reimu and Marisa? up until now, they had always found a way of turning things around?? A second figure emerges from the portal. A figure I was not expecting at all.

?What? Sakuya? But? but how did you???

Sakuya says solemnly, ?Honestly, Marisa, I think we have more pressing matters at hand at the moment??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:50:46 PM
Yukari points out, ?Your appearance had taken a turn similar to Reimu?s. Is there anything else different? You know? in your mind??

I nod, ?Yes, actually. I remember everything! My life before this dream started!?

Yukari asks, ?Now that you remember who you really are, Marisa, what do you want to do? Wake up and resume your life, or keep dreaming??

?I don?t know? I now realize the significance of what I lost? but Kaguya and Mokou. I don?t want them to continue being trapped in the non-existent Gensokyo. That hasn?t changed??

Yukari sighs, ?Just thought I?d bring it up. The truth is, now that the sun had risen here, there is no turning back??

?What??

?You two are on the verge of awakening. Gensokyo is gone. Not a speck exists in that space anymore? except for our two favorite immortals. I can no longer access it. Nothing can get in and nothing can get out??

I tighten my fist, ?Damn it! After all that, I couldn?t save them? I?ve always found a way to win in the past, no matter what the odds. I felt that as long as I was there to do something, everything would turn out alright in the end? but this is different. I promised myself and others that I would return it to normal? and after all that, I failed in the end! Damn it? DAMN IT!? I grit my teeth as tears pour out of my eyes. I can only think of what Kaguya and Mokou are feeling right now? Alice, Sakuya, and Yukari can?t find the right words.

I suddenly feel a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Reimu looks at my face with a kind smile, but I?m not feeling any better, ?Marisa??

?What do you want, Reimu? It?s because of you that Gensokyo is gone, everyone there is gone, save a few, and Kaguya and Mokou are trapped there!?

Reimu responds, ?Every dream must end, and this is no exception. However, just like they end, they also begin. Gensokyo is our creation. Yours and mine. As long as we exist, new dreams are made? and even dreamt all over again. As long as we dream, there may still be hope!?

I stop crying, ?Really? Is that true, Yukari??

Yukari shrugs, ?You tell me. It?s your dream. I?m just something you two thought up. Reimu has a reasonable point, however.?

I ask Yukari, ?Can?t you just? you know? open a boundary into our dreams, or something, so we can get Kaguya and Mokou out??

Yukari closes her eyes for a few seconds ?? I might, as a matter of fact, but I?m not entirely sure. That could be a problem, though, as I will need both of you together??

?We?re here,? says Reimu, ?We?re together.?

?I mean your OTHER selves,? says Yukari, ?your physical selves sleeping, awaiting awakening.?

Reimu points out the difficulty behind that, ?We aren?t even aware of each others? existence on the other side? and we?ll likely forget about everyone? and everything??

As odd as it is, I can now fully grasp the things that Reimu is talking about. In fact, at absolutely any moment, I could wake up and end this dream? but I know that Kaguya and Mokou weren?t dreamt up and we gotta figure out a way to save them somehow, so I?m trying as hard as possible to remain asleep. I?m sure Reimu is the same way right now.

Sakuya guesses, ?Even after Reimu and Marisa awaken, you, Yukari, Alice, Reisen, Eirin, Cirno, and I will continue to exist??

?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?provided you, me, and Alice are out of this dimension by the time they wake up.?

?Then perhaps we can find a way to reunite them on the other side??

?They won?t know us anymore, so it will be more complicated than that? but you may be onto something, Sakuya??

I let out a relieved sigh, ?So there?s hope after all. That?s great.?

Reimu claps her hands together, ?Well, there?s our solution? hopefully. We?ll just meet again on the other side, Marisa, and get the two of them out!?

?I hope it works,? I look at Yukari, ?I?m counting on you.?

Yukari says, ?You can depend on us. We?ll find a way to bring you two together. Well, the only way left to go is forward. We?ll leave the two of you to awaken and return to your day-to-day lives.? Yukari opens a portal and takes a few steps toward it before looking back at us, ?We will be watching!? With those final words and a wink, she disappears into the portal.

Alice approaches the portal and looks back at me, ?Marisa? you? won?t forget me? will you??

I have no truthful answer to Alice?s question that may not hurt her feelings. All I can say is, ?Well, no matter what happens, we?ll see each other again, I?m sure? so? um? don?t worry, okay??

Alice?s sadness seems to be rising. She escapes into the portal as if to hide her weakness.

??? Sakuya turns toward the portal.

I call out, ?Sakuya! Wait!?

Sakuya looks back at me, ?Yes, Marisa??

?How did you do it? How did you escape? I thought you were going to get swallowed by the void!?

Sakuya answers, ?Yukari went to check on us after you went on ahead. She took me to the Netherworld before you arrived there.?

?But? If you were okay, why didn?t you come and tell me??

Sakuya smiles somewhat mischievously, ?I figured the shock treatment might work to your advantage.?

I yell out, ?Damn it! You bitch! How could you leave me like that??

Sakuya chuckles, ?Heh? You shouldn?t let yourself continue to worry about it. It turned out okay for us in the end, didn?t it??

?I guess??

?Well, goodbye for now. Our parting will only be temporary. We shall reveal ourselves when the time is right.? Sakuya disappears into the portal, which shortly vanishes after.

?I suppose it?s that time,? says Reimu.

?Reimu??

?Yes??

?I don?t get you. Before you were all happy about Gensokyo disappearing and stuff, not caring about anything, but now you care about saving Kaguya and Mokou by more or less, returning to it. Why the sudden change of heart??

Reimu looks to the bright sky, ?Before, I guess I was just excited. I gained so much power over something I was among an equal in before. I was happy that I was going to see my parents and friends again. I guess I felt that Gensokyo was keeping me from them, so I lashed out against it. But as time went on, I began to see a little more clearly. I?m aware that Kaguya and Mokou aren?t of my dream and are now trapped because of my haste and selfishness. I? want to make it right. I may forget about them soon, but I hope to eventually get them out of whatever they are trapped within. I?m? happy that Yukari is a product of my dream, otherwise it wouldn?t be possible??

?I see. Well, I?m glad you came around in the end. Well, we should move on to the next step and wake up. Everyone is waiting for us!?

?Not just yet,? says Reimu.

?Huh??

?There is one thing, Marisa?? Reimu?s clothes suddenly transform into the red and white clothes she wore as her in-dream persona, Reimu Hakurei ?? I want to resolve one thing before closing our book?? She points her gohei at me, ?Our rivalry. As Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame, let us determine once and for all which one of us is strongest. Sure, the victory will be less than fleeting, but let?s make this the last memory of ourselves as we were in Gensokyo, Marisa.?

?? Fine.? On a mere whim, my clothes turn back to the white and black clothes I wore as Kirisame. Something amazing is the power I suddenly gained over my other self. Even though she was worn out from fighting Reimu before, thanks to my will, she is now back at full strength. It?s almost funny that we are basically downgrading from our actual selves for our final duel, but hey, this is between Kirisame and Hakurei, settling one final conflict before we leave the dream behind us. Our true selves have no such rivalry, as in actuality, we don?t even know each other.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 01:51:30 PM
Our surroundings become brighter and brighter, eventually becoming a white void. Soon after, a lot of brown and green starts to appear. When the void completely vanishes, we are in a grassy clearing surrounded by forest. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the Forest of Magic. In fact, as our surrounding are at our command, it just might as well be. I quickly hop on my broom, ascend, and glance around. On the outer edges of the forest, there is the Hakurei Shrine to the north, Scarlet Devil Mansion to the west, Eientei to the south, and the Mountain of Faith to the east. The forest we are in is diamond-shaped with each point corresponding to each location and we are in the very center of all of it.

From each location, there are spectators from the dream, who I just know are there, despite being such a distance away. From the steps leading up to the Hakurei Shrine, Suika Ibuki, Ran Yakumo, Minoriko Aki, Shizuha Aki, Keine Kamishirasawa, Chen, Letty Whiterock, and Lily White are watching. From a balcony on Eientei, Tewi Inaba and many of the other rabbit youkai are viewing us. From the clock tower of Scarlet Devil Mansion, we are being watched by Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet, Hong Meiling, Patchouli Knowledge, and Koakuma. Aya Shameimaru, Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya, Sanae Kotiya, Hina Kagiyama, and Nitori Kawashiro are watching from the summit of the Mountain of Faith. Hovering in various points in the air, not from any specific locations, Yuka Kazami, Mystia Lorelei, Medicine Melancholy, Wriggle Nightbug, and Rumia watch us. It?s like all the major locations and people in Gensokyo being brought together into one place! I descend back down to Reimu.

Reimu says, ?This should be a fitting location. Appropriate for our final memory!?

I nod my head, ?I agree.?

?Then let the final resolution begin!? Reimu jumps away, tossing a handful of needles down at me. I jump over the needles and toward Reimu, who then throws an ofuda, which I intercept with a blast of magic, both attacks canceling each other out in a burst of smoke. I dive through the smoke and toward Reimu, delivering a punch to the side of her face, however, she just as quickly attacks back with a quick slap, followed by a kick, launching me away from her. We both land on the ground on our feet. Reimu tosses another handful of needles at me as I charge straight at her, which I narrowly dodge by sliding under them. Just as I?m about to deliver a low kick to her legs, Reimu leaps up, tossing an ofuda down at the place where she was standing.

?Oh sh_? The ofuda bursts in an explosion of light sending me sliding across the ground. Reimu flies above me and dives down foot-first. I dodge her kick at just the right moment. She gets ready to counter by tossing a needle down at me, but I swing my broom, striking her leg, stunning Reimu long enough to get back to my feet. She thrusts her gohei at me, but I quickly dodge to the side and deliver a kick, knocking her back a few feet and putting some distance between us.

Our onlookers cheer with excitement. Reimu smiles as she says, ?Very good, Marisa. It?s a decent start anyway?? Reimu draws a spell card from her pocket, ?Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!? Four balls of holy energy of various colors materialize above Reimu. One shoots down toward me, which I dodge by jumping back as it slams into the ground where I was standing. The second and third also attack me in the same way, which I dodge in the same way. I prepare a spell card, intending to counterattack after the last one. Reimu launches her last orb and I jump back to dodge it like I did with the other three, but this time, instead of crashing into the ground, it arcs straight toward me. No good! I?m wide open!

?Eeeuugghh!? The last orb slams into me and sends me reeling. Reimu dashes straight at me. Despite being a little dizzy from the attack, I manage to declare my spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I extend my arm and send a storm of star-shaped magic blasts at Reimu, who dodges my complicated attack, by jumping, sliding, or turning to the sides, all without losing any speed. For someone who isn?t very diligent in her studies, she still manages to fight like the best of them, whereas I?m the polar opposite, hence the rivalry that we are settling right now. Even though the fight is only going to escalate from here, there is no malice in our attacks. Despite the intensity, in the end, it?s really just a friendly duel.

I hop on my broom and jet toward the miko, who dodges by jumping over me and tossing a needle at my blind side, which I quickly wise up to, look back, and intercept with a tiny blast of blue magic, causing it to spin into the air away from me. I fly upward and fire several large blasts of blue magic at Reimu. She dodges and my attacks hit the ground, bursting into small explosions. She flies up at me, narrowing the distance between us rapidly? and make both of us an easier target for each other. I fire one last blast of explosive magic, which scores a direct hit, knocking the miko back to the ground? but around the same time, I feel something hit me lightly. I look at my body and see one of Reimu?s ofuda attached on. Oh shit! I was so focused with attacking her that I didn?t notice! The ofuda bursts and I?m send tumbling back to the ground, which I hit hard, but don?t break anything. I slowly return to my feet, the two of us separated by several meters. Unfortunately for me, Reimu is quicker to declare a spell card, ?Border World: Hakurei Danmaku Bounded Field!? Several ofuda materialize around Reimu and fly into portals. Portals appear all over the place, ofuda emerge from on and disappearing into another. The nature of this attack is very confusing. Sometime after we defeated Yukari, Reimu learned a little about border manipulation from her, thus she has space-manipulating spell like this? I fire a magical laser toward Reimu, but a portal opens and swallows it and comes out of a portal facing me. I move to the side, avoiding my own attack. Several portals open around me and the ofuda fly out. I dodge the first few, but I finally get mercilessly bombarded by tons of ofuda, each bursting upon contact. They are all used until there are no more, but Reimu, appearing to use an extra ounce of energy to keep this attack going, materializes another wave of ofuda to attack me with.

Here?s my chance to get outta this! ?Star Sign!? After declaring a spell card, a white ball of magical energy appears in my hand. I toss it up and above Reimu, and then declare, ?DRAGON METEO!? The ball turns into a large laser, about as big as my Master Spark, which fires directly down toward the ground? and Reimu. She gets hit from above and loses her focus over her spell.

?Ow?? The power of my attack, along with the presumably substantial amount of energy Reimu put into her spell, leaves her dazed.

I take advantage of the situation and declare another spell card, ?Light Blast!? A magic circle appears below Reimu, ?Shoot the Moon!? Another giant laser, like the one before fires up from below Reimu (the opposite of my last spell), blasting her into the sky. There is a pause of a few second after my spell ends and I wait for her to come down? ? ? ? ? Suddenly, there is an acute pain in my lower chest and notice a needle sunk in! I yank it out and focus seeing Reimu slowly descending from the sky, about to toss more needles. I roll to the side several times, avoiding her barrage.

Reimu lands and catches her breath, ?That was good, Marisa? Very good? Now then?? Reimu declares a spell card, ?Divine Skill: Four-Handed Yin-Yang Performance!? Four large yin-yang orbs appear above Reimu and being firing countless lasers down at me.

?Shit!? I run to the edge of the clearing and take cover behind a tree as the lasers slowly whittle away at it.

Reimu asks, ?Don?t you think it?s funny? and a little strange, Marisa? No matter where you go, everyone looks up to an absolute power? a supreme being? a deity? However, as the two of us have recently witnessed, within our own personal world, we hold the absolute power over it? just like the very deities that people worship.?

?Huh??

?When you manage to master your own world, you are the absolute power! What?s so strange? yet interesting? is that a ?God? exists in each and every being in existence.?

Reimu?s lasers cut through the tree I was using for cover. ?Tch.? A couple hit me, but I manage to get behind another tree.

?That?s no fun!? yells Reimu, ?You should find another tactic!? Suddenly, I hear a humming sound from the yin-yang orbs firing the lasers. I peek out from my hiding place and see that the four orbs stopped firing and came closer together. Below, Reimu is performing some hand seals. With her fingers interlocked in unusual ways, she thrusts her hand out. The four orbs, all at once, fire a larger, more powerful laser, not unlike my Master Spark.

?AH!? I dive out from my hiding place as the laser hits and the tree falls. Luckily, they aren?t firing the rapid barrage from before, so I take the momentary peace to ready a spell card, ?Light Sign!? I summon a group of small magic circles to the ground below Reimu and her yin-yang orbs, ?Earth Light Ray!? My magic circles start shooting MY laser barrage from below. Reimu back dashes out of the way, but her yin-yang orbs get bombarded and destroyed. I hop on my broomstick and declare another spell card, ?Comet: Blazing Star!? A blue field surrounds me and I fly toward Reimu rapidly, intending to ram her.

Reimu declares a countermeasure spell card, ?Divine Arts!? A giant magic circle expands below Reimu, ?Omnidirectional Demon Binding Circle!? A massive pillar of orange light surrounds Reimu and I crash headlong into it. It overwhelms my field, breaking it and my spell and I feel the force of her attack. ?HA!? Reimu?s pillar flashes and a force sends me flying up and through the air, clean out of the clearing where we were fighting.

As I?m helplessly flying in the direction of Scarlet Devil Mansion, I see that I?m on a crash course with Wriggle Nightbug! I brace for impact, but nothing happens. I see that I just flew right through her like she wasn?t even there. After a few more seconds, I crash into the wall of the clock tower, where Remilia and company are, and fall to the floor. Meiling walks over and offers me a helping hand. I try to grab her hand, but mine just passes through, just like I just did with Wriggle. Nearby, Remilia is saying something to me? or at least I THINK she is. Her mouth is moving, but I?m not hearing a voice. Judging by her expression, however, I guess she?s just upset that I?m trying to hurt Reimu, even if our battle is on non-hostile terms. Well, this is a stage that Reimu created for our final duel? but, despite how much this place tries to look like it, this is not Gensokyo? not at all. Everyone watching us is just an illusion. Still, it?s good to see them?

I get back to my feet. Reimu is flying right at me. I get back on my broom, take to the air, and fly back into the fray. Reimu and I fly alongside each other, exchanging needles and magical blasts. One of my blasts hits Reimu in the side of the face as one of her needles sinks into my arm. We descend and land in front of the Hakurei Shrine. I quickly draw a spell card and direct my arms toward Reimu, ?Love Sign: Master Spark!? I fire my giant magical laser at Reimu.

Again, Reimu draws a spell card as a countermeasure, ?Barrier!? Several small yin-yang orbs materialize in front of her, ?Danmaku Kaleidoscope!? My laser clashes with an invisible shield formed between the orbs. Also, energy from my laser seems to get reflected back at me. Luckily, I notice that Reimu?s barrier is showing some strain from my attack.

Even though it?s going to hurt, I pour extra energy into my spell. Reimu?s shield looks dangerously close to breaking.

?Neggrrh?? Reimu seems to be feeling under the weather as I slowly overwhelm her.

?YAAA!? The barrier shatters and my laser breaks through, slamming into Reimu, knocking her back.

With both of us severely weakened, we breathe heavily. Still, as this is the battle to infinitely determine which of us is truly superior, I?m not going to give up and neither is she. I reach into my pocket to pull out another spell card, but? I don?t feel any others in there! This is the last one! Reimu pulls out a spell card, and says, ?Well, This is my last one??

?What a coincidence,? I respond.

Reimu smiles and says, ?Well? shall we put an end to this? The one this truly deserves??

?Fine!?

We both raise our final spell cards and simultaneously declare, ?Last Word!? Both of our bodies undergo a transformation. Black wings emerge out of my back as white wings emerge out of Reimu?s.

The power in me explodes as we take to the sky. As I now have wings, I no longer need my broom to fly. We both move around at blinding speeds. Reimu?s gohei and my broom clash numerous times as we move about. Anyone watching us probably wouldn?t be able to detect our movement and only see the bursts of energy as our weapons clash.

?YYYAAAHHHHHHH!? Reimu and I charge at each other one last time and our weapons clash again, this time so hard that they snap in two. We discard our broken weapons and move on to using our energy attacks. Many large orbs of golden holy energy materialize around Reimu and fly toward me. I avoid some and others hit me rather hard, but I?m not weakened by much. I fire a magical laser at Reimu, though with the enormous increase in power, it?s now about as big and powerful as a Final Spark. My attack scores an indirect hit and we keep fighting, neither of us showing any signs of wearing down. Our battle continues for several minutes.

Finally, Reimu yells, ?This is it, Marisa! Time to end this battle? and this dream! FANTASY HEAVEN!? Reimu spreads her arms and hundreds, literally, HUNDREDS (maybe approaching a thousand) of orbs of holy energy appear. It?s similar in nature to her Fantasy Orb spell, only with several times more orbs and each one is exponentially more powerful than normal! They fly toward me at such a speed I can?t even dodge! I?m bombarded mercilessly all over and the attack last for minutes with me unable to fight back. Reimu?s attack finally ends and she breathes quickly from such a heavy energy loss. ?Can you perform your move? after that??

That?s quite a dare. It?s not easy, as I was harmed pretty badly by that? but I can manage. I have the willpower for it! ?Of course? I can!? I spread my arms and declare, ?APOCALYPSE SPARK!? Several magic circles materialize around Reimu and each fires out a massive laser, all slightly more powerful than a Final Master Spark. Like I just was, Reimu get ruthlessly assaulted by numerous lasers from me, roughly 30 to 60 in number. Dark magical energy gathers into my hands and I finish the spell with a giant dark purple laser, stronger than the ones that were previously fired.

It hits and the world around us turns into a white void once again, but only for a few seconds. When it clears, we are back in our original forms, our lives steadily draining away, back in the clearing. After many deep breaths, we charge at each other one last time. ?AHHHH!? We both throw a punch at the exact same time and both of our fists hit each other in the side of the face. There is a short pause, and then, in such perfect unison that it?s like looking into a mirror, we both slump to the ground. The world around us becomes a white void again, this time for good. We both revert to Starr and Kiribayashi, the weaknesses and injuries we sustained as Kirisame and Hakurei disappearing completely.

Reimu smiles cheerfully, ?That was really fun, Marisa! I guess in the end, neither of us could surpass the other.?

After a brief chuckle, I say, ?That?s the way it should be. I?m sure neither of us wanted a defeat that would last forever??

?You have a point?? Reimu sighs, ?So this is it, huh, Marisa? The end of the dream??

?It?s no dream,? I say, ?Gensokyo was an actual dimension. Some that were born of imagination became reality. In the end, it?s not just another fleeting fantasy.?

?True. So? we will meet again??

?Well, as long as Yukari and the others have something to say about it, I?m sure.?

Reimu chuckles a little, ?At first, I was so excited? but now I?m hesitant? I want to return to my life? but I don?t want to forget you and everyone else??

?Even if you do, I?m sure we?ll remember at some point or another. Look at me, Reimu, remember all you did with me. Let my face be a reminder of me to you and all we?ve done, all our adventures!?

?? Marisa!? Reimu hugs, me, which I soon return.

?Let us move on, Reimu. We still have unfinished business where Gensokyo once was. This is not the end.?

?Yeah??

With that, Reimu fades from my sight. My head feels like it?s spinning. My memories start slipping away. Where was I? Who was I just talking to?? WAS I just talking to someone? Just what the hell just happened?

?

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?

?

I open my eyes. I find myself in an unfamiliar room in an uncomfortable bed. I try to sit up? Damn! I?m suddenly overcome by a horrible headache. What just happened?

? ? ? ? Oh yeah? I was hit by a truck that ran through a red light, and? Ah, so is this a hospital room? I feel my forehead, which is wrapped in bandages. Just how long was I out? However, something feels like it?s missing?

Suddenly, a tear rolls down my face? but why? I survived the accident! I should be happy? but somehow, it feels like I forgot something important. Oh well, at least I?ll have time to think about it?

I hear voices on the other end of the door. An unfamiliar deep male voice says, ?Mr. and Mrs. Starr, your daughter?s condition is stabilizing. She was out for awhile, but in the end, she was able to pull through. She is truly fortunate.?

I hear my relieved mother?s voice say, ?Thank God! I was so worried!?

Looks like thing will be alright for me? but still, something feels? unfinished. Could it be my imagination, or?

===

In the Netherworld, Yukari explains the events that had transpired to Yuyuko and Youmu.

?I see,? says Yuyuko, ?It?s great to see that those poor girls managed to recover? but even so, I can?t help but feel that we?ve abandoned Kaguya and Mokou??

?Don?t worry,? says Yukari, ?I have an idea. It may take a little time and there are no guarantees, but there may still be hope left for them.?

?I see?? Yuyuko turns to Youmu, ?Youmu, will you help Yukari out??

Youmu asks, ?But what about you, Yuyuko-sama? I must be by your side to protect you!?

Yuyuko says, ?Gensokyo is gone. Any threat that may befall me would be from there, but the Netherworld is now a standalone realm. I should be quite safe from now on. Besides, I also have the Prismrivers and Mima to protect me.?

Youmu bows to her mistress, ?That is true. Very well, I shall assist Yukari in her goal.?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:11:55 PM
===

I?m in a dark hallway made of gray bricks, lit with torches. Up ahead, there is nothing but darkness. How did I get here? The whole atmosphere is so gloomy; the feeling of fear over me can?t go away. My legs are shaking uncontrollably and anything that comes out of my mouth sounds like a whimper. I probably look as pathetic as I feel! Dang it! Snap out of it, Reimu!

?RRRRAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!? I hear a loud roar behind me. It hits me so suddenly, I come very close to ruining a clean pair of undies. I turn around to face the noise as soon as I hear it. From the darkness, a giant creature comes into view. It looks like a hybrid of various animals: It has a long tail with a stinger, like a scorpion, it has forearms with long sharp claws, like a grizzly bear, it has large dark wings, like a bat, it walks on six legs, like an insect, and its head looks like it belong to some weird bug too, although its feet are orange and webbed, like a duck. It is about 20 feet in length, and it fills almost the entire height and width of the hallway. It lets out another fearsome roar.

?AHHHH!? I turn and run away as fast as I can. Not surprisingly, it flaps is wings, hovering off the ground, and then starts chasing me. I glance back and see it quickly gain on me. I look to the sides of the hall for doors to escape into, but there are none. Ahead, there is still darkness without an end. I?m trapped! The monster is gonna kill me!

I stop, accept fate, and tightly close my eyes as the creature thrusts its poisonous tail at me? but I feel nothing. I open my eyes and see its tail cut in half, orange goo spurting out. Just what happened? I suddenly feel a reassuring hand on my back. I look to my side and see a girl with long black hair, wearing a pink and red dress. A transparent blade is formed around her other hand, dripping with the orange goo, which soon disappears.

She says, ?Don? rry? imu? we got it u? ontrol?? Her voice is broken up, not unlike the way static interferes with a message.

The creature lets out an anguished roar and gets ready to resume its assault.

?Mokou,? calls the girl calmly.

Another voice responds, ?Yea? eah? I got it? incess?? Suddenly, the monster bursts into flames and vanishes. Another girl, with long aqua hair and red eyes, wearing a brown shirt and red overalls, a little scruffier in appearance compared to the first girl, shows up. With a casual pose and an expression looking only halfway concerned, she asks me, ?Ya ok? eimu??

I guess she was asking if I?m okay. I nod my head and say, ?Thank you so much! I thought I was doomed for sure!?

The second girl looks away, ?Hones? ly I? ember you being? re powerf? imu??

The first girl says with a serious expression, ?? sten, Reim? u mus? t? leas? us? ou und? and?? Their words are becoming more unintelligible, but it looks like she just told me something important.

All around us, there is a sudden high pitched voice calling, ?Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan!?

The two girls and everything around me whites out.

?

?

?

?

I open my eyes. I?m in my homeroom in school, leaning on my desk, one of many, right next to a window. Around the room, there are fellow high school students: the girls wearing light-blue colored uniforms with mid-length purple skirts, like what I?m wearing, and the boys wearing dark blue uniforms with button up shirts.

Shoot, I must have dozed off again. What was with those two girls that I saw in my sleep? I?ve forgotten everything, except being saved, but those girls have shown up so frequently in my dreams since I got out of my coma five months ago, due to an accident, that they?ve left a permanent impression on me. What were their names? I heard one? it started with an M? or was it a G?

?Ah! You?re finally up!? I lazily look up and see a girl with short dark hair and blue eyes, Ayuki, my friend and classmate. She sent me a lot of flowers while I was out.

?Ayuki-chan??

?Class is just about over,? a boy standing next to Ayuki speaks up. He has somewhat shaggy brown hair and dark eyes, aided by glasses. His name is Hiroji. He?s a friend and classmate like Ayuki. He used to muse about how I share a similar appearance and same first name as a heroine from a doujin series of shooting games he plays (what the hell is that about?)

?Hiroji-kun??

Ayuki takes a closer look at my face, ?It doesn?t look like you had completely woken up yet??

?Ah, Kiribayashi. It seems you had been sleeping during class again?? A woman with long silver hair, tied into a large braid, wearing a pair of glasses and a professional-looking suit approaches.

I sit up quickly, ?Oh! I?m so sorry, Yagokoro-sensei! I didn?t mean?? Yagokoro-sensei (I don?t know her first name) is my class? homeroom teacher. She only started teaching at my school a couple months ago, at the start of the new semester.

Contrary to my expectations, Yagokoro-sensei just smiles and asks, ?So do you remember what kind of dream you had??

?Not a lot of it. All I remember is being rescued by? two strange girls. It was a really odd dream??

?I see?? Yagokoro-sensei walks away. This isn?t the first time she?s asked me this. Every time, she?s been interested in knowing what I?ve dreamt about and never scolded me for sleeping. I honestly don?t get that teacher.

?I honestly don?t get that teacher,? says Hiroji, just as I?m thinking those exact same words, ?I was sleeping just a few days ago during class, and she had someone wake me up, then made me the first to answer every question for the rest of the class that day, but she has no problem with you sleeping??

?Yeah,? agrees Ayuki, ?She?s a very unusual teacher? maybe she?s playing favorites? You?re pretty lucky, Reimu-chan??

?I guess??

?Aw man?? whines Hiroji, ?Don?t tell me you?ve become a teacher?s pet!?

?It?s not like that, Hiroji-kun! It?s??

DING-DONG DING-DONG? ? ? DING-DONG DING-DONG

The school bell rings, ending the period.

A few hours later, school is dismissed for the day. I go my separate ways with Ayuki and Hiroji and head home, the sunset creating a golden glow among the cityscape.

As I head home, I hear someone call me from behind, ?Heeey! Reimu!? I turn around and see a girl wearing the same kind of school uniform as me run toward me. She has platinum hair, which reflects the sunset?s light, with a black hair ribbon, and blue eyes. With her, she?s carrying a kendo weapon wrapped in blue cloth and a blue gym bag, which she NEVER parts with and is very protective of. Her name is Youmu Konpaku. She?s a fellow student at my school, who also joined at the start of the new semester. Word about her spread fast when she joined the school?s kendo team and practically destroyed everyone there to such a degree that they are afraid of her, despite her being shorter than most other students. She seems antisocial, as she isn?t interested in talking to anyone, but she seems to have taken a shine to me the second she saw me. One thing that?s annoying, though, is that she never adds an honorific when referring to me by name. ?Um? How was school today? did you learn lots??

?Not really,? I answer, ?I mostly slept during class today. I don?t know what?s wrong. I?ve just feel sleepy nowadays...?

Youmu responds, sounding as if she?s out of her element, ?Um? well, that sucks. So? did you have any interesting dreams?? Again! A student and teacher, both of whom joined my school at the same time and both are interested in what I?ve dreamt about. I haven?t seen them together, but I?m practically convinced that they are mother and daughter. Heck, I can even see the resemblance? sorta?

?Nothing interesting??

?I see??

I might as well take this moment to ask why she?s so interested in what I dream about, ?Why do you want to know what I dream about when I sleep? People usually don?t care.?

Youmu flinches like she was caught on the spot, ?We-well? I?m just? interested in dreams people have??

?Why??

Youmu sits in a nearby bench, her kendo sword leaning against her shoulder, ?Dreams are like an extension of our reality. Here, we go to school, hang out with friends, and do all those normal things. Dreams, however, offer us a temporary chance to live a life that exceeds the limitations of everyday life in this world. It offers us to create a world of our own, one that goes beyond anything here. I guess I?m just wondering how far your own world goes beyond this one??

I sit next to Youmu, ?That?s an interesting way of looking at it??

?Are there any other dreams you can recall??

?I often don?t remember my dreams,? I answer, ?However??

?Hm??

?Until five months ago, I was in a coma, due to a traffic accident??

?? I?m? uh? sorry to hear that??

?? When I woke up, things became weird. Since then, I?ve been frequently seeing two girls in my dreams, saving me from danger and telling me something I can?t make out??

?Kaguya and Mokou?"
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:14:57 PM
I?m in a dark hallway made of gray bricks, lit with torches. Up ahead, there is nothing but darkness. How did I get here? The whole atmosphere is so gloomy; the feeling of fear over me can?t go away. My legs are shaking uncontrollably and anything that comes out of my mouth sounds like a whimper. I probably look as pathetic as I feel! Dang it! Snap out of it, Reimu!

?RRRRAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!? I hear a loud roar behind me. It hits me so suddenly, I come very close to ruining a clean pair of undies. I turn around to face the noise as soon as I hear it. From the darkness, a giant creature comes into view. It looks like a hybrid of various animals: It has a long tail with a stinger, like a scorpion, it has forearms with long sharp claws, like a grizzly bear, it has large dark wings, like a bat, it walks on six legs, like an insect, and its head looks like it belong to some weird bug too, although its feet are orange and webbed, like a duck. It is about 20 feet in length, and it fills almost the entire height and width of the hallway. It lets out another fearsome roar.

?AHHHH!? I turn and run away as fast as I can. Not surprisingly, it flaps is wings, hovering off the ground, and then starts chasing me. I glance back and see it quickly gain on me. I look to the sides of the hall for doors to escape into, but there are none. Ahead, there is still darkness without an end. I?m trapped! The monster is gonna kill me!

I stop, accept fate, and tightly close my eyes as the creature thrusts its poisonous tail at me? but I feel nothing. I open my eyes and see its tail cut in half, orange goo spurting out. Just what happened? I suddenly feel a reassuring hand on my back. I look to my side and see a girl with long black hair, wearing a pink and red dress. A transparent blade is formed around her other hand, dripping with the orange goo, which soon disappears.

She says, ?Don? rry? imu? we got it u? ontrol?? Her voice is broken up, not unlike the way static interferes with a message.

The creature lets out an anguished roar and gets ready to resume its assault.

?Mokou,? calls the girl calmly.

Another voice responds, ?Yea? eah? I got it? incess?? Suddenly, the monster bursts into flames and vanishes. Another girl, with long aqua hair and red eyes, wearing a brown shirt and red overalls, a little scruffier in appearance compared to the first girl, shows up. With a casual pose and an expression looking only halfway concerned, she asks me, ?Ya ok? eimu??

I guess she was asking if I?m okay. I nod my head and say, ?Thank you so much! I thought I was doomed for sure!?

The second girl looks away, ?Hones? ly I? ember you being? re powerf? imu??

The first girl says with a serious expression, ?? sten, Reim? u mus? t? leas? us? ou und? and?? Their words are becoming more unintelligible, but it looks like she just told me something important.

All around us, there is a sudden high pitched voice calling, ?Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan! Reimu-chan!?

The two girls and everything around me whites out.

?

?

?

?

I open my eyes. I?m in my homeroom in school, leaning on my desk, one of many, right next to a window. Around the room, there are fellow high school students: the girls wearing light-blue colored uniforms with mid-length purple skirts, like what I?m wearing, and the boys wearing dark blue uniforms with button up shirts.

Shoot, I must have dozed off again. What was with those two girls that I saw in my sleep? I?ve forgotten everything, except being saved, but those girls have shown up so frequently in my dreams since I got out of my coma five months ago, due to an accident, that they?ve left a permanent impression on me. What were their names? I heard one? it started with an M? or was it a G?

?Ah! You?re finally up!? I lazily look up and see a girl with short dark hair and blue eyes, Ayuki, my friend and classmate. She sent me a lot of flowers while I was out.

?Ayuki-chan??

?Class is just about over,? a boy standing next to Ayuki speaks up. He has somewhat shaggy brown hair and dark eyes, aided by glasses. His name is Hiroji. He?s a friend and classmate like Ayuki. He used to muse about how I share a similar appearance and same first name as a heroine from a doujin series of shooting games he plays (what the hell is that about?)

?Hiroji-kun??

Ayuki takes a closer look at my face, ?It doesn?t look like you had completely woken up yet??

?Ah, Kiribayashi. It seems you had been sleeping during class again?? A woman with long silver hair, tied into a large braid, wearing a pair of glasses and a professional-looking suit approaches.

I sit up quickly, ?Oh! I?m so sorry, Yagokoro-sensei! I didn?t mean?? Yagokoro-sensei (I don?t know her first name) is my class? homeroom teacher. She only started teaching at my school a couple months ago, at the start of the new semester.

Contrary to my expectations, Yagokoro-sensei just smiles and asks, ?So do you remember what kind of dream you had??

?Not a lot of it. All I remember is being rescued by? two strange girls. It was a really odd dream??

?I see?? Yagokoro-sensei walks away. This isn?t the first time she?s asked me this. Every time, she?s been interested in knowing what I?ve dreamt about and never scolded me for sleeping. I honestly don?t get that teacher.

?I honestly don?t get that teacher,? says Hiroji, just as I?m thinking those exact same words, ?I was sleeping just a few days ago during class, and she had someone wake me up, then made me the first to answer every question for the rest of the class that day, but she has no problem with you sleeping??

?Yeah,? agrees Ayuki, ?She?s a very unusual teacher? maybe she?s playing favorites? You?re pretty lucky, Reimu-chan??

?I guess??

?Aw man?? whines Hiroji, ?Don?t tell me you?ve become a teacher?s pet!?

?It?s not like that, Hiroji-kun! It?s??

DING-DONG DING-DONG? ? ? DING-DONG DING-DONG

The school bell rings, ending the period.

A few hours later, school is dismissed for the day. I go my separate ways with Ayuki and Hiroji and head home, the sunset creating a golden glow among the cityscape.

As I head home, I hear someone call me from behind, ?Heeey! Reimu!? I turn around and see a girl wearing the same kind of school uniform as me run toward me. She has platinum hair, which reflects the sunset?s light, with a black hair ribbon, and blue eyes. With her, she?s carrying a kendo weapon wrapped in blue cloth and a blue gym bag, which she NEVER parts with and is very protective of. Her name is Youmu Konpaku. She?s a fellow student at my school, who also joined at the start of the new semester. Word about her spread fast when she joined the school?s kendo team and practically destroyed everyone there to such a degree that they are afraid of her, despite her being shorter than most other students. She seems antisocial, as she isn?t interested in talking to anyone, but she seems to have taken a shine to me the second she saw me. One thing that?s annoying, though, is that she never adds an honorific when referring to me by name. ?Um? How was school today? did you learn lots??

?Not really,? I answer, ?I mostly slept during class today. I don?t know what?s wrong. I?ve just feel sleepy nowadays...?

Youmu responds, sounding as if she?s out of her element, ?Um? well, that sucks. So? did you have any interesting dreams?? Again! A student and teacher, both of whom joined my school at the same time and both are interested in what I?ve dreamt about. I haven?t seen them together, but I?m practically convinced that they are mother and daughter. Heck, I can even see the resemblance? sorta?

?Nothing interesting??

?I see??

I might as well take this moment to ask why she?s so interested in what I dream about, ?Why do you want to know what I dream about when I sleep? People usually don?t care.?

Youmu flinches like she was caught on the spot, ?We-well? I?m just? interested in dreams people have??

?Why??

Youmu sits in a nearby bench, her kendo sword leaning against her shoulder, ?Dreams are like an extension of our reality. Here, we go to school, hang out with friends, and do all those normal things. Dreams, however, offer us a temporary chance to live a life that exceeds the limitations of everyday life in this world. It offers us to create a world of our own, one that goes beyond anything here. I guess I?m just wondering how far your own world goes beyond this one??

I sit next to Youmu, ?That?s an interesting way of looking at it??

?Are there any other dreams you can recall??

?I often don?t remember my dreams,? I answer, ?However??

?Hm??

?Until five months ago, I was in a coma, due to a traffic accident??

?? I?m? uh? sorry to hear that??

?? When I woke up, things became weird. Since then, I?ve been frequently seeing two girls in my dreams, saving me from danger and telling me something I can?t make out??

?Kaguya and Mokou?? mutters Youmu under her breath.

?Huh? Did you say something, Youmu-chan??

?Uh? er? It?s nothing, Reimu??

?Anyway, there is also something else? It?s hard to explain. It?s like I?m? longing for someone? someone important. Someone without a name, face, voice, or gender, but someone close to me? someone I?m waiting for? someone I might recognize all the sudden if I saw him or her? Pretty weird, huh??

?Maybe, but it might mean something. I hope you find that someone??

?Yeah? I guess so??

Youmu gets up, ?Well, I?ll see you tomorrow. Take care, okay? I gotta study for an English test??

?Okay. Oh!?

?Yes??

I point at Youmu gym bag, ?Um? if you don?t mind, could you tell me what?s in your bag??

?Ah!? Youmu tenses up. At the same time, I see that bag move slightly, like there something alive inside of it.

?Oh! It moved??

?Er?? Youmu is getting more nervous.

?Are you? keeping a pet in there??

Youmu?s eyes turn away from me, ?Um? Yeah. Something like that. Please don?t tell anyone.?

?I won?t. Your secret is safe with me, Youmu-chan.?

?Thanks. I owe you. Well, see you tomorrow?? With that, Youmu walks away. Strange girl. Still, I feel like I met her somewhere before? Nah.

Those girls? the unknown person I?m seeking? Could Youmu be right? Could they mean anything?? Damn, I?m confused? I?ll try to make sense of it some other time?

---

In a park in Reimu?s hometown, at midnight, lit dimly by lamps, Yukari emerges from a portal. Alice and Reisen meet up with her after a couple minutes.

Reisen sits on the ground and takes some deep breaths, ?? ? ? It?s not easy living here? I gotta keep my ears hidden? And it doesn?t have the magic in the air the way Gensokyo and the Moon does. I can?t fly or make new spell cards? I gotta WALK everywhere??

Alice glances at Reisen, ?The Moon has magic similar to Gensokyo??

?Not just similar? Almost identical!?

?Wow! That?s an amazing coincidence.?

?Yeah, it kinda is??

Yukari speaks up, ?What a strange place Gensokyo was? Still, I wonder how it came to be??

Alice asks, ?Huh? Didn?t you say that Gensokyo became a realm due to combined energy from Reimu and Marisa?s dreams??

Yukari closes her eyes, ?That was my? uneducated guess, but that?s impossible? it?s not even logical. Coincidental accidents occur all the time across realms, and no new realms get created...?

?Then what could have created Gensokyo?? asks Reisen.

?Yukari?s eyes open slightly, ?It was Reimu and Marisa? dream. Not doubts there, but how it managed to gain such a status? I don?t know! Could it be some other power I don?t know about??

??? There is silence between all three of them to the creepy revelation regarding Gensokyo?s existence.

Reisen breaks the silence and changed the subject, ?A-anyway? We?ll find some way to get Reimu and Marisa together, right? Eirin-sama and Youmu are keeping an eye on Reimu and, at the other side of the world, Sakuya and Cirno are keeping watch of Marisa. Sooner or later, we can bring them together??

?If only this world were that simple,? says Yukari? ?But yes? sooner or later??

As Alice and Reisen express a positive outlook to the future, Yukari starts to think about what the unknown force behind Gensokyo?s existence is.





One year later?

TO BE CONTINUED?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:18:13 PM
In-between 1: Prequel

Reimu Hakurei? A 19-year-old miko residing in Gensokyo, a position she excels at, but hardly ever takes seriously, and certainly doesn?t act the part. With the help of her friends, she had managed to save the land from a number of threats. She often has a string of bad luck, usually gets the short end of the stick, is quite lazy, and is easily annoyed, but is also among the most powerful beings in Gensokyo, with exceptional prowess in combat, but above all, a heart which easily forgives, embraces the good in everyone, and has great love for her friends.

However, that is only one part of the entity that is ?Reimu.? Hakurei is a part of her that exists in her dreams, while her true self, living among us, in the waking world is known as Reimu Kiribayashi, a 17-year-old high school student residing in Japan. Before she conceived the land of Gensokyo in her mind, she was living an ordinary life of hanging out with her friends, attending school, and just taking one day after another, rarely remembering the events that occurred a week ago, as they are of little relevance and are easy to guess. Yes, a life that can be classified as ?ordinary? is also a life that can be classified as ?redundant.?

She, and her classmates, sit through the last class of the day, as the teacher performs a boring lecture, surrounded by white walls and a white ceiling, the school?s dress code adding on to the monotonous overtone, the same thing they had gone through the day before, and the day before the day before, a situation that has repeated itself indefinitely. Reimu glances outside at the sunset. Lucky for her and a few other students, at least, she gets the privilege to look at scenery besides the mono-colored room. The fading light spreads over the cityscape, coloring it in gold. Even though it is still the same old scene, it gives off a soothing serenity, so it?s not all bad.

She then looks at her classmates, who are either listening attentively, as model students should, or are just sitting through it, like she is. She wonders what the point of school is. Yes, of course it?s to prepare them for their jobs of the future; to prepare them to perform their upcoming function in society. Looking at it that way, she feels that she, and her fellow students, are incomplete tools on the assembly line; tools of society, and she starts to wonder what the big point of life is. Everyone is born, raised, schooled and worked for 30 to 50 years, retired, and finally, dead. From such a standpoint, they paths their lives take feel to be primarily in the service of other people and not for themselves. Only the second to last aspect presents any real appeal, but what?s the point? Their better years had ended a long time ago and are no longer able to do the fun things they were once capable of. As for death? well, it could be interesting? if the mystery surrounding it wasn?t such an unsettling thought.

?Tch?? Reimu snaps back to reality and shakes the thoughts out of her head. Of course, she could TRY to do something to break the monotony, but therein lays another problem: the fear of change. She knows she dislikes the redundancy of her life, but, at the same time, she safeguards it: one of life?s greatest paradoxes. The funny thing about her situation is that almost two hours ago, she wasn?t thinking such thoughts. Earlier in the day was her mythology class, the only class where she gives her undivided attention. In that class, she reads and hears stories of concepts that spread far beyond reality?s offerings, things that can only be imagined, stories of interesting lives that seem to have any real purpose, the kind of world she would rather live in. Even though some of the things described in it are rather absurd in theory, mostly creatures with multiple body parts, such as two-tailed cats, eight-headed serpents, and nine-tailed foxes, actually meeting one would still be intriguing? but what are the odds of that?

Finally class ends. It could have been worse, at least it?s Saturday, the short day. The next day is Sunday, which there is no school, the one day Reimu can actually, all-too-briefly break out from her days of monotony. As she rises from her desk, she is approached by a girl from her class with short black hair, her friend and classmate, Ayuki, ?Hey, Reimu-chan! Did you get through class okay??

Reimu answers, ?About as well as I usually do??

?I see. Anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to go out tomorrow.?

Reimu usually spends her Sundays watching movies or catching up with a manga series that she had been following, or doing anything else that breaks her from her boring reality, but she sees no problem in hanging out outside of school with her friend for a little while, ?Sure. Don?t see why not. So? where are we going??

Ayuki pauses for a few seconds, ?Just? around? doing this and that??

It figures. Reimu just hopes that it doesn?t involve keeping up with the latest trends, trying to appeal to boys, or doing anything else she has little interest in.

She goes home, eats dinner, takes a shower, lazes around the house for an hour or two, then goes to sleep, another redundant grind. The next day, she meets up with Ayuki in front of their school, the place where they usually see each other for whatever reason. Reimu is dressed in a casual, somewhat boyish, outfit, consisting of a red t-shirt and blue shorts, a style that used to be trendy, but is now far behind, while Ayuki wears a green hat with a visor, a pink top, and a red miniskirt, much up to date with the present trends, highlighting the difference of how interested they are in the subject. Reimu wonders how she became friends with someone she has virtually nothing in common with.

Reimu asks Ayuki, ?So, where are we going??

Ayuki answers, ?Just around. You know, shopping and stuff??

They take a bus to an adjacent town, filled mostly with shops. Naturally, Ayuki buys so much clothes, Reimu wonders how she can afford all of it, almost as much as she wonders why she agreed to come along with Ayuki in the first place. After a morning of shopping involving a one-sided interest, noon comes along and they pass a large red archway, believed to separate the world of humans from the world of spirits, beyond which, there is a long series of stone stairs leading up to a wooden shrine. Ayuki looks up the stairs, ?Hm? I haven?t visited this shrine before. I wonder what this one is for??

Shinto: Japan?s indigenous belief. A polytheistic religion with as many spirits, or kami, as there are aspects of life. Shinto is practiced all over Japan and people, both native of the nation and not, not necessarily because everyone believes in a higher power, but because of its ties to the culture. It?s not unusual for students to pray to a kami of tests to possibly get lucky on an upcoming exam. Reimu wonders which kami this particular shrine was built for. Probably nothing that has any relevance to her personal life.

Reimu and Ayuki ascend the long set of stone steps. Looking at it, it didn?t seem so long, but actually going up it makes it feel almost endless. After a minute or two of climbing, they reach the top and stand on a stone path, leading to the shrine, which has a donation box in front of its entrance. Between them and the shrine, there is a dark-haired girl, not much older than them, dressed with a white shirt with large sleeves and a long red skirt, sweeping dust off the path with a bamboo broom: a miko, whose duties include taking care of the shrine and performing rituals.

Reimu calls out to the miko, ?Um? hello? I was wondering if you could tell us which spirit this shrine is for??

The miko calmly answers, ?This shrine exists for the kami of change; for those who wish for a better life? for an alteration of life?s progress. Do you desire such a thing??

Her words take Reimu aback. The way she said it, it was like the miko understood Reimu?s dissatisfaction with life. It?s nothing she spoke to anyone about it and it?s not like anyone knows what Reimu is feeling, but at that moment, the miko, who Reimu had just met, seemed to get her, leaving an impression lasting more than a few seconds. Reimu answers, ?Um? Well, I?ll give it a shot??

Reimu walks over to the shrine?s donation box, pulls 200 yen, which she had picked up earlier that day, out of her pocket, and prays in her mind, Alright, spirit of change. To be honest, I?m skeptical as to whether you really exist, and I just might be talking to myself right now, but if someone really is listening, know that my life is boring? but of course you know that, right? I mean, why else am I bothering with this? Anyways, I just want something out of the ordinary to happen. Not randomly finding a hundred-million yen somewhere, not something that will completely warp life as I know it, but something? exciting, if only temporary. That?s all I ask, so please do that small favor for this lowly mortal, alright? With that, Reimu tosses the money into the donation box and walks away from the shrine.

?Thank you,? says the miko with a bow.

Ayuki looks at Reimu with a sly look, ?So? what did you pray for, Reimu-chan? Did you ask for a life-changing encounter with some handsome guy??

Reimu scoffs, ?That?s something YOU would pray for, not me.?

?Yeah?? They walk down the stone steps. Ayuki says, changing the subject, ?Well, just a few more months until we become seniors. After we get through that, we may go to college? or go straight to work. Either way, things will change soon??

??Change??? asks Reimu, ?Only for a little while maybe, but then, everything goes back into a repetitive grind. Everything in life today is done through a long sequence of the same things.?

Ayuki shrugs, ?Whatever, Reimu-chan. I?m just saying that things won?t be the same as they are now.?

??? It figures. Whenever Reimu tries to open up to her friends, they never seem interested. Of course, why should they? It?s not a problem that concerns them, and it makes her all the more depressed about it. Reimu has no interest in Ayuki?s interests, so Ayuki shouldn?t have an interest in Reimu?s problems. Is what they have really considered ?friendship? or is it just doing things together?

The day of shopping continues into the twilight hours. They grab some ramen for dinner and eat close to the restaurant?s window. As they are about to finish their meal, something catches Ayuki?s eye: a shop across the street with a sale on clothes within the latest trends, ?Oh? I have to check that out! I?m sorry, Reimu, but can you pay for the food? That shop could close any minute!? Ayuki throws a handful of money onto the table to pay for her food, and then runs out of the restaurant.

Reimu shakes her head in disapproval. Deep down, she wants to reach out and have someone understand her, but when she doesn?t even understand what drives her friend?s interests, how can she hope for the same?

Reimu pays for her food, and Ayuki?s, then walks out of the restaurant and over to the curb and looks both ways for traffic. The area is at the top of a steep hill, so it?s hard to see anything coming from the left, but the right is clear, so she decides to cross the road.

As she is halfway across the street, she hears two men yelling, ?Slow down! Someone could be at the top of this hill!?

?I can?t! I can?t slow this thing down! The breaks aren?t responding at all! Maybe they just broke??

?WHAT??

Reimu looks in the direction the screams are coming from. At that moment, she sees a large truck reach the top of the slope at a high enough speed that it lifts off the ground. Reimu looks in bewilderment; a flying truck! An out of the ordinary sight! Had her prayer been answered? The sight causes her to lose touch with reality.

One of the men suddenly notices Reimu standing in front of their out-of-control truck, and yells, ?You! Quick! Get outta the way!?

Ayuki walks out of the shop on the other side of the street and yells, ?Ah! Reimu-chan! REIMU-CHAN!?

?Huh?? Reimu snaps back to reality, but it is too late for anyone to save her, nor for her to save herself. SMASH! The airborne truck crashes into her, sends her sailing through the air, ?ARGHHHH!? The pain is excruciating as her body gets damaged in hideous ways. On the outside, she screams and cries, expressing her agony, but deep down, she is still bewildered at what just happened. She knows a terrible thing just occurred, but at the same time, in a sick way, it?s the kind of rush that breaks the everyday monotony. Before hitting the ground, she sees the truck land, lose control, and tip on its side, everyone nearby shocked by the current incident. She hits the ground, her head slamming against the pavement. She begins to black out, the only thing in her sight is the setting sun, bathing her with its serene rays, Am I? going to die? I should be scared? but I feel so at peace? I feel?. as if something good is going to happen? Spirit of change, you have a twisted sense of humor. I?ll give you that? Reality drifts away, the last thing she hears are the sound of distant sirens and Ayuki, among other people, screaming in panic?

?

Reimu finds herself, alone and unclothed, surrounded by a void of black. There is a sudden flash of light and when the light clears, there is another girl, with long wavy blonde hair and golden eyes, in front of her. The mysterious girl reaches out toward Reimu. Reimu, not knowing what else to do, reaches out as well. As they feel each other?s warmth, and deep female voice booms around them, ?Finally! It?s about to begin! Sleep well, my two dreamers!?

?Wh-what?? As Reimu tries to grasp the situation, everything around her begins to change. She finds herself in a blue sky, plunging toward a mysterious land of green, blue, and pink below. Everything she knew prior to her circumstances flows out of her head and she begins to fade. After that? a new life begins within? a life of danger? a life of intrigue? a life of excitement!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:19:21 PM
In-between 2:

At 1:30PM, one the top of a clock tower, two girls fight a tense battle. Both of them wear blue dresses, but one has silver hair and is dressed like a maid, and the other has short blonde hair with a red headband.

The maid delivers a powerful slash with a knife, but the other girl leaps out of the attack?s range and, in front of her, a doll materializes out of thin air and fires a volley of colorful shots of magic, which score a direct hit. As the maid is staggering from the attack, the girl then sends a doll armed with a small lance shooting toward the maid, which also hits, sending her flying back and slamming against the tower?s clock.

Exhausted, but not ready to surrender, the maid pulls a white card from her pocket and declares, ?Scarred Soul!? She feels a rush of energy, which makes her feel slightly revitalized. The girl keeps her distance, but the maid advances, throwing countless knives. A doll armed with a shield appears in front of the girl, blocking the knives, but the onslaught begins to become too overwhelming. Finally, the maid rushes forward and delivers a powerful kick, breaking through the doll, breaking the defensive, and leaving the girl wide open for the powerful attack to come, ?SOUL SCULPTURE!? The maid, empowered by powerful magic, draws two knives and furiously slashes at the girl, inflicting several cuts.

The attack ends, but the girl manages to hang on. She releases a pulse of blue energy from her body, knocking the maid several feet away, giving the girl enough time to declare a card of her own, ?War Sign!? The rush of energy revitalizes her as well.

The battle rages on. The girl sends out several dolls, which overwhelm the maid with shots, and then, she finally unleashes her coup de grace, ?LITTLE LEGION!? Dolls armed with swords appear around the maid and mercilessly slash at her, until she loses her will to continue fighting.

?

On the computer?s monitor, the words, ?SPELL BREAK? appear.

A girl with long wavy blonde hair and golden eyes, wearing a black sweater and blue jeans throws her controller to the side in frustration, ?Dammit! I just can?t win this stupid game!?

Another girl sitting at the computer?s keyboard, wearing a blue and white dress over a white shirt and a white backpack, with light blue eyes and aqua hair with a green ribbon, says, trying to pick her words carefully to avoid infuriating her friend further, ?Um? I was just lucky? I think. I thought you played well. You might win next time??

?Yeah, yeah?? The blonde girl takes a few breaths, ?Still, it?s nice to play with you, Cirno. Watch out, ?cause I?m gonna win next time!?

Cirno smirks, ?MAYbe? but I?m still gonna be the champ! I?m gonna be Genso_ um, the world?s ultimate youk_ er, player, Marisa!?

Marisa turns around, ?Whatever you say. Well, I have school tomorrow, so I guess we?ll continue some other time. Thank you for bringing the game.?

Cirno ejects the game disk from Marisa?s CPU, ?Sure thing! See you next time!?

Cirno leaves the room and heads toward the houses front door. Nearby, a woman with short blonde hair and brown eyes, dressed as casually as Marisa, says to Cirno, ?Ah, it?s you again, Cirno Izayoi! You?ve been coming here quite often.?

Cirno tilts her head to the side, ?Oh, um? Hi, Mrs. Kiris_ I mean, Mrs. Starr. Is that bad??

?Oh no, not at all,? says Marisa?s mother reassuringly, ?It?s just nice that you?ve been keeping our daughter so much company? Ever since her unfortunate accident and coma, she?s been so much less outgoing, like something has been weighing heavily on her mind. I?m glad you see her so often. You?ve only just met a few months ago, but you?ve been such a good friend.?

Cirno rubs the back of her head, smiling, ?Well, she?s fun to be with??

?Well, I hope you keep visiting,? says Marisa?s mother.

?Will do! Bye!? Cirno leaves the house.

Cirno steps out to a quiet and tranquil neighborhood of houses, each with green lawns and a thin network o tree?s branches overhead, leaving a wide enough opening for the sunset?s light to shine through. An area of a small town in southern California. However, this was not a scene Cirno had been completely familiar with all her life. She was born elsewhere, and Marisa was technically one of her mothers, though the girl herself never would have thought it in her current state.

Marisa and another girl in the world, named Reimu, got into coinciding accidents, and both went into comas? and dreams. Together, they dreamt of a world called Gensokyo, in which Cirno was born. However, it was more than just a mere dream. Through reasons unknown, Gensokyo established itself as a parallel universe, even connecting to the Netherworld. Gensokyo existed for as long as the two girls slept, but both of them started to recover, which spelt Armageddon for Gensokyo. Many of its denizens vanished with the world, but one of Gensokyo?s residents, Yukari Yakumo, who could manipulate the boundary between dimensions, managed to transport a small handful with her to Earth. They now keep watch over Marisa and Reimu, hoping to one day reunite the dreamers in order to save two denizens, not native to Gensokyo, who are now trapped in their respective subconscious.

In Gensokyo, Cirno was youkai, a non-human being, with dreams of becoming the strongest, but her lack of intelligence and power made that a hard goal, though she has learned and become stronger. On Earth, she approached Marisa rather directly, and even though she was greatly annoyed by the youkai at first, they soon became friends. In her free time, Cirno enjoys playing video games, usually at a local arcade, a practice she quickly mastered.

?Ah, I thought I?d find you here, Cirno?? Cirno turns around to a voice behind her. Standing there is a girl with somewhat messy silver hair, down to her mid-back, blue eyes, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans. Her name is Sakuya Izayoi. Her hair used to be shorter and kept in two braids, and she wore a blue maid outfit before, as she was a servant to a youkai from Gensokyo, named Remilia Scarlet, but since Remilia vanished, along with Gensokyo, Sakuya decided to take on an appearance to distance herself from the servant she saw herself as, and thus, feel more comfortable with the new lifestyle she had been forced into. Sakuya currently works as a cleaner at the high school, where 16-year-old Marisa (18 years old as her Gensokyo counterpart) is currently attending. She and Cirno live together in an apartment as mother and daughter, thus Cirno is adopting her last name. ?So how is Marisa doing? What did you two do today??

?Not much,? answers Cirno, ?we played some game, and that?s about it.?

?I see??

Cirno fixes her gaze on Sakuya, ?Hey Sakuya? Do you think Gensokyo will ever come back??

Sakuya sighs, ?I don?t know, Cirno. The first thing we must do is reunite Reimu and Marisa. Youmu and Eirin are watching Reimu, but unfortunately, this world isn?t so simple. We can?t just pick them up and bring them to each other. Getting around this world? is very challenging and complicated?? In Gensokyo, there was magic in the air, which allowed most people to fly through the air, but as Earth lacks such a power, they can?t fly anymore? except Cirno, who has wings folded up and hidden inside her white backpack.

Cirno kicks a pebble on the ground, ?Stupid place. I wish it were as simple as Gensokyo??

Sakuya smiles unassumingly, ?I guess this is what happens when humans and only humans control everything??

Cirno looks at the ground. Of course, Earth has nothing but humans controlling the world, and apparently, they don?t want things to be simple. Being one of the four and a half youkai currently on Earth, Cirno has to pretend to be human, thus she has to hide her wings and anything else about her that indicates that she?s not human.

Sakuya decides to try to take Cirno?s mood away from the depressing topic they are getting into, and asks in a motherly fashion, ?So, Cirno, shall we head home? I?ll cook us a good dinner. I?ll make your favorite if you want.?

Cirno shakes her head, ?Nah. I?m gonna go off on my own somewhere??

?Very well. Just make sure no one sees you flying. If people see one thing out of the ordinary, they will go utterly nuts and things will get much harder for us. Remember that.?

Having gone through the same topic before, Cirno says in an annoyed voice, ?Yes, ?mom.?? The two of them part ways. Cirno finds an area free of the gazes of others, takes off her backpack, freeing her wings, and takes to the sky, sticking to the rural areas, where she is less likely to be seen. After a half-hour of flying, she descends to a patch of forest located in a massive grassy field. Cirno visits this place often because it reminds her of the Forest of Magic, a location in Gensokyo, where she spent a lot of her time. In this place, she feels like she?s back in Gensokyo; the place she often visits when she?s feeling homesick. Cold air radiates from her body, releasing her icy powers, which she had to suppress up to that point. While Cirno doesn?t necessarily dislike Earth, there are just some things that cannot replace her true home.

Cirno decides to take a walk across the field for a change. A full moon shines overhead. At one point for Cirno, it was just a beautiful sight, but an alien threat made it more fearful, but no longer being in Gensokyo, she feels a little safer. One plus to being on Earth. She walks and occasionally flies for several miles, trying to relax and organize her feelings. Her journey into nowhere continues well into midnight. Finally, at the edge of another patch of forest, she sees a blue and white house. The setup of the building is exactly identical to someplace she had seen before? in Gensokyo.

Cirno take a couple steps away from the house, ?What? No way!? Cirno starts to feel like her homesickness is causing her to hallucinate. Still, she goes around to the entrance door. Up above the entrance, there is a sign with the word, ?Kourin.? ?Impossible! HE?S here too? No? It may be some other ?Kourin,? but?? Out of curiosity, Cirno decides to check the inside of the house. Sure enough, the inside structure, right down to the furniture, is exactly as she remembers. Further in, inside another room, she hears the sound of fingers typing on a keyboard. An unfamiliar sound for the location, but enough had already triggered the ice fairy?s curiosity.

She goes into the room where the noise is coming from, which is lit up only be the light of a computer?s monitor. She glances at an IM conversation in progress:

Kourin: oh yeah. Around the same time, some celestial caused an earthquake and made the shrine collapse. She was pretty mad. Oh, and the weather was all screwy too. It was crazy!

ZUNtsa: wow tht sux stll I thnk tht wood mayk a good stry? maybe anuthr fyter peepl had been wantin 1 I tink lol

Kourin: Sounds good! Can Reisen and Komachi be playable in that?

ZUNtsa: shur Il se wut I can do

Kourin: Oh! And maybe Sanae?

ZUNtsa: dunt poosh ur luk

Kourin: Darn. Oh well! I look forward to playing it!

ZUNtsa: bai

?? Who are you talking to?? asks Cirno, now confident that she knows who she is talking to.

The man sitting in a small chair at the computer, with silver hair, glasses, and wearing blue, white, and black clothes answers, ?Well, Cirno, I was speaking with an online friend, who?? He pauses for a few seconds, ?Hold on?? He turns around to face the ice fairy, ?What? I can?t believe it! Is that you, Cirno??

?Rinnosuke!? cries out Cirno as she leaps over to give the man a tight hug.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:20:32 PM
Rinnosuke returns Cirno?s embrace, ?Wow? I had a feeling other would escape Gensokyo, but I didn?t think it would be to this realm or that you would even find me??

?How did you get here?? asks Cirno, getting off Rinnosuke.

Rinnosuke explains, ?Well, all around my home, Gensokyo was crumbling. It was rather frightening, and I was also beginning to fade away. However, at that time, Yukari appeared. Having been long-time friends with her, she lent me her powers and warped this house to this location of this world. She didn?t explain anything else. She said she had to go ?find some information on Marisa,? whatever that meant??

?I know what she was talking about!? announces Cirno. She explains about Reimu and Marisa and their involvement with Gensokyo?s existence.

?No way!? exclaims Rinnosuke, ?Me, you, all of Gensokyo. It was all because of Reimu?s??

?It?s hard to believe, but it?s true??

Rinnosuke leans back in his chair, putting his hand over his forehead, ?Unbelievable??

?I know, right? We?re parts of her dream??

?Just something that someone thought up, huh? I wonder if that has something to do with all worlds. Still, I?d rather not think about it??

?Anyway, right now, we need to find a way for Reimu and Marisa to be reunited, so Yukari can free Kaguya and Mokou. Too bad this stupid place can?t just let us take them to one another! If one of them sees Yukari open a portal, they?ll probably start running, because THOSE sides of them have never seen something like that, and they live on opposite sides of the world! Either Marisa goes to Japan, or Reimu comes here, but even then, how can they meet up??

?That?s? rather troubling? Hey, Cirno??

?What??

?Might it be possible to get Gensokyo back? Did Yukari say anything??

?Dunno. Yukari doesn?t even KNOW how Gensokyo went from being some girls? dream to another universe!?

?She doesn?t??

?No. At first she guessed that it had something to do with Reimu and Marisa dreaming the same thing, but she said that couldn?t be it, and that it is ?something else???

Rinnosuke pushes his glasses back to the top of his nose, ?That?s a little vague. I thought Yukari knew everything about this stuff.?

?It looks like there?s one thing she doesn?t??

Rinnosuke pauses for a few seconds, ?Still, this could be a good thing to know??

?What do you mean??

Rinnosuke answers, ?Whatever that ?something else? is, it has something to do with how Gensokyo became more than just a mere comatose thought. If we can find out what caused it, we may be able to resurrect Gensokyo!?

Rinnosuke?s observation makes sense to Cirno and she again hugs him, ?You may be right! You?re so smart! I love you, Rinnosuke!?

Rinnosuke blushes, ?Um? thanks? can you let go of me please??

??? Cirno gets off Rinnosuke.

?Just because I guessed it, doesn?t mean we?re in the clear. We still have no idea what caused it. What could? rather literally? make a dream into a reality? Without that answer, we are stuck here, or anyplace other than Gensokyo, forever??

?Damn it? and just when I thought we had hope??

?Hey, it better than nothing, right??

???


Meanwhile, in the middle of another wide-open space, well away from civilization, Sakuya walks around, reflecting on her past across dimensions out-loud, ?Remilia-sama? you may have yelled at me on quite a few occasions, but I really do miss you. Some people may feel relieved to have been free of servitude, but without you, I just feel out of place. I just can?t feel like I fit in anymore. Not just you, but everyone else who had meant something to me? I only have a few friends remaining, but I rarely see them now. Meiling? Patchouli? Miss Flandre? I?m the only one left??

Sakuya reflects on her past adventures in Gensokyo.

?

Sakuya, back in her days as a vampire hunter, stands over the corpses of two vampire nobles, ?That eliminates the bloodlines of the Redd and Crimson families. With this, only the Scarlets remain. My mission is almost complete? but why do I feel so unhappy??

?

?And now for a name?? She paces around the room in deep thought for several more seconds, then stops and looks at the girl, ?Your name is? ? ? ? ? Sakuya? Izayoi.?

?Sa? ku? ya? I? za? yo? i??

?That?s right! Your name from here on will be Sakuya!?

The girl, now christened Sakuya Izayoi, says, ?Sakuya? I like that name? What about that new life you talked about??

Remilia walks over to a nearby closet and pulls out a blue dress with an apron and maid?s head gear, ?I think this sums it up fairly well. From now on, you will be a maid of this mansion, serving me, Remilia Scarlet.?

?

Reimu charges at Sakuya with her gohei in front of her in a defensive position, ?Just why the hell are you serving someone who would endanger the world, just to carry out some selfish belief??

Sakuya leaps away from Reimu and tosses a couple knives, which Reimu manages to deflect with her weapon, ?Hmph. Your rage is quite understandable, but the well-being of this world means nothing to me. My mistress? wishes are all I serve now!?

Reimu jumps at Sakuya and the maid attempts a counterattack with a knife. Both weapons clash, ?What?s so special about her??

?Nothing really. However, I owe her much. THAT is the reason why I will continue serving her. Personally, I fail to share her vision of a ?perfect vampire world,? but that doesn?t matter at all.?

?

Marisa dodges a swipe from Remilia?s claws, then rides her broom shaft-first into her gut, stunning her, ?ACK!? She follows it up by firing a blast of magic, which sends the vampire flying several feet away and slamming against the outer wall of the mansion?s clock tower.

Marisa raises a spell card, ?Love Sign!? She thrusts her arm in Remilia?s direction, ?It?s over, Scarlet! Master Spark!?

Remilia?s eyes widen in shock, ?Oh? damn!?

?REMILIA-SAMA!? Suddenly, Sakuya flies into the path of the Master Spark, and it slams into her, shielding Remilia, ?Ahgh? ah??

Marisa yells, ?Hey! Where did YOU come from??

?Sakuya??

?

With a smile, Yuyuko says, ?I see? Not something I?d expect from the average maid? How would you like to be MY maid??

?I?ll pass,? responds Sakuya, ?Remilia-sama is the only being worthy of my service.?

?Don?t be that way,? says Yuyuko, holding out her hand, ?What I am about to offer you cannot be refused. I?m sure you?ll be proud to serve the princess of the Netherworld.? White wisps form around Yuyuko?s hand and surround Sakuya, in the form of ghastly blue flames, ?Invoke Death.? The flames close in on Sakuya. Suddenly, she feels all the energy leave her body and she drops down on to the palace roof.

On her hands and knees, Sakuya weakly demands, ?Wh-what did you just do to me???

Yuyuko tilts her head in confusion, then answers, ?This will end your life. After that, you will work alongside Youmu as my servant for all eternity! This is the greatest honor I give.?

?Damn? it?? curses Sakuya with her teeth clenched.

?

Eirin makes a creepy smile, ?Tell me, Sakuya. What is your definition of ?immortal???

?H-huh??

?You see, I mixed your drink earlier with a potion I made, which erases an immortal?s memories upon death. An empty mind is easy to manipulate, after all. Might you agree that the concept of ?life? is purely based on consciousness and memory? Without those, a body is nothing but meat and bone. The point is that the next time you die, though your body will regenerate, the identity known as ?Sakuya Izayoi? will cease to exist.?

Sakuya takes a step back, ?So I am? technically mortal??

?You are now. I propose a challenge: You and me, Sakuya. A fight to the death. If I win, you will be my tool to prepare for the Lunarian invasion. If you win, then you will continue with the life of your choosing and I won?t interfere again. Does this sound fair??

A knife appears in Sakuya?s hand, ?Sure enough. I guess I should thank you, Eirin. Up till a month ago, I thought that when I died, everything ended. Now that fact is true for me. You brought me a step closer to true humanity.?

?You?re welcome?? Eirin prepares an arrow, ?Let?s see if you have the skills to enjoy that newly found humanity??

?

?What changed you? What taught you the value of your existance??

?At first, I was what you said. I wandered around Gensokyo, slaying one vampire after another, but around me, there were people who were concerned about many things, leading ordinary lives, and I wondered how I was so different. Remilia-sama gave a new reason for my life, and since then? Reimu? Marisa? Meiling? Patchouli? Youmu? All my friends? have taught me the value of my existance.

?

?It all feels so long ago?? Sakuya casts her gaze on the ground, ?Is it truly all over now??

?I dunno. Is it??

?Huh?? Sakuya looks ahead of her and sees a familiar figure. She has long purple hair maintained by ribbons of various colors and wears a nightcap and nightgown. Sakuya immediately recognizes this person, ?You?re? Patchouli??

Pachouli smirks, a facial expression uncharacteristic of the way Sakuya remembers her, ?Appears that way, eh? Losing me, the mistress, Flandre, hell, even that Meiling. Pretty damn taxing, huh??

?How are you here? I saw you vanish before my eyes, along with the mistress, Koakuma, and Miss Flandre!? Something?s not right? She looks like Patchouli, no doubt about it, but the way she?s talking and the way she is looking at me? She?s like a different person altogether!

?Wouldn?t you like to know? However, my time here is short, so I mustn?t dawdle.?

?What are you talking about, Patchouli??

?THIS!? Patchouli directs her hand in Sakuya?s direction, ?Metal Fatigue!? A metal blade materializes in front of her and flies toward Sakuya, who was not expecting Patchouli to attack her so suddenly, who dodges to the side, the blade cutting through a few strands of her hair.

?What are you doing?? How did she use that attack without a spell card? She should barely be conscious in that case, but she?s doesn?t even look tired after that!

?I wanna try this out in battle! Fight me, Sakuya! I have little time!?

A knife materializes in Sakuya?s hand, ?Fine, if only because you are the one that attacked me. I will get to the bottom of this!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:21:18 PM
A knife quickly materializes in Sakuya?s hand and she tosses it at Patchouli?s head. Patchouli just stands in place as she opens her mouth. Just as the knife is mere millimeters away from making contact, Patchouli chomps down, catching the weapon between her teeth.

Sakuya is taken aback, ?Wh-what the???

Patchouli spits the knife out, ?You idiot, Sakuya. I?m not the Patchouli you knew. Expect me to pull some pretty crazy shit every now and then, alright??

?Tch.? Thanks to the lack of magical energy in this realm, I can?t make new spell cards! Thanks to the battle with Reimu almost a year ago, I have only four left! I?d better not waste them?

?Now it?s time for me to go on the offensive! Agni Shine!? Patchouli extends her hand toward Sakuya and several fireballs materialize, which merge into one large ball of flame, which comes flying toward Sakuya.

?Far too easy!? Sakuya leaps up and takes to the sky, certain to fly over Patchouli?s attack? at least until gravity kicks in and drags her back to the ground. ?Damn!? This battle made me feel so much like I was back in Gensokyo that I forgot a major basic of this realm: I can?t fly! Sakuya lands short of going headlong into the fireball. She freezes time, allowing her just enough time to intentionally fall on her back to avoid the fireball. It flies over her, lightly singing her torso. However, her avoidance maneuver allows Patchouli to get in a free attack.

Patchouli smirks as she raises her hand into the air, ?Princess Undine!? A blast of highly pressurized water burst below Sakuya, launching her into the air. Still smirking, Patchouli directs her open palm up in the former maid?s direction and many fireballs materializes around her and fly toward the helpless Sakuya.

?AARRggGGHH!? Sakuya screams as Patchouli?s fireballs engulf her, the temperature rising to an almost unbearable heat.

?Agni Radiance!? Patchouli?s open palm curls into a fist and the fireballs around Sakuya burst in a moderate explosion. Sakuya falls to the ground with severe burns and some parts of her clothes on fire.

?Rughh?? Sakuya tries to douse the flames.

?Hahahaahaa!? Patchouli laughs as she sees the nearly-defeated Sakuya try to endure her pain, ?Was that too much. I?ll make it better! Princess Undine High Level!? A magic circle opens in front of Patchouli and a power stream of water flies out, slamming into the ex-maid, knocking her to the ground.

Sakuya feels relieved from the previous burning, but knows that she can?t take much more, Damn it! Whoever this Patchouli is, she?s not fighting me seriously. I must use some cards of my own if I want to survive and get to the bottom of this? Sakuya rises to her feet, drawing a wet spell card.

Patchouli folds her arms in front of her, ?Now the big guns, eh? It?s about damn time.?

Sakuya raises her spell card, ?Maid Secret Skill!? A small group of knives materialize around Sakuya and fly toward Patchouli.

?WEAK! Rage Trilithon!? A wall of stone rises in front of Patchouli to defend her from the knives.

Sakuya thrusts her hand in the librarian?s direction, ?Marionette!?

Suddenly, responding to Sakuya?s will, the knives arch around Patchouli?s shield and sink into her flesh, ?AhhhhhhSHIT!? The shield vanishes and Sakuya charges at Patchouli, knife drawn, sinking it into her lower chest, avoiding her vitals, ?AUGH!?

?Who are you,? demands Sakuya, ?You don?t act like the Patchouli I know. What?s going on?? TELL ME!?

Instead of answering the ex-maid?s question, Patchouli moans in a voice different than her own, ?How could you? Sakuya??

?What?? Sakuya remembers the voice Patchouli just used as belonging to someone else. Before her eyes, Patchouli transforms into Remilia Scarlet, her former mistress.

Sakuya withdraws her knife and stammers, ?Wh-what? Mistress? I?m? I?m so sorry! I? I??

?Sucker!? Remilia snatches Sakuya knife away from her, turns it toward her ?former servant,? then transforms again, into Iku Nagae, an atmosphere reading youkai who Sakuya fought during the Mountain of Faith incident.

?What??

?HA!? Iku stabs the knife into Sakuya?s shoulder.

?ERK!? Iku then, using her power over lightning, sends an electrical surge through the knife's blade and into Sakuya?s body, ?Arg-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!? Sakuya falls to the ground, paralyzed by the shock.

?Hahaha! Surprised you, didn?t I??

Sakuya forces herself to speak, ?What? are you???

Iku responds, ?Funny you ask that. You know me better than you think.?

?What? Just? what do you want???

Iku paces around the defeated ex-maid, ?Nothing, really. At least not for right now. I just thought I?d give my powers a spin?? She transforms into various Gensokyo residents, starting with Ran Yakumo ?? Don?t worry; I have no intensions of killing you?? She transforms into Yuka Kazami ?? In fact, I need you.?

?What? are you? talking about???

The figure with no certain identity turns into Aya Shameimaru, ?It's nothing I need to inform you of?? She transforms into Keine Kamishirasawa ?? because my desire and your overall plan just happens to coincide??

?What??

Finally, the figure transforms into Tewi Inaba, ?Look, just free Princess Kaguya and that stupid tomboy rival of hers?, okay??

?What?s in it for you? exactly??

?None of your business, maid-girl?? She transforms into someone Sakuya had never seen before: A girl with red eyes and bunny-ears extending out of her head, wearing a black blazer, like Sakuya?s friend, Reisen Udongein Inaba, a moon rabbit. The differences are that this rabbit has short red hair and wears black dress pants instead of a skirt, as well as being slightly taller. ?Well, time?s up. I?ll see you around. We?ll meet again if you continue to dawdle, y?hear? Bye!? With that, the figure vanishes into thin air.

The paralysis wears off after a few minutes and Sakuya slowly gets back to her feet, thinking out loud, ?Who was she?? And why does she want Kaguya and Mokou to be freed?? Sakuya takes a few seconds to think, but doesn?t come up with any reasonable motives regarding the mystery girl, ?No matter? We still have to free our friends? but??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:41:30 PM
A few weeks following Sakuya?s encounter with the mysterious entity that had the ability to assume the forms and powers of the Gensokyo residents that vanished along with the dream, the ex-maid meets up with Yukari to discuss the matter.

That night, the two of them stand on the roof of a skyscraper and look out at the illuminated cityscape.

?Indeed a far cry from our former home,? notes Yukari, referring to the city, ?If Gensokyo lived on, would it look like this someday? I can only imagine??

Sakuya asks, ?Yukari, what do you think of that figure that attacked me? She seems interested in reuniting Reimu and Marisa and setting Kaguya and Mokou free. I don?t know why. It just seems that she has something to gain out of that??

?Anything else worth noting? I never met that person, but I find her fascinating. From what you described, she most certainly is a link to the non-existent Gensokyo??

Sakuya recalls, ?Before she left, she turned into a rabbit youkai. Not the kind that Tei and the other Gensokian rabbits are, but more like Reisen. She also referred to Kaguya with a tone of familiarity??

?Sounds like a Lunarian,? says Yukari, ?But what do they have to do with Gensokyo. Sure, they wanted to invade it, but??

?At any rate, our objectives seem to coincide, so I doubt we?re enemies. She really wants us to hurry in reuniting them??

?We?re in no rush, Sakuya. Kaguya and Mokou are immortal. They can stand to wait??

?Are you sure we can?t just take them to you and reuniting them by going through the boundary??

Yukari shakes her head, ?Theoretically, we could, but humans of this realm are shallow things. They are terrified of the unknown. As they are, I doubt they will cooperate that way, plus they don?t remember who they once were??

?Whoever the rabbit was, though, something tells me she may have different ideas??

?Just keep watching over Marisa, along with Alice and Cirno. The time will come. You?ll see.?

?Understood??

==

CONCEALED THE CONCLUSION, part 2: Embodiment of Dreams


I rush out my house and head en route to school. Yeah, I am late! It hadn?t happened before moving, when I could just wake up, get dressed, and head to school, eating breakfast there. Now it?s waking up, getting dressed into a school uniform, which has more pieces of clothing than casual clothes do, eat breakfast, because my new school doesn?t serve it there, then head on over! Damn it! I run as fast as I can, my wavy blonde hair riding the wind my speed produces.

My name is Marisa Starr. I recently turned 17 and my life is pretty typical? well, from anyone else?s viewpoint, that is. About a year ago, I was in an accident, which caused me to fall into a coma for a few months. Not too long after, my dad, who I don?t see often as it is, got a new higher-paying job, which caused us to move. I used to attend a public school, but because I don?t fit in well with anyone, mostly due to my tomboyish nature, they decided to transfer me to an all-girls private school, hoping that I?d be able to make some friends, which is even worse, because most of those girls are stuck-up bitches, not to mention that, and this is between us, I tend to be attracted to girls, rather than guys, which makes me all the more awkward! I guess you could say that I?m a lesbian, not that I outright announced that to the world. It?s my secret, and now yours too.

The town I live in? well, there is not much to say about it. It?s pretty typical. There is a LOT of green. Green grass on the ground, green leaves on the trees, green bushes seem to be a popular decoration around buildings. All in all, it?s a pretty secluded place, peaceful even, not that I?m complaining. At least I prefer it to the big city, so it?s all good, despite being a little boring.

I rush up to the front gate of the school after dashing through a few blocks. The outer walls of the main building are white, and the roof is blue. It was built only a few years ago, so it?s pretty tidy, as opposed to my old public school, which was basically a hellhole from a cleanness standpoint, so even if I?m awkward around all the other snobs that attend this place, it?s still a fresh environment. All the students there wear the same kind of uniform: A white collared button-up shirt under a blue wool vest with a pocket on the front of it, a medium-length skirt, which is blue and green with a checker-like design, black dress shoes with blue socks that come up just below the knees. Finally, a gold badge (or shiny yellow plastic that is supposed to pass as gold) with the school?s insignia on it.

In front of the gate, my two friends wait for me: Cirno Izayoi and Alice Margatroid. I was half-lying when I said that I didn?t fit in the private school. Not long after I attended, those two joined at the same time. They instantly wanted to be friends with me for some strange reason. Unlike all the other girls at the school, they are actually pretty nice. The three of us always stick together, plus we have all the same classes. With my personality, it?s not easy to make friends, so I treasure the ones I do make.

?Heeeeey!? Cirno is 12 years old and has blue eyes and short blue hair complimented by a green ribbon. While my school is high school level, Cirno was allowed in because she?s some kinda ?child prodigy.? The school board can believe whatever the hell they want about her, but I think they screwed up. Cirno isn?t really all that bright. In fact, one would say that she?s a little? stupid. Most of the time, she has to peek at Alice?s or my test papers to pass. She also wears a large backpack ALL the time, even when she?s sitting at her desk. She sometimes gets bullied by the other girls because of that. Still, we often play games together and that?s always a good time.

?Good morning, Marisa!? Alice is 18 years old and has bright blue eyes and short blonde hair with a red headband. She?s a bright girl, but she really doesn?t talk to anyone besides me and Cirno. During class, she?s usually off in her own little world. She likes dolls; probably too much for someone her age; something she gets made fun of sometimes by the other students, but she usually ignores those bitches. She?s really cute when she smiles, seldom as that is.

?What?s up?? I ask, ?You two didn?t have to wait for me. I?m late and if you?re waiting for me here, you?ll be late too!?

?Whatever,? says Cirno, ?We?re always together! If you?re late, then we?ll be late too.?

I turn to Alice, ?Are you okay with that??

Alice says with a slight shrug, ?I really don?t care??

?Anyways, let?s get to class.?

We enter the school building. While there is a lot of green on the outside, there is a lot of blue and white on the inside. As this is a new school, there are empty racks reserved for whatever prizes this school is bound to win. All there is so far are some plaques for academic achievement and a few chess championships, as well as a couple trophies for ranking in some fencing tournaments.

On our way to our homeroom, one student passes going the opposite direction and sneers, ?The loser trio is late again. You?re so pathetic!?

Alice pretends to ignore her, Cirno gives her a mean look, and I extend my arm in the bitch?s direction, and extend my middle finger, ?Screw you, Ashley.?

?My name is Melissa!?

?Whatever. Your name is Shitbitch for all I care.? We get bullshit like this a lot. This is why I hate my schoolmates outside of Alice and Cirno: Everyone acts like we?re inferior because our families aren?t quite as distinguished. In fact, the three of us are probably the only students here that don?t act that way, which is all the better that we hang around each other all the time: We can always reassure one another.

Cirno smiles at me, as if to say, ?Yeah, you sure told her off!?

Alice says, ?Honestly, Marisa. You could have picked a better way to resolve that scenario??

I respond, ?Sometimes, you just have to do what I just did. If you don?t stand up for yourself, they will just pick on you some more. You have to prove that you?re not the kind of person to just stand there and take that kind of crap.?

Another student passes by, saying to Alice condescendingly, ?Nice headband, bitch! Did you get that out of a dumpster??

??? Alice grits her teeth in annoyance, but says nothing.

I stand up for Alice, ?No, she didn?t. Is that where you got your face??

?Ah!? The girl looks at me, genuinely insulted, and stomps off in a rage.

?And don?t come back!? yells Cirno in a way that, honestly, makes me look less cool.

Alice pauses, smiles, and then giggles a little. She?s so cute like that! ?Hahaha!?

?What?s so funny??

?Nothing! You are just exactly how I remembered you.?

??Remembered???

?Oh? It?s nothing. Forget I said anything.?

?Anyway, you should have said something like I just did. People like her pride themselves on their appearance and look down on others in that regard. You have to hit them where it hurts!?

Alice responds, ?Garbage like her is not worth wasting my words on.?

?Ouch!? exclaim me and Cirno at the same time, impressed by Alice?s logic.

We arrive at class and promptly receive our third tardy in a row. One more and it?s detention. Damn. We sit at our desks, in the back of the class, me sitting in the far right corner, facing from the front of the room, Alice in front of me and Cirno to my left. Every class is the same: a lecture where I sit bored, Cirno, being the smart one for once, reading comics, hiding them from the teacher?s sight with a textbook, and Alice daydreaming or asleep. She usually has to ask the teacher to repeat herself when asked a question. That is how each class goes.

Before long, it?s lunchtime. As expected from our ?mindblowing? popularity, we get a cafeteria table all to ourselves. After each of us eats a meager mid-day meal, Cirno?s food of choice being ice cream, Alice lifts her book bag onto the table and pulls out a miniature chess set. We decide to play a game. We only have 20 minutes left to play, and most people would probably not be able to finish a game in that time, but not Alice. Either she?s too good or I suck that badly, probably both, but she always beats me in a timely fashion. The game ends in 17 minutes with my king?s escape route cut off by two of my own pawns and opposed by one of Alice?s rooks.

?Checkmate.?

?Dammit! I lose again!? I?ve never beaten Alice at chess. To make matters worse, I always lose to Cirno at VIDEO GAMES!

Cirno gives me a reassuring pat on the back, ?You did good, Marisa.?

?Do you even know HOW to play this game, Cirno??

?No??

?Then don?t say anything.?

Alice puts the chess set away, ?Well, class will be starting again soon.?

Shit! I lost to Cirno at IaMP over the weekend and I lost to Alice at chess today! The score will not go unsettled! ?Alice! Fencing! After school! Be there!?

There is a few seconds of silence between us. Finally, Cirno asks, ?So? um? what will we do when we graduate?? She gives Alice the sort of glance that indicates something that is just between two people, but whatever.

Alice says, ?Personally, I want to study abroad in Japan.?

?Me too! It?s like you read my mind!? says Cirno.

Alice and Cirno both look at me longingly. I respond, ?Wh-what??

?I want you to come too,? says Alice, somewhat direct.

?We won?t take ?no? for an answer,? adds Cirno.

?Well?? Going abroad with my friends? It doesn?t sound like a bad plan at all, still? ?I?ll think about it??

Before anymore words can be added, the bell rings.

A couple more hours pass. At long last, the final bell rings. Cirno decides to head straight home, while Alice, who accepted my challenge, and I head to the gym, then to the locker room to change into white fencing clothes and masks.

The school prides itself on two things: chess and fencing, so obviously, the team is practicing, the sounds of their clashing blades echoing through the gymnasium. Still, Alice and I get our own strip to play on, as no one wants to be anywhere near ?losers like Marisa Starr and Alice Margatroid.?

We decide to do epee, the ?anything goes? style. Without anyone to referee the match, we?re left to our own devices, but we stay as close to the rules as possible, though the team members occasionally mock the way we play.

?En garde!? The ?battle? begins! I take the initiative and advance toward Alice, who attempts to counterattack, but I feint my move, retreating out of her range, then quickly advancing again and performing a lunge, twirling my blade so it connects with Alice?s left thigh, ?Touche!?

?I won?t fall for that twice!? A new round begins and Alice goes on the offensive. She attempts a straight on attack, which I parry, then attempts to strike at my right knee. She?s using her strategy, but unfortunately for her, I?m faster. I quickly step back and riposte, my blade connecting with her mask, around the right eye area. Good thing fencing has this equipment.

We keep playing well past when the team leaves. Needless to say, I won. Alice may kick ass at chess, and Cirno may kick ass at video games, but I kick ass at fencing. After my two previous losses, I feel pretty good to have won a round, even if it is within my area of expertise. Also, Cirno never played us at chess or fencing, probably because she?s too dim to win at chess and too short to win at fencing. I like fencing. It emulates a fight and that?s always a good way to let off steam. I?ve probably only been in real fights twice in my lifetime (surprisingly not against other students here), but part of me felt good at those times.

We change back into our school uniforms. Alice wipes the sweat off her forehead, ?Good game. Are you satisfied??

?Hell yeah,? I respond, wiping off some sweat of my own. That was quite a workout.

We head home. We walk out of the school and it?s already dark out, the full moon shining down from above. We walk toward the school gates. There aren?t any homes around for quite a ways, but the street lamps give off plenty of light. The coolness of the night and the gentle breeze refreshes us after those furious hours of swordfighting.

We walk out the gate and turn left onto the main road, which passes in front of the school.

We walk a few steps, when suddenly, a figure appears before us. Huh? Where did it come from? I didn?t even see it. It?s like it came out of nowhere.

Alice?s eyes widen and she steps backward, ?It can?t be???

I look at the figure: It?s a girl, about 14, with blue hair, and wearing an elegant pink dress and a pink hat that no one around here would be caught dead wearing? But screw that! On her back, there is a pair of bat-like wings, and it?s more than a costume, because she?s slightly hovering off the ground, and red claws extending from her fingers. She also has eyes that are a red as blood. She smirks slightly, giving me a view of her teeth, which have fangs like those of a cat.

I say to the girl what is on my mind, ?What the hell are???

Alice cuts me off, saying, ?You?re? Remilia Scarlet!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:43:02 PM
?Do you know her?? I ask Alice.

???

The weird girl, ?Remilia? says, looking at me, ?We meet at last, Marisa Starr.?

?Wh-who are you? WHAT are you??

Remilia smirks deviously, ?I?m a vampire and I vant to suck your blood. BLAH!? As she makes her clich? reference, she flies at me. However, Alice steps between us and a few things that look like dolls appear around her. That?s right, APPEAR, as in materialize out of thin air! As if that wasn?t weird enough, the dolls, moving on their own, hold out their arms and circles that seem to be made completely of light appear in front of them. From those circles, multicolored ?shots? pour out toward Remilia, who deflects a few with her claws, then backs off, putting some distance between herself and Alice.

I back away from Alice, shocked and scared of what I just witnessed. My heart starts to pound so hard, I can hear it. Tears stream from my eyes. Just what the hell is going on? ?Alice, just what ARE you??

Alice says after a long hesitation, ?Stay back, Marisa?? She pulls something that looks like a piece of paper with a weird symbol on it out of her uniform?s front pocket ?? I?ll handle her.?

Remilia smirks at me, ?Funny, Marisa. I recall you having more bravado than this?? Her eyes turn to Alice, ?Alright, Alice Margatroid, entertain me!?

?Recall?? What the hell? I never saw her before in my life!

Remilia lunges at Alice and strikes with her claws, which my now-mysterious ?friend? dodges to the right, jumps backward, raises her piece of paper, and declares, ?Magipulation!? The slip disappears, and in its place, a doll radiating some kind of blue light appears. ?Return Inanimateness!? She tosses the doll at Remilia; it connects and explodes in a large blue burst. The weird winged girl is sent reeling backward and crashes into the school?s outer wall, leaving a sizable dent. Damn! I didn?t think Alice could fight like that!

Even though I?d imagine the blow Remilia just received would hurt like a bitch, she just grins, not showing much pain, ?Pretty good, Alice! Now?? She stretches her hand out in Alice?s direction, ?Red Magic!? From her hand, several round ?shots? fly out, quickly escalating from a volley to an outright salvo.

Alice won?t dodge in time. Hell, I have faster reflexes and I couldn?t. In defense, Alice raises her arms in front of her upper body and face. She gets hit by several of the blasts, each one appearing to impact her like getting hit by a baseball flying from a pitching machine, also, even from where I am, on the side, it felt pretty hot when Remilia started using that attack. The shots that fly past Alice keep going into the woods behind her, either crashing into trees or knocking off branches.

Remilia?s attack ends, then, as the weirdness can?t possibly end where it is now, SPLITS into a swarm of bats, which disperses. I guess she really IS a vampire!

Alice, appearing to be in a bit of pain, and small amounts of smoke emerging from the places where she had been hit, lowers her defensive stance, looks where Remilia was, ?Where???

The bats gather again behind the unsuspecting Alice and Remilia completely reappears and prepares to slash with her claws.

?Alice! Behind you!? I cry out.

?Ah!? Alice glances behind her, and, noticing Remilia about to attack, ducks down and avoids the attack, then jumping back, putting some distance between them.

?Haha!? However, Remilia presses her assault, and dashes toward Alice, slashing her across her upper chest.

?Ah!? Alice staggers backward, holding where she was just struck, blood streaming down the front of her school uniform and dripping onto the ground, making this whole thing look even more intense. I think I?m going to be sick?

Remilia delivers a kick to Alice, knocking her off her feet, and then turns her attention toward me. I?m shivering in fear and thus, I don?t have the reflexes I usually do, which explains why I didn?t react when Remilia leaps toward me, tackles me, and pins me to the ground. She tries to wrestle me down and she?s succeeding. For someone who looks to be 14, damn she?s strong! ?Stay out of this! I?m going to shut you up!?

My fear is reaching such a point that I?m starting to feel dizzy. I whimper, rather pathetically, ?Alice? help me??

?Zero Sign!? A familiar juvenile voice cries out from behind.

?Hm?? Remilia stops wrestling me down and sits up on top of me.

?Ice Vulcan!? Suddenly, several small sharp crystals, which look like ice fly into Remilia?s chest, the force knocking her off me and onto her back.

Alice returns to her feet, ?Whew. You made it!?

I look behind me and see Cirno standing with her right arm stretched out, light blue smoke rising from her palm.

?Cirno??

Cirno calls out happily, ?Heeeey! Marisa? Are you okay??

I get back up, ?Ye-yeah?? I never thought that my life would be saved by CIRNO, of all people!

Alice says, ?She has to be the one that_?

Suddenly, Alice?s words are cut off as Remilia returns to her feet. Blood is running down her front, but she?s alive. No way! No one could have survived that (although I?m a little relieved, as I thought I was going to faint if she was killed before my eyes)! She looks over me shoulder at Cirno, ?Another annoyance! Die!? She dashes past me and toward Cirno.

Cirno, who seems to be almost as scared as I am, not that I feel she has a right to, raises her arms in front of her reflexively, ?EEK!?

SWIP! Suddenly, an object shoots down in front of the vampire, stopping her in her tracks. I look at the ground. It?s a knife, which has to be pretty damn sharp as it just pierced through concrete. I look beyond to who I assume had thrown it. Past Cirno, standing on a branch extending out from a tree is a girl with mid-back length silver hair and blue eyes, wearing a pretty standard baggy white t-shirt and blue jeans, holding a few knives between her fingers. She?s Sakuya Izayoi, Cirno?s mom? or at least that?s what Cirno CLAIMS she is, although I call bullshit on that, as that?s just wrong on too many levels. She and Cirno live in a cheap apartment and I visited a couple times. She has fantastic cooking and she?s equally skilled at keeping the place tidy. I swear she could easily become someone?s maid.

With a rather dynamic pose, Sakuya says, ?Hold it right there!?

Remilia responds, ?Sakuya? you dare attack your own mistress??

?My mistress disappeared with Gensokyo! You are nothing but an imposter!?

Remilia makes a fist, ?You may be right, but my powers are very damned real!?

Alice runs past, stopping by Cirno?s side. Sakuya jumps down from her perch and lands next to Cirno and Alice. Cirno throws off her backpack, revealing a pair of crystalline WINGS! Well, hell. Why not? There isn?t much left to be surprised about.

?Remain at a safe distance, Marisa,? advises Sakuya.

?Okay?? I take a few steps back.

?Try me?? Remilia raises her arm into the air, ?Spear the Gungnir!? A large spear-shaped object, made completely out of red ?energy,? for lack of a better term, appears in her hand.

?You were right, Sakuya,? says Alice, ?She can use spells without a spellcard. She did the same thing before you arrived too.?

?We can discuss this later,? says Sakuya, ?Get ready!?

?HAAAAA!? Remilia charges at Alice, Cirno, and Sakuya. Alice nod at Cirno and both of them retreat several feet while Sakuya holds her ground. Remilia gets within range to attack ?Cirno?s mom? and swings her spear. However, Sakuya dodges the attack by jumping away and ascending so high off the ground, she puts pro basketball players to shame! She performs half a midair back flip to the point where she?s upside-down and twirls 180 degrees so she?s facing Remilia, and tosses two handfuls of knives (which just seemed to come out of nowhere, like Alice?s dolls) down at the vampire, who parries all of them with her spear. ?Hm?? Around the same time, though, a knife materializes in front of Remilia and flies toward her (where the hell did THAT come from?) Remilia sidesteps at the last possible second, the blade just grazing her hip.

Sakuya flips back upright and lands on her feet at the same time that Alice draws another slip of weird paper, ?War Sign!? About five dolls armed with swords and two dolls armed with lances appear, ?Doll?s War!? As Remilia?s guard is lowered by Sakuya?s attack, Alice?s attack flies in and the sword dolls spin and pass the vampire, cutting her several times. Finally, the lance dolls shoot at her like rockets and skewer her at the same time, then disappearing.

?Ugh!" Remilia staggers back.

?It?s my turn!? Cirno charges at Remilia and draws her own piece of paper. I guess Alice isn?t the only one who can use those. ?Cryo Si_? However, Remilia recovers amazingly fast and swings her spear, knocking Cirno to the side and headfirst against the school?s outer wall, ?Whaaa! Why am I the odd one out?? The impact caused Cirno to let go of her paper and a passing breeze causes it to flutter to my feet.

I kneel down and pick it up, ?How do these??? Somehow, I feel stronger by holding it.

The battle rages on. No matter what kind of punishment Remilia receives, she always recovers like nothing happened. The vampire lifts off the ground and into the air. Cirno, being the one with wings, follows her up, but is promptly kicked back to the ground. Moving like lightning, Remilia strikes at the nearby streetlamps, causing everything to go pitch-black.

?I can?t see anything!? screams Cirno.

?But I can see you with my vampire eyes,? taunts Remilia.

I hear a sound like a blade tearing through flesh, followed by a yell from Sakuya, ?ARGGGH!?

The scream is followed by the noise of a blade cutting through empty air. Remilia?s voice, now a considerable distance away from where Sakuya screamed says, ?Nice try, Sakuya, but face it, you can?t win against what you can?t see.?

Alice says, confidently, ?You really think that beat us? Think again, vampire!?

?What??

?Flame Sign: Luminous Candle Dolls!? Suddenly, several dolls holding candles appear all over the place, providing light. Granted, it?s not as good as the lamps, but whatever. We can see again.

?Gr?? Remilia swings her spear at one of the dolls, but it moves back, avoiding the attack.

Alice yells, ?Sakuya! Cirno! I need to focus to make this spell last! I?m sorry, but it?s up to the two of you now!?

The battle continues, now with Alice having about as much physical participation in the battle as I am.

Before, it seemed like they had a good shot at defeating Remilia, but now with Alice out of action, it look even, with the odds tipped slightly in Remilia?s favor. I tremble again. Shit! If they die, will I be next? However, my pessimism is interrupted but some weird? visions. They feel spontaneous, but also? somewhat nostalgic: Battles, not unlike the one I?m witnessing. From the point of view I?m in, I?m also a part of them. A lot of them have people I haven?t seen, but also some I have seen. I see Alice, though she is wearing a long blue dress with red ribbons, Sakuya, though she?s dressed like a maid. How appropriate. There is also a platinum-haired girl with swords I see several times in the visions, but who I?ve never seen before, and? a girl in white and red, though her face is blurred. Who IS she? What the hell am I seeing?

The battle rages on. I look at the piece of paper Cirno dropped, focus, and suddenly, two words spontaneously escape my lips: ?Love? Sign?? The card disappears and suddenly, I feel intense energy inside me. It feels like it?s pressing against the inside my right palm, begging to be unleashed. More illogical visions. I look at Remilia right ahead, not suspecting anything from me. I direct my open right hand in her direction, with my left hand around the arm to control my trembling. Finally, I utter two more words: ?MASTER SPARK!? Out of my palm, a massive beam flies out.

Remilia instantly turns her head in my direction, wide-eyed, ?WHAT THE HELL?? The beam slams into her, knocking her head-first through the outer wall.

My attack ends with scentless smoke rising from my hand. Despite the power I felt before, I suddenly feel weak. I slump down, ?What?? What did I just???

Alice looks at me, the candles flickering slightly, ?Marisa! You just???

Sakuya asks a question I don?t get, ?Are you starting to remember??

Cirno also look impressed, ?Is Kirisame back??

?What the hell are you talking about? You know something, right? What did I just do??

Before anyone can say anything, Remilia emerges from the hole in the wall, ?Heh? heh? Well done, Marisa. Looks like you?re starting to recall some things?? Suddenly, her form changes, her injuries as Remilia disappearing: She turns into a girl, who looks about 25, with red eyes and short red hair, who wears a black business suit, black slacks, and a small pair of glasses. However, like her previous form, something isn?t entirely human about her: She also has a pair of rabbit ears extending from her head ?? I hope you reunite with HER soon.?

?It really is you again!? yells Sakuya, ?Just what do you hope to gain from this??

?Do you need to know? What the hell could you do with that information anyway? Our objectives are the same. Quit screwing around and see for yourself.?

Cirno charges at the rabbit-girl, ?I?ll beat what you know outta you!?

Suddenly, a spear materializes in the rabbit?s hand. It?s not made of ?energy,? like Remilia?s, but rather, more like a plain metal spear, though with a somewhat large blade. She points the weapon mere millimeters away from Cirno?s throat, ?Touch me, and you?ll be breathing from THREE places, fairy. Comprende??

?Uh huh?? Cirno backs away.

?At any rate, I?ve done what I came here to do. Looks like all is well. Ciao!?

?Wait!? Alice calls out, ?Just who are you? WHAT are you??

The girl answers, ?You can call me Yumei. That is all. Remember, Marisa. This is not a dream? not anymore.? With that, she vanishes into thin air.

??Yumei???

 I get back up and walk over to Alice. I would have grabbed her by the collar if I didn?t know that she is capable of cutting me down with an army of armed dolls, ?Okay, just what the HELL was all that about?  I almost got killed! Out with it!?

Sakuya hesitantly says, ?You?ve seen everything. There?s no use in hiding it anymore??

?Just tell me, dammit!? I?m not angry. Not really. I?m just frightened and confused. However, those feelings are intense enough right now to be interpreted as anger.

Alice explains, ?Marisa? a year ago, when you were in a coma, you were leading a very different life than you are now.?

?What? What life? The only life I was leading was ?being asleep and depressing.?? I don?t know why I?m saying this. I just feel the need to joke, usually in a vain attempt to keep me from going overboard with emotion.

?You were dreaming,? says Cirno.

?What??

Sakuya picks up, ?You? and a certain other girl who met an identical mishap were dreaming the same dream. However, it was no ordinary dream.?

?How so??

?It was more than a dream world. It was a dimension. I don?t know how that got to be the case, but it was. A lot of people? including Alice and Cirno, were born from that dream. Also, there have been some outsiders that became a part of it? like me.?

Cirno gives another small tidbit, ?That dream world was called Gensokyo.?

?Gen? so? kyo???

Alice says, ?Right. It was a dream that transcended time, and had thousands of years of history. You lived there for 18 years as a witch named Marisa Kirisame.?

?What? You?re shitting me, right??

Alice answers, ?I?m not ?shitting? you, Marisa. I know it?s a farfetched story, but it?s true. When you woke up, Gensokyo was no more. Only a few of us escaped.?

I want to protest more, but after what I?ve seen, can I argue? Right in front of me, there is a girl that controls battle dolls, a girl with wings, and a girl? well, I don?t even know?

Alice explains, approaching me, ?Marisa, we need your help. Two of our friends are trapped in_?

 ?Stay away from me!? I shove Alice away.

?Marisa?? says Cirno.

?My coma is done and over with and I want to forget that ever happened! It was just a dream and its over! This is a dream too! It HAS to be! None of this is possible! Nothing is realistic about it!?

Sakuya speaks up, ?I know it?s hard to_?

?SHUT UP! You?re nothing but fictional characters! You shouldn?t even exist!? Alice and Cirno both look deeply hurt by my words, but I?m more concerned about myself right now ?? Just stay the hell away from me! I never want to see you again!? I run away, frightened and thoroughly freaked out.

==

Cirno starts to chase after Marisa, ?Wait! Marisa!?

Sakuya puts her hand on the ice fairy?s shoulder, ?Let her go for now. Yukari was right, humans in this realm are terrified of the unknown. I think what we should do right now is let her be for awhile, let her calm down, and confirm that all of this is not a dream.?

Alice looks crestfallen, ?Marisa??

==

I run home. I pass by some people out for a late night stroll, asking me what the matter is. I don?t answer. Why should I? This is nothing but a dream! A fantasy!

I return home. I don?t even eat dinner, brush my teeth, or get changed. I just jump into bed. When I wake up, it will be a brand new day. Alice and Cirno are just ordinary classmates and we will have fun as always!

? Right?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:44:10 PM
I wake up and I feel like shit. I had trouble getting to sleep, but, after hours of trying, I finally did. However, I probably only got in four hours of slumber at best. I?m still wearing my school uniform. Did those event really happen?? Nah! It was a dream. I mean, in today?s world, how can something so weird happen?

I put on a new uniform, and then eat a breakfast that does little to satisfy my hunger. Finally, I?m out the door, headed for a new school day. I?m actually looking forward to getting to school. I can see the area where Alice, Cirno, and Sakuya supposedly fought the vampire, and confirm that nothing happened and it was all a result of my active imagination.

A few minutes pass. I?m actually on time today! I follow the outer wall of the school, and turn the corner to the side where the front gate is. To my horror, however, there were tons of yellow tape up and police teams were investigating an area where it looks like a war had been fought. There were cracks and dents along the wall, the streetlamps were damaged beyond repair, and trees had shown signs of damage. I look to my right and notice a large hole in the wall? the one that I had made!

What the hell? It dawns on me all so fast: It was no dream? All that crazy shit actually happened? I look at the scene a little more. There is dried blood all over the ground; Puddles of Alice and Sakuya?s blood, small splatters of Cirno?s blood, and trails of Remilia?s? or Yumei?s blood. Good luck finding DNA matches for THOSE samples. I?m lucky I didn?t end up bleeding at all, otherwise I?d be hounded with questions which they wouldn?t believe the answers to.

Not surprisingly, school was canceled because of this. Makes sense, as to anyone else, it looks like a brutal murder had taken place here. Well, it looks like not only was my life saved, but also a day of putting up with elitist bitches. Of course, I?m not going to enjoy my day off very much with all I have on my mind.

I return home, preparing for a day of deep thought. As I walk through the door, my mom says, ?I know why you?re home early. I heard about it on the news. There was a murder right outside your school.?

Not even my mom would believe me if I told the truth, so I play along, ?It seems that way. There was blood everywhere. Pretty gross. Heheheh??

?They said that no body was found, though. Anyway, that was surprising news. I didn?t think anything like that could happen in a small town like this. The world is becoming a dangerous place.?

?I guess so??

As I figured, I had spent my entire day off thinking about nothing except all the shit that had transpired last night. What else can I think about? I saw a bunch of stuff that should only happen in Japanese cartoons, and all of it seems to relate to me and a dream I had, which I don?t remember at all! As I think about it, I feel horrible about what I said to Alice and the others about saying that they shouldn?t exist and that I don?t want to see them again. Right now, they are the only ones who can lend an ear to me about this. They fought to save my life and I repaid them by saying horrible things. I constantly look down to my schoolmates as bitches, but I gradually realize that I am one myself, and that makes me feel like shit.

The hours fly by as the events from last night mercilessly invade my mind, even during my delicious dinner. Mom seems to notice something?s bothering me, but I just deny it. Even when I try to think of something else, it?s always back to that vampire! With how much I?m worked up over this, I need to calm down.

I enter my home?s upstairs bathroom, strip naked, and take a warm shower. As it turns out, it helps. I feel a lot more relaxed and I start to think on the positive side of those events. I was confused and scared when the battle was going on, but now, looking back on it as a memory, it was kinda? fun. Seriously! My friends, who I thought of as somewhat normal people, suddenly started using all kinds of strange powers like superheroes with secret identities, and fought against a vampire. Not to mention, I was the one who used that big laser! Me! I felt tired afterward, but it was so cool, and I find out that it really happened! As I think about it, my expression turns into a smile and ?? ? Hehe? Hmhm? HAHAHA!? I start laughing.

I must have showered for about 45 minutes. Finally, I reluctantly step out of the shower, put on a pair of PJs, and head to bed much earlier than normal. All that one-track thinking has made me tired, and I fall asleep pretty quickly.

?

I?m surrounded by nothing but blackness. However, my body seems to be emitting its own light, so I have no problem seeing myself. Everything around me is all the same color, but I feel like I?m standing on solid ground.

All around me, a familiar voice says, ?Welcome, Marisa!?

In front of me, that red-haired, four-eyed, bunny-eared girl from the previous night appears, ?You!?

The girl reintroduces herself, ?My name is Yumei. So, we finally meet inside your head.?

??Inside???

?This is a dream, Marisa.?

?What the hell are you doing here??

?Funny question. I?ve lived here for the past 14 months? since you got out of your coma. Unfortunately, I couldn?t show myself to you in here until you became aware of my existence. Luckily, on full moon nights, I can step out briefly and get some fresh air. Still, it took some time for my powers to grow enough to do that. In the meantime, I feed on your dreams.?

??Feed on my dreams,? huh? I hope you choke on that giant scorpion that appeared in a nightmare I had when I was four.?

Instead of reacting in an insulted or angry way, she just laughs, ?HAHAHA! Oh shit, that?s hilarious! You remember a dream like that, yet you forgot the single most important dream you?ve ever had.?

?That again??

Yumei continues, ?But that?s not unusual. You forget plenty of good dreams. While I?m here, I?ve learned about every dream you?ve ever had, even the ones you didn?t commit to memory. For example, when you were in the seventh grade, you had a dream where you made out with a freshman girl, who helped you pick up some books you dropped, and you thought she was really cute.?

???

?Oh! It gets better, Marisa! Three weeks ago, you dreamt you? well, I won?t be specific, but it was with Alice Margatroid. You need to keep your naughty, naughty imagination under control. Good thing children aren?t here.?

?Screw you!? In a humiliated rage, I charge at Yumei, attempting to tackle her, but she quickly jumps several feet into the air and over my head. I whirl around to face her again.

Yumei places her hands in her pockets, ?Tsk. Tsk. No need to act that way with me. I?m your friend, and friends like to mess around with one another.?

?Bullshit! Why did you try to kill me??

Yumei?s ears raise slightly, ??Kill you???

?You mean you?ve forgotten? When you were a vampire and you tackled me, saying that you would ?shut me up!??

Yumei?s eyes widen, ?I?m impressed. You have quite a vivid memory. I simply knew your friends would save you. I figured Alice would recover and attack me, but Cirno showed up instead. It went well.?

?I?m not convinced. Why did you attack us at all??

?So you would remember your other self. The psyche that existed in the mystical world of Gensokyo, which fought countless battles against the youkai that threatened it. I intended to create an image of such a battle that took place there to jog your subconscious memory a little.?

A mirror rises in front of me. I?m wearing my white pajamas, but the reflection looking back at me is wearing a black dress, a white apron, and an oversized black witch hat, not to mention that she looks slightly older, ?That?s? me??

?It is. Marisa Kirisame, your other self. The identity you took on in your dream as the body of Marisa Starr was fast asleep in her coma.? The mirror disappears and Yumei continues to talk, ?I understand that you saw some visions, as well as remembering how to use one of your persona?s spells. You?re remembering, Marisa, and that?s exactly what Alice, Cirno and Sakuya wanted too.?

I should still be creeped out by all this, but with all I don?t understand, I can?t help but want some answers, ?They were just? things. I don?t vividly remember anything, assuming what you say is true.?

Yumei pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, ?True. What you need is something to stimulate your memories enough to remember EVERYTHING. You? saw something unusual in your ?visions,? haven?t you??

?What the hell are you talking about? EVERY SINGLE ONE was messed up!?

?Something out of the ordinary with the visions themselves, not their content. Hm? Might it be THIS by any chance?? Next to Yumei, another figure appears. It?s one of the girls that appeared in the visions, wearing a red dress and detached white sleeves, and black hair. However, her face is still a blur to me, ?This is your counterpart. Like you, she dreamt, and together, you created Gensokyo. Perhaps if you find that face, you?ll find the missing piece of the puzzle that is your memory.?

?I just need to find out who that is, and I?ll know??

?Perhaps.?

My eyes narrow at Yumei, ?Why are you doing this? What in it for you??

Yumei paces around with her arms folded in front of her, ?Aren?t you curious as to why your ?friends? are so interested in you, that they would follow you to the extent they have? It?s because two? ?foreign elements? were left in Gensokyo when you two woke up, are trapped in the subconscious of the other girl?s mind, and they want to retrieve them, and they need to reunite you and that girl to make it happen. Likewise, I am trapped in your subconscious, so freeing them will free me. If you?re sick of me being here, I?d suggest you go along with them.?

??? That is some weird information, and I don?t know what the hell to make of it.

Yumei stops pacing and shrugs, ?But hey, it?s your decision. I just figured you wouldn?t want someone else sharing your mind, and I don?t think you?re not the least bit curious as to why all these things are happening.?

???

?Well, sweet dreams, Marisa.? With that, Yumei disappears.

She?s right. I?m curious, I want answers, and I sure as hell don?t want her finding out what I dream about. Despite all that had happened, I make up my mind pretty fast. After school tomorrow, I will speak with Alice and find out what to do, assuming she and Cirno decided not to do what I said about me never wanting to see them again.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:44:51 PM
==

As the moon shines on one side of the world, the sun shines on the other.

After hours off tossing and turning in her sleep, Reimu Kiribayashi is awakened by the sunlight shining into the room and the sound of wood cutting through the air multiple times, along with a voice counting with each swish, ?379? 380? 381? 382??

She wakes up in a small bed in a small room with two beds. Next to her bed, there is the ordinary desk with a computer and TV nearby, and next to the other, there is hardly anything except kendo equipment and various objects wrapped in cloth. After a few second, she remembers where she is: She had graduated from high school, after having to do a ton of makeup work, due to her coma, and, after an all-too-short summer vacation, she enrolled in a Japanese university and is now living in a dorm. She looks in the direction of the swishing sounds and notices Youmu Konpaku, her former classmate from high school, who enrolled in the same university, and is now her roommate. Little does she know, however, that Youmu was a close friend of hers in a life she has no vivid memories of, where she was the protector of the ghost princess of the Netherworld and a master swordsman.

?Youmu??? Reimu wakes up to Youmu practicing her kendo, a sport which, needless to say, she is very skilled in. Despite wearing a blue t-shirt and a mid-length brown skirt, both of which were recently washed, she is already working up a sweat.

Youmu smiles unusually cheerily, ?Ah, good morning, Reimu! Did you sleep well?? Even though Youmu used to ask her what dreams she had, she had learned to keep asking that question under control.

Reimu says, ?I slept okay, I guess. I had a weird dream??

Youmu raises an eyebrow, ?About what??

?I was in a bamboo forest, and I was attacked by a horned monster with silvery-green hair. It said polite things, but it kept attacking with lasers and stuff. You were there too??

This description has a familiar ring to Youmu, but she feigns ignorance, ?That?s a weird dream! I was also being attacked by the monster??

?Yeah??

?Well, it was just a dream! Don?t worry about it!?

?True, but something felt so? real. So familiar. So? nostalgic??

?You?re just imagining things. Don?t worry about it.?

?Yeah? You?re right??

?? ? ? Today is a new day of class. Let?s not be late?? Youmu puts down her wooden sword, puts on a green hooded sweater, and picks up a blue gym bag, which she never once parted with.

?Right.?

Youmu runs for the door, ?I?ll go on ahead and leave you to get changed! See you later!? Youmu leaves the room.

Reimu changes out of her night clothes and into a casual white t-shirt and blue slacks. She grabs a piece of bread from a nearby refrigerator, which she and Youmu share, spreads butter over its surface, and rushes out of the room, eating it, a meager breakfast, as she woke up very late.

She rushes across campus, an action that makes her stand out, as everyone else has either finished a class or is on time.

Finally, after climbing three floors of stairs in the campus? largest building, she reaches her class: psychology, taught by Professor Yagokoro, who the previous year, taught at Reimu?s high school. Reimu can?t help but wonder if it?s a startling coincidence or she?s stalking her for some reason. However, Reimu once knew her as much more than a teacher, as she is a being from the moon, a Lunarian, Eirin Yagokoro, who escaped to Gensokyo. At that time, she was the best friend of the moon?s exiled princess, Kaguya Horaisan, and was known for having a genius IQ and skilled in making potions. Kaguya, and her rival, Mokou, were trapped in Gensokyo when it vanished.

Reimu rushes into the classroom, where all the other students had already arrived, ?Sorry I?m late!?

Eirin, wearing an official-looking white suit and a pair of eyeglasses, says, ?Thank you for coming today, Reimu. Don?t worry, you haven?t missed much.?

Reimu sits at her assigned desk.

Eirin begins the day?s lecture, ?The human mind is known for being the mechanism which governs everything that defines us: Actions, emotions, opinions, beliefs, feelings? You would believe that mankind has figured out every aspect of it? but to this day, it is still a mysterious thing. When we sleep, we live lives very different from our realities; Temporary existences that are manifestations of our endless imaginations. Class, today we are going to talk about dreams??

Reimu lays her head on her desk, noticing the strange theme of her day so far, or even her life since awakening from her coma. 

?Everything that we?ve ever felt and experienced determine the lives we live during our times of slumber??

A couple hours pass. Finally, class ends and Reimu and the other students leave the classroom. Soon after, a female security guard, with red eyes and long lavender hair, wearing a blue uniform, with a handgun holstered at her hip and a hat which fits her awkwardly, enters the room.

?Hello, Reisen,? greets Eirin, ?What brings you here??

Reisen takes her hat off, revealing her ears, which were coiled underneath. They stretch and straighten out, ?I have some news, Eirin-sama.?

?What is it??

?I got word from Sakuya that a battle against some mysterious entity caused Marisa to regain some of her memories.?

?Really??

?Really! I was told that she got her hands on a spellcard and ended up using one of her spells.?

?Interesting. Any word from Youmu about Reimu??

Reisen pauses for a few seconds, ?Yes, about her? Well, it seems Reimu actually remembers things from Gensokyo, but she is just having trouble comprehending it. She shares a bunch of dreams with Youmu, which were familiar experiences from back then.?

?I see. Perhaps that time has come? It?s much earlier than we planned, but the stage appears to have set itself??


The day passes quickly. That evening, Reimu and Youmu eat dinner at a ramen stand not far from the university. They sit shoulder to shoulder at the counter, but while Youmu quickly eats her food, Reimu is deep in thought and only occasionally touches her dinner. Youmu soon notices Reimu?s behavior, ?What?s wrong??

?It?s just? the dreams. I?ve been having them more and more lately. I?m remembering too many and a lot of them have the same things? it?s making me uneasy??

?They?re just dreams,? says Youmu.

???

?What same things keep appearing??

?I told you about this before. Every once in awhile, two girls appear.?

Youmu tries to let out a friendly chuckle, ?? Heh? They keep appearing, huh??

?Yes. They try to talk to me, but? their words get broken up. I can?t understand them. From their expressions, it appears to be something important.?

Youmu raises an eyebrow in interest, but continues the same line of assurance, ?You?re only imagining it...? Dammit! How much longer can I keep up this charade? I can?t just keep lying to her?

?I guess? and there is something else??

?What??

"I dream of battle and I dream of peaceful times, but a lot of them have me alongside the same people: you, Youmu, or someone that LOOKS like you, a silver-haired girl dressed as a maid, a blonde girl in blue, and??

?Hm??

?Another blonde girl in black, but there is something different about her. Her face? it?s a blur??

?I? see??

Reisen, dressed as a security guard, enters the stand and speaks to Youmu, ?Excuse me, Miss Youmu Konpaku. I need to speak with you.?

Reimu looks at Youmu with mock-suspicion, ?What did you do~??

?Beat me. I?ll be right back.?

Youmu and Reisen leave the stand and head behind it, speaking softly so no one nearby can hear them.

?So, what is it, Reisen??

?We are going to tell Reimu the truth.?

?Really??

?Yeah. Eirin-sama and I will be waiting for the two of you in your room after class tomorrow.?

?Okay, although it only seems like it will be a matter of time when she recalls everything on her own.?

Reisen shrugs, ?Well, whatever comes first. We?ll be waiting.?

==

The next day, I head to school. Of course, Alice and Cirno aren?t waiting by the gate for me. They won?t be here. Not with the injuries they got fighting Remilia. I?ll have to pay a visit after school, as I planned. I just want to get through classes today, so I can get my answers later, so I end up arriving on time again. When I get to class, however, I?m surprised to notice that Alice and Cirno actually DID come. However, they are seated in the middle of the class. They glance my way. Alice simply turns her head back to the front of the room in a ?Hmph!? fashion. Cirno gives me a dirty look, and then does the same. It figures. They?re pissed off, not that I blame them after what I said. I sit in my usual seat in the back of the class, the adjacent girls looking at me like I?d diseased. The girls of this school, being the preppy bitches they are, may constantly look down on me as some kind of lowborn, but a couple nights ago, I treated Alice, Cirno, and Sakuya the same for being figments of my imagination. It dawns on me all too clearly: I?m a hypocrite.

The classes go by with me lost in my own thoughts and self-inflicted despair. Finally, lunch arrives. Alice and Cirno are sitting at the usual cafeteria table. Well, here goes nothing. I won?t get very friendly reception, but I will set things right!

I walk over to the table, ?Um? Hey, how?s it going??

??? They?re pretending to ignore me, I just know it.

?Is it alright if I sit here??

???

?I?ll take that as a ?yes?,? I sit down next to Alice. After several seconds of silence between us, Alice finally speaks up, ?What do you want, Marisa? You said that you don?t want to see us again.?

?And that we shouldn?t exist,? adds Cirno.

?I know I said those things and I?m sorry.?

??? My apology isn?t getting through.

?Look, I was just frightened at the time. I was attacked and thought I was going to die and I was scared of what you did and what you said. I honestly didn?t mean what I said, and if I could relive that event, I?d have handled it differently. Please forgive me.?

Alice and Cirno pause for a long time. Finally, both of them start laughing.

?What?s so funny?? I ask.

?Haha! Nothing,? says Alice, ?It?s just that we?re not used to you making that kind of apology. Putting it that way? from YOU, then I guess I?d HAVE to forgive you?? The laughter stops after a few seconds. Alice rises from her seat, ?However, I just want to so one thing to call it even??

?What?s that??

SLAP! Alice strikes me across the face fast and hard. I didn?t even see it coming, so I didn?t brace myself. She hit me so hard, I fall out of my seat and onto the floor.?

No teachers were around to witness this, much to Alice?s luck, but it made enough of a scene with the other students, that they were all stunned into silence? followed by a thunderous cheer. Dammit! This is probably karmic backlash from the horrible things I said, but I still can?t help but privately tell all those girls that they can go straight to Hell.

?Now we?re even,? says Alice, gripping her hand. I guess she hurt herself as much as she hurt me.

I get up off the floor, rubbing my cheek, ?I deserved that??

One of the girls walks over to our table and says to Alice, ?You know, Alice, I thought you were just a lowly student here, but seeing as you went and hit that piece of human trash, I want you to join our clique.?

?SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!? yell me, Alice, and Cirno at the same time.

The girl flinches and walks away, ?Whatever. My bad for thinking you were cool.? With us acting together like that, I guess we?re friends again.

With everything settled, I ask the first question on my mind, ?What are the two of you doing here? I thought the wounds you got from that battle would have kept you from coming.?

?About that,? says Cirno, ?Under our clothes, we look like mummies.?

Alice leans over the table, ?We had to force ourselves to come. It would look suspicious if we weren?t here after the scene we created. Anyway, tending to our wounds is not something we?re used to.?

?How is that??

?Gensokyo had this kind of? magic in the air. All its inhabitants benefited from it in various ways: We could fly, our wounds, provided they?re non-fatal, would completely heal in a matter of hours, and we could infuse specially marked paper with that magic, thus creating spellcards.?

?Spellcards??

?During that battle, you used one to fire that large beam. All intelligent beings possess a great power, but using it puts a great strain on the body. Spellcards are a crutch we must rely on to draw that power out. They give us extra energy and regulate our flow of power so we can more easily use the power in the way we desire. Of course, we still use our stamina, so using them too much is not a good thing??

?Is that why I felt a little woozy after using it??

?Yes. As you are now, Marisa, the energy you possess is strong, but limited. Your alter ego, Marisa Kirisame, however, could use that attack repeatedly with ease.?

Cirno shares a piece of her limited knowledge, ?This world doesn?t have that magic, so nobody without wings can fly, our wounds heal very slowly, and we can only use the spellcards we had when Gensokyo disappeared. We can?t make new ones??

?Spellcards we attempt to create here are just scraps of paper,? adds Alice.

?It sounds like an amazing place,? I say.

?To you, I?m sure it does,? says Alice, with a smile.

?I mean, seriously! I could do crazy shit like I did a couple nights ago; I wouldn?t be hurt for long, and I could fly.?

?Not without a broomstick,? says Alice, ?You sacrificed your ability to fly on your own for more magical power.?

?Whatever? Oh yeah, I met that ?Yumei? chick in my sleep last night.?

?Really?? says Cirno.

?Did you find anything out about her?? asks Alice, ?Sakuya was attacked by her on the full moon night before the one where we were attacked. She?s quite enigmatic.?

I recount what I was told, ?Well, she said she simply picked a fight with you guys to create an image of my Gensokyo memories, whatever they may be. It apparently worked. She can only come out on full moons; she says that she is trapped inside my subconscious and wants me to help with freeing two ?foreign elements? from my counterpart, a brunette whose face I can?t see, because doing that would free her from my mind too??

?Interesting,? says Alice, ?I can only assume that the ?brunette? she mentioned is Reimu??

?Whatever her name is, Yumei said that I need to see her face, and I?ll SOMEHOW remember everything about Gensokyo clearly as crystal.?

?I see??

I say solemnly, ?Alice, I want to resolve this. What are those ?foreign elements???

Cirno answers instead, ?Two friends of ours, who were still in Gensokyo when it disappeared. We heard that they are living in Reimu?s head. One of our friends says that if we get you and Reimu together, we can rescue them.?

?? And get Yumei out of my head too.?

?We don?t know much about Yumei, so we?ll take your word for it. To be honest, I don?t know where she came from, but she may be a part of the answer we?re looking for??

?Hm??

?Gensokyo was more than a dream of you and Reimu. While it lasted, it was an entire dimension. Sakuya, a few of our other friends, and the two in Reimu?s head, were not natively born of Gensokyo. They came from the outside. We don?t know how, but Yumei might know something as to how that is.?

I lean back, ?At any rate, I?m interested, and I have to admit, this is kinda fun. I will help you out. I take it I need to meet this Reimu chick, right??

?Yes,? answers Alice, ?She lives in Japan.?

I nearly fall out of my seat from leaning back too much, ?JAPAN? How the hell are we gonna get there? I don?t have enough money to afford a trip like that!?

Alice smiles, ?Don?t worry, Marisa. We have someone who can get us from one side of this world to the other in a heartbeat.? 
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:46:00 PM
Japan?

The next day passes all too fast. During the day, Youmu is quiet in her anticipation of telling Reimu the truth.

Youmu leaves a class and returns to the dorm room to drop off some textbooks and just wait until it is almost time for her next class. She opens her blue gym bag and her ghost-half flies out. She sits on the edge of her bed and thinks out loud, ?How will she react to this? Deep down she knows??

?BOO!? Suddenly, Youmu feels something touch her from behind.

?Ahhhhhh!? She jumps from her bed and across the room on top of Reimu?s bed.

Where Youmu was, a portal opens up and Yukari Yakumo steps out, ?Fufufu~ Glad to see you haven?t changed, Youmu.?

Youmu, who hadn?t gotten over the shock, says, trying to sound intimidating, though to no avail, ?Don?t? e-ever do th-that again, Yukari!?

Yukari opens a portal halfway, horizontally, and reclines in it like a seat, ?I just find it amusing that you hang around ghosts, and are half of one yourself, yet you are terrified of the idea of ghosts.?

?Whatever. Just what brings you here, Yukari??

?Oh, I?ve merely come on Yuyuko?s behalf to make sure you?re doing all right. Among the things she wants to know: Are you eating healthy??

?So-so.?

?Are you getting good marks??

?Mostly C?s.?

?Are you making new friends??

?Not since I came to college. At least in high school, Reimu and I spent time with her friends, Ayuki and Hiroji. But, I only just got here. It hasn?t even been a month.?

Yukari smiles, ?I see. It looks like you?re a pretty average student.?

?Yeah?? Youmu says, ?Tonight, we are going to tell Reimu the truth.?

?I figured it was a matter of time. I relayed your messages back and forth, and I was surprised to know that Reimu actually still has a trace of knowledge remaining about Gensokyo??

?Well, it makes our job easier.?

Yukari looks at Youmu solemnly, ?Doesn?t it bother you, Youmu??

?What??

?You?ve never been separated from Yuyuko for this long. It?s your duty to be by her side.?

?And follow her orders, which is what I?m doing. That?s why I?m here right now.?

?But don?t you feel sad??

?A little? but? it?s not that bad? Even if only temporarily, I?m living like an ordinary girl. I get to live a carefree life with my friends, I don?t have to worry about risking my life.?

Yukari leans back, ?You?ve changed, Youmu. There was once a time when Yuyuko was your entire world. You may be here as she instructed, but you?re? happy, aren?t you??

?I guess so??

?This isn?t going to last, Youmu. Savor whatever time you have left.?

?I will. How is Yuyuko-sama doing??

?Very well. She misses you and your fear of imaginary ghosts. I startled you on her behalf.?

Youmu smiles, ?Haha! I see. I thought you were her for a second.?

?But, she?s happy for you. She always wanted you to experience life outside of servitude. Part of her felt bad when you were always so steadfast to her.? 

?Well, she is always my mistress, no matter what happens. I?d never abandon the duty my father entrusted to me.?

?You?ll be seeing everyone else soon. Marisa is starting to remember. She has a vacation coming up, and that is when she will be coming here.?

?I see. I?d sure like to see her, Alice, and Sakuya again. It?s been over a year now??

?I?ll be here when the time comes to explain things to Reimu. I will see you then.?

?Okay.?

The portal Yukari is sitting on widens and she falls in, the rip closing soon after.

Youmu walks over to her dresser, removes several pairs of clothing, finally finding her green dress neatly folded at the bottom, ?It looks like these days will be ending soon??


A few hors later, Yukari emerges from a portal inside Rinnosuke?s remote home. ?Rinnosuke? Are you here??

Rinnosuke enters from another room, ?Hello there, Yukari! What brings you here??

?I just came to say that the time is coming. Tonight, we are going to tell Reimu the truth.?

?Really? It sure took awhile??

?Fufufu~ True.?

?Do you know if we will be able to revive Gensokyo??

?I don?t know. I suppose Marisa?s little ?friend? might know something??

==

I find myself on a large stone balcony over looking the ocean. Spread out across it, there are many round tables with large umbrellas sticking up from out of the middles. It?s a beautiful sight, but how the heck did I get here?

?Hello again, Marisa.? I see a familiar face sitting at one of the tables.

?Yumei! This must be??

?A dream? Well, of course.? Yumei takes a sip out of a small cup sitting in front of her. Along with the scenery, she?s coming off as more sophisticated than she really is. She pushes out a chair across from her side of the table out with her foot, ?Have a seat.?

?Okay?? I sit across the table from Yumei.

?I see things are going well. You?ll be traveling to Japan to meet Reimu, I take it??

?That?s the plan.?

?Good. I like your mind, Marisa. I can enjoy sights like this and such, but nothing compares to the real thing. I?m looking forward to leaving.?

?I guess it won?t be much longer??

?Seems so. Damn, it?s been a long time since I saw the outside??

I remember something Alice requested of me, ?Oh yeah! Alice wanted me to ask you what your connection to Gensokyo was.?

Yumei raises an eyebrow, ?They want to know, hm? Well, I?m sure they?re thinking of a whole bunch of things about me. How about I save that information for when I can tell you AND your friends??

?I guess so. Can you at least answer the bigger question, though??

?And what?s that??

?Might you know of some way to bring Gensokyo back??

Yumei grins at me and says in a low voice, ?As a matter of fact, I do.?

?Really??

?Yes. I promise I will explain everything when I am out. Until then, I will be waiting.? Yumei vanishes into thin air.

So she does know of some way to return Gensokyo to Alice and the others? It sounds too good to be true, but if so, everyone will be happy by that news. I only wish I could share such enthusiasm over such a thing. Perhaps I will too when I regain all my memories?

==

After another day of school comes to pass, Reimu returns to her dorm room for the day. However, she is surprised when she arrives to see Youmu, as well as Eirin and Reisen waiting for her. Youmu sits on her bed on the left side, Reisen sits on Reimu?s bed on the right, and Eirin sits in a chair between them, in the back of the room. Youmu is wearing the green dress she typically wore before Gensokyo?s end, Eirin is wearing her blue and red split down the middle dress, and Reisen is wearing her black business-like suit, a belt with a holstered handgun, and pink skirt, but still her hat, concealing her ears.

?What?s going on here?? Reimu asks Youmu.

Youmu says, ?Reimu, there is something we need to tell you.?

Reimu looks at Eirin, ?Professor Yagokoro? Um? Does this have something to do with psychology class??

Eirin smiles and says half-jestingly, ?Well, it?s not too terribly far off from yesterday?s lesson.?

?Dreams?? She looks at Reisen for several seconds, ?Aren?t you that security guard that I?ve seen around campus??

Reisen responds, ?I?m glad you remembered. I didn?t think I left that much of a last impression, pretending I?m human. You can call me Reisen; Reisen Udongein Inaba.?

??Human?? What are you talking about??

Eirin sits with her fingers interlocked in front of her, ?Miss Kiribayashi, I understand that you have been having some unusual? experiences when you sleep.?

Reimu says, ?I have? but they?re dreams. Realistic dreams, I guess, but dreams. How is that your business? Are you here to give me advice to keep those dreams under control, Professor Yagokoro??

?Call me Eirin; Eirin Yagokoro. As for those dreams? did one of them have someone who looks like me kill a dear friend of yours, after which, you flew into a rage? Did another have you facing off against a blonde girl in black, who fell under another?s control??

Reisen picks up, ?Did one have you? and Youmu here, battling a pig-tailed girl with a scythe? How about a girl that could fly and create powerful gusts of wind??

Youmu adds one, ?Did you once fight a trio with musical instruments?? She looks over Reimu?s shoulder, ?Or someone who looks like??

?? me??

?Ah!? Reimu hears another voice behind her and whirls around to face Yukari, who just emerged from a portal.

Yukari smiles cheerily, ?Hello, Reimu!?

Reimu, now freaked out, asks, ?Who the hell are you?"

"Yukari Yakumo. Don't worry, I'm you friend."

"Right. Sure. Now, how does everyone know about those dreams?? She glances back at Youmu, ?I never even told you about those ones!?

Eirin says, ?I also understand that two girls frequently appear in your other dreams.?

?You know about them? How? Did you say anything, Youmu??

??? Youmu shakes her head.

Eirin states, ?One of those girls happens to be a princess? and my friend.?

Reimu snaps, ?Enough of this! How the hell do you know about all that? Just what the hell is going on??

Youmu states, straightforwardly, ?Those ?dreams? actually happened. They are memories you?ve had of another life you?ve had when you were in a coma.?

Reisen adds, ?And we?ve lived it alongside you.? She takes off her hat, revealing her rabbit ears. Youmu, following suit, opens her gym bag, releasing her ghost half.

Reimu recounts all the strange things she had seen so far, ?A strange ?wisp? thing, a girl with bunny ears, and a girl that just came in from out of nowhere? This is a dream, isn?t it??

?Let?s see if it is?? Yukari lightly bops Reimu over the head with her parasol.

?Owww! What the hell? You didn?t need to do that!?

Yukari poses proudly, ?It looks like you?re still awake, Reimu. This is not a dream and all the ?weird? things you are seeing are completely authentic.?

Eirin sits calmly, ?Please settle down, Reimu. We are your friends. Of that, you have our complete assurance.?

Reimu pauses, and then says, ?? Okay. Please tell me. Make me understand just what is going on. About the dreams? about you guys? about? well? everything.?

Yukari explains, ?When you were knocked out and in a coma, you had a dream? Well, technically a dream, but it was more than that. It was a whole new boundary!?

Reimu raises an eyebrow, ??Boundary???

?Or dimension, realm, alternate universe, any other term along those lines. Anyway, it was the creation of you and one other girl. There, you lived for 19 years as a shrine maiden named Reimu Hakurei.?

??Hakurei???

?Yes. The land was known as Gensokyo, a mystical land of magic and youkai, such as myself, and 99% female populated.?

??Gensokyo???

?Yep! You know what that means, Reimu??

?What??

Yukari brings her face close to Reimu?s, ?You are my mother.?

Reimu backs away from the boundary youkai, wide-eyed, muttering in horror, ?No? That can?t be? When? when did I?? But? I?m not even? attracted to guys??

Yukari laughs heartily, ?Fufufu~ Don?t look so shocked, Reimu. You are my mother and I am your BRAINchild.?

Reimu pouts at Yukari, ?I hate you.?

Youmu sighs, ?Get serious, Yukari.?

Eirin says, ?But she IS right. Born from your mind, everyone in Gensokyo is like a child of yours.?

Reimu says, ?Okay, if what you are saying is true_?

?You believe us?? interrupts Reisen.

Reimu says, ?With all the weird things and the stuff you know about me that I don?t even know myself, I don?t think I?m in a position to write this off as some elaborate joke.?

Yukari nods in approval, ?Good response.?

Reimu tries to ask her question again, ?What I was trying to say was, if what you are saying is true?? she looks at Youmu, then Eirin, and finally Reisen, ?are you three my ?children? also??

All three of them shake their heads at the same time. ?No,? answers Reisen, ?The three of us came from outside your dream. Eirin-sama and I are from the moon? er? an alternate universe of it.?

?And I?m from the Netherworld,? says Youmu.

??? Reimu finds their explanations to be unusual, but just counts them among all the other weird things she had gathered up to that point.

Eirin continues the explanation, ?You and the other dreamer were powerful warriors, and, often with the help of other friends you?ve made, you?ve protected Gensokyo from countless disasters. In fact, we used to all be your enemies at one point or another.?

?Really?? Reimu looks at Youmu, ?Even you, Youmu??

?Yes?? Youmu answers with a nod.

Eirin says reassuringly, ?Don?t worry! We?re your friends now! In fact, every enemy you had one day became your friend on the next. You were quite easygoing and never held onto a grudge once you taught someone a lesson.?

?I wouldn?t quite say that,? says Youmu, recalling Reimu?s relationship with Aya Shameimaru, ?but for the most part, yes.?

Yukari picks up the story again, ?As you and your friends went on all kinds of adventures, ?you? were in the hospital, sleeping, and ever so slowly recovering? and finally, it happened. You started to awaken and Gensokyo ended along with it. We and a few others managed to escape??

?I?m? sorry???

?It was inevitable, so there is no need to apologize. Normally, we?d leave you alone and let bygones be bygones, but there is something important still living in your head.?

?What??

Reisen says, ?The two girls in your dreams: One with long black hair, wearing a pink and red dress, and another with aqua-colored hair, who wears red overalls.?

Eirin says, ?They are outsiders who were trapped when your dream completely ended. One of them is Kaguya, the exiled first princess of the moon?s Lunarian Empire.?

Reimu raises an eyebrow, ??Kaguya?? I?ve heard about her! She?s that girl from the fairy tale who had all those suitors who she told to do impossible things.?

Reisen raises her ears, ?Oh yeah! This was the realm she was originally banished to, wasn?t it??

Eirin grins, ?That was no fairy tale, Reimu. I?ve heard it myself, though the ending had been altered. She WAS going to go back to the moon, but she didn?t want to. I helped her escape, and we ended up going to Gensokyo.?

?Which was my doing,? adds Yukari.

?Hold on,? says Reimu, ?I?ll believe you in that the fairy tale was, in fact, not a fairy tale, but that was hundreds of years ago! If you played a part in that, how are you still alive now??

Eirin answers, ?I was the one who made the immortality elixir that was given to the emperor in that tale. Of course, I tested it? on myself, and? well, here I am.?

Yukari says, ?The dream of Gensokyo created a history dating back by thousands of years, at the beginning of which, I came into existence. Of course, that history ran alongside the feudal era of this realm.?

Reimu, starting to find the information she had been given increasingly easier to accept, asks Yukari, ?So? are you immortal too??

Yukari shakes her head, ?No. I?ve just lived for that long? though my life doesn?t have that much time remaining. About 700 years at best??

Eirin adds, ?And that part of the fairy tale where the elixir got burned in the flames of Mt. Fuji? That didn?t happen either. Princess Kaguya?s nemesis, Fujiwara no Mokou got a hold of it and drank it. She is the other prisoner of your subconscious.?

Reimu folds her arms in front of her, ??Nemesis?? Well, that would explain why I catch them fighting sometimes??

Reisen laughs, ?Haha! They?re still at it, huh??

?At any rate, that is where we stand.?

?So what do you want with me??

Yukari explains, ?I can open the boundary to your subconscious and allow us to enter and leave with Kaguya and Mokou. However, you will need the other dreamer together with you. We were hoping to arrange it so she comes here as an exchange student and prepare a ?chance? meeting, hoping the two of you would regain your memories that way??

Eirin picks up, ?But she regained tiny bits of her memory of Gensokyo through? ?shock? treatment, and you mentioned your dreams to Youmu, which were your memories of those days, so it seems we?ve run into some fortunate circumstances. We plan to bring the other dreamer here and allow you two to meet and see what happens. Would you mind cooperating with us, Reimu??

Reimu stands still for a long time, but then laughs, ?Hahahahaha!?

?What?s so funny?? asks Youmu.

Reimu says, ?Before I fell into that coma, I thought my life was typical and boring, and after the moment of excitement that caused that coma, I thought I was back on the same boring track? but all this time, it has been anything but typical!? she calms down, ?Okay. I?ll go along with this and see what happens. It?s hard to believe, but at the same time, this is so? real.?

?Okay.? Yukari disappears into a portal and Eirin and Reisen prepare to follow Yukari in.

?Wait!? calls out Reimu.

Eirin looks closely at Reimu?s face ?? It looks like there is still something on your mind??

?There are plenty of things, but??

?Yes??

?Um? If Gensokyo is 99% female? how are babies born??

Eirin tries to sounds smart as she gives an ironic answer, ?Well? it?s best not to think about it. Not even I have figured that out?? With that, Eirin and Reisen disappear into the portal, leaving Reimu and Youmu alone in the dorm room.

?Wow?? Reimu jumps onto and lies on her bed with the almost overwhelming amount of information she had gathered.

?Are you feeling okay about this?? asks Youmu.

?Yeah,? answers Reimu, ?It?s all so unreal? but it?s like an adventure. I feel so weirded out, but so excited? It?s like my life had become some sort of exciting adventure and I can?t wait to know what happens next!?

Youmu lies back in her bed also, ?You?re not the only one, Reimu. Ever since you came into my life, things have been more exciting to me, more than just a mere gardener. I?m sure you?ve forgotten a lot of things, but you have my thanks? for everything.?

Reimu recounts her dreams, as well as the present, ?I can?t say I can recall everything clearly? but thank you for being there for me, Youmu??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:47:01 PM
Spring Break is right around the corner, and it?s a good thing too, because I don?t know how long I?m going to be on the other side of the world. Of course, I tell my mom that I?m going on a camping trip with Alice and Cirno, which she was all too happy to hear about. You see, before coming to my new school, I didn?t have a lot of friends, so when Alice and Cirno came into the picture, my mom was overjoyed that I finally have someone to hang out with. I feel bad about lying to her, but I think she?d probably freak if she found out I was attacked by a vampire? and that?s IF she believes me, which she won?t, but no matter how she looks at it, a trip to Japan is not bullshit, so she?d likely get on my case if she knew. Sorry, mom.

I?ve never left this country? at least not in a way I remember, so being able to experience a whole new culture sounds both intimidating and exciting. Of course, Spring Break isn?t here yet, and when you are anticipating something, days go by much more slowly.

Finally, after a couple slow weeks, it?s Friday, with the weekend coming up, followed by Spring Break! Tomorrow is the big day! For now, though, I?m at school, and at the lunch table with Alice and Cirno once again. After another small lunch, Alice beats me again in a swift and sound game of chess.

?Checkmate.?

?Dammit!?

As Alice picks up the chess set, Cirno mentions, ?Um? Maybe you should have moved that horse-piece instead of that castle-piece??

?What good would that have done?? ask me and Alice at the same time.

?I dunno,? says Cirno with a shrug.

After a few minutes, I ask, ?Hey? what was I like in Gensokyo? Was I any different than I am now??

Alice says, ?As Marisa Kirisame, you were quite into books. So much so, that you constantly raided Gensokyo?s largest archive.?

?Really?? Seriously, I can?t picture myself doing that. I don?t even read that much?

?Really.?

?So I was a bookworm? Did I know all kinds of stuff? A walking, talking encyclopedia??

?You absolutely weren?t,? answers Alice, ?You were only interested in books about magic, and I occasionally saw books laying around your home about staff fighting. In other words, anything that could make you more powerful. Despite what that tendency may imply, you were a seeker of strength.?

?Wow!?

?Other than that area, Marisa, your intelligence was pretty average. You acted pretty much the same way you do now. You had a rivalry going with Reimu since your childhood, and you were often the one left behind.?

?I see?? I think of another aspect within the topic at hand, ?Did I have a lot of friends??

Alice hesitates a little, ?Not for a while? Reimu was your only friend for most of your life. When you were little, you wanted to be friends with me, but at the time, I didn?t want anything to do with anyone, other than my dolls. It took me some time to realize that I really did care. Ultimately, though, we did become friends, and went on a number of journeys together. You accompanied Reimu on a number of quests, and who were once your enemies became acquaintances to you, like Cirno here.?

?Mm hm!? responds Cirno with a jolly smile.

?You didn?t really have a lot of people you had a particularly strong friendship with, outside of mere acquaintanceship. Just four, to the best of my knowledge: Reimu, of course, me, though what we used to have was a love-hate rivalry, Sakuya, who was a maid of one of your earliest adversaries, and another girl named Youmu Konpaku, who, like Sakuya, was a servant of a former enemy.?

I lean over the edge of the table, saying softly and dreamily, ?I see? Sounds nice??

Cirno glances at me. I guess it?s so obvious that I was deeply touched that even she can tell, ?Marisa??

Alice also looks curious, so I figured I might as well tell them, ?I?m no good with people. I know I can be a hardass sometimes, and I hardly ever pick the most peaceful solution to a problem, but I never could help it. It was like a part of who I am? and I never could fit in because of it??

?Marisa?? says Alice.

?Thanks to my personality and other things, no one wanted me close to them. It?s been that way all my life. I know I?ve had trouble expressing it, but I was touched to know that you two wanted to be my friends. It seems I didn?t have a lot of friends in my other life, according to you, but even with just a few? it sounds great. I? want to know what it was like. Maybe I will if I meet that Reimu and regain my memories like I was told??

Cirno looks at me sympathetically, ?You didn?t have any friends before coming to Gensokyo??

?No. I wonder? if I was a happier person in that life than I am here??

?I think you were,? says Alice, ?You?ve always been rough around the edges, whether it were here or there, but even if you never showed it, I?m sure you were happy whenever we were together, no matter what happened.?

?Alice, you said you used to not have any friends??

?Yes??

?I guess we?re pretty much the same, then. Friendship is not a concept that comes easily to us, and it?s the most valuable thing we can have.?

?I guess??

Cirno changes the subject, ?Well, tomorrow we go to Japan!?

I say to Alice, ?You said someone can get us there instantly? How is that possible??

?You?ll see, Marisa. She is capable of much more than that.? Dammit, Alice! Stop beating around the bush!


Well, it?s nighttime. When I wake up, the big day will arrive! As with times of anticipation, it takes me awhile to get to sleep, but it eventually does happen.

?

I find myself in a classroom; a kindergarten classroom to be exact. The walls are painted a bright yellow, the alphabet is lined up just below the ceiling, there a few desks and some juvenile toys laying around, and most of the floor is covered with a carpet with a picture of a simplified map of the US of A, which I happen to be sitting on? as a high-schooler? in my nightclothes. Right in front of me, Yumei is sitting on a chair with a hard-cover book in her hand, ?Good morning, class (?class? being just me). Today I?m going to read you a story.?

I roll my eyes, ?Did you really have to go for this set-up??

Yumei says smugly, ?You?re the one who?s dreaming it, not me, so you only have yourself to blame. Anyways, ?class,? I?m going to read an ages-old oriental classic known as the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.?

?I know this story,? I say, ?I was told it in 8th grade lit.?

?Well now, you are going to hear it again.?

?Whatever.?

?AHEM!? Yumei clears her throat, ?Once upon a time, in a bamboo forest, lived a bamboo cutter and his wife. They were poor and weren?t blessed with children? or cursed. They probably didn?t know how good they had it?? Okay? Yumei is looking in her book, but it?s obvious she?s telling this story in her own words ?? ANYways, one day, the cutter found this teenage girl named Kaguya Houraisan lying unconscious in the forest, so he brought her home??

I raise my hand, ?Um? wasn?t Kaguya an infant at that time?? And I don?t think she had a last name.?

?Shut up and let me tell the damn story.?

???

?She was brought home and she said she didn?t have any parents, so she became their daughter, and the three of them lived happily. Apparently, people thought she was super-hot and, eventually, five young nobles wanted to marry her. Well, she wasn?t ready for marriage? or didn?t WANT to, and decide to have them prove their worth by giving them requests; IMPOSSIBLE requests. They were all asked to find and bring back a bunch of shit that didn?t exist. Some of them knew damn well that the items in question were nonsense, and tried to forge bogus replicas, trying to pass them off as the real thing. Kaguya didn?t fall for it. One of them made an honest effort and traveled to a faraway land, where he lost his life. Nice guys finish last, it seems. To sum it up, they messed up. Moving on, Kaguya turns out to be the princess of them moon, and she was exiled for drinking an immortality elixir, thus she didn?t age at all while her foster folks withered more and more. Finally, for some reason, they, the moon that is, wanted her back and sent some emissaries down to pick her up. She loved her home, so much though, that she didn?t want to go back??

I cut in, ?She was taken back anyway and the emperor was given the immortality elixir, which he burned, right??

?WRONG! I?m continuing into Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Based on a True Story.?

?What the hell??

?She wasn?t taken back to the moon. One of the emissaries, an old friend of hers, named Eirin Yagokoro, honored her wishes and killed the others.?

?Eh??

?However, the other Lunarians? or moon people if you will, got wind of this and went to hunt them down. They ran away and made it to another world, where they hid. Kaguya loved this new world very much. However, the moon?s forces wanted to invade it, so she trie to counter it, but to no avail. Luckily, they never came before the dreamers responsible for the new world woke up, and our poor heroine got stuck inside the cranium of one of them? Now, Marisa, the legend continues, and YOU determine the fate of Kaguya!?

I get it, ?That world was Gensokyo, wasn?t it??

?Correct. It was thanks to your dream, that this old story got its alternate ending. You?re indirectly responsible for altering a story passed down through generations. Good job.?

?Well? um? wow!? Really, this information has me speechless. I had learned before that the history of the dream world extended back alongside the histories of other realms, but Yumei?s words put a new type of significance on it. My dream had that much power? Enough to change history?

Yumei slams the book shut, ?Well, I just thought I?d let you know about that. In a couple days, you will help in freeing Kaguya, and in turn, me.?

I rise to my feet, ?Then you will help bring back Gensokyo back, right??

Yumei smiles, almost menacingly, ?Absolutely.?

?Hey? might I? be able to live in it??

?If you want to. It?s your choice. It will be my reward to you for helping free me.?

?Okay! Hey Yumei??

?What??

?Thank you. I don?t say this often, but thanks to you, I?ve been able to recall a few things about a past I?ve forgotten and have grown closer to my? friends.?

?It?s not a problem, Marisa. I want to help you so you can help me. A new day is about to begin and, if you want to be dramatic about it, your? no? OUR destiny awaits?? The classroom starts to fade around us, ?Class dismissed!?

?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:48:02 PM
I wake up with my encounter with Yumei clear in the back of my mind. I look around my room to the window and see daylight shining in. I look at a clock on the wall, which says it is 9:45AM. No sooner do I notice that when I hear my mom calling up from downstairs, ?Marisa! Are you up? Alice and Cirno are here!?

?Y-yeah? Just give me a few! I?ll be right down!? I leap from bed, only feeling half like shit from waking up after only about five hours of genuine sleep. I change out of my PJs and into a plain yellow long sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers, give my hair a quick brushing, then thunder downstairs, where my mom is waiting in the living room with Alice and Cirno.

?Good morning!? greets my friends at the same time.

Mom holds up a plate with a couple pancakes, ?I made some breakfast for your friends. Would you like some before your big day??

?No need to ask.? I accept breakfast and am left in the living room with my friends.

?So? what are we going to do now?? I ask before I take a bite from one of my patties.

Alice answers, ?Our friend is going to come here shortly and pick us up. From there? you?ll see!? Shit. Alice seems to enjoy provoking my curiosity. Well, when I meet this Reimu chick and supposedly remember everything, there will probably be little left to shock me about, so I guess I can?t complain much about a few extra surprises?

I finish eating my breakfast and ask, ?What is Reimu like exactly??

Alice answers, ?She?s usually a pleasant person, but she?s pretty laid-back, though she is excitable. She?s the kind of person who is quick to forgive, probably because it?s simply unpleasant to be always harboring a grudge? though there has been one exception to that, but that?s generally how she is??

?I see. She sounds nice.?

?You?ll see her yourself soon enough.?

Just as Alice speaks, however, the doorbell rings. ?Could it be her?? asks Cirno.

We get up, but before we reach the door, my mom answers it. We hear a female voice, not belonging to Sakuya, who I was expecting, ask, ?Hello, might this be the Starr residence??

?? ? Um? It is.? Huh? It?s not like mom to make such a hesitant greeting?

?I have come to pick up Marisa, Alice, and Cirno for their? camping trip.?

We reach the door. Standing on the front mat is a girl who totally stands out! Besides having purple eyes, saying her hair is blonde would be an understatement! It?s outright golden! Her clothes are even more surprising! It?s a dress, which looks like its maker couldn?t decide whether it should be Chinese-style or European-style, so she went for both. It has a purple strip down the front, with some vague oriental designs, but the rest of it is white and many layers of frilly edges. All in all, she?s an outrageous sight. No wonder my mom hesitated when she greeted our ?guest.?

?I see. I? like your clothes. They?re so? unique. May I ask who you are??

The weird girl glances toward Alice, ?I?m Alice?s Aunt Yukari. Isn?t that right, my dearest niece?? ?Yukari? reaches over and playfully runs her hand through Alice?s hair. Judging by her reaction, Alice is less than happy.

?Er? Yes.?

Yukari says, ?We have all the camping supplies we need in my car, so you don?t need to worry.? She points toward a car parked along the side of the road: A red convertible that looks like it?s fresh out of the car dealership. Overall, it?s a damn nice car and I?m surprised. Judging by Alice and Cirno?s reactions upon seeing it, I?m not alone on this. ?Well, we shall be off!?

?Okay,? says mom, ?Have fun on your camping trip!?

?Will do!? respond me, Alice, and Cirno in unison.

Yukari walks in the direction of the car. Alice notices this too and mutters, only I nearby am able to hear it, ?Is she seriously???

Well, Alice?s inquiry is answered as Yukari open the driver?s door and scoots behind the wheel, ?Hop in!?

?Okay!? Cirno runs ahead of Alice and me, and around to the other side of the car so she can claim the front passenger?s seat, not that I care. Alice and I just walk over and get in the back and we all buckle our seat belts.

Yukari inserts the key into the ignition and starts the car, ?Well, let us be off!?

?Goodbye, Marisa!? calls out mom.

I hold up my hand and wave goodbye, ?Goodbye, m_? I?m cut off by a sudden burst of G-force pressing me back against my seat. Along with squealing tires, the car takes off with a blast of speed.

I only catch a momentary glimpse of my mom?s shocked expression before all the other houses in the neighborhood start to blur by. Yukari makes a violent turn off my street and onto the main road, saying, ?It?s nice to see you again, Marisa. You have a good mother.?

?Whatever! Why are you driving like this??

?I always wanted to drive one of these. I know it?s my first time, but you don?t need to be like that.?

?Just open a gap!? yells Alice, ?It?s faster!?

?And boring. First, we are going to pick up Sakuya, and then we will make a brief detour before heading to Japan.?

Not a lot of traffic comes through this part of town, so there aren?t a lot of cars. However, it isn?t long before Yukari heads onto the highway. She dodges around a car, and ends up in the left lane, where the opposing traffic approaches. ?Yukari, or whatever your name is, you can?t be on this side!?

Yukari calmly asks, looking back toward me, ?Really? It?s quite the opposite in Japan.?

?It?s different in this country? AND DON?T LOOK AT ME! WATCH THE ROAD!?

Cirno screams, ?AHHHHHHH! INCOMING!? Right ahead of us, there is a large truck approaching. We?re going too fast and that truck is too big to corner worth a shit! No way around it, we?re going to crash! The truck?s driver honks repeatedly.

?We?re gonna die!? I yell. My body is shaking, my stomach feels weird, my heart is racing, and I?m tense all over!

Suddenly, Yukari holds her hand in front of her and a large purple ?hole? opens right in front of us. We drive in, and in the next instant, we?re driving on the highway again, no trucks, alive and well. I look around, and behind us, there is that truck getting smaller and smaller.

I ask the very words that are on my mind, ?What the hell was THAT?? Seriously, it?s like there was some kind of rip that suddenly appeared in the time-space in front of us. A two-dimensional hole!

?My power. Pretty nifty, no? Fufufu~? Yukari giggles. What a weird laugh? She swerves back to the right lane, ?There. Are you satisfied?? At that moment, however, we caught the attention of a police car, which chases after us. We?re going too fast, even for the highway!

?Um? You have to pull over??

?Why??

?Because bad things will happen if you don?t.?

Alice puts her hand on my shoulder, ?Don?t worry, Marisa. With Yukari?s powers, everything is under control? I think?? Oh, gee whiz. Thanks, Alice?

I really want to ask what Yukari did back when we were going to crash into that truck, but right now, I?m worried about other things? like getting arrested?

Despite what I told Yukari, we?re not slowing down and stopping for the police. Instead, we keep going faster. We?re about 20-30MPH over the limit, and dodging around all the other cars, which go by fast. Alice and I duck down because the wind is starting to get too strong. After about three minutes of this, two more police cars joined the pursuit. Yukari is unfazed, despite the constant reminders from the cops? loudspeakers to ?pull over.? After a while, I guess they decided to say the hell with it, and moved on to, ?YOU?RE UNDER ARREST!?

I slump down. Oh god, I can?t believe this is my life?

Finally, Yukari swerves off to the next exit, the road winding down, and the centrifugal force reminding me all too well of that. We enter the downtown area, and Yukari slows down a little, but still nowhere within reason. The roads are now narrower and the area is more densely filled with cars, so our situation just turned worse. All the while, the police, now up to about seven cars, are after us, sirens blaring. Once again, Yukari uses that weird ?hole? thing to go ?through? vehicles that she can?t avoid. Suddenly, I feel a lot better about the situation. We reach a major traffic backup, due to an accident ahead. Yukari simply opens a ?hole? and completely bypasses it, losing the cops in the process. Well, I?m sure we just made a whole bunch of days for people... At least I?m pretty sure no one saw my face, though I?m sure mom will have some questions?

We turn into a side road, and approach the apartment complex where Cirno and Sakuya live. In the road ahead, with no cars, other than ours, Sakuya is standing as we blast forward at an unbelievable speed.

?Slow down!? I yell, ?Sakuya?s ahead!?

Yukari, still unfazed, says, ?She?ll be fine. Relax, Marisa.?

Sakuya runs toward us, and? she?s moving almost as fast as the car. It?s difficult to follow her movement, but I do somehow. She arcs around to my side of the car, jumps up, over me, twists in midair so she?s facing the same direction as all of us, and lands in the middle back passenger seat, between Alice and me.

?Good morning,? greets Sakuya calmly.

?Heeey~? yells Cirno.

?Holy shit, you?re fast,? I compliment.

Sakuya shakes her head in objection, ?No. It was because you were slow. I was as fast as I normally am??

?Eh??

?Well, in your eyes, I?m sure the contrary applies? Whew?? Sakuya lets out a fatigued sigh, sweating a little.

?Are you feeling okay?? asks Alice.

?I?m fine. It?s just that the technique I used is excruciatingly tiring, just like any time manipulation technique I use without a spellcard??

??Time manipulation???

?Hm? Alice and Cirno didn?t tell you??

?No,? respond Alice and Cirno at the same time.

Yukari slams on the brakes, bringing us to a violent and noisy stop, ?Well, THAT was fun! Don?t you think??

Since I?m in the back, I can?t tell how Cirno responded, Alice just sits there, as does Sakuya, and I nod slowly. No joke. It was just like that battle with Yumei/Remilia: once you get over that feeling of dread and impending death, there really is an element of excitement to be found in the aftermath.

There is a long moment of silence between us. Echoing in the distance, there are police sirens. I don?t know how many there are going in unison, but it?s probably more than fifteen? Out in force and they are getting closer, not that I?m surprised, with the shit Yukari pulled?

Yukari sighs, ?More of those annoying sirens. Honestly, can?t the authorities of this world announce their presence in a more subtle manner? Well, we mustn?t stay here; otherwise there could be some problems??

There is a slight vibration from under the car. I look over the edge and see another one of those 2D ?holes? open below the car. Within seconds, it becomes wide enough and we drop in, ?Ahh!?


? ? ? The drop was a lot shorter than I thought it was going to be, but more importantly, where the hell are we? We?re at the foot of a grassy hill with stone stairs, lined at the sides with trees with pink petals raining from them, leading up to a Japanese style palace. My guess would be that this was Japan, except there are a bunch of white wisps flying around. Looking out, there are miles of field with more of those pink trees spread all around, the petals carried all over the place by a gentle breeze. It?s really quite a beautiful place?

?Where is this?? I ask, ?Is this? Japan??

Yukari answers, ?You?re close? but no. Where we are is Hakugyokurou, the garden of the Netherworld.?

??Netherworld???

?The land of the dead,? interprets Alice flatly.

My heart sinks, ?The land of the dead? Why are we here? Don?t tell me we were actually found by the police and went down in a shower of gunfire, and I just imagined we fell into a hole to come here??

Sakuya smiles in amusement, ?Interesting imagination, but no. We are perfectly alive, yet we are here. This place used to be connected to Gensokyo.?

?Really??

We step out of the car. A group of wisps come down and gather to form a figure: a girl with ruby-red eyes and semi-long pink hair, wearing traditional blue Japanese clothing and a strange-looking hat with a red swirl on it. She bows at me respectfully, which really doesn?t make me feel good. It makes me feel like I?ve been put on a pedestal I shouldn?t be on, ?It?s been a long time, Marisa.?

?Um? Yeah. So like, who are you, exactly??

The girl awkwardly smiles, ?I guess it really is true. You don?t remember me? or anyone. You are Marisa, but at the same time, you?re a completely different person, aren?t you??

?Something like that? When I meet Reimu, maybe I?ll remember you too??

?I hope so. However, I will reintroduce myself. I am Yuyuko Saigyouji, ghost princess of the Netherworld.?

?Ghost??? I try to touch her arm. Much to my surprise, she?s as solid as anyone.

However, Yuyuko didn?t even look at me funny when I touched her. She just tells me, ?Real ghosts are very different than your image of them, Marisa.? What the hell? She totally has me figured out. She doesn?t LOOK smart, but? Well, pardoning the clich?, you can?t judge a book by its cover. Still, I can?t say I?m scared. For a ghost, she seems human enough?

Yuyuko looks over my shoulder at Yukari, ?You said you?d bring me back a present from Marisa and Reimu?s world. What is it??

Yukari taps the car?s hood, ?This. It?s something people use to get around.?

Yuyuko?s face lights up, ?Really? Something that beautiful? Do they get used a lot??

Yukari nods, ?They do. In any significantly populated area, you are sure to see these things a lot.?

?Wow! It must be a gorgeous place! These things all over the place? I wonder what everything else looks like??

I take back the good things I said about her intellect, ?She?s just sugar-coating it. It?s not that great.?

?Oh??

Yukari says, ?Well, we need to be on our way. See you later, Yuyuko.?

?See you?? I turn to leave.

?Wait,? Yuyuko calls out.

?What??

Yuyuko?s face turns completely solemn, ?I?m sure you?ll remember soon, and that would be the more opportune time to tell you this, but I?ve wanted to say it for a long time now, so here it goes? I?m sorry??

?What??

?Back when Gensokyo was ending as a result of Reimu?s awakening, you wanted to do anything it took to stop it; to preserve Gensokyo.?

?I? did??

?You didn?t have any knowledge of you as you are now? as Marisa Starr. In the dream, the only identity you were aware of? or rather, could comprehend, was that of Marisa Kirisame. I? took Reimu?s side and tried to stop you, buying her time to recover. Ultimately, Reimu awakened, and so did you, in part because of me. I was part of the reason Gensokyo disappeared, so that?s what I apologize for.?

??? I turn away from Yuyuko and walk away, ?I have no memory of that, so I have no choice but to forgive you. There was once a time when I couldn?t comprehend being Marisa Starr? Well, now I can?t comprehend being Marisa Kirisame. If the right Marisa comes back to you somehow, give her that apology, not me.?

?Marisa??

I walk back over to Alice, Cirno, Sakuya, and Yukari, who opens another ?hole,? ?Are we set? Beyond this gap awaits Japan!?

Alice says after a short pause, ?Well, that was an? interesting distraction, but it looks like we?re on our way now!?

Cirno says cheerfully, ?I get to see Reimu and the others again!?

?Let?s go,? I say, ?Time to resolve this, free your friends, and get Gensokyo back for you!?

With that, we enter the gap.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:48:48 PM
In Japan, Saturday morning rolls in. For both Reimu and Youmu, there are no classes for either of them on this day. However, for Reimu, there are more important things than education that await her.

Youmu rises out of bed and gets dressed into her mid-length skirt and green sweater. However, Reimu is less that diligent in that regard and continues to sleep.

Youmu nudges Reimu?s shoulder, ?Wake up.?

?Gghhh? Go away, Youmu??

?But today is the day you meet Marisa. She should be in this city right now??

?She?ll still be there later. Lemmie sleep??

?Kaguya and Mokou are waiting!?

?And they can wait a couple more hours??

?C?mon, Reimu! Rise and shine!?

?Zzzz??

Youmu turns away from Reimu?s bed, ?Oh? kay? We?ll be waiting in the park. Be there later, okay??

?Mm? Zzzz??

?Sigh? I?ll take it you heard me. Don?t forget, alright?? Youmu leaves the dorm room.

Reimu drifts off into another dream?

?

?LAST WORD!? White wings sprout out of Reimu?s back and black wings sprout from the faceless Marisa?s. They take to the sky. Their gohei and broom clash repeatedly before breaking. Afterward, they exchange blasts of energy.

Finally, Reimu yells, ?This is it, Marisa! Time to end this battle? and this dream! FANTASY HEAVEN!? Many orbs of holy energy appear around Reimu, which bombard Marisa? leaving her hurt, ?Can you perform your move? after that??

Reimu can?t see Marisa?s face, but her voice indicates that she?s under pressure, ?Of course? I can! APLOCALYPSE SPARK!?

?Wh??? Reimu is surrounded by large magic circles, which bombard her with many large magical lasers, followed by a coup de grace beam from Marisa herself. After that, the world around them begins to fade and the injuries they both had taken disappear. Despite the intensity, no enmity is remaining between them.

Smiling cheerfully, Reimu says, ?That was really fun, Marisa! I guess in the end, one of us couldn?t surpass the other.?

Marisa chuckles, ?That?s the way it should be. I?m sure neither of us wanted a defeat that would last forever.?

?You have a point? So this is it, huh, Marisa? The end of the dream??

?It?s no dream. Gensokyo was an actual dimension. Some that were born of imagination became reality. In the end, it?s not just another fleeting fantasy.?

?True. So? will we meet again??

?

Reimu wakes up from a brief vision, her sense of curiosity and urgency returning, ?... Ugh... Maybe I should get to the bottom of this after all..."

==

Well, this had been an interesting development. We entered Japan? only to find out that it was the dead of night on this side of the world, and we shouldn?t do anything until Reimu is awake, so Yukari warped us back to Sakuya and Cirno?s apartment, where I got some extra sleep. Finally, night falls in the US, which means morning in Japan, so we were taken back. Alice was right. That whole car trip was just a meaningless waste of time. At least it made for a believable image to my mom that I?m going out camping. She is probably thinking I?m sitting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows right now.

I had just been sitting in a park the whole time, on a bench, at the foot of another one of those pink petal trees, like the ones in the Netherworld, with Alice and Sakuya, watching a stone walkway in front of us. Yukari and Cirno went off to do their own thing. Honestly, I?m nervous about going out and about. I knew what to expect, but when it?s time to actually face it, DAMN! Anyone walking by in the park notices that I?m different in appearance, not to mention that I can?t speak Japanese, so I typically get an unusual gaze. Not that I blame them. Whenever I see someone of a different race walk by in the states, I tend to look at them, so it?s the reverse situation here. Luckily, Alice and Sakuya look out of the norm as well, so I can share the being-put-on-the-spot-ness. I was told that Reimu was going to come to this park later, which is why we are just sitting idle.

To make the time go by, I decide to make a little small-talk, ?Hey, Sakuya? What was that thing you did back there? The thing where you were moving really fast??

Sakuya answers, ?As I said, Time Manipulation. I have a? degree of control over the flow of time.?

I?m sure it sounds normal to my ?other self,? but right now, ?That?s really cool! I mean, really! You?re totally awesome, Sakuya!?

Sakuya blushes to my comment, ?Um? Much thanks. I?ve never received a compliment like that before??

Alice strikes me a jealous gaze, ?What did you think of my Doll Manipulation??

?Oh? um? That was really great too??

?Agh??

Dammit, she?s getting angry. I decide to elaborate a little, ?It was a real surprise when I saw it, I mean. They just appeared out of nowhere and could do all kinds of things, like shoot? er? energy? show up with candles? that kind of thing. There?s a lot you can do with that power, right? How many do you have? Dolls, I mean??

Alice looks content from my feedback. Phew. ?I have hundreds of dolls of varying designs and operations existing in my space??

I raise an eyebrow, ?Your ?space???

Sakuya answers, ?Each of us have a certain? magic where we can store objects in a? ?personal subspace,? if you will. We can summon those objects at any time with a miniscule amount of stamina and they appear near us. That is where my knives come from, as well as Alice?s dolls.?

?I see?? Well, that explains that weird materialization concept, though I still don?t quite get it.

Alice continues, ?I can only summon five dolls at max without a spellcard. With a spellcard, I can summon an entire squad... more with a greater deal of energy.?

?I see??

Sakuya says, ?It?s a similar case with my Time Manipulation, ?Without a spellcard, I can only freeze time for about three seconds tops, or slow it for seven. However, it puts a great deal of strain on me either way, so I can?t abuse that power??

?And with a spellcard??

?I can extend the limit and it doesn?t have quite as much of an effect, though it is still more taxing than summoning a storm of knives??

?I see. Haha! I?d think you were invincible with a power like that, but Remilia did seem to be a challenge for you, so I didn?t know what was up with that. That explains it??

?Mistress??

?Hm??

Suddenly, another out-of-the-ordinary-like-us girl walks by in front of us. She has short yellow hair, golden eyes, wears a black dress, and a little on the diminutive side, though she?s not quite a midget. She looks at us, smiles, and then continues walking.

?Who was that?? I ask, ?Strange girl??

Alice stares in her direction, ?Was that???

?What?s up??

Alice rises from the bench, ?I?ll be right back?? She walks away in the direction that weird girl went.

?Do you know what that was just about?? I ask Sakuya.

Sakuya seems perplexed as well, ?I don?t know. That?s the first I?ve seen of that girl??

I slouch back a little, ?Well, whatever. By the way, when I mentioned Remilia, you said mistress. Also she? I mean Yumei, asked you before if you would attack your own mistress. I heard that you used to be a maid. Does that mean???

?Yes, it?s what you think,? answers Sakuya, ?Remilia Scarlet was my mistress back in Gensokyo and I was her loyal servant.?

?I see. It?s a little hard for me to believe right now, but I have no memory of that time, and the only time since was seeing the two of you fighting.?

?I suppose from your point of view, that would most certainly be the case.?

I mention, ?I saw some? visions during that battle. You were in a lot of them and dressed like a maid. I always though you?d made the cut with you cooking and cleaning skills, so that was one case where I was not surprised.?

?Really? I thought I was passing as a normal person fairly well.?

?You may be a lot of things, Sakuya, but I wouldn?t say ?normal? counts among them.?

We both laugh. For a while, I only thought of her as Cirno?s mom, but now we?re sitting around and talking like best friends.

After I finish giggling, I mention what just crossed my mind, ?Sakuya? you?re? not Cirno?s mother, right??

Sakuya asks, ?Was it that apparent??

?As a matter of fact, yes. What are you? Twenty-something? I?d say, based on appearance, that Cirno is twelve, which means, if you WERE her mom, you?d have to be eight or something when you had her. Of course, that?s bullshit if you ask me.?

Sakuya bends forward, resting her arms on her legs, ?I suppose we didn?t make a good cover story for that. Oh well, it?s beside the point now??

?How old are you, exactly??

?I don?t know.?

?What??

?A long time ago, I was given an elixir which gave me eternal life. I haven?t aged or anything.?

I pause and ask, ?Something like that elixir Kaguya drank??

?Yes. Exactly.?

?Yumei told me some things in a dream last night.?

Sakuya glances at me, ?Yumei? What did she have to say??

?She said that she would help us regain Gensokyo. She says she?s trapped there because Kaguya and another girl are, so I guess that?s how she?ll repay us.?

?I see? Do you trust her, Marisa??

?Well, Yumei comes off as irritable and rough around the edges, but she seems okay.?

?I hope so.?

==
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:50:06 PM
Meanwhile, behind a large tree in the park, out of everyone?s sight, Alice catches up with the mysterious blonde haired girl, who happily greets Alice by jumping up and roughly hugging her, ?Alice! I?m happy to see you again, sister!?

Alice forces the girl off her and says, ?I?m not your sister. At any rate, it?s been a long time, Yuki.?

Yuki pouts, ?It has! I heard a year ago, you visited Makai, but didn?t even pay me or my sisters a visit! That was mean!?

Alice?s eyes turn to the side, ?Sorry? I had some other things going on??

??? Yuki is not yet satisfied with Alice?s apology.

?I really am sorry. How are Mai and Yumeko doing??

?They?re fine. They are as unhappy as I am that you haven?t paid us a visit in five years! Sure, you?re not really one of Mother?s children, but we still consider you part of our sisterhood, so you should be like a sister every now and then, okay??

?I?ll keep that in mind. Well, what brings you all the way from Makai to the human world, Yuki? I doubt Shinki would go through the trouble of using her powers to open a boundary here, just so you can catch up with the good times.?

?That?s right?? Yuki stares at Alice solemnly, ?Alice, Mother wants you to return to Makai with me.?

?What? Why??

?Mother? she said that she has had a bad premonition and it involves you. She tends to foresee the misfortune of those she loves, and she?s usually been right. She wants you to live in Makai again and avoid that fate.?

?Just what happened? Did Shinki tell you??

?She just had a bad feeling and said it was about you. That something terrible would happen. That is all. She doesn?t want the premonition to become worse and then come true.?

Alice responds, ?I have things I want to take care of here. Tell me when things become more specific. Maybe she?s just having some kind of mood.?

Yuki sighs, ?Well, Mother told me not to force you if you said no, so I?ll leave you be? but we might have to get forceful if she keeps having those feelings.?

?Fair enough. Tell Shinki, Yumeko, and Mai I said ?hi,? okay??

?Will do. Here?s hoping you?re not making a mistake, Alice.? With that, a portal, not unlike one of Yukari?s, except pitch black in color, opens below Yuki and she drops in.

?Shinki??

==

Alice returns, saying, ?Sorry about that.?

?Who was that?? asks Sakuya.

?Just? someone,? answers Alice ?? It seems Reimu still hasn?t come yet. I wonder what?s keeping her??

?She decided to sleep in. We might be waiting a little while?? A new voice came from the walkway in front of us, belonging to a girl in a green hooded sweater, carrying a blue gym bag and a long object wrapped in blue cloth. She has blue eyes and short platinum hair, and is short, though not as short as that girl Alice went after. She smiles, ?Alice, Sakuya? and you, Marisa. It?s been a long time!?

I?ve seen her before in those visions I got during that battle, though she was dressed differently. Alice had told me about four friends I had the strongest bond with, that appeared in the visions. She isn?t Alice or Sakuya, of course, and she isn?t that Reimu chick (body doesn?t match up), so I recall the last name I was given, ?? ? Youmu? right??

The girl?s eyes widen, ?Marisa? You remembered me??

?Wh??? Alice and Sakuya also look surprised.

?No. Not really. I just made a lucky guess based on what I was told.?

?I see.?

I stand up from the bench, ?Well, hopefully, assuming all the stuff I?ve been told wasn?t bullshit, I will remember everything.?

Youmu lets out a small laugh, ?Haha! Well, you may be a different Marisa, but you still sound the same as always!?

?I?ll take your word of it.?

Alice sighs, ?Reimu?s sleeping in, huh? Looks like Marisa?s not the only one who hasn?t changed??

Youmu says, ?Well, we might be waiting awhile for my roommate. Have you eaten breakfast yet??

Still operating on the time on the other side of the world ?breakfast? here would mean ?dinner? there, but regardless, I haven?t eaten anything since breakfast one. Practically responding to Youmu?s question, my stomach growls, ?? ? Um? no??

Alice and Sakuya respond the same way.

Youmu nods in understanding, ?I see. Shall we head to the restaurant across the street? My treat.?

?Okay,? we respond.

We head to a shop across the street from the park. The place is mostly empty. We look up at the menu?s selection, but I sure as hell can?t read what it says, so I just tell Youmu to get me whatever the heck they?d think I?d like. After Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu order up their meals, and mine, in Japanese, we sit at a booth next to a large window looking out in the parks direction, just in case Reimu arrives while we?re eating. They got me a cup of noodles, which is just as well. Despite the amount of time since I last ate, I don?t really feel like food anyway.

I decide to ask everyone some questions, not that there is a point, since I?ll regain my memories before long anyway, but I figured I?d might as well make the most of my final moments of curiosity. After all, it won?t be so much fun anymore when there is nothing left to surprise me, ?How do all of you know Japanese??

Alice says, ?It might be more appropriate to ask how we know English. Japanese is our first language.?

?What??

Youmu says, ?In Gensokyo and close-by realms, Japanese is the norm. My mistress, Lady Yuyuko made me learn English a while ago, so that?s how I learned it.?

?Yuyuko is your mistress??

Youmu raises an eyebrow, ?You met her already??

Her perplex is understandable as I did go through the Netherworld to meet her, ?Yukari took us by? what was the name?? Hakugyokurou, on our way here, and that?s how I met her. So you?re her servant??

?I am,? says Youmu.

?I see.?

Sakuya mentions to me, ?You know, Marisa, in Gensokyo, as Kirisame, Japanese was your language too.?

?What??

?It?s true,? says Alice, ?Maybe you?ll recall Japanese as well as other things when you meet Reimu.?

?Er? Oooookay?? Before I let this topic get any weirder, I decide to change it, ?So? um? Youmu? Have you been watching over Reimu like Alice, Sakuya, and Cirno had been watching me??

Youmu slurps up some noodles of her own, ?Yes, I have. So have Reisen and Eirin.?

?Eirin? I heard that name somewhere??

Youmu says, ?She?s a servant of Kaguya, one of those girls you have to rescue.?

?Oh? yeah.?

We finish up breakfast and return to waiting in the park.

I bend down as I sit on the bench and stare at the ground as I try to organize all that had happened. Will simply seeing some girl?s face really cause me to recall my memories? Yumei said so, but I wonder?

We hear a new voice, ?Youmu?? Youmu??? The rest of her words are in Japanese, but it seems like whoever is talking is looking for Youmu.

Youmu responds to the words with some Japanese of her own.

From behind a small group of people a girl runs toward us. She has long black hair and brown eyes, and is wearing a red t-shirt and a white mid-length skirt. She looks at me, then Sakuya, and finally Alice, ?Who? are you??

Something snaps in my mind. I just understood this girl?s words! She?s speaking Japanese, but I understood her as if she were speaking English! I look at her face for a long time and she looks at mine, and another thing snaps! That blurred face becomes clearer! Reimu! And, with that, a chain reaction I can?t even describe happens. Many buried memories become uncovered! I clutch my head as everything comes back to me in waves. The same thing appears to be happening to Reimu.

Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu watch as we react strangely to one another. It also grabs the attention of a few passersby.

?

?Reimu, ze? How come you are always better, ze??

?

?Just you wait, ze! I?ll work hard and become better than you, ze!?

?

?Alice, ze? Do you want to be friends, ze??

?

?I won?t let you hurt her, ze! MASTER SPARK!?

?

?It?s over Scarlet!?

?

?I will destroy that thing along with the damned tree! FINAL SPARK!?

?

?Screw talent! I?ve worked hard and studied hard and I?m not going to be beaten by something that just ?came? to someone! RRRRAAAGGGHHHH!?

?

Reimu Hakurei, Hakurei Shrine, Alice Margatroid, Forest of Magic, Magic, Youkai, Spellcard, Kourindou, Rinnosuke Morichika, Sakuya Izayoi, Remilia Scarlet, Patchouli Knowledge, Hong Meiling, Flandre Scarlet, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Youmu Konpaku, Yuyuko Saigyouji, Yukari Yakumo, Boundary, Ran Yakumo, Chen, Netherworld, Hakugyokurou, Saigyou Ayakashi, Spring Essence, Lunasa Prismriver, Merlin Prismriver, Lyrica Prismriver, Suika Ibuki, Cirno, Rumia, Wriggle Nightbug, Mysita Lorelei, Kaguya Horaisan, Fujiwara no Mokou, Reisen Udongein Inaba, Eirin Yagokoro, Hourai Elixir, Immortality, Tei Inaba, Eientei, Keine Kamishirasawa, Imperishable Night, Human Village, Moon, Lunarian, Bamboo Forest, Suzuran, Medicine Mealancholy, Nameless Hill, Yuka Kazami, Komachi Onozuka, Sikieiki Yamaxanadu, Higan, Aya Shameimaru, Bunbunmaru Newspaper, Tengu Mountain,  Momizi Inubashiri, Youkai Mountain, Mountain of Faith, Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya, Iku Nagae, Nitori Kawashiro, Sanae Kotiya, Tenshi Hinanai, God, Deity, the world is round, Faith, Dream, Mima, Thought?s End, Awakening, Shinki, Makai, Demon? ? ? GENSOKYO!

I want? excitement.

I want? friends.

?

Dozens of things rush by in my mind at a time. Everything begins to come together to the point where it?s like it happened yesterday. Finally, the countless memories establish themselves and my head clears. I look at Reimu, ?Reimu??

Reimu looks back at me, ?Marisa??

Finally, both of us announce at the same time, ?I REMEMBER!?

I recount events that had transpired in the life I had forgotten, ?When we first met, Reimu, our practice, our sparring matches, that time I protected you from a boar youkai, when I first went to live in the forest of magic, my speech I had as a little girl! I can recall everything!?

Reimu recalls our adventures, ?Remilia using her red mist to block the sun and revive the vampire race, Flandre escaping, Yukari?s revenge on Gensokyo, Suika?s parties, Kaguya?s mind controlling moon to battle the Lunarians, Mokou and Keine trying to erase the moon to prevent an invasion, Yuka covering Gensokyo with suzuran, Kanako looking for enough love and faith from everyone to become powerful enough to influence everyone into creating her utopia? I know all of it!?

Reimu says with a half-tearful smile, ?Marisa? I know I?m just starting to remember you, but? I missed you.?

?Reimu? Me too, strange as it feels?? It felt a little weird to talk just then. It?s like English and Japanese had just blended together. In fact, I had a little trouble figuring out what language I just used, but since Reimu seemed to understand what I said, I guess I just spoke Japanese, the language that I didn?t know a word of one minute ago.

Sakuya observes, ?They know each other?s name without an introduction, Marisa?s speaking our language now? I?d say they have their memories back, strange as it turned out??

The crowd that was watching our mild mind-attacks turns and walks away, some probably intending to inform the nearest mental institution that Reimu and I are on the loose. I turn to Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu, ?Could the three of you leave Reimu and me alone for a bit??

Reimu seems to agree, ?Yes, could you??

Youmu says, ?I?d say you have some things to catch up on. Sure.? Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu walk away.

Reimu and I walk through the park, side by side. It hasn?t even been five minutes since our reunion, and yet, we feel so familiar with one another. Yumei wasn?t kidding when she said my memories would return upon seeing Reimu?s face, because? well? they did. She was my childhood friend in my ?dream life,? but this the first time I?ve met her outside of it. I start the conversation with a typical starting line, ?It?s been a long time, Reimu??

?Yeah, it has??

?Honestly, if everyone hadn?t told me as much as they did about Gensokyo, I?d have been skeptical as to whether or not you actually existed? but here you are.?

?Heh? I felt the same way, Marisa. Still, I?ve seen memories of my Gensokyo days in my dreams. In a way, I?d never forgotten, although only now does it all make sense.?

?It?s better than me. I forgot completely! I had to see an out-of-this-world battle to come closer to grips with what was my other life. I was told that you?ve seen Kaguya and Mokou in your dreams.?

?Yeah. It was the strangest thing back when I didn?t know much. Now I know them completely... and of their predicament.?

?I?m sure Yukari told you that she could help get them out.?

?She did. It sounds pretty good too. They have been waiting a long time. I was told there is? someone else inside you head.?

?Yes. Someone named Yumei. But it?s a little strange. I?ve never seen her during my time in Gensokyo. She has straight rabbit ears, just like Reisen, so? maybe she?s a Lunarian, now that I can recall these kinds of things.?

Reimu?s eyes widen, ?A Lunarian? That?s? strange. Might she have something to do with the Lunarians planning to invade Gensokyo??

?I seriously doubt it. She?s as trapped in my mind as Kaguya and Mokou are in yours and she says freeing them would be freeing her. What?s more, she KNOWS a way of how we can recover Gensokyo!?

?Are you serious??

?She said so and she says she?d help when she?s out.?

Reimu says, ?A couple days ago, Yukari visited me and said that not even she knows what caused our dream to become a realm in itself. Perhaps this ?Yumei? has an idea??

I respond, ?She seems to know what she?s talking about, so I doubt her claims are bullshit. If we free her, we just might know for sure about the nature of Gensokyo as a separate realm.?

?Regaining Gensokyo? that would be nice?? whispers Reimu.

I stop walking, ?Reimu? something that?s now bothering me? if we get Gensokyo back, where would you live??

?Huh??

?Well, it?s either here or there, right? Well, you did seem rather eager to return to this side, so I guess I know your answer.?

?I don?t know.?

?What??

?My biggest desire when I was put into my coma was excitement. I wanted a life that was not redundant. Something with action? interest? not just to be another person who was being prepped for the real world. Gensokyo gave me that kind of life, so it seems more appealing? but I do have a family here, and I couldn?t leave them behind, so I don?t know??

?What about when the dream was ending? What the hell was that about, Reimu??

Reimu turns her head to the side, ?I?m not quite sure myself. I guess I was disillusioned to find out that the life I knew was just a fantasy, so I lashed out. At that point, my memories of this life were returning, and I found what was real to be far more interesting? You have to understand that I was curious of a life that existed beyond what I understood as Reimu Hakurei, so I just couldn?t appreciate a false life as I was? but things are different. Both this life and the other may become a reality? and Gensokyo appeals to me more. Marisa, what do you want??

Her question causes me to contemplate my own feelings regarding the matter. This choice could very well influence the rest of my life? whether my existence would be that of Marisa Starr? or Marisa Kirisame. As I am now, I?m both, ?Well, I?m not sure myself? Before Gensokyo, I had no friends. During my time there, I had you, Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu? and I don?t want to lose any of you. Youmu would return to the Netherworld when all this is over, and Sakuya would most likely return to Scarlet Devil Mansion? but you and Alice? Even so, I also have a family I?d miss??

??? This situation is hopeless. It?s an impossible decision to make.

I try to reassure Reimu, ?Well? it?s not like we?ll have to make our choice right away, even when Gensokyo is back, we?ll still have Yukari, right??

Reimu smiles, ?True enough.?

?Well, should we return to everyone? We shouldn?t keep Kaguya and Mokou? and Yumei? and Gensokyo waiting, right??

Reimu nods in agreement, ?Of course not. Let?s go!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:50:57 PM
With a little help from Yukari and her transportation-be-damned boundary manipulation, we all met up on top of a skyscraper. The architecture of the busy city below, filled with cars and people on foot, indicates that we are still in Japan, but whether this is the same city we were in or not, I don?t know, nor is it relevant. Next to our building, there is a slightly taller skyscraper blocking the sun. By ?we all,? I?m referring to Alice, Reimu, who is standing by my side, Sakuya, Youmu, Yukari, Reisen, Eirin, Cirno, and yours truly.

?Well, we?re all here,? I say, ?So what?s next, Yukari? You said you needed both me and Reimu here to open that boundary where Kaguya and Mokou are??

?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?I do require the presence of both of you?? Reisen walks around, circling around to the backs of Reimu and me ?? however, one more condition is needed.?

?What is it?? asks Reimu.

?For this to work, both of you need to be more in tune with the dream world. In other words, I need both of you to be asleep.?

?Then why the hell are we here?? I ask, ?It?s hot and humid out, and the surface is rough and hard. You can?t expect us to fall asleep with these conditions!?

?There are certain other ways of inducing sleep in individuals,? informs Eirin.

?Like a tranquilizer gun?? asks Cirno.

?There is that,? answers Eirin, ?but there is also? ? DO IT, REISEN!?

?Okay!?

?Ack!? Suddenly, something connects with Reimu?s neck. She staggers for a few seconds, and then collapses.

Just as I try to comprehend what just happened, I feel an impact against the side of my neck as well, ?Ugh?? I don?t know what the hell just happened, but soon after, I begin to black o_

==

Reimu and Marisa fall to the ground, unconscious.

Eirin asks, ?Is that satisfactory, Yukari??

Yukari nods in agreement, ?Very.?

?What did you just do?? yells Youmu.

Reisen answers, ?Some martial arts technique I learned at the Imperial Lunarian Military Academy. Probably one of the few things I had paid attention to??

??? Youmu stares at Reisen. During the moon incident, Youmu had caught wind that Reisen knew something about Youmu?s long-lost father. However, Reisen had since evaded telling Youmu the truth and she had been waiting for the right moment to force the truth out of her.

Cirno looks at the unconscious Reimu and Marisa, ?Will they be okay??

?Yes, will they?? asks Sakuya.

Reisen shrugs, ?They should.?

???

Yukari claps her hands together, ?Well, now that that has been taken care of, it?s time to open the boundary.? Yukari extends her arm in the direction where Reimu and Marisa are laying, and between them, a blue portal opens, ?There. That should lead to a place where Reimu and Marisa?s consciousnesses are merged. Kaguya and Mokou should be just beyond that gap.?

?All we have to do is get them out?? asks Cirno.

?Yes. That is all. No special tricks here. Just find them beyond that gap, then bring them back with you.?

?In that case,? says Eirin, ?Shall just Reisen and I go? Kaguya is our princess after all, so I feel it is only proper for her servants to save her.?

Reisen adds, ?And Mokou? well, our relationship isn?t what I?d call? you know, friendly, but she is close to us too.?

?Go ahead,? says Alice, giving a ?shoo, shoo? gesture, ?I, for one, have no objections. You just have to get them out, after all.? Everyone else decides to honor Eirin?s request.

?Thank you,? says Eirin, ?Let us go, Reisen.?

?Okay,? responds Reisen.

Eirin and Reisen walk into the portal.

On the other end, they find themselves in a room, the size of a gymnasium, dimly lit by a light blue source of light above. Reisen looks up to see a sphere emitting the light. Inside it, there is a moon rabbit, like Reisen, with short red hair, wearing a black business suit, spectacles, and is almost six feet in height. Her eyes are closed and she appears to be in a state of suspended animation, ?A moon rabbit like me, short red hair? Eirin-sama! Could she be this ?Yumei? we?ve been hearing about??

Eirin also observes Yumei, ?She really is a moon rabbit, but why would a Lunarian?? Never mind. We?ll have our answers soon enough.?

?Do you think she?s trustworthy?? asks Reisen.

?I don?t know, but we were informed that she?s a prisoner while the princess and Mokou are here. Regardless of whether we can trust her or not, we still must rescue Kaguya. Whether she?s friend or foe is irrelevant.?

?Got it.? Reisen looks ahead. On the other end of the room, there are two figures barely illuminated by the light from Yumei?s sphere. Eirin and Reisen immediately recognize them.

?Princess Kaguya!?

?Mokou!?

??? Kaguya says something, however, something is strange. Her lips are moving, but there is nothing but dead silence.

??? Mokou tries to say something also, but she too doesn?t produce a voice.

?I?m sorry, Princess Kaguya, but I can?t hear you,? says Eirin.

??? Kaguya continues to speak with a serious expression on her face, but Eirin and Reisen still can?t hear anything.

?Weird,? says Reisen, ?I can?t hear anything either.?

?I wonder if they can hear us,? wonders Eirin.

?I?ll check?? Reisen looks at Mokou, ?Um? Hey, Mokou! You suck, you bitch!?

??? Mokou says something with an irritated expression and flips Reisen the bird.

?? I think she heard me.?

?Interesting method,? says Eirin, ?but it seems our question is answered. For some reason, they can hear us, but we can?t hear them.?

?I don?t get why this is happening,? says Reisen, ?but we can at least communicate with them one-way.?

?That should be good enough,? Eirin turns her attention to Kaguya, ?Princess, we?ve come to get you and Mokou out of Reimu?s subconscious. Please come with us.?

??? Kaguya shakes her head, and then speaks to no avail, ???

??? Mokou adds some mute words, with an unusually melancholy expression.

?What? They don?t want to escape with us??

Eirin tries to read Kaguya?s lips to the best of her ability, ??I?m? sorry? Ei? rin? We? must? re? main? here???

?They want to stay,? says Reisen, ?What will we do, Eirin-sama??

Eirin pauses for several seconds, and then says, ?Regardless of Princess Kaguya?s will, I am NOT going to let her remain in Reimu?s mind for eternity!? Eirin walks over to Kaguya and forcibly grabs her arm, ?Forgive me, Princess, but I can not let you stay here, even if it is on your orders! I care too much about you to_?

A blade of rainbow energy extends from around Kaguya?s hand, which she swings at Eirin, who lets go of Kaguya and jumps away, receiving a moderately deep wound on her flank, ?Ugh!?

?Eirin-sama!? Reisen looks at Kaguya, then Mokou, ?Damn it! They REALLY want to stay!?

A bow materializes in Eirin?s right hand, ?This changes nothing! I absolutely will NOT let Kaguya spend an eternity in this place! I will drag her out, even as a corpse! Get ready for battle, Reisen!?

?I see?? Reisen pulls her handgun from its holster, ?I?m sorry, Princess? Mokou?? She turns her weapon?s safety off.

Eirin pulls back the cord of her bow, and an arrow materializes, ready to be fired, ?Reisen, I will handle the Princess. Can you take care of Mokou??

Reisen looks at Mokou?s whose body ignites, ?I? I?ll try??

?You don?t try. You just do it.?

??? Kaguya, with a sad expression, points her sword at Eirin.

Eirin says, ?I don?t know what drives you to battle your own friend, but with all due respect, Princess, you don?t stand a chance of defeating me. Still, if you are so determined, you are perfectly welcome to try.?

??? Kaguya extends her other arm at Eirin and fires a dazzling beam of light.

?En garde, then!? Eirin jumps over the beam and, as the boundary has the magic that allows flight, hovers in midair and fires an arrow down at Kaguya, who steps back to avoid the attack, then jumps up after Eirin, attacking with her sword. The Lunarian doctor blocks with her bow, then quickly counterattacks, smacking the princess across the face, stunning her. ?Forgive me,? Eirin then kicks Kaguya to the floor and declares a spellcard, ?Esoterica!? Around Kaguya, who is hunched over on the ground, several magic circles surround her in a dome-like formation. Eirin pulls back the cord on her bow, but an arrow doesn?t appear, ?I have no desire to prolong this fight with you, Princess, so I will put a swift conclusion to this bout. Astronomical Entombing!? She releases the cord, and arrows emerge from the circles, poised to bombard Kaguya from all directions. Just as they hit, though, they all bounce off of the area around Kaguya, revealing a shining shield around her. Magic circles form on the barrier and fire off volleys of lasers, which Eirin attempts to dodge, but they become so constant, one finally hits and she is knocked to the ground. Eirin observes to herself, ?A spellcard? I couldn?t hear her declare it? If I can?t tell what spell is coming, I can?t tell the nature of her technique? That is an unexpectedly effective handicap for her??

At the same time, elsewhere in the room, Reisen battles Mokou.

Reisen dashes toward Mokou, her gun extended toward the immortal, and fires two shots, which Mokou dodges by rolling to the side, followed by slamming her open palm against the ground, sending a running blaze of fire raging across the floor in the moon rabbit?s direction. Reisen jumps over the attack and takes to the air, firing her gun again, which Mokou barely dodges by jumping up after her, the bullet grazing her pant leg, but not hitting any flesh. Reisen fires again, but Mokou swings her ignited left hand in front of her, deflecting the bullet, which ricochets off one of the chamber?s walls, and then delivers a flaming punch with her right arm, which sends Reisen flying back against the wall.

?Damn?? Reisen recovers, points her weapon at Mokou again, and unloads the entire ammo clip. Mokou spreads her arms and a pillar of fire rises around her, emitting heat so intense, the bullets completely melt and vaporize before hitting the immortal. Mokou then dashes toward Reisen with intense speed, leaving a trail of fire in her wake, and wearing a grin, which says, just as well as words, ?Who sucks now, bitch??

With Mokou approaching too fast for Reisen to reload, she draws a spellcard instead, declaring, ?Force Sign: Menacing Threshold!? Several small missiles, made up of psycho energy, form around Reisen and home in on Mokou, who stops dashing as the missiles appear, but the inertia to too much for her to dodge in time.

??!? The missiles slam into Mokou and burst, sending the immortal sailing through the air, but partway, she recovers and tosses a small fireball at Reisen, as she is about to reload.

?Tch!? Reisen dodges it, but Mokou presses her assault and sends more fireballs in Reisen?s direction. Reisen ejects her empty ammo clip, then returns the gun to its holster, ?It takes more energy, but I?ll have to do this the other way!? Reisen positions the fingers on both of her hands in the shape of guns, then fires several psycho-bullets to intercept the fireballs.

They tear through Mokou?s attack, leaving clouds of smoke left over, which clears quickly enough for the moon rabbit to see Mokou declaring a spellcard with her mute voice, ?...? A bird-like aura of fire surrounds Mokou as she moves on to the actual casting of her spell, ??? Mokou stretches her arm out toward Reisen and blue flames gather into her palm. Reisen had seen this technique several times when watching Mokou duel Kaguya, remembering its name as ?Honest Man?s Death.? Mokou fires a blue laser of concentrated fire at Reisen, who moves into a continuous sidestep, as the laser follows her.

Reisen, attempting a countermeasure, looks straight at Mokou and their eyes momentarily meet, at which point, Reisen?s eyes glow red and, in Mokou?s vision, several Reisens appear. Reisen backflips over the laser and takes to the air, attempting to blend in with the illusory Reisens. Her plan works as Mokou becomes confused and moves her laser haphazardly through the false Reisens, failing to hit the real one before she loses the energy to continue her spell. At that point, Reisen draws a spellcard. However, as she is the only one out of her copies doing that, Mokou immediately realizes she?s the real one, but it?s of no consequence on the moon rabbit?s part, ?Phantasmal Rabbit!? Reisen?s copies all glow with red psycho energy, extend their arms and fingers toward Mokou, and fire off salvos of psycho-bullets, which Mokou tries to dodge, but it is not long before she get bombarded. Even though they are copies, the spell allows them to use very real attacks.

??? Mokou uses her flame pillar defense again, though in this case, they minimize the effect of Reisen?s technique instead of completely defending against it. Although Reisen?s handgun is a deadlier weapon, her psycho energy is more effective at breaking through magical defenses. After a few seconds, Reisen?s attack ends, though the copies are still present, and Mokou?s pillar disappears, both the moon rabbit and immortal breathing faster than before from loss of stamina. However, Mokou is the first one to assert herself enough to use a spellcard, ??? Her phoenix aura appears again, which then flaps it wings, releasing a swarm of flames.

?Damn?? mutters Reisen, ?I can?t dodge that!? The flames engulf all the Reisens, including the real one, who loses focus over her technique, causing the images to vanish.

Meanwhile, Eirin and Kaguya?s battle continues. Though the princess managed to put up a better fight than Eirin predicted, the doctor still gained the upper hand. Eirin looks out of the corner of her eye at Reisen?s predicament, I hope Reisen can handle this. Maybe I let my personal feelings interfere with my better judgment. Still? I may have to intervene if it gets to that point?

As Reisen is knocked to the ground, brushing off embers, Mokou?s hands ignite and she advances on Reisen. Reisen looks into Mokou?s eyes, intending to use her copying technique again, but, wising up, Mokou covers her eyes with her left arm and extends her right toward Reisen?s face, releasing a blast of smoke, which stings the moon rabbit?s eyes, causing her to squeeze her eyelids shut in reflex. After a second, she squints her eyes open and sees Mokou releasing flames in her hand, which form into the shape of a sword. Mokou charges at Reisen who manages to get to her feet in time and dodge Mokou?s first slash, which leaves a trail of fire in its wake, and barely avoid all subsequent attacks, not given enough time to deliver a counterattack.

Between dodging attacks, Reisen yells out to Eirin, ?Um? Eirin-sama? I know you?re? having fun on your end? but the only mortal here? IS IN TROUBLE! Help!?

As Reisen calls out, Eirin, who has an arrow ready and aimed at Kaguya, turns and fires it at Mokou instead. However, the immortal is prepared to defend against Eirin?s attack. However, with Mokou distracted, Reisen release a small burst of psycho energy, which stuns Mokou long enough for the arrow to pierce her through the gut and knocking her to the ground.

However, as Eirin was distracted, Kaguya charged in and ran Eirin through with her sword, ?Ugh!?

?Eirin-sama!?

?I?m? not through, Princess?? Eirin wraps her right arm around Kaguya, so she won?t get away, and she drops her bow so an arrow materializes in her left hand, which she rams through Kaguya?s throat.

??? Kaguya?s eyes widen in pain as she dies.

?The rest? is up to you, Reisen?? With that, Eirin falls dead as well.

As Mokou is on the ground, writhing in pain, Reisen takes her handgun out of her holster again and a new ammo clip materializes in her hand, which she inserts into her weapon.

??? Mokou tries to get up, but Reisen forces her down with her foot.

?It?s over! Time to get out of here, Mokou!? With those words, Reisen fires a few shots down into Mokou?s head.

A soothing noise fills the room after the gunshots. Reisen looks up and sees Yumei disappear from inside the sphere, ?Yumei? Whatever. First I should worry about everyone else?? She looks at Kaguya?s body, and then Mokou?s, ?It?s time?? She kneels down, pulls Mokou?s body onto her back, draging her toward where Kaguya and Eirin?s bodies are, blood dripping from Mokou?s head into Reisen?s hair. The moon rabbit rolls her eyes, ?How bloody annoying,? rolling her eyes again at her bad attempt at humor. Having seen all three of them die and resurrect enough times, she know they will be okay. She grabs Eirin and Kaguya around their waists, and drags all three of them toward the portal, straining from everyone?s combined weight. Finally, she makes it out of the combined boundary of Reimu and Marisa?s subconscious.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:51:50 PM
==

I saw everything. As if I were a spirit or a deity, I watched the battle between Eirin and Reisen and Kaguya and Mokou. After Reisen dragged everyone into the portal, though, everything became black again. I really should be pissed off at Yukari, Eirin, and Reisen for pulling that cheap-ass stunt on Reimu and me, but they got everyone out of our heads, so I can?t complain. Besides, I have that embarrassing ?bloody annoying? line under my belt to use against Reisen, as I?m sure she thought she was alone when she said it. I guess all that?s left is to wake up.

No sooner do I think that, though, when Yumei appears before me again, ?Hello Marisa! Did you enjoy the show? I know I did!?

?The only one that needed to survive survived, so I guess I can?t whine much. But more importantly, why are you still here, Yumei? Kaguya and Mokou are out now.?

Yumei says sarcastically, ?What? You mean you don?t want to have one last private conversation with your good buddy, Yumei? Besides, I can leave whenever I want.?

??Buddy.? Riiiiight. You know, Yumei, before I was reunited with Reimu, I thought you were annoying, but okay, but now that I remember, I think you?re pretty damn shady. Can we trust you with reviving Gensokyo??

Yumei laughs, ?Hahahaha! I?m sure I?m shady and mysterious to a lot of you, and I know that Sakuya doesn?t like me, at least. You can think of me however you want, but I certainly will help with reviving Gensokyo when you and Reimu are awake. On that, you have my word.?

?Talk is cheap, you know.?

?Fine, how about we pinky swear on it? If I?m lying, I will eat a thousand needles, okay?? Yumei extends her pinky finger toward me.

I roll my eyes and walk toward Yumei, ?If you are willing to go this far to prove that you are not lying, Yumei, I guess I?ll try to believe you. It?s not like we have another hope anyway.? Our pinkies interlock.

Yumei begins to vanish, ?I will keep my promise, okay? Well then, I will see you on the other side. Sleep well until then, Marisa.?

???

==

Elsewhere, 238,403 miles away from Earth and across boundaries, there exists an advanced civilization that covers the entire surface of the moon. This civilization is known, and feared, by many of Earth?s different boundaries, as the Lunarian Empire, a superpower at constant war with one of Earth?s particular realms, and conquering other realms to increase its power, as on each full moon, Lunarian facilities can shift over boundaries. Gensokyo had been one of the Lunarians? targets, though they couldn?t get an invasion underway before Reimu and Marisa?s awakening.

Tsuki no Miyako, capital of the Lunarian Empire?

While the moon is covered with various high-tech facilities, in the capital, one building stands out. It is bigger and taller than any other structure on the moon, but its design is even more unique, as it is ancient by comparison. It is made of wood, and there are no mechanical devices within it. It is an ancient Japanese-style castle, the home of Empress Lunariya Houraisan, the Lunarian Empire?s absolute ruler, and Kaguya?s mother.

Inside the castle, in one of the rooms, where the walls are covered with wallscrolls displaying martial arts fundamentals, two figures kneel on cushions in meditation.

One of the figures is a man, appearing to be in his early forties, though he is really much older. He has long silver hair braided at the end and a two-month-old moustache, wearing a green cloak over a white robe, and has two long swords sheathed at both of his hips. Nearby, a ghostly wisp floats near him.

The other figure is a girl, 20 years old in appearance, though once again, looks deceive, with long purple hair tied into a ponytail extending down to the backs of her knees. She wears a white shirt under a red vest, and baggy white pants with red flame-like designs at the edges of the legs, and has a katana sheathed at her right hip.

A door to the room slides open. The man opens his blue eyes slightly, and then says calmly, ?Defend yourself, Meira.?

A figure enters the room and tosses a knife-like envelope opener at the girl, Meira, whose dark eyes burst open as she draws her sword and blocks the projectile with her weapon, then returns it to her sheathe.

The man stands up, ?Wonderful work, Meira! I?ve taught you well!?

Meira also rises to her feet, saying, ?Thank you, Master.?

The figure that tossed the knife comes into view, a girl with yellow eyes and short blonde hair, wearing a pink and blue maid outfit, ?Um? Did I do okay, Master??

?You did perfectly, Mugetu!? says the man with a cheery smile, ?Do that every time you come to clean this room and we are present!?

?I? I?ll try??

?Well, that concludes today?s training,? announces the man to Meira, ?Do you want to come with me for a student and master drink??

?I don?t drink,? states Meira flatly.

The man smiles awkwardly, ?Oh, yes of course. I must be getting on in my years, even with all those mass-produced hourai elixirs.? He turns to the maid, ?How about you, Mugetu? If you want, later I can buy dinner for just the two_?

?Stop flirting, Master. It?s embarrassing,? states Meira again.

The man shrugs, ?Can?t blame a man for trying??

??? Mugetu stands in place, blushing and speechless.

The man says to the maid, ?You can skip this room if you want. It?s not like Meira and I make a big mess of things, so you don?t have to clean it everyday.?

?Um? I understand. Thank you, Master.? With a bow, Mugetu leaves the room.

Despite the man?s unusual and carefree attitude, he is rumored by some in the empire to be even more powerful than the empress, though no one openly states it. Meira respects him greatly, though she occasionally gets humiliated by his tendencies.

The man says, ?You?re a good student, Meira.?

?I am honored, Master? responds Meira with a bow.

The man explains, ?I?ve only had two students. You are truly skilled and talented, though you have not yet surpassed my previous student.?

Meira?s face momentarily turns to that of dismay, but she quickly regains her composure, ?How exactly am I inferior, Master??

The man asks, ?Meira, who do you dedicate your skills to??

Meira unsheathes her sword and holds it in front of her, declaring, ?Master! I swear by my sword that on my honor, I will serve Empress Lunariya, the immortal empress, and her great Lunarian Empire with the skills you have entrusted to me. I shall fight on their behalf to my final breath, risking great loss and torment. Of this, I vow.?

The man smiles, ?Well spoken, Meira. That is the vow of a true warrior. You should be proud of such a quality.?

?I am honored, Master.?

The man turns to leave the room, ?However, it is for that very reason that you will not surpass my former student.? With that, he leaves the room.

??? Meira stands, frozen and dumbfounded.


Later, in a residential complex, not far from the castle, a girl with brown eyes and brown hair, tied into two braids, wearing a white dress, sits at a computer, rapidly typing in some notes for an assignment.

There is a sudden knock on the door. ?Come in!? yells the girl.

Meira enters the room, ?Hello, Rika.?

Rika responds, her eyes focused on her monitor, ?Hi, Meira.?

?How are you doing??

?We-well, I?m just about to finish my notes about Evil Eye Sigma?s specs. I-I haven?t been given any new scientific breakthrough notifications from Professor Yumemi, though, so once this is done, I?m? I?m looking at boredom??

?Then perhaps I can provide you with something you may find? entertaining.?

?Wh-what would that be, Meira??

?I understand that you are an accomplished hacker.?

?Wh-why yes, but why are you interested in that??

?Everyone who joins the empire without being born into it is given a thorough background check. Rika, I want you to hack into the Lunarian Empire Database and get me whatever background information you can on Master.?

?You? you mean Master Konpaku??

?Yes.?

?Wh-wh-why do y-you want me to do th-that, Meira??

?Calm down. You stutter too much.?

Rika takes a deep breath, ?You?ve always obeyed the law down to the letter. This isn?t like you at all.?

?There is something I must know.?

?Even so, Meira, I could get caught! The punishment for unlawful entry into private information is death for mortals and 500 years of imprisonment for immortals!?

Meira sighs, ?If you are afraid of getting caught, then use my access code. It?s JI0I7D3R44UVCR. Good luck.?

?But what if I get caught??

?Then don?t. If you do, I?ll save you a place in Hell, where we can have a long talk about your hacking abilities.?

?Meira??

?I have absolute confidence in your skills. My life is in your hands.?

?O-okay??

Meira walks out of the room, thinking, This is out of line for me, but I must prove myself to Master. On my honor, I will prove that I am superior to his old student by defeating him in combat!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:52:57 PM
I don?t know how long I had been out since my last internal chat with Yumei, but whatever. I finally do wake up, ?Ugh?? I feel the pain in my neck, though it?s not that bad. I finally sit up to look at everyone, ?Hey??

?Ah, you?re up,? says Sakuya.

?Are you okay?? asks Alice.

?I?ll be fine,? I glare at Reisen, whose clothes and hair are still bloodstained, ?Thank you for that, Reisen.?

Reisen says, ?I? I only had to get you asleep somehow, and that was the fastest way! Anyway, I succeeded.? She points at the bodies of Kaguya, Mokou, and Eirin, laying side by side, ?We ran into some? complications, but we did it!?

I wanted to tell Reisen, that I saw everything, but I ultimately decide to keep it private. I cut to the more important issue, ?Yumei visited me again while I was out. She said she?ll come out when everyone is up.?

Yukari points toward the ground next to me, ?In that case, we still have to wait a little while.?

I look where Yukari is pointing. ?Zzzzzzz?? Next to me, Reimu is still asleep.

?Sigh? Same old Reimu??

We wait about a half-hour. Eirin, Kaguya, and Mokou still hadn?t regenerated yet.

I look out at the city below; illuminated by the golden glow of the sunset, thinking about that talk I had with Reimu. Gensokyo was a good life, and in terms of the things I wished for on this side, Gensokyo seems like the more appealing choice, but? can I really leave all this behind? I stare out for several minutes.

Alice, Sakuya, and Youmu walk over to me. Alice asks, ?Marisa? Are you okay? You?ve been standing there for a while.?

I explain, ?Yumei? she promised that she would help revive Gensokyo, but? Between here and there, I don?t know what to choose??

?Right,? says Youmu, ?You may have your memories as Marisa Kirisame, but you are also Marisa Starr??

Sakuya adds, ?To choose which home? What to gain and what to lose. It certainly is not a light decision??

I ask them, already knowing what some of their answers will be, ?You have a choice too. Do you want to go back to your old lives or continue living here??

Youmu says, ?Marisa, you know I can?t just abandon my duties to Yuyuko-sama. After all this is over, I?m returning to Hakugyokurou.?

?I thought so? What about you, Sakuya? Are you going to go back to Remilia??

Sakuya answers, ?Of course. Maybe you?re right that I have a choice, but I owe the mistress for giving me my new life? the ability to make those decisions. I?m sorry, Marisa, but I absolutely cannot live here forever.?

I feel bad. I don?t want to lose my friends, but I don?t want to abandon my life here, either, ?I know. And you, Alice? You don?t have a mistress to return to. You can keep living here, right? We can continue going to school together and everything! Even if I hate all the students there, it was great to just go there with you! How about it??

Understandably, Alice seems to be just as conflicted as me, ?I? don?t know, Marisa. You?re right, it was fun, I will admit, but I don?t know if I can leave Gensokyo behind for that??

?I see?? Alice?s response is just as straightforward as Reimu?s. Go figure.

I look back at everyone, wondering what they would choose. Sure, they aren?t within my close circle of friends, but with all we?ve been through, I do care about them. Cirno? well, I dunno. She might want to stay here, but she has her youkai attributes that she has to hide, and I wonder how long she can stand to keep that up. Yukari, while she can go anywhere, she?d live in Gensokyo, no question. She?s lived there too long to want to change. Kaguya and Mokou used to live in this realm, but with things as I know them, even I would recommend they return to Gensokyo. Eirin and Reisen would likely go along with Kaguya?s choice. Part of me longs for Gensokyo, and the other part doesn?t want things to change. Everyone needs Gensokyo back, and I agree, but I regret that it had to come to this. If my curiosity never got the better of me, I would still be going to school with Alice and Cirno, not worrying about any of this. I?m not looking forward to Yumei?s arrival?

?Ugh?? Finally, Reimu starts to wake up. Everyone turns to her.

?Did you have a good sleep?? asks Yukari.

?Yeah,? answers Reimu, ?I had a dream?? She looks over at Eirin, Kaguya, and Mokou ?? or maybe it wasn?t a dream?? Heh.

Reisen?s eyes widen slightly, ?You saw that??

?Yeah,? answers Reimu, ?I saw Kaguya and Mokou?s refusal to go with you, don?t worry, I didn?t hear them either, I saw you asking Eirin for help, and I remember that embarrassing attempt at a one-liner you tried to make after the battle.?

Reisen tilts her head back as she yells, ?NOOOO! You heard that?? Looks like Reimu decided to bring it out after all?

Cirno asks Reisen, ?What did you say??

??? Reisen just stands there blushing.

Luckily for our bunny-girl friend, however, Yukari changes the subject, ?I don?t know why they wouldn?t want to come back, but I?m hopeful that when they wake up, we will be able to communicate with them.?

?Why?? asks Reisen.

?Within that boundary, you were connected with the waking world and they were connected with the dream world. When you removed them, they became one with the waking world again. But??

Reisen raises an eyebrow, ?But???

?But? something must have interfered. You should have still been able to TALK at the very least??

??? I have my suspicions, but no solid ground to base them upon, so I decide to not share what could be untrue.

Reisen raises her ears, ?Strange??

Before this gets any weirder, I change the subject again, ?Well, Yumei said she?d be here when everyone is up, so I guess we just have to wait for the immortals to wake up now??

?Oh, there is no need for that, Marisa. This should be fine!? In the middle of the rooftop, Yumei appears, ?Hello there, every one!?

?Why hello!? Yukari greets, ?So are you that Yumei everyone has been talking about??

?The very same. It?s nice to meet you face to face at last, Yukari Yakumo!?

Alice says to Yumei rather coldly, not that I blame her, ?According to Marisa, you can bring back Gensokyo! What proof do you have that you can actually do something that sounds so ludicrous as bringing back an entire dimension??

Yumei says to Alice condescendingly, ?Are you still mad about that little skirmish we had. Get over it!?

??? Sakuya and Cirno stare at Yumei, not seeming to display a lot of open trust.

Reisen says to Yumei, ?I saw you in that place where we saved Kaguya and Mokou! You?re a moon rabbit, just like me. Why are you here? Just what do you have to do with Gensokyo??

?More than you think,? answers Yumei, ?I will answer your questions in due time.?

Youmu cuts straight to the chase, ?So what needs to be done to get Gensokyo back??

?First, I will tell you everything that needs to be known about that realm you know as Gensokyo??

We all stand and listen as Yumei explains.

?As you are aware, Gensokyo is a product of the dream of?? She gestures toward me, ?Marisa Starr, and?? She gestures toward Reimu, ?Reimu Kiribayashi. They fell into a deep sleep together and their minds crossed over? but how, you ask? It was because of me.?

?What?? says Reimu, ?How the hell could YOU be behind that??

?Oh, it gets better,? says Yumei with a smirk, ?I am also the reason Gensokyo became more than a dream. An entire alternate universe governed by the slumber of two teenage girls.?

?What?? yell a lot of us in unison.

Yumei continues, ?It was a? very interesting bit of human imagination. It was the home of many beings with interesting powers, not the least of which was you, Yukari Yakumo.?

?How?? asks Yukari.

?The dream had a history that dated back through the ages of so many other realms, and you were alive throughout a lot of it. You could freely enter other dimensions and interact with them. As a result, you, Yukari, and the dream that created you, affected history itself! That is how frickin? powerful a dream it was! In fact, it was the reason Kaguya found a happy ending to the ordeal that was her exile to this place.?

?What do you mean?? asks Reisen.

?At the end of the story of Kaguya, which lives on in this realm today as folklore, she was supposed to be taken back to the moon by Lunarian emissaries. She tried to escape with Eirin, but they were caught and Kaguya?s compassion and memories of human were erased. Now, thanks to Gensokyo?s existence, Yukari showed up and spirited them out of harm?s way, where they lived happily ever after in Gensokyo. That is one such example of how Gensokyo affected history. Pretty weird, no? I told you this before, Marisa, and now all of you know it. Most of you aren?t even native to Gensokyo! Think of how it affected your lives, for better or worse, and wonder what could have happened without it.?

Yumei brought up a powerful point. Sure, maybe the accident was an inevitable mishap throughout the course of my life, but afterward, I was reunited with the friends I had in that dream. If not for that, I would still be living without anyone to call a friend.?

?That most certainly is an interesting point,? says Sakuya, ?but you still haven?t answered any questions about how you are responsible for how it broke out of being a mere dream.?

Yumei explains, ?I?m sure most of you don?t have a lot of knowledge of this. You, Sakuya, experienced it, not that you remember, Reisen, I?m sure is aware of it?? She looks at Eirin?s body, ?And the doctor here most likely knows of it intimately??

?What are you talking about?? asks Cirno.

Yumei turns to Reisen, ?Reisen Udongein Inaba? you pointed me out as a Lunarian? Well, I most certainly am!?

?Of course?? says Reisen.

?Out of the Lunarians that have resided in Gensokyo, you have the most recent knowledge of the Lunarians? activities. Tell me what you know about the experiments performed on moon beings with exception powers.?

Reisen says, ?Well, a lot of Lunarians are born with some sort of special ability. I don?t know who runs it now, but if nothing had changed, it?s Professor Yumemi that ran the Lunarians? science division and ran experiments on beings she considered to be exceptional.?

?That?s right.?

?But? what does that have to do with Gensokyo??

?EVERYTHING!? Yumei roars.

?Ah!? We flinch at her outburst.

?I was born with such an ?exceptional? power: Embodiment of Dreams. It allowed me to take a physical form of dreams other people have, if I so will it. Just by looking at people, I could tell their most influential dreams and exploit them??

???

?Well, good ol? Professor Yumemi decided to take it to the next level. She wanted to know what would happen if my spirit was separated from my body, infused with an obscene amount of energy, and sent to Earth to merge with someone? anyone?s dream.?

?You?re talking about astral projection?? asks Alice, ?I?ve only read about such an idea??

?Well, the Lunarians can do it,? says Yumei, ?It?s a civilization with a perfect mix of science, magic, and technology, all of which are utilized in more ways than you can imagine. Anyway, under those conditions, I was sent to Earth. Unfortunately, astral projection is not without its flaws. A living spirit can only roam around for a total of three earth days before becoming a dead spirit, unable to return to the body, thus killing the subject. Well, the Lunarians didn?t exactly give two shits where they shot me down into in this realm, so I ended up in the ocean and I had to keep going until I made it to land. I found a lot of animals, but trust me; I have more pride than to merge with THOSE dreams. Finally, I entered a human city. At this point, I was at my two day and twenty-two hour mark and was fading fast. Unfortunately, no one was asleep yet. I was in deep shit. However, luck found me. I saw a teenage Japanese girl get knocked out by an out-of-control truck. At that moment, she slipped into dreamland? and I felt such immense energy from her. I knew I found what I was looking for, so I merged with that dream. As that was going on, I was within the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness, where all beings? dreams gather. I found another dream in there, which was also quite interesting, so I merged that with me and the girl?s dream, then released the excess energy I was given, creating a whole new realm. The experiment was a success. Perhaps more successful than the prof thought it would be. That was the beginning of Gensokyo.?

?That girl was me!? yells Reimu.

?The other dream was mine?? I ask.

Alice gasps at a realization, ?Impossible? you can?t mean??

?Oh, I mean it,? says Yumei, ?I AM GENSOKYO!?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:53:52 PM
??? There is nothing but silence between us. It?s hard to believe, but equally difficult to dismiss as a lie. Gensokyo was the result of a Lunarian experiment? I never would have thought, and neither could anyone else for that matter. Even Yukari looks surprised.

Yumei continues, ?In a way, you could call me a third dreamer. Sure, Gensokyo itself and its denizens were products of your imaginations, Reimu and Marisa, but the magic? accelerated healing? flight? spellcards? All those things were of the Lunarians? from my memories. In a way, Gensokyo was like the moon?s civilization in its infancy.?

?I had a feeling there was some kind of distant relation between the moon and Gensokyo,? says Reisen, ?It was for those very reasons you described, Yumei. They were too similar to be a mere coincidence? But I never would have imagined that Gensokyo was the result of one of Professor Yumemi?s experiments. Gensokyo isn?t even acknowledged as such! When moon rabbits were dispatched to search the realms for Eirin-sama, they talked like it was just another realm!?

Yumei snickers, ?Hehehe! All that power and advancements, and yet, even the Lunarians are powerless against the influence of history. How ironic...?

?Regardless of how Gensokyo came into being,? says Yukari, ?it doesn?t matter. It?s my home? our home? no matter what the facts are.?

?Yukari is most certainly right,? says Sakuya, ?and that brings us back to the main topic at hand: what can we go about bringing back Gensokyo??

Yumei explains, ?Well, Gensokyo lives on within me?? she transforms into Suika Ibuki ?? that is the reason I can do this.? Okay, along with the transformation, her voice changed to Suika?s which I had only once heard in a sober tone? That?s just wrong. To prove her point further, she transforms into Yuka, then Suwako, Meiling, Chen, Hina, Sanae, and finally reverts to Yumei. ?The way Gensokyo came into being before was a result of an excess of energy my spirit was artificially infused with. Believe it or not, I still have some to spare.?

Alice asks, ?That excess energy? was that the reason you could use those spells without a spellcard? Theoretically, it is possible, but no one, not even a powerful youkai like Yukari, has enough energy to do it in rapid succession. That must be quite a bit of energy!?

??? Yukari looks like she wants to raise an objection, but she knows Alice is right about even her.

?It is, oh it is,? says Yumei, ?Perhaps I used a little too much, though. If I tried to create Gensokyo as a realm again, it would also require my life energy, and just like in the case of a Last Word spell, it would kill me.?

Cirno looks at Yumei dreamily, ?You would die to return Gensokyo to us? I will never forget you, Yumei!?

?Do you really think I?d be released, just to die?? asks Yumei, ?No, there are things I wish to live for. However, there is a method that won?t take my life?? She walks in Yukari?s direction.

?What would that be?? asks Reimu.

?You?ll see, but there are a couple things I need to? obtain first??

?What do you need to obtain?? I ask.

?Nothing I need your help with,? says Yumei, ?Only THIS!? It took me a few seconds to comprehend what happened next. When reality catches up with me, I look at Yukari impaled by Yumei?s spear! Yumei?s spear had materialized in her hand and she attacked the boundary youkai before she had a chance to react!

Yukari?s eyes are agape in pain and shock, ?Ugh!?

Both Yumei and Yukari start to glow with golden light. Finally, the light disappears and Yumei yanks her weapon out of Yukari?s middle torso, ?I?m so sorry it had to come to this. This could have been avoided Yukari, if you had just gone down with Gensokyo and became a part of me. Instead, I had to use my spear, the Dream Eater, to absorb your powers. You see, I need boundary manipulation to make this work.?

Everyone is surprised. Yumei turned so suddenly, no one could have expected it! With the knack for theatrics I?ve seen her use in my dreams, she had planned this since before she got out! Despite my hesitation, I?m the first to snap back and yell, ?What the hell, Yumei?? My heartbeat is increasing, my body is hot all over, and I feel my tears coming.

Yumei shakes her head in a calm manner, ?What are you so upset about? You wanted Gensokyo back, right? This is a necessary step!?

?I don?t give two bits of a shit about Gensokyo! I could have been happy still going to school with my friends! Even so, why did you have to do that to Yukari??

?You look like you care about Gensokyo, now you say you don?t? Well no matter how you feel about this, Marisa, I need Gensokyo. I don?t care who needs to be sacrificed. Besides, since when did you consider Yukari a friend??

At this point, my tears are flowing, though my rage is still dominant, ?That doesn?t matter, you bitch! After all Yukari and I have been through, I care!?

Yumei raises an eyebrow, ??Bitch?? Is that what you have to say to your good buddy, Yumei??

?Go to hell!? I run toward Yumei, my anger making me forget that he has a spear. She swings her weapon and the shaft connects with my head, knocking me down. Shit! Even though I?ve had a ton of battles as Kirisame, now having a body not so accustomed to pain makes my head ring.

?Damn you, Yumei!? Reisen draws her gun and fires several shots at the other moon rabbit, who deflects a couple bullets with her spear as she squats down and leaps up several feet, over 40 feet, actually, landing on the roof of an adjacent taller skyscraper.

?Yumei!? Youmu proceeds to chase Yumei, but lacking her long and athletic legs, the gardener can?t match the rabbit?s jumping ability, so instead she leaps over the edge of our building, and dashes up the side of Yumei?s, drawing her wooden practice sword along the way. She reaches Yumei?s roof and their weapons clash, ?That was a cheap trick! Where?s your honor, Yumei??

?Honor?? yells Yumei, in an outright pissed off tone I have never seen her use. Their weapons clash again. Unsurprisingly, Youmu?s weapon doesn?t hold together and breaks from the impact. She thrusts one of her long legs forward, kicking Youmu in the gut, stunning her.

?Ack!?

?Shut up about ?honor!? I really hate that word! It?s nothing but self-righteous posing that serves no productive purpose, other than to give yourself a nice big pat on the back!? She runs Youmu through the shoulder with her spear, lifts her, and slings her down to our roof. The gardener lands next to me, her blood splattering on impact.

?Ugh? dammit! If only I had my swords??

However, just as Yumei was done with Youmu, she gets caught off-guard by several knives that appear right in front of her. She guards her vitals as they sink in, ?Ugh!"

?I most certainly won?t let you get away with this!? yells Sakuya up to Yumei.

Both Youmu and Yukari are down and Reimu and I are helpless as we are now. Even if I recalled my memories as Marisa Kirisame, my body is still that of Marisa Starr, and Reimu?s is still Reimu Kiribayashi. Two ordinary human beings who are incapable of fighting this kind of battle. Reimu is checking on Yukari to see if she?s all right, so I kneel next to Youmu. Meanwhile, Alice, Sakuya, Reisen, and Cirno are busy fighting Yumei. ?Hey! Youmu! Stupid question, but? are you feeling okay??

Youmu responds, ?I?ll be fine, actually. She missed my vitals. Worry about Yukari??

?Okay?? I kneel next to Reimu, ?Yukari??

Yukari says, ?That was unexpected? I only wish I was the judge of character Yuyuko is?? She gets up, despite her horrible injury ?? This is a crippling wound, but I won?t let Yumei get away with such a tactic??

Meanwhile, despite the start of the battle, our side is winning, but Yumei is still holding her own. For some reason, she?s holding off on her transformations. At this point, the sun has completely set, so she has the green light to transform into a vampire, but she seems insistent on battling in her own form.

?War Sign: Dolls War!?

?Silver Sign: Perfect Maid!?

?Visionary Wave: Mind Blowing!?

With Alice, Sakuya, and Reisen lacking the ability to jump up after Yumei, nor dash up the building, they use spellcards that fill the air with armed dolls, knives, and psycho-bullets, all of which aimed at Yumei?s perch.

?Vision Sign: Falling Dreams!? Yumei declares a spellcard in response, and above her, slanted down toward my friends, several magic circles appear, which fire out several bolts of pink light, which manage to intercept some of their projectiles, but not all of them. She gets showered by all kinds of pain, and while she?s staggering back, Cirno used the previous exchange of attacks as a chance to fly up to Yumei?s roof and deliver an ice-coated punch. ?Gah! Bitch!? Yumei staggers back, but as Cirno attempts to press her attack, Yumei fights back with a roundhouse kick, which knocks the ice fairy from her perch, followed by a bolt of energy, repelling her further.

?Ow! That hurt!?

Back to Yukari, the boundary youkai gets back onto her feet, her left arm over her wound, ?I?m coming, Yumei??

?That?s suicide!? protests Reimu, ?You can?t fight like that!?

Yukari smirks, ?I can and I most certainly will, Reimu. Since when have I been the type to just be the helpless victim?? She had us on that one?

Before I could add in my two cents, Yukari opens a portal below her, falls in, and emerges on Yumei?s roof, right behind the traitorous bitch. Figures that after all the trouble everyone else had to get where Yumei is, it?s child?s play to Yukari. ?Hello, Yumei!?

?The hell?? Yumei looks over her shoulder at Yukari who smacks her with her parasol.

?Fufufu~?

?Ugh!? Yumei attempts to counterattack with her spear, but Yukari steps out of her range, points her parasol at the rabbit, and around her, five balls of energy form, and slam into Yumei, delivering enough impact to knock her from her high perch, and 40 feet down to our roof. She slams into the ground, the blood from her wounds splattering on impact, and coughing up blood soon after, ?Sh? shit?? She slowly gets up to her feet, her wounds still gushing blood, using her spear as a support. Her once fine clothes are now ripped and battered, and one of her glasses? lenses is cracked. Wow? even with a wound like that, Yukari can still put up a pretty good fight!

?It?s over, Yumei!? Reisen aims her gun at Yumei?s head, and Sakuya draws a knife.

?Hold on!? calls out Yukari. She falls into a portal and emerges in front of Yumei, ?Before we relieve you of your pain by dropping you from this skyscraper rooftop, I want to know? what you were trying to? do?? Not good! Yukari lost a ton of blood, thus draining her strength away.

?I? ugh? I told you? didn?t I, Yukari? I needed your powers? to make the new Gensokyo. Of course? everyone wasn?t very happy about me stabbing you? not a big surprise??

???

Yumei continues, ?Besides? do you really want to kill me? I?m your only chance of recovering Gensokyo? in any shape or form. I?m your only hope??

?Still sounds tempting?? says Yukari, ?Too? bad I?m? not particularly fond of? people who go and? attack me with spears? out of nowhere??

?Stop talking!? Reimu tells Yukari, ?You should save your strength.?

?Don?t worry,? says Yukari, ?I?m fine? Back to you, Yumei? perhaps we won?t kill you? but you will be our prisoner.?

?Sounds fair,? says Yumei.

?I certainly hope we?re not making a mistake by doing this,? says Sakuya, withdrawing her knife. Reisen puts away her handgun.

Suddenly, though, Yumei smirks, and her eyes glow golden, ?On second thought, though, I say to hell with your mercy!?

?What?? yells Alice.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:55:03 PM
Yumei?s spear vanishes and she transforms again. Who she transformed into? Huh? What? I?m seeing double! I?m looking at TWO Yukaris! Of course, I know by condition and location who our Yukari is and who Yumei is, but? how could she transform into someone who didn?t disappear with Gensokyo?

?Hahaha!? Yukari/Yumei disappears into a gap and emerges on the taller building again? She really loves that building?

?Just what the hell is going on?? I demand.

Yukari/Yumei says, ?Why, thank you, Yukari! Thanks to that lucky break you gave me, I was still alive to gain this new power!?

?What are you talking about?? asks Reimu.

Yukari/Yumei answers, ?My spear allows me to copy the form and power of any Gensokyo resident it pierces. Unfortunately, it take a little time for those effects to take place, and during that time, I can?t transform, and, as I?m sure a lot of you found out, as plain old little Yumei, I?m not very strong. Sure, I was given all that energy, but that only works for other forms and dream-related matters. You should have dumped me overboard when you had the chance, because now that I have acquired Yukari?s powers, my plan is complete! Nothing can stop me!?

?What are you trying to do?? I demand, ?Take over the world, or some shit??

Yukari/Yumei shakes her head, ?Not precisely. The world is only a stepping stone toward achieving my ultimate goal! BEHOLD!? Yumei transforms again into? something. She?s still Yukari, but? she?s something different also. She has Yukari?s face, body, and hairstyle, but Yumei?s attire and ears. Her hair is also a bright pink.

Cirno?s eyes widen, ?You?re Yukari, but you?re also Yumei? Why did you turn into that, Yukarumei??

The Yukari/Yumei mutant raises an eyebrow, and then laughs. Her voice is a unison of both Yumei?s and Yukari?s, ?I like it! It?s perfect! ?Yukarumei? will do fine! Now then, on to my next phase?? A gap opens up below Eirin?s body, and then another below Kaguya?s.

?Eirin-sama! Princess Kaguya!? yells Reisen, ?What are you doing??

?Yukarumei? says, ?I require Eirin for my goals, and Kaguya could come in handy too. Frankly, I suggest you worry about yourselves for my next trick! Now? I shall obliterate this realm?s boundary of dreams and reality!? Yukarumei spreads her arms dramatically, and there is a bright flash of light? Wait? I remember this! There are more flashes and I feel all the more nostalgic. From the city below, many people scream in unison.

?What?s going on?? asks Reimu.

Youmu looks at me, then Reimu, ?You? should look at yourselves??

?Huh?? I look at Reimu. She?s starting to fade into thin air. I then fearfully look at myself and the same thing is happening. I remember! The flashes! People fading away! This is what happened when Gensokyo started to disappear! Sure enough, everyone else not of this world, which is to say, everyone present here, except Reimu and me, are fine. ?Oh shit! This is what happened before, only? it?s happening to Reimu and me!?

Yukarumei smiles, ?This world is now on its way to becoming my dominion. Well, I?ll leave you to enjoy the events to follow. I bid you adieu.? With that, Yukarumei disappears into a gap.

?Damn you, Yumei! Get back here!? I yell.

Down below, and presumably all around the world, countless people are disappearing, just like Reimu and me.

?Dammit!? yells Reimu, ?It can?t end like this!?

?Yukari!? yells Alice, ?We have to save Marisa and Reimu! We?ve been in this situation! We know what to do!?

I turn to Yukari, ?Open a gap and send us to another realm where we will be unaffected by this!?

Yukari says, now slumped down to one knee, due to her weakened body, ?I can do something else, actually. Hold out your hands.? I don?t know what Yukari is talking about, but in about thirty or so seconds, Reimu and I won?t exist anymore, so we do what we are told. Yukari brings her hand close to ours?, closes her eyes, and I suddenly feel different, like I have been reborn! I feel powerful! I feel a rush of energy that I had forgotten, even after regaining my memories! Not only that, but our clothes are transforming too! Around my waist, an apron appears, and below that, a black skirt. My shirt turns black as well, with a white shirt underneath. A large black pointed hat appears on my head, and finally, a broom materializes in my hand! At the same time, Reimu transforms too! A red skirt appears around her waist, a sleeveless red shirt appears, two white detached sleeves appear around her arms, a red bow and a couple braids form in her hair, and finally, a long gohei appears in her hand.

I look at myself, ?I?m??

Reimu is also surprised, ?How did you???

Yukari explains, ?The border between dreams and reality doesn?t only exist for boundaries, but also individuals? I reversed yours and brought out your ?other selves.? I?m sure you?ve noticed something else too.? Well, I did. Reimu and I aren?t disappearing anymore.

Alice smiles, ?You?re back? Kirisame.?

?Yeah??

There are still more flashes and the screams of people below are becoming less and less frequent. It sucks we couldn?t do anything for them, but what could we have done? DAMMIT! Yumei! She?s gonna pay for this! All of a sudden, however, another reminder of the thought?s end comes along! The ground shakes violently!

?Ah-ah-ah-ah?? We all struggle to maintain our balance. No sooner than that, however, the taller adjacent skyscraper that Yumei loves so much starts to fall over in our direction! Luckily, our building is a lot sturdier and not falling, but we?re about to be crushed by the other! It hits the edge of our building and the top portion falls off, about to crush all of us like mom?s pancakes!

Sakuya quickly declares a spellcard, ?Time Sign!? She thrusts her hand up at the falling tower, ?Sakuya?s Special Stopwatch!? A field appears around the tower, and then suddenly, the whole thing turns to monochrome colors and freezes in midair, stopped in time while time everyplace else moves onward. ?If we?re going to do something, hurry!? says Sakuya with a strained voice, ?I can?t hold this for too long!?

I pull a spellcard from my pocket. I have as many as I did when I woke up, ?Leave this to me!? Well, it looks like my renewed powers will be put to the test, ?Magicannon!? I direct both of my arms toward the tower, ?FINAL MASTER SPARK!? I fire my massive laser up at the threatening object. My beam connects and it gets blasted into pieces, which disperse all over the place. I wobble a bit, fatigued by the immense amount of energy I just released.

?Looks like you haven?t gotten rusty,? says Reimu.

?I doubt you have.?

All around us, the city is falling apart. Buildings are collapsing and toppling over, streets are getting cracked and broken, cars are getting tossed all over the place like toys. It?s like watching a disaster movie. Even distant mountains are starting to fall apart!

?I see what Yumei was trying to accomplish?? says Yukari.

?What is it?? asks Cirno.

?She wanted my powers to break the border between dreams and reality, and establish Gensokyo, which she embodies??

Alice flinches, ?Wait! Does that mean???

?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?Yumei is turning THIS world INTO Gensokyo!?

I step back in reaction, ?No way! NO WAY! THIS is what she meant when she said she would ?revive? Gensokyo??

?Apparently.?

?Damn it!?

The ground continues to shake. Actually, I?m beginning to hear some of the foundations of our building begin to give way. Ocean water begins to rush in and flood the streets.

Yukari says, ?These are not earthquakes. This is a result of the shift. The land is reforming itself to match Gensokyo?s geography. I?m also beginning to feel the magic of Gensokyo flow in.?

Cirno sums it up, ?This is going to become Yumei?s Gensokyo??

?Yes.?

Reimu looks out at the ruining world, ?Damn! We have to find Yumei and stop her!?

?We also have to save Eirin-sama and the princess!? adds Reisen.

?What do you think she would possibly want with them?? asks Sakuya.

Reisen says, ?Princess Kaguya, I?m not so sure, but Eirin-sama? the Hourai Elixir! That HAS to be it!?

?Dammit!? I yell, ?We have to get a move on!?

?Hold it!? yells Yukari, ?This world is becoming too dangerous! If we stay here any longer, we will be killed! We should escape for now. We can come back and deal with Yumei another day!?

?But?? I can?t say anymore. I want to go out there, find Yumei, and kick her ass, but my rational side agrees with Yukari. With all the destruction, there?s no way we?ll survive before things settle down.

?Okay?? We all nod in agreement.

Yukari opens a gap, ?This will take us to Hakugyokurou! Get in!?

?Okay!?

Sakuya picks up Youmu and enters the portal; Cirno drags Mokou?s body in; Reisen and Alice also rush ahead. Reimu and I are about to enter, but we notice that Yukari isn?t following us.

?C?mon, Yukari!? I yell, ?Move your ass!?

Yukari is still on one knee, but she begins to wobble a little, ?I?m sorry. I?m afraid I?ve used too much energy. I can no longer move.?

?You idiot!? Reimu snaps, ?You weren?t alright at all! You were just putting on an act so we wouldn?t worry about you!? She sticks out her hand to Yukari, ?Hold my hand! We?ll get outta here together!?

?No we won?t,? says Yukari, ?There?s no time??

I look at the portal. Slowly, but surely, it?s shrinking. In only a matter of seconds, we won?t fit! ?Dammit! She?s right! We don?t have much time!?

?How can we get back?? explodes Reimu.

Yukari holds out her hand to Reimu, and a green ball appears. It looks like the one I got before, which took us to Makai, ?Take this. If you throw it against something, a gap will open, that will lead back here.?

Reimu takes the ball, but still insists on finding a way to save Yukari, ?If we hurry, we can?? More shaking. Now this building?s supports are snapping wildly. The place will break at any moment.

?Reimu, I don?t like it either, but we have no choice!? The portal is shrinking more and more.

Yukari imparts one last thing, ?Reimu and Marisa? Remember, even though Yumei has taken control of Gensokyo? it was still your dream. Never forget that??

Reimu observes the situation, and the harsh reality downs on her, ?Damn it? DAMN IT! I?m sorry, Yukari!? She runs ahead and dives into the portal.

?Yukari?? I dive in after Reimu. Our tears strained the ground behind us. It?s just like that time I thought I lost Sakuya, someone close to me putting herself in a hopeless situation, and me powerless to do anything? only? it?s actually happening? I will lose this person?

Damn Yumei! Not only have we lost our world and everything we hold dear upon it, but we also lost Yukari. I don?t know what Yumei?s big plan is, but she won?t live long enough to achieve it if I have anything to say about it!

Goodbye, Yukari?

==

The gap closes and Yukari finally drops from her knee and to the ground, ?Reimu? Marisa? Don?t die?? With that, Yukari falls lifelessly limp, and at the same time, the building collapses into the raging flood below.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:56:15 PM
Lunarian capital, Tsuki no Miyako?

The Imperial Lunarian Academy, a massive institute of many dome-shaped buildings, dedicated to passing on the near-limitless knowledge the Lunarians had gained over their many-millennia history and discoveries. Inside one of the domes, a class is being held. The students, almost seventy in number, sit in ring-shaped balconies that circle around the building?s higher ground, and listen to their professor at the ground level, a girl appearing to be an older teen, though she had lived for hundreds of years. She has dark red hair and red eyes, and wears a red dress over a white shirt. She is Yumemi Okazaki, one of the Lunarian?s top researchers, and also, little to her knowledge, was the one behind the experiment that resulted in the existence of Gensokyo. ?? and that is the result of mixing the sub atomic composition of mysterium with mithril. Next, class, I will tell you_?

?PROFESSOR!? A girl, fifteen years old in appearance, frantically rushes into the building. She has brown eyes and blonde hair tied into two small ponytails and wears a white sailor uniform.

Yumemi leers at the girl, expressing her discontent at having her class interrupted, ?Whatever you have to tell me, Chiyuri, can it wait another twenty minutes? I?m trying to teach a class!?

?But professor?? says the girl, Chiyuri, ?We just found out about something incredible!?

??Incredible,? hm? Do tell, and be quick about it!?

?Okay, well? um? how can I put this??

?Just tell me.?

?Um? you know about Earthly Realm #0756: Gensokyo and how it disappeared, right??

?Yes. Quite strange. Well, if that is what this is about, then you have my interest, Chiyuri. Tell me more.?

?Well, you see, just a few minutes ago, Earthly Realm #0578: Terra had stopped emitting its? um? ?energies,? and started giving off Gensokyo?s? er? ?signature.??

Yumemi finds the information very interesting, ?I see. Well, then, do show me??

?Okay!?

Yumemi addresses her class, ?Class, for the last twenty minutes, I want you to review chapters 14 through 24. There will be a quiz on them. Study hard.? She leaves the building with Chiyuri.

Minutes later, they arrive at an establishment dedicated to monitoring the status of Earth?s boundaries. It?s a dark building, only lit by the monitors of many computers. Yumemi looks at one of the monitors, and, as Chiyuri had claimed, the energy signature of our realm had been replaced by that of Gensokyo.

The professor is intrigued by the latest discovery, ?Most curious. This is quite a find, Chiyuri. This hadn?t happened in over 800 years!?

?What might have caused this?? asks Chiyuri.

Yumemi takes a few seconds to think, ?A shift in boundaries, but? where could Gensokyo have been during the period between its disappearance and reappearance? That is an answer I don?t know, but as a scientist, I simply cannot let these reasons go undiscovered. We will monitor this newly-established boundary. We might even go down to Earth if need be.?

Chiyuri shutters, ?You mean actually SET FOOT of Earth?s soil? How can you even consider doing something so? disgraceful??

Yumemi smirks at Chiyuri, ?Sometimes, scientific prowess requires sacrifices, don?t you think so, my dear assistant??

?Perhaps??

Yumemi glances at a monitor, showing the moon?s current phase: first quarter, ?Still, we have to wait for a little while??

==

Three days have passed since escaping to Hakugyokurou, and along with that, Yukari?s death. Since then, it has been the most depressing downward spiral of emotion I?ve ever experienced from everyone else. I, for one, say we go back, find Yumei, and avenge Yukari, along with our world, but it seems I?m one of the only ones moving forward. If it?s not Yukari, it?s something else.

Yuyuko, ever since hearing of what happened to Yukari, has holed herself up in her palace and not come out, Reimu is moping around for the same reason, Youmu is trying to figure out how to make Yuyuko happy, Reisen seems to be ready to go like, me, but she?s been in her own world, more and more, Mokou, now revived? well, who knows what she?s thinking, Sakuya seems to have stuff on her mind as well, Alice seems to be avoiding me for some reason,  and Cirno is just plain depressed. It seems we have some things to sort out before we go after Yumei?

==

Youmu leaves the palace, and into the gardens, after another attempt at trying to cheer up Yuyuko, which failed, ?Dammit? I?ve never seen Yuyuko-sama like this. I can protect her from any threat, but not her own emotions. Even with my swords and skill, I?m powerless to fight it??

She spends several hours aimlessly wandering the gardens of Hakugyokurou, eventually finding Reisen, ?Reisen??

Reisen glances at Youmu, ?Oh. Youmu. Hi.? She is still concerned about Eirin and Kaguya.

However, for that moment, Youmu recalls her unfinished business with Reisen. She unsheathes the Roukanken, which she had recently regained her possession of after returning to the Netherworld, ?Reisen, you won?t escape this time! You will tell me about my father!?

Reisen says, ?Give it up, Youmu! You won?t overcome my illusion before I make my escape. Besides, I don?t feel like dealing with you!?

Youmu says, ?Eirin and Kaguya, right? They?ll be fine. They are immortal, after all. You don?t need to worry about them as much as you have to worry about me!?

?Just leave me alone!? yells Reisen. Her eyes glow red and she looks into Youmu?s eyes. Youmu begins to see a large group of illusory Reisens. A couple Reisens run toward her. The gardener attempts to attack them with her sword, but the Roukanken just passes through them.

?You can?t beat this technique, no matter how many times you try!? taunts Reisen, ?Just leave me be!?

Youmu?s eyes narrow, ?Is that it? I?ve been waiting for you to do that, Reisen! I figured out a way to overcome it!?

?What??

Youmu runs toward the group of Reisens as her ghost-half radiates an intense light. Reisen reacts and covers her eyes in reflex, while her illusions are unaffected. Youmu, having found the real Reisen, positions her sword inches away from the Lunarian rabbit?s neck, ?I win, Reisen.?

?Not bad?? Reisen?s illusions vanish.

?Talk!? orders Youmu, ?Why have you been keeping this a secret from me? More importantly, where is my father now??

Reisen, instead of giving a straight answer, says, ?Can you move your sword? You?re making me uncomfortable.?

?Fine.? Youmu returns her blade to its sheathe.

Reisen explains, ?It?s not like I didn?t want to tell you, Youmu, it?s just? I was told not to.?

?By who??

?Who else? Master Konpaku, of course.?

??Master? Konpaku??

?Your father. Duh! Where I come from, he is referred to as ?Master.??

??Where you come from?? You can?t mean??

?It?s exactly what you think, Youmu. Your father is an honorary Lunarian.?

Youmu steps away from Reisen in disbelief, ?I? I can?t believe it? You?re lying!?

Reisen shrugs, ?It figures. Master Konpaku knew you couldn?t handle the truth, so that?s why he wanted me to keep it a secret.?

Youmu says, ?Okay, assuming you are telling the truth, what exactly is your relationship to my father??

Reisen pauses and answers ?? He?s my father too??

Youmu jumps away from Reisen, ?Wh-WHAT? You?re? my half-sister, then? That?s ridiculous!? Youmu thinks again, ?Or is it? He always has been a ladies? man??

?Whoa, whoa, whoa!? calls out Reisen, ?I didn?t mean it like he?s my actual father. It?s just that I?ve thought of him as the dad I?ve never had.?

?Huh??

Reisen leans against a cherry blossom tree and slumps down, ?We moon rabbits? compared to Lunarian humans, we have very few rights. Our ability to telepathically communicate, our vision in the dark? we are seen as naturally born scouts. As a result, we are given military training from a young age, and expected to serve the empire. I was no exception? and I had always been at the bottom of my class. No matter what I did, all my classmates had done better. As a result, I was an outcast. One day, I was kicked out of a self-defense class. That?s when I first met him. At this point, he had risen through the ranks, and had become the leader of the royal guard. I was intimidated by someone of such a rank, but he was very kind. He didn?t look down on me as an inferior moon rabbit. He treated me as an equal, and? in fact, he seemed particularly sympathetic toward us. He told me that one day, if he had anything to say about it, moon rabbits would have the rights of humans. We became close, like father and daughter, and he always encouraged me and took care of me. However, that fateful full moon night came when I, and hundreds of other rabbits, were dispatched across Earth?s boundaries to find Eirin-sama, and possibly Kaguya. I was worried, but he came to me with his final words of comfort: To not worry about anything, and use this chance to live as I want, not worrying about the Lunarians? rules. Needless to say, I was sent to Gensokyo, where I did find the targets, but never parted with the truth. I was living as the Master told me, and I couldn?t have been happier.?

Youmu responds, ?I see. Is that the last you saw of him??

Reisen shakes her head, ?No. I met Master Konpaku one last time. He found out where I was sent, found me, and appeared before me. He told me Gensokyo was connected to this realm? his old home, and that he had a daughter. He told me that if I ever met her, not to tell her anything about him.?

Youmu sits on the grass, ?I see. You were just honoring my father?s wishes??

?Yes??

?Well, I now know what became of him. That is all I need to know. There is just one last thing??

?What??

?Reisen, do you know why he joined the Lunarians? He just disappeared with some woman the last time I saw him, telling me that serving Yuyuko-sama was now my responsibility. He must have had a big reason for doing what he did.?

Reisen says, ?Perhaps that?s true, but not even I know. I?m sorry, Youmu.?

?I see?? Youmu rises to her feet.

?Now that you know, what are you gonna do?? asks Reisen.

Youmu answers, ?I?ll address that issue someday, but right now, I need to find a way to cheer up Yuyuko-sama, and I also want to help Reimu and the others get back at Yumei. I may not have been very friendly with Yukari, but I won?t let what happened to her go unanswered.?

Reisen also rises to her feet, ?I see. Well, there are some things I need to take care of too.? With that, she walks away.

==

I sit on the stairs leading up to the palace, wondering what the new Gensokyo is like. Something tells me it?s not going to be the bright and beautiful place it once was. As much as I hate Yumei right now, I guess I have to give her credit for delaying my decision, because right now, between Gensokyo and our world, I have neither to choose from, and I sure as hell can?t live here, surrounded by the dead.

?Oh! Hello, Marisa! It?s been a long time!? my thoughts are interrupted by a male voice. Walking up the stairs, with a friendly smile is Rinnosuke Morichika, or as I affectionately nickname him, Kourin, after his store, Kourindou.

?Huh? Kourin? Is that you? I thought you disappeared with Gensokyo!?

Kourin rubs the back of his head, ?I guess I would have if Yukari didn?t take some time to rescue me? and I just heard from Reimu that she unintentionally saved me again, when I requested she send me here just as a vacation from my house in the middle of nowhere. You?re all here because that ?Yumei? character destroyed your world, right??

?That?s right? and now, Yukari is dead.?

Crestfallen, Kourin turns his eyes away from me, ?Yes, I heard too. I can?t believe it? Yukari is the strongest youkai I know??

?She died saving all of us??

There is a long pause between us. Finally, Kourin says, ?Reimu is at a bench on a cliff, not far to the west of here, looking out at acres of sakura trees. She?s very depressed. Maybe you can cheer her up??

I rise to my feet, ?Maybe I will, Kourin.?

==

Elsewhere in the expansive gardens, Cirno wanders around, thinking of the past events. Ahead, she sees Mokou lying on her back at the base of a tree, grabbing a petal out of the air and incinerating it.

Cirno rushes over to Mokou, ?Hello!?

???

?What was your name again? Fuzzy-wora no Mocha??

Mokou glares at Cirno, ?It?s ?Fujiwara no Mokou.? So, who the hell are you??

Cirno gladly introduces herself, ?I am the great ice fairy, Cirno! Next to Alice, I am the strongest remaining youkai from Gensokyo!?

?Like I give a shit.?

?But you asked for my name!?

?Shut the hell up!?

?No, YOU shut up!?

Mokou smirks, ?Hmph. You?re pretty brave, considering I can reduce you to ashes with little trouble??

?Try it!? challenges Cirno.

?Nah. Don?t feel like it?? Mokou takes a breath, ?So, what did you want with me??

Cirno takes a few seconds to find the right words, ?Well? um? Aren?t you from the world Reimu and Marisa come from??

?That?s right,? says Mokou, ?What about it??

?You? know that it disappeared, right??

?Yeah,? says Mokou, her confrontational demeanor weakening, ?Alice told me.?

?Well, if that was your home, why did only Reimu and Marisa start to disappear? Only people that are born there disappear, right? But you didn?t fade at all!?

?Wh? what??

?You were just like us, not fading away, but if that was where you came from??

Mokou says, ?I don?t know. My earliest memory was being found and adopted by a nobleman. I knew I wasn?t his biological daughter, and that my ability to create flames wasn?t considered natural? but now I find out that I?m not even from within that boundary? Damn! Just what the hell am I?? Mokou focuses her gaze on the sky, ?Of course, ?Fujiwara no Mokou? isn?t my real name. It was just the name dad gave me??

?Mokou??

Mokou looks at Cirno?s sympathetic expression, ?Don?t give me that look, fairy girl. All that shit I just said, it doesn?t matter anyway. With all that?s happened, that?s the least of my worries.?

?Um? okay?? Cirno turns to walk away.

?Hey.?

?Um? yes??

Mokou gives Cirno a reassuring smile, ?Thanks for listening. You know, you?re not half bad, fairy girl.?

?Yay!? Cirno walks away, feeling better.

Mokou continues laying back, her mood improving since she had a rare chance to talk about herself to someone.

?? Kaguya??

Not long after Cirno left, Mokou receives another visitor, Reisen, ?Oh! Mokou! You?re back! Are you feeling better??

Sarcastically, Mokou answers, ?Oh yeah, I totally am! Especially after spending 14 months of hanging with Kaguya 24/7 and occasionally Reimu, and getting shot in the head by you. It was nice.?

Reisen says, ?Mokou? Why did you and Kaguya attack me and Eirin-sama. You realize you could have spent an eternity there rather than just 14 months??

?That?s just it,? says Mokou, ?we WOULDN?T have spent an eternity there.?

?What are you talking about?? asks Reisen.

?Okay?? Mokou explains, ?After princess and I fell into the void, we were we encountered by Yumei. She told us a whole bunch of crazy shit, like how she was going to erase that world I used to live in, and that if Reimu died while we were still there, we would be phased out of existence. Do you get it? REAL death! Not even immortality can stop that!?

?What the hell?? says Reisen, ?You want to die??

?Why not?? says Mokou, ?I?ve lived for hundreds of years, burdened with an unending desire to kill Kaguya, and having to live as an outsider. With all that, you start to get a little tired of living, yet you know you can?t. Anyway, even though that world was a part of our lives that princess and I left behind, we sure as hell wouldn?t let that psycho, Yumei erase it, along with the things that represent our dearest memories. You see, the presence of outsiders like me and princess in the remains of Reimu?s dream caused an interference that prevented Yumei from leaving. That?s the reason why she couldn?t leave while we were there. We would save the world and perish for good. It was all too good to be true. However, before Yumei was separated from us to join with Marisa, she did? something. It might have had something to do with the fact that we couldn?t clearly communicate with Reimu all those times we told her to not free us, or the reason you and your egghead doctor couldn?t hear us.?

?I see? So, Mokou? What are you going to do now? Kaguya was captured by Yumei.?

??? Mokou gives Reisen a ?why should I care?? look.

?A-anyway? I just thought you should know?? Reisen walks away.

???

Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:57:05 PM
==

Partway through the gardens, on my way to finding Reimu, I happen across Alice. Instinctively, I call out to my friend, ?Heeeey~ Alice!?

??? Alice glances at me, but suddenly turns her head away, ?Hmph!?

She starts to walk away. Seriously, what the hell is her problem? She started being pissed off at me again ever since we got here. Well, I found her, so why not get to the bottom of things while the chance presents itself? I chase after her, ?Hey! Alice! Stop! What?s the matter with you?? I catch up to her and grab her arm. She struggles to break free of my grip, but I hold on tightly. Finally, she stops and turns toward me. I let go of her. ?C?mon, Alice??

SLAP!

I feel a sudden impact across my face. Alice slapped me? again. This is the second time since all this crazy shit started that I got slapped by Alice. I knew I deserved the first one, but what the heck did I do this time?

?Wh-what the hell, Alice? What was that for??

Alice glares at me, ?So the truth comes out, Marisa??

?What are you talking about??

?About what you said to Yumei? About ?not giving a shit about Gensokyo???

?Erk!? Yeah, I said that didn?t I?

?Hmph. It must be very nice to just live in your own world and not care about the plight of anyone else.?

?What??

?Marisa, you said before that you would be happy just going to school with us and not worrying about Gensokyo? but the rest of us don?t want that! We want to go home!?

I can?t exactly say that Alice?s reasoning put me in a good, or even a humble mood, ?Yeah, go home and leave me behind! I can?t just say goodbye to my old life and join you! As great as Gensokyo sounds, I can?t just leave the people that raised me, even if my day-to-day life was putting up with those stupid elitist hussies!?

?Marisa??

?All I wanted when I got into that accident was friends? Thanks to Gensokyo, I made friends that followed me back to my normal life? and now you want to go back, and leave me alone? I don?t want to lose any of you, but I love my family and can?t stand the thought of just abandoning them. Don?t you get it, Alice? I can?t just pick a place to live out my life in! No matter which I choose, I will be miserable because of what I had left behind! To me, it?s better for there just to be one choice! Don?t you DARE treat me like I?m the bad guy here!?

?Marisa? I??

?I?ll admit, what I said back there was stupid and selfish, but don?t pretend to know me, because you don?t! What we all want is to be happy, but with the way things were, that?s impossible! Someone is gonna get hurt! Can you blame me if I?m someone who doesn?t wanna deal with that kinda pain??

Alice takes my point, ?I see. I?m sorry, Marisa. You?re right, I thought what you said was truly insensitive, but I never considered your side of the whole ordeal??

?Just as long as you know that??

???

I look toward the sky, ?Besides? None of that is an issue anymore. Now it?s Yumei?s Gensokyo, built on the ruins of my home and family. I will not let Yumei get away with that!?

Alice looks at me sympathetically, ?I will help you, Marisa.?

I start to walk away, ?You don?t have to. It?s not your fight.?

?What do you mean it?s not?? asks Alice, ?Yumei is using Gensokyo for her own ends, and I?m not going to let the land that I loved be used like that! Don?t think you?re alone here, Marisa!?

?Yeah? sorry, Alice. We?re in this together??

==

In a washroom inside the palace, Sakuya cuts her hair short again with a knife, braids the two longer strands extending from the sides of her face, and finally, changes back into her old maid outfit, which she left in Yuyuko?s care, muttering to herself, ?Vacation is over. Gensokyo has returned? just not in the way I?d have thought?? She thinks about what Yumei had said, ?Gensokyo? the mistress? Patchouli? Meiling? Flandre? They were all a result of a Lunarian experiment? And? I am a Lunarian?? Sakuya laughs for a few seconds, ?A Lunarian serving a product of a Lunarian experiment. How ironic! Still?? She walks toward the washroom door, ?I most certainly can?t let Yumei get away with Yukari?s death or using Gensokyo? and my mistress, as she pleases.?


Meanwhile, behind the palace, at the base of the Saigyou Ayakashi, Yuyuko looks blankly up at the tree, ?Yukari? Yuko??

Youmu approaches Yuyuko, not knowing how to react to her mistress?s unusual mood, ?Um? Yuyuko-sama? I prepared a five-course meal for you!?

Yuyuko blankly responds, ?Give it to someone else. I?m not hungry.?

Youmu says, ?I know that Yukari?s death was a hard thing for you, but you will see her again, right? This is the Netherworld, after all! This is where the dead go! Plus, she?ll be a ghost like you!?

Yuyuko says, ?I never told you this, Youmu, but this is not THE Netherworld, it?s A Netherworld.?

?What??

?There are as many Netherworlds as there are Yama, and unfortunately, the souls from the world you were in are not assigned to come here. Yukari is going to go to another Netherworld.?

?Oh??

?This? is an eternal parting??

?Yuyuko-sama??

?Youmu? Did Yukari say anything about me before???

Youmu answers, ?She said she wished she was the judge of character you are so she could know of Yumei?s true motives??

Despite finding out, however, Yuyuko feels even worse, ?I could have been there!? Tears rapidly emerge from her eyes, ?If I were there, Yukari wouldn?t have? If not for my position here, I could have?? Her gaze fixes on the Saigyou Ayakashi, ?I?m sorry, Yuko? I failed to take care of Yukari??

Youmu tries to find some comforting words for her mistress, ?Yuyuko-sama? um??

Staring at the ground, Yuyuko tells Youmu, ?Please? just leave me alone, Youmu. I want to be alone??

??? Youmu walks away, takes a brief glance back at her anguished mistress, and then keeps walking.

==

I finally find Reimu in the place Kourin told me she was, sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking over acres of a beautiful sea of pink petals and green grass. Of course, that sight is a paradox to the mood hanging over us all.

?Hey! Reimu!?

Reimu glances back at me, saying unenergetically, ?Oh. Hello, Marisa.?

I want to ask how she?s doing, but I already know the answer to that question, so I pick another topic, ?Well, that was pretty strange, huh? Having a dream, which was used in some alien experiment. Pretty unusual stuff, doncha think??

?Marisa?? says Reimu, ?Shut up! Don?t you get it? It was BECAUSE of our dream that our world had been destroyed!?

?Then what could have been done about it, Reimu? Avoid getting into that accident? We don?t know where and when shit like that happens. Hell, we could be dead five minutes from now! We had a dream, we had many adventures is Gensokyo, it happened. It was a good dream, but sooner or later, we had to wake up, and we did. We had some friends trapped in your head, so we had to get them out. What were we gonna do instead? Ignore them? We had the means to help them, and so we did. So it led to the destruction of our world. That sucks, but did we know it was gonna happen? No.?

?What?s your point, Marisa??

?It was inevitable, Reimu. It happened, and right now, you?re here, wondering what we could have done, lamenting something you had no control over.?

???

?Reimu, instead of thinking about how our dream may have been part of what destroyed the world, think of all the good things! If not for it, we never would have met, we learned things about the universe most people never would have learned, we made friends that even I would take a blast for if I had to, we went on exciting adventures, and this? could just be another one. We?ve always found a way to pull through, right? Let?s keep doing that.?

My little pep talk seems to have brightened Reimu?s mood a little, ?So, how do you think we can pull through this time??

I grin, ?Just join us for dinner, alright? I?ll talk about everything, then.?

==

Lunarian Imperial Palace, throne room?

The throne room is a large chamber, though, like the rest of the building, its floor, walls, and ceiling are all made of wood. Sitting on the throne is a woman who appears to be in her mid to late twenties, though in actuality, she is older than any other Lunarian alive. She has long flowing shiny black hair and dark red eyes, and wears a silver robe over several layers of regal clothing, and a silver tiara.

Another person enters the room. She has the appearance of a mid to older teen, has light-blue hair tied into a ponytail with a yellow ribbon, brown eyes, and wears a red dress and white blouse. She stops short or stairs leading up to the woman, and kneels respectfully, ?Mother, I have a report.?

The woman says, resting her head against her hand, ?Yorihime, how many times have I told you not to refer to me as ?mother? when you are conducting official business??

?But, mothe? Your Imperial Majesty Lunariya? We are alone.?

?Third Princess, Watatsuki no Yorihime? As a leader of the defense corps, you must set an example by composing yourself properly, no matter what the situation.?

?I understand.?

?Your report??

?Yes. We received word recently from the Science Division, specifically Professor Yumemi, that the Earthly Realm, Terra, had vanished, and was replaced by a realm that had mysteriously vanished over a year past.?

Lunariya looks at Yorihime with a stern expression, ?What does this have to do with the war with Earth??

Yorihime responds, ?Nothing, Your Majesty, but if knowledge serves, that was the realm where you exiled First Princess Kaguya. Of course, my sister and I weren?t adopted by you yet, but I do believe it was there. Are you not worried about her? She is your only biological daughter, out of her, my sister, Toyohime, Kotohime, and myself, after all.?

Lunariya coldly responds, ?She broke our laws, and she received her punishment accordingly.?

?But? that law is no longer in effect, and what about my mentor, Eirin Yagokoro??

?Yes, that was rather unfortunate. I?m honestly surprised she evaded us for as long as she has, but these things happen. After all, we did suspect that they somehow escaped to another boundary, did we not? It?s too early to assume that they are gone.?

?Understood. I?m sorry to have bothered you.? Yorihime turns to exit the chamber.

?Do not waste my time again.?

==

Inside the palace, we meet up in the dining hall: Me, Alice, Reimu, Sakuya, Youmu, and Reisen. Yuyuko?s not here, surprisingly, neither is Mokou, unsurprisingly, but Cirno just came briefly and left with some food. Hell, if I know what that was about.

We all look at the food spread across the table, stuff from all food groups and the aroma fills the air. Reimu and Reisen are awed by all the food. Reimu asks, ?Youmu, did you cook all this??

?Half of it,? answers Youmu, ?Sakuya did the rest. The share I made was all originally meant for Yuyuko-sama.?

HALF? That?s still too much for one person, but I was already aware of Yuyuko?s monstrous eating habits, so there?s no point in acting surprised. Anyway, we sit down and chow down.

As we eat, Reimu says, ?So, Marisa, what did you want to share with us??

?Yeah?? I stop eating so I can talk to everyone, ?Right, so? uh? It?s been three days since all that depressing shit happened. How long are we gonna mope around??

?It?s about time someone said that,? says Reisen, ?I want to save the princess and Eirin-sama as soon as possible, but I can?t do it alone.?

Sakuya adds, ?I?ve honestly wanted to see the new Gensokyo for myself. I? have some fears that I want to confirm??

?But what?s the point?? asks Reimu, ?Even if we get back at Yumei, it won?t change the fact that our world is gone.?

?Or will it?? I ask.

?What do you mean?? asks Alice, ?What are you thinking??

?Think about it,? I say, ?Yumei did that by erasing the boundary between dreams and reality. Well, what would happen if it was put back up? Do you think it might reverse what happened? I don?t know if the result will bring everything back to the way they were, but it?s worth the try, right? Besides, we know that she has the power to make Gensokyo its own boundary again.?

?Indeed,? says Sakuya, ?At the cost of her life. Honestly, I doubt she would be willing to do that.?

?Well, it?s not like I thought of everything, so we?ll cross that proverbial bridge when we come to it.?

??? Silence in the anticipation of what I?m going to add.

?Look, I had some time to think things over. I?m not the kind to give into despair for long, you know. We have to look ahead, right? The issue here is not whether or not we get back at Yumei for what she did, but to convince her somehow to undo what she had done,? I turn to Alice, ?What do you think, Alice? You?re the smart one here.?

?Fair enough,? says Alice, ?We?d might as well. It?s not like anything is getting accomplished, neither for the sake of Gensokyo nor of your world, if we just stay here.?

?Well, there you have it,? I say, ?I say we savor this moment, because this will be our last decent meal in awhile, get a good night?s sleep, and finally, head out tomorrow morning. How does that sound??

?I?d say you have a decent idea,? says Reimu, ?Count me in.?

?I most certainly have a desire to,? answers Sakuya.

?I gave my answer,? says Reisen.

?I?ll go along,? says Alice, ?I can?t call this place my home, can I? At least not yet.?

Youmu pauses on her response, ?Um? We?ll see. I?ll have my answer by the time you have to go.?

?Okay,? I respond, ?That thing Yukari gave us is a one-way ticket. There?s no turning back after we use it, so think carefully.?

?I will.? With our next course of action confirmed, we eat the rest of our dinner.

==

In the gardens, Cirno finds Mokou lying in the same place she was at before, still staring blankly at the evening sky.

Mokou is broken out of her trance at Cirno?s words, ?Hey!?

Mokou sits up and looks at the ice fairy, ?Hello again, fairy girl. What?s up??

Cirno holds out a small tray of food from the palace?s dining hall, ?I brought you some food! I didn?t see you at the palace, so I thought you may be hungry.? She places the tray next to Mokou.

The immortal eats a handful of wasabi peas. Completely unaffected by the intensity of the spicy flavor, she says, ?You didn?t have to go through all that trouble for me. Even if I starve to death, I?ll wake up, feeling like I had a four-course meal.?

Cirno protests, ?But? food! What about tasting good stuff??

Mokou takes another handful of peas, ?Well, I can?t argue with you there.?

They eat until the tray is completely cleared.

Cirno pats her gut, ?I?m sooooo full!?

Mokou sighs, ?You should have brought more, fairy girl. It?s not often I get to eat decent homemade goodness.?

?You don?t eat often?? asks Cirno, ?Or do you do that ?starve and come back full? thing??

?Both,? answers Mokou, ?I lived in some remote area of the bamboo forest, hunting for youkai.?

Cirno flinches, ?EEK!?

?Not like you. Unintelligent, un-humanoid youkai. Sometimes I eat with an? acquaintance from the Human Village, but her cooking sucks.?

?That sounds horrible,? says Cirno.

?Nah,? responds Mokou, ?It wasn?t so bad? at least compared to being inside Reimu?s subconscious. No food at all. Kaguya and I died from starvation and regenerated more times than I can count. Believe me, dying from no food? is not very pleasant.?

Cirno changes the subject, ?We?ll probably have to go to Yumei?s Gensokyo, and stop her.?

?Tell me,? says Mokou, ?Do YOU want to go and risk your life? You?re not like me. When you die, that?s it.?

Cirno says, ?Well? um? I liked Marisa?s home. It was a great place. Sure, some people were really mean, but I don?t want Yumei to just get away with what she did to it. Um? what about you? I mean, you said you weren?t? well, born there, but it?s where you lived, right??

Mokou responds, ?What should I care? That?s a part of my life I left behind a LONG time ago.?

?Okay? just wondering? So? are you gonna stay here??

?Why not? This is the Netherworld, the home I?ll never have, after all.?

Cirno begins to walk away, ?Okay? Marisa seemed ready to go back? and I?m gonna go with everyone. I won?t see you again for a while??

??? Mokou looks blankly at Cirno.


At the Saigyou Ayakashi, Yuyuko is also unmoved from her spot. Youmu approaches her, ?Yuyuko-sama? Reimu and the others are going to return tomorrow. I was wondering if I could have your permission to accompany them. I?ll understand if you want me to remain by your side. I don?t know when, or even if, I will be able to return??

???

?Yuyuko-sama??

?? ? ? Do as you wish, Youmu.?

?? Understood. I wish you well.? Youmu leaves.

Despite her outwardly underwhelming reaction, Yuyuko?s contemplation takes another path, ?Hm??

A few minutes later, Mima approaches, ?Yuyuko, are you feeling better??

Yuyuko says, ?Mima, I have a job for you??

==

Well, it was a long night, and it?s a good thing too, as I doubt I?m gonna sleep that well for a while. After breakfast, me, Alice, Reimu, Sakuya, Youmu, and Reisen meet up at the foot of the Saigyou Ayakashi.

?Are we ready?? I ask, ?There?s no turning back after this. Reimu, you have the ball, right??

Reimu pulls Yukari?s gap-ball out of her pocket, ?Right here.?

?Youmu?? I ask, ?Are you sure you want to do this? What about Yuyuko??

Youmu responds, ?Yuyuko-sama gave me permission. It?s alright.?

?Let us go, then,? says Sakuya.

?It?s about time,? says Reisen.

?We might as well get this over with,? adds Alice.

?Okay,? I say, ?Throw it, Rei_?

?WAIIIIIIIIIT!? A high-pitched yell comes from above. Cirno flies down.

?Cirno!?

Cirno complains, ?You?re mean! I wanted to come too!?

?Are you sure?? I ask, ?It could be dangerous.?

?Are you saying I?m weak??

?No. No. Welcome aboard.?

We hear another voice approach, ?Well, if she?s going, I?ll go to. I?d feel bad if she didn?t have someone like me backing her up.? Mokou comes into sight.

Cirno asks, ?Mokou, you?re coming too??

?I didn?t expect that,? says Reisen, ?Are you sure that you want to help rescue Kaguya??

?Better me than anyone else,? says Mokou, ?If anything, she?ll be embarrassed that I, of all people, came to rescue her.?

?Well, whatever,? says Reisen, ?glad to see you?re with us.?

?Do you have room for one more?? Another volunteering voice comes from above.

?Yuyuko-sama? You want to come too?? Youmu asks her mistress, who just volunteered.

?Well, it?s not like I?m helping much by just moping around, am I?? remarks Yuyuko, ?Besides, I wasn?t there for Yukari when I could have saved her. The least I can do is seeing this through.?

?But what about the Netherworld?? asks Reimu.

?That has been taken care of,? says Yuyuko, ?Shall we go??

?Okay!? Reimu tosses the ball. Halfway through midair, it turns into a gap. The nine of us proceed to enter it.

LET?S GO!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:57:51 PM
We emerge from the gap. The nine of us find ourselves on the top of a mountain, just one among a mountain range. It?s pretty chilly, but there is green grass growing among the boulders.

Reimu looks around. Compared to the hell around us the last time we were here, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. It almost feels hard to believe that this is the same place, ?Well, we?re here??

?So this is Yumei?s Gensokyo,? says Alice, trying to pass judgment on the situation, ?It?s not as bleak as I would have imagined.?

?Um? You might be coming to an early conclusion on that, Alice!? Reisen points out to one side of the mountain range, ?Look!? Everyone looks out in the direction Reisen pointed out.

?Oh my!? exclaims Yuyuko.

Before us, we see the ruins of a city, extending out as far as we can see. I don?t know which city it was, nor does it matter. Some office buildings are tipped slightly, and others are standing, but in rough shape. A complex highway runs throughout it, and there are cars scattered all over the place. Despite the ugly sight before us, it looks like this city came out fairly well, at least compared to the one we were in when we escaped.

?Actually, I was looking at the other side,? says Alice, as she points out to the other side of the mountain range. On that side, it looks like a world completely different that the one we just saw: At the foot of the range is a small length of field, followed by a massive forest, stretching out as wide as we can see, and a large mountain in the hazy distance. It looks more like the Gensokyo we know, but overall, the layout doesn?t match up.

?Now THAT looks MORE familiar,? I say.

Sakuya points out, ?If memory serves correctly, I believe Yukari said that the world was rearranging into an identical image of Gensokyo?s geography.?

Reimu guesses, ?Well, she has control over the boundary and Gensokyo. Maybe she just did things to suit her own taste??

?I suppose??

?Looking at these two places, it really does look like the two worlds were combined,? says Youmu, ?Strange to see both in the same place??

Cirno looks at one side of the mountain range, and then the other, ?So? um? where do we go??

??? There is silence between us. That was a pretty good question. There isn?t a whole lot of indication of where Yumei is hiding out?

Reimu says, ?I think Yumei is on the forested side. I mean, she tried to make her own Gensokyo, so I?d say she?d want to be on the side that most resembles the original.?

?Sounds too obvious,? says Reisen, ?I say she?s trying to trick us, and is somewhere in the ruined city.?

?And what about Kaguya?? asks Mokou, ?She could be held anywhere too.?

?Not to mention,? says Youmu, ?She DID acquire Yukari?s powers, right? That means she could be in one area, but then instantly go to another.?

Yuyuko closes her eyes in focus, ?I?ll try to find the greatest concentration of energy. The largest should be an indication of this ?Yumei?s? location?? Yuyuko takes a few seconds. Finally, she opens her eyes, ?Oh dear??

?Have you found anything, Yuyuko-sama?? asks Youmu.

Yuyuko shakes her head, ?No. It appears the energies emanating from each side are near equal. I would have thought someone who controls Gensokyo would have a seemingly unreal degree of energy.?

?She said something about having been granted an enormous amount of energy for the experiment,? I recall.

?Ah!? Alice gasps upon a realization, ?Maybe she used most of it up to change this realm??

Reimu adds, ?She said it only had something to do with dreams, so that may be it. Besides, she wasn?t so strong when she fought us? well, all of you anyway??

?I guess?? I guess it?s possible you don?t have to be a go_ er? deity to possess the power of one?

?Regardless,? says Sakuya, ?Our question remains unanswered. Our only remaining option is to decide on which side we shall explore.?

?I vote for the forest,? I blurt out.

?I choose the city!? shouts Reisen.

?I don?t give a damn either way,? says Mokou with an ?I don?t care? pose.

?I wanna go to the city!? votes Cirno, ?It looks cooler!?

Sakuya looks on one side, then the other, ?It doesn?t matter to me??

?I don?t know about all of you, but I?m choosing the forest,? says Reimu.

?Hold on,? yells Alice. The way she just spoke, she?s likely gonna come up with a compromise, ?Let?s look at this logically. Instead of simply choosing one side, which may possibly be the wrong choice, we should split up and cover more ground. Besides, a large group can?t move as fast anyway?? OH! Who called it? ?? not to mention, Yumei has Yukari?s powers, so she can go anywhere, so we?d put ourselves at a disadvantage by all going together. We should split into halves and explore both sides, thus covering more ground.? Wasn?t THAT obvious? Yup, there?s a reason Alice is my superior at chess?

?That sounds reasonable,? says Yuyuko.

Counting her fingers, Cirno says, ?Um? halves? But? there are nine of us??

Rolling her eyes, Alice says, ?Four of us will go down one side, and five of us will choose the other.?

Decision time! Reimu and I claimed the forest, and Reisen and Cirno claimed the city. Now for everyone else?

Mokou lazily steps in the city?s direction, ?I?ll go to the big town. Fairy girl?ll need all the help she can get.?

?HEY! I can take care of myself!? protests Cirno.

?I will go to the forest, then,? votes Sakuya.

This leaves Alice, Youmu, and Yuyuko.

Alice says, ?I will go to the forest too. That makes it three to four. One more for each team.?

?HOLD ON!? shouts Youmu, ?Can one of you please change your choice? Yuyuko-sama is my mistress! I must_?

?Oh, don?t worry about it, Youmu,? interrupts Yuyuko.

?Yuyuko-sama??

Yuyuko gestures in the direction of me, Alice, Reimu, and Sakuya, ?You asked me if you could accompany them because you consider them your friends and you wanted to help them, am I correct? Well, you may do that?? She then gestures toward Reisen, Cirno, and Mokou, ?I will go with them. Don?t worry about me. I?m sure these three will provide adequate assistance.?

Youmu briefly strikes an uneasy glance in Cirno?s direction, and then responds, ?If? you say so, Yuyuko-sama?? I think I can tell what Youmu is feeling. On one hand, she wants to be there for her mistress, but on the other hand, Yuyuko IS an excellent judge of character, so if she says she will be okay traveling with three people she barely even knows, that should still be good enough.

Of course, if I can take a guess at Youmu?s feelings, it should be as clear as the light of day to Yuyuko, ?Really, don?t worry, Youmu. I consider you a servant, but you should know a role of protector is unnecessary.?

Youmu looks at Yuyuko with a puzzled expression, ?What??

 Yuyuko explains, ?I AM a ghost, after all. I live off of pure spirit energy, not life energy, so whatever happens, I can only be weakened, not harmed, and certainly not destroyed. You have nothing to worry about.?

Youmu responds, still seemingly uneasy, ?Understood.?

Yuyuko says to Reisen, Cirno, and Mokou, ?Okay, my companions! Let us be off!?

?Well, THAT took long enough,? says the impatient Mokou.

Youmu approaches in my team?s direction, ?It looks like I?m with you again.?

?You shouldn?t worry TOO much,? I try to reassure the gardener; ?She?s with a flame-controlling immortal, a Lunarian with some nifty powers, and an ice fairy who is, let?s be honest, NOT completely useless. She?ll be fine!?

?I heard that!? calls out Cirno.

?You really should give Cirno more credit,? says Alice proudly, ?She used to be under my flawless guidance, after all.?

??Flawless??? asks Reimu. Seriously; that fairy can fight alright, but she is still dim in the intellect department.

?Well, let?s go!? I say as I run toward the edge of the summit in the forest?s direction.

?Wait! Marisa!? yells Alice.

I jump up, positioning my broom under me, and fly away? until gravity kicks in and I start to fall, ?Ah! Oh, shit!? I reflexively reach up trying to grab the cliff?s edge.

?Damn it, Marisa!? Someone grabs my arm and I crash into the rocky mountainside. I look up to see that Reimu had grabbed me.

?What? But? but this is Gensokyo? right? Why can?t I fly??

Alice reaches down to grab Reimu?s arm to help me up, ?Don?t be so hasty!?

Sakuya also helps, ?Ugh! Don?t forget that? this is not the same Gensokyo! Don?t? jump to conclusions!?

Finally, Youmu pitches in and they get me back on solid ground. How much do I love my friends? Quite a bit; especially at times like this.

?Well, that was quite a display of what this Gensokyo?s magic lacks. So we can?t fly?? notes Reisen. She looks down the edge of the mountain leading to the city. I previously noticed that it starts with a cliff with no good footholds, ?This is going to be tough??

?Oh, only when you don?t have other ways of flying. Let me show you, bunny girl!? A pairs of flaming wings sprout from Mokou?s back. She dashes toward the edge of the cliff, grabbing Reisen by the arm along the way, and she jumps off, taking the rabbit with her. They float down with Reisen?s scream echoing.

?Wait for me!? Cirno runs after Mokou, glancing back toward us, ?Bye-bye!? She flies off the cliff, quickly flapping her wings.

?Well, I?m off. I will be seeing you.? Yuyuko jumps off the cliff and floats down using some? ghost thing.

?Well, it looks like we?ve lucked out,? says Reimu, looking over the edge. Sure enough, there is a narrow trail meandering down to the bottom. Well, no use hanging up here, so we make our way down.

==

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, Kaguya and Eirin are trapped in two spherical green fields, emanating the only light in the room. They had been trapped there ever since they awoke from their deaths. Their ability to use magic and materialize objects are sealed for as long as they are within the barriers.

Kaguya asks Eirin, ?Are you sure you can?t find a way out of these prisons??

?There?s nothing I can do, Princess,? says Eirin, ?I would think a spellcard could break through this, but I can?t use mine, and?? The doctor kicks the wall of her prison, but there is no effect, ?? obviously, physical force is out of the question. Even my superior intellect is challenged in the face of a cautious mind??

??Cautious mind?? Honestly, doc. Can you blame me for being too careful when I know one of my enemies is a genius with an IQ of 540?? Yukarumei steps out of a gap.

?Who are you?? asks Kaguya, ?Your ears? You are a Lunarian, aren?t you??

Yukarumei says, ?We have met before, dear princess. Allow me to assume the form you remember?? Yukarumei reverts to Yumei.

?You?re? Yumei?? says Kaguya.

?Glad you remember our little encounter after you entered the void. You also have me to thank for placing that little seal on your ability to communicate across the boundary between dreams and reality. It would have been troublesome if you actually warned Reimu of my intentions,? says Yumei.

?So that?s why??

?Just what happened?? asks Eirin, ?What have you done? Where are we??

Yumei answers, ?We are in Gensokyo.?

?What??

?I?ll tell you what happened?? Yumei explains to Eirin what had happened while she had been in her regeneration.

?So you destroyed Reimu and Marisa?s home, and created your new twisted version of Gensokyo in its place??

?That?s right,? says Yumei, ?This is a new world that I control. All of its residents are outside me now? well, except Yukari, since she?s technically me now, but they now all serve me! Allow me to demonstrate?? Yumei claps her hands. In mere seconds, Suika enters the room.

?Aneeting yoo need, Yoomay??

?Yes, Suika. Allow me to drink from your gourd.?

?Ooookay!? Suika holds out her gourd to Yumei, who takes a quick swig from it.

?Ah, delicious. Be on your way, now.?

?Bai-bai!? Suika turns and leaves.

Kaguya and Eirin watched in awe as one of Gensokyo?s most powerful youkai followed Yumei?s instructions without question.

Eirin, who was not alive to witness the events that led to the creation of Yumei?s Gensokyo, asks, ?How did you acquire Yukari?s powers? She was outside the dream??

?Oh, I have my ways,? says Yumei, ?Besides, I?m the only ?Yukari? still alive now.?

Kaguya eyes widen, ?No? That?s impossible!?

Yumei says with a sly grin, ?You?d be surprised how a well-placed plan can even bring down the mightiest of foes.?

?Curse you!?

Eirin demands, ?What are you trying to accomplish by doing this? What do you need your own Gensokyo for??

?Revenge,? answers the rabbit.

?What??

Yumei looks at Eirin, ?Surely, you, Doctor Yagokoro, know of the Lunarian science division?s test samples? Well, I am such a sample, sent to Earth to do what I was ?customized? to do??

?Yumei??

Yumei?s fist tightens, ?I never had a chance to have a life of my own. I was only an object to be experimented on. Hell, ?Yumei? isn?t even my name. Professor Yumemi simply decided to call me ?dream? in order to keep things simple. They did what they wanted with me, and just discarded me. They didn?t give two shits about me. Thanks to Gensokyo altering history, I doubt they even REMEMBER me! Well, I will wield the results of that experiment against them and show how ?successful? they were! My goal? is revenge against the Lunarians!?

Eirin says, ?I?m sorry about what happened to you, Yumei? I?ll admit that I may have played a part in starting the experiments taking place now? but do you honestly believe doing this will allow you to defeat an empire that has conquered countless realms? Your goal is nothing but an unrealistic fantasy!?

Yumei smirks, ?And here I thought you were supposed to be smart, doc. Of course, I alone stand no chance, but I will form alliances across realms, thanks to my new boundary manipulation. I will ally with the realm of the Lunarians? arch rivals, among others, and with them, I will crush them all!?

Kaguya says, ?You destroyed Reimu and Marisa?s home? the land Mokou and I loved? all for THAT selfish reason??

Yumei brings her face closer to Kaguya?s ??Selfish?? Tell me, do you know how many realms fell under the Lunarians? control? More than you can imagine. Besides, I sure as hell ain?t the only one whose life was ruined, thanks to the Lunarians? stupid desire for endless knowledge! With my victory, all those enslaved realms will be freed!?

?A decent side-benefit,? says Eirin, ?but in the end, this is all about your revenge.?

?Hey, I gotta start somewhere. Eirin, I think you know what I want you for.?

?The hourai elixir??

?Yes. With that, I can be just like Lunariya, the Immortal Empress! Nothing will stop me!?

Eirin says calmly, ?Don?t count on me helping you. I may agree with some of your motives, but that doesn?t change the fact that you destroyed the place where the princess? most precious memories lie.?

Yumei storms out of the room, ?Dammit! I knew this wouldn?t be easy! Just you wait! I have time. I will convince you, in one way or another, to help me!?

Once Yumei?s footsteps are too far away to hear, Kaguya looks at Eirin, ?Thank you, Eirin.?

?For what, princess??

?For refusing Yumei?s desire? just to not help the destroyer of the place I loved the most. I?m sure she will make things rougher??

?I know, princess. Just be brave?? Eirin pauses, ?I did that because you were the very first person I could consider a friend??

?Eirin? Did you make the elixir for me, because it was like you said? because you thought of me as a friend? or because I was your princess??

?As a friend. In fact, I was told not to let anyone else drink it? but I was immortal and you weren?t? I didn?t want to lose you someday??

?? But? I was exiled??

?I knew we would be together again, princess. Wounds heal with time. So do relationships??

?Eirin? you can call me Kaguya??

Eirin rubs the back of her head, ?Force of habit, my apologies??

Kaguya smiles warmly, ?It?s okay? but someday? will you call by my name and not my discarded social status??

?I will try princ_?

?Haha!? Despite the situation, Kaguya still finds interacting with Eirin to be something to take her mind off her grim situation, even if only temporary.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:58:38 PM
The five of us make our way down the mountain, toward the forest area of Yumei?s Gensokyo.

There?s yours truly, a fellow dreamer-slash-shrine maiden who happened to be among the strongest beings in the dream, despite being a tad laid back, my neighbor-slash-puppeteer-slash-fellow magician-slash-sole youkai in our crew-slash-only ?imagined character? among us, a forsaken Lunarian-slash-former servant of a being less existent than herself, and a half-ghost who is either too grown up or too childish.

The mountainside trails are very narrow, to the point where we?re walking single-file, with Reimu at point, then me behind her, then Youmu behind me, then Sakuya, and finally Alice in the far back.

?Dammit!? complains Youmu, ?Why can?t we fly? This IS Gensokyo, isn?t it? We should be floating down to the bottom!?

?Well this IS Yumei?s Gensokyo,? I say with a slight shrug, ?She had control over this place, and if someone? say? us, were to invade, I?d disable the ability to fly too. It makes it harder for intruders to get around.?

?Dammit?? says Youmu, still bitching about our predicament.

?So flying is out of the question,? says Reimu, ?That?s inconvenient, but what about healing??

?Already covered,? says Sakuya, ?I gave myself a small cut about a half-hour ago to test it, and my marred skin is now completely mended, so we still have that benefit.?

?You cut yourself?? asks Alice, who quickly goes back to her somewhat indifferent demeanor, ?Well, whatever works for you??

?And spellcards?? asks Reimu.

?I?d imagine we can,? says Alice, ?Think about it. What could benefit Yumei? Of course, the healing and spellcard creation, but flying? She has Yukari?s powers and can go anywhere she wants in a way far more efficient than flight, thus she can disable flight with little personal impact to herself.?

I nod in agreement, ?Eh, makes sense.?

A few more minutes pass as we make our way down, the bottom still not seeming to get any closer.

Youmu says, ?I hope Yuyuko-sama will be okay with those three??

?I told you before, she?ll be fine!? I try to assure Youmu again.

Alice picks up by stating the facts, ?As a ghost, her susceptibility to death is even lower than Mokou?s? in fact, death doesn?t even apply, as she already IS dead. It?s like she told you, Youmu, she simply had you as a servant, not as a protector. She doesn?t need one.?

Youmu glances at Alice out the corner of her eye, ?Was that supposed to make me feel better??

?Well, I tried,? says Alice, dismissing the issue.

Reimu cuts to the point, ?Bottom line, your mistress will be fine? I think. What, Youmu? Do you not like being with us?? She said it in a teasing manner.

?It?s not that,? says Youmu, ?It?s just that it?s my sworn duty to_?

?Be by your mistress? side, right? Wow, your life?s a total bore!? A voice cuts in, interrupting Youmu.

?Who?s there?? yells Sakuya.

It came from a ledge above us, which we had already traveled on. It?s an awkward view, due to our limited space, but we can see a little of who just spoke: A blue-haired girl with dark red eyes, wearing a pink blouse, a long blue skirt, and a small black hat with a peach-like ornament on it. She isn?t anyone I recognize, though?

However, Reimu seems to know her, and not in a good way by her tone of voice, ?It?s you! Tenshi!? Alice, Youmu, and Sakuya also seem to recognize her, based on their facial expressions. Now I remember, Tenshi was that heavenly being that trashed Reimu?s shrine during the Mountain of Faith incident. However, I was knocked out for most of that time, so I never met her face to face. I only know what I do about her, based on what my friends told me, but I hear that, despite supposedly representing all that is good, she LOVES fighting, and thus, would help out with any cause, as long as she gets her much-wanted adrenaline. All in all, she?s a bitch.

?What are YOU doing here?? demands Youmu.

Tenshi answers, ?Oh, I just noticed that Gensokyo had come back after a long absence, so I wanted to take a look. I met with the one what was at the middle of it all, Miss Yumei, and she said I would get some action if any on you came along, so I went and found you, and I am SO bored right now!?

Reimu says, ?Dammit! I should have known if you showed up!?

Apparently, Tenshi is aware of our mobility disadvantage, as she points it out, ?Well, it doesn?t seem you can move much, but I know you?ve been in tight places before, so I doubt you?ll disappoint. That said, let?s get ready to rumble, shall we?? She jumps down from her perch. In midair, two angel-like wings sprout from her back, and she hovers in front of us, over the abyss below. In her hand, a straight-bladed sword, with a rainbow-colored blade, appears. She takes some practice swings? or what I THINK are practice swings, as with each swing, a fissure opens up along the mountain or ground, following the blade?s path, ?Attack me.?

Well, if it?s a fight she wants, then it?s time to kick some ass! ?You asked for it!? I draw a spellcard, ?Love Sign!? Energy flows into me as I aim my hand in her direction, ?Master Spark!? I fire my big beam. However, Tenshi doesn?t even make an effort to dodge! The beam slams into her, forcing her back by several feet before my spell ends. She flies back toward us.

Reimu follows up, ?Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!?

Reimu sends several balls of holy energy toward, Tenshi, but this time, she barrel rolls around the attack and stops right in front of us, ?Ah, I needed that! After 14 months of sitting around in?? Tenshi shutters ?? Heaven, I needed a good reminder of what it REALLY means to be alive! Well then, enough fooling!?

?We haven?t the time to deal with you!? Sakuya tosses a few knives at Tenshi, who swats them to the side with her sword. However, a few more appear in front of her, no doubt due to Sakuya?s time manipulation, and sink in when her guard is down.

?UGGH! Not bad??

?My turn!? Alice summons two dolls, which appear in front of her, which fire a barrage of colorful magical blasts. I back them up with my own attack, by extending my arm in the celestial?s direction and firing off some green shots of magic. However, she recovers in just enough time to dodge and ascends over our attacks. However, Reimu intercepts her by throwing a handful of needles, which sink in the same area Sakuya?s knives hit, intensifying the bleeding quite a bit.

Youmu draws a spellcard, ?Human Sign!? Energy flows into her as she unsheathes her larger sword, the Roukanken, ?Slash of Present!? She disappears from sight for a second, and around the same time, Tenshi staggers back from a large scar that just appeared across her chest and split-second later, Youmu reappears in her original location. As Tenshi recovers, I draw a spellcard, Reimu has a bunch of needles in one hand and ofuda in the other, Youmu has both of her swords drawn, Sakuya has a bunch of knives ready, and a few dolls materialize around Alice.

Tenshi, clutching the wound she received from Youmu, looks at us with one eye tightly shut, ?Damn? looks like I?m at quite a disadvantage??

?Just get out of here!? yells Reimu, ?What fun is there in this??

?How could you ask that?? asks Tenshi.

?Do you know what Yumei had done?? says Reimu, ?She destroyed our homeworld, and replaced it with the place we are now! In doing so, she rendered hundred of millions of people inexistent! How can you, a celestial, help someone like that??

Tenshi shrugs, ?Eh, it happens. If you ask me, I don?t really care. It?s moments like this where I get my thrills. I don?t care about Yumei or what she did. All I want is my fun. I?m in this for myself and no one else.?

?Looks like you won?t listen to reason no matter what?? mutters Reimu.

?Reason is boring,? says Tenshi, ?If you want me to take ANYTHING seriously, force is the only voice I wanna hear!?

?Fine by me,? I respond.

Sakuya follows up my words, ?Tenshi, do you honestly believe you have a chance. Yes, we certainly are at a mobility disadvantage, but that doesn?t change the fact that this battle has the five of us against just you, and you obviously aren?t powerful enough to deal with that. If you value your life, and from what I gathered from what I heard about your battle with Youmu during the Mountain of Faith incident, you do, you would admit your defeat and leave us alone.? Yeah, back then, Youmu fought a one-on-one battle against Tenshi, which my half-human friend barely winning. As much as that celestial bitch likes to fight, I heard that when she was seriously threatened with death, she, rather pathetically, broke down (or so I?ve heard). It?s kind of funny when I think about it?

Tenshi takes the ex-maid?s words to heart, ?Yes, I can?t argue with you about that? I don?t stand a chance against these odds? SO LET?S EVEN IT, SHALL WE?? Tenshi swings her sword in Alice and Sakuya?s general direction. The ground Alice is standing on starts to crumble away.

?AHH! Help!? Alice cries out as she falls with her arm outstretched upward.

?Alice!? Shit! I can?t maneuver around Youmu in enough time to save her. Youmu also tries to make an effort, but Sakuya manages to dive and grab Alice?s arm just in time, just her legs still hanging on the ledge.

?Hold on!? Youmu sheathes her swords and proceeds to help Sakuya and Alice back up.

?Ah-ah-ah~? heckles Tenshi as she swings her blade, causing a vibration, which throws off the footing of me, Reimu, and Youmu.

However, it causes Sakuya to lose her grasp on the ledge, ?Damn!? Both she and Alice start to plummet.

?ALICE!? I cry out. ?Dammit!?

?SAKUYA!? yells Reimu.

?Time for a picturesque finish!? Tenshi raises her sword. At that moment, a bunch of rocks protrude out of the mountainside below where Alice and Sakuya are about to fall. The rocks shift to form spikes pointing upward.

?Dammit!? I curse as I try to think of a plan to save them in the very few seconds I have.

However, just above the spikes, a gap appears, not unlike what Yukari is capable of, only this gap is pitch-black instead of purple. The gap swallows Alice and Sakuya, and then disappears. Okay? what the hell was THAT? ? And more importantly, what happened to Alice and Sakuya?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 02:59:39 PM
While Reimu and Youmu are no doubt wondering the same thing, Tenshi says, ?Oooookay? that was a little weird?? (She doesn?t know either?) ?? but still, there are now just three of you. That went better than I had hoped!?

Dammit all! There will be plenty of time to come up with ideas of what happened to Alice and Sakuya, but for now, we have that bitch, Tenshi, to deal with!

Tenshi fires a red laser from her sword at Reimu who evades to the side, then tosses an ofuda back at the celestial, who cuts through it with her sword.

Soon the battle escalates into a crossfire sequence with lasers, blasts of holy energy, magical energy, spirit energy, needles, and ofuda flying back and forth between us. Reimu, Youmu, and I make our best efforts to dodge Tenshi?s attacks, but from where we are, it?s easy to lose our balance, which the celestial likes to use to her advantage. After a few minutes, which really felt longer, Tenshi lets up on her assault, breathing fast and heavily, ?You?re? pretty good??

?We can still hold up quite a bit longer, Tenshi!? declares Youmu, ?Give up! You?ve lost!?

However, through her pained expression, Tenshi?s lips curl into a smirk, ?I?ve lost?? Don?t get any wrong ideas??

?What?? says Youmu.

Tenshi says confidently, yet still between deep breathes, ?My power? is the ability? to control the land? I can do whatever I want? with the very ground you stand on? I could finish you at any time??

Reimu grits her teeth, ?Tch??

?Hahaha? it?s a win-win situation for me? I just wanted my entertainment? now? TO END THIS!? Tenshi swings her sword one more time, causing our entire perch to crumble, causing us to fall. Crap!

?Let?s see? if something will save YOU!? Tenshi again summons a bunch a jagged rocks, this time on OUR falling course. However, all three of us have an effective means of dealing with it, as we all draw a spellcard.

Youmu declares, ?Edge Sign: Rolling Slash!? Red energy flows into the Roukanken. She swings it downward at the spikes, releasing a blade of spirit energy, which cuts through the spikes.

At the same time, Reimu declares, ?Dream Sign: Evil Sealing Circle!? Her entire body glows and releases a small pillar of white holy energy, which completely obliterates the spikes under her.

As for me, I declare, ?Love Sign: Master Spark!? and use my good old spell to blast myself out of harm?s way?

? However, right below the spikes, there is still a fissure, and we can?t fly, so? yeah, we?re still pretty screwed. We fall into the big crack in the ground, with a bunch of chunks of the mountainside falling behind us, which Tenshi probably decided to add for good measure. One big rock catches up with us, but Youmu slashes it to pieces.

Dammit, there?s no point! Even if we can avoid getting crushed, the fall will still kill us! ?Shit! Dammit! We?re done for, since we can?t fly!? I wanted to know what happened to Alice and Sakuya, but something tells me they?re in a better situation than us! I sure wanted to know what happened to them?

Youmu also starts to despair, ?Yuyuko-sama??

The fall continues deeper and deeper into the earth, and that feeling of vertigo becomes worse and worse.

Suddenly, however, Reimu lets out a surprised ?WHAT??

I ask, ?What is it, Reim_? Before I can complete my sentence, a simple look in her direction answered my question. Reimu is falling SLOWER than Youmu and I.

Reimu yells, ?Marisa! Youmu! We can fly! I don?t know why, but the magic to do that is here!?

Youmu starts to also fall slowly, ?You?re right!?

I position my broom under me and do the same, ?Well shit, that?s a relief? now let?s get the hell outta here,? I say as I prepare a spellcard, ?Light Blast: Shoot the Moon!? A magic circle appears above us and below the falling rocks and fires up a large beam of magic energy, destroying the rocks? but not all, or enough, of them, as more rocks fall to take their place.

?Shit!? I yell, ?No good!?

Reimu says, ?I?ll help! We can do this!?

?Yeah?? I respond, noticing that it?s becoming increasingly hot.

?Look! Below!? calls out Youmu, looking down. Below us, at the bottom of the earthly shaft we had been falling through, there is a large sea of magma (I guess one mountain, among the range, was a volcano). We each summon a shield of our respective energies, which protects us from the heat, but not enough to stop our uncontrollable sweating. We hover over the lava, getting out of the way of the rocks, which crash and pile up on a small island.

?Damn! It?s too hot!? bitches Youmu? though I agree.

?Yeah? we need to get out of here. FAST!?

Reimu, being amazingly useful during these last few minutes, notices something, ?That island! There!? Sure enough, on another small island, there is a large magic circle. By now, we know that things like that are not JUST there, so we decide to examine it. After all, this is a weird place to find one, and if there is something like that around, there must be another presence responsible for it. Despite our reluctance to get any closer to the magma, we drop into the magic circle.

?Hot?? Youmu continues to whine.

?Well, this is weird,? I say.

?I wonder why this is here?? says Reimu.

However, before Youmu or I can respond, silver pillars of light form around us. Before another word can be said, Reimu vanishes, then Youmu, and finally_

==

As Reimu, Marisa, and Youmu disappear, unbeknownst to them, they were being watched through a small gap in the boundary. On the other end of the gap, reclined in a large armchair, Yukarumei says, ?An aspect of the dream you have not yet encountered. This will prove pretty damn entertaining!?


Reimu appears in another magic circle, in the middle of a room appearing to be part of a large cave. She notices that during the warp, she had been separated from Marisa and Youmu. The room is hot, though not nearly as hot as the sea of magma. ?Where am I?? As Reimu inquires herself about her whereabouts, several fairy youkai appear and surround her. ?Damn? looks like I?m not alone here??

?Welcome, nya!? a voice comes from the shadows in the back of the room.

?Who?s there? Wait?? Reimu recognizes the mannerism the voice just used, ?You?re? Chen? No, wait?? While she recalls the mannerism belonging to the nekomata, Chen Yakumo, the shikigami of Yukari?s shikigami, Ran Yakumo, the voice using it is distinctly different.

??Chen?? Don?t know who that is, nya. I was ordered by Miss Satori to entertain you, nya? so I will!?

Reimu rolls her eyes, ?Please don?t use the word, ?entertain.? I think I?ve heard enough of that concept in one hour??


Youmu finds herself warped into a large purple corridor, lined with stain glass windows. ?What is this place??

?Hello,? A low female voice greets, accompanied by the sounds of approaching footsteps.

Youmu draws the Roukanken in the direction of the voice, ?Who?s there? Answer me! Where are Reimu and Marisa??

?Oh, my? ?pets? are dealing with them?? The owner of the voice walks out of the shadows and into plain sight: A girl with short violet hair, wearing a blue shirt and pink skirt, with a few golden heart-shaped ornaments all around.

?Hello, Youmu Mari Konpaku, gardener, servant, and? self-proclaimed protector of Netherworld Hakugyokurou?s appointed sovereign, ?Princess? Yuyuko Saigyouji, referred to by you as ?Yuyuko-sama,? formerly known in life as Yuko Saigyou, only human friend of one Yukari Yakumo? who is recently deceased. That?s too bad. Daughter and student of Youki Konpaku, whom you recently found out was appointed as a Lunarian, and? well, this is interesting, you don?t know who your mother is. Skilled in the art of the sword, half of your teachings being from your father, and the other half being self-taught. Physical age: 15, mental age: ? either 8 or 20, depending on the situation, chronological age: 39? how embarrassing. Your coworkers go by the names, Lunasa, Merlin, and Lyrica Prismriver, as well as one Mima, who recently joined. The ones you consider to be your best friends, as well as companions, go by the names Marisa Kirisame, Sakuya Izayoi, and Alice Margatroid, oh? and it looks like little Youmu is growing up: The one you have romantic feelings for goes by the name_?

?DAMMIT! SHUT UP!? snaps the freaked out Youmu, who takes a few second to catch her breath, ?How? do you know all that? I never met you!?

The girl smiles at Youmu like she?s looking at a plaything, ?If you find that to be a bother to you, I wonder how you will react when I delve deeper into your heart. There are things you have kept hidden inside yourself from the world? and I, Satori Komeiji, am going to bare it all.?

?Stay away!? yells Youmu, threatening Satori with her sword.

Satori, however, keeps approaching Youmu, ?If you plan to attack me, go ahead.?

?RRaaaarrrgggghhhh!? Youmu charges at Satori, who keeps walking with a relaxed composure. Youmu draws the Hakurouken and swings it at the mysterious girl, who tilts her head back, dodging the slash by mere millimeters. Youmu follows up by swinging the Roukanken downward, putting all her weight into the attack. Satori, however, rotates her body to the side, causing the gardener to stumble forward.

?You are powerful, Youmu, yet your skills remain unrefined. I see you never completed your training before your father left for the moon.?

?Damn you!? snarls Youmu, ?Don?t talk to me like you know me!?

Satori chuckles, ?Youmu dear, I know you better than you know yourself.?

?Shut up!? Youmu sheathes the Hakurouken and draws a spellcard, ?Human Sign_?

??Slash of Present,?? Satori cuts off Youmu?s words, ?Your favorite spell, much like how Master Spark is Marisa?s spell of choice.? The mysterious girl explains the nature of Youmu?s attack as if she were reading a paragraph from a textbook, ?The energy of the spell manipulates your body?s spirit energy, allowing you to move at an extreme speed, beyond your normal capability, over a short distance. At the same time, within that tenth of a second, the manipulated spirit energy moves into and manipulates your arms, allowing you to accurately slash, as under normal circumstances, your mind cannot react that quickly. Its overall energy expenditure is roughly 8% to 12% of your overall 100%. Almost 18% at its best: an effective and energy-efficient spell. You have good taste.?

Youmu drops her offensive posture in surprise, ?No??

?I know more,? says Satori, ?Shall I explain the nature of its more-powerful cousin: ?Slash of Eternity?? or its refined counterpart: ?Angel Dance?. Or how about a different spell altogether, like the land-splitting ?Delusion of Enlightenment? or ?Karmic Punishment of the Idle and Unfocused,? which makes good use of your ghost-half?s doppelganger ability.?

Youmu drops to her knees in mental defeat, ?No? What? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU? HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ME??

Satori smirks, ?I don?t need to know you to ?know? you. Like I said before, I will reveal all that is hidden within your heart. You are a very interesting? and very naughty girl, Miss Konpaku. I wonder if you can handle the truth??

==

I find myself appearing inside a magic circle in another location. I look around and realize that I?m alone. Reimu and Youmu disappeared ?? Damn it??

I examine my surroundings: A corridor made up entirely of metal. It?s hot, but going from that magma pool to this is like going from the flying pan to the freezer? if you?ll pardon the clich? and slight exaggeration.

I stand in the magic circle for a few seconds, but nothing?s happening. Looks like it was a one way trip.

I walk through the corridor, which has only one direction. It isn?t long until I reach a door with a VERY uninviting insignia on it: A circle made up of six triangles, three yellow and three black. I know what it represents, and it?s usually NOT a good thing. Still, I never thought Gensokyo had something like this? or maybe this place is ruins of a power plant or WMD facility?

Still, the magic circle I arrived through is not doing anything, and there is no other way.

?This is such a mistake?? I mutter to myself as I press a panel next to the door, which responds by sliding open. I hesitantly step inside?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:00:34 PM
On the other side of the mountain range, in the ruins of a city, the group consisting of Reisen, Cirno, Mokou, and Yuyuko, were soon ambushed by waves of fairies not long after landing. Fighting through the seemingly endless swarm, they made it into the city, on the streets below the highway area, trying to find cover among the ruins.

Reisen glares straight at a small group of fairies, and fires two beams of psycho energy out of her eyes, destroying all but one. She draws her handgun and takes out the last with a bullet. All the fairies burst and vanish upon being destroyed.

Three more fairies appear right ahead of them. Cirno extends her hand toward them yelling, ?Go away! Leave us alone, dammit!? She fires three freezing beams, which pierce through the youkai, causing them to turn to ice, fall to the ground, and shatter.

Another fairy attempts to tackle Reisen from behind, but Mokou notices it, twirls quickly around to face it, her hair swishing around her, and tears through it with a flaming punch, ?You might as well just kill yourself, ya damn fairy, and save us both the effort!?

However, the small amount of fairies they had just destroyed were only a vanguard for a much larger group, which surrounds them.

Mokou puts her hands into her pockets and glances around calmly at the surrounding swarm, ?Well, shit.?

?More of them?? complains Cirno.

Reisen looks at the swarm frantically, ?Shoot! If we take too long with them, that will buy them time for reinforcements to appear??

Yuyuko, not even bothering to observe the situation, says, as she pulls a spellcard from out of her kimono, ?Oh? Is that all?? She raises the card and declares, ?Death Sign: Ghastly Dream!? From all around the four of them, butterflies, made up of spirit energy, materialize, quickly outnumbering the fairies, and fly out, cutting through them with their blade-like wings. Almost all at the same time, the fairies burst.

Mokou lets out an impressed whistle, ?Da-amn! Glad you?re on our side, ghost girl.?

Reisen looks around. Her eyes are glowing as they are in a state of infrared vision, as she looks for heat signatures from fairies. Finally, her eyes return to normal, ?I didn?t see anyone else. It looks like we got everyone??

?? For now,? says Mokou, completing Reisen?s statement.

?For now,? confirms Yuyuko, ?We mustn?t lower our guard. With all the fairies we?ve had to fight through, there are bound to be more before too terribly long.?

?Dammit!? whines Cirno, ?I?m hungry and tired and I need to go pee! No more fairies! I hate fairies!?

?I won?t even point out the irony in what fairy girl just said,? remarks Mokou.

Reisen says, ?Well, regardless, what Cirno said probably holds true for all of us. I?m hungry and I could use some rest. How about you, Mokou??

With a lighthearted laugh, Mokou says, ?Aw, what do you take me for, bunny girl? You haven?t seen a tenth of what I can do!? However, Mokou?s bravado is undermined by her stomach growling, ?Er? heh??

?I want food too,? says Yuyuko, ?Let?s find a place to eat.?

?Do you even NEED food?? asks Cirno.

?? In a manner of speaking??

?Anyway,? begins Reisen, ?we should find a place where we can hide out and eat. Let?s get going.?

?You make it sound like it is no daunting task,? says Yuyuko, ?but are you sure we can find nourishment among these ruins??

?Of course!? answers Reisen, ?Don?t forget, these ?ruins? came to be only a few days ago! That and it IS a city. There are more places with ?rations? than we can count! Houses, restaurants, anything!?

Cirno?s face lights up, ?Ah! Reisen is so smart!?

Reisen rolls her eyes, ?Not really. It?s just basic knowledge??

Having eliminated their opposition for the time being, they focus on finding a place for nourishment and rest. As good fortune would have it, they find the remains of a supermarket within a half-hour of searching. Even though the exterior is as drab and broken as the rest of the city, the only thing unsightly about the interior are that the power, and thus, the lighting, is out, with the only way to see are the chunks of the ceiling that had collapsed into it, in turn allowing the sunlight to shine in.

Upon seeing the hundreds of packaged foods before her, Yuyuko?s expression becomes cheery in a childish way, ?Ahh! So much food! I?ve never seen so much in one place! Reimu?s world is so amazing!?

?Well, treat yourself to whatever you want,? offers Reisen, who glances at the unoccupied cash register terminals, ?I?m sure it?s all the same to whoever owns this place??

?Yay!? Yuyuko runs deeper into the store, like a child who had gone to the fair for the first time.

Mokou studies the store attentively, ?What to eat???

Reisen says, based on assumption, ?There is no power here, so there is no cooling? I guess frozen foods, produce, and all that are out of the question??

?Whatever,? says Mokou, ?There is meat here, right? I can heat one up??

Around the market, Yuyuko eats a wide variety of foods, Cirno freezes, and then treats herself to the frozen inventory, and finally, Mokou heats a steak, which she and Reisen share.

As Reisen eats her portion of the steak, she says to Mokou, who is sitting right next to her, their backs leaning against the wall, ?You?re being surprisingly generous, Mokou??

Mokou takes a bite out of her portion and says, ?Yeah? What of it??

?I?m only saying. Normally, I?d expect you to keep the whole steak to yourself, and not share it with anyone, especially not some follower of ?that bitch Kaguya,? as you put it.?

?Don?t overanalyze,? advises Mokou, ?I can?t do this alone, and arguing with all of you is a pain in the ass that I can avoid, so I can do you favors every now and then??

?It?s strange to hear that from a loner??

?I know something of working as a team, y?know. I?d just rather? not.?

?Are you sure?? asks Reisen, ?If I remember correctly, you were watching my back, back there. Could it be that you?re? fond of us??

?Hell no!? protests Mokou, ?I? um? It was a fairy, and we had to kill fairies, right? It was just another to take care of??

?Hmhmhm?? chuckles Reisen, noticing the unconvincing tone of Mokou?s voice.

Mokou is aware that Reisen hadn?t bought in, so she decides to come clean, ?Okay, you win, dammit! I?ve known you for so long. How about that? I have no quarrels with you, like I do with Kaguya, and I know you won?t live forever, so you should live as long as you can??

Reisen blinks, ?What??

Mokou wildly chomps a few bites out of her steak, and states, ?I used to be mortal, y?know. I remember what it was like. My life was the most precious thing I had, and I did all I could to hang onto it. Sure, I drank the elixir, and my life? is not worth so much anymore, but people like you still treasure it, right??

?Um? right.?

?Then live, alright? When you die, you won?t get any more chances like me. Do your best to make the most of it. Don?t?? Mokou freezes, ?Don?t make the mistake I made??

?Do you regret it?? asks Reisen.

?That won?t change shit. I just accept it and live accordingly. An eternal life of angst? I might as well be in Hell if that were the case??

?Mokou??

Mokou tries to smile to the best of her ability, ?Don?t look at me like that!? Her expression turns solemn again and she leans back further, her body sliding away from the wall, ?Still? If I could change things, I would. That elixir should have burned. I was just so focused on getting revenge on Princess that I hadn?t given a thought to the future?? Mokou lets out a depressed laugh, ?Haha? ha? I?m such a fool??

Reisen tries to find the right words to console Mokou, ?Mokou? I?m sorry? you??

?Not another word, bunny girl. It?s just the way things are. Besides, there are ways to die that not even immortality can override. Hell, Princess and I had that chance inside miko girl?s head. Thanks for ruining that, by the way.?

??? Reisen pouts.

?Oh well, it may be another few thousand years, but time will tell, and time is all I have now. At least I can ?share? it with another unfortunate victim of the hourai elixir??

Reisen raises her ears, ?Mokou??

?Well, let?s find Princess and doctor girl, Leader.?

Reisen?s eyes widen, ??L-LEADER???

?Who else can play that role? I won?t, I have my doubts about ghost girl, and fairy girl sure as hell can?t call the shots. I?d say you?re the most dependable to keep us together.?

?You?re joking??

?I totally am.?
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:02:23 PM
Elsewhere, across boundaries, a large wooden ship skims across a seemingly endless body of water toward its destination: A place with tall buildings and roads decorated with occasional cherry blossom trees, with many people wandering about. Overall, a place much like a city. Many white wisps fly around the ship until it docks at the city?s harbor.

Standing at the ship?s bow, a girl with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark clothes, holding a scythe, announces, ?We have arrived!?

The wisps fly away from the ship and approach the ground, each assuming a humanoid appearance in the process. Finally, one of those wisps assumes the form of Yukari Yakumo, who now has the characteristics of a ghost, namely small spiritual wisps circling around her body.

Yukari lets out a sigh, ?That was a long trip? Still, it was a? unique experience and that shinigami was so diligent? unlike a certain other I know?? Yukari looks at the city, still mumbling her thoughts, ?So this is THEIR Netherworld? but something is odd. I?m sure I was here years ago, but there were no large buildings. I remember it looking almost exactly like Hakugyokurou?? Suddenly, something catches Yukari?s attention: A large banner hanging from the roof of one of the buildings. On it, there is an insignia she finds vaguely familiar: A circle with part of it as a golden crescent, and the rest black. She remembers seeing the same thing as a pin on Reisen?s jacket, ?I wonder??

Yukari walks further forward. She gets an idea she can?t believe she hadn?t thought of seconds earlier, ?My powers! Let?s see?? Yukari opens a gap in front of her, its destination set for Yumei?s Gensokyo. Yukari proceeds to enter the portal, but an invisible force repels her from entering. Yukari lets out a depressed moan, ?As I feared? As a ghost I?m bound to the Netherworld. I can?t leave, even if I had a means to. Yuko and Mima both received special permission from Sikieiki, which is why?? She closes the gap and performs another experiment by opening a gap, the exit of which, is another gap to her left. She sticks her arm into it, and it emerges from the other. ?It looks like I still have control within this boundary. That?s good?? Yukari suddenly gets an idea, ?Wait! If I can only be within the Netherworld, then? Fufufu~?

CRACK! As Yukari is about to open another gap, however, her focus is sharply diverted by the loud noise of a whip cracking. Yukari and all the other ghosts that had arrived stop in their tracks. In front of them, a young-looking girl with long red hair tied by a yellow bow, wearing a purple kimono, and holding a leather whip, approaches. At her back and sides, there is a large group of girls in blue uniforms, each with rabbit ears extending from their heads and red eyes, much like Reisen. None of them have ghostly characteristics. Also among the group, there is a black-haired girl with a timid expression, dressed exactly like Sikieiki Yamaxanadu. Yukari and all the other ghosts focus their attention on the girl.

The girl announces, ?Welcome to the afterlife, everyone!?

??? There is absolute silence among the crowd.

The girl pouts, but continues to speak, ?My name is Kotohime. I am the fourth princess of the Lunarian Empire. For the ignorant masses that don?t know us, all you need to know is that we are the future sovereigns of all creation??

Yukari mutters, puzzled, ?The Lunarians control a Netherworld? How is that possible??

Kotohime continues to speak, ?While you are here, there is one thing you must be perfectly aware of: I am your god. To cross me means to have your soul sent straight to Hell?? She glances back at the black-haired girl, ?Isn?t that right? Yama??

The girl, thoroughly intimidated, struggled to speak, ?Um? you? you see??

?Spineless fool,? mumbles Yukari.

Kotohime cracks her whip, ?TALK!?

?Ye-yes? Um? Please do as Princess Kotohime says? please??

?Hmph?? Kotohime?s expression turns to a satisfied smirk.

Kotohime focuses on the ghosts again, ?Pay close attention. While I am present in this place, a resort designed by yours truly, you are expected to work. Yes, as of today, you can consider yourselves my slav? er? ?loyal vassels!??

A lot of commotion arises among the crowd. ?What a bitch,? says one of the ghosts.

Kotohime lashes her whip wildly, ?Who said that? I heard someone call me the B-word! I HATE being called the B-word! Talk! I will see to it that all of you get sent to Hell if one of you doesn?t own up!?

??? The Yama looks at the ghosts worriedly.

A lot of the ghosts look at the one who said it, shortly forming a path for Kotohime and her bodyguards to walk through. She stops and looks at the ghost condescendingly, ?Was it you??

The ghost, now shaking, says, ?Y-yes??

?You shall be disciplined!? Kotohime prepares to strike the ghost with her whip.

Yukari thinks, So this is my afterlife, huh? Being bullied and enslaved by an outside force? Well, not if I have anything to say about it. Yes, time to teach that spoiled twit a lesson! Yukari enters a gap, and then emerges from another in the whip?s path. Yukari holds out her parasol in front of her, and the whip twirls around it.

?HEY! Where did you come from?? demands Kotohime.

??? Without a word, Yukari pulls her parasol back, yanking the whip out of the Lunarian princess? grip, then slings it off her makeshift weapon. Yukari opens another gap, enters it, and emerges a few feet in front of her original position, right in front of Kotohime. Yukari swings her parasol down hard over the princess? head, causing her to fall to the ground. Thunderous cheer comes from among the ghosts.

Yukari says coldly, ?I believe a new Netherworld order is needed.?

?Eep!? Kotohime sits up, and then crawls backward away from Yukari, saying to her bodyguards, ?What are all of you standing there for? Attack her!?

?Yes, your highness,? respond the moon rabbits in unison as the reach for their handguns. However, Yukari is faster on the draw, and she sends orbs of energy slamming into each of the rabbits, knocking them to the ground, all of them unconscious.

Kotohime grits her teeth, ?You monster! We?re not done! Special forces! Protect me!?

Suddenly, out of the shadows of the tall buildings, a few black blurs fly out and stop in front of Kotohime, revealing six figures in black jumpsuits, with dark red scarves wrapped around the lower parts of their faces. However, each has rabbit ears and red eyes, making them identifiable as moon rabbits. Each has a short sword sheathed at the hip opposite of their dominant arms, and small blades tucked under their belts.

?Tch?? Yukari prepares for more action.

One of the rabbits bolts forward, quick-drawing her sword at Yukari, who leaps back, narrowly avoiding the blade. However, another rabbit follows up her partner, thrusting her sword forward, impaling Yukari through her gut.

?Huh?? However, Yukari doesn?t feel any pain from the strike, but does feel an acute decrease in her ghostly body?s spirit energy, though the coming fatigue might as well be pain, though not enough to render her incapacitated. There is no blood emerging from her wound, but rather, white smoke. Yukari extends her hand in front of the rabbit?s face and releases a powerful burst of energy, knocking her out. The remaining five rabbits draw their swords.

Kotohime rises her to feet, ?Not bad, monster, but you were just lucky!?

?How original,? says Yukari, drawing a spellcard, ?Boundary Field: Mesh of Light and Darkness!? Portals open up around Yukari and they begin to fire volleys of lasers. However, Kotohime?s protectors disperse quickly to avoid the attack. Fortunately for Yukari, however, Kotohime lacks such agility, and the lasers home in on her.

Kotohime, her hands in front of her in futile defense, screams, ?You idiots! Protect me!?

?Damn! Protect Princess Kotohime!? orders one of the rabbits. Two of the dark rabbits, their arms spread, appear in front of Kotohime as a living shield.

?Hmph!? Yukari smirks as she sees her plan work. The rabbits get bombarded by Yukari?s lasers. Yukari?s attack ends and the rabbits drop to the ground, unconscious.

?Grr? Useless fools!? growls Kotohime.

?Hah? hah?? pants Yukari, beginning to tire, ?I still? need to get accustomed? to this body? Heh? So this is what it?s like to be Yuko??

The remaining three rabbits surround Yukari. ?She is wearing down! Now is the time to finish her!? announces one of the rabbits. They run circles around her in unison, their speed rapidly increasing to the point Yukari, nor Kotohime, nor the ghosts can follow their movements.

While Yukari has little power left, mostly due to the sword strike before, she doesn?t need to use much of her power at all under the current circumstances. The rabbits pause a second before they perform their intended action of narrowing in on Yukari, skewering her from different directions. However, Yukari open a gap below her and drops in, causing the rabbits to accidentally skewer each other. The ghosts cheer and whistle for Yukari. The Yama lets out a relieved sigh.

Yukari emerges from a gap in front of Kotohime, ?Do you have anymore minions??

Kotohime futilely tries to hide her fear, ?Grr? C-curse you, monster!?

?I?m not monster, I?m Yukari Yakumo, a ?ghost,? just like everyone else here. Now, you Lunarian have no right to be here. If you hold your life dearly enough, you and your alien friends will return to the moon.?

Kotohime slowly walks backward as Yukari advances on her, ?How dare you? I?m Princess Kotohime! Empress Lunariya?s fourth daughter! You?re nothing but garbage! What gives you the right to tell ME what to do??

Yukari smugly replies, ?Because in ?Yukariland,? your title is meaningless.?

Kotohime loses her royal composure and yells, ?How dare you! You're nothing but a stupid insect compared to me! What the hell are you??

Yukari smiles with satisfaction, enjoying the moment, ?So you show your true colors.?

As Yukari advances on Kotohime, however, she fails to notice one of Kotohime?s bodyguards regain consciousness. She gets up and charges toward Yukari?s back.

?Look out!? yells one of the ghosts.

?Huh?? It?s too late. The bodyguard pulls a taser out of her uniform?s front pocket, activates it, and presses it against the back of Yukari?s head.

?UG-H-H-H-H!? Yukari?s spirit energy rapidly drops, due to the strong electric jolt, to the point where she can no longer stand. She slumps to the ground, and then lays on her front, unable to move.

??? Kotohime walks toward the ghosts, who are now stunned into silence, picks her whip off the ground, walks back to Yukari, and then lashes her back repeatedly. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

?Ughhh!? groans the boundary ghost.

The lashing continues for a half-minute. Kotohime walks over to the Yama, her temper still uncontrolled, ?You! Send her to Hell! Immediately!?

Despite her limited courage, the Yama explains, ?That?s impossible to do right away, princess.?

?WHAT??

?Um? there are? certain? proceedings, you see. Her sins must be looked at, and? well? It can take up to a month??

?RAAGGGHHH!? Kotohime slaps the Yama so hard, she falls to the ground, ?You?re useless! I?ll come up with an appropriate?? Suddenly, Kotohime?s lips curl into a smirk, ?Wait? Hmhmhm?? She kneels in front of Yukari and lifts her head up by her hair, ?I have a use for you~ That is a? rather interesting power you possess??

?Wh?? Yukari is barely capable of speech in her current condition.

Kotohime slams Yukari?s head against the ground, stands, and turns toward her bodyguard, ?You! Take her in for some? ?conditioning.? Afterward, throw her in the dungeon, along with that Yama who was foolish enough to lecture me and her stupid shinigami friend.?

?Understood,? responds the bodyguard obediently.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:03:05 PM
In the underground cavern, the girl, still unseen by Reimu, taunts, ?You are outnumbered, nya. Just give up, nya!?

Reimu shakes her head and sighs, ?That?s an amazingly simpleminded boast. In fact, I?d ask the same of you?? Reimu positions her hand in her pocket casually, ?Come on! I dare you to order your fairy friends to attack!?

?Fine! Fairies, attack, nya!? The fairies start to close in on Reimu, all at the same time. At that moment, Reimu pulls a spellcard out of her pocket, declaring, ?Dream Sign: Evil Sealing Circle!? A pillar of white light surrounds the miko and expands, engulfing and destroying most of the fairies. Two, who were further back in the group, avoided getting hit by the spell, but Reimu materializes two needles between her fingers and throws them, piercing and destroying the remaining fairies.

?NYA??

?There goes the ?outnumbered,? aspect,? says Reimu, ?Care to take this matter upon yourself, ?Not-Chen???

??? The hidden girl does not answer.

Reimu smiles victoriously, ?What?s the matter? Too intimidated to talk now? In that case, I?ll take my leave. I have no intention to waste time here anyway.? Reimu walks in the direction of the passage on the other end of the large room. However, out of that passage, something zooms across the floor, leaps up toward and past Reimu. At that time, Reimu feels an acute pain in the side of her face and realizes she had just been cut.

The thing stops and stares at the miko. It is a black cat with red eyes, ?Hsssss!?

?Ugh. Damn? A cat...? But? who was talking??

?REAOW!? The cat springs toward, Reimu, who positions her gohei defensively, stopping the cat from going any further. However, the cat clings to her gohei, and bites Reimu?s hand.

?AGH!? The cat then leaps onto Reimu?s head, then straight into the air above her. Reimu recovers and looks up. In midair, the cat begins to shapeshift. It transforms into a girl with red hair tied in two braids, dark red eyes, and wearing a green dress with black highlights. As expected, she has catlike ears and a tail. Also, in her hand, she has a large object, but it?s so unexpected, Reimu can?t properly identify it in the time she currently has. The girl drops back down, swinging the large object downward. The miko leaps back, but the girl follows up her attack, swinging again, this time delivering a direct and heavy blow, which sends Reimu sailing back and slamming back-first into the room?s stone wall.

Reimu take a couple steps and finally gets back upright, ?Who? are you?? She finally identifies the weapon: It is a wheelbarrow.

The girl proudly introduces herself, ?I?m Rin, nya. Rin Kaenbyou. But you can call me Orin, nya. I serve the mistress of this underground complex, Satori Komeiji, and under the orders of the world?s absolute mistress, Yumei, she told me to take care of you, nya. Nothing personal, nya.?

?Yumei, huh? Where are Marisa and Youmu??

?Your friends, nya? Somewhere else in the complex, nya. Miss Satori and Utsuho are taking care of them.?

?I see??

?But why am I telling you, nya? This is where you will die, nya!?

Reimu?s eyes narrow, ?Somehow, I fail to find that intimidating. I will defeat you and find my friends.?

?Let?s do this, nya!? Orin turns back into a cat for the sole purpose of covering the ground between herself and Reimu quicker, transforms back, and swings her cart, which Reimu manages to block with her gohei, who then counterattacks with a kick, which sends the cat youkai staggering back.

Reimu uses a spellcard, ?Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!? She sends six orbs of holy energy flying toward Orin.

Orin positions her cart vertically in front of her, hiding behind it. The orbs slam into it. The force of the attack pushes the cat youkai back, but causes no harm. Orin goes out of hiding with a spellcard prepared, ?No good, nya! Atonement, nya: Needle Mountain of a Former Hell!?

?Wh?? Reimu notices a magic circle appear below her. She leaps up just as several long spikes shoot out from it. Breaking into flight, she dives toward Orin.

Orin readies another spellcard, ?Malicious Spirit, nya: Spleen Eater!? Suddenly, around Reimu, several wisps, not unlike the spirits found in the Netherworld, appear and quickly close in. Orin, with her open palm directed in Reimu?s direction, makes a fist, and all the spirits clash together and cause an explosion of spirit energy, which creates a force which sends Reimu crashing against the wall again, and falling to the ground.

?Ugh? Damn it??

?Nyahaha! NOW are you scared, nya?? Orin leaps into the air with her cart raised and sails toward the downed Reimu.

?Tch?? Reimu raises her gohei and blocks the cart. Orin tries swinging her unconventional, but effective, weapon a few more times, but the miko continues to guard, despite being at the cat youkai?s mercy. Finally, Orin rears back to deliver and extra powerful attack with her cart, intending to break Reimu?s defenses, but the miko takes the opportunity to slap an ofuda on the cat?s chest. The ofuda creates a burst of holy energy, which sends Orin staggering back, and also dropping her cart in surprise.

?Nyaaooo!?

?Take this!? Reimu draws a spellcard and attempts the spell that failed before, now that Orin had lost her defensive measure, ?Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!? The orbs slam into Orin and send her tumbling and sliding across the ground until she stops, almost at the other end of the room.

Orin gets back to her feet, though she stumbles a bit before regaining her proper footing, ?You?re? good, nya??

?You?ve lost,? says Reimu, walking toward the cat youkai.

However, Orin simply chuckles, ?Nyehehehnyahaha!?

Reimu stops, ?What?s so funny??

Orin says, ?Thank you for helping me back there, nya! Now you?ll see my real power!?

Reimu raises an eyebrow, ??Helping you?? ?Real power?? What are you talking about??

Orin responds with actions, ?Cursed Sprite, nya!?

?Huh??

?Zombie Fairy!? Suddenly, the fairies that Reimu had destroyed before reappear. They have the signs of the injuries they had received before, many of them singed by holy energy, and two penetrated by needles.

Reimu?s eyes widen, ?This is? necromancy??

Orin smirks, ?Let?s see you beat them this time, nya!?

Reimu rolls her eyes, ?They?re still fairies. No match for me.? She whirls around, tossing needles in rapid succession. However, while the needles hit home, the fairies don?t burst; they simply keep approaching her like nothing happened. The fairies retaliate by charging at the miko, who jumps out of the way, but then they turn and fire blast of energy, which Reimu blacks a couple of with her gohei, but the rest get past her defenses and bombard her.  Reimu gets forced back with her arm over her torso, ?Damn?? A couple more fairies body slam her, knocking her to the ground. However, Reimu notices something strange: Orin isn?t using one of the taunts she uses when the battle starts to flow in her favor. Reimu momentarily glances through the group of fairy zombies and notices that Orin?s eyes are closed in concentration. ?I see?? She realizes that it is the same case when Alice is controlling an abundance of dolls and she has to devote a lot of her concentration to controlling them, leaving her open.

The fairy zombies fire another volley of energy bullets, which Reimu rolls to the side of, narrowly avoiding harm. Still on the ground, she tosses a needle, which goes very low, under the fairies, and finally, pierces through the fabric of Orin?s dress and sinks into her right shin. Orin?s eyes burst open as she feels the pain, ?MEOWCH!? The fairy corpses drop to the ground like ragdolls.

Reimu springs back to her feet and dashes toward Orin. The cat youkai fights back by extending her arm toward the miko and firing a blast of spirit energy, which Reimu deflects by swinging her gohei. Orin attempts to deliver a kick, but Reimu outmaneuvers her by dodging to the side, then stunning the cat youkai by thrusting her staff into her gut, ?ACK!?

?It?s? OVER!? Reimu dashes to Orin?s front, and jumps away in a backflip, her foot connecting with the cat youkai?s jaw, launching her several feet upward. The miko finally finishes her combo with a spellcard, ?Border World: Hakurei Danmaku Bounded Field!? Several portals open around Orin, and each fire out lasers of holy energy, riddling to cat youkai. After the spell ends, Orin falls to the ground, exhausted and unconscious.

?Whew?? Reimu takes a few seconds to catch her breath, and then runs ahead.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:04:06 PM
==

I enter the door. Beyond it is a large room. It is round and goes up quite a ways, so it?s almost like being inside a large cylinder. It actually reminds me a lot of the room where I fought Kaguya during the moon incident, except the walls are white, as opposed to the light blue walls, and it stings my eyes a little. Looking at the floor, there is a small hole in the middle of it, and around it, the floor is painted black and yellow, looking like a ?nuclear? symbol. I still have a bad feeling about this. However, at the other end of the room, there is another door. I decide to make a move for it.

However, before I?m even halfway across the room, I notice a ball of orange energy shooting down at me from in front and above, I jump back, dodging it, then jump again to dodge another. I look at where they came from.

?Crap! I missed! You?re really annoying you know. You are going to die anyway, but you always pulls some fancy tricks under some lameass idea that you?ll live somehow. It?s so stupid?? I look up at the person who bitched to unreasonable lengths about targets that naturally try to avoid harm: A girl with unkempt long black hair and black eyes, wearing a white shirt with some red eye-like design on it, a short green skirt, and a green hair ribbon? but that?s not all. She also has black wings, reminding me a lot of Aya Shameimaru?s, which she wears a white cape over, and on her right arm, there is an orange? cylinder-shaped? thing? Seriously, what the hell is that thing? It looks like something a robot would have. Her right foot also seems to be encased in something gray, but who cares about that? What?s on her arm?

?Who the hell are you?? I demand.

The girl poses proudly in midair, ?My name is Utsuho Reiuji. I am in possession of ultimate power. A power which_?

?Okay, okay!? Damn, this girl is full of herself, ?Where is Reimu and Youmu??

?Utsuho? answers, ?Oh, they?re somewhere down here, dealing with beings worth less than myself. I hope you said goodbye, because you?re gonna die here! You?ll never see them again!?

?Shut the hell up. I will see them again if I have anything to say about it!?

?Do you know who you?re dealing with?? demands Utsuho, ?I have the power of nuclear fusion! There is nothing greater! That is why your life ends here! Whatever power you have can?t compare!? Well, that does sound pretty intimidating, not that I was unprepared, what with all the ?nuclear? symbols I?ve been seeing around here. Of course, I was afraid because of the effect it?s had on society in my ?other? life. Nuclear energy has proved beneficial to everyday life, but has also been the cause of countless deaths? but whatever. So has water.

I pull a spellcard out of my pocket, ?You obviously don?t know me. I?ve seen some pretty impressive powers, and the way I see it, yours is just another for me to overcome. Come and get some!?

?Yahoo! The moment I?ve been waiting for! Taste nuclear death, bitch! Hrahaha!? Utsuho points her ?arm thing? at me and begins firing blasts of fire from it. I continuously dodge to the side, ?Hold still, dammit! Die with some dignity!? How the hell is standing there and letting myself be killed dignified? She?s weird?

However, it seems like she can only fire off a few shots at a time. There is a break in her attacks, and I declare my spellcard, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I fire flurry of magical energy at Utsuho, who tires to dodge, but is too slow (good thing she isn?t as fast as Aya, despite sharing some attributes?)

?UGH!? She gets hit by the magical blasts and crashes into the far wall. She gets back to her feet pretty fast, though, ?Ow! That hurt, dammit! How dare you hit me, Utsuho, with such a cheap shot!?

I shrug, ?This is a battle and I fought back.?

?Shut up!? Utsuho takes to the air, firing her ?cannon? like crazy. I hop on my broom and take to the air as well. We circle around, exchanging blasts of nuclear fire and magical energy. I dodge everything Utsuho sent at me, but the bird youkai get hit by a couple of my attacks, ?Shit! Stop dodging! This isn?t fair!?

?It?s not my fault your aim sucks.?

?YOU BITCH! I?m the one with ultimate power, not you! I won?t lose to trash like you! RRAAAGGHHHH!? With a desperate look in her eyes, Utsuho flies straight at me. I hit her with a few magical blasts, but she only winces slightly to them. She swings at me with her ?cannon?, but I tilt back and dodge it, but the bird presses her melee assault and gets me across the face with a second strike. The impact knocks me off my broom, sailing through the air, slamming against the wall, and falling to the ground, feeling sore and my head ringing? Holy shit? She has some serious pride in her powers? She?s like Cirno, except the fairy has her head on right?

?Ugh. Dammit??

?Hahaha! You like that?? Utsuho draws a spellcard, ?Atomic Fire!? A large ball of energy starts to build at the tip of her ?cannon,? ?Nuclear Fusion!? She fires the ball at me. I rise to my feet and try to dodge to the side. However, when it hits the corner I was in, a force pulls me in momentarily, and then sends my flying as it creates a somewhat sizable dome-shaped explosion. I hit another wall, near where I dropped my broom.

Utsuho, looking proud of the fact that she messed me up a little, draws another spellcard, ?Try this! Explosion Sign!? More energy gathers at the tip of her cannon. This time, she?s trembling a little, so the next one has to be something big.

I decide to counter with a spell of my own and hope something good comes of it, ?Love Sign!?

We both fire off our spells, ?Mega Flare!?

?Master Spark!?

We both fire large beams at each other, only mine is a golden beam of magical energy and hers is an orange beam of nuclear energy. Our attacks cancel each other out, one not proving to be any more potent than the other.

Well, both of us prove our stubbornness for the next couple rounds of spells, ?Magicannon: Final Spark!?

?Explosion Sign: Giga Flare!?

We do the same thing again, only with larger beams, but the result is no different. Finally, I go for my top tier magic beam. Beat this, Utsuho, ?Magicannon: Final Master Spark!?

?Explosion Sign: Peta Flare!? One more time, our spells clash. Dammit! Utsuho has one to match my Final Master Spark? Before, when our spells proved ineffective against each other, we stopped and moved up to a higher spell, but this time, we keep going, trying to overpower the other. It looks like Utsuho is on her most powerful beam as well, otherwise she?d just upgrade again? either that, or she?s running out of stamina. I know I am?

We keep pouring more and more energy into our spells. Whenever I try to one-up on Utsuho?s spell, she increases her power, and vice versa. Finally, after one of the longest minutes of my life, we both reach our limit and end our attacks. We?d be out cold of we kept rapidly losing energy like that.

Frankly, it?s time to give up, but Utsuho?s pride, naturally, gets the better of her, ?Dammit? I have? ultimate power? I will? not? LOSE!? Utsuho points her ?cannon? at me and fires off more shots. However, she is so weak at this point, they are just small bursts of fire, which I intercept and dispel easily with basic magical shots. At this point, the bird youkai looks like she?s on the verge of tears, ?No! NO! You don?t have ultimate power? I DO! How can you??

I force a grin, ?It?s not about ?ultimate power,? dumbass. I?m just better than you.?

?ARGH! You?re not better than me! I?ll show you!? She pulls a spellcard from her pocket. What? How can she?? ?Blazing Star? RRAGH!? Utsuho falls to the ground. She tries to get up, but it seems that her legs are now so weak, they can?t support her weight. She coughs out some blood. She tried using a spellcard when she has too little strength to do so? She?s so proud, it?s stupid?

I let out a long sigh, ?It?s over. You?ve lost.?

Apparently, I didn?t choose the right words, because she attempts a REALLY stupid move in retaliation, ?I?. have? not? lost? yet?? She moves her hand slowly across the floor to her pocket and pulls out a spellcard, ?Die? Last??

?Last?? as in ?Last Word?? I extend my arm toward her spellcard, ?Oh no, you don?t!? I fire off a very small magical laser, which couldn?t hurt a fairy, but is enough to burn a spellcard.

?No?? Utsuho doesn?t even have the energy to look angry now. She just gives a whimpering expression, then closes her eyes and passes out. I walk toward the exit. Damn, I don?t think I?ve ever seen anyone so desperate, just to win. I enter the doorway, using my broom as a support for my walking, since I feel like shit, due to the energy I expended, though it?s probably nothing compared to Utsuho?s situation. Beyond the door is a corridor of showers and brushes, which I totally welcome. I?m no expert at nuclear physics, but since Utsuho has that kind of power, I wouldn?t be surprised if my body had become irradiated at some point, so this is good. I want to sleep, but right now, I gotta find Reimu and Youmu, wherever they are?

==

In Satori?s chamber, Youmu continuously attempts to attack the mysterious girl, but she keeps dodging with perfect precision, as if she were reading the gardener?s mind, and all other things considered, she just might.

Youmu delivers a horizontal slash, which Satori ducks. She then places her hand on the gardener?s chest and releases a moderately powerful blast of energy, which sends the gardener sailing back, letting go of the Roukanken in surprise, and landing hard on her back, ?Ugh? Dammit?? She looks at Satori, ?How can you dodge me for so long? No one has ever done that! It?s not fair!?

Satori?s eyes narrow, ?I just did, so obviously, someone can. Stop complaining.?

?Gr??

?Tell me, Youmu. How much do you love your mistress??

?Why are you asking me this??

?Answer the question. How much do you love Yuyuko??

?? With everything I?m worth. I would gladly give my life for her.?

Satori smiles mysteriously, ?I see. So that is your answer, is it? Are you truly positive about it??

?I am!?

?Then let us explore that, shall we??

Youmu rises to her feet, ?What are you talking about??

??? Suddenly, Youmu feels a slight draft. A breeze, seemingly coming from Satori?s forehead, lifts her bangs us, revealing a slit.

?Wh???

The slit opens, revealing an eye. Satori says, ?Let us explore the deeper reaches of your heart?? The eye glows as Youmu looks at it. Suddenly, everything blacks out.

?

Youmu finds herself surrounded by grass and cherry blossom trees, and at the foot of a long flight of stone steps leading up to a palace. She immediately recognizes the location, ?The Netherworld? Hakugyokurou? I?m back? What happened to Satori?? Youmu glances at two statues at the bottom of the stairs, which bear a close resemblance to Yuyuko, whom they represent. Youmu briefly recalls her father telling her that he sculpted them himself not long before she was born.

However, no sooner does Youmu have her recollection when there is a bright white flash. Soon after, the heads of the statues fly off and hit the ground with a thud. Youmu?s eyes widen, ?What??

Between the statues, a figure Youmu least expects appears: someone who looks exactly like Youmu, except her dress is blue and her hair is shiny pink. She stands with her own version of the Roukanken drawn.

Youmu is speechless at the sight of the other Youmu, ?Wh? who? why??

The other Youmu smiles, ?Just the reaction I?d expect. It?s not everyday something like this happens. Tell me, how did you feel when I cut through those statues??

Youmu recovers from her shock and her eyes narrow, ?How dare you? How could you disrespect Yuyuko-sama in such a way? Especially when you LOOK exactly like me? Are you some evil fake created by Satori? Answer me!?

The other Youmu sighs, ?I was going to answer you anyway. You didn?t have to tell me to. As for me being fake? well, it takes one to know one, doesn?t it? Admit it, you actually LIKED what I did, didn?t you??

?WHAT??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:06:04 PM
Meanwhile, at the same time as all other events unfold, Alice and Sakuya emerge from the other side of the portal they fell into during the battle with Tenshi. On the other side, they are surrounded by snow and icy mountains, but the temperature is surprisingly lukewarm.

?Is this??? Sakuya feels a slight sense of familiarity regarding the place.

However, Alice remembers it immediately, ?We?re in Makai!?

?Just as I thought?? Sakuya had only previously spent a few minutes in Makai, but with Alice?s revelation, it all comes back to her.

Alice yells, ?Marisa! Reimu! Youmu! They were still fighting! We must find a way back!?

?Do you happen to know a way?? asks Sakuya.

Alice says, ?Shinki? You are there, aren?t you??

Out of thin air, Shinki materializes in front of Alice and Sakuya, ?My dearest Alice, I am relieved beyond words to see you unharmed. It looks like I acted in time. Words fail to express my happiness.?

Alice smiles, ?It?s nice to see you again, Shinki. I appreciate that you saved us. Otherwise we would have been dead for sure.?

Shinki responds, ?Do not forget, Alice, that I see you as a daughter, despite the fact that you were not born from me. I always do everything in my power to see to it that my children remain unharmed.?

Alice bows with gratitude, ?I thank you? from the bottom of my heart. May I please ask that you please return us to where you retrieved us from? Our friends are battling a strong opponent. They need us.?

Shinki slowly shakes her head, ?That, I cannot do.?

?Why?? demands Sakuya.

Shinki gazes at Alice with a serious expression, ?Alice, you did receive my warning about events I foresaw, did you not??

Alice nods, ?Yes. You sent Yuki to relay that message to me.?

?Who is Yuki?? asks Sakuya, ?When did that happen??

?You saw her,? says Alice, ?It was soon after we arrived in Japan. We were on the bench with Marisa waiting for Reimu and Youmu. She walked by and I followed her.?

Sakuya vaguely recalls the event, ?Oh yes??

Shinki says to Alice, ?Surely you are aware, then, that if the threat of death threatened you, I would try to save you.?

?And you did,? responds Alice, ?That disaster was prevented. I am not in danger anymore. Please send us back.?

Shinki shakes her head, ?No. While it is true your life had been saved, the prophecy still remains. If you go back there, sooner or later, you will surely die. Your death can only be prevented if you remain here. I will not let you go back to meet your unfortunate fate.?

?Then what about our friends?? yells Alice, ?What if they die because we weren?t there to do something to save them??

??? Shinki stands in silence, and then chuckles, ?Hmhmhm??

?What?s so funny?? asks Sakuya.

Shinki smiles warmly, ?You?ve changed, Alice. Before, you would care not about such matters. You would keep to yourself and disregard the world around you. This is indeed a startling change in attitude. You?ve most certainly grown up.?

?Then you understand me?? asks Alice, ?Please, send Sakuya and I back to where we were! I?ll be careful, I promise.?

Shinki closes her eyes and shakes her head, ?I am afraid that changes nothing, however. I cannot permit it.?

?Please!? yells Alice desperately.

?Your friends may live, or they may not,? says Shinki, ?But your death is a certainty if you choose to persist along that path. I know it?s difficult, but leave all your worldly troubles behind and live your life with us again. I will also welcome your companion as one among the sisterhood.?

?There are things I must do too,? says Sakuya, ?I will not turn away from them.?

Shinki pauses ?? ? ? I see. Perhaps you need some time to yourselves to grasp the situation. She points in the distance, toward a castle that looks small from where they are, but would be immense up close. It has several towers and spires protruding from it, ?I will await your arrival there. Please take your time and sort out whatever issues you may have. I bid you farewell for now.? Shinki opens a black gap and disappears into it.

?Wait!? cries Alice.

?She?s gone,? says Sakuya.

???

?So what do you propose we do?? asks the maid, ?Shall we meet her again at that castle??

With one fist clenched, Alice says, ?The others are still fighting as we speak. With the way things are, we won?t make it back in time??

?Don?t talk like they will be doomed without us,? says Sakuya, ?We?ll just have to hope they find a way. It wouldn?t be the first time??

?True??

Sakuya takes a couple steps in the castle?s direction, ?Our destination is rather obvious. If we want to go back, we must talk to Shinki again, correct? We might as well do that.?

?Yes?? Alice follows the maid.


In the city area, Cirno finds Mokou sitting on the edge of the supermarket?s roof, looking out at the sunset.

?Hey! Mokou!?

Mokou glances back over her shoulder at the ice fairy, ?Oh. Fairy girl.?

?The sunset is cool, isn?t it??

Mokou shrugs, ?Whatever. What?s the point in pointing it out? You?re acting like you?ve never seen a sunset before.?

?But? Isn?t there anything that you like, no matter how many times you?ve seen it??

Mokou leans back, ?Dunno. Seeing how Princess ends up after I give her a good ass-kicking? Lightens my mood every time.?

?By ?Princess,? you mean Kaguya??

?No shit. What other princesses are there??

?Why do you have to talk like that?? asks Cirno, ?You?re so mean! I just wanted to talk to you!?

Mokou sighs and responds, ?Sorry. It?s just my personality, I guess. No wonder I don?t have a lot of friends? Heh?? Mokou pats the ledge next to her, ?Come here. Sit next to me.?

?What??

Mokou does her best to smile, ?I?m not upset with you, okay? Let?s just sit and talk. I don?t bite.?

?Okay?? Cirno sits next to Mokou. Their legs dangle over the edge of the roof and they gaze at the sunset together.

Mokou pulls a box out of her pocket, which happens to be a pack of cigarettes. She pulls a cigarette out of the pack, ignites one of her fingers, and lights it. She holds the pack out to Cirno, ?Want one??

?Okay!? Cirno pulls a cigarette out and puts it in her mouth. Mokou lights it.

Cirno observes the way Mokou smokes, then inhales, ?ACK!? and then gags, causing her to drop the cigarette.

Mokou chuckles, ?Hmhm? Not your thing, huh??

?Wait?? Cirno examines the pack, ?Ah!? She pulls the cigarette out of Mokou?s mouth and throws it over the side of the building.

?Aw, what the hell??

Cirno exclaims, ?I just remembered! Reisen taught me about these earlier! She said they can cause ?lung cancer.? I have no idea what that is, but it sounds bad.?

Mokou leans back, ?Good advice.?

?Why are you using those??

?Dunno. Felt like it.?

?Do you know what ?lung cancer? is??

Mokou gives her best possible explanation, ?I just heard about it somewhere. Basically, it makes someone?s lungs all shitty, and kills them.?

?You knew that? It could have happened to you?? Cirno realizes something else, ?Ah! It could have happened to me! You just tried to kill me, didn?t you??

?Relax,? says Mokou, ?One won?t do that. Besides, it?s not like I have a reason to care what it does to me.?

?Why??

?You know damn well why. Because I?m immortal. I can just die and come back, damage 100% repaired.?

Cirno sighs with relief, ?Whew. You?re really lucky??

?No I?m not,? says Mokou, ?YOU?RE the lucky one.?

?Why?? asks the ice fairy, ?You can?t die, but I can...?

?It?s BECAUSE you can die that you?re lucky.?

?What???

Mokou focuses her gaze on the sunset, ?It means you can appreciate your existence. You can only do a finite amount of things in your lifetime, and that is what makes it precious. You make friends and form relationships, and someday, you can look back on all that, say you?ve loved life, and go out with a smile. Life is one?s story, and everyone hopes it has an exciting middle and a happy ending?? Mokou sighs and directs her melancholy expression toward the ruined cityscape ?? but not me. There is a beginning and an eternal middle, but no ending? And I can?t say that I?m proud of what I?ve done so far.?

?B-but?? Cirno stutters, ?Um? er? That doesn?t mean you can?t? y?know, fix things. Also, you can do things you like and remember them.?

?Remember them?? Mokou scoffs, ?Yeah right. Getting trapped in Reimu?s mind? Learning Gensokyo was a dream? Fighting constantly with an alien princess? Hell, the conversation I?m having with you right now? It may be thousands of years, but eventually, I?ll forget everything. That?s what the flow of time does. It makes you forget. The longer you live, the more blurry and distant the things you?ve done become, until that memory becomes nothing but inexistence. Most of the time, I forget why I?m fighting with Kaguya. Her very existence reminds me, but who knows how long it?s going to be until I lose my memory and motivation to do so? After that, then what? I just keep on living! THAT?S why you?re lucky, fairy girl. You can go out with those memories. You don?t keep going and lose what?s important!?

?Then why do you care?? asks Cirno.

?What??

?You came along with us, and you?re helping us. You talk as if you shouldn?t care about anything, because you?re afraid you?ll forget, but you are here? I don?t get it??

?Ah!? To Mokou?s surprise, Cirno?s comment caught her off guard, ?I? don?t know? I?m trying to rescue Kaguya? I know I want to? but why? What?s the point??? Mokou shakes her head, ?Dammit! I wish I had an answer, fairy girl??


Back in Makai, Alice and Sakuya fly over the fields of snow, gradually getting closer to the castle.

Along the way, Sakuya asks, ?Alice, what exactly is your relation to Shinki? I?m aware you have something like that of a daughter and mother, but how, may I ask, did you come to know her??

Alice responds, ?She is the reason I became a youkai??

?What??

?Well, I used to be human. A powerful human mage, disgusted with fellow humans. As an outcast, I traveled, and was eventually found by Shinki. She made me a youkai? a demon to be exact, so I could become distant from the humans I used to hate so much??

?I see. It?s no wonder she was so surprised to find out that you wanted to go back to help our friends? humans??

Alice smiles, ?Yes, it is quite ironic, now that I think about it??

?But she said that you?ll die if you do. Are you sure? I mean, I could go back alone, and you could remain here, where she claims you?ll be safe. I think she?d agree to that.?

?I imagine she would,? says Alice, quickening her pace to keep up with Sakuya, ?But? despite my past, I will return to help those I?ve come to care about. Whatever is supposed to kill me, I?ll be careful. I know about it, so I won?t be done in so easily! If you leave here, you won?t be alone.?

?Something tells me Shinki won?t have that??

?We?ll just have to be more persuasive??

?I can do that,? says Sakuya, ?If my words can?t convince her, my knives will!?

?Ah!? Alice zooms ahead so she can run in front of the maid and look her in the eye, ?That is ABSOLUTELY out of the question! Shinki is immensely powerful.?

?It wouldn?t be the first time we?ve had a powerful opponent??

?The answer is still no! Yukari? Yuka? Suika? Yuyuko? Kanako? I imagine even Yumei when she fused Yukari?s powers with her own? Shinki is more powerful than ANY of them!?

Sakuya?s eyes widen, ?She?s that strong? What makes you say that??

Alice looks out at the landscape, ?Shinki is the sole being responsible for all of this. She created Makai and everyone who lives here. It was all her doing. Unlike Yumei, she created it from nothing.?

?Unreal?? says Sakuya.

?We?ll just have to find some other way to convince her??

They continue walking. A half-hour slowly goes by.

?A demon?? Sakuya recalls Alice?s previous words, ?So that?s the kind of youkai you are??

?It isn?t much different from most kinds of youkai.

?Well, I can understand why you weren?t specific about the type of youaki you were. If I recall correctly, based on something Patchouli told me some time ago, demons are generally viewed as terrible things in Gensokyo.?

?You are right?? Alice says one more thing under her breath ?It?s appropriate for someone like me, though??

?Did you say something??

?No??

Sakuya looks ahead toward the castle, which is now very close, ?It appeared that Shinki is capable of manipulating boundaries.?

?She can,? says Alice, ?However, she is bound to Makai, so she can?t leave. She can send others to and from, though. However, she doesn?t have that ability naturally, so it requires a lot of her power to link this realm to another. She can use it pretty freely within Makai?s boundary, though...?

?I see?? says Sakuya, ?Yet, she used it to help us. She really loves you if she?s willing to go that far??

Alice sighs, ?Yes, she views me like a daughter. She?s a mother in every sense of the word??

Sakuya?s eyes narrow, ?I see. This is going to be difficult??

They finally reach the castle. They enter an entryway where they are greeted by two girls, one of whom being Yuki, the girl Alice had a brief encounter with in Japan. The other girl has light blue eyes and hair, and wears a white dress and hair ribbon.

Yuki gives a cheerful wave, ?Alice! We meet again! Welcome back to Makai, dear sister!?

The other girl glances at Sakuya, and then Alice, giving the latter a very brief dirty look ???

?Hm?? Sakuya is the only one who notices the other girl?s passing expression.

?It?s? good to see you again, Yuki,? Alice returns the greeting. She looks at the other girl, ?And you too, Mai.?

??? The girl, identified as Mai, stands silently.

Yuki looks at Sakuya, ?Hey! I remember you! Your hair was a little longer and you were dressed differently, but you were with Alice when I went to visit her. What?s your name??

?Sakuya,? answers the maid.

Yuki slowly approaches Sakuya, ?It?s nice to meet you, Sakuya!? She quickly hugs the maid and kisses her on the cheek.

Sakuya pushes Yuki off her, blushing heavily, ?Wh??

Alice shakes her head with a wry smile, ?Don?t let it get to you. That?s how she greets everyone?? She becomes serious again, ?At any rate, we can?t talk for long. We must see Shinki.?

?Sure thing!? says Yuki, ?Just follow us, ?kay? We?ll take you to Mother.? She turns and walks down a corridor behind her.

??? Mai does the same as Yuki.

Alice and Sakuya follow the two girls. The castle, while warm like most interiors, gives off a beautiful, yet chilling atmosphere. The tiles on the floor are silver, while the walls and ceiling are blue. Overall, it doesn?t feel much different from the snowy terrain outside.

As they walk, Sakuya whispers to Alice, so Yuki and Mai can?t hear, ?That Yuki seems friendly and energetic, but the other one, Mai? I don?t know. She doesn?t seem to like you??

?I?m aware of that,? Alice whispers back, ?I don?t know why, though??

Yuki and Mai lead them through the castle?s maze-like complex of corridors. Finally, they enter a large room, big enough to be a ball room, with a dome-like ceiling. Shinki stands in the middle of the room, with a subtle smile.

?We?re here!? announces Yuki.

??? Mai says the same thing as Yuki in body language.

?Thank you, Yuki,? says Shinki, turning her attention toward Alice and Sakuya, ?Welcome. I take it I provided adequate time for the two of you to decide on what to do??

?Our answer remains the same, Shinki? says Alice, ?Please send us back.?

Shinki looks at Alice questioningly, ?I told you that death awaits you if you do so? They? must mean quite a lot to you.?

??? Alice nods silently.

?No! I don?t want you to die!? cries Yuki.

?Silence, Yuki,? commands Shinki.

Yuki kneels respectfully, ?Sorry, Mother??

Shinki says, ?Still, I cannot allow it. If I send the two of you back, I will lack the power to control the boundary outside of Makai for quite some time, thus when the time comes, I won?t be able to save you again.?

?Then send me back alone!? exclaims Sakuya, ?You don?t have a problem with that, do you, Shinki? Alice will be safe.?

?No,? says Alice, ?I already told you that if you go back, I will too.? She looks at Shinki, ?Just tell me what is supposed to kill me! If I know, then maybe I can avoid it!?

?It is fate,? says Shinki, ?It cannot be evaded. I?m sorry about your friends, Alice, but this is for your own good.?

?I have no choice, then?? Sakuya quickly draws a knife and tosses it at Shinki. The weapon bounces off an invisible wall in front of Makai?s creator.

?Ah! What are you doing?? screams Yuki.

??? Mai dashes over to Sakuya and a sword of ice appears in her hand, which she positions inches away from the maid?s neck. However, Sakuya just stands, composed, and awaits Shinki?s reaction.

Shinki pauses for a few seconds, and then smiles, ?You would challenge me? Hahaha!? She laughs a little.

??? Mai looks at Shinki questioningly.

Alice stammers, ?I-I?m sorry about my friend, Shinki! I told her before that fighting you is futile!?

?So you did?? asks Shinki, ?And yet she still chose to attack me? You really wish to go back that badly??

?I do,? answers Sakuya, ?There are things in Gensokyo I must do and a life I wish to return to. I can?t just stay here. Also, Alice made a choice??

?Sakuya,? says Alice, wide-eyed.

?I insist you respect that choice. She?s aware of the risks, has she not shown that? You would still interfere??

?I see,? says Makai?s creator, ?Perhaps you can show me your words are not just show? You see, in this demon world, strength is what expresses resolve. I shall arrange an opponent for you. Should you win, I will understand the power of your words and take them under serious consideration. Do you accept??

?I accept your challenge,? responds Sakuya.

?Very well, then,? says Shinki with a smile, ?I have a very special opponent arranged for you. Yumeko!?

A girl appears from thin air. She has long wavy blonde hair and golden eyes. She is dressed as a maid, in almost the same way Sakuya is, only her clothes have a red and white color scheme as opposed to Sakuya?s blue and white, ?You called, Mother??

?Yumeko,? says Alice.

The other maid, Yumeko, glances at Alice, ?Welcome back, Alice. It has been some time.?

Shinki says, as she, Alice, Yuki, and Mai move to a far wall, ?That maid is your opponent. Fight to your fullest.?

?Another maid?? notes Sakuya.

Yumeko smiles tauntingly, ?It?s been awhile since I last fought. Do go easy on me.?

Sakuya draws a knife, ?Don?t count on it. I trust you are prepared to feel the pain of my knives??

Yumeko draws a knife, ?You are quite interesting. Don?t let me down??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:06:47 PM
Inside the supermarket, now dimly lit by the sunset?s light through the holes in the ceiling, Reisen finds Yuyuko in one of the aisles, eating out of a cereal box.

?That stuff tastes better with milk,? Reisen informs Yuyuko as she approaches.

?With milk?? Yuyuko smiles, ?Capital idea! I should try that!?

Reisen sits across from the ghost, ?Are you sure you did the right thing??

Yuyuko stops eating and asks through a mouthful of cereal, ?Hm? Right thing about what, now??

?About Youmu. I mean, she IS your servant, and it?s only natural she?d want to be by your side. However, you sent her off with the others. I know that the splitting up conflicted that, but even though I chose this side, I would have gone with the others and let Youmu go with you, you know??

Yuyuko smiles, albeit a sad smile, ?You have a kind heart, Reisen. However, Youmu is better off spending time with her friends than with me??

?Why? You are her mistress, I mean, why would she want to be with anyone else??

Yuyuko leans back, ?Trust me? I know??


Youmu yells, ?How the hell could I possibly LIKE that? How could you even imply that I liked my mistress being dishonored in the way you just did??

?Well, didn?t you?? asks the other Youmu.

?Absolutely not!?

?There you go again,? says the other Youmu, gesturing an indication that she knew the answer she was going to hear, ?Lying to yourself again. Not that I blame you. After all, it?s what you do best.?

??To myself??? explodes Youmu, ?You may LOOK like me, but you and I aren?t the same person at all! There is no way? No possible way that you and I are the same. You are just an illusion trying to trick me! It?s not going to work?? Youmu takes a couple deep breaths, ?You hear me, Satori! This cheap trick is not going to work!?

Youmu hears Satori?s voice come from an unspecified location, ?So you believe that is an illusion? Hmhmhm? You are welcome to go ahead and think that??

?So you are there! Show yourself, you three-eyed freak!?

?Satori?? says the other Youmu, ?We share a mutual adversary. It?s a shame I have to rely on a fake like you to confront her rather than do it myself!?

?Why are you calling me a fake??

?Because you are me?? says the other Youmu, ?You and I are one of the same, sister. The only difference is that you go around masking yourself with lies. ?I will fight to the death for Yuyuko-sama!? ?Yuyuko-sama is my reason for living.? You know, lies like those. If you want a truth, then here?s one: You HATE that bitch, Yuyuko.?

?Ridiculous!? yells Youmu, ?You?re just trying to fool me! I would never think that! How dare you say such a thing about Yuyuko-sama, and say that you are me?? Youmu draws the Hakurouken, ?Enough talking. I am not going to lose to an imposter like you!?

The other Youmu strikes a defensive stance, ?Go ahead and try.?

?Yaaaa!? Youmu leaps up and swings the Hakurouken down at her other self. Their swords clash.

?Hmph.?

?Ah!? Youmu?s eyes widen. As the Hakurouken is made to cut through confusion, it had cut through illusions with no effort, but as it had not cut through the other Youmu?s blade, Youmu realizes something is not right.

The other Youmu kicks Youmu away, then draws a spellcard, ?Recollection: Slash of Present!? She disappears with a blur, and then appears in front of Youmu, delivering a fast and powerful slash.

?Ugh!? Youmu staggers back. Strangely, no blood was drawn, but she does feel the pain, ?Ah! Damn it!?

The other Youmu sheathes her sword, ?Just what I?d expect from a fake??

?You? bastard??

?Here is something we can agree on, ?me?: Our father, Youki Konpaku was? or should I say, is, a truly great man. Powerful, wise, clever, handsome, devoted, kind? Truly a man amongst men. Sure, he had that little weakness to beautiful women, but if you put that aside, he?s perfect??

???

?So why the hell should he serve someone like Yuyuko? Someone who doesn?t come close to matching his supremacy? It?s a question that has been on your? or should I say, OUR, mind. After all, all that ghost ever did was constantly nag him for food, to tell her stories, to investigate things that sparked her curiosity? and he did as he was told without question. That kinda pissed us off.?

???

?One day, we asked him why he serves her, and spoke badly of her, saying that you wished she would just disappear. At that moment? he slapped us. That?s right, the one and only time he ever did something like that outside of training. Let?s just say that didn?t help much with Yuyuko?s credibility in our eyes.?

???

?Of course, father just HAD to leave that fateful night? to join the Lunarians, apparently, and left us to fill his role. Now how can someone who despises Yuyuko be a loyal servant? We couldn?t just run away, and father did trust us with that duty, and we respected him enough not to disobey. That?s when YOU were born? and I ceased to exist. In your mind, you created another self that mirrored father?s devotion to Yuyuko, and assumed that identity to cope with the situation. I don?t blame you. After all, if you didn?t, you just might have gone insane. You became a new person who was totally devoted to Yuyuko, and it got to the point where it took over your identity entirely. That?s why I had said those things. You are not your own person? not anymore. You are just a character you created and assumed. That?s why you are a fake!?

?I?? Youmu can no longer find the will to object to her other self?s words. She wants to continue writing off her words as lies, but cannot as part of her realizes the truth in them, ?AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!?

==

I slowly make my way through the tunnels of the underground maze. There are some glowing crystals that provide just enough illumination for me to see, but the path had branched off many times, so I?ve just had to trust my instincts on where to go. If I ended up at some place after entering that circle, then Reimu and Youmu must also be down here somewhere? but I don?t know if I?m getting warmer or colder on the trail to finding them?

I had recovered a bit of my strength since that power struggle with Miss Meltdown, so I?m no longer using my broom to stay upright, but I sure s hell can?t run as I am, and I can?t take another fight?

Also, now that I have a chance, I wonder what happened to Alice and Sakuya. They vanished into a dark gap and vanished. I can?t have been Yukari. I mean? she?s dead, and her gaps don?t look like that. Could it have been Yumei?? Nah! Still, if a gap did appear, I assume it was to save them, so I guess I shouldn?t worry too much. I wonder if they?ll make it back here?

Of course, just as I think about my current predicament, a gap opens and that Yumei/Yukari hybrid, who Cirno called ?Yukarumei,? emerges, ?Hello there, Marisa! Good job winning that battle?? She reverts to Yumei?s form.

Dammit! I can?t very well fight her with the stamina I have right now, ?What the hell do you want, Yumei? You have some nerve showing up after what you did??

?Oh, I?m only here to talk,? says the damn rabbit, ?I want to make you an offer??

I force a smug look, ?What could YOU offer me? We?re well past the point of talking this shit over??

Yumei grins, ?Even if I could make you the most powerful woman in the universe??

?What are you TALKING about??

?My goal,? says Yumei, ?is to use Gensokyo to defeat the Lunarian Empire. However, defeating it is my only goal. Once that is done, I?d be happy with giving you the throne. Think about it! I can make you empress! I did have to live in your mind, and you were pretty nice to me.?

?That was because I thought you could bring Gensokyo back? not like this. As for your offer, the answer is hell no.?

?Why not?? asks Yumei, ?Together, we can find a way to kill the immortal empress! All her power can be yours! Does that not interest you??

I shake my head, ?All I wanted was friends. Whether I?d be saving Gensokyo or going to school with them, it doesn?t matter because I was with them. That?s all I want. You can worry about that stupid empire by yourself.?

Yumei takes a step back, ?Damn? I don?t understand. How could you pick something so trivial over obtaining all the power someone could possibly desire??

?Because I DO understand, that?s why.?

?I see. In that case?? Yumei turns back into Yukarumei and opens a gap and turns to enter it.

I blurt out, ?So are you going to finish me??

She looks back at me, ?Finish you??

?Yeah, I thought it was pretty obvious! I?m weak from that battle with Utsuho; I can only use about two Master Sparks, though the second one would probably be pretty weak. My only chance of winning is to use a Last Word, but that would kill me. You?re skipping out on a great opportunity!? You may think I?m crazy for saying this, but I?m visibly weakened and I know Yumei isn?t that stupid.

Yukarumei responds, ?That would be too easy. I?d rather test my? minions against you.?

??Minions???

?Yes. Gensokyo?s denizens are no longer a part of me. Instead, they live around this world and serve my desires. I?ll leave it to them.?

?So you are just going to leave me be? You do know I?ll make damn sure this comes back to bite you in the ass later, right??

?Hmph. You?re on, Marisa.?

???

?Also, I?ll tell you where your friends are. Go to the end of this tunnel and where it forks off, go right. In that tunnel, take the second left, and Youmu is in the fifth room to the right. Reimu is pretty close to that location, so she?ll be there before you. Ciao.? She enters the portal.

??? I stand there, stunned. Yumei just? HELPED me? Damn, I don?t get her at all! She might be lying, but for all I know at the moment, it?s just as good a lead as any, so I proceed to follow her directions.

==

?AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!? A scream echoes through the underground tunnels. It catches Reimu off guard.

The miko takes a second to recall the voice, ?That was? Youmu! It wasn?t far from here!? She heads in the general direction the scream came from and it isn?t long before she finds the room where Youmu and Satori are. Youmu is slumped on the ground with her eyes blank and lifeless.

?Youmu!? yells Reimu.

Satori looks at Reimu, ?You? It seems my servant was unable to stop you.?

?Who are you?? demands Reimu, ?What have you done to Youmu? Did you just???

Satori shakes her head, ?No. Your friend is undergoing a trial? and trial that requires a strong heart to overcome. Failure to do so results in the destruction of one?s mind. Her heart is very weak??

?Youmu!? yells Reimu, ?Can you hear me? Youmu!?


?Youmu! Can you hear me? Youmu!?

Within Youmu?s subconscious, Youmu hears Reimu?s voice from the outside, ?Re? i? mu??


?Re? i? mu?? Youmu?s words are relayed through her body.

Reimu finds the nature of the response unusual, but she knows she got through to wherever Youmu?s consciousness is, ?Yes! It?s me, Reimu! What?s going on??

Even though Youmu?s body?s face has a blank expression, she speaks with the emotion she is feeling within, ?I?m? so sorry, Reimu??

??? Satori watches the exchange between Reimu and Youmu silently.

?What are you sorry for?? asks the miko.

Youmu answers, ?I?ve lied to you? I?ve lied to everyone, including myself! All I?ve done? is lie. I?m not the person you think I am, Reimu. I?m not the real Youmu. I?m just a personality made from a necessity??

?What have you DONE to her?? demands Reimu to Satori.

Satori plainly answers, ?I have done nothing. This girl cannot face the truth of her own being.?

?Stop this now!? Reimu tosses a handful of needles at Satori, who dodges them with little effort, and then charges in, swinging her gohei, which Satori leaps away from, well before the attack can connect.

?It?s useless,? says Satori, ?You can keep trying, but your attacks will never hit me.?

?Damn??

?Besides, since Youmu had started undergoing her trial, nothing can stop it now. Not even me. I?d advise you not to waste your time, Reimu.?

?How did you know my??? Reimu shakes her head and shifts her attention toward the more important matter at hand. She kneels and looks straight at Youmu blank face, ?So there is some truth you had been keeping from everyone??

?I?m sorry?? Despite the unchanging expression, Youmu?s eyes well up and tears start to flow.

?So what??

?H-huh??

?You have secrets, right? We all do. In fact, I?d be worried if you didn?t,? says Reimu, ?I?m sure it?s something that?s hard to accept, and really, I don?t want to know what that secret is, but regardless, you are still Youmu, right? I don?t care what you had been hiding. The fact remains that we had been on many adventures together and we had even lived together. THAT was no lie, and can you say that our friendship is a lie too??

?N-no??

?No matter what, you are Youmu, and nothing can change that!?


?No matter what, you are Youmu, and nothing can change that!? Reimu?s words echo from above.

Inspired, Youmu looks her other self in the eye, ?You? You?re right? about everything.?

???

?I did find it hard to accept, but it?s true what you said. I had felt angry at Yuyuko-sama because I felt she had enervated father?s greatness. I?ll admit? that I was you at one point, and that we are the same. I recall something. That time, when you said that father hit you?us? do you remember what he said, afterward??

The other Youmu?s eyes widen, ?What??

?He said that we half-ghosts are not accepted by worlds of the living, nor the dead; That we are cursed beings. However, Yuyuko-sama was benevolent enough to give us a home, even if it meant our servitude to her. Isn?t that the real reason we didn?t run away? Not just because father told us to??

The other Youmu is taken aback, ?I see? good point, other me??

Youmu approaches her other self, ?Regardless of how I really feel, my honor can?t allow me to reject that kindness, and I don?t think you were able to do that either. I?m no fake self. Aren?t we both the same person??

The other Youmu closes her eyes and smiles, ?I was meaning to teach you, but in the end, you taught me. Well played??

Youmu shakes her head, ?Oh no. I think we both learned more about me. It?s funny how little we both knew about ourselves...?

?So what will you do??

?Do you need to ask? I will keep living as I have been. Hopefully someday, I?ll meet father again and we can be a family. Until then, however, I will fulfill the duty he entrusted with me? with us.?

The other Youmu starts to shine brightly and Youmu begins to white out?


? and she finds herself back where she was fighting Satori with Reimu kneeling in front of her, ?Reimu!?

Reimu?s face lights up, ?Youmu! You?re back!?

Satori?s eyes narrow, ?That girl?s words? They gave her courage; strengthened what was such a weak heart. Fascinating??

Reimu and Youmu rise and glare at Satori. ?Shall we get back at who did that to you?? asks Reimu.

?Be careful,? says Youmu, ?This girl, Satori, can read our minds. Maybe if we attack her together??

?There is no need,? Satori cuts in.

?What??

?My powers do have a limit,? says Satori, ?I can only read one mind at a time. I can?t read another when I?m reading one. Also, my combative powers are insufficient for fighting multiple opponents and I am not one to fight a battle I no longer have any hope of winning. Therefore, I admit defeat.?

Reimu shrugs, ?Fine. Sure. I wish they would all know when to give up??

??? Youmu picks up the Roukanken, which she had previously dropped.

Satori says to Reimu, ?So you?re the one who fought against Rin. Seeing your memories of that battle, she?s still alive. Very good.?

?Yeah,? says Reimu, ?She did mention someone named Satori. So you?re that person, huh??

?Yes,? answers Satori, ?Rin is like a pet to me. Hm? I wonder about my other pet??

==

Following Yumei?s directions, I arrive in a room illuminated by light shining through stained glass windows. There, I find Reimu, Youmu, and some purple-haired chick I don?t know, ?Reimu! Youmu! You?re alright!?

?Marisa!? call out Reimu and Youmu.

The purple-haired chick looks at me, ?Well, speak of the devil. It seems Utsuho is still alive too.?

I glare at the purple girl, ?Utsuho? What relationship do you have with Miss Meltdown??

The girl puts her hand over her mouth to hold back a laugh, ??Miss Meltdown?? Good nickname. You?re a funny girl Marisa Kirisame? or should I say, Starr. Anyway, to answer your question, she?s my pet.?

?Well then, you should keep your ?pet? on a frickin? leash? Huh? Wait a minute! When the hell did I tell you my name??

?There?s no need to,? says Youmu, ?It?s her power.?

I blink a couple times, ?What? What power? Can she read my mind or something??

The girl looks straight at me, ?Good guess.? Ugh? Figures.

Reimu says, ??Miss Meltdown?? What exactly did you FIGHT, Marisa??

?I?ll leave that to your imagination. How about you??

?A cat that can raise the dead??

Shutter? She didn?t get it that much better? ?I see. What were you up to, Youmu??

Youmu answers, ?I was the first to meet Satori, here. In fact, we were fighting her until about a minute ago.?

I draw a spellcard, ?So she?s our enemy??

?Don?t worry,? says Reimu, ?She admitted her defeat to us.?

I raise an eyebrow and look at ?Satori,? ??Admitted defeat?? Your damn pet should learn to take after you, then??

Satori nods, ?Yes, Utsuho has always been a problem??

?I take it your opponent didn?t know when to give up?? asks Youmu.

?Well, ain?t THAT the understatement,? I respond. I bring up another point, ?Oh, by the way, guess who I ran into on my way here.?

?It was Yumei,? says Satori.

?YOU shut up.?

?What?? say Reimu and Youmu at the same time.

?Yeah,? I say, ?But something was weird. I was feeling like shit from fighting Satori?s radioactive canary and she showed up, but all she did was give me directions to find this room and a stupid offer I turned down. If she was seriously trying to kill us, that would have been the perfect chance. In fact, she has Yukari?s powers, so she could come and pick us off anytime she wants! Something doesn?t add up here??

?Weird,? says Reimu, ?Did she say anything else??

?Yeah. She said she?d leave it to her minions?? an idea crosses my mind. I look at Satori, ?YOU are one such minion, right??

?I am,? says Satori, ?In this Gensokyo under Yumei?s control, all denizens directly born of it must follow her commands. We were told to deal with the outsiders??

Youmu offers a guess, ?Maybe she just wants to sit back and watch our struggles? Maybe she like a good challenge and wants us to fight through her Gensokyo and become stronger and then challenge her? That?s how I would do it??

?Yeah, that?s how YOU would do it,? I say to Youmu, ?But she said her aim is to defeat the Lunarians using this Gensokyo, not to mention I heard her express her distaste for ?honor? to you before. We are an obstacle for her. Frankly, I?d want to get rid of interferences without delay, but if she really is as arrogant as you described, Youmu, well then, more power to us??

?Sounds to me like it?s a game to her?? notes Reimu, ?Either that, or we?re missing something here. Maybe her intentions are more complex than we thought??

?Maybe?? I turn my attention to Satori, ?How about you?? I ask, ?Have you ever met her before? Could you read her mind??

Satori responds, ?If we are defeated, we are allowed to let you go, but we can never disclose anything that would work against Yumei. Ever. It?s like a new sixth sense to us. Plus, I?ve never met her before, personally, so I couldn?t say anyway.?

?I see,? I acknowledge, ?Well, we might as well keep going. If we meet her again, shit SHOULD start to come together??

Reimu says to Satori, ?Well, we beat you, and you said you?d let us go. I?m wondering if you could_?

?To get back to the surface,? interrupts Satori, ?take a right from this chamber, and then another right when the corridor branches off. Keep going straight and you will eventually make it back to the surface. It will go on for several miles, though.?

?Okay! Thanks.? Reimu, Youmu, and I turn to leave the chamber.

?Wait!? shouts Satori.

We turn around. ?What is it?? asks Reimu.

Satori says, ?Reimu and Marisa? I sense a great confusion in the two of you. Before the end of your journey, that confusion may obstruct the path you travel. When that happens, please look to me for guidance. This underground complex extends all over Gensokyo and I will follow your progress. When you are ready to see me? please dig a hole to come here.?

I turn and continue walking, ?Thank you for your abstract advice. Didn?t you say you weren?t allowed to work against Yumei.?

?Yumei has nothing to do with this,? says Satori.

?We?ll keep it in mind,? says Reimu.

The three of us leave Satori?s chamber and begin to follow her directions out of the complex.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:07:45 PM
Yukari wakes up. Despite being a ghost who can?t feel pain, the loss of her body?s spirit energy is just as hard on her. She opens her eyes and sees a grey ceiling. The first words that come out of her mouth express the perfectly natural reaction to her predicament: ?Where? am I??

However, Yukari was not expecting someone to answer, ?Inside a dungeon. I see you?re finally with us.?

?Zzzzzzz?? Another voice is also present, in spite of being just snoring. However, Yukari recognizes the voice that spoke to her, as well as having a vague remembrance to the sound of the snoring.

?Yama??? Yukari sits up, and sure enough, inside the typical-looking cell of the dungeon she is in, with stone walls, floor, and ceiling, and metal bars, with her is Sikieiki Yamaxanadu and Komachi Onozuka, who is sitting in the corner, sleeping.

Sikieiki points out the irony, ?Fancy our reunion being like this. Out of many Netherworlds, we find ourselves in the same one, in the same place, in the same predicament??

???

?And you?re a ghost now, I see. I never thought that would happen.?

?A while ago, neither would I. You see?? Yukari tells Sikieiki everything that happened to her, up until her confrontation with Kotohime.

?I see?? says Sikieiki, ?You?ve had quite an adventure? and the end serves you right! You see, Yukari, even though you have the ability to alter the space between realms, it doesn?t mean you should have used it so freely. It is a crime against the natural order of things, and doing so excessively, like you had, is most certainly a way to find oneself condemned to Hell. What you should have done was_?

?Yama,? Yukari interrupts, ?I know you are doing your job and all, but, frankly, it?s rather difficult to take your words seriously when we are sharing a prison cell. It? undermines the authority you are supposed to have. Even then, manipulating boundaries is what I do. I?d go so far as to say it?s my? raison d?etre.?

??? Sikieiki understands, but doesn?t want to admit it outright.

?So, how did you and Komachi end up here??

Sikieiki leans back, ?As you are no doubt aware, the Lunarian Empire had taken control of this Netherworld. The Yama who governs this one is? how shall I put this? a coward. She surrendered rather easily. Accompanied by Komachi, I took it on myself to convince the leader of the occupation, this? ?Kotohime,? that it is in her, and the empire?s, best interests to leave the realms of the afterlife alone. She refused to listen, had her troops ambush us, and we were tossed in here.?

?Sounds like her?? Yukari stands up and looks at the metal bars of the cell, ?You actually let these hold you? Are you even trying??

Sikieiki says, unusually smug, ?Try to escape yourself.?

?I will!? Yukari extends her arm and fires a blast of energy. However, it comes out much weaker than she intended. The small blast slams into an invisible field of energy in front of the bars and gets absorbed.

?See??

Yukari stares at the bars, ?What happened? Why am I so weak??

?This is why.? Sikieiki raises up her hands into plan view, revealing two gray rings wrapped around the index fingers of both of her hands. Yukari looks at her hands and finally notices that she is wearing the same thing. Looking at Komachi, the shinigami is in the same situation.

?What are these?? asks Yukari.

?I can only assume that they suppress our ability to use energy attacks,? says Sikieiki, ?Komachi and I tried to do the same thing, but to no such avail.?

Yukari smirks, ?Hmph. They forgot one thing! Watch and learn, Yama!? Yukari tries to open a gap, but nothing happens, ?What? These rings do that too??

?There is actually a different reason for that?? A girl with sandy blonde hair and golden eyes, wearing a blue uniform with a Lunarian emblem pinned on it, comes into view.

?Who are you?? asks Yukari.

?A Lunarian, obviously,? adds Sikieiki, ?What do you want with us? Wasn?t conquering this Netherworld enough??

?Relax,? says the girl, ?I don?t get my kicks the same way as my ?sister.??

?Your sister?? asks Yukari.

?Kotohime, I mean?? The girl introduces herself, ?My name is Watatsuki no Toyohime. I am the second princess of the Lunarian Empire. I?m terribly sorry about Koto?s treatment of you.?

?If you really are sorry,? says Yukari, ?You will release us!?

?That, I cannot do,? says Toyohime, ?You see, Koto had been granted absolute control of this realm. Even I can?t disobey the rules she had set. The least I could do is apologize to you for how you were treated.?

?I see your sister?s behavior doesn?t run in the family,? says Yukari.

?We Lunarians are living things? human and youkai, too,? says Toyohime, ?We are all different, just like you.?

?So what?s going on? If these? rings didn?t take away my powers, then what exactly happened??

Toyohime explains, ?First, I will explain those rings to you. As you had discovered, I?m sure, they suppress your ability to use whatever energy you use as a weapon. They also disable your ability to materialize things in your space, greatly diminishing your combative ability. They cannot be removed through sheer force? that is unless you mutilate yourselves. A machine in this complex controls them and by deactivating it, the rings just slip off. As for your powers, golden-haired youkai, while you were out, Kotohime put you through a process she likes to call ?conditioning.? In that process, one?s innate powers are extracted into a crystallized form. The resulting crystal is then surgically implanted into another?s body, thus allowing that person to use those powers. I wouldn?t be surprised is Koto ?stole? your ability for herself.?

Yukari?s hands curl into fists, ?What? I?ll kill her! In one way or another, her life will be mine to take!?

Toyohime smiles awkwardly, ?Well, if you can find a way out of here somehow, you can try??

Yukari takes a few deep breaths, knowing that getting angry in this situation will not help. ?When I first met this ?Kotohime,?? says Yukari, ?She introduced herself as the empire?s fourth princess. Just how many princes and princesses are there??

?You do realize it?s the enemy you are making small talk with?? whispers Sikieiki to Yukari.

Yukari shrugs, ?She doesn?t seem like a? you know? BAD Lunarian??

?I heard that,? says Toyohime, ?No trouble, though. I find you interesting and reasonable. To answer your question, there are no princes and there are four princesses: Myself, my real sister, Yorihime, Kotohime? and one I?ve never met??

?Care to tell us what you mean by ?real? sister?? asks Sikieiki.

Toyohime explains, ?Yori is my blood related sister. Really, only the exiled first princess is the empress? biological daughter. The rest of us were taken in. ?Mother? truly loves Koto, but she adopted Yori and I for our? convenience??

??Convenience???

?Yori and I are the last surviving students of the moon?s former greatest mind, Miss Yagokoro. With her wisdom passed on to us, mother figured that princess status would be a great asset for the empire?s chain of command, thus, our adoption.?

?Ah!? Yukari knows Eirin came from the moon, but also that she was escaping from there, along with Kaguya. She decided to say nothing and give the Lunarians no leads.

?Huh?? There is a yawn, ?By ?Miss Yagokoro,? do you mean Eirin Yagokoro??

Yukari whirls around to see that Komachi had just woken up. ?You idiot!?

Komachi picks the sleep out of her eyes, ?What did I do??

Toyohime?s face lights up, ?You KNOW her? Where is she??

???

Toyohime?s expression softens, she slumps to her knees, and she clasps her hands together, as she begs, ?Please tell me! I really want to know! Is she okay??

Yukari sighs and pauses for several seconds, ?Alright. I?m sure you?ll go to whatever means to find out. I guess the cat?s out of the proverbial bag?? Yukari explains everything she knows about what became of Eirin after she left the moon with the emissaries to retrieve Kaguya, to how she took them to Gensokyo, to the moon incident, and finally? ?? she and Kaguya were taken away. I don?t know what Yumei?s plans are with them, though??

Toyohime tenses up, ?I see. I wish I could do something with that information, but unfortunately, our forces can only operate within other boundaries on nights of a full moon??

?So, now that you know, what do you plan to do?? asks Komachi.

Toyohime pauses, ?I would like to find her and bring her home, but I respect her too much to dishonor her wishes. For now, the information I had gained will not leave these walls?? Toyohime walks toward the dungeon?s entrance, ?I?ll be sure to visit you again, and? thank you? for being there for Miss Yagokoro when she and Kaguya needed you, golden-haired youkai.?

?It?s Yukari. Yukari Yakumo.?

?Yukari? I will remember that name?? Toyohime leaves the dungeon.

Komachi remarks, ?Looks like you made a new friend, Yukari.?

?I hope so,? says Yukari, her lips curling into a smirk, ?Hopefully through that, I can manipulate her into releasing us. It will happen, mark my words! I will make Kotohime PAY for what she did to me!?


Meanwhile, in Makai, the immortal maid, Sakuya and the demon maid, Yumeko?s battle begins with Alice, Shinki, Yuki, and Mai watching on.

Sakuya begins the duel by throwing a single knife at Yumeko to see how she will react and gauge her skill.

?Hmph.? Yumeko swings her knife upward, deflecting Sakuya?s knife, causing it to spin into the air. The demon maid then whirls around to toss her knife, which Sakuya narrowly sidesteps out of the way of. However, Yumeko then jumps up, grabs Sakuya?s previously thrown knife out of the air, and tosses it down at the immortal maid, who is momentarily immobile from the momentum of dodging the first knife.

?Damn!? With no time to dodge, Sakuya raises her arms in defense and the knife sinks into her arm, ?AAGGH!?

?Sakuya!? yells Alice.

?That?s our Yumeko,? says Yuki.

Yumeko says with a deceptively sweet smile, ?That wasn?t bad, fellow housekeeper, but it looks like I have the advantage here. You might want to give up, you know. The sight of other people?s blood excites me and sometimes I lose control. When that gets to be the case, accidents happen.?

Sakuya pulls the knife out of her arm, ?UGH! I assure you, I?ve been through worse. We?ve only gotten started.?

?That?s the spirit! Let?s continue, then!? Yumeko draws another knife and charges toward Sakuya, the distance between them closing faster than the immortal maid anticipated. Sakuya barely blocks Yumeko?s attack in time and then jumps away to put distance between them again, as she knows Yumeko has the speed advantage. Knives materialize between Sakuya?s fingers, and she tosses one handful, and then the other at Yumeko, who twists to one side to avoid the first throw, and then swings her knife, deflecting the second. Yumeko gets in close for another close-range knife attack, which the immortal maid sways back to dodge, but the demon maid follows her attack with a kick, which sends Sakuya slamming back-first into the wall.

Yumeko rushes forward to thrust a knife into Sakuya, who quickly sidesteps and avoids the attack, and then dashes back toward the middle of the room, again for distance, and draws a spellcard, ?Time Sign: Private Square!? A pillar of area, with Yumeko in the center, becomes monochrome, as the time within it stands still.

?What just happened?? asks Yuki.

Alice answers, ?That?s Sakuya?s power. She can control time.?

Yuki?s eyes widen, ?Really? Wow, the outside world has some interesting things??

??? Mai attentively watches to see what will happen.

Shinki folds her arms in front of her, ?Quite a talent your friend has, Alice, but we will see if that?s what?s needed to defeat Yumeko??

Sakuya dashes frantically around the frozen Yumeko, materializing and tossing knives, which stop short upon reaching the outside of the pillar. Finally, the spell reaches its limit and time resumes. Yumeko notices the knives as they start to advance on her, gradually becoming faster. Quickly and instinctively, she leaps up, avoiding any major damage, though a few of the knives nick her ankles, and lands outside the danger zone.

?I did not expect that,? says Yumeko, ?Quite a power.?

??? Sakuya says nothing, dissatisfied over the utter lack of success her spell had.

Yumeko guesses at the nature of Sakuya?s technique, ?They just appeared, and you suddenly went from one location to another, so I suspect you did something along the lines of freezing time??

?Ah!? Sakuya is surprised at how fast Yumeko figured it out.

?It seems the knives need a little time to move, thus the time window, and there was only so much space you could affect, which is why the knives were not closer. Plus, there were no knives above me to cut off my escape, so it seems there is something to prevent you from covering that area. I hope that?s not your best. How boring. At any rate, let us resume, shall we?? Yumeko tosses three knives at Sakuya, who tosses three of her own in retaliation. The knives collide and deflect off each other. Yumeko summons a group of magic circles that fire out knives. To stay on the same level of power as the demon maid, Sakuya does the same, and soon, there is a large crossfire sequence between the two maids. Both manage to dodge most of the knives, though some get through their defenses and inflict minor damage.

As the battle rages, Alice says to Shinki, ?This needs to end soon! I do recall how Yumeko can get when a battle goes on for too long. Sakuya could end up in serious danger!?

Shinki says, calmly, ?Oh, I?ll worry about that when the time comes.?

?It could be too late by then??

?It won?t. Trust me, dear Alice.?

?Time to end this!? yells Sakuya, drawing a spellcard, ?Silver Sign!? Her magic circles multiply in number. Sakuya thrusts her open palm in Yumeko?s direction, ?Perfect Maid!? All at the same time, the magic circles fire out a swarm of knives.

Two knives materialize in Yumeko?s hands, ?Is that it? I imagined you had a challenge coming my way!? The demon maid charges into Sakuya?s attack, quickly swinging her knives and deflecting Sakuya?s until she gets all the way through with only some minor nicks.

Sakuya bites her lip, ?Damn??

Yumeko says triumphantly, ?My reflexes are the best in Makai. It?s insulting to think such a feeble attack would beat me! Now then?? Yumeko draws a spellcard, ?I?ve seen what a couple of your cards can do. Now allow me mine!? Yumeko raises her spellcard, ?Demon Sign: Hell Mirror!? To her left and right, two identical Yumekos appear.

?Tch.?

All three Yumekos jump away and toss knives at the maid at the same time. Sakuya narrowly dodges, but then the three Yumekos separate, and she loses track of the original.

One Yumeko dashes in close to deliver a close range knife attack that Sakuya leaps away from. Out the corner of her eye, she notices another Yumeko toss a knife at her, which Sakuya reacts to at the right moment, sidesteps, catches out of the air, and tosses back at its original thrower. The knife sinks into her lower chest, and the Yumeko bursts into black flames and vanishes. Sakuya acknowledges it as a fake, but also realizes something that differed from the original.

?Your friend has skills,? says Yuki to Alice.

Alice folds her arms in front of her, ?The real Yumeko would not be caught off-guard like that. I assume the copies lack the ability of the original??

Sakuya declares a spellcard, ?Time Sign!? Energy fills her, but she doesn?t cast her spell right away.

?Haa!? One Yumeko attempts another melee attack on Sakuya, who again dodges, but the other jumps over its copy, lands, and prepares to strike.

?Private Square!? Sakuya again casts the spell where she freezes time in a small area, in which both Yumekos get caught. She dashes around the monochrome pillar, tossing knives, which stop and surround the Yumekos. Time resumes and the knives fly. One Yumeko jumps out of the danger zone, while the other gets stabbed from all direction as she tries to confirm the situation. Naturally, that Yumeko bursts into flames, revealing itself as the fake.

?Not a bad trick,? compliments Sakuya, ?But it wasn?t hard to find its flaw.?

?I figured as much,? says Yumeko, ?My copies lack my unparalleled reflexes. However, I figured you?d make it through that spell?? Yumeko readies another spellcard, ?I wonder how you will deal with this one?? She raises the card, ?Flash Sign: Shining Blaze!? Suddenly, Yumeko vanishes with a blur.

Sakuya raises her knife in defense, ?Where did you go, Yumeko??

?Oh, I?m here, I assure you?? Sakuya notices Yumeko?s voice is constantly on the move, coming from various directions and distances ?? but it?s obvious you can?t keep up with me??

?Tch??

?Surprise~? Yumeko momentarily appears in front of Sakuya, quickly jabs her knife into Sakuya?s left eye, and then disappears. It all happened before the immortal maid could react.

?AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!? Sakuya slumps to the floor in pain, her left hand over her blinded eye, blood seeping between her fingers, ?Ugghhhh??

Yuki winces at Yumeko?s action, ?Ouchie! Sucks to be her!?

Alice grits her teeth, ?Gr??

??? Shinki and Mai watch with unchanging expressions.

?Well, it looks like Yumeko?s getting into this,? says Yuki with a slight shrug, ?When she gets excited, along comes her inner sadist.?

?End this!? Alice tells Shinki, ?At this rate, Sakuya will lose? or worse! It?s over??

??? Mai briefly glares at Alice.

?Hmhmhm?? Shinki chuckles.

?What?s so funny? This is serious!?

?It?s nothing,? says Shinki, ?It?s just unusual to see you care so much about someone. Still, it?s too early to call a winner.?

?What??

?Your friend hasn?t yet given up. She?s determined??

Sakuya rises up, still with her left hand over her eye, and tightly grasping a knife in her right. Yumeko had slashed her back and shoulder, but compared to the pain in her eye, the rest is trivial.

?You are so stubborn,? says Yumeko, on the move, ?Are you REALLY that serious about getting Alice out of here, only for her to die? Think about how meaningless all of this is!?

??? Not saying anything, Sakuya focuses. All the colors around her become lighter, but time continues to move, albeit at a slower pace. With time slowed, Sakuya can see Yumeko?s movements, though they are still amazingly fast. Yumeko tries to perform more hit-and-run attacks, though Sakuya can now defend against them, but little else. She continues defending until the effects of Yumeko?s spell wear off.

Time resumes its normal pace and worn out from the time manipulation, Sakuya?s breathing becomes heavy. Yumeko smiles, ?Another time thing, I take it? It seems those abilities take a lot out of you.?

???

?Plenty of blood. I?m quite satisfied?? Yumeko readies a third spellcard, ?Are you ready for the coup de grace? Maid Secret Skill: Persistence!? In front of Yumeko, five magic circles appear, and each fires out a knife.

In spite of the pain, as well as the heavy loss of energy due to spellcards, time manipulation, and loss of blood, Sakuya still barely musters the energy to jump over the knives as she runs toward Yumeko, ?Ugh? That?s? a rather underwhelming spell??

Yumeko places a hand on her hip, ?Perhaps you should turn around??

?Hm?? Sakuya glances behind her. The knives she had previous dodged make a U-turn in midair and fly back toward her. ?Ah!? Sakuya dodges to the side, but the knives stay in the air and continue flying toward her. She runs and flies, despite her body?s protests to stay ahead of them.

Yumeko says calmly, ?It?s no use. Those knives will stay on your trail until they hit you.?

?Tch.? Sakuya tries to consider her options. She could attack Yumeko and hurt her enough to shatter her concentration on the spell, but in her current condition, it?s doubtful she?d succeed in the attempt. Spellcards are out of the question, since Sakuya no longer has the energy to use one without harming herself.

?Please! Just give up!? yells Alice to Sakuya, ?It?s not worth this!?

Sakuya groans, ?I never give up... The only people... I?ve ever lost to are my mistress? Reimu? and Eirin? the longer that list? the greater my weakness? This? is not just about you, Alice??

Yumeko pouts, ?You are so stubborn, it?s sad. Fine then, that will be your epitaph.? Yumeko charges at Sakuya. The immortal maid attempts to guard with her knife, but Yumeko?s swing is so strong, it knocks the weapon from Sakuya?s hand. Yumeko then thrusts her knife in Sakuya?s gut.

?ACK!? Sakuya coughs out blood. At the same time, Yumeko?s homing knives sink into her back.

Yumeko smirks, ?Fighting to the death, eh??

?Sounds good,? groans Sakuya, ?Nothing to hold me? back? now?? Sakuya slowly pulls a spellcard out of her pocket, ?Last? Wo_? Suddenly, Sakuya?s spellcard is cut in half. She and Yumeko glance at what caused it: A doll armed with a sword, which then vanishes.

They look at the obvious source. ?That?s enough!? yells Alice, running over to Sakuya.

?Heh?? Sakuya slumps to the ground.

?Crap?? says Yuki, shaking her head, ?So much for a good finish??

?You didn?t need to do that?? says Sakuya, ?I?m finished anyway??

?Shinki!? yells Alice, ?Is there any way we can save her? There isn?t a lot of time!?

Shinki walks over to them, arms folded, ?Of course, there is. Sara!?

In front of Shinki, a girl with pink hair, wearing a red dress over a short-sleeved white shirt appears, ?What?s up, Mothe_? she sees Sakuya, ?Oh my GOD! I guess I see what you need me for??

Alice stares at the girl, ?Sara? I forgot about you??

Sara glances at Alice and says sarcastically, ?Oh, gee, thank you for thinking about me all these years, Alice, especially when I was constantly wondering about you? Ah, whatever, there are other issues right now?? Sara kneels next to Sakuya and pulls the knives out of her body.

?AHH!? Sakuya screams and winces in pain.

Sara rolls her eyes, ?You?re not making this any more pleasant for me, y?know? Now hold still?? Sara holds her hands out and they glow white.

Alice glances at Shinki, ?Um? What is she doing??

The creator explains, ?I granted Sara healing powers not too long ago. I thought it could come in handy someday??

?Alice?? moans Sakuya.

?Sakuya??

?It looks like I?ve failed to prove myself to Shinki??

?No, I think you have done enough,? says Shinki.

?What??

?You didn?t give in, and you even tried to use a Last Word. Sometimes winning isn?t what?s important. Your resolve is indeed strong?? Shinki turns her attention to Alice, ?It?s not too late, Alice. Are you sure you want to return to Gensokyo? You are aware that death awaits you there.?

?I won?t say that until it happens,? says Alice, ?Besides, I have friends. They can help me against whatever is supposed to end me.?

Shinki closes her eyes in resignation, ?I see. It is your choice, and I won?t stop you, though I insist against it to the end.?

?Thank you,? says Alice gratefully.

?However,? says Shinki, ?Night is about to fall. I suggest you remain here for the night. I will return you tomorrow.?

?But??

?We should,? says Sakuya, ?You know as well as anyone that it?s not a good idea to explore an unknown area at night.?

?Okay. Sure.?

Sara?s hands stop glowing, ?There. You should be good.?

Sakuya turns her attention toward her body?s condition. She is still blind in her left eye, and most of her cuts remain, ?How am I ?good?? Nothing is different.?

?Well, exCUSE me for being weak,? growls Sara, ?I can?t heal ALL that! I just got you out of the danger zone. For the rest, you should just get patched up.?

?Good work, Sara,? says Shinki.

?Well, at least I got a chance to use that power?? Sara vanishes.

Shinki says to Yumeko, ?Yumeko, I have some tasks for you,?

?What is needed, Mother?? asks Yumeko obediently.

?Take Alice?s friend and bandage her injures and your own. After that, prepare a futon in Alice?s room for her friend and make Alice?s bed. Then, I want you to cook dinner. Also, at some point,? Shinki points at the floor, where blood is smeared all over, and discarded knives laying around, ?clean, wash, and disinfect this floor.?

Yumeko stares at the floor, wide-eyed, realizing the mess she was partially responsible for making, ?Um? Yes, Mother. I shall get to work right away?? She helps Sakuya to her feet, and they leave the room, with Alice following. Shniki vanishes, leaving only Yuki and Mai.

?This is bad!? cries Yuki, ?Alice is going to leave us again, and Mother says she?s going to die, so? SHE?S GOING TO DIE!?

???

Yuki clenches a determined fist, ?Well, I, for one, will not let that happen. Mother may punish us for this, but I have a plan. Mai, wake up at midnight, because your help will be much appreciated.?

???

?Okay!? Yuki leaves the room with a mix of tension and resolve.

Mai stares straight ahead blankly ?? ? ? ? Luize??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 03:09:05 PM
==

Well, I really gotta hand it to Satori. However the hell this underground complex was made, it really is BIG. Reimu, Youmu, and I had been following her directions, and are now walking down a long corridor. She said it would go on for several miles, but that seems like an understatement. We?ve walked, we?ve ran, and we don?t seem to be getting any closer! It was noon when Alice and Sakuya disappeared and Tenshi sent us down here, and quite a bit of time has passed. Sunset has probably passed already, and that means it?s dark out. It had occurred to me to fire a ?spark? spell upward, and make a tunnel to the surface, but we don?t know how deep we are right now, and if we are too deep, we?d end up being buried alive, so screw THAT!

?Dammit! I?m hungry!? Youmu?s bitching about yet another inconvenience, not that I blame her. It reminds me that we hadn?t eaten since before leaving the netherworld.

An apple materializes in Reimu?s hand, and she tosses it to Youmu, ?Eat up.? Good old Reimu. At least SHE was conscious about rations?

Youmu?s face light?s up, ?Reimu? Thank you so much!? Youmu prepares to take a bite, but then she hesitates, ?But? what about you??

?I?m not hungry,? says Reimu, mere seconds before her stomach rumbles. Liar.

??? There is a long pause between the three of us. Finally, Youmu tosses the apple into the air, draws, and swings around the Hakurouken, splitting it into thirds, carving out the core at the same time. She could totally make the cut at one of those Japanese restaurants where the cooks cut the food up with a fancy knife show. We each grab a piece out of the air. Youmu returns the sword to its sheathe, an almost smug look on her face. I guess she likes to show off like this, not that Reimu or I bother to comment. I don?t know about the others, but that apple slice managed to tide me over. Of course, like Reimu, and UNLIKE Youmu, I?m taking my time eating it.

The endless walk continues. Good thing those crystals light the place, otherwise, I?d be freaking out from pitch blackness.

?I wonder how Alice and Sakuya are doing,? says Reimu.

Youmu states her thoughts, ?Well, they were about to get seriously harmed, and there was nothing any of us could do to save them in time. That gap, whatever its source was, saved them from that fate. If it wanted them dead, it shouldn?t have appeared. I imagine they are fine right now??

I still can?t help but worry about Alice and Sakuya, but Youmu has a point.

??? Reimu looks at me suspiciously.

?What?s with that look, Reimu??

?You?ve been awful quiet since Sakuya and Alice disappeared.?

What the hell? ?I?m worried, dammit! Why aren?t YOU being more quiet??

Reimu smiles wryly, ?Good point??

We keep going. Reimu and I finished our apple slice and Youmu starts bitching about her hunger AGAIN. However, Reimu insists on saving what food we have. While I gave the miko props for worrying about food, she sure didn?t take enough of it?

Finally, we reach a large room. How large? Almost big enough to fit a VILLAGE in it, but it?s mostly empty (Okay, maybe I?m exaggerating, but really, it?s huge). Something catches Reimu?s eye off in the distance to the left. It?s a red gateway with stairs beyond it; The entrance to a shrine. Something else catches Youmu?s eye, a large creature with long claws, beady eyes, and elongated nose, and lotsa fur. A mole youkai! Non-humanoid; no intelligence; basically a wild animal.

Youmu approaches the creature, drawing her swords. The mole youkai runs away, sensing the danger. Youmu cases after it, ?Get back here! You?re gonna be our dinner!? She glances back at me and Reimu, ?I?ll get it and cook it!? That THING?S gonna be our food for the night. Sigh? Looking forward to it?

Reimu walks toward the shrine and I follow. Is it the Hakurei Shrine? Guess I?ll find out?

We get close enough to read the sign on the gate. It doesn?t say ?Hakurei;? It says ?change.? However, Reimu reacts to it just as strongly, if not stronger if it were the Hakurei Shrine, ?No way! It can?t be!? Reimu runs up the stairs. I again follow to find out what her messed-up reaction is all about. We reach the top aaand? ? ? it?s a shrine. Nothing outta the ordinary here (besides it being underground). However, Reimu is still looking at it as if we had reached the realm of infinite wisdom, or something equally melodramatic. Okay, maybe I?m exaggerating, but seriously, she is happy. REALLY. REALLY. HAPPY.

?This is it?? says Reimu, wide-eyed, ?This is the place??

?Yeah?? I say, ?It?s a shrine? this is not your shrine??

Reimu shakes her head, ?No. For me, this is where it all began.?

?THIS is where your accident happened??

?No, Marisa. This was before the accident. You see, I was bored with my life. Everything was the same. I was afraid? afraid that I was doomed to the fate that society expects of us all. I wanted something exciting to happen. To change my perspective? I prayed? hoping that something in my life would change forever!?

?Reimu??

?Marisa, that accident was godsend! It was through that that Gensokyo came to be, and I couldn?t be happier with that life?? She looks at the shrine?s donation box, ?Before? I only paid 200 yen?? 200 yen? If I recall the current exchange rate correctly? she got her prayers answered in THIS way? for just two bucks? Sweet deal?

Reimu searches her pockets, ?It?s only right I make a donation to repay the kami of change?s benevolence? ? ? Here!? She pulls 4000 yen out of her pocket, walks to the box, and donates her repayment. Ironically, thanks to Reimu herself, this shrine had instantly become more successful than her own. That?s sad?

Reimu had calmed down a bit, though I can?t get over the fact that a few minutes prior, she was acting like a borderline psycho. We sit on the steps leading up to the shrine. ?I can?t believe it,? says Reimu, ?I found this place again? underground? and yet, it still looks the same way it did when I made that donation. I remember it clearly. I was just out with an? unwanted friend of mine, and we stopped by the place on a random whim. No one seemed to understand me, but the miko attending the shrine? she was just telling me the nature of the shrine?s god, but in that moment, it was like she got me. Like she understood that I wanted some kind of alteration in my life. It was because of her? that I ended up becoming a miko myself on the other side. Our dream had become reality, thanks to Yumei, but it was still the two of us that shaped Gensokyo into what it was??

?Yeah,? I respond, ?Remember that battle we had? the one to settle our rivalry before we woke up and forgot everything? At that time, you said that a ?God? exists in all of us, in the sense that we have our own worlds and we can do anything we want with them. Let?s say that two other people were sent into comas, and that Yumei used them as a means of creating a new universe. Wouldn?t those people accomplish the same feat we had? Really, this power isn?t just ours?. Absolutely ANYONE would be capable of doing this??

We both pause, and then start laughing. We try to get the crazy ideas out of our heads, because, seriously, if we go any further, we?d start to question the origins of our reality, and I?m in no mood for that.

Reimu gets back to the circumstances of her accident, ?When I was knocked out, it was by a truck that couldn?t slow down. It reached the top of a hill and lifted off the ground. I thought it flew. I was so mesmerized that I failed to dodge in time. It was a twisted answer to my prayers? but an answer, nonetheless? What about you, Marisa??

Reimu wants to know how I got into an accident? Well, she just did, so I?ll make it fair, ?It wasn?t much. I was on my way to school. I reached an intersection and started across the street. Suddenly, some asshole in a red car came rocketing toward me. I also heard police sirens. I guess that person was trying to get away. He didn?t really seem to care who got in his way, and bulldozed through an ?innocent? teenage girl. End of story.?

?That was unlucky for you,? says Reimu, ?But aren?t you now happy it happened? Thanks to that, we got to meet and made many more friends. You were willing to even fight me to defend it.?

?I guess?? The only reason I fought Reimu as she was awakening was because I had no memory of my life as Marisa Starr and I couldn?t comprehend otherwise?

To be honest, it?s only a matter of time until Reimu starts asking the difficult questions about the situation, like which life I prefer more. Luckily, I?m saved by Youmu, who is walking up the stairs, carrying a giant furry monster on her back, saying in between breaths, ?I have dinner? The two of you? could have? helped me catch? this thing, you know? I?m the one? who has to cook it!?

I heard from Alice that during the Mountain of Faith incident, Youmu put some outdoor survival tricks to use. I never saw her do things like that, but now, I can see that Youmu really is skilled at cooking, even without a kitchen (something she learned from her old man, I guess). Using some chunks of root that extend all the way down here, she makes a fire and a rack to hang our future meal above. Within a half-hour, dinner is ready. Well, meat is meat, and even through these primitive conditions, the food tastes pretty good. I eat casually, while Youmu wolfs down her food, but Reimu isn?t eating very quickly, in spite of her good mood not so long ago? I wonder what?s up with her all of a sudden?

Afterward, we find some futons inside the shrine, and use those to sleep. Not a bad find, especially when I thought we were going to be sleeping on rocks. Well, our journey continues tomorrow?

==

Tsuki no Miyako, Lunarian capital?

At the Lunarian Imperial Academy, Yumemi sits in her office, looking over some notes of recent experimental results, when Chiyuri rushes into the room with an expression of mixed urgency and excitement, ?Professor!?

?What is it, Chiyuri? This had better be worth disturbing me.?

?Professor, I?m sorry I did it without your permission, but I looked through your files at former projects??

??? Yumemi?s eyes narrow, she gets out of her chair, and she slaps Chiyuri over the head.

?Owww??

?You know I hate it when you do that. The results of your failure to follow instructions had better intrigue me.?

?Yeah, well, you see, there was one experiment from over a year ago. It was just a small ?do something and see what happens? experiment; easily overlooked in favor of larger projects, but the fact remains, nothing came of it. Hope was lost after a week of no results??

?? And??

?Well, it?s not so much the experiment itself, but where the subject was sent to??

?Where, may I ask??

?Earthly Realm #0578: Terra. The place that? kinda? ?transformed? into the previously eliminated realm, Gensokyo.?

Yumemi raises an eyebrow, ?Fascinating. Which test subject was sent??

Chiyuri scratches her head as she recall the information she gathered, ?Um, it was? A7P02-YUMEI. Sent after astral projection and an artificial infusion of 3.2 teravams of energy.?

?Sounds vaguely familiar. On the next full moon, we shall check for ourselves what happened. After all, this might have something to do with us now?? Yumemi?s face lights up, ?Just think of it, Chiyuri! OUR experiment might have caused something like that!?

Chiyuri steps back, ?That?s a heckuva result, then!?

?Indeed. Still we do not know for sure? but not much longer. After all, tomorrow night is the night; the full moon!?


In a dark room, four figures, shrouded by darkness, look at an image shown in a small pool of water at the center of the room. The image is the supermarket in the ruined city, where Reisen, Mokou, Cirno, and Yuyuko had decided to spend the night.

The first figures says, ?Well, it looks like they are well on their way to finding our ?guests.? It?s up to us to make sure they don?t make it that far.?

The second figure, with a drunken slurred voice says, ?Ya. Yoomay told uz too.?

The third figure laughs manically, ?HYAHAHA! I don?t care about what Yumei wants. All I want is to get back at that stupid fairy! It?s about damn time I got her back for that indignity!?

?But it?s not like you can disobey Yumei either, flowergirl,? says the first figure, ?Regardless of your reasoning, you ARE doing what she says.?

The third figure growls, ?Tch. It?s annoying to take orders from that weakling!?

?Well, that ?weakling? is who we owe our rebirth to. If it makes you feel better, you can call it a debt of honor? or something like that.?

?Screw you, gearhead! I do as I want, now and always.?

?Heh. Believe what you want.?

?You can do whatever you want with the others, but that fairy is MINE! Got it??

The forth figure, also with a drunken voice, says, ?Fyne. Yoo can wayst yer en?gy on dem. Dee o?hers will be moar fun.?

The first figure says, ?Well, tomorrow morning, I?ll give them QUITE a wakeup present! I shall try out my new Super-duper Mega All-powerful Great Kappa Mk.18 on them!?


On the supermarket?s roof, Mokou finds Cirno practicing with a spellcard. The sky is dark and the almost full moon gives ample lighting.

Cirno raises her spellcard, ?Last Word!? Suddenly, cold mist spirals around her, concealing her form. Finally, she yells, ?Disengage!? And she returns to normal, ?Hey, I think I?m catching on!?

?What the hell do you think you?re doing?? asks Mokou.

Cirno turns to the immortal in surprise, ?Oh! Hi Mokou! I was just practicing my Last Word! I?m going to be the ultimate youkai, so it?s only right I know how to do it, right? I think I?m getting better!?

?You IDIOT!? yells Mokou, causing the ice fairy to flinch.

?Wh-what??

?You DO realize what happens when you seriously do that, right? You die! It doesn?t mean much to immortals like me, but you? you would be willingly sacrificing your own life!?

?I? I know that!?

?Do you? I already told you how precious your mortal life is, and now I see you practicing THAT? You won?t get another chance; you DO know that, right? Does living really mean so little to you??

Speechless, Cirno says, ?Well? I just want to know it? I don?t want to ever use it? but? um??

Mokou takes a deep breath, ?Sorry. I didn?t mean to flip out at you like that. It just gets to me when I see mortals doing something that potentially endangers their lives.?

?Something gets to you?? asks Cirno.

Mokou blushes, ?Sh-shut up, fairy girl. Anyway, you don?t need to know a Last Word to be strong??

?? Okay. Sorry.?

?It?s pretty late,? says Mokou, ?You couldn?t sleep??

?I just have too much energy,? answers Cirno, ?Alice used to tell me that I should do something more? um? what?s the word?? Prod? ucta??

?Productive??

?Yeah, that?s it! She said I should do something more ?productive? with all my energy, like train.?

?Good advice.?

?What about you, Mokou? Why are you up??

Mokou taps the roof with her foot, ?Because I?d get nightmares if I sleep in that rundown shithole. Rabbit girl and ghost girl can sleep wherever they want, but not me. I like to sleep under the stars.?

Cirno?s face lights up, ??Sleep under the stars?? Hey, I like that! Can I sleep under the stars with you??

?Be my guest, fairy girl.? Mokou slumps down, and then lies on her back.

?? I have a name, you know!? Cirno does the same as Mokou and they lay side by side.

???

Minutes pass. Finally, Cirno complains, ?The ground?s too hard! How can we sleep??

?Don?t think about it. That?s what I do.?

Another minute passes. Cirno says, breaking the brief silence, ?Mokou??

?What? Just because you can?t sleep doesn?t mean it?s okay to keep me up.?

?The stars. Do you know what?s up there??

?Who knows,? says Mokou, ?Maybe someday, I?ll find that out for myself. It?s funny. I?ve lived for thousands of years and I thought I had leaned lots, but it?s questions like that which make me realize how little I know.?

?Mokou??

?I?ve spend so many years trying to exact a futile revenge on Kaguya, but in the end, I?ve never made the most of my immortality. What a waste. Remember, fairy girl, don?t make my mistakes.?

?It?s Cirno.?

???
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Tengukami on April 25, 2009, 04:28:40 PM
I'm happy to see Cirno getting some love.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 25, 2009, 04:53:03 PM
[And now a brand new installment! Enjoy!]
---

At the Netherworld prison, Sikieiki glances at Yukari, ?Yukari??

?Yes??

?You told us the basic gist of how you ended up in this situation, but something is bothering me. You see, your standing among Gensokyo?s denizens has always been a subject of admiration for me? Therefore, I am rather confounded by the fact that you ended up how you did.?

???

?Be specific, Yukari. How were you killed? How were you captured? How did you end up dead and powerless??

?Erk!? Yukari flinches. It was an excellent question. Something the mistress of boundaries had wondered herself, reevaluating her self-image in the process, ?You see, I already told you about what Yumei said. It was that while she said it, a spear suddenly appeared in her hand and she attacked me. It was fast and without warning. After I got here, one of Kotohime?s thugs attacked me from behind, draining my spirit energy.?

Sikieiki ponders Yukari?s answer for a moment, ?It sounds like you are easily caught off guard.?

Yukari pouts at the judge, ?You know that?s untrue.?

?RRRAAAWWWRRR!? A terrifying sound comes from behind Yukari.

?AAH!? The boundary ghost flinches, and then turns to look at a grinning Komachi.

?Gotcha! It looks like the yama hit the nail on the head, Miss Blindside! Nice reflexes, by the way.?

?Hmph.? Yukari blushes at the fact that her secret weakness had been so thoroughly exploited on numerous occasions.

Sikieiki leans back, ?At any rate, let?s say this ?Yumei? had been watching everything that had gone on in Gensokyo since it came into being. That would mean that she had plenty of time, more than many other things, to study YOU, Yukari, including your personal flaws. It would seem like simple knowledge of one?s adversary is a dangerous weapon in itself, regardless of how powerful one?s opponent is??

??? Yukari wants to object, but cannot deny the truth of Sikieiki?s statement, ?W-well how about you, yama? Your kind?s powers are universally known. How did you end up here??

?I already told you we were ambushed.?

?Not good enough, yama. Now it?s YOUR turn to be specific.?

?Very well, then. My intentions to go to this Netherworld to convince the Lunarians to leave were not exactly a secret. Just as I was about to lecture her, however, Kotohime summoned a great number of her guards? there were quite a few? about??

?The upper hundreds, perhaps?? comments Komachi.

?That is an exaggeration, but there were definitely a lot. We managed to fend off a few, but they overwhelmed us very quickly. Afterward, we were sent here. At least you had the luxury of being underestimated, Yukari, before you got captured.?

?If anything, we were OVERestimated,? adds Komachi.

?I see?? Yukari stares at the rings on her index fingers that suppress her ability to use materialization and energy attacks, ?This may very well be the first time I?ve ever felt? weak? helpless, even??

?This isn?t just your first time,? says Sikieiki, ?But I suppose if there is a little justice in the universe, we are being taught a valuable lesson. We?ve had the luxury of being in power and having authority over thousands? millions, even, for as long as we can remember. We?ve tried to be fair to those beneath us, but we never truly understood them? that feeling of being helpless, almost like pray. As we speak now, we are experiencing what the weak feel like, and there are those in a lower position still??

Yukari glances at Sikieiki, ?Did you spend the last couple hours preparing that statement in your head??

Sikieiki?s eyes widen, ?How did you?? Er? Of course not. It?s something all three of us should have realized.?

?It pisses me off, but the lady has a point,? remarks Komachi, ?We always looked down on others, and now, we are the ones being looked down on. Power sure does icky things to people??

?Whatever,? says Yukari, ?We still have to find a way out of here, somehow. I?ll just work my magic on ?Her Royal Majesty Toyohime? and she?ll let us out. You?ll see.?

Outside the dungeon, Toyohime had been listening to their conversation, and had been deep in thought, ?They could come in handy for the ?plan.? Still, Do I really want to go through with this?? Koto? Mother? Master Konpaku??


In the underground complex, a faint noise awakens Reimu from her sleep while Marisa and Youmu continue to sleep soundly. She notices a faint light shining from the outside. She exits the shrine and sees a dim orb of yellow light slowly floating away.

?What is that?? She follows the orb, which speeds up and flies down the shrine?s steps. She follows it to the foot of the stairs, and suddenly, in its place, Yumei appears.

?Hello, Reimu!? greets the moon rabbit with a cheery smile, ?I?ve come to_?

?It?s you!? Reimu leaps toward Yumei and delivers an aerial kick, which sends her reeling.

?GUH!? Yumei slides across the ground. Reimu runs after her, materializing her gohei in her hand.

Yumei rolls onto her back and positions her hands into the shape of a T, ?Time out! I?m not here to fight you! Do you see my lance with me? Hell no! I come in peace, dammit!?

Reimu stops, ?Okay. What do want, Yumei??

Yumei gets to her feet and dusts off her ruined business suit, ?I?ve just come here to tell you something you might want to be aware of.?

?What is it??

---
[Yeah, a short one, and that's probably how I'm going to do things from now on. Not much to say here, the part with Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi was mostly there to make their defeat and imprisonment a little easier to swallow.

Stay tuned. Hopefully, the next part will come along soon.]
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on April 26, 2009, 03:08:41 PM
[Next part!]
---

In the chamber where Kaguya and Eirin are imprisoned inside round green fields, Kaguya asks, ?Eirin, have you thought of any ways to get out of this yet??

?No ways that will get us out and guarantee our escape, especially considering we don?t know where we are??

?There HAS to be a way, though! You?re way smarter than Yumei, Eirin! She can?t hold us for long??

?Perhaps, princess, but I?m convinced that she thought of this prison for us, with my intelligence quotient in mind. History has proven that even the most brilliant minds can potentially fall before the power of well-planned trap or overwhelming odds.?

?No??

?Look, I?ll continue thinking for both your sake and mine, but I?m not reaching any logical conclusions in the near future at this rate. The best thing we can do right now is have faith in the others. Reisen will most certainly try to find us. I?d say there is also a chance Mokou would want to save you too??

?Mokou? Why her??

?Please think about it, princess. She views you as her greatest adversary. I?ve had a lot of opportunities to examine her mindset, and I doubt she will let you be defeated by any force besides her own. In a way, you could even say she cares about you, roundabout as though it may seem??

Kaguya starts to giggle, ?Teehee? Mokou? I never would have thought??

?The best plan I can come up with at the moment is to have faith that they will find us.?

There is a long pause, which is eventually broken by Kaguya?s voice, ?Eirin? um? I never asked you this before, but? well? If I asked you for a potion that would do away with my immortality, could make one??

?It?s impossible,? answers Eirin so immediately that Kaguya gets caught off guard, ?Why this all of a sudden? You are the one who asked me for the hourai elixir in the first place.?

?Hypothetically speaking.?

?Hmph. Just like immortality renders a person unable to truly die, immortality, too, is immortal it and of itself.?

?I see. It?s just that? I?ve been wondering about everyone, like mother and father??

??Mother? and ?father???

?I meant my parents when I was exiled here, not Empress Lunariya. Rather, the woodcutter and his wife, as well as the emperor. Also, after hearing about her father from Mokou, I want to apologize to him too. However, they have all been dead for a very long time now, and I?ve lived on ever since. Immortality has its advantages, of course, but anything living can never journey to what lies beyond the Netherworld, and I?ll never be able to see them again. I feel despair when I think of that??

?Princess? Do you regret your request to me now??

?Maybe a little. An eternal life with eternal regrets may very well be what Hell is like. Perhaps someone like me deserves as much for rejecting something that seems so scary? but may also be one of the most precious gifts living things are given??


Alice?s old bedroom in Makai is a room essentially untouched for decades, but kept in good shape by Yumeko. Around it are old dolls Alice had collected over her years as a human. At the back of the room is Alice?s bed, at the foot of which is a futon prepared for Sakuya. After a hearty and delicious dinner, Alice and Sakuya decide to retire for the night. In the dimly lit room, Sakuya, in her futon, whose arms and legs are now completely wrapped in bandages and who also has a white patch over her left eye, directs her attention to a large picture hanging one the wall over the far end of Alice?s bed. In it, there are five figures. Sakuya immediately recognizes three of them as Yuki, Mai, and Sara. In spite of the recognition, she also finds something bizarre, specifically about Mai, as all five girls are smiling as if they don?t have a care in the world, whereas the only expressions Sakuya saw from Mai, personally, were either with bitterness or blankness. She also recognizes Alice, although, unlike the former three, Alice looks considerably younger than her present self, as well as wearing a blue hair ribbon and a dark blue dress over a white blouse. However, she has absolutely no recollection of the fifth girl in the picture, a girl, looking slightly older than the others, with short blonde hair and wearing a white dress and a large white brimmed hat.

?Who is that?? asks Sakuya in regards to the picture.

Alice, who had been having trouble getting to sleep, groans, ?Who?s who??

?That girl in the picture. I recognize Yuki, Mai, Sara, and even the younger you, but I don?t believe I met the remaining girl since we arrived here??

Alice rolls over in her bed and glances up at the picture. ?It?s no one? just? no one?? answers Alice in a suddenly melancholy voice.

??? With Alice?s response, Sakuya realizes she may have touched on something Alice would rather not talk about and abandons her line of questioning.

They eventually fall asleep, though was hard, considering their worries regarding Marisa, Reimu, and Youmu.

However, only a few hours pass before Alice feels someone rubbing her shoulder, gradually disrupting her sleep, ?Mm?hmmm???

?Alice, wake up!? A voice whispers.

Alice looks at her awakener with squinted eyes: Yuki, with Mai standing nearby, whose gaze is cast on the picture Sakuya inquired about earlier.

?Yuki?? What is it??

Yuki instructs Alice, ?Get dressed and meet us in the room where your maid friend and Yumeko fought earlier. Please be there.? With that, Yuki turns and leaves the room.

??? Mai follows Yuki, but briefly looks back at Alice and gives her a sinister expression.

Alice sits for a minute, trying to figure out what Mai?s expression meant before following Yuki?s instructions.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on May 04, 2009, 12:17:56 AM
Heeding what Yuki told her, Alice gets dressed out of her nightgown and into her everyday clothes, and heads to the location she was instructed to go to. Sure enough, Yuki and Mai are there, waiting for her.

?What is the meaning of this?? Alice asks Yuki, ?Why did you wake me up??

Yuki says, after a few seconds of hesitation ?? Mother may have given you permission to return to the world you came from?? Suddenly, a ball of white fire materializes in Yuki?s hand, which she throws at Alice, who narrowly dodges, her arm getting slightly singed in the process, ?But I have not!?

?Y-Yuki??

?I?m sorry, Alice, but you heard Mother! If you go back, you WILL die! You lived here, and you heard her predictions MANY times! Name ONE time she?s been wrong, Alice. Just one! What I am doing is stopping you from making a grave mistake!?

??? Mai stands next to Yuki with her deadpan expression focused on Alice.

?So you?re going to attack me??

?I?m going to put you in a condition where you won?t be able to return. Danger awaits you there, and if you are in no condition to fight, let alone move, you cannot face the danger that will end you!?

?What you are doing, Yuki, is disobeying Shinki!?

?No arguments there. We will most likely get in trouble for this? but it is worth it to keep my dear ?sister? from inevitably losing her life! I could have just incapacitated you in your sleep, but Mother would truly be furious in that case, hence the reason I am giving you a formal challenge and a chance to defend yourself. Besides, it doesn?t make sense for that maid to decide what will happen to you. You?re not going back there unless you prove you got what it takes, and under my rules, mere effort is not enough. You will have to beat both me AND Mai!?

Alice pauses for a few seconds, and then materializes two dolls at her flanks, ?Okay. Fine. Whatever is supposed to kill me, I?m sure the two of you will be good practice.?

Yuki smiles gleefully, ?That?s the spirit!? Then her expression turns to something more menacing, yet sad, ?Now let us begin!? Yuki immediately uses a spellcard, ?Shining Flame: Cremator!? Yuki sends a large white fireball at Alice, who reacts by having tower shields materialize in the arms of her two dolls, and has them fly in front of her, blocking her from the fire, though the sheer heat causes her to sweat. The effect of the spell expires as the shields are reduced to molten metal, destroying the dolls. Alice jumps in Yuki?s direction and summons five dolls armed with lances. Yuki suddenly engulfs herself in white fire and vanishes into a pillar of flame as the dolls fly into it and get burned. An identical pillar erupts in front of Alice, and Yuki dashes out of it, attempting to attack the puppeteer with a flaming punch, which Alice jumps out of the range of and counterattacks with a blast of magic energy that hits the demon?s face, knocking her off her feet and to the ground.

Yuki rubs her face, ?Ouch! You?re as good as I remember??

Alice says with a shrug, ?Excuse me if I was under the impression that you were serious.?

?You should know I?m not THROUGH!? Yuki shoots a fireball at Alice, who dodges, and then jumps away to put more distance between herself and the demon. Yuki follows up with a spellcard, ?Flame Sign: Demon Blaze!? Yuki?s body becomes engulfed in fire and she dashes at Alice, flames erupting from the ground in her wake, at an increased speed that the puppeteer fails to react in time. Yuki slams into Alice, sending her flying and crashing back-first into the wall.

?Guh!? Alice coughs out a small drop of blood, and falls to the ground, clutching her lightly burned torso. She slowly rises to her feet, recovering, ?Tch. That stung a little??

?THIS will end it, Alice. No hard feeling, alright? It?s for your own good!? Yuki raises yet another spellcard, ?Purgatory: Platinum Inferno!? Around Yuki, several fireballs appear. They approach Alice slowly at first, but gradually increasing in speed.

Alice raises a retaliatory spellcard, ?Puppeteer Sign: Dolls in Sea!? Several blue dolls appear around Alice and fly spirals around her, leaving trails of water in their wake, altogether creating a shield of water around Alice, who calmly walks in Yuki?s direction as the demon?s fireballs get extinguished.

?Darn it?? Yuki becomes short of breath.

Alice smirks, ?Feeling under the weather already, Yuki, and you?ve only used three spellcards thus far? I see you are as diligent in your training as ever.?

?Ah??

Alice?s dolls cease creating water and become normal dolls. The puppeteer draws another spellcard, ?You?ll see that I?ve been quite busy since I left Makai. Now feel the fruits of my trials. Corps Command!? Various melee weapons, primarily lances, materialize in the hands of Alice?s dolls. ?Shanghai Battalion!? The dolls fly toward Yuki one by one. The demon dodges the first few dolls, but then gets bombarded by the rest. As Alice?s attack ends, Yuki lands short of Mai, and gets back to her feet fatigued.

?Sheesh, she?s tough. You gotta back me up on this, Mai! It?s gonna take both of us!?

??? The previously idle Mai extends her hand in front of her in Alice?s direction.

Yuki give a satisfied nod, ?Okay! Let?s do this, comrade!? Yuki?s hands ignite and she charges in Alice?s direction. A few more dolls materialize around Alice as she assumes a defensive stance, anticipating the demons? moves? however, she is shocked by what happens next. A lance of ice materializes in front of Mai, but instead of being fired at Alice, it flies in Yuki?s direction and impales the fire demon through her right shoulder.

?OUUUUCH!? Yuki slumps to the floor in pain, ?Mai? why???

??? Mai walks over to Yuki and kicks her to the side, causing the fire demon to slide across the floor and into the wall.

Alice stares at Mai, ?Mai? What do you think you?re???

At the edge of the room, Shinki appears, ?What??

Around the same time, Sakuya enters, ?What is? going on??

Mai glances back at Shinki, ?? Glad you could make it to the festivities, Mother.?

?She speaks?? says the dumbfounded Sakuya.

?What is the meaning of this?? demands Shinki.

Mai answers, ??The meaning of this,? Mother, is that justice, a long time coming, is about to be served. I?m going to do something that your worthless ?love? prevented you from carrying out yourself?? Mai?s attention shifts toward Yuki, ?Accept my apologies, dear sister. The thing is, I have my own reasons for wanting to DO Alice. Besides, you?re useless and you?d only get in my way.?

Alice raises an eyebrow, ??Justice???

?That?s right,? answers Mai, ?Your day of reckoning has come? murderer!?

Alice clenches her teeth, ?I see. I should have known that would catch up with me here??

??? Shinki and Yuki hesitate, knowing the meaning in Mai?s words.

Sakuya?s remaining eye blinks a couple times, ?What?s? going on??
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Gpop on May 04, 2009, 01:04:57 AM
Oh god reading right now!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on May 30, 2009, 05:23:17 AM
Many silent hours pass in the Netherworld prison. Komachi drifts off to sleep while Yukari and Sikieiki pass the time without a word exchanged between them.

Finally, Sikieiki breaks the bleak silence, ?Yukari??

?What??

?I was thinking back to the story you told regarding the circumstances that led to your death, and thus, your arrival here.?
 
?What about it??

?We have known each other awhile. Many years ago, I recall you telling me about the boundary that exists between dreams and reality. Shortly before your death, you used it to convert Reimu and Marisa to their ?dream? selves.?

?That?s right. What about it??

?You told me that the boundary between dreams and reality requires tremendous energy to manipulate??

?? And??

?Well, Yukari, you WERE wounded at the time if I recall correctly. Logically, you could have saved your energy and healed, but instead, you took a course that resulted in your death. Why didn?t you do things that way? Why choose death instead? It?s not like you??

Yukari pauses for a few seconds, ?Who says death is eternal??

Sikieiki is taken aback, ?What a ridiculous question! That?s an absolute decree of the powers that be.?

Yukari smirks, ?Well, those ?powers that be,? as you put it, might have to second-guess some circumstances. The way I see it, this is only a minor and temporary inconvenience to me.?

?What makes you say that? Death is the absolute end of life!?

?Are you sure??

?Wh-what??

?Think about it, Yama. I am a product of a dream Reimu and Marisa had. Sure, Yumei had taken the reins for the time being, but what if they regain control? They would return Gensokyo to what it used to be? and the last time I checked, I was ALIVE before Gensokyo vanished, so I imagine, I would be back, resurrected, should such a thing take place.?

Sikieiki takes a moment to consider Yukari?s words, ?Well, you might be right??

?Fufufu~ The power to overcome even death. A dreamer?s power is indeed remarkable. Before the power of Reimu and Marisa, even I am powerless by comparison.?

?Do you believe that it will all go as you think??

?My honest answer? I don?t. However, good things come to those who are not afraid to roll the dice. If I had insisted on living, my energy would have continued to drain, and Reimu?s original world does not have regenerative magic, nor Yuyuko?s netherworld. I decided to give them a solid fighting chance against Yumei instead. That rabbit may believe that she had gotten rid of me, but this is all going according to my plan. Maybe if they defeat Yumei, they will control the dream again, and it would all be worthwhile? ? ? ? ? I just hope they take their time enough so I can teach that Kotohime a lesson and get my boundary manipulation back before my resurrection.?

?Looks like you have things figured out,? says Sikieiki, ?For now, however, we should rest. There are no windows, but I imagine it is nighttime. We will decide our next course of action tomorrow. Hopefully Toyohime will lend us a hand? with a little luck, granted.?

---

Yeah, this one is rather short (just good old Yukari being a mastermind in spite of her prediciment), but hopefully it will get things moving again, as I was having trouble figuring out how to continue.

Thank you Kilga, for the words of support during AB09. You helped me get back some of my motivation.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: untitled servent on May 30, 2009, 05:58:09 AM
Short, but it's a nice little installment. I'm glad to see you got your motivation back for this, you've put so much into it and it'd be a shame for it to be dropped. Good job on getting all the way here.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on May 31, 2009, 11:12:37 PM
Lunarian capital, Tsuki no Miyako?

Many feet below the surface of the moon, Yumemi Okazaki rides an elevator down to the lowest basement of her research complex. She steps out into a room filled with large cylinders, each giving off a light blue glow, the only thing illuminating the room. Within a few of the cylinders, people, human and moon rabbit alike, float naked in suspended animation; Research subjects under the effect of astral projection.

Yumemi walks through aisles lined with cylinders on both sides to one cylinder in particular, marked with the serial number, A7P02. Within it floats a tall moon rabbit with red hair that had extended down past her feet, a result of the flow of time.

Yumemi stares at the subject within, ?So this is her? the subject that may have warped reality itself?? Yumemi suppresses a laugh, ?Hmhmhm? I can?t wait to meet the spirit I released. To think it would be a result of MY experiment! To think I let something so? extraordinary escape my notice. Tomorrow night, the night of a full moon, I will have my answers?? She releases a sigh, ?Too bad I still have the remainder of today. It?s going to be a loooooong day??


Back above the surface, in one of the lunar city?s residential complexes, Rika, busy at her computer, hears a knock on her room?s door, ?Come in.?

Meira enters the room with her arms crossed in front of her, ?Hello, Rika. Have you found what I?m after??

?Um? Hi, Meira,? greets Rika shyly, ?This is about that? um? background information regarding Master Konpaku, right??

?Indeed. Have you found it??

Rika nods her head, ?Yes! I found it. Um? I have some good news and bad news??

?Hm?? Meira cocks an eyebrow.

?Um? The good news is that I wasn?t caught, so you can keep your head? But? um? the bad news is that? to avoid being caught? I had to log out while I was gathering the information, so I only got bits and pieces??

?That?s fine,? says Meira, ?Just as long as I have enough to work with.?

??? Rika hands Meira a few sheets of paper with the information she gathered.

Meira takes the papers and reads through them, ?Hm? So his first student goes by the name, Youmu Konpaku. ?Konpaku,? huh? Must be a relative? ? Eh? His DAUGHTER??

Rika smiles, ?He doesn?t seem like the type that would have children??

Meira ignores Rika?s comment and continues reading ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? Okay. This is good. Nice work, Rika.?

?Thanks!? responds Rika happily.

Meira tucks the papers into her pocket and leaves the room.


In the imperial palace throne room, Yorihime reports the results of a previous battle with Earth?s forces to the empress, ?? In conclusion, Mo_ Er, Your Imperial Majesty, our ambush was a complete success. The enemy force was completely annihilated and we suffered no losses.?

?Very well done,? says Lunariya, ?I was right to place you in charge of that force. I expect nothing less from a former student of Dr. Yagokoro. Keep going as you were and I will be most pleased.?

Yorihime?s otherwise deadpanned expression slightly lightens, ?Of? of course, Your Majesty!?

?Keep me informed. You are dismissed.?

However, before Yorihime can respond to the empress? words, a gap opens between them and Kotohime steps out, ?Mother! It?s me!?

??? There is a long silence between the three of them.

Finally, the empress speaks, ?Koto? What did you just do? How are you here? The moon is not full yet??

Kotohime explains excitedly, ?I got an AWESOME power! It allows me to go from one realm to the next, full moon or not! I got it from this really mean old lady, who tried to beat me up, but I beat her up instead and threw her in the dungeon!?

?Um? I? I see??

?Koto, how is Toyo doing?? asks Yorihime, only to be completely ignored.

?I?m going to go back to that Netherworld, but I thought I?d come and visit you. Thank you for giving me control of that place! It was the BEST birthday present EVER!?

?Anything for you, Koto. Also? it doesn?t have to be right away, but do you think you could have our researchers look into that power you obtained? It would be a great boon indeed if every Lunarian citizen were to have that power.?

?Okay? But not now. Well, I?m going back. Thanks again, Mother!? Kotohime and the empress share a brief hug, and then the princess opens a gap and leaves.

??? Yorihime watched the entire exchange.

Lunariya glances at Yorihime, ?Third Princess, Watatsuki no Yorihime. I believe I had dismissed you.?

?Um? I?m sor_ I mean, my apologies, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave.? Yorihime walks toward the room?s entrance, her fist tightly clenched.


?Just what is going on?? demands Sakuya to Mai, as she and Alice face off, ?You?re supposed to be like sisters? aren?t you??

Alice says, ?Mai, if you were so distressed over what happened, why didn?t you do something sooner??

Mai?s eyes narrow at Alice, ?I must have seriously overestimated your intellect if you are asking such a stupid question. It was because you were still human at the time. It was back when you possessed the ultimate power of magic, not that pathetic ?doll manipulation? you have now. Like everyone, save Mother, I was afraid of you.?

??? Shinki and Yuki stand silently.

Mai continues, ?However, now you are a demon, and you had lost your old powers. Those powers and your humanity are now confined to your grimoire, am I right? You are not the threat you once were? but that doesn?t erase your crime, Alice! It?s time for you to face justice!? Mai extends her arm and a sword of ice materializes. At the same time, two large demonic wings extend from Mai?s back.

?I understand you,? responds Alice, ?But don?t think I am just going to let you take me without a fight. Human or demon, that has not changed about me!?

Mai smiles deviously, ?I wouldn?t have it any other way. Get ready, Alice!?

?I suppose you are set on this?? A couple dolls, armed with two lances each, materialize in front of Alice.

?Yaaaaaaaa!? Mai charges at Alice, the distance between them quickly closing.

In response, Alice sends the dolls flying toward Mai, like missiles. The demon twists her body to dodge one, then cuts through the other. A third doll, armed with a large shield, appears in front of Alice at the last second and blocks Mai?s sword, shattering it. The doll flies out of the way as Alice delivers an unrefined kick to the vulnerable Mai, which still manages to be effective, due to the momentum. Mai is sent reeling, but she quickly regains her balance and holds her ground as three small daggers of ice appear in her hand, which she quickly throws one by one. Alice dodges the first, but Mai throws the second while the puppeteer is off-balance, which catches her in the thigh. Mai throws the third, aimed at Alice?s head, but she manages to move to the side in time, the dagger grazing her cheek. Blood trickles down, which Alice then wipes off.

Mai smiles, ?It looks like the new and anti-improved Alice still has enough fight in her??

Alice responds, ?I?m not as powerful as I used to be, but be assured that you will not get the better of me.?

?Don?t take me lightly,? says Mai, ?Just because you hang out with that weak and retarded ice user, don?t go thinking we all are that pathetic.?

?She is not weak and reta_? Alice gasps, ?Wait! How did you know about_?

??Cirno,? was it?? interrupts Mai, ?You never realized, in all your years in Gensokyo, that we kept a secretive eye on you? I guess we did our job well, then. Even after what you did, apparently, we still consider you a sister, and we, myself excluded, worry about you. We know what you eat, who you like, who you hate, what you?ve done. Mother often tells us these things as bedtime stories.?

??? Alice, now feeling like prey, is at a loss for words.

The battle continues as Yuki, a contemplative Shinki, and a perplexed Sakuya watch on.

Four dolls appear in front of Alice, which fire off a rainbow-colored barrage of magical bullets. However, it proves ineffective as Mai uses her wide wingspan to shield herself from the attack. Mai counters with a spellcard, ?Cocytus: Frozen Wave!? Mai releases a blast of freezing air in the direction of Alice and the dolls. Alice shields herself with magic and holds her ground, resulting in just her arms being covered by a thin coat of frost. However, the dolls become encased in ice and fall to the ground. One of the fallen dolls levitates off the ground and flies into Mai?s hand.

?How about a little experiment?? asks Mai. She examines the dolls characteristics, ?This is well-made! Something every girl would want as a childhood toy. Now? how would you respond if I did THIS?? Mai snaps one of the arms off of the doll, and then the other.

??? Alice?s eyes narrow at Mai.

Mai then drops the doll on the ground and crushes it under her foot.

?You??

Mai takes a brief glance at Alice?s demeanor, ?I see I made you kinda upset, yet you still seem to be in control. That?s a step up from the Alice that killed Luize.?

Sakuya asks Yuki, ?Who is she talking about??

After a brief hesitation, Yuki explains, ?Luize was another member of this sisterhood.?

??? Sakuya listens, briefly recalling the picture in Alice?s room.

?She and Mai were very close. She had a particular love for hiding peoples? belongings as practical jokes. Eventually, we took in Alice, she was human at the time and possessed unimaginable magical power. She was only eight at the time we took her in, and she could level an entire village with a spellcard??

?Alice? used to be THAT powerful?? Sakuya remembers the story Alice told Medicine Melancholy at the end of the Flower Incident.

?She was abandoned and homeless, so we took pity on her. As powerful as Alice used to be, Mother was stronger, still. However, her love of dolls was? abnormal. Unfortunately, Luize didn?t realize this until it was too late. She tried to take one of Alice?s dolls without asking. This greatly upset Alice, and? ? ?? Yuki hesitates for a long time, which is enough for Sakuya to figure out what she was trying to say.

Yuki continues, ?Alice was young and could not control her power very well. We understood this and forgave her? all of us, except Mai, as it turns out. I should have known, too. She hardly ever spoke since then. In fact, this is the most I?ve ever heard Mai talk since then??

?So that?s why Mai is calling Alice a murderer??

?Still?? begins Mai to Alice, ?My wrath continues! I will destroy you, Alice, and avenge Luize??

Yuki calls over to Shinki, ?Mother! Are you just going to let them do this? They could kill each other!?

?I? don?t know what to do?? says Shinki, ?It?s true it was an accident, but even so, it still destroyed Mai?s spirit. If I step in, Mai will continue to suffer, but??

Mai readies a spellcard, ?I?m done sizing you up, Alice! It?s time for you to feel the power I saved just for you!?

---

Happy 200 pages, EoD!

Well, I hope this was an enjoyable addition.

I was a little hesitent over the third moon scene in the throne room, as it was part of that installment that I deleted on the old forums, due to the poor reception, though I hope the different circumstances fixed things up. However, Lunariya will only have one more scene in the entire story.

I hope you liked the background I set up for Alice.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Gpop on June 01, 2009, 12:56:46 AM
Nice to see you continue this! You have my full support!

That was interesting. The Alice background you set up reminds me Flandre, which I like quite a bit.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on June 01, 2009, 05:01:48 PM
You compare EVERYTHING to Flandre, Gpop :P

Anyway, Valesta, I'd like to comment on how much this story has improved from when you first started writing. Let's not mince words: it was kind of badly written. Still, though, you kept me up until 5 reading it last night (once it got to Embodiment of Dreams). Really interesting Gensokyo you got there. I think another mental improvement I made was when I stopped thinking of it as being based on Concealed the Conclusion. Also, "
I AM GENSOKYO!
" is the most badass line in the series.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on June 30, 2009, 04:24:24 PM
Hey there.

It's almost been a full month since I last updated. I've been busy with other stuff lately and I don't have quite a lot of interest in Touhou nowadays. Obviously, it's hard to keep at a fanfic like that. Plus, my mind has been more geared toward a novel I started recently.

I figured it's only fair to those that follow this story to know what's going on. I'm going to be putting this on hold for the time being. No, I'm not giving up on this, but I don't have a lot of motivation right now. I'm sorry about this.

I'd like to thank everyone who had given their support up to this point. You guys are awesome.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Gpop on June 30, 2009, 04:27:52 PM
Ah no worries. Take your time. It's not like you're being rushed to finish this.

Good luck on the novel!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Blackraptor on July 14, 2009, 10:58:05 AM
Valesta...I have something I need to say after reading all of this...



THE WIN! IT BLINDS ME!


Seriously, this is the best Touhou fanfic I've ever read. Excellent job good sir, I'll be waiting for the next installment. Good luck on the Novel!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Valesta on December 18, 2009, 12:01:05 AM
Well, it's been almost 6 months, hasn't it?

I'm still working on that story (I just might post it online if I ever get done), but I can't say my interest in Touhou has rekindled by any concievable stretch. I can't say I'm regretful about it. I had my fun and I took my Touhou fandom as far as it could possibly go, and it can no longer go any further.
However, I am still very thankful to those who enjoyed this story (and still care). I had the rest planned out, but I just can't continue writing it, but I think it's only fair to those who followed this to know how I planned out the rest of the story, and how it ends.

If you are hopeful that I might get back to the story someday, you can just skip what's coming, but for everyone else, here is a summary of the remainder of the story:

In Makai, Alice defeats Mai, though she still doesn't forgive her. Keeping her promise, Shinki sends Alice and Sakuya back to Yumei's Gensokyo, with a warning regarding what was prophesized to kill Alice: A beast with green eyes. When they return, they find themselves in a densely grown forest.

In Gensokyo's subterrain, Marisa and Youmu wake up, only to discover that Reimu has gone missing, and a note from her, saying that she had gone to "find something out" and that she'll catch up later. Marisa insists on looking for Reimu, but Youmu points out that Reimu left no leads in which to follow her, so the two of them reluctantly go on ahead, and eventually exit the subterrain to elsewhere in the same forest Alice and Sakuya had returned to.

In the ruined city, Mokou and Cirno's relationship grows and Mokou reveals her plans to wander whatever the world becomes when everything is over, and if Cirno would want to be her companion. Cirno accepts. However, they are soon attacked by a giant robot piloted by Nitori. Mokou, Cirno, Reisen, and Yuyuko make a run for it to a highway, where they find a car that miraculously still works. A second chase ensues with Reisen at the wheel. It ends where they find a ruined part of the highway, which they use as a ramp to launch their car at Nitori. They bail out as it crashes and Mokou ignites the fuel tank, blowing it up and destroying the machine (Nitori's fate is left unknown). They go on.

Reimu, haunted by what Yumei had told her, goes to Satori, looking for answers. Satori uses the technique she used to fight Youmu, and Reimu encounters her inner self (the "white" Reimu).

Mokou, Cirno, Reisen, and Yuyuko reach the outskirts of the city and a wasteland stretches before them. At that moment, they are attacked by Suika and Yuugi. The two oni prove to be too powerful for them, and Yuyuko, as a last resort, uses her Last Word to defeat them. As a result, Yuyuko, whose energy had reaches zero, disappears from Yumei's Gensokyo and find her weakened self back in Hakugyokurou. She is encountered by Mima, who suddenly betrays and imprisons her, and then proceeds to take over.

In the other Netherworld (the one Yukari was sent to), Toyohime, for secret reasons, releases Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi, returns Komachi's scythe, and allows them one chance to try to escape. With two objectives, finding a way to remove the energy-suppressing rings, and finding Kotohime and getting Yukari's power back, they set out. However, their progress is slow, due to only Komachi having the power to fight, and they have to go unseen.

Parsee borrows a photograph from Aya, of Marisa and Alice sharing a moment, and then shows it to Flandre (who has a hopeless crush on Marisa) as fuel for her jealousy manipulation (under Parsee's influence, Flandre's eyes turn green, if you want to take an early guess on where I'm going with this...)

At the Moriya Shrine, where Kaguya and Eirin were being held captive, Sanae disobeys instuctions not to feed them anything, nice girl that she is. Eirin takes advantage of this and frees herself and Kaguya. On their way out, they are encountered by Kanako and Suwako, but with Sanae as a hostage, Eirin successfully negotiates with them into letting her and Kaguya escape.

In the forest, Alice and Sakuya are attacked by an irate Flandre, who proves to be too strong for them. Marisa and Youmu arrive just as Flandre morally wounds Alice, unable to change fate. Greatly angered, Marisa fires a Master Spark at the overhead growth, letting a sunbeam shine down, which Flandre gets caught in, killing her. Alice tearfully expresses her gratitude in getting to see Marisa one last time before she dies. Sakuya is upset over both Alice and Flandre's death, but Marisa is optimistic that they might be able to bring them back if they settle things with Yumei. Sakuya rejoins Marisa and Youmu, and they press on, and eventually see a tower over the horizon, approaching it to see if that's Yumei's stronghold.

The wasteland Mokou, Cirno, and Reisen are traveling through suddenly becomes a field of sunflowers, and they are attacked by Yuka. Yuka detains Mokou and Reisen, only interested in fighting Cirno (who, through a sheer stroke of luck, defeated her during the events of PoFV). Cirno is no match for Yuka, and she gets morally wounded. With her last breath, Cirno uses her Last Word, which cripples Yuka. Furious, Mokou breaks free of her binds, and ruthlessly and brutally finishes of Yuka. Reisen goes ahead, which Mokou stays behind for a few minutes to dig a grave for Cirno.

In the Netherworld, Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi find the controls for the rings and regain their ability to use energy attacks. They storm the detention complex, looking for Kotohime.

During the night, Marisa is encountered by Yumei, who tells her what she told Reimu back in the subterrain: Even if they succeed, only one world, Earth or Gensokyo, can be revived. Yumei leaves and Marisa is torn about what to do. She Master Sparks a hole in the ground and visits Satori, who allows Marisa to encounter her other self, and help her come to an answer.

Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi confront Kotohime, who is unfamiliar with how to use Yukari's powers, and the battle ends with Komachi cutting a large scar into the Lunarian princess' body, and a crystal flies out. Yukari touches it and regains her power of boundary manipulation. Leaving Kotohime for dead, they leave for Hakugyokurou. Afterward, Toyohime kills Kotohime, saying that a bright future for the Lunarians is only possible through her death. Kotohime, now a ghost, is encountered by the Yama she was bullying earlier, who promises to be a harsh judge.

Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi arrive in Hakugyokurou, only to find out from the Prismriver sisters that it had been taken over by Mima, and Yuyuko was imprisoned. Angered, Yukari swears she will make Mima pay.

One day passes and the night of a full moon approaches.

Yukari, Sikieiki, and Komachi confront Mima, and after a difficult battle defeat her. Yuyuko is freed and Mima is banished from Hakugyokurou.

Mokou and Reisen meet up with Eirin and Kaguya, at which point, they are attacked by Yumei, who summons a giant monster from the ground. They defeat Yumei who escapes afterward.

With the full moon high in the air, Marisa, Youmu, and Sakuya reach the tower, but at that moment, Meira, the current student of Youmu's father, appears, demanding a one-on-one match with Youmu, who accepts, while Marisa and Sakuya go ahead. The duel ends in a draw and Meira wonders before leaving who Youki had such a high opinion of Youmu.

Halfway up the tower, Marisa and Sakuya encounter Remilia, who is furious about what happened to Flandre. The mistress and servant fight while Marisa goes ahead. Sakuya barely wins by knocking out Remilia.

On top of the tower, where Yumei has retreated to after losing to Mokou and the others, she is encountered by Yumemi, the one who had made her into an experiment. The scientist expresses fascination, but Yumei is furious and attacks Yumemi. Yumemi is too powerful, however, and Yumei gets morally wounded as Marisa arrives. Marisa fights Yumemi, but she too is no match for the Lunarian scientist's psychokinetic powers. Understanding that Marisa was half of the reason the Yumei experiment was a success, she just takes a handful of Marisa's hair and leaves, excited to see what will happen when Yumei, the creator of the combined Earth/Gensokyo, dies.

Sakuya and Youmu catch up. Yumei is regretful that she couldn't get her revenge on Yumemi, but with her final breath, she releases the last of the energy she was infused with as a floating orb, saying that if Marisa or Reimu touches it, the world will be reformed to whatever they desire, and that she's doing that final deed out of thanks to Marisa and Reimu for being there when she was about to fade, even though it was an accident in actuality.

Yumei dies, and the land starts to shake, threatening to vanish. As Marisa is about to touch the orb, Reimu appears, asking which world Marisa had decided on. Marisa answers that she chose Earth, and Reimu says that she won't let Marisa do it, because she chose Gensokyo. Youmu and Sakuya both pick a side to support.

The final battle begins, with Marisa and Youmu, choosing Earth and reality, against Reimu and Sakuya, who choose Gensokyo and dreams. The battle ends with Reimu and Marisa making a desperate final dash for the orb, and they end up touching it at the same time.

Marisa and Reimu find themselves within their consciences, encountering their other selves, learning that both worlds can be returned, but they must sacrifice one of their halves to generate the energy to make it happen. Reimu sacrifices her Kiribayashi half, which Marisa discards her Kirisame half.

Both Earth and Gensokyo are returned to the way they were, with Gensokyo now as its own independent realm, only Marisa never existed within Gensokyo, while on Earth, Reimu Kiribayashi was never born. With the revival of Gensokyo, Yukari, Cirno, Alice, Flandre, and everyone else have returned to life. In Gensokyo, life returns to normal, like nothing had happened, while on Earth, Marisa, while sure she did the right thing, still thinks about Gensokyo and can?t even dream about it again, no matter how hard she tries. However, Yukari comes along from time to time to tell Marisa about what?s happening in Gensokyo, though the new laws governing the two realms prevent Marisa from coming with Yukari to Gensokyo and vice versa in Reimu?s case.

Epilogue:

On the moon, Youki Konpaku encounters the empress, who is deeply in grief over the death of Kotohime. He offers to end her misery and kills her (the empress is only immortal when she has a desire to live). With Youmu?s father having ended the life of Kaguya?s mother, the laws of Lunarian royalty dictate that anyone who proves to be strong and clever enough to kill the previous ruler is crowned the new emperor. This was all planned by Youki and Toyohime. Both Yorihime and Meira are less than thrilled about it.

On the night of a full moon in Gensokyo, the banished Mima happens across a blonde girl in black, who only recalls her name as being Marisa Kirisame. Mima takes the girl under her wing.

Well, I hope you enjoyed it and I apologize for not providing the whole story. Thank you.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Gpop on December 18, 2009, 12:06:46 AM
Valesta. I just want to say that I have to give you my full thanks and support to you with everything that happened. If it wasn't for this fic that I came across while looking for a dl link for CtC, I would have never came into this community. This was the first fic I ever read in the Touhou fandom, and it's still one that remains in my heart.

I can understand you losing all interest in this fic. Nothing goes on forever. We'll all eventually move on from Touhou. I respect your decision 100% and hope the best for you and your life. Go on have a good one!

Major respects to you. You will always be remembered by me.
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Jana on December 18, 2009, 12:16:23 AM
It's kind of sad to see this, but I suppose it should have been expected. I'm glad you at least came to let us know, instead of leaving us hanging like the writers of so many dead fanfictions have in the past. Thanks, and good luck in all your future writings!
Title: Re: Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)
Post by: Rp97 on April 03, 2016, 05:38:40 PM
It feel kinda bad that this fanfic will never have a proper ending it was my favourite back in the days, still I'm happy that at least I know how it end, still hope that one day it will be completed (even if I know that at this point is a very silly thing to put hope into).
Also sorry for this silly necroposting