Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: DracoOmega on September 26, 2010, 11:56:40 AM
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>You are Keine Kamishirasawa, and the world around you is not the one you remember. Something happened in the future which broke the past, and you intend to fix it.
>Two evenings ago, you investigated a strange disturbance in the woods near the village. There you found an unknown human girl, and a mysterious white-winged youkai whose presence seemed to make you drift towards sleep. And then they spoke, and reality broke around you. You awakened to a world where some things are very different, and you've been trying to determine what caused this.
>You've since learned that this young woman was the physical manifestation of a dream of Maribel Hearn, a young woman from Kyoto, 11 years into your future, who bears an unnatural resemblance to Yukari. The dream youkai Gengetsu encountered her that night, curious about her nature, and something happened between them. Since then, Maribel has fallen into a coma and cannot awaken. Her sister, Mugetsu, suspects that Gengetsu may be trapped inside her somehow.
>In the altered timeline resulting from their meeting, numerous rifts opened across Gensokyo, removing parts of it and transporting it away. The Hakurei Shrine vanished in one of these, seven years ago.
>Reimu and Marisa's absence had cascading effects on subsequent events. The Spring Snow Incident lasted an entire year, causing a dire famine which killed a substancial portion of the human village's population. Eirin succeeded in sealing the true Moon. No one stopped Utsuho before she reached the surface, resulting in Kanako imprisioning her beneath the mountain and away from her family for over two years.
>Yukari's house was also cut from the rest of Gensokyo by a splice in reality, after she froze the border between the past and present to prevent a change in the future from rippling further backwards in time. Inside it, Yukari had been slumbering in a web of barriers for seven years, after she froze the border between the past and present to prevent a change in the future from rippling further backwards in time.
>You helped Ran escape the barrier, and with her assistance, have travelled through the indentations in space left by the rifts and arrived in Kyoto, 11 years in the future. There you found both Reimu and Marisa, alive and well, and adapted to their new life. By tracing the energy signiture of the rifts using a device from Patchouli, you also found Maribel Hearn, hospitalized and comatose. You're not sure how she's connected to the rifts, but it seems certain that she is.
>You are currently inside part of Maribel's dreamscape, with Mugetsu, searching for Gengetsu and a way to awaken Maribel. Perhaps, if you can speak with her, she'll have some answers.
>"I see. Were you able to find Marisa, too?"
>Look around for winged thingums.
>"I haven't gone for her yet. It took some time for you to be aware of me. More than you probably remember. I can go and do so now, if you feel collected enough to remain on your own for a moment."
>You scan the horizon. You see no sign of winged creatures. Or creatures of any other sort, for that matter.
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>"I think I should be okay."
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>"I think I should be okay."
>"Very well," Mugetsu says. "I'll be as brief as I can."
>She closes her eyes, and fades from your sight. You are now alone in the field.
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>Look around some more. Try to get a feel for all this weirdness that Mugetsu was talking about.
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>Look around some more. Try to get a feel for all this weirdness that Mugetsu was talking about.
>You look around a little more, trying to notice anything out of place. There is a dense cluster of trees to the northwest, thinning out as it spreads unevenly to the east and south. A small hill slopes gently to the east, and other, smaller stands of trees dot the rest of the visible landscape. To the best of your botanical knowledge, none of the flora looks unusual. Sadly, the only thing remarkable about this place seems to be how unremarkable it is. Whatever Mugetsu found that was weird about it is either something only she can sense, or is happening somewhere else. In fact, it doesn't even feel like you're particularly asleep at the moment. That's... actually a little disturbing, now that you think about it.
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> Wait for Mugetsu.
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> Wait for Mugetsu.
>You stand around and wait patiently for Mugetsu's return. This is beginning to be something of a habit, isn't it? At least you get a change of scenery this time.
>After a few moments, you think you catch a flash of movement among the trees to the north. It's too distant and obscured to really make out what it is.
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> Be on our guard. This could be one of the hostile elements of Gengetsu.
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> Be on our guard. This could be one of the hostile elements of Gengetsu.
>You keep vigilant, and ready yourself for a possible attack. Who knows how many hostile things there are in here, from Mugetsu's description. Still, several moments pass without anything else happening, as far as you can tell.
>Wait, you think you see another hint of motion, but whatever it is doesn't seem to be moving quickly, or coming any closer.
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>Stay on guard and approach the motion.
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>Stay on guard and approach the motion.
>Keeping your guard up, you slowly move northward. As you get closer, you can make out the motion a little better. You think it's a person, or at least a humanoid form, walking around just past the edge of the trees.
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>Check available cover.
>If we can, try to get closer while staying under cover.
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>Check available cover.
>If we can, try to get closer while staying under cover.
>The area you're standing in is almost entirely open and treeless until you get further north. The trees that the figure is walking among should obscure their sight of you to a similar degree that it obscures your view of them, but you see little way you could use this to your advantage as you approach. They're simply too far away.
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>Try to circle behind it and enter into the woods, then get closer.
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>Try to circle behind it and enter into the woods, then get closer.
>Rather than approach directly, you attempt to circle around the figure, moving northwest to try and take advantage of the nearest trees, as soon as you can reach them. Although you think you should be fairly obvious to anyone that chose to look in your direction, the figure doesn't appear to react to you in any obvious way.
>You reach the trees and continue towards it, trying to slip around behind. However, as you near its location, you realize you've lost sight of it.
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>Can we see any signs of passage; footprints, oddly swaying branches, and so on?
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>Can we see any signs of passage; footprints, oddly swaying branches, and so on?
>Not at the moment. Just trees, and other plants. You wouldn't know anyone had been here in ages.
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>Sigh, and head back to where Mugestsu left us. Do be wary for ambushes.
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>Sigh, and head back to where Mugestsu left us. Do be wary for ambushes.
>You sigh, and head back south to where you and Mugetsu parted, still keeping alert in that figure is simply lying in wait.
>You pass the edge of the trees without incident and return to the... river? That wasn't there a moment ago. In fact, the field you arrived in seems nowhere to be found. Instead, there is a wide and lazily flowing river, meandering through a rocky bed, and framed with trees on either bank. You're quite certain this could not have been concealed among the terrain you just passed.
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>"Really is a dream, isn't it?"
>Make self comfortable. Keep an eye on the surroundings for other bits of unusualness.
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>Hope that Mugetsu has a better sense of direction for this world than our vision does.
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>"Really is a dream, isn't it?"
>Make self comfortable. Keep an eye on the surroundings for other bits of unusualness.
>You voice your thoughts to the air. Dream or no, you get no response.
>You find a comparatively comfortable looking rock by the bank and have a seat on it. Scanning your surroundings, you again see nothing unusual, except for the fact this none of this was here a moment ago. Or maybe you were the one who wasn't here a moment ago? How does this place even work, anyway?
>Hope that Mugetsu has a better sense of direction for this world than our vision does.
>You certainly hope she does. If it doesn't even feel like you're in someone else's mind, and the terrain changes around you like this... how would you ever get out without her? That... probably doesn't bear thinking about, at the moment.
>After a minute or two of watching the river flow peacefully by, you begin to hear movement among the trees behind you.
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>Look back. Be ready to throw ourselves aside if there's bullets in that direction.
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>Look back. Be ready to throw ourselves aside if there's bullets in that direction.
>You turn around and look into the woods behind you. Thankfully, no bullets fly in your direction, although you can't see a great deal, either. You continue to hear rustling among the foliage, moving generally in your direction.
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>Stand, watch, and be ready for whatever it might be. Give it a moment to reveal itself, for now.
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>Stand, watch, and be ready for whatever it might be. Give it a moment to reveal itself, for now.
>You stand up and keep a careful eye in the direction of the noise, deciding to let it reveal itself, rather than pursue it. After a few more moments, you begin to catch snatches of a humanoid figure in a purple dress moving through the trees. She seems to be headed towards the river, angling roughly 20 feet north of you. You don't think she's spotted you, as still as you've been.
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>Observe. Discretely take cover again, if feasible.
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>Evaluate her resemblance to Yukari.
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>Observe. Discretely take cover again, if feasible.
>You do have some options for cover this time. The trees are only a few feet to your side, and you could slip into them quickly enough, although it would be harder to see from in there, and you'd risk exposing your presence by the motion required to get there, now that she's already this close. Alternately, you could try to crouch behind the rock you were sitting on. It's kind of low, and you'd need to get fairly flat, but you also wouldn't need to move across the open. It wouldn't provide very good cover if she got any closer, however.
>Evaluate her resemblance to Yukari.
>You can't see her very well, yet, but there is a certain resemblance.
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>This time, perhaps cover is not necessary?
>Does she feel threatening?
>If not, call out, "Hello, there. Are you alright?"
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>This time, perhaps cover is not necessary?
>Does she feel threatening?
>If not, call out, "Hello, there. Are you alright?"
>It's possible.
>She appears to simply be walking towards the river. You sense no obvious hostility.
>You call out to her.
>"Who's there?" she replies, stopping and looking in your direction.
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>"Hi, I'm Keine. What's your name?"
>How does she react to seeing us?
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>"Hi, I'm Keine. What's your name?"
>How does she react to seeing us?
>"I'm Maribel," she says, with a hint of trepidation in her voice. "Do you live here?"
>There's still plenty of trees in the way. You can't get a good look at her face, and she likely can't get a good look at yours, either.
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>Approach!
>"Sort of. The answer is a little complicated. But let's say I have a fair idea what things are like. Are you lost?"
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>Approach!
>"Sort of. The answer is a little complicated. But let's say I have a fair idea what things are like. Are you lost?"
>You move towards her. She seem to back up a little, but not too much.
>"I'm just exploring," she says. "To be lost, you have to be looking to get somewhere specific, don't you?"
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>"Well, do you know where you came from?"
>Hey. It's dark right? So we can see stars, yes? Do the stars look right for Gensokyo?
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>"Well, do you know where you came from?"
>Hey. It's dark right? So we can see stars, yes? Do the stars look right for Gensokyo?
>"I'm from far away," she says.
>It is indeed dark, and the sky is clear. You take a look at the stars. They appear to be broadly similar to the ones you're used to, but not quite the same.
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>"With all the tall buildings and fast metal things that people ride in?"
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>"With all the tall buildings and fast metal things that people ride in?"
>She pauses. "You... know of it?"
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>She pauses. "You... know of it?"
>"A bit. I've been there. It's a terribly long story."
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>"A bit. I've been there. It's a terribly long story."
>"You have? Really?" There's a note of wonderment in her voice. "I'd like to hear it if you don't-"
>She is cut off by a sudden wailing noise, coming from the woods to her left. It is a tortured and unnatural sound, barely human. You see a flash of movement in that direction.
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>Wince.
>Glare in that direction.
>"Stay close to me, Maribel."
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>Wince.
>Glare in that direction.
>"Stay close to me, Maribel."
>You wince, and glare towards the movement. You can't make out its form very well through the trees, but it seems more shadowed than could be attributed to the night itself. It is also moving very, very quickly, seeming to surge and flow around the tree trunks. You think you have only a handful of seconds before it will be upon her.
>Maribel takes a few steps backward. "W- what is it?"
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>"Behind me!"
>Move to make this so.
>Danmaku it right in the face if it continues to charge at her.
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>"Behind me!"
>Move to make this so.
>Danmaku it right in the face if it continues to charge at her.
>You call out to Maribel and quickly dash to interpose yourself between her and the creature. It is shadowy, with little definition, its form seeming to swell and undulate as it moves.
>It continues to surge forward, almost on top of you now. You decide that it's closed far enough, and unleash a bust of danmaku at it. Parts of it flicker slightly as the bullets make contact, but this seems to do nothing to deter its momentum. Almost immediately after you fire, the form rushes past you, swelling and flowing around you like a shroud of the darkest night. You feel a deep chill. Maribel cries out.
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>Turn around, grab Maribel, use sound to guide us if needs be, and hold onto her tightly.
>_
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>Turn around, grab Maribel, use sound to guide us if needs be, and hold onto her tightly.
>You turn around to grab Maribel, and then suddenly realize that you're falling! Maribel's voice quickly grows distant and disappears.
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>Oh hell no. Fly back up there.
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>Oh hell no. Fly back up there.
>With a cry of defiance, you catch yourself and ascend. Although you get the definite sense that you're flying, you're not sure you're actually getting anywhere. In fact, you quickly realize that it's difficult to tell what way is up in all this featureless blackness. You thought you were flying in the direction that you'd fallen, but now you're no longer sure. Where are you, anyway?
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>Arcane profanity.
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>"Gengetsu we don't have time for this!"
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>Arcane profanity.
>You need little encouragement to let loose some archaic invective on the darkness. Why must something always happen!?
>"Gengetsu we don't have time for this!"
>You shout out, but receive no reply. In fact, you can barely hear the sound of your own voice here, as if everything were muffled in wool.
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>"I swear to the heavens, if we ever get you put back together, I'm going to give you a reason to be afraid of the waking world!"
>Look around for something. Anything.
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>"I swear to the heavens, if we ever get you put back together, I'm going to give you a reason to be afraid of the waking world!"
>Look around for something. Anything.
>You let Gengetsu know just how thin your patience has been worn. There is still no response.
>You continue to look around for even a hint of... anything. You don't think you'd ever imagined there could be a place of so much nothing. No sound, no motion, no sense of place at all, really. You think you could lose yourself if you stayed here too long...
>Suddenly, you feel something grab onto your leg!
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>Resist urge to blast it immediately.
>Grit teeth.
>Look down.
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>Resist urge to blast it immediately.
>Grit teeth.
>Look down.
>You reign in your first instinct, grit your teeth and look down. You don't see anything. Or rather you see nothing, where something should be. The part of your leg that you can feel being gripped is nothing but featureless blackness, like the rest of this space. If it were not for you still being able to feel it, you would think it missing entirely. Your ankle and foot look disturbing detached from the rest of your body.
>More blackness, like wavering tendrils, reaches up and clamps onto your other leg. You feel it pulling on you.
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>"You have three seconds to give some sign you're sentient. Then I'm going to shoot you. Start."
>If it does not provide such evidence, give it the danmaku.
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>"You have three seconds to give some sign you're sentient. Then I'm going to shoot you. Start."
>If it does not provide such evidence, give it the danmaku.
>You threaten the shadow and wait a moment for it to respond. It continues to creep up your legs, its grip slowly tightening on you. One second. Two seconds. You gather and focus power inside you.
>Suddenly it pulls on you forcefully, and with a great splash you break the surface of the water and plummet. You barely have an instant to process the sudden change in scenery when you start to cough violently. Oh god, you just breathed in water and then expelled half the air in your lungs and nearly breathed in more water again. The creature still has a firm grip on your legs.
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>Are we still underwater?
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>Are we still underwater?
>Yes. You don't think you're very deep, although you can feel the creature continuing to pull you downward.
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>Look around for a surface.
>Try to swim (or flail) toward it.
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>Look around for a surface.
>Try to swim (or flail) toward it.
>You quickly scan around you, trying not to panic. You spot the surface, about 15 feet above your head. At least this space seems to follow the laws of geometry you're familiar with. For the moment, anyway.
>You try to propel yourself towards the surface. While your arms and most of your body are free, your legs are still constricted, and moving them is difficult. Still, you fight with all your strength against the force dragging you downwards and seem to make some headway. But it's very slow. You win a couple more feet.
>The water is very cold, and your lungs are straining. You don't know if you can hold what little breath you have until you reach the surface at the rate you're moving.
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>Shoot the arm, then swim.
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>Shoot the arm, then swim.
>You take aim at one of the formless things gripping your legs and fire. It wavers a little as the danmaku passes through it, but its grip strength decreases only slightly. Not nearly enough to break free, and barely enough to give you added momentum. Still, you continue to fight your way upwards, gaining several more feet.
>Your lungs are practically gasping for air, now. The exertion is taking its toll on you, and you're still nearly 10 feet underwater.
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>Shoot at it some more, until it releases for real properly.
>Try to let rage and survival instincts overwhelm panic
>_
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>Shoot at it some more, until it releases for real properly.
>Try to let rage and survival instincts overwhelm panic
>You continue firing, pouring as much energy into it as you have to spare. Unfortunately, between attacking, dragging yourself towards the surface, and doing all you can not to breathe, that isn't much. You think its grip may have loosened a little more. You're not sure. In fact, the rational part of your mind feels barely aware any longer, so subsumed are you in the desperate struggle to surface. You need air. You need air more desperately than you ever have in your life. Your lungs burn in your chest.
>You try to let your instincts and your anger drive you and you see the surface drift slowly closer. One foot. Another. Tortuously slow. Too slow. When are you going to be able to breathe again?
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>Keep going. As soon as we can get some air, we are blasting this thing so badly Mugetsu will feel it.|
>And if it knows what's good for it, it'll let go so it's not in strangling range right afterward.
>Rage is like strength...
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>Keep going. As soon as we can get some air, we are blasting this thing so badly Mugetsu will feel it.|
>And if it knows what's good for it, it'll let go so it's not in strangling range right afterward.
>Rage is like strength...
>You keep pushing, drawing upon your anger and frustration, and the lure of all the terrible and terribly satisfying things you're going to do to this thing once you reach the surface. And you are going to reach the surface. You're simply not going to give reality any other choice in the matter. C'mon, just a little further...
>You can feel your consciousness dimming. No matter how much will a person has, there are physical limits. You've been struggling for too long, with too little air when you started. Your chest burns; it feels like there's a void inside in, clawing at you. You rage on, but feel yourself slowing. Part of you dimly becomes aware of voices, distant and muted. They hardly seem to matter now. It's all getting so far away.
>"Love Sign!" Wait, is that-?
>"Master Spaaaaaark!"
>You feel a torrent of energy surge beneath you, water churning and blasting away from it. It passes perilously close to your legs; you feel the beam mere inches from them, and the spray of hot water in its wake almost scalds you. The creature releases its grip!
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>Up!
>We'll rage about how it got lucky later.
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>Up!
>We'll rage about how it got lucky later.
>You rush for the surface, covering the remaining couple feet in a moment. With a surge of desperate triumph, you crest the surface and gasp for air. Never before in your life have you been this grateful to breathe. Your lungs still burn, and you're dizzy and weak, but you can breathe!
>You'll save your rage for when you're done feasting on this wonderful, joyous air.
>"Are... you ok?" Mugetsu voice comes from beside you. You hadn't even noticed her move towards you.
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>"No."
>Breathe! Cough that water out.
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>"No."
>Breathe! Cough that water out.
>Mugetsu frowns, looking quite concerned.
>You keep breathing. Oh, how sweet it is! Fortunately, you didn't get much more water in your lungs than that initial splash. Wouldn't have been too much longer before that changed, though...
>You feel a little bitter. Still winded and worn out, but you're on the road to recovery.
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>Look around.
>"Thanks..."
>Breathe
>"I saw Maribel. Talked to her."
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>Look around.
>"Thanks..."
>Breathe
>"I saw Maribel. Talked to her."
>You look around. If you had to guess, you'd say you were above the Misty Lake's doppelganger. It and the surrounding terrain are strongly reminiscent of it, but not quite right. ...is that even the Scarlet Devil Mansion you see in the distance? Or a not-entirely-accurate approximation of it, anyway. Mugetsu is hovering beside you, and Marisa is some feet off, the last of her Master Spark dissipating amid the churning waters.
>"I'm sorry we didn't arrive sooner," Mugetsu says. "You wandered off. It took some time to find you again."
>You take in another breath. You're not sure you're ever going to get tired of doing that, now.
>"Did you?" Mugetsu asks. "That might have been some part of her, perhaps. What did she say to you?"
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>"She seemed rather coherent. Told me her name, we talked briefly about what she was doing, and about the Outside world before that thing attacked me."
>Breathe
>"Mugetsu, I might have to strangle your sister just a little bit if we put her back together."
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>"She seemed rather coherent. Told me her name, we talked briefly about what she was doing, and about the Outside world before that thing attacked me."
>Breathe
>"Mugetsu, I might have to strangle your sister just a little bit if we put her back together."
>Mugetsu nods. "She wanders around inside here, much like any dreamer would. She seeks discovery. She seeks this place, in fact. Such as she remembers it. I never spoke with her while I was inside, and I made sure she never saw me. I doubt she would remember you, if she awakens."
>Mugetsu frowns distressingly at you. "Why would you-" she glances down at the settling water. "...oh. That wasn't her, you know. ...as such."
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>"Then what was it?"
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>"Then what was it?"
>"Most of what's in here is Maribel's creation," Mugetsu says. "This place... holds a fear of strange creatures in the night for her. Perhaps even like the being you fought in that fissure. This was a manifestation of these fears, I think. This place is an amalgam of her memories and imagination and things even stranger. You might even find something here that looks exactly like Gengetsu, simply because Maribel remembers her. But it would not be her."
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>"All I know is that when it first came for Maribel, danmaku didn't seem to bother it. Then once it started ti drown me, it seemed to react to it. Do you know why?"
>_
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>"All I know is that when it first came for Maribel, danmaku didn't seem to bother it. Then once it started ti drown me, it seemed to react to it. Do you know why?"
>"I'm not sure," she says, then frowns. "...you realize that you don't really need to breathe here, right?"
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>"Evidence suggests otherwise."
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>"Evidence suggests otherwise."
>"That's only because you believed you were drowning," she says. "Don't forget that this is still a dream."
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>"Can I drown you, then?"
>Shake head.
>"Sorry. Let's just find Maribel and knock some sense into her."
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>"Can I drown you, then?"
>Shake head.
>"Sorry. Let's just find Maribel and knock some sense into her."
>Mugetsu gives you a perplexed expression. "I can't drown in a place like this."
>You try to dispel such thoughts, as irritated as you may feel at the time.
>"I'm... not sure that would help us. What are you hoping she can do, even if we can reach her? To her, this probably feels like a normal dream. Were she to awaken, she might not even realize anything had happened."
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>"And if she woke up, would that free Gengetsu?"
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>"If she awakens, couldn't we tell her something has happened? More to the point, if she awakens, wouldn't it be a significant step toward getting her out of that coma?"
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>"And if she woke up, would that free Gengetsu?"
>"I'd think the opposite," Mugetsu says. "She shouldn't be able to wake up while my sister or myself is still inside."
>"If she awakens, couldn't we tell her something has happened? More to the point, if she awakens, wouldn't it be a significant step toward getting her out of that coma?"
>Mugetsu tilts her head to the side. "If she does wake up, then everything will already be fixed, won't it?"
>"But if you are referring to her being aware she's still dreaming... I don't know that it would matter. She can't simply force us out, even if she understood. But I suppose you could try to reach her if you wish."
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>"Given this is Maribel's dream, wouldn't it be best to get her on our side? I'm sure the two of you together would be able to straighten out some of the problems here."
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>"Given this is Maribel's dream, wouldn't it be best to get her on our side? I'm sure the two of you together would be able to straighten out some of the problems here."
>"I'm... not used to trying to announce my presence to the dreamer. But if you feel it would be best, we can try."
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>"I think it would be best to try to get her on our side and try to tame this place, rather than letting it run wild as it has."
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>"I think it would be best to try to get her on our side and try to tame this place, rather than letting it run wild as it has."
>"She may have less conscious control of here than you believe," Mugetsu says. "Many parts of this place come from deeper than the waking mind touches. My sister's presence has made this doubly so."
>"Man," Marisa says, floating over to you two with a big grin on her face, "You have any idea how much I've missed doing that?"
>You note that she is in full witches' garb, rather than the clothes she was wearing when you encountered her outside.
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> Do we know what incident she used that particular outfit for? Or is it just a generic witches outfit?
> "Ahhh, Master Spark. After everything I have been through since all this began, it's... nice, to see that attack again Marisa. Don't go to Spark crazy on us though."
> If this is a dream, and we don't really need to breath in dreams... "I have an idea..." try picturing ourself in our Hakutaku form, and focusing on being in that form.
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> Do we know what incident she used that particular outfit for? Or is it just a generic witches outfit?
> "Ahhh, Master Spark. After everything I have been through since all this began, it's... nice, to see that attack again Marisa. Don't go to Spark crazy on us though."
> If this is a dream, and we don't really need to breath in dreams... "I have an idea..." try picturing ourself in our Hakutaku form, and focusing on being in that form.
>You haven't paid quite that close attention to her wardrobe over the years, but this looks like one of her old standbys.
>Marisa beams. "Hey, I didn't hit you, did I? That's good enough, ain't it?"
>Reflecting on Mugetsu's words, you decide to try visualizing yourself in Hakutaku form. You concentrate and focus on the image and on being that way. ...you don't really feel like anything is happening.
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>We'd certainly need the moon, first.
>"I don't think there's any way we're going to get much done without Maribel's help, to be honest. And, perhaps you can help her with those less controllable parts?"
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>We'd certainly need the moon, first.
>"I don't think there's any way we're going to get much done without Maribel's help, to be honest. And, perhaps you can help her with those less controllable parts?"
>It might help, at the very least.
>"I can try," Mugetsu says. "If I knew what we were supposed to do, I'd have already said as much."
>"You sure we can't just find Gengetsu," Marisa says, "and beat some sense into her until she remembers why she oughta leave?"
>Mugetsu glares at her. You... don't think you've ever seen her do that. "If you were injured and lost and barely aware of where you were, do you think that someone attacking you would help you remember?"
>Marisa shrugs. "Dunno. It might."
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>"At this point, we might as well just seek Gengetsu, and perhaps we'll find Maribel along the way."
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>"At this point, we might as well just seek Gengetsu, and perhaps we'll find Maribel along the way."
>Mugetsu nods. "Yes, I expect we'll see her again, at any rate. Are you ready to proceed?"
-
>"I suppose."
-
>"I suppose."
>"Take my hand, then," Mugetsu says. "Both of you."
>Marisa takes hold of one of her hands. "Let's get this show on the road then, eh?"
-
>Take Mugetsu's hand.
-
>Take Mugetsu's hand.
>You take Mugetsu's other hand and she closes her eyes.
>"I think I feel one," she says, after a few moments. "Relax yourselves. Remember, there is no lake beneath you."
>And with that, she dives towards the lake's surface, Marisa and yourself in tow.
-
>"Wait what-"
>Are we too surprised to drown, or is nature taking its proper course?
-
>"Wait what-"
>Are we too surprised to drown, or is nature taking its proper course?
>You mutter your dismay just moments before you plunge into the lake. Again.
>You feel the water rush up around you as you break the surface. It feels oddly... dry. Wait, that's not water at all! You blink and realize that what you feel brushing past your limbs are leaves. You're descending through a thick canopy. Looking down, you can see the forest floor some feet below you, rugged and brown with little underbrush. There is no sign of a lake anywhere.
-
>Sigh of relief.
>"Do you think she'll be hostile?"
-
>Sigh of relief.
>"Do you think she'll be hostile?"
>You breathe a sigh of relief. At least you can't drown in a forest. ...you hope.
>"It would be hard to say," Mugetsu replies. "Some were. Some weren't."
>"Wow, that was..." Marisa looks around her. "That was... something, anyway. How come Keine actually fell into the water, and then when we tried, it wasn't there?"
>"It is a dream," Mugetsu says. "Paths from one place to another are not always ordered in a way the waking mind would understand."
>"So, uh, no way for me to tell when that's gonna happen again?"
>"Perhaps not."
>"Swell..."
-
>Look around.
-
>Look around.
>You are in the middle of a forest of tall mature trees, spaced widely apart from each other. There is little underbrush except for some moss and scattered low-lying plants.
>You think you can hear someone walking, a short distance to the east.
-
>Look to Mugetsu and gesture eastward.
>"That way?"
-
>Look to Mugetsu and gesture eastward.
>"That way?"
>You look at Mugetsu and gesture.
>Mugetsu nods. "I believe so, yes."
-
>"Let's go."
>Presume Mugetsu doesn't object, head in that direction.
-
>"Let's go."
>Presume Mugetsu doesn't object, head in that direction.
>Mugetsu draws a deep breath, then slowly nods.
>You head towards the sound, making your way around the trees and gnarled roots, protruding out of the ground. While the forest is uniformly dark, the spaces between the trees give fairly good sight lines, and you are able to spot a moving figure before you get too close to her. She has blond hair, with a bright red ribbon in it, and is wearing a pale pink dress, so light as to be almost white. She is side-on to you, and walking slowly, almost lazily forward. She has large white wings.
-
>Approach. Does she react?
-
>Approach. Does she react?
>You walk towards her, Mugetsu falling behind you as you advance. You get within 10 feet of her, and she still doesn't seem to note or react to your presence. You're fairly certain you would have been easy to hear by this point.
-
>"Gengetsu, can you hear us?"
-
>"Gengetsu, can you hear us?"
>You call out to Gengetsu. She stops moving, tilting her head to the side a little.
-
>"Hello Gengetsu, I'm with your sister."
>Motion for Mugetsu to get into her line of sight.
-
>"Hello Gengetsu, I'm with your sister."
>Motion for Mugetsu to get into her line of sight.
>Gengetsu tilts her head to the other side. "Sister?" The word has a strange, flat quality to it.
>You motion to Mugetsu. With visible hesitation, she shifts a little from your side.
-
>Quietly to Mugetsu: "If she tries something, Marisa and I will be on her like white on rice."
>"That's right, I'm with Mugetsu. Remember her?"
-
>Quietly to Mugetsu: "If she tries something, Marisa and I will be on her like white on rice."
>"That's right, I'm with Mugetsu. Remember her?"
>"Don't... hurt her," she replies, nervously. "Please. If she does anything, it's not her fault."
>"I'm looking for someone," Gengetsu says, her words still oddly slow and flat. "I don't think it was her."
-
>"Mugetsu could help. Do you know why you're looking for this person?"
>_
-
>"Mugetsu could help. Do you know why you're looking for this person?"
>"She is... She is..." Gengetsu pauses. "I came here to find her."
-
>Has Mugetsu approached Gengetsu yet? If not, place a hand on her shoulder and give her a firm shove in that direction.
>"Why do you need to find this person?"
-
>Has Mugetsu approached Gengetsu yet? If not, place a hand on her shoulder and give her a firm shove in that direction.
>"Why do you need to find this person?"
>You're still about ten feet away from Gengetsu, who hasn't even turned to look at you, yet. Mugetsu is to your side, and still partially behind you. You put your hand on her shoulder and give it a firm push towards Gengetsu. Mugetsu stumbles a foot or two forward with a small yelp, and then turns to you with a distressed and somewhat confused expression.
>"I came here to find her," Gengetsu repeats. "It's important."
-
>Hiss: "What are you waiting for? She's your sister!"
-
>Hiss: "What are you waiting for? She's your sister!"
>"She's... she's not the way she's supposed to be," Mugetsu whispers back. "Do you have any idea what it's like to see that?"
-
>Whisper back, "And how is running away from her supposed to fix it? Get over there and be a damn sister already."
-
>Whisper back, "And how is running away from her supposed to fix it? Get over there and be a damn sister already."
>"I- I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she whispers back, rising distress in her voice. "What do I say? This isn't like her."
>Gengetsu resumes her walk forward.
-
>"I- I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she whispers back, rising distress in her voice. "What do I say? This isn't like her."
>Gengetsu resumes her walk forward.
>Hiss: "Say what's in your heart! Give her a hug, do something! She's your sister, your own family, right? Why don't you act like it!"
-
>Hiss: "Say what's in your heart! Give her a hug, do something! She's your sister, your own family, right? Why don't you act like it!"
>"I- I just- I didn't mean..." Mugetsu glances back, then takes a tentative step forward. She takes a deep breath.
>"Sis?" she calls out weakly. Gengetsu shows no signs of a response. "Sis, it's me," she says, a little louder.
>Gengetsu pauses, still not looking in your direction. "Why do you call me that?"
>"Because you're my sister!" Mugetsu cries. "Please say that means something to you."
>"Sister?" Gengetsu tilts her head to the side. "Why would I have a sister? I just came here to find someone."
>Mugetsu turns to you, a look of obvious distress on her face.
-
>"Give her a hug. Try to remind her. It's pretty clear her's memory's messed up, try to see what you can get her to recall."
>Encouraging smile.
-
>"Give her a hug. Try to remind her. It's pretty clear her's memory's messed up, try to see what you can get her to recall."
>Encouraging smile.
>You try to give Mugetsu some encouragement. She nods weakly and walks slowly towards Gengetsu, who remains stock still.
>"Please sis, it's me. I know maybe you don't really understand me, but..." She frowns. "Look, we're going to fix this, alright? Just... be ok." And with that, she reaches out her arms and grabs her sister in a firm embrace, so quickly that you wonder if she were trying not to give herself time to second-guess.
>Nearly the moment she touches her, Mugetsu recoils with a gasp and draws away.
-
>"You okay? What's wrong?"
-
>"You okay? What's wrong?"
>Mugetsu takes a step backwards. "She's- she-"
>Gengetsu turns towards the group of you for the first time, a curious yet impassive impression on her face. Or at least, what's left it of. Much of the left half of her face is a void, tendrils of it streaking out towards the right. You can make out most of her mouth, although her left eye is simply... not there. Her left arm, torso, and most of that wing are nothing but blackness; some parts of their form seem missing entirely.
>"Geez..." Marisa mutters, wide-eyed.
>"I'm looking for someone," Gengetsu says. "Have you seen her?"
-
>Oh, that's just lovely.
>"What do you plan to do once you find her?"
>She doesn't seem to recognize Marisa at all, naturally?
-
>Oh, that's just lovely.
>"What do you plan to do once you find her?"
>She doesn't seem to recognize Marisa at all, naturally?
>It is certainly... unsettling looking. In fact, you find yourself wanting to avoid looking directly at her at all...
>"I... she..." Gengetsu pauses. "I need to find her. That's what I came here to do."
>She doesn't appear to show any signs of recognition towards any of you, although her expression, such that it is, is hard to read.
-
>"Are you looking for a dream that was in the physical world?"
>Perhaps we can jar her memory...
-
>Take a deep breath, and try not to look at it directly for the time being.
>"She's still Gengetsu, right? We'll just have to work with this."
-
>"Are you looking for a dream that was in the physical world?"
>Perhaps we can jar her memory...
>Gengetsu tilts her head. "I... think that may be right, yes. Yes, I came here to find her."
>It certainly seems worth a try.
>Take a deep breath, and try not to look at it directly for the time being.
>"She's still Gengetsu, right? We'll just have to work with this."
>You take a deep breath and avert your eyes a little. Unfortunately, this does little to avert your memory.
>"She's..." Mugetsu's voice is weak and shaky. "She's some of her. Or some of her is in her. I... don't think we can make her remember what's missing. It's just not there."
-
>"Have you talked to anyone else about this, Gengetsu?"
-
>"Have you talked to anyone else about this, Gengetsu?"
>"Who else would there be?" she says.
-
>"Come with us, Gengetsu. We'll help you find this person. It will something of a long way, but you have to trust us, alright? You can trust Mugetsu at least, can't you?"
-
>"Come with us, Gengetsu. We'll help you find this person. It will something of a long way, but you have to trust us, alright? You can trust Mugetsu at least, can't you?"
>Gengetsu shakes her head. "No, I have to stay here. I came here to find her." She frowns, then seems to look about her. "Didn't I?"
-
>"It's said when in a hurry, take the longest path. You can trust us, we're here to help you. Right, Mugetsu?"
>Ponder smacking Mugetsu upside the head if she continues to be be silent and unhelpful.
-
>"It's said when in a hurry, take the longest path. You can trust us, we're here to help you. Right, Mugetsu?"
>Ponder smacking Mugetsu upside the head if she continues to be be silent and unhelpful.
>Gengetsu continues to look around the terrain, her head moving languidly. "Why? Why would you be here? Why is she not here?"
>You consider smacking Mugetsu in the head. However, the poor thing looks nearly traumatized, staring vacantly at her sister. Or whatever part of her this is. Her breathing is shallow, and you can see her eyes dart about uncertainly. She glances at you, then back to Gengetsu.
>"...p- please," she says. "Please, we want to help."
>"Why isn't she here?" Gengetsu continues, without looking at either of you. "I came because she was supposed to be here. Why are-" Her head suddenly turns to the side.
>"Oh, I was mistaken," she says and quickly starts to move forward.
-
>Pursue! Be ready to defend Maribel if necessary.
-
>Pursue! Be ready to defend Maribel if necessary.
>You chase after Gengetsu, getting ready to intervene depending on what she does. She moves surprisingly quickly compared to her earlier pace, forcing you to hurry so as not to lose her, although she seems to make no notice of your pursuit.
>"Wait!" Mugetsu calls out.
>Gengetsu passes under a low leafy bough a couple feet ahead of you, and then is gone. The foliage is not thick enough to obscure all your sight past it, but she simply is nowhere to be seen after passing it.
>Marisa peers around the side of the tree, looking in both directions. "What the heck?"
-
>"Bloody dreams!"
>Look around for Mugetsu.
>If she's still nearby, "I take it you don't know where she went?
>Next time, we should ask if she's looking for herself...
-
>"Bloody dreams!"
>Look around for Mugetsu.
>If she's still nearby, "I take it you don't know where she went?
>Next time, we should ask if she's looking for herself...
>"Yeah, I hear ya," Marisa says, still looking about.
>Mugetsu is a short distance behind you, having chased after Gengetsu somewhat less enthusiastically.
>"I... think I could find it," she answers.
>That might be another possibility, mightn't it?
-
>"In case we get separated, next time we meet her, we should try asking if she's searching for herself as well. That might work."
>"Mugetsu, do you think it's possible that those terrors of Maribel's fears are the cause of Gengetsu's... strangeness? Or have things like that not affected you two in the past?"
>"... well, I suppose Maribel would be an exceptional case even then..."
-
>"In case we get separated, next time we meet her, we should try asking if she's searching for herself as well. That might work."
>"Mugetsu, do you think it's possible that those terrors of Maribel's fears are the cause of Gengetsu's... strangeness? Or have things like that not affected you two in the past?"
>"... well, I suppose Maribel would be an exceptional case even then..."
>"Huh." Marisa nods. "That makes sense, too."
>Mugetsu shakes her head. "Things like that should be no threat to us. You were only in danger because you don't know how to touch the figment behind the substance, as we can. Although... you are right that this place is different than most. I don't think that's the issue, though. Nightmares... should not be able to do that to us. Especially not to her. ...even here."
-
>"Then I guess it's safer to assume that it was something about Maribel herself..."
>"Well, this is your element, Mugetsu. Where should we search next? Or how, for that matter."
>"... and where's a full moon?"
-
>"Then I guess it's safer to assume that it was something about Maribel herself..."
>"Well, this is your element, Mugetsu. Where should we search next? Or how, for that matter."
>"... and where's a full moon?"
>"It may have been," Mugetsu says. "But although the weft and structure of this place is strange, it doesn't feel harmful to be here. I can't imagine this happened simply by inhabiting this space. But we entered it through Maribel directly. I don't know what would have happened by entering from Gensokyo."
>"We... could follow that fragment," she says meekly, looking away. "...if you want to. Or we could look for another. Or we could just wander and hope to find something important. I... I'd say what we should do if I knew it."
>Mugetsu frowns. "Oh, yes, you did ask about that." She bows her head a little. "I'm sorry, I've been... distracted."
>Mugetsu closes her eyes and her brow furrows tightly. "This dream... is rigid. It pushes against me. We are malleable within it, as is our place in it, but the structure around us resists. It has a sort of permanence. Still, it might not be impossible..."
-
>"How difficult do you think it would be for you? Do you... think there's any way we could help?"
>Is this Maribel's dream alone, now...? Or us as well?
>"Failing that, following that fragment gives us someone guaranteed to encounter. But if there's anything on the way, it isn't our only priority. If we find Maribel again..."
-
>"How difficult do you think it would be for you? Do you... think there's any way we could help?"
>Is this Maribel's dream alone, now...? Or us as well?
>"Failing that, following that fragment gives us someone guaranteed to encounter. But if there's anything on the way, it isn't our only priority. If we find Maribel again..."
>"I don't... think so," Mugetsu says, still straining. "...there." She opens her eyes and draws in a deep breath.
>You... really have no idea. At the least, Mugetsu said that you wouldn't be able to drown if you disbelieved it. And Marisa is wearing different clothing than her waking self. So at least some part of it must react to your consciousness. You're not sure quite how, or how much.
>Mugetsu frowns. "Yes, I- I suppose you're right."
-
>Look up. Is there a moon? Believe there's a moon. Or that there will be now.
-
>Look up. Is there a moon? Believe there's a moon. Or that there will be now.
>You look up, keeping your belief in the moon in your heart. Unfortunately, you can't really get a clear view of the sky through the canopy of trees. There was a moon out over the lake, and at the clearing earlier, although it was a sliver away from full. You have no idea if all of these landscapes are consistent with each other.
-
>How annoying. Oh well, if we get out of the woods we might find it.
>"Mugetsu, I know following... that fragment of Gengetsu is uncomfortable, but we're going to have to address it directly sooner or later. If you notice anything else on the way, then let me know. But let's get moving. Lead the way, could you?"
-
>How annoying. Oh well, if we get out of the woods we might find it.
>"Mugetsu, I know following... that fragment of Gengetsu is uncomfortable, but we're going to have to address it directly sooner or later. If you notice anything else on the way, then let me know. But let's get moving. Lead the way, could you?"
>You frown in irritation at the trees. On the one hand, you don't feel any different. You normally don't need to see the moon to know that it's full. But this place doesn't really work exactly like the physical world, either...
>Mugetsu frowns and look away. "I... suppose you're right. I'm sorry. I don't want to run away from her, even if I... don't want to have to see her like that. Just... hold my hand again."
-
>Nod.
>"Thank you, Mugetsu."
>Take her hand.
>Kiss and make out. Conjure up Mokou for a threesome.
-
>Nod.
>"Thank you, Mugetsu."
>Take her hand.
>Kiss and make out. Conjure up Mokou for a threesome.
>You nod and thank Mugetsu.
>"I'm sorry..." she says quietly.
>You take her hand while Marisa takes her other. She steps forward beneath the bough that Gengetsu vanished under, and you follow with her, brushing the leaves away from your face as you pass through them. Strangely, the trees ahead seem thinner than they were, closer together. The underbrush denser. You can see scattered patches of moonlight pooling brightly through gaps in the foliage. This is definitely not what was ahead of you moments ago. In fact, it reminds you distinctly of the grove where you first encountered Maribel and Gengetsu.
>You can hear someone running quickly, and the sound of frightened cries a short distance away from you.
>Deciding that now is the entirely most appropriate time to get physical, you start to make out with Mugetsu and conjure up Mokou to join in on the fun. She looks at you and frowns. "What, after all this time and the real me still gets nothin'?"
>Marisa rolls her eyes. "Oh, get a room, people. Or did you forget I was even still here?"
-
>Okay, foursome
>Deja vu.
>"Deja vu."
>Head for the voice!
>"Maribel?! Hang on!"
-
>Okay, foursome
>Deja vu.
>"Deja vu."
>Head for the voice!
>"Maribel?! Hang on!"
>Marisa grins. "Heh. Well they don't call me the magician of love for nothin'."
>That makes what? The fourth time you've been here? First, while falling asleep, and now while actually asleep.
>"Yes," Mugetsu says. "It does look like that place."
>You quickly head in the direction of the voice, calling out to Maribel.
>"I get the feeling I'm missing something," Marisa says, as she runs alongside you.
>"This is where my sister and Maribel first met," Mugetsu says. "Or a memory of it."
>After a little bit, you catch sight of a human figure dashing wildly through the trees, her arms before her face as an awkward shield against onrushing branches. A pair of winged shadowy figures are chasing her, swooping deftly in and around the branches and each other, though they never seem to quite catch up. They look like the creature you and Rumia fought in the fissure, though their form is a little more irregular and indefinite.
-
>"Marisa, Mugetsu, hold those things off. I'll try to calm Maribel down."
>Approach Maribel. "Maribel! There you are!"
>_
-
>"Marisa, Mugetsu, hold those things off. I'll try to calm Maribel down."
>Approach Maribel. "Maribel! There you are!"
>"Got it!" Marisa says, jetting after them with an almost reckless disregard for colliding with the scenery. Mugetsu nods and follows at a more moderate pace, while you angle after Maribel.
>"Yo, ugly!" Marisa calls out. "Catch!" A barrage of green energy bolts flies out from her hand towards the shadows. Most of them impact against the intervening trees, rattling leaves and sending a few smaller branches flying. The shadows' acrobatics cause them to evade most of the rest, although this seems less a deliberate attempt to dodge so much as irregular movement. Marisa shifts to a better angle, closing the distance between them, while trying to interpose herself between them and Maribel. She launches another volley. Several bolts pass through the shadows, disrupting their form momentarily, but they otherwise seem to take no notice of her.
>You call out to Maribel, still a few dozen feet away. You're gaining on her, but not very quickly.
>"Why are you chasing me?!" she cries.
-
>"Because I want to help you! Don't you remember me from by the river?"
-
>"Because I want to help you! Don't you remember me from by the river?"
>"What are you talking about?" she calls back, sounding terribly winded.
>Marisa continues to fire upon the shadows, scoring more hits now that she's closer, although she still has more ground to cover before she can block off their pursuit of Maribel.
>Mugetsu also starts to fire from the rear, sending converging rays of blue needles streaking towards them. At her speed, it doesn't seem there's much chance of her intercepting them, merely keeping pace with them.
>The shadows flicker under the assault, but still do not break off their pursuit.
-
>"You don't remember me? I'm Keine! I'm a friend! Please stop running, and if I do anything to hurt you can punch me as hard as you want, okay?"
-
>"You don't remember me? I'm Keine! I'm a friend! Please stop running, and if I do anything to hurt you can punch me as hard as you want, okay?"
>"If I stop, they'll catch me!" she cries. "They never stop chasing me!"
>"They're not gonna be in any shape to chase anyone in a few moments!" Marisa calls back. She's nearly reached the small gap between Maribel and her pursuers, both her and Mugetsu continuing to fire upon the shadows; you think parts of their outlines are growing frayed and misty.
-
>"Exactly, we're taking care of these things! And you could help us, but you need to stop and listen to me, okay?"
-
>"Exactly, we're taking care of these things! And you could help us, but you need to stop and listen to me, okay?"
>"No, no, you don't understand!" she says, not breaking strike. "I can't stop here!"
>Marisa slips between Maribel and the shadows, another volley of green bolts in her wake. She spins about.
>"Magic Sign! Stardust Reverie!"
>A ring of familiars spirals away from her, then start a wide orbit around Marisa, leaving dense trails of stars in their wake. The shadows swoop past the outer ring before the field is drawn but a thick wall of stars closes behind them, and wraps around them and Marisa from all sides. You can't even see inside it clearly.
>"Try chasing someone through that!" she cries. "You've got your opponent right here."
-
>"Maribel, you can stop anywhere, but you have to listen to me, alright? We're risking ourselves for you, but we need your help to make it worthwhile, please stop!"
-
>"Maribel, you can stop anywhere, but you have to listen to me, alright? We're risking ourselves for you, but we need your help to make it worthwhile, please stop!"
>"No, I can't!" She cries. "I have to keep running!"
>"She probably can't understand you," Mugetsu says, moving towards you. "She's not conscious of her surroundings. To her, this is just a nightmare and she's running to escape it."
>You hear shots being fired from inside Marisa's danmaku field, while the familiars continue to spiral around, making the perimeter of stars even denser.
>"Hey! I didn't mean that literally!" Marisa cries as the shadows burst through the wall of stars, their forms flicking violently as dozens and dozens of danmaku pass through their bodies. One continues its pursuit, slower, but still steady, its outline wavering as it moves. Several parts of its form seems to be missing. The other shadow drifts forward at little more than a crawl, the edges of its form shedding wisps of void into the air.
-
>"If you stop, they won't get you! Or don't you want to see Renko again?"
>How close are we?
-
>"If you stop, they won't get you! Or don't you want to see Renko again?"
>How close are we?
>"Renko?" she says "How do you know Renko?"
>You're slowly catching up with her. She's probably about eight or nine feet away now. You'd have a definite advantage on open terrain, but all the trees make it difficult to reach good flight speed.
>"Oh, that's it!" Marisa yells. The stars around her scatter and dissolve as she bursts out of the field after the mobile shadow. "Stop moving already!"
>She makes a gesture with her hand, and two spinning orbs flicker into existence beside her. Blue beams surge from the orbs, cutting arcs though the shadow's form. Void swells in to fill the gaps as the lasers sweep through it, but the shadow's cohesion seems to be failing.
-
>"Because I've met her! She's really afraid for you right now! She cried, damn it!"
-
>"Because I've met her! She's really afraid for you right now! She cried, damn it!"
>"She's..." Maribel seems to slow a little. "I don't know you. What are you doing here? What's going on?"
>Marisa fires another barrage of green bolts to accompany her lasers. The shadow contorts as they tear through it, and it is unable to seal the paths the lasers cut through it. Bits of it drift apart and then scatter into mist.
>"That's more like it!" Marisa says, rounding on the remaining shadow and finishing it off in a similar manner.
-
>"I'm here because she asked me to help you! Now will you stop running, please?"
>Okay it's not strictly a lie...
-
>"I'm here because she asked me to help you! Now will you stop running, please?"
>Okay it's not strictly a lie...
>"If I stop running they'll catch me!" she says.
>It feels close enough to the truth to you.
>Marisa shakes her head, and closes on Maribel. "They're all gone now, y'know. You can stop running. Nothin's gonna catch up to you but us."
>"But..." Maribel slows a little bit more, and glances back over her shoulder.
-
>"It's like I told you, we're here to help."
-
>"It's like I told you, we're here to help."
>Maribel stops and turns around, frowning. "I don't understand."
-
>Maribel stops and turns around, frowning. "I don't understand."
>Approach. "It's complicated. But, you'll have to give me the benefit of a doubt. Let's begin at the beginning. You accept magic and things exist, right, given all the stuff that you've seen?"
-
>Approach. "It's complicated. But, you'll have to give me the benefit of a doubt. Let's begin at the beginning. You accept magic and things exist, right, given all the stuff that you've seen?"
>You'd already managed to nearly catch up with Maribel, and are more or less within comfortable speaking distance already, now that you're not chasing after her anymore.
>She nods, still frowning a little. "Of course they exist. I couldn't be here otherwise."
-
>"Good. As for here, you believe it is real, yes? And you visit it in your dreams? Because that is exact what happens. To our perspective, you appear then disappear. Are you following me so far?"
-
>"Good. As for here, you believe it is real, yes? And you visit it in your dreams? Because that is exact what happens. To our perspective, you appear then disappear. Are you following me so far?"
>Maribel nods along. "Yes, I believe this is real. And yes. I come from... elsewhere." She pauses and frowns. "Wait, you've... watched me? Other times I've been here?"
-
>"Okay, so far so good. Now, it gets tricky. What do you think would happen if, while you were dreaming you were in our world, someone cast a sleep spell on you?"
-
>"Okay, so far so good. Now, it gets tricky. What do you think would happen if, while you were dreaming you were in our world, someone cast a sleep spell on you?"
>"I... can't imagine there'd be anyone around who could. People don't really have magic where I come from. And why would they do that? Besides, if I'm already asleep, would I even notice the difference?" She pauses. "I assume there's some reason you're asking me this question, though."
-
>"Because that's what happened. Her sister-"
>Nod toward Mugetsu
>"-did that. And you are now, essentially, asleep twice over. Now, this is where the problems really begin, for you and for everyone else. In your world, you don't wake up. You're in a coma. No one knows why. Renko is beside herself with worry. And, well, you jumped between worlds, and then vanished. That's caused...well...lots of problems that are too long and complex to recount here. That's how we got involved, and found Renko. Following, so far?"
>_
-
>"Because that's what happened. Her sister-"
>Nod toward Mugetsu
>"-did that. And you are now, essentially, asleep twice over. Now, this is where the problems really begin, for you and for everyone else. In your world, you don't wake up. You're in a coma. No one knows why. Renko is beside herself with worry. And, well, you jumped between worlds, and then vanished. That's caused...well...lots of problems that are too long and complex to recount here. That's how we got involved, and found Renko. Following, so far?"
>You continue your explanation, gesturing to Mugetsu, who nods. Maribel frowns dubiously in her direction as you mention her sister's involvement.
>"Why would anyone do that to me?" she asks.
>"Please," Mugetsu says. "My sister meant no harm. She only wanted to meet you. I don't know what went wrong. She's stuck here, too. Something's happened to her."
>"Happened to her?" Maribel frowns. "Isn't this your world? How is she stuck if she's here?"
>"It's... well..." Mugetsu glances in your direction.
>"And in answer to your question," Maribel continues, turning back to you, "I... don't think I really understand, no. What does it mean to be asleep twice over? How could I possibly have caused any problems? I haven't done anything here but run for my life."
-
> "I'm not 100% certain about it myself either, but essentially, Mugetsu and Gengetsu are beings of dreams, and when you visit our world in your dreams, your what they call a "waking dream." They had never encountered anything like this before and were curious. Gengetsu ended up putting the part of you that was visiting our world to sleep, putting the you in the outside world into a coma."
> "That also means that this world is a dream."
> "Put simply, curiosity killed the cat, things snowballed and then shit hit the fan. Does that help at all."
-
>"As for why it caused problems, I am fairly sure it is because whatever happens to move you between worlds is being held open. You should have woken up and returned home days ago, but you haven't..."
>Actually it's probably a lot worse than this, but we'll give her the easy version for now.
-
> "I'm not 100% certain about it myself either, but essentially, Mugetsu and Gengetsu are beings of dreams, and when you visit our world in your dreams, your what they call a "waking dream." They had never encountered anything like this before and were curious. Gengetsu ended up putting the part of you that was visiting our world to sleep, putting the you in the outside world into a coma."
> "That also means that this world is a dream."
> "Put simply, curiosity killed the cat, things snowballed and then shit hit the fan. Does that help at all."
>"This world... is a dream?" Maribel frowns. "But I thought you said this world was real. I was certain it was real, even if I could only see it in my own dreams."
>"Hey, I can't help what I dream of!"
>"As for why it caused problems, I am fairly sure it is because whatever happens to move you between worlds is being held open. You should have woken up and returned home days ago, but you haven't..."
>Actually it's probably a lot worse than this, but we'll give her the easy version for now.
>"So a gap in the boundary is still open when it shouldn't be? But I thought you said this world was just a dream?"
>You don't know how well Maribel would take a full description of how messed up things have become...
-
>"This world, right here, is just a dream. You're dreaming of your experiences in our own world. It's no more real than if you dreamed of your own house. But the world you're dreaming about is real. Those things that were chasing you? Also nothing more than a dream."
>Shake head.
>"I'm sorry if this is too complicated. I'm trying to simplify as much as I can."
-
>"This world, right here, is just a dream. You're dreaming of your experiences in our own world. It's no more real than if you dreamed of your own house. But the world you're dreaming about is real. Those things that were chasing you? Also nothing more than a dream."
>Shake head.
>"I'm sorry if this is too complicated. I'm trying to simplify as much as I can."
>"If this is just a normal dream, that means none of this is real, right? Even you. Why am I dreaming of you? I've never met any of you before."
>You shake your head. It's been hard enough to explain this to someone who already knows all the outside details.
>"I... get the feeling you expect something of me," she says. "But I don't know what I can do."
-
Suggest:
"There are three worlds we're discussing right now. Two of them are real, or at least real enough. The last one is a dream, I'm pretty sure, and something about it has caused trouble for one of the other worlds."
"The world you live in is the first one. The second is where we come from, that you literally enter when you dream. Right now, I believe we're in a third - a world 'made' when you were put to sleep and made to dream in that second world. I don't know if this place is real or not - your ability to enter that second world in your dreams makes it difficult to say."
"We're trying to find the girl in our world that put you to sleep and made you dream twice over. She's been... broken apart, apparently, by something about what's happened. Hopefully, finding a way to put her back together will help in finding a way for you to wake up properly, and return to Renko. And as the dreamer for this dream, you might be key to doing that."
"Mugetsu... what can the dreamer herself do, normally?"
-
Imma steal what Mus said, because it's good stuff.
>"You're right, you have no reason to think I am not a dream. But would a dream really ask that kind of question? All I can do is ask you to accept on faith that I am really, as are Marisa and Mugetsu."
>Nod to each in turn.
>"Mugetsu brought us here, she can mess with the flow of dreams."
>"I'll try to summarize: There are three worlds we're discussing right now. Two of them are real, or at least real enough. The last one is a dream, I'm pretty sure, and something about it has caused trouble for one of the other worlds."
>"The world you live in is the first one. The second is where we come from, that you literally enter when you dream. Right now, I believe we're in a third - a world 'made' when you were put to sleep and made to dream in that second world. I don't know if this place is real or not - your ability to enter that second world in your dreams makes it difficult to say."
>"We're trying to find the girl in our world that put you to sleep and made you dream twice over. She's been... broken apart, apparently, by something about what's happened. Hopefully, finding a way to put her back together will help in finding a way for you to wake up properly, and return to Renko. And as the dreamer for this dream, you might be key to doing that."
>"Mugetsu... what can the dreamer herself do, normally?"
-
>"You're right, you have no reason to think I am not a dream. But would a dream really ask that kind of question? All I can do is ask you to accept on faith that I am really, as are Marisa and Mugetsu."
>Nod to each in turn.
>"Mugetsu brought us here, she can mess with the flow of dreams."
>"I'll try to summarize: There are three worlds we're discussing right now. Two of them are real, or at least real enough. The last one is a dream, I'm pretty sure, and something about it has caused trouble for one of the other worlds."
>"The world you live in is the first one. The second is where we come from, that you literally enter when you dream. Right now, I believe we're in a third - a world 'made' when you were put to sleep and made to dream in that second world. I don't know if this place is real or not - your ability to enter that second world in your dreams makes it difficult to say."
>"We're trying to find the girl in our world that put you to sleep and made you dream twice over. She's been... broken apart, apparently, by something about what's happened. Hopefully, finding a way to put her back together will help in finding a way for you to wake up properly, and return to Renko. And as the dreamer for this dream, you might be key to doing that."
>"Mugetsu... what can the dreamer herself do, normally?"
>You ask that Maribel accept that you and your companions are not creations of Maribel's dream.
>"I'm as real as they come!" Marisa adds, when you nod to her. Mugetsu just nods back.
>"I think a dream could ask this," Maribel says, in response to your question. "You can't judge dreams by what makes sense when we're awake. But reality... I don't know that there is a reality, outside of our own perceptions. While I'm here, this is real, so I guess it doesn't matter whether you're from my imagination or from somewhere outside it. I'll still listen."
>You summarize your understanding of the multiple worlds involved, Maribel's passage between them, and your current problem.
>"That's... complicated," Maribel says. "If this a dream that I'm dreaming, but she is from outside the dream, how can I help her?" She shakes her head. "I guess I still don't really understand what I'm supposed to do. Or how to do it. I want to help, and I... I don't want Renko to worry about me. Can you tell me what I'm supposed to do?"
>"It varies," Mugetsu says, when you ask about what dreamers can manipulate. "Normally everything in a dream is a creation of its dreamer. In theory, they can manipulate anything and everything. But they're usually unaware that they're dreaming and thus don't overstep the bounds of the reality they craft for themselves. We don't... usually try to make them aware." She glances uncertainly at you. "When you were teaching in that school, you could have changed the color of the walls by thinking about it. You could have made the students appear, disappear, do whatever you wanted. The desks could have gotten up and danced, and taught the class for you. But you did none of these things, because in the world the dream reflected these are all impossible. Here... I do not know. There are many more forces at work than just Maribel's imagination."
-
"Okay then. Do you have a segestion for something for us to try first. Like say a simple white room?"
-
>Rather than play stupid imagination tricks...
>"For now, let us try to find those torn up aspects of Gengetsu and try to put them back together. As for you, Maribel, the best thing you can do is accompany us, and try to keep things calm."
-
>Rather than play stupid imagination tricks...
>"For now, let us try to find those torn up aspects of Gengetsu and try to put them back together. As for you, Maribel, the best thing you can do is accompany us, and try to keep things calm."
>You consider testing what can be done to this place, but decide against it.
>"I'm not sure how we can put them back together," Mugetsu says. "But... we can find them, at least."
>"I can go with you," Maribel says. "But... I think you're giving me too much credit if you believe I can keep anything here calm. I couldn't even escape from those things on my own. Were... they creations of my imagination, too? Are you saying that I could have outrun them if I chose to?"
-
>"I bet you could have dismissed them entirely. But, you had no reason to believe you could."
-
>"I bet you could have dismissed them entirely. But, you had no reason to believe you could."
>"That is..." Maribel puts her hand against a nearby tree, feeling its texture. "I... don't feel I have that kind of power, no matter what you say. This is a tree. No matter if it's in my mind, or in another world, I see it as a tree. If the truth is in my perception, I'm not sure how to stop perceiving it as a tree."
>Mugetsu frowns uncertainly "I'm... also not sure she could have, in this case. I... don't think these came from her."
-
>"You seemed to imply that they were Maribel's nightmares when the one tried to drown me, Mugetsu. Perhaps you could explain again, then, in more clear terms?"
-
>"You seemed to imply that they were Maribel's nightmares when the one tried to drown me, Mugetsu. Perhaps you could explain again, then, in more clear terms?"
>"That one was," Mugetsu says. "Or at least that's a fair enough way to describe it. These... it was subtle, but..." She looks away. "I think my sister had a hand in it. I think I felt her touch upon them, when we fought. I'm so sorry, Maribel. I swear it's not supposed to be like this."
>"What... would they have done if they'd caught me?" Maribel asks.
>Mugetsu shakes her head slowly. "I don't know. I'd like to hope no harm would come to you. I'm... not as certain, anymore. I don't think she's fully aware of what she does."
-
>Nod.
>"Hmmm. So, we know Maribel is a force here, as well as Gengetsu's separated self. Are there any others you've been able to feel, Mugetsu?"
-
>Nod.
>"Hmmm. So, we know Maribel is a force here, as well as Gengetsu's separated self. Are there any others you've been able to feel, Mugetsu?"
>"Aside from them," Mugetsu replies, "and the three of us, I've sensed no one else shaping the dream."
-
>"Alright, so we can assume anything not us is some aspect of Gengetsu."
>Glance over where the nightmare thing was. Are there any signs of it?
-
>"Alright, so we can assume anything not us is some aspect of Gengetsu."
>Glance over where the nightmare thing was. Are there any signs of it?
>"They may be other things here that are a creation of Maribel's unconscious," Mugetsu says. "I doubt she will know what of this place is of her, and what is not. As I said, even a being that looks like Gengetsu may not be of Gengetsu, but simply Maribel's memory of her."
>"How could I have memories of someone I've never met?" Maribel asks. "I've been running here ever since I fell asleep."
>"For that matter, it's not impossible we could see things from your own unconsciousness," Mugetsu continues, looking at you and Marisa. "Although I suspect you lack the power to do so unwittingly."
>You look back at where the shadows were, but see no sign of them. Marisa appears to have well and truly dissipated them.
-
>"If those things were aspects of Gengetsu, what happened to those aspects after Marisa vaporized them?"
-
>"If those things were aspects of Gengetsu, what happened to those aspects after Marisa vaporized them?"
>Mugetsu shakes her head. "They weren't parts of her, as such, but creations of her, I think. She should be no more harmed by their destruction than Maribel would be if we tore down some of these trees."
>"Uh," Maribel says timidly, "I hope that would be 'not at all'?"
>"Yeah," Marisa adds, frowning, "I did kinda mess a couple of them up a bit, back there."
>Mugetsu shakes her head again. "Don't worry. Even here, they are not linked to the dreamer in that way. You've had your own creations dissolve and dissipate. I assume you had not even noticed."
-
>"In any event, let's see if we can find Gengetsu again."
-
>"In any event, let's see if we can find Gengetsu again."
>"She is here," Mugetsu says. "Or at least I believe she is. We came to this place following her. We simply got... sidetracked. I'll search for her again." She closes her eyes.
>"Uh..." Marisa says, looking off behind you. "Not sure you're gonna have to."
-
>Look toward where Marisa is.
-
>Look toward where Marisa is.
>You turn around and look where Marisa is looking. Through the trees in the distance you can see another figure moving slowly towards you. You think it may be Gengetsu, although you can't see her clearly with all the branches in the way.
>Mugetsu opens her eyes and squints in that direction. "Yes, it is certainly her."
>Maribel looks towards her as well. "Is she... after me, you said?"
>Marisa puts a hand on her shoulder. "We're not gonna let anything happen to you. You've got my word on it!"
-
>"We honestly don't know what she'll do if she gets to you. It's quite possible she doesn't know either. But don't worry, it is exactly as Marisa says."
>Observe oncoming Gengetsu.
-
>"We honestly don't know what she'll do if she gets to you. It's quite possible she doesn't know either. But don't worry, it is exactly as Marisa says."
>Observe oncoming Gengetsu.
>"Ok, I'll do my best to trust in that," Maribel says.
>You watch as Gengetsu approaches you. Once you get a clear enough view to make out more details, you feel comfortable it's the same fragment you encountered earlier. Or at least it still has similar parts of the left side of its body missing. Wait. As it gets closer, you begin to think something about it may be different about it after all. The void seems to be... reaching out?
>Maribel takes a step or two back.
-
>Step between Gengetsu and Maribel.
>"What are you doing, Gengetsu?"
>Observe those void bits, for foul play.
-
>Step between Gengetsu and Maribel.
>"What are you doing, Gengetsu?"
>Observe those void bits, for foul play.
>You step between Gengetsu and Maribel, who looks all too happy to have someone do so.
>"She is the one," Gengetsu says. "She is the one I was searching for. I came here to find her."
>You look at the void along Gengetsu's side. Parts of it seem to be growing into the air beside her. You... think that may be the vague form of an arm reaching out from part of her torso.
-
>"And now that you've found her, there's no hurry. What are you going to do, Gengetsu?"
-
>"And now that you've found her, there's no hurry. What are you going to do, Gengetsu?"
>"She's the one I was searching for," she repeats, not slowing as she continues forward. "That is why I came here. I came here to find her."
>The shadow 'arm' reaches further out; you think you can see the form of a shoulder emerge after it. A shadowy wing bursts out of the void along Gengetsu's arm. Other forms shift and roil in the blackness.
>Marisa grimaces. "Aw, man..."
>Maribel back up another couple steps.
-
>"Don't get too far from me, Maribel, or I won't be able to protect you. And whatever you do, don't run. We'll be here."
>Does this arm and shoulder look familiar?
-
>"Don't get too far from me, Maribel, or I won't be able to protect you. And whatever you do, don't run. We'll be here."
>Does this arm and shoulder look familiar?
>"I- I'll try," she replies, fear clearly audible in her voice.
>It reminds you distinctly of the shadow creatures you saw earlier.
>Gengetsu continues steadily forward. A shoulder follows the wing along her arm, while the first shadow continues to emerge from her torso; you think you can see a head now. Another hand reaches out from the left side of her back.
>"Please stop..." Mugetsu says weakly. "Please. If there's any part of you that remembers who I am."
>"Why should I know you?" Gengetsu responds flatly. "I came here seeking her. You are not her."
-
>"Then how about you stop stepping forward for the time being before we beat you so badly you remember everything and then forget it all again. Because if you take one more step, you're pretty much telling me there's no reason I shouldn't take you down. One more step. Take just one more. I dare you."
>Summon familiars.
-
>"Then how about you stop stepping forward for the time being before we beat you so badly you remember everything and then forget it all again. Because if you take one more step, you're pretty much telling me there's no reason I shouldn't take you down. One more step. Take just one more. I dare you."
>Summon familiars.
>"I don't understand," Gengetsu says, still walking slowly forward. "If I stop, I will not reach her. This is what I came here to do."
>You conjure a formation of familiars in front of yourself. In the corner of your eye, you note Marisa readying herself to strike as well.
>The first shadow is now a significant portion of Gengetsu's own size, while the second rapidly approaches it. There may be a third and a fourth, but it's getting a bit hard to make them out amongst all the shadow limbs.
>"P- please don't," Mugetsu says. "Please, it's not her fault."
-
>"It may not be her fault, but unless one of you can whip out something, we're not going to have many options. And what the hell are those things?"
>"You can reach her later, Gengetsu. Now stop!"
-
>"It may not be her fault, but unless one of you can whip out something, we're not going to have many options. And what the hell are those things?"
>"You can reach her later, Gengetsu. Now stop!"
>"They're, uh," Mugetsu hesitates. "I'm not really sure. Maybe we should just leave. She hasn't hurt anyone."
>"Yet!" Marisa counters.
>Gengetsu does not reply, but continues moving forward. She's getting quite close now.
-
>"Mugetsu, this is very important. Do you sense any other aspects of Gengetsu anywhere else?"
-
>"Mugetsu, this is very important. Do you sense any other aspects of Gengetsu anywhere else?"
>"There are others, yes," she says quickly. "I've met some. I could look for them."
-
>"Bring one here. Fast!"
>Contemplate how much attention Mugetsu is paying to her footing, and how plausible it is to trip her.
-
>"Bring one here. Fast!"
>Contemplate how much attention Mugetsu is paying to her footing, and how plausible it is to trip her.
>"I don't know that I could convince one to follow me," she says. "It would be best if we went to it."
>She seems quite agitated. It might probably be possible to catch her off-guard.
-
>Meant Gengetsu, bloody dyslexia.
>"Offer to lead her to Maribel! Just go! We can't stall all day!"
-
>Meant Gengetsu, bloody dyslexia.
>"Offer to lead her to Maribel! Just go! We can't stall all day!"
>She appears to be paying no attention to her footings or surroundings at all, simply looking vacantly towards Maribel. Nonetheless, she seems to have no trouble navigating.
>Mugetsu shakes her head. "I'm not leaving if you're going to hurt her while I'm gone."
>Suddenly the first shadow bursts free of Gengetsu and banks rapidly towards Maribel. She yelps.
>"Ah hell," Marisa says, firing a burst of danmaku at it. Several of them pass through it, but have limited effect.
-
>"Will you go, Mugetsu!"
>Turn the familiars onto the one that broke free.
>_
-
>"Will you go, Mugetsu!"
>Turn the familiars onto the one that broke free.
>"Not unless you come with me!" she replies.
>You open fire on the barreling shadow, sweeping lines of danmaku through its form. More green bolts meet your own fire, and the shadow flickers somewhat but remains stable. It's no more than a foot or two from you at this point, and a couple more from Maribel. She takes another step backwards.
>The second shadow pulls itself free from Gengetsu and flies towards your group.
-
>"I'm taking the new one, Marisa!"
>Turn the familiars on the second one to emerge.
>"That's not a damn option, Mugetsu! Get going! I swear if these things get to Maribel while you're standing there like an idiot I'm going to strangle you! Go!"
-
>"I'm taking the new one, Marisa!"
>Turn the familiars on the second one to emerge.
>"That's not a damn option, Mugetsu! Get going! I swear if these things get to Maribel while you're standing there like an idiot I'm going to strangle you! Go!"
>"Got it!" Marisa cries.
>You switch your fire to the second shadow, weaving a web of bullets through it before it's barely started to move. Its form shimmers slightly, but its pace doesn't waver.
>Mugetsu shakes her head. "No. Not like this." She turns and sweeps a ragged line of yellow spheres through the air that fly out towards the shadows.
>Marisa grimaces as the first shadow nearly reaches melee range. She lowers her hands towards it.
>"Love Sign! Master Spark!"
>The beam blasts forward, engulfing the shadow entirely and sending leaves and branches scattering in its path. Maribel yelps. Marisa smirks. Then you see the shadow drag itself out of the top of beam, ragged and unsteady, but still moving.
>"What the hell are those things made of?" Marisa yells, looking back over her shoulder as she tries to release the energy in the beam. The shadow swoops past her.
-
>Shoot down that shadow that got past Marisa
>What are our relative positions?
-
>Shoot down that shadow that got past Marisa
>What are our relative positions?
>You redirect your fire towards the first shadow. You're forced to be more careful with your fire, so as not to hit either Marisa or Maribel, and this decreased the power you can put into your barrage a little. The shadow wavers further under your assault, but retains enough cohesion to continue moving towards Maribel. She looks like she's clearly thinking of bolting.
>Marisa is a couple feet to your right and a few feet ahead of you. Mugetsu is a couple feet to your left, and behind you slightly. Maribel is about 10 feet behind you, somewhere between Marisa and yourself. Gengetsu is about 10-15 feet ahead. The second shadow is a few feet closer and closing fast, while the first shadow is about level with you, and to your right.
-
>Try to keep ourself between Maribel and the shadow.
>"Maribel! See the moon? Make it full!"
-
>Try to keep ourself between Maribel and the shadow.
>"Maribel! See the moon? Make it full!"
>You dash to put yourself between Maribel and the shadow again and it swoops around you. You're faster than it, particularly in the shape it's in, but at this range you don't think you can keep it off her for more than a couple seconds by doing this, unless Maribel widens the gap between them.
>"The moon?" she cries, looking up at it. "But how do I-"
-
>Keep firing on, take to the air and try to stay in its way.
>"Just do it!"
-
>Keep firing on, take to the air and try to stay in its way.
>"Just do it!"
>You continue to fire on the shadow while doing your best to stay in front of it. It swerves to one side, you dash back and shift back in front of it and the two of you dance like this while you retreat towards Maribel. In the corner of your eye, you see Marisa's Master Spark dissipate, while Mugetsu continues firing upon the second shadow.
>Maribel stumbles backwards. "I- I don't-"
>Suddenly the shadow's form grows hazy and it lunges into you. You barely have a moment to react before you feel an entirely unnatural and gripping sensation flood through you. Your vision and hearing dims and you feel your sense of place falter.You're dimly aware that you've stopped moving. Maribel cries out.
-
>Pause.
>Stay calm. Mugetsu told us we can't be hurt by things if we don't let them.
>Do we still feel our familiars?
-
>Pause.
>Stay calm. Mugetsu told us we can't be hurt by things if we don't let them.
>Do we still feel our familiars?
>You pause and try to gather yourself, reminding yourself of Mugetsu's words. Although they were more specific to the matter of drowning, it seems like a reasonable generalization.
>You can still feel your familiars. And you can still see and hear, for the matter. Your senses just feel a little muted and hazy, but they already seem to be recovering. You still feel an incredibly disconcerting sensation throughout yourself. Not exactly pain; something less physical. You feel like shuddering.
-
>It seems the thing is passing through us.
>"I'm okay!"
>Would it be plausible to generate some danmaku while it is doing this and hit it from the inside?
>Fly the equivalent of a step back.
-
>It seems the thing is passing through us.
>"I'm okay!"
>Would it be plausible to generate some danmaku while it is doing this and hit it from the inside?
>Fly the equivalent of a step back.
>It certainly seemed like it may have.
>"What happened?" you hear Marisa call back.
>You feel well enough to generate danmaku, although you're not sure how to go about hitting it from the inside, or if it even has something that could be called that.
>You fly a step backwards. This doesn't appear to accomplish anything in particular, and you still can't see the shadow. You hear footsteps behind you.
-
>"Firing up!"
>Try to generate some danmaku so that it originates from as close to our skin as possible, and thus would harm anything engulfing us. Direct them upward so we're less likely to hit an ally.
-
>"Firing up!"
>Try to generate some danmaku so that it originates from as close to our skin as possible, and thus would harm anything engulfing us. Direct them upward so we're less likely to hit an ally.
>You shout out a warning, then try to fire danmaku as close to your body as possible, aiming them upwards to avoid hitting anyone else.
>You see Marisa turn to look past you, then grimace. She thrusts out a hand and a tight burst of danmaku streaks past you.
>"Dammit, stop moving!" she yells.
>You hear something hit the ground, and Maribel lets out a short yelp.
-
>Look toward Maribel.
>How are we feeling?
-
>Look toward Maribel.
>How are we feeling?
>You turn around, and see Maribel face-down on the ground, a several feet behind you. The shadow hovers no more than a foot or two away from her, ragged and partially dispersed. If it had limbs in the conventional sense, you would say it was limping.
>You're feeling somewhat better, although still unpleasant and a bit impeded.
-
>"Stay down, Maribel!"
>Give the encroaching one as many shots as we can reasonably give without worrying about friendly fire. Try to ignore personal oddities for now.
-
>"Stay down, Maribel!"
>Give the encroaching one as many shots as we can reasonably give without worrying about friendly fire. Try to ignore personal oddities for now.
>You call out to Maribel. She doesn't acknowledge you, but she also doesn't get up. Hopefully that's not a bad thing.
>You launch as much danmaku at the shadow as you feel you safely can. Given its proximity to Maribel, and the fact that it is descending over her, this is rather difficult. Still, you land some fire on it, and Marisa adds some more of her own. It starts to scatter under the assault and dissipates just as it reaches out to her.
>"There's more of them!" Mugetsu shouts.
-
>Turn to assess more of them. Fire on the nearest.
>How are we feeling? About the same?
-
>Turn to assess more of them. Fire on the nearest.
>How are we feeling? About the same?
>You turn around. One of the shadows is not more than a few feet ahead of you, looking a little ragged. Mugetsu is currently firing upon it. Two more are approaching from 10 or so feet away, while Gengetsu herself has also closed several more feet. You add some of your own fire to the closest shadow, and Marisa sweeps a laser through it. It continues to close.
>You continue to improve, although you still don't feel quite right. You don't think it'll be enough to seriously interfere with anything you do, however.
-
>Stay in its way. Make it have to go through us to get to her; if we've taken one we can take more.
>Does Gengetsu still seem to be generating them?
-
>Stay in its way. Make it have to go through us to get to her; if we've taken one we can take more.
>Does Gengetsu still seem to be generating them?
>You do your best to keep yourself in front of it, trying to repeat a similar dance to the one you performed on the first shadow. It is in far better shape than the first shadow was, however, and evades more quickly. You continue to fire upon it, and Marisa and Mugetsu attempt to, but with you keeping practically on top of it, you give them few opportunities. You graze uncomfortably past a few of Mugetsu's yellow spheres as you move to block. You think Maribel is only a couple more feet behind you, at this point.
>You think you see some vaguely churning forms in the void alongside her, but none are near to fully materialized yet.
>The other shadows continue to dash forward. Marisa spins around and launches a wide wave of slowly spreading stars in their direction, which the should probably collide with in a few moments.
-
>Hope that Marisa and Mugetsu can hold off the rest, and keep interfering with and taking potshots at the one we've claimed.
>Does it seem to have any especial reaction, or lack thereof, to being hit in certain places?
-
>Hope that Marisa and Mugetsu can hold off the rest, and keep interfering with and taking potshots at the one we've claimed.
>Does it seem to have any especial reaction, or lack thereof, to being hit in certain places?
>You leave the other two shadows to your companions and focus on dealing with this one as best you can. You land several more solid hits on it while your dance forces you backwards. Glancing out of the corner of your eye, you see Maribel has righted herself, but is still dangerously close to the shadow's grasp. If it passes through you at this point, you are certain it will reach her. You don't think the current rate of damage you're inflicting will dissipate it before that point, either.
>It does not react obviously differently to shots that have hit any part of its body. The area closest to the impact wavers the most immediately afterwards, but you haven't noticed a difference in long-term damage inflicted as a result of this.
-
>"Be ready to draw back a bit, Maribel. Don't run, but be ready to draw back a bit. In the meantime, just think about that moon being full. Will it to be so!"
-
>"Be ready to draw back a bit, Maribel. Don't run, but be ready to draw back a bit. In the meantime, just think about that moon being full. Will it to be so!"
>"I- I'll try," she says, shifting back a few steps, while you continue to tangle with the shadow, sending more danmaku through its form.
>The third shadow rams through the wave of stars Marisa fired, pieces of it wavering and contorting. Marisa lays adds more direct fire on it, while Mugetsu sends out another wave of yellow orbs. Gegetsu closes another foot or two. You think you can see a fifth shadow start to emerge from her.
-
>Not much we can do about the other shadows, got to keep this one occupied. Try to concentrate fire on it; but not so much we lose some of our roadblock ability.
>Don't worry too much about stray fire in the direction of the other shadows, though.
-
>Not much we can do about the other shadows, got to keep this one occupied. Try to concentrate fire on it; but not so much we lose some of our roadblock ability.
>Don't worry too much about stray fire in the direction of the other shadows, though.
>You continue to attempt to impede the shadow, being forced backwards a little at a time. Its form grows more ragged as you continue to pelt it with what danmaku you can, but you think it's still got a bit more fight in it before it stops moving.
>Suddenly you feel something change. The moon! The moon is full! You feel the transformation start to grip you, making it difficult for you to move properly.
-
>If possible, shout, "Thank you!"
>Try to keep firing, if possible, and targeted on the shadow.
-
>If possible, shout, "Thank you!"
>Try to keep firing, if possible, and targeted on the shadow.
>You try to force out a few words as the sensation floods through you. "I- I did it?" Maribel says, glancing up at the sky. "Really?"
>You try to fire, find you cannot muster the focus to do so. Your limbs feel electrified and your breathing is heavy. The transformation is always a little overwhelming for a few moments; you have a hard time paying attention to your surroundings. You senses are consumed with the change flooding through you, and the power in its wake.
-
>"Cover...Maribel!"
>Try to keep an eye on the shadow.
-
>"Cover...Maribel!"
>Try to keep an eye on the shadow.
>You manage a few more words. "Can't be everywhere at once!" Marisa yells back.
>With you unable to stall it, the shadow dove past you and is essentially on top of Maribel. It's motion breaks her out of her momentary fascination with the moon and she tries to back up; however, it's apparent that it will catch her any second unless she bolts.
-
>"Fall! Back!"
>Be prepared to blast it the moment we can.
-
>"Fall! Back!"
>Be prepared to blast it the moment we can.
>"Falling!" Marisa says.
>You see Mugetsu flickers into existence near you and fire a ray of thin blue bolts, tearing through the shadow nearest Maribel. Maribel tries to dash to the side and put some more distance between her and it; its pursuit is slowing notably.
>You stagger another step as the power suffuses you. You feel your eyes shift and sharpen and the air about you seems to grow more crisp as you awareness heightens. You cry out almost involuntarily as you feel your horns burst from your head. Deep breath. Your eye darts towards the shadow, and you waste not a moment in unleashing sweeping streams of danmaku through it. It shudders and contorts violently and then is no more. Another deep breath. Crisis or no, it feels good!
-
>Ragged laugh.
>Assess the rest of the situation.
-
>Ragged laugh.
>Assess the rest of the situation.
>You allow yourself a little satisfied laugh. This is more like it!
>You glance around the rest of the battlefield. Marisa is falling back like you said, firing at the two shadows nearing her as she retreats. One looks a bit the worse for wear, while the other has only minor damage. Gengetsu continues her approach, standing about where Marisa used to be when this started. Mugetsu is near you, and is turning her attention back towards the front. You see a fifth shadow is rising out of Gengetsu's side.
-
>Focus fire on the damaged one, get it out of the road.
-
>Focus fire on the damaged one, get it out of the road.
>You concentrate your fire on the more damaged shadow, directing streams towards it, and letting stray fire sweep in the general direction of the second. Mugetsu fires a wide spray of the bullets towards both of them.
>Marisa pulls up next to you, firing more green bolts into it. "Don't suppose you've got a plan? We're not exactly making a lot of headway here. I think we just ought to start shooting her, if you ask me..."
>"No," Mugetsu says simply.
>"Fine..."
>"What does she want with me?" Maribel asks.
-
>"My plan would be to bring two of her aspects together, and hope they result in something more sane."
>Keep holding them off.
>"But in the meantime, I suppose it's worthwhile to see if we can run her out of these damn things."
-
>"My plan would be to bring two of her aspects together, and hope they result in something more sane."
>Keep holding them off.
>"But in the meantime, I suppose it's worthwhile to see if we can run her out of these damn things."
>"Would be nice!" Marisa says, firing another spread of stars as she shifts backwards.
>You continue to fire upon the incoming shadows, bringing a satisfyingly heftier amount of firepower to bear on them than when this started. Mugetsu and Marisa keep adding danmaku of their own, creating a veritable rainbow of different colors and styles flooding the air.
>"I'm... not sure that's possible," Mugetsu says. "In a place like this, what she's creating is not necessarily much different than our danmaku. They're both new elements of the dream we're manifesting. They just come easier to you, because their form is familiar and you believe in your ability to create them."
-
>"So then why are those things able to take so much abuse?"
-
>"So then why are those things able to take so much abuse?"
>"I don't know," Mugetsu replies. "I don't really understand what she's doing. Or why."
>A fifth shadow breaks free of Gengetsu. The third is starting to disintegrate, while the fourth still looks to be in good shape.
>"I have to meet her," Gengetsu says. "Why are you fighting?"
-
Suggest: "Because the last time you met her, everything went to shit."
-
>"Because you keep sending out these stupid shadow things! Cut it out and we'll talk! And the last time you met her this whole mess got started!
-
>"Because you keep sending out these stupid shadow things! Cut it out and we'll talk! And the last time you met her this whole mess got started!
>"I don't understand," Gengetsu replies. "I've never met her. That's why I came here. I came here to meet her."
>"Please, sister," Mugetsu says, "Please, just stop. You can meet her if you stop."
>Gengetsu tilts her head to the side, continuing inexorably forward. "I don't understand."
>"C- can we get away from this place?" Maribel says. "Please?"
-
>"Gengetsu! Do you see these things we're fighting? Yes or no?"
>Keep up the pressure. Make sure #4 or #5 don't slip around us.
-
>"Gengetsu! Do you see these things we're fighting? Yes or no?"
>Keep up the pressure. Make sure #4 or #5 don't slip around us.
>"I... you are fighting the dream," Gengetsu says. "I don't know why. Nothing will harm you."
>You continue doing your best to distrupt and block the shadows, weaving streams of danmaku through them, and shifting your position to force them to take less direct paths. With the three of you fighting while retreating and Maribel keeping a safe distance, you think you can keep them off her for the moment at least.
-
>"You're the one making them, Gengetsu! Please stop, and we'll let you see her!"
-
>"You're the one making them, Gengetsu! Please stop, and we'll let you see her!"
>She tilts her head back the other way. "Making? I am not making. I am simply trying to meet her."
-
>"Then do you see the things coming out of you to attack her?!"
-
>"Then do you see the things coming out of you to attack her?!"
>"Why would I attack her?" Getgetsu says. "I don't wish to harm her. Only to meet her."
>"Broken record..." Marisa mutters, blasting a laser into the fourth shadow. You can see a sixth rising from Gengetsu.
>Suddenly you hear a screeching sound behind you; an almost inhuman cry of rage and pain.
-
>Look back!
-
>Look back!
>You quickly look behind you and see... another Gengetsu. A very different, and very angry looking Gengetsu. Her form is firm and defined, but dozens of ragged tendrils of void are drawn across her body, branching out from her chest like veins, running down her limbs, and streaking through her wings. A second cluster fans out from her forehead, streaking jagged blackness about her eyes and face, almost like a mask. Her expression remains very readable, and would be frightening to see on anyone, no matter their form. It is pure, driven desperate rage.
>"Let me out!" she cries, and a fan of white danmaku flies out from her. She lunges towards Maribel.
>"Ah, hell..." Marisa mutters.
>Maribel tries to dive behind a tree. "What's going on!?"
-
>"Maribel, get close to us!"
>"Mugetsu, get them together!"
>If it seems that Violent Gengetsu is going to get to Maribel first, move to intervene.
-
>"Maribel, get close to us!"
>"Mugetsu, get them together!"
>If it seems that Violent Gengetsu is going to get to Maribel first, move to intervene.
>"I don't think I can!" she cries, as a flurry of danmaku flies past the sides of the tree she's hiding behind, many of them impacting against the trunk itself and rattling leaves.
>"How!?" Mugetsu says, staring wide-eyed at the new arrival.
>Maribel seems effectively pinned behind that tree, and Violent Gengetsu is moving quickly. The danmaku is not so dense that you couldn't dodge it yourself, but moving laterally through the cloud will be slow going. Additionally, without room for her to slowly fall back as you have been doing, it seems likely another shadow may reach her before you can dissipate them. Especially if your attention is divided between targets.
>The first Gengetsu continues slowly forward, seemingly oblivious to what is happening.
-
>Is Violent Gengetsu firing, or just approaching?
-
>Is Violent Gengetsu firing, or just approaching?
>Her first attack is still moving through the air around Maribel. It seems likely she may fire another.
-
>To Marisa and Mugetsu, "Then hold them off, I got this one."
>Try to fly toward Violent Gengestu and slip around her.
>To Maribel: "Try to dodge those attacks!"
>Presuming we get around her, come up from behind and slip our arms under her, and catch her in a full nelson. She wants furious angry rage? Then frankly we have more than enough to share.
-
>To Marisa and Mugetsu, "Then hold them off, I got this one."
>Try to fly toward Violent Mugestu and slip around her.
>To Maribel: "Try to dodge those attacks!"
>Presuming we get around her, come up from behind and slip our arms under her, and catch her in a full nelson. She wants furious angry rage? Then frankly we have more than enough to share.
>"Doin' what I can!" Marisa says.
>Violent Gengetsu is flying directly towards Maribel, which puts her at something of an angle to you. You swing around and try to intercept her from the back as she passes you.
>"What!?" Maribel cries, still hiding behind the tree as danmaku pelts it. "There's no way I can do that!"
>Gengetsu dashes past you and you swoop in behind her. However, as you close in on her, she glances back over her shoulder, her eyes burning through you. She sweeps a hand behind her and a spray of blue energy needles flies towards you.
-
>Try to dodge around the spray, keep at her back, and initiate aforementioned grapples.
>If plausible while doing so, give her an unhappy teacher look from the arsenal. Preferably the Don't Lie To Me About Why Your Homework Isn't In Your Handwriting one.
-
>Try to dodge around the spray, keep at her back, and initiate aforementioned grapples.
>If plausible while doing so, give her an unhappy teacher look from the arsenal. Preferably the Don't Lie To Me About Why Your Homework Isn't In Your Handwriting one.
>The attack moves quickly, and the suddenness of it at close range force you to dash backwards a moment before you can slip into a gap between the spread of needles and keep moving forward. She gains a little on you, although you start to catch up immediately. You think you can still reach her before she reaches Maribel, but it'll be tight.
>Maribel peeks out around the edge of the tree, and yelps a little when she sees how close Gengetsu is. With a quick glance around her, she rushes for another tree, a short distance away. Gengetsu sweeps to the side of the first tree and fires another wave of white danmaku at Maribel. She glances over her shoulder while running, and awkwardly bends out of the way of the first bullets, but then several more catch her in the leg and back. She cries out and falls.
-
>If she's firing at Maribel, she's not firing on us. Get in there and restrain her.
-
>If she's firing at Maribel, she's not firing on us. Get in there and restrain her.
>You take this opportunity to pull an extra burst of speed from yourself and rush at Gengetsu. She seems to sense your approach, and begins to glance back at you just as you slip your arms underneath hers and bring them around in a full nelson. You give her one of your best unhappy teacher looks, backed by all the frustration and anger of the last few days. You like to think the horns compliment the look nicely.
>Gengetsu rages against your grasp. "You will not keep me here!"
>A circular burst of danmaku flies from her hands. Several connect you very solidly in the shoulder and side, but you wince and bear it.
-
>"You want a reason to be angry, young lady? I'll give you one!"
>Apply pressure to the back of her head, which will also apply such to her arms and chest thanks to leverage~
>"I've dealt with more than enough of your messes already!"
>Use this leverage to force her to stumble away from Maribel, as well.
-
>"You want a reason to be angry, young lady? I'll give you one!"
>Apply pressure to the back of her head, which will also apply such to her arms and chest thanks to leverage~
>"I've dealt with more than enough of your messes already!"
>Use this leverage to force her to stumble away from Maribel, as well.
>You apply pressure to the back of her head, forcing it downwards and bending her arms back. You try to use your leverage to pull her away from Maribel; she struggles violently every inch of the way, but it's clear that you're stronger than her.
>Maribel picks herself up off the ground and glances around her. A shadow is closing in on her from the left, Marisa chasing after it. It's injured, but still fairly cohesive. Maribel moves to scramble out of the way of both it and Gengetsu, while Marisa rains more fire towards the shadow.
>Gengetsu tries to turn her head back to look at you, glaring fire at you from the corner of the eye that can still see you.
>"I will get out!" she cries. Suddenly you develop a splitting headache.
-
>"Oh, we're getting you out, young lady! The question is whether or not you're going to be be conscious when we do! You want out? March yourself toward that other Gengetsu and cut out these tricks this instant!"
>Apply significantly more pressure, and force her in that direction.
-
>"Oh, we're getting you out, young lady! The question is whether or not you're going to be be conscious when we do! You want out? March yourself toward that other Gengetsu and cut out these tricks this instant!"
>Apply significantly more pressure, and force her in that direction.
>"I won't let you trap me here!" she cries, still struggling against you and firing more danmaku wildly around her. Although her ability to aim is significantly impaired, several still snag you. Many more collide with trees and dirt around you and Maribel barely gets out of the way of part of it.
>You push even harder on her and try to force her towards the first Gengetsu. Your head throbs and you feel your senses growing hazy; you think your grip is weakening a little.
-
>If she's turned her head, then she's going to be feeling it in her neck a whole lot worse than before due to adding more tension to those muscles.
>Growl: "If you don't want to be trapped, young lady, you best work with me!"
>More pressure. Make her grasp and have a hard time keeping concentration. If she tries to make her own attack worse, keep applying more.
>"Last. Chance."
-
>If she's turned her head, then she's going to be feeling it in her neck a whole lot worse than before due to adding more tension to those muscles.
>Growl: "If you don't want to be trapped, young lady, you best work with me!"
>More pressure. Make her grasp and have a hard time keeping concentration. If she tries to make her own attack worse, keep applying more.
>"Last. Chance."
>She certainly looks extremely uncomfortable, but her general expression of rage makes it hard to tell how much of it is pain, and how much is just anger.
>"No! No more tricks! No more traps! I will tear my way out through her!"
>You put even more pressure on her, bending her neck further and wringing an angry cry from her. She reciprocates. It feels like a giant hand is crushing your skull. You vision is darkening as pain floods your consciousness; it is only sheer will and fury that gives you the strength to push harder. You begin to wonder if you could suffer permanent damage from this.
>She makes an incoherent sound of rage, but does not cease her struggle.
-
>"Give. It. Up. Or ELSE!"
>Keep it up, and keep forcing her toward other Gengetsu if we can. She needs concentration, presumably, we just need physics.
>If she continues and doesn't pass out from the pain...well, she's proven doesn't need those arms undislocated, does she?
-
>"Give. It. Up. Or ELSE!"
>Keep it up, and keep forcing her toward other Gengetsu if we can. She needs concentration, presumably, we just need physics.
>If she continues and doesn't pass out from the pain...well, she's proven doesn't need those arms undislocated, does she?
>You demand again that she stop. Gengetsu just thrashes beneath you.
>You continue to apply as much pressure as you can and keep forcing her towards the other Gengetsu. It's getting really difficult to keep it up at this point. You're not sure how she can keep up what she's doing, either; from the look of the position she's in should be in a hell of a lot pain, too. Maybe she's just angry enough that she can shrug it off?
>She doesn't show any signs of stopping, yet. Maybe she's just as much on the verge of running out of steam as you are, but if that doesn't break her concentration, you don't know what would. You can't imagine Mugetsu would approve, but you're not really inclined to be too concerned about that at the moment.
>Marisa glances over at you, while firing some more danmaku into the nearest shadow. "You okay over there? Say the word and she gets it."
>"Please, she's-" Mugetsu begins.
>Marisa cuts her off. "Sorry, but this is just getting ridiculous."
-
>"She's....attacking...my mind!"
-
>"She's....attacking...my mind!"
>"What?" Mugetsu's eyes widen and she looks at you.
>Marisa grimaces. "Oh, that's it!" She thrusts a hand forward.
>"Wait!" Mugetsu cries, as a volley of focused green bolts flies out towards Gengetsu.
>"Sorry," Marisa says. "but at this point I don't care if it's really her fault or not. We can apologize later."
-
>Try to make Gengetsu be a human shield.
-
>Try to make Gengetsu be a human shield.
>You try to make sure that Gengetsu takes all the fire. She's still flailing, but Marisa's been kind enough to make the volley sufficiently concentrated so that you don't need to worry about your arms getting hit if you can just line her torso up. You force your muscles to keep her in place, and the danmaku impacts squarely against her. She lets out an angry cry, and you feel the pressure on your head release a little.
>Marisa launches a second volley. Mugetsu's head darts fretfully between you and Marisa, like she isn't sure what she should be doing.
-
>"She'll be fine, Mugetsu!"
>Keep making a shield of Violent Gengetsu, and keep moving her forward.
-
>"She'll be fine, Mugetsu!"
>Keep making a shield of Violent Gengetsu, and keep moving her forward.
>"She hasn't been fine since any of this started!" Mugetsu says.
>You continue to drag Gengetsu forward as she absorbs another volley. Your head still aches fiercely, but whatever Gengetsu was doing to you seems to be weakening.
>"You. Will. Let. Me. Go!" she cries, still thrashing against you.
>As your awareness becomes a little clearer, you realize that amid Marisa's change in target, and Mugetsu's consternation, no one is firing upon the shadows. You see Maribel trying to dash away from them and circle towards you, but one is already quite close and a second not much further than that. The other Gengetsu continues her pace towards her.
-
>"Hold them off, Mugetsu!"
>Keep moving Violent Gengetsu toward the other Gengetsu.
-
>"Hold them off, Mugetsu!"
>Keep moving Violent Gengetsu toward the other Gengetsu.
>"Hold them..." Mugetsu mouths, frowning, and then suddenly her eyes widen and she looks towards Maribel. She blinks into the air and reappears a dozen or so feet to her left, launching spreading wave of yellow danmaku in the shadow's path. Maribel continues trying to evade them, although you notice her limping a little, reducing her speed.
>You continue to drag Gengetsu towards the other Gengetsu. She struggles a little less now, but she's still a handful and you fight for every foot.
>"Too many things to shoot at!" Marisa cries, launching a third barrage towards you, then throwing a scattering stream of stars in the general direction of the shadows, but you don't expect too many of them to meet their mark.
-
>Can we conceivably add our own danmaku to dealing with Violent Gengetsu or the shadows and keep the hold in place?
>Regardless, manuever Violent Gengetsu into the stream. If we can, add our own to taking her down.
-
>Can we conceivably add our own danmaku to dealing with Violent Gengetsu or the shadows and keep the hold in place?
>Regardless, manuever Violent Gengetsu into the stream. If we can, add our own to taking her down.
>You seem to have lost your familiars while your were busy getting your head squeezed like an orange. Even now, the pounding in your head makes you recall hangovers in a fond light. The grip you have against Gengetsu's head doesn't leave much room to conjure anything more direct, either.
>You make sure that Gengetsu continues to line up with Marisa's danmaku, and are rewarded with another cry of pain and an ease of the pressure in your mind.
>The shadows swoop past most of Marisa's stars, although a few connect, and passing through Mugetsu's attack leaves violent ripples in them. She launches another wave. Still, a shadow makes it past her, damaged but intact. Mugetsu follows it with a frontal stream, and parts of the shadow contort beneath it, but it fails to lose appreciable momentum. Maribel tries to keep her distance, but the leg she's limping on buckles a little beneath her and she stumbles. The shadow swoops over her.
-
>Can we get between the Shadow and Maribel? If, do so and see how Violent Gengetsu likes getting hit by one.
-
>Can we get between the Shadow and Maribel? If, do so and see how Violent Gengetsu likes getting hit by one.
>While you'd very much like to give it a taste of its own medicine (or at least another part of itself's medicine), you can't maneuver there nearly quickly enough. Maribel is at least 10 feet from you, and the shadow no more than 2 in front of her. You don't know if you could even reach her if you let go of Gengetsu.
-
>Consider the effects of spellcards we have that we can use in this form and what they do.
-
>Consider the effects of spellcards we have that we can use in this form and what they do.
>You hadn't really stopped to check if you still have the same inventory in here as you had in the waking world. From memory, the spellcards you last possessed were:
>Spiritual Birth "First Pyramid"
>Creates familiars which orbit the caster and spray bullets in an intricate pattern, while ocassionally launching targeted energy blasts, forcing the enemy into the denser parts of the pattern to evade them.
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Repeatedly launches clusters of familiars which explode into a spray of bullets upon contact with any solid object.
>Ending Sign "Phantasmal Emperor"
>Creates several rotating arrays of familiars which fire an interlocking pattern of lasers, while launching concentric rings of projectiles from yourself. Creates a dense omnidirectional pattern to navigate, but limits your own movement
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Only usable in hakutaku form
>Uses familiars to create a web of interlocking bullets, and then launches an intense spray of larger bullets which curve to track enemies. Very powerful, but you lack the capacity to use this outside of Hakutaku form
-
>Release Violent Gengetsu and kick her away.
>Grab and declare Future "The Next History of Phantasm". Because we are certain we have this.
>Unleash it on pretty everything we don't like nearby. Trust Maribel to stay down.
-
>Release Violent Gengetsu and kick her away.
>Grab and declare Future "The Next History of Phantasm". Because we are certain we have this.
>Unleash it on pretty everything we don't like nearby. Trust Maribel to stay down.
>You release your hold on Gengetsu and give her a very satisfying kick. She stumbles and nearly falls, but immediately starts to turn to you.
>You reaffirm your spellcards' existence and reach into your pocket, producing and declaring Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Two rows of familiars appear in front of you, firing a slow dense stream of blue bullets and beginning to spin, creating a web in front of you. Gengetsu eyes them and backs a step away. You feel the power for the spray building within you and spare a glance towards Maribel.
>She catches her balance before she falls and looks behind her. The shadow is little more than a foot from her face and neither Marisa nor Mugetsu have a line of fire that wouldn't hit Maribel directly. You're not going to be able to launch the second wave quickly enough. Just a few more seconds...
>Maribel stares into the shadow, fear in her eyes and something... else. You see her mouth form words, though you're too far away to hear them. Then, as the shadow lunges at her, a shearing line of purple energy tears itself across the space in front of Maribel, and the shadow lunges into... someplace else. Maribel stares at the gap in front of her in wide-eyed wonderment.
-
>...We shant complain about that.
>Focus on Violent Gengetsu.
-
>...We shant complain about that.
>Focus on Violent Gengetsu.
>As many times as purple gaps into nowhere have caused problems in your life lately, this is not one of them.
>Violent Gengetsu takes another step back, glaring at you as the web of danmaku closes on her. She glances over to Maribel, then lunges towards her, as you send out a torrent of larger red shots, streaking in a rush towards her. She shifts in and around the web as best she can, but she is too focused on reaching Maribel to properly evade both sets of bullets at once. One snags her in the wing, spoiling her course, and then a series of them slam all across her side as she tries to dive to safety. Her shriek is both painful to hear and darkly satisfying.
>"How'd you do that?" Marisa says, looking at the gap in front of Maribel.
>"I- I'm not sure," Maribel says. "I just-"
>There is a cracking noise, and the seam grows wider, splintering jaggedly into the air around it.
-
> "Going by my recent experiences with gaps lately, I think you might want to get away from that."
> Keep up our barrage on V. Gengetsu.
-
> "Going by my recent experiences with gaps lately, I think you might want to get away from that."
> Keep up our barrage on V. Gengetsu.
>"Uh, yeah," Marisa says, eying it warily. "Probably a good idea." She turns and fires upon the next shadow.
>You continue firing upon Gengetsu. She tries to right herself and narrowly angles away from the red barrage, but gets clipped by several of your smaller shots. With a cry, she sends a wave of white danmaku in your direction.
>Maribel takes a step backwards from the gap. There is another cracking sound as it splinters out several more feet, nearly engulfing her.
>"You might wanna stop that!" Marisa says.
>"I don't know how!" Maribel cries.
-
>"Same way you affected the moon!"
>Try to judge the white shots' pattern, and move around them. Keep up the music on Gengetsu.
>_
-
>"Same way you affected the moon!"
>Try to judge the white shots' pattern, and move around them. Keep up the music on Gengetsu.
>"I just- I felt the edge of a boundary and tried to tell it be open," Maribel says, running out of the reach of the gap. "Like with the moon. But now the boundary's all shifted and I don't know how to move it back. I'm trying!"
>You quickly find a hole in the oncoming wave and shift into it, while continuing your attack on Gengetsu. She dodges around the blue shots, and uses the pause between waves to dash in Maribel's direction, firing a wave of blue needles at you as she moves.
>"She bent a passage in the dreamspace itself," Mugetsu says. "We should leave. Now."
-
>"I'll cover you, go!"
>Try to direct the red shots to take advantage of Violent Gengetsu's attempts to get at Maribel.
-
>"I'll cover you, go!"
>Try to direct the red shots to take advantage of Violent Gengetsu's attempts to get at Maribel.
>Mugetsu spares another glance back at the first Gengetsu, then starts running towards you. "Everyone get together. I can take us someplace safer."
>You wait a moment until the next barrage is recharged and unleash it towards Violent Gengetsu. She glances at you out of the corner of her eye and tries to compensate, but is still putting too much of her focus into moving forward. She clips a blue bullet, tries to swerve around the next pair as they intersect and get struck solidly in the lower torso by a red one. The rest of the stream buffets her back and wings sending her tumbling onto the ground. She pushes herself back up with unsteady arms. A few of the needles from her last barrage strike your side and shoulder with a sharp stinging sensation, but you're focused enough to shrug it off.
>Maribel continues to run away from the gap. It hasn't expanded for a few moments, but you can see its outline shaking violently.
>"Yeah, it's time to go!" Marisa says, leaving a parting shot for one of the shadows and flying towards Maribel.
-
>Once we're satisfied the others are away from the worst of the aggression, cancel the card, give the rift a wide berth, and rejoin them.
-
>Once we're satisfied the others are away from the worst of the aggression, cancel the card, give the rift a wide berth, and rejoin them.
>Violent Gengetsu forces herself unsteadily to her feet, breathing heavily; the shadowy rifts across her body seem to churn, almost angry. "No, I won't let it happen again!" she cries, dashing for Maribel. The third wave of the card fires. Being near the edge of its effective range, she manages to evade much of it, but a couple blue bullets catch her in the legs and a red one grazes across her back. She stumbles by tries to keep going.
>Marisa catches up to Maribel as she flees the gap. "C'mon, hop on!" she says, gesturing to her broom. Maribel glances at the rift and Gengetsu, hesitating only a moment before she puts her leg over it and hangs onto Marisa for dear life as they jet away, leaving the shadows, the gap, and both Gengetsus behind.
>Mugetsu flies over to you. "Please," she says. "We need to reach the others."
>You take another look at the battlefield, then cancel the card and fly off with Mugetsu towards Marisa and Maribel.
>There is another surge, and a maze of cracks splinters rapidly out from the fissure, extending dozens of feet in all directions. The first Gengetsu disappears inside it. Mugetsu falters a step, looking at it.
-
>"We're not going to be able to stop this, are we?"
-
>"We're not going to be able to stop this, are we?"
>"I- I don't think so," Mugetsu says, tearing her eyes away from it. "Not like this. Maribel doesn't fully understand what she did, and there isn't time for her to figure it out. We can flee to elsewhere in the dreamscape; the phenomenon should be confined to here. We can regroup."
-
>"Alright, let's go."
-
>"Alright, let's go."
>With a nod, you and Mugetsu fly to intercept Maribel and Marisa.
>The fissure shudders again and its tendrils surge outward. The remaining Gengetsu glances towards it and has just enough time to utter a last cry of rage against the world before being swallowed inside. A large crack tears along the space between you and Marisa and dozens of splinters fan out from it towards you, devouring the world in their wake.
>"Hang on!" Marisa cries as her broom suddenly surges forward, leaving a trail of light in its path. You glance back at the fissure. You're not going to be able to outrun it. You're not even going to be able to crest the divide to Marisa before it catches you... You can feel the fissure gaining on you; reality falling apart behind you.
>Mugetsu looks towards Maribel and Marisa as you race away. It's gaining on them, too; fractures in space and dream chasing after them like a dozen chaotic serpents. They're not going to make it, either. You not going to be able to reach them.
>You feel Mugetsu take your hand in hers and speak a single word, quiet word: "Go."
>She yanks firmly on your arm and you lurch towards the ground, turning your head towards her just in time to see her flicker and vanish into the air. The world behind you is dominated by an enormous purple scar, voracious and devouring. And next it will devour you. You feel yourself tumble into the undergrowth, foliage rushing up around your limbs and across your face. The expected impact with the ground never comes.
-
> Blink.
> Look around.
> Check on headache.
-
> Blink.
> Look around.
> Check on headache.
>You blink. You still seem to be intact, and you don't recall feeling yourself get splintered or scattered across the inside of the dream. In fact, it takes you a moment to realize you're standing upright. Weren't you just falling a moment ago? How'd that happen?
>You look around. You seem to be inside some bushes. You can see an open area just outside them, but not very clearly through the foliage. Is... that a wall, a little ways away?
>Your head is still in unpleasant shape, to be honest, but it seems to be improving much more quickly than you would have expected, given how immensely terrible it was only a few minutes ago.
-
>Massage forehead and temples.
>Emerge from the foliage.
>Look for the others.
-
>Massage forehead and temples.
>Emerge from the foliage.
>Look for the others.
>You give your forehead and temples a brief massage. It is so nice to be able to live inside your own head again. Hopefully the remainder of this headache will fade in short order.
>You attempt to extricate yourself from the bushes, which proves to be a little more problematic than you'd anticipated. The foliage is quite dense, and you seem to be somewhat caught in the branches. Still, after a little struggling you pull yourself free.
>You are in a small, but well-tended garden. There are several tasteful groupings of plants and small trees in framed beds, and a groomed walkway running among them. Some distance ahead of you is a red brick wall. You see an ornate wrought iron gate set into this wall, some distance to the left. Looking behind you, it seems you were inside a large ornamental bush of some sort. You don't seem any immediate sign of anyone else.
-
>"Maribel? Marisa?"
>"Any other M names out there?"
-
>"Maribel? Marisa?"
>"Any other M names out there?"
>You call out to your companions, but receive no response.
>"Nope," Mystia cries. "I'm totally not lying in wait out here to ambush you again."
>"Hey!" say Murasa. "At least you didn't spend the whole quests sealed Underground."
-
>Walk along the wall in the direction that is less difficult-looking to traverse.
>Massage headparts as needs be.
-
>Walk along the wall in the direction that is less difficult-looking to traverse.
>Massage headparts as needs be.
>There are groomed paths going in each direction. You head in the direction of the gate, and as soon as you're clear of the cluster of trees you emerged in, the large red mansion to your left becomes immediately visible. It's not quite an accurate replica, but the intended resemblance is very clear.
>You continue trying to sooth the throbbing in your head with your hands. And the very least, nothing is currently shooting, chasing, or trying to crush your skull. That alone helps a little; it could almost seem peaceful.
-
>Circle around to the front gate. Let's see what she thinks of Meiling.
-
>Circle around to the front gate. Let's see what she thinks of Meiling.
>You move around to the front gate, curious to see what Maribel's Meiling looks like. Rather to your disappointment, you see no one standing near it at the moment.
-
> Approach the gate.
> "Hello? Is anyone their?"
-
> Approach the gate.
> "Hello? Is anyone their?"
>You walk up to the gate from the inside. You think the pattern of the ironwork is slightly different than the real one, but it's a very close approximation.
>You call out. There is no response for a moment, then a voice comes from some distance behind you. "Is there something I can help you with?"
-
>Turn around before responding.
-
>Turn around before responding.
>You turn around to find the source of the voice and see Sakuya standing in front of the doors of the mansion, regarding you with a sort of neutral curiosity.
-
>Consider if there really is anything she or any of the residents can help us with. We're just checking out this SDM, right?
-
>Of course, this is the SDM of Maribel's dreams, isn't it?
>Any hint of this Sakuya having that limp?
-
>Consider if there really is anything she or any of the residents can help us with. We're just checking out this SDM, right?
>You aren't certain how much a creation of someone else's dream can help you with. How connected is she to Maribel's own thoughts?
>Of course, this is the SDM of Maribel's dreams, isn't it?
>Any hint of this Sakuya having that limp?
>That does seem likely. Maribel had mentioned seeing it to Renko. At least a little. You don't know what degree its visualization is still connected to Maribel, in this space.
>She hasn't moved yet, that you've seen.
-
>"I hope so. I'm a little lost. You haven't seen Marisa around, have you?"
>Are we inside or outside SDM?
-
>"I hope so. I'm a little lost. You haven't seen Marisa around, have you?"
>Are we inside or outside SDM?
>"I'm afraid I don't know anyone by that name," Sakuya responds. "But you're welcome to step inside, if you wish."
>You are inside the gates, but outside the mansion itself.
-
>"That's a very kind offer. Marisa is a black magician, favors a large pointed hat, she has blonde hair, tends to wear a white apron."
-
>"That's a very kind offer. Marisa is a black magician, favors a large pointed hat, she has blonde hair, tends to wear a white apron."
>Sakuya frowns and shakes her head. "I'm afraid I've seen no one matching that description. We haven't had many visitors lately."
-
>"Oh? What visitors have you had, then?"
-
>"Oh? What visitors have you had, then?"
>"There was a young human girl a little while ago," she says. "I think she was traveling. Otherwise I have seen no one."
-
>"Would you be so kind as to describe her? I may be looking for her, as well."
-
>"Would you be so kind as to describe her? I may be looking for her, as well."
>"She was about this tall," Sakuya says, gesturing in the air next to her. "Blond hair, dark purple dress. She wore a white mop cap. A rather curious but gentle sort."
-
>"If you could introduce me, I would be grateful."
-
>"If you could introduce me, I would be grateful."
>"I'm afraid she already left some time ago," Sakuya says, frowning. "I don't know where she was heading."
-
>Consider for a moment, then ask, "Do you know anyone named Mugetsu? Perhaps on your staff?"
>_
-
>Consider for a moment, then ask, "Do you know anyone named Mugetsu? Perhaps on your staff?"
>Sakuya shakes her head. "I'm afraid not. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful."
-
>"That's alright, but if this is the case, I should be off."
>Make to leave.
-
>"That's alright, but if this is the case, I should be off."
>Make to leave.
>You tell Sakuya you're leaving and turn to depart, walking back towards the gate.
>"You're more than welcome to stay for a time," she calls out. "I can get you something to eat, if you'd like."
-
>"Thank you very much!"
>Wave. Even if she's only a figment, she's at least a nice one.
-
>"Thank you very much!"
>Wave. Even if she's only a figment, she's at least a nice one.
>She bows slightly. "It's no problem."
>You wave to her, briefly wondering whether she may be nicer than the real thing. It's nice to know that not every creation of this dream is trying to attack you or someone you know.
-
>Out the gates.
-
>Out the gates.
>You turn and open the gates, then step through them. Somehow, although were walking in a straight line, you find yourself re-entering the mansion grounds. Sakuya is nowhere to be seen.
-
>Has anything else changed about the grounds? The position of the sun, perhaps?
-
>Has anything else changed about the grounds? The position of the sun, perhaps?
>Looking around the ground, you don't see any obvious changes. It's possible the exact arrangement of greenery may be different, but you didn't pay enough attention the first time to be sure. It was evening then, and it is still evening. The moon seems unchanged. You don't know if Maribel's influence may be doing something to keep it that way.
>You think you notice the shadows near some of the trees move.
-
>Is it Mugetsu?
-
>Is it Mugetsu?
>No. As you look closer, It doesn't seem to be a humanoid form moving, but rather a shadow itself.
-
>Does it seem to be a shadow fitting the object that cast it? Or something independent?
-
>Does it seem to be a shadow fitting the object that cast it? Or something independent?
>At first you weren't certain, but now that it's clearly moving away from the more natural shadows, its independence is more obvious.
>It is wispy and insubstantial, although you see fragments of a form, too vague and undefined to identify. It is small and moving low to the ground, almost as it it were crawling.
-
>Approach it. Be ready to give it a proper blasting if needs be.
-
>Approach it. Be ready to give it a proper blasting if needs be.
>You approach it, while it continues to move slowly towards you. It doesn't seem hostile, although it's difficult to get any read of intent from it. The form is not clearly recognizable, and it doesn't seem to be doing anything other than moving.
>As you get closer, you start to feel a strange sensation from it, almost like an emotion. Recognition, confusion, uncertainty. For a moment, you're not sure which of these feelings are your own. Parts of the shadow's form flicker and waver before you.
-
>Kneel down by it. Do be ready to dive aside if it goes for the face or other fleshy bit we enjoy, which is all of them.
>"Hello?"
-
>Kneel down by it. Do be ready to dive aside if it goes for the face or other fleshy bit we enjoy, which is all of them.
>"Hello?"
>You kneel down next to it, making sure to be ready for sudden evasive action. You've had far too many shadows do unpleasant things to you these last couple days.
>You get a weak sense of response from it. You don't feel it understands what you're saying, so much as the tone behind it. You get another sense of recognition and curiosity, amid a jumble of vague, sometimes alien impressions. You... think it wants to know what it is. There is something familiar about you. Perhaps you can help it?
-
>Try to touch it.
-
>Try to touch it.
>You reach out a hand towards the shadow and try to touch it. You hand passes into its form; it feels like cool, almost viscous air. The strength of the sensations you feel from it intensifies sharply, and you feel yourself flooded by half-remembered fragments and jumbled impressions, almost too simple to be called thoughts. It is hard to process them all. You feel it looking into you as well, reaching into your mind; memories of minutes, hours, and days ago. People you've known. Places you've been. Things you've imagined that were never real in any world. You begin to lose touch with your own sense of place, as the impressions of so many others play through your consciousness.
-
>Pull hand away, and frown.
>Is it acting any differently?
-
>Pull hand away, and frown.
>Is it acting any differently?
>You pull your hand away and frown, trying to clear your head and remind yourself of where you are. And who you are, for that matter.
>The shadow seems to be undulating gently. It is unsure, but withdrawn. You... think it's trying to understand what it just saw.
-
>Take a few moments to get our bearings.
>"Are you alright?"
-
>Take a few moments to get our bearings.
>"Are you alright?"
>You take another moment to collect yourself. You feel a little more centered and sure of yourself now.
>It's... not certain. It still doesn't understand what it is, but some of the things it saw in you were familiar. It doesn't know why. It wants to know why.
-
>"Do you have a name? And, do you know if there are any others like you? Either way, I suppose you can come with me."
>_
-
>"Do you have a name? And, do you know if there are any others like you? Either way, I suppose you can come with me."
>it is confused for a moment by this concept of 'name', but then seems to understand. It thinks it had a name once. It doesn't remember what it was, or why it had it. It has never seen anything like itself. Before you, it does not clearly remember other beings at all. It... thinks it had once seen more; you seem familiar. But doesn't understand what this means. It would like to come along. It thinks you might help it understand.
-
>"I'm glad to have your help, friend. Let me know if you sense anyone else familiar."
>What does the shadow look like? How big is it?
-
>"I'm glad to have your help, friend. Let me know if you sense anyone else familiar."
>What does the shadow look like? How big is it?
>It is glad to know someone else. It hopes to see other beings. It hopes to understand why some of the images in your head seem familiar.
>It is difficult to tell what it looks like, exactly. It is perhaps the size of an average dog, and amorphous. Parts of its form shift continuously, like a gentle ripples in a pond; other parts sometimes become more defined, and then less.
-
>Did anything we saw seem familiar in the same sense it seems to feel?
>Head toward the mansion.
-
>Did anything we saw seem familiar in the same sense it seems to feel?
>Head toward the mansion.
>What you saw when you touched it was garbled and difficult for you to understand; fragments of memories and sensations that made very little sense out of context. It felt like parts of them were missing. Perhaps you couldn't understand them because the shadow itself couldn't, and what you saw was filtered through its own awareness? You feel that many of them are memories it doesn't remember having and cannot process.
>You head towards the mansion, opening the great doors and stepping inside. It seems Sakuya has fallen down on her duties in this realm. Or perhaps Remilia felt like replacing the marble flooring with grass. Wait, is that the mansion in the distance ahead of you?
-
>"Anyone here?"
-
>"Anyone here?"
>You call out.
>"Hello?" comes a reply some distance ahead. Is that... Maribel by the shore of the lake, near the mansion?
-
>Toward Maribel!
-
>Toward Maribel!
>You head towards Maribel, noticing that the shadow is still following alongside you. You sense curiosity from it about this new being. Why are there suddenly beings where there was none, it wonders.
>Maribel peers in your direction, then frowns deeply as she looks at the shadow beside you. She takes a step backwards. "What's that?" she calls out before you get too close, pointing towards it.
-
>"It's a something."
>Shrug.
>"It seems friendly. And, it kind of recognizes me. You can sort of feel what it's thinking if you get close. I think it kind of recognizes me. Be careful about touching it, you'll start to feel it's memories and a little strange."
-
>"It's a something."
>Shrug.
>"It seems friendly. And, it kind of recognizes me. You can sort of feel what it's thinking if you get close. I think it kind of recognizes me. Be careful about touching it, you'll start to feel it's memories and a little strange."
>"You're... awfully casual about that," she says, taking another step backwards and keeping a wary eye on you. "May I ask who you are?"
-
>"I'm Keine, and you don't remember the last couple times we've met, do you?"
-
>"I'm Keine, and you don't remember the last couple times we've met, do you?"
>She frowns. "Last couple of times? I'm not sure I understand what you mean..."
-
>"This is the third time we met, Maribel. You didn't remember me the second time, either. But that's alright, things are a huge confused mess right now, as you've probably kind of figured out."
-
>"This is the third time we met, Maribel. You didn't remember me the second time, either. But that's alright, things are a huge confused mess right now, as you've probably kind of figured out."
>"Well, I'm confused, at any rate," she says, peering at you. "We've really met before? Why wouldn't I remember?"
-
>"Well, I know your name, don't I? And i don't know why you wouldn't remember, exactly. But I can probably summarize. You're dreaming, Maribel. You've been affected by a youkai that causes sleep while you were already asleep, and now you're caught in a coma as far as the waking world is concerned. A couple friends and I came to save you. Renko's been worried about you."
>Sigh.
>"I'm sorry to force this all down your throat at once. Even if it all sounds crazy, I hope you at least accept I'm a friend?"
-
>"Well, I know your name, don't I? And i don't know why you wouldn't remember, exactly. But I can probably summarize. You're dreaming, Maribel. You've been affected by a youkai that causes sleep while you were already asleep, and now you're caught in a coma as far as the waking world is concerned. A couple friends and I came to save you. Renko's been worried about you."
>Sigh.
>"I'm sorry to force this all down your throat at once. Even if it all sounds crazy, I hope you at least accept I'm a friend?"
>"To save me... from..." She looks up at the sky. "I already know that I'm dreaming. I come to this place in my dreams. But nothing feels wrong."
>She turns back to you, a little tentatively. "How's... Renko?"
-
>"A bit of a mess, unfortunately. She broke down crying when she explained that you'd fallen into a coma, and it didn't look like that was the first time."
>"... do you remember what day it was when you went to bed and entered this dream?"
>How is our shadow friend behaving?
-
>"The place you go to when you're asleep? That isn't a dream. I live there. I even saw you, once. Don't ask me how that works. But, while you were there last time, someone who isn't very smart struck you with a spell that put you to sleep. While you were already asleep. And...this happened. In your world, you've not been able to wake up for a couple days."
-
>"A bit of a mess, unfortunately. She broke down crying when she explained that you'd fallen into a coma, and it didn't look like that was the first time."
>"... do you remember what day it was when you went to bed and entered this dream?"
>How is our shadow friend behaving?
>Maribel frowns deeply. "I..." Her eyes unfocus a little, and she looks away.
>"Uh," she says, sounding distant. "Tuesday, I think."
>It seems to be shifting a little more actively. It wants to know her. It wonders why you've stopped moving towards her.
>"The place you go to when you're asleep? That isn't a dream. I live there. I even saw you, once. Don't ask me how that works. But, while you were there last time, someone who isn't very smart struck you with a spell that put you to sleep. While you were already asleep. And...this happened. In your world, you've not been able to wake up for a couple days."
>"You live there?" she asks. "But not here? Aren't I in the same place?" She looks around her. "Or is this a different world entirely? How did you find me?"
-
>"This is different, more like a real dream. I think it is mostly a dream. Think of it as a third world. And I've been trying to solve a mystery involving all this for awhile now."
>"In particular, this place is your dream. It's kind of, but not quite, like my world."
-
>Any idea what day of the week it was in Mary's-in-a-coma time?
>Ask our shadow friend to stay calm. We're going to describe what we know, and what we're worried about. Ask it not to approach her for now. Something bad might happen if it does.
Suggest:
Take two. Le sigh.
"It's a long story. Let me see... there are primarily three worlds that we're discussing here. The first is your world, where your true body is currently in a coma and Renko is deeply worried. The second is the world that I come from, and that you physically enter in your dreams. The third is where we are now, a world of your dreams when put to sleep in the second world. I know the first two are real. I'm not sure about this one, since there's something unique about your dreaming into the second world that's probably key to everything that's happened."
"A... few days ago, to keep the explanation simple, a being of dreams noticed you in that second world. She found you unique since dreams normally don't wander the waking world, even in a land of magic. But... her usual method for speaking to someone is to put them to sleep and examine their dreams. When she did that to you, making or entering this third world, something went wrong. The being of dreams was broken into several fragments in this third world, a lot of things got chaotic in the second world, and your body in the first world isn't waking up."
"After a... lot of trouble, I eventually came from the second world to the first and found you. Another being of dreams helped me enter your dreams to try and set things straight. So here I am."
"... part of the chaos that occurred involves strangeness with time and history, which I am sensitive to. So could you tell me what month and year it was when you remember going to bed? This might be more convoluted than I thought..."
-
>"This is different, more like a real dream. I think it is mostly a dream. Think of it as a third world. And I've been trying to solve a mystery involving all this for awhile now."
>"In particular, this place is your dream. It's kind of, but not quite, like my world."
>"A real dream?" she says. "You mean to say that all of this is just in my imagination? ...wouldn't that mean I'm imagining you, too?"
>The shadow starts to move towards Maribel. She turns a wary eye on it and backs up a little more.
>Any idea what day of the week it was in Mary's-in-a-coma time?
>Ask our shadow friend to stay calm. We're going to describe what we know, and what we're worried about. Ask it not to approach her for now. Something bad might happen if it does.
>You're not certain. The paper was dated July 22nd, 2021. You don't know what day of the week that was.
>You ask the shadow to stop moving. It pauses, somewhat uncertain. Why would something bad happen? Maribel keeps her eye on it.
-
>"If the world you normally visited in your dreams is the second world, then consider me a visitor from there. I've come to try to help you get out of here. "
-
>"If the world you normally visited in your dreams is the second world, then consider me a visitor from there. I've come to try to help you get out of here. "
>"O... kay? And, uh, how are you supposed to do that?"
-
>"That's a very good question. I'm still trying to work it out."
-
>"That's a very good question. I'm still trying to work it out."
>"Oh." She frowns. "Then... what now? Can I get out the same way you got in?"
-
>"Not quite, unfortunately. You'll have to wake up from here. The problem is... well, the person who put you to sleep is here. And, well, she's been kinda ripped into several pieces. I...think our shadow friend may be one of them."
-
>"Not quite, unfortunately. You'll have to wake up from here. The problem is... well, the person who put you to sleep is here. And, well, she's been kinda ripped into several pieces. I...think our shadow friend may be one of them."
>"You... do?" She stares the shadow more closely. "Does she... normally look anything like that?"
-
>"No. She normally looks a lot more like a person. With wings."
-
>"No. She normally looks a lot more like a person. With wings."
>"Well that, uh... that definitely doesn't look too much like that at the moment."
>The shadow makes another slow and tentative motion towards Maribel. It wants to know her. It wants to understand what other beings are. It feels there's some reason they should be familiar.
>"Is that..." Maribel frowns at it. "Is it... trying to communicate?"
-
>"I think so. Can you feel what it...she is thinking at all? I think She wants to touch you. I'm...unsure if it's a good idea. But...it makes me wonder if you have an aspect of her within you or something, she definitely recognizes you."
-
>"I think so. Can you feel what it...she is thinking at all? I think She wants to touch you. I'm...unsure if it's a good idea. But...it makes me wonder if you have an aspect of her within you or something, she definitely recognizes you."
>"I can feel... something, anyway," she says. "It's hard to really understand it. Just... impressions. Thoughts, almost. They're very vague."
>She takes a tentative step towards it. "You warned me about touching it earlier, too. Would it be... harmful?"
>The shadow seems a bit confused. It doesn't seem to understand Maribel's reaction to it. It's uncertain what it should do.
-
>"It's very confusing. But, you might be a special case. It might be a harmful thing, or it might be beneficial. I...honestly don't know what would happen."
-
>"It's very confusing. But, you might be a special case. It might be a harmful thing, or it might be beneficial. I...honestly don't know what would happen."
>"That's not very reassuring," she says, peering at the shadow. "I don't... think it wants to hurt me, anyway. But it... doesn't really understand itself? How am I supposed to understand it, then?"
>The shadow slithers towards her and Maribel stops retreating. She kneels down to get level with it.
>"You said I'm trapped here, right? I'm trapped and Renko's suffering, and you don't know how to get me out. Right?"
-
>"That's about the size of it. In theory, if we get this girl, Gengetsu"
>Motion toward the shadow.
>"Back into one piece, we can properly wake you up. Just...not all of those pieces are very smart. Or sane."
-
>"That's about the size of it. In theory, if we get this girl, Gengetsu"
>Motion toward the shadow.
>"Back into one piece, we can properly wake you up. Just...not all of those pieces are very smart. Or sane."
>She frowns. "Sane? Well, at least this one doesn't seem insane to me. As far as I can understand it, anyway. I think I'd even call it earnest."
>"But, uh, how do you put a being like this back together again?"
-
>"That's the hard part. I would hope they'd come back together on their own, myself, when put close together, or perhaps touched. The problem is...they all have a sort of overriding desire to find you. We don't know if that's due to helping themselves, harmful intentions, or just the last real thought Gengetsu had before she was split up."
-
>"... though, her sister, who helped me get this far, seems to think that there's something else involved. Something more to the 'shadow' nature of some of these that doesn't really fit her sisters. I'm not sure what that means, or if it's true - it seems like she desperately wants to believe that this isn't Gengetsu's fault."
-
>"That's the hard part. I would hope they'd come back together on their own, myself, when put close together, or perhaps touched. The problem is...they all have a sort of overriding desire to find you. We don't know if that's due to helping themselves, harmful intentions, or just the last real thought Gengetsu had before she was split up."
>"If they're all trying to find me," she says. "how come none of the rest of them seem to have found me yet? I've just been walking quietly along the shore here. I thought I'd have a look at that mansion. You could probably see me from miles away."
>She looks at the shadow. "What is it about me that's so important? Is it because this is my dream now? Or so I'm told."
>The shadow doesn't seem to understand why someone wouldn't be important. They are unique. They have consciousness. The rest of the world has no consciousness. It wants to know the ones other than itself. Maybe they can help it understand what it is.
>"I wonder what it's like, not knowing what you are." Maribel regards the shadow gently and tries to smile. "At least I still remember who I am, and where I came from. Although you tell me I should remember you. Maybe there are other things I should be remembering." She frowns. "It's disturbing, not knowing what they are. Maybe I can understand, just a little."
>"... though, her sister, who helped me get this far, seems to think that there's something else involved. Something more to the 'shadow' nature of some of these that doesn't really fit her sisters. I'm not sure what that means, or if it's true - it seems like she desperately wants to believe that this isn't Gengetsu's fault."
>"She... has a sister?" She looks at you with a pained expression then turns back to the shadow. "I... can't imagine what it must be like for her if this is what she's been reduced to."
>The shadow doesn't understand the idea of 'sister'. It thinks this has something to do with others. It still doesn't really understand others.
>"I can't blame someone for not wanting to think this was their sister's own fault. I don't know what to say. I wish I could help, if I knew what I could do. And if there's someone else involved, I haven't seen them either. I've been alone tonight, until you showed up."
-
>"We've tried reasoning with one of the more compliant parts of her, but she really just couldn't think too broadly. The other...well, I ended up having to restrain her out of fear of her hurting you. She was furious. So was I, to be honest."
>Look away.
>"This seems to be the most reasonable part of her we've found. And, I don't think you were here the whole time. A few minutes ago, before we had to flee from the aftereffects of meeting those last two. I suppose, for you, it seems like you've been here for all that time?"
-
>"We've tried reasoning with one of the more complain parts of her, but she really just couldn't think too broadly. The other...well, I ended up having to restrain her out of fear of her hurting you. She was furious. So was I, to be honest."
>Look away.
>"This seems to be the most reasonable part of her we've found. And, I don't think you were here the whole time. A few minutes ago, before we had to flee from the aftereffects of meeting those last two. I suppose, for you, it seems like you've been here for all that time?"
>Maribel frowns. "That's... unsettling. But, for what it's worth, even if I don't remember: Thank you. I get the impression you've come a long way for me."
>She nods. "Yes, it does. Like I said, I hadn't met anyone tonight. I hadn't even been here very long. At least as far as I can remember."
>"You said there were others with you?"
-
>Smile. "You're welcome."
>"There were. Her sister, and a magician. We've been separated. I was looking for them, too."
-
>Smile. "You're welcome."
>"There were. Her sister, and a magician. We've been separated. I was looking for them, too."
>"I'm afraid I haven't seen them, either," she says. "As I said, I was alone. ...I'm feeling a little useless at the moment."
>"How did you get separated?"
-
>"Likewise, as far as being useful goes. We had to flee from those two other aspevts of Gengetsu. There was...an accident, of sorts. You had to defend yourself from one of them. This being primarily your dream, you are able to control it a bit. So you opened a sort of gap in reality to defend yourself; like a shield. It got a little out of control, and we had to run, aside from being outmatched at the time."
>"Before you ask, I believe you still can do this. I think you just concentrated on what you wanted to happen, and it did. You actually helped me out greatly that way. But do be careful if you try it."
>_
-
>"Likewise, as far as being useful goes. We had to flee from those two other aspevts of Gengetsu. There was...an accident, of sorts. You had to defend yourself from one of them. This being primarily your dream, you are able to control it a bit. So you opened a sort of gap in reality to defend yourself; like a shield. It got a little out of control, and we had to run, aside from being outmatched at the time."
>"Before you ask, I believe you still can do this. I think you just concentrated on what you wanted to happen, and it did. You actually helped me out greatly that way. But do be careful if you try it."
>Maribel looks at you attentively as you describe what happened, nodding along.
>"So I can control this? A little, anyway?" She frowns. "Dare I ask what I should be careful of?"
-
>"Try not to open any gaps. Or, I suppose, do anything that would be reality-shattering. That said, you were able to make the moon full for me. I'd be happy if you left it that way, it gives me strength."
-
>"Try not to open any gaps. Or, I suppose, do anything that would be reality-shattering. That said, you were able to make the moon full for me. I'd be happy if you left it that way, it gives me strength."
>"Wow, I did that?" She looks up at the moon. "Really? I thought it was just full tonight. But if I could really do something like that..." She pauses and stares. Suddenly wisps of clouds start to sweep in across the sky, billowing and swelling until the night is distinctly overcast. The look on Maribel's face is priceless; equal parts disbelief and wonderment.
>"I did that!" she says turning to you. "I can't believe it. I-" She frowns. "Wait, do, uh, the clouds get in the way of the moon for you?"
>The shadow radiates confusion and astonishment, itself. Something in the world changed. It felt it. It felt it from her. How does she do that? Something about it feels... familiar. Important. It shifts towards her again.
-
>Does it?
>Presuming no: "It's not a problem."
>Glance to the shadow. "You've fascinated her again."
-
>Does it?
>Presuming no: "It's not a problem."
>Glance to the shadow. "You've fascinated her again."
>No. The effect of the moon on you is more fundamental than that, and doesn't require it to be visible. You can feel it just as clearly inside, on a cloudy day, or while underground.
>"Oh, that's good," Maribel says. "Although, frankly, the sky looks nicer without them." The clouds start to disperse as she says this.
>"So it seems. I... think I may let it touch me. I feel a little sorry for it. Her." She shakes her head. "I don't even know. But if there's some way I can maybe help it understand things, perhaps it'll help us get her back together?"
>Maribel reaches a hand out towards it. "It's okay. I'd like to understand you a little, too. Maybe we can help each other?"
>The shadow moves into her hand, and Maribel's eyes suddenly widen, staring fixedly into empty space.
-
>"Are you okay?"
>Watch the both of them.
-
>"Are you okay?"
>Watch the both of them.
>Maribel does not respond to you. She doesn't seem to be obviously in pain, although her stare is a little disconcerting to see. Perhaps you looked similarly when you experienced that? You know you lost track of the world around you a bit.
>Maribel remains motionless while the shadow churns and roils. You can feel it seeking, touching, trying to understand, although your sense of it is more vague and distant than before. Maribel squints and strains and moments seem to pass slowly. Then she finally withdraws her arm with an unsteady gasp. The shadow seems elated.
>Maribel blinks and shakes her head, putting an arm on the ground to support herself.
-
>Place a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
>Observe the shadow.
-
>Place a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
>Observe the shadow.
>You put a hand on Maribel's shoulder. "I... I think so. I mean yes. Just... disoriented."
>The shadow seems to be shifting back and forth more rapidly, almost like it were excited. Actually, you feel quite certain it's excited. It's being even less articulate than usual, but this much comes across clearly.
-
>"What happened?"
-
>"What happened?"
>Maribel blinks a few times. "She looked into some of my memories and I saw some of hers. Or the fragments that remain of them. I think she saw things in me she recognized. No, not just recognized, but things she remembered. Or would remember, if there was enough left of her consciousness to do so. I think she may have pulled a few missing pieces from me. But there are so, so many more."
>"I- I remember things, too. Things I'd forgotten. Fragments of things that we shared. I... remember meeting her in the forest. I think. It was a night much like this one. I was running. I don't remember much else."
-
>"Well, this seems to confirm she is Gengetsu, at least."
>Kneel by the shadow. "How do you feel?"
-
>"Well, this seems to confirm she is Gengetsu, at least."
>Kneel by the shadow. "How do you feel?"
>"I think you're right," Maribel says. "Or an impression left of her. It remembered some of being her. At least once I shared the missing pieces."
>You kneel next to the shadow. It's excited that it can put meaning to some of the things it remembers. It still has a hard time truly understanding what it is, but it and this one shared memories. Maybe there are others out there who could help it understand? Both of you seem to have known of so many others. Why are there so few here?
>"I still have no idea how to put her back together, though," Maribel says. "It's one thing to touch someone's memories, but... I think there's more of her missing than just that."
-
>"I think the solution would be to find the other aspects, and let it love on them a little bit. Let me see if I can help it learn a little more about them"
>Think of Summoner Gengetsu and Violent Gengetsu, and touch it again.
-
>"I think the solution would be to find the other aspects, and let it love on them a little bit. Let me see if I can help it learn a little more about them"
>Think of Summoner Gengetsu and Violent Gengetsu, and touch it again.
>"I hope that can work," Maribel says.
>You concentrate on your memory of the two Gengetsus you fought earlier and reach out to touch the shadow. You again feel the sudden surge in your mind and the flood of alien and fragmented sensations. But the shadow seems to have a point of focus now that was absent before. You think it may be trying to focus on the pieces of what it thinks may be its own identity. You feel it touch the images you hold in your mind. Their form reminds it of other things it's seen. Things the other remembered it being. But something about them is frightening. Especially Violent Gengetsu. It doesn't understand their impulses. I doesn't think it wants to be like that.
>After a moment, you draw your hand back and try to collect yourself. The shadow seems to be mulling over what it saw.
-
>Shake head.
>"Well, she doesn't seem to approve of the other aspects, which is nice. Now I suppose we just move on and hope to find someone."
-
>Shake head.
>"Well, she doesn't seem to approve of the other aspects, which is nice. Now I suppose we just move on and hope to find someone."
>You shake your head. You don't seem to feel as foggy as you did the first time. Perhaps it wasn't reaching as deeply into you?
>"Sure," Maribel says. "So... just pick a direction and go? Or did you have a better idea? I mean, I don't know how you found me here in the first place."
-
>"Chance, really. So...let's pick a direction. Perhaps our friend will have some idea where to go?"
-
>"Chance, really. So...let's pick a direction. Perhaps our friend will have some idea where to go?"
>The shadow doesn't seem to know. It doesn't sense anyone else here. Then again, it didn't sense this other until we moved last time.
>"I don't see anyone," Maribel says, scanning across the horizon. "But I suppose there's always that mansion. Surely, someone must- ....wait. If that mansion is a creation of my dream, then there isn't really anyone living there, is there? Unless my mind felt like putting them inside?"
-
>"It could be either way. It is based off an actual mansion back home, though."
-
>"It could be either way. It is based off an actual mansion back home, though."
>"Oh." Maribel peers at it. "How would I have known that, I wonder? If is this more things I'm not remembering properly?"
-
>"You might have seen it during your normal dreams."
>Approach mansion!
-
>"You might have seen it during your normal dreams."
>Approach mansion!
>Maribel frowns. "I suppose if I didn't remember the meeting with Gengetsu, I have no way of knowing how many other things I don't remember. ...I'll try not to dwell on that too much."
>You walk towards the mansion, Maribel and the shadow in tow. Geography continues to follow conventional rules while you approach, somewhat to your surprise and relief. Grass does not suddenly transform into marble tile, you don't find yourself spontaneously underwater, and walking uphill does not leave you at a lower elevation than you started. You arrive at the gates of the mansion without incident.
-
>"Hello?"
>If there's no reply, keep going.
-
>"Hello?"
>If there's no reply, keep going.
>You call out and wait a few moments, but receive no reply.
>You open the gate and proceed inside the grounds. The gate also decides to function in a perfectly Euclidean manner, connecting with the space immediately behind it, and not, for example, the top of a mountain.
>"So if I made this..." Maribel says, looking around her. "I wonder if I could..." As she speaks, you watch the building rapidly transform into the Azure Devil Mansion. Then the Viridian Devil Mansion. The... Polka Dot Devil Mansion? Oh, Remilia would have a fit if she could see this now. Maribel giggles.
-
>"....If you ever meet the woman who owns this actual manor in reality...Never ever tell her about that. She would have a fit."
>Scan the grounds. Any signs of life?
-
>"....If you ever meet the woman who owns this actual manor in reality...Never ever tell her about that. She would have a fit."
>Scan the grounds. Any signs of life?
>Maribel laughs softly. "Oh, but what's there to complain about when the paint jobs are this quick and painless?"
>You scan the grounds of the Tiger Stripe Devil Mansion. You don't see signs of anyone else.
-
> Proceed towards the front entrance.
> "i wonder if you would be able to summon my friends here, considering its your dream and all."
-
> Proceed towards the front entrance.
> "i wonder if you would be able to summon my friends here, considering its your dream and all."
>You walk up to the front doors of the Plaid Devil Mansion.
>"I, uh," Maribel takes a moment from her budding career as an exterior decorator and looks at you, frowning. "I'm not sure I know how to do that. I don't actually know them. I've just been making little tweaks to things that are already here."
-
>"Let's not worry about it, then."
>Enter!
-
>"Let's not worry about it, then."
>Enter!
>"Maybe I'll be able to think of something," Maribel says.
>You open the main doors and enter the Tie-Dye Devil Mansion. Wow, that one makes you dizzy just looking at it.
>Inside, the architecture is rather tamer and more suitable for a mansion someone would actually choose to live in, although its resemblance to the original is only in passing. Certainly the accouterments of western aristocratic design are all present, but the layout seems speculative. Perhaps Maribel never saw the interior of the original? You are in a large foyer, with a hallway extending to the east and west while a grand stair ascends northward to a mezzanine running along the edges of the room. You believe you see a second pair of hallways on the floor above you, also leading east and west.
-
>"Hello?"
-
>"Hello?"
>You call out, but get no response
-
>Any visible entrances to the basement?
-
>Any visible entrances to the basement?
>None that you can see from the foyer.
-
>Pick a direction, and keep an eye out for such an entrance. Or people.
-
>Pick a direction, and keep an eye out for such an entrance. Or people.
>You take the left hallway and continue along it. Several doors line the hall at intervals, framed by subdued wood paneling with tasteful scrollwork. Looking ahead, the hallway seems to end in a pair of heavy-set double doors. Nothing obviously screams 'basement entrance' to you. Maribel examines the interior thoughtfully as you progress.
>"I was thinking," she says. "Doors are a sort of border between one place and another, right? Normally they only lead to what's behind them, but this is a dream, so who says the rules have to be the same? I made this place. Or, at least some part of me that doesn't remember did. Maybe I can make it a little different. What are we looking for?"
-
>"If previous unexpected changes of scenery leading me from a forest to underwater are any indication, that would actually be more sensible than some of the other changes I've seen. Feel free to try, though I might want to see where this is 'supposed' to go, first."
>"... hm, why did you describe it as a 'border,' though?"
-
>"If previous unexpected changes of scenery leading me from a forest to underwater are any indication, that would actually be more sensible than some of the other changes I've seen. Feel free to try, though I might want to see where this is 'supposed' to go, first."
>"... hm, why did you describe it as a 'border,' though?"
>"Well, it might help if I knew where you were hoping to end up," Maribel says. "I don't know that anything is 'supposed' to be here at all. I think it only looks the way it does because that's what my mind thinks a mansion should look like."
>"Oh, I... well, I can sort of see the boundaries that exist between spaces. Between one place and the next, or... between one world and another. It's just something I've always been able to do. It's why I've always been certain there are other worlds out there beyond my own. Renko and I, we've been searching for... I guess you could call them gaps in the border between our world and others. One big enough to travel through."
-
>Nod.
>"I hope that, once this is over, we can arrange something on your behalf. But, in a very real sense, you've already found a way to do it through your dreams."
-
>Nod.
>"I hope that, once this is over, we can arrange something on your behalf. But, in a very real sense, you've already found a way to do it through your dreams."
>Maribel nods. "I'd thought as much. Renko, well... I think it's a little harder for her to accept that dream mightn't be the opposite of reality. But she still believes there's other worlds out there. She's just grounded in the rational, the world you can see with your waking eyes, one you can study and measure."
-
>"As well, she doesn't experience it herself, so it is a little harder to believe."
>Call out: "Anyone here?"
-
>"As well, she doesn't experience it herself, so it is a little harder to believe."
>Call out: "Anyone here?"
>"No, I understand that," Maribel says. "We just think a little differently about some things, that's all. Still, there's no one in the world I'm closer to than her."
>You call out again. There is still no response.
-
>"It shows. I am not sure if you are familiar with Ran, she is a fox youkai who accompanied me to your world when we first went there in search of the cause of everything. Renko was able to see through her glamour, and note her fox-like features. Even then, Renko preferred to stay with you rather than accompany is back to the point where we crossed over, and potentially learn more. I daresay she cares very deeply about you."
>Start opening doors at random.
-
>"It shows. I am not sure if you are familiar with Ran, she is a fox youkai who accompanied me to your world when we first went there in search of the cause of everything. Renko was able to see through her glamour, and note her fox-like features. Even then, Renko preferred to stay with you rather than accompany is back to the point where we crossed over, and potentially learn more. I daresay she cares very deeply about you."
>Start opening doors at random.
>Maribel smiles a melancholic smile. "I'm sorry for all the worry I must be causing her. I feel bad not even being aware of it."
>You start opening doors in the hallway at random. The first is a tasteful sitting room, with embroidered chairs and several landscape paintings in thick frames, the next is a study lined with bookcases and a sculpted oak desk. There is a small dinning area behind a third door. Nothing seems particularly out of place for a house of this style, either in the contents of the rooms or their geometry.
>Maribel frowns thoughtfully, then closes the door to the study, and opens it again. There is now a small brook flowing past the other side of the door, framed by thin leafy trees.
-
>"Nicely done."
>Call through into the stream area, "Hello?"
-
>"Nicely done."
>Call through into the stream area, "Hello?"
>Maribel smiles. "I didn't really do much. I just thought 'this door leads somewhere else'. I'm.. not even sure where else, to be honest."
>You call out into the stream area. You see a few birds scatter from a nearby tree, but otherwise get no response.
>Maribel opens another door next to you. Beyond it is a small rocky ledge extending slightly past the edge of the doorframe, followed by a sheer drop, probably hundreds of feet down. It looks like the edge of a cliff face. She eyes it warily.
-
>Close that door for her.
>"It was so much easier, last time, when Mugetsu just found me."
>Does Shadow Gengetsu seem to be reacting any differently now?
-
>Close that door for her.
>"It was so much easier, last time, when Mugetsu just found me."
>Does Shadow Gengetsu seem to be reacting any differently now?
>You reach over and close the cliff door. "I wonder what would happen," Maribel says, "If I opened one of these doors into the bottom of a lake. Or a volcano, for that matter. Would everything spill in, or would it stop at the doorframe?"
>"Are you hoping she'll find you again, now?" Maribel asks. "Maybe we could try looking for her ourselves? ...not to suggest this isn't what you're already doing, of course."
>You've mostly been getting a vague sense of curiosity from it for a while, now. It seems to understand that you're looking for something. And it's looking for something, too. It wants to meet new beings. New beings may help it understand even more. It hopes that your search will help it discover new beings.
-
>"It's what I'm trying to do, though finding anyone, even other aspects of Gengetsu would would welcome."
-
>"It's what I'm trying to do, though finding anyone, even other aspects of Gengetsu would would welcome."
>"Let's see..." Maribel frowns and looks at the shadow. "I wonder if I could use the fragments of consciousness I shared with that to search for other aspects?"
>She closes her eyes, concentrates, and opens the door in front of her again. This time the lakeshore lies behind it.
>"No, that's just where we first met," she says, opening her eyes again. She closes the door, frowns, then opens it again. This time there is a grassy and apparently empty field.
>"I don't think there's anything here, either," she says. "I... don't really understand how this works. I can get us somewhere. I'm just not sure what somewheres are out there. And if I'm just creating this as I go, wouldn't there be an infinite number of possible somewheres?"
-
>"Likely. Especially if unused portions just fall away. ...But I might be able to give you a clearer idea. You saw some of our shadowy friend's thoughts when you touched it, yes? Perhaps if I touched it, with the images of those we need to find in mind, and you did afterward, you might see them? ...Regardless, perhaps I should show them to Gengetsu, in any event."
>Presuming she does not object, kneel down and pat the shadow whilst thinking of Mugetsu and Marisa. As well, try to add an imperative to share this with Maribel.
>_
-
>"Likely. Especially if unused portions just fall away. ...But I might be able to give you a clearer idea. You saw some of our shadowy friend's thoughts when you touched it, yes? Perhaps if I touched it, with the images of those we need to find in mind, and you did afterward, you might see them? ...Regardless, perhaps I should show them to Gengetsu, in any event."
>Presuming she does not object, kneel down and pat the shadow whilst thinking of Mugetsu and Marisa. As well, try to add an imperative to share this with Maribel.
>"I'm willing to try it," Maribel says. "I'm not certain that knowing what I'm looking for will help me know how to look for it, but I'll do my best."
>You kneel down, focusing on thoughts of Mugetsu and Marisa and trying to keep them foremost in your mind. You reach out and touch the shadow for a third time. In a strange sense, you think you may be almost getting used to this. Each contact feels less alien, less overwhelming. You feel the the shadow touch the image of Mugetsu and Marisa, then reach out into more memories you hold of these beings. It doesn't understand why they're important, but it understands that they are. The other being can change things. Maybe she can change things so that you can find them?
>You withdraw your hand, feeling hazy and disoriented, though somewhat less than before. You dimly notice Maribel put her hand in as well, eyes focusing on something distant which only she can see. She reaches out towards the door unsteadily with her other hand, then turns the handle and pushes it open. You see only blackness beyond it.
-
>Look into the blackness.
>"Hello?"
-
>Look into the blackness.
>"Hello?"
>You look into the blackness. It seems formless and total, reminding you a great deal of when you were fighting the first nightmare, before it pulled you into the lake.
>After a moment, you hear a distant reply: "H- hello?"
-
>Who does it sound like?
>Presuming it's not Violent Gengetsu, say, "Follow my voice. We've opened a door. What's it like in there, I can't see a thing!"
-
>Who does it sound like?
>Presuming it's not Violent Gengetsu, say, "Follow my voice. We've opened a door. What's it like in there, I can't see a thing!"
>You... think it may sound like Gengetsu. It's very faint, however. It sounds more tentative than angry.
>"I- I can't," the voice replies. "But you can hear me? Who are you?"
-
>"I'm Keine. And, why can you not?"
-
>"I'm Keine. And, why can you not?"
>"I can't move," the voice says. "I can't see. I can't even be sure where your voice is coming from, or that I'm not imagining it."
>You see Maribel pull her hand out of the shadow, clearly disoriented. The shadow itself is confused by the space in front of it, though it thinks it feels something familiar within.
-
>Look to Maribel.
>"Can you lighten things up in there, just a little bit?"
-
>Look to Maribel.
>"Can you lighten things up in there, just a little bit?"
>You look towards Maribel, who seems to still be trying to clear her head.
>"Wha..." she says weakly, trying to focus her eyes on you. "Oh, in there?" She squints. "I- I'm not sure. Doesn't feel like there's anything in there to change. Just... lots of nothing."
>"Is there someone else out there?" the voice calls.
-
>"Yes, a friend of mine."
>Test the darkness with a foot. Hold into the door frame for balance.
-
>"Yes, a friend of mine."
>Test the darkness with a foot. Hold into the door frame for balance.
>"I thought there was nothing here but me," the voice says. "Are you lost, too?"
>You hold onto the doorframe, and test the darkness with your foot. It passes through it like open air.
-
>Call inside: "Can you see the light from the open door at all?"
>To Maribel: "Do you think you could make a bridge into there?"
-
>Call inside: "Can you see the light from the open door at all?"
>To Maribel: "Do you think you could make a bridge into there?"
>"I can't see anything," the voice replies.
>Maribel stares into the darkness, then frowns. "I haven't really tried to make anything. Just tweak things that were already there. I could try..."
>She furrows her brow and focuses her stare on what would be the 'ground', were there any spatial markers to see. You don't see anything change.
>"I thought I felt something happen," Maribel says. "I'm not sure..."
-
>Test the darkness again.
>"Who are you? How did you end up in there?"
-
>Test the darkness again.
>"Who are you? How did you end up in there?"
>You test the darkness with your foot. It feels fairly solid now, although you can't see what your foot it hitting.
>"I... don't know," the voice responds. "To either question."
-
>Smile to maribel. "You did something. Could you make a coil of rope next?"
>To the voice. "That's alright, this is kind of a strange situation. Do you have any idea how long you've been there?"
-
>Smile to maribel. "You did something. Could you make a coil of rope next?"
>To the voice. "That's alright, this is kind of a strange situation. Do you have any idea how long you've been there?"
>Maribel smiles back. "Well," she says, a hint of a lilt in her voice, "I'm sure a mansion this size must have a supply closet, mustn't it?"
>She walks to a nearby door, opens it and steps inside. She returns a moment later with a coil of heavy rope. "And what do you know? It was right next to us all along."
>"I'm... not sure," the voice says. "It feels like a very long time. I didn't expect to ever see anyone else again."
-
>"I don't suppose you could get a lantern, as well? This feels like a darkness puzzle."
-
>Tie one end of the rope to the doorknob. Take the other in hand. Wind it around out arm once.
>"Alright, I'm going to come in after you, okay?"
>Look to Maribel: "Don't get too distracted. And let me know what you see."
>To the voice. "I want you to keep talking to me. I'll have to find your by sound."
>Enter. Be ready to fly if the ground seems to stop being solid. Follow the voice.
>_
-
>Tie one end of the rope to the doorknob. Take the other in hand. Wind it around out arm once.
>"Alright, I'm going to come in after you, okay?"
>Look to Maribel: "Don't get too distracted. And let me know what you see."
>To the voice. "I want you to keep talking to me. I'll have to find your by sound."
>Enter. Be ready to fly if the ground seems to stop being solid. Follow the voice.
>You tie one end of the rope to the doorknob and fasten it with the best knot you can muster. You give it a few experimental tugs; it seems secure. You take the other end in hand, and wind it around your arm.
>"Ok," the voice says. "Please be careful. And... thank you."
>Maribel nods, a focused expression on her face. "I will."
>"O- ok," the voice says. "...I don't know what to say."
>You take a few steps into the darkness. It still feels like ground beneath your feet, although it's a bit disconcerting walking on ground you cannot see. The air around you feels fairly normal, and you can still see yourself, in any event.
>"Uh... do you know how long I've been here?" the voice asks. "Or why I can't remember?"
>"I don't suppose you could get a lantern, as well? This feels like a darkness puzzle."
>It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a Rumia.
-
>"How long you've been here is a difficult question. I'm inclined to say two or three days, but I wouldn't be surprised if it felt much longer to you."
>"As for why you can't remember, I have a guess or two. Why don't you tell me what you can remember, so I know where to start?"
>Press on, carefully.
-
>"How long you've been here is a difficult question. I'm inclined to say two or three days, but I wouldn't be surprised if it felt much longer to you."
>"As for why you can't remember, I have a guess or two. Why don't you tell me what you can remember, so I know where to start?"
>Press on, carefully.
>"Two or three days?" There is disbelief in the voice. "That's... It's felt like a lifetime. Maybe... maybe she's still okay."
>"I... remember my sister," she says. "I am terribly, terribly ashamed that I cannot remember her name. All this time, she's been the one thing clearest in my mind. How I've failed her. How I've left her to suffer without me. How I... miss her. My existence has been nothing but this."
>You continue forward, trying to follow the voice. It's more difficult than you'd expected. Sound seems simultaneously muffled and echoey in this space, so that it's not always clear exactly which direction she's in, or how far away. Still, she does seem to grow generally louder as you proceed. You suspect this may grow more difficult as you get closer.
>"I can't see you anymore!" Maribel calls out. It is even harder to tell where her voice is coming from than the fragment of Gengetsu. She sounds much further away than the distance you've traversed.
-
>Check the rope.
>"I'm still here!"
>Look toward where the voice is. Can we see anything?
>"Can you see me?"
>Failing that...can we sense its history?
-
>Check the rope.
>"I'm still here!"
>Look toward where the voice is. Can we see anything?
>"Can you see me?"
>Failing that...can we sense its history?
>You check the rope and give it a tug. It's still quite visible, and responds like you'd expect, although staring off at where it lies along the 'ground', it appears to fade out of view far sooner than it normally should.
>"Yes, I can still hear you," Maribel calls out. "But you said to let me know if I saw anything."
>You still see nothing but blackness around you in all directions, with the exception of a short length of that rope.
>"I see nothing," the voice says. "I remember only vaguely ever seeing anything at all."
>You attempt to sense its history, but the entire environment feels alien to this sense and hard for you to understand; things here don't seem to have history in the conventional sense.
You aren't sure how to interpret the impressions you detect.
-
> "I can assure you that your sister is okay, although we seem to have lost each other recently."
-
>Keep following the voice.
>"Do you feel anything, physically speaking? What are you touching at the moment? Can you feel the air?"
-
> "I can assure you that your sister is okay, although we seem to have lost each other recently."
>"She- she is?" the voice cries. "She was with you? ...it's almost too much to hope."
>Keep following the voice.
>"Do you feel anything, physically speaking? What are you touching at the moment? Can you feel the air?"
>You keep following the voice. You're definitely getting much closer now, but at the same time, the voice is beginning to sound like it's coming from all around you. You're not longer quite certain what direction she's in.
>"I can barely sense anything," she says. "Aside from your voice, I've been held with nothing but my memories for company. And even those are mostly missing. I remember enough to know I have lost something, but not enough to know what it is. But I don't matter, as long as she's safe."
-
>"I'm going to fire a little danmaku. Let me know if you see it. And, um, if I hit you, I apologize."
>Fire toward the floor; a single shot. Try to make it bright.
-
>"I'm going to fire a little danmaku. Let me know if you see it. And, um, if I hit you, I apologize."
>Fire toward the floor; a single shot. Try to make it bright.
>"I will," she says. "And don't worry. I would suffer worse than that to leave."
>You try to gather the brightest danmaku you can muster and fire it at the floor. Although the shot itself is bright, and illuminates your own body somewhat, it does nothing to illuminate your surroundings by even a degree. It connects with the 'floor', then bursts out of existence.
>"I'm sorry," the voice says. "I didn't see anything."
-
>"Alright, one more. This one should last a little longer."
>Much the same, but upwards.
-
>"Alright, one more. This one should last a little longer."
>Much the same, but upwards.
>"Ok," she says.
>You fire a second bright shot upwards. It similarly provides no illumination, and fades rapidly into the darkness. Your eyes can follow it for about a dozen feet before it grows too dark to see. You don't hear it impact anything.
>"Still nothing."
-
>Can we detect any direction in which the voice sounds stronger?
-
>Can we detect any direction in which the voice sounds stronger?
>Perhaps vaguely. You aren't entirely certain.
-
>"Keep talking to me. Do you remember anything else from before you were here, perhaps?"
-
>"Keep talking to me. Do you remember anything else from before you were here, perhaps?"
>"Not... really," she says. "I remember that I used to see things. I remember being able to do things. I don't... I don't remember what they were. I'm sorry. I'm really, truly sorry."
-
>Any luck detecting where the voice is strongest yet?
>"Do you remember having a name?"
-
>Any luck detecting where the voice is strongest yet?
>"Do you remember having a name?"
>It's difficult to tell. You think you may have to blunder around a bit.
>"I remember that I did," she says. "I don't remember what it was."
-
>"Does the name 'Gengetsu' sound familiar, then?"
-
>"Does the name 'Gengetsu' sound familiar, then?"
>"...maybe," she says. "I... I really wish I could answer that for you. I'm sorry."
-
>Blunder around a bit. Keep trying to follow it.
>"What about Mugetsu?"
-
>Blunder around a bit. Keep trying to follow it.
>"What about Mugetsu?"
>You continue trying to follow her voice, judging where it seems loudest and angling in that direction. Sometimes it sounds like you may have moved past her, and you adjust your course accordingly. You think you're narrowing it down. Or at least you hope you are. If it weren't for the rope in your hand, you fear you might be hopelessly lost by this point.
>"I... I feel it should," she says. "I don't know why, but I truly feel it should."
-
>"If I'm not mistaken, that would be your sister's name. And Gengetsu your own. Admittedly, there's some chance I am wrong. But I don't think so."
>Keep following.
-
>"If I'm not mistaken, that would be your sister's name. And Gengetsu your own. Admittedly, there's some chance I am wrong. But I don't think so."
>Keep following.
>"That's..." Her voice is soft, yet mournful. "Do you have any idea what it's like to hear your own sister's name... and not recognize it? I'm so ashamed of myself."
>You keep trying to follow the voice; you can't even tell whether you're moving in a straight line or not at this point. Shouldn't you have run out of rope by now, or does it just feel like you've traveled further than you really have?
>After a little while longer, you think you see a hint of color among all the blackness, ahead and to your right.
-
>Home in on that color.
>"You're hurt, Gengetsu. You did something that seemed harmless, but was not very wise. It's good to be regretful, but try not to let it rule your being. Hopefully, though, we can get you out of here and get you started on making up for it all."
><Back toward Maribel: "Can you still hear us out there?"
-
>Home in on that color.
>"You're hurt, Gengetsu. You did something that seemed harmless, but was not very wise. It's good to be regretful, but try not to let it rule your being. Hopefully, though, we can get you out of here and get you started on making up for it all."
><Back toward Maribel: "Can you still hear us out there?"
>You move towards the hint of light among the endless blackness. It quickly gets larger and more defined as you approach; there is no mistaking that something is there.
>"If I can," she says. "If only I can, I would do anything."
>"I can still hear you," Maribel responds, sounding quite distant now. "A little, anyway."
>You move close enough to the form to make out some details. It is a figure, stumped motionless upon the ground, limbs spread limply away from its body. There is no trace of any color in its form but grey. Parts of it, particularly its arms and legs seem hazy, almost smoke-like.
-
>"There you are. Let's get you out of here, Gengetsu."
>If we can, try to pick her up, since she said she can't move.
>_
-
>"There you are. Let's get you out of here, Gengetsu."
>If we can, try to pick her up, since she said she can't move.
>"You can see me?" she says, turning her head and searching around without an obvious direction in mind. Her gaze moves past you without appearing to see you.
>You bend down to pick her up, your hands passing though the whispy parts of her entirely. It leaves a strange, almost numbing sensation. Still, you find something solid past them to hold onto and lift. Ordinarily, you think this would take a fair bit of effort for you, but in hakutaku form she feels more awkward than heavy.
>"I- I think I felt something," she says.
-
>"That's me. I'm picking you up and carrying you out of here. I don't think you can see right now, but hopefully will be able to do something about that."
>Sling her over our shoulder, and follow the rope out.
>"I found her! I'm coming out!"
-
>"That's me. I'm picking you up and carrying you out of here. I don't think you can see right now, but hopefully will be able to do something about that."
>Sling her over our shoulder, and follow the rope out.
>"I found her! I'm coming out!"
>"It is?" she says, still looking around aimlessly for you. "...thank you. No matter what else becomes of me, thank you."
>You sling her over your shoulder, then start to follow the rope back out.
>"Great!" Maribel says. "It's a little nerve wracking not being able to see you in there."
>After walking for a little while, you see the outline of the door become visible through the blackness. You can make out Maribel's outline peering into it. She waves enthusiastically when she sees you. Shortly afterward, you emerge back into the light once more. Maribel frowns as she looks at the form over your shoulder, while the shadow is practically bubbling with curiosity. Something is familiar about this one, too! Even more familiar than all the others!
-
>Gently place Gruegetsu against the wall, sitting upright.
>"You're out of that place now. Do you feel any different?"
-
>Gently place Gruegetsu against the wall, sitting upright.
>"You're out of that place now. Do you feel any different?"
>You lean down and gently place her against the wall.
>"I... A little, maybe. I'm not sure. I- I still can't see anything." She frowns. "...you can see me, though... can't you?"
-
>"I can. Let me try something."
>Let the shadow know it's alright to touch this one.
-
>"I can. Let me try something."
>Let the shadow know it's alright to touch this one.
>"I am blind then," she says softly.
>The shadow waits barely a moment after you tell it this, and reaches out to touch Gengetsu. Her eyes widen and dart about as it makes contact.
>"What is-" she gasps. "What are-" Then she falls silent, staring into the empty distance. They stay together like that for several minutes, Gengetsu never moving or blinking. Then the shadow withdraws. It is more subdued than you've seen it since you first met.
>"I- I think I remember," Gengetsu says. "A little. That night. I... remember my sister's name. Oh, how could I have ever forgotten..." You see a single tear form in her eye.
-
>"Good, you're getting a bit better. Don't be too sad, I'm sure they'll both forgive you. Mugetsu will be ecstatic! "
>Kneel down by Shadow Gengetsu, and try to give it some encouragement, too.
-
>"Good, you're getting a bit better. Don't be too sad, I'm sure they'll both forgive you. Mugetsu will be ecstatic! "
>Kneel down by Shadow Gengetsu, and try to give it some encouragement, too.
>Gengetsu shakes her head. "I don't know that I deserve her forgiveness. As I am, I am helpless to fulfill my responsibility to her. I have still failed as a sister."
>You kneel down by the shadow. You... think it may be trying to grasp the concept of sadness. It doesn't entirely understand why it feels this way. But it does understand that the being it just touched is like itself in ways no other being yet has been. It thinks it was once like it, somehow. It has difficulty remembering. Beyond that, it is still uncertain.
-
>"You'll have to get yourself together, first. But take heart, we'll get this all straightened out yet. You understand what it was that you just communed with, I hope?"
-
>"You'll have to get yourself together, first. But take heart, we'll get this all straightened out yet. You understand what it was that you just communed with, I hope?"
>"I'm... not sure," she replies. "It held memories that I'm certain are mine. But it's consciousness is... very simple. Almost absent, like it were nothing more than a collection of fragments of experience. I... think they might be mine, but I don't know how or why."
-
>"It, more or less, is you. As I hinted at, you've been, well, ripped to pieces. In a very literal sense. I think this is why you can't see or move much, you've not go the aspects of yourself you need to do it anymore. I was hoping just the two of you coming touching would be enough to put you back together."
-
>"It, more or less, is you. As I hinted at, you've been, well, ripped to pieces. In a very literal sense. I think this is why you can't see or move much, you've not go the aspects of yourself you need to do it anymore. I was hoping just the two of you coming touching would be enough to put you back together."
>She shakes her head slowly. "But I guess it isn't so. Perhaps it was too much to hope for. Consciousness wasn't meant to be taken apart and put back together like a jigsaw puzzle. I don't know that if it can be done at all."
>"We're not going to leave you this way," Maribel says. "This is my dream; I make the rules. And if I say we can put you back together, then we can."
>Gengetsu smiles faintly. "You are very kind. I know not if you are right, but I thank you for your spirit."
-
>"In the meantime, let's move on. I'm going to pick you up again. This time I shouldn't have to just sling you over my shoulder."
>Gather her up into our arms.
>"You make the rules, Maribel. Where are we going next?"
-
>"In the meantime, let's move on. I'm going to pick you up again. This time I shouldn't have to just sling you over my shoulder."
>Gather her up into our arms.
>"You make the rules, Maribel. Where are we going next?"
>"Very well," Gengetsu says. "Although don't trouble yourself to be too gentle. I... can't feel it very clearly in any case."
>You learn down and pick Gengetsu up in your arms.
>"Do you know how many pieces of her there are?" Maribel asks. "You mentioned two others. Do you know if there are more?"
-
>"I have no idea. But it wouldn't surprise me if there were."
-
>"I have no idea. But it wouldn't surprise me if there were."
>Maribel leans over and whispers quietly in your ear: "I know I said that I make the rules here, but I still don't know how I'm supposed to fix her. She isn't something I just made up, like the rest of this place. What am I supposed to do?"
-
>Quietly: "Let's find them, for now."
-
>Quietly: "Let's find them, for now."
>Maribel nods. "I'll try."
>She walks over and closes the door you came out of, then takes a deep breath. "Ok, I can do this. If I were a fragment of consciousness who'd forgotten who and where she was, I'd be..." She turns the handle and pushes. "Here!"
>Beyond the door you see an expanse of violet, dotted with twinkling points of light, like stars. Through it drift rounded black forms, almost like curiously geometric clouds. It reminds you of the sky, were you to gaze up at it from some alien world.
>"Wow..." Maribel says. "It's... strangely beautiful, isn't it? I... don't think I came up with this one myself, somehow."
-
>"I've not seen anything like it..."
>Enter.
-
>"I've not seen anything like it..."
>Enter.
>"What is it like?" Gengetsu asks. "Can you describe it to me?"
>You step inside, or rather float. There doesn't appear to be anything you would describe as ground, although the atmosphere feels normal. In the distance, you think you can see hints of motion; small blue wisps, drifting and circling.
>Maribel peers out, noting the lack of ground herself.
-
>"Test it with your foot, Maribel."
>"It's all purple, with stars in the distance. Not quite an evening sky, but sort of like a children's picture of it. There's black things sort of like clouds drifting all over the place. I can see some wisps in the distance, sort of circling around."
-
>"Test it with your foot, Maribel."
>"It's all purple, with stars in the distance. Not quite an evening sky, but sort of like a children's picture of it. There's black things sort of like clouds drifting all over the place. I can see some wisps in the distance, sort of circling around."
>With a little wariness and a firm grip on the doorframe, Maribel puts a foot outside the door, waving it through the open air. There is quite clearly nothing solid for her to stand on.
>"That's... I think that sounds like where I used to live. With my sister," Gengetsu says. "I can't remember it clearly, just fragments. But something about it feels... nostalgic."
-
>"We'll be back, Maribel. Hopefully this one won't take as long."
>Head toward those wisps.
>"Do the blue wisps sound like part of it, as well?"
-
>"We'll be back, Maribel. Hopefully this one won't take as long."
>Head toward those wisps.
>"Do the blue wisps sound like part of it, as well?"
>"Sure," Maribel replies. "I'll be waiting."
>You fly out towards the wisps. Their motion reminds you a little of ghosts or evil spirits. Even their appearance is broadly similar. You can see a few small groups clustered together, and others spread over a wider area. They don't appear to be reacting to your presence yet.
>"I don't really recall, I'm afraid," Gengetsu says. "I think I only remember this place at all because of the memories I hold of my sister. Outside of her, I recall little."
>As you get close to one group of wisps, several of them break off towards you and spread out from each other.
-
>Observe the wisps, do they seem to be taking any violent action?
>"Hello?"
-
>Observe the wisps, do they seem to be taking any violent action?
>"Hello?"
>They seem to be approaching at high speed. A couple of them shift and angle out to either side of you, forming something of a u-shape. Oh, wait, they're firing!
>Each of the wisps starts shooting an angular spread of blue danmaku in your direction. It isn't particularly fast, but the wisps' positioning causes some of their shots to intersect with each other and makes reading them more difficult as well as closing several safe spots. There are about a half-dozen in firing range. You can see a few stragglers moving in behind them.
-
>Try to rise above it, and see if we can see anything around that is not a blue wisp.
>"The wisps are shooting at us. I don't suppose you had a way around that kind of thing back home?"
-
>Try to rise above it, and see if we can see anything around that is not a blue wisp.
>"The wisps are shooting at us. I don't suppose you had a way around that kind of thing back home?"
>You ascend, moving clear of much of the fire, though some of it also extends vertically. The wisps waste no time in adjusting their shots to compensate. Looking around, you see little but sky. ...wait, is that a white-ish dot in the distance?
>"I don't... remember," she says. "I don't remember anything hostile. Maybe I've just forgotten?"
-
>Is Maribel still close enough to see us, or at least see the fight?
-
>Is Maribel still close enough to see us, or at least see the fight?
>Glancing behind you, you can see a door-shaped hole in the sky, fairly far away. You think you see a form standing in it, but it's difficult to tell at this distance. She can probably make out something happening, but it mightn't be clear what it is from where she's standing. Especially if one were unused to watching danmaku.
-
>Move toward that dot, maneuver around the shots in that direction and hope that simply running away is enough to put a sizable dent in their pattern.
-
>Move toward that dot, maneuver around the shots in that direction and hope that simply running away is enough to put a sizable dent in their pattern.
>You continue to ascend and dash forward, hoping to maneuver around the cloud of fire entirely and move towards the form in the distance. The wisps shift fire to follow you, but you manage to avoid most of it, although the web of intersecting bullets follows close behind you. Several of the wisps up ahead open fire with similar spread patterns. If you cut momentum more than small amount, you risk getting hit from behind, which doesn't give you enough leeway to safely swing around their volleys entirely.
-
>"This might hurt a bit. I'm sorry.
>Keep going forward and try to weave through the oncoming stuff. Open fire if we can with Gruegetsu eating up our free hands and without slowing down. Also try to get above or below the storm behind us, whatever feels more likely to work.
-
>"This might hurt a bit. I'm sorry.
>Keep going forward and try to weave through the oncoming stuff. Open fire if we can with Gruegetsu eating up our free hands and without slowing down. Also try to get above or below the storm behind us, whatever feels more likely to work.
>"If I can feel it, I will accept it," she says. "Do what you think is best."
>You continue forward, slipping between the rows of danmaku as they intersect each other and ascend further. Fortunately, there are fewer wisps ahead of you, and they're spread wider apart, but the pattern still becomes quite difficult to navigate as you get closer to the wisps themselves. Carrying Gengetsu significantly hampers your fine-grained mobility, and you're forced to accept several impacts you would have otherwise been able to avoid. One catches your leg, and two an exposed arm, but you're too focused to let the pain slow you. Gengetsu herself absorbs a couple more; she frowns vaguely, although it's unclear how much is stoicism, and how much is her simply not feeling the force of the impact.
>Unfortunately, direct danmaku would be impossible with both your hands occupied as they are, and conjuring familiars would require you to break your stride for a few moments.
>Several more wisps remain between you and the white figure, and you can see another cluster moving in from some distance to your left.
>Now that you're closer, you can make out some more details of the figure, or rather, you can make out why you couldn't earlier. The entire form is enveloped by its white wings. You think it may be curled into a fetal position; you can see only a hint of its legs extend below the wings.
-
>If they're coming from the left, then they'll not be ahead of us by the time they catch up.
>Keep going toward the winged person.
>Are the wisps ahead keeping pace with us, or are we passing them up or at least gaining on them?
>_
-
>If they're coming from the left, then they'll not be ahead of us by the time they catch up.
>Keep going toward the winged person.
>Are the wisps ahead keeping pace with us, or are we passing them up or at least gaining on them?
>They are also a small distance forward, but it does seem likely that you can reach the winged figure long before they could intercept you.
>You continue forward, closing on the winged figure. Another wisp to your right opens fire, although it is easy enough to evade on its own and you start to slip around and past it. You are probably close enough to try speaking with the figure if you call out.
>The wisps ahead are also closing on you. In general, your flight speed is appreciably greater than the wisps, although your maneuverability is hampered at the moment. You're pulling away from the group behind you, although they continue to pursue.
>You think you see the wings shift a little.
-
>Keep going, keep dodging but keep speed up as well.
>"Hey! You there, with the wings!"
-
>Keep going, keep dodging but keep speed up as well.
>"Hey! You there, with the wings!"
>You keep moving forward, skirting around the next wisp as it fires at you. You're gathering quite a crowd of follows at this point.
>You call out to the figure and see it stir slightly. There is no other response at first. Then you feel words ring out through you, seeming to come less from the figure before you than the air all around you.
>"Why are you here? Why are they all here? Why won't you leave!" The voice is dissonant, but forceful; you feel it reverberate through your body.
-
>"Because I am not going to let you sit here and mope after all the trouble Mugetsu went through to get us here and get you healed up!"
>Keep going. Worse comes to worst we'll sling Gruegetsu over our shoulder again and drag Wingly Gengetsu out by the pinions.
-
>"Because I am not going to let you sit here and mope after all the trouble Mugetsu went through to get us here and get you healed up!"
>Keep going. Worse comes to worst we'll sling Gruegetsu over our shoulder again and drag Wingly Gengetsu out by the pinions.
>"You are not supposed to be here," the voice echoes. "None of them are supposed to be here. You will be gone!"
>You try to keep pressing forward when you feel a wave of force lash out against you, knocking you back several feet before you can catch yourself. It feels almost like trying to fly against a hurricane, although the wind issues from only one direction.
>"What are you doing?" Gengetsu calls out weakly. "She's trying to help us get back to her. Nothing is more important than that. You must remember!"
>"I remember when my mind was my own!" it cries. "It will be my own again!"
-
>Glance around, how badly did that shockwave throw us into oncoming drama?
>Assuming it's moderately safe, "And how do you expect to do that all by yourself? Can't you even tell I'm carrying a part of you with right now? Wouldn't be it better to try and put yourself back together rather than hiding here and hoping it will get better on its own?"
-
>Glance around, how badly did that shockwave throw us into oncoming drama?
>Assuming it's moderately safe, "And how do you expect to do that all by yourself? Can't you even tell I'm carrying a part of you with right now? Wouldn't be it better to try and put yourself back together rather than hiding here and hoping it will get better on its own?"
>It didn't knock you very far, due to all the forward momentum you had. Glancing over your shoulder, you see the wisps and their danmaku are still a little ways behind you. But unless you can pick up the pace, they'll be on top of you shortly.
>"Dare you to judge me?" the voice resounds. "When you all intrude upon my mind? This is my realm, and it is sacrosanct. I will have peace!"
>The force continues to push against you.
-
>Bite it back, Keine...
>...for now.
>"That didn't answer my question, did it? And would you be so kind as to call off your attack wisps, please?"
-
>Bite it back, Keine...
>...for now.
>"That didn't answer my question, did it? And would you be so kind as to call off your attack wisps, please?"
>With great strength of will you keep yourself from tearing into her about the blatant hypocrisy in her accusations.
>There'll be more than enough time to lecture her on that when she's coherent enough to listen to you.
>"I will do nothing," the voice says. "They, too, have the right to defend their home from invaders."
>"We've not invaders," Gengetsu says. "And this place isn't what you think it is. It's a fabrication."
>"You will not tell me what is and isn't mine!"
>The wisps are drawing close to firing range. There are almost a dozen of them, and your forward momentum is little more than a crawl at this point.
-
>Just a little more patience...
>"It's a dream, Gengetsu. It's Maribel's dream. You put her to sleep when she was already dreaming, and did this to yourself. And hiding here isn't going to save you, nor will it make Mugetsu's life any easier, given what she's gone through to try and help you. Please, come with us and help us put put things to rights. You can't do anything here."
-
>Just a little more patience...
>"It's a dream, Gengetsu. It's Maribel's dream. You put her to sleep when she was already dreaming, and did this to yourself. And hiding here isn't going to save you, nor will it make Mugetsu's life any easier, given what she's gone through to try and help you. Please, come with us and help us put put things to rights. You can't do anything here."
>It feels like you'll have burned through an entire year's worth of patience in a few days by the time this is over. And as a school teacher, that's really saying something.
>"No!" it cries. "No more confusion! No more!"
>It shifts and spreads its wings wide and you get your first look at the form beneath them. Her face is... wrong. Her eyes are black and hollow; void subsumes them. The rest of her face is featureless; she has no mouth and only a faint curve where a nose should be. Her hands clutch her head tightly; it somehow manages to look like she's in pain, even without any other features to read.
>"I will listen to the other voices no longer!" it cries. You feel the air change around you.
-
>"So what are you planning to then, then? What is staying here going to achieve? You're just hiding in someone's dream. If you don't believe me, come and see. Surely you've noticed the door back there."
-
>"So what are you planning to then, then? What is staying here going to achieve? You're just hiding in someone's dream. If you don't believe me, come and see. Surely you've noticed the door back there."
>You try to speak, but no sound comes out. Worse, when you inhale, you fail to draw anything into your lungs; it feels like there's nothing around you to draw in. You can't breathe!
-
>Approach. If she doesn't like speech, then we'll just have to shake some sense into her.
>And if she doesn't like that...
-
>Approach. If she doesn't like speech, then we'll just have to shake some sense into her.
>And if she doesn't like that...
>You move towards her, intent on applying a line of argumentation that requires no voice, but the force still pushes against you and you fight for every inch you close.
>Something strikes you solidly in the back and you cry out. Or rather would have, if any sound could issue from you.
-
>Okay. She wants to play like that.
>Sling Gruegetsu over our shoulder, and move to the side in hopes of avoid oncoming danmaku.
>Give Wingly Gengetsu a faceful of danmaku.
-
>Okay. She wants to play like that.
>Sling Gruegetsu over our shoulder, and move to the side in hopes of avoid oncoming danmaku.
>Give Wingly Gengetsu a faceful of danmaku.
>It seems so.
>You sling the Gengetsu you're carrying over your shoulder, holding her secure with one hand, then shift to the side and hopefully out of the way of more incoming fire.
>Using your other hand, you launch a stream of danmaku at the mouthless Gengetsu before you. She makes no effort to dodge them, but as the stream nears her, it gently curves aside and passes by harmlessly.
-
>Let's see if she can focus on two things at once.
>Try to close in and keep firing.
-
>Let's see if she can focus on two things at once.
>Try to close in and keep firing.
>Hopefully not...
>You continue firing while trying to press forward. Most of your streams continue to deflect harmlessly around her, but you think the pressure against you may be less than it was earlier. You close a few more feet.
>You feel another impact along your back and one towards your side.
>You're getting painfully short of breath.
-
>Does Gruegetsu seem to be bothered by this at all?
>Keep circling away from the shots and firing on her. Mugetsu said this was a dream? Then all we need to do is ignore these things and they'll go away.
>Hope she gets some friendly fire from overenthusiastic wisps, too.
-
>Does Gruegetsu seem to be bothered by this at all?
>Keep circling away from the shots and firing on her. Mugetsu said this was a dream? Then all we need to do is ignore these things and they'll go away.
>Hope she gets some friendly fire from overenthusiastic wisps, too.
>She doesn't seem to be in any obvious distress, or perhaps even very aware of what is happening.
>You keep circling away from the fire behind you, while directing more of your own towards Gengetsu. Your shots still curve around her, although you notice that the closer you are when you fire, the less they angle away before they reach her. You try to ignore the creations of dream around you. They still feel pretty present to you...
>As you shift around, you can see some shots from the wisps pass by in your peripheral vision. A few of them are on a trajectories that near Gengetsu, but they also curve harmlessly away as they approach her.
>You feel like you really, really need to breathe right now or you're going to start to black out.
-
>Breathe. This is Maribel's realm, and she's been breathing just fine. As such, this just has to be some kind of trick.
>Breathe, and move onward as we were. Keep up the fire.
-
>Breathe. This is Maribel's realm, and she's been breathing just fine. As such, this just has to be some kind of trick.
>Breathe, and move onward as we were. Keep up the fire.
>You tell yourself that the lack of air must be an illusion. Others have been breathing in here. The Gengetsu over your shoulder doesn't seem to be suffocating. So there must be something here to breathe. You will yourself to believe this and try to take it in. Your lungs still come up empty. Why?
>Still, you continue forward, while shifting out of the way of fire from the rear. Some of your shots are barely veering away from Gengetsu before they collide with her now. If you gain a few more feet, you think you may be able to hit her.
>You're beginning to feel dizzy and your vision is starting to dim.
-
>Keep going, keep breathing. It is clearly there; whatever she wants us to think. Maribel wouldn't let that happen to us. Aim for her head as we get closer, Reimu has vouched to the effectiveness of this.
-
>Keep going, keep breathing. It is clearly there; whatever she wants us to think. Maribel wouldn't let that happen to us. Aim for her head as we get closer, Reimu has vouched to the effectiveness of this.
>You keep moving forward, all but willing there to be something to breathe. No matter what it feels like, there must be air here. You breathe again and think you gasp a tiny, precious sip of air before it's gone again. A second breath draws in nothing.
>You move in closer and aim a stream of danmaku at her head; it curves away harmlessly into the open space above her shoulders. The paths of all the danmaku you've fired so far seem to shift almost as if their trajectories were being pulled away by some force. The shorter the path, the less deviation; the speed of the deviation appears nearly constant no matter what you fire, or what you aim at.
-
>Proof there's air here! Keep trying at it!
>Keep spiraling closer, and take aim so it'll smack into her wings while going around her. We'll save the face for later.
-
>Proof there's air here! Keep trying at it!
>Keep spiraling closer, and take aim so it'll smack into her wings while going around her. We'll save the face for later.
>You keep trying, pouring as much of your will into it as you can spare. You get a tiny breath, and then nothing for several attempts, then a tiny sip again. You still feel quite light-headed.
>You continue to move closer while angling around her and try to aim your shots so they'll curve into her wings. Success! A stream of thick red danmaku impacts solidly against her left wing, causing her to recoil. You feel the atmosphere around you shake and the pressure against you weakens briefly.
>Out of the corner of your eye, you see some of the wisps spread out to your side and beginning to encircle you. Judging by their positions, you don't think strafing will continue to protect you from further fire.
-
>Giver her a few more shots into the wings, and keep fighting for our breath!
>Ascend, and try to continue spiraling closer.
-
>Giver her a few more shots into the wings, and keep fighting for our breath!
>Ascend, and try to continue spiraling closer.
>You launch a few more bursts of danmaku, scoring several solid hits against her wings, and then one against her chest as the force of repulsion seems to weaken.
>"Why!" the air around you cries, swelling like a crescendo. "Why, why, why won't you leave me!?"
>You ascend and try to keep closing. Your movement feels less constrained now, although the air around you is getting quite crowded, and you're not getting any sound cues from the danmaku being fired behind you and from the sides. You clip one with your left leg, and then one slams into the back of your head. You wince soundlessly and grit your teeth.
>You still fail to draw a breath more often than not, and your focus is waning as your vision darkens. You don't think you can keep up any vigorous activity for more than another moment or two without some real air.
-
>Fight to keep breathing. This is clearly a falsehood, and she is not going to run us out of breath before we strangle out hers!
>Get above Wingly Gengetsu.
>Then stop flying, and let gravity handle the rest while fighting for breath.
>If we actually fall close to her, grab on.
-
>Fight to keep breathing. This is clearly a falsehood, and she is not going to run us out of breath before we strangle out hers!
>Get above Wingly Gengetsu.
>Then stop flying, and let gravity handle the rest while fighting for breath.
>If we actually fall close to her, grab on.
>You stubbornly will yourself not to asphyxiate inside someone else's dream. You get another shallow breath, but it does little to help matters at this point. You need far, far more than that. You're running beyond empty.
>The repelling force has diminished enough to let you maneuver yourself above Gengetsu. You manage to dodge most of the fire around you, although you get clipped by another couple shots as you transit. You're more than angry enough at this point to shrug them off with little more than a grimace.
>You let go of your flight and start to pummel. At least some rules still seem to function like you would expect. If anything, it's nice to just let yourself go. Every ounce of energy you expend at the moment feels like it's bought at a high price. However, without the leverage to dodge, you snag another pair of bullets on the way down.
>You've picked your drop point well, and fall within arm's reach of the fragment of Gengetsu. As she is making no effort to evade, and barely even looking at you, she's an easy target. You thrust your free arm out and grab onto her right leg. You feel your arm jerk painfully as you fall below her and it fully extends, her flight temporarily stopping your momentum. You dig your fingers in to keep from slipping and soon she starts to fall with you; she doesn't even attempt to shake you off. You can feel a single sustained note of frustration and righteous anger resonate through you.
>Still, you're fading fast. You think you may only have a few more seconds to stop whatever it is she's doing before you no longer have the strength to hold on.
-
>Only one thing left to do. We don't have free hands, so stab her the leg or foot with one of our horns, and fight to breath!
>Also hope she's going to get a share of those wisps' shots.
-
>Only one thing left to do. We don't have free hands, so stab her the leg or foot with one of our horns, and fight to breath!
>Also hope she's going to get a share of those wisps' shots.
>You muster a last burst of exertion, and pull hard on Gengetsu's leg, thrusting your head forward and driving one of your horns into her flesh. Her howl pieces through through you. You'd cover your ears if you had any hands to do so. Though you wonder what good it would do against this sort of sound. And then you can breathe! You take in a gasp full of air and then another. Oh god, you can breathe!
>You seem to have fallen past the cloud of fire and are still moving too quickly for new shots to reach you. It seems the wisps aren't intelligent enough to lead their targets.
-
>Breathe gasp breathe!
>"You....are not...going to ignore..the truth...after all...the shit...I've been through..."
>If she tries anything funny again, give her the horns again.
>If she doesn't, move so Gruegetsu touches her, and hope we get a reaction similar to Shadow Gengetsu.
-
>Breathe gasp breathe!
>"You....are not...going to ignore..the truth...after all...the shit...I've been through..."
>If she tries anything funny again, give her the horns again.
>If she doesn't, move so Gruegetsu touches her, and hope we get a reaction similar to Shadow Gengetsu.
>You keep gasping for breath. Oh, air is such a wonderful, wonderful thing.
>You fail to get a coherent response from the fragment. Whether she's too busy being in pain, or just being angry, or simply ignoring you, you aren't certain.
>She doesn't seem to be trying anything else at the moment, and your horn is still firmly embedded in her leg. You can see a black fluid, like blood mixed with shadow, oozing around the edges of the wound.
>You try to get enough leverage to make contact between both fragments. Unfortunately, nothing in particular seems to happen when they touch each other.
>"What happened?" the fragment on your shoulder says. "Everything went silent around us."
-
>If that's how she's going to be, resume flight and drag her back toward the door.
>"She tried to suffocate me. And she's lucky I don't return the favor. Instead I stabbed her in the leg until she cut it out."
-
>If that's how she's going to be, resume flight and drag her back toward the door.
>"She tried to suffocate me. And she's lucky I don't return the favor. Instead I stabbed her in the leg until she cut it out."
>You resume flight and start to drag her towards the door. Unfortunately she is much heavier than Gruegetsu, being entirely substantial and not entirely docile. Your flight speed is impeded a fair bit, and your maneuverability significantly so. There are still quite a number of wisps between you and the door. They are mostly above you, but continuing to fire.
>"She..." Gruegetsu frowns. "Why would she try to do such a thing? Was I... that kind of a person, once? Please tell me I wasn't."
-
>"I don't know. We...really never met before today. But the way Mugetsu talks, I don't think so."
>Contemplate using Wingly Gengetsu as a shield and plowing through.
-
>"I don't know. We...really never met before today. But the way Mugetsu talks, I don't think so."
>Contemplate using Wingly Gengetsu as a shield and plowing through.
>"I... hope not," she says. "After all this, I would hate to think I wasn't the sister I remembered. I have thought of nothing more than her, and how I have failed her for being here. I cannot accept that I would be that kind of person."
>She doesn't seem to be struggling a great deal, although it might take both hands to properly maneuver her as a shield, given her bulk. You don't think you could use her very effectively with just an arm on her leg, although she might block some incidental fire.
-
>"This is going to be a little hard. Hang on if you can."
>Remove horn from Wingly Gengetsu's leg. Try to slide it out, rather than rip it out.
>Fly up, grab her around the waist with our free arm. Then pull her around so she's in front of us. Preferably facing away, and hold her round the waist.
>Proceed toward the door if this works.
-
>"This is going to be a little hard. Hang on if you can."
>Remove horn from Wingly Gengetsu's leg. Try to slide it out, rather than rip it out.
>Fly up, grab her around the waist with our free arm. Then pull her around so she's in front of us. Preferably facing away, and hold her round the waist.
>Proceed toward the door if this works.
>"I don't think I can do much to help myself hang on," she says, "But good luck with whatever you're trying."
>You pull your horn out from her leg as smoothly as you can. Still, it draws another howl from her and a gush of shadowy blood. She thrashes a little, but your hold on her remains firm.
>You fly up and put your arm around her waist, holding her tightly against you. She seems surprisingly pliant, although you really wish you could get her to stop crying out into your head.
>Holding Wingly Gengetsu as a sort of shield, you proceed towards the door. The wisps open fire on you as you pass. You're still a little faster than them, but not by a great deal at this point. You evade many of their shots simply by moving, and use Gengetsu to absorb some of the rest. She seems to quiet down a little after receiving a few of them. A bullet strikes your arm, and you feel your grip loosen for a moment before reasserting it.
>You pass under most of the wisps and they spread out behind you and to the sides, continuing to throw more fire in your direction.
-
>Keep gunning for that door.
>"Shut up or so help me I will shut you up!"
-
>Keep gunning for that door.
>"Shut up or so help me I will shut you up!"
>You keep moving towards the door at best speed, while the wisps continue to pursue. While you're fast enough to outrun the wisps themselves, you're no longer fast enough to outrun their danmaku. However, you have enough mobility to shift out of the way of much of it, now that it's all behind you.
>Wingly Gengetsu makes no coherent response to this, although her enthusiasm seems to have waned, the more danmaku she took.
>As you approach the door, you can see Maribel watching you with a very concerned expression on her face, and peering past you, no doubt at the cloud of bullets trailing you.
>With another push you finally make it through the door and back into the hallway. Maribel shuts the door firmly behind you the moment you're inside.
>"Are you ok?" she asks, eying the new fragment of Gengetsu with a very uncomfortable expression.
-
>Sigh and nod toward Maribel. "Technically."
>Dump Wingly Gengetsu on the floor.
>Gently place Gruegetsu against the wall like before. "We're safe now..."
>Slump against the wall ourselves.
>Motion for Shadow Gengetsu to go commune with Wingly Gengetsu.
-
>Sigh and nod toward Maribel. "Technically."
>Dump Wingly Gengetsu on the floor.
>Gently place Gruegetsu against the wall like before. "We're safe now..."
>Slump against the wall ourselves.
>Motion for Shadow Gengetsu to go commune with Wingly Gengetsu.
>Maribel frowns at you again. "You're injured..."
>You unload Wingly Gengetsu unceremoniously on the floor. She seems barely conscious.
>You set Gruegetsu against the wall rather more gently than her counterparts. "I'm so sorry," she says. "For what we did to you. You'll say it's not my fault, but she's still a part of me; I'm still responsible for that."
>You slump against the wall and take a deep breath. Wow, your arms are more weary than you thought. They seem almost to float now that you've unburdened yourself. Also, much of the rest of you is sore. To say nothing of nearly passing out from lack of air, you took a took significant number of danmaku hits during that escapade. Determination drowned out most of the pain at the time, but now that you're resting it's catching up to you in a big hurry.
>You motion towards Shadow Gengetsu. It approaches Wingly Gengetsu with obvious trepidation. Something about this one scares it. It's not like the rest. Its mind is different than the others.
-
>"I'll get better. But if you could find me something to drink, I'd be very grateful."
>Smile at Shadow Gengetsu. "Don't worry. You're smarter than she is. And, she needs to see the things you've learned."
-
>"I'll get better. But if you could find me something to drink, I'd be very grateful."
>Smile at Shadow Gengetsu. "Don't worry. You're smarter than she is. And, she needs to see the things you've learned."
>Maribel smiles. "Have a preference? I'm sure a place like this must keep a very well-stocked pantry."
>The shadow still hesitates, but then inches over towards it, reaching out to touch her. Wingly Gengetsu does not respond in any obvious way. You can distantly sense confusion from the shadow, and a little distress. It undulates less fluidly than before; stiffer, more abrupt.
-
>"Something cold, please."
>Observe.
-
>"Something cold, please."
>Observe.
>Maribel nods. "I'm sure I can manage that," she says, opening a nearby door and stepping into it.
>You continue to observe the shadow. After a few moments it withdraws, seemingly more subdued than usual. It recognizes things. Things it could do. Places it used to live. But something is wrong with them. Something about this other scares it. Was this how it was supposed to be?
>A thin purple seam appears along the air in the middle of the corridor, a short distance to your right.
-
>"I don't think so. Mugetsu would never care so deeply about someone like that."
>Glance toward the seam. Frown deeply.
-
>"I don't think so. Mugetsu would never care so deeply about someone like that."
>Glance toward the seam. Frown deeply.
>The shadow is still unsure. It... doesn't think it wants to be this way. You feel it pull back into its own thoughts.
>You look at the seam, and frown deeply in its direction. You're had more than enough bad encounters with them over the last few days. It had better not start to take over this space, too.
>The seam expands, widening into a rounded slit several feet across at its middle.
-
>Watch it some more. How close is it?
-
>Watch it some more. How close is it?
>The crack is about 10 feet to your right. You continue to observe it.
>A moment later, three figures emerge from it. A young woman in a purple dress, her eyes closed and holding hands with a shorter woman in a blue maid's uniform. A familiar black-garbed magician brings up the rear.
>"Man, what happened here?" Marisa says, surveying your injuries and the various unusual looking beings surrounding you.
-
>Pause.
>"...Wait. Maribel....didn't you go to get me something to drink?"
-
>Pause.
>"...Wait. Maribel....didn't you go to get me something to drink?"
>...wait, what?
>"Wha-" she begins, but is cut off by a voice calling out from the room to your left.
>"Sorry, sorry, it just took a moment to find everything! I'll be with you in a second."
>Maribel frowns. "What?"
>Marisa gives you an incredulous look. "Ok, what else have we missed?"
-
>"Oh hell, don't tell me there's more than one Maribel, too..."
>Sigh.
>"Gengetsu, um, all of you. Meet Mugetsu."
>Gesture.
>"Everyone, these three are parts of Gengetsu. Mind the one with wings, she's a pain."
-
>"Oh hell, don't tell me there's more than one Maribel, too..."
>Sigh.
>"Gengetsu, um, all of you. Meet Mugetsu."
>Gesture.
>"Everyone, these three are parts of Gengetsu. Mind the one with wings, she's a pain."
>"More than one-" Maribel starts. ...both of them. "What?!"
>You sigh. Wasn't this a big enough headache already?
>You introduce Mugetsu to the Gengetsus. By the look on her face, she isn't certain which thing she should be troubled about first: the unsettlingly formed fragments of her sister, the fact that one is currently bleeding shadowy blood on the ground, or the fact that there are two Maribels. She barely seems to notice your introduction, and Wingly Gengetsu makes no response at all. The shadow projects a mixture of excitement and confusion. There are more familiar people! One very familiar! But why does one of them seem exactly like that other being?
>"S- sister?" Gruegetsu speaks, her voice almost a whisper. "I- is that you?"
>"You... remember me?" Mugetsu says.
>"How could I ever, ever let myself forget?" she replies, shaking her head slowly. "I'm so sorry. So terribly, terribly sorry. I don't even have the words." Tears starts to flow down her cheeks. "I've failed you as a sister. Just look at me."
>"Don't... don't say that," Mugetsu says, taking a step towards her. "You're injured, that's all. We're going to fix things. I promise we will. So don't feel bad about anything." Her voice starts to choke up. "Please don't."
>"I don't deserve your sympathy," Gengetsu responds, strains of sorrow in her voice. "I left you to suffer. I wasn't strong enough to return to you. I still can't. I'm blind, I'm helpless. I'm useless to you."
>"I don't care!" Mugetsu cries and wraps her in a tight embrace. "I... d- don't care..." She starts to cry. "You're still my sister. And I love you..."
>Maribel emerges from the door beside you with a tall glass of ice water in her hands. She stares into her own mirror made flesh, and it stares back at her. They are either content to be silent out of respect to Mugetsu or too dumbstruck to speak.
-
>Take water and drink.
>Softly. "Thanks. I needed that."
>Let the Getsus get themselves sorted out.
-
>Take water and drink.
>Softly. "Thanks. I needed that."
>Let the Getsus get themselves sorted out.
>You accept the glass of water. Or rather reach out and take it from Maribel's hand. She seems to have forgotten entirely that she was holding it.
>She turns vaguely to you as you take it from her. "Oh, uh, yes, no problem." She turns back to her doppelganger.
>You leave the Getsus alone for the moment. They're mostly crying; Mugetsu more loudly, but you hear restrained sobs issue from her sister as well.
>"So are you..." the Maribel next to you says.
>"You?" the other Maribel replies. Your Maribel nods slowly. "I, uh, don't know. I mean we can't be-"
>"Can we?"
>"But if you-" they say as one, then stop
>"Then whose dream is it?" your Maribel says.
>"I thought it was mine."
>"Me, too."
>"It isn't?"
>"Isn't it?"
>"But that-"
>"But I changed things," your Maribel interrupts. "I've made rooms in this place. I made the glass of water that she's drinking."
>"I made the moon full," the other Maribel replies. "And I-"
>"But she said..." Your Maribel turns to you. "You said I did it and didn't remember."
>Marisa walks over to you, rubbing her head. "Like I needed any more headaches in here. So, uh, you have any idea why there's two of them?"
-
> Finish the water.
> "Well... I hope it doesn't get this complicated but right now it almost seem like there might be one Maribel for every Gengetsu."
-
>"I'm pretty sure there's at least three of them."
>Try to let some of the pain go away.
>"So, did you guys find anything interesting?"
-
> Finish the water.
> "Well... I hope it doesn't get this complicated but right now it almost seem like there might be one Maribel for every Gengetsu."
>You finish up the water quickly. It is very refreshing and satisfying given what you've just been through. How long has it been since you drank anything? Do you even need to drink anything in this place? You decide that you probably don't, but that it still feels good, just the same.
>"That would be..." your Maribel says.
>"But how many-" the other Maribel jumps in.
>"That's five, you said?"
>"Five!?"
>"Oh boy," Marisa says, frowning.
>"I'm pretty sure there's at least three of them."
>Try to let some of the pain go away.
>"So, did you guys find anything interesting?"
>"Three?" both Maribels say almost in unison, then turn back to each other, frowning.
>While you feel a bit battered, you think you'll be functional enough after a little more rest. You wouldn't want a give a repeat performance any time soon, but at least you might have backup this time.
>"Spent almost the whole time looking for you, if you can believe it," Marisa says. "Mugetsu barely got us away from that freaky purple hole in space before it ate us. Can't say I'd have liked to have found out what the inside of that thing was like. Apparently this place is kinda like a maze to her, still. We spent a while just jumping back and forth. After that, Mugetsu took some time to try and guide Maribel about how to open space like that without tearing the whole world apart around us. Y'know, when she had time to focus and nothing black and creepy was trying to pounce on her."
-
>Chuckle at the antics of the Maribai.
>"In our case, I met this little shadowy Gengetsu. She's very pleasant, and has a curious trait of being able to read the thoughts of those that touch her. She's enriched herself by communing with this Maribel, while she and this Gengentsu-"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu, "Have both benefited from it. This one with the wings puts her off, so she hasn't done much with it. This Maribel has been helping me hunt down things. Getting into isolated parts of the dream, I think."
-
>Chuckle at the antics of the Maribai.
>"In our case, I met this little shadowy Gengetsu. She's very pleasant, and has a curious trait of being able to read the thoughts of those that touch her. She's enriched herself by communing with this Maribel, while she and this Gengentsu-"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu, "Have both benefited from it. This one with the wings puts her off, so she hasn't done much with it. This Maribel has been helping me hunt down things. Getting into isolated parts of the dream, I think."
>You chuckle at Maribel. Both of them. For once, at least alternate versions of someone aren't trying to kill you in some fashion. Although it occurs to you that you'll probably be unable to tell them apart if they move.
>Marisa nods along to your explanation. "Make sense. About Maribel, I mean. Mugetsu said she'd be able to navigate this place better than her, once she figured out how to let herself. And at least you've been having some success, although I don't suppose you've got any ideas about how to get them back together yet?"
-
>"Not yet. As for Maribel. Well...I'm not even sure what the difference between them is. Maybe Gengetsu can help with that?"
>Glance toward Shadow Gengetsu. "Want to go speak with the other Maribel? I'm sure she won't mind."
-
>"Not yet. As for Maribel. Well...I'm not even sure what the difference between them is. Maybe Gengetsu can help with that?"
>Glance toward Shadow Gengetsu. "Want to go speak with the other Maribel? I'm sure she won't mind."
>The shadow seems to agree. It would like to understand why these beings seem more alike than other beings. It shifts towards the newly arrived Maribel, who backs up a few steps.
>"What, uh, is that thing?" she says. "And what does it want to do to me?"
>"Oh, don't worry," the other Maribel says. "It just wants to know you, a little."
>Maribel frowns. "I've already had a few shadows wanting to 'know' me, today."
>"It's harmless," your Maribel replies. "Really. Feels strange, but I promise it won't hurt you."
>"I suppose you would know..." the other Maribel says. She looks down at the shadow. "...ok, I guess."
>It reaches out and touches her, and Maribel's eyes grow wide and distant.
>Your Maribel stares at her, then turns to you. "Did... I look that way, too?"
-
>"Pretty much. But did I?"
>Check Wingly Gengetsu's leg. She's probably still bleeding from that, isn't she?
-
>"Pretty much. But did I?"
>Check Wingly Gengetsu's leg. She's probably still bleeding from that, isn't she?
>"Not quite so... dramatic," she says. "Maybe you were just a little used to it, by then?"
>You take a look at her leg. There's a small pool of shadowy blood where it rests on the ground and it still appears to be oozing slightly, although the flow has slowed greatly. You have no idea how physical such a wound would be for her. You're also reminded that your horn is probably streaked with the stuff. You've not had the benefit of a mirror in here.
-
>"Yeah, I think that was it."
>Frown at the wound. "We should probably bandage that up...Think you could find a linen closet?"
-
>"Yeah, I think that was it."
>Frown at the wound. "We should probably bandage that up...Think you could find a linen closet?"
>Maribel nods.
>Maribel takes a look at the wound and frowns, as well. "I'll go see if I can find something," she says, closing the door behind her, opening it again, and stepping inside.
>"B- wait, that was-" Marisa points a finger at the door. "But she just-"
-
>Tired grin.
>"Well, she did say she was changing things in the dream, didn't she? Doors in a mansion randomly leading to rooms you'd expect to find in a mansion isn't that difficult to imagine."
>"How's your Maribel's ability with those rifts work, or should I ask her once Shadow Gengetsu's finished?"
-
>Tired grin.
>"Well, she did say she was changing things in the dream, didn't she? Doors in a mansion randomly leading to rooms you'd expect to find in a mansion isn't that difficult to imagine."
>"How's your Maribel's ability with those rifts work, or should I ask her once Shadow Gengetsu's finished?"
>You grin a little at Marisa's confusion.
>"Well, uh, I suppose not when you put it that way," Marisa says. "Just weird seeing it, ya know?" She takes another glance at the various Gengetsus. "Though I suppose you've gotten more than your share of weirdness already, eh?"
>"Dunno," Marisa says. "Mugetsu said something about her making paths where none exist. Or somethin' like that, anyway."
>"That's... mostly correct," Mugetsu adds, her voice quavering a little. "Think of this place like a maze. I have to find the right path to get anywhere. She just... walks through the walls."
>The shadow releases Maribel, who steps back and nearly stumbles over her own feet. She looks very disoriented and her eyes wander aimlessly around the room.
>Marisa frowns. "Hey, you ok?"
-
>Glance to Shadow Gengetsu, if Maribel doesn't seem to need someone to catch her or doesn't flip out.
-
>Glance to Shadow Gengetsu, if Maribel doesn't seem to need someone to catch her or doesn't flip out.
>Maribel doesn't seem to be in appreciable worse shape than the other Maribel was. You think she'll be fine, given a little time. So you look to the shadow instead.
>It is... uncertain. These two beings seem to be exactly the same, and have all of the same memories until very recently. From then, they remember different things. Both of them remember you, though their memories of you are not the same. It wonders if other beings copy themselves? Does that help them have someone to share with?
>The other Maribel emerges from the doorway with a large gauze bandage in her hands. "It's probably a little more modern than the rest of this place," she says, "but I think a few anachronisms will hardly be noticed among all the other physical impossibilities in this mansion."
-
>Oh dear, that's not something we can clean our horn off with as well, is it?
>Try to let Shadow Gengetsu know that this is strange, and something we're trying to fix. Somehow.
>"Well, if it's effective, I'm not going to complain."
>Bandage up Miss Wings.
-
>Oh dear, that's not something we can clean our horn off with as well, is it?
>Try to let Shadow Gengetsu know that this is strange, and something we're trying to fix. Somehow.
>"Well, if it's effective, I'm not going to complain."
>Bandage up Miss Wings.
>It is still cloth, so you probably could, although it's not ideally suited to the task. Maribel could probably fetch something else for you, if you wanted.
>The best way you can summarize the shadow's reaction is 'Oh.' It seems rather disappointed. It seemed like an interesting way for there to be more beings, and more experiences. But it realizes that it doesn't understand the world very well.
>"I imagine they're better than Victorian-era bandages, at any rate," Maribel says.
>You take the bandage from her, and wrap it properly around Gengetsu's wounded leg. She stirs a little as you apply pressure to the wound, but says nothing, nor takes any more complex action.
-
>"Hmm. So, there's one more Maribel and two more Gengetsus, at least. Shall we go find them, too?"
>Glance to the Maribels. "Though I think Gengetsu has the right of part of this. You two ought to take advantage of this, who else gets to meet themselves?"
-
>"Hmm. So, there's one more Maribel and two more Gengetsus, at least. Shall we go find them, too?"
>Glance to the Maribels. "Though I think Gengetsu has the right of part of this. You two ought to take advantage of this, who else gets to meet themselves?"
>"I'm not really sure how," your Maribel says. "It was mostly guesswork those two times."
>"I can help with that," Mugetsu says. "You may not know how to sense the dream consciously, but I can. I can try to guide us."
>You explain to the Maribels the uniqueness of meeting oneself. "Yeah..." your Maribel says. "It's... strange. Honestly, it may still be the strangest thing in this place, despite all the rest I've seen."
>The other Maribel seems to be gathering herself a little, although she isn't quite coherent yet.
>"I'm afraid I don't have a good explanation for this," Mugetsu says. "Maribel's consciousness is intact. Or at least it feels like it should be. Each of them seems whole, even if they've experienced different things inside this dream."
>"Do you... really think things can be set straight, sister?" Gruegetsu asks. "Do you think I can become whole again?" Mugetsu hesitates.
>"I told you we would," Maribel says. "And I meant it."
>"...thank you," Mugetsu says, smiling tentatively. "I am very sorry for all you've been through."
>"As am I," Gengetsu adds. "If you knew the depths of my regret..."
>"Oh, enough of that," Maribel says, smiling. "It's in the past. And if your full self is anything like you seem to be, I've already forgiven you for it."
-
>"Yeah, we'll worry about assigning blame and such after we get this figured out. But frankly, it sounds like you've learned your lesson, so I don't think we'll need to dwell on it too much."
>Though we are not about to get between her and Yukari if the latter decides to deal with things...
>Glance to Second Maribel. "Hey, you alright?"
-
>"Yeah, we'll worry about assigning blame and such after we get this figured out. But frankly, it sounds like you've learned your lesson, so I don't think we'll need to dwell on it too much."
>Though we are not about to get between her and Yukari if the latter decides to deal with things...
>Glance to Second Maribel. "Hey, you alright?"
>"I think so, anyway," Maribel says.
>You wonder if getting between Yukari and anyone is ever a good idea...
>"Yeah, I-" She pauses and tries to focus her eyes. "I think I'm ok. It's just a bit... depersonalizing. You did that, too, you say?" She points at the other Maribel.
>Maribel nods. "Yeah. And yeah, it is. You'll get back to yourself quickly enough. Do you remember anything?"
>The other nods slowly. "Yes. I remember the night I met- we met- Gengetsu was met. I even remember doing things that... I don't remember doing. Here, I mean. Your memories, I think.
>"Or would that be 'our'?"
>Maribel frowns uncertainly. "I... don't think they've invented pronouns for this sort of situation."
>"Oh, Reimu's gonna love this one," Marisa says, shaking her head.
-
>"She'll be glad she missed it, I'd assume. So...Mugetsu, you said you could show them a few things?"
-
>"She'll be glad she missed it, I'd assume. So...Mugetsu, you said you could show them a few things?"
>Marisa chuckles. "Yeah, I'll bet she will."
>Mugetsu nods. "They have the potential to be stronger in here than I am, although they don't know how to use their senses very well. I spent some time while we were searching for you trying to teach the Maribel that was traveling with us. She was the reason we could return to you as soon as we did. The rift we escaped from divided us quite strongly, and as I've said before, this dreamscape is twisted upon itself in ways that make it difficult for me to navigate. But not Maribel, if she can direct her own abilities properly."
>"I spent some time practicing with those rifts," their Maribel says, looking more composed. "Mugetsu helped guide me so that I wouldn't... do what happened back there a second time."
>"The method she uses is somewhat alien to me," Mugetsu says. "But if you think of her ability as opening a gap through the boundary between one space and another, imagine what she did back there as obliterating those boundaries entirely; space caved in on itself."
>"Mugetsu showed me how to better sense the dreamspace," Maribel continues. "Although she still guided me in the right direction when we came here. I just opened the door."
>"Does this mean I could do that, too?" your Maribel asks.
>"I, uh, don't know," the other Maribel replies. "Maybe?" She turns to Mugetsu.
>Mugetsu frowns. "Perhaps. Although given what happened the first time she tried, I'd avoid attempting it for the moment."
>"...or at all, maybe," Marisa mumbles.
-
>"Well, I don't know how to explain what this Maribel did. She just opened doors, and they took us where we needed to be."
-
>"Well, I don't know how to explain what this Maribel did. She just opened doors, and they took us where we needed to be."
>"Oh, that's interesting," the other Maribel says. "I wonder if I could do that, too?"
>Mugetsu peers towards the still-open door next to you, then nods. "That's a more conventional manipulation. She restructured part of the dream around her in a way her imagination would accept. Doors lead places. These doors still lead places. Certainly, not the places one would usually expect to find inside a mansion, but I think she's more... open-minded towards a great many things most people would consider surreal."
-
>Nod.
>"Regardless, the next move is definitely to find either her third part, or those other Gengetsu parts."
-
>Nod.
>"Regardless, the next move is definitely to find either her third part, or those other Gengetsu parts."
>"Makes sense," Marisa says, nodding.
>"Given what I sensed while we traveled here," Mugetsu says. "I think there may be many more pieces than you realize. I don't know how many of them have cohesion and something approaching consciousness, like the ones we saw earlier. I believe many more are like this shadow, here, or even smaller. Tiny fragments; a piece of a memory or a single thought, scattered across the inside of this dream. Dozens, maybe even hundreds."
>Marisa frowns. "Sounds like it'd take forever to scoop them at that rate."
-
>"Then perhaps we should try to find a way to drag them to us?"
-
>"Then perhaps we should try to find a way to drag them to us?"
>"Would save time," Marisa says, turning to Mugetsu. "Hey, is that possible?"
>"It... may be," she replies, frowning thoughtfully. "If we could somehow make it so that all of their locations were folded into one..."
-
>"Folded into one? What does that mean?"
-
>"Folded into one? What does that mean?"
>"Those doors open to different spaces, correct? What if you did something like this, but open onto every place in the dream at once? Bring all the spaces together? Nearly all these fragments have been attracted to Maribel, in one way or another. They might come."
-
>"Well, that sounds like a good idea. But I guess that would be up to you two, Maribel."
-
>"Well, that sounds like a good idea. But I guess that would be up to you two, Maribel."
>Mugetsu nods. "It's beyond my abilities. It would probably be beyond the ability of most dreamers. But I don't know that it's beyond theirs."
>Both Maribels frown nearly identically.
>"I'm not sure how," yours says.
>"I've never tried to open a passage between more than one space and another."
>"How would we even know where to open them to?"
>"Oh, she can help with that," the other Maribel says, gesturing towards Mugetsu.
>"I don't know that it would work," Mugetsu says. "It's asking a lot. But I fear that we could spend days seeking the last of them, otherwise."
>"Hey," Marisa says. "Does time work the same inside here as outside, anyway? I mean, if we've been in here a couple hours, have we been asleep a couple hours outside?"
>"Not... precisely," Mugetsu replies. "There isn't always a predicable relationship between time in the dream and time in the waking world. More could have passed. Or less."
>"So, uh," Marisa frowns. "Does that mean we've probably worried Renko sick about the two of us out there, yet?"
>"I wish I could say," Mugetsu responds.
>"Or that the hospital thinks it has two more coma victims..." Marisa mutters.
-
>"It'll be alright, we left her that note, remember?"
>"Could you try to throw open every door in the mansion? Or are there more places than there are doors?"
-
>"It'll be alright, we left her that note, remember?"
>"Could you try to throw open every door in the mansion? Or are there more places than there are doors?"
>"Yeah, I know," Marisa says, "but I think I'd still get worried if we were out for the count enough hours."
>"There are," Mugetsu says, before Maribel can respond. "But we may be able to deal with this more directly. I've been trying to understand the layout of this space since we arrived here; the paths by which places and memories are joined and folded over each other. I think I've begun to sense a point inside here like a sort of nexus, buried deep beneath layers of this dreamscape. Perhaps you could even think of it as the heart of the dream."
-
>"Is it safe to visit? Would would it be like?"
-
>"Is it safe to visit? Would would it be like?"
>"I'm afraid I don't have a good answer to give you," Mugetsu says. "I don't believe it would be any more dangerous than anywhere else here has been. But outside that, I couldn't say what to expect."
-
>"Let me rest a bit first, and then I'll be ready to go."
-
>"Let me rest a bit first, and then I'll be ready to go."
>Mugetsu nods. "Of course."
-
>Rest up.
>Watch the others do their things. In particular, Wingly Gengetsu and Shadow Gengetsu.
-
>Rest up.
>Watch the others do their things. In particular, Wingly Gengetsu and Shadow Gengetsu.
>You allow yourself a much-needed reprieve from your recent escapades. Your sore limbs and lungs thank you. And frankly, it's nice to have a few moments of peace; the atmosphere around you is strangely calm for all the weirdness. The Maribels pair off and chat with each other, mostly about random trivialities or their experiences inside the dream; you hear them frequently finish the other's sentences. They seem to genuinely enjoy the novelty of the conversation, once the initial strangeness passes. Marisa spends some of the time wandering up and down the hallway, peeking behind a few of the doors. As far as you can see, she finds nothing more than ordinary rooms. You can't quite tell if she's disappointed or relieved.
>Wingly Gengetsu appears to barely stir while you rest. She was never terribly mobile during your actual fight, and her injuries seemed to subdue her to an almost unresponsive state. Perhaps, if you are to hope, her encounter with Shadow Gengetsu has also rendered her more docile? Shadow Gengetsu shifts around, taking in the new beings around it. Marisa waves it off, saying that she's had her fill of weirdness already, and that she'd rather her head stay in the same shape it's currently in. Mugetsu seems reluctant for other reasons, although she's evasive about what they actually are. The shadow seems disappointed, but willing to respect others. It has seen the wrong of forcing oneself on others, and doesn't want to be like that.
>After a little more time, you feel in good enough shape to continue. Still sore and tired, but the sooner you put and end to this, the sooner you can rest properly.
-
>Stand up and stretch.
>"Alright, let's get mvoing. Mugetsu, do you think you can take that one?"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu
>"She's not very heavy. I'll get the other one."
>_
-
>Stand up and stretch.
>"Alright, let's get mvoing. Mugetsu, do you think you can take that one?"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu
>"She's not very heavy. I'll get the other one."
>You stand up and stretch. Ahhh... there we go.
>Mugetsu nods. "I think I can."
>She bends down and gently takes Gruegetsu into her arms. She seems to brace herself against the weight somewhat, but looks like she can probably manage for a little bit. "We'll fix everything soon, sister. I promise you."
>"Perhaps..." Greugetsu responds. "Perhaps if I've managed to foster this much concern... maybe I haven't been such a failure of a sister."
>"You haven't..." Mugetsu says softly. "You made a mistake. Nothing more than an innocent mistake. And we're going to fix it."
>"That's the spirit!" Maribel says. The other Maribel smiles.
-
>Pick up Wingly Gengetsu.
>"You know, you ought to at least say hi to your sister."
>Look to Mugetsu and the twins. "So, how do we get to the heart?"
-
>Pick up Wingly Gengetsu.
>"You know, you ought to at least say hi to your sister."
>Look to Mugetsu and the twins. "So, how do we get to the heart?"
>You pick up Wingly Gengetsu again. She's much easier to manage now that you can carry her with both arms.
>Mugetsu frowns. "Perhaps I should, but... it is disturbing to think of something so unlike her in form or personality as her. If it weren't for what I sense in her, I wouldn't think she was my sister at all. I'd... rather not think on it."
>"I can point the way," Mugetsu says. "And Maribel can open the door. It is further and deeper than most, but I trust she can do it."
>One of the Maribels nods. "I'm ready."
-
>"I was talking to her, Mugetsu."
>Nod to Maribel. "Then lead the way."
-
>"I was talking to her, Mugetsu."
>Nod to Maribel. "Then lead the way."
>"Oh. I'm sorry," she says. Gengetsu makes no response.
>"I'll do my best," Maribel says, walking over to Mugetsu and taking her hand. They both close their eyes and you can see Mugetsu concentrate fiercely.
>"Do you see it?" Mugetsu says, after a few moments.
>Maribel nods. "I see it."
>A gap opens in the air before her. The other Marible marvels at it.
>"Follow behind me," the first Maribel says, as her and Mugetsu step through the gap.
-
>Step through.
-
>Step through.
>You step into the gap, noticing Marisa and Maribel following besides you. The experience is strange, but not entirely unpleasant and also quite brief. It reminds you somewhat of your trip to Kyoto... were that trip along a smooth road rather than a torturous and impossible one.
>You emerge into a sea of blackness, punctuated by a column of purple in its center from which spread countless splintering branches of energy, like the canopy of a great tree. The space around you is suffused with their glow, and you can feel a backwash of power from where you stand.
>You can vaguely make out a form inside this column, perhaps 50 feet away from you.
>Marisa frowns. "This one's not gonna explode and try to swallow us, is it?"
>"I... don't believe so," Mugetsu says, looking around the space, and tracing the lines of purple energy with her eyes.
-
>"...Well isn't this interesting?"
>Approach the column and get a better look at this form.
-
>"...Well isn't this interesting?"
>Approach the column and get a better look at this form.
>"Makes me nervous," Marisa says.
>"I think it's beautiful, in its way," one of the Maribels says, gazing along the paths of energy.
>You approach the column to get a better look at it. At first it's somewhat hard to tell; the energy is somewhat obscuring, and much of the figure is similarly color, but as you get close there is no mistaking it. It is a blond-haired human girl in a white mop cap and purple dress. She seems frozen in an expression of fear and maybe even pain. One of the Maribels, who walked alongside you, stares at her with something approaching horror.
>"W- what's this supposed to mean?" she asks.
-
>"Not quite who I was expecting...As for what it means? I don't know. Maybe it's whatever felt that fear at being hit with sleep magic, originally? It was a pretty tense situation, then."
>Try to touch the column.
-
>"Not quite who I was expecting...As for what it means? I don't know. Maybe it's whatever felt that fear at being hit with sleep magic, originally? It was a pretty tense situation, then."
>Try to touch the column.
>"I... suppose it's possible," Maribel says. "It's just, well... how do you think you'd feel, seeing yourself like that?"
>You try to touch the column and feel a force repel you as you contact it. Your hand feels a little numb.
-
>"Mmmm. Not for me, then. Want to try it?"
-
>"Mmmm. Not for me, then. Want to try it?"
>"Ok..." Maribel says, reaching her hand out towards it. She withdraws it with a small yelp and rubs it with her other hand. It appeared she had the same effect you did.
>"I'm not sure I understand how," Mugetsu says, walking up to you. "But I think some of these paths lead to places outside the dream."
-
>Flex hand, try to get it feeling proper again.
>"I am willing to gamble I know exactly how. Those gaps to the outside? I am willing to guess that they lead to Yukari."
>Study columned Maribel for a moment, does she have a pose similar to Yukari's?
-
>Flex hand, try to get it feeling proper again.
>"I am willing to gamble I know exactly how. Those gaps to the outside? I am willing to guess that they lead to Yukari."
>Study columned Maribel for a moment, does she have a pose similar to Yukari's?
>You flex your hand. It doesn't seem to have gone entirely numb, and you can feel some sensation returning to it already.
>"To another person directly?" Mugetsu says.
>"Who's Yukari?" Maribel asks.
>You examine the columned Maribel more closely. Her poses does not appear to be especially similar to Yukari's, aside from the issue of them both being still and motionless. Yukari's eyes were closed, and she looked peaceful, if anything. Maribel is clearly frightened and both her eyes and mouth are open. Her arms also seem caught in mid-gesture.
-
>"Yukari is...kind of enigma. She's an immensely youkai who has power over gaps. In practical terms, she has a great deal of power of the borders and worlds. Among other things, she can travel freely between them. As for why she's important. Well...she looks a lot like you, Maribel. And you mentioning that you can see borders and such? And some of the abilities you've shown a proclivity toward, such as opening gates...
>Glance toward the gaps.
>"And now these things connecting to the outside world."
>"Let me try to tell you what happened. In short, history was changed when this whole even with you and Gengetsu went down. Something reach blindly into the past, and started removing bits and pieces of the world. One of those bits had Marisa and her friend Reimu on it, seven years ago. They were pulled into the outside world, and history changed immensely. I ended up following her, hoping to restore history to how it's supposed to be."
>"As for why I think these lead to Yukari, well...she did something to herself, to keep time from changing around her. It involved opening a lot of gaps to...well...heaven knows where. She's there now, in a sort of stasis, having not moved or done anything over the years. The outside of it...looked a lot like this pillar here. We don't really know all of what she did, or why. But, it seems you and she are connected somehow, Maribel."
>"I wonder...would it be possible to follow one of these gaps?"
>Look around for any sign of Yukari's limbs poking through.
-
>"Yukari is...kind of enigma. She's an immensely youkai who has power over gaps. In practical terms, she has a great deal of power of the borders and worlds. Among other things, she can travel freely between them. As for why she's important. Well...she looks a lot like you, Maribel. And you mentioning that you can see borders and such? And some of the abilities you've shown a proclivity toward, such as opening gates...
>Glance toward the gaps.
>"And now these things connecting to the outside world."
>"Let me try to tell you what happened. In short, history was changed when this whole even with you and Gengetsu went down. Something reach blindly into the past, and started removing bits and pieces of the world. One of those bits had Marisa and her friend Reimu on it, seven years ago. They were pulled into the outside world, and history changed immensely. I ended up following her, hoping to restore history to how it's supposed to be."
>"As for why I think these lead to Yukari, well...she did something to herself, to keep time from changing around her. It involved opening a lot of gaps to...well...heaven knows where. She's there now, in a sort of stasis, having not moved or done anything over the years. The outside of it...looked a lot like this pillar here. We don't really know all of what she did, or why. But, it seems you and she are connected somehow, Maribel."
>"I wonder...would it be possible to follow one of these gaps?"
>Look around for any sign of Yukari's limbs poking through.
>"So there's an extremely powerful youkai who looks a lot like me, with similar abilities to me, and you found her in the same state as... this me?" She points at the Maribel in the column of energy.
>Marisa nods. "Yeah, I saw her and Ran looking at you earlier. Apparently you're practically her mirror; just a little smaller and younger looking. They seemed pretty shocked."
>Maribel turns to her. "So, something pulled you into my world because of all this? And this changed history?"
>"First part's about right," Marisa says. "As for the second, well... Keine says history's changed and all. I only remember one life, so for me this seems like just the way things are. But history's her business, so what do I know?" She shrugs.
>"How's that even possible?"
>"Beats me," Marisa says. "I'm not the one to ask."
>"This is just..." Maribel says. "Do you... have any idea why we might be connected? It's strange enough to hear of someone with that kind of resemblance, let along the other things."
>"Although you've just met someone else who looks exactly like you," the other Maribel pipes up. "Sure, it's still a dream, and there's probably still just one of us outside in the... waking... world." She stops and frowns.
>"Wait a moment..." the other Maribel says, frowning as well. "If there's two- three of us, and one body... what happens when we wake up? Does the rest of us... disappear?" They both turn nervously to Mugetsu.
>"I- I don't know," she says. "I don't know why there should even be more than one of you in the first place. Your dream is... different from most. I truly wish I could say something more comforting."
>You ask Mugetsu if it would be possible to follow some of the gaps to the outside world. "It... may be," she says. "But I'm not certain how safe it would be. Or if you would even be able to return here the same way you left. I'm reminded of the projection of Gengetsu that you say attacked you through one of the fissures in Gensokyo. Maybe she reached out to you through something like this?"
>You take a closer look around, but don't see any sign of Yukari's limbs or anything else that catches your eyes among the veins of energy.
-
>"I have no idea what your connection is. But I don't think it's direct. You're a little shorter, and I think you're too old to get any bigger. And, she's a youkai, you're not. I could think of possible connections, but there's no real proof to them. Why you're connected? No idea. But, I think Yukari knew of you."
>"As for you disappearing? I get the feeling that won't happen. You're all connected, right? You'll probably just wake up remembering everything all of you did. I mean, we've established it's both of your dreams. So, it ought to be really interesting to remember both sides of that conversation you just had."
>"Let me see if I can extract a little more information out of this situation."
>Try to read the history of Pillared Maribel, then this chamber, then the gaps. Then the two active Maribels.
-
>"I have no idea what your connection is. But I don't think it's direct. You're a little shorter, and I think you're too old to get any bigger. And, she's a youkai, you're not. I could think of possible connections, but there's no real proof to them. Why you're connected? No idea. But, I think Yukari knew of you."
>"As for you disappearing? I get the feeling that won't happen. You're all connected, right? You'll probably just wake up remembering everything all of you did. I mean, we've established it's both of your dreams. So, it ought to be really interesting to remember both sides of that conversation you just had."
>"Let me see if I can extract a little more information out of this situation."
>Try to read the history of Pillared Maribel, then this chamber, then the gaps. Then the two active Maribels.
>"Well, I didn't know of her," one Maribel says. The other shakes her head. "And yes, I wouldn't expect to get any taller at this point, either."
>"I hope so..." one of the Maribels says as you explain what you think will happen when they awaken.
>The other tries to force a chuckle. It isn't wholly convincing. "Well, it would be interesting."
>"Would be nice if one of us understood it," Marisa says.
>As before, you have difficulty interpreting what you sense when you try to read history inside the dream. Nothing here reads like it normally would. You can tell nothing about the space itself, and while you sense something from the Maribels, it feels alien and hard to understand. At best, you get a sense that their history is nearly the same, but that each of their presences is a slightly different size, Pillared Maribel largest of all. You not certain what this would mean. You can, however, get a vague sensation of the outside world through the gaps that connect to it. It is distant and muted and you can tell little about it, but you do recognize some similarities to a history you're familiar with. Most strangely, there are different histories behind different gaps. Or rather, it feels like different points along the same history.
-
>Can we find a gap whose history links up toward to the Hakurei shrine, seven years ago?
-
>Can we find a gap whose history links up toward to the Hakurei shrine, seven years ago?
>You try to search for this, but in truth you can't get nearly a precise enough view of the histories beyond them to be certain exactly where or when they lead. Only a vague relative ordering.
-
>Home in on any from seven years ago, and see what we can find about it.
-
>Home in on any from seven years ago, and see what we can find about it.
>You can't be precise enough to know how many years have passed. Simply older and newer. And beyond any given gap you can tell very little about its specific history, more than that it is from Gensokyo.
-
>"Almost...I can almost be certain that those gates lead to the places where land was taken from Gensokyo. But not perfectly certain. All the history in here is just nuts, none of it makes any sense or can be read."
>Try to get the pillar's history.
-
>"Almost...I can almost be certain that those gates lead to the places where land was taken from Gensokyo. But not perfectly certain. All the history in here is just nuts, none of it makes any sense or can be read."
>Try to get the pillar's history.
>Mugetsu frowns. "I'm... actually surprised you can sense that much. Though your normal perception of objects in here likely makes them seem like the waking world, they are made of very different things. Every element of this world beyond ourselves is a construction of our minds, created and destroyed at will. It has no permanence."
>You try to read the pillar's history. You sense some connection to the world outside through it, but little else. Being largely of the dream, you have difficulty understanding it.
-
>"Even creations of the mind have a beginning, middle, and end. This pillar connects to the outside world, too. I'm tempted to throw something at it and see what it does. But for now, let's try to lure in the rest of Gengetsu."
>_
-
>"Even creations of the mind have a beginning, middle, and end. This pillar connects to the outside world, too. I'm tempted to throw something at it and see what it does. But for now, let's try to lure in the rest of Gengetsu."
>Mugetsu nods. "Yes, let's. Take hold of my hand, Maribel."
>One of the Maribels walks over and does so. The other looks over uncertainly.
>"You as well," Mugetsu says. "Don't attempt to open the borders yourself, but you can help guide your counterpart. Reach out and sense all the spaces in this place. Do you feel how this is connected to it all?"
>"I... think I might," she says tentatively, walking over and taking Mugetsu's hand.
>"This is the center of the dream," Mugetsu says, closing her eyes. "All roads touch here, and you will open all of them. You can do this. Have faith that you can do this. Your power here is bound only by the limits you place on yourself."
>"Right," Maribel nods, her face determined.
>"Feel each of them," Mugetsu says. "Feel all of them. And bring them here."
>There is stillness for a time, as neither Maribel nor Mugetsu move or seem to breathe. Marisa looks about nervously. Then the column near you starts to glow brightly and a web of veins and cracks traces itself across the air above and all around you. It branches out from the center, rising and cresting above you like a great dome, then sweeps out across each side, enveloping your group in its web. There is a pause again. You can see each of the three intensely focused; one Maribel in particular seems to be straining with all her will. And then the seams open, and you are surrounded by a sea of shifting purple.
>Wisps of shadow and light start to stream in through them. Some barely the size of your finger, others nearly as large as the shadow you met by the lake. More and more and more, until the air seems cluttered with them.
>With an angry screech, a battered and injured but still furious figure bursts through the boundary. Veins of shadow trace across her form and streak through her wings. She lunges towards Maribel.
-
>Move to intercept and punch it in the face if needs be!
-
>Move to intercept and punch it in the face if needs be!
>You quickly move to intercept the fragment, ready to pummel it quite directly. As you interpose yourself, it flares its wings and sends a spread of danmaku towards you and the Maribels behind you.
-
>You quickly move to intercept the fragment, ready to pummel it quite directly. As you interpose yourself, it flares its wings and sends a spread of danmaku towards you and the Maribels behind you.
>Has it stopped moving, or is it it still coming?
>If it's stopped moving, just dodge for now and see if it's planning anything. Prepare to administer physical violence as needed.
>If it's still coming, get ready to intercept and deck it.
-
>Has it stopped moving, or is it it still coming?
>If it's stopped moving, just dodge for now and see if it's planning anything. Prepare to administer physical violence as needed.
>If it's still coming, get ready to intercept and deck it.
>It's still moving forward, although its speed has decreased a little.
>It sweeps a little bit to the left as it approaches and lays down several lines of blue danmaku that stretch out towards your position.
>You shift to intercept as it closes in, moving between the lines of its first barrage and charge at it. It tries to slip around you, but you swing your arm out in with a forceful hook and connect solidly with its face. It cries out angrily and stumbles backwards, floundering in the air.
>Some of the first spread of danmaku that you evaded moves past you and strikes the group behind you. You hear Maribel cry out. You also hear a splintering sound as a crack tears through one of the boundary walls near you, and part of the boundary itself seems to waver and contort.
>"Focus!" Mugetsu cries.
-
>Bear down on it, don't let it stagger away!
>Follow with a hook to it's chest, ideally the Solar Plexus. Should this make it's head jerk forward, headbutt it. In the nose.
-
>Bear down on it, don't let it stagger away!
>Follow with a hook to it's chest, ideally the Solar Plexus. Should this make it's head jerk forward, headbutt it. In the nose.
>You put yourself back in Gengetsu's face once more, then follow up with a sharp hook to her solar plexus. You are rewarded with a darkly satisfying gasp as you feel flesh sink beneath your fist. Gengetsu curls forward, bringing her head towards you and you respond by slamming yours into it. Though the angle didn't give you a shot at her nose, you score a solid impact against her forehead. She cries out weakly and falls dazed to the ground.
>"Ah, hell," you hear Marisa yell out behind you, followed shortly by several sharp cries of pain.
-
>Look back.
-
>Look back.
>You look behind you and see Marisa standing in front of Maribel and grimacing, while streams of danmaku from Gengetsu's last barrage pass along either side of her and safely out of the way of the group.
>The crack in the border starts to shrink back a little.
-
>If there are no other threats, assess Creature Gengetsu's condition. If she's still moving, put a foot on her to pin her down to the ground. Not too savagely, though. No need to be a sore winner, and that beatdown was refreshing...
-
>If there are no other threats, assess Creature Gengetsu's condition. If she's still moving, put a foot on her to pin her down to the ground. Not too savagely, though. No need to be a sore winner, and that beatdown was refreshing...
>Upon closer inspection, you note that this Gengetsu looks the same as the violent Gengetsu you fought earlier in the woods. You don't see any obvious other threats around. Most of the fragments filtering in are barely tangible shades that just seem to be drifting about. Gengetsu herself tries to move weakly, but seems barely capable of this at the moment. Still, you use your foot to pin her to the ground.
-
>Look back to Marisa. "Good save!"
>To Violent Gengetsu. "I thought you were someone else for a moment. But what did I tell you? I told you to settle down, young lady, or I would settle you down."
>If only Mokou were here to see this.
>"By the way, coming in here and shooting like that? What is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what you might have just messed up?"
-
>Look back to Marisa. "Good save!"
>To Violent Gengetsu. "I thought you were someone else for a moment. But what did I tell you? I told you to settle down, young lady, or I would settle you down."
>If only Mokou were here to see this.
>"By the way, coming in here and shooting like that? What is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what you might have just messed up?"
>Marisa tries to chuckle, then winces. "Hey, not in a hurry to get swallowed by one of those things, ya know?"
>Gengetsu just groans, although there is still an undercurrent of anger to the sound.
>You think she'd be simultaneously impressed and a little frightened. Although you know she'll be sorry she missed it, just the same.
>"You... were in the way..." it groans. "I... will... get out..."
-
>"Of course you're going to get out. What have I told you the whole time, you big dummy? We're going to help you get better. I know you remember more than just this. Why don't you try?"
>Can we feel how Shadow Gengetsu is doing, right now?"
-
>"Of course you're going to get out. What have I told you the whole time, you big dummy? We're going to help you get better. I know you remember more than just this. Why don't you try?"
>Can we feel how Shadow Gengetsu is doing, right now?"
>"I remember I am trapped here," she says, breathing heavily. "I remember that she trapped me here. Nothing else you say matters."
>You have a hard time sensing her here; she seems lost among all the others smaller shades and wisps. The space is beginning to feel a bit crowded, in fact.
>You see another familiar fragment step through the boundary; one side of her body void and discordant.
-
>"Everything I say matters, because if you don't listen and give it due consideration, I'll be forced to discipline you further, young lady. And you'd do well to remember it as long as you live."
>Glance over to summoner Gengetsu. "Hey! Come here for a moment, I need to talk with you!"
-
>"Everything I say matters, because if you don't listen and give it due consideration, I'll be forced to discipline you further, young lady. And you'd do well to remember it as long as you live."
>Glance over to summoner Gengetsu. "Hey! Come here for a moment, I need to talk with you!"
>"You... won't... stop me," she breathes. "I will... get out. I will get out...."
>Summoner Gengetsu takes several steps towards Maribel absently, but the expression on her face is confused and uncertain. She pauses and looks vacantly around the space. She doesn't appear to react to you.
>"Y'know," Marisa says, eying the new arrival warily, "I'm beginning to think a room full of these things isn't gonna be a very fun place to be."
-
>"I won't? Well just watch me. I don't have time for you anymore."
>Give her a solid blow to the temple to knock her out. If that doesn't work, reapply until it does.
>Once she's out cold, approach Summoner Gengetsu.
-
>"I won't? Well just watch me. I don't have time for you anymore."
>Give her a solid blow to the temple to knock her out. If that doesn't work, reapply until it does.
>Once she's out cold, approach Summoner Gengetsu.
>You decide you've had more than enough out of her, and tell as her much, then follow through on your threat, striking her firmly in the temple. She grunts and then tries to thrash away from you, so you pull back and strike her again. She falls limp.
>"Geeze..." Marisa says, wincing. "Remind me never to get you that mad."
>You walk towards Summoner Gengetsu, who's still looking vacantly around herself.
-
>"Don't cause huge problems and it'll be fine."
>We'll not remind her how that night actually happened...
>Put a hand on Summon Gengetsu's shoulder. The one that's actually there. "Hey there."
-
>"Don't cause huge problems and it'll be fine."
>We'll not remind her how that night actually happened...
>Put a hand on Summon Gengetsu's shoulder. The one that's actually there. "Hey there."
>Marisa chuckles. "You sound a little like Reimu, you know that?"
>You decide it's a memory best not dwelled on at this point.
>You put a hand on Gengetsu's shoulder and speak to her. "I don't understand," she says vacantly, not looking at you or making any other acknowledgment of your presence. "I came here to find her. But which her did I come here to find?"
-
>"All of them, I would presume. Would you like to remember more?"
>Where's Gruegetsu? Our friendly shadow fragment aside, she's probably the most sane one here.
-
>"All of them, I would presume. Would you like to remember more?"
>Where's Gruegetsu? Our friendly shadow fragment aside, she's probably the most sane one here.
>"I... don't understand," she says. "I remember that I had to find her. I remember that it's important. There is... there is..." She keeps following the wisps with her eyes. "There is something wrong."
>You scan around and see Gruegetsu on the ground, a short distance from Mugetsu and the Maribels, and maybe a dozen yards away from you. She certainly has seemed far easier to talk to than most of the rest of these.
-
>"There is something wrong. We're trying to help fix it. Do you know what those wisps are?"
>C'mon, pick up on it, pick up on it...
-
>Lead her over toward Gruegetsu.
>Is there any sign of Shadow Gengetsu.
-
>"There is something wrong. We're trying to help fix it. Do you know what those wisps are?"
>C'mon, pick up on it, pick up on it...
>"They are... They are not her. She is what is important. She is what I came here to find. They are not... Not... Why can I feel them?"
>You like to hope she's making progress, anyway...
>Lead her over toward Gruegetsu.
>Is there any sign of Shadow Gengetsu.
>You try to lead her towards Gruegetsu, but she makes no action to move and appears oblivious to your efforts to move her.
>You look around for Shadow Gengetsu. She is rather harder to spot among all the things that look a little like her. You think you can see her near a cluster of wisps a few dozens feet to your left, near the boundary.
-
>"C'mon, this way. It'll help you get everything sorted out."
>Toward Gruegetsu.
>"Those wispy things? They're parts of you. Your memories and such."
-
>"C'mon, this way. It'll help you get everything sorted out."
>Toward Gruegetsu.
>"Those wispy things? They're parts of you. Your memories and such."
>"You will help me find the one of her I came here to find?" she asks.
>You try to lead her towards Gruegetsu, which mostly involves pulling on her arm until it's fully extended before her, while she makes just enough subtle movements to keep from toppling over. She still doesn't seem to be paying any particular attention to the direction you're pulling her in.
>"Why would they be part of me? They are not part of me. They are outside of me. They are not what I am searching for."
-
>"You won't be able to tell until you get all your memories back and get yourself pulled together."
-
>"You won't be able to tell until you get all your memories back and get yourself pulled together."
>"Why would my memories be gone?" she says. "I remember. I remember why I have to be here. There is nothing else."
>"That voice..." Gruegetsu says, as you drag Summoner Gengetsu the last of the way towards her. "...it's me. Isn't it?"
-
>"Yes."
>Nudge Summoner Gengetsu a bit closer. "Do you recognize her?"
-
>"Yes."
>Nudge Summoner Gengetsu a bit closer. "Do you recognize her?"
>"I see," Gruegetsu says, nodding slowly. "H- Hello. I hope you're feeling alright?"
>You try to nudge Summoner Gengetsu closer, although this turns into more of a shove to get her actually forward.
>"I don't understand," she says. "Why would I recognize her? She is not the one I came here to find."
>"The one you...?" Gruegetsu trails off. "Do we not look alike? I'm afraid I don't... know if I still look like what I remember. I... can't see anything."
>"Why are there three?" Summoner Gengetsu continues. "There should only be one. She was unique. She was important. I remember this."
-
>"Because everything's gotten terribly messed up, Gengetsu. You have to get better if you want to find her. Otherwise, you're trying to open a locked door without a key."
-
>"Because everything's gotten terribly messed up, Gengetsu. You have to get better if you want to find her. Otherwise, you're trying to open a locked door without a key."
>"I don't understand," she replies, staring at the Maribels. "I don't know which of her I'm supposed to find. Why don't I know?"
>"Please," Gruegetsu says. "You're not how you're supposed to be. None of us are."
>"Why should I be any other way?" Summoner Gengetsu replies. "I know what I came here to do. I've found it. But why are there three?"
>"Our sister needs us to return to our old self. We have a responsibility to her. There's nothing more important than that."
>"Why should I have a sister? She is not what I came here to find."
>"Why should you...?" Gruegetsu trails off, looking deeply troubled.
-
>"Well, let's hope our little helper isn't too busy."
>Drag Summoner Gengetsu toward Shadow Gengetsu. How does it seem to be doing, and feeling?
-
>"Well, let's hope our little helper isn't too busy."
>Drag Summoner Gengetsu toward Shadow Gengetsu. How does it seem to be doing, and feeling?
>Neither of them responds to this. One seems too troubled, and the other too preoccupied.
>Nonetheless, you try to drag Summoner Gengetsu away towards Shadow Gengetsu. However, this involves pulling her directly away from the Maribels, and she seems to dig in her heels more strongly. You could probably still force her if you wrestled with her a bit.
>You can't sense Shadow Gengetsu itself very clearly at the moment, but it seems to be rather amazed by all the fragments around it. It may have been reaching out to some of them.
-
>Try to call Shadow Gengetsu over.
>"You're going the wrong way. You don't get through a locked door by pushing through it, you go through it by finding the key. Let me show you the key."
-
>Try to call Shadow Gengetsu over.
>"You're going the wrong way. You don't get through a locked door by pushing through it, you go through it by finding the key. Let me show you the key."
>You call out to Shadow Gengetsu, and it seems to acknowledge you. It starts moving in your direction.
>"I don't understand," she replies.
>Marisa rolls her eyes. "Yeah, what else is new."
>Shadow Gengetsu draws near you, quiet evidently as wary of Summoner Gengetsu as it is curious.
-
>Look down to Shadow Gengetsu. "She really needs your help right now. She's just a bit driven, and needs you to show her more of what things are like."
-
>Look down to Shadow Gengetsu. "She really needs your help right now. She's just a bit driven, and needs you to show her more of what things are like."
>It thinks it understands, a little. It thinks it understands more, here. There are so many things around it thinks it should remember. It will show her some of these things.
>The shadow reaches out and touches Summoner Gengetsu. Her head jerks to the side and her eyes widen as it makes contact. She seems to be trying to mouth words but no sound comes out. Eventually it releases her and she staggers.
>"I don't understand," she says, but not in the same unnatural-sounding tone of voice as she'd repeated those words so many times before. There is emotion, now, and it's intensifying. "This isn't how it's supposed to be. This isn't how I'm supposed to be. Why can't I remember?"
-
>"If I told you, would you listen to me?"
-
>"If I told you, would you listen to me?"
>"I..." She still looks disoriented and her eyes drift about unfocused. She raises a hand absently towards her face and then seems to suddenly notice that her arm is made of barely cohesive shadow rather than flesh. She stares at herself with open horror. "This isn't right," she cries. "It's not suppose to be like this! How could I have not noticed?"
-
>"Because you were ripped apart. Do you see her?"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu.
>"And her?"
>Gesture toward Violent Gengetsu.
>"And her?"
>Gesture toward Shadow Gengetsu.
>"And all this?"
>Wave toward the shadowy wisps.
>"That's all bits and pieces of you. We don't know why, exactly, but you got torn apart. Now we're just working on getting you back together. You didn't notice because you just didn't have the presence of mind to notice begin with."
-
>"Because you were ripped apart. Do you see her?"
>Gesture toward Gruegetsu.
>"And her?"
>Gesture toward Violent Gengetsu.
>"And her?"
>Gesture toward Shadow Gengetsu.
>"And all this?"
>Wave toward the shadowy wisps.
>"That's all bits and pieces of you. We don't know why, exactly, but you got torn apart. Now we're just working on getting you back together. You didn't notice because you just didn't have the presence of mind to notice begin with."
>Gengetsu tears her eyes away from herself and looks at the fragments you gesture towards. "They're parts of me...? But they're no more like me than I am. This is wrong. This is all wrong. I only wanted to understand her!"
>Her face is haunted and her breathing shallow. She almost makes you wonder if she might collapse at any moment.
-
>"And you bit off more than you could chew. But don't worry. Mugetsu's here, and I'm here. And so's Marisa. We'll get you fixed up. Just relax and have faith in us."
-
>"And you bit off more than you could chew. But don't worry. Mugetsu's here, and I'm here. And so's Marisa. We'll get you fixed up. Just relax and have faith in us."
>"I only touched her!" she cries. "How could this happen? Why am I like this? I don't understand. It shouldn't be like this!"
>Marisa sighs. "I have to wonder if this is an improvement."
>"Please be kind to her," Gruegetsu says. "You don't understand what it's like to be less than yourself. Even if she remembers, there mightn't be enough of her to process what she remembers. She's scared of what she is, and she doesn't understand why."
>"Yeah, I got that last bit."
-
>"It's better than having to knock some sense into her, at least."
>How are Mugetsu and the Maribai doing?
>And then, Shadow Gengetsu.
-
>"It's better than having to knock some sense into her, at least."
>How are Mugetsu and the Maribai doing?
>And then, Shadow Gengetsu.
>"You sure?" Marisa smirks. "I think you kinda enjoyed it last time."
>They still seem to be focusing on their work, although the trickle of new fragments appears to have mostly stopped.
>Shadow Gengetsu is lurking nearby, quietly digesting its new experiences as it usually does after communing with someone.
-
>"Maybe a little bit"
>Let the trio do their thing.
-
>"Maybe a little bit"
>Let the trio do their thing.
>Marisa chuckles. "That's the spirit!"
>You wait for the trio to finish their work. After a little while, Mugetsu opens her eyes again. She looks a little weary, although you note that one of the Maribels in particular seems nearly exhausted.
>"I believe this is all that there is," Mugetsu says. "Or at least all that we can sense." She looks around the room with a frown, settling in particular upon the unconscious Gengetsu a short distance away from you and the still neigh-terrified Gengetsu beside you.
-
>"I had to give that one a fistful of good sense. Sorry..."
>Shrug.
>Watch Shadow Gengetsu for now.
-
>"I had to give that one a fistful of good sense. Sorry..."
>Shrug.
>Watch Shadow Gengetsu for now.
>"I... I understand," Mugetsu says. "Given the circumstances. Hopefully we can make her herself again now."
>Shadow Gengetsu seems to be moving back towards some of the other clusters of wisps and doing its version of conversing with them.
-
>"I get the feeling that that one is going to be the key."
>Gesture toward Shadow Gengetsu.
>"She's the one that seems to be able to draw from others. I suppose we just wait and let her do what she does."
>_
-
>"I get the feeling that that one is going to be the key."
>Gesture toward Shadow Gengetsu.
>"She's the one that seems to be able to draw from others. I suppose we just wait and let her do what she does."
>Mugetsu stares at the shadow. "She does seem to be able to act as a bridge between their consciousnesses, but I don't know if she has the means to actually pull them all together. Why wouldn't she have done so each of the times she touched the other major fragments?"
-
>"I assume she isn't far enough along to actually do that yet."
-
>"I assume she isn't far enough along to actually do that yet."
>"Then you think she'll remember how, if she touches enough of her old memories?"
-
>"That's my hope."
-
>"That's my hope."
>Mugetsu nods. "Then it's mine, too."
>You see Shadow Gengetsu continue to communune with the other fragments, shifting and moving slowly among the clusters of them. What you can sense from it remains muted while among them, but its thoughts seem both more subdued and more... complex. Rather than just the simple impulse 'Know!' it had when it met you, you think it's piecing together its own history and starting to understand what it means, just a little.
>One of the Maribels opens her eyes, and then the one next to her staggers, breathing heavily. The first Maribel catches her before she falls, giving a concerned frown.
>"Are you ok?" she asks.
>The other Maribel nods weakly.
-
>Go to help support Maribel.
>"What happened?"
-
>Go to help support Maribel.
>"What happened?"
>You move over to help support Maribel. She smiles weakly at you.
>"Nothing happened," she says, breathing heavily. "Nothing... unplanned, anyway. It just... took a lot... of effort. I'm tired." She looks around at the space you're in and all the new occupants that have filtered into it.
>"We... did it. Didn't we?" she says.
>The other Maribel nods. "Yes, you did."
>"But I-" Maribel shakes her head. "Pronouns..."
-
>"You both did it, that's the important bit. Good job. Just rest up now."
>Hair ruffle.
-
>"You both did it, that's the important bit. Good job. Just rest up now."
>Hair ruffle.
>Maribel nods. Both of them. Although one rather more weakly than the other.
>She smiles a little as you ruffle her hair.
>The Maribels make good on your suggestion to rest, sitting down on the floor and leaning against each other. The less tired one spends some of her time looking around the space and at the different Gengetsus, several of which she hadn't seen before. Marisa paces a little, every now and again throwing a wary eye towards one of the hostile fragments, or the columned Maribel. Shadow Gengetsu continues to learn and move among the wisps.
>After a little while, it moves back towards you. It thinks it understands now. It thinks it knows why it is the way it is, why it remembers things it does not remember, why there are holes into which the memories of others fit perfectly. All the fragments are here now, and they all belong together. But it can only see them. It cannot move them. It wishes to be whole. It thinks that's the way it is supposed to be.
-
>Smile at it.
>"Now, show what you've learned to the rest of them."
-
>Smile at it.
>"Now, show what you've learned to the rest of them."
>You smile at Shadow Gengetsu and it gives you what feels like the mental equivalent of a nod, then moves about the larger fragments, touching them each of them in turn and holding the embrace for a little while. It starts with Gruegetsu, then moves on to the rest.
>"I... think what it means to say," Gruegetsu speaks, once the embrace is lifted. "Is that we're like a pane of glass that's been shattered into countless pieces. One can look at all the fragments. One can realize that they belong together, even see a little how they should be put together. But this doesn't mean that they can make things whole again. That part of ourself, it can communicate and transmit memories, but cannot transmit the essence of who we are, or what we can do. Each of us seems to hold some piece of this. Others can see, where I cannot. Some can create danmaku, while others cannot. That shadow can touch the consciousness we share, where others cannot. In fact, that seems to be the entire essence of its being."
-
>"For the time being, just getting all of as aware as we can will be a good start. So...can you tell us what happened?"
-
>"For the time being, just getting all of as aware as we can will be a good start. So...can you tell us what happened?"
>She shakes her head. "Probably not as well as I could if I were whole. I'm not sure I know any more than you do. But I remember meeting Maribel, in those woods. It seems almost a lifetime ago to me. She was something I had never seen before, something in the waking world that was still tied to the dream. I wanted to understand what this meant; how this was possible. So I tried to touch her, to step inside the dream like I've done with countless others. I remember... feeling something was wrong. Even then, I don't believe I knew what it was. And then... I was here, as you see me. I can recall nothing else in-between."
-
>Glance toward the maribels.
>"And, neither of you remember that? Or remember me being there?"
-
>Glance toward the maribels.
>"And, neither of you remember that? Or remember me being there?"
>"I remember a little," one of them says. "When the shadow showed me. I remember being chased by a form through the woods. I ran. I think she caught me, and then I was here. I don't remember you being there, sorry."
-
>Nod.
>"I called out to you. We spoke a little, just exchanged a few words before Gengetsu showed up. Then she put me to sleep."
-
>Nod.
>"I called out to you. We spoke a little, just exchanged a few words before Gengetsu showed up. Then she put me to sleep."
>Maribel shakes her head. "I don't remember that at all, sorry."
-
>"It's okay."
>"Feeling a bit better? How about you, Mugetsu?"
-
>"It's okay."
>"Feeling a bit better? How about you, Mugetsu?"
>"I'm ok," the more exhausted Maribel says, still sounding rather fatigued just the same. "Just tired."
>"I'm fine," the other Maribel says.
>"The work was less taxing on me," Mugetsu says. "I simply sensed and guided. I'm used to navigating dreams, but wasn't a great task. It took more focus than usual, but I'm fine."
-
>"Then; perhaps you could try to work with me? I think if we find out exactly what happened, we'll be better prepared to undo it. The problem is, well, this place is muddled. So it gets hard to read the history."
-
>"Then; perhaps you could try to work with me? I think if we find out exactly what happened, we'll be better prepared to undo it. The problem is, well, this place is muddled. So it gets hard to read the history."
>"I'm afraid I don't really know how your sense works," Mugetsu says. "Or if it can work at all in here, the way you'd expect it to. With Maribel, I simply helped her see the paths and places that were already there."
>"Eh, I don't really know much about all this dream stuff," Marisa says, "But your sister tried to enter the dream through whatever part of it was walking around Gensokyo back then, right?"
>"Right," Mugetsu nods.
>"And we went in through the real thing, yeah? She said you'd never seen anything like it before. Maybe you're just really not supposed to go in that way, or something?"
>"I'm... not sure why," Mugetsu says, "But you're right that I don't know."
-
>"Yeah, but that doesn't really explain why she got all split up. Or rather, wouldn't it imply the same thing should have happened to Marisa, Mugetsu, and I?"
-
>"Yeah, but that doesn't really explain why she got all split up. Or rather, wouldn't it imply the same thing should have happened to Marisa, Mugetsu, and I?"
>Marisa shakes her head. "We ended up in the same place, sure, but we didn't get here the same way, did we?"
>"I think what Marisa is saying," Mugetsu adds, "is that we all entered the dream through the dreamer. Gengetsu entered it through whatever connection existed to Gensokyo, a very great distance away."
>Marisa nods. "And seven years in the past, too, so they tell me."
>"The past?" Maribel asks.
>"Hey, don't ask me," Marisa says, shaking her head. "I don't know how half this stuff works."
-
>"More complications. The world you come from is some years into the future from where you enter Gensokyo. I have no idea why."
>Well, aside from Yukari.
>Look at the pillar again.
>"I'm pretty sure that's a key to this mess. But I don't know if it's a cause, or keeping things from getting worse."
-
>"More complications. The world you come from is some years into the future from where you enter Gensokyo. I have no idea why."
>Well, aside from Yukari.
>Look at the pillar again.
>"I'm pretty sure that's a key to this mess. But I don't know if it's a cause, or keeping things from getting worse."
>"That's..." Maribel frowns. "I'm not even sure what to say to that."
>Yukari is a good explanation for a great many things which lead to places they really shouldn't.
>You take another look at the pillar. It hasn't changed appreciably since your arrival, despite this space changing around it.
>"Uh, define 'worse'," Marisa asks nervously.
-
>"I'd rather not. But frankly, I'm tempted to throw a rock at it."
>Try to remember what Ran said Yukari's last words were.
-
>"I'd rather not. But frankly, I'm tempted to throw a rock at it."
>Try to remember what Ran said Yukari's last words were.
>Marisa cringes a little, and looks to Mugetsu. "Would that mess anything up?"
>Mugetsu frowns, and shakes her head. "I have no idea."
>"Swell..."
>You recall what Ran said Yukari's last words were. It was something about how she hadn't woken up, and would never wake up, and that everything would break.
-
>"Anyways, wouldn't going through history be the same thing as going through space, Mugetsu? Just smoothing out the path between now and then, so I can read it legibly?"
-
>"Anyways, wouldn't going through history be the same thing as going through space, Mugetsu? Just smoothing out the path between now and then, so I can read it legibly?"
>"Maybe it seems that way to you," Mugetsu says, "but I don't have your senses. A dream should exist at only a single point in time, like everything else. If these paths lead to others times, as you say, I have no idea how, or how to I could manipulate that."
-
>"If it existed in a single point in time, then nothing could happen. You need two points for there to be...well, anything. But...well, what does this place look like to you? A normal dream?"
-
>"If it existed in a single point in time, then nothing could happen. You need two points for there to be...well, anything. But...well, what does this place look like to you? A normal dream?"
>"Well, I meant a single point at any given moment," Mugetsu says. "We all move forward in time. Or we're supposed to. And this has never seemed like quite a usual dream to me. It is made of the same substance, but the paths in it are complex and maze-like, and its form less malleable than most. But I have not experienced time differently than I have anywhere else."
-
>"When you say mazelike, what do you mean, exactly?"
-
>"When you say mazelike, what do you mean, exactly?"
>She frowns. "This place is vaster and reaches further. There are parts of the dreamscape connected in strange ways, or twisted in upon themselves, and places hidden behind the passages of others. I'm not sure how I could describe it any better than this, I'm afraid."
-
>"Well, what's a dream usually like, then? Part of what I am thinking is that the land taken from those rifts, like the one you saw earlier, ended up here."
-
>"Well, what's a dream usually like, then? Part of what I am thinking is that the land taken from those rifts, like the one you saw earlier, ended up here."
>"Ended up in the dream?" Mugetsu frowns. "Physically? But they have no consciousness. Even now you're not physically here. Your body is still asleep in the outside world. Only your consciousness has traveled. No matter how tangible everything has seemed in here, they have no physicality at all. Your consciousness simply perceives it as such."
-
>"They wouldn't need to be conscious. Those gaps out up to reality, right? They'd just need to be sucked in."
-
>"They wouldn't need to be conscious. Those gaps out up to reality, right? They'd just need to be sucked in."
>"But they couldn't exist here," Mugetsu continues. "There's no part of them which would even make sense to be here. Even counting everything else here."
>"Well," Marisa says, "me and Reimu got sucked through one of those things and we never ended up in here, either. And we do have consciousness last time I checked."
-
>"Even though there are literally gaps between here and reality? And that some element or extension of Gengetsu managed to escape through one of said rifts? A dream thing wouldn't have any meaning in reality, either, but it happened."
-
>"Even though there are literally gaps between here and reality? And that some element or extension of Gengetsu managed to escape through one of said rifts? A dream thing wouldn't have any meaning in reality, either, but it happened."
>"Dreams may be able to manifest a physical form, but without consciousness, no physical form should be able to manifest in dream." Mugetsu sighs. "I don't know what else I can say."
>Marisa raises an eyebrow. "You're really saying you think the shrine's inside here, somewhere?"
>"I've sense nothing like it," Mugetsu says, "and we've all but turned the dreamscape inside out to do what we just did."
-
>"Then where did it all go? If it's not in reality, and not in here, then where?"
-
>"Then where did it all go? If it's not in reality, and not in here, then where?"
>Marisa shrugs. "Beats me."
>"I'm not sure, either," Mugetsu says. "Maybe it's somewhere in the space in between Gensokyo and outside?"
>"Can always build a new shrine if someone really wants to," Marisa says.
-
>"If I could just figure out where one of these gaps leads...I might be able to answer the question. That they lead to different points in time, and that the Gengetsu thing came from here at that crater suggests heavily that whatever pulled those parts of Gensokyo from their proper places was pulling them toward here. So I don't think they'd be lost between Gensokyo and the outside, but rather Gensoyo and here. I wonder if you where and Reimu appeared had any relation to it, Marisa... Did you both end up there together?"
>_
-
>"If I could just figure out where one of these gaps leads...I might be able to answer the question. That they lead to different points in time, and that the Gengetsu thing came from here at that crater suggests heavily that whatever pulled those parts of Gensokyo from their proper places was pulling them toward here. So I don't think they'd be lost between Gensokyo and the outside, but rather Gensoyo and here. I wonder if you where and Reimu appeared had any relation to it, Marisa... Did you both end up there together?"
>Marisa nods. "Yeah, pretty close. 'course, I was over at the shrine when this happened in the first place. And it just dumped us on a hill near the outskirts. Never found anything special about the place."
-
>Ponder for a moment.
>"What kind of buildings and such were near the hill? Or parks?"
-
>Ponder for a moment.
>"What kind of buildings and such were near the hill? Or parks?"
>"There were some houses not too far off," Marisa says. "No parks out in that end, though. Why?"
-
>"I'd be willing to gamble that Maribel was at one of them, about that time."
-
>"I'd be willing to gamble that Maribel was at one of them, about that time."
>"Really?" Marisa raises an eyebrow. "Ya think?"
>"Actually," Maribel says, "I live in one of the student dormitory at Kyoto University."
>Marisa shakes her head. "Nowhere near that part of town, sorry."
-
>"But seven years ago?"
-
>"But seven years ago?"
>Maribel frowns. "Oh, sorry. I moved to Kyoto two years ago to attend university there, so I would have actually been much further away seven years ago."
-
>Nod.
>"I suppose it might not be that direct, then. Now that I think about it, Patchouli did mention stuff about ley lines and such being involved. Still, even without that bit of evidence, this is still the most likely thing that has happened. And, thinking on it, Mugetsu, you're saying that things with no consciousness cannot enter dreams, right? What about you? Or more precisely, the things you're wearing? It mind makes sense for Marisa and I, we just fell asleep. But not you."
-
>Nod.
>"I suppose it might not be that direct, then. Now that I think about it, Patchouli did mention stuff about ley lines and such being involved. Still, even without that bit of evidence, this is still the most likely thing that has happened. And, thinking on it, Mugetsu, you're saying that things with no consciousness cannot enter dreams, right? What about you? Or more precisely, the things you're wearing? It mind makes sense for Marisa and I, we just fell asleep. But not you."
>"These clothes are no more physical in this realm than yours are," she replies. "I wear them because I choose to."
-
>"Oh. What happened to your real ones, then?"
-
>"Oh. What happened to your real ones, then?"
>"When I exit a dream," she says, "I appear wearing what I had when I entered. They are outside of my self inside the dream, nor can I carry anything from dreams into the waking world."
-
>"Yeah, but implies they're somewhere else that's not either place. I mean, it's not like you leave an empty dress behind in the waking world. But you see what I'm getting at, right?"
-
>"Yeah, but implies they're somewhere else that's not either place. I mean, it's not like you leave an empty dress behind in the waking world. But you see what I'm getting at, right?"
>Mugetsu frowns. "I'm not sure..."
>"Are you saying that you think these piece of land went to the same place?" Maribel asks. "Somewhere between waking and dream?"
>Mugetsu frowns further. "I'd have no idea how to find them if they were."
-
>"Pieces of land, pieces of Gengetsu, pieces of this whole mess... Who knows how that kind of thing might be messing with all this, in ways even Mugetsu can't detect right now?"
-
>"Pieces of land, pieces of Gengetsu, pieces of this whole mess... Who knows how that kind of thing might be messing with all this, in ways even Mugetsu can't detect right now?"
>Marisa frowns. "And, uh, any idea how we're supposed to do something about that, then?"
-
>"Not immediately. But it's something to keep in mind. Worse comes to worst, I'm sure Patchouli could devise a way to track it."
>Look at the gaps we think lead outside. Count them, and compare them to the map Patchouli gave us. Hopefully it will manifest in a useful way here.
-
>"Not immediately. But it's something to keep in mind. Worse comes to worst, I'm sure Patchouli could devise a way to track it."
>Look at the gaps we think lead outside. Count them, and compare them to the map Patchouli gave us. Hopefully it will manifest in a useful way here.
>Marisa frowns. "She knows a lot of stuff, I'll give her that. I think this is a bit out of her area, though."
>You try to count the gaps which lead outside, but quickly discover this is easier said than done as many of the smaller ones and even some of the larger ones blend into each other. You take another look at Patchouli's map, which is basically as you remember it. There are certainly not obviously fewer gaps to the outside than there are indications on the map, but beyond that it's hard to tell for certain.
-
>Can we determine how old some of them are? In particular, one that would have formed only recently?
-
>Can we determine how old some of them are? In particular, one that would have formed only recently?
>You can get a vague sense of relative age. No single gap strikes you as clearly the very most recent, however. There are at least a handful that might qualify.
-
>Have a closer look at the most likely candidates for the very recent one.
-
>Have a closer look at the most likely candidates for the very recent one.
>You try to more carefully inspect the gaps that seem the most recent. There are at least 7 whose point in time is close enough to be indistinguishable to the vague sense you get from them. There may even be more. You can't tell anything more specific about where in space they exit.
-
>Does this mean we can ascertain that they also open to a similar location?
>...Look around for a loose yen coin.
-
>Does this mean we can ascertain that they also open to a similar location?
>...Look around for a loose yen coin.
>It's more that your sense of what is spatially on the other side of any gap is vague to the point of uselessness. They may lead to similar areas, or very different ones. You feel sure that they lead to Gensokyo, based on the impression of familiar history you feel. Beyond this, you really have no way to tell.
>You just so happen to have such a thing in your wallet.
-
>Not coins on our person, but rather to see if the one we pushed through that little riftlet ended up here.
-
>Not coins on our person, but rather to see if the one we pushed through that little riftlet ended up here.
>You've certainly seen nothing like that since you've been here, and while the area is fairly large, you suspect that even a tiny object would stand out against the shapeless blackness you're standing on. You do another scan of the area but still find nothing, unless it's still somehow embedded in those branches of energy. It might not be possible to see an object like that at any depth in them.
-
>"Hey, Maribel, knowing the things you do now, do you think you could figure out anything about these gaps?"
-
>"Hey, Maribel, knowing the things you do now, do you think you could figure out anything about these gaps?"
>"It does feel like the space they join to is different than the space in here," she says. "But given how they seem to be woven through everything in here, I'd be... nervous to try doing anything to them. Is there anything about them you'd like me to try and figure out?"
-
>Gesture toward some of the ones we think are newer.
>"See those ones? I want to know if they open up roughly in the same place; within a few hundred yards of each other. And...if anything is caught in them."
-
>Gesture toward some of the ones we think are newer.
>"See those ones? I want to know if they open up roughly in the same place; within a few hundred yards of each other. And...if anything is caught in them."
>It's very hard to gesture towards specific ones, given how crowded it is, but you do try to flag a few of the newer ones which stand out.
>"I'll try," Maribel says, concentrating. "The boundary between dream and reality feels... very different than those I've felt either wholly here or in the real world. I don't... think they're anywhere near that close to each other, though. And I'm not sure something can be caught in a boundary. Between them, maybe, but I don't think I could feel that. I don't feel anything there, at any rate."
-
>Nod.
>"What do you feel about that pillar, then?"
-
>Nod.
>"What do you feel about that pillar, then?"
>Maribel takes a long look at it. "It feels like the point at which all these borders meet. If I had to say, it seems like it's the origin of all this. All the places we've seen."
>"Would that make this her dream?" the other Maribel says. "And not ours?"
>"It... might." They both frown.
-
>"I doubt it, I've already given you my thoughts on this."
>"Mugetsu, what do you feel out of those gaps, and this pillar?"
-
>"I doubt it, I've already given you my thoughts on this."
>"Mugetsu, what do you feel out of those gaps, and this pillar?"
>"Perhaps..." one of the Maribels says, with a little sigh.
>"I feel paths branch out from them to the other places in the dream," Mugetsu says, "and some outside. I can't tell what lies beyond these exits to the outside, or how they differ from each other. I think I agree with Maribel that this place is a starting-point of some sort."
>In the corner of your eye, you see Shadow Gengetsu move away from Wingly Gengetsu, who then raises herself off the ground and starts to float toward you.
-
>Does she seem hostile?
>If not, let her approach.
>If so, shoot her in the face.
-
>Does she seem hostile?
>If not, let her approach.
>If so, shoot her in the face.
>It isn't immediately clear. Her lack of almost anything resembling facial features makes it difficult to read her tone, and even when she was busy suffocating you, she didn't especially look angry. Still, she doesn't seem to be doing anything other than drifting closer, so you let her approach.
>"I remember," she says, her voice echoing out, though there is no mouth for the words to issue from. And then her form seems to shift, curves across her face gaining definition and substance. Clothes ripple into being across the blankness of her form. A faint indentation forms into a mouth and she speaks. "I remember that I looked like this."
>Mugetsu looks at her with a somewhat unsettled expression.
-
>Do the clothes look right?
>If so: "Yes, that's right. You're doing well!"
-
>Do the clothes look right?
>If so: "Yes, that's right. You're doing well!"
>They look essentially like Summoner Gengetsu's outfit, minus the whole missing side of her body.
>You give her some encouragement, although she does not seem to immediately respond, instead looking around the space with a somewhat unnatural motion. She turns towards Mugetsu. "I remember you." Then Maribel. "And I remember you."
>"How do you... feel?" Mugetsu asks tentatively.
>Gengetsu pauses. "I feel... wrong. I know I am wrong. I see the dream around me now. I see the many that should be one. I see the they that should be I."
>"And can ya... fix that?" Marisa asks. "You did kinda fix yourself, there. Sorta."
>"I can bend the dream around me," she replies. "I can bend the form my consciousness takes. But I cannot bend the consciousnesses outside my own."
>"It's a fundamental rule of our abilities," Mugetsu says, turning to you. "We can manipulate the dreamscape, but not the dreamer. Not directly."
-
>Glance to the Maribai. "Then, I guess it may be up to you. I was thinking that since they couldn't affect you, the opposite ought to have been true, too."
-
>Glance to the Maribai. "Then, I guess it may be up to you. I was thinking that since they couldn't affect you, the opposite ought to have been true, too."
>"I've been thinking," one of the Maribels says. "I can sense the boundaries between space. Inside this dream, I can open them, rearrange them, erase parts of them entirely, like what I did when I nearly got us all swallowed. But in this place, space is simply a construct of consciousness, isn't it?"
>"You... could put it that way," Mugetsu replies.
>The other Maribel nods slowly. "Then what of the spaces between consciousnesses?"
>"I think I can sense them, if I try hard enough," the first Maribel says.
>"And remove it?" the other Maribel asks.
>"...maybe."
-
>"Would this imply that there's something intentionally holding that space apart?"
-
>"Would this imply that there's something intentionally holding that space apart?"
>"I don't think so," Maribel says. "Maybe she just fractured with the space itself? Every piece seemed to be in a different place."
>"I think this would be easiest if you were all together," the other Maribel says. Wingly Gengetsu makes a sort of halting nod-like gesture and moves off towards some of the smaller fragments.
>"Do you... really know that you can do this?" Mugetsu asks.
>Maribel frowns. "I... I'm not sure. I think I might. I don't know what else to suggest. Do you?"
>Mugetsu is still for a moment, then slowly shakes her head. "I don't. But you barely understand what you can do. You've improved amazingly quickly, but still... you're almost guessing, aren't you? This is an experiment. And my sister is..."
>"I said I'd put her back together," the other Maribel says, "didn't I? This is my dream- uh, our dream. So if we say that it'll work, it'll work." She turns to her counterpart. "Right?"
>Maribel nods. "Right." There is a moment's hesitation before her response that makes you wonder if she's quite as certain as she says.
-
>"Is there anything we can do to help?"
-
>"Is there anything we can do to help?"
>"I don't think so," Maribel says, shaking her head. "You've already done what you can." She takes a deep breath. "This part, I think, is up to me... and them."
>The cloud of wisps move in towards Maribel, Shadow Gengetsu among them. You see Wingly Gengetsu carrying Violent Gengetsu's limp body.
>Maribel turns to Mugetsu, an earnest expression on her face. "I swear I will do everything I can to make this succeed, but you're right that I'm only trusting my intuition. I feel strongly that this can work, but I can say no more than that. Given what might happen if I do this the wrong way do I... have your permission to try?"
>Mugetsu looks towards the floor, and is silent.
>After a few moments, you hear a quiet voice break the stillness. "I am not be my whole self," Gruegetsu says, "So perhaps I have no right to say this. But I would choose this risk. As I am, I am useless; trapped in a dream, and trapped within a consciousness that cannot even see my sister's face. Any risk that brings a hope that I might fulfill my responsibilities is one I'm prepared to take."
>"There is no life for us here," Wingly Gengetsu says. "Our mind can never be our own in this place. If she fails, then we will still have solitude. I wish to let her try."
>"I only wanted to understand," Summoner Gengetsu says. "That's all I came here to do. That's what every part of my being tells me matters. But I know now that there isn't enough left of me to understand anything; I will never, ever succeed. Do what you must."
>You feel some uncertainty from Shadow Gengetsu. It finds its existence interesting, and it's enjoyed learning and seeing the things that it has. But it understands that this isn't how it was meant to be. There are other things beyond it that matters. It has touched Maribel. It has faith in her.
>Mugetsu takes a deep breath and closes her eyes "Then I guess it's decided."
>"I promise I'll make things right," Maribel says quietly.
-
>Get out of the way. And keep an eye on the column for unusual phenomena.
-
>Get out of the way. And keep an eye on the column for unusual phenomena.
>You give Maribel and the Gengetsus a wide berth and keep an eye on the column, in case it starts to react oddly. Mugetsu and Marisa likewise step aside.
>One Maribel takes a deep breath, while the other puts her hand on her shoulder. "We can do this," she says. The first nods, then closes her eyes.
>You watch expectantly, but nothing appears to happen to a few moments. The first Maribel is concentrating deeply, and the other seem to be concentrating with her, but you see no change among the assembled fragments. However, as you continue to observe, you slowly become aware of slight distortions in the air around the Gengetsus, almost like looking into the distance on a hot day. Your view of them starts to ripple and refract and you see the faintest hint of razor-thin lines of purple etched into the air dividing them.
>Suddenly, space around them seems to fracture into countless mirrored shards, adrift in a sea of shifting violet. Fragments of faces and forms shift across each other, at once serene, yet disordered. It grows difficult to make sense of the geometries before you.
>You hear someone breathing shallowly to your left. You turn and see Mugetsu, her gaze wholly consumed by the spectacle, teetering on the edge of desperate hope and panic. Her hands are clasped tightly together and she seems barely to blink. Were you in her position, you can't imagine you'd feel much differently.
>Looking back at the dancing shards, you feel as though something has changed. At first it seemed like the image you could see in the fragments reflected the very same one that was standing before you when this started, only scattered about like some insane jigsaw puzzle. But as the fragments continue to drift, some fracturing along bright lines of violet, while others fuse together, you slowly see a different scene assembling itself. Forms disappear. Others change or are reordered. The crowd thins until you can make out only a single shape, scattered among the arcane geometries. The shifting slows, fragment meeting fragment along smooth and perfect lines, like a broken glass reassembling itself. There is no longer any mistaking what image is held in them. With a final join, space align itself once more. You see a last faint trace of purple flicker across the air.
>Mugetsu draws in a great breath, and seems to forget to release it. Maribel collapses to the ground.
-
> Go and help Maribel.
-
> Go and help Maribel.
>You quickly move towards Maribel. Her counterpart leans over her almost as soon as she falls.
>"Are you ok?!" she asks. She doesn't get a response.
>"...sister?" you hear Mugetsu say, taking a tentative step forward.
>Gengetsu slowly moves her head, looking distractedly at her surroundings, like she's unsure of where she is. Then she raises a hand towards her head and slowly turns it, staring at it uncertainly.
>"Sister? Please say something."
>"I..." The word seems almost to surprise Gengetsu as it escapes her. She stops and feels the side of her face with her hand.
>"Please..." there is a hint of suffering in Mugetsu's voice. "Let me know that that's really you. That you're okay."
>Gengetsu slowly turns around to face her, frowning and blinking oddly, as if she has trouble focusing her eyes. "I... I remember things. I was..." She shakes her head. "I can't make sense of it all."
-
>"Don't worry about making sense of memories right now. Make sense of stuff in front of you, first."
>Check on fainted Maribel. Ponder if this was the same one that was already a bit drained.
-
>"Don't worry about making sense of memories right now. Make sense of stuff in front of you, first."
>Check on fainted Maribel. Ponder if this was the same one that was already a bit drained.
>"Sorry," Gengetsu replies. "It's just... difficult to think straight when your memories are this tangled. It feels like I was just dozens of people at once."
>Mugetsu takes another step forward. "But you... you think you're ok... right?"
>"I... think I might be," Gengetsu replies. "Once I get used to this."
>"Then you're back?" Mugetsu says, tentatively. "Whole?"
>Gengetsu slowly nods. "I... think so. I-" Her sentence is cut off by Mugetsu throwing her arms around her and collapsing into her.
>"You have no idea what it means to hear you say that," she says, in a quavering voice. "I didn't know what I was supposed to do! I didn't... I didn't know..." She starts sobbing loudly.
>Gengetsu smooths her sister's hair with her hands. "I am myself," she says. "I'm sorry for all the suffering I've caused you." She turns towards Maribel. "And you."
>The still-conscious Maribel tries to smile, despite her obvious concern for her counterpart. "I already said that I forgive you, didn't I?"
>"I... I think I remember that," Gengetsu replies. "Thank you."
>"Thank you!" Mugetsu wails, then breaks into more sobbing.
>You bend down and look at Maribel. Her face is drenched in sweat, but she appears to be breathing steadily. Given that, to the best of your knowledge, only one had the experience to safely control gaps, you suspect she is the same Maribel who was most drained from the earlier effort.
-
>Pat fainted Maribel on the head.
>"You did good."
>Glance toward the column. Any changes there?
-
>Pat fainted Maribel on the head.
>"You did good."
>Glance toward the column. Any changes there?
>You pat the fainted Maribel gently on the head and give her some well-earned congratulations.
>"She did, didn't she?" the other Maribel says. "I wonder if I could have done as well in her place. Actually, would I have done exactly the same in her place?"
>The column and associated structures do not seem to have changed in any way.
>"So, uh," Marisa says. "Does that mean we can wake up now?"
-
> "That's... A good question. I think we might still have to do something about that column though..."
-
>"It might be that Maribel waking up will handle that. But I can't say... Normally, though, once you two leave someone's dreams, they can wake up normally, right Mugetsu?"
-
> "That's... A good question. I think we might still have to do something about that column though..."
>Maribel takes another look at the column. "Well, if I wake up, then the dream ends, doesn't it?"
>"It might be that Maribel waking up will handle that. But I can't say... Normally, though, once you two leave someone's dreams, they can wake up normally, right Mugetsu?"
>Mugetsu doesn't seem in much shape to reply coherently at the moment, but Gengetsu nods. "I see no reason that she should remain asleep with us gone," she says.
-
>"I suppose the choice is yours, Maribel."
>Frown for a moment and glance toward the dream sisters
>"Though I do wonder where you two will end up upon leaving."
>_
-
>"I suppose the choice is yours, Maribel."
>Frown for a moment and glance toward the dream sisters
>"Though I do wonder where you two will end up upon leaving."
>"It's been an amazing dream," she says. "But I don't want to keep Renko worrying. I think we should go, if we can."
>You frown, then glance towards the sisters.
>"Outside of her," Gengetsu says. "Why should we be elsewhere?"
-
>"Well...you didn't enter the normal way, Gengetsu. Thus my wondering. But if you leave outside of her. Well...we're going to have to hide those wings."
-
>"Well...you didn't enter the normal way, Gengetsu. Thus my wondering. But if you leave outside of her. Well...we're going to have to hide those wings."
>"Why?" she asks.
>"Oh boy..." Marisa says, rubbing her head.
>Maribel frowns. "Actually, why do we? Renko'd be ecstatic to see them, I think."
-
>"Well..."
>Grin a bit.
>"Eventually we will."
-
>"Well..."
>Grin a bit.
>"Eventually we will."
>Maribel takes a deep breath and smiles. "I think it's time to wake up."
>"I think I'd also like to leave," Gengetsu says. "I have... bad memories of this place. It would feel good to have some other scene before me."
>Mugetsu pulls herself from her sister and walks towards Maribel. Her checks are slick with tears, but she is smiling earnestly. "Thank you," she says, a little unsteadily. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For the rest of my life, thank you. I don't even know what to say."
>"I'm just glad you're back together," Maribel says. "The rest... well, we'll just call it an adventure."
-
>"So, the first step is to lead us back, yes?"
-
>"So, the first step is to lead us back, yes?"
>Mugetsu nods. "I can do this quickly. There is much less involved to returning you than there was to finding you in the first place. Are you ready to leave?"
-
>"Let's."
-
>"Let's."
>"Yeah," Marisa says. "Was fun to bust out the old tricks again, but I kinda wouldn't mind being back in my body now, you know?"
>Mugetsu nods. "Then take my hand."
-
>Take her hand. Have another look at that column in the process, though.
-
>Take her hand. Have another look at that column in the process, though.
>You take Mugetsu's hand, having a last look at the column as you do so. Nothing yet seems to have changed about it.
>Mugetsu closes her eyes, and the scenery starts to blur around you. You swiftly feel very hazy and tired, and then everything is dark.
>You slowly open your eyes. You are slumped in a chair in a bright and sterile looking room. Your back is stiff and uncomfortable; you get the distinct impression that you've been sleeping in an awkward position for some time now.
-
>Groan.
>Sit up and look around.
-
>Groan.
>Sit up and look around.
>You groan, and stretch a little. Yeah, definitely a bit stiff. But it's oddly reassuring, in a way. Makes you feel like you're really here.
>You sit up and look around you. The place seems more or less like you remember it. Renko appears to have slept through the entire thing, which you figure is probably for the best. Maribel is still resting peacefully. You see Mugetsu and Gengetsu materialize next to her.
>...wait, where's Marisa?
-
>Give her a second. And the dreamwalkers a moment to get coordinated.
>Check the door of the room to see whether anyone would be able to peek in and see Gengetsu.
>If nothing of note happens, "Well, it's good to be back, but uh... where's Marisa?"
>Unless this managed to fix the timeline and we need to get back into Gensokyo to check..... somehow.
-
>Give her a second. And the dreamwalkers a moment to get coordinated.
>Check the door of the room to see whether anyone would be able to peek in and see Gengetsu.
>If nothing of note happens, "Well, it's good to be back, but uh... where's Marisa?"
>Unless this managed to fix the timeline and we need to get back into Gensokyo to check..... somehow.
>You give them a few moments to get coordinated, although they seem potentially more awake than you feel yourself at the moment. You notice Maribel start to stir a little, then slowly open her eyes. "Where am..." She stops and frowns as she becomes aware of her surroundings, then looks at the IV in her hand. "I'm in a hospital, aren't I? Oh, Renko..."
>The door is currently wide open, and you are in a long hallway of similar rooms. It didn't seem busy earlier, but you know from experience that it's quite easy to glance into the rooms as you walk past. Fortunately, Gengetsu should be obscured from the doorway by a curtain around Maribel's bed, although she might cast an odd silhouette.
>"Marisa?" Mugetsu gives you an odd look. "What do you mean?"
>That... may be a possibility. Hopefully your way home still works.
-
> "Well then. Looks like the timeline was fixed and everything is back to normal... Hopefully."
-
>"And in light of that apparent insanity, would you be willing to humor me and remind me what we just did?"
>Take another look around for Marisa in the room.
-
>Ponder if time changes mean no more gaps back to Gensokyo.
-
>Ponder if time changes mean no more gaps back to Gensokyo.
>Unless Mary makes one, of course... or we can get ahold of Yukari.
-
> "Well then. Looks like the timeline was fixed and everything is back to normal... Hopefully."
>Gengetsu frowns. "Timeline?"
>"What are you talking about?" Mugetsu asks.
>"And in light of that apparent insanity, would you be willing to humor me and remind me what we just did?"
>Take another look around for Marisa in the room.
>The sisters look at each other, frowning. "You helped me regain myself and exit the dream," Gengetsu says. "Do you... not remember?"
>You take another look around the room. There is no sign of Marisa, or any of her stuff. In fact, the chair that she'd pulled up to fall asleep against also seems to be folded up and out of the way.
>"Are you alright?" Maribel asks groggily.
>Ponder if time changes mean no more gaps back to Gensokyo.
>You... really have no idea. After all this, that's almost too terrible to contemplate.
>Unless Mary makes one, of course... or we can get ahold of Yukari.
>Although this may be possible. You hope.
-
>"Just contemplating what got fixed, Maribel. But, just to be sure, you don't remember a blonde girl in a witch hat with us?"
>Nod, whatever she says. "Anyways, you probably owe Renko a hug or something."
>Ponder what Renko remembers of us coming here.
-
>"Just contemplating what got fixed, Maribel. But, just to be sure, you don't remember a blonde girl in a witch hat with us?"
>Nod, whatever she says. "Anyways, you probably owe Renko a hug or something."
>Ponder what Renko remembers of us coming here.
>Maribel shakes her head. "No, just you two."
>She smiles. "In the biggest kind of a way. I'm a... little tied in, though." She gestures towards the IV and the couple other monitors she's connected to. "Feel kinda sore, too... I guess I've been lying here for a long time, haven't I?"
>That's also a good question. Most things still seem to be more or less as you remember them. But who knows what random bit of them might be quite different. You'd have no way to tell, would you?
-
>Frown at these medical device. Try to ponder out how to remove them. Or what they are even fore.
>"...Do you remember everything that, um, both of you saw? Or all of you, I suppose."
-
>Frown at these medical device. Try to ponder out how to remove them. Or what they are even fore.
>"...Do you remember everything that, um, both of you saw? Or all of you, I suppose."
>You frown at the medical devices. Some of them just seem to be tied or stuck to her; perhaps you can just pull them off? Aside from the purpose of the IV, which Marisa or Reimu said was to deliver medicine, you're unsure what the others would be for. They don't look like anything you're familiar with.
>"Not all of it is entirely clear," Gengetsu says. "But yes, I think I can remember much of it. Including things I... regret greatly." She bows her head towards you. "You have my sincere and profound apologies for the things I tried to do to you. You are a rare person, Keine, to care so much ever after all that."
-
>Shrug.
>"I've already hit you enough times, I suppose I'm sated for the time being."
>"And you, Maribel? It was one of your concerns. And maybe I can take these things off..."
-
>Shrug.
>"I've already hit you enough times, I suppose I'm sated for the time being."
>"And you, Maribel? It was one of your concerns. And maybe I can take these things off..."
>You shrug, and tell Gengetsu that you've probably sated yourself on physical violence for at least the time being.
>She frowns a little uncomfortably. "Well, I suppose I shall hope so, then..."
>Maribel frowns. "I don't... think you should. I mean, I feel ok, more or less, and I'm sure I'm fine, but patients aren't supposed to just unplug themselves from medical equipment." She takes a look at the IV again. "I'm not even sure what they're pumping into me, and I'm sure they'll want to do followup now that I'm awake. I suppose I'll probably be stuck here for another day or two for observation..."
-
>"Well, if you say so, I guess that's how it is."
>Tap Renko on the shoulder lightly.
-
>"Well, if you say so, I guess that's how it is."
>Tap Renko on the shoulder lightly.
>"I'd be just as happy to leave, myself," she says. "But it would only cause more problems for everyone else, I think."
>You tap Renko gently on the shoulder and she shifts a little, and makes a vaguely uncomfortable noise. Her eyes open a crack, and her head turns slowly towards you. She suddenly snaps to alertness when she recognizes your face beside her.
>"Y- you came back," she says.
>"Renko...?" comes a quiet voice to her side.
>You see Renko's eyes slowly widen as awareness dawns on her face. She turns her head abruptly to the side. "Mary?"
>Maribel smiles and nods her head. "I'm here," she says. "I'm ok."
>Renko turns back to you and clasps your hand tightly in both of hers. "Thank you!" she cries. "Thank you!" Then she practically dives at Maribel and enfolds her in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're alright Mary..."
>"I'm sorry I worried you, Renko." She returns the embrace gently and smiles towards you.
>Mugetsu walks over and takes her sister's hand, looking up at her with an expression that seems to say "Me, too." Gengetsu ruffles her hair.
-
>Wave off all the compliments and try to work out some more of the soreness.
>Do we still have Patchouli's lodestone? If so, see that it has to tell us.
-
>Wave off all the compliments and try to work out some more of the soreness.
>Do we still have Patchouli's lodestone? If so, see that it has to tell us.
>You wave off the compliments and stretch a little, pacing about the room to work out some of the stiffness.
>You should. However, reaching into your pocket to retrieve it, you can't seem to feel it. Actually, there's several things you don't feel there which you're certain you had on your person the last time you checked...
-
>Suppose those things never happened. Do we at least have the gap key?
-
>Suppose those things never happened. Do we at least have the gap key?
>You search through your pockets thoroughly. You find no sign of the portal key.
-
>Did we ever properly explain how history and time worked into this whole mess to the dreamwalkers and outworlders?
-
>Did we ever properly explain how history and time worked into this whole mess to the dreamwalkers and outworlders?
>In the version of events you remember, you said that you remembered a different history than everyone else did, and that you were sure how things unfolded here wasn't how they were supposed to be. You said how Marisa and Reimu weren't supposed to be taken from Gensokyo, and hinted at the cascading effects of this. If things have changed again now, you can't be certain that you gave anyone here the same explanation.
-
>"Okay, I may have to start a long explanation, now."
>"Mugetsu, remind me how we got out of Gensokyo in the first place?"
>"And, do any of you remember me talking about being a were-hakutaku and the issues that includes?"
-
>"Okay, I may have to start a long explanation, now."
>"Mugetsu, remind me how we got out of Gensokyo in the first place?"
>"And, do any of you remember me talking about being a were-hakutaku and the issues that includes?"
>"Oh?" Gengetsu says.
>Mugetsu frowns. "Yukari sent us here. Don't you remember?"
>"Well, I remember the thing with the full moon and the horns," Maribel says. "Why?"
-
>"Oh, Yukari? That makes things simpler, then. Uh... when's she picking us up?"
>"Long story short? That makes me sensitive to history, and changes to it. I believe we just fixed one big problem about that, which is why I'm remembering strange things."
-
>"Oh, Yukari? That makes things simpler, then. Uh... when's she picking us up?"
>"Long story short? That makes me sensitive to history, and changes to it. I believe we just fixed one big problem about that, which is why I'm remembering strange things."
>Mugetsu shrugs. "She didn't say."
>"Are you ok, then?" Maribel asks.
-
>"Aside from remembering a bunch of things wrong, yes, I think I'll be fine. You'll just need to remind me what's been going on since we left Gensokyo - and why."
-
>"Aside from remembering a bunch of things wrong, yes, I think I'll be fine. You'll just need to remind me what's been going on since we left Gensokyo - and why."
>"Yukari didn't say much," Mugetsu replies. "Just kind of dumped us here, saying there was something important we were supposed to fix. And then I found my sister inside Maribel and we went inside to pull her out. I'm not sure why Yukari would think that was so important, but... maybe she was just being kind? I'm sure I would never have found her again without her help. And yours, although I still don't know why she picked you, either. ...not that I'm complaining, or anything. You know how much I owe you, after all that happened."
>"You're sure this couldn't be some side-effect of what happened in the dream?" Maribel says, turning towards the sisters. "The memories, I mean?"
>Mugetsu shakes her head. "I don't... think so.
>"I get the impression there's one hell of a story to all this," Renko says.
>Maribel smiles. "Oh, it's the most amazing story, Renko. And I'll make sure to tell you every little detail. You'll probably start to wish I'd stop talking about it."
>Renko chuckles a little. "We can worry about that later," she says. "Sappy as it sounds, right now I'm just happy to hear you speak."
-
>"Well make out then it's not like we're stopping you"
-
>"In the meantime...we need to figure out how to deal with those wings, until we can get back."
-
>"Well make out then it's not like we're stopping you"
>"Hey," Renko says, "some of us like a little privacy for that, y'know."
>"In the meantime...we need to figure out how to deal with those wings, until we can get back."
>"I don't understand," Gengetsu says.
>"Wow," Renko says, glancing up. "I almost didn't even notice. They're real, aren't they?"
>"Why wouldn't they be?" Gengetsu asks.
>"Yeah..." Maribel says, frowning at her. "It would probably cause problems if someone else saw you. Youkai basically don't exist in our world. You'd probably cause a panic if someone else came by and realized you weren't human. Can you just... change what you look like? Like you did earlier?"
>Gengetsu shakes her head. "Not in the waking world. Here I am as physical as you are."
>Renko scans around the room. "Not sure what to say, other than keeping your wings low and wrapping a blanket around you or something."
-
>"We might be able to hide them under a cloak. But no one here wears those, do they?"
-
>"We might be able to hide them under a cloak. But no one here wears those, do they?"
>"Not really," Renko says. "Don't even have a big coat or anything; it's summer."
-
>"Looks like a blanket is going to be the proper way, then."
>Are there any windows here? If so, direct Gengetsu to look out one of them.
-
>"Looks like a blanket is going to be the proper way, then."
>Are there any windows here? If so, direct Gengetsu to look out one of them.
>"Best I can think of, anyway," Renko says. "Will look a little strange, but at least 'youkai' won't be the first thing that comes to anyone's mind if they see her."
>There is a window, yes. You direct Gengetsu to take a look through it.
>"This is a very strange place," she says, staring out at the other wings of the hospital, and the buildings and cars beyond it. "Immense and... different. There are so many people here. Countless dreams."
>"I never thought the outside was like this, before I came here," Mugetsu says. "It's almost too much. I'll... be glad to be home again."
>Maribel smiles. "It's funny how the familiar can seem so alien to someone else. To me, this is the everyday. Your world would be full of wonderment in comparison."
-
>Shrug.
>"Maybe full of faeries."
-
>Shrug.
>"Maybe full of faeries."
>"Fairies?" Maribel's face is full of eager curiosity. "Is it really? What are they like?"
-
>"Usually annoying. Faeries are expert pests, to say the least. Think of them as young children with no parents to get in trouble with."
-
>"Usually annoying. Faeries are expert pests, to say the least. Think of them as young children with no parents to get in trouble with."
>Maribel laughs softly. "Still, I'd like to meet some, some day."
>"Sounds like they could be a pain," Renko says, grimacing slightly.
-
>"They can. But, they aren't always."
>Frown out the window a bit.
>"Um, Renko? Where do you live? And more importantly, do you have any space to spare?"
-
>"They can. But, they aren't always."
>Frown out the window a bit.
>"Um, Renko? Where do you live? And more importantly, do you have any space to spare?"
>"See?" Maribel says to Renko. "I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad."
>You frown out the window. The cityscape is vast and full of lights, despite the hour. It may be less of a shock to regard it than when you first arrived, but it still feels almost too large to really take in. You can see the lights of cars streaking along the roads in the distance, as people go about their affairs.
>"Small apartment in Yamashina Ward," Renko says. "Not much room, either, I'm afraid. Although the bigger problem would be getting Gengetsu there without attracting attention."
-
>"Well, we can probably take a blanket from here, so it shouldn't be too hard. And I guess we can use the floor. Just as long as it's somewhere."
-
>"Well, we can probably take a blanket from here, so it shouldn't be too hard. And I guess we can use the floor. Just as long as it's somewhere."
>"The blanket's not a problem," Renko says. "but we'd kinda need to take a bus or two to get there. I suppose we could just forge ahead and put up with all the strange looks. If someone doesn't try to stop us leaving here with one of their blankets, first..."
-
>"Strange looks would be alright, I think."
-
>"Strange looks would be alright, I think."
>"I'll put up with it if you will," Renko says, then frowns. "What about you, Mary? I don't want to just leave you without any company."
>"That's ok," she replies. "I'll be fine."
>Renko sighs. "Be a little selfish for once, Mary. Hell, I'm probably being selfish for wanting to stay here, too. It's just that after seeing you like that for days, well... I kinda don't want to just go back home; I'd probably spend all night wishing I was here."
-
>"Can they really stop her from coming back with us? If there's any other problem, then...well, what can they do about it?"
-
>"Can they really stop her from coming back with us? If there's any other problem, then...well, what can they do about it?"
>"Patients aren't supposed to discharge themselves," Maribel says. "And I'm certainly not going to take the IV out on my own."
>"I honestly don't know what would happen if she tried to walk out the door," Renko says. "I'm sure someone would say something. I'd... rather not make an incident of it, either."
-
>"Worse comes to worst, I guess you could take us there then return."
-
>"Worse comes to worst, I guess you could take us there then return."
>"Yeah..." Renko nods. "Yeah, that might be best. I'll go look for a blanket or something," she says as she leaves the room.
-
>Look to Maribel. "So, you do remember what your various selves did in that dream?"
-
>Look to Maribel. "So, you do remember what your various selves did in that dream?"
>"It's a little blurry, to be honest. I remember some of my time with you, but I think there are other bits I'm forgetting. I don't really have a distinct memory of being more than one person inside there, though."
-
>"I know it's a bit much right now, but you should probably write down what you can remember. This was a bit more than the normal dream, and it would be a shame to forget bits of it like one."
-
>"I know it's a bit much right now, but you should probably write down what you can remember. This was a bit more than the normal dream, and it would be a shame to forget bits of it like one."
>Maribel nods. "You're right. I'll make sure to do that when I get home. I wouldn't want to forget it, either."
-
>"Good. Let me ask two things, though. Do you remember when you first opened a door in the mansion and made it lead elsewhere? And, do you remember when you first met Mugetsu?"
-
>"Good. Let me ask two things, though. Do you remember when you first opened a door in the mansion and made it lead elsewhere? And, do you remember when you first met Mugetsu?"
>"I think so," she says. "It was just you and me in the mansion. There was a... forest, beyond the door. Or as was it a river? I'm... not sure. And I remember meeting Mugetsu when we were..." She pauses and frowns. "Well, she showed up when I was opening those doors in the mansion. And then I saw her in the woods, with all those shadows. ...wait, was that...?" She shakes her head. "I don't remember which came first. You know how dreams sometimes are. You're not always sure what order some things happened in, when you wake up."
-
>"That's alright. You told me the important part."
-
>"That's alright. You told me the important part."
>"I did?" She gives you a confused look. "Which part was that?"
>Renko steps back into the room, carrying a light blue flannel blanket. It doesn't seem especially thick.
>"This was the best I could find," she says. "I pinched it from the supply room down the hall. There's still a nurse on duty on the way out, though. She might say something if she sees us walk out with it."
-
>"We'll just tell her Maribel woke up, and ask her to come see. I can't imagine she'd care about a blanket in light of that."
-
>"We'll just tell her Maribel woke up, and ask her to come see. I can't imagine she'd care about a blanket in light of that."
>"And try to slip by while she's distracted, then?"
-
>"That is what I would expect to happen."
-
>"That is what I would expect to happen."
>"Fair enough," Renko says. She hands Gengetsu the blanket. "Just make sure we can't see the wings, ok?"
>Gengetsu nods, then folds her wings around herself as best she can, wrapping the blanket around them and holding it together with her hands. You have to admit, she does look rather like someone freezing in the middle of July, but you can notice only a hint of her wings' bulk beneath the blanket. If you didn't know they were there, you mightn't notice anything.
>Renko gives her an appraising look. "It'll do, I guess."
-
>"Maybe we can pass her off as a hunchback? At least enough to shut up anyone who's trying to be a problem."
>"Anyways, are we ready?"
-
>"Maybe we can pass her off as a hunchback? At least enough to shut up anyone who's trying to be a problem."
>"Anyways, are we ready?"
>Mugetsu frowns at the suggestion, although Gengetsu seems rather undisturbed. Renko looks at her uncertainly. "Well, I guess we'll do we what can," says.
>Renko nods. "And yeah, I'm ready if you are."
>"Thanks again," Maribel says. "Both of you."
>"Rest well, dreamer," Gengetsu says. "May your slumber be ever peaceful and free from nightmares."
-
>"Renko, would you care to deal with the nurse? Um, you know the social aspects better than I do. And she probably recognizes you."
-
>"Renko, would you care to deal with the nurse? Um, you know the social aspects better than I do. And she probably recognizes you."
>"I was planning on it," she says. "Not sure what kind of reaction you'd get. No offense, but you guys kinda look like you belong at a con or a cosplay cafe or something, not a hospital."
>"Renko!" Maribel says, frowning at her.
>"Hey, I'm just saying," Renko says, putting her hands up. "Doesn't bother me, but you know how some people are going to think. Anyway," she says, turning to you. "I'll go and tell her and bring her back this way. You just walk on past, ok? I'll catch up when she's satisfied here. Meet me outside the front doors."
-
>"I have no idea what those things are, but I'll assume they're bad. Anyways, we'll do that. Meet you by the front doors, or at the street?"
>Once she says where, wait for her to alert the nurse, then walk past.
-
>"I have no idea what those things are, but I'll assume they're bad. Anyways, we'll do that. Meet you by the front doors, or at the street?"
>Once she says where, wait for her to alert the nurse, then walk past.
>"Outside the front doors is fine," Renko says. "I'll see you there." She walks out of the room and down the hallway.
>Stepping out, you see her walk up to the desk that Marisa stole the telephone book from earlier and exchange a few words with the person manning it. The nurse quickly stands up and starts back towards Maribel's room alongside Renko. Your group steps out and casually walks past her. Despite the preoccupation on the nurse's face and Renko's effort to distract her with chatter, you still feel her curious and somewhat disapproving gaze upon you. However, she makes no effort to stop you for flagrant blanket violations, and you make it to the branch in the corridor without further issue.
-
>Head outside!
-
>Head outside!
>You head back to the elevator and press the button to open it. A few moments later the doors slide open.
>"I thought we were supposed to be heading outside," Gengetsu says, frowning as she looks at the tiny room beyond the doors.
>"It's some sort of strange outside machine," Mugetsu says, stepping into the elevator. "You step inside and it takes you to other places."
>"Really?" Gengetsu stares at it dubiously. "It looks mundane to me." Still, she steps inside along with the two of you.
>You press the button for the first floor and the doors close.
>"The outside world is full of amazing things, isn't it?" You nearly jump as you hear a new voice behind you. There is a strange refined quality to it. It is also vaguely familiar...
-
> "Lady Yukari? I hope you are well."
-
> "Lady Yukari? I hope you are well."
>You hear a soft chuckle. "Such formality. I suspect my good health was not the first thing to cross your mind, no?"
-
>Look toward Gapifer.
>"Quite a few things crossed my mind, to be honest, but the polite ones seemed to be the best to start with."
-
>Look toward Gapifer.
>"Quite a few things crossed my mind, to be honest, but the polite ones seemed to be the best to start with."
>You turn around and look at Yukari. She is reclining languidly across a gap in the rear of the elevator, a folded fan in one white gloved hand, while the other rests across the side of her face. She regards you with a hint of a smile; her eyes are inscrutable.
>She chuckles again. "And I suppose the impolite ones will follow, then?"
-
>"If you like. Is everything back like it should be, now?"
-
>"If you like. Is everything back like it should be, now?"
>Yukari gives you a look of mild surprise. "Gengetsu is here, is she not? What else would there be? Incidentally, well done with that. I knew I could count on you to be up to the task."
-
>"You did, did you? While I am thinking about it; what exact did you do? And does Ran remember any of it? Or anyone else, for that matter?"
-
>"You did, did you? While I am thinking about it; what exact did you do? And does Ran remember any of it? Or anyone else, for that matter?"
>Yukari resumes an innocently puzzled expression with practiced ease. "What did I do? Why, I simply sent you outside. Why shouldn't Ran remember it? She has an exceptional mind for facts and details. It's a most helpful thing."
-
>Sigh.
>"Yukari, the only reason I'm not glaring daggers at you at the moment is because I expected that. But I was hoping you could at least let me in on the rest of the facts. If only for what I did for Ran."
-
>Sigh.
>"Yukari, the only reason I'm not glaring daggers at you at the moment is because I expected that. But I was hoping you could at least let me in on the rest of the facts. If only for what I did for Ran."
>You sigh. As you do so, you think you see the corner of Yukari's mouth curl upward ever so slightly.
>"What else is there to tell?" she says. "Gengetsu passed outside the boundary, and I took steps to correct that. Youkai like her really shouldn't be wandering about outside Gensokyo. It could cause all sorts of problems. On that note..."
>She gestures with her hand, and a large gap opens beside her.
>"I believe it's time for you two to go home," she says, looking towards the sisters.
>Mugetsu eyes the gap dubiously for the moment.
>Yukari smiles. "It leads directly into your domain. No fussing about with the rest of Gensokyo. After all you've been through, I'm sure you'll be more than happy to rest quietly there, no?"
>Gengetsu gives Yukari a carefully appraising look. "...yes, it would be nice to be home," she says, after a moment.
>"Thank you for all your help!" Mugetsu says, bowing deeply before her.
>Yukari makes a dismissive gesture. "Oh, nonsense. I was simply keeping certain strictures intact. After all, there are some curiosities held by people here which should be held in check, yes?"
>Gengetsu nods slowly.
>Yukari smiles back. "I'm glad we agree."
-
>"Just remember what I said about learning to interact with people in the waking world. It would have avoided this whole mess."
-
>"Just remember what I said about learning to interact with people in the waking world. It would have avoided this whole mess."
>Mugetsu nods at you. "I'll do my best. And thank you again. Both of you."
>Gengetsu takes her sister's hand in hers. "Thank you, Keine. I owe you my life in a very real sense. We may not see each other again, but I wish you gentle dreams."
-
>"Nothing stopping you from dropping by the village and saying hello. Anyways, fare well."
-
>"Nothing stopping you from dropping by the village and saying hello. Anyways, fare well."
>"I think I might someday," Mugetsu replies, smiling at you.
>"Perhaps," Gengetsu nods. "Farewell, Keine."
>The two of them step into the gap, and it closes after them.
>Yukari regards you for a moment and a faint trace of a smile creeps onto her face. "I take it you are not inclined to leave so quietly, are you?"
-
>"I'd like some answers, first. And perhaps a little something for those two girls for all their trouble that you should be able to provide easily enough. So, yes, quietly."
-
>"I'd like some answers, first. And perhaps a little something for those two girls for all their trouble that you should be able to provide easily enough. So, yes, quietly."
>"Answers generally require questions," Yukari says. "As for Renko and Maribel, I'm sure they'll find what they search for in time."
-
> "Allow me to ask once more then. Do you know what actually happened?"
-
> "Allow me to ask once more then. Do you know what actually happened?"
>"It's much like what I imagine you already suspect. Gengetsu tried to enter Maribel's dream as it wandered in Gensokyo. Her intentions were harmless enough, but she failed to consider how her actions would appear. To her, Maribel was a dream, something to observe and perhaps appreciate, like a work of art. But Maribel was also a powerless human girl, alone in a world of hungry youkai. Gengetsu frightened her, and she ran. Her fear would have awoken her and she was on the very verge of waking when Gengetsu caught her. Maribel may have physically existed in Gensokyo as a dream, but she was still tethered to the mind that slumbered here in Kyoto, twelves years away. When Gengetsu tried to touch her dream, she was pulled across that conduit towards the mind of the dreamer. In and of itself, that would have done no harm to either of them. But whenever the dream ends, this connection is severed. Gengetsu had just frightened Maribel awake. She stepped inside as the path across time was breaking, and it tore her apart. The rest, you saw with your own eyes."
-
> "You know that, but do you know anything about the various alternate timeline crap I had to go through?"
-
>"And, did we really prevent that all from happening, or did I just manage to shift back to another branch?"
-
> "You know that, but do you know anything about the various alternate timeline crap I had to go through?"
>"I know a few things," Yukari says. "But I believe you should be satisfied with the Gensokyo waiting for you now."
>"And, did we really prevent that all from happening, or did I just manage to shift back to another branch?"
>Yukari frowns. "I should think you would understand history better than I. But I'll say simply that you prevented certain things, and I prevented certain others. As far as the rest of Gensokyo is concerned, nothing ever happened."
-
>Nod.
>"I just needed to be sure. I wonder, though, did you intend to trap Ran for that long, or was it just a side effect that couldn't be dealt with?"
-
>Nod.
>"I just needed to be sure. I wonder, though, did you intend to trap Ran for that long, or was it just a side effect that couldn't be dealt with?"
>"Whatever are you talking about?"
-
>"She was trapped in there with you for seven years. And...well...it took its toll upon her."
-
>"She was trapped in there with you for seven years. And...well...it took its toll upon her."
>Yukari smiles. "Oh, Ran's been 'trapped' with me far, far longer than that without complaint. You needn't trouble yourself over her well-being."
>She feigns an injured expression. "Do you think my company that unpleasant?"
-
>"When in a little bubble with someone who is, frankly, as good as being in a coma? I would say that's rather lousy company. Related to that, did you hear me at all when I talked to you, then?"
-
>"When in a little bubble with someone who is, frankly, as good as being in a coma? I would say that's rather lousy company. Related to that, did you hear me at all when I talked to you, then?"
>Yukari looks taken aback. "As good as being in a coma? Why, I never... If that's really what you think of me, perhaps I should trouble you no further. I'm sure you can manage here on your own devices."
-
>"Yukari, please. You were as unresponsive as Maribel in that little bubble of the proper timeline you were preserving."
-
>"Yukari, please. You were as unresponsive as Maribel in that little bubble of the proper timeline you were preserving."
>She resumes a more serious expression. "I think you are recalling things which never happened. After all, If nothing were broken, what should need to be preserved, hmm? Ran is well; she has performed her duties without interruption since before you were born and knows nothing of the events of which you speak."
-
>"They happened. Otherwise I wouldn't recall them, would I? She might not know, but I do. I'm not condemning you, its rather clear you took a hasty action to deal with the situation, just I want to know the truth."
-
>"They happened. Otherwise I wouldn't recall them, would I? She might not know, but I do. I'm not condemning you, its rather clear you took a hasty action to deal with the situation, just I want to know the truth."
>"Ah, but you have a unique ability to remain untouched by changes in history around you. You may have experienced certain events, but this does not mean they ever truly happened, as far as the world is concerned. I can say only this: I would not bring Ran to harm were it not necessary."
-
>"Ah, but you have a unique ability to remain untouched by changes in history around you. You may have experienced certain events, but this does not mean they ever truly happened, as far as the world is concerned. I can say only this: I would not bring Ran to harm were it not necessary."
>"Then another question. What is the connect between yourself and Maribel? And, is that what is dragging her out of a place that shouldn't exist?"
-
>"Then another question. What is the connect between yourself and Maribel? And, is that what is dragging her out of a place that shouldn't exist?"
>Yukari raises an eyebrow. "What place is this, which shouldn't exist?"
-
>"Here. This is not the present. The only reason it even exists is that people of the present are here observing it. Once we leave, if it really is the future, then it will cease to be. As since it didn't exist to begin with, there's really no way she could have come on her own, unless something was drawing her."
-
>"Here. This is not the present. The only reason it even exists is that people of the present are here observing it. Once we leave, if it really is the future, then it will cease to be. As since it didn't exist to begin with, there's really no way she could have come on her own, unless something was drawing her."
>"You have some interesting ideas about time," Yukari replies. "But who can say? Perhaps this is our future, perhaps it's someone else's, or perhaps, as you say, it's merely a potential one, whose existence is realized only by our presence here. I will say that I do not know what first drew Maribel back through time. The flow of past and future is something even I don't fully understand."
-
>"It's not too difficult, really. It works exactly like it seems to. Otherwise, there would be no need for Hakutaku at all, everything would already be set. But if you don't know what drew her, that is fine."
-
>"It's not too difficult, really. It works exactly like it seems to. Otherwise, there would be no need for Hakutaku at all, everything would already be set. But if you don't know what drew her, that is fine."
>Yukari smiles slightly as you explain, but says nothing.
>"Is there anything else you wish to know, before we return?"
-
>"For the time being. But, may I say goodbye to Maribel and Renko?"
-
>"For the time being. But, may I say goodbye to Maribel and Renko?"
>"Ordinarily, I would prefer you didn't. It would be best for us to have no further presence in this world. Maribel will understand where you went and why, and she may even see you again someday." Yukari pauses, and frowns thoughtfully. "But if it truly matters to you, I might be inclined to make an exception, just this once. I owe you a great deal, some of which you realize, and some of which you may not."
>She starts to sink into the gap she rests on. "Say your goodbyes, Keine. I'll be here when you return."
>Yukari vanishes into the gap and it seals closed after her. The elevator doors open. Renko is standing in front of them, looking rather taken aback.
>"What're you doing back this way?" she asks. "And where's Gengetsu and Mugetsu? I was beginning to think the elevator was broken, or something."
-
>"That was probably Yukari, with the elevator. She just took the sisters home. I wanted to say goodbye to you two before I left, as well."
-
>"That was probably Yukari, with the elevator. She just took the sisters home. I wanted to say goodbye to you two before I left, as well."
>Renko nods. "So this is it, then, is it?"
-
>"For the time being. Yukari seems to be confident that you'll find you're way to Gensokyo on your own."
-
>"For the time being. Yukari seems to be confident that you'll find you're way to Gensokyo on your own."
>Renko smiles. "Maybe we will. Sure not going to stop trying, anyway. Thanks again for everything."
-
>Renko smiles. "Maybe we will. Sure not going to stop trying, anyway. Thanks again for everything."
>"I'm glad we could help. It's a shame things got as muddled as they did. But everything worked out. And it's been nice to see what the outside's been doing without us."
>"Will it be possible to see Maribel? Or do the chirurgeons have her occupied?"
>_
-
>"I'm glad we could help. It's a shame things got as muddled as they did. But everything worked out. And it's been nice to see what the outside's been doing without us."
>"Will it be possible to see Maribel? Or do the chirurgeons have her occupied?"
>"And it was nice to see real proof of those other worlds out there with my own two eyes," Renko says. "It's nice to know what you're searching for is really there, you know?"
>Renko looks at you strangely. "The... who? Anyway, she's got a doctor and nurse kinda hovering over her at the moment, making sure she's ok and such. Although we could probably slip back in if we wait a little bit."
-
>"...You know what? To hell with them, they can make a little bit of time. Maribel's fine."
>Back toward the room!
>"Hey...want to do me a favor, Renko?"
-
>"...You know what? To hell with them, they can make a little bit of time. Maribel's fine."
>Back toward the room!
>"Hey...want to do me a favor, Renko?"
>"Yeah, but you know they're not going to buy the actual explanation," Renko says, "So they'll have to give her the whole battery of tests to satisfy themselves. I don't think Maribel really minds, though. And honestly, I couldn't care less, as long as she's ok."
>You step out of the elevator and head back towards Maribel's room. Renko follows you.
>"Would be the least I could do after this, I imagine. What did you want?"
-
>"Could you get me a newspaper and a phone book? I owe someone back home those things."
-
>"Could you get me a newspaper and a phone book? I owe someone back home those things."
>Renko raises an eyebrow. "Really? A phone book seems like kind of a strange souvenir, but what do I know. I might be able to scrounge up a newspaper from one of the waiting rooms, but the only phone books are probably behind the reception desks or at the payphones downstairs. Would feel kinda awkward swiping one."
-
>"Consider it payback for not giving you a cot to sleep on."
-
>"Consider it payback for not giving you a cot to sleep on."
>Renko laughs. "I suppose I'll see what I can turn up. Want me to run along and do that now?"
-
>"Yeah. Meet me back at the elevator, or the room if I'm not there yet."
-
>"Yeah. Meet me back at the elevator, or the room if I'm not there yet."
>"Got it," Renko says, turning back the way she came.
>You arrive outside Maribel's room again. Looking in, you can see a balding middle-aged man in a white coat speaking with her, scribbling something on a clipboard held in his hands, while a nurse stands nearby, adjusting some of the equipment.
-
>Clear throat.
>Once attention is gotten, "Hey, would you mind leaving us some privacy for a couple minutes. You can see she's alright, so there's nothing to worry about in the meantime."
>_
-
>Clear throat.
>Once attention is gotten, "Hey, would you mind leaving us some privacy for a couple minutes. You can see she's alright, so there's nothing to worry about in the meantime."
>You clear your throat in an attempt to get some attention. Maribel looks up at you with a somewhat puzzled expression. The doctor seems to notice and turns around.
>The doctor regards you with a vaguely disapproving look. "May I ask who-"
>"It's fine, really," Maribel interjects. "She's a friend of mine. And really, I feel fine. We'll only be a moment."
>The doctor still seems rather dissatisfied, but acquiesces. "You can have a moment," he says, as he moves to leave. He continues to regard you dubiously as he passes by and exits the room. The nurse follows after him momentarily.
>"What's wrong?" Maribel asks, after they've left. "Where are the others?"
-
>"Yukari met us. They've headed back home. I wanted to say goodbye first, though."
-
>"Yukari met us. They've headed back home. I wanted to say goodbye first, though."
>"Oh." Maribel is silent for a moment. "Thank you, Keine. For everything. I'll never forget what happened here, and I'm... glad that I got to meet you."
-
>"We'll meet again, I'm sure."
>Smile.
>"If nothing else, I expect you to dream your way into my front room and help yourself to some tea in the middle of the night. Yukari seems to expect you and Renko will find your way there properly in good time."
-
>"We'll meet again, I'm sure."
>Smile.
>"If nothing else, I expect you to dream your way into my front room and help yourself to some tea in the middle of the night. Yukari seems to expect you and Renko will find your way there properly in good time."
>Maribel smiles back at you. "I'd like that. And I fully intend to prove her right. After all the things I've seen now, I'm more committed than ever. So... until next time, then?"
-
>"Until then, Maribel."
>Give her a hug, and assuming there's naught else, head back toward the elevator.
-
>"Until then, Maribel."
>Give her a hug, and assuming there's naught else, head back toward the elevator.
>Maribel nods, and you lean in to give her a hug. She returns it warmly.
>"Have a safe trip," she says, as you turn to leave.
>You pass the doctor in the hallway as you exit. He gives you another vaguely disapproving glance before heading back into the room. You reach the elevator without further incident.
>Renko shows up after a few moments, a newspaper and somewhat worn-looking phone book in hand.
>"It's yesterday's paper," she says. "I hope you don't mind?"
-
>"That'll do just fine. Thank you, Renko."
>Accept the goods. Then give her a hug. "I'll see you next time."
>Presuming nothing else requires a reply, board the elevator.
-
>"That'll do just fine. Thank you, Renko."
>Accept the goods. Then give her a hug. "I'll see you next time."
>Presuming nothing else requires a reply, board the elevator.
>"Sure, no problem," she says. "Kinda feels stingy, after what you did, to be honest, but..."
>You accept the newspaper and phone book, then give Renko a hug. She seems caught off-guard for a moment, but then returns it in kind. "Count on it," she says.
>You press the elevator button and the doors open. You step inside as Renko waves goodbye and then the doors close between you.
>"Shall we go home, then?" Yukari says, as soon as you're alone again.
-
>"Let's. And out of curiosity, you said I helped you in ways I didn't know. What would those ways be?"
-
>"Let's. And out of curiosity, you said I helped you in ways I didn't know. What would those ways be?"
>She smiles enigmatically. "Well, if I told you, they wouldn't be ways you didn't know, anymore, would they? You've been through far too many troubles lately, I think. Why don't you just rest your mind a little, now, hmm?"
>Yukari gestures with her hand and a gap opens beside you.
>"You've done a great service to Gensokyo," she says. "Be proud of yourself."
-
>"I'd just like to know the full impact of what I did, that's all. But alright, keep your mysteries."
>Once she gives the all clear, step through.
-
>"I'd just like to know the full impact of what I did, that's all. But alright, keep your mysteries."
>Once she gives the all clear, step through.
>"You saved the existence of the Gensokyo you knew," Yukari responds. "I believe that is enough."
>You wait a moment to see if she has anything else to add, then turn to enter the gap. The moment before you step inside, you hear Yukari's voice again.
>"Oh, and for the record," she says, "I still would greatly enjoy seeing Remilia's face if ever anyone did paint the real mansion in polka dots."
>With a frown, you turn back to her, but find she has vanished without a trace. Nothing remains but the gap beside you.
-
>"Damn it, Yukari."
>Sigh.
>Head through the gap if that doesn't goad her out.
-
>"Damn it, Yukari."
>Sigh.
>Head through the gap if that doesn't goad her out.
>You call out to Yukari and sigh. If she heard you, she gives no indication of it.
>Deciding that you're not going to get any further response here, you step through the gap.
>You emerge in a small room, crowded with scroll racks and bookshelves, a well-equipped writing desk against one wall. It takes a moment for it to register that this is your room. Those are your books, and your desk. That pile of papers stacked by the side are student essays, graded in your own hand. You're home!
>You move towards the desk and tentatively pick up one of the essays. You remember assigning this; it would have been due yesterday. You don't remember correcting it, but the comments seem exactly as you would made them. Leafing through the pile, you see essays from all the students you would expect, and none from those you wouldn't. If this is your own timeline, two days after you left it, nothing seems out of place.
>You decide to investigate the downstairs, hoping beyond hope that you find nothing which shouldn't be there; no incongruous detail which shatters the illusion that you might really be back among the timeline you remember.
>As you descend the stairs, you catch a glimpse of a familiar form sprawled out in a low chair with her feet resting on the table. She glances in your direction and you feel your heart catch in your throat.
>"You come in through the window or something?" Mokou asks, giving you a strange look. "Anyway, I made some curried rice earlier. I can heat it up for you if you're hungry. I-" She stops, frowning deeply as she sees tears begin to flow freely down your checks. You find yourself unable to speak.
>You're really home, aren't you? That's really her. Your Mokou. Oh God you've missed her; you've missed everything about this place...
>"Whoa, whoa, what's wrong?" she says, standing up. "What ha-" Her words are cut off as you all but throw yourself against her, and begin to bawl into her shoulder. You feel her arms enfold you, her embrace soft and warm and the very most wonderful thing in the world at this moment.
>You've been strong. You've faced down youkai, nightmares, and an angry god, never allowing yourself to falter, though so much of what you knew lay dead and ruined. You've crawled through hails of bullets, been drowned and suffocated, pushed yourself to the brink of collapse and refused to stumble even an inch, for the sake of all the things that depended on you. You've been strong for others, and strong for yourself, for fear that if you let the world rush in on you, you'd never stand up again.
>But you're tired of being strong. The world is a terrible weight to bear on one's shoulders and you've carried it enough. The emotions kept in check during all this rush out of you in a flood, and you cry and cry and cry.
>Once you find your voice again, you start to tell Mokou about all you went through in that other world: the lonely, the horrifying, and the heartwarming. She listens with the kind of selfless patience you've known only from her, letting you speak without interruption because she understands just how much you need to speak right now. After a while, the tone grows less serious, and you start to chatter about Rumia's antics, the curiosities of the outside world, and the minutia of your less unpleasant experiences. Mokou has a few laughs at her counterpart's expense
>After you feel you've talked enough, you decide to take a walk around the village, perhaps to prove to yourself that it's really still there. It is a pleasant night, cool for August, and cloudless. The waning moon, one day past full, rests brightly in the sky. There are few people still about at this hour, although pleasant chatter drifts towards you from the tavern and cheerful light shines from people's homes as you pass.
>Though the village scene is tranquil, you cannot help but see the memory of that other village imposed on top of it, ruin and disuse where homes should be. You pass by your school, and for a moment see it charred and blackened, the east end of it in rubble. Mokou grips your hand tightly as you pause, like an anchor securing you to this world.
>You pass the herbalist's shop where Shiouko had been living, then walk out to the graveyard. There are fewer grave markers than the last time you saw it, and no woman sits patiently upon the hill. Still, you can see the rows and rows of them where now lies empty grass. You pause a moment, and pay your respects to the dead she'd mourned; you may be the only one who remembers them now.
>Eventually you return home, and Mokou makes good on her threat to feed you. The meal may be simple fare, but it's warm and flavorful, and you're eating it at your own table with the woman you love. What else could be better?
>You drift to sleep in Mokou's arms that night. Never had her embrace felt more sheltering, the touch of her skin upon yours a reminder that you're really here. You're really home.
>The next day, you somehow muster the presence of mind to teach the classes that were scheduled. You find your thoughts often drifting elsewhere, but the routine is reassuring. Even the occasional disruptive student is a welcome thing. This is the life you have known. This is what feels right and normal. At this moment, there is nothing more precious than the mundane.
>A few days later, you make an excursion to the Scarlet Devil Mansion to fulfill your promise to Patchouli a second time; a promise she now has no memory of you making.
>She accepts the newspaper and phone book with an uncertain frown, perusing their contents as you explain where they came from.
>She remains staunchly skeptical of their origins, and furnishes you with a small diatribe on why they should be impossible, but you suspect she is rather intrigued by them nonetheless. Certainly she accepted both without hesitation, and was still examining them when you left. She never was the most effusive with her gratitude...
>Once you feel up to the task, you start to document your experiences in the other world in as much detail as you can possibly recall. Every element, whether trivial or profound, is preserved on paper. Real people lived real lives there, and you may be the only one left to tell their story. Even if that world still exists somewhere, the only trace of it is in your memories. What more sacred obligation could a historian have than to preserve this?
>In time, you set this work aside and consider it finished. Unlike your other texts, you remain uncertain whether this should be shared with others. Many good people are painted darkly by it. Though the people you write of are not wholly the same, there is sometimes very little separating them. Would a tale of their actions be a warning of what is possible, or slander?
>For now, you keep it safely locked away in your desk. Perhaps one day, you will decide what should be done with it.
>Time passes, and life returns to normal. Or rather, you return to the normal life you left behind.
>For the first few weeks, you find yourself keeping a wary eye out for anything out of place, any element that isn't quite how you remember it being. You never find anything, and after a while you start to forget to look. This place is as much a home as the home you remember.
>You bump into Rumia while traveling one afternoon and decide invite her home for dinner. Mokou raises both eyebrows at the suggestion at first, but warms up to her before long. You quickly discover that she's not so different from the Rumia who'd traveled with you in that other Gensokyo.
>You decide to make her a proper hamburger in honor of her counterpart's request, and she devours it with relish. Afterward, you furnish her with ink and paper and try to teach her how to use it more skillfully this time. Your efforts meet with mixed success, but you find the endeavor oddly satisfying, and regard the mess of paper and shared scribbles strewn across the floor afterwards with a satisfied smile.
>On a whim, you take one of her more cheerfully incomprehensible artworks and have it framed, hanging it next to one of the wall scrolls in your study, a reminder of some of the good you experienced in that world.
>All that's left of your adventure now is records and memories, though the latter can sometimes have a more profound effect on a person than anything else. As time amends the hurts and trials of those days, you find yourself feeling glad for your experiences there. You learned a lot about yourself, and about others. The things you were both capable when pushed to your limits, and sides of people you had never seen before. These were not always happy discoveries, but you feel the wiser for them. If nothing else, it has given you a greater appreciation of the things you have right here: a comfortable home among people who care about you, the opportunity to freely pursue your passions to preserve knowledge on paper, and to foster knowledge in each new generation, and the chance to share your life with someone you love and are loved by deeply.
>And really, what more could one ask for?
-
>Rip Soundtrack
>Also: Kanako ate Suwako, didn't she?
-
>Shank Parsee one last time for good measure
-
>Rip Soundtrack
>Also: Kanako ate Suwako, didn't she?
>You rip the soundtrack in half. Oops.
>Yes. Traditionally, Suwako had kept an a very low profile after Kanako took over the shrine. In the true Gensokyo, Suwako's presence was essentially unknown until Reimu and Marisa busted into the rear of the sanctuary, and inadvertently convinced Suwako that Gensokyo was a a fun place to step out into. In alternate Gensokyo, this never happened, and Kanako's success at bringing most of Gensokyo's population under her aegis cemented her as the true face of the shrine. Suwako has still around; you just never inquired about her, and she was even more inclined to leave most worldly affairs to Kanako. Also, the power differential between her and Kanako would have been much greater than in true Gensokyo. Still, Keine's mere knowledge of Suwako's existence would have gotten a reaction out of both Kanako and Sanae, and you might even have been able to use Suwako as an ally in the quest to free Utsuho, although this would have been tricky.
>Shank Parsee one last time for good measure
>You decide to take advantage of the situation, and shank Parsee at the one time where she cannot possibly react: after the game is over.
>Parsee crumples to the ground with a strangled squeal. Never has breaking the laws of physics and common sense felt so satisfying...
-
>Did Keine and Kanako ever get their hot kismesis sexings?
>More seriously, what tension did that cause between Keine and Kanako after the timeline fix?
>Will Yukari ever bring about the Polka-Dot Devil Mansion for her own amusement?
>Clearly, that Parsee was an imposter (http://tf2wiki.net/wiki/Dead_Ringer). Have Mokou spy check. And be ready to shank her, if she's just a disguise.
-
>Did Keine and Kanako ever get their hot kismesis sexings?
>More seriously, what tension did that cause between Keine and Kanako after the timeline fix?
>Will Yukari ever bring about the Polka-Dot Devil Mansion for her own amusement?
>Clearly, that Parsee was an imposter (http://tf2wiki.net/wiki/Dead_Ringer). Have Mokou spy check. And be ready to shank her, if she's just a disguise.
>Keine has her hands full with Mokou as it is.
>Kanako has no memory of events in the alternate timeline. However, while Keine makes an effort not to hold the actions of people's counterparts against them, she could never fully dispel the image of the Kanako she'd met there. Although they rarely had cause to interact, there was always a strange wariness in Keine's attitude towards her, which Kanako could never quite place.
>While Yukari would find it hilarious to witness, she generally avoids stirring up things in such an obvious way. Although she mightn't be adverse to subtly encouraging someone else to do it...
>What, I let you guys succeed once as a parting gift, and this is the thanks I get? You inspect Parsee's body. Seems real enough to you. Is it really over?
>Suddenly, you hear dark laughter behind you. "You think that striking beyond the ends of time could stop us?" Parsee cries. "We reach through time and space and the cracks in realities. We sever every thread, close every chapter. We are always there. If you believe you have accomplished anything with this, think again." She shanks you.
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>BGM: Dressing down Eirin
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>BGM: Sanae Meets the Truth
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>How much of this quest did you plan all along?
Also, congrats for being the first parser to finish a quest that isn't Purvis.
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> Congrats on the completion. You should do another one.
> BGM: Keine Quest
> BGM: Maribel's Dream
> BGM: The Outside World
> BGM: Eiki's Judgment
> BGM: Utsuho's Confinement
> BGM: The Shadows of the Old Hell
> BGM: Rumia
> BGM: Vs. The Gap Monster
> BGM: Mugetsu
> BGM: Fragments of a Being
> BGM: Goodbyes
> BGM: Epilogue
> I don't know why I love to do this so much.
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> BGM: Eiki's Judgment
>. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDqlnRhkW8Y)
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>. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDqlnRhkW8Y)
I applaud you good sir, as I've always liked that remix a lot.
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>BGM: Dressing down Eirin
>BGM: Defiance against the Moon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThSh28oy2Tg)
>BGM: Sanae Meets the Truth
>BGM: Sin and Absolution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTtAdt_3JQ)
>How much of this quest did you plan all along?
Also, congrats for being the first parser to finish a quest that isn't Purvis.
>Most of the major structural elements of the quest were established before the first post: Gengetsu's encounter with Maribel, what happened to the village, Utsuho's confinement, the missing Moon, Yukari's isolation, etc. Details for some of these were fleshed out as the need arose, such as the actual layout of Utusho's prison, or the mechanics of the ward that kept people away from Eientei. Other elements were entirely unanticipated, such as traveling Underground as the means to enter Eientei, involving Shikieiki in Utusho's release, or having Rumia tag along with Keine.
Also, thank you ^^;
> Congrats on the completion. You should do another one.
> BGM: Keine Quest
> BGM: Maribel's Dream
> BGM: The Outside World
> BGM: Eiki's Judgment
> BGM: Utsuho's Confinement
> BGM: The Shadows of the Old Hell
> BGM: Rumia
> BGM: Vs. The Gap Monster
> BGM: Mugetsu
> BGM: Fragments of a Being
> BGM: Goodbyes
> BGM: Epilogue
> I don't know why I love to do this so much.
>Thank you very much. A second quest has already been in the works for a little while now. There's just some more details that need hammering out before it's ready.
> BGM: Keine Quest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGdkALMRBHE)
> BGM: Walking in Dream (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DRcJtPptds)
> BGM: Night in the Endless City (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTkTaDKmmfs)
> BGM: Unerring Judgement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcDJZPPUYMQ)
> BGM: The Shackled Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGzt3Gj18o)
> BGM: Chill of a Dying Hell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vexz0Q_hQwo)
> BGM: Innocent Darkness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNQ_k5ZdhKQ)
> BGM: Shadow from Between the Worlds (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMBBkzVtzOo)
> BGM: Lonely Dreamer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgVILEb9d4A)
> BGM: The Broken and The Lost (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8bwJswinAE)
> BGM: Until We Meet Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOkzPMkMEFk)
> BGM: Memories of a World Departed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLsprUXCKIU)
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>Oh man it's nice to be on the other side of this. Nice choices.
>Did that hunk of glowing crystal ever have any use that you intended?
>What would have happened if we tried to initiate Operation shit let's have ufo anyways?
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>Oh man it's nice to be on the other side of this. Nice choices.
>Did that hunk of glowing crystal ever have any use that you intended?
>What would have happened if we tried to initiate Operation shit let's have ufo anyways?
>Thank you. I'm glad they were appreciated.
>The crystal's lattice was magically sensitive; it could have served as a receptor for a minor enchantment, if you'd mentioned it to Patchouli. You would have had some choice in what she did with it (although I hadn't really decided what your options were). Unfortunately, you damaged the crystal lattice cracking it off a chunk of it with danmaku, and it would never have accepted as powerful an enchantment as a fully intact one. It was possible to extract it intact; In fact, Mokou had demonstrated the required process just a few moments earlier. You could have melted the rock around it, and had her pull a fully intact crystal out of the wall.
>You would have had to find where the Palaquin Ship was buried underground, and this might have been quite difficult. And then, of course, find a way to break it out (Utsuho may have been able to help with this, after you'd freed her.) It might not have been impossible, but there would have been multiple challenging obstacles to overcome in order to complete all steps of the process.
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>Wouldn't Keine have known where the ship was buried, due to just researching them and knowing where the geyser was? I figured this is what would have made it viable at all.
>What would Yuugi have thought of the plan to break into Eientei?
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>Wouldn't Keine have known where the ship was buried, due to just researching them and knowing where the geyser was? I figured this is what would have made it viable at all.
>What would Yuugi have thought of the plan to break into Eientei?
>She would have had a good idea, but given there wasn't a geyser on that particular spot in the alternate Gensokyo, she wouldn't have been able to tell the precise spot on the surface, merely the broad vicinity. The greater problem, even if she had a precise surface location, would be reaching it underground. Patchouli's magical compass could have helped, much like it did for Eientei, but the ship was intentionally buried in a place that was difficult to reach.
>Yuugi was far less inclined to care about what happened on the surface than Suika was. In fact, there was a bit of a divide between her and Suika at the time about what to do about the Underground starting to grow frigid; Suika put forth the idea that maybe they should give the surface another try if it got too cold, which Yuugi was staunchly opposed to. Yuugi probably also would not have appreciated the sneaking aspect to the plan, but might have been swayed by pointing out the 'cowardice' Eientei was demonstrating by hiding and making it impossible for anyone to give them a direct frontal challenge. It mightn't have been impossible to convince her to help, but it would definitely have been an uphill battle.
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>Where the hell was Alice? >=[
>Could we have found Marisa's house? If so, would there have been anything useful or interesting there?
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>Where the hell was Alice? >=[
>Could we have found Marisa's house? If so, would there have been anything useful or interesting there?
>In her house. Where else would you have expected to find her? Of course, Keine didn't know where in the forest she lived any better than Marisa, but Patchouli could have helped point you in the right direction if you'd asked.
>Yes. In fact, there were a couple ways this could have been done. Alice knew where she lived, if you'd met her. Patchouli could have helped you find it, if you could manage to convince her why she should bother. In fact, you could have gotten fairly decent directions from her father, who had survived the famine. You may or may not remember a Kirisame General Store being mentioned in the market area of the new town. In her house, you would have found a whole lot of junk you had no idea what to do with, and possibly a couple semi-useful magical trinkets. After Marisa had essentially been declared gone for good, Alice sort of picked the place over for anything especially useful (not that there was a great deal of this in the first place, mind you). Additionally, searching for the house earlier on would have led to you encountering Chen, and her telling you what became of Ran and Yukari (although she didn't understand the cause of their isolation).
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>Could we have gotten Hina to join up, rather than Rumia? What sort of advantages would this have given us?
>If we had gotten into Eientei via a more direct route, might we have been able to convince Remilia to join us and provide back-up/front-up?
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>Could we have gotten Hina to join up, rather than Rumia? What sort of advantages would this have given us?
>If we had gotten into Eientei via a more direct route, might we have been able to convince Remilia to join us and provide back-up/front-up?
>Very unlikely. Hina considered ridding the village of its misfortune to be a solemn duty. Even if you had talked about how your actions might have been able to avert this misfortune from ever happening, she would have still told you that her place was where she was.
>This would also be rather difficult. While Remilia certainly cared a great deal about restoring the moon, her pride made it difficult to reconcile this desire with her repeated failure. She eventually 'saved face' by convinced herself that she didn't really care, and that the entire matter was beneath her attention in the first place. Requiring availing of another's aid to accomplish a goal she could not would not have sat well with her. That being said, it might have been possible to spin it in such a way that she could rationalize helping without losing face in her own mind. But it would have taken some very creative conversation skills.
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>Were there any significant things we missed or cut ourselves off from?
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>Will we ever hear the connection between Yukari and Maribel, or is that a cornerstone of future questings?
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>Were there any significant things we missed or cut ourselves off from?
>There were no major planned arcs that were missed or prevented from happening, although there were a couple potential minor ones. For example, if you had sought Yuka's aid to enter Maribel's dream, rather than Mugetsu's, you would have been given the 'impossible' task of finding a rare and fragile flower that had been wiped out by the Year of Winter. As it turns out, the gardens of Hakugyoukurou would be the only place it could still be found, since they had avoided the winter entirely. However, actually finding the flower would have required Youmu's assistance, as the gardens are rather colossal, and searching them on your own for a couple solitary blossoms would have been ultimately fruitless.
>Will we ever hear the connection between Yukari and Maribel, or is that a cornerstone of future questings?
>You won't hear it from Yukari, that's for sure.
>Maribel is Yukari's (much) younger self. As time advanced from Maribel's perspective, she would find her dreams sending her further and further into Gensokyo's past. Eventually, her consciousness would lose its tether to her body in Kyoto, and she would end up permanently in the distant past, before the boundary's creation. At some point after this, she would become a youkai, and take the name Yukari.
>When Yukari said that she hadn't woken up and would never woke up, the 'I' was quite literal, just not referring to her present self. If Maribel had failed to wake up from the dream she was trapped in, she would never go on to become Yukari, effectively erasing her from existence entirely. Yukari played a pivotal role in Gensokyo's creation, so if Yukari had never existed, neither would the Gensokyo we knew. Hence why she froze the boundary between past and present: to prevent Gensokyo itself from disappearing.
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>And Renko?
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Lock this up yourself when you're done with the postgame.
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>And Renko?
>Renko's ultimate fate is uncertain. She did not end up in Gensokyo's past the way Maribel eventually did, but she wouldn't have given up her search for other worlds. Maybe she eventually found her own way?
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>Was there anything of note in Kappatown or Tengutown?
>What was reported in on the Yama's visit? Did Aya sneak in after us?
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>Was there anything of note in Kappatown or Tengutown?
>What was reported in on the Yama's visit? Did Aya sneak in after us?
>There wasn't anything especially notable going on in the Tengu village. Nitori would still have been buzzing around the Kappa village, however, and interaction with her might have been useful in a couple ways. She actually had some experience working at the facility where Utsuho was held captive, and didn't entirely approve of the whole procedure, although it was more her independent spirit that led to her leaving rather than moral indignation. Still, she might have been amenable to assisting you with infiltrating the facility and retrieving Utsuho, if a decent compromise which allowed them retain electricity could be reached.
>Aya caught the entirety of the conversation that took place inside the shrine itself. But as good as she is, she couldn't sneak all the way into the reactor core without being caught. Still, having witnessed the conversation before you entered the facility and the one immediately as you exited with Utsuho in tow, she was able to piece (her version of) things together. The full article would have included Keine's roll in uncovering a 'conspiracy', as well as Shikieiki's condemnation of Kanako. The exact nature of Utsuho's confinement, and Kanako's actions towards her were left up to Aya's colorful speculation.
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> Did we miss any allies/people coming with us, at some point? Koishi maybe?
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> Did we miss any allies/people coming with us, at some point? Koishi maybe?
>Youmu would have followed you basically anywhere if you'd told her that you were planning to set events back, and thus give her a chance to undo what she saw as her terrible mistake. If you'd released Utsuho in a more forceful manner, she could have been an ally against an ensuring battle with Kanako, although it might have been difficult to convince her to help in other matters after that. You might have gotten shorter-term companions out of a couple other people, such as Nitori (if you were using her help to infiltrate the facility), although, again, this would likely be for the duration of a single task and not the quest as a whole.
>Aside from that, there's always the outside chance of making companions in places not anticipated when the quest started. Rumia was originally intended as a one-shot encounter. You get a little information, she leaves, you never see her again. While most characters had their own lives and weren't likely to follow a stranger and potential loony (ie: you) to the ends of the earth on a mission that sounded like a flight of fancy, there's still sometimes the chance to come up with a good reason to convince them that I didn't expect.
>As for Koishi, she was off being her inscrutable and hard to find self. There would have been basically no chance of encountering her.
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> If the freeing of Utsuho had gone differently (say, had Shikieiki refused to get involved) would we have had a chance at rescuing her by force? Personally, I think it would have been cool to gather an army and storm the mountain, give Kanako what for.
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> If the freeing of Utsuho had gone differently (say, had Shikieiki refused to get involved) would we have had a chance at rescuing her by force? Personally, I think it would have been cool to gather an army and storm the mountain, give Kanako what for.
>Yes, you would absolutely have had a chance. In fact, you could have had a sizable army for it by that point, as well. Given how things had proceeded, you could have been readily accompanied by Ran, Mokou, Youmu, and Orin; Utsuho herself would likely have helped once you'd freed her. That's a lot of firepower to throw at one place.
>Arrayed against you would be the tengu guards, as well as some of the built-in security systems (although these were mostly passive, such as door lockdowns and such). It's almost certain Momiji would have gotten involved fairly shortly with a full security detail. Some of the kappa in the facility would also have had a few random technological tricks to throw at you, although most would have kept as far away from the invasion as they could manage. Eventually Kanako herself would have showed up.
>The Kanako in the alternate Gensokyo was significantly more powerful than her counterpart in the true Gensokyo, due to having the devoted faith of most of the population. She alone would probably have been a match for at least 3 of you; keep in mind that Utsuho would also be significantly off her form, having been confined for so long. Kanako's power, combined with the various other threats being thrown at you, would have made for a fairly close battle, but you definitely had the numbers to pull a frontal assault off.
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> If the freeing of Utsuho had gone differently (say, had Shikieiki refused to get involved) would we have had a chance at rescuing her by force? Personally, I think it would have been cool to gather an army and storm the mountain, give Kanako what for.
This was pretty much the back-up plan. But with an element of trying to seduce in Remilia ("Let's show that smug bitch a thing or two about how we do things in Gensokyo!") and the Oni ("Do you even know what they did to your mountain? Now they're meddling in your caverns, look at them trying to freeze you out!").
>Would either of those plans have worked?
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> Why did Mystia hate/attack us again? Year of Winter, or was it just hunger?
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>would there have been a difference if we had brought Reimu into the dream world if possible?
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This was pretty much the back-up plan. But with an element of trying to seduce in Remilia ("Let's show that smug bitch a thing or two about how we do things in Gensokyo!") and the Oni ("Do you even know what they did to your mountain? Now they're meddling in your caverns, look at them trying to freeze you out!").
>Would either of those plans have worked?
>Remilia would certainly have appreciated the idea of taking Kanako down a peg or two, although it might have taken a little spin doctoring to get her to actually come along. Possibly convincing her that you were following her lead, and not the other way around. It would have been possible, though.
>The oni would have been rather more unlikely. They know that Utsuho took battle to the surface of her own accord, and was then defeated in direct combat. They wouldn't regard Kanako's actions as aggression against them, no matter how much they were inconvenienced by the result. It was her victory, fair and square.
> Why did Mystia hate/attack us again? Year of Winter, or was it just hunger?
>The Keine of alternate Gensokyo came very close to killing her during the Year of Winter, both directly (some of the fighting got pretty nasty as the year dragged on), and indirectly (through nearly forcing her to starve to death as a consequence). Unlike Rumia, who was simply scared of Keine, and naive enough to be swayed fairly easily, Mystia never ever forgave her for this. However, alternate Keine tended not to leave the bounds of Kanako's domain, so Mystia was normally powerless to act against her. When you accidentally crossed her path, at night, a safe distance from town, it would have seemed almost too good to be true.
>would there have been a difference if we had brought Reimu into the dream world if possible?
>Although she would have grumbled about it, Reimu would have come to help if you'd asked her. However, the limits of Mugetsu's ability to bring others into Maribel's dream would mean Marisa would likely have had to be left behind. Reimu would have been more effective at a few tasks (such as defending Maribel from incoming attacks), but less effective at others (actually dissipating the shadows, which required mostly brute force rather than finesse). Also Mugetsu would probably have been more guarded around her since, as hinted in Marisa and Reimu's earlier dialog, only Reimu had encountered Mugetsu and Gengetsu before. To Mugetsu, Marisa was a stranger, but Reimu was someone who had invaded her home and beaten up both her and her sister for (essentially) no good reason.