***
Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu all stood dumbfounded by Patchouli's startling revelation... Her horribly, horribly explained revelation.
"Hey, hey, heyyyy, there can be absolutely no way I heard that properly... Could you, uhhh... ...repeat that Patch? In plain Japanese?" asks Marisa, putting her hands up and back up a bit.
"Wait, you actually failed to understand that unnecessarily complicated and convoluted explanation?!" asked Reimu, looking at Marisa in shock.
Patchouli looked a tad irritated...
"She talked a tad too fast as well, no?" adds Wriggle, as she scratches her cheek with a nervous smile.
Patchouli's eyebrows began twitching...
"Oi thats right, ze... Hey Patch, make it clear this time too. And talk slower." said Marisa with a finger wave.
"And remember, you're talking to people who do not have the same grasp on things as you do. Use smaller words and simpler explanations." Wriggle added further.
Patchouli shut her eyes tightly, her face turning red as she spoke through gritted teeth.
"Alright, alright, I'll explain in a more 'concise' manner so all of you can be happy!" spoke Patchouli, now looking quite annoyed.
"Glad to hear it!" said a happily smiling Reimu.
Patchouli glared at the three for several seconds, shaking and growling before clearing her throat, putting her balled up right hand to her mouth as she did so. She then took a deep breath... Or rather, a somewhat hollow one...
"Okay... Let me speak again... This tower if you so wish to call it that, is... ...well,
was a focal point for the collection of Earth's life energy. Life energy needed to break the great seal of Koro."
"Absorbing the energy of the Earth itself... How is something like that even possible?" said Wriggle in wonder.
"A great deal of energy was needed then, correct?" asked Reimu.
"Indeed. It would make since for them to need so much energy, since great power is required for the seal removal incantation. They built this tower to carefully absorb the energy, and the tunnels around it to convert the life energy into magical energy." explained Patchouli. "What Marisa destroyed was in fact the central collector of energy, an absorption monolith if you will."
"And without that, they can't collect anymore energy, ze!" said Marisa with a smile.
"Yes, but... They may have already collected more than enough energy, much to our misfortune..." said Patchouli darkly, looking off to the side.
"Well, wouldn't they be transporting out of here somehow? Perhaps a pipeline we could disrupt to stop them..." said Reimu inquisitively.
"No. That would make locating the seal too easy should anyone capture this base. There are also signs that they were in a rush, and wouldn't have time to build such a thing in any case."
"Well... Maybe they flew it out somehow...?" asked Wriggle, scratching her cheek.
"That is the only likely solution. With the proper containment crystals, it would actually be far more feasible, and stealthier solution than a magical pipeline."
"Well, that makes things a bit harder... Heeey, isn't that flawless intuition of yours tellin' ya anything, Reimu?" asks Marisa with a raised eyebrow, looking at the miko with a lowered head and hands on her hips.
"Ah, forgive me Marisa, but I haven't really been getting any odd feelings, or sensing anything significant since we got here." said Reimu apologetically, scratching the side of her face. "Its really strange."
"Its going out on ya? Hmm, maybe Alice was right to say 'your intuitions waining because you never use it.'" replies Marisa.
"No, its something else..." said Reimu inquisitively.
"Rats, this leaves us without any method of tracking down the true location of that vile princess!" said Wriggle in disappointment, looking off to the side toward the ground.
"Oh no... You are a tad incorrect, Nightbug." responded Patchouli. "Take a look at the hole made in the ceiling above us."
The three other girls looked upward, finding that the sun was steadily being drowned out by clouds, the occasional rumbles of thunder sounding closer and louder.
"The power of Koro is responsible for the unending, rainless storm that has been covering Gensokyo, save for where said power is concentrated. That said, now that this place is no longer a concentration of Koro's power, the storm now covers this place as well. Therefore, in order to locate the seal, all we need to do is..." spoke Patchouli.
"...locate another place in the sky where clouds are cleared out!" finished Wriggle.
"Precisely."
Wriggle turned around, intending to fly out through the hole in the roof.
"Alright, I'll go do tha-"
"But we're not going to do that." interrupted Patchy.
"Gwa...!"
Wriggle tripped over herself, tumbling forward on the ground before coming to rest with her legs over her head.
"Thei wah arwe gooha hew thei (then what are we gonna do then)...?" asked the dazed Wriggle with a drunkard's smile.
"We're going to ask the bunny." replied Patchouli.
"But Wriggle bonked the bunny." pointed out Reimu with a raised finger.
"Then I will awaken the bonked bunny." said Patchouli.
"How will you beckon the bonked bunny to wake up?" asks Marisa.
"The only true way possible." answered Patchouli, closing her eyes and raising her right finger.
Wriggle, Reimu, and Marisa were suddenly standing side by side, looking at Patchouli curiously.
"Eeehhhh?" said the three simultaniously.
Patchouli walked over to the still unconscious Tewi, staring down at her for a few moments...
"Indeed, this should work." spoke the librarian.
Patchouli held out her first two right fingers out in what appeared to be a horizontal peace-sign gesture. Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu blinked, unsure of what to make of Patchouli's intentions... They silently wondered to themselves... Thats when Patchouli lifted up Tewi's skirt...
"Eh...?" mumbled Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu simultaniously to themselves.
Patchouli began sending electricity through her two out held fingers as she looked at Tewi's crotch as she thrusted her fingers downward and... Uhhh...
"EEEEHHHHHHHH?!" shouted Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu at the same time in shock (pun not intended).
Tewi's eyes snapped open, a delayed reaction before...
"EEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"Tewi leaped incredibly high in the air with a totally flustered look on her face!
"USA USA USA!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME, USA?! HOW SHAMEFUL!"
"Did... ...she... ...just...?" stammered Wriggle.
"Man... Patchy... What got into you...?" asks Marisa more to herself with dread.
Reimu just stared, jaw agape. It was all the Miko could do to keep herself from fainting from the shock (again, pun not intended).
Tewi landed on the ground, staring at Patchouli as if she were the spawn of Satan.
"I can't believe you...! Taking advantage of a helpless rabbit like that...!" said Tewi accusingly.
"Do not mistake my intentions. It was necessary to put them there while electrified, as it was the quickest way to awaken you. And now to question you." stated Patchouli matter of factly.
Tewi began tearing up.
"How am I supposed to think of this?! You shamelessly abuse me so callously, then expect me to talk secrets to you! I will not hear of it!" protested Tewi.
"Well, thats to bad." said Patchouli casually.
"Hey you! Where are Mystia and Alice?" said Wriggle, running in front of Tewi and pointing a finger.
"I will not tell you a thing! I wouldn't tell you, even if I knew."
"Damn kid, why did you even bother to ask? I mean, she's the queen of lies, you can't forget that." pointed out Marisa with a shrug.
"Huh... Therefore, by stating she does not know the answers to my questions, she actually does!" said Wriggle. "Tell me, or I'll throw the book at you!"
"Go die in a fire!" shot back Tewi.
"Hmm..."
Wriggle walked up to Tewi, pulling out her diary... She opened it then snapped it shut right on Tewi's nose! The Earth rabbit had another delayed reaction as she looked at what just happened for a few moments before...
"YEEEEEEOOOOWWW! That hurt!" yelled Tewi, turning around, crouching and holding her now bleeding nose.
"Wait, that wasn't throwing the book, that was closing the book!" pointed out Reimu with a facepalm.
"But are they not the same?" asked Wriggle honestly.
"Interchangeable, but hardly the same." replied Reimu with a grumble.
Tewi continued rubbing her nose for a few more moments...
"Oooohh, thats it! Now you're all gonna get it! Face the wrath of Tewi Ina-!"
Tewi turned around and jumped back up, only to see that she was surrounded on all four sides by the heroines.
"-ba...?"
"You're surrounded, ze! I think its best that you stopped fooling around and tell us what we want to know, even if it goes against your lying nature." said Marisa, smiling with her arms crossed.
"But I was being honest!" pleaded Tewi.
"Thusly being dishonest." shot back Wriggle.
"B-b-b-but why would I lie?!" asks Tewi frantically.
"Why
wouldn't you lie?" points out Reimu.
"Where are my friends?" asks Wriggle calmly.
Tewi slapped her hands around her mouth. Wriggle got into her face, a little angry now.
"You heard me, did you not? Where are my friends?!"
By now, Tewi was sweating bullets, frantically looking around the room... These scary four faces glaring at her...! Those accusing, antagonistic eyes...!
"It doesn't matter what my answer is because only one of your friends is here anyway!" blurted out Tewi without warning before slamming her hands over her mouth again, falling on her butt as her eyes began tearing up.
"What do you mean? Which one of them is being held here?!" asks Wriggle.
"Alice would be the only logical one to keep here." said Patchouli.
"Where is she?!" asks Wriggle forcefully.
"I dunno!" pleads Tewi.
"Of course you know!"
"I don't know!"
"Cease your lies to us already!"
Wriggle inched her head closer with every exchange, frightening Tewi (who was backing away) further.
"Where is she?!"
"I will not tell!"
"Answer me!"
"Never!"
"I know she's here!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is t-"
Wriggle smiled slyly at the sight of Tewi realizing the daft reversal she had just fallen for. The rabbit girl slammed her hands over her mouth yet again as she slowly fell to the side... Reimu stared awkwardly, while Marisa chuckled and Patchouli face palmed.
Wriggle waited triumphantly for a few moments before leaning down towards Tewi's face one last time, speaking in a calmer tone...
"Where is she?"
Tewi sat back up, and pointed to Wriggle's right with her left hand.
"She's over there." stated Tewi calmly.
Reimu took the liberty of walking over to what Tewi had pointed to... A part of the stone wall the jutted outward in a strange manner... The Miko placed an Ofuda card on that particular part of the wall before chanting something silently... Just then, the wall shattered into nothing, revealing a hidden prison cell containing a bound, gagged and surprised looking Alice! The doll maker looked away, blinded from the sudden light.
"Mmmph?!"
"Alice!" said Wriggle, immensely glad to see her friend alright.
"So there you are! I wonder why they put you in a place like that..." wondered Marisa as she walked up to the cell.
Reimu used an energized Ofuda card like a knife, cutting away the bars effortlessly before releasing Alice.
"Sorry we took so long, ze. You okay?" asked Marisa.
Alice had somewhat of an exhausted look on her face as she rubbed her freshly freed wrists.
"Well at least they kept me alive by leaving an air sphere in there." began Alice, referring to the strange blue energy orb in her cell. "Their food was actually good, but I got some really lousy service."
Wriggle, Reimu, and Marisa chuckled. Patchouli just looked on...
Alice being humorous! Now thats a nice change. thought Marisa.
"I'm just glad you're okay now Alice. After I saw you and Mystia get taken away like that I honestly feared for your life! Alas, they still have Mystia..." said Wriggle.
"Indeed, that is a problem..." said the doll user, cupping her chin.
"Well Alice? Up for a little payback while we rescue Mystia?" asks Marisa with a sly smile.
Before Alice can answer, Marisa reaches her first two right fingers down into her broom's tip, pulling out... ...a small bag, much to Wriggle's impression. The witch then opened the bag with her free hand... Out came Shanghai, Alice's trusty doll companion, as she weakly reached toward her mistress!
"Shanghai!" said Alice as she knelt down and hugged her doll.
"Heh, I also got your grimoire in there." added Marisa.
"Oh, thank you everyone! For saving me, and returning Shanghai and my book to me." said Alice, petting her doll.
Wriggle smiled... ...no, beamed at the sight! She then looked upward...
One step closer... she thought.
It was then that Reimu, who was turning around, noticed something peculiar...
"Ehh...? Librarian, what are you doing?" asked the miko.
Alice noticed it too, raising an eyebrow. Wriggle and Marisa briefly looked at each other before turning around as well...
Patchouli... ...was now staring down once more at Tewi in a rather strange and suspicious manner.
"Patchouli-san... What is it you are doing, staring down at that rabbit in that manner...?" asks Wriggle nervously.
Patchouli didn't answer. Tewi looked up with a nervous expression, her eyes still tearing up.
"I said what you wanted me to...! Please don't hurt me regardless..." squeaked the Earth rabbit pleadingly.
Patchouli only looked on for a few more moments before raising her right arm to the side... After a brief surge of purple energy, a large hammer formed in Patchouli's right hand!
"Ah...?!" squeaked Tewi as she jumped back, startled. "W-w-w-what're you gonna do with tha-"
Tewi got her answer as Patchouli brought the hammer down dead on her forehead!
"Ugwa!"
Tewi fell straight to the ground like a pancake, knocked out cold once more.
"Well, I don't really require her 'assistance' anymore. I think it would not be too bad of an idea to take a small rest while I review some notes for handling the seal. Hmm..."
"Yeesh, it sounds like she's speaking more to herself, rather than us." grumbled Marisa, crossing her arms and twitching her eyebrow with an annoyed smile.
"Oh my, what an eccentric librarian!" chuckled Wriggle to herself.
The four girls watching the librarian were further thrown off when she took Tewi by the ears and began dragging her toward a nearby chair! Patchouli leaped on to the chair, book in her lap...
"Oooookay, why are you in a chair with that rabbit exactly...?" asks Reimu, raising an eyebrow.
Patchouli brought Tewi up with her, snugging the Inaba while she read her book and blushed heavily with an incredibly cute and innocent look on her face.
"I... I have always wanted a stuffed rabbit of my very own. Mukyuu..." admitted the blushing librarian as she cuddled the unconscious Tewi.
Marisa and Alice both stared, dumbfounded with jaws agape.
"Um... Wow..." said Reimu simply.
I wouldn't ever think a total recluse like her would like stuff like that... Man... thought Marisa to herself.
"W-w-well we all learn something new and interesting each day, don't we?" said Alice, smiling awkwardly, earning an equally awkward stare from Reimu.
It was then that Marisa peeked over to Wriggle... ...who seemed to be shivering as if she was out and about in the middle of blizzard! She stood with bent knees and arms in her hands as she shook with very heavy, and very odd blushing upon her face.
"Ehh? You alright there Wriggle?" asks Marisa.
"Oh... D-do not mind m-me, Marisa. I-I tend to do this w-w-when an individual i-is being so inc-credibly m-moe within my vicinity." explained the shivering insect girl with chattering teeth.
Marisa blinked.
"Uhh, right..." said the witch. "...anyone mind telling what in the world moe is...?"
(Moe: [moh-way] A word meaning 'budding' in Japanese. Used to refer to a female character's cuteness.)
"Weeeeell Alice seems to know, given her current reaction..." said Reimu, pointing at the doll maker.
Marisa was shocked to find the doll user holding her bleeding nose with both hands, her eyes like that of equal signs!
"Oh goodness... That really is moe..." said Alice quietly to herself.
Marisa groaned. This was rather new to her you see...
"Well, she certainly isn't going to answer me..."
Reimu smiled as she went directly to Marisa's front, closing her eyes and holding up a finger.
"Ah, well if you don't know what moe is, then you're obviously not an otaku." said Reimu happily with a cheerful smile.
Marisa just stared at the miko.
"Somehow I think thats a good thing..."
Wriggle giggled nervously in agreement.