?Lady Mima! Today?s the day!? Was the first thing Mima heard, stirring her from her sleep.
Falling asleep again? This is becoming a habit.
Looking up, Marisa looking down on her, fully dressed and ready to go.
?What we gotta go?? Marisa shouted enthusiastically.
?Well?? Mima paused as her brain warmed up, ?You should really practice your magic, and there?s a spell we?? Mima was interrupted by her own yawn. ?We need to cast, to counter the shrine maiden.?
?What, another one? What is it this time?? Marisa said, curiously.
Mima grinned, ?You won?t have heard of it, and you won?t be learning it any time soon. You?ll just have to wait.?
Marisa looked puzzled for a moment, before her mentor spoke again, ?Now get your broom, we?re going on a trip, in fact, bring everything you need, we won?t be coming back here again today.?
?Alright!? Marisa ran off into her room, followed by the sounds of rummaging and items falling. As the sounds continued, Mima looked around with a hint of sorrow, if everything went wrong tonight, then everything she had gained in the short time in her return would be lost, especially Marisa who felt more like a daughter to her now, all in the name of revenge.
It?s not just that, right? I?m working to get my life back. Surely?
?I?m ready!? Mima?s thoughts broke as Marisa ran into the room, holding her broom with a blanket wrapping in a bundle and tied to it, presumably containing all the items Mima told her to get.
Mima took a final look around, ?Alright, let?s go.? She took a deep breath and opened the door for her apprentice to leave through.
In the few seconds it took to turn around from shutting the door, Marisa was already floating around in the air on her broomstick, which was an ordinary broom until a few months ago when Marisa?s complaining of not being able to fly really began to annoy Mima and she cast a spell on it. ?Eagar to leave are we?? Mima called out.
?Yep!? Marisa said simply, before flying away.
?Wait! You don?t even know where we?re going!? Mima shouted after Marisa as she took into the sky after her.
She?s oddly excited; I wonder if she really knows what lies ahead.
After managing to redirect the young witch, Mima and Marisa found themselves at the base of the mountain, just north of the Hakurei Shrine.
?Here? What are we doing here?? Marisa quickly asked.
Mima gave a menacing grin, ?This is where we lay our final trap for Reimu.?
Marisa tilted her head in puzzlement causing Mima to continue, ?We will actually be up there.? Mima pointed up, towards the peak of the mountain. ?It?s a long way to fly or travel, so if we present a shortcut, then that lazy shrine maiden will be sure to take it.?
Mima drew a pattern on the floor and chanted causing a purple rift-like portal to rise out of the ground. ?Also, due to the proximity of the shrine, there?s some instability, so with this link to the dream world, we can use it to make a short entrance to the peak.?
Marisa continued to look completely confused, ?And??
Mima shook her head, ?If we fill the dream world shortcut with traps, then it?ll be a benefit won?t it??
?Ah ha! I see, but what are you going use then?? Marisa asked.
Mima grabbed Marisa by the hand and pulled her into the portal, ?Let?s have a look!?
The world almost seemed to take a while creating itself, as blocks shifted into place forming a pathway. ?Wow? This is amazing!? Marisa shouted. The witch ran along the seemingly never-ending road of transparent tiles, looking around at the stars, and spinning around as the occasional one flew by. ?Wow, Lady Mima! Look at that!? The girl shouted, pointing through the tiles at the nearby sun, which Marisa has just noticed the platform seemed to be orbiting.
As she looked up, she saw Mima was already floating away in the distance, ?Wait up Lady Mima!? She saw Mima physically sigh, as she turned around to wait for her.
?What is the trap going to be then?? Marisa asked yet another question.
Mima grinned and point where she was facing ahead, ?Those.?
In front of them was a large gap with another platform on the other side, containing another portal, presumably the exit, and five weird stone orbs with various inscriptions. ?Those? What are they??
?In simple terms, magical orbs, but can?t you feel the magic radiating from them? They?re no ordinary statues.? Mima spoke, as she drifted over the large void.
Marisa thought a moment, ?So, we activate them and set them on Reimu??
?Correct!? Mima sat down, in front of the middle stone and began to draw a pattern in front of it with a piece of chalk. Soon after she began quietly reciting a spell which even Marisa could not understand, and seemed to never end.
A few minutes later, there was finally some activity as the orbs cracked and seemed to radiate green energy for a few seconds, before returning to normal.
?Uh, Lady Mima? Did the spell fail or something?? Marisa asked.
Mima turned around with a grin, ?Oh no, the orbs powers are merely being hid, as soon as Reimu gets here, they?ll activate and until she destroys them all, that portal over there won?t open.?
?Ah! I see! Clever!? Marisa looked around again, ?Is that everything? Can we set up your spell now??
?Yes, it?s time.? Mima smiled weakly, leading Marisa through the portal.
As reality reappeared to the two, Marisa complained, ?What?! There?s still miles until we reach the top!?
?That?s because I want you to distract Reimu halfway, to give me more time.? Mima said coldly.
The two magicians started their trek up the mountain, enjoying the view of Gensokyo they had, including the Hakurei Shrine. ?It?s fun to think that place will be trashed by Rika in a few hours.? Mima laughed.
Mima?s mind drifted off again, thinking of the events that are to take place tonight. Will she win? Can she really kill a girl to get back her own? Can she put Marisa through all of this? Mima shook her head and dismissed the doubts; of course she?ll succeed, and be a step closer to finding Murasaki and making her pay.
?Oh, we?re here already?? Mima said quietly, aware they were at the peak, ?Marisa, please set up what I told you to.?
?Alright, Lady Mima!? The girl sung as she began to take out various items from her broom-blanket compartment.
A couple of hours passed, as Mima and Marisa quietly worked to set the spell up, all that was required now, was the power that only the Hakurei?s held, by far the hardest ingredient to get.
Night soon fell, and Mima started the spell, soon her ?henchmen? would move into place and Reimu would be attracted towards the beacon of magic that is Mima?s spell, and the night?s events would begin.
?And so it begins.? Mima spoke, as a small explosion tore through the side of the shrine.
?Wow!? Marisa laughed, ?That?s kinda cool! That?s Rika and her machines, right??
?Indeed it is, though I didn?t want her to cause that much damage. If we win, we might own that place.?
?Oh yeah, we would wouldn?t we!?? Marisa shouted, as excited as ever.
Minutes passed as more explosions shattered around the shrine, until there was a different sight, amongst the explosions were flashes of other colours, reds and blues appearing at different points, suddenly causing the other explosions to come to a halt.
?It looks like she?s arrived.? Mima spoke calmly.
As the explosions died down, Mima relaxed a little when Marisa screamed almost in her ear, ?Look, she?s not done yet!? Mima looked up curiously to see a much larger object slowly move into the shrine?s grounds; it looked like a large box with a yin-yang painted on the top, as it got closer more explosions tore through the area.
?She?s certainly doing more than I thought she would.? Mima commented.
The signs of Reimu fighting back continued around the destruction until the large machine stopped and a few seconds later erupted in one final explosion.
Mima closed her eyes, ?Farewell, Rika.?
Marisa groaned, ?Aww, that was awesome, she should have won.?
?I knew she wouldn?t.? Mima spoke.
?Stop being a spoilsport, you can always hope!?
?Hope?Like I hoped I?d live a peaceful life one day, before I was killed?? Mima snapped back.
Marisa went silent and looked down, ?Sorry, Lady Mima.?
Mima tried to sound brighter, ?It?s alright, now look, Meira should appear soon.?
The two magicians watched the path between them and the shrine for any sign of activity.
?Do you think she turned up? Maybe she chickened out?? Marisa spoke out.
Mima laughed slightly, ?It would be ironic would it not? After what she was like when you met her.?
Suddenly there was a flash of light, ?Oh! Is that her do you think?? Marisa shouted.
?It must be. It?s not the shrine maiden.?
There were several more flashes followed and after every flash, a tree collapsed in the area. The colours of Reimu?s attacks struck back at the samurai, the closer proximity allowed Mima and Marisa to watch the projectiles fly around in all directions, as some flew into the air, Mima commented, ?Interesting, it looks like Reimu can fly somehow, I didn?t think she?d learnt that yet.?
?Huh, you say something Lady Mima?? Marisa turned, distracted by the fight.
?No, nothing.? Mima replied.
Soon enough, small red and purple orbs were flying around in all directions, ?I believe our Samurai friend is getting desperate.? The spirit spoke. ?At this rate she won?t last-? Mima was interrupted by all the orbs disappearing, and the flashes ceased. ?-much longer??
Mima stood up, with Marisa following suit, ?What are we doing?? Marisa asked.
?I?m just going to try and see what state Reimu is in, before she enters that portal.? Mima explained.
?Oh.? Marisa followed Mima as she hovered down the side of the cliff slightly, and as Mima said, they saw Reimu hovering forwards. ?I knew there was a turtle at the shrine!? Marisa cried out randomly.
?What?? Mima spoke out, before noticing that Reimu was indeed, riding on the top of a turtle.
It can?t be the same one, could it? Mima wondered to herself.
At that point, Reimu noticed the two on the mountain and looked back. There a pause of tension between the two, where if the distance was smaller, a battle could have started right then, instead, the shrine maiden looked back ahead, and flew into the portal. Causing Mima to burst out in laughter.
?What?s so funny, Lady Mima?? Marisa asked, confused at her master?s outburst.
Mima stopped laughing slightly, ?I created that trap in the dream world, because I was expecting her to be on foot, but with that turtle, she could have easily just flown up to here, missing the trap altogether!?
?Oh, I see!? Marisa laughed alongside Mima.
?Well, she?ll be here soon enough, let?s move on.? Mima ordered.
The two walked back up the slope, towards the ritual site, ?It?s nearly time for your performance, Marisa. Be sure to try your best.?
?Of course I will! I?ll try my hardest so that you can get your life back and we can live normally again!? Marisa grinned.
Mima stopped walking, ?Well, this is it. All we can do now... is wait.? Mima waited a moment, ?I can feel the energy of those stones fading... She?ll be here soon.?
A few minutes passed as Marisa discussed her spells and tactics, when they were interrupted, ?No more running, it ends here!?
Mima looked ahead, to see Reimu looking slightly scruffy, riding on the turtle, laughing she answered, ?We?ve done no 'running' shrine maiden, we?ve been here to start with.?
Reimu suddenly changed subject, ?I know you? I thought I killed you last year!?
?Obviously, that?s what I wanted you to think, but I?m not as weak as that.? Mima taunted.
Reimu paused for a moment, ?You?re Mima aren?t you??
?Oh, I?m glad you heard of me. I believe you missed me at one point?? The spirit laughed.
?Typical, you turn sane when it?s my turn. Still, whatever you?re planning, it ends here!? Reimu drew several talismans.
?Not quite, there?s one more obstacle for you.? Mima giggled, while hovering backwards.
Reimu growled in frustration, ?Oh, what now!??
?Me!? An all too familiar voice to Mima shouted, as she dropped down in front of her. ?You gotta get past me!?
?Marisa? What are you doing here? I thought you went missing?? Reimu said confused. ?And what are you doing with her!? Are you out of your mind? She?s evil!?
?She?s not! She just wants to get back what was stolen from her?? Marisa argued.
The maiden sighed, ?Look Marisa, get out of the way, I don?t want to hurt you.?
?No! You want to fight Lady Mima, you gotta go through me!? Marisa shouted, before quickly reciting the spell the magicians had worked on, causing the four orbs to orbit around Marisa as she took off into the air.
?Go now, Lady Mima! Get the spell ready!? Marisa shouted.
?A-alright! Be careful!? Mima shouted, as she flew over to the site.
Be careful, Marisa. I don?t want anything to happen to you, this is my business.
Rushing through the spell, Mima set the final components into place and read the final incantations; all that was needed now was the Hakurei power.
Mima hurried around, hearing the sounds of battle echo around her, the familiar sounds of Marisa?s lasers blasting the ground around them, followed by the sharp thud of Reimu?s yin-yang orbs.
By the sound of it, she can use more than one orb now. It?s about time.
Almost by coincidence, as Mima stood up, and turned to face the battle, the noise stopped. Grabbing her staff, Mima silently waited to see who would walk up onto the top of the mountain to face her and was unsurprised to find herself face to face with Reimu Hakurei.
?Well, Miss Hakurei, welcome to the finale of this story.?