The Final Morning, Gensokyo,Day 2
It is not a fight to the death, yet it seems so. As Marisa and Reimu is busy dodging the powerful gear-shaped bullets released by Amarillo, they noticed one thing.
"Hey, Reimu, I remembered several hours ago you got defeated in one-on-one combat with her, right?" As Marisa dodges yet another gear-bullet followed by a string of lasers, she shouts as Reimu flew beside her.
"Don't bring that up! Though I'm also wondering why she didn't just merge with a fairy and rush down on us, what are the fairies doing anyways..?" Reimu shoots a needle at that gear, breaking it as Marisa successfully dodged the lasers.
Then suddenly a different stream of bullets is shot towards her, and it's heart-shaped.
"Oh not her and not at this time..." Reimu dodged the bullet however Marisa is too fast and hit that bullet head-on, she don't seem to have much problem with that though, "Actually it got missed and hit my hat instead. No time trying to fix it though."
"You'll be glad that I aimed for your hat instead of your head in the beginning!" a voice can be heard over the distance, it's the Youkai of subconciousness, Koishi Komeiji, "What that human girl said is right all along! I knew it-Owwwww..." She got cut off as one stream of Marisa's stars just hit her.
"Not like we don't believe her, but we just want to have fun!" As Koishi backs off from the blast, Marisa smiles.
"Oh I don't understand you...." sighed Reimu, "If not for the majority of the people want to fight here, I'll be out for now and kicking whoever trapped us instead of Amarillo there."
"No, that will still be done, after we get out, we'll ask Amarillo to locate the bad guys, and we all teach them a lesson, that's it." Marisa nodded.
At this time, the atmosphere in the air has changed.
Amarillo's attacks stopped, instead, 3 giant gears formed around her crew, completely blocking all the attacks thrown by various humans and youkais. Though only the fairies around her know what actually happened-
"...Are you alright..? You can always just get out with us and go save them in another go or something, I don't know." Lily Black asked as Amarillo suddenly kneel down and blood dripping from her mouth.
"No, I'm fine, I guess..." Amarillo coughs up some more blood, "just the limiter broke - Not a bad thing though... Thank you.", As Lily Black untied her Ribbon and wiped out the blood spilled everywhere, "now I need you to go all-out and lure everybody attacking this barrier." She noticed that "You Mad?!" whispered by the fairy, and added, "This barrier is no normal barrier, It don't actually block attacks, but just redirect them... and *cough*".
"I got it, I won't say anything." Lily Black looked around and waved to get everyone's attention before flying off first from a crack at the gears while the rest of the fairies soon follows.
At that same time, an obviously defeated Koishi stumbled in.
"And where did YOU come from anyways." Amarillo let out a sigh but she quickly realized something.
"Hey, where are your sister? and the rest of the Subterrian Palace?" she asked.
"They're gone when I wake up, so I just come on the ground-"
Yes, Satori and her pets may decided that they'll went aboveground because of Aya's news, but that still didn't explain why Koishi is not with her sister or the pets.
In other words...
"...No, I know they're fine, before worrying about the others, worry about yourself first, like there..." Koishi points at Amarillo's mouth, "I don't know you got more damaged than them that quick!"
Even though Koishi cannot read people's "minds" anymore, Amarillo still need to admit that her ability of guessing what one's thinking is superb.
"I'm fine though, just now the limiter I set on myself got broken because I did something crazy here and there. Actually It'll get more crazier from now on." Amarillo rise her head and looks at the gears-barrier. seemingly lost in thought.
And then suddenly, Koishi shouted, "What did you done to me?! I know nothing bad will come out of it, but I still think I have the rights to know..."
"I don't know if the Subterrian Palace have books on Chinese Rituals and Magic - But it's not harmful to tell you anyways - Human Blood - no, blood in general has some awesome usage in Rituals, Magics and Medicine in the Southern Part of China, the tribes there believe that blood is still living when freshly extracted. However, this is not a mistake as the technology finally catch up with the Ancients - We found blood are the prefect catylyst for us ESPer's abilities." Amarillo looks at the pile of blood on the gear floor, "Yes, I implanted some of my blood on you, that will, because of my ability, allows you to survive in the outer world, at least for a while, since now your guardian is no where to be found."
"My Grardians...?" Koishi gives out a puzzled look.
"Don't think too hard about it." Amarilo smiled.
"So you want me to exit right now and pave the way for you guys?" Asked Koishi, "since technically I'm defeated out there - used up all my Spellcards and that."
"and how can you exit? Wait for some more time, the change will soon come. Also, I may ask you a fever to do."
"What is that?"
"......"
At this time- outside the gear-barrier,
The gensokyo residents didn't show even a trace of doubt about Amarillo's status, which is a good thing. Lily Black told Mamizou about the broken limiter, however she didn't seems to mind, but after Lily Black tells her that Amarillo want others to focus on Amarillo's barrier, she seems to know something.
"So she went that-a-way, interesting." Mamizou is amused by the new change of tactics and fired another stream of animal shaped bullets at the crowd, forcing them to spread out.
"You think you are ready for that? The big attack that may come from that?" she points to the giant gear barrier in the sky.
"But isn't that just a barrier?" The one who charged out head on is Mokou, "Whatever.." she declared her "Phoenix's tail" Spellcard, and all of the bullets, to other's surprise, are absorbed by the barrier.
"Oh, so it's not a simple barrier..." Mokou smiled as the Barrier eats in wave and wave of bullets. "Any barrier has a limit! everyone, focus on that barrier! Amarillo may want to just delay some time for some reason!"
They didn't see that the three giant gears forms a triangle, and the bullets Mokou and the other fired are just hitting through the tip of the triangle to somewhere even higherer in the sky.
Inside the gear-barrier, Koishi is also looking at the top of the gear-barrier, which is entirely out of her view.
"So what's that leads to?" she asked out of curiousity.
"The Change." Amarillo let out a smile, "You'll see it soon enough."
Then, they heard Marisa's voice just below.
"Oops, prepare for some big crush." Amarillo sits down on the gear-floor.
"Wait, what-?" Before Koishi is able to reply anything, a huge blast can be felt just below, seems like Marisa fired her Master Spark at the bottom of the gear-barrier.
The shockwave created by this impact knocked Koishi down.
Outside the barrier-
"Hey, look, the sky!"
someone shouted, and points to the sky.
The repairing of the sky has abructly stopped, it felt wierd to see that the moon and the sun are both on the sky, and evening and morning exists on the same time. But more importantly...
"MEMORY ALTERATION SYSTEM - OFFLINE." A cold machine female voice claimed.
then another voice followed :"BEGINNING...EMERGENCY EVALUCION SYSTEM"
"It's finished." As Amarillo let out a sigh of happiness, the "walls" of the gear-barrier crumble into ashes.
"Guys, remembered everything?" she asks while giving Koishi a thumb up, as a dark colored portal is forming over her in the high sky. Koishi first flew through it.
"I really want to thank you for what you've done, but keep all these stuff until we made it out of that place." Reimu flew pass her bringing Mikata and co. who don't seems to be injured at all.
"You are quite good, I never thought you're that good with big bullets, and I believe this alteration system didn't have a part in that." Marisa follows her.
"So what we left to do is go through that protal?" As Ken flew up (with other's help, more or less), "Hmm, interesting - though my memories are still fuzzy."
"You couldn't hurt to be prepared for a fight though, we are trapped in a nasty place, no less."
"Ok, I got it."
Then they heard Nue shouting, "And I'm doing this because you didn't put up a good fight - At All! hope you do better out there!" As Nue angrily drag Etch from his "hiding place" and sends him up with a powerful.... is that a punch?
As Amarillo is looking up, seeing that more and more people are heading through the portal, the portal suddenly begin to emit a bright light.
"My mission is over.... Mission Successful. GA-04, over and out." as she muttered these words, the light fully engulfed her.
Though in the other's eyes, she is falling down to the ground.
"Did she really thought it's worth it?!" Lily Black rushed down.
"We are saving people, so I think it's ok, let's just make sure she didn't get hurt." Lily White follows as well.
How...long has I been here?
Amarillo opened her eyes, they are currently on the Shrine Grounds.
"And why are you guys still there?!" Seeing the fairies beside her, Amarillo sighed, "The portal won't open forever - and I'm too tired to get up by myself anyways - So you guys go first, I'll break out from within."
"What do you think you're saying? You saved everyone, now it's our turn to save you." Claimed Lily White as the fairies are trying to lift her.
but with no anvil.
"Still don't realize it? by directing the people's attacks towards what's called the power source of the simulation, I've shut it down and so is the mana simulation system. You can't carry me out because there is not enough energy for us to do so. Either I or you guys must stay."
"Don't say things like that..." Mamizou appears, "It seems that most of the residents has vacated. Remilia is no where to be found, and Sakuya is forbidded to look for her but she did so anyways, where in the world could they be.."
"What about the subterrain palace?" Amarillo asked.
"Can't find them anywhere, could be out already."
"...and how long has I been out down there..?" seeing the confused look in Mamizou's eyes, Amarillo repeated, "I mean, how long since I fainted down here...oh wait."
"Did you hit your head somewhere? You are talking wierd." The tanuki looks up, "About 15 minutes, if I would say - I spend these long time looking for other people, you know."
"...Then you must go at once, the standard UPS is going to restart as we speak."
"And what is that?" Nue asked, however the same cold female sound cuts in that prefectly answered her question.
"WARNING: UNIVERSAL POWER SUPPLY ONLINE IN 1 MINUTE."
"Shoot, it's still repairing itself?! Humans and their technologies." Nue stick her trident down on the dirt.
"So as I said, get outta here already - not like I cannot make it out myself. after some time I mean."
"Are these our only choices?" Asked Daiyousei.
"Yes."
"No."at the same time Amarillo replies, Nue cuts her off.
"So you decided then, that's.... very unusual of you." Mamizou laughed.
"Why? With great power comes greater needs, I read that from a comic book."
"POWER SUPPLY ONLINE T-MINUS 40 SECONDS."
"I'm sure it's "your version" of it. But if you have decided, we must do it soon, taking the 3rd option here, I mean."
"Seems you are ready..."
Amarillo don't know what they are talking about, but there can be only one possibility.
"Don't tell me..."
"POWER SUPPLY ONLINE T-MINUS 10 SECONDS."
"Exactly, you have showed great bravery and faith these days, and this is what you deserved. Don't worry for us!" As Amarillo is speaking, she found herself already in the air, with the fairies follows her.
"FIVE."
"FOUR."
"THREE."
Looking down, they see that Nue is still striking a pose with her fists in the air, seems they are launched the exact same way Etch did.
"ONE."
Amarillo couldn't even ask what they are planning to do afterwards as the portal completely closed behind her crew.
"EMERGENCY POWER SOURCE ON-LINE."
...It's the most beautiful comet ever drawn across the sky of gensokyo.
-30 minutes ago-
"...... It's something as simple as that?" Koishi asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I don't know if I could make it out, if I didn't, do as I said." replied Amarillo.
"What if you made it out?" Koishi smiled, "trust me, you will."
"Heh, then let's form a plan outside this world."
Look like Koishi is right after all.
.... ....
....
..
and the dream said It loves you
and the dream said you have played the game well
and the dream said everything you need is within you
and the dream said you are stronger than you know
and the dream said you are the daylight
and the dream said you are the night
and the dream said the darkness you fight is within you
and the dream said the light you seek is within you
and the dream said you are not alone
and the dream said you are not separate from every other thing
and the dream said you are the dream tasting itself, talking to itself, reading its own mind.
and the dream said It love you because you are love.
And the game was over and you woke up from the dream. And you began a new dream. And you dreamed again,
dreamed better.
And you was the universe.
You are what you are.
Now, Wake up.
..
....
.... ....
Kamisuiwa Town Outskirts - RAI Secret Research Lab Codename "GRAVEYARD" - ??:?? DAY2
So it has come to this.
As Lily White carries Amarillo out, she received the message that somehow Amarillo can't normally talk and can only speak in a very weak voice.
"Seems some other parts of me has burnt away, I need time to recover, we'll regroup at Tourist Helpers and we'll settle a plan. Koishi and Nitori may already be there."
With that being said, there is no point of them staying at the human-pot filled rooms any longer.
Yukari and Jeremy already made it out much earlier before the fight and has taking out all the scientists in the base. Strangely, no soldiers are in it.
As Jeremy and Yukari are busy opening the strangely looking machine jars and releasing people, a monitor lights up. And a lazy-looking man is shown on the monitor.
"Graveyard Base, Graveyard Base, this is Diamond Clear, reply!"
Yukari stopped what she's doing and dragged one of the scientists over.
"Reply as nothing has happened, do it!"
The scientist opened the connection and picked up the phone.
"This is Graveyard base, everything is fine, over."
"Graveyard Base, are all the subjects all right?"
The scientist tried to look back, but Yukari is pointing at him on the head with her fan. "NOTHING has happened, tell them!"
"Yes, everything is OK." The scientist said.
"Great, we are finishing our recon mission and is heading back, probably about 48 hours later we'll arrive."
"Roger, godspeed." The scientist answered and cut off the phone.
"hah, we get visitors." The Gap-Youkai pushed the scientists aside.
"And he's tough to creak, I suggest you to escape outta here and regroup." Amarillo's voice is echoing in the hall, however the girl is nowhere to be found.
Kamisuiwa Town - Town Square - Tourist Helpers - 13:15, DAY 2
A knock can be heard on the door, then 5 knocks, stopped for a second, 7 knocks, another pause, then 3 knocks.
"They are there!" The kappa known as Kawashiro Nitori - now under the name Nancy the shopkeeper - running down from upstairs and opened the door, and welcome the exhausted girls inside.
"So Nancy and Emily, huh? I wonder why didn't I got a nametag that at least start with a K......" seeing Amarillo and the fairies has finally arrived, Koishi hanged up the "CLOSED" sign at the front door and closed the shop. (Not this shop gets a lot of visitors anyways...)
A plan is forming for a rescue.
A squad is heading back for a surprise.
A team has been gathered for a revenge.
1 hour later, the old Saniwa Shrine website get updated after a 2 month slience, it show nothing but one sentence.
"Do you have faith at yourself, and others who believed in you? - Amarillo Viridian."
Fin
EPISODE I : Fake Dreams
EPISODE II : Dreamin' Leagues
aurora, seeker of the stars
she will come and i will bind her.
?? ?? - Day 2 - ??
VIVIT had been frantically panicking within the time it took for the rather mystical sight to whiz in the horizon, Meira was keeping the now standing Hirowaza straight up, as the two of them attempted to shuffle in an aimless direction. Yet, Hirowaza stopped moving and looked up at the strange sight. "Hiro-kun! What are you doing, just gawking?! We have to dash! Move, move! Your leg is injured, we can't waste time here!" Meira shook the disoriented Hiro-waza about as he stood, dumbstruck. VIVIT squeaked and unloaded some mechanical devices from her arms, scooped up both Meira and Hirowaza, and took the both of them away for evacuation.
i think it's a rainbow. i've always wanted to touch a rainbow. so this will turn out well, as i think this one wants to touch me.
Hirowaza was not entirely sure about the events that transgressed, he was not even sure if he was alive, as VIVIT had swept him and Meira from their legs and attempted evacuation, all he could see was a strange, beautiful feminine figure of light, it was a strange vision, a strange phenomena, unreal, that of the phantasm, in the recesses of his mind. Lightning flickered, thunder everywhere, the environs that was the darkness began to crackle, break open, break down, revealing a backdrop of pure psychedelic chaos... More lightning, the sound of disintegration, the sound of anarchy, the screaming... There was nothing but screaming.
A song of chaos lingered as Hirowaza lay unconscious in... wherever place he was, he didn't know, he wasn't sure if he was even alive, and yet, he could not stop thinking of that vision, that vision seemed to fill him with a renewed vigor, a renewed sense of being, something... out of this world. A higher form of power. Beyond the mortal plane of existence. Yet... was this tangible, was this even real? Or was it merely phantasmic, a fragment of his own imagination? Hirowaza did not know... But he would find out. A flash of blue and red light struck inside his mind, and, eyes jolting wide open, he awoke from his long slumber.
11:00 AM - Day 2 - RAI Graveyard Base
i already know the answer. i made that choice long ago.
Hirowaza found himself in a strange, unfamiliar yet rather familiar environs. Unfamiliar in the sense that he had never seen most of this stuff before, but familiar in the sense that this huge sense of unknown he was feeling definitely reeked of RAI. He found himself in a strange pod of some sort, and then he realized something as he looked about, and tapped back into his vision. The song of chaos, that sound of anarchy... Was the Gensokyo he had been in that time... a fake? An illusion? Hirowaza left his pod and stretched in place, cracking his knuckles and looking down at the ground. Then he looked up. Then he looked at an empty pod, eyeing a reflection of himself in it. The eye which had now been exuding a red trail was now literally exuming a faint, translucent, blue flame. He looked at his hands, and swore he saw some electricity flicker from one of his fingers.
"...Aurora...?"
Hirowaza shook his head and looked about, and spotted the cool and composed Samurai Girl, Meira, leaning against the pod that he could only assume she came out of and approached her. Meira smiled weakly. "You're finally awake," she said. "I'm glad to see that you made it." Hirowaza tilted his head. "I'm sure you must have noticed from the fact that a lot of the pods around here are still closed, but not everyone who was in the virtual world, as VIVIT puts it, evacuated." Hirowaza clenched his fists, but ultimately sighed. Behind one of the pods next to Meira's, scuttled VIVIT, who seemed to be just fine as well. She squeaked and pitter-pattered about, exploring and seemingly studying the various mechanical pods. Hiro fidgeted.
"Let's see who else is still awake?" Hiro suggested, to which Meira nodded solemnly and the two of them started pacing about. Hirowaza had noted to the robot that she should follow them when she is done studying the various mechanisms and contraptions scattered about the large room. VIVIT acknowledged with a cheerful smile and nod before going on her business. Meanwhile, Meira had spotted a small congregation of people in a secluded part of the room, where someone appeared to be in a recovering condition; it was the protege of Keine. He couldn't really remember his name that well, Ken or something? Meira had strolled at a brisk pace towards them.
"Hmm, so this is the guy, eh..." Meira tilted her head and looked down at Ken, who appeared to have just gained consciousness from a terrible accident or something of the sort. "Doesn't look like much to me, at least for someone who appears to be in high-regard to his... peers." Meira scoffed, but Hirowaza sighed and approached her from behind.
"Now, now, Meira. Don't be rude; it was a 'Mana' accident!" Hiro sighed as Meira shrugged in response. Ken had expressed that he felt better, but nevertheless, Hiro insisted on Meira apologizing to the guy, to which she did, albeit hesitantly and reluctantly. Eventually, Patchouli and Koakuma had entered to provide a little bit more background information; to which Hirowaza found it fitting to break the news that the possibility that not everybody had actually made it through was quite likely. Ken did act rather passionately towards this, but Hiro ignored it. His burning left eye seemed to burn a bit brighter.
"So, what's your plan then?" Hiro seemed to ask Ken, almost in a manner of sorts that implied it was a challenge.
The weaving of the Threads of Fate has begun. The resulting cloth better be firm.
4:37 AM - Day 2 - Tokyo, Japan - Outside friend's house en route to Kamisuiwa
"Alright, Leo. Thanks for the help, your father's a good man."
A youthful teenager clad in a military-themed outfit finished packing his heavy baggage in the back of the car owned by Leo's father and seats in the front. He waves goodbye to his friend as he begins his trip to the province of Kamisuiwa. He then talks to himself mentally, or rather, with his 'original characters', mental entities he keeps around in his mind for company as well as his conscience to guide him with decisions.
"Ah, it's about time I reset my body clock back to waking up at a glorious 3:00 in the morning. Though I kinda procrastinated huh?
"Well, yes, just be sure to motivate yourself to sleep every 9-pm. Leo's such a good guy, even though he's twice as stoic as you."
"Also, go back to sleep, just a bit. The trip will take a while to get there and obviously the traffic's gonna be a killer, if there is any."
"Alright, I will."
He dozes off inside the vehicle, as time passes until he reaches his destination.
5:21 AM - Day 2 - Kamisuiwa - Drop-off Station near the Town Central
"Hey, wake up. Wake up and smell the awesome."
"Um...uh...what?"
The youth wakes up and looks at his surrounding, exiting the car to pick up his large backpack and fortified trolley case. While he is taking a good look at the wonderful dawn approaching, he is questioned by the driver.
"Hey Neil, you kinda look a bit too young to be carrying all that weight around."
"It's okay, sir. I can handle myself. I guess I'll be back in weeks, being busy going around."
"Hm, with all these guys looking like serious soldiers, this is probably one of your 'military enthusiast conventions'."
"(Wait, what? Thought this was an anime convention!) Yeah, I hear this time they're talking about the modern Japanese defense force."
"Alright, I'll let you off now. Stay safe, kid."
Neil watches the car speed away, feeling the cool and refreshing breeze in the region. He's spent so much time in Metro Manila that pristine air like this feels 12 times better in his perspective. He notices something about him...something.
"That guy is seriously Laguna Loire. Carefree, lovable by all and possesses lot's of guns. He even has that long hair!" "I know, right?"
Still, he realized he forgot to eat at Leo's home for breakfast, silly Neil. He spends several minutes looking for a place to eat, with a creative convenience store-slash-cafe sporting a clockwork/gear-motif in top priority. He read about it online, famous for its pragmatism and accepting atmosphere. Eventually he finds it and rests his already weary self in there along with getting a meal.
6:37 AM - Day 2 - Kamisuiwa Town Central - Carl Clover's Convenience Cache and Creative Cafe
Neil is finished eating a delicious meal of the standard rice meal Filipinos take for granted. A plate of rice along with 'variants' and they're good to go. Beside him are his belongings, slightly bloated after a spending spree that wasted more than half of his funds on various merchandise(in which he stuffed into his bags). He thinks he can probably redeem himself for that. He puts on his backpack and brings his trolley case outside, where he starts looking for some path that leads to the forest for his hiking.
Later, he finds such a path but there seems to a stone walkway that progressively gets more and more...erm...dilapidated. It's probably the path to some old shrine that has been forgotten by the millennium that was deep in the forest, right? The Saniwa Shrine is obviously placed closer to the city...but that's just him. Anyways, he thought not only would it be an excellent campsite but he could probably find something to loot too. He decides to slack off there for a few hours or more...or until he gets sick of it which would happen quite fast.
9:48 AM - Day 2 - Forest near Kamisuiwa - Random Shrine Ruins
For some bizarre broken down establishment, it's quite roomy here though the two hours spent following the path to this point wasn't really worth it. No wonder it was torn down, people got tired of this madness just for their spiritual routine and demanded a closer one. Look at it, it's so hellishly deep in the jungle that it might as well start a village of its own instead of having to drag people this freakin' far.
"Ah! Venomous spider detected!" yelled Neil, frightened at a small spider he deems threatening. Immediately he throws a large stick broken from one of the wooden windows at it, killing it instantly.
"It's just a spider, going about to kill a few insects like that cockroach you've been desperately going genocidal over."
"What do I care? I'm not gonna risk anything!"
He spends a few more minutes, calmed, attempting to loot and salvage all he can find. So far all he found is a chest-high walking stick that seems to be carved from a thick branch, piles of rusted machine-junk and...is that a military uniform? Upon closer inspection it is, fresh, unscathed and still in its clear packaging. Analysis reveals it to be a Winter-Ops (http://www.sovietarmystuff.com/images/products/200710261119540.snowcamo.jpg) uniform originating from a Soviet-enthusiast's online store.
"Hmm, I wonder who's the poor sap who dropped this? I mean, this is a rare find right here!" Neil wondered, "I always wanted my own NBC package...that covers the feet too, but I guess this will do, finders-keepers!"
"Are you really sure you want that? Is it even the right size?" "Of course he's sure, look closely at the size tags, it's just his size! It is kinda loose in some parts...is it?"
He begins putting it in in his case when all of a sudden a large yet benevolent, stray dog passes by. He is immediately stricken with fear, having second and third thoughts about stealing this even though the dog obviously means no harm. It's just that he has a phobia for dogs, fearing that one may bite him eventually.
"Should I drop it or greed?" "Greed! Greed! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance so GREED!!"
He freezes for a moment hoping the dog would pass by into the next room, and sure enough it did. He lets out a quiet sigh of relief as he finishes packing in the object. At least now the largest bit of empty space in his trolley case is filled and he needs no more items as it's full now.
"You might want to go back now, at this point your arrival time will be lunch time, so get going."
He thinks of bringing the stick to but then it might not be allowed back in the cafe so he leaves it there and heads back. This will be one long walk back now that he's starting to feel tired. His walking speed is reduced now that he has to conserve enough energy to make it back there. Once that is out of the way, he's going to have a nourishing meal and slack off online.
Three-fourths of the way back to the town central, he decides to take a short break to drink some water. Just as he finished he was spotted by, what he perceives as, a friendly military personnel on patrol.
"Hey you, kid! What are you doing here!?"
"Um...hiking?"
"You shouldn't be allowed here."
"Why?"
"You're not supposed to know, it's forbidden but what I can tell you is that it's really, really bad if you continue wandering up there."
"Okay, so about this military convention...I thought it was the standard Otaku scene."
"Oh that? It's probably a mistake in the advertisement department, come along now."
"It's amazing you can talk in fluent English. (And I don't have to use my poorly-memorized 'Conversational Japanese for Drop-Outs'.)"
They have a casual conversation until he gets back in the town central, where the soldier returns to patrolling the mountains.
12:59 Noon - Day 2 - Kamisuiwa Town Central - Carl Clover's Convenience Cache and Creative Cafe
She was right, anticipating the possible travel time crossing the path longer than the infamous staircase in Baguio he makes it at around 12:30 in the noon. Lucky for him he didn't stick out like a sore thumb, vacationers are often seen bringing their baggage around. Only now did he realize he was fortunate that no one tried to steal from him, would really suck if someone did even if he were to track that bastard down and force him to look at shock sites. And only NOW did he notice the absurd density of people here. There's only him and like 7 more people in this cafe. The employees don't seem to mind though. He is done eating a quick yet heavy meal to optimize his browsing time. The table is cleaned for him so he can use the cafe's wireless interface and the nearby power outlet for his laptop.
He checks the website that advertised this opportunity to him. Wait, why is he going hiking when a convention is starting? Don't know, but he can simply maneuver his way around and get himself in time for the convention. Besides, it's in a rural location so it's probably small scale. He is startled at what he found, it was wiped dead and it is now infected, to his horror (but his face refuses to show it). However, the powerful anti-virus his hacker classmate illegitimately modified to be even more powerful and brutal, showed no alarm. Was it him going for a chat? No, he'd never use a site and he can simply open up a secret chat program he installed, it's probably something different. The only thing bugging him was that it refuses to close, but he can still access TvTropes for some time-killing.
He spots a person dart off immediately after finishing his own browsing session, did he see the same thing? He looked familiar, was he that famous costume-maker who helped him with designing his gloves? (That was before he got the claws installed, obviously.)
"Hm, what's his problem?" he thought, afterwards he continued browsing the internet for some amusement, checking updates and replying to a few comments. He posts an update saying that he'll be busy for a long while so he won't be flooded with comments when he gets back online.
And what about the official military presence? Why isn't he allowed to wander off before attending? Why are there even soldiers in the first place?
The rush of questions, from the recent events and his online life, are dizzying his mind. Nevertheless, he's going to procrastinate visiting the site, though it does seem like a good opportunity to play the hero. I mean, look at that message, it's basically begging for someone who can believe in himself. Though about the trip...hmmm...something's up. Then suddenly his brain experiences the equivalent of an Overflow Exception after which he (indirectly) reprimands himself.
"You're obviously thinking things too hard, the guy's probably someone who looks like him and he's probably late for a meeting. The website in particular is dead from a hacker attack and the 'Tourist Helpers' shop is obviously some criminal trap to do you in. The deviants in particular probably got the hapless innocents who worked so hard to bring you the all-expense paid trip, in which by the time you got it everything else they had in mind is off the table. The military is here on a crackdown operation, like the -good- police you see on local TV. As your conscience you're gonna have to stand this down!" she reprimanded, showing both concern and some other emotion.
"And you're overreacting. I say get going around 1:30 PM once you finish packing up your stuff and had your share of new tropes. It's just across the town center." she suggested, though when she meant 'across the town center', she probably meant 'across the town center stuffed in a little corner of isolation, they should pick a better location to help more tourists'.
"Great idea, but first there's this list of humans with 'awesome powers'. Can't believe the marathon man is included."
Neil slacks off for several minutes, the first tab in his browser constantly reminding him so he wouldn't spend too much time.
"Stay sharp, Neil." she advised.
OOC: Goof-balling, obviously. Will arrive in the shop several minutes after Danao has made his entrance.
Error: Minimal Bearings || Status: End of KO Phase - Initiating Alarm Cycle
As Neil regains his first hits of consciousness, he ponders on his situation and evaluates himself accompanied by his 'consciences' to comfort him, feeling shame and regret for his impulses. The price is paid though, now he must proceed.
Well, that was painful. How long have I been out? So this is what unconsciousness feels like, or rather, the end of it since I would probably be too blank to notice it. I should be waking up soon, but where? Would I be lying on the floor of an abandoned house? Or in a truck, an operating table or maybe even in a hallucination. Perhaps...this is a daydream realized? I do not know, but for all I care the folks back say: (Not Accurate)
"Ang taong mauuntog ay matututong yumuko."*
It's probably night time, a bit late like 7pm or so. How long have I been 'blighted'? I can't believe I got carried away, and only now did I notice...I was too carefree to know my foolishness. Dammit, I'm such a blatant fool. For all the while I've been enjoying myself too much. Ugh...if only...
"It's alright, it's for the better, the moral reset is crucial at particular intervals. I'm sure the fates will repay you with a morale boost. Keep a few things in mind..."
Okay.
"You must feel better about yourself, knowing you are a broken man (being mended halfway though) and you have to show your tolerance. Weakness is acceptable, it happens. Do not overwork yourself over these trivial matters. Also, cut down on the regret and resentment, it's not good for you.
Yeah...thanks for the self-counseling, though I could use a therapist. I must remind myself again, checklist: I am a balanced person, my emotions are my strength and weakness, counsel is my aid. I am a daydreamer, a proud one who brings the best of his mind to being and it is my ambition, I live to strive a-
Wait, I can't feel anything yet and everything is a Stygian void where I can't see a thing, only the mental essence. Damn, I could end up in a lucid dream or something. Perhaps if I force even my legs to move even just a bit and groan, after all I should be waking up soon. Yet the relaxation...so good...but...I just have to open my eyes...
"Sorry, motor skills aren't ready yet. Perhaps a few more minutes but the sensitivities are almost there, once you're good to go you can probably panic almost instantly."
Dammit, fine, guess I'll have to do something. But when they're ready, prepare for sudden movement, I'm planning on scrambling to the nearest escape route. In the meantime, what are my plans...time to daydream...
"Wait, since when did we become professional diagnostics?"
The bit of comedy makes him smile as he lays there, resting in (mental/emotional) comfort. Eventually he will be waking up in a matter of minutes but for now he dreams up a concept for a romance-comedy miniseries about an anthropomorphized bird wyvern.
*"The person who will [bump his head] will learn to bend."
OOC: I expect to wake up around 6:20 PM or later. Anyway, I hope I can get away with this, my life's too swamped for consistency. Also, about the self-counseling thing, I do that IRL at times.
Day 3, Around 12:00, Kamisuiwa Train Station
"11:50:00"
Amarillo just finished a call.
"I guess we finally got some trouble." shouted as Lily Black (who is actually surprisingly good at riding a bicycle) catch up with Amarillo at the front gate of the Train Station.
"Shhhh...Even if it's trouble, don't say it out loud." Amarillo stopped her, "It seems our guest today got a car out of nowhere."
"But how is that possible!" The fairy gasped As Daiyousei make a sudden stop (without crushing into Lily's bike) and the others follows.
"Possible or not, it has already happened. We need a change of plans." Amarillo took out the map, "According to Sunny, he won a car at this location, using a mean that we do not yet understand - whatever, the point is that now he has a car, he'll be more effective at scouting for us."
"And what do you think he'll go? It's not like if he has got any clues..." Star points at the map, "he already went to the mall, so I guess he'll not be heading there."
"However if he thought the cake thing was our plan to lure him to the mall, then he would went there again, maybe even waiting there to catch us." said Lily White.
"That's some good reverse psychology, however I don't quite get your last part." Amarillo smiled, and continuing her map-reading.
"What's good for us is that we got 6 people here and Diamond only got himself." suggested Luna, "we can just scatter around in the city and he'll be clueless, since we wear the same clothing and all."
"That's not.. a good plan." Lily Black replied, "What if one of you get caught, I don't agree on this tactic."
"Neither do I." Amarillo looks up, "but Luna's idea DO have some usefulness."
-20 Minutes Later-
"So why did you choose me instead of others, or my sister?"
Lily Black's voice echoed in Amarillo's minds.
"That's because you are the only sword among our cast of shields." Amarillo replied.
"Eh, whenever you have doubts, you always goes on with your metaphors - Admit it, you want to take him down for what he did to us."
The girl is now rushing towards the mall.
She don't know if Diamond will actually wait there, however she didn't think so.
From what she knows, Diamond is a guy who want to claim victory AND honor - though in a very twisted way.
Rewrite his own fate to bestow ill fate upon others - That's something both Lily Black and Amarillo Viridian dislikes.
However, huge ego will destroy anyone, even one who writes his own fate.
That's why she is heading to the mall : such a guy like Diamond won't come back to a place just to find a girl that's not here in the first place, or so he thought not to.
and it seems she's right.
Day 3, Around 13:00, Kamisuiwa Editorials Building
"10:47:26"
Kamisuiwa Editorials is one of the few magazines that's published in the town. It's office is located not far from the town center, and is one of the tallest buildings in town. Though it's not as tall as your skyscrapers in big cities, neither can you see every place of this town on the building's top.
However, Luna and Star don't care about that a bit.
"So we need a place that can watch on what's happening on both the Train Station and the Park, correct?" As Star sneaks up to the rooftop ("We are the students from Grade 8 doing a school project!") and found Luna who is already waiting there.
"More or less, also, why don't you just fly up there instead of playing fool around these humans?" Luna looked out towards the square that's in front of the building.
"More flying means more EN consume for Amarillo, we are not in a video game, and there aren't any blue potions that can recover EN, remember that." Star pulls out a can of coffee from her pocket.
"...So what about that?" Luna took the coffee from Star, "Red Potions? Or whatever item that you see in games?"
"No, that's simply coffee. Now what's the color of Diamond's car again?"
At the same time, on the route to Kamisuiwa Central Mall
Diamond is driving, he tried to ask the townspeople about the girls in uniforms on bikes, however as he excepted he didn't get that much information.
Every day there are literally at least ten dozens of students that does the exactly same thing - wearing uniforms, roaming around in town, apparently doing nothing.
"She actually think into it, and picked a way that is hardest for me to track them down..." Diamond parked his car in front of the mall. "However, there are still something I can do."
he closes his eyes.
Day 3, Around 13:30, Kamisuiwa Central Mall
Suddenly, the alarm bell starts to rang all across the building.
"Warning! This is not a test of the fire alarm system, we discovered fire in our storage units, I repeat, we discovered fire in out storage units. Please get out of the building from nearby safety exits..."
"A Fire Alarm?" The girl jumps up from the cafe bar located at the fifth floor.
"Do you think it's a coincidence?"
"Err, Let's hope it is."
Instead of running down the stairs, the girl knocked off the glass that's located on the fifth floor safety window, and jumped out from it.
Diamond runs into the halls, he was stopped by a clerk, however after seeing his "Agent Pass", the clerk can do nothing but allowing him to heading in, believing that a group of firefighters will be coming.
Diamond knows there will be no firefighters, since the fire didn't exist anyway: what he did is simply caused the fire alarm malfunction.
Would the girl he seeks running down into this hall from upstairs? would she staying on top, believing it's a true fire alarm and waiting for people to rescue?
Then he recalls something else.
"Looks like you guys also brought a flying companion, but YOU WILL FALL HERE."
"Ah, yes, I remembered she can fly!" With this sudden inspiration in mind, Diamond turned around and run out of the building.
At the same time, Central Road
So it seems Diamond cannot alter directly someone's fate. Amarillo thought as the girl is riding the bicycle down the road towards the park.
Once they get to the park, she could get cover from Luna and Star. A spiritual bullet is enough to take him out.
Everything works according to plan, however...
A car quickly run past her, and stopped just in front of her.
"Oh I don't have time to listen to you." The girl muttered, and spread her wings, flew over the car and landed heavily on the ground.
Diamond is not counting her to stop either, he took out his gun and just as he begins to shoot-- He received a kick on the neck.
He looks up and see Daiyousei just above him, then she disappears.
"Seems you got not only one companion, however I'm interested on how your bike will be holding after that little stunt?"
Diamond get into the car again, and drive away.
He already have something in mind about their next location.
"However, I cannot simply cause them to appear there.. There must be something I overlooked, but what exactly?"
Day 3, Around 14:00, Rooftop of Kamisuiwa Editorials Building
"9:57:12"
"Here they are!" As Star saw the girl riding into the park and get off the bike, she quickly took out the phone and called her number:
"So is everything going fine?" She asked.
"Pretty much nothing, we encountered Diamond, he caused a fire in the mall. If it's not for Daiyousei I would be dead by now, call Lily White and have her ready at the park."
"OK, then what about you?"
"My bike is busted, so we couldn't delay them with our original means - We'll just wait and see if he appears at here or the graveyard, if He appeared here, we lure him back and have Ken take care of him for us,"
"Sounds good. Then I'll call Sunny too to make sure Diamond is not heading to the graveyard," Star hang up.
The girl left out a sigh, "How can Sunny Stop him from getting to the graveyard... I thought she means stopping him from getting IN the graveyard..."
Meanwhile, Graveyard Control Room
"Ahh, this madmen is heading our way!" seeing what Diamond did and what street he just went on, Etch shouted.
"Don't worry, we had our preparations." As Sunny took out a recorder from her pocket, everybody is staring at her.
Diamond is indeed heading to the Graveyard Base. However, as he arrived, he's stopped by the fully working security systems.
"UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLE DETECTED."
"Ahh, yes, that did seem to be unauthorized for you." Thinking so, Diamond step down, however he's still stopped by the barbed wires.
"PERSONNEL DETECTED : A13 DIAMOND, YOUR AUTHORIZATION EXPIRED 3 DAYS AGO."
"What?!" Diamond cannot believe his ears, "did some one taking over?"
"NEGATIVE."
"Who's decision is it?"
"NEGATIVE. HOWEVER I'M ALLOWED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU FAILED TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS AS OF NOW, PLEASE GO AND FORGET THIS PLACE."
"Heh, this base will went up into flames this night, and you are telling me I'm not good enough? Fine, I'll Prove it."
Diamond drove away.
In the control room, Sunny stopped the recorder.
"I don't know that people of RAI actually, you know, had grudge on this guy." commented Akyuu.
"Heh, if you are working with a guy who can cheat on anything on anyone on any moment, you'll hate him too." replied Etch.
Day 3, Around 15:20, Kamisuiwa Park
"8:37:01"
"Shhh.. Here he comes, maybe Sunny successfully stopped him as well." Listening to Star's reports, The girl ready herself.
Her plan is easy - Diamond won't have time to check the park, so as long as she is hiding in it, Diamond cannot caught her.
However, Diamond just walked in, and he clearly have no intention of going in deeper to search for her, that surprised her.
He stood on the central square of the park, and is actually not aware of the girl, who is just two brushes away from him.
Not like that poses any problem for Diamond.
"Whoever you are that mailed me with threats - I have a sure-fire plan that'll wipe you OUT. After that I have some of my own business to tend to. " Diamond looked around.
"PART ONE: Start to declare just as I go into this place. PART TWO: Declare it in SECRET so you don't know what awaits you. PART THREE: I'll now run because I don't want to got backfired by this AWESOME plan." As he finished, he turned back, run towards his car, and drive away.
"What was he referrin--" As the girl thought... Diamond's voice suddenly echoed from far away.
"PART FOUR: DECLARE YOUR FATE BEFORE I DECLARE MY PLAN!!"
and the girl turned back as a truck hit her head on, throwing Amarillo into the air.
(http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/large/5e654fbbgw1duooz8gfluj.jpg)
Strangely, She cannot feel anything, probably because she cannot, or is that because....
As Amarillo is falling down, she saw a very familiar shape blocking her from the truck - It was herself, but with darker hair color and red eyes.
"Heh, before you use me as a weapon, I got used as a shield instead, what irony."
"You know that's pointless." cried Amarillo, "Now get back here!"
In an instant, the girl got knocked out again from the shock that she was meant to take, however because Lily's actions somehow reduced the shook, she didn't suffer any injuries that's too heavy.
But one thing is clear, Amarillo's plan to use the Fairy of Rebirth as a weapon failed, since Lily Black would be unavailable for a few days after suffering a shock that heavy.
Still unable to get up, she looked far away, the driver of that truck seems to be dead too.
"Leave no witnesses, do you?" As Amarillo thought about the next actions, she saw a boy far in the gathering crowd.
However when she want to get a closer look, he disappeared.
".....urgh, it still hurts... I need someone to get us out there." Amarillo thought.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the editorial building.
"What?! How could sis do something like that?" As Lily White tried to look through the smokes far away.
"She always said she don't like soft people, however she took a hit for her, I wonder if that's also a sign of Tsundere..." commented Luna, "Don't worry, with Amarillo by her side she'll be ok in no time. We are more worrying on how they can get out from there after all these. Let's return to the Tourist Helpers and see what Ken's team is doing."