Rumia Quest VI: Succession [Complete]

[Darkoda]

>Summon the chains

[Raikaria]

> You focus, and dig deep into your mind, and, enter the inner world.

> Instead of finding your other self, although you feel her presence, you see chains lying on the ground, and instinctively grab them, before leaving with them.

> The next thing you know, you are holding long chains in reality, which are extending out of, apparently, your very body. The chains feel light in your hands.

> "Better make sure Yuuka dosen't get her hands on those chains ~ze." Marisa says. "With her habits and all, inescapable chains are right up her alley."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I don't think she can do this."

[Darkoda]

>"Though I think that we shouldn't tell her about this. Ever."

[Raikaria]

>"I don't think she can do this."

> "That's not Marisa's point Rumia..." Alice says.

>"Though I think that we shouldn't tell her about this. Ever."

> "Yeah, she'd probably try and steal them if she found out."

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin, and  fiddle with one of the ends of the chains. "Man, it looks like I've got everything of mine now. Still felt 'her' around, but I don't think she'll be troubling me again for a long while."
>Nod. "Oh yeah, this just dawned on me as to what the one who would become the old me was. An Angel. When you consider the temporal images Shinki showed me of that fateful day, and the nature of these chains, it all adds up. Also, I never told anyone this before, but when I first faced down the old me, she described me as resembling a 'Fallen Angel'. She was pretty disgusted by it really. When you add that in with everything else, and take into account that these chains are essentially the same as the ones in the Ninth Circle, as well as my own 'the saint was crucified' habit, it all makes perfect sense."
>Beat.
>"Oh yeah, what happened to the old me anyhow?"

[Raikaria]

>Grin, and  fiddle with one of the ends of the chains. "Man, it looks like I've got everything of mine now. Still felt 'her' around, but I don't think she'll be troubling me again for a long while."
>Nod. "Oh yeah, this just dawned on me as to what the one who would become the old me was. An Angel. When you consider the temporal images Shinki showed me of that fateful day, and the nature of these chains, it all adds up. Also, I never told anyone this before, but when I first faced down the old me, she described me as resembling a 'Fallen Angel'. She was pretty disgusted by it really. When you add that in with everything else, and take into account that these chains are essentially the same as the ones in the Ninth Circle, as well as my own 'the saint was crucified' habit, it all makes perfect sense."
>Beat.
>"Oh yeah, what happened to the old me anyhow?"

> Shinki shrugs. "You'd have to ask Yumemi about the past of her world."

> "Old you as in your real self, or old you as in before you were reborn? The inner self of you was just driven further inside. However I'd expect, since the chains are technically her power, the longer you use them over time, the greater the risk to you would be."

[Hanzo K.]

>".....Oh."
>Let's uh...Put 'em away now.
>Then sweatdrop. "Uh...Maaaybe having another weapon to use would be a good idea then. Best to save the chains for a really big thing. What happened to that sword the Red-Winged Woman had? That nifty one with the ruby. I'm thinkin' something like that would be good."

[Raikaria]

>".....Oh."
>Let's uh...Put 'em away now.
>Then sweatdrop. "Uh...Maaaybe having another weapon to use would be a good idea then. Best to save the chains for a really big thing. What happened to that sword the Red-Winged Woman had? That nifty one with the ruby. I'm thinkin' something like that would be good."

> You put the chains away upon hearing Shinki's warning. You feel slightly more at ease when you do. You didn't even notice that you were feeling unsettled.

> Shinki smirks. "Indeed, who said there is a rule that you are limited to one weapon? However, the sword that was weilded by the previous incarnation of you, was destroyed when I destroyed her body. Anyway, for me to forge such a weapon myself, we would need to enter Makai, at least for a short time. The time would not be long enough for you to face any effects, although it would be best for us to discuss what I would make you now."

> Shinki waits a moment.

> "Anyway, I cannot just make the weapon with my power, it needs to be a part of you, and be made partially with your power infused into it. In addition, I would also want some assistance from a few of Makai's residents, to help contribute their own specialized power and energy into the weapon, so I can focus on what only I can do. I'll probably have Yumeko, Yuki and Mai pour some of their powers into the weapon as well, as well as someone I'm not sure you've met. Each of them can contribute something which should make the weapon stronger. A weapon forged by a god specifically for a mortal is not solely reliant on the god's power for it's own, as it is, at it's core, a weapon for a mortal to challenge gods, not for gods themselves. As such, it is strongest when it is a combination of mortal and god powers."

[Hanzo K.]

>"A part of me, huh? Like hair, or a finger? I know I'll be putting my own energy into the thing, that's a no-brainer. Gotta be able to will it to me from any distance after all."
>Then pause for a moment with a thoughtful expression. "Hmmm.....The best weapon for me.....Well, that'd have to be some kinda sword. They just feel natural, y'know? Maybe something in the flavor of a sword with a morphblade. Y'know, a sword that can change it's blade's style on the wielder's whim."

[Raikaria]

>"A part of me, huh? Like hair, or a finger? I know I'll be putting my own energy into the thing, that's a no-brainer. Gotta be able to will it to me from any distance after all."
>Then pause for a moment with a thoughtful expression. "Hmmm.....The best weapon for me.....Well, that'd have to be some kinda sword. They just feel natural, y'know? Maybe something in the flavor of a sword with a morphblade. Y'know, a sword that can change it's blade's style on the wielder's whim."

> Shinki looks pensive. "I should have figured it would be a sword of some kind, although I do not think it could change on your whim, without it being weakened significantly. The power of a god is not malleable, or easily bent by mortals. It would have to have a stable form."

> "Anyway, I need to make the preparations, and get everyone in Pandemonium. I'll be back in a few minutes." Shinki says, before she goes into the Makai-portal in Alice's wall.

> Only Marisa and Alice are here right now. Marisa is poking around Alice's dolls. Oddly enough, Alice dosen't seem too bothered by Marisa fiddling with some of her dolls, although Hourai and Shanghai are not among them, and are instead floating next to Alice, as usual.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's look around too. "Y'know, I don't think I ever found out why you named all your dolls the way you did sis."
>If we can compact to a more childlike form, then theoretically, we could alter our appearance to look more masculine, right?

[Raikaria]

>Let's look around too. "Y'know, I don't think I ever found out why you named all your dolls the way you did sis."
>If we can compact to a more childlike form, then theoretically, we could alter our appearance to look more masculine, right?

> "They're named after places, for the most part, although there are exceptions, that are named after legends, like Goliath. They're also named based on what their design is based on. I have many dolls. Holland, Tibet, Russia, England, France, Arctic, Antarctic, Shanghai, Hourai, Goliath, and more, many without names as well, such as the Legionnaires." Alice explains.

> You compacting to a child-like form is simply a side effect of that being the form forced upon you when your power was sealed. Thus, when you surpress your own power, you revert to that form. It's not exactly a free will transformation. You're not Mamizou.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Ah."
>Beat.
>"Then why haven't you named a series after Pandemonium? Savin' that for a particularly powerful or special doll series?"

[Raikaria]

>"Ah."
>Beat.
>"Then why haven't you named a series after Pandemonium? Savin' that for a particularly powerful or special doll series?"

> "I'd prefer to stick to things that people would understand the reference to. That said... that name is reserved for the first sentient doll I create... when I finally create it." Alice says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile warmly, in our best effort at the 'older sister' routine. "Like I said, 'powerful or special'."

[Raikaria]

>Smile warmly, in our best effort at the 'older sister' routine. "Like I said, 'powerful or special'."

> "Well, I never said most people in Gensokyo wouldn't get what Pandemonium is nowadays, after the whole Makai Invasion a few years back." Alice says, with a smirk.

> "What's Pandemonium? Ze~" Marisa says, earning a slap on the head from Shanghai.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh in that amused way folks usually reserve for dealing with Marisa. "Pandemonium's the capital of Makai, and it's Shinki's home base. I guess you could say it's the sort of 'all roads lead to Rome' kinda thing over on that side."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh in that amused way folks usually reserve for dealing with Marisa. "Pandemonium's the capital of Makai, and it's Shinki's home base. I guess you could say it's the sort of 'all roads lead to Rome' kinda thing over on that side."

> "Oh, that place. I forgot." Marisa says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Yup. And thanks to what Shinki did for me, I should be able to visit there for a bit longer than I used to."
>Let's do a small test of our powers not pertaining to the chains, to see if everything still works right.

[Raikaria]

>"Yup. And thanks to what Shinki did for me, I should be able to visit there for a bit longer than I used to."
>Let's do a small test of our powers not pertaining to the chains, to see if everything still works right.

> You do a check.

> Flight? Check.

> Darkness? Check, considering Marisa asking who turned out the lights.

> Dark energy? Che... wait.

> Your dark energy has a white center, instead of the faint blue of your Qi. Which is weird, seeing as you hadn't got to mixing Qi in yet. Without it it's usually just a faint blue, almost electrical ring inside it, but it seems like there is a inner orb of... light.

[Hanzo K.]

>"...That's new."
>If we haven't brought back the light yet, do so. "Hey Marisa, Sis, what do you make of this?"

[Raikaria]

>"...That's new."
>If we haven't brought back the light yet, do so. "Hey Marisa, Sis, what do you make of this?"

> You already canceled the darkness just to make sure you still could. It was like flicking the light on and off.

> Alice looks at the orb, but dares not do anything else.

> "No clue. Not really had the chance to inspect one of your orbs before, so I don't have anything to compare with."

> "Black and White... that reminds me of something." Marisa muses.

> "You?" Alice asks, sarcastically.

> "Reimu! Her Ying-Yang Orbs!"

> "... That's actually something that makes sense, and wasn't a lie, that came out of your mouth, Marisa. You realize that, right?" Alice says, looking genuinely surprised.

> "It happens all the time ~da ze."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, that orb wasn't there before Shinki worked her magic."
>Beat.
>Sweatdrop. "Wait. Does this mean I'm the equivalent of Reimu when it comes to Makai stuff now?"

[Raikaria]

>"Well, that orb wasn't there before Shinki worked her magic."
>Beat.
>Sweatdrop. "Wait. Does this mean I'm the equivalent of Reimu when it comes to Makai stuff now?"

> "What's different about that orb?" Alce asks.

> "I don't think so, do you have a sudden craving for money, buttkicking and sleep ~ze?" Marisa asks.

> "To be honest, seeing as this is a by-product of Rumia being fused with a god's powers, you could say she's more like the Sanae of Makai right now. I mean, she's only half Shinki's product. Maybe a third, depends how much of her initial self is there."

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin. "Marisa, since when have you known me to ever turn down a good brawl? Well, except for before I got all powerful and stuff."
>"Sanae huh...Maybe I oughta go visit her sometime. It'll be interesting, seeing how we stack up to each other. Gonna be a good show, that's for sure. Who knows, maybe it'll bring in a little cash too." Grin while nudging Marisa in a way that shows we're halfway joking about the cash bit.
>Oh yeah, there's those kids too. We'll have to tend to them before doing that.

[Raikaria]

>Grin. "Marisa, since when have you known me to ever turn down a good brawl? Well, except for before I got all powerful and stuff."
>"Sanae huh...Maybe I oughta go visit her sometime. It'll be interesting, seeing how we stack up to each other. Gonna be a good show, that's for sure. Who knows, maybe it'll bring in a little cash too." Grin while nudging Marisa in a way that shows we're halfway joking about the cash bit.
>Oh yeah, there's those kids too. We'll have to tend to them before doing that.

> Marisa looks worried, and then smiles. "You're not lazy. You've not caught Reimu-itis."

> "Wait, shouldn't you call it Yukari-itis?" Alice asks.

> "I dunno. We first noticed it in Reimu."

> At this point, the still chibi Shinki shows up again.

> "Did I miss anything?" she asks.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Nothing much, except this."
>Let's pull out a dark energy orb just like before. "That's new."

[Raikaria]

>"Nothing much, except this."
>Let's pull out a dark energy orb just like before. "That's new."

> "I can see that's new, but I don't get why the power manifests like that. I'm not exactly a being who's color is white..."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I haven't the foggiest either. Maybe it's because this body itself used to be an angel's or something? I dunno. If Yumemi was awake, she'd be able to tell me if she knows anything about all this."
>"Wait, I just thought of something. She exhausted a lot of her life force, so maybe if we hadn't used Kaguya's Cowrie Shell to regenerate what she lost, we could've done the same for her what you did for me in a way. Just by using Gensokyo's ambient magic energy instead."

>Beat.
>"I know this sort of thing's more in line with you magicians, but I can't help but wonder what it could do for folks like her.".