Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>Er... do we have anything that can halt divine Darkness Sparks?
>Well, it's already hit Shinki at any rate. Observe the aftermath of the attack.

> Well, you're not sure if it's Dark Energy or just a black spark. That would be kind of important. Being Divine dosen't make something stronger, it just gives it the 'God-killer' tag,

> The spark subsides, and Shinki is standing there, without batting an eyelid.

> "Just because something is Divine doesn't mean it's strong enough to hurt me." she says. "Still, I can't very well kill you after understanding your true meanings..."

> Shinki teleports behind Seiga, and places a hand on her head, before Seiga falls asleep.

> "So I'll instead put you inside an Illusion, so you can think over what you have done so wrong. When you realize and repent, you will awaken."

> Seiga falls on her face, and Yoshika hops over to her.

> "At the end of the day, the desire that was core to her aim, but was obscured by all the others, was the same as me." Shinki explains. "It would be hypocritical to have killed her."

> "What do you mean?" Yumeko asks.

> "If you think I am the only mother in the multiverse, Yumeko, you are sorely mistaken. Seiga is one too, but her extended life has made her outlive hers by many magnitudes, and you cannot raise one without a body as a Jiang-Shi." Shinki explains simply.

[Hanzo K.]

>"That explains why she dotes on her so much. Yoshika, despite being undead, is essentially her child. I guess she really did mean well with her goal of becoming like you, she just lost sight of it all under her power, and immensely long life. But then again, she was originally human, so she wouldn't be able to handle a nigh-endless lifespan quite like you or I can, which was what ultimately led her to become truly known as a Wicked Hermit I guess. Maybe when she comes to, she'll be a better person. Someone I'd be proud to consider a student of mine."

[Raikaria]

>"That explains why she dotes on her so much. Yoshika, despite being undead, is essentially her child. I guess she really did mean well with her goal of becoming like you, she just lost sight of it all under her power, and immensely long life. But then again, she was originally human, so she wouldn't be able to handle a nigh-endless lifespan quite like you or I can, which was what ultimately led her to become truly known as a Wicked Hermit I guess. Maybe when she comes to, she'll be a better person. Someone I'd be proud to consider a student of mine."

> "Oh no, she wanted the power and everything. However the core aim that led her down that path, the one she began with, was a desire to resurrect her family. By the time she learnt the Dark Art, there was no flesh to re-animate. As years went by, she became more desperate, reaching into more and more darkness, willing to do anything, even stooping to controlling others like she did today." Shinki explains. "Only a God can truely resurrect the dead."

> "It is that very path that gives her the chance of retribution, she realizes what is really important... or lets go of the past. Her life will continue cycling in this illusion, with her remembering what happens each time. Until she either comes up with a better path, and figures her mistakes, or accepts the loss, she will remain in the Illusion. That is the Purgatory of Makai. It is a harsh lesson."

> "It does explain her relation and kindness to Yoshika, indeed." Miko says. "I always found it strange she treated her like her own child."

> "Can we get onto the reason why we came here?" Soga says, sounding impatient. "Who knows how much more time and chaos has befallen Gensokyo while we were in this area with that maid warping space and time?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Yeah, you guys mentioned something about chaos and stuff when you showed up to help out, mind filling me in on that?"

[Raikaria]

>"Yeah, you guys mentioned something about chaos and stuff when you showed up to help out, mind filling me in on that?"

> Miko looks to Futo, who looks to Soga, who looks to Miko. It seems none of them want to be the one to tell you.

> Miko sighs.

> "Although we can't be completely sure... the monster flowers everywhere kind of give it away. It's Yuuka... it has to be. People go to sleep... and they don't wake up, they enter some sort of coma, with looks of absolute fear etched into their faces. Reimu's a victim too, she was sleeping when it began, and without Marisa here too, no-one knows where Yuuka's 'other home' is. We checked the Garden of the Sun, she's not there." Miko says.

> "Then, three days in, when all the humans and most fairies had succumbed to sleep, the monster flowers appeared, and began attacking everything else. If they knocked you out, you suffered the same fate as those who slept. When we left, only the strongest youkai were still active, the Scarlet Mansion, Ran Yakumo, some of the Moyuren Temple and Tengu." Soga says. "I guess the Eientei group are alright as well, but we can't get there, we got lost in the Bamboo Forest, and with the rabbits asleep, that usually guide people... we did find Mokou, and even she was effected. We don't know how it is Underground."

> "The thing is, the Moriya Shrine's abandoned too. We thought Kanako and Suwako could be of help, being Divines, but... they were gone." Futo explains. "Sanae too."

> "Well I'm here now, ~ze." Marisa says. "She lives past that Lake of Blood guarded by a Vampire. I don't know exactly where that place is called, but it ain't Gensokyo. We kind of agreed not to tell people where to find Yuuka, too dangerous. The Yuuka there is scarier than the one you lot know ~ze."

[Hanzo K.]

>"...Yukari warned me about someone using the Dream World to some nefarious end, but I had assumed it was Seiga, not Yuuka. I wonder why she's kicking up a fuss now?"
>What do we know of anything the Moriya Shrine was up to in the past few months?

[Raikaria]

>"...Yukari warned me about someone using the Dream World to some nefarious end, but I had assumed it was Seiga, not Yuuka. I wonder why she's kicking up a fuss now?"
>What do we know of anything the Moriya Shrine was up to in the past few months?

> "Simple. She saw her window. You were not there. Reimu was asleep. Marisa was under Seiga's control. Who is left?" Miko says. "Either that or she just tapped into whatever it was she was looking for."

> You know they planned to confront Yuuka, and try and de-god her, and make Sanae the new Titania, with the logic being that nature is, by definition, a miracle. You're not sure how that works, but when you heard it, you were confident a 2.5 v 1 would go in their favor, even if it was Yuuka, after all, Titania was sealed.

> "By any chance was there an overgrowth in plant life?" Sariel asks.

> "Yes, there were plants growing everywhere. Why?" Futo asks.

> "Because there's plants growing out of the portal to the Dream World."

> Indeed, there is ivy rapidly growing from the portal.

> "It seems whatever is happening to Gensokyo is reaching through the Dream World to Makai now... which means the portal in Gensokyo must bring you closer to her location." Shinki says, burning the ivy to cinders, only for it to re-grow almost instantly.

[The RQ8 plot, which is now starting, will be in more or less full. It was only the Seiga arc I trimmed down due to the wind-up of the universe. Obviously the climax which has been building since 5 will not be cut down]

[Hanzo K.]

>"I think you'll be at that for a while Shinki, the Real Yuuka's probably on par with you at your best, if not stronger. If Elly's anything to measure by that is. I can only surmise that Kanako and Suwako's plan to replace Yuuka with Sanae as the new Titania failed. And Yuuka, or rather, Titania I should say, is awake again. And very much in full-on world domination mode."
>Sigh. "One thing after another...First Seiga goes nuts, then this happens. Am I going to have to 'Pull A Shinki' myself to stop this crazy stuff for good?"

[Raikaria]

>"I think you'll be at that for a while Shinki, the Real Yuuka's probably on par with you at your best, if not stronger. If Elly's anything to measure by that is. I can only surmise that Kanako and Suwako's plan to replace Yuuka with Sanae as the new Titania failed. And Yuuka, or rather, Titania I should say, is awake again. And very much in full-on world domination mode."
>Sigh. "One thing after another...First Seiga goes nuts, then this happens. Am I going to have to 'Pull A Shinki' myself to stop this crazy stuff for good?"

> "I don't know who this Titania is." Shinki says, "But I'm fairly sure a world with multiple gods does not have one that equals me, being omnipotent. That said... I'm not quite invincible outside of Makai... and I cannot enter the Dream World. There are... reasons. Involving a certain evil sentient crystal."

> "Besides, if it took at least a week of Gensokyo time for the energy to reach here, imagine how much time would pass in Gensokyo if we went from here. Energy moves at the speed of light..." Futo says.

> "Well, we'll just have to put a stop to her ~ze! We just blast her with more firepower! I mean, the Taoists said there are still people awake, so if we gather them up..."

> Marisa stops.

> "Wait, you're scared of Elly? She's a joke. We and Reimu crushed her years ago." Marisa says.

> Shinki shakes her head. "No, Elly fought Rumia to exhaustion so I could implant some of my powers within her. Elly's strong enough to fight Rumia to exhaustion, I doubt you and Reimu before the time you fought me could have beaten her at that time, unless she is multiple times stronger now than back then."

> "No-one's allowed to grow in power faster than me ~ze!" Marisa says angrily.

[Hanzo K.]

>"You've seen my Dark Copy of the Master Spark, it could barely dent her Tile Sphere Defense. And that move was a match for the spark you used back then. That's not to say that I'm scared of Elly, but rather, I'm scared of the implications that it holds. The fact that the True Titania is miles above even Elly as she is now is what has me worried."
>Look to Shinki. "Titania is the Goddess of Nature, and the progenitor of the Fairy Race. Wherever nature exists, I'm willing to bet a year's worth of meals down at Mystia's that she's got traces even there. In a way, I'd say she's probably your equal in terms of 'Godness'. Nature's everywhere, and Titania is nature, which I guess could afford some form of omnipotence. And she made the Fairies, just like you made the residents of Makai. Overall, this is one fight that, for once, I'm not thrilled to be having."

[Raikaria]

>"You've seen my Dark Copy of the Master Spark, it could barely dent her Tile Sphere Defense. And that move was a match for the spark you used back then. That's not to say that I'm scared of Elly, but rather, I'm scared of the implications that it holds. The fact that the True Titania is miles above even Elly as she is now is what has me worried."
>Look to Shinki. "Titania is the Goddess of Nature, and the progenitor of the Fairy Race. Wherever nature exists, I'm willing to bet a year's worth of meals down at Mystia's that she's got traces even there. In a way, I'd say she's probably your equal in terms of 'Godness'. Nature's everywhere, and Titania is nature, which I guess could afford some form of omnipotence. And she made the Fairies, just like you made the residents of Makai. Overall, this is one fight that, for once, I'm not thrilled to be having."

> Marisa tips her hat so it covers her eyes, and only says one thing. "Yare yare da~ze..."

> "Hmm. I can see your point. A Goddess of Nature would be a terrifying foe to face. Not to mention insurpassable for any God who represents an aspect of Nature... she could possibly even have control over them, as lesser gods to her." Shinki says.

> "... Kanako is the Sky Goddess... and Suwako is Goddess of the Earth... both are aspects of the balance of our dimension's nature." Miko says, falling to her knees at the realization. "It wouldn't matter how many Gods linked to Nature challenged her, they wouldn't be able to defeat her. Suwako and Kanako... would have certainly lost, unless they were aided by a God which is not a Nature God."

> Sariel freezes the ivy, before shattering it. This time multiple plants, and large roots, start spreading.

> "You cannot stay here much longer, the growth is getting faster and more dangerous!" Sariel says. "If this keeps up, to hold it back, me and Shinki will have to unleash levels of power that would be hazardous to anyone else here!"

[Hanzo K.]

>"We'd best go then, at this point we're probably the only ones left. Hina's probably no use if she's got Suwako, because Suwako's got Curses as her thing too, which means she'd probably be able to control Hina by that logic. Puppet playing the puppeteer, to coin a phrase. Anyhow, let's get a move on to knock down Titania once and for all! Shinki, Sariel, stay safe you two. And don't let yourselves get knocked out. Mind setting up an exit for us real quick?"
>Look to Yoshika. "Yoshika, try to get Seiga to a safer place! I'm counting on you!"
>Once the exit's set, let's get everyone who's coming along through it. Yoshika and Seiga too.

[Raikaria]

>"We'd best go then, at this point we're probably the only ones left. Hina's probably no use if she's got Suwako, because Suwako's got Curses as her thing too, which means she'd probably be able to control Hina by that logic. Puppet playing the puppeteer, to coin a phrase. Anyhow, let's get a move on to knock down Titania once and for all! Shinki, Sariel, stay safe you two. And don't let yourselves get knocked out. Mind setting up an exit for us real quick?"
>Look to Yoshika. "Yoshika, try to get Seiga to a safer place! I'm counting on you!"
>Once the exit's set, let's get everyone who's coming along through it. Yoshika and Seiga too.

> "Hina isn't a strong Goddess anyway." Alice says.

> "Hah! We, get knocked out? In MAKAI?!" Shinki says, opening a portal around you, Seiga, Marisa, Yoshika, and the Taoists.

> You fall through the dimensional hole, and into Alice's house...

> Or, more precisely... the ruins of Alice's House. The Forest of Magic's Maisma is even heavier than normal, the trees larger, and varying in shades wildly, with various plants twisting around and between them, and growing in their shade. Plants you have never even seen.

> "Was wondering when you'd get back." says a gruff, unfamiliar voice, from an unfamiliar figure. "To think I'd have to unseal myself..."

> The figure is in a green dress, with one leg revealed. It looks like a martial artist's. Her hands are clawed, and you can see scales. Her red hair is like fire, and, most interestingly, a reptilian tail is visible from the underside of her dress, sticking out.

> She turns around, showing a familiar star attached to the front of her dress. It's Meiling's star she has on her hat.

> "I told you there were things I'd rather keep hidden about myself." she says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hong! Up to busting a few heads to set things right? We've got a bead on the culprit's location."
>Fistpalm. "How are Remi and Flan doing? Are they still awake? We might need their power for this upcoming fight."

[Raikaria]

>"Hong! Up to busting a few heads to set things right? We've got a bead on the culprit's location."
>Fistpalm. "How are Remi and Flan doing? Are they still awake? We might need their power for this upcoming fight."

> Hong grins. "Well, good thing you didn't call me Meiling, seeing as that's just a name I use to hide myself. In this form, I can be addressed as by true name, Hong Meilong, Chinese for 'Sleeping Rainbow Dragon'."

> "Wait... you're saying..." Marisa starts.

> "Yes. I'm a Dragon. Not THE Dragon. That Dragon is a Tianlong, a God-Dragon. Anyway, I came here to protect the way back into Gensokyo for you. Unfortunetly, I couldn't defend your house, Alice." Hong says.

> "I can fix it." she says.

> "The mansion? Remilia has shrouded it in her Scarlet Mist, so she can fight to her full extent 24/7. My services are not required there, she told me to guard other places that need me more. Last I knew, they were fine. Koakuma succumbed, but Patchouli, Sakuya, Remilia and Flan are fine."

> Hong sighs. "Despite this, things in Gensokyo have gone mental. Every day stronger plant-monsters form. They're not strong enough to bridge the huge gap between average youkai and the ones still conscious, the gap is huge, but fatigue will set in... and eventually, we would fall. At this point, when I last saw Aya, I think she said the only ones still up are Hijiri, Shou, Aya, Tenma, Ran, the Scarlet Mansion, Kaguya, Eirin, the Deva, Satori, Utusho... and technically Koishi... although she's worse than the sleepers, due to her living in the subconscious realm."

> "I guess that the Shinigami and Yama are OK as well, but no-one's seen them, as per usual. I mean, no-one's actually died." she adds.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well then, you ready to protect the biggest oyster of all? We're making for the Dream World to take the fight to the culprit, the real Yuuka. Or rather, the true Titania."

[Raikaria]

>"Well then, you ready to protect the biggest oyster of all? We're making for the Dream World to take the fight to the culprit, the real Yuuka. Or rather, the true Titania."

> "Well, for that sort of thing, we should gather up whoever we can. Some obviously have to stay to protect the ones sleeping..." Hong says. "Who knows if she'll try to kill everyone sleeping to make us not leave."

> She pauses.

> "Oh yeah, speaking of Oysters and Pearls!" Hong says, pulling out a box, and opening it, revealing a beautiful black sphere, patterned with galaxies, before throwing it into the air.

> The sphere expands, and twists, until it forms a split between dimensions, tied at the end by two knots of white lace. The inside is a dark purple, with galaxies visible inside.

> Maribel, Renko, Cirno, Mystia, Kogasa, Wriggle, Daiyousei and Rika come out.

> "A certain someone managed to protect themselves and some others while waiting for you." she says.

> Maribel falls onto her knees, panting. She is visibly taxed. "Creating a subdimension with a different time-flow... not that easy..." she says. "Especially holding others than me."

> "Well, ain't that a very different gap to Yukari's..." Rika comments, looking at what is apparently Maribel's gap.

> "Hehhe... I helped." Renko says. "That might explain the space theme." Renko doesn't look or sound as tired, but does have some sweat down her brow.

[Hanzo K.]

>"It's pretty cool too. Way different from Yukari's. Hers had these eyes and stuff."
>Then nod. "For taking on Titania, we'd obviously need to bring people who can challenge a God. Which would put Remi and Flan as candidates, as well as Komachi, Elly, and the Yamas. I suspect Elly might want Yuuka to be back to her old sadistic self, so we might be able to get her to help. And we'll probably need Alice and the Opened Grimoire as well, given that she's also capable."

[Raikaria]

>"It's pretty cool too. Way different from Yukari's. Hers had these eyes and stuff."
>Then nod. "For taking on Titania, we'd obviously need to bring people who can challenge a God. Which would put Remi and Flan as candidates, as well as Komachi, Elly, and the Yamas. I suspect Elly might want Yuuka to be back to her old sadistic self, so we might be able to get her to help. And we'll probably need Alice and the Opened Grimoire as well, given that she's also capable."

> Maribel nods. "Well, some of it's thanks to Renko, but yeah, my gaps look different. Because I'm different."

> "But how would we get the aid of the Yama?" Diayousei asks. "They live in Higan. We can't cross the Sanzu without being dead, and if you cross, you usually can't return if you try to cross without a Shinigami letting you... the fairies of the Sanzu are enough evidence of that."

> "Well, Yuyuko is an employee of the Yama. She is in charge of the Netherworld on the Yama's say-so. If we can find Youmu, she can ask Yuyuko, who might be able to ask Eiki." Alice says. "Youmu's a ghost, well, a half-ghost, so she should be OK."

> "I'm technically not alive. Surely I could get across no problems." Rika says.

> Alice shakes her head. "The Sanzu's width changes. It can be infinite. Unless you want to swim until your batteries run dry."

> "Isn't Satori linked to the Yama too, being in charge of the Hell Fires and everything?" Marisa asks.

> "Not sure." Alice comments.

> "Sounds like to try and get Eiki's help, we'd need to find Youmu or Satori then." Kogasa says.

> "Couldn't the Hell Raven help too?" Mystia chimes in. "Yatagarasu and all."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Aha! I know just what to do then! There's nothing stronger than the Sun, even my darkness can't beat it. All we need to do is get everyone out of there, and just have Okuu throw her strongest Sun Attack in there! I don't think even Titania could survive something that powerful!"

[Raikaria]

>"Aha! I know just what to do then! There's nothing stronger than the Sun, even my darkness can't beat it. All we need to do is get everyone out of there, and just have Okuu throw her strongest Sun Attack in there! I don't think even Titania could survive something that powerful!"

> "Except the Sun is natural..." Alice says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"True, but if it goes boom, then even nature itself crumbles before it. Remember what would've happened if the reactor back then went kaboom? All we need to do is do the same thing as we did then, but not stop it from exploding this time. I'm sure Rika can figure out a way to do it. If we can't beat her with natural means, we just use non-natural ones."
>Shrug. "Failing that, we could just take the easy way out and have Flan kyuu her or something I guess."

[Raikaria]

>"True, but if it goes boom, then even nature itself crumbles before it. Remember what would've happened if the reactor back then went kaboom? All we need to do is do the same thing as we did then, but not stop it from exploding this time. I'm sure Rika can figure out a way to do it. If we can't beat her with natural means, we just use non-natural ones."
>Shrug. "Failing that, we could just take the easy way out and have Flan kyuu her or something I guess."

> "Can Flan even Kyuu a god? I mean, she's natural too, isn't she?" Alice wonders.

> "Wait... natural... what about Yuugi? She has control of the supernatural." Marisa points out.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grab Marisa in one of those big ol' bear hugs! "Marisa, you're a genius! We'll have Yuugi nullify Titania's powers and control over the dream world! That should allow everyone to wake up and escape it safely! Then while she's still nullified, we drop a sun on her! It's genius! Even a God won't be able to survive going too close to a Sun while their power's nullified!"

[Raikaria]

>Grab Marisa in one of those big ol' bear hugs! "Marisa, you're a genius! We'll have Yuugi nullify Titania's powers and control over the dream world! That should allow everyone to wake up and escape it safely! Then while she's still nullified, we drop a sun on her! It's genius! Even a God won't be able to survive going too close to a Sun while their power's nullified!"

> Marisa yelps in surprise.

> "Eye'm the Genius!" Cirno moans.

> "Only if Yuugi is strong enough. I mean, her power has limits, she couldn't close that portal to Makai back then..." Alice says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let go of Marisa. "All we need her to do is nullify Titania's hold on the dream world, and anyone else she might be controlling, and then have someone else take over in her place. That way she can't take it back. And once that's set, we can take care of her properly."

[Raikaria]

>Let go of Marisa. "All we need her to do is nullify Titania's hold on the dream world, and anyone else she might be controlling, and then have someone else take over in her place. That way she can't take it back. And once that's set, we can take care of her properly."

> "Well, if she can at least make a window... that should give us a better chance than it currently seems as such." Alice says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "And right now, I'd say the best candidate to wrest away control of the dream world once Yuugi's opened up the window would probably be you Alice. Don't hold back. After all, Shinki used it to become what she is now, so logically speaking, you should be able to take over the dream world to keep Titania from using it again. We're essentially going to slowly strip away all of her means of fighting back, gotta be thorough when fighting a divine after all."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "And right now, I'd say the best candidate to wrest away control of the dream world once Yuugi's opened up the window would probably be you Alice. Don't hold back. After all, Shinki used it to become what she is now, so logically speaking, you should be able to take over the dream world to keep Titania from using it again. We're essentially going to slowly strip away all of her means of fighting back, gotta be thorough when fighting a divine after all."

> "I was more thinking of beating her up during the window so she couldn't focus on getting control back." Alice says.

> "That's surprisingly Marisa-like thinking..." Daiyousei says.

> "I spend too much time around her." Alice admits.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I think it'd probably be better to 'fill the vacuum', as it were. That way she can't take it back as easily, which will likely distract her a bit, making it easier to deliver the aforementioned beating."