Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Hakurei Shrine~ => Patchouli's Scarlet Library => Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore => Topic started by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:01:46 AM

Title: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:01:46 AM
This story, is dramatic Mahou Shoujo story. The plot is preparing, please read warmly until its conclusion. Many minds will gather, and many will clash. What will happen to our dear world when moonlight and flame are forced to clash once more?


Odda C. presents to you?

?A fanwork based on the game series known as Touhou?

Frame of the Undying Fortitude



Why dawdle any longer? Let us begin?

***

[First Spell]

A cool moonlit night covers Gensokyo during this late hour. Some are idle, resting within their homes awaiting the day. Others are up and about, each with their own reason, be it innocent or otherwise. Cool, calm winds accentuate the perfect, unpolluted air. So calm is it, that not even the wind makes noise. Truly a quiet night probably good for drinking a strong beverage outside your home if you?re the late night type. One would think this peace would last throughout the night, but this is Gensokyo. Something is bound to happen here, disturbing the peace, the perpetrator heedless of whether it is night or not?

?Hey, what?chya writing there Wriggle? Are you to tell me you keep some kind of Journal nowadays??

The boyish Night Bug (or rather, firefly) was snapped out of her deep thoughts by the energetic voice of the Grilled Lamprey stand?s proprietor. She turned to her Night Sparrow friend as she unconsciously fiddled with one of her black antennae, clad in a simple white, long sleeved shirt, and baggy blue, knee high pants. She had simple, short green hair and innocent blue eyes. On her back was a black cape (red on the inside). She had on brown shoes, with frilly ankle high socks.

She was perched atop one of the Lamprey stand?s stools, while the other girl stood behind the desk, talking to Wriggle as she cooked.

?Ehh? Well maybe in a small sense Mystia. It is just that I decided not too long ago to keep all my random musings in a record of some sort.? explained Wriggle with a small smile on her face along with a small blush. ?Pay no mind. Other people will likely be bored by reading what?s in here.?

The Night bird merely smiled cheerfully.

?Don?t be so quick to write yourself off like that Wriggle! There are plenty of curious people who would be very interested in something of that nature!?

Mystia, like Wriggle, was a Youkai. But she was a bird Youkai rather than an insect Youkai. A white apron currently covered her elaborate frilly dress, colored in subdued dark reds, and pinks, with many ribbon-like bird ornaments going from the neckline all the way to the bottom. The sleeves of the dress were as white as a pearl, with black rings near the shoulders. She had on leggings that matched the color of her dress along with black shoes with tiny wings on them. On her back was a pair of wings that just so happened to match the color of her dress, though they had purple along the tops. Her eyes were grey, had pointy owl-like ears, and wore a bowl shaped hat (matching her dress) with little wings on top.

?You think so?? Sages, wanderers, and artists perhaps? But in some sense, you have a greater talent for writing this sort of stuff than I do.?

Wriggle leaned back to stretch a bit, lifting her skinny arms into the air.

?Maybe, maybe not. Which of the two of us really know?? said Mystia, before perking up with an idea. ?Why not write songs with your writings? There is plenty of material, and it could be quite a bit of fun!?

Wriggle very nearly fell out of her chair at the notion, but quickly recovered and settled back in. She was blushing slightly.

?I? ?I can?t sing as well as you can Mystia??

?Nonsense! Anyone can sing if they really put their will into it, even if they don?t sound good. I think you personally have a fairly decent voice yourself! And even if you?re unwilling to sing, I will gladly sing them! Besides, singing about random musings may make it easier to lure in humans to attack. They tend to be quite interested in such things, almost as much as Youkai.?

?Is that so? Tell me, do you really believe my works can be turned into good songs, or are your words mere encouragement??

Mystia just sighed, but still held her smile.

?You?re far too modest Wriggle. Really you are. Why not just do something for fun, even if you?re not very good at it? Surely someone will be impressed? Peoples tastes vary as much as the cloud shapes in the sky.?

?Or perhaps like the different foods you serve.? responded Wriggle.

?The only way to get better at something is practice until you can do it well. That?s why I sing my heart out, even when I?m not using my music to lure humans.?

?Just put my heart and will into it eh???

Just then, they both sensed the presence of someone approaching.

?Putting your heart into all you do eh? That?s a good mantra to live by, a good way to survive life?s tides.? said another female voice.

?Who goes there?? asks Wriggle, as the figure emerges from the shadows.

She was a woman looking to be in her twenties (as apposed to early teens for Mystia and Wriggle) of average height (making her taller than Mystia or Wriggle). In addition, she had dark brown eyes, with very long black hair, along with a pink shirt with many white bows, and a long, dark burgundy skirt decorated in yellow with bamboo and flower shapes. The sleeves of her dress seemed to exceed the length of her arms as well. She walked toward the red lantern lamprey stand with a rather gentle smile on her face.

Even so, Mystia was silent. Her smile disappeared as she eyed the on comer with suspicion. It was normal for Mystia to distrust humans (especially since most distrusted her), but this human was far more mysterious. Not only that but she was a Lunarian, a human from the moon (or rather, that?s what Mystia thought they were).

The famous immortal princess of Eientei, Kaguya Houraisan? thought the night bird.

?The Princess of Eientei all alone in a place like this??? asked Wriggle.

?I was feeling restless, so I decided to take an evening walk.? responded Kaguya calmly with a warm smile as she sat down.

?Aren?t you pretty far from your home here??? asked Mystia, raising an eyebrow.

?It matters not. I can fly quite quickly. Besides, I was interested in sampling your cuisine here. I read an article about it in that Tengu?s paper recently.? explained the princess as she put her right sleeve to her mouth. ?I?ve only seldom had any sort of fish during my time in Gensokyo, so now I?m curious as to the taste of this lamprey? I hear it?s good for the eyes as well.?

Eh? Is my night-blindness ability working on her?? thought Mystia.

?Uhh? You heard correctly. I-in fact, the lamprey from here is the best in the entire world!? boasting Mystia.

?Then I shall have the pleasure of proving whether or not it?s true.? giggled Kaguya.

Mystia suddenly pointed her spatula at the princess as she put on a very confident smile.

?My cooking skills will soon by well known among the Eientei inhabitants!?

Wriggle only looked back and forth at the two, wondering what Kaguya would think of Mystia?s cooking?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:02:28 AM
In mere moments Mystia was over the grill, preparing Kaguya?s late night snack. Wriggle (who was on Kaguya?s left) had one arm on the table, supporting her head as the boyish looking girl slowly drifted back into her deep thoughts. However?

?Wriggle Nightbug?? asked Kaguya suddenly.

Wriggle was startled, but not visibly so. She calmly turned her head toward the princess.

?That is my name. Do you wish to ask me something??

?I would say ?I wish to show you something.? Not too long ago, I discovered something very interesting. That interesting something lies within this nice little book I discovered not long ago?? said Kaguya as she pulled out a small brown leather book.

?What is that you wish to show me?? asked Wriggle curiously, straightening up.

It was a book containing all sorts of odd poems. Kaguya turned to a certain page and began reading.

?It goes like this:

When the stone is set, and the moon is high?
People shall rest, none shall die.

When the mind is set, and the heart is bold?
Many forbidden tails be told.

Many may unlock the secret, many may not?
But only one shall awaken the sleeper, like boiling water in a pot!

When the song is sung, and the fireflies dance?
The one who seals shall break many a romance.

And the one who unseals the sealer shall put one she sees forever in a cold trance.
That then shall be the very last dance.

Is the music ready? Are the dancers in place?
Sing and shout! Feel a peaceful feeling with grace!

Mystia was too focused on her cooking to pay attention, and Wriggle appeared understandably confused.

?Errr? I didn?t understand that at all?! It really doesn?t make any sense??

?It is mysterious isn?t it?? But that is what makes it interesting? Or rather, that was what made it interesting?? giggled the princess.

?Wait? Do you mean to tell me you have deciphered that blather?!? said Wriggle, surprised.

Kaguya merely smiled slyly at Wriggle, causing her to lean back slightly, then look away after a few seconds. It was silent for a few short moments, sans Mystia?s grilling. It was Mystia who broke the short lived silence.

?Orrrrrrrrrder up!? she announced as she layed Kaguya?s food in front of her.

?Hm? Looks simply succulent! Let us see if tasting is the same as looking?? said the princess eagerly.

As the princess tried Mystia?s lamprey Wriggle kept her in her peripheral vision. Her mind was hard at work in an attempt to figure out what that prophecy/riddle/poem/whatever was trying to say. In particular, she couldn?t get the lines involving ?dancing fireflies? out of her head. Wriggle hoped it didn?t mean something involving her. Kaguya?s appearance here at this late hour was suspicious enough, and that recital made her even more suspicious.

Besides? ?Wriggle couldn?t dance.

And as for the singing part? Mystia was a singer who was constantly singing no matter what. If there was ever a music lover in Gensokyo, it was her. Even so, it was hard if not impossible to find any reason that would make Mystia have anything at all to do with this. And really, Kaguya?s presence was too convient. Or was it? Now Wriggle was worried for a different reason. She wasn?t becoming some sort of absolutist cynic was she?? Perhaps she simply thought too much of this situation?

?Positively delicious! It would seem you are as good as the paper says you are!? exclaimed Kaguya after finishing off the lamprey rather quickly.

?As I have said to you!? said Mystia confidently, the bird?s large ego satisfied.

?Kaguya-sama?? began Wriggle. ?If you don?t mind my asking? What is it that you discovered in the texts you have just read to me???

Kaguya was silent for a few seconds, never breaking her smile. She slowly looked up at the sky dreamily.

?Something that will change my life. Something dear to me.? she spoke in a manner that made her seem she was in a moment of ecstasy.

????

?Now then? I?d like to enlist the talents of you two both.? she then announced, suddenly coming back to Earth.

?Huh? If you want to hire me for cooking or singing, please take one of the pamphlets to your left Kaguya-sama. All the information is there.? said Mystia, pointing at a small stack while wearing a confident smile. ?I?m not cheap though!?

?Hold on? You mean you?d like us to come to Eientei??? asked Wriggle, raising any eyebrow.

?Come with me, yes? But not quite to Eientei. I want you two to accompany me to a very special place. You will not find a place were your talents will be more appreciated than anywhere else in Gensokyo? ?no? ?the world!?

Somewhere other than Eientei...? Where could she possibly?? thinks Wriggle to herself.

The bliss caused by ego inflation was quick to fade, Mystia becoming suspicious toward Kaguya again.

?Hold on? Is there some kind of festival or something?? asked Mystia.

?Well? In a sense. I can ensure that there will be a celebration.? said Kaguya calmly.

Wriggle decided she?d heard enough.

?I?m sorry, but I think I will be passing. I?m sure there are others you can ask who are more talented than I am.?

The insect Youkai got up and bowed to Kaguya as she spoke, clearly with an intention to leave.

?I should be going? Sayonara.? she turned around and began walking away.

Kaguya began getting up as well, her smile becoming... ?darker.

?Wha?? Hey! You?re not leaving until you pay up! The rent doesn?t pay itself ya know!? said Mystia, a little peeved.

?You do well to hide your fear of me, Nightbug.? said Kaguya.

Wriggle suddenly stopped moving. She didn?t turn around, but if she did she would?ve revealed a very shocked expression. Still she said nothing, not even a whimper.

Mystia raised an eyebrow.

?Hm?? Hey, what?s going on? Stop speaking nonsense and pay your due!? demanded Mystia.

?You no longer require money, song bird. I need you as well.? said a now evilly smiling Kaguya.

Now Wriggle slowly turned her head around. If one looked closely, they could see the androgynous insect girl shivering a bit.

?Huh?? What are you? ?talking about??? said Mystia, extending her green, sharp nails out of instinct.

Kaguya closed her eyes and sighed.

?Sad really? I really thought that I could convince the two of you to come the seal willingly? But now it seems I must bring you forcefully.? said Kaguya before giggling a bit.

?MYSTIA!? shouted Wriggle as she turned all the way around.

Mystia put up a defensive fighting stance, but in only an instant, she found herself being held up into the air by the neck, courtesy Kaguya?s iron right hand grip.

?Gah?! Ah??!? gasped a confused and helpless Mystia.

I? ?I never saw her move?! thought the shocked Wriggle, frozen in fear.

Kaguya only smiled all the more maliciously, almost as if she fed off the fear of her two victims.

?It is quite too bad? Your food is quite delicious.?

Mystia only shivered in fear as she held on to Kaguya?s right arm. The princess held up her left arm, building blue colored magical energy in her left hand? ...and putting it right at Mystia?s face.

?Now Mystia Lorelei? ?become my puppet!?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:03:11 AM
The next thing Mystia saw was a bright flash? The entire lamprey stand exploded into pieces as Kaguya unleashed her attack!

?MYSTIAAAAAA? cried Wriggle.

After the princess emerged from the smoke and fire, the insect rushed in to attack her, only to be knocked down to the ground by a swift strike from the back of Kaguya?s right hand.

?You need not exert yourself. Your friend lives. I need the two of you alive after all. Because of that, I used one of my? ?gentler attacks.? said Kaguya, standing over Wriggle while holding her chin with her left arm, and supporting that arm with her right.

Wriggle only looked up at Kaguya, paying no heed to the green blood trickling down her mouth, or the sharp pain in her right cheek. She only had eyes for escape. Just then, she heard coughing coming from the smoldering spot where Mystia?s stand used to be. Wriggle quickly looked over, and then dove head first into the slowly clearing smoke. She ran out with an injured Mystia in her arms. She quickly hid behind a large tree, wondering what to do. Kaguya was no doubt following?

Mystia?s dress was tattered in many places. Her hat was even missing.

?Uhhh??

?Mystia??! Mystia, tell me you?re okay!? whispered Wriggle.

Mystia slowly opened her eyes. Her expression gave off signs that her entire body was currently racked with pain.

?Wri? Wriggle?? Wh-whats happening?? Why is? Why is she trying to capture us??? asked Mystia, still shocked by what had just happened.

?I haven?t a clue as to why?? admitted Wriggle. And I haven?t any idea as how to escape either?

Just then, Wriggle saw several splinters fly past her? Kaguya was some distance from the tree, holding her arms out as she unleashed crescent shaped blades of energy at the tree, slowly cutting it away. Surely she had enough power to do away with the tree in one blow however? Either she was being extra careful or?

She?s toying with us? thought Wriggle.

?Come now you two? You will not have to suffer more than have already. Just come with me and it will all be over!? said Kaguya almost playfully.

Wriggle merely looked back, knowing that she?d have no choice but to move soon. There wasn?t anyway for her to take on Kaguya in combat, especially without Mystia. What was she to do??

Just then, Wriggle felt movement in her arms? She was shocked to find Mystia climbing out of her grasp. What was she doing?! Did she plan to take on Kaguya herself?!

?Mystia please! Save your strength!? pleaded Wriggle.

?No? No human has ever caught me like that before? And I certainly won?t let myself be taken by one either? ?not without fighting back first??

It looked tough, but the night bird managed to remain stable. She gritted her teeth fiercely. Her pride was just as injured as her body. Furthermore, she was not about to go down without a fight, no matter how hopeless that fight was.

?My? My entire body feels as if it has been pierced with many sharp needles? But I don?t care! I?ll gladly die before I go anywhere with her, or any filthy human!?

?Mystia?? said Wriggle, feeling mixed emotions over the injured night bird?s resolve.

But then, in only a moment, Kaguya was standing in front of the two surprised girls with a vicious smile.

?You can forget about death. I have no intention of letting you die before my plan is complete. So??

She put her face into theirs.

??Just. Give. Up.?

Mystia?s face contorted with a mix of deep fear, and vengeful anger as her grey eyes met Kaguya?s cold and unnerving dark brown ones.

?N? N? NO!? shouted Mystia taking a swipe a Kaguya with her right claws.

Kaguya leaned only just enough to avoid the swipe before holding out her left hand and blowing her away with sheer magical force. Mystia shrieked as she was sent through several trees and ended up tumbling on to more open ground.

?You?ll pay for this?!? said Wriggle weakly as she took a right hook to Kaguya.

The princess merely caught Wriggle?s fist, sending her own right one deep into the bug girl?s stomach with great force. Wriggle gasped as she experienced the same fate as Mystia, joining her on the ground. Despite the strength of the princess? attacks, both girls were determined to keep going? They both slowly stood up?

?Mystia? ?are? ?you alright?? gasped Wriggle, holding her stomach as she stood up.

?I?ll be fine? For now, this human shall pay!? grunted Mystia, wiping crimson blood from her mouth.

The night bird shot off into the sky as she pulled out a strange card? A spellcard!

?Night Sparrow! Midnight Chorus Master!? she shouted.

The card began glowing? Now Kaguya?s vision quickly turned pitch black. She couldn?t even see her hand in front of her face! But she merely smiled. Large green energy balls of very great numbers began flying out at her, but of course she couldn?t see them. Even so, her senses and ability to manipulate instances (the same ability she used to move somewhere in the blink of an eye earlier) allowed her to dodge daftly. She was like a moonlit blur of subdued colors of night!

?This will get old quickly. It is a good thing I practiced that spell before hand?? she spoke to herself.

She finally dissipated her smile as she concentrated, chanting special words with corresponding hand signs. But even then, she dodged swarms of green energy balls effortlessly.

How can this be?! How has she lasted this long against this attack?! This is one of my best spell cards! thinks Mystia to herself.

Kaguya soon finishes her spell. In an instant, her night blindness has completely vanished! Mystia gasps in horror at this seemingly impossible turn for the worse.

?Now it is my turn.? says Kaguya calmly.

She swings her right arm upward at Mystia, sending a large whip of pure energy dead into the Youkai bird?s stomach.

?GAAH!?

Mystia ends up falling back to the ground. The blow also disrupts the remaining effects of he spell card, allowing Kaguya to cease her evasion. But as this is happening, Wriggle is making use of her special ability- her ability to summon poisonous insects at will!

?This will stop you?! Prepare yourself, human!? threatened Wriggle.

Kaguya merely smiled, awaiting Wriggle?s attack. Mystia slowly staggered back toward her friend, quickly realizing what she was doing.

Wait? Doesn?t she know about??!

?Wriggle wait?!? pleaded Mystia.

?GO!? shouted Wriggle, swinging her hand at Kaguya.

Hundreds? ?perhaps thousands of poisonous insects swarmed around Kaguya, quickly covering her body! But Kaguya merely looked on casually.

?There?s enough poison within this insect force to strike down three humans!? boasted Wriggle. ?Surely you will not survive this night!?

?Wriggle, that won?t work!?

Wriggle looks back at Mystia, confused.

?What do you speak of?? You talk as if??

All of a sudden there was a bright flash of light from where Kaguya was standing? When it faded, the two youkai could see Kaguya standing without a scratch, some of the grass around her burnt. All the insects had been vaporized!

?Your friend is correct you know?? began Kaguya, smiling sweetly.

Wriggle just stood in shock and disbelief.

?Aww, do not say you hadn?t any knowledge of my immortality?? giggled Kaguya.

?Immor? ?tality??? asked Wriggle.

?That?s right? No matter how much we injure her or how much poison we inject into her? ?she will never die.? explains Mystia with a dark tone.

?No way? Then what are to do?!? asked Wriggle, almost panicking.

?All we can do is to perhaps injure her until she can?t fight anymore, and then escape while we have the chance to. I would say ?run? but that is not a viable option anymore.? explains Mystia.

?But as it stands, you don?t stand much of a chance in even accomplishing that now do you?? asks Kaguya before laughing. ?Dear children, all you had to do was surrender. Such stubbornness has merely lengthened your suffering. Now waste no more time??

Kaguya suddenly shot out her left arm, sending an energy whip crashing into Wriggle?s stomach. Wriggle cried out in pain as she was sent tumbling into the nearby bushes. Mystia watched helplessly.

?Accept your fate!? commanded Kaguya.

Wriggle tried to stagger back up, but failed, coughing up green blood from her mouth.
Mystia gritted her teeth and held up her claws at Kaguya, but not before watching Wriggle struggle for a few seconds. Kaguya merely stood with the same sweet yet unnerving smile as before.

The angered Mystia shrieked loudly as she charged at Kaguya, swiping at her with her claws. Kaguya however dodged without fail with each blow. Two front swipes? Two short jumps backward. A rising vertical strike? Side stepped. A tackle attempt? A mere turn with a back step.

Nothing Mystia did connected, slowing with each blow. Kaguya held her right arm to her mouth.

?Heh heh heh? Is this all you have left? You haven?t enough strength to use spell cards or danmaku at this point. I?m I correct?? asked Kaguya.

(Danmaku: Japanese word for ?curtain fire?.)

Kaguya took to the skies, with Mystia in close pursuit. Kaguya had to dodge more blows while in the air. Before long she moved behind Mystia in an instant, sending a white magic bolt slamming into Mystia?s right wing, sending her crashing to the ground with a sickening snap.

?Ah?! My wing?!? thought Mystia out loud as she staggered into a half-stand, wincing heavily from the pain.

The princess side stepped one last attack, a desperate tackle. The night bird fell to her knees exhausted, too tired to continue her assault.

?Oh my? My first attack on you really did some damage on you, didn?t it? Never the less, your persistence makes me believe I withheld too much power when I used it on you.?

?Wriggle Sign??

?Hm???

Kaguya dissipated her smile as she turned to face Wriggle.

?Night Bug Storm!? shouted the firefly girl, as she held up a spell card.

Wriggle was surrounded by a white light as a flat spiral made from numerous small white energy balls began appearing in the sky. The spiral span counter clockwise as it increased in size. It soon stopped spinning, the balls becoming larger and flying at Kaguya at a great speed. There had to be hundreds to be sure.

?Lets see how you handle this!? shouts Wriggle.

?Hm? Pathetic. It seems your danmaku isn?t all that strong either?? comments the princess.

Kaguya quickly spins around, swinging her arms to send out an intense magic force, Wriggle?s bullets thrown away like simple paper balls, much to Wriggle's shock. Clenching her teeth, the nightbug immediately drew another spell card.

?Lamp Sign! Firefly Phenomenon!? shouted Wriggle as the card vanished.

A green aura surrounded Wriggle as she pointed both her outstretched arms at Kaguya, and opened her palms. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of small blue energy spheres flew out at the princess. Accompanying them were hundreds upon hundreds of green, diamond shaped bolts of death that spread out from Wriggle?s body, engulfing the battlefield (except of course where Mystia was).

?Impressive?? commented Kaguya.

Kaguya kindly stepped of the path of the blue spheres while playfully, yet carefully dodging the green diamonds. In fact she moved almost as if she was frolicking in a park, or dancing. Her dodges were graceful and precise. Clearly this spell card was far too easy for her skill level. At best, the bullets were only able to graze her. Not a single shot landed. After a few minutes?

?I believe that is quite enough?? said Kaguya more to herself.

Kaguya held her arms out, and sent swarms of spherical projectiles of many colors out at Wriggle. Many were intercepted by the insect girl?s own shots but?

Wriggle looked up? A feeling of terror fell over her as she saw that large swarm above her? She never even saw it until now?

Mystia did not turn around, remaining completely catatonic. Even during the loud explosion, she remained silent and still with a fear frozen facial expression. Even during the sounds of Wriggle screaming in agony as Kaguya mercilessly attacked her while laughing in sadistic revelry was not enough to make her turn around for even a short glance. Even when Wriggle was thrown past her, bleeding and clothes torn? even then she didn?t even so much as move her eyes. This is because she knew that this perhaps the end. Her time? Both their times were over. Kaguya would be able to do what she intended with them.

?Wriggle???

Wriggle was only able to sit up a slight bit, one eye barely open.

?Damn?!? she muttered.

Kaguya sighed in relief.

?Finally? Now I can take you without fail.?

?No? I don?t?? mumbled Mystia.

The princess swung her arms forward, six chains emerging from her large sleeves, three for each. Unable to dodge, the two Youkai girls found themselves wrapped up in the odd, bronze colored magic chains. Kaguya slowly began rising into the air as the chains retracted, pulling her victims closer?

Wriggle struggled against the chains desperately, trying to grab anything she could use to resist Kaguya.

?No?!? she half-shouted as she felt herself leaving the ground.

By now, Mystia?s eyes were tightly shut, tears pouring out from them.

I don?t want to go?! thought the helpless night bird.

Kaguya was smiling evilly as her catch drew closer? But suddenly, a strange blue object flew in front of her, stopping right at her face? Kaguya seemed to recognize the projectile.

?That?s?!?

The beginnings of a surprised expression began forming on her face just as a loud explosion with a white flash engulfed the battlefield?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:03:54 AM
The chains were broken, sending Mystia and Wriggle back down to the ground. But instead of the usual painful landings with thuds, they were carried gently back to the ground? ?by flames??

Kaguya slowly fell back to the ground as well, seeming paralyzed.

?Hourai bomb? Meant to incapacitate immortals like myself? But who??? Kaguya interrupted her own sentence as she looked upward to her right to find? ?You?! Mokou!?

Kaguya saw a girl appearing to be in her mid to late teens if not early twenties in the sky above her. She had red eyes along with ankle length hair of a light blue color. Her hair was tied with what appeared to be a large red and white paper charm on top of her head along with many smaller charms tied throughout her hair in a similar manner. She had on (baggy) dark red overalls with similar paper charm decorations stuck on randomly. Her shoes looked similar to boots. She had on a brownish white shirt that looked as if it were exposed to fire with brown tightening belts near the shoulders.

She had on a slight smile, but one could see just a smidgen of contempt behind it as she looked at Kaguya.

?What is this now Kaguya? Have you reduced yourself to harassing young Youkai children? I thought someone of your stature would be at far too high a caliber for something barbaric like that? Nothing like a good little Hourai bomb of your own servant?s creation to set you straight, wouldn?t you say?? said Mokou somewhat snobbishly in a gruff, sandpapery voice.

Kaguya was down on one knee, her movements stiff. It would have appeared however that she was already recovering?

?My business with them isn?t the same as my business with you. I WILL take them along with me whether or not you approve!? responded Kaguya, smiling a bit as well.

?Hmph?? Mokou looked back at the two young Youkai she?d just rescued. ?You two had better head on out of here. Unlike you two, she was affected by the bomb since it only works on people like her and me. But the effects won?t last long, and even now she?s dangerous. Once she recovers, I won?t be able to protect you.?

Mokou then looked back at Kaguya, taking a fighting stance as if she were trained in martial arts. Wriggle and Mystia suddenly felt their bodies regaining strength, along with some of their pain leaving. They checked themselves, looked at each other, then helped each other get up.

?I?m unsure of what you did to make her hate you so much, but now you can just leave her for me to handle. I?ll give you some of my energy along with four bombs. Use them wisely and you may yet escape. Now hurry up!?

?Wait! Who are you?? asked Wriggle.

?I?m just a health nut that runs a Yakitori stand! And now, a health nut who is seriously gonna kick the princess of Eientei?s ass!?

Wriggle found the answer a little strange, but at least she and Mystia knew the face of their rescuer. Wriggle picked up four coin-like objects with blue stars decorating them. These were the magical bombs that she and Mystia could use to defend themselves in case they were attacked while escaping Kaguya?s clutches. Mystia was all the more bewildered by the events. She was silent, turning to look at Mokou, but not saying anything. It was Wriggle who spoke up as the two of them limped as quickly as they could away from the battlefield, and into the nearby forest.

?Thank you.? spoke the nightbug before looking back to what was in front of her with Mystia following suit.

By now, Kaguya had managed to stand up, albeit in a very crooked postion. An aura of blue and white energy surrounded her.

?Surely you realize they will not get far? My dear Inabas are sure to catch them. They move with much speed and agility. Even with bombs, the chances that they have are small? ?assuming of course they have any chances at all!? boasted Kaguya.

Mokou began building orange colored magical energy in her hands. She was creating fire?

?Don?t think so lowly of the potency of my bombs Kaguya? Your rabbit troops will be in for a most unpleasant surprise. So what is about those two that made you attack them anyway??

?I?d say ?I am simply out exterminating pests? or ?they attacked me first? but considering what you saw, I know you?d doubt both explanations. Alas, my real reason shall remain unknown to you.? said Kaguya calmly.

?Then it seems I will just have to beat it outta ya!? exclaims Mokou.

?In due time dear Mokou. Before hand though a question of my own. How is it that you were able to come into possession of one of Eirin?s inventions??

?That is for me to know, and for scum like you to never find out!?

?Is that so?? I see no further reason for delay then. Now let us decide this latest destined battle between our cursed souls!?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:04:48 AM
***

An hour passes?

The Forest of Magic is well known as one of Gensokyo?s most dangerous and mysterious areas. It is said that people who wander into this forest are doomed to get hopelessly lost and subsequently attacked by beast-like Youkai or the strange, man-eating plants. The area is a breeding ground for malicious spirits along with deranged criminals. As a result, the area is filled with evil and is generally vile and repulsive.

However, two girls: Marisa Kirisame, a human, and Alice Margatroid, a Youkai that looks like (and at one time was) a human- have managed to live in this dangerous place without fail. On this night, even now at this late hour, the two girls are together, studying magic well into the night?s old hours. But it would seem that they were about to be finished for the night?

At the moment, you could still see lights (likely due to magic) on inside of the somewhat dilapidated, smallish, vine covered house. The inside of the house was? ?to say the least? ?a pigsty. It would seem the owner had a penchant for collecting many strange items, and no talent what so ever for cleaning or keeping organized. One had to wonder how one could move in such a mess. Scrolls, books, maps, jars, chairs, clothing? ?all strewed about carelessly! How could anyone inside possibly move with so much clutter?!

Apparently these two girls could? Both appeared to be in their mid to late teens. One was on the floor, reading a very large sized book while holding a small, red clothed, blonde haired humanoid doll with a large red bow. She was a short haired blonde, clad in a blue and white dress with black trend along the shoulder area, along with pink ribbons around the waist and neckline. She had on black boots and a red ribbon in her hair. Her eyes were a light blue color, and her skin looked a bit on the pale side, indicating a lack of sunlight exposure.

The other girl sat on a desk, checking on various notes and formulas. She was clad in a short sleeved black and white witch?s outfit with a white apron over it, complete with black shoes with white socks. Her blonde hair was semi-long and quite messy looking, though she did have a braid on the side, complete with a red ribbon. Her skin tone was healthier looking than that of the girl sitting on the floor, and her eyes were golden in color.

She stretched out her arms upward before letting out a small yawn.

?Oh man? What time is it??? she asked.

?Isn?t it odd for Marisa to ask for the time when she stays up this late so frequently?? asks the girl on the ground. ?I?d think you?d be used to it by now. You stay up this late often, but??

Now it was this girl?s turn to have a yawn, a rather long and wide one at that.

??I stay up like this only on rare occasions.?

?Are you sure you?re a Youkai? Since you rarely need sleep, should you really be so tired Alice??

?I haven?t been one long. My habits of old die hard? But in any case, we?d do well to rest for the night. We?ll be better able to study the interesting magic formulas you found after a good rest.? said Alice, slowly standing up.

?Meh? Guess you?re right. Welp? ?time for bed!?

Just then, both girls were surprised by the sound of a VERY close by explosion outside the house. Alice shrieked as she whipped around to the direction of the front door, her doll flying beside her using fairy-like wings. The entire house was shaken, causing many items to crash onto the floor.

?What the hell was that?!? said Marisa as she got up.

?Are asking that of me?! Don?t speak about it to someone who doesn?t know, go outside and look!? half-yelled Alice in response, looking a tad flustered.

Marisa grabbed a bamboo stick broom made with straw, along with a ridiculously large black witch?s hat with a large white ribbon on it. She put the hat on her head.

?Why not come outside with me and find out what it is? Surely you wouldn?t leave a friend to fight off potential intruders alone, would you?? asked Marisa teasingly with a sly smile.

?O-o-of course not! I was gonna follow you of course! Now hurry up and open the door!? chattered Alice, obviously putting up a front.

Like I?m gonna fall for that fake courage... Wish she?d just admit that she?s just a scardy cat already? thinks the black and white witch Marisa. Anyways?!

Marisa suddenly burst out of the front door of her house with the nervous looking Alice behind her. Alice was holding a locked black book. Marisa wasted no time making her demands known to whoever was doing the blasting.

?HEY! The hells goin? on out here?!? she shouted, apparently not much for subtlety.

As Marisa looks around eagerly, Alice (with her better vision from being a Youkai) spots two figures approaching from the front. Two Youkai, both injured with tattered clothing, looking quite exhausted. They were an insect and a night bird? Yes, Wriggle and Mystia had been chased all the way to the Forest of Magic!

?Look!? says Alice to Marisa, pointing to the two.

?The hell? Are you two the ones responsible for that blast just a moment ago?? questions Marisa, hands on her hips.

?F-forgive us?? begins an out of breath Wriggle, stopping and putting her hands on her knees as she leaned down. ?It is I that was responsible, but we had to protect ourselves??

?Wriggle what are? ?you doing?! She?s a human! She can? ?exterminate us? ?if she so? ?desires!? warns an also out of breath Mystia, having to stop between words to breath.

?We haven?t a choice Mystia. We? ?need help. Even if they?re the end of us, they?re our best shot.? said Wriggle somewhat solemnly.

?Nah, you guys haven?t given me a reason to get rid of ya yet.? says Marisa rather happily. ?Though if ya damage the house, you?re gonna owe me some serious cash, ze!?

?Marisa, be serious! Can?t you see they?re hurt?? chides Alice a little angrily.

The book wielding girl and her doll walk up to Wriggle and Mystia, Alice holding Wriggle by the shoulders.

?Who is it that?s chasing you? Is it a red-white miko by any chance?? she asks calmly.

?Not the maiden of the shrine, but the princess of the mansion known as Eientei.? explains Wriggle, who?d caught some breath, but still looking thoroughly exhausted. ?We were saved by a crimson eyed person with blue hair and strange clothes.?

?You were attacked by Kaguya Houraisan, and defended by Fujiwara no Mokou?? asks Alice.

?That is? ?her name??

?Indeed it is.?

?Huh? For a minute, I thought it was that spoiled brat of a vampire?? says Marisa, a hand holding her chin.

?The one named Kaguya brutally attacked us, then sent her army of rabbits and Youkai rabbits after us.? began the fatigued Mystia in a fatigued tone. ?We have? ?no? ?clue as to? ?why??

With that, Mystia finally gives in to her exhaustion and collapses, but is caught by the quickly reacting Marisa.

?Whoa there! You?d better save your strength?? suggested Marisa. Wait, why do I suddenly care about these two?? This isn?t my fight!

Wriggle continued the explanation, looking dazed, probably not even noticing the fact that Mystia had just passed out.

?She said? ?that she ?required our talents?. We know not? ?what she meant exactly. Her army of rabbits? ?have pursued us relentlessly for well over? ?an hour??

Wriggle then collapsed into Alice?s arms.

?Please? ?help? ?us. We don?t? ?want to be? ?taken??

That was all Wriggle was able to get out before losing consciousness.

?Over an hour?!? says a genuinely surprised Marisa. ?Man, she must REALLY need them for something! But insects and sparrows taste really bad, so surely there is something other than that? I?d be lying if I didn?t say I was suddenly interested in what?s going on here.?

?As I am.? responds Alice. ?These are fellow Youkai? I am obligated to help.?

Just then, the two girls heard faint voices in the distance? They both could?ve sworn they heard something along the lines of ?Over here! I think they went this way!?

?Those voices? Gotta be the Inaba army?? says Marisa. ?Man, didn?t think I?d have to fight ?em again so soon??

?No Marisa, I will handle them all myself.? said Alice, much to the surprise of Marisa. ?Dolls!?

Three dolls similar to the one flying by Alice (excepted in black dresses rather than red ones) materialized out of thin air.

?Help Marisa get these two inside! Marisa, turn out the lights once you?re back in!? commands Alice.

Man?! I guess Alice has a little bravery in her after all? Gotta get it to come out more though! thinks Marisa as she carries Mystia inside.

The three dolls grab Wriggle and ?surprisingly enough- are able to pull her inside! Alice waits outside alone, awaiting the approaching rabbit army, book tucked under her left arm, and her right placed squarely on her hip. Surely enough, they finally arrive. Many small, young, human-looking girls with fluffy white rabbit ears, red eyes and pink dresses. All of them had different hair styles, but shared a black hair color. There were at least sixty or so of them.

?Well now, what is it that we have here?!? begins Alice in an unusually threatening sounding tone. ?Aren?t you the same pests that went around raiding my garden for vegetables a few weeks ago? Profiting from labor you did not do? Oh wait? You are! How dare you intrude here!?

Oh? Payback, of course? Alice always did have a hard time letting go of grudges? thinks Marisa (who has her ear to the door).

?Ehh?! But this is not even the same place where you lived before!? says one of the bunny girls.

?And it?s currently not where I live! I?m only here for this night! But since you pests are here, I?m going to give you all a very good lesson! Right now, before you can attack my garden again!? exclaims Alice.

The bunny girls all looked at each other, with slight hints of nervousness. Feigning retreat however, and determined to complete their mission for their Mistress Kaguya, they all continued to stare down Alice.

?Hey, we?re not leaving right now! We do not have time for you now, so move out of the way!?

?Force me to if you are indeed so powerful!?

With that, Alice snaps her free hand?s fingers, summoning seven of her black-dressed dolls. They all wield magenta energy swords. They move in at a surprisingly high speed, and strike at seven of the rabbits. The bunny girls let out surprisingly cute squeals as they fall to the ground (unconscious rather than killed? Odd?).

?How dare you! Inabas? ?CHAAAAARGE!!!?

Alice raises her hand into the air, summoning orange clothed, bow and arrow wielding dolls. The archer dolls fire their weapons at the charging rabbit warriors, somehow firing several shots at once in the form of dull yellow energy arrows. The shots hit their targets, blowing more Inabas back.

One rabbit jumps high into the air, trying to land on Alice, but Alice jumps away. After that rabbit lands, the back of her head finds a hammer being smashed into courtesy of another doll. One bunny attempts to tackle Alice, but a swift spin kick sends it flying away.

Next, Alice holds out her book, creating myriads of yellow and orange death orbs that crash into the bunny army, damaging them further. Some eight rabbits remain standing as a result.

Go Alice! thinks Marisa.

?Damn you! Someday, the Inaba army of Eientei will triumph over you! M-maybe not today or tomorrow, but definitely some day! J-just you wait!? shouts the lead bunny, sniffling a bit, her eyes tearing.

?Retreat! Carry out the injured! Evacuate!? commands another bunny.

It only takes seconds for the rabbits to collect their fallen forces.

?By the way, you seemed to be in pursuit of something?? begins Alice.

?That?s none of your business!?

?A firefly and a bird, correct? I?ll tell you where they are under one condition??

The listening Marisa smiled a little nervously.

She?s not about to sell them out is she??!

?Why should we believe you?!? shouts an Inaba.

?Because you lost them, and I?m your only lead right?? says Alice, smiling confidently.

The bunnies hesitated for a few seconds.

?Name your terms, seven colored Youkai!?

?You are to never venture into my garden again! If you fail to do so I?ll be much harder on you next time we meet! Are we at an understanding??

?Very well! An understanding is reached!?

?Off to my left? Your right! That is where they are headed next! Hurry and catch them! Find them before I do if you want them alive!? warns Alice.

?Carry off the injured! All personal still able to fight, with me!?

And with that, the Inabas retreat. Alice smiles triumphantly as she watches them leave before turning around and going into Marisa?s darkened house? ?promptly falling to her knees and sighing with relief upon closing the door.

?Ooo? I can?t believe I did that?? sighs Alice.

?That was pretty kick ass of you Alice! You must be really passionate of that garden of yours?? begins Marisa. ?Wait? I have never seen a garden at your house before??

?It is there. And yes, I AM passionate about it. So don?t YOU go stealing anything!? warns Alice. How is it she of all people never noticed??

Marisa only chuckles a bit. Despite the darkness, Alice notices that Marisa had begun patching up Wriggle and Mystia.

?How are they?? she asked.

?They?re okay. I need you to help me with the bandages though. After that, we hit the sack. We need our rest if we?re gonna solve this latest mystery aren?t we?? says Marisa enthusiastically with a wink.

Alice seems to blush a bit, before looking away (it?s too dark to see this blushing however).

?You are correct.? she says as she gets up.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:05:44 AM
?GRAAAGH! Dammit, where could it have gone??!? yells a fatigued, asthmatic female voice.

The voice was inside a large library? What a great library! The vastness of this place is so great, it would be quite difficult to properly describe. Located underneath the great mansion in the mountains, this dimly lit magical library was the final word on where to find all the data on anything you desired, from magic to dating advice, to ancient stories.

This was Voile, the great library of Gensokyo.

But on this night, all was not well. The normally quite library was quite noisy this night. But what was causing such an uproar? It was impossible to tell with all the chaos around. Fairies dressed like maids flew to and fro like raging bees, carrying books and rummaging madly through the vast collections of the library. The panic was so great, that many books ended up on the floor, creating a massive mess.

?Out of all the books I could?ve allowed to slip from my grasp? NO EXCUSE AT ALL!? yelled the enraged female again.

The voice belonged to a somewhat short Youkai girl that looked to be somewhere in her teens. Her skin was quite pale, maybe more so than Alice?s. Her clothes consisted of rather loose looking purple night gown-like attire with purple shoes, and a poofy purple hat complete with a cresent moon decoration on the left side. Her hair ?tied into semi-long ponytails that hung over her shoulders using red and yellow ribbons- was purple was well. Even her eyes were purple! Her clothes also consisted of many ribbons, all red or yellow in color. The ribbons gave off faint magical aura?s almost as if they were feeding ?perhaps even amplifying- her power?

?Miss Patchouli, please?!? pleaded her assistant.

A familiar with brown, semi long hair, brown eyes, and bat-like wings on her back with two smaller ones coming out of her head. She was clad in a black and white dress with white sleeves, and was carrying several books as she desperately pleaded for her Mistress to calm down.

The purple clad Patchouli, took out her rage on a nearby standing shelf- sending a destructive blast of yellow energy at it. A hole was blown into it, in addition to it beginning to fall. Thankfully, a good number of fairy maids saw what their Mistress was doing, and caught the shelf before it could fall and cause a devastating domino effect.

The winged, book carrying girl put a hand on her Mistresses shoulder.

?I beg you Miss Patchouli, please calm yourself! It isn?t good for your health if you become too worked up!?

?Ko? Koakuma?? wheezes Patchouli, who is now having a hard time breathing. ?You?re? ?right??

Patchouli slowly returns to the ground, sitting at one of the many tables of the library. She then took a few moments to calm herself down so she could breath more easily.

?Koakuma? I?m going to tell you something of utmost importance. Listen to my instruction carefully, as if your life depended on it.? spoke Patchouli in a calmer and lighter, but still dead serious tone.

?Of course Miss Patchouli.? responded Koakuma.

?I should have told you this earlier? The book we search for is a book containing many dark secrets. For the simple, it is a series of indecipherable riddles that are foolish. For the intelligent, they are the collected knowledge of secrets that could very well shake Gensokyo. If we don?t find it, I? ?all of us? ?all of Gensokyo could be endangered. The secrets come in the form of poems and songs that can either benefit Gensokyo, or cause great harm should it fall into the wrong hands.? explained Patchouli.

?I?ve worked my hardest to find the requested volume, but after searching every last corner of this library, and the mansion we have failed to locate it.? replied Koakuma regrettably.

?I promise to reward you for your diligence at a later time Koakuma. Now tell me, is it true that the library was raided by the rabbits of Eientei last night??

?That is true Miss Patchouli. What is also true is that the one named Marisa Kirisame broke into our library yet again a few hours later, and made off with more of your texts.?

?That means it could be in the hands of either Eientei?s princess, or the black white witch??

Patchouli stared dead into her assistant?s eyes.

?Listen to me closely! You are to send out the maids. Have them target the annoying black white along with the mansion of Eientei. I do not care what you must do, just retrieve the book from whomever it is that has it!? ordered Patchouli.

?Forgive my hesitation Miss Patchouli, but such an operation would require a great number of warrior maids from the mansion. The young mistress and head maid surely would not be ple-?

?I don?t give a damn about what that spoiled blood sucking brat or her useless lapdog think! If they are displeased, I will gladly deal with them myself! You have your instructions Koakuma!? interrupted Patchouli in a darker tone.

?Of course Miss Patchouli. I?ll engrave your directives into my very heart!?

Koakuma bowed to her mistress, then quickly flew off to begin her mission.

I have never once seen Miss Patchouli so serious throughout all the time I have served her! It would seem this book is far more important than any other in the library? Failure will not be accepted! Surely, I must complete my task as if my life depended on it!

This is Gensokyo. Many strange things happen here. Nothing is in harmony for long here.

?What?ll happen if someone with a dark heart figures out the texts??? asks Patchouli to herself as she puts her hands together, and toward her mouth. ?Unacceptable??

It is quite clear now. A new phantasm has begun?

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:07:55 AM
[Second Spell]

A welcoming sun rose on a brand new day throughout Gensokyo. The singing of many crickets was gradually replaced by the chirping of morning birds. People stepped out of their homes while still clad in sleeping wear to welcome the newly formed day, anticipating what life would bring them. It would seem as if history itself had already forgotten the struggles of the previous late night?

Inside a fairly large, wooden, dimly sunlit bedroom, we can see a man appearing to be in his mid to late twenties sitting of the left side of a large bed, clad in nothing but blue and white striped boxer shorts. He was a 6? 2?, well built, muscular man with short silver hair that got particularly thick between the eyes, and stuck upward in one particular place. His eyes were an odd golden color, not too dissimilar from that of Marisa.

He silently yawned a bit before doing just a small hint of stretching. He then looked to a very small drawer on the side of the bed, to find his small glasses with semi-circular lenses lying next to a very strange, hat-like object that looked like a building of some sort. The object had a somewhat large red ribbon on top of it, in addition to having red glyphs on the front. It looked sort of like an elaborate bento box?

The man grabbed his glasses and slipped them on, before yawning a bit again and musing to himself.

?Mourning already?? Slept right through my proverbial watch. I was supposed to open up shop at least fifteen minutes ago by my estimate??

Now came the sound of a female voice.

?Mmm??

The man looked back, seeing a woman appearing in her early to mid twenties, with long silver hair with light blue highlights. She was still sleepily under the white bed covers, with only her head, her right arm (which was over the covers) and a small part of her bare back visible.

?Keine? Are you awake already?? asked the man.

?Hmhm? Good mourning to you Rinnosuke.? said Keine drowsily.

?It would seem I slept in just a bit. I?m heading out now to open the shop. Is not today your day off from giving lessons at the school??

?Indeed it is.?

?Ah? You just rest yourself then.?


The man named Rinnosuke leaned back and gave Keine a soft kiss on the cheek.

?See you later.? said Rinnosuke with a slight smile.

?Take care.?

With that, the man got up grabbed some elaborated multi colored clothing and left the room. The woman named Keine adjusted her position slightly. It was quite comfy bed? She felt herself returning to a state of peaceful slumber. This morning would allow sleeping in since she had the day off from her job as the Human Village?s school teacher, the most famous teacher in Gensokyo? Or would it??

Her brown eyes suddenly snapped open as she realized something that she was supposed to do this day? She sat up, covering herself with the bed sheets.

?That?s right? I am to spend today with Mokou.?

She was looking forward to sleeping in, but she did not want to take any chances of being late. She always did like being prompt.

?Guess it can?t be helped??

With that, she emerged from the bed and walked to the door, whilst covering herself with the bed sheets, yawning somewhat loudly as she went.

***

The sun was now fully up over a crystal clear sky over the ancient bamboo forest of Gensokyo. All the dangers of night were past, leaving one free to frolic inside it until either nightfall, or the content of one?s heart.

Keine walked on a laid down trail in the forest, now clad in a blue, short sleeved dress with eye-like patterns at the bottom. The dress also had a small red ribbon below the neck. Her hair had been fixed up as well, two thin parts of going over her shoulders, no different than Kaguya?s style aside from the shorter length. The odd, hat-like object on Rinnosuke?s drawer was indeed a hat. Keine now wore it on her head, somehow keeping it on without it falling off (which one would think would happen?). She had on brown shoes with ankle long white socks, and was carrying a white bag.

An odd thing happened as she walked. Every now and then she would wince as if in pain, then massage her lower back?

??Sore?? she would then whisper to herself.

It wasn?t long before she reached the river bank where she could see Mokou ?the same eternally young girl that saved Wriggle and Mystia from Kaguya the previous night- lying the ground while fiddling with a piece of grass in her right arm. By chance, the blue haired girl peered to the left to see Keine waving to her happily. She sat up, smiled, and returned the wave.

Keine walked over somewhat quickly and sat right down on her knees, as if eager to do so.

?How are you today, Mokou?? asked the silver haired one.

?Hm? Same old, same old. I?m still hangin? around here doin? my usual routine. My martial arts trainin? ya know?? responded Mokou, now sitting all the way up and facing Keine.

?Of course. It would not surprise me one bit if you were just as diligent as you ever were.?

?Gotta keep strong if ya wanna survive on your own out here!? said Mokou, flexing a muscle.

?Ah, that reminds of something I wanted to ask you: have you been eating well??

?Wha??! Hey, there?s plenty of good food around here! I can find anything I desire here, as you well know??

?My apologies Mokou? I just worry about you is all. You live out here on your own.?

Mokou blushed a bit, and turned away a bit.

?Hey? You? ?really don?t have to worry about me, Keine? It?s not like I?ll??

Mokou was surprised to see Keine giggling a bit.

?H-hey, what the hells so funny, huh?!? demanded Mokou holding up a fist.

?Forgive me Mokou. I know it isn?t my place to ask such things of you, but sometimes you naturally get worried for someone when you care very much for them, you know??

?Whoa? You ain?t gonna get all mushy and use the ?L? word are ya??? asked Mokou cautiously with a very nervous look.

?Fear not, you know I won?t. You really hate that.? laughed Keine before letting out a wide yawn.

Mokou calmed down a bit, and crossed her arms, looking at the yawning Keine closer.

?Err? You get enough sleep last night??? asked Mokou.

?Oh? I was up a little late last night?? said Keine innocently, tilting her head. ?T?was one of those nights where you have trouble getting to sleep? How about you??

?Hm? I actually didn?t have any trouble sleeping actually. It came quite easily as a matter a fact?? replied Mokou, scratching the side of her head with her left arm.

?Highly productive last night, I see?? observed Keine.

?Ah, you know how I can be? I work hard.?

A few moments of complete silence followed. Keine, though still looking a bit tired maintained her warm smile.

?You were fighting with her again weren?t you?? she asked.

?Nothing ever escapes you, does it??? said Mokou, smiling a bit while scratching the back of her head.

?I am among the wisest in Gensokyo. Not much can escape me.? reminded Keine.

Mokou knew that was the truth. She knew that Keine was a Were-hakutaku and not a full human (though currently, she is in human form). As the wisest of the half-beasts, she uses her knowledge and keen judgment to teach at the school, advise rulers, and even fairly judge matters. She could tell whether or not Mokou was recently in a fight from a mile away. It pained her to see the Mokou and Kaguya fight so much since she treasures humans and think they should be protected at any cost. Mokou can be very defensive at times, and even hard to deal with at certain moments, but Keine was most understanding, remaining calm, even in the times when Mokou demanded that she left her alone, threatening her with pain if she didn?t comply.

Basically, she was a good friend. Mokou only wished that she could be around forever?

?Well then, shall we eat?? came Keine?s voice suddenly.

?Uh, wha?? said Mokou, snapped out of her thoughts. ?Umm, yeah! I?m sta-?!?

Mokou stopped herself, and began blushing heavily, holding a very embarrassed expression. Crap!

?I see. You really weren?t getting enough to eat lately as I thought.? said the smiling Keine, tilting her head again.

Me and my big trap! thought Mokou, crossing her arms. ?Okay so it?s been a little hard to find food around here without approaching the nearby villages??

?You?re pretty worn out as well. I knew it from the moment I saw you today?? continued Keine.

Ohhh no? Make her stop? Make her stop?!

?Stiff, slower than usual movements likely do to soreness, lowered concentration, freshly mended clothes, the fact that you acted as if you wished to hide something from me, and of course??

Keine stopped, and pointed her right finger at Mokou?s torso. Mokou instinctively looked down at her stomach. And wouldn?t ya know it, as if on cue?

*GERRRRROOOOWWWWWWLLLL!!!*

??you have quite the active appetite.?

Mokou held her stomach with her right hand, slowly looking back up embarrassingly at the still smiling Keine. She watched as Keine opened the bag she had been carrying with her, revealing a white lacquer bento box with a blue top. Mokou accepted it with a shy ?thank you? and opened it, revealing a very tasty looking spread that consisted of traditional Japanese sea food (including sushi), along with rice balls and Wasabi sauce.

?But why only one? You gotta eat too, don?t y-??

Mokou stopped herself mid-sentence, watching as Keine happily removed her large, elaborate hat, and set it upon the ground in front of her. She then actually opened the hat, revealing a spread for herself! Naturally, Mokou stared at the sight with a very prominent ?WHAT THE HELL?!? expression on her face.

Keine just looked at Moukou innocently.

?What?? she asked.

?No, um, nah, ah, ner, er, nothing?? stuttered Mokou, moving her red eyes left and right rapidly.

After a few minutes of eating, Keine and Mokou had both finished, Keine putting her weird hat back together, and placing it on her head again. Mokou waited few minutes, seeming to think about something?

?I wonder? Keine, there something peculiar that I must ask you??

?What do you wish to ask??

?Do you know? Anything involving fireflies and night sparrows???

?Uhh? I understand not of what you mean?? replied the understandably confused Keine.

?Ah? Nevermind?? said Mokou suddenly. I?m probably thinking too much of this. Kaguya was probably just using them for sport. Either way, one who is an enemy of Kaguya is the friend and ally of myself.

She decided to change the subject.

?So how are things going with Rinnos- UWAAAAAAH?!?

Mokou was once again dumbfounded as Keine had once again taken off her hat and opened it? ?revealing to now be a portable make up set, complete with mirror. Keine once again looked at Mokou, raising an eyebrow.

?What?? asked the teacher innocently.

Mokou just grumbled to herself, whilst face palming in disbelief.

?Nothing?? sighed Mokou.

Keine began applying a specific powder to a greeting card, one meant for Rinnosuke judging by what was written on it. Mokou?s face had an expression of ?What is it that you?re doing???, but she didn?t ask. But this didn?t stop Keine from answering, apparently knowing what Mokou would be thinking.

?I?ve noticed that Rinnosuke really takes much delight with this specific fragrance. He said it?s ?like the freshly bloomed flowers in Paris on a spring day.? I did some research and realized that ?Paris? is a large city of the outer world, said to hold the power of ultimate romance.? she explained.

?I see, it pleases him. Keine Kamishir- No? Keine Morichika. Ah, I?m still having trouble remembering, apparently not quite used to it even now. It must be a weird, perhaps difficult transition? Being married and all?? mused Mokou.

?It wasn?t as difficult as I thought it was going to be, but it was still pretty tough at first. But now things are going fairly smoothly. Its really great living with Rinnosuke. One can never have too many companions? Speaking of which??

Keine put back on her hat, then briefly got up and sat back down right next to Mokou.

?Mokou, I can?t thank you enough for being there on my wedding day. Even if I only saw your actual face for but a fleeting moment, it really made me happy. The flowers were quite beautiful.?

?Um?? Mokou puffed her cheeks a slight bit whilst blushing and looking away a bit. ?Your? ?welcome, Keine.?

?That?s the thing that makes you as likable as you are Mokou.?

Mokou glanced back at Keine, raising an eyebrow.

?Despite your limitless amount of time in life, and all the abuse that you went through because of it, and all the countless battles with Kaguya? ?you continue to be a nice person to people, although you even now have trouble trusting them.? spoke Keine warmly.

?But you are one I trust, right??? inquired Mokou, now looking at Keine normally.

?But aren?t I the only exception?? inquired Keine back, smiling.

?Hm? You are??

?Mokou? There are more people other than myself that will understand you out there somewhere. Even when Gensokyo is at its grimmest, a good soul can still be found somewhere. But you must look for yourself if you want to find them. And when you do look, you must look with great effort.? encouraged Keine. ?And above all else? ?stay who you are.?

?Who I am???

Mokou held up her open right hand and looked at it.

?Please? ?no matter what happens? ?will you please stay the nice, likable person you currently are?? asked Keine.

Mokou closed her fist, and smiled to Keine.

?If I can do nothing else, I?ll do just that! I?ll do it for you Keine!?

?Hm? Thank you Mokou.? said Keine happily. You?ll never know how much that means to me?

?You?re welcome Keine.?

Keine giggled a bit before gazing at the sunny Gensokyo sky like Mokou was doing, letting the calm wind blow against them.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:08:54 AM
***

Slowly, the girl?s eyes opened, the blurry image of a wooden ceiling greeting her. The room was sunlit and warm. Clearly it was daytime, perhaps early morning. As her senses slowly returned to her, she realized that she in some kind of house?

The boyish night bug sat up in the futon she?d been laying in. She realized that she was in pajamas, and under blanket covers. She checked herself, realizing that she had bandages wrapped around various parts of her body including her head. Someone had cleaned, and dressed her wounds. It wasn?t long before she was seeing clearly again, though she still appeared somewhat tired.

Where am I??

Looking around, she could see that the house was quite a mess. She saw the two girls from last night as well, still clad in the same clothes as when she and her friend first met with them. So they had chosen to save them? The seven colored doll user was sleeping with her head down on the desk to her right, while the black white witch slept on the bed directly to her left. The witch laid in a rather sloppy fashion with most of the covers kicked off of herself at some point. She snored loudly in the most peculiar way as well?

?ZZZZZZZZZzzzeeeeehhh? ZZZZZZZZZzzzeeeeehhh??

It was actually cute in its own way? ?even though it was a little weird as well. Upon looking directly to her right, and downward, the night bug could see her night sparrow friend. Relief swept over her entire being as she realized the night bird had survived her injuries as well. Although thoroughly bandaged up as well, she was sleeping peacefully and quietly. One thing of interest however was the odd device applied to her broken right wing. The insect had seen them on humans before, but only now realized why they where used over regular bandages. It was made from some hard looking material along with a wooden frame.

Out of curiousity, the girl looked behind herself. She found the ruined clothes of herself, and her friend lying folded upon a chair. Both sets of garments were marked with blood, dirt, and grass stains, along burn marks from magical attacks that landed directly. Many holes and tears could be seen as well, all evidence of the battle last night. The insect girl needn?t look at the ruined garments, or her dressed injuries to be reminded of last night?s battle however, as the memories were still fresh in her mind? That dastardly princess would no doubt come for them again? She HAD to figure out why! But she didn?t even know how to begin to solve this mystery?

She sighed silently to herself, resigning herself to the fact that there was little she could do to change the situation at the moment. Since she didn?t want to wake anyone, and needed to let her injuries heal, she decided to kill just a bit of time by writing her thoughts? Wait?

The book?! Did it survive the battle??!

Alarmed, the youkai girl hurriedly, yet silently rose from the futon, turning around and rummaging through her tattered clothes. There was great relief when she found the book in one piece. Crumpled, and now tainted with green blood stains, but her book of thoughts had somehow survived, along with the pen she had been using. Another sigh of relief followed this discovery. Settling back into her futon, she opened to a blank page, and began writing her most recent thoughts?

I begin my thoughts today with a bit of a heavy mind? Last night was a dreadful night wrought with dire combat. As I wrote earlier entries of this book during the previous night while at the lamprey stand owned by my friend Mystia, I found myself approached by the Princess of Eientei, Kaguya Houraison. She showed me a strange poem that I believe went something like this:

When the stone is set and the moon is high?
People shall rest, none shall die.

When the mind is set and the heart is bold?
Many forbidden tails be told.

Many may unlock the secret, many may not?
But only one shall awaken the sleeper, like boiling water in a pot!

When the song is sung, and the fireflies dance?
The one who seals shall break many a romance.

And the one who unseals the sealer shall put one she sees forever in a cold trance.
That then shall be the very last dance.

Is the music ready? Are the dancers in place?
Sing and shout! Feel a peaceful feeling with grace!

One line that strikes me is this one:

When the song is sung, and the fireflies dance?

Kaguya attacked us without mercy in order to weaken us, and take us away with her. I believe this line may have something to do with her reasoning for attacking us. Even so, the poem does not really give any clues to what it refers to.

The girl briefly put the pen to her mouth before beginning again.

Surely it involves Mystia if it refers to singing and dancing. Those are two of the things she absolutely enjoys most, but especially singing. It there weren?t music in the world, there?d be no Mystia. Our battle with Kaguya was a difficult one, and was very quickly apparent that we were no match for her. It was only the intervention of a one, Mokou of the Fujiwara clan (human) and her gifts of vitality and bombs that allowed us to escape.

We now have been taken in by the two magicians living Gensokyo?s dreaded forest of magic: Marisa Kirisame (human), and Alice Margatroid (youkai). I?ve heard things about these two, but my first in person meeting with them was last night- such an unfavorable way to meet them? It?ll no doubt pain Mystia?s heart to realize she has been saved by a human. Do to something that happened to her past ?something I?ll refrain from writing here- she is very distrusting of humans. However, she often exacerbates her own situation. She uses the mesmerizing powers of her songs, along with her ability to cause night-blindness to lure humans away either to prank them, or to hunt them when she does not need to do so. Her situation isn?t going to get any better with such actions. I really wish she would refrain from such behaviour, because she will only hurt herself in the end. Oh? And she has quite a bit of an ego, so her pain will be worse still when she awakens?


Now the night bug clutched her book and pen tightly as a pained look entered her face.

Alas, we would not be in such a situation if we were stronger? Perhaps I could?ve even protected Mystia? But I simply lacked the power I needed at that crucial moment. Still, I fought as hard as I could. Kaguya repeatedly told us to surrender, but I denied her. Surrendering was pointless. We would probably be tortured in any case. Does one take pain and torture immediately during a critical moment, or wait till later, waiting for the inevitable? Still, I wish I was stronger? Kaguya and her rabbits will try again. And next time, we may not be able to escape?

The girl finally finished, and closed her book. She wondered very much what was awaiting her and her friend in the near future?

Another fifteen minutes passed?

The girl now heard rustling to her right. The night bird was finally waking up. She groggily rubbed her eyes as she peered upon her friend.

??Wriggle???

Wriggle Nightbug smiled to her companion as she looked back.

?Good morning, Mystia.?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:09:40 AM
?We live?? Where???

Mystia stopped herself as she groggily remembers the events of last night. A bitter expression entered her tired face.

?I? We? ?were saved by humans? Weren?t we??

Wriggle shook her head before pointing at the sleeping Alice.

?Look at her carefully. Do you not sense her magical wavelength?? asked Wriggle.

Mystia hesitated for a moment before partly sitting up and taking a look at Alice. She focused hard on her for a few minutes.

?Oh? Yes, now I can see it too. Her wavelengths are that of a youkai.? she observed.

?You see? There is a fellow youkai here you can perhaps trust, Mystia.? pointed out Wriggle.

?But? A human and a youkai together??

?Tis not the first time you encountered such a pair. Why are you still bothered by such a notion?? asked Wriggle curiously.

?I?m unsure? It just seems? ?odd to me?? answered Mystia, sitting all the way up while looking downward.

Mystia waited a minute or two before changing he answer.

?Humans and youkai are always fighting each other, right? Youkai feed upon humans, and humans protect themselves by exterminating youkai. So how is it that humans and youkai can also live and work together peacefully at the same time, should they desire?? asked Mystia.

Wriggle turned away from Mystia for a second to think, before smiling warmly at her.

?Love.? she answered simply.

?Love???

?The putting aside of all hatred and differences, the helping of those who may have wronged you or are lower than you? Its love. At least I think so.? explained Wriggle.

?Love between humans and youkai?? Are you saying these two who rescued us are together as they are because of love...?? asked Mystia, not sure of what she was feeling.

Wriggle closed her eyes.

?Love is patient, peaceful, kind, understanding, humble, holds no grudges, forgets past mistakes? It can even end wars, reconcile feuding couples, mend broken friendships? Love is an odd thing, but so wonderful as well.? explained the night bug.

Wriggle opened her eyes to find Mystia blushing a slight bit. Wriggle had explained love in the manner she did due to knowing something more about Mystia? As she explained, she remembered that Mystia lived a fairly lonely life, save for her. The only thing that Wriggle knew that Mystia ?loved? for certain was singing. For her there was perhaps nothing else? But there was a very substantial difference between loving ?something? and ?someone.? This begged a question? One the now blushing and nervous looking Wriggle thought she should bring up? But before she could utter a word, it was brought up for her!

?Wriggle?? Do you? Do you love me??? asked Mystia nervously, unable to look at Wriggle, who?d broken out into a cold sweat immediately.

?Gwa?! I-I-I-I? ?uhh?!?

By now, both their faces were redder than the reddest of tomatoes. The two stammered mindlessly, speaking over each other!

?Y-y-you see W-Wriggle? I-I?m asking this of you b-b-because?!?

?W-w-w-wait Mystia?! I-I-I was? ?going to? ?y-y-you know? a-ask??

?Hold on?! ?I was wondering if? ?you? Wait, what??

?Y-you s-see, I-I-I also going to see if? Who??


The two girls looked at each other with very wide eyes to compliment their red faces. The stare down continued for nearly ten seconds before both girls looked away, and downward.

?Um? L-l-l-let?s forget it for now?? suggested Wriggle awkwardly.

?Y-yeah! We?ll speak about it again later!? replied Mystia.

An awkward silence followed?

Dammit Wriggle, what are you doing?! You completely botched that! thought the night bug to herself.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

I have to try again! I have to ask Mystia this question! No more failure! Do or die! resolved the shy night bug in her head.

What is this?! Cowardice is unbecoming of someone of my ability! I must do this now! resolved the shy night sparrow in her head.

With fire in their eyes, the two swiftly turned to face each other again?

?MYSTIA, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ASK YOU WAS?!?
?WRIGGLE, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ASK YOU WAS?!?


??nnnn, do you love me???

The two girls nearly leaped out of their own skin as they suddenly found themselves covering one another?s mouths, reddened faces and surprised looks galore! They almost immediately realized what they were doing, looking down at one another?s arms. They quickly covered their own mouths, as they now sat next to each other.

??Ooohhhhhh, yeah? I love you too, Reimu??

As it turns out, the source of the voice none other than Marisa, who was sleep talking dreamily with a very wide smile. With their mouths still covered, Wriggle and Mystia briefly glanced at each other, then back at Marisa. The witch was also starting to change positions frequently.

?Ohh? Oh, yes? Yes? Uhhhhhh? Ohhh Reimu, you?re so WONderful!?

What the??! What was she dreaming about?? Wriggle and Mystia slowly uncovered their mouths giggling uneasily while looking VERY nervous. However, Marisa?s feelings seemed to change the longer it went on?

?Hunh?? H-hey, watch that? No? Cut it ou-OW! Hey, cut it out Reimu! That really hurts! Stop it with the Gohei already?!?

?WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH?!?!? shouted the two youkai girls.

Wriggle and Mystia now found themselves covering the mouth of Marisa, not wanting to hear any more. However, their action? ?ended up causing her to opening her golden eyes.

?Ah?!? yelped the two youkai before returning to the floor, certain they?d been spotted.

Marisa waited a few seconds before letting out a wide yawn, whilst stretching out her arms. She then sat up, turning her head towards Mystia and Wriggle slowly. The two were sweating buckets now, still looking nervous and giggling uneasily as Marisa groggily starred at them?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:15:10 AM
?Oh man? Morning already??? said Marisa rather casually before yawning a bit, and getting off the bed and streching. ?I see you two made it through the night!?

The dumbfounded Wriggle and Mystia only nodded in response while giving Marisa an ?Okaaaayyy??? expression.

Hold on? Did she really sleep through all that?? thought Wriggle to herself.

?Heeeey? Ain?t ya gonna say somethin??? said Marisa, raising an eyebrow.

?Uhh? What is there to say?? said Wriggle, scratching the back of her head.

?Maybe ?good morning, how?d ya sleep?? The usual old fair as always, ya know??

?My apologies. It would seem the blows to my head have caused me to forget my manners. Y-yes, that is it!?

?Whatever?? shrugged Marisa.

Whether Marisa knew it was a lie or not was unclear. She simply got up, went over to the still sleeping Alice? Wriggle and Mystia instinctively covered their ears. Marisa looked at them again.

?Why the ears??? she asked puzzled.

?Wait? Do you not intend to put your mouth to her ear and yell ?wake the hell up??? asked Wriggle.

?Naah? Not today. Besides, I know something that actually works better?? answered Marisa with a wide, sharp toothed smile.

?Uhh??? wondered Mystia.

Marisa put her mouth to Alice?s ear?

?Boo.?

?NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!? hollered Alice as she was jolted awake, her arms in the air.

Wriggle and Mystia were most glad that they chose to keep their ears covered? Several of Alice?s weapon wielding dolls frantically flew into the room to see what was wrong, but soon figured out what happened, staring at Marisa angrily.

All that racket we made, and THAT is what woke her up?! She could even sleep through my loudest singing, couldn?t she?! thought Mystia.

?MARISA WHAT THE HELL??!? demanded Alice.

?I need ya to get your ass outta that chair. We need to change their bandages, and do somethin? for breakfast, ze.? explained Marisa frankly.

?Who said anything about YOU being my personal alarm clock?! I was going to have my dolls awaken me at a specific time!? chided Alice as she rose from the chair.

Marisa just looked at Alice strangely, raising an eyebrow.

?Are you sure you?re a Youkai??

?It shouldn?t at all surprise me that you have the gall to ask me something like that after perpetrating such actions!?

?I have the gall to do a great deal of things. Tell me, would YOU have the gall to do the same to me as I?ve done to you?? asked Marisa with an evil smile.

?You know full well I would, and I do!?

?Maybe one day? Not today though, ze!?

?You?re saying I?m a coward, aren?t you?? asked Alice, now looking truly angry.

?So nice to see Alice?s brain working! It brings so much joy to my heart!? spoke Marisa sarcastically, cupping her hands melodramatically below her neck.

?THAT DOES IT?!?

Alice looked around, and stopped an odd object she could use? She grabbed an odd, orange colored wooden stick with a red, semi-dome shaped ending that looked like it was made from a soft material, possibly rubber (it was a plunger) that happened to be in her arm range.

?Bleh, so that?s where I hid that weird hat I fou- whoa?!?

Marisa was interrupted as Alice leapt at her, slamming her to the ground, and shoving the plunger into her face! The plunger naturally stuck to Marisa?s face, the witch finding herself struggling to get both it, and Alice off. Alice on the other hand kept pulling and pushing the device, causing Marisa?s face to be sucked!

?Mmmmmpphh! Mmph, eph, mmph!?

?I knew this would work the moment I saw it! According to the Kourindou description, you use this device to clean the malicious words out of bad mouthed people like you!? gloated Alice.

(Kourindou- The store of many unique goods owned by Rinnosuke Morichika. It primarily sells items from our world- the outside world. Rinnosuke has the ability to instantly know the name of items, but his descriptions of them are always woefully incorrect. Apparently, Alice didn?t catch the name of this particular item.)

As the two wrestled on the ground, Wriggle and Mystia glanced at each other, fearing more and more for their own personal safety (and sanity) with each passing moment? They hadn?t noticed, but the dolls were watching the ?battle? right by them as well. Eventually, Alice pulled so hard, that the plunger?s handle detached from the cup, sending her wobbling backwards in surprise (causing her to raise her arms up high as well)! Marisa wasted no time removing the cup, revealing a very evil looking sharp toothed smile (along with a temporary facial ring). With lightening speed, Marisa lunged at Alice, pinning her against the desk as she administered armpit tickle torture!

?WAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! C-C-CUT THAT OUT!? begged the uncontrollably laughing Alice.

?Say it?!? ordered the still smiling Marisa.

?N-N-N-N-N-NEVER! DAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!?

?Say it?!? said Marisa again, adding power to her ?attack?, almost sending Alice to the ground.

?ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! MARISA I-IS THE Q-Q-Q-QUEEN OF THE F-FOREST, AND OF MAGIC! N-NOW S-S-STOP T-TICKLING MEEEEEEEEAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!? laughed Alice, her eyes tearing up.

Marisa finally relented, satisfied. Wriggle and Mystia didn?t notice, but the dolls looked quite sad that their Mistress ?lost? the ?fight?. Alice continued laughing for a few minutes after the tickling ended, her face VERY red and drenched with sweat.

?Alright, I?ll just??

?W-wait?? gasped Alice as she struggled to calm herself down. ?Th-this makes us even! We need a tie breaker!?

?A whaaaaaaa??? groaned Wriggle and Mystia at the same time, raising eyebrows.

?Hm, you?re right? Name the game!? said an eager Marisa.

?Rock, Paper, Scissors! Best three out of four!? said Alice, finally standing straight up.

?You?re on!?

Wriggle and Mystia just quietly watched, never having even heard of this game.

?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?
?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?

Alice had scissors, while Marisa had rock.

?Rock beats scissors!? smiled Marisa.

?There are still two rounds left!? reminded Alice eagerly.

?Then let?s do it!?

The second round began in earnest?

?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?
?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?

Alice had rock, while Marisa had paper.

?Paper beats rock!? smiled Marisa.

?O-o-o-one more time!? stammered Alice nervously.

The final round?

?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?
?ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!?

Alice had paper, while Marisa had scissors. Alice stared at her hand in disbelief.

?Naaah???

?And, scissors beats paper! You?re really losing your touch Alice! Soooo predictable?? sighed Marisa with a triumphant smile.

The two spent the next few minutes staring each other down with aggressive looks, Marisa looking evil, devious and confident, and Alice looking flabbergasted.

Wriggle and Mystia glanced at each other and whispered.

?Do you think they always do this??? asks Mystia.

?I?m unsure of that, but I do know that I?m questioning whether or not we should stay he-??

Now Marisa and Alice were suddenly arm in arm!

?Friends forever!? they said at the same time, smiling happily.

Wriggle and Mystia just stared silently.

?Hm?? Oh, this is just something we do to keep each other in check!? explained the smiling Marisa. ?Helps me keep the doll humping child next to me on the level!?

?In return, I can make sure this back-stabbing b***h of a witch stays out of trouble, and stop her from stealing my stuff!? added Alice, also with an oddly happy smile.

?Whaaatever you say?? says Wriggle.

?Alright, that?s enough playing around.? announced Marisa, much to the relief of Wriggle and Mystia.

The witch girl suddenly began walking up to the two of them.

?Time to change those bandages of yours??

Wriggle almost immediately noticed the crouched down Marisa going to change Mystia?s bandages first.

?Wai-?!?

Mystia rather quickly back away from Marisa, swiping her left arm at the witch (not hitting) while letting out a hiss.

?D-d-don?t touch me, human!? ordered the visibly nervous night bird.

?H-hey, what is this?! I try to help you out, and this is how you repay me?? pouted Marisa, standing back up and placing her hands on her hips.

Alice put a hand to her pale head depressively.

?Not surprising? She doesn?t trust us. Considering what happened to her last night, I cannot say that my mind wouldn?t be in similar state?? mused the doll maker.

?Y-you can touch me? But n-not her!? spoke up Mystia to Alice, pointing at Marisa.

?Mystia?!? began Wriggle, a little angry before Marisa got up and turned to leave.

?Pscht. Suit yourself? Guess I?m making breakfast?? said Marisa, closing her eyes and walking out of the room. ?Racist bird-brain??

Alice watched Marisa leave before sighing, and walking up to Mystia, sitting down on her knees, and starting to unravel her old bandages.

?Um? You know, Marisa really isn?t all that bad of a person, and??

Alice was stopped by sharp, dark looks emanating from both of her fellow youkai.

?Oookay, she has severe character issues!? said Alice, smiling nervously as a very large sweatdrop rolled down the side of her head.

The two returned to calmer expressions. Alice quickly returned to a more serious expression.

?But? When you really get to know her, she is a very interesting companion, quite loyal as well! Can?t believe I just said that??

?But what you say is odd? Weren?t you two arguing quite a bit just now??? asked Mystia.

?Oh, that?s just something we normally do. All friends will do it eventually.? explained Alice.

?All friends?? But Wriggle and I have known each other as friends for sometime and have not argued over anything at all.? said Mystia.

?Well as said, it eventually happens. When it does is merely a matter of time. And whether the friends stay together after such an argument may perhaps depend on whether or not they were really close to begin with, or perhaps the very reason why they argued. You say you two have known each other for sometime. I?ll tell you that nothing will happen early on, but it will in time.? explained Alice.

?Huh?? said Mystia.

?But you and Marisa seem to argue quite fervently? Yet you remain friends??

?What I just explained applies to us? Quite a bit!? said Alice, smiling uneasily at the irony of the last sentence. ?I really don?t want to admit this? Please don?t tell anyone? Marisa and I fight quite often. However, the frequency of fights in a group of friends varies like the shapes of mourning clouds, really.?

Working carefully, yet fast, Alice finally finished unraveling Mystia?s bandages. She was handed a fresh roll by a flying doll dressed in a western style nurse uniform complete with a white hat with a red cross. Alice now began applying the new bandages.

?So then? Would you say Marisa was good or bad?? asked Wriggle.

Alice her words carefully.

?Don?t we all have our flaws?? We?re all bad in someway, whether human or youkai. The thing is to not to let the bad part come through when possible.? answered Alice.

?That sounds hard?? says Mystia.

?And it truly is. But when something is hard, one must work harder!? Alice spaced out for a second, realizing something. ?Oh? That is something Marisa once said to me, during a bad time in my life not long ago... Quite ironic, no??

?Very much so.? chuckled a smiling Wriggle a bit.

Alice chuckled back before noticing the silent Mystia, clutching her futon?s sheets, looking downward as if thinking deeply about something. Alice hesitated, but had an odd feeling that she should say something more?

?I believe what I am trying to say is that, not all humans are bad.? spoke Alice.

?And not all youkai are good?? admitted Mystia, remembering her own wrong actions against humans in the past without looking at Alice.

?Um? Yes? ?this is correct.? said Alice before hesitating briefly. ?Tell me: what would you have done if I were a bad youkai??

Mystia was silent for a few seconds.

?I honestly do not know.? she finally said.

?That?s why you should be careful before saying who?s right or who?s wrong, or if a particular race is better than another.? responded Alice, her eyes closed. ?I know that from personal experience??

Alice finally finished bandaging the night bird. Wriggle listened to every word carefully. Was this not something she was writing about earlier?? The night bug only wished that Mystia didn?t have to learn this lesson after such a harsh battle however? Maybe now Mystia could learn to be more trusting??

?Well? All finished! Now your turn.? said Alice shifting over to Wriggle before realizing something. ?Ah?! We never had proper introductions!?

Wriggle and Mystia goinked in surprise, realizing the same thing.

?How silly of me! You may call me Wriggle Nightbug. I know it?s a funny name, but it suits me well, don?t you think?? introduced Wriggle, smiling.

?Um? I?m Mystia Lorelei. Pleased to meet you.? said Mystia, looking upward in a somewhat shy manner.

Alice smiled as she stood up and put a hand below her neck.

?I?m Alice Margatroid. It is a pleasure to meet you both. Now we have introduced ourselves properly.?

?And that is indeed a good thing.? said Wriggle, smiling warmly.

Just then, Marisa happened by, carrying her broomstick and going out the front door.

?Hey! I?m Marisa Kirisame! Don?t ya forget it, ze!? said the girl with a wide smile before walking out the door (the mark from the plunger was already gone?).

?Um? Where are you going??? asked Alice.

Marisa turned back again, holding the same smile as before.

?To get breakfast!? she said simply as she stepped out the door.

The three youkai girls sit still for a few seconds, staring at the door as it closed before Alice turned back to face her new friends.

?You two don?t think?? she began.

??that she left to get breakfast for only herself?? added Wriggle.

??without taking us along??? finished Mystia.

Within seconds, the new bandages Wriggle needed were forgotten as all three of them opened the door to have a look outside. Alice?s head poked out first? Then Wriggle?s under hers? Then Mystia under hers! They all simultaneously looked to the right? Then to the left? ?and found Marisa (who was not too far away) carefully positioning empty tofu buckets underneath specific spots underneath a nearby fairly large tree with scuff marks on the side, as if it were hit hard by something repeatedly? Marisa referenced a sheet of paper she had with her as she finished her positioning.

?Hm? Alright, if my calculations are correct, then they?re all in the right place.? said Marisa with a smile. ?Only thing to do now??

?What?? began Alice.

??is?? added Wriggle.

??she doing??? finished Mystia.

They got their answer as Marisa picked up her broomstick?

?HYYYYYEEEAAA!?

?and smashed the broom end right into the tree?s scuff mark. Amazingly enough, the broom didn?t break! But was even more amazing is that oranges began falling like rain into the buckets! Within seconds, all nine of the buckets around the tree were completely filled with oranges! Not a single one fell to the ground!

Alice, Wriggle, and Mystia all gawked at the sight as Marisa picked up one bucket with her right arm, and put her left hand on her hip.

?Heh, heh! Marisa Kirisame does it again!? exclaimed the witch before turning around.

Upon spotting the other three girls, Marisa blinked awkwardly a few times. The other girls followed suit.

?What?? asked Marisa.

?Uhh?? began Alice.

??ehh?? added Wriggle.

??Nothing?? finished Mystia.

Marisa simply tilted her head while raising an eyebrow, wondering what they were staring at?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:17:23 AM
***

A few minutes later, the group of four was in Marisa?s kitchen chowing down on the freshly peeled oranges. Wriggle?s bandages had finally been changed, and everyone?s stomachs no longer emanated with the sounds of hungry growling. Mystia returned to her futon, while Alice sat about knitting the dresses of her two fellow youkai (with help from her dolls). Wriggle eventually stepped into Marisa?s kitchen while still snacking on an orange, to find the black witch herself cleaning some dishes while wearing a rag over her hair. She seemed sort of like she desired to ask Marisa something?

?Excuse me? Marisa-sama??? asked the firefly girl, a serious and somewhat solemn expression on her face.

?Hm? Yeah kid? Ya need somethin??? answered Marisa.

?Well? This may sound a bit strange? But I have come to a realization: Mystia wouldn?t have been so badly hurt had I been able to battle against our enemy better??

?Wishin? you were more powerful huh? I?ve been there before??

?Indeed. The events of last night reminded me of my own mortality, along with Mystia?s. If there is any chance at all I can protect her, then I?d like nothing better to have it!? said Wriggle, with a determined look.

?But what do you want me to do? Wait? Unless?? said Marisa, looking off to the side with an uneasy smile.

?I know time is of the essence, and it is surely untactful of me to ask such a thing, but is there anything at all you could teach me?? begged Wriggle. ?Surely there is something you could teach in just a short time?!?

Marisa put her left hand on her hip and her right hand on her chin inquisitively.

?Well? I do believe there is one thing I could teach you? There?s just a very small issue though that you?ll have to be tight lipped about, ze??

?If it is a secret that I must keep, then I shall keep it.? promised Wriggle.

Marisa leaned close to Wriggle?s head and whispered.

?Okay? I will teach you something I think you could learn very quickly to become stronger? Just don?t tell the shrine maiden. She won?t be very happy with me if she were to get word that I?m training a youkai that has a history of attacking humans.?

?But of course.?
acknowledged Wriggle, nodding her head quickly.

?Also, if I find out that some of my knowledge was used to attack a human? Let?s just say I won?t be to happy, okay?? said Marisa, smiling.

?Very well. I?ll keep that in mind next time I challenge a human or vice-versa.?

?Excellent! Just follow me.? said Marisa, as she took off her rag, redid her braid, and toward the front door.

?Oh, thank you Marisa-Senpai! You have my gratitude for this favor!? said Wriggle thankfully and happily with a bow before following Marisa.

?Hey, just call me Marisa. That alone will be fine.?

?If you wish.?

***

It wasn?t long until Marisa (who had put her hat back on) had led Wriggle behind her house, into a very small clearing surrounded by trees. The ground was littered with bushes, twigs, and of course, grass. But there was also signs of magic being used in the form of burn spots on the ground, and damaged tree trunks throughout. In front of her, Wriggle could see several tree trunks, along with the magic charred remains of humanoid shapes made from burlap and straw. Several however still stood, handing via sticks that were stuck into the ground with their ?arms? spread out.

?Now then, are you ready?? asked Marisa, as she turned to face Wriggle.

?I am.? nodded the night bug.

Marisa nodded her head in acknowledgement, then raised her right index finger into the air while closing her eyes.

?Laser cannon? ?is not difficult.? she began.

Wriggle was silent, not sure of how to respond. Marisa answered by cupping her hands forward in front of her.

?Take your arms like this.? said the black witch simply.

?Um?? muttered Wriggle as she did as she was told. ?Okay??

?Concentrate your mind??

Wriggle nodded in acknowledgement, now with a determined and focused look on her face. She briefly closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and cleared her mind.

?Mutter the spell tenderly? Think ?Laser Cannon?.?

?Laser cannon?? whispered Wriggle.

Small, green, barely noticeable specks of energy began building up in Wriggle?s cuffed hands, though whether or not she was aware of the building power was unclear. Marisa stepped out of the way, and pointed meaningfully at one of the still standing target practice dummies.

?Aim at someone you don?t like?? instructed the witch.

Wriggle found the command a tad strange as the straw and burlap dummy wasn?t a ?someone?? Still, she obeyed without hesitation and adjusted herself so that she aimed at the dummy.

?Now, unleash your annihilation of love!? half-shouted Marisa.

Now that command did garner a bit of hesitation from Wriggle.

?Unleash your annihilation of love??? Did that mean to fi-

?Whoa?!?

Before she could finish her thought, Wriggle found herself falling flat on her butt as a green blast of energy erupted from her hands! She blinked a few times, and found the dummy she?d been aiming at almost totally disintegrated, in addition to a large hole blown into the tree behind it as if the laser went cleanly through! Wriggle blinked a few more times as she realized she was successful, though she could?ve dealt without the surprise?

?You underestimated the intensity, ze! We gotta work on your balance, but otherwise, good job!? said Marisa cheerfully, giving a thumbs up.

?Th? Thank you.? said Wriggle as she regained her clarity. ?Was it really I who unleashed that blast???

?It isn?t difficult as I said.? reminded Marisa. ?You?ve already basically mastered it. Just remember what I told you, and keep your balance.?

?I see? It really wasn?t difficult like you said.? replied Wriggle, smiling a slight bit as she stood up.

?Cool. You might get another chance to use that soon? Time to go!? announced Marisa cheerfully.

?Time to go? What do you mean?? asked Wriggle with a questioning look on her face.

?You and your friend are mostly healed already since your youkai right? Further more, the Inaba army will be back here soon.? explained Marisa, walking past Wriggle in order to get back to the house.

?In other words you want to move to another place of hiding??

?Nah. I wanna find out more about what?s going on here, so I?ve decided we?re gonna head to the red mansion library for information!?

Wriggle had a shocked look on her face accompanied by a nervous smile.

?Th-th-there?? But that place is scary looking?? expressed Wriggle.

?It?s not really all that scary. Besides, we gotta go there if we wanna figure out what Eientei wants with you and stop it.?

Wriggle slowly followed Marisa, looking downward.

?If that is truly what I must do, then do I have a choice???

?Ya wanna protect your friend right??

?Alright, alright, I?ll follow you. But why move in the day time??? questioned Wriggle.

?You?re thinking ?we?ll be spotted more easily? aren?t you? Well with the Eientei rabbits it doesn?t really matter. Youkai rabbits are just like that.? explained Marisa.

?And to think that only night bugs and night birds were the only youkai that could travel well at night? Am I really so ignorant?? asked Wriggle more to herself.

Meanwhile, Marisa stepped into the house.

?Yo, Alice! It?s time to go!? announced the black witch.

?At this moment?! But their injuries haven?t healed!? protested Alice.

?They?ve healed mostly. You should know that they won?t need those bandages much longer. Other than that, we gotta move. It won?t be too much longer until those rabbits regroup ze.? said Marisa, with a wink, her smile never really fading. ?Still don?t know how fast you can heal huh? Man, I guess you aren?t a youkai after all!?

?Hey, I?m coming! Don?t pester people!? chided Alice as she hurriedly sat up and grabbed her large book.

?Hurry up then, slow-poke!? goaded Marisa further, smiling evilly.

Wriggle chuckled depressively with an uneasy smile as she put her right hand through her teal hear.

We have these two for bodyguards?? she thought more to herself as she walked to meet Mystia, who was still sitting on her now folded futon. ?Mystia??

?Huh? Oh, hi Wriggle. I didn?t expect you back so quickly.? said the night bird, not looking up.

?Heh, heh? Laser was not difficult?? chuckled Wriggle.

Mystia looked up at the smiling Wriggle, and raised an eyebrow.

????

?Ehh, never mind. Are you ready to go??

?I? It?s? It?s weird? Traveling in the day like this??

?It?ll be fine if we move quickly.?

?I guess so?? said Mystia, looking downward with an uncertain look.

Wriggle stopped smiling, and raised an eyebrow with a concerned look on her face. The silence (barring the noise made by Alice and Marisa as they argued outside while in preparation to leave) lasting for a nearly half a minute.

?Mystia?? What?s the matter?? spoke up Wriggle.

Another few seconds?

?Wriggle? ?I?m? ? ?scared.? admitted Mystia in a low tone.

Wriggle smiled warmly as she very slowly kneeled down, and gave Mystia a gentle hug.

?I?m scared too, Mystia.?

Mystia slowly returned the embrace.

?I?m scared too.? repeated Wriggle. ?But??

?But what?? asked Mystia.

?If we just stay close together and support each other, we can get through this. Don?t you think so??

Another few seconds?

?Yes? You?re right, Wriggle.?

Wriggle let go of Mystia, and stood up.

?Well then? Should we be going?? asked a smiling Wriggle as she reached out a hand.

Mystia looked up.

?Yeah!? said the night bird with a smile as she took Wriggle?s hand.

The night bug helped her friend get up. After that, they walked together out the door of Marisa?s house.

?Man, ?bout time you two! Da-ze?? said Marisa (now holding her broomstick) as she closed the door then stretched out her back.

?I apologize for the delay.? said Wriggle sincerely.

?As do I.? added Mystia.

?Huh? Well, I guess we?d better be off then. The scarlet devil Mansion?? asked Alice.

?That?s right! I bet we can sort this out there?? said Marisa inquisitively.

?We?re walking to make it harder for them to spot us, right?? asked Mystia.

?Yep! Don?t worry about a thing! Your under the close watch of Marisa Kirisame!? boasted the black witch with a wide smile and a wink.

Is that a good thing?? thought Alice in mind as she sighed with a weary smile.

The journey of the four girls began in earnest. They marched toward what could only be their destinies?

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:18:14 AM
[Third Spell]

?Oh boy, it looks like Reisen slept in again! If I don?t hurry and wake her, she?ll be late!? chanted a young looking girl as she strolled down the wooden hallway of a Japanese style mansion.

The girl looked no older than ten, and was clad in a somewhat frilly night gown-like pink dress while barefooted. She had on a carrot necklace on her neck, had red eyes. Her hair was black and shoulder length. Finally, on the top of her head were floppy, thick rabbit ears.

It was worth noting that she also carried a large hammer behind her back?

She turned to a door, and slid it open? Inside this apparent, simple in design bedroom, a futon with a humanoid figure apparently under the covers was present.

?Oohhh, Reisen honeyyy! It?s time to get outta beeeed!? cooed the rabbit girl playfully as she walked over to the futon, standing in front of it.

Her innocent smile suddenly became mischievous and sharp toothed, like that of Marisa.

?Wake up sleepy head! Good morrrrniiiing??

She lifted up the hammer?

??AND GOOD NIGHT!?

?and brought down HARD were the occupant of the futon?s head would be. The girl expected either a jolt, or a loud cry of pain and irritation. Oh, such things were always so much fun to do to Reisen?! However, the rabbit heard not a sound, not even any movement. She blinked in confusion as she stared at the sight?

?Wha? What?s???

The girl suddenly felt an object pressed against her head? A nervous expression, complete with an uneasy smile appeared on her face.

?Good morning Tewi.? spoke a female voice behind the short bunny girl. ?What?s the hammer for??

?Uhh, recreational purposes! I was, uh? ?pounding termites! Yeah, th-that?s it!? blabbered the rabbit girl.

?We got rid of all the termites last month thanks to that new batch of insecticide, remember? You aren?t lying to me, are you??? asked the voice suspiciously.

?And why would I lie?! Ha? ?ha? ?ha??

?Mmm, real funny? Do you know what I?m holding to your head Tewi?? asked the voice.

?W-w-w-w-w-w-wait? I-i-i-i-it isn?t th-th-th-that, is it??? asked bunny girl Tewi nervously, now sweating profusely.

?Oh it is? And if I decide you are indeed lying, it?ll cause every last strand of your hair to fall out like it did before. Now be truthful. Are you lying?? asked the voice.

?N-n-n-neeeh, y-y-ye, NO! I MEAN YES! I MEAN NO! I MEAN I DON?T KNOW!? responded Tewi while shaking nervously, apparently not sure if she wanted to speak the truth or lie.

?Hm? I shall take this as a no. You forfeit your hair.?

?NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!?

Tewi panicked, dropping the hammer running out the door as if she were greased lightening!

?Hm? No way she?ll find a way past that counter, yes?? happily spoke the voice.

As it turns out, the object was nothing more than the index finger attached to a hand that had been folded to look like a pretend gun. The hand belonged to another bunny girl, older looking than Tewi, looking in her mid or late teens. She had ankle long purple hair, with rabbit ears on top of her head. But her ears were much longer than Tewi?s, thinner and crinkly as well. Each ear also had a shirt button attached as well? Odd? The red eyed girl was clad in sleepwear.

?Her antics are so bothersome? Oh well, time to get dressed!? said the rather cute girl with a smile.

After carefully scanning her room for anything that could be used to watch her, she closed the door to the room, and changed into a white shirt with a red necktie, and a short beige skirt. She put on a black business suit over the shirt. The suit had a crescent moon pin on the neck line, and a name tag reading ?Reisen Udongein Inaba? above the breast area, both on the left side. Finally, she put on brown shoes with semi-long black socks.

After she finished putting on her day wear, and doing her grooming, she opened her room?s back door and looked up into the partly cloudy sky.

?Hm? Another fine day, at Eientei?? thought Reisen out loud.

***

?Let?s see? Relish Force is to be positioned on the southwest side, Onion Force on the north? Where should Turnip Force go??? questioned a young looking woman as she sat outside somewhere on the mansion grounds, writing something onto a scroll with a brush. ?Perhaps they should back up Lettuce team? Hm??

She looked to be in her twenties, and was clad in a red and blue short sleeved dress with elaborate, constellation patterns on it, complete with a matching nurses? hat with a red cross on it. Her silver hair was tied into an odd knee long ponytail that swirled down like ice cream on a cone at the back. Her brown eyes looked up from the work nestled comfortably in her lap as she heard the familiar voice of the approaching Reisen.

?Mistress Eirin? Are you over hear somewhere??

?I?m here, Udonge.? called nurse Eirin, her face not giving any particular emotion.

Reisen walked out from the corner on Eirin?s left.

?Ah, so here you are. But? Why have you gone back to the shorter nickname?? I asked you not to do that, Mistress?? said Reisen.

?Why not the shorter nickname? ?Udonge? sounds cuter that ?Udongein? to my ears.? said the nurse with a slight smile.

Reisen sighed.

?You?d prefer Zayaku? That wouldn?t be too bad?? said Eirin inquisitively, unconsciously looking away from Reisen in thought.

?That?s even worse! I?d prefer ?Udongein? if I must really be called by a ridiculous nickname.? sighed Reisen.

?You find it ridiculous? Just what part?? asked Eirin innocently with a head tilt.

?The whole thing! Wait? We?ve said these things before!? said Reisen, putting her fists up and bending her knees.

?Really? I?m having a bit of trouble recalling? Let?s talk about this another time.? said Eirin, now with a very happy smile.

A few moments of silence pass as Reisen stares at her master with a twitching left eyebrow.

?You enjoy doing this to me on purpose, don?t you??? asked the irritated bunny girl.

?Whatever are you talking about? Why would my memory fade so quickly if I?m the Brain of the Moon?? asked Eirin with a smile.

?Oh, never mind?? sighed Reisen, knowing she?d have to be the victim of Eirin?s playing for awhile longer? ?Moving on from that, how is the operation going??

?Tewi isn?t moving as fast as I would prefer. I also think she has too many groups searching for the ones we need, and not enough helping to build the dome.? answered Eirin.

?I see? I guess I could try and talk to her about it, but even when she has her heart set on something, she isn?t able to completely put off her prankster tendencies.?

?Ah? She had prankster tendencies this morning??

?That?s pretty much right. She came to wake me up??

Eirin chuckled.

?Even now she doesn?t hesitate. Pretty soon she?ll have even more time to add to the already ridiculous amount of time she has to play. That is, if we?re successful of course.?

Reisen sat down next to the left of her mistress, then peeked over.

?About that Sensei?? she began.

?Hm??? muttered Eirin.

?I know that if this works? ?then I won?t have to fight ?the rival of the princess? anymore? But even so, is this right??

Eirin looked at Reisen strangely.

??Is this right??? I?m afraid I don?t fully understand, Udonge. This will put an end to one of our long standing troubles. Are you saying that this isn?t quite what you want??

Reisen just looked off into space, her head slightly low.

?That isn?t? I mean? We?ve never gone this far before? To hurt others while attempting to hurt one individual. Plus all the suffering we?d potentially cause to those not even involved??

?I know you have doubts Reisen? But that is why this operation is to be discreet as possible. Even in her current state, the princess knows that this could damage Eientei if too many get involved. The risks outweigh the benefits in her mind however. It is the same in my mind as well. But what of you, Udonge?? asked Eirin.

?But to do something so cruel? Is this really what people like us should do?? Perhaps we were better off doing the old w-?

Reisen immediately halted her tongue, knowing she would be reprimanded for such speech. She quickly got up to leave.

?Mistress? I? ?I?m going out for a bit. Just to? ?get some air.? said Reisen, beginning to walk off.

?Reisen?? spoke Eirin.

Her mistress just used her true name. It was rare for Reisen to be called by her true name by her mistress. There even times of battle, where her mistress continued using that nick name? She was truly serious to be using her real one now.

The purple haired bunny girl turned around to face her mistress. Eirin didn?t move, still merely sitting.

?I?ll understand if you want to be scarce during the operation?s climax? But you must know that I can?t just leave the princess to herself? Not after what I?ve done? But even so, I ask you to think this over. Think about our future if all goes well.? said Eirin, before closing her eyes.

Reisen almost immediately turned back around, and took to the sky.

?I will Mistress. I will wait just little longer before making my decision however.?

It wasn?t long until Reisen had flown off. Eirin watched until her student had vanished from sight before sighing, her current thoughts and emotions no longer clear?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:19:02 AM
***

It wasn?t too long until Eirin had finished her previous task, and reentered the mansion. The room she wandered into was littered with scrolls, and large boxes and crates that were labeled: ?Yakogoro Labs.?  The dimly lit room also had smaller, elaborately labeled boxes and pill bottles, almost as if they were professionally sold medicines that you could buy at a store? A were labeled as being ?Kochoumugan.?

Eirin set the scroll she was holding onto a table, knowing one of the youkai rabbits would pick it up later. She then stepped out into the large wooden hallway of the Japanese style castle, intending to head to Kaguya?s room to check on her. Mid-way down however, she stopped suddenly just beyond a junction, and shifted her eyes to the left? Did she sense someone, or something?

She heard the footsteps of someone approaching her position. So she did sense someone? But she was perfectly calm as she awaited her ?guest.?

Out from the corner stepped a young looking (perhaps early twenties) woman, clad in a white and dark blue French maid uniform, complete with a white bonnet on her head. The collar of the short sleeved dress had red trend, and a black ribbon was located right below the neck. Her short, silver hair was tied into two braids that reached just below her neck on each side of her head. Each braid was tied with a green ribbon. She wore semi-high heeled dark blue shoes, along with matching straps just above the ankles that made X shapes when looked at from the front. Her eyes were a dark blue color.

But the most suspicious feature was the silver hair?

?Ah? Greetings Sakuya. You?ve come for the librarian?s medicine, haven?t you?? greeted Eirin with a smile, while holding her elbows in her arms.

?I do this as part of my duty. It wouldn?t be right to not come here unless I did it in a timely manner.? replied Sakuya, also with a smile.

?A perfect, elegant, and dutiful maid indeed. I can remember you being dutiful like this in the old days as well??

?Again with this, ?I know you from before? banter? It should not be possible for you to know me since I have only just turned twenty-three. I haven?t any memories of a previous life.? spoke Sakuya calmly with a relaxed expression.

?The only memories you have are those of your Mistress?? said Eirin with a slight sigh.

?My memories are my own. You have no knowledge of my memories.? said Sakuya, doing well to hold back her slight irritation.

?I?m puzzled as to whether you can?t remember, or choose not to remember. But all the same??

?I told you? I?m the only one with knowledge of my memories!? repeated Sakuya in a suddenly sharper tone, her smile vanishing. ?Now don?t we have other manners???

?Very well? Please follow me.? said Eirin, calm as ever as she turned around.

Sakuya sighed as they reached the room Eirin was just in mere moments before. Eirin went inside, while Sakuya waited outside at the door. The maid noticed that the nurse was a much less organized than usual? Eirin began searching through a box on the rather messy desk.

?Let?s see now? Eye drops, flu shots, aspirin, Ritalin, suppositories? Ah, here is Patchouli-sama?s medicine!? said Eirin, pulling out an orange bottle with a white cap.

?I must admit to admiring your ability to stay on top of things, even when you?re swamped with work as you are now?? mentioned Sakuya.

Eirin walked up to the maid.

?Well I am a pharmacist who runs a store. It?s important to keep up on work no matter what. But what you see here is an incomplete process of reorganization.? explained Eirin with a happy smile as she handed the bottle to Sakuya.

?But couldn?t have the rabbits do this for you?? In fact, I have seen only a few of them here today?? replied Sakuya.

?They have run off to accomplish tasks for the princess most likely. They should return soon.?

?Whatever you say?? said Sakuya, putting the bottle into her pocket. All the more suspicious?

?Do come back soon Sakuya.? said Eirin.

?I thank you again for your service. Until next time, Sayonara.? said Sakuya with a bow, before walking off.

?Take care.? said Eirin, also with a bow. I wonder if she suspects anything? She likely does? After all, the store has been closed for two weeks, and she was quick to notice that the rabbits were missing? Maybe I should ?dispose of her??? No, that wouldn?t be prudent now. We?ve drawn enough attention from the Scarlet Devil Mansion already.

Eirin turned halfway around?

In any case, it would be wise to hurry? Patchouli may have sent her to find the missing book. That would be most troublesome?

Now Eirin had turned all the way around?

I should get back to?

It lasted only a moment, but Eirin could have swore she saw the room turn monochrome in color? Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her back, like if something was piercing it!

?AHH?!?

Eirin shrieked as she was pinned to the ground by none other than Sakuya, who was now holding her arms behind her back, while pinning her down with her right foot. A throwing knife was stuck into Eirin?s back, blood leaking from the wound.

?You fool, you have underestimated just how shrewd Ms. Patchouli and I can both be! You knew perfectly well we suspected you were up to something, didn?t you? Stealing a single item from the vast canyons of knowledge that make up Voile and nothing else? Did you really think we would just think of it as a prank of the rabbit leader? I even gave you a clear shot for you to take care of me, and you hesitated! Now you will tell me just what is happening involving that book!? ordered Sakuya, calm, yet with a highly displeased tone.

Sakuya partially picked Eirin off the wooden ground, then slammed her back down again.

?And while you?re at it, you shall tell me why you?re so fond of my history!?

Eirin was silent, only angering Sakuya.

?Don?t be silent with me! Answer!? demanded Sakuya, now yelling a little bit.

?That will not be necessary of me, dear Sakuya.? said Eirin calmly, though with a pained voice.

?What?! What in the world are you?!?

?Have I not told you?? It was I who invented the Luna Dial that you use to halt time and surprise your foes. Did you not think I could recognize it and implement a contingency plan?? asked Eirin.

Sakuya tightened her grip on her red and blue captive.

?You are completely trapped! What sort of plan could you possibly hope to accomplish as you are now?!?

Eirin was silent. Instead of answering? ?she smiled. Suddenly, she kicked out her right leg, throwing out a coin like object with a blue star on it. Sakuya spotted it, just as Eirin pressed it with her right foot?

Alarmed, Sakuya jumped away from Eirin, shielding her eyes from the bright flash that came with the bomb explosion. Sakuya took flight, moving backwards at a high speed as several arrows came speeding toward her from out of the thick smoke. Moving with quick reflexes and surprisingly elegant movements, Sakuya was just able to dodge the arrows. The projectiles only grazed her at best.

Reaching under her skirt to a garter on her right leg with her left hand, Sakuya pulled out several throwing knives, holding them at the ready. Eirin dashed out of the smoke, missing the knife in her back, and now brandishing a bow with an arrow at the ready.

Her smile was gone?

The nurse fired the arrow, which split off into several open being fired. Sakuya threw her knives to shoot them down. As she reached for more, Eirin was firing magically generated arrows at an amazingly rapid rate of speed, forcing Sakuya to sway to and fro to avoid being hit. Clicking her tongue, Sakuya allowed Eirin to get just a tad closer, then threw her knives at Eirin.

?Gh?!?

The nurse put up her left hand, creating a blue flash that shattered the knives on contact. She then flew in at Sakuya at an astonishing speed. Sakuya quickly drew more knives, only to have them kicked away by Eirin via a high kick! Visibly surprised, Sakuya tries to move back, but Eirin sends her left foot crashing into Sakuya?s torso sending her reeling. The maid somehow recovers, and staggers onto the ground, somehow not falling down. Eirin however does a spinning kick with her right leg into Sakuya?s gut sending her flying the remaining length of the hallway into the wall with a gasp!

Sakuya, now with a desperate look, attempts to pull out what appears to be a golden pocket watch with her left hand?

?Oh no you don?t!? says Eirin, throwing her bow ahead of herself and pulling out a spellcard.

Oddly, she slams the card into the wall?

?Stealth Shinobi: Hidden Floor Arrow!?

A golden energy arrow suddenly bursts forth from the ground at Sakuya?s right hand!

??!?

Caught completely by surprise, the maid finds her tool for time freezing knocked square out of her hand! Eirin then does a spin move as she moves forward to collect her bow? Even while it was still in the air, that same left hand of Sakuya?s is shot through with a well aimed arrow from Eirin, pinning the maid to the wall! What speed?!

Sakuya?s agony was only added to as Eirin finished the job by shooting through her right forearm, and both of her upper legs, further pinning her to that wall. Eirin simply stopped and waited while Sakuya cried out in agony?

?GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!?

Eirin walked up to her attacker? The hunter had become the hunted. Sakuya?s breathing was most heavy, her face drenched with sweat, her wounds spilling blood onto the once pristine hall.

?Tis a shame Sakuya? You should have left when you had the chance. This makes you the one who missed an opportunity now, does it??

Eirin caressed Sakuya?s chin with her left hand for about ten seconds.

?GET YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM ME!? demanded Sakuya in a rough, gravely voice.

Almost as if she was obeying, Eirin backed off? ?while loading another arrow into her bow.

?Since you threatened Eientei, I can no longer let you live. Perhaps you?ll find the truths you desire in the next life?? said Eirin, her face devoid of emotion.

She leveled the arrow at Sakuya?s neck?

?Die, Sakuya Izayoi.?

The maid glanced at her impending death silently? When something unexpected happened! Sakuya screamed in agony once again as she suddenly started to build up magical energy! Alarmed, Eirin fired the arrow, only to have it knocked away by the waves of energy building around Sakuya.

Shock filled the nurses? face as she saw Sakuya do the unthinkable? She actually snapped the arrows holding her arms to the wall, and ripped out the arrows in her legs! It was as if she was completely oblivious to the pain! She reached into her right pocket, pulling out a spellcard!

?WOUND SIGN: INSCRIBBLED SOUL!? yelled Sakuya as she charged her opponent.

The shocked Eirin put her hand up in defense, but to no avail? Sakuya?s eyes now gleamed a red color as she riddled both Eirin, and the hallway with thousands upon thousands of slashes. Blood, flesh and splinters were sent flying every which way as if a hundred butchers in a single row went to work all at once?

Sakuya then slumped over to the side, leaning against the wall, letting Eirin?s shredded corpse fall to the floor. Clad in a severely tattered red and blue dress, Eirin?s slash laden corpse now lay in a quickly expanding pool of her own blood, shocked eyes still open?

Panting heavily, Sakuya glances back at Eirin?s remains as she struggled to calm down.

Dammit! What I?m to do now?! Wait? Her special medicines?!

Doing her best to fight the pain, Sakuya began the long crawl back to the room the medicines were stored, her eyes returning to their original blue color?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:20:35 AM
***

Meanwhile, in a rather large clearing within the bamboo forest surrounding Eientei, many, possibly hundreds of youkai rabbits began to gather in front of a small, wooden stage. Inexplicably enough, the stage had a large American flag with a carrot put up on its back that all who sat in front of the stage could see. It was as though an old fashioned military style briefing was to begin?

Reisen flew overhead and caught sight of the gathering. She raised her eyebrow as she slowed down and decided to drop in.

?What in the world?? How much time was this here exactly?? asked the girl to herself.

Suddenly?

?TROOOOOOOPS! ATTENTIOOOOOONNN!? came Tewi?s voice over what sounded like a megaphone.

The other rabbit girls quickly stopped their playing around and began sitting in perfect rows, much to Reisen?s surprise. Tewi suddenly jumped up from behind the stage, landing on the front with a graceful flip now clad in black shoes with white socks, and a green army helmet with holes for her rabbit ears.

?Is everyone accounted for? Okay, let?s begin!? announced the small bunny girl without a megaphone.

The sensitive hearing of the youkai girls, combined with the fact that they were now quietly sitting relatively close to the stage meant that they could now hear what Tewi was saying clearly in any case.

?Tewi? What are you doing?? asked Reisen, leaping onto the stage and approaching Tewi?s left.

?Ah, Reisen! You?re just in time for the strategy discussion!? said Tewi cheerfully as she faced the other rabbit girl.

?Strategy discussion? You were about to finally reveal what you were going to do about the Scarlet Devil Mansion Maid Army, along with the capturing of the subjects without informing Mistress Eirin, or myself??

?Mistress Eirin already knows of my strategy, and is busy deciding troop movements for her half of the army.? said Tewi innocently.

?But that still does not explain why I haven?t been told of this, Tewi?? pointed out Reisen as she put her hands on her hips and bent over to put her face closer to Tewi?s.

Tewi just smiled nervously, as Reisen?s shadow blocked the sunlight to her face.

?I was going to tell you? Eventually??

?Long after the meeting?s conclusion I presume? Or perhaps you forgot? Or maybe you were going to bring me in an objectionable way? Yeah, that last one sounds about right?? said Reisen.

?D-don?t be silly Reisen! Th-th-the reason you weren?t told? Um, you see??

As Tewi stammered on in an ill-fated attempt to find an excuse for leaving Reisen out, three more youkai rabbits jumped up to the stage, each carrying an item: one carried some rope, one carried a roll of duct tape along with a bottle of chloroform, and the last one carried an empty, folded up burlap sack.

?Captain! Target was not in her room, usa! We have aborted mission!?

Reisen noticed the three, and raised an eyebrow.

?Tewi? What ?target? are they referring to??? asked Reisen suspiciously, pointing to the three behind her.

Tewi turned around, giving the three a frantic eye signal to leave, whilst wearing a frantic expression. However?

?Captain, why would we retreat when the target stands in front of you?? asked the middle duct tape wielding rabbit.

?What was that now??? said Reisen, folding her right hand into a gun shape and putting her right index finger on the back of Tewi?s turned head.

Tewi sweated profusely as her mouth became a perfect upside down triangular shape, and looked to the left and right frantically.

?I-I-I-I-I have absolutely no idea what they?re talking about! Really, what are you two speaking of??

?Captain? You asked us to knock her unconscious, tie her up, stuff in this sack, then drag her here.? said the rabbit innocently.

Reisen pressed in her finger further.

?Ow, ow! I-I-I was talking about another rabbit girl that just happens to resemble Reisen! I?d neeeeever had such a thing done to my dear Reisen! Really!? rambled Tewi, still trying to fake innocence.

?I see. You really wouldn?t??? asks Reisen, with an eyebrow still raised, but removing her finger.

The smaller rabbit girl turned around clasped her hands in front of herself.

?Of course not! Do I look like I would do anything wrong??? asks Tewi with a sharp toothed smile that reeked of faked innocence.

?Yes.? said Reisen rather bluntly.

?So mean! You?re hurting my feelings Reisen!? cried Tewi.

?Somehow I?m not too sure about that...? said Reisen indifferently.

?Please stop Reisen! You?re making me sad!?

?Once again??

?I?m sensitive you know!?

?Oh really???

?Really!?

?Not really.?

?Not really?!?

?No.?

?Why not?!? asked Tewi looking like she was about to cry.

?Because I can?t believe you Tewi. You?re a jokester and a pathological lair whose insatiable urge to trick people often causes you to do annoying things to people, even when you should be working on something important. Namely, our strategy session.?

Tewi just stared at Reisen, and Reisen stared back. The exchange continued silently for about a minute. The three gear wielding girls behind Tewi shrugged and left the stage. The girls on the ground just waited quietly.

Tewi suddenly put her left fist up into the air.

?Well then, shall we start our discussion?!? she said excitedly.

?Shouldn?t you apologize for so many lies??? sighed Reisen in a disappointed down hunching over a bit with her head down.

?But I never lied!?

?You never learn do you?! By saying ?I never lied?, you in fact HAVE lied!? argued Reisen.

?Which means I don?t lie. I?m glad you see my point! Now let me tell you my ultimate plan!? spoke Tewi happily.

Reisen sighed deeply while putting a palm to her face.
?Alright, alright, just hurry and tell me the plan already.?

Tewi nodded her head twice with a curvy bunny smile before snapping her fingers. By seemingly nothing at all, the flag was pulled upward and away, revealing a ridiculously large chart of? ?somewhere in outer space?? The chart had dotted lines, X?s for locations, and what appeared to be moons with letters on them. The other bunny girls (save for Reisen) applauded Tewi?s ?display.?

Tewi pulled out a very large stick (read: pool cue), and began pointing out various things on the chart whilst explaining them to her.

?It?s a full proof plan, Reisen old friend! First off, we take off from Earth where we travel approximately 20,000 lightyears to this point??

Tewi pointed to that point.

??where we then detour over this way??

Tewi made a motion as if she were drawing a very small hill, tracing one of the lines.

??swing around this moon??

The stick made a circle across said moon before going upward.

??then proceed another 40,000 lightyears to THIS point??

The stick went to THAT point as well.

??before finally shifting to the left, and thusly reaching the fabled Planet X!?

Tewi pointed over to a moon with a large X on it, and tapped it. She then put the stick back into her right hand, and supported it with her left, looking very proud.

I have GOT to stop letting her watch so many Saturday morning cartoons? thought Reisen in her mind. ?Tewi? ?aren?t you thinking of something else???

Another minute long pause ensued. Tewi kept the same expression as before, but her face turned a little red, and the sweat began to return.

?Buh! Huh! Buh huh huh huh huh huh huh!? began Tewi before turning away from Reisen and snapping her fingers with a miserable look on her face. ?I forgot? That?s next week?s mission??

The chart detached from the wall, flipped over, and attached again. The other rabbits (save for Reisen) clapped again in amazement of Tewi?s supposed ability. The flipped over chart revealed the area around Eientei for the next few hundred miles. It showed mostly forests, lakes, and mountains. Over the spot where Eientei would be was a box with an arrow pointing to the mansion, and saying ?You are here.? There were several yellow circles, and one red circle, all on specific parts.

?See that sign Reisen?? said Tewi, tapping the ?you are here? sign.

?My eyes are still working Tewi.?

?We?re located here.?

Reisen rolled her red eyes.

?According to our Message Butterflies??

?Message Butterflies??? interrupts Reisen out of reflex.

?Oh? I didn?t tell you?? asked Tewi innocently.

?Of course not!? said Reisen, clearly annoyed that Tewi failed to inform her about these ?Message Butterflies.?

?Ah? They are in fact, the latest invention from Yagokoro-Sensei! With these, we were able to spot the targets heading in the general direction of the lake in the mountains. But because they have so little power, they don?t last long. We couldn?t get anything more.?

Just then, a purple butterfly with red and blue wings fluttered by, and landed on Tewi?s outstretched free hand.

?Mistress Eirin made these? Hm? Okay, so what?s your general plan for capturing them?? asked Reisen, sitting up straight while keeping her hands on her hips.

Tewi somehow managed to further widen her already wide smile.

?It?s a full proof plan! See the yellow circles? They symbolize the points where my bunny squads will ambush them.? explained the small bunny girl.

?But what if that fails??

?That where you come in, Reisen Bunny!?

I don?t appreciate her calling me that? thought Reisen in her head, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. ?And just how is it that I come in??

?You lure them to the red circle, where we spring our trap!? said Tewi with a head tilt.

?Your trap? Well I?ll just do what I have to do.? said Reisen in an oddly indifferent tone.

?What?s with that?? said Tewi as she raised an eyebrow in a questioning expression.

?Nothing. I?ll just do it.? replied Reisen with minimal emotion.

?Alrighty then! Inabas!? called Tewi.

The American Flag from before was returned to its former place as Tewi began pacing back and forth like an army general. She then stopped at the middle of the stage, facing the other rabbit girls. Reisen put her hands behind her back, and backed away a little.

?Gentlemen!? called Tewi.

All the other rabbit girls stared at Tewi with raised eyebrows for a few seconds before looking at each other. It didn?t take long for Tewi to realize her mistake and correct herself.

?Ahh?! Ladies! Today will be the Inaba Army?s day of Glory!?

Oh, brother? thought Reisen.

?The upcoming operation will be difficult. It will test the limits of your strength and ability. Some of you may not return from this mission, but you?ll at least enter the afterlife knowing you did so for the cause of our Princess Kaguya! Now let us go forth, and put an end to the conflict between the Princess and her rival, once and for all! Are you with me Inabas??

The Inabas all raised the fists and cheered in response. Reisen didn?t seem to pay attention, appearing to be in deep thought?

?Reisen? I?ll understand if you want to be scarce during the operation?s climax? But you must know that I can?t just leave the princess to herself? Not after what I?ve done? But even so, I ask you to think this over. Think about our future if all goes well.?

Not ever leaving the Princess? Our future? Is fate really so cruel, Mistress Eirin?

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the voice of Tewi.

?Hey Reisen, why aren?t you cheering with us??

?Huh? O-oh, I guess I was thinking about something else.?

?C?mon, look more excited! You?re as eager to complete this task as anyone of us, aren?t you??

?Yeah??

?Yeah?? C?mon Reisen, are you with us or against us??

Reisen had a moment of hesitation?

?Um? I? ?I?m? ?I?m with you. D-don?t worry about it.?

?Sheesh, did you eat a bad carrot or something?? asked Tewi with a head tilt.

Just then, another butterfly flutters by for a bit before landing on Tewi?s shoulder.

?Oh??? mumbles Tewi as she apparently listens to its (silent?) message. ?Inabas! The fairy maids of Scarlet Devil Mansion are moving toward our territory! Move out and defend!?

The youkai rabbits loudly acknowledge the order before getting up and running away from the stage to take their posts.

?Remember Reisen, we?ll be counting on you in case anything goes wrong okay?? asked Tewi before flying off.

?Yeah...? said Reisen as she blankly watched Tewi leave.

She just stood for a few seconds with another blank expression before flying up to leave herself?

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:21:55 AM
[Fourth Spell]

The day was now in full swing. The sun was all the way up, and the sky hardly had a single cloud in it. A slight wind blew through the forest?s edge, with moderately warm air. A perfect day, or so it seemed?

The four girls- Marisa, Alice, Mystia, and Wriggle emerged from the forest?s edge, stepping into the vast grasslands of Gensokyo. It was something they rather would?ve avoided, but in order to get to the mansion, there was no other choice?

?If we move quickly enough, we may yet avoid the Inaba Army.? claimed Marisa with a smile.

Alice turned toward Mystia, while continuing to walk.

?How is your wing?? asked the doll carrying girl.

?It feels better now, though I still doubt I can fly with it.? responds Mystia.

?If we need to fly, I?ll make a little room on my broomstick, okay?? says Marisa as she briefly faced Mystia, giving a thumbs up.

?Um? Thank you?? said Mystia, not properly looking back at Marisa.

Wriggle looked over to Mystia (when she couldn?t see her looking of course) with a sad expression for a few moments.

Mystia?

?I still don?t think this is a wise thing to do Marisa.? said a concerned Alice.

?Well it?s too late now, so you?ll just have to go with it.? replied Marisa.

They soon came to a rather large lake that was over looked by tiny forests, and a range of large mountains. The path that led to the mansion seemed well enough?

?Its rather quite here? I thought we would?ve seen a few fairies around by now.? commented Alice.

?This path takes into some thick trees located nearby? If I were settin? a trap, I?d put one there, ze.? said Marisa.

?Well then, what would you do?? asks Alice.

Marisa turns around with an evil sharp toothed smile on her face.

?I?m really glad you asked that Alice!? says Marisa.

Alice, with a nervous expression on her face slowly steps back.

?A-ah, M-Marisa???

***

On the other side of the lake, a young looking fairy girl with large, spiky wings that looked like they were made of ice could be seen. She had a green bow, and ice blue hair with aqua eyes. She had on a one piece aqua blue dress skirt with white, spike like trend along the bottom edges. She wore a light pink, short sleeved blouse under the dress, with a tiny red ribbon below the collar. Unlike other fairies, she was human sized as well.

?Aww? Why can?t I find any good frogs to freeze around here? It really shouldn?t be like this at this time of day.? complained the fairy in her high pitched, but not quite annoying voice. ?This isn?t any good at all! Its becoming boring around here! Makes me wish it were winter??

A few seconds after she said that, she saw a flash out the corner of her eye.

?Uhh???

Being a simple minded fairy, she immediately grew curious and flew over to the light source?

***

Meanwhile, Marisa was holding up an unusually large golden coin, Japanese in design, seeming to be freshly waxed. She seemed to be shining it in a certain direction.

?So? ?what exactly is this latest brilliant plan of yours Marisa?? asked Alice skeptically.

?Watch and learn dear Alice, watch and learn?? said Marisa confidently.

?Um?? muttered Wriggle as she watched, along with Mystia.

It wasn?t too long before the quartet could see a blue fairy girl flying overhead, drawn to the gleaming light. Upon spotting the devilishly smiling Marisa, the fairy?s face turned to an expression of anger.

?Ah, Cirno! Just in time?? called Marisa.

Err? What could she want with that idiot ice fairy?? thought Wriggle to herself.

?Hey you! Why were you of all people shining that light just now?? asked Cirno (pronounced Cheer-no) in a peeved tone. ?You didn?t do that to make fun of me did you??

?Naah. I actually just came to challenge you. I figured a curious flash would be the best way to get your attention.? said Marisa with a wink.

The short tempered Cirno landed in front of Marisa, walking up to her with her fists up.

?Challenge me so you can humiliate me? I outta freeze you right at this moment for saying something like that!? said the angry ice fairy.

?Tis not a danmaku fight I?m looking for per say?? began Marisa, waving the coin a bit. ?But a small race. Whaddya say??

?If you want to race against me, you?ll be sorry! I?m faster than any fairy around here!? said Cirno confidently, but still with rashness in her voice.

Wriggle, Alice and Mystia all continued to understandably look on skeptically.

?I?ll take that as acceptance. Very well? I?m going to through this coin into the trees up ahead. The first one to retrieve the coin and bring it back to this spot to show these three will be the victor.? finishes Marisa.

?Hmph! Finding a mere coin huh? I?ll make you wish you?d never thought up this little game of yours, human! This will make up for my past failures against you ten fold!? exclaimed Cirno.

?Okaaaaay?? Marisa leaned her arm back to throw the coin? ?Three? Two? One??

Cirno took a starting position like that of a runner, pointing herself in the direction of the coin.

?GO!!?

Marisa hurled the coin into a surprisingly far distance. As she did so, Cirno took off at full speed in the direction of the coin? She of course didn?t run after it herself. Now she put an ear out into the direction that Cirno ran?

?Umm? What are you do-?

Alice was interrupted.

?Shh! Listen closely?? said Marisa.

Alice stood dumbfounded, wondering what Marisa?s big plan was? Wriggle and Mystia looked at each other for a bit, then listened out themselves? Two minutes later?

?KYAAAAN!!!?

?Ah, I was right! We?ll go this way then.? said Marisa, turning and walking past the three youkai.

?I get it? You wanted to see if there were any traps set up, and used her?? said Alice with a grumpy expression.

?And you know it would work because she?s a total idiot, with an attitude problem.? added Wriggle.

?You guys win the prize ze!? exclaimed Marisa happily.

?What? ?would that be exactly??? asked Mystia.

?More time with me! Now let?s go!?

Sighing, the three youkai followed their ?leader.?

?I?m mean, what did you guys expect? She?s a total nine-ball!? finishes Marisa.

Wriggle raised an eyebrow.

?What in the world is a ?nine-ball????
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:22:57 AM
***

A few moments earlier?

?Argh, where is that thing? A human certainly couldn?t have thrown it that far?? grumbled Cirno as she searched for the golden coin as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, up in the trees?

?Commander! Possible target spotted!?

?Engage target immediately!?

?Yes ma?am!?

Without warning, a whole bunch of red lights dotted Cirno?s body?

?Huh?? What are these things? Do I have that human disease again? What was it, Pigeon Dots??

***

Soon after that, Cirno found herself hanging upside down from a tree branch, in large and thick, cocoon like wrappings.

?What?s going on here?! Let me down!? demanded the fairy girl, feeling the blood rush to her head.

Just then a large number of Inaba Army members, many of whom wielding wooden swords and sticks jumped out of the bushes, stampeding toward her.

?We got you! Now tell us everything you know!? said an Inaba that was wearing sunglasses.

?I can?t tell you anything if I don?t know what you want!?

?We see past your lies fairy! Now tell us where the human and her three youkai companions are going!?

?I don?t know what they were doing here or even care about them! Now let me down so I can finish the race!? squealed Cirno.

One of the bunnies hit Cirno in the side, sending her swinging.

?Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!?

?What race??

?I have to find the coin before the black does!? explained Cirno.

?The ?black?? You must be talking about the witch!?

?Yes, that?s her! Now let me down!?

?You can?t tell us what to do! We?re the ones that caught you!?

The rabbits began wailing on Cirno again, sending her on dizzying bobs and weaves.

?WAAAAAAAAH!!!? yelled the ice fairy.

?Ma?am! We should find that coin first! If we do, we can ambush the black-white!? suggested another rabbit.

?Good thinking trooper! You three with sticks! Continue pressing the ice fairy for information! Everyone else with me!? ordered the sunglasses clad commander.

?YES MA?AM!?

?Wha??! How dare you! When I get out of this, every last one of you is going on i- OW!

Cirno was interrupted as she was whacked repeatedly by the bunnies.

?OW, OW, OW! You?ll pay for this! You?re all nine-balls!? vowed Cirno.

The bunnies stopped.

?What?s a nine-ball?? asked one.

?Beats me?? shrugged the other.

?Whatever, lets keep beating her with sticks.? said the third.

?Maybe candy will fall out!? exclaimed the first.

?Candy?! I don?t have can- OW, OW, OW, OW, OW, OW, OW!? yelped Cirno.

***

?By now, they think that we?re heading to that stupid coin. Whatever Kaguya is up to, she really shouldn?t have left it to such inept rabbits, ze!? laughed Marisa, mocking the Inaba?s behind their back.

?I must admit that your plan was? ?clever. And? ?interesting.? said Wriggle uneasily. If amoral and primitive? If nothing else?

?Why thank you!? said Marisa.

What an odd human? thought Mystia to herself.

?So typical of you Marisa? You?re prone to doing things like that quite a bit.? said Alice.

?If it keeps us safe, and enemies off our backs, it?s perfectly fine.? explained Marisa happily.

?Fine, just don?t ever think of doing that to me.? sighed Alice, putting a hand to her head.

?Ahh, don?t worry I have a strict policy against doing that to friends.?

?And yet you steal from them, and mooch from them? Just like you intend to do at that mansion.?

?We?re just hangin? out for awhile, don?t worry.? explained Marisa with a thumbs up.

?I?m sure we are?? said Alice, rolling her eyes skeptically.

A few more minutes of walking, and the four girls could see a small black ?cloud? of some sort in the distance?

?Head?s up!? warned Alice, seeing them first.

?What?s that?? thought Mystia out loud.

?Hmm? Wondering when they would show up?? snickered Marisa with a deviant smile.

?Ahh?! Those are in fact?? began Alice.

??the fairy maids of the Scarlet Devil Mansion!? finished Wriggle.

?Complete with that flying devil of Patchouli?s.? added Marisa. Even though I didn?t exactly want them to show up this soon? Then again, it won?t matter too much if we make it quick. Besides, I need a good fight...

They were the fairies of Scarlet Devil Mansion. Clad in French maid uniforms, and varying in size from that of a standard fairy to a full human. They all carried weapons in the form of? ?household cleaning appliances. Hundreds, upon hundreds approached the four heroines who prepared to stay their ground. Leading them was Patchouli?s assistant, Koakuma, flying with her large black wings.

?Mystia get behind me!? said Wriggle as she covered the night bird.

Koakuma halted, the fairies doing the same as they looked at the group.

?Marisa Kirisame! We have come ask you about a certain book you may have stolen from us!? announced Koakuma.

?Wow? Need I remind you I only borrow books from your Mistress? Even with her crappy health, she?ll long outlive me, so she can have them back then. Also, why is she only sending forces against me after all this time?? responded Marisa.

Yeah? That?s a good question? thought Alice, raising an eyebrow.

?There is a particular book! It is imperative that we have it back!? explained Koakuma.

?What is it? Did I steal your Mistresses personal diary or something?? teased Marisa.

?This is no joke, black witch! If you won?t give me a straight answer, then I?ll force if from you!?

Koakuma raised her hand? The maids held their tools at the ready?

?ATTACK!? shouted Koakuma as she brought her hand down at high speed.

The maids began charging the quartet at high speed! Reacting almost instantaneously, Alice held out her left arm at the maids. Several dolls materialized with bows and arrows, firing yellow shots into the maids. Many yelped as they were shot down.

Marisa, smiling evilly as pure usual, summoned several green spherical familiars that floated around her. From these familiars came very thin red energy beams that tore through a good number of the maids, causing some to explode into fairy dust.

Meanwhile, some of the fairy maids fired at Wriggle and Mystia, both of whom dodged. Two flew in at Mystia, but the bird quickly slashed them away with her claws, shattering their weapons. Wriggle flip jumped into the hair, landing on a fairy?s head, and sending her face first into the ground. After that, the two stood back to back.

?I still can?t fly Wriggle.? said Mystia.

?I?ll take care of it then. I know I?m not at full strength, but?? responded Wriggle as she pulled out a spellcard. ?Butterfly Sign!?

Wriggle felt her body surge with power as her bandages disintegrate.

?Butterfly Storm!?

The card flew into the air above the two animal youkai, exploding into a storm of yellow, red, blue, and green danmaku. The magic bullets struck at maids from all sides, bringing many down. Despite still feeling weak from the ordeal with Kaguya, Mystia isn?t about to sit around and not help (her ego depended on it!). She pulled out a card of her own?

I?ll have to use a weaker one for now? she thought to herself. ?Vocal Sign ~ ?Howl of the Horned Owl!??

Mystia threw the card into the air, letting it explode into swarms of red and blue spearhead-like bullets that added to Wriggle?s attack. The energy flowing in her body blew off her bandages as well.

At some point, Alice took to the air, surrounded by dolls. She continued using the dolls to bring down maid after maid, while dodging their own attacks, be they physical or otherwise. One maid managed to slip past Alice?s assault, coming at her from behind. But her attempt ended when a doll came from nowhere, and stuck a sword right through the right side of her head. She promptly fell into dust. Alice dodged magic bullets and kunai thrown by a few more maids before having her archer dolls take care of them.

Marisa annihilated several maids with thin white beams shot from familiars, causing Koakuma to cover her eyes. When she uncovered them, the black dressed devil saw the black dressed witch on her broomstick, zooming toward her with an evil smile on her face at a rather high speed. Koakuma immediately darted backwards while materializing familiars of her own on her sides. The familiars -elaborate white circles- fired thin white laser beams of their own at Marisa while Koakuma herself added in white bullets. The blonde haired girl however zoomed and weaved through the beams and projectiles, lowering her head when necessary. She put a hand to her hat to keep it on as she sped past Koakuma and her assault.

Marisa was clearly faster than Koakuma. She got some distance before swinging around, speeding at Koakuma like a fighter jet. The winged girl?s face began to sweat a bit as she darted away from the green blasts that Marisa fired at her like machine guns. She sped away up into the sky frantically as Marisa continued her pursuit whilst firing green projectiles out of her hands. It wasn?t long until Koakuma had enough. There was only so long she could keep this up due to her inferior speed after all.

She drew a spellcard?

?Clairvoyant Sign!? she shouted, the spellcard beginning to glow.

?Oh??? muttered Marisa, seeming curious.

?Walk of Many Saints!?

As the card vanished, Koakuma began emitting a green colored aura around her body. She briefly held her arms out to the sides and up diagonally before holding them straight up. Thick green and grey clouds formed above her open palms. Finally, she through her arms straight out at Marisa.

The clouds transformed into a devastating number of dark green and light grey bullets that sped at Marisa like sine waves and circles. Additionally, some bullets weaved in with each other, making dodging more difficult. None the less, Marisa found a way through, letting bullets graze her with mild stinging as she just narrowly inched by them.

Koakuma tried to move backwards, but moving quickly wasn?t possible with this card out. A look of near panic came upon her face as Marisa got in closer while summoning two more familiars to join the two already out. The four familiars tailed behind her. As Marisa fired her usual green shots, the familiars fired small white bullets as well.

Unable to defend herself, Koakuma was pelted with numerous magic bullets. This disrupted her spell, the bullets it generated quickly falling apart into yellow energy, and then into nothing. Koakuma backed off, coughing while holding her left shoulder. Her dress was tattered in places.

?All bark and no bite as usual, eh Koakuma? If ya can?t back up what leaves your mouth, then your mouth shouldn?t open.? taunted Marisa. ?Now it?s time I showed you a spellcard attack.?

Marisa pulled out a spellcard of her own.

?Comet??

Oddly enough, Marisa slapped the card to the side of her broom? The card glowed bright blue, filling the broom with energy.

?Blazing Star!?

Suddenly, to Koakuma?s surprise Marisa shot forward at an unbelievable speed whilst surrounded by a magical blue aura that made her look like a shooting star, many blue stars falling behind the witch! Before Koakuma knew it, the tip of the broom was plunged dead into her stomach, knocking her away at a high speed with a gasp! She fell limply as a few drips of blood escaped her mouth. This went on for a few seconds before she recovered and stopped herself, holding her stomach and looking at Marisa.

Blast? I can?t do a thing against a power this much stronger than mine? thought Koakuma to herself. Forgive me Ms. Patchouli. I?ve failed you.

Marisa then flew over to Koakuma, sitting on her broom rather casually.

?Now if it isn?t too much trouble, would you mind telling me about the book you?re after?? she said with a now more pleasant smile.

Koakuma blinked, hesitating, unsure of what to make of Marisa?s casualness.

?C?mon, you lost. The loser has to tell that which the winner wants to hear.? said Marisa.

Koakuma swallowed, then spoke.

?If you say so? The book we search for is one filled with many odd riddles, poems and tales.? explained Koakuma.

?Why didn?t ya say so? Hmm?? Marisa paused to think, putting a hand to her chin. ?Naah, don?t think I?d have something like that. I?m only interested in spells ya know.?

?Nhh? Are you sure?? said Koakuma depressively.

Marisa merely shrugged. Koakuma then took on a more determined expression.

Wait? We still have Eientei left? In fact, the others are position by now? thought Koakuma to herself. ?All maids pull back! Full retreat!?

The remaining maids obeyed, flying away from Wriggle, Mystia, and Alice. Some of the survivors were carrying out injured. It wasn?t long until the SDM servants had retreated, and Marisa along with Alice returned to the ground by Wriggle and Mystia.

?Sheesh, not even a ?goodbye? or ?thank you?? Man, what?s this world coming too?? asked Marisa, looking into the sky.

?Are you two alright?? asks Alice to Mystia and Wriggle.

?I?m okay. They didn?t even lay a finger on me.? said Mystia in a way that was halfway unemotional and halfway boastfully.

?I seem to be doing alright myself. I don?t think I even opened any wounds.? said Wriggle checking herself.

Marisa then walked up to Wriggle, who looked up questioningly. Marisa gave Wriggle a thumbs up and a wink.

?You did good there kid! Nice job!? said Marisa.

Wriggle blinked for a few seconds, then smiled back with a small blush.

?Thanks Marisa.? she replied. And I was even able to protect Mystia?

?Hm? Well thanks to that little fight, we?ve lost some time we couldn?t afford to lose. Let?s hurry up to the mansion already.? said Marisa.

?Huh?! But weren?t we fighting maids from the very mansion mere moments ago?!? asked the shocked Alice.

?I second that!? adds Mystia with a slightly angry expression.

?They?re not heading back there? To the mansion I mean.? said Marisa vaguely.

?What do you mean?? asks Wriggle.

?I noticed they were heading the wrong way?? said Marisa as she turned around? ?and dropped her smile. ?They?re in fact heading somewhere else??

Marisa began to wonder what was going on seriously now. The time for playing may have just ended? Wriggle recognized the direction of where they were going after a few seconds herself.

?!

Those maids and their devil leader were heading straight for Eientei.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 06:24:07 AM
***

Leaping from tree branch to tree branch like a ninja, Tewi hurried over to where the other rabbits were. Stopping at a certain tree, she leapt to its top just in time to see defenses prepared and final preparations made in anticipation of the oncoming SDM maid onslaught. The other youkai rabbits were leaping to and fro, hurrying to get their last minute tasks out of the way. Tewi heard a voice above her.

?Ma?am!? called another rabbit girl.

Tewi looked upward just in time to see another rabbit girl falling slowly from the sky, carrying another Message Butterfly in her hand.

?Report, usa!? commanded Tewi.

?Defenses are prepared, and most of the troops are in place! We?re ready to launch operation, usa!? reported the bunny girl.

?Excellent work! Use the butterflies to keep me apprised!?

?Yes ma?am!?

The girl then handed Tewi the butterfly for her first report. Tewi put it to her ear, apparently ?listening? to it?

?Rats, they?re not heading for any of the ambush spots at all! Did something happen???

That?s when the voice of Reisen came from behind?

?Tewi!?

?Oh? Reisen Bunny?? said Tewi, turning around.

?Don?t worry about that. I?ll lure them to the capture zone. You just concentrate on defending the mansion.? said Reisen with a serious look.

?Then I will defend it! Good luck Reisen! Be safe!? called Tewi.

?I will! Thank you!? called Reisen back as she flew off?

***

There were hundreds, seemingly thousands of them? Fairies dressed like French maids closed in on the forest that hid the mansion known as Eientei. As they did, their winged leader pulled back so that she could oversee the inevitable battle.

?Go fourth and strike! Don?t hold anything back! Break through that forest along with everything else! We won?t stop until we?ve searched every last hidden corner of Eientei!? yelled Koakuma.

Many Inabas hid in trees and bushes, watching the oncoming maid army. Many looked scared, others looked determined, while others still looked confident.

?Steady? Be ready on my command. We?ll hit them with every ounce of strength we can muster!? said the apparent leader of these front line rabbits.

The maids picked speed, fully intent of breaking through to Eientei. The rabbits waited?

?Steady??

They drew closer and closer, holding their usual primitive weapons...

?ATTACK!?

At that moment, hundreds upon hundreds of Inabas leapt out of the trees above the maids, surprising them with astonishing speed! They leapt a very great distance away from the trees to reach the maids, indicating use of flight power. Many maids were able to move back, but many more were jumped onto, sent into the ground. Some maids attempted to help each other by coming to the ground themselves.

But this is what the bunny girls wanted?

?Ground forces, attack! Charge!?

More Inabas poured out from the bushes, firing magic bullets, as well as attacking with wooden swords, kendo sticks, and small tree branches! They came charging and yelling toward the maids, running at an incredibly high speed. The maids hesitated for a bit, then charged forward, themselves.

In mere seconds, the meadow became a violent battlefield.

On the ground, maids and humanoid rabbits battled with primitive, makeshift weapons in the form of cleaning appliances and wooden swords. In the air, maids and humanoid rabbits flew around like rabid bees as they fired massive amounts of shots in a full blown danmaku battle made for the clouds. Many maids yelped as they were shot down, but many Inabas were felled as well.

Some maids pulled back, taking to the sky while firing large yellow spheres of energy. Many of the youkai rabbits were forced to scatter and pull back to avoid the spheres. Upon contact with the ground, the spheres exploded violently! Inabas that were too close at the time of the explosions were hurled through the air, crashing hard onto the ground.

Meanwhile, the larger maids took advantage of their size compared to the Inabas, using it to push them back, while smaller sized maids attacked from farther away using yellow danmaku bullets.

The rabbits had superior speed, but the maids were stronger. In addition, Koakuma had turned out to be a great tactician. Even though Tewi had carefully planned the initial defense, Koakuma was quickly adapting.

?Get forty more to the left! Hurry!? she shouted, pointing over to her left instinctively before turning to another maid. ?I want to deploy them. Tell them to attack.?

The maid nodded before flying away from the heated battle. Koakuma then turned her attention to several Inabas flying right toward her. They fired shots, but Koakuma was able to dodge.

?I won?t let you! Lady Patchouli is counting on me!? announced Koakuma.

Koakuma raised her arms straight up into the air, forming a large ball of energy. She pointed her arms, along with the energy ball at the incoming bunnies. The ball shot forward. The bunnies moved to avoid it when suddenly it exploded into a large number of Kunai! Taken by surprise, the rabbits were run through by multiple Kunai, falling to the ground.

?Keep up the attack! We?re getting through!? ordered Koakuma.

And she was right. The Inaba Army was being pushed back?

Twenty more Inabas ran out of the cover of bushes carrying spears. They spent a few moments running toward the battle that drew ever so closer to the forest before throwing off their spears. Thanks to their innate youkai strength, the spears were able to reach the battle?

One maid had just finished blasting two of her rabbit enemies. Seeing a glint, she looked into the air mere seconds before she was impaled by a spear, falling apart into dust before she could even utter the beginnings of a scream. But that wasn?t all? That same spear suddenly exploded into danmaku! Nearly a hundred yellow and silver bullets burst from the spear, ending the lives of many fairy maids around it.

The other spears had the same affect, some even exploding before they even reached the ground! With her warriors suddenly dropping like flies after gaining an advantage, Koakuma grew worried.

Where are they?! she thought to herself as she dodged a spear bullet barrage.

As if on cue, she got her answer in the form of throwing knives finding their way into the flesh of several frontline Inabas, who immediately fell over in pain. It was the work of blonde haired, red dressed versions of the fairy maids who were wielding and throwing knives!

?Finally? Back up the troops. Take out those spear throwers if you can.? ordered Koakuma.

The maids acknowledged the command in the form of swiftly taking down more Inabas. They were also able to knock away spears with their knife throwing, making it much easier for the remaining maids to dodge.

Excellent? These are the mansions best. They were trained by Sakuya herself! thought Koakuma.

Koakuma, needing to rest, lands on the ground just in time to meet several more maids carrying large scrolls. She turned to them.

?Get to work on those right away. We?ll need them to break through the canopy.?

The maids nodded, then opened the scrolls which immediately began charging with energy. The energy didn?t seem to be magic oddly enough?

***

Tewi watched the explosive fighting from afar with a telescope. She closed it as she moaned in frustration.

?Darn! Those new maids are ripping our forces apart! At this rate, we?ll lose for sure!?

Tewi jumped down from the tree she was in, landing on the darkening ground. The slow onset of dark clouds began to block out the sun, casting an eerie shadow upon the forest. After looking around for a few moments, Tewi ran in the direction of the mansion. She didn?t run far before she got to were she was going, finding what she was looking for?

A bright smile lifted her face.

?Great! Hurry up and use them!?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on April 21, 2009, 10:33:59 AM
whoa man u resurrected this so soon?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 07:02:00 PM
***

The battle raged on. Maids and rabbits clashed with each other head on, some resorting to fisticuffs. By now, the battlefield was littered with fairy dust, rabbit girl corpses, dropped weapons, holes from explosions, and fires from ignited grass.

Through the smoke, Koakuma charged into the battle, no longer harboring thoughts of her injuries. Grabbing a staff dropped by one of the Inabas she proceeded to fight her way through their ranks, unwilling to allow Eientei?s forces to hold her own troops back any longer. Two bunny girls, freshly off the kill of a fairy maid charge at her, ramming into her with a team head butt.

Koakuma gasped in pain as she staggered back. Using her wings she prevented herself from falling over, hitting away one Inaba with her right fist, then clasping her hands over her head, and bringing them down like a sledge hammer to knock down the second Inaba. Next, she fired more red energy balls that exploded into Kunai inside the Inaba ranks.

?Incoming! More spears!? a maid suddenly shouted.

Koakuma looked up to find more of the deadly spears. Some exploded into deadly danmaku in mid-air. However, many knives thrown by the elite maids hit the most of the bullets, making it easier to dodge the rest. Further more, thin laser beams hit the remaining spears, disintegrating them.

Koakuma looked back to find that the scrolls from before had taken flight, firing upon the Eientei rabbits from a distance! Patches of dead grass were present where the scrolls rested while still on the ground?

?Keep firing!? ordered Koakuma.

But one would get the feeling that they would do just that, even without orders. The maids manipulating the scrolls didn?t show even the smallest hint of mercy as they fired their thin purple laser beams at targets both on the ground, and in the air. One sword wielding Inaba took to the sky to get away from the ground battle, only to have a laser pierce her thigh. Too surprised to even let out the slightest gasp, she fell ?in severe pain- back to the ground.

Other scrolls began shooting off many yellow spheres as well, further decimating the Inaba forces. One soldier observing the battle from slightly farther away backed away fearfully before turning around and running back into the bushes.

?C-c-commander! We?re getting pushed back! We need reinforcements, usa!? she shouted frantically.

?Hold position! They?ll be here!? assured the commander.

Just then, a large number of yellow and silver bullets zipped towards the commander, she saw them, but was taken by surprise. Unable to dodge, they fell on her? The soldier rabbit had to watch helplessly as her commander disappeared in an explosion of magical energy.

?COMMANDER!?

Panicking, the youkai rabbit ran past where the commander?s remains would be into the forest. She didn?t look back.

?N-no?! I-it?s too much!?

***

Tewi paid no mind to the frightened looking Inaba that just ran past her. She figured that soldier had orders and was frantic to complete them. Shedding her odd helmet, she got to the edge of the forest just in time to see that the battle had drawn closer to the edge. Smoke obscured the view of the combatants.

?Inabas, hurry!? called Tewi, looking behind her.

Now an interesting sight appeared? Wooden carts ?each pulled by three Inabas- began emerging from the forest. They each had four massive wheels, along with odd, metal objects that could only be described as giant Yin Yang half-orbs with odd, thirteen foot long protrusions that faced forward. The Inabas rolled the carts closer to the fight at a surprisingly quick speed.

***

A fairy maid in the air spotted the Inabas emerging from the forest, along with the strange devices they were dragging along. She immediately dropped to the ground, pointing in the general direction of the carts.

?Ma?am!?

Koakuma, who was bandaging another maid, looked ahead?

***

?Hourai Tanks, take aim!? commanded Tewi, instinctively putting her right finger into the air.

The apparent ?Hourai Tanks? raised their protrusions (turrets) into the air while charging up with purple magical energy. An Inaba was on top of each one, charging the tanks with energy?

***

She leapt back as she saw several of her fellow rabbits fall to the ground after the vicious assault of the red maids. Several more of her comrades were thrown to the ground, crumpled to heaps in front of her. Mere seconds after that, one of the knife maids leaped at the girl with a slash, causing her to leap back further. The maid immediately jumped again, slashing once more before even landing. The rabbit girl raised her sword to defend, but it was cut in two as wooden swords are no match for sharp knives.

Once that happened she yelped a bit before falling on her behind. The maid stood over her, smiling evilly as she prepared to put an end to this troublesome rabbit?s life? She raised her hand into the air, the rabbit warrior looking away and putting her hands up in panic?

But death did not come?

Instead of finding her executioner when she looked up, the rabbit found the red maid jumping away from her with a panicked look on her face. Puzzled, the Inaba looked back? ?to see a brilliant purple light. The same light that had scared her would-be killer away. But instead of running away from it like her attacker did, she instead got up and ran toward it!

***

A few moments earlier?

?Fire!? yelled Tewi, bringing her arm down.

From their nozzles, the Hourai Tanks let out thick, purple lasers, firing them high into the air!

***

Koakuma and the maids watched the lasers as they fired into the air, seemingly without threat? They traveled diagonally into the sky for what seemed like an unnaturally long amount of time?

But without warning, the lasers exploded into nearly a hundred smaller ones each! They traveled so fast, that the SDM forces were taken by near-complete surprise!

?LOOK OUT!? shouted Koakuma as she flew backward as fast as she could.

She was forced to watch as a whole barrage of lasers fell on the maids she was with mere seconds ago, causing a very large annihilating explosion complete with thick black clouds of smoke. Looking around her, Koakuma could see what looked to be hundreds of other lasers slamming into her forces, causing more of the jolting explosions!

?What sort of weaponary??!?

Koakuma didn?t finish her sentence for she saw fairy dust falling around her? Looking into the sky, she could see the super-fast moving lasers tearing through her airborne forces as well! Mere seconds after that, she saw more heading her way!

?Gh?!?

She flew to the side, dodging both, the lasers and deadly explosion? ?only to find that several of them did NOT hit the ground and were now following her! They were homing lasers! Koakuma gasped, barely diving out of the way of the lasers that zipped passed her, ripping her already tattered dress. She heard more explosions around her, along with the shrieks of fairy maids that were being vaporized. Not bothering to look around her, Koakuma looked up?

?and leaped forward just in time to dodge them, sent flying by the subsequent explosion. Once she landed in the ground, she slid for a few yards, not moving after that.

More of the lasers slammed into the scrolls, burning them in magical cinders. Despite the relentlessness of these powerful new weapons, some thirty or so maids (including a few knife throwers) managed to break through toward the Hourai Tanks. Several maids opened fire with yellow spheres, smashing into the tanks and exploding them, causing the Inabas to scatter.

Some of the escaping Inabas found themselves hit by lasers and knives as they attacked. It would seem a few scrolls had survived as well. A few maids managed to get into the forest, fighting their way towards the manor.

Tewi was ready however. She picked up and threw a rock (rather than magic bullets) at a maid, hitting her right in the face. As she screamed and reached up to grab her bleeding nose, Tewi leaped forward and introduced the fairy to her best right hook. After Tewi took care of her, she could see other fairies being pounced upon by Inabas that were hiding in trees. After that, the remaining maids were sniped with danmaku and rocks.

?Good job everyone! Hold out a little longer!? ordered Tewi.

***

Ten maids leaped backwards in desperation in an attempted to escape the barrage, but to no avail. The explosion ripped through them, the hand of what was once an elite maid sent flying through the air. Even though several Hourai tanks were destroyed, the remaining ones kept attacking. The Inabas powering them began to look quite fatigued, but kept up their effort. By the same token, the remaining maids continued their assault.

Koakuma slowly stirred? Slowly she left her head up to see the carnage had moved just a little ahead of her now. The casualties of war surrounded her, filling her mind and sight with truly grizzly images. But she knew it could be much worse if she failed to retrieve that book? All this over a small book? That was how important this book was!

Her resolve very quickly returning, she tightened her fists, unwittingly grabbing dirt clumps in her hands. She slowly stood back up again, ready to complete her mission, once and for all!

?Miss Patchouli? I?ll complete this task for you, even if I must die!?

Charging her right arm with magical energy, she charged forward at the Inaba Army, ready to fight with all her remaining strength.

?GYAAAAAAAAH!!!?

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 07:03:47 PM
They heard faint rumbles in the distance behind them, and to the side?

?D-do you guys hear that??? asked Mystia, looking back.

?I do. Sounds like the party got started over there?? commented Marisa.

?It is good that we headed out when we did.? added Alice.

The four girls continued to move ahead, when they heard a larger boom, further raising concern. Turning their heads back, they saw lights ?danmaku- along with faint plumes of smoke.

?Ehh? Don?t tell me that?? began Marisa.

?Did you not expect it? Those maids are attacking Eientei.? said Wriggle.

?I didn?t think it would be quite like that? Attacking me I can understand, but invading that castle??? said Marisa.

?I don?t think we can leave anything up to chance now. We should hurry.? said a concerned Alice.

?She?s right.? added Wriggle in agreement.

?No objections here. The sooner I can get that Patchouli to tell me what the hells so special about this book she?s lookin? for the better!? said Marisa.

Wriggle and Alice flew low to the ground while Marisa sat on her broomstick.

?Hop on!? said Marisa to Mystia with a smile.

Wriggle watched silently as Mystia hesitated for a bit. The bird gulped before slowly and nervously approaching Marisa.

?Oi? You don?t trust me by now??? asked Marisa with a sigh but still smiling if a bit more sadly.

?Um??

Mystia finally walked over after a little more hesitation. Marisa moved further up her broom to allow the nightbird room. Mystia slowly and carefully sat down, making sure she held on tight.

?O-okay?? she said.

?Let?s go!? said Marisa.

The four girls sped toward their destination, only vaguely aware of the danger ahead?

***

?Ow? OW!? yelped the Inaba as Tewi bandaged the wound on her right arm.

?Hold still. I can?t put it on as well if your fidgeting.? said Tewi.

The sounds of the battle could still be heard from behind Tewi, even though she had run back into the bamboo forest. Several Inabas from the mansion soon ran up to her.

?Ma?am, we?ve received a message! Reisen is about to engage the targets!?

?Already? Which tree are we observing that operation in?? asked Tewi.

?The thirty-third? ?no, thirty-fourth observation tree to the south. Hurry!?

?We?ll take over here!? said another Inaba.

?Thank you.? said Tewi as she ran off.

As she ran she could see a number of other Inabas heading to the forest?s edge, each carrying a weapon. Three more Hourai tanks were being dragged to the battlefield as well. A few minutes later, Tewi had reached the tree she was looking for. Rays of sun, impaired by the spring clouds, shone down on the land, casting an eerie gold and grey light. It began to feel humid as well.

Tewi now waited for the next Message Butterfly?

***

Something odd began happening? A forest was up ahead. But this forest was substantially bigger and taller than it should?ve been?

?Marisa?? Was that always there??? asked Alice, unfamiliar with the territory since she didn?t come here often.

?Not sure if it was quite like that? Damn, since I never fly this low, I can?t tell for sure.? replied Marisa.

?Huh? Haven?t we already been here already as well??? asked Wriggle, more to herself.

?Suddenly, I?m not too sure myself?? said Alice.

Despite their uncertainty, the girls flew closer to the forest. As they approached, the forest seemed to? ?move farther and farther away?

?What the hell?? asked Marisa to herself.

?Something isn?t??

Wriggle didn?t get to finish as the ground began cracking? Despite being in the air, the four girls could feel rumbling, and hear something emerging?

?LOOK OUT!? cried Mystia.

A large number of brown, seemingly gelatinous jaws attached to muddy, worm-like creatures broke out of the ground, attempting to chomp the four girls, all of whom barely evaded the attack!

?Oh, geez?? said the shaken Marisa.

Another brown jaw lashed out at Marisa at a frightening speed. The witch shot upward like a rocket, once more just avoiding becoming food for? ?something? Mystia nearly fell off, but held on none the less. Wriggle yelped as she barely avoided becoming food for three more jaws. Finally, one lashed its tongue at Alice, managing to wrap it around her ankle. Not willing to be chomped on, Alice quickly and frantically summons several dolls to cut the worm-like creature to bits.

?What in the world is it?!? asked Alice, fear in her voice.

Marisa swoops in, and blasts two of the heads with green blasts.

?Is it a youkai?? asks Mystia.

?I?ve never seen anything like this?? said Wriggle, also blasting several heads.

With that, some twenty-five new worms emerged from the ground, shooting above the girls in an attempt to come down upon them from above. Alice put her left arm up in surprise, but found herself being pulled out of the way by the combined forces of her dolls and Wriggle.

?Th-thanks?? she muttered.

The four girls dived downward, and away from the creatures. After they were at a relatively safe distance, the worms withdrew back into the ground. After that, more rumbling and shaking could be felt a something even larger emerged from the ground, a single entity? The four girls watched in awe as a huge beast, seemingly made from mud and dirt emerged from the ground!

It had wide, empty holes where eyes would be and an even wider hole farther down for what passed for a mouth. The monster was huge, easily towering over the girls, and having a much intimidating girth. It let out rocky groans as it emerged, and slowly slithered over to the girls.

Returning to the ground, Wriggle, Mystia, Marisa, and Alice backed away from the creature, attacks at the ready.

?Fire into the beast?s mouth!? yelled Marisa as she charged an attack.

Marisa materialized familiars. They fired green, crystal-like objects which could pass for Christmas trees to the untrained eye. They were added on top of Marisa?s powerful hand blasts. Wriggle opened fire with thin green beams. Alice materialized more bow and arrow dolls, having them aim their white and gold arrow shots at the mouth. Finally, Mystia fired red and blue arrow shots that moved in undulating patterns.

The blasts entered the mud beast?s mouth, causing it to cringe violently and rattle. It growled as it stopped moving, making the attack appear to work. Marisa dared to let a smile begin to from on her face, when all of a sudden, the creature formed a massive fist on it?s right side, and brought it down with great force upon the girls, letting out a vicious roar as it did so.

The four all jumped back, but were blown away from the sheer force of impact, ending up on their backs, skidding for a small distance.

?We?re not having an effect! What do we do now?? asked Wriggle as she stood up, clutching her left shoulder.

Alice and Mystia were silent, as they hadn?t any idea of what to do. Marisa stood up next, oddly smiling again. She pulled out a small, wooden, pentagram shaped object with a number of different kinds of crosses on it? She held it out in front of herself with her cupped hands.

?Only one thing to do in a situation like this!? said Marisa, the object she was holding glowing with rainbow colored power.

?What are y-??? asked Wriggle before being cut off.

?MASTE-?

Before Marisa could finish whatever attack she was attempting to use, the beast greatly shrank in size, and split into four faceless blobs!

?Huh?!? said Marisa, canceling her attack.

The blobs moved at an insane speed, circling the girls with an obvious intent to strike at any moment. All four of them stood back to back, waiting to defend themselves. Mystia was breathing somewhat heavy, not wanting to feel pain again? She had not mentally recovered from the torture she had to endure from Kaguya, and had to use all her will power to stop herself from panicking.

Meanwhile, Wriggle racked her brain in an attempt to come up with an escape. Flying was already exhausted as an option, as the beast would likely just use the fast moving worm attack again. Danmaku didn?t appear to have much effect, and physical attacks were out of the question? There had to be a weakness somewhere? Wriggle was sure as shootin? she wasn?t going to let end like this!

Suddenly, one of the blobs stopped for a moment, then rushed the girls!

?JUMP!? warned Alice.

Alice and the other three heeded the warning, Marisa taking flight with a single hand on her upward pointed broomstick, and the three youkai girls jumping with their innate strength, letting the offending blob bounce under them. Another blob leaped into the air after them, forcing them to scatter. Mystia flipped off her right hand as she returned to the ground, spinning around as she landed, just in time to find one of the blobs directly in front of her. Mystia jumped backward as the blob attempted to crush her. She instinctively tried to flap her wings, her still healing broken right one being racked with sharp pain as a result. She yelped as her back filled with sharp pain, looking at the blob again.

?Gah! I won?t let you kill me!? she shouted at the monster.

The blob tried to jump on her again, she leaped backwards, but it wouldn?t be enough?

?Mystia!?

The night bird suddenly found herself being grabbed, and rolled out of the way thanks to Wriggle, who was careful to make sure Mystia didn?t land on her wings. The blob bounced away without doing any damage. The two quickly stood up.

?Mystia, are you alri-?

Mystia suddenly pushed Wriggle out of the way, then leaped to the side herself, saving the both of them from a mud blob that tried to tackle them from behind. Mystia?s superior hearing allowed her to detect the danger. While on her stomach, Mystia spoke.

?Their so fast? Is there no way defeat them??? she said to herself.

?Surely there?s a way?? said Wriggle, unclear as to whether or not she was responding to Mystia.

The youkai insect?s antenna briefly touched each other as Wriggle closed her eyes and concentrated?

Come to me?

Meanwhile, Marisa and Alice continued battling the blobs themselves. Desperate, Alice flicked a hand through hair, materializing dolls that flew at the blob she was fighting. The dolls exploded on contact with the ground, but the blob zipped past them flawlessly! Marisa on the other hand went with the more straightforward approach of firing at the blobs rapidly. But even when she led her shots, she couldn?t hit them.

?Damn it all! They?re too freaking fast!? grumbled Marisa.

This isn?t good? thought Alice.

After a few more seconds of having her eyes closed (and dodging another blob attack), Wriggle snapped them open in realization.

?You can?t see them?! You mean? ?what we see? ?what we?re fighting is nothing at all??? said Wriggle, seemingly to herself.

Wriggle suddenly found herself staring down another blob. She gulped as it lunged toward her, but didn?t move?

?Wriggle, what are you doing?!? yelled the shocked Mystia.

But what was even more shocking? ?is that the blob totally passed through her!

?W? ?what?? stammered Mystia questioningly.

?I see now? Everything up till now? ?hasn?t been real. Someone is fooling our senses!? announces Wriggle.

Marisa looked back at Wriggle, first questioningly, then seeming intrigued? Alice was soon back toward the black witch, with both of them being circled by two blobs.

?Hold on? If she?s saying what I think she?s saying?? began Marisa before smiling. ?Heh? Should?ve known??

Alice began another attack, but Marisa grabbed her right arm.

?Marisa, what are you doing?! Let go!? chided Alice.

Marisa put a finger to her mouth and winked at Alice.

?Just wait?? said the witch.

The two blobs leaped up to attack? Screaming, Alice put up her grimoire holding left hand to defend? ?and nothing happened?

Yes, the two blobs had totally passed harmlessly through the both of them!

?Wh-what?? Just what is??? muttered Alice.

Marisa only smiled.

?Huh? It all makes sense now?? she said with her eyes closed.

?What is it you?re on about?? asked Alice questioningly.

?Don?t tell me you don?t remember? Something like this happened before, during that incident with the moon to be exact. The way we were getting lost just now, this monster? It was all her doing.? explained Marisa. ??Reisen??

?The rabbit girl who protected those immortals? But her illusionary powers weren?t that strong before?? said Alice.

?Apparently she did a goooood bit of training, ze.?

The blobs continued attacking, but there was no urgency from their prey any longer? Wriggle looked at the crater left by the mud beast?s earlier attack as she along with Mystia walked up to Marisa and Alice.

?That fist attack? I think it was actually a bomb of some sort?? said the insect girl. ?And my friends? ?they?re telling me that the illusionist lies that way.?

Wriggle pointed over to her right.

?Using your insect friends to find a weakness, and instead discovered the illusion eh? Pretty good.? said Marisa with a wink. ?Its fortunate that they don?t suffer the effects of her ability like we do. Wave manipulation? Huh??

?She can manipulate light waves and sound waves on top of her ability to induce lunacy in humans?? sighed Alice at the revelation.

Marisa then held out her right hand?

?Time to end this charade??

?and fired a white energy beam into the nearby forest.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 07:04:51 PM
She gasped as she sensed the beam coming? The purple haired rabbit girl leaped out of the way of the white energy beam that would?ve caused damage for sure had it hit.

So that is the end? I thought I could stall for more time than that? No choice, now I?ll have to face them directly?

Materializing an object that looked like one of the hand weapons of the outside world (a biretta pistol), Reisen prepared for round two?

***

Not long after Marisa fired her beam, everything began returning to normal. The trees were correct again, and the mud beasts disappeared without a trace. The ground even now appeared undamaged from the battle, save for the bomb crater.

?It figures she would be after us after awhile?? said Marisa, smiling while still looking I the direction she shot her beam. ?Guess I?m gonna have to do something about that??

?Wait, you just said ?I?m gonna have to do something about that? so? ?do you intend to battle her all by yourself?? asked Wriggle with concern.

?Yeah, why not?? asks Marisa casually.

?But her lunacy powers are likely stronger than before! She?ll drive you mad within moments!? said Alice with concern.

?That thing didn?t work on me then, and as much as she improved, I doubt that she can hypnotize me now. Besides, when we both fought her last, who was the one who ended up needing to be saved because she was able to trick her so easily?? asked Marisa.

Alice looked a bit embarrassed.

?That was?! That was me.? sighed the doll user.

?It?s settled then! I?m the only one who can take care of Reisen, so I?ll fight her. You three stay close, but noooot to close? Don?t wanna blast ya after all!?

With that, Marisa ran into the trees.

?Marisa, wait!? called Alice. Aww? Guess I?ll just protect these two?

?I wonder if she?ll be alright on her own?? wondered Wriggle.

?If you ask me, she?s playing a very dangerous game.? grumbled Mystia cynically.

***

Reisen carefully but quickly ran through several trees, her ears open to the inevitable counter attack. After all, they knew she?d just chase them if they tried to run now? Her senses were alert? Cleary someone was approaching.

Only one of them?? Oh well? Which way will she strike from?

Reisen carefully listened with her long, thin and stiff rabbit ears for any movement, or attack. It was quiet for now? Perhaps the enemy was approaching by air?? All she could pick up were the faint sounds of buzzing insects?

Ahh, I don?t hear anything? It looks like I?ll have to be prepared for an attack from anywhere?

And she was right. Reisen gritted her teeth as she leaped straight up into the air, narrowly dodging another white beam, courtesy of Marisa. The black witch suddenly burst out of some nearby bushes, attempting to whack Reisen dead in the head with the straw end of her broomstick!

Gasping, Reisen invoked her flight power, moving back to avoid the attack while taking the opportunity to look into Marisa?s eyes? Reisen?s eyes briefly flashed pink upon looking into Marisa?s golden ones. Marisa however only sneered as she landed safely on the ground.

Huh?! thought Reisen as she also returned to the ground.

?I guess that still doesn?t work on me, eh Reisen? Too bad, cause now it?s gonna be easy beatin? the crap outta ya!?

Reisen was silent for a few seconds.

?I don?t have time for insults. Let?s just get this over with!? said the rabbit girl, dead serious.

Marisa looked serious, but wouldn?t be able to think about it more as Reisen pointed her gun at the witch and fired a single shot. Marisa was quick to side step the yellow bullet that was oddly shaped like a suppository?

?Wow, I don?t think you were nearly this tense the last time? Are you guys really interested in those two children back there??

Reisen didn?t answer, materializing a second gun, and leaping toward Marisa. The black-white jumped far backward, and up into a large tree branch, dodging single shot fire from the purple haired rabbit. Reisen then leaped into the air herself, firing her guns at the same time.

But instead of two single shots came some forty at once, spreading out!

In response, Marisa back flipped off the tree branch while tucking her broom under her right arm. She cupped her hands in front of herself as she fell down, firing green blasts of her own. Some cancelled out the yellow bullets, while others got through, forcing Reisen to jump back.

Marisa took the opportunity to strike, pointing her broomstick forward, and speeding toward Reisen like a giant bullet. Once she was close enough, she executed a devastating spinning attack with her broom! Reisen however was able to back flip over the attack, the low amount of height she got allowing her to return to the ground mere seconds afterward.

With Marisa now vulnerable, Reisen zoomed in, and crashed her right knee into the witch girl?s stomach, causing her to gasp for air. Even as she felt all the air leave her lungs, Marisa could feel a right hook exploding across her left cheek, sending her flying backwards and into the ground.

Reisen pointed her guns forward, hoping she knocked out the witch girl. It was apparent that she didn?t find success. Marisa quickly got back up, wiping her mouth with her left arm. She put her arm down to reveal a mischievous smile before spitting out a bloodied, knocked out tooth.

?Heh, not bad Reisen! There?s just one small thing you didn?t factor??

Not waiting to find out what that was, Reisen fired another scattershot blast from her guns. Marisa spun her broom in front of herself like a staff, and ran through the danmaku, knocking all the bullets away! Surprised, Reisen found herself having to back flip in order to avoid a leg sweep with the broom?s straw half. Marisa then tried to send her left foot into Reisen?s stomach, but Reisen (who dematerialized her guns) deftly caught it, and flipped Marisa. The witch recovered and landed properly however.

Reisen ran over to Marisa, attempting to land a hard and high kick to the witches head with her right leg? And was shocked when Marisa blocked it like a professional martial artist by putting both arms to her left side!

??you?re not the only one studying martial arts!?

Marisa then grabbed Reisen?s ankle to restrain her, reaching out with her right hand to fire a green blast right in the rabbit?s torso! Yelling in pain, Reisen was sent flying backwards to her back. She quickly leaped up, holding the wound to her stomach.

?Now howabout you tell me what?s going on around here today?? asked Marisa in an oddly casual tone.

She speaking so childishly, but I think she?s actually serious right now? I?ve got to stall for more time? Get further away from here? thought Reisen. ?You?ll have to catch me first!?

Reisen then began jumping away.

?Bring it on!? called Marisa, giving chase.

All the while, a butterfly with a blue wing and a red wing sat on a tree near them?

***

Tewi received another Message Butterfly.

?Wh-what?! But that route takes them farther away from the ambush point! What?s Reisen thinking?!? said a dumbfounded Tewi.

?Perhaps something has gone wrong?? I wouldn?t worry though.? said another rabbit girl with a wink.

?What do you speak of??

?I trust her. Maybe there is a secret plan?? spoke the rabbit vaguely.

That very rabbit then put on a small red and blue necklace with a red cross on it?

?Wha??! You?re with Eirin?s half!? said a further dumbfounded Tewi.

***

Reisen jumped from tree branch to tree branch, trying to get away from Marisa, never looking back once.

C?mon, you four keep following me?

Of course, Marisa was the only one she knew for sure was giving chase.

This could?ve gone better if they?d all followed? At least then I?d know for sure?

Reisen continued moving away at a very great speed. But her senses picked up Marisa quickly catching up to her with a dastardly smile! Reisen was fast being a rabbit and all, but Marisa was even faster. The black witch didn?t need long to catch up?

Forced to turn around, Reisen materialized a very large metallic object that she held over her shoulder (a bazooka), and fired a very large purple energy ball from it. It exploded in a bright, annihilating flash as it sped toward a surprised looking Marisa. But Reisen would be shocked herself when Marisa would emerge from the smoke less than a foot away from her!

Reisen tried to dematerialize her strange weapon to defend herself, but it was too late? While still in mid-air, Marisa leapt off her broom, but held on with her right hand. She zoomed toward Reisen and planted the tip of the broom dead into Reisen?s torso? ?exactly were she?d been hurt by the magical blast from earlier. Reisen gasped as rabbit blood flew out of her mouth while she flew backwards from the attack. Reisen then slammed hard, back first into a nearby tree, bouncing right off of it.

?GAAH!?

Finally, the rabbit girl fell face first onto the ground. She slowly got up, holding her stomach with her right hand. Marisa held her broom to the side as she watched Reisen. She was back on the ground, and had a much more pleasant smile on.

?Not bad Reisen, but ya should?ve been a little more intense. Now then, mind tellin? me what?s goin? o-?

?I don?t answer to you.? interrupted Reisen rather plainly. ?I won?t tell you what I know, and I won?t surrender. But my plan obviously failed, so I?ll retreat for now.?

Reisen then turned around and flew away. Marisa looked at her as she flew away, puzzled. Why stop that quickly?? It was really weird? Marisa decided against any further pursuit as it was probably a trap, and not worth it. Instead, she returned to her friends who had followed the fight, and were waiting in a small clearing.

?Marisa, are you alright?? asked Wriggle.

?You kiddin? After an easy fight like that?? asked Marisa back.

?Easy?? But? ?she wasn?t all that weak last time? She could deal with you on an equal level anytime?? mused Alice with concern. ?This is becoming too strange??

?Uh?? Your sleeve?? pointed Mystia to Marisa?s left sleeve.

A small part of it had been reddened from wiping blood earlier.

?Oh, that?s nothin? she just got a lucky shot is all. We?d better get movin??? said Marisa.

***

Reisen stopped after a short time, dropping to her knees.

Did I get them far enough? I?m not certain I did?

Just then, Reisen could here something swooping to her right, going past her.

?Huh?!? she said alarmed, as she looked over. ?What was that??

?Don?t worry? It?s our backup plan!? said an Inaba as she walked out in front of Reisen.

Reisen looked a tad confused at first. But that?s when she saw the red and blue emblem the rabbit girl was wearing?

?But that?s?!?

***

A small group of Inabas, wearing the Eirin insignia had jumped out in front of the four girls.

?You guys don?t give up, do ya?? asked Marisa with a wry smile that hinted at hidden aggravation.

?Why so few of them?? Surely, there?d be more?? muttered Mystia.

That?s when the swooping objects appeared? Small, black, almost shadow-like circles large enough to surround any of the present girls. Two of them sped under the surprised Marisa and Alice, and before they could react?

?You lose!? said an Inaba confidently.

?the circles turned into purple magic seals, and began shooting purple stinging and numbing energy upward! Marisa and Alice hollered in pain as the energy shot through them.

?GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!? they both shouted.

?Oh no?!? said Wriggle in shock.

Mystia slowly backed away in fear? ?until she saw another circle positioning itself under Wriggle?

?WRIGGLE, LOOKOUT!?

Wriggle, to her surprise, found herself being pushed to the ground. She turned her head to a screaming Mystia, who was now being engulfed with deadly energy! Another circle had activated where Mystia had been standing just a few seconds earlier?

?Mystia!? cried Wriggle as she got up and ran toward her friend.

She tried to grab Mystia to pull her out, only to be shocked and knocked back down to the ground.

?WRIGGLE, GO! PLEASE GET OUT OF HERE!? cried the nightbird over her pain.

?I won?t leave you?!? responded Wriggle.

?THEY?LL GET US BOTH IF YOU DON?T! JUST LEAVE!?

Wriggle bit her lip as she got up, tightening her fists?

?Mystia??

Meanwhile, Alice gritted her teeth hard as she looked over to the suffering Marisa. Fighting the intense pain, she put her book up and undid the strap locking it with her left hand?

The Inabas were shocked to find that Alice was suddenly surrounded in a golden aura of power! With her book open, her true power was revealed! Alice leaped out of her death circle, pushing Marisa away from her own. Several of he remaining dolls grabbed the witch?

?G? GET HER AWAY FROM HERE?!? shouted Alice over her pain as her aura disappeared just as quickly as it came. ?GO!?

The dolls were visibly reluctant to go, but did as they were told without hesitation. They dragged Marisa into the forest at a surprisingly high speed. Marisa wasn?t able to resist?

?A? Alice?? she muttered, when she realized she was being pulled away from her friend.

?Inabas, after them!? shouted an Inaba.

Wriggle, with her head down finally began turning to leave.

?Mystia, I promise that I?ll come back for you! I swear I will!? vowed Wriggle as tears rolled down her eyes.

The firefly youkai then turned around, following Marisa and the dolls?

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 07:05:40 PM
[Fifth Spell]

?Who are you?? asked an echoing, deep male voice.

?I am who I am. I?m just a simple human girl.? responded a feminine, slightly gravelly voice.

?Only a human like the rest indeed. However? ?you come here, and yet do not fear my appearance. All others have trembled at the mere sight? ?mere mention of my flames. And yet here you are, walking towards me as if you were in some sort of trance. Tell me girl, why do you seek me??

The girl, whose tattered robes only barely covered her legs slowly approached the figure?

?Power??

?Power?? spoke the voice in an almost mocking manner. ?Power is it? Answer me, girl.?

?Yes? I need? ?power. I beg of you??

The being could now sense the girl?s pain? Her helplessness? Her soul was a tortured one? She had been running away for a long time. A very long time.

?Bewitching? Those no fear in your voice? No emotion in your eyes, no pride in your heart. I do not sense any ulterior motives on top of that. You are a broken being.? spoke the voice.

?I have long since forgotten how to feel fear... Happiness and joy elude me at every turn. I can seldom find a moment where I can enjoy such things? But now? ?even when I sleep? ?I only??

Now the creature saw into her red eyes? Desperate eyes that cried for help?

??I only feel pain.?

?I? ?see.? said the voice, lowering his tone. ?You are caused pain by those around you, are you not??

?Y-yes? They hunt me? Hurt me? Everywhere it?s the same? ?by humans, and youkai. I? ?have no place in this world.?

?Hmm? We bear the same curse? The world refuses to understand us, and therefore wants us gone. But they cannot do away with us no matter what they do, no matter how long they come after us. You however differ in me in one aspect??

The girl looked up?

?You cannot defend yourself in this world that has rejected you. I can tell by the pain in your heart that you have lived a long time. But in all that time, you have not been able to keep them from torturing you, persecuting you, taking advantage of you? So you came to me out of desperation, hoping I would pity you.?

The girl was silent. As she stood in front of the great flames?

?We are both one in the same. So I am willing to make a contract with you.?

The girl?s dead eyes brighten ever so slightly with new hope.

?I thank you.? she said, voice with more emotion.

?I ?the Great Phoenix? ?will give my power, strength and soul to you, a human who has no place in this world, so that you may defend yourself from those that hate you. Just know that every time you use my power, you will be answering to me for all you do. Also know that I am not God, and you are still a human. You can still die, and feel pain. Finally, you will need time to control this power.?

Suddenly, the flames moved in on the surprised girl, engulfing her! She disappeared in bright flames!

?Now then girl, becoming the Phoenix incarnate, and wield a power that can only be surpassed by God!?

The girl felt a great heat enter her body, as strength she had never felt before surged through her muscles. As her clothes burned away, she looked into the sky with a look of complete awe, not sure of what to think of all the power being given to her. She began screaming into the sky, her voice resembling that of the might phoenix?s proud roar?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 07:15:19 PM
***

Mokou awoke from her slumber, perched upon the branch of a large tree near the human village.

?Must've dozed off? Ah?? she said absently to herself before leaping to the ground, hands in her pockets. ?It?s the same two dreams over and over again? Something just doesn?t feel right at the moment. I?m probably making too big a deal of this? I wonder what?s keeping Keine??

Mokou shrugged before walking forward, looking up into the darkening sky. Grey clouds were slowly blotting out the blue sky.

?Storm clouds today?? After such a nice day too? Something about these clouds are a tad strange though?? said Mokou with suspicion. ?Strange? ?yet familiar??

Now Mokou took on an expression of contempt as she continued staring at the dark clouds above her.

?There were clouds like this on that day as well?? she sighed.

***

?Father, hold on! I don?t want a new mother!? cried the young Mokou as she ran up to her father.

He was a man shielded from view thanks to the bright sun?s rays. All she could see was his reassuring smile.

?There there, Mokou. Be calm. Kaguya is a very sweet woman. You?ll enjoy having her around.? spoke the man reassuringly.

?N-no?! I don?t want a new mommy! And y-you?ll be gone a long time!? sobbed little Mokou. ?And what if you can?t even find what she requested??

?Don?t be silly, Mokou. I have good leads on the Robe of the Fire Rat. I will claim it on my own quickly, then come back to you with Kaguya by my side. Then we shall be a happy family once again.?

Young Mokou just stared at her departing father her eyes filling with more tears as her face twisted with sorrow. Without a word she ran toward her father who kneeled down, and held her in his arms. Mokou sobbed as she buried her face into her loving father?s chest.

?F-f-father??

?I?ll return home soon Mokou. Do you understand??

Mokou only sobbed a few more times, silent for several minutes before speaking.

?I? ?I understand.?

Mokou?s father ended the embrace, still smiling as he stood back up. Mokou stood in place, her fists at her sides, tightening. Tears continued rolling down the poor girls face.

Outside, a crackle of thunder could be heard. The sun was rather quickly blotted out by a sudden storm that began brewing quickly.

?I leave my best attendants to take care of you. Now don?t forget my promise??

He began to leave, waving to Mokou as he left.

?I?ll return to you soon Mokou. Until then? Farewell!?

She watched as he left, her sorrow only growing. Her father was leaving her in order to win the heart of a girl she didn?t even know, and there wasn?t a thing she could do. Wait? There WAS one thing? She could hope and pray that her father would indeed keep his promise and return to her someday soon. She continued staring out of that open paper and wood door as her father finally disappeared from view.

At that moment, the rain finally began to fall?


***

?Yeah? A day just like this one all those years ago. It?s been over a millennia since that time, and yet it remains fresh in my mind. Every hour of every day I have one question looming in the back of my mind??

Mokou then looked down toward the ground, bringing her balled fists to her sides. She took a stance not too dissimilar from the one she took when she still just a small, powerless child, watching her father leave her.

?Father?? she began in a quiet and somber tone. ?Why didn?t you keep your promise???

She continued tightening her fists for a few more seconds? ?before letting the tension die down. She looked ahead, toward the nearby village, determination in her eyes and resolve her voice.

?But? ?what?s past is past. But even so? It remains her fault. And so, she will feel all of my pain along with me. Kaguya??

?Fufufu? I heard my name?? came an all too familiar voice from behind. ?Surely you were not referring to me were you??

Shocked, Mokou turned around, forming flames in her hands.

?Kaguya?! Where are you?! Show your face you coward!? yelled Mokou, looking quickly for any sign of her sworn enemy.

?Always that undying hatred of me, that desire to see my demise? It?s always the same every time you become aware of even the slightest sign of my presence. Of course, it?s no different for me when it comes to you of course.? spoke Kaguya?s voice.

?What the hell are you going on about?! Show your face if you?re so confident!? called out Mokou.

?Now now? No need for such harsh tones at this time? I did not come here seeking our usual conflict??

A holographic image (magically generated of course) displaying Kaguya in a rather dark room. Kaguya had on a semi-playful smile that hid a more serious intent. But still, her tone was far too casual?

?Instead, I have a small proposal to you. No, more of an invitation if you will.?

Wait? What is??

?I?ve grown weary of our heated rivalry, so why not conclude it for all time?? asked Kaguya.

Mokou put out her flames as a dumbfounded look formed on her face.

?Don?t play around! You know that can?t happen! Neither of us can ever be killed!? pointed out Mokou.

?What if I told you I found a way? A way that bypasses our immortal coils??

?If something like that came from you, I?d find it hard to believe? Like I am now!?

?Then why not come and see with your own eyes?? asks Kaguya with a head tilt.

Mokou returned her hands to her pockets, looking away from her enemy.

?I don?t have time for this? Next time you appear, don?t make it into a big joke.?

?So you won?t believe me? But I think you?ll still come none the less??

Mokou silently continued to walk forward.

?Weren?t you? ?waiting for someone?? asks Kaguya.

The hologram was following?

?It isn?t your business.? stated Mokou matter of factly.

?But aren?t you wondering just why Keine is taking so long?? Do you even know how long you?ve been waiting??

Mokou stopped. Come to think of it, she had no idea how long she slept? She looked back at Kaguya, who appeared to be enjoying this moment?

?Fufufufufu? There is a very specific reason why she?s late.?

Mokou began turning all the way around, taking her hands out of her pockets.

?You wouldn?t have?? said Mokou, a hint of fear in her voice.

Kaguya merely closed her eyes while still smiling, raising her right arm to the side, and snapping her fingers? Mokou was shocked beyond belief when two youkai rabbit girls brought in a frightened looking Keine, arms behind her back, and a cloth covering her mouth.

Mokou?s eyes widened with shock as she saw the sight. Sweat began to form on her face.

?Can?t be?! You couldn?t have?!?

***

Sometime earlier?

?Aww, where did I put that thing??? muttered Keine to herself as she searched somewhere underneath Kourindou?s desk.

She shifted some jars over to find a box wrapped in a purple cloth. She took it with her as she stood up over the counter again. She sighed a small bit before smiling to herself.

?It seems I can hide things a bit too well. I can?t even find my own things, despite my constant house cleaning!?

But right after chuckling to herself at the irony, Keine heard a knock at the door?

?Huh??

She to the front door of the shop?

?I?m sorry, but we?re closed for the day. You?ll have to-?

Keine was silent when she opened the door to find? ?herself?! Yes, a second Keine that matched the appearance of the original perfectly! Startled, a confused Keine backed away?

?Wh-what??! Who???

The second Keine had a very happy closed eye expression on her face, tilting her head as the real Keine backed away? ?before her face twisted into that of a monstrosity, black, oily eyes, with golden snake-like irises, along with beastly, sharp looking teeth.

With a mix of fear and surprise present on her face, Keine ended up dropping the box as the clone stepped forward, crushing the box unwittingly in the process. Before Keine could so much as gasp, the beast lunged at her?

***

?Kaguya, how dare you?!? growled Mokou.

?It would seem I?m holding the cards now, dear rival?? spoke Kaguya with an eerily calm tone.

?You b***h! This is between only the two of us! Leave her out of it!? demanded Mokou, quite angry now.

?Now that I have her, I believe you haven?t any choice but to accept my invitation.? spoke Kaguya, covering her mouth her left sleeve. ?Now don?t be long? My patience will not hold long? ?and neither will her life.?

Keine looked at Mokou pleadingly as she attempted to speak, but her words were muffled out by the cloth around her mouth.

?You?ll find an Inaba with information nearby. I?ll be waiting? Until then my rival, ta t a!?

With that, the projection disappeared, a magically charged stone dropping to the ground. Mokou stared blankly into space, her face twisted into a look of bitter rage?

?K? ?Ka? ?Kaguya?!? she growled.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 10:54:20 PM
It wasn?t long before the librarian of Voile was at the Mansion?s massive front doors. Many Fairy maids were on the laying on stretchers on the ground, bandaged and moaning with pain. The less injured stood outside, waiting to get inside for further treatment.

Patchouli looked around ahead worriedly, quick to notice that there were significantly less fairy maids present than what she sent out?

It was a rather thick crowd, as maids that had stayed behind at the mansion attempted to properly treat the maids that had gone out to fight. Since it was emergency treatments, they had to use the massive mansion lobby, and managed to take up a good chunk of it. Patchy moved through the thickness, desperately trying to find her loyal servant...

?Where is???

Just then, Patchy heard coughing with a fairly familiar voice, coming from her right near the door. Disregarding her body?s poor health, Patchouli ran over to find two maids hauling a badly injured Koakuma inside on a stretcher. Her dress was severely ripped and torn, and bandages covered her forehead, some of it covering her right eye. She was continuously wincing in pain. She was set down on the ground after a strict verbal command from Patchouli.

?Koakuma!? called Patchouli as she kneeled worriedly at her servant?s side.

?M-m-mi? Miss? ?Patchou- Patchouli?? said Koakuma in a weak, pained voice before coughing again.

?Thank goodness you?re alive? Just save your strength. Don?t try to talk.? speaks Patchouli.

?I?m? ?I?m sorry? ?Ms. Patchouli? The mission you gave to me? ?was a total failure??

Koakuma coughed again, a little more severely now, much to the alarm of Patchouli.

?Koakuma, don?t talk anymore!?

It was unclear whether or not Koakuma registered the command, as she continued her report, fighting her pain from the previous battle.

?The- they? ?had a strange new weapon??

?S? Strange new weapon??? asked Patchouli out loud unconsciously.

?We fought hard, but it overwhelmed us in the end? Many of us didn?t make it back?? spoke Koakuma before painfully sitting up somewhat. ?Surely they have the book Ms. Patchouli! Please, you must? ?get some? ?help??

That was all Koakuma was able to get out before falling unconscious onto the stretcher. The two maids carrying her picked her back up, and carried her away after that. After another minute, Patchouli stands up, and puts her left thumb to her mouth?

***

Now standing on the roof of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Patchouli wonders what her next move should be. She knew time was of the essence if the Eientei residents had malicious intent (she?s not yet aware that Kaguya does, but she?s been given plenty of good reason to suspect her). Perhaps it was already too late? She had to wrestle control of the book from Kaguya and her minions at any cost before anything catastrophic happened.

I should?ve done away with that book completely when I had the chance?! Could Gensokyo?s very existence now be standing upon the edge of a knife, simply because my own petty curiousity?? I was a fool to ever keep such a thing intact? But what has been done, has been done, has it not?

Patchouli sighed to herself, a sound drowned out by another gust of wind.

But? I can send no more. Koakuma has paid dearly for my mistakes already. Remilia is still recovering from that strange virus that only attacks vampires? Flandre isn?t an option at all? No? I cannot send any of them any way! This is? This is way too delicate for them? Perhaps then, only I?

Patchouli?s thoughts were interrupted when she sensed a familiar presence joining her on the roof? Patchouli?s face oddly enough, shifted to one of contempt.

?Mmm? Sakuya.? says Patchouli.

Sakuya was wearing a long sleeved version of her previous outfit. Her left hand and upper legs were bandaged?

?Yes, Ms. Patchouli. It is whom you say it is.? replied the silver haired maid.

?It seems even you weren?t able to find the book either.? said Patchouli.

?No. I ran into? ?complications and had to make a retreat.?

?Did you see what, if anything that was out of place or unusual at least??

?You of course are aware that the pharmacy has been closed for an unusual amount of time. Adding to that, the number of rabbits guarding the mansion was decidedly low, even during our attack? Whatever is happening, it is certain that Eientei won?t be center stage.? explained Sakuya.

Patchouli turned around to look at the taller Sakuya, book still in hand.

?I see?? said Patchouli as she noticed the injuries on Sakuya. ?Those wounds??

?I ended up battling with Eirin, but I was able to get to her medical supplies and sneak out before any of the rabbits spotted me.? explained Sakuya non-chalantely. ?I took a small rest to recover, but now I?m ready to go back and-?

?No. There is no need from any further assistance from you.? said Patchouli matter-of-factly, closing her eyes.

?What??? asked Sakuya, puzzled.

?I thank you for your help, but the one who will go to stop them now is me.?

Sakuya looked even more shocked now.

?You cannot be serious?! With your health-?

?I?ve taken that into account. For this to be done correctly, it must be done by me.? interrupted Patchouli, not backing down.

Sakuya was a little angry now.

?How dare you?! Are you going to just disregard me due to one minor set back?? asked Sakuya.

?You have demonstrated enough for me. When in a den of rats, a cat must move quickly to catch her prey. But in your case, the rats were able to outsmart the cat, where they not? Your catness is far too low for such an important task!? replied Patchouli swinging her left arm to the side as she finished.

Sakuya began tightening her fists.

?You? Just because you?re the friend of the Mistress? That does not mean you can just talk to me like that, or throw me away like some unwanted toy!? growled Sakuya.

?You aren?t in fact a toy, but a cat who has lost all her claws!? shot back Patchouli. ?If you must prove yourself to me and your mistress so much, then show me in a battle of our wills!?

Sakuya twitched at that line? Her anger slowly gave way to a very small smile along with a chuckle.

?A danmaku battle? And at this time too?? she said before growing serious again. ?I will neither back down, nor show you mercy!?

?As expected. I just hope you haven?t forgotten our first feud?? said Patchouli in a calmer tone, narrowing her eyes.

?I can assure you, that this won?t be a repeat of the feast incident. This time, I will have victory over you! That shall be the proof you need!?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 21, 2009, 10:56:02 PM
They stood for several moments silently, as if waiting for a signal of some sort to appear, and tell them to begin their fight? Suddenly, the two women jumped off the roof, flying backwards away from each other at a high speed. Sakuya drew knives, three for each hand, while Patchouli opened her book.

If I fight carefully enough, I'll attain victory for sure. She's not as energetic as she was last time, in addition she won?t last long in such weather? mused Sakuya. All I have to do is wear her down.

Both girls maneuvered through the castle-like towers on the roof, each hiding behind one for cover. Both waited?

Why doesn?t she make a move? thought Patchouli to herself.

After no more than five seconds, both women zoomed out of they?re hiding places, zooming toward each other! Sakuya, through her knives at Patchouli so fast, they were like blurs of grey in the air!

??!?

Demonstrating a surprisingly fast speed, Patchouli barely dodged the knives, spinning around to dodge the last one while at the same time throwing her left arm into the air. From the roof beneath Sakuya came dagger shapped, diamond-like objects that the made had to avoid. The razor sharp objects then immediately turned around and came falling back down, but by then Sakuya was already charging toward Patchouli.

Patchouli meanwhile held her open book in front of herself, as she flew towards Sakuya as well. The two clashed, creating a small, purple energy field as they did so. The intensity shook the mansion roof somewhat, and caused the two fighters to bounce back. Recovering in mid-air, Patchouli gained altitude as she unleashed a volley of fire balls at her opponent. Sakuya weaved around the various Mansion towers, causing the fireballs to slam into various places on the roof with somewhat loud explosions.

Moving quickly, Sakuya flew in again, trying to get close, while Patchouli continued to retreat.

?I knew it. In your current state, you have no chance in close combat.?

With some sweat on her face, Patchouli summoned a strong blast of wind in an attempt to push Sakuya away. But as she did so, she felt something strange happen, swearing she could?ve seen everything go black and white for a moment? The purple haired librarian was shocked to find that some fifty knives were now heading toward her! Desperate, she quickly used a certain spell?

?Emergency Spell! Air Tornado!?

Patchouli?s body appeared to burst into several white cyclones that blew the knives all away, while ripping shingles from the mansion roof! Patchy quickly hid behind one of the remaining towers. Her breathing was somewhat heavy, and sweat lined her face?

It seems I?m not as strong now as I was last time? She fights so tenaciously, even with those injuries? But even so, is she really the one?

Not waiting for Sakuya, the Youkai magician silently summoned a barrage of gigantic hail stones?

Sakuya quickly put away the Lunar Dial, as she saw the barrage of hail stones coming out at her from the place where Patchouli was hiding. Weaving quickly yet carefully around the elaborate patterns at which they approached, the maid got a little closer, then pulled out a single knife.

?Amateur things like this will not defeat me!? exclaimed Sakuya.

Holding the knife by the hilt?s tip, Sakuya slashed the knife hard and swiftly in a horizontal direction. She had created a wave that almost instantly shattered the area where Patchouli had been hiding! But she was shocked to discover that only a blue sphere of magic remained, continuing to fire out hail stones!

Not expecting the attack to continue, the shocked Sakuya ends up being hit by several of the heavy stones before they began to thin out. She was about to curse herself when she sensed something above and behind her? She turns around to find Patchouli about to use a spellcard!

?The cat has dropped her guard?? stated Patchouli in a tired, yet contempt voice.

?Wha??! You shouldn?t be able to move so quickly?!? exclaimed the shocked Sakuya.

?Metal Sign?? began Patchouli, a yellow aura building around her.

With no time to stop the attack, Sakuya prepared herself by flying backwards, and crossing her arms?

?Metal Fatigue!?

Yellow spheres began bursting into five into coin-like patterns as they formed around Patchouli. Similar spheres of death headed toward Sakuya immediately as the coin-like ones formed and approached later. The thinning but still present hail storm from earlier only added to Sakuya?s problems, leaving her with virtually no way to dodge!

Clenching her teeth, the maid began throwing knives to and fro at the hail stones to shatter them, but it wasn?t enough?

?Hm? Today is a good day for this type of magic.? commented Patchouli to herself.

?Dammit! Wound Sign?? began Sakuya, her eyes turning red. ?Inscribbled Soul!?

In a move that shocked Patchouli, Sakuya dived toward the roof, and actually began cutting through it! Her entire body was cut up as knives shattered, and material was scattered? But every knife broken was instantly replaced? By the time the spheres reached Sakuya, she?d broken through!

Patchouli had a visibly surprised look on her face as her seemingly perfect attack failed before her eyes! The roof rattled with explosions as the spheres failed to find their original target.

Suddenly, another moment of monochrome? What little air that may have been left in Patchouli?s lungs came rushing out as Sakuya?s knee suddenly exploded into her torso!

?GAAAH!?

Patchouli was sent flying backwards, somehow managing to hold on to her book. The effects of her spellcard were also cancelled from this. She managed to stop herself from flying too far, putting her free hand on her stomach.

But Sakuya was not done? Next, the maid flew in, and dropped her elbow dead center into the top of Patchouli?s head!

?NGH?!?

Patchouli dropped like a stone, crashing into the mansion roof with a loud crash, cracking part of the roof below her. She didn?t move after that. Panting, Sakuya dropped back down to the roof, some distance away from her opponent.

?Now maybe? ?you'll stop under estimating me?" Panted Sakuya.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:15:00 AM
?Gah!?

Keine is knocked to the floor as the clone?s right hook smashed into her jaw. Looking up at the unnerving creature, Keine quickly scrambled to a standing position whilst holding her pained jaw, crimson blood leaking from her mouth. The strange creature that had once been a perfect copy of her grimaced with cruelty, and a lust for blood, hissing lightly as it prepared to savagely attack its prey yet again.

Keine was just about backed into the wall. This was NOT a good position to be in. The creature now had the advantage. Keine had nowhere to run? All she could do was be on her guard, and watch carefully? Her face a mix of fear? ?and a determination to survive.

?If you?ve come for my life?? she began.

Suddenly, the creature pounced again. This time however, Keine was ready. Stepping quickly to the right, she grabbed the creature?s left arm and hurled it dead into the wall with a grunt! The clone crashed against the wall, shattering into? ?clumps of mud?

Keine was surprised, but judging by what she felt? ?and the brown goo now on her hands?

?It?s? Its mud!? she observed. ?I?ve never heard of such youkai. What???

Before she could question further, Keine?s Hakutaku hearing picked up something faint? More of the unnerving hissing just like the mud clone before?

??more?? said Keine to herself with a dejected look.

Keine shrieked as a hand suddenly reached through the wall she was facing, barely missing a grab on her as she instinctively jumped back. Keine could hear banging and tearing all around her as more mud clones of herself poured in, some from the open front door, others right through the walls. Others still emerged from the back room of the store. A few even attempted to get in from the roof?

Keine only narrowed her eyes as she calmed herself? They were all clearly after her. At least they didn?t think to attack the humans? Now at the center of the room, Keine prepared for the assault from the murderous creatures surrounding her, all growling and hissing. The creatures transformed their muddy hands into sharp claws.

One charged in. The half-human ducked under the swipe, then side stepped another from behind. She grabbed that same creature and head butted it right into one of the many store shelves. Keine turned around just in time to send her right fist dead into the ugly face of another of the despicable doppelgangers, sending it flying into another mud clone right behind it. Keine moved backward, grabbing the arm of a double attacking from the rear, and flinging it over her shoulder into another of the would-be assassins.

Another doppelganger formed magical energy in its right hand, charging forward, aiming the blast at Keine?s torso. The Hakutaku was ready, holding up both her hands and forming energy of her own. The two fighters clashed their energies, creating a small shock wave that vaporized the mud clone, and sent Keine flying with a shriek into the store desk.

Giving their target no time to recovering, the mud clones charge Keine again! Keine head butts one, grabs and slides one across the desk and into the wall, and kicks the last one in the chin. She then fires beam lasers at several more coming at her. More and more fell? But they only just seemed to keep coming?

They have me trapped? But I won?t give up?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:16:43 AM
***

Patchouli staggered up to a crooked standing position, panting as she faced Sakuya. The maid had come down to the roof as well, standing over the seemingly defeated librarian.

?It?s clear that you?re too weak to battle me right now. Do you surrender?? asked Sakuya, a hand on her hip.

Patchouli was sweating heavily, struggling to catch a breath. She soon fell back down to one knee, shivering. But despite her strength she still spoke.

?Even when corned?? she began.

Sakuya narrowed her eyes.

?Does not? ?the cat? ?continue to resist? Yes?? spoke Patchouli wearily with some wheezing, slowly standing up. ?She bears her fangs? ?and stands up her fur, making herself look larger than she is? ?and screeches wildly??

?What is it you?re getting at?! Talking such nonsense won?t help you at all!? half yelled Sakuya.

Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder and a bright flash of lightening. Putting her free left hand below her neck, Patchouli looked at Sakuya with a clear intention to continue the battle in her violet eyes.

?I see? You refuse to comprehend? Fool, never underestimate a cornered cat? For you see??

Sakuya could swear that the wind around Patchouli was picking up? She quickly pulled out more knives, gritting her teeth.

?A cat is always ready to fight. And this particular cat??

Sakuya, threw her knives only to have them knocked away by strong wind gusts.

??has her trump card!?

Patchouli gasped like she was being resuscitated as air suddenly filled her lungs once more. Severe winds cracked the already battered roof around her as she breathed in hard. Sakuya covered herself from the winds with her arms.

?What is this?!? said the maid to herself.

The winds soon died down, with the now refreshed Patchouli standing straight up, book in her right hand.

?In all my time, my health has never particularly been good. Anemia and Asthma keep me from doing virtually all the things I wish to do, even though I am a Youkai. However, after the scarlet mist incident, I began developing spells that could help me overcome these flaws? That spell uses the powers of the air and the wind to expand my lungs, forcing my body to overcome its Asthma. From the start, you tried to lead me in a battle of attrition, hoping to weaken me until I succumbed to my weakness. But that plan was doomed from the start thanks to my spell. Your underestimation of my ability will now be your downfall, Sakuya? ?as well as my strength!? explained Patchouli with an odd mixture of determination and contempt in her voice.

Sakuya was silent for a few moments as she slowly put her arms down?

?Alright? I will admit it? I have underestimated you? You are indeed powerful and resourceful, even when your weakness catches up with you. But you have done the same as I. You have underestimated my ability as well!? replied Sakuya.

Reaching into her seemingly unending supply of throwing knives, Sakuya grabbed two more of the weapons then clashed them together by the hilt. The knives glowed with silver energy, causing Patchouli to raise an eyebrow. Sakuya grabbed the Knives by the hilts as energy extended from the blades. Sakuya had essentially formed two silver energy swords!

?And now I will show you my ability.? stated Sakuya firmly.

Sakuya held the swords in a horizontal X shape in front of herself, then quickly slashed them to the sides, sending some thirty-five knives at Patchouli! Patchouli jumped into the air to evade.

?Impressive?? admitted Patchouli as she switched her book to her left hand. ?Magic Blade! Extend, Power of Mighty Blade!?

Patchouli held out her right arm, as green energy surrounded it. Now Patchouli?s arm had appeared to be covered in a green, single sided energy blade!

Sakuya flew up to Patchy at high speed, swinging her left silver blade vertically at her purple opponent. Patchouli backed away from that slash, and another from the left blade. After subtlety dodging two more slashes, Patchouli let out a horizontal slash of her own. Sakuya blocked the green blade with her own silver ones. The two span around in the air as they continued gaining altitude.

Sakuya pushed Patchouli away before attempting a quick stab. Patchouli moved with a surprisingly quick speed, knocking that blade down, blocking the other then taking another slash, which Sakuya veered back to avoid. Sakuya then attacked again with Patchouli evading with a spinning tilt, making a wide horizontal slash that hit Sakuya in the left leg just below the garter with its tip. Sakuya winced as she pulled back?

Ignoring the pain, Sakuya quickly maneuvered behind Patchouli, as the Liberian attempted to cut down the maid with a long vertical slash. Sakuya slashed both her blades downward, sending a mess of high speed knives at Patchouli, who blocked the whole lot of them with a purple force field that looked as if it were some sort of magical symbol.

Undeterred, Sakuya charged at Patchouli, attempting to slam her swords into the Liberian. Patchouli blocked, causing Sakuya?s blades to bounce off. Patchouli did her own charge, but the result was the same as the two bounced away from each other. Grunting, Patchouli next attempted a continuous flurry of slashes at Sakuya, forcing the maid back down towards the mansion. Soon, Patchouli went in for another big vertical slash. This one was slower than the others however. Wasting no time, Sakuya ceases the opportunity, and flies past Patchouli, leaving a bleeding gash in her side. Patchouli grumbles in pain, turning around and facing Sakuya with a look of contempt.

Sakuya then pulled out a spellcard, silver energy flowing into her.

?Death sign: Bloody Corpse!?

Sakuya held her swords away from herself, pointing them downward as a giant seal briefly appeared behind Sakuya before vanishing, quickly being replaced by a fairly high number of much smaller ones. Each one then split into three knives that spread out and surrounded Patchouli.

?Hm? Air Sign?? began Patchouli, dissolving her blade and pulling out a spellcard of her own. ?Riveting Earthlight.?

Patchouli held the card up in her right hand toward the sky as an aura around her pulsed with green energy. The energy shot out of her arm, wrapping around her whole being like a blanket, creating a swirling mass of magical energy that batted away every last knife that slammed into it. After the knives were gone, Patchouli flew head first into Sakuya, attempting to ram the spinning mass into her.

The maid swung around to the right as the librarian flew past her. Seeing Patchouli?s attack dissipating, Sakuya charged in deep, swords at the ready. However, it turned out that Patchouli still had a way out! As the green energy faded, Patchouli threw it at Sakuya with a grunt, forcing the maid to block it with her swords in an X shape!

As her opponent recovered, Patchouli ?unexpectedly enough- reformed her earlier green arm blade and charging at Sakuya! The maid let out a surprised yelp as she moved backward, blocking one sharp downward slash, then having the sword in her right hand knocked clear into the air from the subsequent upward slash. Sakuya rose her left sword to defend, but Patchouli ?pouring a good amount of energy into her attack- was able to knock that away, forcing Sakuya to retreat to the Mansion roof.

The swords quickly lost the energy poured into them, taking the appearance of regular throwing knives again. Patchouli dissipated her own blade as well.

?Very good Patchouli, but I still have tricks of my own!? claimed Sakuya, drawing more knives, and filling them with silver energy.

With a good deal of strength used in the last exchange, Patchouli kept her distance from her, staying off the roof, and hovered at Sakuya?s level a small distance from the roof?s edge instead.

?I shall see through your tricks, cat.?

Patchouli raised her right arm into the air, generating six green circles that launched several sharp and jagged semi-cone shaped boulders at Sakuya. The maid flew backwards, throwing her knives at the boulders. The knives exploded on contact, creating smoke and dust as they destroyed the boulders. Sakuya flew right threw that toward Patchouli, who shielded herself from a swift kick with a force field before flying away then past the maid.

The librarian turned around, moving left in a circle while following a rainbow?s worth of different colored orb shaped projectiles at Sakuya. The maid did the same thing, tossing many, many knives from her seemingly unending supply. Once the faster Sakuya managed to maneuver behind Patchouli, the purple haired youkai dropped down to the roof, but not before firing a giant bubble at Sakuya.

The maid knew the seemingly harmless bubble was actually quite dangerous and made an extra effort to dodge it. She then went down to the roof in pursuit of Patchouli. The librarian now had her left hand on the tattered roof, forming a magic circle around herself.

?That small break in the action afforded by my bubble was all I needed??

?Got you!? called out Sakuya as she charged Patchouli on foot.

But then suddenly, a giant rock spire shot out of the roof! Sakuya watched the quickly rising rock, beyond shocked seeing as it missed her by less than two inches! Although surprised, Sakuya felt the roof beneath her cracking, jumping backwards to avoid a second sharp spire. This time she continued flying back, more energized knives at the ready. A third spire crashed out of the roof vertically to intercept her, forcing her to drop head first towards the ground to avoid it!

From the roof, Patchouli momentarily let her hand off the roof to throw a number of glowing green seed like objects similar to fireflies that disappeared into the building?

?You fool, you?ll destroy the mansion, and your precious Voile with such a reckless attack!? yelled Sakuya.

?My aim is careful not to damage anything of importance in my library. You have more to be concerned about than such minor damage?? replied Patchouli, Sakuya somehow hearing her low, monotone voice (sound amplification?). ?Furthermore??

The wall in front of Sakuya cracked? Another spiral ?this one horizontal- rushed toward Sakuya, forcing her to jump.

?I may not have your strong body? But I have a strong mind. A mind that has allowed me to create such powerful spells from the elements themselves!? announced Patchouli.

As Sakuya attempted to fly back to the roof, the tip of the latest spire burst open, several tentacle-like vines reaching out to grab the maid. Dumbfounded, Sakuya turned around to face them, cutting several with her knives before picking up some distance, and pulling out a single knife. She energized this knife into an energy sword exactly like the ones before. Sakuya then slammed the bottom of the knife into her right palm, then thrusted her right arm at the tentacles, firing the sword like a cannon into their center. The whole lot of them were blown to smithereens?

But before the smoke could even clear, seemingly hundreds of tiny white, hail like bullets flew out at the surprised Sakuya! Gasping, Sakuya weaved and dodging through the mess of projectiles, while dodging more large hailstones thrown by Patchouli from behind. The white bullets dissolved before hitting Patchouli.

?What the hell is this?!? half yelled Sakuya.

?This is an ultimate power Sakuya. The end result of hard work and pain staking research. Yes, I have succeeded in combining the power of Danmaku with the versatility of nature. This is something even your elegant style of battle cannot defeat. With this, nature has become my ultimate weapon!? explained Patchouli in an authoritative tone.

Sakuya gritted her teeth as she took several shots and began falling down, but she caught herself with her flight power. She was about to get some payback, only to see the other two spires explode into a mess of yellow bullets that went every possible direction at every possible angle save for downward! Sakuya barely managed to get under the unguided attack by crouching under it.

She stood up, panting? Only to see Patchouli right in front of her, blue energy charged in her left arm!

?And this??

Patchouli slammed her fist into Sakuya?s stomach sending her screaming backwards into one of the less damaged mansion towers, cracking it on impact.

??concludes our duel!? finished Patchouli, sweating and panting at this point.

?N-no? I can still??

Suddenly, hundreds of small green vines burst out of the wall behind Sakuya, wrapping around her lithe limbs and torso tightly!

?What?!? yelled Sakuya, struggling futilely against the sudden bind.

Patchouli collected herself, tucking her book back under her right arm.

?I hereby lower your catness from a level of twelve, to a level of four. I think this demonstration should end here.? said Patchouli semi-casually.

?Y-you fool?! The residents of Eientei just as capable as you are! If you go yourse-??

Sakuya was interrupted several larger tentacles burst out of the wall and grabbed her, bounding her arms tightly to her body, and putting her legs together. The tentacles weren?t vines, but an oddly green material that appeared organic? The maid could not move anymore, only struggle.

?If anything happens to me, then you may come to finish what I shall start. But for now, I and ONLY I will handle this.? spoke Patchouli.

Sakuya struggled with her hopeless bind, desperate to get out. Sweat mounted on her face as she growled and thrashed violently against the bonds.

?You?ll live to regret this?? warned Sakuya in a hard voice.

?I may. But I won?t know unless I leave now. But if that?s finished? ?lights out!?

Patchouli flew up to Sakuya, putting both hands on her book. With great strength, she whacked the maid right on the head, knocking her right out! Patchouli took a few moments to stare at the bound and unconscious Sakuya before wordlessly flying off into the stormy looking skies. Another rumble of thunder could be heard?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:18:12 AM
***

?GRAAAAHHH!?

Keine let out a shout as she put four more of the strange mud creatures to rest, only to see more pour into the tattered shop known as Kourindou. Keine was sweating with her dress torn in several places during the bid for her life. One creature quickly stretched out its left arm, hand wide open, grabbing Keine?s raised right arm.

?Let go!? demanded Keine before destroying the creature?s arm with her left fist.

That doppelganger reeled back, hissing with pain and hatred at Keine, as more stepped forward in its place. They all jumped at Keine at once. Keine was able to hit several back before being caught from behind with a painful claw swipe to the back that left four bleeding gashes. The tormented tutor knocked the offender in the face with her left elbow before grabbing one of the doppelgangers in front of herself, and head butting it with great force into two more. The three of them crashed into one of the few still standing shelves, knocking it down and sending all manner of otherworldly items to the floor.

Not even a second after that last attack however, Keine found a muddy fist digging deep into her stomach, causing a hard pain and a gasp. The Were-Hakutaku used a small magic blast to send it away before barely dodging a couple of claw swipes from the left, kicking the offending beast away. Unfortunately, one enemy was able to get behind and fiercely tackle Keine to the floor. All of the other creatures began piling on top of the struggling Keine.

She couldn?t move anymore? All the light had disappeared, and the air was thinning out fast. She knew something had to be done fast. Some to save her, or perhaps grabbing one of her spellcards, anything? For at this rate? ?she was going to die. And she realized this.

The creatures soon felt all movement and struggling stop. Surprisingly enough, they didn?t drop their guard, instead waiting to see if Keine had truly suffocated under their weight? They still emitted their characteristic grotesque sounds.

Barely a minute had passed, and Keine was already sweating bullets and was becoming hard pressing for air. However?

I do not want to die here? I? I cannot give up?!

?Remarkable Half-beast??

???!?

The clones stopping their unnerving sounds looking at the spot where they had pinned down Keine? Suddenly, blue streaks of magical light began appearing from where Keine was? They felt their bodies give way as they struggled to contain Keine?s attack!

?Rising Light of Truthful Virtue!?

All of the tacklers were blown off and away from Keine as she stood up screaming, emitting a brilliantly blue and powerful beam of light that shot straight up into the air with sparkling resonance! The creatures jumped back as the counter attack (its diameter not that much larger than Keine?s body) blew a large hole in the roof. A glassy looking magic circle was under Keine for the duration of the attack.

Keine immediately noticed that the enemies were already regrouping to attack her again, looking quite aggravated as well? ?and that her hat was missing. One of the surviving creatures had managed to grab it off her head as she stood back up again. She stared boldly into the face of her attackers, her eyes like those of someone with an iron will, and undying determination to succeed.

?You will not claim my life. Not without great effort. This I promise you.? she spoke.

All of the creatures rushed her with great anger, only to have Keine fly straight through the hole at high speed! The were-Hakutaku suddenly found herself wet as it had begun raining outside. The mud creatures however were quick to pour out of the shop and follow her, joining her in the stormy skies above the Human Village. It was apparent that the rain doing nothing to impair them, or further liquidize their bodies in any way.

?Do your worst to me, but I won?t let you lay a finger on anyone here. This is my declaration to you?? said Keine as she pulled out a spellcard. ?I hereby declare that I will defeat you! Declaration!?

Keine raised the card into the air as the area seemed to (further) darken for a moment? The clones could?ve sworn they saw a very large projection of Keine in the sky for a few seconds? Soon, the normal amount of light returned as Keine?s strength began increasing, the building power accompanied by a vibrant blue aura! Keine then pulled out another spellcard, even as the doppelgangers that surrounded her charged in!

?Spiritual Birth: First Pyramid!?

Keine?s spellcard vanished as a bubble of energy, colored in an odd purple, surrounded the teacher. Any clone that touched the bubble ended up shattering into a million pieces! Even so, they continued moving in? However, Keine?s card hadn?t shown its full power just yet. The bubble suddenly burst into hundreds of smaller, blue colored orb shaped bullets! The deadly orbs had an effect on the enemies no different than someone opening fire with a machine gun on a large group of people.

Many, many of the clones ?sometimes as many as twenty at once- fell to the ground, shattered to pieces. Along with the blue bullet orbs, came larger purple orbs, traveling in rows of three. They instantly vaporized the limbs of any mud monster foolish enough to touch them, or too slow to avoid them.

One enraged beast zoomed at Keine during the attack, swiping with its sharp right claws. Keine moved out of the way, punching the creature in the back of the head for swift destruction. Several more charged at Keine from above, forcing her to drop both, her spell card, and her flight. As she plummeted to the ground, the teacher stretched out her open palm right hand firing several long blue laser beams at the doppelgangers, annihilating them.

Reactivating her flight power, the half-beast straightened out and flew backwards as she fired more beams, destroying more of her clones. She quickly turned around just in time to meet another hissing creature, firing large red orbs at it from up close, inadvertently destroying other ones as well. Despite her efforts however, they continued to come? Keine felt that her power up wasn?t going to last too much longer, probably only another minute or so.

The teacher pulled back to avoid a muddy whip from another attacker, blasting it to nothing. Four more then struck from all directions, but with her increased power and speed, Keine was able to fly straight up in the nick of time to avoid them. She lifted her right arm into the air, creating a bright white sphere of energy. She pointed it at the monsters as it exploded into nearly a hundred small white orb shaped bullets that ripped through the monsters like concentrated machine gun fire. Now complete with numerous extra holes, many of the beasts fell to the ground vanquished.

Next, Keine held out her arms to her sides, firing many white thin laser beams that homed in on the retreating doppelgangers, dropping more of them one by one. This continued until Keine had dropped some fifty of the hissing beasts.

But yet they kept on coming?

Keine was tired. She was panting, sweat all over her face. She only had about ten seconds left of her power up left as well.

10

She gritted her teeth, knowing that this couldn?t happen? If she failed, what would become of the humans??

9

She felt herself very slowly dropping to the ground. She exerted nearly every last drop of energy fighting these would-be assassins that were hell bent on terrorizing her.

8

For every one I shoot down, five more take the fallen one?s place. There simply isn?t an end to them?


Keine still continued to see them even now? Hundreds? Just how many left were there?!

7

I guess there isn?t much choice now? This will have to be my last attack!

6


Keine spread her arms out, a magical circle appearing behind her as she built up energy for her last attack?

5

?Last Word??

A spellcard briefly appeared in front of Keine before vanishing almost as quickly as it came. Her power build up was enormous?

4

?Emperor of the East!?

Even they still had Keine surrounded, the mud creatures halted their approach at this unexpected last attack?

3

?RAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGHHH!!!?

The flash of light that came from Keine was so strong that the doppelgangers actually had to shield themselves! Keine could no longer be seen in the brilliant white flash that had resulted! Hordes of red and blue laser beams, accompanied by similar colored orbs of destruction. There was so much hostile fire, and so much blinding light, that the creatures hadn?t a hope of dodging a single shot.

2

The brightness shown like a star above the human village. It was ending as quickly as it begun, but to anyone watching it feel like an eternity. The annihilation of Keine?s enemies was quite evident, even in the brilliant light as doppelgangers either fell smoking to the ground, or simply vanished in the light.

It was a three-hundred and sixty degree attack? Or at least it would be, but Keine refrained from making too much of the attack go downward seeing as she did not wish harm to the village.

1

Almost as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished. Also missing was the army of animated mud look-alikes of Keine. Only the were-Hakutaku herself remained.

0

And that was it. Keine?s spell was finished, her strength exhausted. With virtually no enemies left around her show lowered herself to the ground, falling on her knees, panting heavily with an exhausted look on her face.

Who? What were they? Why is it they came after me, and not the rest of the vi-

Keine?s thought was interrupted by a faint, but unmistakable sound? The same hideous hissing that had been haunting her for? She didn?t know how long. Her head was turned toward the ground, sweat dripping from her forehead? Her eyes widened as she heard them approaching?

This couldn?t be?! Even after all that, more remained?! Perhaps then this was it? Keine was left with little to give? And even though she was right in the middle of the village, no humans came to try and help her. Soon, only one thing crossed Keine?s mind, one question?

?why?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:19:00 AM
Keine had no answer. All she could do was wonder why her time of living on this plain of existence would end now in such a disagreeable manner? Slowly, she dared to look up? Several of the doppelgangers slowly approached their target with insane smiles and unnerving hissing, walking like mindless zombies. To her, they were a wall, a moving wall of death that threatened to envelop her, and make her just another particle of dust in the cogs of history. A history she would never be able to reverse? The look of despair in eyes was prevalent as she realized all of this.

But suddenly, something came? The air Keine breathed was suddenly hot! She sensed a presence. A familiar one at that. Just then, her attackers were enveloped in bright and hot flash of orange and crimson! Their forms melted away into nothing before Keine?s surprised eyes! Before she could even look to see where it had came from, she heard another noise behind herself. Looking back, she found that fireballs where falling onto more mud creatures she hadn?t even detected that were coming up from behind!

Finally, Keine looked into the sky to see the one that had saved her, the one responsible for the flames. A light blue haired girl in overalls with fiery red bird like wings? It was none other than Mokou. The girl?s great rage was visible as she watched the pathetic doubles of her friend Keine burn.

??! M-Mo- ?

Before Keine could call out the name of her friend, Mokou dissipated her wings of fire, and came down to the ground, just in time to punch away a doppelganger that attempted to pounce on Keine. In a flash, another monster near Keine found it self crushed by Mokou?s left elbow, with another one near it getting kick high into the sky then blasted with a fireball right afterward! Mokou then leaped into the air, using her flight ability to cross over several roof tops, and land right in front in another of the surviving doppelgangers.

The creature looked up at the flaming girl, attempting to claw her down in desperation almost immediately. Mokou very quickly lifted her arms, and brought them down HARD on the creature?s shoulders detaching them from its near-liquid body. Next, she fired a large ball of flame at the creature, sending it like a deadly speeding bowling ball into twelve more doppelgangers where it exploded, annihilating the creatures. Oddly, the flames still didn?t set any buildings or plant life on fire.

Now she simply walked up to them, or rather it. This creature appeared to be the last one alive at this point, the sole survivor of the failed attempt on Keine?s life. As it?s slowly drying form crawled forward out of desperation. It slowly looked up its head as it heard the none too pleased Mokou walking up to it. It seemed to be clutching a rather familiar, blue colored, bento-like object?

Mokou stopped upon closing the distance between the ugly mud-ball and herself, staring down at it with much contempt. She bent down, and took on of the hat?s corners with just her index finger and thumb? The creature looked on in fearful uncertainty, hissing rather lowly at Mokou.

?I don?t think this is yours?? she told the creature in a very dark and quiet voice, her fiery eyes like that of a demon.

And with that, she quickly pulled the hat away? ?along with the mud creature?s right arm. It cried out in pain as it smoked, and slowly burned away into nothing?
Satisfied, Mokou (who rather non-chalantly let the muddy arm fall off Keine?s hat) let out a brief sigh and returned to Keine just in time to see that several humans living in the village had finally come out to see what was wrong. Many of them were adults, wielding make shift weapons mostly in the form simple gardening tolls. Mokou kept her admittedly less than appreciative thoughts about them and how late they were to herself. Walking up to Keine from behind, she began speaking?

?You alright, Keine??

The were-Hakutaku looked back at her fiery friend.

?I?ve been better, but I think I?ll be fine now.? said Keine with a smile.

Mokou calmed down, allowing for a small smile as she handed Keine her slightly muddy hat.

?This is yours.? said Mokou.

?Thank you. It seems my life wasn?t the only thing you saved.? said Keine with a brief happy smile before darkening her expression. ?Mokou? You wouldn?t happen to know what??

?They were sent by the lady who resides at the house of eternity.? said Mokou rather flatly, yet darkly.

Keine allowed a slightly shocked expression on her face.

?Kaguya of the moon?? But unless I unknowingly committed some sort of offense against her, the only reason she would come after me is??

?To get to me.?

?Hmm? But she?s never gone this far before??

?Well she?s more serious now than last time. There was something? ?different about her the other night.? said Mokou, looking low to the side.

????

Keine looked at Mokou, wondering what her fire slinging friend could mean.

?This plan of hers almost worked. She faked your kidnapping with one of those despicable mud things. I was actually moving away from here until I remembered something??

?And what was that?? asked Keine.
Mokou then looked at Keine with a wide and sly smile.

?You?re just too damn tough! There was no way you were gonna let Kaguya get her filthy mitts on you just like that! Besides it just felt weird that you could get taken to Eientei behind my back like that.?

Keine chuckled a bit at the complement.

?I?m quite flattered Mokou. But for all you knew, she did get the better of me in any case.?

?Well I had some help from the rabbit controlling the magic stone that allowed Kaguya to speak her threats to me without leaving Eientei.? began Mokou, putting her hands in her pockets.

?You had help? Mokou, you didn?t??

?Of course not. I?m rough sure, but at to be at that barbaric level? Besides, with those rabbits, a little bribery goes a long way.? said Mokou, pulling out carrot sticks from her right pocket.

?I see?? nodded Keine. ?Well, she certainly has your attention??

?Guess so?? replied Mokou in a darker voice, while taking a bite from one of the carrot sticks.

?Morichika-san! Morichika-san, over here!? called a male voice from afar.

Keine and Mokou looked to their left, and surely enough found Rinnosuke running towards them. The silver haired man, knelt down and placed his hands on his wife?s shoulders.

?My God, Keine are you alright?? asked the man worriedly.

?Our friend Mokou saved the day, so I?m alright.? said Keine, smiling reassuringly.

Without looking at the two, Mokou turned around and began walking away, a very dark look on her face. Mere seconds after she attempted to leave however, she felt a hand on her right shoulder.

?Don?t try to stop me Keine. I?m going to settle this with Kaguya once and for all.? spoke the fiery girl in a low tone.

?Not like this?? began Keine. ?Kaguya is baiting you for something very dangerous, I can feel it. Please give me some time and??

?No?! I?m going Keine. If she wants to fight so bad, then I?ll gladly oblige her.?

?I know you?re angry for what she did to me, but you can?t let that get in the way of your better judgement.? stated Keine matter of factly.

?I don?t give a damn! I?m going right this second, and you will not-?

Right then, Keine span Mokou around, and crashed her diamond forehead right into the immortal girls face, much to the shock of he on looking villagers. Mokou was sent flying several yards before falling to the ground with a brief skid. Mokou just lay in the muddy ground, dumbfounded at what just happened. She looked at Keine silently.

Keine put her hands on her hips as she spoke with a hard look on her face.

?She dragged me into this Mokou, so whether you like it or not, it?s now my fight as well as yours! At the very least, allow me to analyze this situation. And I will not take no for an answer!? stated Keine in a scolding voice before going into a gentler tone with a softer facial expression. ?Mokou? Don?t be so selfish. Don?t you realize I?m worried about you and want to help, even if it?s a slight bit??

Mokou clenched her fists as she slowly stood up again. A few moments of silence pass? The villagers look onward silently at the scene before them. Finally, Mokou made up her mind?

?F-fine? We do it your way. But you stay out after that!? said Mokou reluctantly.

?It is agreed then. Let?s head off to the house.?

??okay?? said Mokou.

Before following Keine and Rinnosuke, Mokou looked into the darkened sky, thinking only one thing to herself?

You?ve gone too far this time Kaguya? Way too far!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:19:47 AM
***

Meanwhile, in a nearly blackened room within the halls of Eientei, Kaguya sat in front of a strange mirror that showed one of the Earth rabbits saluting to her before the image went blank, returning the mirror to a simple device that showed the calmly smiling Kaguya?s extravagant face once more. A hall light shown into the dark room as Reisen opened the door.

?Mi-?

?You may come in Inaba. Please sit down and tell me your report.? spoke Kaguya, before Reisen could even begin to ask.

Reisen was a tad hesitant, but quickly walked in and sat on her knees behind Kaguya, a small distance away.

?Mistress?? began Reisen with a sense of slight uncertainty present on her face. ??we have successfully repelled the force sent against us by the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The prisoners were sent over to the mountain as you requested as well.?

?Very good.? said Kaguya without turning around to face her servant.

?What of the plan to lure Mokou into the trap?? asked Reisen.

?That plan will be delayed unfortunately. But it really matters not?? said Kaguya rather casually, stretching out her arms. ?While it is true that I was counting on her usual thoughtless hotheadedness, I also knew she could figure out the truth somehow. Even so, she will come to us??

Reisen put her balled up hands on top of her knees as a small bit of sweat formed on her face.

?Mistress I know it really isn?t my place to ask, but? ?was doing it in this manner really the wisest thing? We?ve drawn quite a bit of attention to ourselves already?? spoke Reisen with a concerned yet nervous voice.

Kaguya put her arms in her sleeves, giggling a bit before speaking again.

?Silly girl, Mokou would?ve come in either case. There was simply no chance that she would take an offer to ?settle our differences for all time? seriously. You see Inaba, I had no choice but to attack her proverbial heart you see. It was the only way our little plan had any chance of working. If anyone outside views us with suspicion, I?ll simply use a few tall tails I have prepared ahead of time. By the time people do ask questions, Mokou will be? ?gone. Silenced? Silenced forever?!? explained Kaguya in a soft, unnerving voice.

??for something to silence an immortal? How much??

?AHAHAHAHAHA!?

Reisen flinched a bit, startled by the strange laughter suddenly coming from her princess.

?What a silly girl you are Inaba? You needn?t know the bloody details of the power we are to unleash upon Mokou. All you need to do worry about is whether or not you complete the tasks I give to you to do. If you play your part, it?ll be as if nothing happened.? explained Kaguya, suddenly calm again.

The princess slowly removed her arms from her sleeves.

?We only need the girl who rules the insects. Her capture will be swift if the other pests are adaquetly distracted, and if all at Eientei play their roles. It?s real easy. Be a good servant and serve me as diligently as you always have. Our victory over Mokou is assured through that. Will you do such a thing Inaba?? asked Kaguya, in an oddly playful voice.

Reisen hesitated. Words wanted to escape her mouth, but all that came was a barely audible crack.

?Inaba.? spoke up Kaguya in a sharp tone that startled Reisen. ?What is your answer??

?Y-yes. Yes, I will serve my mistress.? finally spoke the bunny girl.

?Should you have to die for her, then will you give up your life?? asks Kaguya.

?Of course? ?my mistress. I would go to the ends of the very Earth!? replies Reisen, not at all convincing due to her uncertainty.

Kaguya was silent for a few moments, not even moving in the slightest bit. Reisen leaned forward a slight bit, wondering why her princess wouldn?t respond.

?Mi? Mistress???

?Fufufufufu?? chuckled Kaguya. ?I??

?Y-y-you??? Reisen dared to ask.

?I thank you Inaba. Truly and deeply, I thank you.?

Reisen was about to lean forward further when suddenly, Kaguya shot her head backward to look at her servant. Her eyes had taken on what appeared to be a perfectly circular shape, glassy with out any shine what so ever. A wide and vicious smile decorated the lower half of her face. Reisen was frightened at the truly ghoulish appearance of her mistress, a sight that very nearly made her heart jump right out of her youkai body!

?Very soon now Inaba! Soon we will have peace and prosperity right here in Eientei! I will reward your diligence? No? Why wait?? spoke Kaguya in a ghastly voice as she crawled toward Reisen.

Scared to death, Reisen began back away from her insane princess.

?Mistress?!?

?Why this hesitation? You should be most proud Inaba? You have been so good to me? You?ve shown more kindness and respect than I deserve? ?and you quite the hard worker. Alas, I can never fully repay you, or any of the inabas for that matter, even though my time is unlimited? Fufufufufu??

The princess suddenly pounced on Reisen, pinning her to the ground. Reisen resists, but Kaguya?s physical strength is unexpectedly greater than her own!

?Mistress, please stop this?!? pleaded Reisen desperately.

?Now now Inaba?? said Kaguya as she began tearing off Reisen?s outer shirt. ?Please except this wonderful gift I am giving to you. A reward for your excellent work??

?NO! What are you doing?!? shrieked Reisen, sweat drenching her face.

Reisen tried to scream, but Kaguya cupped her left hand over her servant?s mouth. Reisen grabbed and tugged at her mistress? arms, desperate to get out of this calamity? Kaguya put her forhead on Reisen?s as she continued forcefully removing the Moon rabbit?s shirt, still speaking with that same soft, overly subdued voice.

??and after it is all over, I will reward you far greater than this. It will be? ?an eternity? ?of grand happiness for the residents of Eientei.?

?MMMMMMMPH!?

?Just relax??

But just then, one of the Earth rabbits slid the door to a fully open state, bathing the room with light. Kaguya snapped her head over to the little pink dressed girl.

?Mistress! We need you to help us sort out a few things.? spoke the girl before looking closer at the sight, and tilting her head. ?Oh? Are you playing with Reisen right now??

Kaguya?s voice suddenly returned to normal, as did her face.

?Ah, I was. Oh goodness, it would seem I lost track of the time! What a silly thing to do, wouldn?t you say Inaba?? asked Kaguya in a cheerful voice.

The small rabbit girl smiled happily.

?Pretty silly, but playing is really fun! I?ll tell everyone you?re coming.? spoke the girl before walking off.

With great fear in her eyes, Reisen tried to reach out her pinned down left arm at the departing rabbit, muffled words futily attempting to exit her covered mouth as she struggled in Kaguya?s grip. The princess rather slowly turned her head forward to look at Reisen, still wearing that unnerving happy smile. She began speaking in her ghastly, demonic voice once more.

?My, how unfortunate? I?ll have to delay your reward for now Inaba.? spoke the princess as she slowly got off of Reisen and stood up. ?Even so, I?ll be sure to reward you in full at a later time. Until then, I expect you to keep up your hard work.?

Reisen merely sat up, not saying anything at all, holding her tattered shirt together. Kaguya staggered rather oddly as she got up, having to stifle a few odd giggles as well.

?Find the insect? Yes? Until then? Until then? Yes? Fufufufufu??

Kaguya spent a moment babbling to herself as she finally walked out of the door. With a look of deathly shock and confusion on her face, Reisen slumped back against the side wall, trying desperately to contemplate what had just happened.

?Why??? she asked herself in a very quiet voice.

With that, Reisen began remembering the recent things that had transpired because of this plan, how it all started because of a simple legend Eirin had found out about? A plan to be rid of the princess? rival for all time... A plan that has claimed the lives of many Earth rabbits, a plan that has tarnished Eientei?s image? ?a plan that left Reisen questioning whether or not she would survive.

?Why??? she spoke to herself again in a louder voice. ?Why all of this?? Why is?? What is happening to us???

However after this shocking betrayal, Reisen began wondering just what the true cost of all this was? Come to think of it, her master had been acting unusually for a bit of time now? Reisen thought it was simple stress from planning the mission, or perhaps the effect of having more frequent fights with Mokou. Perhaps she was even helping her other Mistress Eirin test out some new medicine.

But now she knew it wasn?t any of this at all? This had become obsession? No, something that had surpassed even that! She was just fine mere weeks ago... Reisen grasped her head in her hands as she continued her pained contemplation. Was it all so worth it? This pain, this sacrifice? And just what would Kaguya do if this plan succeeded?? Was Reisen?s life in danger? What else would happen to her??

?What is this feeling? What a dark feeling? I felt it the moment I entered this room? No, before then! It?s so cold? ?and heavy?? said the girl to herself in a shakey voice.

Reisen slumped to the ground, her elbows resting on the wooden floor.

?Something about this isn?t right at all?! Are we really doing something we shouldn?t??? she asked herself, thinking the question over very carefully despite her perhaps irrational fear. ?It is? It is almost as if some sort of divine force is telling me something? Warning me of a potential cataclysm? But I? I can?t just so freely voice my fear? Not after they rescued me after I fled??

Reisen?s thoughts were interrupted as images of death flashed through her mind? She saw old memories? Memories of friends being slaughtered in that terrible war on the moon so many years ago? All the horrors she witnessed?

The rabbit girl shook her head rather violently as she forcefully blocked the memories out.

?Will that happen again?? Is that what you?re trying to tell me?? I know I?ve done things to delay the plan already, but to outright go against them??  These people? ?they are??

Now Reisen flashed back to happier times? Times she had after coming to Eientei, and subsequently, into the service of Kaguya Houraisan and Eirin Yagokoro. Times of laughter and fun with no worries of the moon, its affairs or any of its wars. Even Mokou was forgotten in those times? Reisen was told left and right that she would have more times like that than ever before if she did what she was told. But everytime she thought of this, thoughts of everything she knew ?along with herself- disappearing into a dreadful darkness also appeared. This was just like ?back then.? She experienced something similar back then on the moon all that time ago? And now perhaps it was potentially happening all over again?

?Please??

She was silent for a few more minutes before sitting up, and slumping back against the wall again. Tears poured down her face, which suddenly had a calm expression of deep thought.

?Someone? Anyone? Lift me out of this hell. I don?t know how to proceed? So please tell me? What should I do?? spoke Reisen to herself. ?What should I do??

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:22:22 AM
[Sixth Spell]

The edge of the forest near the shrine?

T?was a dark place thanks to the lack of sunlight caused by the dark and heavy clouds that dominated the sky. Many rumbles of thunder could be heard as pink dressed rabbit girls leaped about to and fro from tree branch to tree branch in pursuit of their target.

?Over here! I saw them go this way!?

?No no, they went over here! Hurry!?

?Wait! They?re taking this path!?

The nightbug youkai girl could hear them? They were everywhere, yet her legs didn?t stop running despite knowing she had potentially no chance of escaping at this point. What was worse that she now had to carry a human witch with a paralyzed body, along with several now inanimate magical dolls on her back. But even so, she knew that if she could just reach the shrine?

Wriggle was gasping for breath, mouth open as she continued running in defiance of a terrible fate. Even with Marisa weighing her down, she didn?t slow down. She would sooner spend the rest of her days running or even die before she allowed herself to become a prisoner of Eientei.

On the Nightbug?s back, the stunned and weakened Marisa held on as tightly as she possibly could looking around with her half open eyes.

?H-hey? ?kid? I appreciate the help and all but? ?I?m just extra weight to ya?? began the witch in a weak tone.

?If you?re suggesting I leave you to be caught by those despicable rabbits then you should know that I will not follow it.? said Wriggle as she continued her dash for freedom.

?Heh? Well I?ll admit that isn?t the most favorable of scenarios? This isn?t something I?d normally suggest but??

?I said forget it! I? I will not leave you behind!? interrupted Wriggle sternly before switching to a more somber voice. ?Not like how I left the other two??

Wriggle momentarily recalled how she had to leave behind Mystia and Alice, helpless to prevent them from falling victim to the Eientei rabbits? She had to run away? She couldn?t do anything. She promised her night sparrow friend that she would protect her. She even let herself be trained by a human to accomplish this! But in the end, she was helpless do anything. She couldn?t protect, or save Mystia. She was not about to fail again with Marisa!

Her thoughts were interrupted as she took an odd step?

?Ghwa??!?

She suddenly felt herself plummeting as she stepped right into a hidden casm she hadn?t a chance of seeing thanks to the forest?s thickness. Taken completely by surprise, the insect girl tumbled down the rocky incline, battered by stones and rather large tree roots. She finally came to rest in a small pool of somewhat muddy water after her unexpected painful plunge.

?Uuunnnhhh??

Wriggle quickly got up on all fours, shaking her head. Dazed, she sat up on her knees and put a hand to her head. The insect youkai?s clothes were now mostly wet, and stained with dirt and mud. Her face turned to one of shock and fear as she quickly realized she had dropped Marisa. She gasped as she looked to the left? ?then to the right? ?then behind her to see that the black witch had crashed onto a small set of pebbles after the fall.

Wriggle rather quickly staggered over to her fallen friend.

?M-Marisa!?

Marisa sat up a slight bit as she cringed, not at all enjoying either the fall, or the landing.

?Aaahhh? Watch that first step will ya? It?s a real doozy?? said Marisa has she sat up a bit.

Wriggle hurridly helped Marisa to a sitting position as she got ready to pick her up again. Somehow, Marisa had managed to grab her hat, and Alice?s dolls.

?I?m so sorry Marisa? Here, I?ll help you-?

?Nope.? interrupted Marisa.

?I told you I?m not leaving you! Now lets-?

?Geez girl, do you? ?want them to win?? asked Marisa with a tad bit of irritation, putting a hand on her head despite still having a hard time moving.

?What manner of question??! Of course not!? replied an off-put Wriggle, putting her fists up.

Marisa took a deep breath, tired of having to inhale constantly. Afterward, she spoke up again.

?Then you need to be the one to make it to the shrine, got that?? asked Marisa with a happy smile.

?But? But I?? stuttered Wriggle, now visibly upset.

?It?s you they?re really after isn?t it? It?s better for one of us to get caught, and have a chance at being rescued later than it is for both of us to be caught and have none at all. Besides, Reimu can take these guys down for sure.? reasoned Marisa with a reassuring smile as she staggered up. ?Oh? These legs of mine are strong, and I?m good for a few magic shots? I can distract em after all??

By now, Wriggle looked quite upset. Why did she have to leave behind yet another friend??

?Heh, wow? I can?t believe I?m being so altruistic right now. This really isn?t my usual self at all!? said Marisa with an ironic smile, chuckling. ?Is this your work Reimu? Nah. You may have rubbed off on me, but you?re a little selfish yourself at times??

?Marisa?? uttered Wriggle.

?I usually only care about people I?m close to. Frankly, I normally don?t do this for pefect strangers, but? ?you?ve kinda grown on me a bit. I kinda like ya.? winked Marisa at Wriggle. ?You be sure to show Reimu that hat of mine, okay? Her senses have dulled a bit, but she?s still pretty damn sharp? Oh right, and hold on to Alice?s dolls. She?ll want ?em back later. Ciao!?

Marisa then waved at Wriggle weakly as she turned around and began running deeper into the forest. Wriggle stepped forward a slight bit before stopping herself. Hesitating momentarily, she called out to her new friend.

?Marisa!?

The weakened witch stopped turned around to look at Wriggle with a puzzled expression.

?You?re the? The first human? The first and only human who has ever been as nice to me as you have? You extended kindness to me even though I am a youkai, one that would potentially try to hurt you. Now you stand to sacrifice yourself for my sake? I will never be able to repay this favor?? said Wriggle.

?Hey, don?t worry about that! We?ll just say you?re borrowing my service, kay?? asked Marisa with a thumbs up.

Wriggle smiled as her eyes welled up with tears.

?Marisa? ?thank you. You are? ?my friend!?

As Wriggle finished her sentence, she turned around and flew out of the casm in the general direction of the shrine, hat and dolls in hand. Drops of tears escaped her eyes as she did so. Marisa smiled silently, turning back to run deeper into the forest while charging green blasts of energy in her hands? Maybe she could even now buy enough time for Wriggle?

?Why can?t this just come to an end?? Everyone else has given themselves up for my sake?? muttered Wriggle as she ran. Marisa, I will bring an end to this? And somehow, I?ll defeat the princess of Eientei save all of you!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:23:45 AM
***

?Nuuuuhhh??

Slowly, the blonde haired youkai stirred? As the grip of unconcioussness released her, her eyes slowly but surely opened to reveal a dusty floor of reddish rock. The room perhaps unexepectedly had a good amount of light as well. She drowsly looked around with her eyes, seeing that the oddly spacious room was totally made of rock? ?and that there were steel bars present in front of her? Alice suddenly sat up in shock, letting out a surprised gasp, as she almost immediately attempted to stand up inside the rocky room?

But she could not stand. In fact, her limbs seemed? ?stuck. At best, she could only get to her knees.

As her senses returned, the doll using youkai felt her arms behind her back, her wrists crossed together. Something was around the girl as well? Upon looking down, she found ropes just below her chest further restricting her, binding her arms to her body. Her legs would not move either: ropes binding her just above the ankles and just above the knees were to blame (though Alice could not see them at the moment due to her slightly dirty dress).

This was quite the reminder to Alice that she had been captured... Naturally, she objected to this situation, struggling hard against the ties, only to find that her already bad situation was further complicated by a rope that connected her wrists to her ankles, preventing her from stretching out her legs. And try as she might, she could not so much as even reach the ankle ropes due to her lack of a flexible body. On the other hand, it wasn?t like she was going to be able to untie herself anyway, given the way her hands were tied?

After several minutes of struggling, the visibly frusterated Alice finally gave in. She sighed before looking through the bars of her huge cell.

Just where was this place? It looked like it was deep inside some sort of mine, or something of that sort. Alice could vaguely make out youkai rabbits walking up the cyndrilical, dungeon-like room, in addition to her sensitive youkai ears picking up the sounds of digging, rolling and gathering. Such a strange place?

No sooner had Alice thought that when she heard another voice?

?Where am I??

Slightly startled, Alice looked behind herself to her right to see another youkai? The bird youkai known as Mystia had been chained to the wall, hard metal shackles locked to her wrists and ankles denying every attempt at escape, her arms spread to her sides. Mystia took a moment to look around the room before her face twisted in rage. She let out an angered screech while attempting to pull away from the wall. The loud clang after clang of a chain suddenly being pulled could be heard as the night bird pulled and struggled with her shackles, trying desperately to get free.

?How? How dare they?!? growled the bird youkai.

?H-h-hey, calm down, you?ll hurt yourself!? called Alice, turning to face the bird somewhat.

?Bah! Anything is better than being at the mercy of? ?of that scum! Damned humans, when will they learn that just can?t do whatever they want?!? growled Mystia still trying hard to free herself. ?GRAAAH, LET ME OUTTA HERE!!!?

Alice winced as the panicked Mystia let out another harsh scream as she wrestled furiously with her chains even more. Afterward, Mystia finally stopped, out of breath, sweating and panting.

?Ahh, not taking well to our restraints eh?? began a familiar voice outside the cell, the voice of Tewi. ?Sorry, but it was necessary. You two were real stubborn afterall.?

As she talked, Tewi walked to the front of the cell, looking in.

?By the way, these aren?t ordinary restraints. They were designed specifically for youkai. I do not think you will be getting out of those anytime soon.? said Tewi with a wink.

Mystia glared at her with resentment in her eyes.

?Release us this instant!? demanded Mystia.

?I really can?t. You?re important to what we wish to accomplish. Besides, mistress would be quite angry!? said Tewi with a playful smile.

?Wait, you?re Tewi Inaba! Leader of the Earth rabbits!? said Alice, turning to face the small rabbit girl.

?Thaaaaaaat is me of course!? replied Tewi, pointing at herself with her thumb. ?You?re the doll maker of the forest that tricked my troops earlier aren?t you? Ya know, if you had just left them alone, you wouldn?t have had to have gotten involved with any this.?

?Just what do you want with her?? asked Alice, a little angry now.

?Not telling! You?ll just have to wait until tonight. You?ll see!? winked Tewi.

Alice just sighed.

?By then, we?ll have the insect girl as well.?

Mystia opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She just glared at Tewi with a frusturated expression, gritting her teeth rather hard.

?Now then, as long as you stay quiet and cooperate, then you will not need to fear any harm. This is a promise from the princess herself.? said Tewi, holding up a finger.

?Somehow, I?m having trouble believing that. Especially since those words come from a well known pathological lair.? said Alice with contempt, struggling in her ropes a bit more.

?As said before, your involment in this was your own choice, and now you?re suffering the consequences.  I can assure you that this is indeed the truth.? said Tewi happily again.

?A supposed promise from Kaguya herself, how convienant?? spoke Mystia more to herself.

?Well, I have told all that I was sent to tell. Whether or not you believe is strictly up to you.? finished Tewi with a nod.

?Well I don?t know if we can believe you.? stated Alice, looking at Tewi.

?The simplistic words of someone who is hiding fear.? sneered Tewi, looking deeper into the cell.

?Who?s afraid?!? jabbed back Alice, raising her voice a little before calming down, and looking away from the rabbit girl. ?I?m merely skeptical of you is all.?

?Whatever. I wonder if the birdie is scared too???

Mystia looked back up at Tewi with pure hatred in her eyes, though not attempting to get herself free again.

?Well that?s okay, I can?t blame you. You are the one we were really after of course.? shrugged Tewi.

As she spoke, a fellow rabbit came up to her and whispered something into right ear.

?Ah, I?m out of time. I have things to take care of so you two make sure to behave yourselves.?

?You?re one to talk?? growled Mystia.

Alice didn?t say anything, keeping her head turned away from Tewi, and closing her eyes.

?Now then, I?m leaving now. Try to enjoy your stay here?? said Tewi with a wave. ?Ciao!?

With that, Tewi finally left. Mystia continued staring at Tewi as she left. Oh, if only if she were free of these blasted bonds?! Eientei had to pay for all of this!

?You?ll pay?? growled the night bird. ?You?ll pay for sure! I?ll get out of here! I? I must get out of here! I must? ?get out??

Wriggle? Did she make it out okay? Where was she?? These were thoughts that began to occupy the thoroughly frightened Mystia, in addition to her endless thoughts of escape from her captivity and revenge against those who took her freedom away. She began shaking, slowly lowering her head.

?Wriggle??

Alice turned to face the breaking down Mystia, looking at her, but not saying anything. The night bird?s eyes began tearing up as she let herself slump down into a half crouch.

?Wriggle? Wriggle? ?I? ?I?m scared?! Help me?!?

And in that moment, she remembered a promise made to her?

?Mystia, I promise that I?ll come back for you! I swear I will!?

Finally, she let her head down all the way.

Wriggle? Please, stay safe.

Alice allowed herself a bittersweet smile as she looked at the desperate Mystia.

?Hm?? she began outloud. I guess I am afraid after all? We both are. But?

The girl looked up at the ceiling.

We still have friends out there? Marisa? Wriggle?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:26:14 AM
***

This was sometime before, but not too long ago?

Golden eyes and silver hair. An elaborate robe-like outfit with black, white, blue and gold colors. A large change box worn around his body. This man was Rinnosuke Morichika. He had accompanied two fine girls to his simple, wooden home, comprised of a simple golden cuukoo clock, a fire place, several small bookshelves, a red rug with white trend, and two large red leather chairs. One of these girls was an immortal, one accosted and drawn out by a powerful rival who was also immortal. The other was her friend, her only real friend in this harsh world that refused to understand her. That girl was also Rinnosuke?s wife, and the half-youkai teacher at the nearby village of humans. Keine Morichika.

The three gathered briefly in this home to figure out what should be done about their mutual, persistant enemy?

??so that is what you must do.? finished Rinnosuke as he held his cup of tea in his right hand, sitting on one of the chairs.

?I figured. She would at least have something. We?ll find all that we can so we can know just what Kaguya wishes to do.? responed Keine, standing with her back turned to Rinnosuke.

?You?ve hardly had anytime to recover? Will you be okay??

?You needn?t worry. Mokou and I will be fine.?

Mokou was also in the room, standing away from the two against the wall, holding her elbows in her hands. She looked over to Keine.

?You say this girl is a great historian despite being so young?? began Mokou.

?When we see her, you?ll have no doubts. She simply must know something, even if it?s just a small fragment, that child of Miare?? responded Keine.

?A great historian huh? Hmm??

?Well, I?m in no position to stop the two of you?? said Rinnosuke. ?Good luck??

He then took another sip of tea?


***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:27:41 AM
And now, we return to the tale at hand?

It was not long before Mokou and Keine had landed in front of the cloud-darkened stone stairs of a large, Japanese style castle surrounded by the ominous looking forest. A heavy wind blew as they arrived, waving the branches of the many trees to create a haunting sound of wind. The two walked up the stairs and toward the front entrance. Mokou looked around as they approached, seeing a small bridge going over a tiny pond by the castle to her left, and a small garden to the right, complete with a small pond surrounded by rocks, in addition to having a bamboo tube of water that made a distinctive thunk sound when filled with enough. One just had to wonder just how beautiful this place looked on a sunnier day?

The two were greeted by a young looking female servant who politely bowed for them before sliding the front door open for them.

?Welcome back, Morichika-san. I assume you have come to see the mistress??

?Yes. An urgent matter has come into bearing, and we require her assistance.? replied Keine.

?I see. I?ll inform her of your arrival immediately. Please, do come in!? said the servant as she slid the wood and paper door open.

Mokou and Keine were led into an all wood room with a ridiculously large yellow rug, many pictures of previous members of the houses? family, and even a large kotatsu. It was a fairly wide open space as well.

Mokou continued slowly observing the interior in silent amazment as she and Keine left their footwear by the door, walking through the incredible estate in their socks.

Man? This place is nothing short of being a total castle! The outside of this place is huge enough, but the inside? Just look at that kotatsu? No way that was cheap? She even has servants too. This little chick must be loaded to have all this? I wonder what I should expect?

Mokou then spotted a smaller table used for writing. On it was an ink brush, and several scrolls, at least two of which were being worked on. Several large books were well stacked by the table.

?Please wait here. Akyu-sama will be around shortly.? said the female servant, bowing before leaving.

?So this is it, hm?? said Mokou more to herself, putting her hands in her pockets.

?The Hieda clan is well respected since they?re the ones responsible for the Gensokyo Chronicle. They have a lot of resources, land and power available to them as a result.? explains Keine.

?Is that so? So what is the Gensokyo Chronicle?? asked Mokou.

?It?s a near-complete record of Gensokyo?s history. It has words on its inhabitants, species, and signifigant historical events. It?s been written and revised by the Hieda clan for nearly all of Gensokyo?s short history.? explained Keine.

?On? ?all of Gensokyo?? That would be plenty to cover?? said Mokou with a slight smile that quickly faded, and was replaced with a somewhat suspicious look. ?Hey? Keine, you said that it covered all of Gensokyo? So, should I assume that she has something on me as well???

?Well, after the moon incident four years ago, you basically became known Mokou, especially after how you fought the well known ghosts from Hakugyokoru. Plus you have had further exposure thanks to the Bunbunmaru Newspaper. It was not long until she had quite a bit of information on you.? chuckled Keine with a small smile.

?Well, that?s not surprising?? replied Mokou with a displeased look.

?And even if you wanted her to forget you she couldn?t. She remembers everything she sees, and her memories date back to over one-thousand years.?

?Huh?!? said Mokou, turning her head to look at Keine.

?Her knowledge is already well beyond her years. She retains the knowledge of all her ancestors.?

?Hm? A momento on all of Gensokyo?? said Mokou introspectively.

?A perfect momento in strict sense.? replied Keine.

?To write something of that nature? She must be quite the remarkable girl then??

?She isn?t anything short of a prodigy really. Her mind is even more in tune with history than perhaps even my own.?

?Wow? You don?t say?? said a quietly impressed Mokou, looking down at the ground.

Not long after Keine?s explaination, a cute, somewhat short girl walked in. She appeared quite young. Since she was human, she probably couldn?t be any older than fourteen. Her hair and eyes were both purple, with a light pink flower ornament in her hair. She was clad in a junihitoe, a very complex kimono meant for special ladies. The garment had flower patterned sleeves, a green vest, and a pleated burgundy skirt. She walked in with pink socks on, as well as carrying a rather large book.

She smiled at Keine and Mokou sweetly, holding the book in her right arm as she greeted her two guests with a polite bow.

?Good afternoon Morichika-san, welcome back. Ah, I can see you brought a friend today?? said the girl. ?I am Hieda no Akyu, head of this household, the ninth child of Miare, and the one responsible for the lateset Gensokyo Chronicle.?

Mokou hesitated a slight bit, honestly not expecting such a sweet (and young looking) girl.

?Ah? Pleased to meet you. I am Fujiwara no Mokou.? greeted the immortal girl with a bow of her own, Keine bowing with her.

?Ah, the hermit of the bamboo forest? Tis a pleasure. I honestly never thought I?d get to meet you in person!? said Akyu with a delighted expression.

?Eh? Well, I might hang around a bit at times?? said Mokou, blushing as her eyes looked diagnolly downward to the right at the ground. Damn, so she really DOES know about me!

?You?ve brought quite the interesting guest Morichika-san.? said Akyu happily.

?Mokou is a very interesting person to know. She is a bit of a shy one however.? replied Keine with a happy smile of her own.

Shut up Keine, you?re beginning to embaress me again!

Mokou?s eyes shifted to the left with ire at Keine, complete with a twitching left eyebrow.

?I see. So what may I help you two with this day?? asked Akyu.

Mokou?s face suddenly hardened into a much more serious expression. Keine?s smile died down a bit, but continued to be present.

?There is a bit of knowledge that has managed to elude me? A person who wishes harm to Mokou is seeking her, and two specific youkai for reasons yet unknown.? explains the teacher.

Keine and Akyu?s smiles both finally desipated.

?I haven?t any idea as to why, but this enemy of Mokou?s is seeking those two specific youkai. I?m referring to the one who controls all the insects, along with the singing bird who runs a nighttime stand.? explains Keine.

Akyu tilts her head briefly before straightening it, and putting her hand on her chin, her eyes looking downward left at the ground. It was obvious that she was searching through her vast memory for anything familiar?

?So familiar? I can vaguely??

Suddenly she perked up, apparently remembering something.

??can?t be??

Keine looked closer at Akyu.

?Akyu-sama?? asked the were-Hakutaku.

?Please wait here Morichika-san! I might just have something pertaining to what you seek! You may have a seat at the writing table if you wish.? said Akyu, running off into another part of the estate.

Mokou and Keine could vaguely hear Akyu asking a servant to make them all tea after she ran off deeper into the house.

A few minutes later, Mokou and Keine were in front of the writing table, kneeling down on pink floor cushions. Akyu sat in front of them, and all three had cups of hot tea in front of them. On the table was a rather large scroll- an elaborately decorated one with gold and wood handles, along with reddish paper. It was a European style scroll at that.

?Now then?? began Akyu. ?This maybe what you?re looking for.?

Akyu began slowly opening the scroll. But before opening it completely, she looked back up at Mokou and Keine with a serious expression.

?Mmm? I should warn you that much of the information in this scroll has either been altered, or has gone missing. It may, or may not be truthful, however this is our best option.? warned the historian.

?That is alright. I just need to know something. Anything at all is fine.? replied Mokou.

With that, Akyu momentarily glanced at Keine before finally opening the scroll completely, and beginning to read?

?This story takes place around seventy-five years ago, a relatively short time after Gensokyo?s birth. During that time there existed a very small village at the foot of a dark mountain near the edge of Gensokyo known only as ?Koro?. It was a village said to deal with things like the black arts, occult practices, and other forbidden things. It was also said to be a cursed village surrounded by death, with a veil of darkness covering it on even the sunniest of days. Does such a village sound familiar to either of you???

?Well?? began Keine, cupping her chin. ?I?ve heard rumors, but I never went to find such a place myself??

Mokou just shrugged, never hearing of such a place.

?I see? I shall continue. One dark day, long after the village?s founding, the village found itself under attack from an army of strange and grotesque youkai. The reason for the attack is long since lost, not recorded anywhere in this scroll. Many of the villages volunteered their power, and fought back with powerful magics, many of which are forbidden, and shouldn?t ever be used. But even so, their numbers were too few, and they found themselves overwhelmed and pushed back.?

Akyu took a sip of tea.

?It fell to the elite shaman of the village to defend its existance. Nine elderly men, later called ?the Nine elders of darkness? came together, and battled the strange youkai for many days. Afterward, they learned of the existence of the youkai group?s leader. The nine fought the leader, who was able to fight them off with great powers and skills. It says here that ?it moved through the shadows themselves?.?

?Huh?? What in the world does that mean?? asks Mokou.

?For that? ?we can only speculate.? said Akyu regrettably.

It was then Akyu noticed a troubled look on Keine?s face.

?How strange? This is quite the piece of history to elude me.? said the were-Hakutaku.

Mokou was growing all the more suspicious by the moment, her darkening expression reflecting this.

?They fought time and again until only three of the elders, and the leader youkai were left standing. According to the scroll, the elders had weakened and grew desperate. The final three came together, combining their power to??

Akyu briefly stopped herself, startled at what she was about to read. Keine and Mokou looked closer.

?This simply says that? ?they released ?an all powerful entity.? A beast that wielded ?an absolute power.? The creature did away with the leader youkai? ?for all of time??

Akyu then stopped again. Although this couldn?t be the first time she heard this tale, it still was quite the startling read for her. Afterall, things that were inconceivable in the outside world were common place in Gensokyo? ?for better or worse. Twas something it?s inhabitants knew all too well. Mokou, Keine, and Akyu had no choice but to heed these words with great caution.

?When it refers to an ?all powerful entity? could be in reference to a god? Or maybe a very high level youkai??? asked Mokou.

?It is unclear. The ones who wrote this scroll clearly wished to hide the being?s true nature. For all we know it?s something other than a god, or perhaps a youkai no one in this era has seen before.? answered Akyu.

?Well, we do know that the leader of the hostile youkai was ?done away with for all time.? Does it say what sort of powers it had?? asks Keine.

?Only that it had ?a power no one from this plain of existence should be allowed to wield?. It may have simply been much stronger than the leader youkai.? explains Akyu.

The young historian girl then smiled a bit as she looked at Mokou.

?Eh, you don?t believe that at all, do you?? she asked.

?Heh?? smirked Mokou with closed eyes. ?It actually doesn?t matter too much to me. I don?t care if my enemy is trying to awaken some monster or whatever powers said monster has or whatever. I?ll just smash it like all the other pathetic beasts she?s sent to attack me.?

?Hold on Mokou. This still doesn?t explain why she would be after those two youkai.? points out Keine.

?Ehh? Well there is one more part to this writing?? spoke Akyu, stretching her right arm upward.

Mokou fell silent.

?Please? Do read.? said Keine.

?Well? After the battle? ?the creature went out of control. It destroyed the village of Koro, and two more of the great elders. The last one was able to seal it. And he left a message?? explained Akyu.

?A message?? asks Mokou.

?He left a curse on the creature to strengthen its seal. A seal said to be made from the blood of the very youkai the creature, and only the creature killed. Apparently it?s possible to undo the seal? ?but the only clue is this??

When the stone is set, and the moon is high?
People shall rest, none shall die.

When the mind is set, and the heart is bold?
Many forbidden tails be told.

Many may unlock the secret, many may not?
But only one shall awaken the sleeper, like boiling water in a pot!

When the song is sung, and the fireflies dance?
The one who seals shall break many a romance.

And the one who unseals the sealer shall put one she sees forever in a cold trance.
That then shall be the very last dance.

Is the music ready? Are the dancers in place?
Sing and shout! Feel a peaceful feeling with grace!

Mokou and Keine just sat silently, dumbfounded at the message.

?What in the world is THAT supposed to mean?!? asks Mokou to no one in particular with a grumpy expression.

Akyu merely chuckled a bit with an awkward smile?

?Eeehhhh, well I would chance a guess that the two youkai that are needed will be used to break the seal in a ritual of somesort.? said Keine, scratching the side of her head.

?Well perhaps? I apologize for my incomplete knowledge, but this event in Gensokyo?s history has been so obscured and twisted, even my ancestors had trouble recording it properly.? said Akyu, scratching the back of her head.

?Well, assuming at least part of this is true, I don?t think we?re actually missing too much. Call it woman?s intuition.? said Mokou.

?Hm? Mokou, perhaps you should try to find those two?? There is a chance we can stop her before??

Keine was interrupted.

?No.? said Mokou ?Hunting for those two will take too much time. I?m thinking I should find out where my enemy is and face her before she can release the hold on that monster or whatever.?

Keine merely sighed.

?Well maybe, but??

?I think it all falls what happens between you, the ones she is after, and yourself when it comes right down to it Mokou-san. In the end, the choice will be yours.? said Akyu.

?You?re right? I might wanna slowdown and think about this for a minute, lest Keine gives me a good smack on the head again?? replied Mokou with a slight smirk.

Keine chuckled, but refrained from saying anything embarrasing.

?Well, I?d better get moving.? said Mokou, standing up.

Keine and Akyu also got up, and walked to the door.

?Thank you so much for helping us.? said Mokou and Keine at the same time to Akyu with a bow.

?It was my pleasure. You?re free to visit at anytime you wish, so please come back sometime Mokou-san. The Hieda always welcome the curious.? said Akyu happily.

?Ah? I?ll try to remember that. See you later.? said Mokou as she turned around and flew out the open door.

?Goodbye for now Akyu-san. Thank you again!? waved Keine as she followed Mokou.

Mokou stepped onto the porch, and waved at the two departing women.

?Goodbye and good luck! Take good care of yourselves you two!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:29:04 AM
***

Up ahead, Wriggle could see light? A clearing in the forest! He she reached the path she had desired? The Hakurei Shrine surely was close! She allowed herself an open mouth smile, knowing that she had just about escaped?

***

Over the large and distinct red structure that signified the entrance to a holy shrine, at the top of a massive flight of stone steps, a young woman in a maid outfit diligently swept away debris with a bamboo broomstick, clearing away the excessive debris that littered the ground. The outfit was pink in color, complete with a white apron, and matching bonnet. The girl had on a large yellow ribbon below her neck with a green gem at the center. She wore pearl white stockings on her legs as well. Her skin was a rather odd complexion, and her green eyes were unusually shiny. Furthermore, she made low sounding clicking and electronic noises whenever she moved? She had her green hair in a somewhat thick, waist-long ponytail.

She looked up into the sky. The ominous purple clouds remained in the sky, continuing to to reveal the occasional flicker of lightining. However, looking into the distance, she could see the clouds becoming orange in color as the sky unexpectedly cleared in the distance, revealing a golden sky, and a bright, setting sun.

The maid woman stopped her work, smiling as she observed the beautiful contrast of colors, the celestial conflict of light and darkness? She was glad she was able to observe such a beautiful sight before the storm began energizing itself again. But what an odd storm?

Just then, the maid was startled by the sound of a sudden explosion to her right! She immediately turned her head in the direction of the exact point of the explosion, seeing a rising, grey plume of smoke rising in the distance. Startled she threw down her broomstick, and began focusing on where the explosion had happened? Oddly her enough, her vision actually zoomed in on where the noise was, as if someone were carrying her eyes forward?

She saw four figures in the distance heading straight the path that lead to the shrine? And danmaku was being exchanged between them?

?A battle this close to the shrine?!? thought the worried made out loud. ?All four were youkai signatures as well? I?d best do something about this before things get out of hand, lest the mistress come home to a devastated shrine!?

With that, she began flying toward the four offenders?

***

Wriggle glanced back? Two behind her? One had gotten ahead?? That meant these three Inabas had the insect girl surrounded. This was not looking too good?

?You?re not getting away this time misquito!? taunted one of the rabbit girls.

She, and her partner, flying lower than her to her left, let out several magical blasts of energy at the nightbug.

?Nyah!? yelped Wriggle.

The insect girl used spiraling maneuvers as she evaded the destructive blasts. The rabbit girls began firing smaller blasts in a machine gun fashion, forcing Wriggle to dodge frantically. With bullets grazing her body, Wriggle gritted her teeth as she nose dived toward the ground to get out of the way. But seemingly out of nowhere, the missing Inaba popped in, leveling a magic blast at the insect girl?s head! Gasping, Wriggle suddenly stopped and fell backward, barely avoiding the attack!

She immediately came back up, hat and dolls in her left arm as she slammed her right fist right into the rabbits girl?s cheek, sending her moaning in pain into the ground with a grotesque thud. Wriggle then made her way through a small barrage of diamond shaped blasts from the other two rabbits, both of whom were now closer together. Wriggle retaliated with a rather large, green blast of her own from her outstretched, open palm right hand. The blast slammed into one of the rabbit girls, sending her plummeting.

The remaining girl, now looking angry charged at Wriggle with a squeal. The nightbug got around her before flying directly above, and bringing her right foot crashing down onto the rabbit girl?s head. Wriggle immediately began speeding toward the shrine again, only to be stopped by one of the very rabbit girls she had just knocked down a few moments ago.

She looked at the Inaba with anxiousness and desperation on her face.

?You say I?m crazy for wanting to escape?? she began in a rough voice, sweat pouring down her face.

????

?I say, I will indeed escape! I will stop your princess, and whatever plan she has involving Mystia and I. You will not be allowed to impair me any further? I?ll rescue my friends no matter what, so??

?Hey, shut up already and surrender!? chided the Inaba as she flew toward Wriggle.

But all the rabbit was able to accomplish was to have the front of Wriggle?s left foot smash dead into her cheek!

??get out of my way!?

Not staying to watch the rabbit girl crash and slide head first across the ground, Wriggle immediately began flying forward once again? Finally, she had reached the stone path leading to the shrine! She landed on the path and turned left to begin running toward the shrine steps? However she found a maid in front of her, one with a stern face?

?Halt! Proceed no further, youkai!? ordered the strange maid.

?Huh??! Please, you have to let me through! I must see the shrinemaiden as soon as possible!? said Wriggle desperately, voice slightly hoarse from being out of breath.

?The maiden of this shrine is away. However, I would not allow a youkai to just? Huh??

That?s when the maid woman noticed the familiar items the insect girl had on her?

?Wait? Those are??

Neither Wriggle, nor the maid girl had anytime left to converse? Two of the three Inabas went on the attack once more!

?We?ll use those!? shouted one to the other, who nodded.

The two pulled out strangle purple orbs with stars on them, and began charging them with energy, causing them to glow? While holding the strange objects in their right hands, the two fired diamond shaped blasts at Wriggle with their left fingers! The insect girl maneuvered carefully passed the blasts as she ran closer to the maid, rolling on the ground to avoid more machinegun-like fire. As she recovered, she switched the hat and dolls to her right arm, throwing out her left arm to shoot back at the persistant Inabas, but missing.

Clicking her teeth, Wriggle turned around and tried to run again, but one of the bunny girls fired out her energized orb! The object had the appearance of any of the other magical projectiles thrown out during this battle as it slammed dead into Wriggles back, causing her to stumble whilst hollering in pain. Digging deep to keep her footing, Wriggle turned around to fire back at her enemy, only to have the second orb from the second Inaba slam into her torso. She shrieked once more at the burning pain as she staggered backwards before falling forward onto one knee.

Something was different about those attacks? Almost immediately, Wriggle felt her eyes getting heavy, her vision blurring? What in the world was this? Her body felt tired and loose? It was getting harder to stay awake by the second?

?Hey? What is? ?happening here?? Suddenly, I? ?feel??

?We got her!? exclaimed on of the Inabas, raising her fist into the air before moving forward to take Wriggle.

?Oh, I see? Magic with a tranquelizer effect?? said the maid woman. ?But this would mean they intend to capture her alive, rather than exterminate her??

Wriggle staggered up into a weak standing position, still holding onto the possessions of Marisa and Alice. The approaching bunny girls halted their advance, taking to the sky. They didn?t want to take any chances incase Wriggle could still fight somehow. But just then, the maid woman jumped into the air, and landed in front of Wriggle, much to the dazed insect youkai?s surprise!

?Wha??? muttered the closer of the two rabbit girls.

The maid stretched out her right arm, pointing her fingers and thumb at the Inaba? And strangely enough, the tips of her fingers opened like clam shells, firing out green spikes of energy! The two rabbit girls were taken by complete surprise, the spikes hitting the closer of the two! The rabbit girl was taken aback? The five sword-like spikes had clearly hit her, yet they didn?t cause her any pain? In fact, they didn?t even so much as tear into her clothes? But then?

Wriggle and the second bunny girl were both surprised by the large green explosion that ingulfed the maid woman?s victim, annihilating the Inaba, and giving her a fast track right out of existence! The second Inaba had a clear look of shock on her face, inching backward a bit before turning around to retreat. The maid woman was about to fire again, but stopped, startled to see numerous card-like objects ?white in color with Japanese letters in red- fly out from the right and attach to the surprised youkai rabbit. She only had for a brief yalp before the cards glowed and exploded while on her in a brilliant display of white, snow-like energy!

That attack? That can only be? thought the dazed Wriggle, still stuggling to remain standing.

The insect girl looked up into the sky? In her blurred vision, she could make out a graceful figure speeding its way through the sky, moving as if it were dancing? A dichromatic red and white figure that looked humanoid upon stopping? The two colored being wielded a stick of somesort that had paper hanging off the tip? A gohei?

?Ouju-sama?? muttered the maid.

(Ouju-sama: A Japanese phrase that can mean Mi?lady or Mistress)

The third and final rabbit girl flew up to the humanoid figure?

?What is happening here?? You?re the one who exterminated the other two aren?t you??? asked the rabbit girl, a hint of hatred on her face.

The Inaba quickly leveled her hands at the dichromatic figure, aiming a magical blast? But before she could fire, the dichromatic figure began moving again, taking an appearance similar to a butterfly? Before Wriggle, the maid, of even the rabbit girl herself knew it, the ?fight? was finished. The rabbit girl?s corpse fell to the ground with a thud, her head bopping a slight bit on her snapped neck. Her open eyes were dulled out, and blood trickled out of the fallen youkai?s mouth.

With that, the figure finally took on a more humanoid shape once more, landing next to the maid? Wriggle turned around to face her, ignoring the fact that her body was finally giving in to the spells it had been hit with moments before. But even now, she could see that the two colored figure before her had this whole time been a beautiful, young human girl?

?It is indeed you?? began Wriggle in a weak tone. ?Shrinemaiden-sama? Your friends? They are? They are in da? ...dange-*?

That was all Wriggle could get out before everything went black?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:30:16 AM
***

An explosion? Then another explosion? Marisa ran through the forest, slowing with each step as many Inabas pursued her. She had long since run out of energy to fight back? Finally, a blast hit just behind her sending her flying out for a bit before crashing right onto the ground. It was a miracle that she didn?t slam right into a tree? She slowly stood up?

?Damned witch! Tell us which way the firefly went, or else!?

Marisa strained a bit, but was able to respond in a voice the rabbits could here, even if her voice was raspy?

?In your dreams!? she said defiantly.

Deeper and darker into the forest Marisa went. Her movements were slow and haggard, her breathing heavy. She walked in a hunched fashion as if she were going to pass out from exhaustion at any moment. Even so, she allowed that familiar smile to decorate her sweat covered face.

?Darn? I guess I didn?t recover quite as much as I thought I did? Well, too late now. I wonder if I brought that firefly kid enough time to get to Reimu?s???

With that, Marisa finally collapsed to the ground. Her already worn out, and still partly stunned body had finally given up on her?

?Ha! Got you!? said an Inaba.

?Yeah, we caught her at last!? said another.

The dichromatic witch now felt weight on her back as she just barely kept her yellow eyes open? An Inaba was holding her down while holding her hands cross.

?Well? I guess that?s it?? muttered Marisa.

Several Inabas watched from a tree branch, looking down happily on their helpless prey? But mere seconds later, they looked over to their right as they saw a glowing, whitish blue light heading toward them?

?W-what is that?!? asked one.

The other Inabas didn?t immediately say anything? However, another one?s face lit up with shock moments later?

?It?s you!? she exclaimed.

***

Sometime passed?

T?was not long before Wriggle began stirring from her futon on the floor, covered in spare bed sheets. She slowly opened her eyes, felling groggy, letting her blurred vision clear.

?Nnnhh? Not again?? she mumbled to herself as she held her head in her right arm and looked around.

The place didn?t seem that remarkable, a simple wooden home without any remarkable features and few decorations. An average Japanese style household with minimal decoration was all it seemed.

But wait, just how did she get in here? Wriggle could vaguely recall running from some Inaba?s that spotted her, then a strange maid woman with unusual fingers, followed by a two-colored girl appearing?

?Ah, you?re awake.? sounded a familiar voice from behind.

?Wah!? yelped the startled Wriggle as she jumped and span around to find the maid from before walking up to her with a tea cup and a pot.

?I didn?t think be up again so quickly, even though my mistress used a special counter-magic for the spell you were hit with.  You were out for just under an hour. Oh? And forgive my surprise. It was unintentional.? said the girl apologetically.

Wriggle allowed herself an uneasy giggle before her face filled with the expression of remembering something important.

?I?m very grateful for saving me, but there is something I must know quickly. Tell me, would this happen to be the Hakurei Shrine I?ve heard so much about?? asked the nightbug.

?Why it is. You seemed to be in quite the hurry to get here.? responded the maid with a nod.

?I came seeking the maiden of this very shrine per instructions from??

Wriggle looked down with a look of regret.? By now, the maid was kneeling by Wriggle?s side, looking at her with curiousity with a tilted head while pouring her some tea.

?Marisa?? said Wriggle solemnly.

?That?d be me.? said a familiar voice to Wriggle?s left, coming from across the room.

Wriggle and the maid turned their heads to see a dirty Marisa with ragged hair and torn clothes sitting up in a futon while smiling rather widely at them. Wriggle stared for a few seconds before pointing her finger at the witch.

?GAAAAH! MARISA!? she exclaimed.

?That?s what they call me! I?ll have to ask that you don?t wear my name out, kay?? asked Marisa with a wink while waving her finger. ?Its good to see you made it out okay kid!?

It would seem the maid?s earlier surprise had prevented Wriggle from even noticing the witch.

?B-b-but how did you get out yourself? The Inabas were everywhere!? exclaimed Wriggle.

?Ask her.? said Marisa casually, pointing her finger at someone standing next to the maid.

Wriggle turned her head to the right to find a purple haired girl in a purple dress staring down at her while holding a book in her right arm.

?DAH!? yelped Wriggle as she jumped away.

?So this is the one Kaguya needs for her plan? It is as I thought.? said Patchouli with an indifferent sounding tone.

?Stop sneaking up upon me so quietly, geez!? muttered Wriggle to herself, putting a hand on her heart as she breathed hard.

?If you are wondering then yes, I am the one who rescued that black and white rat over there from the Inabas.? explained Patchy.

?A? ?rat??? asked Wriggle, understandably confused while scratching the side of her face.

Marisa scratched the back of her head with a guilty smile.

?Yes. This little thief often makes off with my precious books.?

?Hey hey hey, I?m just borrowing them. I said you can have them back after I die since you?ll live longer than me, even with your crappy health, ze.? said Marisa, friendily waving off Patchouli.

?You cur?? says Patchy.

Marisa just giggled mischeviously. Wriggle facepalmed as she sighed. Afterward, she began speaking again.

?Well in any case, I thank you very much for saving Marisa.? said Wriggle with a nod before reaching out her right hand. ?I am known as Wriggle Nightbug. May I ask you your name??

Patchouli hesitated for a moment, shook hands with Wriggle.

?My name is? ?Patchouli Knowledge. I am the keeper of Voile, the great library beneath the Scarlet Devil Mansion.?

Wriggle immediately recognized that mansion?s name?

?The Scarlet De-?

The insect youkai backed away from Patchouli as she put up her left arm, a look suspicion on her face.

?Just wait a moment?! We were attacked by warriors from that frightening place earlier! Why are??!?

?Do not worry.? interrupted Patchouli. ?Back then, I thought Marisa may have potentially been the enemy, but circumstances have changed quite a bit since then. Worry not, I am on the same side as you.?

?Yeah, she was merely trying to protect Gensokyo, but managed to screw up in spectacular fashion!? laughed Marisa.

?Quiet you?? said Patchy through gritted teeth, glaring at the witch while tightening her free fist.

Wriggle slowly put her arm down as she continued looking at Patchouli.

?Well? If you say so.? she said.

?Its alright.? assured Marisa.

?Hm? It seems we will all get along just fine.? spoke the maid woman.

Wriggle responed to this by giggling, while scratching the back of her head, while Marisa grinned widely and happily with her eyes closed. Patchouli stared at the strange maid rather indifferently. After a few moments, Wriggle opened her eyes once more, and looked up at the maid.

?Ehh? Well it seems we didn?t really get to find out your name in the silliness just now? So may I ask your name?? asked the nightbug.

The maid put a hand below her neck as she spoke.

?My name is Ruukoto. I am the servant of the maiden of this shrine.?

She then stood up and bowed to the insect youkai.

?I am pleased to meet you, Wriggle Nightbug.?
?I share that very sentiment myself.? replied Wriggle happily.

Wriggle attempted to stand up, intending to return the vow, but suddenly stiffened and fell back on her butt.

?Ahh?! My legs??

?Oh my, it seems the counter-magic hasn?t fully run its course quite yet.? says Ruukoto.

?Knowing those rabbits, they probably put a little bit of whatever was in that earlier paralysis spell used earlier on Alice and I. Just wait a few more minutes.? said Marisa.

Wriggle sighed in slight depression.

?It looks like I can?t return your bows at the moment.? she said apologetically.

?Think nothing of it.? said the maid in a friendly manner, waving her hand reassuringly.

?It is alright.? added Patchouli.

Patchouli viewed the maid with suspicion.

Odd? She isn?t youkai or human? In fact, she seems?

Marisa interrupted Patchouli?s thoughts.

?Hey Patchy, I?m curious about something?? she asked.

?Um? What do you want to know?? asks the purple clad one.

?You say you?re gonna help us fight Kaguya and rescue our friends right? Don?t you and Remilia usually send out, or accompany that maid out in this kind of situation? It?s a tad strange to see her missing like this, ze?? answers Marisa with one eye closed.

?Sakuya? She is? ??detained? at the moment. She is quite busy with what I?m having her do at the moment and can?t assist us right now.? fibs the librarian.

Marisa shrugs.

?Hmm? Whatever you say?? she said. Makes me wonder whats really going on?

?Too bad. I would gladly take in as many allies as I possibly could to help me defeat Kaguya and save Mystia and Alice.? said Wriggle.

?Hm. Understandable considering that your insects can?t really help you this time.? spoke Patchouli.

?Bleh, we could go already if Reimu would get her slow tail back here. Just where the hell is she anyway?? asks Marisa with a slightly peeved tone.

?Mistress Reimu went around checking the nearby areas for anymore abnormal youkai activity. She should be returning shortly.? said Ruukoto rather casually in a matter-of-fact tone.

?Actucally?? began Patchouli who sat down on her knees. ?I think a slight delay will actually do us all good. I?m tired from fighting the Inabas earlier.?

?Agh, I wish my body would recover quicker? But yes, we won?t do any good just rushing in. Especially in that forest Eientei is in.? sighed Wriggle.

Patchouli looked at the nightbug.

?It isn?t the forest we should worry about. Our conflict will not be resolved there.? began the librarian.

?What was that?? asks Wriggle, understandably confused.

?I?m unsure of exactly where to go next? Ironically, that is what led me to seeing the shrine maiden. With her unmatched intuition, I could find out where Kaguya was going to be, as if I had a clairvoyant psychic guiding me.?

?That sounds? ?incredible.? comments Wriggle.

?Reimu has that classic woman?s intuition thing going on.? adds Marisa. I just hope she didn?t lose it being a lazy ass?

?Which brings me to another issue? Wriggle Nightbug should stay here and let the rest of us fight.?

Wriggle nearly jumped out of her skin at that statement, moving toward Patchouli while holding up her right fist.

?What a ridiculous notion!? she said in a slightly louder tone. ?Surely you don?t truly believe that I will just sit here and do nothing at all while that terrible princess continues to hold my friends captive for reasons I don?t even know about?!?

?The reasons involve her being rid of her rival for eternity. For that, she needs both you, and your nightbird friend. According to Marisa, she has the bird already. The last thing we need to do is to put you right in Kaguya?s lap so that she can? ?release that thing?? argued Patchouli sternly.

?But even so?? began Wriggle wincing heavily for a few moments. ?I made a promise to them? And I made a spiritual promise to Kaguya? Yes, I vowed I?d fight her to my last if it meant I could rescue my friends! I know going there is dangerous, but it?s the only way!?

?You fool, it won?t matter if you fail. What if they?re able to catch you, and??

?Naaaaaaaaah, she?s right.? interrupted Marisa, shrugging with her eyes closed.

?What?! You cannot be?? said Patchouli, shocked.

?If she goes, the rabbits will hunter her down. If she stays here, the rabbits will hunt her down. When ya really think about it, then it suddenly stops mattering so much. I mean, look how close there where to the shrine not too long ago. Plus they?re pretty much swarming the forest of magic at this point. She?ll actually be safer with us because there is a chance we can protect her.? explains the witch.

?Yes.? agrees Wriggle.

Patchouli merely gritted her teeth, not saying anything, appearing to stifle a growl. After a few moments?

?You appear out voted Patchouli-sama.? commented Ruukoto with a smile.

?Alright, I know when I?m defeated? If you come, then stick closely to Marisa and I, and watch yourself closely. Remember, if you get captured, that?s the end.?

Wriggle sighed.

?I understand.? she stated.

?Sorry Patch, but when things just need to get done?? says Marisa with a smile.

Patchouli sighed?

***

Mystia and Alice awaited their fate quietly in their large cell, not saying a word, or even struggling in their bonds any further. They had long since drowned out the faint, idle chit-chat of happy, sometimes over confident Inabas from outside, along with the clanging sounds made from whatever work the Inabas were doing within this unusual structure. Instead, they focused on their own thoughts?

For Mystia, they were thoughts of freedom and revenge.

They can?t keep me here? I?ll get out of here some way? They will not silence me. I certainly will see to that? That, and? And I will sing again. I?ll sing a song of freedom to this world?

Alice in the meantime could only think of what horrible things would potentially happen to her and Mystia if they didn?t escape soon? Or rather, if they even could escape? The doll user did her best to suppress her fear? She certainly wasn?t about to show cowardice to Mystia, and most certainly not to those Inaba gaurds?

Both girls maintained hard looks on their faces, but hints of fear and nervousness eminated from them both.

Naturally, both of them looked on in suspicion when a strange looking rabbit girl walked up to the two guarding their cell?

?Yeeeeeeeeeeap!? she said with a salute.

How strange? Her eyes and smile were both exceedingly wide, even for an Earth rabbit? The other two didn?t say anything, just looking at her with a ?why are you so weird?? expression that eminated from the two of them.

?You two are both hereby relieved of duty. Why don?chya take a nap??

That apparently wasn?t much of a question as the rabbit girl? ?deflated? ?while spewing out an odd purple gas!

?H-h-hey?!?

The two guard Inabas put up their arms. That was about the only thing they could do before they woozily shook, moaning as they softly collapsed to the floor.

?W-what?? thought Mystia outloud with a blink.

Alice shared the nightbirds current thought. They both looked on dumbfounded, even as Alice inched backwards to avoid any risk of breathing in the gas. They were both then startled by the sound of cracking coming from the wall to their left? Both of them looked in uncertainty as a human-sized hole was busted into the wall at the ground, creating a new opening into the cell?

Out crawled a purple haired girl in a business suit and a skimpy skirt with distinctive rabbit ears? ?not at all like those of an Earth rabbit. Before either one of the prisoners could so much as make a peep, the bunny girl looked up at them, putting a finger vertically to her lips, gesturing at them to remain quiet.

?Don?t worry. I?ve come to free the two of you.? she spoke quietly, a serious expression in her crimson eyes?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 22, 2009, 01:32:25 AM
***

?Blast, where is that miko already? If she doesn?t show up soon, I?ll just have to-?

Patchouli was interrupted as someone in a red and white dress opened the door, and strolled into the room.

?Well speak of the devil?? chuckled Marisa. ?Hi Reimu!?

The dichromatic young girl was the same on from before? Her two colored dress was what rather vaguely appeared to be a shrine maiden?s outfit. The collar was white in color with triangular frills, and zig-zagging red lines near the edges, complete with a yellow ribbon below the neck. Above the shoulders sat pink ribbons. The girl had nothing covering her shoulders (you could see her armpits and part of her sarashi this way), but she had on white, slightly baggy sleeves with red tightening straps near the edges. The bottom of the dress was somewhat frilly at the bottom, mostly red with a portion at the front center cut into a triangle shape to reveal the inner white dress, with a red bow tied at the top of the triangle.

Her hair was long and fluffy, two large parts of it at the front with red and white holders. On the back of her head was a somewhat wide ponytail the length of her back, held in place by a rather large red and white ribbon. Her footwear consisted of typical Japanese ?wood ?n? rope? sandles with white socks. Her eyes were dark red, almost black or brown in color. She seemed to be in her mid to late teens.

?Oi, you?re awake Marisa. That?s good to see.? said the miko as she looked through the room.

?Welcome home, ouju-sama.? spoke Ruukoto, looking at her mistress with a smile.

?Well it seems everyone is here okay then.? spoke the shrinemaiden.

?Correct. Were you able to locate anymore hostile youkai ouju-sama??

?Not really? Apparently they didn?t really want to go too far. It doesn?t really seem like they know where she is.? said the miko with a shake of her head.

?Would it be safe for me to assume that you?re referring to me?? asks Wriggle, looking at Reimu.

?No one else right? Ruukoto, Marisa and Patchouli explained everything to me, so I know Eientei is after you already.? said Reimu before her eyes started drifting. ?But what is her intention exactly?? I don?t really have any good feelings about this at all??

Wriggle then perked up as she remembered what had happened nearly an hour ago?

?Ah, you saved me earlier. Thank you very much.? said the nightbug.

Reimu smiled.

?Hm? It was just fortunate that you had Marisa?s hat, and Alice?s dolls or else I would not have been convinced that you were trying to help her. I originally left to check on Marisa after I got a bad feeling about her, but turned back soon after. I saw you and Ruukoto fighting.?

?You would have surely exterminated me had I not been carrying the possessions of your friends, correct?? asked Wriggle.

The shrinemaiden put a hand to the back of her head.

?Well if would?ve looked very suspicious? But I trust Ruukoto?s words, so??

Reimu then took a more serious expression.

?But ever since I woke today, I?ve had an ever present bad feeling? Earth rabbits are marching around several areas near the Forest of Magic, and something isn?t quite right about the clouds outside...? spoke Reimu, cupping her chin in her right index finger and thumb, bending her left leg slightly.

?Have you gotten bad vibes from those clouds yourself?? asks Patchouli. ?I am hardly alone then? This is only further conformation for me.?

?Hey, just what the hells going on here anyway? You mean even the sky itself is going insane?? asked Marisa, getting a tad worked up.

Patchouli looked at Marisa.

?Haven?t you noticed the strange clouds outside??? asked the purple one.

?They just looked normal storm clouds to me.? shrugged Marisa.

?How dense?? sighed Patchouli with a pained expression.

?Hey!? protested Marisa, raising a fist.

?Okay, let?s not fight here. Wouldn?t that be bad?? asks Wriggle calmly with a nervous smile and closed eyes before opening them again. ?Patchouli-san, if you do not mind my asking? Just what are those clouds, and how are they connected to our enemy??

?I wouldn?t mind knowing that myself?? added Reimu.

Ruukoto remained silent, but was listening as well.

?I should first explain that Kaguya has a book?? began Patchouli.

?A book with strange poems and riddles?? spoke up Wriggle immediately in an excited tone.

?Why? ?yes.? answered Patchouli, presently surprised. ?It is a book with many things that are either life giving, or potentially deadly for Gensokyo.?

?It may very well be the same book??

?Hey, you didn?t tell me about any book!? complained Marisa, crossing her arms.

Wriggle briefly looked at Marisa apologetically before turning back to Patchouli.

?My apologies? In any case, the princess of Eientei told of me an odd riddle??

Wriggle repeated the poem from earlier to Patchouli, the same one recited by Kaguya the previous night. Patchouli had one a very troubled expression at its completion.

?It is as I thought? She learned the secrets of Koro??

?Secrets of Koro?? asked Wriggle.

?It?s nothing that you need to know? However, I believe I can make the solution to this very riddle all the more clear?? explained Patchouli.

Everyone listened silently as they looked at the now standing Patchouli.

?Nightbug? On the very next page after that poem, there exists a continuation of the tail that describes just what Kaguya is trying to do. She intends to break the ancient seal of Koro, unleashing a powerful force into Gensokyo. To do so, she requires both you and your nightbird friend.? explained Patchy, pointing to Wriggle at the last sentence.

?A powerful force??? repeated Reimu more to herself.

?An evil force capable of bringing Gensokyo to its knees.? said Patchouli.

?Aaaaand the only way to stop it is to royally kick their sorry asses and get Mystia, and that strange book back?? asked Marisa. ?Yes? Alright, let?s get to it then! We gotta hurry, ze!?

Marisa was about to leap out of her futon covers when Patchouli verbally stopped her.

?You can stop right there, black-white. In case you haven?t noticed, the nightbug and I aren?t exactly high on stamina at the moment, and neither are you.? pointed out Patchouli.

Marisa (with a slightly embarrassed smile) suddenly felt her still stiff body tense up. She could not recover from the earlier trap quite as fast as say? ?Alice or Mystia. She was human, not youkai afterall.

?Eh heh heh heh? Well, I guess I do need to take this just a bit more slowly and carefully, right?? chuckled the witch.

Wriggle instinctively facepalmed.

?How reckless??

?Hmm? In the meantime, shall I repair your clothes?? asked Ruukoto.

?Actually, that wouldn?t be too bad?? thought Wriggle outloud.

?Worry not about me. I can repair these garments with the use of one of my many spells.? informed Patchouli.

The garments of Marisa, Wriggle, and Patchouli were all slightly tattered due to recent battles, in addition to being quite dirty. Their bodies also require just a tad bit more rest before further combat against Eientei could begin. On top of these problems, another one was even now about to arrive?

*GRRROOOWWWLLLLL*

Everyone except Ruukoto looked down at their stomachs at the same time as that unmistakable echoing of food deprived bodies eminated from each of them. Wriggle and Marisa only had small breakfasts due to being in a hurry, while Patchouli and Reimu hadn?t really eaten at all.

?Oh my? No matter there level of determination, humans and youkai alike simply cannot function properly without the intake of sustanence.? chuckled Ruukoto.

Patchouli was the only other person in the room who knew just what in the world that word meant? And seemingly everyone in the room was more puzzled than ever before about what Ruukoto was.

?Ah, you?re right? No use attempting to fight enemies on an empty stomach.? remarked Reimu with a smile as she held her stomach.

Marisa put a hand on her head.

?Aye, alright we?ll eat. But let?s make it quick! I wanna get Alice and Mystia back from that Kaguya bastard as soon as possible!? said the witch excitedly, raising a fist into the air before taking a more nervous expression. ?Besides, if I take too long rescuing Alice, she isn?t going to be too happy at me??

?Okay, Ruukoto? You fix up everyone?s clothes while I go cook something in the kitchen.? said Reimu, walking off.

?It shall be done, ouju-sama.? replied the maid with a bow.

Wriggle smiled as she watched Reimu walking towards the kitchen before looking toward the door again, her smile fading.

?Mystia, Alice? Don?t worry. I?ll be there soon.?
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:51:54 AM
***

It wasn?t long (only some thirty minutes), Wriggle, Patchouli, and Ruukoto exited the shrine, walking toward the stone stairs, the former two preparing to depart the area in search of Kaguya.

?Last chance. Are you absolutely sure you wish to do this?? asks Patchouli to Wriggle.

?I would not be coming outside like this if I had no intention of leaving. I must settle things with Kaguya, and bring this conflict to an end.? replies the nightbug.

?So what will be your method of accomplishing this objective once we locate and confront her??

Wriggle hesitated, scratching her left cheek with a finger as she unconcioussly moved her eyes in every direction.

?Err? Well, the truth is I?m not entirely too sure what to do exactly??

?As I thought?? thought said Patchouli matter-of-factly. ?Is this to say that in this whole time, you did nothing to prepare yourself for such a difficult mission??

?Uhhh? Well??

Wriggle hesitated for a long time.

?No.? she said finally with her head down.

Patchouli raised a thumb and simply said:

?Good job.?

Wriggle nervously giggled as she scratched the back of her head.

?Uh, well? Its difficult to make complicated plans for situations like this, is it not?? she asked.

?Complicated ones maybe? But the most basic ones?? said Patchouli.

?A basic plan? I do not have even that, but then again who would??

?I myself would.? stated Patchy plainly again.

?Eh? Is this to say you have thinking carefully of what to do?? spoke Wriggle, mildly shocked.

?Correct. I would begin by using some of my more useful, non-combat spells to sneak around the enemy, and evaluate them. If I cannot stealthly reclaim the book and your friends, then it is then I should fight. But rushing in head on is never the thing to do. However, I expect those two to do just that?? sighed Patchy.

?You must mean Ouju-sama, and Marisa-san.? spoke Ruukoto.

?That is correct. They usually tend to think with their bullets rather than with their heads.? stated Patchouli.

?Eh? Well, perhaps strategy just isn?t something particularly useful to have when nearly everyone can fly and shoot danmaku.? shrugged Wriggle.

?I think a lack of complicated strategy or advance planning adds to their character. It suits them just fine.? said Ruukoto happily.

Patchouli responded by glaring at the two with a slightly open mouth that looked vaguely like an upside down triangle?

***

Reimu put her now empty tea cup to her right side. Marisa was still on her futon, now fully recovered. She was preparing to stand up and shout at Reimu that it was time to leave with gusto when Reimu yawned, leaning forward as she put her hands behind her head (grabbing her left hand with her right), and stretched out? ?a move that exposed her uncovered armpits.

Marisa ?with her arms still in the air- stopped and stared as her face began turning red?

Waaahh? Oh man, Reimu has the sexiest pits!

Marisa stared for several seconds while the miko in question finished stretching out her partly exposed limbs, revealing her apparently sexy armpits. After finishing her loosening, Reimu by chance glanced over to Marisa. The miko looked at the witch in a funny matter. Funny, since the witch was in turn, looking at the miko in a funny manner.

?Uhh? Marisa?? What are you staring at me like that for?? asked Reimu.

?Eeeeeeeehhh??

Marisa stared awkwardly for a few seconds before finally snapping out of it.

?Ehh, its nothing!? She said innocently, as she suddenly stood up.

Reimu just stared.

?You were looking at me in a funny manner Marisa??

?Really, I just spaced out for a spell! Now c?mon, lets go!?

?Uwaa~!?

Reimu was startled as Marisa suddenly fast-walked over, and forced Reimu up and out of the door.

?Hey hey, you don?t really have to so hastely rush me!? protested the Miko.

***

?Well then, is everyone ready?? asked Reimu to her three teammates.

The three nodded.

?Hm. Ruukoto, you are to mind the shrine while I?m away. I need you here in case anything bad happens. Tell Genji and Suika where I?ve gone upon their return. If we?re not back in a timely manner, have Suika come after us.? ordered Reimu.

?Understood Ouju-sama.? replied Ruukoto with a bow.

?Okay? Well, let?s get going.?

The four rose into the air, Reimu seeming to lead them in a specif direction.

?Wait, do you even know where to go??? asks Patchouli.

?I have the strangest feeling? I simply know that we must go this way.? replies the miko.

????

?This is that intuition you were seeking. Don?t worry, we?re headed for the right place ze.? said Marisa with a wink.

In the meantime, Wriggle couldn?t help but notice something odd going on in the distant sky? Everywhere else, everywhere the insect girl looked, all she found were the purple clouds of the strange and violent storm. But in the direction she and her group were heading, the clouds broke apart, allowing copious amounts of sunlight to pour through.

It was admittedly beautiful. The parting clouds became gold in color, and the revealed sky was a heavenly lime green? Wriggle thought her eyes were playing tricks on her when she saw faint sparkles in the distance.

?Heaven?? she muttered.

It was almost enough to make her forget the rest of the stormy sky? It seemed so benign? However that was the direction Kaguya was apparently in. That couldn?t possibly be Heaven. More likely, it was Hell in an elaborate disguise. Unable to look anywhere else but forward, Wriggle followed the other three girls in her group as they headed toward the sight of a destined battle?

***

Reisen stood in place as two rabbit girls ran up to her.

?Huh? Are you sure you saw something really strange down here?? asked one of them with suspicion.

?Strange? I swear to you that there is something strange over here?? replied the purple haired rabbit girl.

Just then, Alice and Mystia suddenly dropped in on the two rabbits from behind, knocking them out with swift blows to the neck as they landed! Mystia held up her cupped left hand with a look of contempt on her face as she spat on the unconcious Earth rabbit.

?Good work.? said Reisen after sighing a slight bit.

The two rabbits were hidden along with three others that were ridden unconscious not too long ago. The three escaping youkai hurried their departure from this mysterious place?

***

A rabbit soldier walked by the now empty prison cell that was supposed to be holding a very important bird youkai? She almost dropped her spear, as she looked inside with disbelief in her eyes. Open shackles and discarded ropes, and yet no signs of escape? Panicking, she yelled to the rest of the compound?

?Th-they?re gone! The birdie and the doll user are gone, usa!?

***

Reisen, Alice and Mystia ran through the perfectly carved tunnel as hurried away from the Inaba army, who by now was on to their escape.

?If we can just make past these series of tunnels, we can make it away from this sight quickly!? said Reisen, just as they came to one last junctioning part of the hall.

Just then Reisen suddenly stopped, Mystia and Alice nearly tumbling as they suddenly stopped behind her with shocked looks on their faces.

?This way, quickly!? called Reisen to her two comrades.

Reisen ran left into a curving hallway, as Alice and Mystia followed her. It would seem that she heard two more rabbit soldiers approaching from far away with her ears? Reisen stopped at another junction, a two way one. She almost immediately heard voices?

??check for weaknesses in the walls!?

?I?ll get the ghost locater telescope, usa!?

?We need to split up, usa!?

?We?ll need a few more minutes to secure the perimeter!?


?S**t!? cursed Reisen to herself. ?All we needed were just a few more minutes?!?

Reisen tightened her fists? Not only was the group trapped on both sides by rabbit teams, but now it would seem that the outside was already being secured. Reisen?s mistresses? ?along with Reisen herself? ?were good teachers afterall.

?W-well?? What do we do?? whispers Alice to Reisen nervously, fear beginning to show on her face.

Reisen puts a thumb to her gritted teeth as she evaluates her situation?

I must remain calm? I?ll focus, and get us out of here!

After putting her hand down, Reisen began concentrating hard? The pupils in her eyes momentarily vanished as she silently called upon her power over insanity?

?I?ll get us out of here, no matter what!?

***

?Alright, the three of us well search for them this way, while you two patrol the southern hall!? ordered a rabbit soldier.

?Roger that, usa!? replied the two she was talking to with a salute.

After that, the two groups parted ways. The two-rabbit group ran down the hallway, searching quickly, yet carefully for their targets. It wasn?t long until the two of them saw a black figure that looked a bit like Mystia stop near the end of the hallway, and run away from the rabbits, going into the left turn.

The rabbits were puzzled to find no nightbird? ?and a dead end! The two briefly stared at each other? Was that always there?? Didn?t the dig teams clear out this wall and make another tunnel??  Not having time to worry, the two turned around to find? ?a wall?! This could not be?!

?What exactly is going on, is that not the way we came in?!? said one Inaba, understandably confused.

?I? ?think so?? replied the other, not at all sure herself.

The other Inaba rather cautiously stepped up to the wall. With much hesitation, she slowly reached out to the wall? She briefly stopped her fingers out of hesitation before putting the tips of her fingers into the mysterious wall? To the surprise of both Earth rabbits, the fingers passed right through the wall!

Shocked, the bunny girl testing the wall briefly took her fingers away from it, looking at them. They seemed completely unharmed? She then boldly stuck her entire arm through, followed by her entire body! The other rabbit hesitated, standing still. But then, her partner?s head emerged through the wall, a smile on her face.

?Its okay, this wall is a fake!? said the rabbit in the wall.

The other rabbit hesitated again for a moment before running through, following her partner. The two ran back down the long hallway?

***

Meanwhile, the other rabbit team comprised of three Inabas continued running down a hallway of there own, though something was definitely up? None of the three remembered the hallway ever being this long? In fact it almost seemed endless! It was becoming less and less familiar as the three ran.

?Wait, where are we?? half-shouted one, stopping all of a sudden.

?I don?t really remember this hall being this long? Not at all.? commented another one.

?Something isn?t right? Well, let?s try going another way!? suggested the leader.

The other two nodded, and followed their leader down into a left hallway?

***

?There?? said Reisen, sweat drenching her face. ?That should keep all the gaurds of this corridor cluster distracted. We should have enough time now??

Mystia and Alice noticed the rabbit woman panting a bit.

?Maintaining an illusion like that is difficult for you isn?t it?? asked Alice.

?I should be okay. We should go now. It shouldn?t be long until they figure out what is truly going on, now that I?ve used my power?? explained Reisen.

The three began their run for freedom again.

?You held off on using your power so they wouldn?t find you as easy, and so we would have more time in the end? Makes sense?? said Mystia quietly.

It wasn?t long until the three had reached a certain wall? Reisen slid down in front of it, magically opening a hole.

?Hurry!? urged Reisen waving to her comrades into the tunnel.

Mystia practically dove in, followed by Alice.

?I don?t think we checked this part yet? Hey, get some more of us over here!? commanded an Earth rabbit voice.

Alarmed, Reisen hurridly crawled into the tunnel, stopping only long enough to seal the wall again?

***

Mystia could see it? A very real light at the end of this tunnel!

Freedom?! she whispered in her mind?

***

Reisen quickly crawled forward, moving toward the light on the other side? But wait, she hadn?t left it open in advance? Was it possible that her two allies had opened it without her?? With little choice, Reisen continued crawling forward, expecting to find both, her waiting friends and her freedom (despite her doubts)? Instead?

She was greeted by the gleam of an arrow head, mere meters away from her head as a bow and arrow were leveled at her cranium. Reisen?s heart sank as she looked up to find none other than her former mistress Eirin standing over her, looking down at the moon rabbit. A medical eyepatch concealed her (missing?) left eye, along with bandages on her face, and wrapped around her left forearm. And she appeared none too pleased.

Reisen dared not stand or even say a word. She could faintly see Mystia and Alice restrained by several rabbit gaurds? ?ones bearing the same mark as the ones that had previously captured Mystia and Alice.

?It would seem I still know you far too well?? said Eirin.

??mistress?? said Reisen weakly.

Was it not meant to be?! Even after such a carefully laid plan by Reisen, the escape was foiled! Mystia and Alice could only watch silently as Eirin continued leveling that arrow at her former student?s head? All the three could do now was await their fate?

?You have disappointed me? ?Reisen.?

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:52:52 AM
[Seventh Spell]

An oddly dark place (perhaps because of the clouds?)? It was a shadowy place where few now dared to venture. T?was the typical village of small wooden buildings surrounded by the light grasses and trees of nature, with this particular village even having a small cliff at its back. However, this village was long abandoned. For proof, one needn?t look any further than the dilapidated buildings that had been reclaimed by nature in the form of moss, and other natural growths. Tall grass, collapsed fences and many abundant flowers also hinted at the amount of time this village been abandoned.

But for all the plant life, animal life seemed? ?nonexistent. Not even the tiniest insect was to be found. Also, the trees ?in contrast to the rest of the plant life- seemed quite dead. Not a single leaf grew on any single tree in the village?s vicinity. Futhermore, it was eerily quite: not even a light wind blew here? Finally, at the front of the dark village stood a small wooden sign with a skull, and blood red Japanese writing on it?

But just what did it say?

Ye who dare come near this village? Tis best you turn back and leave very far away from here. Ye now stand at the very entrance to Koro: the village of evil. Ye brave enough to enter this dreaded place, ye do so at thine own peril?

However, two women had choosen to ignore this warning. They hadn?t much choice. Mokou and Keine boldly landed right near the village?s center, determined to learn more about Kaguya?s plans?

?This must be it? The mountain village of Koro, as told by Akyu.? Mentioned Keine.

The two looked around at the silent, darkened surroundings.

?Geez, the place is dark and dead looking as promised. Careful Keine, no telling what kind of s**t may have wandered in here in time?? replied Mokou. ?It?s pretty good how you were able to find this place by researching your scrolls pertaining to ?dark presences in the mountains?.?

?My ancestors, along with Gensokyo?s past historians did well to document the subtle clues that hinted at the conflict that went on here so long ago. We should stay together as we look for clu- Mokou???

Keine was startled to see Mokou suddenly stop looking around, becoming totally catatonic?

?. . .?

?M? Mokou??? asked Keine again.

Without saying anything, Mokou began marching toward the largest house in the village. Oddly enough, this house seemed much more intact than any of the other buildings? Exercising caution, Keine carefully followed Mokou inside, walking a short distance behind?

Before she knew it, she standing at the edge of a doorway inside the nearly pitch black room, while Mokou stood in the dead center? Suddenly, candles throughout the room suddenly lit up on their own, brightening the room with light! Keine looked around the now lit room? There must?ve been hundreds of these candles throughout it! Something was indeed off about this room? Just then, a giant magic circle suddenly lit up directly beneath Mokou, small indeties of spiritual power rising from the circle.

It was then that the silhouette of a person ?likely female- formed in front of Mokou, appearing to hold what looked like a large key? The bright, shadowy image disappeared as quickly as it came as the room filled with the sounds of whispering! Like a thousand voices speaking up all at once! It was here Keine began getting somewhat overwhelmed, feeling light headed and falling to her knees while clutching her head with her right hand.

?What? What is???

But a mere moment after she said this it was all over. The candles suddenly went out, and the circle of magic vanished from the floor. Keine slowly stood up, just as Mokou seemed to return to normal?

?Mokou???

The immortal girl turned around with a dumbfounded look on her face?

?K-Keine! I know were it is! The seal?!? she said eagerly as she ran up to her understandably confused Hakutaku companion.

?Are you saying you know where Kaguya is hiding?!? asked Keine, shocked yet trying to remain calm.

?Yeah, I do. Now I can settle this??

Upon returning outside?

?This is as far as you go Keine. Thank you for all your help, but now its time I took over and finished this!? said the immortal one with determination.

But? ?how? And what was that silhouette we were shown?? It looked like a person? thought Keine. ?Well Mokou? If you?re sure??

Mokou then took to the air, wearing a highly confident smile?

?Don?t worry. As soon as I?ve shown Kaguya whos boss, I?ll be back! Then maybe we can have a big party or something to celebrate! But until then, I want you to stay safe at Rinnosuke-san?s.?

??I understand. Please be safe Mokou!? called Keine with a worried look, watching her friend disappear.

?Oh yeah? And if you?re wondering about how I suddenly know what I know, just thank the phoenix!?

The phoenix?? thought Keine.

It wasn?t long until Mokou had flown out of sight entirely?

***

?but even so? Who was that person I was shown? Just whom does that odd silhouette belong to?? thought Mokou with a serious expression on her face.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:53:58 AM
The darkened sky continued to cover Gensokyo, the clouds ever thick and volatile in appearance. The Scarlet Devil Mansion was hardly an exception to the otherworldly weather, though it could be said that such dreary, light deprived conditions suited the mansion and its residents just fine. However, the grounds had been recently disturbed by a battle between two of the mansion's own residents. A very small number of fairy maids worked tirelessly to repair the small craters around the mansion, along with the wall that had been breached by an earlier attack.

These were the brave faries. All the other ones remained in hiding, fearing further battles outside, or that Eientei?s rabbit armies would come after them. With the mansion?s mistress sick in bed, the librarian missing, the librarian?s familiar injured, and the head maid nowhere to be found, the fairy maids had no leader. It was perhaps because of this that even the fairy maids that dared to venture outside refrained from peering onto the top of the roof (perhaps because of what they were afraid of finding??). The roof was visibly tattered from the earlier battle, riddled with holes from powerful danmaku blasts that had missed their targets, and many knives litered the grounds.

Only one youkai was brave enough to fly the great height up to the mansion?s roof to see what had happened. She, like Alice, was a humanoid youkai, having no distinct animalistic features, nor an abnormally small size (she was the size of an average human girl). Appearing in her late teens to early twenties, the girl sported long, scarlet red hair with two long braids (longer than Sakuya?s) tied on both sides of her head with black ribbons, along with aqua colored eyes. She was a slender and somewhat busty girl clad in a green Chinese dress with a white inner shirt, and a thin black ribbon tied around her neckline. On her head was a green beret with a gold star on the front sporting the Chinese language character long- a word meaning Dragon.

Wearing a nervous expression, she peeped her head just above the roofs edge, her aqua colored eyes checking for any trouble. Afterward she flew all the way up, landing on top of the roof, and looking around? Holes were everywhere, and several of the mansion?s once brilliant tower-like peaks were now mere rubble. The Chinese looking Youkai girl hovered just above the roof, not wanting to risk falling through any weakened areas as she surveyed the damage.

Of course, it was not long until she spotted Sakuya, the head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The result of her earlier battle with Patchouli was obvious: she was still bound (via strange organic growths generated by Patchouli?s magic) and unconscious. Shocked, the red headed youkai quickly flew over to the unresponsive maid, immediately pulling on the green, tentacle like matter holding her.

?What has happened to you?! S-Sakuya-san, wake up! Say something! Anything will do, just??

The Chinese girl frantically pulled with all her youkai strength, in addition to searching for any points where the growths were weak, doing anything she could to free her fellow servant all with an increasingly panicked expression.

?Sakuya-san!?

Slowly, the maid stirred, awakening to the rattling of her body, the repeated calling out of her name.

?Nnn? Nuuuhh??

?Sakuya-san! Are you alri- Okay, you?re not alright, but you?re still alive, that?s a start! Don?t worry I, Hong Meiling, gatekeeper of the fearsome Scarlet Devil shall have you free in a jif! Even in rain, sleet and snow, even if it takes a hundred years, I?ll-?

?Will you shut the hell up and help me get my knife?!? snapped Sakuya suddenly, causing Meiling to jump back in surprise.

?Uhhh??

Sakuya took a deep breath and calmed herself.

?Other than the bump on my head, the fact that I?m very dizzy, and have a splitting headache, I?m perfectly fine. Now hurry up and try to get a knife out of my garter or something.?

?Y? Yes ma?am!?

Sakuya struggled, but couldn?t reach any of her knives on her own.

It?s so tight!

Meiling on the other hand was completely free of such binds, and thusly was able to reach a knife without fail. Or rather with some fail as she tried unsuccessfully to stick her lithe arm through the growths that held Sakuya steady. Twas not long before she simply picked up one of the stray knives on the roof, and used it instead. She began cutting Sakuya free. As she did so, her earlier curiousity kicked in?

?Sakuya-san, just what is happening? I saw you and Patchouli fighting earlier, and the sky looks all weird??

?Tis a long story? Unfortunately, there isn?t time to go into detail. Just know that Gensokyo in its entirety is currently in great danger.? said Sakuya. ?Say, why didn?t you try to get me out earlier??

?Well, I was scared of what was happening, so I decided to lay low for awhile, even after it ended. That was by far a much more violent battle than your first duel with her?? explained Meiling.

Sakuya sighed inaudibly.

Even though that?s true? You're still a coward for not coming to see what happened immediately?

By now, Meiling had managed to saw her way past the larger growths, now going for the smaller, vine-like ones holding the maid?s limbs. Sakuya could gradually feel her limbs becoming easier to move as Meiling worked to free her.

?Once I?m free, I will be borrowing some of the headache medicine, as well as a spare set of clothes. I?m going to follow Patchouli?s path and put a stop to this.? said Sakuya. And settle my score with her. I know she?s still alive, and eager to fight me again?

?Well, I don?t quite know whats going on, but if all of Gensokyo is in grave danger as you said, then wouldn?t it be better for us to just work together??? asks Meiling.

?Maybe? Funny how it rarely works out that way?? mused Sakuya with a small smile.

?Then allow me to be your partner and stop your enemies along side you!? begged Meiling eagerly.

?No. Your place is here guarding the mistress with the fairy maids. Stay here.?

Sakuya stretched out as Meiling completely cut her free.

?But? Okay? I suppose you?re right, but why do this alone???

Some ten minutes later, Sakuya was clad in a short sleeved version of her previous costume, with the white parts replaced with light pink versions along with matching, tight gloves. With new clothes, her headache medicated, all her knives back with her, Sakuya stood at the mansion gate, ready to go.

?Meiling? You should know that either I, or Patchouli ?if not both of us- may not be returning alive.? said Sakuya calmly. ?Where we?re going is extremely dangerous.?

?W-what?! But if one of you?! W-w-what am I supposed to do if that happens?!? asked the shocked Meiling with a frightened look.

?Do as I told you before: protect the mistress. Do it with your life if you must.?

Sakuya said it in a way that hit Meiling far harder than it would have if Sakuya had yelled it. There was a certain darkness in her voice? Sakuya then shot right into the air as she headed for where she thought the final battle was to take place?

?S-Sakuya wait?! Oh man, now I?m on my own again? Why can?t anyone in this mansion just be sensible?? sighed the Chinese girl.

***

Back at Eientei, Reisen ?arms tied cross behind her back- prepared to face her former mistress while on her knees, held steady by two of the Earth rabbits. They were in one of the many of the castle?s rooms directly behind a small closet. Reisen was perfectly calm, eyes closed and breathing steady. However, she couldn?t help but wonder what would become of Mystia and Alice. The last time she saw them, they were tied up and being taken elsewhere while Eirin ordered Reisen transported back to the Eientei manor for punishment. Mystia would likely be taken to the sight of the great seal, but the moon rabbit hadn?t a clue on Alice?s fate?

With her escape plan foiled, Reisen could now only ponder what would become of her family as they walked deeper down this dark path. Just what was going to happen to Eientei, or to the rest of Gensokyo for that matter? And come to think of it, what was going to happen to her? Well? Considering all that Reisen had done ?namely, betraying the ones she swore to protect (in order to protect them, ironically enough)? ?she would likely be killed. Or at least that?s how things worked on the moon?

The sound of a sliding door? After what felt like hours, Eirin walked into the room. The nurse was soon standing in front of Reisen who looked up to see her colorful master. With her single uncovered eye, Eirin looked down into Reisen?s crimson optics, knowing Reisen was nowhere near stupid enough to try her power over insanity in this situation.

?You desire an explaination.? said Reisen.

?I did not even have to ask as expected.? replied Eirin. ?Though I suppose you?d want to know how the special unit and I were able to predict your moves so quickly??

?Perhaps??

?Twas not hard to figure out who the culprit was after thinking about the ?vanishing act? along with the fact there was no one other than you capable of pulling something like that off. As for your escape route, I was simply able to calculate the area you would most likely break out from based on the structures layout and security movements. Well, I am the brain of the moon afterall.? explained Eirin.

???

?You should know what I?m going to ask next, Reisen.? spoke Eirin calmly with an ever stoic expression.

?You mean to say ?why is it that you did what you did Reisen?? You have good reason, seeing as I betrayed you? But? ?I find myself questioning whether or not you would even believe me if I were to tell the truth about what I did.? explained Reisen.

?Hm??

?Yagokoro-sensei? I know you?re disappointed that I did not live up to the expectations you and Kaguya-hime had of me, and instead worked against you. I cannot begin to fathom whatever resentment you may have for me at this moment??

Reisen briefly looked down, then back up at her mistress with more of a pleading look, along with a more emotional tone.

?But please sensei, you have to understand that I did what I thought was best! I didn?t think anything good could come from tampering with such powerful forces as we were! I even? I even received a premonition, maybe even a message from someone or something? ?telling me that what we were doing would only spell disaster??

Eirin?s mouth wiggled just a slight bit, but no words came from her. Reisen?s tone began calming down.

?Sensei? I merely did as you taught me. You yourself always said to me: ?analyze your situation with a calm, understading mind, and do what you think is best.? I did just that. I only wanted to protect you.? Reisen then looked down, finishing her statement quietly. ?I wanted to protect all of you, to save you from this fate, even if it costed me my freedom, my life here at Eientei, or even my existance. I wanted to take hold of any chance that our family could stay together in peace here in Gensokyo.?

Eirin continued looking down on her ex-servant, her expression not really changing.

Anything would?ve been better than just running away again? Like I did back then on the moon? I lost one family? ?I didn?t want to lose another.

Eirin and Reisen were silent for the next few moments. The two rabbits holding Reisen briefly looked at each other, not knowing what to make of the situation. It was Eirin who broke the silence.

?Reisen-kun.?

The moon rabbit looked back up at her mistress.

?I understand what you did. You only did what you thought was right. Perhaps we are on a dark path. But I must consider the fact that we may yet be on the right one.? said Eirin with her eye closed and hands on her elbows.

?Even after all this??! Even after all the danger were putting ourselves through just for revenge on one individual, you would still considering following Kaguya-hime?s path?? asked Reisen calmly, a look of shock on her face.

Eirin sighed, a more sympathetic look appearing on her face.

?Alas, I am not like you Reisen. Though we both have betrayed the moon, my sins are far greater than yours none the less. Unlike I, you were never obligated to do what we both do, to serve our princess Kaguya. Abandoning your friends on the moon was only a minor crime compared to what I did to Kaguya-hime. As you know Reisen, when I evented the Hourai Elixir to make her immortal upon her order, I also cursed her to a life of solitude and hiding. Twas a life of pain and lonliness that she would live after being exiled from the moon? And the mere thought of continuing on peacefully with my life while she suffered alone for my mistake was not something I could ever forgive myself for. As you know, I too took of the Elixir, and joined Kaguya, helping her to live in the unending torment called eternity.? said Eirin somewhat somberly.

?Sensei??

?Ah, if only I had your freedom Reisen? I have come too far. After everything that has happened to us for these twelve-hundred years, I cannot abandon her now, no matter what may happen to me, or what her decree maybe. I realize I am a hypocrite for merely speaking these words but? ?please understand Reisen. I cannot turn back.? said Eirin, not looking at her former servant.

?SENSEI!? yelled Reisen looking dead into her teacher?s single visible eye.

Eirin flinched, honestly surprised by the moon rabbit?s outburst. The purple haired rabbit looked at her former teacher with a very serious expression on her face even as the two startled Earth rabbits tightened their grip on her as she writhed in their grasp.

?You know as well as I do that these thoughts of not being able to turn back are just lies. No one?s destiny is set in stone. You taught that to me yourself!? after that, Reisen began speaking in an angrier, more frustrated tone. ?Are you going to stand there and tell me that the same dosen?t apply to you? That isn?t something the Yagokoro-sensei I knew would do under any circumstance! No, the Yagokoro-sensei I knew wouldn?t have ever let something such as this happen!?

?Enough!? snapped Eirin with a sour look on her face. ?I already told you why I chose this path Reisen! I tried to understand you, yet you did not do the same with me! This path is in fact the very destiny you speak of!?

???

Eirin then calmed herself a bit.

?Its not that I think I?ve choosen the right path Reisen ?I?m honestly not sure if I have. But Kaguya-hime is my destiny. My eternal debt to her is even more important to me than my own immortal life. I cannot ?will not- turn back. I?m sorry.?

?Yagokoro-sensei??

?Hm??

Eirin smiled to herself.

?You still call me that, even after what we?ve done to each other? By rights, I should abandon you as a student, even execute you right here on the spot for defying Kaguya-hime.? Eirin?s smile faded as she began talking in a more stoic tone once more. ?But I will not. Instead you will stay here, silent and out of the way until our plan is complete.?

Reisen felt her ankles being locked together as ropes were tied just above them tightly. She suddenly had an even harder time moving her arms as another rope was used to connect her tied wrists and ankles together. Reisen briefly struggled against the ropes due to the increased discomfort. Eirin then pulled out a small white cloth?

?I promise to return for you once this is finally over. Please remain here quietly until then.?

?Sense- mmph!?

Whatever it was Reisen wanted to say, it was muffled out as Eirin covered the moon rabbit?s mouth with a tight application of the cloth. Eirin softened her tone as she said one last thing?

?There are gaurds posted at the perimeter should you try and escape. I promise I won?t be long.?

Reisen never got a good look at her mistress? face as the two Earth rabbits shoved her into the closet. Eirin held up her right palm as she briefly clamped it shut before opening it again to reveal a blue light. The light went into the closet and ?attached? to the ceiling, providing what would otherwise be a pitch black closet with a light source.

?I will leave this so that you at least won?t have to suffer in the dark.? said Eirin before turning around to leave. ?Goodbye Reisen.?

More words failed to leave Reisen?s mouth as anything more than useless ?mmmphs? as the two Inaba?s closed and locked the door. Reisen struggled with her bonds as she continued trying to get free. She still thought there was at least something ?anything at all- that she could do? But it came to no avail. Reisen soon fell silent and still, letting her head rest on the ground and closing her eyes.

Sensei?

***

Eirin walked through a certain path in the bamboo forest surrounding Eientei, soon coming face to face with a young woman appearing in her late teens to early twenties. She had long brown hair with matching eyes, and was clad in a white shirt with a purple ribbon below the collar. Matching her shirt and ribbon was the long white skirt with purple trend, and white shoes. For whatever reason, she was holding a piece of chalk in her left hand.

?Ah, you?re here as we arranged Rika-san. Your Hourai tanks have proven quite effective in their purpose.? began Eirin.

?AAAAAAHahahahahaha! Well you can only expect the best from an engineering genius such as myself!? said the girl boisterously as she put a hand toward her mouth. ?Now that you have seen them in action, it?s only fair that you come into fair ownership. I?m suuuure you get my meaning, ho ho ho ho??

Eirin nodded at the energetic girl named Rika as she snapped her fingers. Out came an Earth rabbit struggling to drag a rather heavy bag with a yen sign on it toward the two taller women. The small bunny girl soon finished her little journey and sat down, whipping sweat from her forehead with a ?phew!?

?The second half of your payment in full.? said Eirin.

?This is very good! Eientei?s denizens have turned out to be wonderful business partners!? giggled the girl.

Rika moved in to grab the money. Once she was somewhat close, Eirin snapped her fingers before saying.

?Tis a shame that it will be of no use to you.?

?Huh? Just what is that you?re tal-?

Suddenly, a large gold and black, shield shaped object burst out of the ground behind Rika right before it let out strange red colored tentacle-like objects (just like Patchouli?s aside from the red color) at the engineer!

?-king? ?about???

Before she knew what was happening, Rika?s body was wrapped by the strange growths! She struggled with great panic, trying to force any of her limbs to move in the slightest bit!

?W-w-what is the meaning of this?!? she demaned.

?I?m sorry, but we cannot allow anyone who knows about our plan, or even anyone remotely connected with us to run around freely at the moment. We are detaining you. You needn?t worry, for you will be kept alive until the end of our plan. After that, either I, or one of the rabbits will return here to erase your memory and free you.? explains Eirin.

?N-no, y-y-you can?t do this to me! How dare you, how dare you, how dare you! I will make you pay dearly for this! Dearly dearly dearly! Hey come back here! Don?t you leave me here?!?

Rika?s shouting continued even as she was dragged into the ground. Eirin and her rabbit were already departing as it happened, not wanting to stay and watch. The sounds soon stopped completely.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:56:00 AM
Now standing just outside the forest, Eirin looked up at the sky. Dark clouds still dominated the sky, but clearings in them were visible over Eientei now. As partially obscured sunrays hit the nurse she briefly smiled a sad smile before having it vanish as she began going into deep thought. Reisen?s words had left something in her, something that made Eirin remember a time before?

As Eirin continued looking upward, she began thinking of the past?

***

Twas night over the bamboo forest. This night, lit by a brilliant crescent moon, was a night that had long passed over a millennia ago. Several people in strange, feudal Japan-ish outfits, along with several moon rabbits, two knight shikigami, and a certain red and blue nurse all descended from the sky, landing on the edge of a (then) small forest of bamboo. They all walked briefly in the direction of the forest?s edge, stopping a certain point.

It was worth noting that said Nurse was clad in a variation of her normal outfit- one with signifigantly less constalation marks. The ones that were present seemed to be present only on the lower half of her dress. Also, a yellow ribbon was present around the waist with large knots on both sides of the nurses? body. The sleeves were now white, with blue and gold ends. She had on white wrist bands, matching the color of the dresses? collar. A gold color also ran down the center of the dress, splitting off into a triangular pattern as the lower half of the dress opened to reveal the white colored inner part of the dress. Finally, she was equipped with an elaborate bow. A black and gold weapon that could pass for a sword, shaped in a matter that looked like strange batwings with a white hilt, and gold at the ends.

Inside the forest, a young woman ?Kaguya- walked carefully through a specifically choosen in the cold, moonlit forest, clad in a purple kimono with exotic flower patterns, accompanied by a small number (some eight) of Earth rabbits. She walked out of the forest, meeting with the strange people that had come from the sky with a very serious expression on her face. She knew who they were on site. It wasn?t possible to be mistaken as to who they were: they in fact were emissaries from the moon that had come to take her? ?the long exiled princess of the moon? ?back home. These people were Lunarians, inhabitants of the moon.

The princess stopped a short distance away from the Lunarian emissaries, the rabbit girls following close behind. Some held on to the princess from the sides, almost as if trying to tell her, ?please don?t go with them? or ?just run away? without saying the actual words. One could tell by the mere sight of them that they did not want Kaguya to leave them behind.

It was then that the short-haired, red headed female leader of the emissaries walked closer with a very stern look on her face. However, it was Kaguya that broke the silence.

?I already know why you came? The Queen has cleared me of my charge and is wishes for my return? ?even if such a return must be done with force.? said the princess calmly.

?You are correct your highness. Your charge of drinking the forbidden elixir that grants immortality has been absolved. Your family has ended your exile, and has asked that you return to the lunar capitol at once to reclaim your former position as princess of the Moon.? confirmed the red-haired emissary. ?Rabbit??

One of the Moon rabbits stepped closer.

?We are sorry princess, but you have no say on this matter. The Queen was quite absolute in her decision.? she said.

?I see?? responded Kaguya, turning her eyes away from the emissaries.

Eirin looked at Kaguya with a hint of regret in her eyes, not even thinking of turning them away? The rest of the emissaries looked on, waiting for Kaguya to come to them, perhaps even expecting it.

It wasn?t long until Kaguya broke the silence.

?Just how long has it been since my exile?? I have lived on this Earth for a long time now?? she began. ?I have spent a great deal of time on the Moon, and a great deal of time here on Earth. I have experienced many things during these times, and learned many things that the Moon even now remains ignorant of??

The leader of the emissaries twitched her eyebrow, wondering why Kaguya was stalling like this.

?Through these experiences on this so-called filthy Earth, I have discovered that there are in fact nice people on this Earth, just as there are nice people on the Moon. Earthlings and Lunarians aren?t as different from us as I was always told. They are as we are. They talk, they sing, they feel happiness, pain, sorrow? They do great things like we do, and they sin like we do. Many of them can be very nice people??

?Princess Kaguya, with all do respect, time is of the essence. We must return while tonight?s Moon is full.? said the emissary leader, growing aggravated.

Kaguya merely looked at the emissaries, then up at the full moon, smiling the whole way.

?Ah, I was blessed to be able to come and live peacefully in such a wonderful place? And now it would seem that I must leave it all behind, and resume my old, dull life. A life devoid of color and emotion.? she stated in a sorrowful manner.

Eirin continued watching, her clinched fists tightening with every passing second. The guilt was creeping in? None of this would?ve happened to Kaguya, the nurses? friend and student she knew since she was just a child if she hadn?t so recklessly followed that fateful command to make the Elixir. Twas a guilt further seeded by the simple fact that Kaguya had taken all the punishment for drinking of the forbidden Elixir while Eirin suffered nothing, even though it was her mistake. This pained her greatly? And now she was about force the princess away from her new life as well! She gritted her teeth for a moment as the guilt rampaged through her body?

The small Earth rabbits began gathering around their princess, tugging at her and looking up at her.

?Are you going to leave us, princess? I don?t want you to go??

?You can?t?! We enjoy your company princess!?

?I want to play with you more, princess! Don?t go!?

Kaguya petted the rabbit youkai as they begged for her to stay. The emissary leader crossed her arms.

?Hmph. Then let us waste no more time, Kaguya-hime!?


***

Back in the present day, Eirin began walking back toward her trused Earth rabbit team. The thoughts of the past did not leave her mind however?

?The funny thing is that I did not really realize how fateful that night would be long after it had passed?? she mused to herself. ?That was quite the night??

***

The Earth rabbits continued hanging on to their princess. She knelt down for one last hug with them?

?I am sorry. But I haven?t any choice.? she said to them as gently as she could.

She then stood up, and looked at the emissaries, arms in sleeves, her smile faded.

?I am ready.? said the princess.

The emissary leader smiled a slight bit as Kaguya finally began walking toward them?

?NO!?
 
?and with no other prior warning, two arrows pierced the emissary leader?s back, sending her staggering and tumbling down in surprise! She gasped as she painfully looked back to find Eirin holding her bow and arrow upward in a position that suggested that she had just fired shots! The other emissaries and the two shikigami quickly realized what happened, jumping away from the traitorous nurse and drawing their weapons.

?Ei? Eirin?!? mutters the understandably shocked Kaguya.

?Princess! If you enjoy your current life on Earth so much, then please continue living it! You are free from the binding fate that formely held you down so tightly while on the Moon!?

?Eirin?? muttered Kaguya.

?Eirin?!? screeched the fallen emissary as she tried in vain to get back up.

Her attempt was permanently ended when Eirin leaped into the air, and sent an arrow dead through her red head. The nurse landed back turned to Kaguya, another arrow already prone.

?What is the meaning of this, Eirin Yakogoro?!? shouted the alarmed moon rabbit assistant of the now late emissary leader.

?The princess is free now. It would be agreeable for it to remain that way. Clearly she has no desire to return to her former home? Who are we to force her to go?? she asked loudly and clearly in a stoic tone. ?If she wishes to continue living on this Earth, then I will let her do so! In fact, I shall even live with her through her eternity and guide her! I shall atone for my earlier sin here and now, without any further interference!?

?I will listen to no further ramblings of a traitorous wench such as yourself! Move away from Kaguya-hime, and surrender yourself quietly! You can either cooperate or die!? warned the angered moon rabbit.

Fearing for her friend?s safety, Kaguya began talking into Eirin?s ear.

?Eirin? ?you don?t have to do this??

?No princess. From the very moment I made the Elixir that made you immortal, this is all I can do. Please allow me to be by your side.?

?This life will be one of constant hiding and lonliness. I could never ask you to suffer such a hellish fate along side me?? said Kaguya.

?You do not have to ask. I do this out of my own desire.?

?So you?re dead set on following this terrible path? You will not budge no matter the danger??? said Kaguya, building energy in her right arm as she walked to Eirin?s left side. ?If you insist, then I will do nothing to stop you. Let us enjoy our eternity of exile and bordem. Together.?

The two women stood side by side, ready to defy the will of the Moon itself. The Earth rabbits stood ready as well. This only enraged the emissaries further.

?Very well? Princess Kaguya, it has become necessary that we return you by force! Eirin, this field shall be your execution ground!? yelled the Moon rabbit.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:57:13 AM
***

Eirin's wandering took her to a small site in the forest where several of the Earth Rabbits from her personal special force. They seemed to be packing various small items and weapons, including two of Rika's Hourai Tanks. It was apparent that they were preparing to leave the area.

?Ma'am! Everything had been setup as you requested! We'll have enough energy within the next or so, and the Night Sparrow should be arriving at the seal this very moment!? reported one of the special force Inabas.

"Good work Inaba. Am I able to communicate with the princess now?" asked Eirin with a smile.

"The communication mirror you requested is ready ma'am!" replied the Inaba.

Two Inabas brought the mirror over to the nurse. This one was quite a bit larger than the one Kaguya used to speak with Mokou earlier. Already, Kaguya's image was in the mirror along with several more Earth rabbits, and a tied up Mystia. The bird girl had arrived where ever the former Moon princess even sooner that expected. Kaguya was in front of Mystia, teasing her with her finger (tickling her chin, and rubbing her cheeks) before having her dress gently tugged by an Inaba, letting her know that her trusted assistant was waiting to speak with her. She turned around with an oddly (and perhaps frighteningly) gentle smile.

"Greetings Eirin. I trust everything is going smoothly...? Ah, where is Reisen...? Was she not with you at the energy site?" asked the princess.

"Reisen is... ...a little tied up at the moment, ouju-sama. I'm sure she will be able to join us soon." replied Eirin stoically.

"Ah, that Reisen is a hard worker afterall!" said Kaguya rather cheerfully. "If all is well, then all that is left to do is to invite the other 'guest...' I'm sure you know who I'm referring to..."

"I suspect that the Nightbug has allies now. She will either remain in hiding, or come for her friends. Either way, we are fully prepared to capture her once we locate her." explained Eirin.

"Do you suspect an attack on the tower?" asked Kaguya with a head tilt.

"There isn't any way she can know about the seal, or the energy collection site. However, there is a chance that she'll stumble upon it, or have its location revealed to her by one of her insects. In anticipation of this, I have posted guards both there, and back at the manor, in addition to reorganizing the search parties so they can cover wider areas at a quicker pace."

Mystia whimpered while gritting her teeth as Kaguya grabbed her, and pulled the Sparrow  to her side.

"Wonderful work my dear Eirin. I shall fear nothing since all is up to you."

"Thank you, m'lady. Will that be all?"

After that, Kaguya turned to Mystia and began petting her, much to her aversion as she winced invisibly.

"What of Mokou?" asked the princess.

"Her whereabouts are still unknown. Shall I lay out the clues for her to find the location?" responded Eirin.

Kaguya hesitated for a bit...

"...no."

"Ah... M'lady?" asked Eirin, surprised.

"She'll come to me... That she will... I just know for it to be true. Call it intuition."

"I... ...see. I shall resume searching for the Nightbug then."

Mystia lightly growled as she was petted.

"Do you hear that little one? Your friend will be here very soon..." cooed Kaguya.

Mystia shot her head away from the deranged princess, though not able to escape her grip.

"Wriggle will never let herself lose to a person such as yourself." she stated in a quiet, yet harsh tone.

"We will yet see... She has been most fortunate up until now... Ohohoho..." giggled the princess.

She watched as she took Mystia's chin in her right hand, cuddling it. Having had enough, Mystia squealed as she shot her head away from Kaguya's hand before immediately lunging it forward again, biting dead into the princess' finger! Kaguya reeled it back with a most displeased look on her face. With the very same hand the night sparrow had just bitten into, Kaguya slapped Mystia hard across her left cheek. Mystia whimpered as she was hit, staggering back, barely keeping her balance while keeping her eyes tightly shut, and her head turned away.

"Wench! And here I was trying to comfort you!" she spoke, dissatisfied. "Well, no matter..."

Kaguya turned to the nurse again.

"Eirin~"

Eirin hid the fact that she was startled by Kaguya's suddenly ghostly tone. She also noticed that Kaguya's eyes also started becoming... ...darker. Perhaps it was just her...? No...

"The final battle will begin soon. Let us have that insect child within a small span of time shall we? Furthermore..." Kaguya stated before suddenly darkening her tone even further. "...I want you by my side when I settle everything with Mokou. Don't be late... Uhuhuhuhu..."

...and there it was. The last thing Eirin saw before Kaguya's image vanished from the mirror... Those eyes... Those same ominous eyes given earlier to Reisen.

Uh...? Kaguya-sama... Just now... ...everything about her changed suddenly. thought Eirin before raising her right arm into the air. "Hurry, and finish the gathering! I want us gone from here within the next ten minutes. Send out communication butterflies to the other three groups as well."

"As you wish, mistress!"

The Inabas sped up their efforts so that they could join Kaguya as soon as possible. Eirin began walking off, now back in her own thoughts...

How long has it been since we came to this place called Gensokyo...? It has been at least twelve-thousand years... Ah, the question I should be asking is how long we of Eientei have been like this. When was it exactly Kaguya began behaving so strangely...? She seemed normal only two months... ...no... ...a week or two prior. Beforehand she wasn't anywhere nearly as obsessive as she is now. But she's still rational isn't she? Eirin stopped and blinked. I'm still rational myself aren't I...? We have both lived a long time, so its not infeasible to assume that the amount of time that has passed has... No, Lunarians live this long naturally! Something like this shouldn't even be conceivable...!

Eirin shook her head rather violently for a few seconds, attracting stares from a number of Earth rabbits who wondered why Ms. Eirin just did such a thing.

I thinking far deeper into something completely nonsensical than I should... But even so... Eirin looked into the sky. ...you were so different back then...

***

"GAH!"

The Moon rabbit assistant was now the only emissary left standing. Barely standing at that. Her battered, blood covered form staggered backwards as a third arrow pierced her body... ...her chest to be exact. She vomitted some blood, breathing heavily, dirt, blood and sweat continuing to drench her haggard form.

Eirin landed right beside her princess. Both women only had very small tears in their clothes. The Earth rabbits looked more damaged, but all of them survived as well. The group looked upon the grisly scene. The bodies of the emissaries were decimated, and the knight shikigami were torn to pieces.

"D-damn you, Kaguya...!" gasped the single remaing Moon rabbit, trembling as she held her left shoulder. "A curse to you as well Eirin! Murderers, you sh-shall one d-day...-!"

She fell to her knees.

"There will be others... O-one day, y-you sh-shall... ...pay f-for this heinous deed... The both of y-you...!"

The rabbit then fell to the ground, her life extinguished.

Kaguya and Eirin merely looked silently at the destruction they had just rout together, perhaps silently resigning themselves to an eternity of hiding from the moon. After a few minutes, Eirin glanced over to Kaguya.

"Princess, she is right. It will not be long until they discover this murder. We must return to hiding immediately."

Kaguya merely continued her blank stare, not seeming to listen to Eirin.

"Princess...?" asked Eirin, now turning her head to look at Kaguya.

Kaguya closed her eyes as she turned to face Eirin, who turned her body as well. She then smiled warmly as she opened her eyes and began speaking.

"Eirin, is this strange? We both have become callous murderers this very night, and despite our mutual heavy feelings of remorse, we don't really have any true regrets, do we? We must both now live in hiding from the Moon for a long time, perhaps forever. I for one do not really mind however." said Kaguya before kneeling down to pet one of her rabbits. "I love this Earth very much. I cherish it and its people, along with the various plants and animals here... I cannot imagine returning to that old life devoid of life and emotion. This is where I belong. Or at least thats how I feel. Is that also strange?"

Eirin stared in awe of her princess... Somehow, she seemed to be... ...glowing. That peaceful smile, that strong posture even in the face of an everlasting exile, the fact that she had just committed murder and the consequential bittersweet feelings and remorse... Was this Kaguya's determination to change her destiny? Eirin couldn't help but return that warm, if somewhat sad smile...

"There is nothing strange about the path you have choosen princess. Tonight, you fought well and bravely so you could enjoy this freedom you have been experiencing for so long. This isn't an exile princess."

Kaguya blinked in surprise.

"You were not sent to a prison, no. Rather, you were freed from it, correct?" asked the nurse.

"Y... Yes...! That is how I feel." responded Kaguya.

Eirin, holding her bow in her right hand reached out her left hand for a shake.

"Then this is my promise to you: your continued freedom shall be my atonement for my earlier sin. The sin of forcing you into such an earlier hardship. Even if your curse has become a blessing, I shall still atonement, serving and guiding you as faithfully as I possibly can. No matter what, I will be by your side to protect you. That is my promise to you."

Kaguya smiled sweetly, shaking Eirin's hand with her own.

"It is a promise. From this moment forward we are together for all of time. Kaguya Houraisan, and Eirin Yagokoro, the exiles from the moon who have choosen to remain on Earth willingly shall live an all new life here together." said the princess softly.

"Yes." replied Eirin.


***

By now, Eirin and the Earth rabbits had gathered their supplies and were lifting off the ground. Eirin remembered her promise. One she found unable to break...

That night... ... ...was indeed a fateful night. she thought to herself.

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 08:58:18 AM
[Eighth Spell]

Hello. This entry is a special one, for it will be my last one until my current struggle reaches a climax. Unfortunately, that may also mean this is my final entry forever, for I know my enemy has nearly every conceivable advantage. Fate however has intervened on my part to bless me with several strong allies. With their help, I have more confidence that I can somehow rescue my friends, destroy Kaguya's ambition, and bring an end to all of this madness. I now travel to the fortress of my enemy, guided by a young Shrinemaiden.

Anyone reading this maybe wondering, 'why go there when the odds are so obviously stacked against you?' Please understand that this wasn't something I could possibly avoid. Strangely enough, I have had strange feelings that this journey was unavoidable. I can't help but feel that I would at some point in time have to directly confront my enemy like I intend to now, no matter how long I hid, or anything else. It would happen regardless of whether or not I was captured by my enemy, or went to her by my own free will. I never had a real choice. Not from the start, and certainly not now.

I pray that I have the strength to fight my enemy when I finally confront her. That along with the courage to stand against her without wavering. I pray for...


The writing Nightbug -flying with her aforementioned group of allies- stopped her entry for a moment, searching her mind for the best word to use to end this particular sentence. She was flying in the air at high speed as she wrote, but thought little of it. Miraculously, the winds did not impair her writing at all.

I pray for... I pray for...

Thats when the word she was looking for hit her.

...for forti-

"Oi! Hey Nightbug you're still on Earth right?" Came Marisa's interrupting voice. "Hey, did you always have that little book ya got there?"

Not being as fast as Marisa and Reimu, Wriggle and Patchouli were hanging onto Marisa's broom via magic rope. The witch followed the red and white Miko named Reimu as she guided them (with nothing more than her intuition) to their destination. Wriggle sighed... ...inaudibly of course as she tucked her precious journal away in a safe place. Patchouli raised her eyebrow as she looked to her right toward Wriggle.

"That book you had there... is it some sort of journal?" asked the librarian.

"Uhh... I guess you could call it that." said Wriggle, scratching her face with her left hand (which also had the magic rope on, the wrist to be specific).

"May I... ...read it later?" asked Patchouli.

Wriggle responded with a lengthly 'uuhhh....' while staring at the purple one with a tilted head. Marisa just laughed a bit, prompting Wriggle to wonder just what was so funny.

More time had passed. By now, Wriggle, Marisa, and Patchouli had noticed that Reimu had taken them pretty far off. The farther they went, the less green was present. They were moving into the barren wasteland that was known as the edge of Gensokyo. Only the largest and most powerful of youkai dared to ever travel here. But even now, Reimu continued to lead the group towards the apparent eye of the supernatural storm that hovered over the rest of Gensokyo. The witch and the two youkai found this location very odd, but didn't really know what to think of it. Reimu on the other hand knew full well where they were.

Not to far from it actually... she thought to herself. Looks like this is the place...

The further the group went, the farther away the storm clouds appeared, as the team was now enjoying an eerily pristine  clear dark blue and orange sky, as the sun set off in the distance. By now, the four girls could see what appeared to be a very tall, and very large rock spire with several holes all over the structure along with a dome shaped top... This was the same place where Mystia and Alice were held earlier! Unfortunately, the girls had no way of knowing that, but they quickly figured that they had to be here along with Kaguya.

The girls could also make out the movement of pink and black shapes on the structure... It was not long until they briefly stopped and scrambled inside the structure.

"Even from this great altitude there can be no mistake. Those are the Earth rabbits of Eientei." observed Reimu.

"Well well..." chuckled Marisa. "Looks like they finally saw us coming, ze!"

Wriggle squinted her eyes at the sight, spotting Inabas as they took up certain positions, and even dragged out Hourai tanks.

"So this is it..." she said to herself in almost a whisper... ...right before she gulped her throat.

"Kaguya and our friends are likely inside that very building. Its too late to back down now, so fight as hard as you can." said Patchouli to Wriggle. "Also... ...I'll tell you this again: don't get captured. If you are, then only terrible things can transpire. Also... ...I will even kill you if I must. Do you understand?"

Patchouli's expression was dead serious. Wriggle looked back at the purple one, also dead serious. Marisa started chattering something or another in a timid tone to calm the two of them down, though her words went unheard.

"I understand." said the nightbug.

Patchouli nodded before looking toward Reimu.

"Miko! We are ready to go!"

"Hear that Reimu? Time to show 'em what for!" half-yelled an excited Marisa.

***

"Usa usa tei?! When did you spot them coming here?!" said Tewi frantically to the message butterfly on her finger. Aww, I just got here too...! What are the lookouts doing? How did that Miko even find out the location of this place?!

Tewi obviously didn't think about the oddly shining sun over this particular location, even while the rest over Gensokyo was covered by the eerie dark clouds of an odd supernatural storm...

"Nevermind! All Inabas attack them at once! Capture the firefly, and get rid of the other three, usa!"

***

"Marisa, how about we go in from the top?" shouts Reimu as she looks behind herself to the rest of the group.

"Sounds good to me! Hey Patchy Patch, mind gettin' on the broom with me? Its gonna be a rough ride..." said Marisa as she looked back toward Patchouli who rather quick to take the recommendation.

"Wh-what are you planning to do? Don't you think attacking directly from above is a rather dangerous decision...?" asked Patchouli nervously as she held onto Marisa with her free left arm.

"Ah, you worry too much. Besides, we're gonna give 'em a little present on our way up to confuse 'em! Hey Nightbug, can I trust ya to send a big something at them after Patchy and I fire?"

Wriggle blinked for a moment as she gave Marisa an awkward glance before snapping out of it.

"Uhh, yeah! I got a specific card ready." nodded the nightbug.

"Alright then..." said Marisa, her smile suddenly becoming more mischievous...

Patchouli and Wriggle could almost swear that the witch had shark teeth at the moment... She took her hands of her broom, taking the mini-Hakkero along with a specific spellcard. She showed the card to Patchouli who narrowed her eyes as if the mere sight of the card irked her somehow...

"I see... You intend to use that spell... The one you 'borrowed' from me." she said.

"Thats right!" said Marisa excitedly. "Better hang on, this could get rough..."

Wriggle and Reimu pulled out spellcards as well. In addition, Reimu formed four familiars with the appearance of yin-yang orbs in front of herself. Marisa formed two more of the green arrow-like familiars from the battle with Koakuma earlier. Wriggle let go of the magic rope that kept her tethered to Marisa's broom, letting the two witches fly out ahead of her at high speed.

Some of the Inabas -some meaning hundreds- began taking to the air, charging toward the invading four girls in a counterattack attempt. The Inabas still on the ground let out blasts from their mighty Hourai Tanks.

"Here they come!" yelled Wriggle, seeing the beams.

Wriggle and Reimu stopped advancing, giving themselves much time to dodge the incoming magical laser fire. Marisa however held an evil expression as she daftly charged at the lasers (much to Patchouli's distress). She waited until the very last second, zooming away sharply from the laser barrage.

"Waaahhh~!" cried Patchouli as she tightened her grip on Marisa.

"Ay, I warned you this was gonna get rough Patchy! WOOHOO!" said Marisa with a delighted tone as Marisa continued her bold charging.

Patchouli -sensing magical energy coming at them- looked behind herself, seeing the lasers homing in on them!

"You do realize they're following us, right?!" said Patchouli frantically.

"No problem, no problem! All you have to worry about is when to fire! Just hope you're not prone to whiplash!" replied Marisa happily.

With that, Marisa drew a second spellcard, and slammed it on her broom...

"Comet! Blazing Star!"

The witches' broom glowed blue as stars began flying out of its back, sending Marisa and Patchouli soaring toward the now panicking ground defenders who fired frantically at the charging witches! The two girls held their hats on as Marisa dropped altitude to the point where she was almost at the ground! The pursuing homing lasers ended up crashing down on the very ones that had previously fired them, blowing Hourai Tanks to bits, and sending screaming Inabas scattering left and right!

"Heh, they actually helped us by firing those! Go figure, ze!" said Marisa happily as she began slowing down. "You alright back there Patch?"

Patchouli merely held a hand to her mouth as her face turned green...

"I wouldn't say so..."

"Glad you're okay! Now its time to really give them something to be scared of! Don't you agree Patchy Patch?"

"I'm actually inclined to..." said Patchouli, her face still slightly green.

Marisa stopped, then gained some altitude.

"And don't call me Patchy Patch!" snarled the librarian darkly.

"Whatever, now its time!"

Marisa held up her card while Patchouli held up her hand.

Its funny how this was originally Patchouli's non-spellcard technique... thinks Marisa briefly.

"Love Sign! Non-directional Laser!"
"Magic Attack! Non-directional Laser!"

Bright, rainbow colored energies surrounded both girls as they sent many brilliant looking stars and laser beams of many different colors in many different directions, rocking the land around them with multi colored explosions! Inabas could be seen abandoning Hourai Tanks as they retreated into the air to escape the destruction! However...

***

Seeing the explosions from above while dodging more danmaku, Reimu finally activated her attack!

"Thats my cue... The last word: Divine Spirit! Fantasy Seal! Blink!"

As red colored energy flowed into Reimu, hundreds, if not thousands of ofuda cards and large purple orbs of energy began raining down on the Inaba army from her position! Many went to the ground, while others went into the wall placements, sending many more Inabas scattering and retreating, not wanting to be vaporized! The real victims however where the Inabas taking to the air for retreat, only to be continually bombarded by danmaku as they ascended!

Even as destruction rained down upon the defending Inbas, shots continued to zip toward the heroines. One yellow colored blast in particular zipped past Reimu, mere inches from her face... Many blasts of the same type were being fired off from the top of the strange structure.

"Firefly, its your turn!" called Reimu.

The nearby Wriggle nodded, unleashing her spell. White colored energy poured into her, creating a gleaming, pearl colored aura!

"Wriggle Sign! Nightbug Tornado!"

Numerous white-colored energy balls began swirling out from Wriggle's position, small in size. Not long after being released however, the balls would grow greatly in size, raining down on the rooftop Inabas to damage them in large numbers in swirls of falling death that resembled hail! As the card's name implied, the sight was that of a swirling vortex of danmaku, perhaps looking like small ant eggs at a distance...

It wasn't long until the surviving Inabas on the roof gave up, abandoning their blasted Hourai Tanks and picking up their injured as they began retreating inside. Marisa and Patchouli stopped as many as they could with a myriad of non-spellcard attacks with Wriggle and Reimu following suit once their respective spells had ended. Since the Inabas were retreating to fortify the bases interior, it wasn't long until the fire had cleared out.

Strange... I thought there'd be many more if Kaguya is hiding inside with her prisoners... thought Reimu to herself.

"Hey! Come out of that hole and tell me where my friends are!" yelled Wriggle at the rabbits, attempting to chase them inside.

Reimu thankfully stopped her with her right arm, giving the firefly a head shake. She figured that they set a trap, but was not really worried, not for even a second. She had a very 'safe' way inside...

"Marisa! Its time to go in!" shouted the miko to her witch friend.

Marisa just so happened to flying back into the sky by holding onto her broom with one hand while it was pointed straight up into the air.

"Aye, captain!" said the witch with a cute wink and salute as she took to the air above Reimu.

Wriggle -serious as she was- couldn't quite hold back a chuckle at this, amused by the flippant behaviour. Patchouli followed Marisa, wondering what these two mischievous humans and firefly were planning next...

"What are you doing?" asked the librarian, raising an eyebrow.

"Going into the base!" replied Marisa cheerfully.

"From what I see, you're flying high and away from it."

"Naah, I'm going in! Just watch in learn, ze." said Marisa, looking back at Patchouli. "Oh yeah, and you might wanna get far back... Definitely, ze..."

Patchouli did that, along with raising her altitude far above Marisa's not wanting to risk anything.

What is this...? she thought to herself.

"Okay! Magicannon!"

Marisa pointed the hakero straight downward toward the base, intending to blow a large hole right through the roof!

"W-w-wait! You do realize your friends are inside right?! You may very well destroy them!" mentioned an alarmed Patchouli.

"Nah, Kaguya absolutely wanted them alive, ze. The rabbits should definitely know whats coming. If they're in there, they'll move 'em! Now..."

The hakkero let out stars of many different colors as Marisa unleashed...

"FINAL SPAAAAAAARK!"

At those words, Marisa's mini-hakkero unleashed an almost blindingly bright beam of white light down toward the huge stone structure!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:00:42 AM
***

Meanwhile, a certain maid ran through the bamboo forest ran quickly towards the mansion of Eientei, aiming to finish her business with the Lunarians and their rabbits. A small number of Inabas tried to stop her, but where swiftly dispatched. It wasn't long until the mansion came into view...

"Finally... Now I'm going to settle all of this once and for all." she said to herself with a very serious expression.

Drawing several more knives, she ran toward her destination...

***

"What on Earth is going on up there, usa?!" shouted a frantic Tewi as the ground she stood on began shaking violently.

The Inaba army watched as rocks, dirt, and tubes made from magical energy began falling to the ground as the ceiling began cracking and crumbling apart! Rays of white light poured their way inside, heralding the coming of Marisa's deadly attack!

"Gyaa! Everyone, scatter!" ordered Tewi as she flew out of the way.

All the Inabas were obedient, but not all where fast enough... Several where vaporized, along with some badly placed Hourai Tanks as the Final Spark pierced the roof, and went cleanly though the ground, much to Tewi's shock! The small rabbit youkai shielded her eyes from the light and dust as Marisa's powerful beam did its work. When the noise had stopped, Tewi slowly turned her head, looking to see a great deal of sunlight suddenly lighting up the inside of the base, as the gaping hole in the ceiling allowed for the previously blocked out rays of light to shine through.

This however didn't hit Tewi nearly as hard as what she saw looking downward... Her mouth slowly fell as far open as it could... Her eyes widened to the site of a CLEANLY CARVED hole dead in the floor! A fairly large one at that! The other Inabas seemed to take similar reactions... It was if all of them spontaneously felt a dark feeling... ...but not necessarily from seeing Marisa's power...

Th-those fools...! thought the little rabbit to herself before crying out. "N-no...! They destroyed it!"

***

The quartet of Wriggle, Marisa, Patchouli and Reimu all looked down at Marisa's handy work. Thanks to the wild witch's antics, there was nothing stopping them from going inside. Reimu didn't really seem surprised at all, but Wriggle and Patchouli looked on in total awe.

"M-m-marisa-chan...! Amazing!" stammered Wriggle, her mouth and eyes open wide, sweat pouring down her temple.

Patchouli was having a similar reaction... Though fighting off Marisa various times to drive the young witch from her library, Patchouli had never seen this particular attack until now.

"Kh...! I never thought she'd be able to do something like that...! For a human other than the miko or Sakuya to have power such as this... Any human should by all rights have been disintegrated using an attack like that! And yet..."

Marisa slowly floats down to Patchouli's level, wiping her forehead with her left arm before putting the Hakkero away. She was panting slightly, but clearly wasn't anywhere near the point of exhaustion....

"Did ya see that Patch? I've learned a few impressive things huh?" said Marisa with a playful grin.

And she still has energy to spare! Unbelievable...

"Thanks Marisa. Now they can't stop us from getting in!" said Wriggle happily.

"There are a lot of rabbit youkai left to beat up... Shall we?" said Reimu with a smile as she drew more ofuda...

***

Blast them! They may have ruined everything! All of the princesses plans maybe ruined! thought Tewi to herself as her eyes began tearing up.

She looked at the hole for a few more seconds before looking up at the four invading girls. She pointed at them and shouted.

"Those four musn't be allowed to do any further damage, usa! Take them down with all our Inaba might!"

"Hey, hey, hey, we can hear ya from there ya know!" called down Marisa teasingly.

Tewi didn't respond... But her allies did! Hourai Tanks on the side ledges near the roof pointed their barrels upward at the invading girls and fired! The four were ready to dodge the rather slow moving lasers that were fired...

Reimu blinked...

"Scatter!" shouted the Shrinemaiden.

The other three were surprised by the order, but didn't exactly question it... For you see, each of the lasers split off into twelve smaller, faster ones that move in such a way to slice the four heroines to pieces! The four either gasped or held back swears as they weaved through the tight spaces! To make matters worse, pretty much every Inaba that wasn't helping to operate a tank was converging on the heroine's locations, firing their yellow danmaku with great effort!

Wriggle remembered the earlier warnings to not be captured... But if she held back, her friends would be in deep trouble! Putting her arms in front of herself, the nightbug boldly flew through the continuing laser barrage, flying deeper into the base!

"Nightbug, thats too far! Its dangerous to go so deep!"

Alas, the limitations of Patchouli's lungs would not allow her to shout loud enough for Wriggle to hear above the heavy sounds of danmaku fire... Of course, even if the nightbug heard, she more than likely would've ignored it. She quickly noticed that some of the tanks were being adjusted to fire on her, while a number of Inabas came at her from many directions. The insect youkai sent her green danmaku in several different directions to at least slow down the incoming bunny girls before building up a large ball of energy in her right hand, and shooting it at several Hourai Tank lasers that were hot on her trail.

The resulting explosion blinded the Inabas, giving the other heroines a chance to fight back! Not one to miss an opportunity, Marisa -an evil grin decorating her face as usual- jets down at incredible speed on her broom, using her familiars to fire out green, arrowhead-like magic blasts at the Hourai Tanks, destroying several before landing directly on one (punching the gunner Inaba right in the face), and sending magic into it's body... She leaped off that one and onto another one just as that one exploded, and repeated the process with this, and several more tanks!

As that happened, a miniature tornado that could have only been the product of Patchouli's magic blew several squealing youkai bunnies into the wall, while a number of others were pounded with razor sharp metal disks! After using a fireball to take out one more Inaba, the librarian (who was also fighting on the ground like Marisa) swung out her arm, causing many large crystals to spontaneously shoot up from the ground, and crash right back down into it... Or rather, some crashed back into the ground, while many others slammed into a rather high number of unlucky Inabas!

Higher up, Reimu could be seen fighting off a swarm of Inabas with precise punches, kicks, and blows from her gohei! Suddenly, many Inabas -coming from all directions- converged on the maiden, but she countered by sending a great deal of danmaku bullets in the form of purple blasts and ofuda cards at the youkai rabbits, vaporizing them!

As she watched the battle, Tewi quickly realized she was next! Now that the youkai rabbits were out flanked, they would not be able to use their superior number to wipe out their enemies! Gulping hard, she turned back to run, even as a pursuing Patchouli's ground crystals crashed all around her. Wriggle and Marisa came together, taking pot shots at her, and her fellow rabbits from afar while in the air.

"Who is that? She doesn't quite look like the others..." asks Wriggle.

"That would be none other than Tewi Inaba, ze. She's leader of all these crazy rabbits that have been trying to kidnap ya!" explains Marisa.

"You don't say..." replies Wriggle, taking a brief rest from her assault to crack her fist. "Then she can tell us where our friends are!"

"Correctomondo!" says Marisa. "I hear she can also grant us good fortune... Lets catch her!"

As the two began moving toward Tewi, the youkai rabbit leader made several short jumps to avoid Patchouli's fire blasts.

"Be a good little rabbit and come quietly!" calls out Patchouli.

"In your dreams!" shouts Tewi, looking back at Patchy while sticking out her tongue.

Alas, this action causes her to miss the giant transparent ofuda barrier that a certain miko had just erected in front of her... Tewi turns her head just in time to slam right into the barrier face first with a loud SPLAT... She staggers back a few steps before saying:

"Ow."

And falling onto her back with swirls in her eyes. Patchouli just stared with a rather cute 'what in the world...?' type expression.

"Um... Watch where you're going." she said afterward as she walked toward the tanked Tewi.

Tewi continued to lay on the ground for a few moments, spasming every few seconds. After said moments, she shot right back up into a cross-legged sitting position, holding her nose while her eyes teared up.

"Owowowow! No fair, no fair usa!" cried Tewi.

"Well, you aren't exactly playing fair at the moment yourself." pointed out Patchouli as she walked toward Tewi.

It was then that a group of Inabas stopped fighting with the others for a moment and looked down to their leader's situation.

"Hey, you leave Tewi-sama alone!"

"Get away, get away usa!"

Patchouli turned around just in time to see at least seventeen rabbit girls heading straight toward her... And now she was already beginning to feel a bit fatigued... She whipped out a spellcard, but found herself unable to recite the spell!

"Patchouli!"

Wriggle sprung into action, closing her eyes in concentration... The tips of her antennae came together for a brief moment, seeming to send out a small pulse... Wriggle's eyes suddenly shot open, glowing green as she raised her hands in the air.

"My precious children... Hear me, for I am your queen! Grant me your power, strength and souls so I may vanquish my enemies!"

With that, thousands of tiny green particles of energy began pouring in from the hole in the roof! The energy particles converged above Wriggle's upward held arms, slowly forming a large green ball of energy! As it formed however, groups of green, carefully aimed bullets shot out from it, slamming dead into the backs of the Inabas antagonizing Patchouli, and sending them crashing into the ground!

Tewi watched in horror as her would-be saviors were swatted out of the sky like flies one by one!

"Even as you and your troops pursued me without relent across Gensokyo, I have been in contact with the unseen world of the insects! Even then they were building their power, and now lend that slowly gathered strength to me even now! As I unleash this attack on you, Tewi Inaba, I will personally make sure you know the power of Gensokyo's insects and never take us lightly again!" said Wriggle as she cocked her arms back, as if to fire the huge ball at Tewi.

Tewi staggered back, teeth gritted, and sweat pouring down her face.

"W-wait! Just what is it with you anyway?! You aren't supposed to have this much power!" said the panicking rabbit girl.

"What a funny thing to say... Someone who trains at Eientei shouldn't have so little!" shot back Wriggle. "Now take this!"

It was after those words that Wriggle threw the now huge ball of energy at Tewi. Even after being fired, it let out endless volleys of danmaku, taking down Tewi's fellow rabbits! Tewi's squeal was barely audible above the big green explosion that sent her flying and tumbling across the room, very nearly crashing into the back wall!

"Ha ha! Nice shot Nightbug!" complimented Marisa with a wink, even as she continued fighting off more Inabas.

It was only a few moments until the dust and smoke cleared, allowing Wriggle to see a burnt out Tewi staggering back up to a standing position, dress tattered and dirtied.

"Grrr, y-you'll be quick to regret that...!" sobs Tewi.

"Ha! It isn't over just yet!" replies Wriggle as she points forcefully at Tewi.

Tewi blinks, and looks upward just in time to see a large number of fast moving green bullets about to crash dead into her! She squeaks just before another explosion! However, the explosion isn't green, and is much larger than it should've been... Wriggle looked on, wondering what had happened with that attack as sweat built up on the side of her face. She was silently disturbed to find a widely smiling Tewi walking out of the dust and smoke unscathed (from that attack at least), holding a spellcard in her right hand.

"Luckily, I had one of Mistress Eirin's bombs handy! I only wish I remembered it sooner!" said Tewi before chuckling. "Now you get a taste of my power! Payback time, grub!"

"Grub?!" shouted Wriggle in disdain.

"Thats right!" exclaimed the smiling Tewi, spellcard held out with her free hand on her hip. "Rabbit Sign: Great Fortune Crest!"

Wriggle looked on as a red and green aura forming around Tewi as the spellcard vanished. Tewi held her arms forward, shooting out barrages of red and green bullets shaped vaguely like carrots at the nightbug. Wriggle rolled to the right, dodging and weaving her way past the bullets before taking off into the air going backwards with Tewi in hot pursuit. The Inaba leader never let up the attack, and it got denser the longer it went on. Wriggle winced as a bullet grazed her left cheek, leaving a small burn mark.

"A good spell, however..."

Wriggle raised her open palms above her head yet again, building up more green energy!

"...I haven't quite exhausted all my borrowed strength quite just yet!"

Wriggle began throwing green orbs of energy like baseballs, intercepting some of the bullet swarms being thrown by Tewi. It was a true danmaku battle as both combatants weaved through and dodged one another's shots. However, both had their limits... But especially Tewi as the time for her spell had soon run out...

"N-no!" stammered Tewi as the bullet waves stopped firing.

Wriggle had ceased fire as well, but was now speeding toward the rabbit girl at high speed! Tewi flew backwards as fast as she could...

"It would seem that I must knock a bit of sense into you!" said Wriggle as she changed the way she flew.

She had put the top of her head out first... But wait, this could only mean...! Tewi realized this, but it was too little too late...

"Uwaaaaah! Usa usa usa usa usa usa USA USAAAAAA!" she babbled while panicking, knowing she had no way to dodge or counter.

"Have a small bit of this, NRRRRAAAGGGHH!" yelled Wriggle, an aggressive expression doting her face.

And then... ...CRASH!

"NWAAAAUGH!"

The two battling youkai met heads as Wriggle thrusted her own cranium right into Tewi's sending her flying backwards into the ground, tumbling several yards! The other Inabas ceased battling with Wriggle's allies as they watched their leader tumble across the ground for several yards before coming to rest limply with anymore sounds from her voice.

She didn't move after that.

"Wow! Way to use your head, ze!" complimented Marisa.

"Ooowwww..." muttered Wriggle.

She grabbed the top of her head as she slowly staggered up.

"You'll understand if I ask you to refrain from any head puns for a bit won't you, Marisa-chan?" asked Wriggle with a slightly pained voice. "Perhaps that wasn't the best of moves to make..."

With their leader defeated, and their numbers dropping grievously the remaining rabbits lost all remaining motivation to fight.

"R-r-r-retreat! The base is lost!" yelled one Inaba.

***

From outside, hoards of youkai rabbit girls could be seen pouring out of the fallen fortress, flying away in nearly every possible direction in their panic!

***

"Ha, their leaving. Makes our job a bit easier." sighed Reimu, relieved that she wouldn't have to fight off the full force afterall.

"Rats, I was too hard on her... Now I have to wait for her to awaken before I can ask her about Mystia and Alice..." sighed Wriggle, still rubbing her head.

The nightbug nearly fell over from a hard shoulder patting from behind, courtesy of Marisa.

"Ahh, don't worry about it. Youkai rabbits heal fast, so we can ask her again in no time flat! Besides, a mind is a terrible thing to waste!" said Marisa happily.

What did I say about head puns right now...? sighed Wriggle in mind with a slight smile.

"What an amazing place! I didn't know Eientei was even capable of something like this." said Reimu, looking around the structure the group was in.

"You're wrong shrinemaiden. They're not. They had help..." interjects Patchouli.

"You must mean the power of Koro..." mentioned Wriggle, looking at the librarian.

"Correct... And looking around here, the roof, the layout, some of those magic regulation pipes, and what I found in that large hole Marisa blasted into the ground, my suspicions about this most unusual of buildings have been confirmed."

"Eh...?" said Marisa, her smile fading as she raised an eyebrow.

"It is just as Koakuma and I deciphered from the great book. Depending on the time we have gotten here, all our effort may have yet been in vain. In other words... ...we may already be too late." said Patchouli with an eerie calmness.

Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu stood silent, uncertain looks on their faces as they knew they were not going to like what Patchouli had to say... Wriggle especially began to look panicked.

Mystia! Alice!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:01:33 AM
***

Reisen slowly opened her eyes, face covered in sweat... No matter what sort of pulling, turning or twisting she did, she was not able to make the stubborn ropes that trapped her budge. The white cloth covering her mouth muffled out the cooing and moaning sounds she made out of either instinct or frustration as she tried to free herself. And now frustration was setting in... She hated being tied up like this! A bunch of mere ropes (albeit, magically enhanced ones) were holding her back from doing the one thing she wanted -needed- to do most... She had to save her masters!

The Moon rabbit's Rabbits frustration and desperation finally began to get to her as she let out loud moan, whilst thrashing violently against the binds, ignorant of any previous fatigue from earlier struggling. Knowing she was without any sharp objects she could potentially use to cut the ropes, she pressed her head against the tiny closet's door bending her lithe body so that her hands could reach her bound ankles. Alas, no matter how hard she tugged at those well made knots, she was not able to make anything move even half an inch.

'Mmmping' helplessly, the Moon rabbit slowly worked herself into a kneeling position, bringing her bound wrists to the sides of her body as she continued her struggle to break free. Her eyes began tearing up as Reisen mentally begged the ropes to loosen. She squinted hard as she feverishly wiggled and squirmed, her screams softened yet again by her gag. She began wondering how she could've been so weak... The inevitable feelings of never being able to escape began to creep in... And with such feelings came the thoughts of a grim future for her beloved masters... And with such thoughts... ...came regret.

As her arms grew tired and stiff from all the struggling, Reisen, now covered in sweat, came to rest on the wall in front of her, laying her head upon it while breathing heavily. Her eyes blurred from building tears building up in them... She silently lamented in her hopelessness, beginning to despair... However, a loud thud and several faint screams awakened her from her helpless stupor, startling her with a muffled squeak!

"What in the world was that?!"

"I don't know! We should check it out, as is our duty usa!"

"Right!"


Reisen sat straight up in her surprise, remaining dead silent with wide, small pupil eyes as she wondered just what was going on outside...

***

The now dark hallways of Eientei... A lone, silver haired figure rampaged her way through horribly confusing hallways, leaving holes from retrieved knives, and either dead or unconscious rabbits in her wake. It wouldn't be long until more gathered around to stop her... Or rather, attempt to stop her...

What is it with all these Inabas already? All I want to do is to get to their masters! They are my real targets...

***

At the junction where the lone figure was heading, some fourteen Inabas stood at the ready, visibly nervous and intimidated, yet unwilling to allow the intruder to do as she pleased...  They didn't have to wait long... Like a black shadow with gleaming silver on her hair and hands, Sakuya was soon approaching the Inabas, walking calmly toward them.

"Halt, maid from the mansion! Proceed no further, unless you wish to exit this castle with force!" warned the leading Inaba.

Sakuya brushed off the warning.

"I assume you all know just why I'm here? It has become apparent that the ones you serve are no longer present here. I will kindly leave upon you telling me what I wish to know." stated Sakuya, continuing to walk forward.

"You will never know of their plans, maid!"

"If you tell me, then we can avoid having something unpleasant happen. Do you not all value your lives?"

"You fool, its plain as day that you in fact don't value your own life at all! Inabas, atta-"

Suddenly, everything went black and white for but a moment... Within an instant, several of the rabbit girls fell down, numerous knives stuck right into their bodies! Sakuya reappeared right in front of the shocked rabbit leader who looked up in surprise a mere second before Sakuya sent her headfirst into the wall with a sharp kick to the chin. The rest of the Inabas were able to scatter away to the left. Alas, Sakuya invoked her time power again, instantly appearing in front of another Inaba to kick her away before spotting another one further ahead about to fire danmaku...

That Inaba was swiftly dealt with via a knife to the head.

In seemingly an instant, reinforcements began converging on Sakuya on both sides! One came at the maid with a wooden sword from behind, aiming a 'stab' right into Sakuya's back! Sakuya stepped minimally to the left to avoid the attack before twisting around, grabbing the bunny girl by the hair, and tossing her down the hall. A knife was implanted into that Inaba before she even hit the ground.

Next up, an Inaba charged in at Sakuya from the front, attempting to hit her with a magic blast at point blank range. Again, Sakuya merely side stepped the attack, raising her left hand into the air before flicking it down, sending it's three knives firmly into the rabbit's back. Reacting in the nick of time, Sakuya also managed to catch an Inaba attempting to pounce her with her right arm, throwing the youkai rabbit down the hall!

Now Sakuya tossed a good number of knives into the air as she prepared for the assault coming simultaneously from both sides... The maid employed a devastating tatic: using her magic to slow down the knives' decent, she would throw one, block and slash with the other, then throw that knife as she blocked and slashed with another! She repeated this tatic throughout the assault, more and more rabbit girls falling defeated to the ground with every passing second!

Not to be outdone, one Inaba came at Sakuya with a knife of her own! Sensing the attack, Sakuya quickly grabbed one of her own knives with her right hand and span around, blocking the attack her own inverted knife before sending the Inaba face first into the ground with a swift low kick! The maid quickly grabbed one of the falling knives with her left hand, and ended it for said Inaba as she slammed the blade dead into the youkai's back! She then tossed the knife in the right hand behind herself, nailing an incoming enemy dead in the heart just as she was about to fire danmaku at the maid.

Sakuya then leaped into a standing position, pulling the knife from the stabbed Inaba. Two more were in front of her, letting out more magic blasts at her. Sakuya nimbly dodged the shots with amazing, almost dance-like movement before stopping time again! When color had returned to the room, some seven knives had impaled one of the offending rabbit girls, while the remaining one ended up being used as a vault by Sakuya, much to her shock! While balancing on top of the youkai rabbit's head with her hands, Sakuya KICKED knife after airborne knife down both ends of the hallway, each one finding a target! Some of the rabbit girls escaped being mortally wounded, but many others weren't so fortunate...

Naturally, the last bunny girl was the last to fall for Sakuya's trickery. The maid used her arms to 'leap' off the girl's head after her spinning knife kick assault, coming right back down with two knives in hand! Said knives immediately found their way into the Inaba's shoulders, causing her to scream out! As she fell down, Sakuya looked up to find a wooden sword wielding Inaba staring at the result of Sakuya's skills... Some thirty-eight rabbit girls were down for the count, and Sakuya at best only had a few scuff marks, small blood stains, and the occasional burn spot from a grazed bullet!

"This can all end here you know... You and your squad are among the last ones remaining in this castle." spoke Sakuya, drawing a full set of knifes.

The youkai rabbit spoke no words, letting her actions speak for her... Although hesitating slightly, the lone rabbit girl put up her sword...

"I see..." sighed Sakuya. "So be it."

***

By now Reisen had backed into the closet wall, wanting to be as far as she possibly could be from the door with all that racket going on outside. Sweat continued dotting her face, though this time it was from nervousness and uncertainty. The sounds of danmaku fire, pained Inabas and and the clanging of metal quickly got to her location, soon sounding like it was all right outside... Reisen dared not to make the slightest sound, or even move a muscle...

Suddenly, a knife punched right through the door at Reisen, lodging itself in the wall to her left, missing her face by less than an inch! The Moon rabbit broke out in a cold sweat as all breath left her lungs! Ignoring the liberated pieces of her hair falling to the ground, her now wide, crimson eyes of tiny pupils stared at the very knife that nearly ended her existance for what seemed like an eternity... Soon she let out a very stressed moan as she closed her eyes, and sank deeper into the floor...

It took some minutes to calm down, but when Reisen did, she noticed that the sounds had moved away from her. The knife had become something other than the object of her near destruction: an opportunity! Even without the whole of her composure, Reisen knew she couldn't stay in this closet, or anywhere in Eientei at the moment... Moving into a pseudo standing position, the Moon rabbit slowly closed her hands around the deadly blade's hilt before forcing her body forward to dislodge it. Reisen 'mmmphed' some more, closing her eyes tightly... Surely this knife had to be thrown not by a normal thrower, but by a spellcard to be lodged this deep, even after piercing the wooden closet door with such ferocity!

Reisen's youkai strength however won the day, as the rabbit soon found herself having to turn herself in order to avoid crashing face first into the wooden floor. The knife landed with a soft clang right beside her. As she looked back at it, she found it to be strangely familiar... But she had no time to think about that now. Working herself into a kneeling position, the Moon rabbit moved back toward the knife, carefully taking the hilt into her hands before beginning to cut the ropes that held her...

***

Now sliced in two, the wooden sword fell to the ground, as its wielder fell hard onto her back. Sakuya stood over the Inaba, her clothes blown by the wind coming in through the freshly blown hole in the wall. Her facial expression was one of someone who was rather displeased...

The maid knelt down and held up the fallen Inaba by the collar.

"Now I will ask one final time. Where is your mistress?"

The calm tone Sakuya used was far more threatening than even the loudest of yelling could ever hope to be. This, combined with the fact that the limp bodies of the rabbit girl's fellow Inabas were strewn across the floor, and even some of the ground outside. But even so, she remained silent...

"I see..."

Sakuya sighed before pulling out a strange crystal...

"I was trying to avoid having to use this..."

The Inaba looked on in fear as Sakuya aimed to jam it right into her head...

***

Reisen practically flew out of the closet just in time to see a number of extra holes in the room. She looked around, deciding to go through the largest of the holes: the one in the wall to her right. She moved carefully to avoid a splinter, desperate to find an Inaba who could tell her what happened...

She didn't search long...

A certain Inaba was sitting up right on the floor of the room that Reisen soon found herself in... There was a rather large hole in her head, but she continued to live... Her eyes were rather dead, and glassy... Shocked, Reisen ran up to, and knelt beside her fellow youkai rabbit.

"Are you okay?! What happened here?!"

"Reisen...? Could that... ...be you...? You are... ...too late... ...to stop the... ...intruder... Intruder... ...now know... ...where master... ...is... Stop her... ...we coudln't... Too weak... Hurry and... ...save mistress..."

What did this intruder do to her?! Reisen saw several more rabbits laying throughout the room in various states of injury, and not all were alive... She shuddered to think what the rest of the estate looked like... However...

"Reisen! Hurry to the seal! Our mistress and her plans are in danger!" called a nurse cap wearing Inaba from behind.

"B-but what about everyone here?" asked Reisen, turning her head to look at the Inaba.

"Some of us escaped the assault, so we can help! I'm not sure why you're here, but you have to get to the seal quickly!"

Reisen hesitated a small bit... She also wondered why none of the Inabas were stopping her... Maybe Eirin didn't tell them all of Reisen's earlier betrayal...?

"Okay..." nodded Reisen before running forward.

After getting back outside, Reisen stretched out a bit before taking to the sky...

"Please be careful Reisen! Good luck!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:02:33 AM
***

Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu all stood dumbfounded by Patchouli's startling revelation... Her horribly, horribly explained revelation.

"Hey, hey, heyyyy, there can be absolutely no way I heard that properly... Could you, uhhh... ...repeat that Patch? In plain Japanese?" asks Marisa, putting her hands up and back up a bit.

"Wait, you actually failed to understand that unnecessarily complicated and convoluted explanation?!" asked Reimu, looking at Marisa in shock.

Patchouli looked a tad irritated...

"She talked a tad too fast as well, no?" adds Wriggle, as she scratches her cheek with a nervous smile.

Patchouli's eyebrows began twitching...

"Oi thats right, ze... Hey Patch, make it clear this time too. And talk slower." said Marisa with a finger wave.

"And remember, you're talking to people who do not have the same grasp on things as you do. Use smaller words and simpler explanations." Wriggle added further.

Patchouli shut her eyes tightly, her face turning red as she spoke through gritted teeth.

"Alright, alright, I'll explain in a more 'concise' manner so all of you can be happy!" spoke Patchouli, now looking quite annoyed.

"Glad to hear it!" said a happily smiling Reimu.

Patchouli glared at the three for several seconds, shaking and growling before clearing her throat, putting her balled up right hand to her mouth as she did so. She then took a deep breath... Or rather, a somewhat hollow one...

"Okay... Let me speak again... This tower if you so wish to call it that, is... ...well, was a focal point for the collection of Earth's life energy. Life energy needed to break the great seal of Koro."

"Absorbing the energy of the Earth itself... How is something like that even possible?" said Wriggle in wonder.

"A great deal of energy was needed then, correct?" asked Reimu.

"Indeed. It would make since for them to need so much energy, since great power is required for the seal removal incantation. They built this tower to carefully absorb the energy, and the tunnels around it to convert the life energy into magical energy." explained Patchouli. "What Marisa destroyed was in fact the central collector of energy, an absorption monolith if you will."

"And without that, they can't collect anymore energy, ze!" said Marisa with a smile.

"Yes, but... They may have already collected more than enough energy, much to our misfortune..." said Patchouli darkly, looking off to the side.

"Well, wouldn't they be transporting out of here somehow? Perhaps a pipeline we could disrupt to stop them..." said Reimu inquisitively.

"No. That would make locating the seal too easy should anyone capture this base. There are also signs that they were in a rush, and wouldn't have time to build such a thing in any case."

"Well... Maybe they flew it out somehow...?" asked Wriggle, scratching her cheek.

"That is the only likely solution. With the proper containment crystals, it would actually be far more feasible, and stealthier solution than a magical pipeline."

"Well, that makes things a bit harder... Heeey, isn't that flawless intuition of yours tellin' ya anything, Reimu?" asks Marisa with a raised eyebrow, looking at the miko with a lowered head and hands on her hips.

"Ah, forgive me Marisa, but I haven't really been getting any odd feelings, or sensing anything significant since we got here." said Reimu apologetically, scratching the side of her face. "Its really strange."

"Its going out on ya? Hmm, maybe Alice was right to say 'your intuitions waining because you never use it.'" replies Marisa.

"No, its something else..." said Reimu inquisitively.

"Rats, this leaves us without any method of tracking down the true location of that vile princess!" said Wriggle in disappointment, looking off to the side toward the ground.

"Oh no... You are a tad incorrect, Nightbug." responded Patchouli. "Take a look at the hole made in the ceiling above us."

The three other girls looked upward, finding that the sun was steadily being drowned out by clouds, the occasional rumbles of thunder sounding closer and louder.

"The power of Koro is responsible for the unending, rainless storm that has been covering Gensokyo, save for where said power is concentrated. That said, now that this place is no longer a concentration of Koro's power, the storm now covers this place as well. Therefore, in order to locate the seal, all we need to do is..." spoke Patchouli.

"...locate another place in the sky where clouds are cleared out!" finished Wriggle.

"Precisely."

Wriggle turned around, intending to fly out through the hole in the roof.

"Alright, I'll go do tha-"

"But we're not going to do that." interrupted Patchy.

"Gwa...!"

Wriggle tripped over herself, tumbling forward on the ground before coming to rest with her legs over her head.

"Thei wah arwe gooha hew thei (then what are we gonna do then)...?" asked the dazed Wriggle with a drunkard's smile.

"We're going to ask the bunny." replied Patchouli.

"But Wriggle bonked the bunny." pointed out Reimu with a raised finger.

"Then I will awaken the bonked bunny." said Patchouli.

"How will you beckon the bonked bunny to wake up?" asks Marisa.

"The only true way possible." answered Patchouli, closing her eyes and raising her right finger.

Wriggle, Reimu, and Marisa were suddenly standing side by side, looking at Patchouli curiously.

"Eeehhhh?" said the three simultaniously.

Patchouli walked over to the still unconscious Tewi, staring down at her for a few moments...

"Indeed, this should work." spoke the librarian.

Patchouli held out her first two right fingers out in what appeared to be a horizontal peace-sign gesture. Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu blinked, unsure of what to make of Patchouli's intentions... They silently wondered to themselves... Thats when Patchouli lifted up Tewi's skirt...

"Eh...?" mumbled Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu simultaniously to themselves.

Patchouli began sending electricity through her two out held fingers as she looked at Tewi's crotch as she thrusted her fingers downward and... Uhhh...

"EEEEHHHHHHHH?!" shouted Wriggle, Marisa, and Reimu at the same time in shock (pun not intended).

Tewi's eyes snapped open, a delayed reaction before...

"EEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

Tewi leaped incredibly high in the air with a totally flustered look on her face!

"USA USA USA!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME, USA?! HOW SHAMEFUL!"

"Did... ...she... ...just...?" stammered Wriggle.

"Man... Patchy... What got into you...?" asks Marisa more to herself with dread.

Reimu just stared, jaw agape. It was all the Miko could do to keep herself from fainting from the shock (again, pun not intended).

Tewi landed on the ground, staring at Patchouli as if she were the spawn of Satan.

"I can't believe you...! Taking advantage of a helpless rabbit like that...!" said Tewi accusingly.

"Do not mistake my intentions. It was necessary to put them there while electrified, as it was the quickest way to awaken you. And now to question you." stated Patchouli matter of factly.

Tewi began tearing up.

"How am I supposed to think of this?! You shamelessly abuse me so callously, then expect me to talk secrets to you! I will not hear of it!" protested Tewi.

"Well, thats to bad." said Patchouli casually.

"Hey you! Where are Mystia and Alice?" said Wriggle, running in front of Tewi and pointing a finger.

"I will not tell you a thing! I wouldn't tell you, even if I knew."

"Damn kid, why did you even bother to ask? I mean, she's the queen of lies, you can't forget that." pointed out Marisa with a shrug.

"Huh... Therefore, by stating she does not know the answers to my questions, she actually does!" said Wriggle. "Tell me, or I'll throw the book at you!"

"Go die in a fire!" shot back Tewi.

"Hmm..."

Wriggle walked up to Tewi, pulling out her diary... She opened it then snapped it shut right on Tewi's nose! The Earth rabbit had another delayed reaction as she looked at what just happened for a few moments before...

"YEEEEEEOOOOWWW! That hurt!" yelled Tewi, turning around, crouching and holding her now bleeding nose.

"Wait, that wasn't throwing the book, that was closing the book!" pointed out Reimu with a facepalm.

"But are they not the same?" asked Wriggle honestly.

"Interchangeable, but hardly the same." replied Reimu with a grumble.

Tewi continued rubbing her nose for a few more moments...

"Oooohh, thats it! Now you're all gonna get it! Face the wrath of Tewi Ina-!"

Tewi turned around and jumped back up, only to see that she was surrounded on all four sides by the heroines.

"-ba...?"

"You're surrounded, ze! I think its best that you stopped fooling around and tell us what we want to know, even if it goes against your lying nature." said Marisa, smiling with her arms crossed.

"But I was being honest!" pleaded Tewi.

"Thusly being dishonest." shot back Wriggle.

"B-b-b-but why would I lie?!" asks Tewi frantically.

"Why wouldn't you lie?" points out Reimu.

"Where are my friends?" asks Wriggle calmly.

Tewi slapped her hands around her mouth. Wriggle got into her face, a little angry now.

"You heard me, did you not? Where are my friends?!"

By now, Tewi was sweating bullets, frantically looking around the room... These scary four faces glaring at her...! Those accusing, antagonistic eyes...!

"It doesn't matter what my answer is because only one of your friends is here anyway!" blurted out Tewi without warning before slamming her hands over her mouth again, falling on her butt as her eyes began tearing up.

"What do you mean? Which one of them is being held here?!" asks Wriggle.

"Alice would be the only logical one to keep here." said Patchouli.

"Where is she?!" asks Wriggle forcefully.

"I dunno!" pleads Tewi.

"Of course you know!"

"I don't know!"

"Cease your lies to us already!"

Wriggle inched her head closer with every exchange, frightening Tewi (who was backing away) further.

"Where is she?!"

"I will not tell!"

"Answer me!"

"Never!"

"I know she's here!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is t-"

Wriggle smiled slyly at the sight of Tewi realizing the daft reversal she had just fallen for. The rabbit girl slammed her hands over her mouth yet again as she slowly fell to the side... Reimu stared awkwardly, while Marisa chuckled and Patchouli face palmed.

Wriggle waited triumphantly for a few moments before leaning down towards Tewi's face one last time, speaking in a calmer tone...

"Where is she?"

Tewi sat back up, and pointed to Wriggle's  right with her left hand.

"She's over there." stated Tewi calmly.

Reimu took the liberty of walking over to what Tewi had pointed to... A part of the stone wall the jutted outward in a strange manner... The Miko placed an Ofuda card on that particular part of the wall before chanting something silently... Just then, the wall shattered into nothing, revealing a hidden prison cell containing a bound, gagged and surprised looking Alice! The doll maker looked away, blinded from the sudden light.

"Mmmph?!"

"Alice!" said Wriggle, immensely glad to see her friend alright.

"So there you are! I wonder why they put you in a place like that..." wondered Marisa as she walked up to the cell.

Reimu used an energized Ofuda card like a knife, cutting away the bars effortlessly before releasing Alice.

"Sorry we took so long, ze. You okay?" asked Marisa.

Alice had somewhat of an exhausted look on her face as she rubbed her freshly freed wrists.

"Well at least they kept me alive by leaving an air sphere in there." began Alice, referring to the strange blue energy orb in her cell. "Their food was actually good, but I got some really lousy service."

Wriggle, Reimu, and Marisa chuckled. Patchouli just looked on...

Alice being humorous! Now thats a nice change. thought Marisa.

"I'm just glad you're okay now Alice. After I saw you and Mystia get taken away like that I honestly feared for your life! Alas, they still have Mystia..." said Wriggle.

"Indeed, that is a problem..." said the doll user, cupping her chin.

"Well Alice? Up for a little payback while we rescue Mystia?" asks Marisa with a sly smile.

Before Alice can answer, Marisa reaches her first two right fingers down into her broom's tip, pulling out... ...a small bag, much to Wriggle's impression. The witch then opened the bag with her free hand... Out came Shanghai, Alice's trusty doll companion, as she weakly reached toward her mistress!

"Shanghai!" said Alice as she knelt down and hugged her doll.

"Heh, I also got your grimoire in there." added Marisa.

"Oh, thank you everyone! For saving me, and returning Shanghai and my book to me." said Alice, petting her doll.

Wriggle smiled... ...no, beamed at the sight! She then looked upward...

One step closer... she thought.

It was then that Reimu, who was turning around, noticed something peculiar...

"Ehh...? Librarian, what are you doing?" asked the miko.

Alice noticed it too, raising an eyebrow. Wriggle and Marisa briefly looked at each other before turning around as well...

Patchouli... ...was now staring down once more at Tewi in a rather strange and suspicious manner.

"Patchouli-san... What is it you are doing, staring down at that rabbit in that manner...?" asks Wriggle nervously.

Patchouli didn't answer. Tewi looked up with a nervous expression, her eyes still tearing up.

"I said what you wanted me to...! Please don't hurt me regardless..." squeaked the Earth rabbit pleadingly.

Patchouli only looked on for a few more moments before raising her right arm to the side... After a brief surge of purple energy, a large hammer formed in Patchouli's right hand!

"Ah...?!" squeaked Tewi as she jumped back, startled. "W-w-w-what're you gonna do with tha-"

Tewi got her answer as Patchouli brought the hammer down dead on her forehead!

"Ugwa!"

Tewi fell straight to the ground like a pancake, knocked out cold once more.

"Well, I don't really require her 'assistance' anymore. I think it would not be too bad of an idea to take a small rest while I review some notes for handling the seal. Hmm..."

"Yeesh, it sounds like she's speaking more to herself, rather than us." grumbled Marisa, crossing her arms and twitching her eyebrow with an annoyed smile.

"Oh my, what an eccentric librarian!" chuckled Wriggle to herself.

The four girls watching the librarian were further thrown off when she took Tewi by the ears and began dragging her toward a nearby chair! Patchouli leaped on to the chair, book in her lap...

"Oooookay, why are you in a chair with that rabbit exactly...?" asks Reimu, raising an eyebrow.

Patchouli brought Tewi up with her, snugging the Inaba while she read her book and blushed heavily with an incredibly cute and innocent look on her face.

"I... I have always wanted a stuffed rabbit of my very own. Mukyuu..." admitted the blushing librarian as she cuddled the unconscious Tewi.

Marisa and Alice both stared, dumbfounded with jaws agape.

"Um... Wow..." said Reimu simply.

I wouldn't ever think a total recluse like her would like stuff like that... Man... thought Marisa to herself.

"W-w-well we all learn something new and interesting each day, don't we?" said Alice, smiling awkwardly, earning an equally awkward stare from Reimu.

It was then that Marisa peeked over to Wriggle... ...who seemed to be shivering as if she was out and about in the middle of blizzard! She stood with bent knees and arms in her hands as she shook with very heavy, and very odd blushing upon her face.

"Ehh? You alright there Wriggle?" asks Marisa.

"Oh... D-do not mind m-me, Marisa. I-I tend to do this w-w-when an individual i-is being so inc-credibly m-moe within my vicinity." explained the shivering insect girl with chattering teeth.

Marisa blinked.

"Uhh, right..." said the witch. "...anyone mind telling what in the world moe is...?"

(Moe: [moh-way] A word meaning 'budding' in Japanese. Used to refer to a female character's cuteness.)

"Weeeeell Alice seems to know, given her current reaction..." said Reimu, pointing at the doll maker.

Marisa was shocked to find the doll user holding her bleeding nose with both hands, her eyes like that of equal signs!

"Oh goodness... That really is moe..." said Alice quietly to herself.

Marisa groaned. This was rather new to her you see...

"Well, she certainly isn't going to answer me..."

Reimu smiled as she went directly to Marisa's front, closing her eyes and holding up a finger.

"Ah, well if you don't know what moe is, then you're obviously not an otaku." said Reimu happily with a cheerful smile.

Marisa just stared at the miko.

"Somehow I think thats a good thing..."

Wriggle giggled nervously in agreement.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:04:04 AM
***

Later on, in the darkening skies of Gensokyo...

By now, night had almost completed its hold of Gensokyo. The group of now five, having taken sometime to rest in their search for Kaguya now flew through the evening sky towards the seal of Koro, the place where the conflict that had begun nearly twenty-four hours prior would finally reach a climax.

Wriggle flew in front of the group, taking point. Reimu and Alice flew along side each other, while Marisa and Patchouli once again shared the broomstick. As they flew, Wriggle held out her finger, a small firefly landing on it. She seemed to listen carefully to its 'words' before turning her head toward her allies.

"Truly, we are heading straight for our enemy. This firefly tells me we will be able to see strange emerald lights in the distance soon." informed Wriggle.

"Heh, glad you took Patchy's advice and sent some of your insects ahead of us to make sure we were on the right track." chuckled Marisa.

"With night falling, and no moon or starlight it might get a little hard to see. Everyone stay close." said Reimu.

"Eh, I don't really think the lack of light will be too big of a problem if we speed it up a bit." shrugged Marisa.

"You forget one thing witch." began Patchouli. "My eyes are not particularly good, even in light. Things can become especially difficult for me on some nights."

"Ehh, I wouldn't worry." said Marisa casually. "Hey Nightbug, you're a firefly, right?"

"Uh?" mutters Wriggle, looking back once more. "Indeed I am a firefly, but why is it you ask so?"

"If it gets too dark, then why not use you? Being a firefly, your butt glows in the dark, correct?"

"Gwaah?!" exclaimed Wriggle.

Reimu and Alice face palmed as they sighed.

"Well hey, depending on how brightly you glow, we could find our way easy." said Marisa in a straightforward manner with a widening smile.

"Aaaaand make it easier for the enemy to spot our exact location while we are up in the sky like this." adds Patchouli.

"Sh-sh-she's correct! Please don't make ridiculous suggestions that involve my body!" stammered Wriggle very nervously as a large sweat drop rolled down her temple. Besides, to do that would require the removal of my lower body wear...

"Meh... Whatever you say, ze." said Marisa with a shrug.

***

Not too long prior, a certain maid had found a certain tower... Using it, she realized that she was on the right track to her target...

I'll be there soon... Be prepared to face me, Eirin!

Her flight direction would take her straight to the seal.

***

Even with the night taking hold, the group was still able to see a break in the clouds over a certain area, much like the one over the energy collection tower from earlier. Surely enough, it was not long until the gang could see a large amount of ethereal emerald light shining in the distance.

"Is that it?" asks Alice.

"Its gotta be. That surely took long enough..." answers Reimu.

"At last, the sight of the Koro's great seal... All there is left to do is to retrieve the book so we can end this madness." says Patchouli calmly, giving a certain glance at the sight.

"That'll likely be easier said and done. I reeeaaally don't think the inhabitants of Eientei will wanna just hand it back nicely." replies Marisa, looking around even though the sight was straight ahead.

"Maybe so, but this is our last chance." replies Patchouli.

Wriggle gulped in nervousness.

"Fighting these people is a rather tall order. Marisa, Reimu and I know first hand... We're going up against strong opponents, and the only surefire chance of victory is to fight them together." says Alice.

"That is so..." acknowledges Wriggle, beginning to sweat a bit. So this is really it... I won't lie to myself and say I don't feel fear... But I cannot back down now. Mystia is counting on me!

Wriggle looked ahead for a few more moments, thinking of Alice's words... She abruptly stopped, prompting her startled allies to do the same. The nightbug turned around...

"Eh? Why the abrupt stop?" asks Marisa.

A few more moments of hesitation.

"Everyone..." began the insect youkai with her head down.

The other four said nothing, but were clearly listening. Wriggle put her head up, looking at them directly smiling warmly.

"Thank you." she said.

The others blinked, slightly caught off gaurd by her words.

"I dragged you all into this conflict, even though it is my fight. I did not ask you to fight along side me against the princess of Eientei, but you stayed by me none the less. You all willingly put your bodies and even your very existences in danger, and not just for my sake, but for Mystia's and possibly all of Gensokyo's as well. I can never repay this deed, regardless of how long I may try. So my friends, thank you for all of your help, for the strength that you lent, everything. Thank you all."

With that, the night bug bowed in midair, showing her respect and gratitude to her friends. Alice smiled warmly, returning the bow.

"You're welcome." she said politely.

Reimu seemed mildly shocked, like she was moved...

I'm... ...finally being thanked... By a youkai of all... How ironic.

The miko then returned the bow.

"You're welcome."

Marisa grinned happily, looking back at Patchouli, who nodded. The purple colored librarian got off Marisa's broom, floating beside the witch. They bowed simultaneously as well.

"You're welcome." they both said.

Wriggle smiled and nodded. Carrying the resolve and will needed to face the greatest challenge of her life, the insect youkai girl put up her right fist, raw determination now etched across her face.

"Alright... Lets go and do it!"

With that, Wriggle turned around and headed forward once more, faster than ever! Her friends were mildly surprised by the speed boost... ...but they all followed her with a steady pace. The remaining four all nodded to each other... The whole group had made a silent vow to succeed!

***

The location of the seal...

Kaguya sat upon a large rock, gazing into the beautiful green light that basked the somewhat large chasm in front of her... Behind her was a large rock wall... Was she perhaps sitting inside a giant hole? She smiled warmly, arms in her sleeves, awaiting the final battle -the climax of her ultimate plan- to begin.

"Very soon... You'll be free very soon... And then..."

Kaguya was interrupted by none other than Eirin, who dropped down from above to Kaguya's right, accompanied by a small number of Inabas.

"Princess, a message butterfly has returned. It has confirmation of the firefly girl heading in our direction, accompanied by several allies. We are ready to attack them upon your order." reported the nurse.

"Ahh, as expected of you, Eirin." replied Kaguya. "One small detail troubles me however..."

"Oh? What is it that bothers you?" asks Eirin.

Kaguya peeks right and upward toward Eirin with a curious expression.

"Where are Reisen and Tewi...? I wanted all of us to enjoy our victory together once everything had ended."

"I'm sorry princess, but Reisen is taking care of several unforeseen circumstances and Tewi's whereabouts are unclear. We suspect she was earlier defeated by the group approaching us." explains Eirn. Best if she does not know of Reisen's true circumstances at the moment...

"I see... Most disappointing. But I guess it cannot be helped at this moment, now can it?"

Kaguya then stood up.

"Princess...? Do you intend to join us in battle?" asks Eirin, conerned.

"I do. It is only proper for me to attend this grand conclusion in person. Besides, I must be present when our true guest arrives..." said Kaguya with a less than innocent smile.

Eirin hesitated.

"I see... Then I will fight my hardest along your side, Kaguya-hime." vows Eirin.

"A wonderful thing for me to hear... Perhaps this will be like old times...?" asks Kaguya with giggle.

"Perhaps..." responds Eirin rather flatly.

"Mmm, hmm... Then let us go welcome our esteemed guests."

Eirin nods, taking off with the Inabas. Kaguya rose to a certain height before stopping, smiling deviantly whilst narrowing her eyes. She could make out a faint red glow in the distance.

Hurry to me, Mokou... Hurry to your ultimate fate.

With that, Kaguya turned to the right, following her loyal servants into the emerald night...

***

Wearing great wings of fire, and surrounded by an unending blaze, Mokou zips toward the seal at an incredible speed!

I'm coming for you Kaguya! On this night, I will teach you a lesson you won't soon forget!

***

Wriggle's group could soon see a large hole in the distance... Or rather, a giant, chasm-like hole with many jagged cliffs and edges. Would 'a circular canyon' be a good way to describe it? The very center of the hole seemed to be the source of the emerald colored supernatural light seen earlier. The beast of Koro slept beneath that light, waiting to be freed at last... This was the seal of Koro.

"Well, we're here." said Wriggle.

"But where is Kaguya? I cannot make her out from he-"

Patchouli was interrupted by a purple flash on the ground... All five of the girls immediately scattered away from a fierce Hourai Tank beam as it was fired from the ground! The blast immediately burst into a number of smaller blasts, turning around and homing in on the girls!

"Patchouli!" called Reimu as she turned around and held up her gohei.

"Of course." responded Patchouli, also turning around opening her book.

Reimu swung her gohei, creating a number of large yin-yang orbs that slammed into the homing lasers, while Patchouli  created a number of large crystals that also slammed into the lasers! In the meantime, Alice flew forward, swinging her right arm fiercely!

"Take this!" shouted the doll user.

At that moment, myriads of black dressed dolls began raining down from the sky, directly over the small group of Inabas attacking the group.Upon contact with anything, the dolls exploded! The rabbit girls were sent screaming, running for their lives as the explosive death came down upon them. The Hourai Tank did not survive the dolls.

"Aah... I cannot believe they had a tank even out to this location... Were they attempting a surprise attack?" asks Wriggle to no one in particular.

"Nah, this is just the welcoming committee." replies Marisa with a smile. "Lets go oblige 'em."

Marisa drops to the ground, taking down Inabas with her broom. Wriggle follows suit with punches and kicks. Alice, Reimu and Patchouli all join in as well. However, just as the Inabas were about to be bested...

"Alright, that'll be enough of you Inabas... It is time to welcome my guests."

The Inabas immediately obeyed, jumping away from the five heroines.

"That voice..." said Wriggle in terror as she turned to find Kaguya landing in front of her.

"Eh, shes here?!" blurts out Marisa before sensing something, and looking to her right towards Alice. "Hey Al, watch it!"

Alice is charging at several Inabas, but stopped just in time for several of Eirin's arrows to land right in front of her! Next up, Reimu has to jump backwards to avoid a further assault by Eirin! Patchouli looked at the descending Eientei residents with a scowl.

Eirin landed to Kaguya's right, Inabas dropping in behind them.

"It seems you have arrived..." says the Librarian.

Ignoring Patchy, Kaguya begins to speak to Wriggle...

"Welcome dear firefly. We have been awaiting your arrival. Did you enjoy the welcoming party? They've been working very hard to please you after all..." said the princess with a smile.

"Kaguya... My enemy... Know that I no longer fear you!" replies Wriggle.

"Very good! But I must wonder if the same applies to death... By coming here, you have sealed your fate, insect. Surely you are determined to rescue your bird friend. However, as you want her back, I need her with me and you are needed as well." said Kaguya before spreading her arms out.

The five, now side by side just look on...

"Tonight is a full moon. Everything is in place for the glorious festival. All there is left to do is to undo that wretched seal. All of you, watch this greatest of celebrations!"

"Enough already! What the hell are you going on about?" asks Marisa in an annoyed tone.

Kaguya chuckled.

"The most important guest of all well arrive soon... Only then you'll know..." answers Kaguya.

"Wait, 'the most important guest' you say? Hold on... You couldn't mean..." said Wriggle, beginning to sweat.

"So its just as I thought..." sighs Patchouli. "The nightbug and night sparrow are merely the ways to an end. This whole time, they weren't your real targets. This is just what I had expected..."

"Huh... Well, there can only be one person she's talking about..." adds Marisa.

"But of course, that should be obvious. They battle each other constantly. However, would you really risk Gensokyo by unleashing the monster beneath that light?" asks Reimu, none too pleased.

"That is her fate. As it is your fate is to watch as the Nightbug and her friend help to revive it!" boasts Kaguya.

"I will watch no such thing! As miko of Gensokyo, I'll stop you from putting anyone else in further danger!"

"Listen to my words carefully princess!" said Wriggle forcefully, looking into Kaguya's eyes.

Kaguya looked back to Wriggle, her smile fading.

"It there is anything this day should have taught to you... If there is anything this day has taught to me... ...then let it be known as this: you cannot change my fate! My destiny is in my own hands! And as it stands, it is my destiny to battle with you and come out victorious!" says Wriggle, determined. "Mystia and I will be free again, and your plans will be for naught!"

"My, you gain a few allies and you become rather... ...insolent." replies Kaguya.

"Ehehehe! I don't mean to brag, but we're not really people to trifle with here! If you want this to happen Kaguya, then you shall have to go through a battle with all of us in order to make it happen! If you're not willing..."

Marisa was interrupted by Kaguya, who was suddenly smiling again.

"Oh, I am VERY willing, witch. This is something I have awaited for over a thousand years!"

"Are you truly prepared to fight five people? It only took two to beat your last hair-brained scheme. Even with the nurses' help and rabbits backing you, you're at a power disadvantage." cuts in Alice.

"Trust me, I am prepared..."

"Is it... Is it Koro's power...?" asks Wriggle.

By now, Patchouli had had it with Kaguya's taunts and confidence.

"Enough! Hand over the book containing Koro's secrets you despicable princess! The powers you are attempting to release will be dangerous even for you!" warns Patchouli.

"You fool, even now the beast is under my full control." respondes Kaguya.

"An obvious bluff. Even Eientei can't do the impossible." shoots back Patchouli.

"You need proof... You shall see with your own eyes within five minutes."

"Five minutes?!" says Reimu, shocked.

"Five minutes is all that is needed before the incantation to break the seal will be ready." spoke Kaguya with the most sly of smiles.

"Only five minutes?!" repeats Wriggle more to herself in shock.. "Mystia had better be alright..."

"Worry not. You will join her soon. You shall be my puppet one way or another! AHAHAHAHA, I will surely enjoy this..."

Being your puppet is hardly my destiny! I'll show you just how wrong you are, princess of Eientei! thinks Wriggle to herself with gritted teeth.

"You're insane..." mutters Alice.

Kaguya ignores Alice's statement. Eirin and the Inabas assume fighting stances... Suddenly, there is movement on the ground...

"W-what is...?!" asks Alice.

She gets her answer... Some fifty clumps of mud begin springing up around Kaguya, taking the very form of the princess herself. The mimicry was perfect... Making matters even worse, several Lunarian knight shikigami descended from the sky, ready to assist the princess!

"What the hell...?! I guess you're serious after all..." admits Marisa, a nervous smile with the second sentence.

"I will not back down. I will not waver!" said Wriggle, knowing the odds were stacked more and more against her with every passing seconds.

Oddly, Eirin blinked at Wriggle's words, seeming to twitch... Kaguya however remained fully composed. She let her arms down, ready to fight.

"Now then Wriggle Nightbug, you and your allies... I wholeheartedly welcome you! Welcome to your final destiny!"

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:07:25 AM
[Final Spell]

"We'll yet see what my true destiny is!" exclaimed Wriggle.

And with that, it had begun. It was the beginning of the end...

Wriggle opened up, charging green energy in her right hand, and firing a spread of curtain fire at Kaguya! The princess and her nurse both jumped backward, letting the mud clones of the princess take the blasts! Marisa then moves right in, flying into the air, and coming down on Kaguya, aiming her broom at the princess' head! Kaguya merely jumped back, letting the Inabas attack the witch.

"Such predictable and exploitable moves, just like last time. Are you perhaps holding back on me, witch?" asks Kaguya with a smile.

"Heh, hardly!" said Marisa, smiling even as she used her broom to fight off the converging Inabas. "I'm just making sure you haven't gotten any slower!"

"Cocky... Eirin, split them up!"

"Yes, princess." replied Eirin.

"Oh no you don't!" said Patchouli, flying in on Kaguya diagonally from the princess' right. "Earth and Water Sign! Noachian Deluge!"

The spellcard in Patchouli's right hand briefly glowed blue before disappearing, many blue, water drop-like blasts came flying out of the librarian's finger tip! Kaguya merely glanced over towards Patchouli, never letting down her confident and sinister smile... Just then, several of the mud clones ran in front of the blasts, acting as a shield for their mistress, mere seconds before the projectiles could connect! Patchouli then stopped her advance with a frustrated expression just as an arrow zipped toward her head! Patchouli threw up her left hand, sending the arrow away with magical force just as Eirin jumped in front of her.

"You will not be allowed to lay a hand upon Kaguya." stated Eirin, staring dead into Patchouli's eyes.

"You're fast becoming an annoyance. Move away this instant!" demanded Patchouli.

Eirin held out her bow, materializing three arrows in it. She fired them... All of them instantly split into six more projectiles upon being fired! Patchouli held out her book, opening it to fire a number of metal disks that intercepted the arrows!

I'll take care of you fast, then go after your princess! thought Patchouli.

Eirin took to the air, Patchouli quickly following. Meanwhile, Alice had just finished using one of her sword wielding dolls to cleave a knight shikigami in two. She looked up and saw Patchouli and Eirin preparing to battle each other.

"Hey!" she shouted before following them.

***

"Agh!"

Wriggle recovered in mid-air, fresh off of a blow to her torso via Kaguya. Landing less than gracefully, the nightbug had her left hand to her stomach, and her right hand to the ground as she stopped her sliding whilst in a kneeling position. Marisa and Reimu were busy with the Inabas at the moment, while Patchouli and Alice battled with Eirin, meaning Wriggle was fighting the princess on her own at the moment. Not a good situation, especially if the battle from the previous night was any indication...

Wriggle stood up, ignoring her pain as she charged more green energy into her left hand...

"What a brave little youkai you are..." commented Kaguya with a calm smile as she landed.

"Little...?!" grumbled Wriggle with an undignified expression as she looked up, glaring at Kaguya.

"Little not just in stature, but also in intelligence. Not only have you fallen into an inescapable trap, but you've also been force to fight with me all by your lonesome. Honestly, how is it you expect to win?"

"I don't need to 'win' this fight necessarily, just free Mystia and escape from you is all." replied Wriggle.

The insect youkai looked down briefly before looking back up at the princess with a sly smile, even while green blood trickled down her mouth.

"Besides, I could never take a princess as ugly and feeble as yourself all that seriously anyway!"

Kaguya snarled a bit before smiling again.

"You truly are determined to rebel against me at every turn, aren't you...?"

Kaguya then pulled back her right hand, charging a rather familiar looking attack... Wriggle looked at it in alarm, intensifying her own attack as well.

"Such foolishness will be the end of you! Nothing that I have desired has ever eluded me, and you will not be the first!" exclaimed Kaguya before firing her blast. "Now give yourself up to me quietly!"

Wriggle's smile vanished, replaced by a look of 'oh crap...!' as she gritted her teeth, squinting her eyes but somehow not fully flinching at the brightly lit blast heading straight toward her! With sweat pouring down her face, Wriggle held out her right arm, unleashing her own powerful blast! The two attacks connected, clashing against each other. But even so, Kaguya's slowly overwhelmed Wriggle's blast and inched toward the firefly youkai girl!

"Gh...!"

Straining, Wriggle supported her right arm with her left, desperate to win this stand off. However...

"Something such as this will go nowhere... I intended for this to end quickly!" exclaimed Kaguya, still maintaining that unnerving smile.

The princess pulled her hand away, much to Wriggle's surprise. But even more surprising was the sudden explosion! With a loud boom and a white flash, Wriggle was sent flying backwards, sliding on her back across the ground!

"Ohh... Bad day..." mumbled Wriggle, looking upward just in time... "Wah...!"

The nightbug rolled out of the way just in time to avoid being crushed by a large metal club attached to the end of a long bronze chain! Kaguya moved and twirled as if dancing was she swung the magical chains from her sleeves at Wriggle. The nightbug was forced to jump, then duck, roll to the side in order to avoid the attacks! Finally, Kaguya threw up her arms, forcing both chains into the air!

"What is she...?!" asked Wriggle to herself as she stood by.

Widening her grin, Kaguya then threw her arms down simultaneously, sending both chains to the ground with a loud crash! Wriggle jumped backwards and instinctively taking to the air immediately afterward to avoid being crushed... Her instincts had served her well, for right after that attack came a white flash from where the chains landed! Suddenly, some twelve white, wispy bullets came flying out from the flash homing in on Wriggle, aiming to all strike her at once!

Surprised but quick to react, Wriggle turned upside down and  dropped downward, narrowly avoiding the white bullets that bounced off each other upon ramming each other. Turning herself right side up, Wriggle looked toward the pursuing projectiles, sending a volley of similar, green colored blasts from her right hand at them! Two of the blasts hit the mark while the rest continued moving in on Wriggle. Wriggle maneuvered quickly, yet carefully, letting one white bullets pass before shooting it down, spinning around to take out two more immediately afterward!

The remaining seven came at Wriggle from the front... The nightbug pulled out a mysterious, orb shaped object and put it in front of herself before moving away... Oddly, the blue object stayed in the air, not succumbing to the Earth's gravity. Suddenly, another loud explosion along with a white flash! The apparent bomb detonated upon the blasts coming too close to it.

Wriggle returned to the ground with her eyes closed... ...and almost immediately had to crouch to the left in order to avoid yet another chain swing! But this time she was ready. Remembering a lesson learned from the previous night's battle, she had intentionally landed close to the shocked looking Kaguya! She opened her eyes and yelled out as she sent a large green blast form her left hand right into the princess' torso! The blast exploded on the screaming Kaguya's chest as she was thrown backwards, her chains vanishing.

"From that far distance, I was at a severe disadvantage. It is an effective attack when the opponent is far. However, the user becomes almost helpless when the opponent comes within range of melee attacks! I hope you did not think I had failed to learn my lesson from the previous night's battle... ...your highness!" said Wriggle sternly, adding sarcasm to 'your highness'.

Kaguya rather quickly stood up, smiling in delight as magic mended her burnt clothes.

"Unexpected! I honestly found that almost impressive... Let us see what else you have learned!"

Upon saying that, Kaguya held out her right arm and unleashed a rather large white ball of pulsating energy right at Wriggle! Wriggle, having not enough time to dodge, responded by holding up both of her hands, energizing them right before the ball could contact them. The ball was stopped in mid-flight by Wriggle, but the insect girl strained visibly to ward off the intense blast!

"Even with your increased knowledge, the differences between our powers are like that of night and day!" boasted Kaguya with a giggle.

Just then, Wriggle put on a small smile, much to Kaguya's confusion as she dropped her own. By now, the ball of death had just about overwhelmed Wriggle... And that was when Wriggle let out a somewhat loud grunt as she used her right hand to toss the ball to the left! The blast exploded some distance away. Naturally, Kaguya looked a tad undignified...

Wriggle was by now quite grateful that Marisa and Patchouli had both shown her a few tricks shortly before they left the energy collection tower. Now looking a tad annoyed, Kaguya once again stretched out her right arm, unleashing the same attack as before. This time Wriggle was ready, dodging with ease.

"The same trick will not work twi-"

Wriggle was cut off as Kaguya spoke, suddenly wearing a twisted smile.

"Let's add a new twist then!"

Kaguya suddenly swung her left arm, unleashing some ten white bullets, smaller and faster moving than the previous attack! They moved in an unpredictable sine-like pattern.

"Whoa!" yelped Wriggle with a shocked expression as she saw the incoming bullets.

Wriggle saw no other choice but to charge into the bullet pattern, maneuvering her lithe frame past the bullets, albeit coming somewhat close to them. Kaguya began flying backwards, swinging her right arm to create a second wave of bullets. She aimed them directly at the gaps that Wriggle relied on in order to get passed the bullets, requiring Wriggle to twist around them with hard maneuvers! The nightbug grazed many bullets as she caught up with Kaguya.

Kaguya ceased her attack, leaping backwards as she began firing a series of more straightforward shots at Wriggle in rapid succession. Wriggle fired back in a similar manner while zipping around as many shots as she could. The two girls ran on foot towards the right (left for Kaguya) as they exchanged shots, many of which slammed into each other, causing small, white explosions! Both combatants frequently took glancing blows despite actively trying to dodge and intercept one another's attacks. However, this was of course better than taking a direct hit...

Not even a minute of this went by until Wriggle had decided that she had enough... She pulled out a spell card, holding it in her first two right fingers...

"Firefly Sign! Comet on Earth!"

The spellcard disappeared, as did the sight of Wriggle's body as she found herself surrounded by green energy. Kaguya halted her retreat just as the energy field covering Wriggle exploded into a mass of large blue energy orbs, supplimented by smaller green ones. Kaguya merely smiled.

"Something like this will be easy!"

Kaguya dodged the blue orbs with ease. The green orbs fired in single file lines that went in several different directions in a slow spiraling pattern, leaving enormous gaps that Kaguya could exploit to get to Wriggle with ease. The still smiling princess confidently moved toward her target, energizing her right hand with energy as she brought it in front of herself. However...

She's close enough? Scatter!"

Just then, the green orbs momentarily vanished then reappeared in front of Kaguya at nearly point blank range as a wall of death! Now a blue color, the orbs slammed into the visibly surprised princess! With a yelp, Kaguya was forced back, but she still managed to draw a spellcard in her left hand...

Soon there was an explosion of blue fire as the orbs slammed Kguya into the ground! Wriggle's spell ended, the energy disappearing. Wriggle herself looked at the large, yet quickly withering cloud of dust and smoke her attack had unwittingly created. She squinted her eyes for any sign of movement...

"No way... Did that attack...?"

Wriggle got her answer... She was startled to see Kaguya suddenly shoot out of the dust like a bat out of Hell, holding a bundle of charged, rainbow colored energy dead in Wriggle's face! Wriggle stood in absolute terror... When did Kaguya get so fast?!

"How do you like my emergency spell, insect? Hourai's Angelic Wing grants me augmented speed, along with this lovely laser here you see here."

Damn! I cannot block or dodge it from such a distance...! thought Wriggle, sweat pouring down her face.

"GAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:08:20 AM
Kaguya laughed without a hint of sanity as she unleashed her blast! There was a white flash and a brilliant rainbow explosion following the attack! Kaguya merely floated in place, waiting for the dust to clear... But when it did, all found was a small crater, no trace of her quarry... A confused expression marked her face.

W-what...? This is impossible! That blast was only strong enough to incapacitate her, rather than destroy her! And she certainly wasn't fast enough to dodge-

"Hee, you call that a laser? That was rather pathetic, ze!" said a familiar (and cute) voice from behind the princess.

Kaguya briefly held an expression of shock before her face darkened with contempt.

"You." she stated simply.

"Me." replied the annoyingly familiar voice.

Kaguya turned around to find Marisa... ...along with Wriggle, unscathed from the previous attack (but obviously, looking quite flustered).

"Of course... Only you could possibly be fast enough to pull a nick-of-time stunt such as that. I remember that speed of yours well, little black kitten." said Kaguya calmly with a look of contempt, not smiling at the moment.

There before Kaguya stood Marisa, standing next to a bewildered Wriggle, unscathed from the previous attack. The witch wore her usual confident smirk as she faced down Kaguya, broomstick held at her side. Wriggle held a hand below her neck, panting a bit from shock.

"It would seem my beloved Inabas weren't quite enough to deter you. I guess that the time for playing games is long passed, am I correct?" asked the princess rhetorically.

"Whoa, here it comes...! All aboard!" called Marisa as she snatched Wriggle, putting the youkai on her broom with her.

"Wah...!" Yelped the nightbug.

Strangely, Marisa flew away from Kaguya in full retreat... Odd... Or at least thats how it would seem until you realized that Marisa knew what was coming next... She looked back at Wriggle and blinked.

"Next up is a spellcard attack. Ya better hang on for dear life, ze!" warned Marisa to Wriggle in a happy manner.

Predictably, Kaguya pursued her two targets while brandishing a spellcard.

"Divine Treasure! Brilliant Dragon Bullet!"

Kaguya's being became surrounded by a rainbow colored aura as her spellcard vanished. The princess made no special gestures as hordes of arrow-headed lasers began pouring out from her position! Some flew straight down at Wriggle and Marisa, while others made limited attempts to home in on them. Marisa maneuvered around the attacks, waiting for the spellcard to expire.

"What power...!" said Wriggle even as she was pelted with dust from the many explosions going off around her.

"That's Kaguya for ya! Geez, she even improved it! I honestly didn't expect that from someone like her..." said Marisa, still with that wide smile, hanging on to her hat as she sped away from Kaguya's assault.

"She can be crafty, as we both have found out. Oh, and thanks for that save back there Marisa. I thought that would be the end of my battle." said Wriggle, talking loudly to ensure she was heard over the explosions.

"Ey, thank me later!" said Marisa, still holding her smile. "Lets give her royal pain the ass a good pounding first!"

"It would be my pleasure to do just that, however she is rather powerful compared to us... We must attack together if we are to best her!"

"Don't gotta tell me twice! In fact, I just happen to have a plan!" claimed the witch with confidence.

Marisa veered while adjusting altitude non-stop as she continued avoiding the assault. Wriggle of course held on for dear life. Neither girl knew they'd be able to get a shot off like this...

Wait, since when does Marisa formulate plans?! thought Wriggle in honest surprise, hiding her shock.

"Tis a very quick and easy plan, you see... It goes like this..."

***

"How vexing... For them to last this long is most impressive." commented Kaguya to herself. "But my aim is true."

In the minute and a half Kaguya's spell had been active, the princess had been purposely guiding her shots into a manner where they would hit the ground around Marisa and Wriggle in every possible direction. Even with Marisa's swift evasions, the shots slowly closed in on the two heroines, leaving them with fewer, and fewer places to go. Kaguya noticed that it was getting harder and harder for the two to evade with every passing second. The only thing irked Kaguya was that she thought they would be hit by now. She had clearly underestimated Marisa's dodging ability.

She was not at all worried however, smiling in fact. She continued her assault until Marisa and Wriggle were blown to the left from the shock wave of a blast that had come incredibly close to hitting them. Mere seconds after this, one of the beams appeared to finally hit directly... The black, white and green streak that had been racing just above the ground dodging Kaguya's deadly rays had suddenly vanished!

"Ufufufufufu..."

Upon disengaging her spellcard, the princess descended down to the cloud of smoke that covered the hole that she expected her targets to be lying unconscious in... She walked forward toward it upon landing on the ground.

"I guess she was all talk, just like last time. Too bad." cooed the princess in a playful tone. Now there isn't anything stopping me! If I hurry, I can complete the ritual without any further interuption. Its only a matter of time before...

At that moment, Marisa -unhurt and flying on her broom- suddenly shot out of the smoke like a bat out of Hell, speeding toward a very much surprised Kaguya! The broom was glowing a blue color as stars shot out of it from behind...

"What the...?!" gasped Kaguya, now in a cold sweat.

"How does a taste of your own medicine sound? Comet...!" shouted Marisa with a rather evil smile.

"Ahh...!"

Kaguya tried to fly off, but it was too late...

"...BLAZING STAR!"

Before Kaguya knew it, the tip of Marisa's broom was crashing hard into her stomach like a hammer smashing an egg! The princess was sent speeding backwards, even after the broom unenergized and lost its glow after several moments.

Pretending to be hit in order to cover for an attack...! thought the pained princess.

As the princess tried to recover and regain her breath, Marisa was behind the broom, hanging on via magic thread! Using the broom's momentum, she flew forward at Kaguya, Hakkero in hand!

"Ya let your guard down because the nightbug and I don't seem very strong, didn't you...? Thats a mistake you're now gonna have to pay for dearly, Kaguya!"

As the broom fell, Marisa rose at Kaguya, striking her dead in the stomach with the Hakkero! The impact created a small explosion of rainbow colored energy as Kaguya shrieked loudly from the pain! After that, Marisa used her weapon a bludgeoning device as she nailed Kaguya in the head, sending her darting toward the ground! With both girls at gravity's mercy, Kaguya was forced to use her power to soften her landing... ...however, it as still a pretty hard landing, complete with a loud thud with dust flying everywhere. Marisa landed far more gracefully, firing a high-recoil laser blast upon getting within a certain distance of the ground to lower her speed, allowing her to land safely, and gracefully. The witches' broom returned to her upon a simple snap of her fingers.

Marisa merely smiled, holding her broom over her shoulder with her right hand. Kaguya coughed loudly as she slowly tried to sit up... She glared at Marisa with GREAT anger.

"B... Blast you...! Accursed witch, how dare you trick me!" growled Kaguya.

"Whaaaatever. Its really your own fault for underestimating us, princess. Did ya honestly think we could be hit by an attack such as that?" replied Marisa.

Now very clearly angry, Kaguya rather quickly stood up. Marisa was rather startled by this, but she hid it. Well, mostly...

Yeesh! I forgot how hardy these immortals can be!

"You insolent little animal, I shall now give you something that you had coming to you for a VERY long time!" announced the princess.

"Naaah." replied Marisa, not appearing worried.

Taking no time to wonder why the witch just stood there, Kaguya walked up to her stationary target only to stop a few moments later... Her sense warned her to look behind herself... She did so just in time...

...for Wriggle was dropping in on her from above and behind, aiming a hard, magically enhanced punch right at the princess' head! Gasping, Kaguya jumped away just in time for the surprise attack to miss its mark! Wriggle's fist went straight through the ground instead.

"Blast!" said Wriggle to herself, upset at the missed attack.

Wriggle next clenched her fists and held her arms outward and upward her sides for a brief moment before turning to Kaguya and swinging her arms down in front of herself, unleashing two large, semi-crescent shaped energy blasts! Kaguya held up her right hand, forming a red card... It formed a small energy shield that stopped both blasts... ...barely. Thats when Marisa pounced from behind, attempting to nail Kaguya with a pointblank energy shot! This time Kaguya was ready, immediately turning her shield toward the attack to block as she zipped out of the way, and kicked Marisa!

"Gah!"

The witch was unable to defend, getting knocked down to the ground. Wriggle moves in next, only to have her torso meet with one of Kaguya's arm chains. The nightbug slid backwards in a kneeling position, her left hand on her stomach, and right on the ground.

"Hnnn... You would do well to not get cocky from merely landing a few blows on me... That goes for both of you!"

Wriggle caught her breath as she stood up...

"You were the cocky one not too long ago, your highness." pointed out Wriggle as she glared at her enemy.

Kaguya returned the glare as she stood  up. From a certain point of view, it would almost appear as if Kaguya was about to explode with rage as the irony of Wriggle's words hit her like a tidal wave. For a few moments if looked as if this was indeed becoming the case. However, perhaps to one's shock -certainly to the shock of Wriggle, and even the mild surprise of Marisa- Kaguya calmed right down. Despite panting and her face being covered in sweat, Kaguya's patience and self-control returned... ...as did that ever sinister smile. Rather than rage, Kaguya felt amused by the irony...

"Fufufufu... You are correct. I did underestimate the two of you. It was foolish of me to think you'd be hit in such a manner. That strategy wasn't too bad for something surely conceived in mere moments. However, just it'll take more than I have been giving up until now to best me, little tricks such as that will fail to defeat me in turn." said Kaguya calmly, even confidently.

"Heh... Then I guess we'll just keep poundin' ya until you are defeated!" said Marisa happily, now standing once again.

"So we fight until we can no longer so much as move a finger...? If that is what I must do to take you down and save Mystia..." resolved Wriggle.

"Hmm..." purred Kaguya as she created a dark purple aura of energy around herself. "Kindly show me your resolve, both of you!"

With Marisa in front, and Wriggle behind, Kaguya took a fighting stance, as did her opponents...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:09:17 AM
***

Elsewhere farther away from the Seal of Koro, a large white flash -the spawn of another battle- could be seen. Right afterward, arrows and giant hail stones slammed into each other at incredible speeds by the thousands! Eirin and Patchouli flew low to the ground, circling, dodging and sidestepping as they fought their frantic battle.

Soon Eirin was flying backwards, speeding away from a charging Patchouli -who perhaps strangely- gained fast. After getting within a few meters of her target, the purple librarian snapped open her spell book, letting out a paper thin wall of energy that resembled the pages of her book! Eirin back flipped as she avoided the attack, firing three arrows from her bow upon landing. Each arrow split into six, forcing the still charging Patchouli to weave through them. The nurse stepped off to the side as Patchouli fought back with a number of metal cutting disks, throwing them at the evading nurse. Eirin got some distance, then stood her ground.

"Ufufufufu..." chuckled Eirin with a very slight smile. "I'll make this quick..."

Patchouli did not say anything, merely glaring at Eirin. Just as the two were about to attack each other again, they both sensed something...

"Hey you!"

Eirin sensed an incoming attack from both, her left directly behind. She leaped to right in time to avoid a rain of dolls that exploded on contact with the ground! Eirin and Patchouli both shielded their eyes from the explosion's flash.

"Silly nurse, I was hoping you hadn't forgotten about me!" called out Alice as she landed in front of Eirin, her free hand on her hip."

"It seems I have to deal with both of you... Very well." replies Eirin, before flying straight into the air and taking out a spellcard.

"Spacesphere! Earth in a Pot!"

A red aura surrounded Eirin mere seconds before her eyes briefly flashed red before returning to normal, and a sphere of destructive dark red energy surrounded her. Her spellcard briefly glowed red before vanishing.

"Bah, a simple barrier is nothing more than child's play!" said Alice with a confident smile as she put her grimoire in her left hand, and stretched out her right arm.

Some fifteen dolls appeared in front of the puppeteer, each holding a bow and arrow. They all unleashed many yellow, arrow shaped bullets at Eirin at once, aiming to shatter her apparent forcefield and take the nurse down a notch! Eirin merely smiled as said bullets were absorbed by the field without appearing to take any damage. Patchouli looked at the energy sphere in in a suspicious manner before perking up as if realizing something, reaching her right arm toward Alice and firing a powerful blast of wind... Alice was blown out of the way just in time as Eirin charged forward inside her energy sphere, completely disintegrating the ground Alice had been standing on mere moments before! Alice sat up on the ground, shocked.

"She can move while holding that energy sphere...? Is that even possible?!" she asked to no one in particular.

Meanwhile, Eirin had turned her attention to Patchouli, who was using more wind power to speed her retreat away from the powerful nurse.

"What manner of forcefield...?!"

During her retreat, Patchouli used a spell to erect a great many spires of ice from the ground to crash into Eirin. But the nurse merely shrugged off the blows, not even slowing down as the attacks were annihilated!

"Things such as these are mere trivialities for my excellent Spacesphere. If you don't so mind, I'd like to show you what other unique tricks this card of mine is capable of." chuckled Eirin.

By now Alice had stood up and was on her guard against any further attacks from Eirin. Meanwhile, Patchouli was still backing away from the advancing Eirin, throwing all manner of attacks at her while dodging and darting away, doing all she could to avoid being hit by the deadly sphere. Alice flew toward Eirin while preparing a spellcard...

"White Sign! Chalk-White Russian Dolls!"

Alice's card briefly flashed white before vanishing. Following immediately, numerous dolls began appearing on either side of Eirin, letting out swarms of blue and white bullets! Unfortunately, the result was no different than before... The bullets were merely blocked without effort by Eirin's Spacesphere. Eirin herself ceased her pursuit of Patchouli.

"So simple... Will not either of you learn? Juvenile techniques such as these have no chance against a refined combat style such as my own." said Eirin with her eyes closed. "Even together you stand no cha-"

"Can it already!" interupted Alice, visibly irritated by Eirin's remarks as she cringed. "No one wants to hear mindless and unfounded bragging! Curse! Hourai Doll!"

Alice reached forward with her right hand while gaining altitude.

"That fool, what does she...?" asked Patchouli to herself, thinking out loud as she looked up at her fellow youkai.

A doll wielding an orange glowing spellcard appeared directly in front of Alice's outstretched hand... And a moment afterward, a large orange and purple ray of light shot out from where the doll was, straight at Eirin! The nurse looked up at the incoming attack, a mix of intrigue and mild shock on her face as she raised an eyebrow. Her confidence in her own spellcard however was too great to warrant any active dodging, and she chose to take the attack head on instead.

Patchouli watched, shielding her squinting eyes with her left arm, shocked to see Eirin and her bubble both being forced down by the attack as opposed to merely shrugged off! Eirin appeared to be straining somewhat as she pushed against the beam, ultimately being forced further toward the ground!

"I... ...see! So you choose an attack meant... ...to pierce as opposed to outright destroying... Clever...!" called out Eirin.

It was not long before the Spacesphere encased Eirin hit the ground, setting off a violent shock wave that forced Patchouli to back away to avoid being thrown by the sheer forces along with all the dust and dirt being kicked up! Alice yelled out as she continued her assault, not letting up for a second, even as Eirin disappeared into the ground! It was not long until the ground itself began to crack and away and break at the sheer force from the clash of magics.

"YAAAAAH!" let out Alice.

With that, the beam expanded in size! A large bundle of energy built up around where Eirin was for some thirty seconds right before a bright explosion! Patchouli and Alice both shielded their eyes from the bright flash. When the blast cleared, they could see a rather large cloud of smoke and dust at and around where Eirin was supposed to be. There was no sign of the nurse... With her spellcard expired, Alice wondered if she had won. Patchouli silently hoped that did the trick...

Even after a full minute, nothing happened. The two youkai girls could not see the Lunarian nurse anywhere. Alice was beginning to wonder if they had won... Patchouli however didn't drop her guard for a second. She was right to do so. If only Alice had followed suit...

The doll maker remained in place, allowing a small nervous smile to creep upon her face.

"Ah... Ha... Ha ha ha ha...! Was it all merely a front, boastful nurse? How silly, talking in such a confident manner without even being able to remain true to your words!" yelled the laughing Alice down to the large hole her attack made. "Ha ha ha!"

"You fool, we don't know if she's truly beaten yet!" warned Patchouli, only barely overcoming her ever fatigued voice.

And as if on cue, Eirin -still encased inside her deadly Spacesphere- came flying out of the ground like a bullet directly behind the shocked Alice!

"YAA?!" squealed Alice as she turned around, holding out her right arm once again.

"One seeming moment of apparent hope, and you immediately think that constitutes a decisive advantage over me? Most foolish you are." said Eirin calmly with a smile as she barreled toward Alice.

The only thing the doll maker could do was summon a number of large-shield wielding dolls in front of herself, Eirin slamming right into them! As this happened, all the small shields formed a single, large-sized shield! A bright clash of energies was created as the two magics clashed!

What is this?! I've never seen a spellcard that could be sustained for this long! Its been over a minute, has it not?! thought Patchouli to herself.

"Ahh...!"

Alice was now quite sweaty, straining visibly to fight off Eirin's attack... ...and still losing.

"Such a child, you clearly have much to learn. Did you really think my Spacesphere was incapable of surviving such an attack, clever as it was? It would've been better for you to acknowledge your inferiority to the princess and I and surrendered quietly. Whatever pain and suffering you must now endure because of this fool hardy attitude of yours is of your own bringing" said Eirin, as her attack began to crack Alice's shield. "Alas, it maybe the only way to get one as yourself to understand the difference between us. I guess this is really all I can expect of your lot. Even with a partner you cannot best me."

Alice's shield quickly gave way, allowing Eirin to slam her Spacesphere into her. Alice cringed hard as dark red energy racked her body! She was sent plummeting to the ground like the bullet of a gun, screaming all the while! She hit the ground with a thud, rolling a yard or two, and appearing to have been knocked unconscious. Her loyal Shanghai doll flew down to her, attempting to shake its mistress awake with a panicked look on its face as Alice moaned nearly inaudibly.

Patchouli stepped back while taking out two spellcards... Naturally, Eirin now focused all her attention on the librarian. The nurse began moving quickly toward Patchouli...

Bah... Its hypocritical and embarrassing to use this, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Furthermore, I don't think I have any say in the matter... It seems you've rubbed off on me a bit Marisa... thought Patchouli to herself, smiling nervously for a brief moment.

Eirin stopped some distance away from Patchouli. She crossed her arms, completely confident of her victory.

"All there is left to do now is to dispose of you, Patchouli-san. Witness the further abilities of this Spacesphere."

Eirn's sphere suddenly vanished! Patchouli blinked in surprise just as Eirin crouched down, folding her arms one over another before suddenly spreading them out! Patchouli sensed the incoming attack right at the last moment, summoning winds to blow her to the side just as seven large, dark red crescent shaped cutting blades became visible just as they were about to hit! The librarian lost a small bit of hair to the close call, nearly getting thrown away by the subsequent explosion! Patchouli immediately moved in for a counter attack.

?Magic Blade! Extend, Power of Mighty Blade!?

Patchouli's right arm became a large, green, single sided energy blade as she dashed at the seemingly vulnerable Eirin! Eirin stood calmly, holding out her bow.

"Extend, Blade of The Bow! Shining Death Blade!" shouted the nurse.

A crescent shaped energy blade of silver materialized on the bow's upward facing tip! The two girls rushed at each other, clashing their blades with a force so great, that the magical energy split the ground beneath them! They bounced away from each other, Patchouli dissipating her blade as she took out a spellcard, the same one from earlier. Eirin reformed her Spacesphere.

So its still up afterall... I dared not put anything passed this spell. I guess its time... thought Patchouli. "Handle this! Ritualic Space! Orreries Solar System!"

Patchouli's spellcard vanished, just as a rainbow colored aura surrounded her. Eirin briefly raised an eyebrow before smiling, intrigued.

"Well now, what sort of technique do you have in mind now?" asked Eirin softly. "Its sure to be sub-standard, that much I expect."

"Such a snooty mouth..." uttered Patchouli as angelic wings sprouted from her back. "Perhaps, I'll be the one to put you in your place?"

The aura disappeared as Patchouli was surrounded by six spheres that materialized around her! One blue, one green, one yellow, one purple, one orange, and one red. They all appeared to be of a solid, glassy substance. Eirin's sphere vanished once more as she prepared to attack. The nurse held up her bow, firing arrows that instantly transformed into bullets made from the Spacesphere's energy upon being fired. Patchouli held up her right arm, her spheres moving away from her, going to the front while remaining in a circular formation. They span around, as they deflected Eirin's shots! Eirin looked visibly startled by the repulsion. Patchouli let a small smile creep onto her face.

"This is my answer to that little sphere of yours. Twas not difficult to figure out that it is, in fact, an amalgamation of subspace energy. That is how it is able to take so much punishment without any real damage. The only answer to something as that is something that is similar, if not the same." explained Patchouli.

"So those spheres are like my own..." chuckled Eirin. "Then this battle will be between those who have mastered subspace attack magics: us."

Eirin reformed her sphere and charged right at Patchouli. The librarian brought all her spheres together in a tight circular pattern to block Eirin before pushing her back. Patchouli then had the blue sphere smash into Eirin's sphere, sending her back further. Eirin however remained calm...

"Hm... I'll make this a spectacular show..." she said, sounding... ...amused.

Eirin spread her arms out, the sphere expanding and turning blue! Patchouli twitched.

"Going all out already...? Then again, our duel is far from over... Very well, I shall oblige you!" responded Patchouli.

Patchouli pointed her right arm forward at Eirin. The colored spheres began glowing a bright white color as they began moving as if orbiting an invisible point! This spinning caused the spheres to appear like that of a large shining white ring! They zoomed over to the still charging Eirin, slamming into her expanding Spacesphere! The two energies clashed as if a huge lightening rod on the ground, magical energies of a great many different colors shooting up into the sky like inverted lightening bolts!

Both combatants strained visibly from the difficulty of maintaining their powerful spells, sweat rolling down their faces and clothes blowing about (though their head wear managed to stay on). Eirin gritted her teeth, closing one eye as her sphere began to crack... Resisting, she let out a brief yell, her sphere suddenly expanding greatly! Patchouli staggered backwards, dropping her book to keep her right arm up and steady using her left hand! She fell to one knee as she resisted Eirin's resolve. It was becoming hard to breath... Although Eirin's sphere was giving way, it became clear that Patchouli would be outlasted if things continued in this manner. Her own spheres were horribly cracked, pieces falling from them...

Blast... This will take a good bit out of me, but I haven't any real choice!

Patchouli had her left hand take the place of her right as she reached down to pull out a spellcard, Eirin unable to see what was happening.

"All elements... Become... ...one..." muttered Patchouli, pushing herself passed her limits. "Come together... ...aid my battle..."

The spellcard glowed a rainbow color as Patchouli held it in front of herself.

"Become unified as you best the enemy before you! Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth Sign! Philosopher's Stone!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:10:09 AM
A large magical circle appeared on the ground in front of Patchouli as her spellcard vanished!

Ha! Using two spellcards at once? With a fragile body such as that, she might as well be contemplating suicide! laughed Eirin in her head, half shocked, half amused.

Surely Patchouli had to know the danger of exerting so much effort in a body such as hers... But she went through with it anyway. The large purple pentagram-like circle that appeared before Patchouli had four purple circles in it with a different color filled in for each. One blue, one green, one yellow, and one light purple. Four crystals arose from the colored-in circles, corresponding to the color of the circle from which they emerged, rising to a certain height above the ground before the large magical circle from whence they came vanished.

The incredible power display caused by the the clash of the  Orreries Solar System and Spacesphere spells was suddenly interrupted as the damaged Solar System spheres disengaged Eirin, flying back some distance before falling away and losing all color! Meanwhile, Eirin's sphere of power continued to grow, now uninhibited by Patchouli's attack!

"Ah, is that all you had for that spell? Those stones seem to be your final line of defense now, Miss Librarian. Those stones will do little to protect you." stated Eirin. "Now for the fini-"

"Not quite... Your overconfidence and mindless ego will yet be your downfall, insolent nurse." interrupted Patchouli with a weak smile.

Patchouli continued holding up her right arm, holding the Philosopher's Stone spell. Eirin was puzzled as to why Patchouli would say such a thing, even in this dire situation... And thats when it happened... The nurse was shocked to hear a voice coming from directly above her!

"Puppeteer Sign! Maiden's Bunraku!"

("Bunraku" is the name for traditional Japanese puppet theater. "Maiden's Bunraku" is a style of performance where a Bunraku puppet, normally controlled by up to three people, is controlled by only one girl.)

Eirin looked up to find none other than Alice directly above her, bearing a red aura along with a number of red dressed dolls, all with their own red auras as well! Alice held out her right arm, as the dolls held out theirs. Eirin was more than startled by this sight, evidenced by the cold sweat that broke out on her face.

The rainbow colored puppeteer...?! This isn't possible...! Why didn't I sense her?! thought Eirin to herself. "How can you still move?! You took the full brunt of my Spacesphere's power... Youkai or not, you should have been unconscious far longer than that!"

"If you thought I would taken down that quickly and easily then you are sorely mistaken! Again you have underestimated my ability! Now you shall pay for it in the form of this powerful danmaku!" stated Alice, a displeased look on her face. "Now dolls... FIRE!"

Alice and her dolls shot out numerous large red beams and energy balls at Eirin! They hit both, the sphere and the areas around it!

"You waste your energy, fool! The result will always be the same as-"

Eirin failed to finish her sentence as something caught her eye... She looked back to Patchouli, shocked to find the Solar System spheres regaining their color while returning to the air, glowing white as they did so!

"N-no...! That spell was over...!" half shouted Eirin, a look of genuine fear marking her face for the first time in the battle.

"Far from, wench!" replied Patchouli, her smile gone. "You fell right into our trap! That subspace sphere of yours dulls your already poor ability to sense others around you. Typical, only someone with your arrogance would exacerbate their own weakness! Tell me, are all Lunarians so poor in that sense?"

"But there wasn't anyway for you to set up this trap! You had no chance to speak with the other girl directly!" half shouted Eirin.

"Wrong again! Alice and I are youkai. Youkai can sense each others plights and pain, not through direct communication, but through action alone! Alice was able to sense what I wanted her to do merely from me fighting against you! You nurse... ...have failed." explains Patchouli.

"What an absurdity! I've heard nothing of this before!"

"You live amongst numerous youkai, and yet you never once saw it...? This is really pathetic... At the very least you now know that you know less than you thought. Next time you see one of your rabbits fight, count how long it takes until her nearest allies arrive. There is but one thing left to do now..."

"You will not...!" called out Eirin before stopping herself. No...! The sphere is taking damage from non-subspace attacks?!

The Solar System spheres began spinning, creating a large white ring once again. The crystals from the Philosopher's Stone spell began spinning as well, also creating their own tube-like ring of sorts!

They intend to break my barrier with a single swift blow! I don't know if I can guard against this...! thought Eirin to herself in panic.

"Now feel this combined power! You who would blindly risk Gensokyo for the dark dreams of your insane princess!" yelled Patchouli.

With that, the two large disks of white energy slammed into each other, creating a single, large pearl white ring of concentrated, pulsating energy, spinning in a manner that made it look like a galaxy as a sparkles fell from it!

"Take this!"

Eirin held her mouth open wide, retina's dot sized, and sweat pouring down her face as the large ring of death sped toward her. Knowing she would have little chance of dodging the attack, even if she could safely bypass Alice's continuing barrage. Instead, she put all her effort into maintaining her Spacesphere, the best hope she had at warding off the attack.

The powerful white ring slammed into Eirin's barrier, causing another massive light show of spectacular power as the two spells clashed once more! Eirin grit her teeth as she braced herself and held her ground, resisting with as much effort as she could muster. This time, SHE was the one at a disadvantage as blocking the Solar System spheres, combined with the more conventional magical attacks proved most difficult. Her whole body felt the strain as it filled with pain and stiffened. Much to her credit however she continued standing firmly... ...but for how long?

"This... This cannot... ...be...! How... ...can... ...they...?!"

Despite all her effort, Eirin's sphere was giving way, cracking as it shifted from a dark red to dark blue color all over at random. Soon white light was all she could see as the attack finally overwhelmed her own. As her Spacesphere dissolved, Eirin could swear time slowing down for her (despite the lack of Sakuya's presence). She felt a powerful force lift her from the ground, sending her on a seemingly long journey backwards. During the flash, there was but one thing she could think about...

I won't let this be... Princess...!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:10:49 AM
***

Patchouli and Alice shielded their eyes from the bright white explosion, looking toward the large cloud of dust afterwards. Not about to repeat of earlier in the battle, Patchouli waved her right hand, sending wind to blow away the dust. She ended up revealing Eirin, propped up against her bow, using it like a crutch. Whether she had recovered somehow, or had just finished staggering up was unclear. She had her left hand over mouth as she coughed a bit, her eyes teary as well with the left one being only barely open, looking squarely at Patchouli. Clearly she had been hit squarely with the dust. Her clothes were dirty and lightly tattered. Her deadly Spacesphere was finally gone.

Without a word, Patchouli began walking toward Eirin, inspite of her clear fatigue. Eirin herself merely looked at the approaching Patchouli as she used a very low level spell to clear her eyes. As the she approached, Patchouli opend her book, holding it in her left hand as she held her right palm over it. She stopped when...

"You were right Miss Librarian." said Eirin.

Patchouli raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed you were correct. I have underestimated you, your partner as well. I was arrogant and foolish to take you so lightly, thinking I could be rid of you so quickly. Now I've allowed this damage to be incurred to me, weakening my fighting ability considerably." said Eirin calmly.

"What a liar you are." replied Patchouli after a moments pause.

Eirin twitched.

"Your Spacesphere took the brunt of that attack. The damage you suffered as a result was moderate. Your fighting ability has weakened, but not what I'd call considerably."

Eirin then... ...smiled.

"Well... Regardless of who's right, it really matters not." said the nurse.

"Hm?"

"Do you not see...? As you have your resolve, I have mine."

Eirin stood up straight and began moving as if to take a firing stance with her bow. Alice, who was listening from above readied a spellcard...

"You see you two, long ago I made a terrible mistake... One which I atone for to this day by serving Kaguya-hime. I will not bother you with the details, but if you know nothing else, then know this..."

Patchouli waited.

"As long as I can fight, and as long as she she can be happy and as long as she has a dream... Then I will continue to fight for her sake, defending her with every breath!"

The determination in Eirin's voice was powerful, as was the passion in her eyes.

"Even if such a dream is twisted and selfish?" asked Patchouli indifferently.

"For her sake. For her happiness." reaffirmed Eirin.

Patchouli closed her eyes, seeming... ... ...put off.

"You are... You are nothing more than her dog, aren't you... This reminds me far too well of a certain other relationship. How... ...disgusting."

Eirin raised an eyebrow... Did she mean...?

"I see... If you insist on this foolish fighting then you'll have to have your stubborn mind unclouded forcefully! Alice!"

"Right!" responded Alice from above Eirin as she activated her spellcard. "Elegant Sign! Spring Kyoto Dolls! Make her pay for her blind loyalty!"

Blue dressed and elegant looking dolls began circling Alice as they materialized, letting out swarms of turquoise, lime-green and dull yellow colored, diamond shaped bullets at Eirin! The nurse tried to get away, but was startled to find her body too stiff! She gasped as she stumbled, the whole mess of bullets crashing down on Eirin like deadly rain! Patchouli stood in front of the barrage, waiting for the spell to end. Watching the barrage was like watching a well of deadly light.

A little over a minute passed when Alice's spell gave out. Patchouli and Alice merely waited for the dust to clear...

"Hmph! That should really teach her a lesson! It serves her right for making us go through all this trouble!" said Alice passionately.

Patchouli waited without words, soon seeing Eirin's face down body on the ground. The nurse no longer moved. Her clothes had been further tattered, along with having burn marks. But Patchouli grew suspicious... It should have looked far worse than that... Alice came back to the ground behind the nurse, smiling triumphantly over the downed Eirin. It would've seemed that the battle had been won by Alice and Patchouli.

That was exactly why both girls were horrified to see pull her left arm back as she attempted to stand up.

"Th-that isn't possible...!" cried Alice as she had her dolls fire arrow bullets at the recovering nurse.

Patchouli gritted her teeth as she pointed her book at Eirin, letting out a large fireball. Both attacks however were stopped just short of hitting, exploding as if hitting an invisible dome...! They could see a very faint, almost invisible barrier around Eirin...

"Impossible, that Spacesphere should have been completely annihilated!" hissed Patchouli with a nervous expression.

"She should be down for the count! Why is...?!"

Alice was interrupted by chuckling coming from the rising Eirin.

"Ufufufufufu... It would seem... ...my little last minute gamble... ...has paid off." began Eirin. "Well... ...to a limited extent at least..."

"What are you getting at?!" chides Patchouli.

"Twas a terribly risky thing to do... If that ring of death had not felled me, then my own maneuver would have. How fortunate... That was not to be." began Eirin as she stood up. "What I did was  no different than anyone else... ...when fighting a danmaku duel."

"This is preposterous! You can only take back magical energy needed to use spellcards, not the energy from the spellcards themselves!" insisted Patchouli.

"To do otherwise is potential suicide, even for an immortal like yourself!" added Alice.

"Which is why I said it was a gamble." repeated Eirin. "But the benefits outweighed -and in this case, overcame- the risks. So now, even though my spellcard is no more, I am still able to use a small portion of its power."

Alice and Patchouli prepared themselves for anything...

"And as for my stiffened body..."

Eirin winced as she bent her fingers inward. Patchouli and Alice both fired at her again in a desperation to stop her, but their attack once again failed. Eirin inaudibly mumbled something... Suddenly, she could hear ever muscle in her body loosen and stretch, suddenly regaining their prior mobility! It came at the cost of a short lived sharp pain, but she considered this nothing... She smiled as she prepared to continue her battle.

"This weak field has brought me all the time I needed. And now, I will return the previous favor to you both with its remaining power. With the strength I have retained, I will end this battle once and for all."

Leaving her bow on the ground, Eirin stood straight, crossing her arms in front of herself before suddenly spreading them outward to her sides. Her barrier suddenly exploded into hundreds, if not thousands of deadly red and white bullets upon her doing this! Patchouli and Alice put up forcefields and doll shields respectively, attempting to shield themselves from the sudden and fierce attack! The bullets slammed into the shields like machine gun rounds, pelting them like mad! It was not long until the shields broke, sending Alice and Patchouli both flying backwards whilst being pelted with Eirin's bullets.

"Gah!"

"Nyaah!"

Both slid on the ground a short distance upon landing. They tried to get up, but Eirin wasn't having it.

"There is still one last trick I can do with this spell..." said Eirin more to herself.

She held out her left arm out, pointing it at Patchouli. Before the librarian could do anything, she found herself inside of a weak Spacesphere, one around the size Eirin had before spell was broken!

"Wha? What is this...?!" thought Patchouli out loud, looking around her transparent prison.

Eirin merely smiled as she pulled her arm back whle picking up her bow with her right. Bullets began raining down on Patchouli from inside the sphere. Caught by surprise, all the librarian could do was to barely dodge the first few shots before shielding herself with a forcefield that she put every last ounce of effort into holding! Eirin immediately turned around just in time to catch the arm of a charging Alice, twisting around and throwing the doll user back the way she came! Alice recovered in mid-air, having three of her dolls fire bullets at Eirin, only to have them evaded with the dolls shot down by several arrows.

Taking to the sky, Eirin held up her left arm, forming a small energy orb above her open left hand before throwing it at Alice. The doll maker dodged the attack, sheilding her face from the dust, dirt and smoke the orb's explosion kicked up with her arms. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her torso as Eirin moved in, crashing her right foot into the puppeteer's stomach, sending her flying a very short distance before falling to the ground with a gasp! Ignoring the pain, Alice immediately stood back up, only to find Eirin walking toward her, three arrows in her bow.

Dammit! thought Alice.

"Well now... You've caused quite a bit of trouble for us... That should be ending very soon however. Are you ready for the second round?" asked Eirin with a smile.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:11:36 AM
***

Elsewhere, closest to the seal...

"Ungh! I told you to stop doing that to me!" protested the tied up Mystia as she was forcefully dragged closer to the great seal via path down the cliff filled crater by Inabas. "I said stop that! Does it really seem as if there is any sort of need to treat me so roughly?!"

"If you wouldn't resist so much, we wouldn't have to handle you so rough." stated on of the Inabas. "Then theres your night blindness ability. It would be bad if you got away using that, so we're holding onto you to make sure that you don't escape even if you use it."

Two rabbits held onto Mystia, walking side by side with her, holding her arms. Well, perhaps something along the lines of 'manhandling' would be a better way to describe how the rabbit girls were handling her. They were rather pushy, pulled a lot, and were generally rough. In addition to those two, more Inabas walked with them from the front and the back.

"I'm doing nothing to escape! Just stop handling my person with such unnecessary vigor!" pointed out Mystia.

With her arms tied, and Inabas keeping a good eye one her, Mystia knew she would never escape on her own right now. Furthermore, Mystia's wing still needed just a bit more time to heal completely. The pain in it had all but vanished, but it still was hard to move, feeling rather stiff, stinging mildly when she tried to do so. She was no doubt being taken to the seal was... She could see a great light... ...a green one... ...just to her right. What an aura...

"Of course... The seal is down there, right?" she asked somewhat nervously, calming her tone from mere moments ago.

"Thats right! Mistress will be here to help you embrace your destiny soon, so wait quietly." said one of the rabbit girls.

"All she wishes to do is to make my life hell, can't you fools see that? Just who does this mistress of yours think she is? To manipulate others in such a foul manner?" protests Mystia.

"Aren't the words you're speaking any familiar to you?" asked an Inaba innocently.

"We know you use your night blindness abilities to draw humans to your grilled lamprey stand! Shouldn't this be just a small bit ironic for you?" said another.

"Perhaps... But when did I ever dictate their lives, and force them to do things they did not enjoy? People took pleasure from eating the lamprey I served, leaving for their homes in high spirits afterwards, but what of this? I made people and youkai alike happy at that stand I lured them to. That was hardly similar to the kidnapping and enslavement your mistress has subjected me to! I do not enjoy any of this at all!"

"Regardless, you are Mistress Kaguya's puppet now. You'll come to enjoy serving her." said an Inaba.

"As you all enjoy serving her...? You puppets?!" asked Mystia, emphasizing 'puppets.'

Some of the Inabas began talking quietly amongst themselves, but that wouldn't last long...

"Foolish bird, we are Kaguya's friends, not her puppets! She is very friendly to us, and cares for us! We'd gladly give our lives for her!"

"Even as she is now..." said Mystia in a low tone.

"What do you mean? We're merely carrying out her desires as we've done for several thousand years."

"That was not a question... Nevermind, just know that blind loyalty in place of true friendship can only lead to suffering." said Mystia, saying no more after that. Even I know that... These youkai rabbits... ...are all fools.

The Inabas just laughed, amused by the seemingly ridiculous notion that Kaguya was just using them. The nightbird did not really hear them due to being in her own thoughts, deciding they would pay in time... As Mystia thought that, the ancient seal finally came into full view. She was astonished. What size... It looked like a brightly glowing green gem with a large, magical above it, an almost as large yin-yang symbol inside the circle. In addition to all this, the seal looked as if thousands of fireflies were flying right out of it, along with hundreds of bird feathers orbiting it.

It was a beautiful sight... But something about this seal was quite heavy on Mysita... She felt a nearly overwhelming presence that beckoned her to stay away... She couldn't tell what she was feeling was. Was it originating from the seal...? Or somewhere else? She could not tell. She couldn't even tell if it was good or evil. Mystia felt both, fear and fatigue simultaneously, the feelings echoing on her now sweating face.

"It should not be long until you get used to it. What you feel is merely the power of the seal." explained an Inaba.

Mystia couldn't shake feelings that there was something more to it than that. For the need of a seal this powerful...

"S-s-so... ...is the monster... ...down there...? R-right i-in that hole?" asks Mystia, doing her best to shake off her nerves.

"That is indeed the seal of Koro." answered the same Inaba.

"Such a presence..."

Mystia stared down at it in a mix of fear and awe for several moments before the sounds of several faint explosions found there way into her ears. She and the rabbits looked upward and to the right. They could see a great deal of different colored explosions of magic, along with a large white column of light... To the left of  that one was a smaller, fainter green one... Mystia's widened in a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Can it be...? thought Mystia.

At first she wasn't sure of what to make of it, but after a few moments...

No, that light is unmistakable...! she thought to herself, heart pounding. "Wriggle...!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:12:56 AM
***

One by one, groups of mud clones, Armor Shikigami, and Inabas fell to the struggling shrinemaiden, all ending up with large holes in the centers of their bodies, all caused by a well placed ofuda card, each one charged with the spiritual energy harmful to all youkai. Reimu flew across the battlefield, sending large numbers of her cards along with enchanted needles at her numerous enemies, sending them into oblivion entire groups at a time.

Soon, she caught sight of several bullet barrages and beams, twisting out of the way of them. She briefly balled up her left hand before opening it again, suddenly having a rather thick stack of ofuda in her hand. Reimu could see that they were all bunched close together, perfect for taking down in a single swift attack. A spellcard appeared at the bottom her her ofuda stack...

"Dream Sign... Duplex Barrier!" shouted the Miko.

The all the cards began glowing a red color as Reimu tossed them at the ground in front of the enemies. Bursts of magical energy began emerging from the ground in the form of giant, energized ofuda cards, moving toward the enemies like that of Hellfire Bombs! The enemies vanished under the magical explosions of enchanted cards.

The enemies in front of Reimu were steadily disappearing, but the ones in every other direction saw an opportunity... They all flew in at Reimu like a merciless swarm of energetic locusts, hoping to overwhelm the Miko while her attack was focused away from them! Alas, the attack wasn't just frontal... This hard truth hit the various enemies hard, quite literally I may add. Hoards of cards emerged from the ground around Reimu in all directions, sending enemies to their dooms in blazes of brilliant white and red. Reimu did not have to wait long for the enemies to be cleared, dropping spell before speeding toward the part of the battlefield where Marisa and Wriggle did battle with Kaguya.

If I'm quick, I should still be able to help them. she thought to herself.

Suddenly, several mud creatures (ones out of range of Reimu's previous attack) leaped up from the ground, looking like brown snakes in Kaguya's attire that shot up right from the ground! They fired yellow energy rays at the Miko upon being above her, forcing to veer off while lowering her altitude.

Thats what they wanted...

Five more creatures then leaped from the ground at the ground toward the Shrine maiden, attached to one another to resemble something like a snake! Reimu looked behind and down, caught by surprise as the lead creature grabbed her by the ankle! Reimu yelped as she was suddenly yanked down to the ground! The miko saved herself by wielding two ofuda, one in each hand. One was used to annihilate the one that had grabbed her, and the other was used to stop herself from slamming into the ground below by creating a small explosion right at the bottom of the fall.

Reimu front flipped after stopping her forceful descent, landing (relatively) softly on her back... ...only to have seven more of the mud creatures converge and pile on top of her, followed by no less that five Inabas! Reimu gasped, feeling herself suffocate as the crushing weight constricted her lungs. Left with no other choice, the miko balled her right hand snapping it back open immediately afterward. A small yin-yang orb was suddenly in her open hand...

Without warning, a bright white flash could be seen as Reimu's attackers suddenly went flying right off of her! The miko coughed as she took in a big breath of air, and wiped some mud residue off her dress. She barely had time to even sit up before seeing that she was completely surrounded... The numerous enemies charged, some holding back to fire danmaku from a distance. With no other choice, Reimu quickly prepared another attack!

"Dream Sign..." she began as an energized spellcard appeared in her hand. "Evil Sealing Circle!"

Just as the enemies and their attacks converged on Reimu, she slammed her spellcard into the ground! Upon doing this, she created a massive blue pillar of light, a pillar of pure, spiritual energy! The deadly energy disintegrated all in its path as it expanded in size, sending Reimu's enemies to their fate...

***

Before long, Wriggle and Kaguya were both charging in at each other, bundles of powerful magical energy shining in their hands. They both yelled out as they threw their bundles at one another upon getting close, the magics clashing and causing a powerful and brilliant explosion that knocked the both of them back! Wriggle was first to recover, allowing herself to slide backwards on the ground while she threw her arm forward, throwing lines of powerful green energy balls at the Moon princess. Kaguya smiled, forming a small bundle of white energy as she navigated and grazed her way around the projectiles, pouncing down on Wriggle who jumped back to avoid the blast.

Upon that happening, Kaguya sensed an attack coming from a diagonal direction behind her, jumping to the side just in time to avoid a number of energy stars fired out by a smiling Marisa. The witch moved in on her broom, letting out several intense rays of differentiating colors as Kaguya, who swerved around and took to the air to avoid them before holding out her left arm and spinning, sending a number of wispy homing lasers to pursue and perhaps shoot down the witch.

"Whoa!"

Marisa held on to her hat as she picked up speed to avoid the projectiles. Meanwhile, Kaguya turned her attention back to her real target: Wriggle. Speaking of whom, the insect queen charged at Kaguya with another large bundle of magical energy with a yell! Kaguya however just smiled, forming another white bundle of energy in her right hand and shaping it into a sword of energy (granted, one not as solid looking as Patchouli's) to block the attack. Wriggle was alarmed to see her attack split into two as it hit the smiling Kaguya's sword which in turn extended a small part of itself, slicing into the off guard Wriggle who cringed in pain!

"Nnh!"

"Ufufufu..." chuckled Kaguya.

Kaguya went on the offensive, slashing at Wriggle three more times, sending the insect girl falling toward the ground with a pained shriek! But as that happened, Wriggle -one eye barely open- managed to get out a large green orb of energy out at Kaguya! Kaguya merely deflected the attack away, chuckling as she did so.

Thats when Wriggle smiled, albeit not allowing Kaguya to see it.

Suddenly, the orb burst into several tiny, white, snowball like projectiles that poured down on a surprised Kaguya, causing her to shriek in pain! Stunned by the attack, Kaguya was not prepared to face Marisa who flew right in (having long avoided the homing projectiles) swinging her broom like a baseball into Kaguya's body, sending her flying away, large blue stars scattering all over as it happened! Right before Kaguya could recover, she found herself being grabbed thrown hard toward the ground by a vengeful Wriggle who used her youkai strength to resist the pain, and add power to her throw! Kaguya managed to save herself by moving her arms out and firing a small white blast, using its force to break her fall.

Afterward, she flipped several times and landed in a standing position, Wriggle and Marisa doing the same in front of her.

"Hmm, very good. You two are allowing me to enjoy this festival even more than I thought would be possible. Please continue to resist with such ferocity as you are now. The conclusion will be all the more satisfying, ufufufu..." chuckled Kaguya.

"Its all a happy festival to you? Well... Maybe I can convince you that you doing nothing more than exacerbating a wave of needless madness." answered Wriggle with determination on her face.

"Teehee, we're not exactly interested in your little party ze, though I will admit that you have made this whole adventure interesting." said Marisa with a mischievous smile.

Wriggle glared at the witch with a 'now why did you say that?' expression.

"Well... Then perhaps I should give you a special present? Powerful treasures perhaps...?" asks Kaguya, putting a sleeve to her mouth.

"Powerful... ...treasures...?" asked Wriggle, unsure of what Kaguya was thinking.

"Ufufufufu..."

"Eh, I've seen them already, so what?" asks Marisa.

Kaguya closed her eyes, smiling while Wriggle looked more confused.

"Eight impossible requests. Eight divine treasures that cannot be found by mere mortals. I however have harnessed the power and beauty of these lost treasures into something wonderful. You witch have seen it once before, but the insect queen standing next to you shall bask in their beauty for the very first time. I hope you find this dazzling..."

"Bah, like I would allow you unleash a more powerful attack at a time such as this!" exclaimed Wriggle.

"Do try." replied Kaguya sweetly.

"I will very gladly do just that!"

Wriggle and Marisa charged in on Kaguya. The Moon princess leaped into the air, her opponents following with haste whilst charging magical blasts.

"Good, good. Play with me... Entertain me..."

The princess briefly folded her arms before suddenly spreading out again, holding eight spellcards, each of which glowed with a different color from their own magical energy.

"Heh, nooooothing new here, eh?" asks Marisa. "Then I hope ya like your danmaku hot!"

Wriggle and Marisa cupped their hands in front of themselves, letting out vicious magical attacks. Wriggle fired orbs that circled her at first before bursting into numerous tiny white balls of energy that sped toward Kaguya like a swarm of angry insects, while Marisa fired a multitude of of fast moving stars, each one a different color! Kaguya zoomed backward, inching her way around the dense fire of her enemies as all but one of her eight spellcards disappeared. Kaguya held the spellcard back as it glowed yellow...

"Face an indomitable will... Impossible Request... Buddha's Stone Bowl!" said Kaguya.

The card suddenly turned blue before vanishing as a green aura surrounded the princess! She spread her arms as a great many blue colored lasers were unleashed upon Wriggle and Marisa! The two heroines sped away from one another, weaving through the long and sharp looking blasts, but not unscathed as both girls found themselves grazing many a laser, seeming almost overwhelmed by the blasts!

"Gah! Its nothing I cannot ha-"

Right before Wriggle could finish her vocalized thought, the ever deviously smiling Kaguya moved in on her, unleashing a single laser that struck the nightbug dead in the torso!

"Ngh...!"

Her face covered in shock, Wriggle lost control of her flight, and began plummeting to the ground below. A hole was left in her shirt, and her stomach was left with a painful burn mark. Despite this, she was able to see Kaguya fly in on Marisa, and unleash a second wave of lasers on Marisa who only barely dodged.

"M... M... Marisa, look out!" called out Wriggle as she finally recovered.

The warning came just in time as Kaguya unleashed several green energy stars to supplement her already powerful danmaku! Marisa dove sharply downward in an attempt to get away, but the attacks just would not stop coming no matter where she went! Seconds later, several of the stars connected with her, sending her flying off her broom and toward the ground!

"Gaah!"

"Marisaaaa!" yelled Wriggle as she attempted to speed over to her human friend.

Before Wriggle could reach her her falling friend, more lasers slammed into her back right before she was grabbed from behind by Kaguya, who restricted the insect girl's arms with her left arm, and wrapped her right one around her neck.

"Ah-ah-aaaaah! I'm MUCH more interested in you, dear. After all, you're my real target. I don't care at all about that other girl." cooed Kaguya into Wriggle's ear.

Wriggle struggled in Kaguya's grip.

"Unhand me at once! I haven't time for your drivel...!" demanded the straining insect girl.Blast it, should I not have been able to break out of her grip without effort...?! Is her physical strength being augmented along with her magic? Where did she find such power...?!

"Oh my, harsh harsh words, honey~" said Kaguya in a sensual tone. "It isn't any use trying to escape, so please don't be like that. You in fact have nothing to..."

Thats when Kaguya and Wriggle alike both spotted Marisa flying up at an incredibly high speed at the both of them broom first! The witch held onto her broom, pointing it at Kaguya as stars of many various colors flew out of it from behind!

"I can't believe ya thought I was out, ze! Now have some of this!"

Kaguya only smirked...

"Stone Bowl!" she shouted.

Wriggle looked around with her eyes in fright as everything around her and Kaguya suddenly went dark...

***

Marisa was left in awe as Kaguya and Wriggle were both encased in a large sphere of stone. Even so, she gritted her teeth and pressed her attack!

"Yeah right! This move even pierces hard stone with ease! You wasted energy just putting it up!"

The witch continued her attack, thrusting her energized broom right into Kaguya's stone barrier, only to have it get jammed in as opposed to breaking through! The attack merely caused several cracks instead of the complete pierce Marisa had spoken of!

"Hey, that shouldn't be...!"

Before the young witch could finish her sentence, the giant sphere began glowing blue... Sensing the building magical power, Marisa backed away from the stone sphere, returning to a normal sitting position on her broom as she put up a pentagram-like barrier...

Without warning, the sphere exploded into hundreds of glowing blue beams of light, shooting off into every possible direction! A great number of them slammed right into Marisa -or rather, her barrier- and sent her flying backwards whilst forcing her to strain against their power as her shield slowly but surely cracked from the pressure!

***

Alice and Patchouli jumped away from each other while moving forward to avoid yet another wave of Eirin's arrows when suddenly...

"What?" said Patchouli to herself, sensing the incoming blue blasts.

"Hey, look out!" warned Alice, jumping backwards and having her dolls materialize a large golden shield in front of herself.

Patchouli followed up with a blue forcefield of her own. Eirin raised her left hand into the air, creating a spacesphere-like barrier to protect herself.

The blasts fell all around them, but due to the blasts being both, spread farther apart and weaker than when Marisa encountered them, all three escaped harm.

"Where did that come from?!" asks the freaked out Alice.

Eirin opened her left eye and looked to her side...

"Princess..." uttered the nurse to herself.

***

Some of the enemies surrounding her were flattened by the rather careless attack, but Reimu herself was not harmed. She countered the attack with some handy ofuda magic. She looked around, wordlessly preparing to battle the next wave...

***

Flying from a distance, Reisen could see the blue lights from far away. Visibly fearing that she was too late, she flew on as fast as she possibly could.

Mistress, you musn't do this!

***

"What...?! What sort of...?!" stuttered Wriggle.

"Ah ha ha~ Tis a new trick I perfected for myself since the last time we met. Tell me witch, do you like it? Does it amaze you, give you a challenge as you expected?" cooed Kaguya.

"Gh...!"

Wriggle gritted her teeth, helpless in the seemingly impossibly strong grip of Kaguya, struggling to free herself so she could save Marisa.

"A stubborn one, aren't you insect...? If you had just cooperated, your friends wouldn't all be suffering as they are now. Its a shame really..."

Wriggle stopped her struggling, but her grip on Kaguya's arms strengthed.

"Its... Its true..." she grumbled. "I did drag them into my conflict... Asking them to help me best you, my immortal enemy... But you forget that they choose to risk themselves and help me, just as that nurse and that cadre of Earth Rabbits do for you. Fighting for one another... Its what friends do!"

"Oh...? And are you fighting for the bird as well?" asks Kaguya.

"But of course! I would never dare abandon Mystia to a foul wench such as you, even if I had to fight you, and your entire army alone!"

"Interesting... But would you be willing to let your other friends be killed in order to save the life of another?" asks Kaguya.

Wriggle perks up, unable to answer. It had finally hit her, a realization she had previously been keeping buried deeply. Even if she had somehow succeeded in rescuing Mystia, would it really matter if the others failed to survive? Previously, she had been thinking that it would be the end of herself and Mystia if Marisa and the others had lost, but now...

"Ha! If only you had merely cooperated, your friends could enjoy all their days peacefully... Ufufufu, what a silly little bug you are..." chuckled Kaguya with a smile.

Wriggle was silent for a few moments, her eyes tightly shut before...

"NO!" she shouted.

Kaguya's smile faded as she raised an eyebrow.

"They... They will not lose...! We will not lose...! We can't afford to be beaten here... Because... ...Mystia is counting on us... No, not just that... Because we're counting on each other! Every last one of us! And we're fighting for our mutual home of Gensokyo! Unlike you, who would unleash a beast of sorrow that would only wrought cruel destruction! Tell me foolish Kaguya, are you and your own friends fighting for similar purposes? Are you really fighting for one another, or are they just your pawns?"

Kaguya became alarmed at a sudden increase in Wriggle's physical strength as the nightbug slowly began to loosen her grip!

"Tell me! Are they even your real friends at all anymore?!" yelled Wriggle.

These words had apparently struck a nerve with the normally playful Kaguya... Her face began contorting with further madness...

***

Marisa held on as long as she could...

"Man...! No way outta this one!" she spoke to herself in a strained tone.

But oddly enough -just as her shield was almost totally broken- she smiled to herself.

"On the bright side... This'll let me see if I've finally gotten any tougher!"

And then the shield shattered...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:14:15 AM
***

Wriggle and Kaguya both watched the nearby explosion as Marisa was overwhelmed by the attack at last. Marisa fell limply from the cloud of smoke, her broom and hat falling with her.

"No...! Marisa!" cried Wriggle, reaching out futilely to her falling friend.

Wriggle looked on in despair while Kaguya watched rather flatly.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm... Thats quite too bad really... And after all that silly talk about how you and your friends would not lose to me... If you and your bird friend had just come quietly as I asked the previous night, none of this would be happening now..." spoke Kaguya with a sigh.

Wriggles eyes widened in shock as Kaguya suddenly readjusted her method of holding the insect girl, locking both arms around her little neck for a terrible choke maneuver! Wriggle gasped, hacked and coughed as she pulled on Kaguya's arms as her eyes closed tightly, doing everything she could to breath again! Kaguya looked visibly angry as she did this.

"Such stubborness, such ignorance! How dare you say those things to me!" spoke Kaguya in a violent tone as her face contorted with anger. "To say foolish things such as 'are they your real friends', questioning their loyalty to me... You fool, we ARE fighting for our family and our home! To rid ourselves of the one that ails us! I am not bringing destruction, I am bringing glory! You foolish girl, you mere insect in human form, how dare you say otherwise! I should kill you here for speaking such blasphemy...!"

It was unclear whether Wriggle heard anything Kaguya said. With her oxygen cut off, it wasn't long before she began to feel lightheaded, having to fight to maintain consciousness.

"You poor, blind, ungrateful wench, be thankful I need you alive!"

Kaguya then loosened her grip somewhat, only affording very little air for Wriggle. Realizing the princess was trying to render her unconscious, Wriggle did the last thing she could do in this situation... With her arms free, she suddenly lifted her left arm and thrust her left elbow into Kaguya's torso! The moon princess gasped in surprise as she involuntarily loosened her grip on Wriggle! Feeling Kaguya weaken, Wriggle hit Kaguya with her free elbow several more times before finally kicking herself off Kaguya with her right leg!

Kaguya held her stomach, reeling backwards as she coughed. Giving no quarter to her enemy, Wriggle charged forward!

"Gaaaaaaahhh!"

The nightbug went in, giving Kaguya a right hook, then a left, then a right, then another left, then a right again before spin kicking her, knocking her backwards! She finished her combo with a spray of green danmaku that slightly tattered Kaguya's clothes and sent her plummeting toward the ground!

As Kaguya fell, she gritted her teeth, swinging her right arm forward. A magical bronze chain launched out from her sleeve, wrapping around the legs of a surprised Wriggle who promptly found herself being violently swung several times before slamming back first into the ground upon Kaguya releasing her! Wriggle screamed out, writhing in pain while on the ground. Kaguya looked down at her quarry with contempt, panting with her face covered in sweat. Suddenly, her eyes shifted to the left as she flew backwards just in time to avoid a huge laser!

"Hmm... Still alive?" asked the princess rhetorically.

"You make it sound like I'd just let myself fall to the ground like a drop of rain!" chuckles a hatless Marisa as she charged in.

"Then kindly allow me to send you to the ground again, witch!"

Kaguya swung her arms forward while Marisa cupped her hands in front of herself... The clash of Kaguya's tiny green stars, and Marisa's large ones of varying colors causing explosions in the sky that resembled beautiful fire works... But this battle was anything but beautiful... Marisa managed to get behind the slower Kaguya, dropping down on her broom first, only to have Kaguya block, grab the broom, and toss Marisa downwards, sending a barrage of long lasers after her for good measure! Marisa pulled out her Hakkero once again, firing a thin red beam that canceled out the lasers, whilst forcing Kaguya to actively dodge. Kaguya sent another laser barrage in, forcing Marisa to cease her small laser attack and back off.

Marisa charged forward again with an attack similar to her Blazing Star technique, Kaguya forming a small energy shield in front of herself to defend. The two powers struggled for a few moments before pushed herself forward, throwing Marisa off. From point blank range, the two then fired off many shots at each other, none hitting, creating many explosions! Finally, the two fired charged up magic bolts at each other. The projectiles slammed into each other, but rather than explosively cancel each other out, small sparks of energy came flying out at the two girls instead! Surprised, Kaguya took one to the torso while Marisa was hit in her left shoulder. The two finally backed off after that.

"Foolish witch... For all that confidence, you still have not been able to defeat me, even though you had a youkai partner with you just like last time." spat Kaguya.

"What is this 'had one'?" said the fatigued voice of Wriggle, as she flew in at Marisa's side, hand over her torso. "I'm right here, or is the battle depriving you of your eyesight?"

Kaguya smiled a slight bit.

"Look at you, how can you be any use to one another with such injuries? You're looking quite haggard..."

"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself." replied Marisa with a smile.

"That confidence again... Do you not remember what happened the last time you fought me?" asks Kaguya.

Marisa's smile turned bittersweet.

"Last time...? Marisa?" said Wriggle.

"Yeap. I fought her once before alongside Alice during the moon incident. We both fought at once and gave it our all... But in the end we wound up beaten flat on the ground while that bratty vampire and her maid took her down." explains Marisa with a somewhat dark expression. "I hope ya still got some fight left in ya Wriggle, cause you're gonna need it if we are to win!"

Wriggle gulped.

"Well, I know its not looking too good for us but..."

"My my, still listening to that weakling of a witch, insect? She's foolish to say 'we can win' even though she's injured and her new partner isn't as powerful as her old one. Fufufu..."

Marisa merely chuckled a bit, bowing her head down.

"Heh heh, you're right. I fought you before and I lost to you. Alice and I weren't able to beat you then."

"Marisa..." said Wriggle softly.

Marisa then put her head back up with a daring smile.

"But so what? This is an entirely different battle... I'm stronger now, and Wriggle has plenty of her to draw from! Lets end this!"

With that, Marisa charged forth on her broom, leaping up and standing atop of it and riding it like a surf board! Kaguya smiled as she remained in place as she drew a red glowing spellcard in her right hand while firing an energy ray from her left. Marisa moved off to the side to avoid that attack while launching a single large star from her hand, one that was promptly intercepted by another of Kaguya's projectiles! Marisa then threw a single right punch that Kaguya blocked with her left arm. Kaguya's smile disappeared as Marisa backed off, allowing a following Wriggle to charge in with a flying kick with her right foot! Kaguya dodged to the side as Wriggle flew past. The nightbug however had already prepared her next attack...

"Kaguya... I will demonstrate to you that we are not as weak and pitiful as you believe we are!" announced Wriggle while still facing away from Kaguya.

Wriggle then turned around, immediately unleashing a large barrage of green orb shots before taking out a spellcard!

"Wriggle Sign! Night Bug Storm!"

As Kaguya shot down Wriggle's first retaliatory barrage with her own projectiles, white energy began to build up around the nightbug's hands! Meanwhile, Marisa swooped in on Kaguya's side, placing a rainbow-glowing spellcard on her Hakkero...

Thats right... Even her greatest defense couldn't stand up to this last time... Just a few more seconds Wriggle...

Wriggle continued her attack.

"See how you handle a little bit of this! HA!" shouted the nightbug.

Wriggle throw out her right arm as white energy surrounded it, sending many small white orbs that transformed into larger, fast moving ones while speeding toward Kaguya! The former moon princess smiled.

""We've seen that little trick before, haven't we?"

The princess actively dodged the projectiles when she heard Marisa...

"Love sign...!"

"Hm~ Plan to go all out eh? I thought you would try such a thing... Both of you, attack with your greatest strength! Impossible request...!"

"MASTER SPAAAAAAAAAAARK!"

Marisa pointed her Hakero straight at Kaguya as she unleashed an enormous and brilliant beam of rainbow colored energy at the princess! Wriggle threw out her left arm, sending out a second wave of white projectiles that at the exact same moment the spark did. Kaguya was enveloped by both attacks!

After the combination attack had passed, the place where Kaguya should have been present was replaced by a large glowing ball of rainbow colored energy, surrounded by swirling white energy... The phenomenon wouldn't last for long, as mere seconds after it appeared, it exploded in a brilliant white flash!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:16:14 AM
***

Under that very same explosion, another fierce battle raged close by...

The doll maker stayed on the move, running away from the unending barrages of arrows while deploying projectile shooting dolls to attack Eirin. Eirin herself was also constantly moving on the ground, sometimes firing her danmaku straight at her two opponents, other times firing into the air to let arrows rain down on them, while dodging the counterattacks of her enemies.

But where was Patchouli? A large fireball from behind answered this question, forcing Eirin to back flip over the attack, landing just in time to see Patchouli floating toward her while holding a large water bubble on her finger. Eirin knew full well that the seemingly benign bubble was actually a form of harmful magical energy, and thus did not let her guard down. She jumped away from the bubble before jumping slightly forward in order to avoid the large water spout that suddenly sprang up behind her with great force. Next, she fired several barrages of her enchanted arrows, intercepting attacks from Patchouli's fireballs and Alice's dolls. She jumped back more as Alice and Patchouli converged on her.

All three fighters were looking a bit fatigued, especially Patchouli.

"I see that the night air hasn't lessoned your abilities, librarian." huffed Eirin with a slight smile. "It is good that I developed countermeasures for you."

"Countermeasures...?" replied Patchouli calmly, though fatigued, raising an eyebrow.

Eirin drew three strange arrows, dark in color with odd, thin, triangular tips, surrounded by many different types of energies.

"You two have taken longer to dispatch than anticipated... But I intend to gain the upper hand with these." said the nurse.

"Be careful, those particular arrows look different than the rest!" warned Alice, who stood ready with a formation of dolls out in force.

"Whatever this is, my magics will find a way around it!" claimed Patchouli, pointing her open book at Eirin.

***

"Aww, if only I could fly faster!" thought Reisen out loud as she continued speeding toward the brightening battlefield.

There were a great many flashes, flickers and lights in the distance indicating a fierce danmaku battle... The moon rabbit only hoped that she could somehow end the fighting, along with Kaguya's quest before it was too late... She had to shield her eyes from a blinding white flash caused by two magic attacks hitting someone at once moments earlier, along with a barrage of lasers not long before that. The fighting was clearly escalating...

Just then, Reisen felt rather odd... Like everything had gone black and white for a single moment... And that moment, she... ...everything... ...had simply stopped... She continued flying forward, though puzzled at the strange feeling she just had. Suddenly it happened again! Reisen couldn't shake the feeling that something abnormal was happening...

Again, and again and again...!

Soon the moon rabbit could see someone off in the distance, a black white and silver streak. The person flew no faster than Reisen, every time the strange feeling of 'stopping' occurred, the person was suddenly much farther away from Reisen. With something like that, the person could reach the battlefield within a somewhat short time span...

"Wait, these odd sensations and that streaks jumps in distance... Almost as if its skipping instances of time and space... But the only one I know who could... ...do that..." Reisens eyes widened in distress. "Oh no, that maid from the mansion...!"

***

Eirin minimally sidestepped a pair of metal buzz saws, courtesy Patchouli before managing to get inside the spiralling danmaku tatics of Alice!

"Dammit...!"

Eirin then thrust fourth her left leg, sending her left foot crashing right into Alice's torso before sending her flying backwards into the sky with a firm kick to the chin with the same foot.

"And now for you..."

Eirin immediately turned toward Patchouli, jumping to the side to avoid a barrage of water drop danmaku. Next, she jumped into the air, aiming one of her strange arrows at the librarian.

Patchouli created another large bubble in anticipation of Eirin's counterattack...

"Counter-element arrow, fire!" called out the nurse as she unleashed the arrow.

The deadly weapon began glowing a bright brown color just as it hit the bubble, dissolving it completely without leaving a drop! Shocked, Patchouli dashed backward, raising large spires of green crystal from the ground to attack Eirin. Eirin herself evaded before firing three more arrows at the spires. Moments before impact, the arrows turned a bright blue color... ...slamming right through the spires, shattering them!

Eirin smiled a bit.

"A success. My counter-element arrows are working flawlessly."

"Counter-element arrows...?!" muttered Patchouli to herself. "Weapons that can become the exact element needed to eliminate my own attack in a matter of seconds... This is troublesome... However..."

"I'll get her!" called out Alice, preparing to form more dolls.

"No wait!" ordered Patchouli. "Let me take one more shot at her!"

Eirin smiled, waiting for the next moves of her opponents. Oddly, she closed her eyes and kept them so...

"Gah!"

Patchouli let out fireballs, water blasts, and eight blades of metal at Eirin in succession! The deadly projectiles converged on the nurses position in the air! Eirin aimed her bow in the general direction of the incoming projectiles, using nothing more than her sense to detect the projectiles. With her eyes closed, she had no way of knowing what element to counteract and when. This puzzled Patchouli and Alice...

Eirin let out her arrows, sending them streaking toward the incoming attacks from Patchouli... And without Eirin even needing to see them, the arrows changed to the appropriate counter elements to stop the attacks in their tracks! Patchouli and Alice were mortified!

"A good theory librarian. I willing to bet that it was one that wished was incorrect." said Eirin, reopening her eyes.

Patchouli stood silently, her face sweating, teeth gritted.

"Thats impossible! You didn't see the attack at all!" shouted Alice.

"Ah, not too observant I see... Unlike your pathetic dolls, my arrows act completely on their own. They require no whim from me. They know what element to change to because they know, not because I know. Ufufufu... Now then, how will you two think of a way around my latest trick? show me."

"You only have a countermeasure for Patchouli, but not I! I will take you down with these supposedly pathetic dolls of mine, you'll see! Gaaaaah!" shouted an angry Alice before taking off into the sky at Eirin.

"No Alice...!" called Patchouli, flying after the doll maker while instinctively reaching toward her.

Alice materialized two sword wielding dolls as she charged forward, jabbing them at Eirin who swayed from side to side to avoid them. She then stopped in mid-air and threw four more dolls past Eirin, two toward the ground. They span in place, becoming make shift spinning blades! Eirin stopped moving in order to avoid slamming into the dolls directly at her back. Alice pulled two of the dolls back, forcing Eirin twist and dodge in order to avoid being cut. The next two were promptly beaten back via a blow with the bow, and a precise shot with an arrow.

Wasting no time, Alice went in, materializing eight dolls to stab Eirin with swords! Eirin dashed backwards, staying just outside their range. As that happened, Patchouli caused a large wall of rock to emerge from the ground! The librarian promptly flew behind the wall... ...and unleashed a gigantic flaming rock from it! Eirin gave a good whack with her bow to Alice, to push her back while simultaneously grabbing a counter-element arrow... She fired the single arrow at the meteor-like rock, then fired a second. The second arrow split into five! They caught up to the slower moving first arrow and converged on it, transforming into an energy beam! The beam went right through the meteor-like ball of fire, shattering it and forcing a shocked and surprised Patchouli to dodge, something that she barely accomplished as the beam grazed her torso!

"Thats very good..." said Alice in a low tone as she held out a glowing spellcard that quickly vanished. "But now... War Command! Doll's War!"

Eirin suddenly found herself against Alice once again facing off with Alice as she sent eight spinning sword wielding dolls after her en masse with a highly erratic movement pattern! Eirin dodged the dolls, deflecting them with her bow if need be. However, this attack had more power behind it than Alice's other attacks up to this point... It hurt Eirin's arms to block it! Eirin gritted her teeth as she attempted to move back, a doll cutting across the left side of her torso. With no time to move around the attack, Eirin ducked under another one, while moving to the right dodge another, clearly trying to get inside the attack. It was costly however as two more dolls went past her, one successfully nicking the nurses' right leg before another doll slashed her left shoulder as it returned to its mistress. That same doll and another then attempted to ram right into Eirin, cutting her to pieces! The nurse blocked with her bow, forming a small forcefield in front of herself. She then stretched her left arm out behind herself, forming another small forcefield to block the remaining dolls. In her left hand was a small coin like object with a blue star...

Alice gasped right before the bomb's explosion...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:17:13 AM
***

Watching a small distance away, Patchouli covered her eyes, protecting them from the flash of Eirin's bomb. She put at hand on her chest as her breathing became somewhat strained.

No, not now...!

The weakening librarian fell gently to the ground, staggering forward somewhat as she landed on the ground with her hand still on her chest. She looked up to see the continuation the Alice's battle with Eirin...

***

"Dammit...! You won't beat us like this...!" said Alice, sweat present on her face.

Eirin gritted her teeth as she used her forcefield to resist the full force of Alice's eight spinning spellcard dolls, remaining calm however. Her field however was weakening...

"It is good of you to have such confidence... However, after we captured you, we decided a contingency plan would be needed in the event of your escape and rebellion... Its time to play another hand...!" said the nurse.

Eirin leaned forward as her forcefield shattered, using the the force to propel herself clear out of Alice's range! She materialized a strange arrow with a large yellow orb as it's tip.

"My second trump card! Anti-doll arrow, fire!" shouted the nurse as she released the strange arrow.

"...!"

Alice adjusted her hand, moving the dolls into a defensive position in front of her. Seven dolls circled the eighth. The arrow plowed right into the dolls, pushing them back, but being stopped none the less. Suddenly the orb exploded, sending thousands of odd, metallic, razor sharp, paper-thin strings flying about! The strings wrapped around the dolls, stopping them and cutting into them while at the same time severing the magical threads that Alice used to control them! Alice herself watched in shock as her entire attack was nullified, her dolls plummeting to the ground.

"In a normal duel, I would never think to utilize such a weapon against you, but this isn't a normal danmaku battle. Now that you have seen my second trump card, this battle can finally end." said Eirin.

Alice floated in place with a frightened expression on her sweat covered face, while Patchouli continued watching from the ground, wondering how they were to take down such a crafty nurse...

"And now, an end to this battle! Princess!" shouted Eirin, even though she should have been out of Kaguya's hearing range.

***

"Ah, I know Eirin. It seems your battle is going well." said an all too familiar voice behind the waining cloud of smoke created by the fearsome combination attack of Wriggle and Marisa. "Tis only a matter of time before these fools are in their place as well."

Wriggle and Marisa remained in place, shocked at the sight of an unharmed Kaguya, clad in a glowing red robe.

"D... Don't kid around with me...! How is something this possible, even for her?!" said Wriggle to herself.

"N... No way...! Not even the slightest scratch!" added Marisa.

Kaguya closed her eyes and smiled.

"Hmhmhmhm... Impossible Request. Robe of the Fire Rat. As you can see, it has gotten quite a bit stronger, standing up to two powerful attacks at once. Quite an improvement from last time when only a single Master Spark was needed to destroy it, hm?" asked Kaguya. "Ufufufufu~"

Kaguya's robe glowed with power, sweltering heat emanating from it as an orange aura appeared around its wearer. Kaguya suddenly sped fourth at Marisa, a ball of blue energy forming in her right hand... She was so fast that even Marisa didn't have time to move away! The witches Hakkero was knocked out of her hand by a well placed energy blast from Kaguya, who proceeded to grab her by the neck! Marisa allowed her broom to fall to the ground as she wrapped both hands around Kaguya's arm, struggling to get free of Kaguya's choking grip. She coughed and gasped for air as Kaguya began speaking...

"And as you can see, it comes with several new benefits as well." cooed the princess. "I cannot deny it now... You have grown stronger witch. Alas, so have I... And it would seem that I've grown stronger than you as well."

Suddenly, Wriggle grabbed Kaguya in a head lock from behind!

"You leave her alone Kaguya!" she shouted.

Kaguya looked back with an amused smile.

"My my, the little insect is persistent... You however cannot do anymore than this witch can. You really failed to get much stronger since our first encounter, how sad... Perhaps I should put both of you in your place and demonstrate your inferiority to Eirin and I?"

Kaguya's aura intensified as burning heat suddenly enveloped Wriggle and Marisa, both girls crying out in pain. It was a terrible heat that struck at their skin like sharp whips. They were both essentially being burned alive, their clothes even starting to smoke. Even so, Wriggle held on...

"This Robe of the Fire Rat has now acquired actual powers of fire, serving as a full fledged weapon as much as a powerful suit of  armor of legend. It isn't possible for you to stand against this Nightbug, so why don't you just give up now?" said Kaguya with a smile.

Wriggle gritted her teeth, tightening her grip around Kaguya...

"I won't... I... I will not... ...do such a thing... ...nor yield to you... Instead you'll... ...you'll be defeated... ...and my friends saved...!" said Wriggle as she fought the pain.

Kaguya's expression switched to one of intrigue as she looked back at Wriggle with her eye, turning her head a slight bit.

"Admirable... You will not even allow the slightest possibility for your friends to die, or your mission to fail... You will fight me until it kills you if it means they can escape... I  had many a doubt that you possessed such courage." Kaguya then looked away from Wriggle, closed her eyes and smiled. "Okay then..."

The princess suddenly throws Marisa downward before quickly reaching behind, and grabbing Wriggle! With Wriggle weakened severely by Kaguya's burning aura, she was pulled off rather easily...

"Go to them!"

...and thrown with great strength at Marisa! The nightbug cried out just before she slammed into Marisa's torso, Marisa herself gasping hard upon impact. The two girls began falling limply toward the ground. Knowing Marisa could not survive a fall from this sort of height, Wriggle almost instinctively stretched her right hand downwards, using her left arm to hold onto Marisa. Out her right hand came a small, white energy beam. With one eye barely open, Marisa summoned some of her remaining strength outstretching her own left arm and firing a similar beam at the ground.

Together, the two girls slowed down the pace of their decent, landing much more favorably, though with a thud. Both of them slowly stood up after falling. Kaguya on the other hand wasted no time... Floating above the heroines with a deviant smile, she spread her arms out, numerous fireballs materializing above her!

"Ow... Marisa are you o..."

Wriggle stopped speaking as both, she and Marisa looked up at Kaguya just in time to see her about to fire down upon them! Both girls gasped as Kaguya threw down her arms, sending the fireballs downward at them!

"Look out!" called out Marisa as she leaped on top of Wriggle and held out her right arm toward the balls...

The fireballs were aimed directly at Wriggle (though this was not obvious considering how widespread they were)... With her arm outstretched, Marisa once again formed her blue, pentagram-like shield, protecting Wriggle from Kaguya's merciless assault. Wriggle was forced to watch helplessly as Marisa expended what had to be the last of her strength in order to protect her. On her own, she would have been completely defenseless by now... Her mind raced to find a possible way to help Marisa, but none came...

Around the two, bright orange light dominated as Kaguya's attack hit their targets, the duo feeling the intense heat as a consequence, sweating from it. For Marisa and Kaguya, the attack only lasted all of a few minutes, but for Wriggle, time had slowed to a practical eternity. Even after it was over Marisa continued to hold her battered and cracking shield in the air, her eyes closed, teeth gritted, panting heavily with fatigue and even looking as if her left arm was about to give out...

"Ma... Marisa...?" spoke Wriggle softly.

Marisa slowly opened her eyes, a weak grin appearing on her face as she opened one eye.

"H-hey there Wriggle... You're okay, right ze?"

Wriggle dared to crack a small smile in return, knowing full well Kaguya was approaching them with an orange bundle of energy in her right hand...

"Listen Wriggle: I'm going for one last shot... My Last Word to be exact. Once that gets going, blow the hell outta her with everything you got, okay?" explained Marisa.

"Okay, but I'm not really sure if I do have anything left at this point..." said Wriggle, smiling bittersweetly.

"Well its our last chance... Every ounce of energy is better than zero."

Kaguya had been walking toward the two fallen heroines, but soon broke into a flying dash, prompting Marisa to drop her shield and fire a large ray of white energy, deflecting what would have been a large fireball from Kaguya, causing her to stagger back!

"Last Wo-"

But as Marisa reached for her spellcard with her left hand, Kaguya built energy within herself, causing a small glint in her eyes... ...before suddenly being right at Marisa, holding her right arm with her white energy charged left hand!

"Wha...?! How...?!" gasped Marisa.

"Thought you'd be too fast for my eternity manipulation...? No one is that fast I'm afraid..." giggled Kaguya.

Wriggle's eyes widened as she watched in horror...

"Going for your last word...? I think its time I finally put a stop to you..." said Kaguya.

Kaguya's left hand glowed brightly for a few moments as she moved it in a certain manner... Time seemed to slow to a crawl... In these moments, all Wriggle could hear was that sickening snap, the crunching of several bones... Moments after that, she could only hear the agonized scream of Marisa, watching as she screamed up into the air. Kaguya backed away, still wearing that dark smile as Marisa collapsed on top of Wriggle, grasping her shattered right arm with her left as tears rolled down her eyes.

"M-my arm...! What the hell did you do to my arm?!" cried out Marisa.

Without even answering, Kaguya nonchalantly walked up to the injured witch and picked her up by her hair with her left hand, causing further pained screams. With Marisa helpless to defend herself, Kaguya sent her right fist crashing dead into Marisa's cheek, sending her flying off, away from Wriggle. The nightbug was horrified... ...and infuriated. Did this woman's cruelty know no bounds?! Kaguya floated over to Marisa, stomping on the helpless Marisa's broken right shoulder, the witch letting out more agonized screaming...

Wriggle's breathing became uneasy... She could not stand to see Marisa be harmed by Kaguya any longer... A single tear rolled down her eye as she balled up her fists... Suddenly, feeling a sudden burst of strength, she got up and charged at Kaguya from behind!

"STOP IT NOW!"

As Wriggle ran, she charged a bundle of white energy in her right hand whilst screaming with rage... Kaguya only widened her ever dark smile before casually kicking Marisa in the torso, sending her away as if she were kicking nothing more than a soccer ball. Almost immediately, she turned around whilst outstretching her right hand, smacking the charging Wriggle with a white energy enhanced blow right before she could hit! Wriggle spun a bit, gasping before collapsing to the ground. Kaguya smiles, cupping her chin with her right index finger and thumb while supporting her right arm with her left by the elbow. She turns to her side, looking at her fallen quarry.

"Looks like I win. Dear me, it was fun while it lasted... Alas, we can spare no more time as our guest approaches." said Kaguya, before casting a dark glare at Wriggle. "We shalt not waste another moment. Shall we be going little Nightbug?"

Wriggle partially sat up, gritting teeth while staring back at Kaguya. Her hope of succeeding in her mission slipped further and further away from her with every passing moment...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:17:57 AM
***

"Gyaaaah!"

Patchouli shrieked as she flew backwards against her will, crashing and sliding across the rocky ground, landing on her back. Her sneak attack had failed, too slow to be effective. Eirin didn't even need her counter-element arrows.

Alice found herself falling on the ground, landing with a staggering run as a doll pulled an arrow out of her back. She swung her body back, holding out her right hand as several dolls materialized and fired rounds of multi-colored projectiles. Eirin continued her pursuit without any stalling, knocking away Alice's counter attack by twirling her bow as if it were a battle staff. Afterward, the nurse unleashed another anti-doll arrow, severing the link between the attacking dolls and their mistress, promptly dematerializing. Alice fell forward to her knees, exhaustion creeping up on her.

How is this...?! What is she?! A normal human couldn't possibly last against two reasonably strong youkai, right...? though Alice to herself before remembering her previous hostile encounter with Eientei. "Oh... Thats right... This is merely a repeat of what happened last time, isn't it...?"

The battered puppeteer looked over to her grimoire, still tucked tightly into her left hand... This simple book might have very been her ultimate weapon... Upon opening it, she would reach the true pinnacle of her power! However... In spite of that fact... ...she was once defeated while said book was open. This event was years ago, but the memories were vivid, as if they happened only days earlier. It was horrifying for Alice. Somehow, this event was Earth shattering to her... There was no horror worse than being defeated while doing your absolute best. Fearing her sanity would slip away from her, Alice resolved never to open that grimoire ever again, nor allow anyone else to do so. Even now that fear of ultimate destruction while at full power loomed over her.

Up until now, she'd been able to get away with never opening that book, her life never truly in danger up till now. But tonight was different. Tonight's battle wasn't a simple shooting duel, but now a battle that had the potential to end her life, that and several other things -including the lives of her friends- at stake. Even now as the doll maker looked downward at that powerful book in her hand as several dolls floated behind her, generating a large golden shield to defend their mistress from several of Eirin's powerful arrows, the projectiles lodging themselves into the defensive apparatus.

Alice looked back at the approaching Eirin, panting with sweat on her face. She noticed Eirin's stoic eyes peering down at her book as she stopped walking, standing over Alice...

"Hm... That book, just what is it? You never seem to use it for anything, or even need it for combat, so why is it you insist on always carrying it around?" asked Eirin.

Alice bit her lower lip.

"..."

"Is that so...? It is all too apparent you do not wish for me to know you connection to that mysterious grimoire. Not that it matters now... Though I have the distinct feeling that somehow, this book could do something that could potentially give you exactly what you need to best me and save your friends. Even now you hesitate to open it, is that merely a burden? Why even carry it?"

Alice knew Eirin had a point. Opening the grimoire would potentially give Alice enough power to face Eirin on her own AND come out triumphant. Doing so even allowed her to momentarily resist the binding spell used to capture her earlier in the day and ensure the escape of Wriggle and Marisa. She knew unleashing it was something she HAD to do... But that ever present irrational fear made her hesitate... A mental conflict between getting over her fear and pride had arisen. However, it was indeed a crippling fear...

Finally, Alice shook her head while gritting her teeth. She took her book in hand while she shot into the air, taking out a spellcard and turning around to face Eirin who oddly enough just stood there.

"Your interest is misplaced! I don't need that stupid book to defeat you! Take this! Magic Sign...!"

The spellcard glowed yellow before vanishing...

"Artful Sacrifice!"

Alice held her right arm upwards, numerous dolls with golden auras, clad in yellow dresses materializing above her.

"Now eat this!"

The dolls began shooting down toward Eirin like rockets, large skyward explosions of magic forming upon impact with anything! The dolls homed in somewhat on Eirin. Eirin jumped to the side, avoid one explosion, then carefully dodged the others as well. Alice continued with her attack, screaming out as she did so. Soon, the dust and smoke kicked up by the magical explosions made it impossible to see Eirin, but Alice continued her assault on the nurse none the less!

Suddenly, Eirin shot out of the smoke like a bat out of Hell at Alice! The doll user gasped as Eirin's bow was rammed dead into her stomach, ending her spellcard and sending her flying back! Alice -managing to stop her forced backwards flight- held her stomach, panting as she looked up at Eirin in shock.

"Indeed, a coward you are. And you allowed yourself to become unfocused and wild, how pitiful." said Eirin with a smile. "It does not appear you have anything left to give now so... ...please hold still and suffer the cost of your cowardice."

"Gh...!"

***

Patchouli staggered forward, left hand on her chest as she breathed with grievous strain. She had gauged her strength well but it was proven insufficient... This was bad... The enemy had the advantage with the heroines against the proverbial ropes. Patchouli decided it was time for one last trump card...

***

"GAAAAAHHH!"

With her dress tattered, Alice plummeted to the ground along with one of her doll and her grimoire amidst a deadly shower of arrows. She landed on the ground with a hard crash, no longer moving, arrows falling all around her, barely missing her while riddling her doll and grimoire.

"Uuhhh..."

"Too bad. You had a chance. Your battle is over now because you failed to take that chance." said Eirin with her eyes closed before turning around. "There is but one obstacle left now. Let us be rid of her."

As Eirin flew toward Patchouli, Alice managed to barely sit up, her youkai body numb from the Lunarian nurses' punishing assault. She did so just in time... A great number of Eientei rabbits and mud creatures had surrounded her...

***

Before long Patchouli found herself having to block off a large wave of arrow danmaku with a forcefield as Eirin wordlessly began what she expected to be her final assault on the librarian. Afterward, Patchouli collapsed to her knees, her breathing strained and rigid ever more.

"Your partner is no longer able to assist you, and your body has given up. This is the price you pay for taking me so lightly. The time has arrived for your unconditional surrender." stated Eirin, with a rather snooty look.

Patchouli rather weakly looked up at Eirin, still panting heavily as sweat dripped down her face. Without saying a word, Patchouli pressed her palm below her neck. Suddenly, she jutted forward as she took a deep breath! The same recovery spell previously used in the battle with Sakuya... Strength had returned!

"Idiot nurse... Do you not realize that even corned cats have their tricks?" said Patchouli as she stood up.

Eirin was mildly surprised at the now clearly breathing Patchouli's little trick, her facial expression reflecting this. However she cracked a small smile almost immediately afterward.

"Clever girl. An emergency spell that takes some of the natural life force around you and focuses it into your body to stave off your asthma and renew a small portion of your strength." explained the smiling Eirin.

"I guess I should not at all be surprised that you knew... Or rather, at how you were able to surmise how it worked merely by watching." replied Patchouli.

"That is indeed a useful spell, but..."

Without finishing her sentence, Eirin charged forward, prompting Patchouli to swing her left arm upwards, creating several large and sharp crystals that flew straight into the air for a few moments before dropping down on Eirin. The nurse immediately dodged out of the way of the crystals, loading an arrow into her bow and firing it, unleashing a high number of energized arrows at Patchouli. The librarian summoned a gush of magical water from the ground, sending the arrows skyward and away from her. As this happened, Patchouli took to the air, cracking her book wide open and letting out a large ball of fire! Eirin zipped to the left just as it slammed into the ground. The nurse then flew right up to Patchouli, having to dodge some water based projectiles in the process.

Too fast...! thought Patchouli as Eirin came toward her.

Once the nurse was right at the librarian, she attacked with a downward flip kick, smacking her right foot dead onto the top of Patchouli's head, sending her plummeting to the ground! Patchouli landed with a thud, causing dust to rise from the ground. Eirin landed a small distance away with a smile, switching her bow to her left hand...

"Good. That was all I needed."

Patchouli stood up, seeing Eirin facing her as she stood.

"Wait..." began Patchouli with a concerned look. "You said that was all you needed... What is it you mean?"

"As you're no doubt aware Ms. Patchouli... ...I am the single greatest medical mind in all Gensokyo. Do you realize what this means for you in this particular situation?" asks Eirin.

"What you speak is irrelevant. I will have no more foolish talk, now..."

"Fool, it means your trump card is for naught!" interrupted Eirin. "You noticed that I identified your emergency spell, did that tell you nothing?"

"Of course that wouldn't tell me anything unless..." Patchouli perked up, a cruel realization hitting her... "Unless you found someway to counteract it?! But such a thing would be impossible without physical contact! You haven't any chance of countering my spell, supposed 'Brain of the Moon'."

Eirin shook her head a slight bit.

"You're wrong yet again. That little break in the action moments ago when I kicked you...? All I was doing there was buying time. Yes, a spell like that at that level of casting cannot be broken so easily... ...for the first thirty seconds. Once the time after that thirty seconds has passed..."

Eirin cocked back her right arm, turning her body to the side as if preparing to throw something... Patchouli looked at the nurse with great concern, ready for anything, her eyes widening.

There simply isn't anyway she could have...!

"...then that spell can be broken as easily as a small twig!"

Eirin threw her hand forward, a small shockwave suddenly hitting Patchouli! The librarian staggered back... Her breathing began getting tense once more... Her strength suddenly began draining...! Yes, Eirin had undone her emergency spell!

"Wh-...!" gasped Patchouli before bending and coughing.

"Something like that is easy and simple. With this, it is as if your so called 'trump card' never even existed." said Eirin somewhat mockingly.

"W-why... ...youuu...!"

Patchouli slammed her left hand below her neck yet again, activating her spell once more! Eirin merely chuckled and threw another counter spell at Patchouli, weakening her further!

"I guess thats it. It takes more effort to activate the spell than it does to break it. Even in my current state, I have more than enough energy to keep this up for a long, long time. Meanwhile, you have exerted yourself quite a bit at this point..."

"Don't you dare say... '...surrender now!' I will nah... ahh... unhh..."

Patchouli collapses to her knees, dropping her book, holding her neck while breathing very heavily.

"Its over. If you will not surrender peacefully then the only thing left for me to do is to end you. I guess this is goodbye Ms. Patchouli." replied Eirin.

Eirin fired but a single arrow at the ailing Patchouli, who was only barely able to to put up a small energy field in front of herself to block it. After that, Patchouli collasped to all fours, exhausted.

"Hmm. Very well then." said Eirin.

The nurse suddenly moved in at great speed, crashing her right knee dead into Patchouli's face, sending the mansion librarian flying back! But before she could even land, Eirin was right back at her, landing two kicks to the face before a third flew right into the torso, sending Patchouli flying further away! She landed and rolled across the ground for a few moments on her belly, only to have Eirin move in yet again, kicking the librarian straight upward from her stomach before spin kicking her into some large rocks nearby! Patchouli landing with a loud CRACK, cringing in pain as she held her chest with both hands, wincing heavily in pain.

She slowly looked up weakly at the approaching Eirin, a trickle of blood running down her mouth while practically suffocating... Eirin stood over Patchouli, giving her a dark look as she prepared one last arrow in her bow and reared it back, aiming for Patchouli's head...

Suddenly, everything turned black and white for a single instant, Eirin perking up as this happened! She threw back her left hand, sending out a wave of energy barely in time to drive away a swarm of knives that would've otherwise impaled her! At the same time she could hear the sound of metal clanging to her front. She looked down to see another knife on the ground, a scratch mark present where Eirin's arrow had hit... Not only did the arrow never hit its intended target, but said target was gone with only her hat remaining! Knives everywhere, appearing in an instant, plus Patchouli's sudden disappearance... This could only be...

"So you've finally arrived... Where are you, Sakuya?!" called out Eirin looking around for the silver haired maid.

***

With Patchouli secured in her arms, Sakuya flew low to the ground, no doubt taking her somewhere (reasonably) safer.

"S-Sakuya... It seems you... ...have arrived... ...just in..."

Unable to finish her sentence, Patchouli coughed severely as Sakuya stopped flying and set her down.

"Tis best if you conserved what little strength you have remaining Lady Patchouli." stated Sakuya as she pulled out a strange yellow device, complete with a small opening, a metal capsule and orange button. "She'll be right behind me, but I got a good distance ahead with time manipulation. You should be safe here."

"Th-thank you... ...Sakuya." said Patchouli, taking the device.

The purple one put the small opening of the strange object into her mouth and pressed the button. Her lungs suddenly expanded, filling with glorious, much needed air as she was able to breath again.

"As for our other issue... It seems you and your team are losing by quite a bit Lady Patchouli." said Sakuya.

"Th-that is so... ...I am defeated, so... ...the proverbial mantle is passed to you, as I stated it would be if I were to be bested."

"Then let me be the one to deal with Eirin and the other dwellers of Eientei." said Sakuya with determination.

"I leave it... ...in your hands... ...Sakuya." said Patchouli before laying down on the ground and closing her eyes.

Without saying another word, Sakuya took one last look at Patchouli, who was quickly drifting off for some much needed sleep. Afterward, Sakuya took off toward Eirin, itching for another go at the nurse...

Finally... This time Eirin, we shall put an end to this. It won't even matter that you can never truly die.

***

Eirin stopped her advance as clouds of dust suddenly shot up in front of her... Hundreds of knives flew out of the clouds with great speed! Eirin back flipped into the air, unleashing swarms of arrows to counteract the attack! As she landed, Sakuya flew out of the dust cloud, numerous knives circling her in an X shape! The maid landed on the ground, throwing her arms forward, sending her knives right at Eirin at high speed! The nurse jumped back and rolled out of the way before firing another arrow barrage. Sakuya summoned more knives, spinning them all around herself to deflect the arrows.

Eirin smiled as she stood up.

"You're finally here Sakuya. I questioned whether or not you would even appear here."

Sakuya pulled out a spellcard as she smiled and replied.

"There wasn't anyway I was going to stay down after allowing myself to be disgraced... Furthermore, those who tarnish the house of Lady Remilia must pay." Said Sakuya before allow her smile to fade. "Now then, are you going to hand over the book of Koro? Or shall we do this... ...the sporting way?"

"You know that I will not turn my back on the princess, just as you will not turn on your Lady Remilia. But how exactly do you plan to fight? Look at yourself... You're sweating all over and trembling from fatigue before this battle even began." pointed out the nurse.

Eirin was right. Sakuya was sweaty and panting.

"This is the result of using your time powers to get here quickly." said Eirin pulled out a spellcard. "This was quite the foolish gamble, my dear Sakuya."

"Hardly." chuckled Sakuya. "Are so arrogant that you thought I would fail to have a plan? From what I see, you are also tired from fighting, and plan on doing something similar... We think more alike than I think either of us would be willing to admit, at least in terms of combat."

"Perhaps..."chuckled Eirin. "Well then Sakuya..."

Both women took their now glowing cards in right hand, holding them inward...

"Sakuya Izayoi!"

"Eirin Yagokoro!"

"I shall serve my princess!"

"I shall protect my mistress!"

Then they both shouted...

"As loyal servant to the one dearest to me, I declare that I will defeat you!"
"As loyal servant to the one dearest to me, I declare that I will defeat you!"

The girls held their cards outward as shock waves formed around both! Magic circles appeared beneath them!

"DECLARATION!"
"DECLARATION!"

With this, the next terrifying battle between Sakuya and Eirin would now begin!
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:19:32 AM
***

Kaguya's sadistic laughter filled the air as Wriggle rolled out of the way of several explosive, orb shaped blasts, whilst pulling out a spellcard. She darted to the right before jumping away from the orbs thrown by Kaguya who moved, weaved and spun around as if she were dancing as she formed the orbs and threw them at her opponent. Wriggle continued evading, throwing several shots of her own at Kaguya, only to see the princess evade them without effort.

"You seem to be weakening by quite a bit, little bug. How stubborn... Why not just end this little charade and come with me?"

"I won't play your stupid games any further Kaguya. I have one last method of stopping you!" replied Wriggle.

"Oh...? That spellcard in your hand?" asked Kaguya, stopping in midair while resting her chin on the back of her right hand.

Wriggle's card began glowing with dull-green energy.

"Are you not too weak to use any further spells? This is interesting... Your level of sheer determination is impeccable, yes..." said Kaguya forming white energy in her free left hand while wearing an absent minded smile. "Too bad. Even if I did give you the chance to use that card, I doubt that it would be anything capable of bringing any harm to me at this point, given your severely weakened state and all."

Kaguya then dropped to the ground and held her arm out at Wriggle. She fired her blast at the insect youkai, who, despite her injuries and fatigue stood her ground, letting the blast come at her head on... Why was she standing there you may wonder? Did she have a death wish? Not at all. What she had... ...was a trump card!

Mere moments before Kaguya's blast could hit, an enormous creature burst forth from the ground, taking the blast in Wriggle's stead! The beast -a giant youkai centipede- exploded as it was hit, showering the ground around it with its flesh and blood in protection of its queen... Wriggle tossed her card away, letting it vanish with even shouting out a name...

"Wha...?" uttered Kaguya.

Just then, three more enormous bugs burst out of the ground around Kaguya, attempting to pin her down! A giant hornet, a giant centipede and a giant cicada! White energy flowed around Kaguya's body as she put her arms up in an attempt to hold them off! She was forced into staggered stance. Meanwhile, Wriggle looked on, clutching her left shoulder with her right hand while panting.

"They got here just in time... These are my servants Kaguya! They respond only to my will! And they most certainly will make sure that they are not deprived of their queen without a hard battle." explained Wriggle with confidence.

Despite straining visibly with one eye closed, Kaguya smiled confidently.

"A surprising trick little one, but a trick that merely delays the inevitable!" claimed Kaguya.

Wriggle narrowed her eyes.

"What are you going on about?" asked the nightbug.

"Just look closely!"

Wriggle's three summoned beasts attacked fiercely with legs, claws and mandibles... ...but appeared to do no damage!

"No, she should've been down by now..." mutters Wriggle.

"I can hold this Robe of the Fire Rat for quite a bit of time dear Nightbug, longer than virtually any spell wielded by Gensokyo's other individuals. Even now, it protects my body against these pitiful attacks. You'd do well to ask your overgrown servants here if they value their lives."

"That Robe can't be capable of holding up much longer! We won't lose to you Kaguya!" shouted back Wriggle.

Twenty more centipedes burst out of the ground, diving at Kaguya!

"Even if that were true, this robe has several more tricks up its sleeve, roach!"

Kaguya began laughing out loud once more as she created a heated orange glow around herself... Wriggle's insects were set ablaze as Kaguya threw them off herself with sheer magical force! She immediately jumped into the air, avoiding the other centipedes just as they were about to land on her, waving her right arm downward! The creatures thrashed about violently as they were immolated, much to Wriggle's horror!

"Blast it...! Get her!" called out Wriggle.

"...?"

Kaguya turned around just in time to find a whole army of airborne insects coming right at her at high speed.

"Oh...! Reinforcements? It is quite impressive that you were able to gather this many in such a short time, especially considering your injured state... However, it will be of no avail." said Kaguya as she held her arms out. This will end the Fire Rat spell but it matters not.

Kaguya's entire being burned orange as a large number of fireballs shot out from her, blasting the insect army into ashes! One by one they fell, engulfed by hellish flames! Kaguya -back in her original clothing- chuckled to herself as she watched the slaughter with a sinister smile.

"No...!" gasped Wriggle to herself before gritting her teeth as a giant ant rose directly under her. "Lets go!"

Wriggle rode on top of the massive ant as it leaped at Kaguya, mandibles wide open! Kaguya merely turned around and waited... Just as the creature was about to strike, Kaguya slammed her right arm right through its mouth, sending an energy blast down its body, exploding it, forcing Wriggle to jump off! The princess immediately proceeded to slice a surviving wasp in two, but not before dodging its deadly sting! Finally, she turned to face one final wave of insects large and small, coming right for her.

Wriggle watched helplessly as Kaguya sent out her bronze chains to impale several of the large insects while rapidly firing out her green and blue, diamond like danmaku to finish the rest. Soon, not a single one of Wriggle's summoned insects was left standing. Wriggle herself stood trembling, her eyes filling with tears...

"A valiant effort dear nightbug. Alas, that was merely your latest failure to strike me down." said Kaguya before looking down at the crying insect girl. "Ufufufu~ Don't cry little bug... You're helping to create a great paradise afterall."

Wriggle stood, taking her hand off her pained shoulder as she tightly clenching her fists. She had nothing left to battle Kaguya with at this point...

Unbelievable... M-my very last effort... It has ended in total failure...!

She watched as Kaguya descended towards her once more, still wearing that same awful smile.

"Yes, you will be helping to create my paradise... However..."

Suddenly, Kaguya bolted toward Wriggle as high speed! Helpless to defend herself, Wriggle ended up being grabbed by her injured left shoulder!

"...you have been a naughty bug! You must be punished!" said Kaguya, with a twisted smile.

Kaguya plowed Wriggle into the ground as she flew, grinding her against the Earth! Wriggle endured great pain from hard rock ground along with the friction as Kaguya laughed maniacally, enjoying how she was ruthlessly dragging the battered youkai!

Wriggle was in severe pain, thoughts of dying crossing her mind... Death was quick to look like that of a sweet embrace... Afterall, Kaguya had beaten her. She knew Kaguya had beaten. And in turn, she had failed Mystia, Marisa and her other friends and allies. And she knew this cruel torture was possibly only the beginning of whatever horrors she would be subjected to as Kaguya's unwilling puppet...

These thoughts did not vanish, even after ever insane Kaguya stopped her sadistic assault, standing over the fallen nightbug.

"That felt rather nice... A fitting punishment for all the trouble you brought down to me. As said before, this could have avoided if you had merely..."

Kaguya stopped herself, her smile fading as she sensed something coming at her from the right... It was none other than Reimu, the miko of the Hakurei Shrine! Kaguya cursed, glaring at the incoming dichromatic miko darkly as she fired barrages of green bullets at her. Reimu charged forth at high speed, erecting a large, blue, ofuda-like barrier in front of herself to stop the bullets from hitting her. The miko zipped right through her barrier, spinning around and sending her right leg slamming into the startled Kaguya's chest, sending her flying backwards! Kaguya held the spot just below her right breast that Reimu had kicked, glaring at Reimu in annoyance.

"I see... The miko of the Hakurei shrine has managed to momentarily elude my loyal troops! But that matters not, for you will soon be out of the way, as your friends are!" exclaimed Kaguya.

Reimu's eyes breifly widened.

"My friends? What are you getting at?" called back Reimu looking at Kaguya with suspicion and caution.

Kaguya's smile returned.

"Each and everyone of them have been defeated by Eirin and I! You are the only one left standing... How long is it you think you can last for?! Ahahaha!"

***

Wriggle was barely conscious, the pain of Kaguya's brutal dragging great, the damage from it slow to heal despite her youkai body. She laid stiff and unmoving on the ground, her clothes tattered horribly, soaked in her green blood. By now, her wounds had actually closed, and were in the process of healing, but that mattered not... A full recovery from this condition would take too much time, even for a youkai.

Wriggle was out of options. Out of time. Out of hope. No matter how much her tired, barely aware mind tried, she could not think of anyway out of this situation. She thought she could hear the sound of battle nearby... Was that real? Was her mind becoming deluded, playing tricks? And just how long had this been going on? The passage of time seemed impossible to detect in this tortured state... How much time had already passed...? Again, it mattered not.

Unable to move a muscle, Wriggle closed her eyes and waited for what would happen next.

***

"What can you do now that my loyal soldiers have arrived, dear Reimu?" asked Kaguya.

Kaguya smirked watching as five of her loyal inabas flew at Reimu one by one. Reimu yelled in the air while spinning her gohei in the air, using it like a staff to swat the small bunny girls away. Kaguya responded by leaping into the air, sending her chains right at the miko. Reimu flew out of the way as she sent many small needles at Kaguya. The former princess remained in place, smiling as she pulled her chains back, whilst swinging them, sending the needles away. She then sent four white, crescent shaped blasts down toward the ground before charging right at Reimu, chains still visible despite being mostly retracted... Reimu raised her left hand upwards while putting her index and middle fingers together and pointing them upward, three large blue yin-yang orbs forming around her, orbiting her like planets.

***

Wriggle began to regain full awareness, fighting the overwhelming pain. But still, she laid unmoving on the ground, only able to rely on her ears to figure out what was going on around her. She could hear gasps and yells from familiar voices, along explosions, magic and the yelps of injured inabas... One of the voices was oddly familiar... Reimu...? Was that Reimu Wriggle was hearing? Was she fighting against Kaguya? If that was the case... ...then who was winning...? Reimu was perhaps the last hope...

Not able to stand the thought of Reimu fighting alone, Wriggle gritted her teeth, her eyes tightly shut as she tried with all her will to get up. Her pained muscles stiffened at the attempt, screaming silently at her for rest. They had no strength left. No matter how much she willed it, Wriggle still could not move...

***

Underneath Reimu, a white glow lit up the spot where Kaguya's earlier crescent blasts had it the ground. Out of them shot green and white colored beams of lasers!

"Gah...!"

Reimu whirled around, dodging the lasers as they came up underneath her while simultaneously blocking and dodging more danmaku from the charging Kaguya. The former moon princess got within point blank range of Reimu, ready to strike her down with a large bundle of  white energy! Reimu held her gohei to the side as she thrusted it forward while a single ofuda card was attached. This caused a clash of energies resembling a blue puddle of water during a heavy rainstorm to appear in between the attacks, followed by a small shockwave that blew Reimu and Kaguya a very small distance away from each other! Reimu gritted her teeth, backing away from Kaguya as the two clashed physical strike after strike...

***

Unable to give up, Wriggle Gritted her teeth, forcing her body to shake quiet a bit... ...but finally moving ever so slightly...

***

Kaguya was sent reeling back somewhat as Reimu slammed her right fist into the princess' cheek. Kaguya responded by unleashing a small blast of energy while still close, the explosion sending Reimu toward the ground! The miko recovered just as she was about to crash into the ground... ...but not before turning toward the ground and erecting another ofuda shield in front of herself... It turned out to be a wise move, as the very ground she would've landed on exploded, sending flying back into the air! As this happened, Reimu aimed a spin kick at Kaguya, blocking another energy blast attempt, stopping what would've been a clever yet cheap blow to the back. Kaguya's energy bundle fell to the ground where it exploded harmlessly, for she had dropped it to catch Reimu's leg.

"Ah... You clairvoyantly knew of the bomb one of my Inabas had planted while I was distracting you. You then predicted my attempt to strike at your turned back. Could this be the much rumored intuition of yours?" asks Kaguya. No matter if it is...

Reimu kicked Kaguya dead in the cheek with her other leg before twisting around, and firing another barrage of deadly needles at her! Kaguya put up a shield, blocking the needles as she threw out a chain, managing to wrap it around Reimu's ankle before she could get away! The princess span the miko around twice before throwing her downward at another hidden bomb in the ground! Reimu used another sheild to block the explosion, the sheer momentum sending back into the air, right into the path of two waiting Inabas that immediately tried to charge into for a headbutt! Reimu quickly blasted them with ofuda, only to have Kaguya rush in from Reimu's left, and detonate a third bomb from up close! Reimu gasped as she saw the white flash...

***

Her body recovering, Wriggle was able to slightly pick herself up, able to bend one knee for support. She heard a loud explosion above, along with Reimu's scream...

***

The miko -now with burn marks and partially torn clothes- plummeted toward the ground, but managing to recover...

"K-Kaguya...!" called out Reimu with one eye closed as she drew more ofuda.

Suddenly, a large brown object reached out and wrapped itself around the miko's body from behind! Reimu looked back in surprise to see that the object was actually the extended arm of one of Kaguya's hideous clones of mud! Reimu's ofuda cards glowed blue as she struggled in the creature's grip when a second creature sprouted up from the right, whipping the ofuda right out of Reimu's hand with its whip-like right arm before using said arm to wrap her legs! Two more creatures appeared, wrapping Reimu in their arms as well. She struggled in their surprisingly powerful grasp, but to no avail. The miko was completely helpless!

Kaguya gently landed on the ground, her arms back in her sleeves. She wore a confident and calm smile as she walked over to Reimu, getting right into her face. Reimu continued wiggling futilely as Kaguya briefly unfolded one of her arms to caress the miko's chin and cheeks.

"It seems that the uncanny intuition you sport can be outwitted after all, ufufufu..." giggled Kaguya. "Tis a shame you lost like this... You were the little bug's last hope. How sad... But alas, you were not the one to succeed. Tis I who is victorious. But you tried your best didn't you? I can admire you for that... Now then..."

One of the mud beasts began turning its free hand into a blade...

"Ohh, no no no, that will not do at all. If we were to do away with this miko permanently, it would be most problematic for Gensokyo. Subduing her will be enough for now." said Kaguya as she looked toward the murderous clone.

The creature's hand then reformed its hand to normal. Satisfied, Kaguya walked over to Wriggle who was still struggling to stand.

"My my... I guess some youkai really do not know when to give up. How stubborn..."

Wriggle could hear Kaguya walking in front of her. She did not dare look up... Suddenly, she found herself forced of the ground, held in the air by Kaguya! Wriggle said nothing, just looking at Kaguya in fear.

"This of course means that you will need further teaching..."

With that, Kaguya sent Wriggle slamming right into a huge nearby rock with a blast of sheer magical force, the nightbug gasping as she impacted, leaving cracks and a partial imprint! The princess followed up by flying over to Wriggle and slamming her right fist dead into the insect youkai's gut! Wriggle briefly shuddered as green blood trickled from her mouth. This assault had dispersed what precious little strength Wriggle was able to recover.

Now it was truly over.

Mystia... ...forgive me...

Wriggle slowly slumped to the ground, falling over and not moving. Kaguya giggled as she snapped her fingers. Two rabbit girls came to her.

"The time has come. Take her over to the seal for me." commanded Kaguya.

"Yes ma'am!"

The bunny girls did as they were told, picking up the battered Wriggle and flying off. Kaguya began to following, returning her arms to her sleeves. But as she did so, she took a moment to look into the sky... She could see a brightly glowing orange star in the distance... No, that was no star... It could only have been...

"Hmm... The guest is almost here... We'd best hurry..." said Kaguya. "Tis the beginning... ...of the end. Ufufufufu~"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:20:26 AM
***

Elsewhere, far away from the seal...

Keine looked up into the sky... Specifically, the clear patch of sky over the Seal of Koro's revealed location. Mokou did not inform Keine of its location, but the teacher figured it out soon enough with this simple clue. She floated above the ground near the house she shared with Rinnosuke, her eyes -filled with great worry- gazing over the horizon.

"Keine!" called Rinnosuke from below. "You should come down and rest for a moment. Its not good for anyone to worry too much."

Keine looked down at her silver haired husband with the same worried expression upon her. She hesitated for a few moments before closing her eyes and slowly returning to the ground, her hands clasped in front of herself as she faced the man.

"You're correct Rinnosuke... But I have a very odd feeling... A bad one at that." sighed Keine.

"Hmm..." mumbled Rinnosuke, adjusting his glasses with his right index finger. "Do you sense anything bad in particular?"

"Well... All I have right now is this deep anxiety." responded Keine.

Rinnosuke smiled sympathetically, walking up to Keine and putting a hand on her left shoulder.

"Mokou is a strong woman Keine. You taught her well. I wouldn't worry. There isn't any doubt she knows what shes doing."

"Hm... Perhaps you're right, but..." sighed Keine before looking toward the sky again. "...she still battle against Eientei, against forces that neither her or her enemies understand."

Rinnosuke's smile dissipated as he cupped his chin with his right index finger and thumb, tucking his left hand under his right armpit.

"Rinnosuke..." began Keine again. "Back when Mokou and I were exploring Ancient Koro earlier..."

"Go ahead." said Rinnosuke after his wife's hesitation.

"Back then, we traveled into a certain house near the center of the village. It was odd... Mokou seemed compelled by an outside force to go inside. I followed her in, not knowing what else to do. While inside, we saw a strange aura. The aura of a person dwelling in a strange darkness... Something came over Mokou and possessed her, and as I watched, I began to feel fatigued and light headed, as if something was possessing me as well..." explained Keine.

Rinnosuke now looked concerned.

"What... What was it Keine...?" he asked.

"I don't know... In fact, I'm beginning to think that 'possession' wasn't quite the appropriate term to use just now... In actuality, I was simply feeling the presence of an overwhelming force... An entity in great pain... For just a moment, I could swear it was speaking to me... It was as if it were attempting to share a dire warning of some kind..."

"A warning? What kind?" asked Rinnosuke.

"It seemed as if... As if it were telling me that within Koro's seal, there is something bigger... ...deeper than a simple monster... Like a great evil beyond the monster of Koro...! I fear that said great evil is with the monster, and that the sheer terror could very well destroy everyone near it."

Rinnosuke's eyes widened as a small bit of sweat came upon the side of his face. He began attempting to find words of comfort to share with the worried Keine... But suddenly, Keine suddenly gasped, her own eyes widening as they became a crimson color!

"K-Keine?!" said Rinnosuke with worry, intentionally reaching out to grab his wife before remembering what this was...

Keine throw off her overly large hat as she breathed heavily, a green magical aura appearing around her as the blue parts of her dress became green. The blue parts of her hair became green along with the dress as a large, lengthly and bushy white and green tail emerged from where her tail bone was. Finally, Keine yelled into the sky as two long horns emerged from her head.

Once the transformation was over, she looked at her hands, then back up at the sky. She couldn't see it, but she knew...

"Tonight is a full moon..." she said more to herself. This is the night for the unsealing... Is this a premonition?

"Your Were-Hakutaku form." said Rinnosuke calmly.

"..."

Keine looked at Rinnosuke for a moment before looking back to the clearing in the sky over Koro's seal. She then closed her eyes and tightened her fists.

"Rinno-"

"Its dangerous to go you know." said Rinnosuke with a sympathetic smile, knowing full well what Keine desired to do.

"Don't worry. I don't plan on fighting, merely observing from a distance. Even with the increased power of this form, chances are that I will only impair Mokou's ability to fight, be a hindrance."

"I see... Be careful Keine." said Rinnosuke.

"I will. I love you." responded Keine.

"I love you too."

Keine nodded her head as she turned around and took to the sky.

"Oh, and Keine..." said Rinnosuke, now with a dead serious look in his eye as he crossed his arms.

Keine stopped, turning around again.

"If you believe in any deities at all... Pray to them."

Keine nodded once more before finally leaving. Rinnosuke watched her fly away until she was out of sight. He then turned around and walked back toward the house, a troubled look in his eyes as he uncrossed his arms and resumed the pose he had while listening to Keine, but supporting his right arm with his left one instead of tucking it under his armpit.

"Odd... Why am I having odd nagging feelings about Marisa? Its probably nothing, but perhaps I should go check on her..."
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:21:37 AM
***

The Seal. Mystia was still standing over it along with a number of Inabas, waiting to know the outcomes of the furious nearby battles.

"What happening?! I can't see the lights anymore..." said Mystia to herself.

A few minutes later, Mystia could hear elated squeals of joy from the Inabas... A horrifying sight caught her eye in the form of the beaten and broken Wriggle being carried toward the cliff side by two Inabas, Kaguya flying calmly behind them with a confident smile, her arms tucked comfortably in her sleeves. Mystia's eyes widened with despair, unable to avert her tearing eyes from the defeated nightbug. Wriggle... ...her best friend, the one who had vowed to save her... ...had been crushed. Along with the nightbug was the last of the night sparrow's hope. All she could feel now was utter despair... And along with that despair... ...came seething rage. How dare this human... How dare she...!

Wriggle was callously tossed to the wall, yelling out in pain upon impact before slumping over, gritting her teeth from the pain. Kaguya landed, her loyal rabbits running up to her, congratulating her excitedly. She petted them while looking over to the fallen Wriggle with a smug look on her face. Mystia watched as Kaguya and her rabbits sung one another's praises, a sight that sickened her even more. Her face contorted with anger, her narrowing eyes thirsting for vengeance, even as tears rolled down her cheeks. Kaguya looked over toward Mystia deviantly.

"Oh, you should not be so sad Ms. Sparrow. She did her best. Indeed she was somewhat bothersome to tame, but she fought well. It is quite too bad you were not able to witness the spectacle, ufufufufu~"

Finally, Kaguya walked over to Wriggle, giving her a swift kick to the left cheek, sending the insect youkai completely to her side.

"Hmm..."

"STOP IT!" shouted the enraged Mystia. "Haven't you tortured us enough?! Look how badly wounded she is!"

Kaguya promptly began walking toward Mystia at a slow pace.

"Ah, but you see Ms. Sparrow, playing with you two is much fun... But even more so, you youkai tend to heal quickly even from the most grievous of wounds right? I merely apply a few 'techniques' to ensure you and her stay tamed." explained Kaguya.

"You call those techniques?! Stop making excuses and admit that you're nothing more than a cowardly sadist!" demanded the enraged Mystia.

"Oh, your words, they hurt me so..." replied Kaguya with an air of insincerity as she placed her right hand below her neck, continuing to smile. "My dear, I would have been quiet happy to show the both of you leniency, but you resisted us at every turn, wasting valuable time when time was of the essence. How tragic..."

"Tragic?!"

"Well I did say it could have all been avoided, did I not?" said Kaguya before a brief giggle. "However..."

Kaguya partially covered her face with her right sleeve, turning slightly to the side as she looked at Mystia with narrow, mischievous eyes.

"...I would be lying quite a bit if I said that I did not enjoy it. Ah, her blood, her tears... And that screaming sensation, yes... Her cries of agony were most... ...elating..."

That was it. For Mystia, the last straw had been drawn.

"I can't believe you...! YOU SICK, SADISTIC B***H!" shouted the nightbird.

Paying no regard to the fact that she was still tied up, Mystia began charging at Kaguya, wanting desperately to end her where she stood, shrieking all the while. The Inabas behind the princess were ready to leap into action, but were stopped by Kaguya, holding up her left arm as a silent command to remain stationary. Instead, Kaguya waited for Mystia to get close, then threw up her right hand, sending an invisible magical force slamming into Mystia! The nightbird yelped as she was thrown backward into the ground. The Inabas surrounded the fallen bird as Kaguya stood over her, admiring her quarry.

"Hm." muttered Kaguya with a sly smile before looking upwards. "We shall waste no more time! The unsealing shall begin this moment!"

Mystia glared at Kaguya, her teeth gritted, almost looking as if she would break them if she did so any harder.

"Pick them up." ordered Kaguya.

"Yes ma'am!"

The Inabas obeyed, lifting Mystia back into a standing position. She could see Wriggle being dragged limply by two Inabas  toward the seal. Mystia herself was turned around and walked back to the edge of the cliff, held by two Inabas. She looked down at the enormous amalgamation of evil, sweat pouring down her face...

"S... So what are we waiting for? Aren't you going to just cast us in already?" said Mystia, her tone now sounding quite defeated.

"What is this? You sounded so angry mere moments ago..." said Kaguya. "Have you lost your edge? Or are you simply fearful of your life?"

"..."

"You really have no need to be. This process will not mean your death, ufufufu~" giggled Kaguya. "My, what a silly bird..."

"I really don't think I can believe that..."

"That does not matter, really. However, by the time your senses return, everything will be done."

"Huh?!" uttered a confused Mystia.

Suddenly, Mystia could feel the back of her head being grabbed quite hard! No doubt it was Kaguya... Mystia gasped and yelped in pain as the princess forced her head down.

"First things first Ms. Sparrow. Look into the seal."

Mystia closed her eyes tightly, gritting her teeth. Her breathing became heavier, sweat forming on her face as she resisted the deviantly smiling Kaguya's forceful manhandling.

"F-forget it! I'll do no such thing for you!" exclaimed the nightbird.

"I said look."

Mystia continued her struggling, refusing to do what Kaguya asked of her.

"N-no!"

"You will do as I tell to do, birdie. I think you are about to find that you haven't any choice on the matter, hm."

Kaguya reached out her left hand, signaling a nearby rabbit girl, who had been holding a small book... She reached up, allowing her mistress to take it and flip through its pages with her thumb.

"You will do everything as I say, as it is written in this precious book. You have no control over yourself whatsoever. Afterall, this book does not lie... Something with such dangerous secrets cannot afford to afterall." said the princess before flipping to a certain point in the book. "Ah, here we are..."

Kaguya spoke with a dark and casual tone that only served to heighten the weariness of both, Mystia, and the injured, but conscious Wriggle. Wriggle herself weakly turned her head to the right at the struggling Mystia and Kaguya, realizing what Kaguya was referring to.

"What the hell does some book have to do with anything?! How can...?!"

Mystia was cut off.

"How silly of you to forget, but birds aren't exactly known for their memory... Silly bird, think back to last night at your old lamprey stand. Specifically, a certain poem that was recited to you..." said Kaguya.

"A certain po-..."

Mystia cut herself off, suddenly remembering the strange poem of the previous night.

"I remember now! You're speaking of that strange book from before!" exclaimed the night bird, opening her eyes with realization.

"Very good! Now you realize that the powerful tome I hold in my hand is none other than the fabled Book of Koro! And you bird shall be bound by its power!" said Kaguya, her evil smile widening.

"M-Mystia...!"

Wriggle gritted her teeth, wanting desperately to save Mystia, but unable to move at all.

"Then I shall resist whatever twisted magics you are to release, you wretched human! I will never become your puppet!" exclaimed Mystia, narrowing her eyes and looking back at the princess.

"I'm glad you're continuing to fight me, even now." said Kaguya sincerely. "However..."

Kaguya began reciting something from the book...

"Sing little night bird, sing.
Sing little night bird, sing.

Sing for your mistress, sing through the night.
Sing little night bird, sing."

Mystia gasped as she perked up, her eyes widening, pupils becoming smaller. She felt something in her mind... Almost as if something was going into her head...

"Sing little night bird, sing.
Sing little night bird, sing.

Sing to the world with beautiful passion, sing little night bird, sing.
Sing for your mistress, sing through the night, sing your song with all your might.
Sing true and obey her whims, sing little night bird, sing."

"Wha... Whats... ...happening... ...to..."

The more Kaguya chanted, the more out of touch with reality Mystia began to feel. Sweat covered her face, and her vision blurred... She felt as if she were losing control of her body. Fearing for her life, she resisted the spell with all her will power, fighting to retain control over her mind. Kaguya's chanting only continued...

N-no... My mind... My mind only belongs to me...! thought Mystia. "My mind... ...is mine...!"

Kaguya's chanting continued for several more minutes, Mystia fighting hard to prevent being taken control of. Wriggle could only watch helpless. In her mind, she was continuously apologizing for her failure to save Mystia and stop Kaguya.

"Let us hear thine voice throughout the hills, sing little night bird, sing.
Sing loudly to your mistress' will, sing little night bird, sing."
[/b]

On the open pages of the book, the text Kaguya was chanting began to glow yellow. Mystia could feel her mind and self-awareness both slip away from her. She felt lightheaded and faint, but still fought hard against Kaguya's control.

"Awaken the power, awaken the might, sing little night bird, sing.
Sing through the night, bring fourth Koro's light, sing little night bird, sing!"

Kaguya finished her passionate chanting, looking down at Mystia, expecting a positive result... But Mystia held sway, collapsing to a kneeling position, but continuing to hold on. She had stated that she would resist Kaguya's control and she was doing just that. Kaguya's smile fainted.

"Well well, it seems this alone will not be sufficient to break you... Surely there is someway to break this stubborn will of yours..." said Kaguya before perking up. "Wait, I know... Bring the insect over here!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Mystia looked on with her now blank and glassy gray eyes as Wriggle was brought closer to her and Kaguya. Kaguya smiled sinisterly as she walked rather slowly behind Wriggle. Mystia -still fighting to prevent the loss of her mind- watched the princess with a tired, yet nervous expression on her sweat covered face.

"Wh... What are you doing...?" she asked weakly.

"Remember my earlier words on the natural healing ability of youkai little bird? I have suddenly become... ...curious. You see, it is said that youkai can heal well. To the point that they can even recover from being sliced apart you see. I have never had the opportunity to see this for myself, so I'd like to take a moment to test this theory..." explained Kaguya.

Mystia was confused.

"Wait... You don't..."

Mystia watched with horror as Kaguya was handed a nice katana by one of the Inabas. She raised it up into the air, ready to bring it down on the weakened Wriggle from behind.

"N-no...! In her state, she'll never heal from something like that!" pleaded Mystia.

Kaguya only widened her smile as she tightened her grip on the sharp sword.

"Didn't you say you needed us?! Stop it!" cried out Mystia in desperation. "I'll obey you, just don't kill Wriggle, please...!"

Despite her pleas, it happened... Mystia was forced to watch helplessly as Kaguya brought down the sword. Wriggle had a shocked expression on her face as she split in two, her blood falling to the ground along with the two halves of her body... Mystia shuddered, taking several steps back before looking up blankly into the sky with her now lifeless and traumatized gray eyes... Overwhelmed with despair, Mystia howled hysterically toward the cold sky above her, tears rolling down her eyes. At this point, all else left Mystia's mind. Everything holding her sanity together had left her. Soon, all that would be left was despair and darkness.

This was perfect.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:22:39 AM
Kaguya watched the horrified Mystia with a confident look on her face, even as the Inabas backed away, covering their ears from the incredibly loud screaming. With this, she knew that Mystia would no longer be resistant to her spell.

"Hm. It appears that the book's illusion spell worked perfectly." said the princess.

"W-what? What did you do to her?!" spoke the voice of a familiar insect youkai.

Wriggle -still in one piece and held by two Inabas- looked on at the screaming Mystia in confusion.

"Just a little something right out from the book of Koro. An illusory spell that assists in breaking the will of one who is not easily taken by the controlling powers of the chants." explained Kaguya, looking over at Wriggle as she spoke. "As for what she saw... It was merely something to... ...stimulate her into becoming my puppet. Yes, she believes something horrible has happened to you just now... She thinks you're dead. But of course that is only what she thinks!"

Kaguya laughed for a bit, while Wriggle gritted her teeth in anger. Mystia soon stopped her panicked screaming, tears ceasing to roll down her eyes. Instead she merely stared blankly into the sky, her mouth still wide open. Her eyes were beginning to glow...

"What she thinks happen did not really happen thanks to my illusion. But it did not need to be real. Watch and learn little bug..."

Kaguya calmly walked up to the catatonic Mystia, Wriggle forced to watch helplessly. The nightbug watched as Kaguya stopped in front of Mystia.

"Mystia Lorelei..." began Kaguya. "Look down and gaze upon me."

Kaguya was delighted as Mystia moved head down with a deadpan expression, looking into the princess' smiling face. She and Wriggle could both see that her eyes had turned yellow.

"Hm, very good." said Kaguya.

Mystia...? thought Wriggle.

"Now then Mystia Lorelei... What is your purpose?" asked Kaguya.

"My purpose... ...is to serve my mistress: the one... ...who wishes to break the seal." replied Mystia in a dead sounding tone.

"Who's voice do you listen to?"

"The voice of my mistress."

"Very good... And just who is your mistress?"

"My mistress... ...is you. Ka... Kaguya Houraisan."

Kaguya was more than satisfied; Mystia was now under her full control. There were no further obstacles in breaking the seal and awakening the legendary beast.

"Turn around." instructed Kaguya.

Mystia did as she was told. Kaguya put the index and middle fingers on her left hand together before suddenly shooting them upward. Mystia's ropes were cut, falling to the ground. Wriggle watched, horrified at the mere thought that Kaguya could control her friend like this, turning her into a mindless, blindly obedient slave. She gritted her teeth, as tears welled up in her eyes. It was a hard truth to face...

This was the result of Wriggle's own failure. And the torment of both, herself and Mystia was only starting...

Her friend and her enemy walked side by side to the cliff's edge overlooking the seal of Koro. Kaguya would instigate the final stage with one last foul order. One that would decide the fate...

"Sing little night bird, sing."

With that one order, Mystia stared blankly into space as she held her arms out... She began singing passionately into the night air. The song was the same chant that Kaguya had been using not too long ago. Kaguya didn't look like it, but she could only barely contain her excitement at this moment, having to consciously stop herself from laughing high into the night sky. Wriggle looked on at what was transpiring in front of her a short distance away. She briefly looked down, no longer able to take this anymore...

This... Is this my fate? Have I really been bound to this destiny inescapably from the very beginning?! If so then... What did I live for...? Is this all my life amounted to in the end, to be used as a tool to awaken something that has the power to threaten Gensokyo in its entirety?! How...?! It can't be true... It simply can't be true...! thought Wriggle, shaking her head before looking up, eyes shut. "MYSTIAAAAAAAAAA!!"

As if on cue, the ground began shaking as Mystia sang. The light from the seal suddenly grew more intense, forcing Wriggle and the Inabas to look away. Kaguya looked over to Wriggle, no longer keeping a sane expression.

"She cannot hear you nightbug! The only voice she hears now is my own! Can you not see?! There is nothing you can do other than accepting your fate! DAHAHAHAHA!" shouted Kaguya over the rumbling.

Out of sight of anyone, the seal began cracking, responding to Mystia's song... No, the resonance it created! A giant beam of green light shot out from the hole the Seal was encased in, flying high into the sky! At the apex, the beam spread out, painting the sky a brilliant emerald color! Sparkles of green light rained down from the sky, the ground glowing a similar color as they fell leisurely to the ground.

"Yes, yes, YES! Its here! Its here! Its alive! Its awake! With this, I have fulfilled the prophecy and ended the ultimate creatures slumber! Yes, yes! Now there will be nothing left to stop me from settling things with Mokou once and for all!" shouted Kaguya excitedly before laughing wildly as she stared at the giant beam of light.

Wriggle looked away, a look of despair on her face. Mystia merely stood still, awaiting any further orders.

The beam of light dissipated, clouds of darkness immediately following. Along with that came further violent shaking of the ground... And a dark and dreadful sound... One that could only come from a large and foul beast... The clouds seemed to be forming into a large dragon like creature of pure darkness, complete with eerie green eyes all over its 'head.'

Wriggle looked up at the cloud with great fear.

Wha... What is that?! That unnerving sound...!

Kaguya calmed herself, returning her arms to her sleeves as she floated over to Wriggle.

"That my dear... ...is the beast of Koro."

Kaguya then turned around to have another look at the horrible abomination she had unleashed. It almost had the appearance of staring right back at her... She was its mistress. Kaguya was about to open her mouth to speak again when the beast of darkness suddenly began roaring wildly, turning red in color... ...before exploding in flames! Kaguya's expression turned to one of shock as an enormous wall of flames blasted right through the creature, plowing into a great many of the onlooking Inaba creatures, but leaving Mystia untouched!

"That is one ugly beast. You went through all this trouble for something like that? you've suddenly got me wondering why you even bothered..." spoke and all to familiar voice.

Wriggle's eyes widened while Kaguya took on a bitter smile.

Thats...! thought Wriggle.

"I see... The special guest has finally arrived..."replied Kaguya.

"You're damn right."

Kaguya quickly jumped off to the side, avoid a wall of flames that sprung up right where she was standing! Wriggle and the Inaba soldiers guarding her were all startled, the Inabas dropping her before running away in panic! Wriggle, still too weak to stand fell to a sitting position, watching the apparent battle unfolding near her.

"The time for games has passed. You're gonna pay dearly for everything you've done Kaguya..."

Kaguya zoomed backwards before swinging her arm forward, sending out a large white blast of energy toward an incoming fireball! The blasts collided, exploding in a brilliant flash of white! The light quickly cleared, revealing a crimson eyed girl with long flowing hair... It was none other than Mokou.

Its her! Thats the woman that tried to save Mystia and I, the one Kaguya wants to destroy! thought Wriggle, looking over.

"Hm... I was wondering when you would finally appear Mokou... You came just in time." said Kaguya.

Mokou landed on the ground a short distance away from the ground, hands in her pockets. Her expression was one of silent rage, a look that was perhaps far more frightening than any uncontrolled rage. Kaguya however was undeterred, smiling confidently.

"Let me guess... I came just in time to meet my end?" asked Mokou.

"No." replied Kaguya simply. "You came just in time to witness my beginning."

[Spell Break]
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:23:29 AM
[Last Word- The meeting of desires, destinies and fates]

Wriggle soon found herself crawling toward the catatonic Mystia, dragging herself with all her might. The Mystia she knew had to still be in there somewhere...

"Mystia...?" said Wriggle, getting no response. "Mystia!"

The frozen bird youkai remained in place, not moving even an inch. Wriggle was soon tugging at Mystia's skirt with her right hand.

"Mystia, its me! I know you can hear me, snap out of it!"

"I only obey my mistress." replied Mystia in a deadpan tone, not even looking down towards Wriggle.

"Mystia...!" said Wriggle in desperation, not knowing what else to do. "Mystia, fight it! Your being controlled by your enemy!"

"I only obey my mistress. The only one I give an ear to is her. I only obey her..." droned Mystia robotically, staring dead off into space.

"Mystia, please...!"

By now, tears were building in Wriggle's eyes. Her bird youkai friend was in Kaguya's full control, the beast of Koro had awakened, her friends were endangered and now Mokou and Kaguya were getting ready to have it out. In all of this, Wriggle was powerless. She closed her eyes tightly, slowly sliding off of the catatonic Mystia, tears streaming down her eyes. She had tried so hard and been through so much... She and her friends all had... But at this critical moment, all she could do was watch. Her fate, Mystia's and perhaps Gensokyo's was now squarely upon Mokou's shoulders.

"I know... I'm powerless aren't I...?" sobbed Wriggle. "No, even now there just has to be something I can do... Something to save Mystia, something to save my friends...!"

"Something in particular you wish to share with us ladybug?" asks Kaguya with a sweet smile.

Wriggle fell silent, no longer sobbing, continuing to look down at the ground, though now her fear and regret were both surging outward once again. She was on her knees, her face not visible to Kaguya.

"Damn you Kaguya, you sadistic woman. Are you satisfied with this result? You awakened a deadly ancient power and brought harm to many while on your way to doing so... You did all this... ...for what purpose?! All of this just for some petty squabble?! Tell me, why are so crazed with her, so obsessed?!" asked Wriggle in a frustrated tone.

Kaguya sighed, but still kept a smile.

"I do not expect you to understand, but this is to end the fighting between Mokou and I. So that me and everyone in Eintei can live quiet, happy lives. I very willing to make a few sacrifices to-"

"Shut the hell up with all your crap Kaguya." interupted Mokou, speaking through gritted teeth with narrowed eyes. "You're nothing but a crazed b***h who wants to cause trouble for everyone who ever pissed you off. But she's got a point though... You were never anywhere near this crazy about destroying me before... Something happened to you. It was only a few weeks ago that you were still treating our rivalry as nothing more than a game. I'm honestly not sure you ever even considered me to be your enemy..."

Mokou raised her eyebrow for a moment before walking slightly forward. Kaguya's smile faded as she looked at Mokou, eyes narrowing a bit.

"That was the you I knew only a few weeks ago. What happened to you?"

"What do you want me to say?" asked Kaguya. "I simply decided that I was not happy fighting with you. With my discovery of Koro's secrets not long after I decided that, I knew I wanted to be rid of you for good, rather than temporarily like it normally is."

"Cut the crap. You can't hide the fact that it isn't as simple as that." responded Mokou while glancing at the beast of Koro. "You sure went through a helluva lot of trouble just to summon that weak piece of s**t over there. And the things you did in doing so... Those are most certainly not the things the Kaguya I know would ever do. Now tell me: who in the world are you?"

Kaguya smiled a small bit again.

"My Mokou, I'm hurt! I am the same Kaguya you've always known... ...just with a... ...slightly different perspective on life."

"Quit lying!" growled Mokou, taking out her right fist and tightening it, now looking irritated. "The Kaguya I knew we be horrified at the mere thought of the things you've done... I don't know if the old Kaguya is still alive somewhere under that disgusting shell, but..."

"W...what are you talking about...?" gasped Wriggle, attempting to stagger up despite bearing pain all over her body. "Is this to say... ...this is... ...a fake Kaguya...?"

Mokou did not turn to face Wriggle, sensing her movements instead.

"This talk of a 'fake Kaguya' is nothing but foolishness." responds Kaguya simple.

Wriggle collapsed down again, cringing in pain.

"I do not... ...understand... What is this talk of...?" breathed Wriggle.

"Lets just say the Kaguya I knew. No, this is a monster. Nothing more than a monster, one born from my own hatred of her." answered Mokou, looking dead into Kaguya's eyes.

"A monster of your own creation...?" asked Wriggle.

"She sent my father down a path that would lead him to Hell. I had hated her for the longest time for that. We ended up fighting each other for a long time as well... But in more recent times, we began fighting less, no longer bothering to meet each other. We both realized that it was all becoming pointless since it had gone on so long. We were gradually forgetting our hatreds and finally moving on after so many centuries of blood... That is why when I saw her attacking you and your friend so callously with such a dark aura, I grew suspicious. In fact, I was even alarmed. Then she did all this... I thought she had been playing me for a fool, doing all this to taunt me and infuriate me, but once I reached the Village of Koro..."

Mokou briefly paused.

"Now I think something else is up."

"Hmmmm? Do tell!" says Kaguya cheerfully.

Mokou looked back at the beast, then at the book of Koro.

"...you seem rather proud of what you did here tonight Kaguya. But..." said Mokou before stopping.

"Oh, but what?" responded Kaguya.

"I'm gonna sound a little cliche here but... ...are you controlling this power Kaguya? Or is it controlling you?" asked Mokou.

Kaguya was visibly taken aback by the question with a dumbfounded look upon her face. After a few moments she burst into hysterical laughter, moving all about as she practically yakked her lungs out. Mokou and Wriggle looked on, unsure of what to make of this reaction.

"You idiots!! How can it be that I'm not in control?! HAHAHAHAHA! Look all around you! The Inabas, the Night sparrow, the monster of Koro... ALL are in my full control! Did you not see that from the start?! Such fools!"

After a few more moments, Kaguya began trying to calm herself, wiping a tear from her eye.

"I'm in full control of this power, it has no chance to control me! The one who breaks the seal shall be given full control of its contents, as it is written in the Koro tome!"

Kaguya then suddenly stopped moving as she took on a decidedly evil expression...

"Allow me to demonstrate..."

She glanced at Mystia...

"Of course... ...Mistress." said the ever robotic Mystia.

Suddenly, Mystia dashed at Wriggle, slapping her away, following it up with a kick to the torso! Wriggle cried out in pain and surprise! Mokou turned to see the events, shocked.

"Mystia, its me! Don't you remember?!" called up Wriggle.

Mystia just walked over and picked up Wriggle by the collar of her shirt, pulling back her left fist for another punch... However, Kaguya whistled to her. Mystia relented, dropping Wriggle without a peep, her expression unchanging.

...with just a glance?! She wasn't enslaved anymore than three minutes ago, yet she can tell what Kaguya wants her to do with a simple glance! thought Mokou.

"Yes, THIS much control Mokou, THIS much! Your talks are foolish banter! Now then..." said Kaguya before looking up at the beast. "Your intro is long over. Be a dear and reveal your true appearance for us my sweet monster. Ufufufufu~"

"True appearance...?" said Mokou, raising an eyebrow.

She, Wriggle and the remaining Inabas were all surprised at the booming, gravelly voice that suddenly spoke to them.

"YE-E-E-ESSSSSSS, MYYYY MISSSSSSSSSSTRISSSSSSSSSSSSS." said the beast of Koro, the hideousness of its voice rivaling that of its appearance.

The creature then shrank into swirl of darkness, complete with purple lightening, the ground rumbling violently as it transformed. Suddenly there was a brief flash, Kaguya closing her eyes right before it came. All others present looked away while covering their eyes. More emerald sparkles fell slowly to the ground, the gigantic beast missing. In its place was a much smaller figure, one shaped like that of a young human girl...

This girl had the appearance of being in her early to mid teens, violet eyes with pail blonde hair made into drill-like swirls on the sides with purple ribbons tied into it. She was clad in an elegant, purple colored Gothic Lolita outfit with white trend, a frilly, ankle long skirt. The sleeves of the shirt were white at the end with frills of their own. She also had on black shoes and long white socks. Around her dress, little golden keys were attached... She floated down to the ground, a giant golden key materializing in her right hand.

"What the...? But who...?" stuttered Mokou, unsure of what to make of this situation.

Wasn't the one sealed in Koro's seal a great beast? But the beast had turned into a young girl...! Something was very strange about this girl however...

"I am the one those on Gensokyo's surface know as 'the beast of Koro.' Ayase Kousugi." said the girl with a smile.

Wriggle's heart pounded as she stared at the transformed beast with a nervous expression.

"Ayase... ...Kousugi...?" repeated the Nightbug.

"Long ago during Koro's war, a young girl was imbued with the power of a great demon, becoming a great beast. She crushed her enemies, but also annihilated those that had forever cursed her. But now she stands in servitude of the one that released her, as it is written in Koro's book of prophecy. I am yours... ...Lady Kaguya." said Ayase with a smile. "What is it you wish for me to do first?"

Mokou gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes a small bit as she looked back at the formerly sealed girl, Wriggle having a similar expression, both having sweat running down their face. Kaguya only smiled, a deep sinister smile at that.

***

Meanwhile, farther away from the seal, the two silver haired women continued battling, even as the seal was unleashed. Knives and arrows were everywhere, clashing sounds continuing to fill the air. Soon, Sakuya and Eirin both stood still in front of each other, panting heavily as blood and sweat ran down their bruised faces. Dirtied and fatigued, it was clear these two were fighting quite hard. But it was not about to end yet...

"Give it up Sakuya..." panted Eirin. "Surely... ...you must realize that... ...the seal is broken. The princess... ...has won."

"Forget it!" responded Sakuya. "I'll take care of you, then pound that thing until it returns to where it came from."

"Pscht..."

Sakuya threw her knives at an incredible speed, Eirin doing the same with her bows. The projectile weapons clashed against each other before falling away from each other to the ground... And before they could even land, the two women were speeding toward each other once more...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:24:05 AM
***

"I may have many an order for to do my dear Ayase..." began Kaguya before pointing at Mokou. "But there is only one thing I need for you to do at this moment. This is the most important thing... Seal this girl named Mokou! Banish her from this world forever!"

Mokou gritted her teeth, sweating a small bit.

"Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'banish her forever'? Does this girl have a sealing power of sort?!" asked Mokou.

"Exactly! My purpose in awakening her was to put an end to you once and for all!" replied Kaguya.

"So that is the reason why I have been awakened from my eternal slumber..." said Ayase with her eyes closed. "Its true that I have the capability of sealing someone in the void between dimensions for eternity. Although a sealed beast, I myself have been given the ability to seal."

She now held up her key...

"With this, the Endymion Key. It is my tool, my weapon. But more than that, it is the catalyst for doing away with someone not wanted in this world. All I require is the for the one to be sealed to be in a weakened state. Mistress, we must first do battle with her and defeat her if we are to proceed." explained Ayase.

"That is fine with me. Being able to seal her now would be a tad anti-climactic don't you think? This is exactly how I wanted it, one last battle to the finish!" said Kaguya excitedly.

Mokou closed her eyes.

"Pscht. This is still a game to you? You wanted some sort of theatrical and epic finish? Whatever..." said Mokou before facing Kaguya and opening her eyes, staring boldly at her. "Bring it on. You're gonna pay for everything you've done in full. And trust me, its gonna be pretty damn painful."

Wriggle sweated up a storm, looking nervously at the combatants. It was a two against one situation, Mokou standing to lose everything she may or may not have had left if she lost... Wriggle was in absolutely no shape to help Mokou at this point. She couldn't save anyone... Not even Mystia. She opened her mouth, wanting Mokou to leave her behind and run away. However...

"Don't bother, Nightbug. I know what you're gonna say. You're gonna say 'this isn't worth your freedom here in Gensokyo so just run away from here', is that right? Well, I can't." said Mokou before Wriggle could even utter the words.

Thats when Kaguya threw her hand forward, Mokou jumping diagonally upward just in time to dodge a blue explosion. She countered by lifting her arms into the air before throwing them down, sending two large fireballs at Kaguya who was already on the move to dodge them.

"You see, this whole situation is my fault, no matter how you look at it. Kaguya went psycho simply because didn't stop attacking her when I should have, too obsessed with my own petty and foolish revenge..."

As she flew just above the ground, the smiling Kaguya sent loads and loads of multi-colored bullets speeding toward Mokou, streaking through the sky like a comet as flames surrounded her body.

"Kaguya never would have done this if not for my own foolishness... So I'm gonna be responsible for my actions rather than run away like some shameless coward...!"

Mokou suddenly dropped to the ground with a loud crash, kicking into the air in Kaguya's direction, sending a large and destructive streak of flames at Kaguya. The flames traveled at an incredibly high speed, forcing Kaguya into the sky! To her surprise however, the flames suddenly shot upward in a fantastic explosion of fire, Kaguya instinctively shielding herself from the rising flames. As she did so, Mokou would materialize her flaming wings and sore up to Kaguya at an incredible speed, sending her shoe dead into the forehead of the surprised princess. Kaguya was knocked back with a yelp, Mokou immediately capitalizing by charging forward with a hard right hook to Kaguya's cheek then a left, then another right before forward flipping to drop her heel dead on the top of Kaguya's head, sending the princess dropping like a rock to the hard ground below!

"I created this monster..."

Kaguya barely stopped herself from crashing with a small magical blast from her hands, her face now painted with blood. Gritting her teeth she looked up at Mokou just in time to see the fiery girl forming a giant fireball over her head, holding it with but one finger!

"So its only fair that I'm the one to put an end to it!"

Mokou leaned way back before sending the massive flaming orb down at the reeling Kaguya, the princess using her magic blast to send herself flying out of the way! She avoided having the ball slammed into her, but was sent flying away while being scorched by the subsequent explosion! Mokou calmly returned to the ground, hands in her pockets once again.

"Do you understand now Nightbug?" she asked Wriggle, briefly turning her head to her.

Wriggle merely looked back at Mokou, not saying anything in return.

"And as for you Kaguya... Is that it? If you want to do away with me so bad, then its time you started fighting like it." said Mokou in a serious tone, narrowing her eyes at the staggering Kaguya. "Or perhaps you weren't serious afterall?"

Kaguya merely grinned as she stood up, that grin soon turning into a full smile, then into out right laughter. Her face and dress were both quite dirty from the most recent attack.

"Ha ha ha! Don't get hasty dear Mokou... Have we not merely begun?" she asked in what was now her usual less than sane tone.

"Pscht..."

Mokou charged in again, her right fist flying at Kaguya. Kaguya however continued smiling as she drove her open left palm open to meet Mokou's attack, charging it with blue energy! The limbs never had the chance to actually connected... The sheer magical force concentrated in the girl's limbs kept either attack from connecting, a struggle of power ensuing instead! Wind and dust was created as the ground cracked underneath them. Finally, Kaguya threw out her left hand in an attempt to surprise Mokou with a fast attack. Mokou backed off before quickly grabbing Kaguya's left hand with her own right hand, only to have Kaguya attempt to blow her head off with her now free left hand. Mokou ducked under, changing her grip on Kaguya's hand so that she was holding her wrist before spinning around with her left arm aflame to deck Kaguya on the back of her head. Kaguya blocked with a similar technique with her right arm.

The two struggled like this once more for a few moments, the conflicting magical energies preventing them from moving. Or perhaps that they were afraid of giving up their current stances...? Bolts of energy flew out from them, Wriggle even having to back away and shield herself from a few that came too close. With sweat covering both of their faces and eyes narrowing, one would have to make a move soon, a risky endeavor...

Kaguya was the first one to exhaust her patience, attempting to spin around slam Mokou's face in with her free hand. Mokou was fast to react, kicking out Kaguya's left ankle, sending the princess kneeling to the ground with a yelp before moving and grabbing the arm Kaguya had just tried to attack her with, and tossing her away with a mighty heave!

"Raaaaugh!!"

Kaguya was thrown back, swinging out her arms to firing swarms of bright blue bullets and crescent shaped energy blasts as she did so. Mokou jumped back a bit, throwing her hand forward, unleashing a great many small fireballs along with a large wall of flame! The blinding explosions from the resulting clashes in magic were brightening to say the least, Wriggle, Mystia and Ayase all having to look away! Even before the smoke from that cleared, Mokou and Kaguya could be seen jumping toward each other while dodging one another's projectiles in spectacular fashion! Kaguya however seemed to have the advantage in this ranged combat...

Damn, that wasn't the thing to do... thought Mokou to herself. Kaguya was always better at danmaku rather than at close combat. And vice versa...

The smiling Kaguya span around one last time, sending many more bullets into the sky, not watching as they went toward Mokou. Instead, she created a swirl of energy around her, kicking up a very thick dust cloud that covered Kaguya and blew into Mokou, lowering her vision. As the stinging dirt hit her eyes, Mokou found herself squinting while backing away, barely able to dodge all the projectiles in time. She was soon thrown back by an explosion, sliding backwards on the ground. Upon stopping, she immediately spotted several more bullets falling on her through her blurred vision, putting her arms up to defend...

"Mokou...!" called out Wriggle as several explosions flared up from directly where Mokou was laying.

For a moment, the bullets stopped flying, Kaguya stopping her dust storm... Seconds later, a streak of fire in the shape of bird suddenly launched out from Mokou's location, slamming into Kaguya's slowly withering dust cloud to disperse it! Through the dust, Mokou -now with a mildly tattered shirt and bleeding from the mouth- charged at Kaguya with her left hand held out with fiery energy building in it! The smiling Kaguya threw out her right arm, sending out a bronze chain with a metal bludgeoning weight on the end! Mokou swerved to the side at the last moment, the weapon grazing her waist as she did so before kneeling down quickly grabbing the chain to pull Kaguya closer. However, it vanished on Kaguya's whim, the princess throwing out her right arm with an identical weapon attached to an identical chain... And this time, it hit Mokou square in the torso. The fiery girl grunted in pain as blood trickled down her mouth, falling to her knees with her arms around her stomach as she did so.

"I guess I'm the better one in the end Mokou. Once I finally got some distance from you, all I needed to do was press the attack. Are you ready to vanish from this world for eternity? I hope you are..."

Kaguya held up her left hand, building a bundle of blue energy even while she panted from the battle, covered in sweat and dirt.

"What the hell, Kaguya...? Tell me..." grumbled Mokou as she placed two fingers on the ground.

Suddenly, she sent out incredibly fast moving streaks of flame at Kaguya, the Lunarian princess growling in partial surprise as she was forced to jump back... Suddenly, Mokou followed up with a fast fireball from her left hand, the flaming projectile slamming right into the now genuinely surprised Kaguya! The princess managed to put her bundle in front of herself in the last moment to defend, the resultant explosion sending her plowing right into a large nearby rock! The princess hacked up blood as she impacted!

"...is that the best you can do?! I've been through a helluva lot worse pain than this...!" finished Mokou as she stood up. "Now I'm finally gonna return the favor for everything you've done today! This one's for Keine!!"

Mokou then spread her wings of fire once more, charging at the princess at an incredibly high speed as flame energy built up around her arms!

"...!"

Unable to defend, Kaguya found herself utterly pounded all over her body, as flaming punch after punch slammed into her! Mokou's arms moved at a speed faster than what a normal human should have been capable of, the power of the Phoenix brought forth! The rock Kaguya was up against even began cracking from the sheer force.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!!!"

The beat down went on for almost a full minute before Mokou gritted her teeth and leaned back her right fist... She sent it flying right into Kaguya's cheek with a loud crack, the princess practically flying down to the ground! Mokou's flames then died as she hunched over, panting with fatigue.

"Too weak Kaguya." she said as she looked down at the fallen princess. "You tired yourself out from fighting those other battles did you? That should've been a much more challenging fight..."

Kaguya remained motionless from her position on the ground. However...

"That was... ...merely... ...the first round... ...dear Mokou..." muttered Kaguya with a weak smile.

"What you say?" asks Mokou, raising an eyebrow.

Thats when Mystia suddenly bolted from her stationary position, rushing at Kaguya with her claws bared up.

"Mystia, no!" called out Wriggle, reaching her hand out toward her friend.

The alarmed Mokou turned to the charging nightbird before giving her swift kick with her left leg to the cheek just before she could attack! A stream of youkai blood flew from Mystia's mouth as she flew backwards before crashing back first on the ground.

"Mystia!" cried out Wriggle once more, wanting to crawl over to her friend but too tired to do so.

Ayase was the next one to attack, remaining stationary while swinging her key, green laser beams flying out from its tip! Mokou dashed to the side, dodging the beams as they hit the ground, throwing dust and dirt onto Kaguya. Ayase then began flying toward Mokou.

"So the monster of Koro finally steps in huh?" thinks Mokou out loud rhetorically.

"I was waiting for Lady Kaguya's silent order. If I were to act before being told to do so, Lady Kaguya would have punished me." replied Ayase.

"Really... For something that's been deeply feared all this time, you're pretty damn stupid!" replied Mokou.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on April 29, 2009, 09:24:41 AM
Mokou came to a sudden stop, jump spin kicking in place to throw several whip like flames at Ayase, who blocked them by spinning her key at an incredibly high speed. Either that thing was super light, or her powers gave her physical strength comparable to that of a youkai...

"Well okay..." grumbled Mokou. "Then how 'bout this?!"

Mokou sped fourth, her right fist ablaze with searing flames! Ayase put up her key again, widening her eyes as she was knocked back a small bit thanks to Mokou plunging her flaming fist right into her key!

Using the magic power within herself to increase the speed and force... There isn't anyway that this is her own natural power... thought Ayase.

Mokou immediately pulled back, letting her very much dented and broken hand hang on the side while the effects of her immortality regenerated it.

"Hmph." muttered Ayase.

The formerly sealed girl swung her key upwards, unleashing several green laser rays at Mokou. They at first flew into the air before attempting to come down on Mokou, the fiery girl hopping backwards in avoidance. She ignited her right hand, spinning in a circle to send a load of intense fireballs at Ayase's way. The key wielding girl smiled, spinning her massive weapon in place to ward off the flames. Mokou sprouted her flaming wings once more, rushing at Ayase...

"Not too bad. Alas, you can't really beat me once I get close." said Mokou with a smile as she prepared a hard punch.

"Maybe not... But I do have this!" exclaimed Ayase.

Mokou dropped her smile, raising an eyebrow as Ayase tossed her key straight into the air! The back of the strange object began glowing green as a large orb of the same color suddenly formed around it. The orb then suddenly shot out at the surprised Mokou at an incredible speed, Mokou herself only barely able to dodge it, getting thrown back by the large explosion! She crossed her arms in front of herself in defense as Ayase allowed her key to let out several identical blasts, Mokou employing zig zagging maneuvers to dodge them. Finally, the key fell down again, Ayase catching it and holding it up as a vengeful Mokou angrily rushed toward her, flip jumping forward in an attempt to bring a heal drop down on Ayase's head! Ayase brought up her key in defense, letting Mokou's heel crash on top of it before pushing forward to throw Mokou off! Mokou back flipped away with a yelp, Ayase wasting no time in running forward and slamming the edge of her key dead into Mokou's chin, sending her flying back, landing with a thud right on her back! Next, Ayase changed her grip on her key, as if holding a heavy cannon of some sort... Green energy began building at the tip. Mokou leaped up just in time to see Ayase's action, preparing herself for the next move.

"Ahh great... What comes next then?" asked Mokou mostly to herself.

Ayase took on a confident grimace as many, many blasts of unusually fast green danmaku came flying out of the key like a mini gun! Mokou dashed out of the way, the first few blasts grazing her. Mokou ran from side to side, jumping around raised rocks, and even attempting to take cover, all to no avail. She never approached or shot back, in addition to secretly being amazed with Ayase's physical prowess. To wield something that large and heavy with such ease... Ayase continued chasing Mokou around, guns blazing for almost a full minute...

Okay, f**k this. thought Mokou to herself. I think its time to get a bit creative...

Ayase momentarily stopped firing as Mokou suddenly took to the air and created a bright orange aura around herself.

"Trying to blind me? You'll find such a tactic of little use!" called up Ayase before opening fire once again.

Mokou did not try to dodge this time however, remaining in place as her wings grew larger and brighter than ever before and encircling her, Ayase's projectiles hitting them without any apparent effect.

"Wha?!" yelped Ayase.

"Ha! Hey, it worked! Those blasts are many, but even when fired in such succession, they apparently can't take my phoenix wing barrier down!" said Mokou with a relived grin. "Now have some of this!"

Mokou threw her arms forward, several intense flames launching out at Ayase, who was forced to jump back and weave to avoid them. Gritting her teeth and narrowing her eyes, Ayase aimed her key at Mokou once more, but this time she fired a single, large and intense blast that launched with enough force to send her recoiling backwards! Mokout threw out her right arm, supporting it with her left hand as she formed an equally large and intense fireball, gritting her teeth and sweating as the two orbs clashed. She suddenly back flipped backward and down, some of her hair being disintegrated as the two orbs shot past her, exploding high in the night sky! An irritated looking Ayase, unleashed swarms of smaller green orbs from her key, Mokou weaving around them and getting within physical range. Mokou dived under Ayase's key as she span it around swung the larger end of it in a quick last ditch attempt to ward off the immortal girl's assault in vain. Seizing her opportunity to strike, Mokou sent her right fist careening dead into Ayase's stomach, the unsealed girl gasping out from this... ...and the subsequent punch to her chest from Mokou's left fist! The key wielder was then took an uppercut right in the chin, Mokou finishing off the combo with a jumping spin kick to the gut, sending Ayase to the ground! As Mokou landed, she then poured searing flames down on Ayase for a few moments, causing her to writhe in pain before stopping.

Afterward, Mokou looked down at Ayase, putting her hands back in her pockets. Wriggle looked on silently, visibly astonished at what had just happened.

"Man... What the hell is this...? So weak... Is this really the feared beast of Koro? We were all afraid of this pitiful excuse of a fighter? What a joke..." commented Mokou.

Not far however, Kaguya was staggering up, giggling weakly at Mokou. Mokou turned to face the princess.

"Now whats so funny? You just don't know when you're beat, do you Kaguya?" asked Mokou.

"Oh dear Mokou, this isn't quite over just yet... That was just... ...merely the first round, a way for Ayase to a get a bit of... ...exercise after being trapped of so long..."

Normally, flippant speech like this would get Mokou riled up, but at this point she knew better and remained calm. Instead, she smiled a bit.

"Pscht. Thats your idea of exercise huh? I don't think little Ayase down there quite enjoyed it. Furthermore, look at yourself. You're beat. You've exhausted yourself with all this pointless fighting." Mokou said this, then dropped her smile. "Now enough is enough. I'm leaving here, and taking these other girls with me. Then I'm gonna take this Ayase chick and toss her down the hell hole she came from so you cannot bother us again." said Mokou before turning and reaching down to grab Ayase.

The watching Wriggle's eyes widened with hope, her mind racing with thoughts of being spared a bitter fate...

Can it be...? She did it?!

But Ayase suddenly raised her arm, smacking Mokou's hand out of the way before throwing herself backwards into a standing position and flying at the smiling Kaguya! Mokou gritted her teeth, yelling out as she gave pursuit and sent a blast of terrible flames at her enemies! Ayase however blocked with her key...

"What the hell, I just pounded you...!" called out Mokou.

She then noticed something on Kaguya... She wasn't bleeding anymore... She suddenly seemed more energetic... Mokou's eyes widened in shock open taking a closer look at Kaguya's body.

"Y... Your wounds... What in the world...?! Your injuries have vanished! But this is...!"

Meanwhile, Ayase's own wounds remained the same.

"This is a part of our master and servant bond Mokou. The power of Koro allows us to share one another's power, as it is written. By lending me her power, Ayase can heal me from even the most vicious wounds!"

And as Kaguya spoke, Ayase's own wounds began healing. Mokou narrowed her eyes at the two as sweat built up on her face.

Well this is great, talk about redundancy... thought the flame girl. I maybe immortal, but Kaguya can heal herself from anything now... How am I supposed to win if she can just outlast me...?

"No way..." said the watching Wriggle. "B-but if Ayase is giving power to Kaguya, then who's giving power to Ayase...?"

Mokou gritted her teeth and charged forward, Kaguya and Ayase taking to the air!

"Bah, forget about outlasting me Kaguya! You and that beast girl will be ashes long before then!"

Mokou threw more of her terrible flames at the enemies...

"Dear Ayase... Be my shield." ordered Kaguya calmly.

"Yes, mistress."

Ayase put up her key to block the endless flames, holding her position even as her hands and arms began burning from holding the heated key, along with the sheer heat! Mokou could not believe this...

"Man, you really are stupid! Can't you see you're nothing more than a puppet to her?!" growled Mokou.

"I am a puppet. I have always been one." said Ayase, crnging in pain. "It has... ...been this way. Why... ...change... ...now...?"

"What... ...the... ...f-" was all Mokou could get out as a dumbfounded expression covered her face. "What sort of demented creature...?"

***

Wriggle continued watching the battle, also wondering just what in the world Kaguya and Ayase's big idea was. She also could've sworn that she saw light slowly drifting toward Ayase... At first she thought it nothing more than residual magic, but when it remained for a long time she took a closer look... That light was drifting onto Ayase, healing her injuries upon contact! Wriggle gasped lightly upon realizing this, following the the light back to it's source: the very hole where Ayase had emerged from.

"My goodness... Could it be that they gain power from the site of Koro's seal itself?! This means..."

With her pained and battered body having next to no strength left, Wriggle was forced to collapse to the ground and crawl on it with her body. It was taking everything she had left just to do this, and even then her progress was slow. Sweat built on her face as her breathing became somewhat heavy from the strain. Thankfully, the hole where the seal once was was quite close to her location. She could still hear the battle waging above her as Mokou continued dousing Ayase and Kaguya in flames. Why weren't they fighting back...?

Soon, the nightbug reached the hole, looking down at it to see a large green and white light present deep inside: it was pure magical energy from the seal! Parts of this light was taking to the air, going to Ayase and healing her!

"I... I see... So this is why... I must..."

Wriggle attempted to force herself to stand, soon getting to a kneel.

"I must put an end to this... ...by destroying this...! S-somehow..."

***

Mokou growled as she continued her relentless assault.

"C'mon Kaguya! Is blocking the only thing you intend to do for the rest of this battle?! You're not even fighting back anymore!" yelled Mokou.

Kaguya continued smiling confidently while remaining stationary. Both women noticed how Ayase was managing to hold out for what was now a prolonged period of time against Mokou's flames... Kaguya, apparently knowing what the cause of this was peeked down at the hole where the seal once was, immediately noticing the light emanating from it. To her amusement, a certain insect youkai also happened to be down there, apparently with the intention of stopping the transfer of energy to girl of Koro. She giggled a bit before speaking.

"Enough of this farce Ayase. More than enough time has passed."

"Yes mistress. I leave Mokou to you. I will inform you once I'm ready." replied Ayase.

As Ayase flew off, Kaguya sent a blast of blue energy right into Mokou's flames, causing an explosion that sent Mokou flying back as she covered herself by crossing her arms in front of her.

"Gah, now what?" she said to herself before realizing where Ayase was flying. "Hey, you keep away from that youkai you scum!"

Mokou tried to fly down in pursuit of Ayase, only to have Kaguya fly in her path.

"Outta my way!"

"I apologize Mokou, but I cannot let you interfere with the next ritual. Besides, you wanted to defeat me right? Why waste time with one as weak as Ayase?" said Kaguya before moving backwards, charging magical energy in both hands. "To have any chance at all at saving those youkai girls and stopping this plan, you must stop me first! However, with this power of Koro, I'm confident that you will not be able to accomplish that... No, instead, I will crush you and hide you from this world for eternity!"

"Sorry... But didn't I just say that I was gonna stop your stupid plans? You're going into the dirt Kaguya." replied Mokou while creating a flaming aura around herself. "For my friends... For those you hurt... For the memory of my father, I will not lose to you!"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on June 11, 2009, 01:05:29 AM
***

"Finally..." gasped the panting Wriggle as she staggered up.

Wriggle held her right arm out, steadying it with her left arm as she focused her willpower into forming a faint energy ball, aiming it squarely at Ayase's former seal. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the pain in her body while summoning the very last of her strength to form the projectile... Actually, she may have been out of strength now... But that soon wouldn't matter. Ayase was bearing down on the insect youkai...

"Foolish nightbug. You haven't nearly enough power to do that... No one here does." spoke Ayase as she landed slowly and softly behind Wriggle.

Wriggle ignored Ayase, trying to keep her concentration. Ayase's smile faded upon realizing Wriggle wasn't going to give in so easily. She walked up to the insect girl.

"You came here thinking 'I must stop the transfer of power to that strange girl', didn't you? Too bad. It won't happen with such little power. The only thing you can do to stop me is to face me directly."

Wriggle narrowed her eyes while still looking at the power rich seal below. If what Ayase said was true, then her last effort would be useless. But if things went like this, what would the outcome of Mokou's battle be...? There was no choice... Either fire at the seal, or Ayase... Or...

Ayase put up her key.

"You should really make it easy on yourself and come quietly. Or shall I take you by fo-"

Ayase was interrupted, shocked as Wriggle snapped around with a yell, firing out her final energy blast... Not at her... Not at the seal... But in fact...

"Wh-what?!" stammered Ayase as she watched the display.

...right at Mystia!

"...?"

The possessed bird youkai watched without any emotion as the blast flew straight toward her! She let out a weak moan as the blast slammed into her torso, burning a near perfect circle into her clothes as she flew backwards into the ground, tumbling a small distance before coming to rest. In her current state of mind, Mystia could not identify this sudden sensation... An... ...uncomfortable sensation. Even in her possessed state, Mystia found the feeling unpleasant... ...and familiar... She looked down at her damaged clothes as she sat up, peering at the burn mark on her torso...

Meanwhile, Wriggle launched another blast at Ayase, a more potent one at that! Ayase had been distracted with Mystia and was only barely able to put up her key in time to block the blast originally intended for the seal, damaging part of her right arm and pushing her back some! Ayase only barely kept her balance, now visibly angry at Wriggle, realizing she had released a tiny portion of the built up power to shoot Mystia and directed the rest at her.

Upon seeing the smoke clear, Wriggle's eyes widened as she tried to move out of the way! But she had already used the rest of her energy, her body freezing as if totally turning to stone... In other words, her body had finally broke down, leaving her at Ayase's mercy. Disregarding her injured and bleeding right arm, Ayase charged at Wriggle, smashing her giant key right into the insect youkai's head! Upon falling limp to the ground, Wriggle could then a sharp pain at the center of her left leg, accompanied by a sickening snap as Ayase brought the smaller end of her key right down on the back of Wriggle's left knee! Wriggle shrilled violently at the pain in her head and leg, only exacerbated by the prior torturous pain from the earlier fighting and abuse incurred by Kaguya. She now found herself holding back tears and not solely due to the pain... But because Ayase's retribution was also the number one sign that her final plan had failed.

She gritted her teeth as hard as she could, unaware that Ayase was looking down at her resentfully... ...and that she was pulling back her right leg... With neither the mental or physical strength left to fight it off, all the pain in Wriggle's body began hitting her all at once, reducing her to a drooling, writhing creature that had been driven to near madness. She was no longer able to hold back her tears as thoughts of death began entering her mind...

Even as Ayase kicked her in the chest, sending her broken body tumbling across the ground, Wriggle thought of death. What she had previously been trying to avoid had begun to look like a sweet embrace, an end to the pain in her battle-ragged body, an end to the pain of failing her friends... An end to...

Wait... An end to... An end to...

To... ...what?

Her friends... An end to her friends...

An... End...? Yes...

Death would be the end. Of her... ...and her friends. They had been defeated. They were all...

Wait, what...? What were they...?

"...die."

Die?

Die...?

D......I.......E?!

Yes. Die. She and her friends were going to... ...die. In the name of a single crazed woman's vengence, she and her friends were going to... No...

No...

No...

No...

No...

No...!

No!

No!!

NO!!!

NO! NO! NO! ON! NO! NO! NO! NO! NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!

***

As Ayase picked up the broken Wriggle by her shirt, the insect youkai suddenly snapped out of her pain induced haze...

"Did you not hear me?" spoke Ayase. "You aren't going to die. Or rather... ...you won't die in a normal way..."

Ayase's smile began to return.

"No... Instead you'll Become the last key to my hidden power... The one who will purify me and free me from my part of Koro's curse forever, as it is written. You should feel proud nightbug. This will be something glorious for you, even in death!"

"R-really...? Y-y-you r-really s-seem to believe that, d-don't you...? Heh... Heh... Heh... Heh... Heh..."

Ayase dropped her smile, raising an eyebrow as she continued to listen to Wriggle, her emotionless face drenched in her own dark green blood...

"Th-thats... ...f-f-fine. You have... ...you and your mistress... ...have done so m-much... ...damage to my body th-that I... ...I no longer really c-care if I die, heh heh... Th-the pain is... ...unbearable... B-but..." stammered the weakened Wriggle, struggling to speak coherently while managing a faint smile. "I-it really... ...does not... ...m-matter much... F-for you sh-shall die... ...along with me... Heh.... Heh..."

Ayase briefly raised an eyebrow at this, both Wriggle and herself unflinching, even as an explosion from the battle between Mokou and Kaguya brought a brief, blinding light to shine where they were.

"An odd thing for someone in your predicament to say... Are you finally going mad? It is best that you accept the truth..." spoke Ayase.

"N-no... The truth is this: I'm... ...going to die. But you will die too. Be-because... ...Mystia... ...Mystia will kill you!"

Dismissing Wriggle's words for deluded babbling, Ayase threw her down to the ground before holding up her key, appearing to be activating some sort of spell...

"I've heard enough. You seem to have forgotten that your friend is under our full control, that you have lost this fight. I'm free, and the immortal girl is doomed. Quiet down now... I will put you out of your misery."

The barely conscious Wriggle's smile only widened. She looked toward Mystia, who was cringing a bit while touching her wound.

"M... M... MYSTIA!" called out Wriggle with something of a cross between a shout and a gasp.

The pained Mystia looked toward Wriggle out of instinct for a brief moment.

"Th-that f-feeling of burning... That... ...foul sensation you feel... Its pain. Its pain Mystia. Its the thing you hate most of all..." said Wriggle before letting out a cough.

Ayase looked down at Wriggle with slight irritation.

"You have gone mad! Reaching her now is useless, for she under our full control. She won't listen to you in such a state..." said the key girl.

Wriggle noticed that Mystia was looking toward her, ignoring Ayase and continuing.

"Mystia, listen to me... You're being controlled by your hated enemy... If you... ...if you don't resist... ...you'll only... ...receive more... ... ...p-pain... She's going to... ... ...hurt you... ...even more... So... ...so..."

Wriggle's body began glowing a green color along with the key. Ayase smiled before beginning to chant an incantation.

"So remember that pain! I shot you earlier... ...as a reminder... ...of what we've gone through since the previous night... Reme... Remember what they have done to you... ...in the name of... ...their twisted and meaningless revenge... Fight back Mystia...! I k-know you're in there somewhere, so... ...p... ...please...!"

Wriggle's vision blurred, her breathing strained. She began to feel light headed, too tired to talk any further. Sadly, it would seem as her last sad and desperate pleas fell on def ears...

Mystia remained expressionless aside from the pain on her stomach's surface as she stood up... But as she did so she suddenly cringed hard, whimpering as a sharp pain shot through her back, causing her to stagger about. What was this pain? And... ...why was it so familiar...? A terrible, shooting pain that coursed through her right wing, making it feel as if it was about to explode...

Mystia... ...remembered this pain. Or rather, she remembered having it for some time. A pain that started not that long back, just a little over twenty-four hours ago... But... ...where did it come from? Thats when an image flashed in her broken mind... Images of her mistress Kaguya. She was fighting her... ...with that green haired insect youkai girl... But she served Lady Kaguya... Why would she be fighting her mistress? Why would her mistress be trying to...

...

...

...hurt her...?

"P... Pain..."

She remembered the pain... That fight... ...was painful... Who caused that pain...? Mystia began trembling...

"Pain... ... ... ... Kaguya...."

Kaguya caused this pain...? But she served Kaguya, never having any... Wait... This pain...

"This pain... This pain..." mumbled Mystia to herself. "This pain was... Was... ...caused by mistress...? N-no, not mistre- Yes.. ...it... ...was...?"

Mystia staggered a bit, sweating as she held her head with her left hand... What were these familiar, frightening thoughts...?

"Silly nightbird, they're trying to confuse you. Why would you listen to lying people such as them?"

Mystia heard a strange voice in her head...

"M... M-miss... ....tress...?" stammered Mystia, beginning to feel emotion once more.

"Now now, I am your mistress. You should know that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you..."

It was Kaguya's voice. A smooth, perhaps even soothing and feminine voice that at first calmed Mystia... But then, something else within her mind came back to life...

"...no..." she said out loud.

***

And in the gold adorned insides of Mystia's mind...

"No. This isn't right... Not at all... You're not..."

The red Mystia -the true Mystia- turned around to the site of an apparently naked Kaguya on top of another girl whom Mystia could not see... T'was a purple Kaguya. They were both upon a large white bed.

"You are not my mistress!" protested the angry looking Mystia.

The Kaguya rose from her position on top of the other girl, turning somewhat to face Mystia while covering herself with her right arm. She wore a familiar smile.

"Silly girl, how am I not your mistress? The curse of Koro is an absolute one. Therefore, you shall be unquestionably loyal to me." she said.

"Gh! Don't you give me that you lying b***h! Release my mind at once!" demanded Mystia.

Kaguya looked away while holding onto her smile. She sighed lightly.

"This is far out of your control. You are hardly in any position to make any demands or threats. For you see, this isn't your realm anymore."

Mystia's eyebrow twitched as she walked closer.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Hmm..."

Kaguya moved, allowing Mystia to see the girl she was on top of... Mystia was disgusted at what she saw. No, that was an understatement. Although her body wasn't physical, she felt utterly sick...

For the girl the nude Kaguya was on was in fact herself.

Yes the girl Mystia saw was Mystia. It was her except for a blue color in addition to bearing that deadpan emotionless face when the curse of Koro had... Wait a minute...

"You are no longer in control. This is your true self now." said Kaguya, looking directly at Mystia again. "In short... You are no longer real. You have been suppressed, removed... I'm tempted to say that you don't exist anymore."

Mystia's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing again. She fidgeted nervously.

"N-no... I'm the true Mystia! You two are nothing more than fakes trying to cloud my mind...!"

The purple Kaguya smiled a bit as she began walking toward Mystia, no longer bothering to cover herself. Mystia caught a glimpse of her 'true self', chained to the bed and naked, drool dribbling out of her mouth as if having a prolonged moment with her lover. This disgusted Mystia even more... At this imagery she felt humiliated, defiled... As the nude Kaguya approached her, her anger seethed forth... She wanted to pounce at Kaguya, forcing control out of her mind away from her... But she couldn't move. No matter how much she willed it, she could not attack Kaguya, but why?!

"Everything here is mine now little bird... I control everything. Your mind and body belong to me. Even your very soul is mine to command..."

Kaguya then raised up her right hand. A clanging sound could be heard as large chains suddenly materialized around the red Mystia's body and limbs, going all the way to the wall behind her! She could not move a muscle... But none the less she strained with all her might, trying to free herself from the strange mental bind...

"...and I control the very chains of fate that bind you."

Finally, Kaguya knelt down and embraced the chained Mystia.

"Now be a good girl and accept your fate." spoke the princess in a soft, soothing voice.

Mystia felt her 'mouth' moving on its own, like she was compelled to speak... She couldn't stop it...

"Y... Y... Y... Yes... ...M-mistress..."

***

Ayase briefly looked over to Mystia even as she continued her strange spell and smiled briefly before looking down at the battered Wriggle in contempt.

"Hmph. I hope you're happy nightbug. You compelled some part of her original self still left inside her mind to try to fight back against the curse. Sadly, in doing so, she will inevitably destroy her own mind. The power of the old curse of Koro is just too great." she said with a hint of anger in her voice.

Why would she be angry now...? She continued speaking, but taking a much softer and somber voice.

"You're not strong enough to break this curse. She isn't either. And if you two aren't strong enough... ...then perhaps no one is..."

The battered Wriggle twitched a bit as she laid on the ground. Had she heard what Ayase had said...

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on June 11, 2009, 01:07:01 AM
"Thats right." spoke the mental Kaguya again. "I am your mistress. Now say yourself. Who am I?"

The chained Mystia gritted her teeth, trying not say what the curse wanted her to say, desperate not to let this last ounce of her uncorrupted mind to slip away into Kaguya's grasp!

"Y... You... ...are... ...m-m-m... N-no...! No... Y-you... ...are...!"

"Yes, go ahead and say it! Sing little night bird! Say who I am!" goaded Kaguya with a delighted expression.

Mystia shook her 'head' violently, trying not to say it when...

"...my mistress. You are... ...my mistress."

The other Mystia... The one on the bed had spoken. A calmer, almost dead tone in a voice identical to the restrained Mystia before Kaguya. The red Mystia's eyes widened. Those weren't her words... Or where they...? Weren't these two fake...? Yet she felt like she had spoken them all the same... She snapped her eyes shut as she forced herself to shout...

"NO YOUR NOT!"

Kaguya didn't seem all that disturbed by the outburst, the scream not at all appearing to hurt her 'ears'. Instead she sighed mildly while calmly standing up, backing away from Mystia a very slight distance, her smile absent. Meanwhile, Mystia continued her resistance.

"NO! You are not my mistress... You have no control over me! I won't let you... I won't let you...!"

Her eyes suddenly snapped open with thin pupils, Mystia struggling to keep herself from saying what she did not want to say. The two Mystia's spoke at the same time...

"Y-you... ...are... ...my..."

The red Mystia shook her head violently once more.

"SHUT UP! You're not a part of me... You do not speak for me!" yelled Mystia.

Her resistance was unexpectedly powerful... But Kaguya saw it as meaningless... She reared back her right hand before swiping it down to slap the red Mystia dead in the cheek, stopping her loud resistance.

"Hmph. Your resistance only makes me more eager to make you mine you know. I find it delicious." said Kaguya with a small smile before licking her fingers a bit. "Now thats quite enough out of you. Be quiet and become as cursed as the rest of you."

Mystia quieted down and slowly bowed her head. She reminded silent for a few moments until...

"F**k you."

The purple Kaguya's eyebrow twitched.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Didn't you hear me princess...? F**k you!" repeated Mystia with a smile.

Kaguya breifly narrowed her eyes before giving Mystia another slap to the face. Mystia cringed hard, but her smile did not dissipate. Instead she spoke again, looking up at Kaguya.

"I told you before, you cannot control me... I will take over these chains of fate that bind me! I break them before your eyes!" exclaimed Mystia.

"You haven't the power. Useless small youkai like you should not be allowed to speak!" said Kaguya.

The princess raised her right hand once more but this time folding it into a fist. She quickly reared it back before striking at the red Mystia's 'jaw', the sound of it echoing in the 'room.' Mystia however did not drop her smile, immediately reacting by lunging forward and biting right down and hard on Kaguya's hand! Kaguya screamed out, immediately hitting Mystia's head with her free left hand!

"Let go you wretched...!"

Finally, Kaguya forced Mystia to release her hand via harsh backhanded slap. She held her injured hand, no blood visible. Then again, projections didn't have blood... Kaguya growled at her rebellious quarry... Mystia only glared at her.

"...as I thought." she spoke.

"What is it?!" asked Kaguya, now irritated.

"You aren't the real princess... You're just a twisted abomination created by the curse and shaped to look like her. You are not real. And now, you will no longer have power over me." claimed Mystia. "Wriggle gave me the reminder of the pain I needed to remember who I really was... That will be my strength."

The Kaguya laughed nervously.

"Your strength?! She's no friend of yours... She shot you! She hurt you, may have very well killed you! Surely you are delusional...!"

"A funny word to use, curse-girl!" Interrupted Mystia. "The whole lot of you are the deluded ones! Thinking you can just use this power however you please... From this experience, I realized that something like you should not have ever been allowed to set foot upon this Earth!"

The Kaguya look-a-like growled with a scowl... Mystia sensed that more violence would soon be afflicted upon her, yet continuing to smile.

"How dare you... I will make you obedient... ...even if I have to beat your mind, body and soul within an inch of existence!"

Mystia ignored this warning, instead quietly chanting something...

"Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap..."

"W-what are you doing?!" asked the Kaguya projection.

***

Back in the real world, Mystia, despite the current chaos in her mind -or perhaps because of it- felt a strange urge, one she did not resist. Perhaps unable to resist...? She began trying to flap her wings... Her right wing had done well to heal, but it wasn't ready yet... If she tried to flap it now... But she continued anyway, even as great pain began filling it and consequently, her back as punishment for the attempt.

"Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap..."

Ayase and Wriggle looked over, puzzled at what the nightbird was doing. No, a better description for Ayase's expression would be a mix of horror, fascination and awe...

"...it can't be..." she muttered.

***

The red Mystia spoke louder now, as if trying to force the rest of her mind and body to obey...

"Flap... Flap... Flap... Flap...! Flap...! Flap! Flap! Flap! FLAP! FLAP!"

"Sh-shut up! Are you attempting to irritate me?!" yelled the purple Kaguya. "Enough of this farce... I'm going to..."

Suddenly, the Kaguya felt a sharp pain in her back! A dire and horrendous one as if something in it that should not have been moving was moving. She staggered backwards a bit with a shocked expression, instinctively reaching behind her back! Suddenly she could feel all of the pain Mystia felt!

"I-IMPOSSIBLE! This is the pain that only the physical body should feel, why am I...!"

She then noticed that Mystia had one eye closed, shuddering in her chains as if also feeling the pain, but she did not stop her chant. The purple one's eyes widened before swinging around to look at the blue Mystia on the bed... She was also chanting the command to flap while trying to roll over as if a great pain was also upon her back!

"N-no...! No one can... No can possibly do this! To resist the spell... The curse... The sheer mental strength of will it would take has been too much for even the greatest of beasts, but a small youkai like you...! No... I will not let this happen... Do you hear me?!" said Kaguya in a panicked expression. "There isn't anyway you can break the curse! I will end this right now!!"

Mystia briefly had her eyes tightly shut as she felt the great pain. She managed to hold her smile, elated that her body still obeyed her, this projection, a walking representation of what little of the old Mystia was left. She was also pleased to see this projection of her cursed captor Kaguya in much pain, delighting in this payback for all the agony she had caused. She briefly opened her right eye to see what she was doing...

She did so just in time to see her adversary plow her left hand nails right into said eye.

All three girls hollered out in torturous pain, all three of them sharing it. But why...? Surely this projection know what would happen since they shared the pain... Kaguya immediately staggered back once more before falling to her knees, instinctively covering her right eye while the Mystias thrashed in their bonds violently. All this extra pain served to break the red Mystia's concentration, her body briefly beginning to turn blue... Kaguya stopped her screams and smiled with and expression of great insanity as she dug her left hand's nails into the ground and began a grim cackle.

"Yes! W-with this, I can finally take over the rest of your mind! What the hell was I worried about?! Its impossible for you defeat Koro's curse! Ahahahahahaha!"

But as quickly as she said that, the red Mystia's body began reverting back to its prior color as she chanted something new...

"T-take control... ...of the arm... Move the arm... Move the arm..."

The purple Kaguya, still in great pain and distracted by her own premature relief did not notice this...

***

Wriggle and Ayase were shocked by the sudden loud screaming Mystia did as she fell to her knees, Ayase nearly dropping her spell as a result!

"M... Mystia...?!" uttered Wriggle almost incomprehensibly.

Mystia quickly began staggering back up to a standing position as her right arm stiffly moved back, grabbing her right wing and digging her claws right into it! She screamed madly in pain as blood quickly began dripping from her hand as it twisted with the already injured wing in its grasp... It moved as if the nightbird meant to completely tear it off!

***

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! NO! NO MORE! STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT! HOW CAN THIS BE?! HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY DO THIS?!?!"

The purple Kaguya along with the two Mystia's both writhed in pain! The room around them began to shake violently, cracking and vanishing! The red Mystia spoke one last time...

"Heh... Heh heh heh... I am able to do this... ...because of her... Because of them. Wriggle and the others who came here, putting themselves on the line in order to rescue me... Seeing their bravery... ...gave me hope. When I saw Wriggle's light, I was filled with hope... ...once more. In her own way, she showed me that no matter how terrible the enemy or how great the pain... ...you should fight through it if it means protecting those close to you. That is the courage that gives me this new strength, the power that can resist Koro." explained Mystia weakly, fighting the pain in order to talk.

The fake Kaguya looked at the nightbird with an expression of terror.

"S-so... I will no longer feel the pain, no matter how great it is. I will fight through it for an eternity... ...if it means I can dispose of a devil like you! I... I know Wriggle is still alive out there... ...hurting just as much as we are right now. And I know that you are not her... ...that devil named Kaguya... But even so... ...you should know that... ...we no longer fear you... ...neither you... ...nor her! The only thing for you to do..."

The fake Kaguya's eyes widened in ultimate fear...

"NO, DON'T...!"

"Is to... ...GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!!"

And with that, everything shattered. The walls, the floor, the chains hold the red Mystia, the blue Mystia in her entirety... ...and the purple Kaguya, who's screams quickly faded into nothingness. As the room became a pitch dark well, the red Mystia stood in place... ...and smiled.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on June 11, 2009, 01:08:01 AM
Mystia's eyes widened along with the sound of a horrific tear...

"WRIIIIGGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEE!!!" shouted Mystia as she throw away her formerly attached right wing. "Wriggle... I'm so sorry... Forgive me for being so weak earlier..."

She panted as Ayase and Wriggle both looked on in utter shock. Ayase nearly dropped her key, her green aura vanishing. There was something different about Mystia's voice... It sounded deeper, more mature...

The nightbird looked at her fallen friend, Wriggle looking back. They both smiled. Wriggle could almost swear that Mystia looked a little taller...

"We wouldn't be like this now if I hadn't fallen for Kaguya's tricks... But what is important now... ...is that we're alive. That, and we're no longer the slaves of that mad princess. And now we're going to beat them and leave here... ...together." finished Mystia before glaring harshly at Ayase.

"We're both in excruciating pain because of you and your mistress... But who cares? I will ignore even the greatest pain if it means besting you two in the end and stopping your idiotic plans... I don't need that damned wing... I don't need anything other than the strength of my friends to beat you!"

Suddenly, Mystia shot forward at a break neck speed head on at Ayase putting up her right hand claws while yelling out in aggression! Ayase was still so shocked that she almost forgot to avoid the attack, a large chunk of her right arm being sheered right off! As Ayase collapses to the ground, she thinks of only one thing:

To break the control spell... These two are... Could they really be the ones capable of breaking the curse?! Is it possible?!

After her attack, Mystia ran over to Wriggle, kneeling to her insect friend and grabbing her hand.

"I... I'm so glad you're okay... ...Mystia." muttered Wriggle with a faint smile.

"Me too Wriggle... Me too." said Mystia, seeming to hold back tears. "Wriggle... Thank you. You really saved me."

Mystia took Wriggle's hand and helped her up, the two seeming to draw strength from one another.

"M-Mystia, I'll only slow you down... Please, just get out of here."

Mystia shook her head.

"No. We're in this together until the end. You risked your life to protect mine. Now its my turn to do the same for you. We're going to leave this vile place together. Don't forget what you said before. You said we could get through this as long as we stayed together right?" asked Mystia.

Wriggle looked at Mystia for a bit before smiling again.

"Y-yeah." she responded. "Lets do it... ...together."

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on June 11, 2009, 01:16:01 AM
yays update!!

POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on June 11, 2009, 06:48:54 AM
"Look Sakuya!" called over Eirin, pointing toward the events transpiring from farther away even as she dodged Sakuya's knives. "The princess has succeeded. You cannot hope to be of any effect now!"

"Hmph!"

Sakuya threw another wave of knives as Eirin fired another volley of arrows. The weapons clashed against each other in mid-air and fell to the ground. Both women looked as if they had been fighting for awhile, with partially torn clothes

"I will not be intimidated by some little light show. I have the distinct feeling that whatever it is you unsealed isn't really worth much." said Sakuya nonchalantly.

"I will not be talked down to by the dog of the Devil. Your mistake of underestimating Koro's power will be a heavy one..."

Eirin pulled out an arrow, an orange one with a small chain attached to its back. Placing it in her bow, she took aim at Sakuya, letting it go once it was level. The chain stayed with and attached to the bow, growing continuously as the now energized arrow streaked at Sakuya like an orange laser. The maid leaped out of way of the 'beam', flying across the ground as the orange beam of death chased her around, bending as it moved to pursue the maid. Eirin smirked a bit before firing a second arrow of the same type ahead of Sakuya, forcing the maid to dart off to the side as the beams converged on her. Finally, the nurse let out a third. With three lasers coming at her, Sakuya stopped moving for a moment, allowing them to get closer.

"A dog...? Funny..." uttered the maid.

The maid athletically and skillfully leaped between the lasers before pulling out her pocket watch... Around Eirin, the world briefly flashed black and white... Instinctively, Eirin released the chains on her bow, the laser arrows dissipating as several knives came at her from the front, back, left, and right, two on each side! But only two...?

"Tsch..."

Eirin pulled out a purple arrow, one that immediately began glowing purple as a visible swirl of energy began twisting around it. She hurriedly cocked the arrow in place, purple swirls of energy quickly surrounding her. The nurse span in place, deflecting the every last one of the knives before firing the arrow blindly! The weapon split in two upon being launched, homing right in on the approaching Sakuya! The visibly surprised maid only barely managed dodged the first, only to have the second go right through her...

And cause her to vanish? Eirin was alarmed at this... But she wouldn't have time to wonder, for Sakuya -rather, the real Sakuya- had once again stopped time, restoring it just in time to deliver a swift kick straight into Eirin's nose!

"You're following a twisted order regardless of the consequences without a hint of question. The only dog here is you." stated the maid.

The nurse  fell down and backwards, gagging as blood flew out of her nose. But despite this, she realized there were knives coming right at her from all sides! With no time to dodge, Eirin almost instinctively pulled out a bomb and exploded it, annihilating the knives before they could stab into her! She recovered and landed safety on the ground, immediately blocking a slash from a charging Sakuya before pushing the maid back. The two jumped away from each other as they unleashed volley after volley of arrows and knives and one another while attempting to dodge each other's projectiles.

"Hmph!"

Eirin soon pulled out a spellcard, Sakuya following suit.

"Come now Sakuya. We shall see who the dog truly is!"

"Fine by me... ...Eirin Yagokoro."
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: NekoInc Likes Birds on June 20, 2009, 08:55:49 AM
The Kaguya being a fake all along, Mystia managing to break the spell in a pretty dramatic internal battle...

And what's this with Ayase? Suddenly, things seem very, very interesting indeed...

Looking forward to how this transpires in the end.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on December 06, 2009, 08:27:05 AM
***

Ayase was dumbfounded. As she lay on the ground with her right arm bleeding profusely, there was but one thing she could think of right now...

Th-this... This is...! H-how?! Why?! They have done the very thing I had tried for so long and so hard to do but could not... Could... Could Koro's curse be...?!

Ayase tried to calm herself. Her face was drenched in sweat and her body shivered and twitched uncontrollably. Slowly but surely, she staggered up into a stand, using her giant key as a support.

But I could not escape... No one in our family could... Not after how the village sages so coldly used me as the catalyst for the curse...

Now that she had inadvertently reminded herself of her past, Ayase found herself briefly flashing back...

Thats right... The houses burned. The people screamed. The air was thick with the stench of blood. There was no end to those terrible creatures of the abyss, far more vicious than any normal youkai... Death constantly loomed over us like a shadow. Though perhaps it was more like a warm angel to those who were mourning lost loved ones... Even Mama and Papa and big sis... The ones I looked up to, lasted longer than most of the others, the ones I thought invincible even against this terrible enemy were all eventually taken by it. I was left alone. Helpless. How I wish death would have taken me along with them when those old fools came for me...

These thoughts caused simultaneous feelings of anger, regret and despair to well up inside Ayase's mind.

Was that part of this damned curse to?! For my life to be filled with such pain?! My family and friends were taken from me... I'm enslaved to an immortal mad woman... I'm fighting against my wishes...! No...

Ayase then looked up at the slowly fleeing Wriggle and Mystia with great ire. She walked after them, pulling her key with her left arm.

N-no... That was merely a fluke. I was a fool to think I could escape something such as this. This is fate, pure and simple. Those two have not escaped either. And they never will. They should just give in to the curse now. It will dull the suffering they have yet to endure... Even mama, papa and big sis could not escape...

"This... THIS ISN'T OVER!" called out Ayase after Wriggle and Mystia. "What makes you think you can escape this fate...? Koro's curse is still upon you."

Mystia looked back at Ayase, narrowing her eyes.

"Don't underestimate me. My incantation was broken... But it went on for long enough. Now suffer your fate!"

"We already broke free of your power. There is nothing more Koro's curse can do to us." responded Mystia.

"You're wrong."

Ayase looked down for a moment giggling a bit.

"Its actually a bit sad... Neither of us can escape our fates. It does not matter how hard we try. No one can escape their destiny..." spoke Ayase somewhat haggardly.

"No... Y-you're wrong..." gasped Wriggle. "Its true we have little control of our lives... But what happened here on this very night... ...should tell you... ...that you do not have to be bound to some predetermined destiny."

"Was what happened just now not proof enough for you?" added Mystia. "You do not control our destiny. Not you, nor you're mistress. We will defeat both of you if you continue trying."

Ayase smiled a bit.

"What happened just now was mere luck. If father couldn't resist the curse then two little youkai like you certainly shouldn't..." she grumbled.

"W-what...?" muttered Wriggle.

"Ah...! That..." Ayase tightened her fist, momentarily looking away. "That doesn't matter now. My incantation was broken... But it went far enough. The next phase of the spell can proceed without fail."

Mystia narrowed her eyes.

"I won't let you..."

"Tis much too late, night sparrow. Observe..."

Ayase held out her right hand, concentrating heavily as it began glowing green. Wriggle suddenly gasped, grabbing her chest and moaning in pain as a similar green glow appeared from it.

"The nightbug has danced for long enough. Now is the time for her to meet her destiny in Koro's curse." said Ayase, a twisted smile covering her face.

As the glowing stopped, octagon shaped stone objects with a picture of a firefly appeared on the chests of Ayase and Wriggle. Wriggle stared dumbfounded, sweat rolling down her face.

"Wh... What are you... ...doing to me...?!"

Ayase allowed herself a small smile as she raised her key.

"Its simple really. I am opening a door to your pitiful existence's end. You will join me in my darkness. You will know only suffering as you become a permanent part of my soul." said Ayase.

"I don't entirely understand you... But in spite of your vagueness, I can tell that you wish to end Wriggle and I here and now." said Mystia, raising her free right hand, cracking her claw tipped fingers. "I will not permit that. We're tired of the mere site of you..."

Mystia intended to set Wriggle down on the ground, but the nightbug stopped her.

"N-no... We must fight her... ...together." said the weakened nightbug.

Mystia briefly looked over to her friend with concern, questioning if Wriggle even had any strength left. It was a wonder how Wriggle could even speak coherently at this point. But none the less, the night sparrow momentarily closed her eyes, knowing that questioning Wriggle's resolve was futile.

"You're right. Lets combine our remaining strength and overcome this demon, before her spell finishes," nodded Mystia.

"Hmph. I will show you what it means to be under Koro's curse," said Ayase, charging at the two.

"Fine then." said Wriggle, trying to summon more strength into her battered body. "Then we shall..."

"...show you what it means to defy fate!" finishes Mystia.

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on December 06, 2009, 08:28:01 AM
***

With Wriggle in hand, Mystia took to the sky, Ayase in fierce pursuit.

"Wriggle." spoke Mystia, looking at her friend.

Wriggle smiled, nodding. A peculiar golden glow emanated from the two of them as they combined their remaining strength. Ayase sneered, spinning with her key in hand, vicious energy pulsating from the tip. She formed rings of green energy, firing off barrages of green arrow-head danmaku. Wriggle held to Mystia tightly as the nightbird boldly flew through the attacks, zooming toward Ayase like a speeding bullet. Ayase gritted her teeth, dodging mystia's claw swipes with narrowed eyes.

"So you can still fly?" began Ayase, getting slashed across the cheek. "No matter."

Oh, but it did matter as a well-timed kick to the head sent Ayase reeling backwards. The ever stubborn key girl managed to stay in the air, holding her key like a cannon, energy charging at the tip. Wriggle and Mystia gave no quarter, holding out their hands and throwing multi-colored bullets at their key-wielding opponent. Ayase quickly launched her attack, taking a few hits before raising her key to block. Wriggle and Mystia prepared to dodge the large energy ball, when it suddenly exploded into hundreds of smaller orbs. The duo gritted their teeth, as the hellish bolts charged at them, auras building for a large attack of their own...

A brilliant white explosion filled the sky like a massive firecracker, shaking the Earth violently.

***

"Kaguya!"

The former moon princess turned in time to see a shrieking Mokou zipping towards her, wings aflame. Kaguya used her bronze chains to block terribly hot waves of flames flung at her and smiled.

"Try as you might, dear Mokou."

The battlefield became a well of violent flames as Kaguya jumped backwards, firing blue lasers all about.

"But I possess the powers of Koro, and full immortality. What can anyone do against such a combination?"

"Shut up!" shouted Mokou, gritting her teeth.

The flaming girl gritted her teeth, wings spreading out as she charged again...

***

On one side was Wriggle, laying next to Mystia, Ayase on the other. The three staggered upward slowly to continue their fight.

"Damned fools... Didn't I tell you its futile?"

Ayase went unanswered as she and her opponents resumed a standing position, Wriggle holding onto Mystia once more. Wriggle winced heavily, gripping the talisman in her chest.

"Only one more minute or so. Thats all the time you have left." spoke Ayase, leaning on her key.

Wriggle looked at Mystia with a determined look. Mystia returned an expression of worry. However, the resolve on Wriggle's face silently told her to fight on. She readied her right hand and prepared to pounce.

"I won't lose Wriggle to you." said Mystia, narrowing her eyes. I'll put everything I have left into this.

Wriggle poured what little power she had left into Mystia's soul as the nightbird shot forward like a cannon at Ayase, claws beared. Ayase gritted her teeth, slamming the end of her key into the ground and firing, shooting into the sky like a firecracker before flipping forward and shooting down at the two youkai with green lasers. The surprised Mystia stumbled away from the airborne death, charging energy in her right hand before she heard another boom behind her... Suddenly, her entire backside was riddled with horrific pain as Ayase's key slammed right into the bleeding stump that was once the nightbird's right wing. Feeling like she was just hit with a jet-propelled bulldozer, Mystia lost her grip of Wriggle, both youkai falling to the ground.

Ayase smiled. Using the high-recoil shot of her cannon as a booster had worked. She walked up to her quarry.

"Gah... Mystia...?" uttered Wriggle, looking at her fallen, unmoving friend.

"Did she pass out from the pain? This is good. Now she doesn't have to watch the death of her beloved friend." spoke Ayase with a sigh. "You two fought against my mistress admirably. It was brave of you to resist as you did, but as I have kept saying..."

Ayase suddenly pointed her key right at Wriggle who flinched at the sight.

"...In the end, your resistance is futile."

Suddenly, a green aura overcame Wriggle, but this one was not her own. Against her volition, she rose off the ground, looking around in panic.

"Ah, the spell is complete. Do not worry, little bug. This will end your pain."

Wriggle was wide-eyed as she was pulled toward Ayase like a magnet. She desperately looked back at Mystia, just in time to see the nightbird attempting to pull herself up and around. Mystia looked at the drifting Wriggle, panic in her eyes as they began watering up with tears. Before her eyes, Wriggle's body began vanishing into small, bright-green particles...

"S-stop...! Please...!" gasped Mystia, reaching her hand out to Wriggle.

Wriggle reached out her left arm to grab Mystia's hand, only to have it vanish from her sight. Helpless, the girls could only watch as they were pulled away from each other. The two had only just been reunited, only for this to happen... It was like finding a long lost friend, only to have a massive door between you two slammed shut.

"Mystia, I'm sorry. I know it was not supposed to end like this. But your strength is greater now than ever. I know you can find some way of surviving this horrid night without me."

Wriggle's voice was echoing like that of a distant ghost.

"Don't say that... Don't break our promise! Please fight on, Wriggle!" cried out Mystia, still reaching for her friend.

Wriggle smiled with evident sadness, more of her body scattering into green particles.

"I have fought as long as I was able. Its you're turn to fight with everything you have left. Mystia, listen... You have been my greatest friend for as long as I can possibly remember. You were always there for me, no matter what. I'm immensely grateful to you. Thank you Mystia."

Mystia slowly got up, her face awash with tears of sorrow. Her mouth was silent, but her soul continued shouting at Wriggle not to leave her. By now, the nightbug's body had almost totally vanished.

"I realize that we were supposed to leave out of here together. And we still can."

Mystia looked on in wonder.

"Mystia, even if the Princess wins tonight... Even if my soul vanishes from the Earth... Even if this sealed girl tears our world asunder, you must live on and carry my precious memories. You see, my body may be no more... But I will always live on in your heart and memories. And you can remind others of who I was with that."

Thats when Mystia noticed Wriggle's battered journal on the ground, gasping as she glimpsed it.

"Remember Mystia, I will always be alive within you. So please, take care... ...of that precious item... ...of mine. I will always... ...be with... ...you. Fare... ...well."

And the last of Wriggle's body faded away. Apart from the battles going on elsewhere, there was only silence. Wriggle Nightbug was no more. The green particles once were her were absorbed into the stone on Ayase's chest. Mystia staggered up. The pain of her lost wing was nothing compared to this sort of loss... Wriggle was one of the few friends she ever had; her best friend. Everything that mattered up until now, irrelevant. It was all a blur. They had nursed each other, laughed with each other, shared secrets with each other, rescued each other... And now, all of that was shattered. Wriggle, Mystia's best friend, was gone.

Without realizing it, Mystia had walked over to Wriggle's little book before dropping to her knees and scooping it up in her bloodied hands. More tears made their escape down her face as she cradled the book, bending over and sobbing.

"I can't believe it..." she uttered to herself between sobs. "Wriggle, you're really gone... In an instant... Wriggle... Wriggle..."

Ayase nonchalantly walked up to the grieving nightbird, her face a portrait of contempt.

"Idiot, you were warned. Your friend should've escaped when she had the chance. The two of you are a pathetic lot."

"Give her back."

Ayase raised an eyebrow. Mystia had uttered something faintly...

"What was that?"

"Give her back." repeated the nightbird, clutching her friend's book even tighter.

"What is this 'give her back?' Its too late to revert the process, so..."

"You heard me... Give Wriggle back to me!"

Ayase was suddenly attacked by a one-winged-well of rage and despair, a red bolt of light suddenly slamming dead into her torso with alarming force. Before she even knew what hit her, she found herself writhing on the ground, coughing out blood and struggling to catch her breath. She looked up at the enraged and tearful Mystia in shock.

"How can you be so callous?! Give Wriggle back to me this instant!"

Mystia threw herself at the panicking Ayase, thinking of nothing short of tearing the flesh from her cursed bones...

***

The light slammed into the fire, a massive cackle of force being left in their wake as the two energies clashed and exploded. Mokou was on the ground, her face awash with sweat as she panted heavily. Kaguya on the other hand floated in the sky, looking down upon Mokou smuggly, like a queen looking down upon a peasant. She had a green aura about her...

"Its plain to see, dear Mokou. Although immortal, you're still limited by your own stamina in the end. The power from Koro on the other hand is without limit. Its incredibly soothing..."

Kaguya giggled like a snide cat.

"Surely you can see it, can't you?" asked the princess.

Mokou narrowed her eyes at the green aura. This was completely new for Kaguya. But what was this sense of familiarity...?

Can't be...

Mokou turned around, seeing Mystia and Ayase struggle in the distance.

"Where's the nightbug...?! Damn you, Kaguya!"

The ground around Mokou became a scorching torrent of rage as realization smacked her firmly in the head. Wriggle was gone, defeated and absorbed... Kaguya laughed, her face contorted with madness and bloodlust.

"A pitiful waste. You could've done so much much Mokou, but all you did was try to destroy me. Now its come to this. The prophesy is finished, and the only thing left to do is to silence you once and for all by sending you out of both, Gensokyo and existence!"

Mokou bellowed out like a human volcano, erupting upward at the waiting Kaguya.

"Yes, come at me..."

Kaguya wrapped herself in blue-green energy while darting backwards, away from the angered Mokou. Even so, the flames threw themselves all over her lithe body like sheets thrown down to a bed. She crossed her arms in front of herself, her smile not disappearing, even as her clothes and skin slowly burned away within the flaming torrent.

"Yes, just like this, my dear Mokou! I wanted to feel your invigorating flames one last time before you meet your fate." called out Kaguya from within the unrelenting flames.

Mokou gritted her teeth, her will intensifying the deadly flames as she poured every last bit of energy she had into annihilating Kaguya. The princess smiled through the pain of being knee deep in an airborne, magical furnace. Suddenly, she threw her arms outward, yellow and green energy exploding through the sky, tossing Mokou's flames away from herself, like the sun tossing its solar flares. The sky lit up, alomst as if Kaguya had became the sun itself, streaking at Mokou and enveloping her in her powerful light.

Mokou was in disbelief. Not only did Kaguya have more magical power than ever before, but now Wriggle's power along with her own flames, had both been turned against her. She twisted while plummeting, throwing the excess flames off of her before stopping her fall. Kaguya -her sarashi now exposed- pointed a single finger into the air. Her aura thinned out as a massive ball of magic began growing above her raised finger. Mokou floated just above the ground, panting heavily.

Damn... Between fighting her and that stupid monster, I'm really beginning to lose it. Well, I'm not, but my body sure is... Meanwhile, her body just heals after every injury thanks to that retarded monster girl! I barely have any stamina left, so...

Mokou pulled out a red-glowing spellcard.

"Alright Kaguya, lets see you handle this! Ougi!"

A flaming image of the phoenix appeared at Mokou's back. Kaguya's smile widened with sheer madness.

"Try it! Divine Treasure..." Kaguya spoke as a spellcard briefly appeared within her giant orb. "Hourai Jewel! Dreamlike Paradise!"

"Imperishable Shooting!"

Mokou roared out, her flames appearing as though they would shatter the Earth with their intensity alone. As thousands of red bolds of energy converged on Kaguya, the Princess threw down her orb, just as it shattered into thousands of smaller, multi-colored orbs. The sky lit up as if bombarded with massive firecrackers, everyone in the surrounding area surely being able to notice the rainbow-like light.

Squinting their eyes, the two battling girls flew right into deathly light. Like an angry goddess, Mokou cracked her flames like whips at the deranged princess, avoiding blades of rainbow danmaku at the same time. The smiling Kaguya brandished the legendary jeweled branch, slashing away at Mokou as the sky filled with her projectiles of every imaginable color. The lights spread out in an incredible shockwave as the two girls' magical energies collided.

Damn, what in the world is going on here?! Kaguya was never this good at close combat...! was what Mokou thought.

"Whats the matter, Mokou dear? Losing your edge? Panicking because you lost your close combat advantage against me? My magical prowess isn't the only thing little Ayase is augmenting, you know. Along with that comes an increase in all my battle skills!" gloated Kaguya. "It seems to me you've already had a good enough demonstration."

The projectiles swarmed over Mokou like a hive of angry bees, unable to dodge or deflect all of them, and deal with the fierce slashing from Kaguya's branch at the same time. Bullet wounds and cuts steadily appeared all over her body as she struggled to escape the relentless assault. Kaguya was getting pounded as well, wounds covering her body, but pressing on with her attack, the green aura continuing to increase her strength.

"D... Damn...! That thing...!" uttered Mokou, an image of Ayase flashing in her head.

In an instant, Mokou saw an opportunity; she had managed to grab Kaguya's right arm, the one holding the jeweled branch. Before she knew it, Kaguya a flaming fist plunging dead center into her face. Flames coursed across her body mere moments afterward, damaging her hair and skin. Moments later however, the flames vanished. All of the flaming girl's projectiles disappeared along with them.

"Wh- wha..." stammered Mokou, looking at her hands and suddenly feeling incredibly tired. "No... I put everything I had left into that last spell card... I ain't got anything left... This can't be happening... I'm actually gonna...!"

Mokou slowly sank back to the ground, her wings slow shrinking and flickering away... Suddenly, countless numbers of Kaguya's remaining projectiles came slamming into her, hammering her from every possible direction into the waiting, hard ground. So fast and painful was it, that Mokou didn't have time to scream or even process what had just happened to her; she was back-first on the ground, horrifically wounded and barely conscious with pain and fear coursing through every inch of her broken form.

The only thing she could hear was the cackling of her ruthless enemy. The only thing she could see was the brightened form of her ruthless enemy. She could however recognize that even the worst of Kaguya's wounds were slowly vanishing before her very eyes. And that damned green aura...

"Ahahahahahahaha, AAAAHahahahahahahahahahaha~! I won! I won! Finally, Mokou will meet her end! Ahahahaha!"

Kaguya's entire upper body was exposed, save for the sarashi around her chest. Mokou's eyes did not deceive her; ayase's power was steadily healing her burnt and battered body, the worst of it already ancient history. The princess laughed hysterically, covering her sweat covered face with the palm of her right hand as she slowly returned to the ground.

Bravely, Mokou defiantly staggered up, gritting her teeth. She limped her way forwards, forcing flames to form over her open palms... Kaguya, getting away from her hysterics, merely looked upon Mokou and smiled darkly.

"Wow, what a pitiful sight~ You look no better than a mindless zombie!" laughed Kaguya mockingly. "My my... A centuries long quest for revenge, countless battles to the death, a dirty mouth, and now you're like this. I simply must wonder what your father would think if he were able to see how the mighty daughter of the Fujiwara clan has fallen..."

"Sh- Shut up!!"

Mokou shot out like a bat out of hell at Kaguya, screaming madly with rage. Kaguya dropped to the ground, rearing back her right fist before plunging it, and the legendary jeweled branch down into the dirt. Mokou saw a flash of light, right before something enormous came at her... The next thing she realized was that she could not move at all. She had been stopped dead. And the worst pain she had felt in centuries racked her body...

"Guh...! What...!"

Looking down, she realized that she had become the unwilling ornament of an enormous golden spike almost the width of her body, protruding through the ground at a  diagonal angle. She had been run through the torso, left hanging like an animal at the slaughter. Her blood ran down the spike, giving the gold color a nice shade of red trend.

Kaguya, of course, was quick to marvel at her catch. She casually strolled up to her limp hanging enemy, marveling at how utterly powerless she had rendered Fujiwara no Mokou. Then, she held out her left hand, dipping two of her outstretched fingers into Mokou's flowing blood before slowly and carefully licking it up with her tongue, not spilling a single drop. She dipped her fingers again, this time applying the life blood of her enemy to her lower lips as a the sweet smile on her face turned ever wider... Perhaps the first lipstick Kaguya Houraisan had ever worn in her thousand-plus years of existence.

After this, she turned her back, clasping her hands behind herself before slowly walking off.

"Your father... He wasn't a terrible man you know. In fact, I would say that he was one of the most delightful of my suitors. Ufufufu..."

"K... Ka... gu..." was all Mokou could sputter, blood replacing words as it clumsily fell from her mouth.

"Its too bad..." said Kaguya, turning her head to meet Mokou's weak gaze. "Where you're going, you're going to wish you could join him~"
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on December 06, 2009, 08:28:58 AM
***

"Kyaa!"

Sakuya fell back first, wincing from the pain of arrows planted firmly in her left arm and shoulder. The equally exhausted Eirin collapsed directly in front of the injured maid, no longer having enough energy to keep her eyes open.

"T-there... S-Sakuya..." she gasped between breaths. "Its over. Surely, you sense that Lady Kaguya is victorious... Even if you were... to stop me now, there wouldn't be anything you could do. Just... Give up..."

The broken nurse lifted her sweaty, dirt ridden head to look upon the grounded Sakuya. She had expected an exhausted warrior maid writhing helplessly in pain. What she saw was a determined woman, pushing all pain out from her mind as she mightily ripped the sharp arrows out from her body with her free arm. Sakuya allowed a small smile to line her face as she sat up to look at Eirin.

"And here I thought... ...that the great Eirin Yagokoro was a genius. Was I mistaken?" Sakuya sat up further, clutching her injured arm. "I surely will not listen to an order to give up from who has given up."

"What? Just what are you getting at?" asked Eirin, narrowing her open eye.

"What a terrible sight. You've been beaten into the dirt for something doomed to fail from the very start." said Sakuya before her smile vanished. "You are a true dog. The Eirin I met during the endless night incident would not have allowed any of this nonsense. Certainly not if her... Dear princess was involved."

"You speak with mockery to the princess?!"

Eirin raised her voice at Sakuya with a sudden burst of strength.

"I mean to do no such thing. I merely figured that you have learned what I had to learn... After all, you've been with your princess far longer than I have been with my mistress."

By now, the two women were managing to get to kneeling positions, though both were still quite worn out.

"I don't know all the details of all that has happened, but I have a suspicion... To put it simply, all of this happened... No... Rather was allowed to happen merely from the closest servant failing to do the most important duty of all." explained Sakuya.

The only thing that came from Eirin was mere silence. By now, the two women were standing once again, but no longer with the strength and grace they once commanded. Even so, Sakuya continued speaking to Eirin firmly.

"It is of utmost importance for the servant to obey his or her master. But there is one duty that lies above that one. That is, it is the servants duty to know when to disobey, to stop and think about the master's current wish. They must know when to bite the hand that feeds them out of necessity, all in order to protect that master and yourself." explained Sakuya, pointing down to Eirin. "You have failed that duty. You and your mistress have become wretched and cursed as a result, contemptible."

Eirin eyed a silver glint from Sakuya's left hand; a knife was now pointed at her face. She looked up at Sakuya's cold and stern expression, meeting with an oddly humble smile.

"Perhaps you are correct, Ms. Sakuya. Lately, what I have been has been 'for the princesses sake.' That is what I have been telling myself throughout this whole situation." replied Eirin.

"You're a fool." replied Sakuya, glaring at Eirin in disgust.

"But it is too late to turn back now. Seeing this through to its bitter end will be my repentance."

Eirin jumped up, Sakuya suddenly having to deflect several arrows before having to leap backwards.

"No." said Sakuya. "Your repentance shall come through cleansing this accursed soil with your very own blood."

The two traded knives and arrows in a glistening spiral of metal and death.

"Have I not told you that the princess has already won?" said Eirin during the struggle.

"Somehow, I doubt its over yet. Let these knives tell you of what will transpire." answered the determined Sakuya.

Eirin launched another wave of arrows, then a brief moment of nothingness... Sakuya vanished once more. Eirin cursed to herself, swinging her body backwards to the sight of an airborne Sakuya showering knives upon her. The nurse almost instinctively back flipped away from the maid's rain of silver death, launching a single arrow toward the sky. This was yet another surprise- the arrow suddenly went from one, to one-hundred, all forcing a surprised Sakuya to freeze time again. Time resumed once the maid was in a safer location. Or so she thought.

"Die."

Sakuya gasped wide-eyed when she found Eirin directly in front of her upon resuming the flow of time. She was left with no time to ponder how she had accomplished the impossible- the nurse took advantage of her confusing, successfully planting an arrow into the maid's left leg. Sakuya barely dodged another arrow which streaked off her shoulder, taking a good amount of blood with it. Making matters worse, the living rain of arrows continued to trail her without relent. And their number was increasing...

Eirin smiled, the quick reactions of her multiplying arrows rendering Sakuya's time stops useless, in addition to acting as eyes for her- with each resumption of time, Eirin instantly knew where Sakuya was, letting her anticipate her opponents movements and counteract her. Sakuya of course had not yet realized this. No matter how many arrows she had lured into planting themselves in the ground, hundreds more took their place. No matter how many times she used time stop to escape, Eirin was right there to surprise her. She soon had enough. It was either bust out her own trump card, or take a one-way trip to the big maid cafe in the sky.

"I'll admit Eirin Yagokoro, this is a formidable trick, but even this is not invincible." called out Sakuya before vanishing again.

She had vanished again. Eirin's smiled faded, but not her confidence. She simply waited again and...

"...what? Where did...?"

Eirin looked around, alarmed. This maid was a magician. A real Houdini that had completely vanished from the battlefield. None of the homing arrows saw her.

"So this is what you mean. Sadly, this won't help you defeat me in the end, Sakuya!" called out Eirin, looking around quickly.

"Oh, I think you're quite wrong about that honestly."

Sakuya's voice was everywhere.

Eirin began to sweat about, looking around frantically.

"H-how are you doing this? Where are you?!"

Suddenly, the arrows saw their target again.

"There you are. Begone!"

The arrows zipped through the air towards their target... Only to have Sakuya appear elsewhere simultaneously. Then a third... A fourth... A fifth... Six, seven, eight, nine, ten... Eleven Sakuyas?! The arrows didn't have the slightly clue who to target, and neither did Eirin. Surely only one of them was real...

"She's never been capable of anything like this before... To think she could outwit my last weapon like this...!" said Eirin to herself. "Fine then!"

Obeying their owner's silent mental command, the arrows multiplied further, and spread out, attack all eleven Sakuya's, piercing them one by one... Not a single one of them was real. Eirin was astounded, and to complicate things further, two small playing cards fell out of the sky above her...

"Maid Secret Skill!" called out Sakuya from above.

Eirin gasped in shock as she looked to see a confidently smiling Sakuya above her. And there where no more arrows left to defend her...

"Killing Doll!"

Frantic, Eirin threw down her bow, materializing two arrows and slamming them down head first into the ground. A torrent of arrows burst forth from the ground, just in time to defend Eirin against an incredibly massive storm of glowing knives. For Eirin, it would seem like an eternity...

When it was over, the nurse would be left on her knees, deeply panting and surrounded by a floor of arrows and knives. She quickly staggered up.

"Its over Sakuya!" declared the nurse. "After that you shouldn't have anymore strength left!"

The still airborne maid suddenly appeared before Eirin, some distance away with her arms crossed.

"Illusion World!" called out Sakuya.

"W-what?!" gasped a shocked Eirin.

As her eyes began glowing a ghastly crimson, Sakuya allowed herself to bear a devilish and bloodthirsty smile. It was the last thing Eirin saw before she sensed another skip in time...

"The World!"

It was a nightmare, no matter how you put it. When time resumed, Eirin found herself surrounded completely. Not by Sakuya's knives, but by her own arrows. Surrounded with a blue power aura, they rammed themselves right into the helpless and surprised Eirin. The silver haired nurse's body exploded in a shower of blood and gore, arrows penetrating her flesh from nearly every possible direction.

Sakuya set down in front of the shattered Eirin, arms crossed and smiling.

"You're right. I had no strength left to summon anymore knives. So I used your weapons. You provided me with plentiful ammunition after all." explainded Sakuya.

Eirin realized she had been thoroughly tricked by now, but was in too much pain to care. It was a miracle she hadn't died instantly... Sakuya suddenly gasped a bit, cough up some blood as she fell to one knee.

"O-of course that wasn't easy... Stopping time around each arrow, especially when already fatigued was rather taxing. Willing them to move after being stopped wasn't a problem of course... Heh, heh."

Eirin managed a weak smile.

"S-so the fakes... And th-the second to last spellcard..."

"Traps and distractions to get you to use up more energy than you could afford to of course. The 'other' me's you saw where mere illusions created with localized time stops, like the ones that stopped your arrows." said Sakuya as she stood back up.

"I-I s-see..."

Sakuya walked up to the bloody nurse.

"Y-you have bested m-me... ...S-Sakuya... It seems... ...you were right... ...after all..."

Eirin coughed violently as the arrows vanished, the nurse collapsing to the ground. Eirin held a faint smile, even as her eyes glassed over, and the color in her skin faded.

"P-prin... ...cess... F-forgive me. I was a fool... I let you take a destructive path, and now..." she couldn't finish getting the words out before coughing out again, blood gushing from her mouth. "W-well then... I suppose... ...I must... ...accept this fate..."

"No." spoke Sakuya calmly, eyes closed. "I have the feeling it isn't quite over yet."

"B-but... The firefly girl..."

"Strangely, her life force hasn't entirely evaporated yet. You can say things like 'I deserve this cruel fate' after you've returned to life. After all, the dead cannot repent."

Eirin wanted to look up at Sakuya, but her body was too broken to even blink an eye. Instead, with her final few breaths...

"Th... thank you Sakuya. Y-you've awakened me from this nightmare. I only hope... ...that the princess... ...has done the same... ...by th... ...by... ...the... ...t-time I..."

Sakuya looked down at Eirin as she breathed her last. She was admittedly puzzled at herself. The anger and malice she felt before was gone. Right now should could only feel pity towards her enemy. And her only desire now was to never become broken like this dead woman had.

"Perhaps she will have by the time you return. And when you do, protect you mistress with all you power, as I will do with mine..."

With a bold look that had forgotten the injuries and fatigue, Sakuya turned around and looked forward at the battles happening a distance away.

(Holy god, I CANNOT allow myself to go this long between updates again... ~_~ )
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on January 27, 2010, 04:40:29 AM
***

Mystia raised her arms, shielding her eyes from the badly clawed up Ayase's blast of light, as the key-wielding girl rushed through, and slammed her weapon's head into Mystia's stomach. The bird youkai gasped as she was pushed back, falling to her knees and grasping her stomach.

"Nuisance!" shouted Ayase.

Ayase then felt a pang in her mind, quickly calming down with a deadpan look covering her face.

"I see. I understand lady Kaguya."

"W-what are you doing?!" demanded Mystia as she staggered up.

"The time has come," said Ayase simply. "You've lost."

Ayase rammed the front end of her key into Mystia's torso, sending the nightbird reeling. She immediately pointed her key in Mokou's direction, particles of green energy flying out toward the impaled girl...

***

The panting Kaguya looked on as Ayase's green particles encircled her impaled rival. In her knackered state, Mokou only barely noticed the evil magic, growling weakly when she did. Green light washed over her as several flat crystal fragments sprang up around her.

"So concludes our eternal spat, Mokou. Begone," sneered Kaguya.

The light suddenly grew brighter, Mokou's widening eyes looking around to find walls of glass-like crystal closing in on her. Somehow, she found the strength to spread her arms out to resist the sealing crystal, but to no avail. She looked down at Kaguya as her body began to disappear into green light.

"K-K-Kaguya...!"

The princess merely stood silently, tilting her head in delight as Mokou struggled.

"Damn you Kaguya, release me you coward!"

Mokou then screamed out as the reality began bending around her- the spell was preparing to take her to a forbidden realm, completing the curse. Kaguya suddenly jumped back, just in time to avoid a blast of white energy from none other than the Were-Hakutaku Keine.

"Mokou!" shouted the teacher with desperation in her eyes.

"K-Keine?!" shouted Mokou back, looking up at her old friend.

Keine zipped over to Mokou, only to be forcefully repulsed by the power of the spell. She shielded her eyes from the blinding light.

"Keine, its too late... Just get outta here."

"Mokou... I..."

"She'll kill you if you stay! Just forget about me and leave!"

Thats when Kaguya joined Keine in the air, floating up directly behind her.

"Ah, how do you do, Miss Keine?" chuckled Kaguya.

Keine snapped around, backing away from the princess.

"I've been wanting to meet with you in person. Have you come here to save this worthless worm? Its rather late for that."

"Kaguya, stop this! This is foolish and meaningless!" pleaded Keine.

"Meaningless? This is my gateway to eternal peace," sneered Kaguya. "Kindly keep your drivel to yourself, while I punish you for attempting to interfere..."

***

Mystia and Ayase looked on, at the rapidly unfolding events as they struggled with one another.

"N-no... There still must be some way of..." uttered Mystia.

Ayase kept silent. Suddenly, the key-wielder found herself kicked away from Mystia, courtesy of a certain red and white miko. Ayase quickly stood up, holding her side as her hateful gaze beared down on Reimu.

"Damn you shrine maiden, how did you escape? Nevermind. The outcome of this conflict is clear."

Ayase took off, zipping over Mystia and Reimu, the two of them wincing at the bright light surrounding Mokou.

"Get back here!" demanded Mystia.

"Wait!" called Reimu, stopping Mystia dead in her tracks. "If you go after her with all that going on, you'll surely be destroyed."

"I refuse to believe Wriggle is dead. I can still sense her soul within that disgusting mass of sealing energy over there. I will not stop fighting for her sake until I'm dead."

Reimu was visibly impressed by Mystia's conviction, sighing after a moment.

"Well aren't you the foolish little youkai? Well, I warned you already... But I shall remain here to erect a counter seal. It maybe our only chance."

Mystia nodded at Reimu before running off on foot in pursuit of Ayase. Meanwhile, Reimu began her chant, a giant, flaming yin-yang symbol appearing where she stood, along with many ofuda materializing and rising into the air. However, Kaguya's remaining rabbit guard was not about to have that. Injured as they were, they charged the chanting miko to stop her, only to be halted by a green energy blast...

"Wazzaaaaap?" greeted the battered, yet widely smiling Marisa whilst saluting with her good arm.

The young witch woman limped in front of the approaching hoard of rabbit troops and mud clones, putting up her one usable arm.

"Ya wanna stop us, eh? Look, I only got one freakin arm, but that ain't gonna stop me from teachin' you all a good lesson, ze!"

"Pitiful witch, how does one human expect to stand against us, injured as you are?" called out an Inaba.

That same rabbit youkai suddenly gasped and fell forward to the shock of her peers. The lance-wielding doll that had stabbed her from the back immediately vanished.

"Who said it would be just one?"

Alice walked up to the group from behind, carrying a heavily breathing Patchouli at her side.

"Having to deal with such... ...pathetic small fry is certainly a waste... ...of time, wouldn't you agree?" asked Patchy rhetorically.

"Hey guys, great timing!" said Marisa with a wink.

"Enough! They're weaker now, so finish them!" called out another Inaba.

***

Keine gasped as she hit the ground, clutching her left shoulder as blood trickled down her lips.

"I've defeated two of your spellcards just like that. Now cease your tomfoolery and watch the show," said the smiling Kaguya before turning around. "Ayase!"

Ayase appeared above Kaguya in just in time.

"Yes, my mistress." Ayase swung around, heading directly for Mokou. This is what must happen, isn't it? If only they had listened...

A large keyhole sprang up on Mokou's side. Speeding forth, Ayase flew forward, throwing her key right into the hole and turning it.

"It's finished." she uttered.

Mokou screamed again as Koro's power washed over her like electricity. The downed Keine desperately reached her hand forward...

"K-Keine...! I-I'm sorry... J-just get outta here, graaaaah!"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, squirm! Vanish!" cackled Kaguya, fanatically bellowing out.

Mokou took one final look at the tearful Keine before fixing a fiery glare upon the wretchedly smiling Kaguya.

"Kaguya, I maybe going away... But you won't be allowed to get away with this! Even if we're defeated here, one day, someone will put an end to the madness you've caused. I swear it."

The crystal walls that now trapped Mokou began shrinking with the fiery immortal still inside- they were disappearing from this world, becoming transparent...

"Oh well~ Farewell Mokou!" said the gleeful Kaguya.

Kaguya watched with great excitement, the climactic moment mere seconds away... Keine laid on the ground in despair. Unable to watch, she looked away in tears. But just as the sealing was complete, a large yin-yang symbol appeared on it, halting the process.

"W-what?! How can this be...? Damn that Shrine maiden, she's the culprit, isn't she?!" yelled Kaguya. "Hasn't anybody stopped her?! No... Ayase, overcome that wretched girl's powers!"

Ayase was sweating and kneeling as she held her key up, the talisman on her chest glowing brighter than ever before.

***

"Ghh...!"

Reimu clearly strained from her attempt at stopping the Koro curse, even staggering and briefly hyperventilating, but didn't give up.

Meanwhile, Marisa jumped back, avoiding a left hook from an inaba before answering with a hard right to the jaw. The young smirked as the rabbit girl hit the ground before looking back at Reimu.

"Don't ya even think about givin' up on me, Reimu!" now she turned back to her attackers. "C'mon, I could do this all night..."

Alice and Patchouli could be seen blasting away at Kaguya's soldiers as well, not faltering despite their fatigue.

***

"Whats wrong?! Reimu should be weak from fighting... Very well, I'll take care of her myself!"

But then, a bullet shaped energy bolt slammed into the angry princesses back, causing her to stagger forward. She angrily shot her head up at the airborne culprit, who was none other than Reisen.

"Princess, stop this, please!" pleaded the moon rabbit.

Kaguya broke into a twisted smile.

"Oh, so my precious Reisen is now betraying me, even when we're so close to our goal?" she asked.

"This is meaningless, Princess. If we allow Koro to win, then it won't be good for anyone, especially not you. I'm sorry but..."

Reisen hesitated a bit.

"Princess... Thank you for taking me in and everything, but... If I must betray you to protect you, then so be it!"

"Ridiculous. The same stupid notions as those others... Are you prepared to give me your miserable life, moon rabbit?!"

Cackling with insane glee, Kaguya charged into the sky at the waiting Reisen...

***
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on January 27, 2010, 04:41:59 AM
Mystia had finally arrived, approaching Ayase once more, but didn't attack.

"Why do you not attack, even though I'm vulnerable like this? You could break my concentration easily, not that that would change the outcome..." asked the key wielding girl.

Mystia smirked a bit.

"That is tempting, but I think I can do something a little more decisive than that. Do you remember what I said earlier about my friend?" asked Mystia.

"So you still think she's still alive?"

"Fool, I don't think I know. Because I can still feel her in my heart. And I can still reach her heart with the best way I know how."

Ayase was silent, waiting for Mystia's action. The night bird clasped her hands in front of herself... ...and began to sing.

Come hearth, O'moon. C'mon forth and shine.
Darkness be gone. Darkness be gone.
O'young girl in the night, whose heart hath no taint, be one with the moon.
Let thee know of your heart.

Ayase raised an eyebrow. A mere song? Could that really work...?

Be gone O'clouds, be gone O'clouds.
Lunar majesty beckons this night.
Twinkle oh stars, twinkle oh stars, cry out for the little firefly who hath no flaw.
Hear this song, this song of night, tremble O'evil spirits and shiver.
For this moon's night, and girl of night's heart, who can stop them? Who can stop them?
None certainly, under this azure heaven!

Just then, beams of light shot out from Ayase's talisman as it shook violently. Ayase frantically grabbed it with her free hand in shock.

It can't be... Her song is reaching her?!

***

Now kneeling, Reimu concentrated as hard as she could, but...

"It's more powerful than I imagined...! I don't think I'll be able to hold it much longer..."

It was then that she could faintly hear the beautiful voice of a singing girl... She partially opened her eyes, a strange sensation sweeping through her body, like her very soul was going to be pulled out. But not in a painful way. In fact, it felt oddly pleasent.

"What is that song? Why do I feel this way? Its... Its telling me something..."

The shrine maiden gasped as images of Wriggle, Kaguya, the Koro Seal and Ayase's talisman flashed in her mind, the song growing louder and louder as the last of her energy faded.

Thats it!

Tired from fighting, Marisa weakling staggered over to Reimu just as her ofuda fell to the ground, and the circle under her disappeared.

"R-Reimu...? Hey, don't quit on me now!" exclaimed the young witch

But Reimu merely winked at Marisa and smiled before finally passing out.

"R-Reimu!"

Marisa knelt before her friend, shaking her with her good arm, even as Kaguya's few remaining soldiers surrounded them... Alice and Patchouli were in a similar state, having nothing left themselves.

But something about that was weird. She was so calm, like she was sure she had accomplished something... Hey, why do I hear music all of a sudden?

Sure enough, everyone could soon hear it, stopping and turning their attention to it. Marisa, Alice and Patchouli, Sakuya and of course...

***

Ayase watched with awe. Her talisman, the seal and Mystia all now emitted the same strange, pure light. Mystia continued her passionate song tirelessly, desperately tugging at Wriggle. Ayase lowered her key. She remembered everything up to this moment, from her tragedy, to her sealing, to her reawakening and everything that had happened on this night. She felt nothing but despair that whole time, but she this light's warmth... She had suddenly forgotten her pain.

And then she saw them. Her beloved family, standing at Mystia's side, smiling warmly at her. They all bowed before her before waving goodbye and vanishing.

"..."

Ayase didn't know what to do. She had just seen them again, the loved ones that she had thought long lost to Koro's curse. Had the powers of Wriggle and Mystia allowed her to see them one last time? Up until now, she didn't believe anyone had a soul capable of standing against the curse... A single tear rolled down her cheek...

"This has gone on long enough. Let's be free now," said a familiar voice that only Ayase could hear.

"W-who are you?!" asked Ayase, looking around.

"You know already. Will you not fight her for us? For your own sake?"

"The princess? But this cursed power is so strong..."

The sounded as if whispering right into Ayase's ear. She could almost swear someone was embracing her from behind...

"We're stronger. We've always have been. Now is our time to be rid of this curse," said the voice. "You know what you must do next. Farewell."

"W-wait, w-who are you?!"

The voice giggled.

"Its been too long, hasn't it, my beautiful little sister?"

Ayase dropped her key, tears now flowing freely from her eyes. She dropped to the ground, burying her face in her hands.

"I don't believe it... Its really you... M-my sister... Sister...!"

And thats when the  talisman exploded in a flash of bright and green light...

***

Kaguya had Reisen wrapped in her magical chains, smiling as the moon rabbit struggled helplessly. They both averted their eyes from the sudden, painful light that emanated out of  Ayase's talisman. Mere moments passed before the light cleared, replaced by a large ball of glowing green and white energy next to the pre-sealed Mokou. Kaguya frantically gazed upon the ball of light, then at Mystia, who now stood silently, before looking toward Ayase. The key girl laid on the ground, unmoving, her aura completely gone.

"What is this? Ayase, what happened to you?! Ayase!"

Mystia stood before the light as it slowly dropped to the ground before her, with a smile and tears.

"I just knew that couldn't be the end of you... Was it you that beckoned me to sing?" asked Mystia as she walked up to the ball, wrapping her arms around it. "I'm so glad you're back."

The ball began fading, replaced by a humanoid shape... White arm-sleeved gloves returned Mystia's embrace. The figure wore a shining, pearl white dress with matching crown, translucent azure wings at her back. One could make out two antenna as well...

"I'm home." she said.

The light vanished, revealing the princess-like figure as the resurrected Wriggle herself.

"Thank you for everything Mystia. You saved me again. Now, I will put an end to this curse, once and for all."

Wriggle's voice was almost a whisper. She was indeed Wriggle, but nothing else was the same anymore... Mystia hugged her friend tightly for what felt like an eternity, before reluctantly letting go.

Kaguya watched in disbelief. It should not have been possible to return... Her face was a twisted expression of hatred and rage.

"How can this be?! You were sealed...!"

Speaking of seals, the one holding Mokou suddenly cracked, crystals falling from it and shattering, to Kaguya's horror.

"N-no... No, no, no! Ayase, wake up! Mokou is...!" the princess stopped herself, glaring at Wriggle who stared back calmly. "You! This is your fault... You just couldn't stay dead like a good little bug, could you? Die!"

Suddenly, Kaguya hurled a screaming Reisen at Wriggle. The reborn nightbug calmly raised her two right fingers, stopping the moon rabbit right before impact. The confused Reisen, looked around as she was gently set back on the ground. Kaguya fumed, stomping toward the three youkai herself before...

"Anyone wiser would've ran away by now, Kaguya Houraisan. How foolish of you!" cackled a masculine voice, coming from Ayase's crumbling seal.

"W-what? Who the hell are you?!" shouted Kaguya.

"You have always known who I am. Well, in a certain manner of speaking. This is my moment to appear before you however."

As the voice spoke, flames bellowed out from the dying seal.

"Stop it! You and girl should just disappear!" yelled out Kaguya. "Disappear, like you're supposed to!"

"Alas Kaguya Houraisan, will not be our fate tonight. I sense, activity in the spirit world... You have been warned several times to leave this power and forget your petty revenge. You did not heed those warnings. This is your consequence." said the voice.

"You're the one doing this, aren't you?! I'll kill you...!"

The voice chuckled.

"You will find that is quite impossible... Furthermore, you can no longer hold down the powerful souls standing before you. You have tried and failed to invoke the terrible curse of Koro, potentially at the cost of Gensokyo itself, all in the name of your revenge. And so its come to this."

Mokou exploded out of the seal with a beastly shriek, flaming wings at her back as a great heat briefly spread out around her. The hole in her torso closed as flames brought on renewed skin; Mokou was not only free, but good as new. Wriggle smiled warmly at Mokou, who winked gratefully in return before the both of them along with Mystia and Reisen glared daggers at Kaguya. Sweat ran down Kaguya by the bucket full, the reality of her plans being completely shattered hitting her like a freight train.

"No... No... E... Eirin...? Eirin, where are you...? Th-these fools... Silence these fools..." the princess stammered about, slowly inching away from the group, awash in bucket fulls of sweat. "S-so close... W-we can't fail now..."

"I don't think she's coming back for you anytime soon, Kaguya Houraisan."

Kaguya shot her head backwards, gazing at Sakuya, the owner of the voice. Alice, Patchouli, and the unconscious Reimu were with her.

"D-damn you...! You witch!" growled the increasingly mad Kaguya.

"Funny, I thought I was the witch?" snarked Marisa.

"Don't toy with me...! Eirin! Tewi! Reise-"

Kaguya stopped herself before turning and glaring at Reisen.

"Reisen is over there? N-no, that can't be... My little Reisen... Where is everyone?! Why don't they come?! Curse the lot of you!"

Kaguya grabbed her head with her hands, violently swinging herself around, her eyes beginning to tear up.

"Wow... This is almost sad," commented Alice.

"Unable to to accept the fact you've lost, eh?" asked Patchouli. "Your allies are either incapacitated or no longer on your side. Oh, that includes your precious soldiers."

"I took good care of that," added Sakuya with a slight smile.

Kaguya breathed heavily, spinning around, seeing the angry people surrounding her.

"It's over for ya, Kaguya!" exclaimed Mokou, pointing a finger at her enemy.

"We have defeated you and that wretched curse. Further battle is pointless," said Wriggle, looking dead into Kaguya's ever widening eyes.

Kaguya dropped her arms, leaning over in a hunch. Drool poured from her mouth, and her breathes became heavier and heavier.

"The souls before you, Kaguya, cannot be beaten down, no matter what," Spoke the booming male voice once more. "But of special note are the three who have been most affected by your ambition."

Wriggle, Mystia and Mokou had a strange glow about them. Kaguya stared at them fearfully.

"And so it is observed, that this day was the end of the Koro curse. The night of evil hath passed. And now, the three glowing souls in front of you Kaguya, stand as one, becoming the bane of your darkened heart. Stand and see what they are; they hath become, the Frame of the Undying Fortitude."

Kaguya said nothing, going completely catatonic.

"I am the Phoenix. I dwell within the soul of Fujiwara no Mokou. And should you ever try to cause her harm again, you will be torn asunder. This is the only warning. Heed it well."

The great flames behind Mokou vanished.

"I suggest you leave," said Wriggle, glaring daggers at Kaguya, radiating with awesome power.

Kaguya grit her teeth so hard, they almost threatened to crack. Even a total moron could see how desperate she was at this moment.

"Ayaseeee!" she cried out. "What are you doing?! Seal them... Destroy them!"

Ayase was silent for a few moments before slowly standing up, and looking directly at Kaguya.

"No." she answered.

"W-what?!"

"These people have made me realize how strong they are; what true strength is. That power that allowed me to see my family again. I have no more to fear from Koro's power, nor your own," she then smirked a little. "Go to hell."

Kindly sent over the edge, Kaguya screamed out, charging right at Wriggle while building energy in her right hand.

"She's attacking!" yelled Mystia urgently.

"Worry not." said Wriggle reassuringly.

The powered up nightbug emitted a flash from her eyes... Now there were a thousand of her, or it seemed to Kaguya.

"Wh-what?!"

The thousand Wriggles reappeared and disappeared endlessly as Kaguya frantically shifted her head in every possible direction. Everyone else looked on confused, wondering what was going on.

"What manner of spell...?" asked Keine to no one in particular.

Reisen narrowed her eyes.

"This is almost like... It can't be..." muttered the rabbit girl.

The real Wriggle had been standing before Kaguya the entire time.

"Enough."

Wriggle dropped the illusions, but the time Kaguya saw her, the nightbug was planting her left knee dead into Kaguya's torso, the insane princess rising off the ground from the blow. Wriggle then span around, and sent Kaguya into the air with high kick to the face. The princess hit the ground with a thud, bleeding from the face and frantically trying to catch her breath, writhing on the ground while gripping her torso.

She gave Wriggle a piercing stare before darting straight up into the air. Wriggle followed her, matching her altitude in an instant to Kaguya's shock. Pointing a finger to the sky above, unleashing an unbelievably fast barrage of flashing, candy-like blue bullets at Kaguya, overwhelming her almost instantly.

The princess dropped like a rock, but somehow recovered while still in the air, only to have everything go black around her. She heard the sounds of several objects spinning in the air, and quickly found herself being slashed by spinning, sword wielding dolls. She cried out, only barely able to avoid a few of them as others tore open her flesh. The watchers on the ground observed Wriggle manipulating the Shanghai-like dolls with magical azure strings.

"What th- B-but Shanghai's right here..." uttered Alice.

"It's almost as if..." began Patchouli, watching Kaguya barely dodge fireballs and giant metal blades. "No, she really has taken on all our powers somehow."

Sakuya blinked, sensing a momentary stop in time. Without warning, Kaguya was headbutted and kicked to the ground, rolling out of the way of a barrage of knives, needles and ofuda. She staggered up just in time to take a very Marisa-like green energy ray to the face, getting drilled into the large rock behind her.

"Well well..." said Sakuya.

"Yikes! Hold up, she even got Reimu, Patchy and Sakuya's powers?" asked Marisa.

"Kaguya was acting like she couldn't see anything earlier. Could it be that Wriggle nightblinded her?" added Mystia.

Reisen was no longer watching the battle, unable to watch her former mistresses' beating. But then she realized...

"Hey, where did Mokou get to?"

Keine briefly turned to the moon rabbit before also noticing that Mokou had moved...

"Oh my..."

Kaguya blocked crystals and water blasts with a weak barrier before using her own magic aura to dispel the energy insects feasting on her flesh. She launched large, multicolored blast in retaliation, only to see it dispersed with a single blast of fire from Wriggle's right hand. With that same hand, Wriggle unleashed three arrows, hitting Kaguya's right shoulder, chest and torso. The princess dropped back first to the ground as she coughed up blood.

She ripped out the arrow in her shoulder with a scream before looking up at Wriggle in horror.

"How can this be...? Even Eirin's power..."

"It is because our souls have become connected through the curse. I am able to draw on the power of friend and foe alike in this state!" explained Wriggle.

Kaguya forced herself to stand, despite her injuries and fatigue, holding her damaged shoulder. Her remaining clothes were tattered, and blood dripped from wounds all over her body. But then, she began giggling... Wriggle narrowed her eyes and the others watched nervously. Kaguya broke out into full blown laughter as she forcibly pulled the other two arrows from her body.

"Don't let that increased power go to your head, insect! The power of Koro's seal will heal these injuries swiftly!" she said with a smile.

Wriggle merely sighed. Kaguya waited a few moments, but noticed that her condition wasn't getting any better... She gazed all over her body, finding no sign of the great healing ability or extra strength she had earlier. Her smile slowly faded as fear marched right back into her eyes.

"So blinded are you by your own rage and madness, that you have not been able to see it," began Wriggle. "Its true that I am much stronger now, but at the same time, you've grown far weaker. Koro's power flows no longer through you or Ayase..."

Wriggle put a hand below her neck.

"...but through me. I've borrowed your own power as well."

Kaguya began to shutter at this undeniable truth, taking labored steps backwards.

"This can't be happening... This... ...isn't possible! Everything was perfect... This isn't...!"

And thats when she backed in to someone; Mokou. Kaguya snapped her head around, her eyes meeting her rivals. Mokou looked several heads taller than her now, causing her to back away.

"S-stay ba-"

With a gleam from Mokou's eyes, Kaguya was set aflame. Before she could even have the chance to scream in pain, Kaguya blasted her with an intense blast of flame, sending her flying across the field before making like a tumbleweed and rolling, quickly coming to a stop. She used her magical energy to ward off the flames, but did not move any further.

"That one... ...was for everyone here." said Mokou, blowing out the flames on her fingers.

"S-so is it over?" asked a choked up Reisen, clearly fighting off tears.

The sympathetic Keine gave Reisen a hug. The moon rabbit had basically lost her second home after all. Marisa, Alice, Sakuya and Patchouli stood silently, still amazed at Wriggle's power. Meanwhile, Wriggle herself along with Mystia turned their attention to Ayase.

"I was wrong," began Ayase, looking right at the two. "I was wrong about everything I said about you two. You all showed me how foolish and broken I had become. Thank you."

Ayase grew more emotional as she spoke. Mystia narrowed her eyes.

"A-and... I saw them again... My family is waiting for me. They have been this whole time. And now we're free. Thank you so much!" Ayase then fell to the ground, bowing before Wriggle and Mystia. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, for everything! For hurting you, maiming you, I regret it all! I'll do anything to repay you... Please forgive me..."

Wriggle could see Ayase's genuine tears hitting the ground through the freed light of the moon, showing through the wanning clouds. Ayase looked up as the majestic firefly walked up to her, bowing her head down and cringing as if expecting a brutal punishment. But instead, all she got was a hand on her shoulder, followed by an embrace from a smiling Wriggle.

"Y... You're actually forgiving me? B-but I killed you!"

"Why should any of that matter now? The curse is broken," said Wriggle. "So lets end the hatred and put it all behind us. What of you Mystia?"

Wriggle looked back at Mystia, who glared intently at Ayase, then at Wriggle before sighing with a smile and putting her arms down.

"Wriggle's right. If I were to continue hating you, it would be like letting the curse win. After all, Koro and that woman twisted you right?" said Mystia.

"Right. You were broken by them, doing all that you did against your will. Now you can redeem yourself and live peacefully here in Gensokyo,"

Knowing that she had been forgiven by at least two of the people she had hurt, Ayase sobbed onto Wriggle's shoulder, finally able to let go of her torment. She was truly free now.

Marisa and Alice watched the hugs, looking at each other and smiling. Sakuya and Patchouli on the other hand looked down at the fallen Kaguya.

"I guess now is a good time retrieve the book, assuming it survived that last blast. I wonder where she's been storing it the entire time..." said Patchouli curiously.

Sakuya offered an answer in...

"Hammer space."

"Wh-what?" asked Patchouli, blinking at the maid.

Sakuya chuckled a bit.

"I'll explain later. For now, its best to make sure she is truly dead..."

Sakuya produced a single knife, letting it zip high into the air before dropping like into Kaguya's head... Only to have the book of Koro materialize below it and knock it away. Alarmed, everyone shifted their attention to the book as Mokou jumped away. Kaguya's hair and skin began to take on demonic coloring as wisps of  evil magic seeped out of her wounded body. She instantly lifted her head, wearing a twisted smile, eyes glowing a shining blood red.

"Eh... Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh... Moooooooooooookoooooooouuuuuuuu..."

Harsh waves of darkness blew like wind. Everyone shielded one another, Wriggle grabbing and holding Ayase and Mysita, Marisa protecting Alice, and Sakuya shielding Patchouli. Mokou relied on her flames to shield herself from the storm.

"Foooools! All of you die!"

Kaguya's voice was not human anymore. Actually, this was an understatement... The cursed princess turned to face Mokou as the storm of darkness finally settled down.

"Mokou... Mokou... Mooooooooookoooooooou! Fujiwara no Mokou, revenge!"

Kaguya grabbed the book out of the air, and a spellcard at the same time...

"That's her last word!" shouted Mokou, thinking out loud.

"The final sign!" shouted Kaguya.

The possessed princess slammed her glowing card down into the book, unleashing an astronomical amount of magical power, a pillar of white and black energy shooting into the sky. Ayase suddenly screamed out in pain as a white and black aura surrounded her.

"No... I'm still the vessel?! B-but I thought..." said Ayase through her pain.

"Ayase hold on!" begged Wriggle.

"She's actually combining the book's power with her last word... She'll destroy herself and us all for sure..." said Patchouli.

"So what do we do, dammit?!" yelled Marisa.

Meanwhile, a tearful Reisen tried to run toward her princess.

"Lady Kaguya, no! There isn't any reason for this!"

She struggled, but was held back by Keine.

"No, that energy is too strong! Its... Its too late..." said Keine, feeling absolutely helpless.

Gritting her teeth, Wriggle ran toward Kaguya, building power in her right hand before stopping... She looked at Mokou, who looked back at her, smirking. Wriggle seemed a bit confused at first, but then smiled herself.

"Of course. She's been your enemy longer than she's been mine. You wanted to be the one to do this anyway. I have done what I came here to do afterall."

Wriggle clasped her hands in front of herself before briefly flashing white and returning to her old, torn clothes, the immense power she was earlier radiating with completely vanishing.

"Wriggle, what do you think you're doing?!" cried out Mystia in disbelief.

"It's okay, silly. She has a better chance at stopping her than I could ever hope to," said Wriggle with a wink.

Suddenly, white-hot wings exploded out of Mokou's back, blue flames emerging and flying about, melting the Earth right under her. Mokou screamed as a white and green aura began to surround her.

"Gaaahahahaha, it feels good! I'm lovin' ya for this, nightbug! Alright, all of you stand back and watch closely. I'm gonna put an end to that book and pound Kaguya good!"

Mokou took off high into the air, with Kaguya jumping after her. With insane power swirling at their backs, the two women met fist to fist, clashing with one another in the sky with tremendous force. Keine scooped up Reisen and got out of town, Wriggle and Mystia taking off with the pained Ayase. Patchouli found the strength to erect crystal barriers over herself and her allies to protect them.

***

"Th-the crater... You must take me back to the crater where the seal was..." muttered Ayase weakly.

"But what is the purpose?" asked Wriggle.

"Kaguya's power is too strong now. But if the vessel and the source of power were to both vanish..."

"That is far too dangerous!" interrupted Wriggle.

"There isn't any choice!"

Ayase pushed herself away from Wriggle and flew off, landing in front of the great chasm where she once lay dormant.

"You don't intend to end yourself to save us, do you?" asked an disturbed Mystia. "Whats the point? Mokou is more than strong enough to stop Kaguya now! You're just being paranoid, so calm yourself."

Ayase shook her head.

"You don't understand... Even if Mokou destroys Kaguya, the power of the curse will remain elsewhere. I must ensure that it can never be resurrected again."

"But you've only just won your freedom... Is there no other way?" asked a tearing Wriggle.

"This is alright. I'm a monster, so... A-and I'll finally be able to be with my family again. Its better this way," smiled Ayase sadly. "I feel I can at least partly redeem myself in this way."

The crying Wriggle bowed her head down, hands balled into tight fists. Mystia looked away for a bit before...

"Wait!"

She ran up to Ayase.

"J-just so you know... I'm sorry too. I was angry at you, saw you as another worthless human..."

"Its alright. You had every right to be angry." replied Ayase.

"I... ...will try to do better. So as to not allow another curse born from hatred and fear arise."

Ayase could sense Mystia's sincerity, nodding.

"Thank you."

Mystia backed away as Ayase placed her hands under her neck, magical energy emanating throughout her body. She took one final look at Wriggle and Mystia before taking her last step backwards, falling into the great light...

***

She stood in a field of snow, looking forward at a bright light. The loved ones long lost emerged from that light, reaching their waiting hands forward. With a smile brighter than even the light itself, Ayase reached her hand forward, and ran towards her long-awaited happiness.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on January 27, 2010, 04:44:11 AM
***

Wriggle and Mystia felt the Earth shake all around them as dark magic erupted from the chasm with a beastly roar, the force knocking both of them down. The magical force shot up to the sky, washing away the remaining clouds as it exploded and dissipated in nearly every direction. The two youkai looked up at the sky, watching the Koro seal's power rumble about... ...and vanish.

***

Kaguya looked visibly shocked as her right arm began cracking with white light. Seizing her opportunity, Mokou smiled wildly, pulling back her own fist before sending it down at Kaguya's again, shattering the princesses' arm entirely and sending her barreling to the ground with a crash, awash in blue and white flames. The book of Koro exploded with dark energy, cut off from its life line. Hundreds, if not thousands of dark spirits poured out, shrieking as they evaporated.

With a loud shout of "Its over!", Mokou dropped down at Kaguya fist first, Kaguya only able to looked up and scream inhumanly as the final blow approached. The last thing anyone would see was a massive explosion of light, and a massive torrent of dust consumed all in its path before everything went black...

Wriggle and Mystia held each other tightly.

[Spell Break]

****

[Epilogue]

Day X of X month.

Hello there. I'm writing here today, as I survived the recent night of Hell. Through a quite literal miracle, we all not only survived that night, but bested our enemies and removed the source of the darkness forever from Gensokyo. A week has passed since that time.

Ms. Reimu destroyed the remains of Koro village after she woke up, then had some sort of talk with Ms. Keine. Well, given Keine's ability, the miko maybe asking her to destroy the part of history involving Koro. Or perhaps to preserve it. Rumor has it that she took a giant key into her shrine...

Speaking of the Morichika's, my enemies former servant, a moon rabbit by the name of Reisen is staying with them for a time. I hope she's doing well under their employ. Keine is also looking after Alice and Marisa for a time. They were pretty well covered with bandages and casts the last time I saw them, but they were just as energetic as ever, wrestling and arguing with one another despite their injuries. Keine scolds, but I doubt even she can keep those two down, ha ha~

I took a trip to visit the Scarlet Devil Mansion to check on my friends there. Its a much nicer place than everyone makes it out to be. The red-headed gatekeeper (what was her name again? China? I honestly don't remember...) was practicing her martial arts outside, while Ms. Sakuya walked the gardens with her mistress. They all seemed happy and content. Ms. Patchouli and her familiar, Koakuma, resumed their quite lives of running the viole library. They were bandaged as well, Koakuma even bearing a white eye patch over her left eye. Umm... Is it wrong if me to say I found that cute? <<;

Also, they had this big man in a blue costume walking around, saying things like 'kill all rabbits' and 'you will die, meatsack.' I didn't stick around long after he began saying such things... Ms. Patchouli says a girl named Rika gave him to her, despite having turned into a pumpkin. I have no clue what she meant by that...

I'm not certain of what has become of the Eientei dwellers, nor have I really cared to know. Earth rabbits are still sighted in and around the bamboo forest, but the medicine shop does not open anymore.

And as for me? Well...


***

The sun shown brilliantly through the cloudless sky. A light breeze traveled gently through the forest, with faint sounds of buzzing insects and chirping birds filling the clean, peaceful air. Mystia enjoyed the day, sitting quietly in a tree branch. At some point, she sensed someone approach her. Snapping her eyes open, she jumped down from the tree, landing gracefully. She briefly massaged her still regrowing wing. Still nowhere near strong enough for flight, but at least the pain was gone...

The nightbird briefly narrowed her eyes, raising an eyebrow at the intruder.

"I thought nightbirds didn't like sunlight," spoke the other girl.

"Where did you hear that? Birds are birds and vampires are vampires, but they're not one in the same," replied Mystia with a slight smile.

"Well in that case, shouldn't you be gathering eels and fish for you stand tonight?"

"Oh, we're closed tonight. Did you intend to sample my cooking, Fujiwara no Mokou?" asked Mystia, tilting her head.

Mokou chuckled a bit.

"Perhaps... I guess that's just too bad for me, huh?"

Mokou then walked to Mystia, who instinctively fidgeted nervously.

"Oooh, still nervous around humans huh?" asked Mokou.

"I'm... ...try not to be. There are good humans in this world afterall," said Mystia, her eyes shut tightly.

Thats she felt herself being petting by a smiling Mokou.

"Geh, heh heh heh. You're alright, kid. If you ask me, you and your friend are gonna be just fine,"

"Ah, err... Thank you," blushed Mystia.

A few moments later, Wriggle -now clad in a sleeveless white shirt, shorts and a straw hat- emerged.

"Well speak of the devil," chuckled Mokou.

Wriggle smiled cheerfully at her friends.

"Its good to see again, Ms. Mokou. Sorry for being late, Mystia,"

Mokou frowned.

"Heeeey, whadai tell ya 'bout callin' me that?"

"Ah, s-sorry," said Wriggle with a sweat drop as Mystia giggled.

Wriggle then perked as in remembering something.

"Oh, thats right. Mokou, how did it go with the Yama?"

"Oh, the judge said that Ayase's a complicated case for her. Got sent off while we were all taking a dirt-nap. I'm sure she's been reunited with her family by now though." answered Mokou.

"And what of that woman?" asked Mystia with narrowed eyes.

"She's keepin' an eye on her personally. She hasn't left Eientei, or even exited the mansion since resurrecting, though the nurse and moon rabbits are out and about," answered Mokou with a nervous smile. "I'd... ...stay away from there for good while if I where you two. Actually, I'm staying outta there myself..."

Wriggle and Mokou chuckled to one another, Mystia staying silent.

"Well, worrying is pointless. I don't think she'll do anything fishy again and even if she does, I'll pound the hell outta her for ya, heh heh," said Mokou, gesturing with a confident wink fist-palming. "C'mon, don't worry about it. We won! We should be celebrating!"

Mokou broke into a laugh, Wriggle following suit. To her suprise, Mystia joined in too, after some initial hesitation. Why not? Although all three of them had long lives ahead of them (one of which would never truly end) afterall. After a bit of time, the trio calmed down and Mokou turned to leave.

"Well, I'm outta here. Promised I'd help Reisen out at Keine's shop today. You two try to stay outta trouble, 'kay?"

Mokou winked at the two one more time before taking to the skies toward the human village. Wriggle took in the fresh air before sitting down, Mystia sitting next to her. With no other cares in the world, Wriggle smiled and took a good long look into the flawless sky above her.

"H-hey, Wriggle?" asks a blushing Mystia.

"Oh? What's wrong, Mystia?"

"Let's..." Mystia briefly bites her lip. "Let's stay like this for awhile. B-both of us."

"That's just fine with me," giggles Wriggle. "I'm... ...glad I have you as a friend, Mystia. I truly am."

"A-and I to you, Wriggle... B-but more so than that, I... Uhh..."

Mystia looked down and shut her eyes, her face beet red. She didn't notice Wriggle crawling up to her at all.

"You see Wriggle, I think that I have to tell that I... I... L-lo- ...!"

Mystia snapped her eyes open to find a winking Wriggle's fingers on her lips.

"Silly~ You really don't have to say it at this point," spoke Wriggle before bowing down a and blushing a bit herself. "And to tell the truth, I've felt the same feelings toward you as well."

Wriggle took Mystia in her arms, unable to help but smile further at her cute, shocked face.

"So let's enjoy this time together, the two of us alone."

"But night hasn't fallen yet..." says Mystia.

"Night and day, there isn't too much difference. You can feel happy or sad at either time. And we have this time together," answered Wriggle.

Mystia smiled a bit, continuing to blush.

"Hee hee... Someday, you must tell me how come up with stuff like that, Wriggle," spoke Mystia.

"Only if you sing for me~" replied Wriggle.

"Done."

The nightbird returned Wriggle's embrace as the insect youkai leaned in for a tender kiss.

A fantasy world, untouched by the pains of the outside. A world of peace and wonder. This land is Gensokyo. Any strange and wonderful thing can happen here.

[Next Frame...]



*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sometime later...

"Wriggle?"

"Yeah, Mystia?"

"I can't help but think we forgot something..."

"Hm?"

***

Elsewhere...

"A-acho!"

Cirno was still hanging upside down miserably from a tree, wrapped in a cocoon.

"Helloooooooooo...? ;_;"


2007-2010 Odda C.
Story based upon the Touhou Project by ZUN. All characters except Ayase Kousugi are copyright of ZUN.
Stay loose, phantasmal friends!

===

Well that was a fun ride. It took 2.5 years (it was NOT supposed to take that long! XD), but we finally reached the end of the dream here folks. Thank you all whoever read for reading! Final draft and alternate ending(s?) are forth coming, but nooooooot anytime soon...
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: Alfred F. Jones on January 27, 2010, 11:26:26 PM
One of the main reasons I was drawn to Shrinemaiden ('bout a year ago, back on the old forums) was because I read this story and thought it was incredibly awesome. And now that it's finished, I am in awe of you, Odda. Holy cow, this has been one long ride. Congratulations on finishing! Can't wait for anything else you have in store :3

EDIT: Actually, you know what? Finishing a fic like this is something rare and to be admired. You win IP for this, Odda. Great job.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: Kasu on January 28, 2010, 12:54:17 AM
Haha.  Sweet.

I literally found this story after your recent December update. XD

I think you wrapped it up quite nicely. =D
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: Firestorm29 on January 28, 2010, 01:20:40 AM
I remember seeing this thing a long time ago around when I first came around, too. That was a pretty awesome story. :D Really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: An Odd Sea Slug on January 28, 2010, 02:52:29 AM
o_o

Wow... My favorite author on the forum not only read my story, but liked it! I... I have no idea what to do or say honestly. *snuggles Ruro extra tightly*

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm quite glad you all liked it.
Title: Re: Frame of the Undying Fortitude (finished)
Post by: Esifex on February 02, 2010, 04:52:56 AM
Completion? Congratulations!

Gimme a day or two and I'll have it read - I don't have much spare time lying around, despite what IN says about killing faeries.