~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore
MegaDoll X
Yaersulf:
Awww poor Atlantis, if only she weren't evil.
Excellent chapter keep up the good work. :D
Iced Fairy:
As soon as their sister's body was teleported away Marisa came back on the comms. "Good work.
Did you find the item as well?"
"Yeah," Shanghai replied.
"Good. Well Yumemi found that there's a separate exit from here to the surface. From there you two can fly straight to heaven."
Hourai sighed in relief. "Oh good. Give Nitori our apologies for leaving so soon."
"Heh, hit with some kappa hospitality eh? Too bad they usually run from me." Shanghai rolled her eyes at Marisa's laugh. "Anyway I got in touch with Iku, so in the very unlikely event you
run into anyone up there you should be let through."
"Right." Shanghai looked around, eventually finding the gap in the mines that led to another door. Sure enough Shanghai and Hourai found themselves in a shallow lake after passing through it. The two headed into the air, then kept rising.
"Flying like this is weird," Shanghai said as they started passing through the cloud cover.
"Yeah," Hourai muttered. Usually people flew somewhat near the ground so as not to get lost. The wide open air encompassed by clouds was a strange sight, even to those who could fly at will.
They fell silent as the cold clouds completely enveloped them. All around Shanghai was a light grey mist that occluded her vision. It was like flying through a fog bank. And just like a fog
bank it was too easy to lose track of time.
She was starting to wonder if it might be a good idea to radio Hourai when the mist in front of her brightened. There was a strange feeling of pressure, then she burst from the clouds into the light of the sun again. Hourai popped up a few meters away.
Heaven stretched in every direction around them. The ground was covered with a flowering grass that somehow supported their weight while still bobbing on top of the clouds. Peach trees bearing both fruit and flowers were scattered about the landscape, as were small tea houses. And the sky was clearer and bluer then Shanghai had ever seen in her life.
Except in one direction. Towards the village there was a pillar of storm clouds that rose as high as the eye could follow. Occasionally lightning crackled over it.
"Think that's where we need to go?" Hourai asked sarcastically.
"Maybe," Shanghai replied.
They flew rapidly towards the disturbance.
As they got closer to the edge of the storm a figure rapidly became visible. A short figure that was waving a sword at the clouds like the storm had insulted her mother. When they got close enough Shanghai called out, "Hello Tenshi."
Tenshi started then looked back in surprise. "Wha? Who are you? Look I'm busy trying to stop this storm from ripping everything apart, but the damn Sword of Hisou isn't cutting it." Tenshi glared down at her weapon. "Anyway I'm very busy, get lost."
An evil grin slowly formed on Hourai's face. "Oh really? That's too bad. We were going to go in and fix the problem, but since you have it covered...."
"Wait just a minute!" Tenshi whirled around to face them, then panicked and turned back towards the cloud to keep the storm in check. She looked over her shoulder at the two dolls. "You say you can fix this?"
"If we get inside the storm, yes," Shanghai said. She was enjoying watching Tenshi squirm, but they did need to hurry.
"Hm... Iku did mention something about this..." Tenshi bit her lip then shrugged. "Well this stupid sword isn't working so fine. Go ahead. I'll open a passage for you."
The celestial stabbed into the front of the storm and a gash opened in the swirling winds.
Shanghai and Hourai ran quickly inside. Then Tenshi removed the blade and the winds closed behind them.
The realm they entered looked similar to the heavens outside, except the clouds that formed the floor of heaven had been ripped into chunks and pieces scattered around. Shanghai could feel downdrafts pulling at her from the gaps between the islands and she frowned. "Flying won't be easy."
Hourai nodded. "We'll have to watch our footing. Treat everything like a jump, just to be safe."
The two ran towards the next platform. Shanghai has already started her leap when a miniature dust devil started up where she was about to land. She forced herself to dash backwards to safer ground then yelped in shock as she hit Hourai. The two dolls tumbled to the ground.
"Watch it!" Hourai complained.
Shanghai pulled herself off her sister. "Sorry. It's just those clouds aren't entirely safe."
Hourai looked over and saw the dust devil. "Oh. Huh, that's a problem."
As the two sisters watched the winds grew stronger, then suddenly died before starting up again. Shanghai nodded. She saw the pattern. When the wind died the second time she made a jumping dash to clear the gap. Hourai rapidly followed.
They cleared the next set of platforms this way, until the ground grew more fragmented. Here the cloudlets were so small that the wind blew them around in whirling patterns. Shanghai had a sinking feeling that this was the only way across too. "Fun."
"We can't back down now," Hourai said. She waited until one of the spinning platforms was close enough then hopped over. Shanghai sighed and followed.
"So now what?" Shanghai asked as the platform swept through the sky.
Hourai pointed at another platform moving through the air. "We jump."
Shanghai groaned, then froze. Her sister's hair had started to stick. "Then we'd better hurry! Because we're about to be hit by lightning!"
Hourai's eyes opened wide and her sister made a running dash for the distant platform. Shanghai waited until Hourai was in the air then followed after.
Hourai just barely caught the platform, but her stumbling step left enough room for Shanghai to land. And not a moment too soon, as lightning shattered the cloud they'd been riding on earlier. "Whew," Shanghai took a deep breath. "That was close."
"Don't stop now!" Hourai yelled as she pointed to another platform. "We're still surrounded by static!" Shanghai's pulse increased massively, and she got ready to jump again.
The next few minutes was an eternity of hopping from cloud to cloud desperately trying to avoid the lightning without being pulled down into the heart of the storm. At some point Shanghai realized she'd used her rapid movement weapon in order to be able to keep up with Hourai and outrun the lightning.
Finally the static went away as they landed on a larger patch. The two collapsed to the ground, breathing deeply just to help calm themselves down.
"How'd our sister get this strong?" Hourai asked after a while. "None of the others had this kind of power."
Shanghai shook her head. "Maybe she doesn't have full control of it? I think witches have some powerful weather magic if they just want some kind of storm."
Hourai frowned but didn't contest the point.
"Well we'd better get going." Shanghai stood. "If this is a storm spell, it'll only get stronger."
Hourai groaned but stood as well. "Then let's go."
As the two proceeded onwards a series of black shapes appeared around them, seeming to drop out of the skies above. Shanghai switched to her metal blades as the dark figures came closer.
Finally the dark figures became clear. They were birdlike familiar youkai, black as the storm, with glowing eyes. The creatures began to circle in packs. It was obvious they weren't going to let the two dolls pass easily. But Shanghai and Hourai didn't back down.
The first attack was sudden, but easily countered. Shanghai's blade tore through the crowd's center, leaving the rest to fall to Hourai's furious slashes.
With that the rest of the horde attacked.
Shanghai whirled and fired as fast as she could, slicing huge swaths of death through the enemies. Hourai danced back and forth in her own cage of steel, cutting down the stragglers before they could cause them harm. Or at least most of them. Shanghai winced in pain as a few birds pecked at her arms and ankles, but she was always able to saw them down quickly before serious damage was inflicted.
Finally they stood alone among wisps of smoke that were the familiars. Before them was an enclosed cloud, with a whispy 'door' leading into the center.
Shanghai steeled herself then entered.
As the two dolls stepped inside a mighty wind started up. Shanghai steadied her footing as the walls blew away. From above a doll in sky blue carrying an ornate fan slowly floated down from the sky. "So! Have you two come to impede my judgment?"
Hourai recovered first. "Judgment? What are you talking about?"
Their sister gestured imperiously with her fan. "My judgment against these so called Celestials. Look at their excess, their spacious gardens they refuse to let other more worthy souls into. I, Shambala, have decided to end this corruption."
Shanghai looked around. "Well, I can't say I care about the Celestials really. But won't destroying heaven damage the lands below?"
"What do I care of those human's lives?" Shambala asked with a shrug. "The rotten tree bears rotten fruit. Let the earth be scoured clean. Dis can rule the rest."
Shanghai tightened her grip on weapon. "And what about Mother? Will you kill her too?"
Shambala laughed. "Our builder? She should survive. And if not, she was unworthy of this new era. The fact that she created you two to murder us is reason enough for me not to worry too much."
"We'll see if you can keep that haughty air after I cut you into ribbons!" Hourai yelled as she attacked.
"Ha! Let me show you insects the difference in power between us!" Shambala cried as she swung her fan.
Shanghai felt herself once again being pushed away from her sister by massive winds, only this time several miniature tornadoes swirled into existence between the dolls. One slammed Hourai into the ground, while another batted Shanghai's charged shots to the side, before rushing forward to send her sprawling. "Fools, nothing can stop my tornado shot!" Shambala cried as she swung her fan again.
"Then I wont let you hit me!" Hourai cried as she dashed between the tornadoes. Shanghai tried to angle her own bullets past the winds, but she only managed to wing Shambala before the other doll dodged away from Hourai's slash.
Shanghai was rewarded by a torso shattering impact as another gust hit her. Shanghai panicked when her strength seemed to fade with the pain. She quickly pulled out the container Yumemi gave her and downed the contents. Her strength seemed to return rapidly as the magic flowed into her, and as soon as she finished she leaped to her feet to return to battle.
Hourai had gotten close enough despite the winds to engage Shambala directly, but she didn't seem to be landing any good blows. Shanghai did notice her sister's Autumn Moon Slash cut through the winds, but the range difference meant Hourai couldn't land a solid blow.
Shanghai considered the matter, then switched to the leaf shield. It seemed ridiculous, but she had to try it. As Shambala jumped backwards Shanghai summoned the shield and threw it forward.
Shambala called on the winds once again sending Hourai flying with a solid hit. Then the first leaf hit her. She called on the whirlwind to shred the shield, but the winds only increased the invincible leaves power.
Shambala screamed in impotent rage as her own strength turned the leaf shield into a deadly razor sharp tornado.
Shanghai took a deep breath as the storm quieted. Across from her Hourai shook her head then forced herself to her feet. "That was... insane."
"Yeah." Shanghai nodded, then turned her attention to the orb that floated over the battered body of their fallen sister. "But we won in the end."
"Right." The two touched the orb.
Power and light flooded Shanghai again, restoring her reserves. As the warm glow faded she realized her gun could now shoot a powerful stream of tornadoes into the sky. A terrifying weapon indeed, if limited in attack profile.
Hourai lifted her sword in a weak rising motion and lightning crackled along the blade. "I think we've gained some serious firepower."
Shanghai nodded. "Yeah. I just hope we don't need it."
---
Weather Control Doll Shambala
Purpose : Celestial cleaning
Tenshi's sword of Hisou is a serious pain, just like her. Shambala here should help even the odds in my favor by allowing me to change the weather as well. That way I won't always be on the defensive.
Current Status : Untenable. Shambala consumes far too much power. She can equal, and perhaps even surpass the Sword of Hisou, but I'd be unable to use danmaku at the same time. Maybe if she had her own power source it could be viable, but as is I need to lower the magical requirements.
Medicine Notes : Shambala talks really big. I'm not sure she considers her sister's equals, except for Dis. And she's always quick to criticize people for their mistakes. Fortunately she forgives her sisters easily. Maybe she just has high standards. I'll ask her to offer more constructive criticism.
Hanzo K.:
Ah, the Air Man treatment huh?
Leaf Shield is Air Man's weakpoint weapon back in MM2.
Though I gotta admit, Shambala definitely has the Celestial/Lunarian attitude down pat. :V
Iced Fairy:
Shanghai picked up the fallen body of Shambala. "Shall we head home, sis?"
"Yeah." Hourai pulled out her teleportation device and took Shanghai's hand. Then time and space folded.
The maddening sensation was gone before Shanghai had time to analyze it. The only remnants of the journey was a big of confusion, and the annoyance of having her eyes handle the transition from the bright light of heaven, to Alice's darkened room.
"Oh good, you two are finally back. Now I can get some work done."
Shanghai turned to find Komachi leaning against the wall. The slacker Shinigami hadn't even pushed herself upright yet. A frown forced itself onto Shanghai's face. She had an urge to not help the woman just out of spite.
"Don't be an idiot Komachi. They need to get equipped before they go anywhere." Marisa stepped into the room, followed by Yumemi and Chiyuri. "Besides it's not like you ever do anything on time anyway. Why worry about being late now?"
"Look, the boss wanted this done personally," Komachi said with a shrug. "You know the boss."
Chiyuri "Five bucks says she wants this done fast so she can laze about before her deadline actually hits."
Komachi glared at Chiyuri. "It's not nice to say things like that to people you just met you know."
Marisa just smiled cheerily. "No odds." She carefully took Shambala from Shanghai's arms and moved to the other room. As she exited she called out, "We found the last upgrade part. It's in Eientei, so I figure Koishi will follow you there."
This time Shanghai was only mildly surprised when Koishi appeared behind them. "Sure. And then I'll lead them to the one in hell."
"Actually you'll want to come back here first. We've almost got a fireproofing device ready for you two," Chiyuri said.
"And on that note we've gotten you some more general upgrades," Yumemi said. "And I have to say I'm impressed with how they came out. First something for Hourai, a dimensional dislocator!"
The two sisters looked at the item Yumemi held out. "It looks like a mantle," Hourai said.
"I know! Isn't it awesome!" Yumemi said tossing it over Hourai's shoulders. "With this when you dash you won't just use Atlantis' power, you'll also go out of phase, so you can't be hurt. Its safety measures won't let you try to phase through walls though."
Hourai's eyes opened at that. "Thanks! That's really helpful." Shanghai herself felt a little jealous, though she rapidly squashed that feeling.
"Unfortunately it doesn't work with this item, so Shanghai gets these," Chiyuri said holding up two smaller bows. "These are designed to eliminate forces on the user. You'll get pushed back less by hits, and you can hover for a brief period of time. We noticed you've had some trouble keeping up even with your enhancements so this should fix that."
"Thanks," Shanghai replied, placing the small bows on her shoes. She didn't feel any different when the items were on, but she trusted the two knew what they were doing.
"And I've got the final gift for you two," Marisa said as she walked back in. She tossed each of them another magic bottle. "Energy refills. I burned a lot of power making them though, even with Yumemi's machines, so don't waste 'em, okay?"
"Right." Shanghai pocketed the precious item. "So now where should we go?"
Komachi cleared her throat. "Seriously, you really don't want the yama getting involved here. The doll's already created a tower of rocks and everything's going out of whack. I'm not trying to threaten you into doing my job. If that doll keeps messing up Muenkuza...."
Shanghai looked at Hourai, who just sighed. "Well I suppose that one is causing the most trouble."
Komachi pushed herself up off the wall. "Good. And since this needs to get done fast, I'll ferry you there myself."
"Uh...." Shanghai didn't have an innate fear of death, but her self preservation instincts thought that riding with a ferryman was a bad idea.
"Don't worry about it. She's not allowed to officially ferry two people at once, much less three," Marisa said helpfully.
"First I wanna see Alice," Shanghai said. She headed over to her master's bed, Hourai following.
Alice seemed restless. She hadn't moved from her coma, but her face was pinched with worry.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Alice was supposed to be here guiding her. She was Alice's doll. She existed to help Alice. Even if she could think for herself she didn't want to lose that part of herself. She wanted to see Mother. To speak with her.
Shanghai took Alice's hand, while at the same time Hourai placed a hand on Alice's brow. Shanghai thought that perhaps a few lines faded from Alice's face at the contact, but she couldn't really say.
"I think she's getting out of deep sleep and into something closer to wakefulness, but she's still pretty out of it," Koishi said from behind them.
After a few moments Hourai patted her on the shoulder. "Let's get this over with."
"Right."
----
The trip was actually surprisingly pleasant. Komachi's chatter was banal enough to ignore but interesting enough to not become painful. It helped that the trip itself took less then a minute. Komachi had her boat rise above the tree line, and then they were there. "Distance manipulation," Komachi said as she hopped out of the boat. "It's a wonderful power."
Shanghai didn't have time to be impressed though, because she could see what Komachi had been complaining about the moment they arrived. "That's..."
"...a big tower," Hourai finished, staring up at the edifice.
The massive construction of loose rocks soared into the sky further then it had any right to. From this angle Shanghai couldn't even tell if it had a top.
"Yep. A real pain isn't it," Komachi sighed. "I keep telling the kids they don't have to pile rocks and then this girl comes and messed up everything...." Komachi trailed off for a bit then shook her head. "Anyway, you might get jumped by ghosts. Feel free to shoot them, you can't hurt them seriously."
"Thanks?" Shanghai replied. She began scanning the tower for an entrance. "So how do we get in?"
"I'd suggest there," Komachi said, pointing to a small crack in the base. Shanghai and Hourai both sighed. It looked like they were going to have to squeeze through.
"Well, here goes nothing," Shanghai said. She flew down to the crack and slowly squeezed through. It surprisingly wasn't a horrible as she thought it would be. The entrance was the small end. Once she got her shoulders through it was smooth sailing, though she had to dust off her dress. Hourai had a harder time because of her sword, but soon they were both standing at the bottom of the tower.
"It looks like there's a series of floors," Shanghai said, pointing up at a hole in the ceiling.
"We'll probably have to maneuver through each area."
"Yeah. Still it'll be easier then that last mess, since nothing is interfering with our fight." Hourai lifted off the ground. "Let's go."
"A body...."
The two sisters froze at the hollow voice that echoed through the room. Shanghai could swear that she got goosebumps from the sound. She turned to see a dark shadow with two burning eyes slowly advancing towards her.
"An empty vessel..." Another shadow formed, it's eyes lighting up. "I can go home. I can see my wife...."
Shanghai'd had enough creepy ghost stuff. She lowered her weapon and fired a charged shot. The spirits vaporized in the attack and Shanghai relaxed a little.
Then three more spirits formed and set their eyes on her. "A body...." "I'll be able to help big brother...." "Mother will be happy again...."
"Time to go!" Hourai grabbed her arma and yanked her towards the ceiling. The ghosts floated slowly after them, but they quickly fell behind.
Unfortunately there were more waiting in the next room. "A body...." "I can marry Hiriko...." "Dad will be proud of me...." "Gotta escape...."
Shanghai pulled back and activated her leaf shield. "We've gotta keep moving. Should I lead?"
Hourai shook her head. "No, I can't guard my back. I'll cut through. You follow behind."
"Right!"
Sure enough Hourai hit the first wave with a rolling slash that cleared out three of the ghosts. Shanghai dashed along after her sister, her leaves ripping the few ghosts that got to close to the sisters into shreds. Fortunately it seemed like most of them were content to keep after her, perhaps because she was slower.
They made it through the first few floors like this. Then the next few. After the thirtieth floor Shanghai started to get worried. "Hourai, I'm running short on energy."
"I know," Hourai muttered. "We just have to keep going. Switch to the air cannon when you run out."
"Seems like overkill," Shanghai muttered. But since her metal blades wouldn't cover enough area to stop all the ghosts it was her only choice.
Sure enough her leaf shield cut out next level. She quickly switched to her air cannon and fired a burst. She wasn't disappointed. The tornadoes blasted the ghosts away without even slowing.
There was a crackle from behind her as Hourai swept another ghost away. "Keep an eye out. You've lost some area."
"I know! I know!" Shanghai was starting to get really frustrated.
Thus she was incredibly relieved when the next floor contained a familiar door.
"Finally!" The two sisters dashed for the relative safety of a battle against their sister.
The door opened to reveal a solid room. In the center their sister stood. She wore a tiara with a single gem on her head, and her dress was longer then the sisters, brushing across the floor. As Shanghhai and Hourai came to a stop she gave them a curtsy.
"Pompei," she said.
Hourai set her sword as Shanghai nodded her own greeting. "I don't suppose you'll listen to us and stop this madness, sister?"
Pompei smiled sadly. "No." She curtsied again and several smaller dolls flew from beneath her skirt. Shanghai's eyes widened as she realized they were similar to Alice's suicide dolls. "Please, defend yourselves."
And with that she leaped into the air her skirts whirling. And a squad of explosive dolls rained down on Shanghai and Hourai.
Hourai faded as she dashed out of the explosion's radius, bubbles trailing behind. Shanghai however was tired of running. She fired her air cannon straight at the bombs.
The whirlwind went straight and true, but the bombs didn't! The mini dolls split around the attack then continued on. The tornados smashed into Pompei, but the larger doll seemed to absorb most of the hit.
Shanghai wasn't as lucky. The bombs were only near misses, but the blast sent her flying. She forced down the pain and stood to see another wave of bombs heading towards her. This time she just jumped away, then engaged her hover power to stay above the blast.
Across the way Hourai seemed similarly engaged. Pompei could send bomb swarms at each of them apparently. Hourai tried a jumping spinning cut, but once again Pompei won the exchange, and Hourai was sent sprawling.
Shanghai dashed forward, trying to fly underneath her sister and fire in passing. Shanghai's heart rose as she landed another hit without getting struck by bombs, but Pompei jumped away, preventing her from using the trick again.
Hourai regained her feet and began circling again, while Shanghai tried to think of another trick. It took two more empty exchanges, and one where Hourai got hit again, but she eventually figured out something.
When Pompei jumped and fired again Shanghai jumped then engaged her hover power. Hopefully Pompei wouldn't be able to dodge her attack.
The shot was true! Pompei couldn't dodge. Then Shaghai's breath caught as another bomb wave came towards her. She couldn't dodge either.
A horrendously loud bang sent her flying again. Her pain sensors cut out early. That was probably a bad sign. She pulled out her energy potion.
A foot came down and kicked the precious potion away. Shanghai stared up in shock as Pompei loomed above her. She froze. Was that it? Had she lost?
Pompei sighed sadly, and she pointed down. Shanghai knew with the flick of her fingers, Pompei would end her life. The moment dragged out, slowly and painfully.
Then there was the sound of a thunderbolt as Hourai rose into the air screaming, lightning streaming from her sword. Her sister's other arm was shattered, but her sword arm still had all it's deadly strength.
Pompei shuddered at the impact then again as lightning played over her body. As the lightning stopped she began to smoke. And then she smiled. "Well struck."
With that Pompei stepped backwards, one, two, then three steps. The smoke around her body grew thicker.
And then she exploded into fire.
"Pompei..."
Shanghai slowly came to her feet. Where her sister had once stood was merely a blackened chunk of wood and fabric.
Hourai limped over next to her. "She hesitated at the end. Why?"
Shanghai simply shook her head. She didn't know.
The orb slowly formed over the remains of Pompei. Shanghai felt reluctant to take it, but what else could she do?
The two sister helped each other over and touched the orb. Light flooded through Shanghai, cleaning away her wounds. In addition she knew she could fire bombs of her own, though not many.
As Hourai reached down to teleport the body the tower began shaking. "Crap! I knew this thing shouldn't be able to stand!"
Shanghai cursed and ran back to where she'd fallen. She scooped up the energy potion then looked over at Hourai. "I think I can bomb through the walls here now"
"Good. Let me try something first though." Hourai clenched her fist, then punched the wall with surprising force. The rubble broke and shattered under her assault.
"Great Hourai!" Shanghai dashed through the hole, her sister following after.
The two dolls burst into the open sky as the tower crumbled below them.
Shanghai took a moment to catch her breath. "Things are becoming more and more difficult."
Hourai frowned. "Yeah. But there's only two more to go."
"Right." Shanghai looked back towards Gensoukyo. "And the first one is in Eientei."
-----------------------------------
Demolition Doll Pompei
Purpose: High level Combat
Pompei is designed to unleash a lot of power without having to carry a massive doll supply. She can generate small suicide dolls at will, and her body is stronger then most dolls I make. For use in danmaku fights with strong/annoying opponents and if I ever need to blow up something like a house.
Note: Pompei is a combat doll and is thus very susceptible to possession. Explosives are common in the outside world, so she needs to be checked for signs of possession weekly. Replace at least once a month. Letting a random ghost get their hands on this body would be terrible.
Medicine notes: Pompei's really quiet. Her smile is nice though, if a little sad. She seems to talk to herself too. We all worry about her a bit, but she says she's okay.
She questioned me about why we needed to defeat the humans once. I set her straight real quick, but she didn't seem to take to it like the others. Maybe she feels bad because her weapons are smaller dolls? I'll see about fixing that.
==============
Komachi yawned and waved the soul over. "'Bout time you got here! We're late!"
The soul bobbed then moved next to her boat. Komachi sighed and poked the recalcitrant spirit. "Look, don't worry about that girl. She's still got a part to play. I promise I won't just ditch her, alright?"
The ghost seemed to hesitate, then moved onto the boat. Komachi stretched to get limber then pushed off onto the Sanzu. "Boss has been waiting for you. I hope your little side trip was worth it." The ghost shuddered a bit, and Komachi smiled. "Ah, don't worry. I think it was, even if you did make my workday a little longer."
"Anyway enough about your death, tell me about your life."
Esifex:
The 'New' tag popped up next to this on the list, which happens when you edit things, but I couldn't find it :V
Just spot-checking, maybe?
Also, I like Komachi's little interlude there at the end, that was a nice touch.