You bid Reimu a good night and consider your option. After some deliberation you make your choice. "We shall ride to speak with Yuuka and the others at the Garden of the Sun. She should bypass the village as well. There are some there that may wish us harm. Instead we shall move through the Forest of Magic."
"A fine plan, now let us enact it," Mystia states.
Your careful movements allow you to once again bypass the guards near the shrine and from there you move towards the village, skirting past the Misty Lake. As you enter the forest a strange tent at the edge catches your eye, but it is distant, so you merely keep it in mind for later.
The woods are easy to pass through for the first half hour. You have wandered them often, and while they are dark and dangerous you have no fear and the monsters respect that. Then the fog rolls in.
The fog is thicker then anything you've ever seen before in Gensoukyo such that you can barely see your hand at arms length. Your group has to dismount and stick together to avoid getting separated. For another hour you stumble about, cursing the fog and the lost time while hoping no creature is stalking you in the dread mists.
Finally the fog seems to clear a little. While you cannot see it, you can feel the light of the moon touch you. "Midnight," Rumia says quietly.
A voice cuts through the fog before you. "Aye. The witching hour it is."
Your party wheels as one, weapons ready. The fog seems to drift away, revealing a clearing before you. In the middle is a simple house, two stories, of European make. Before it is a cauldron, and three figures stand round it. You know them all so well, both in this guise and as they were before.
The Maiden looks unchanged, despite the passing of years. Her few blemishes have faded away, and her gold hair shimmers in a way to fascinate men and women alike. Her dress has changed little, for her witches hat and clothes fit her new persona well.
The Mother looks older, as if she had taken not just her years but the maidens as well. The ribbon she once wore has been replaced with a simple wool cap, but she still holds herself with dignity.
The Crone is hunched over, coughing often, but never falling. Her clothes too are the same, but her hair has faded to grey, and lines have been carved in her face. She stirs the pot with a look of disdain, an open book by her side.
"Tis fair luck we found you Marisa. What-"
You hold up a hand to silence Wriggle before bowing to the three. "Ask no questions friend. For we stand before the Fates."
"The Wyrd Sisters," Mystia says in awe. "Our saga is strong indeed."
"Hail to the Nine, though nine you are not yet," they say in unison.
The Maiden speaks next. "Hail to Mystia. Champion of youkai. Maiden warrior. Your legend will resound through the ages."
"Hail to Wriggle, leader of her kind. Your children shall grow in number and strength," adds the Mother.
"Hail to Rumia, first of the fears. Your name shall fade, but the fear will remain," continues the Crone.
They return to unison. "Hail to Daiyousei!" "Princess of the Eastern Fae," "Queen of the Spring Court," "Last of her Kind."
Your mouth drops open at their words, but they turn to you next. "Hail to Cirno! Leader of the Nine! Greatest of Fairies!" "Child of Winter," "Mother to the Unconquered Frost," "She who shall rule when all else dies."
As you struggle to find your voice Daiyousei steps forward. "Hail to you, Wyrd Sisters. We offer you our greetings, and warm wishes for that of your hosts. We look forward to hearing the words of wisdom you choose to share with us."
Marisa smiles slightly at that. "Words we have given already, and perhaps too many of those."
Alice nods. "We have become stronger then any, but we are chained by our power. To you we can offer much but little."
"Questions we may answer, though mortals you are not. Answers we shall give, though we speak of what you need, not what you want," wheezes Patchouli.
"Though fear not. You know now how to find us, should you not be a fool. If you leave then return, we shall still answer."
Finally you recover your voice. "What is this, Daiyousei?"
"I think you know what this is," she replies quietly "We may ask a single question each, and get answers for it. If you mean about my status as a Lady, well... we may speak on it later my knight."
Your companions gather round. "Strange things afoot in the Forest of Magic, think I," Wriggle says. "But answers may be strong. We should think if we have questions for them. And if we wish to ask or learn for ourselves."
Questions? Ha! You have dozens now. Still perhaps some thinking will give you some answers to go with them. Will one of you ask something? Or move on and return later?
