Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 6 [COMPLETED]

[DracoOmega]

>"I share your desire to see your people safe from the horrors of Makai - that is a fate no living being should be forced to endure. I know that others among us feel likewise. There is no need to subjugate the peoples of this world to find sanctuary within it, for you and those you fight for - though Makai might dictate that only the strongest and most ruthless may live, our world is different."

[Oldmansour]

>"I share your desire to see your people safe from the horrors of Makai - that is a fate no living being should be forced to endure. I know that others among us feel likewise. There is no need to subjugate the peoples of this world to find sanctuary within it, for you and those you fight for - though Makai might dictate that only the strongest and most ruthless may live, our world is different."

>"Oh yeah?" the fox asks very casually, flicking her tail at the mikos behind you. "Ask them how they'd feel about having a few hundred demons showing up at their front door looking for a meal."
>That word 'demons' draws a visible reaction from all of the shrine maidens present, but none moreso than Kiku. "Demons is exactly what they are." she says to her fellows. "I know their kind, sisters, and this hero's optimism is sadly misguided. All we are to them is a means to satisfy their own ends. They are a worse threat as Satori and her creature was."
>"Then how do you explain what just happened?" Lily asks, kneeling down next to Satori to check on her. "We worked together!"
>Anya the Moscovian miko points at you. "Why not ask her. She knows these demons."

[DracoOmega]

>To Kiku, firmly: This situation is already tense enough. I'd ask to you please not agitate it any further - this is neither the time nor place to debate the Champion's nature, and I think it's in all our interests not to start another battle right now. Whatever words you wish to share about my judgement, I will gladly listen to in private, once this is over.

>Address the crowd, and put on our best public speaking voice: "Whether you choose to call them 'demon', they are still living, thinking beings - alien in some ways, but not so unlike us in others. If you are to judge them, judge them on their own actions, not on what you think their nature must be because of what they are. Humans and youkai did this each other once, and the world was a far darker place for it. Tonight, they have fought alongside us, they have shielded us, and for that my gratitude is genuine. If tomorrow, they choose instead to endanger us, then we will stand in this city's defense as surely as we did this morning. But I do not believe that has to happen."

[Oldmansour]

>To Kiku, firmly: This situation is already tense enough. I'd ask to you please not agitate it any further - this is neither the time nor place to debate the Champion's nature, and I think it's in all our interests not to start another battle right now. Whatever words you wish to share about my judgement, I will gladly listen to in private, once this is over.

>Address the crowd, and put on our best public speaking voice: "Whether you choose to call them 'demon', they are still living, thinking beings - alien in some ways, but not so unlike us in others. If you are to judge them, judge them on their own actions, not on what you think their nature must be because of what they are. Humans and youkai did this each other once, and the world was a far darker place for it. Tonight, they have fought alongside us, they have shielded us, and for that my gratitude is genuine. If tomorrow, they choose instead to endanger us, then we will stand in this city's defense as surely as we did this morning. But I do not believe that has to happen."

>I will not stand by and let you tell my sisters that these creatures are anything but our enemy. the angry miko replies. Some of them will end up fighting them eventually, useless though that may be, and I don't want them second guessing themselves when the time comes. Especially if that time is now.

>You seem to have found the right words, as your mentioning of the oftentimes dark history between humans and youkai makes the assembled mikos, animal youkai all, visibly loose a lot of their tension and anger. All except Anya, who asks of Kiku, "Is she right, sister?"
>Kiku, her scowling face fixed on the Champion of Fire, simple stares at the fox for several long seconds. "I do not share this woman's hope or optimism." And then she relaxes. "But she makes sense. Not every enemy has to be fought the minute they appear." She takes a measured breath. "I can accept that, for tonight, we had a common enemy. But I can't accept that you came purely to help us, not without any of your own reasons. Tell me why."
>"It doesn't matter." the Champion answers. "It really doesn't matter. I did what I came here to do, and now I have other matters to discuss with my fellow Champion. My business here is done." The demon starts to turn away from the crowd, but pauses when its eyes fall on you. "Unless you wanted to come over to our side now."

[DracoOmega]

>"I am genuine when I say that we share a desire to see your people find a home safe from the horrors of your planet. But know that we also will not be a party to inflicting harm on the peoples of this one. If that is a path you insist upon taking, then I fear we may come to blows again in the future. But I hope very much that this will not need to happen, and that we can once find common ground - a road for us to end one people's misery without bringing misery to another. I do hope you will consider the benefits of a path that avoids needless conflict with us and with the others that share our power - each day wasted in unnecessary battle is another that Makai's power is allowed to grow, and this is something neither of us wants."

[Oldmansour]

>"I am genuine when I say that we share a desire to see your people find a home safe from the horrors of your planet. But know that we also will not be a party to inflicting harm on the peoples of this one. If that is a path you insist upon taking, then I fear we may come to blows again in the future. But I hope very much that this will not need to happen, and that we can once find common ground - a road for us to end one people's misery without bringing misery to another. I do hope you will consider the benefits of a path that avoids needless conflict with us and with the others that share our power - each day wasted in unnecessary battle is another that Makai's power is allowed to grow, and this is something neither of us wants."

>"There will be no war today, Terran." the Champion of Fire replies solemnly. "You have earned this Champion's respect."
>"And tomorrow?" Kiku asks, though without most of the venom her voice held before.
>"Tomorrow depends on how long it takes me to get through with my comrade." Fire answers, now anger in her voice. The Ice Champion lowers her head sadly. "We're leaving." Fire says abruptly, and turns and takes flight with no further words.
>The demonic owl looks after her fellow Champion in sad anticipation of what is to come, then takes flight after him. But not before leaving another feather floating gently down from the sky, one identical to the message-feathers she employed the last time.

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin and Lily: Try to keep yourself between the more disgruntled mikos and Satori for the moment - I'll be right back
>Let's quickly go accept this new message

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin and Lily: Try to keep yourself between the more disgruntled mikos and Satori for the moment - I'll be right back
>Let's quickly go accept this new message

>Receiving positive replies from the pair of magical girls, you walk briskly towards the stairs leading up to the yard, catching the Ice Champion's feather as it drops from the air. You sense that within this feather contains an explanation as to why the Fire Champion came here. It also invites your comrades to receive the message as well if they choose.

[DracoOmega]

>Do we think they can do so from here if we 'activate' it? Or would they also need to individually hold it afterward (or at the same time?)?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we think they can do so from here if we 'activate' it? Or would they also need to individually hold it afterward (or at the same time?)?

>Immediate proximity to the feather is required to share directly in its message, though direct contact is not necessary.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, then let's take the feather back over to them
>It's a message from Ice, directed to the group of us.
>Assuming the natives don't appear to be too restless just yet, and the others are fine with this, tell them how they can receive it, and let's take a look

[Oldmansour]

>Well, then let's take the feather back over to them
>It's a message from Ice, directed to the group of us.
>Assuming the natives don't appear to be too restless just yet, and the others are fine with this, tell them how they can receive it, and let's take a look

>What's it say? Rin asks as she gives as shrine maiden with spotted cat's ears a hard look, which is returned. With the demons gone, the mikos have returned all of their attention to their traitorous head of the temple. None of them seem to have tried anything, but between their looks, and looks among those those shrine maidens exiting the temple, you're actually glad you're here to keep them from doing anything drastic. Under the circumstances, you feel it may be best to put off Ice's message until the situation is handled a bit more definitively.
>"If you three don't mind," the miko with the spots says, "now that that giant's dealt with and the evil animals are gone, we have our own business to attend to." Nods and affirmative sounds come from each miko around, save two. You see the lavender haired Chie coming out among the temple crowd, and she seems only confused. Kiku is the other exception. Her stern gaze is aimed at you.
>I do trust you, Lotus. her silent voice says. If you tell me those two won't be back, that we don't have to worry about them for tonight, I'll believe you.

[DracoOmega]

>I do believe that is the case, yes. And the matter of Satori needs addressing now, in any case.
>Does Satori still seem completely out of it?

[Oldmansour]

>I do believe that is the case, yes. And the matter of Satori needs addressing now, in any case.
>Does Satori still seem completely out of it?

>Alright. You told me something in that cave, something about a corruptive power. Tell me everything.
>The purple haired woman has pulled her legs up and has assumed the fetal position while seated. Her mouth is forming words but virtually sound comes from it. You think she is mouthing 'My fault' over and over, but you can't be certain.

[DracoOmega]

>Satori was just outside the blast range of the Blink Bomb when it dropped on Mayohiga. She... experienced the death of every one of all those people who were lost there, all at once. And something... I still do not know entirely what it was, but something born from all that death latched onto her, grew inside of her for all these years until it became that creature which we fought tonight. That was lurking inside her all this time, twisted deeply through her very being. I saw it pulse when she acted cruelly, and sometimes it seemed almost like there was conflict between it and some other part of her. I think its presence affected her deeply, yet on a level she could not fully perceive. I think it very likely influenced her to take the path that she did, and if that is the case, then she may perhaps be traumatized by her own actions more than anyone else here.

[Oldmansour]

>Satori was just outside the blast range of the Blink Bomb when it dropped on Mayohiga. She... experienced the death of every one of all those people who were lost there, all at once. And something... I still do not know entirely what it was, but something born from all that death latched onto her, grew inside of her for all these years until it became that creature which we fought tonight. That was lurking inside her all this time, twisted deeply through her very being. I saw it pulse when she acted cruelly, and sometimes it seemed almost like there was conflict between it and some other part of her. I think its presence affected her deeply, yet on a level she could not fully perceive. I think it very likely influenced her to take the path that she did, and if that is the case, then she may perhaps be traumatized by her own actions more than anyone else here.

>Are you... Kiku shakes her head slightly. Are you saying she's been possessed for almost half a century?

[DracoOmega]

>Yes.

[Hello Purvis]

>If not longer, that event may have only been part of what caused this.

[Oldmansour]

>Yes.

>If not longer, that event may have only been part of what caused this.

>What do you mean? Kiku asks, confused.
>"What're you gonna do to her?" Lily asks the spotted miko.
>"None of your business." Anya answers for her sister. "Is internal matter."

[DracoOmega]

>Well, as best I can tell, the day of the Blink Bomb is when this creature first attached itself to Satori. It seems like it may have been formed as a result of so many people dying at once, but I am not altogether clear on the details - perhaps we may never be.

What reason do we have to think that Satori was possessed before this event anyway? I don't see any information that points to this, and I fear it's only confusing the issue here.

[Oldmansour]

>Well, as best I can tell, the day of the Blink Bomb is when this creature first attached itself to Satori. It seems like it may have been formed as a result of so many people dying at once, but I am not altogether clear on the details - perhaps we may never be.

>Kiku's answer comes first in the form of a long sigh, then a quiet, I understand.

>"Satori has a lot of explaining to do." Koko says to your comrades. "But that's between us and her." She tries a smile, and it looks a bit out of place given the air around. "That doesn't mean we can't thank you all for your help dealing with that.... thing."
>A grey-haired miko with canine ears and furry tail asks, "Do you have any idea how Satori made that thing?"
>"She didn't." Kiku says. In stark contrast to how she sounded before, her voice now carries a sense... acceptance. "It's gone now, though, isn't it, Lotus?"

[DracoOmega]

>We do not sense any trace of the titan at all, correct? Even when straining for it as best we can?
>Assuming so, "Yes."

[Oldmansour]

>We do not sense any trace of the titan at all, correct? Even when straining for it as best we can?
>Assuming so, "Yes."

>The titan appears to have been completely eradicated, and the splinter within Satori's eye is gone as well, which you inform Kiku of.
>"NO!" Satori suddenly screams, grabbing Lily's shoulders with a desperate strength, her face panicked, her eyes wild. "It was me. My mind my power my power... It was me, it was always me! My dark heart. I used people manipulated them controlled them!"
>The winged blonde winces in pain as Satori's fingers dig into her shoulders. "You're... hurting me now." she says through clenched teeth.
>Satori does relax her grip, slumping back down to her knees. "It was me. All these years...."
>Lily's eyes water in sympathy, despite the regrowing anger in the crowd around her. Byakuren, what do we do? We can't leave her like this.

[Hello Purvis]

>For now, let her speak. If she needs to say these things, then let her say them.
>Kneel down by Satori. "Tell me what happened."

[Oldmansour]

>For now, let her speak. If she needs to say these things, then let her say them.
>Kneel down by Satori. "Tell me what happened."

>Are you.. sure about that? Rin asks you. The other shrine maidens seem angry enough as it is.
>Satori's manic energy seems to have left her, and she is now in much the same situation she was in a moment ago. She just keeps muttering derivations of "it was me"., "What have I done?" and the like.
>And then Kiku steps forward through the crowd, stern-faced and clear eyed. "Magical Lotus, Lily. Let me deal with her."

[DracoOmega]

>To Kiku: Whatever she says, her mind was not wholly her own and she is deeply traumatized by her actions, so please... try to be gentle.
>Shift aside to give Kiku room, and try to trust in her

[Oldmansour]

>To Kiku: Whatever she says, her mind was not wholly her own and she is deeply traumatized by her actions, so please... try to be gentle.
>Shift aside to give Kiku room, and try to trust in her

>I know. she replies. Despite her expression, her psychic voice conveys a strong feeling of compassion.
>"You know these two women?" Anya asks her fellow miko as you and Lily both give Kiku some room.
>The tiger nods. "I know them both very well. In fact, they saved me from ending up like Satori did." Sounds of amazement and disbelief sound around her as she looks down at Satori. "You see my sisters, several days ago, I fought another Champion, the Water Champion. My power was meaningless against it. I could not even scratch a scale on its body, while it defeated me with barely a flick of its own power. And after that it exploited my weakness and drowned me in my own doubts and fears. I had lost myself to despair. In that moment, I almost became the demon's slave. I would have, too." She looks up from Satori and nods slightly at you. "This woman was there. She saved me, not only from the demon, but from my own despair."
>"But there was no one there to save you, was there, Satori?" The woman on the ground blinks in confusion, raising her head to meet the tiger youkai's gaze. Kiku's eyes are gentle. You don't think you've ever seen that particular expression before. "I know about the thorn, that splinter that was in your eye. That dark item. You didn't even know about it, did you?"
>"But I...." Satori breathes. "I don't... I still..."
>"All those years evil escaped your sight. I was spared from that fate. Someone was there to help me." And Kiku smiles. "How can I blame you, hate you, for being less fortunate than me?" She kneels down in front of the formerly corrupted Satori. "I forgive you. Satori-sama."
>"No don't call me that." Satori says quickly, shaking her head. "It was supposed to be you, I stole the power, I.... I, what? What did you say?"
>Kiku reaches her hand out and lays it softly on Satori's shoulder. "I forgive you."
>Satori lets out a shuddering sigh and closes her eyes, her body sagging in profound relief.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile gently and let them have their moment. We... we really did it, didn't we?

[Oldmansour]

>Smile gently and let them have their moment. We... we really did it, didn't we?

>Satori leans forward, resting her head against Kiku's shoulder, a gesture which draws the loudest reactions of all from the other mikos. Needless to say, not one among them ever saw that coming. While most of them either talk amongst themselves or stare at Kiku, Chie the young catgirl has her attention on you. "She's talking about what happened at the Center?" she asks you quietly. "You really saved Kiku?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I simply gave her a nudge in the right direction when she needed it. She did the rest herself."