~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

Thought's End & Embodiement of Dreams (2nd Ignition)

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Valesta: ?You too, Yukari? Just what the hell?s going on?? I demand. Yukari answers, ?I didn?t tell you before, but there was something I witnessed after confirming the coming awakening of Kiribayashi: Hiding inside one of my portals, keeping a miniscule rip open, I heard one of the doctors talking to her parents. They were tearful and relieved to know that their daughter was going to be with them again. It was? heartwarming? and it seems cruel to let you take her away from them! On the other hand, Gensokyo is my home and I want it back. Of course, I can?t have both. It?s one or the other. I want you to fail, but I want you to succeed. That?s my conflict, Marisa. Here?s the deal, Yuyuko and I will try to stop you. If you can get past us, we?ll leave you alone. You can go ahead and perform your business with Reimu.? ?There?s one other thing,? adds Yuyuko. ?What?? Yukari answers, ?See how it?s night here? Well, the sunrise of this boundary is also the sunrise of Reimu?s life, and yours. You need to stop her before dawn arrives.? I grab the shaft of my broom tightly, ?Damn it!? Yukari spreads her arms, challenging me, ?So come on, Marisa! Give us all you got!? Shit! Looks like I gotta get them out of my way before I can go ahead to Reimu. What a pain in the ass this is gonna be! Yuyuko extends her arm in my direction and fires a white laser of spiritual energy, which closes in on me fast, but I fly to the side at the last second and it grazes my arm. I?m under a freakin? time limit and these two are in my way. It may affect my chances against Reimu slightly, but at least I should get to her. Not intending to pull any punches, I draw a spell card right away, ?Black Magic: Event Horizon!? Magic circles appear around me, and then spread out, spraying star-shaped blast of magic everywhere. Yuyuko reacts to my attack by materializing a circular formation of butterflies, made from her spirit energy, in front of her, with an invisible barrier in the middle, acting as a shield to defend herself against my attack, while Yukari enters a portal, getting out of the way of my spell. Yukari will probably use this chance to reappear nearby, catching me off-guard, but since I?m predicting that, I?m already a step ahead of her. I quickly whirl around, just in time to see her emerge from her portal, with a stunned expression. ??Know thy enemy,? Yukari!? I fly at Yukari and unleash a sharp kick, sending her rocketing into the swarm of stars my spell created. At the same time, Yuyuko?s defenses became overwhelmed by the numerous blasts and, her shield broken, she gets hit by numerous stars as well. ?I?m not screwing around,? I growl, ?Get the hell outta my way before I use something that will REALLY leave a mark!? The effects of my spell end. Yukari dusts herself off, ?I?d like to, Marisa, but I honestly don?t know what?s right at this point. If you believe preventing Reimu?s awakening is the right thing, then prove your resolve here and now. Convince me, Marisa!? Yukari declares a spell card, ?Bounded Field: Mesh of Light and Darkness!? Several portals open around Yukari and fire lasers. I take evasive action and fly as the storm of lasers follows behind me, occasionally grazing the bristles of my broom. Meanwhile, Yuyuko, obviously planning to aid Yukari, readies a spell card of her own, ?Ghostly Elegance!? Energy flows into Yuyuko?s body and a large purple ?fan? opens behind her, ?Fatal Light Trap!? A massive swarm of butterflies flies out of the fan, with no distinguishable point of origin, in edition to red blasts of energy. This had just become much busier, as I dodge around Yuyuko?s butterflies and blasts, while still staying ahead of Yukari?s lasers, a few of both attacks nicking me, gradually wearing me down. Shit! I need to get these two bitches outta my way, while still having enough energy to confront Reimu with. Of course, Yuyuko and Yukari are no pushovers themselves, and I need a degree of potential to take care of them. This situation is really bad. If this gets me, there will be no confronting Reimu, however. With some reluctance, I draw another spell card, intending to use one of my more energy-costly spells, ?Loving Heart!? Golden energy gathers into both of my arms. I?m intending to use Double Spark, which allows me to fire off two Master Spark-level beams. Concerned with getting past Yukari and Yuyuko as soon as possible, I fly straight toward Yuyuko, barrel-rolling around her butterflies. However, she fires a large ball of energy at me, which slams into me head on, shaking me quite a bit. Damn! Must stay? focused! I barely manage to maintain control over my spell, as I get very close to the ghost princess and extend my left arm, firing my first laser. ?EEK!? Yuyuko lets out a cute scream as my spell slams into her, breaking her focus on her spell card. I start to inch in Yukari?s direction. I have my broom catapult me upward, above Yukari and I aim my right arm down at her. ?Double Spark!? I fire my second laser. However, Yukari has her lasers merge, forming a giant laser, rivaling the size and power of my own. Our spells clash and try to overpower one another. Luckily, my spell has the advantage, being fired off first, but, unlike me, Yukari has nothing to lose by focusing more of her power into hers? and she knows it. ?Hmhmhm?? Yukari chuckles as she boosts the power of her spell, which quickly starts to overpower mine. ?I?ll help, Yukari!? Yuyuko, who recovered from my last attack, decides to back Yukari up again, and fires a thin white laser at me. Tch. I weaken and store the flow of my spell and dive down the side of Yukari?s laser, narrowly dodging Yuyuko?s attack. I fall down and past Yukari, landing on my broom, which swooped down and direct my arm up at her, as she notices and gasps. I shoot off the final burst of my spell at the now-vulnerable boundary youkai. ?UGH!? Yukari staggers as her spell breaks. ?Yukari!? yells Yuyuko. Yukari recovers, ?That? was pretty good, Marisa? ? ? ? Just maybe?? Yuyuko interrupts, ?Yukari, shall we use THAT?? I ask, ?What the hell is ?THAT??? Yuyuko draws a spell card. Yukari shrugs, enters a portal and emerges next to Yuyuko, and then draws one too. At the same time, they declare, ?Fantasy!? ?Huh?? I move backward a few feet. A combined spell? Between those two? The only instance of something like that I?ve only HEARD about was some of the techniques the Prismriver Sisters, three poltergeist musicians serving Yuyuko. Reimu fought them during the winter incident. Looks like I?m about to witness something of a similar nature. Several ghostly wisps appear in front of Yuyuko and several of Yukari?s portals open all over the general area. They then declare, ?Beauties of Nature!? Yuyuko?s wisps fires off a number of pink lasers, similar to the spell card Yukari previously used, only with less frequency and fewer sources, and sward of butterflies fly continuously out of Yukari?s portal. I move to avoid the lasers, but the butterflies are obstructing my view! I can?t even see the ghost and youkai anymore, there are so many! Shit! My back?s against the wall! I fire several blast of magic, but the cloud of butterflies is so dense, I don?t even know if Yukari is in my line of fire. I can tell Yuyuko?s location by the lasers shooting out. I?m no longer being aimed at, which means she can?t see me either, and she?s now firing her beams at random, but regardless, the butterflies break up my shots. The cloud expands, with me on the outside, being forced back, as the swarm will cut me to shreds if I get caught up in it. Out loud, I express my bitter dismay, ?Dammit! DAMMIT!? I reach into my pocket and pull out a spell card crumpled in my fist. I was going for potency, but still holding back enough for Reimu, but now I?m forced into a tight situation. Time to friggin? end this! Reimu will no doubt have a major advantage over me, but at least I can face her! ?Comet!? A transparent blue barrier surrounds me. ?BLAZING STAR!? Focusing more energy into my spell than usual, I fly into the cloud at a blinding speed. My barrier protects me from the butterflies and lasers, though it gradually wears down. I zero in on where I know Yuyuko is. I break through the other end of the cloud and zoom toward the shocked Yuyuko, as Yukari watches on, equally surprised. ?DAMN YOU!? I break into a series of barrel rolls, giving the shaft of my broom a ?drill? effect, and slam into the ghost princess, broom shaft first. White smoke pours out of her, the ghostly equivalent to blood, and behind me, the cloud instantly vanishes, indicating that the spell broke. Yuyuko falls, unconscious. Yukari emerges from a portal, catching her fallen friend. Yukari says, ?You win, Marisa. Go ahead and decide Gensokyo?s fate with Reimu.? Breathing fast, I say, ?It?s rather? obvious who has? the advantage now?? Yukari give me an unsure smile, ?Well? you?ll think of something. If the sun rises, you two wake up and Gensokyo completely fades into nonexistence. If you convince Reimu to not wake up, or knock her out and bring her back, you stay in this dram realm, and hopefully, continue your lives as you know it.? ?We?ll? see? When is? the sun supposed to rise?? Yukari says, ?Don?t know. Could be anytime. Well, I?ll bring Yuyuko back home, and then? watch you two or something. Have fun! Fufufu~? With her trademark giggle, Yukari disappears into a portal. Tch. The odds are stacked against me now. I fly ahead. Gradually, my breathing regulates, but I?m still significantly worn down from the battle. I take a couple deep breaths, then yell, ?SHOW YOURSELF, REIMU!? My words echo for what seems like endlessly. Suddenly, red mist, resembling what Remilia covered Gensokyo with, fills the air. Above, a pink incomplete moon, resembling the fake Kaguya used to control Gensokyo appears. Apparently, it has the same effects, but I?m resistant to the mind control. White flowers, unbloomed suzuran to be exact, grow on the previously dead trees, resembling Yuka?s previous actions. In the distance, to my left, the Mountain of Faith appears. To my distant right, a fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi appears. All around, various other sights, reminding me of former crisis? Gensokyo faced, materialize. Reimu appears, the lunatic moon appearing to emphasize her presence, ?Isn?t it nostalgic, Marisa?? ?Reimu!? ?Our dream is almost over. Soon, we will return to our everyday lives. For now, however, let us reminisce on our adventures together.?

Valesta: Suddenly, red mist, resembling what Remilia covered Gensokyo with, fills the air. Above, a pink incomplete moon, resembling the fake Kaguya used to control Gensokyo appears. Apparently, it has the same effects, but I?m resistant to the mind control. White flowers, unbloomed suzuran to be exact, grow on the previously dead trees, resembling Yuka?s previous actions. In the distance, to my left, the Mountain of Faith appears. To my distant right, a fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi appears. All around, various other sights, reminding me of former crisis? Gensokyo faced, materialize. Reimu appears, the lunatic moon appearing to emphasize her presence, ?Isn?t it nostalgic, Marisa?? ?Reimu!? ?Our dream is almost over. Soon, we will return to our everyday lives. For now, however, let us reminisce on our adventures together.? ?Reminisce? We could have many more adventures together! Just come back with me!? Reimu shakes her head, ?I?m afraid not. Gensokyo was fun, but it was just a way of keeping myself entertained until I got my life back. At the end, the true form of my existence awaits me. You should want to get your life back too.? I turn my head to the side, ?Reimu? will nothing I say convince you to come back and revive Gensokyo? We have friends trapped in the void that remains of it. Are you just gonna leave them?? Reimu sighs, ?It?s unfortunate, but that?s just the way it?s going to have to be. There is no stopping the natural course of dreams.? Shit. I guess reason is not going to affect Reimu. Her position is not budging at all, ?Will nothing I say convince you to come back with me? To continue the dream?? ?I?m sorry, Marisa, but no.? I make a fist, ?You must, Reimu! Sakuya? Kaguya? Mokou? You are their only hope? and everyone else in Gensokyo!? Reimu responds, ?How many times do you have to be reminded, Marisa? Those that disappeared? they are not real. They do not exist. They are pure fiction. Having any lasting emotional attachment to them is childish and silly.? I grit my teeth, ?Damn it, Reimu! I WILL take you back with me, even if it means dragging your unconscious body back with me! I?ll do whatever it takes!? Reimu sighs, ?It?s the last moment we?ll spend together and you want the situation to be a violent one?? ?I?ll make sure we?ll spend MANY peaceful moments together after this!? ?Marisa, do you truly believe you are in the right?? ?I do!? ?I see. Then we?ll let this battle be a contest of who is right and who is wrong. If you defeat me by any chance, I will return Gensokyo.? ?Fine by me.? ?Then let?s do this.? Reimu descends and lands on an invisible surface. I follow her. Sure enough, we are standing on solid ground, although it?s invisible. Reimu opens her hand, and her 5-foot-long gohei staff materializes. I grab my broom, intending to use it as a weapon too. Although Reimu?s gohei and my broom are wooden, they were imbued with powerful magic, so they are as durable as steel, although they still weigh as much as wood. ?REIMU!? I charge at Reimu and swing my broom. However, she turns her body, narrow evading my attack. ?Teehee! Your attacks are still as predictable as ever, Marisa.? Reimu ducks down and knocks me to the ground with a sweep kick. ?Ah!? Even though I hit the ground rather hard, I recover fast enough and extend my left hand toward Reimu and fire off a green burst of magical energy. Reimu jumps away, remaining inches in front of the blast and deflects it with her gohei. She lands then jumps again, with several ofuda appearing in her left hand she tosses them at me. I quickly get my right foot firmly on the ground a spring away as the ofuda close in. Upon hitting the ground where I was, they explode in a blast of white holy energy. The force of the explosion pushes me back, and the brightness of the light stings my eyes. Luckily, I manage to adjust my eyes just in time as Reimu jumps at me and swings her gohei. I raise my broom and block her attack. She attempts a low attack, but I block that too, and she follows it with a second high attack, in which our weapons clash again and press together as we try to overpower each other. I?m the first to wise up to the circumstances, however. I grin as I step to the side and lower my weapon as Reimu?s suddenly wasted strength causes her to stumble forward, dropping her defenses. I attempt a quick counterattack; however, Reimu uses her right foot to spring upward and, using her flying ability as a means of performing an otherwise physically ineffective attack, launches a midair reverse-roundhouse kick. Her heel connects with my cheek and I?m sent flying several feet, the motion blowing my hat off in midair. I hit the ground, back-first. Reimu jumps up and above me with her right leg raised, intending to hit me with an axe-kick. At the last second, I roll out of the way as her heel hits the ground. I thrust my broom?s shaft up at her and it connects with her jaw. ?Ah?? Reimu stagger back as I return to my feet. I swing my broom at her like a baseball bat, but she quickly ducks below my attack then springs up, performing a back flip, the tip of her foot connecting with my chin, launching me upward. I aim my hand toward the ground while the rest of me is stunned and blindly fires off a laser. ?UGH!? Reimu grunts, which indicates to me that my attack hit. I recover in midair and land on my feet. Reimu recovers as well. A needle materializes in her hand which she tosses at me, but I deflect it with my broom. ?YAAAAA!? We both charge at each other. Our makeshift staves clash. Out left hand both let go and glow with magical energy and holy energy respectively. We both throw a punch, which connects with the side of each other?s faces, the force sending us both flying several feet. We both hit the ground, recover, and rise back to our feet at the exact same time, panting. ?Not? bad?? says Reimu, in between breaths. ?Just what? I was? expecting?? I say. With both take a few seconds for our breathes to catch up. Reimu pulls a spell card from her pocket, ?That was quite fun, Marisa, but I think it?s time to take this up another level.? ?What are you gonna do?? I ask, ?Use the spell cards of people like Remilia, Meiling, Suwako, and Aya?? Reimu shakes her head, ?We aren?t in Gensokyo anymore. I lost that power with my departure from that world. We are no longer in a world specifically of my mind?s creation. As a result, I?m somewhat weaker that I was when I fought you, Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou. However, as long as I?m like this, I have one more power to draw out with my spell cards.? ?What?s that?? I ask. ?My memories,? answers Reimu, ?Time to reminisce.? She raises her spell card, declaring, ?Scarlet Dream: Cogwheels of Fate!? The red mist around us vanishes, making the view of the area a great deal clearer. A red aura emanates from Reimu. Just what does she have going?? ?L?vatein!? A red beam, about 7 feet in length, extends from the tip of Reimu?s gohei and she swings it as me, catching me off-guard, as I wasn?t expecting it. ?Hailstorm!? Several blades of ice start to rain down from the sky diagonally. I recover and use a spell card, ?Ritualic Space: Orreries Solar System!? Six shining orbs materialize around me. I jump toward the hail of blades and my orbs smash through them. I then launch them at Reimu, but she suddenly fades into the darkness, and then reappears after my attack flies by, unscathed. ?Killing Doll!? Several knives materialize around Reimu then launch toward me in a concentrated fashion. I step to the side, though the series of knives grazes my right arm. Reimu?s red aura vanishes, ?What do you think?? ?What? the? hell?? What was that? Those attacks were?? ?? From my memories? If that was what you were thinking, then you?re absolutely right. My past battles play a part in this present battle.? I was actually thinking that those attacks weren?t actually hers, but she had a point about the past battles. During the mist incident, Reimu fought Sakuya, Flandre, Cirno, and Rumia, a darkness youkai that recently became one of Alice?s students more recently. She used spell card techniques belonging to Flandre, Cirno, and Sakuya, and Rumia?s ability to fade into darkness. She can take on the abilities of opponents she fought during specific incidents?

Valesta: Reimu pulls out another spell card, ?Let?s move onto the next memory of our adventures, Marisa. Ghostly Dream: Wakeless Spring Slumber!? In the distance, the fully bloomed Saigyou Ayakashi, the Perfect Cherry Blossom vanishes and a pink aura emanates from Reimu. Time to think? Whose abilities will Reimu use? She fought Lunasa, Merlin, and Lyrica Prismriver, poltergeist musicians of Yuyuko, Chen, a nekomata shikigami belonging to Yukari?s kitsune shikigami, Ran, and Yukari herself. Reimu smiles and declares, ?Prism Concerto!? Two Reimu clones appear at her side, one in red clothes, more so than her usual outfit, and the other in black clothes, and with the original Reimu?s white clothes, the three clones sort of resemble the Prismrivers. A bow of light appears in one black Reimu?s hand and a sword with a curved blade appears in the hand of the red Reimu. All three of them draw spell cards, ?Flight of Idaten!? They suddenly vanish? or rather take off at an intense speed, as I have to really concentrate to follow their movement. As if their speed wasn?t enough, however, they are also using Yukari?s boundary manipulation skills to open portals, disappearing an emerging from another portal in varying locations. I can?t predict them at all! I try to keep my distance, firing bolts of my magic, but always missing. Finally, the Reimus decide to stop confusing me with their movement and go on the offensive. The red Reimu emerges from a portal that opens in front of me and swings her sword. I jump back, barely avoiding the attack. However, from a portal above ?Red,? ?Black? emerges and fires an arrow of bright light at me, which pierces me clean through the left shoulder. ?Errghhh!? Okay, it didn?t hurt as much as I thought it would, but it was still somewhat painful. ?Red? and ?Black? vanish into their portals and, floating behind them, Reimu (the original) materializes a large number of rainbow-colored blades around her and sends them at me. I deflect as many as I can with my broom and magic, buts finally, one breaks through my defenses and the others tear through. After the attack, ?Red? and ?Black? appear in front of me again, their weapons readied at point-black range. This is not good? ?Okay! Now then? huh?? As the original Reimu is about to give an order to the two duplicates, she notices something in the air above and behind me. ?Marisa! Hold on!? A familiar voice yells as a red laser shoots down at the black Reimu, piercing her through the chest, causing her to fade into thin air. A doll armed with a sword dives down at the red Reimu, who jumps up and cuts through it, but another ?sword doll? backs up its fallen comrade and also pierces her through the chest, causing her to vanish. Although I know who just came to my aid, I look back anyway, ?Whew! Thank you, Alice! I was in sort of a tight spot there?? Alice descends to my side. Reimu sighs and says, ?Alice Margatroid. Do you know what you are doing? I am the reason you are here. I am like a mother to you.? Alice responds, ?Even if I am a part of your dream, Reimu, I cannot think of you as my mother. After all, you lived as an equal with the rest of us for a long time. I fail to see you as anything different, even now. Even if it is as you say, I will protect and help Marisa and the rest of my friends, and take you back with us.? Reimu chuckles, ?It?s strange? how the figments of my own dream are trying to prevent ME from awakening. Very well, Alice. You can try to stop me. After all, there are only a few more minutes and the sun rises and this all ends.? I won?t doubt what she?s saying, but the sky hadn?t gotten any brighter since I got here. I find it hard to believe? I glance at Alice, ?We?d better not waste any time?? ?Yes,? responds Alice with a nod. Reimu readies her next spell card, ?Imperishable Dream: Nocturne at Two o'clock!? The pink glow of the lunatic moon vanishes and it expands into a full moon. At the same time, the sky turns from black to a dull blue. Shit, NOW it?s easy to believe that our time is almost up. Kaguya?s moon made sure that it was always night! Reimu turns toward Alice, extends her arm, and cracks a mysterious smile, ?Master Spark!? ?Wh_?? Before Alice could figure out what was happening, Reimu engulfs her with a massive laser, with the same name and appearance as mine. Oh yeah, she DID fight ME during the moon incident, while I was under Reisen?s mind control? When Reimu?s attack ends, Alice is on the ground, several feet away from her original location, ?Ugh?? I ready a spell card, preparing to counterattack, but Reimu glances at me and snaps her fingers, ?Force Crisis!? A purple meteor-thing rockets down from the sky and toward me. I jumps back, but an explosion follows, with enough force to knock me away. I land next to where Alice was knocked to, landing on my feet, just as she is getting back on hers?. Alice declares a spell card, ?Corps Command!? Alice?s doll, which is always around her, Shanghai, multiplies into tens of duplicates. ?Shanghai Battalion!? Spears, rapiers, axes, bows, scythes, old-style firearms, and various other weapons materialize in the hands of the many Shanghai dolls. All at once, the charge at Reimu or prepare to shoot at her from a distance. Reimu smirks slightly, ?Impressive, Alice. If I hadn?t the appropriate countermeasures, I might even be intimidated. Butterfly Storm!? Several glowing butterflies materialize around Reimu and charge at Alice?s incoming army. Both forces clash. However, Reimu?s butterflies gain the upper hand by guarding against the dolls? attacks by blocking with the razor-sharp edges of their wings, then crashing into the dolls and exploding. Reimu picks off the dolls that broke through her counterattack by throwing ofuda at them, which detonate on contact. The result is a large cloud of gray and pink smoke. In an attempt to catch Reimu off guard, I declare a spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I send a flurry of star-shaped magical blasts into the cloud. On the other end, I hear some light bursting sounds and some grunts from Reimu?s voice. The smoke clears and Reimu is down on one knee, supporting herself with her gohei. Reimu return to her feet, ?Not bad, Marisa. I figured you might do that, but it was before I could properly prepare. However, that was not good enough. Now get ready for the next memory! View Dream: Revolving Lantern of the Tenth Year!? Reimu declares her next spell card. The unbloomed suzuran on the trees whither away. Coins, each with holes in the middle, materialize in Reimu?s hand. They are afterlife currency, called karma, but Komachi, back when we fought her, has the ability to infuse them with energy and use them as powerful weapons. ?Storm Day!? There is suddenly a cool breeze around us? which quickly picks up and becomes a tornado, sucking me and Alice in. We both grab my broom to keep us from getting separated and to move in this windstorm? at least a little. Reimu appears at the middle of the cyclone, seemingly unaffected by it, as Alice and I spiral around her. Alice summons a doll, which appears in front of Reimu and fires a red laser before getting swept up as well. However, Reimu extends her hand and blocks it. ?Higan Retour!? Reimu throws the coins at us, which multiply along the way, which also get caught up in the whirlwind, making the going very hazardous. Both me and Alice get hit and burned several times by the energy-infused coins. A coin hits my shoulder, ?Agh! Damn it! We gotta end this soon, or?? I grab a spell card with my free hand and declare, ?Magicannon!? Intense magical energy flows into me as I instruct Alice, ?Alice, don?t let go of the broom!? I pull myself up, kick off the broom?s shaft, and dive toward Reimu, who suddenly has six beams extending from her back. ?FINAL MASTER SPARK!? I cast my ultimate ?spark? spell. My massive laser flies toward Reimu. I summon my broom over to me to keep myself in place, barely resisting the tornado?s wind. However, Reimu was not unprepared this time. ?Last Judgment!? Reimu fires a large purple laser at me, of equal size, a technique belonging to Sikieiki. Our beams clash and the magical and divine energy from our respective attacks goes crazy, flying outward, causing the coins to explode. I?m barely holding on, but Reimu doesn?t seem to be having much trouble, ?Oh, Marisa. I may be weaker than I was when you fought me with Sakuya, Mokou, and Kaguya, but my power still outclasses yours!? Reimu?s laser gradually overpowers mine. Damn it, this is not good to say the least. ?Arcane Craft: Magical Marisa Dolls ?Master Spark-!? Alice declares a spell card I?ve never heard of. I look out the corners of my eyes. In one direction, then the other. Alice had summoned two dolls, which look just like ME! They even have the hat ribbons and aprons! Both dolls extend a hand in Reimu?s direction and fire slightly smaller versions of my Master Spark. They join with my Final Master Spark, making the laser even more powerful! The status of the power struggle becomes neutral, with either side gaining the advantage. I glance at Alice with a serious expression. Alice nods in return. We both focus all the power we can into the attack, making our beam quickly overpower Reimu?s. ?WHAT?? Reimu?s eyes widen in awe and dismay as the laser completely engulfs her. The spell is broken. The tornado stops and the three of us are sent flying in various directions. We all hit the ground hard. The taste of blood is in my mouth as I crawl in the fallen Reimu?s direction. Reimu looks at me and smiles wearily, ?That was pretty good, Marisa. I guess I shouldn?t have underestimated Alice?s power. Alice recovers slowly, ?When I have such an important goal in mind, not even you can stop me, Reimu.? ?I see,? responds Reimu. I say, ?Come back with us, Reimu. Please. Is the life that awaits you on the other side really that important?? Reimu slowly rises to her feet, ?Of course. It?s my family? my friends? my life? Dreams like this are fine, but in the end, that?s all they are: dreams. We all have to wake up sometime. Even you, Marisa. You may lack the memories of you other self, so you fail to realize the significance of what you have.? ?I don?t?? ?Ah! Marisa! L-look?? Alice gets to her feet and points at the sky. I get back to my feet as well. Up above, the sun appears over the horizon. ?It?s time,? says Reimu. Suddenly, there is an acute pain through my head, like the kind of headache that makes it suck to be alive at the moment. I feel the information in my brain rearrange in ways I can?t describe. I close my eyes tightly and slump to my knees as I hold my head with my hands. I remember things? that are not of my life as Marisa Kirisame. My parents, my friends, my school, my experiences, both good and bad, my ambitions, my desires, my passions? my life! I?m? ?Marisa, your clothes!? Alice shouts out. I look and see that my clothes had changed color. Instead of black, they turned white, like Reimu?s. More memories come flowing back to me. I was staying at school late to complete an important project. As such, I missed the bus home. As my house was not within walking distance, I decided to take the subway instead. As I was crossing the last crosswalk, a truck ran a red light and? ? ? ? Wow? Life bites you in the ass when you're not expecting it at all. I guess that's a... unfortunate, yet charming aspect of it? Still, it?s not like all bad came of it? Reimu looks at me with a welcoming smile, ?I see you are now with us? Marisa Starr.? A portal opens up nearby. Yukari emerges from it, saying, ?So it?s too late. Things couldn?t be changed?? ?Shoot. I was rather aware of this possibility, but? Reimu and Marisa? up until now, they had always found a way of turning things around?? A second figure emerges from the portal. A figure I was not expecting at all. ?What? Sakuya? But? but how did you??? Sakuya says solemnly, ?Honestly, Marisa, I think we have more pressing matters at hand at the moment??

Valesta: Yukari points out, ?Your appearance had taken a turn similar to Reimu?s. Is there anything else different? You know? in your mind?? I nod, ?Yes, actually. I remember everything! My life before this dream started!? Yukari asks, ?Now that you remember who you really are, Marisa, what do you want to do? Wake up and resume your life, or keep dreaming?? ?I don?t know? I now realize the significance of what I lost? but Kaguya and Mokou. I don?t want them to continue being trapped in the non-existent Gensokyo. That hasn?t changed?? Yukari sighs, ?Just thought I?d bring it up. The truth is, now that the sun had risen here, there is no turning back?? ?What?? ?You two are on the verge of awakening. Gensokyo is gone. Not a speck exists in that space anymore? except for our two favorite immortals. I can no longer access it. Nothing can get in and nothing can get out?? I tighten my fist, ?Damn it! After all that, I couldn?t save them? I?ve always found a way to win in the past, no matter what the odds. I felt that as long as I was there to do something, everything would turn out alright in the end? but this is different. I promised myself and others that I would return it to normal? and after all that, I failed in the end! Damn it? DAMN IT!? I grit my teeth as tears pour out of my eyes. I can only think of what Kaguya and Mokou are feeling right now? Alice, Sakuya, and Yukari can?t find the right words. I suddenly feel a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Reimu looks at my face with a kind smile, but I?m not feeling any better, ?Marisa?? ?What do you want, Reimu? It?s because of you that Gensokyo is gone, everyone there is gone, save a few, and Kaguya and Mokou are trapped there!? Reimu responds, ?Every dream must end, and this is no exception. However, just like they end, they also begin. Gensokyo is our creation. Yours and mine. As long as we exist, new dreams are made? and even dreamt all over again. As long as we dream, there may still be hope!? I stop crying, ?Really? Is that true, Yukari?? Yukari shrugs, ?You tell me. It?s your dream. I?m just something you two thought up. Reimu has a reasonable point, however.? I ask Yukari, ?Can?t you just? you know? open a boundary into our dreams, or something, so we can get Kaguya and Mokou out?? Yukari closes her eyes for a few seconds ?? I might, as a matter of fact, but I?m not entirely sure. That could be a problem, though, as I will need both of you together?? ?We?re here,? says Reimu, ?We?re together.? ?I mean your OTHER selves,? says Yukari, ?your physical selves sleeping, awaiting awakening.? Reimu points out the difficulty behind that, ?We aren?t even aware of each others? existence on the other side? and we?ll likely forget about everyone? and everything?? As odd as it is, I can now fully grasp the things that Reimu is talking about. In fact, at absolutely any moment, I could wake up and end this dream? but I know that Kaguya and Mokou weren?t dreamt up and we gotta figure out a way to save them somehow, so I?m trying as hard as possible to remain asleep. I?m sure Reimu is the same way right now. Sakuya guesses, ?Even after Reimu and Marisa awaken, you, Yukari, Alice, Reisen, Eirin, Cirno, and I will continue to exist?? ?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?provided you, me, and Alice are out of this dimension by the time they wake up.? ?Then perhaps we can find a way to reunite them on the other side?? ?They won?t know us anymore, so it will be more complicated than that? but you may be onto something, Sakuya?? I let out a relieved sigh, ?So there?s hope after all. That?s great.? Reimu claps her hands together, ?Well, there?s our solution? hopefully. We?ll just meet again on the other side, Marisa, and get the two of them out!? ?I hope it works,? I look at Yukari, ?I?m counting on you.? Yukari says, ?You can depend on us. We?ll find a way to bring you two together. Well, the only way left to go is forward. We?ll leave the two of you to awaken and return to your day-to-day lives.? Yukari opens a portal and takes a few steps toward it before looking back at us, ?We will be watching!? With those final words and a wink, she disappears into the portal. Alice approaches the portal and looks back at me, ?Marisa? you? won?t forget me? will you?? I have no truthful answer to Alice?s question that may not hurt her feelings. All I can say is, ?Well, no matter what happens, we?ll see each other again, I?m sure? so? um? don?t worry, okay?? Alice?s sadness seems to be rising. She escapes into the portal as if to hide her weakness. ??? Sakuya turns toward the portal. I call out, ?Sakuya! Wait!? Sakuya looks back at me, ?Yes, Marisa?? ?How did you do it? How did you escape? I thought you were going to get swallowed by the void!? Sakuya answers, ?Yukari went to check on us after you went on ahead. She took me to the Netherworld before you arrived there.? ?But? If you were okay, why didn?t you come and tell me?? Sakuya smiles somewhat mischievously, ?I figured the shock treatment might work to your advantage.? I yell out, ?Damn it! You bitch! How could you leave me like that?? Sakuya chuckles, ?Heh? You shouldn?t let yourself continue to worry about it. It turned out okay for us in the end, didn?t it?? ?I guess?? ?Well, goodbye for now. Our parting will only be temporary. We shall reveal ourselves when the time is right.? Sakuya disappears into the portal, which shortly vanishes after. ?I suppose it?s that time,? says Reimu. ?Reimu?? ?Yes?? ?I don?t get you. Before you were all happy about Gensokyo disappearing and stuff, not caring about anything, but now you care about saving Kaguya and Mokou by more or less, returning to it. Why the sudden change of heart?? Reimu looks to the bright sky, ?Before, I guess I was just excited. I gained so much power over something I was among an equal in before. I was happy that I was going to see my parents and friends again. I guess I felt that Gensokyo was keeping me from them, so I lashed out against it. But as time went on, I began to see a little more clearly. I?m aware that Kaguya and Mokou aren?t of my dream and are now trapped because of my haste and selfishness. I? want to make it right. I may forget about them soon, but I hope to eventually get them out of whatever they are trapped within. I?m? happy that Yukari is a product of my dream, otherwise it wouldn?t be possible?? ?I see. Well, I?m glad you came around in the end. Well, we should move on to the next step and wake up. Everyone is waiting for us!? ?Not just yet,? says Reimu. ?Huh?? ?There is one thing, Marisa?? Reimu?s clothes suddenly transform into the red and white clothes she wore as her in-dream persona, Reimu Hakurei ?? I want to resolve one thing before closing our book?? She points her gohei at me, ?Our rivalry. As Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame, let us determine once and for all which one of us is strongest. Sure, the victory will be less than fleeting, but let?s make this the last memory of ourselves as we were in Gensokyo, Marisa.? ?? Fine.? On a mere whim, my clothes turn back to the white and black clothes I wore as Kirisame. Something amazing is the power I suddenly gained over my other self. Even though she was worn out from fighting Reimu before, thanks to my will, she is now back at full strength. It?s almost funny that we are basically downgrading from our actual selves for our final duel, but hey, this is between Kirisame and Hakurei, settling one final conflict before we leave the dream behind us. Our true selves have no such rivalry, as in actuality, we don?t even know each other.

Valesta: Our surroundings become brighter and brighter, eventually becoming a white void. Soon after, a lot of brown and green starts to appear. When the void completely vanishes, we are in a grassy clearing surrounded by forest. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the Forest of Magic. In fact, as our surrounding are at our command, it just might as well be. I quickly hop on my broom, ascend, and glance around. On the outer edges of the forest, there is the Hakurei Shrine to the north, Scarlet Devil Mansion to the west, Eientei to the south, and the Mountain of Faith to the east. The forest we are in is diamond-shaped with each point corresponding to each location and we are in the very center of all of it. From each location, there are spectators from the dream, who I just know are there, despite being such a distance away. From the steps leading up to the Hakurei Shrine, Suika Ibuki, Ran Yakumo, Minoriko Aki, Shizuha Aki, Keine Kamishirasawa, Chen, Letty Whiterock, and Lily White are watching. From a balcony on Eientei, Tewi Inaba and many of the other rabbit youkai are viewing us. From the clock tower of Scarlet Devil Mansion, we are being watched by Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet, Hong Meiling, Patchouli Knowledge, and Koakuma. Aya Shameimaru, Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya, Sanae Kotiya, Hina Kagiyama, and Nitori Kawashiro are watching from the summit of the Mountain of Faith. Hovering in various points in the air, not from any specific locations, Yuka Kazami, Mystia Lorelei, Medicine Melancholy, Wriggle Nightbug, and Rumia watch us. It?s like all the major locations and people in Gensokyo being brought together into one place! I descend back down to Reimu. Reimu says, ?This should be a fitting location. Appropriate for our final memory!? I nod my head, ?I agree.? ?Then let the final resolution begin!? Reimu jumps away, tossing a handful of needles down at me. I jump over the needles and toward Reimu, who then throws an ofuda, which I intercept with a blast of magic, both attacks canceling each other out in a burst of smoke. I dive through the smoke and toward Reimu, delivering a punch to the side of her face, however, she just as quickly attacks back with a quick slap, followed by a kick, launching me away from her. We both land on the ground on our feet. Reimu tosses another handful of needles at me as I charge straight at her, which I narrowly dodge by sliding under them. Just as I?m about to deliver a low kick to her legs, Reimu leaps up, tossing an ofuda down at the place where she was standing. ?Oh sh_? The ofuda bursts in an explosion of light sending me sliding across the ground. Reimu flies above me and dives down foot-first. I dodge her kick at just the right moment. She gets ready to counter by tossing a needle down at me, but I swing my broom, striking her leg, stunning Reimu long enough to get back to my feet. She thrusts her gohei at me, but I quickly dodge to the side and deliver a kick, knocking her back a few feet and putting some distance between us. Our onlookers cheer with excitement. Reimu smiles as she says, ?Very good, Marisa. It?s a decent start anyway?? Reimu draws a spell card from her pocket, ?Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!? Four balls of holy energy of various colors materialize above Reimu. One shoots down toward me, which I dodge by jumping back as it slams into the ground where I was standing. The second and third also attack me in the same way, which I dodge in the same way. I prepare a spell card, intending to counterattack after the last one. Reimu launches her last orb and I jump back to dodge it like I did with the other three, but this time, instead of crashing into the ground, it arcs straight toward me. No good! I?m wide open! ?Eeeuugghh!? The last orb slams into me and sends me reeling. Reimu dashes straight at me. Despite being a little dizzy from the attack, I manage to declare my spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I extend my arm and send a storm of star-shaped magic blasts at Reimu, who dodges my complicated attack, by jumping, sliding, or turning to the sides, all without losing any speed. For someone who isn?t very diligent in her studies, she still manages to fight like the best of them, whereas I?m the polar opposite, hence the rivalry that we are settling right now. Even though the fight is only going to escalate from here, there is no malice in our attacks. Despite the intensity, in the end, it?s really just a friendly duel. I hop on my broom and jet toward the miko, who dodges by jumping over me and tossing a needle at my blind side, which I quickly wise up to, look back, and intercept with a tiny blast of blue magic, causing it to spin into the air away from me. I fly upward and fire several large blasts of blue magic at Reimu. She dodges and my attacks hit the ground, bursting into small explosions. She flies up at me, narrowing the distance between us rapidly? and make both of us an easier target for each other. I fire one last blast of explosive magic, which scores a direct hit, knocking the miko back to the ground? but around the same time, I feel something hit me lightly. I look at my body and see one of Reimu?s ofuda attached on. Oh shit! I was so focused with attacking her that I didn?t notice! The ofuda bursts and I?m send tumbling back to the ground, which I hit hard, but don?t break anything. I slowly return to my feet, the two of us separated by several meters. Unfortunately for me, Reimu is quicker to declare a spell card, ?Border World: Hakurei Danmaku Bounded Field!? Several ofuda materialize around Reimu and fly into portals. Portals appear all over the place, ofuda emerge from on and disappearing into another. The nature of this attack is very confusing. Sometime after we defeated Yukari, Reimu learned a little about border manipulation from her, thus she has space-manipulating spell like this? I fire a magical laser toward Reimu, but a portal opens and swallows it and comes out of a portal facing me. I move to the side, avoiding my own attack. Several portals open around me and the ofuda fly out. I dodge the first few, but I finally get mercilessly bombarded by tons of ofuda, each bursting upon contact. They are all used until there are no more, but Reimu, appearing to use an extra ounce of energy to keep this attack going, materializes another wave of ofuda to attack me with. Here?s my chance to get outta this! ?Star Sign!? After declaring a spell card, a white ball of magical energy appears in my hand. I toss it up and above Reimu, and then declare, ?DRAGON METEO!? The ball turns into a large laser, about as big as my Master Spark, which fires directly down toward the ground? and Reimu. She gets hit from above and loses her focus over her spell. ?Ow?? The power of my attack, along with the presumably substantial amount of energy Reimu put into her spell, leaves her dazed. I take advantage of the situation and declare another spell card, ?Light Blast!? A magic circle appears below Reimu, ?Shoot the Moon!? Another giant laser, like the one before fires up from below Reimu (the opposite of my last spell), blasting her into the sky. There is a pause of a few second after my spell ends and I wait for her to come down? ? ? ? ? Suddenly, there is an acute pain in my lower chest and notice a needle sunk in! I yank it out and focus seeing Reimu slowly descending from the sky, about to toss more needles. I roll to the side several times, avoiding her barrage. Reimu lands and catches her breath, ?That was good, Marisa? Very good? Now then?? Reimu declares a spell card, ?Divine Skill: Four-Handed Yin-Yang Performance!? Four large yin-yang orbs appear above Reimu and being firing countless lasers down at me. ?Shit!? I run to the edge of the clearing and take cover behind a tree as the lasers slowly whittle away at it. Reimu asks, ?Don?t you think it?s funny? and a little strange, Marisa? No matter where you go, everyone looks up to an absolute power? a supreme being? a deity? However, as the two of us have recently witnessed, within our own personal world, we hold the absolute power over it? just like the very deities that people worship.? ?Huh?? ?When you manage to master your own world, you are the absolute power! What?s so strange? yet interesting? is that a ?God? exists in each and every being in existence.? Reimu?s lasers cut through the tree I was using for cover. ?Tch.? A couple hit me, but I manage to get behind another tree. ?That?s no fun!? yells Reimu, ?You should find another tactic!? Suddenly, I hear a humming sound from the yin-yang orbs firing the lasers. I peek out from my hiding place and see that the four orbs stopped firing and came closer together. Below, Reimu is performing some hand seals. With her fingers interlocked in unusual ways, she thrusts her hand out. The four orbs, all at once, fire a larger, more powerful laser, not unlike my Master Spark. ?AH!? I dive out from my hiding place as the laser hits and the tree falls. Luckily, they aren?t firing the rapid barrage from before, so I take the momentary peace to ready a spell card, ?Light Sign!? I summon a group of small magic circles to the ground below Reimu and her yin-yang orbs, ?Earth Light Ray!? My magic circles start shooting MY laser barrage from below. Reimu back dashes out of the way, but her yin-yang orbs get bombarded and destroyed. I hop on my broomstick and declare another spell card, ?Comet: Blazing Star!? A blue field surrounds me and I fly toward Reimu rapidly, intending to ram her. Reimu declares a countermeasure spell card, ?Divine Arts!? A giant magic circle expands below Reimu, ?Omnidirectional Demon Binding Circle!? A massive pillar of orange light surrounds Reimu and I crash headlong into it. It overwhelms my field, breaking it and my spell and I feel the force of her attack. ?HA!? Reimu?s pillar flashes and a force sends me flying up and through the air, clean out of the clearing where we were fighting. As I?m helplessly flying in the direction of Scarlet Devil Mansion, I see that I?m on a crash course with Wriggle Nightbug! I brace for impact, but nothing happens. I see that I just flew right through her like she wasn?t even there. After a few more seconds, I crash into the wall of the clock tower, where Remilia and company are, and fall to the floor. Meiling walks over and offers me a helping hand. I try to grab her hand, but mine just passes through, just like I just did with Wriggle. Nearby, Remilia is saying something to me? or at least I THINK she is. Her mouth is moving, but I?m not hearing a voice. Judging by her expression, however, I guess she?s just upset that I?m trying to hurt Reimu, even if our battle is on non-hostile terms. Well, this is a stage that Reimu created for our final duel? but, despite how much this place tries to look like it, this is not Gensokyo? not at all. Everyone watching us is just an illusion. Still, it?s good to see them? I get back to my feet. Reimu is flying right at me. I get back on my broom, take to the air, and fly back into the fray. Reimu and I fly alongside each other, exchanging needles and magical blasts. One of my blasts hits Reimu in the side of the face as one of her needles sinks into my arm. We descend and land in front of the Hakurei Shrine. I quickly draw a spell card and direct my arms toward Reimu, ?Love Sign: Master Spark!? I fire my giant magical laser at Reimu. Again, Reimu draws a spell card as a countermeasure, ?Barrier!? Several small yin-yang orbs materialize in front of her, ?Danmaku Kaleidoscope!? My laser clashes with an invisible shield formed between the orbs. Also, energy from my laser seems to get reflected back at me. Luckily, I notice that Reimu?s barrier is showing some strain from my attack. Even though it?s going to hurt, I pour extra energy into my spell. Reimu?s shield looks dangerously close to breaking. ?Neggrrh?? Reimu seems to be feeling under the weather as I slowly overwhelm her. ?YAAA!? The barrier shatters and my laser breaks through, slamming into Reimu, knocking her back. With both of us severely weakened, we breathe heavily. Still, as this is the battle to infinitely determine which of us is truly superior, I?m not going to give up and neither is she. I reach into my pocket to pull out another spell card, but? I don?t feel any others in there! This is the last one! Reimu pulls out a spell card, and says, ?Well, This is my last one?? ?What a coincidence,? I respond. Reimu smiles and says, ?Well? shall we put an end to this? The one this truly deserves?? ?Fine!? We both raise our final spell cards and simultaneously declare, ?Last Word!? Both of our bodies undergo a transformation. Black wings emerge out of my back as white wings emerge out of Reimu?s. The power in me explodes as we take to the sky. As I now have wings, I no longer need my broom to fly. We both move around at blinding speeds. Reimu?s gohei and my broom clash numerous times as we move about. Anyone watching us probably wouldn?t be able to detect our movement and only see the bursts of energy as our weapons clash. ?YYYAAAHHHHHHH!? Reimu and I charge at each other one last time and our weapons clash again, this time so hard that they snap in two. We discard our broken weapons and move on to using our energy attacks. Many large orbs of golden holy energy materialize around Reimu and fly toward me. I avoid some and others hit me rather hard, but I?m not weakened by much. I fire a magical laser at Reimu, though with the enormous increase in power, it?s now about as big and powerful as a Final Spark. My attack scores an indirect hit and we keep fighting, neither of us showing any signs of wearing down. Our battle continues for several minutes. Finally, Reimu yells, ?This is it, Marisa! Time to end this battle? and this dream! FANTASY HEAVEN!? Reimu spreads her arms and hundreds, literally, HUNDREDS (maybe approaching a thousand) of orbs of holy energy appear. It?s similar in nature to her Fantasy Orb spell, only with several times more orbs and each one is exponentially more powerful than normal! They fly toward me at such a speed I can?t even dodge! I?m bombarded mercilessly all over and the attack last for minutes with me unable to fight back. Reimu?s attack finally ends and she breathes quickly from such a heavy energy loss. ?Can you perform your move? after that?? That?s quite a dare. It?s not easy, as I was harmed pretty badly by that? but I can manage. I have the willpower for it! ?Of course? I can!? I spread my arms and declare, ?APOCALYPSE SPARK!? Several magic circles materialize around Reimu and each fires out a massive laser, all slightly more powerful than a Final Master Spark. Like I just was, Reimu get ruthlessly assaulted by numerous lasers from me, roughly 30 to 60 in number. Dark magical energy gathers into my hands and I finish the spell with a giant dark purple laser, stronger than the ones that were previously fired. It hits and the world around us turns into a white void once again, but only for a few seconds. When it clears, we are back in our original forms, our lives steadily draining away, back in the clearing. After many deep breaths, we charge at each other one last time. ?AHHHH!? We both throw a punch at the exact same time and both of our fists hit each other in the side of the face. There is a short pause, and then, in such perfect unison that it?s like looking into a mirror, we both slump to the ground. The world around us becomes a white void again, this time for good. We both revert to Starr and Kiribayashi, the weaknesses and injuries we sustained as Kirisame and Hakurei disappearing completely. Reimu smiles cheerfully, ?That was really fun, Marisa! I guess in the end, neither of us could surpass the other.? After a brief chuckle, I say, ?That?s the way it should be. I?m sure neither of us wanted a defeat that would last forever?? ?You have a point?? Reimu sighs, ?So this is it, huh, Marisa? The end of the dream?? ?It?s no dream,? I say, ?Gensokyo was an actual dimension. Some that were born of imagination became reality. In the end, it?s not just another fleeting fantasy.? ?True. So? we will meet again?? ?Well, as long as Yukari and the others have something to say about it, I?m sure.? Reimu chuckles a little, ?At first, I was so excited? but now I?m hesitant? I want to return to my life? but I don?t want to forget you and everyone else?? ?Even if you do, I?m sure we?ll remember at some point or another. Look at me, Reimu, remember all you did with me. Let my face be a reminder of me to you and all we?ve done, all our adventures!? ?? Marisa!? Reimu hugs, me, which I soon return. ?Let us move on, Reimu. We still have unfinished business where Gensokyo once was. This is not the end.? ?Yeah?? With that, Reimu fades from my sight. My head feels like it?s spinning. My memories start slipping away. Where was I? Who was I just talking to?? WAS I just talking to someone? Just what the hell just happened? ? ? ? ? ? I open my eyes. I find myself in an unfamiliar room in an uncomfortable bed. I try to sit up? Damn! I?m suddenly overcome by a horrible headache. What just happened? ? ? ? ? Oh yeah? I was hit by a truck that ran through a red light, and? Ah, so is this a hospital room? I feel my forehead, which is wrapped in bandages. Just how long was I out? However, something feels like it?s missing? Suddenly, a tear rolls down my face? but why? I survived the accident! I should be happy? but somehow, it feels like I forgot something important. Oh well, at least I?ll have time to think about it? I hear voices on the other end of the door. An unfamiliar deep male voice says, ?Mr. and Mrs. Starr, your daughter?s condition is stabilizing. She was out for awhile, but in the end, she was able to pull through. She is truly fortunate.? I hear my relieved mother?s voice say, ?Thank God! I was so worried!? Looks like thing will be alright for me? but still, something feels? unfinished. Could it be my imagination, or? === In the Netherworld, Yukari explains the events that had transpired to Yuyuko and Youmu. ?I see,? says Yuyuko, ?It?s great to see that those poor girls managed to recover? but even so, I can?t help but feel that we?ve abandoned Kaguya and Mokou?? ?Don?t worry,? says Yukari, ?I have an idea. It may take a little time and there are no guarantees, but there may still be hope left for them.? ?I see?? Yuyuko turns to Youmu, ?Youmu, will you help Yukari out?? Youmu asks, ?But what about you, Yuyuko-sama? I must be by your side to protect you!? Yuyuko says, ?Gensokyo is gone. Any threat that may befall me would be from there, but the Netherworld is now a standalone realm. I should be quite safe from now on. Besides, I also have the Prismrivers and Mima to protect me.? Youmu bows to her mistress, ?That is true. Very well, I shall assist Yukari in her goal.?

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