~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

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

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Valesta: On the other end of the portal, we emerge in a room. The walls and ceiling are white and the floor is made up of white and blue tiles. In the back of the room, there is a large rectangle-shaped window with blue curtains spread open, allowing the sunlight from the outside in. Outside, there are several tower-like structures and below, there are gray roads with several metal and glass contraptions moving around on wheels. There is not a lot of furniture in the room, except for a table with a green vase of flowers, with some bouquets leaning against it and some paper cranes. There is another table with another contraption on it (Rinnosuke would like this place), with something on it that looks like zigzags and a wire leading to a bed, which lays parallel to the window. I notice there?s someone lying in the bed: It?s a girl, probably in her late teens, with long black hair. I can?t tell the color of her eyes, since they?re closed. Even so, I recognize this girl! Sure, she?s wearing a sailor suit type of school uniform and she has some bandages wrapped around her head, but she is definitely? Reimu! ?Reimu!? I cry out, ?How is this possible? She?s in Gensokyo, acting all weird and stuff! How can she be here, in this strange place?? ?Quite the turn,? comments Alice. Yukari explains, ?The girl you are looking at is not Reimu Hakurei. Her name is Reimu Kiribayashi. Hakurei is nothing more than a persona.? ?A persona?? asks Sakuya. ?Just what is this girl?? asks Kaguya. Yukari says, ?You know how Gensokyo is known as a dream world, right?? ??? We all nod. Yukari smiles slightly, ?Well, it most certainly is a dream world? in every sense of the word.? ?Huh?? ?Gensokyo, in all its form and splendor, originated right?? Yukari points at Reimu?s forehead ?? here.? Alice confirms, ?So you?re saying Gensokyo was this girl?s dream? People born there, like me, were all a part of that dream?? What Mima said is starting to make sense! If it was all a dream, then Gensokyo really was a thought and everyone a figment, but there is still so much that doesn?t add up? Kaguya states, ?But those of us that hadn?t disappeared? we all got to Gensokyo, but if it was just a dream, how can that be possible? It should all be a thought, which no one can physically enter.? Yukari says, ?Even though I have control over boundaries, even I don?t know their nature? what triggers them into being?? Mokou looks at Reimu ?Kiribayashi?s? bandages, ?So what happened to her? Why is she like this?? Yukari answers, ?An accident, apparently. I did some research: 7 months ago, Reimu got into that accident, which knocked her into a coma; a deep sleep. In that period, Gensokyo was born. Gensokyo is like this girl?s dream. As Reimu Hakurei, she was like the central character of a story taking place in a world of her creation.? ??? There is a long silence between us. Kaguya looks out at the futuristic cityscape beyond the room?s window, ?What is this place? Another realm apparently, but?? Yukari answers, ?We are in a hospital in a country called Japan? Ah!? Yukari realizes something, looking at Kaguya and Mokou. Mokou?s eyes widen, ?THIS is Japan? I can?t believe it!? ?What about it?? asks Alice. Kaguya answers, ?Mokou and I used to live here. Of course, it looked nothing like what it does now. It was back in a feudal era, where?? Kaguya realizes something herself, ?Yukari, what you said about Gensokyo coming into being because of this girl?s dream can?t be true! You took me and Eirin to Gensokyo way back then, and Mokou sometime after that. I imagine that was long before ?Reimu Kiribayashi? was even born!? Yukari closes her eyes, ?The nature of dreams is a mysterious thing. When you?ve dreamt, have you ever felt like an eternity had passed in an instant in real time, or a dream instant had lasted for many real hours? Dreams defy all logic? and even time itself when Gensokyo came into being.? ?What do you mean?? asks Sakuya. ?Gensokyo had existed for many of thousands of years. During the early stages of that time, people like me were born. However, to Reimu, it was all setting the stage for her time in the spotlight. To her consciousness, I imagine the time before her existence in Gensokyo was all fast-forwarded, but to all other beings, that time moved naturally. The boundary created by her dream created another line of history to exist alongside other realms?? I?m shocked, ?You?re saying SHE created history through a dream? That?s crazy!? Yukari states, ?The creation of boundaries, in all of its mystery, even history is a trivial thing that becomes easily changed. What one believes one day can be warped and twisted for the next.? Is everything I believe really what it used to be? Could it have been, changed without me consciously being aware of it? Thankfully, Mokou cuts into the sci-fi twist that whole situation had just taken, ?Okay, so this Reimu had created Gensokyo through a dream, and with that, a history that me and Kaguya joined into at one point. Am I right so far?? ?Yes,? answers Yukari. ?Princess here, Eirin, Reisen, Sakuya, and I were not a part of the ?dream,? so we weren?t affected by what is happening in Gensokyo?? ?You?re still right,? says Yukari. ?So WHY is Gensokyo ending? Why is everyone disappearing?? I have a guess to Mokou?s question, but I decide to let Yukari answer. She points at the machine with the zigzags that form. They are long lines and sharp curves, ?That?s why. This Reimu is recovering; waking up from the coma? and the dream that is Gensokyo. The moment she wakes up is the moment Gensokyo ends. Right now, she?s beginning to regain her consciousness, which is why Gensokyo is slowly, but surely, falling apart.? Sakuya says, ?So if she doesn?t wake up, Gensokyo will be revived and everyone, including Remilia-sama, will return?? ?I would imagine so,? answers Yukari. ?It could be done right now, then?? Sakuya draws a knife and points it down at the sleeping Reimu. Shocked, I yell, ?Sakuya, what the hell are you doing?? Sakuya answers, ?If I do this, she won?t awaken. Remilia-sama and my friends will return and Reimu, as I know and love her, will return as well.? Mokou protests, ?What you?re doing is trying to kill an injured comatose girl! There has to be another way!? ?But this is?? Sakuya?s arm trembles, then she stops, ?I can?t, even if she isn?t the Reimu I know. Even though she threatens to end everything and everyone, she still created Gensokyo as well!? Sakuya slumps to the floor sobbing, ?Reimu? if only I knew what you really wanted?? Yukari states, ?Killing this Reimu won?t solve anything. She needs a consciously living mind to sustain Gensokyo.? I ask, ?Hey, Yukari. Do you know why Reimu was acting weird before? She wasn?t herself at all. It was creepy?? Yukari guesses, ?I believe that?s Reimu Kiribayashi?s will upon awakening leaking through her persona, Reimu Hakurei. Her true presence is reemerging, but I don?t know why she would act as unusual as you say. I?d estimate she?s was speaking out of pure confusion?? Sakuya dries her tears and asks, ?Is there anything we can do to keep this Reimu from waking up, without killing her?? Yukari answers, ?Well? there is the boundary between Dreams and Awakening. However, I can only access that from the Netherworld?? ?Then we should go there!? I announce, ?That?s the key to saving Gensokyo and everyone!? Yukari?s eyes turn to the side, as if she?s conflicted by something, ?I? I suppose.? Alice asks Yukari, ?Something I?m curious about? Do all dreams create realms? Are there other places like Gensokyo?? Yukari answers, ?No, actually. Gensokyo was a? unique case?? ?How so?? asks Kaguya. ?Concentrated energies,? answers Yukari. ?A dream so great that it broke beyond the boundaries of the individual mind. Of course, that?s well beyond the power of a single person?? I ask, ?Are you saying someone else is also responsible for this?? Yukari answers, ?Yes and no. Reimu was the original dreamer, and thus, created and had power over Gensokyo, but there is another, through whom enough thought energy was generated to create a realm from the dream.? ?Who would that be?? asks Alice. ?I will show you?? Yukari opens another portal. We step through and end up in another white room. However, while the room Reimu is in was somewhat homey, this one is a lot more depressing. There are no windows and the room itself is lit only by a few dim lights from the ceiling. A side of the room is occupied by a counter covered with needles, bottles of stuff, bandages, and a lot of other stuff with a purpose beyond my understanding. Yukari explains, ?This is another hospital located in another part of this realm called ?Los Angeles.?? In the middle of the room, though, there is a bed with white sheets and there is another girl in that bed. We look over and we simultaneously gasp. She has wavy blonde hair and is wearing a white gown. The girl in that bed is? me! She has injuries similar to Reimu?s. ?It?s another Marisa!? yells Alice. ?Yeah,? says Mokou, ?This is getting weirder?? ?What the hell IS this?? I demand of Yukari. Yukari answers, ?You?re a lot like Reimu. You too have been living in the dream world that is Gensokyo, while your true self has been sleeping here. This is Marisa Starr. ?Marisa Kirisame? is also a persona.? I look at my hands, saying, ?I?m? just a product of THIS girl?s thoughts?? Yukari?s eyes turn to the side ?? Yes?? ?I can?t believe it!? says the wide-eyed Alice. I can?t believe it either! I want to think this is a joke, but looking at the other Marisa is like looking into a mirror and it?s hard to deny a possible connection, ?But? I don?t remember being this person? I remember living my entire life in Gensokyo?? Yukari says, ?Of course you don?t. You are the same, and yet you are different. This girl?s life, upon experiencing an accident, at almost the same exact time as Reimu, had been put on hold? and began anew in the dream world of Gensokyo.? ?But it was Reimu?s dream, wasn?t it?? asks Kaguya. ?Yes,? answers Yukari, ?and as a result of that, Gensokyo?s very foundations revolve around her, but Marisa, as I said, got injured and went into a deep coma at virtually the same exact time as Reimu did on the other side of this world. In fact, the time difference was only a few seconds. It took me some time to gather that information. Now I don?t know what happened exactly, but it seems apparent to me that somehow, Marisa?s mind crossed with Reimu?s. She became a part of Reimu?s dream and that focusing of two minds broke the boundary of the dream and created something that was more than a mere dream: Gensokyo.? I?m a little confused, but I think I understand what Yukari?s point is: ?You?re saying that I?m like Gensokyo?s other creator?? Yukari answers, ?It was Reimu that shaped the world, but it was you who unknowingly helped her in creating a whole new realm.? I put my hand over my forehead, ?Wow?? Everything we learned is hard to accept and just as hard to absorb. An eerie silence fills the room. Yukari asks, after a few minutes, ?What are you going to do, Marisa? Reimu and you are dreaming at the same time and I?ve heard you? Marisa Starr, that is, is starting to show signs of recovery. I?d imagine that the end of Reimu?s dream will also be the end of your dream. You will both return to this world, and like so many other dreams, forget about or have very vague memories of Gensokyo and everything you did, as you return to life in this realm.? I close my eyes, ?If it?s as you say, then awakening is the way it should be?? Sakuya gives me a sympathetic look, ?Marisa?? I open my eyes, ?But as far as I?m concerned, Gensokyo is the one and only world I?ve ever known and I have precious memories and made friends that I care about? that I want back! I have no desire for this world! I want to continue living as Marisa Kirisame and I will stop Reimu to keep the only life I understand!? Perhaps I?m only speaking through the fact that I can?t understand the perspective of the other me, but I feel I should stick with what I believe in. Yukari sighs and responds, ?Very well, Marisa. You can certainly try to accomplish your task.? Sakuya says, ?Well then, let?s go to the Netherworld. If the situation is truly getting there, it won?t be long until Reimu awakens. You said the boundary between Dreams and Awakening is only accessible from there.? ?Yes,? says Yukari, ?We should get going?? Yukari opens a portal, which she, Sakuya, Alice, Mokou, and Kaguya enter. I look back at Marisa Starr, my other self in a deep sleep. It doesn?t feel fair that I can only exist if she never wakes up. I enter the portal myself. We emerge from the portal. Around us, there are small chunks of land floating above a black void. Below us is a large crater, which I imagine was filled with water, but was drained dry. Up above, there are clouds swirling toward one round point in the sky. I realize that this is not the Netherworld. To confirm my suspicions, I look in Yukari and Alice?s direction. Sure enough, they are fading. We?re back in Gensokyo? but how? Yukari realizes the situation and opens a portal, which she enters, but doesn?t leave through, ?Alice! Get in here! I don?t know how, but we?re back in Gensokyo! This will keep you from disappearing!? ?Y-yes!? Alice enters the portal with Yukari, becoming opaque again. Mokou looks around, ?What the hell?? Kaguya comments, ?Gensokyo looks worse than ever! We don?t have much time left?? Sakuya asks, ?But how did Yukari?s portal take us here? I thought we were going to the Netherworld?? The point that the clouds are swirling around up above is Gensokyo?s gate, which leads to the Netherworld. Below, there used to be a lake, which I once fought Alice above. ?Teehehehehe!? We hear a creepy laugh, which I remember very well. We look up and see Reimu, with her empty eyes and white outfit, saying, ?I merely manipulated Gensokyo?s boundary to redirect you here. I want to have some fun before I go!? ?Reimu!?

Valesta: ?Teehehe!? Reimu extends her arm and fires several blasts of white energy at us, which we dodge. ?Reimu!? I yell, ?I know who you are? what Gensokyo is!? Reimu?s eyes narrow, ?Oh?? ?You?re a mental product of a girl named Reimu Kiribayashi! She was knocked into a coma and dreamt of Gensokyo. So was, I, making this place into an actual realm!? Reimu claps her hands slowly, ?Very good, Marisa... My ?co-creator.? You?ve done your homework, I see. Yes, I am the persona of Reimu Kiribayashi, age 17, from Japan, only daughter of an ordinary working-class family, and student at Yumakura High School, senior class. Soon, all those things shall be mine once again. Soon this lie that I?ve been living will be erased forever.? Reimu glances at Yukari, ?I take it you revealed that to them, Yukari. You certainly are an unusual figment. One in an infinite, I?d say. I?m amazed I created you.? ?Lie?? yells Sakuya, ?Is that truly what you think of all you?ve gone through here? What do you think of me?? Reimu answers, ?A foreign element.? She glances at Kaguya and Mokou, ?You two as well. You never should have come and lived here. Everything you?ve loved about this place was nothing more than a result of an active imagination. You shall be condemned for performing such unnatural acts.? ?Even if I am,? yells Sakuya, ?I won?t just write off everything about this place I love off as an untruth! Even if Remilia-sama and the others were figments of Kiribayashi?s imagination, they were precious to me! What I felt with them? what I experienced! It was real! The feeling I had could not be faked! And you, Reimu! For you? I?ve felt no different? no? you were special to me in a different way? Reimu Hakurei was a kind person who didn?t take herself too seriously, wanted to live life her own way, easygoing, yet genuinely caring for her friends, was compassionate enough to understand what others were going through, and was powerful, yet endlessly forgiving, even becoming friends with those that were her mortal enemies! Before I met her, I was considered to be Remilia?s mindless follower, and before that, a cold-blooded hunter, but she were the first to acknowledge me as a real person! She was also the only other person I?ve felt so strongly about, other than Remilia-sama?? Sakuya looks intensely at Reimu, blushing slightly, ?I? I really like you, Reimu! You may act different now, but behind all of that, I know there is the one?? Reimu stares at Sakuya for a few seconds. Even though Sakuya was always obedient to Remilia, Reimu was the one subject where the two of them had differences regarding. Remilia had an adorable crush on Reimu since we defeated her when she unleashed the mist. Apparently, Sakuya, in spite of knowing how her mistress felt, also developed feeling for Reimu herself, causing the normally inseparable pair to clash on occasions. A smirk crosses Reimu?s lips, ?How moving, Sakuya. You?ve clearly poured out your heart and feelings. However, that doesn?t change the fact that? Reimu Hakurei was never a real person. Your feelings are directed toward nothing more than an illusion. Something inexistent. Still, those were rather entertaining sentiments. Teehehe!? ?Ugh!? Tears pour out of Sakuya?s eyes as she grips her chest tightly. I glare at Reimu. Even if what she said was true, she had gone too far and Sakuya?s affections were truly pure. How could she look down on us to such a degree? I can?t believe she was once the kind girl Sakuya described. Apparently, my disbelief was not just my own. Mokou yells, ?Damn you, Reimu! How could you say that? Do you even understand what you are doing?? Reimu smiles, ?Of course. I?m having fun with a part of my dream world. Even if she is not of my world, she became a part of it and I can do what I want with my ?toys.? That includes you too, Mokou.? ?ARGH!? In her rage, Mokou sends a wave of fire at Reimu, who forms an invisible shield around her protecting her. Mokou?s fist ignites and she flies toward Reimu, preparing to throw a punch, ?Go to hell!? ?Hmph.? Reimu warps a foot to the side, dodging Mokou?s attack, then grabs the immortal?s arm. Reimu smiles, ?My toy. So easy to break?? Energy flows through Reimu?s arm into Mokou?s. ?AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!? Mokou howls in agony as the energy flows through her right arm. Reimu lets go and warps a few feet away. In that instant, Mokou?s arm explodes in a gruesome explosion of flesh, bone, and blood. ?UUUGGHH?? Mokou clutches the place where her right arm used to be with her left hand. ?Mokou!? yells Kaguya. I float in place, completely appalled. Sakuya, in her own despair, didn?t even notice. Alice covers her mouth, retching in disgust. Yukari?s eyes narrow at Reimu. Reimu floats in place with a guiltless smile, ?That will show you your place.? An invisible force pushes Mokou back. ?D-damn?? whimpers Mokou. I float over to Yukari, whispering, ?Yukari, take Alice and Mokou and go ahead to Hakugyokurou. The rest of us will keep Reimu distracted so she can?t control the boundary at the same time.? ?What about you?? asks Alice. I answer, ?We?ll go the long way. With luck, maybe we can get Reimu to revive Gensokyo. We may have a chance.? ?Okay,? says Yukari. I tell Mokou, ?Mokou, you?re hurt! Go with Yukari. The rest of us can handle this!? Mokou responds, ?No way, Marisa! I?m still fighting! I can deal with it. I?ve lost my arm before and I?ve still beaten Kaguya.? ?That?s a lie,? says Kaguya with a pout. ?Well I?m sure I came close?? responds the exposed Mokou. ?True?? I yell to Reimu, ?Reimu! We?ll do whatever it takes to save Gensokyo, even if it means forcing you from leaving!? Reimu spreads her arms, ?Try it! Know that I am Gensokyo and Gensokyo is me! If you cross me, you cross every force Gensokyo has to offer!? Reimu draws a spell card, declaring, ?Remilia Sign!? An aura shaped like Remilia Scarlet?s silhouette surrounds Reimu. Sakuya snaps out of her trance, ?What? Remilia-sama?? The rest of us are surprised as well. Reimu, appearing to be amused by our reactions, smirks and draws a second spell card, ?Scarlet Sign: Scarlet Shoot!? Reimu extends her right arm and fires a volley of blood-red orbs at us. We barely dodge. I counterattack by firing a large blast of green magic, but Reimu fires one last orb, intercepting my attack. During that time, Yukari closes her portal, escaping with Alice. Sakuya looks at Reimu, wide-eyed, ?What was that, Reimu? That was one of Remilia-sama?s techniques!? Reimu says, like she?s proud of herself, ?I told you, didn?t I? I have every force Gensokyo has to offer! Everyone, who had vanished, returning to my mind, have powers that I now wield! I would have loved to have added Yukari and Alice to that repertoire, but oh well, I have more than enough to render all of you powerless against the might I wield.? Mokou draws a spell card, yelling, ?Screw you! I can handle anything you can deal!? Reimu says calmly, ?If that?s so, Mokou, then why did you foolishly attack me, losing your arm in the process?? Mokou stammers, ?Sh-shut up! You won?t catch me off guard again! Immortal!? A fiery aura, in the shape of a bird forms around Mokou, ?Fire Bird -Flying Phoenix-!? Several flames, in the shape of birds, materialize around Mokou and fly toward Reimu, who pulls two spell cards from her pocket. ?Nitori Sign!? the shape of Reimu?s Remilia-aura shifts into that of Nitori Kawashiro, a kappa engineer responsible for building a massive shrine into Youkai Mountain, who can control water. ?Water Sign: Hydro Camouflage!? Using one of Nitori?s techniques, several magic circles appear around Reimu and each fires out a sizable jet of water, extinguishing Mokou?s firebirds. At the same time, Reimu blends in with her surroundings. ?Dammit!? growls Mokou. Kaguya provides support for her rival and prepares a spell card of her own, ?New Impossible Request: Shining Trapezohedron!? Several blades of light appear in front of the princess and fly all around, searching for the hidden Reimu. Finally, one hits Reimu?s shield, revealing her location. ?There!? The other blades change course and home in on where the first blade hit. At the same time, Sakuya and I back up Kaguya?s attack. ?Love Sign: Master Spark!? I fire my massive magical laser at Reimu?s location. ?Illusion Sign: Killing Doll!? Several knives materialize around Sakuya and fly toward Reimu?s location in a concentrated formation. Our attacks hit, blocked by Reimu?s shield, which soon shatters, revealing her form at the same time. Her aura vanishes and she rears back, stunned. Mokou grins, ?Got you now, bitch!? Her entire body ignites (probably to make sure there are no accidents this time) and she flies straight at Reimu, delivering a flaming left-handed punch to the side of her face. However, Reimu?s reaction to the attack was minimal and as Mokou?s fist presses against her face, her eyes turn toward her attacker, indicating no signs of pain. After a few seconds, she laughs, ?Teehehehe! You?re so weak, Mokou? all of you! You?re fighting Gensokyo itself!? Reimu?s body pulses with energy and sends Mokou flying back again. She prepares another two spell cards, ?Suwako Sign!? Reimu?s aura appears again, this time in the form of Suwako Moriya, a goddess from the other side of Gensokyo, who was sealed until recently. ?Divine Tool: Moreya's Iron Ring!? Disks of red energy materialize in Reimu?s hands and she tosses them at us. Kaguya draws another spell card, ?Divine Treasure!? Five small objects materialize around the princess as she flies in front of us, each glowing with silver energy: A stone bowl, a jeweled branch, a red cloak, a rainbow-colored shell, and a necklace of many valuable stones, ?Buddhist Diamond!? A massive clear shield forms in front of Kaguya, which the disks harmlessly bounce off of. Magic circles appear on the shield and fire lasers at Reimu, who dodges to the side, drawing two more spell cards. ?Meiling Sign!? The Suwako-aura takes Meiling?s shape, ?Colorful Flower: Rainbow Taijiquan!? Colorful chi gathers in Reimu?s hands and legs as she flies around Kaguya?s counterattack, with enhanced speed, preventing the rest of us from backing Kaguya up, and toward the shield. She delivers a series of powerful punches, then kicks, creating large cracks in the shield, and finally finishes her combo with a final punch, breaking through the shield and sinking into Kaguya?s gut. ?ACK!? Kaguya coughs out blood, as she slowly backs away from Reimu. ?Princess!? yells Mokou. Sakuya says, ?Forgive me,? then tosses several knives, but Reimu, still under the effects of Meiling?s spell card, skillfully deflects each knife. Reimu draws another spell card, ?Colorful Sign: Colorful Rain!? Reimu fires a blast of chi upward, which bursts above us can comes raining down as small blades. While we try our best to dodge, a few still manage to hit all of us, leaving us somewhat weakened as a result. Sakuya admits, ?She?s too powerful! She?s not the same Reimu at all?? ?Yeah,? agrees Mokou, ?She?s nothing like the one we?ve come to know, personality OR ability?? Kaguya says, ?We are completely within Reimu?s clutches while we are here. Reimu has complete control over this realm! THIS is the power of an awakening dreamer within her mind?? Reimu draws two more spell cards, ?Keine Sign!? Reimu?s Meiling-aura shifts into that of Keine, a school teacher who lived in a human-populated village, who transformed into a monster on full moons. A friend of Mokou?s. ?Shroud Sign: Rain in Showa!? Reimu follows through on her aerial attack and several magic circles appear high above and many laser pour down. I draw a spell card, intending to counter Reimu?s attack, ?Light Blast!? Several magic circles appear around and below me, ?Shoot the Moon!? The magic circles fires lasers upward as an attack that is similar to Reimu?s technique, but goes up instead of down. The lasers clash with one another, canceling each other out. Only a few of Reimu?s lasers pass through, but we dodge them with ease. Sakuya follows up with a spell card, ?Silver Sign!? Several knives materialize around the maid, aimed at Reimu, ?Perfect Maid!? The knives fly toward Reimu, who teleports through the swarm. Mokou readies a spell card of her own as Sakuya?s attack was in progress, ?Exalted Personage!? Mokou?s bird-like aura appears, ?Advice of St. Germain!? Several wisps of fire fly from Mokou?s hand and home in on Reimu, who takes evasive action. However, Mokou?s flames are too numerous and Reimu gets hit and stunned by one, then bombarded by the rest. ?Gotcha!? ?Ugh!? Kaguya fires several blasts of silver energy at Reimu as she?s stunned by Mokou?s attack. The smoke clears, however, only Reimu?s clothes show signs of harm. Her expression and posture show no signs of wear. She laughs, ?Teehehehe! It?s no good. I have all the energy of Gensokyo in and around me! My wounds only take mere seconds to heal from those tenth-rate spells?? She?s right. Whatever damage we had inflicted on her had shortly disappeared. Hell, even as she?s talking, her clothes start to mend themselves ?? and my stamina is unlimited! I can use all the spell cards I please, but not get tired. As for the rest of you?? Reimu notices how worn out the rest of us have become. Between the battle, getting damaged, and using spell card, we?ve started to become pretty weary. Is Reimu really invincible?

Valesta: ?Damn it?? whispers Mokou under her breath, ?No matter what we do, we?re completely outclassed?? ?Within one?s own mind?? observes Kaguya, ?It?s like confronting a god?? Sakuya says, ?We have to get OUR Reimu back somehow! Is this solving anything?? I point out, ?Well, if we knock her out, Gensokyo?s crumbling may stop. Or we could weaken her somehow. She?s too caught up with her awakening to listen to us?? Kaguya asks, ?But how do we weaken her? We?ve used so many of our best techniques? and?? Kaguya seemed to realize something. ?Hold on, we have one last shot: Our most powerful techniques, surpassing everything else we?re capable of. It?s a long shot, but it?s worth a try.? Kaguya nods at Mokou and Mokou nods back, both with solemn expressions on their faces. They both pull spell cards out of their pocket. I have a guess on what they?re planning. Reimu says, arrogantly, ?So what futile attempt should I expect this time? Have you not realized that it?s worthless the way I am right now? After all, you?re only my toys while you?re here!? Kaguya retorts, ?Well each ?toy? is known to have a share of hazards to children, Reimu!? Reimu raises an eyebrow, ?Hm?? Kaguya and Mokou both raises their spell cards at the same time, declaring, ?Last Word!? Last Words are the coup de grace of spell cards, vastly surpassing all other spells and techniques a person can cast or execute. The difference is noticeable right away as the casters? appearances change slightly after the initial declaration. Two flaming wings emerge from Mokou?s back, spanning several feet. Kaguya glows with brilliant golden light. When the light disappears, her clothes change to a white gown with blue and silver highlights, long sleeves, and complete with a silver tiara, making Kaguya look more like a princess than she normally does. Last Word was originally a mystery, but after its discovery, many of us sought to master these spells in order to counter the invasion of the Lunarians, who didn?t know of such powers. While these spells represent the ultimate power of their respective wielders, there is a major trade-off: the caster dies. It makes little difference to people like Kaguya, Mokou, and Eirin, who are immortal and only come back to life an hour after using their Last Words, but everyone else needs to drink a potion, created by Eirin, prior to casting the spell, which barely preserves the person?s life, leaving them temporarily unconscious afterward. Considering Last Words operate on a person?s life force, rather than their physical energy, like with all other spell cards, they are strictly a last resort. Mokou declares, ?Phoenix Rebirth!? Intense flames envelop Mokou, taking the shape of a large firebird with long blue feathers extending from its head and glowing white eyes, potentially becoming like a phoenix.. Kaguya declares her spell too, ?Rainbow Facet!? A bright stone materializes in Kaguya?s hand her body radiates rainbow-colored energy. Mokou, as a phoenix flies toward Reimu as Kaguya hold her hand out and sends fires a salvo of massive energy bursts, leaving trails of multi-colored light in their wake. Reimu raises two spell cards as Mokou closes in on her, ?Yuka Sign!? Reimu?s aura takes the shape of Yuka Kazami, which, by now, we know indicates she?s about to use one of Yuka?s spell cards, ?Duel Spell: Twin Spark!? Reimu suddenly splits into two images of herself, one being fake. Mokou, during her pass, breathes a stream of intense fire at one image, which only passes through it, making it the fake. Kaguya?s attack also passes through. The two Reimus turn toward Mokou and extend their arms, releasing two massive lasers, slamming into the phoenix. ?Ugh!? Mokou reels as the attack hits. ?Gr?? Kaguya sends another flurry of bursts at the other Reimu, who dodges the first few, but gets hit hard by the subsequent attacks. ?Ugh!? As Reimu is stunned, Mokou takes advantage of her state and prepares a second attack. She wraps her wings around Reimu and her body flares up, burning her all over. ?AHHHHH!? Mokou completes the attack by kicking Reimu in Kaguya?s direction and breathing another stream of flame into her back. Kaguya powers up for one final attack, as Mokou follows through, charging at the reeling Reimu. Kaguya?s body becomes completely energized with rainbow-energy and she charges as well at an immense speed. Sakuya and I watch on in awe. C?mon, this HAS to do it! I?m not expecting them to destroy her or anything, but at least knock her unconscious! The two attacks connect and there is a large explosion, leaving a cloud of smoke too thick for me to see what?s happening in there. Suddenly, at the bottom, I see Kaguya and Mokou falling, too weak to even fly at this point. ?Kaguya!? I ride down after them. They?re done for if they fall into the dark void below. ?Mokou!? Sakuya chases after them as well. How could I have been so stupid? I should have known they wouldn?t have any power left to fly above the void, and I was ignorant of that fact until it was too late! They?re too close to the void for me to make it in time now! Sakuya can freeze time, but she?s never done anything that involved moving anyone or anything, so I don?t know if she?s capable of helping them, even with that ability. Even though it is futile, I continue to chase them and Sakuya prepares a spell card, even though it?s questionable if she could help, as they?re too close to the void at this point. ?Don?t bother?? says Mokou weakly. ?What?? yell Sakuya and I at the same time. Kaguya says, ?We?ll only slow you down at this point. If you want to help us, get Gensokyo back to normal! I?d imagine it would revive around us. We?ll be okay if you do that!? Mokou says, somewhat unsure of herself, ?Um? That?s right! Just get Reimu back to normal! Don?t worry about us!? I don?t want to admit it, but they?re right. Their best chance is Gensokyo?s revival. Both Sakuya and I stop as both rivals disappear into the blackness. I grit my teeth as we turn back in Reimu?s direction. Well, it seems their attacks worked. She?s bleeding in several areas and is breathing faster. Reimu forces a smirk, ?Heh. They should have known that wouldn?t defeat me? and now they are doomed to float in a non-existent space. What a pitiful waste of life!? Kaguya! Mokou! I promise I?ll find a way to return Reimu and Gensokyo back to normal! Your sacrifices won?t be for nothing! Sakuya attacks Reimu by charging at her, tossing several knives as Reimu prepares another spell card, ?Aya Sign!? An aura forms around Reimu in the shape of Aya Shameimaru, a tengu reporter with power over wind. Her reports often poked fun at Reimu, so there had been a lot of enmity between them. It?s weird to see Reimu using her powers. I guess it?s clear who ultimately came up on top in their rivalry. Instead of using one of Aya?s spell cards in particular, however, Reimu simply sends a strong gust of wind at Sakuya?s knives, reflecting them back at the maid. ?AH!? Sakuya attempts to guard herself, but she still gets cut a number of times by her own weapons, and is left bleeding in several places, blood dripping into the void below. I draw a spell card, ?Comet!? Blue energy flows into my broom, ?Blazing Star!? Moving rapidly, I fly toward Reimu, intending to ram her. However, Reimu reacts very fast and has enough time to declare a spell card, ?Wind Sign: Wind God?s Fan!? Reimu releases a powerful gust of wind, which I manage to break through, though it still severely minimizes the power of my attack. I crash into her, sends her reeling, but she recovers very fast and knocks me back, near Sakuya, with a blast of wind. Reimu prepares another spell card, ?Wind God: Storm Day!? Chilly wind starts to spiral around, soon to result in a tornado. I grab Sakuya?s hand and try to get us to the outside of the wind?s zone, when suddenly, the wind stops. ?Huh?? We look toward Reimu, who has a serene expression on her face, ?It?s? almost time?? I ask, ?What are you talking about, Reimu.? Reimu says, ?The time is not far off, Marisa. I?m recovering. My awakening is mere hours away. It?s the end for Gensokyo, and Marisa, no matter where you go, you will wake up the moment I do. You may believe in who you are right now, but it?s not your true self. Do accept that fact in the time you have remaining. Farewell.? With that, Reimu disappears into thin air. Frigid winds blow around in the now-desolate Gensokyo. The piece of land we were above starts to crumble. Sakuya says, ?We can think about this later! She said this is the end for Gensokyo! If that?s true, we have to get to the Netherworld NOW!? I reluctantly nod as the suction from the void starts to strengthen. We fly up toward the sky into the point the clouds swirl around, entering a dark tunnel of clouds. At the end, we reach four pillars with a gate beyond them and a barrier in front of the gate. We fly up and over the barrier and through the gateway. At the other side of the gateway, the scenery is greatly different and improved from that of Gensokyo, like it has ?stability,? as we are now at the edge of the Netherworld, but we are not in the clear yet. Before us lies a very long stone staircase, which is the point where Gensokyo and the Netherworld connect, meaning this area is partly Gensokyo?s. We fly up the stairs as fast as we can, not knowing how much time we have before this area starts disappearing. Along the way, Sakuya, sweating heavily from her injuries inflicted by Reimu, asks, ?Marisa? Reimu said? she only had a few hours left? until awakening??? ?Yes,? I answer with a nod. ?Where she disappeared to? could it be? that boundary between Dreams and Awakening? Yukari mentioned?? ?That would be a safe bet, I imagine. We gotta get to Hakugyokurou very soon and find Yukari.? Suddenly, we see something gaining on us from behind: a wave of darkness swallowing the area behind us, ?Shit! This area is starting to vanish as well! We gotta hurry!? Sakuya wearily pulls a spell card from her pocket, which has a slightly different characters than her others, ?You go ahead, Marisa, I can?t handle this much longer. I?m fading fast?? I grab Sakuya?s arm, ?C?mon, Sakuya! Just hop on! I?ll take us up!? ?No, I?ll slow you down and we?ll get caught by that void for sure. Listen to me carefully, Marisa. You have to get to Hakugyokurou, find Yukari, and get Reimu back. We?ve lost too many to fail now. I?ll give you one last helping of my energy. You have 45 minutes! Please go!? ?Sakuya, you can?t_? Before I can finish my sentence, Sakuya breaks free of my grip and declares, ?Chrono Sign!? Silver energy swirls around her, which she then sends over to me, ?Silence Elongate!? The world around me becomes monochrome and eerily silent. Everything had stopped in their tracks, except me. I realize what Sakuya had done: she passed the energy of her spell card to me, so I get the benefits of it. I?ve seen her use that particular spell before. According to her, it freezes time for a period of 45 minutes of the user?s time, an effective way to get ahead when under a time limit. So this is what it?s like when Sakuya freezes time, huh? That means she gave me 45 minutes to go ahead to Hakugyokurou. Even so, I refuse to leave Sakuya behind. I put my arm around the frozen Sakuya and say, ?C?mon, even though you want me to go alone, I?ll just take you with me anyway! We have time!? I try to move, but Sakuya won?t budge a millimeter, even though she?s flying like me. On top of that, her entire body is harder than steel. I realize why she can?t move anything, other than herself, when freezing time and why she didn?t just stab someone in their suspended animation during a battle. With no options at all, I can only do what Sakuya asked me to do. ?? Thank you, Sakuya?? I fly ahead, my tears staining the stairs behind me, like Sakuya?s blood had been before. I can?t fail! I won?t fail! It?s like Sakuya said: We?ve lost too many to fail now? and now I?ve lost another. It?s my most dramatic loss yet. Next to Reimu and Alice, Sakuya is one of my closest friends. It was two years ago, but it doesn?t feel that long. When Sakuya and I had entered this place for the first time, Sakuya was completely focused on her mission, which was to get spring back at the time, and the solution was in Hakugyokurou. She apparently felt Reimu and I were slowing her down, so she used the spell, which I am currently under, to go ahead and ditch us. I was pissed off about that. Yet now, Sakuya did something noble and used that same spell so I could get ahead. She had changed since then, and even acknowledged Reimu, Alice, Youmu, and me as her ?friends? after we defeated Mokou. I didn?t fully appreciate that change until now. I zoom ahead, making the best of Sakuya?s final act. Goodbye, Sakuya?

Valesta: When time resumes, I am several miles ahead of the wave of darkness. Behind me, it doesn?t look as frightening as it did up close. It won?t catch up to me anytime soon and, as I?ve ascended these stairs quite a few times before, I should be pretty close to the gardens? And I?m right! I reach Hakugyokurou in no more than 15 minutes after Sakuya?s spell ends. Before me, there is a massive sea of pink, with some brown and green. That?s always the most noticeable feature about Hakugyokurou: Its gardens. There are countless cherry blossom trees, the air and ground filled with pink petals. Among all that, there are ghosts, some as transparent beings, and others as wisps (I guess they choose what form they take). This is where people go and stay for one hundred some odd years after their lives end, before their final judgment of going to Heaven, Hell, or being reincarnated back into the cycle of life. As few people are pure enough to go to Heaven, or evil enough to go to Hell, reincarnation is the most common outcome, or so I?m told. Beyond the sea of trees, there is a large palace, which just has a traditional look to it, but nothing outstanding, other than its size. It?s where Yuyuko Saigyouji resides. Compared to Kaguya?s palace, Eientei, it has less height, but more width. Behind the palace, however, towering over it, there is a withered tree. I only saw it bloomed a couple times, and both times meant disaster for Gensokyo. The first time, Yuyuko, set up by Yukari, had Youmu steal spring essence to bloom it, but Reimu, Sakuya, and I stopped them. The second time, Yukari herself was stealing the essence, and almost succeeded, before she was convinced that what she was doing was wrong. That tree is the Saigyou Ayakashi, a tree that Yuyuko?s soul is confined to. I fly over the gardens, headed in the general direction of the palace. Hopefully Yukari and Alice are over there. Along the way, I hear a familiar voice, yelling from behind, ?Hey! You! Wait!? I stop and turn, seeing Mima approach. I demand, ?What? YOU? What do you want? Mima says, ?Don?t worry. I?m not going to try to kill you this time. In fact, I want to thank you.? ?For what?? ?You took the only people left over in Gensokyo to another realm, didn?t you? I didn?t sense anyone else after that. You completed my mission for me.? I rub the back of my head at my unintended favor, ?Um? you?re welcome?? Mima looks around, ?What happened to the others? Where is that girl in the maid outfit and that tomboyish one with the flames?? ??? I explain what happened to Sakuya, Mokou, and the others. ?I see?? says Mima ?? I didn?t think you?d return to Gensokyo. I should have stayed longer?? ?There?s nothing you could have done,? I tell Mima, ?Everyone I was with when confronting Reimu was immortal. You couldn?t kill them in any permanent sense?? Mima?s eyes turn to the side, ?I see? It?s unfortunate? I don?t want to imagine what horrors they are facing right now?? I declare, ?Whatever they are, it won?t be for long. I intend to find Reimu and return Gensokyo to normal, getting them back too.? Mima sighs, ?I told you, what you are fighting for is a thought? but it?s none of my business anymore. Do what you must. I guess what you believe in is what matters?? ??? Without a word, I nod and continue in the direction of the palace. I land at a series of stone steps, with cherry blossom trees lined at the sides, leading up to the front door of the palace. At a small walkway at the top of one flight of stairs and at the bottom of another, I see Yukari standing in wait. ?You made it,? says Yukari ?? Where are the others?? ?They didn?t make it?? I answer. Yukari looks at the ground, ?I see?? I explain, ?They were swallowed by the void. Reimu disappeared, saying that her awakening is only hours away. Might she have gone to the boundary between Dreams and Awakening?? ?Yes,? answers Yukari. I say, ?If I stop her, she may bring Gensokyo back? and it might revive around Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou. Please open it, Yukari.? ?Okay,? responds Yukari with a nod, ?However, it?s a very restricted boundary and will take me some time to open. It will take me a little over an hour to do. Come back here by then.? I?m a little irked that I?ll have to wait for Yukari when there is so little time remaining, but there?s nothing I can do to help it. I simply respond, ?I understand, Yukari. Please hurry.? With that, I head out to the gardens, intending to come back in an hour. Fatigued, both emotionally and physically from the battle and recent events, I find a tree in the garden to rest under. I look at the Netherworld residents wandering around, like they don?t have a care in the world? and they probably don?t. It looks nice? and it reminds me that so many people, who had disappeared in Gensokyo don?t even have that chance. Now the sense of urgency is more apparent than before. Compassion is not a particularly strong point of mine, but it?s depressing to think of what they?d miss out on. ?Marisa?? I turn in the direction of the voice that just called my name and see two girls. The first one has red eyes and semi-long pink hair, wearing a blue and white kimono and hat, with a swirl-like insignia on it, and has a few small ghostly wisps circling her. She?s Yuyuko Saigyouji, the ghost princess of the Netherworld. The other girl has blue eyes and semi-short platinum hair, who wears a green and white dress, and has two sheathed swords with her, and is accompanied by a large ghostly wisp. She?s Youmu Konpaku, Hakugyokurou?s gardener and Yuyuko?s sworn protector. She was the one who originally stole Gensokyo?s spring essence in order to bloom the Saigyou Ayakashi, and tried to stop Reimu, Sakuya, and me from reaching it, but at the same time, helped us to a small extent. Since then, she?s fought alongside us when Yukari stole spring, when Kaguya made a fake moon, when Mokou tried to erase the moon, and when Yuka covered Gensokyo with poisonous flowers. As one might guess, she?s handy with a sword and carries around the Roukanken and Hakurouken, two powerful blades. She also is capable of putting acute focus into her attack and the wisp with her is a part of her. She?s probably the fourth most important person in my life. ?Hey,? I greet half-heartedly, ?How?s it going?? ?I?m fine,? answers Youmu. Yuyuko says, cutting to the point, ?I?m sorry about Gensokyo, Marisa, but are you really sure you want to go after Reimu?? ?Of course!? I answer, ?She?s strong, but I?ll find a way.? Yuyuko shakes her head, ?It?s not that, Marisa.? ?Then what?? I ask. Yuyuko explains, ?Don?t take this defensively, Marisa, but Gensokyo?s creation was an accident. I heard about everything from Yukari before you arrived here.? ??Accident??? I ask. ?Gensokyo came into being because of injuries Reimu?s real self and yours received, putting you into deep sleeps, thus dreaming of Gensokyo, right?? ?Yeah. So what?? ?Neither of your true selves planned to create Gensokyo in the first place. It was all a result of an unfortunate circumstance. None of it was planned, and, even if you don?t feel that way, having no knowledge of your other self, Marisa, none of it was desired.? Getting somewhat fed up by that revelation, I respond, ?Whatever. Gensokyo was created, and I?m happy. I don?t want to go back to being ?Marisa Starr,? or whoever I am. As far as I?m concerned, I?m Marisa Kirisame, now, then, and forever.? ?Then what about Reimu Kiribayashi?? ?Huh? What about her?? ?Keeping her from awakening and reviving Gensokyo means taking away everything that poor sleeping girl has. Her future? her family?? Yuyuko caught me off guard, but my concern for Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou outweighs whatever concern I have for our other selves, ?Reimu was happy being here. I?m sure she will be.? ?That?s not what?s important.? I?m starting to get angry. I have a chance to get back everyone I lost, and now, someone is trying to talk me out of it. I sort of understand what Yuyuko is talking about, but I?ve made up my mind, ?Then what the hell do you want me to do, huh? Abandon Gensokyo? Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou are stuck in the void that remains of it! It?s because of Gensokyo that Yukari exists. Hell, it?s because of Gensokyo that YOU? Yuko existed!? Yuyuko?s eyes turn to the side, ?Well? that is true. I?m not saying that I like the idea of its disappearance, but it?s something that has to happen. It was only a dream, and it has to end?? I look away from Yuyuko, ?Think of it however the hell you want. It?s my reality and I?m not giving it up.? ?I see?? Yuyuko walks away. ??? Youmu gives me a somewhat sympathetic look, and then follows her mistress. Maybe I am being selfish. I don?t know what Reimu?s other life is like. Hell, I don?t even know about my own. But the way we were in Gensokyo, we had done so much, made so many friends, and have been very happy. No matter what it really was, they were good times and precious memories. If Reimu wakes up, and in turn, me, I will lose all those memories and what I know about myself now. It would have been a fleeting dream? and I don?t want all of our experiences to be reduced to something like that! It?s too precious to just let go of?

Valesta: Several minutes pass as I try to rest a little. I suddenly hear another voice, which is deeper than Yuyuko?s and has a slight accent, ?Marisa Kirisame. Are you truly sure you want to go through with the sin you?ve chosen?? Damn? Just who I need right now? I look up at who?s talking: A girl with blue eyes and semi-long green hair, wearing a blue and black dress with gold highlights, and a blue hat with white ribbons and a gold emblem in the front. She?s Sikieiki Yamaxanadu, the Yama of Gensokyo, who judges the souls of the dead, after their ?waiting period? in the Netherworld, and decides whether salvation, damnation, or reincarnation awaits them. I guess she doesn?t like damning people or reincarnating them, because whenever she has the time, she lectures people about their sins, usually to the point where they break down and start crying. All in all, I dislike being spoken to by her. I sigh and ask, ?I?m just going to bring Reimu back, get Gensokyo back, and save everyone. How the hell is that a sin?? Sikieiki answers, ?In doing so, Marisa, you are going to take the life away from Reimu?s true self in another realm, Reimu Kiribayashi.? Shit! Not this again? ?The actions you currently intend on are on the same level of sinfulness as that of murder. Kiribayashi wasn?t prepared to have her life changed in such a way and it?s only right she continues with what she was naturally born with, not an artificial existence within her mind. Mankind shouldn?t be allowed to rely on something so perfect in any permanent sense. If you deny Kiribayashi of her real self, you will most certainly fall into Hell. Please reconsider before it?s too late, Marisa Kirisame. Now listen closely, for the first instant of the sin before you occurred over a thousand years ago, when?? Dammit, if I let her continue, she?ll go on for hours! I cut in, ?Okay! Okay! I get it! Just shut up already! I still refuse to atone. Besides, you were still gonna send me to Hell without this, right?? Sikieiki flinches, but then calmly responds, ?That is correct, Marisa, and that?s all the more reason for Reimu to wake up, as you will be Marisa Starr again, who has a mostly clean slate.? I hold out my hand in front of me, ?Hold on! Let me get this straight: Are you saying you would judge me on whomever I am when I die?? Sikieiki responds, ?Marisa, all living things are complex. You are a persona of Marisa Starr, existing within a dream world, yet you have dreams as you are right now, am I correct?? Sikieiki brought up an interesting point. Even if I am a dream, I have dreams, ?Ye-yeah?? ?Every living thing has endless depth? multiple souls. It?s the soul that?s alive that faces judgment, while all the others are permanently dormant. Thus, it to one?s best advantage to exist within the best soul they have when judgment comes.? ?I understand, Sikieiki. But I refuse to abandon those who got trapped in the leftover void.? ?So be it,? says Sikieiki, ?You got my warning. It?s your choice whether or not you choose to heed it.? She starts to walk away. ?Sikieiki,? I call out. Sikieiki pauses, ?What is it?? ?You are the Yama for Gensokyo, but without Gensokyo, what is gonna happen to you?? Sikieiki answers, sounding a little saddened, ?I?ll be assigned to a new realm. So will Komachi?? Komachi is a shinigami, who harvests the souls from Gensokyo and sends them to the Netherworld. She?s not a very diligent worker, but she somehow manages to get her job done. ?I see. Would you rather Gensokyo remain, then?? ?To tell you the personal truth, yes?? It?s rare that Sikieiki actually talks about herself ?? but from a moral standpoint, I?m asking you to do the right thing. Gensokyo was never meant to last, so let the cycle of dreams naturally take its course. I can handle whatever changes my job provides?? With that, Sikieiki takes to the air and leaves. Everyone is against me. First Yuyuko, and now Sikieiki. Also, I remember Yukari acting strangely in the idea of preventing Reimu?s awakening as well, but she?s gone along with it. What is bothering her? A few more minutes pass. Eventually, I get a third visitor. Alice walks up to me, ?Marisa? you made it. I?m so glad!? I turn my eyes to the side, ?Yeah? Unfortunately, Sakuya, Kaguya, and Mokou didn?t?? Alice closes her eyes, ?I?m sorry?? ?It?s no problem. All I gotta do is stop Reimu, right? That might work?? ?Perhaps?? There is a long pause between us. Alice sits down next to me and we watch the cherry blossoms fall from the tree branches above us, looking out at the bright and beautiful landscape. It?s hard to believe we were in the nightmarish remains of Gensokyo not too long ago. Alice asks, ?Marisa, is it true that none of us? except for Sakuya, Mokou, Kaguya, Eirin, Reisen? and you, actually exist?? I answer, ?Well, you are a part of Reimu?s dream. Basically characters in a mental world? but I don?t think of you that way. Gensokyo was a realm in itself, right? There must be some degree of realism, if that?s the case. Besides, Yuyuko was born of Gensokyo, and she came here, not to mention, Gensokyo had a Yama and shinigami assigned to it, so you obviously have spirits, souls, and afterlives too. Right now, you may be seen as figments in Gensokyo, but you are real anyplace else?? ?I see,? says Alice, ?I just refuse to accept everything that I am to be a fantasy. I feel things. I cry, I laugh, I feel happy, I feel pain?? Shanghai, possibly responding to Alice?s will, pricks a small needle into Alice?s finger. A drop of blood trickles down her hand, ?My heart pumps blood, I breath when I need air, I blink when my eyes need to be moist, I yawn and sleep when I feel tired, I scratch when I have an itch. I may not be you, Marisa, but you are ?real,? so do you feel all those things?? ?Everything you said,? I respond, ?You and everyone else is real to me. Even if it is a dream, it?s too realistic to be thought of as fantasy. If you simply came off as mere thoughts, I don?t think I?d care for you as much as I do. No matter what others say, you exist. You and the others are real breathing people. You shouldn?t consider yourself to be anything other than that.? I reach out and gently grab Alice?s hand. She blushes slightly, ?M-Marisa?? ?I can touch you. That can?t be done with something that doesn?t exist. It isn?t the nature of your origins that?s important. It?s what you believe in. That?s what I?ve learned from this. Even if Gensokyo is a dream, I, myself, can?t accept it as anything other than a reality, so it, and everyone in it, are real to me... and should be to you too.? ?Marisa?? Suddenly, before I could predict what is going to happen next, Alice moves in front of me, presses her lips against mine, then pulls away a split second later. I was caught by surprise, ?Um? Alice?? Alice gets up to her feet and says, trying to hide her embarrassment, ?I just? wanted to? confirm our existence? Thank you, Marisa.? With that, Alice frantically runs away. What the hell? Well THAT certainly felt real. It's hard to believe people like her are thought of as inexistant beings by Reimu and Mima... A few more minutes pass. At this point, I guess I should go back to Yukari, see if she has that portal open, and go finish this! I hop on my broom and fly toward the walkway leading up to the palace at a low altitude, but fast pace. Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice declaring, ?Celestial Star Sword: Silent Nirvana!? I can?t see her from beyond several cherry blossom trees, but the voice and spell card name indicates that it?s Youmu. Several blasts of white spirit energy, resembling small meteors, fly toward me. I take evasive action, performing numerous barrel rolls, dodging through the storm and continuing forward? at least until the next declaration, ?Human Era Sword: Approaching Disillusion!? A silver and green streak dashes by, several feet in front of me, followed by a fissure in the ground, which geysers silver spirit energy out of it. I come to a sudden stop and fall to the ground. The geyser subsides and Youmu stands at the other side of the fissure, with both the Roukanken and Hakurouken drawn. I get to my feet, demanding, ?What the hell are you doing, Youmu? Get out of my way!? Youmu says, ?I?m sorry, Marisa. I was ordered by Yuyuko-sama to keep you from reaching Yukari?s portal. She wants Reimu to wake up, and it?s my duty to honor her wishes.? ?I understand where she?s coming from,? I say, ?but I intend to keep Reimu from awakening! Time?s running out, so step aside!? ?Only if you defeat me in this duel,? responds Youmu, striking a ?ready? stance. Youmu and I are friends, but when it comes down to it, her orders from Yuyuko get first priority. When spring was stolen, I fought Youmu, and she?s pretty tough, but I?m more familiar with her capabilities by this point, and I?m more powerful than I was back then. I draw a spell card, ?Light Sign: Earth Light Ray!? A magic circle appears under Youmu. However, she notices and leaps back as a laser shoots out of it. More magic circles appear, but she dodges each of the attacks. I prepare another spell card, ?Magic Sign: Milky Way!? I extend my arm toward Youmu and fire out a focused flurry of star-shaped blasts of magic, which she manages to defend against by deflecting them with her two swords. Eventually, however, one of my blasts manages to get past Youmu defenses and strikes her in the face. ?AHHHHH!? Youmu puts her arms over her eyes and staggers backward, as her ghost-half blindly fires out numerous shots of spirit energy, which I dodge by jumping to the side as I approach. I jump over the fissure and draw one last spell card, ?Love Sign!? It?s for Master Spark, but I decide to use a little trick I recently taught myself. Instead of firing my laser, I focus the spell?s energy into my right hand and deliver a powered-up punch to the stunned Youmu?s gut. It?s the spell I have the most control over, so it?s the only one with which I can perform it. It rarely comes in handy, but at least it saves quite a bit of energy. ?ACK! Mar? i? sa?? Youmu doubles over, coughing out blood. With no more use for my latest spell card, I yell, ?Disengage!? The energy inside me returns to its card form. I walk past Youmu and say, ?Sorry about that, Youmu. I hope we?re still friends after this?? I hop on my broom and fly ahead to the walkway. Damn! Yuyuko sure is serious about Kiribayashi?s awakening if she sent Youmu to stop me? I arrive at the spot where Yukari was, but there is only a black portal. Yukari isn?t around anywhere. Oh well, at least it?s open. Time to find Reimu and put an end to this! I jump into the portal. On the other side, it is? dark. The bright stars above make the area visible, though. I?m flying above a sea of clouds, though the air feels normal. A few dead trees poke up from under the clouds. A fairly depressing place, though the sky is beautiful. So this is Reimu?s boundary between Dream and Awakening, huh? At any rate, Reimu must be around here somewhere? I fly ahead in search of Reimu, ?Reimu! Where are you?? A familiar voice, belonging to Yukari, says, ?She?s up ahead?? Another voice, belonging to Yuyuko adds, ?? however, we won?t let you get that far?? From above, Yukari and Yuyuko descend. ?What are you two doing?? I ask. Yukari says, ?I?m sorry, Marisa? but we?re going to try to stop you right here.? ?You too, Yukari? Just what the hell?s going on?? I demand.

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