Maribel Hearn Quest - ACT 1

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

> "R-...Renko?"

>Renko immediately aims the gun in the direction of your voice, before realizing it's you.
>As soon as she notices that it's you, she drops the gun is surprise, and it lands on the stone path with a clatter.
>"M-MERRY!?! Y-You weren't s-supposed to..." she takes a few steps back, before immediately turning and running away.

> This can't be happening. There's no way Renko could've been the shooter. She wouldn't do this. Not to Mamizou or Reimu. This isn't happening.

>You try to deny with all your heart that this isn't happening... Why the hell would Renko, of all people, do such a horrible thing!?!

>Tackle Renko and throw the Handgun as far as possible if we do it right.

>You quickly start to pursue Renko, but Renko already has a headstart on you, and she's a little faster than you, too. You probably won't be able to catch her, but that doesn't stop you from trying.

>You suddenly find yourself stopping in your tracks when Gensokyo's barrier begins noticeably flashing and flickering, you even see some tiny cracks forming in some areas. You are right next to Reimu now, a pool of blood is forming below her.

>"WHY ? WHY DID YOU DO THIS ? I trusted you.......... you were my best friend..... Why ......?"

>With no hope of catching up to Renko, you instead shout at her.
>Renko seems to freeze up for a second at your words, before continuing to run, descending the shrine steps and moving out of sight.
>_

[AzyWng]

Let's look at the situation here.

Reimu just got shot and might be dead, the barrier's breaking apart, and it looks like our best friend is responsible for both these acts AND shooting Mamizou.

>Do the only thing we really can do at this point.
>Specifically, panic/have a nervous breakdown.

[Monarda]

>Curses ! I can`t understand... why ?
>Get your head working, Maribel !
>Aid Reimu, try to see if she can say something, she`s the lynchpin on this land.
>Look around, there must be something we can use, something to bandage or to stop the blood, anything !
>Shout for help if we can, we need assistance.
>Renko dropped the gun, so pick that up and put it on our satchel, that must go on the hands of someone trustworthy.

[Neovereign]

>Forget the gun, we need to help Reimu asap.
>"R-Reimu!"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Do the only thing we really can do at this point.
>Specifically, panic/have a nervous breakdown.

>You begin freaking out.

>Curses ! I can`t understand... why ?
>Get your head working, Maribel !

>You just can't get your head around why Renko would do such a thing.
>But you manage to get control of yourself an stop your nervous breakdown.

>Renko dropped the gun, so pick that up and put it on our satchel, that must go on the hands of someone trustworthy.

>Forget the gun, we need to help Reimu asap.

>You consider taking Renko's gun, but helping Reimu takes priority

>Aid Reimu, try to see if she can say something, she`s the lynchpin on this land.

>"R-Reimu!"

>You roll Reimu over, blood is streaming rapidly out of a bullet hole in her chest. You call to her in vain, but she does not respond. Her breathing is shallow, and her pulse is weak, you think it's getting weaker by the second.
>You put pressure on the wound, hoping to staunch to flow of blood, but it's having little effect!

>You also guess that the condition of the barrier, which seems to be worsening, is tied to Reimu in some way...

>Look around, there must be something we can use, something to bandage or to stop the blood, anything !

>The only things in the immediate area that you may be able to use for a bandage are your and Reimu's clothing.

>Shout for help if we can, we need assistance.

>You call for help, hoping that someone will hear you...

>"Oh my...!" A voice says behind you, and suddenly a woman with long, blonde hair, wearing a white hat with a red ribbon, and a purple dress runs to your and Reimu's side. "What happened?! Wait. Don't answer that yet. We don't have much time..." She waves her hand, and Reimu seems to glow for a second, "Move out of the way."
>_

[Neovereign]

>Move.
>"W-What are you going to do?"
>That barrier is important too. We can close tears in boundaries right? Try it on the cracks forming on the barrier.

[Monarda]

>"And who are you, miss ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Move.

>You move out of the way, and the woman picks the still-bleeding Reimu up and slings her over her shoulders.

>"W-What are you going to do?"

>"Why, I'm taking her to Eientei, of course."

>That barrier is important too. We can close tears in boundaries right? Try it on the cracks forming on the barrier.

>You focus on the barrier and start attempting to mend the cracks, but the woman grabs your arm and stops you.
>"That won't be necessary, Maribel... Once Reimu is safe, the barrier will heal itself in time. Besides, I highly doubt you're strong enough to be able to repair it effectively..."

>"And who are you, miss ?"

>"I'll tell you later, right now, there are more pressing concerns."
>Suddenly, a strange hole opens up beneath both of you and you find yourself falling into a purple void full of eyes, and within seconds you're on the floor in what appears to be the inside of Eientei. Yagokoro happens to be nearby.

>"What are you doing- Oh my! What happened!?!" she exclaims.
>"There's no time to explain. Now I assume you know what to do?"
>Yagokoro frowns, "Of course I do... Anyway, set her down. I'll operate right away." she moves over to a nearby door, "Will somebody get Udongein in here?! There's been an emergency!"

>The blonde woman sets Reimu down on a nearby bed.
>_

[Neovereign]

>"C-Can I do anything to help? A-Anything at all?"

[Monarda]

>Find a place to sit down, and start to reflect how did stuff end up like this.
>We should have checked her Satchel, everyone was suspicious of her, if we had done that, everything would have been better...
>"WHY DID SHE DO THAT ? Why...? What was her motive ....?"
>Did we get the gun ? We shouldn`t leave that lying at Reimu`s Shrine, what if Renko goes back and grabs it again ?

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"C-Can I do anything to help? A-Anything at all?"

>"I'm afraid not. You've done all you can, Maribel. Though, if you can provide some details on who the assailant was, it might be helpful and... Wait, didn't you come here with a friend? What happened to her?"

>Find a place to sit down, and start to reflect how did stuff end up like this.

>You pick yourself off the floor and sit on a nearby chair.
>You began to reflect on today's events.
>Renko seemed perfectly normal at the start of your adventure, though you did notice she was a little uneasy when you were first at the Hakurei Shrine, but she told you it was just nervousness. Then the whole thing with Mamizou happened, and you knew something was up with her, but she kept telling you not to worry about it. And then there's whatever Koishi said to her... Was she a witness, perhaps? Did she possibly know about what Renko did this whole time? You don't know...
>Anyway what's done is done... You can't believe things ended up like this...

>We should have checked her Satchel, everyone was suspicious of her, if we had done that, everything would have been better...

>Your heart sinks as you realize that if you checked her satchel, a lot of things could have been avoided... Maybe you could've had a chance to talk to her... to ask her why...

>"WHY DID SHE DO THAT ? Why...? What was her motive ....?"

>You ask yourself questions out loud. You still can't believe she would...
>The blonde woman looks at you as you say this and then seems to realize something.
>"So it was her that did it..." she pulls a fan out of nowhere and unfolds it, "Hmph... Perhaps it would've been better to only let you come here alone... As I had always planned..."

>Did we get the gun ? We shouldn`t leave that lying at Reimu`s Shrine, what if Renko goes back and grabs it again ?

>You did not. You begin to wonder about the horrors Renko, or someone else could inflict if they were to reclaim it.
>_

[Neovereign]

>"But I just wanted to come here for so long, and with Renko. I-...What do I do? S-She's my best friend."
>"T-The gun. Renko left the gun at the shrine. We can't let anyone use that again..."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"But I just wanted to come here for so long, and with Renko. I-...What do I do? S-She's my best friend."

>"You don't have to do anything. I will handle it."

>"T-The gun. Renko left the gun at the shrine. We can't let anyone use that again..."

>"You're right. Wait here."
>Another weird hole opens up near the blonde woman, now that it's not directly below you, you can get a good look at it. Its appearance seems similar to your boundary tears, however, the edges are perfectly smooth, not torn and jagged, furthermore, there appears to be a violet void full of eyes on the other end, and the hole seems to be secured by two ribbons.
>She steps through, and returns seconds later with the gun in her hands. She then opens a smaller hole as the first one closes, and she drops the gun into it.

>Yagokoro returns with a table full of operating equipment, Reisen is following her closely. "Sorry, but I must ask the two of you to leave... We need space to work."
>"Of course," says the blonde woman, "Come, Maribel. Let the Lunarian do her work..." she beckons you to follow her out of the room.
>_

[Neovereign]

>Follow her.
>"Renko..."

[Monarda]

>".....are you that powerful and odd youkai Reimu told me about that wanted to meet us ? And how do you know my name ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Follow her.

>You follow her out of the room.

>"Renko..."

>You still can't believe she did that...

>".....are you that powerful and odd youkai Reimu told me about that wanted to meet us ? And how do you know my name ?"

>"Indeed I am." she replies, "My name is Yukari Yakumo, and I've been waiting to meet you for a long time... It's a pity that our first meeting couldn't have been under... better circumstances... I honestly didn't anticipate your friend to end up becoming a threat to Gensokyo..." she opens her fan, "Not to worry, though. She will be dealt with soon enough."
>_

[AzyWng]

>"D-Dealt with?"

[Neovereign]

>"You're not going to kill her, are you!? S-She must have a reason for this."
>Wait, she dropped her gun. She could be killed out there!

[Monarda]

>"And why were you waiting for me ? Is it about my powers ? What do you know of them ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"D-Dealt with?"

>"You're not going to kill her, are you!? S-She must have a reason for this."

>"Kill her? Oh, heavens no. She's going to be captured, then there will be a meeting to decide her fate. She'll only be killed if it is decided that that would be the appropriate punishment. Well, that's assuming she isn't eaten by a youkai before she's found..."

>Wait, she dropped her gun. She could be killed out there!

>You realize that Renko is wandering around, alone, with no way of defending herself. You begin to worry a little.

>"And why were you waiting for me ? Is it about my powers ? What do you know of them ?"

>"Why yes... I suppose that's part of the reason... I mean, surely you've noticed, from what you've observed of my talents so far, that some things are a little.... familiar...?"
>_

[the old guy]

"EATEN?"

[Neovereign]

>"Yea. You can make those tears too, but yours are finer, and there's eyes in wherever it goes..."
>Renko attempted murder twice. And Reimu is important to Gensokyo. The punishment won't be lenient at all... And if she isn't caught, she might be killed. Even worse, is if anyone else finds out what she's done.
>Try not to visualize Renko being killed.

>Also, how does Yukari compare to us, physically...

[Monarda]

>"Wait, would that mean i`m in a sense related to you ? Or that i can do the same things as you with time ?"
>Although we know that Renko risked killing two lives, we do not know if she was the instigator at all, even though all this was caused by her, there is much we don`t know currently.
> Trap Yukari between her on border of mind and body.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

"EATEN?"

>"Why, of course. Since you and your friend are from the outside world, you are therefore not protected by the Spellcard Laws. Either of you are fair-game for human-eating youkai..."

>"Yea. You can make those tears too, but yours are finer, and there's eyes in wherever it goes..."

>"Wait, would that mean i`m in a sense related to you ? Or that i can do the same things as you with time ?"

>"Well, they aren't tears. They're gaps. Tears are crude and unstable. Gaps are much less risky to use. In fact, I'm surprised you managed to cross the barrier using a tear, rather than a gap..." Yukari replies, "Anyway, yes, you will be able to do everything I am capable of in time... Our abilities are identical, after all..."

>Although we know that Renko risked killing two lives, we do not know if she was the instigator at all, even though all this was caused by her, there is much we don`t know currently.

>Perhaps Renko wasn't entirely at fault for this? No... There must be a reason... Perhaps someone behind the scenes? You just don't know.

>Renko attempted murder twice. And Reimu is important to Gensokyo. The punishment won't be lenient at all... And if she isn't caught, she might be killed. Even worse, is if anyone else finds out what she's done.

>But then again, Renko did commit a heinous crime not once, but twice. Her punishment is definitely going to be severe...
>On top of that, there's the ever present risk that she might be killed before she's apprehended, or lynched by those who, gods forbid, find out about Renko's actions.

>Try not to visualize Renko being killed.

>You do your best to prevent such a horrible vision from entering your mind.

>Also, how does Yukari compare to us, physically...

>She is taller and a little more bustier than you. Her hair is a similar, but not identical, shade of blonde to your own.

> Trap Yukari between her on border of mind and body.

>"Foolish girl, did you really think that would work on me? No... You would never think that... It's not you who's doing all the thinking is it?"
>"Ah yes, I see now. You're not thinking for yourself at all... Someone... No... They are controlling your every action... Here, let me fix that..."
>Miniking, Starlighthawk, Old guy, and AzyWng are suddenly dropped into a gap. Trapped in an eye-filled void and unable to interact with the story anymore.
>FOURTH WALL END!
>_

[AzyWng]

>"Foolish girl, did you really think that would work on me? No... You would never think that... It's not you who's doing all the thinking is it?"
>"Ah yes, I see now. You're not thinking for yourself at all... Someone... No... They are controlling your every action... Here, let me fix that..."
>Miniking, Starlighthawk, Old guy, and AzyWing are suddenly dropped into a gap. Trapped in an eye-filled void and unable to interact with the story anymore.
>FOURTH WALL END!
>_

>Miniking, Starlighthawk, Old guy, and AzyWing are suddenly dropped into a gap. Trapped in an eye-filled void and unable to interact with the story anymore.
>Miniking, Starlighthawk, Old guy, and AzyWing
>AzyWing
>Wing

I'd like you to take a closer look at my username. I didn't leave the "i" out, I didn't think of adding the "i" in the first place. It's wasn't intended to be related to wings at all.

[the old guy]

> "Wait? What was that about the Spellcard Laws?"
> What kind of clothing is Yukari wearing and is it similar to something we would wear?

[Neovereign]

>Indirectly get others to rescue us because if I'm gone, Daiyousei quest can't continue.
>Yukari is obviously our real mom. Explains how we have these powers, why she would've wanted us to come alone

Spoiler:

, and who the heck Lafcadio Hearn is.

[/s]
>"If Renko ends up having to stay here as punishment, then I have to stay too. There's no way I'm leaving her, even after that... C-Can you teach me how to defend myself here?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

I'd like you to take a closer look at my username. I didn't leave the "i" out, I didn't think of adding the "i" in the first place. It's wasn't intended to be related to wings at all.

Fix'd. Sorry about that, lol 

> "Wait? What was that about the Spellcard Laws?"

>"Oh, did Reimu not tell you about those? I mean, surely you would've had question about danmaku duels in the time you were with her..." Yukari answers, "Well, you see, the Spellcard Laws were created so that humans and lesser youkai could have a chance to defeat powerful youkai or the Hakurei Shrine Maiden in a fair duel, with neither side sustaining lasting injury. It also gives lost humans, who are capable of using magic, the ability to defend themselves from attacking youkai. However, humans from the outside world are not bound by the spellcard laws, and are therefore usually the primary target of human-eating youkai."

> What kind of clothing is Yukari wearing and is it similar to something we would wear?

>Yukari is wearing a purple dress with white sleeves, it does not look similar to anything you would wear, but then again, you aren't from Gensokyo...
>Her hat looks kinda similar to yours, except it has a red ribbon affixed to it.

>Indirectly get others to rescue us because if I'm gone, Daiyousei quest can't continue.

>Crisis averted!

>Yukari is obviously our real mom. Explains how we have these powers, why she would've wanted us to come alone

Spoiler:

, and who the heck Lafcadio Hearn is.

[/s]

>Is she?

>"If Renko ends up having to stay here as punishment, then I have to stay too. There's no way I'm leaving her, even after that... C-Can you teach me how to defend myself here?"

>"Well, I'm afraid its not your choice whether or not you remain here." Yukari opens the fan in front of her face, "That's for me to decide... and I have a few tests prepared for when its time to make that decision..."
>She pauses, before closing the fan, "That being said, I guess you do need to learn how to protect yourself... But not in here... There certainly isn't enough room in here for that, is there?" A gap opens up nearby, "This way, if you please..."
>_

[Neovereign]

>"People here have said that Renko looked like someone they knew. Do you know anyone like that?"
>Carefully enter the gap.

[Monarda]

>"Foolish girl, did you really think that would work on me? No... You would never think that... It's not you who's doing all the thinking is it?"
>"Ah yes, I see now. You're not thinking for yourself at all... Someone... No... They are controlling your every action... Here, let me fix that..."
>Miniking, Starlighthawk, Old guy, and AzyWng are suddenly dropped into a gap. Trapped in an eye-filled void and unable to interact with the story anymore.

-You value your powers too much, you should know very well that i was merely joking, but if such behavior will not be tolerated ! *Puts Yukari in a Null Zone, where there is no points to place gaps, and all there is an endless white void.*
Oh right, the actual quest.

Edit: Fixed stuffs.

>Move !
>"Wait, so am i capable of using magic ? What about Renko, is there a chance she can also use magic ?"
>"And how long took you to master your abilities ? Actually, how old are you ?"