It is London, in the 1800's. Civilization abounds, and science speeds ahead, neck and neck with technology. Knowledge is power, and without ambition, one is left in the dust. Superstitions of old are fading, as is faith in them, and trust is instead placed in the future; the future of mankind, and his independence from ways of old. Such is the way of society! Britain flourishes in power and influence, its stony buildings and spires growing each day. Rain falls upon the cities of England, upon the brick, mortar, and stone bricks of cathedrals, like river tongues lashing about at stern boulders upon the waning dusk light. Through this stoic melancholy, gleaming torches of ingenuity are seen in the faint darkness: institutes of learning. The pathway is revealed!
Or is it? One man's stark conviction stands in its way; yet, he is but one man. And in this world, one man alone can do naught.
He is a man of ambition, but the flow of the raging river is absolute; deter from the path and one is shunned spectacularly, cast out into the streets! If one's knowledge is not considered correct knowledge, leading down the correct path, it is not knowledge at all. There is no persuasion, there is no compromise. For though revolution is quick and swift in this age, it is a movement, and resistance to this power is frowned upon.
This man has been tossed aside for his ideals, slouched in the rain, forced outdoors as he peers upwards at the glowing doorway before him. The owner of the mansion stood above, silhouetted in the warm glow of the hearth.
"I beg of you, sire, reconsider!" pleaded the lanky, rain-soaked man. His face was long and his eyes small, hidden by locks of wet, black hair. It was the look of a man who worked himself to the bone, sacrificing sleep, even food. "Please, reconsider! I have...I have proof. I have tests, experiments, and charts! Should you think all these as naught? I have worked so very hard these last - "
"Silence!" snapped the manor lord. "I will have no more of this heresy. The mixing of supernatural and science? They are separate institutes of knowledge, and one is quickly fading into the past, Dr. Jekyll. I cannot allow my funds to be squandered any longer on the pursuit of fairy tales and monsters that science has proven do not exist."
"I can prove they do, sire. I have charts, I have graphs, I have - "
"You are one man, Dr. Jekyll," boomed the shadowed figure. "One. Man."
Dr. Jekyll, brushing his long, oily black hair from his face, blinked furiously through the downpour drenching his form. "I am a scientist, sire!"
"You are a scientist, perhaps," replied the figure. "But you are not science itself."
"One scientist can begin a revolution!"
"That is a gamble, Dr. Jekyll. And a gamble that will not be made on the funds my organization provides for you."
Gazing at the cobblestone underneath his worn dress shoes, Dr. Jekyll gulped a few times, clutching his half-open briefcase, the papers inside now ruined. He took a deep breath.
"I have never let you down, sire," muttered he.
The manor lord seemed to puff up in anger. "You have now!" he roared. "Your debaucle at the meeting this evening filled me with disgust! You may be knowledgeable in eugenics, machinery, perhaps even astronomy, and brilliant in chemistry...but to speak of ghosts, vampires, and fairies at my meeting..." He paused.
"I - "
"I was made a fool! My friends, my rivals, my colleagues; I spoke so highly of you to them! Only to hear you blabber on and on as if from a children's book! What is this, Jack and the Beanstalk? Are we to hunt down unicorns at the next meeting? Will you bring us a demon in a box? Our business ventures are over, Dr. Jekyll. Your contributions to the organization have been accepted with thanks, but this is a scientific endeavor, not a wishy-washy ring of fairy tale hunters."
"But I have - "
"Good day."
And the manor lord slammed the door in Dr. Jekyll's face. The swift movement blew unruly strands of his hair about as he cringed. Then, it was quiet, save for the sound of falling rain all around him; an ocean of sound as he closed his eyes and looked skyward.
He stood there, dejected, for some time, before he decided to move.
"Where will I go?" whispered he to himself. "What will I do...?"
Slowly, he turned about and walked down the cobble towards the road, the streetlamps leading him onward; lights in the darkness. As he trudged, his expression fell to one of sadness, and despair. Indeed, what would he do? Without funding, even if he could prove the existence of vampires, fairies, or ghosts, to someone who might listen, he could do naught. Without his backer, he was broke – no, broken; nothing but a rambling lunatic. He was a radical. He had presented his scientific proof these many occasions amidst applause, building his credentials, but had made the mistake of diverting too quickly to his true pursuit: the supernatural. It was too much for them; clever words he had painstakingly prepared to say fell upon deaf ears. As he readied his materials afore each meeting, he had already readied the presentation he gave today! They were stepping stones, each one, to the stop of the staircase where science may join with the supernatural. But, everyone stopped before the top, save him.
Now, he had realized he stood alone.
Outside the gate, he sat upon the wet bench nearby. Dropping his briefcase to the sidewalk, he untied his tie about his neck, unbuttoned the top buttons of his once-pristine shirt, and held his face in his hands. His ideals, his methodology, his ambitions: they had brought him to abandonment.
Footsteps reached his ears, and pattering of rain against an umbrella. He did not look up. The approaching individual stopped shortly, undoubtedly having seen him upon the bench, and it was quiet for a minute or so. Dr. Jekyll felt himself being inspected, but he did not care. Soon, the individual took slow steps forward, and the sounds of the briefcase being picked up and opened reached his ears, followed by rustling papers. More time went by, firstly without Dr. Jekyll's minding, then with a growing feeling of angst. This person was going through his work. He had given up, but it still irked him, somehow. Who did this person think they were?
Dr. Jekyll did not raise his head. "Do you mind?" he said loudly through his hands. "One does not fancy their life's work being rummaged through by a stranger."
A smooth, sleek voice met his ears through the rainfall. "With genius ideals as these, one such as you will always remain a stranger." It bore a slight German accent...
Slowly, Dr. Jekyll looked up.
Before him stood a bespectacled young man. Like his voice, his face was sleek, his temperament calm, yet intrigued. About his glasses fell reddish-brown hair, trimmed yet stylish. He wore a black long-coat and held a white umbrella in his free hand; in the other, Dr. Jekyll's research papers – the dry ones, at least.
"And you are?" asked Dr. Jekyll.
"Sir Hyde," replied the young man, then he laughed. "Well, I should say, Sir Hyde Jr. Reputed chemist and engineer. Surely, you have heard of me?"
Dr. Jekyll, expressionless, shook his head gently.
"Shame," said Hyde, looking about. "Though, if you had heard of me, that is what I should have wanted you to hear."
"What are you playing at, Hyde? If you don't mind, I'm experiencing the crashing-down of my life's work; I'd prefer to relish it alone."
"My apologies," chuckled Hyde. "Allow me to re-introduce myself." He bowed. "I am Sir Hyde, reputed astrologist, warlock, and alchemist, Dr. Jekyll."
Dr. Jekyll's eyes widened. He put his hands down and sat up a bit. "Did you say..."
"Don't go giving away my secret now!" Hyde returned, glancing around. "If my scientific colleagues knew of my secret practices and contact rings, they'd have my work and my head all in the same night!" He then laughed glowingly, like a beacon in the rain.
"Con-contact rings?" stuttered Dr. Jekyll, slowly standing up. His life of studies and toils was flashing before his eyes, the gears turning quickly, one after the other...
"Well, of course," replied Hyde. "With alternate names, as well, such as mine: Dr. Ilstein. One must never be alone. In this two-faced society of those who apply science, and the underground of those who relish the supernatural, there are not many you can trust."
"How did you know I was here?" whispered Dr. Jekyll, somewhat breathless.
"We have been watching you for some time, Doctor," said Hyde, placing the papers back in the briefcase. He then took out a handkerchief to dry his hands. "We could not approach you with your former...funder about. The scientific revolution follows a strict set of unspoken rules. Your funder was a core figure in a tight-knit group of know-it-alls. We tend to be more...open-minded, considering we all dabble in all sorts of things in the name of discovery! His rivals were our funders, it is how we learned of you, and your 'debacle' upon the eve."
Dr. Jekyll was fully to his feet now. "What do you want from me?"
Hyde leaned in close. He smelled of fresh paper and oiled lamps. "Someone like you doesn't belong in a tight-lipped conglomerate of aged old-timers." He handed the briefcase back to Dr. Jekyll. "The things in here...they are things we would have never even thought of. Sure, science advances alone. Sure, the supernatural is a thing to behold. But none had ever thought to combine the two."
"Direct research by science of the supernatural!" Dr. Jekyll proclaimed. "Such an ideal could propel mankind itself into the new age. The very implications of it!" He wrung his hands, a smile forming across his face. "If the characteristics of the supernatural could be pulled, much like chemicals, from the beings themselves, and attributed to the existence of man, he could be evolved forward. He and his descendants would begin a positive spiral! But that's not enough, no! In the same way good reactions can be produced from harmful chemicals and those beneficial to humans as well, surely the same can be said of evil entities...thus my research of the paranormal. But to do so would require the sort of technology I have not, nor have the means to acquire. If that could be produced...if there was no limit to what I needed, what I could utilize, just think of the possibilities! Why, we could invent the next stage of man in the evolution of his species! Perhaps even become gods!"
Hyde listened to all this without a word. Dr. Jekyll, breathless after his rant, stopped to look over at him, his eyes wide and excited.
"Mr. Hyde?" muttered he.
"Dr. Jekyll," said Hyde proudly, extending a hand. "Let us do our work."
"Dr. Omen," smirked Dr. Ilstein, "let us do our work."
He was now a tiny frail-looking man. His small figure was draped in a bloodstained lab coat that dangled beneath him, for he had not human legs, but a set of four, metal, spidery appendages that protruded from his back like some grotesque parasite. His hands too, were of a spidery, inhuman nature: long, black, metal, and bearing several knuckles. They too, dangled beneath him. His face was mostly covered with gigantic orange goggles that concealed his eyes, and long maroon hair streaked with scarlet fell down around his face, like drops of blood trickling along. His mouth was set in a large smile, revealing a mouth full of inhuman, disturbingly sharp teeth. He tottered along, rising to only about four feet tall. Resembling a praying mantis, he ventured along next to his partner.
Dr. Omen was now a massive man, standing at around fifteen feet tall. His entire body was covered in a white trench coat that trailed behind him like cape or a tail. Long, expansive sleeves made room for colossal, black metal claws that swung at his sides gracefully. Underneath the bottom of his coat could be seen enormous feet, encased in black, spiked iron boots that seemed as if they alone could pound a human into a pulp. His white collar concealed the entire lower part of his pale face, and the top was concealed by long, oily black hair that fall down his back and around his head like a cloak in and of itself. His eyes, like the other man's, were concealed with not orange, but blue goggles that glowed with what seemed like a demonic energy. He towered above the other man, bearing with him a presence that would strike fear into even the most hardened soldier.
"The shrine does not know vat is coming," continued Dr. Ilstein. "Caliope is ready at dusk to begin the undead scourge upon ze village. The fortress shall pulse. Zen, she will shepherd ze goddesses and ze shrine maiden towards ze Darkmoon's nucleic soul collection reactor, after vich Ryuki will move in for ze kill. Ze targets' powers will be absorbed by ze spiraling nucleus and then ze attack upon Moriya Shrine will be a success."
Dr. Omen did not speak for several moments. He glided along monstrously, emanating a feeling of power and dread. His glowing eyes only stared ahead, his hair and coat trailing behind.
"Very good...my friend," said the great Dr. Omen slowly, in a deep, thunderous, inhuman voice. "Very...good..."
"Sanae Kochiya here, it's nice to meet you! Welcome to the Moriya shrine! I hope you enjoy your visit!"
The young girl bowed respectfully, pausing as she swept the stone tiles in front of the great elaborate shrine. She was pretty, with sparkling emerald eyes, and smooth, flowing green hair, like a waterfall upon her back, that fell down around her fair face and emphasized her sweet smile. She was dressed in Moriya shrine garb, comprising of a blue hakama and a white haori, each decorated with stars and constellations. In her bangs she wore a cute frog clip, and in the locks by her face a white snake ornament, bunching her hair together like a pigtail. Despite this unusual attire, she was always greeted with glee and love, for she was a popular person among the villagers nearby. She helped everyone she met, and performed all her duties as shrine maiden to the best of her abilities! Her kagura dances awed attendees, and festivals held for the deity of the shrine were packed every year, filled with people from regions all around!
But, there was no one here right now. Nor, had there been for weeks now. Sanae sighed and slouched a bit, feeling dejected.
"Not even one visitor," mumbled the girl, continuing to sweep, her sleeves billowing about. "Where has everyone gone?"
She continued her chore for a while in silence, dwelling on this phenomenon, until she heard a rustle nearby.
"Sanae Kochiya here, it's nice to meet you!" she proclaimed immediately. "Welcome to the Moriya shrine! I hope you enjoy your visit!"
A spotted rabbit hopped out of the bushes. The shrine maiden sighed again. "Welcome," she muttered. She looked closer at the rabbit, noticing its two spots adjacent to each other. "Oh, it's you. Well at least you're back. Unfortunately, we'd rather have humans than rabbits as visitors here..."
"Wouldn't be too bad!" came a crisp girl's voice.
After the rabbit, on all fours, as well as hopping in time with the animal, came a tiny blonde girl. On her head was a massively oversized brown hat, with eyes atop like a frogs. This lively, bouncing girl wore a small navy shirt with long white sleeves over her tiny hands, with a blue skirt to match. How her knee-high white socks stayed still on her little legs as she hopped was a mystery not even Sanae could solve. This curious individual popped out of the bushes and gazed at Sanae with golden eyes.
Sanae smiled weakly. "Yeah...wouldn't be too bad, huh?"
The girl cocked her head to the side, not even hopping as the rabbit continued onward. "What's biting you, Sanae-chan?"
Sanae swept half-heartedly with her wooden broom. Then, suddenly, "Sanae Kochiya here, it's nice to meet you! Welcome to the Moriya shrine! I hope you enjoy your visit!"
The little girl jumped back in surprise. "Wah! Hey, what do you mean!? I live here!"
"I know, Suwako-sama," mumbled Sanae, slouching again. "I just wish there were other humans coming here too, sometimes. I've been alone for some time, now..."
"I'm here!" snapped Suwako, waving her arms and sleeves around crazily. "I'm here too, y'know!"
"You and Kanako-sama are goddesses, though," sighed Sanae, looking skyward. "Not that I don't love you two...it's just...I'm worried."
Suwako settled down and watched Sanae gazing upwards, the shrine maiden's eyes illuminated by the sun. They were sad, and lonely. The little goddess slowly hopped over to her and grasped part of her hakama in her tiny hand.
"Hm?" Sanae looked down.
"I love you too, Sanae-chan," said Suwako, looking up at her.
Sanae laughed, lively and clear. "No matter how many times this happens, I always have this image of you as a little sister." She giggled.
Suwako puffed up. "I am your goddess! I am hundreds of years old! I am the big sister here!"
But she could not contain her laughter, either, and soon the two girls were giggling and spinning about on the stone tiles, the cool spring air in their lungs, the sun shining brightly. Once they had settled down, Sanae set her broom aside and stretched a bit.
"What a nice day," she said happily.
"A good day for hopping!"
"That's all you ever do."
"I suppose so...but if I'm happy, what does it matter?"
Sanae smiled, but then her smile faded. "Suwako, why do you think no one's coming to the shrine?"
Suwako sat down, gazing at the forest around her and the stone steps leading down to the village.
"Not even one person from the village has come up here in an unbearably long time," Sanae continued quietly. "And when I go to the village myself, there are less and less people there every time. Are they leaving?"
Suwako did not reply for a bit. "Sanae-chan."
"Hm?"
"The world is changing."
Sanae was confused. "What...what are you talking about, Suwako?"
"Faith in us is dwindling, Sanae-chan," said the small goddess. "It was strong after the war, but it seems it has not withstood the test of time, and I have...this weight on my chest. I'm growing weaker for it..."
The shrine maiden rushed over to the girl and put a hand on her shoulder. "Weaker? What do you mean? Tell me!"
Suwako grinned hesitantly. "Well, it's like I said: faith in us is weakening, as humans advance. They don't need us gods as much anymore. I can feel it...the other gods feel the same. We aren't the only shrine in the world to have this happen to us."
"But if you continue to grow weaker," muttered Sanae worriedly, "what will...what will happen to you?"
Suwako looked away, out at the horizon across the beautiful valleys. "Perhaps we should leave, too," she said softly.
Sanae stood up, shocked. "Leave? But...where is there to go? What about the Moriya Shrine? We can't just up and leave! What about me doing my best to rebuild faith in you? I'll do it! I'll do my best! And every year we'll have the festival and Kanako-sama will be there and you'll be there and we'll be just as happy as ever!"
"Sanae-chan..."
"And...and...I can write home about this...and everyone will be so proud...and...and..."
"No, don't cry, Sanae-chan!" Suwako said quickly, seeing Sanae's eyes filling with tears. "You love it here, don'tcha?"
Sanae rubbed her eyes. "Mhm..."
"Sanae-chan..."
"Hm?"
"We may just have to leave after all," said Suwako. "Things aren't looking good, and gaining faith is harder than losing faith. It'll take years to restore all we've lost in the last few days alone...and if people are just leaving the village left and right, we won't have a choice."
"This is too sudden!"
"It's not as bad as you think, Sanae-chan," comforted Suwako. "The youkai I met with said she could bring the shrine with us, too."
Sanae was quiet. "What...do you mean?"
Suwako started hopping around. "She was super duper nice! She said she'd seen this sort of thing before. Sometimes even people like us need a safe sanctuary. Her name was Yukari Yakumo. She said she'd transported some vampires and their whole mansion before, to this pretty place called Gensokyo."
"Genso...kyo?"
Suwako nodded crazily, but her hat stayed on. "It's a haven for gods, youkai, vampires, and all kind of other people. There's even another shrine maiden there, a really powerful one!"
Sanae's eyes started sparkling. "Another...shrine maiden?"
"Yep!" Suwako looked back at her, her golden eyes shining. "A human village too! Gods are popular there, we could gain faith back in no time. And with more people than just humans, it'll make me and Kanako-sama stronger than ever."
The Moriya shrine maiden gazed over at her beloved broom she had swept the steps of the shrine with for so many years. She had always dreamed of being a shrine maiden, and here she was...even if it was for the better, should she let her own life change so quickly?
"Sanae-chan," Suwako said, "I don't want to live fearing for my life every day..."
Sanae jumped. "You're right! I'm sorry I was so inconsiderate! You and Kanako-sama's health are the most important th-thing!" She wiped away tears. "I'm just...gonna go to the shed for...a...l-little bit." The tears kept coming, and she quickly walked away into the shrine building, leaving her broom behind.
Suwako watched her go. "What a sweet girl," she said quietly.
Then, her eyes darkened as she continued looking over the valley. The village could faintly be seen below.
"This weight on my chest," she muttered to herself. "It's not about leaving. I feel as if...as if something is coming."
That night, the moon shone brightly upon the Moriya shrine. It was calm, and quiet, and not a cloud in the sky. As Sanae finished the last of her chores for the day, rummaging around in the shed, her way lit by the light of a paper lantern, Suwako hopped in behind her.
"Sanae-chan," said the little goddess. "How ya doin'?"
Sanae jumped a little. "Oh!" Then, she slouched a bit, looking dejected again. "Oh, it's you..."
Suwako hesitated. "Um...so are you all right?"
"I guess..."
"I'm sorry if I hit you with all of that at once," said Suwako. "Kanako-sama and I have been struggling for days now about how we'd go about telling you. You just...looked so sad all the time! We knew we had to do something about it."
Sanae was quiet. She absent-mindedly straightened a jar on a nearby shelf about three times.
"This Yukari Yakumo is a well known youkai," continued Suwako. "Kanako-sama has heard tales of her for a long time. Only those especially in need are given the chance to go to Gensokyo for help. This is the only opportunity we'll get to make things better."
The shrine maiden sighed. "I suppose you're right." She glanced to the side. "I'm sorry for being...so...dramatic. I didn't really have the shrine's best interests at heart." Then, she smiled weakly, but Suwako could still faintly see tears forming, glinting in the lantern light. "I have a long way to go, still!"
"You're doing fabulously, Sanae-chan!" chirped the goddess. "We're leaving for Gensokyo sometime next week. Kanako-sama is making some of the final preparations and stuff, and I need to gather my Mishaguji together. And once we get to Gensokyo, you can meet the other shrine – " Suwako stopped short.
Sanae was quiet. "Suwako-sama?" she said at length, leaning forward slightly.
Suddenly, Suwako shot into the air, spinning quickly to face the doorway, her arms shooting out to either side, spread wide, sleeves flapping. Her eyes glowed with energy, and swirling tendrils of magic began to form a shield before her with a loud hum. Before it could be formed, however, a shockwave blasted through the small shed, breaking the goddess' shield, blasting her backwards into Sanae violently. Vases, jars, and shelves were cast down with an enormous racket, shattering and breaking into pieces. The paper lantern fell upon this mess and a fire began, dashing quickly from wood to wood.
"Suwako-sama!" screamed Sanae, struggling to get to her feet, as dust and splinters rained down. The shed was barely still standing. "Suwako-sama!"
The little goddess choked and spat blood. Her hands were burned terribly, but healed in the blink of an eye.
A woman then appeared in the doorway. She was Kanako Yasaka, the true goddess of the Moriya shrine. With voluminous navy hair, scarlet eyes, and a black dress hemmed with red flower patterns, she looked like she meant business. On her chest was a small mirror, reflecting the rest of the world. She watched the girls like a hawk, as if waiting for them to question her authority. Behind her floated a large shimenawa, a ring of twisted rope with shide, long zigzag paper streamers that brought blessings. She was quite intimidating, but soon her face became soft, as she sped forward.
"Are you two well?" asked the woman. "Suwako?"
"Kanako-sama!" whimpered Sanae, holding the choking Suwako. "What happened? Suwako-sama, she just...and a thing came and...and..."
"Hush!" ordered Kanako. "I defended myself against the wave as well, dear shrine maiden, from all the way across the mountain. I then came as quickly as I could, as I sense a great darkness coming." Her eyes narrowed. "It's powerful." She held a hand on Suwako's chest, and the little goddess ceased choking and relaxed. "Suwako saved your life, Sanae-chan."
"What was...what was that wave?" whispered Suwako, getting to her feet. "It was beyond anything I've ever felt..."
"I know not," replied Kanako. Then, her brows furrowed, and she quickly looked down at the mirror on her chest. It began to vibrate quickly, ringing with a low hum, its reflection fluctuating, unclear.
"Kanako-sama!" shouted Sanae, holding herself. "What is going on?"
Kanako whirled around and glided out the doorway, the shrine maiden following, with Suwako clinging to her. A great gust of wind was blowing about Moriya shrine, the roaring of the trees around them growing louder and louder. They were pelted with leaves. A great mass of fog was blowing in from the valley...unnatural fog, coming like a rushing tide. Somehow, the night was becoming darker. Raising a pointed finger to the sky, Kanako uttered words that would haunt Sanae for many years.
"The moon is...black."
Above, the sky was torn open like fabric, and through this dark hole was emerging an unbelievably massive black orb, miles wide. Its surface was smooth, blemish-free, and beautiful. It produced no sound, only floating eerily from its portal, blocking out the glow of the moon, blanketing the girls in stuffy darkness.
As it slipped into the world, a feeling grew in Sanae's mind, a stuffy presence. She strained to see, and clenched her fists at her sides, as if a weight was on her chest, holding her down. It was not a physical duress, it was if she could feel the size and weight of this omen above her, bearing down upon her, like a predator.
"It has come!" declared Suwako. "Kanako!"
Kanako stamped a foot in a show of strength. The ground shook from it. "This is the presence that has been gnawing at my insides for many a week! And now it shows itself!"
"What do we do?" whimpered Sanae.
"The black moon is an omen of destruction," replied Kanako forcefully. "Other gods have spoken to me of its ill-fated appearance...I thought them but rumors only...but, now..." She paused. "We do not have a week to prepare to leave for Gensokyo, we may only have a few minutes! Suwako, the youkai's card of incantations, quickly!"
"Someone's coming up the steps!" shouted Sanae, pulling out her gohei rod – a small blessed staff adorned with papers and ornaments. She took a few steps back, fearful. Indeed, a white figure could be seen coming through the fog, climbing up the steps before them. Clinking and dragging of chains could be heard.
"My strength," muttered Suwako, as her energy faded, and she fell into a heap on the tiles. "My strength is being drained..." She strained to look up at the moon. "It must have been that wave..." She took a small card from her pocket and handed it to Kanako, and upon her touch it started to glowing with a humming purple energy.
Kanako grit her teeth. "This strange thing requires a massive amount of power. It will take me some time to gather it. Shrine maiden!"
Sanae jumped. "Yes, Kanako-sama?"
"Your loyalty to this shrine is tested this night! Defend this place from this encroaching darkness! I sense youkai among them...and other presences..."
Sanae gulped, but held her ground as the figure came. "I will!"
In a blast of wind, Kanako shot into the sky. The glowing card's light could be seen as she flew away, like a shooting star. The gust created by her takeoff pushed back the fog, and Sanae laid eyes upon her foe.
It was a girl, looking Sanae's age. Her skin was pure white, as was her hair, and her robe, like a doll that had not been painted. Her locks were long and straight, but they did not accentuate her eyes, for she had none! Only black sockets remained, staring ahead lifelessly. Her great, billowing sleeves produced untold links of black chains that snaked about in every direction, like living metal vines. She wore tight, black leather pants, and walked forward very slowly, like a ghost. Her face was emotionless...
"Who are you?" shot Sanae, readying her gohei rod. Small blue masses of supernatural energy, danmaku, formed around it, ready to be fired. "Speak your name!"
"She cannot," uttered Suwako, struggling to stand. "It's an undead." Her eyes narrowed. "Though, an undead of a level of power I thought not possible. A level on par with very powerful youkai themselves..."
"What?"
"Look out!"
The chain-wreathed girl blasted forward, waves of fog emanating from around her, and raised her arms, from which exploded hundreds – if not thousands – of chains. They swirled and wove about, and then shot at Sanae like needles!
The shrine maiden leaped aside and rolled, spinning and twirling through them agilely. Danmaku fired from her gohei rod collided with the undead's many arms and disintegrated them, only to be replaced by more. Sanae took flight – an ability she had only recently learned – and sped into the air, firing danmaku after danmaku, shooting down the chains as they came. But the undead girl dug her black links into the stone tiles like tentacles, and rose up to pursue the shrine maiden! A great battle ensued, as Sanae, still unsure of her flight, whirled around, unleashing wave after wave of danmaku at her foe, who summoned tendril after tendril of chains to defend and attack, like a great hundred-armed octopus.
Suwako, coughing and stumbling about, wobbled back towards Moriya shrine's great bell – its Suzu!
"If I can ring this bell," muttered the little goddess, "I can call all nearby Mishaguji to aid..." She drug herself onward. "If I could just..."
Up above, Kanako watched the battle below, gritting her teeth and gathering the required energy to allow them all to escape to Gensokyo! She cringed each time as Sanae was caught by one chain after another, bleeding, slowly being cut down. The undead seemed unaffected by even a direct hit from Sanae...
"What is this?" said the goddess, glaring up at the black moon. "Who has come? Who dares to threaten us?"
Without warning, a fist sunk into her stomach, knocking her breath out. A shock wave blew out, impacting the tiles below and pushing the fog out in a circle. Kanako, her body wracked with pain, caught only a glimpse of a man's toned, muscular body, flowing white hair, and a black, demonic eye, before she was flung downwards through the roof of her own shrine, crashing through the wooden beams like a rag doll, colliding against the ground with a rumble.
"Kanako-sama!" screamed Sanae, but she could do naught to help. She was being cut, and injured, bit by bit, as her own energy reserves drained slowly. She was fighting a high-level undead – no human could outlast such a being in battle. "I have to end this, somehow!" she cried, somersaulting around a large mass of chains that the undead was swinging around like a club.
Kanako exploded from the heap of wooden rubble she had been buried underneath. The spell card was still gathering energy. Seething, she looked up at the culprit of the attack, only to see him zooming at her relentlessly! She raised a hand, forming a shield; only a moment later, the man's attack came, his fist slamming against Kanako's shield, sending rubble flying everywhere and blowing Kanako's clothes about.
She found herself face to face with a very lean man with a sleek face. Unlike previously, only his left eye hummed with black, demonic energy, exuding smoke, while the other burned with white, divine light, steaming. His gaze bore into Kanako fiercely, his exposed torso covered in tattoos. Around his waist were many different belts, upon his legs he wore thick, black leathery pants; yet, he had not shoes. He seemed like he was having the time of his life, his mouth curled up in a great psychotic smile, revealing double rows of sharp teeth.
"A goddess," he seethed. His voice was as many voices, echoing eerily. He paused, then, "Pathetic."
Kanako narrowed her eyes.
Quickly, with a boom, she summoned two of her levitating onabashira – great, carved, wooden pillars used ceremonially at Shinto festivals – and swung them around with lightning speed. These enormous towers slammed into the man with incredible power, sending him rocketing away into the forest, blasting apart trees as he went, flailing.
She stood there, upright and strong. "Yes. Yes you are," she said.
As the man crashed through the foliage and trunks, he suddenly spun around – barely missing one as he passed – and dug his foot into it, ripping it from its roots and kicking the great tree flying back at Kanako. Standing still, arms folded, the goddess' onabashira swung of their own accord and deflected the projectile, even as more and more came. The demonic man was tearing the entire forest apart, flinging it bit by bit at Kanako, sending foliage flying everywhere.
Kanako thought herself with the advantage here, but the man landed upon the forest floor and took hold of a trunk nearby, and there was a crunching, and the entire tree petrified, instantaneously, turning to solid rock, including the leaves. He held up the tree and swung it violently, smashing others out of the way, and the stone-leaves flew like razors at the shrine. Wooden beams were cut, Sanae was cut, the undead girl was cut – though unaffected – and Kanako pulled her onabashira together like a shield, and they were pelted relentlessly.
Once the barrage had stopped, Kanako opened her shield to see what would happen next, but the man was before her, with the stone tree, already swinging, his smile wide and his eyes aglow. Kanako's shield had been separated, and in that instant, he had gotten close. It was too late, she had no time to react!
A great white snake, hundreds of feet in length and a head the size of a small car, bounded from behind the shrine, hissing like a steam factory. It descended on the demon man, and he swung the stone tree at the snake instead, sending its head smashing into the tile and rubble nearby, as Kanako leaped back, holding her chest.
"Who..." muttered she. "Who are these people...?"
The demon man and the Mishaguji engaged in a fierce battle! The snake whirled its tail around, slamming into the ground again and again, the man rolling and spinning around it, swinging his petrified tree as a club. Once or twice he hit the beast, crushing its face into the shrine walls and the tiles below.
"Mishaguji!" yelled Suwako, catching sight of the beast. She was still struggling to stand. "Mishaguji, lend me your power!" She tripped, and cursed under her breath. "I must...join the fight..."
The snake turned to channel energy to its master, the little goddess, but it was a distraction the demon man needed. He grasped his weapon and tore it in two; it was now two sharp stone wedges! He threw it like a spear, a shock wave emanating from the force of his throw.
But one of Kanako's onabashira intercepted it, and both the wooden pillar and the stone wedge were blown apart. The Mishaguji spun around and snapped at the man, and he found himself locked in its great jaws, holding the maw apart with his hands and feet. Even with all his demonic energy, it was a troublesome feat for him! The Mishaguji raised into the air, summoning its strength to crush the fiend.
"Suwako!" called Kanako, still gathering energy, "it is almost complete! Prepare!"
Suwako choked a bit. "Get...get Sanae-chan! We must go!" She looked up too see the black moon growing larger; descending.
Sanae was bloody and bruised, catching her breath, on the other side of the shrine. She stood strong, staring down the undead girl before her, surrounded by mist, rubble, and broken chain links littered everywhere. Her foe glided slowly forward.
"I will never...outlast this," panted Sanae.
She held up her gohei rod, and gathered her strength, and began a barrage of powerful danmaku. Their light lit up the fog around them, and each projectile slammed into the undead with shock waves of power. Sanae threw card danmaku at the ground before the undead, which exploded when she came near, knocking even Sanae back. But, through the mist, the girl still came, unaffected.
"What is this?!" screamed Sanae.
Out of nowhere, the Mishaguji's tail came blasting downwards and smashed the undead girl into the tile. After it lifted, she attempted to stand, but the tail came again as the beast struggled, and flung the undead girl down the shrine steps, bouncing, to smash into a building far below, chains snapping and clinking loudly.
Sanae yelped and jumped back, watching as the snake continued its attempt to snap its teeth down upon the demon man, but Kanako's voice could be heard:
"Kochiya-san!" It came over the fire, the smoke, the rubble, the blood, the sweat, the fear, and the the growing shadow of the black moon above. "Kochiya-san! We're leaving!"
"No!" came a sinister cry from the demon man inside the Mishaguji's jaw. "No!"
"Go!" screamed Sanae at the Mishaguji, tears in her eyes, and the snake quickly slithered down the steps towards the valley, as fast as it could go, taking the fiend with it.
"Kochiya-san!"
Sanae scrambled to her feet, cringing from all her cuts and bruises, and ran as fast as she could back towards the half-ruined shrine building. She tried to take flight but crashed back down; she was running out of energy. The shed in the back was ablaze, casting an orange glow upon the place. Tears streaming down her face, her mind swirled with questions. Who had come? How was that undead girl unaffected by danmaku?
These thoughts in her head were interrupted when the ground began shaking powerfully. Sanae tripped and fell face first onto the tile. A powerful wind was blowing, and howling, and there was a great humming. Clenching her fists, she looked up at the black moon.
With a resounding crack she could feel in her bones, the dark orb's surface split geometrically, beautifully, mesmerizingly, and a visible shockwave emanated, slamming into the shrine and its keepers with immense power. Kanako was pushed to her knees and Suwako was driven into the tiles. Sanae's face was smashed into the stone and her nose cracked; she tried to stifle the blood as she stood.
"The black moon!" yelled Kanako, her dress whipping about. "It is stealing my gathered energy! Kochiya-san! We must go! Now!"
Sanae gritted her teeth and began dragging herself on, but stopped.
A colossal figure stood before her. His white coat was long and enveloping, and his sleeves were wide and billowing, exuding great, massive black claws. He had appeared silently, unexpectedly, as if he had just materialized from nowhere, like a ghost. It was Dr. Omen, standing before her, some fifteen feet tall, like a monument, his black oily hair blowing in the wind. His shadow was cast over her, causing her heart to sink in terror. It was a physical terror, a cold feeling her very bones.
She could feel him. She could feel his presence, with her shrine maiden sense, with the sense of the supernatural she had been gifted as a child, with the sight! And now, her sight was filled with this monstrous being, this man that clouded her vision with nothing but darkness and power. His glowing blue eyes bored into her soul, seeming to learn all about her, her secrets, her desires, her hopes...
She dropped her gohei rod, speechless, falling to the ground, sliding herself away slowly as he merely stood there. The shrine maiden whispered prayers. Dr. Omen, his coat and hair floating eerily as if underwater, like a leviathan sea monster of lore, slowly glided forward and raised his hand outwards, towards her.
The world went silent for Sanae. All she could feel was fear, all she could see was the immense black claw coming towards her – its span was nearly as long as her entire body. It was quiet. The glow from the fire nearby flickered her vision with embers...
An unbelievable number of purple danmaku roared through the air, launched relentlessly from Kanako's fingertips, tearing tiles from their places as they came They slammed into Dr. Omen's back with unrelenting force, knocking Sanae back further, snapping her back to her senses.
Dr. Omen did not even flinch. His hand retreated and he slowly turned about, coat swirling like a white hurricane, as he was pelted endlessly with exploding danmaku. The sound was near deafening; Sanae could feel every danmaku's impact against this monstrous man, yet she grew more fearful and confused to see him unaffected, just as the undead girl had been...
Kanako's eyes narrowed, serious, but also visibly perturbed. She summoned a third onabashira and flung it full force at Dr. Omen, yet he raised his hand and caught it, still being pelted with danmaku, craters being formed all around him. Kanako came closer, clenching her fists, trying to move the onabashira, but Dr. Omen's grip was too strong, she could not move it an inch! Then, with a resounding crunch, the onabashira shattered, having been crushed in his hand. Kanako ceased advancing, and ceased firing. She stood there, frozen, her eyes wide.
"How..." she muttered.
Suwako shoved her aside, "Sanae-chan!" she screamed.
Sanae, seeing Dr. Omen turned away from her, jumped to her feet and rolled across the tile, trying to get past; trying to reach the shrine! Dr. Omen turned and swiped at her. The tips of his claws caught the bottom of her hakama and tore it, but she was unhurt, and leaped to her feet, dashing with all her strength. Dr. Omen began walking towards the shrine, but Kanako came to her senses.
"No!" she proclaimed. "You will not!" With loud booms, she summoned more onabashira to complete a set of four and flung them at Dr. Omen, as she raised Yukari's card high into the air, where it began humming with growing volume. Floating runes began to form around it...
The onabashira smashed into Dr. Omen, slowing his advance as he fought against them, trying to shove them out of his way, but Kanako would not desist!
The spell card exploded with the sound like a gong. Great massive tendrils of red energy surged forth, snaking along the ground, forming runes everywhere. The wind of the dark night blew ferociously! Behind the shrine, the very air itself was torn asunder: a portal, thousands of feet high. Its red light cast a glow upon the entire shrine – even upon the black moon above. Inside this ethereal gateway was nothing but swirling red energy, blackness, and floating eyes that watched them closely. But, through the distortion, a faint image came into view, a green, beautiful land, with a great mountain, and blooming cherry blossom trees. Slowly, it came further into focus.
It was Gensokyo.
"Hold on!" yelled Kanako, taking Suwako in her arms and running forward to meet Sanae, still maneuvering the onabashira against Dr. Omen; he was advancing slowly, and beginning to surge with electricity.
Sanae ran without turning to look at the terrifying being behind her. She sped, crying, towards her beloved home: Moriya Shrine! The place where she had become a shrine maiden, and where she had met the goddesses who became her family. The place ruined before her eyes, beneath this black moon! She leaped, hugging Kanako, and at that moment, there was another deafening gong, resounding over the mountaintops, echoing through everything and everyone. Dr. Omen, himself, stopped, and Kanako ceased her attack.
The entire Moriya Shrine began sliding into the portal, its tiles grinding loudly. Small pebbles began levitating. Kanako held Suwako and Sanae tightly.
"Girls," she whispered, "we're going to Gensokyo..."
Sanae began bawling into Kanako's chest, as Suwako looked skyward.
"Gensokyo..." rumbled a voice from Dr. Omen. It was an other-worldly sound. He merely stood there and watched, coat flapping.
The Moriya Shrine was engulfed by the portal, leaving nothing but a hole on the mountaintop. To Sanae and the others, the sky became a red darkness, behind them the supernatural paradise of Gensokyo grew closer. The fire, and the destruction, and Dr. Omen vanished into the distance; as he did, his blue eyes still bored into Sanae, watching her; she could feel it. Slowly, she looked behind, meeting eyes with him...
Then, moments later, the dark sky dissipated. The shadows, the eyes, the strange noises; they all shattered. The three girls were hit with blasts of cool wind. It was fresh, night air.
"What..." muttered Suwako, looking around.
"We are..." replied Kanako, her eyes wide. "We've...made it."
The shrine had been placed upon a great mountain. It was a mountain so enormous, the valleys below could not be seen. Stone steps down the slopes had already been prepared for them, and the chunk of land that held the shrine had been placed perfectly to match with it. Above them, great stars and beautiful nebula could be seen, with numerous comets and shooting stars: a breathtaking sight! Behind them, the last few tendrils of red energy dissipated, vanishing. As they disappeared, they seemed to speak: the nightmare was over.