A/N: A fun little piece that I may expand eventually. For now, just treat it as a oneshot.
Update: Fixed some errors.
Chapter One
Newcomer
"So, did you come to Gensokyo for a vacation, ze?"
"Perhaps vacation is the wrong word. I suppose pilgrimage would be more appropriate."
"A pilgrimage? From where? And how did you even make it here in the first place?"
With a brief moment of silence, the trio took another sip of the green tea provided by the Hakurei Shrine's Miko, Hakurei Reimu.
At a moderate height for a woman of 17, she had long, silky brown black hair that cascaded down her back, as well a red ribbon on the back of her head, with twin red tubes adorned on her side locks to match.
Her Shrine Maiden uniform consisted of a red pleated skirt, a sleeveless red top with a white collar, tied with a yellow ribbon and a pair of white detached sleeves which expose her armpits and sarashi. A Gohei fitted with two white Shidei rested upon her back, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.
Taking a sip of her custom brewed green tea, Reimu asked, "How in the name of Gensokyo did you manage to breach the barrier without any interference? When I felt the Barrier being breached, she felt almost... Pleased that you were passing through. But who are you?"
"Yeah, I was wondering about that. How on earth do you get through the barrier without interference? Not even I can get through that easy, ze." The second woman asked with a tinge of excitement in her voice.
Known as Marisa Kirisame, The Ordinary magician, she was of an average height for a woman around 17, she had messy blond hair coupled with a large pointed black witch hat, adorned with a pure white ribbon, as she looked at the third member of their party with her mischievous golden eyes. For the rest of her attire, she wore a dark blue witch's dress, with a white apron to match, as her dress extended down to her knees. Dark blue boots accentuated her legs, as her custom made broom lay attached to her back.
Taking her own sip of the delicious tea, Marisa asked another question, "And how are you levitating an inch of the ground? Not many have levitation power around here, ze." A hint of amusement and wonder filled her voice as she saw the third person levitating ever so slightly off the ground.
Taking a moment to consider their questions, the third figure slowly took a drought of his tea, setting it down upon the ground in front of them, before answering, "I levitate through my powers, for balance training. And that barrier on the outside... It correctly identified a Lifestream Operative. Most pure Lifestream barriers do. As for where I'm from..." He trailed off.
The man, known as Sephiroth to many, friend to few. He wore a long black heavily armored trench coat with reinforced silver shoulder pauldrons, black steel plated combat boots as well as pure black armor plated trousers. The top of his coat was open to reveal his chest, with his leather SOLDIER suspenders crossed over it. Long silver hair adorned his head with his bangs parted to either side of his face, as his top bangs jutted out skyward. A high featured face along with emerald, cat like eyes completed his appearance.
Confused, Reimu asked, "Lifestream? What exactly is that? And where did you say you from?"
Sephiroth smiled slightly, responding, "Both stories for another time."
Reimu sighed, and went back to pondering just what manner of man had entered Gensokyo recently.
The trio sat in a companionable silence, until Sephiroth stood up on solid ground.
With a bow, he says, "Thank you for your hospitality and the information. I think I'll explore the surrounding area for a bit."
"Wait!"
Turning back, he answered patiently, "Yes?"
Reimu, having stood up abruptly, exclaims, "You can't just go out! Didn't you hear me earlier when I said that Gensokyo is a dangerous place? Even with that armor, a lot of creatures out there can seriously injure, or even kill you!"
With a slight smirk, he says, "Who said I couldn't fight?"
With a laugh, Marisa rose from her seat and said with a grin while she pointed her broom towards Sephiroth, "How about a test, ze? Fight me, and we'll see if you're fit to explore Gensokyo."
Matching her grin, albeit one that quite a bit more ferocious and intimidating, Sephiroth called forth his Magic Enhancing equipment, as both of his arms became adorned with gauntlets, infused with magic glyphs and small orbs of materia, as his coat materialized symbols of the Lifestream, adding a larger reserve to his already immense mana pool. While Sephiroth no longer required materia in order to cast magic, it allowed him to access greater height of his current magic powers, allowing for Tier 0 Magic, while he could only utilize Tiers 7-1 under his own power.
As the two combatants faced one another, Reimu stood to the side, and declared, "A Spell Card Duel shall now commence. I shall referee the match to ensure no lethal injuries are exchanged."
As Reimu raised her hand to signal the start, she said, "Ready?"
As the two sides nodded, Sephiroth remained calm as he snapped his gauntlets shut, satisfied with the materia inside, while Marisa was holding something behind her back, her hand striked down and she yelled, "Commence battle!"
Instantly taking to the air with her broom, Marisa drew her Mini Hakkero from her back, intoning, "Spell Card: Stardust Reverie!"
An almogoration of stars surrounded the young witch's body as she suddenly flew straight towards him at the speed of a train.
"Too slow."
Sephiroth simply sidestepped her dash, before casting a Firagra behind him in an instant, his cast time becoming quick as thought, his time as a Lifestream Operative having granted him access to such masterful control over magic.
Marisa, who had zoomed right past her target, turned around in shock only to be met by the sight of a large orb of fast moving fire heading towards her location. As she maneuvered her broom to avoid the projectile, it suddenly imploded in a burst of fire just as she dodged it, nearly scorching her in the process.
Realizing the extent of his power, Marisa decided to amp up the nature of her test.
Marisa revealed another spell card to use, intoning, "Ritual Sign: Orreries Sun!"
Four elemental orbs, corresponding to their elemental affinities of Red Fire, Yellow Lightning, Green Earth, and Blue Water, were released from Marisa as the four orbs released a flurry of Danmaku bullets as well as four inch wide lasers, aimed towards the figure of Sephiroth.
With a smirk, Sephiroth sprinted towards the pattern, shattering bullets with a veritable wave of ice while flowing through the majority of them. Not a single hit his body as he flawlessly maneuvered through the stream of bullets, still sprinting towards Marisa. As the four lasers were about to make contact with him, he slid on the ground and came back up, dodging all four.
In her panic at seeing Sephiroth sprinting towards her, Marisa flew even higher, before calling out, "Love Sign: Non Directional Laser!"
A magic circle formed before her extended hand, as four individual single meter wide rainbow infused energy beams shot out from Marisa's magic circle, moving in randomized directions as she attempted to repel Sephiroth's advance.
With an amused look, he commands, "Simple. Advanced Comet and Blizzaga."
Boosting himself through Jump magic, he headed straight towards the energy beams. A wave of comets fell from the sky, surrounding Sephiroth as they blocked off the four lasers and homed in on Marisa's figure, just as a storm of ice particles flew towards her as well.
Just as his spells took effect, he activated his levitation in order to stay within the air at such a height.
With a look of incredulity, Marisa suddenly laughed as she witnessed the incoming comets, seeing that she'd found quite the magician and soldier in Sephiroth.
With a grin, she called out as she retrieved her Mini Hakkero, "Love Sign: Master Spark!"
As if to compliment the four haphazard lasers, an enormous energy beam made of pure light energy rose from the small octagonal device, it's power heading straight for Sephiroth.
With a smirk, he countered, "Surge."
A blast of concentrated lightning made its way to meet the Master Spark. Once they connected in an explosion of thunderous bright light, each side attempted to best one another's attacks, pushing with all of their might. Powerful as the Lifestream was, even it couldn't completely overcome the power of the Sparks.
Just as the Master Spark began to push through against Surge, Sephiroth pulled another trick out of his sleeve, "Flare!"
From his second hand, a storm of hellfire erupted, imploding a path directly for Marisa without hitting her Master Spark. Disengaging her Master Spark while Sephiroth disengaged his spells as well out of courtesy, Marisa shouted, "Your next test, is speed!" She yelled while flying off, toward the Forest of Magic.
"As you wish." Sephiroth says, while calling forth another ability.
Four white, angelic wings unfurled from Sephiroth's back, as he took to the skies along with Marisa, attempting to catch up to her with such an enormous head start.
With a quick distance closing rate due to his immense speed and exertion, Sephiroth nearly reached Marisa as she turned around and teased, "Can't catch me, da ze- WHOA!"
"Ultima: Concentration!"
"Magicannon: Final Spark!"
Two of the most destructive magic spells in existence were unleashed simultaneously. The first, a green Lifestream infused beam of destruction morphed into existence from Sephiroth's pure white magic circle.
The second, a pure rainbow energy beam comprised of pure light, lined with magic enhancing circles all around bursted in existence from Marisa's Mini Hakkero, held by both hands.
As the two tremendous beams were about to make contact in the airspace high above the Forest of Magic, Reimu had but one thought, "Why did this have to happen to me?"
Everything went white.
After that incident, Sephiroth and Marisa returned to the Hakurei Shrine, only to be scolded by Reimu for the trouble they caused, disrupting the general peace of Gensokyo. There was also the issue of the massive commotion caused by their duel, having thrown the fairies and various Youkai into a frenzy, excited by the power surges released by the energy.
As Marisa sheepishly rubbed her head and Sephiroth patiently listened to Reimu's lecture, each of them forced to promise to assist Reimu in her cleanup operation, none of the trio were aware of who else had noticed the massive power release, and had become interested in learning just where that power had come from, and how they could acquire it...
Tier List: A classification system for various powers and abilities Sephiroth encounters and uses.
Tier 7: Ice, Fire, Thunder, any and all basic spells.
Tier 6: Physical techniques, such as Vital Slash and Blitz.
Tier 5: Magic spells such as Fira, Thundara, Blizzara, and advanced physical techniques.
Tier 4: Firagra and other assorted Gra spells.
Tier 3: Flare, Surge, Chill, Tornado, Comet and Advanced Comet.
Tier 2: Ultima Spells, including Ultima: Concentration.
Tier 1: [Classified.]
Tier 0: [Classified.]
