At the Hakurei Shrine, Mima and Suika cry after hearing the first part of Rika's tale, however they interrupt Rika's story, which in turn annoys Reimu.
Mima sniffles and says "I'm sorry, but that's just so sad and beautiful!"
Suika adds "I know! Rika, you poor sweet girl, you!"
They both start crying loudly again, but stop when Reimu realizes something, and speaking louder than Mima and Suika's cries she says "RIKA, TELL ME SOMETHING!"
The shrine quiets down, then Reimu calmly asks "is the outside world really that advanced? From what Sanae and the goddesses at the Moriya Shrine say... machines aren't as amazing as you describe them!"
Rika asks "what do you mean, my lady?"
Reimu asks "what year do you believe this is?"
Rika hesitantly says "well... 2785..."
Reimu, Mima and Suika open their eyes so wide they turn to white disks with black, thick over lines, then Rika asks "wh-what? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Reimu, Mima and Suika desperately run to Reimu's room, then after a few seconds pass all three come running back to Rika, showing her a calendar that shows it's the year 2010.
Rika gently grabs the calendar and asks "my... my lady, is this accurate!?"
Reimu exclaims "Yukari brought this back the day she took you home!"
Mima points at Reimu and Suika and suspiciously asks "are you sure you're not pulling their legs?"
Rika replies "but... how can that be? I mean..."
Reimu rubs her forehead and says "never mind! We'll ask Yukari when we see her. Please, just continue with your story!"
Rika sighs, nods, then says "alright. Well, I WAS supposed to come back after 3 days but..."
-
It's been 3 days since the first rescue mission Rika volunteered to take on in order to search for survivors.
Since then, she has volunteered to take part in various other rescue missions, saving as many lives as possible.
In those 3 mission-filled days Rika has been able to save lots of lives, most of which are orphaned children whose parents had been victims of the war.
Each time Rika finishes a mission she goes to the orphanage building in the base to check up on the orphaned children she's rescued so far, as well as spend some time with them.
The children there grow attached to her thanks to her kindness and playful personality, to the point that some of the children call her big sister, since she seems to them like a big sister who cares about them.
Of course Rika is flattered and is very happy that they can see her this way.
-
At the end of the 3rd day, Rika comes back from the last rescue mission.
She is exhausted, since it's nighttime by now.
Everyone sleeps contently, except for VIVIT, who is the only one waiting for Rika at the entrance.
She greets her with her "good job", as always, and a "welcome back", though this time Rika notices that VIVIT wants to talk to her about something; something that seems to be bothering her.
Rika settles down with her in the living room, alone, so they can talk as comfortable as possible.
VIVIT starts by staring at Rika's face in a serious manner, making Rika a little tense, believing that VIVIT might scold her for something she might had done wrong.
However, she is proven wrong when VIVIT asks "how much do you know about your family, other than just the incident in which we found you on?"
VIVIT chooses her words carefully as to not offend, or hurt Rika by asking that.
Rika responds by shaking her head left and right, indicating she doesn't know anything other than that, while at the same time lowering her head as she is reminded of the sad tale of her bringing.
VIVIT notices this, so she tries to make things lighter for Rika, and with a smile she says "there may be some clues about your family somewhere still."
Rika looks up in surprise while VIVIT continues "I investigated about your origins, I hope you don't mind of course..."
Rika just smiles at her, shaking her head, letting VIVIT know that she didn't mind at all.
VIVIT smiles back and says "thanks... Anyway, it turns out that your family was once of the high states in terms of honor and loyalty. I also discovered some ruins that seem to belong to your family. Sadly though, nobody was able to enter the main gate, so perhaps it needs someone of pure blood relation...? Anyway, I thought I should tell you about this. Maybe you will be able to enter those ruins since they belong to your family."
Rika's heart fills with excitement after hearing VIVIT's words. At last, she could find out more about where she came from, and what kind of family she had.
She looks at miss VIVT, trying to ask her something, but VIVIT already knows what she wanted to ask and answers her before she even begins to talk.
"Yes, you will be able to go in check it out. In fact, how about you and I go and check it out tomorrow? I will take you there myself!" says VIVIT with a smile which in turn earns her what she desired.
A bright smile on Rika's face; the smile she hadn't seen since the start of the rescue missions.
She was brought back from her thoughts with Rika's last statement of thanks accompanied with a bow that VIVIT knows all too well.
It's her sign of great gratitude and appreciation for her, which she gladly accepted as THIS is how she trained Rika to be.
And so, they both prepare the plans for the next day's early morning trip to the ruins.
Later that night, Rika paces around her room, excitedly wonder what will she find in those ruins.
Yukari's black gap, full of ever-looking eyes, opens up right in front of her, startling her for a moment, then out comes Yukari with a casual smile, asking "so, are you all set?"
Before Rika is able to answer, Yukari quickly adds "you know, Reimu may not show it, but she's really anxious for your return."
Rika gasps, then backs away from Yukari, slowly walks to her bed and while looking at her feet she hesitantly says "Yu-Yukari... I can't go back yet."
Yukari opens her fan, covering half of her face under it, then says "I see. Well, this is a surprise."
Rika jumps from her bed and grabs Yukari's free hand, then excitedly says "there's something very important I must do, so could you please tell lady Reimu I'll only be 4 more days, I swear!"
Yukari casually stares at Rika for a moment, then says "you kids are such a hand-full. Alright, I'll be back for you in 4 days, but..."
Yukari smiles, and sounding dangerously playful she adds "if you make me miss any more of my sleep like this, I'm going to have to charge~!"
Yukari winks after saying this, then Rika smiles and hugs Yukari on impulse, repeating "thank you, thank you so much! I promise, next time I'll go with you without question!"
Yukari is surprised by the hug at first, but then smiles and hugs Rika back, and after letting go she gets back inside her gap and just before it closes she says "you know, I really should charge for these trips."
Rika smiles, giggling after Yukari's comment, then slowly walks back to her bed, drops her head on her pillow, and before she knows it, she falls asleep.
-
The next morning both Rika and VIVIT take off to the ruins, with Rika rushing it all.
She is very excited, wondering what she will uncover about her family, as well as finding out where she came from, and from VIVIT's look, she seems happy for her.
This could ease the child's mind, so she can start focusing on her future.
When they reach their destination Rika is surprised at how well built the ruins are.
It seems to be well forted, as well as very well preserved, even though it looks like it had been built a very long time ago.
The walls are carved with many symbols that resemble feathered wing signs from different angelic cultures, making nice shapes and well made carved drawings that symbolize how ancient the ruins are.
Rika wonders how long has her family been alive, or more importantly, when did her family form.
The thoughts refuse to leave her mind, so she decides to find out everything she can about her family in these ruins.
She readies herself and approaches the main gate of the ruins, which has the same carvings as the whole ruins.
She stares at the gate for a minute while VIVIT keeps staring at Rika, who then walks slowly forward until she's right next to the door.
She lifts her hand and lightly touches the rocky door, then the door suddenly starts to shake for a while, startling both Rika and VIVIT, until it slowly but steadily begins to open.
-
VIVIT is left awestruck at what she's just witnessed.
In front of her, that door she tried to open so many times, for so long, now is easily opens by the touch of Rika's hand, and now in front of both girls the door fully opens, revealing a long path as far as their eyes can see.
Both girls walk in, Rika going through normally, but VIVIT is quickly pushed back and falls on the ground outside.
Still not knowing what hit her she takes a guess and after getting up, she touches the archway and finds out that her hand can't pass to the other side, like there's a invisible barrier blocking that entrance, preventing her from entering.
She notices Rika on the other side, unaffected by that barrier at all.
She only guesses the purpose of this barrier, so she sighs with great disappointment and just looks back at Rika, who looks worriedly back at her from the other side.
She smiles sadly at Rika and says "it seems that the ruins only accept those who are from the family. I don't know how it works though, but with this I won't be able to come along with you."
Before Rika could even respond back, VIVIT says "but ...I will be with you in here!"
She points at her chest and continues "so fear nothing and look out for yourself in there. Just remember that I am here with you!"
Those reassuring words return the smile in Rika's face. Excited, and with a bright smile Rika replies back "I won't forget that. Thank you very much!"
She then turn around and looks at the road up ahead with determination on her face and proceeds to run along the path that holds the secrets of who she is, not knowing that this journey will change her life forever.
-
As Rika runs along the path inside the ruins she comes across lots of traps, all set in various places, arranging from spike pit-falls, to crushing walls, to a room full of poisonous scorpions, to more crushing walls, and many more deadly trap-rooms and trapdoors.
Rika escapes every one of them with such grace that she doesn't notice it herself, even though there are some that seem to be quite a handful to her, but she still manages to escape all of them with ease proceeding without delay.
Her family history is somewhere in here, so she's not going to back down, no matter what.
Finally after dodging a few more traps, including a horrible hot tar and feathers trap, she reaches what seems to be the final door.
She enters with a sigh of relief, thinking that the traps are over, only to be hit on the head the very moment she enters with a silver wash tub, knocking her to the ground with her eyes spinning around in place.
She recovers fast and gets up stares back with a sweat drop on the back of her head.
The silver wash tub now lies on the ground, making Rika feel a bit sheepish, then asks herself "so childish tricks like these were used in the past?!"
She shrugs it off and continues moving ahead, until she reaches the end of the road, arriving to a room that has many unique carvings on the walls, much different than the ones outside.
The room itself is circle shaped and its made of crystals that shine bright enough with any dim light that reaches it.
Rika, of course, tries to make out what she could out of this room until she sees a crystal ball that's been put in what she thinks is the middle of the room.
She approaches it slowly, then tries to touch it, only to have the entire room shine brightly, making Rika cover her eyes with her hands.
Once the lights die out Rika opens her eyes, and to her shock and surprise, what she sees in front of her is just awe inspiring to her.
There's a woman flying in front of her who has sunny blond hair, blue eyes the color of the skies, and 2 white wings on her back that are as tall as herself.
She has an innocent motherly smile that could make anyone's heart feel at peace. She looks at Rika then smiles wider at her, though Rika could swear she saw a hint of sadness in that smile.
The girl approaches Rika in a slow manner; Rika doesn't even move or panic, as she is still awe struck at the sight in front of her.
She snaps out of surprise when the girl's pure voice says "child of our honorable clan..., I can recognize your pure family blood from just looking at you."
She pauses for a brief moment with a smile, then her expression changes to seriousness, and in a firm voice says "therefore, you may have one request as well as a one question to be answered; is all I am capable of offering for you. That is what I can do for you as my powers can't fully reach this world anymore. So state your wish sweet girl. That is the least I could do for you."
She waits for Rika to absorb what she just so she can chose her words correctly.
-
Rika closes her eyes, thinking for a moment what she desires and what she wants to know.
She slowly opens her eyes once more with a look of pure determination which tells the holy girl what she wants to know.
Rika looks at the girl with the same determined look and with a convinced voice se says "my question would be this... Am I the last of the family line?"
She tries to keep that convinced voice while asking that question, which the holy girl, with a sad face and a small tear falling from her right eye, just nods as her answer.
Rika looks down to the ground; knowing that she is the last of her family line isn't very pleasing to her, but somehow she knew that already in her heart.
She only needed proof, and now she has it, but she steels herself to ask for her request so she can move on, then suddenly says "then my request will be this... Show me... my family's whole history."
The holy Girl nods again, but this time with a much brighter face, and a small smile.
-
The room turns pitch black, with only Rika and the holy girl in view.
The holy girl then takes a deep breath then stars speaking with a nostalgic voice "a very, VERY long time ago, there was a youkai race that was noble in blood and heart, mind and soul. They loved nature and lived around it as much as they could. They were called the Onkamiyamukai"
The whole room turns into a solidified image of a beautiful forest with many flowers, trees and many of people there have the same white wings as the holy girl.
She proceeds with her tale "they were one of the most respected races at the time before Japan. They were so well-thought of by the other clans they were never opposed, or attacked. They were peace walkers of the land, respected by many, if not by all those who knew them. They lived in harmony with both nature and the living as a whole, however..."
All the people in that forest vanish, while the forest reshapes with the intense red and orange of flames all over.
Many of the people are now escaping from their own home land, sadness written all over their eyes.
The holy Girl starts to speak again "forced out of their lands they live in, they were forced to join with the Moriya nation as allies, in hopes of returning to their peaceful times with nature someday, all because of a selfish war that was started for the gaining of lands."
The room turns pitch black once more, as the holy girl again takes another deep breath and starts speaking again.
"At a time, not too far away from the Onkamiyamukais, there lived the Kurashikami clan; a noble clan in both blood and wealth. They are masters of sword play and train hard with honor for those they wish to protect."
The view in the room changes to a compound full of houses and many people, men and women, holding swords and training with them, some taking a break and waving their hands at their families, looking very content in what they do.
The holy girl then continues speaking. "It's mainly because of their job that their family is well known far and wide across the land of honorable swordsmen and women who always protect those whom they serve. In other words, a noble clan whose one and only purpose is to protect other honorable clans. And they always lived to the other clans' expectations. They were one of the most respected clans of their time, however..."
The view changes into many other scenes in which some clans refuse their protection and some even become afraid of them, which left the proposers with a very sad expression.
The holy girl continues her story.
"Their own noble blood carried a curse that was bestowed on them through their founder, who sealed a cursed demon that purged countless lands. Using his own blood as a seal key to strip the Demon lord of its demonic powers and transferring it into his body, the clan founder managed to seal the demon away in hell, powerless and stripped of his demonic energy. This was the founder of the family, his own powers transferred on to the next generation with a blood line limit that could control the body if not wielded the right way. The people considered this dark energy and the change of personality to be a curse on the use, and thus on the family as a whole, were one of the most known clans to live on that time. They always treated their members equally, without any favors, and if they did, they didn't neglect others, making them more of a wise clan as well."
At the end of her last sentence a view of the members of the clan appear helping each other in their own training, some on their chores; a view that anyone who loves peace likes to see.
However the view then changes into a battle field with 2 sides clashing against each other in strong combat of life and death.
The holy girl speaks again "it's the time of the Suwa wars, which had an essential effect of shaping the land we now know as Japan, and in one of the grandest of battles of this war..."
The view then focuses on two individuals clashing against each other in a heated battle.
A man and a woman; the woman looks the same as the holy girl, though wearing heavy armor attached to her clothes, and the man looks like a member of the Kurashikami clan, his sword-wielding style giving him away, holding his Japanese sword in a quick draw style which the clan always uses without exception.
While the echoes of clashing metals and cries of battle are heard, the holy girl speaks again.
"The last members from both the Kurashikami and Onkamiyamukai clans engaged in a heated battle against each, both bearing the pain of losing their families in this selfish war on their faces. While battling, a spark of hope emerges."
The view then focuses on both of the man and woman's faces as they continue their battle against each other, both aiming to defeat their swords and finish this fight, then both of look into each other's faces after getting close enough to each other, and see everything.
The pain... the longing... the sadness.
The holy girl continues "and at that moment, they both fell in love with each other; the love that was rarely known; love at first sight. Both man and woman take each other's hand and flee the battle field, knowing that they both betrayed their own alliance. But they didn't care. They both search for that small glimmer of hope that crossed both their faces, and soon after that..."
The view changes to only the two of them, now old in age, yet they both look like in their mid 30s, with many new family members who were a mix of both the Kurashikami and Onkamiyamukai clans blood.
Some play while some train with swords, and some are tending to nature and lessoning to them in their hearts, much like the Onkamiyamukai clan.
The holy girl speaks again.
"A new family was born from the mix of the two last members of their clans, and together they prospered into a great and honorable family once more. Even the curse that was carried on by the Kurashikami was nullified due to the blood mix of both clans. This new clan was called the Onkamikami clan, and this clan remade the glory of both lost races, and an honorable clan rises yet again, this time surpassing even the Hinanai family, which is widely known for their services to the Nai-no-Kami, who in their part didn't like the new formed family and named it a cursed family that still had the demon's powers inside each one of them. They never acknowledged them as ones that were blessed with good deeds and honorable life. They think that it's all a lie in order to get close to others and then destroy them in the end... But even so, the family prospered to new heights, earning the respect of many, if not, all the clans of their time, and so they lived in happiness."
The Holy takes another deep, relaxing breath as if saying that she finished.
-
Rika is fascinated by the story she was told about.
It's like a fairy tale from a book. She didn't expect her family was that kind of a family from the past.
She just thought that they had a long history, but never this kind of proud and strong influence of a history, but then a question surfaces in her mind.
A Question that she didn't get a answer to. She is about to ask when the room goes dark again, and the holy girl speaks once more.
"In times of old history, the clan served many, but as time went by their numbers went down due to the fact that other clans were ending their cycles as well, so they became less in numbers with each generation until this last generation, with only the last remaining family, in which... this war was an unfortunate end of that family, leaving its last member to live as their last keep sake of honor as well as to protect their family as they always have done."
After saying all this, she looks at Rika with a serious expression and says "and that would be you my sweet girl."
Rika tries to hold back the tears of this terrible knowledge of not having a family anymore, but she knows that she isn't alone at all.
Many other people have cared for her, so she keeps that small fact in the surface of her mind to keep herself strong in this time of need.
-
Silence rules for a moment after the story ends, that is until the holy girl speaks again, and with a soothing voice she asks "what is your name dear girl?"
Rika answers back with a simple "Rika" to which the holy girl smiles once more and with the same soothing voice she says "my, what a wonderful name. It speaks of your treats perfectly."
Rika is flattered by her complement until she sees that the Holy girl approaches her slowly from above, descending to her in a slow motion.
While descending she says "then I hereby rename you Rika Onkamikami, of the Onkamikami Clan!"
Once she finishes saying that she hugs Rika tight and while kissing her head she says "you have my blessings" and with that Rika's body glows a little.
After that glow disappears Rika is left in shock, unable to say a word.
Before the confused Rika can finally say anything, the holy girl smiles and says "with this, you will gain all our family's treats... if you manage to complete the trails, that is."
She stops for a moment, allowing Rika to absorb what she just said, then continues "and you already passed the first one with flying colors" all the while smiling wider and saying "your selfless act about both the question and the request was part of that trial, and so you pass the first trial with high honors."
She waits for Rika now to respond back.
It takes a while for Rika to register what this holy being just said to her before she smiles back like a child that has earned her candy treat from their mother.
The holy girl giggles at the sight, then in a flash her expression changes to a most serious one, and says "it's not over yet... Here is your second trial. I truly hope you are able to handle it."
Just after she says those words, another girl appears behind both them.
She looks just like Rika, only with purple eyes, waving hair that moves as if dark air is cruising through, and a purple aura around her.
Rika stares at what looks like herself, only in a more menacing form, not sure how to handle what she sees in front of her.
-
Just when Rika readies herself for what is coming, the crystal ball that she touched earlier emits a small blue aura that surrounds it.
The aura expands until it covers the whole room, then the holy girl, after flying high above her says "this is a barrier similar to what's been used to protect Gensokyo, its only temporary though. In that time, you can use all that you have learned and know about the real Gensokyo. Now... I hereby bear witness to this trial in which an honorable member proves herself!"
Rika doesn't respond to that and just stares at her other self with a face full of determination, then says in a steeled voice "Oath Keeper!" while her other self, with a face that looks almost blank, but with wide purple glowing eyes says in a minced voice "Oath BREAKER!!"
Each have a circle gate open beside them, Rika's being a Golden Gate, while the other one a Dark purple Gate.
They both jump inside at the same time and both emerge at the same time from them, Rika with her fire and water swords, now are her sides, while the other emerges with four swords, each one with purple colored hilts and a dark aura around them.
Rika holds her hands over each sword while taking a ready to strike stance while the dark one holds 2 of the dark swords, ready to strike when needed.
They both hold their ground for a who knows how long before each at attack the same time with great speeds, both disappearing and reappearing face to face against each other, both of their swords clashing against each other in one swift strike, then the next moment they disappear and reappear at another place in the room.
Again they clash their swords in an instant, but this time many other strikes follow after the first in a blur and shock of both swords colliding with each other.
The same pattern continues on, each time increasing their speeds to new heights, until they both realize they can't beat each other with just speed and power.
-
They stop at a small distance away from each other, then a spell card appears in front of Dark Rika.
She declares it in a menacing voice "Untitled - Darco Gessenkou!"
She rushes to Rika, appearing straight in front of her and striking hard with her sword. Rika manages to block it, but she's launched to the air by the force of the impact.
Rika tries to recover in mid air only to notice that Dark Rika appears in front of her and is already swinging her sword down on her.
Rika manages to block it again, using both her swords this time, but she is pushed back down to the ground with great force.
Rika balances herself and forces the impact of the push to affect her legs alone and simply endures it, but before she knows it, a mark shaping the moon is on the ground, and she lands in the center of it.
Dark Rika sheathes her swords back and with her hands she generates lots of dark bullets inside the moon-shaped mark.
They slowly get closer to Rika, surrounding her entirely.
Rika flares up and in an angry tone she says "don't underestimate me!"
She pulls a spell card from her apron with a serious tone she says "Fire & Water Sign - Embraco Endo no Zeppa Juujishou"
Rika uses her fire sword to send many bullet waves at her dark self in fast draws of her sword while getting close to the dark girl with each wave.
Dark Rika keeps resisting each wave Rika sends to her, sometimes blocking while other times dodging, but she still can't escape waves coming to her.
Rika keeps sending wave after a wave until she reaches Dark Rika at sword range, then she uses her water sword and begins to try and strike her down.
Dark Rika sees the attack coming, so she blocks and dodges each of her sword strikes while smirking and thinking that Rika is just desperate.
She's so confident in this that she doesn't notice the pile of ice that's been forming bellow her since Rika started slashing, but it's too late and her legs are now stuck were she stands.
Rika smiles at her while saying "that's for underestimating me!"
Rika jumps and flips away from Dark Rika, then puts her sword in front of her as if praying, and begins chanting, and then it happens, another copy of Rika appears right beside her, holding the fire sword for her and doing the same battle stance as the real Rika.
They attack the enemy in front of them at the same time, both pacing at the same time and reaching the angry Dark Rika in front of them, crossing their swords and making an x mark and shouting at the same time "EMBRACE END!!"
However, before the attack reaches the dark one, she says in a very loud and a menacing tone "ENOUGH!!",then a Dark spell card forms in front of her and she says, in a very wicked calm tone "Untitled: Darco Houryuu Zankouken."
A massive burst of Dark Energy is released before Rika can reach her dark self and gets knocked away, canceling her spell card.
Rika manages to balance herself back in mid-air after being knocked away, then Dark Rika proceeds by holding two swords and while glaring at Rika with her glowing purple eyes, her aura turns darker, and before Rika knows what happened her Dark self unleashes a barrage of swift strikes in a fast and a random fashion, all of which either miss Rika or are blocked by mere instincts.
Rika didn't know that those strikes left glowing marks everywhere it struck, and Dark Rika suddenly disappears and reappears a few feet behind Rika, sheathing both of her swords back, and when they click in place, all of the marks turn into dark shaped bullets and start scattering slowly.
While that happens she does the same move again, leaving marks and then turning them into bullets.
Rika is pressured by the vast curtain of bullets and can't dodge them all, some even hitting her from the rear or the side.
Rika thinks that this can't go on and uses her Oath keeper spell at the right time to enter the gate once more and emerge with her thunder sword this time.
Rika doesn't have much time as she hurriedly declares her next spell card while the dark bullets almost reach her.
While pulling her spell card she says "Thunder Sign - Indignation no Shouou Jin'eizan"
Rika runs at high speeds across the room, generating lines of thunder with her unsheathed sword, distracting her dark self by using many arc lines of thunder.
All the lines turn into thunder-shaped bullets that scatter toward the dark one randomly; unknown to the dark one however, those bullets are a distraction in order for Rika to chant the greatest thunder magic known as "Indignation".
Rika begins chanting while the skies outside turn heavy with dark clouds, saying "I, who stand in the full light of the heavens command thee, who opens the gates of Hell. Come forth, divine lightning, INDIGNATION!!"
As soon as Rika says the magic word, a roaring thunder strike descends from the skies, penetrating the whole ruin and reaching Rika.
The lighting strike hits Rika's body in a blinding light, her dark self believing that she is so desperate she just wants to finish herself off.
To her surprise she is again, proven wrong, seeing Rika standing there with her body filled with lighting power and looking much brighter.
Electric sparks can be seen cruising through many parts of her body as she says "I didn't want to use this spell just yet, but you give me no choice. Prepare yourself!!"
Rika moves at speeds that can't be even sensed, and before her dark self knows it, she finds herself surrounded by many thunder lines drawn by Rika herself, then all of the lines turn into thunder bullets, some rushing the Dark one while some moving randomly at a faster pace, all the while Rika herself appearing and disappearing many times, leaving an after image every time that draws many thunder lines that continue to surround her dark self.
Dark Rika is pressured beyond reasoning, to the point that she is already in a corner and trying her hardest to avoid or deflect some of the bullets that surround her, then the real Rika suddenly appears in front of her with a prepared strike to the center of her body.
Dark Rika doesn't have time to react and she's cut by Rika's thunder sword.
Rika sheathes her sword back in its sheath, and once the sword is placed back with a click, a thunder strike hits Dark Rika's body.
Screaming in agony she isn't able to bear this any longer and just falls to the floor.
Rika turns to her dark self and stares a while before she concludes that she defeated her, and with a sigh of relief she throw her sword back to the gate, canceling her spell card in the processes, and turning around to look for the holy girl.
To Rika's horror however, a crazed laugh is heard in the room, and Rika suddenly turns around to look where Dark Rika had fallen, only to see her standing there, unscratched and laughing in a menacing and crazed voice.
While laughing Dark Rika says "you can't beat me, because I am you..! No! I am your very soul and darkness, and will be until the end of your life!"
Rika can't move after hearing those words and an ominous feeling fills her heart.
Did she ever really have a dark or evil side to begin with?
And if so, did she make any one suffer from that?
The more Rika thought about it, the faster she falls into a pit of darkness that's never ending.
-
The distraction itself is what Dark Rika needs to finish her off, and using every bit of speed she has, she appears just in front of Rika with two of her swords ready to strike her down.
The real Rika however, fails to realize that in time and as it happens so fast Rika can't tell what hit her, but she suddenly finds herself on the ground unable to move, and slowly but surely the surge of pain reaches her mind, but she holds her urge to scream in pain.
She looks over in a daze to find out that she has been slashed twice across her abdomen, which in turn intensifies the pain she is feeling, but she still holds it in, baring all the pain inside herself and not letting it out, and in turn, she starts to lose her consciousness.
In her daze she manages to see a sword stabbed to the ground beside her self, and somehow, she is drawn to it, like it's part of her.
She weakly lifts her hand and reaches for it slowly, and just before she grabs it she sees herself in a what looks like a white room that's devoted of anything but herself.
She looks around where she is now to see in front of her Reimu, just staring back at her.
Rika is surprised to find her master there. She wants to run and greet her, but Reimu raises her arm and holds her open palm in front of her, signaling Rika to stop.
In a casual tone Reimu says "did I ever say to you that you hurt anyone, or that you were evil?"
She now has a look similar to a scolding master and says "didn't you learn anything from the time you were with us..? All of us? You should be able to see by now why you lost just now!"
And then it hits Rika like a ton of bricks. Rika was ashamed of what she just did to herself, some tears clinging to her eyes.
In a shivering voice, Rika says " I am sorry. I really am sorry for not trusting you all, for not having faith at all... And now I know what I lacked the most in this battle... faith in myself and to believe in the power of bonds. Yes... bonds. This simple word has such a powerful meaning, and I didn't feel its power at all. I promise from now on I will not waver anymore. I will live up to my code in every way... to believe in our bonds, and the will of fire!"
Reimu smiles and nods at Rika, then she moves in to give Rika a hug while Rika cries her eyes out for a moment, then the whole Room turns brighter and brighter until its light covers Rika and Reimu entirely, and once again the scene switches back to Rika, reaching for the sword.
At first Rika is surprised at the sudden change of the moment, but the tear in her eye tells her that was not just a dream or anything of the sort.
Now she knows what to do and with every bit of power she had left, she grabs the sword's hilt with both hands, and uses it as a support to get up.
While doing so, she remembers what she was taught and it suddenly clicked inside Rika.
As if knowing, she grabs the sword and before unsheathing it she says "the shine of clustering bonds will illuminate a new miracle and become the path its light shines upon!!"
Rika pauses for a moment before she opens her eyes once more and says in a strong, knowing voice "and with this will, I hereby unleash the power of the savior Dragon. Come forth, sword of limitless bonds! Hakuryu no Shishasusei!!"
Rika releases the sword from the ground and holds it tightly in her hands, and with a roar of light it comes out shining.
With sword in hand, Rika springs two large white wings from her back, her eyes glow blue sky with a hint of moving clouds.
Rika looks hard and serious toward her dark self and says "never will I waver from my way again! This will be the last time! I will change for the better!!"
Dark Rika doesn't answer back but attacks, thinking it's her chance to strike while the real Rika is distracted, but she is proven wrong when Rika disappears and reappears behind her with her sword already too close for the dark one to react.
In a calm voice Rika says "Kouryuu Metsugasou" and suddenly three slash marks appear right on Dark Rika's chest, which bore the element of light in it.
Dark Rika can only scream in agony as her body vaporizes into dark dust, and the dark dust is absorbed into Rika's sword until there is none left.
-
Rika feels great exhaustion, having forgotten that she had been wounded, and falls to the ground.
Before she reaches the ground however, she is caught by the holy girl who says to her "good job again. You passed with flying colors. You even passed the final trail while you were at it. It just tells me how pure of heart you really are. ...Well done my little angel! Rest for now and ones you wake up you will gain all the knowledge you need for your new powers and how to handle them as well. Unfortunately for me... I won't be able to stay long. So I will only bestow my only gift to you. I know it's not much but I hope it will suffice, and I will hope that you'll become great in the future and make everyone you care about very proud of you."
She then kisses Rika on the head before a green soothing light covers Rika's body and begins to heal her.
The holy girl then says "I wish I could be with you in your time of need, but this is the best I can offer for you. May you find light in what darkness you see ahead. You have my eternal blessings..."
She kisses Rika's head one last time before she begins to slowly disappear while Rika tries to say something to her, but the safe feeling and the comfort she feels from that light makes her fall asleep.
She falls back into the blissful comfort of sleep, an earned award for those who face life head on with their bare hands and move on with it.
-
To be Continued……
Seihou Characters and Scenario are a collaboration of ZUN and Amusement Makers
Touhou Characters and Scenario belong to ZUN –Team Shanghai Alice-
Rika was created by Snapshot 2010
Written by
Snapshot 2010
Edited and posted by
Willie G.R
A/N:
Here are Rika's and Dark Rika's spells with their names in English, for those who wish to know. They are placed in order of appearance.
Untitled "Darco Gessenkou" Untitled "Dark Moon Glare"
Fire & Water Sign "Embraco Endo no Zeppa Juujishou" Fire & Water sign "Final Cross that Embraces The End"
Untitled "Darco Houryuu Zankouken" Untitled "Dark Dragon Glare"
Thunder Sign "Indignation no Shouou Jin'eizan" "Divine Thunder Assault of Indignation"
"Kouryuu Metsugasou" "Radiant Dragon Fang"
