Forest of Magic:

"It's really dark in here." Phoebe said.

"Well, after meeting those human eating demons, let's keep it that way, ok? Light up and we're sure to get swarmed." Piper responded. "And the next bunch might not be as stupid or powerless."

"Look, do any of you even know where we're going? We came into a forest to look for a house somewhere in the middle! Hasn't Gensokyo heard of a road?" Paige complained.

"Apparently not, since everyone FLIES here." Piper stated with pursed lips. "And they take it for granted."

"Hey, I think I see a house over there." Paige pointed out.

"Great! Let's kick the door in and get her to cough up our book!" Piper replied.

"Waiwaiwaiwaiwai, hold on there, Rambo." Phoebe said. "Reimu said there were two of them. One's the person we're looking for. The other... what did she say again? Oh yeah. She said, and I quote, "if I'm wrong, it's Alice Margatroid's, who will usually give me an exploding doll before giving me a swift kick out her front door."

"Well, we're not going to get anywhere standing around." Paige replied. "I'll orb in and check it out." She orbed away before anyone else could object.

A few minutes passed, and someone coughed behind them. "Missing someone?"

They whirled around and looked what appeared to be a young woman with blonde hair and a blue dress in the eyes. However, as they'd painfully learned 3 times in 5 minutes, appearances were not to be trusted. Not to mention, a cause of more immediate concern was the fact she had Paige in a choke hold and seemed to be focused on them.

"Alice Margatroid, I presume? Sorry, wrong house. We're looking for the thief who pinched our book. Name of Marisa Kirisame." Piper tried the diplomatic route.

"Marisa and I are friends." Alice made a gesture with her hands and the bushes around them erupted with dolls pointing lances at them. "I won't let you reach her."

"Hey, you're a fellow witch, too!" Paige blurted out. "Or a really skilled puppeteer."

"Oh, no. I'm a magician youkai. Witch is so derogatory." Alice said. "I'd fight you just for that, but... fellow witch? You don't seem to have anything special."

"Oh, no? Doll strings!" Paige shouted, and sure enough, there was a glistening mass of blue as the entire string lineup materialized in her hands. This took the dolls and Alice with it, though, so it wound up in a somewhat comical pileup that Aya Shameimaru, who was hiding in a nearby tree, took several pictures of.

"I take that back, you do. Why are you bothering Marisa? You don't seem to need books, unlike the only person she normally steals books from. What did she steal from you?" Alice asked.

"Book of Shadows. A tome with our entire ancestry of Wiccan blood and experience." Phoebe replied.

Alice looked shocked. "I knew she stole books... but to take your Grimoire... That's an act of war! If it was anyone else... ANYONE else... I would tell you to obliterate them." Calming down, she continued. "However, Marisa is kind of an airhead when it comes to societal norms and/or magical etiquette. Her only usefulness for magic is how big a hole it can blow in something. By the way, I despise her for that."

"So you're telling me that she just declared war on us without meaning to declare war on us." Piper responded. "Great, an excuse. I wanna blow her up."

"She declared war on more than just you three." Alice replied. "By taking your family's Grimoire, she declared war on the ENTIRE FAMILY. That translates to your descendants as well. And your ancestors, should any still be alive."

"Even better excuse to blow her up, to spare my future kids the trouble." Piper snapped.

"I know ignorance is not an excuse, but Marisa would not have done this had she realized the full implications." Alice replied. "She may be reckless, but she isn't stupid. Explain the implications, and I'm sure she'll give your Grimoire back."

"At this point, I want to blow her up." Piper complained.

"I'm coming with you." Alice responded. "I can get to her house AND I'd rather there not be explosions."
So they all went trekking through the woods towards Marisa's house.

"So wait. You're telling me taking this book is an act of war." Marisa said. "Can it really be that important?"

"Yes, it is. Less lip, more returning, or I'll blow you up." Piper replied.

"I'm sorry, you'll what?" Marisa asked.

Piper put her hands up and caused a nearby crystal to explode. Then a shirt, and then a wall. Meanwhile, Marisa stepped back. "It can't be... PLEASE tell me you have a better handle on that than Flandre..."

"If by 'better handle' you mean 'control', when I'm calm, yes. When I am pissed off, not so much." Piper responded. "Now give us our book back before I blow you up!"

Alice looked rather uncomfortable at this. "Marisa, she'll do it."

Marisa pulled the Mini-Hakkero out, pointing it at Piper. "Love Sign: 'Master-"

Paige reacted quickly. "Cannon!" The hakkero wound up in her hands again. "Just don't learn, do you?"

Marisa pulled out a spellcard. "Earth Sign: 'Earthlight Ray'!

Paige hadn't reacted in time and they ducked the first wave.

"OK, freeze." Piper flung her arms outwards, stopping the bullets and Marisa in their tracks. "Phoebe, kick her."

Phoebe floated into the air and gave her a nice hard kick, sending her crashing to the ground. "OW... Flandre's powers, AND Sakuya's..." Marisa grumbled. "Take your damn book back, I get the message."

"Oh, do you? Should I blow something else up?" Piper asked.

"Nah. I think she gets it." Paige replied.

Marisa's door suddenly fell inward. "Marisa! We've got trouble!" Reimu yelled, out of breath. "Yuyuko's trying to revive the Saigyou Ayakashi again!"

"WHAT?!" Marisa replied. "Guess we better go blow her up, ze!"

"And what exactly have you three been up to?" Reimu challenged them. "I passed Team 9 on the way here and they look horrible! Also, you've blown up Marisa's house... and I see... actually... Think you can spare us a hand?"

Phoebe looked at Paige.

"Look, lady, we don't exactly have the information and evil has stabbed us in the back one too many times. We don't do something without more information." Piper responded.

"Fair enough. The Saigyou Ayakashi is a youkai cherry blossom tree. The last time she tried to revive it, she stole spring to do it. It is chilly out... anyway, we might be able to get the jump on her again with your help. We'll split into three teams. Phoebe, you're with me. We're cutting a path straight through to her. Piper, you and Marisa share a love of destruction... so I'll let you nurture that together. You guys can take the scenic route. And Paige... Since you have teleporting down to a science, you get to inform Sakuya of our predicament. Go to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, located hereabouts... *she drew a basic diagram* and give them this. We're not on the best of terms, so if things get ugly, teleport." Reimu finished.

"Scarlet Devil Mansion. Because that sounds /so/ trustworthy." Paige quipped.

"Well, it's a vampire's house, what do you expect?" Reimu replied. Noticing the mood change, she looked a little fearful. "Something I said?"

"Yes... you're sending Paige in to ANOTHER FREAKING VAMPIRE'S lair! THAT'S the problem! We already almost lost our sister to vampiric forces once, we're not risking it again!" Piper looked furious.

"Look, we're out of options. We're going to need her help. And since the Scarlet Devil Mansion is kinda far away, we can't get there in a timely fashion." Reimu said.

"Alright. Fine. I'll do it." Paige responded. She orbed away and they split up.

A.N. The next 4 chapters are properly 5A, 5B, 5D, and 5C. You'll see why when we get to them.

Alice Margatroid: A doll maker who is very good at her craft. She is an expert puppeteer, using them to attack.

Sakuya: Chapter 5C.

Flandre: Later.

Scarlet Devil Mansion: Chapter 5C