Andy woke up, but very slowly. The entire night he talked with Elly, asking her about Mugenkan. He wanted to know where dreams came from, and why there needed to be nightmares, but Elly didn't have an answer. She didn't know why people have dreams, it was just her job to make sure it happened properly. Still, she showed him around the realm of dreams, showing where everything is, like the lake of blood that was improbably above them. She introduced him to the lake's vampire guardian, Kurumi. He was having a chat with her, asking why she guarded the lake, (She did it because it's a blood lake, obviously.) when he realized something felt wrong. He looked down, and realized he was fading away. He tried to say something to Elly, but his voice wasn't working. She grinned. "Just relax. You're waking up, that's all. See you tomorrow!" Grumbling, Andy was about to get out of bed, but he had a strange feeling he wasn't alone. He looked around, but no one was with him. Well, except the Mystia doll. It was sitting at the foot of his bed, staring at him. The two stared at each other for a minute, and the doll grinned and floated over to him, looking gleefully happy at his terror. Andy sighed and got up. "Doll, I don't want you to do that, ok? It's too early… Well, it's nighttime, but it's still too early to do stuff like that. Tomorrow, I want you on the table where I left you, alright?" The doll seemed to consider this, then shrugged. Andy opened the door and walked off to the kitchen. "Alice told me these things couldn't think. She said it responds to my thoughts, so… maybe it's my subconscious or something?" He looked at the doll. "I'm I right?" The doll didn't respond. "Probably not. Why would I want to scare myself?" He walked into the kitchen and started looking for something to eat.

Ran walked over to Yukari, who was still asleep. "Miss Yukari?"

Yukari groaned.

"It's too early, go away…"

"Miss Yukari, this is very important."

Yukari threw a pillow at her.

"Oh, fine. What is it? Did you find out who attacked Yuyuko?"

"Yes. It was Tenshi. I tried to track her scent, and I got as far as the Scarlet Devil Mansion. By the time I arrived, however, she was already gone. There was a giant hole in the front of the mansion, and everyone but Meiling was gone. I asked her what happened, but she didn't know anything except that someone invisible knocked her out before everyone left. All the fairies who worked there said they just saw a red light, and then they died."

Yukari considered this.

"It seems I need to teach that celestial another lesson. But first, we'll have breakfast!" Yukari disappeared into one of her gaps, and Ran flew to the kitchen. She found Andy there on the floor, searching through one of the smaller cabinets. Ran wondered for the millionth time why exactly Yukari had these.

"Andy, what are you doing? And why is there a doll following you around?" Andy looked up, revealing that he had a piece of meat hanging out of his mouth.

Pulling it out, he said,

"Oh, I'm just looking for something to eat, and the doll is a gift from Alice."

"Why does it look like Mystia Lorelei?"

Andy blushed, and the doll seemed to giggle soundlessly.

"Well, I… you know, Ran, you look kind of tired, are you ok?"

Ran smiled and pulled a pot out of one of the cabinets.

"I'm fine. Miss Yukari had me investigate something yesterday, so I haven't gotten any sleep."

Andy looked around suspiciously.

"What where you investigating?"

Ran put some of the meat into the pot, and started pouring water in it.

"Someone attacked Yuyuko after she left and caused a explosion at the Scarlet Devil Mansion yesterday. I looked into it, and apparently Tenshi did it. I don't know why, but knowing her she might not even have a reason."

"If what I heard about her is true, she probably didn't have one. By the way, where's Chen and Miss Yukari?" Ran grinned slightly.

"Chen is still asleep. Miss Yukari just left, probably to see the damage herself."

"So we're alone?"

Ran put the pan on the stove.

"For the moment, yes. Why?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you something. Yesterday, when we were eating that ramen you made- Did I mention it was one of the best things I've ever eaten?"

Ran chuckled and started boiling the water.

"Thank you, but flattery won't work on me. I did my job, nothing more."

"Well, it was great. Anyway, Miss Yukari seemed to act… strangely when I brought up her-"

Ran glared at him, and he shut up immediately.

"I won't talk about that, Andy. Her family is a forbidden subject. I was once curious about that too, a few hundred years ago. At least, until Miss Yukari… well, lets just say I'm grateful to be alive after what happened. I don't know why it makes her angry, but if you're smart you'll forget about it."

Andy took her words to heart… for now, anyway. A few hundred years ago… Well, some ancient youkai or something was bound to know what happened. Like Elly or Yuuka, for instance…

"And you say everyone's gone?"

Meiling nodded, looking ashamed.

"Yes. I'm so useless, why couldn't I have been there for my mistress…"

Yukari tried to comfort her.

"You did the best you could. Besides, how can you fight someone who is invisible? You can't tell what they'll do next."

It didn't help.

"I could sense their chi. I could tell where they were, invisible or not. I should have done better!"

Yukari sighed dismally. The gatekeeper was good at beating intruders, but she seemed to beat herself up even more. Turning to the mansion, Yukari flew in, trying to piece together what happened. Much like Meiling, she could sense energy, but her power over boundaries meant she could sense a far greater spectrum, even energy that had dissipated, at least if it hadn't been very long. She flew through the burned hall, and only one kind of energy was there. She told this to Meiling.

"What kind is it? Lightning? Solar? Patchy uses those sometimes."

Yukari laughed.

"For a explosion this big? No, Meiling. It's just… pure energy."

"That's… odd."

"Odd? Odd is how everyone seems to wears silly hats for some reason. Odd is how Suika can see even though she never opens her eyes. Odd is how all of Gensokyo hasn't burst into flames from all the danmaku flying around. This isn't odd, Meiling. This… is a mystery!" Her dramatic statement was immediately ruined by a childish giggle. "It's not much of a mystery, but it still is one. I've already figured it out."

Meiling stared at her with desperation in her eyes.

"So what happened? You have to tell me, please!"

Yukari swatted at her with her parasol.

"Calm down. I'm trying to figure out what happened next, and you're breaking my focus." She flew toward the library. "Yes, that demonic energy is here… I know what happened. The pure energy was Flandre destroying something, because Tenshi can't make a explosion that big. The demonic energy used to be a portal to Makai. I don't know why Tenshi or your friends would go there, but I'm sure at least some of them are there."

"Can you take me there? I need to find them!"

Yukari shrugged.

"Well, I was going to investigate further after breakfast, but you going is fine with me. I'll be watching, just in case. Since I'm feeling generous, I'll even make sure Marisa doesn't carry off the whole library while you're gone." She concentrated, and a purple barrier covered the library entrance. "There. Now no one can get in or out until I unseal it. As for you…" Yukari made a gap. "This will lead to Makai, more specifically where Shinki is. If anyone can find them, it will be her." Meiling thanked Yukari and jumped into the gap. Yukari smiled and disappeared as well.

Andy had to admit, Yukari's home… well, it's more like a labyrinth, but it was still a nice place to live. Granted, this was mostly due to the efforts of her shikigami, as he was now finding out. Yukari had left some intructions via sticky notes pouring on them like a waterfall, so now he was cleaning her room. Chelsea and Shannon were in charge of the nearby halls, and after Andy woke her up, Chen was cleaning the observatory. Ran was still cooking their breakfast. No doubt the rest of the day would be similar, but he knew that would happen when he took Yukari's offer. He didn't think he would have any regrets, but now that he had time to think about it, he did miss his parents. They were probably worrying about him, especially considering how he just disappeared like he did. Maybe he could convince Yukari to let him visit them or something. And then there is his computer and video games. He didn't think Yukari would let him get those, seeing as it would probably distract from his work. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask. What really surprised him is how much he missed his music. Apperently he missed it so much the Mystia doll started humming to itself. Remembering how he could never just hum to the music, he waited, and sure enough, the doll started singing.

"I'd awoken… from a coma, and I saw you hanging there.

You had asked me, to try to speak to you, but I just jumped up in the air!"

Andy grinned.

"Aha, so you can talk!" The doll grinned sheepishly. "Well? Aren't you going to finish the song?"

The doll seemed to consider this.

"No."

"Well, can you help with the cleaning?" The doll nodded. "Good. You know, I've been thinking about what kind of spell cards I could make, and I kind of have an idea. Remind me to ask Ran about it later, ok?"

Koakuma stared into the black abyss that is Makai. She smiled, glad to be home. Once it was clear she knew her way around, Remilia asked/forced her to lead them to the world's master, Shinki. It wasn't very hard to find, though. Most of Makai was just empty space, since Shinki wasn't feeling very creative when her world building started. Mostly that was just full of floating rocks, and a strange angel-winged mirror. Shinki seemed just as perplexed as everyone else about why she made it. As they flew, the space seemed to turn red. This meant they were getting closer to Makai's center. This area is mostly populated by ghost-like beings, and bizarre floating diamonds that everyone used as shields when they were shooting at each other. Once they reached the real center of Makai, there was actual land. It was completely frozen, but it wasn't actually cold. Most of the demons had their homes here, and they could see a portal in the distance. This lead to Pandemonium, Shinki's palace. Unfortuately, it always had two guards to keep annoying people out. The first of them, Yuki, flew out to greet them. "Oh, it's you, Koakuma. I haven't seen you in what, four years?" Koakuma smiled.

"Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it? Could you let us through the portal, please?"

Yuki considered this.

"Well, you're ok, but what about your friends? What do you think, Mai?" Her friend, Mai, shrugged. Looking at Remilia, Yuki asked, "Just who are you, and why are you here?"

Remilia glared at them.

"Who am I? I'm the one who tears you two to pieces if you don't let me through!"

Mai grinned.

"Well, if you want to fight, then I'm happy to oblige. Come on, Yuki!"

Yuki sighed.

"Why do we always have to fight?" The two shot ice and fire danmaku at Remilia, who easily dodged it. Remila was about to attack, but Patchouli put up a magical barrier between the three of them. Glaring at the two demons, she said,

"We're not here to fight. Her sister has been kidnapped, and we know the people responsible are coming to Makai. We need to see Shinki so she can help us find them." Yuki stared at Patchouli for a minute, and her eyes widened.

"Oh, Miss Patchouli, I'm so sorry for delaying you! Please, go on through." Patchouli thanked the demons, and they flew into the portal.

Remilia stared at the librarian curiously.

"How do you know those two?"

"I taught them how to use magic a long time ago. I lived in Makai once, in hopes of learning about how Shinki made it. I never did find out, but I enjoyed staying here for a few decades. Then I met you, Remi." They exited the portal into a gleaming throne room. The floor was frozen, and the ice seemed to be climbing up the walls. The walls themselves had a odd organic look to them, and were warm to the touch. Shinki herself was sitting on a crumbling throne, fast asleep. Remilia was about to painfully wake her up, when the room darkened, and Shinki's eyes snapped open.

"I, the dark goddess Shinki demand that-" She yawned, and rubbed her eyes. "Oh, it's you, Patchy! How are you?"

Yukari appeared in the kitchen just as everyone getting ready to eat. "Oh good, you're all here. Well, let's eat, then." Everyone sat down and started eating the steak Ran had made.

Ran looked at Andy.

"So you said you had an idea for you spell cards?"

Andy nodded.

"Yeah. I just need to know if there are any limits on what I can make."

"The only limit is your actual abilities. For instance, someone like Cirno may use ice danmaku, but I can't. Generally, how strong you are determines how many spell cards you can make, but you shouldn't use that to judge anyone's actual power. Does that tell you what you need to know?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure if I can actually use a spell card, even if I can make one. The three of us couldn't make a lot of danmaku yesterday."

Yukari smiled.

"That's true, but that was yesterday. Ever since you woke up yesterday, I've been gradually altering the boundaries around you and your friends. They were keeping you three from using your special talents, but by now your real power should be obtainable. I think a spell card shouldn't be too hard for you."

Chelsea spoke up.

"So, what kind of powers do we have?"

Yukari laughed.

"What's the fun in telling you now? That would be far too easy. You will find out for yourself soon enough." Once they were done eating, Yukari lead them to the training room. "Alright, Andy. Let's see this spell card of yours."

Andy fidgeted nervously.

"Well, ok. I hope you don't mind if I use it on you, Miss Yukari." She didn't mind, so he pulled out his spell card. "Ok, here it is. Food Sign: Ramen Dounpour!" The room darkened, and a glowing orb appeared above Andy. It quickly changed into a giant ramen bowl. The bowl pointed it's contents at Yukari, and fired out gigantic noodles. Yukari dodged the attack, laughing the whole time.

"Is that your spell card? That's just sad!"

Andy grinned.

"What makes you think it's over?" The noodles suddenly turned into danmaku orbs flying in all directions. The bowl kept firing, now much faster. Yukari managed to avoid all of this, but now she seemed taking it a bit more seriously. Finally, the noodles stopped flying, and the spell card seemed to be over. The bowl itself was completely empty. As a finale, Andy threw the bowl at her, which quickly turned into more bullets. Yukari opened a gap, which absorbed the bullets.

"I must admit, that was impressive. It still needs some work, since it needs a floor to work properly, but it was a good first try. Now, if no one has anything to show me, I have a job for each of you. Chelsea and Shannon are going to the Netherworld to check on Youmu and Yuyuko. Ran will come and take you all home around 10:00. Ran, I want you to stay here untill then. As for you, Andy, I have a very special job for you."

"Why me?"

"Because you're the only one Youmu isn't training. Chen's coming with you, so it won't be that bad. Ran, take them to Yuyuko's. Andy, Chen, follow me." Yukari walked into a gap, and the two of them followed.