Ground Zero
One wouldn't recognize him from less than a month ago. From a once quiet and somewhat nerdy technician who's greatest task was nothing more than staring at a screen which nearly never changed, he's been transformed into one who stands tall, proud, and completely sure of himself. He wears a dark blue dress uniform, made of the finest fabrics and gold accents. His dark brown hair is styled and neat, and his shoes are solid black and polished. There's isn't a single loose thread or blemish across his entire uniform and body, and his posture is ridged and stern like a man of power. Once he was the lowly System Analyst, and now the interim Prim Minister of the Moon.
By his side is the man who made it all possible.
Together they stand in a quickly established camp, deep into enemy territory and not entirely safe. Around them are bamboo trees which block out the heavens. No matter where you turn each direction appears the same. With no landmarks you can have no sense of direction. If you were to simply blink you could easily lose your way. This is the Bamboo Forest of the Lost, the front lines in the battle to retrieve the runaway moon princess.
Flood lights have been installed in the camp, highlighting the area but not bright enough to cast the outside shadows in an impossible black. Likewise are more light strung from the bamboo, making as much as visible as possible. Most of the forest is lit up like a festival, but the activities herein are anything but. They fight and kill in the most brutal of nature, ever pushing forward to reach their ultimate destination of Eientei, a mansion hidden deep within the forest. Once the princess Kaguya Houraisan is capture the mission is won, and all can return home. Until then, both side will continue to fight and continue to die. This is war.
"It's hard to believe it's come this far," the Prim Minister speaks openly and firmly. "All of this is the result an anomaly I read on a little computer screen. It might have been just a small pebble, but it's escalated to an entire avalanche."
Being spoken to causally and like a friend, it's the true ruler of the moon, Lord Tsukuyomi. Dressed in nothing other than his favorite plain white gown, he could either have just gotten out of bed or consulting with his staff on major political issues. He stands alone, as if the rest of the world is below his presence. His hands resting interlocked behind his back are barely visible underneath his long sleeves. He'd be a marble pillar if not for the one discrepancy upon his countenance, a sheathed shortsword attached to a belt on his hip. He is, in fact, in the middle of a huge battle.
"By no means was this you responsibility alone. A great many effort, and sabotage, resulted in tonight. But how the fabric which weaves our society together has been rendered is truly astonishing. It was your do-diligence that brought this to our attention, but it was Cirno's tearing down of the Gensokyo Barrier that made such possible. She's truly incredible!" Tsukuyomi stretches his arms wide, "She kicks a pebble down a hill, and an entire mountain moves along with it." Lowering his arms, he turns his back to his Commander in Chief.
"There's a human theory called 'The Butterfly Effect.' A butterfly lands on a rock somewhere. The action of landing happens to startle an antelope and causes it to flee. A lion notices the frantic antelope and gives chase. A hunter sees the lion and kills it. The hunter has the lion skinned and the meat processed. The butcher, unfortunately, is sick when handling the meat. The germs spread and cultivate in the meat, and when the hunter cooks and eats the contaminated meat with his family, they all get sick and die. This is The Butterfly Effect; an entire family dying simply because a butterfly landed on a rock. Something small and insignificant resulting in an reaction that's much greater than itself. This chain continues until something grand happens. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"
The Prim Minister nods, "You mean to say that Cirno is that butterfly."
Tsukuyomi turns around, "You've gotten a lot better at this. You're right, but don't quite get full marks. Cirno is my butterfly. Cirno's actions have extended as far as me, and has gone full circle. In my anecdote, the butterfly never met with the hunter. Our meeting, too, had resulted in me taking her hand in potential marriage, which earned the ire of Saya and the rest of my family. Having disgraced herself by losing to her rival, she's attempting to regain some of what was lost by partaking in the retrieval of Kaguya-hime. And where that will lead we have yet to see."
A subordinate interrupts them with a report on the fighting. The Commander, with the Lord closely behind, takes this new information and issue additional orders. Giving a salute, the soldier relays the commands.
Getting back to their conversation, "What I mean to say is that Cirno possesses some kind of immeasurable, inconceivable, and incorporeal attribute. Everything she does effect so much more than herself. It's not just luck or being in the favor of the gods, but a kind of wake that trails her and effects everything therein. They say when powerful people move, others respond. Whether she, or anybody else, knows it or not, when Cirno moves everyone responds. Well, maybe not just everyone. 'Everything' might be more accurate. The entire world trembles at her step; that's the kind of existence which is Cirno. Imagine the true scope of her power if this is true. Only a woman such as her is qualified to become my wife. I must possess her."
Something that was said rings an uncomfortable vibe through the Prime Minister's body. Hair stands on goosebumps and his scalp becomes itchy. Scratching the back of his ear, he responds,
"You said 'only.'"
There's an uncomfortable chill as if Lord Tsukuyomi's mood slightly shifts. Perhaps he's spoken too much, but he still answers,
"If I had known of Cirno after my ascent to the moon, I would have never married Saya. I only proposed taking a second wife only out of loyalty to my first, but the more I think about it the more I find Saya to be unsuitable for me. I hold no expectations of her 'regaining' any honor. Perhaps I have been cruel to her, but like the rest of the Lunarians she has fallen to atrophy."
The once lowly analyst has gotten much better at understanding his lord's thoughts, but there's still times when he has no idea what Tsukuyomi means.
"Atrophy? You mean to say we've been standing still?"
For a moment, the corner of Tsukuyomi's mouth cracks in a grin, but he's quick to recover his same placid expression, "As a race and society, yes. I look to my people and see them accomplished, complacent, and unmotivated. It's a mindset that can't be easily rectified. With all that the Lunarians have achieved, they fail to strive for anything greater. We have near-immortality, a pure and cleansed environment, and a society which is in perpetual and perfect harmony. Because of this, because we have achieve Utopia, we've come to a complete standstill. Have we truly reached the pinnacle? Is there truly nothing more for which we could strive? Could progress continue to be made?"
Ceasing for a moment, cautiously placing his hands on his hips and then stomps his foot on the ground, "That report we just received. Our casualties she breached triple digits. Tell me, if our people are so perfect, we shouldn't have sustained even a single death. These numbers, they surprise you, do they not?"
As a member of the Lunarian race, he couldn't deny that he hadn't expected to meet resistance as fierce as this, but then again he'd already been totally floored by the news of the Rabbit's failed capture of the Scarlet Devil Mansion and their defection. These numbers he's hearing now are somewhat expected, allowing him to keep a cool and collected head and issue orders. If he had not suffered that defeat he could imagine himself panicking.
He looks to Tsukuyomi. Just being in his presence has allowed him to grow this much. If it's true Cirno moves people, Tsukuyomi's the same.
"A little, but I've learned a lot from you, and I guess a lot from her as well. I was prepared to suffer losses."
"But how many others were?" Tsukuyomi poses the question. "The soldiers? The squad leaders and company commanders? How many do you think they'd touch down on Planet Earth and simply have their way without opposition? My guess is a lot. My guess is the vast majority. My guess is every single one except for us two. However, now they know that too. Now every one of our soldiers know that they are not infallible, that they are not perfect. When this is over, and the survivors return home, will they continue to think the same as they did before? Will they continue to stand in the same place and stagnate. My guess is no. My guess is that they return home angry not at the foe they just fought, but at themselves. From that point they'll seek improvement once again, they'll grow once again. After this battle is over the moon could become a very different, a very better place."
Thinking it over, the Prim Minister could imagine contributing factors that help bring about that conclusion, "There were a number of other ways would could have retrieved Kaguya-hime. Since she drank the hourai elixir we could've purified all of Gensokyo then just retrieve her remains, or you could have come here alone and handled all of this without any risk of casualties. Did you intentionally choose the route that would put us in the most danger?"
"Such accusations could easily get you beheaded," Tsukuyomi muses. "I wouldn't purposefully put my people in danger, but at the same time I've allowed this battle to be as even as possible for the youkai in Gensokyo. That being said, they still don't possess the slightest hope of defeating us. However, there is worth in their struggle."
Suddenly the fighting has gotten too close and there's an explosion within the camp. The Prime Minister ducks for cover, but Tsukuyomi stands tall in defiance, not even needing to brace himself against the torrential blast from the impact. Soldiers are quick to gather arms and prepare themselves, but it proves little against the ambush. Before they can identify their attacker and react, they're each stuck with a peculiar type of talisman. It lands on their armor (most the dead-center of their chest) and explodes moments later. A whole rank of soldiers, red and black, are dispatched in the blink of an eye.
"Is that so?" the intruder asks. "It seems they don't think very highly of us."
Moments after that person makes her presence known, another lands right by her side.
"Don't you know they always have to boast in situations like this?" she tells her companion.
The soldier seem about ready to rush this pair, but Lord Tsukuyomi extends his hand, indicating for all of them to halt.
"Not the guest I was anticipating," he says, "but one I was expecting. Hakurei Reimu, I take it you have come to see me?"
Reimu replies, "Well, that little guy next to you in those fancy clothes seems to be the one commanding everyone, but it's clear you're the one I need to deal with."
"My Lord!" an overzealous black-armored can barely wait for the order to attack.
"No my son, she may be a human, but she's an equal to Watatsuki no Yorihime. With my personal guard elsewhere I'm the only one who could deal with her. But this little one with the horns, feel free to play with her."
"I get the table scraps?" Suika complains. "Well, as long as I'm entertained I can't complain."
They start immediately, rush to attack and casting magic. Meanwhile the Guardian of Gensokyo and the Supreme Ruler of the Moon stare at one another, oblivious to the bloodlust around them. It filters into the background like a storm on the horizon.
"It's a very brave thing coming at me directly," Tsukuyomi tells the red and white shrine maiden, "but not very bright."
"I'm just going to start with you," Reimu bluffs, "and after that I'll kick around anyone that still has a little fight in them."
Tsukuyomi shakes his head almost as if disappointed, "To think you actually believe you have a chance against me. Normally I wouldn't bother with a pebble like you, but I imagine the one I'm truly waiting for will meet some resistance on her way here. I should probably do a warmup too."
Gritting her teeth at being considered nothing more than a practice match, Reimu begins.
The Front Lines
For only 20 minutes could they hold the line before the Lunarian pushed an advance. After that the army protecting Eientei has been continuously losing ground. The Bamboo Forest of the Lost is their home and an excellent defensible position, but that counts for only so much. Sure they may have the most brilliant mind known to exist, a natural labyrinth which has been painstakingly filled with traps, pitfalls, and many other nasty surprises for any unwitting invader, but even after such perpetration the Lunarians still steadily push to the very heart of Eientei. Eirin thought they'd be able to hold this better, but from the very beginning she knew this to be wishful thinking. Even with the now defected Lunar Defense Corps, the Watatsuki Sisters, and forces all throughout Gensokyo, Tsukuyomi still can not be stopped.
Reisen's lunacy inducing eyes have proven to be Eientei's saving grace. With her powers over madness and guerrilla warfare tactics, she's hit the Lunarians with illusions, misdirection, and even forced them to fire upon their own allies. Her indirect method of fighting has kept them from being simply overpowered, but Eirin knows this can't last for long. They've more than caught wind of her tactics and are employing countermeasures. While Reisen may be unrivaled while concealed within the fog of war, if she becomes isolated and fights head-on, she's just as destructible as any foot soldier. Eirin nervously awaits the inevitable news that her pet has fallen.
Tewi commands the Rabbits of the Earth and Moon with the aptitude of a veteran military officer. They've dug trenches, barricades, and ambush positions all throughout the forest. Under normal circumstances this would be a marathon of death and torture for the opposition, however the Lunarians march through with the unstoppable force of a juggernaut. The forces commanded by Tewi are in constant retreat, having just enough trouble covering for themselves as they do so. At this rate their outcome is inevitable.
Meanwhile a single foe flies through the forests like an arrow. Haphazardly this person dives through the danger and advances as far as possible, even without the aid of backup. A lone warrior, this person is of the sole intent to capture the Runaway Lunar Princess. However, before this person can reach their destination, another stands before them.
Or rather, a pair.
They are two women, similar yet strikingly different. One is fair with long sandy-brown hair, and once upon a time bared a great resemblance to her partner. Born sisters, they used to have a unshakable bond that couldn't be disturbed. However, the other, the sister, has become someone she wasn't before. That purple hair has faded, along with her skin, into a very light blue. Her fair complexion has become pale, nearly albino, and brown eyes melted to red. Not only hair, skin, and eyes have changed, but her physical body as well. The structure of her face has been sharpened, losing the fullness in her cheeks and seemingly having aged. She's also grown a little taller, and her breasts noticeably larger. In a sense it could be considered the same person, but subtle changes are unheard of of a race that doesn't change. Lunarians, by trait, are frozen in time, but this woman had those bonds forcibly shattered; defiled by the taint of a vile race of life-stealers. She is now a vampire, as clearly seen by the fangs pronounced in her smile. Over the course of the past couple of weeks, the vampire blood has taken firm root.
"Watatsuki no Toyohime," the arrow sprinting through the forest recognizes, "but that woman next to you, is that your sister Yorihime?"
"Lady Saya," the vampire approaches, much to the chagrin of the lunar queen, "it's been a long time. I'd hardly expect you to ever step foot outside of your pristine little palace."
"Do not speak to me, foul abomination! The wretched filth of this planet has defiled your very soul!"
The vampire's sister, the still-Lunarian Toyohime, hands wrench in offense, but Yorihime's grin grows wider with perversion, taking a masochistic kind of pleasure at the insults hurled at her.
"Well, you might be right about all that, but in the end is it really all that bad? I've lived my entire life being 'clean' and 'pure,' but did that mean anything? Did it make me happy? Did it make me enjoy my life? No, all it made me was proud. Losing that pride, losing that inhibition, has awaken me to a world of delight and pleasure a Lunarian could never experience or understand. My sister's a little shy to the idea, but I know she'll eventually come around."
Toyohime blushes and turns away, all kinds of embarrassment and shame clear on her face.
"Speak no more of this!" Saya commands. "The execution of traitors is not the main objective of our initiative, but collecting your heads will bring me honor!"
Before her opponent can move, Yorihime makes sure to say, "And what has honor gotten you?"
Saya hesitates.
Continuing, "You've lived a life of righteousness, purity, and absolute strength. Out of all the women in the Lunar City, you were chosen to be Tsukuyomi's bride. And now what? You were completely humiliated by a dirty Earthling."
Within her hands Saya holds a long spear. Her grip tightens.
"My sister managed to rescue a great deal of rabbits, but more than a few stayed behind and are in hiding. We've heard all about it, about how Tsukuyomi has gotten bored of you and wishes to marry Cirno. Not only that, but you challenged her to a duel and were beaten the crap out of with a wooden sword. Tell me, in the end, what did all those years of upholding Lunarian ideologies get you? Is that lifestyle really worth such sacrifice?"
Under the hatred in her breath, Saya mumbles, "You devil."
That final insult was the starter's pistol. On cue, they both dashed at one another. Yorihime with the Sword of Gion, Saya with Tonbogiri. Known as the Dragonfly Cutting Spear, Tonbogiri has the ability to manipulate velocity. Barely touching the blade can decapitate just as well as swinging at 150 kilometers per hour. It's a tremendously dangerous blade that should never be allowed to taste flesh. Against material harder than itself, like metal and armor, Tonbogiri will cancel it's velocity and simply bounce off and receive no damage. However, if the matter isn't denser than the blade, it'll cut through it without resistance.
Far beyond the reach of the actual blade, Saya's thrusts produce actual bullets of air. Unlike her bout against Cirno, the lunar queen isn't restricted by rules against magic. In a test of sheer physical force, the Lunarian was outmatched. However, with the full extent of her abilities she is still the strongest woman on the moon. Even without the aid of Tonbogiri her spear-handling skills are unrivaled.
Those bullets of air tear through anything in their path, effortlessly ripping apart the bamboo and clearing much of the area. The trees burst in explosion and tragically fall to the ground to be discarded. Yorihime weaves through the bullets with a kind of horrifying agility. Bending in ways humanoids should find impossible, the vampire dances what could be a ritual in a black sabbath. Her image flickers from one grotesque pose to the next, moving and inconceivable speed which eyes cannot match. Though she's been stalled, she continues to advance within Saya's assault.
Recognizing the horrific show before her, the Lunarian Queen holds her footing. Nothing in the shape of a woman should be able to move like that. Bones would break and ligaments tear, yet Yorihime in her vampire form is as flimsy as paper. Is this the power of the defiled?
With no further advance, Yorihime closes the gap between them in an instant. Suddenly she appears before Saya already mid strike. However, the sight makes the queen cringe. The vampire holds her Sword of Gion in one hand, absent of proper technique or grace. She wields it like a savage. Saya holds no difficulty avoiding such a blade.
Gion crashes into the Earth like a 100 ton hammer. The ground breaks and the terrain is deformed. The flat surface of the forest is instantly broken offering no steady footholds. Disastrous, a spear wielder won't be able to stabilize herself and properly perform trusts. This could be bad.
Saya tries to dance away, but Yorihime pursues ruthlessly. Charging forward like a bull, she cares little for the danger she faces. However, her speed is fast enough that the spear can't properly fend her away. She swings again.
Narrowly avoiding, Saya can feel the draft from the massive amount of force that just passed her. No Lunarian has ever displayed such brute strength! Saya only remembers the Watatsuki Sisters from hundreds of years past. Toyohime's abilities were focused on magic, but Yorihime possessed physical capacities the same as Saya. At the time Saya was the far greater, and that shouldn't have changed much over this passage of the ages. Nowhere was Yorihime near this level. Is the result of her blood being corrupted with vampirism?
Taking to the trees, Saya now realizes that she'll lose a contest focused purely on close quarters combat. While the both of them were considered physically-oriented fighters, for Saya that was merely the reputation of choice. Although favored, she is no less the spell caster than the great sages of the moon.
"Cosmic Break, Solar Radiation!"
Small shimmering sparkles radiate from her person. Yorihime, hesitating for a moment, measure the result before she moves. Only do these tiny stars spew with no obvious effect. Unsure of the danger, the vampire can't simply lay in wait and watch; she has to attack. Charging, she's quick to discover the true nature of the spell.
As soon as she approaches too close to a star, it explodes. With vampiric agility she can escape the range of the detonation, but not before closing in too close to another one of those sparkles. It too goes boom. Frantic, merely avoiding harms causes a chain reaction that blows away the surroundings. With this it's impossible for Yorihime to attack.
"First Line of Lunar Defense," a new voice suddenly cries, "Vacuum of Space!"
Reacting to the words, Saya immediately retreats. The forest is suddenly engulfed in a colorless mass without shape of form. This alone does nothing, but the tiny stars from the queen's spell start to flicker. Suddenly they all explode, unable to keep their form that only detonated upon an intruder's close proximity. Instantly the entire battlefield is blinded by the massive expulsion of raw energy. For those moments a storm rages, and as it dies so too does the fighting. Even if it was planned, after such a disturbance everyone needs some time to recognize their bearings. After the smoke clears they all take a moment as if this were an intermission between rounds.
To little surprise, the cause of the massive explosion was Toyohime, the sister of the vampire and someone who shouldn't be forgotten. Though Saya and Yorihime proved their hotheadedness, Toyohime was no less a participant in this fight than any other. At a moment of weakness, she instinctively came to the aid of her sister. After all, by definition the Wife of Tsukuyomi had to be stronger than every other woman, which included both Watatsukis. Vampirism alone wasn't enough to cover that distance. And what's more-
"I see," Saya proclaims. "The moment your sister was in trouble you interfere. But it was merely an issue of putting some distance between us. Your insistence on braving my spell and your sister's aid has proven to me a theory I've suspected."
Yorihime's eyes narrow, disturbed because of what's expected to come next.
"In exchange for that increase in strength and speed that tainted blood provides to you, you've lost your purity and the ability to call upon the power of the gods."
This is true. The awakening provided to her by Remilia Scarlet has also robbed Yorihime of her divine abilities. Compared to a Lunarian, a vampire is outclasses the former in strength, speed, and magic. However, they're darkness and unholy attributed creatures, so naturally they'd lose the abilities of the holy and light. Yorihime is no longer, and can never be again, a shrine maiden. However, when one door closes another opens.
Not as disturbed as she probably should have been, Yorihime, lost of tension, stands tall and scratches her head, "Yeah, you got me. I can't do that godly stuff anymore. However, Master's been teaching me a few new tricks I can do now that I'm a vampire. And since my blood used to be so pure, my powers over the dark element are just as strong. I can do amazing things like this."
Saya readies herself.
"Scarlet Sign, Blood Magic Square."
From within her blouse, Yorihime produces a knife. Without reservation, she drags the blade across her wrist. Staining it with blood (the wound closing immediately after) she tosses it into the air. In it's wake more blood is formed, creating a bubble-like shell that appears rather dangerous. However, this isn't directed at Saya, merely the sky above. Wasn't this supposed to be an attack?
"Blood Oath, Forbidden Word."
The blood no longer sits there, it moves and takes shape. It forms a larger outer circle, then the multiple shapes within. Of what Saya can recognize, she finds the symbols for Moon, King, Storm, but the rest is unknown. There's characters of a Latin text too, but she's illiterate in the words of the Earth languages other than Japanese. If she'd studied she might know what to expect.
"Taboo, Unholy Ritual."
Hearing the third incantation of the spell, immediately does Saya go into alert. It's because this is Western Magic that she didn't immediately recognize the ultimate goal of this ritual. Common amongst Earthlings who desire power, they call upon the devil to do their bidding. Such practices aren't even considered in the lunar society, even by the most desperate. If Holy Possession were the ultimate Shinto practice, this would be it's absolute opposite.
Saya's too late to interfere.
"Devil Summoning, Yamata no Orochi!"
The magic circle in the sky, painted in blood, glows. From it a darkness emerges, a cloud-like miasma that appears toxic to the very touch. Being a Lunarian and recognizing it's immense danger to her, Saya has to retreat. This is the foul breath of Hell itself, and the slightest touch would be fatal to her. However, while dangerous the gas isn't the problem; it's what else is escaping the gate.
Something "plops" out in the most unsightly manner. One would imagine someone defecating. It's gray and without definite shape. It's somewhat gelatinous, almost like a slug, but it's obvious anything but. It's still being birthed.
It grows larger, so large it suddenly burst. From it's shell sprouts a head and a tail, then from it's head and tail sprouts many heads and tails. For a moment it appears as twin lashes, but those "heads" take a more defined form. In order of their birth, the heads sprout eyes, glowing yellow beads that are eerie and expel a kind of smoke. Then they crack and tear, ripping apart and forming mouths. Blood sprays as they open them for the first time. As the creature is given life, a head howls. It's deep and earth-rattling, a tone so low that most have to cover their ears without have the ability to perceive the sound. The other heads join in a chorus, singing a song so horrible that it can kill people with it's fear alone.
This is the foul magic for which Yorihime exchanged her purity.
In total it has eight heads and eight tails. However, unlike the legends it isn't as large as one would expect. Perhaps this is the limits of Yorihime's new found corrupt power. It's large, but nowhere near the size to cover the hills and valleys. Saya faces a foe with eight heads only slightly larger than herself. Her challenge isn't impossible.
Orochi lunges at the lunar queen.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Clark sits atop the Mishaguji as it slithers across Gensokyo at a rather alarming rate of speed. He could have stayed next to the injured Sanae and rode this journey in it's mouth, but Clark told the frog goddess he'd sooner walk naked. Reaching a compromise, he settled for simply mounting it like a pack animal. There was no saddle, but he wasn't so helpless he couldn't hold on. That being said, it wasn't particularly difficult considering the giant snake wasn't jumping around everywhere. As long as it slithers close to the ground it's far simpler than trying to ride a horse.
They've left Youkai Mountain for awhile now, completely without incident. Most of the danger should have been behind them, but it was careless to relax. The most effective ambushes are set right before the goal, when hope overtakes fear. Fear keeps a person alert, and being alert keeps people alive. Clark is searching for his wife, and no doubt his wife is waiting for him. He won't rest until he finds her, and he'll stay alive at all costs.
Trailing the river, their destination could be no other than Misty Lake. On Clarks first trip to Gensokyo as a spy, his designated areas were the Bamboo Forest of the Lost and Eientei. He managed a trip to the Human Village, but apart from that he didn't stray from his target. He has next to no information about the lake or the mansion that resides therein. What kind of dangers are still present before him?
His ears pick up gunfire. Likewise does the snake move.
A column of bullets pepper the ground where the head was only moments before. Immediately does Clark recognize the spray pattern. It could have only come from a Lunarian rifle. The Mishaguji rises tall, peering over the land, a move so rapid and jarring that Clark is nearly thrown off. Obviously this is why Suwako wanted him to ride in the snake's mouth.
Everything is still after the initial attack. The work of a hidden sniper, they're obviously not so reckless as to fire in succession and give away their position. The Mishaguji is cautious, lowering it's head and scanning through the night with it's beady little eyes. Able to see heat, the sniper should be at a full disadvantage in trying to hide. However, the Mishaguji can't find him. Afoul tricks are being played.
A second shot rings through the air. Displaying amazing reflexes, the giant snake sinks down low and under the bullets. Clark barely manages to hang on. After avoiding danger the snake turns it's head and faces the direction of the attack. Slightly does it's mouth open and it's tail rapidly rattles, but despite that it's hesitating. Has the sniper already moved again? It can't see anything!
Clark again balances himself on the head of the Mishaguji. He can't take much more of riding this thing. Still aware of the danger, cautiously he too searches for the would be assassin.
"Move!"
Wasting not a moment, Clark leaps off the snake, a split-second before more bullets tear through what could have been the snake's neck. The Mishaguji obeys the Lunarian's command, by far intelligent enough to realize it can't see the sniper. Having it's life spared, it nervously waits low to the ground for more commands.
Landing, Clark immediately seeks the cover of a tree.
"Get out of here! I'll handle him! Make sure to take Sanae to the Scarlet Devil Mansion!"
It takes no more than this for the snake to retreat. The low rumble and crackling of foliage under-belly is all he needs to hear to know his ride retreated and in a hurry. Witnessed to it's speed, the Lunarian knows well that it's already a great distance away in these short seconds. After the noise recedes, he calms himself and monitors closely. The assassin is still nearby.
When atop the snake, the moment he looked up he knew why the snake couldn't see the sniper. For whatever reason, he was wearing a wetsuit, a perfect insulator to mask a snake's thermal vision. He was standing right in front of the snake with weapon drawn, and the snake couldn't know any better. However, Clark with his naked vision saw the hitman clear as day, or rather night. It was his split-second judgment that perhaps saved all three of their lives.
Paying extra close attention during the Mishaguji's retreat, it doesn't seem the gunman chased after it. Clark's his target. Have they caught wind of his treachery? All Lunarian weapons are coded to individual soldiers, so it's clear a stray resident of Gensokyo couldn't have picked it up and started using it. This being so, only could it be one of Tsukuyomi's men sent to deal with a traitor. Clark thought nobody realized his actions while on the mountain, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking. Whatever the case, sending the snake ahead was the best decision. Sanae's safety takes top priority, and getting unintended parties involved in his battles wasn't Clark's style. He can handle this.
Edging out from his cover, Clark tries to peek around and find the assailant. The green glow of the night-vision goggles makes this task infinitely easier than he would have anticipated. Doesn't the sniper know those things have a stealth mode?
The somewhat muffled gunfire of the Lunarian rifle signals the start of the exchange. Clark leaps from cover and blitzes through the forest under midnight. Giving chase, the shooter does follow keeping his weapon pointing forward the entire time. Shooting in pursuit, he misses his target by a wide margin. Clark's surprised by how bad of a shot this assassin truly is. Shouldn't he have passed the basic training requirements to be assigned to the Gensokyo Invasion? Well, that's all the better for the runaway Lunarian.
Turning at a tree, Clark does a quick 180, suddenly emerging and diving right at his pursuer. As if ranged combat were also less favorable, the sniper tosses his gun and engages in close quarter's combat.
Expecting the use of a sidearm or knife, Clark blocks the first succession of blows at the forearm and elbow. The Lunarian scout elects to use no weapons, only his two fists. Making a hasty decision, Clark's at a disadvantage because he allowed his foe to step in too close. The soldier grabs him by the side and armpit. Turning at his hips, he throws Clark, twisting him at he does. Victim to momentum, Clark stumbles backwards and has to turn to face his opponent. Those steps take too long and the soldier strikes with a diving forward punch right into the man's chest, putting great technique and power into his blow. Clark is blasted right into a tree.
Crashing with a modest impact, it looks worse than it is. His Blue Lunarian Armor absorbs most of the impact, but not without cracking under his opponent's power. This guy is strong! A lousy shot maybe, but his skill in martial arts is menacing. Thus too must Clark respond.
It isn't more than two shakes of a puppy dog's tail does the soldier in the wetsuit and thermal goggles fall upon the Lunarian leaning against the tree. At the last possible moment Clark rolls away, and so does the soldier's kick fall upon hapless bark. However, his foot doesn't seem to care as it tears through the entire tree as if it were nothing more than a twig. Shards and splinters burst from the wood and rain upon Clark. More than he expected, the dust gets into his eyes and temporarily blinds him. Such a haze could interrupt the entire battle, lest not the soldier were wearing goggles. He immediately follows with a driving elbow into Clarks back.
What felt like a hammer dropping onto his spin, Clark is momentarily paralyzed by a piercing pain as his armor is breached. Bursting into shards, the chest plate litters the ground below as his protection is completely nullified. Taking another blow like that is tantamount to suicide.
Keeping himself from falling, Clark immediately gathers his wits and charges forward, driving his shoulder into the soldier's stomach. Pushing with all his might, Clark tries to drag him to the ground and turn this into a brawl. However, the soldier's legs are solid, nearly as thick as tree trunks themselves, and the man looking for his wife soon realizes this is an impossible endeavor. Proving the better brawler as well, the soldier collapse upon Clark and wraps his arms around his waist.
Wait a minute, Clark feels something odd on his back.
Using "his" weight, the soldier throws Clark to the side. Certainly a powerful throw, but it wasn't the same as being hurled into a tree. Clark's quick to recover, and he's more than recovered enough to intercept the leaping axe kick.
"Stop!" he shouts, extending the palm of his hand.
Catching the soldier's foot, a shockwave of force is distributed vertically, slicing through the ground below and leaves above, and empty space to the sides. Catching such a heavy blow could have easily shattered every bone in his wrist, broken his arm and forearm, and dislocated his shoulder all at the same time, yet the Lunarian stands firm as if he only caught a softball. The soldier tries to shake "his" foot from Clark's grasp, but it doesn't budge. Far from being completely disabled, the soldier closely observes where the runaway wants to take the battle from here.
"I think that's just about enough," Clark says. "I couldn't tell because it's dark and you're wearing all black, but when you grabbed me from behind I was certain. There were no women except for Akihito no Saya sent to Gensokyo, and she's making her way to Eientei. Who exactly are you?"
For a moment the woman is still, completely unperturbed by someone holding her foot. Her balance is perfect and her limbs extremely limber. However, she's completely covered in head-to-toe in the pitch black wetsuit, and those goggles cover her eyes. In fact the suit seems a couple sizes too small as the tiniest portions of her wrists and ankles are exposed. So too are her breasts greatly compressed. That must be uncomfortable.
"I should ask the same thing," the woman speaks. "Why were you riding one of the Moriya Curse Gods, why were you heading to the mansion, and what does any of this have to do with their shrine maiden?"
For a moment neither do anything.
"This may take a while," Clark tells her. "Think I can put your foot down and we could talk about things?"
The woman nods, which he easily sees by the glowing eyepieces of the night vision goggles. Upon reaching an agreement, he releases her.
"First thing first," the woman demands, "I've seen soldiers in red armor, black armor, and white armor, but I haven't seen any in blue. Are you or are you not a part of the attack on Gensokyo."
Clark confirms, "Short story; no. Long story; it's complicated. Are you a Lunarian, or a youkai of Gensokyo?"
"Youkai," is her immediate response.
"But you're using Lunarian weapons! They're DNA coded to whom they were issued! You shouldn't be able to us them!"
"I figured as much, but I got this thing right here," she slaps her wrist, but whatever is there can't be seen because of her suit. "Oh," she realizes this, wrestles with her glove, and eventually pulls it off. Mounted on her wrist is a very familiar-looking terminal.
Once recognizing it, Clark ruses to the woman's side in a hurry.
"That's! That's an Executive Terminal with full administrative privileges! Only the Royal Guard carry these! Where did you get it?"
She has to think about that for a moment, "Royal Guard? Would those be the guys in white?"
"Yes! Don't tell me you defeated one of them?"
"I'd like to say so, but he was already dead when I found him. The hidden monster of the mansion deserves that honor. I just ran across his," she pauses, "arm."
This warranted further discussion, but the woman insisted they change locations. The shores of the lake weren't far from there, and she left her pack there when she noticed something slithering through the forest. They continue to talk while they walk.
In that time Clark gave the reason for his intrusion: the episode on the mountain, Sanae's injury and his own purposes for coming to Gensokyo.
"-are you talking about Kumin?" the woman asks.
Clark has to stop. Hearing his wife's name so suddenly not only caught him by surprise, but he was completely floored.
"How do you know that?" he practically screams. "Have you seen her? Do you know where she is?"
She has to wave him down, "Of course I've seen her. I practically brought her to Gensokyo. She's in the Human Village right now. That's where I took her. I even remember the name of the family who's care I left her in."
Nearly do Clarks legs give out. Thus far he'd only hoped she was in a safe place, and now he's been told the truth by the person who brought her here. He has to lean against a tree for support.
"Who are you?"
Though she's yet to reveal her face, she introduces herself, "I'm Hong Meiling."
As they continue to the shore, Meiling shares her whole story. After retrieving her clothes she'd stuffed in a plastic bag so they wouldn't get wet, she changes. Meiling warns that he better not peek, and Clark reminded her he's a married man.
"-with the terminal I was able to find my way back to the secret entrance," she tells him.
Having moved to Gensokyo within the last fifteen years, the Scarlet Devil Mansion is far from being technologically inept. As a matter of fact, it's Remilia who's the tech-head. Sakuya has never shown much of an interest and Patchouli never particularly cared for keeping up with the latest scientific advancement. However, Meiling spent countless hours simply standing in front of a gate. At those times she's read magazines, played with toys, and practically everything else to stave off boredom. She even proposed to her boss that she could install closed circuit security cameras and she wouldn't need to stand there hours on end. Remilia rejected it, stating if they installed camera Meiling wouldn't need to work there anymore. After that the guard never mentioned it again.
All that was left of the Royal Guard who attacked Flandre was his arm, and on that arm was his mounted terminal. It took a bit of fenagling, but eventually she figured out how to operate it (she had to break off his finger to enter commands) and registered herself as it's new operator. Once done, all of the Lunarian's library of information and resources were at her disposal. She pulled up the altered floor plan of the Scarlet Devil's Mansion's labyrinth and made it back to the secret entrance. There she found the Lunarian Infiltrators underwater gear and some additional equipment. Not wanting to have her clothes soaked a second time, she changed and placed them in one of their plastic bags. After swimming through Misty Lake for a second time, she returned from the mansion without ever running into her former boss. Shortly thereafter she heard the Mishaguji slithering through the forest.
"-and that when I heard you slithering through the forest," Meiling concludes her story after having finished changing back into her normal clothes. "So tell me, you know where your wife is, but you can't exactly get into the village with things the way they are right now. What are you going to do?"
Clark's been sitting on a log for a while now, and very likely he's been pondering the same thing. Contemplating, once he's reached a decision he stands.
"You know, that terminal you've got now is an extremely valuable tool. With the highest administrative privileges you can do a lot of crazy things. This rifle for example," Meiling didn't particularly care for it, she just wanted to play with it for a little bit, but Clark insisted that she not throw it away, "not only could you register it to yourself, but you can register it to anyone else you want, completely unlock it so anyone could fire, or deactivate it all together."
Meiling catches on to his idea, saying with a widening grin on her face, "Are you saying-"
"-I'm saying we could completely turn this invasion around. Every one of these guns has an ID tag that you can freely alter, but you have to be within a certain range before then. They also have trackers, which is why I dumped mine as soon as I was dropped on the mountain.
"We could go around and deactivate all of the Lunarian's weapons in all the different battlefields. Less than a tenth of our army are magic users. You can't win a chess game without any pawns. If our foot soldiers lost their weapons we'd have no choice but to surrender."
This chapter took far longer than I anticipated. The middle scene literally took a couple of weeks, while the last I blew through in a day. That's just the way things go, I guess.
~Kyle Castorena