Journey to hell

Around the same time that Rin was beginning her training to be a Lunar, Sakura was walking through the deserts of the south.

She needed to learn to use her new skills before looking for Shirou and that meant finding somewhere to train.

Her guide, her unwoven coadjutor, was humming slightly. She was trying to detect something that she hadn't explained to Sakura but while they looked for it she was telling Sakura to practice on mortals.

You might think that white hair and the fish scales she had gained during exaltation might be a give away to mortals that they faced a demon. To bypass this problem Sakura practised a charm that according to her guide "Most Princes of hell learn this charm for travelling the surface, it hides your oddity behind a mask" The charm was called 'Loom-snarling deception' and it was able to provide a disguise that was perfect for this.

When Sakura had first used it her shadow felt like she could control it again but only for a moment, her shadow had reared up and covered her. When it fell away Sakura was pleased to see that her hair was back to being purple and that her skin was clear and free from scales.

Now whenever she would approach passing traders her guide insisted that she should test out her power on them. Sakura wasn't keen on learning new charms quite yet as when she learned a charm called 'Witness to darkness' she had become temporarily blinded by the sun, while it apparently helped her spot liars the weakness to bright light was quite annoying.

For the purpose on finding the location she was actually looking for, her demon suggested she learn 'Hellscry Chakra' and 'Transcendent Desert Creature', the first was apparently helpful to find what they were searching for but the second was more useful, it made the harsh desert her friend. She would find small pools of water and edible roots easily and the sun didn't seem quite as strong on her.

It took a few days more to find the destination, in doing so Sakura had requested a travelling party to give her a bag with supplies. She had not used her essence to convince them but rather their own compassion, she had asked them to have pity on her, alone in the desert without supplies. One of the younger people had supplied her with her bag and supplies after that. Her guide was a little disappointed but mentally mumbled something about "Learn to be a princess and not a beggar." Sakura ignored the little demon and carried on to the destination.

Finally they came to what her guide called "The boundary line" Sakura looked at the desert. A few steps ahead of her the desert just changed, the sand went from being the colour of caramel to now being a bright silver that seemed to reflect light in odd ways.

Her guide explained it "This is the entrance to the Endless Desert, once you pass it you have to pace yourself. We will reach our destination in five days, no longer or shorter."

Sakura looked a the silver sand and sighed before taking a few steps over the boundary, nothing much changed except the line spread out so that if she kept walking 'Forward' she would continue to walk into the desert. She glanced behind her to the caramel sand and sighed before continuing to walk.

Nothing was here other than the sand and sky, there was no water other than the skins that she had brought with her and there was no food other than what she brought with her. She trudged through the endless desert, getting a quick rundown of the history of creation and the demon city.

Sakura had empathy for demon kind but she still saw that the Yozi were likely insane. Her unwoven coadjutor was teaching her many things about creation now that she was on this journey this extended to how the Unconquered Sun had overthrown his creators and locked them in hell, Sakura heard this and thought of many things.

She debated if the Sun was good or evil and her coadjutor answered immediately "He is the physical embodiment of virtue, his compassion let him rise up for mortals and his valour gave him the strength." Sakura took this in and asked "So he is good but our enemy?"

Her Coadjutor 'nodded' before continuing "Many in creation would see us as villains but we simply want the chance to be free and live, what is wrong with that dream?"

The two of them were silent for a moment as Sakura thought about what was just said and she wondered what Shirou would do.

Days had passed before finally Sakura saw the walls of the demon city, they were vast, stretching across the horizon and so tall that she thought that they were still half a days walk away. If they were that far away and she could see them then they were truly vast.

Sakura walked towards a wall and then towards one of many gates in the wall. Her guide had taught her the language of the demons, old realm, so Sakura could read the sign above the entrance.

'13th layer, east side'

The coadjutor signalled that this would be a fine one to enter so she did.

Once through the door she was forced to stop and stare, there is no easy way to describe the demon city other than weird. Above her she could see a massive dome that was so large the Sun was inside it, the highest point of the dome was even further, twice as far away as the green sun. Her Coadjutor mentioned that the sun of this city was closer to them than creation.

In truth, her Coadjutor explained, the demon city is a massive sphere, we stepped into one of the higher layers so there were large floating islands of similar size to continents just floating around. Below them was the depths of the Sea that marched against the flame, Kimbery "One of your patrons girl, feel honoured."

Sakura realised it would take a long time to get used to the city so she simply asked her Coadjutor what she was expected to do now she was here. Before she could answer she heard a familiar voice behind her, a voice she hadn't heard in a long time "About time you made it here Sakura." She spun to see Shinji sitting on a stone that made him significantly larger than her.

Her mind was in turmoil for a moment before crystalline reason broke through before replying "You aren't him, he died."

The figure that pretended to be Shinji chuckled before becoming shadowy and reforming as Shirou, he made a comical bow after getting off the rock "Is this better?"

Sakura was now more shocked but she was calm, this wasn't Shirou either, he would never make that mocking face.

Her Coadjutor was freaking out and Sakura managed to pull out a bit of info, she knelt and said "Greetings Yozi Ebon Dragon."

The Ebon Dragon, still looking like Shirou, chuckled again and spoke "You are to follow me Sakura, I will lead you to someone else we are to talk to." As he said this he held out his hand to Sakura as if making an offer, at her Coadjutor's insistence she took the hand.

Suddenly she was even higher in the sky, being held by the Dragon's claw. For a few moments they flew before the dragon turned his palm up and opened his grip, Sakura looked up to see that they faced a great red stone that shone like the full moon.

The Ebon Dragon spoke, his voice a wispier "Ululaya, the Blood-Red Moon is the Fetish soul of your other patron. The three of us must now talk."

It didn't feel much of a 'Talk' to Sakura. The demons were likely talking but to her they were just pelting her with questions before the Ebon Dragon got bored and dropped her on top of a nearby tower so that he and Ululaya could discuss more easily.

"He really is ridiculous isn't he?" Sakura spun again (She wished powerful demons would stop sneaking up on her) there stood a beautiful woman with pitch black skin, silvery eyes, hair and silken clothes. At the woman's side was a silver horn and Sakura's Coadjutor quickly informed her of who she spoke to.

Sakura bowed her head "Greetings Lady Erembour," Sakura quickly thought back to what she had asked before replying "if you are asking about the Ebon Dragon I don't know enough to cast that judgement"

The woman laughed, a soft laugh like bells, and nodded "Yes, yes, you are truly polite" Sakura blushed as Erembour continued "He is the most petty Yozi, doing most things simply because he can."

Erembour chuckled a bit more before putting her hand on Sakura's shoulder and pointing towards a large dome that could be seen from the tower "There is your home while you are in the demon city, go ahead and go there now, I am fairly sure the Ebon Dragon has stopped caring about you by now and will simply ask for an update later."

Sakura looked between the dome and Erembour and simply nodded, taken in by the words of the great demon. She began descending the stairs to street level.

End of chapter, Sakura is now in hell, Yay?

Regardless the original infernal chapter implies many horrible things happen to new infernals but I am simply going to ignore that part as most writers do.

TED (the ebon dragon) is a very strange being, think of him as what would happen if Angra Mainyu was near all-powerful. Sakura didn't interact with him enough to show that he is a grade-A monster and compulsive liar.

On the other hand Erembour respects him but recognises his flaws (This is likely how most Third circles see their progenitor)

Ululaya didn't really do anything as very little has been published about him and I couldn't think how to portray him.

Regardless, more Sakura next chapter or back to Shirou?