A.N.: So uh, attention isn't slowing down. Well, I guess that's my mistake for picking two somewhat popular fandoms for my crossover. So uh, thanks for all the attention! And the reviews. Which are mostly straight up endorsements, so if I don't answer them explicitly, you can hereby consider yourself thanked for your endorsement!
xyzdreadnought: One thing is for sure, Fiona isn't, and probably never will be, a Magician youkai. But she is still (partially) a witch, so she can still use the wizarding style of magic. And good to know that your story is still active. Keep up the good work!

Fiona's Light

~Chapter 3~

The United Kingdom is an island nation. If you want to go to another country, you need to cross either an ocean or a sea. Most people would take a ferry boat, some would take an aeroplane, and if they were wizards, they might use a portkey. Fiona was aware of all of these techniques. Unlike most wizards, she had read about some of the things the muggles did. Not all of it was amazing, of course, but aeroplanes were. The best ones could fly very high, very fast, and very far. Way better than any broomsticks.

But unfortunately, this crossing would not be by aeroplane, nor would it be by ferryboat. Instead, the only indication that she had crossed the Channel was her new sense of direction telling her that she had left the British Isles. Wondering around a bit, she found a nice view from a clifftop overlooking the restless waters that separated Great Britain from the rest of Europe.

"Wow. Can I teleport or something? No wait, I always need to walk, I can't just jump or something. So, it's not really teleporting like apparition. … Strange. Hopefully I'll find someone who can explain it to me."

Mumbling on for a little longer, she then turned around and started walking again.

Continental Europe was much different from England. The nature, the buildings, and also the people. Fiona tried to stay away from the busier places, but she visited a number of small villages and towns. She also came across a place that was filled with what really looked like vampires. She didn't go close enough to confirm it, but it was interesting to see how they lived like rather normal people. The only books where she had read something like that were fantasy stories. Never in one of her fact-books. … Although, she had her doubts at some of the claims in those too. Her "Honorary Uncle Mooney" was living proof that not all werewolves were bloodthirsty, killing monsters. And so was Ralf, for that matter.

She shook her head. First, she had to figure out just what she was and what she could do. Then, she could travel around the world and learn all kinds of secrets that were not in the books. Maybe she could write her own book! Just like Newt Scamander did! With all the facts that no one knew!

As she continued on, the landscape continued changing as well. The flatlands turned into forested hills, which then continued into full on mountains. She didn't enter those immediately, but she did look at them from a distance.

Mountains turned back to plains, and plains turned back to hills, and sometimes the mountains showed up again too. Fiona noticed how much the different types of trees gave each place its own unique look. And she discovered many new types of trees that she had never seen before. Spruces and pine trees in the northern parts of Europe, with more exotic fruit and palm trees to the south. And everything in between.

But not just the landscape changed. The people living there did too. Skin colour, faces, buildings, and language, all of it changed as she walked along. To her happy surprise, she discovered that she could understand foreign languages very easily. Reading took more effort, and she didn't really try writing yet. But still, it made traveling to strange places so much easier. Although some languages took longer than others for her to fully understand them. One more strange ability, one more question to ask.

Speaking of that, she was starting to get close to her destination. The main type of food grown in the fields was now rice, and the people looked very different from her. And so did the few magical creatures that she caught glimpses of. It once again reminded her of just how little she had learned from those books her parents had.

She wasn't entirely sure when exactly she passed the border, but she noticed immediately that the environment felt different. It felt more magical, like Diagon Alley, but at the same time also different. The magic was different. Wilder, more primal, and stronger. Much stronger then Diagon Alley had ever been. They said that Hogwarts was the most magical place in all of Britain, but she had never been there. Still, she wasn't sure if even Hogwarts would be able to compare to this place.

Looking around her, she was currently in a dark forest. With a large number of mushrooms growing all over the place. Many she had never seen before. Was it a magical forest? It wouldn't surprise her, with how much magic was in the air. However, she still wasn't at her destination, although she was close. So, she continued on.

Not long after, she exited the forest onto a pathway. In one direction, she could barely make out the sights of a small village. Her feeling, however, told her that her destination was the other way. Following it, she soon found herself at the bottom of the longest stairs she had ever seen. At regular intervals, those strange "Torii" gates that were common in this country were placed. It was clear that her destination was at the top of the stairs. And somehow, she had a feeling that her "not-teleportation" wasn't going to help her with this.

…

A countless number of steps later, she found herself finally at the top. Indeed, her not-teleportation hadn't done anything to help her, but fortunately she was still not really feeling tired.

Ahead of her, she saw a slightly dirty shrine. One that looked like most other shrines she had seen in this country. A couple signs told her that the name of the place was Hakurei. Also there was a teenage girl in a red and white outfit, lazily sweeping the courtyard. Her feeling told her that this Hakurei shrine was her destination, but nothing beyond that.

Maybe she should ask the girl? But what would she ask? Did the girl even know anything about magic? Did she…

"Hey, are you just gonna stand there?" A sudden, slightly annoyed yell derailed her thoughts. The girl had noticed her and was looking at her expectantly. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she then started approaching the girl.

"Uhm, Hi. Uh, do you think you can, uh, help me?" Something about the girl made her feel a bit uncomfortable. Almost like she was predator, and Fiona was her prey.

"… That depends. What kind of help do you need? Do you have an annoying youkai I need to exorcise?"

Youkai? What were those? Something like demons? Exorcism is for driving out demons, right? … Did she have a demon in her?

"Ey, are you okay? You're a bit quiet. Is something wrong?"

Suddenly, she realized that the girl was much less of a predator, and more like hunter of some kind. While she could probably kill her without effort, as long as Fiona didn't give her a reason, she wouldn't even be hostile. And hunters could help people as well, and currently the girl in the red-white dress was the only help she had.

"Well, uh, I, uh, found this lantern. In the forest. It's magical, and when I touched it, I changed! … I think. I don't know. It's like it's a part of me now! And I don't really understand." Fiona didn't realize, but she had started crying a little as she was talking. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, and pulled her into a hug.

A new voice, older and a bit kinder than the girl's, started speaking to her in a soothing tone.

"Ssht. It's all right. It's fine if you don't understand. After all, you are still a child, and had something really big happen to you. And no one to explain anything about it."

The voice and the hug were quite effective at calming her down, and soon she had recovered enough to be able to talk again.

"So, can you explain it, Miss?" Turning her head a little, she saw one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Long blond hair, an aristocratic face, and a long purple dress. She could imagine the jealous looks of those stuck-up pureblood "ladies" and their husbands that visited her parents all the time.

"Call me Yukari, child. And I can indeed explain some of it. But not all. Some things you need to discover on your own. Tell me, have you ever heard of Youkai?" Yukari asked her.

"Eh, no, not really, Miss Yukari." She truthfully answered. Was she a youkai?

"It is a, collective term, that covers just about all supernatural creatures. And you, my dear, are one of those."

Well, she kind of already knew that. Ralf had straight up told her!

"Yeah, but what kind of creature am I? A lantern spirit?"

"Why, it indeed appears that way. But it is not entirely right. You are a magic guide. Not just a lantern."

"So, I'm a magic guide youkai?" So, Fiona the Magical Guide was actually right?

"Almost. I believe you only partially a youkai. A part of you is still human. You are certainly a very interesting girl. Especially with the way you just walked through the Barrier, like it did not exist."

Apparently, there was something separating this magical place from the rest of the world. And she had just walked through it. Oh no! She didn't break some rules about no outsiders, did she?

"I - I'm sorry. I didn't know that wasn't allowed. Please don't punish me!"

"Ahahaha! Don't worry, little one, you didn't break any rules. It's just that the number of creatures that can pass through it freely is very limited. In fact, almost all of them are currently here in this shrine!"

The laugh caught Fiona off-guard, but what followed was even worse. She was one of only a couple creatures that could pass freely through this Barrier. And two of the others were with her right now! … Just what kind of place was this?

"Wait, can she take people with her? She's a guide, right? It would make my job a lot easier if I didn't always have to rely on a wishy-washy old hag."

The girl in the red-white dress suddenly spoke up again, sounding quite enthusiastic. But taking people across the barrier was actually a job? It sounded like an ideal job for her, as a magical guide. And of course, having a job like that would mean she could stay here, right?

"… I… guess, I could do that. Does that mean I can stay here?"

"Yeah, of course. Although, I don't have that much room around here. And barely enough money to feed myself. So, we may need to find you a better place to stay."

Seeing the state of the shrine, and of the girl, Fiona had no trouble believing she wasn't rich. Fortunately…

"Uhm, I don't really need to eat anymore, I think. Ever since I picked up the lantern, I haven't felt hungry. Or thirsty, really. And I don't need a lot of space. So, can I stay with you?"

While she never had much chance to practice, she was still a little girl, and as such managed to pull of a decently effective "begging puppy eyes". Unfortunately for her, Reimu Hakurei was not one to be easily moved by such displays. Still, she didn't see much reason to be mean to the girl, and decided to let her stay. On one condition!

"Hm, I guess. But only if you help me out with the chores around here!" The girl looked intently at Fiona, who had to swallow a little by the sudden pressure.

"Uh, okay. I will!" Quickly, she agreed to the terms. She would be staying for free otherwise, and she still had the feeling that the girl was really not somebody to anger.

When she finished, the pressure instantly disappeared, and the girl was once again looking a little bored.

"Well, that takes care of that. That leaves me with only one last think to say: Welcome to Gensokyo!" Yukari suddenly spoke up, and looking her way, Fiona saw that she was now sitting on… the edge of a… gap? in reality?

After she finished, the gap suddenly enlarged and swallowed the woman whole, before itself disappearing as well. Fiona just stood there in amazed silence. Never had she seen something like that before!

"Always showing off, that old hag. Anyway, I am Reimu Hakurei, Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine and Gensokyo's number one incident solver. Who are you?" Reimu's words shook her from her stupor. The dismissive tone she used, it sounded like Miss Yukari did this very often.

"Uh, I'm Fiona, the Half-Youkai Magic Guide. I guess. So, uh, I have never heard of Gensokyo. Can you tell me a little about it?"

"Sure. We'll get you settled in first, and then I'll tell you a little about Gensokyo. If you want to know more, however, you should visit Keine Kamishirasawa in the Human Village. She knows just about everything."

"Okay. Thank you, Miss Reimu! Huh?" The shrine maiden stumbled as Fiona said her name.

"Please. Please, don't call me miss. Just call me Reimu. I'm not old enough to be called miss."

Oh. Right. She knew some people who didn't like being called mister or miss, because "it made them feel old". Apparently Reimu was also like that.

"I'm sorry, m- Reimu!"

Reimu couldn't help but sigh. Did she really know what she had agreed to?

~End of Chapter 3~

A.N.: If you find any grammar or spelling errors, or have suggestions about the story, let me know!