The Shrine of Gensokyo: Gensokyo No Ginja
Chapter 40: The Beginning of Another End
Original Concept by: ZUN & Shanghai Alice
Written by: wrathie
Author's Notes: BUMPER UPDATE AS I MIGHT BE BUSY. R&R!
..
..
A blinding flash of light covered the sky immediately after I felt my chest tighten as if something was clutching, hugging me so tight that I could not breathe.
The cloud of danmaku above us was replaced by a blinding glow that made my eyes hurt even when not looking at it. It was a clash of superpowers, surely between Yukari and Reimu. Bullets rained from the border towards the center of the blinding light and they cancelled each other out, the cycle repeating itself endlessly… No matter how many bullets streamed towards the center, the light would cancel it out…
..
The both of them must have finally decided to end the fight once and for all and I shivered, both in fear of what might happen next and in fear of the power that was revealed to us.
..
It was terrifying, the amount of magical energy that was being radiated from that glowing orb…
I, Patchouli Knowledge have never seen such level of magic before in my life and that was saying much… Having lived with the Little sister, Flandre, I had imagined I would have seen the most destructive power there is to be seen.
Her power, which is the ability to destroy everything was beyond my scope and even beyond the scope of Sakuya or Remilia, two powers who is one of the top mages in their class… Manipulation of Fate and Time is no easy task…
..
..
But this… this influx of power is not of this world… where did they derive such power from? I have been tracking their progress since the start of the conflict but this level of power…
..
This level… is way above the chart and… impossible…
..
[… what are they?]
They are monsters… this level of power… would be enough to wipe out Gensokyo a few times over with energy to spare… where did they gain this strength? How could they hide this from me so efficiently and effectively…? How?
..
Poring over my scrolls, I turned to look at the Lunarian and saw her sipping tea casually.
[… Yagokoro…]
I whispered angrily to her, my voice was weakening… this is beyond my daily capacity… yet I am still standing, willing to continue… amazing how the mind can overcome the body sometimes…
[I am surprised, magician… the power a human can have… this is quite a spectacle…]
..
Laughing, she stood up and explained to me in detail.
[There are two powers conflicting with one another, but they are similar, driven by the same principle.]
I could not help but be impressed, the lunarian always was one step in front of us. Frustrating but it was the truth, her mental capacity and intelligent quotient is way beyond mine or even the Half-Beast for that matter.
It is the same reason that I am thankful that she is an ally and not an enemy.
..
[Both of them, are driven by the very life force that supports the two of them. It is their last word…]
[L-Last Word?]
It is a term that I have heard and is familiar with but have never faced before.
A Last Word, the final spell one can use at the expense of one's life force… if drained fully… the caster will die.
I have never been forced to use such means but… but that means…
..
[… a normal youkai will die after invoking a Last word… if it could control it in the first place… an Elder Youkai will be, in theory be able to control a Last Word to not kill them as they have sufficient reserves… Reserves I mean to be, a part of their soul as their reserves.
As youkai are made of magic, they can exchange their souls for power instead of their Life Force… thus, in theory they can invoke a last Spell without dying for a certain period of time.]
..
[Then… that means…]
[For someone as ancient as her, Yakumo would no doubt be able to control her Last Word… but… for Hakurei…]
Yagokoro paused for a moment as she looked up to the blinding orb, seemingly studying it with her eyes alone. Her mouth spoke monosyllables that I could not catch, adding to the suspense of it all.
[… she… is human… At least, that is what I believe her to be. Yet, for a human to be so powerful…to invoke such miracles… to defy fate and the impossible… to be spiritually, mentally and physically beyond my expectations… She…]
Yagokoro paused again before looking towards Miss Keine, who had by herself, made miracles happen with her power.
..
[… defies all logic… thus, she could… although not in theory… but by my…]
[My..?]
I prodded her for an answer at long last, she seemed to be hesitant in declaring a findings, surely a first.
..
[My… belief in her, she might be able to… Invoke her Last Word…]
She blushed, something which must be unheard of, surely I must be seeing things, the lunarian was actually unsure of herself? Did she not claim that what we are doing is impossible, defying our destiny?
Yet, with those same lips, she admitted that Reimu might actually be able pull off the impossible?
Incredible… this must be a miracle in it's own right.
..
[Magician, you should pay attention to your charge.]
Returning to her haughty demeanor, the Lunarian pointed to the direction of the steps that led to the Shrine and it was my turn to smile and laugh a little, despite straining my voice.
..
[… it is her time to awaken…]
[?]
[Her time… to show her power to the world.]
..
..
[… …]
[Huff… huff..]
This… is the how many… that I had defeated?
I did not know…I had lost count…
My arm is hurting, my legs were hurting.. my knees and elbows were hurting…that I knew… but I felt no pain… just numbness.
I could barely feel the impact when my fist struck and subsequently crush yet another golem with a single strike.
The three of us were almost buried under the pile of rubble from the golems that Yukari had sent after the Shrine.
[… …]
..
[Miss Meiling! Are you okay?]
The fairy, Daiyousei flew over and casted the same spell she always did, a spell to rid me of some mental fatigue…
[T-thanks…]
But even that could not help me now, I feel like I've just ran a marathon around Gensokyo carrying the whole Scarlet Devil Mansion on my shoulders… four times over…
[… ugh…]
And it was not ending… amidst my now hazy vision, a few more golems came into view and I sighed before drop kicking it in the face.
..
[… I…]
Despite the tiredness, I am still proud to say that I have done my job.
I am the Gate guard and the Gate Guard is strong!
Kicking another in the face, I suddenly felt my whole body wobbling and I collapsed into a heap. The fatigue finally caught up with me I guess…
[…ugh…]
Lying on the ground, I heard the little fairy's scream of shock and the predictable: 'I AM THE STRONGEST AND I WILL SAVE YOU' from the other.
It made me glad that they cared enough to want to save me…
..
I am tired that my arms felt like lead and I knew that various part of my body was swollen up from the bruises I had. My body was ready to collapse and yet I had pushed it to the ultimate limit. I've declared all of my spellcards, shouted all my battle cries and used all of my techniques…
..
I was drained… but yet, I am happy.
I've… done my best… perhaps they will praise me now? For my good work?
I doubt that thou…
[… I didn't… guard the shrine again…]
I didn't do my job again… did I?
[… ahaha…]
..
I laughed numbly as a shadow appeared above me, a golem looking down at me, drained, tired and helpless… unable to fight back.
..
..
[…]
[…]
We stared at one another, it's lifeless eye gazing at me before solemnly raising it's huge fist in the air. The size of that fist was about the size of my head but weird that I felt no fear, I felt nothing now.
..
I probably won't ever know… whether they would praise me for my job…
I did a good job right? How many did I take down? Surely I took down enough…
..
No one, no one ever does praised me for a good job well down… when was the last time Remilia-sama actually praised me…
I don't know… has she ever praised me?
I recalled the first time I met her, it was when I was a young youkai, unsure of my power that I met her, the devil near the lake.
Even then her power and charm was unmistakable… she never did age, unlike me who aged slowly…
..
I have so many words I wanted to tell them but so many words I did not wanted to tell them… secrets that only I hold in my heart…
..
Like…
[ahah…]
So in the end, will Remilia-sama not praise me too? Sakuya-san too.. even when I am older than her… I should at least… at least say my goodbyes to her… she… her cooking beats mine hands down…
..
It's so embarrassing… I wanted to cry now, to let go of the pain… it hurts, Sakuya-san…
And Patchouli-san… I'm sorry… I was the one who took your udon… I was hungry then and Sakuya-san was in a bad mood after clearing Imouto-sama's mess…
I'm sorry… you blamed Sakuya for that too…
I'm sorry…
..
..
And Imouto-sama.. I won't be able to play with you again… but next time… next time please be more gentle… I need a week to recover… please, Imouto-sama? So if we can play again… be a bit gentler?
and… Reimu, Marisa… everyone… you were good to me… I am happy that I knew all of you… all of you were strong…
[… the sky… is so blue…]
Painfully I raised an arm to the sky, wanting to touch it… it'll end soon… right?
..
..
But… Remilia-sama never did praise me… when did she praise me again…?
..
Oh right…
It was that time when I first met her…
Where did I meet her?
… at my home… … where was my home?
[why…]
Why am I remembering such things? Does it matter now? I am going to die… what use is there in remembering this? Can someone tell me? Was seeing my life flash across my mind part of dying too?
..
[…Remilia-sama… she never did praise me… did she.]
Somehow… I felt angry from remembering that…
At the least, at the least… I should… I should get praised by her… Right?
Isn't that right? That is unfair! Unfair to me! Why? Why am I the only one to get left behind? Remilia-sama, she praised Sakuya-san, Patchouli and even Imouto-sama before… why, why can I never get praised?
..
[… that's right… I remember now… I am different… I am… no ordinary youkai…]
The strength returned to me suddenly, I remembered something important to me suddenly.
Remilia-sama she… she never praised me… she never did…
[I will get my praise! I deserve it, Remilia-sama! I am the one who served you the longest! I should get one!]
Sitting up, I caught the gigantic fist with one hand and crushed it into tiny rubble simply by closing my fist…
..
[Remilia-sama! Don't tell me you've forgotten who I am! I am Hong Meiling…]
[The Finale: ASURA!]
Landing a single punch at the golem's chest, the golem simply exploded as the air around me was satured with my chi…
Yes, I might be the only one in Gensokyo with this heritage.
[If I fall down now, Remilia-sama will never praise me! That's no fair!]
..
The Heritage of a dragon.
..
..
[…]
I was unsure what to comment after hearing Meiling's shout, should I call her dumb? Or should I call her dedicated? Whatever the case... she has indeed awaken… even from my vantage point at the shrine, the visage of Meiling's chi was forming above her.
..
That of a dragon…
[… Dragon's blood… who would have expected that in her…]
That would explain her unusual toughness, being able to withstand blows and hits that no normal youkai, not even Remilia herself could suffer and be alright in a few days.
..
The dragon, the mythical beast that no one in Gensokyo can truly admit to have seen beside perhaps… Yakumo or the oni, but as it stands… we might not be able to ask Yakumo for any details.
The beast that can able to summon lightning, the rain and the wind with just a breath… who ever knew that in that useless door guard was so much power and antiquity?
None of us in fact except perhaps Remi, that sly vampire probably took her in to subordinate her… a dragon is one of the few beings that could singlehandedly kill a vampire, no matter how strong it is due to their powers.
[… but for her to awaken in lieu of such a trivial matter… perhaps I am giving her more credit then due?]
Still, her part here was done… now to offer some assistance.
..
..
[Sun Sign: Royal Flare]
Muttering the spell that I had planted near Meiling's location, the fiery rays baked all that was left standing while leaving Meiling intact and of course, the little fairies.
An elementalist is not one till her spell can distinguish between ally and foe…
..
[… -cough-]
[Patchouli-san, you're pushing yourself!]
The hakutaku helped me to sit down while I sighed wearily.
[It's… nothing…]
[please, take a small rest… … it seems it is all over…]
She smiled in relief and I followed her eyes upwards to see a wondrous and miraculous sight… the dark clouds of danmaku was dissipating, disappearing as rays of light shone freely from the center and at the center was none other than her, Hakurei Reimu and I sighed along with her.
[It took her… -cough- long enough…]
I managed a smile for the Hakutaku's benefit before looking at the Lunarian's response. I expected her to be shocked and awed but she just smiled and shook her head.
..
..
[You have proven to me, the will of a human, Hakurei.]
Her eyes were sharp and focused but she did not seem too surprised nor displeased as the result, as she admitted to me later, it was perhaps the best result possible for either one of us, even if she was not willing to interfere.
[… so… it's over?]
More of a statement than anything else, the Hakutaku asked me and I smiled silently, thou unsure at how to phrase it.
..
..
[Perhaps…]
I sighed in the end and the Hakutaku smiled back at me, her shoulders trembling in her joy.
[It's over… she did it.. Reimu and everyone… they did it! Oh gods…thank you…]
Sobbing in her own hands, Kamishirasawa Keine cried tears of happiness as I just watched the rays of light erase many of Yukari's forces by themselves.
The ray of light, emitted from the Hakurei Yin-Yang orbs circling around her was powerful indeed… but I worry for her… how long could she maintain this?
..
[… hopefully as long as it is needed…]
She did not seem to be weakening, in fact her strength seemed to be increasing, something which I believed was not possible… well, Hakurei has indeed shown potential for creating miracles…
[… it's all over…]
..
..
[W-We won?]
A disbelieving cry rang out from the village as Mokou threw a last fireball at the last remaining golem. The sun was shining down on us again and I cried in happiness as well as dropping to my knees from exhaustion.
Mokou and I… did it! Wriggle and the others too! We did it! We defended the village! Yay!
Raising my hands up in happiness, I saw Mokou's shoulders sag before she turned back to look at the people, the same cocky and confident grin on her face as she dropped to the floor and gave a contented sigh.
[Now that's over… I need a good, long nap!]
She yawned while using one hand to reach out at the sky, surely a symbol for something that I did not understand but she was smiling so beautifully that I had to blush, I might have caught her when she was at her happiest… she'll be bad if she found out…
..
[She did, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden did it!]
..
The villagers were celebrating, taking the other youkai, Wriggle and Mystia with them while a few of them ran over to carry me with them.
[Let's go princess!]
Looking back, I saw some of the children approach Mokou and begged her to come with them but she pointedly refused.
..
[Nah… I'll stay here for a while…]
[B-But…]
[Go on… I'll join you later.]
She grinned while sitting up, she seemed to find it boring as she had something on her mind.
[… I-I'll stay a while too… you go on…]
Pushing the kids that surrounded me, I waited for all of them to leave before approaching Mokou, I did not want her explosive temper to scare them.
..
[… M-Mokou…]
I trembled as I asked her…
[… you can't read the mood can ya, Kaguya?]
Her eyes narrowed and I felt the temperature rise a little yet I did not fall back but walked closer.
[… … I…]
[Ah shut up, Kaguya.]
She cut me off and I sat down beside her, not knowing what to say but wanting to accompany her.
..
[… thanks.]
[? Eh…]
A faint exclamation escaped me before I looked up at her, her usual self but with a forced expression of distaste on her face as she was trying hard not to smile.
[you were… okay… watching my back… and the village. Thanks.]
She mumbled again before she looked towards the sky again, a deep blue and cloud free sky, with the two tiny figures at the center of it all.
[it… really is over… is it?]
[… hell knows. But hell will never find me.]
She grinned again before leaving me, headed towards the village.
..
[C'mon… they're waiting.]
A grin on her face, I followed Mokou from a safe distance as we headed to the village, happy in our victory.
..
..
..
[… so… we defeated fate?]
Grinning, Rumia planted his sword on the top of the Scarlet Mansion while looking at Remilia, who was nursing a wound on her wing, which a golem had managed to puncture.
[… yes… that may be correct… but she was the catalyst of it all.]
Her glowing red eyes looking up, at the tiny spot in the sky, Remilia scarlet looked at Rumia and bowed to her, a very rare act for someone who claims herself as the Queen of the Night.
[Thank you, for lending me your strength, Rumia.]
[…]
Rumia paused for a second before she sat down suddenly and showed her teeth to her.
..
[When did I say I was helping you? You were lucky that you were on the same side, that's all.]
She winked to Remilia before yawning sleepily, pointing to Flandre, who was yawning like her.
[time to tuck that one to bed!]
[… yes… thank you. Flan…]
Walking over, the elder sister picked her sister up and helped Rumia up with her other hand as well.
[You too…]
[Hell, the least I deserve is a good meal after all that.]
Rumia remarked as she leaned her full weight on Remilia, almost causing the petite vampire to fall over.
[… don't push it.]
..
[Hmph… you were the one who thanked me, vampire.]
Those glowing eyes met with the insane gaze of the darkness youkai for a moment before Rem the both of them burst out laughing.
..
..
[we serve only cake.]
[I demand raw flesh.]
[the menu is fixed, if you have any comments, consult the head maid.]
[… Feh… troublesome human.]
[would you prefer some udon? I believe there are some in Patchey's store.]
[… better than cake, you wuss.]
Remilia laughed again as the three of them entered the scarlet devil mansion, slamming the door behind them and yet one could still hear the two's voices echoing in the empty room.
..
[On contrary… I prefer you call it a selective taste.]
[Shut up!]
..
..
..
..
In a split second, it was all over…
As I threw another set of knives at an approaching golem, the battle was concluded as simply as that. Light shown down on us abruptly and I had to cover my eyes at the intensity of the bright light and amidst all of that…
The golems simply crumbled to dust…
Not one but all of them disappeared as one, back to what they were, sand and earth, grit and clay… all in a single instant…
The foxes and cats, who were clambering from the gaps ran from the light and straight back into the gaps where they had came from.
…
…
A tiny miracle by her yet again… as I looked up, I saw the clouds run from her, leaving the sky deep blue… a most beautiful color.
We have emerged victorious and I kept the remaining knives I had in their usual hiding place, sheathed in the back of my boots and looked around. The fairy brigade was unsure of what to do, the battle was over but yet their spears, swords and lances was not lowered.
Raising my hand, I ordered them to stand at attention and they scrambled behind me, breathless while I took a headcount…
..
The casualties were not as severe as I imagined, I had lost only around twenty of the loyal brigade… I will have to reward them somehow but the headache for that would come later…
Curtsying to them, I thanked them for their dedication and with a final note, told them the news they wanted to hear.
[Yes… we've won… we've emerged victorious.]
[!]
The screams of delight was understandable and I found myself celebrating with them, in a more dignified way of course while looking at the rest of the alliance.
Captain Momizi and her troops were howling their approval with Momizi herself leaning on her sword for support. She had taken more than one for the team, I was surprised she was still standing, not to mention alive…
..
For the eientei side, Reisen and her other leader, the mischievous Tewi had emerged unscathed thou Tewi looked far more energetic than possible, throwing carrots at their troops while Reisen just sobbed quietly.
It had been a trying time for all of us… but we emerged from it victorious…
Gensokyo.. was safe…
And so, I would like to cap this with a drink of tea…
..
..
[See… I told cha… Reimu she…]
[Don't move Suika! You're hurt!]
[… Reimu she'll… make it..]
..
w-was it over?
I asked myself as I felt myself get weaker and weaker by the moment…
There were times where I felt like I would lose to the overpowering power of Yukari, she was strong.. and her will was iron hard…
I asked myself whether I could overcome her iron will, her determination to protect Gensokyo her way… but along the way, as her bullets came closer and closer to me, I knew I must show my determination to her… Only then, only then would she allow me to save Gensokyo my way… the Reimu way… not her way…
..
Both of us, truly loved Gensokyo and it pained me for the both of us, united in loving gensokyo come to blows with one another.
I… I truly did not want this to happen… but… as it stands, I have no say in this matter but to trudge forward, showing her my beliefs and my determination.
..
..
Yukari… I will show you… how much I want the humans and youkai to exist together… not by destroying them and starting a new…
No, not by making myself as ruler… … they should be… should be made to understand…
It'll take time… it may be beyond my time… I may never see it happen… but I knew it will… I believe in the human and youkai nature…
They will coexist peacefully one day… when the barriers, the borders within our hearts are gone…
Just like you now, and me… Yukari… you and I… both of us… knew why we are doing this..
..
..
But fate, it must be fate has forced our hands…
..
..
So… Yukari…
Let me show you… my determination… and will!
..
And it was all over… I felt Yukari's power weaken as the last of my attack pierced through her cloud and throughout Gensokyo…
Yukari… I'm sorry… but believe in me… that I would create a Gensokyo that is different from the Gensokyo that you knew…
So, Yukari… don't cry anymore…
..
..
[…?]
As the celebrations reached fever pitch, the one remaining person that was in the air, Shameimaru Aya spotted something that made her scream to the others in panic.
[GUYS! GUYS!]
Her screams barely registered in the ears of the others cept for one, Ibuki Suika who groaned as she picked up one of the orbs that was left about and called to Aya.
[What is it, Aya? You want a drink?]
She grinned but blood drained from her face when Aya's warning came loud and clear to her.
[…]
Speechless, Suika staggered to her feet and shouted.
..
..
[LISTEN!]
The celebrations came to a standstill as each and everyone present turned to look at Suika, her face grim and set. The unease spread throughout the group and they hung on to Suika's words as she slowly, painfully shouted them out.
..
[… Get everyone, gather everyone.. I'll take them to the Hakurei Shrine… NOW… EVERYONE, not one is to left behind!]
Her orders were not surprising, was she trying to get the others to the Shrine to celebrate? That thought surely spread through some of them as they nodded and dispersed, but a few of them, the leaders of the group knew that something was not right, Suika would not be so sober or serious unless…
..
..
[… Suika…]
Sakuya tried to placate the obviously frustrated Suika but all she got was a resounding howl from her as she nearly burst her lungs screaming.
[NOW! HEAR ME! THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE!]
The outburst made everyone look at her again and this time there was no mistaking it, Suika's injuries were not minor, she had suffered many internal injuries and she might have damaged them more by screaming so loudly…
Something, something is terribly wrong…
..
..
[GO, NOW!]
The third time was the charm and everyone scattered off to find their companions, something was wrong and terribly so for Suika to make such an order despite her injuries.
The field commanders, Sakuya, Momizi and Reisen hurried over to support Suika as she wobbled dangerously.
[Suika, you should rest…]
[Ibuki-san, you are a brave warrior, we will take care of this now… Where are the troops needed, I will personally escort them there.]
[Suika… you're hurt, you shouldn't move so much…]
The three of them, torn between duties and seeing their friend hurt like this, tried to placate her again but Suika shrugged them off, tossing the orb to the floor and taking a firm, if unstable step forward… her determination was made clear to them when Suika immediately collapsed on the ground, her injuries too much for her.
..
..
[D-DAMNIT!]
Before they could rush over thou, Suika was grabbing fistful of grass and hurling them everywhere, frustrated at herself.
[Why! WHY!]
[Suika… wh-what's going on?]
[… Sakuya…]
Helping her up, Sakuya asked the little oni again and finally did Suika told her what was happening, why the situation was dire, why time is not on their side and why, why it must only be here.
[… Impossible.]
Disbelief was her first response but when she looked up at the sky, at the dark shadow that was approaching from outside Gensokyo, she closed her eyes and nodded her head.
..
..
[Listen well, gather everyone immediately around Suika. Time is not of the essence. I will personally take care of the stragglers.]
[Eh?]
The other two, who did not catch what Suika was saying, looked at Sakuya for a moment before they nodded and took off without complaint.
[T-Thank you…]
She heard Suika croak while she placed her on the grass, asking her to save her strength.
[Time, is at my disposal. I will gather as many as I can, Suika.]
[…]
Suika only nodded as she looked up the sky, aware of the impending doom that was threatening to overwhelm them… and this time, there is nothing she could do to stop it.
..
The two goddess of Moriya sighed contentedly as they watched their precious wind priestess take care of the celebrations at the Hakurei Inn… she had done it all by herself, barely borrowing power from Yasaka Kanako and they were proud of her, growing up again in such a small span of time.
Then, they looked up in unison and the strength left them for the first time in their long life. The sky was darkening, twisting and warping of their own accord, a feat that should be impossible.
..
[..? What is going on?]
Rising up to the air, Yasaka Kanako's ascend was stopped by an invisible barrier on top of them and no matter what she tried, from blasting one of her prized rocks to firing countless lasers at it could she penetrate it.
[To rival the power of a god… what is this?]
But she needn't have asked as she knew the answer inside her, the fear that was gnawing at her finally took form…
She knew she was probably unmatched in Genskyo, what with the only other two goddess not appearing to a majority of the people but there was one, one who she knew was stronger than her, in all sense of the word.
..
More powerful, more awe-inspiring, more resilient, with more resources than she could even dream of…
..
That is, the Gap Youkai, Yakumo Yukari..
She had thought her vanquished by the Hakurei Maiden, another one with the strength but not necessary the resolve to overcome her, but here she was… bringing Armageddon down on her, a god.
She would laugh, if she had been told this the day before but now, watching it unfold in front of her…
The skies turning into a chaotic mess of chaos; images of nightmare-ish things appearing from every corner, where reality could be reversed, where gravity and physics does not apply… when even your own shadow rises up against you…
This, is what the goddess saw at the sky, a mess of the world's sins, chaos and impossibilities all thrown together and stirred…
Many eyes, the same eyes that she knew were an aspect of Yukari's realm, those all seeing eyes peered from the cracks in the sky and when the crack ends, hands burst out at the seams, tearing at something and everything around it…
..
[…]
And Yasaka Kanako shivered in fear as she backed off, lowering her head and turning to look at her companion, the elder Moriya Suwako sighed deeply to herself.
[… well, look at that.]
[…]
The two of them sighed again, unsure of what exactly they could do despite such power in their hands.
[… we can't reach her, can we?]
Looking up, the two of them spied the one figure that was in the middle of the chaos despite the danger… was she aware of the impending doom? Was she willing to face it on like how she did before? Or was she just oblivious, unwillingly playing into the enemies' hand?
The two goddess do not know… the two of the, who had never placed their lives, their fate and their faith in someone's hands now did so, looking at their only possible source of salvation.
The two of them, with their hearts heavy, knew one thing, one saying that they had imagined will never apply to them…
..
..
[When reason fails… the fool and the wise are on the same footing…]
So indeed when the end is imminent, gods and humans will be on the same level, the same playing field and sharing the boat and fate…
..
[…]
[… do you, still believe in her?]
Her voice, barely a whisper roused the two gods from their thoughts to the last remaining, the one hidden from all, perhaps the only one who knew this from the start as she had the same tranquil look on her face.
The two goddess did not know what to say as she floated up towards the border and rested one hand on it.
[Do you… believe in her?]
[…]
The two of them looked at her as if she was crazy, how could she ask this? All of Gensokyo now rests in her shoulders, the only one who could save Gensokyo is her, why would they not believe in her?
..
[No, that is not right… that is not true belief… Only when the hearts of Gensokyo truly believe in her will the burden be shared amongst all of you…]
[Don't speak like it doesn't concern you!]
Moriya Suwako screamed at her and sobbed quietly, her precious wind priestess was in danger and the only one could do anything, something was not even serious, still playing mind games with her…
It was enough for her to feel despair even when she is a goddess.
[What have you done? WHAT! TELL ME!]
..
The other blinked in surprise and then laughed, her voice only heard to the two of them while Yasaka Kanako steadied Moriya Suwako, wanting to hear more. Her inner sense of judgment knew that it was not over yet.
..
[Such burden is not meant for a human, no matter how talented and tireless one is to carry… like wise, such power will crush one who holds it….
Like she, who has fallen… and her who is struggling to cope with all, all her fears and everything else… humans, youkai, ghosts and goddess… we are one the same… relying on others, using others… what separate is the one thing that us all?]
[STOP TALKING IN RIDDLES!]
Suwako shouted again but she was restrained by Kanako who nodded her head.
[yes… I suppose you are right…]
..
..
[Her burden… is not meant to be hers alone… till the time comes, when everyone understands that… is the time…]
[The.. time?]
[… Gensokyo remembers all, encompasses all, empowers all and accepts all… but she too… depends on you all.]
..
..
She laughed again and simply waited with the other two as they watched Armageddon befell their land.
Author's Notes: Now let me ask, do you remember Yukari's prophecy? =)