Disclaimer: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona belongs to ATLUS. Touhou Project belongs to Zun. I have no ownership of the copyrights of either series in any way.
Chapter 13: Duel's Eve
"It's just like I remember," I said to myself as I swung the doors into Tartarus open with Mokou and Sakuya following close behind.
"Pardon the intrusion," I heard Sakuya shout as we walked in, her tone sounding as if she just entered a normal home. It was quite out of place, but then again a maid walking... I don't have a right to talk about that…
"Well at least it's bright in here," Mokou spoke after Sakuya had begun to wander about. Both she and Sakuya's heads shifted to and fro as they began to take in the site of the tower's lobby. They wandered around the place like kids in a candy store. It reminds me of the times I brought someone new into the tower during my days in SEES. It's quite nostalgic… I feel a bit sad now that I think about it. That's not important now though.
It was now my turn to see what was here. My first reaction wasn't wrong. The Lobby was just as it was the last time I was here. It was a circular room held up by pillars at multiple points. The room looked like it was suspended among many other towers, though the view of said towers was unclear and blurry. I still don't know what I'm seeing from those things. Inside the circle, the somewhat checkerboard floor was everywhere, save for the strip extending from the entrance, which was instead covered by a luxurious blue carpet. Said carpet extended towards the center of the lobby which held the stairs upward. The stairs ended with a giant clock that had an entrance at its bottom; the entrance to the rest of Tartarus. Other than that, the clock I used to restore stamina was still there, as was the entrance to Tartarus' basement: Monad, of which was a gold door that was tucked away in the back. Lastly, as expected, a blue door stood alone, off to the left, even farther than the clock was and glowed an eerie blue. The only thing missing was Vision Quest, though I don't have any intention of going through that ever again. Now the transporter should be-
"Are you dead or something?" I snap myself from my contemplation to find Mokou, hands at her sides, looking at me impatiently.
"Sort of, but it won't get in the way." I'm still not too sure just what kind of situation I'm in. I've never thought too much on it actually.
"Well aren't you just cheeky." Mokou brushed off my comment as a joke and proceeded inwards towards the stairs. "So I'm going to assume that's the only way up?" she said as she looked at the entrance to the labyrinth.
"Well I don't see any windows, and the ceiling ends a bit too soon for how tall it looked on the outside," Sakuya noted in an odd cloudy fashion. "I must say though, my master would be very pleased about the choice in décor."
"Right…" I replied… okay here it is; the transporter. It's glowing so it's on… and… let's check… I was afraid of this. I can't access Adamah, or any of the other blocks besides Thebel. That's something I guess. It only goes up to floor ten. That is oddly arbitrary…
"What's that thing?" Mokou apparently got up behind me while I was checking the transporter.
"I don't know," I lied. "I've never used it in all the time I've been in here." I need to see how the first few floors are; see if there are any changes. If they knew this was a transporter, they would most likely just use it, as unhelpful as it is right now. I also have to see how strong they are for that matter. So many things to do, so little time.
"We should make haste before our time ends." Both Mokou and I turn to Sakuya who is standing elegantly in front of the stairs, a pocket watch in her hand.
"This is going to be dangerous," I warn them as I make my way past Sakuya and heading up the stairs towards the big clock entrance.
"Yeah, so is the rest of Gensokyo," Mokou deadpanned. "Let's get going." Mokou began to follow me up.
"I'll be sure to be careful." I couldn't tell whether or not Sakuya was being sarcastic; an elegant tone befitting a maid, but one that I still have trouble discerning actual intent. Sakuya of course, began her own trek upwards as well behind Mokou and subsequently me.
"Now you both are sure, right?" It doesn't hurt to ask one more time. Sakuya simply nodded in silence. An amused smirk could be seen plastered on her face.
"You asked us this already, and yes I am. Now move it!" Mokou sure was eager to head to hades.
"Alright." This is it, time to go back into the labyrinth.
Break
School halls and blood; nothing had changed physically about the first block: Thebel. Windows that weren't really windows, checkered floors that had random pools of blood at points dripping from the ceiling and along the walls; the place was a twisted mockery of my old high-school, well the second one anyways. The green haze and darkness seemed to further the sense of dread and oppression.
"Well I can see this is going to be interesting."
"And I thought the entrance was dank." It would seem that Sakuya and Mokou, respectively, were mostly unaffected by the atmosphere. I myself however was washed in an emotion I didn't think was possible for this place: Nostalgia. It seems almost sick to feel as such for this place, but I suppose having so many memories of my struggles of trying to even reach the next floor, the time when I was really truly weak, and forcing on through with my friends really helps to bring out what little good there was here.
I looked around to see if they were here, though it looks like not for now. Thebel has the weakest shadows amongst the six sections upwards after all. Sakuya, Mokou, and I were beginning our first steps into the ever changing maze. We began to walk into the darkness, the scenery barely changing as we walked past empty rooms and halls.
"This doesn't seem so dangerous," Mokou commented.
"The floors change every time you go to them. You could say that they're randomized. If we were to come back to this floor later, the layout will have changed dramatically."
"Oh that sounds like fun." Sakuya… that's… I'm not even going to bother.
"Anyways, be on the lookout. Monsters called 'shadows' can appear at any moment. They can't be reasoned with so kill on sight." It feels like I was leading a team again; giving orders and directing flow. More nostalgia just keeps pouring in.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll just burn anything that comes my way." I just hope you can Mokou…
"I haven't had to just simply kill something in a long time." I'd ask Sakuya what she meant by that, but something tells me I'd rather not know.
"Well at the very least you two seem able…" I suppose I can just make up for whatever we're lacking, just like the old days…
"Hey! What's that?" I think Mokou just found our first shadow for the night. Sakuya and I both turned to where Mokou was pointing at and there sat a black, crawling, writhing, blob of darkness. The only thing that accented its existence, a mask, was facing away from us. It hadn't noticed us yet.
"That's a shadow," I replied. "As soon as we engage it, it will transform into something else."
"Oh? I wonder what it will be," Sakuya pondered as she began to prepare her knives for battle.
"Well let's get the drop on it so it doesn't get the chance!" Mokou charged on ahead, her body becoming wreathed in flames more and more as she closed in on the unsuspecting shadow. By the time she was right behind it, she was completely engulfed in a raging blaze. The pools of blood on the walls and floors were evaporating several feet away from her.
"ARRRAGH!" Mokou yelled as her burning fist collided with the shadow, which had turned just in time to meet with her attack literally head on. Its body twisted upon impact, the masking cracking and breaking into tiny pieces, and immediately launched off the floor at high velocity towards the wall. It spun countless times in the air, all the while burning as a result from being hit by a living inferno, before colliding with a wall and making a *splat*. Its body went as limp as an amorphous blob could, and slunk onto the ground before dissipating into red and black smoke.
"Huh, that was disappointing. I've had assassins after my life who've put up a better fight than this thing." Mokou said as she huffed out her fire, smearing the ground where the shadow once stood using the heel of her shoe.
"Show off. The best killers always leave their mark unaware of the prospect of death, even to the end," Sakuya said after Mokou finished her display of flames. Suddenly, she threw a single knife behind her, while still facing forward, and began to walk to where Mokou was. A *thunk* sound was made. I turned around to find a shadow slumped on the floor. A single knife was sticking out from its mask. It too dissipated into a puff of red and black smoke. How did she do that? Can I learn? No, there's something more poignant about what just happened.
I'm missing a crucial exploration component. I don't have Fuuka around. Specifically, I don't have someone doing spot checks for me. I've never had to do an exploration without ground support. Without somebody to do support for keeping a map and keeping everyone together, this is not going to go well. I'll probably be fine for a while, but no Monad. I need to find a way to get past this…
"Minato-san, is everything alright?" Sakuya asked. I snapped my head in her direction and began to nod.
"For now, I suppose." I'm strong enough to take on the shadows in Thebel and pretty much the whole tower so long as I keep Helel and Satan on hand. And certainly Sakuya and Mokou seem to be okay for the most part. They were able to take the shadows out before they fully got a chance to get ready. Still… this seems to be going too well.
"Then shall we get going? I believe Fujiwara-san is becoming impatient." Sakuya really seems like a maid now. She held her hand out to point the way. Mokou was still looking closely at where her kill had ended up.
"Yeah," She and I walked over to where Mokou was and proceeded past her.
"Just what are we supposed to be looking for anyways?" Mokou asked as she got up to follow us as we continued on.
"Stairs. We need to go up." I said as I pointed toward the ceiling.
"If that's the case, then it might have been easier to just fly to the top instead of going through the tower." Mokou has a point, one that I considered earlier… but if what's at the top is… well… if it's there, then these two wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
"It gets more dangerous the higher you go," I told them.
"That's just giving more reasons to just get out of here and fly out." I can't believe Mokou hasn't been killed yet with a head as hot as that… oh right, immortal.
"Oh, but don't you know that there are conventions that must be followed? You always have to go through the easier stages before the harder ones. It isn't until stage four that things really get going, and only when you're not playing on easy mode can you get to the final boss. After all, easy mode's for little kids," Sakuya lectured with mirth, a hand raised to her mouth in a fist as if trying to contain her amusement.
"Um… okay… well to more poignantly reply to you, Mokou, first of all, the exit sealed behind us. We can only get out if we find a transporter of something to that effect. "
"And…?" I'd expect Mokou to have a lot more patience, but I guess not.
"I haven't seen a transporter on this floor yet, but I do see the stairs." I pointed to them to make a… point. The stairs were sitting in their own little standalone room, and also was adorned with checkerboard patterns like the rest of the floor. "I think we'll have a better chance of getting out if we keep going up to find a transporter." I can guarantee that there will be one on the 5th floor. You can say it's from experience.
"Sure, it's getting boring down here. I hope the ones on the next floor put up more of a fight." Mokou swung her arms behind her head and began to rest on them as she went on ahead up the stairs. I turned to Sakuya to see what she would do.
"You know there is so much wasted blood. I should bring a cup the next time I'm here." Perhaps I set the bar too high, or maybe I'm setting it up in the wrong place to begin with. Sakuya continued to ponder her honestly bizarre train of thought as she too went up to follow Mokou.
I took one last look behind us… no clinking chains I suppose we weren't down here for too long. It really has been a while since I've explored this place. It's like getting back in an old pair of shoes. Obviously, there's more death, but that's really a given. I turn back to see the stairs going up past the ceiling.
… 1 down, about 261… er, something to go.
Break
"Well, here is the 5th floor," Sakuya stated as she was the first to step onto next floor. As before with the previous floors, she stood in position to gesture us upwards.
"I thought you said that those 'shadows' or whatever, are supposed to get stronger as we go up. They're still going down faster than Kaguya does without Eirin." Mokou was irate to be sure as she was stepping very heavily as she got off the stairs. Also I have no idea who those people are.
"Well honestly, it won't be for a while until we encounter a shadow that can put up a decent fight for our level of power." Honestly at mine though, the tower would have to twist and turn in on itself as if it were a vortex, and cause the end of the world if it wanted to give me a challenge anymore. Actually hell, Mokou and Sakuya have been doing such a thorough job of just killing anything in sight that I haven't even gotten enough time to deploy Beijing or Minerva, let alone even putting a hand on my evoker. Though this is floor 5, there should be a guardian here. I forgot what it was though.
"This floor seems different from the ones before," Sakuya noted as the first of the two to realize this fact.
"Huh? Really?" Mokou took a look around. "It does seem more… structured I guess?" She took another sweeping glance at the room before turning to me. "Do you know what's up with this?"
"We're on a guardian floor. These rooms don't change, but they do contain some of the nastier shadows." Though whether or not they're still here is something that remains to be seen.
"Oh? So we've finally reached the first boss?" Is it just me, or is making game terminology references the norm in Gensokyo. Sakuya mentioned this earlier, and here she mentions it again.
"Sure." Technically true from a certain view point I guess.
"So how tough are we talking?" Mokou piped in after with, I suppose, a piqued interest.
"Quite a bit tougher than the fodder we've seen so far." Though it's not by much honestly in the grand scheme of things.
"Well then let's get going!" Mokou charged on ahead. Steam could be seen beginning to rise from her body. I silently gave chase after her. Sakuya followed my lead, I guess just going with the flow.
"Hold on! It should be just around that… it's not here." Mokou was frantically looking around the place for what I assume she thought of as prey. I did kill it the last time I was here… I guess it stuck.
"I guess it's already dead. I did come by here so maybe it's gone for good."
"That's a frickin' load!" Mokou raged, both emotionally and with fire.
"Sorry. I'll go back for a second." Need to check that transporter. I leave Sakuya to deal with Mokou, and began to comfort the girl on fire who was throwing a bit of a sulk. Going back on the corner should be… here. The transporter is on, as it should be since the ones on floors 5 and 10 were the only ones that were on. So what does this mean exactly… if the transporters reset, but the guardian defeats did not… just what's going on?
"Minato-san! There's something here!" Sakuya? I guess I better head over. This can sort itself out later I suppose.
"What is it?" I ask as soon as I reach the two. Mokou had calmed down, though still looked visibly annoyed. Sakuya on the other hand, had something in hand.
"We found this white suitcase. Would you happen to know what's inside?" Oh these things. My friends and I always found these things lying around the place. They were pretty much treasure chests since they held items, equipment, and, curiously, large sums of cash on the higher floors.
"Well… let's find out." Sakuya nods and hands the suitcase over to me. I set it down while she and Mokou stand over me. Okay… lock one… lock two… and open! "Huh…" This is!?
"This is somewhat disappointing," Sakuya complained with a pout.
"What is that? It looks like some sort of handle but what's with that bulb thing on top?" Mokou said as she described the weapon I held in my hand with disappointment, perhaps compounded with the lack of a guardian.
"It's mine. I used to own it, but I lost it some time ago." Actually I'm not entirely sure where it went after Tartarus disappeared.
"Well I suppose then that this is quite the serendipitous occasion for you," Sakuya commented in that maid tone that's hard to tell whether or not it's sarcastic.
"Yeah, good for you I guess." Mokou was overall underwhelmed by it. "Come on! Stairs are that way." Mokou walked away, with her ire for having been cheated out of a fight gone for the most part. Though for some reason I feel that she was lucky this time… why is that?
"I'll leave you and your possession to get reacquainted, but please make it brief." Sakuya took her leave of the situation and followed Mokou to the stairs. I on the other hand was quite relieved to find my weapon.
"Welcome back, 'Lucifer's Blade'." My strongest sword; I gripped the hilt tightly just enough to hold it firmly. Now then… channel my will and… the bud at its top opened like a lotus flower, revealing a circular opening inside. Not even one second, a light shot out of it and solidified into a blade of light. "Huh?" The light from the blade shone on the suitcase to reveal that there was something still inside. It was a piece of paper. "What's this?" I ask nobody in particular as I begin to read what's on it…
"Minato-kun!" Sakuya! Oh right!
"Coming!" Damn it… Oh well, nothing to do but move on. I guess that explains some of the strange things that have happened in here. Not very subtle though. Maybe you're just rubbing it in, but leaving the initials Y.Y. isn't a very good method of keeping an identity under wraps; just saying.
"… Just having some fun…"
Break
The next few blocks were a breeze as expected. We'd just found the next set of stairs and were taking our time to head over to them. I still haven't had to use my personas yet, or my sword, as Mokou and Sakuya were cleaning house. In fact…
"Die Dammit!" Mokou was burning a shadow that managed to get the drop on us and transform. If I remember correctly, that's a Muttering Tiara; resistant to fire and mostly casts magic. Still, Mokou was pretty much applying a 'dyne' level fire to the poor thing… well ostensibly poor thing. Sakuya was handling some of the others with more precise knife throws in perfect elegance… if such a thing could be so. Although noticeably… I think the dark hour is taking its toll.
"I must say, I'm beginning to feel somewhat fatigued." Sakuya was visibly tired, with sweat and heavy breathing helping to make known her status.
"Really? I'm not feeling much other than just having used a bit too much effort on just that one monster." Mokou was… yeah she doesn't look all that winded for some reason… well she still looked a tad spent, though not by much.
"The dark hour has a way of making you more tired than usual," I told Sakuya since Mokou didn't seem like she needed answers. "You'll get used to it the more you fight during this time." I know I am.
"So how many more floors are there in this thing?" Mokou asked as Sakuya took her watch out.
"It would appear that most of our time is gone." Sakuya's watch still works during the dark hour… well it isn't an electronic so I guess that's normal. "Mokou raises a good point, how much further until the top?"
"Well I think we're on floor 9." It sucks not having Fuuka keep track of this stuff. "So that means we still have… if I remember this right, 253 floors to go."
"You've got to be kidding me!" As expected, that was Mokou just now.
"I told you this was going to suck." And you didn't listen.
"Well what happens if we are stuck in here when time runs out?" Sakuya asked, a bit cautious for once.
"Well… the answer is a bit complicated and long, but I guess, suffice it to say, we'd be stuck in here as the whole next day goes by, I think." I believe that was what happened to Fuuka. I'm a bit fuzzy since it's been so long.
"We're leaving on the next floor then. I cannot be away from my Ojou-sama for that long." Sakuya's expression… no-nonsense would be the best way to describe it. Her voice had become like a sharp knife, both in its tone and execution with the way it simply cut through the air. Her face had lost all sense of whimsy and had become deadly focused, almost bordering on the psychotic. It almost looked like she was a deranged killer for that matter.
"My stand's in enough trouble as is, so I'm with her." I suppose that these two really just want to get this over with now that the jewel of exploration has lost its luster in the face of actual reality… whatever that means. Mokou seemed more annoyed than anything else in contrast to the near seething Sakuya, which is still a bit jarring. The two then looked to me… I guess at some point I was given the position of leader implicitly… again.
"Sure." There really isn't a reason to rub it in. The more I do, the more I may be giving them reason to comeback. The last thing I need is for a cavalcade of people trying to raid the tower. It was hard enough trying to save the people that wandered in and that was usually just one at a time.
Though admittedly, for me, this really did feel like going through the motions. Not that this was a bad thing. This is perhaps the closest thing to my former life that I've experienced thus far. Sure I guess I could have settled for maybe a more normal thing like going to school or something, but eh… what can you do?
We ran into a few more shadows, but Sakuya and Mokou seem to just be there faster than I am, taking them out before I get a chance to fully point my evoker my way. These two have been pretty competent so far, and I'm supposed to be the veteran here. I'm honestly not making too much of an effort on account of trying to conserve my strength, and that this is Thebel, but I have to admit I did underestimate these two. Is this what everyone else felt like when I did all the work killing the shadows? Well I think we'll be fine for now. Thebel doesn't have any curveballs, or at least ones I haven't killed before. Too bad… it would have been nice to prove myself to these two… sometimes you just want to prove yourself in the face of mockery. I guess I'll just take a secret mocking of their lack of ability to move on.
Eventually we do make it to the next floor.
"Finally!" Mokou shouted as she hopped up to the final floor of today's expedition. She may be immortal, but I guess she still gets tired and stuff like a regular person… how selective.
"So where is that exit?" Sakuya was still on target, not that much time had passed since. Out of the three of us, she was the one that was frantically looking about; though doing it elegantly.
"It should be just straight ahead," I pointed out to them.
"Is it that glowing green thing?" Sakuya asked promptly after I finished my sentence.
"Yeah," I confirmed for her. Tonight, my first night back on the job, is almost over.
"We have no time to waste then." Sakuya made a straight power walk to the transporter. Mokou and I were poised to follow her but suddenly-
"AWWRAK!" Was yelled out from above!
"What the?" Mokou asked as the three of turned our attention towards the ceiling. In our sight, three birds of massive size flying stationary above us. The faces masked by yellow crown like masks with a strange pick collar like that of a queen's. I remember them! They're
"Venus Eagle, the 5th floor guardian."
"Um, hello? This is the 10th floor?" Mokou snarked at me.
"I know that. This however, I don't." What is it doing here? It's just, for some reason… warped… up here… Why is she doing this!?
"I have no patience for this," Sakuya stated in a cold dead tone as she took her pocket watch out. "Time stand still…" she whispered as she swung her watch out in front of her. Time did indeed seem to stand still for a moment until-
"AWWRAK!" yelled one of the shadow guardians in response to Sakuya's declaration. Not long after however, Sakuya's expression went from cold killer to absolutely dumbfounded.
"Um… oh my, this is embarrassing," Sakuya bashfully said she brought up her watch's face into view. "Why aren't you working? Are you broken?" Sakuya asked her watch as she shook a couple of times and put it up to her ear.
"Izayoi-san!" I yelled as the guardians were preparing to attack; their claws at the ready as they prepared to lunge forward to catch the maid unawares. I threw Beijing out and grabbed Sakuya by the back of her shirt, my doll struggling to hold her.
"Woah!" she yelled as she was pulled out of the way of the claws that snapped shut mere centimeters away from her face. "Huh? Minato-san?"
"Izayoi-san is everything okay?" I asked her as I had Beijing let her go.
"Um… my watch appears to not be working properly…" I don't know what's going on with that watch, but Sakuya was visibly distressed by the matter. Her previous icy demeanor was replaced by one of overwhelming worry and doubt. She was in no condition to fight.
"Hold on, I fry birds like the all the time." Mokou jumped into the fray, standing in front of the misplaced guardians with confidence."Oi! Yakitori, over here!" Mokou's shout and grandstanding caught the attention of the shadows like I think she planned. Mokou then set herself ablaze as she had done all night and prepared to throw another… wait!
"WAIT!" I yelled at her as I ran over to where she was, but it was too late. Mokou threw shot out a swathe of flaming bullets that blanketed the scene in a sea of flames by the time at was about half way over to her side. The environment became engulfed, and smoke began to flood the room, making it a bit difficult to see what was around.
"What are you talking about, no problems." Mokou…
"Behind you!" I shouted at her. Even with the smoke, it was still easy enough to see three figures still flying undeterred within the flames, charging up for a collective attack.
"Huh?" Mokou turned around to find what I just saw myself: the three birds completely unhurt. "Well I guess this is going to have to be well done instead of rare." Mokou intensified her already incredible flame.
"I said wait!" But it was too late. Mokou already began to throw another impotent volley, and as expected, the three Venus Eagle shadows were unfazed.
"What the hell!? It's not even a little bit scalded!" Mokou panicked from seeing her attacks do nothing to her opponent. "Rragh! Just burn already!" Mokou's flame, instead of fading out, simply grew even larger. Placing her hands out in front of her, she let go another wave of flame bullets. They too flew out to meet the shadow birds, and, once again, did nothing to them. "Oh come on!" Wait… that's only one bird! Where are the other-
"Ahhhhh!" Sakuya! One of them is about to get to her! Sakuya was looking at her attacker with surprise, her watch being held close to her as if protecting it. Damn it! Ok, it looks like Mokou is going to hold her own for a few moments, as futile as it is.
"Sakuya!" I ran up to right in front of her, readying my blade as I got to her position. The lone Venus Eagle's claw swung wildly as it began to reach closer and closer to the downed maid. "Get off her!" I yelled as I swung Lucifer's Blade at it. The eagle managed to dodge the attack at the last second, probably tipped off to my attack thanks to my yell. It back off for only a moment before letting out another-
"ARWWRAK!" at us. I steady my sword to point at it to threaten it if only to buy time. I look behind me at the maid.
"Are you okay Sakuya?" She looked at me, a bit ashamed.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm in the mood to fight right now…" Sakuya was completely depressed for some reason and held the watch to her chest even tighter than before, but there's no time for that. "I'm sorry…"
"It's fine…" No time for a bigger reply, but… well… shit.
Dammit… I'm down one party member; the other one is essentially useless because Venus Eagle absorbs fire, I just remembered, and I don't even know where the third one is. Just what the hell do I do? … What are we saying? We've been through worse than this. We're more than powerful enough to kill these birds in one shot. We can do this… we just have to make sure to not give up, especially to a weakling like this… yeah that's right. Now raise our sword. I do just that, raising the blade, I crouch down to get a head start. I kick off the ground using all my strength and initiate flight. The wind in my face was but confirmation of my take off as I flew straight toward the now confused looking guardian. As I flew closer and closer, I raised my sword above my head.
"HAH!" I yelled as my sword took its own flight downwards and right through my enemy. Its body was sliced in two and whatever part wasn't, was beginning to singe and burn from having been in contact with the blade made from the jewels of a fallen angel, a fire made not from fire but the very elements that make up the world. The guardian let out a single cry as the parts that were dying were dissipating into a puff of black and red smoke, before its entire body was nothing by a memory.
"One down!" I yelled from my high, only to look to my side to find Mokou.
"Oh come on…" Mokou heaved, her strength drained. "Dammit… Is it really… not enough…"she asked rhetorically as the bird she faced hadn't even been harmed in the slightest. "Am I… still weak?" Mokou seemed to be on the verge of tears… no she was. The Eagle wasn't affected at all by the display and simply let out a similar scream as its comrade had done moments ago, though it wasn't alone as the other Eagle that I had lost track of joined it. Both yelled together as they flew up to gather even the smallest amount of extra distance to strengthen their collective attack on Mokou.
Aw Dammit! I won't make it in time, I can throw my dolls, but Danmaku isn't going to help in the slightest here… we can still do something else though… remember what he said…
A doll is a peculiar item. It has no will of its own, but instead takes on the roles given to it by others. Its personality, life, and will are but extensions of its owner.
Right… he did say that… so what that means is that we should… I get it now… we can do that.
Damn it, no other option. Beijing, Minerva… ok, both are out and… ready! I swipe my right hand that had my ring on it outwards, sending both of my dolls out to try and get to Mokou all the while getting my evoker out and ready.
"AWWRAK!" The two eagles yelled sporadically as they finally gained the altitude they needed. My dolls sped out faster and faster; as fast as I could make them… no I need faster! They rocketed outwards until they stood right in front of Mokou. A pull… I can now feel a pull. Now we know what to do, that pull… let it go!
"Daisoujou!" I shouted, not even having shot myself. At that moment, Beijing's eyes began to glow an eerie yellow light as the blue flame that normally surrounded me as I summoned my persona instead engulfed the little doll. Right on cue, Daisoujou appeared behind her instead of me. "Tetrakarn!" An oddity of a spell, a result of fusion inheritance; a red glow flashed around the three of them: Minerva, Mokou, and the now Daisoujou possessed Beijing. At that moment, the hastier of the two Eagles attacked regardless of the situation, and at the moment of contact, a sound like ringing metal rang out as the Eagle simply became damaged. Tetrakarn, a spell that reflects any physical attack.
"Minerva!" I yelled out, taking advantage of the lapse. "Cybele!" The same thing happened to Minerva that happened to Beijing as Cybele leapt from Minerva instead of my own head; a process done from having willed it alone. I didn't need an evoker for this. Beijing and Minerva side by side with their respective personas as well, still materialized. "Messiah!" I yell for myself as I finally fire at my own head. "Power charge!" A surge of strength crashed through me and I could feel that strength flow through to Minerva as well. This is going to work.
I give my last command to finish this off. "Myriad Arrows!" I command Cybele possessed Minerva and at that moment, my persona made a gesture through the doll and in but a second, a storm of arrows rained from the ceiling. The shadows writhed under the assault as each arrow served to sever their ties to life. Their cries rang out but were soon choked as the sound of more arrows clamped them into deaths maw. In only the next second, two puffs of smoke could be seen rising from the attack just as it finished. Venus Eagle may absorb fire, but a good arrow will put them down for good. Yukari Takeba saw to that for us.
I turn to see my dolls still floating in the air as my personas looked at me for but a glance and also dissipated into the ether. So apparently I just learned something pretty grand. I can apparently summon my personas through my dolls. More than that, I guess I can use as many as I have of dolls. Alice was right, bolster my strength with numbers… but I never really thought about it until just now. Doing that would have taken a lot of time to even think about… this doesn't make much sense… I don't have that kind of time…wait, Mokou! I forgot to check up on her. I turn my focus on the white haired girl to find her just staring at me.
"You okay?" I asked her gently as I made my way over. She looked at me for only a moment more as she shook herself a bit and finally replied with a distant-
"…yeah…" just as I had made it to her to extend a hand. She took it slowly, her knees shaking a bit as she stood up, but as soon as she did get up, her face returned to its belligerent demeanor. "You know I didn't really need your help. I'm not going to stay dead for long." She told me, her pride probably hurt from before. Before I could say anything however- "Look!" Mokou shouted; her face in panic as she pointed behind me to reveal three more shadows.
What stood at the end in front of the next set of stairs were shadows that resembled hands and only hands, colored in a gaudy pink with heads where the wrist should be. This time though, unlike with the eagles that were scattered about and amongst my allies, these were standing on their own at the end of the hall. Oh they're in the perfect position.
"Easy…" was all I said as I let go of Mokou's hand. I began to walk towards the tenth floor guardians. "I'll handle this," I told Mokou and Sakuya, who had moved to where we were after the Eagles were dealt with. Sakuya was still holding her watch, and while her composition had returned for the most part, she was still a bit shaken. I can deal with that after this. I still have more than enough to pull one of these off. I haven't done so in a long time, but this will be easy enough. [Change]
"We don't have much time left," Sakuya told me, concern laden in her composed voice. I just waved my hand behind me towards her as I continued to walk to my target.
"Hey you three, I've had enough tonight. I'm not tired, but a lot has happened, so I'm going to make this quick." The three Dancing Hands began to rev themselves up to fight. The three of them began to make taunting gestures… ones that you could make with a hand. "Funny," I said as deadpanned as I could as I raised my evoker to my head for the final time tonight. "Now die!" I fired my evoker as I finished my demand. "HELEL! SATAN!" Just like old times.
"ARMAGEDDON!" A crack in the ground appeared, Lightning rained, and energy began to fill the room. The world faded to white. An end came to pass.
Break
"Well that went better than I expected." Seriously it took me a while to figure out what Igor meant by that. It also took me a leap to figure out how to talk to other me. I guess it did help to have a certain someone on hand though.
"I think it was splendid… such… power." Yukari was floating right in front of me just as she did the first time we met. "And to think that is only a fraction of your true strength now… I truly wonder how much power you could unleash if I were to release the rest of you from your door." Yukari now placed a hand on the golden gate. She for some reason tends to come here every now and then. Ever since she released me, she's made regular trips to the golden realm. It kills time.
"Not a chance in Tartarus." I can't afford to leave the seal with humanity the way it is right now. At least I when I sleep I get to see what my other is seeing; a part, still me, but a part.
"Oh I'm only spouting hypotheticals. Don't spoil the mood." As always she just knows how to get under my skin, even though it's rock right now. "Still, you handled that quite well. Taking charge, quick thinking, hyper effective tactics; you're a natural leader. I wouldn't mind following you myself."
"Your praise is faint and damning."
"I can just never please you, but I still do enjoy our time here together," Yukari told me with sincerity, something that's been showing up more and more as we while away the hours just chatting it up whenever she show up. "Still, you find new ways to surprise me; summoning your power through the dolls. Such a large number of coincidences can't be anything less than fate itself, or should I say that it's the will of the 'Wheel of Fortune'?"
"Stop that. It's not that amusing."
"Well I guess that would be the case considering how stoned my audience is." Your jokes still need work. Yukari continued to smirk at me before she seemed to snap at something. "Oh would you look at the time. I've got something I have to attend to. I'll see you tomorrow? Same time, same place?"
"Well if there was time or a sense of place here, sure." There really isn't. Makes remembering birthdays a little bit harder.
"Then I guess I will. Don't be late." Yukari made a single wave as she fell backwards into her gap that she was sitting on the entire time. Don't be late she says… Guess it's back to trying to make funny faces at Erebus again.
Break
"Well that was a trip," I let out as I swung open the doors of Tartarus, this time outwards to the outside world that was still wrapped in the Dark Hour's shade. The two behind me however, were as quiet as a coffin. We walked for a bit of a distance out into the clearing before I turned around to the two of them. "Well, how was it?" I asked with a bit of smugness that I honestly couldn't help but let out.
"It was… humbling." Sakuya was the first to reply… great now I feel bad for sounding so smug. She just looks so… vulnerable. Actually, both of them do, as well as looking physically drained to boot, not that I could blame them. I turned to get a better look at Mokou, who proceeded to remain silent.
"It's not going to get easier. Actually it gets a whole lot worse." And that's not even counting Monad. I better warn them now before they get any more ideas about following me further in. "If this was too much for you, don't bother coming next time."
"I said it was humbling. I didn't say that it was going to stop me. I'll be back once I can figure out why my watch isn't working properly. It's like most of its power is being diverted elsewhere. Once I figure out where, I'll return to exploring the tower. I will not let tonight repeat the next time." Sakuya, despite her blubbering and weakness from before, was showing a degree of determination and confidence that I couldn't label distinctly as either suicidal or brave. It's most likely both, but I can't really make the call 100 percent.
"Mokou?" I called to the silent member of our group. I want to know her answer.
"Huh? Sorry, just tired." Yeah Mokou isn't looking too hot. Sakuya then tapped me on the shoulder. Turning to her, she then began to speak.
"I'll discuss what happened tonight with my master and colleagues. Once our deliberation is finished, we'll make arrangements for a formal meeting." Sakuya was making a statement not a request.
"Not giving up, despite your pitiful performance tonight?" I goaded her… when I honestly shouldn't have.
"No. I finish what I start. My master is also too keen on this phenomenon to leave this alone. The next time, I'll show why I'm the 'Perfect Elegant Maid', and until then, I ask that you refrain from entering without us. Otherwise my master will be very displeased." Sakuya's even tone implied little to no negotiation. I wish that would stop.
"I'm not making promises, but if it's your master that I have to convince, then I wouldn't mind meeting her." Just who is her master? Is it the little vampire lady?
"Oh, that would be just perfect then, since my master was also quite interested in meeting you. We will arrange something. Considering the company present tonight, we'll also consider inviting that immortal as well." I almost forgot about Mokou until Sakuya mentioned her again… sounds like there bad blood too.
"Fine. Just after my duel this week."
"Oh yes, your duel… I must say: Marisa is quite lucky," Sakuya said with her mirthful tone from the start of the night having returned in some fraction.
"How so?"
"A player is not allowed to use the full extent of their powers during a duel. If such were allowed, I do not believe she would stand the slightest chance against you." I think that's a given for pretty much anybody at this point; not just Marisa. "Anyways, I have much to do and I must return to my master for the night. I will see you again. Farewell." And with that, Sakuya gave a bow.
"Yeah, sure. See you later." Sakuya nodded at my reply and then took flight off into the distance. I turned around to take stock on the only other person there. Mokou was still visibly tired; the Dark Hour not helping to lighted her complexion. "Still tired?" I asked her.
"Yeah… I'm gonna sit next to that tree…" Mokou dragged herself over to one of the trees at the edge of the clearing and practically flopped down and sat there, her entire weight completely resting on the trunk.
"I'm a bit winded myself." The tree next to it looks stable enough. "You okay?" I asked as I turned my head to find Mokou just staring at the tower.
"I don't really need you to look out for me." Mokou's reply was less than personable.
"Then maybe you want it, but just don't know it yet?" Maybe I can get her to loosen up…
"Yeah, not a chance in hell." Mokou sharply rebutted. "I'm not in the mood for talking right now." She shifted her weight so that she was leaning on her side away from me. We sat there for a few minutes until-
"Oh… it's ending." The dark hour… it was fading away. The green shade that was cast upon the landscape slowly receded into an unknown place that was probably not of this world. The moon returned from the vibrant yellow to its normal pale white. The moon had changed phases since I last saw it; last quarter. The tower receded slowly. A cacophony of metal and stone resounded from the center as t sunk into the ground once more. The world had come back from the insanity of the dark hour to normalcy. "That's a bit better."
"Still hate that moon…" Mokou's voice quietly let out.
"You know, I don't have fond memories of the moon either," I added. I might as well try to connect somehow. "Actually, pretty bad memories of the full moon." Not good is really a way to put it.
"Yeah, like a punk kid like you would know 'bad'," Mokou said before continuing with- "What? Did you get dumped or something on the full moon?" I guess that's her way of making conversation since she said it in a teasing manner. She's not very good at it for an immortal.
"Well I did lose a lot under these damn things. It's complicated. Besides don't assume. It makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'."
"Funny…" Mokou deadpanned.
"I try." The next few moments were silent, save for the occasional heavy breath from Mokou as she tried to regain her strength. After a while, she stood up and stretch, letting out a few whines that honestly were cuter than I'd imagined they'd be.
"You still okay?" I asked again.
"Fine. You heard from the head maid, I'm immortal. I'm not dying… no matter what." Mokou sounded both proud and yet sad at that fact.
"Care to share?" I'm a bit curious.
"Well… I don't normally do this but… you know the clinic in the Bamboo forest?" She asked me. I guess the clinic's pretty famous though.
"No, I haven't been here for that long." Though I might want to visit it.
"Well they can make a medicine called the Hourai elixir. It just makes you immortal. Completely, last time I tried to figure it out, I heard that it's supposed to remove the concept of death from the person entirely, whatever that means." Wait, what?
"Complete removal of the concept of death?" I asked again… no seriously, what?
"I don't know. I didn't make it." I guess that's all I'm going to get out of Mokou for that.
"How long have you been alive?"
"I lost track. I don't really remember the years…" I'm going to assume that that means she's really old… "Your turn, just what the hell is the dark hour? Those shadow things have been showing up and messing with my stand. It's been pissing me off."
"I'll be honest. I still don't know all that much. I know it's tied to death and time." Wait… if the concept of death is gone from her… if that's even true, and she's still active… is she existing in parallel or… well that would explain her being able to move if she just simply was existing alongside the dark hour without really interacting… she wasn't as tired as Sakuya either…
"Well you're no help, but at least the tower is where I'll find the answer." Mokou said as she took another look at where the tower once was.
"You're coming back too, huh?" I'm not surprised.
"Like that maid, I finish what I start too. I'm not going to just leave it hanging like that. I need to get my revenge on those birds next time." I guess she's still bitter about that. Well she needs to learn when to stop setting things on fire first. "And just like the maid, I need to get going too." She began to walk off before stopping. She turned only her head. "I don't know why but for some reason… you're easy to talk to."
"I have that effect on people." You could say I make a lot of links of the social kind that way..
"Yeah well… I just want to say… thanks for saving me… I hate to leave that hanging too." She turned her head back to the front of her before finally leaving off with a, "Good bye." And she leapt off into the trees like some sort of ninja… I guess for all of her bluster, she's still a nice girl. That thanks was as genuine as it gets, or at least that's what it felt like. It sounded a bit shaky too, but I'll just assume that she's not used to saying that and only assume that and nothing else.
*CRACK*
Thou art I… And I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…
It shalt further stretch your Universe
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses
To create a Persona of the Adjustment Arcana…
A bit soon… but I guess not all friendships start off slowly, or steadily. I'm tired too. I get up from my woodland seat and… I forgot how to get back to Alice's house…
Break
"Onii-chan…" Koishi? "Onii-chan! Wake up!" Koishi! Sto-o-op Shak-in-ing me-e-e-e!
"I'm awake, I'm awake!" Koishi beamed at the sight of my eyes. She was currently sitting on my lap while I was in the chair.
"Yay!" Koishi let out as I took stock of my location… which was obviously the Velvet Room with a noted lack of Igor and Theodore. "Onii-chan… can I ask you something?" Koishi asked softly, her hat in her hands. I think this is the first time I've seen her without her hat on. She looked downcast.
"Yes, what is it? I'll answer it to the best of my abilities."
"Do you like Koishi, Onii-chan?" she asked with complete curiosity and sincerity.
"I don't see how I've shown otherwise."
"So that means you like me?" Where is this coming from? … She looks… hurt, afraid, scared, weak, upset… a multitude of negative emotions; a tumultuous storm. Beads of tears were forming from her eyes, most likely out of fear.
"Yes." I said, giving her as straight an answer to try and relieve her of her unusual state. One of which I can't stand to see her in for much longer, or else I'll start crying too.
"Really?"
"Yes… really."
"Will you always like me?" I can't be certain of the future, but hurting her would be much worse. There's only one way to reply.
"I always will." As soon as she heard my answer, her eyes widened. The pain she was feeling from before seemed to simply evaporate until her face was filled with nothing but elation. At least that was what I assumed was happening as she just as quickly hugged me tightly and began to speak against my chest.
"Thank you Onii-chan! Koishi Likes you too!" This girl is just simply adorable… I'm starting to wish that she really was my little sister. Still there remains the question-
"Just what brought this about, Koishi?" I asked as a pulled the girl away from me just enough so I could see her face; a mess, but one that was like a puppy's.
"I don't know… one moment I was just floating around here, and the next my head started to feel clearer and clearer. It's still feeling clearer and clearer. Then I started to remember things…" She went silent…
"Koishi, it's okay if you don't want to tell me. I understand," I said in as soft a tone I could muster.
"Okay… but when I remembered those things… I was scared that Onii-chan would be like that too… that you wouldn't like me anymore because my head was clear. But Onii-chan said you'll like me forever!" She got out of the grip I had on her and returned to hugging once more… I could get used to this…"I'm just so happy!"
*CRACK*
Thou art I… And I am thou…
Thou hast tempered your bond…
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses
To create a Persona of the Jester Arcana…
Way to ruin the mood voice in my head. Oh wait… I still need to get some cards for my duel… I wonder.
"Hey… Koishi?" I said, tapping her shoulders to get her attention.
"Yes, Onii-chan?" she answered as she cocked her head to one side.
"Do you… happen to have some spell cards? I need some for a duel."
"Ooooh! Danmaku! I can play! I can play!" Koishi shouted as she bounced about.
"Well… do you have any extras?"
"Yes! I have a lot of cards." Koishi reached into her hat and took out a single card. "Here, I want you to have this." She handed the card to me all the while looking at me with anticipation for something.
"Thank you, Koishi." She simply nodded her head happily as I began to look at the card she had just given me. Instinct 'Release of the Id'… how Freudian…
"Onii-chan… your fading away again. I guess it's goodbye…" I looked at Koishi to find my vision beginning to fade to white.
"I'll play with you next time I'm here, okay?" I told her.
"Umu," she hummed out with a nod. "Bye-bye Onii-chan."
"Good night… Ko… i…shi…"
Break
"Good just like that." Training started earlier this morning than the previous ones. It's a good thing I'm used to late night excursions, or else this would have been torture. Alice had started me on using multiple dolls at once. She's given me six more to use, bringing the total up to eight. She said that if Marisa could use eight without problems, then I should be able to as well if I want to beat her.
"Stop!" Alice yelled while making a few claps, most likely to help catch my attention. I had the dolls stop in mid-air to look at her. It's pretty cool. I've only just started using more this morning, and I'm already controlling them like it's nothing. Magic is really cool. "Take a ten minute break." With that, I retract the dolls to my location and store them in the ring; another feature Alice taught me. I go over to the patio of the house and take a seat on one of the chairs. Alice sits in the other and begins to poor a glass of water. "If you want a glass, use a doll to pour yourself one." More training; I do as I'm told and begin to take my drink as Alice continues. "I'm honestly surprised. You're doing quite well, almost too well, as if you've had experience commanding others before." I have, though Marin Karin is still stupid.
"I'm used to it." Eight dolls; that means I could potentially use a total of nine personas at once if I can get this down right.
"Color me surprised then," Alice quipped before taking another sip. I guess now's a good a time as any.
"So… do you mind if I ask you something?"
"We still have time. What is it?" Alice asked, her head turned to me. I guess I have her attention then.
"Just why exactly do you use dolls? Is there any particular reason behind it, some history, would it be alright if I know?" I'm a bit curious. This isn't exactly something you decide to pick up on a whim.
"You know what? I suppose since you are my apprentice that it would be fine to indulge your curiosity. Though after this, we're double timing your training." There's a price for everything, isn't there? "Well the simplest answer for as to why, would be that dolls won't betray me." I raised an eyebrow to her statement. "Well, when I say betray, I more specifically mean my expectations; in a negative sense." She took a final swig and gave her cup to a doll she had on hand to fill it up again.
"It took me a long time, but I did finally learn to get past my ego-centrism, much to my embarrassment. Oh but perhaps I should clarify what I mean by that. Hmmm…" It was clear that she was going back and forth in her mind on whether to continue based on the look on her face that shifted quite rapidly. Finally Alice made a single nod and returned to the conversation.
"I don't like to admit this… but I used to be quite… well… ever heard of the term 'mad as a hatter'? I guess that would be the best way to describe how I was when I was a child, or at least how it was told to me. Most of my childhood is fuzzy… even though I'm sure it lasted longer than most." Alice said as she began to look up at the blue sky, her gaze piercing through a thousand yards. "Actually, I don't like remembering my childhood in general, not that I could remember much of it to begin with… but of it that I can remember… I remember my two uncles. I think one of them wore lots of red and was quite tall. The other was shorter and wore black instead. I believe they were nobles of some sort… counts… barons? No they weren't dukes…" Alice pontificated for another second before
"Anyways, the only other thing I can remember… never mind." Alice's face turned grim as if thinking about some sort of horrific event. A shiver ran through her, but only for the shortest of moments. "We can leave that indefinitely…" Alice then took a second to take another sip of her freshly poured cup before continuing with her story. "Well I don't know what happened after that, but I do remember finding myself in a place called Makai. It was there that I spent the rest of my childhood and, well so to speak, I learned to stop chasing the rabbit so much. I learned to understand others, to understand the concept of minds. I learned to be… normal. I'll skip most of the details of the things after that since the major ones involve a certain thieving mage and shrine maiden. You can ask them." I'm just going to assume that she's not talking about Reimu and Marisa, just so that I can maybe believe that there is somebody else out there doing all this stuff. Maybe Aliens, who knows? I like to keep my options open.
"So what next?" I'll admit I'm a bit curious.
"Well… I found my first doll… I don't remember where exactly in Makai I found it, but when I did… for some reason I felt as if I'd found something I was missing." Alice took an aside glance to the shanghai doll that was sitting on the table. The doll was staring back. "I felt like I'd found a friend that wouldn't leave me… or die. I still can't figure out for the life of me why I feel that way. Besides that though, the whole friend aspect… I felt… whole. That first doll ultimately became the catalyst for my hobby as it is today. I still can't exactly think of why I treasure it so, but it goes back to what I said before. I feel as if the dolls won't betray my expectations, that they'll be with me forever…" Alice's cheeks started redden. "Just listen to me. It's embarrassing now that I realize just how much I've told you." She then made a sharp stare at me in quick fashion. "You better not tell anyone, especially that Marisa, what I've just told you. Understand?" Shanghai… that's a big lance…
"Clear as day."
"Good, now is there anything else?" Alice asked as she made a small twitch of her finger. Shanghai returned to simply sitting on the table.
"Well… why the interest in me? You took the time to spy on me…" That's what's been bothering me the most since I've met her. The last time someone took such a vested interest in me, they were very well connected to my past… in fact they were also blonde haired, blue eyed, related to dolls in a sense… robotics counts I suppose…
"That thing you summoned during your duel with that moronic fairy…" Alice let almost absently.
"Oh… my Persona… what about it?" She means… Alice…
"It looked just like I did when I first landed in Makai… Same hair style… dress… it was like looking at myself from the past… It was because of that. I wanted to know just who were you, and if you had even an inkling of who I was, or maybe connected in a way to my Uncles… a notion that died faster than a tea party run by the mentally sound." Well isn't she just coming out with the Lewis Carroll references today. "Though, I suppose that answers your question does it not?"
"Well enough." It's an answer.
"Good, because it's time to return to training." Alice got up from her seat and produced more dolls from somewhere on her person and turned to me. "Next, we'll talk about formations." I guess it's back to work.
Break
"As always, you exceed my projections more and more." Alice was talking to herself as she was watching over me go over the formations once more. She had shown them to me the day before and had told me that even though the practicality of these things isn't very high, they at least give me a greater sense of how to control my dolls and ideas on how to distribute them. "I was planning on saving this for later… but I suppose now would be best." I turned to Alice after completing the last of the formations. "Let's talk about spell cards. Now I believe Marisa set the count to seven?"
"That's what she said."
"And how many cards do you have on you right now?"
"I have five." The three I got from my first duel, one from Koishi, and one other.
"Well then I suppose that's more than perfect. I'll give you one of my cards and we can go ahead and create one just for you." Alice said as she snapped her fingers to send her dolls into the house and then back out, a card held carefully in the doll's arm. "Here. Consider it a gift as my student." I took the card in hand.
"Thanks." I'll figure out fusions for it later. "So how do we make one?"
"Well you'll need paper first of all, but we have plenty of that. What you don't have though, is a solid grasp of essence." Alice's hands were continuing to wave and right on schedule, more dolls came out carrying paper and a pen. "Tell me, did you notice a theme in the cards for when you fought the ice fairy?"
"They were all ice based."
"Correct, an easy question I suppose, but all the more that you should have gotten it right. Next, do you notice a connection between Marisa and the Card she gave you? Don't answer as I'll say it myself. They're both straight forward, blunt, and very easy to read. Can you tell where I'm going with this?" Alice asked with one raised eyebrow.
"That Spell cards typically reflect the user?" That would be something now wouldn't it?
"Correct again. When we make your spell card, we'll have to make it such that it reflects who you are." Okay, I suppose that's just a convention I'll just have to adhere to… so what would be my essence? "Though, for now it would be fine to just make a good spread fire shot card to just fill in the missing spot since there isn't really much time. Or are you aware of what your essence is; your theme, the aspect of you that makes you uniquely you." What makes me… me… my personas I guess, but I can't say that I got my best ones alone… Actually I got them with the help of others… on that note, I got my start in Danmaku with the cards of others… using them in tandem with my own powers to make something greater…
"I think I do."
"Really now?" Alice said in a bit of both disbelief and sarcasm. "Care to explain so that we can possibly make your own unique card."
"Well that's just it. I don't think I could make one."
"You're not really helping yourself." Alice seemed slightly exasperated.
"Here. The cards I got from Marisa and Reimu." I took the cards out of my pocket and presented them to her. "In all my life, I've never gotten anywhere without having had help from others, or at least not without having a start…" It sounds pathetic, and in many ways it is… but it is who I am. My universe built with so many others… I couldn't have done it unless I had them to help me. Alice took the cards in hand and took a moment to peruse them.
"This is… very interesting. It normally takes a very long time to repurpose a card, let alone get it to work for you without it blowing up in your face. I think I can see why Marisa was so keen on you herself." She continued to look at my cards as she continued to speak. "This indeed does make for a very interesting theme. Taking one thing and fusing it with something of your own." Alice bunched the cards up and handed them back to me. "I'll admit, I'm somewhat excited to see what we can do with your other cards in that case."
"So what first? Make my unique card, or fusions?"
"Yes." Ah, the Mathematician's answer.
Break
The rest of the week… I don't think I'd ever been so bored and yet so excited in my life. The time it took to even think of the combos I could make, actually executing them, the trial and error, it was such a long and tedious process, but the results… I guess tomorrow will tell whether or not it was worth it.
"What's wrong, you're not eating as much," Alice said with a hint of concern.
"I guess I'm a bit nervous." Tomorrow is the day. I can't believe how it just snuck up on me like this. It almost seems unreal… it does seem unreal.
"Well I suppose that can't be helped. Marisa is the second best in all of Gensokyo." Alice took another spoonful of her stew.
"Who's the first?" Just who in the world is better than Marisa?
"Reimu." Another gulp. Actually two.
"That's… surprising." Reimu… the lazy, somewhat bumbling shrine maiden… She's the strongest one.
"I thought so to the first time I dueled her, but don't worry, it's not her you have to worry about anyways." Alice's bowl was about empty… mine… not so much. Alice then stopped and placed her spoon next to the bowl. "I suppose I am going to miss this, if I can be honest."
"Me too." Her cooking wasn't as good as Youmu's, but it was something special to eat western food prepared by a genuinely western person. "I won't get served by such cute little dolls anymore."
"Don't push your luck." Alice resumed eating. A bit of puff was visible in her cheeks.
"I won't." The rest of the meal was silent… Which was quite a contrast to the previous nights in which our conversations grew livelier. Not by much, but for her to open up to me even just the tiniest bit was a tad nice. Just as I was about to enter my room for the night, I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to find one of Alice's dolls there. Alice herself was behind the corner. She raised her head for just a little bit.
"You were a good student."
"Thanks."
"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come back. I still have much to teach you."
"I look forward to it."
"Also… don't be afraid to come over... just to visit." Alice…
"Thanks…" … "Well I'll see you in the morning."
"Don't go out late this time." I see she knew of my late night excursions to Tartarus… I never did see Mokou or Sakuya again after that night. I spent my time just going through the floors in Thebel; too dangerous without support.
"I won't." I can't afford to. Tomorrow's the big day. "Good night Alice."
"Good night, Minato." Under her breath I could faintly hear just one more thing. "And good luck."
Author's notes: And done. The first thing I have to note is that I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out. It was crunch time for my actual life outside the internet. I'll leave it at that, but I going to get right on the next chapter post haste after this one is fully posted online.
Another thing I'd like to note is that not only is this my 13th chapter, but the word "Armageddon" was also the 6666th word. That was before some editing… but this is too coincidental for my liking. Though I'm not dead yet so I guess that's a sign.
So this is it folks, the next chapter is the duel and I'm going to be pulling out all the stops to try and make it as awesome as I possibly can. I've got the entire thing outlined and ready to be fleshed out. So what's next after that you may be wondering? Well… Aliens?
Kogasa: Me!
Yeah sure let's go with that; Kogasa is involved in whatever is next.
That's all I have for today folks of different strokes. As usual don't be afraid to be a bit assertive a give me a review if you found anything you didn't like and think you can make a suggestion on. Even if you did like it, don't be afraid to scrutinize every last detail to tell me what I did wrong. I'm as close to human as it gets so I still make mistakes.
Well I'd dance to Odoru Ponpokolin to say goodbye, but I'll just say good bye and leave it at that.
Adios.
