Entry 9: Crowning Despair; The Looming Fortress of Peace


Pain. Fear. Loss.

Despair. Anguish. Hate. Death. Loathing.

Pain loss fear death destruction

Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate

HATE.


Once Athrun finally opened his eyes, the first thing he did was cough violently. Those... were not his thoughts going through his head, were they? They had a voice not his own, and they sounded like...

"Kira?" he wheezed out.

Athrun quickly opened the hatch, and pulled himself out of the Skygrasper. Flying a plane might have been easier than a Mobile Suit, but damn if he wasn't more comfortable with the latter. He pulled his helmet off, and tossed it aside as he looked over the damage that had been done.

It could certainly be repaired easily enough, but in its current state, it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Cursing under his breath, Athrun reached into the cockpit and pulled out the portable radio. "This is Athrun Zala, does anyone read me?" he spoke into it. "Archangel, Lieutenant La Flaga... Kira? Anyone?"

The silence was greatly concerning, until it was finally broken by a crackly voice.

"Th.s is Mi..all.a Ha... D. y... re... me..?"

"Miriallia?" Athrun shouted. "You're coming through badly. Hold on." Ripping off one of the panels on the side of the Skygrasper, he connected a few wires in a rushed attempt to boost his signal. "Do you read?"

"Clearer now," Miriallia responded, though still with some static. "Zala, what's your status?"

"Crashed somewhere in the village," he responded, looking around. Then, he noticed smoke in the sky, coming from areas where he couldn't have flown through. "Things are kinda on fire, and only a bit of it's my fault. How long was I radio silent?"

"It's... been four hours and forty five minutes since your last contact," Miriallia replied hesitantly. At that point, Athrun noticed that the scratchy sound wasn't just the radio.

"You've been crying," Athrun noted. "We've... lost, haven't we?"

There was a sniffle over the comms. "Yes. We... we failed," Miri responded sadly. "Sai... Sai is..."

"That's enough, Ensign Haw," Natarle cut in. "I'll take the rest from here. Himekaidou, please keep her company for a while." There was a brief shuffling of footsteps and headsets. "Apologies, Zala."

"It's... I don't think 'fine' is an appropriate word to use in this situation, but I understand," Athrun replied. "So... Sai's gone, huh?"

"I'm afraid so," Natarle responded sadly. "Hakurei Reimu... she's a dangerous being, that's for certain. We threw everything including the kitchen sink at her, and we didn't so much as scratch her. We've far too many injured among the Yamawaro to count as well. All those plans, for nothing."

"Don't take it too personally, Lieutenant Badgiruel," Athrun said. "Gensokyo... it's a harsh place for us Outsiders. How's Kira holding up?" There was a long, foreboding silence. "Natarle, I don't like that you stopped talking."

"We've... lost contact with Ensign Yamato," Natarle spoke, voice heavy with remorse. "A third party has thrown itself into the mix, and taken control of the Strike. That same party happens to also be in possession of the Duel."

Athrun felt a pit form in his stomach. "Kira... and Yzak?" he muttered. "What the hell happened?"

"The black and white witch, Kirisame Marisa, filled us in on the details when she brought Flay back to us," Natarle continued. "This 'third party' is a Secret God called Matara Okina, who can manipulate life energy through creating 'back-doors' on a person."

"You're... being literal about the whole 'back-doors', aren't you?"

"According to the witch, at least," Natarle said. "Regardless, both the Strike and the Duel are on an endless rampage, and the witch and the Hakurei are currently fighting them. It's relatively even, but I imagine that before long..."

"The Strike and Duel will lose," Athrun finished. "A timed scenario with our backs against the wall."

"And no plan going forward, either," Natarle admitted. "We're hard pressed trying to get the Archangel back up and running. Athrun Zala, as things stand, you're the only hope Kira and your friend have."

The words hung in the air. What was he suppose to do? There was no strategy left for him to...

"An emergency contingency," Kanako answered. "...Someone's trying to draw Reimu's attention to this ship..."

A memory flashed in the back of his mind, and as Athrun dug through his pockets, he found the gold and red card Kanako had given him the day before.

"I think... there's still some hope," Athrun muttered. "Hold tight, Lieutenant Badgiruel. I might be able to turn this situation around."

Not waiting for a reply, Athrun switched the radio off. He looked the card over front and back; while it certainly had the look and feel of a keycard, something in its design made him think of a trading card. He wasn't quite sure what, though.

"So what, you're gonna keep fighting?" a voice from above said. Athrun looked up, to see the blonde haired witch in black and white floating not far from him. "Even in your state?"

"Kirisame Marisa," Athrun said. "You going to try and stop me?"

"Nah, just give ya advice," Marisa shrugged. "Because believe me, you're better off sitting this one out."

"And letting Hakurei Reimu murder more of my friends? No thanks," Athrun shot back. "I've seen more than enough death to know when to back down or not."

"That tone of voice... you really believe Reimu does this solely out of spite, huh?"

Athrun seemed slightly caught off guard by Marisa's statement. "You'll forgive me for not thinking otherwise," he said. "Seeing as she went on and on about 'Gensokyo's balance' while she kicked us into the curb, you'd be remiss for thinking she was anything other than a dictator."

Marisa gave Athrun a long, hard look. "You Outsiders... Always with your absolutes. Just one thing or another, is that it?"

"Oh, don't you play all high and mighty!" Athrun shouted. "You didn't exactly give us options either! You say we should play by Gensokyo's rules, but we didn't even know them to begin with! On top of that, out of everyone, every single person we've met in Gensokyo up to today, you and Hakurei Reimu have been the only ones so openly hostile! So talk! What's your beef with us Outsiders?!"

"You want the truth?" Marisa asked coldly. "Fine then. The truth is; the two of us have put up with more that a bit of stupid shit from you Outsiders." Landing on the ground, she walked up and grabbed Athrun by the collar. "Reimu was sweet on an Outsider once, and you know what that dumb bastard did? He threw away his humanity just so he could 'fight alongside her'! That dumbass couldn't handle the power that came with it, and Reimu still has scars from that fight! Six months, she was inconsolable! So don't bitch at us about it 'being unfair', because we already know!"

Athrun had to admit, he was taken aback, not just by what she was saying, but by the burning rage in her eyes. It was intense, festering, contemptuous. A feeling that could be attributed to the word 'terminal'.

And, more than anything, it was familiar. Because roughly a month ago, that rage was his own.

"I see..." he muttered. "Then you're... just like us."

Marisa let out a sound of utter disbelief. "Don't act like you understand us! What could you..."

She was cut off, when Athrun twisted out of her grip, grabbed her by the collar, slammed his head into hers, and judo-threw her over him and into the ground.

"How about we stop pretending each other's pain isn't worth a damn?!" Athrun yelled. "Days before we arrive in Gensokyo, Kira Yamato, my childhood friend, killed one of my other friends!" That statement alone took the wind out of Marisa's sail, but he continued. "Minutes before we arrived here, I killed one of his friends in anger! I was hurt! Betrayed! Angry! And you know what?! I hated every minute of it! Kira hated every minute of it! Between that and arriving in Gensokyo, we were trying our damnedest to kill each other, and I almost succeeded! You know what that grief is like, I can tell!" He let go of Marisa, and turned away. "Don't get me wrong; I hate that you and Hakurei Reimu had to kill Sai Argyle. I'd make you take it back if you could, but you can't. The dead stay dead, no two ways about it. But this?" he pointed skywards, towards the columns of smoke. "This can be fixed! No one else has to die!"

"You... seriously belief that, huh?" Marisa muttered in disbelief. "Those two have been taken over by Matara Okina. The odds of someone like you saving there are impossibly close to zero."

Athrun paused for a moment, before turning around. "All I'm hearing," he said as he began to walk off, "is that you already gave up on the hard job."


Athrun could remember the layout of the village clearly, and the differences between that and what was in front of him was staggering, to say the least.

Buildings that once stood tall and proud were toppled over like Jenga towers. The snow was covered in flames, and the air was heavy with smoke. People ran to and fro, and above, the blackened silhouettes of both the Strike and Duel danced in battle with Hakurei Reimu, as a woman he assumed to be Matara Okina watched on.

Drawing his pistol, Athrun contemplated just shooting the god then and there. "No good," he muttered putting it away again. "Too far to shoot. Too much wind resistance, too."

He looked around a bit, until he noticed the path that led up to the cable car. If he was to find what this card accessed, his best bet was at the Moriya Shrine.

"Athrun-kun!" a familiar voice called out. He looked down the street, to see a familiar brunette running towards him.

"Kosuzu?" Athrun responded. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm... I'm fine," she replied, panting heavily. Her face had a few splotches of soot, but all in all, she looked to be perfectly fine. "What's... what's going on?"

"Well," Athrun started, "to cut a long story short, a secretive god has basically possessed two of my friends, forcing them on a rampage where either they conform to her will or the Hakurei maiden kills them, and I'm currently trying to get to the Moriya Shrine because the god there gave me a card that might help me save my friends and stop Reimu from killing more people I care about." There was a brief pause, where the only sound was the explosions above. "My god. I sound absolutely mental saying that."

"But... but why would Reimu-san try to kill them?" Kosuzu asked in disbelief. "Reimu-san's... She's not that kind of person!"

"Kosuzu, I'm going to level with you," Athrun said plainly. "I do not have the time, energy, or knowledge, to unpack all this. Whether she's the sort of person to kill first or not is the last thing on my mind right now."

His instincts kicked in, and grabbing Kosuzu, Athrun leapt out of the way as several bolts of energy struck where they once stood.

"Ah... He got out of the way," a hauntingly void voice said. From above, two girls, one in pink and the other in green, floated down.

"Just one damn thing after another," Athrun cursed. "Who the hell is it now?!"

The two girl bowed in response. "Teireida Mai," the green one said.

"And Nishida Satono," the pink one finished. "We've come to make you an offer, Athrun Zala."

The two quickly dodged out of the way, as Athrun fired his gun twice at them. "Not even going to humour you!" Athrun yelled. "Take your 'offer' and go to hell!"

"Geez! How rude!" Mai complained. "Here we were, planning to offer you the sort of power you need, and this is the thanks we get?"

Another shot, this one splitting the bamboo Mai was carrying in half. "I don't give a damn," Athrun yelled. "Just get the hell out of my way!"

"Oh, and here we were trying to be kind," Satono said. "Fine. Just 'cause you're handsome, doesn't mean you'll get out of this alive!"

Kosuzu made frightened sounds. "Athrun-kun... I think they're mad."

"I know," Athrun muttered, looking at his gun. "Four shots left in the mag... Can I take them both?"

As an answer to his question, a faint sound echoed on the wind. A sound that went "Dynamic... Nightbug... KICK!" Which was immediately followed by Satono getting kicked in the face and sent flying, as a familiar youkai with bug antennae landed in front of Athrun and Kosuzu.

"Wha... Wriggle?!" Athrun shouted. "What are you doing here?! You... you can't survive in this cold!"

"Well I can't just sit around anymore!" Wriggle Nightbug yelled back. "That's not just your friend suffering up there!"

"Wriggle..." Athrun muttered. He could see at just a glance that the cold was getting to her. Her skin was far too pale, and there was a very noticeable tremble in her stance.

"Well, I won't let such a brave child handle this alone," another voice said, as a burning pillar shot through the air and struck Mai.

"That was..." Athrun muttered, looking down the way to see Hijiri Byakuren calmly walking their way.

"Good day, Athrun-san," Byakuren said kindly. "Allow me to keep Wriggle-chan safe. I'm sure you've got somewhere you want to be, correct?"

Athrun hesitated, but knew what he had to do. "Alright. Thank you, both of you," he said. "Kosuzu, hold on tight," he told his passenger, before taking off to the sky. At this point, he couldn't just leave the girl in the village, in the line of fire.

Mai and Satono burst out of the rubble they were burried in, looking fairly enraged. With matching screams, they shot out waves of Danmaku, pinning both Wriggle and Byakuren where they stood, and closing in on Athrun.

There wasn't enough time to dodge, but there wasn't even a need to, as just as quickly as the bullets were formed, they were encased in ice, and shattered.

There, floating between the two servants of Okina and Athrun, was the ice fairy herself.

"Cirno?" Athrun asked. "You're here too?"

"Of course I am!" Cirno boasted. "Even the weakest of fairies is borderline indestructible! And you're talking to the strongest of them all!" She pointed dramatically at Athrun. "Now get going! You've got your own fight to win, Athrun Zala!"

"R...right!" Athrun stuttered out, surprised more that Cirno managed to get his name right this time, and flew off again as the fairy joined the other two youkai.

"Think the three of us can take 'em?" Wriggle asked.

"It'll be a tough one," Byakuren admitted, placing a hand on Wriggle's shoulder and channelling magic through it, warming the smaller youkai up, "but if we work together, we'll pull through."

"Darn right!" Cirno shouted. "If I could beat these two dummies on my own back then, than we can beat them now!"

Mai grimaced slightly. "Oh great, it's that annoying fairy from back then," she said.

"She certainly made a mess last time, huh?" Satono stated.

"You bet I did!" Cirno yelled. "Now we're gonna mess you up again!"


As Athrun followed the cable line up to the shrine, he couldn't help but note the change in air quality. Understandable, really, given that this area wasn't currently on fire.

"Athrun-kun," Kosuzu muttered, trembling slightly in Athrun's arms. "I'm... I'm scared..."

"It'll be alright, Kosuzu," Athrun tried to console. "I'm sure, whatever backup plan Kanako has set up, will work. We just," he laughed dryly, "gotta have faith, I guess."

The joke was weak at best, but it still managed to get a laugh out of Kosuzu, at the very least.

When they finally arrived at the shrine, they were both surprised by the sheer number of people that were moving around.

"Things over on the left!" they heard Moriya Suwako shout. "Doohickies on the right! Keep it organised, folks!"

"Suwako?" Athrun spoke up, catching the frog-god's attention.

"Ah, you're finally here!" Suwako exclaimed. "Took your time, didn't ya? We've been busy setting up for you getting here!"

"Well, it wasn't exactly established what I'm expected to do," Athrun responded, setting Kosuzu back on her feet. "Kanako just gave me a card and said it was for emergencies. Not a whole lot to work on."

"Yeah, that girl loves her cryptic advice," Suwako laughed. "In case you're wondering, she and Sanae are currently working fire control on the outskirts of the village. Keeping folks safe and all that." She waved Athrun to follow her. "Come on, both of ya. The fact you brought Kosuzu-chan along will certainly help speed things up."

Athrun and Kosuzu shared a look, shrugged, and followed.


The three walked behind the back of the shrine, where a long series of stairs leading down laid in wait.

Suwako stopped at the top of the stairs. "First, before we continue," she spoke, voice lacking the usual jovial nature they had come to expect from her, "I need to confirm the strength of your will, Athrun Zala."

"Seriously? Now?" Athrun asked. "We're not going to fight, are we? Because we have other things to worry about than this cliché nonsense."

Suwako gave a small laugh. "No, nothing like that," she said. "What I mean is, are you prepared to learn a truth that might destroy the very foundation your life is built on?"

"Wh... what?" Kosuzu asked. "What does... that mean?"

"It means just that," Suwako answered. "I am privy to information that, by all rights, you deserve to know. If you don't know it, then there is a none-zero chance that it might come back to bite you during the coming battle. But, if I do tell you, I make no promises that you'll like it. What say you to that, child of the Cosmic Era?"

Athrun understood what she was talking about, or at least, what she was implying. Information that would shake what he believes to the core, but without it, the battle he still had to fight might not go as smoothly. "...Tell me," he decided. "If it helps me save Kira, then I don't care what it does to my outlook on life."

Suwako gave a small, almost sad smile, before reaching around her back and pulling out a rather large DVD case. "Well, don't say I didn't warn ya," she said, handing the case to Athrun.

Almost immediately, he knew what he was looking at, and what in entailed.

On the cover of the case was the title Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Mobile Suit alone was enough to give him an idea of what was to come next, but the figure on the box, the GAT-X105 Strike, basically spelled it out for him.

"I see," he said plainly. "I guess that would explain why Sanae acts so familiar with all of us. And why she seemed to know so much about the Archangel's weaponry."

"I... I don't understand," Kosuzu muttered. "Why... is that robot that's wrecking the village there?"

"It's simple, I guess," Athrun stated. "Because to the Outside World... we're just fictional characters, aren't we?"

Kosuzu seemed the most taken aback by this. "What?! But... aren't you here? Right now?"

"This is Gensokyo, kiddo," Suwako said. "Ain't all gods and youkai fiction to the Outside?"

"Pretty much," Athrun said, before casually tossing the DVD case back to Suwako. "And because of that, it doesn't matter."

"It... doesn't?" Kosuzu asked.

"That's right. It doesn't matter. So what if we're fictional to some people? The pain we've felt, both before and after we came to Gensokyo... that's still real. Everything we see around us, it's all still real." Then he let out a small, mirthful laugh. "So what if we're in a world that could deny us? It doesn't change the fact that we're all still here!"

Suwako looked at him, at those eyes filled with passion, and smiled. "Yeah. You're good, kid," she said, sounding like a proud mother. "Definitely got what it takes to pilot 'that'."

Athrun gave the god a flat look. "Really? The pronoun game again?"

"Well, if I told ya what we called it," Suwako said, "you probably wouldn't believe me."


It took roughly ten minutes of walking down those stairs , going from rocky cavern dug in the ground to a full on underground bunker, to reach 'that', and Athrun quickly realised that Suwako was probably right about him 'not believing'. Hell, 'that' was currently right in front of him, and still he could quite wrap his head around it.

It was far too large to be called a Mobile Suit. It was roughly five to ten times larger than the Strike, far too gaudy in its red and gold colours, with a face that was closer to human looking than an MS. Truly, it was less a 'large MS', and more a 'walking, punching battleship'.

Athrun was no stranger to the concept of the Super Robot; it was the idea that Mobile Suits were built upon, after all. A Super Robot was more than just a weapon; it was an ideal. A goalpost to reach for. A lofty dream to struggle for. This, however, was just over the top.

"How... how big is this?" Athrun muttered. The three stood on a platform that was at head level to the thing, yet even then, it towered over them.

"111 meters," Suwako answered. "After Sanae learnt about this project, which was originally just a marketing stunt, she kept trying to add more and more things until we got... this."

"Oh... oh my," Kosuzu muttered. "That's... I can't even imagine something that big."

"It's... a quarter the size of the Archangel..." Athrun said. "How do you make something that big?"

"Gensokyo," Suwako said plainly. "If you're going to do anything in Gensokyo, you just have to make it big."

"So, why do you need Athrun to pilot it?" Kosuzu asked. "Couldn't Sanae-san do it?"

"Like I just said, in Gensokyo, you go big," Suwako replied. "We crammed -so much- shit into this thing, it's absurd. Jet propulsion to allow it to reach up to mach 5, over 1000 micro missiles that can turn on a dime mid flight, a nuclear reactor to keep it going for as long as two weeks at full power none-stop, eye lasers, super-heated chest blasters, freaking rocket punches, and divinity-based pseudo-titanium armour, and you know how much this dumb bastard weighs? Two. Freaking. Tonnes."

Athrun's jaw dropped. "Two... two tonnes?" he muttered in disbelief. "The... the Mobile Suits we use on the Archangel are... seventy-five tonnes... This thing dwarfs them in size and weaponry, yet... is 37.5 times lighter?"

"You see why none of us pilot it?" Suwako asked. "Us gods are either too proud or too afraid of it, and no average human, even a miracle worker like Sanae, could handle this thing. That, I believe, is why Kanako gave you the access card for it. So, will you pilot it?"

Athrun looked at the emerald green eye of the mech. "Will I be able to save them?" he asked.

"That depends on you," Suwako answered. "Killing would be easy in this thing. It all boils down to how well you can fly it." She turned to look at him, expression dark. "If you're asking if it can protect, that's on you. On its own, this thing is a sword. There is no safety to be found in a blade; a sword can only kill. It does not protect. No matter how Kanako, Sanae, or anyone spin it, understand that us passing this on to you is not a blessing; it's a curse, a burden to be passed from mechanic to pilot."

"Mobile Suits are... a curse," Athrun felt the need to repeat those words. There was a certain profound wisdom in them that he just had to say it himself. "Then, if a curse is only as bad as how a person uses it, I just have one question." He locked eyes with Suwako once more, determination flaring in his heart. "Where do I sit?"

Suwako gave a small, almost sad smile. "I can only hope that, some day, you'll forgive us for this burden."


The cockpit was located on the nape of the mech's neck, and its internal layout was, surprisingly, almost identical to that of the standard Mobile Suit. Three monitors to show forward, left, and right side camera views, two sticks, an ungodly amount of pedals, and more buttons than six TV remotes.

"Athrun-kun, can you hear me?" Kosuzu's voice sounded of the mech's comms.

"Loud and clear, Kosuzu," Athrun responded. "Are you going to be backing me up on the CIC?"

"More just moral support from both of us," Suwako stated. "Just about everything you need is already onboard." A brief pause, before she continued. "Now, You're going to be launching straight up, alright? The village will be on your six, but try not to fight in it; you've got the footprint of a large building."

"Get Kira and Yzak out of the village before trying to punch the divinity out of them, got it," Athrun responded. "Any advice about Okina?"

"Fighting her in that thing will be like threading a tree trunk through the eye of a needle travelling 150km/h, I ain't gonna lie," Suwako answered. "But beating her would be the most effective, and not to mention safest way of saving those two."

"And if beating her first is out of the question?"

"The mech's designed to be able to utilise magic energy as well as nuclear power," the god said. "Channel the right sort of magical power at the right amount, and theoretically, you really could just punch Okina's influence out of them. It'd hurt like a bitch, though."

"Athrun-kun," Kosuzu spoke up, "you'll... you'll be alright, you hear? You can do this! And, after this is done, and things go back to normal..." Athrun noticed the girl was starting to blush something fierce. "After all this, would you... like to come by Suzunaan more often?"

Suwako let out a small whistle. "Woo! You go, girl! Get in there!"

Athrun would not say he was wise in the ways of women. But even he'd be hard pressed not to pick up on those signals when Suwako was basically screaming out at their presence. Despite the small blush he had, Athrun still smiled. "Sure," he said. "That... that sound lovely."

Suwako gave a very loud whistle. Obviously she was having a rather good time with this. "Alright, Athrun! Now you've gotta pull this off!" the god shouted. "Now say your thing, get out there, save your friends, and go on that date!"

"You're having way too much fun with this!" Athrun shouted. Then, looking back at Kosuzu, his smile returned. "Well, Kosuzu, I'm off," he said kindly.

"Be safe, okay?"

"Roger that," he laughed. Then, face steeling with determination, he tightened his grip on the controls. "Athrun Zala! Shin Hisotensoku! Launching towards the future!"


All throughout Gensokyo, both on the ground and in the sky, a faint rumbling was felt. All eyes turned to the skies above Youkai Mountain, and saw, contrary to over a week ago, something rising at an incredible speed.

The crew of the Archangel, with their damage under control and tending to their injured, watched from the closest spot that wasn't Moriya Shrine.

Kagiyama Hina, whom sat and cradled the body of Sai Argyle, long out of tears to cry, saw it as a beacon of hope.

Hinanawi Tenshi, barely keeping herself awake on the edge of the forest, sat in awe of it.

Mu La Flaga and Dearka Elsman watched it, feeling a strange buildup of hotblooded willpower.

On the outskirts of the village, Yasaka Kanako watched with pride.

Within the village, all fighting came to a brief halt, as everyone wondered what was coming their way.

Only Cirno the fairy was able to say something at the sight. What she called it, was Daidarabochi.

Matara Okina, for her part, could only say one thing. "What... on earth is that?"

Like a bat out of hell, the forms of the blackened Strike and Duel were snatched from the sky, and thrown towards the Misty Lake, then, the towering giant landed.

To few, that indomitable form was a threat, but to those that sought peace, they see the 111 meter tall giant as a tower of hope. Its form, slick, detailed in gold, black and red. Its face, shaped as if a Greek hero given metallic grandeur.

"Hold on, Kira, Yzak," Athrun's voice spoke from the machine. "I'm taking you both back!"

The blackened Strike charged first, bringing its sword down at lightning speed. By all accounts, the blade, known as the Schwert Gewehr, was not a small blade, being roughly as long as the Strike was tall. However, when Hisotensoku caught it, it was barely bigger than one of its fingers. With the smallest of flexes, the blade was snapped like a toothpick, and with its free hand, grabbed the Strike from the air.

It was like watching a martial arts master catch a fly mid-flight with chopsticks.

Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate.

'So, this is your heart right now, Kira?' Athrun thought. 'Hold on just a little bit. I... I'll save you!'

Golden energy began to pour from Hisotensoku's hand into Strike. A warm glow, like the sunrise on a warm morning that ate away at the darkness, returning it to the familiar red-white-blue colours of before.

Gently, Hisotensoku placed Strike down on the shore of the lake, and turned to face the Duel, emerald eyes blazing with passion.

It drew it's hand back, still engulfed in its heroic aura. The Duel unloaded every bullet, beam, and missile it could, yet none were capable of piercing its armour.

"Burning..." Athrun spoke, as the energy in the fist reached its peak, "Tensoku!"

Hisotensoku punched, not needing to move any closer, and a burning wave of energy shot forth, melting the snow and ice below, and throwing the Duel out of the shroud of darkness, and far into the forest behind it.

Athrun was starting to think Suwako was just being dramatic earlier; she'd said that 'punching Okina's influence off' was only theoretical, yet here he just pulled it off like it was nothing.

"Well," Okina spoke, descending from above, "I can't say I saw this development coming."

"Join the club," Athrun spat. "Well, not like I'm complaining, anyway."

"Yet this power you wield is only borrowed, not your own," she continued, acting mighty. "How do you expect to beat me when..."

Hisotensoku's hand struck her hard and fast, launching Okina into the frozen lake. "Like that, really," Athrun said coolly. "You just don't know how to shut up, do you?"

Okina flew higher into the sky, drenched to the skin and looking... very much beyond miffed. "You... who do you think you're talking to, you fictional human?" she spat venomously. "You, who aren't even real in this world! Who do you think you are?!"

Athrun smirked. On the radar, he noticed the approach of several figures, no doubt Reimu, Marisa, Byakuren, Cirno, and Wriggle. Those two 'servants' of Okina's must have been defeated, then. "Who do I think I am?" he repeated. "I'm the man who's taking back the smiles that YOU stole from us! From Gensokyo! So what if the world believes I'm fiction?! My pain is real to me! My fear! My hope! My dreams!" Passion swelled in Athrun's chest, which was reflected in the red plating on Hisotensoku. "They're real enough for us! I'm not real?! Then who just bitch-slapped you into the lake?! I am Athrun Zala! Pilot of Shin Hisotensoku! Crewmember of the Archangel! Friend of the pilots YOU yourself tried to enslave! Who the hell do you think I am?!"

With a look of absolute spite and rage, Okina raised her hands skywards, as the snow around them began to gather into an energy sphere above her. "Fine. You want to play the hero? Then DIE LIKE ONE!"

[Spell Card: Hidden Extreme Winter – Lunatic]

From Okina shot forth rings of icicle shards, and innumerable lasers. There was no cockiness in this attack; just raw killing intent.

So, what was Athrun to do, but match it with his own?

"Grant us this victory, Onbashira," he muttered his prayer to Hisotensoku. Then, he raised his arms to the side, as the red plates on its chest began to glow white hot, and the light from its eyes intensified. "Misaguchi...Tensoku!"

From Hisotensoku, atomising flames shot from its chest, and photonic beams from its eyes. Combined, they made a spiralling beam that dwarfed everything in its way.

To say it overpowered Okina's attack in seconds would give Hidden Extreme Winter too much credit; there wasn't even time to realise there was a clash before the attack reached Okina herself.

She didn't have time to curse her own luck, as the attack engulfed her, continued on, and pierced the cloud barrier, effectively splitting the sky open, and shining light back upon the frozen Gensokyo.

Victory was too weak a word; this was a triumph. Absolute domination of the adversary, with Gensokyo restored to the way it once was.


Warm. Something felt warm. What was it? For Kira Yamato, right now everything just felt... numb. So, what was this warmth he was feeling?

Slowly, he tried to open his eyes. Blinding. The light was absolutely blinding. When was the last time he saw the sun again?

Oh, right. It was before Heaven fell. Then, how long was he out?

As his eyes slowly adjusted to sunlight for the first time in days, he caught a glimpse of a silhouette that was strikingly familiar. His vision cleared, and he began to make out details, from that long blue hair marred with dirt, that black hat that was torn and frayed around the rim, that pale skin that had cuts, bruises, and dirt all over it, those blue and white clothes that were battered and damaged, and those dark red eyes that still seemed to have tears in them.

"Ten...shi?" he muttered. His voice felt... weird. Not his own, in a way. Coarse, really.

Tenshi had a sad look on her face, and upon realising that Kira was coming to, her eyes narrowed slightly, causing more tears to fall. "You idiot..." she muttered. "You just... couldn't wait five more minutes, could you?"

Kira let out a small cough. "Sorry... Tenshi..." he said weakly. "The sun... it's so warm..."

"Don't talk like you're dying, idiot," Tenshi said. "You're... just tired."

"Tired... Yeah, I guess... I am a bit..." he whispered. "Tenshi... thank you. For... still being here..."

There it was. That smile of his. Filled with sadness though it was, it was still enough.

Tenshi tried and failed to suppress a sob. "Just... please, stop being so reckless," she asked. "You're... the only person out there who... who's unapologetically kind... I'm... afraid that..."

"It'll... be alright," Kira said, slowly reaching a hand up and placing it on her cheek. He really couldn't help but notice just how... damaged his hands were. Callouses, cuts, and even puncture wounds from where he'd gripped the controls of the Strike too hard. "I won't... go anywhere."

Silhouetted by the battered, slightly charred frame of the Strike, and illuminated by the freed sun that hung joyously in the air, the mood surrounding the two was... tough to describe in simple words. It was both sombre and hopeful. Sad, yet lined with a ting of happiness.

From just behind the treeline, Hakurei Reimu watched the scene with a puzzling expression on her face. One that was equal parts confused, bewildered, and contemptuous.

Tightening the grip on her gohei, she tried to take a step forward and confront the two, until she felt a cold metal barrel press against the side of her head.

"Now, I hate Strike just as much as you must," an unfamiliar voice spoke, "but even I wouldn't step in and ruin that."

Reimu looked to the side, and saw a white haired man with blue eyes, with a rather large scar over his face, dressed in red and, as already established, pointing a gun at her.

"You..." Reimu muttered. "Let me guess, you were piloting that other robot?"

"I was," he replied. "Yzak Joule. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was aware during that whole shit-show."

"You were in control?" she asked.

"Never said that," Yzak responded. "My mind was my own, but that bitch you call a god had the controls over my body."

"And what, you think that'll justify things?" Reimu continued. "That you can get off scott-free?"

"Don't patronise me, woman," Yzak spat. "I've already got more blood on my hands than you can comprehend. The destruction of that huge chunk of land above the mountain? I may not have wanted to do it, but that's on me."

Reimu turned in surprise. "That... that was you?! You destroyed Heaven" she exclaimed.

Yzak, for his part, smirked. "What, you still thought it was Blue over there?" he asked, motioning his head to Tenshi. "Please. She was the last line of defence, and I don't care what you say about people in this fucked up world; ain't no way a brat like that's going to be able to destroy something like that on her own."

Reimu couldn't deny that logic. While Tenshi was quite powerful, it would take a lot to destroy Heaven, multiplied exponentially when every other Celestial was taken into account.

After a moments pause, Reimu let out a sigh. "You know what? Screw it," she decided. "You idiotic Outsiders haven't become youkai, the Incident's resolved, so to hell with the rest of this nonsense; I'm going home."

Yzak lowered his gun as the shrine maiden turned and left. "Tell one last thing, woman," she shouted. "When did you start pretending you didn't care?"

Reimu paused mid-step, and looked back at Yzak. "What... did you say?" If looks could kill, the one Reimu had could have committed several different genocides.

Yzak, however, was hardly phased by it. "You could have killed Strike and I several times over," he said. "You could have no doubt killed a whole lot of people during this bitch of a day. Hell, you could have killed me right now, yet here we are, with you walking away. So I want to know: If you really want everyone to think you're so heartless, why have you only killed one person?"

A needle shot past his head, digging itself into the tree. "Don't test my patience," Reimu replied. "If you want to stay alive, you'll drop it, got that?"

Yzak spat. "Fine, but don't think I'm the only one that'll press it," he said. Huffing, Reimu turned around, and flew off. Letting out a sigh, Yzak slumped against the tree, clutching his arm in pain. "Way to go, Yzak, you dumb bastard," he muttered. "Play up being all 'strong and tough' when you're barely holding it together. Good fucking job." A loud splashed sounded from the lake, and looking over, Yzak saw the towering figure of that absurd Mobile Suit that saved him. "Gaudy as hell," he muttered. "I swear, if Zala's piloting that damn thing..."

The hatch on the nape of its neck opened up, and surprise surprise, out climbed Athrun Zala. Despite it all, Yzak chuckled drily. "Fucking called it."

Athrun landed on ground level, as the lake water fell all around like a light drizzle. "Kira! Tenshi!" he called out, running to the two by the Strike.

"Athrun..." Kira muttered, looking relieved to see his friend was alright. "...What's with that MS?"

Athrun gave him a bewildered look, though it was marred by tears of relief. "Seriously? You get possessed by a twisted god, and the only thing you have to question is the horse I rode in on?" he asked, though his tone was more amused than anything.

The three gave a light, exhausted laugh. "Tenshi, can you walk at all?" Athrun asked.

"Bit of a limp, but I can manage," she replied.

"Right, then. Can you get Kira back to the Archangel? I still need to try and find Yzak."

Smirking at the opportunity presented, Yzak stepped out from behind the tree. "Right over here, Zala," he called out.

This, at least, caused the trio to flinch slightly. "How... how long were you there?" Tenshi asked, hastily trying to hide her tears.

"Long enough to tell that red-white bitch to fuck off," he replied, limping towards them. He paused, and locked eyes with Kira briefly. "Strike," he said coolly. "Anyone ever tell you that you look like a kicked puppy?"

Kira, for his part, laughed a little, despite the pain. "Often, actually," he replied. "So, you're the pilot of the Duel, then?"

"Yeah, I'm that asshole. What about it?"

"Okay, you two, enough talking like that," Athrun interrupted. "Obviously, the three of you need serious medical attention. I mean, come on, Yzak; how are you standing?"

"Pure spite, in all honesty," Yzak admitted.

"No surprise," Athrun said. "Kira, how about you?"

"Struggling to move my legs again," he admitted.

"Tenshi?"

"Couldn't carry one if I wanted to," she said. "Don't even have enough power to move a keystone."

"But you can still walk on your own?" he asked, to which she nodded. "Right then. Only one way about it, then."

Then, without so much as waiting for anyone to speak up, Athrun bent down, picked Kira up, and hauled him over his shoulder. While Yzak laughed about it, Athrun proceeded to do the same to him. This resulted in the scene of a 170cm tall Athrun carrying both Kira (165cm) and Yzak (175cm) over both his shoulders like sacks of potatoes.

Now, the only one that was laughing was Tenshi.

"O... Oi, Zala!" Yzak yelled in indignation. "Put me down, you bastard!"

"Nope," he responded plainly.

"What about your MS?" Kira asked. "Shouldn't it be put somewhere safe?"

Athrun looked up at the form of Hisotensoku, gleaming in the sun. Smiling, he spoke. "No, I think it'll be fine here," he said. "After all, the people deserve to be able to see it, don't you think?"

"What, to see how tacky it is?" Yzak said. "Where the hell did you even get something like that?"

"Gift from the Moriya's," Athrun answered. "And it's not... well, okay, it is a bit flashy for my likings. But it's more than that. It's...

"A Fortress of Peace."


A/N:

Well, this took a real turn into Super Robot territory, didn't it? Just... straight up Gurren Lagann'd this thing.

I'm sure many were wondering what Athrun was going to end up piloting, since there was effectively a shortage of mechs on the Archangel. Well, here's your answer: The Hisotensoku.

I personally feel that, if you're going to merge Touhou with mecha, the Hisotensoku is a must have. Then again, I don't know of many sci-fi Touhou fics.

Also, to put into perspective just how stupidly large Hisotensoku is, the Ideon, the main mech of Space Runway Ideon, is 6 metres smaller than it. The Gunbuster is 230m, and Arc Gurren Lagann, the closest in size to it before we get into celestial body territory, is the size of a city. Super Robots are crazy, man.

But we're far from done yet!