Chapter 4: Red and White in the Nightless Castle

The idea of fate is one which has captured the minds of many great scholars and theologians throughout history. What choice is there that a mind can make? Is every thought, every action dancing at the whims of an unseen hand called fate? Or, perhaps, is fate merely an excuse given to withdraw from the responsibility of agency? Certainly, there are things in life that we cannot choose. We do not choose to which parents we are born. We do not choose the circumstances of our upbringing. Yet, in this vast world, a grand illusory tempest of seemingly random chaos, there are a great many things that we can choose. We did not choose our parents, yet they chose to create us. We did not choose all manner of our life's components, yet how many of these seemingly unchangeable circumstances are a consequence of the choices of another? Are these choices fate?

One could argue until the end of time as to what precisely fate is, and come no closer to a morsel of understanding. Yet, what can fate be but those circumstances that occur, not at the behest of some conscious entity, but rather the mindless circumstances of the cosmic forces? If one could manipulate the decisions of the unconscious, if one could make the mindless choose to favour them, surely such an entity has command of fate itself?

Simply put, Remilia Scarlet, the grand master of fate, is lucky. The ageless scarlet lady, to whom fate itself bows, has never known hardship, simply because the universe itself desires to shelter her and to shower her with gifts. Wealth, power, unending youth, charisma, all the blessings the world has to give are granted in excess to this unendingly lucky master of the night. As she rested in her coffin, sheltering from the light of the setting sun, her loyal servants worked tirelessly to please her. Surely the one blessed by life, the mistress of fate, surely such a being will live in comfort and contentment for all the years of her life?

Yet, fate is a fickle thing, so easily broken by the will of gods and men. If fate was truly an unquestionable law, those fated to a lowly existence must surely rot in the gutters of life for all their years? Surely the powerless can never rise to prominence? Ah, but there are clearly those born to be pawns that fought their way to the top. Indeed, Marisa Kirisame was one of those few. In life, she took the power that fate refused to grant to her. Now, in death, she would do what no other could.

The loss of an ordinary magician would defy the hand of fate. The comfortable life of the world's beloved, blessed daughter would come to a swift conclusion. The Scarlet Devil would find herself plunged into a waking nightmare, much as that same nightmare spread across all of Gensokyo. Fate could not protect Remilia Scarlet from the wrath of the red-white blade of the Hakurei gods.

As the sun set over Gensokyo, the bells of the Scarlet Devil Manor chimed out across the land, echoing through the trees, sending ripples skimming across the misty lake. All across the manor, the frenzied tidying crawled to a halt for a mere twelve seconds. All stood transfixed, mesmerised, as they did each night to the chiming of that grand bell. With the rustling sound of wood scraping against wood, the coffin's lid opened, and Remilia Scarlet awoke peacefully into her home for the last time.

The bell clattered like the dinning of a long-forgotten battlefield, ringing in the ears of all the manor's residents. As one vampire woke peacefully to its chime, another rolled over far below, desiring to return to who knows what violent and hellish dreams. A maid lowered her duster, wiping her brow, smiling at the cleanliness she had wrought. A librarian peered up from the pages of a book perched between her fingers for the first time in hours. A guard snapped to alertness, bashfully pretending she had been fully awake prior to the bell's sound.

As the bell echoed out, it matched the footsteps of crimson blood marching, one-by-one towards the mansion. A grim red scythe marked still with flecks of white cut through the mist with cold, violent purpose. One step, then another, each movement of the foot smearing more deep scarlet life across the grass.

Across the lake's surface, a fairy huddled, terrified, far from her usual brash self. She had seen the red-white death approaching. She had seen the blood, the flecks of twisted wing sticking to her clothes. She had, for once, the sense to flee.

As Hong Meiling shook the sleep from her tired mind, a dark shape began to swirl in the mist. It drew closer and closer, coalescing at last into the shape of a human. The dark shape strode purposefully, its implacable body language betraying no emotion. Meiling rose to her feet, rainbow-coloured energy swirling around her fingertips. The bells gave one last, desperate chime, and fell silent.

Remilia Scarlet

Scarlet Devil of Endless Fate

Sakuya Izayoi walked the same familiar path to her mistress's chambers, a cup of tea perched elegantly atop her fingertips. The evening bell had just fallen silent, and Remilia would surely be wishing for a warm cup of tea as she did each evening when she awoke. She whistled to herself cheerfully as she walked along the long and winding corridors of the Scarlet Devil Manor. Ah, the same familiar routine, it was all so wonderful. She already knew what awaited her through the bat-emblazoned door at the corridor's end. Her mistress would smile, take the cup from her hands, and sip from it. Yes, this smile was what she lived for. Others may have grand ambitions, but Sakuya Izayoi merely wanted to be of assistance to her mistress.

A moment of panic jolted through Sakuya as the door ahead of her slammed open, and as she felt the teacup slip from her fingers. In a flash, the world around her turned grey, and as she delicately retrieved the teacup, she felt the typical coldness that an object frozen in time emitted. A lack of motion meant a lack of heat; items needed to be held gingerly so as not to give frostbite. Steadying herself, she allowed the grey motionlessness to fade from the world around her.

"My lady?" she asked, calmly.

Remilia Scarlet floated from her room, her wings flapping back and forth like leathery pendulums. Her usual unconcerned air dominated her face, yet there was evidently something significant on her mind.

"Sakuya," she stated, authority tinting her voice. "Please tell Hong Meiling to be on high alert tonight."

Sakuya nodded, but she had to ask. "My lady, is something the matter tonight?"

Remilia waved her hand, unconcerned. "I am sure nothing serious. I simply feel that fate is not with me this night."

Sakuya felt her calm break for a second, and stopped time until she could reaffix her typical elegant demeanour. "My lady, is fate ever not with you?"

Her response came before Remilia had a chance to open her mouth. A loud crashing of breaking stone split the quiet of the evening like an axe, as something blasted through every wall in the mansion. The grey seeped outwards from Sakuya as she ground time to a halt. The hallways of the mansion retracted, shrinking around her, as she hastily ran to the scene of the sound. What new terror could seize the will of fate from her mistress? Whatever it was, she would destroy it, swiftly, with elegance and precision. Her mistress needn't raise a finger to dispose of this mystery threat.

Sakuya was halfway through the mansion when she saw something in the kitchens that did not belong. Hong Meiling, floating in the air, amidst a cloud of dust and rubble. Behind her was a hole blasted through the wall, and then another, larger hole behind it, leading all the way to the outside of the manor. Sakuya could see the silhouette of an intruder through the debris, but amidst all the chaos and dust, and painted in the stationary grey, she could not determine who it may be. Still, in total, twelve solid walls had stood between the figure and where Sakuya looked down upon her.

As Sakuya took another look at Meiling, she struggled to resist the urge to avert her gaze. The youkai's torso had been blasted open, a conical divot emptying out her lower chest like an ice cream scoop. As she looked closer, Sakuya could see the imprint of knuckles at the very base of the impact. Still, miraculously, it seemed as though nothing vital had been struck. Certainly a human would die from such an impact, but Meiling was a youkai, one of not at all insignificant strength. If she received treatment right away…

Sakuya was torn. In truth, she did not possess a limitless quantity of time, a supply she had not replenished for some time, and Eientei was quite far away. If Sakuya took the gatekeeper to Eirin before starting time once again, it was likely that she would survive. However, the journey would drain almost every drop of time she had, leaving her weakened for her battle with the intruder. In truth, Meiling was a terrible guard, and one so weak that she stood no chance of deterring any real intruder. She knew that, in terms of brutal efficiency, the logical choice was to abandon Meiling and devote all her efforts towards defeating the attacker. Certainly, it seemed that she would need every ounce of strength she could muster. If her foe could, as the four finger-shaped gaps in Meiling's chest implied, punch with the force of an Oni...

"Yes," Sakuya thought to herself. "It would be a waste of my power to save the guard."

Hong Meiling

Rainbow-tinted Manor Guard

Reimu Hakurei stood before what was once the main gate of the Scarlet Devil Manor, now a shattered ruin. Smoke billowed from her outstretched fist, and in some small desperation she shook it vigorously, hoping to cool it down. As she had hoped, her arm remained undamaged from the strike, but the sheer release of kinetic energy so close to her hand had left her with some painful burns. Her face remained blank as she calmly noted the successfulness of her newest tactic. To kill a monster like Remilia Scarlet, she would need every trick at her disposal. She needed to know the limits of her power. It was worth risking an arm or two if it meant seeing every last youkai dead.

Taking a deep breath, Reimu banished the pain from her mind and continued onwards. She could not allow herself to become distracted, to start thinking. She was a blade whistling through the air; emotionless, unbending, endlessly destructive. Step by step, Reimu carried onwards through the thinning cloud of dust.

Sakuya stood amidst the debris, trying to obscure her exhaustion. She hoped quietly that Patchouli heeded the letter slipped into her open hands. "Take the maids and run, Lady Patchouli, I beg you," it had said. Sakuya would not stand for the deaths of any of her underlings. No, she herself would vanquish the intruder, even if it cost her her life. If there was even a chance her opponent could kill Lady Remilia, she knew that she would die fighting before allowing it to advance one step.

The manor was, hopefully, cleared of all the weak and powerless. She had done all she could, now it was time to fight. Squashing the fear billowing up from her stomach deep inside her, she cleared her throat and crisply asked, "Who are you that so rudely knocks upon my mistress's door?"

The approaching figure said nothing, but as the dust settled, the familiar shape sparked recognition within Sakuya's mind. The ribbon, the gohei, the familiar dress, and yet… Something about the way Reimu Hakurei held herself this evening was different. This wasn't the same easy-going Shrine Maiden she was used to.

Sakuya cleared her throat again, searching within herself to see how much time remained in her. "Nineteen seconds," she thought glumly, "Barely enough for one attack." Her plan had left a solid hour in reserve, but with one delay after another it was all she could do to return before time resumed at all. She clutched a handful of knives behind her back, preparing for Reimu to declare her first Spell Card.

"I'm afraid you're a little early, Reimu," stated Sakuya clearly. "Lady Remilia's flower viewing isn't for another week. Plus, I don't remember seeing your name on the guest list."

In response, the Shrine Maiden flicked her wrist, scattering talisman seals towards Sakuya like a papery hail. The sudden attack took the maid by surprise, and in panic she felt herself stop time around her as an instinct. Stepping out from within the wall of seals, Sakuya's cool demeanouar almost shattered with surprise as barriers jumped at random between the arrayed talismans. Anything caught within would surely have been shredded beyond any semblance of recognition. This attack was aimed to kill, and furthermore, Reimu had not first declared her Spell Card. Was she breaking her own rules? What in Gensokyo could be happening?

Steadying herself, Sakuya raised her head, proudly, and announced, "You would break your own rules, Reimu? You would use an attack like that freely? I don't know what is happening with you, but I know one thing. I will never let you lay a finger on Lady Remilia."

Reimu met her eyes, and for the first time Sakuya could see the emptiness in them. Not rage or grief, not anymore, simply cold determination. With a note of dispassionate curiosity, she asked, "It was you, wasn't it? The figure in my dream. It was too tall to be your mistress. It was you, wasn't it? You killed her."

Sakuya returned her gaze, and Reimu observed a fiery determination in her eyes that matched her own. Fire and ice, meeting on the field of battle. "I'm sorry," she responded. "I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about."

The ice-cold, merciless eyes locked with hers, and at last through the dust Sakuya could see the blood dripping from Reimu's body like the sins leaking from an empty soul. "You know. You killed Marisa. Now I'm going to kill you too."

Sixteen seconds remained.

Sakuya opened her mouth to respond, but before any words could slip from her throat, she was forced to leap backwards as two talismans flew outwards as a cone, a lethally sharp barrier growing between them. Sliding under the encroaching blade, she felt her feet collide with a solid wall. Another large barrier stood in front of her. Sakuya quickly froze time, rolling out of the barrier's path. As the grey faded from her vision, she saw the barrier careening off into the wall, where a various array of smaller barriers waited like knives. Twelve seconds remained.

Coughing as she rose to her feet, Sakuya looked around and saw herself penned into an arena, as barrier walls formed a large ring around her and her opponent. A torrent of glowing orbs, each bearing the markings of a yin-yang, poured forth from Reimu, each one ricocheting off the barriers and towards her. A strange emptiness flooded from the Maiden's eyes out across her body, as she took on a strange, ethereal nature.

Sakuya gripped her knife a little tighter, looking on as her opponent span, seemingly distracted. Two thoughts occurred to her, in rapid succession. The first was the simple understanding that she would not win without striking back. The second was the realisation that, if her opponent was going to cheat, she herself must too in order to seize victory.

"Fine," she muttered. "Something undodgeable then." Digging her hands into the timestream, she tore at the distance between herself and Reimu, breaking it down until she stood right before the bloodstained maiden. One hand still strangling space, she let the grey seep from her, gingerly placing a ring of knives around her foe. As the grey retreated and colour returned, Sakuya slackened her grip, and watched from a distance as the knives flew straight through Reimu, clattering to the ground harmlessly. She felt sweat pooling on her brow; she was nearing her limit. Two seconds remained.

Reimu stopped spinning aimlessly, swivelling around to once again lock eyes with her foe. Sakuya frantically dodged the orbs of energy dancing around her. In desperation, she felt her hands jumping to and fro, every last knife secured within her dress launching outwards. Reimu wasn't the only one that could ricochet projectiles, after all.

"You are looking tired," remarked Reimu. "You are not a youkai. Surrender your mistress and I will let you leave."

Sakuya felt herself knocked to the floor, an unseen orb of glistening light searing the flesh on her back. Defiantly, she rose to her feet and, meeting her foe's eye, proclaimed, "Never. I will die before you lay a finger on Lady Remilia."

Reimu charged, a red-white blur barreling down on Sakuya like a blood-soaked cannonball. Sakuya knew that it was now or never; she had to end the fight in one last attack. At the last possible moment, she allowed the grey to once more envelop the world. Stepping to the side, she frantically felt through her pockets for any remaining knives, finding nothing. Ah, what a fool she was. Retrieving her knives when time was stopped had become second nature to her. In this drained fight of dwindling seconds, she hadn't the time to retrieve them. She saw the grey shatter like a broken mirror, felt the time within her come to a halt, and for once she had nothing in reserve as Reimu's hand reached out towards her. She felt a barrier close around her right arm, holding her in place. She met Reimu's eyes, one last time, as the emptiness once more drained from them into her flesh.

Reimu extended a fist, and as it passed harmlessly through Sakuya's chest, she felt the emptiness of those eyes boring into her soul. She was staring at nothing, a red-white emptiness floating free of mind, body, or soul. Ah, it was over at last. She hoped that, in the time she had bought, her mistress had readied herself. Yes, nothing could kill Remilia Scarlet. It would all be fine without her.

Sakuya felt her body slam into the ground, the barrier slicing neatly through her hand, as something from above crashed into her with tremendous speed and power. Not a moment followed before her ears were deafened by a loud blast. The noise, the shock of striking the earth, the weariness, it bore down upon her mind like a wall of darkness. Consciousness faded from Sakuya Izayoi.

Patchouli Knowledge

Library of the Seven Schools

"She begged me to evacuate the maids," Patchouli had said. "She intends to fight the intruder alone." Oh, the silly girl, stealing all the fun. How was it fair that her maid could play with the intruder while she sat idly, sipping her tea? Plus, since when did the staff give orders? Selfish, childish Sakuya. As if Patchouli would leave her library, and as if she, Remilia Scarlet, would rest on her laurels while there was a perfectly good fight to be had! Still, it was true that any opponent weak enough for Sakuya to dispatch could only be one unworthy to face her. It was this line of logic that had lead Remilia Scarlet to spectate the battle from the roof.

Indeed, the battle had been an interesting one to watch. What could have possessed Reimu Hakurei to break her own rules? In truth, Remilia felt quite irritated at this. After all these years of faithfully adhering to the Spell Card system, suddenly its creator casts it aside like old garbage? Perhaps Reimu needed a reminder as to all the benefits a weakling like her received from the system.

As she watched, the fight turned more and more against Sakuya, until at last her maid found herself captured. Yet, something wasn't right with Reimu that evening, and Remilia had a sudden realisation that the Shrine Maiden did not intend to leave Sakuya alive.

That was an intolerable insult. Did Reimu really think it was acceptable to murder her staff like that? Sakuya was a good maid, one that she would sorely miss. Reimu Hakurei would have to pay for her rudeness, that much was certain.

Remilia leapt from the roof with a solid flap of her wings, channelling all her speed into a tackle. She would simply intercept whatever measly attack Reimu had planned for her maid's execution. Sakuya might receive some cuts and bruises, but she could simply walk those off.

As Remilia landed, she noticed Reimu's arm plunged deep into her chest, and yet she felt nothing. She barely had time to see the emptiness shrouding the Maiden's body before it vanished, like mist blown away by a sudden breeze. Instantly, Reimu's body became solid once more, her arm still wedged into Remilia's chest. There was a crack like thunder, and for the first time in many years, Remilia Scarlet felt real pain. She felt stone crumble behind her as the shock knocked her backwards with the force of a comet. Steadying herself, she dug her feet into the ground, two trails of torn earth following behind her as she flew back further and further. She collapsed into the grass, tumbling like a ragdoll, finally coming to a halt some distance from her home.

Rising to her feet, Remilia felt the hole in her chest, realising with surprise that the attack had punched almost all the way through her. In front of her, with a great creaking of wood and stone, Remilia Scarlet witnessed her home collapse in on itself. As the clock tower crumpled, the great bell gave one last clattering chime, before falling silent. She winced, unused to feeling true pain, and scowled at the figure floating over the ruins of her manor.

Reimu flicked her gohai, looking down at Remilia with the same empty, soulless eyes. "Remilia Scarlet," she announced, "I am going to exterminate you."

Remilia gave a delicate laugh, splaying her hands in front of her menacingly. "You really don't understand the difference in power between us, do you?"

Reimu said nothing, warranting another chuckle from Remilia. Before Reimu's eyes, the vampire's flesh knitted itself back together. In seconds, the devastating injury was gone altogether, leaving not a scratch.

"Let me reward your confidence with a lesson, human. Let me remind you why the system you defy exists."

A wall of red energy burst forth from Remilia's body, spilling out in waves of raw power. Blinding crimson light shone from the epicentre, painting all present in a reddish hue. Deep within the scarlet storm, a rumbling rose to a roar, as the sheer magnitude of power liquefied the air to the smell of blood and burning ozone.

Remilia Scarlet struck. That is all that can truly be said. There simply are no words to describe the power of a class-A youkai. Her attack was like red lightning, all that could be seen was the briefest flash of blinding red light. A force with the strength to shatter mountains collided with Reimu Hakurei's barrier, launching both barrier and Maiden with speed unrivalled by sound. A single crack marred the surface of the so-called unbreakable barrier.

Reimu flew through the air, pressed against her barrier, only for a red glint to flash into being in the air behind her. She slammed into Remilia Scarlet's fist with such speed that it punched a clean hole straight through her chest. The next instant, a hand gripped her wrist, and she felt herself careening downwards. Quickly throwing up a barrier around herself, she slammed into the ground, the protective shell digging deep into the soft earth. A foot struck the barrier, then another and another, until a spiderweb of cracks spread across the orb's surface. Reimu reached out for the emptiness, to float from reality, but in a rush of panic she felt all the emotions she had suppressed come roiling to the surface. Her grief, her fury, her fear, they paralysed her from within. She could only look on, limply, as the barrier shattered, and as the shards dug into her flesh like knives.

A crimson spear forced its way between her ribs, and she felt herself swung flying into the air. The scarlet blur was all around her. She felt it ram into her over and over from numerous directions. She felt her bones turn to powder, felt the seconds left in her life ticking down to zero. With one final strike, Reimu Hakurei split in half, her two pieces flying off into the sky. Not a shred of white remained on the bloodied, beaten Shrine Maiden.

Eyes winked into being. Space tore apart like paper. Reimu's body would not land again.

Remilia came at last to a halt, the blinding scarlet energy fading from her eyes. She huffed, once more splaying her hands menacingly towards any foes that may be watching.

"Let that be a lesson you never forget," she retorted. "The difference between a human and myself is simply too great to overcome. You were dead the moment you challenged me."

As Remilia turned around to stalk back to the ruins of her home, a wall of eyes opened up against the floor ahead of her. A pillar of flame burst forth from it, reaching so high as to lick the ceiling of the Great Hakurei Barrier. The burning yellow light scorched the eyes of all who witnessed it; even humans looking on from the village found themselves permanently blinded. Remilia Scarlet loathed the sun; she had never expected to find herself less than ten meters from its surface. She felt her skin blacken and her vision turn white, and in the three seconds the fire roared for she felt nearly all the strength fade from her body.

A bored voice sounded from all around her. "Let that be a lesson you never forget. There is always a bigger fish."

Remilia Scarlet stood in shock, her mind desperately trying to parse what had just happened. She dropped to her knees, looking around at the devastation, and for the first time realised that she had not the slightest clue what to do next.

With a burst of heat, the ruins of Scarlet Devil Manor melted into lava, parting down the middle to reveal Patchouli Knowledge, bruised, and nursing a headache. The two wounded youkai sat down upon the grass, wondering what to do next.

Deep below the rubble, another vampire stirred. All the crashing and crumbling outside was preventing her from sleeping. It all sounded so very exciting. Perhaps… Would her sister really mind if she just gave a small peek?

Flandre Scarlet

Little Scarlet Devastation

I think this was the last of the chapters where I didn't really know what I was doing. The story was originally going to focus around Reimu. She was supposed to come away from that battle and regroup. She was meant to be the protagonist, this is why "Red-White Madness" is in the story tagline.

Well, the story had other plans. I was as surprised as Reimu on how that battle went. After this I was reeling, uncertain how to continue. Then, I gave it some thought. Then, the story changed, became something else entirely. I had a plan now.