GENSOKYOBOUND

by SKOOLATOON

Hikari Hakurei is Reimu's own daughter of eighteen years. Her quiet demeanor's brought by social inexperience and natural introversion. Night of Gensokyian New Year party, Hikari wakes to a strange meteorite falling from the sky. While many of Gensokyo's finest are in drunken comas in the shrine, Hikari takes it upon herself to investigate. It'd be a long time before she gets home.

26. Travels To The Hakurei

Stepping out the door of the Palace of Earth Spirits, Hikari and company idly waved to Satori and Koishi.

"Bye, bye~!" Koishi waved her arm enthusiastically. "See you in a couple hours, Ari!"

Hikari snorted. 'I'd rather not. Eventually. Maybe.'

Satori waved politely. "Take care, you four. The volcanic regions can be rather dangerous."

Hiyori grinned. "I'm an oni."

"You know what I mean." Satori grinned back. "...Besides, the enemies there have been rather foul as of late. They should be little trouble for you, but do keep your eyes open."

'...That's rather foreboding.'

Satori didn't comment.

'...Even more so.' Hikari was slightly wary.

"You'll be fine." Satori states, only after a few moments, to the curiosity of those who didn't hear her and Hikari's unspoken conversation.

Knowing that's all she'd get, Hikari begins to mobilize. "Guess we'll get going."

With that, the four began heading off in the direction of the far-off volcanic mountain.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

KaKaKa~...

The scythe-handed ghost was immobilized. "Huh-huh-hwoa~h…"

Boom!

"Hoo-h-h-h…" Frosty air tore into it, rendering it chunks of ice and dissipating mist.

"Hah!" Hikari flung herself at the largest ice chunk.

SMAAAA~SH!

Her gohei's strike shattered the ice chunk. The rest fell to the floor as the mist dissipated in an instant.

"Well handled." Hiyori complemented, recognizing the strategy.

"Th-thanks…" Hikari felt somewhat awkward, having not had the opportunity to thank people much before. 'It just feels weird coming out of my mouth.'

At the base of the rocky mound, the party stared up. Exposed lava flowed from the Earth's crust, an amber hill rising to the underground sky's peak. The oni city was but a light in the distance, separated from the party by vast, empty expanses and the occasional haunted ruin.

'I have a feeling this long, uneventful walk is about to get eventful. Even if it's just because there's lava here, and it's hot.' Sweat from the subterranean volcano's heat made her leotard slick.

"Du~de…" Osamu groaned. "It's like a fuckin' oven."

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

A shuriken of water formed above the party, dousing them.

Marigold did not object, tugging at her warm clothes. "Yo-you're right… My clothes are not made for this."

The volcano shook, the lava's glow flaring for a second.

"Wo-woah…" Marigold stumbled from the tremur.

'What was that?'

...Volcanic ash quickly swept across the volcano's side, and into the party.

'Ugh…!' Hikari shielded her face. She drew a breath- "A-ah… Kauff! Kauff!"

Osamu clutched his throat. "Hak-hak, hu~h…"

Marigold hid her face in her dress. "Wu-wha…?"

Hiyori was fine, scrunching her face up. "Hrm…"

...Once the ash passed, Hikari dropped to her knees, covered in soot.

'Ca-can't breathe…' "Kaugh! Ha-ha-kaugh…" Her eyes began watering.

Hiyori tried Healing ß!

...Hikari found herself able to breathe properly again. "Huaa~h!"

'Ge-geez…'

"Huk-kagh…" Osamu sputtered, dropping to the floor.

Hikari tried Healing ß!

...He inhaled, too, wiping tears from his eyes. "Huwa~h! Holy fuck!"

"Maybe we should be quick about this." Marigold looked concerned.

"Ye-yeah…" Hikari found speaking again awkward. "Ack…"

She decided to spit on the floor. "Pftoo!"

It was black, and viscous.

'Yuck…' Hikari winced.

"C'mon." Hiyori motioned for the party to follow. "We'll try to find some caves to get our bearings. The volcano has to have some gaps. That aren't filled with lava, that is."

"Du~de…" Osamu fanned himself with his hand. "Hikari, can't you, like, do wind things!?"

"No-not that well underground." Hikari admits. '...Also would rather not kick up volcanic ash.'

He huffed. "Try, dude, try. I'm burnin' up, here!"

Hiyori tried PK Freeze α!

KaKaKa~...

Ice crystals formed, freezing and thawing around Osamu's form. The water already on his robe chilled, and he was frozen solid.

"U-uhm…" Hiyori blushed. "Whoops."

Hiyori tried Healing α!

...Fwwwsh…

The ice fell apart.

Osamu smiled. "Aa~h… There we go. Just keep doin' that."

The volcano rumbled.

'N-no!' Hikari really didn't want to almost suffocate, again.

Running forward at the sound of the tremors, the party bolted towards whatever they could find that looked like a crevice.

"Here!" Marigold called out from within a tiny cave.

Hikari and Osamu gravitated to her position, while Hiyori leisurely followed along behind them.

Volcanic ash rushed across the scorched hillside again, blowing past Hiyori.

The less hardy party members waited it out in the cave.

…

Once the wave of ash passed, Hikari reluctantly moved out of the tiny crevice to check on Hiyori. "...Are you sure you're okay?"

Hiyori nodded. "Mmm. Us onis kinda got used to that sort of thing. I mean, getting slammed by an entire cloud pretty much never happens, but sometimes the air quality is… less than good, down here."

Hikari looked skeptical.

"...Oni have good lungs." Hiyori simplifies her point.

'...Makes sense.'

"Why the hell did we come here again?" Osamu griped. "It's just a giant, flaming rock!"

"Sanctuary." Hikari reminded him.

His face was flat. "...Shit."

"Mmm…" Hikari hummed in agreement.

...Venturing out from their safe cave, the party ventured on an incline that was level enough to not instantly reject their attempt to climb it.

On this incline, there was a turtle made out of rocks.

"Oh, hey." Hikari spoke aloud. "Mom owned a turtle, once."

Marigold smiled. "...It's quite quaint, isn't it?"

The rock turtle began moving.

Acting pre-emptively, Hiyori stepped forward, sticking her hand out. "Halt."

Osamu grinned. "Quaint? Dude, it's got like, this huge spike on its back. That's badass."

"Grru~h…" The turtle groaned, rocks dropping from its mouth..

'Feral youkai, apparently…'

Fwoom, fwoom, fwoom!

Spats of molten lava shot from its mouth, colliding with Hiyori.

"Ugh…" After the first one completely surprised her, she guarded, letting her mace deflect the rest. "Looks like this creature's not very diplomatic…"

Noticing the hostility, Osamu grinned. "I think this hot head's gotta cool off, right, guys?"

"We're throwing you into the lava." Marigold deadpans.

Hikari snorted.

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

KaKaKa~...

Slowing down, the turtle hung its head low as it was assaulted by the rapidly freezing and thawing snowflake pattern…

Boom!

Rocks snapped off of it, while bits of ice hung onto the sides of the turtle. "Grh."

...Hikari watched it stumble about. 'I think we made it sad.'

Afte a moment, it shook rapidly, making the ground rumble. Then, it ran towards Hiyori, and did a front flip, attacking her with the huge spike on the back of its shell.

Hiyori guarded-

Bam!

She sunk into the floor.

Osamu gaped. "Duuhuhu~de! Can we keep it!?"

"I think we made it mad." Marigold aimed her new toy at it. "...Rocks aren't very explosive resistant, are they?"

The turtle did a backflip to right itself, the floor rumbling as it touched down.

...Hiyori slowly climbed from the hole she was put in. "That thing has immense strength…"

Seeing Marigold aiming her Heavy Bazooka, Hiyori moved out of the way.

"Heavy Bazooka~!" Marigold was having fun. "Get outta the way!"

She fired it.

An amber bolt of flame shot towards the turtle-

Boom!

Rocks went flying, the turtle flinching back. "Grh."

...Before the dust could settle, the turtle charged out, intent on headbutting Marigold.

"A-ah!?" Marigold was taken by surprise. Hikari moved to intercept.

Thwack!

Her gohei strike did nothing.

Marigold was flung by the headbutt from the turtle. "Aa~h!"

Thud. "...I'm okay!"

Drawing one of the ofuda she brought, Hikari mentally chided herself. 'I should have used these to begin with. This thing is a youkai, right…?'

She flung it.

Thwap!

The ofuda glowed violently, burning into the rock exterior of the creature.

"Grooaa~ghgh!" It howled in pain, before it began walking in an odd direction. Casting its head to the sky, it bellowed. "Groah!"

...Embers began falling from above, gently floating into the party.

Hikari's arm sleeve lit on fire.

'Oh.'

"Woah!" Osamu's robe lit. "Fuck that!"

Osamu tried PK Hydro γ!

The huge shuriken of water formed above the battlefield, raining liquid down on the party.

Hikari's arm sleeve went out.

Marigold was on her feet again, aiming her bazooka at the turtle. "Now!"

Fwoosh! Another bolt of explosive energy flew at it.

Boom!

The turtle was blown to pieces. Rocks, lava, and shadowy energy faded from its being. Elemental mists culminated in a mass of magical mist a few meters above the turtle's ruins, before turning into its basic form.

Which were more rocks and lava.

"...I don't think Mom owned a turtle like that." Hikari decided.

Osamu looked disappointed. "Awwh, dammit. We killed it."

Hiyori looked somewhat solemn. "...That being didn't deserve death."

"It sure wasn't stopping." Marigold decided. "...I think."

With that, the party fell into silence.

'...We did kill that thing, didn't we?' Hikari tilted her head. '...I'm not sure how to feel about that.'

The volcano rumbled, again.

"Oh, fuck." Osamu began looking around. "God dammit."

Unable to find a nearby cave, the party hugged the wall.

"This will work." Marigold hid her face in her dress, again.

Hikari took a deep breath, ready to hold it. She closed her eyes, and braced for the flood of ash-laden air.

…

She took another breath. 'Good thing it's not-'

Woo~sh.

Closing her mouth hastily, Hikari found herself short of breath.

'Da-dangit…'

Struggling to hold her breath, she waited.

She felt the soot caress her skin, in an unpleasant way. It brushed through her hair, and through her clothes. The searing heat detracted from the similarities it held to wind, and she felt the clumps of ash collide with her skin.

Eventually, it was over, but Hikari continued to wait.

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

...Hikari felt the water wash down on herself, and she opened her eyes.

And her mouth. "Ha-haa~h…"

Osamu almost wiped his face on his robe sleeve, only to realize that it was also covered in soot. "Fucking…"

Black liquid flowed from the party's clothes, slightly cleansing them from the dirty ashes that had stained their clothing.

"U~gh…" Marigold winced at her outfit's state. "I'm gonna be charcoal by the time we get out of here…"

Hiyori hardly acknowledges the soot, most of it washing off her kimono easily, as opposed to the blurry black marks left in the other party member's clothes. "Yeah, it can be a little annoying."

"...A little." Marigold was certain she'd smell like fire for weeks.

'My face itches, and I can't touch it…' Hikari experienced true horror.

Holding her arm close to the water shuriken, Hikari let her hand submerge in the moving liquid.

'It doesn't cut, apparently.' Hikari notes.

...She pulled her hand out, and began scratching her cheek, scraping soot off of it.

'Sweet release…'

Pressing forward, Hiyori made sure the party didn't stick around for the next ash storm. "Come on. We can't waste time."

Agreeing, the rest of the party followed her along the side of the volcano. Eventually, they came to an amber river of flowing lava.

...They stood a good twenty feet away from it, aside from Hiyori, who didn't mind the heat at all. "Do you guys want me to throw you over?"

"Hahaha~..." Osamu grinned. "...Hell~ no! Fuckin' lava!"

...Hiyori stared at him dryly. "Do you not trust me?"

He jerks his head back. "S'not that… it's just hot as shit over there!"

'Even over here, the heat is unbearable…' Hikari sighed, feeling tired.

"There's a cave, over there." Marigold points to the left, towards the wall.

Hiyori gave it a careful stare. "...It could be warmer."

Osamu trudged towards it. After he arrived inside, he walked further a bit...

...With glee, he announced his findings. "Hey! I think it's slightly cooler in here!"

Marigold and Hikari surged into the cave with him, pushing past him. "Hey!"

...Hiyori walked into the cave reluctantly. "I'm unsure how wise this is."

"Dude. It's cooler." Osamu stressed this fact. "How could it not be wise?"

Moving forward, Hikari quickly found out that caves were dark.

'...Uh oh.'

...Marigold idly fired her bazooka further into the cave.

Fwoo~m!

Boom!

It succeeded in lighting it up for a moment, only to fill it with smoke.

"...For what reason?" Hikari was genuinely curious.

"I-it seemed like a good idea…" Marigold was regretful.

'How.'

...After the smoke cleared, Marigold utilized her Shield Killer as a flashlight once more, as one does with a Shield Killer.

Before them, the barely illuminant form of an old man's face shone in the yellow glow of the electric arrows the Shield Killer fired.

"Wha~t the fuck is that?" Osamu's eyes slowly widened, pointing at it.

"Probably not friendly." Hikari decided aloud, readying her gohei…

Hiyori objected to the sudden hostility. "We could have avoided killing that turtle if-"

"Huuwoaaa~h!" The spirit glowed a bright red.

A magical circle generated around Hikari, before fading as fast as it appeared.

'What…?'

Then, a light shined down from above on her.

Looking up, Hikari saw a countdown.

'Three…?' She tilted her head at the amber number.

It became a two.

The rest of the party was equally befuddled. Marigold spoke on their behalf, "I never saw a spell like that before."

The number became a one.

"What do you think it means?" Hikari glanced back up at it.

When it hit zero, Hikari was engulfed in a small blast-

Fwoom.

She did a tiny backflip in place, before landing on her stomach. "Oof…"

Osamu snorted. "...Wha-what the fuck was that?"

"Hooowaaaooo~!" The spirit roared, flaring again.

Osamu suddenly froze. "...Wo-woah, what…"

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

…

But it failed!

"Ah… m-my…" He found it hard to focus his eyes, or his speech.

...Standing from the floor, Hikari drew an ofuda. "I don't think it's peaceful."

Hiyori stepped forward, her mace ready. "Me either."

...When the spirit didn't react, Hikari tossed her ofuda forward.

It landed in the midst of its being.

"Huuooo-wooaaa~h!"

Fwa~sh!

Violently, the evil elemental was ripped apart, dazzling sparkles of holy energy left in the air where it was.

...Osamu jankily stumbled towards Hikari. "He-heal… ple-please…"

Hikari tried Healing ß!

...Sighing, Osamu touched his face. "Why's this shit always happen ta me?"

'...Better him than me.' Hikari resolves. 'I also do the healing.'

"Because monsters don't like you." Marigold declares.

...He grins. "Damn right they don't."

Descending deeper into the cave, the party quickly finds that the glow of the Shield Killer's projectiles aren't enough.

Osamu generates a loosely maintained fireball with his hands. "Usin' fire magic sucks, 'cause it's warm…"

He tosses it forward, and it hits the wall, fizzling out.

...After a moment he conjures another one.

"...U~gh." He tosses it forward at the wall.

Fwoom.

The section it strikes lights on fire, before the flames swiftly extinguish. The heated rock glows similarly to lava, before oozing off…

"Fu~ck. I reheated the lava…" Osamu slouched over.

"That's… that's not how it works. At all." Marigold furrowed her brows.

'...Weird.' Hikari felt the intense heat emanating from the lava blob. '...That sucks.'

Then, the lava blob had a face. Tiny red pinpoints shone from two black holes on the lava's form. It opened a mouth.

"Oooouuu~l…" It grumbled. Specks of fire began igniting as it flared up.

"Hey, Hiyori? S'that friendly?" Osamu jeered.

Dryly glancing at him, she shook her head. "...Probably not."

Reeling back, the creature shot a thicker, dense ball of fire.

Hiyori furrowed her brows as it engulfed her face, and fizzled out. "...Definitely not."

As the lava blob's glow faded, its grumble lowered to an intelligible whisper. "Heyhey- whiswhis- come here- whiswhis- comecome here…"

'...What a weird thing.'

Hiyori stomped up to it, and slammed her mace down on it.

Splosh!

The lava went splat, before traveling up her mace, and up the handle…

Sensing it was trying to work its way to her, she slammed the mace into the wall.

Boom!

The lava was splattered on the wall. It oozed off, before convening and recombining.

"Physical attacks don't work." Hikari noted.

Hiyori grunted. "Mmh…"

Glowing brightly as it recombined, the lava blob seemed to grin. "Comehere- whiswhis!"

Soul Consuming Flame tried PK Fire γ!

Fwooo~m…

Flames traveled from the side of the walls and into the party.

"Wo-woah!" Hikari flinched from the suddenness. "Wa-water!"

"On it!" Osamu prepared himself to cast…

Boom!

The surge of fire promptly exploded brilliantly, flames gushing outward.

"Aaa~h!" Hikari wailed, flames engulfing her entire being.

'Stop stop stop stop!' Her eyes immediately teared up from the building pain...

Hikari tried Healing γ!

The flames went out, and for a moment, stayed out.

Fwoo~sh…

An after-gust of flames washed into her again.

"Aaa~aah…" Hikari found it hard to scream any further.

'It hurts! It hu~rts!'

Collapsing to the floor as her flesh sizzled, Hikari worked to fix herself up.

Hikari tried Lifeup γ!

...The pain quickly began to fade. 'Heal heal hea~l…'

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

"Aaaa~h!" Marigold's scream was heard within the fiery cave.

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

"Fuck fuck fuck!" Osamu was terrified.

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

Water splashed throughout the cave, the shuriken of liquid quickly extinguishing many flames.

Panting heavily, Hikari got up off the floor, barely acknowledging her scorched attire or watery eyes. She glared at the soul consuming flame…

More water sloshed onto the lava blob, steam beginning to emit from its form. "Whiswhis- it hurts- whiswhis- hurts…"

'Good.' Hikari had no sympathy left after the amount of pain she was put through. Flustered, she checked herself for any lingering burns in places she felt them, only to find none.

She shuddered.

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

...Marigold rose from the floor, and ran into the water shuriken. "Burning! I-I'm burning!"

Hikari tried Healing ß!

Marigold and her backpack went out. "...A-aa~h…"

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

KaKaKa~...

"Ooaugh! Ooogh!" The soul consuming flame wriggled and writhed under the influence of the ice crystals.

Boom!

The icy blast extinguished its flames, putting the angry being to rest. Cooling down, it became volcanic rock.

…

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Marigold sniffed. "I-I don't… like fire."

"Me-me either." Hikari stepped ahead in the darkness of the cave.

Hiyori looked mortified. "...Are-are you two okay?"

"Fine." Marigold declared. "Just fine."

…

"So, should I-"

Osamu was interrupted by Marigold. "No. Darkness is fine."

Taking Shield Killer, Marigold aimed it forward, lightly illuminating the path again.

Osamu sighed. "...Okay."

There were no other encounters in the tunnel.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

A long, uneventful walk allowed the party to recoup and recover their senses…

At the tunnel's end, they stepped outside and into the searing heat, again.

Marigold frowned, staring at the exposed lava to the right of the cave. "This place is hell."

...Hiyori grinned. "Old hell."

...Fighting a grin of her own, Marigold shook her head. "Shut up."

'I never want to be on fire again. I can still feel it…'

Osamu tilted his head. "...Old hell, huh? S'there supposed ta be a new hell?"

"Yeah." Hiyori confirmed. "A good over thousand years ago, Hell changed locations due to overcrowding, or so I heard."

Chuckling, Osamu nodded. "Cool, cool…"

'...I'm not sure if he thought it was a joke or not.' Hikari blinked.

From the lava, a man leaped out, clad in violent red flames. He spoke in a scraggly, geeky voice. "Hehehe~y, kids!"

His head was half metal, eyes obscured by metal goggles that were bolted to his metal cranium. The lower fragment of his face was intact flesh, somehow, but the rest of him was ever burning flames. Save for the tacky yellow tie.

Marigold's eyes widened, as she reached for her Spectrum Shotgun. "F-...Fi~re!"

Osamu's eyes widened, too. "Oh, fuck no! No~pe! Fuck that!"

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

KaKaKa~...

The man began freezing up, literally. Enraged, his voice dropped twenty octaves. "What's so bad about fire!?"

Boom!

Nearly extinguished, the thin body of a naked man was revealed beneath. He was flung back into the lava by the blast.

'I bet he'll reignite.' Hikari decided.

Instead, the man sat bare bottomed in the lava, before standing back up. "You~ bitches are all the same!"

Psychic Psycho tried PK Fire α!

A meek swath of flames washed over Marigold.

"Aa-aaaa~h!" She screamed, holding down the trigger to her laser shotgun.

The lights shined brilliantly as beams filled the volcano sky, rainbow colors offsetting the amber glow of flaming rocks.

Hikari noted that she was probably burning.

Hikari tried Healing α!

'...Should stop the burning.'

Hiyori ran towards her, since the weapon's knockback was slowly pushing her towards the edge of the ledge.

One of the lasers clipped the Psychic Psycho. "Guaa~Oohhh!"

Boom!

A fountain of flames sprouted from his body, before his body itself became fire. Slowly, it went out, leaving his metal scalp behind.

Hiyori caught up to Marigold, and got behind her. "Stop shooting!"

"No!" Marigold countered, her arm shaking as the beams slowly unified. "No more fire!"

...Hikari leaped between two lasers as the beams slowly unified.

Osamu tried, too. He wasn't successful. "Ooww~!"

...Slowly being pushed back by the now unified beam, Hiyori tries to convince Marigold to stop it. "You're pushing us into the fire!"

That got her to stop.

…

"We were going to fall." Hiyori adds. "...Please, get a hold of yourself."

"I-I am!" Marigold got indignant. Looking over the edge of the ledge, she saw no lava. "...Probably would have felt like fire if we fell, anyway."

...Then, another Psychic Psycho floated up from the ledge as she turned away, giving her a heart attack. "Hehehe~y!"

Marigold whirled to face him. "Ee~p!"

She pulled the trigger on the Spectrum Shotgun, aiming it at the being's face.

Vrrrrr~!

Quickly, she let go.

The resulting bent, metal cap dropped down into the abyss, flames floating down underneath it.

"...Ah." She blinked. "Well, rest in peace, I guess…"

Fwoosh!

Fwoosh!

Pillars of fire shot up in the distance, away from the volcano's base.

"...That's probably not good." Hiyori reflects.

"Or normal." Marigold elaborates, backing away towards the other party members…

'We really need to get moving.'

Hikari began running towards the next incline. "Come on. I don't think we should stick around."

The volcano rumbled.

Instead, everyone doubled back to the cave, for the time being.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

Up numerous inclines, they began nearing the summit of the amber mass of rocks. Chortles of psychic psychos could be heard echoing across the mountainside, accompanied by the low rumbles produced by the previously dormant rock turtles that now roamed the volcano's side.

'It's almost like this place went to hell because we walked through it. I didn't see any of this madness going on when we were on the foot hills…'

"Huhuhuhee~!" A psychic psycho ran awkwardly in front of them, as opposed to floating. He wasn't focused on the party, however…

Boom!

From the volcano's side, a rock turtle spun down, executing innumerable flips. It accurately blew the psychic being off the face of the underground by slamming into him, crushing him back into a simple metal part.

The turtle soared into the distance, unable to control its momentum.

"...Holy fuck." Osamu chuckled sheepishly.

Hiyori whistled. "...That was something."

"I'll say!" Osamu grinned, turning to her. "Annihilated, dude."

Pressing forward, the party rounded the side of some walling, noticing things becoming rounder…

'I think we're nearly at the top.'

Darkness shrouded the path ahead. When the party looked to the right, they noticed a peculiarity…

"The mountain appears to just keep going up…" Marigold cups her chin with a hand. "I thought we weren't even halfway, but…"

"We might be there right now." Hiyori spoke. "We didn't see that mountainside from the other side, did we?"

...To prove Hiyori's claim, Hikari went back down a small portion of the volcano's side.

From there, when she looked up, she could see smoke billowing from the top, and the heated glow tint the sky.

Returning to the party, she confirmed their suspicions. "...We probably have to fight something big, here."

"Big." Osamu looked concerned. "...You mean those things we fought before… they weren't big?"

...Hikari nodded mournfully. "Probably not."

He gulped.

"Whe~ll, whe~ll, whe~ll…"

The exaggerated, stressed voice caused the party to turn…

Before them, a psychic psycho with purple flames casually strutted up as if his 'hands' were in his pockets, even though they were already concealed by flames. "If it is not the Hakurei and her flammable drones!"

...Hiyori furrowed her brows, but decided against making a quip about herself and her fire resistance.

'More of these guys…' Hikari took a deep breath, holding her gohei in a ready stance.

Behind him, a swarm of red psychic psychos followed him up the volcano trail. "I think you will find that we are just getting warmed up! Once we burn you, we'll burn this whole miserable planet! And then… and then we'll finally be recognized for the talented individuals we ah~ahahare!" He spun around, euphoric at his idea of revenge.

"Not if we douse yer flames, asshole!" Osamu cracked his knuckles…

Before he could do anything, the psychic psychos were engulfed in flames.

FWOOM

Bright flames. Brighter flames than the party could handle.

Hikari shielded her eyes, the fire pillar before the four of them stretching to the underground's ceiling. It was hot enough that it glowed white.

"O-oh my…" Hikari couldn't contain her thoughts, the heat making her feel like she wanted to pass out. "I-I don't like this…"

"Noo~..." Marigold whined, stomping in place, trying to mitigate her discomfort.

"U-ugh…" Hiyori's posture faltered.

"Fuuhuhu~ck…" Osamu tried rolling up his sleeves, but it didn't really help.

"Aaauuu~ooohhh!" The psychics inside the pillar roared, their voices drowning out the sound of furious flames.

The ultra hot pillar of fire soon dissipated, becoming a cluster of smaller pillars that eventually extinguished.

...Black, charred fragments of molten metal sunk into the volcanic rock in the blast's wake.

At the epicenter stood a four-legged being.

'...A dog?' Hikari furrowed her brows at the creature.

Osamu numbly thanked the fire pillar for screwing off. "Ye-ye~s… Finally!"

Marigold switched out her Spectrum Shotgun for her Heavy Bazooka. "It-it's on fire…"

The party had a stare off with the canine-shaped being for a few moments, before it spoke.

"I am the guardia~n of Fire Spring!" It cheerfully boasted, lowering by its front paws. "To think I went out for just a wee little skedaddle, to find you pups climbin' all up on my bed!"

...Hikari furrowed her brows. 'It speaks, apparently.'

"You have rea~l guts for comin' this far!" The dog stood up straight again. "...Ya also have real guts for smackin' me aside that one day in the woods, Hakurei."

...Hikari blinked.

"Don't you disrespect me, little girl!" The dog roared, the flames that made up its being flaring, reaching higher than the volcano's peak. "It was only by the grace of Giygas that I found my little old self down here, and I got power the kinds my litter could never dream!"

"Shut up, already!" Osamu had enough of the giant flaming talking dog's lingo. "I've had enough of you wiseass guardian people!"

...Not responding, the dog got into a pouncing position.

Marigold held her breath involuntarily, and began moving to the side. "A-ah…"

"...You made it angry." Hikari informed him.

"Good! Fuckin'... I never even owned a dog." Osamu picked an appropriate time to complain about not having a pet.

Growling, the dog's head began shaking. "Grrhh~..."

Hiyori stomped towards it. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stand down."

With that said, the carbon dog bolted straight into Hiyori.

Boom!

Hiyori grappled it, dropping her mace as she did so. The two spun around before Hiyori landed on her back, the dog atop her.

"Raugh! Raugh!" The dog barked, attempting to bite her in the jugular, only to meet the oni's immensely difficult to pierce flesh.

"Hrr~aagh!" Hiyori roared, attempting to grab it tightly, but the dog quickly bounded off of her. As it did, a fountain of flames engulfed her, doing little but blinding her.

"Ho~ly…!" Osamu's jaw was dropped.

Osamu tried PK Freeze γ!

KaKaKa~...

"Grrh…" The dog growled. A pattern of water in a vague snowflake shape evaporated and reformed repeatedly around the dog's form, before evaporating completely. They only slightly hindered the flames that powerfully enveloped its body.

Boom!

The cold blast did nothing immediately obvious.

Hikari drew her ofuda. "Hyah!"

Two ofuda flew towards the being, before vaporizing when nearing it.

'Good.' Hikari vainly stared at the result.

Fww~sh!

A big bottle rocket flew into the side of the being as it trotted towards Osamu and Hikari.

Boom!

Bowling over, the carbon dog was caught off guard by the firework-esque pattern of star-shaped danmaku. "Arf!?"

Marigold grinned over the blue and yellow glow of the thick, drifting danmaku bolts. "Can't vaporize that, huh?"

Rolling back onto its legs, the searing canine glared at Marigold. "You...!"

Hikari tried Hypnosis α!

Energy rippled around the canine…

It shook its head, unfocused for a moment. "Grrh…"

Hiyori moved to recover her mace, lifting it over her shoulder hastily.

Reeling its head back, the dog let out a piercing howl. "Aaaooo~! Aaauuoo~!"

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

A shuriken of water formed over the carbon dog, before promptly evaporating into steam.

'Water's not going to do it.'

Hiyori tried PK Freeze ß!

KaKaKoo~...

The weaker ice spell barely produced steam, the billowing heat from the carbon dog turning the pattern of water and steam into mostly just steam.

"Dang…" Hiyori fully digested the fact that ice was surprisingly a bad idea.

Whirling back to face Marigold, who was readying her Spectrum Shotgun, the dog seemingly sneezed. "Roufh!"

A fireball hurtled towards Marigold, whose eyes slowly widened as it neared. "...A-aaa~h!"

Boom!

Hikari gritted her teeth. 'Marigold!'

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

A shuriken of water formed in the air over the flaming mass where Marigold vaguely was.

Bam!

The carbon dog flinched from Hiyori's blow to its flank. It turned to attack her further, attempting to breathe fire onto her, only for her to shield herself with her arms.

As the fire began going out, Hikari moved towards it.

Hikari tried Lifeup γ!

'Hope she's not too freaked out…'

...Still on fire, Marigold bolted out, her backpack jiggling violently and awkwardly on her back as she made a mad dash for the water shuriken. Once she got inside it, she let herself relax.

'...Probably fine?' Hikari figured.

"He-heal…!" Marigold turned to Hikari with a half-scorched face. "Heal!"

"O-oh, aa~h…!" Hikari's eyes widened.

Hikari tried Lifeup ß!

...Marigold's scorched hair and face reformed. Hikari couldn't tell if she was crying or not, because of how soaked she already was.

Another fireball whirled past the two, as Hiyori tried her best to distract the dog.

Marigold furrowed her brows. "Osamu! Magic shield! Right bloody now!"

Put on the spot, Osamu stuttered. "Ok-oka~y!"

Osamu tried PSI Shield Σ!

The party was protected by pale blue psychic shields!

'...We probably should have had these earlier.' Hikari realized that her party probably could have avoided far more pain. 'Wo~w…'

"I'm on fi~re!" The carbon dog stated the obvious, grinning widely as its flames flared up.

'I couldn't tell.'

With that, it leapt onto the volcano peak's side, and loomed over the party.

"Hakurei, extra crispy! Comin' right up!"

Hikari frowned up at the carbon dog. 'Please, no.'

Marigold stepped back, as the dog slowly grew brighter. "...Os-Osamu! Magic shield, again!"

"Again!?" He was annoyed. "Why!?"

Pointing exasperatedly, Marigold yelled back. "He might vaporize us, that's why!"

Osamu tried PSI Shield Σ!

The party's psychic shields were reinforced!

"Alri~ght, fine…" Osamu folded his arms. "Shit eats my mana, you know."

…

The party anticipated the dog's next move. 'Whatever he's doing, it can't be as bad as-'

Carbon Dog tried PK Fire Ω!

Fwoo~m!

First, fire flooded the trail the party stood on, forcing their shields to flare violently.

"Aa-aaa~h!" Marigold was freaked out. "I told you! I told you!"

Hikari mentally groaned in the heat. 'At least the shield's-'

Boom!

A blast of flames sent Osamu flying. "Woah-aa~hh!"

Boom!

"Ah, ah- Aaa~h!" Marigold's hyperventilating cut off as she was flung through the air by another blast.

BOOM

Hikari made a noise that couldn't easily be expressed in text. It wasn't pleasant, though.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: HIYORI'S VIEW ====

"Uua~rgh!" It sounded something like this, though.

Hiyori's eyes were wide as she scanned the fire blasts, her skin flushed from the immense heat that seared through her psychic shield. Her party member's cries in the inferno were audible,

'Where are they!? They couldn't have gone far- where…!?' Her eyes were clamped shut the majority of the time, the bright colors of the fire rendering her eyes too sensitive.

Osamu tried PK Hydro γ!

To Hiyori's relief, the rain from above showed signs of life among the inferno. Flames were doused and tamed by the drops of liquid. Though the blaze spanned the volcano's entire side, the heat and ferocity quickly tapered off, because volcanic ash and rock turns out to not burn exceedingly well when reignited.

The flame's roar began dropping in volume…

Osamu tried PK Hydro ß!

"Holy shit! Sweet mother of fucking- dude!" Hiyori caught Osamu hopping along on one leg in the midst of his water shuriken, attacking a flame on his ankle.

'He's okay, somehow.' Hiyori almost turned away, only to notice him step down onto the ankle-

"Aagh!" The ankle gave in, and he fell to the ash-laden floor.

'...Almost okay.'

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

"Fuck, fuck, fu-..." He noticed his ankle begin to feel better. "Ye~ah! We lived through that shit!"

With that exclamation, Hiyori began running into the remaining blaze, looking for the others…

"U-uugh…"

She spotted Hikari, hunched over and propped up on her Miracle Gohei, outfit nearly entirely absent from her scorched figure. "...I-it hu-…hu-..."

'O-oh…!' Hiyori acted swiftly.

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

…

"Aaaa~gh!" Hikari let out a primal roar as her skin bubbled back into shape, particles of scorched clothing being expelled from her flesh's interior.

'Oh no...' Hiyori normally didn't like panicking, but she figured this was as good of a time as any to be mildly distressed.

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

'I don't care how much mana this wastes!'

Hiyori tried Lifeup ß!

...After a few moments, Hikari began stumbling, dazed.

"Aaaaooo~! Aaooouu~!" The carbon dog howled from his perch atop the volcano. "Yeheha~h! That is a wrap! Giygas' top dog, here I come, baby!"

...Hiyori glared up at the dog. '...Seriously. This stupid...'

Osamu glared up at it, as well. "...Fucking…"

'Mutt.' Hiyori's internal monologue was laced with venom.

"Mutt!" Osamu barked, expression flaring.

Osamu tried PK Freeze Ω!

Hiyori tried PK Starstorm α!

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: HIKARI'S VIEW ====

'Everything is pain.'

Tired and stiff, Hikari awkwardly limped in the direction that she saw Marigold fly. 'I-I don't hear her voice…'

...Eventually, she came to Marigold.

'...Is-is she okay?'

Clutching her Spectrum Shotgun tightly, Marigold suddenly stood from her crouched position on the floor, aiming it at Hikari. "Aa-aaa~h!"

Pulling the trigger, she forced Hikari to backpedal.

'Wo-woah!'

Overhead, a maelstorm of ice and stars changed the flaming, neon orange setting to a more neon white one, the colors combining in a messy mixture.

KaKaKa~...

A box of ice formed around the Carbon Dog. It melted rapidly, but froze almost as rapidly, assaulting the dog awkwardly with a freezing and thawing box of ice.

"A-aauh!?" The dog was surprised, dancing around on the inside as ice-turned-water began flushing in, almost suspending it in midair.

Then, the stars hurdle into the ice, completely catching the dog off guard.

Boom, bam, ba-bam, boom, blam!

"Gru- auh! Ooh- augh- Aaa~uh!" The dog whined loudly as its flames slowly lowered, the intense ice and water combined with the physical manhandling the stars gave it wearing it down.

Hikari's focus was hardly on this spectacle, however. Instead, she focused on the burning, crazed form of Marigold.

"St-sto~p!" Marigold screeched, waving her weapon around wildly.

Hikari winced as the lasers clipped her, forcing her to stagger backwards. 'Ma-Marigold…!'

Hikari tried Lifeup γ!

...Like Hikari, Marigold experienced severe discomfort. "...Aa~h…" Instead of screaming, she simply cried, kneeling into a ball as her flesh healed back to normal, skin covering where bone was exposed.

Hikari tried Lifeup ß!

'...Better safe than sorry.'

...Eventually, Marigold got up, stumbling around as her newly wet cheeks were flushed. "A-aah… Hi-Hikari…"

...Slowly, Marigold began approaching Hikari, when-

Thoom.

The carbon dog landed in the midst of the dying flames, teeth bared. "You stupid roaches! What's it gonna take to keep you fleas down!? You need another slow roast on max? 'Cause I can do that!"

'I've had enough of this dogshit.' Hikari resolved to go all-out, focusing on the carbon mutt as her anger quickly accelerated…

"No fuckin' way…" Osamu gaped at the seemingly unharmed dog. "How!?"

"No one's puttin' out these flames!" The dog gloated. "When I'm done, no one'll be able ta tell if it's day or night, baby!"

Hiyori grimaced, dropping to her knees as her mana hit its limit. "...Darn it all…"

The dog turned to her. "Oh- whazzat!? The oni finally sittin' down!? Hahaha~! Aaaooo~!"

...Hiyori pulled out her canteen, twisting the cap.

Steam flowed out. Ignoring it, she held it to her lips…

There was no liquid inside. Not anymore, at least.

Hiyori felt dread.

Hikari felt anger.

Hikari tried PK Fantasy γ!

Throwing her arms forward, she shot two polygons of technicolor magic towards the dog.

FwOwOwOw!

Stopping before it, they began forming a large, hexagonal barrier…

TinkTinkTinkTink!

"What is this, the disco!?" The dog grinned at the flashing lights before him. "Hra~h!"

Moving to headbutt the hexagons, his fire flared. Noticeably, the flames didn't clear the volcano's peak, even if the heat was still immense.

One hexagon shattered after repeated headbutts, colorful shards gravitating into the dog's being like miniature bullets.

"Auh!?" Its eyes widened, backpedalling due to the sudden bombardment of magical pain upon its head. "Wha-what!?"

One by one, the other hexagons all began shattering, the shards gravitating towards the carbon dog and assaulting him.

Shatter! "Roufh! Roufh! Ge-get away- auah!"

Shatter! "Hey hey hey~!"

Shatter! "Eaa~gh!"

The domino effect of shimmering shards eventually enveloped the carbon dog in light magic, echoes of the broken panels visibly rocking the air itself. Yellow and red ripples dominated the dog's side of the battlefield.

Once it seemed like it was over, Hikari's eyes flashed.

Bwaa~sh!

"Guhk!" The dog hung in the air after being flung by the psychic blast, the flames on its body reduced to an ember. "...An-annoyin'..."

Osamu huffed, pretty much out of mana. "Yo-you're… annoyin'."

...After great effort, the dog turned to him with shaky legs. "Yo-you're the one… who's annoyin'... boy."

Osamu tried PK Freeze α!

Using the last of his mana, he lightly dusted the dog with ice crystals, which slowly melted…

The carbon dog was offended. "...Roufh! Roufh roufh!"

Carbon Dog tried PK Fired Ω!

…

But it failed!

Osamu tried PK Freeze α!

…

But it failed!

...Hikari felt like she had taken a punch to the gut. 'I-I think that's it…'

Hiyori, Osamu, and Hikari were all fresh out of mana, and the Carbon Dog hadn't the strength to cast further.

Marigold hobbled towards Hiyori. "...He-hey, Hiyori?"

"Mmh." Hiyori had a glare focused on the dog, not paying attention to Marigold.

...Marigold took a Talcum Powder filled water jar from her backpack. Or so she tried, anyway. She ended up pulling out a mass of melted glass and molten Talcum Powder which had congealed into a big ball. Fortunately for her, it-

Ri~p!

...Unfortunately for her, it took a part of her backpack with it.

"Wow." She nodded slowly, staring at it. "...Is-is everything else fine?"

Searching her backpack's contents, she noted the things further in were alright, if the plastics a bit deformed.

"...Good enough." She sighed.

...She looked over at Osamu, noticing him limping away from an unsteady Carbon Dog. "...Ge-get back here, boy! I… I ain't done with you!"

"Suck." Osamu simply stated, weakly protesting with his middle finger.

...Moving towards the Carbon Dog, Marigold held up the glass mass. "Hey, you."

The dog turned towards her vainly. "...Ea-yes? What is it, little girl?"

...Winding her arm back, she chucked the mass of congealed glass and Talcum Powder at the dog.

Bonk!

It bounced off of its head, before shattering on the floor. The dog recoiled, growling after the strike. "Grr~h… Tha~t is it!"

His flames reignited. They burned brightly, rising in intensity at an alarming rate.

Hikari pushed herself to stand. '...Re-really…?'

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: MARIGOLD'S VIEW ====

'Oh, boy…' Marigold backed up, moving towards her backpack again. 'It should nearly be done for. This is probably its last attack…'

As the dog burned brightly, it eventually got too bright for Marigold to look at directly.

'Here we go… It's probably that flame pillar attack.' Marigold began falling back, dragging her backpack along…

She was surprised when the light stopped assaulting her face.

"...Huh?"

Before her, she gazed upon the dog again.

Its form was now solid, and sturdy. Light glimmered off of the diamond rock that comprised its entire being, not a fragment of what it once was showing through.

"...Wh-what?" The dog surveyed itself. "...Why, hot dog! I'm a new dog!"

...Marigold paled. 'It turned to diamond!?'

"What can this little old body of mine do, now…?" The dog leaped, and pounced on the ground.

Beneath Hikari, a pad of light formed.

Hikari winced, bracing herself…

'No!' Marigold blanched, gazing helplessly at it.

Fwaaa~sh!

A bright pillar of light erupted under Hikari, engulfing her.

...As it faded, Hikari was still standing there, looking only slightly more disheveled than she was before.

Osamu tried PK Magnet Ω!

Rectangles of energy were drawn from all of his party members, and from the Diamond Dog.

The dog turned to him. "...You stupid little…"

...Marigold glanced at the big, slightly melted bottle rocket tied to the back of her backpack. '...I think I know what to do with this. Especially because he can't burn it, anymore.'

Osamu tried PK Magnet Ω!

Hiyori lurched forward, lying on her stomach. "A-ah…"

Hikari nearly lost her balance from just standing. "Ge-geez…"

Enraged, the dog leaped towards Osamu, and batted him aside with a diamond clawed paw.

Swish!

"Gugh…" Osamu twirled around, blood pouring from his new wounds like a waterfall.

Hikari felt shivers run up her spine.

Hikari tried Lifeup α!

'Wo-woah…' The prospect of becoming ribbons in one slash terrified Marigold. Hastily, she drew her oversized bottle rocket, and began aiming it at the creature before her…

'How did this one twist again? I assume like all the others…'

"Hraa~gh!" The diamond dog stood in a straight posture abruptly. Holy diamonds broke from the volcanic rock below it, and began whirling around, holy magic flowing across the battlefield.

...Marigold began finding it hard to concentrate. "A-ah…"

'I-I… what I'm doing is wrong…' She paused, hands freezing on the base of the aimed bottle rocket.

...Osamu sat up, only to get clotheslined by one of the holy diamonds, sent back onto his back again. "Oou~gh…"

Marigold snorted. 'Stupid.'

Diamond Dog tried PK Flash Ω!

FWASH

...Marigold began crying, water violently being expelled from her eyes involuntarily.

'Not this again…!' She sniffled, snot clogging her nose and throat, forcing her to breathe in the rich volcanic air of the volcano with her mouth. 'Th-this probably isn't very good for me, either…'

All these inconveniences snapped her back to her senses. Or, at least, they drove her mind away from the holy-afflicted moral implications of activating the bottle rocket. On autopilot, her hands moved to twist the bottle rocket's bottom valve.

Once she did, the bombardment began.

In order, the rockets tied all along the base began going off, curving in the air to approach the diamond dog from many different directions.

Fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwoo~sh!

Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!

"Hahaha~! Diamond's harder than anything, baby!" Gleeful despite the damage its body was taking, the dog tanked the damage. Chips of diamond broke from its from, glimmering atop the ash below it.

Then, the base rocket flew from Marigold's arms, bowling her over as it did so. "Wo-woa~h!"

Fwoo~sh!

The dog charged for it. "Aoouu~! Here I come, baby! I'm gonna getcha! I'm gonna-!"

BOOM

A catastrophic blast of immense, person sized yet still star shaped danmaku bullets flowed outward. The blast was massive enough for Marigold to get thunked in the face by a few yellow and blue bullets.

'Ouch- ouch! Why!?' She held her face, only for her hand to get covered in snot and tears. "...Gaa~h!"

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: HIKARI'S VIEW ====

...Once the lights faded, the jittering, disabled form of the Diamond Dog rested in the epicenter. It lightly vocalized displeasure with every jitter, but the pants were unintelligible.

'...I-I think we won.' Hikari sighed in relief.

"A-aagh…" Marigold fought her face, blowing her nose on her now bare arm, most of her clothing having been vaporized in the battle.

'I think.' Hikari wasn't sure, with the state her party was in.

Osamu was out cold on the floor, lying on his back. 'I'm not sure if it was the flash, or the blunt trauma that took him out.'

Hiyori's face was in the muddy ash on the floor, her hair frayed. 'I'm pretty sure she just ran out of mana.'

...Hikari tried Healing α!

…

But it failed!

'...Guess Marigold's stuck crying, for now.'

Hikari stepped forward, only to fall to her knees.

'This might be a problem.'

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

"...Three, two…"

Hikari and Marigold pulled, Osamu and Hiyori behind them, stacked in a pile. "Hn~gh…"

…

Hikari counted again. "Alright… three, two…"

They pulled again, budging the two another few centimeters up towards the volcano's side.

'If the volcano top isn't the sanctuary, I'll eat whatever's left of my clothes.'

"Three, two…"

Marigold's hands slipped, the snot they were caked in loosening her grip on Hiyori's wrists. "Wo-wah…" She sniffed. "Th-thish shucks…"

'Tell me about it.' Hikari didn't dare use her vocal cords for anything other than the tried and true pulling command. "...Three, two…"

After what may have been thirty minutes to an hour of pulling their unconscious friends along twenty feet of volcanic trail, Hikari and Marigold reached the volcano's peak.

To their surprise, comfortable warmth flowed from the bubbling pool of magma at the top. It bubbled not in a volcanic way, but almost like water.

Hikari felt at ease before it, the warmth of the volatile liquid more like one of a good winter fireplace, rather than one of oppressive molten Earth. 'What is this…?'

...Marigold sniffed. "Auh." She gave up trying to form coherent words.

…

'Time to revive everyone.' Hikari took out her Sound Stone, which was pleasantly undamaged. '...Not even an ash. This thing's probably not a normal rock.'

The Sound Stone was pressed to her forehead.

She heard a melody play.

A gentle breeze rolled through Giant Step, caressing the indent in the hill…

It then rolled through the crevice leading to Subconscious Steps, before whirling around and escaping into the sky above...

Fluttering through the valley, it weaved through bamboo trees before circling around the Milky Well. It circled back around, and flowed right back out through the trees...

Smoothly floating over the crisp air of the Misty Lake, the wind swept past the walls of a western manor, before dipping into the trees just outside the walls to orbit Rainy Circle. It flowed out just as freely...

Becoming entrapped within the walls around Magnet Hill, the wind anxiously rebounded off the walls before escaping, flowing back over the Human Village...

Freely dancing in the clouds, air circulated around a soft, Pink Cloud. The air dispersed, washing over the land, and sweeping against Gensokyo's border...

Through the crevices of the Earth, wind blew freely through the ragged tunnel systems, before meeting in the air of Old Hell. From there, the wind channeled itself through Lumine Hall, and then escaped, as if a sigh from Gensokyo itself...

Wrapping around the volcanic base of Fire Spring, the air solemnly caressed the violent, heated mass. Air flowed through the numerous caves, over the cooling lava, and up the side of the volcano, before meeting at the top. Whirling around the centerpiece of the entire molten mound, the air energetically stirred before shooting off into the distance, traveling through even the rocks that entrapped it.

...

Hikari felt the world's heartbeat. She felt the heartbeat of Gensokyo.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: MARIGOLD'S VIEW ====

Woo~sh!

Wind spun around the volcano top aggressively for a moment. Marigold felt her sinuses clear up immediately, and whatever lingering aches and burns she held began to heal.

"Sweet relief…" She hugged herself. "Right, Hikari?"

...She noted that Hikari was still focused on the stone, her wind blowing softly in the wind.

Osamu sat up atop Hiyori. "I'm up! What'd I miss!?"

...Looking around, he realized. "Awwh, dammit. I got knocked the fuck out, didn't I?"

Marigold nods, wiping the last of her snot and tears away. "Yeah, basically."

Hiyori bolted onto her feet in a fluid movement, Osamu sliding off of her back.

Thud. "Oo~w!"

...Hiyori turned to him. "Uhm?"

"Morning." Marigold grinned. "We didn't die, I'm pretty sure."

With that, Hiyori's tension dropped. "...Ah. You managed to finish the fight, then. No thanks to me, being out cold, and all..."

Marigold rolled her eyes. "You were fine. You took a lot more hits than any of us ever could."

"And I still got knocked out." Hiyori folded her arms. "If anything, that's-"

"Just shut up and be happy." Marigold didn't feel like arguing the pedantics of oni pride.

…

"...That works too, I guess." Hiyori sighs, relaxing further.

Marigold smirks. "It's easier this way."

"It really is."

Osamu walked out from behind Hiyori, saying nothing.

'...?' Curiosity piqued, Marigold stared back.

Looking away from her, he stared at Hikari…

...Marigold realized why.

'Almost all of our clothes were destroyed.' Marigold looked down at her half of a dress, which was accompanied by a scorched mini-skirt.

Hikari's outfit was far worse for wear, leaving her in shorts and chest bindings.

Osamu's outfit was ragged and scorched, but surprisingly intact otherwise.

Hiyori's outfit, being a special oni relic, featured only the ash that was smeared onto it, and some wrinkles.

"Stop staring." Marigold decided to aggress the mage, when he looked back at her.

He looked at the sky. "I-I, like, uhh… wasn't. At all!"

'...Hmph.' Marigold folded her arms.

…

"...Hikari's been focusin' for awhile." Osamu noted.

"She has." Marigold stared at her, curious. Hiyori began focusing on her, too.

…

Hiyori stepped up to her. "Hikari? I… think you can stop, now."

…

Hiyori tapped her on the shoulder.

Hikari fell over onto her back, the glowing Sound Stone she held breaking apart into particles of light. They flew away on the underground's new wind current...

'Uhm…?' Marigold and Osamu approached cautiously…

"Hikari?" Hiyori's voice was firmer, and she kneeled at her side.

…

"She's asleep." Hiyori confirmed, standing again.

Marigold and Osamu exhaled.

'She would be, at a time like this. I know I wish I was.'

"We just gonna wait for her, then?" Osamu questions.

Hiyori nods, sitting beside her. "Yeah. This place… feels right. I think we'll be fine, up here."

'...I kinda agree with that.' Marigold looked down at the rocky floor. '...The floor, not so much.'

Like this, the party awaited Hikari's awakening.

==== GENSOKYOBOUND: HIKARI'S VIEW ====

…

Hikari stepped along the grassy path. To the left was endless, blue sky. To the right was endless, blue sky.

…

There was also endless blue sky if you looked up, but that was probably a given.

Walking at a relaxed pace, Hikari's eyes focused on the shrine ahead. The stone path before it lead to the stairs, which quickly trailed off, becoming nothing as they progressed down into the blue abyss below.

The Hakurei hillside she was exposed to was far shorter than it would normally be. It was as if the path she was walking on was inserted right below the hill's peak.

Strutting casually onto the stone path, Hikari noticed the world fade to dull greys and whites.

As she opened the front door, she became transparent. Stepping inside, she couldn't see herself at all.

In the middle of the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu sat. She was accompanied by Marisa and Yukari, who were at her side, satisfied smiles on their faces.

They all looked down at a bundle in Reimu's arms…

Hikari looked around. '...This is the shrine?' She noticed the door for her room was missing, and there wasn't the bar counter she was familiar with.

"...Now that I finally have a moment…" Reimu began, looking wistful. "...It's time to name her."

Marisa snorted. "Y'know, Reimu, that's kinda somethin' you plan beforehand…!"

Reimu gave her a sarcastic grin. "Yes, yes. This is formally, though."

"At least this was planned." Yukari stared at Marisa.

...Marisa tilted her head, bewildered. "What's that supposed ta mean!? I'm not preggers, ze!"

"Fufufu!" Mirthfully, Yukari took a glance at Hikari.

'...Can she see me?'

A man walked in, stepping through Hikari's ethereal presence.

'Woah!'

"...Hey." Reimu smiled at him.

"So-sorry I had to pop out for a minute like that…" He scratched the back of his head. "...She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is." Reimu smiled down at her. "Hikari."

...The gears turned in Hikari's head. '...That's me!' Her jaw would have dropped, if she wasn't an invisible presence at the moment.

"Hikari Hakurei." Reimu repeated. "...It sounds great."

Marisa grinned, propping her arms on her hips. "Wha~? I thought ya went with Reimu Junior!"

"Why would I even…" Reimu shook her head, brow twitching.

The man chuckled. "You're still something else, Marisa."

The four quietly sat around the kotatsu, for awhile.

"I am happy for you, Reimu." Yukari spoke.

"What, now?" Reimu scoffed at her, knowing such a saying wouldn't be left without baggage following it.

...Blinking, Yukari rose from the kotatsu. "Wha~t? Can I not simply express my opinion?"

"It was to sugar coat whatever you want to say next." Reimu states outright. "Just spit it out."

"Alri~ght, whatever…" Yukari pouts. "Just the usual instruction I have to give. 'Be sure to raise her well' and all that."

"Yeah, yeah." Reimu smiled in spite of her formality. "I'll think about that later. This is the first chance I've had to relax in a while, and I'm not letting you get in the way of that."

…

Yukari smiled cheerfully. "Very well. Do rest well, Reimu. I believe you have earned it."

Moving towards the front door of the shrine, Yukari locked eye contact with the current Hikari.

'Yeah, she can see me.'

...Yukari even made an effort to go around Hikari instead of floating through her. As she passed her, she gestured for Hikari to follow with a single finger.

'Considering I don't know what's going on here, I suppose I'll have to.'

Hikari walked after Yukari.

The shrine door slid shut.

…

"She still gives me the creeps." Reimu's husband declared.

Marisa snorted. "Fer good reason."

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

Hikari slowly faded back into being as she followed Yukari onto the stone path. Colors bled back into the world around her.

'Weird place.'

Yukari turned around. "...So you've finally done it."

Hikari tilted her head.

"Completed the Sound Stone they sent you?" She sought confirmation.

'...How does she-'

"Good!" Reading Hikari's facial expression, Yukari broke eye contact, looking into the blue abyss that surrounded them. "...I was afraid that gamble of mine wouldn't have paid off. Fufufu~..."

…

Hikari walked up next to her, feeling the mysterious wind produced by the abyss colliding with her skin.

'Feels nice…'

"That bee youkai delivered it, did he not?" Yukari questioned.

"Mmm." Hikari confirmed.

…

"Why did it take you this long, then?" Yukari's eyes were narrow. "It should have taken you but seven days."

Turning to Yukari, Hikari's head jerked back. "How."

"Reimu led you around, did she not?" One of Yukari's brows rose. "She should have had the intuition to take you to one sanctuary a day, and the rest should have been automatic. Unless…" She unfurled a fan, covering her face. "Did something happen to Reimu?"

...Hikari shook her head. "No~. Mom stayed at home. I went on an adventure."

…

"Wait…" Yukari processed this. "You did it all alone."

Hikari nodded.

…

"How." Yukari was exasperated. "You should have- no, you would have died. You simply do not have the potential your mother does."

...Hikari furrowed her brows. 'Hey. Them's fighting words.'

"Am I wrong? Yukari sat on the air, crossing her legs. "You lack the talent. It's simple. You never pursued discipline. For all intents and purposes, you'd be unsuccessful as a Hakurei miko without my guidance, and your mother's coddling. Of course, this depends on the knowledge Reimu would leave you before she dies. I've been on her case about it, but she is adamant about corrupting your progression. It is exceedingly poor form."

…

'Wow.'

Shaking her head, Hikari disagreed. "You're wrong."

"Fufufu…" Yukari smirked. "I have no idea how you could have gotten here as undeveloped as you are."

'I don't remember her being this condescending. Has she thought this all this time?'

"I wasn't alone." Hikari began, "I-"

She was interrupted. "Oo~h. Now it all makes sense. You got help." Yukari's tone was condescending. "How many people did it take?"

"Three." Hikari provided.

"Aah. Marisa, Alice, a~nd Sanae. I'm betting, anyway."

Hikari shook her head. "Osamu, Marigold, and Hiyori. My friends."

…

Yukari blinked. "I only recall the name of Kirisame's irrelevant daughter. Youkai exterminators?"

'Really, now…'

Unwilling to humor Yukari further, Hikari folded her arms. "I'm not as weak as you think I am."

…

"If you say so." Yukari reclined in the air, arms behind her head. "Unless you can make me flinch, I think I'll take a nap…" She yawned.

...Hikari walked up to her, and thwacked her on the head, to little avail.

"Good night. I won't be waking up again. Your life choices have doomed us." Yukari closed her eyes, pretending to lie down on the air.

…

Hikari hit her again.

…

'I think it's time to break out the big guns.'

Hikari backed away, readying ofuda. 'But first…'

A spread of ofuda went for Yukari.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The ofuda burned a bright white, before vaporizing against Yukari's flesh. Her flesh was left marred, and clothes seared, but quickly, her flesh healed back. Her eyes didn't as much as flicker open.

'In that case… I'll show you how reading all those books wasn't for nothing. Gensokyo's a land of fantasy, so why shouldn't I dream of it!?'

Hikari tried PK Fantasy γ!

Launching her arms forward, two polygons of technicolor energy soared towards Yukari.

FwOwOwOw!

Yukari's eyes blinked open. "Wh-what…?"

TinkTinkTinkTink!

The hexagonal barrier formed between Hikari and Yukari, brightly flashing yellow and red.

...Quickly, Yukari recomposed herself. "...What is this?"

"Strike them. I dare you." Hikari announced.

…

"How about no?" Yukari grinned. "My request was 'make me flinch'. Not 'persuade me to attack your barriers'."

…

'Fine.'

Hikari tried Hypnosis Ω!

Energy rippled around Yukari. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but an even stronger ripple blossomed outward from herself.

Hikari's eyes flickered for a moment, but she held her consciousness.

"I wouldn't do that, though." Yukari warned her. "Status ailments are not what I'm interested in. Show me your fictional power!"

'Fine!'

Hikari tried PK Fantasy ß!

She threw her left arm forward-

FwOwOw!

-and her right arm.

FwOwOw!

Yukari braced herself with her own arms, but the technicolor polygons barreled straight into her, her body lighting up with the vivid warm colors. "Geh!?" She cringed inward from the strikes, which had traveled through the barriers of the other fantastic spell.

Fizzle!

Yukari felt pain rack her body, the drops of technicolor energy forcing her to grit her teeth. When the second barrage came, a large gap opened to intercept it.

The barrage landed near Hikari instead, but her own shots phased through herself, unable to harm herself.

Hikari focused on the Yakumo…

Bwaa~sh!

The telekinetic blast made Yukari flinch slightly, the energy blooming outward from her figure.

It struck the hexagonal barrier.

Shatter! Sha-shatter-shatter-shatter!

The fragments of the barrier engulfed Yukari. "Huu~gh…" She inhaled sharply, pained by the attack.

Bwaa~sh!

The barrier's shattering let Hikari hit her with another psychic blast.

"Goh…" Yukari clutched her dress, keeping it from getting disheveled by it further.

…

"How'd you like that!?" Hikari yelled, fist raised and gohei brandished.

…

"Fufufu…" Yukari giggled, dusting off her dress. "Fufufu~!"

'What's so funny…?'

"...You really are just like your mother." Yukari smiled widely.

'...Am I supposed to feel happy about that?' Hikari was ready to continue rumbling, even as she felt her adrenaline drain, exposing her fatigue to herself.

"Calm down, you." Yukari drifted towards Hikari lazily. "I was merely teasing. Though, your mother leading you along was a fully viable path, and would have doomed all of Gensokyo."

…

"I don't believe you." Hikari stated simply.

"Sharp." Yukari's expression fell into a more neutral one. "You've exceeded my expectations. Reimu was supposed to solve this 'incident'. Your mana pool is deficient, but you may still make due for the coming conflict. "

"I don't have to do everything myself." Hikari asserted. "My friends are part of my power."

'...Cheesy, but it's true enough. Together, we beat up some strong people.'

...Cringing, Yukari looked disgusted. "Fr-friends? Friends!? Fufufu~!"

'...I didn't say that well.' Hikari glared at Yukari, waiting for her to respond.

"People are weak." Yukari folded her arms. "Friends one day will be your enemies the next. Not even the Hakurei are immune to this travesty of human nature. One day you will find that your shrine is built on sand. And, in this scenario, you do have to do everything yourself."

"I think you're wrong!" Hikari runs towards her, and tries to strike her with her gohei.

Thwack!

...Yukari doesn't respond to the physical assault. She does counter verbally, however. "And I will be there to tell you you were wrong. You will not have minded that, but you will acknowledge it."

"Is that a fact?" Hikari didn't believe it.

"...It is a probable reality." Yukai tried to make 'educated guess' sound smart. "One that is no use getting angry over. We waste time."

…

'She dosen't know what I know. She doesn't know them. She thinks too much of herself. She's incorrectly guessed my entire quest up until this point. There's no way she could be right, here.'

...Hikari turned, and began walking away, fed up. "Now I know why Mom called you a creep."

Yukari snorted, a grin widening onto her face. "...The irony is palpable."

…

'This place is weird.' Hikari noted that there were occasional masses of grassy dirt in the distance, single trees perched upon them.

Yukari leaned out of a gap, appearing next to Hikari. "I suppose you don't want an explanation of what this place is?"

Skeptical, Hikari gave her a dry stare. "Does it involve insulting me and my family?"

Reluctantly, Yukari denied. "...No."

"Sure." Hikari was up for it, then.

The grass path ahead of them expanded outward. Trees blinked into existence, and a picnic mat did, as well.

On the picnic mat sat Reimu. She was sitting on her legs, unblinking.

"It is the heart of Gensokyo." Yukari informed her. "...Technically. It is being expressed through the dream world, as of right now. As such, things are… muddled."

'Sounds like fun.' Hikari walked up to her mother.

"...Hi, Hikari-chan!" Her mother waved at her enthusiastically.

...Hikari stared at her dryly. 'That's not really like Mom.'

"Would you like some orange juice?" Fake Reimu tilted her head.

...Hikari shrugged.

Reaching behind herself, Fake Reimu took out a pristine glass of orange juice.

'Where'd that come from!?'

...Receptively, Hikari accepted it, and sipped from it.

'...It's really good!' She felt her strength return!

"Since this is the dream world…" Yukari continued, "this land is also partially your heart. As such, you have the pants on, in this realm."

'I'd be worried if I didn't have pants on.' Hikari took a moment to confirm that her skirt was indeed still there. '...Why am I in my normal clothes, anyway?'

Looking off the edge of the grassy path, Hikari took note of the large, mobile rectangles of grasslands.

...She nodded. "Is it like a big lucid dream, then?"

"If the lucid dream acted independant of you, yes." Yukari attempted to elaborate.

Furrowing her brows, Hikari found that description awkward. 'That… just sounds like a normal dream.'

Gesturing to herself, Yukari continued. "I, myself, was forced to store my consciousness in Gensokyo's… I don't want to say 'own consciousness', but in Gensokyo itself, as it were."

Realizing something, Hikari got confused. "How can a world have a heart?"

Taking a moment, Yukari considered a reply that would make sense. "...The easiest explanation for you, is the collective consciousness of every living being in one given land. The boundary of what constitutes and what doesn't constitute a world is very, very broad and ill-defined. Places like 'Earth' are so ill-defined that, as far as I'm concerned, they could not be interacted with. Smaller scale operations like Gensokyo, on the other hand, are definable due to the lack of people who believe it a world."

Hikari's eyes glazed over. '...What?'

"Even so, a boundary of a world is-..." Yukari notices Hikari's boredom. "You're not listening anymore, are you?"

"No~pe." Hikari shook her head.

"Tsk. Pitiable. Simply put, I chose Gensokyo's 'heart' because, despite the corruption and devastation ten years in a future where you either never bothered or were unsuccessful, I believed it far more likely that Gensokyo itself would still be alive, as opposed to you." She insulted Hikari.

Walking along, Hikari came to what looked like Osamu in his old village mage robes, smiling widely.

"So~... Why'd you seal yourself in any heart at all?" She gave Yukari a dry stare, moving towards Osamu.

A grimace crossed Yukari's features. "Giygas was corrupting me. Had he fully taken me, victory would be his, guaranteed."

'Ah. Makes sense…'

"I feel like my friends and I could have taken you." Hikari voices. "Considering the damage I managed to do just now."

...Yukari smirked. "I'll hold you to that, if you don't die."

"Hehe~y!" 'Osamu' exclaimed. "How're ya, Hikari!?"

"...Hi." Hikari waved at him.

Suddenly, an apple dropped from the tree, bonking 'Osamu' in the head. "Ouch! Diddly dang darn it… I think I'll just stay here."

'Oh. Okay. That thought process seems totally natural.'

Yukari blinked. "...He's Osamu?"

Hikari nodded, perplexed by her knowledge. 'I never told you what he looked like… or that he was a he.'

... Facepalming, Yukari sighed. "Hikari, your choice in party members is starting to worry me. If your last party member is nothing short of an oni, I will deem you mentally challenged."

'Funny story, that.'

Continuing into the midst of the expanding, albeit fairly warped grassy plains, Hikari came up to a giant carrot, still embedded in the ground.

'Speaking of funny stories…'

==== GENSOKYOBOUND ====

END OF CHAPTER 26

Protagonist: Hikari Hakurei, Disciple of Paradise

-Inventory-

Weapon: Miracle Gohei(?) - Ability to whack stuff really hard. Amplifies whacking power, too! Able to deal magical damage. Adds an increased chance to deal critical hits. Recreated by the dream realm.

Arms: Iconic Hakurei Arm Sleeves - Keeps arms warm. A Hakurei tradition. How they stay on is a Hakurei family secret.

Body: Dream Miko Outfit - An outfit identical in appearance to the one she started with. Gives 25% resistance to magical damage.

Misc: Royal Red Ribbon - A ribbon made with rich materials, with a floral pattern.

-Skills-

Attack: Quickly! Swing your gohei at them for massive damage!

PK Fantasy α, β, γ - Bombards the enemy with pain in the form of flashing colors. Deals magical damage. Heavy mental strain that increases with each tier. Third tier forms a barrier, which breaks upon moderate damage.

PK Flash α, ß - A bright flash that distributes very random status effects to enemies. Usually makes people cry. Higher tiers increase chances, and introduce possibilities of fainting or dispel.

Hypnosis α, Ω - Puts weak enemies to sleep for a short time. Works better on tired or exhausted foes. Can also be used in a far more costly form that works on multiple opponents.

Shield α, ß - Halves damage the target takes. Only works against physical attacks, and enough strikes, or powerful strikes, will dispel it. Higher tier turns it into a power-shield that protects even better and even reflects a fraction of protected damage.

Lifeup α, ß, γ - Heals target a little. Higher tiers heal more grievous wounds, like bone fractures.

Healing α, ß, γ - Heals basic status ailments. Higher tiers can cure more dire effects, like burning alive.

Teleport α - Allows instant transport to the general location of an area remembered by oneself or one's party members. Requires a long, fast run-up to execute, however.

Ofuda Toss - Throw a holy ofuda that does massive holy elemental damage to youkai and dark elemental foes. Effect lessens the more holy the thing you're attacking is, to the point of healing holy things. Only works if you actually have ofuda, though.

Summon Koishi - Using the Heart Gem's power, Hikari summons Koishi Komeiji. Casts three random HK spells on enemies, before using a higher tier one that depends on her current mood. Typically can manage two uses before she's out of mana. Costs sizable mana.

γ-γ-γ-γ

Mage: Osamu Katsumi, the Wannabe Mage

-Inventory-

Weapon: Fisticuffs!

Arms: Nothing

Body: Rugged Robe - A sturdy robe enchanted to resist damage. Made partially with sturdy cloth from deep underground.

Misc: Red Mage Hat - A red colored mage's hat made from cloth in the Human Village. Minor resistance to thunder, ice, and fire magic from its well worn usage in the past. Didn't see much action… until Osamu bought it!

-Skills-

PK Thunder α, ß - Very random thunder attack that deals limited damage. Higher tiers increase number of bolts, and sometimes power.

PK Hydro α, β, γ - Gets everyone wet. Usefulness with PK Thunder and PK Freeze depends on whether you hit yourself or not! Creates whirling water spirals at higher tiers.

PK Freeze α, β, γ, Ω - Generates ice crystals at the target's location. Medium damage and effect; may freeze some targets, especially wet ones. Highest tier has a near-guaranteed freeze chance and immense ice damage, at the cost of being very taxing.

Fireball - Manipulate mana to make a shoddy fireball. Low damage and effect.

Static Hands - Not a real spell. Result of a very undercharged PK Thunder that can accidentally go off.

PSI Telepathy α - Speak to friends you haven't met yet! Unstable connection and only works if they have the skill or are asleep.

PSI Shield α, Σ - Halves damage from magical and psychic attacks. Thunder spells fry it instantly, and harder blows dispel it. Second tier applies basic shield to entire party at higher mana expense.

PSI Magnet α - Costs no mana to use, and steals a very tiny amount of mana from the enemy. Enemy has to have mana in the first place for it to work, though.

Offense Up α - Get pissed! Boosts strength and confidence depending on caster's power and receiver's power.

Defense Down α - Throw the enemy off their game. Makes them slightly more vulnerable to physical attacks.

γ-γ-γ-γ

Inventor: Marigold Knowledge, the Tri-Magi Love Child

-Inventory-

Weapon: Spectrum Shotgun - A Marigold Knowledge invention. Filled with foil chip bags to conduct the mana, and it is transmitted into a wind stone. Upgraded to draw mana from a simple wooden block filled with immense magic reserves, giving it virtually unlimited ammo. The addition of a battery and a prism allow it to fire seven rainbow colored beams at a wide spread, which deal non-elemental damage. Firing long enough allows them to focus and deal incredible damage, at the cost of insane recoil and instability.

Arms: Nothing

Body: Really Custom Adventure Dress - A custom dress made by Alice, burnt into fragments by an inferno. Provides slight defense against magical and psychic attacks. Now allows very free movement, but is worse for the cold.

Misc: Swirly Glasses - Lets Marigold not be blind.

Backpack - Allows extended inventory. Aged relic from the Kourindou.

Unnamed Lock Opening Device - Opens locks very precariously. Made with steel, burnt cloth, packaging peanuts, thumbtacks, string, and wooden wheels. Don't even ask…

Ruler - Lets you measure the world around you!

Protractor - Lets you find the angles of anything ever. Totally overpowered.

Scotch Tape - Transparent adhesive from the outside world. Weak, but handy!

Deck of Cards - Allows Marigold to play Strip Poker with the party. Just kidding… or am I?

Shield Killer - Electrical device used to subdue harassers. Has settings ranging from Tickle Torture to Arse Blaster. Fires electrical projectiles, of unknown power.

NF Burst Gun - A Marigold Knowledge invention. Uses a Pop Gun as the base, but amplifies its power with an array of random batteries jammed into the base with the Pop Gun. The more batteries, the better, but the typical yield is about five bullets per trigger. Spamming the trigger doesn't make it go any faster, unfortunately. Has no foreseeable ammo limit, and the batteries are only there for mana circulation, meaning their power is really inconsequential.

Holmes Brand Designer Hat - Village swag! A retro village hat that ceased production ten years ago. Sells for a pretty penny nowadays, but it's pretty useless otherwise.

Slime Generator - A bulky box that shoots a small splat of slime. Doesn't seem good for much.

Counter-PSI Device - A weird device Marigold found from a flying saucer. Works in strange ways, and seems to disrupt everyone's concentration. Marigold is immune to its effects.

Charm of Sleep - Grants immunity to sleep while equipped, or held. Can be equipped to Arms or Misc.

Microwave Gun - A Marigold Knowledge invention. Constructed with a controlled flame crystal and metal parts, it fires a beam of sustained microwave energy that cooks biological foes alive. Fire-elemental at its core, it's also very inefficient against machines.

Defense Shower - A Marigold Knowledge invention. Made of a broom, a showerhead, some magnets, and uses jars of water as ammo. Slapped together with ofuda, giving it a holy defensive effect. The jars are usually filled with Talcum Powder, for alchemical purposes. The liquid that is dispensed becomes auto-applying lotion.

Heavy Bazooka - An invention developed in part by Kappa Tech and Marigold Knowledge. It shoots heavy fire-based blasts of fire magic, and deals high knockback. It was constructed by stuffing some fire and gravity stones into a tube, adding a cap on one side to direct the fire, and hooking a magical wire to the handle. Nitori did most of the work, though...

-Skills-

Looks Into The Dark - With a flashlight.

Knows Who Will Win The 2016 Election - She doesn't know who the competitor is, or for what country it is, or even knows the country exists, though.

Takes Pride in Being Fluffy - She knows what she wants, and she gets it!

garfielf - its lasaga tim

Doesn't Know Where the Hamburger Helper Went - *brup*

γ-γ-γ-γ

Fighter: Hiyori Hashimoto, the Buddhist Oni

-Inventory-

Weapon: Mace of Devas - The last of the four treasures held by the Devas of the Mountain. Ability to whack stuff really hard. Increases critical hit rate by lieu of being a really big, blunt, spiky weapon. Allows partial blocking of magic attacks.

Arms: Shackle of Devas - The first of the four treasures held by the Devas of the Mountain. Grants immunity to sleep-inducing magic. Grants fifty percent resistance to wind and thunder magic.

Body: Kimono of Devas - The second of the four treasures held by the Devas of the Mountain. Grants immunity to paralyzing magic. Grants fifty percent resistance to fire magic. Insanely durable. Has a floral design to it…!

Misc: Bows of Devas - The third of the four treasures held by the Devas of the Mountain. Grants immunity to confusion-inducing magic. Grants fifty percent resistance to ice magic.

-Skills-

PK Starstorm α - Summons forth the stars from the night's sky to rain down upon enemies. Hits all enemies, and deals high magical damage, at the cost of being highly mentally taxing. Can hit allies if they're in the effective area, as the white stars don't have homing properties. Power proportional to amount of enemies, as well.

PK Fire α, ß - Creates an igniting blast of flames at the target's location. More impact comes with higher tiers.

PK Freeze α, β, γ - Generates ice crystals at the target's location. Medium damage and effect; may freeze some targets, especially wet ones.

Shield α, ß, Σ - Halves damage the target takes. Only works against physical attacks, and enough strikes, or powerful strikes, will dispel it. Higher tier turns it into a power-shield that protects even better and even reflects a fraction of protected damage. Highest tier applies a basic shield to the entire party.

Lifeup α, ß - Heals target a little. Higher tiers heal more grievous wounds, like bone fractures.

Healing α, ß - Heals basic status ailments. Higher tiers can cure more dire effects, like burning alive.

Teleport α, ß - Allows instant transport to the general location of an area remembered by oneself or one's party members. Requires a long, fast run-up to execute, however. Higher tier is largely automatic and requires little room to execute.

Martial Arts - Skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

γ-γ-γ-γ

Author's Note:

and NOW WE'RE IN MAGICANT / dream whurl

lemme spell this JaRgOn out for ya:

HEART OF GENSOKYO: basically EVERYONE'S minds at ONCE DOOD

HEART OF hikari: hikari's mind

this is important because giygas and minds and asdf! yeah.

anyway yeah, yukari's KIND OF A DICK ; also be droppin' INFORMATIONS but i don't think it's a bad case of exposition dropping; bunch of stuff you wouldn't know otherwise and also only really relevant to the yukari / hikari relationship and yukari's role in gensokyo

was the carbon dog fight TOO LONG or JUST RIGHT (there's no way it was too short I THINK); i feel like it dragged on a bit (if only because the entire chapter was BEATING SHIT UP), but it was RELEVANT BEATING SHIT UP… i think (i forgot that he turned into diamond dog halfway into writing it so i depleted the party's resources for tension and then realized OH RIGHT SECOND FORM OH SHIT but that's also kinda how it goes in earthbound...so i ran with it)

bottle rockets are freaking OP by the way

then again i've done twenty pages of remilia whacking action consecutively so this should get a pass if the character interaction is ON PAR

...it's kinda jarring for me to suddenly realize that i've now got chapters of entirely OC characters going on, something one might consider taboo of a fic with less defined OCs (then again, two of them have IMPORTANT RELATIONS to the main gals of the series)

what're your guys' opinions on OC driven things? i know the questions broad but it popped into my head and if i don't ask you now i'll probably ask you again like twenty chapters into whatever i write next

as always, see you all next time!