"Damnit Yukari..." Reimu grunted, as Marisa, Reimu, Wriggle, Daiyousei, Sunny, Luna, Star, Cirno, Rumia, and the two halves of Rika fell onto the ground near the bamboo forest.
"Was wondering when you would show up." Sanae said. "Should have guessed Yukari was up to something if you lot hadn't shown up yet."
Rumia got up and looked around. It was now early night-time, and the moon, almost full, had risen in the clear sky. As Yukari had said, hatred for the Lunarians had gathered many that would normally not gather with each other. Although they kept to their own groups, the fact this cause had brought together rival groups, that were tolerating each others presence without descending into danmaku fights, or worse, spoke volumes.
The first group Rumia saw was the Taoists, although she noted Seiga and Yoshika were a little distance away from Soga, Miko and Futo, Rumia had learnt that Miko was not on the greatest of terms with her old teacher, due to moral disagreements.
Then, Rumia noticed a large group of Tengu, what could only be called a platoon. There were twenty wolf tengu, with Momiji at the helm, and twenty crows, led by Aya. Tenma was nowhere to be seen, but Rumia guessed knowing him, he was guarding the village and mountain, if he knew the objective of the Lunarians.
Next to the Tengu were some Kappa, who were nowhere near as organized, or as numerous, and were tinkering with gadgets. Rikako was with them as well as Nitori.
On the other side of the Tengu from the Taoists were the fighters of the Myouren Temple. Shou, Byakuren, Nue, Ichirin, Murasa and Mamizou were all there, although Byakuren seemed to be desperately trying to think of a peaceful solution, the others kept shooting them down.
Alice stood on her own, not too far away, readying her dolls. She had repaired Golaith since Rika's Evil Eye Omega shattered it. Near Alice was Utusho, who was being directed by Satori and Koishi, along with Yuugi, who was talking to Suika. Rumia couldn't help but notice the Tengu moved away every time the Oni took even a step towards them. There were a few other ragtag Oni as well, who had followed Yuugi above ground for a brawl.
In the distance, within the Bamboo Forest itself, Rumia made out Mokou looking onwards. Much closer, but in the same direction, was Remilia, Sakuya, Meiling and Patchouli, as well as a large amount of fairy maids. The fact that Remilia had brought even Meiling showed just how seriously she viewed this foe. For some reason or another, a lot of the Lake Fairies had followed Remila as well, Rumia could only guess Remilia's infamous charisma was the cause.
Ran and her Shikigami, Chen, were near Rumia's group, as was a large group of earth rabbits, who seemed to be led by one slightly larger, black-haired one. The lesser rabbits were all excited, jabbering about nonsense.
Finally, Yuuka was visible, in the distance, nowhere near anyone else.
It was quite the force that had gathered. That was what Rumia thought, as she noticed Rika had woken up, and was, as Yukari said, literally putting herself back together, the cut wires re-connecting and repairing.
"You gonna help us Rika? Or am I gonna have to throw you in the Misty Lake for a while?" Rumia asked.
Rika was quiet for a few moments, before she grunted.
"I owe that purple-haired loonie." Rika said. "Not to mention I swore I'D be the one to kill you. Can't let those two do it, now can I?"
"Aw~ You do care!" Rumia teased, making Rika look away, and huff.
"It's not because I care, you idiot! I just have person beef with you that I want to myself!"
"Hmm. I wonder if this means Suwako or Kanako wins the bet..." Sanae muttered to herself. "Seems more like a tsundere to me than a rival or a arch-enemy..."
Marisa chuckled and glanced towards Alice, she seemed to be the only one who understood what Sanae was murmuring.
At that point, three figures emerged from the Bamboo Forest. Rumia noticed Keine appear behind Mokou, literally holding her back, as Kaguya, Eirin and Reisen emerged.
"... What's the plan Doc?" Rumia asked.
"I do not have a plan, at least, one I am confident in." Eirin said. "I know the sisters better than anyone else here. I have one simple idea, but it's a long shot, and bets on the sisters' own pride."
"Are they really that strong that the 'Brain of the Moon' cannot come up with a plan?" Sakuya spat venomously. She seemed to hate Eirin.
Eirin paid Sakuya's tone no heed. "Put simply, I am coming up with a plan to take down two foes who exceed Yukari in strength on singular terms, and together likely exceed the strength of everyone in Gensokyo together."
Rumia noticed Yuuka laugh.
"Anyway, the idea is to play on their personal flaws. You see, the sister in blue, Watatsuki no Toyohime, while incredibly powerful of her own right, dislikes fighting. She is more of a tactician and diplomat than a fighter. I would liken her disposition towards that of Byakuren." Eirin said.
She paused.
"On the other hand, her sister, the one in red, Watatsuki no Yorihime, is the opposite. She dislikes idle talk, and prefers action. She is prideful in her combat abilities, and would most likely relish the chance to take us down herself, although, of course, she'd give her sister equal credit when telling the story to the moon." Eirin said. "Simply put, the plan is to pray on Yorihime's pride, and hope she engages us alone. If we can overpower her before Toyohime notices the battle requires both of them, then we may be able to win. I would certainly say that Yorihime is the stronger of the sisters, and if we can defeat her first, during her moment of pride..."
"I get it!" Yuugi said. "It's like fightin' a mob of Oni! You challenge the strongest to single combat, and if you win the others will respect 'ya too much to fight as well!"
"Not really Yuugi." Satori said. "The only similarity is that it prays on the pride of the lead Oni that they can win single combat. We're fighting many against one. We are the mob."
"Ah, I'm explain' it in a way the other Oni will get. They've not drunk enough recently to understand stuff. Oni need to be wasted to think clearly!" Yuugi said.
"I can fix that!" Suika yelled, drunk as ever, offering Utusho of all people a drink, which Satori promptly prevented.
"I'm not sure if the Watatsukis are more dangerous than those three..." Reimu said, sweatdropping.
"Well if that's the case we should win, eh?" Sanae said.
"No, I mean collateral damage Sanae. Both will kill everyone, but a drunk Utusho will irradiate everything as well." Reimu replied.
A gap opened, and Yukari came out, along with Youmu and Yuyuko, who promptly yawned.
"I was having such a good nap too, Yukari~" she groaned.
Suddenly, before Yukari could say anything, a massive spark flew across the sky. When it faded, Watasuki no Toyohime floated there, holding a fan towards Yuuka.
"Oh my! I've stumbled upon a rowdy group! And the Princess is here too! I can only assume one of two things; you are a resistance to protect her, or you are saying your farewells, Princess Kaguya." Toyohime said, before her eyes narrowed.
"And judging by the reaction of the plant youkai, I'd say the former is far more likely."
Eirin did not say anything. She acted instantly, unleashing a massive hail of arrows towards Toyohime, which exploded into a mist in the air, a mist of chemicals.
"Oh my, a paralyzing poison!" Toyohime said. "We developed immunities for your old toxins ever since we exiled you, Master Yagokoro."
"It was a statement of intent." Eirin said. "I was well aware that you had developed antidotes and antibodies for my old toxins. However, you may want to take a double-check."
Toyohime floated, and then smiled.
"As expected of you, Yagokoro-sensei! You've mixed in things from the Earth! I can't move my ring finger." she said. "I presume your statement means you have more dangerous substances on hand?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps it is a feint, to make you hesitate." Eirin said.
"How many years has it been since we matched wits?" Toyohime asked.
"I lost count. Are we talking Lunar years or Earth anyway?" Eirin responded.
Yuuka just fired a second spark, this time, redirected with a mere swing of Toyohime's fan.
"Stop being ride, plant youkai." she said.
"I don't see why everyone else isn't attacking you." Yuuka said. "You're alone. It's not the plan, but it's good enough for me."
Yuuka spun her parasoul in front of her, gathering energy, before a sadistic smile spread across her face.
"Multiple Spark: Gatling Gun"
Yuuka's attack matched the name, as she fired a literal hail of Master Sparks as she spun her parasoul, which even the Lunarian was forced to evade. She looked stunned.
"Wow... that would have actually been troublesome had it hit. I'm impressed!" she said, as Yuuka stopped spinning her parasoul.
"I am the Earth's strongest youkai. Don't underestimate me... or take your eyes off them." Yuuka said, as Yuugi and Sukia rushed at Toyohime's sides.
"Four Deva's Arcanum!" Yuugi said.
"Knockout in Two Steps!" Sukia finished, as the two Oni slammed into the Lunarian.
Or so, it seemed, as the illusion faded, and Toyohime appeared above them. The two Oni's fists collided, and unleashed a massive shockwave, like the crack of thunder.
"Do you really insist on fighting me? I would rather my sister do the dirty work, but if you insist..." Toyohime said, spreading out her hand-fan, and lifting it up.
Yukari's eyes went wide.
"Yuyuko!" she said. "Weaken the blast! Everyone else, brace yourselves and fire what you can with Yuyuko's attack!"
A large, ornate fan appeared behind Yuyuko, before she launched a massive amount of lasers and butterflies. Everyone else fired varius danmaku as well, as Toyohime swung her fan down.
Rumia had seen a Tengu's Maple Fan in action before, and heard of the rumors, but this was another level. Everyone lost their breath, as the air all gathered around Toyohime's fan, into one massive, concussive blast, which was overpowering everyone else's attacks on it's own.
Then, an equally massive gap ripped open, and another opened a distance away. Everything under that gap flattened, the forest completely destroyed, turned into woodchip. A gale went past, buffeting everyone, and blowing the fairies everywhere.
"I-i-i-mpossible... Not even Kanako has that kind of destructive power." Sanae said, falling to her knees. "That was just a casual swing of her fan..."
Yukari stood there, panting. Gapping something with that much force and size had clearly taken it out of her, and Yuyuko seemed tired after her massive attack too.
"I will leave with you!" Kaguya shouted. "On three conditions!"
Everyone looked at Kaguya. Eirin and Reisen looked shocked.
"The first, is that you do not execute Reisen for desertion from the Lunarian Army." Kaguya said.
"Granted. That is a small price to pay for stability on the Lunar Capital." Toyohime said.
"Princess..." Reisen said.
"Second, you leave Gensokyo. No more violence." Kaguya said.
Toyohime thought. "My sister won't be pleased, but she would agree, if you are coming peacefully."
"Princess... you don't have to... we can protect you..." Eirin said.
Kaguya shook her head. "You can't Eirin. I'm not going to allow people to die for me."
"And finally, you give me two hours to prepare. I wish to gather my possessions, say farewell to my friends, and you need to find your sister and relay these terms to her. I also request you two leave me alone during this... sensitive period."
"That is reasonable." Toyohime said. "However, allow me to give you a condition in return. If anyone attempts to resist, or protect you, their lives are forfeit."
"Very well." Kaguya said.
"That means even Eirin." Toyohime said.
"I am aware." Kaguya replied.
Toyohime nodded, and flew off. Everyone looked at Kaguya, with differing expressions. Some, like the Oni, looked upset about losing the chance to fight. Others, like Byakuren and Miko, looked relieved. Remilia looked angry her chance at revenge was gone. Eirin, Reisen and the rabbits were on the verge of tears.
"I request that everyone except my allies, Yukari, and Rumia's group leave." Kaguya said.
Ruima raised her head in shock, and looked at Kaguya, who smiled.
"I have a plan. It's risky... but it's a plan." Kaguya said. "I'll turn my immortality, the immortality that the Lunarian citizens do not know about, and would reject me if they knew, into my weapon. But for that, I need assistance... and there is only one person who could possibly sneak onto the moon, under the Watatsuki's noses with me."
Rumia gulped.
"It's me, isn't it?"
"Yes." Kaguya said simply. "I wish for you to hide inside my shadow, and then, when I am in front of the public for coronation... kill me."