Author Note: Apologies for the delay; I wanted some time to rest from writing; and also we are approaching the sections where the playerbase started to fall; so I need to put in some extra content.
Anyway; with that; welcome to the start of the 2nd sub-arc! Players wanted more development for Dai; so I gave it to them!
It was like a bad dream.
Daiyousei saw fairies flying around in panic; being struck down by tendrils; made of something unclear. They were crying. The land was burning; and a large figure; like a giant fairy; floated in the background. Six wings; cackling madly. It was nothing but a shadow.
This nightmarish visage kept recurring; yet Daiyousei could not understand what it meant. She only wished it to stop.
"Interesting." Patchouli said; looking at the large emerald; which glowed deep within. "I wonder if the catalyst for this happening to her was that slight change in energy we felt a few days ago."
"I am unsure myself; Patchouli; but since fairies are sensitive to nature; I guess a change like that may have some side-effects." Koakuma said.
"Still; I am interested in what she'll be like when she's finished. The ice fairy had her key traits amplified when she ascended into a sprite; such as her determination and overall power level. However; this fairy is very different. It will be good for my research."
A crack formed in the emerald; followed by two more elsewhere; which quickly spread and multiplied; before the crystaline cocoon shattered.
"Make it stop!" Daiyousei cried as she shell around her broke; holding her head, before she fell to the ground, panting.
The fairy was larger than before; and looked older; like a middle teenager instead of a young girl of eight or nine. She basically looked scaled-up to before.
"What's wrong?" Patchouli asked.
"I... had some sort of vision in there. Something's going to happen. Something bad. I'm sure of it." Daiyousei said. "Whatever it is... it has something to do with the fairies."
"Something really bad to do with the fairies? Hah!" Koakuma snarked. "I don't see fairies being involved in something worse than some of the incidents that have happened before."
"Koakuma; quiet; there are many legends connected to the fae; and her words may not be without basis." Patchouli said. "If a fairy that was ascending to become more in-tune with their aspects had a vision like this; it would be unwise to disregard it; very unwise indeed."
Patchouli flicked her wrist; and from different parts of the library; several books flew to her; and opened. The librarian bgan scanning the pages with incredible speed.
"What did you see?" Patchouli asked.
"Fairies being attacked by strange tendrils. They were flying away; crying. There was a shadow of a figure; she had six large wings; and the build of a giant fairy.
Patchouli's face fell.
"This is not good. That can only mean one thing... and I am afraid I do not have much information on this myself."
"What could it mean?" Kaokuma said. "What sort of fae legend would get you worried; Patchouli?"
"The God of the Fairies." Patchouli said simply.
"Fairies have a god?" Koakuma said; sounding doubtful.
"I've never heard of us having a god." Daiyousei said.
"Well; she existed in times long past; and legends say she sealed herself when faith began to dwindle. However; myths and legends about gods are not the area that my library focuses on. I would recommend you to go and see the Librarian of the Human Village. Humans are quite into tales of the gods past; and some of her collection of... demon books... may aid you; as well as the Gensokyo Chronicles." Patchouli said.
Daiyousei got up, and stretched her wings.
"Very well then; I shall try to find out more about this nightmare. Just... one question." Daiyousei said.
Patchouli knew what it would be.
"Rumia is still locked in the Mistress' room. Neither of them have come out; or let anyone in; not even Flandre or Sakuya."
"What could have happened?" Daiyousei asked.
"I am unsure; but whatever it is; I would guess it to the tied to two things. The feeling we all felt a few days ago; and the announcement of a funeral service the Yama made yesterday; across Gensokyo. She did not say who it was for; as is the custom."
Daiyousei nodded. Funerals in Gensokyo were a sensitive time for those close to the one who was dead; and the last thing anyone wanted was some youkai showing up and ruining it. As such; the Yama would not state who the funeral was for; she would only state there was one; to those who were effected; and may want to show up.
Except this time... the Yamaxandu had told all of Gensokyo.
The two intellects looked at each other.
"There is only a handful of people who would get such a treatment from the Yama." Daiyousei said.
"Yes; and we would be aware of two of them; who are very much still alive. The black and white rat was in my library this very morning; and the Miko came to visit yesterday."
"And neither of them would have made a ripple that could be felt across Gensokyo..." Daiyousei said; before it dawned on her.
"That's... impossible."
"But I fear it is the case. The Youkai Sage herself may have passed on. But this is just a theory; so I advise you to keep it to yourself. If the news came out too quickly; the chaos would be immense." Patchouli said.
Daiyousei nodded, and flew out of Volie; and the mansion.
Cirno was sitting by the side of the Misty Lake; for once; looking like she was thinking.
"Dai! There you are! I've been lookin... wait... you're big!" Cirno said.
"Yes Cirno; I'm like you now!" Daiyousei said. "I just entered a crystal inside Patchouli's library!"
"Yay!" the Ice Sprite said happily; before her face went serious again.
"Sunny; Luna and Star were here a couple of hours ago. They tied to fight me again; and declared another war. Even with this power; their teamwork is tricky. I only just won... they've gotten better too." Cirno said; somewhat depressed.
Cirno would never have admitted that unless the fairies really did almost beat her.
"You wouldn't be sounding unhappy about winning a fight Cirno..." Daiyousei said.
"That's not what bothered me. It's what they said. Dai; they said they were gonna rule over the fairies; and then make everyone team up and take out the humans and youkai." Cirno said. "I don't want everyone to fight! Most don't like us as it is without us going to war!"
"But... they've always wanted to beat up the humans Cirno... what else is happening?" Daiyousei asked.
"They claimed they already beat all the other leaders of the fairies. It's just us and Lilly; who they said was in charge of the sky fairies. They're gonna keep coming back until they win; probobly with more and more backup. I may be strong but I can't fight every other fairy! I don't want to!" Cirno said angrily.
Daiyousei sighed. Fairies were very simple creatures. When it came to who was the leader of an area; it was simply whichever fairy was the strongest and best at pranks. If someone beat the strongest in an area; or pulled off a prank that impressed everyone else on the 'strong' fairy; that fairy would be considered the 'boss'. The weaker fairies would listen to the stronger fairy. The 'Politics' of the fae was basically whoever was the strongest was the boss. Just like children in a playground; who would follow the big scary person.
But something worried her.
"They've never tried something like this before though. It's too smart for them. Usually they come here first because it's the closest and then give up." Daiyousei said. "And I don't think those three have the brains for tactics like this... I wouldn't think any fairy except me does."
"Yeah; I thought it kinda odd that they didn't come here first too." Cirno said. "So... you think someone else is helping them?"
"I'm almost certain Cirno. I'm going to go talk to them later then; maybe I can get them to blurt out something by accident or something." Daiyousei said. "But first; there's something else I need to find out."
"What's that?" Cirno asked.
"About an apparently god of the fairies."
"Wait! Sunny mentioned that! She said they're gonna wake up the god of the fairies to fight with them!" Cirno said.
Dai thought back to her vision.
"OK; some-one is definitely puling the strings here then. There's no way they would know about that. Even Patchouli knows very little. Between these tactics and these goals; there's no way those three could think of something like this; let alone do it right!"
"This is starting to sound bigger than fairies Daiyousei... should we go tell Reimu?" Cirno asked.
"What happened to your spirit Cirno? You're the strongest! Besides; we're not fairies anymore; we're Sprites; remember?" Daiyousei said.
Cirno grinned.
"Yep; it's bigger than fairies... but we're not just fairies! Thanks for remindin' me of that Dai; I thought too hard and got all down; when thinkin's your job!"
"Yep; that's right Cirno... thinking is something you really shouldn't be doing..." Daiyousei said; chuckling at her idiot of a best friend. Cirno always did end up depressed when she tried to think too hard.