Renko and Maribel were at the shore of the Misty Lake again. With the pair were Mystia and Wriggle. Cirno was being bothered by the Three Fairies again; and Daiyousei was with Patchouli.
The four had been talking about the events of the previous few days; as well as about what happens in Gensokyo in general.
"Well at some point we gotta take you two to the Hakurei Shrine to meet Reimu." Mystia said. "She's kinda grouchy but she's the one who fixes things when they go really weird. She can't be far off your age either."
"I think Sanae would be a better idea to take them to; she's nicer." Wriggle said.
"Yes; but Sanae lives on top of a mountain; and Renko and Maribel cannot fly yet Wriggle." Mystia replied.
"Yeah but couldn't Maribel open one of those gaps?" Wriggle asked.
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to just randomly start ripping open dimensional portals hoping they'll take me somewhere I have not been or seen." Maribel said.
"Well we could always take them to see Marisa first..." Wriggle said.
"No; she lives in the Forest of Magic. That place is filled with magical miasma too strong for most humans. While Maribel should be OK; as a Half-Youkai; like Rinnosuke; Renko isn't; and she could die there." Mystia said.
"Most humans?" Renko asked.
"Well; humans with strong magic are safe there. Like Reimu; or Sanae; or Marisa. In fact; the environment powers up Marisa because she uses magic spells to fight."
"You keep talking about all these people you should take us to; but you're not telling us who they are." Maribel said.
"Well; Reimu's a grouchy Miko who's very important and powerful. She fixes things when things go wrong most of the time. Marisa is Reimu's rival and freind; and is a human who does magic. She's also kiiinda crazy." Wriggle said.
"Sanae's not been here that long; she arrived a few years ago. She's also a Miko; except her shrine actually has two Gods there. She has the power to invoke miracles; which honestly is a lot cooler than Reimu's power of flight." Mystia commented.
"Flight is pretty cool." Renko said.
"Yeah; but it's a bread-and-butter ability for anyone with magic. Anyone with magical power can easily learn to fly. I bet you two will be flying in less than a year!" Wriggle said.
Mystia looked proud; as she flapped her wings. "I don't even need magic to fly!"
"Yeah; but you never learn how to fly without your wings Mysti! I have wings but I don't use them." Wriggle said.
"You became a youkai before your wings had even grown out Wriggle. You were still a larva!" Mystia argued back. "I had fledged!"
Renko and Maribel chuckled at Mystia and Wriggle's argument; before Maribel asked "Anyone else?".
"Well; there's the youkai monk of Buddhism; Byakuren Hijiri; who wants peace between youkai and humans." Wriggle said.
"Uh; there's Remilia. She's an incredibly powerful and proud vampire that lives in that mansion. If you see her; don't make her angry and act with respect towards her. And hope she's not hungry. She's a light eater so won't kill you; but I hear it hurts." Mystia said.
"Oh; and there's the Tengu; they are crow and wolf youkai that are incredibly proud and pretty strong. They live on Youkai Mountain. The only one you'll probobly see around is the reporter; Aya. Well; seeing her around is subjective; since she's the fastest in Gensokyo; she'll only be seeable if she lets you see her." Wriggle commented.
Mystia looked annoyed. "Stop talking about Tengu like they're better than me Wriggle! I could go that fast..."
"If you didn't rely on your physical limits of your wings." Wriggle finished with a sly grin.
"I wish I ate you instead of those scraps the Shinigami left behind sometimes..." Mystia growled.
"Yeah well we both ate the bits of hermit the Shinigami left behind and now look at us!" Wriggle said. "We'd both be long passed away otherwise."
"Anyway; there's Kogasa too. She's one of our friends; but she lives in a graveyard attempting to scare people. Her occupation is part-time waitress at my place; full-time failing to surprise people; and part-time umbrella to a Princess from the moon." Mystia said.
"Part time Umbrella?" Renko asked.
"Oh; she's a Karakasa. She's an umbrella that came to life out of resentment for no-one liking her." Wriggle explained. "'Cept this Princess DOES like her. So she sometimes lets her hold her. She kinda likes it."
"You've already met Rika; I'm not sure if there's anyone else w should really inform you about." Mystia said.
"Yeah; Rika. We met her. She's... weird." Maribel said.
"I think everyone here is weird Mary." Renko commented.
Suddenly; a voice rang out.
"Oh I'm sure there is at least one other person you should be telling them about." the voice said.
"Oh yes; Shinki!" Wriggle said; without turning around; purposefully acting oblivious.
Mystia turned around; and blinked a few times.
"Who are you?" she asked the ghost.
The green-haired spectre looked frustrated.
"I was at the battle of Makai!" she said angrily. "I'm Mima!"
Everyone looked at her blankly.
"Incredibly powerful magical ghost?"
No response.
"Marisa's teacher?"
"I always thought Marisa just copied things." Mystia said.
"Well; no-one uses her star-based magic; do they?" Mima said.
"Not that we know." Wriggle said.
"That's because I taught her it!" Mima said.
"Whatever you say~" the two youkai said at the same time.
Mima just pointed her staff; with the cresent moon topping it; into the air; forming a magic circle at the tip.
"Light Sign: Shoot the Moon!" she said; before multiple lasers shot into the sky from the ground; as small star-shaped magical blasts were left in their wake.
"Impressive." Renko muttered.
"Kinda pretty." Maribel agreed.
"Well; that is certainly one of Marisa's attacks." Mystia commented. "She musta fought with Marisa at some point and she copied the spell."
"It would be wise not to annoy me anymore than you already are; bird." Mima threatened; pointing her staff at Mystia.
Wriggle kicked the staff aside; before forming a spiral of small danmaku around herself; forcing Mima away and forming a barrier around Mystia in the process; before the bullets fanned out.
Mima looked at the two youkai with anger in her eyes for a split second; before she composed herself again.
"I wish to simply see something about the pure-human; and possibly give her an offer. I mean no harm.
"For all we know you are the one sending those Shades!" Mystia said.
Mima laughed.
"I was the one who drive them to extinction!" she said. "And that human will need my help; if she has the potential; to protect herself from the dangers she will inevitably face as her friend."
"We'll protect them!" Wriggle said. "We don't trust you! Wriggle Sign: Little Bug Storm!"
"I'm with you Wriggle; Night Sign: Midnight Chorus Master!" Mystia said; before she began to sing in birdsong; invoking Night-Blindness on Mima; before the pair unleashed danmaku.
"Enough of this charade. I shall show you how foolish you are if you think you two can protect them." Mima said; pointing a single finger foward.
"Heavenly Missile: Comet" she said calmly; before fireing a single arrow-head shaped projectile; which left an glittering silver trail as it flew; like a comet streaking through the night sky. The projectile slammed into Mystia's stomach; before rebounding and hitting Wriggle in the side of the head; the impact strong enough to cause both to fall to the ground; stunned; and break their spells.
"She's strong..." Mystia gasped; winded; as she got up.
"But we can't let you do as you please to Renko..." Wriggle said; staggering a little as she got up too.
"Tenacious." Mima said. "But I do not have time for your games. Renko; is it? Behold an inkling of the power that I wish to unlock within you. An inkling of what I believe your potential to be."
Mima pointed her staff between Wriggle and Mystia; and a red magisterial ring appeared.
"Heaven's Fist: Meteor!" Mima said; before from the ring came a rock covered in flames at a high speed; which crashed into the ground by the two youkai; sending both flying in a blast of dirt; rock and fire.
Mima floated towards Renko; stopping a short distance away. Maribel and Renko looked more curious than scared.
"I am aware of your powers; Renko. They are related to space. In the outside world you and Maribel's powers were always limited by the lack of magic there. Here; I can unlock your potential; just like Gensokyo is unraveling Maribel's. Your power suggests it; you have an affinity for Astral Magic; like myself; and my former student. I shall offer to become your mentor. Simply ask for me at the Hakurei Shrine if you wish to accept." Mima said.
Renko looked at Maribel. Maribel looked back.
"I will tell you this; Renko. Astral Magic is the most powerful form of attacking magic in existence; and is my creation. If my previous student; who never finished my lessons; is regarded as one of the most powerful in Gensokyo; imagine your potential if you were to study under me."
Mima turned around; and flew over to Mystia; and then Wriggle; picking them up. The pair were out cold; but Mima placed her staff between them; as it glowed with a green light; and their minor injuries vanished.
"Simple healing spell. White magic is not my forte but I can at least heal injuries from danmaku with ease." Mima said; before she flew off.
Mystia and Wriggle began to wake up; and Renko just looked at the two youkai; and where Mima was; in confusion.
A few moments passed; before she spoke.
"I think I need to see this 'Marisa'." she said.
Author Notes: More of a development chapter than anything. I said there would be a lot right now. There will be a fair bit of focus on Maribel and Renko the next few chapters.
Also I manage to squeeze in some backstory for Wriggle and Mystia. Both became youkai by eating the scraps of flesh left from a hermit's battle with a Shinigami at roughly the same time. Sparrow Mystia considered eating Larval Wriggle instead; but went for the hermit flesh two have known each other for literally all of their lives. Wriggle was only a few days old; Mystia had recently fledged.