Rumia took Aya's hand, and the Tengu rose into the sky at a fast pace, but nothing spectacular, before she warned Rumia.
"You might want to do whatever you do." She said, as Rumia turned into her Shadow form, instead gripping Aya's shadow just under her hand.
"Right then. I'll be able to use my top speed; seeing as you don;t even weigh anything right now..." Aya said, before she took a breath, and her wings, usually magically concealed, appeared, taking a very aerodynamic position over her back.
Then, everything became a blurr. Even as a shadow, the raw speed of Aya was such that it was distorting the shadow form, and hurting Rumia. This lasted for not even a second, however, before Aya stopped.
Rumia turned back into her regular form, just outside the gates of the human village, and promptly threw up from the motion sickness. She had several cuts and small burns as well, she let those heal slowly, so as not to waste any more energy than she needed.
She looked at Aya as well, and noticed the Tengu has a ripped sleeve, her hat had flown off, and she seemed to be steaming, panting tremendously. Her skin was far redder than normal. It was clear that her body temperature had skyrocketed from the sudden effort.
Aya turned to her normal colour after a few seconds, sweating, and stopped panting.
"Sorry about that." She said. "After using my top speed for anything more than a fraction of a second it starts to take a toll on my body. The amount of air friction combined with energy I metalobilse generates a massive amount of heat. After about half a second I overheat. One second starts to hurt me. Minor burns, scratches, exhaustion for a short while. Two seconds and I wouldn't be able to fly for a while. If I went for five seconds I would probably collapse for a week with severe injuries. And I already said that if I used my top speed for ten seconds, I'd literally cook myself. I'd just be a fireball. My speed isn't magical, it's physical. Like a Cheetah can only run for a few seconds."
The gates of the Tengu village opened, as a wolf Tengu gave the order upon noticeing Aya; who; even to the keen-eyed wolves, must have appeared out of nowhere due to her speed. Then a gap opened, and Maribel, Renko and Cirno walked through, causing the Wolf to look a little confused for a second.
"They're with me. Besides, you couldn't keep Maribel out anyway." Aya said. "She's kinda got the same powers as Yukari."
Maribel looked shocked.
"You guys got here in the time it took for me to open a gap here... just how fast are you?"
"I already said, my top speed is over a quarter of the speed of light." Aya said proudly. "It doesn't even take a second to cross Gensokyo."
At this point, Tenma walked out of the gate, and looked at the five.
"The Ice Sprite? Ah, I see the reason she may have been brought. I will need a minute to adapt my battle plan then around her abilities." Tenma said, before he pulled a scroll from his pocket, and a crow-feather quill from the other, scrabbleing.
Rumia noticed the large amount of Tengu behind Tenma, already prepared for combat. The wolves had their trademark shields and large swords. The crows were a lot more varied. Some were unarmed, others had maple leaf fans. Others had short blades. A few even had ranged weaponry.
Rumia recalled with a shudder the history of the Tengu. Spies. Ninjas. Assassins. Warriors. When it came to a war, the Tengu were the best allies in Gensokyo one could ask for.
"Right everyone!" Tenma bellowed, his commanding voice loud enough to be heard over the whole mountain, not just the village. Rumia wondered if that was his intent, to draw the attention of the Golems. "The Wolves, led by Momiji, shall sweep the eastern flank of the village. The crows, led by Aya, shall sweep the western flank. Draw them to the river. Up the mountain, towards the top of the waterfall. Around the base if you can't get them up there. Me and our allies shall deal with the ones around the village down the main flank of the mountain personally, while making as much noise as possible to draw ones not engaged by you already."
Tenma paused. "The plan is to lure them to the Waterfall. There the spray will soak them, and the Ice Sprite can freeze them. From there, it is our victory; we simply shatter our foes. Taking out such a large number at once should free us to help stop this incident, and also search for who has been aiding us."
The Tengu cheered and Aya flew into the village over to the crows. Hatate seemed to have organised them beforehand, seeing as she was at the front; in the same position Momiji was with the Wolves, and stepped aside for Aya. At this time, Hatate was not to let her petty rivalry get in the way.
"Go!" Tenma bellowed, before the Wolves and the Crows swiftly left the village, and Tenma walked over to Rumia.
"I'm not sure how much attention those two humans can draw; but I'm sure we can cause a big enough fuss that it draws most of the golems. After all, I'd rather not lose anyone." Tenma said.
Renko smiled.
"Oh don't worry , we can make noise. In fact, who better to draw the ire of out enemies than the one who fills the shoes of Yukari?" She said calmly, raising her sun-tipped staff to the sky.
"Renko, don't say it like that." Maribel said, calmly closing her eyes.
Tenma watched with interest, and Rumia just looked confidently, before a split appeared in the sky.
"You see Tenam, Maribel and Renko have become strong of their own accord; but they are most powerful together. Together, they can do things that even Yukari would only dream of." Rumia said.
"Special Art: Heavenly Rapture!" the pair cried, as the split in the sky revealed a heavenly light shining down.
"I don't think Yukari could open rifts to Bhava-Agra, after all, she didn't during the Scarlet Weather Incident." Rumia said.
"But what could they hope to accomplish with that?" Tenma asked.
"Well, the Celestials are not supposed to interfere in the affairs down here. For their own safety and ours." Rumia said, before a giant, purple, polkadotted Shark-like creature with legs which resembled those of a millipede came from the sky, with two familiar figures riding it, both screeching in thrilled joy. "But the thing is, one of the two biggest troublemakers is Maribel's family."
Tenma's jaw dropped, as Tenshi and Enkura… no, Buru, descended from Heaven, riding one of Buru's crazy imaginary creatures.
"Well… that's sure to get attention." Tenma admitted, as he flew up with a beat of his powerful wings, and looked around. "Yep, that's drawing attention alright. Giant special rift and purple shark."
"Yahoo! I was startin' to wonder when you'd let us down here to help out! Stuffy guys upstairs wouldn't let us." The half-youkai Celestial screeched. She was still unhinged and crazy, but not in the murderous, evil way. She was more… funny crazy. However Satori said that's how she is naturally.
"Not to mention even we Celestials fall to this curse that's going around." Tenshi added. "We may not be able to die but being put in a magical state of slumber… that seems to work."
"Sorry, busy saving the human village and waiting for the cavalry." Maribel shouted back up, as the rift closed.
The shark-like… thing landed and vanished, and the pair of Celestials readied for battle. Tenshi flourished her sword, drawing some emotion-mist from everyone around while doing so to fuel its more powerful abilities; while Buru transformed, imagining herself as a wyvern. Periwinkle color, of course, a mixture of the purple associated with her family, and the blue she was named after.
The Golems started to lumber towards the group, and Tenma led the party towards the waterfall's edge. The Golems moved awkwardly; but their size made it so that they still moved at a respectable clip, some of them throwing objects; or even firing projectiles as they chased.
"Tenma; what's so hard about these things again?" Rumia asked.
"How much it takes the bring them down; and their fearlessness." Tenma answered. "They are not what fast or skilled; but it is attrition."
"Then why are we running?" Buru asked.
"To defeat as many as possible while saving energy." Maribel replied. "The sprite is gonna use the waterfall and freeze them; we're luring them there. You guys will get your big fight later; we just needed something to bring attention. I figured to save time and do it now."
The Celestial grumbled; while Tenshi laughed, just before they reached the waterfall; with a particularly large horde now following.
"When do I get to freeze em?" Cirno asked.
"When I say so; save your energy." Tenma ordered. Surprisingly; Cirno didn't argue. Rumia guessed that Cirno wanted to show off with a mass-freeze.
"So; how do we get them down there?" Renko asked. "we're on the wrong side of them; and even then; the Tengu haven't arrived yet."
"We stall until they do; then we get behind them, and blast them off the edge! When we've done that; the fairy can strike."
"But I guess there's no harm in ripping a few of them apart." Rumia said.
"Of course not; just don't over-exert yourself. We can't sleep to rest, after all." Tenma said.
At that; Buru flew up and formed a wall of blue fire between the golems and the group; but they just walked through regardless, patting themselves down with their large arms to reduce the damage the flames did, as they marched onwards.
"I said they have no fear!" Tenma said; blasting them back with a shockwave of air pressure; but putting out the flames at the same time. Renko helped push back another ground; with a wave of gravity force, after a quick invocation, while Tenshi sent a wave through the earth by slamming a keystone into it.
Rumia followed up by forming a group of dark energy spheres; which Maribel gapped; before she opened smaller portals just a little further in the path of the orbs; which shot out multiple; smaller ones, causing a shotgun-like effect, the explosions also knocking the golems back, and ripping some apart.
"What boundry was that?" Rumia asked.
"A mixture of a few." Maribel said calmly. "I may lack direct offensive moves; but I can greatly enhance others, before looking at Renko, who formed a small, silver magical rocket; which, with it's trail, looked like a comet in the sky. Renko fired the comet into a gap of Maribel's. "For example; this attack is fast and destructive, but can't change direction; but with my help…"
"Ultra-Active Super Speed Flying Object." Maribel said, before the projectile streaked from one gap to another, ripping apart a few of the golems before the gaps stopped for a moment; and Maribel focused.
"Universal Weave" she said; before a multitude of gaps opened at once; and a barrage of Renko's projectiles; smaller, all rushed through, ripping one golem to nothing but ribbons. This time; the shots dissipated.
"They're here!" Tenma shouted; before he rocketed into the air, grabbing Cirno. Tenshi; Rumia and Buru flew up as well, while Maribel and Renko gapped behind the golems.
Tenma put both of his hands behind his back; before with a mighty cry; he threw them forwards; as if he was gripping the air itself. Everyone felt the air ripping past them, and heard the boom of Tenma unleashing all the air around him into one, massive, concussive blast, which threw the golems off the cliff, down the waterfall.
"Now; Cirno!" Rumia shouted; as the sprite flew to the edge off the cliff; before flying about halfway down.
"Perfect Freeze!" Cirno cried; and the temperature dropped greatly; ice crystals forming over the massive numbers of golems now at the foot of the waterfall; covered in water.
"It's not enough…" Tenma said.
"No; Cirno's got more." Rumia said confidently, as the temperature dropped again.
"Minus Kelvin!" Cirno cried; the golems starting to freeze over completely; but still moving slowly, not entirely fozen.
Cirno looked annoyed; before she breathed in deeply; and unleashed her strongest freezeing technique in the largest area she had ever done so.
"Cold Divinity!" Cirno shouted, forming a pillar of pale blue energy around herself. The cold of the pillar was intense enough that even the river and waterfall froze; and the Tenga scrambled to escape the nova. The golems; already hardly moving and soaked; froze completely; before the water inside their bodies that soaked through their vines froze as well, expanding, before they shattered.
For a few moments; Cirno floated in the middle of the frozen waterfall, as the pillar of light died down, snow fell around her. Cirno looked different; her wings larger than before; and even she looked partially frozen, although it seemed like a regal gown. As the pillar faded; the ice on Cirno crumbled away, before she shuddered.
"I've never used that one since I became like this… something's different." She said. "I felt happy seeing the Tengu run from that… I wanted to freeze them too."
"That'll be because you're a Sprite; and therefor closer to Titania than a simple fairy." A voice said. Rumia turned, and saw a somewhat rugged Yuuka standing there; noticeably without her umbrella.
"Hi." She said.