The reactions of the group varied a lot. Rumia and Tenma took battle positions; while Renko and Maribel backed off. Tenshi and Buru just looked confused.

"I'm not here to fight. Trust me. I'm not Titania. Not for lack of her trying to take me over as well, but it's a lot harder for her to dominate my will when she's not inside this body." Yuuka said.

"How can we trust you?" Tenma asked.

"You can't. But I am the one who knows Titania the best. I've spent years with her inside my body, twisting my thoughts." Yuuka said. "Now, if you want to hear me out; I won't ask to do so in the village. Here will do. Then I will leave."

Tenma still looked aggressive, but Rumia relaxed.

"Tenma, we need to listen to her. If it turns out she's lying we can get revenge on her later. This is more important than just her... and if her main body has been taken over, I wouldn't see the other Yuuka being too happy anyway." Rumia said.

Tenma grumbled, but relaxed.

"Well then, firstly, about your sprite friend." Yuuka said. "As you know; Titania created Fairies. However, a Sprite is to a fairy what a Shrine Maiden is to a normal human. Sprites are fairies which have embraced their aspect of nature to the degree that they became connected even further with Titania's power. In the days before she became corrupted; the Sprites were those closest to her."

"So? That dosen't explain what happened to Cirno when she used all of her power." Rumia said, as Cirno flew up the waterfall and floated behind the group.

"I'm saying, because Cirno is a Sprite; it's easier for Titania to get into her head. If she wasn't so strong-willed and single-minded she probably would have frozen you instead." Yuuka explained.

"I'm OK." Cirno said, now looking like normal again. "I didn't like that voice in my head and told it to shut up."

Yuuka sighed.

"Anyway, I've been doing what I can, but if I exert too much energy, she gets into my head and tries to take over. I would have stopped the siege of the Tengu Village myself if I could use that much energy right now."

"Well, can you lead the Tengu and the others to where your other self's house is?" Rumia asked. "We should all gather there. I mean, only you, Reimu and Marisa know where it is, and we don't know where Reimu is."

Yuuka nodded. "Yes; I guess Marisa was with you in Makai, since I did not see her sparking Golems. There's something you have to know; however."

Rumia looked at Yuuka.

"The Half-Ghost; Youmu, has been hunting a very specific plant. It appears that Titania's powers managed to awaken the Saigyou Ayakashi. Worse still, that reversed the seal, and Yuyuko's spirit has become sealed by the tree. The Ayakashi was sealed for good reason. It was a malicious, sentient, youkai cherry tree, which would actively lure victims to it and steal their souls. It would kill them, and not even let it's victims have an afterlife. I can only imagine how dreadful that tree is with Yuyuko's soul as well."

"I've heard of that tree… isn't that the tree Yuyuko gave her life to seal away?" Rumia asked.

"Yes, and Titania has undone her work. I can only suspect the reason that the Ayakashi has not already been killing everyone posing an issue to Titania in Gensokyo is that Titania wants you alive. She is trapping her victims in a state of a horrible nightmare. Feeding off their fear." Yuuka explained. "I believe that the Ayakasi is being kept as a sort of… enforcer. Or a secret weapon."

"How strong is this demon tree?" Tenma asked.

"Incredibly powerful. It took Yuyuko's life, along with multiple others who sacrificed themselves to the tree to keep it busy. I heard rumors that Yukari aided as well in the sealing. Since it steals the souls of anyone who approaches it, it is impossible to attack at close range, and yet, the tree is strong enough that Yuyuko's power to invoke death does not affect it. She had to seal the tree, which means she could not destroy it. I suspect the Half-Ghost will only find her death if she finds the Ayakashi alone."

"As if Titania was not enough to worry about!" Tenma spat.

"Yeah, well, even before that we've got issues." Rumia said. "I don't think you've met Yuuka's underling, but Elly is strong. Very strong."

Yuuka looked away. "Yes… Elly. She's in trouble too."

"What happened?" Rumia asked.

"She is either dead, asleep, imprisoned or enslaved." Yuuka said. "She said if she could flee if Titania awakened, she would flee to my mansion to protect me instead. She never turned up."

"Well that's just great. I struggled to fight evenly with Elly when she was holding back. She'll be very dangerous if she actually uses her Shinigami abilities. A cut from a Shinigami's scythe, when used with intent to reap, is lethal, even if the cut itself is not."

"Yes." Yuuka said. "Fighting Elly when she is fighting with intent to kill is very dangerous. Even if she can be overpowered, her scythe has a mind of it's own anyway, and it's power is to change it's shape and size. Fighting Elly is really fighting two people. The scythe itself might lash out at someone as they hit Elly and kill them. Elly is strong and skilled in her own right, but you cannot forget that her scythe is sentient as well. And worse still… it is a part of a youkai tree itself; meaning Titania likely controls it."

"Well… that's just another reason to beat Titania then." Rumia said. "Now, unless you have any other information, I need to continue on. There may be trouble at Eientei or Underground."

Yuuka shook her head. "You've gotten awfully confident. If I remember, from what Elly told me, the strongest of Gensokyo, barring myself, combined, could only stall her last time. This time; she is fully awakened."

"This time, we're ready." Rumia said. "We know what we are up against, and if she's not in Gensokyo; we can let loose without worrying."

"Fine. If you're in such a hurry to die, go then." Yuuka said. "I'll take the Tengu to the site. You go do whatever you plan."

Rumia nodded, and flew off; leaving a trail of wispy shadow. It did not take her long to return to the Forest of Magic; where everyone from earlier was gathered, except now the group from the Scarlet Mansion were there, as well as Kaguya; Eirin; Mokou; Reisen and, surprisingly, Yumemi. Of course; Kaguya and Mokou were as far away from each other as possible.

"What are you doing here Yumemi?" Rumia asked.

"Trust me, if what this Goddess is doing is what I fear, you'll need my expertise about the Dream World. I'm a multi-dimensional traveler, and the Dream World is core to that." Yumemi said simply.

"We tried to get underground." Marisa said. "But there's… well… a problem."

"What problem." Rumia asked.

Youmu walked out from behind Eirin. She seemed to have been receiving medical attention, and looked in a bad state.

"The Ayakashi… it's taken root over the entrance to the Underground; it's roots reaching down into the ground to siphon the life down there. It probably won't kill them from that distance, but it'll weaken them enough, drain their stamina." Youmu said.

"Of course. There are not exactly many trees underground, and it's not like the Golems would do anything with Utusho down there." Rumia said. "So… how are we going to cut down this tree, Youmu? You know it better than anyone else."

"Firstly; you cannot approach even within 50 meters of it. You absolutely must not. Doing that will result in the tree stealing your soul." Youmu explained. "Secondly; the tree has powerful magic of it's own, both to defend itself and attack at range. That's what got me in this state."

"That doesn't explain how we're going to beat it." Marisa complained. "We saved your butt from it but that doesn't stop it."

"Honestly I'd say going after whoever's in charge of it is the better idea than engaging the Ayakashi." Youmu said.

"No." Alice said. "Fighting a God is not an option without all the allies we can muster. Utusho has the power of Yatagarasu herself. Perhaps her power can aid us. Not to mention Koishi might know what is going on, with this seeming to attack our subconscious."

"You're right."Youmu conceded.

"Well; who better to take out a tree that kills you if you get close than an Immortal who controls flames?" Mokou asked.

"You cannot even incinerate me from a range of fifty meters through my magic." Kaguya sneered. "What hope do you have against this tree? The half ghost said not even Yukari could defeat it without help. But by all means, lose in a fight to a tree. It'll be funny."

"I'll just run up to it and incinerate it directly, stupid Princess!" Mokou shouted back.

"No; if approaching the tree would kill you instantly; the Hourai Elixir would resurrect you instantly as well. You would be trapped at the fifty meter boundary, constantly dying, unable to do anything. It would be a fate worse than death." Eirin explained.

"I can get close; can't I sis?" Flandre asked.

"No; we're nigh immortal; but the ability to kill outright would kill even us." Remilia said. "Laevateinn and Gungir may be effective, as with our own magic, of course, but you won't be able to just ~Kyuu it easily."

"Aw." Flandre said sadly.

At that point, a yawning sound was heard, before a voice.

"Sounds like you all are having issues with that nasty cherry tree. That fifty-meter 'kill-zone'." The voice said.

Everyone turned to see Komachi standing there; scythe strung over her shoulders.

"Well; that Ayakashi is a fugitive from the Netherworld now; so Eiki sent me to help you guys out with it. Besides; it's holding one of Eiki's employees hostage too. And I think that my 'ability to manipulate distance' could prove very helpful with your little… distance problems." Komachi said. "If that fifty meters became five centimeters; even your weapons could reach the tree."

"Yeah yeah; you're all forgetting something. I forgot too until that Shinigami showed up." Rika said.

"What is it?" Rumia asked.

"I don't have a soul. I'm a machine. The Yama has my spirit and is just reserving judgment since my mind is still alive. I should be able to approach the Ayakashi with no issues. And I think I am more than equipped to chop down a tree." Rika explained; her left hand changing into a chainsaw as one of her drones hovered around it.

"Well; it seems we have quite the ways to tackle that youkai tree and reach the Underground." Alice commented. "It's been a while since I last went there… Shinki's invasion; if I recall. My dolls should be capable of assisting from range as well; but the issue is the power of the tree's magic."

"Indeed." Youmu said. "Since the tree is also Lady Yuyuko; it has all of Lady Yuyuko's magical powers; and that is on top of it's own magical powers it wielded before it was sealed. I know only Marisa here has fought with her before; so maybe she can attest to how powerful Yuyuko's magic is."

"Let's just say she's not Yukari's friend for no reason." Marisa said. "She probably could keep up with her power; and the Ayakashi; even partially bloomed; was even more powerful than her."

"Are we just going to talk about what ifs?" Mystia asked. "We're on a timer here. All we have to do is provide cover to get those in close who can get close. Like Rika."

"Don't forget about me…" Komachi said. "I can help you guys out too. You don't just have to rely on the robot and the dolls."

"Yes; but it's the safer approach." Patchouli said. "If you take a hit and have your power disrupted; even for a second, it could kill us all. Not that your approach does not have its own benefits. Indeed; your distance manipulation would be very useful in providing cover."

"I guess…" Komachi said; a little dejected. "I just spent like; two hours thinking up that plan for how I would fight the tree myself; then I followed Youmu here…"

"Oh don't worry. It's a good plan for what you had to work with." Daiyousei said cheerfully.

Komachi looked reassured, and the group set of towards the entryway to the Underground.

Notes:

Ugh; this chapter is basically an infodump but I thought it would be cool at the time to have the Ayakasi be influenced by Titania like the other plants; and to have a sort of minor boss fight in-game terms before the real deal.

A little past the Ayakashi is where the original RP died completely; just as they were headed for Mugenkan.