Rumia and the others found themselves in a very strange dimension. It did not seem that large; and was pretty dark; with a large; crescent moon in the background. The ground seemed to be like a red sea; with small; star-like sparkles in it; with black sections of land. Blue wisps floated in the air; with strange markings on their core; different from the sprits in the Netherworld. They seemed to be conjured flames, and provided the place with an eerie; blue light in addition to the faint moonlight.
"Is this the Dream World?" Byakuren asked.
"No... this is the last place I wanted us to end up. This is the subdimension me and Marisa ended up in as we tried to leave Mugenkan. We got into a couple of fights; and one of the ones here was as strong as Yuuka herself was; possibly even stronger." Reimu explained.
She then shot a look at Marisa.
"Although we got into that fight because Marisa decided to shoot first."
"Shoot first; ask questions later; ~ze." Marisa retorted.
Suddenly; before the group; a magical distortion formed; before the air flickered with lines, before a woman who was wearing very similar attire to Sakuya appeared. A blue and white maid outfit. This maid; however, had blonde hair.
"Hmm?" she asked. "It is very rare that we get visitors. Especially so many at once."
No-one spoke to the strange maid.
"Ah; where are my manners. I am Mugetsu. My sister would have come as well; but she is currently busy with another pair of guests."
"You're actually pretty welcoming; aren't you?" Reimu asked.
"Well; we don't object to visitors to our little realm. Except when they attack us; Shrine Maiden and Witch." Mugetsu said; looking at Marisa in particular. "Although I could tell later in our fight that you two were not allies; and the Shrine Maiden did not intend to aggress. For that; I apologise for attacking you back then. I don't apologise to the Witch; however."
There was an explosion in the distance; a massive dome of light. Everything shook.
"What was that?" Alice asked; shocked.
"Our guests came here to train. They are currently fighting my sister. I was fighting alongside her earlier; but my sister can handle herself when she fights seriously. Although the power of those two is impressive."
"Would your sister be named Gengetsu; by any chance?" Sakuya asked.
"Yes. Mugetsu and Gengetsu." Mugetsu said. "I am the younger of the sisters."
"We need to get out of here." Sakuya said. "Away from these two."
"Huh?" Reimu said. "Do you know these two?"
"Of course Sakuya knows them; as do I." Eirin said; stepping foward.
"Oh; I didn't see you there; Omoikane." Mugetsu said.
Eirin flinched; almost as if being called that stirred up something she did not want.
"You two are the first exiles. You tried to take over the Lunarian society when it was still fledgling; attaining daemonic power to do so. 'No Moon' and 'Illusionary Moon' the names you chose after your change, reflecting your objectives to rebuild the Lunarian society. You haven't changed since that day. I thought you two would have at least grown older in appearance after all of those years; but I guess since you are demons…" Eirin said.
"Well; we are content with our own dimension, and while we did not agree with Lord Tsukuyomi at the time; we agree that he was right now." Mugetsu explained. "In fact; we even help out the moon every now and then."
There was another explosion; this one silver and blue. Rumia recalled that energy instantly.
".. Your guests; they're the Watasukis; aren't they?" Rumia asked.
"Why yes. I'm surprised you know them."
"I kinda got into a fight with them in the past. They almost killed me." Rumia said. "If it wasn't for a god saving my life..."
"Hmm. Well; they are here training. They entered through the portal on the Moon, trying to get as strong as they can before moving on to face the god behind all of this chaos."
"And your sister can fight both of them? At the same time? Alone?" Rumia asked.
"Of course." Eirin said. "Gengetsu was a monster. Far stronger than her sister. To seal her; Lord Tsukyomi gave his life."
"Ah; you remember!" Mugetsu said. "We never finished our fight from back then either. If I recall; I was winning."
"I'm not the sort for fighting for such petty reasons these days. I'll make the Princess look bad." Eirin said.
"Eirin; you better not act like that when we face Titania..." Kaguya said.
"What I'm more curious about is how Sakuya knew about the legend." Reisen said. "It's a myth told on the Moon..."
"Isn't it obvious?" Eirin said. "Although I'm sure Sakuya would not appreciate me explaining. If we get out of this alive; I'll tell you back home; Reisen."
"Anyway; the Watasukis are fighting Gengetsu near the portal from this world to the Dream World proper. Unfortunately; due to our sealing; we cannot leave with you; but I think that the sisters would agree that their best chance is with your assistance." Mugetsu said. "I shall lead you to them."
The group followed the Lunarian Daemon; and Mugetsu fired a small star-like danmaku towards the site of the fight; and the explosions stopped. When Rumia and the others arrives; they saw an angelic figure with a similar build to Mugetsu; and both Toyohime and Yorihime. Neither side looked tired.
"Oh. It's you." Yorihime said, noticing Rumia.
"Ah; Master Yagokoro." Toyohime said.
"I should be the one greeting you as a superior; Toyohime. You are the Queen now." Eirin said.
Reisen hid behind Kaguya. Rumia recalled being told before that Reisen used to be the pet of the Watasuki Sisters; but deserted the Lunarian Army.
"We do see you there; Inaba." Yorihime said roughly." As far as I am concerned; a life on Earth is worse than death. You do not need to hide from punishment."
"For you two to be training... I guess you know how strong Titania is." Rumia said.
"Yes. This Goddess will bring calamity with her actions." Toyohime said.
"Well; you have the same objective." Gensetsu said happily. "What about you put aside your Lunarian Pride and work with these beings from Earth? In this sort of situation where your failure would mean the extinction of all Lunarians; isn't it better to swallow your pride?"
Toyohime looked at Yorihime.
"I planned to find Eirin to ask for her help anyway." Yorihime huffed. "I... guess I can try to not kill you guys while I fight. If you don't get in our way."
"Man, Yorihime; you make me look like someone who's not racist." Rika said.
"Why are you even still alive? I recall cutting you in half before. I suggest you shut your impure mouth before I chop it in half." Yorihime threatened.
Toyohime sighed.
"Some things don't change. I apologise; my sister is the leader of the Lunarian Army; it's kind of her job to hate the Earth. Not that I'm fond of it... but I can work with you in situations as dire as this. As much as I hate to admit it; Titania is stronger than us."
No-one said anything about Toyohime admitting that the Goddess was stronger than the pair of Lunarians. They knew it already; but it as still a daunting thing to hear the proud sisters admit.
Yorihime sheathed her sword, and just walked towards the portal.
"Well; if this is our best chance to stop her; we should not waste any time. Every second we waste is more people succumbing, and thus she gets even stronger." Yorihime said.
"If you do not mind; allow me to lead the way. I have researched the Magic World; or as you call it; the Dream World extensively in my attempts to return magic to my world." Yumemi explained.
"Fine." Yorihime conceded; letting the scientist lead. Yumemi walked through the portal; and everyone followed her.
The Dream World; put simply; looked like space. The world was dark; with the occasional beautiful collection of lights; or a faint cloud. Occasionally; strange objects would float past the group as they followed Yumemi.
"We should be coming upon them soon." Yumemi said. "The Dream World is not a place people should enter. It is the origin of all magic; the collection of people's hopes; fears and faith. Objects of pure magic appear before those attempting to pass the outer reaches of this world."
"Are they hostile?" Tenma asked.
"They were to me..." Reimu said. "If they are what I think they are... but I destroyed them."
"The ones that appear before you when you enter the world are just an apparition. The true spheres are far grander in power." Yumemi said; before a platform because visible; with five crystals standing upon it.
"OK... so what do we do then?" Remilia asked in an annoyed tone. "Do we fight them?"
"Only if they deem that they want to test our strength." Yumemi said. "Since myself and Reimu have proved ourselves before; there should not be an issue."
Rumia looked at the five crystals; and suddenly; she held her head, her face strained; gasping for a moment; before she heard a voice.
"You... stink of Shinki." She heard the voices say.
Rumia looked aside; and noticed Alice was the same.
"Shinki... took the sixth for her own greed... why should we allow you to pass?"
"If you don't let us pass..." Rumia thought back. "Then Titania will destroy everything; including you."
There was quiet for a moment.
"Your words are sincere. The sins of the mother are not the sins of the child." The voices said.
Rumia's head cleared up; and Alice relaxed too.
"What was that all about?" Daiyousei asked; concerned.
"It... seems those orbs have a connection to the Heart of Makai... seems the gem Shinki took to make Makai was one of them. They weren't happy to see us." Rumia said.
"The Heart?" Rika asked. "Ugh; that thing was powerful. I mean; it's what killed Yukari when you think about it. And there's more of those things?"
"Well; they said we could pass." Rumia said; as the platform and the spheres vanished, the group moving onwards.
The Inner Dream World quickly changed. Instead of being open space for the majority of it; instead the Dream World changed into a corridor. Blue; with glass below the group showing a star not unlike the fledgeling star Utusho would make above one of her fingers. Indeed; the Hell Raven even imitated it with a confused look.
"Hey Reimu." Marisa said.
"What is it?"
"Isn't this where we first met? And a little beyond here is where you awakened the true power of the Hakurei Orbs for the first time and defeated Mima-Sama..."
"Well; we are nearing Reimaiden." Reimu said.
"You're been this deep into the Dream World?" Yumemi asked. "I get the feeling that the area you call 'Reimaiden' is very close to the very core of the Dream World."
Occasionally as they flew through the area; some of the magical circles on the ground would open and fire; or strange creatures would swoop at the group. However; they were hardly more dangerous than a normal fairy; and to the large group of powerful beings, they did not even slow them down.
They continued until the scenery changed again. The walls changed to crystal; uneven walls like a tunnel; and the glass covering the 'floor' vanished; a purple abyss below everyone.
It was Aya; always looking around; who noticed first with a cry of shock.
Two trees were ingrown into the wall. Attached to them were... although hardly recognisable; Kanako and Suwako.
Kanako's shimenawa was gone; the mirror on her chest shattered. Her general refined look was shattered, her clothing, badly torn, red with her own blood instead of it's usual hue.
Suwako was not any better. Her hat was missing an eye; and had several tears in it. Her clothing was also torn; oddly enough; the usual frog print on it showing happy; danceing frogs; replaced with ones which seemed to be dead. She too was bloodstained.
Sanae as nowhere to be seen. Both gods were bound to the trees; wood constricting their limbs; to a degree it was clear they had broken them; if Titania had not done so beforehand. They were clearly in no shape to move; let alone fight.
Despite this; Kanako's eyes flickered open upon hearing the collective reactions of everyone.
"S...sss..." she stammered weakly; not even able to form a single word with her broken body.
"Don't try to talk." Eirin said. "It's obvious by the fact Sanae is not with you. She's either still fighting Titania; was vaporised outright, or taken by her for some reason."
"To do this to other Gods... she's a monster." Yorihime said.
"They were clearly left as a message to us." Tenma said.
Rumia clenched her fist. She was having flashbacks to Yukari's state. She looked at Maribel and Renko; who had never seen anything like this in their lives. They looked disgusted and terrified.
"I don't even care anymore." Rumia said coldly. "I don't care if doing so causes me to go mad again. Titania has to die. Someone this twisted and wicked... I'll kill her. Someone who would do this to her fellow kind... she's clearly beyond redemption."
"Even I must agree." Byakuren said. "I am personally loathe to use deadly force or contribute to it, but sometimes... even I must do so."
"Wow; even the pair of extreme Katsujinken [Saving Fist] are resolved to kill now." Yuuka said.
"Since when did you know martial arts terms?" Meiling asked.
"Well; I might have studied the Satsujinken [Killing Fist] way back when…" Yuuka said.
"Why does it not surprise me that you are a Satsujinken…" Meiling responded; sighing.
Rumia turned.
"You can all see what she's done to Kanako and Suwako. If you want to turn back…"
"Hell no." Renko said.
"We know you're worried about us; Rumia. But we're helping. We're not turning back." Maribel said. "Seeing Kanako and Suwako like this; and knowing Sanae is in trouble too… that only makes us want to help more!"
"I won't be able to forgive myself if you two get hurt… I promised Yukari on her deathbed that I would protect you…"
"Then you better not die either and keep those two safe!" Rika said; clipping Rumia over the head. "That's TWO promises you have to not die you need to keep. One to me and one to the Gap Hag. With that sort of pressure; we're sure to win!"
"Yeah; well; you have to not die to be the one to kill me as well; you baka…" Rumia said.
"Weren't those two at each other's throats when we last saw Rika?" Yorihime asked.
Toyohime just chuckled; her fan obscuring her face in the same style Yuyuko or Yukari would do. "Are you so blind that you cannot tell Sister? I know you're absorbed in work but you are married…"
"Not you two as well!" Rika and Rumia said in unison.
"Even in the face of multiversal destruction and death you two are still like this…" Renko said. "Seriously; why don't you two just hurry up and ki…"
"Renko; you know pestering them doesn't end well. I'd rather not be beaten up just before a fight this important." Maribel said; using her powers to mute Renko.
Rika and Rumia gave Renko a dangerous glare for a second, before everyone steeled themselves, and they continued onwards past the near-lifeless bodies strung up for them to see. There was nothing even Eirin could do for the two Gods.
Only faith could save a God in this state; not medicine.
Author Notes:
The climatic battle begins next chapter!
With all the moon imagery in the Gengetsu/Mugetsu fight and level; it seemed a little silly to not connect them to the Lunarians. Their names even have 'Moon' in them. After this chapter you can probobly figure out most of Sakuya's background. I might do a bonus chapter explaining my stance on Sakuya's origins; I think she has a somewhat interesting story. Or even the whole SDM; seeing as I did a fair bit of exposition on them. I'll see what the response is here.
Yorihime still hates Earthlings; but has minor respect for Rumia. Toyohime dislikes them too; but is more reasonable than her sister.
The Dream World is based off the backgrounds from Touhou 2; Stage 3; 4 and 5.
The Heart is the sixth of the 'Five Magic Stones'. The stones Reimu fought were an apparition; the real stones are connected to the very root of all magic; they are stones of pure crystal magic. Which is why Shinki used one as a Catalyst to create her own entire dimension and give her near-limitless power.