Disclaimer: I own nothing of touhou and familiar of zero, all character belongs to their respected creator
"Don't put your trust in the hag, since to her you are just a new toy." – An unknown Gappy
Louise POV
Morning had come; Louise checked the small bag she had. Wand, some food and water, yep, everything is here. She was a bit worried about not being prepared enough, but would be coming, so the journey shouldn't be too dangerous. After this, Louise rushed down stairs toward the group waiting.
Within the group that is going, there is Guiche, Siesta, , and the leader of the group Professor Colbert. Surprisingly at the ground floor where everyone gathered, only one person was missing.
"Hey Kirche, where is Tabitha? I didn't see her here." Louise asked, it seemed strange since, she is lending Sylphid to the group, since everyone else besides Louise and Siesta can't fly (or levitate) for long period of time. Tabitha seemed like she was very keen on going home as well, but strangely enough, she wasn't there when they explained the plan yesterday as well, in fact she came back very late yesterday.
"Tabitha, left early this morning, I heard from her that she made some friends with the local. Wonder what they are like? Tabitha doesn't usually open up to people this easily." Kirche remarked, looks like Tabitha isn't coming even though she lent them Sylphid. Louise was kind of glad, Tabitha is the hard working type, and perhaps it would be a good idea for her to rest a bit, since she had been very useful during their journey so far.
"Morning everyone!" Sound of a girl shouting came from the sky, and in a gust of wind, the black haired Tengu girl landed in front of them.
"So is everyone ready?" Asked Aya, in response, Professor Colbert, Guiche and Longueville hopped on to Sylphid. The Familiar seem to have enough strength to lift off, and beside them Louise and Siesta had floated up already.
"We're set Ms. Aya." Said Professor Colbert, and with that the Tengu and Sylphid lift off.
"Wait for our good news." Siesta shouted behind her, as she and Louise followed the group. Soon, the inn disappeared from their view. The sunny sky above them indicated that today was a good day for flight, and as they went higher, the land showed its full view.
"This is quite a sight." Professor Colbert said as the land showed its full view, it really was quite a view as Louise remembered the first time she flew up in to the sky under Marisa's tutoring. The land still dazzles her, with the different trees and plantations down below creating a symphony of colors. As the view of the mysterious and dim forest of magic came into sight, the group took a turn, towards another direction. In the horizon lie pink glints and fog covered forests.
"We should be there in a short while; Mayohiga is very close to the forest of magic." Aya said as she took notes on her pad, not paying a single attention to flying. It seems that the Tengu is so used to flying it had become an instinct for them, it was obvious that Aya was purposely keeping their pace. Louise could see that the Aya is jotting down words and scratching them out as if she is thinking about what to say.
"Uhm, Ms. Aya could I ask, what's this Ms. Yukari like?" Louise asked, she was a bit nervous meeting with someone this important. The Tengu stopped her scribbling and replied.
"Well…She is kind of weird, even by Youkai standard. I guess she would be what you would call a creepy grand-" Suddenly the Tengu suddenly stopped talking and looked around nervously, Louise was quite confused, but seeing nothing was out of the ordinary, Aya relaxed once again.
"That was close, nearly stepped on a mine there, but anyway she is a bit creepy and lazy. She's known as one of the sages but doesn't really do much most of the time." Aya said. That did not sound appealing one bit, but at least she knows what she to prepare for. Soon they had reached the foggy forest.
"Stay close, it is really easy to get lost here." Aya said as she changed her flight pattern. Louise and the group followed, but the pattern was really weird. Sometime they flew straight but Aya then makes a 180 degree turn and fly in the opposite direction, other times they flew in what appears to be a loop, and then they flew up and down in addition to that. It felt less like flying toward a target and more like flying randomly for laughs.
"Ms. Aya, are you sure this is the way?" Professor Colbert asked, he was beginning to feel uncomfortable due to the way they fly; it was like riding a rollercoaster.
"Positive, you can't reach Mayohiga normally, you need a special path. Look we're near the end." Following the direction Aya pointed everyone finally found their destination. It looked like a regular village, but as they moved in closer it became obvious it was not. The villagers all had some part of them not human, whether a tail or wings or ears. And it seems that they are aware of the intruders coming, as two crows flew towards them
"State your purpose." One of the crows shouted in a human voice, it was quite surprising for everyone except Aya who seemed to have expected this.
"We're here to meet Lady Yukari, is she free right now?"
"Lady Yukari is still napping, but I could bring you to Lady Ran."
"Very well, Ran is good enough, lead the way." Aya said, as they followed the crow onto the ground. The surrounding people kept doing their work paying no attention to the guests who are here.
"Are these people all Youkais?" Professor Colbert asked Aya nervously as they followed the Crow on foot towards the inside of the village. The villagers all had talisman on their clothes and were busy with cleaning the village or other forms of chores.
"Not quite, these are Shikigami." Aya said.
"Shikigami?" Professor Colbert puzzled at the strange word.
"It's something similar to a familiar, one that is created by the owner, Professor Colbert." Louise answered in place of Aya, it was the best way to describe it.
"Familiars! And so many by the same person!" Professor Colbert gazed around, a familiar reflected the owner, but to own so many is something that is truly mind blowing. He shudders to imagine the strength of such a person.
"Not really by the same person, there is a hierarchy, oh we're here." Aya said, as they were lead to the biggest mansion in the center of the village, as they entered they walked towards the house on the left, the thin fog in the garden produced a quite calming feeling within here. It does seem like a good place to take a nap, Louise thought as she looked around, and the owner seemed to have purposely made this place this way, as the garden seems like it is shifting very slowly like a turtle. But as Louise blinked her eyes and looked closely the feeling is less strong, an optical illusion.
"The owner of this mansion sure has very nice taste." Professor Colbert remarked as he observed the garden on the side of the walk way.
"Thank you for the complement, I'm sure Lady Yukari would be pleased to hear that." A voice came, as one of the door on the side of the walk opened, and out came a blonde woman, with nine big furry fox tail. On her head she wears a hat that looks like two ears that is covered in talisman like the long robe she wore. Her eyes show a sense of pride as well as great intelligence, as she gazed at the guests before her.
"Nice to see you Ran, we got some things we need to discuss with you if that's okay." Aya stated their purpose for the group, the Lady, Ran, glanced at the group a little. Her eyes made Louise a bit nervous since it felt penetrating, but the glance wasn't long.
"Very well, it is impolite to talk here, come with me." Ran said, as she led the group into the meeting room.
...
"I see, so that's why you came." Ran said as Aya and Professor Colbert explained the whole thing from scratch, she was a great listener not interrupting once during the long explanation. Professor Colbert looks relieved that explaining once was enough.
"Yes, Yumemi did send Lady Yukari an invitation as well as the position of your world."
"Then could you send us home!" Siesta said in excitement, but Ran remained still.
"I'm afraid that the decision does not lie with me, it is lady Yukari's decision that matters."
"Then when would she wake up? This is quite urgent, my family and friends wait for my return." Says Guiche, it was a bit rude, but Ran did not bat an eyelid.
"Sadly compared to your problem Lady Yukari's nap takes priority. It would be well for you guys to wait for her to wake up." Ran said to the group, with no other decision, the group waits for the master of the mansion to wake up. This is going to be quite boring, thought Louise; she really hoped that this so called sage would live up to her name.
Henrietta POV
Henrietta stood on the battered wall of the castle, silence of the night made the raging battle before seem like a dream. The battle, no…it wasn't a battle, the massacre ended quite easily, in face of her newly gained power, resistance was futile. With that the enemy quickly surrendered and obeyed her orders, Wales and the wounded were treated, weapons and wands were given up quite easily, from how obedient they were one couldn't even visualize how they were just rebels a few hours ago. But Henrietta knew why, it was because they feared her, to them she was a god, more real than the Founder; they bow before her like devoted servants because they knew to her their existence is the same as a insects, and if she desires they would all become puddles in an instant…
"Ughh…"
She felt sick, sick like never before. She wanted to vomit, but nothing comes out, only a feeling of nausea and pain. She had never killed before; she had been prepared to kill during this fight, but not massacre, nothing like this. Even if it was to save the life of her loved one, even if it was necessary to crush the will of the enemy, it was not just; she could not convince her own heart that what she did was just. The eyes of those soldiers on the ships, full of horror as their body dissolved into nothing but a puddle, they scream yet their throat was full of water before they could do so. They ran, but there was no escape, they pray, but there was no one to listen to it, they fight, but there was no chance of survival. Despair was in the eyes of those dying man, and soon not even the eyes remain, as they returned to nothingness. The only thing left was the fear amongst the living, fear for her power, fear of her power, fear for the unknown, fear of their fate, fear of her, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear…
It is simply too much for her, if only Wales could be here to comfort her. But he is still asleep; the battle had left many wounds on him, it is best for him to rest. That leaves Henrietta here, alone, under the light of the moon, remembering her actions from the battle. She held her battered wand in one hand, pointed it at the sky above her and tried to shoot a spell. There was nothing, even though all the actions were the same as before, nothing came out, there were something different from before. Henrietta lowered her wand and sighed, for the first time, she wished that Otohime was here to tell her what is going on, to make sense of her new power, or perhaps, take it away so that she could return to what she was used to. She was grateful, that it had helped her save Wales, but she have no desire to keep such power, especially after the destruction it had brought and the heretical source in which it came from.
"What should I do…?" Henrietta muttered to herself as she plans what she should do next, with Wales saved it is obvious she should now return to Tristain. Her disappearance had caused a huge uproar, many are probably very worried about her, and in that case she should probably return as soon as possible. More importantly, she doesn't want Wales to see her currently; he is a man who is dedicated to traditions and responsibilities, with what Henrietta is now… no it is far better if she avoid him for now at least until the stories of the battle die out. When everything is forgotten and returned to the peaceful state it is in the past, which is when she would meet him again. They would never ask where the miracle like power came from, they would forget about the horrifying nightmares of the battle, with the peaceful happiness she once knew and loved.
The girl was pleased with the course of action she had decided for herself, confident like never before, that this is the best course of action for herself. The feeling of success in saving a love one inflated her confidence, no longer afraid to take the path she decided for herself. Her duty here was done, she had protected her happiness, it is time to go home and let the passage of time heal the wounds. With that Henrietta flew away from the castle, flew away from the Albion, running once again towards nothing but her own happiness.
Louise POV
"Lady Yukari had awakened." Ran said, as she entered the waiting room once again.
"Splendid, could we meet her now?" Professor Colbert asked, but it was obvious he was very nervous and eager.
"There is no need, I have already told her what you wish, and she had given me an answer already." Ran said as she shook her head, Louise could feel her heart tightening; this was it, the moment they had been waiting for.
" and the others may come with us, you are not allowed to come Aya." Ran said, and for a moment Louise could not contain her excitement, and hugged Siesta who was next to her, in fact, everyone with the exception of Aya was thrilled by the news.
"Ayaya, I guess that's that then." Aya said with disappointment.
They did it; they could finally go home now! Soon she would see the face of her family and show them what she had learned.
Author's Word: As a lot of people had pointed out, this fic is pretty terrible. Once again, very sorry, I'll try to do better. (Maybe) I'll try to make the logic (aka bullshit) in this sound more convincing, but if you see a plot hole the size of the Milky Way, allow me to apologize beforehand. Louise is turning out very bland, I need to think of some way to spice her up, since without her tsundereness she lacks a lot of character, Henrietta is turning into more of an MC, one of her dark flaws that originally exist in canon would become her defining trait. I kind of feel I overdid it with the tragedy but I'm not sure. Touhou characters are more of a plot device now, with the exception of Yumemi (who is turning into a final boss) but this is natural since they are not the focus. Next time (when I get to it), return to Halkeginia and the beginning of the Yumemi's show.