The time is nigh. Gensokyo and the Saderan Empire will finally have their first official meeting. And soon it'll be the JSDF showing up. How will things play out? Who knows… All that I'll say for now regarding the long term is that Japan's negotiations with Gensokyo will be like navigating a minefield.

By the way, I'll clear this up now. When speaking to those of Gensokyo or Japan, or speaking in Japanese, honorific suffixes and "last name first" thing will be used. But when speaking with Falmart residents, "given name first" and titles will be used.

Once again, here's the poll for Yukari's past as Maribel and Sanae's life before Gensokyo. One vote for each.

Yukari options:

1. Something bad happened to Renko because Maribel made a mistake, and it broke her and made her throw away her humanity to become Yukari after obsessively training to master her ability to see and interact with boundaries so it would never happen again

2. Maribel went on a journey by herself to experiment more with her ability to see and interact with boundaries, and eventually turned into a youkai and became Yukari; she didn't tell Renko about the journey, so Renko is still wondering where Maribel (now Yukari) is

Sanae options:

1. Sanae was friends with Risa (Itami's ex-wife) in high school and hasn't aged ever since she moved to Gensokyo and became an arahitogami (living god)

2. Sanae "mysteriously disappeared" (aka moved to Gensokyo) a few years before GATE canon started

Poll vote results so far:

Yukari 1: 14

Yukari 2: 25

Sanae 1: 28

Sanae 2: 10

As a reminder, the deadline for this poll is when the national diet happens.

Disclaimer: I don't own Touhou Project or GATE.

Remilia and Myui sat at a table watching each other without moving. After a few seconds of silence, the vampire finally spoke. "We have an offer for your city. Surrender to us, and we can ensure the wellbeing of your people and home."

A nearby guard angrily erupted, "You brat! How dare you-"

Giving him a sharp glare, Remilia coldly said, "Stay your tongue, lest you wish for it to be removed. Your duty is to be a guard; do not speak for your betters or place words in their mouths."

The guard opened his mouth to argue yet again, but stilled when he felt steel on his neck. Turning his head, he came face-to-face with Sakuya, who was holding a knife to his throat. Gritting his teeth, he reluctantly stood down.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Myui asked, "Lady Scarlet, why are you making such an offer? As you saw for yourself, Italica is sieged by bandits, and ever since the emperor ordered an expedition through the Gates, the city has not had enough soldiers to uphold the law or defend the people. Now Italica is filled with crime and faces destruction."

Smiling once more, Remilia responded, "Lady Myui, it is good to know you are aware that there are two Gates, and acknowledge the trouble your city faces. For that, you shall be rewarded if you accept our offer."

Confused, the young girl asked, "What do you mean?"

The Scarlet Devil announced, "Your father, Colt Formal, is one of our prisoners. Surrender to us, and we shall allow his return to this city."

Shocked, Myui exclaimed, "Father is alive?!" The guards and maids clamored in surprise and relief when they heard the news.

Remilia chuckled and elaborated, "He is unharmed, and has been quite cooperative so far. Unlike the other soldiers we took prisoner, he knows that a refusal to cooperate will do him no good. For that, he has been given his own cell to reside in separate from the other prisoners."

Myui was silent. Looking down in deep thought, she weighed the benefits and consequences of Remilia's offer. On one hand, to accept to surrender was tantamount to treason, and could induce violent riots from the people and action from the Empire. On the other, Italica was in dire need of help, and surrendering would provide the needed assistance and resources to recover, as well as get back her father, who led the city to prosperity.

Steeling herself, she asked, "What conditions will be imposed on Italica if we choose to surrender?"

Smiling, the vampire answered, "It is good to see that you are being careful. In fact, because we understand the importance of Italica in terms of economy and trade, you can rest assured that we will not impose taxes or monetary payments of any sort." Leaning forward in her seat, she continued, "Instead, we demand that you repay us through your city's services."

Confused, Myui inquired, "Your nation wants to take part in Italica's commerce?" It didn't make sense. Why would the land from the other side of the Gate on Betula Hill want to contribute to the economy?

Leaning forwards in her seat as she rested her chin on her interlocked hands, Remilia said, "Of course! We will aid in rebuilding the city and bolstering its defenses, but surely you do not expect Gensokyo to take care of you. It is your responsibility to procure the materials needed. Because your city is struggling financially due to recent events, we will provide new products for you to sell. Naturally, half the money made will go to Italica."

Shocked, Myui exclaimed, "But that's ridiculous! Why would you be willing to give so much of the profit you would make to Italica?"

Sighing, the Scarlet Devil responded, "Did I not say it already? Your city is in need of repair, but without financial stability, there is not much you can do." Looking the young countess, she pressed, "Now then, what is your answer? Will you surrender and agree to Gensokyo's terms, or shall we have to occupy Italica by force?"

Myui was silent. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath. Looking Remilia in the eye, she made her decision. "Italica surrenders to Gensokyo. The highest priority is the safety of the people, and because members of the Imperial Army whom have turned to banditry are attacking us, we cannot afford to fight two enemies at once."

Smiling, Remilia praised the girl. "A wise decision," she said, "Rest assured, your people will be safe under our protection." Looking to her maid, she ordered, "Sakuya, go inform the others of this development while the little countess and I write a formal contract."

Bowing, Sakuya said, "As you wish, Lady Remilia." She briskly left the room, heading towards the southern gate to inform Momiji.

In the following morning, the citizens of Italica were clamoring. They had heard the announcement that Italica would be surrendering to Gensokyo, the land from which their saviors hailed, and now a representative for the land would be speaking to them. Men and women whispered to each other, wondering what the representative would look like. Would they be one of those volraiden-like people, the crow-winged ones, or the deceptively powerful youths? Were they a warrior or a mage? What kind of person would they be?

The people's thoughts were cut off as a blue-haired girl with black bat-like wings wearing a pink dress entered the town square and stood before them. Accompanying her was a silver-haired woman in a blue maid uniform, carrying a strange contraption, though they could easily guess its function by how it blocked the sun's light from touching their skin.

"People of Italica!" she announced, "I am Lady Remilia Scarlet, and I hail from Gensokyo. As per the agreement your current leadership has made, Italica has surrendered is now under Gensokyo's jurisdiction." Looking among the crowd, she continued, "The first order of business is to ensure the town's safety. All men confident in their combat skill will receive training from Momiji Inubashiri and Mayumi Joutouguu on a rotating schedule. Those who deal in construction and carpentry will aid the kappa in repair and reinforcement of the defenses."

Remilia paused as the two aforementioned warriors walked into the square. The townsfolk murmured in wonder as they saw the wolf-eared woman and golden-haired warrior step up in front of them.

Clearing her throat, Momiji declared, "I am Momiji Inubashiri, and I will see to it that you learn proper discipline in the battlefield. Though instinct and emotion may give you strength, they are liabilities if you cannot control yourself. Under my direction, you will learn to stay headstrong in battle." Her sharp eyes swept across the crowds, lingering on a few individuals.

Stepping up, Mayumi introduced herself. "I am Mayumi Joutouguu, leader of the Haniwa Army Corps. You may have noticed that the eastern, western, and southern gates have two stone soldiers each guarding the entrances. They are the haniwa, and I must stress that you do not bother them." Taking a breath, she continued, "While the white wolf tengu will be teaching you control and discipline, I will ensure that you can properly fight. You are not soldiers or warriors. You will not be sent out to fight the bandits. We are not training you so that you may go out to fight the bandits. We are training you so that you may defend your home when others cannot."

As the two stepped back, Remilia continued her speech. "In addition to this, Gensokyo will be selling products in Italica, with half the profit made being given to Italica." She paused as the citizens exploded in shock. Gesturing for them to quiet down, she explained, "Due to the bandit siege, Italica is going through a shortage, which will inevitably cause trouble for the people. To aid with the financial stress due to allocations to repairs and purchase of building materials, as well as a prolonged lack of trade and purchase, half the profit of selling Gensokyo's products will be given to Italica. To combat the shortage itself, Gensokyo will send shipments of food and necessary supplies as needed, the first of which will be arriving today."

Remilia paused once again as everyone burst into cheers. Waiting for the townsfolk to calm down, she held a hand to her chest and flashed them a charming smile. "As a result of surrendering, Italica became a vassal to the land of Gensokyo, and as such, can be considered part of it. And we of Gensokyo take care of our own."

A few hours later, in the light of the setting sun, Remilia and Myui stood next to each other as they watched Mayumi run the men through drills, having them practice basic strikes and stances. "Do you really think this will help them?" asked the countess.

Snorting, Remilia responded, "Were you not paying attention earlier? We will not be teaching them to be warriors or soldiers. If anything, they will be more akin to a town militia rather than guards or knights." Pausing as the training came to an end, she watched as the men put down the tools they had been using as makeshift weapons for the past few days. "For tonight, they will rest. Only one day of training is not enough. However, in a month's time, they should be able to defend themselves against common thugs and petty criminals without too much struggle."

Myui sighed, before something in the sky caught her attention. Squinting, she noticed what seemed to be a flock of birds approaching. However, as it got closer, she realized that it was actually a group of the winged demihumans - tengu, she reminded herself, remembering her talk with Remilia and Momiji - carrying what seemed to be a moderate-sized shipment of crates with them. "Lady Remilia," she inquired, "is that the first shipment you were speaking of earlier?"

Smiling, the vampire answered, "Of course. It seems that we must summon everyone to the town square once more. Countess Myui, I guarantee that you will be especially happy to see this shipment."

As the town square filled with people once more, the tengu set down the crates. "People of Italica!" called Remilia, "As promised, the first shipment has arrived. For tonight and the night after, you will spend your time recovering in your homes. Regain your strength, then lend your aid to those who need it."

Momiji and the tengu opened the crates and passed out the contents, starting with food. "Sustenance takes priority," she said as she gave a bento box to an injured young man who panted in exertion as he leaned on a makeshift cane. "Though medical treatment is important as well, it will do little good if your body does not have the energy needed to fight to survive."

As the townsfolk received food and medical supplies, Remilia called out to Myui. "Countess Myui," she said, "your crate is here. We apologize for the method of delivery, but it was the safest and fastest way to do so."

Looking to the crate, which was larger than a horse and had multiple holes carved into the sides, she grabbed the steel bar held out by the vampire and jammed it into the corner of the crate. With a small amount of effort, she pried the container open, and gasped when she saw what was inside.

The inside of the crate had a blanket spread on the bottom, as well as a couple pillows for comfort. There was a jar, clearly meant for drinks, in the corner, as well as a half-empty bowl of fruits. However, it was the person in the crate who got her attention. "Father!" Myui exclaimed.

Colt got up from his seated position in the corner of the crate. "Myui!" he happily said. He was a bit pale and his hair was disheveled, but he was otherwise in perfect condition. He was wearing a plain cotton shirt and pants, and in such simple clothes, it was hard to believe it was him.

Getting out of the crate and hugging his youngest daughter, he looked around in shock when he saw the condition Italica was in. "What happened while I was gone?" he asked. "Why is Italica like this?"

An elderly man stepped forward. "Count Formal, we are deeply ashamed to have you return with the town in this condition." Taking a small bow, he continued, "As you are aware, all the guards being called to take part in the march through the Gate has left the city with little defenses. But since the invasion failed, the surviving army members have turned to banditry and targeted Italica."

Myui explained, "We have surrendered to Gensokyo in exchange for protection and shipments of food and medical supplies. Two of Gensokyo's warriors have also decided to start training the men to be able to defend Italica, so that we will not have to rely on guards and the Imperial Army to handle all trouble."

Standing at attention, Mayumi crossed her arm across her chest in a salute. "Count Formal," she said, "We deeply apologize if our actions have slighted you. I swear that your people are in good hands."

Shaking his head, Colt reassured her, "There is no need to apologize. I am simply happy that the safety of the people has been placed higher than pride." Reaching up and grabbing a small box, which contained his armor and previous clothing, he held it under his arm and asked, "Now why don't we go home and discuss recent events? I want to know more about what happened while I was gone."

…

The next two days passed by rather quickly, with the bandits surprisingly not attacking during that time, allowing everyone to recover peacefully. As the sun crept over the horizon on Gensokyo's fourth day of occupying Italica, Colt and Remilia walked to the field where the men were being trained. "Once again, we apologize if our actions have offended you," said Remilia.

"Nonsense!" laughed Colt. "Truth be told, I was considering doing the same. We wouldn't want the guards to have to do all the guarding, do we?" Pausing as he watched Momiji and Mayumi put the men through drills, he added, "However, I was not expecting the training to be like this. Usually, we have the men practice their form only when there is not enough time to train them."

Smiling with mirth, Remilia responded, "Form is everything. It doesn't matter if your strikes are vastly stronger or faster than your opponent's if you have terrible form that can be taken advantage of, whether it is being disarmed of your weapon, being disarmed quite literally, or being struck in an opening or blind spot." She suddenly stopped, frowning as she peered into the distance. "We have a group approaching Italica," she said.

Squinting as he took a look at the group, Colt responded, "The flag they bear belongs to the Rose Order of Knights. Have they come to do something about the bandits?" Shaking his head, he headed towards the main gate. "No matter. We must prepare to greet them and explain the situation."

Sighing, Remilia replied, "Of course. If they know what is for their own good, they will take on a diplomatic approach." Without hesitation, she followed suit, brushing a speck of dust off her dress.

Down at the south gate, Pina Co Lada, fifth daughter of Emperor Molt, as well as the leader of the Rose Order of Knights, stared at the city of Italica with concern. She had brought her knights in response to a rumor that Italica would be attacked by armies from the other side of one of the Gate. Much to her dismay, however, they instead encountered remnants of the Imperial Army, most of them having turned to banditry and crime. Fighting through a group of said bandits, she and the Rose Order managed to make their way to Italica.

Grey, one of her trusted knights and a veteran, approached her and advised, "We should approach with caution. Italica has been through at least two bandit attacks, and they will be on guard against anyone who comes near."

Dismounting her horse, Pina confidently announced, "I will take lead. Grey, Norma, follow me. Everyone else, stay back, but be prepared." She approached the door built into the main gate, taking note of the two brown statues planted nearby. Keeping her left hand on her sword's pommel, prepared to draw it if necessary, she rapped her right fist against the door.

The peephole slid open, and Pina saw a pair of eyes look at her. A second later, she heard the latches moving, before the door opened. To her surprise, she saw that Count Formal was the one to greet her. "Count Formal!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing here? I had heard that you perished on the other side of the Gate on Alnus Hill!"

Chuckling, Colt replied, "Princess Pina, it is a pleasure to see you too. Please, why don't you and your order come in? We can explain what happened inside."

Fifteen minutes later, Pina, Grey, and Norma gathered in the conference room with Colt, Remilia, and Mayumi while Mokou, Momiji, Hamilton, and the rest of Pina's knights waited outside. "So you're saying that you were able to return to Italica thanks to the actions of this nation called… Gen-soak-yoe?" Pina asked.

"Gensokyo," corrected Remilia, "and rather than monetary compensation or reward, Italica shall pay us through the services the city provides." Interlocking her fingers, she faintly gestured towards the map on the table. "However, the more important issue right now is the bandit army attempting to take Italica as their 'rightful' compensation for their failure to invade the lands beyond the Gates."

Grey interjected, "We face multiple challenges. First is that we do not have a clear count on the number of bandits, nor do we know what ranks they were prior to deserting. To make matters worse, they have mages, meaning that we can expect them to defend themselves with spells. Second is our numbers. Though the Rose Order of Knights is considered an elite force due to superior training and having veterans, we are still outnumbered, even with the warriors of your land to assist, Lady Remilia. Third is that the citizens of Italica are not trained and are currently being taught basic defensive techniques, which makes them ineligible for duty for the time being." Taking a deep breath, he concluded, "This means that in order to defend Italica properly, we will have to be spread out across the walls."

Mayumi added, "Moreover, rank does not equate to skill or experience. We must assume that there will be at least several bandits who were simple soldiers of low rank, only for them to have expertise fitting for a higher rank. Likewise, we can expect some of the higher-ranked bandits to only have their position due to nepotism, threats, or bribery. There is also the strong likelihood that the bandits are planning and training when not attacking us, making time of the essence."

Clearing his throat, Colt suggested, "Instead of talking about the bandits, why don't we focus on what advantages we do have?"

Smiling, Pina jumped on the opportunity to change the subject. "Of course!" she replied. "Bozes will be bringing more members of the Rose Order, and they should be arriving in a few days. And from what we have been told, the city's wall repairs are going quite smoothly, but a few more bulwarks shouldn't hurt. What else is there?" She looked at the others, hope on her face.

Pursing her lips, Remilia answered, "The wall ballistae are being repaired and modified, as are the cauldrons for pouring boiling water and oil. However, we have not had the time or opportunity to-"

Hamilton burst into the room, panting for breath. "The bandits are attacking again! They're attacking all three gates!"

Sighing, Norma couldn't help but quip, "It seems that the bandits have volunteered to help test the ballistae and cauldrons." He quickly exited the room, followed by the others. "Princess Pina, what are your orders?"

Surprised by the sudden attack, Pina commanded, "Norma, Hamilton, take four knights with you and guard the east gate! Grey, you go with Lady Mayumi and head to the west gate with four more knights! Count Formal and I shall oversee the defense of the south gate with the remaining knights!" Turning to Remilia, she added, "Lady Remilia, I advise that you-"

Remilia snapped her fingers and said, "Sakuya, armor."

Sakuya suddenly appeared, startling the knights. "As you wish, milady." She escorted Remilia out of sight, carrying a large sack with her. After about two minutes of clanking sounds, Pina was surprised to see Remilia return wearing a black suit of armor that covered her entire body.

"Did you think that I would not assist you?" Remilia asked in amusement. "Come now, let us teach these vermin the price of turning their blades on their superiors." She summoned Gungnir as she headed towards the south gate, ignoring the looks of surprise sent her way. Looking back, she saw that nobody moved. "Well?" she asked, "Are you not going to act?"

"What…" Pina breathed, "Just exactly who are you?"

Smiling, Remilia answered, "You shall see, Princess Pina. You shall see."

Pina and the Rose Order don't know yet that Gensokyo is from the other side of Betula Hill. Right now, they just think that Gensokyo is a secluded nation that has little to no interaction with the Saderan Empire, similar to the elves and some other races. Of course, that'll change next chapter.

Please tell me what you think, review, constructive criticism appreciated, and NO flames. Keep your insults to yourself. They contribute nothing to the story (unless you're insulting characters that honestly deserve the burns).