Deep within the Forest of Magic, a certain tapestry of sorts was being woven.
Dig, sweep, scrape, cut.
A single woman dictating a hundred bodies. A hundred bodies wielding two hundred hands. Two hundred hands manipulating a thousand porcelain fingers.
Turn, pull, push, toss.
An urgent, yet steady rhythm consumed the puppeteer. One thread stretched out from each finger, asserting direct control over ten of her retinue. Any more than that was unnecessary; the others need only mimic their lead.
Ten dolls to each squad meant ten squads, providing operational flexibility while remaining realistically manageable.
Squads A and B were relegated to clearing away flammable materials from the area, stray leaves, dead branches, and the like. Every piece of combustible material must be scoured away, lest a stray ember spawn a spot fire behind her.
Squads C, D, and E, armed with axes and shears, were deemed responsible for cutting away at the edge of the Forest, expanding the periphery of the clearing that they called home. The wider the area, the safer they would be from collapsing trees and towering flames.
Squads F, G, H, and I were tasked with digging firebreaks, lines of wide and shallow trenches that would encircle the property and slow the encroaching fire. Bare dirt would not feed the flames in the same way as grass and underbrush.
And finally, Squad J, headed by Shanghai herself, would-
…What?
Alice blinked.
Something had been there, moving through the trees, right at the edge of her vision. Was it another stranded soul? Perhaps another fairy? Come to take refuge in her little glade as the Forest burned around them?
Her mind lingered on it not. Fairies were as common as insects, and there was far too much to do, far too many bodies to coordinate, to lose focus. She was the Seven Colored Puppeteer, and with her dolls, she would weave a defense against that which threatened her home.
One string at a time…
However, it seemed as though this mysterious figure would not be ignored. It closed the distance in mere moments, as if demanding to be acknowledged.
A pained 'Alice!' was the only sound it gave before its weight crashed into her left side, putting her balance to the test as she momentarily lost her footing.
What?
Alice swiftly righted herself, her boots digging heavily into the dry earth. At the same time, her body went rigid in surprise, both at the sudden change in situation and the… identity of the arms that had wrapped around her.
The flurry of surrounding activity slowed to a standstill.
Eric-? Could it-? …No. It can't be…
Her mind had briefly considered the possibility, but she had dismissed it just as quickly. Only the blind could have missed the inferno, and only the outright suicidal could have even considered fording that river of smoke and flames to reach this place.
Surely… not.
The chance was… minimal at best. Common sense, as rare as that was in Gensokyo, told her so.
Even he wouldn't be so reckless…wouldn't be so foolish… Would he?
All of that rationalization told her that it shouldn't have been him, and yet, a short turn of her head had been all that was needed to prove otherwise.
What!?
Her eyes did not lie. That was, in fact, the top of Eric's head, and the ponytail that trailed beyond his shoulders. And now, as she stared down at his slightly huddled form, engulfed by his shaking, desperate arms, a sense of dumbfounded bewilderment washed over her.
What…? How…? When did…? Why…?
Eric took in a deep breath, and he tilted his head so that his eyes could meet her own. They were vulnerable, hurting, but also filled with such raw joy and relief that it made her heart lurch.
This look was what forced her words to finally come. "Eric!?" Alice cried.
A thousand questions fought for the right to be heard. Not more than a second later, however, one sprang from her lips, lacking all of the careful consideration that typically went into her words.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Her question, more like a demand, came almost harshly. Whether it was genuinely the most pressing matter to address or just the first that she could organize, she wasn't sure. The urgency behind it, however, could not be misheard.
Eric let out a sigh that mixed with a small, tired, pure laugh. He raised his head high and broke into a wide, relieved smile, though he could not hide from her the small tears that clung tenaciously to the corners of his eyes.
"I… I came to visit, Alice." He said this as though it was the most natural thing in the world. And, if it had been any other day, then it certainly would have been.
Had she not spent the last few hours prepping her small homestead for an encroaching disaster, that was. To say that this was unexpected would have been a gross understatement. Over and over again she had puzzled out formations and capacities, her mind running through various scenarios involving the fire's approach.
This, however, was not something she'd ever thought to account for.
Alice simply stared at him, and then, gradually, she took in Eric's haggard state.
Little red burns speckled his face and left char marks on the tattered fabric of his yukata. He was uncomfortably hot to the touch, and he smelled of sweat, singed hair, and wood smoke. He breathed, and wheezed, heavily, and he trembled lightly where he stood.
In short, Eric was a battered, exhausted mess, like he had just escaped from an oven, and he clung to her as though she was a lifeline.
Though she did feel relief that he was there with her now, this poor sight, in stark contrast to the absolute elation in his expression, twisted her heart uncomfortably. It was… bittersweet. Still, she allowed her arms to encircle him, as his arms had done to her.
For a moment, she was nearly content. That he and she were together again was a comfort. The nagging, worrying corner of her mind that had been concerned for him was finally quiet.
…
Then, a new question wormed its way in. And, the more that she considered it, the more that a spot of… unpleasant irritation grew.
Just what in the world was he thinking?
He should have been in the Human Village right now. Fires or not, at least they would have had some sort of organized effort in place to keep the town protected from the blaze.
He would have been safe. Safer than trekking through the burning wilderness, only to find himself surrounded on all sides by danger. And yet, here he was, weary, in pain, and covered in burns.
From no other decisions than his own. It was beyond reckless. Stubborn, dangerous. It was… It was…
Why is it so hard for him to consider his own well-being!?
Hot anger swiftly rose into her throat, and it felt as though she had become short of breath. Something had to be said, and, this time, she was willing to let it out.
Alice pushed away. He had no right to worry her like this! Always putting himself in danger!
Their embrace broke, though she did not go far. Her hands quickly came to rest upon his shoulders, and her ire came spilling out.
"Why? Why did you come all this way? You fool! You reckless fool! Going through the fire? You could have died! Don't you understand how much that worries me!?" She held him tightly by the shoulders and shook. If only she could shake some sense and self-preservation into his hard head.
"You could have died so easily… You're supposed to stay safe! So, why!? You almost got yourself killed, and I wouldn't have even known! I couldn't have even helped! What possessed you to pull such a reckless stunt like that!?" So intense was her outburst that Alice couldn't help the angry tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
She released him from the shaking and, lightly, pounded a fist against his left shoulder. She wasn't fond of physical reprimand, but-
Eric hissed in pain.
Alice immediately stilled.
Eric looked at his left shoulder and rubbed it gently with his hand, a confusing motion. She… hadn't actually hit him very hard at all, certainly not enough to elicit that kind of reaction. He… must have been injured there in some manner. An injury as fresh as these fires, more than likely.
A pang of regret settled uncomfortably in her stomach. She… hadn't meant to do that, to compound his pain. She'd only meant to emphasize her concern.
"Why…?" Alice breathed. Why why why? Why did he have to be here, right now, in the middle of the burning Forest instead of safe and sound in the Human Village?
Why must he always… ALWAYS risk himself?
Eric turned his head, locking eyes with her. Though pain clouded his features, his eyes were nothing but genuine. "Because I love you, Alice. And… I was worried. I couldn't help it. I couldn't stand it. I… I had to see you safe."
The purity of his words drew the air from her lungs. It was touching, but…
Was… was this really okay? To have someone so blindly devoted to her that he would constantly put himself in danger like this?
More often than not, he was risking his well-being for her sake, wasn't he?
For the first time, that was a frightening thought. That he'd more than willingly sacrifice himself for her benefit.
She didn't want that.
"I'm… I'm sorry Alice. I… I didn't mean to make you worry. I just… I…" Eric appeared to struggle to find the words to justify himself. "Things were… bad in the Village, too. And I couldn't stop imagining your house on fire… What if you were in danger?"
"What if I was in danger? I was worried about you being in danger! And you were! You put yourself there!" Alice wanted to shake him again.
"I was… The Village was already going crazy. It was risky to stay there, too. If I was going to be in danger anyways, then I'd rather be in danger with you…" Eric stepped close again and tenderly cupped her cheek. "I-I'm so happy you're okay."
Alice leaned into his touch, despite her desire to make him understand. And just what did he mean by the Village being crazy? "The Human Village was… risky? How so?"
"People were… rioting, I guess? They were fighting the guards, burning down buildings, and trying to take over town hall. I… some guy got me in the shoulder with a hammer." Eric glanced at the same shoulder that she had hit.
…So that was the case, then. Even if he'd have stayed put, the Village was no refuge. That was… frustrating. Frustrating beyond reason.
Even so, she couldn't help but cling to the idea that he would have been better off there. Maybe there was no true safe place during this Incident, but that didn't mean that his habits weren't worrisome.
The isolated sunlight in the clearing was finally choked off by the approaching cloud of smoke.
"Please, just… consider your own safety for once… One of these days you might not survive your own recklessness."
"I… I try to…" Eric said guiltily.
"You… really don't." Her eyes watered. "I… I'm home now. I finally feel at home, in no small part because you are a part of it. If you weren't, I'd… Stop… Stop putting yourself at risk like this… Stop threatening to take that away from me…"
Eric was quick to hug her, hesitation apparently left on the other side of the forest fire.
Alice squeezed him tight. Even if she couldn't predict what would become of him in the future, he was here now.
At least he was here.
"I'm sorry…" Eric whispered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to. I'll be better about that. I promise. I just wanted to be here for you, but I never wanted to make you worry."
Knowing him, these weren't merely empty words. He would try. That did put Alice more at ease. As did the long, warm hug. And the fact that he was here, with her again.
…
Her home… The culmination of all of her efforts, all of her ambitions since coming to Gensokyo. It was her place to belong, carved out of the madness of the Forest of Magic with her own two hands. Whether those two hands had manipulated countless more was irrelevant. Her home was hers, and she would not abandon it so soon.
That included Eric.
He felt like home, and the fact that he was willing to go through hell just to see her made the puppeteer's heart feel… full.
This home would not be lost as easily as Makai.
She would see to that.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Sanae Kochiya was in awe.
The first time she'd gazed down from their perch atop Youkai Mountain, it had taken her breath away. She'd grown up on the outskirts of a city, so the pristine, primal scene of Japan that stretched out before her had been completely awe-inspiring.
Even as she'd grown used to living here in Gensokyo, the view that she was afforded each and every day never ceased to amaze her.
Now, what she saw as she looked out across the realm inspired awe in a very different way.
Gensokyo was on fire, and though she hadn't watched one since she was on the Outside, Sanae couldn't help but compare it to a scene straight out of a disaster movie. Except, these were no mere special effects. These fires and this smoke were very, very real.
Columns of smoke rose up from blazes scattered across the land. From the Human Village to the Farmlands and even near the base of Youkai Mountain itself, they scorched the earth.. However, the largest, and therefore most dire looking fire was the one that burned in the Forest of Magic. The sheer size of it was enough to put all the others to shame, and its billowing smoke cloud towered over the landscape.
Sanae considered herself fortunate that the divine winds that circled the mountain were keeping them relatively safe. They kept the air clear and headed the nearby flames in the opposite direction.
Most, however, were not so lucky.
Sanae nursed the pit in her stomach as she watched it all unfold. She had never felt so useless before.
Her, Kanako, and Suwako, the shrine maiden and her two goddesses. Despite everything, their divine rituals to bring forth the rain had all failed. Even her ability to invoke miracles seemed to do little, stifled by what felt like a block when she considered the rain.
This never should have happened. This drought never should have happened. And, without the drought, the fires never would have taken hold like this.
Sanae sat at the top of the steep staircase that led part of the way down Youkai Mountain, between the Moriya Shrine and the Tengu Village. She held her head in her hands as the wind gusted around her.
She just didn't know what to do…
…
"Whoooaaaaa!" A girl's delicate voice floated in on the breeze.
Sanae lifted her head, just in time to catch a blur of turquoise and purple as it quite literally blew into her, like an umbrella in the wind. It carried enough force to knock her over onto her back, and its weight settled over her midsection.
"Ah… ow…" Sanae groaned.
The intruder offered a quick "Eek! Sorry!" and leapt back off of her stomach.
Sanae sat back up, and gave the offender a reproachful look. Though somewhat disoriented, she could recognize that familiar turquoise mop of hair anywhere.
It really was an umbrella blowing in the wind.
"Kogasa, you're way too clumsy, you know that?"
Kogasa Tatara bowed her head apologetically. "I said I was sorry! I didn't mean to run into you, miss shrine maiden! The wind was just too strong!"
Sanae stood, reaching about half a head taller than Kogasa. It wasn't that she was particularly tall, just that Kogasa was rather diminutive. She brushed off her skirt and then fully considered her guest.
"What brings you here? A youkai to our shrine?" She said this as though the majority of the visitors to the Moriya Shrine weren't, in fact, youkai.
"I-I'm scared!" Kogasa declared. "Everything was going nuts! There was fire, and people were fighting, and I-I didn't know where else to go! Can I please stay here?"
"Um…"
"Please!?"
The shrine maiden crossed her arms.
Sanae couldn't deny that she was a bit miffed about the idea of Kogasa taking refuge at the shrine. Sure, she was still a little annoyed by the youkai's troublesome arrival, but there was more to it than that.
Kogasa could be troublesome in other ways, especially with her apparent affinity for water. It didn't take a genius to realize that wherever she went, a light drizzle tended to follow.
More than once she'd shooed the umbrella youkai away for that very reason. Wet clothes and cool wind were a rather unpleasant combination, and she didn't exactly have a lot of spare shrine maiden attire.
How ironic that an umbrella youkai had a natural propensity for rain, though. It was like her very nature sought to ensure that she remained useful to-
…wait…
Sanae glanced between her gohei, Kogasa, and the numerous plumes of smoke rising in the distance.
In that moment, everything clicked into place, like the final, most satisfying piece of a puzzle.
This could be the answer. Just what they needed to overcome whatever was holding their failed rituals back.
She tested her powers, and, for the first time in months, she didn't feel like there was a blocking force when her prayers turned to rain.
It was now clear to her that Kogasa's arrival was a result of the miracle she so desperately sought to invoke. Now, with the power of her goddess' favor and the umbrella youkai's… unique talents, there was an even greater miracle on the horizon. She just needed a little extra help.
Sanae grinned, and she offered Kogasa her hand.
Oh yeah, it's all coming together.
…
…She always did like that movie.
~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~
Sekibanki was no longer holding back. She wasn't holding back, and it was thrilling.
The rokurokubi went low, dodging another crossbow bolt aimed at her body. Then, she planted her foot directly into the face of the spearman who'd taken a stab at her, attempting to take advantage of her lower altitude.
"Try again later," she mused.
There was no stillness here, only the constant flow of movement in battle. Just like a good danmaku duel, only a bit more consequential.
This was fine, however. She'd fought worse. These humans were nothing compared to the Hakurei miko or that black and white witch.
And, this time, she had help.
Between herself and the night sparrow, the humans had been forced to split their focus, relieving the pressure that she'd begun to feel earlier. This allowed her to expand her arsenal, calling upon nine duplicate heads at once.
Nine was an unlucky number. Unlucky for her opponents, that was.
And though that many heads were cumbersome to control, she could still manage. They only needed to function as turrets as she kept her main body safe.
Although…
The man with the spear continued to harass her with his long reach, and every time she attempted to gain some height, the woman with the crossbow would take a shot at her. It was under these circumstances that she was made to continue fighting.
Shooting, dodging, kicking, taunting. Was it… wrong to enjoy this? There was a part of her that thought… maybe.
Maybe she should, instead, be cautious. Just like she always had to be. If she were to grievously injure or even kill one of the villagers, even if they weren't playing by the rules, then there was a chance that she could end up exterminated.
Despite it all, she was still a youkai, and they were still humans. The onus was on her to know her own strength.
However, a larger part of her found that she simply didn't care. They had picked this fight, and she was still operating within spell card rules. If something bad happened to them, then it was their own fault, wasn't it?
These humans were serious about trying to hurt her, so why should she not return a bit of that sentiment?
Not that her opponents would have let her hold back, anyways. Neither, it seemed, would Mystia.
Opposite to her own ranged approach, the night sparrow was an agile, close-quarters terror on the battlefield, charging in with zeal and darting away just as quickly.
The hatchet couldn't hit her. Neither, it seemed, could the pitchfork, nor the club. The brick thrower was too clumsy, and though fire was naturally worrisome for youkai, the torches were ultimately of little use. In fact, both torches now laid on the ground, one dropped by fear and the other as a result of Mystia scraping a gash into the arm that had been holding it.
It was a perfect example of why youkai were considered to be so dangerous. The reason why spell card rules limited the strong and protected the weak.
How were they meant to deal with that sort of power otherwise?
These humans wielded no magic, nor did they possess divine tools. And though, in the right hands, a simple implement of wood and metal could kill a youkai, these humans did not seem to be those talented hands.
Sekibanki wasn't about to let her do all of the work, however. At every opportunity, she scattered danmaku in their direction, providing what she could in covering fire.
This forced the humans to dance around her shots, and it prevented them from organizing any sort of coherent strategy against Mystia.
As Mystia pressed the attack, Sekibanki found herself not wanting to fall behind. Not wanting to be upstaged by this prideful bird youkai.
She would also be one of the youkai that humans feared.
…
The true turning point came when Mystia initiated a reckless dive through the disorderly battle lines and ended up face-to-face with the humans' most valuable asset, the arbalest and her crossbow.
She did not waste the opportunity. Her talons struck true, rending the professionally carved wood of the crossbow's frame into pieces and sending those pieces clattering to the dusty, time-worn ground.
Despite the loss, the crossbow woman seemed to maintain her composure, and she quickly lashed out with a small knife. The blade caught Mystia's right sleeve, and it tore a long hole from her upper arm down to her wrist.
Mystia retreated, but the lack of blood spatter proved that the slash had not connected with her thin arm. All it had done was further provoke Mystia's anger.
"You jerks! First you burn down my stand. Then, you ruin my dress!" Mystia stomped. "Stop destroying my stuff!"
"What's wrong? Are you gonna pout like a child?" The woman with the knife said, looking satisfied after having landed a blow, even if it was a glancing one.
Mystia looked ready to erupt. "You! I'm gonna beat you to a bloody pulp!" And with that, she charged in again, extra furious.
"Try it," the woman quipped.
…
As it turned out, all of that taunting and confidence may have been misplaced.
With their ranged capabilities dismantled and little hope of matching Mystia's ferocity in close quarters, the humans quickly began to lose ground. Injuries began to pile up, cuts and burns and bruises and more.
The tides were turning fast. Why not accelerate the process with a spell card?
"Phobia: Nine-headed Nightmare!"
Sekibanki, faced with little threat anymore, simply hovered out of melee range. With this newfound freedom, she focused almost entirely on manipulating her heads, raining down lasers, bullets, and orbs, painful but not deadly, upon the scattering mob.
Hounded by flying heads and persecuted by a vengeful night sparrow, the humans' morale effectively disintegrated.
One of the torch bearers, the one who'd first cheered their initial progress, was the first to fully turn tail and run. The pitchfork wielder went next, quickly followed by the brick thrower. Soon, the entire lot of them were fleeing the scene, unable to take the punishment any longer.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
"Abandon ship!"
"Wahhh! I'm sorry! Don't eat me!"
All of this, they cried out as they abandoned the fight that they had started.
Cowards… Sekibanki thought. As soon as things started to go south, their first instinct was to run.
All of them, except for one.
The woman who'd wielded the crossbow somehow managed to get her hands onto the spearman's spear. She turned back and appeared to consider throwing the spear like a javelin, a final attempt to land a decisive blow. However, Sekibanki was quicker.
One of her heads chomped down on her hand, and then another bit her ear. The spear left her hand, but it was nowhere near close enough to hit the rokurokubi.
"Y-you damn youkai!" She yelled before hurrying to catch up with the retreating flock, desperately trying to shake off the pursuing heads.
"Yeah! Yeah, I hope that hurts! You wimps! You losers!" Mystia continued to inflict emotional damage as they went.
Sekibanki did eventually release her from her bites, and she dispelled her other heads, too.
And then, came the calm.
The calm that was immediately broken.
"Hahaha! Wooo!" Mystia cheered and flapped her wings. "We showed them!"
"Heh…" It was over. The battle was over, and they had come out nearly unscathed.
Even with their weapons and tools, those humans weren't so tough, after all.
"High five!" Mystia called.
Sekibanki obliged, holding both of her hands up. The night sparrow clapped her hands against her own so swiftly that it stung, but that was alright.
Sekibanki, too, basked in the glow of a job well done and a fight well fought.
There was the crunching of footsteps on glass, but Mystia's jubilation continued.
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I haven't had a chance to sink my talons into someone like that in a while. I mean, what a rush! I hope their wounds bleed for a long time! I hope they get infected! I hope that they-"
"Ahum~" A weathered, deep voice made its presence known.
Sekibanki and Mystia both turned. There, just outside the front door of the cafe, was an old man. The very same old man that had been taking shelter in the cafe with his wife.
A customer that had seen her heads in action. Not just him; all of them had.
He leaned forward, resting on the cane that he held in his two hands. At first, he appeared to consider Mystia. Then, he shifted his tired brown eyes to Sekibanki.
"So, yer a youkai, then?" the old man asked.
Sekibanki recoiled. She took a step back, and she ducked her head further beneath the collar of her cloak.
"Um…" She fought the urge to lie, to scrape together something, anything that would allow her facade to survive. However, it was useless to deny something they had seen with their very own eyes. "Yes…" she managed.
The temporary thrill of battle faded, replaced by dread. Dread at the thought of being run out of yet another job. She liked where she was now. She truly didn't want that to change.
Then again, change, she knew, was inevitable. She… wouldn't apologize for her actions here.
But, he didn't show fear, nor contempt. The old man simply gave a quick nod. "Hmph. Thank goodness. T'would have been a lot more dangerous of a fight otherwise.
This calm reaction certainly threw Sekibanki for a loop. Before she could stop herself, bewildered words were already dripping out. "Isn't that… bad? Aren't you… scared?"
"Hmph. Of youkai? Of course. Of you? Not particularly."
"I don't understand." This was when the human was supposed to flee in fear or react with hostility. Wasn't it?
"Kept us safe, didn't you? Call me new-school, but that deserves praise no matter what you are." He gave a shallow, stiff bow, not that his aging back could have allowed him much more.
"And you too, Miss Night Sparrow." He bowed again. "Thank you for watching over me, my wife, and the others."
"Not like I was trying to," Mystia said. Though she tried to sound dismissive, she puffed out her chest with pride and wore a small smirk.
"Well, I should step back inside. We'll remain under your care, young misses." With that, the old man ambled through the broken doorway and back into the building.
Sekibanki didn't know what else to say. This was… not what she'd expected at all. Maybe it was only because of what she'd done to protect the cafe, but the man had shown her gratitude despite knowing full well that she was a youkai among humans.
He was the second human to ever do that.
It was… relieving.
…
Sekibanki eventually found her way back inside, and she donned her apron once more.
Yes, the cat was out of the bag, but somehow, at least for now, that was okay. For this brief moment, she could feel as though this was a place to belong. Without worrying. Without hiding.
A broom and dustpan found their way into her hands, and, with a small streak of purpose, she began to sweep.
There was a lot of glass on the floor. It simply wouldn't do for Eric to return to this mess.
He was the first human to show her real gratitude, after all.
And now, it seemed as though he wouldn't be the last.
…
The intensifying orange glow outside was a growing point of concern, however.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Their reunion had been short-lived out of necessity.
After the hug, Alice had quickly shifted her focus back to her preparations. Every moment was precious, and with the sky continuing to darken, there wasn't much more time left. Soon, the fires would put these preparations to the test.
Eric would have loved nothing more than to help, to join the dolls in digging firebreaks. To prove himself useful and justify his flight through the woods.
However, as the adrenaline faded and his desperation receded, so too did his strength.
His limbs ached. His breath, even after a dose of the inhaler, was short.
Deep down, something felt depleted. Empty.
He needed rest. He needed energy.
Because of this, Eric found himself sitting on the ground, a vial of strange blue liquid nestled in his hands. He'd uncorked the bottle already, but the odd smell that wafted out from the opening gave him pause.
It smelled… wrong. Like a chemical, or poison. Like it was something that he wasn't supposed to drink.
Still, after another moment of consideration, Eric emptied the bottle in one quick swig. Rinnosuke had assured him that it was only a mana potion, after all.
"Blegh…" he grimaced. The potion was bitter, and it burned like alcohol on the way down. He'd never tasted one before. Was it supposed to be like this?
"Ha…" A small, half-suppressed laugh drew his attention.
Eric turned his head, only to find Alice glancing at him over her shoulder. There was a bit of a teasing smile on her face. "Unpleasant, isn't it?"
"Ah…" That playful grin made him feel funny. It always did. "Y-yeah. A bit. Is it meant to be?"
Alice turned her gaze back to the scene before her, but she continued to speak. "Yes. That is but one of the reasons that mana potions are rarely relied upon."
That sounded quite important, considering he'd just ingested one. "Are there other reasons?"
She nodded. "Aside from the taste, it only takes a small amount to overwhelm one's tolerance, especially that of humans. If you drink too much of it, then the potion fails to properly digest. The body rejects it, and it comes back out the way that it came in."
That sounded vastly unpleasant. "How do you… know that?"
"Marisa is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the concourse of recklessness and magic. Her tales can be useful. They can also be… rather graphic in detail."
"...I can only imagine."
"Did you know that she once turned her own skin green for three days?"
Eric couldn't help but snicker. "No, I didn't. How'd she manage that?"
A strain of mirth remained in Alice's voice. "A failed stamina potion. She sought to bypass her need for sleep, and instead became as green as a leaf from head to toe. You should have seen her face when she'd arrived at my door, convinced that it was permanent."
Eric laughed.
…
This was almost… pleasant. Though tasked with urgent matters, the fact that they could carry on such a casual conversation was… nice.
It made him feel normal. Like he could forget that they were but an island in a sea of flames.
It was weird. Should they have felt this calm given the situation?
Well, whether it was normal or not, he still treasured this respite.
…
With effort, Eric rose to his feet.
At the sound, Alice asked, "How are you feeling?"
His body was still sore, but he no longer felt hollow and exhausted. Evidently, the mana potion had done its job. "Better, now. Not amazing, but better."
She nodded. "That's good."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" It was what he'd come here to do, after all.
Alice took a few moments to respond. "My grimoire. I'd left it inside my workshop when I'd first noticed the smoke. Could you bring it to me?"
"Of course!" Now that she mentioned it, it was a bit odd to not see the book on her person.
"Thank you. My workshop is up the stairs, on the second floor of the tower. It should be on a small table near the doorway."
"I'll be right back!" And with that, Eric headed for the house.
…
The inside of Alice's house, too, was a flurry of activity. Dolls moved to and fro, carrying objects big and small, mundane and magical. They moved dutifully, not reacting to his presence at all.
What are they…?
Eric's question was answered almost immediately as he entered the ground floor of the small tower attached to the house. A sort of cellar door was open, and that seemed to be the dolls' destination. They entered with items and left empty-handed.
So… Alice is preparing for failure, too? That was very much like her, trying to cover all of her bases.
But, that also meant that maybe, just maybe, she had her doubts about being able to hold off a forest fire.
It was a sobering thought.
…
Eric couldn't help but admire Alice's workshop.
It was the first time he'd ever laid eyes on it, and it was almost mesmerizing. The sheer amount of, well, everything that adorned the walls and filled the tables was incredible.
The half-finished doll that laid on what he could have only assumed to have been her main work table caught his attention.
Was she… making a doll that looked like Mystia?
Oh… that's adorable.
Eric peered over the table, at the sketches of wings, and the dress that mimicked the night sparrow's style.
It must have been what Alice had been working on before the crisis began. It felt like such a rare sight, like he wasn't meant to see this part, only the finished product. For some reason, it made him feel a little bit giddy.
*tap-tap*
Before Eric could stare any longer, something tapped his shoulder. He jumped, startled, but it was only Shanghai. The doll looked at him, head tilted to the side. She pointed to a small table, right beside the doorway. Then, she patted his head with a tiny hand.
Of course. He couldn't be getting side tracked.
The grimoire was right where she'd said it would be.
…
"Thank you," Alice said as she accepted the book and affixed it to her hip.
"No problem," Eric replied. "Doesn't feel like I did all that much for you to thank me, though."
Alice hummed. "Perhaps not, but keeping my grimoire close puts me more at ease. I am grateful, all the same."
"Shanghai helped, too. It was kind of surprising to see her there. There were lots of dolls in there, actually."
Alice paused for a moment. "...a final precaution. If I didn't account for failure, then I wouldn't be doing my due diligence."
…She was trying so hard, wasn't she? It made him want to do even more. "What else can I-?"
"Rest." Alice was suddenly firm. "You have been through a lot today already. Let me be the one to take care of my own."
"But-"
"Please. You are not the only one with the desire to protect."
"...Okay." Eric relented, but that didn't mean he felt good about it. It only made him more anxious about what was to come.
It felt… wrong to sit back and do nothing. There had to be something that he could do, even indirectly.
…
Eric pointed to the sky, above Alice's house, but below the ominous, dark clouds. "What about them?"
Alice followed his finger with her eyes. "Them? The fairies?"
Indeed, he was speaking of the fairies. Several of them flitted about overhead, consumed by what he could only describe as a delicate panic. It was cute… in a strange sort of way.
They didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular, just scurrying about above the clearing. He recognized Dew-chan and Mist-chi. They had found their way here with him, after all.
That was a relief. He'd felt a tad guilty about forgetting to check up on them.
"Yes," Eric replied. "Can't we get them to help us out?"
For a moment, Alice appeared incredulous. "I'd sooner trust an oni to help with my sewing."
Eric just tilted his head, which prompted a second response.
"You're…serious? I doubt that they possess the necessary temperament, focus, or even attention span to be of any kind of help."
"I know they're a bit… chaotic, but maybe I could try to talk to them? Some of them might have a useful element?"
Beings of nature as they were, fairies famously boasted nearly inexhaustible energy. If any of them were water or ice fairies, or even wind fairies, then having their help could go a long way.
Alice appeared unmoved. Neither have her preparations slowed. "My hands are quite full at the moment. I have neither the capacity, nor desire to trouble myself with them."
She was right. Orchestrating such a large response was taking all of her effort. All of her intent.
But, he was not so indisposed.
He was no magician. His singular potential paled in comparison to that of a puppeteer's hundred organized dolls. Alice was the one doing all of the work, but if he could enlist the fairies' help…
Not that he thought the 'power of friendship' would conquer all, just…
Gods, he just wanted to do something right today.
"I'll take care of it. All of it. It'll be my responsibility. I'm… not that much use otherwise," Eric said. He scuffed a shoe against the ground. "I just want to help however I can. Explore every option. I… don't want you to have to do it all on your own, Alice."
Alice gave a look of consternation. Then, she sighed. "If you believe that you can make use of them, then you are welcome to try. It is a long shot, but… I will admit, I don't quite understand how to communicate with them… meaningfully."
"It's not so hard, I think. They're just children, in a way." Eric's feet left the ground. "I think you'd be good with them, if you tried. I've seen it myself, just how motherly you can be. Sweet, yet firm."
Alice didn't seem to dignify that with a response, but he could see the pink tinge that crept onto her face.
It was only after he began to move away that he heard her mutter something behind him.
"...You would say something like that so shamelessly…"
Heh…
…
As it turned out, negotiating with the fairies of Gensokyo was a piece of cake.
Literally.
~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~
Hello again! It's been about a month and a half, but who's counting? (Me. I am very much still counting.)
Alice might be starting to get a little fed up with Eric's tendency to self-sacrifice. Like, damn it, what would someone who cares about you really think if you did that all the time?
But, on a positive note, they have seemingly found a small bit of calm in the eye of the storm. I was a little worried that the tone would be a bit wrong for the circumstances, but I think that this is probably one of the better ways that they could cope with the stress of the situation. Just try to act normal and fake it 'till you make it.
Next chapter is very likely the proper climax of both this arc and the overall part of the story that I would consider to be 'Book One.' When fire meets the desire to protect, who wins? What becomes of the Human Liberation Movement when the Incident Resolvers come knocking? Will Gensokyo simply burn out of control?
Find out next time on Dragon Ball-
Um… in chapter 30.
Thank you for reading! Comment or review if you want! Have a nice day!