Chapter Text

~Chapter 1: Night of the Scarlet Moon~

Many years ago, red mist blanketed a certain Eastern Wonderland in darkness. We all know the story of how Reimu and Marisa stormed the Scarlet Devil Mansion, but there were other Incident-Resolvers out that night, combating the mist however they could.

It was a moment Keine would never forget. While she wandered the cold, empty streets, something caught her eye. There was a pink light glimmering in the sky, growing bigger as she peered up through the fog. A distant roar sounded in her ears. Keine dove into Sekibanki's radish patch seconds before the light smashed into the road.

Smoke and hot gravel blew over Keine's back. After a few seconds she stood up, spat out the tuft of radish leaves that had found their way between her lips, and gasped.

There was a woman, tall and strong, standing where the shooting star had fallen. She took a deep breath and blew away the dense red mist that was creeping back towards her. She glanced up and down the street and, scowling quite cutely, reached into her coat pocket for a map.

"Ex... Excuse me!" Keine called out. "Are you all right? That looked like a bit of a rough landing."

"Hm?" The shooting star lady turned and took in Keine's hat. "That's a weird tokin. Oh, don't worry, I'm fine!"

"It's not a tokin. Anyway, I'm glad you're all right," said Keine. "Who are you?"

"From the golden realm on high, I am Hoshiro Nijinazuma, the forever champion!" The stranger struck a dynamic pose, her gloved fists planted on her hips and her wings spread wide. "I fight for love, hope, and children's precious smiles! I came here to put an end to the foul scarlet mist that's taken over the night."

"Eternal champion. That sounds like... great fun! I'm Keine Kamishirasawa, a history teacher and protector of the village," said Keine nervously.

"Lovely to meet you, tengu." Hoshiro bowed deeply in greeting.

Keine sighed and bowed in return. Despite the angle, her hat didn't shift a millimetre. "Now," she said, "I'm not a tengu, but that's immaterial. We usually land more gently around humans here, so if you could keep your shooting star activities to a minimum-"

"Got it. Do you know where the mist's coming from?" Hoshiro cut in.

"It- it looked like it was coming in from Misty Lake..."

"Misty Lake... Perfect." Hoshiro smiled. "That's just where I won't be going!"

Keine blinked. "Can I ask why not?"

"Use your loaf, Keine! Mist rolling in off one lake? Red mist? It's an obvious distraction! No, I'm going in the opposite direction." Hoshiro spun around on her toe and pointed a finger into the sky. "To the Garden of the Sun!"

Hoshiro took off with a wingbeat that scattered the mist and ruffled Keine's dress. Keine couldn't help but watch her blast up into the sky, wreathed in a burning pink glow, and soar away to the north.

"The... The garden's that way..." Keine felt a little useless pointing towards the sunflower-drenched field. Then she scowled. "Use my loaf?! The nerve of her!"

It was a weary and battered Hoshiro who sat in the pub that night, nursing a strong beer and several poison ivy burns. Her sadness, such as it was, went for a burton the moment Reimu and Marisa came in.

"Hey, you're that shrine maiden!" Hoshiro gasped, letting her chair clatter on the floor as she stood up. "And you must be Alice! I'm so glad you're here! I'm getting nowhere with this stupid mist."

The Incident-Resolvers both jumped at the sound of her voice. Dressed in red and pink with short, pointy horns that almost reached the ceiling, she was an awe-inspiring sight. Marisa tried not to blush at the size of her biceps.

"My only lead was an angry woman with an umbrella. I couldn't get anything out of her," continued Hoshiro, "except fifty million minor injuries. But I think, if we work together, we could find whoever's making the scarlet mist and put a stop to it!"

Reimu looked at Marisa with raised eyebrows. Marisa clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle a fit of laughter.

"Well..." A grin spread across Reimu's face, but she held back her laughter. "Rin did come down with food poisoning, so we're looking for a third teammate. You know Rin Satsuki, right?"

"Never heard of her!" said Hoshiro brightly. "But I'd be happy to fill in!"

"Well, the thing is," began Reimu.

"Tell her, Reimu, tell her!" gasped Marisa, taking a break from laughing.

"The thing is," giggled Reimu, "we've done it already. The whole thing's sorted. You know that mysterious mansion on the cliffside next to Misty Lake? We found a little girl living there who was also a dangerous vampire, and it turned out she made the mist to keep the sun away, so we knocked some sense into her! It's sorted."

Hoshiro's face fell. "You mean... They WERE at the lake?"

"Next to it," giggled Reimu. "You got completely lost, um... Who are you?"

"Hoshiro Nijinazuma, the forever champion. I fight for love, hope, and children's precious smiles," Hoshiro said glumly. "And wild goose chases, apparently. I should've listened to Keine!"

"Oho, really? Most people take at least a few weeks to realise that!" Keine had just stepped into the pub. "I see you survived Yuuka at least. What went wrong for you, Hoshiro?" she asked, pulling up a chair.

"Oh... It was one silly mistake," groaned Hoshiro.

Marisa nudged Keine. "Get yourself a strong drink," she giggled. "Come on, Hoshiro, tell the teacher what happened!"

Hoshiro cleared her throat. "For starters, it took me hours to find the Garden of the Sun, and the umbrella lady was really upset..."

Chapter Text

~Chapter 2: The Frozen Maiden~

"Blizzard Sign: Shattered Cryoclastic Flow!"

"Air Mastery: Four-Coloured Gale!"

A spear of sparkling storm clouds smashed into roiling colourful wind, hurling smoke out in all directions. Slowly but surely the gale pushed through and hurled Letty into the trees, where she crashed through a leafless canopy and landed in a snowdrift.

"Oof... You're definitely a dragon, I'll give you that." Letty stood up, piles of snow sloughing off her torn dress. "But you forget who has the type advantage. With a yuki-onna's full power, it'll be the work of a moment to put you on ice!"

"Put me on-? Aaugh!" Hoshiro felt a cold, firm grasp on her legs. She looked down in shock as an iceberg grew around her clumpy red boots, anchoring her to the snowy ground. "A cowardly trick like that won't stop me! I'll defeat you and bring back Spring if it's the last thing I do!"

"Some chance! Whether it's pulling strings or freezing the world, I'm the most powerful of all the ice youkai!" Letty laughed triumphantly. "Although now that you mention it, I'm not actually making the long winter-"

"Don't you lie about that!" a voice cried out. It was Cirno, flying towards them in a fierce temper. "You're not the most powerful anything! When it comes to chilliness, I'm the strongest!"

"Not you!" groaned Letty.

"That's right!" said Cirno, puffing her chest out with pride. "It's the one and only incomparable me!"

"Ohh...! Gee, is that the time? I'm going." Letty turned her back on Cirno and flew off. Looking down over her shoulder, she shouted a farewell to Hoshiro. "You can come and die to me tomorrow if you want! I'll be around!"

Hoshiro and Cirno watched her depart, the former wide-eyed and open-mouthed, the latter pouting heavily.

"I can't believe it," Hoshiro finally said. "How'd you scare her off like that?!"

"She must have known she didn't stand a chance against me," sniffed Cirno. "Sometimes it's a shame to be the strongest."

Hoshiro's eyebrows rose. "Strongest? That's not what I remember."

Cirno gave her a quizzical look, then she gasped. "It's you! The dragon who narrowly defeated me half an hour ago! I didn't recognise you with your legs encased in ice!"

"Ohh, you can't see any higher!" gasped Hoshiro, stunned by the revelation. She flexed her calf muscles to shatter the ice. "There we go."

Cirno scoffed. "Trust Letty to leave her ice half-baked! She couldn't freeze a boiled egg without my help."

"I don't know. She does make things chilly," said Hoshiro. She tried to brush some ice off her shorts, but it only made them soggier. "Very chilly. Have you duelled her before?"

"Of course! I've had her on the run dozens of times!" Cirno lied, adopting a heroic stance. "Whether it's spell-cards, fencing, the steeple chase, the triathlon, competitive eating, word searches, mud pie competitions or kickboxing, I could take Letty any day of the calendar!"

"Fencing?!"

Cirno nodded. "I had my ice fence up before she'd hammered a single picket! Then she called me a cheetah because I was so fast and ran away to cry!"

"Wow...! Not only are you strong, you can handle a wordsearch and even make fences!" Hoshiro ran in front of Cirno, her eyes shining. "Cirno! I ask you, for all the world's sake, to lend me your strength! Together we can take Letty down for good!"

Cirno gasped. "Y... You mean it?! I'm the help you need?!"

"That's right! You'll be the Sun Wukong to my Xuanzang, the Ieyasu to my Nobunaga, the Toph to my Katara! A fearless warrior, a tactical genius, a companion there to the end!" shouted Hoshiro, offering Cirno her hand. "Are you with me?!"

"You bet your kneecaps I'm with you!" Hovering a couple of feet above the ground, Cirno grabbed Hoshiro's hand and gave it a mighty warrior's shake. "Let's hunt us a yuki-onna and end the eternal winter so I'll have warm things to freeze again!"

"Behold! The architect of nightmares has been vanquished with some English beef!"

"Eh?" said Reimu, who was comfortably perched on the shrine stairs finishing a large slice of Sakuya's cherry pie.

"English beef? I'm full, but thank you anyway," said Sakuya, licking her plate.

"I didn't do it!" shouted Marisa, pouring her friends some more beer.

Before the tired and bewildered warriors' eyes, Cirno came howling through the air and slammed into the courtyard. She pouted when the tiles failed to shatter beneath her fist, then she cried a little when her fist almost shattered on the tiles.

"Cirno! Oh, my gods!" A worried, sack-toting Hoshiro touched down and knelt in front of her. "You should never punch the ground without gloves. Let me see your hand."

"Shut up! I'm fine!" whimpered Cirno, kissing her injured knuckles. "I've looked mightier beasts than the floor in the eye and still come up smelling of roses. This is nothing!"

"You mustn't push yourself so hard, Cirno. You have friends who care about you!" said Hoshiro reproachfully. "Please be careful from now on."

Cirno stuck her tongue out and offered no reply.

"Excuse us," said Sakuya, "but where are you going with this cabaret?"

"What? Oh, sorry!" Hoshiro stood up, eliciting a startled yelp from the heavy sack slung over her shoulder. "Good news, everybody! We captured the yuki-onna!"

"You captured...?" Reimu realised what must have been tied up inside the sack. "You what?! What yuki-onna?!"

"Letty! The one trying to create eternal winter!" said Hoshiro proudly. She hoiked the sack off her shoulder and dumped it on the courtyard, making its contents swear angrily.

"Oh, no, I don't believe it..." groaned Reimu.

"Letty was innocent, Hoshiro! It was the mistress of the Netherworld!" laughed Marisa. "I can't believe you did it again."

Sakuya blinked. "This has happened before?"

"Yeah, but it was Yuuka last time," recounted Marisa. "Hoshiro thought she was the one making all that red mist."

"Did she? Oh, how silly of you, Hoshiro!" giggled Sakuya. "I suppose I should be glad you didn't come after Lady Remilia as well. Fighting three young ladies in the same evening would have been so tiring."

Hoshiro looked at Cirno, hoping for some moral support.

Cirno was wiping her nose on a lacy blue handkerchief. "What's happening now?" she asked, stuffing it back in her pocket. "I'm bored! When are we executing Letty?!"

"Ohh... We boobed, Cirno. Letty was innocent!" Hoshiro dolefully explained. "Come on, let's let her out and apologise."

Cirno's jaw dropped. "You said boob!" she declared, breaking out in a wide grin.

"Actually, I think that was the archaic definition of 'boob', which refers to stupid behaviour!" Marisa piped up. "Basically, a 'boob' is an idiot who never gets anything right and 'boobed' is the past tense of 'boob' because it's a verb as well, which means, um." She giggled. "They're a total pair of boobs!"

"P-pair of boobs?! You're so naughty!" Cirno laughed her head off. Then she stopped, her expression turning instantly sour. "Wait, did you call me a boob?! I'm not a boob! Hoshiro, tell her I'm not a boob!"

"We are boobs," said Hoshiro regretfully, "because we did boob. I know it's a confusing word, but the fact that we boobed makes us boobs. Still, there's no harm done!"

"Yes there is," said Letty icily.

"Everyone boobs sometimes. How we come back from it's what counts," Hoshiro went on, ignoring her. "We might be the idiots today, but next time we'll be better, cleverer... Not boobs but heroes!"

"Yay!" squealed Cirno, hugging Hoshiro tightly around the waist. "Can I be Katara next time?"

"Sure!" Hoshiro patted her on the head.

"Can I go to bed now?" said Reimu heavily.

Chapter Text

~Chapter 3: Suika, Suika, Misty Mystery Suika~

"Wow, this butadon is so good!" Marisa gushed, eagerly snarfing down some white rice and the remainder of a large boiled egg. "I didn't know you could cook, Rumia."

"It isn't butadon, it's bibimbap!" Clad in a frilly yellow apron and a red bandana, Rumia was fetching a couple more bowls out of her handbag. "I spent my gap year in Laos, where I ate the head chef at a Korean take-away. Clearly I absorbed his skills while I was digesting him."

Reimu gave Marisa a worried look. Marisa shrugged her shoulders and resumed eating.

"Did Alice say she was coming?" Reimu changed the subject.

"Yep, though there's something she has to take care of first. She said she still wants to make her 'doll festival' happen someday..."

"I still don't understand that. How would it be any different from a dolls' tea party?"

"We'd be having booze instead of tea," Marisa said, polishing off the last of her rice. "You've gotta have Rumia cook more often, Reimu! That was just stunning!"

Rumia giggled. "No need to be shy. I'd be happy to have you both for dinner whenever suits you!"

"Maybe you can help with the cooking for tomorrow's feast," suggested Reimu. "Sakuya's going to be tired after doing today's and yesterday's feasts, and last week's fishing festival... And Meiling's birthday... And Tanabata..." Reimu's brow furrowed. "How many feasts have we had this month?"

On the rolling meadows below the bamboo forest was a little wooden house, and sitting among the flowers outside that house was a dragon reading the newspaper.

"A feast at the Hakurei Shrine, another feast that's also at the Hakurei Shrine..." Hoshiro turned the page and gasped. "A puddle jumping festival at the Garden of the Sun? No invitation needed? Bring your own puddle?!" That didn't sound like the Yuuka she remembered.

She was definitely going.

"How do I bring my own puddle?" Hoshiro thought aloud. Her mind wandered to buckets, jugs, jars and barrels, a universe of water-carrying devices. Could she fill a wheelbarrow with soil, pour water on top and call that a puddle? Or perhaps she'd just summon a shower of rain. Logistically speaking, magic was better than wheelbarrows.

"Once again, the Day of the Doll has to be postponed. It should really be down to humans to deal with this insanity, but it can't be helped," a voice said out of nowhere, making Hoshiro jump. "Say, you're that loud dragon with the boots and the tank top! I don't suppose you know anything?"

"Who's there?!" Hoshiro looked around in a panic until she saw Alice landing next to the wooden swing. "Oh, it's you with the dolls! Except you don't have any now!"

"That's true. Shanghai's having terrible period cramps, so I left her in bed with Hourai to look after her," said Alice. "We haven't met properly, have we? I'm Alice Margatroid, a doll-maker and-"

"The Magician of Makai! Oh, my days, I didn't know you'd moved!" gasped Hoshiro. "I'm Hoshiro Nijinazuma, a magical fighting heroine and Incident-Resolver. My mum's a goddess as well. We should be friends!"

Alice pursed her lips. "We could, if we must. Right now I'm investigating the overburdened social calendar at the Hakurei Shrine... Speaking of which, weren't you a bit jumpy today? Aren't you known most widely as the dragon who attacks innocent people during Incidents?"

"Um, not on purpose! I baked Letty an apology cake!"

"Oh, you can bake! How lovely," said Alice, her expression brightening. "I'm trying to bake an investigation cake of my own, but all I have is the yeast of suspicion and an egg of mysteries. If I sprinkle a little yeast on you, do you think you would rise?"

Hoshiro met Alice with a blank stare.

Alice sighed. "Should we just fight? Would that suit you?"

"Fight? I'd love to!" Hoshiro's eyes blazed with pink light. She raised her head to the sky and roared, sending up a column of white-hot energy. Lightning crackled around her clenched fists in all the colours of the rainbow. "Forever champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I fight for fun, practice and exercise when requested! Now, doll-wielding daughter of Makai, show me your full power!"

"N-no, no, just a friendly sparring match! You're only the stage one boss!" yelped Alice, flailing a little.

"Oh." Hoshiro switched off her eye glow and discharged her knuckles. After a moment's contemplation she smiled. "You can have the first strike. Now, doll-wielding daughter of Makai, show me a small amount of your power!"

Alice ran over and punched Hoshiro in the nose. Hoshiro somersaulted backwards with a gasp and fell to her knees.

"Alas! I am slain!" wailed Hoshiro, clutching at her heart. "Curse you, Alice... Curse you! I wanted to do so much! Now there won't be another dawn, only forever twilight for me. Goodbye, cruel world..."

Hoshiro slumped down among the flowers and lay there, making a heroic effort not to laugh.

"Oh, my." Alice stifled a fit of giggles. "You are just full of surprises, aren't you? Strong enough to lose with grace! I think you'll fit in here pretty well!"

"Really?!" A beaming Hoshiro sat back up. "I'd love to fit in! Thank you, Alice!" she shouted, running over with her arms outstretched.

Alice shot up over the house, leaving Hoshiro to hug thin air. "Sorry, must dash! Incidents don't resolve themselves, after all. Goodbye!"

Pouting a little, Hoshiro watched Alice disappear into the sky. She was used to getting that reaction from humans, but her hugs couldn't do anything to a youkai except squash them a little. Oh, fine, a lot.

She had more important business than the moral issues surrounding physical affection, though. Reimu hosting too many festivals, Yuuka showing her playful side and Alice picking fights? There was an Incident afoot, and Hoshiro intended to fix it.

Hoshiro began her quest in the village. An impromptu game of cricket was in full swing, but Hoshiro ignored it, stepping over squealing fairy batswomen and weaving past exhausted human warriors along the high street. She ducked into the quieter South Chicken Tempura Street, where a woman in a blue robe was lamenting the lack of free chicken tempura.

"Is it really too much to ask for? A little chicken tempura?" Yuyuko said huffily, sulking on the wall outside a messy rock garden. "I'll fade away to nothing without a snack."

Hoshiro somersaulted over a discarded cricket bat and stepped closer. "Are you all right?"

"I have no energy..." groaned Yuyuko. She teetered slowly backwards and fell limply behind the wall. "I haven't had anything to eat since luncheon an hour ago! I'll surely die."

"No! Oh, you poor thing!" gasped Hoshiro, rushing to Yuyuko's side. "I can feed you! What would you like?"

Yuyuko sat up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I want tempura, rice balls, tonkatsu curry, takoyaki, crepes, strawberry cream cake, red wine and chocolate milk! Where are we going?"

With a light purse and a stomach not much fuller, Hoshiro flew through warm, cloudy skies to Misty Lake. Yuyuko had apparently been banned from Reimu's feasts, a decision Hoshiro understood even if it seemed harsh, and hadn't given her any information. Nor had Youmu when she came to drive Yuyuko home.

Hoshiro was well and truly vexed. She needed help to unpick an Incident so thoroughly, um, picked, and she knew where to find it.

Hoshiro swooped down towards the cute little igloo above the lake's northern shore. She landed hard, her boots cracking the garden path, and approached the front door.

"Cirno! Hello!" Kneeling down, Hoshiro knocked on the cold, damp door. "Come on, there might be an Incident!"

"Who are you looking for?" said Cirno, wandering up behind Hoshiro.

"Hm?" Hoshiro glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, hi! Have you seen Cirno? She isn't answering."

Cirno tilted her head in confusion. "That's very weird. I know for a FACT that Cirno lives here. Maybe I'll go inside and check..."

"How? It's locked!"

"I happen to know where Cirno keeps her spare key! See under here?" Cirno said with a wink. She sat down next to the messy vegetable patch and fossicked around under a carrot until she pulled out a soft white sock.

"That's a sock," Hoshiro observed.

"I know, and Youmu's gonna be so thrilled to have it back!" said Cirno, skipping away down the garden path.

"Youmu?" Hoshiro gasped. "Cirno, wait! I just saw her! She's got a wheelbarrow full of Yuyuko full of a week's food I can't afford any more! SHE'S THAT WAY!"

The lack of Cirno was a setback, but Hoshiro was determined to solve the Incident. She flew straight to the mansion where a new rival was waiting.

"Finally, a chance to pit my strength against another dragon!" Meiling laughed boisterously. Her arms were folded and she wore a fierce grin. "Bring it on, Hoshiro! I'm going to enjoy this!"

"Not if I enjoy it first!" Hoshiro punched Meiling on the shoulder and sat down. "Can I be Chun-Li?"

"Help yourself! I hate getting typecast as the one Chinese fighter," said Meiling, flumping down on the other cushion. "I'll try being Ryu. How does best of five sound?"

Hoshiro winced. "I can't stay for long. Is three bouts all right?"

"Well," Meiling smiled, "it'll only be three matches if you play well enough."

They ended up playing ten matches, of which Meiling won seven. Round 11 was cut short when Sakuya came by with the copy of Mega Man 7 she'd been itching to try. Hoshiro left her to her pastime and went to interrogate the lady of the house.

Remilia sat primly on her throne, trying to look down haughtily even though Hoshiro was two metres tall. "Isn't Hoshiro a boy's name?" she said in some confusion. "Why would you have a boy's name?"

"Eh?" Hoshiro was stunned. "Because it's my name! I liked the way it sounded."

"And you're sure you aren't a boy? I only let girls come round to play," sniffed Remilia.

"Yes I'm sure! I know what I am!" snapped Hoshiro. "Are you sure you're a vampire? Is your hair really blue? Those are personal questions! Mind your own business!"

A slow, tense moment went by. Remilia was staring at her, open-mouthed but silent. Hoshiro turned with an angry sigh and stormed out of the throne room.

"...And then I decided to come here." Hoshiro sighed and finished her bowl of tea. "What was Remilia's problem? I know I'm big and loud and rough and I don't know how to giggle but I'm still a woman!"

"Um..." That was a lot to unpack, so Reimu left most of it packed. "Remilia's at that age, so she probably just wasn't expecting a woman to be called Hoshiro. It does end in 'ro', after all."

"Maybe I should've called myself Hoshirin or Hoshiko..."

"No, it isn't your fault." Reimu calmly sipped her tea. "You might not be Remilia's kind of person, but you're fine. You know, some people raid the library and pick fights with the guards every week and still get to be the Scarlets' honoured guests."

"Oh. That's nice." Hoshiro didn't have much more to say, so she changed the subject. "Anyway, that's as far as I got. It was great exercise, but I just can't figure out these feasts! Do you know anything?"

"The feasts? I've been trying to investigate them too, but I didn't get anywhere. So really I'm in the same position you are," explained Reimu. "At least the festivals aren't dangerous."

"Unless Yuuka goes around splashing us all on purpose."

"What?"

"You didn't read-? Never mind. It's in the newspaper," said Hoshiro. "Good luck with tonight's feast. Oh, actually, can I come?"

Reimu's eyes widened. "You're asking?! Most people just show up after a big fight!"

"Well, I wanted to be polite." Hoshiro had come over all shy, toying with her hair and avoiding Reimu's gaze. "We aren't close friends. Um, not that we shouldn't be! I'd love to be your friend if that's all right!"

"Hang on, you're being polite? Asking for an invitation? Respecting my boundaries? In Gensokyo?!" Reimu darted backwards and drew her gohei. "That's massively suspicious! Defend yourself!"

Hoshiro's eyes widened. "De... Defend? Well, sure!" Hoshiro stepped back and adopted her fighting stance. "Come for me, Shrine Maiden of Paradise! I won't lose!"

Reimu flew at Hoshiro, whapping her all over in a frenzy. Hoshiro pushed through the stinging strikes and launched a flurry of punches, knocking Reimu across the courtyard.

"I don't understand, why isn't my wand affecting you? Aren't you a youkai?!" cried Reimu.

"I'm a dragon! We aren't vulnerable to Shinto magic," said Hoshiro proudly.

Reimu gasped. "A dragon...! But you're so stupid and overenthusiastic! You just pick fights with Yuuka, Letty, Keine, and now Remilia-"

"No, that's not true!" Hoshiro snapped, her cheeks puffing out with anger. "I was helping Keine beat her carpet! We just got overexcited."

"Oh." Reimu smiled fiercely. "Even if you are an underwhelming dragon, you're still a dragon. Time to show you what I'm capable of! Ascension Kick!"

Reimu lunged at Hoshiro and kicked her in the stomach, knocking the wind right out of her. Hoshiro somersaulted backwards and slammed into a tree.

"Ow! What a kick!" an awestruck Hoshiro cried, springing back forwards. "Have one of mine. Boot Horizon: Foulness Destroying Kick!"

Pink fire engulfed Hoshiro's right boot. She spun around and flew foot-first at Reimu. Reimu leapt high over the battlefield and swung her gohei, catching Hoshiro's hair tie as she ploughed underneath.

Hoshiro's hair fell in a river of brown around her torso. It was a pain, but no real problem. She shot upwards and lay into Reimu, punching and kicking with lightning speed.

Reimu fought back, batting Hoshiro's strikes aside and getting in a few of her own. Hoshiro's strength was stunted without her feet on the ground. Reimu pressed her lack of disadvantage by grabbing Hoshiro around the waist, swinging her in a wide circle and chucking her at the shrine.

Hoshiro cried out in shock, then rather more loudly in pain when her head ploughed through a wooden box. She lay there, silent and motionless. Reimu laughed triumphantly. Hoshiro was well and truly-

In her donation box. Embedded in her donation box. "Ohh, I'm an idiot!" screamed Reimu, slapping herself on the head. "Hoshiro! Tell me it's not going to be an expensive fix!"

There was no reply. Biting her lip, Reimu landed beside Hoshiro and inspected the damage. Only the wooden grate at the top had been smashed; the rest was intact. Reimu breathed a sigh of relief.

With the important question answered, Reimu could turn her attention to more trivial matters. "Are you all right?" she asked, poking Hoshiro on the shoulder. "Hoshiro? Hoshiro, wake up!"

"Mrrf..." groaned Hoshiro, slowly arching her back. She shifted her legs a little and slumped back down. "No... I can't lose... Not like this! Not with everyone counting on me!"

Hoshiro sprang up in an explosion of splintered wood, spun around and struck a dynamic pose. "Did you think I'd die quietly?! No matter the challenge, no matter how hard you knock me down, I'll get back up and fight! Ten thousand donation boxes can't stop me!"

"You're taking this a lot more seriously than I expected," said Reimu worriedly. "Can we just leave it there? I have to clean up..."

"No! We're seeing this through to the end!" Hoshiro's eyes flashed. Lightning crackled along her arms, glowing in all the colours of the rainbow. She thrust her hand towards Reimu. "Nijinazuma: Seven-Coloured Strike!"

The lightning flashed across the courtyard, bathing the shrine in its multicoloured glow and lighting Reimu up like one of Yukari's busiest spell-cards. Her hair jagged and smouldering, Reimu fell slowly backwards in a dead faint.

Hoshiro jumped up and punched the air. "I did it! Finally the secret of endless feasts will be revealed! Finally! Any moment now!"

"Sorry, I'm afraid you're out of luck," a voice declared. Hoshiro gasped and swung around to see Alice landing on the stairs with two little dolls in tow.

"Alice?! What do you mean?!" cried Hoshiro, watching the doll maker stride up towards her.

"I watched the whole duel," said Alice, "and you used a continue right at the end. I'm afraid the perpetrator won't accept your challenge now."

Hoshiro's face fell. "But that's unfair! All I did was refuse to be defeated."

"That's what a continue is," Alice explained. "Anyway, let's resuscitate Reimu and get this place cleaned up for the feast. Shanghai and Hourai can nail the box back together."

"Shanghai? Oh, did her cramps get better?" said Hoshiro, brightening up.

"No?" Alice seemed confused. "I was joking, Hoshiro! Dolls don't have periods. Everybody knows that."

Chapter Text

~Chapter 4: Where Did You Last See Your Moon?~

"A little there, not too saggy..." Keine was fingering through tufts of pampas grass in a dark red vase, squinting to see the slender stalks in the moonlight. "I think that's good enough. Oh, Hoshiro, be careful with that statue!"

"Don't worry, I've got it!" Wearing a pink builder's helmet with red decor, Hoshiro set the statue down ever so gently. It slammed into the ground with a deafening boom. The playground trembled, throwing up gravel and half the frog pond, while Hoshiro glowed with pride.

"That was the opposite of careful!" Keine sighed. "Why did we let them lumber us with that thing?!"

"They're harvest goddesses! Children can look at it during the festival and learn, um... Er..." Hoshiro regarded the five-metre-tall effigy of the Aki Sisters and laughed loudly. "Her foot's the wrong way round! Look!"

With a heavy heart, Keine looked. Even in the dark there was no mistaking it; both of Minoriko's rough granite legs ended in left feet. "Well, that's just the icing on the cake, isn't it? Some guests of honour they're shaping up to be."

"What if she really looks like that?" proposed Hoshiro. "Two left feet. Could she still walk?"

"I don't know," Keine said with a shrug. "At least it's something interesting to tell your pen pal. Do you want to give me a hand with the tsukimi dango tomorrow?"

Hoshiro flashed a dauntless thumbs-up. "Count on it, sister!" she grinned, only to frown moments later. "Actually, my pen pal hasn't written for months. I hope she's all right up there."

"Up where?"

"The moon."

Keine's jaw dropped. She covered it hastily with a hand. "That's... interesting!" she said with a nervous laugh. "Perhaps she's busy, or they had her executed. It isn't as though something could be wrong with the moon!"

"Something could be wrong with the moon?!" Hoshiro's jaw dropped as well. "But how?! It's made of stone!"

"No, do- don't worry about it! Oh, no, I can tell what's about to happen."

Hoshiro craned her neck and peered up at the shining disc immersed in darkness. She pushed the sound of Keine fretting to the back of her mind and took in every detail. The moon still shone creamily white, the grey rabbit still thumped her mochi barrel, but...

The more she stared, the less familiar it felt. The rabbit's left ear was a sliver too short, the moon's southern curve just a fraction less gibbous than it should be. Hoshiro's heart went cold. "Keine... That isn't the moon!"

Keine took a deep breath. "You're right, that's a fake moon. I knew all along. Now DON'T worry, I know it sounds bad but we can trust the people who might be behind this! This won't be easy to take in-"

"Don't joke about it, Keine! They turned a whole moon off!" Dozens of possibilities ran through Hoshiro's brain, making her scowl in vexation. "Here's what we know. The moon's made of stone. It pulls the tides and gives us waterbending. It reflects sunlight, so if it's stopped shining, that means..." She gasped in horror. "Oh, no! The sun!"

"These noodles are delicious! How did you make them?"

Uke Mochi smiled sweetly. "I cut my hair. I hope it's not too stringy..."

"Oh, no, it isn't stringy at all! It's perfect." Amaterasu twiddled another bolus of noodles around her chopsticks and ate them happily. "Mmm... You're absolutely delicious!"

"You know I am." Uke Mochi leaned over the table and gave Amaterasu a kiss, getting curry on her nose for the trouble. "Just as well you know how to eat!"

Leaving Amaterasu to blush, Uke Mochi got to work on her own dinner. She was just chewing the last of her tonkatsu when the door flew open and smacked the wall.

"It's the sun! You have to listen to me!" A frantic, panting Hoshiro stumbled into the room. She took a few breaths, whipped off her hard hat and bowed to each goddess in turn. "Lady Amaterasu, the sun's disappeared!"

"Hm?!" Amatarasu stared at her, some noodles still hanging from her lips. "Mmxfcufe mymm momnft." The sun goddess swallowed noisily, wiped her mouth and spoke again. "Who are you, exactly? And how did you get in here?"

"Hoshiro Nijinazuma, ma'am! I came in through the door!" Hoshiro said formally and frantically, which was a tricky combination. "You have to do something about the sun! Light it again, or... or something!"

"Ah... Ryuujin's other other daughter." sighed Amaterasu, laying down her chopsticks. "Hoshiro, wasn't it? You might not have noticed, but the sun actually rises again in the morning. That's why people sleep at night."

"I know, but this is different! The moon stopped shining, which means it can't be reflecting the sun's light any more, which means the sun must've disappeared! Nothing else would make sense!" Hoshiro insisted.

Amaterasu groaned. "Listen. I am the sun goddess. If the sun had truly disappeared, I would feel it, but I don't! I'm fine! Whatever did happen to the moon, I'm not dealing with it. Goodbye, Hoshiro."

"You won't even check?!" Hoshiro's cheeks puffed out with anger. "I know this is a bad time, and I'm sorry, but you have a duty to the world! If the sun OR the moon were to disappear-"

"ENOUGH!" Amaterasu's chair burst into flames as she stood, wreathed in white-hot fire. "You burst into my palace, ruin my date and accuse me of derelicting my duty?! How dare you?!"

"Calm down, Amaterasu! I'm sure she doesn't mean any harm," Uke Mochi shrank back from the heat, sweat beading on all her exposed skin. "You don't, do you, Hoshiro?"

"No, I-"

"She was just leaving," said Amaterasu firmly. "I'm sure we won't be interrupted again, Uke-chan. This evening is meant for the two of us and no-one else."

"No, I'm not going until you take this seriously!" Hoshiro snapped with an angry stomp of her foot.

Amaterasu's eyes narrowed. "Then I have to get rid of you, haven't I?"

Hoshiro felt the floor lurch, then she was floating in a dark, miles-wide arena above an endless lake of fire. Sitting at the now floating table, Uke Mochi gave Amaterasu a rueful look.

"The child of a god should know we aren't to be messed with. Your have power over rainbows and nice weather, don't you? Those are nothing compared to nuclear fire!" Amaterasu laughed, spreading her hands wide. "Well, Hoshiro, do you still want to try my patience?"

Hoshiro slid her helmet back over her horns and struck a dynamic pose. "Forever Champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I fight for honour, integrity and taking problems seriously! Refusing to care for your celestial body is unforgivable, and for the moon's sake, I'll knock some sense into you!" Her expression brightened. That had been a good speech.

"Then bring it on!" Amaterasu gathered orbs of yellow light between her fingers. "Heliospheric Sign: Plasma Waltz!"

A thousand yellow bullets filled the arena, rolling over each other in an intricate dance of triangles and hexagons. They pressed in on Hoshiro from all sides, her graze metre blurring as she twisted and squeezed between them. The heat was incredible; even slathered in factor 120 sun cream, her skin reddened.

Hoshiro wiped some steaming sweat off her forehead. "Wow..." A smile crossed her lips. "THAT was a spell-card! Lunatic mode rocks!"

Amaterasu recoiled in bestartlement. Uke Mochi breathed a sigh of relief.

"But we aren't just playing. Here's my spell-card!" declared Hoshiro, thrusting out her arm. "Fire Mastery: Red Tuesday!"

Reams of red bullets burst into life behind Hoshiro and came howling fowards. Amaterasu floated still and smiled as the bullets shattered against her.

"Have you forgotten?" Amaterasu said sweetly. "I'm the sun. Enraged Plasma: Solar Eruption!"

Amaterasu's eyes flashed. Streams of orange fire poured out of her mouth. Curving in all directions, looping out and back behind her, they filled the battlefield with light. Hoshiro twisted and wove between the strands of fire, but there was too much moving too fast. Burning pain struck her heart as the burning plasma struck her heart.

"Ow!" yelped Hoshiro. Amaterasu's fire dissipated, but the damage was done; the rainbow on her jumper would never be the same.

Uke Mochi stood up. "Ama-chan, I think she's got the message."

"I have, Lady Uke Mochi! I can't burn the sun," said Hoshiro, her eyes full of determination. "I'll put her out instead! Descended Power: Fleet Erasing Typhoon!"

Dark clouds gathered above Hoshiro, flashing turquoise as lightning arced between them. A wall of raindrop bullets poured out of the billowing grey and surged towards Amaterasu.

Amaterasu rolled her eyes. Every bullet that came close to her turned to steam, the rest whizzing harmlessly past.

"Nice try," smiled Amaterasu. "Sadly, Hoshiro, you're completely out of your league. I am a Noble Child, the greatest of Izanagi's children, and Ryuujin himself couldn't douse my flame! Borrowing his power will get you nowhere."

"I have all the power I need, Amaterasu!" Arcs of electricity crackled out of Hoshiro's heart and flowed down her arms. She thrust out a hand full of multicoloured lightning. "Nijinazuma: Seven-Coloured Strike!"

The bolt shot out, burning across the void to strike Amaterasu. She held out her hand to catch it.

"Aaaargh-!" Amaterasu grit her teeth as the lightning sizzled through her. "Fine, the kid gloves are coming off! Parhelion: Triple Okami!"

Two cream-coloured copies of Amaterasu winked into existence, flanking their true self on either side. As one they threw curving white rays that spiralled through the void, hemming Hoshiro in on all sides.

There were too many to count. A beam struck Hoshiro in the stomach, then another knocked her legs out from underneath her. She cried out as she spun helplessly.

Amaterasu laughed triumphantly. "I'm not ready to put my gloves back on yet, you stupid girl!" She raised a hand full of fire. "Taiyo Ray: Spear of Daybreak!"

Uke Mochi gasped. "She's defenceless! You can't!"

"Thank you, but don't count me out yet!" Hoshiro hit the brakes, her psychic force screeching against the vacuum, and stared Amaterasu down. A shimmering ball of energy grew between her hands. "By the light inside my heart, for love, truth and justice until the end of time! Hypermagination: Ryujo Beam!"

Two blindingly bright beams, white nuclear fire and vivid pink spirit energy, collided in midair. Sparks flew out in all directions. Hoshiro grit her teeth and poured as much power into the beam as she could muster, slowly but surely pushing Amaterasu back.

Then the Taiyo Ray doubled in intensity, roaring like a gale as it burned through the Ryujo Beam. Fire washed over Hoshiro, throwing her backwards through the void. She screamed, tumbling head over heels down and down until...

Her back thumped against something solid. She was in the dining room, her clothes smouldering, a sun goddess crowing over her.

"Is that enough for you?" Amaterasu smirked, waving away wisps of smoke. "You should be proud of yourself, Hoshiro! I hardly ever have to use both hands to win a beam duel. Now, do I hear an apology?"

"What does SHE have to apologise for?! You're humiliating her!" Uke Mochi snapped.

"She won't learn any other way," Amaterasu insisted. "Or will you, Hoshiro?"

Hoshiro glared up at Amaterasu through swimming eyes. "You still don't understand," she groaned. "The world needs a sun and a moon, b-because without them... We'd be bereft! That's why, even if it costs my life, I have to make you take this seriously! I won't ever give up!"

"Fine. Then you will burn forever in cosmic fire, every atom of your body torn to shreds by, by- Uke-chan, where are you going?!"

"I can't watch any more of this!" Uke Mochi was storming away. Amaterasu ran after her, looking more like a lost puppy than the vengeful goddess from moments ago.

"Hold on, Uke-chan, this isn't my fault! She just won't go away!" Amaterasu protested, grabbing her lover's sleeve. "I was trying to get rid of her, she just wouldn't-"

Uke Mochi met her with a furious look. "Get rid of her?! You were trying to kill her! All Hoshiro did was ask about the sun- it was under the arena, by the way, safe as houses- but apparently that's a good enough reason to go ballistic." She sighed. "Why do you do things like this?"

"I..." Amaterasu swallowed. "I wanted to prove that I... To show you I wouldn't let anything ruin our evening together. You mean everything to me, Uke Mochi!"

Uke Mochi stared at her for a few seconds, then scoffed. "You're as bad as your brother sometimes."

"What?!" Amaterasu's jaw dropped. "How can you say that?! He killed you once!"

"Not him! The other one!" snapped Uke Mochi. "What could beating this poor dragon into the ground possibly prove, other than that you have no self-control?"

"No, I-!" Amaterasu bit her lip. "That's not what I was doing! I wanted to teach her-"

"That she should never speak up when there's a problem? Or that you always act like a maniac to impress women?"

"No, I... Aaaaargh!" Amaterasu put her head in her hands. "I'm sorry, all right?!"

"It's her you need to apologise to."

Amaterasu bristled for a moment, but there seemed to be no way out of it. Swallowing her pride, she made for Hoshiro.

Hoshiro had been staring in amazement, awestruck by Uke Mochi's diplomacy, and also wishing she hadn't worn a jumper. She offered a wary smile as Amaterasu approached her.

"Um." Amaterasu cleared her throat. "Hello. Amaterasu-Oomikami here. I would like to offer you my deepest and sincerest apologies for trying to annihilate you. And for reacting badly when you interrupted our date with a trivial question a momentary glance at the sun could more easily have-"

"Don't try and turn this into one of those 'I did nothing wrong' apologies, Ama-chan," Uke Mochi warned her.

Amaterasu scowled, wondering for a brief moment whether having a girlfriend was worth the cost to her pride. She sighed heavily. "I'm sorry I was so standoffish. And impatient. And overwhelmingly violent. I hope you can forgive me, Hoshiro."

Hoshiro took a deep breath. "Lady Amaterasu, it's... It's all right. What you did to me was arrogant and overreactive, but that isn't who you are. You made a mistake, and everybody makes mistakes." She looked down at her feet and sighed. "You were right as well. I shouldn't have come as soon as I thought something was wrong and just burst in."

"Well, I'm glad you're seeing-"

"I should've collected my thoughts and rung the doorbell," Hoshiro admitted. "Anyway, now that we're friends, could you check on the moon?"

"...Very well." Amaterasu disappeared. She reappeared a few moments later, looking quite confused. "It's still there, but I did notice some unusual clouds over Gensokyo, and what looked like an enormous circle of white cardboard?"

"The plot thickens," said Uke Mochi.

"It really does." Hoshiro frowned worriedly. "I have to get back before it's too thick to stir. Please try and work on your temper, Lady Amaterasu. And if you must fight somebody over something that doesn't really matter, use safe spell-cards, not the burning kind, all right?"

"All right..." pouted Amaterasu. "You have my word. Now, I'm sure you have your plot to unthicken, so we won't keep you any longer. Why don't you head out now, as in right now, and Uke-chan and I will... Finish our meal."

"I'm glad I got to meet you, Lady Amaterasu. You too, Lady Uke Mochi." Hoshiro turned around and headed to the door. "Bye!"

"Come back soon!" said Uke Mochi brightly.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

~Chapter 5 and a Bit: Night of Camera Flashes and Deadly Clashes~

"Wow, a real dragon! You're gonna be my best article yet!"

"Wha... Whah?!" Hoshiro looked around in a panic until she saw Aya hovering above her head. "Oh, hi! You were at the puddle-jumping festival, weren't you?"

"Yes! I had the geta stall!" Aya touched down on the gravelly path.

Hoshiro gasped. "I bought a pair! They were uncomfy and dreadful! I slipped in the mud at least five times!" she said brightly.

Aya's face tensed up, but her smile remined. "Like I said, I was looking after Hatate's geta stall. Anyway, I'm doing a series of articles on spell-cards now, so could you show me a few of yours?"

"Sure! Here's an idea," said Hoshiro. "I'll fire my spell-cards over the hillside, and you can take pictures here where it's safe! Sounds good?"

Aya smiled genuinely. "Why not? Okay, when you're ready!"

Chapter Text

~Chapter 6: Shrine Maiden's Mission~

"Don't worry about it, Reimu! It was just some weirdo talking about weirdo stuff."

"I know, but... What if she was right? My shrine's been doing terribly these past few months. I might have to get a side hustle..." With a woeful look, Reimu slumped sideways and squashed her cheek against Marisa's shoulder. "I was going to clean the shrine today, but now I can't face it."

Marisa sighed. "Moping all day isn't gonna get you anywhere," she declared, stroking Reimu's hair. "Why don't we go and dig for wild rakkyu? They're delicious when you pick them yourself! Come on, you clearly need an adventure."

Reimu looked up at her, suddenly interested. "Maybe we should take a look around Youkai Mountain. She said there was-"

"Good morning, fellow Incident-Resolvers!"

Reimu and Marisa looked up in alarm as Hoshiro thumped down in front of the shrine. Cirno and Kaguya alighted rather more gently on the flagstones.

"Um," said Reimu.

"Oh, hi!" said Marisa.

"Guess what? I resolve Incidents now!" declared Kaguya, her eyes shining. "It's brilliant! I needed something to get me out of the mansion, and then I met these two."

Hoshiro gave Kaguya a hug. "We're glad to have you, aren't we, Cirno?"

"Enough of this gay banter," said Cirno gravely. "Reports have been coming in of a frog with an elder youkai's power, and such a thing could see the balance of power be seriously un-power-balanced."

"Are you joking? A frog?" scoffed Reimu.

"Quiet, you! Marisa, you must've heard something," said Cirno. "Did you?"

"Uh, no!" Marisa laughed nervously, laying a hand on Reimu's shoulder. "Actually, we were just off to Youkai Mountain for unrelated reasons. Guess you won't be cleaning the shrine today, huh?"

"...No," said a slightly mollified Reimu. "Some other day. So Hoshiro, you and your friends going somewhere that isn't Youkai Mountain for the usual half-baked reasons, right?"

"Not definitely!" said Hoshiro, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance.

"I do hope not," said Kaguya.

"Well, have fun. Unless you want to stay and clean the shrine!" Reimu broke out in giggles at the absurd thought. "All right, Marisa, I'm ready. To Youkai Mountain!"

"For love, freedom and free love!" agreed Marisa.

Watching them disappear over the horizon, Hoshiro was nonplussed. "Wow... Those two never slow down!"

"Crazy kids like them have more energy than they know what to do with," observed Cirno. "What're we doing now, anyway?"

Hoshiro gasped delightedly. "Let's clean the shrine! She said we could, and it'll be a nice surprise when they get back!"

Kaguya blinked. "I have always wanted to sponge down a torii, but do we have time for a sidequest?"

"You've got to be joking! I let you two in my team to have fun, not do chores!" agreed Cirno, folding her arms. "Even if cleaning was fun, that frog could still be out there!"

"Yes, good point. We've been looking for it since this morning!" said Kaguya. "Should we really abandon the pursuit for cleaning?!"

"Well..." Hoshiro bit her lip. "It'd be something! Instead of hunting, we could use our strength for a shrine maiden who can't take care of herself!"

Kaguya looked at Cirno. Cirno stuck out her tongue.

"You... Paid more attention to Eiki than you let on, didn't you?" said Kaguya carefully.

"Who's Eik-"

"The one with green hair you met in the Bamboo Forest! She's the highest judge of the dead in Gensokyo!"

"Oh." Hoshiro's eyes widened. "A yama?! I didn't know! But- but yes, I remember. 'Listen, think, and work out what you do need to do, something something change the world.'," she recited. "I think cleaning the shrine is what we need to do."

"Er, well..."

"Heroism means helping those who can't help themselves, however that is, and together we are a hundred maids!" Hoshiro insisted. "We'd make Reimu so happy! Isn't that worth it?"

"Forget it," pouted Cirno, looking deeply uncomfortable.

Kaguya gave Cirno a look. "You really are the Toph to her Katara, aren't you? Well, I'm convinced! Whatever challenges come our way, I won't rest until the shrine is spotless!"

"Kaguya, you're the best!" Hoshiro spun around, punched the air and launched into her speech. "Forever Champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! Princess of the Cosmos, Kaguya Houraisan! Cryogenic Sorceress, Cirno I don't know your surname! Together we clean for hygiene, tidiness and friendship! Draw your duster alongside my bucket of soapy water, and by our glowing hearts let the shrine be made pure!"

"What a crazy day. I had no idea there were so many kami for so many things!"

"It's not your fault! Religion isn't the kind of thing shrine maidens know about."

Reimu gave Marisa a withering look. Marisa burst out laughing, and together they carried on up the stairs to the Hakurei Shrine.

"At least we made some new friends," Marisa continued, kicking a discarded bar of soap off the path.

"I'm amazed," said Reimu, "that Sanae managed to arrange a sleepover tonight without me ever actually inviting her. That girl's something else!"

"She's way-" Marisa noticed something and furrowed her brow. "...Cool? Reimu, is that a mop and bucket up there?!"

They ran up the last few stairs to find three impromptu cleaning ladies asleep on the patio. Kaguya and Hoshiro were snuggled up together with Cirno curled up on top of them, a bucket wedged tightly over her head.

"I didn't think it was that late," said Marisa worriedly. "I ain't tired at all! Did someone slip us a barrel of coffee?"

"It's just an afternoon nap, Marisa! Although I don't know what they're playing at sleeping here." Reimu approached Hoshiro and tapped her on the head. "Hello? Hello?! Forever champion?!"

Hoshiro groaned softly and blinked herself awake. "Oh, hi again! We did some cleaning up," she said drowsily. "Like you asked."

"Clea... Cleaning?" Reimu's eyes widened. "You cleaned the shrine?!"

"I talked Kaguya and Cirno into it," Hoshiro informed her.

Realising her name was being worn out, Kaguya yawned loudly and sat up. "You were, um... Youkai Mountain! What happened there?" she asked while Cirno tried to get comfy again.

"We found a shifty goddess who'd just set up shop on the mountain! Her name's Kanako, and she has a shrine with loads of rope and things, and a green and blue shrine maiden for a daughter!" declared Marisa.

"And it turns out the villagers just love the shiny new Moriya Shrine," said Reimu wearily, "so I haven't been getting any business lately."

"Oh, that's a shame," said Hoshiro, ignoring a tide of swear words as Cirno tried to pull the bucket off her head. "But look on the bright side. With another shrine maiden working for an actual goddess, the village'll be twice as safe!"

Reimu's jaw dropped. "Actual goddess?! TWICE AS SAFE?! I'll show you twice as safe!" In a towering rage, she called the yin-yang orbs and leapt into the air. "Spirit Sign: Fantasy Seal!"

Cirno had just managed to pull the bucket off with a pop. "A fight! Yippee!" she squeaked before falling under a hail of amulets.

Hoshiro and Kaguya pulled back and let the amulets breeze past them. Reimu was in full force, still at 3.86 power from her fight with Kanako, and her bullets came thick and fast.

"This is unbelievable!" cried Hoshiro, ducking under a persuasion needle. "Rewarding us for cleaning your shrine with a spell-card duel?! You're so thoughtful, Reimu! I've looked forward to facing you again for years!"

"Hoshiro, she... She's attacking us!" shouted Kaguya incredulously.

"I know! That's an integral part of danmaku!" breezed Hoshiro. "All right, time for our counterattack! Nijinazuma: Seven-Coloured Strike!"

"Eek!"

"Yipe!"

Marisa and Reimu dove for cover as seven bolts of lightning flashed exploded across the courtyard, lighting up the shrine and the flagstones in seven bright colours.

"She's strong!" Marisa cried. "I wasn't gonna try the extra stage until tomorrow!"

"Come to think of it, this is a strange choice for an extra stage. It's pretty much unconnected from Kanako, the Moriya Shrine and everything else," Reimu said thoughtfully.

"I don't understand," said Hoshiro. "Why are we sparring if it's...? Um, what's happening?"

Reimu groaned. "How is she so stupid? Do you ever listen to anyone, Hoshiro?!"

"Of- of course I do! Why, what's wrong?" said Hoshiro dolefully. "Didn't we clean up enough? We tried our best, and honestly, we aren't experts! You should've hired a cleaner if you wanted perfection."

Reimu closed her eyes and took a few steadying breaths. "Listen," she growled, "it's perfectly simple. I'm taking my anger out on you because you think Sanae's better than me. Do you understand?"

"So you're...?" Hoshiro scowled. "But that's so childish, and after we cleaned your shrine! I DON'T think Sanae's better than you!"

"She might be," said Kaguya.

"She was a bit nicer," said Marisa.

Reimu gave Marisa a look. "Unlike her, I can't waste time being nice when all of Gensokyo's depending on me!"

"Isn't wasting time your biggest hobby? I see you doing it every day!" said Marisa, smiling impishly.

Reimu screamed. "Right, get over there with those three! I'll take you all on!"

Marisa giggled, whipping out her hakkero. "Must be the phantasm stage if you're that upset. All right, let's go!"

"So?" With wide, curious eyes, Sanae looked between the battered Reimu and the amulet-weary Hoshiro. "Who won?"

"I did. A decisive victory," smiled Reimu, her arms folded and her nose held high.

"It was down to the last spell-card! She got me with a duplex barrier when I looked away! Reimu's so good," gushed Hoshiro, patting Reimu on the back. "It took Cirno and Marisa's combination to beat her!"

Reimu's smile vanished, she slapped Hoshiro's hand away. "D-don't tell her about that!"

"So you can be beaten! That's good to know," said Sanae sweetly. "How did you manage it, Marisa?"

"I'll see if your friends are back with that beer!" yelled Reimu, storming out of the shrine. "Kaguya, Cirn- Wait, who's this?" Her voice echoed back inside, growing fainter and eventually falling silent.

Marisa grinned mischievously. "Well, Sanae, you know how people use planks to flatten out soil when they're building?"

"No," said Sanae.

"Cirno was the plank," explained Marisa. "Reimu's bloomers were the building site. Ker-slamuel!"

"Cirno was frozen, so it didn't hurt her," Hoshiro cut in.

"And as for Reimu-"

"Vengeance will be mine!"

Reimu's shout cut through the merriment. Marisa looked up in alarm and saw Reimu standing in the doorway, a flailing kappa raised triumphantly over her head.

Marisa gulped. "Er, Reimu, let's be reasonable!"

"No. BANZAI!!!"

The kappa squeezed her eyes shut. Reimu hurled her acros the room. Marisa dove for cover, but it was too late, and Nitori slammed into her like a raincoated missile. They fell in a pile of black dress and blue waterproofs behind the kotatsu.

"Er," said Hoshiro, "who was that?"

"She followed me home," said Reimu sweetly. "I saw a little opportunity, and I made use of it it."

"Nice to feel wanted," groaned Nitori. "But I wish you'd tell me what you were planning first! Ow..."

"I'm going to love it here!" giggled Sanae.

Chapter Text

~Chapter 7: Catastrophe from Bhava-agra~

With a soft groan of pleasure, Keine sank into the steaming bath water and lay back. A cloud of bubbles embraced her shoulders and poking-out knees while her hair drifted out like silver kelp. After three days on her feet, teaching history by day and fighting youkai by night, her mind was made up to bathe like a queen.

Right when she was drifting off to sleep she heard a thumping on the door. "Keine! Keine, it's an emergency!" a familiar voice shouted. "I need your advice!"

Keine groaned. "Aaugh, Hoshiro, I'm having a bath!"

There was a moment's silence, then: "Pardon?! Yoshi is going to head them off at the pass?!"

"I'M HAVING A BATH!" screamed Keine.

"Oh, sorry!"

No further shouting came from below. With a sigh, Keine shut her eyes and tried to relax. Then she saw a faint flash of pink through her eyelids, and when she looked again she saw Hoshiro standing in the room, wearing a bulky yellow messenger bag.

"For the love of rainbows!" wailed Keine. "What the Shinto papers are you doing? I'm TRYING to have a BATH!"

"I wouldn't do this if it didn't matter! There's an Incident!" Hoshiro insisted.

"Well, what is it?! Vampires?! Terrafirmavores?! Lunarians?!"

"Worse than that! Unseasonal weather!" declared Hoshiro. "Rain and sleet in summer! A sandstorm in the marsh! Morris dancers in the other marsh! No-one knows what caused it!" she said, gesticulating wildly. "There was sunshine on Kappa Valley! Snow on Youkai Mountain! Earthquakes in the third and final marsh! Something has to be done!"

"And what do you expect ME to do?!"

"That's just it! I need your advice!" explained Hoshiro. "Where can I buy a raincoat? It's the only waterproof I'm missing!"

Dark clouds were gathering over the village and Kosuzu didn't want to be caught out when they burst, so she hurried home through winding streets, her little leather shoes clapping on stone and soil. Not many people were out that day, so she had an easy run through the market square and along Shishi-Odoshi Street.

Just as she came near Keine's house, she heard a shout. Then a tall woman dressed in red and pink came flying through the wall, dripping wet, spinning helplessly across the road to crash down on top of a rickshaw.

"Ooof..." the woman groaned, rising unsteadily to her feet. "I'll find one myself! Have a nice bath," she said with a pout.

"Um," Kosuzu said timidly.

That afternoon, an unsuccessful Forever Champion treated herself to rice porridge and an onion tart, which she ate on the wall outside Old Tadashi's inn. A tornado was roaring faintly in the distance, but balmy sunshine dominated the market square, shining in the puddles from earlier. Hoshiro had stuffed her jumper inside her hefty, raincoatless bag, and now enjoyed the warm breeze in just a tank top.

With Kosuzu's help she'd found some second-hand raincoats, but they were all blue and much too small. No luck resolving the Incident either; Komachi had been more interested in comparing biceps, Wriggle had fallen into a deep sulk after losing at table tennis, and all she'd found by fighting Minoriko and Shizuha was that she was too hungry to think straight.

Not that she ever did anything straight, of course! Hoshiro burst out laughing and choked on some buttery pastry.

"So fair enough, that was a bust," a mildly deep and northern voice said. "But it was only Chen, and she doesn't exactly stay on top of current events."

"I was hoping for Ran or Yukari... Well, maybe not Yukari." A higher voice joined in, bringing with it the faint tapping of doll shoes on cobblestones. "Do you think we should ask Alice or Komachi?"

Hoshiro was coughing and spluttering like mad, heedless of the conversation fast approaching.

"No, that'd be too mainstream." Marisa came around the corner and onto the market square, followed by Reimu. "It could be Remilia up to no good, or the new goddesses, the tengu... Or a dragon, maybe?"

"A dragon... Speak of the devil!" Reimu cried. "Isn't that Hoshiro over there? She looks like she's having... fun?"

"Oi, Hoshiro, are you all right?!" Marisa yelled, running over to her.

"I'm... Peachy..." groaned Hoshiro, draped over the wall like a very unusual tablecloth. She'd managed to swallow the pastry, but her bowl of porridge had become a pile of ceramic shards dripping down a nearby tree.

"We're looking into the earthquake that destroyed my shrine," declared Reimu. "It's probably part of the Incident causing all the strange weather. Do you know anything about it?"

Hoshiro smiled sheepisly up at her. "I'm on the case too. I got nowhere, so I stopped for lunch- breakfast, really- and now you're here! Hi!"

"Great to see you!" giggled Marisa. "Who'd you talk to? And more importantly, what were you having?"

"An onion tart and sweet porridge! Most of it was good!" Buoyed up by such a nice subject, Hoshiro leapt to her feet. "For the weather, I investigated Komachi, Wriggle and the Akis; no good. Cirno and Kaguya were busy, so they haven't come."

"You're doing as well as usual, then," said Reimu matter-of-factly.

"I know, and weather's so important!" Hoshiro said with an angry sigh. "But what do I do? The tornado's clearly a red herring. Raijin and Fuujin don't talk to me, Dad would say I wasted his time, Amaterasu isn't an option..."

"That's a shame." Reimu nudged Marisa and whispered. "What circles does she move in, exactly?"

"Circular ones?" Marisa responded with a shrug.

"...And the damage if I fail would be awful! I have to get it right this time! What makes weather happen, how and why?! Who could be responsible?!" Hoshiro paced up and down, her voice getting louder every time she pointed dramatically at nothing. "The culprit could be a tengu, a dragon or one of the Moriya! Then there's serial weather-changer Remilia, or- or what if it's me and I don't even know it?!"

"That's funny, we were thinking along similar lines. Maybe through teamwork..." Marisa said thoughtfully.

"Oh, don't say it," sighed Reimu.

"Hey, Hoshiro, here's a thought!" Marisa said brightly. "Why don't you come with us?"

Hoshiro froze in mid panic, then let out a gasp of delight. "Come with you?! I'd love to!"

"Ohhhh, Marisaaargh! If we take her along, we'll get pulled into a hopeless wild goose chase and not achieve anything!" wailed Reimu.

"Don't write me off! I know I can fix things if I try!" Hoshiro shouted, her eyes full of determination. "It's like Eiki said. 'Focus on what you need to do, something something change the world!' I helped clean your shrine. I beat Wriggle at tennis. If I can just avoid getting everything wrong like before, we'll be fine!"

"Well..." said Reimu, biting her lip and avoiding Hoshiro's gaze.

"Come on, Reimu, let's give her a chance! We know she's strong and curvaceous and wants to do the right thing, she just goes off in the wrong direction sometimes! Most times! Almost every times! We can work around that." Marisa turned and gave Hoshiro a smile. "All right, Hoshiro-chan, you're in!"

"Wow...! You really meant all that?!" Hoshiro couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"All of it! Especially curv- Except curvaceous," said Marisa.

Hoshiro squeaked in delight. "Then I'm with you to the end! Count on it!" She spun up into the air, a multicoloured explosion lighting her from behind. "Forever Champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I fight for sunshine, warm breezes and gentle rain! I pledge to stand with you, Incident-Resolvers! Together, flying into the storm for a bright and peaceful future!"

Reimu breathed a deep, heartfelt sigh. "Fine," she said quietly. "Fine!" she said a lot less quietly. "If we have to do this, let's go. Our first destination is the Scarlet Devil Mansion!"

Reimu led them west, flying at a steady pace past fields, grass, trees, then finally over the gravel beach that encircled Misty Lake.

They followed the curve of the shore, but it seemed Misty Lake was even mistier than usual. Reimu shivered in her flimsy shrine maiden attire. "It's freezing around here!"

"I can help!" Hoshiro touched down in a mild explosion of gravel. She unshouldered her bag and dug into its contents. "Let's see... I brought a scarf, mittens and a fez! Who wants what?" she declared, flying back up with her arms full of clothing.

"You brought all this stuff?!" gasped Marisa, quickly helping herself to the rainbow scarf.

"The weather's going mad! I had to be ready," explained Hoshiro, handing the pink mittens with orange hearts to Reimu. "Sadly I forgot lunch."

"Marisa will treat you... No, no thanks." Reimu waved away the vivid cerise fez.

"I'll wear it, then." Hoshiro pulled off her floppy mob cap and slid the fez over her horns. "How do I look?!" she grinned, striking a fierce pose.

"You know," said Marisa.

"About the same as usual," said Reimu.

"Yay!" Hoshiro squeaked.

A little warmer, they carried on to the mansion. An endless parade of flowers stretched out for miles across the garden, but they looked grey and miserable in the misty weather, and so did Meiling as she doggedly mattocked a raised bed.

"Morning, Meiling!" yelled Marisa, touching down on the path beside her.

"Well, this is a surprise!" Meiling stopped attacking the loam and leaned on her gardening tool. "We weren't expecting any visitors on a day like this. Are you here for business or pleasure?"

"Business. My shrine was ruined in an earthquake and the weather's acting very strangely; an Incident if ever there was one. We're here to see if Remilia knows anything," declared Reimu.

"I see," said Meiling thoughtfully. "I suppose you can go in and ask, but the mistress is quite busy painting her new Pretty Cure action figures.

"You can get those in Gensokyo?!" said Hoshiro, her face lighting up.

"I wouldn't know. She never tells me anything, except when she wants to play dressing-up and Sakuya's busy, or she wants someone to read her a story-"

"Let's not impugn Lady Remilia's reputation TOO much!" Suddenly Sakuya was standing right next to Meiling, a tray of brightly-coloured drinks in hand. "She prefers chaptered books at bedtime, even those without any pictures. Would any of you care for a drink?"

"I'd love you- Love one!" If Hoshiro's face had lit up at the thought of a Pretty Cure action figure, now it was blindingly bright, and her cheeks were as pink as peaches. "Y-you're so kind to think of us!"

Meiling gave her a look. "Do you want to take everyone's coats inside, Hoshiro?"

"No! That's the last thing I want to do!" Hoshiro said vehemently.

Smiling serenely, Sakuya strutted first to Reimu and then to Marisa, handing each a glass of wine. "The two thousand and eight is an excellent vintage! I aged it a hundred years last week. Now, Hoshiro..."

All of a sudden, Hoshiro felt a tightness in her chest. She stared down at the toes of her boots until Sakuya's buckle shoes pranced into view, all shiny and dark blue. Her white socks hugged two perfect toned calves, above which her thighs were strong and thigh-shaped beneath a perfect wreath of blue cotton and white frills-

"Hello? Would you care for a glass?" Sakuya tapped Hoshiro on the shoulder.

Hoshiro straightened up like a leaf spring. "Yes please! In a glass, please!"

Sakuya giggled, her pink lips parting over beautifully shiny human teeth. Hoshiro practically melted at the way her sharp sapphire eyes flashed.

"Wine in a glass," Sakuya presented the wine with a flourish and a wink, "for a dragon with class!"

"Th-thank you..." said Hoshiro shakily. She opened her mouth and poured the wine down the front of her jumper. "W-wow, that really t-tasted good..."

Reimu was just finishing her wine, pouring it in her mouth the conventional way. "Right," she said, "with that out of the way, let's talk about-"

"I know what we can do!" cried Meiling, suddenly the centre of attention. "A spell-card duel, three on three! It's the perfect way to make our guests feel welcome and warm ourselves up!" She smiled a dangerous smile. "Hoshiro's mine."

"Really, Meiling, I was only being friendly."

"Excuse me," said Reimu.

"And this will be friendly, Sakuya! A friendly duel between friends."

"Excuse me!" said Reimu.

"Great idea! Let's get warmed up before whoever's actually in charge of the Incident!" said Marisa, jumping up and down excitedly.

"EXCUSE ME!" screamed Reimu. "Even if we put everything else to one side, there are only two of you, so the duel can't be three on three!"

Meiling's brow furrowed. "Well, er-"

"Dual Hellfire Wave!"

A window slammed open high above them. From a shadowy pink balcony leapt Remilia and Flandre, the former dressed in pink and white, the latter dressed in blue and black.

Remilia touched down on the flower bed in a dainty yet powerful pose. "Emissary of shadow, Cure Lavender!" she yelled.

Flandre landed beside her, adopting a martial artist's stance. "Emissary of shadow, Cure Blonde!" she yelled.

"Together we are Doracure!" the girls shouted as one.

"Incident-Resolvers of the Eastern Wonderland..."

"Return to the bright sun from whence you came!"

"But seriously, Remi, 'Doracure' only works in Japanese! How are we supposed to say it in English? 'Dracu-cure' or something?"

"Don't ruin the moment!"

"I'm only saying..."

Marisa stared. Reimu stared. Hoshiro stared. Meiling sighed and Sakuya laughed fondly. Flandre blushed. Remilia realised her shoes were smeared with flower bed and let out an angry sigh.

"About the weather," Reimu began.

"Anyone for more wine?" offered Meiling.

"We do know one thing for sure: Flandre's still Flandre." Marisa loosened her borrowed scarf, which had picked up a few tears and burns during the fight. "So exciting, though, fighting all three of them at once!"

"I just loved the way Sakuya commentated," sighed Hoshiro, strolling along the dry forest path. "'Remilia is using Spear the Gungnir, her ultimate technique! Surely even Marisa doesn't have the speed to dodge that?!'. What a voice, what a sense of drama..."

"You really have it for her, don't you?" Marisa said with a knowing smile.

Hoshiro's cheeks reddened. "A bit! Fierce femmes like her are my type."

"I get it. She and Meiling are together, though, so bear that in mind."

"Ah..." Hoshiro looked sad for a moment, then her expression turned more determined. "I'll get a grip on myself next time. Love is most precious of all, and even if it hurts I'll support them!"

"If you two schoolgirls are quite finished," said Reimu, "we're coming up on the Genbu mudflats. We'll start looking around by air, then move up into the valley... Oh, gosh, it's really getting warm." She wiped her forehead with her sleeve. "Is anyone else feeling the heat?"

"Don't worry!" Hoshiro plonked her messenger bag down once more and spent a few seconds rummaging inside. She emerged with a big, floppy straw hat and a parasol. "You won't want the hat, Marisa?"

"Only when it's actually summer." Marisa accepted the parasol from Hoshiro and erected it with a flourish. "For now I'll be the umbrella witch!"

"It is actually summer," said Reimu.

"I don't care," Marisa said brightly. "Can't hear you over how sweet my hat looks."

"It's very witch shaped!" Hoshiro observed, rolling up her trouser legs.

"Witch shaped. I love that!" giggled Marisa. "Every morning it's like, 'Hell yes, I'm shaped like a witch wearing all my cute witch clothes doing ordinary witch stuff!'"

Hoshiro laughed. "That's how I feel! 'Yay, I'm a magical fighting heroine in stompy boots and nice clothes doing heroic fight magic... girl... things!'"

"Girl power!" a passing Merlin Prismriver yelled, giving them two V signs.

"Apropos of what?" asked Lunasa.

"I wouldn't pair those sleeves with those buckle shoes myself," said Lyrica.

"Who asked-? I mean, we don't have time to talk about fashion with the weather going bananas!" Reimu chastised them.

"You've noticed it too, then?" said Lunasa. "Our mansion was hit by meteors last night. We've only just finished patching up the roof!"

"Meteors?!" Marisa gave Reimu a worried look.

"We haven't heard anything about meteors. Do you three know anything? Where they might have come from, or who sent them?" asked Reimu.

"No!" Lyrica shook her head.

"But we have seen Kappa Valley go from snow to wind to hot sun in less than two days!" Merlin recounted. "And the only creature that can control the weather and make meteors happen is a... Dragon..."

"What are you saying, sister?" asked Lyrica.

"Yes, what are you saying?! You can't think Meiling did this!" gasped Hoshiro. "She's jealous sometimes but she isn't evil!"

Merlin looked at Lyrica, confusion writ large on her face. Lyrica shrugged uncertainly. Her eyes met Lunasa's, and the two of them nodded.

Lyrica rolled up her sleeves and summoned her keyboard. "Emissary of Music, Lyrica!"

Merlin unsheathed her trumpet. "Emissary of Music, Merlin!"

Lunasa pulled her violin from under her hat. "Emissary of Music, Lunasa!"

"Together we are the Prismriver Ensemble! Tone-deaf dragon and her chorus of enablers, return to the discord from which you came!"

"...And my ability's called 'creation of nice weather', but lightning made of rainbows is nice, unlike earthquakes. I might not be able to make earthquakes! I never tried!" Hoshiro talked at length as the three trudged along muddy pathways into the Human Village. The sky was clear but the air smelled cold and damp; a whole day's worth of rain had fallen in a matter of hours.

"Good to know," said Reimu, stepping over some puddles. Her head was bandaged where Merlin's trumpet had struck during the fight. "I don't suppose you could make it sunny and dry some of this up?"

"That'd be 'shifting a celestial body and probably making Amaterasu hate me again', not 'creating nice weather'," Hoshiro said apologetically.

"That's a pity," said Reimu. "The village has excellent drainage, though, so we don't have to worry about flooding or anything!"

Reimu worried about flooding as soon as she stepped onto the cricket pitch. "Uwaah! Soggy!" she yelped, hopping backwards and shaking muddy grass off her shoe.

"It's like a fourth marshland," Marisa said grimly, looking out over the sopping-wet green. "Hey, Hoshiro, I don't suppose...?"

"Of course!" Hoshiro looked around for a dry place to put her bag and chose an empty cricket bat barrel. She rummaged around, then her expression turned sour. "Ah... That's a mistake."

"What?" said Reimu curiously.

"I meant to bring my wellies," said Hoshiro sheepishly, pulling out a squashed cylindrical object wrapped in foil. A pleasant smell of pastry wafted out. "Who wants beef wellington?"

"Ooh, yes please!" said Marisa, licking her lips.

"I'd love a slice!" declared Reimu.

"Watch warmly, then!" Hoshiro pulled out a shiny metal picnic table and unfolded it on the baseball pitch, its four white legs sinking deep into the boggy grass. She unwrapped the beef wellington on the table and rummaged for a carving knife.

"Do you have a knife?" she asked after thirty feverish seconds.

"Here." Marisa reached under her skirts and took out a long serrated knife, which Hoshiro accepted.

Poking her tongue out in intense concentration, Hoshiro sliced through crumbly pastry and soft mushroom paté to the pinkish-brown beef below. She cut three slices, half of the wellington as a whole, and handed one each to Reimu and Marisa.

Marisa eagerly tucked in. "Wow, that's good!" she exulted.

"Very buttery pastry and- aaugh." Reimu scowled at the paté on her sleeves. "Delicious and messy."

"Like home cooking should be!" said Hoshiro, polishing off her slice.

"Can I ask something?" said Reimu, then without waiting for a reply she dove in. "Why are you here, Hoshiro? Trying to resolve Incidents when you could be a baker much more easily."

"Why?" Hoshiro blinked. "Isn't it obvious? I need to! Danger, cruelty, selfishness and greed... These vile things stain the world! I swore long ago to fight against-"

"Let me stop you there," said Reimu, putting a finger over Hoshiro's lips. "I can tell you aren't the kind of person who fights because for the sake of duty. I'm not judging you, but the Forever Champion stuff is for fun, isn't it? Because you want to."

"Eh?" Hoshiro scowled. "No, it's- Well, yes." Her expression softened. "I like to make people happy, I don't like evil, I like being strong and helping people, so I do want to do this. To make people's lives better, set right what's wrong, make people smile... And yes, I have fun! This is what I want to be! Is that wrong?"

Reimu shook her head. "No, no, I just wanted to understand..."

"All right." Hoshiro stood for a moment in silence. "Let's have iced tea! I'll go and get some!" she abruptly declared, running off to locate it.

"Mint for me, please!" yelled Marisa. She giggled. "It's like if Cirno was six feet tall with muscles like boulders. Cuuuute!"

"Yes..." Reimu frowned. "She is, isn't she?"

"You seem worried, Reimu," Marisa demonstrated her fantastic observational skills.

"Of course I do," said Reimu. "The question I've been wrestling with, Marisa... What on Earth is Hoshiro's deal?"

Marisa blinked. "Her deal? Magical fighting heroine, of course!"

"I know. And so much more," Reimu explained, her brow furrowing. "When I first took up the orbs, Yukari told me to watch out for something called Mary-Sues. Strange people with incredible powers, full of passion and energy, ready to change the world."

"That does sound like Hoshiro. But it also sounds like any ordinary woman here in Gensokyo," Marisa pointed out.

"But that's the thing," said Reimu. "These people come from elsewhere, and they're TOO powerful, too impressive, too popular and too good at everything. They push people around and try to do everything their way, help themselves to four or five girlfriends, and suddenly everyone loves them and Gensokyo's become their playground!"

"Well, that sounds like a nightmare, but Hoshiro doesn't push anyone around! She respects us, she's been helping us with clothes all day-"

"I know she behaves nicely," Reimu cut in, "but she worries me. Think about it. Her name means Rainbow Lightning Star Child, she's strong and tall and quite good-looking, she can go toe-to-toe with Amaterasu, she has the most incredibly sweet personality and she always tries to do the right thing! Isn't all that too good to be true? I don't want us to be eating out of her hand!"

"We ate the beef wellington with our own hands, not hers! Jeez Louise..." Marisa took a deep breath. "Maybe you understand something I've missed, but I don't see anything wrong with Hoshiro! Most of our friends could last a few rounds with Amaterasu, and we all have cool names and powers! I use rainbows and star magic, Sakuya controls time, Yuuka can blast through mountains, it's no big deal. As for 'too powerful', you can float above reality and become invincible, so you're one to talk!"

"I hear what you're saying," said Reimu thoughtfully. "But... I can't say this without sounding mean, can I? We're naturally part of Gensokyo-"

"Not Sanae," said Marisa. "Or Suwako, Kanako, Sakuya, Eirin, Kaguya, Reisen, Remilia, Flandre, Mamizou, Miko, Byakuren and Meiling. Hoshiro's been here for years now, Reimu! If she was gonna try and take over, she'd have done it already."

"I never thought about it like that," Reimu said quietly. "Outsiders, even strange and powerful ones, becoming part of the community... Friends, or enemies we still like playing with. And the spell-card rules make 'too powerful' and 'not powerful enough' meaningless concepts. Then-"

"Can I say something?"

Reimu and Marisa both turned. Hoshiro was standing there, a complicated expression on her face and three glasses of iced tea in her arms.

"Oh, um..." said Reimu awkwardly.

"Sure," said Marisa. "But first, let me just take my drink off your hands."

Hoshiro cleared her throat. "I don't fully know what this is about," she said, "but I've heard of Mary-Sues. And what I think matters, what they don't have, is respect. When you move to a new world you should respect it, but Mary-Sues expect it to be their world and work their way, or else! They treat everyone else as toys, servants or decoration. Their looks and powers don't matter, being pushy is the problem!"

"So..." Reimu frowned thoughtfully. "It's not necessarily a square peg in a round hole, nor a square peg that's too charismatic, but a square peg being hammered in where it can't fit? Damn the consequences, my square peg is special and the hole will just have to deal with it?"

"Sort of." Hoshiro nodded, then her expression soured as though she was bracing herself. "So you think I'm one?"

Reimu winced. "Er, well..."

Marisa swallowed a mouthful of iced tea. "No, 'course not!" Then she embarked on a long coughing fit and almost spilled the rest of her drink.

"I was worried about it. You're a lot to get used to, Hoshiro," said Reimu, trying not to sound accusing. "I mean, you don't do yourself any favours by-"

"I used to worry too," Hoshiro said, a pained look on her face. "When I was a child. I was 'too much', I didn't deserve to be what I wanted. 'You can't be brave and powerful and confident and dress that way and make friends and live on your own and do your own cooking and resolve Incidents AND be a woman, surely?!' That sort of thing."

Hoshiro took a moment to breathe. "My parents weren't monsters, but I learned I was only meant to be some things. Not being the noble kami Father wanted was selfish. Everything I did was stupid if you asked Mother. The more I grew into myself, the more that made me a loud-mouthed weirdo who needed taking down a peg! Nothing about me was right!"

"Gods, I- I don't know what to say," Reimu said softly. "Sorry if this Mary-Sue stuff brought back bad memories, or made you think- I mean, you're fine! No-one should feel bad because they stick out, and you do stick out, but... I think I understand now."

Reimu gazed into the pale blue sky, her eyes distant. "Every one of us is different. Some of us wear shorts, some of us dress up as witches... Some people want a quiet life and some want to solve everything. But we're all people, aren't we? Nobody's born a Mary-Sue."

"That's just it, Reimu!" Marisa was smiling, looking up into the sky right beside her. "It's about what we do, what we decide to be, the places we make for ourselves in the world! You could be the most boring, down-to-earth woman ever and still be horrible company, or you could be flashy and super-cool like something out of a dream... And try, keep trying, to be a good friend and help people without stepping on their toes."

"Y-you two..." Hoshiro sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. "I'm so glad... I thought-"

"Awww, isn't this touching?" a loud voice said. "You're so lucky to have friends who care about you!"

"What?!"

"Friends?!"

"Who are you?!"

Reimu, Marisa and Hoshiro whipped around in astonishment to see a blue-haired girl, wreathed in storm clouds and wielding a golden sword, descending towards the mountainside.

Perched on the sofa in Keine's breezy sitting room, Kosuzu gasped in shock. "She really teleported in while you were having a bath, just like that?!"

"Yes, really! To be fair to her, she took her boots off before coming in, but even so." Keine sighed. "That girl just doesn't think before she acts."

"So, um..." Kosuzu cleared her throat, just a little nervous. "You threw her out of the window?"

"No, through the wall."

"Oh." Kosuzu couldn't think of anything else to say, so she laughed awkwardly. "Anyway, I've got lots of book deliveries to catch up on now the rain's stopped, so I should be going. 'Bye!"

"Don't be a stranger!" Keine watched her skip out of the house.

"So wonderful to meet you at last!" Tenshi said, smiling like the charming young lady she wasn't. "I've been so busy making storms and earthquakes all day, and I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

Reimu glared at her. "You mean this is your doing? My shrine, the weather, all of it?!"

"That's right," smirked Tenshi. "I've been looking forward to playing Incidents together! I hope you're ready to be the hero, Shrine Maiden of Paradise! Are you fired up, bursting with vengeful fury?"

"You bet we are! I ruined one of my best pairs of socks thanks to you!" shouted Marisa. "Who are you, anyway?"

"Tenshi Hinanawi, wielder of the Sword of Hisou. If you want me to stop changing the weather, I'm afraid we'll have to duel over it!" declared Tenshi, rubbing her hands with glee.

Reimu looked at Marisa. "She shows up, just like that?"

"Yeah. But I'm not about to complain," said Marisa, unsheathing her hakkero.

"Wait!" said Hoshiro. "I know Tenshi, and this reeks of her sister!"

"Sister?" said Reimu, raising her eyebrows.

"Um, which one?" asked Tenshi, wrongfooted.

"Emiko Hinanawi. She pulled my hair in martial arts, even though I was the supply teacher," said Hoshiro coldly. "She's the real culprit! She must be! You two take care of Tenshi, I'm going to-"

"Stop."

Hoshiro felt a strong grasp on her hand. "What are you doing, Marisa?! I have to-!"

"Stop!" barked Marisa. "I think I finally understand. You're holding back, aren't you?" she said softly. "Hiding behind your identity as 'the silly dragon who gets everything wrong'. Because you think people are going to like you more!"

"No, I..."

"You've always held back, haven't you?" said Marisa. "Beef wellington? It's literally impossible to mistake one of those for the boots! Don't get me started on everything else."

"But I... I'm not..." Hoshiro backed away. "What are you saying? I make mistakes on purpose?!"

"Maybe you don't mean to. Maybe you don't even realise that's what you're doing. But yes, I think you've been sabotaging yourself all along," declared Marisa. "Now it's time to stop. You're an Incident-Resolver, Hoshiro, and the enemy is right in front of you! Fight with us, flying into the storm for a bright and stable tomorrow!"

Hoshiro stood there, her heart pounding. She looked at Marisa, full of determination, and Reimu, staring at Marisa in stunned silence. She nodded. "I'll do it."

Hoshiro laid a clenched fist over her breast. Pink light flowed between her fingers and became a hilt, which grew into a katana as she drew it from her heart. "I'll do what I need to, Eiki. And something something change the world! For the honour of Ryugu-jou!"

"The what?" scoffed Tenshi.

"Ryugu-jou! Father's palace in Heaven, which is also under the sea and also the Lunar Capital! It's complicated!" explained Hoshiro. "Shouldn't a Celestial know that?"

Tenshi stuck out her tongue. Without another word, she raised her own sword and charged.

The Incident-Resolvers launched themselves into the fight. Hoshiro's sword flashed through the air, striking sparks off Tenshi's blade. Reimu swung her gohei furiously, whapping Tenshi with stinging blows. Marisa hung back and bombarded her with multicoloured stars that burst into sparks on her dress.

Tenshi fought through it all, laughing and whooping with every blow. Even when Hoshiro struck her with lightning and Reimu bombarded her with yin-yang orbs she smiled. Her eyes sparkled like snow on the mountaintops, eager for excitement, heedless of the pain.

Tenshi's eyes may not have been real snow, but it felt like holding back an avalanche. Her sword was sharp, her kicks were strong and her magic came like hail, but Reimu twisted herself between blows like a stalk of kelp, Marisa blasted through keystones and Hoshiro hit back every golden slash.

All four were soon panting, their muscles aching. Tenshi's eyes darted between her opponents, waiting for a chance to strike, but instead Reimu spoke.

"Is this... What you wanted?" she huffed, her tone accusatory. "Playing Incidents? We won't let you destroy an innocent Shinto shrine again!"

Tenshi laughed. "This is exactly what I wanted, Reimu! A real fight, with real stakes, like you get to enjoy every day down here! All we do in Heaven is dance, feast, read the newspaper and write poetry."

"Are you trying to make me jealous?!" cried Reimu. "It sounds like you're living the dream!"

"It's boring! They expect me to be contented, enjoy the carefree life of a good Celestial," scoffed Tenshi. "As if doing the same thing every day without novelty, instability, danger and action is life! No thank you."

"Tenshi... I know you feel." Hoshiro stepped forwards. "It might not be the same, but my parents wanted a different child. The guilt, the weight of expectations was crushing! I chose my own path, though, like you."

Marisa and Reimu watched her, half worried and half hoping for some success.

Tenshi gave her a funny look. "This isn't really about my parents-"

"They wanted a dutiful child who dressed nicely, helped with their work, brought honour to the family, and most crucially did nothing unexpected," Hoshiro went on, ignoring her. "I wanted my parents to love me, but in the end I wouldn't throw away my happiness to be their son!"

"No, you aren't listening, I didn't do this to spite my-"

"So I became a magical fighting heroine, damn what anyone thinks of me! And I agree, you deserve to follow your own path, but starting fights and natural disasters helps no-one! All you'll do is make enemies, Tenshi." Hoshiro lowered her sword. "We don't have to fight! I know you don't want to be hated. Put away the keystones and end this."

Tenshi's eye twitched. "Once again, you aren't listening-"

"It's true," said Marisa, stepping forwards. "My dad was a man who... Well, let's just say he didn't care for alternative lifestyles. I rebelled against him big-time and got really into dark magic, and for a while I was a villain if anything. I was strong, I was living for myself, but I was hurting people! Now that I'm helping people and only doing petty crimes for good or at least neutral causes, I feel so much better!"

"Tenshi, please! Sheathe your sword!" Hoshiro stepped slowly towards her, hands held out pacifyingly. "Your path leads to destruction! Take the better path to a peaceful new life. I know it looks steep and muddy, but we can give you a stick and a pair of... Well a snack. It's in foil, keep a slice for later-"

"For the last time," growled Tenshi, "I! Don't! Want! Peace! Take your beef wellington and eat it!"

In a flash of gold, Tenshi stabbed Hoshiro below the chest.

"Aaahhhow!" Hoshiro's expression turned to shock and dismay.

"Are you satisfied?" smirked Tenshi. "This is what happens to people who patronise-"

Hoshiro grabbed the sword, gritting her teeth through the pain. "Nijinazuma..."

Tenshi's eyes widened.

"SEVEN-COLOURED STRIKE!"

"Aiyeeeeee!" Tenshi's skeleton flashed like a fluorescent beacon as the multicoloured lightning poured through her.

"Spirit Sign: Fantasy Seal!"

"Aaaargh ow ow ow owowowow!" Tenshi covered her face as she yin-yang orbs battered her all over.

"Love Sign: MASTER SPARK!"

"Yeeeowch! Aaaaaaugh, why?!" Tenshi experienced a great deal of pain as the love-coloured energy beam blasted her hat right off. "Fine, I get it! I'm going home! Owww..."

"She didn't stop until she was all the way back in Heaven!" Reimu recounted, loud and red-faced after a few cups of sake. "Her bloomers were definitely smouldering. But that's what happens when you mess with the three of us!"

"Heck yeah, it's- It was like-" Marisa hiccupped. "Your hair's green."

"It's me, Sanae! We've met before," Sanae said patiently. "That's a no to more drink, then?"

"Yes please!" Marisa made a grab for the bottle, but missed and decanted herself onto the floor.

With a sigh, Sanae turned to Hoshiro. "Any more for you?"

"No, thank you. Two cups is my limit."

Marisa burst out laughing. "A limit?! Two cups?! Next thing you'll be saying you like men!"

Reimu giggled.

"I don't get it," said Hoshiro. "It's good to have a limit! After three drinks, I turn VERY silly."

Sanae cleared her throat. "Are you all right?" she asked, gesturing to the bandages wrapped tightly around Hoshiro's abdomen.

"Hm? Oh, this? I'm fine! Dragons can take a few stab wounds without- Ow." Hoshiro winced. "As I was saying, dragons can take a few stab wounds without any trouble."

"Cool! What was it like, then, fighting a Celestial?"

"Loud, enthusiastic, pointy..." Hoshiro giggled. "Very rough and stubborn. I couldn't talk her out of it." Her expression turned sombre. "Really thought Marisa and I were getting through to her, but no, she just wanted her fill of violence. What a shellfish- I mean selfish individual!"

"Right, and what did she look like? Were her boots as tall and heavy as everyone says?" Sanae asked eagerly.

"I didn't see the boots. Her hair was blue, and her dress, and she had a red sash. No, orange. No, yellow! Green! Blue! Purple! Well, all of them, in sort of that order," said Hoshiro.

"No no no, they were massive stompy brown ones! I had a good view of them when I was getting kicked," Marisa said firmly. "Only once, thanks to Miss Forever Champion over here!" she added, putting her arm around an empty chair. "Best tank ever! I never felt so good as a magic ranged DPS."

Hoshiro's cheeks went pink. "Don't sell yourself short! You were hitting her as hard as I did."

"I should've said, by the way..." Reimu cleared her throat. "I'm glad you came. Don't get me wrong, I could've taken on Tenshi without any help, but you were brilliant! You too, Marisa. Great to finally get to know you!"

"You mean-" Marisa hiccupped. "You mean get to know her, right?"

"Yes!" Reimu nodded firmly. "And you, the way you talked to her and sorted her out, I'm no good with emotions and stuff, so... So well done! Thank you a bunch, Forever Champion."

"You mean me, right?" said Marisa. "Ordinary Witch, right?"

"Aww," Hoshiro cooed, "I love you too! Well, I'm off to bed. See you later!"

Hoshiro stood up, stepped carefully over Marisa and wandered out of the shrine. She took off and soared away towards the setting sun.

Sanae observed her, smiling awkwardly. "She went completely the wrong way..."

Marisa burst out laughing. "Guess some things never change! That's our Hoshiro."

"Yes..." Reimu watched Hoshiro whirl around and fly the other way with something approaching a fond expression. "That's our Hoshiro."

Chapter Text

~Chapter 8: Yatagarasu Fusion~

"Dear Ms Nijinazuma,

"These items were discovered in the loft by your esteemed father. As part of the Ryuugu-jou decluttering initiative, he asked that they be removed from the premises and delivered to you, in the hope that you might find a use for them.
"His Lordship wished to convey his third-fondest regards to you, his third-favourite daughter, and requests that you keep the armour where he has no chance of tripping over it.

"Yours sincerely,

"Iku Nagae

"Servant to Lord Ryuujin"

Hoshiro's face lit up. She folded the letter, stuffed it in her pocket and tore open the box, gasping with delight when she saw what was inside. Her armour was all there, its burnished scarlet sheen a little scuffed but every bit as bright as she remembered.

Beaming most beamily, Hoshiro took out a pair of sharp metal-plated boots and laid them down with a clank. The dented greaves, the scalemail skirt, the cuirass covered in stickers, the curvy pauldrons, the ornate arm guards and the winged silver tiara she lay above them. Finally she took out her old gauntlets and lay them beside the suit with a soft clank. And there it was.

There was a time centuries ago when Hoshiro spent all day in her armour. She would wander the gardens, practice martial arts for hours and try to pluck up the courage to play with her sisters before they were called in for dinner. "Must you wear that ludicrous get-up?" her parents would complain. "You're twenty-six! Try acting like it for once."

It looked a bit tatty now, dented, scuffed and probably too tight in the chest, but the armour was her childhood. After more than a thousand years stuffed in the loft, it deserved an adventure.

Hoshiro slid off her boots and gloves, untoggled her tank top and removed her hat. Piece by piece she adorned herself in pink metal, buckling everything on in all the right places. At last she stood up with a gleeful smile and shouted her old battle cry. "For the honour of Ryuugu-jou!"

Nothing happened, but for one moment she felt like she was standing on top of the universe. She laughed and hugged herself with glee. If being twenty-six meant living a boring, respectable life, Hoshiro was forever twenty-five.

The Hakurei Shrine was looking a little different when Hoshiro got there, eager to show off her armour.

"Oh, my!" observed Hoshiro, staring up into a roaring column of water. It was blasting out of the mountainside, leaving a wide, steaming pool that took up half of Reimu's

garden. "I thought water features were expensive!"

"Shut up!" Reimu whapped Hoshiro's tiara with a faint ting. "Actually, to tell you the truth, I didn't buy it. It just appeared from out of nowhere. I'm thinking of starting a hot spring-"

"Of course, because a geyser appearing completely out of nowhere is the perfect chance to make a profit, not a sign of impending disaster the Shrine Maiden of Paradise should be doing something about!" a voice cut in. A woman was approaching, her silky pink hair fanning out beneath two cloth buns and her dress tight around a perfect body.

Reimu's face darkened. "I told you, Kasen, I don't care! Will you please leave me alone?!"

"You have a duty to investigate this type of thing! Yukari agrees with me! She says the geyser could've been caused by underground seismic activity, or a sign of impending attack!" Kasen insisted, slamming her hands onto her hips fiercely enough to make Reimu flinch and Hoshiro gasp. "Why are you just standing there?!"

"I- I'm not!" Glaring at Kasen, Reimu walked backwards all the way to her shrine and slammed the door. "Goodbye, Kasen! Feel free to drop in again when Hell freezes over!"

Kasen sighed. "Of all the shrines in all the world, I had to walk into hers... Oh, hello!" She examined Hoshiro. "I haven't seen you before. Who are you?"

"M- me?!" Blushing vividly, Hoshiro took a deep breath and spun into a heroic pose. "The Lovestruck Champion- Nope. Forever Champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I fight for love, beauty and kiss me- Can I start again?!"

Hoshiro was acutely aware that Kasen was staring at her. She took a deep breath and spun into a different pose. "Forever Champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I fight for love, truth and a bright future! YES! Got it!"

"...Well done. Delighted to meet you," said Kasen, offering Hoshiro a hand. "I am Kasen Ibaraki, a Taoist mystic and mentor to ungrateful shrine maidens. I fight for various things as and when needed."

"Delighted to meet you too, Kasen!" Hoshiro's heart fluttered as she shook Kasen's strong, slender hand. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. "I heard you talking to Reimu. What's wrong about the geyser?!"

"I don't entirely know, but it's very suspicious for a geyser to appear out of nowhere. It could be a sign of seismic activity, youkai messing around or both," explained Kasen. She spoke with confidence in a high, powerful voice. "Probably both. We should assume it's both and carry on from there."

"But both could be dreadful!" gasped Hoshiro. "Kasen! Even if Reimu's busy, I'll lend you my strength! Together we could handle anything underground! E-especially if we hold hands! So we don't fall?"

"Wait a minute! Why are you trying to get involved?!"

"I'm an Incident-Resolver! Being involved in things is my job!" said Hoshiro, full of fervent determination. "I'm extra-stage certified, I can lift a bus and my Ryujo Beam can reshape mountains! And if there is danger underground, it's everybody's business, not just yours. I can't ignore this!"

"You hear the faintest whisper of trouble and want to help, just like that?" Kasen spent a moment in thought, then she laughed. "Of course! You're absolutely right. People should solve problems- should WANT to solve problems! That's what so many of us lose sight of. We have one world to share, so we all need to take care of it."

"Exactly! Leave the world better than you found it," said Hoshiro, nodding in agreement. "So the geysers-"

"I suppose I'm not used to people like you, who want to pitch in right off the bat," Kasen carried on. "Most people in Gensokyo want money, food or the promise of a good time before they'll take action, or even just pretend to help when all they care about is the food."

"Some people don't take things seriously-"

"It isn't right!" snapped Kasen. "Fair enough, Incidents are a game, but we still need to get up and play it because if you don't play, you lose! People can't simply let themselves fester, Hoshiro. We must be strong, be brave, find every bit of strength that we have and never let it go! Because that is how we grow!"

"M-my thoughts exactly..." Hoshiro's head was spinning. "Kasen...! I've never met someone like you before! You're incredible!" she squealed, bouncing up and down with glee. "We'll be Utena and Anthy, Ty Lee and Mai, bound through danger by eternal love! Ohhh, I can't WAIT to take on the underground with you!"

"Wh- what are-? Ah. Right." Kasen came down from her rant, her face heavy with complicated emotions. "Eternal love we can discuss later. Unfortunately, due to circumtances, I can't visit the underground."

"Why not? Are you scared of caves? Or stalactites? The dark? Spiders? Bats? Oni? Badger-moles? Or magma, perhaps?"

"No, it's just that surface-dwelling... I wouldn't be allowed in Former Hell."

"Oh." Hoshiro tilted her head in confusion. "But you're clearly from underground!"

Kasen's eyes widened. "NO! I- I mean how can you possibly tell?!"

"Your aura's... subterranean?" Hoshiro lost steam when she saw the look Kasen was giving her. "What's wrong? I didn't mean anything, you're just clearly an underground youkai!"

"Listen! As far as... youkai are concerned, I'm far from normal. I am no longer what I was in the past," Kasen said carefully, pressing a hand to her forehead. "It took a lot of effort to remake myself into what you see now, but going by biology, I could still be considered a-"

Hoshiro gasped softly. "You're trans too?! Oh, Kasen, it's fine!" With a tender smile she took Kasen's hands. "We don't need to hide who we are, not even in Former Hell."

"Tra- trans...?" Kasen took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Well. I- I'm glad," she said carefully, "that here in Gensokyo we can live as who, and what, we truly are?"

"Gensokyo's the absolute best! Come to my arms!" Before Kasen could react, Hoshiro was hugging her tightly. "And Kasen, really, they aren't transphobic in Former Hell. Don't you know that, since you're also an oni?"

Kasen shut her eyes, shoved Hoshiro away and took a few heavy breaths. "Are you taking the point biscuits, Hoshiro?! Gods help me! I am not transed in my gender! I'm an oni- Not an oni- It's hard to explain!"

"Sooooo, you're an oni-to-Taoist trans woman instead of the usual sort and it's a secret to everyone?"

"Pretty much." Kasen led the way down winding paths through the Bamboo Forest, her elegant shoes clomping on the earth. "Right, with that out of the way, our destination-"

"Oi! Are you Hoshiro the dragon?"

Hoshiro and Kasen both started. Ahead of them, making the path her kingdom despite her tiny stature, was a black-haired rabbit in a little pink dress.

"Oh!" cried Hoshiro. "It's, er! It's, um! Ohhh, who was she? I'm sure I know her!"

"It's Tewi," said Kasen, giving the rabbit a stare.

"Who, me? I'm Mystia Lorelei, night sparrow and independent tradeswoman!" said Tewi, smiling sweetly.

"Of course! Mystia! So sorry," said Hoshiro, playing sheepishly with her hair.

"No, she's Tewi," said Kasen, glaring at Tewi.

"Anyway," said Tewi formally, "I come bearing a message from Princess Kaguya! Her Royal Loonyness cordially invites you to an afternoon of board games at the House of Eternity with Cirno, Eirin, Sakuya, Reisen and herself. Please send your RSVP back with the rabb- With the night sparrow."

Her work complete, Tewi curtsied primly and stuck out her tongue.

"Oh..." Hoshiro bit her lip. "Thanks, Mystia, but tell her I'm busy. We have to stop the geysers before things get worse!"

"She's Tewi!" snapped Kasen.

Tewi nodded. "I'll tell her you're fooling around with your girlfriend and can't be bothered. Byeeee~!"

Hoshiro turned red. Kasen lunged at Tewi. Tewi was away in a flash, her feet blurring into a circle as she sprinted back through the forest, Kasen's fingers closing on thin air where her ears had been just seconds ago.

"Gods save me!" sighed Kasen, having a stretch. "You do realise that was Tewi, don't you? Not Mystia?"

"I don't know!" squeaked Hoshiro, still blushing vividly. "Remind me, where are we going?! I lost my train of thought!"

"To the Fantastic Blownhole, gateway to the Underworld. Speaking of which!" Kasen reached inside her pocket and pulled out a round silver amulet, etched with a spiral and inlaid with a single blue sapphire. "This is a karageitai sigil, an enchanted device that uses Taoist magic to let people talk over long distance. Do you have one?"

"No, but..." Hoshiro burrowed a hand under her armour and searched her pockets. "I have a mobile phone!" Beaming with pride, she presented a pink flip phone covered in Cardcaptor Sakura and Super Sentai stickers.

Of course she does. Of grazing COURSE she does, Kasen didn't groan. "Oh... Good!" she did say, and then tapped her sigil against the phone. "If you have a modern SIM card, we'll be able to communicate while you're underground. All right?"

I got her number! Half an hour together and I got her number! Hoshiro didn't squeal with joy. "Right on! Thanks, Kasen!" she did say, spinning around and punching the air. "No time to waste. To the Fantastic Blowhole!"

The cave was a vast round space carved deep into the rock, damp and rough underfoot with just enough light to see. Hoshiro was glad of her armour as she stomped over sharp rocks underfoot, but wished for her tank top when a cold breeze blew from down below.

"Hoshiro, can you hear me?" Soft and echoey, Kasen spoke into Hoshiro's ear as if they were standing side by side.

"Loud and clear, Kasen!" A person with more sense might have wondered how a mobile phone could do that, but not Hoshiro.

"Good. The deep road to Hell is about half a mile ahead of you, but in the meantime you'll have tsurubi-otoshi and tsuchigumo to contend with. Is your objective clear?"

"Of course!" Hoshiro nodded firmly. "I've been developing a new attack, too. Ryujo Shot! It's a controlled release of divine power, fit for danmaku and other non-lethal stuff."

"I hope it works, then. Be careful," said Kasen.

Hoshiro may or may not have been careful; it didn't matter, because half a minute later a thick, heavy crunch echoed throughout the cave. Chunks of brown stone began to fall like hail, smashing into the floor and throwing up clouds of dust.

On the bright side, this was the perfect chance to try her new technique. Hoshiro took aim above her head and thrust out her arm, her gauntleted fingers outstretched. "Ryujo Shot!"

An orb of pink light flashed out from her palm, streaking through the air like a bullet. The plummeting boulder exploded in a shower of gravel when it hit.

"Wow! Amazing!" Hoshiro beamed, then a piece of debris hit her head. "OW!"

"Ah..." Kasen hoped Hoshiro couldn't hear her cringing at her forgetfulness. "That reminds me, watch out for falling boulders! You'll need to shoot or evade them. Think of it as the cavern roof using a spell-card against you if that helps!"

"Thank you for warning me!" Hoshiro readied another Ryujo Shot and launched herself across the cavern.

Her metal boots clanking, Hoshiro ran beneath the cascading rocks, firing at anything which came her way. The bashing and crunching of boulders on the floor joined the bright, pulsing notes of her bullets in a deafening chorus. There was barely time to think, but within a minute the last boulder fell and Hoshiro skidded to a halt in a flat, dusty stretch of cave.

She heard something creak high above her. Hoshiro gasped and dove away moments before a wooden bucket slammed down where she'd been standing.
The cave trembled, clouds of dust pouring from the bucket's foot. From inside the wooden water-carrying device a green-haired woman glared, her eyes full of bloodlust.

"A tsurubi-otoshi...!" Hoshiro narrowed her eyes and charged up her Ryujo Shot. "I'm on a vital mission to stop the geyser in Reimu's garden! Don't get in my way!"

"Well, doesn't that sound like a splendid time? That being said, I'll get in whoever's way I happen to fancy." With a vicious smile, Kisume launched herself upwards and came flying bucket-first at Hoshiro.

Hoshiro fired, but the bullet burst harmlessly on the bottom of the bucket. She dove underneath, her armour grinding against the stone, and somersaulted to her feet.

"An armoured bucket!" Hoshiro bit her lip. "I have to expose her non-bucket side! Next time she comes for me-"

"She's coming for you!"

Kisume came for her. Hoshiro drew back her fist and swung just as the bucket bore down upon her. In a moment which felt like several seconds she heard the clash of gauntlet upon wood, felt the impact jar her knuckles, then Kisume went spinning into the air and fell on her head.

Hoshiro charged forwards, somersaulting over the dusty ground, and grabbed the bucket. Kisume reached out feebly to stop her, but to no avail. Hoshiro smashed the bucket against a boulder and stomped it into splinters.

"There!" she said, standing triumphantly over the stunned Kisume. "Done and done."

Kisume stared open-mouthed for another second, then her eyes filled with tears. "Wh-what have you done?!" she squeaked, all but choking on her grief. "A tsurubi-otoshi without her bucket is nothing!"

Hoshiro was horrified. "Y-you attacked me! I had to fight back! Don't feel bad, it wasn't personal."

"My sanctum sanctorum, my second body, my weapon, my greatest treasure, nothing else now but a pile of rubbish. O, whatever will I do?! I shall be an outcast, rejected by my sistren forevermore," sniffled Kisume.

"Augh, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" Hoshiro fell to her knees in front of Kisume. "I had no idea it was important to you!"

"What are you-?! Hoshiro, she's playing you!" said Kasen urgently.

"I-I can nail it back together or get you another one! Come on, don't cry! I swear I'll make this right!" sobbed Hoshiro, brushing a hand over Kisume's tear-wet cheek. "Do you want compensation? A cake or money?"

"No, don't get close to her! She's taking you for a fool-"

Kisume blinked back her tears and headbutted Hoshiro with tremendous force. Hoshiro flew onto her back with a painful clatter.

"Oww, what on-?! Ow!" whimpered Hoshiro, stars swimming before her eyes.

"You're so easy," grinned Kisume, rising triumphantly to her feet. "I can purchase a new bucket at any reputable garden centre. But I must thank you; today I needed a victory, something to redress the balance after that broad humiliated me with her energy beams."

"I told you, didn't I?! Never trust crocodile tears!" Kasen bit her lip. "Hoshiro? Can you hear me?"

Hoshiro propped herself up on her elbows and groaned. "That was a cheap shot," she said severely, glaring daggers at Kisume.

"Thank heavens!" Kasen let out a sigh of relief.

"Fake distress is banned under the spell-card rules since Revision Three! Shame on you!" Hoshiro ranted as she stood up. "The rules protect Gensokyo's ecosystem in various ways!"

"Oh, may the gods forgive me," sneered Kisume. "That being said, since you're still on your feet-"

"I don't want to hear it! I'm going!" snapped Hoshiro, storming into the cave away from Kisume.

"Um, just a minute-"

"Goodbye!"

"You haven't... Technically... Defeated me..." Kisume sagged in resignation. "Got to put my stupid bucket back together now. Yamame! Yamame, where's the glue?!"

"Why?" moaned Yamame, sprawled out in a pile of discarded webbing. "Why'd I give Kisume my best pot of glue?! She wouldn't do the same for me!"

"The tsurubi-otoshi? She's bad news," said Hoshiro, nodding sympathetically. "But sticky spell-cards aren't fun, so she helped me!"

"I could've won if I'd been firing on all cylinders, y'know!" sassed Yamame. "A nice drink of glue before a duel's the way to go."

Hoshiro felt sick. "Sorry you missed out," she said weakly.

"I'd move on if I were you," Kasen piped up. "After the bridge-"

"Wow, that's beautiful!"

"Oh, have you found something?"

Lit faintly by a brazier at the side of the cave was a gleaming marble statue. It depicted a tall, winged tengu, her plaits shaped as if flowing in the wind, standing proudly over an orange metal orb. Hoshiro stared at the statue in wonder, her concerns over Yamame's diet completely forgotten.

Kasen made a noise which sounded like she was rolling her eyes. "It's only a statue, Hoshiro! We've got more important things to worry about."

"I just want to look at it!" Hoshiro said plaintively. "What's the ball for, Yamame? Does it do anything?"

Yamame shrugged. "Try licking it!"

"For bloomers' sake, don't under any circumstances try licking it!"

"I won't! Don't worry!" Hoshiro stomped over to the statue, reached out gingerly with a finger and touched the orb.

She felt a momentary shock, as if vast quantities of energy were flowing out of the orb, then nothing. Hoshiro blinked twice and stared at her metal-clad finger, which looked completely normal. Carefully she touched the tip of her nose, feeling the cold metal press against her skin. Still nothing happened.

"Nothing, huh? It figures," said Yamame, shrugging nonchalantly. "Ancient tengu explorers never clean up after themselves."

"This tunnel never ends!"

"It's definitely going to end, Hoshiro. You just need to be patient."

"Oh, that was a metaphor. I didn't mean it literally never ends."

Hoshiro was jogging along a wide tunnel, thin patches of silty mud splatting under her feet. The stone around her looked almost green in the faint underground light.

"Anyway, this road leads to the capital city of Former Hell, which we... Which the oni... Which people call the Former Capital. Before that, you'll come to an underground river," explained Kasen. "There could well be a monster guarding the bridge; I don't remember too clearly. If there is, just fly over the river instead of crossing the bridge. Is your objective clear?"

"Er, one thing! What if I fly directly above the bridge?"

Kasen blinked. "Er... I wouldn't worry about it."

Hoshiro could hear rushing water by then. The cavern started to widen out and soon a river emerged from the darkness, coursing across the cave's pebbly floor. There was a tatty wooden bridge over the river, and a blonde woman in a fancy Iranian dress stood on the splintery planks.

The woman gasped when she saw Hoshiro. "A stranger? No, a- a DRAGON?! What are you doing down here?!"

"A geyser erupted on the surface, threatening to flood the Human Village, spray hot water on people or much, much worse! I came here to investigate!" Hoshiro shouted, stopping in front of the bridge.

"Oh..." Parsee scowled. "I should've known. A dragon would never condescend to come down here without a 'good reason'."

Hoshiro blinked. "Um, is she the...?"

"I remember now," said Kasen grimly. "That's Parsley Mitsubishi, a once kind and friendly woman who became a youkai of jealousy. My opposite in every way."

"In every way? So she is transgender?"

Striding towards Hoshiro, Parsee frowned in confusion. "Who are you talking to?"

"...I have no idea, but don't underestimate her! She can turn you mad with jealousy!" Kasen said urgently.

Hoshiro gasped. "That's awful! Don't worry, she won't get close to me."

Parsee snapped her fingers in Hoshiro's face. "Oi! Gensokyo to tall dragon! Come in, please!"

"Uwah?!" Hoshiro stared at her, then sneezed. "Excuse me! I was just talking to-"

"Your imaginary friend who lives in your imagination. It happens," Parsee said, smiling through gritted teeth. "I'm jealous of how tall and well-built you are. I'm jealous of the long ponytails and detachable wings you dragons have. I'm jealous of how you can control the weather! I'm jealous because we don't get weather down here!"

Hoshiro stared open-mouthed for a few seconds, then she scowled. "If that's your attitude, I'll just go. Come on, Kasen!"

Hoshiro swept away from Parsee and stormed past, her clomping footsteps echoing through the cave.

"Wha... What?" Parsee was crestfallen. "Hey... Hey, stop! Y-you can't just... You can't just go and... Come back! It's not fair if you don't fight me! Ohhh..."

The deep road carried on for a little longer, then the tunnel opened up into the largest cavern Hoshiro had ever seen. Stretching out in all directions, curving like a soup plate, its ceiling arched high over the floor and its far walls barely visible through miles of fog, Former Hell made the Fantastic Blowhole look like a cupboard.

"Wow...!" breathed Hoshiro, staring out into the expanse. "It's huge! I had no idea this was down here!"

Villages were dotted around the distant slopes, clusters of orange lamps glowing in the twilight, and a small city nestled in the centre of the plains. Its slate rooves looked shiny and blue beneath the sun, its streets too distant and shadowy to make out.

"The Former Capital of Former Hell." Hoshiro smiled in the very particular way she'd learned from anime. "Then that's where we're going! Come on, Kasen!"

"I'm not technically coming with you. You don't need to say that every time," said Kasen.

"You are with me! Not physically, but of course you're here!" Hoshiro explained her reasoning while she ran down the winding road to the city. "Actually, something's confusing me. Why is there a sun underground?"

"A... A sun? This isn't the time for jokes, Hoshiro!"

"I wasn't joking! There's a sun, right there!" Hoshiro pointed at the flaming orb high above the city, shielding her eyes against its glare.

"I- I can't see it." Kasen sounded a little disappointed. "Is there really a...? What sort of sun are we talking about? Describe it to me!"

"Er, a radiant sphere of burning daffodil yellow, too bright to look upon! It lights up the cavern roof in beige and cream, casting stark shadows behind the stalactites and crags, and beams down on the Former Capital nestled far below. Even down here I feel its warmth on my skin!" described Hoshiro, saving the writer a bit of work.

"Well, that's very unusual," said Kasen quietly. "An underground sun and a geyser from underground. Could these things be connected in some way?"

"It's a real poser," said Hoshiro. She slowed down in front of the city gate, a thick blue torii that towered over the road, and wandered in.

The gravel gave way to cracked flagstones beneath her feet. She peered at the rows of shady wooden houses on either side, their faces brown, blue and grey in the dim light.

"The sun here isn't as bright the real sun," Hoshiro observed, peering upwards. "It isn't hanging from anything I can see. How weird!"

"Like it?" a voice shouted from somewhere unseen. "We had it put in last week!"

Hoshiro heard heavy footsteps echoing from a side street, then a stranger stomped into view. She was a tall, muscular woman wearing shackles, a white blouse and some sort of barred skirt with a single red horn on her forehead.

"Ohhh, dear." Kasen bit her lip, not that Hoshiro could see her biting anything. "That's Yuugi Hoshiguma, one of the Four Devas of the Mountain. She's friendly, but her version of friendliness puts the target in immediate danger! Be careful!"

"Yuugi Hoshiguma...?" repeated Hoshiro.

Yuugi's face brightened. "Oh, you know me! Then I'd better give you the proper welcome!"

Hoshiro blinked. "Wha-?"

Before she could voice the T at the end, Yuugi's large clenched fist ploughed into her nose. She slid backwards, her sabatons sparking on the flagstones, and came to a stop.

"...OW!" gasped Hoshiro.

"Wow, a strong new face!" laughed Yuugi, withdrawing her fist. "You, I like. Come on, let's get a drink!"

Hoshiro glared at her. "What's wrong with you?! That's no way to welcome someone!"

"I did try to warn you," said Kasen. "Try to get away before-"

"Who's that? Is that Kasen talking in your ear?!" Yuugi leaned uncomfortably close to Hoshiro. "Hellooooooo?! Yoo-hoo! Kasen!"

"I-I'm not here! Tell her I'm someone else!"

"Do you mind?!" cried Hoshiro, shoving Yuugi away.

Yuugi grinned. "That was definitely Kasen. Well, any friend of Kasen's a friend of mine. Shove the drink, let's have a proper fight!"

"No, Kasen clearly isn't comfortable, so we're going. 'Bye!" Hoshiro stomped off along the road.

"Oi! Didn't you hear me?!"

Hoshiro felt heavy footfalls behind her, then a sharp pull on her hair. Yuugi had her by the ponytail.

"Aaugh! Wh- what are you doing?!" demanded Hoshiro, straining against the tension on her scalp.

"Isn't it obvious? Giving you a proper welcome!" laughed Yuugi.

A sharp tug separated Hoshiro's feet from the ground, then she was flying through the air, whirling around helplessly like a slingshot.

"Aaaaaaaargh!" Hoshiro screamed.

"Wheeeee!" Yuugi squealed, then she let go.

Hoshiro smashed through the front window of a maid cafe, barged through a couple of mannequins in frilly dresses and ploughed head-first into the counter, where she lay slumped over the floor.

"Hoshiro! Oh, gods!" Kasen cried out in horror. "Yuugi's terribly strong, perhaps even moreso than me, but you can beat her at range. Subterranean Animism is a shooting game, not a fighting game! Use that to your advantage! ...Hello? Are you listening?"

When no reply came for a few seconds more, Kasen started to panic. "Oh, no, she's dead. I- I've sent her to her death! This poor, overenthusiastic dragon, so eager to please... I sent her to her death, all because I wasn't ready to face the other oni!" She screamed, full of despair and regret. "Hoshiro! Please, stand up! You have to stand up!"

Hoshiro groaned. "Ka... Kasen? Is that you?"

"Hoshiro! Oh, thank Ryuujin you're all right. If you- If you'd died because of me...!"

"He isn't really involved! Only sent me my... Armour..." Hoshiro shifted awkwardly, her armour scraping the tiles. "Um, my horns are stuck in the counter."

After a moment's struggle Hoshiro stood up, bringing half the counter with her. Pieces of tile and splintered wood clattered around her feet as she stormed out of the cafe, an angry look and a frilly headdress on her face.

"All right, Yuugi, you can have your proper fight!" shouted Hoshiro, adopting a dynamic combat stance. "Defend yourself!"

Yuugi whooped and punched the air. "That's the spirit! Let's do this!"

Yuugi lowered her head and charged, the flagstones cracking beneath her sandals. Hoshiro swung her body to the side and grabbed Yuugi around the shoulders, missing her horn by an inch.

As the momentum shunted her backwards, Hoshiro twisted around and threw Yuugi down the road. Yuugi rolled onto her feet, still smiling, and charged at Hoshiro.
This time Yuugi came at her with a blistering punch. Hoshiro batted it aside, their arms colliding with the force of a serious car accident, and kicked her in the shin.

"Ow!" Yuugi stomped on Hoshiro's foot. Hoshiro hopped backwards, gritting her teeth through the pain, and launched a kick at Yuugi's stomach.

Yuugi spun like a whirlwind and kicked Hoshiro's kick off to the side. Hoshiro cartwheeled away from a flurry of punches and stopped to catch her breath.

Lights were being turned on now, dozens of sleepy underground youkai poking their heads out of windows on either side of the road. Hoshiro bit her lip. The maid cafe had been empty, but if she or Yuugi got careless again, people someone could get hurt.

"Yuugi!" Hoshiro said urgently. "Please, calm down for a bit. You don't need to fight me!"

"Ohh, why not?! It's fun!" Yuugi replied. "Right, girls?! A day without violence is like a night without drinking!"

A scattered cheer emerged from the gawping youkai.

"But I'm not your enemy, Yuugi! I came to defeat the geyser- Er, no, to find its source and defeat them or otherwise stop the thing!" argued Hoshiro.

Yuugi blinked. "Geyser? Oh, you must be after that woman from earlier!"

Kasen gasped. "Woman from earlier?! Finally we're getting somewhere! Press her, Hoshiro, get some information!"

"I'm pressing, I'm pressing! Who's the woman from earlier, Yuugi?! Tell us about- me about her!"

"She had long hair, frilly clothes and something stuck to her hand, a magic energy beam cannon. She was stronger than the sun, she almost set the city on fire! I knew it was gonna be an exciting day when she came through," said Yuugi, smiling at the happy memory.

"Stronger than the sun... What the fantasy seal are we dealing with?!" breathed Kasen.

"A sun goddess with a grudge? A western dragon? Or- No, what if she's Amaterasu's dark mirror, the kami of the underground sun?!" Hoshiro gasped. "Sorry, Yuugi, I really need to go! Can you tell me where she might be?!"

Yuugi scratched her head. "I think she went that way, to the Palace of the Earth Spirits. Must've been heading for the Hell of Blazing Fires. Why's it so important for you to meet her, anyway?"

"We don't want Reimu's feet to get wet! Goodbye!"

Before Yuugi could try anything, Hoshiro shot up into the air. A sonic boom sounded as she flew away at speed.

"Blimey," said Yuugi. "Does she know the Palace is...?"

A streak of red and pink flashed by overhead, going the other way.

"Ahhh." Yuugi smiled. "Got there in the end!"

"I do wonder how that cat broke her wheelbarrow." Hoshiro spoke quickly as she flew down mile-long corridors, purple stained glass windows flashing past. "Wish we'd had time to ask her. Gee, what were they doing down here?!"

There were cracks on the floor, walls and ceiling, occasional scorched impact craters still smouldering from a fight. Handfuls of animal-eared youkai were milling around and trying to patch things up.

"I don't know, but it looks bad. A power greater than the sun..."

"I couldn't even beat the sun!" lamented Hoshiro. The air around her was growing warmer, the wallpaper and carpet giving way to bare bricks and stone, then the hallway opened up into another cavern. "Kasen, where are we?!"

"I've never been here before. All I can think of is..." Kasen gasped. "Could it be the Hell of Blazing Fires? It was shut down centuries ago, but it's the only place that makes sense! Hoshiro, listen to me, you mustn't die! It's incredibly important that you don't die in the Hell of Blazing Fires, do you understand?!"

"I try not to die anywhere!" Hoshiro was starting to sweat from the heat. She could see a warm orange glow up ahead, as if the tunnel opened up onto a vast wall of fire. Another sun? Surely not; that would just be excessive.

"Kasen..." Hoshiro took a deep breath. "Before it gets crazy again, I want you to know know-"

"You don't need to say anything," said Kasen, letting some softness into her voice. "I know how you feel about me, and it's... Well, I can't say I blame you. You're good company and, I believe, a good person, and I'd definitely miss you if anything were to..." She swallowed. "Don't let anything happen to you. Come out of there safely. Is your objective clear?"

"Crystal clear. I promise." Hoshiro nodded solemnly. "And- and next time, let's resolve an Incident together! Without the Metroid parody stuff that hasn't gone anywhere and should probably just be cut altogether!"

Kasen smiled, not that Hoshiro could see any smiles going on. "I'd love to. For now, though, let's focus on stopping the geysers."

"Right." Hoshiro squared her shoulders. "Whoever it is, whatever power they have, I won't lose to a duplicate sun! For Reimu's feet and all the feet in Gensokyo-"

A shadow passed over Hoshiro's face. "Wha-?! Who's there?!"

There was a woman, her long hair shining under the glow from behind, flying out of the deep cave. She wore a frilly skirt and a white blouse, a mantle of blue behind her shoulders, and in her hand she held a round device that still glowed with power. She flew towards Hoshiro with the calm confidence of a warrior who could face down the sun.

"Hi, Hoshiro!" Marisa said brightly. "Guess you got here too late. I already beat her!"

"I don't believe it. Even doing everything right, I boobed again."

"We didn't boob, Hoshiro, we just... Took our time. You must remember that when it comes to Incidents, all's well that ends well, and it looks like it has ended well thanks to Marisa."

"All right, ladies, step this way!" Marisa led Hoshiro into a well-lit dining room decorated with tall dressers and brightly-coloured pillows. 

A tired-looking woman in pink and purple clothes was sitting at a long wooden table. She looked up expectantly when Marisa came in. Beside her was a tall black-haired woman wearing a white blouse and a very sheepish expression.

"This is Satori the satori, the palace's owner. And this is Utsuho." Marisa gestured to the black-haired woman, who started guiltily at the mention of her name.

"Satori, Utsuho, this is Hoshiro," Marisa continued. "She's an Incident-Resolver who got here too late."

Satori met Hoshiro with a piercing purple gaze. "Hmm... Yes, that makes sense. You're surprised, confused and more than a little jealous of Marisa."

Hoshiro's face reddened. "Um, not JEALOUS jealous, I wish I'd done better and not been shown up again?"

"I know," said Satori. "There's no need to be ashamed. Everyone has selfish or uncharitable thoughts sometimes, and we can't be blamed for what our subconscious minds shout unbidden. Now, Utsuho...?"

Utsuho took a deep breath and stood up. "There's something I need to say," she declared, avoiding Marisa and Hoshiro's eyes. "I'm... sorry I used the Yatagarasu's power to overcharge the nuclear fusion reactor in the Remains of Blazing Hell to the point where it caused problems on the surface. It was selfish and wrong of me."

Hoshiro's eyes glazed over. She'd lost track halfway through the sentence. "Um... You're sorry you overcharged what?"

Marisa snorted. "That's Utsuho for you! I suppose she isn't really what you were expecting."

"'She' is sitting right there," said Satori severely.

"I'm standing up, actually," Utsuho pointed out. "If it matters. Actually, it probably doesn't."

Hoshiro was amazed. This was nothing like the evil twin Amaterasu she'd been expecting. "Utsuho... You seem perfectly nice! I don't understand," she said softly. "Why did you overcharge... Use the... Why did you do the thing you did?!"

Utsuho laughed nervously. "I- I don't understand the question."

"She's asking for your reasoning," said Satori patiently. "What led you to abuse your powers? What made you think it was a good idea?"

"Oh." Utsuho cast her eyes down. "I don't know! All I can say is that it seemed like a good idea at the time. And I wanted to explore the limits of my capabilities. And it was fun. But what wasn't fun was the-" Utsuho's brow furrowed. "Lady Satori, I've forgotten what problems I actually caused on the surface. What were they?"

"The geyser," said Satori. "And the earth spirits who got loose."

Utsuho gasped. "Earth spirits got loose?! Way cool!"

"No, it isn't! It isn't! You're apologising, remember?" Satori said urgently. "Apologies involve contrition and an understanding of wrongdoing, not pride. I could write it down for you if..."

"Oh, no, I forgot!" Utsuho put her head in her hands. "Augh, this is rubbish! I can't do this. Nuclear fusion is my speciality, not understanding of wrongdoing!"

"Don't feel bad! Your apology was fine until that part!" Hoshiro reached over the table and patted Utsuho on the head, giving Satori a brief angry look. "I understand. It's hard to admit your faults. That's nothing to be ashamed of, Utsuho! What matters is that you tried."

"R-really?" Utsuho looked hopeful. "My apology isn't a complete failure? I'm so glad!"

"I don't believe what I'm hearing," said Kasen heavily. "Why are you comforting her when she nearly brought ruin to Gensokyo?!"

"She clearly regrets it! Don't be harsh on her," said Hoshiro severely.

Satori gave her a strange look. "I never said anything about being harsh. The truth is I can't control Utsuho at this point, so rather than punishing her for vengeance's sake-"

Satori blinked, confusion writ large across her face. "Kasen...? Oh, your friend who's talking into your head, not me! Sorry, but if you will talk to an unseen companion without telling us, it can really get confusing."

Marisa nodded. "Mm-hmm. I completely agree, Alice, and to answer your other question I'm wearing the black ones today. Yes, with the little star on each... You know."

"What's she talking about? Have you changed your name to Alice?!" gasped Kasen. "More to the point, why do you need to know the colour of her-"

"No, Marisa was talking to Alice- Sorry, that was me talking to Kasen." Hoshiro cleared her throat. "What- what do we do now?"

"Now?" Kasen sighed heavily. "I have a nap. Feel free to come back and join me."

Whatever the blushing Hoshiro might have stammered out in response was lost to history, because that was the moment Rin chose to burst in with a laden tea tray.

"Ex- excuse me!" she shouted. "Lady Satori? I thought you might want some tea for the, um, court martial."

Satori's face brightened. "Yes, that would be wonderful! And there's no need to be nervous, Orin, we're only having a... Friendly discussion."

"Oh, so you aren't gonna kill her. Well, of course not!" Rin breathed a sigh of relief. "I- I don't know why I worried. Who wants tea and cake?"

Chapter Text

~Chapter 9: Uncompromising Fighting Otenba Was Her?~

"Cirno! Cirno, it's an emergency!" A gloved fist thumped on the curving ice bricks of Cirno's igloo. "Wake up!"

"Who?! What?! Where?!" Cirno leapt from her little wooden bed and crashed into the carpet. She stood up with a pained groan. "Stupid alarm clock, I know I set you for eight..."

There was a bright pink flash, then Hoshiro materialised in a shower of sparks, a round pink sailor hat on her head, her horns poking through the cloth and scraping the ceiling. "Sorry to burst in, it's important! There's an Incident, Cirno! Come on, let's go!"

"Slow down! What is it, Katara?!" yawned Cirno, pulling on her dress with some haste. "Demons? Dinosaurs? Beast spirits? Men? What?!"

"Worse than that! A flying boat!"

Cirno stared open-mouthed for a moment, then she let out an anguished groan. "That isn't worth waking up at seven fifty-nine for!"

"But-"

"I'm going back to bed. Feel free to teleport yourself out-"

Cirno's alarm clock went off like a screaming crowd of wind chimes. Cirno shrieked and did a backflip. Hoshiro jumped, smashed into the ceiling and dangled there with her horns embedded in the ice.

After a few moments, Cirno spoke. "Want to join me for breakfast?"

"And then we go?"

"No, I promised Daiyousei I'd help her organise her record collection."

"Oh. I'll go now, but I hope you have fun!" Hoshiro reached up awkwardly to push herself out of the ceiling. A brief struggle, then she crashed down on her bottom with a heavy thud. "Tell me if you need help fixing the holes in the ceiling. 'Bye!"

"Kaguya! Kaguya, it's an emergency!" A gloved fist thumped on the paper and dark timber wall. "Wake up!"

The window slid open. A pair of floppy white ears poked out followed by long lavender hair. "Princess Kaguya's in the other wing. Look for the burnt window surrounded by rusty bear traps," said Reisen wearily.

"Oh. Thank you!" shouted Hoshiro, running off to the other wing. "OW!" she yelped, stepping in a bear trap.

"Kaguya! Kaguya, it's an emergency!" A gloved fist thumped on the torn paper and blackened timber wall. "Wake up!"

A few seconds passed, then Kaguya's reply came. "I have a hangover."

"What?!" replied Hoshiro.

"I have a hangover! Ow, pain, my poor head...!" Kaguya groaned emphatically.

"I don't understand! I'll come up!" Hoshiro spread her arms wide, straining as if she was pushing against some invisible force. She disappeared in a blinding pink flash and materialised seconds later in the luxurious bedchamber.

Tucked up warmly in bed, Kaguya groaned again. "I'm not in the mood, Hoshiro!"

"There's an Incident, Kaguya! A flying boat was spotted near the northern desert!" declared Hoshiro. "What's more, Gensokyo has a desert now."

Kaguya rolled over and pulled the embroidered quilt over her head.

Hoshiro stared at her for a few seconds and huffed in annoyance. "It matters, Kaguya! Flying boats aren't natural."

Nothing stirred in the mound of bedclothes.

"Gods above, you never want to resolve Incidents any more! Lucky I have other friends who-"

Hoshiro bit back her harsh words. "Sweet dreams, Kaguya. Maybe next time." With that, she teleported back out of the room.

A few more seconds passed, then something shifted under the covers. "I thought she'd never go away!" said Eirin, groaning softly while she stretched. "Your unusual friend can teleport, then? That's unexpected."

"She never mentioned it before!" said Kaguya, quite confused. "There were so many times a little teleportation could've saved our bacon, but no... What was she thinking?"

"WAS she thinking?" Eirin asked. "Maybe she only remembered she could teleport this morning."

"That sounds like her," sighed Kaguya. "Anyway, if you're ready..."

"Of course, my love." Eirin sank back beneath the covers. A few seconds later, the sharp sounds of toenail clipping could be heard throughout the room.

"Okuu! Okuu, it's an emergency!" A gloved fist thumped on the wooden door, disturbing the flowery 'Utsuho's Room' sign and the radioactive warning sticker. "Wake up!"

"I'm awake," said Utsuho, wandering over from another hallway. "Hey, I know you! You're that dragon who helped Lady's Satori's sister with her finger-painting, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I didn't come to paint this time! There's an Incident, Okuu!" Hoshiro said urgently. "A flying boat's been sighted!"

Utsuho's eyebrows rose in curiosity. "Oh, what was it doing?"

"Flying!"

"That's unusual!"

"I know, we have to investigate! Come on!" Hoshiro grabbed Utsuho by the arm and dashed away.

Utsuho's Oxford shoe and concrete leg-warmer dragged on the carpet. "W-wait a moment! I should tell Lady Satori fiiiiirst-!"

Hoshiro waited outside Satori's study, tapping her feet and counting all the knots in the wooden door. Eventually Utsuho emerged.

"It's best if I don't come today," she declared matter-of-factly. "Could you call me for the next flying boat? I need to get ready for-"

"Why not?!" A small spark of anger had ignited in Hoshiro's heart. "What's Satori's problem?!"

"Problem? Well, she doesn't think I have enough control over my abilities yet, since I apparently did something that worried her a few months ago. There was a geyser involved-"

Hoshiro's jaw dropped. "And she still isn't over it?!"

"More importantly, I need to be here for the power grid test- What are you doing?"

Hoshiro pushed past Utsuho and stormed into Satori's study. Satori looked up from her sudoku in a mix of surprise and resignation.

"Satori, you can't keep Utsuho locked up in here just because she makes mistakes sometimes!" shouted Hoshiro, slamming her fists on the coffee table.

"Hoshiro, it's all right! Don't- You don't need to-" Utsuho began.

"Don't worry! She can't hurt you while I'm here," said Hoshiro fiercely. "Don't try it, Satori!"

"Can I stop you there?" Satori said wearily. "I know what you're thinking, Hoshiro, but you're wrong about my relationship with Okuu. I'm trying to keep her from putting other people or herself in danger-"

"So you'd rather crush her dreams?! People need new experiences to grow! It's better to fly to the sun than live in a freezer so your wings won't melt!"

"I haven't crushed- Does Okuu look as if she's had a dream crushed recently? With a power like hers, we have to be careful. Today is especially bad timing, since Kanako's planning to test the power grid-"

"How can you be so selfish?!" Hoshiro stomped her foot, cracking the floor. "If you won't believe in Okuu, believe in me who believes in her!"

Satori's eyes blazed with anger. "I've ALWAYS believed in Okuu! She's kind and strong and sweet and great company, the cutest pet, the most powerful warrior and brilliant scientist we've had in centuries! You need to get your own thoughts in order before you paint me as an abuser."

"You..." For a second, Hoshiro's chest felt tight. Had she pushed the wrong button? No, Satori was clearly in the wrong, she had to be taught a lesson. "You think Okuu isn't clever enough to investigate one flying boat! Her dream to be an Incident-Resolver means nothing to you because it wasn't your idea!"

"Excuse me," said Utsuho, tapping Hoshiro on the shoulder. "I don't necessarily dream of being an Incident-Resolver, it's more along the lines of a hobby I'd like to try someday."

"Hoshiro, please, stop jumping to conclusions! I'm not your father-" Satori's eyes widened. "RYUUJIN was your father? Well, that is surprising, but not relevant."
Satori took a deep breath. "Utsuho may be many things, but most of the room in her brain is taken up with nuclear physics. I don't want there to be any limits on her horizons! I don't! But some things are harder than others, and rushing into them won't end well. Moreover, as she said just now-"

"You miserable, arrogant old pudding-face!" Hoshiro raised a hand wreathed in sparks. "If you won't negotiate, nor will I. I'll never let you hurt my friend again! Nijinazuma: Seven-Coloured Strike!"

Satori's eyes widened. She dove behind her desk as a seven-coloured glow filled the room.

"NO!" Utsuho lunged past Hoshiro and threw herself into the path of the lightning. She grit her teeth in pain as it poured into her Third Leg.

"Oh, my gods! What are you doing?!" Hoshiro cut off the lightning as fast as she could. "Okuu, why?!"

Utsuho glared angrily as she channeled the lightning through her stone boot, zapping some pot plants into piles of ash. "How could you think of hurting Lady Satori?!"

"I... I did it for you!" Hoshiro protested. "She was going to keep you here, caged forever away from your dream of-!"

"When did I ever say being an Incident-Resolver was my dream?!" snapped Utsuho. "I love nuclear physics, boiled eggs, picnics and my family! I'd be happy to help with Incidents, but doing so isn't a vital component of my self-actualisation."

"You don't have to be what Satori wants!"

"I know! But I trust her judgment," said Utsuho severely. "About everything except the purple apron, which didn't do it for me."

"So... Is that it?" Hoshiro's heart felt heavy. There was anger and confusion in her eyes, but sadness most of all. "You don't even want to investigate the flying ship?!"

"Not today! Not with you!" Utsuho pushed past Hoshiro and stormed out of the room.

"I... I don't..." Hoshiro swallowed. "I don't understand!"

Satori gave her a pitying look. "That much is clear even without the ability to read minds. Now I think you ought to leave."

Hoshiro stormed away from the Fantastic Blowhole, kicking a paper boat by the side of the road as she went. She stomped over to a large beech tree, leaned against it with her horns poking the bark and let out a heavy sigh.

"I don't understand... I just don't understand!" Hoshiro snapped, glaring up at the yellowish-green leaves. "Didn't I do enough?!"

How could it have gone so wrong? Okuu was supposed to come along and prove her mettle, then Satori would have to admit she'd been wrong and her daughter could take care of herself, and everything would be fine! That was what she deserved, not self-inflicted subjugation!

What sort of woman didn't want an adventure?! If Hoshiro had been Utsuho... Well, if she'd been Utsuho she wouldn't have asked for permission, but she'd have gone with herself in a heartbeat!

No, that was silly. If she was Utsuho, Utsuho was her, so Satori had to be... Keine? That wasn't the same! Hoshiro wasn't scared of Keine, she trusted her! If Keine had had a good reason why she shouldn't investigate the flying boat...

Then wouldn't Utsuho have tried to blast Keine through the wall? And wouldn't she have jumped in front of Keine because she loved her and trusted her and wanted to protect her-

"Ohhhh, tottering tanuki, what the buckle shoes have I done?!" Tears welled up in the corners of Hoshiro's eyes. She slumped down against the tree, hugged her knees and cried, her regrets sparkling as they spilled down her cheeks. This time, she really had boobed.

After several seconds Hoshiro felt something press against her nose. Blinking away her tears, she looked out and beheld a green object, round like a bowl on top with smaller knobbles on the bottom, floating in front of her.

Hoshiro yelped and leapt to her feet, her back scraping against the bark. "Ow! Wh-what are you?!"

The object just sat there, wobbling in silence, and turned red with a strange little sound.

"A weird thing, never before seen, floating and changing colour..." Hoshiro stared at the object in wonder, then let out a gasp. "An Unidentified Fantastic Object! This must be another Incident!"

Hoshiro reached out to touch the Unidentified Fantastic Object, only to freeze with her finger just centimetres away. What if it was a trap? A youkai or some sort of cursed toy? A cursed toy youkai?! No, she had to do this the smart way.

Hoshiro bent down and plucked a long stick out of the leaf litter. She gave the UFO a gentle poke, tapping on a smooth plasticky material which was probably plastic.
The UFO made another strange sound and turned blue. Hoshiro poked it again.

"You're just going to do that? Float and change colour?" Hoshiro lowered her stick, regarding the UFO suspiciously. It didn't seem dangerous, but she couldn't rest until she knew what was going on. Could it have been related to the flying boat?

The flying boat. It had slipped her mind, but there already was an Incident! Hoshiro felt a lump rise in her throat. Cirno and Kaguya weren't interested, and now Utsuho didn't want to speak to her- She'd pushed her away. How was she going to face anyone, let alone an Incident?

"Hoshiro! Don't just stand there, grab that Unidentified Fantastic Object before it gets away!"

"Uwaah?!" Hoshiro jumped, slamming herself against the tree again, and looked around until she saw Kasen running over. "Ow, my shoulder blades! K-Kasen! How am I going to face you?! I mean, of course!"

Hoshiro pounced on the UFO, which had since turned green again, slamming it down into the grass. Her body flopped down behind it like a long, thin sack of rice wearing tall boots, plus-fours, a tank top and a jumper. Actually, she didn't look the slightest bit like a sack of rice.

"Got it!" Hoshiro looked up at the amused Kasen and laughed awkwardly. "Hi, Kasen... What's going on with these?"

"They've been showing up all over Gensokyo, flying around aimlessly and bouncing off the sides of the..." Kasen wrinkled her beautiful nose. "I'm not sure what they bounce off, to be honest, but you can see them doing it."

Kasen leaned down and offered her hand. Hoshiro took the hand and stood up, cradling the UFO in her free arm and blushing a little.

"However mysterious they are, I'm sure they're connected to the flying boat," Kasen continued. "Since you're here, why don't we investigate together?"

Hoshiro gasped. "I-I'd love to, Kasen!" Her shame and worries faded into the background. "With our combined power, the, um... We'll, er... Together we are twice as many as one!"

"Take as much time as you need, Lovestruck Champion," Kasen said sweetly. "We'll start at the flying boat, the most likely source of the flying boat Incident."

"That makes sense! Let's go!"

Hoshiro's ponytail stretched out behind her, fluttering like a wind sock as she soared towards the boat. Up ahead was Kasen, her dress billowing, trying to set the pace and complaining about it.

"I can't believe how fast it is!" complained Kasen. "We'll really need to hoof it to catch up."

Hoshiro regarded her with bemusement. "How fast can you hoof?"

"I like to think I hoof fast enough," said Kasen, "for most purposes. But I'd be the first to admit I can't hoof the way a tengu hoofs."

Hoshiro nodded. "What's our plan when we catch up? I think we should find evidence and work out the boat's purpose, then deal with it or leave it alone as needed! That way we won't hurt people!"

Kasen blinked. "That wasn't what I was expecting to hear from you, but yes, good idea! Any flying sailors who hope to fit in in Gensokyo will be ready to fight at the drop of a hat, though, so we should be as well."

"Probably." Hoshiro looked away. "We mustn't be reckless, though, if- if they don't want to fight."

Kasen frowned in concern. "Are you feeling all right? That doesn't sound like the Hoshiro who chewed her way out of a cocoon, kicked Queen Joro right over Youkai Mountain, brought down her legions with a single Ryujo Beam and spent half an hour brushing her teeth. Er, your teeth, not Joro's."

"I'm fine! I don't want to make more mistakes, though-"

"I am arisen! Behold the majesty of my umbrella!"

"Uwah?!" Kasen gasped. "Over there!"

Hoshiro looked up and saw Kogasa, standing proudly in front of them with her umbrella held high. Well, I say 'standing' proud, her feet weren't on top of much apart from more sky.

"Where are you going in such a hurry? The ship again?" Kogasa came towards them, her heterochromatic eyes sparkling with excitement. "It must be carrying something very special to attract so many people!"

"Er, you said you were arisen...?" Kasen gasped. "Of course! Hoshiro, do you see her eyes?!"

"Er, yes! Why?"

Kogasa's expression turned to polite confusion. "Yes, what about them?"

"Isn't it obvious?" said Kasen gravely. "One is red and the other one is blue. Red and blue. Colours, just like the UFOs! She must be involved!"

Kogasa tilted her head in confusion. "Must I? Well, that's interesting!"

"We have to defeat her and find out what she knows!" Kasen slid into her martial arts stance. "Attack!"

"Right behind you-" Hoshiro's eyes widened in horror. "Wait, no!"

"No? What are you talking about?!"

"I've had a thought!" Hoshiro shivered. "What if it's a coincidence? What if she ISN'T involved and we're about to attack an innocent woman?!"

Kasen stared at her. "Hoshiro... Why would anyone need to worry about that? Get her!"

"If you're sure."

"She's sure!" squeaked Kogasa, clapping her hands in anticipation. "Come on, get me! My spell-cards are ever so much fun!"

Kogasa's spell-cards were indeed fun, but by the time our heroines sent her parachuting helplessly into Alice's compost heap the boat was a dot on the horizon.

"We lost so much time! Maybe we should have tried getting past her without a fight," Kasen sighed ruefully. "Or just ignored her. Can you fly a little faster?"

"I can fly at fifty thousand miles an hour," said Hoshiro.

Kasen blinked. "Fifty... Fifty thou...? Why didn't you say so?! We could catch up in seconds if I ride you!"

Hoshiro's heart leapt into her throat. "Y- you what?!" she stammered.

"Give me a piggy-back! It's the only way, I can't fly that fast on my own."

"A-all right! Get on!" Her heart pounding, Hoshiro turned her back to Kasen and bent over. She felt Kasen climbing aboard and yelped as she grasped her shoulders firmly. "Wow, your hands are warm- A- are you ready?"

"Of course!"

Hoshiro tensed her muscles. "One-seater champion, Hoshiro Nijinazuma! I soar across the heavens, carrying dreams and beautiful maidens on my back! Hold tightly, Kasen, destiny awaits-"

Hoshiro froze. "Wait. Kasen, you- you might fall off!

"Oh, what?!" Kasen sighed. "I'm not going to fall off! But if it'll make you feel better, I'll tie your ponytail around myself."

"Good idea."

"You don't need to worry so much, Hoshiro. It doesn't suit you," Kasen said, her tone softening. "I know you can be... Error-prone sometimes, but Marisa told me you were trying NOT to shy away from challenges-"

"Can we not talk about it?!" Hoshiro tried to give Kasen an angry look, but the neck angles involved were against her. "I don't want to get more things wrong! Sorry if you aren't used to that."

Kasen bit her lip. Pressing her probably wasn't going to help. "All right, Iet's just fly. But keep in mind that you can talk to me if you need to."

Several sonic booms exploded across the sky, then came a scream from Kasen. She clung to Hoshiro as they rocketed towards the boat, alighting at last on the wooden deck behind what looked like a bungalow pagoda.

Hoshiro stomped on the planks, making a satisfying clunk. "It's safe to disembark!" she declared.

Kasen untied herself and disembarked. "That was so fast! I'll need a pair of flying goggles if we're ever going to do that again," she said shakily. "It doesn't look like anyone's here-"

"That's where you're wrong!" a squeaky voice shouted from above.

Kasen and Hoshiro looked up in shock. The pagoda's roof curved out in long slopes of red, and on the peak of the tiles stood a short grey-haired woman, two round ears on her head and a long dowsing rod in each hand.

"If you were hoping for treasure, I'm afraid you're out of luck," the woman smirked, looking down on Kasen and Hoshiro. "Our ship isn't the kind with a treasure filling. It's iced with destiny and topped with a hierophant!"

"Hierophant? Something like an elephant?" Hoshiro gasped. "Ganesh?!"

"...No, not Ganesh. That's the wrong religion." Nazrin seemed thrown off her stride. "A-anyway, if you want to find treasure, look in the bins or underground! Caves have plenty of filling once you break through the crust."

"Who are you?!" demanded Kasen.

"Mouse General Nazrin, servant of Bishamonten and assistant to... Well, that would be a spoiler," Nazrin said with a wink.

Kasen narrowed her eyes. "That sounds suspicious. What do you know about the UFOs, the colourful things that have been flying around all day?"

"Only that they're important," said Nazrin, "for another spoiler. Their filling is one you really don't want to bite into unless you know what you're doing!"

Nazrin's smile disappeared. "If you want to interfere to 'protect Gensokyo' or something, I can't allow it. Defend yourselves!"

"Do we have to?!" cried Hoshiro. "It's better to talk-"

"Aiyeeeeeee!" Nazrin leapt from the roof and descended upon them in a whirl of dowsing rods.

Hoshiro dove to the side, a dowsing rod swiping past her feet. "Fine, have it your way!" she shouted, springing back onto her feet. "I apologise in advance for any harm this causes, but you pushed me to it! Water Mastery: Nagasakibana Waves!"

Nazrin fell, then Ichirin and Unzan, with apologies from Hoshiro and increasing concern from Kasen. Our heroines came at last to the front of the ship, only to groan when they saw who else was there.

"Hi there, lovebirds!" giggled Marisa, standing over a downed Minamitsu. "You're just in time for the main event. Shou was about to revive the great priestess, Byakuren!"

"Shou?!" cried Kasen.

"Priestess?!" cried Hoshiro.

A tall, curly-haired woman was standing between Reimu and Sanae, looking sheepish. "About that," she said nervously. "We're still one fragment short."

Noticing the confusion, Reimu piped up. "It's a little confusing, but Byakuren was sealed in Makai hundreds of years ago. Her seal started breaking apart recently, scattering fragments of its magic all over the world."

"Yes, and the fragments look like cute little spaceships!" Sanae clarified. "We've all been collecting them. Oh, if only we had the last one!"

"Last one...?" Kasen gave Hoshiro a curious look. "Did you hold onto that thing?!"

Hoshiro gasped. "Oh, yes!" She reached up and retrieved the UFO from under her hat, cradling it in her arms like a pet ferret. "Er, what did you say you were going to use it for?"

"To unseal Lady Byakuren! We all missed her so much." Shou stepped towards Hoshiro. "I'm so glad you had one! Give it to me!"

"Um, just a minute!" Hoshiro wrapped her arms around the UFO. "Are you Shou we- I mean, are you sure we Shou- I mean, are you sure we should? She might be sealed for a good reason!"

"Wha-?" Shou frowned. "Yes I'm Toramaru- I mean, yes I'm sure! Lady Byakuren's one of the nicest people in history! They imprisoned her for being too nice! You have nothing to fear from her."

"But she could've changed! Being trapped in Makai can do that to you!" panicked Hoshiro. "Ohhh, it could be a disaster-!"

"Hoshiro, we're all here! What's the worst that could happen?" reasoned Marisa.

"We were going to fight her anyway! It'll be fine!" agreed Sanae, brandishing her wand.

Hoshiro gulped and took a step back. "N-no, I can't give it to you! Don't you understand, if she's dangerous it'll be my fault again-"

"Oh, for tomboys' sakes, just give them the UFO!" Kasen grabbed the colour-changing object from Hoshiro's arms and threw it at Shou.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"Hoshiro, please!" Kasen laid her hands on Hoshiro's shoulders. "You haven't been yourself all afternoon. Tell me, what in the name of sunflowers is going on with you?!"

"I- I'm being careful! We don't know Byakuren, she might be evil or- or-! What if they got the wrong woman?!" Hoshiro shrank back from Kasen. "Kasen, you don't understand, I always jump the gun on these things! I attack, or I don't have a clue, and someone gets hurt! I've already broken one friendship this morning!"

Kasen's expression softened. "Hoshiro... What happened?"

"Er..." Hoshiro took a deep breath. "How do I put this? I'm an idiot, Kasen!"

"I know, but why-"

Hoshiro fell into Kasen's arms, weeping bucketfuls of tears. "I-I betrayed Satori, I betrayed Okuu! I thought Satori was abusing her so I tried to zap her bur Okuu got in front and took the lightning because of course she'd protect her mum she isn't like that I was wrong!" She looked up at Kasen, her face contorted with grief. "That's why I'm an idiot!"

"Oh..." Kasen took a deep breath. "I won't lie, what you did does sound idiotic, but everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes people make enormous ones, so we have to-"

"You don't understand! I can't DO things like that! I should be the Forever Champion who fights for love, peace and children's precious smiles, not a... Not someone who... Not a terrible person like this!"

"No, come on, you aren't a terrible person!" Kasen gave Hoshiro's hair a gentle stroke while she cried. "It's good that you want to improve yourself, Hoshiro! It's good to learn from your mistakes! Feeling bad when you've hurt someone proves that your heart's in the right place."

"But I always get things wrong," sniffled Hoshiro. "I thought I'd moved past it, but now-"

"Don't dwell on what you 'always' do," Kasen cut in. "You can't change the past, but you can decide what to do next. That's what matters. Don't let your shame paralyse you, learn from it and do things differently next time!"

Kasen lifted Hoshiro's chin to look her in the eye. "We've fought jorogumo, heikegani and four-headed shadow creatures together, we dug Eientei out of that croissant. You challenged Amaterasu once! You rise to every challenge with a strange tokusatsu battle cry, and that might be your best quality. Defeating your own bad habits is just another mountain to overcome, which you'll probably do by accident."

"My best quality?" said Hoshiro darkly. "Maybe I should be less brave. If I'd backed down from Satori this morning-"

"No! Knowing when not to fight is completely different from thinking you aren't good enough!" insisted Kasen. "I don't like seeing you like this. Please, don't carve out what's good about you to get rid of what's bad! You're worth more than- than what you can give up, how much you can hurt yourself for an apology! You're worth more than that!"

Hoshiro's mouth fell open . "Carve out?! Kasen, what do you mean?!"

"I've seen people with the best of intentions get consumed by shame, even over small mistakes." Kasen looked away, her face heavy with centuries' worth of memories. "It's usually benign spirits, religious people or warriors caught up in old-school bushido, thinking they have to grovel and hurt themselves and never be happy again in order to atone... To show they're still a good person."

"But... Shouldn't they atone?" Hoshiro said in a small voice. "My mistake wasn't small. I hurt Okuu badly, Satori too. Are you saying I shouldn't make up for it?!"

"No, but you can't make up for things by punishing yourself! That just brings more pain and sadness into the world. What you can do is talk to Satori and Utsuho when you're ready, or when they're ready, and tell them you want to be a better friend if they'll give you a chance. Then you duel them, get drunk, have some cake and laugh together."

"I wonder, though..." Kasen peered curiously at Hoshiro. "Are you used to being treated harshly over mistakes? Expected to grovel every time you do something wrong?"

"Eh?!" Hoshiro crossed her eyes, stunned by the rapid shift in conversation topic. "Well, I suppose back when I lived with my parents..."

"I thought as much. That kind of treatment leaves scars. But you don't live with your parents any more, do you?" Kasen smiled. "Nobody's going to send you to your room for five years for not putting on the perfect dog-and-pony show about how ashamed you are."

"Oh, they didn't do that! No, my parents just... Looked down on me. When I didn't meet their expectations. Most of the time. Even more when I did something wrong. Which was most of the time." Hoshiro gasped, realisation washing over her face. "Perhaps I learned to look down on myself for them! To save them the effort!"

She sighed angrily and shook her head. "But I still need to be a better friend, less of a loose cannon! I can't pretend whatever I do will work out fine! That matters more than my feelings, right?"

"It matters ALONGSIDE your feelings, Hoshiro. Don't lose sight of that."

Hoshiro's expression softened. "Alongside? Oh... That's interesting."

"Self-love is always better than self-hatred. For now you need carry on living, with your roots in self-love, so you can sprout healthy flowers in the colours you want," said Kasen softly. "Does that make sense?"

Byakuren nodded. "I don't completely know what's going on, but your words ring true."

"Eeeeek!" Kasen jumped and looked around wildly. "Wh- who are you?! What do you want?!"

"I'm Byakuren, high priestess of the Myouren Temple," Byakuren said with a nervous laugh. "And you... Ibaraki-douji, aren't you? You seem to have changed your hair- No, don't jump off the ship-! Grab her, Shou, quickly!"

"...And I still don't understand the urgency, because as I'm sure you are aware I can fly."

"Byakuren's that sort of person! She always wants to help, like you do."

"That's true. But why did Shou only remember she could fly when she was halfway to the ground?"

"Maybe it slipped her mind."

Once Kasen had carried Shou back to the ship and made it clear that she Most Definitely Was Not an Oni How Could Anyone Even Suggest such a Thing, there had been tea and spell-card duels enough to last the evening. Now they walked hand in hand through the fields, still feeling festive, not entirely sure who was being walked home by whom.

Hoshiro had been swept up in the festivities like a surfer on a wave of friendship, pushing all her shame and worries into the background. She'd got to talking about human and youkai relations, which went completely over her head, but she was glad of the new knowledge. However, there was still the faint, nagging concern that she didn't have any right to be happy after she'd done something so wrong.

That nagging concern, Hoshiro had decided, could kiss her tail. She was going to focus on doing the right thing, not on being ashamed. If shame alone had the power to make a better person, it would have made her flawless before the Asuka Period. Kasen was right; it was time to try a different path.

"Is that your house coming up?"

"Eh?!" Hoshiro jolted out of her deep thoughts and peered ahead. The road led to a small wooden house near a stream, the bamboo forest rising like a well-clipped fringe behind it. "Oh, yes, that is my house! I'd recognise it anywhere."

"Then it seems I walked you home after all!"

"You did!" Hoshiro went to give Kasen a hug, only to pull back with a sheepish look. "So, er. Do you want to... Do you want to come in?"

"No, I need to feed my pets. Er..." After a moment's consideration, Kasen reached out and shook Hoshiro's hand.

Hoshiro laughed awkwardly. "Delighted to meet you, Kasen! I'm Hoshiro, and these are my... sisters?" She gestured to the empty fields behind her. "What am I saying?!"

Kasen giggled. "Oh, Benzaiten. Well, anyway, um... Are you all right? After today?"

Hoshiro sighed. "A bit. I will be. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Tired. I should definitely have a bath," said Kasen.

"Then you should go. Thanks for talking to me, Kasen, and helping with... Everything." Hoshiro smiled weakly. "I need a bath too! Let's meet up tomorrow and compare how clean we are!"

Chapter Text

~Chapter 10: The Titan Wore a Skin of Hopes and Dreams~

"I know I left on bad terms, but it's been a month, and I'm ready to talk to them again." Hoshiro looked solemn and determined next to Keine, hiking along a shady path in the Forest of Magic. "I also baked them a cake!"

"Well, Hoshiro... You know you can't force people to like you, or buy their forgiveness with cake. But if you're honest, humble and polite, the opposite of a normal Gensokyan woman, then at least you won't have reason to be ashamed," said Keine. "And besides, you only sat on one watering can! It's not as if Minoriko and Shizuha could hold that against you forever..."

Hoshiro blinked. "Keine, I was talking about Okuu and her mum!"

"I know, it was a joke!" Keine's smile faded. "If you insist on carrying the world on your shoulders, it's going to flatten you. I thought you should smile at least once today."

"Oh...!" Hoshiro giggled. It still sounded a bit like a chuckle, but after four hours practicing in front of the mirror she was satisfied. "Thanks, Keine. I'll do my best."

"I'm sure you will."

They walked on in silence for a few more minutes until the path split in two. Keine waved goodbye and took the left path, which lead past the swamp and the radio tower to Marisa's house.

"Good luck getting your books back!" shouted Hoshiro. She turned onto the right path, squared her shoulders and set off.

Several miles went by, some more quickly than others as Hoshiro flew down through the Fantastic Blowhole. Her chest grew tight somewhere along the Deep Road, where the dark ceiling loomed overhead and damp, silty stone ran beneath her.

Hoshiro knew what her friends had taught her; to be kind to herself, try to fix her mistakes and make amends, but not hold herself in disgrace forever. She knew, and she still felt so ashamed, which made her feel more ashamed because she was ashamed when she didn't need to be ashamed, which meant she was doing it wrong, which was shameful-

All right, calm down. Breathe. Suffering shinigami, this was frustrating! She-Ra had never dealt with anything so hard. What if she blew up the sun? Well, she'd buy a new sun, or help make one! Byakuren had told her remorse was good, but self-hatred wasn't remorse...

But then Kasen said actually, self-hatred was remorse channeled the wrong way. No, Byakuren had said, self-hatred was self-indulgence! And Kasen had got angry; that sounded like an extra helping of guilt under a new coat of paint! Such fierce passion from an amazing woman...

Then Byakuren had thrown her tea in Kasen's face, and Hoshiro's first and only therapy session at Myouren Temple had turned into a food fight. Kasen had laughed all the way home. That had been a perfect day, but thinking about it, she hadn't learned anything.

Well, she had learned a bit. That heroes made mistakes, idiots got things right, trying mattered most of all, standing out was fine, being less cool than you wanted was fine- Gods above, she'd learned so much! Byakuren had even taught her how to curve a moon cake around Kasen to hit Shou!

Yet none of that stopped Hoshiro's tummy from fluttering or her heart from pounding as she trod the long pink carpet to Satori's study. She gasped when she noticed where she was; somehow she'd worried herself all the way to the Palace of the Earth Spirits.

Hoshiro stopped outside the door to catch her breath. It could go two ways, she told herself; Okuu and Satori could give her another chance, or they could tell her to stay away. And she'd still be alive in either case. But if they shunned her, that was it, she'd have to leave them alone... And if she never opened the door, never talked to them, that would never happen.

But if she never opened the door, she'd never know if they could forgive her. So Hoshiro steeled herself as if she was about to face Amaterasu in a lava-wrestling match, raised her fist and knocked.

A few seconds passed. "Come in," Satori's familiar voice said, not quite at a shout but more loudly than normal speech.

Hoshiro came in, stepping apologetically around the door. Satori was at her desk, not looking too surprised, and Utsuho was beside her, looking cheerfully confused.

"Good afternoon, Hoshiro," said Satori. "You're here to apologise for flipping out on me last time, which you view as a terrible, shameful transgression, rather than a normal transgression for most idiots in our world."

Hoshiro blinked. "I- Yes! Th-that's what I'm- What?"

"Since this is important to you, I'll let you use your own tongue rather than simply reading your mind," said Satori, trying not to smirk. "Go ahead."

"Actually, I need something clarified," Utsuho piped up. "What are you apologising for, Hoshiko? What did you do?"

Hoshiro's face reddened. "It's Hoshiro, with a ro! Don't you remember what I did?!"

Utsuho turned away, her brow creasing with confusion. "I only have vague memories. We were... Well, there was a..." She swallowed. "A pot plant? Th- this is hard!"

"N- no, it's fine! No pressure!" Hoshiro gave Utsuho a pat on the head.

"I'm sure your memories are in there somewhere. It's all about connections, Okuu. You remembered the plant, so try thinking along those lines," Satori urged Utsuho, patting her on a different part of the head.

"Pot plant... Plant pot... Plant pot... Pot pot... Plant plant... That's it!" Utsuho gasped, her face lighting up. "The plant was struck by lightning!"

"Yes! Keep going, keep going!" Satori and Hoshiro egged her on.

"The lightning came from my foot!" Utsuho pressed a hand to her forehead and remembered as hard as she could. "It was... flowing through me, I think? Because I was channeling... No, redirecting it! It came from you, Hoshiro! Because you were trying to zap Lady Satori!"

"Yes, that's exactly what happened! I knew you could do it!" Satori cheered, clapping her hands.

Utsuho and Hoshiro squealed with joy and hugged each other, then Utsuho's face darkened.

"You were trying to zap Lady Satori?!" gasped Utsuho, recoiling as if Hoshiro was a dangerous breed of mongoose. "Why would you do something like that?!"

Hoshiro screwed her eyes shut and bowed deeply. "I- I boobed terribly! I thought she was abusing you, so I attacked her to save you. I was wrong about it, Okuu, and I'm sorry! Sorry to you too, Satori!"

Hoshiro looked up hopefully. "I want to try being your friend again! I also made a cake! So... Can you forgive me?"

"Cake...?" Utsuho bit her lip. "Ooh, that is a difficult decision to make. I don't know if I can trust you after what you did! Lady Satori, you were the one Hoshiro tried to kill..."

"That is true, but I sense no bad intentions from her now. While it wouldn't exactly help us lead a quiet life, if you're willing to give her a second chance, I will too."

"Uuuuu, way not to put pressure on me!" groaned Utsuho. She turned and regarded Hoshiro with painful mistrust. "Here's the thing, Hoshiro. One of the decision-making frameworks I incorporate into my personal threat model is that people, when faced with challenging situations, tend to behave as they previously have done under similar circumstances!"

Hoshiro blinked.

"As in, what if Lady Satori doesn't want me to do a thing again and you try to kill her again?!"

"I promise I won't!"

"Promises are just words, Hoshiro! Actions are what engender tangible effects on the world," said Utsuho sadly. "But I really want the cake! Oh, help! What should I do?!"

"The cake's yours, Okuu! It isn't a bribe," said Hoshiro. She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a chocolate cake, crumbly and brown, as wide as a barrel and as tall as a teapot, bedecked with cherries and white icing spirals. The room shook when she plonked it down on the table.

Utsuho gasped and squealed with delight. "Hoshiro, that's so sweet of you!" So saying, she picked up the cake and skipped out of the room.

Hoshiro stood and waited, sharing an awkward silence with Satori.

"I clearly judged you much too harshly!" Utsuho said, returning a couple of minutes later with a knife and some small plates. "I thought you were just a bully, but you did me such a good turn with this cake! I think we should give you a second chance."

Hoshiro's heart leapt. "R- really?!" she gasped, her hands clasped in front of her face.

"Of course!" smiled Utsuho, cutting the cake.

"Then I do believe it's settled. For my part, I am glad Utsuho has friends willing to fight for her... Even if it's severely misdirected." Satori smiled.

"Yay!" Hoshiro ran forwards and hugged Satori, leaving her gasping for breath. Then she hugged Utsuho. "This is stupendous! Now we can have adventures together!"

"About adventures," said a muffled Utsuho with her cheek squashed against Hoshiro's, "I have an important question. Do you like nuclear physics?"
Hoshiro blinked. "No. That's your thing."

"To each their own. What about boiled eggs?"

"They're fine."

"And picnics?"

"Well, um-"

"What about sculpting with clay?"

"I've never tried!"

"Hmmm..." Utsuho frowned. "We don't have much in common. What are we going to be friends about, Hoshiro? What'll we do together?"

"Resolve Incidents! Fight for truth and justice! Watch anime! Bake pies! Go on double dates if you're seeing anyone!"

"None of those sound-"

The door flew open. Rin charged into the room, gasping for breath. "It's an emergency," she panted, bent double with exhaustion. "A giant! There's a giant rampaging on the surface!"

Satori dropped her fork. "Giant?!"

Utsuho gasped. "Where?! What giant things is she doing?!"

"It- it was stomping around near the vents! Doing things... and stuff!" explained Rin.

Hoshiro's face lit up. She grabbed Utsuho's hand. "Come on, Okuu, we have to stop it!"

"No, if it's near the vents, I've got to protect the reactor!" Utsuho pulled away and ran out of the room.

"Th-then I'll protect it with you!" declared Hoshiro, running after her.

"Do you have to?! It's poky in there, we'll be stepping on each other's toes!" complained Utsuho.

Hoshiro stopped in her tracks. "But... Aren't we friends now?"

"Friendship is characterised by separate individuals who share a mutual affection! It doesn't mean we have to do everything together, and you would perform better fighting aboveground, where your high-energy magic techniques won't damage anything important!" shouted Utsuho, her voice growing quiet as she drew further away.

Hoshiro's shoulders sagged. "That sounded like a no. Was that a no?"

"Hoshiro. Do you mind if we have a word?"

Hoshiro turned to see Satori standing impassively behind her. "Speak, Satori," she said, only to cringe when she realised how that had sounded. "I- I mean, of course! Let's have it. The word."

"Why is it, exactly, that you're so determined to have Okuu as a friend?"

Hoshiro opened her mouth, closed it again and pondered the question, her brow creasing. "Because it makes sense? Okuu's nice and very strong!"

"But you have hardly anything in common," Satori reasoned. "Aside from your exuberance, open nature and occasional bouts of poor decision-making, you have no shared interests or commonalities. So what is it that draws you to her?"

"What do you mean? She's nice! She's cool and friendly. I like her. In general, not romantically."

Satori sighed. "I know that, of course; I can read your mind. What you aren't considering is how well the two of you can mesh together-"

The ground shook like a sieve, dropping Hoshiro onto the carpet in a painful supine position. Satori flumped down top of her with a yelp.

"The caves! Is it safe down here?!" gasped Hoshiro, sitting up against the wall with Satori dragging along with her legs.

"It should be. There have been thousands of earthquakes; most pieces of stone precarious enough to fall off the ceiling have already done so." Satori's forehead was pressed against Hoshiro's breastbone, her chin perched on her yin-yang belt buckle. "But if the giant's vibrations are powerful enough to reach us down here, I think you'd better do something about it."

Rin met Hoshiro at the door with a large slice of cake wrapped in newspaper. Hoshiro stuffed the squashed package inside her bag, between her wellingtons (one beef, one rubber; the second boot had stayed at home) and her lucky Roll Caskett action figure.

"Thanks, Orin. Stay safe down here!" There was no time to lose, so Hoshiro spread her arms wide and teleported out of the cavern, leaving a shower of pink sparkles behind to make Rin sneeze.

Hoshiro flashed into existence above the Forest of Magic, her toes dangling in the patchy green canopy. She searched the surrounding countryside with darting eyes and gasped at what she saw.

A vast, towering shape stood next to Youkai Mountain, dark and broad-shouldered, rising like a skyscraper through the fog. Hoshiro couldn't make out any of their details, but only a giant could be so huge.

The giant turned with a powerful, measured slowness towards the mountain. Hoshiro watched, open-mouthed in amazement, as they leaned forwards and began to climb carefully upwards.

Didn't the tengu have a village on Youkai Mountain? What if the giant stepped on something?! Hoshiro had to stop them, but how? The giant didn't deserve a Ryujo Beam in the face; no, she should talk to them first. And to make sure they heard her...

"I must buy a megaphone!" Hoshiro turned and launched herself towards Kappa Valley. Three sonic booms shook the treetops as she accelerated overhead, her ponytail streaming out behind her.

After half a minute she stopped. What was she doing? She didn't need a megaphone, she could just shout very loudly! The mass of air Hoshiro had been dragging in her wake was now free to wash past her, rustling her sleeves and hair like a hurricane.

Hoshiro adjusted her sailor hat, wheeled around and shot back towards Youkai Mountain, where the grey slopes wreathed in fog and seemed almost lonely...

Peering ahead, Hoshiro wrinkled her nose. The mountain was still there, but with no giant. That was odd. At that size, they wouldn't have a lot of hiding places to choose from.

Maybe she could follow their tracks. Hoshiro flew down until her feet were brushing the treetops and soared over the gentle foothills, scanning for footprints and flattened trees.

Flashes of colour caught her eye on the forest floor. Hoshiro crashed down through the canopy and landed in a shower of leaves outside a tiny market stall.

"Hm?" A dark-haired woman in a pink kimono turned around, holding a shell-shaped purse. "Why, Hoshiro, how nice of you to drop in!"

"Kaguya! Good to see you!" declared Hoshiro. She noticed a woman standing beside her with soft white rabbit ears and a laden shopping bag. "That means you're Reisen."

Reisen blinked. "I suppose I am!"

A cat-eared woman with tousled white, red and orange hair was standing behind the stall, holding a receipt. "Hi there, tall, pink and statuesque!" she declared, smiling at Hoshiro. "I'm selling modern festival supplies from the Outside World. I've got inflatable rubber lanterns, ceremonial headgear, multicoloured shimenawa and even some sacred donkey statues...!"

Hoshiro took in the balloons, party hats, bunting and pinatas on display around the woman's stall. "Wow, colourful...! I'll take two rolls of bunting! I mean Outside World shimenawa!"

"Certainly! That'll be..." Mike sniffed the air. "Is that a beef wellington I can smell?"

Hoshiro unshouldered her bag and retrieved the beef wellington. "Here you are. It's gone cold, but still delicious!" she said, handing her foil-wrapped pastry parcel to Mike.

"Thank you!" Mike sequestered the package somewhere inside her stall, then turned to the shelves at the back and took down two heavy spools of bunting. "Here you are, two rolls, and I'll throw in a free balloon since it's beef."

"You're the best!" Hoshiro stuffed the rolled-up paper triangle strings into her bag.

Kaguya cleared her throat. "So... You haven't been around for a while, Hoshiro. Not since Eirin tried to run Witch Girl Adventures." She giggled. "And you got a little bit carried away...!"

"Don't remind me," said Hoshiro, accepting a purple balloon from Mike. It wasn't inflated, so she put it in her pocket. "I was emotionally invested in the plot."

"You ate the dice!"

"Don't remind me!" Hoshiro groaned, her cheeks reddening. "I couldn't just let Mr Hardcastle put us all in detention and have the baby chimera sent off to be dissected. A- anyway, I was going to say there's a real Incident, a giant near the mountain!"

"I know, we heard her stomping around," said Kaguya nonchalantly. "But as long as she doesn't come near the Bamboo Forest, Eirin's party should be all right."

"Par... Party?" Hoshiro parroted her in confusion.

"Eirin's birthday party! She's two hundred million, five hundred and seventy-six thousand, four hundred and thirty years young today," Kaguya explained.

"That's wonderful, but we need to stop the giant! Reisen, you can control sound waves!" Hoshiro grabbed Reisen's shoulders, making her flinch. "Your power could make the giant hear us! And Kaguya, with your abilities-"

"No, Hoshiro, I don't think you understand. We can't waste time with a giant today," said Kaguya patiently. "Eirin's party is much more important! It might be the most important social event of the year, aside from Hinamatsuri."

Hoshiro released Reisen's shoulders and appealed to her friend. "But Kaguya, the giant might step on the Tengu Village or knock Youkai Mountain's point off! The point could fall on Alice's house! It'd be disastrous!"

Kaguya sighed. "You have to understand, Eirin means the world to me. She's kind, strong, wise and beautiful, and she's done so much for me and countless other Lunarian exiles..." She placed a hand over her heart and continued, her voice wavering. "Eirin is a person for whom love and loyalty are practically a religion, and I'm the one to whom she pledged her soul!"

"I know what people say about me, Hoshiro!" Kaguya continued, fighting back tears. "That I'm the ultimate pillow princess, Eirin takes care of everything for me and I don't deserve even a tenth of her... And in some ways it's true, I couldn't manage a household or a hospital the way she does, but I can sure as bloomers organise a sparking party!"

"I... I didn't know. I can only dream of being loved that way!" Hoshiro swallowed and took Kaguya's hands. "Go to her, Kaguya-Hime, Eternal Princess of the Lunarians! Give Eirin the party she deserves!"

"I will, Hoshiro-Hime. I swear to it, Forever Champion of Gensokyo!" Kaguya wiped her eyes and put on a brave smile. "Let's go, Reisen. And don't squash the caterpillar cake!"

Kaguya turned and strode away with her bunny of burden in tow. Reisen sighed heavily, waved to Hoshiro and Mike, and then they were gone.

"Love is beautiful..." whimpered Hoshiro, dabbing her eyes with her lacy handkerchief. She sniffed a deep breath and sighed. "I wish she could've come, though. Don't suppose you want to fight a giant?"

Mike laughed nervously. "Not really my jam, but, um. I can sell you a peach and a needle!"

Once she'd finished crying, Hoshiro took to the air once again and flew towards Youkai Mountain, soaring up over the foothills the little rivers streaking through them, always with an eye out for hidden giants. She ate her peach as she went, spilling juice onto the trees below, and stuffed the stone in her bag once she'd finished.

An icicle whizzed past Hoshiro's cheek. She gasped delightedly and flew down to where Cirno was locked in combat with Kyouko, a short way down the road from a painted wooden building.

"Cirno! Yoo-hoo!" Hoshiro called out, landing with a heavy thump in the grass verge. "You must be after the giant! What did Kyouko do?"

Kyouko scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Sure, don't ask for my side of the story! I'm just here to look pretty."

Cirno ignored Kyouko. "Oh, hi, Hoshiro! She was babbling a load of nonsense about a rock concert-"

"PUNK concert!" snapped Kyouko.

"-and she was in my way, so I went for her. Anyway, good thing you got here to help slay the giant!"

"Um, we should talk and find out what they want first!"

"Suit yourself," Cirno said with a nonchalant shrug. "But don't get in my way."

"Well, I'll try not to," Hoshiro said charitably. "Kyouko, are we finished?"

Kyouko turned her back on the two friends and flounced off down the road without another word.

"She's satisfied." Hoshiro smiled and turned back to Cirno. "Right! We must find the giant before they endanger anyone else, so let's look from the mountaintop and find out-"

"The mountaintop? You want to climb the mountain?!" Cirno cut in, looking shocked. "Hoshiro, you've forgotten the key principle of giants! They're tall! She'll see us if we're up high! We need to get the drop on her, so to avoid being seen..." Cirno tapped her nose, beaming with pride. "We'll sneak round the mountain. She'll never see it coming!"

"Sneak round the...?" Hoshiro blinked. "I don't get it. If we climb the mountain, we'll be able to see everywhere-"

"Noooo, if we do that she'll be able to see us from wherever she is!" Cirno explained patiently. "Don't worry, I've thought of everything. We'll go behind the mountain, very very very supremely slowly, and take the giant by surprise!"

"But how do you know she's- er, they're- How do you know the giant's behind the mountain?"

"Where else could she be? It's the only thing big enough for a giant to hide behind! I've never heard of a disappearing giant before."

"She could be underground, lying down, shrunk or even invisible!"

Cirno smacked her head. "Kynareth's leg hair! Do I have to explain everything all over again?!" She sighed heavily. "Giants are big! Mountains are big! So one big thing must be hiding behind the other! It's the only logical explanation."

"Who's Kynareth?" Hoshiro sighed. "Doesn't matter. Let's split up. You sneak around and I'll climb the mountain!"

Cirno pouted. "You're being very childish. If you had any brains under that sailor hat, you'd know my plan makes sense!"

"I'm being childish?!" Hoshiro puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "If you convinced me, I'd gladly sneak around, but you haven't! So rather than arguing, let's both go our way and see what happens. What's childish about that?"

"Only wanting to do what you want is childish! If you wanted to do what I want, then you'd be showing some maturity," said Cirno severely. "And you have to be mature if you want to be my sidekick!"

"Well, maybe I don't want to be your sidekick!" Hoshiro snapped. "Go jump in a lake!"

Cirno gasped affrontedly. "I-! Everyone wants to be my sidekick! It's a privilege preciously few have earned."

"Aaargh! If you weren't a local girl, you'd be such a Mary-Sue!" Hoshiro stomped her foot in anger. "I DON'T want to be your sidekick and I don't have to! End of story."

Hoshiro turned and stormed away, wearing a ferocious scowl. If being pig-headed made you a Mary-Sue, Cirno was an entire Maribel-Crepe-Suzette. They could patch things up later, but at that moment she wanted nothing more to do with-

"Don't want to be... sidekick?" Hoshiro froze, looking like she'd been struck by lightning. "Oh, gods... Amaterasu, Konohana-Sakuyahime, Susano-o, Benzaiten, Raijin and Fuujin, help me!" She fell slowly to her knees among the clovers.

"Um," said Cirno. "Are you all right there?"

"Forever Champion Hoshiro Nijinazuma thinks Okuu needs rescuing from Satori, so she beats up Satori, takes Okuu on adventures and everything's perfect." Hoshiro stared off into the horizon, her voice rising from a whisper to a panicked squeak. "And Okuu, Cirno and Kaguya want to play with Hoshiro every day because that's how it works and everything's perfect, right?!"

Hoshiro put her head in her hands. "I'm a Cirno! I mean Cirno's an idiot! No, I'm the idiot! Cirno is me! EVERYONE is the main character of their own legend... And I've had my head up my caboose for years."

"Caboose?" Cirno tittered into her hand. "That means bum! Wow, what a performance!"

There was no response. Cirno bit her lip. "Um, hey, Hoshiro? Are you all right? You're being weird..."

"You just do your thing, don't you? Be the Strongest Fairy, say what you want and fight who you want. You don't worry about it. And some people love you!" Hoshiro laughed shakily. "But I'm not a fairy... Not a child forever."

Cirno shifted nervously. "I didn't know you were a candle... Do you want a drink? You sound like you need one."

"I wouldn't mind two glasses of something violently alcoholic," sighed Hoshiro. "Then I think... I might cut my hair and spend a week in Indonesia."

"I don't know about Indonesia, but they have booze at the pub in the Tengu Village or that shady dive bar-"

A long, low creak filled the air, then a colossal metal-clad foot swung over Cirno and Hoshiro's heads. At the end of a long step it ploughed through Sannyo's bar, kicking up a wave of splintered wood and torn paper, and finally touched down in her garden.

"Oooh... Maybe not the dive bar, then," said Cirno worriedly.

"The giant! Wh- why didn't we hear them coming?!" Hoshiro scrambled to her feet, staring up at the towering being above them. She was relieved they seemed to be wearing trousers.

As slowly and inexorably as a landslide, the giant wheeled around and started to climb the mountain, placing their armoured feet with care.

Cirno let out a gasp when she realised what was happening. "Of course! It's Daidarabotchi, he wants to weigh the mountain!" she squeaked, her eyes sparkling. "We have to stop him! Charge!"

"Wait! Was anyone in the bar?!"

"Don't think so!"

"Then..." Hoshiro watched Cirno sprint off in a long arc around the foot of the mountain. She shrugged wearily. "I'm going up! Good luck down there!" Her plans for a sightseeing tour in Jakarta already forgotten, Hoshiro posed awkwardly a few times and leapt into to the air.

"You'll have to tell me sooner or later, Suwako. I'm only going to find out some other way if you don't." Kanako was storming up and down in front of the ornate Moriya Shrine kotatsu, a dangerous look on her face. "Now for pity's sake, tell me! What did you need twenty thousand tonnes of scrap metal for?!"

"I don't know what to tell you, Kanako, it's just a fun surprise! Stop worrying, it isn't good for your blood pressure," giggled Suwako. "Why don't you have some another broccoli samosa and maybe you'll calm down?"

"Aargh!" Kanako stomped her foot, shaking the entire room and launching the plate of samosas into the air.

"Whoopsie!" Suwako dove to catch the savoury Indian pastries in her mouth as they fell. She sat back on the floor to chew them, smiling happily.

"Of all the goddesses in all the world, you truly are..." Kanako exhaled in a manner somewhere between a sigh and a growl. Rain started drumming on the roof overhead. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this, you hear me? I'm going to-"

The door slid open. "You're never gonna believe this! The monster's a giant robot!" Sanae declared, shaking herself dry over the doormat.

Kanako blinked. "Ah, welcome back, Sanae. How did your search go? What's that you say, a giant robot? I thought you'd grown out of those."

The wind seemed to drop from Sanae's sails. "Wha-? No, I... Well, a bit, but I still like them, it's just that I'm doing a lot of new things."

Wearing a sheepish grimace, Suwako scampered out of the room with frog-like tread before anyone noticed.

"But does it matter what I'm 'into' right now?! There's a giant robot! Here! In Gensokyo! And the pilot's clearly drunk!" Sanae gushed, taking Kanako's hands. "You have to see it, Lady Kanako, Lady Suwak... Where'd she go?"

Kanako glared at the patch of floor where Suwako had been sitting. "I have no idea, but we're probably going to find out before the chapter ends..."

Sanae wasn't really listening. "It's really started pouring out there," she observed, slipping into her coat. "Are you planning a climactic battle?!"

"It's more that Suwako was driving me up the wall..."

Hoshiro soared up Youkai Mountain, cliffs and crags streaking past as she ascended. Thick grey clouds were gathering overhead, spreading out from the mountain's peak, and a light rain soon began to fall. Up ahead she could see flashes of light, hear the creaking of metal and crumbling of stone.

She soon flew close enough to see the giant in all their glory. A titanic human-shaped being stood in front of the Tengu Village, towering over the winding rows of wooden houses and well-kept gardens, clad in black and gold plate armour. Tengu soldiers and Incident-Resolvers were swarming around them like a crowd of fireflies, pelting them with bullets to little effect.

The giant had red eyes that shone through the rain, the rest of their face hidden behind a smooth metal mask topped with crescent-shaped spikes. They held a morning star bigger than a lighthouse. Wisps of steam poured off their arms every time they swung at their attackers, who could only scatter like flecks of dust from its spikes.

Hoshiro sped towards them. "Everyone! I'm here to help!" she shouted, screeching to a halt where Alice and Patchouli were floating.

Alice heard her and turned around. "Oh, good morning! Miss Nijinazuma, wasn't it?" she shouted, ducking under a beam of red fire from the giant's eyes. "How nice of you to join us!"

"Any time!" It was hard to make details out with everyone in motion, but Hoshiro counted Aya, Nitori and about thirty more tengu in the swarm. "Do we know what the giant wants?!"

"Does that matter? She'll crush the city at this rate!" said Kasen, drawing in beside them. "Nice to see you, Hoshiro."

"Kasen! Er, do we know the giant's pronouns? I've been using they/them provisionally!" said Hoshiro.

"Really? Not even a month ago you were a she/her!"

"No, not me, the giant! Provisionally!"

"Oh, right. I must've assumed she was a woman, like normal people are," said Kasen.

"What we'd really need to do is ask them," said Patchouli. "But before we can manage that, it isn't unreasonable to use whichever pronouns seem most likely."

"You think so? Just assuming from how they look feels cheap," Hoshiro pointed out.

"Hence using she/her for such a huge, masculine-looking entity is subversive!" Kasen said triumphantly.

"And I'm sure that's fascinating from a sociological perspective, but can we please concentrate?!" snapped Alice.

Kasen stuck out her tongue. Hoshiro's gaze lingered on the tongue for a moment, admiring its healthy sheen and vibrant reddish-pink colour, then she heard the creak of heavy metal. The Incident-Resolvers scattered moments before the mace could plough through them.

"Point taken, Alice!" Hoshiro gathered multicoloured energy into a ball between her hands and took aim at the giant. "Nijinazuma: Seven Coloured Strike!"

Hoshiro cast a blindingly bright barrage of lightning. The giant recoiled in pain when the bolts crackled over their chestplate, then they turned to face Hoshiro and ignited their eyes.

Hoshiro went pale. She swung over one red eye beam and dove beneath the other, wincing as it singed her ponytail.

"I admire your spirit, but none of our attacks work on it!" Alice said urgently. "It's as if the monster's invulnerable! Magic just glances off its armour and no amount of force is enough."

"Not even lightning...?" Hoshiro looked at the giant and despaired. Their chestplate was a little charred, but otherwise they were completely fine and also coming right at her with a flying kick. "Yikes! Dive, you two!"

Alice, Patchouli and Hoshiro dove. The giant's foot passed by overhead, buffeting their clothes with the wind of its passage, and swung down. The giant's momentum carried them forwards, into the midst of village.

A chorus of screams rose from below, followed by a tremendous crash and a roar of breaking wood. The giant's foot had gone right through Megumu's house.

"Oh, gods, what are we doing?! Lead it away from the town! Lead it away!" screamed Aya.

The tengu had been evacuating as fast as they could, but the column of evacuees was still forming in the village. Panicking, weeping tengu were carrying children, pushing wagons and printing presses, trailing behind in the town square. The giant was off-balance. Their next step was going to come down right in top of the crowd.

Hoshiro's heart froze. Without another thought she shot towards the foot, braced her arms against the giant's boat-sized ankle and pushed upwards with all her strength.

The giant creaked and groaned angrily, putting their weight on their downgoing leg. Hoshiro's muscles began to ache from the effort, her soul burned from holding several thousand tonnes in the air.

"I choose to fight... For peace, for love... And children's precious smiles..." Hoshiro groaned. "To be a force for good... Protecting people from harm wherever they need me... The Forever Champion... Hoshiro Nijinazuma!"

Although those words set a light in her heart, Hoshiro's strength wasn't limitless. Her vision was going dark. She wavered in the air, sweat pouring down her face, and slowly began to fall.

"Don't give up, lady!"

On the edge of consciousness, Hoshiro heard a voice. The immense weight bearing down on her slackened.

"It's all right! We've got it!"

"No need to worry, the Strongest Fairy is here!"

All of a sudden, the weight felt bearable. Hoshiro opened her eyes and saw Kasen, Cirno, Aya, Kaguya, Eirin and some people she didn't recognise holding up the leg alongside her. There was a tengu in a purple chess-board skirt, a tall woman with blue hair and...

"Okuu!" yelped Hoshiro, almost dropping the giant's leg in shock. "W-weren't you looking after the reactor?!"

"I was!" said Utsuho, her voice strained with effort. "Then this blue fairy fell down the vent, so I had to carry her somewhere cooler before she melted!"

"I was winning," growled Cirno, her wings flapping in a blur as she pushed. "I was."

"So you must be the dragon I keep hearing about," said the woman with blue hair. She had the confident tones of a woman who thought she was a woman who was used to getting what she wanted. "I'm Kanako, goddess of the Moriya Shrine. I'd offer to shake your hand, but..."

"Don't worry about it! Let's focus on pushing!"

"Even with all of us, it's going to take some serious effort," the tengu in the chessboard skirt gravely.

"For once in your life you're right, Hatate," growled Aya. "Let's all push at once, on the count of three! One... Two... THREE!"

Drawing on their last reserves of strength, screaming with exertion, the women gave a tremendous shove. The giant whirled their arms helplessly as their leg ascended, then toppled backwards onto the mountainside with an almighty crash.

"We... We did it..." breathed Hoshiro. She smiled through ragged breaths. "We did it!"

"Banzai!" yelled Aya, punching the air.

"Kanpai!" agreed Utsuho.

"Most of our city is saved!" squealed Hatate.

"A fine afternoon's work, if I do say so myself," said Kanako, dusting her hands. "Oof!" she added, being abruptly hugged by Sanae.

"You were amazing! Wow, I wish I was that strong!" squealed Sanae, giving Kanako a squeeze.

Before Cirno could contribute anything, Hoshiro grabbed her up. "I knew you'd come through for us!" she laughed, whirling the ice fairy around in the air. "Wheeeee!"

Cirno laughed joyfully. "Just as well you softened him up for me!"

"You're incorrigible," sighed Hoshiro, putting Cirno down. "And Kaguya... You came after all!"

Kaguya nodded. "Eirin didn't think it was right to ignore something as big as this, no pun intended."

"Reisen's looking after the party at home. But I have to say, this is the most exciting birthday I've had in years!" said Eirin, her eyes sparkling.

"Good thing you came! And Kasen, you were amazing..." Hoshiro sighed. "I've had a strange day. I don't know where to start."

Kasen nodded sympathetically. "More character development? I know it's hard, but every step through the valley is a step forwards."

"Er, valley? I don't know that metaphor."

"Oh, of course. Well, if you picture a dark, overgrown valley between you and-"

Kasen's words were lost when a deep metallic roar sounded across the mountainside. A gasp rippled through the flock of hovering ladies as they turned around in horror.

Slowly but inexorably, the giant was rising again, their armour creaking and their eyes blazing with anger. In a burst of speed they twirled their mace and snapped into a martial arts stance.

"You're joking," groaned Kanako.

"So cool!" squealed Sanae, dancing around with glee.

"Not banzai," breathed Aya, shaking her head. "Not banzai at all."

The giant surged forwards, swiping at the Incident-Resolvers with their mace. The crowd scattered from the terrible weapon like a swarm of bees.

Aya got her balance and rotated Hatate into an upright position. "This isn't working! We aren't strong enough to slay a giant," she said gravely. "If every tengu on the mountain worked together to call a mighty wind, the dragon and the mountain goddesses too..."

"The giant'll be glad she didn't wear a skirt? This is beyond what wind can solve, Aya!" said Hatate.

"Then... What can we do?!" screamed Aya.

"We might have something."

Patchouli was hovering next to Aya with a book in her hands. All eyes turned to them.

"This giant is a fierce one, it's true, but if any of you had been paying attention you might have realised it is not a living creature. It is more like a doll, brought to a semblance of life by some strange magic. And with that in mind..." Patchouli turned to Alice. "Alice? I think it's time to use That."

Alice pursed her lips. "I was hoping you wouldn't say so, Patchouli. 'That' has hardly been tested yet in combat, and there is one small detail about her which... Perhaps you should see for yourself. We have nothing yet to lose."

Alice turned to the side and shouted. "Goliath Doll!" She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. "Fweeeyooo-fweep! Goliath Doll, I call on you to face the armoured giant!"

For a few seconds, all was quiet, then a gust of wind blew over the mountaintop. A huge doll descended from above, shaking the ground beneath her immense buckle shoes. She carried two sharp swords, wore a flowy black and white dress and a floppy red bow, and barely came up to the armoured giant's ankles.

The giant peered down at Goliath Doll for ten whole seconds, then they burst out laughing, doubled over with their gauntlets over their chest. Goliath Doll folded her arms and sulked.

"The giant can laugh?" said Kasen.

"The doll's tiny! I mean, the huge kind of tiny!" squealed Sanae, her hands over her mouth. "I love her!"

"As you can see," said Alice heavily, "Goliath Doll is in a slightly lower weight category than that monstrosity."

"Stuff and nonsense," declared Patchouli. "You, with the log attached to your arm. You have power over nuclear fusion, correct?"

Utsuho blinked. "Er, yes, it's my speciality!"

"And you, the tall dragon. I believe you're able to produce lightning."

"Of course! Lightning made of rainbows!" said Hoshiro proudly.

Patchouli smiled. "Perfect. Between you, we should have all the energy we need to power a doll the size of a mountain!"

"Of a mountain?" Alice gasped. "Patchouli, you're planning to enlarge Goliath Doll?! I only built her with somewhat-huge materials, not extremely-huge materials! The stress of growing to the giant's size would tear her apart."

"Not if we had some way to preserve her body," said Patchouli, looking at Kaguya. "Such as by blessing it with the power of eternity. And to keep her cool, perhaps some ice?"

"Now you're speaking my area of expertise! But hang on..." Cirno's brow furrowed. "Eternity isn't here! Should someone go and get her?"

"The other kind of eternity, Cirno. The other kind," sighed Kaguya. "I do think it could work, though. It'll be just like Power Rangers!"

"You mean like Super Sentai!" Hoshiro could barely contain her excitement. Her gaze darted between Kaguya, Cirno and Utsuho. "It really needs to be us four?"

"It seems that way. What's wrong?" asked Patchouli.

Hoshiro smiled and shook her head. "I suppose it's a coincidence. Let's do this!"

Sakuya was kneeling on the gravel path in front of a sedentary Meiling, who was snoring softly with her back against the wall. Sakuya poked her on the shoulder, gently at first then with a little more force, and sighed when she got no response.

"Meiling's still asleep, then?"

Sakuya looked up and saw Remilia watching her from on top of the gate. "It certainly seems that way. I don't know why, but nothing I do can wake her! I can only assume she's having a very important dream."

Remilia was about to say something when a faint glow caught her eye. She looked up and saw a multicoloured column of whirling light tearing up into the sky from Youkai Mountain. "What's happening up there?" she muttered. "Sakuya, is there a festival on the mountain today?"

"I don't believe so, Milady. Unless some of Meiling's grandiose dream is bleeding out into the real world."

The light faded and the smoke drifted away to reveal a colossal warrior, her well-muscled body stretching up into the clouds like a skyscraper. Her dress had grown with the rest of her, now white and shimmering blue, and seven colours shone in her glass eyes.

Behind Goliath Doll were Alice, Hoshiro, Cirno, Kaguya and Utsuho, each holding a long piece of string that disappeared into the back of her neck. They blinked the last of the glare out of their eyes, looked down at the massive doll they'd wrought and celebrated.

"I... I did it! She's enormous! You're a genius, Patchouli!" squeaked Alice, clapping her hands.

"I know," smiled Patchouli, hovering at a safe distance with Sanae, Kanako and the journalists. "It isn't often I get to put theoretical magic into practice, so I should thank you for giving me the chance."

"And I should thank you."

A collective gasp arose from the ladies. The immense doll was looking back over her shoulder, a smile on her lips; lips which now worked as well as any human's.

"The magic you wove by coming together has given me new life. By your spirit, your fire, your ice and your eternity, I am born: defender of hopes and dreams, Hyperliath Marionette!" The doll turned to face the armoured giant, her smile disappearing. "Creature of steam and steel, born from ancient power... Leave this mountain and never again tread on tengu infrastructure!"

"A doll is to be your saviour?" The giant spoke in a voice like a shipping container clearing its throat. "This is what Gensokyo's artisans are reduced to, after bringing me into this world of violence and chaos?! You have no weapon!"

Kanako slapped a hand over her face. "The swords! I knew we'd forgotten to enlarge something..."

"I need no weapon to face you," said Marionette calmly, sliding into a karate stance. "Tell me now, giant... What are your pronouns?"

"He/him," the giant snarled, raising their- er, no, HIS morning star. "I am Hisoutensoku, created by the whim of an irresponsible goddess, given life by the will of the universe, given purpose by my own will. Have at you, puppet! Steel shall rend through cloth and porcelain as if they were wisps of cloud!"

There was nothing more to say. Hisoutensoku launched himself at Marionette. She charged out to meet him, jerking her five creators along by their strings. The sky shook when her fist met Hisoutensoku's mace.

Marionette pressed her attack, pummeling Hisoutensoku with swift, powerful strikes. His armour clanged as he beat back her blows, then he came at her with a vicious mace strike.

Stepping swiftly back, Marionette swapped limbs. She came at Hisoutensoku with a lightning-fast kick, her boot slamming into his stomach to sent him stumbling backwards.

Hisoutensoku growled and surged back into the fray, his mace blurring through the air. Marionette stumbled back from a barrage of devastating swipes that ripped at her dress.

As she ducked beneath a high blow, Marionette saw her chance. She spun around and threw a mighty kick at her enemy.

Hisoutensoku grabbed Marionette's leg. She gasped, but it was too late, and in a second she was crashing down on top of a plum orchard.

The five were nearly yanked out of their skin, barely managing to avoid a painful crash landing as the strings pulled them down. Hisoutensoku dropped his mace, flattening some trees and redirecting a small stream, and loomed over Marionette.

"I didn't know why I was born," Hisoutensoku growled. "I didn't know who or what I was! All I wanted was to get my bearings, but when I trod on one wooden box you attacked me! Cruel, arrogant youkai! Watch now as I turn your doll into scraps of cloth!"

"You are the cruel, arrogant youkai, Hisoutensoku..." groaned Marionette, glaring up at him through bleary eyes. "You don't see it, but people live inside those wooden boxes! To destroy them without another thought shows only your ignorance- AUGH!"

Hisoutensoku withdrew his knuckles from Marionette's now broken nose and readied himself to give her a few more.

"It wasn't enough..." Sprawled among fallen plums and broken branches, Alice stared up in horror. "My poor doll! He'll kill her!"

"We can't let that happen! Isn't there anything we can do?!" wailed Sanae, grabbing Kanako's sleeve.

"I- I don't know! I never played with dolls..."

Aya and Hatate flew up in front of Hisoutensoku with their maple leaves raised. "Don't count us out because we're small! Everyone, follow us! This is for Youkai Mountain!"

As one, Hatate and Aya unleashed a double-sided tornado that made Hisoutensoku shift his weight slightly.

"They're right! Come on, we may not be giant dolls brought to life by magic but we can still fight." Eirin pulled a glowing blue arrow from the air and readied her bow. "Medicine Sign: Great Galaxy in a Jar!"

Eirin's spell-card exploded forwards. The rest of the flock rallied behind her and the photographers, pelting Hisoutensoku with their attacks.

"Insects! You were fools to attack me," Hisoutensoku bellowed, hardly flinching as the bullets burst into sparks on his armour. "I never desired any of this! But if the only choices I have are to die or to purge you from existence, which do you expect me to choose?!"

Aya gave Hatate a worried look. "What's he on about now?"

"Yeah, when did we attack him? He was gonna trample the village!" Hatate pointed an accusing finger at Hisoutensoku. "You would've ruined thousands of people's lives! You already have! Doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

"You..." Hisoutensoku wavered. "They would only have done the same! Attacked as soon as they saw me without a second thought, like you did."

"We attacked you because you were stomping right towards our village, you idiot! People tend to react strongly to that kind of thing," said Aya severely.

"Well... That's too bad." Hisoutensoku sounded weary. "I'm afraid there can be no turning back now. This fight is to the end, whichever end that may be! You will flee if you have a teaspoon of common sense!"

Hisoutensoku swiped at his enemies, scattering them on the wind. Nitori screamed as the tip of a spike raked across her backpack, letting her tools and trinkets spill out in a rusty, clanking waterfall.

"You're nothing more than a bully!" Eirin spat, nocking another arrow. "I've known hundreds of people like you, Hisoutensoku. I wasn't afraid of Orochi or Tsukiyomi, and I won't run from you! Not with somebody I love behind me!"

"You probably don't understand, since you were born so recently. In a way I pity you," said Kasen, gathering pink fire between her hands. "But Incident-Resolvers fight for the ones we care about! Sitting at home, wanting not to be trodden on, or desperately recharging their giant dolls..." Her cheeks reddened. "A-anyway, Thunder Sign: Mukou's Phantasmal Shot!"

Slumped on Marionette's neck far below, Hoshiro felt a swelling in her heart. "Kasen...?" she breathed, sitting up straight. The fight up ahead looked like a fireworks display in an armour shop. "They're all fighting so bravely. We can't just give up!"

"But Marionette's spent, Hoshiro. What more can we do?" said Alice sadly. "Normally I could give one of my dolls a cup of tea, but where would we buy a big enough cup?!"

"Use this one!" Utsuho plucked a small china cup from her top pocket and forced it into Alice's hands.

"But- but we have no tea..."

"She's a doll! Just pretend!" screamed Kaguya. "I don't want this to be Eirin's last birthday."

"A- all right!" With a trembling hand and outstretched little finger, Alice held the cup to Marionette's humungous lips. "Drink up, Marionette. You're going to need your strength. We all need your strength!"

"Please," Cirno said through gritted teeth, "think of the humans! They worked so hard to build their little village!"

"Wrong village, Cirno! But please, think of the tengu!" Hoshiro corrected her. "Think of Kasen... So brave and beautiful..."

The ground shifted, then Marionette was rising to her feet, her creators tumbling down a rapidly tilting blouse. Gasping in shock, then crying out in triumph, they soared up around her hair and watched in awe.

"Not for glory. Not for power. Not for money." Her eyes aflame in all the colours of the rainbow, Marionette straightened up to stare Hisoutensoku down. "But in the name of love, I stand eternally!"

The flock of Incident-Resolvers cheered, and scrambled out of the way when they saw Marionette charge. She ploughed her shoulder into Hisoutensoku's metal stomach and threw him to the ground.

Sanae punched the air. "Way to go, Hyperliath! Knock his block off!"

Marionette aimed a kick at Hisoutensoku's head, but his arm came up in a flash and grabbed her calf. With eyes gleaming, Hisoutensoku stood up and threw her backwards.

This time Marionette spun through it, her boots dancing across the plateau. Hisoutensoku unleashed his eye rays and raked her with fire. She screamed and patted out her dress.

Hisoutensoku lunged forwards with a tremendous punch, but Marionette grabbed his fist in mid-haymaker. They struggled against each other, locked in combat, neither gaining the upper hand.

"They're evenly matched!" Utsuho stated the obvious.

Sanae gasped. "I've got it! Let's cheer Marionette on!" She took a deep breath. "Let's go, Marionette, all right! Do your best! Do your best! Don't lose, Marionette! Let's go! Let's go! Don't lose, Marionette-"

"Or!" Kanako cut in, grabbing her by the shoulders. "What if we did something practical, such as attacking Hisoutensoku? Wouldn't that be super-duper amazingly cool?!"

"That would've been my next suggestion," said Sanae sheepishly.

Kanako nodded. "Get him!" she roared, readying an onbashira.

Sanae flew around to join Hatate and Aya. They hurled a mighty wind at Hisoutensoku, blowing him sideways. Kanako and Patchouli threw fire and onbashiras at him from the other side. Tethered to Marionette, Alice and the others spell-carded him right in the face.

Under such a withering assault, no-one could come up smelling of roses, and Hisoutensoku soon wavered. Marionette threw him onto his back and immediately dove on top of him. She hoiked him up like a clothing manequinne, spun him around and slammed him into the ground with a deafening boom.

Hisoutensoku glared up at her. "Do it," he growled. "End me, you coward!"

"How's she a..." Cirno groaned, her eyes spinning. "How's she a coward?"

"I don't know!" said a dizzy Hoshiro. "I wish she'd spin less."

Marionette ignored them. She ignited a ball of light between her hands. "I am sorry it had to be this way, Hisoutensoku, but you can't be allowed to step on another village. Karakurium Beam!"

A ray of yellow plasma lanced out from her outstreched hands and splashed out over Hisoutensoku's chest. He screamed as its glow expanded into a nebula of fire, then he exploded.

Burning embers and glowing shards of metal rained down across the mountainside. When the light faded, all that was left of Hisoutensoku was a pile of blackened armour fragments.

Marionette solemnly lowered her hands. Her immense body vanished into a warm golden glow, leaving behind a familiar twelve-foot-tall doll. The strings that had tethered her disappeared into pink sparkles.

"Marionette... Are you all right?!" cried Alice, flying down to her side.

Marionette nodded. "I feel smaller, but-" She gasped, something she hadn't been able to do before. "Golly, I still have a working mouth!"

"That's wonderful!" Alice gave her a hug, barely managing to get both arms around her waist. "I never imagined that something like this could happen. And gods save me, I don't know how we did it!"

"Then perhaps I should get used to writing five Mothers' Day cards a year," giggled Marionette.

That remark seemed to open the floodgates. Cirno, Hoshiro, Kanako and everyone else came pouring down to congratulate Marionette, hug her and kiss her on the cheeks. Eirin and Kaguya shared a long embrace and agreed that it had been a birthday to remember.

It was a huge triumph, a shared triumph, and Hoshiro would normally have been on top of the world. Yet a small nagging concern called her away from the celebration, down to the smouldering pile of metal on the mountainside.

Hoshiro soon spotted a pair of booted feet sticking out from under a dented slab of metal. She lifted the metal and chucked it away, revealing a short, spiky-haired man, battered and unconscious.

"Hisoutensoku...?" Hoshiro squatted down and pressed the tip of his nose. "Are you awake? Who are you?"

The man blinked into awakeness, took one look at Hoshiro and rolled over. "What do you want? You've defeated me already!" he groaned.

"I thought it was you!" Hoshiro sat back, regarding him sympathetically. "What were you trying to do, Hisoutensoku?"

Hisoutensoku rolled back over to glower at her. "I woke up one morning and existed for no reason I could fathom. I decided to find a high vantage point to at least get the lay of the land, but you tiny people attacked me, so I fought back... Weren't you paying attention when I explained all this to your doll friend?!"

"Do you understand how much trouble you've caused? We aren't tiny, you were huge, and our normal-sized houses take weeks to build!" said Hoshiro severely. "That's why the tengu panicked when you came stomping towards their village."

Hisoutensoku sighed. "And what do you expect me to do about it?"

"Live differently! Make better choices! You're smaller now, so don't tread on mole hills or beehives," Hoshiro advised him. "If you help the villagers rebuild-"

"Help?! I ruined people's lives, apparently! What place is there for me in Gensokyo?!"

"Every vicious monster has a place in Gensokyo!" Hoshiro tenderly grasped his cheeks, making him flinch. "You made bad choices, but you can always make better ones, at any time! And I'm an expert bad choice maker, Hisoutensoku. I know what I'm talking about."

"What are you talking about?" Cirno touched down nearby, regarding Hisoutensoku with confusion. "Who's this? I've never seen her before."

"Him," Hoshiro corrected her. "He... Has a lot to answer for."

"Who has? What've you found?" asked Kasen, peering down at the stranger. She gasped. "Is that Hisoutensoku?! But he's so short!"

"Should we kill him?" said Cirno breezily.

Hoshiro shook her head. "He made huge mistakes, but he's a person. And he can have a second chance, right?"

"If he'll take it." Kasen smiled. "You should take it, Hisoutensoku. Don't turn your back on people."

Hisoutensoku shut his eyes and sighed. "Not even a week old and you expect me to reinvent myself. Where would I start?"

"Start here!" Hoshiro stood up and held out her hand. After a few seconds' thought, Hisoutensoku grasped it. Before he could change his mind, Hoshiro hoiked him onto her back and flew up to rejoin the other Incident-Resolvers.

"Everyone!" Hoshiro shouted, coming to a halt among them. "This is Hisoutensoku. He'll be joining us for drinks!"