Neo Gensokyo Quest - Part 6

[Neovereign]

> Fly along the line, then, following where it goes until someone tries to stop us or we find someone or something of interest.

Aya:

> You fly beside the crowd...
> You soon notice the Sanzu River come into view amidst its mist. There's a heavy feeling of sorrow in the air.
> Your wings feel a tad weak, as if hesitation is making you rethink taking another step forward. It's just your wings though. Given you aren't using your legs right now, you wonder if they'd feel like that, too.

Seki:

> "I think this is everyone that's going to be here..." Sanae speaks up, having arrived a few moments ago. Kogasa beside her looks upset about something.
> "Fine with me. We've been waiting forever anyways." Reimu says.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> It's okay. We're not here to commit suicide.
> Land and try walking further along.

---

Seki:

> Give Kogasa a lazy wave.
> "What's up?'

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> It's okay. We're not here to commit suicide.
> Land and try walking further along.

---

Seki:

> Give Kogasa a lazy wave.
> "What's up?'

Aya:

> You land, giving your wings a rest.
> Your legs fare better, comparatively.
> As you walk, you suddenly feel your consciousness slip. As if death itself yanked on your from behind, your body stumbles - you feel like it's not even yours...
> "HAA. A familiar face!" Komachi's voice brings you back to your senses, as she pulls you to face her. "PLEASE tell me things aren't as annoying in the rest of Gensokyo. No, wait, tell me you need me for something. I could REALLY use a change of scenery."
> She looks bigger than you. Not in that department, but you feel smaller compared to her. On top of her height, of course...

Seki:

> Kogasa waves back, getting rid of her slight sulk.
> "Others would be in places that probably aren't affected, so..." Sanae answers.
> "Oh, here you guys are." Sunny speaks as she flies in, followed by her two companions as usual. "Ghost lady says she can't really come."
> "I'll relay what we discuss here to her when I return, then." Youmu says.
> "Master says there's situations in Hell she has to take care of. I think I'm supposed to ask if other places are like that now?" Clownpiece starts.
> "Heaven's been flooded with more and more people. A lot of them think I'm their God, or, were thinking such." Tenshi comments. "I couldn't get them off my back, so I said I was just an angel. Still didn't help much."
> "If it's Heaven and Hell, maybe people from the outside world are ending up there?" Maribel comments.
> "That's... gonna be really worrying if they come back after this is over. But if they don't where will they go? You said it's flooding with people, right? Is that okay?" Renko asks.
> "Eh, more or less." Tenshi shrugs. "Probably."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Uh, why are you bigger? More than normal, I mean. Oh, gods, I didn't die, did I?"
> Give ourselves a quick check.
> "Gensokyo's in rough shape. We're blending with The Outside World, or something. I'd love to bring someone back with me, though. You or your boss or Kutaka or whoever."

---

Seki:

> Let the bigwigs talk about important stuff, and make our way over to Kogasa.
> Quietly: "You okay?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Uh, why are you bigger? More than normal, I mean. Oh, gods, I didn't die, did I?"
> Give ourselves a quick check.
> "Gensokyo's in rough shape. We're blending with The Outside World, or something. I'd love to bring someone back with me, though. You or your boss or Kutaka or whoever."

---

Seki:

> Let the bigwigs talk about important stuff, and make our way over to Kogasa.
> Quietly: "You okay?"

Aya:

> "No, you seem different enough from the rest here."
> You check yourself. Everytjing's all there... not see through. Not floating without wings. No tail replacing your legs...
> "Ugh, I don't think that's be reason enough for one of us to go." Komachi sighs.

Seki:

> They seem to continue on about if anyone can even do anything about it. Yuyuko comes up as a possibility in the topic, but it doesn't look like anyone thinks it's a good idea...
> You wander over to Kogasa and Sanae.
> "Hm?" She looks herself over. "Yeah. Is there something on my face?"
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "We're having a region-wide meeting to determine what to do moving forward. I was hoping to get one of you for it. Given the apparent state of Bhavagra, I'm willing to bet that blending I mentioned is the reason you have that giant line back there."
> Frown a bit.
> "And speaking of giant, I ask again how you got way bigger than me than I remember you being."

---

Seki:

> "Yeah, that sour look a few moments ago."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "We're having a region-wide meeting to determine what to do moving forward. I was hoping to get one of you for it. Given the apparent state of Bhavagra, I'm willing to bet that blending I mentioned is the reason you have that giant line back there."
> Frown a bit.
> "And speaking of giant, I ask again how you got way bigger than me than I remember you being."

---

Seki:

> "Yeah, that sour look a few moments ago."

Aya:

> "That just seems to be how a lot of people have been seeing me lately. I mean, it sorta keeps commotion down, so i can't complain as much."
> Komachi thinks for a moment.
> "Still... if anyone would have to stay here, it'd be me. There's no way for any of these souls to get past the Sanzu River without me." She sighs again. "It's my job, yes, and I don't hate it, but looking at how big this line is and the slight feeling that this is wrong..."
> Yet again, Komachi sighs.
> "I shouldn't be so upset... I'm sure Eiki is going through much worse if she feels even a twinge of the same."

Seki:

> "Oh. It was just something silly to get upset over. In fine."
> "I told you I can do it again if you want-"
> "It's alright, Sanae." Kogasa puts her hands up. "You have to focus on improving yourself."
> "Hmhm, I'll do my best~"
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Can I get to her without feeling like I'm dying again? Even just feeling that once was pretty unpleasant."

---

Seki:

> Blink in confusion.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Can I get to her without feeling like I'm dying again? Even just feeling that once was pretty unpleasant."

---

Seki:

> Blink in confusion.

Aya:

> Komachi looks towards the river, then back to you.
> "I'm not sure."

Seki:

> "I told you it was just something silly. You don't need to worry."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Damn."
> Look Komachi up and down.
> "...I wonder if this really is purely perception, or if you actually are that large now."
> Gesture to our chest.
> "Not gonna lie, I'd be very interested to see how I'd change if you went in here. Ah, that's a thing I can do now, there's a few people in there already."

---

Seki:

> "...Alright, if you say so."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Damn."
> Look Komachi up and down.
> "...I wonder if this really is purely perception, or if you actually are that large now."
> Gesture to our chest.
> "Not gonna lie, I'd be very interested to see how I'd change if you went in here. Ah, that's a thing I can do now, there's a few people in there already."

---

Seki:

> "...Alright, if you say so."

Aya:

> "I thought I saw something strange. I'm sure it's nice to have the leisure to fool around, but I have to get back to work before Eiki notices the weird pause. Sorry." Komachi starts for the river, but pauses. "Ah, I'll tell her about your uh... region wide meeting or whatever."
> You wonder if Sekibanki or Sanae could make it across. Seki did things with souls earlier, and Sanae is a goddess. Maybe one of them could even lend a hand carrying people across? Is that even possible?

Seki:

> "What about you? You don't seem too thrilled to be here." Kogasa points out
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Would you want any help if I can find someone? ...If that's even allowed."

---

Seki:

> Shrug.
> "I just don't want attention, and I've been getting an inordinate amount of it lately. If they can figure things out without needing to involve me, I'm fine being here."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Would you want any help if I can find someone? ...If that's even allowed."

---

Seki:

> Shrug.
> "I just don't want attention, and I've been getting an inordinate amount of it lately. If they can figure things out without needing to involve me, I'm fine being here."

Aya:

> "I mean, if you know any other Shinigami who also have boats that can cross the Sanzu, sure, I'd apprectiate the help." Komachi responds.

Seki:

> "Gee, it must be a headache having people want you around, huh..." Kogasa crosses her arms.
> "Some people just don't like attention or interacting with others a lot." Sanae pulls Kogasa away. "There's people like that in the outside world too. Here, help me explain miracles."
> "Why would you need help? You should-"
> "An outsider's view on it helps explain it, too."
> "So you can still pull them off in the current state of Gensokyo?" Reimu questions.
> "I mean, I seem capable of manifesting a more straightforward example of being a goddess, and of being a human." Sanae explains.
> "She was two Sanae's before we got here." Kogasa adds.
> "I'm... Not sure that's a miracle... But if you're "godly" enough and can still do miracles, we should have a way to fix all of this." Reimu says. "That leaves the question of if we should."
> "I'm not sure if it's going to continue, but the mountain started to poke into the outside world. Or the other way around." Kogasa mentions.
> "If that's increasing in frequency, won't Gensokyo entirely be gone at some point?" Sanae wonders. "Lady Suwako and Lady Kanako..."
> "I'd rather not have my mansion suddenly overtaken by plains or someone's house." Remilia comments. "This should probably be stopped."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> How familiar are we with the Animal Realm?
> "I'll see what I can do!"
> Take off for Yuuka's territory.

---

Seki:

> "How much of a chance do most of us have of even surviving it if it progresses too far?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> How familiar are we with the Animal Realm?
> "I'll see what I can do!"
> Take off for Yuuka's territory.

---

Seki:

> "How much of a chance do most of us have of even surviving it if it progresses too far?"

Aya:

> You've heard of it but haven't tracked down its residents for word about their experience with that incident yet. At least Hecatia has that fairy of hers around most of the time she's in Gensokyo. Catching other people from a hell seems surprisingly difficult.
> You finally get away from the Sanzu River, heading for Yuuka's sunflower field.

Seki:

> "This is probably a discussion in the first place because it hasn't been fatal to anyone thus far." Remilia comments.
> "Thus far. We shouldn't wait until it does." Reimu reasons.
> "No one gets hurt if we stop it, but if we don't, someone might." Sanae nods.
> "That's hard to argue against. Does anyone have any reason in favor of letting this happen to Gensokyo, even if it's a small reason?" Eirin asks.
> There's silence...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Seki:

> Well, we sure don't have any ideas in support of whatever's happening, so we're not speaking up...

[Neovereign]

Seki:

> Well, we sure don't have any ideas in support of whatever's happening, so we're not speaking up...

Aya:

> You arrive at, or rather, above the sunflower field without issue. At least there's not anything crazy happening here like at the Sanzu River.
> Somehow, all of the sunflowers are up and healthy. Cirno's... incident wasn't too long ago, right? At least, not long enough that these should be grown like now.

Seki:

> "I guess all I can say is it'd be interesting." Mokou shrugs. "So, no one is in favor of letting Gensokyo go this way."
> "Then should we start working to stop this?"
> "Would the first step be strengthening the barrier around Gensokyo, or somehow stopping these places like on the mountain?" Sanae asks.
> "Probably the barrier first." Byakuren speaks. "Then fixing the affected areas should be easier, right?"
> "If you patch up the affected areas first, then the barrier will be easier to fix. It should be done that way." Miko argues.
> "There's no reason to argue. I agree with Hijiri." Shinki states. "Fixing this barrier first means no more places should be affected. If that is what's causing it."
> "Well, the netherworld's barrier was... naturally... weakening, as time went on." Youmu speaks, glancing aside. "So it's-"
> "Most likely natural degrading of the Great Hakurei Barrier?" Reimu finishes. "But..."
> "How do we repair it when the gap lady here isn't feeling too hot?" This... girl, continues. "Well, Makai's goddess is here. I'm sure she's able to contribute to that greatly. Add in the Hakurei brat, gap lady herself, and maybe the little gap lady, and that should be enough?"
> "Little gap lady?" Maribel jumps. "I-I just open the ones I notice. I'm not making them myself or anything."
> "Reusing previously opened ones? Clever." Yukari chuckles.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Have an aerial look around for Yuuka.

---

Seki:

> Clarification request: Who spoke after Reimu but before Maribel?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Have an aerial look around for Yuuka.

---

Seki:

> Clarification request: Who spoke after Reimu but before Maribel?

Aya:

> You scan the area, before spotting Yuuka in a corner of the field.

Seki:

> You aren't sure of her name. You can make out "Ellen", but there's more in there. Something with a K, and something with an M, you believe.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Flying around and outside the border of her field so as to not trespass, head over to her.
> "Hey! How are you holding up?"

---

Seki:

> "We've also got, like, a slew of heroes here. I'm sure some of them can do something."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Flying around and outside the border of her field so as to not trespass, head over to her.
> "Hey! How are you holding up?"

---

Seki:

> "We've also got, like, a slew of heroes here. I'm sure some of them can do something."

Aya:

> You circumvent the flowers.
> "Fine now. And you? You seem quite busy, if darting here liike that is any indication." Yuuka responds.

Seki:

> "Many of us can't really put a hand in barrier work." Remilia comments.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Do we know where we could find Hermit Ibaraki?

> "Been doing okay when not feeling like death is taking me. I've been trying to spread the word about a region-wide gathering to discuss the direction we all want to take Gensokyo in, relative to all the weirdness that's been happening to it."
> Grin a bit and lean ourselves forward to show Yuuka some more of our cleavage.
> "I've also been giving people rides that have trouble getting around now for one reason or another. There's a couple of others in here right now taking a nap, in fact."

---

Seki:

> "Not to be rude, but have they tried?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Do we know where we could find Hermit Ibaraki?

> "Been doing okay when not feeling like death is taking me. I've been trying to spread the word about a region-wide gathering to discuss the direction we all want to take Gensokyo in, relative to all the weirdness that's been happening to it."
> Grin a bit and lean ourselves forward to show Yuuka some more of our cleavage.
> "I've also been giving people rides that have trouble getting around now for one reason or another. There's a couple of others in here right now taking a nap, in fact."

---

Seki:

> "Not to be rude, but have they tried?"

Aya:

> You know she has some hidden place on Youkai Mountain. Given who you are and your occupation, you think you've seen where she might be hiding it a couple times. You aren't sure if the changes to Gensokyo means it's still in the same area though.

> "Sounds like you're enjoying yourself despite it all then. Good. You shouldn't let others get you down. Be it this incident, or actual people." Yuuka responds. "You should be careful around here. Given what Rumia caused, then that ice fairy's mishaps, I'm sure some third event will try to bother my home soon enough."

Seki

> "I've tried spreading a mist to block out the sun, but I'm sure everyone knows how that went. I can't say my sister or I are as good at delicate defenses like that." Remilia says. "Something that ignores sunlight, but prevents youkai and humans from passing through."
> "I don't have any magic tailor fit for the entirety of Gensokyo like that, either." Patchouli says.
> "I'm sure Alice and I are able to lend a hand." Shinki says.
> Alice sighs.
> "Time manipulation probably won't help as much in this. What about you, Sekibanki?" Sakuya questions.
> "Uh, it might help!" Kogasa chimes. "Aren't Gensokyo and the outside world at different times?"
> "No / it does-" Both Usamis speak.
> "Huh?" Sumireko questions.
> "I think we don't count. We're from... a different... one?" Maribel... explains?
> "You can't just leave Gensokyo and end up where, or when, they're from, is what she means." Yukari explains.
> "But time is still a pretty big barrier that no one can overcome, right?" Kogasa questions. "Can't you..." She gestures, trying to find a word. "Do something with that as a part of it?"
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised, as much as I imagine it would be something on a scale grander than any of us individually could produce."
> Wiggle our chest in Yuuka's direction just a bit.
> "I'm guessing that means you would rather stay here than come with me?"

---

Seki:

> "What if you make time go backwards to undo what's been done?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised, as much as I imagine it would be something on a scale grander than any of us individually could produce."
> Wiggle our chest in Yuuka's direction just a bit.
> "I'm guessing that means you would rather stay here than come with me?"

---

Seki:

> "What if you make time go backwards to undo what's been done?"

Aya:

> "Of course." Yuuka responds.
> You feel a bit off, like she's being oddly friendly... You sorta expected her to at least be annoyed with you, if not insulted by such a gesture.

Seki:

> "Travelling backwards through time is impossible." Kaguya comments.
> "Well, I've heard of someone who can alter history depending on the day..." Mokou says. "So it's not impossible to change the past, in a sort of way."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "...You sure you're okay? Like, I would genuinely like to have you along with me like this, but I also expected your rejection to be...more forceful, let's say."

---

Seki:

> "Is it really impossible? Hasn't a whole bunch of stuff just happened today that was supposed to be impossible?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "...You sure you're okay? Like, I would genuinely like to have you along with me like this, but I also expected your rejection to be...more forceful, let's say."

---

Seki:

> "Is it really impossible? Hasn't a whole bunch of stuff just happened today that was supposed to be impossible?"

Aya:

> "You must have me mistaken. I simply enjoy having things my way. You aren't being much of a bother, aside from having someone to speak with for a bit."

Seki:

> "Well, Sakuya?" Remilia looks over.
> "If such a thing is possible, I'd still have to find a way to convince those with the abilities to strengthen the barrier to do such before this happens." Sakuya explains.
> "There was something with the moon, too. It wasn't just Gensokyo, was it?" Daiyousei asks.
> "Miss Toyohime?" Eirin questions.
> "Yes, the moon was also going through some strange situations." Toyohime says.
> "I'd have trouble getting to the moon and warning of this before it happens, too." Sakuya adds.
> "It's times like these where making up code phrases for just in case another you appears from the future or such happens would come in handy." Sumireko says. "Too bad my doppelgangers were all against me."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Well, alright. I'll leave you to your field, then, in the hopes that nothing untoward happens to it. Oh, though there is one other important thing; there's currently a gathering of most of Gensokyo's movers and shakers in Lady Matara's back door realm. They're working on deciding how we should all proceed from here, given everything that's happened. You may or may not want a seat at that table, it's up to you."

---

Seki:

> Look at Kagerou and Waka.
> "...We didn't ever develop code names, did we?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Well, alright. I'll leave you to your field, then, in the hopes that nothing untoward happens to it. Oh, though there is one other important thing; there's currently a gathering of most of Gensokyo's movers and shakers in Lady Matara's back door realm. They're working on deciding how we should all proceed from here, given everything that's happened. You may or may not want a seat at that table, it's up to you."

---

Seki:

> Look at Kagerou and Waka.
> "...We didn't ever develop code names, did we?"

Aya:

> "Either way is fine by me." Yuuka responds. You're not sure if that's in response to where they'll continue to, or her seat, but you'd assume the former given she hasn't moved.

Seki:

> "Code names? What for?" Kagerou questions.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Aces. Stay green, comrade. And don't forget my transportation offer, should the whim ever cross you."
> Take to the air and zip over to where on the mountain we think Ibaraki might reside.

---

Seki:

> Shrug.
> "I dunno. Guess meeting future selves was never really a consideration for us, huh?"