Ch. 4 EX2: Islands of 8 - Marisa?
To the Next Island?
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In the beginning, there was qi.
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Qi is the beginning of everything. The thing which all other things are composed of.
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Qi is one yet infinite. One yet everything.
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That is qi.
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Fluctuations in qi created a dichotomy―the two forces, yin and yang.
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The tranquil qi is yin, and the moving qi is yang. They are why everything has two sides.
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That is yin and yang.
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The interactions between yin and yang created the Three Essences―Sun, Moon, and Star.
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The Sun is alluring and arrogant, the Moon is cooperative and indecisive, and the stars are free and wild.
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From them comes the flow of time and the vast sky. They are the essences.
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The cycle of the essences created the four seasons―spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
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Spring is birth, summer is growth, autumn is fruition, and winter is death. From them comes life.
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They are the seasons.
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The gathering of the seasons created the Five Phases―Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
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Wood Phase is harmonious, Fire is passionate, Earth is regenerative, Metal is cold and silent, and Water is uncaring.
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From them comes every substance. They are the phases.
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And so it goes with the six and seven aspects that make up the world... but eight is special.
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Eight is the number used to indicate that something is infinite. "Yasaka," or "eight hills," means countless hills.
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"Yakumo," or "eight clouds," means countless clouds... and the eight trigrams represent all the laws of the universe.
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―Excerpt from The Red Grimoire of Marisa.
Remilia
...
Remilia
Didn't we just cross the sea? Why are we doing it again?
Remilia
This is exhausting! Not to mention, we'll never survive if we fall!
Remilia
I thought we'd get to relax on that other island for a while as long as we played baseball from time to time!
Flandre
I can't believe this!
Flandre
Why do you sound so pathetic?! My sister would never say something so thoughtless!
Remilia
What are you talking about? I say stuff like that all the time.
Remilia
Everyone does. That's what living in this carefree world does to people.
Flandre
Hmm...
Flandre
Yeah, maybe you're right!
Remilia
(Yikes. Her emotions go from one extreme to the other...)
Flandre
And to answer your question, we're crossing the sea 'cause we got a call.
Remilia
Oh, is that right?
Remilia
Wait... A call?!
Remilia
Did I mishear you? 'Cause I'm pretty sure calls aren't really a thing here!
Remilia
Like, it can't be easy to make calls in Gensokyo!
Remilia
How can you say that like it's nothing?!
Flandre
'Cause that's what happened. PLAYER got a call from that Youkai Sage.
Remilia
Is she serious, PLAYER?!
Yeah, she is. Sorry, I didn't really have time to explain!
I'll tell you what Miss Yukari said once we land!
The next island shouldn't be far now.
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Stop right there.
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You're late. Very late. I got tired of waiting, so I flew out to get you.
Red Marisa
Just 'cause I've lived for a thousand years doesn't mean I can wait for a thousand more.
Red Marisa
Even talking with you now is wasting time that we don't have... Let's start already!
Remilia
Start what?!
Flandre
Who even are you?!
Marisa?! Weren't you busy with rebuilding the tower?!
Red Marisa
Quiet. I gotta change.
Red Marisa
Now, it's time for your enlistment test. Show me your bullets.
Remilia
What test?! What's she talking about?!
Flandre
No way! Did she change clothes with magic?! Doesn't that make her a―
Red Marisa
Shut up!
Red Marisa
If you keep blathering on, I'll send you crashing into the sea.
Red Marisa
Or are you fine swimming to the island? The current is pretty strong today...
Remilia & Flandre
Eep!
Remilia
You're up, PLAYER! It's your job to handle stuff like this!
Flandre
I dunno what's going on, but start shooting bullets already!
OK, I'll take your test!
Feel-the-Burn Boot Camp!
Yukari
...
Yukari
...
Yukari
This must be the bridge of the Probability Space Hypervessel.
Yukari
How intriguing. It looks like there will be much more to investigate here.
Yukari
Don't you agree―
Yukari
―Marisa Kirisame from the Scarlet Devil Tower?
Red Marisa
I've pretty much pieced together what's going on. You reckon we can help each other out, right?
Red Marisa
I'm searching for my Reimu. That's why I helped rebuild and improve the Scarlet Devil Tower in my world.
Red Marisa
And now that it's mostly functional...
Red Marisa
Remilia and the others said I could leave the rest to them and go look for her.
Yukari
Wow, I'm surprised that Remilia let you go... She must be up to something.
Red Marisa
Nah, I think she was just being nice. Although, I guess she probably wants Reimu back, too.
Red Marisa
They didn't get to finish their duel, after all... And I'm the one who cut it short, even if that wasn't my intention.
Red Marisa
I mustn't forget that.
Yukari
Hmm, that Remilia must trust you to find her then. You've got a lot riding on your shoulders.
Red Marisa
All the people invited to the Scarlet Devil Tower are fighting to reach the top as we speak.
Red Marisa
While PLAYER and the others continue to explore and investigate parallel worlds.
Red Marisa
There are other ventures, too, like the one in the Hakugyoku Arena world, but they're all working toward the same goal.
Red Marisa
To close in on the mastermind behind the Lost Word Incident.
Red Marisa
It's kinda strange that multiple plans with the same goal are progressing in parallel, but there's probably a reason for this.
Red Marisa
There might be more than one mastermind. Or perhaps they can only be trapped when approached from multiple angles.
Red Marisa
Then again, this might be because there must be multiple iterations of the same result to make it definitive.
Yukari
How astute. Did you work all that out by yourself?
Red Marisa
Sure, you might've lived longer, but I've lived for a long time, too. I've had plenty of opportunities to sharpen my wits.
Red Marisa
So, when you invited me to this world, I put two and two together.
Red Marisa
An incident is messing with the temperament of this entire world, isn't it?
Yukari
Correct. But that isn't exactly hard to work out.
Yukari
It's always summer here, so anyone could tell that this world only ever exhibits summer temperament.
Red Marisa
Of course. But that's not what I meant. There are always two sides to a coin.
Red Marisa
Since only summer temperament is visible, the temperaments of the other three seasons must be hidden somewhere.
Red Marisa
And temperaments are all connected by an invisible force. That's part of what makes them temperaments.
Red Marisa
The Five Phases of the land work with the four seasons of the sky and affect the Three Essences of the heavens.
Red Marisa
It's like how an orrery functions thanks to different-sized gears all working together.
Red Marisa
I know all about temperaments 'cause I messed them up in my world.
Yukari
Impressive. You're all that I've heard and more, Witch of Scarlet Dreams.
Yukari
But you said you understood what was going on, so why do you think we can help each other?
Yukari
I'm assuming you also know why I'm concerned about this world, correct?
Yukari
No matter how you spin it, my goals have nothing to do with your search for Reimu.
Red Marisa
Yeah, that's the Yukari Yakumo I know. You're always annoying to talk to, no matter what world you're from.
Yukari
It's rare for someone to say that directly to my face...
Red Marisa
Well, whatever. I'll play along. You want me to explain everything to judge how well I understand it, right?
Red Marisa
It all boils down to how this world...
Red Marisa
...wasn't changed by the Capital.
Red Marisa
They might've messed with some other worlds that neighbor theirs, but not this one.
Red Marisa
They merely decided to use this world after the fact.
Red Marisa
The Capital had nothing to do with the changes that occurred and continue to occur in this world.
Red Marisa
And this is kinda related, but...
Red Marisa
Your goal is to repair this Probability Space Hypervessel.
Red Marisa
You want it operational for when the true captain, the tiny Yukari, returns. Or in case she is unable to return.
Red Marisa
And for that, you need to bring back some of the ship's crew. At the very least, you need the engineer for the main engine.
Red Marisa
I don't know if they're nearby or in a world further away, but...
Red Marisa
Remilia and Flandre are out searching for clues, so I'm guessing they're involved with the big festival going on.
Red Marisa
However, that's just my own opinion based on your actions so far and the data bank linked to PLAYER's journal.
Yukari
Good. You understand the situation almost as well as I do.
Yukari
Now, I'm sure you've also realized this, but let me say it out loud, just to be sure...
Yukari
This world almost certainly changed due to the Probability Space Hypervessel crashing here.
Yukari
This world's past has been completely rewritten, though that doesn't make this altered past any less real.
Yukari
The Capital might not have started this, but its influence has accentuated these changes.
Yukari
And now, the world continues to evolve. No, perhaps it has already reached a new stage in its metamorphosis.
Red Marisa
Well, whatever the case, I'm gonna head out now that we know we're on the same page.
Red Marisa
Once we repair this ship, I can begin searching for my Reimu. And if I'm lucky, I'll find her while trying to repair it.
Red Marisa
Either way, working with you can only benefit me.
Yukari
You have suffered much worse heat than this for a very long time, so you should be able to resist this world's influence.
Yukari
We're counting on you...
Yukari
...Witch of Scarlet Dreams.
Red Marisa
I won't let you down, Reimu's youkai mom.
Yukari
(Has the eternal summer affected her already...?)
Remilia
*huff* *huff* Why...? Why is this happening?!
Flandre
I'm tired... So, so tired! I wanna go home!
If the vampire sisters are tired, then there's no way...
...an ordinary human could keep up. *collapse*
Remilia
Wake up, PLAYER! *light slap on the face*
Flandre
You can't sleep here! You'll get swept away by the tide!
Fiery Instructor
What are you rookies doing?! Who said you could taste the sand?!
Fiery Instructor
Get up!
Remilia & Flandre
Eep!
Fiery Instructor
Drink some water, PLAYER!
Oh, is that OK?
Fiery Instructor
Of course. You gotta rehydrate when you exercise.
Flandre
Wait, why are you only nice to PLAYER? You should go easier on me, too!
Remilia
And why are you training us anyway? We've done nothing but train since we got to this island! I demand an explanation!
Fiery Instructor
No slacking off! ATTENTION!
Remilia & Flandre
EEP!
Fiery Instructor
I'm sure I've already explained this, but your bullets are way too weak.
Fiery Instructor
You gotta win every single one of the Wishing Balls, or else there's no point. But that's way beyond you as you are now.
Fiery Instructor
It's about as likely as an ant defeating an elephant. Ahahaha! You're so pathetically weak!
Remilia
Grrrr...!
Flandre
*building anger*
Fiery Instructor
But don't worry. I'll teach you how to get through Hell.
Fiery Instructor
Without my help, you'd just burn to ash. Kinda fitting for vampires, no?
Fiery Instructor
You can run if you want. I won't stop you. In fact, that'd be better than bringing dead weight along.
Fiery Instructor
It'd also save me the hassle of training you.
(That's so mean! Did she really have to say it like that?)
Remilia
Grrrrr! Now you've made me mad!
Flandre
You come out of nowhere! Start training us! And now you insult us! How dare you?!
Fiery Instructor
Good. Get angry. It'll make you stronger.
Remilia & Flandre
We'll show you stronger!
(What kind of comeback was that?!)
Remilia
Thinking about it now, our Marisa was never this insolent! Her lasers are practically sunrays!
Flandre
And why's she so tall? I dunno why, but it really ticks me off!
Remilia
How'd we lose?! Well, it's not like we were going all out, but still!
Flandre
Even if we're not the tallest, we're still the queens of the beach!
Fiery Instructor
Hahaha, how pathetic!
Remilia & Flandre
Don't laugh!
Fiery Spirit
Remilia
*huff* *huff* What's with that crazy instructor?! Is she really Marisa?!
Flandre
She's more powerful... but that's not all. It's like she's more serious, too!
That Marisa is the Witch of Scarlet Dreams who...
...almost destroyed the world she loves due to a curse!
She's like a solitary demon lord and hero, all in one.
Remilia
No fair. That sounds really cool.
Remilia
...But then why is she here training us? It doesn't make any sense!
Remilia
All this training has really messed up my sleep schedule. It's night, but I wanna go to sleep!
Flandre
She explained everything while she trained us. Weren't you listening?
Remilia
Of course, I was listening! She said we had to get all the Wishing Balls or something.
Remilia
There's seven of them, right?
Remilia
But we never planned to take this seriously! We were gonna have fun, and if we got some Wishing Balls, all the better!
Remilia
The others can go all try-hard if they want, but that's not us.
Remilia
Like, we're too good for that, right?
Flandre
Yeah, I wanna relax while lording over everyone.
(I get where they're coming from, but that's kinda lazy.)
(Then again, they don't have any reason to try harder.)
Remilia
What's wrong, Flan? Are you actually thinking about something for once?
Flandre
Don't give me that. Unlike you, I usually think before I act.
Remilia
Huh?! I think all the time! As a proper lady, I always use every iota of my being to think about things!
Flandre
I'm a vampire, too, so I get it, but for some reason, that makes it seem like your head's full of nothing but air.
Remilia
I'm so mysterious, aren't I?
Flandre
Wow, that's putting a positive spin on it.
Flandre
So, anyway. I've been thinking...
Remilia
Yes?
Flandre
I don't really know how to explain it, but I get the feeling our instructor's hoping for something from us.
Remilia
Hm?
Remilia
Oh, I think I get what you mean.
Flandre
Yeah, it could be something else, but I'm guessing she's hoping we gather all the Wishing Balls.
Flandre
Though, if she truly wants them, she should really gather them herself!
Flandre
She's more likely to actually get them that way. Why do we have to break our backs for her...?
Remilia
Yeah, you're right!
Remilia
If she wants the Wishing Balls, she should get them herself! We shouldn't have to help her!
Remilia
The more I think about this, the more it ticks me off! Are we being played for fools?!
Flandre
Yeah, that must be it! But now that we know that, we can boycott her stupid training!
Remilia
Good idea! No, actually, that's way too nice!
Remilia & Flandre
Let's destroy her!
(Uh-oh...!)
Fiery Instructor
It's past your bedtime!
Remilia & Flandre
EEP!
Fiery Instructor
Oh, good, you're asleep. I was worried the vampires would try to stay up all night.
Remilia & Flandre
...!
(She must think we're asleep...)
Fiery Instructor
...
Fiery Instructor
...
Fiery Instructor
*sits down*
Fiery Instructor
This is a good world.
Fiery Instructor
It's warm even at night, and listening to the waves is so relaxing.
Fiery Instructor
It's different, but it's still Gensokyo, and it deserves to be protected.
Fiery Instructor
I hope you'll forgive me, Scarlet sisters, PLAYER.
Fiery Instructor
I don't wanna be so harsh on you, but there's no other way.
Fiery Instructor
If it wasn't for the Scarlet sisters, I wouldn't be here now.
Fiery Instructor
...Though, I guess you two wouldn't know about that since it happened in my world.
Fiery Instructor
The story of the Scarlet Devil Tower and the Witch of Scarlet Dreams isn't about me. It's about them.
Fiery Instructor
For centuries, all I did was cause them pain, but they still saved me.
Fiery Instructor
And after that, they even accepted me as a friend.
Fiery Instructor
All this is despite how, if history had followed its proper course, they'd be more friendly with Reimu than me.
Fiery Instructor
They twisted fate to save me... and for that, I'm truly grateful.
Remilia
(...Um, that was a really heartwarming story, but why did she say it out loud? Also, that me sounds really cool.)
Flandre
(Wow, so that's her story, huh? Maybe I misjudged her. Just maybe.)
Fiery Instructor
...
Fiery Instructor
But that's why...
Fiery Instructor
You three have to gather the Wishing Balls. All of them! With your own hands!
(Why?!)
Remilia & Flandre
WHY?!
Fiery Instructor
―Huh?
Fiery Instructor
You heard all that, didn't you?!
Remilia & Flandre
Oops!
Fiery Instructor
How dare you listen to me pour my heart out. Huh? It was a good story? That's beside the point!
Fiery Instructor
Red Marisa is actually really sensitive? Wow, is that what you think? You've got guts. I'll give ya that.
Fiery Instructor
But you better be prepared for the consequences.
Remilia
We didn't say anything!
Flandre
We're innocent!
Oh, I can guess where this is going!
Fiery Instructor
Time to taste some bullets!
Flandre
Oh, there's a bunch of fairies flying around.
Remilia
Wow, you're right. They're so cute. But what are they doing here?
Fiery Instructor
They're my familiars born from my temperament. This move's a bit too advanced for you guys.
Remilia
Huh?! I can use bat familiars too, you know!
Flandre
Yeah, and I can make three clones of myself!
Remilia & Flandre
I'm not gonna do that now, but still!
Remilia
Yay, we won! The boot camp's over!
Flandre
It was a close call... but we somehow managed to come out on top!
Fiery Instructor
Hahaha! You only defeated my afterimage!
Remilia & Flandre
You gotta be kidding me!
And thus...
The Scarlet sisters and PLAYER gained the support of the red Marisa―the Witch of Scarlet Dreams.
This world is somewhat delirious due to the eternal summer, but this Marisa can endure much worse heat than this.
Her presence has made waves, like a pebble dropped in a pond, no, a meteorite crashing down into the ocean.
She's going to make sure they get all the Wishing Balls. But it's not just a game to her.
No, perhaps it is. Everything done in Gensokyo is a game in one way or another.
She's going to play this game with reckless abandon while taking it a bit more seriously than most.
She'll bring excitement to this world's festival that has long outstayed its welcome.
The Witch of Scarlet Dreams has her swimsuit, and she's ready to compete.
Each island hosts its own unique competition, from baseball to cooking, and they'll win them all.
But why do they need to gather the Wishing Balls?
Fiery Instructor
Have you guys still not realized that yet?
Remilia
How could we?
Flandre
Just tell us already.
At least give us a hint.
Fiery Instructor
Isn't it obvious?
Fiery Instructor
You all know about the Probability Space Hypervessel, don't you?
Flandre
You mean that sorry shipwreck in the middle of the ocean?
Remilia
That cool scarlet rocket thing?
Fiery Instructor
Yeah, you'd think it's that ship, right?
Flandre
Hm?
Remilia
What do you mean?
Fiery Instructor
...
Fiery Instructor
How best to explain it...?
Fiery Instructor
This world...
Fiery Instructor
This whole world IS the Probability Space Hypervessel.
No way! Really?!
Fiery Instructor
It has completely merged with the original world that was here before it crashed.
Fiery Instructor
Though, it probably always had a lot of water, considering the Capital had already started exploiting it for resources.
Fiery Instructor
But now, the nature of this whole world, including its past, has been rewritten by the possibilities that crashed here.
Fiery Instructor
And the Wishing Balls...
Fiery Instructor
...are basically parts of the ship that broke off when it landed. They're fragments of possibilities.
Fiery Instructor
And that's not all.
Fiery Instructor
The ship's crew might also be somewhere in this world.
