Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)

[X] Stay at the party.
-[X] Talk to Hayate.
- - [X] Discuss the Final Boss. Sure, she couldn't get all the details about her without seeing her fight, but why pick her for its stated purpose anyway?


You eat your cake as you consider who to talk to; it's chocolate with swirls of vanilla mixed in, and the icing is primarily black and yellow. It's delicious, although a little dry … of course, that's probably just because it doesn't have blood in it. Wonderfully tasty treat, bloody cake. Satsuki finishes before you and stares wistfully at the remainder, but you titter quietly.

"Maybe later," you say as she pouts. She nods and pats her cheeks, then takes your paper plate from you. She doesn't throw them away, though … it certainly looks like there are enough plates and utensils, but maybe she just wants to be polite. You motion for her to follow you as you proceed toward Hayate. She turns toward you as you approach and smiles.

"Flandre, good evening. Shari was telling me about your thoughts on the Final Boss." You nod back and slip into a chair.

"Mm. I had a couple questions about it, actually. If you don't mind talking about it." She gives you an embarrassed smile and Shari leans back, eager to let Hayate answer.

"Sure. I think Fate is going to want Nanoha and me to stay overnight, so I'm not really pressed for time." You don't think you'll take that long. You nod and settle yourself, staring intently at her.

"Why Remilia? I mean, setting aside capabilities, why pick my sister instead of someone recognizable, or a monster of some kind?" Hayate sighs and looks down at the ground.

"Well … because she isn't known, for one. And because she looks like a child, and because her wings give her an alien appearance. A monster of some kind would work, sure, but … well, they're monsters." She frowns and rubs the golden cross on her necklace. "We could have just put something in and ramp up its power, or use Voltaire or Hauktenou, or something else like that, but … that's not the point. Neither is having something that you can't really fight back against." You cock your head to the side and your eyes narrow as she looks at you.

"… It's for training. You can't use a monster because you want them to learn how to fight against other mages more effectively, and that's also why you have to make it a 'fair' fight, one that people can look at and figure out how to do better. But that doesn't explain why you don't use Nanoha, or Fate - or yourself - as the base instead of my sister." She chuckles and shakes her head.

"We're all known personalities, and how we fight and what our strengths and weaknesses are pretty well-catalogued - you can look up mock-battles and training bouts that Nanoha and Fate have participated in, for example, and a lot of my spells are in the database. By using someone they've never seen before, never even heard of, we can make them wonder just what she's capable of throwing at them. And I mentioned that she looks like a child, apart from her wings - even with people who know about Fate and Nanoha being powerful mages even when they were younger, they don't really expect to be completely beaten by a kid, you know? Even if she's powerful, even if they actually expect her to put up a fight, they aren't going to expect multiple S-ranked spells being thrown at them." You nod again.

"And the wings help make them realize that 'what they look like' isn't all that important when gauging a threat, because they might see 'little girl' first, but then they see the wings and realize she's not just a little girl." Hayate smiles and leans back in her chair, looking a bit relieved. "So why make her fight just like one of your mages, if you wanted to make the Final Boss something capable of the unexpected? From what Shari said, environmental manipulation is possible with the Simulator, so why not make it able to do that?" Shari coughs to draw your attention.

"Um, I did disable a few of its abilities, since you didn't have your Device. And, um, because one of the things it can do is … throw people outside the Simulator area. Into the water." You stare at her for a moment and she looks down. That would have been dangerous … probably not enough to actually beat you, if you were serious about winning, but dangerous. "A few other things you were just too fast for it to use properly, so it decided against them." Hayate nods.

"Yeah, you're not really the sort of fighter it's designed to be fought by, especially in such a relatively small space where it can't really escape; unless we gave it instant and unlimited teleportation, it wouldn't be able to really get anything set up before you were close enough to make it move again. And giving it the reactions and fighting speed to keep up with you makes it basically unbeatable by anyone in the Bureau, and even most teams." She purses her lips for a moment. "Actually … how often do you beat your sister? I mean, if you practice against each other." You nod. It's been a long time since you've done that, but even if you've improved, Remilia has as well - especially in her magic. You grin.

"Oh, I don't. If she's actually fighting, I can't beat her." At least, not without doing that. "She says I'm stronger than her, but since I can't use magic I can't keep up with her enhancing herself, and anything I can do she can do with magic." Shari's mouth hangs open, then you snap your fingers and lean toward Hayate. "And what's with that weird outfit you gave her? And why'd you give her a weird copy of Laevateinn?" She chuckles and holds up her hands in a warding gesture.

"I just thought it'd be a bit … um, different! I like designing costumes - I made Vita and the others' when I was younger. Ah, maybe there's something else you want to see her in?" Your thoughts turn to Remilia's own 'final boss' outfit from when she played with you, Headless, and Giltless, although that definitely wouldn't make her look as young as she normally does, so it might not work well with their ideas … not that that really matters much.

"Hmm … maybe. And Laevateinn?" She shrugs helplessly.

"I guess we're just so used to most people having Devices that I sort of assumed she'd have something, and the only reference I had was your own - ah, Laevateinn. Does she not have a weapon, then?" You shake your head.

"No, she does, but she usually uses a long spear - and like I told Shari, she's very good with it." Hayate frowns thoughtfully.

"A spear, huh? … Thank you." A nervous grin appears on her face again. "And, um, I did think about sending a message asking about what she does and things like that, but I wanted it to be a surprise, and … well, I thought it would seem like we don't trust her and want to try and prepare for a fight against her if I just asked what she's capable of. I'm sorry for that." You wave off the apology.

"It's fine." Maybe they weren't being entirely respectful toward Remilia, but they weren't trying to be rude, and Hayate's reasoning seems sound. And if she really will be staying over you can take the time to make sure she understands things properly ….


What do you do?

[ ] Keep talking to Hayate.
- [ ] Ask if she'll talk to Vita about coming to Gensoyo.
- [ ] Ask if she'll let you call Vita.

[ ] Leave the party.
- [ ] Find Ginga and the Numbers.
- - [ ] Bring cake.
- [ ] Continue teaching Satsuki.
- - [ ] Politics.
- - [ ] Etiquette.

[ ] Other?

[X] Keep talking to Hayate.
- [X] Ask if she'll talk to Vita about coming to Gensoyo.
- - [X] Explain the situation to Hayate about the apology and invitation planned
- [X] Oh wait, didn't Ginga bring up someone called Zafira as an option to train Satsuki? And that you should talk to Hayate about it? Maybe you could ask her if he's looking for something to do at night.


"… I did have another question, if you're not too busy. Or, kind of more of a request." Hayate gives you a slightly suspicious look but slowly nods.

"Sure. No harm in asking." You nod and take a few moments to organize your thoughts properly.

"… I want to invite Vita to Gensokyo, to apologize for hurting her when I threw her out of Skyrim. But I know that she … doesn't really like me, and if I ask her myself she'll probably say no, just because it came from me. I already invited Lutecia and her mother, Zest, and Agito, but Megane suggested that if I wanted a better chance at getting Vita to come, I should ask you about it. Is there anything you can do?" Hayate stares for a long moment, expression serious, and Shari finds something else to look at.

"Hm. Megane suggested that? Well … I can work it out, I think." A mischievous smirk grows and she looks away from you, toward Fate and Nanoha. You follow her gaze and frown.

"What do you mean? How does it involve them?" Her smirk shifts into a normal smile as she looks back at you.

"Well - don't worry, Shari, you are allowed to hear this. You recall, Flandre, that your sister offered the possibility of … assistance, and also a sort of resting place. And this little party is a result of Fate overworking herself - you see, both Fate and Nanoha have a bad habit of not taking as much time off as they should. And especially right now, with the problems the Bureau is having, I'm sure they're going to try and pull a fast one and take a 'working holiday' or something instead of a real vacation; Chrono thinks so, too. And since RF6 hasn't been dissolved yet, they're still under my command. So - unless you object, of course - I'll just … inform them that they'll be going to Gensokyo on vacation, and if they absolutely have to do some work they can figure out how well it would actually work. And then I'll tell Vita you invited her - and then tell her that Nanoha will be going." Her smile turns sad and she looks down at her hands. "It's kind of a dirty trick, because Vita feels really responsible for Nanoha's safety, but I think she'll go along with it." You bow to her.

"Thank you, Hayate." She looks up, eyebrows raised.

"You don't mind my sending Nanoha and Fate there?" You shrug.

"It'll be a trial run for Gensokyo hospitality, I guess. Ah, and there'll be a party, so that should make them relax." You cock your head to the side and peer at Hayate. "You don't want to come along, too?" She looks a little embarrassed and chuckles weakly.

"Heh … I get enough rest as it is, and I definitely wouldn't want to go unless Rin, Shamal, Zafira, and Signum could go, too - and I can't justify taking away all of us even for a short time." Even if she didn't say it out loud, you definitely heard the 'yes, but' at the beginning. She probably wouldn't accept it if you offered her an invitation … but what she can do, you can do as well. The Admiral Chrono Harlaown who seems to be her superior isn't here, but the Admiral Lindy Harlaown is … if it's really worth it. And you still have some time, so you simply nod.

"I understand. Although, speaking of Zafira …." You look back at Satsuki and she tilts her head adorably, confused and a little nervous. You look back at Hayate. "Satsuki needs someone to help train her in fighting - a sparring partner and sometime teacher. I can't do it. I did mention it to Alph in passing, as well, but I haven't talked to Fate about it. Anyway, I was talking with Ginga about it, and Zafira's name came up as a possibility as well, since she didn't think he was very active in terms of missions." Satsuki moans quietly as Hayate looks at her.

"Hmm. I can talk to him about it - he doesn't get as much exercise as he'd like, I'm sure - but a lot's going to depend on how much she already knows and how well our schedules coincide. How much do you know, Satsuki-chan?" You look back to see your servant looking down at the ground unhappily.

"Not … not much. Ciel-senpai didn't want me fighting if she could help it, but I know why I have to know how to do it. I just …." She trails off, shaking her head slowly.

"She needs someone who can take a hit from her, keep going, and then be able to tell her what she did right and what she did wrong. I can't, because if we actually do full-contact sparring I'll treat it like a real fight and that won't help her any." Hayate nods.

"I'll talk to him, see what he thinks. And when you know what you're going to be doing and when, contact me and we'll set something up." A loud pinging sound draws everyone's attention back to where Fate had been sitting; the chairs are moved back and Nanoha is standing there, smiling cheerfully. "Ah, is it karaoke time again already?" Nanoha starts singing, and you glance to the side to see Fate showing one of those dangerous smiles as she walks toward you. Hayate sees her, too, but sighs and slumps in her chair.

"Oh, Hayate! Good, you're still here. You're next, you know." Hayate nods, a defeated smile on her face.

"You know you're going to have a long list if you want to get everyone involved to sing at least one song, right Fate?" Part of you wonders if that list is supposed to include you ….

"Will you sing too, Flandre-sama?" You sigh quietly.

"You can sing?" Satsuki leaps to your defense at Fate's question.

"Yes! She's really good, too!" Did Satsuki ever hear you sing? She must have … but even if she hadn't, someone could have told her. Probably Meiling.

"Oh, she can sing together with me!" Fate mock-scowls at Hayate. It is a thought, though.


What do you do?

[ ] Sing.
- [ ] Sing along with Hayate.
- [ ] Random select a song.
- [ ] Something Flan knows.
- [ ] Let Fate pick.

[ ] Don't sing.
- [ ] See if you can find Ginga and the Numbers.
- - [ ] Bring cake.
- [ ] Stay and talk to someone.
- - Who, about what?
- [ ] Leave the party and go teach Satsuki.
- - [ ] Etiquette.
- - [ ] Politics.

[ ] Other?