View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq0HjjELOAs&ab_channel=TouhouRestorationProject
[Educate Cirno]
This action wasn't proper, you should teach her that, with words.
Thanks to @Armoury for the beta!
Sorry for the delay, some personal stuff came up, we're both ready to get back to this however.
—
You watch the ice sail past your body, it was a beautiful thing. It was an unnatural crystal, glinting in the cool sun of the Japanese winter. It glinted impossible, the shapes that made it up only possible with the tools of a gemsmith, and even then…
Of course, it had been an attempt to assault you. Which did mar its beauty a fair amount. It continues onwards before eventually crashing into a tree, doing little more than causing snow from its branches to fall down from the violence of the impact. You stare at it for a moment, studying it, then look back towards Cirno. "There is nothing to be solved with violence." You say, smiling.
The lesson however, is duly ignored. As her 'wings' flick to her sides, resting against her for a moment before they rapidly begin to vibrate, creating a sound not unlike windchimes. Your appreciation for that beauty however, like the ice, is marred by the fact that she launches herself off the ground, one foot raised, body twisted, apparently attempting to kick you in the head. You step to the side once more. You watch her flight, observing as her eyes widen dramatically once she realizes she missed. You study the angle for a moment, then, realizing she was about to crash into a tree, you appear in front of her once more, snatching her out of the air and into your arms. The fairy blinks, processing multiple new facts at once before craning her head up to look at you.
You smile once more. "Violence, for the sake of it alone, is wrong. I have done nothing to you little one."
Her response to that is eloquent in its simplicity. She sticks her tongue out at you then smashes a ball of ice against your chest. You watch her wiggle free of your arms, flying back, a vicious grin on her face. You glance down to the jutting ice on the ground, then sigh. You could not feel it, and it seemed despite the mismatch she wished to continue her efforts regardless. Were she following the path she would be a model of perseverance at this point. But then, she seems to be by all accounts a child, and there are few things more dedicated than a child.
She raises her hands, a look of absolute victory on her face as a snowball roughly the same size as an ox forms above her head. Then she shoves her arms forward, the sphere of snow and ice screaming through the air towards you.
You raise a hand and catch it. You stare at it for a moment, feeling the slight chill in your hand, then look back towards Cirno. "I do not mean to fight you, or anyone. I am a newcomer to Gensokyo, and I am not aware of the goings on of Gensokyo. This is not the correct action to take, little one."
"The only correct action is the can of whoopass I'm about to unleash upon you!" Cirno shouts, arm outstretched to point her thumb towards the… ground, you aren't quite sure what that meant.
You sigh, then drop the snowball onto the ground where it lands with an interested mix between a
plop and a
thud. "Is all you know violence?"
Cirno unleashes a battlecry, and charges once more.
—
The trees shiver as the sounds of violence spread. A woodpecker turns its head, curious about the commotion. Even through the dampening of the snow spread throughout the forest like a thick blanket, thuds and incoherent yells can be heard, causing wisps of snow to drift off of branches. A hare peeks its head out between the oaks, nose twitching. Wintry gusts carry the noises of mounting frustration and anger.
But soon enough, even the animals become bored of this latest occurrence and return to their former activities. They have long since been inured to hearing the sudden sounds of danmaku.This is the forest of magic, after all - at this point, if the rabbits and birds startled and fled every time a fairy got into a tussle, they would never know rest at all.
And this particular intruder into the woods, Cirno, is known to all as the loudest and noisiest fairy of all. She is the spirit of the lake, and even deep in their hibernation, the frogs in this forest shiver at her passage, but her yelling and shouting is a recognized factor. But this time, something is different.
On every occasion that this has happened before, the little fairy has either quickly triumphed over her minor adversary, and exulted in her victory, or she has challenged those beyond her and quickly suffered the consequences. But now, her rage is only reaching ever-greater heights. She has not won, but she has not been defeated.
The shouting grows louder, the feeling of magic in the air grows denser, and the wind itself begins to carry the aspect of sharpened ice. Not just wisps but entire tufts and rafts of snow are falling, now, and the trees themselves begin to sway. The little ice fairy is being pushed to her breaking point, and yet the erstwhile "battle" simply drags on and on. It seems it may continue until the fairy decides to give up… but those who know her, know that will take quite some time indeed.
—
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4AQz-uKNaI&ab_channel=MoonTone
—
You reach up and brush the snow off your shoulder, and then your hair. She had failed to harm you in any way, though it was not for the lack of trying on her part. This 'battle' had lasted a good half hour, enough time that the vast majority of the trees were now missing her snow, the ground was covered in enough ice to make a new iceberg, and there wasn't a bird remaining for a good mile all around by your ears, having long since been scared off by the snow, the ice, and the small little balls of energy she had been launching every which way. You only felt weight and cold if you so wished, but you made an effort to brush the snow off regardless, lest your garments become soaked once it melted. Once satisfied by your efforts, you turn your head towards the fairy laying down just at your feet.
She laid, not still, but relatively motionless a good quarter foot into the snow, her eyes closed, her mouth open, and her chest rising and falling rapidly as she took in large desperate gulps of air. She was covered in small bruises and scratches, her dress torn in places on top of that, all caused by her seeming inability to keep from crashing into trees as you avoided her assaults. You crouch down onto the snow, looking over the fairy, and smile as her eyes slowly open.
They remain unfocused for several seconds, first hazy, then confused as she looks around. Before finally she stares at you, her blue eyes not dissimilar in color to the ice she was using before. "Why didn't ya fight?"
"I believe we have gone over this already." You reply. "Are you alright?"
Cirno closes her eyes and nods. "I'll kick your butt when I get my energy back."
You nod your head, then look up to the forest around you, you had no idea where civilization was from this point, nor how far it was. But you weren't going to simply leave her here either. Reaching down you pick up the small girl, then shift her around so that she is on your back, her chin on your shoulder as you settle her into place. Satisfied that she was not going to fall off, you begin to walk away from the hole in the barrier you made.
Cirno groans into your shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not going to leave you in the woods." You reply simply.
Cirno turns her head to look at you, then wiggles so that she is more comfortable. You smile, then walk in silence for ten minutes, the hole in the barrier, and the battlefield, becoming little more than memories soon. Until, finally, you crest a hill large enough to get your bearings.
This, then, is Gensokyo in winter. Enormous lakes and lush forests, From here, the vista seems grandiose at first blush - enormous lakes and mountains untouched by human industry and pristine rivers gushing with crystal clear waters, spectacular forests untouched by human industry and overflowing with the purest essence of nature.
But there is also a malaise to this place. It is covered with attachments, built on them, founded from the start as a way to preserve that which should have long passed on, and to protect ignorance and lies from the understanding that would undo them. Pining for a long-gone past is unbecoming, and few suffer more from that disgraceful state of affairs than those in the little village down below.
They live in a cage - a picturesque one, yes, but behind all the grandeur, looking out at the sky, you can see the limits of this place. Perhaps a dozen
ri away, the other end of their barrier warps space upon itself to give the illusion of an ever-distant sky, but you are not one to be fooled by such trickery.
That said, you brush away your distaste for this place, and refocus - you can see signs of movement down below, and it wouldn't do to stumble in unaware. It takes you a moment to even recognize what is happening, so much does it clash with your experiences, but soon enough you decipher it. These, then, are Gensokyo's Kappa.
They're tracing their way alongside the forest's rivers, but that is where the resemblance to the kappa you recall from life ends. They have taken the form of adolescents, with strange rucksacks and headwear in place of their shells and dishes. For some unknown reason, all of them seem to be female, and they seem to be arguing amongst themselves about some obscure point of minutia about "flow rates".
Just another oddity in this place, you suppose.
—
"Would you happen to know Byakuren?" you ask, turning your head back to the fairy.
Cirno blinks, "the lady in that black suit thing? Yeah. She runs a temple or somethin'." Cirno replies.
"Black… suit?" you ask. Had she discarded her habit?
Cirno nods. "Last time I saw her she was wearing this black leather thingy that wrapped around her, and she was riding a bike around everywhere and beating people up!"
... Oh dear, you aren't sure what a bike was, but that was… Well, you aren't quite sure how to properly process that.
"Why'd you ask?" Cirno continues.
"She would be my sister," you reply. "And I wish to meet her."
"Oh." Cirno replies simply. She says nothing for several moments. "You have a bike too?"
You shake your head. "I'm afraid not."
"Aww…" Cirno mumbles. Then settles back down onto your shoulder. Within due time, whether from exhaustion of the fight, or the vibration caused by your movements, she has fallen asleep. The young girl drooling on your shoulder as you make your way through the forest and towards the village you saw. You walked for well over an hour, seeing little, hearing less, until, to your surprise you found-
—
[] [A Tengu who wants an interview]
[] [A Magical Girl in a poor mood]
[] [A Rainbow themed merchant looking to move stock]
