[X] Send your clones to get Remilia.
- [X] Stop Sanae from upsetting Illya more by interrupting and telling her that Illya is your guest and new friend who came to you and your sister for help.
You slide out of the chair and interpose yourself between the shrine maiden and the table. Your clones slip out of you, making the shrine maiden's eyes widen, then hurtle forward, past her and over the crowd. They plow through the door into the entry hall and begin looking for your sister. Your eyes narrow and you lean forward menacingly as the shrine maiden turns back to you. "Ilya is our guest, and my new friend. I don't have many of those, and you will not continue upsetting her." Your clones smash into the front door, knocking it open and startling even more guests and interrupting the Prismrivers' performance. Now everyone knows something is happening, but you don't have any better way of reaching your sister, especially not quickly. One darts forward and then up, and the other two split to the sides in case Remilia is out there somewhere. The Prismrivers scatter from the stage as a clone swoops over them; you should probably apologize eventually.
"I … I'm …."
"Lady Illyasviel, calm down."
"I'm not to continue upsetting her? It's all your fault –!" You snarl and stomp forward, aura flaring brilliantly. The shrine maiden flinches, taking a step back.
"I said shut up! Everything you've said has made things -"
"That's enough, Flan." Your sister's voice cuts through your almost hysterical shrieks, and you spin to see her standing a few meters to your right, Sakuya behind her. "Calm down."
"She –" A raised hand cuts you off and you step back, wings crossed sullenly in front of you. Something shifts to your left – Yukari, Yuuka, and Yuuka's friend are present now, too. Great. Your clones start coming back, ignoring the excited youkai and occasional terrified human.
"You! Remilia Scarlet –"
"Shut up." The shrine maiden's mouth clicks shut audibly and Remilia walks toward her, voice projecting throughout the room. "Let me guess, Sanae: you saw our guest, came to a conclusion, and – against the advice of Reimu – decided to press your case immediately. You believed that Illyasviel was here against her will, a mere figment created because of her similarity to a fictitious character. And you presented that case to her, and to Flan, because you believed you were doing right and good and that you were helping." She pauses for a moment, then sweeps her hat off and bows deeply. "Well, Sanae Kochiya, my hat is off to you. You are truly impressive, a youkai of great power. I would have to make quite an effort to harm Illyasviel half so much as you have with but a few well-intentioned words. Bravo." She passes her hat back to Sakuya and begins clapping. You blink in confusion as the shrine maiden's face turns red.
"I'm not a youkai, I'm –"
"A living goddess. And a god is nothing but a particular sort of youkai. You are a fool, Sanae Kochiya, priestess of Moriya!" Remilia's good-natured tone of voice turns savage and the shrine maiden flinches. "This is Gensokyo, land of fantasy and illusion. And when someone comes here, happy and enjoying herself – you make every effort to shatter her hopes and dreams, to subject her to a normal life. And you don't even know anything about her, you simply assume that you are correct. After all, you are the hero, and the hero is never wrong, is she?" You glance at Ilya, and she has her hand to the side of her head and is staring at Remilia with wide eyes. Yukari is nodding, ever so slightly, and the mood of the room seems to have shifted – before they were ambivalent, unsure whether to support you or the shrine maiden, but now they seem to be supporting Remilia. The shrine maiden starts to say something, but your sister cuts her off. "Silence, shrine maiden! Apart from your idiocy in assuming you know what you are doing – you overstep your bounds! Illyasviel's provenance is of no matter in this; were she from the humans' Village, you could make accusations and barge in here to see justice done, but that is not the case, or even something you have considered! If she is a human from the outside world, you have no right to come here, disrupt my party, make accusations, or interfere at all. If she is a creation of Patchouli's magic to give my sister a playmate, you have no right to come here, disrupt my party, make accusations, or interfere at all. If she is Illyasviel von Einzbern, daughter of Irisviel von Einzbern and Emiya Kiritsugu, elder sister of Emiya Shirou, then you have no right to come here, disrupt my party, make accusations, or interfere at all! You have overstepped your bounds, priestess of Moriya." Now the shrine maiden seems taken aback, actually worried and uncomfortable.
"I –"
"I said to be quiet!" Remilia's roar nearly has physical force, and the shrine maiden flinches back. "You come here, pretending to be a hero, accuse my sister of something so crude and crass as to mutilate someone to keep her prisoner, disrupt my party, and harass my guest. Sanae Kochiya, that is why Reimu is infinitely your superior as Gensokyo's Shrine Maiden – because she understands how this world works. She knows what she can and cannot do, and she respects the divide between Human and Youkai. She is no hypocrite – and even if I hadn't pledged to support her so long as I can, I would never support a fool like you." The world seems to creak around you as Remilia continues her sneering diatribe, and the air itself takes on a red tint from your sister's exertion, and power bleeds onto her dress – almost literally, as a red splotch appears on her dress, and long, thick streak travels from her left shoulder to the hem, and more crimson droplets scatter over the rest of the once-white dress. "You will walk back to your shrine, Sanae Kochiya. You will climb the steps of the mountain of youkai with your own two feet, and you will not rest until you return to your shrine. Go." Something seems to snap, and the air feels dull and heavy as the shrine maiden turns woodenly and begins walking toward the wrecked door. The crowd silently parts for her – then begins filing after her, eventually leaving only Reimu, Yukari's group, the tengu, and Alice. Yuuka chuckles and claps her hands as Remilia's wings droop tiredly.
"Man, now I'm really upset I didn't get to kill you. It would have been fun, wouldn't it? A good show, though." She raises her parasol in a salute and saunters off; her magician friend bows politely over her staff and follows her.
"… I trust you won't continue to make a habit of this, Remilia? Or have you forgotten our last talk?" Remilia waves distractedly and Yukari takes a breath before nodding. "Well, we can talk again later." She nods and glances at Ilya, then a rift opens behind her, eyes peering out, and hands grasp her and her familiar, pulling them in and then vanishing as if it had never existed. Reimu crosses her arms as the tengu fly down; the second tengu is pale and seems to be trying to keep Aya between her and Remilia.
"So, do I get to know what's going on?" Remilia smiles at her before looking at Aya. The tengu shrugs.
"If they'll keep quiet, I guess I can change the report. But I'll have to give them something – everyone's going to know that something major happened between you and Sanae, if nothing else." The other tengu's jaw drops and she stares at Aya.
"Follow the brat and get her side of the story. Or just make something up – say that she said something incredibly stupid to my sister, which is perfectly true. And I might have something for you in a day or two, so keep your schedule flexible." Aya raises an eyebrow at that and Reimu clears her throat angrily. "What's going on … she's Illyasviel von Einzbern, Reimu. That's all that matters, really. For the rest – I think you know already, actually. If you still can't work it out, I'll tell you later." Reimu glares for a few more seconds before sighing and walking away, shaking her head. The tengu follow her. Alice looks at Ilya, then at you, then at Remilia, expression perfectly neutral. Her dolls, however, seem almost anxious, never quite as motionless as they were when you first entered.
"… I'm sorry, Remilia." Your sister smiles at you and shakes her head.
"It's not your fault; I meant to tell you to keep away from Sanae. And before I forget again – during parties, at least, if you need something, just say Sakuya's name. She'll be able to hear you and will come to see what you need. Sakuya, make sure you remind her before the next party."
"Yes, Milady." Sakuya bows deeply.
"U-um …. I …." You turn to look at Ilya; she still looks worried, and a little confused. You start to head toward her, but a small red chain appears against your waist, holding you back. You frown at your sister.
"I'll have to talk to Patchouli about some of her methods, I think. As for you – what you believe is true, is. This is Gensokyo, the land of fantasy and illusion. You are Illyasviel von Einzbern, as I told Reimu. You're as real as Flandre, Alice, or I." You frown, and so does Ilya. Your sister isn't being clear, and you're a little worried about that … although she definitely did something that tired her out, so maybe you should just give her some time before you try to get an explanation out of her.
"And I'm getting to hear all this … why?" Remilia sighs and faces the magician.
"Because your payment is bound up in the 'truth.' You are interested in helping, aren't you? You'll learn more about Illyasviel, about the 'truth,' and the nature of your payment should shed some light on things as well." You scowl. Remilia may be tired, but she's still capable of speaking plainly. That she isn't is a little annoying. And Ilya looks better, but is that because whatever problem she had was resolved, or because your sister did something to her? Still … maybe it can wait. If Ilya wants to stay at the party, you can put off finding out what's going on.
What do you do?
[ ] Make Remilia explain what's going on.
[ ] Take Ilya back to the library so she can get some rest.
- [ ] Ask her why Sanae's accusation seemed to upset her so much.
[ ] Stay at the party.
- [ ] See if Yuuka is still here. She seemed to be in a good mood.
- [ ] Find the fairies.
- [ ] Just go through the party and see if you recognize anyone.
[ ] Other?
Anyone have any desperate wish to visit the Moriya Shrine with everyone when Flan gets back?
