Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 4

[Oldmansour]

>"Not without downsides. Several times I tried to find an opportunity to use it against Ice, but her attacks were too swift. Though yes, effective when circumstances present."

>"Ya think it would've worked even if you'd had a chance to fire it?"
>"What do you mean?" Lily asks.
>"Well, if these demons have powers based in elements, they might be immune to that element if someone tried to use it against 'em. Sorta like, tryin' to fight a fire by throwing fire on it. Ain't gonna work that well. These demons might work the same way."

[DracoOmega]

>"I admit I am unsure whether the feedback takes the same nature as the attack it is countering or not - though at the very least it could still prevent it from working as intended."

[Oldmansour]

>"I admit I am unsure whether the feedback takes the same nature as the attack it is countering or not - though at the very least it could still prevent it from working as intended."

>Rin nods. "And at least we know it works on one of Water's tricks. That'll come in handy if he gets frisky. Hang on."
>The kasha pauses as you draw near to your target, a blind alleyway behind the shopping square, accessed by a dirt path. A wet dirt path, no less. Rin's ears twitch as her youkai senses work. "There's some activity from the square, but I don't think anything that'll bother us." she reports after a moment.

[DracoOmega]

>"Good."
>Continue onward to seclusion

[Oldmansour]

>"Good."
>Continue onward to seclusion

>Treading around the shallow, muddy puddles, you and your crew walk down the dirt 'road' past the side entrance into the square, and duck down into the graffiti-sprayed alleyway sandwiched between two businesses. Not the sort of place you'd like to spend a large amount of time, but the walls surrounding you are high, and the only object present is a green metal dumpster. Should be isolated enough for your purposes, despite the smell of muddy water and rust.

[DracoOmega]

>Kisume's not hiding in that dumpster, is she?
>Give a little sweep of the area with what magical senses we can access in this form, then verify with Rin that nobody is coming
>Then let's transform

[Oldmansour]

>Kisume's not hiding in that dumpster, is she?
>Give a little sweep of the area with what magical senses we can access in this form, then verify with Rin that nobody is coming
>Then let's transform

>It's probably not bucket-shaped enough. Of course, one never knows for sure...
>Your extrasensory perception agrees with Rin's report, and in short order, the three of you once more resume your Magical guises.

[DracoOmega]

>Take out the vial of water and let's get to work on constructing that keystone

[Oldmansour]

>Take out the vial of water and let's get to work on constructing that keystone

>Producing your prototype key to the Water Prison, you focus your will upon the item, and once more reach out towards the Oubliette of the Water Demon. The salty water in the vial shimmers and takes on a bluish glow as you mentally couple the item to the link between you and the spell holding water.
>"That's a good sign, right?" Rin asks cautiously.

[DracoOmega]

>Is it? At least do we think it is?

[Oldmansour]

>Is it? At least do we think it is?

>It certainly seems to be. You sense that the little vial of salty water is now, like yourself, linked to the Rainbow Oubliette spell.

[DracoOmega]

>And how exactly would we use this to enter it?
>And take the others with us?

[Oldmansour]

>And how exactly would we use this to enter it?
>And take the others with us?

>The vial isn't so much for allowing you access, it's to give you something to lock onto to bring you back. It's a physical link between this world, the physical world, and the world you created for Water. Sort of like a safety rope, in layman's terms.
>Lily naturally has the same connection you do with the Oubliette, her power being part of it. She can follow you unaided. Rin, however, might need a little help. You may need to link your power to hers when you make the trip from this world into the next. An extension of your will and hers should accomplish this.

[DracoOmega]

>Would the vial physically come with us when we enter, then?
>Is it conceivable that Water could somehow use this vial and its link to the outside world as a means of his own escape, should he get his hands on it somehow?

[Oldmansour]

>Would the vial physically come with us when we enter, then?
>Is it conceivable that Water could somehow use this vial and its link to the outside world as a means of his own escape, should he get his hands on it somehow?

>You're actually not completely sure on that one.
>No. Only you and those who share your power can utilize this touchstone.

[DracoOmega]

>"I believe so, yes."
>"Rin, because you were not involved in the creation of this prison, you lack the same link to it which Lily and I share. That may make it more difficult for you to enter. But I believe if we join our powers together, I can guide you along, using my own connection with it."

[Oldmansour]

>"I believe so, yes."
>"Rin, because you were not involved in the creation of this prison, you lack the same link to it which Lily and I share. That may make it more difficult for you to enter. But I believe if we join our powers together, I can guide you along, using my own connection with it."

>Rin's tails twitch just a bit. "Why do I get the feelin' this is gonna get a bit weird?" she says with a cautious grin. Like a woman about to go bungee jumping.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile a little
>"It might. Though if it's any comfort, the experience will be new to me as well."
>Pause. Frown slightly.
>"Or perhaps that's not a comforting fact at all."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile a little
>"It might. Though if it's any comfort, the experience will be new to me as well."
>Pause. Frown slightly.
>"Or perhaps that's not a comforting fact at all."

>"'course it is." Lily announces, giving Rin a mighty hug. "New things are good! Especially when you have friends around, too!"

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps they are, at that. Are you ready?"
>Do we have a good sense of exactly how we can guide Rin into Water's prison?
>For that matter, how exactly are we entering, if the keystone is apparently not central to doing that?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have a good sense of exactly how we can guide Rin into Water's prison?
>For that matter, how exactly are we entering, if the keystone is apparently not central to doing that?

>It's quite central, assuming you want to be able to return to this world again.
>Earlier today, you reached your mind out to touch the Oubliette where you left it. To visit there simply requires a greater extension of will. The Touchstone you created gives you something to lock onto to pull yourself back into this world when you're done in the other.
>Taking Rin along for the ride should involve nothing more than joining your will to hers, not entirely unlike you did earlier today against the Ice Champion.

>"Perhaps they are, at that. Are you ready?"

>Lily nods enthusiastically, while Rin seems a bit more subdued. (Not that this is hard) "Yes, mistress."

[DracoOmega]

>Take firm grip of the keystone in one hand and extend the other to Rin
>"Take my hand."
>Once taken: "I will now reach out towards the prison, as we left it. Reach with me."

>Extend our will towards the Oubliette and take us there together

[Oldmansour]

>Take firm grip of the keystone in one hand and extend the other to Rin
>"Take my hand."
>Once taken: "I will now reach out towards the prison, as we left it. Reach with me."

>Extend our will towards the Oubliette and take us there together

>Rin places her hand in yours, gripping it tightly. Lily meanwhile places her left hand on your shoulder, her right hand on Rin's. You sense her will reaching out from her into the beyond, while Rin's focus is on you. Your spirit and hers entwined, you reach awareness out once more to the Oubliette.
>This time, there is a sensation of instant movement, not so much falling as propulsion forward. You find yourself flying through what seems to be a tunnel of colors stretching out before, a scintillating display of reds upon blues upon greens and everything in between and beyond. You hear Lily whoop in excitement as she flies behind you, while the expression on Rin's face is one of naked wonder, the eyes of a child. She squeezes your hand just a little tighter.

>The walls of the Oubliette appear as a shifting circle of violets and yellows mixed with grey, and while you know they are solid, you and your two friends pass through the barrier without incident. It's an odd sensation, like getting splashed all over with liquid cobwebs, and you find yourself stopped without any deceleration.
>You find yourself standing on a wooded path, the sight and scent of cherry trees in bloom all around you. There is no wind, and cherry blossoms fill the air. You recognize this as one of the walking trails in the Hatori Saigyoji Memorial Park, just as you'd intended, but there is a strange pinkish hue to the trees and grass.

[DracoOmega]

>Look to the other two. How do they both seem?
>Can we sense Water's location at the moment? If so, how far away is he?

[Oldmansour]

>Look to the other two. How do they both seem?
>Can we sense Water's location at the moment? If so, how far away is he?

>Rin's ears are twitching, but your eyes meet as you turn your head, for she was looking towards you as well. That expression of wide-eyed awe is still plastered on her face. "Dat was like flyin' through a rainbow..." Lily, you can see, has already taken to wing, and is fluttering in the air above and slightly away from you both. She seems to be staring at something in the sky.

>Reaching out with your mystic senses, echoes of your own power saturate the area all around you in every direction. It's a curious mix of sensations: the youthful joy and joie de vie from Lily, the sincerity and strength of your own heart, and the fear-laced rigidity of Kiku.
>But as these sensations are that of your own power, you have a quick enough time sorting them out and seeking past them. The black aura of the Water Champion is located not far away, down the trail in a southeasterly direction. That should take you down to the large pond in the park. Water's presence doesn't seem as strong as it did during your battle at the CRA, nor does it seem as malignant. It's still a tangible sensation of evil power, but it's not as vile as it was in the material world.

[DracoOmega]

>"It was quite something, that is certain."
>Look up; what does Lily seem to be looking at?

[Oldmansour]

>"It was quite something, that is certain."
>Look up; what does Lily seem to be looking at?

>"I don't know what I thought that'd be like, but that sure weren't it." Rin stammers out. Her hand has a slight quiver to it.
>As you look up, you see right away what has caught Lily's eye. The sky is not blue. It is a pale shade of pink, and the puffy clouds that dot the rosy ceiling are as green as new grass.

[DracoOmega]

>"Likewise."
>"That is an interesting sky."

[Oldmansour]

>"Likewise."
>"That is an interesting sky."

>"It's PINK!" Lily yells. "It's a pink sky! PINK!"

[DracoOmega]

>"The clouds look rather more peculiar, if I had to offer my own opinion."