Part 9

I was planning to get this up three hours ago, but then food poisoning set in.

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Whenever a character is forced, whatever team they're in is broken up. I think you used to not even be able to give them a partner too, or maybe that was just 40.

Also I screwed up and forgot Marisa was forced, so there was an extra 2.5 leftover. I used the extra space to bring in Kanako instead of Komachi like SyntheticPolygon originally wanted and to put the Oshirasama on Suwako.



Mima and Yuuka may be leaving after IN, but that's no reason not to upgrade them. Yuuka benefits from the FMW E Sakuya Route clear data bonus, incidentally.



I recently found out that FMW3 added a second Revenge mechanic: if a Support Defender is shot down, and they had a friendship with the surviving unit, the ensuing counterattack does boosted damage proportional to the friendship level. I think lowest was x1.2 and highest x1.7? Since the highest friendship a single pair can have in this game is level 6, I would assume the multiplier goes up by 0.1 for every level.

Anyway I was considering giving Alice Support Defend so Marisa could get in on that x1.4 damage, but that would be silly. Especially when she's so close to her second level of Predict.



Kurumi starts with enough PP to learn Ignore Size. That's really the only thing she needs so I pumped the rest into her Ranged stat.



The way pumping stats work is that every five points the amount of PP needed to increase the stat rises. For Melee/Range/Accuracy/Evasion it constantly goes up by 10, while for Skill and Defense it starts at 20 and keeps going up by 15.

This basically means I can blow 100 PP to get a quick +5 to a character's main attack stat and either accuracy or evasion. Anything after that is either for characters who have nothing else they want, or characters who already got everything and wreak enough havoc to get a steady source of PP (*cough* Magic Team *cough*).

Fun Fact: This game does not cap stats at 400. If there is a cap, it's probably 2^64 or whatever the maximum value of doubles were.



Oh and Yuuka comes with a Sunflower so even the people who didn't go through that bullshit in the first game can get one.

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Music: Border of Regular and Irregular Days

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Music: What's the Strategy?

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Music: Border of Regular and Irregular Days

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And I wouldn't have had to bother at all, if Reisen had just captured her to start with.



Are you okay, Rabbit?!

Oh, hey. Is that Lily White I see? I can't believe I spotted her in the summer. I'm one lucky rabbit!

What's your problem?! How can you treat a fellow rabbit this way?!

Let's not play dumb, buddy. You might be a rabbit, but you're no fellow of ours.

She's not?

I-I don't know what you're talking about. I...

I'm Tewi Inaba, and every rabbit in this forest is my minion.

But I've never seen a rabbit like you before.

(Uh-oh, I think she's onto me...!)

No, wait! There's a very good reason for all of this...

Don't care! All I have to do is take you to the master. Once you're disposed of, we should be safe for a while.

Disposed of?! That's too harsh!

Don't bother trying to help her, fairy!



Enemies spawn in.

...!

Whoa, wait a minute! This is too dangerous for you, fairy!

But you saved me...

Fairy...!


Music: The Netherworld's Prism Phantoms

Eeeevil laughter echoes in the shadows cast by the moon in the sky...

A concert is underway, bearing the tears of people who got tragically pranked!

The Prismriver Phantom Ensemble...

The Prismrivers spawn in.

Will be there, whether you call for us or not!

Whoa, what now?!

Oh wow, I know them.

Hello, spring fairy! It's been months, huh?

Looks like our lucky color of the day is white!

Wh-whaaat? They came out of nowhere and started a concert?

Hey, hold it right there! You can go to people's rescue all you want, but no unauthorized concerts here! This is my turf. If you wanna play, you gotta pay!

Ack, what do we do, Sis?! Nothing ruins a surprise concert faster than a landlord!

Don't worry. We can make that rabbit over there pay our protection fee.

What?! I don't have any local money!

And all I have to give is an overabundance of spring...

Yeesh. And here I thought this was as good as done...

Fine. The Bamboo Forest is filled with my traps. If you think you can get out for free, you've got another thing coming!

Don't underestimate our concerts, or you're in for some hurt!

Lunasa, let's lift our ban on solo acts for this!

It's time for a nighttime rescue show, courtesy of the Prismriver Phantom Ensemble!





This level of zoom doesn't show off the entire map, but at least you can actually see the units.

Thanks to the lose condition, the best way to handle the beginning of this chapter is



to have everyone hide north like a coward. The Prismrivers can theoretically take on the enemy grunts even completely unupgraded, but it's not worth the risk.

A cutscene starts on the third player phase.

Hmm, there's something missing when it's just us.

Yeah. Our only audience is spoiling for a fight!

Heheheh, that's what you get for entering my turf. I'll sic these guys on you too, just to be on the safe side!

Music: Theme of the Detestable Youkai



Enemy reinforcements!

Wow, now there's an audience with no appreciation for music whatsoever!

This is getting kind of out of hand...

Come on! You're here to save me, aren't you? You can do better than that!

That sounds pretty silly coming from out of a pitfall.

Lily, don't you have anyone with you?

No, I was out looking for Reimu's group. But I got caught in birdlime before I could find them.

Too bad, we could've used the backup!

...Hm?

There's some noise coming closer!

Music: Fantasy Maidens Appear!



Player reinforcements!

This time you guys got four new named pairs. Suwako and Nitori are Aquatic Impact, Elly and Kurumi are the Fantasy Servant Team, Yuuka and Wriggle are Flower and Bug, and Luna and Star are Moonlight and Starlight.

I knew I recognized this music! It's the Prismriver Ensemble!

It would never escape the ears of die-hard fans like us!

Hey, it's those humans again. And Miss Yasaka and Miss Moriya...

And Sunny, and some bug I don't know!

Hey, is that Lily?! I thought you only showed up for spring!

The night and the moon are acting all funny, so I went out to look into it.

That makes sense. Fairies would be closely in tune with changes in nature.

It's good to see you're not out of sorts like last time.

Are you friends of the fairy? If you are, then save me!

What's with that pit? I think there's a rabbit fussing inside of it.

Prismriver sisters, would you mind explaining this?

There's not much for us to explain. We were just throwing a concert!

All we know is that the rabbit over there is targeting the rabbit over here.

Maybe it's connected to the incident, somehow.

(Ugh. This is turning into a real headache. I'll have to talk my way out of this now...)

Hey, if you're looking into the night thing, I've got a tip for you.

The night thing? Who are you, anyway?

I'm the senior youkai rabbit. I know more about this area than anybunny.

I see. In that case, by all means. Is there anything you know about this incident?

Oh, tons. According to my rabbit minions... the real culprit making the night last so long is in that devil mansion way off thataway!

Wait, devil mansion...?!

Yeah, a vampire lives there, and she's stretching out the night to try and conquer Gensokyo. I hear that whole brouhaha last summer was totally her fault, too. You'd better go exterminate her!

...A clever lie, coming from a rabbit.

It might have even worked, if we weren't here.

Huh? What are you talking about?

Nice try. That vampire's staff is right here with us!

Surely you don't believe you could fool us this late in the game.

Hoo boy, I wasn't expecting you guys to be like, friends and stuff.

Granted, it wouldn't be terribly surprising, coming from Remilia.

But at least we know this rabbit's up to no good now.

(The humans and fairies are one thing, but they've got some heavyweight youkai there. I'll have to give up on the rabbit for now and lead 'em around some.)



Music: Our Hearts Still Shine Brightly



Since you guys gave me Sunny alone and Luna and Star on a single team, I could form the Three Fairies. They proceeded to whiff a 89%.



Mima had no such issues. Oh yeah, I also learned that Support Attack's penalty to damage is inversely proportional to Cost. So as a 3.5, Mima is seeing the lowest damage reduction. And she's L so she's getting a Size bonus to boot.



There are a bunch of enemies up north, so that's where Magic Team will be going.



Aquatic Impact went up to follow them, but it turns out that even after being in two games Nitori doesn't have 50 kills yet. So she can't use her team attack by default.



Not that Suwako cares with the Oshirasama on. Speaking of that, its effect was changed for FMW3: aside from buffing base damage, now it also slightly decreases the damage penalty on Team Attacks. Both of these buffs vary depending on the character's original cost, with the damage buff being inversely proportional (1.5's get +350, 2.5s and higher get +250) and the penalty reduction being just proportional (2.0s and under do 0.05% more damage, and 2.5 and higher do 0.1% more).



Down below, Wriggle embraces her purpose in life for this chapter: casting Accel on Yuuka.

My happy sound's just rushing out!



And further up north are the initial four characters, who all just got +5 to Power thanks to Merlin's MAP.

This is my sound!



Which clears the way for Lyrica, whose own MAP buffs the Hit/Evade of allies in a selected cross-shaped area.



And I guess Lunasa has her Power debuffing MAP, but it's not very useful.



Mima doesn't even have to defend or cast Guard to make her barrier work.



Just like how the Three Fairies have S-Formation as a combination attack while separated and a regular move while combined, the Prismrivers can use Prism Concerto even uncombined.



Enemies senselessly suiciding into Magic Team never gets old. Though Alice isn't Reimu, so bosses can usually get a non-zero hit rate on her. Good thing Marisa has boss duty!



Uh, okay then.





Really not the best idea.

If you're wondering how Yuuka already has enough Power to use Master Spark, it's because I had her cast Drive first thing. She can usually rely on her Double Image or Shield Defense to tank for her, so all she really needs her SP for is Strike. One Drive won't hurt too much.

I meant to ask you earlier. What's the Prismriver Ensemble doing here?

Oh yeah, I never asked that, either.

Well, we were in the middle of throwing a concert.

The night was lasting a while, so we came up with a surprise concert plan.

We're going to have a rock music countdown festival that lasts until the sun comes up. We called it Rising Sun!

Yeah, that's the kind of spur-of-the-moment excitement you guys are known for!

Can you really keep it up, though? This countdown might never end.

Never...?

There's an incident going on that's keeping the night from ending. Kanako finally got out of the house for once to resolve it!

...That was uncalled for.

Uh-oh. If we keep going nonstop and dawn never comes...

Our audience will be completely worn out. It'll probably mess with our popularity.

In that case, you should help us!

Sure, why not? Sis, we could do the thing!

Yeah, our super specialty!

Okay, sure. We've worked up enough excitement for it.

Merlin, Lyrica, get close. It's ensemble time.



So now the Prismrivers can combine.

There, now I'm feeling warmed up!

The tempo's just perfect!

What is this? Are you gonna make a human pyramid or something?

Bzzt. Close, but not even close!

Fairy trio, watch and learn!

Ooh, I could never forget this...!

It's time for our ensemble performance!



Music: The Netherworld's Prism Phantoms

*squealing* This is the Prisms at their bests! With their three hearts combined as one, their sound and appeal are over three times as great!

...Elly's been very excited over this. Is there a reason behind that?

I guess we were the only ones that missed out last time. Ever since she went to a recent show of theirs, she's been a huge fan.

We're concert buddies, too.

It's nice enough music, I suppose...

She won't stop raving about them to me and Yuuka. It's gotten kind of annoying, actually.

She keeps giving us band merchandise...

Sunny, we can't let them outshine us!

Of course not! Put some spirit into this! We can take 'em on anytime!

Okay, then. Spirit, spirit, spirit!



The Prismrivers rule. Unlike the Three Fairies they're designed like a regular combining Super Robot, so they've got a host of useful spirits and strong attacks. They're also packing Synchronize, which is basically the Elements System; at 120 Power, all of Lunasa's stats are set to the highest value among all three sisters. It doesn't count stat boosts though, so I can't pretend this is SRW Z.



Where the Prismrivers really shine, though, is that they can split up and rejoin as many times as they want as long as Lunasa has her action. The Three Fairies can do this too, but Luna and Star can't do much beyond provide slight buffs. Merlin and Lyrica? I already showed you their MAPs. Only thing to keep in mind is that the MP of the combined form is the average of all three sisters upon combining, so if I spam MAPs too much I won't get as much done with the main form. You know, if I didn't bring any MP renewers at all for some reason.

...Though I get the feeling that might happen in this playthrough.



This trio has much less spirit overlap than the Three Fairies. In general, Lunasa provides Fury and Grit, Merlin casts Strike and Guard, and Lyrica uses Focus and Alert.



Getting back to the chapter, Kanako bemoans not having Hit and Away



because it means she's stuck way in the back if she wants to use her stronger moves.

Music: Our Hearts Still Shine Brightly

I was kind of tempted to make every song this chapter to be either the Prismrivers' or the Three Fairies' theme, but I probably shouldn't.



Rabbits are annoying because they're usually grounded. And since the Bamboo Forest of the Lost is covered in, well, bamboo, they usually have a +15% to defense. Add that to their -20% damage danmaku field effect, and they get surprisingly tanky.



More importantly, upon becoming a player unit Wriggle got a new attack.

Music: -Fixed Star- Twinkling Rigel



It rules.



Oh look, it's one of those bulkier turret type enemies.





I seriously thought Magic Team had a love bonus (buffs damage instead of hit/evade) the first time I played this game, they just do so much damage.



The other annoying thing about rabbits is that every single one of them has both Support Attack and Support Defend.



Not that it matters to me since I've got Support Attack on just about everyone too.



Most of the enemies have been cleaned up by turn 5, so time to deal with Tewi.



Who is the first boss with Special Resistance. It makes her immune to the Pressure spirit as well as some of the sillier personal skills, and makes it so her Power can't drop below 100.



She has her own gimmick too; as long as any enemy is in her danmaku field, she can force them to Support Defend for her.



But that just means I have to kill them first.

Gah, what's someone like you doing with humans?!

That's a nasty remark to make when you see someone's face. Are you going to try another one of those adorable little lies on me?

Oh, not in the least! The less I have to do with you, the better.

What a good liar you are. All right, I'll play with you.

Ack, I was afraid you'd be a headache to deal with!

Music: Pounded Lies and Mochi in the Moonlit Night



Oh that's right, Yuuka's Flower Shot makes flowers spring up if the enemy is on the ground.



Also unless I somehow get Tewi to exhaust all 40 shots of Bare White Rabbit of Inaba, I can't really record an all attacks video. That'll have to wait till she joins, which is a long time away.

A fight among rabbits? There's gotta be more to this than meets the eye.

There's nothing to it at all. It's got nothing to do with any incidents.

Oh, come on. Even I'm not that stupid. That was an obvious lie. I can tell, cause you scratch your nose when you lie.

Ack, really?!

Hah, I lied! You fell for it!



Kind of a shame since she has some neat attacks. But Reisen has similar problems so I guess it's only fitting.

This is the one time I should be grateful to you. You made it so I got to see the Prisms in action!

Please, you're making me blush. I just did what I could, is all. If you really wanna show your gratitude, you can pay this bill.

A finder's fee?! Yikes, it's a rough world in rabbit land!



I wanted to see if Floor Tiles pierced Special Resistance, and turns out they do. That could come in handy.

Now then, who needs experience the most... oh, right.

It's not right to mix fact and fiction!

Like I'm gonna sit here listening to a lecture from a junior kappa. Don't you ever hide things when it's more convenient that way?

Well, yeah... There was this one time I messed with an experimental gadget of Marisa's, and I may have, uh, blown it up...



I was kind of worried Tewi would trigger Random Dodge. Her PS doubles the activation rate.



But nope, Nitori's caught up now.

Grr, these are some pretty tough humans.

Wow! You can do it, humans!

I don't know how I feel about getting cheered on by a complete stranger...

Yeah, this rabbit is nothing to you guys. Just ignore her. If I can nab her, that's all I want outta this.

You just tried to tell us a baldfaced lie.

That was just an unfortunate misunderstanding. How about some negotiation, then?

Hand over the rabbit, and I'll tell you the truth about this incident. That's a win-win. Then both sides are happy, right?

I-I'm a bargaining tool now?!

Indeed, I care nothing for the fate of that rabbit.

Surely you wouldn't be so cruel!

Yeah! Don't you pity Rabbit!?

Lady Mima, times like this call for more greed.

How about we beat you up? Then we get the rabbit and our info. That's a real win-win!

Only for your side!

You're pretty capable, Marisa.

Of course I am. This is how I roll.

Keep watching, Lady Mima. I'll show you my best!

Your best, hm... Very well. Show me.

Man, you guys don't know how to listen to your elders. Fine, then I'll prank you with both truth and lies!







Ancient Duper's effect is weird. Basically the screen is divided into two halves that intersect on Tewi's row. Tewi will pick a half, and then debuff the Power of everyone in it by 50. Or if I'm lucky, buff the Power, but that's rare.

The bonus wants me to wait till turn 3 to capture it, with the idea being that by then it'll be harder to beat her with my weakened units.

You picked the wrong mistress to lie about!

Lemme guess, you must be a youkai from the devil mansion. I can't believe that place even has a Chinese youkai. What a mishmash!



But I can just cripple Tewi on the first turn and then wait.



By the way, if Ancient Duper misses the shark Tewi summons eats her instead.

Maybe it's because I only just got back to Gensokyo... But even little youkai like you seem to catch my interest more than usual.

As I should! I'm pretty interesting, I'll have you know. And if you wanna see someone even more interesting, head into the forest over there.

Sorry, but you're already shown your true face.



That should do it.



She picked the bottom half first.

Alright then, next time it's the top that'll be dangerous! ...Maybe.

For the second turn onwards, Tewi gives a warning which side she'll pick next.



Meiling's the next unit on the Cheer train.





Tewi drops a Four-leaf Clover, which increases the amount of Points acquired after kills.

I guess trickery's impossible with this many people...

You've got spirit. You just need to watch out for tunnel vision.

Let's capture her now, while we can.

On it! I've got this!

Guess I'll have to use my last resort...!

My master's specially made acute lachrymal potion!



Tear gas! Fall back, everybody!

Heh, heh, heh. That's what you get for assuming you've won.

I'll accept my loss gracefully for now, but I'm coming to get that rabbit one way or another!

Argh, I can't believe she had a drug that even works on youkai...!

Tewi scampers off.

The smoke's disappearing.

But she made a clean getaway!

That was embarrassing. I was hardly expecting her to have THAT.

I think our opposition is prepared for a fight.

You gotta be kidding! I was this close to capturing her! Now I've made a fool out of myself in front of Lady Mima.

...

The way she was acting, she has to be part of this incident. Along with that rabbit she was hung up over...

*cough* *cough* The gas is still down in here...

...Hm?

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say they're gonna bring you along for the ride.

Please, don't be too rough with her!

We know. C'mon, Prismrivers, you can join us too!





I got a Hourai Doll shot down while trying to record Tewi's attacks before I realized it wasn't feasible.

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Hey, Alice. Gimme a doll real quick.

Certainly, but what for?

Heheheh. If you fix it up like this... Ta-dah! It's me and Dai!

Goodness, that's very clever. What next?

Heheheh, you do this like so, and... Ta-dah! It's me and Dai in a buddy pose!

Ooh. It's lovely, but... Are you trying to insinuate something here?