Part 50: Perfect Blackened Cherry Blossom

Just a little longer.





Music: Above the Gorgeous Cherry Blossoms

Hey you better click that link because it's the best song in the game!



Oh, Youmu. Are you done with work for the day?

So that's Youmu's master. I guess that means the tree behind her is...

The Saigyo Ayakashi. Luckily it doesn't look like it's blooming yet.

Look, everyone, this is where all of Gensokyo's spring has been gathered.

It's a sea of cherry blossoms... it's almost like it doesn't belong in this world.

The rotten stench of corpses is making me gag though. What a depressing spring.

It's full of dead spirits too, how annoying.

So what business do you have here? Isn't it a bit rude to barge into someone else's garden with nothing but complaints?

Isn't it obvious? We're here to take back the spring you've stolen.

Both humans and youkai are suffering from the long winter! We can't let this situation go on any longer!

Oh. That's a rather rude thing to ask, when we have so many cherry blossoms here.

...Youmu, knowing what they were planning, you still led them to me?

Please listen, Lady Yuyuko! That cherry tree is actually a fiendish youkai! If the seal breaks, then even you won't be safe from it!

I believe I said I wanted to make this tree bloom. Did I ask anything else of you?

But, Lady Yuyuko!

She's not listening at all. I suppose telling her how dangerous it is won't work.

Hmph, maybe she'll listen to a blast of magic.

Winter ends today! I'm taking back spring!

And if you were on Reimu's route:

No, I'm the one who will reach her goal today.

Once I partake of your meager spring, this tree shall finally bloom.





The final map of the game. Landing on any of the trees gives a 10% buff to Defense and Evasion.

...

Youmu, you don't have the luxury to hesitate!

My apologies. However, I still can't believe I'm really fighting Lady Yuyuko...

Do you want to try persuading her again? She might listen to you.

It's no use. As you just saw, she'd never listen to me. There's only one path left to me.

Don't tell me you plan to take up arms against your master?!

There is no other way.

If I must fight her to stop her, then so be it! This is how I'll protect you, Lady Yuyuko!



Also you get a cool background for the battle animations.

Yuyuko is on the ground herself, so for the moment I'll be grounding everyone but Aya (since she has a B on the ground).



I switched out Lily's Breath of Life PS for Spring Breeze. This lets me use her MAP post-movement. And funny thing about It's Spring: it doesn't hurt allies.



One of the annoying things about Youmu is having to constantly switch from Five Signs of the Dying Deva to Half Ghost every time an enemy attacks from far away.



Having Aya (and Tailwind) around really expands what Lily can do with her MAP. It's not actually that good of an idea, mind you, since Sanae and Aya would appreciate the experience much more. But see if I care.



Everyone is pretty scattered by the time I finish cleaning up the enemies, so I take a few turns to form up.

Music: A Butterfly Amidst Scattering Petals

Yuyuko wasn't feeling very patient though.

I'm taking back spring.

How direct.

I'm not here to make small talk. I want to resolve this incident, and that tree's seal looks like it's about to break.

But thanks to the spring you've brought me, we'll soon be covered by a sea of cherry blossoms.

Sorry, but no one wants that.

Return beneath the flowers, ghost of spring!



Yuyuko actually hits pretty hard, but it's a moot point with Meiling on the scene.



Just like Kanako, Yuyuko is built to tank so everyone in the party can easily hit her. Unlike Kanako, she has Shield Defense.



And vaguely defensive stats. Normal defanged her as well, but not as much as it did with the Moriya gods.



It took me a couple of turns to make a decent formation, but I'm all set now. Still really wish I had gotten Support Defend on Letty though!

To be honest, I'm sort of interested in what you're doing.

Oh, then why don't you help me gather spring?

Nah. It sounds dangerous. And anyway, I made her a promise.

With my magic, I'll take back my depressing spring!

The PCB translation's "boring spring" was straight up wrong, unfortunately.



Marisa and Alice start off strong.

Return the spring you've stolen!

A fairy of spring... you must have come here here looking for spring. You needn't worry, it will be returned once I'm done with it.

That's unacceptable. I can hear the life whispering, it doesn't want to be here...

Spring will never come to you!



Lily blows the rest of her MP on one last It's Spring!,



and Momiji tries to go for the kill in a Support Attack but runs into Shield Defense. The irony.

Surely you don't seriously intend to stand against me.

Lady Yuyuko..!

You've never had a scary face like that during fencing practice.

In any case, you're shaking. What do you expect to cut with that wobbling sword of yours?

(...This is bad. Even after managing to point my sword at her, I still hesitate...)

(But, I can't lose my way here!)





So Youmu seals the deal.



What? Did the Saigyo Ayakashi just bloom a little?!

It's spring! The power of spring is being gathered in that tree!

Oh? Thanks to you people, it's finally started budding.

So we brought the last bit of spring she needed ourselves?

Why do you want to bloom the Saigyo Ayakashi anyway?

Let's see, I suppose I might as well tell you. You've gone through all the trouble of helping me, after all.

It was just a short while ago. In summer perhaps? I was doing some reading and happened to come across an old record. According to that record, beneath the Saigyo Ayakashi there rests the corpse of "the Fujimi girl".

"The Fujimi girl"?

The wiki translated "Fujimi" as "bears witness to death", but as far as either Hokuto or Clarste can tell that was just someone being overwrought. It's a name.

Almost everything in the Netherworld is spiritual, so the idea of a corpse being buried here intrigued me. I have no doubt that if I make the Saigyo Ayakashi bloom and break its seal, she will be revived along with it.

So that's your aim? To resurrect the dead?

As the administrator of the Netherworld, you, of all people, should know not to disrupt the circle of transmigration...

So you're saying you stole all of our spring just to revive this one person?

Just how many lives do you think you've endangered?!

Oh, but isn't it interesting to be a step behind the seasons?

Of course it isn't! Don't mess with the seasons!

Disrupting the flow of the four seasons is unforgivable.

Unfortunately for you, I've already gathered enough spring.

Now, wandering soul, return to your place beneath the cherry blossoms!






Village of Self-loss spawns in some extra spirits every turn, and also flips direction. I guess it cuts Move too, but not like I'm moving.



It's random which direction it starts with, but I got lucky and had the spirits spawn on the left first. One of the spirits in that wave has a bomb.

What you're doing is definitely wrong!

What an outspoken youkai. Why would you think that?

Everyone has people who care about them... Treating anyone's life so lightly is the same as trampling on those people!

I'm sure it is. But doesn't that apply to the Fujimi girl too? She threw away her own life... why would she waste it like that?



I feel like the final bosses got most of the animation budget this game. Definitely check out the attack video.

So you're the culprit behind this long winter. I've finally found you.

A youkai of winter has come to the place where I've been making cherry blossoms bloom? How out of place.

I wonder, which of us is out of place? I would think the one who stole spring is the bigger distortion of the seasons.

I'll make you realize that, here and now.

How ridiculous, a youkai of winter dancing about for the return of spring.

I won't deny that. But once I beat you and eliminate the distortion, I should be able to get some sleep too.



Also I kind of wonder if Yuyuko's default laser is supposed to be the Unicorn's beam magnum. Or maybe just a regular beam rifle.

Have you, too, brought some spring for the Saigyo Ayakashi?

Huh? What are you talking about?

Can you see it? That tree is slowly but steadily being covered with flowers. With just a bit more spring, we'd be able to see it in full bloom.

...What's with her? It's like she's not even looking at me.



Also I have been getting surprisingly lucky with Shield Defense.



And of course as soon as I think that she triggers it on Fantasy Seal.



Most of the spirits on the left all went for Sanae, who got a level of Shrine Maiden out of it.

Another shot of Master Spark + Shanghai Doll finished off the first spell.



I see, so this is the color of its blossoms.

What do we do?! Her plan is proceeding smoothly!

What's so fun about bringing back the dead, anyway?

Oh, but don't you want to know too? What feelings could have led her to die beneath a cherry tree?

You want to revive someone just so you can ask how they felt when they died?! Show some respect for the dead! Think of all the people who are suffering for your hubris!

Well, I've never died before. I can invite both people and youkai to their deaths for fun.

Perhaps you would like to try it out yourself?

...!!

This is bad, is she going to use her power over death?!

What do we do?!

Stop!



Invisible Mokou valiantly... moves away from Yuyuko?

This scene works better if you actually deploy Mokou and Keine. Kind of weird they weren't forced.

To get to Keine, you'll have to go through me!

M-Mokou?!

You fool! Whatever the circumstances may be, stepping out voluntarily is a terrible idea.

...

I see, so you're one of the Hourai. That startled me. To think my power wouldn't work on you.

Huh? Why didn't it work?!

...I don't die. Her power won't work on me.

I see, so that's the secret behind your invisible lifespan.

But, Mokou, that was supposed to be-

It's fine, Keine. Who cares about that dumb secret, anyway?

Well, you all heard that too, right? If you value your lives, stay behind me.

No way. I'm not leaving this to you just because you can't die.

Since we're not immortal, all we have to do is not get hit, right?

Says the one who's been getting hit all chapter.

Both of you, what are you-

You all love shooting off at the mouth, don't you? However, once death's butterflies begin to guide you, escaping is no easy task.






Law of Mortality is where you'll first see Yuyuko's main gimmick: limiting HP restoration. My only healer at the moment is Lily though, and she's out of MP. So I didn't have any healing anyway!

Well, I guess I have Vigor and Guts on a couple people.



The bigger issue is that Graze damage can add up fast, so unless you're Reimu and can't be hit you might run into trouble.

I've always been prepared to put my life in danger for the sake of another.

But putting someone else's life in danger for the sake of another? There's definitely something wrong with that!

That's not something I was really thinking about when I decided to gather spring.

There's just one thing I want to know. As long as I get my answer, nothing else matters.



Another pretty attack.

If the Saigyo Ayakashi is revived, many people will be put in danger. How you ever thought about the feelings of the people you're hurting?

Who knows? I've been in the Netherworld for as long as I can remember. I wonder... have I ever lost someone to death?

I just can't believe you'd start an incident over something like that.

I'll stop both your plan and this long winter!



I intended to have Sanae attack earlier, but then I accidentally casted Gain and decided I may as well go with it. So she got the boss kill, and three levels.



And another level of Living God!



What an attack... is everyone all right?

Yeah. Sheesh, what a pain.

Lady Yuyuko, please stop! Any more and you'll be in danger! Do you know what will really happen if you revive this tree?

My. First you refuse to listen to what I say, then you offer your opinion without my asking?

It's still not too late you know. We can watch the Saigyo Ayakashi bloom together.

...No. No matter what you say, I can't turn back now. You're more important to me than your orders!

...

Wow, you've got some spirit! I can respect that.

Yes, Youmu's resolve is certainly praiseworthy!

...Then show me what that resolve can possibly accomplish.






Swallowtail Butterfly's a MAP.



Alice still has a shot of Shanghai Doll left, but Marisa is basically out of MP.



Good thing Proto Malice Cannon is so cheap!



Her HP was still a little too low, though, and I was worried Luna might die if she takes another hit for Marisa. Then I remembered Sunny had this.



Yuyuko was kind enough to trigger Shield Defense on Momiji's Support Attack instead of Reimu's main attack.

If I beat you, I'll finally be able to deliver spring for the mistress.

If you continue to stand in my way, the only thing you'll have to deliver is notice of your untimely demise. If you don't want to make your mistress cry, then go home peacefully.

I'm just a servant. I doubt she'd mourn me. But I might disappoint her by failing to complete my duty. That's what I'd really like to avoid.



Really nice of her to give Sakuya a safe chance to attack.

Just a bit more. Just a bit more until the Saigyo Ayakashi is in full bloom. When that happens, all my questions will be answered, and someone will be revived.

What, you're still saying that?!

She wants this so much that she's willing to spread the shadow of death over all of the ground below... Furthermore, this rotten stench of death. Is this really what it's like when someone's about to be resurrected?

That, too, will soon be made clear. This Fujimi girl, who gave up on life beneath this blooming cherry tree.

What was she thinking? What was she hoping for as she went to sleep beneath its branches?



Lady Yuyuko!

Now, my perfect cherry blossom, return her soul!

Yuyuko flies into the tree branches.




I messed up getting Perfect Blackened Cherry Blossom's animation the first time, so I got it from a later turn.



It's kind of funny how little healing restrictions matter in this game.



Everyone will also need to take off to fight Yuyuko, so I'll have to end my turn for now.



There we go. A quick way to tell if a unit is flying or not is to see if there's a little shadow below them.

There's one thing I have to do before finishing off Yuyuko, though.


Watch the video!

I'm gonna tell Yuukaaaa!

RIP Kurumi.

Perfect Blackened Cherry Blossom will kill basically anyone it hits.



But the key word there was "hits".

So the culprit really did end up being a big shot from the Netherworld. How shocking.

I haven't seen a tengu in a long while. It must be rather dull on the ground below.

Because of this long winter, there isn't a trace of excitement. There are some youkai who are taking it easy, but to the humans it's a major event.

I went through all this trouble of extending the winter, so I wish they'd at least try to enjoy it.

Part of me agrees with you, but if the smell of death gets too dangerous, I won't be able to write an article about it.



It's actually kind of sad how much of a speed bump Yuyuko is.



I mean a quick chain of Shotgunned Fantasy Seal + の Slash > Illusionary Dominance + Killing Doll > Master Spark + Shanghai Doll > Proto Malice Cannon and Yuyuko is at critical.









Yuyuko explodes into cherry blossom petals.



And the Saigyo Ayakashi on the battle screen finally blooms.



Because one time wasn't enough, Yuyuko explodes into petals on the map too. After a fade to white and a long pause...

Did we get her?

Not yet!

Music: Border of Life






Cut to Yuyuko's item drop, the Swallowtail Butterfly Fan. It's a handy item that boosts the maximum Range of attacks and raises critical rate.



If you're wondering what's up with the japanese, on the first run through the game crashed at this point. I switched back to the pre-patched data files to see if they were what caused the game to crash, and the answer turned out to be kind of. The part we released, data5.dat, was fine, but the thing we were working on, data4.dat, was bugging things up.

Anyway Resurrection Butterfly inverts all HP restoration, which can be hilarious if somebody has HP Regen. Or if you cast Guts.



The idea is that I'm supposed to escape from the tree, hiding in safe spots along the way.





It's way easier to just blow all of those bombs I never used though.



And it's not like the attack is very accurate either: Reimu is just going to park on top of it, unfocused and with no spirits cast, and never get hit.



And anyone with Alert (or Guard) is fine too.





So did we get her this time?

Yes, though it's amazing it managed to gather that much spring.

Everybody stares at the tree.

Music: Mystic Prelude

It's quiet now.

So we managed to stop the Saigyo Ayakashi's resurrection?

Yes, it's releasing the stolen spring.

Mother Nature should take care of the rest, and gradually return it to Gensokyo.

That means the incident is resolved!

Good work, everyone. Spring is coming to Gensokyo.

She was tough, but I knew we could do it.

She was, I'm bushed.

I... did I do the right thing?

Youmu?

No matter how delusional she may have been, I raised my sword against Lady Yuyuko.

No, I know you did the right thing.

How?

No matter how much it hurt, you never once looked away. You made me realize just how long I've been running away.

Master...

And with that heavy topic, I think it's about time for us to go.

I got tons of great pictures, so I'm ready for a vacation.

Everybody starts to leave.

...

What, was there something else you had to do?

Sorry, I was just fascinated by it.



It's called the cherry tree of death, but it's shedding its petals so peacefully.

Yes, it makes the fight we just had feel like a dream.

I hate to say this, but I kinda wanted to meet that girl she was trying to revive.

Good grief, how could you say that now?

Well, don't hold your breath for that. And get a good, long look at these cherry blossoms while you still can. Because once these petals are gone, it'll never bloom again.




Yukari, Ran, Chen, Zenki, Goki, and some more ghosts spawn in.

It's those two from earlier, the youkai fox and the bakeneko. And-

Yukari!

What an unpleasant tree. I'd hoped to never see it again.

...You, too, have had the misfortune of encountering it. The sinful cherry tree that must never, and will never, bloom.





The second time around I only lost Sunny because I was dumb and forgot to have her cast one of her nine remaining Alerts/Grits.

------

There's really not that much different about 33 Lunatic. I guess Yuyuko can cast Guard and Sense now? The enemies are more of a threat too, but not that much.

------


Yuyuko Saigyoji
All Attacks

------

...The youkai sage, Yukari Yakumo. Her power is unimaginably profound, and her wisdom just as heavy. What ultimate truth has she seen? And what does it have to do with the current Gensokyo?

There is nothing more I can say. Reimu, Marisa, please come back victorious!

Fantasy Maiden Wars P's final chapter: "Offering to the Falling Flowers".

It's up to you to bring this battle to its end!

------

Available cost: 36.0

Available units:
2.5
Reimu
Marisa
Alice
Sakuya
Meiling
Keine
Mokou
Komachi
Patchouli
FA Nitori
Sanae
Aya
Momiji
Youmu

2.0
Cirno
Elly
Kurumi
Nitori
Koakuma
Minoriko
Shizuha
Hina
Letty
Lily White
Nazrin
Shou

1.5
Rumia
Daiyousei
Sunny
Luna
Star

Guess who I'm forcing? Yup, Marisa and Alice. You have 31.0.