Prologue

Everyone always called it the "Haunted Han House" in their horrible Foreign accents. What bothered Maribel the most wasn't the rumors which surrounded her home, but that they couldn't even pronounce her last name correctly. "It's Hearn!" she'd cry silently to herself. Asians always had problems with it do to the limitations of their written language. On paper it appears one way, but spoken another. She'd lived in this land for several years now so she knew the reason why, but she hated correcting everyone every time the mistake was made. Let's not even get started on Maribel.

So when a knock came at the door Maribel the child was obviously surprised. Kids from the neighborhood would, on occasion, come up the hill to her Western-style Mansion and enter her yard as a test of courage. Frequently would it occur around Summer and Autumn. Maybe such things were considered coming of age? Regardless, knocking was rare. Perhaps a guest for her Grandpa?

Maribel lives with her grandfather in Japan. A horror author, he has plenty of time to raise his son's only child. When guests arrive it's usually his publisher or likewise business colleges. It's not unique that they receive guests, but it is rare. Normally they meet online or somewhere deeper in the city (as the mansion is well out of the way). However, her Grandfather isn't in at the moment, so it would have to be a mistake in scheduling for someone to arrive right now. In any case the door wasn't going to answer itself.

Japan is a peaceful country and Maribel was never told not to answer the door to strangers, so stands on her tippy-toes to unlatch the deadbolt without hesitation. It takes a bit of effort, but eventually she gets it. After going through great pains to unlock the door, she opens it and greets her guest.

"Hello?"

It's a portly older man not even twice her height. He has a big round belly and funny mustache. Even with his dull brown cap she can tell he's bald.

"Hello? I'm looking for a Miss Maribel. I'm told that she lives here."

A guest for her? Now that's rarer than rare! Somewhat excited, the child can't wait to speak up.

"I'm Maribel!"

"You?" it's obvious the older gentleman is surprised. But he laughs and speaks with good humor, "Goodness, with how educated you present yourself I expected you to be older. But I'm glad you're no less lovely than I anticipated."

While being flattered would always cause her to blush, he's speaking like he knows her. She certainly doesn't remember meeting a man like this.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Oh, my apologies!" He takes off his cap and bows (he is indeed bald), "We've spoken before on the net, though I'm not sure if you remember me. I go by the handle BrotherWulf, little miss DreamWalker."

This comes of great surprise to Maribel. If he's talking about chatting on the internet, he can only mean the mythology and fantasy website she herself publishes. Being that as it may, all of her personal information should have been hidden! Not only had he found her name, but where she lives!

"Oh my! Sorry," he suddenly apologizes, realizing her rapidly growing concern. "I know it's an invasion of privacy, but I absolutely had to meet you. My name is Herr Hróðvitnisson. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She may only be a child, but Maribel knows when something is wrong. If it were about her website, they could have continued to speak online. That he came all the way to Japan from, judging from his name and accent, Germany wouldn't be for some simple kind of question. What's more, that this is happening to Maribel Hearn is especially alarming.

"Why are you here?" she realizes far too late the danger in which she's placed herself.

"Please, there's no need for you to be afraid of me. I actually haven't came to Japan just for you. Perhaps if I tell you the whole story it will help alleviate your concerns. The reason I have come to Japan, and to you, is because of Gensokyo."

Hearing that name, she immediately realizes what this is all about. All the fears and anxieties vanish in an instant, and are instead replaced with sharp calculations and intellectual deductions. "Gensokyo" isn't a name you just pick up on the street. Those who know it could be counted on two hands, with the fingers dropping the closer they get to the truth. For such a man to ask her of this can only mean he knows about her. He knows.

But she still must play the game, "What are you talking about? What do you mean 'Gensokyo?'"

Herr Hróðvitnisson snorts under his breath, "I'm looking for something that has gone lost. I've heard Gensokyo is a place that likes to pick up things that lose their way, or have nowhere left to go."

He doesn't divulge how he came to know it's name, be it's clear he understands what kind of place it is.

"I don't know what you're looking for. Why have you come to me?"

"That I'm curious about indeed. I haven't come to know of you through your website, I came to your website to come to know you. You might not realize it yourself, but Maribel Han has come to be known as a very dangerous existence. It's-"

"My name is Hearn," she tells him in a tone with the sharpness of a razor's edge.

Pleasantly surprised, he giggles upon the sight of the young girl baring her fangs.

"Alright, Little Miss Han, your reputation is far greater than you can even fathom. From the stories, or maybe I should call them myths or legends, you can freely travel between worlds. This is the reason I have sought you out. I need you to take me to Gensokyo."

Maribel's shoulders tremble a bit. It is as she expected. He's come to her for that, but he's been misinformed.

"I cannot take you to Gensokyo," she tells him.

"Why?" his foot stomps into the ground, shaking nearly the entire mansion. For this moment he appears much more than a simple older gentleman. He's more of a monster. A golden-eyed monster.

If her grandpa were in the house, he'd be charging down the stair with his shotgun. They have no live-in servants, only housekeepers, and today isn't one of their work days. She's all alone with this increasingly scary man! However, she's far from helpless herself. If push comes to shove, he won't be able to capture her, now matter how scary he's being. But what he wants she cannot give.

"You've been misinformed," there's no point hiding it any longer, he already knows too much and lying could actually be more dangerous. "I can travel between world, but I can't do it freely."

All that pent up energy vanishes from Hróðvitnisson's face. At the first sound of it, a part of him completely believes her, but he can't just let it end this simply.

"I don't believe it! Your name is too widespread to be this inaccurate. I've gone through too much trouble just to learn your name and this Gensokyo! I can't leave empty-handed!"

He's getting frustrated, not giving a single hint of resignation. This man doesn't seem the type to lash out because he's disappointed, but he does the type who'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. If she reasons that she can't give it to him, he'll likely leave.

She explains, "It's in my dreams. When I sleep, I awake in a different world. Most of the time I'll just be in a forest, or graveyard, or maybe the spirit realm. I travel between this world and theirs', but I can no more control my destination than a person can control what he dreams. Most of the time I don't know where I am unless I find something I recognize. Or, on occasion, I run across people, or monsters."

"I see," he seems to understand. "So you're more like a Native American Spirit Walker. I've met plenty of those, so how has your reputation gone so embellished?"

He's wrong. She's not like those rare talents whose souls travel once in a state of meditation. But by mentioning this, Hróðvitnisson has clued Maribel that she isn't the first person he's come to seek about traveling between worlds. If what he seeks is in Gensokyo, the path might already be closed. If he's made enough noise to be put onto their radar, he might already be in considerable danger. She has to be careful how she deals with him.

"What's so important that you go to Gensokyo?" she asks, clearly demonstrating the rapid shift in power between the two.

He retains silence.

"Gensokyo isn't a place that can be simply accessed, and what's more, once you go you never come back. A ticket to Gensokyo is one-way. Would you really take such a risk on the chance that what you're looking for is there?"

"Yes," his voice carries the enthusiasm of a man in his prime.

She can't ignore such determination, "Wait here for a moment."

Actually, "here" isn't so great. Their conversation hasn't gotten further than the front door. She leads him to the Sitting Room where he can rest his feet. Ten minutes later she returns with a tray of tea she painstakingly brewed atop a silver platter, as well as what appears to be a Japanese kind of talisman. She starts with the tea.

"Thank you."

He addresses himself as a German, but he's careful to speak in English. The young girl wonders if there's a reason for this.

"I'm not a Spirit Walker." Taking the teacup to her mouth but restraining herself from taking a sip, "I say my 'dreams,' but it's my real, physical body that travels," now she takes a drink. Afterwords, she places the cup and saucer on the table. She gently handles the talisman, "I received this from a shrine maiden on the other side."

Hearing this, Hróðvitnisson nearly chokes on the tea currently trickling down his throat. The cup rattles and he's forced to put it down.

"You bring things back?"

Maribel nods, "That's right. I have a lot more, but they'd be no interest to you. This talisman is particularly important to Gensokyo."

The older man draws closer.

"This belonged to a priest of the Hakurei Shrine."

"Hakurei," Hróðvitnisson makes a mental note.

"Yes. She identified herself as one."

He reaches for it, but the girl yanks it away before he can. Other than grumbling, he doesn't protest.

"The Hakurei are an obscure family who trains young women in, well, let's just call it shinto magic. If there's a Hakurei Shrine in Gensokyo, that must mean the two are very closely related."

"Wait a minute," Hróðvitnisson interrupt, the nagging he felt he finally identifies "you make it sound like they're on this side as well."

Nodding, "They are. There are Hakurei Shrines in our world and Gensokyo. It's clear they know how to travel between the two worlds."

He's about ready to leap out of his chair, "Then I just need to go to them!"

"Wait a minute!" she stops him. "Don't even approach the Hakurei main temple or family! The Hearn Family has their connections, and anyone who approaches the Hakurei on this side disappears. I don't know if that means they've made it to Gensokyo, but it's possible they've been eliminated by the very same people who could have gotten them there. I don't think it's safe to even let them know you're looking. Not to mention the demon they keep."

"Demon?" his voice is a little shaken.

As Maribel nods, her expression darkens, "Yes. She's a thousand year old demon that keeps the Hakurei in power. That beast is the only one who can travel to and from Gensokyo as she wishes. She's been known to take the form of a human woman or a nine-tailed fox. Her name is Yakumo."

"Yakumo," he makes another mental note.

"Yes. If you catch her attention, I guarantee it won't end pretty. The Hakurei are human and can be reasoned with, but demons, or as they call them in this land, youkai, aren't the type to consider others. Whatever their mood at the time will determine your fate. It's too risky to try and seek her."

Absorbing all this, Hróðvitnisson takes a sip and deliberates. After a few moments,

"All you've told me about are things I should avoid, but I take it there's something you know. Something that could get me there despite all the risks."

Maribel nods, but she's not quick to give him an answer. Several moments pass with the two simply staring, reading the other for all possible thoughts and emotions.

"If I tell you," Maribel warns, "there's only a fifty/fifty chance at best you'll make it to Gensokyo. If you don't, you mustn't, no matter the circumstances, ever try to enter Gensokyo again. You could call it a trial. There's no risk if you fail, but if you fail you're put on their radar. If that happens they'll make sure you never get there, one way or the other. Of that I'm sure. I need you to promise me that if you fail, you never try to go there again."

"I make no such promise," he boldly states, jarring the little girl somewhat. "I'll heed all your advice, but I'm no helpless old man. If I have to I'll drag out that Yakumo demon and force her to take me to Gensokyo. You've already told me more than I need to know. You need not risk yourself further by associating with me."

Anything to get what he wants, is what she thought. Speaking with Maribel and getting to Gensokyo are only means, his true goal something much greater. This thing he seeks must pail in comparison to the devils that stand in his path. But the Yakumo Demon isn't some lumbering gate guardian. She's the precious yet fragile jewel that may grant wishes or takes them away. If Hróðvitnisson isn't all bluster and means what he says, the two should never cross paths. While Maribel holds no power to prevent this, she can at least keep it from being assured.

"Okay," she surrenders. "I can't put myself or my family at risk, so I can't tell you the exact location, but somewhere in Japan there's a Hakurei Shrine that the Hakurei themselves don't dare approach. To them it's as precious as holy ground, yet at the same time they fear it tremendously. If you find that place and go there, you will not be obstructed. It's the vortex between the two worlds, and if you can manage to cross over from that point, you'll be in Gensokyo. If you can't, however, it'll be nothing more than a dirty dilapidated shrine. If that's all you find it means Gensokyo hasn't chosen you to enter, and from that point it will do it's best to keep you out. No mater how resourceful you are, you'll be challenging an entire world. Don't underestimate how powerful it can be."

Just as she proclaimed, Hróðvitnisson hung on every word. As experienced and wise as he appears, he knows not to disregard the warnings of even a child. On the exterior he appears calm, but a single bead of sweat rolling from his brow depicts a nervous old soul. That's good. He's taken her message to heart.

"I thank you for everything you've shared," he bows his head to her. "It really was worth my time to come find you." Hróðvitnisson takes a stand.

Following the lead of her guest, Maribel tells him one final time, "I would rather you quit seeking Gensokyo altogether."

"I've lost something very dear and I'll scour every corner of this world and every other to find it. Your concern is appreciated, but I can't stop until it's once again mine."

"Goodbye then. I wish you the best of luck."

Maribel Hearn watches the polite yet eager potbellied man exit her house and leave. Watching him head into his car and vanish down the hill, she traces every detail of him into memory. She was certain she'd never see him again.

And she never did.

Sorry for the long wait, but *stuff* happens. And boy has *stuff* been happening to me. I won't make any promises; don't expect releases on any kind of schedule like the previous two installments. Honestly I don't even know if I'll be able to finish the series. Not that I'm brain-fried and can't think what to write, but that I'll be physically able to put forth all the time necessary to do so. I could probably write a full novel on what's happened to me these past 2 or 3 months alone, but I'll do what I can and try my best to finish what I started.

Now, all the gloom out of the way,

This prologue is somewhat short but gives you a taste of the new direction in this finale. This is the encounter between Maribel and Hati as told by Ulrika back in AotS. As a funny tidbit, I always intended to write in detail of this meeting (as I just have) but never in this way. When I finished Advent and started planning for Song, I was worried that the final volume was going to run too short. Then an idea came to me. It's common advice for writers to start as close to the conclusion as possible. Well, in this case I started after it was all over (not really a spoiler, you'll figure it out rather quickly next chapter). Not only that, but tell it from the viewpoint of someone who seems completely unrelated. I think a fresh perspective is always great, but it also adds an element that wasn't present in either of it's predecessors, the real world. Not only will things be taking place in Gensokyo, but in the human world as well. I hope you enjoy the way I will fuse the two together to tell one story.

That's all I'll write for now. I always want to give out little spoilers in these post-scripts, so I have to "cut myself off" (how many times have I said that by now?) so I don't ruin the reading experience. Sometimes I just get carried away.

~Kyle Castorena