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[Gensokyo]



"Well, really, I think this is pretty interesting." the young man answered, taking a seat on one of the cushions inside the shrine. It wasn't a very formal posture, suggesting that despite the nature of the building, nobody needed to go out of their way to be unfailingly strict about the details. "I have to admit, it was pretty wild at first, especially when this clone of me came out of nowhere and started going on about how I really just want to mess with people so I can sit back and watch things happen... which is basically true. And then it wandered off for awhile, saying that it was going to go ahead and mess with all of you on your way here just for kicks... I think he was trying to see if you'd over-think the whole thing and get freaked out when nothing really happened."

"Got a problem with it?" a similar and by now relatively familiar voice said. The strange Shadow Rednal popped out of nowhere, appearing next to the real Rednal. "After all, it's what you want to do sometimes, isn't it? Make people sweat as they work through things they devise, and even rob them of a great climax?" it rumbled somewhat, the dark aura around it growing larger. Rednal simply smiled.

"Well, yeah. I like watching things happen, and I really do think it's best when there's the struggle of people doing things, but without any real danger. I'm probably a horrible person that way, but hey, that's the way life goes. Can't change who I am, after all." the shadow glared at him. "Heh. Might not have said that as soon as I got here, but I was talking to some of the other residents of this place. They were talking about a lot of stuff I didn't really understand; Shadow this and Persona that, and something about this place being a refuge for Shadows who prefer peace or something and that barrier outside keeps the bad Shadows out... I'm kinda fuzzy on the details, really, since I have no idea what they were talking about... but I did manage to learn a few things, like how stormy there actually is me." he paused. "And I'm rambling again, aren't I? Sorry. Maybe this is getting to me and I'm just talking way too much trying to make myself feel better." he looked straight at his shadow self. "And you of all people should know what kind of person I am. From the very start, you never had a chance at surpassing me." this would make little sense to those who didn't know him very well. One thing Rednal did do with his time was practice Martial Arts. Extensively. Part of that lended itself extremely well to rigorous self-control, and Rednal had managed to learn how to keep his emotions in check, and rule them rather than allowing himself to be ruled. Worse, Rednal tended to admit his mistakes, even if he didn't understand what that mistake was, and he accepted the truth as it was. "Well, apparently I can come back anytime and head through to the other side, or so they said, and since I have no idea how much time has passed, I suppose we should be going before my dad freaks out. If he hasn't already. And my mouth is really running more than it should, so why don't you become who you really are?" this continued to be directed towards his Shadow, who stared back. The two were silent for almost a minute, just staring at each other with minimal blinking, before the dark shape rippled and changed, becoming a shrine maiden before vanishing. A card appeared in Rednal's hand, the Miko's image on one side, and the Arcana on the other. Rednal blinked. "Sekai no Kami... a Persona of The World... huh." he said, not looking entirely sure how he knew that, or if there was much that it meant. Obviously, anything he had learned here was incomplete at best. "Aaaaaaaaaaaand... I have no idea how to get out of here, so you'll all have to help me with that. Any questions, or should we just go?"

[Gensokyo: Hakurei Shrine]

Rednal yawned slightly as he lay down on a bed inside Hakurei Shrine, one of the major features of the territory in that it was the only building that crossed the powerful barrier separating the wasteland from the lush, true part of the Land of Fantasy. "This is much better..." he muttered, hugging one of the pillows. He'd used what he knew from his previous talks with the inhabitants and had entered through the enormous television that he had directed to be delivered to his room. The end result was that a television had appeared inside of Hakurei Shrine, and even better, it seemed to have been established as a sort of permanent portal; experimentations had shown that while it seemed blank from the normal world, Rednal could see back into his room quite easily.

He hadn't stopped for more than a moment to think about the consequences of jumping back into Gensokyo, much less from a new television. Such a thing was not the brightest idea one could have. But things seemed to have worked out quite well, and he really rather liked this place. Maybe because it was based on his thoughts and desires, but the tatami chamber was almost illegally pleasing to him. Chances were he was going to be spending a lot of time in the Shrine. Eat, drink, talk with his friends, do homework, and indeed sleep. This was a peaceful land, after all, not like certain other areas he had been told about.

Rednal stepped into Gensokyo and held out his arm. "Behold. Gensokyo, the Land of Fantasy." he said cheerfully, denoting the barrier that was so large it went out of sight, broken only by a Japanese Shrine in front of them. Through the barrier, a paradise-like area could be seen, rolling green hills with fields of flowers, tall mountains in the distance, and the general feeling that this was a place of peace and comfort.

"I don't know about that; the whole area over there is for peaceful Shadows... rather like you." Rednal said, apparently not even noticing the fact that he wasn't reacting solely to her words anymore. He flipped his hand over and held out a bouquet of white flowers. "For you." he said with a smile.

Rednal just smiled and started wandering through the area. "Of course I'll treat you well. This is a place you're welcome to visit anytime. Unlike some of my other guests, you're one of those who is allowed to go through Hakurei Shrine and into Gensokyo proper whenever you want. After all, part of this world exists for you. I don't see Shadows as the enemy; just those that try to stop us from rescuing others. There's a lot of peaceful Shadows as well, after all..."

"Is it that strange? Did you think you would be the only one who wasn't all about senseless violence? There's a lot to the world, more than most people think, and this is a place where that sort of thing is reflected. Would you like to take a look?" Shadows, of course, were free to enter the truer part of Gensokyo if they were peaceful. Of all the humans, though, only Rednal had that right, for it was his world. It was a place of safety, protected by Sekai no Kami, the God of the World.

"Well, that's mostly the way I describe it. If you want to be mean, you can say that it's just a highly advanced form of wish-fulfillment that allows a complete and utter escape from reality. Like so." he snapped his fingers, and suddenly they were outside Junes, with Hakurei Shrine and the other part of Gensokyo nowhere in sight. "Of course, we're not actually there, but there's little difference between the two." Junes vanished, and the open plain and the Shrine returned. No glowing lights or loud bangs, things were just there one moment and different the next. With that, he calmly started walking towards the Shrine. "Of course, you'll have to use the entrance, I'm afraid..."

Rednal gestured to the shrine. "Even for those who are allowed to enter, they can only get through the right way. The space behind that sheild is both infinite and enclosed in the shield, which is obviously ridiculous, but can actually happen here. But yes, this place is the Land of Fantasy. Specifically, my fantasy. It changes as fast or as slow as I want it to. Which is very useful when I want to impress people... or set up something like a haunted house to have fun in. I love staying in the Shrine, but I try to avoid coming out here too often. Too much of a good thing, if you get my meaning."