Prologue - Confusion And Disconnect
Madoka slowly blinked her eyes open. She found herself staring up at a beautiful blue sky, white, puffy clouds floating along peacefully high above her. Birds were chirping serenely and a warm, gentle breeze ruffled through the girl's pink bangs. Madoka felt rather content and she was tempted to close her eyes and drift back off to sleep. However, she was confused because she didn't know where she was and the long blades of grass beneath her tickled where they came in contact with her skin. Reluctantly, she sat up.
When Madoka moved, something rolled out of her hand and into the grass. It had a faint, glowing, pink gleam that made it stand out against the green blades of grass surrounding it. Already knowing what it was, Madoka reached out and picked it up.
The Soul Gem felt heavy and warm against the palm of her hand. Looking at it, Madoka felt sick and confused. This could only be her Soul Gem but she couldn't remember making a wish. What could she have wanted in exchange for her soul? When would she have done such a thing with Kyubey?
The last thing Madoka remembered before waking up was of running and desperately searching for her close friend, Sayaka Miki. Since discovering what Soul Gems really were and loosing Kyosuke to Hitomi, Sayaka had gone wild in fighting witches. She had changed. The last time Madoka had seen her friend, Sayaka had snapped at her and run off into the rain. Madoka had been, and still was, desperate to find her.
Had that been her wish? To find Sayaka? But Madoka was here alone, by herself, so that couldn't be right.
Madoka closed her hand tightly around her Soul Gem and it transformed into it's ring form, the weight settling unpleasantly on her finger. There was no going back now. She was a magical girl. That was bad, but if Sayaka was still missing, Madoka couldn't just ignore her friend. She had to find her.
With a gleam of determination in her eye, Madoka stood, dusting stray bits of grass from her clothes. Then she paused to take a look at her surroundings properly.
Madoka was standing in a small, sunlit forest glade. The trees all around were tall and thick, nothing like back home in Mitakihara. She began to feel intimidated at these unfamiliar surroundings. How could she get lost like this? Just where was she?
"Hello?" she called.
There was no answer, save for the chirping of birds. If she really strained her ears, though, Madoka thought she could make out the distant sound of running water.
'Remember, Madoka,' a memory of her mother's voice lectured in her mind. 'If you ever get lost in the wild, you need food, shelter and water. Shelter is the most important but after that you need a good source of clean water, or you won't survive. Stagnant water isn't safe but if you can find running water, like from a river or a stream, you should be able to drink from that.'
"Thank you, Mama," Madoka said to herself and then let out a long, slow breath.
She had to be calm. Panicking wasn't going to help the situation. If she could find that source of water, it would be a step in the right direction. And maybe, just maybe, that's where she would find Sayaka too. After all, it was possible that they were both lost here together.
Madoka began to walk, following the sound, but that was easier said than done. The young girl hadn't gone to many wild places like this and anywhere that she had gone, there had been paths to stay on or roads to follow. In this forest, Madoka was forced to navigate through thickets and shrubs that were all tangled together. In no time, her socks and legs were scratched up from branches and covered in burrs and her skirt was coming apart at the hem.
For all her troubles, the sound of water was drawing closer and closer. Quite suddenly, Madoka found herself stepping out of the woods and onto a riverbank. The water flowed swiftly before her and she was pleased at the sight. But her gaze drifted slowly upwards.
There were mountains looming nearby so she certainly couldn't have been anywhere near Mitakihara. The air was fresh and crisp in a way that Madoka wasn't sure she had experienced before. There was a waterfall a ways away and perched next to it, almost on top of it…was that a building?
Madoka could only make out a little from where she was but she gazed in wonder. There were roofs up there! She could see a few intricately carved archways and bridges, all of it intertwined and pretty. It was like something out of a storybook…but at that thought, the joy was immediately sucked out of her.
Like a storybook…like magical girls… It had to be too good to be true, didn't it? There was no way she could have stumbled across something that looked so wonderful and actually was that wonderful. Or…could she have?
Madoka heard a sound to her right that was all at once familiar and foreign. She turned and her pink eyes widened when she saw a man standing only a few meters away, a bow drawn and an arrow aimed at her.
She gave a start and jumped back, clasping her hands together and holding them to her pounding heart. She hadn't even heard this man approach! And to take aim at her like that…
After blinking at him rapidly, frightened, she became aware that he was also dressed strangely. He was wearing something like armour but it was smooth and a pretty colour of green. The man was also tall with a slender build and long, chestnut hair that flowed out from beneath his helmet.
He said something to her but she missed it. She swallowed hard before trying to speak.
"E-eh?" Madoka whimpered.
The man had relaxed his stance a little, but he appeared wary of her still, saying, "Identify yourself, girl."
"Oh…um…" she fumbled, confused and afraid. "My name…is Madoka Kaname."
"Where do you hail from?"
"M-Mitakihara…" she stuttered. "I'm lost… I… Please. Please, don't shoot. I don't mean anyone any harm, I'm just… I don't know where I am and I…"
Madoka had to stop and swallow hard. She was beginning to tremble and her eyes stung. Something about the man's expression softened and he relaxed, placing his arrow back in his quiver.
"I don't intend you harm, girl, but these are dangerous times and you took me by surprise. You look human, yet I have never seen a human with hair of such a strange colour," he told her.
"You haven't?" Madoka said. "Oh… Where I'm from, it's normal. Um…ah…"
The man hesitated. "You may call me Lavanor. I dwell here in Rivendell."
"Riven… Is that…?" Madoka asked slowly, glancing up at the building on the waterfall's edge.
"Yes," Lavanor replied.
"Oh…well… I'm very sorry to have troubled you," Madoka said quickly, bowing deep and polite. She felt safer falling back on her customs from home. "I really didn't mean to intrude. I'm just…lost and… Oh! Have you seen another girl come by this way? She's about my age and she has short, blue hair and blue eyes and she's…well…she's normally really happy but she's sad, right now, I think…"
The man appeared to be studying her and Madoka shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"I have not seen any other girls pass through this way," Lavanor finally replied. "Blue hair that's shorter than yours, you say?"
Madoka nodded mutely.
"Most peculiar. Is she wearing garb similar to your own as well?" he continued.
"Identical," Madoka confirmed, since it was the school uniform. "Are you…does that mean that you'll help me?"
Lavanor hesitated again. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
The question confused her. "Well, maybe a little, since I am lost…"
Lavanor was studying her again and now Madoka was beginning to blush.
The man finally said, "I think it would be best if you were to come to Rivendell with me. Master Elrond has many maps and he may let you look upon them to help you find your way. Come, child."
He turned and began to walk. Madoka let out a small, hopeful gasp and hurried to follow the man.
She may be a magical girl and she also may be lost and searching for her close friend, but at least she wasn't alone anymore.
Homura Akemi's eyes snapped open at the smell of smoke and seconds later, she was on her feet.
The first thing that consciously registered to her was that Madoka was nowhere in sight. That was wrong. She had been very close to Madoka, close enough to see Kyubey standing next to her and close enough to see a bright, pink light engulf her only friend.
Homura knew that she had failed.
But this was different. Instead of finding out what Madoka had wished for, she was standing in a thick, dark, wooded area with extremely tall trees all around. It was as if she had been immediately knocked out the moment Madoka had made her wish, and transported here, wherever 'here' was.
A cold sense of dread washed over Homura and she shivered involuntarily. Madoka…hadn't tried to wish her away, had she? Homura realised that she had been cold to Madoka, but she hadn't done anything to try and hurt her friend. So that couldn't be it, could it?
She glanced down at the ring on her finger, her Soul Gem, and touched it gently.
No. It didn't matter what Madoka had wished. It didn't matter as long as Homura could find her again. If that was impossible, she could still reset time and do it over again.
Homura took a breath and then began to follow the scent of smoke. With a confident stride, she hopped over large tree roots and shrubs that were in her way. There was a weight to the air of this place that was stifling. It reminded Homura of a witch's maze but she chose to ignore the feeling. Soon enough she was able to see through the trees and finally came to a stop on the edge of the woods, staring at the scene before her with a frown.
There was a massively tall tower ahead of her. It was black with a strange ridge-like pattern that, again, reminded Homura of a witch. However, the oppressive atmosphere of the woods was different from this tower in a way Homura couldn't quite put into words. Part of it most likely had to do with the fires at the tower's base. It looked as if trees had once grown all around this place but they had been cut down and were used as fuel for whatever was happening at this tower's base.
Homura stood, frowning. She had a few options available to her and, inconveniently, there wasn't a clear answer as to what would benefit Madoka the most. With an irritated sigh, she flipped her long, dark hair and then walked down towards the tower.
When she saw the first of the creatures working near the tower's base, she briefly wondered if they were a witch's familiars. They were large and ugly with sallow skin, slanting, beady eyes, and large snarling mouths. But they looked more intelligent and real than any familiar that Homura had seen. When she approached, they took noticed of her and were somewhere between surprised, curious, and gleeful. They knashed their teeth at her, snarled and jeered. A very large one approached her, a spear in hand.
"What is this place?" Homura demanded before the creature could speak.
He laughed at her, a sound that was half made of grunts and wheezes. "What does it matter? Where'd you come from?"
Homura didn't have time for leering and banter. She narrowed her eyes. "Stand aside."
The creature let out a guffaw and was readying his spear just as Homura transformed into her magical girl form and froze time. She sneered at him a little, more in annoyance than disgust, and stepped around him.
She walked past a good number of the creatures. There were great cracks in the earth where there was construction and there were forges far down in the cracks below, flames frozen like the rest of time. There were what looked to be wolves about as well, great big ones that looked mean and rabid and stood taller than Homura. Some were as big as horses.
She finally reached the tower. The door was unlocked so she made her way inside.
If these things were witches or familiars, she would kill them. But this was unlike any witch's maze that she had encountered so with time frozen, she carried on. Homura didn't have the time to waste on trivialities.
It was a place that was very sleek but the atmosphere was even more tense here. There was no one here that she could see so she unfroze time. Distantly, she could hear the shrieks and snarls from outside, but she ignored them, heading for the nearest flight of stairs.
Homura's footsteps echoed loudly and crisply on the cold, shiny floor. There were plenty of stairs but there was no one here, other than the odd, lone creature which was easily avoided. Homura felt annoyed at that too. Why would there be such an empty tower in the middle of all that chaos below? Something or someone important had to be here.
Finally, she reached a floor with something that at least appeared to have some value. On a pedestal sat a large orb. It's dark surface shifted and shimmered oddly. Frowning, Homura took a few steps towards it. The Soul Gem on her hand began to throb strangely and she could sense something…dark.
"Who are you?"
The voice was old and deep, belonging to a man. Homura half turned and found a man approaching her from her left, garbed entirely in white. Or wait...no. His robes shimmered with other colours too. He looked something like a wizard, with his long white hair and beard. Homura didn't answer, cocking her head to the side slightly and watching him closely.
There was something strange about this man…
The man's dark eyes glittered curiously, but there was something predatory behind that gaze as well. "A mere child, a girl, should not have been able to enter the Tower of Orthanc."
"Is that what it's called?" Homura asked.
"Yes," the man replied slowly. "Have you come for the Palantir?"
Homura briefly wondered what he meant but then she decided that he must be referring to the orb on the pedestal. She ignored the question and instead answered him honestly.
"I am looking for Madoka Kaname," Homura said. "She is around my age and has pink hair. Have you seen her?"
"I fear not. Although…if she is as illusive as you, then perhaps not. What is you name, girl?"
"Homura Akemi," she told him.
"I am Saruman of Many Colours," he replied. "What brings you here so cleverly and unannounced?"
Homura blinked. "I am not here to be your friend or to explain myself. Pardon me."
Time froze again and Homura shook her head. Disappointment. This was a complete disappointment. She should never have gone to this tower. It was more trouble than it was worth.
Still...she should finish searching the tower. It would be a waste for her to overlook even a tiny detail and if she could reach the top, she would at least be able to survey the area. With a small sigh, she walked past the frozen Saruman. She paused briefly to frown at the Palantir which was still shifting with strange energy. But as she didn't fully understand it or it's purpose, she continued to the stairs.
This tower was fascinating, if not dull. There was little of actual value to Homura, although she found a number of weapons stored about. She took three bows and all the arrows that she saw, as well as a number of daggers and the few swords that were small or delicate enough for her to lift. If these were the weapons that were used here, Homura immediately understood that her modern guns and bombs would be very valuable and precious and that she shouldn't waste them unless absolutely necessary.
Homura made it to the top of the tower. The view was astonishing, though disappointing to the young magical girl. She could see plenty of forest and some mountains but this tower was the only civilised location as far as she could see.
There was another person here, not a strange creature but an elderly man cloaked in ragged grey robes. He looked worn and beaten. She hesitated but, hoping this man might know something, she allowed time to flow naturally again.
The old man gave a start and Homura knew that to his eyes, she had just appeared out of thin air. But his shock was unimportant to her or her goals.
"Who might you be?" the old man began slowly, looking startled and wary.
"Homura Akemi," she replied as the wind picked up, blowing her long, dark hair about behind her. "I'm lost. I'm looking for my friend Madoka Kaname. You haven't seen a girl about my age with pink hair, have you?"
His expression was changing to one more of confusion than suspicion, though he was trying to hide it. "I have not."
Homura let out a disappointed huff. "Where is the nearest village, town, or city from here?"
The old man hesitated. "If you can help me to leave this place, then I can show you the way, if you'd like."
Homura considered this. She didn't have time to help strangers. Especially when they might not prove to be useful or could intend to harm her. It was a risk and in this unfamiliar territory, it was one she wasn't willing to take.
"Thank you. I'll find my own way," she said and turned, freezing time once more.
Homura made her way back down the tower. She passed by Saruman once more who now had a look of shock and outrage on his face, most likely due to her sudden disappearance. She continued onward until she was out of the tower, past the giant wolves and the strange creatures. She made her way back into the forest. There, she unfroze time and paused for a break.
She summoned one of the Grief Seeds she had saved and cleansed her Soul Gem. Feeling a bit lighter, she also paused to take a drink from a nearby stream that ran clear and cool just in front of her. With that, she considered herself ready for whatever lay before her.
Though the Tower of Orthanc was disappointing, it didn't deter Homura. She would continue on until she found Madoka in this strange place. And if she couldn't find her, she would reset time and start over.
Heading onward, Homura began to walk through the forest. With her gaze focused ahead, she pressed forward, anxious to see an end to the dense vegetation before her.
