Under the Cycle of Hope and Despair
Hey all, this is my submission for January Challenge. This work will take place as a cross-over with Damien and Crescent in the Magical Girl: Madoka Magica universe. There will be a smut scene that you can choose to read or to avoid. There are also options for three different endings, which you can choose by leaving a comment in the comment section below. The endings will be posted a week and a half from now. Trigger Warnings: there will be mentioned of suicide and violence. I do not own any of the images used in the text below, so credits for the arts go to all of the wonderful artists. If you could, please support the artists. Enjoy!
"I want to be with you…"
Crescent Nguyen blinks, trying to find where her fiancée is. That line, that voice must belong to his. Damien Anderson, the love of her life, has said that countless time to her. Now, those words are her lanterns in this space filled with darkness. In this place voided from any light, Cres feels lonely, a sentiment that is foreign to her heart. How much time has passed? A second? A minute? An eternity? Her heart grew warry with each step, wondering if this is a twisted punishment for her sin of loving him. Her greed for his love was sinful, filled with selfish hope for a happy ending. This is a deserving punishment: an eternal despair that eats away her very being. A dim light sheds in front of her, teasing what left of her sanity. She runs towards it but was abruptly stopped by an invisible force. In front of her, under a fragile light was a scene that she was all too familiar with. She stares in horror as the image of her, playing the violin as Diana drink every note into her lustful body. Diana, a succubus from Damien's native plain, offered her a deadly deal. Her music for Damien's humanity was the costly price that she took. Crescent closes her eyes, remembering how it feels to play music.
"Nooooooo!"
A desperate scream shocks the girl. She opens her eyes to see her love desperately slamming his hands into the invisible barrier. The expression of excruciating pain on his face shatters her heart. She wants to reach out to him, letting him know that it was her decision. If it was for his happiness, she would not mind sacrificing another part of her. True despair was not to be separated from him for eternity. Her true despair was to watch him suffer with guilt from what she had done to herself. She cries out to Damien, but the words vanish as soon as they escape her throat.
"Crescent?" A warm embrace gently tightens around the girl. She jolts forward, gasping for air. Damien Anderson stares at his fiancée worriedly.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" He asks, one hand tenderly strokes her back while the other holds her arms. Time likes these, he almost wishes to have his mind-reading ability back if it means sparing her from nightmares, which seem to occur more frequent these days. She only tears up, still shaking from the ordeal.
"Sssh… you're okay now." He lets her face buries in his chest, proving much-needed warmth and comfort.
"I am sorry. I woke you up again, didn't I?" She whispers softly.
"Don't worry about it. Are you okay now?"
"I-I think so. Let's just get to bed."
He nods, and the couple falls back to sleep in each other arms. This time, no nightmare bothers them.
Damien's narrative from this point.
I could hardly believe that three months have passed since our wedding. Crescent is everything that I could ever dream of and our life couldn't be more completed. It didn't seem real to me that I could call an inspiring woman such as her my wife, yet I woke up every day with her in my arms as her husband. Living in the wood allows thoughts like this to occupy my drive from the city. We didn't anticipate my brothers and Mika to buy a house for us as wedding gift, let alone one in the wood from Chicago's outskirt. It was so overwhelming that we didn't want to accept it at first, despite our mutual love for the location. I park the car, noticing Crescent's boots at the door. I smile, imagining her being excited to spend more time with me. I softly open the door to our room, not wanting to startle her. My heart aches as soon as I see what's behind the door.
With her eyes closed, Crescent hold her violin still, standing in a pose that I have seen her countless time before that day. Unaware of my presence, she starts playing. She reaches only one or two notes before her body crumbles in pain. I rush to her, pulling my wife in a tight embrace, catching her before her legs give out.
"D-Damien?" She gasps, winked from the unimaginable pain that must run rampant through her delicate body. When Diana took her music, Crescent was left with a curse that prevents her from singing or playing any instruments. She became incapable of producing music without exhausting her entire energy and subjecting herself to overwhelming pain. She never once blames me, nor shows any regret over the decision. Yet, I realize that she misses that part of her deeply. She doesn't want to remind me, but I cannot forget that it was my fault. I was the reason she lost her music. I tighten my embrace, trying to comfort her.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah. You're home early…"
"Naomi called this afternoon and promised to bake the wedding cake, so we were done for now… Crescent…"
"I-I am sorry. I thought that if enough time passed, maybe it's possible for me to play again… I just want to give Mika and Sam something special for their wedding…"
"Don't apologize. I did this to you. I am the one that should be sorry."
She turns around and holds my face, her eyes filled with love.
"Don't be. I could give much, much more for you. I love you so much."
"I love you too." We kiss passionately, letting our body expressed the intense love we feel for each other. She could and would sacrifice her life for me, but I could not stand her losing anymore because of me.
Something has changed. When I hold her, the warmth of the embrace was absent. It wasn't anything physical as temperature, nor did I doubt her love for me. How could I when that's all I see in her eyes and in the smallest gesture from her? Could it be that this guilt inside me is the cause? I walk aimlessly on the street, trying to figure out something. I only hope that my arms still give her the same comforting sensation, that Crescent remains happy in my hold. After all that she did, she deserve happiness and I couldn't help but admitting that I am failing to provide that as her husband. My steps guided me to Heart Land Café before I knew it. This was where we met. I can picture her in her casual outfit that night, terrified of performing. When she played though, she was the most beautiful sight that anyone could see. The sounds coming from her violin were magical, conveying deep emotions and intimate imageries. She was meant to create music, to enchant people with her melody. Her life would not truly be fulfilling without that part of her. I will never make her happy. Being around me only gives her more suffering. If I am an obstacle on her path, then it is time I remove myself. Letting my legs guide me to a secluded part of the lake, I begin walking into the water. She will be sad when she finds my lifeless corpse, but time will put a smile back to her face.
Suddenly, a slender arm pulls me back and lays my body down on the bank of the lake. I look up in confusion at a worried Crescent.
"What are you doing?" She asks me, her voice shakes with shock and scare. Ah… I made you worry again. I stand up and start walking back to the lake.
"Ending your suffering."
She pulls me in a tight hug, surprise me with her strength. With a soft, almost incoherent whisper from her, I snap out of the trance. What was I doing?
"Damien. Thank goodness I found you in time."
She hides her face in my chest, feeling my heartbeat. The scenery around us, however, starts warping and contorting into strange shapes. Suddenly, we were in an industrial zone, with clockworks, cogs and steams. The sounds of heavy machineries shrieks, breaking the eerie silence. That's when I realize, we were not alone. Humanoid figures made of metal gears and cogs shuffles towards us. They raise their arms made up saws, drills, and harmers threateningly. Instinctively, I try to cover my love, but she pulls away. With a flash of purple light, her outfit transformed. Her casual dress was replaced with an elegant dark blue/light purple gown, of which the bottom resembling that of a mermaid's tail. The top half is refined with turquoise streaks surrounding the darker mid-section, matching a regal mask covering her eyes. Out of thin air, Crescent holds a violin decorated with runic symbol on her shoulder and begins playing with the matching bow. Instead of her falling to the ground in pain, the threatening humanoids crumble to their knees.
Crescent's point of view.
I let out a sigh of relieved, grateful to find Damien mostly fine. However, a fury ignites in my chest. How dare that monster try to kill him? I will not show it any mercy, not that I ever intended to.
"Crescent? What is going on?"
"I know I have a lot to explain, but for now, can you just do what I say?"
I rub the back of his neck tenderly, calming myself from the shock of almost losing him. His expression shows clear hesitance.
"Damien. Do you trust me?"
I ask him casually, despite already knowing what his answer would be.
"I do."
He nods, and I shift my focus back to the task at hand.
"Okay. Please stay close to me and don't do anything drastic. Promise me to stay still and watch, even if I get hurt."
"Crescent. I…"
"Please."
He seems torn, trying to decide or to possibly reason with me. He nods.
"I promise. Just… don't hurt yourself."
I smile. "I am not planning to. Now let's go."
With a deep breath, I let the exhilaration dies, leaving a tranquil sensation within me. With a short melody, I quickly gain control over the minions around us. Guide me to your master. I order them with my thoughts and they march to a steel bridge leading to the center of the lake. I motion my husband to follow my newfound army. Since we are at the edge of its labyrinth, it will take some time to get to the witch then.
"We have time, so do you want to ask me anything?"
Damien contemplates for a few seconds before breaking the silence.
"What is this place?"
"It's a labyrinth. The lair of a type of monster called 'witches."
"Witches? Human that were granted permission from the Angels to know about magic?"
"Not that kind of witch, dear. I don't really know why these monsters were called that, other than the fact that they possess magic and the ability to curse."
"Then those things that try to attack us…"
"Are minions. Created by the witches to maintain the labyrinth and bring human to them. They love to harm human but cannot leave their labyrinth, so they wait for people to wander in."
"So, I was cursed by one?"
I stop abruptly and turn to him, holding his hands gently.
"It could happen to any human, dear. However, people who experience despair, sadness and other negative emotions are more susceptible to this curse, called 'a witch's kiss.' Once inflicted, victims tend to commit suicide or walk aimlessly into the labyrinth… Damien… Is something troubling you?"
He averts his gaze, hiding the guilt from me. I was ready to give up on the answer when he sighs and speaks.
"I was worry that you were unhappy with our lives, our marriage. I thought you were suffering from missing your music and I…"
I stop him. My lips touch his hastily. I knew that he was blaming himself, yet I couldn't bring myself to talk to him about it.
"I love you, Damien. Ever since you proposed to me. No. Ever since we met, I lived the happiest days of my life, thanks to you. I never once regret the choices that I made, nor could I bring myself to resent you of those. You are the love of my life. How could I be unhappy when I get to wake up next to the man that I love every morning?"
His face blushes a bright red at my confession. His arms wrap around me in a tight hug, letting me know that the love is mutual.
"We need to get going." I hate myself for interrupting the moment, but we need to dispatch this witch as soon as possible.
"I understand. So, how did you…?"
"I made a contract. In exchange for my music back, I am contracted to eliminate these witches."
"With… Diana?"
I shake my head.
"With… a being. It grants me the ability to use magic under this form. A magical girl, if you would."
I stop. Noticing the line of minions have stopped and turn back to stare at us expectantly. They found the witch, huh.
"Let's go."
"Are you going to be alright?"
"I have done this for a while, dear. I didn't tell you sooner because… Well I know you would be worry and… I also wanted to surprise you. Your birthday is coming up after all."
I feel silly saying that. It was a hindsight from my part to assume that he would not be as guilty about my situation. In the end, my little surprise made him vulnerable to the witch's kiss, and he could have… I march forward, shaking the thought off my mind. This is precisely why magical girls have to end witches' existence.
The bridge ends in front of a mechanical door, which eventually opens at the pressure from the minions. Get the witch! I order coldly, sending the minions after their creator. They rush in, attacking a being made of heavy machinery and gears. I turn, casting a barrier between Damien and I, stopping him from entering the room and shielding any harms coming his way. He touches the invisible barrier frustratingly.
"Why?"
"It will be over soon, my love. I just want to make sure it can't harm you."
The witch shrieks, making the same noise as a boiling steam engine. It releases giant iron chains, whips and shoves its minions away. From its appearance, attacking it with blunt force won't do the job. I silently study the gears and cogs, locating its weak spots. It knocks the last minion away, turning the thing into a pile of metal. Other witches were usually weakened enough for my coup de grace at this point, but this one seems unfazed. I move quickly, dodging its barrage of chains and gears coming my way. Using magically enhanced agility to move and dodge saves me much needed energy, but maintaining this form actively consumes the resource. I have to finish this witch before my magic runs out and dodging won't do it. My hands move fast, conjuring a melody of paralyze. It hits the witch but only slows her down. However, the slow movement of the gears gives me a glance in between them, revealing… a beating heart? A chain from my left hit me, sending my body slamming into a giant metal pipe inside the room.
"Crescent!"
Damien screams my name. I hate making him worry about me. My lips curl into a cold smile.
"Curtain call, witch!"
I send the melody of paralysis straight to the heart, freezes the witch in place from the shock. I walk toward its big mass of steam, quickly rip the heart out of the junks. It breaks easier than I anticipated, shattered like a fragile glass in my hand. The witch quickly crumbles into nothingness, fading the labyrinth along with it. As quick as when it started, the environment shifts back to the tranquil lake. I look at my palm, realizing that the heart turned into a Grief Seed. I let my magic disappears, leaving me in my casual clothing.
"Impressive as always, Crescent."
A monotone, childlike voice calls out to me. I nod at the familiar face of my contractor, Kyubey. Kyubey is a bizarre creature, a cross between a white cat with long, bunny-line ears. It would look mostly harmless if it was not for the blood-red eyes. I simply nod at it, acknowledging the compliment.
Damien rushes to my side and pulls me in his warm embrace, melting my heart in the process.
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine. It didn't hurt, dear. The outfit did more than just for show." I smile, feeling his love.
"What is that? It said your name." He points at Kyubey, startling both me and the contractor. He could see it too?
"You could see me too? That is surprising. Human usually cannot perceive my kind existence."
"Damien, that is my contractor, Kyubey. It's… What do you call yourself?"
"Incubator. We are being that grants wishes to girls with magical potential like Crescent in exchange for their services in hunting witches."
I smile and rub my head in embarrassment.
"I met Kyubey a couple weeks ago. I used my wish to regain my music, so you would not blame yourself anymore."
Damien holds me tenderly, taking in the new information. This must be as shocking as that time when he told me about his demonic origin.
"Still, to think a human, a human male nonetheless, that is capable of acknowledging my existence. This is unprecedented."
"Maybe you being a former demon have something to do with it?" I look at my husband curiously. After all, he grew up in a world where magic were the norms, so it would not be that strange for him to see a creature like Kyubey.
"Crescent, you should clean your Soul Gem with the Seed."
Kyubey reminds me. I pull out the seed and summon my Soul Gem, which appears as an egg shape gem surrounding with intricate designs. The light has dimmed quite a bit, probably due to my use of magic tonight. I hold out the Grief Seed, letting the darkness fly to it from the Gem. Once again, my Gem shines with bright blue/purple light, pure from any darkness.
"Keep it safe for me, Kyubey." I toss it to the creature, which opens its back to catch the Seed. Damien remains silent through the ordeal. Our ride home was uncomfortably quiet, contrasting the usual tender feeling that I had around him. For the first time in years, I couldn't figure out what was on his mind. I lean on the bathroom door, waiting to talk to him after he finishes the bath. I couldn't stand this invisible wall that separates us. Maybe I should just walk in and confront him right there? Any minutes that pass by seems too precious to lose.
Select your options:
Let's talk to him now (to choose this option, PM me and I will send you the smut scene).
Let's wait. He had a rough day (this option will continue below).
I stare at the clock coldly, letting myself lost in a tangle of thoughts and emotions. A warm, still somewhat wet hand tenderly rub my shoulders, breaking my trance. Damien sits down on our bed next to me, letting a sigh escaped his lips.
"A lot happened tonight…" He began hesitantly, unsure of where to begin. I can't blame him, seeing that there were a lot to process.
"Yeah…"
"So, you have magic now. And you can play music again."
"I-I should have told you."
"You should have."
I nod, heart filled with guilt and shame. Damien softly pulls me into a warm hug. The tenderness brings tear to my eyes. I don't deserve him.
"No more secret from now, okay?" He places a kiss on my forehead, which lasts just long enough to melt me in its sweetness. When you love someone, the smallest act of kindness from that special person can mean the world to you.
"I promise." My lips graze his with a loving touch.
"Can I see your Soul Gem?"
I look into his deep blue/purple eyes in confusion. Focusing my energy, I summon the Gem, which shines brightly. With my permission, he holds the item with care, almost too afraid that he would damage it. His brows burrow.
"Crescent… I can feel your soul in the Gem."
"That… that can't be. I am right here." I touch my heart, feeling the rhythm of my own heartbeat. Kyubey did not mention anything about my soul moving to the Gem. In response, Damien kisses the surface of the Gem. The moment his lips come into contact with the object, an electric-like current shots through my body. The overwhelming sensation paralyzes me, proving his words. I could feel that kiss touches my very soul. I shudder at the thought of something not so loving hitting the Gem.
"H… How could this… be?" I struggle to control my breath, forming the words slowly. Kyubey walks in our room casually.
"He is right, you know? That Gem is your very soul."
"What? This was not a part of our deal."
"It is for your own good. Humans are fragile creature. A hit on any vital organs and you are gone. With your soul materialized like this, you have a much better chance of surviving the witches' attack. You could still fight even if you're bleeding a river. You could even choose to not feel any pain, although I would not recommend cutting that sense off completely."
"So. So you ripped my soul out without my permission?"
"It's a part of the contract. Some magical girls never even find out about that. After all, why should you care so much? You hardly recognized what happen to it until now. Humans are very insensitive to your own soul after all."
"Get out," Damien speaks calmly, but his tone carries an implied threat. Kyubey simply turns around.
"Very well. Although I will show up when you need your Grief Seed, Crescent."
The creature disappears from our room as sudden as its entrance. I stare quietly outside the window. Once again, I made things worse by trying to solve everything myself. This situation is eerily familiar to when I made the deal with Diana. My decisions seem to only spiral to hurtful things, even with the best intention. I cover my face with my hands, hiding the frustrating tears. Why am I such a bother? Why can't I just do one thing right? For once, I just want to be happy and make my loved ones happy. Is it that greedy to ask for that? My husband hugs me tightly.
"Let's… go to bed." I couldn't respond to him, trying to hold back the weeping. Gosh, I am pathetic.
"Hey… It's okay. We'll get through this."
"I… I thought I could make you happier with this. I… I thought with this magic, I could be strong enough to protect other… And in the end…"
"You are strong enough. You saved me from that witch today. Even though you never needed this magic to be strong. You are an inspiration to me, Crescent."
"I-I am?"
"Yeah. You did everything that you could to save the orphanage. You didn't back down even when threatened by a powerful succubus like Diana. And you were willing to give up a part of you for me. There are only a few that I could think of who have gone through the same length for the people that they care about. You are one of the strongest people I know."
I had no idea he thinks so highly of me. He is always respectful and encouraging around me, but I never know he sees me this way.
"…"
"Let's go to bed. We can handle this tomorrow. Together."
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too."
We cuddle up comfortably in our bed. After everything that transpired today, some rests are much deserved.
"Um… Crescent. Could I hold your Soul?"
"Huh?"
"I don't think I have the chance to truly hold you like we used to."
I let him hold both my body and soul in his loving embrace. He was right. We haven't done this ever since the contract, and I was too careless of my soul to realize that. In fact, in a way, this predicament gives me a rare chance to be closer to him ever than before. I fall asleep shortly, knowing that my Soul is safe in his hand.
From that day, Kyubey keeps its word, only appearing as my request to cleanse my Soul Gem. I contemplated over dropping the responsibility at first but ultimately decided to continue the hunt. I could not, with good conscience, letting witches go around and killing people. A plus side of keeping my duty as a magical girl is the time I get to spend with my husband around the city. Damien insisted to accompany me through every hunt, refusing to let me fight alone. I kept telling myself that hunting witches is more dangerous than romantic, yet it was hard to deny the happiness I felt to have him by my side. Tonight though, everything seems particularly peaceful. The Chicago sky was generous enough to show us an enchanting view full of sparkling stars. I hold my husband hand, finishing up our patrol around the city.
"Are you sure these patrols do not hinder your work?"
"I am sure. In fact, these times gave me brilliant inspirations for my book."
"Really? How?"
"Well… Let's just say I am writing a story about a courageous girl who uses her magic to battle evil monsters around the city."
I fluster, looking away to hide my embarrassment.
"Don't tease me like that."
"I am serious. The children will love it."
Our tender moment is cut short as we notice a strange warp in the park, signifying an entrance to a witch's labyrinth. Damien gives me an understand look and I quickly transform. With violin and bow ready, I lead us into the lair. Thankfully, it wasn't long before we find the main chamber. However, once we got there, all we found was a lone magical girl, tattered and exhausted from a harsh battle. The scene shifts abruptly back to the public part. I rush over to the young girl, who looks to be about 11 or 12 years old.
"Are you okay?"
"Urgh… I… I did it. I killed the witch." She smiles proudly as her body falls to the ground. Her Soul Gem, which appears as a moon shape on her forehead, was already covered with so much darkness that I almost missed the light.
"You did. You should be proud of yourself. Did it drop any Seed? We need to cleanse your Gem."
I smile at the young girl, laying her head on my lap. Kyubey would go as far as tricking young girl like this?
"Urgh… I… It didn't drop any. And I don't have any left."
Witches don't always drop Grief Seed when they die. I never had to worry about running out of Seed though, since I always store a couple just in case.
"It's okay. I'll lend you some. Kyubey!"
Nothing. The darn thing did not respond. I give Damien a worried look. His eyes scan the area, hoping to catch any sign of the creature. The girl's Soul Gem, however, continues to darken. It's never occurred to me before of what's happened to uncleaned Soul Gem. It is our soul so…
"Urgh… ahhhh…"
The girl screams in pain as her Gem shatters. I stare in disbelief, astonished from the sudden impact.
"I-it… It's… Hurghsf…. Hurt…Ahhh."
"Oh my, it appears that I am too late."
The unmistakable monotonous voice of the little trickster seems almost mocking. It takes sweet time moving slowly to our spot.
"I wouldn't stay there too long if I was you. It already begins hatching."
Darkness oozes out of the broken Gem, forming… a Grief Seed. Her desperate cry muffles into silence. What just happened?
"Crescent! Be careful!" Damien cries out to me, giving me enough time to notice the Grief Seed transforming into a witch. The impact knocked me back, throwing the girl's tiny body away. A bunny-like witch with two large wings appears before us. It flaps its wings, sending feathers flying at a deadly speed. My body moves out of instinct, deflecting the feathers back with a magically infused note. The horror of the truth finally seeps in. I became this strong because... I feel a nauseating dread in my stomach, realizing that my power did not only come from my wish, but also from using remnants of girls like me to absorb my own darkness.
"Crescent!" His voice pulls me back to the reality, giving me just a second to dodge the rampaging witch trampling my way. It smashes into the labyrinth's edge, temporarily dazed.
"I am sorry," I whisper, conjuring a powerful melody. The witch turns around, only to be knocked and torn into pieces by the spell. It drops a Grief Seed.
"I am sorry. I am so sorry."
I fall to my knee, having no strength left to stand. This is too much, too cruel. Damien rushes to my side, holding me close as I begin weeping and shaking uncontrollably. So, this is the destiny that I chose? An endless cycle of hope and despair?
"Impressive as always."
Kyubey comments, staring at me coldly.
"How? How could you do this to her?"
"She decided to make a contract with me, did she not? There are miracles unachievable in this world, so it is only fair that we gain the same amount of energy from you."
"Energy? You torment us for energy? All of this tricks and manipulations were for that? How is it fair to be tricked into becoming monsters?"
"Tricks and manipulations? Humans are always so illogical. You never asked us once about it, so we simply did not tell you. Humanity has relied on our help for millennia with the wishes, so logically, you should be grateful for us."
"Grateful? You steal our energy and life and expect us to be grateful?"
"You see, the law of entropy dictates that there will always be energy loss from any acts. As a consequence, the universe is constantly losing energy and soon will perish. To combat this, we Incubators has created a method to fight entropy using energy generated from emotions. As we lack emotions ourselves, cultivating girls with potential like you was the only choice that we have. The power unleashed the moment you made your wish, and when you transform into a witch was enough to compensate the loss. In other words, your existence as a magical girl and its natural ends of becoming a witch would help save the universe. Isn't that not something to be grateful for? All it takes is for you to run out of power or to fall into despair to complete the cycle. So, Crescent, won't you unleash that enormous power harboring within you by falling into despair?"
I feel Damien tightens his grip as he gives the creature deathly glare.
"Give back her Grief Seeds and be gone."
"Fine then." Kyubey drops two mostly used Seeds from his back and leaves.
"Oh, don't overuse those or they will hatch again." With that, it disappears into the wood.
Damien's point of view
I put the steaming pho soup on the tray. Days have passed since the incident and Crescent has refused to leave the house ever since. All I could do was watching her suffering. Every day, she seems to slip just a little bit closer to a deep dark pit where I can never follow. She refuses to use the Seeds at first, but upon realizing that her Gem continues to gradually darken even without the use of magic, she gives in. Still, she insisted on stopping her witch hunt, unable to bring herself to eliminate another witch, knowing what the creature once was. Putting the tray on one of the stances, I sit down next to her and rub her back, hoping to calm her just a little.
"Hey."
"Hey."
She responds half-heartedly, eyes still gazing to the distant.
"Crescent, please eats a little bit. I made pho today."
"Thank you, dear. I am not really that hungry though."
"Crescent…"
"That was the last Seed." She gestures toward a Seed on the table, the one from the little girl.
"What would your character do? What would she do, knowing that she too is turning into the same monsters she has been fighting all this time?"
"I don't know… But whatever it is that she decides, I will not let her go."
I pull her in my chest, rubbing her head gently. My shirt quickly damps.
"Damien. I don't know what to do anymore. I am scared. I don't want to disappear. I want to be by your side."
"James might have a way to turn you back. Since the transformation begins with magic, he figures that demonic magic might be able to counter-act the effect, seeing that we draw our power from sexual energy, which is similar to yours. So, hold on for just a little bit longer, okay?"
She nods, trusting my words. My brothers have been working on a method, and from what James told me, it seems that they could find a cure soon. At least, that's what I like to believe.
"I won't let you go, okay?"
"I will never leave you either."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Crescent's perspective.
I put a simple dress on, ready to go with my husband to the mansion. This is the last day that we have to plan for Sam and Mika's wedding and I am not going to miss it, even in this state. With the hope of a reverse ritual, my Soul Gem stopped darken, which gives me much needed time to survive. Everything seems to be fine, that we'll be okay soon. I felt guilty to Mika, knowing that I am not in the best shape to help her. Even worse, she ought to worry about me in addition to the stress from the approaching wedding.
As expected, I spend most of the time just help carrying things around. This feels like an excuse that they come up with just to get me out of the house. The sun shines so intensely and the smells of flowers seems so obnoxious today. Everything is just too… cheerful. Funny how this all started because I want to make our lives just a bit more perfect. Now, I am on the verge of losing it all. If I have to disappear, I would rather just die a human death than to put him in harm way from my monstrous form. I look at the pistol in my purse, loaded with exactly one bullet. If the time comes, one shot from this to either my Soul Gem or my brain should be all I need. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot… Kyubey? What is that curse thing doing here? I quickly get up and run to it. No. I will not let it touches Mika. The creature takes the corner and dashes to the party. As I follow its step, an explosion happens, tearing down a whole section of the mansion and knock everyone back. Thankfully, they all seems to survive the impact. A giant rose with thorny vines slowly making its way out of the rubbles. A runic symbol on its largest petal indicated its existence as a witch. That jerk planned this. The anger fuels my brief transformation and I launch to the monster with various spells. Taken aback slightly, yet almost unaffected by the impact, the witch shifts her attention to me. It vines whip furiously, destroying anything that comes into contact. Its speed stops me from casting spells, leaving only enough time to duck and dodge. I find myself in a deadly dance with the witch, but thankful that I lure it far enough from everyone. I can feel my magic fading. Soon enough, I will join this poor girl in despair. I don't have time to stall, so might as well do something desperate. Gathering most of my power in one spell, I let one of vine hits me, which gives me a clear shot to release the spell on its main body. The whip sends me flying closer to everyone as they stare in horror from the impact that my body made on the ground. Thankfully, that one spell was enough to eliminate the witch. It drops no Grief Seed. I lie helplessly on the ground, realizing that this is indeed my end. I turn to my right, spotting Damien's familiar jacket. He is still unconscious from the witch's earlier attack, but thankfully is breathing. I could only assume that the same goes for his brothers and Mika.
"Unfortunately, this seems to be the end for you, huh?"
If Kyubey was capable of emotions, I would say that it was mocking me. I can feel the darkness consuming my Gem. Reaching for my purse, I try to grab my prepared solution. This way, I could at least protect them… protect him one last time.
"You know, that's husband of yours is very interesting. Only magical girls or girls with potentials could perceive my existence, so it was a puzzle to discover that he could too. Fortunately, further research reveals that he was, at one point, a magical creature. A demon, isn't he? Being that gather sexual energy, how interesting."
"Urgh… wha…" Struggling to breathe in, I try to muster of some words only to feel the pain from my damaged body.
"It just so happens that sexual energy seems to have a similar capability to overcome entropy as well. Now, the real question is how to harness that. Surely, something as raw as their blood would contain pure magic. Magic that, perhaps, is strong enough to stop even the complete descend to despair?"
Its red eyes look at me curiously.
"I wonder how much you're willing to go through to stay with that person you claimed to love so dearly."
My hand reaches the gun. My eyes catch a slight movement in my peripheral vision. Someone whose blood might reach me in time if they were shot.
Choose your ending in the comment below, I will PM the ending to you. After a week and a half, all endings will be posted.
I deserve to be with Damien forever. I promised to stay by his side no matter what. I raise my gun at the dazed figure, pulling the trigger.
I aim the gun to my head. I cannot hurt him anymore. Goodbye, my love.
I pull the trigger at Kyubey. These memories that we shared were our happy ever after. Though I would love nothing more than for us to grow old together, knowing Damien loved me just as much as I did was more than enough.
