Tengen Toppa Puella Magi

AN: I first put this together six years ago. It was clumsy, but I don't hate it. As a writer, as a human, bit by bit I advance. That's how a drill works, after all.

I can't promise I'll finish this. I can't even promise we'll make it to Lord Genome. But I can at least create the best version of what already exists.

Chapter 1 – Break the Ceiling With Your Drill!

The eye of the storm is the most beautiful, yet most deadly part of calamity. A moment of dread silence where one can witness everything that has been brought to ruins, and feel everything that is yet to be destroyed. A turning point where anything can happen. In the middle of Walpurgisnatch's indifferent maelstrom, a young girl guided the history of humanity.

"Since you're now the point of karmic destiny from numerous different timelines, no matter how enormous the wish, you will likely be able to make it come true."

The creature responsible for the city's ruin showed no concern for the loss of life, nor the upending of buildings, roads and the endless flood that had rushed in. It cared even less for the second girl's futile struggle to free her foot and save her friend. Kyubey carried on with single-minded determination, fixated only on the bigger picture.

"Now, Madoka Kaname, what is the wish that you will pay for with your soul?"

A look back, a warm smile. Madoka Kaname took the past and future into her hands.

"I wish… that The Incubators could find another source of power to help prevent Entropy, one that means that no Magical Girls have to suffer and turn into Witches!"

Light erupted from her chest, holy incandescence that threw back the gloom and shook the earth as it grew in size and intensity with the desire to protect and save all those that had been misled over the long years. A promise to change things for the better, given form as it rushed over the city, swallowing up the girls, the alien, the ruined streets and the Witch that had brought all this about.

In the centre of the wish, a green spark blossomed, roaring defiance against the injustice of the world.

Sayaka dug. That was her job from first awaking until the point of exhaustion, as part of the digging teams in Giha Village. It was a job decried by her parents whilst they were alive and by most even now, but the blue-haired tomboy carried on regardless. The population was always growing, and as such more room was required. It didn't really help that the ceiling could fall on the village any day now, either from the constant earthquakes or the ravages of time. But still, she dug on with single minded determination, for what else was there to do? People needed somewhere to live while they were still alive.

Well, her shift was over, so lunch was probably in order. Hopefully Madoka had brought something good for them to share again. Pulling herself from her tunnel, she noticed Simon, her diminutive digging teammate hanging something from a string, a soft glint of golden light in the dim. He'd probably found something cool whilst digging again. The kid was the best out of all of them, able to cover masses of land in half the time of a full team. Even on her best day, Sayaka could only manage half of what he could, and even that effort would leave her crippled for the rest of the day while Simon would be bright-eyed and ready for a second dive into the trenches. Not that everyone was so appreciative of his efforts. Case in point, the three snotty brats staring at him and hiding pantomimed whispers behind their hands.

"What's so fun about digging all day?"

"He's so weird, and he smells too."

Sayaka clenched her jaw as she stormed over to give the spoilt layabouts a piece of her mind, a small spark of satisfaction lighting up at the back of her mind as they balked at her arrival.

"Don't you idiots have some place else to be? Like, anywhere away from those who do actual work around here?"

There was a soft pause, before the vipers turned their fangs on her.

"Speaking of weirdoes, how about the only girl in the village who likes getting all dirty?"

"And so violent, coming over here like this."

"Probably a lesbian too, considering how much she likes diving into holes all day. Quick, get away before we get infected by the creeps!"

And with that, the group booked it, running off and leaving spiteful laughter in their wake. Sayaka scoffed as Simon turned his head to the floor.

"You didn't need to do that, it's okay. I'm used to it."

Such self-depreciation got a supportive arm slapped over his shoulders for his troubles, a bright smile on the girl's face.

"Don't worry about it; those girls aren't even worth the effort for me. What do they know anyway? You're Simon, best digger Giha village has ever seen. Walk with your head held high!"

"She's got a point there Bro."

Both diggers turned to the sound of the newcomers, a tall, muscular boy with a shock of blue hair and tattoos running down his shirtless arms, and a prim and pretty girl half his height, pink hair done up in red ribbons, covered up in the traditional cloak and bandages of Giha, same as Sayaka and Simon. Sayaka loosened her grip and straightened up, rubbing a patch of dust away and hoping her face wasn't too dirty from work.

"Kamina, Madoka. You guys done for today?

Kamina was already lost examining the trinket Simon had found, so it was up to Madoka to fill them in.

"I was coming over here anyway with some snacks, but I bumped into Mr Kamina, and he says that he has a new plan to get to the surface. As you're both finished, we can eat up and get started right away."

"Madoka, how many times do I have to say it? Call me Bro!" Kamina said as he looped the drill bit around Simon's neck, Madoka giving a nervous giggle in response.

"It doesn't really feel proper."

"Screw propriety! We're Team Gurren ain't we? It's not about the blood we share, but our burning spirits! We're siblings of the soul, us four!"

Broad hands were clasped over the shorter members of the group, Kamina ignoring the dismissive glares from the other villagers across the pond.

"And today's the day; I can feel it in my guts. We're going to break the ceiling with your drills, and finally make it to the surface!"

"Don't you say that last time?"

Kamina's newest plan involved driving a tower of pig-moles into the ceiling, Simon and Sayaka at the front, drills ready to bore through to the surface. Unfortunately for him, Kamina had failed to take three things into account. Number 1: The ceiling of Giha village was far too solid to be penetrated by a pair of hand drills, even if his digging team had all day and a solid platform to work with. Number 2: Pig-moles were the furthest thing from a solid platform, and with no forward movement at the peak, panicked animals would continue to push up in force, and finally, Number 3: Gravity is a cruel and harsh mistress. And so it was that the three members of Team Gurren that hadn't immediately turned tail were watching Madoka's mother, the Village Chief, have her usual argument with Kamina, whilst they enjoyed the remainder of the snack box.

"Madoka, one of these days, I really will have to marry you."

"You just love me for my cookies."

"Hey, I've seen marriages built on far less."

The pair's girlish giggles where cut off as Simon tugged at Sayaka's shoulder. Kamina and Chief Kaname were heading over, neither looking best pleased as the chief returned the village's ancestral sword to her waist, Kamina adding yet another bright red mark of discipline to his ever-expanding collection.

"Madoka, Sayaka, Simon, next time this idiot tries something this reckless, if you can't slow him down at least call me so I can manage the fallout. We'll be rounding up pig-moles all night."

"I told you I'd help get them back." Kamina started to protest, but was silenced by a glare.

"Kamina, I've been as supportive as I can be of your attempted excursions. Whether or not the surface exists is one thing, but this was just stupid! I'm sorry, but you're going into a cell for the next three nights as punishment."

Ignoring Kamina's snort of defiance, she looked around the group, switching to a softer tone.

"Now, is anyone hurt? That was quite the fall you all took."

"No ma'am." Came the unanimous reply.

"Alright, everyone pack in for the day then. I'll see you at home Madoka."

But plans of heading home were shaken with a grim reminder, the walls quaking and stones dropping from the ceiling as an earthquake chose to strike, the populace of Giha quickly whipped into a panicked frenzy as they bolted for shelter, hiding out until the shaking ended as suddenly as it had started, leaving only Team Gurren as the ones out in the open. Kamina and Chief Kaname shielded the others, Simon and Madoka clinging to each other in closed-eyed support as Sayaka tried to hide the blush caused from proximity to Kamina's back. Quick as the earthquake itself, Kamina turned back to the chief, hands shaking with barely restrained fury.

"Is this really better? Scurrying away to hide like rats every time the walls shake?"

"I'm not doing this twice in one day with you Kamina. The ceiling needs to remain sealed, as decreed by our ancestors. Anyway, what happened to the tunnel you were digging upwards?"

"It was taking too long! I'd be an old man by the time it finished!"

And so life in Giha village went on.

Madoka woke expectedly in the middle of the night, dreams of bizarre monsters and labyrinths of cake tearing her from her rest. She was well used to them by now, despite how horrific the continued visions were. Variations on a theme, but all marching to the same beat. Girls with swords and detaching spears dancing in alleyways, a symphony lead by a monstrous armoured mermaid, and of a great witch formed from gears, everturning, never stopping as it brought ruin around it. Stranger still, the girl she'd never met before, sometimes with glasses, sometimes without, but always infinitely sad, crying over her as Madoka stared into a vast span of blue, exactly like the "sky" Kamina described from his brief visit to the surface.

She stepped outside, stretching her arms to get the blood flowing as she walked over to the glowing pool of water in the centre of the village, sitting down and dipping her feet a while as she brushed gunk from her eyes. Even if she returned to her bed, sleep would be the furthest thing from her mind, caught up as she would be by pondering over the sadden girl and the giant creatures. There were no stories in Giha regarding such things, and while the few villagers she had tried to talk to about it had treated her with the respect deserved of their future leader, she could tell that her concerns had already left them comparing her unfavourably to her mother. Junko wasn't left up half the night by make-believe stories, she focused on the real problems, like how old man Miyasaki had cheated in the drinking contest again or that damned delinquent Kamina and how he was corrupting the kids. Likewise, her mother was understanding, but if the problem couldn't be talked out or smacked down, she was quite lost, and no matter how many times they sat down and tried to figure out the dreams, they would return the next night anyway. After a time, Madoka had decided to leave everyone be and use her extra waking hours for more chores. If nothing else, maybe the villagers would find value in a leader that was always working.

Her sewing was to be left alone for tonight however, as she caught an unusual disturbance in the night. Judging by the voices and their whispered arguments, she wasn't the only one breaking curfew. The first thought was to wake her mother up, but that was put away just as quickly. If she wanted to be seen as a leader, she couldn't be running off at every little problem. Like Kamina said, she had to charge straight in and knock some heads together until the dumb bozos listened to her, damn it. But as she padded over to the low light, ready to bust up whatever late night crimes were going on, she instead found three people she could never bring herself to harm. Her mother was already wide awake, glaring down at Simon and Kamina, the boys bent down like they'd been caught exiting a tunnel. Had they been trying another break out without telling her or Sayaka? That didn't seem right. Even when Kamina had been digging his upwards tunnel, he'd refused his friend's offers to help, claiming that they did enough work as it was. Nevertheless, he had still told them about it, to make sure that they'd be ready for when the time came, so that they could break free to the surface together.

From her hiding place flat against the wall, she could hear Kamina taking the blame onto himself for whatever it was he and Simon had been doing, and saw her mother raise the sheathed weapon. The intended blow missed as the group was shaken from their feet, and the sound of grinding stone vaingloriously trying and failing to hold gave way to… the ceiling. The ceiling was breaking! Great chunks raining down before the entire thing erupted in an explosion of dust and dirt. Madoka's eyes burned as great shafts of light overpowered pale Giha, and despite wanting to remain hidden she was unable to keep herself from screaming as the light took her sight away far worse than even the darkest tunnel. She could feel hands pulling her away and her mother's voice in her ear, desperately asking if she was alright. Scrubbing furiously at her eyes, the myriad colours rapidly faded as she was brought into shade. A huge metal face had crashed down into the centre of the village, and before it Kamina stood, one finger pointing towards the shafts of light illuminating his form.

"Look up! That's the surface! I told you there was a surface up there! This big mug fell from above the surface, from above the ceiling!"

A claim punctuated as the face roared up behind him, pulling itself to its feet. Although, to say it was a face would be a grievous disservice to anybody with one, as the metal creature's wicked horns and great fangs looked anything but human. It gauged the people who had gathered at the sound of the damages, before swinging a club down with stubby arm, sending them screaming and scattering for cover. Junko stared up at the monster, than back down to Madoka, drawing the ancestral sword from its resting place for the first time in four generations.

"Go find Sayaka and hide. Now!"

"But mum…"

"Go! Now!"

"Here, let me."

Kamina was over them, holding out his hand for the katana, Simon stammering and panicking behind him. There was a brief glance between chief and delinquent, a soft sigh, and the sword passed over.

"Don't get yourself killed. I still need to kick your arse for that breakout."

A soft snort of laughter, mocking the impossible.

"Who the hell do you think I am?"

And with that, Kamina began stalking over to the monster as Junko whisked Madoka away. It made sense, but at the same time, Madoka couldn't help feeling useless. But what was she to do? She'd never been in a fight before, not like Kamina or Sayaka, willing to throw fists the second anyone doubted the existence of the surface. All she could do was watch as Kamina made boasts to the creature, his proud back to the doubting villagers as he roared about Team Gurren and its great leader, The Mighty Kamina. And oh god, it could talk, laughing at the man standing before it, club raised high.

"What can a puny human like you do to stop me?"

Suddenly, a flash of blue, and a series of sparks and cracks, echoing off the skin of the creature, causing it pause and knocking the great club ajar as Kamina and Simon stared towards the sounds. There, again, and again, a continuous round of fire, getting closer all the time. Swinging down from the hole were the ceiling once covered, a pair of girls, cascading down on golden ribbons, one coming to a sliding halt in front of the boys, the other nimbly floating around as she landed far more neatly to the side.

Even given the failed attempt to get the surface, Kamina was having a pretty good day. And now, it was a great one. The surface was real, and things lived up there! Attractive girls no less! The two continued their round of fire from the barrels they were holding onto, knocking the bozo that'd crashed into his village onto its backside, before bolting away in opposite directions to find cover. Kamina tailed the ponytailed redhead, peppering her with questions.

"You came from the surface right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"That's awesome! So that's a weapon they use on the surface, huh?"

"Not exactly, but something like that."

Damn, she was so much hotter than the girls down here, smooth tanned skin tightly wrapped up in the shortest shorts he'd ever seen and a pair of pink tights to go with a scarf coloured likewise; the only thing she was wearing up top, other than a flame-print bikini top and a pair of mismatched gloves.

"Do I need to tell you again to run? Do you have a death wish?"

A shadow fell over them as the ugly mug returned, but before it could swing, more of those red ribbons appeared, binding the limbs of the bastard. The other one bounced into view, Simon held underarm, a surface weapon in the other. Her outfit was the complete opposite of Red's, a tight corset and long sleeves concealing her form, with a big foofy skirt and leggings to match, all coloured to a yellow and brown palette. Oh, and there was one other thing about the pair he needed to get out of his system.

Bosoms, melons, milk factories, fun bags, dirty pillows, knockers, ballistics, boobies, jugs, jubblies, sweater puppies…

Tits. Seriously, surface chicks were a breed apart. Whilst he'd been checking them out, Yellow had popped Simon next to him, and both chicks were now blazing away at the joints of the invader, exchanging tactics as the ribbons stopping the big galoot from smashing them began to twitch and shudder. Even from here, it was obvious that they were rapidly fraying.

"Think you can finish it with Tiro Finale?"

Yellow fired her weapon and discarded it, Kamina watching in mild dismay as it dissolved the second it left her hand. Getting the ancestral sword was great, but he couldn't pass up the chance to check out a genuine surface weapon. The other hand whipped up and grabbed the gem in her hair, Yellow giving it a once-over check before returning it to the flower hairpiece that housed it.

"I'll be cutting it a little close, but if we can get it held still for long enough, then yes, I believe so."

"Alright then, I'll get these two out the way; see if I can't hit one of the rear conduits. Come on guys, let's move!"

And with that, Red grabbed him and Simon by the hands, tearing off before Kamina could complain about being left out the fight. That train of thought was silenced as the monster finally broke free, the great club slamming down towards them. Next thing he knew, the three were underground in a bolthole, Simon panting heavily. He must have drilled them into here in the nick of time, not that Kamina expected anything less from his blood brother. And so they began following Simon instead, as the digger led him and the surface girl through the tight and twisting back areas of Giha. Which led to some really disappointing revelations as they talked.

"You said you're from the surface, but you're a pit chick? Get moving thunder-thighs!"

"Hey, what's wrong with growing up in a pit?"

The group stopped with matching blinks of surprise. They'd stumbled on Sayaka and Madoka, watching the fight between Beauty and Beast from a small bedroom. Sayaka looked not best pleased, Madoka a little woozy, as she only clipped in with a weak comment about not calling girls bad names.

"Huh, what are you guys doing here? I thought Madoka's mum had you."

"She ran off to help some of the other villagers, but don't go changing the subject!"

"If I can just interrupt this lover's quarrel, where exactly are we going?"

"To see the huge Face!"

Red and Simon stepped into the conversation, which got Sayaka to drop out of it, as she sputtered half-worked sentences about her and Kamina's relationship, or lack thereof, with a furious blush on her cheeks. Red turned to face Simon, talking to him probably for the first time that day.

"You mean a Gunmen?"

"What's a Gunmen?" Kamina asked, exasperated at all the talking and getting nowhere with it. Red simply pointed out the window, where the monster was rotating left and right, swatting with its club as it thrashed wildly in search of its opponent. As the group stared, Yellow flew past, launching herself into the creature's blind spot, platforms made of ribbons appearing and disappearing as she bounced from one to the other, elegantly dodging her monstrous foe with ease. Madoka's eyes went wide as the older girl neatly back-flipped onto the head of the Gunmen, before sliding down its back as the giant hand failed to crush her.

"Is that your friend? She seems really cool."

"Yeah, that's Mami. I'm Yoko. We accidentally blew that Gunmen down here, so we came to finish it off."

Sayaka had calmed herself down, and was back to watching with them.

"So why isn't she shooting at it?"

Yoko bit her lip with a soft frown, before swinging her weapon around and bracing it on the window. A soft "tisk" followed.

"Looks like she had less energy than she told me about. Typical Mami, worrying about everyone else but herself. Hold on a sec, let me see if I can't blast the power conduits. That should take him out."

A neat little plan, but not a very manly one. Which led to the building they were in being quickly smashed to rubble, Team Gurren plus one escaping into one of Simon's many tunnels, Yoko and Kamina sniping at each other all the way, with Sayaka throwing in a good few jibes once she'd made sure Madoka was fine, the pink haired girl taking up the rear, trying to sue for peace between the group. Finally, they made it to Simon's discovery.

"So, this is it? The face you wanted to show me?"

It was as Simon had described. A big metal face, attached to a red body. Not quite as big as the one wrecking the village, but it had a certain spirit that Kamina was already quite attached to. The inside had two levers either side of a pretty comfy looking seat. Simon climbed inside to give a demonstration of how he thought it worked, as the others cooed over it.

"Aww, it's kinda cute."

"Not really much compared to that bigger one though."

"It's smaller than the thing up there, but I kinda like its face. This makes two awesome things you're dug up today."

Simon's grin lit the darkness of the confined space, the first proper smile he'd pulled all day.

"Hey Bro, let's use this thing to take out that thing out there."

"Yeah, let's waste it."

"Not to burst your bubble, but there's no way we're all going to fit in there, even as small as these three are. And leaving the rest of us down here is kinda bad for our health whilst the Gunmen's trashing the place."

"Maybe someone could stand to slim down then."

"Sayaka, don't be catty!"

Before yet another argument could break out, the group was distracted by the green glow coming from the drill Simon had found earlier, pulsating neon green in sync with the slits in the eyes. Simon turned his head expectantly to Kamina, lost in thought.

"Come on Bro, get in!"

"No. You do it Simon."

"What?"

"You dug it up, so this thing belongs to you. You think The Great Kamina could steal from his brother? What kind of person do you think you're dealing with?"

"But I could never do this!"

"Dumbass, kick logic out and do the impossible! That's how Team Gurren rolls, remember?"

"Think we should remind them that there's a monster trying to get us?" Yoko asked, cocking an eyebrow at the nonsense coming from the older boy's mouth. Sayaka gave a dismissive wave as Madoka giggled.

"Nah, just give them a moment, they do this routine at least once a day."

The light-heartedness was cut off abruptly as the earth around them began to shake violently, great grunts sounding from above. Madoka and Sayaka suddenly found themselves next to a panicking Simon, Kamina and Yoko hanging off the edges of the Gunmen. Kamina cut into Simon's worrying with piercing words and broad grin.

"Listen Simon, don't believe in yourself. Believe in the Kamina that believes in you. Besides, you've got a mecha and two cute girls at your side, you can do anything buddy!"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

Yoko's protests were lost on Simon though, staring deeply into the faded metal panel and the brilliant glow that echoed from within. A swirl of bright dots enraptured in that green energy reflected in his goggles, the same as that coming from the drill, brought up to meet his face by Boota, the little pig-mole staring up at him with belief matched only by his Bro. The drill slid into the indentation neatly, a soft click before the world erupted into untapped power.

Mami Tomoe grit her teeth as her eyes meet the soul gem hanging from her wrist, her forearm protected by the wide shield she'd formed from ribbons holding steady against the rain of steel coming down on her. Only about a tenth of her magical energy was left, so she was stuck on defence. Whatever Yoko had planned with those boys, it would need to be put into play soon, or there wouldn't be a Magical Girl to save. The club came down again, and Mami met it with shield, not for the first time thanking her enhanced body's battle capabilities as the shockwave run through her. A normal human would have been crushed a long time ago. "Still, best not to dwell on that," she thought as she absorbed another swing, the recoil on this one giving her enough time to start moving again, ribbons beginning to flow down her right arm, a musket forming for her counterattack. Which probably would have worked fairly well, had the ground she ran to not given out on her to reveal a second Gunmen bursting forth with a crew of villagers hanging off the sides, including her partner.

"Yoko?"

A brief reunion quickly ended by the busty gunslingers meeting each other at high speed, sending Yoko flying from the arm of the mini Gunmen, momentum whipping the Magical Girl after her. The last thing Mami managed to summon before her soul gem darkened was a net of ribbons to catch them, the pair crash landing into one of Giha's remaining walls, laying on each other with arms and legs all about the place.

"Good catch."

"Thank you. I'm afraid that's all from me today though, my soul gem's just gone out. I see you went and found plan B."

"You could say that."

And so it was that Kamina found himself glaring up at his newest archenemy of all five minutes and thirty five seconds for the second time that day.

"Bet you weren't expecting this, were you, you son of a bitch! Even if heaven itself tolerates your brutality, the mighty Lagann will not!"

"Lagann?" Echoed the pilot and passengers, clearly as confused as everyone else.

"Yeah, it's this big feller's name. I just came up with it." Kamina explained, giving the newly named Lagann a slap for punctuation. Any further explanation wasn't forthcoming, as Lagann bounced away on spring legs to avoid being crushed, Kamina deriding Simon as it went for a lack of manliness. The second swing was cancelled by a blast of lightning striking the Gunmen in the eye, causing it to flinch, crutching at the damaged orb. Yoko was back on her feet and back in the fight, Lagann crashing to a halt next to her.

"Doesn't that thing have any attacks?"

"Quick, look for buttons!"

There was a quick pause in the action as Team Gurren began searching for any sort of controls, spinning the handles, moving the seat cushions and generally making a mess of the cockpit. The problem was solved by Madoka giving the drill bit in the centre console a tentative twist, letting out a squeal of surprise as a drill burst from Lagann's forehead, nearly taking off the back of Yoko's bikini as it went. Unsurprisingly, Kamina recovered from the shock first.

"A drill? That's a perfect match! Good going Madoka!"

Ignoring Yoko's complaints and Madoka's nervous exclamations of "I-it's nothing, really!" Kamina turned to his blood brother.

"Alright, smash us right into that big ugly mug; let it feel the power of Team Gurren's mighty drill!"

"Yeah, let's get rid of that guy once and for all!" Sayaka chipped in, grabbing Simon's shoulders for encouragement, the pilot taking a look at the team around him before grabbing the handles with a grunt, Lagann's body lighting up in a green haze as two more drills replaced the hands of the Gunmen. The battle transformation was completed as bands appeared from nowhere, clutching the surprised Team Gurren and wrapping them up neatly within the cockpit. The enemy Gunmen went for a thrust as Lagann burned forwards, drill meeting club for all of a second before the smaller Gunmen rushed through the arm of its opponent, four voices roaring as one in higher and higher intensity as both machines began to rise, forced up by the blinding stream of energy coming from the back of Lagann, climbing like a firework towards the ceiling, the high pitch screaming of a drill taking those that dreamed to the promised surface.

Lagann broke the surface in an explosion of earth and metal, the enemy Gunmen raining down in fragments as the drills retracted and the bands lifted, freeing the girls from being squeezed up against the boys. Not that social niceties were at the forefront of anyone's minds, as the view was just too good. A great plane of earth stretching out as far as the eye could see, with a burning orb lighting the left of their vision, a silvery partner casting the right into shadow, the pair slowly rotating around the group as Lagann rose to the peak of its skyward launch, throwing the capes from those wearing them as Team Gurren boggled at the sights before them, the crisp wind on exposed skin ignored as they turned to each other, smiles abound in mutual joy at their long-awaited success. It was a moment that would have had a lot more dignity and ambiance, had Kamina not promptly punched the air.

"I told them! The surface is real!"

"Um, we kind of left the surface girls back in Giha though." Madoka said, interrupting the whoops and cheers of the older boy.

"Ah, don't worry about it. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Hey, does it feel like we're falling to anyone else?"

There was a shared blink and a slow, simultaneous turn from the four to notice that, yes, the thruster at the back of Lagann had cut out, and that the Gunmen was starting to pick up speed in the wrong direction. Kamina grabbed onto the two girls with one arm and the console with the other as Team Gurren were lifted from their seats, screaming all the way down.

"How you doing Mami?"

Yoko kept glancing around at the Giha villagers as her partner stretched her weary limbs, making sure everything still worked. Magical girls were tough, but not invincible after all. Fortunately, it seemed Mami was more tired from over-reaching her power limits than anything else. Still, the villager's nerves and fear would only keep them away for a little while. They'd be all over the pair in a minute, demanding answers they probably wouldn't enjoy.

"Hey!"

Oh lovely, one had already found the guts. An imposing woman with short purple hair who bore a striking, if older, resemblance to the girl who'd asked about Mami earlier, albeit with a presence like none Yoko had felt before. Unsurprisingly, she looked none too happy.

"You surface girls better start talking. I want to know exactly where the hell Madoka just got whisked away to."