I do not own any of the following fandoms within this story, which include:
-Made in Abyss
-Little Witch Academia
-The Promised Neverland
-Seven Deadly Sins/Nanatsu No Taizai
-And, of course, Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Time travel is such a fickle thing.
There can be said to be only two types of possible time travel: a 'parallel universe' and 'no change' type.
In the parallel universe type, an alternate universe, an exact copy, is created, though it starts from earlier in the time flow. Therefore, this universe can be manipulated at will, as there is no threat of a paradox.
The second type is simpler, and within it, you cannot change the past, merely relive it. To be able to see everything you miss truly would be a wonderful gift.
A magical girl can wish for this.
For the power to change everything.
The First Wish- For Want of a Friend
Nanachi watched her dearest treasure, Mitty, lay on the ground, barely shifting. She had tried everything to put the girl out of her misery, but every attempt failed, and merely hurt her more.
"Mitty," she said softly, a tremble underlining the words, a hint of tears, "I don't know how to grant your wish." The creature gave a quiet whine, and Nanachi burst into tears. "I don't know how to save you!" The Abyss was beautiful, though a dangerous place, and the tender green shoots of grass waved in the wind. The breeze seemed to sing a song, and as the winds grew fiercer, the song became quicker.
Nanachi prepared a hurried meal for herself and ate as quickly as possible. Her ears drooped, and she wondered if there was any way to kill Mitty. The light coming into her home was little, and she had to squint in order to see anything at all.
That might have been why she tripped over Kyubey.
"I wish for Mitty to be back with me," Nanachi declared loudly. "Mitty, real Mitty, in her human form, and not in pain anymore. I just want us to be together and happy."
"..." Kyubey stood still. "That wish is illogical."
"Eh?" Nanachi's face turned red in anger. "But you said-"
"Those terms cancel out each other. If you wish for Mitty to feel no pain, she cannot be happy." Nanachi stopped fuming and thought for a minute.
"Then I want to go back when I was with Mitty. We'll run away, and she'll be saved for sure!"
[Reset.]
Nanachi appeared above the Abyss, before Bertrand had come and lured them to the depths.
Mitty was there, a still-innocent, young girl with a fiery temperament.
Nanachi reached out first. In such a world, to do so was hard, but Nanachi knew Mitty. They soon became close, and she was glad to convince Mitty not to go with Bertrand. The two were happy, if poor. Nanachi's wish had come true.
Yet every timeline ends in despair, does it not? The witches that came were too much for Nanachi alone to handle. So she teamed up with Riko, a blonde magical girl from the orphanage with dreams of finding her mother in the abyss, along with her sidekick robot, Reg. Though the partnership was merely temporary, Nanachi still felt close to the two.
I wish… to help Nanachi in her battles.
Mitty, wanting to be like Riko, took the girl's place when she left. The witches were still powerful, but nothing they couldn't handle.
...my dearest treasure…
Nothing ever lasts forever.
Nobody found Mitty's body, and nobody except for Nanachi cared.
She rewound time.
[Reset.]
Nanachi stayed further away from Mitty, this time. It hurt to do that, but Mitty was her best friend. Nanachi could do anything for her.
Mitty went with Bertrand. The universe was a failure.
[Reset.]
Once again, Nanachi easily made friends with Mitty. Bertrand left with them, this time, but Nanachi used her powers to kill them. It was surprisingly easy to do so when time was stopped.
Mitty and Nanachi could live in the Abyss. A perfect life.
It was too bad about the Zoaholic machine.
Nanachi died this time, and Mitty wished her back to life. Nanachi refused to let her treasure become a magical girl.
[Reset.]
Riko became a witch.
[Reset.]
Mitty made her wish early, this time. Nanachi had no idea why, but she was immediately turning back time.
It didn't work.
"Kyubey told me," said Mitty. "I don't want you to have to do this."
[Resetreset.]
"You're sent to the same time now in each parallel universe."
[Resetresetreset.]
"Please, Nanachi, we can just be happy."
[Rese-Crack.]
The original Mitty still suffered, waiting for her friend to come back.
Riko died from poison.
Reg ran out of energy, and also joined his friend in eternal rest.
[Reset.]
The Second Wish- For Want of Power
Akko Kagiri was a failure as a witch. How could she ever become like her idol, Shiny Chariot? Diana Cavendish beat her in every class, and Akko couldn't even fly on a broom.
'You know,' said a voice, 'I can grant that wish.'
"Huh?" Akko sat up straight, coming eye to eye with a small creature.
'I can grant any wish you have.' The creature tilted its head. 'Any wish.'
"Then I want to become like Shiny Chariot! I want to be able to use magic well!" A glowing object, roughly the size of Akko's thumb, exited her stomach, and she hacked it up, tears within her eyes.
'Wish granted,' replied the creature. 'Have fun being a puella magi, Akko Kagiri. My name is Kyubey, and you are now like Shiny Chariot.'
Diana approached Akko the next day. The brunette registered a difference in the other girl's appearance- she had a ring on her finger, inlaid with a jade gem.
"You contracted, didn't you?" she asked, frustrated. Akko slightly nodded, and Diana could only sigh. "Kagiri, something weird is going to happen today, and it's my fault. Just know, I didn't want to do this." Diana's clothes transformed. Her top was green and white, with fluffy sleeves, and slits cut in the top, bottom, and middle. She had a short blue skirt on, just like Shiny Chariot's, and her legs were uncovered until her long brown boots. She snapped her fingers, and Akko was bound in ropes.
"Huh?" she asked. Another Diana ran into the room.
"Kagiri, what is this?" she asked crossly until she noticed the first Diana. "Is that me?" With another snap, this Diana was similarly bound. Akko growled and tried to transform, but the first Diana's ropes stopped her.
"Diana, what's happening?" she asked the magical girl Diana. If Akko looked closely, she could see differences between the two- the magical girl Diana had a green mark on her middle nail, and her hair was slightly longer. Also, that Diana was taller with a more developed body.
"I am from the future," replied the girl. "Akko Kagiri. Your wish will create a witch which destroys humanity." Akko gasped slightly and clutched the still-warm gem in her hand.
"Witch?" she asked faintly. "But... I am a witch already!"
"Then a demon," huffed Diana. "They're called witches, though. So Akko, you have to die."
"Time travel?" asked original Diana (Akko would just call her original Diana and the other one magical Diana.) "Then you can't influence the past. I would know that."
"Akko always died," responded magical Diana. "That's why she must die. In order to preserve the time continuum."
"Then…" original Diana hesitated.
"Wait! You can't let her kill me!" exclaimed Akko. Original Diana glared at her, then let out a breath.
"But if I don't make that wish in the future, this will never happen," original Diana responded to the other her. "So this shouldn't be taking place."
"You will make this wish. I know what will happen to you. A year from now, you will be forced to do so in order to save this world."
Nothing happened. Magical Diana didn't vanish.
"You're right." Magical Diana freed Original Diana from her bonds. "I… will have to do it. I'm sorry, Kagiri.''
"That didn't take much time," complained Akko. "I mean, you could have at least protested…"
"I have no choice," protested original Diana. "If this world will survive, I need to continue the loop." Magical Diana raised her hand and a bright green light emerged. Original Diana looked away, and Akko screamed as the magic burned at her skin, killing her nerves, and she collapsed on the ground in a heap.
Just as Akko's eyes began to close for the last time, she saw magical Diana's soul gem crack. Original Diana held the shards in her hand, and the pieces dug into her pale hand.
"You're going to make the contract," murmured magical Diana, dying. Original Diana turned to Akko, then walked away, conviction in her eyes.
I never got to be like Shiny Chariot…
'Oh, but Akko, your wish was never granted.' Akko sat up. 'So you have to survive.' Magical Diana's body lay on the ground, completely still. Akko began to walk forward. She would talk sense into Diana. She would be like Shiny Chariot.
Akko transformed, her magical outfit a copy of Shiny Chariot's clothes. Ursula noticed and dropped the books she was carrying with a thud. But Akko didn't care. Diana was before her, right there. Akko had the power of Chariot. Diana had to be convinced…
Diana was wearing magical Diana's clothes, and there was the same symbol on her finger.
Akko gasped and raised her staff nervously.
Snap. Akko was bound too tightly to move.
"You contracted," she whimpered.
"Of course." Diana raised her hand, drawing an hourglass in the air. "Goodbye, Kagiri. This world can end only one way."
The next day, Diana Cavendish and Akko Kagiri were reported missing.
The Third Wish- For Want of a World
Emma wandered the halls of the orphanage she once called home, her friend Ray nearby. The boy was glaring at nothing in particular and seemed on the edge. Emma gritted her teeth. There had to be a way to find the Seven Walls! She refused to give up.
Let's play.
"Shut up," she murmured. Ray eyed her cautiously.
"Are you okay, Emma?"
"Yeah," she groaned, rubbing her head. "I think my nerves are just shot."
"Mm." Ray gave her a sympathetic glance and ventured forward. "We're never going to get anywhere."
"I refuse to give up hope!" Ray jumped. "We can't just let Musica die."
"Heh." Ray made a face. "I knew you would say that, Emma. But we really have hit upon a dead end."
And he was right. They were no closer to finding the seven walls than when they started. What a waste of time.
'True,' acknowledged a voice. Emma turned to see a small white creature behind her. 'My name is Kyubey. Don't worry, your friend can't see me.'
"What do you want?" she hissed while Ray looked at her strangely.
'I can grant any wish you have. Any wish at all.'
"Then I wish to find the seven walls." Emma's clothes transformed into a long black cloak, with a frilly shirt and skirt beneath. Ray gaped and began to speak when their location changed. The walls shifted, and Ray with Emma close behind was pulled like puppets on a string.
"Are these the seven walls?" breathed Ray. Emma stared in amazement, and then frowned at a new voice.
'No fair cheating!' it whined. Ray and Emma fell to the ground at the same time, a red flower in each of their chests. 'Time for the brains…'
A day later, Anna knew what happened.
Norman, Don, and Gilda were trying to hide it, but she knew. Norman was acting strange, but she still saw the real Norman under that, and that Norman was grieving.
So Anna contracted with Kyubey. He had been hounding her for some time, and she grew to appreciate the creature as a friend. She wished to go back when Emma and Ray were leaving, then convince them to stay.
(reset)
"Emma, Ray, please don't go!" she blurted.
"Sorry, Anna, but we're going to find the Seven Walls and save all of us!"
(reset)
"Emma, Ray, please take me with you."
"Sorry, Anna, but it's too dangerous. We need to do this."
(reset)
"I can come and heal you if you get injured."
"Don't worry, Anna, we'll come back safe."
(reset)
"I'm coming with you." Determination shining in her eyes, Anna glared at Ray and Emma. "I can help."
"Anna-" began Ray.
"I'm coming with you," she insisted.
"Anna, we'll come back," promised Emma, her face lit up by a slight glow, the light shining on her eyelashes. "We sw-"
"I'm coming with you!" bawled Anna. Her soul gem, clutched within her shaking hand, was dark and corrupted, black dots floating within the pure white. Anna looked down, and, seeing this, began to cry even more. A worried Emma put out a hand, while Ray huffed, uncomfortable. "N-no…" Anna brought her hand into a fist, beginning to crush the gem. "I can't do it…"
"Anna, what happened?" asked a concerned Emma. "Anna?"
"Have to do it…" murmured Anna. " Have to do it… " Her fingers closed and the gem shattered, the blue shards digging into her flesh and sending red droplets onto the pallid skin. The sky blue soul gem lay by Emma's feet as Anna collapsed.
"Anna?"
The Fourth Wish- For Want of a Sin
Elizabeth, the daughter of Brittanica's king, and therefore a princess, hauled herself up the rocky mountains. The suit of armor she wore chafed uncomfortably, and the loud clanging noise it made was also quite distracting.
"I'm not going to make it," she murmured to herself. She petted the cat in her hands, a small, delicate white creature she accidentally found and made a pet out of. "I just want… to go back to those days, with dad and my sisters." The cat sat up straight. "I wish…"
'Wish granted,' said the cat. 'You are now a puella magi.'
"Eeh!" screamed Elizabeth as she was hurtled back in time. "What is thiiii-!"
She was in the castle's courtyard, wearing a dark maroon tie over a fringed white dress, along with black leggings and shoes adorned with ribbons. She was also younger, maybe five years old.
"Liz!" exclaimed Veronica, also younger. "C'mon, let's play!"
"Again with tag?" groaned Margaret. "Play with Griamore, if you must."
"I'm just trying to cheer Liz up," replied Veronica. "She's always upset when Meliodas is always on a mission." Elizabeth's head snapped up, and her heart beat rapidly. She planned to ask about Meliodas (he was the sin of wrath, after all!) but she found herself saying:
"Yeah, let's play." Frustrated, Elizabeth tried to ask again, but instead found herself walking forward, towards her sisters.
Soon, Elizabeth found herself in an attempt to aid the sins in their escape, and Merlin took her memories away, making the girl forget the future and the past. And once again, Kyubey told her she could go back in time.
The armor was discarded, it being too unwieldy. Elizabeth shuddered as the world began to spin. An hourglass appeared before her and was turned upside down.
Time reset.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Every time, Elizabeth's magic was brought to the maximum.
Every time, she lost her memories.
The loop just continued on and on and on.
Never ending.
Never stopping.
The curse hung heavy, and the pure white soul gem never grew corrupted. This was forever, an eternity. Elizabeth was just caught.
Caught, forever living out her wish.
The Fifth Wish- For Want of Love
Hitomi Shizuki walked home slowly, coming back from her tea ceremony. Her friends, Madoka and Sayaka, had gone to buy CDs for Sayaka's friend Kyosuke Kamijou, who was located in the hospital.
"I love Madoka," she whispered, her cheeks bright red. Slapping herself, she began to cry. "I love her!"
But girls shouldn't love girls. Everybody knew that. So why was Hitomi lying to herself? Her parents wanted her to marry the rich Kyosuke, son of influential people. It would break Sayaka's heart, she knew, but what else could Hitomi do?
She wasn't supposed to love a girl, she knew, but she still loved Madoka.
When they first met, in kindergarten, Hitomi was just a shy young girl. She had kept to herself in the room, trying not to let herself be noticed. Then, Sayaka had come over, with her new friend, Madoka, close behind.
"Hey!" she boasted. "I'm Sayaka Miki, and I'm gonna be a hero! Who're you?"
"Um… um…" Hitomi could only stutter faced with the bold bluenette, but an equally shy Madoka stepped forward.
"Eh… my name's Madoka Kaname. But you can call me Madoka." Hitomi was pretty sure her heart melted before that adorable girl, and she swallowed before amassing all her courage.
"M-my name's Hitomi Shizuki. Call me Hitomi, Madoka!" That one moment led Hitomi thus far with her crush.
In the present day, Hitomi was lying on her bed, flipping through pictures on her phone. Madoka and Sayaka eating ice cream with her. Madoka hugging her. Sayaka and Mad-
Wait. Madoka hugging her?
Hitomi flipped back through the photos to the one with Madoka hugging her, and set it as her screensaver. This was such a cute picture! Sayaka must have taken it- indeed, she saw a lock of blue hovering in the corner of the picture. Cropping that out, Hitomi went to sleep, happy.
The next day, Madoka was tense and nervous.
"Are you okay?" asked Hitomi.
Sayaka pulled her aside.
"I'm really worried about Madoka!" the bluenette blurted. "Yesterday, she thought there was something there when there wasn't, and then she went with some older blonde girl!" Hitomi's heart stopped. Older blonde girl. Was Madoka in a relationship?
"Girls can't love girls!" she yelled before running away.
The next day, she completely avoided Sayaka and Madoka. The transfer student seemed to be keeping tabs on Madoka, and Hitomi's fists clenched.
Calm, Hitomi. Shizukis are calm. Don't disgrace us.
Slowly, Hitomi relaxed.
Kyosuke was still in the hospital, and Hitomi sometimes visited. She had to follow the will of her parents, after all.
Then she wandered into the labyrinth.
There were letters spelled out everywhere, and somehow Hitomi could read the odd runes. H.N. Elly, Kristen, Look at me, they read. Hitomi shuddered in fright and awe.
"Madoka!" she yelled, seeing a familiar face. "What is this?"
"Hitomi?" mumbled Madoka. "Ah… are you okay?"
"Of course." Hitomi smiled kindly at the girl.
"I need to call Mami," Madoka said, abruptly changing the topic. "But I don't have her number… what should I do?" Madoka shifted from foot to foot as the crowd entered an abandoned building.
They were mixing chemicals.
Madoka stopped them.
Then she vanished.
"Madoka?" ventured Hitomi. "Madoka, Madoka…"
"Stay out of the way." The transfer student appeared, her gaze cold. She held a gun, and she, too, vanished. Hitomi took a step forward, and felt as she was pulled to pieces. Madoka was being pulled like taffy, and Homura was saving her.
"Thank you, Homura," cried Madoka. "Thank you for saving me and Hitomi!"
Mami Tomoe gave Hitomi the full rundown on what it meant to be a puella magi. Homura Akemi had teamed up with her and Kyoko Sakura to defeat the witch Walpurgis. Madoka had potential, though Sayaka didn't.
Hitomi had potential.
She could wish for almost anything. World peace, no wars, love, anything. This was great. Fighting witches would be fine, and Hitomi was sure she could do anything. With two, possibly three or four teammates at her side, everything would be fine. Nothing could ever go wrong.
Far too soon, Walpurgis had come, and Hitomi had not yet decided on a wish. That was okay, though! Madoka hadn't either, and Mami, Kyoko, and Homura would finish up quickly. Indeed, they did. The two huddled together in the shelter with bated breath, but soon, the clanging sounds abruptly ended, and they knew the battle was over.
"Madoka," said a voice when they rushed outside. Homura was there, and the two embraced.
Perhaps everything ended for the better. Sayaka met Kyoko and Mami, and surprisingly, the three entered a relationship together. Kyoko and Mami already knew each other, and soon, the three were dating. Sayaka managed to help in witch battles due to Mami's enchantments; Sayaka used the enchanted weapons to defeat familiars. Madoka never made her wish, and began to date Homura, much to Hitomi's disappointment.
So here she was, making her contract.
"I wish to go back before Homura transferred," she wished. "I wish to be Madoka's protector…"
(and it keeps on resetting resetting resetting)
"My name is Homura Akemi, and I am a fellow time traveler."
(Crack.)
In every timeline, the ending must be the same. That is why any wish such as that will only end in despair.
It is said only if a wish is made with a pure heart will a story end in hope, rather than despair.
So if the intent of a wish is selfish, what will be the outcome?
The symphony of despair sounds, and the soul cracks in two.
Another chapter is out (finally!) If anybody knows of a short manga to use for a new chapter, please share below. The manga shouldn't be any longer than 30 chapters, but anywhere in that range is okay.