Heart Is An Awesome Power
Flashes of multicolored light, explosions that rattled the windows. Homura Akemi stood rooted to the spot in dismay as the magical battle raged a couple of streets over.
A shimmering bubble, like a colorless force field in the shape of a disc, rose into view above the rooftops. Homura could see them inside it. Soldiers and Priors of the Ori.
"No," Homura whispered. "Not again."
A sudden light would have blinded Homura if her glasses hadn't instantly adapted by darkening. It was like a pink sun had ignited down on the battlefield. The glare faded, and Homura strained her eyes to see what it was. The blazing pink star resolved itself into a floating mage in a pink white and red Barrier Jacket, holding a white longbow with a golden rose at one end.
This new mage was too far away to see her face clearly, but... Homura felt it in the depths of her being, that this figure of power was the same wonderful girl who'd reached out to Homura when she had nothing.
"Madoka..."
The staves of the Priors glowed, and a crackle of white lightning swept off the force bubble and arced towards Madoka. She flung up her hands in panic, but the lightning smashed into an invisible shield. Madoka recovered remarkably quickly, flinging out one hand and exploding her own shield. The resulting force blast slammed into the Priors' force field, rocking it back and knocking all the soldiers off their feet.
Madoka whirled and streaked off, strafing around the Priors while they were off balance, and landing on a pink Circle that appeared above them.
Madoka landed hard on her Circle, heart hammering. The strangest thing was, while she was terrified, at the same time something in her felt like she'd finally come home. She would fight this battle, and she would do it with all her heart, because the Ori could not be reasoned with.
Taking aim with Galvan Soul, Madoka barely noticed that her hands were perfectly steady. Her mind flashed through the simple variables as she selected the most powerful spell she knew Galvan Soul had, and the Device ran through the heavy calculations. Pink rings traced themselves in the air, forming a huge barrel.
PSION FINALE, Galvan Soul announced.
Madoka released the bowstring, and a storm of pink light ripped through the air and smashed down on the Priors' telekinetic force field, driving it into the ground and shattering it as the enemies inside reeled under the psychic backlash of Madoka's attack.
As the dust cleared, every soldier was writhing on the ground clutching his head, and even the Priors looked shaken. But Madoka wasn't done.
HEART SEEKER, Galvan Soul's mechanically melodic voice intoned.
Madoka hurled herself sideways through the air as she fired arrow after arrow of magical light at the Priors. The arrows homed in on the Priors' telepathic signature, but only one of the three was struck down.
Of the two remaining, one Prior went to revive their fallen brother, while the third lifted off the ground and sped towards her, his staff glowing harshly. Madoka fired another two arrows, but the Prior blocked the attacks with his staff.
Galvan Soul acted without prompting, and changed into a long white staff with bands of pink light at either end and a golden jewel in the center, declaring, ENHANCERFORM.
Madoka's eyes widened with a gasp as the Prior closed with her. There was no time to get a spell off, and she was terrible at Strike Arts. Madoka dropped like a stone and cut sideways again, blocking a blast of white lightning as Galvan Soul guided her own unpracticed telekinesis in deflecting the energy.
The Prior swept his staff in a circle, tracing a ring of fire, inside of which the air darkened.
Madoka had seen dozens of news and documentary interviews with mages who fought on AnteChilda. She knew that mages who pitted their personal power against the Priors, rather than using spells, were every one of them overwhelmed in seconds. But she just didn't have time to use a spell, so she fell back on what came the most naturally to her.
The full force of Madoka's telepathic might slammed into the Prior's mind, obliterating whatever he'd been trying to do and staggering him in the air. To her shock, the Prior's counter didn't overwhelm her. She was as strong as he was!
With fierce determination, Madoka tore into the Prior's mind and began ripping it apart. He fell out of the air, plummeting to the street below. Madoka watched the Prior's body hit the ground with a bloody crunch, her chest tight with sorrow that she'd used her gift to kill.
GUARD, Galvan Soul declared.
And the telekinetic power of the other two Priors smashed into Madoka like the fist of an angry god. Her Barrier Jacket tore as the attack broke through Galvan Soul's automated defense, and she screamed in pain as her skin rippled and tore.
Madoka was blasted away fast enough to leave a trail of fire and a sonic boom, but the damage to both herself and her Barrier Jacket was superficial, so she wasn't incinerated.
By the time she got her flight under control, she was halfway into space and had several mild burns, but she wasn't about to give up. Galvan Soul drew an overlay onto her vision, highlighting the location she needed to return to, and Madoka dove, willing herself through the air.
"Galvan Soul, do you have a flight spell?" Madoka asked.
Up until now, she'd just been using her own telekinetic power, stabilized and augmented by Galvan Soul, to levitate and move around. But now that just wasn't fast enough. She needed to get back before the Priors got away and did whatever they were on MidChilda to do.
RIBBON WING, Galvan Soul replied as a Circle appeared for a brief moment on Madoka's back.
Pink ribbons of light sprouted from the shoulders of Madoka's Barrier Jacket, taking shape like wings, and Madoka went from willing herself through the air to piloting the spell like a fighter jet.
The air cracked around her as she accelerated passed the speed of sound.
Homura sagged to the floor in numb horror, her mind replaying it over and over. Madoka, ripped apart, her body hurled away with such speed that it left a fiery contrail in the sky.
The two remaining Priors restored the telekinetic shield around themselves and their soldiers, lifting off the ground and accelerating upwards. The shimmering force field streaked over the top of Homura's apartment building, generating a sonic boom.
Homura gasped out in pain as her windows blew in, barely getting her arms up in time to protect her face as shards of glass cut into her skin and the concussion slammed into her.
Things were mostly a blur after that.
Homura's head swam as she bled from a dozen cuts, her ears ringing and her vision going in and out. At some point the pain fell away, or maybe she fell away from the pain, and a shining figure descended to her, all soothing sakura-colored light and a presence Homura wanted to wrap herself up in.
Glad beyond words to be seeing this ghost of Madoka, Homura looked up into the golden eyes of her dying vision, such a wonderously beautiful sight, of such a wonderful and beautiful person. Ma... do... ka...
Blushing faintly, Madoka pointed the short white scepter topped by a gold crystal rose that was Galvan Soul at the unconscious Homura.
She'd been too late to catch the Priors, but their escape had shattered windows across the whole block. It turned out Homura's apartment was on the top floor of her building, and she'd been right at the window. Her search spell had found a dozen or so injured, but Homura was by far the worst off, so Madoka had rushed to help her friend.
Madoka had barely hesitated in entering Homura's mind so she could numb injured girl's pain, but even though Homura had been nearly delirious, Madoka had felt the shy girl's thoughts and emotions just before she passed out. Homura probably hadn't even realized it herself, but that was... attraction, admiration, gratitude, and an almost desperate reverence.
Hence the blushing.
ACTIVE SCAN, the Device intoned as a pink Circle appeared under the injured girl.
The shards of glass highlighted themselves in Madoka's sight, visible even inside Homura's body, and she looked carefully to make sure nothing was sticking into any organs or large blood vessels. Thankfully, the damage seemed to be superficial.
With the strength enhancements built into her Barrier Jacket, Madoka lifted Homura in her arms easily. She flew out the shattered window and down to where the two remaining TSAB mages were gathering the wounded and the dead. The dark-haired woman with a sword and an unusually plain red and white-trimmed Barrier Jacket that showed off her legs was Corporal Mano, her Device helpfully informed her, and the white-haired boy in a formally styled white and black-trimmed Barrier Jacket currently casting a healing spell on one of the wounded was Private Shiina.
"Keep it up, Private," Corporal Mano encouraged as she set down another body. "Emergency Services will be here in ten minutes."
"Excuse me!" Madoka called as she landed, doing her best not to jostle Homura.
The two mages looked up at her, taking in her tattered Barrier Jacket with its singed ruffled skirt. Corporal Mano frowned.
"Hey, that was you who broke the Prior's shield, right? Who're you anyway?" she asked. "You're not with the Mitakihara division."
"Yes! I'm Madoka. I, um, was..." Madoka shook her head. "That's not important right now! My friend is hurt! That shockwave hurt a bunch of people, and there's two more in that building over there who're hurt too bad to get to a hospital on their own!"
Private Shiina didn't waste words. He was there before Madoka finished speaking, a stretcher of colorless hard light forming under Homura. As she handed Homura off to the grey mage, Corporal Mano's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Hey!" the Corporal exclaimed, pointing accusingly. "That's Galvan Soul!"
Madoka flinched, but before she could try to explain, the Device itself interrupted.
MAMI TOMOE'S LAST WISHES WERE FOR MADOKA KANAME TO WIELD THIS DEVICE, Galvan Soul said.
Corporal Mano's face crumpled in grief. She looked away at nothing, no, at Mami's body. Madoka tore herself away, flying off to help the other badly injured bystanders, and bring them back so Private Shiina could stabilize them.
Homura woke slowly, feeling and awareness seeping in around the edges of her oblivion.
Vmeeem... Vmeeem... Vmeeem...
The beeping of medical equipment and the familiar scents and sounds of a hospital room finally roused her. Homura blinked her eyes open as she became aware of a warm, softly snoring presence weighing her left arm down. Seeing a familiar pink blur, Homura gasped softly and fumbled around for her glasses.
The slightly scuffed red frames were waiting for her on a bedside table, but an unexpected stiffness in her arm made Homura miss and knock her glasses to the floor. The clatter roused the Madoka-shaped blur, who gasped happily. Seeing what had happened, Madoka snatched the glasses with telekinesis and gently placed them on Homura's face for her.
Madoka's smiling face came into focus.
"You're... alive?" Homura whispered.
"I'm alive," Madoka said. "And so are you."
Madoka leaned over and hugged her. Homura, who was in fact well-read and self-aware enough to recognize that she'd begun to fall for the other girl, simply closed her eyes and thoroughly enjoyed the contact.
After a while, Madoka finally let go and slid back into her chair. Homura blinked, finally noticing something that really should have been obvious at once.
"You're wearing a Barrier Jacket," Homura pointed out numbly.
Madoka glanced down at her white and pink bodice and ornate ruffled skirt, with an air of shame. "Yeah... Captain Tomoe was dying and gave me her Device, since I had a matching affinity and a lot more power than I thought, but I failed."
Homura reached for Madoka's hand. "You tried. And you survived."
"Miss Akemi's right, you know," a woman's voice interrupted, the door to Homura's room swinging open to reveal an admiral's uniform and a whole lot of mint-green hair. "Your first magical combat, with no training, against foes of that caliber. You did astoundingly well, Miss Kaname."
Homura watched as Madoka's eyes got very big. "Admiral Lindy!"
Lindy Harlaown chuckled. "Ah, you've seen that movie, I take it. You know, I'm still getting used to being recognized so often. It was such a relief when Vita stopped sending angry letters to the costume designers..."
After the somewhat redundant introductions were dealt with, the Admiral revealed why she was there.
"I'm actually here to visit you, Miss Akemi," Lindy said. "Your parents served under my command for a brief time, but I got to know them well enough to consider them friends. When I saw your name on the civilian casualty list, I decided I ought to meet you."
"Oh," Homura said. "Um, thanks?"
Lindy smiled at the two girls. "And I bring good news! It would seem, Miss Akemi, that your parents' veteran benefits were never passed on to you. The TSAB owed you the best of any medical care you might have needed, and I am appalled by the mixup that left you to fend for yourself on that front."
"It's... not that bad," Homura demurred. "The free treatments kept me alive, and they told me I'd fully recover eventually, once my new lungs finished growing."
"Even so, the Akemis died defending our civilization and it is the TSAB's duty to look after their daughter in their stead," Lindy asserted.
Homura looked down in pleased embarrassment, and Madoka squeezed her hand. Lindy took the opportunity to study Madoka.
"On another note," Lindy began, "I've also been assigned to your case, Miss Kaname, so it's lucky for me that you two already know each other. The TSAB would like to offer you a Temporary Enforcer position."
"Eh? Me?" Madoka gasped.
"You've got an incredible amount of talent, Miss Kaname, and based on how you did against the Priors, I would guess that you could pass the S-trials right now," Lindy told her. "If Galvan Soul there is going to stay with you, I think it would be best if you received some basic training and lent your power to the cause, don't you?"
Madoka looked down at her Device. For all that she'd had it less than a day, she felt such a strong connection with Galvan Soul that the thought of giving it up was like giving up an arm. And besides that, Madoka had accepted the mission Mami Tomoe had given her with her dying breath. When she thought about it, Madoka didn't want to walk away. The Ori were a threat to everyone and everything she cared about, and she had the power to make a difference.
"When do you need my answer?" Madoka inquired.
"By the end of the week, at the latest," Lindy replied. "Speaking of which, Homura... May I call you Homura?"
Momentarily thrown, Homura nodded.
Lindy smiled. "I've arranged for you to be treated at an advanced neuromuscular regeneration clinic this weekend. By next week you ought to be in tip-top shape."
"Oh," Homura said, shutting her eyes against the sudden blurring of tears.
Madoka hugged her again. "That's wonderful, Homura!"
"Yes," Homura agreed wholeheartedly, as she did her best not to start crying.
"There is one more thing," Lindy told the two girls once they separated, pulling a small black octahedral crystal out of her pocket.
Homura's breath caught. "Is... is that?"
"Your father's Intelligent Device," Lindy confirmed. "We recovered it months ago, but no one in our ranks has a compatible affinity, so it has gone unused. I finally convinced my superiors that Skjoldur should be yours."
Homura took the Device with slightly shaking hands, and looked up at Lindy uncertainly. "But... shouldn't... shouldn't Skjoldur go to someone who can do more than use it as a glorified wheelchair?"
Skjoldur flashed purple with the light of Homura's magic. NEGATIVE, SIR.
Homura started to protest, but stopped herself and looked down with a soft little smile. Lindy Harlaown stood up and straightened her uniform as Madoka gave Homura a curious look.
"You have a rare affinity, Homura?" Madoka asked.
Homura nodded shyly. "Time. I have an affinity for Time."
"Wow! That's amazing," Madoka opined.
"Well, I have admiral stuff to do," Lindy said. "Miss Kaname, Galvan Soul has my contact information, and Homura, Skjoldur has your appointment details. Bye now!"
The door swung shut behind her. Homura and Madoka shared a look.
"I guess... I guess you won't be having me over for dinner after all," Homura said weakly.
Madoka shook her head furiously and gave Homura a reassuring smile. "Of course I am! In fact, my mom's on her way here right now. When she found out that you live alone, she even insisted that you stay over with us."
"Well, if she insists..." Homura blushed, entirely too pleased that Madoka sounded pleased about the proposed arrangement.
Homura completely missed Madoka's brief, knowing smile.