A/N: This chapter is primarily character development and backstory. If you have to, ignore it.

-Skaj's past with Shadow Doremi-

Shadow Doremi had decided to take a walk. She had just got back from pranking Misora city with Skaj and felt like taking a break. Ironically, she noticed Skaj on a bench. She walked up and joined him.

"Hi, Skaj," Shadow Doremi greeted, "Didn't think I'd see you this soon."

"Eh, don't mention it," Skaj replied, "I'm just trying to relax."

Shadow Doremi sighed. "Why do you always lose to your Light half?"

Skaj got an angry look in his eye. "Let's just say he's more pragmatic about fighting than I am."

"Eh?"

"No, seriously; he'll do whatever it takes to win, even using things even I won't do."

"And yet, Black Queen-sama still sees some use in you."

"…"

Shadow Doremi closes her eyes. "That reminds me of when we first met."

"Oh, here we go!"

Flashback…

Shadow Doremi ran onto the streets in tears. It was bad enough that her fellow Shadow Ojamajos had taken out their frustration on her, but to do so when she didn't deserve it? Too harsh.

Eventually, she hid in a back alley and allowed the other Shadow Ojamajos to rush on by and miss her. There, she hid until they gave up and returned to the Castle. That's when she looked up and saw that she wasn't alone.

"W-who are you?" Shadow Doremi asked through her sadness. She was staring up at what she felt was someone who could do much worse to her than the Shadow Ojamajos. "W-whoever you are, just leave me alone!"

The figure only smirked. "And why would you want to be alone? You don't strike me as the type who'd be a loner!"

"Well, I want to be alone, ok!"

"Eh, suit yourself." The figure turned away from Shadow Doremi. "By the way, you might want to pick a better spot to hide; back alleys are popular hideouts for criminals and delinquents."

"At least I won't get pranked here by those others."

The figure turned back to Shadow Doremi. "Did you say 'pranks'?"

End Flashback…

Shadow Doremi turned to Skaj. "You were so open. So interested in helping me."

"Given my track record, I wasn't surprised when you looked at me with fear," Skaj replied.

"Yeah. It was only later that I found out you had a criminal record here in Kage Kai." Shadow Doremi turned away from Skaj. "But I wanted to know more."

Flashback…

"Did you say 'pranks'?" the figure asked.

"More or less," Shadow Doremi replied, "Why do you ask?"

The figure chuckled. "Did you get pranked by someone?"

Shadow Doremi glared at the figure. "Why would I tell you?"

"Touche." The figure walked around Shadow Doremi. "Regardless, I know the look of someone who's been pranked like this all too well."

"Let me guess: You've pranked people the same way I was pranked?"

"Yep! And proud of it!"

Shadow Doremi smirked. "If you're as good at pranking as you're letting on, then how about showing me your moves?"

The figure chuckled. "That depends. Are you willing to go to Ningen Kai?"

"If it means pranking my light half, then yes!"

"Then let's not waste time!"

Both Shadows vanished into the darkness.

End Flashback…

"That was our first going out," Shadow Doremi said, "I never knew how good it was going to be until we got there."

"It didn't last long, but it was good," Skaj added.

The two stared off at some middle distance.

Flashback…

Shadow Doremi and the figure made it to their destination, the Mahou-Dou. More specifically, they were on the roof.

"Ok! I've got it!" Shadow Doremi began, "We'll go in and mess up their crafts!"

"Just that?" The figure shot Shadow Doremi a look of incredulousness. "Seriously?"

"Well, yeah. It is what I usually try to do and all."

"Meh. A little small time if you ask me."

"You think you can do better?"

"Let's find out." The figure slipped into a shadowy form. "You coming?"

Both Shadows entered the Mahou-Dou and stayed hidden. The figure stealthily went up to where Doremi was working.

Just like that, he cut a strand and let it fall into the loom the Aiko was working on. The strand got caught in a critical mechanism and hung it up, causing it to go crazy and fling Aiko off.

After that, Shadow Doremi could barely keep up with the action. In seconds, what began as a simple strand falling into the loom had turned into a chain reaction that ended with half of the Mahou-Dou in rubble.

The figure quickly grabbed Shadow Doremi and took her back to the intact part of the roof. They both surveyed with damage the figure had caused. Shadow Doremi was amazed.

"S-S-Sugoi!" Shadow Doremi marveled, "H-How did you-?"

The figure chuckled. "I call that one the 'Epic Failure'! Too bad it ain't my pride and joy."

End Flashback…

"That was the first prank you ever showed me, Skaj," Shadow Doremi said. She then snickered. "The looks on Light Doremi's and her friend's faces made it even better!"

"And they never knew who did it," Skaj added, "Sadly, they simply used Magical Stage and repaired the damage I caused. Wasted their time and magic though!"

"I know, right!"

Skaj simply chuckled again.

Flashback…

Both Shadows had made it to a safe distance while the Ojamajos used their most powerful spell. Shadow Doremi was still impressed by the figure's prank.

"You have to teach me that sometime, Mr., uh?" Shadow Doremi stuttered. She realized that he hadn't told her his name yet.

"Just call me Skaj," the figure said, "And you are?"

"Shadow Doremi."

"Figures."

"Hey! I don't share ANYTHING in common with that steak-obsessed idiot!"

"Every Shadow shares at least SOMETHING in common with their light half, no matter how much they hate to admit it."

"Hmph!"

"Eh, whatevs."

There was a long silence. Finally, Shadow Doremi broke it.

"Skaj?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you teach me? Teach me how to be an awesome prankster?"

"Maybe."

"Why! ?"

"Is there some sort of problem?"

"Eh?"

Skaj chuckled. "The answer is yes."

Shadow Doremi blinked in disbelief. "Eh?"

"First things first: You gotta know how to troll others! Learn that, and you'll know how to elicit the best response and get the maximum lolz!"

"Huh?"

Skaj chuckled again. "We'll begin tomorrow. For now, we'll head back."

End Flashback…

"And for the next several weeks, you showed me. You showed me how to improve my pranks." Shadow Doremi turned back to Skaj. "And we got to know each other. It was almost like Akatsuki and Doremi when they went out." Shadow Doremi almost blew chunks. "I don't need a flashback to that!"

"Hey. You said it," Skaj retorted, "Not me."

Shadow Doremi shook her head. "Anyway, you showed me how to use this awesome prank! And I was still kind of mad at the other Shadow Ojamajos for pranking me like that. So I spent a few day preparing."

"And that's when the trouble started." Skaj gave a serious look to no one in particular.

Flashback…

Shadow Doremi looked on in horror. Her prank was supposed to do this! It was supposed ot completely humiliate Shadow Hazuki, Shadow Aiko, Shadow Onpu, Shadow Pop, Shadow Momoko, and Shadow Hana, not turn half of the Kage Kai Castle into rubble!

Black Queen was furious.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Shadow Doremi?" Black Queen said through her anger.

"I-I, uh, I!" Shadow Doremi was paralyzed with fear. She knew what was next.

"Well, for-"

"HOLD EVERYTHING!" came a voice that Shadow Doremi had come to know. Shadow Doremi looked saw Skaj appearing in between her and Black Queen. "This mess isn't her fault, your highness!"

"It certainly looks that way to me!" Black Queen bellowed, "Unless you have proof?"

"I do. I was the one who showed her this prank. I was the one who put her up to it."

"Eh?" Shadow Doremi stepped back. Skaj never put her up to this! "Demo ne-!"

"Is that so?" Black Queen sneered, "And why would a criminal like you do this?"

"Because Shadow Doremi is special to me," Skaj replied, "I insist she be cleared of this!"

"And?" Black Queen smirked underneath her veil.

Skaj looked down. "I'll take responsibility for Shadow Doremi's actions."

"Very well, Skaj." Black Queen gathered energy into her hand. "Your punishment is death! Any last words?"

"Just a few." Skaj took a black gem from his shoulder guard. "Think fast, Shadow Doremi!" Skaj threw it over his shoulder and into Shadow Doremi's hands. "Take good care of it." Skaj turned back to Black Queen. "Give me your best shot!"

Black Queen simply sighed in frustration. "If you ever come back, then you'll be banned from entering the Castle!...until further notice. Sayonara." And with that, Black Queen shot her blast. Skaj vanished into nothingness and Shadow Doremi was knocked to the ground. Black Queen walked past the now shocked Shadow Ojamajo. "Just be thankful someone was looking out for you."

End Flashback…

"It was the saddest moment of my life." Shadow Doremi let a tear slide down her cheek. "I finally found someone I could be friends with other than the Shadow Ojamajos and Black Queen does him in."

"Not for long though," Skaj replied, "Remember what happened next?"

"Like it was yesterday!"

Flashback…

Black Queen had used her incredible magic to restore the Castle from the damage. Shadow Doremi was in her room, crying about Skaj's death at the hands of Black Queen. The other Shadow Ojamajos were outside, trying to get through to her.

"We said we were sorry!" Shadow Onpu said.

"Please come out!" Shadow Aiko said.

"NO!" Shadow Doremi shouted, "You caused me to suffer just to relieve yourselves of your frustration!"

"Shadow Doremi, quit it!" Shadow Hana shouted back, "What other way did we have?"

"Plenty!"

"Shadow Doremi-chan's been taking lessons in retorting," Shadow Hazuki remarked, "It'll all be easier to keep shouting." Shadow Hazuki's statement dripped with sarcasm.

"You're not helping, Shadow Hazuki-chan!" Shadow Momoko scolded.

"If you're gonna stay in there, then fine with us!" Shadow Pop yelled, "Come on, minna-san."

"But we can't just-" Shadow Hazuki began, but was cut off by a glare from Shadow Pop, "Sheeze, Shadow Pop-chan. You just love making yourself out to be strong, don't you?"

Shadow Doremi buried her head in her pillow. "None of them understand what I just went through," she said to herself, "They never go out and be mischievous like me!" Shadow Doremi took a look at the black gem that Skaj had asked her to take care of. "And now, Black Queen-sama will stop Skaj from coming back!"

Shadow Doremi continued to let her tears flow freely.

"You really should reconcile with them," came a familiar voice.

"What's the point?" Shadow Doremi turned and saw a figment of her imagination take the form of Skaj, "They'll just get onto me again."

"They're looking to for you when they do that. They don't want you to get into trouble."

"Just like how they were looking out for me when they pranked me like that? !"

"What about when they advised against pranking your light half to keep Black Queen from punishing you? And how about when they asked if you were ok?"

"…" Shadow Doremi buried her head in the pillows again. "You're just a figment of my imagination. A part of me that that wants to reconcile with them."

"Let's find out." Skaj reached out and patted Shadow Doremi on her head.

Shadow Doremi turned around with a start. She reached out and felt for his hand. It was real. "N-no way! Skaj?"

"Took you long enough."

Shadow Doremi got back up and hugged him. "I-I-I thought you were-!"

"Relax." Skaj released himself from Shadow Doremi's grip.

"Eh?" Shadow Doremi looked and saw that the gem Skaj had entrusted her with was now back on Skaj's shoulder guard. "How?"

"As long as my Gem remains intact, I'm practically immortal." Skaj chuckled. "The wonders of being the Shadow to a Puella Magi."

Shadow Doremi could hardly believe it. She had a friend who was willing to risk everything for her and could do so repeatedly regardless of death!

"Do you-?"

"I may banned from the Castle," Skaj began, "But that won't stop me from coming in and trolling everyone as I see fit."

Shadow Doremi looked down. "…"

"I'll see you around." Skaj began his teleport. "By the way, reconcile with the others. They'll still look after you at heart." And with that, Skaj had vanished.

Shadow Doremi opened the door to her room and found her fellow Shadow Ojamajos waiting for her.

End Flashback…

"And I did as you told and they made amends." Shadow Doremi continued. "But you kept coming back into the Castle, ignoring your ban."

"Eh, I'm not one for rules," Skaj replied, "To a criminal, rules and laws were made to be broken."

"Yeah, but you've put yourself in danger of Black Queen-sama's wrath. On too many times to count."

"Getting under someone's skin is the goal of a troll. Every time I made her angry, I won."

"Yeah. Your being executed by Black Queen-sama was only the first time she killed you."

"But you have to admit: It's been fun hanging out and pranking Majo Kai, Mahoutsukai Kai, and ningen Kai every now and then."

Shadow Doremi laughed. "Don't remind me."

Flashback…

Skaj and Shadow Doremi were seen in Misora causing trouble and mischief. They had already faked a blackout at Sonatine Kindergarten and Misora 1st Elementary School and had even got Doremi, Momoko, and Hana hit by Seki's lethal chalk a few times.

Then they were seen at New York City, where they made trouble for Momoko's friends there.

Next, they were seen in Mitakihara city getting ready to prank Madoka, Sayaka and Hitomi when they were drawn into the barrier of the Silver Witch, Gisela.

"You sure this is safe?" Shadow Doremi asked in a frightened tone.

"Nope! But with two skilled Shadows around, I doubt it can do much!" Skaj replied with a big grin on his face.

"Eh?"

"Trust me on this one!"

Together, they made short work of the monstrous Witch, with Shadow Doremi getting the killing blow off. She hadn't realized until then that the prank advice that Skaj had given her could also be used in battle; more specifically, enabling her to easily use her opponent's strength against them!

Skaj allowed her to keep the Grief Seed as a souvenir while they picked up right where they left off.

They were then seen back at Misora at the top of the hill, going over what they had done during a particular occasion.

End Flashback…

"I've lost count how many weeks we've been friends," Shadow Doremi remarked, "But it doesn't matter."

Skaj sighed. "I believe it's about time you headed back. Black Queen's bound to be pissed at your absence."

"I know. But these sprees are worth it!"

Shadow Doremi flew off back to the Castle. She was ready for some R&R, but quickly began to fear the worst.

In the Castle of Kage Kai…

"G-Gomennasai!" Shadow Doremi shouted, "I-!"

"Silence!" Black Queen ordered, "Not only have you gone out into Ningen Kai again, but you've also messed around with your light half without MY permission!" Black Queen exuded a dark aura. "And you've also affiliated with Skaj for the umpteenth time DESPITE knowing full well that he's defied me more time then I would ever care to count?"

"Skaj isn't like that! He's just a delinquent who-!"

"A delinquent who defies my orders with a big grin on his face." Black Queen paced around Shadow Doremi. "Let's go over what he's done so far: He's ignored his ban, humiliated me, humiliated Evil Rin and S.A., interrupted meetings, and all around making a nuisance of himself instead of doing anything useful!"

"He's free spirited! He-"

"I will have none of it!" Black Queen gathered energy in her hand. "He will learn to obey my orders and learn his place amongst us!"

"I dunno about that," came Skaj's voice as he appeared in between Black Queen and Shadow Doremi, "I think I've made my place pretty clear. You, on the other hand, have failed to do anything about it."

"You're lucky I don't simply shatter that Gem of yours," Black Queen retorted, "You still have a use and your sprees have proven useful while I watched. Nevertheless, I do NOT condone such impudence. You will be executed AGAIN!"

Black Queen used the energy she had gathered in her hand to grip Skaj's head. With a twist of her arm, she tore Skaj's head clean off, causing him to vanish into nothingness again. His Grief Gem fell to the floor with a rattle. Shadow Doremi picked it back up.

"You're lucky I'm in a good mood today, Shadow Doremi," Black Queen said with clear venom in her voice.

The ruler of the Shadows vanished to wherever she normally vanished off too, leaving Shadow Doremi to take Skaj's Grief Gem back to her room and wait for him to regenerate.

Sure enough, Skaj regenerated. And he was only bored by Black Queen's method of executing him with. "Third time she's torn off my head, seventy-two times she's had me killed." Skaj turned back to Shadow Doremi. "I think we're gonna have to lay off on the prank sprees for a while."

"Eh? Naze?" Shadow Doremi demanded.

"What if I hadn't got there in time? What if Black Queen had decided to kill you after she was done with me? Think about it."

"But you did get here ion time and Black Queen-sama didn't kill me too, so it's all good!"

"There will be times when I'll be unable to come in and save you from punishment and just about everything else. I can't be relied upon forever. The sooner you accept this, the better."

Skaj vanished just like that before Shadow Doremi could reply. She got to thinking and began fearing the worst. What if he's right? What would happen to her? What would everyone say? What would she be compared to her light half? What would she be if she had to constantly rely on someone like Skaj?

Shadow Doremi closed her eyes. She remembered when the light Queen used the power of the Seven Anime Seals. She remembered how she and Shadow Aiko combined their powers only to have no effect. She remembered how that light ball seared and killed her. She remembered how only her fellow shadow Ojamajos, Evil Rin, and Black Queen were there for her just as she was for them. She remembered even that being ineffective. She didn't want to die like that again. She was torn between interests and self-preservation.

Eventually, she decided to spend time with her fellow Shadow Ojamajos. Maybe that's what Skaj meant? She should hang with her fellow Shadow Ojamajos? Shadow Doremi sighed. She knew that she and Skaj were friends, but now she knew that there will be times when he cannot be there and that she'll have to rely on herself or her other comrades to help.

Shadow Doremi took on a new outlook yet continued to despise Doremi for her own reasons.

A/N: This chapter is just a bonus chapter to this oneshot. This will be the last one for this fic. I can confirm that the events from this and the previous chapters are canon with "Ojamajo: Corruption". See if you can figure out what's going on in Shadow Doremi's and Skaj's heads during "Ojamajo: Corruption" with this fic in mind.