Episode 4 : Hallowed Be Thy Name
I shall walk to the other end of the spiral.
You will find nothing there!
I know!
I shall be different.
How can you know?
Because I wish to succeed.
A wish?
You should have told me I was arguing with a madwoman up front!
Only One Wish Can Come True
And how can you know what that is?
Because the game
Is rigged
So all wishes
Are One
One!
No!
That's the worst number!
I don't want to be Number One!
Homura Akemi stood her ground, her eyes narrowed and a gun in hand. Desert Eagle. .50 caliber, a 325-grain, jacketed hollow-point bullet. 7 rounds in the magazine, one riding hot in the chamber. Eight chances to fulfill a Witch's final wish. Time snapped.
Tendrils of darkness had been reaching for Homura, moving stealthily while she was distracted by the mental sparring with the Witch, but the ace Puella Magi spotted them at the last moment, darker than the absolute darkness upon which they crawled and invoked her ultimate power. The magic buckler upon her left arm held open the space between two instants, and there Homura took action. The thundercrack-crack-crack-crack of the heavy pistol buffeted Homura as she went through a firing drill honed to perfection through thousands of repetitions.
She then chose to let time have access to the world again and the grasping tentacles exploded all but simultaneously as the huge man-killer rounds slammed into them. However, Homura was not there to witness the carnage- she was already sprinting towards the edge of the Barrier, the strange non-space where the Witch lived. The magic of the Soul Gem broke a hole through to reality, but with some difficulty. The Witch did not want to give up this prey for any reason, which surprised Homura not at all. After all, that was why she was running. Homura Akemi recognized the Witch that stalked the dark recesses of Mitikahara Student Academy, and she knew it was going to be very tough to beat, for reasons that had nothing to do with strength of arms.
"Hashihime, huh? Clever." Homura dismissed the Witch for the time being with a contemptuous flick of her hair as she pondered the name which the fallen soul had bestowed upon herself.
If I had died in that place, I would have deserved such a fate.
Tears leaked from angry eyes as Kyōko Sakura approached her fellow Puella Magi with murderous intent.
"Kyōko, wait! Stop! That's not what I meant!"
"Funny, it's what I heard." The pair of wicked double-edged rapiers in Kyōko's hands were now close enough to make Sayaka take a step back. A part of her mind which remained detached from the action pointed out, If she's turned on me, why does she still have the swords and not her old spear back?
"Shut up!" came the reply. Sayaka winced. Just yesterday Kyōko had saved Sayaka from a fate worse than death, and they still hadn't sorted out all the consequences of the miracle which made that possible.
"Y-you just came at a bad time, that's all! I really wasn't-!" Sayaka couldn't finish because she had to duck a slice which would have given her a haircut right the neckline. Kyōko turned a complete circle, blades akimbo at her hips.
"A bad time? What, were you going to just walk away and never tell me what you really felt like you did to the violin kid, or were you gonna string me along until you got stocked up on Grief Seeds before you dumped me?" Kyōko stood with her arms akimbo, inviting Sayaka to come and literally break the heart that was already breaking.
"Okay, that's enough!" Sayaka bore in and slammed Kyōko back with her shield. After two clumsy steps, eyes wide with shock, Kyōko dug in and readied herself for combat.
"So it's okay to talk bad about me, but not about him. I see." Again the paired blades flashed out, bending at the whim of their owner to curve past shield and armor. Sayaka was much better at fighting than when she first gained her Soul Gem, but her method of fighting was still very much "wade in and give better than you get," and the lightning-fast blades were taking their toll, one scratch at a time. At the same time, even with the tremendous flexibility built into her weapons, Kyōko couldn't get close because of the knightly lance in Sayaka's right hand, not unless she fancied a serious gut wound. "Why don't'cha give me some more!"
BGM: Studio "Syurp Comfiture" - over - High Jump Love
"Okay, I will!" Sayaka replied with another shield slam that left Kyōko's brain feeling like it had entered zero-gravity independent of the rest of her body followed by a strong thrust with her lance. Kyōko got a crossed-blades block in place and drove the point of the weapon into the floor, but was forced to give up space to do so.
"Surely everything is inevitable/But for now, I'm fine with not knowing
"For starters, Kyōko-chan is too noisy, and she eats too much, and she thinks it's okay to leave herself wide open just because she does a lot of fancy swordwork!"
The meaning behind meetings and partings."/But that was just a way to hide our weakness.
A snap-kick blew away Kyōko's footing and sent her nose-first to the floor, but mid-fall she turned that into a somersault which launched both swords straight forward, obliging Sayaka to leap for the sky to avoid getting stuck through both thighs. Kyōko rolled beneath her blue-armored opponent and drew her swords back to her hands on invisible chains. As soon as a toe touched ground Sayaka was spinning about bringing her shield around in a flat-edged cut she'd seen in a movie somewhere once which brushed close enough to Hitomi to trim the green-haired girl's bangs up short if there had been an edge on the magical device. At this point Hitomi and Madoka decided which was the better part of valor and dove for cover.
If I'm going to be betrayed/If we're just going to hurt each other
Kyōko too dove for cover, but she launched a sword again, low this time, and used Sayaka's momentum against her. The invisible chain connecting the weapon to Kyōko wrapped up the other Puella Magi's legs and toppled her, but Sayaka rolled onto her shield as she fell and pinned the chain. She kicked free of the chains and dropped her lance.
Then at least make sure you deceive me completely/Just for tonight.
"And also," Sayaka panted out as the exertion began to get to her, "Did I mention Kyōko-chan is a delinquent who still steals food and sleeps in weird hotels because she won't let her friends help her?" Another snap-kick was parried by a counter-kick, but that left both combatants standing half inside the other's guard. "And what's with that sweatshirt-and-shorts combo? Is she trying to attract belly-button fetishists?"
As dreams stay only dreams/At a distance where my feelings are receding
"Like you have any room to talk!" Kyōko aimed a slap at where Sayaka's Soul Gem rode in its' combat form, encircling her navel, but it was knocked away by Sayaka's free hand, who then took a strong grip on the redhead's wrist.
As we melt our freezing hearts/Is it too late for you, just now, to be by my side?
"And for another thing, Kyōko-chan always leaps before she looks, which is gonna get her into trouble." At this range, all of Kyōko's senses were overloaded with information about her opponent. She could see Sayaka's eyes huge and shimmering with emotion, feel her heart pound in quick syncopation to Kyōko's own, smell the scent of new sweat overwriting the customary smells of her soap and shampoo, and hear how Sayaka was saying what she was saying.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
"Oh, and one last thing,"
Lead us not into temptation,
"Kyōko-chan has the most kissable lips,"
Because I've already found her.
And then, Kyōko made her first intelligent decision of the day and surrendered herself into Sayaka's embrace.
After a short eternity, a polite cough interrupted the two Puella Magi from their making-up session. Both girls broke off and shared a surge of panic as they tried to determine how to hide their battle-gear, the battle-damage in the room, and the "battle damage" on each other. Then they noticed who the newcomer was, and realized it was futile.
"If you are quite finished, we have a task." Homura Akemi turned on her heel with a dramatic flick of her hair. Do we really have to go now? crossed from one mind to another. Homura suddenly turned to put an eye on both the red-haired and the blue-haired, and the ca-clack of a pistol being cocked was her only reply. Sayaka and Kyōko both gulped in distress and hurried to follow their black-haired teammate, and even Hitomi and Madoka fell in behind them, for safety's sake.
Say Kyōko? Yeah?
You're kinda whippin' around like a snapped violin string, everything ok?
Again with the violin-boy stuff? I shoulda held out for a couple more swings at ya.
That's what I'm talking about! You went from 'kill me' to 'kiss me' and now back to 'kick me'.
Yeah, well I took it kinda hard when I heard you say you still loved him.
You heard that? Sorry!
It's okay. But I've been playing the 'cold heartless killer' so long I started believing it myself.
And you took that away from me. I'm like a turtle with its' shell ripped off.
Eew!
And when I heard you say that I thought I was gonna loose the only thing worth caring about. Again.
!
So I kinda snapped.
You really piss me off, you know?
Whaaat?
You just won't let me stay mad.
Huh?
I was all ready to fall on you and fight it out once and for all.
I started the fight, I was willing to accept the consequences.
But I was completely open, not even you coulda missed a killing blow there.
Gee, thanks.
Bite me Blueberry, you know you need more practice (especially since we traded toys somehow).
And you didn't. You clunked me with your silly shield.
You weren't gonna go for blood, even though I deserved it.
So I guess I have to say 'Thank you.'
For being better than me.
"Here." Sayaka half-turned away from Kyōko and stuck out a pack of Pocky. Her head was cocked as though it was the hardest thing in the world, but there was a hint of a smile upon her lips. "It's n-not like I love you or anything, I just d-don't want to have to hear any whining about how you don't have anything to eat, you gluttonous delinquent." A dry, sarcastic undertone made Sayaka into the perfect parody of the tsundere in heat. Kyōko stopped and stared, one eye twitching, before finally dropping to the floor shaking with helpless laughter.
"Ahem." Homura directed a glare at the floor where Kyōko was collecting herself. The redhead regained her feet and reached for the fresh Pocky, but Sayaka jerked the pack away and instead shook one piece out and let it dangle from her lips.
"You want it? Come and get it!" Kyōko's fangs came out in a grin encompassing various kinds of hunger and she swooped in to get her treat, but then reality hiccuped. Homura munched on the biscuit stick unconcernedly as she watched the other two Puella Magi negotiate the altered scenario. The girls didn't manage another kiss but unfortunately, in Homura's opinion at least, they didn't end up cracking their skulls together either. Homura dismissed the red and the blue with a contemptuous flick of her hair and continued on.
"This Witch we are facing is uniquely dangerous; her name is Hashihime and she has so far refrained from attacking civilians."
"So that makes her dangerous?"
"Yes. Because she is marshaling all her strength for combat with Puella Magi. And because she showed awareness of my capabilities and attempted to preemptively counteract my powers. Sayaka Miki, Kyōko Sakura, this battle will fall mainly upon your shoulders."
"What, too scared to fight yourself? And why should we follow you then, O Glorious Leader." This was Sayaka, arms crossed and snarling. Those two are growing entirely too similar for my tastes. "Why thank you, Homura, I appreciate the compliment!" Kyōko settled for extending the finger which held her Soul Gem in its' dormant ring-form, pointing at the rude digit with her other hand for emphasis.
"Then you are as much an idiot as the red one. The reason I tell you to do the fighting is because both your fighting styles have changed since the last time this Witch saw them. I do not care at all what you think of me, but do you at least respect my abilities enough to understand when I say I would be sorely tested to defeat this Witch alone?" This drew nods from the other Puella Magi, all seriousness now as combat approached.
Curious. Every time I think I have reached the extent of your species' idiosyncratic nature, you take a new turn. From the shadows Kyubey sauntered out to follow the girls as though he belonged there. Homura placed the troublesome fluffbag's head square atop the front post of her Desert Eagle's sights but saw steel reaching for the mascot beast from another vector as well. Then Kyōko tipped up her sword in a salute.
"Have at it, Princess, I got to nail him last time." Stop. There is no need for violence, Homura Akemi. I merely wish to observe. However, is there a reason to not share all that you know of your target with your fellow Puella Magi? Kyubey's tail curled into a form resembling a question mark as he posed the question. Immediately pressure began to build upon Homura's right index finger, a perfect 3 1/2 pounds. Now just 1/2 pound of pressure-the merest flinch-was all that kept the little bastard cat-weasel from becoming abstract art.
"I have only shared what is relevant to the goal at hand." So you have not shared everything then? Does that mean all information must be passed to you first for editorial control? Is that the way you humans do things? "Do not try my patience." replied Homura, focusing on the mascot beast with deadly cold eyes.
Hitomi was rapidly becoming accustomed to the sudden bouts of violence from her Puella Magi friends, but this seemed to be too much. She had been told about the nature of Kyubey, but surely this cute little creature couldn't be that dangerous? I can do no harm to you, Hitomi Shizuki. I can only grant you a wish in exchange for accepting the contract to become a Puella Magi. It is your responsibility to own the consequences of the wish- "Silence. Hitomi Shizuki has been advised of your perfidious ways (I wish she would stop using those big words and speak plainly, Kyōko muttered as she watched the showdown), and she will not fall prey to your schemes. Also," Here Homura turned just enough to glance at what was fast becoming in her mind the 'peanut gallery' of the operation. "Should I say 'lying cheating piece of shit' instead? It means the same thing. If you have no culture whatsoever, that is." Homura added with a flick of her hair to show what she thought of Kyōko's manner of speech.
Now you would use violence to restrict the freedoms of your companions? Are they willing to accept this?
"I will do what is necessary, you well know that. Hitomi Shizuki, avert your eyes." Hitomi quailed and turned to hug Madoka, afraid to know just what lengths the black-haired Puella Magi was willing to go to in her definition of "necessary", but Kyubey was already phasing out through the wall, unwilling to continue the confrontation.
Just remember you cannot be everywhere all the time, Homura Akemi. Homura snorted, returned her gun to its' hiding spot and gave her hair another angry flick, and then she was the calm, cool, and contemptuous princess once more.
"What did Kyubey mean? What didn't you tell us?" Homura turned to face Sayaka as she took the bait and placed them all square in Kyubey's trap. Internally, she sighed. She is becoming more intractable by the day. By the hour even. This drew a snarl from Kyōko, and belatedly Homura remembered that because of the intervention by the other Puella Magi yesterday, she too was connected with the others on a level beyond physical. I shall need to correct that flaw in the near future.
"I have told you everything that is required to combat this Witch."
"Which isn't the same as everything, even I know that." Kyōko posted her hands on her fists.
"And how does irrelevant knowledge help you?"
"Because I don't trust you Princess, or your idea of 'relevant', got it?"
"And I can assure you, if you fail to complete the task before us because of what you learn, I shall hunt you down and end you." Homura's eyes were hard and flat as she said this, much like a shark's.
"Us, you mean." Sayaka put her right hand upon Kyōko's shoulder and held up her left to display the Soul Gem ring around her middle finger.
"That does not change the equation in the slightest." Sayaka's eyes flared with anger at the slight, but she said nothing further.
"Very well." Homura caught and held the eyes of the other two Puella Magi, watching intently for any sign of weakness as she spoke. "The Witch that we now face was born from the soul of the fallen Puella Magi, Mami Tomoe."