Episode 8
I don't recognize you anymore…
(Opening on Milo's room late at night. He is talking with Sara there, Diogee staring firmly at Kyubey with an angry stare.)
MILO: I've never been so scared… Zack was so obsessed in defeating that witch. He didn't even stared back at me, just at Melissa. It was like I wasn't even there.
(cut to flashback. The barrier dissipates, Zack returns to his civil clothing and stares at Melissa.)
MILO: ...Zack?
ZACK: Not bad for someone reckless, right?
(Melissa looks away.)
MELISSA: You are trying too hard to prove something we both know it won't pay off.
ZACK: What?!
MELISSA: A witch is a witch, we have to defeat them, big deal. But I'd rather see how you go against someone who actually thought before asking to become a Puella Magi.
ZACK: Ha, I-I didn- I didn't think?! You wasted your wish on your father and now look at him, going to parties, cheering with his fellow firemen and not even thanking you!
MELISSA: Shut up! Don't you put my dad in this situation, you… you… (She hesitates and clench her fists.) Here, tomorrow night. We'll see who's right.
ZACK: Hmph.
(They both leave, ignoring Milo's shocked and afraid stare, a lightpole falls down. Cut back to the here and now)
SARA: If I'd knew what happened behind my back…
MILO: It's not your fault. The whole witch hunting thing became some sort of sick competition for them.
SARA: I understand you here… there were stories of Puella Magi fighting against each other for the right of having Grief Seeds… but I really never expected those two to-
(Milo clenches his fists)
MILO: They were friends… my friends. And now I don't even exist for them and they're becoming enemies! (Diogee whines close to him.)
SARA: ….
MILO: I don't know what to do… what if I can't do anything to help? I… I don't wanna lose any of them. (The bed's structure comes undone.)
SARA: (Holds Milo's hand) This will only happen if you give up. I almost gave up, but you didn't quit on protecting me, bringing me back on my feet.
MILO (looking at her, smiles softly) I didn't, right? And you look a lot better...
SARA: You're more than a common friend for them. You're the guidepost that binds the Trust Triangle together. You're as important to them as Time Ape is to Doctor Zone. So please, don't give up on any of them. If there's a way of fixing all up, I know you can find it.
(Milo looks up to her and hugs her. Scene change to Dakota visiting mr. Chase.)
Music: Puella in Somnio
DAKOTA: ...And that is pretty much it. (Melissa enters her home, banging the door open.)
MR. CHASE: M-Melissa!
MELISSA: Hey…
DAKOTA: Hello, Melissa. I see your witch hunting was successful.
MELISSA: H-Hey! M-my dad, he's-
MR. CHASE: It's okay, Melissa. Really. He told me everything. You…. wished for my life to change and I'm now as successful as I was before.
MELISSA: D-dad, but… Mr. Dakota, how could you?
DAKOTA: There isn't a rule that forbids Puer and Puella Magi of revealing their identities. And it's not like you could keep your new responsibilities away from your father. Witches might be invisible to many humans, but your powers are not.
MELISSA: Wh- What's your problem?! I don't need your help or anything. Everything's fine!
Music: Serena Ira
MR. CHASE: Melissa, please, I'm your father. You can tell me anything.
MELISSA: I don't need anyone's help now, dad! You have a perfect life, and that's way more important than your daughter, so it's okay!
MR. CHASE: H-hey, wait there, that's not the tone I want to hear from my daughter! Where did you get this idea? You think… that I wouldn't care for your well-being?
MELISSA: You don't need to worry anymore, okay?! Go have parties with your firemen friends, and I'll not disturb your happiness anymore! How about that?!
(Melissa runs away after transforming. Mr. Chase runs after her, trying to reach her leaping without success. Dakota flips his hair and looks down after reaching the sad mr. Chase.)
MELISSA: I won't need anyone ever again! I'm not gonna regret this because things happen! (She looks at her phone and throws it down, and it collapses with violence, screen shattering to pieces.)
(The next day. Milo observes Melissa's empty spot on their class. Cavendish and Dakota also notice this, even interrupting class. Zack however is looking down to his Soul Gem.)
ZACK: She can hunt as many witches she wants… I am not gonna be ignored again. After I win, I'll tell everyone about our role as Puer and Puella Magi, and everyone will need my help again.
(Dakota gasps silently, having heard his thoughts. He grasp his chest, and Cavendish aids him out of the class.)
AMANDA: I'm surprised he even gets out of bed. He seems always sick.
ZACK: Hm?
MILO: Mr. Dakota.
ZACK: Oh. Right. True. (Milo looks at him with uncertainness.)
(Cut to afternoon. Milo checks his watch as he pack up to go somewhere, wearing his Puer Magi suit. Diogee holds a food bag on his mouth.)
MILO: Thanks, boy.
SARA: Milo… whatever you're planning, please be careful.
(Milo nods. Cut to the sunset, and Milo walks downtown, trees falling and electrical wires breaking. Elliot stops him and as he looks down, he sees a Grief Seed.)
MILO: Is this…
(As he keeps moving forward, he picks up the Grief Seeds he find, and put them in his food bag. He then sees Kyubey in front of him.)
KYUBEY: The fight will start soon.
Music: Numquam Vincar
(As evening rises, Zack steps into the marked location and grasps his Soul Gem tightly. Milo observes from a distance.)
MELISSA: I see you're confident. Can't wait to see your face after it's over.
ZACK: I know you're scared. Because you're going to lose, and then everyone will know about us, and not need you anymore.
MELISSA: I should've guess you weren't going to be a good hero. You can't even keep a secret.
(Zack growl and transforms, charging against Melissa. She jumps away and uses her screens to trap him. He then grabs an axe from his back and breaks the screens.)
ZACK: You can't block me away like this! Not anymore!
(He grabs pepper spray and a match, sending a fiery shot against her, which she defends with her fire fox.)
MELISSA: Why don't you bring your big guns already instead of staying defensive, you coward?!
(She dives to him and as she tries punching him, she grabs his cape and his Soul Gem attached to it, stripping it out. Zack furiously stars at her and sends an army or axes against her.)
MILO: Melissa! Zack!
KYUBEY: It is no use to call them. They are overcomed by their emotions, and throwing all they have at each other. It's up now to the winner to claim its prize after they finish.
MILO: I can't… let them do this! Not anymore! (He sees one of Zack's axes on the floor, and as Melissa and Zack dive into each other, he lifts it up and throws it at their direction, making them stop the fight and look at him. Melissa's Soul Gem falls from her belt, and before they can reach their Gems, Milo grabs them both and keep it away from them.)
MILO: That's enough from both of you! Please, stop. Even without powers, you were my best friends, and each other's friends. I don't even recognize you anymore…
(Zack feels excruciating pain and falls to his knees. Melissa falls as well, holding her hand close to the chest.)
ZACK: Aargh! Let...go!
MELISSA: Please, I… beg you, Milo!
KYUBEY: Let them away, Milo. It is their fate to fight. But not until you let them go, for it is their destin-
(Before he can finish his sentence, Kyubey is kicked away into the loose electric wires, where he fries down, unseen to public, but enough seen for Milo to let Zack and Melissa's Gems go. As they slowly breath in and out, Cavendish retrieves the Gems carefully.)
MILO: K-Kyubey...
ZACK: What? W-why did you-
CAVENDISH: Don't worry. He doesn't give up that easily. Isn't that right… Incubator?
(A replacement Kyubey appears, shocking the Trust Triangle. Dakota looks down at his own Soul Gem, and closes his eyes in determination.)
