Spoiler Warning: If you haven't seen the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, then prepared to be spoiled.
I own neither Puella Magi Madoka Magica nor Black Clover. They belong to their respective owners. For entertainment purposes.
Yuno was gone, no doubt having left to face Walpurgisnacht on his own. Asta had helped Sister Lily and Father Ofai herd the little ones into the shelter. He had lied to them by saying Yuno had been staying at a friend's house and had texted him earlier that he had arrived at another shelter safely. Sister Lily and Asta spread out the green blanket on the floor while Father Ofai returned with a box of supplies. All the children gathered round, with only Nash having his usual scowl on his face.
"Are we going to camp tonight?" One of the little ones asked.
"Tonight," Father Ofai smiled, "We're camping here with everyone!"
"Yay, camping!" Another one chimed.
"Are we barbecuing?" Another asked.
Asta sat down, watching them but not joining in. He tried to brand this memory into his mind, something in him knowing he wouldn't get more if he accomplished what he was planning to do. Another part of him couldn't help but want to believe instead that it truly was a storm. That by the next day, everything would be like it was all those months ago. The building shook slightly, and Asta winced.
"Worried about your boyfriend?" Nash asked, causing Asta to jump.
"What?" Asta said, blinking as he looked up at young boy who stood beside him. Nash rolled his eyes, but he moved to sit down beside Asta. He leaned back on his hands, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Yuno," Nash deadpanned. Asta's heart squeezed and a faint blush dusted his cheeks in embarrassment, but he otherwise didn't say anything. Instead, he chose to turn his head away pointedly, pretending he wasn't pouting. "You're so obvious," Nash told him, "Good thing you'd never play poker because you'd lose every time." The other sighed as he failed to get anything out of Asta, except maybe a glance through the corner of his eye. Scratching his head, Nash looked towards their family.
"Look," Nash said quietly, "I'll distract the others so go do what you gotta do." Asta turned back towards him in surprise. Nash's ears went red as he hastily clarified, "Y-your gloominess is just bringing down the mood, a-and I just don't want to stare at your moping mug all night." Glaring at Asta, Nash got to his feet quickly and said lowly enough so the others wouldn't overhear them, "You know where he is, so just go!" Muttering under his breath, Nash said almost too quietly for Asta to hear, "Be safe."
Asta flashed Nash a grateful smile as he stood as well. He turned to walk towards the door and heard Sister Lily ask Nash where he was going. "To the bathroom," Nash answered sounding annoyed, "At least, we'll get some peace and quiet for a few minutes." Just before Asta left, he risked one last look at his family. Then he smiled sadly to himself and silently wished them goodbye.
"Nero," Asta called as he went towards the exit. Outside, the storm grew fiercer and casted fierce shadows inside the shelter. One of those shadows that appeared in the window was of a small bird, and the incubator emerged in front of him. "How's Yuno doing?" Asta asked as he walked past Nero, knowing without seeing that it was following him, "Was he telling the truth when he said he could win by himself?"
"Would you even believe me if I told you 'no?'" It responded in return, "At this point, explanations are pointless." Not letting a beat of silence pass between them, Nero continued, "You should go and see for yourself. See how well Yuno Akemi is faring against Walpurgisnacht."
"That was the plan."
"Then why call for me?"
"I wanted to know something," He admitted as he rounded a corner towards the stairs, "If things go badly, he'll restart time, right?" He came upon the stairwell.
"Only while he hasn't yet lost hope."
"And if he has?"
"Then it was only a matter of time. Not that it matters at this point."
Asta risked a glance at the bird as he began to descend down the stairs. "What's that supposed to mean?" He pressed. The incubator glided down to the floor beyond the stairs and landed in front of him.
"After restarting this meaningless chain of events over and over," Nero explained, "It is no longer possible for him to stop or give up." Asta waited for the bird to continue, his mouth twisting into a grimace. "The moment he acknowledges that everything he has done is pointless," The incubator added as it declared, "And that your fate is impossible to change, Yuno Akemi will fall into despair and turn into a chaos jewel." Asta thought back to his conversation with Yuno a couple hours prior. "He knows that as well," the bird finished, "That's why he has no choice. Whether he has any hope of winning or not, Yuno must continue to fight."
Something heavy settled in Asta's chest, confirming what he suspected was true. Still he wanted to be one-hundred percent true that they meant the same thing. "So, you're saying that as long as he continues to hope," He repeated as he reached the bottom of the stairs, "Yuno can't be saved?"
"That's right," Nero answered, "Just as it was for all other Magical Knights in the past." Tilting its head as Asta stared down at it, the incubator asked, "Asta, you saw it all as well, didn't you?" Flashes of the images of past Magical Knights wishing and dying that Nero had shown him resurfaced in his mind. They merged with the memories of Noelle, Charmy, and Kahono. He had to resist the urge to gag.
"I did," he replied as he walked to the door. Outside, in the distance, he could see Walpurgisnacht tearing the city apart, wreckage circling it and cementing its image of destruction. The only reason Asta knew that Yuno was still fighting was because he could see tiny flickers of light attacking the great beast. But then, the demon hurled a building, sending it smashing into another skyscraper. The lights ceased, and Asta's chest tightened.
"Incubator," Asta addressed, "Take me to Yuno. I have my wish."
The slight dizziness of teleportation was easily forgotten when he saw Yuno's condition. Among the broken pillars lay a broken body with an opened grimoire, pages half turned, thrown a little bit away from him. His forehead was cut open, and blood ran down his face, mixing with tears. One of his legs was trapped under the rubble while the rest of his trembling body was no doubt covered in scrapes and bruises underneath the Magical Knight uniform. His eyes were closed, and Asta could see his soul gem becoming darker and darker with each tear that fell.
A frown made its way onto Asta's face. His dear friend. How much had Asta's selfish request made him suffer? Walking over to him, Asta knelt down and cupped the hand bearing Yuno's gem between his own. The other's eyes flew open and looked at him, as if he was wondering whether Asta was real or not. "That's enough," Asta told him, shaking his head slightly, "You've done more than enough, Yuno."
"Asta…"
Asta smiled before letting go of his hand and standing. This was it. He looked towards Walpurgisnacht, and a determined glare made its way on his face. The monster would be close to flattening half the city at this rate. This would be his final stand. Nero appeared at his feet.
"Asta…You didn't…!"
He heard Yuno's hurt gasp. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Asta turned around and forced a smile on his face. "I'm sorry, Yuno" Asta told him. Sorry he was breaking their promise. But this was the only way Asta could think of freeing Yuno from the chains he had unwittingly put on the boy himself.
"Asta…No…!"
"I finally figured it out," Asta said, forcing himself to ignore the pain he saw in Yuno's eyes, "I found a wish I truly want granted." He focused on the other with a tender smile. Yuno looked like he was trying to will himself to move, but his body wasn't respond the way he wanted it to. "So, I'm going to use my life for it, okay?" he continued.
"Don't…Because, because then, what have I…been fighting for?"
Tears spilled from his eyes, and the thread of self-control in Asta snapped. Walking over to Yuno, careful of his wounds, he drew his precious friend into one last embrace as he tucked Yuno's head under his chin. "I'm sorry," he told Yuno honestly once more with his voice remaining calm, "I'm so sorry." He pulled back enough to look at Yuno's face and saw wide amber eyes looking as confused as the day he used Noelle's chaos jewel on him. How ironic that they happened to be the same day.
He wiped the blood off of the other's forehead gently with his sleeve, not caring that it was getting soaked in crimson. Cupping Yuno's cheek and making sure the other's attention fully was on him, Asta said, "But I believe it's because you've protected me for so, so long that I'm the person I am now." Yuno grasped the hand on his cheek with one of his own weakly, his strength long gone after his fight.
"Won't you believe in the answer," Asta asked him, "That the one you've protected all this time has found?" Yuno looked at him, tears biting at the corner of his eyes. "Not giving up is our magic," he told him, "And so you've given me the strongest magic of all. I swear I won't waste everything that you've done for me, Yuno." Asta smiled fondly at him. "Besides," Asta murmured, "If becoming a Magical Knight saves you, then that would be one of my proudest accomplishments as a Magical Knight." Wiping a few stray tears with his thumb, Asta leaned forward and kissed Yuno's temple. It was his way of giving him a silent goodbye as he untangled himself from the other.
"Asta…"
Asta stood up and turned to face Nero. "Since you're now the central point of karmic destiny from numerous amounts of different timelines," the bird said, "No matter how enormous the wish, you will likely be able to make it come true." Good because his wish just might be big enough to test that theory. "Now, Asta Kaname," Nero said starting the process, "What is the wish that you will pay for with your soul?"
"I wish," Asta said before pausing. This would work. It had to work. Yami's words from what already felt like a lifetime ago came back to him. "Mr. Destiny, huh?" Yami said, "I hate that bastard's guts." Reaching into his pocket, he fumbled for something. "Who would ever pay attention to him?" he asked as he retrieved a packet of cigarettes, "I'd tear him apart and do whatever I damn well please." That's right. Asta would make it work.
Taking a deep breath to settle any remaining nerves, Asta restarted. "I wish," He declared to Nero, "To erase all Demons before they are born! All the Demons in all the universes, both past and future with my own hands!" Asta's chest began to glow a long-forgotten Mountbatten pink. He heard Nero's gasp of amazement, for once catching the incubator off guard.
"That prayer," Nero said in astonishment, "If a prayer like that were granted, it could unravel the fabric of time itself!" Adding as the light began to overtake Asta's form, it continued, "It would go against the very force of karmic destiny!" It gulped as a thought seemed to have occurred to it, no doubt thinking of their past conversation in the park. "Do you truly intend to become a god?" it whispered.
"I don't care what I become," Asta stated as he became a beckon of light in the dark destruction, "King, emperor, god. All those who fought against the Demons, who believed in hope as Magical Knights, I don't want to see them cry." Especially the one behind him. "I want them to be smiling to the very end," he added. Determination sang in his veins as a familiar power grasped his soul, Asta exclaimed "If any rule or law stands in the way of that, I won't give up! I'll destroy it! I'll rewrite it!" The light's strength increased. "That is my prayer," he told Nero, "That is my wish!" The light reached a peak in luminosity. "Now!" Asta commanded, "Grant my wish, incubator!"
And the land was enveloped in a Mountbatten pink glow.
"Asta," Charmy asked as she brought him a plate of cake, "Do you know how fearsome your wish is?"
Nodding, Asta accepted the plate and said, "I think so."
"It means that for the entirety of the past and future, through time itself," Charmy explained as she sat across the table from him in her apartment, "You will have to continue to fight forevermore." She met his gaze. "In doing so," She stated, "You will certainly wind up losing all traces of your individual self." Grabbing the fork next to her, Charmy told him, "Simply dying would be a kinder fate." She took a bite of cake and continued with, "For all of eternity, you will continue merely as a concept, a principle that destroys Demons."
"That's what I intend to do, so it's fine," Asta replied. He grinned and said, "If someone says it's wrong to have hope, then I'll tell them they're wrong, every single time!" He hummed and added, "And I know I'll always tell them so."
"Then it really is fine, isn't it?" Another voice said next to him. He turned his head to see Kahono sipping some tea. "If you think you can do it," she told him, "Then you've just got to do it!" Setting the cup down, she added, "I mean, you've found your reason to stay and fight, right?" Twirling her hair, she finished with, "Then there's no problem! All that's left is to do what you do best: run full steam ahead!" He smiled.
"Right. Thank you, Kahono."
"You aren't just granting us hope," Charmy chimed in, "You are becoming hope, itself. The hope of all of us."
As the Mountbatten pink flash faded, Asta stood in his own Magical Knight uniform with his bow from his grimoire drawn. He wore a buttoned Mountbatten pink waistcoat vest over a white-tunic with a pale silver middle that was outlined in white stripes and red buttons running down the middle. He wore white shorts with red trimming that ended just above his knees accompanied by a red belt that was connected to the red pouch holding his grimoire. His boots were a Mountbatten pink with the vamp and toe being colored white. Finishing off his attire, he wore a short Mountbatten pink hooded-robe that had intricate five-leaf clover designs in white-colored lines with red trimming that covered the upper half of his torso. The robe was tied together using a red ribbon around a silver button that had the a five-leaf clover emblem on it. His signature headband was dyed Mountbatten pink with his soul gem stitched to the side of it like an insignia. His grimoire was a silver color and appeared similar in design to his robe with a five-leaf clover in the middle.
Asta stared at Walpurgisnacht, drawing his bow. The arrow flared a Mountbatten pink gleam as an array for resembling the fabled gate of time and space, the fabric of the universe itself, appeared in the sky. Asta shot his arrow towards the array. As it made contact, the scenery of destruction was blown away by a calm wave of blue. Arrows rained from the sky, landing in different parts of time and space as the hordes of Demons began to disappear. They flickered out of existence, one by one.
And Asta saw it happen all at once, at the same time. He could see himself in the medieval era, in the imperial era, all over, all at the same time. He cupped each Magical Knight's soul gem with his hands. Taking away their curses and their hate, he let them pass into a peaceful sleep as their soul charms shattered out of reality. With their burdens relieved, each one let out a thankful sigh of relief.
"I won't let your prayers end in despair," he told them, his voice overlapping with thousands of his own. All their sounds knitted together forming his words, forming his concept. "None of you have to hate anyone, or curse anyone," he soothed, "I will bear all of that cursed destiny for you. So please, in the very end, keep believing in yourselves!" His voice gaining a power that weaved himself into the fabric of time and space itself. "Not giving up," he stated, "Is your magic! The magic of all Magical Knights!"
Walpurgisnacht crumbled away as its existence was erased from history. It's roars becoming less loud in time. "It's all right now," Asta told it, "You don't have to hate or curse anyone anymore." Opening his arms, Asta smiled. "I'll go back, before you turned into this," he promised, "And take that burden of yours." He could feel the relief of the Demon running over him in waves. Then a bright light shined as the universe unraveled itself to welcome him into its embrace.
Eight wings sprung from his back, enveloping Asta like a seraph's wings would for an angel. In each wing, a reflection of the universe was given. He wore a glistening silver top jacket with a "V" tailcoat that reach the tips of his ankles that resembling what royalty would wear. The long sleeves were rolled up to mid-elbow, cuffs outlined in gold. The jacket's torso was lined with golden thread, creating a rectangle that stretched from his collar bones to his chest in the front, and golden buttons trailing up the sides with a five-leaf clover emblem in each one. Its high-collar was a royal red and matched the red and gold lined shoulder patches in color. Golden fringe hung from them, reaching mid-chest. A golden cord was wrapped around his torso in a loose loop. A royal red sash was tied in a neat side-knot rested just above his hip. In addition, he wore a deep crimson colored pants that had golden lines running down the outer side-length. His golden-lined white boots had the toes and vex dipped in the same royal red that reached just below mid-calf. Sleek white gloves covered his hands. Finishing the outfit, Asta's signature headband was replaced with a silver crown with that resembled that the kind a king would wear with a soul gem in the middle. Indeed, Asta looked like the Wizard King, the greatest of all Magical Knights.
"It's all right," his voice echoed, thousands of versions of himself across the multi-verse rolled into one single being, as he appeared. Golden eyes stared into shocked amber ones. "My wish was to erase all Demons," He declared to Yuno, "If that prayer really came true, then even I should have no reason to despair ever!" He summoned his bow, it's size and grander resembling the one that had took his life along with Walpurgisnacht in the very first timeline. He summoned the gate of the universe as he released his sword arrow, destroying the existence of his demon-self and overwriting the laws of reality itself in the explosion of white light.
"Asta."
"With this, your life has ceased to have either a beginning or end."
"No trace of your life on Earth, nor a single memory of you will remain anywhere."
"Your existence has shifted onto a higher plane, and all that will be left of you here is a concept."
"No one will ever be aware of your presence again."
"And you will never be able to interact with anyone."
"You have ceased to exist in this universe."
"What are you saying?" Yuno cried out in the universal void, somehow managing to follow Asta even here, "That Asta wished for such an ending?!" He looked around trying to find the source of the voice. "You think this is a fair reward for everything he's done?!" he demanded. Covering his face in his hands, Yuno whispered, "This fate is even worse than what death would have been…!"
"No, you're wrong, Yuno," Asta told him as he materialized in front of him in his Magical Knight attire, the only difference being his headband was his regular one, causing Yuno to jump. As Yuno fell to his knees, perhaps in relief, Asta walked up and embraced him. "As I am now, I can see everything that has ever or will ever happen," He explained calmly, "Both the universes that could have been and the universes that might one day be. All of them."
"Asta…"
"Even so," Asta stated, "I have my memories of all you've done for me in all the different timelines. All of it." Bringing him closer, Asta's voice dropped into a murmur, "Like how often you cried or got hurt, yet you still never gave up for my sake." Stroking his head, Asta whispered, "I'm sorry I didn't remember sometimes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you when I did." He could feel Yuno bury his head in his chest, hugging Asta tighter. "To think that I would be so lucky as to have such a precious person with me all this time," Asta muttered into Yuno's ear, "I'm glad I got to know you." Yuno pulled back at Asta's words. "Yuno," Asta told him with a smile, "Thank you."
"But still, as you are now," Yuno cried, "You no longer have a place to go home to, and you'll be separated from everyone you love…" He paused to gesture to the void around them. "To live and be trapped all alone in a place like this forever?!" He finished. Asta shook his head.
"I'm not alone though," he responded with a grin, "All of you will always be with me, like I will always be with all of you."
"Are you really alright with that?" Yuno asked, "Even though I'll forget you?" Voice panicking, he pressed, "Even though I'll never be able to even sense you again?"
Asta shook his head. "Isn't it too soon to give up?" he teased, "After all, you found a way to follow me here, didn't you?" Untangling himself from Yuno, Asta took off his signature headband. Before Yuno could ask what he was doing, he felt Asta press his lips against his as Asta handed him his headband. Pulling back and smiling at the stunned expression on Yuno's face, Asta said, "Consider it a promise to see you again." He took a couple steps back from Yuno. "Let's believe that it'll be all right," He grinned once more, "After all, Magical Knights make the impossible possible!" He could feel himself fading into the universe around them. "Surely a real miracle, no matter how small, can occur," he called to the other, "Don't you think?" Looking at Yuno in the eyes, Asta finished with, "Not to mention, you're my most precious person. So even if you can't see or hear me, know that I'll be at your side, Yuno."
Yuno shook himself out of his daze. "W-Wait!" he exclaimed, "Don't go! Asta!"
"Until the day we meet again, Yuno, this will just be a little good-bye."
Even as he faded, though, in the universe, he could still sense Yuno screaming his name.
Yuno looked around, hand still outstretched. Asta observed, making sure he had sent him back to reality all right. Yuno lowered his arm as he recognized the train platform he was in. Turning, he saw his two other companions, Charmy and Kahono. Alive and in their Magical Knight attires. A pleasant sight for Asta, but it was strange how Yuno was still a Magical Knight himself. Guess he didn't overwrite everything then.
"Where's Noelle?" Kahono asked.
"She's gone," Charmy explained as she stared at the spot Noelle must have been, "Led away by the Law of Cycles." She looked down before adding, "Noelle used up all her remaining power in that last attack."
"That idiot," Kahono muttered as she looked at her feet, "She promised to sing a duet with me later." Asta made a note to remind Noelle of that fact.
"That is the fate of all Magical Knights," Charmy said softly, "You've known that since you first gained this power." She looked up, towards something beyond their sight. "Before the hope we wished for summons an equivalent amount of misfortune," Charmy recited, "We have no choice but to vanish from this world." Yuno looked into his hand to see Asta's headband in it.
With his hands shaking, Asta watch Yuno brought it to his chest. Oh. He seemed to have retained his memories of him. As if trying to keep himself from breaking, Yuno whispered, "Asta…!"
A part of him felt guilty. He had sent Yuno back hoping he, too, would forget and live the happy life he deserved. It appeared as though Asta could just bring Yuno misery. He could only watch as Yuno froze when the other two looked at him in confusion upon hearing his whispered cry and say:
"Who's Asta?"
Yuno returned to the church to see the little ones playing about. Ignoring them, he went straight inside and up the stairs. Asta trailed silently behind. Yuno turned to the room across from his and opened the door. Stacks of dusty cardboard boxes greeted him back. He stepped into the room and looked around. There was no evidence that this had ever been someone's bedroom at one time. It was a little disheartening. His hands shook as he tightened his grip on a particular headband. So, that really was all that was left of Asta.
"Asta…"
Slowly, Yuno knelt down in the muffled light of the window that shined in the middle of the room. It was only then, Asta noted, that Yuno allowed himself to break down, holding the headband close to his heart. Tears ran down his face, landing on the ground. Heart-breaking, Asta walked over to him.
Even if there was no use in the gesture, Asta knelt down beside him and hugged him best he could in his new form. Willing even a small shred of his presence to be felt by Yuno, Asta whispered calming sweet nothings in his ear in hopes that a few would be heard.
"I failed. I failed. I failed."
The mantra left Yuno's lips in breathless gasps, causing Asta to press closer to him. "Oh, you handsome jerk," Asta whispered, calling upon a nickname he hadn't said in what felt like lifetimes. "You didn't fail," Asta promised him in vain, "I'm right here." And he always would be too. He'd watch over Yuno until the day they could reunite with one another. Asta would wait it for as long as it took, even if it meant suffering agony the entire time himself. For Asta, the end result was worth it. After all, on that day, they could be together once and forever more.
Author's Note from imjustawriter:
I got inspired to write this idea from all the Black Clover ones coming out. I thought to myself as I was re-watching some shows that it would fun as like Halloween special to do a Black Clover mixed with Puella Magi Madoka Magica AU (or cross-over depending on your perspective) since I see AUs as "costumes" for universes in a way.
I first thought that this would be a short work, but it quickly turned into the behemoth you see before you. I did change add a few minor things while changing this into chapters, but the story as whole is unchanged. It's my first fanfic I've done. So sorry if the formatting is off! I'm still learning as I go.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me what you thought of it. If not, then I still hope you enjoyed it anyway :)
Side-Note:
Sorry for the radio silence these past few months. Life's got busier than I expected with school and other events, but I have good news for readers of "Become a Magical Knight": I am indeed writing the sequel for Rebellion portion. I've been working on it for the past couple months in my free time. Like the first 'arc,' its colossal in terms of length and pages so its taking me a bit of time to finish it. Currently, I'd rate it about 80% done at 72 pages as of June 2018. I have all the remaining scenes outline. The Rebellion arc is currently set to be finished end of June to early July 2018. To all my readers, thank you for your patience and for reading "Become a Magical Knight!" I hope you all are looking forward to the next arc and have a happy reading :)
Story Fun-facts:
(Just in case you were wondering why I put this person in this role, added something, etc. If you have any questions about my process with this fic, feel free to ask!)
Surprisingly as I worked on this, I found that many of the personalities from the two shows seemed to match pretty well for the most part. For Asta, his cheerful personality matches Madoka's, except that he's more courageous and boisterous. However, in the manga, Asta has been observed to pretty deep in his thoughts at times. From how I interpret his character in the manga and this story is that he tends to play the role of "the fool" as he doesn't want to the people around him to worry. Though in this universe, I think it's a little harder for him to brush things off due to the fact he's always in the forefront of it all and knows that the more he worries the people around him, the more their soul gems fall into despair.
As for Yuno, both him and Homura both had "younger, weaker" personalities starting off. As they grew older, those personalities faded into a mask of indifference to the world, even if on the inside they are letting their emotions fester. In this universe, I imagine after going through hundreds of time loops only to fail each and every time, it's bound to make a person crack. Especially when the one thing you aim for is forever out of reach.
For Charmy, I felt she matched the "cool veteran" character that Mami had. Though it's hard for me to get a feel on her character in the manga besides her love of food, I feel she can be a very serious character when she wants to be. I pitted her against Sylph because of the two's rocky relationship in the manga.
For Noelle, I think she matches Sayaka's personality in the cases where they can both be slightly quick-tempered but their hearts are in the right place. Both of the characters also tend to pretend they're fine, even when they aren't.
Kahona was probably the hardest to match as she doesn't have a very long role in the manga. However, I liked her interacts with Noelle in the manga and felt they would play these two roles off of each other nicely. As when I thought that Noelle would turn into a sea dragon, there's an old saying that "music soothes the savage beast." Since Kahona is aligned with music, I felt it was a nice fit.
Since some of the Black Clover cast doesn't have last names, I just gave them the last name of the role they were in such as Asta "Kaname" or Yuno "Akemi."
