Author's Note: Thanks Deinoko! I'll get back to those when I have time.


Survive


"They're out..." Kyoko announced while scratching her head. "Fallen Angels or not, they're sure are sturdy to remain somewhat awake with their condition."

"Will they be alright?" Madoka asked, worried about the people she had just rescued.

"Well, Asia is healing them now so they should be fine." The nun shook her head. "But the question now is what will you guys do?" She asked.

"That depends. What do you think Cao Cao... Kyoko?" Madoka asked smiling.

"Eh? Why me?" The nun said, feigning ignorance.

"Seriously Kyoko, there's no need to pretend." Cao Cao said, munching on a bread stick all so lazily. He was on his usual corner by the kitchen slouching.

"Yeah Kyoko. We all know, that you know... Ummm... was that right?" Issei said, scratching his head as he did.

"Yes, don't worry Issei." The girl turned to her friend. "No need to hide Kyoko! We knew for years!"

"What?! You do! Awww... And I wanted to come clean being so cool too." The nun said dejectedly.

"Well, if you want a consolation then I only suspected as much until you gave me that advice sometime ago." Issei told her while shrugging, causing the nun to facepalm.

"Well, that teaches me to shut up. Anywyas, considering the three of you..." She shook her head. "Well honestly until we got the complete story, all we can do now is wait and see I'm afraid. Though I need to phone my superiors for advice because honestly this adds to the brewing trouble."

"Trouble?" Issei asked, his hero complex that he developed during the rider war coming up again.

"Yeah. Sometime this morning two nuns, agents of the church was sent here for an important mission." Kyoko shook her head at that. "And then this happens... oh God."

"Why were they sent anyways?" Cao Cao asked.

"Excaliburs..." Was the only thing Kyoko said.

"Excaliburs? The legendary sword?" Issei asked, much to the nun's surprise. "Oi! What's with that look?! Look Kyoko I may not be smart but I'm not stupid!"

"Ah! Sorry sorry." The nun apologized. "It's that I don't see you as the type of guy who reads that stuff." Both Madoka and Cao Cao nodded as a sign of agreement.

"Well... Ever since I've met Tsukune and learned... well..." Issei was scratching his head at this point. But thankfully everyone there got his point.

"Heh. Even when he's gone, Tsukune is helping ya." Kyoko shook her head. "Alright. Well, Cao Cao how much have you talked to them about the situation about the three factions?" The nun asked the slouching young man behind her.

"Enough for them to know whatever you're going to tell them." Cao Cao told her in which she responds with a nod.

"Alright. Well let's start with the Excalibur. You know it's a legendary blade of Arthurian legend right?" The other two nodded. "Well if you about it then you are familiar with how it was lost after Arthurian times. Well, the church believed that it was destroyed by the devils for being a holy weapon in the lines of Durandal, Ascalon... and so on and so fort. But if you follow their legends then you know that's complete bull." Kyoko shook her head. "I dunno what's the deal with our religion for claiming things that aren't truly ours but one thing is for sure is that the church got hold of a 'broken Excalibur'."

"A broken Excalibur?" Issei asked curiously. Which is not surprising since it was a very interesting topic.

"Yeah. Though whether if it was the original Excalibur wielded by the famous king or the second Excalibur created by own of his loyal men; Gawain, it was not known." Kyoko continued as she pulled out a stick of pocky and began to nibble. "What is for sure is that the alchemists, crafters and blacksmiths associated and employed by the church could not repair the blade. In fact it broke into fragments." The nun sighed at this.

"Excuse me." Madoka interrupted and like the attentive student she was, had an arm raised poised for a question. "But did you just inferred that there were two Excaliburs at one point?"

"Yeah. From what we dug up. Gawain had salvaged, what he thought was parts of his king's broken blade and reforged his own blade with it. He dubbed it 'Excalibur Galatine' from his king's and his own blades." Kyoko answered to the curious Madoka who seemingly writing everything down. "Well anyways. The since we broke the blade the alchemists thought of an idea to create different blades from those broken fragments and dubbed them 'Excalibur' each."

"So... the church tried and remake Excalibur... well the one they had and failed and made new ones right?" Issei asked as he followed through the nun's tale. "So... did they get stolen or something."

"Right on the money." The nun said, nodding all the while. "Someone or some group was able to steal and get away with two of them. Heck they even left a trail of destruction in their wake." The nun broke the pocky in her mouth as she grit her teeth in pure and utter annoyance. "My superiors are in an uproar. Those things were not only considered holy, but they were important tools for the church. You have no idea what my whole religion would do just to get them back."

"So... what's the problem since they already sent people..." Issei asked, not sure of the whole thing.

"Well... it was tracked here. Which is basically Devil territory." Kyoko said rather uncomfortably.

"Wait... Devil territory?" Issei asked confused.

"Yeah. You might not know but this area is devil territory headed by the Gremory and the Sitri clans. Which is to my headache are incredibly big names." the nun muttered, annoyed at the whole thing.

"Wait... Gremory? As in the one from my school?!" Again Issei asked. Rather incredolous this time.

"I'm not surprised you do not know." Kyoko said rather smugly this time... then again it's practically how she talks at times. "But yes... the very same... In fact, the Gremory at your school; Rias Gremory is the heir to the name." Issei blinked at this.

"Wow... just wow... So... Considering my meager knowledge about the Christian faith, please tell me that how bad it's going to be. Because I know it is." Issei asked a third time and this time rather uncomfortably. Why not, some idiot stole some holy relic and brought into what could be said as 'enemy' territory.

"It could ignite the three way war that happened in ages past." The nun answered grimly. A tense silence overcame the four as they digested the information. Madoka then broke the silence.

"Why... why would they do something like that... Why would they do something that would cause such suffering..." She whimpered in sadness, agony, pain and finally anger. The other three did not say a word. How could they? All three knew why the pink haired maiden acted like so.

"I'm sorry... I need air." The girl excused herself and left. All three watched her leave and did not say a word. They were worried but...

"I could only imagine what Madoka feels." Kyoko stated. Which is an odd thing since she also lost her parents. But she was lucky as both died doing what they thought was right and she still had her sister who was studying to be a nun like her. Her friend did not have that luxury.

Her mother and brother was lost on a terrible attack on the populace. Her father in grief committed suicide. Her relatives were torn on how to deal with the orphaned girl, and even some of them only was after her for the wealth her parents left behind...

"I could only help her so much." A pained Issei muttered as slams his fist onto the table he sat in.

"Of course you could. In fact I'm surprised you could Issei." Kyoko told him, she herself sitting down and making herself comfortable. "The whole thing left invisible scars in Madoka's heart. And I'm afraid despite your help... more time is needed for that wound to heal."

"Time huh..." Cao Cao silently muttered from his seat.


*scenebreak*


Madoka stalked the streets silently as she stormed off the Sakura Church. She honestly going nowhere but she didn't need a destination right now. What she needed was time to think. She couldn't help it. But any time someone mentions something even remotely connected to terrorism she flips out, and her emotions go out of control.

She knew no one could blame her, but she couldn't help but feel unhappy about the state of affairs. Worse if those around her truly care for her. She sighed.

"It's always like this... I know it's not my fault and I know everyone says the same but... I... I can't help but feel this way." She admitted. The scar on her heart still not fading even all these years. Even with the help of her friends, even with the aid of her teachers... even with the help of the Riders... the experience with the war... The pain... the heartache was still there.

"I guess it's why I despised Cao Cao when we first met..."


*scenebreak*


"You... You would lead such... such misery and destruction just for that stupid reason!"

She remembered shouting at the snake themed rider when he announced his goals. When he told them of his master plan for the human race and those who had hid themselves in the twilight of the world.

"Why not! Humanity has been the thrall of those creatures for far to long! Those who would trick and use us for their own benefits! Those who only care for themselves and their kind!"

It was a stupid argument. In fact what he said was purely hypocritical and incredibly zealous. He talked as if humanity was absolved of those crimes. As if humans themselves was not guilty.

"So you would lead such a crusade! Because you are a hero?!"

She asked rather angrily. She asked with the anger of a lion... bubbling with intense hate and anger at the person in front of her.

"You talk as if that heroic legacy of yours was not stained with blood."

Her friend, Tsukune the bat themed rider clearly stated. His stance on the matter was not valueble to their opponent however. His bias was clearly showing from his words.

"Silence creature! You have no right!"

"SHUT UP!"

She interrupted her. Anger boiling in her veins.

-Advent-

She stopped caring, she had stopped listening at this point. Because to her, it no longer matters. The snake rider did not even have a chance. Blancwing crashed into him, it's beak drilling into him as spun like a drill.

-Sword Vent-

Tsukune tried to stop her. But she slapped away his hand and attacked. The double bladed spear swinging in a deadly dance as the snake rider could only defend as the swan danced a relentless dance. Sparks flew as blade impacted upon armor, with the defender is being slowly pushed back and into a wall.

"What are you doing this? Are you already under his thrall!"

"SHUT UP! I'M IN NO ONE'S CONTROL! I LOATHE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WOULD CHARM PEOPLE WITH LIES AND DECIET SO THEY WOULD MARCH UPON THEIR DEATHS! SO THEY WOULD FULFILL THEIR SICK DESIRES OF POWER! THEIR SELFISH WISHES FOR GLORY!"

She remembered the endless pit of rage in her heart that she drew her strength from. The boiling hatred that was endless in number... infinite in quantity...

"Damn!"

The snake rider could only curse as he was forced to keep defending. His hands occupied as he shielded his head and body from the relentless assault, from the deadly blade making sparks upon his armor. Thankfully however…

"STOP!"

The dragon came... the dragon finally had come to the scene of the fight.

"Issei! No don't!"

Tsukune warned. For good reason. As she herself could no longer control her crazed actions. But he didn't care. Her friend, the reckless and hot blooded dragon rushing and grabbing her by the shoulders. She struggled, she squirmed. All she wanted at that moment was to kill the snake before her.

"Stop Madoka! This is not the future he entrusted to us!"

The face of the dead. The memory of a dying man entrusting them with a dream... It's what stopped her.

"Leave."

Tsukune ordered the snake that silently left. While she... she broke down and cried.


*scenebreak*


Madoka shook her head. Looking up and saw the horizon painted orange she decided to return. She could make her introspection another time...

"Huh?" She paused however when she a peculiar thing. Two nuns, one with azure hair like her mermaid friend and one blonde like the innocent Asia was at the corner chatting and failing to get the answers they were looking for.

"Ahhh... I know the road should be here!" The blonde complained.

"Let's just give up and go back to the church... I must apologize and I'm sure she'll grant us shelter." The blue haired one said sadly. Remorse echoing in her voice. Curious Madoka approached them.

"Excuse me. Can I help you, you've seen to be in a bind." She said as she approached, the man they were talking to before shrugged and left without a word.

"Eh well... I was looking for the house of my... childhood friend." The blonde admitted. "I wanted to visit... and uh... ask a favor I guess."

"I... well I angered our would be host you see." The blue one explained. "So we thought to ask lodgings somewhere else until she cools her head and I where I could apologize." She said rather sadly.

"I see..." Seeing the two of them, she remembered what Kyoko had said about two church agents. And judging from the faces of these two it seems they got on her bad side. Bad move. Kyoko can be quite remorseless on those she has a grudge on. "I'll help. What's the name of your friend."

"Issei! I mean Hyoudou... Hyoudou, Issei." The blonde said, surprising Madoka.

"Issei huh? Small world." The maiden smiled as she readied her phone. This should be interesting.