Remnant of dreams
AN: Almost half of this chapter is recap of the last episode of Madoka Magi. If you don't want to read this segment, just skip to the next line break. You won't miss much... I think.
Chapter 10 – End of a distant dream
Ruby had lost count the number of time loop Homura had been through. Ever since the time loop which Madoka asked her to stop her from becoming a magical girl. Homura had become cold and distant, she always tried her best to save Madoka, but with each failure, with each death, Ruby could feel Homura's hearts breaking.
After Madoka died so many times, Ruby wondered how Homura stayed sane. Ruby knew Homura's reason and cold logic, but it does not mean she understand how she kept going.
During this time loop, Homura broke down and for the first rime in so many time loop, she told Madoka everything and begged her not to become a magical girl.
Just like all the other time loop, Homura tried to defeat Walpurgistnaught, and just like all the other time loop, Homura lost.
However unlike all the other times, Homura would try again and rewind. This time she knew, that going back through time would increase the burden on Madoka's karmic destiny. The reason why she kept failing, the reason why Madoka kept turning into a witch faster and faster, the reason why Madoka always dies at the end...
It was all her fault.
At that moment, Homura gave up. Ruby felt despair unlike anything else, nothing could possibly describe how dark it was, or how endless it felt. Death would have been merciful.
Homura's soul gem darkened before her eyes, when Ruby thought the end had finally come. A voice brought her back to reality.
"That's enough... that's enough Homura-chan." Madoka held her hand with the most serene and peaceful expression.
Panic swelled in Ruby's heart. 'Why? Why did she come?'
Madoka turned to face Walpurgistnaught with Kyubey by her side. Homura said in shock and dismay. "Madoka... You can't..."
Madoka turned towards Homura with a small smile. "Homura-chan. I'm sorry. But I'm going to be a magical girl."
Ruby felt tears in her eyes. "Madoka... Don't do it!"
Madoka smiled serenely. "I finally figured it out what I want to wish for. I know what I want now more than anything else. And I'm ready to trade my life for it with no regrets."
Homura cried bitterly. "But you can't! If you do then... everything I've fought for... it's all for nothing!"
Madoka gently embraced Homura. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You've been protecting me for a long time, and I'll never forget that. I know you're the reason that I'm the person I am today." Madoka looked Homura in the eyes as she stood back up. " I'm so sorry. I really want this, it's the answer I've been looking for, I swear, I promise I won't ever let your efforts be in vain. Believe me, Homura."
Ruby wanted nothing more then to stop Madoka from making that wish, she want to save her friend, just like Homura.
"You are the centre of karmic destiny from many different timelines. So, no matter how enormous your wish, it most definitely will come true." Kyubey said with a tone of confidence and a hint of excitement.
How Ruby hate the Incubator with all her hearts. Even if they claim to do this for a greater purpose of stopping entropy. Even if they claim to never have emotion like human. Even if they claim not knowing what their definition of good and evil are. Ruby could almost sense the smugness from this deceitful little critter.
"You sure it will?" Madoka questioned.
"Of course! Madoka Kaname. Now, what is the wish which you will trade your soul for?" The Incubator said with a tone of joy.
Madoka took a deep breath, then said with unrivalled conviction. "I wish... I wish I have the power to erase witches before they're born. Every single witch from the past, present and future, everywhere."
Ruby didn't understand the implication of Madoka's wish or how massive it was, but to get a clear open reaction from the emotionless Incubator, it must have been impressive.
"That wish. Once it's granted, it would unravel the fabric of time itself! It violates the laws of karmic destiny! A-Are you trying to become a god!?" Ruby could have sworn she heard fear in the Incubator's tone.
"I don't care what I become. All the magical girls, who believed in hope and fought witches, I don't want them to suffer or cry any more. I want them to be at peace, and if that goes against the laws of universe, then I'll just rewrite those laws. That's the only thing I want. It's what I wish for. Now, grant my wish, Incubator!" Madoka shouted with conviction, her eyes were blazing with determination. A blinding white light enveloped Madoka as her wish was granted.
When the light died down, Madoka stood before Homura in her magical girl outfit. However, unlike all the previous transformation. This seemed more complete, more grandiose, more divine.
Madoka nook an arrow in her pink rose bow, then fired the arrow straight above into the dark stormy skies. The moment the arrow plunged into the dark clouds, it exploded into a glyph of symmetrical symbols made of pink lights. The dark ominous storm cloud was blown apart in an instant, revealing clear blue skies and soft white clouds as far as the eyes could see.
Ruby cried at the scene before her, countless arrows of light launched in all direction, Ruby had a feeling that each arrow had a target and they were following Madoka's wish.
The demented laughter from Walpurgistnaught faltered as it was torn apart by countless arrows of light leaving only a gigantic gear floating towards Madoka.
"That's enough. It's all right now. You don't have to hate anyone any more, and you don't have to curse anyone any more either. I'll go back before you turned into this, and take the burden of all your pain." Madoka said with a sincere smile, a fulfilling smile.
The massive gear expelled countless magical girl silhouettes, made of kaleidoscope of nauseating colours. They danced around Madoka before everything was consumed in a blinding white light.
Ruby felt like she was floating in water. It was quite, it was peaceful. Then she heard a familiar voice, that she hated above all else. "The universe is in the process of reordering itself based on Madoka's new laws of reality."
'What?' Ruby thought, she has no idea what the Incubator was talking about.
"That's right. Your magic gives you the power to travel back and forth in time. Would you like to see how the existence called Madoka Kaname meets her ultimate end?" The Incubator sounded too gleeful for Ruby's liking.
Ruby was astonished to find herself on the moon, a whole and unbroken moon. She looked towards the green and blue planet. It was only now she realized with absolute certainty, this was not Remnant. Before Ruby could ponder what it was like to be the first person to reach outer space, she notice a rapidly approaching object heading towards the planet.
"That's the Soul Gem her wish created. Impressive, isn't it?" The Incubator said in awe.
"No way..." Homura said in disbelief.
Ruby was stunned into silence as she watched the black meteor filled with sickly kaleidoscope of nauseating colour flew by her, far too close to her liking.
"The wish she made carries a heavy burden. Imagine all the curses she'll have to take on now. With all the hope she's harnessing, she's giving birth to a new universe. But that means her eventual despair will be so great, it would destroy another universe. It's only natural." The Incubator said casually.
The meteor began to crack like an egg, reality shattered around the meteor. The enormous soul gem shattered to form a planet size monster, a witch of unimaginable magnitude.
Ruby cried in dismay as the whole planet was smothered in a dark mist, with countless insane laughter and cackles. She could see faces within the mist, distorted and in agony. It was a nightmare. 'This can't be happening! After all this!' Ruby thought as tears ran freely from her eyes.
"No. It's all right." Ruby turned towards the familiar voice and saw Madoka. Her form began to change, she became taller, more mature, her beautiful pink hair grew impossibly long, a flowing white dress with extremely long skirt formed around her, it even came with pure white wings. Her eyes turned bright gold.
Madoka said with unshaken confidence. "Remember. I wished for the power to erase all witches, and if what I wished for really did come true, then even I..." Madoka drew back her bow, Ruby could feel the presence and power of an entire universe behind Madoka. "don't have a thing to worry about ever!"
Madoka let lose as an enormous glyph appeared behind her, a storm of arrows rained down on the planet size witch, obliterating it in a flash of white light. The wall of white light soon engulf Ruby and obscured everything.
Ruby found herself in a strange place, a place of indescribable colour, like an infinite ocean of stars and clouds, with every colour imaginable and not a patch of black could be seen.
Ruby floated weightlessly through this strange place and her mind soon registered she was naked as the day she was born. Ruby would've blushed bright red if it was her body. She had to remind herself that she was currently Homura Akemi.
A disembodied voice echoed through this strange place. "Madoka. Because of your wish, your life has no beginning or end any more. The proof of your life on earth is gone. The memories people had of you don't exist. You've crossed over onto a higher plane. Your physical body is no more. You're now a concept. No one will ever sense your presence again, and you will never be able to interact with anyone. You are no longer a part of this universe."
Homura screamed in fury. "What are you saying!? Do you honestly think Madoka would want this to happen? After everything she's done, this is her reward? I don't believe it! I can't believe it!"
Ruby tried to absorb and understand what the voice just told them. 'It's not fair... After everything we had gone through. There should be a happy ending... not this... not like this, this is too much.' Ruby cried in sorrow.
"This is worse... than death!" Homura cried, and Ruby couldn't help but agree with her.
"Uh-uh. That's not true, Homura." Homura gasped at Madoka's sudden appearance.
Madoka appeared behind Homura, Ruby could feel her warm embrace, she could feel the longing within Homura's hearts, how much she wanted to be held by the one she love. "Now I can see everything that's ever happened and everything that ever will. I see all the universes that could've been, and all the universes that are waiting to be born. Really." Madoka said reassuringly.
"Madoka." There was a tone of desperation in Homura's voice.
"I see it all, and I finally know. I know all the things you've done for me through out all those different timelines. All of it. All the times you cried and all the time you got hurt, but you kept fighting for me... I'm so sorry, I never knew until now. I'm so sorry." Madoka cried as she told Homura this.
Ruby felt her hearts ache. It shouldn't be like this, this wasn't how it was suppose to end. Madoka continued. "I had to become what I am now to really know the kind of person you are.
And you were there all along, the most amazing friend someone like me could ever have.
I'm so glad I know now. So, thank you, Homura... For all that's happened, you truly were my very best friend."
Ruby could feel all of Homura's emotion burst out, all her frustration, all her pain, all her suffering, all her wish and desire. Homura let it all out in a long heart rending cry, even Ruby herself felt like she was crying along with Homura.
After what felt like an eternity, Homura said with sorrow. "But what's going to happen to you now that you're like this? You don't have a home to go to any more. You'll never be able to see your family and friends. And you'll be stuck here alone by yourself forever and ever!"
"Uh-uh. It's a little too soon to be giving up hope. You managed to follow me all the way out here, didn't you? Besides, even though you're going back to your world, maybe you'll still remember me. I mean you never know, right. You'll see, everything will be fine. Just believe." Madoka said as she undid the red ribbons on her hair.
Ruby noticed Madoka becoming more and more transparent, she knew Madoka was going to leave her for good, panic began to fill her hearts. It became irrefutably apparent when Madoka gave Homura her ribbons. "Madoka..." Homura said with a tint of sorrow.
Madoka smiled knowingly. "We are magical girls, remember? We make hopes and dreams come true. They might not happen all the time, but there's no doubt miracles can really happen.
Don't you think?" Madoka began to drift away from her.
'Don't go. Please! Don't leave!' Ruby cried in thought. Homura shouted. "Madoka! Please don't go!"
Black horizon opened up in the distance all around them. "Sorry. I've gotta go meet the others now. I don't know when, but I will see you again, Homura. I Promise. So, until then, take care of yourself, okay?" Madoka said as she began to disappear rapidly.
"Madoka!" Homura and Ruby shouted simultaneously as Madoka vanished altogether.
(Line break)
"R-by! Ru-y! Ruby!" Ruby woke up with a start as Weiss and Yang shouted in concern.
"Rube... sis. You okay?" Yang said as she look for a handkerchief.
"Yang! How can she possibly..." Weiss said in exasperation.
"It's over." Ruby interrupted, tears rolled down from her eyes.
"Ruby..." Weiss said in concern.
Ruby continued. "That was the last time loop. There is nothing to go back to... there is no Madoka to..."
Yang embraced Ruby. "Take a deep breath sis, and tell us what happened, take your time. Okay."
Ruby told them what had transpired in the final time loop, by the time Ruby was done. They were going to be late in picking Blake up from the clinic. Both Yang and Weiss had a lot to digest and think about.
(Line break)
Yang was not the brightest person, or the smartest book, or even the brightest light bulb out of the factory, Yang knew all that. When Ruby began to have those nightmares of a completely different life and gain the power to stop time. She was completely lost on what to do, she even had to ask Weiss to explain and simplify certain stuff for her.
Yang might not be bright, but she ain't stupid. Of course no one was dumb enough to say that to her face... except for Kyoko.
Yang sighed as she remembered one of the thing Kyoko used to say. 'All those nutrient has gone to your boobs instead of your brain.' Yang got into a right scuffle with Kyoko after that.
How Yang wish Kyoko was here. Hell! She would even take Mami or Sayaka. They would know how to cheer Ruby up. They might even figure all this out.
After hearing the last time loop from Ruby, even Yang felt like she wanted to cry, she might not understand all those stuff about Karmic destiny, concepts, parallel universe and so on.
However she does understand that Homura had lost Madoka forever, no amount of time jump would allow Homura to see Madoka again. In the very end, one could say Homura failed to save Madoka. Instead, it was Madoka that had saved Homura, and from how Weiss had explained about Madoka's wish, maybe every magical girls in existence as well.
Yang really wished none of Ruby's dream were real, despite her new power. Yang hated story with such a sad ending, it always reduce her to tears.
As they approached Black Mountain Clinic to pick up Blake. Yang spotted Madoka next to Blake. Yang didn't even notice the swelling water work now surging within herself.
It was a misty morning that would clear up later on, so says the weather report. Blake would rather be anywhere right now then here. She already thought about slipping into the mist and vanish from sight, but the sound of metal clicking behind her reminded her exactly why running away would be VERY bad for her health.
Blake glanced behind her. Dr Iris held a tranquillizer gun in her hands, she said in a calm and casual manner. "Don't even think about running, I can nail you with this thing at five hundred feet, and it will be a head shot."
Blake swallowed nervously. She knew without a doubt, the good doctor would do as she said. Blake wasn't sure she want to experience what it would be like to receive a tranquillizer dart to the head.
As Ruby, Weiss and Yang slowly came into view, Blake couldn't help being apprehensive, she did slap Weiss after all. To Blake it was debatable if she deserved it.
Blake froze in shock as Yang came into full view, Yang was crying rivers of tear, snots were running freely from her nose. Blake had no idea Yang felt this strongly about her, she actually began to feel guilty for being the cause of this.
Blake face reddened as she said in embarrassment. "Y-Yang! I'm sorry for causing you to worry so much, please..."
"What the hell!?" Weiss shouted when she looked towards Yang.
"Uhh... Sis?" Ruby said with equal worry.
Yang ran straight towards Blake's group, Blake brace herself for an embrace that never came.
"Madoka!" Yang cried as she embraced Madoka instead.
Yang smothered Madoka in her bosom. "Madoka! Are you eating well? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"Eh!?" Madoka was bewildered and very confused.
Yang continued with a flurry. "I know, lets get marry! No story will kill a happy loving couple!"
"Eh!? Eh!?" Madoka became even more bewildered.
"Oh for the love of..." Weiss groaned. Ruby was still trying to catch up on what was happening.
We can do it right away! And afterwards we can consummate our union tonight! I am going to rock your world!"
"Eh!? Eh!? EHHH!" Madoka was absolutely bewildered by this point.
"Thunk!... Thuk! Thuk! Thuk!" Yang wondered what those sound were and why she felt so sleepy. Before Yang's mind could register on what actually happened, she fell unconscious on top of Madoka.
It took a moment before everyone registered what had just happened, several tranquillizer darts sprouted from Yang's back and Blake somehow managed to get her hands on a tranquillizer gun.
Blake turned to Dr Iris. "Sorry for snatching this... you're going to charge me extra for this, aren't you?"
"Actually no. You can have those free of charge. For stopping the rampaging pervert. Now if you don't mind. I need to get this pervert off nurse Kaname." Dr Iris none too gently threw the unconscious Yang off a pinned down Madoka.
After getting Madoka to her feet. "Now if you all don't mind, nurse Kaname and I need to get back to work. Come along."
Madoka snapped out of her bewilderment. "Uh, Yes! Doctor Iris. See you later Ruby!"
After the doctor and nurse returned to the clinic, Blake decided to ask. "Sooo... what is wrong with Yang?"
Weiss groaned. "It's a long story... and don't think you are off the hook. If you want to make it up to me, come to the dance."
"Okay, I'll come to the dance." Blake said without argument.
"Look. We already bee through this, you cannot keep obsessing over... wait! Did you say..." Weiss was surprised by what Blake said.
"Yes Weiss, I will go to the dance, I need some time off, but I'm not giving up." Blake said with resignation.
"Oh wow... I mean that's good! Glad to hear it." Weiss then turned to Ruby. "Ruby Rose, come give me a hand with your idiot of a sister."
As they picked up the unconscious Yang, Blake asked. "So what is wrong with Yang this time. It's a bit out of the blue for her to attack Madoka like that in broad day light."
"It's a very long story, I will tell you after class are done." Weiss said with a pounding headache, it's going to be weird explaining this to someone else.
AN: And done. Sorry for the recap of the last chapter of Madoka Magi, for those who knew the story. This chapter is actually helpful in getting the 'flow' of the story. In the next chapter 'The Dance', divergence will happen, which will have big implication later down the line. Now onto the review.
Students: Nothing like that. Nagisa or Bebe always had the ability to chose her form. She stayed as a doll all this time because she can have more cheese in a much smaller body (made that up). As for how Qrow saw Nagisa's darkest day, you will have your answer in chapter 14 (already done). Also glad you're enjoying this.
ultima-owner: I ain't done yet. As you notice, Qrow is getting surrounded by woman he really can't touch and don't like. I will let you guess who's going to turn up next.