Chapter 13: If today was your last day...
As the team were -without hesitation - on their way to the place that could acquire them the second-to-last fragment. Kyubey hopped upon Death's shoulder.
"Death, I have to ask you one thing." Kyubey asked.
"Shoot." Death frowned.
"Regarding the battle against Homucifer, you said that you replaced the fragment that she held with a ghoul disguised as the same fragment, right?" Kyubey replied.
"Yes." Death's reply was swift.
"Then how am I sure that the first fragment isn't a bomb?" Kyubey frowned.
Death shook his head and sighed. "How are you so certain?"
"Sayaka had told you about my past, questionable deed of needing control of Hope to ensure our survival. You must have thought that I will repeat the same crap, right? I was unconscious during the battle against Volvina, so how am I certain that you did not sneak up a ghoul and disguised it as a crystal bomb with your arcane magic? "
"What makes you so certain?" Death replied.
"Look, just because I have questionable stuffs in the past doesn't mean I will do it again, not with Homucifer's advent, who knows what tricks they might have in store!" Kyubey shook her head.
"If you are so certain that you will become a new leaf, why are you so worried that the first fragment is a bomb instead of a real fragment? It's like as if you are validating your past sins or something..." Death replied.
"Huh? Nononono! I'm just worried that you will take me the wrong way! I don't want anyone to misunderstand me as a manipulative bastard still, oh no!" Kyubey shot back, a small sweat dripped upon her forehead.
Death mused on for a moment and then replied, "Give me the first fragment."
"What?" Kyubey wondered.
"You heard me. If you want to prove that the fragment isn't a bomb, you would give it to me just so I can disprove your claim." Death replied.
Kyubey sighed, "Oh...alright." and gave the Pale Rider the first fragment - shaped like a small star.
Nothing happened...
"The ghouls have a time limit before they go 'boom'; it was just enough time for me to steal the real deal behind her back in the heat of the battle, replaced it with the disguised ghoul, sent her flying over to one side, and make my escape in my Despair." Death frowned.
"Your point being..." Kyubey wondered.
"If it is a bomb, as you so claimed, it would have exploded some time ago!" Death replied. "You have seen the ghouls in action several times, right?"
Kyubey thought about it and sighed in relief. "Yeesh...and I thought it's a trap. I thought you would listen to Sayaka rant about my past sins and took it as fact that I will be the same now."
"Hmph...good. Or the scythe will be the next thing that you will taste." Death grunted.
Kyubey looked away, not noticing the soft snicker that etched upon Death's jaws.
Meanwhile...
"Kyubey wanting to use Hope just so to ensure the Incubator's survival...why does she do this?" War frowned.
"They wanted control over Godoka and her power of Hope to revert back into the old system - turn every magical girl into negative entities of despair called witches - instead of the new system, which is joining Godoka towards the end of their life when their Soul Gem Energies were spent." Sayaka sighed.
"What for?" War wondered.
"Survival; Incubators requires the Transformation Energy emitted after a magical girl's corruption into witches to survive. To do that, the Incubators tricked girls into becoming magical girls just so the creatures can feed upon the magical girls' despair when they transformed into witches near the end of their lifespan. Since Godoka changed the magical girl system altogether when she made her wish, the Incubators do not have the chance to absorb the transformation energy - as girls will ascend to join Godoka instead of becoming witches. Kyubey wanted to control Hope just so she could change the system back." Sayaka explained.
"So...the Incubators needed negative energy from the Magical Girls' corruption to survive. Hmph..." War grunted. "I should have known that he's not someone to be trusted..."
"How'd you know that before I came into the picture?" Nagisa wondered.
"I have met more deceiving demons than him during my years as Horsemen; my experience at seeing the truth and lies from demon and angels are one reason why all respect and fear me. Believe me, all will come to fruit during the seventh fragment..." War calmly replied.
"Why do you still agree to help Kyubey?" Nagisa wondered.
"He won't know what's coming..." War gave a small smirk.
Meanwhile...
"This might be my last day then...My last day of being with Madoka before she regained her full powers..." Homura sat on her study table's chair with a smile upon her face.
A wistful smile and not some creepy trademark smirk...
"I want to do what is right...Homura."
"Wait for me...I will come for you, one day!"
"Not only do I want to protect the Magical Girls from meeting the doomed fate of becoming a witch, but I want to protect my friends, especially you...my love."
"I love you...Homura. Please, wait for me...will you?"
Homura knew why she was afraid of letting go of Madoka...
She loved her...
She kept blaming Death...blamed him for taking her love away, for not taking the negative entities instead...
It's always the Reaper, the end of life, that grabbed Madoka by her heart and ripped it to shreds...
Or so she thought...
She always craved for answers, thinking that there might be other ways to be with her and allowed the world to be in peace in the process. Homura did, in the end, yet it came back to bite her in the arse.
When the Voids appeared, she had no other choice but to sacrifice innocent beings just so she could rid the enemy that could consume even the Devil herself...
She grew tired of it all...she just wanted eternal peace.
She would be getting it...tonight.
Homura picked up her desk telephone and punched in some number; she was willing to make tonight count.
Every single minute of it...
No creepy overtone, no smirks, no creepy smiles or whatnot...just their usual selves before all the hoo-hah had even happened.
*Click*
"Hello?"
"Hello...Is this Madoka's mother? I'm her classmate and friend Homura."
"Ah...yes she's here. Are you planning to speak to her? She had just finished her homework."
"Yes please, ma'am. I wanted to see if I can pay her a visit tonight..."
"It's still in the evening...sure thing! Let me get Madoka on the line first..."
A few minutes later...
"Homura-chan? Is that you?" a familiar voice of delight was music to Homura's ears.
"Yes...yes, it's me..."
"You sound like you're crying...are you alright?"
"N...No...I'm just...I'm just kinda need someone to talk to now. If you want, can we meet over by for a sleepover? It's Friday and I just want to have fun with you for a while..."
"It's sorta sudden but, hey, why not? I have just finished my homework! But are you okay still? You sounded like..."
"I'm alright, Madoka...I just want to make most of tonight count...So, in a few minutes, ya?"
"It's a promise!"
That was when it hit Homura like a bus going downhill at over three-hundred miles per hour - she was experiencing what Madoka was experiencing all along, right before she became Godoka...
Madoka made most of her time on Earth count, even with the face of Death constantly staring at her...
Cheesy as it might sound, Madoka lived her life to the best of her abilities; being kind towards her friends, to everyone she met, and even having no ill will towards anyone in general.
Madoka was happy; she lived the life that she really wanted to despite all the challenges piled against her as if it was nobody's business. Each day for her...was a gift and not a given right.
Heck she even had the blessing of falling in love with Homura herself...
Even happier was that Madoka finally did something within her power to make her life something worth fighting for - preventing magical girls from all timelines from becoming witches - by becoming the Embodiment of Hope.
As Homura went down the stairs, she heard a commercial - a teaser trailer for a game...
"He exists from the beginning..."
"He exists...at the end of all things..."
"He walked with our Gods..."
"And shaped...our deepest beliefs."
Death and War...that is why.
Death gave Madoka's life meaning...
The war against witches gave Madoka's lives meaning; War.
When Death and War stared at Madoka's face, she decided to face it by becoming Godoka.
Why? Because she made everyday count, simple as that.
She had lived the best of her life; her kindness had made many friends, had a loving family; fell in love with a black hair girl; had fought the good fight against Walpurgis, and finally freed herself from despair.
She lived a life...without regrets.
Viewing the title for the upcoming game on the television screen, it said 'Death Lives'.
"Death...Death lives...ha...hahaha...hahahaha...hahahahahahaha...hahahahahahahaha!" Homura lay on the floor, laughed, and cried at the same time, while ironically understanding the beauty behind the paradoxical statement.
Death lives...indeed.
Meanwhile...
The evening surroundings remained shaded orange, which brought confusion towards Nagisa.
"Strange...I thought it was seven 'o clock hours ago." Nagisa wondered.
"Homucifer had the ability to change the perception of time; people will still think that it's six 'o clock and she can alter people's mind to readjust their clocks once more. But that's strange...why?" Kyubey wondered.
"Good question..." Sayaka wondered.
Death stared into the direction of the setting sun, just ahead of a leaning tower that held the second-to-last fragment; the tower that Kyubey knew it as the Towers of the Vulgar.
"I wonder what Homucifer is doing now..." Death frowned.
"Let's go...time's a wastin." War remarked.
Back at Madoka's house...
"Good evening, Homura-chan! So glad you could come by!" Madoka chirped as she greeted and embraced her friend by the door.
Homura wore her trademark glasses with black rims, grey uniform with black collars, long silver sleeves, and a simper upon her face.
"Hey, Madoka...So, are you thinking of something to do this evening?"
"Eh? Homura...I wonder why are you that cheerful today?" Madoka wondered.
"Something's on my face?" Homura blushed.
Madoka smiled brightly, "No, not really...Just noticed that you are kinda cheerful today! I'm glad!"
"Well, we might as well make most of today count, right?" Homura chuckled. "C'mon! Let's see what we can do for today now that we are free!"
"I have learned how to make sakura-mochi! Do you wanna join in?" Madoka chirped.
"S...Sure, why not?" Homura gave a sheepish laugh.
(Scene change - the battle against Badmouther and Obstinance in the tower's mid level hall room.)
"So...you lots can think that you can defeat nothingness itself. A bunch of fools you are!" Badmouther snarled.
"Let's not spare any introduction, shall we? Chances are, you have a one-hundred percent chance of getting smacked up in the face!" Death taunted.
"Really now? Well then...spare no introductions you cocksuckers!" Badmouther vulgarly transformed into a purple-sleeved singer with long black hair, a scared right eye, a slightly baggy left eye, a petite mouth, and a dress that was crafted by the black blobs of Void alone.
"I will bomb you all with my words of spite! For my name...is of insults - Lrasd!" the Void-possessed familiar of Bad-mouthing screeched. (Lrasd is Enochian for Dispose of.)
The hall rumbled forth as Earth towers and the walls began unleashing multiple light bulbs, wooden stakes, chairs, and several wooden stakes.
"What in all of god's name..." Sayaka frowned.
Right behind Lrasd, a cloaked warrior with multi-layered scaled armor, a two horn skeleton helmet, and an electrical aura landed above him.
"Dodpal...show no mercy!" Lrasd shot out. " (Dodpal is Enochian for Vex.)
"Why don't we make this quick!" Death grunted as he summoned many Shinai Swords around him and transformed into the Reaper Form.
War transformed into Chaos Form, took out his Chaos Bow, which grew in size to fit his palms, and unleashed several projectiles of Neo-Chaoseater to start the assault.
(Scene change - Madoka's House)
"I need some more eggs! I don't think there's gonna be enough!" Madoka called out.
"Sure thing! How many more do you need?" Homura replied.
"I need just two!"
"Alright! I am com...KYAAAHH!" Homura accidentally tripped over a rug just in front of the fridge.
"Homura-chan! Are you alright? Are you okay? Dear me no..." Madoka rushed over to Homura, who was caked in egg whites and egg yolks.
"I'm okay...being through much worse." Homura rubbed her nose. Madoka heaved a sigh of relief, but soon burst into laughter as the sight of an egg white and yolk smeared over her face.
Looking over at the kitchen mirror, Homura thought that her silly appearance was funny. A bout of laughter soon tided over her as she laughed along; enjoying the precious time both shared.
"Coming up with the flour!" Madoka carried a pack of cornflour.
"Careful, those thing can burst out of not torn properly!" Homura shot out.
"I don't think anything will go wrong with you around! C'mon!" Madoka simpered. "Aie!"
Madoka's excitement, however, was a bit too much. Both Homura and Madoka soon found themselves caked in flour; the force to open up the corn flour packet caused it to burst and caked them both.
Both of them looked at each other, stifled their giggle, and eventually burst into laughter once again.
"Homura-chan, you looked like a snowman!"
"R...Rubbish...you looked more like a snowman to me!"
It was silly fun, but Homura knew that she was enjoying it somehow. It was strangely, far better compared to her usual underhanded means of having to seal Madoka's powers and restrain her.
No, not just enjoying it...she was loving every minute of it.
Homura could not even muster up her trademark creepy smile, but instead returned her once gentle smile she used whenever Madoka did something to cheer her up; be it hug, doing some funny stuffs, or just plain-old 'being with the pink hair girl'.
Maybe...maybe she could enjoy that peace...
The suffering will be over soon, she thought.
Just hang in there...
(Back to the battle against Lrasd and Dodpal.)
"I never thought the phrase, 'If words could kill' could come true! They sure shoot fast!" Sayaka panted after she dodged past a few f-bombs that literally became rockets and beams that shot towards the team.
"Heard worse; words are just like bullets. You care for those words and let 'em hit you, or you just don't give a damn and go for the real deal - Lrasd and Dodpal!" Reaper Form Death managed to fly past the multiple earth towers that the Familiar of Obstinance unleashed, sliced past a few that homed in together in a drill-like attack, and attacked the surprised Familiar with a huge stab on its guts, a smash on the floor, a huge upper cut, multiple strong pinwheel, cross slash, and sweeping slashes combo.
The Shinai Swords soon rained upon Dodpal, but the Familiar managed to counter it by encasing himself in a huge dark crystal wall with Void Tendrils wrapping around it.
Noticing four orbs surrounding the crystals, Death summoned forth more purple and pale green Shinai Sword to attack. The Four Orbs shoots out tall lasers that quickly cleaved straight down like a light sabre cleave, with four huge energy globes that compliment the attack in an attempt to prevent Death from dodging effectively despite flying.
Chaos Form War took out his Chaos Bow once more and fired off numerous copies of Neo-Chaoseaters towards the energy balls that were weaving towards Reaper Form Death. The speed of the Neo-Chaoseaters managed to push the energy balls away and as the Red Rider fired a small Hellfire Rocket towards Lrasd, the Singer of Badmouthing managed to dissipate the attack easily.
However, the familiar was soon struck by bouts of Neo-Chaoseaters missiles; the copies of Neo-Chaoseaters changed their trajectories after the Hellfire Rocket that was aimed towards her was destroyed.
With Death's Shinai Sword blasting down the four orbs lasers, Dodpal was sent to his knees; the four orbs were connected to the crystals that encased him.
"NOW!" Sayaka shot out as the team decided to launch a full-out offensive over Dodpal; the bad-mouth arsehole can wait.
All Dodpal could see was a full-fledges, skull cracking punch from Chaos Form War's mighty fists.
(Scenery change)
*BONK!*
Both Madoka and Homura took out the rolling pins from the cooking cupboard and started rolling up the dough needed for the mochis.
"Alright, pound that flour good!" Madoka encouraged.
Bouts of flours began dispersing through the air as they continued the mochi-making by pounding the glutinous rice with kine in an usu.
"Ack! Hahaha...my face all in flour!" Homura chuckled. As she looked at Madoka's flour-coated face, both of them could feel a sense of warmth rising up within them as they started laughing.
For the first time since becoming Homucifer, Homura could feel a bout of warmth welling inside her.
Her nerves tingled with genuine warmth that she cannot describe, but could feel with every inch of her heart and with each passing minute.
That such a simple thing like paying a friend a visit, doing things that a person would normally dismissed as 'childish', 'moe', or just plain 'outdated' and 'lame', would all be gone when one person treated each day like a gift instead of a given right.
To think Death and War would actually give rise to such a meaning of enjoying life where it matters and fighting for hope; that both elements are a part of nature - a law that Homucifer herself could never rewrite.
With each passing minute, Homura could understand, gradually, how Madoka was experiencing before her ascension as Godoka.
Indescribable? Yes...
Does that make the feeling invalid? No.
"So...So that was what Madoka had always been feeling near the day she ascended herself as Godoka...A feeling of living a life without regrets because of the love she made every minute of her life count despite the crap she had to pull through...I cannot describe it, yet it's so true."
The genuine warmth creeping up inside Homura's chest caused her eyes to brim with tears; Madoka's eyes widened in shock, unsurprisingly.
"H...Homura-chan! Are you alright? Why are you crying?" Madoka shot out in concern.
Homura then faced the pink hair girl and wrapped her arms around the latter in a heart-warming embrace; tears streaming down upon Homura's face as she gave a genuine smile.
Homura could feel her connections with the Familiars of Mourning - familiars of self-loathing that she created as a result of her dissatisfaction with her own creation - slowly seeping away.
Yet, she did not care...
"Thank you...Madoka. I'm just glad that I get to spent time with you; every minute, every second of it..."
"Awww...Homura-chan. Don't cry now...I'm glad I got to spent time with you too..." the pink hair girl gave a gentle smile. "Though it's a bit sudden that you declare that to me, I'm glad that I'm important to you..."
Madoka took a handkerchief from the baking table and helped wipe the tears off Homura's face.
"There you go...easy there!" Madoka chirped, then wrapped her arms around Homura's waist to return the embrace.
"Why don't we do it together? I bet it will taste better, ya?" Madoka simpered.
"Y...Yes!" Homura beamed.
The black hair girl could feel the soft, touch of warmth of Madoka's hands radiating through her skin with every moment; the smile crept across her face.
Madoka held Homura's hands and said, "Ready?"
"Mm!" Homura nodded.
The mallet descended upon the pounded glutinous rice batter.
(Scene change)
*CRASH!*
Reaper Form Death hammered his Harvestor upon Dodpal's body and shattered its armor to pieces. The smash's impact rippled through its muscles, shredded through its sinews, bones, skull, and even created a huge crater on the cold, hard floor.
Chaos Form War charged on forth as he unleashed sweeping slashes to destroy the fast approaching badmouthed projectiles, unleashed a powerful heat wave that caused Lrasd to lose balance. The balrog sliced Lrasd with sweeping slashes and overhead sword smashes that sliced through every sinews, muscles, vessels, bones, and nerves; the Neo-Chaoseater's hot blade body ignited Lrasd's Void-possessed body.
Thrown towards a corner and shot with another Hydro Balisong attack from Sayaka and Bubble Storm from Bebe, Lrasd unleashed a strong shockwave that shattered the towers' windows and eroded several holding pillars that kept the mid-level hall upright.
"You know clearly that you are nothing but a monster! Don't forget what Kyousuke's insults you became the witch known as Oktavia!" Lrasd attacked the crew with another blast at the microphone. "I knew it, because I am part of Homucifer, though I now belong to the Void!"
"So...Sayaka did become a negative entity called Oktavia before her reunion with Madoka as the Embodiment of Justice. She did mention having gotten over her depression after seeing that Kyousuke's dream of playing the violin come true..." Death frowned.
Sayaka managed to dodge past some words and managed to mitigate the rest of the missiles by swirling a bunch of swords into a huge Boomerang Shield.
Charred and bruised, Sayaka still held her ground and stood up bravely with a grin etched upon her face?
"Yeah? And what does that make? How many times must I tell you lot that what had happened, had already happened! Yeah, maybe I'm a little bummed inside, but I'm not going to let them words screw me over! As long as Kyousuke is happy with achieving his dream of being able to play her violin, I am more than happy to let him go!" Sayaka then launched a comet kick straight past the barrage of sound waves that Lrasd blasted, used her hands as rocket propellers to brave the rain, focused all her arcane magic towards her right feet, materialised five cutlasses into one huge blade, impaled the surprised Familiar of Badmouthing in the chest, and unleashed a huge burst of aquatic blast upon its body.
Nagisa exclaimed, "That's strange, but I can feel Homucifer's influence on them fading away!"
She was right; smokes of black haze slowly left Lrasd and Dodpar's body as they somehow slowly lost their contact with Homucifer.
"No...impossible! How is Homucifer's influence not strong anymore? Has something positive happened? Blasphemy!" Lrasd shot back.
Even the approaching Menhir towers did not pose much of a problem towards Bebe and her Sebastian as they barged through it with no problem.
"Blasphemy? Yeah, right! Shouldn't we use actions to overcome stuffs instead of using just words to play mind games with us, huh? It's pointless for you; every one of us here have gone through stuffs at some point or another, but we make something happen instead of waiting for things to come for us!" Sayaka shot back.
"What do you know about War and Death? You know jack about them!" Lrasd shot back.
Sayaka deflected the shockwaves that Lrasd attempted to send out.
"So? Even if I don't know much about their pasts, at least I know that they mean every word they say! They are the Four Horsemen, and everyone who has heard of them knows that they have a code of honor! That's how well-known they are throughout dimensions, even if they exists as legends alone! I know that I can trust them and so far, they are doing their jobs well just like I do! Both of us are determined to bring the Balance back, and you will be doing nothing to impede us!" Sayaka screamed.
"Through War and Death's confidence of doing things, I come to know that I have control over my own life! I am Sayaka, the Embodiment of Justice, and not some puppet tied by some past that I have already let go since EVER!"
A torrential burst of blue aura surrounded her as the hall's floor began to crack and erode at the same time.
Reaper Form Death and Chaos Form War's eyes widened.
"That human...it seemed that some part of Sayaka's restrained powers is returning as Homucifer's influence on the familiar is weakening..." War frowned.
Sayaka than did something that widened the Horsemen's eyes for a second - she stabbed herself with her cutlasses.
"As long as Kyousuke is happy, I will be happy! I am restrained by Homucifer's magic, no more! Now the monster I once used to be...is under my command; a part of me where I can use for the realm of good! ARISE BY MY HAND, OKTAVIA VON SECKENDORFF!"
A monstrous, immense mermaid wearing heavy knight armor and wielding a huge cutlass appeared right behind the pool of blood that bled out of her. Her helmet was reminiscent of an old deep diving helmet and she wore a torn and ragged cape felled with black diamond patterns. Her collar resembled a dark blue heart with black diamond patterns.
"A human...summoning this monster while overcoming her past." Warlooked on and gave a confident grunt. "Now this is another reason to respect Humanity - Resilience..."
"Sayaka!" Death shot out.
Sayaka shortly received a bottle of green health potion that Death always kept in case of emergency. Upon drinking it, her stab wounds healed almost instantly.
"Now you gave us one more reason to respect Humanity. Your manifestation of Oktavia under your command has proved that you do not allow the monster to control you...now you control the monster!" Reaper Form Death nodded.
"To be honest...I never thought that the day would come where I would free myself from Homucifer's restrains. Guess her powers ain't dependent solely on her powers, but on my will..." Sayaka grinned. "But enough chit-chat, yeah? We still have those two idiots to settle!" Sayaka grinned.
"No...impossible...my words! IMPOSSIBLE! YOU SONS OF DAMNATION!"
Lrasd and Dodpar unleashed blood spikes and blood missiles filled with swear words - a sign of desperation.
Oktavia manifested multiple giant wheels that successfully crushed through the barrages of blood spikes while she crushed any remaining blood missiles by unleashing a huge aqua slash that tided over the missiles and drowned them.
Lrasd and Dodpar shivered.
"Scared out of your wits ain't we? Let's finish this!" Reaper Form Death declared.
The team piled on their attacks upon on the helpless familiars with the screams of agony echoing throughout the towers.
(Scene change - Madoka's House)
"Ahahahaha! There's so much flour upon your face!" Madoka chuckled.
"You too, Madoka..." Homura gave a soft chuckle.
"C'mon, let's put those mochas in the oven before they go bad!" Madoka shot out excitedly as she grabbed Homura's left hand.
"Hey, wait up!" Homura replied in surprise.
After washing up their face...
"The simple things in life, eh? I never knew these small things that we have done could mean so much to me, not until now." Homura simpered as she sat on a resting couch by the living room.
"You do think so too?" Madoka simpered along; both Homura and Madoka were tying up ribbons for fun.
"Yeah...it's like chatting up with you. I normally don't find chatting up with people who interesting; I don't usually go out with people or with crowds because I thought they are a noisy bunch. But I guess...I guess they are just trying to enjoy life the best they can, right?" Homura replied.
"Mom told me that this world is dark out there...but it doesn't mean that we can't make every moment in our life count! I have my friends, my parents, my brother, and most importantly, I have you as my best friend...and I don't want to be taking every day for granted too! Who knows what lives are in store for us?" Madoka simpered.
"Just by seeing your smile, Madoka, your genuine smile...it's more than enough to make my day." Homura chuckled. "Yeah...You see this pink ribbon that I tied up? I guess it suits you to a T!"
The pink ribbon was puffy and slightly wrinkled with two long tails waving out.
"That's cute..." Madoka's eyes became dreamy. "Waah...Thanks, Homura! Here, let me give you one too!" Madoka beamed as she gave Homura a magenta ribbon; just as similar as the one upon tied up on Homucifer's head.
"Thanks...Madoka." Homura simpered.
That's right...
Every minute of their conversation, every second they take crafting something precious, Homura herself seemed to treasure it more and more.
What seemed to be just a casual pastime became a lesson in treasuring the littlest things...
Be it Madoka's smile, her embrace, her touch, the conversations with her, and the ribbon she gave Homura...
It lifted Homura's spirit; Madoka was doing so well and so nicely.
But Homura knew that whatever it was...
It ends tonight...
She would give the best she could to entertain Madoka...
"I guess the Mochi is done...Why don't we have a taste of our creation then?" Homura gave a small smile.
"Right!" Madoka nodded.
Minutes later...
"Aahhnn..." Emulating real-life couples, Madoka playfully fed Homura with a spoon of sliced mochi.
"Mmmmm..." Homura's cheeks blushed slightly as she appreciated their homemade snack. The warmth started welling up her heart as the despair that once made up her heart was temporary repressed.
"Hooomura..." Madoka's eyes became dreamy as she cutely beckoned Homura to give her some mochi.
Homura blushed intensely as she embraced Madoka once more.
"Madoka...why are you so cute?" Homura chirped.
"Maybe because I am? Hehe..." Madoka beamed as she closed her eyes and opened her mouth.
Homura stared at the Madoka's cute face and gave a soft sigh.
"Madoka...thank you..."
(Scene change - Tower's rooftop)
With Homucifer's influence on the familiar dropping, the possessed guardians of the second-to-last fragment - Lazybones and Dunce - were off no match for the team; especially when Sayaka had just regained Oktavia and assisted Chaos Form War and Reaper Form Death by setting up massive combo slashes attack so fast, that the familiars' stupidity could not react in time despite the Void's best efforts in buffing them up.
Chaos Form War plunged the Neo-Choaseater in the ground, while Death rained forth Shinai Swords upon the damaged tower and powered down from his Reaper Form. The huge arcane explosion brought forth by the excessive energy displacement while powering down from Reaper Form, combined with Oktavia's cutlasses slash, Bebe's Bubble Storm, Sayaka's Hydro Balisong, and Chaos Form War's Neo Blade Geyser crumbled the last foundation that held the leaning tower.
The resulting demolition killed off the unintelligent familiar's ultimate form, while the team managed to land on safe ground without any form of fall damage. Death managed to hover via Reaper Form, War cushioned his fall with Chaos Form, Oktavia managed to catch Sayaka, Bebe, and Kyubey in time.
"Well...that was anti-climatic..." Death shrugged.
"Dunce and Lazybones; I ain't surprised. At least Lrasd and Dodpar gave us some challenge." War grunted.
As the second-to-last fragment landed on War's left prosthetic gauntlet, the riders could hear Godoka encouragement of 'Thank you...' ringing inside their mind. War gave the fragment to Kyubey shortly after and the cat-like creature quickly moved away to polish the fragment with her fur, leaving the team behind to discuss about the upcoming last fragment.
"Well, Godoka's influence is certainly returning soon enough..." Death grunted.
"Yeah...last fragment...and afterwards...Damn, it's such a short journey now I come to think about it." Sayaka sighed wistfully.
"Why?" Death wondered.
"I mean, once the seventh fragment reunites with the other six, Godoka will instantly be revived. Once that happened, well, that Voids will be gone and that's it...the journey's over." Sayaka sighed.
"Something tells me that you will miss us." Death wondered.
"Yeah...I confess. I mean, getting to see the Horsemen up close and having you both help me rediscover myself in a world where I thought that no one would trust me...I am truly grateful." Sayaka simpered. "Besides...even before I got to meet the both of you face to face, your names alone made me understand life better. I mean, fighting for my own beliefs, my happiness, seeing my friends and loved ones happy that they finally achieved their dreams, and knowing that my wish of seeing Kyousuke playing the violin to a mass crowd can make a positive difference in the name of happiness, I can let go of my past and look forward to a better future without regrets."
"Well, seeing you displaying Resilience at a crucial time has made us respect Humanity even more. Though we still are confused about why you are grateful to us when most of Angels and Demons feared us, but hey...I guess opinions, yes?" Death chuckled.
"In such a short time, I too have learned that Death and War need not be that fearful after all. You both are like big brothers to me; I feel very safe when I am with you, because you are willing to respect Humanity for the good they are..." Nagisa chirped. "Like cheese, you both give me these warm and fuzy feelings of safety I cannot describe!"
War grunted. "Guess the angels have a lot more to learn about Humanity, huh?"
"I guess Humanity can learn a whole lot more about life and hope through the both of you..." Sayaka simpered.
"How?" Death and War wondered.
Sayaka grinned, "Well, we will just have to get the seventh fragment and find out, yes?"
"But ..." Nagisa replied in worry as her eyes gazed over to the white cat creature as she was busy cleaning up the fragment with her fur.
"Again, believe us..." War nodded.
"Like what Godoka said, except in a different context, all in due time..." Death snickered. "Trust us...we know more than enough manipulative bastards to make our own decisions about who is lying and who is telling the truth."
(Scene change - Madoka's House)
"Are you kids having fun there?" Mrs Kaname came in to check on both Homura and Madoka, who were playing pretend pillow fight after dinner.
"It was great ma'am!" Homura smiled brightly; she ain't lying.
She was no longer hiding her feeling , nor was she even feeling bouts of despair.
She was feeling joy...
Joy that she got to enjoy doing childish things with Madoka...
Joy that she got to spent every second, every minute, and every hour with Madoka and her parents.
Joy that today could be the day where the Void would meet its timely demise and she too...would finally have the peace that she so desire.
Eternal rest with Madoka...as Godoka.
Yes...just hang in there, Madoka.
Death...War...you had better bring in the goods; i will never forgive you if you don't!