Episode 14: Terrible Souvenir

"Damn, you're good!" Sayaka, snide as ever, was first to speak. "Not only have you managed to completely screw up our lives, you've damned the whole world! Impressive!" She smirked for just a moment. "Now how do we fix it?"

"Well, it would help if I knew how I broke it in the first place," I replied. I ran a hand through my hair, to make sure it was in place. A sloppy appearance will lead to a sloppy mind, after all.

"Uh, hello? Your stupid time-rewind broke it!"

"I have walked this same path more than a thousand times. Never before has it broken anything."

"Well, maybe the warranty ran out or something!" I rolled my eyes. No further comment was required.

"Perhaps if I might examine you more thoroughly, I could find an explanation." Yukari gave me an appraising look.

"Reimu, perhaps you would be willing to accompany us?" I turned back to look Yukari in the eye. "Not that I don't trust you or anything, but I was just fighting to depose you a week ago." That earned a single arched eyebrow, but nothing more.

"And what do you expect Reimu could do if I decide to exterminate you? No offense, dear." Reimu was gritting her teeth at the honeyed sarcasm rolling off Yukari's tongue.

"Her Ying-Yang Orb has proven quite adept at countering your manipulation of borders in the past, and that would buy me enough time at least to draw some of my guns and splatter your head all over the wall," I replied, nonchalantly.

"Alright, that's enough outta you!" snarled Reimu. "Marisa isn't here, so I shouldn't be hearing any idiotic, impossible boasts!"

In the end, Reimu had gotten as far as letting Mami see the kitchen, and that was that. She began cooking something which I was certain was going to be of absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever, and absolutely delicious besides. I must admit, her method of coping with interpersonal tension is much nicer and less expensive than, say, Kyoko's. I sat on the floor and Reimu and Yukari sat down across from me, and began studying me intently. It was highly discomforting noo! not another needle! I don't care if I die, no more needles! but at least it was fast. We Puella Magi are more for the "practical" sort of magic, so I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but I could feel what seemed like the searches we used for Witches pouring over me.

"Well, that's a simple enough matter," said Yukari after she and Reimu had compared "notes" for a short time. "You are physically here in this timeline, but you retain connections to the other timeline. We have a while until things go wrong, but as we catch up to where you made the rewind, the dissonance of those paradoxical connections will start to shake this reality to pieces. On September 18th of this year, when our timeline passes yours, the bindings will snap and recoil upon each reality."

"That sounds bad," Understatement of the year, I know, but I can hardly be expected to understand what in hell this wench is saying.

"You could say that. The recoil effect will cause an explosion with an energy equal to one-half the total of all the potential energy gathered in the universe over the duration of the split. If you want to be precise, the detonation will be centered at Myouren Temple, but I don't think the exact location will matter much to any of the inhabitants of this arm of the galaxy."

"So, how do we fix it?"

"Well, we would need to rectify the links somehow, either by tying them off on this side, or reintegrating this reality with your original one." Yukari looked at me carefully. "By your face, you do not appear to like either of those options. However, it isn't as though I can simply pluck other options from thin air. There's magic, and then there's magic, after all."

"You leave me with no real choice. I know of the links you speak of, and there is no way to tie them off on this side, because two of the people with whom I am linked do not exist in this world." I saw Yukari start to speak, and held up a hand to forestall her. No need to waste time with the obvious. "I am well aware of the Shinigami, and I'm sure you could easily bring someone back from the dead, but one of the missing people is truly missing. Turning Kyubey into Nova Floresca was a one-in-a-million aberration, and attempting to do so again would quite likely tip our hand to powers which do not wish us to be aware of their existence." I shook my head, What I would say next sounded bold to the point of arrogance even to me, but hopefully it would get the point across. "The battle I was in, the battle to depose you, Yukari, saw the likes of Fujiwara no Mokou, Sariel, Yuuka Kazami join the battle, united against you. And that was what amounted to the dress rehearsal. We were trying to clear out anything that might bother us as we prepared to defend ourselves against the forces sent by the Incubators to annihilate this planet.

"And that is the other choice, to return to that world, that battle. A battle I do not know if it can be won, even if we can repair all the damage that was done." I looked long and hard into Yukari's eyes. "At the very least I will need time to consider my options."

"Understandable," A ghostly smile crossed Yukari's lips. "I would say 'take all the time you need', but that appears to be what got us into this mess in the first place." Perhaps I deserved that.

"I should think an evening, at least, is not too much to ask." I went to go rejoin the others, but Mami stopped me and steered me into the kitchen.

"So when were you going to tell me who Nova actually was?" Mami asked. Her eyes simmered with . . . something, I couldn't quite tell what.

"I wasn't. Next question?"

"And why not?!"

"For one thing, if you were eavesdropping, then you heard me describe what we were going against. I do not wish to visit that hell upon this place without reason, and if you should happen to ask Kyubey about any of what I know, that would surely occur." Mami was coming around, I could see, but she was not yet satisfied. I really don't want to have to deal with my feelings on the matter yet, but thus far, only one wish I have ever made has been granted, and even that has not gone well. "And for two, does it truly matter where she came from? In the end, she was just like any of us, strong in some places and frail in others, and the strain of this cruel world caused her Soul Gem to tarnish, and she fell, as any of us might." And that was that. I went into the main room, on the slim chance that perhaps some of Mami's confectionery had survived the wrath of Kyoko, or even just some tea. I wasn't particularly hungry, but I need something with which to busy myself while I weighed my options. Besides, it is Mami's cooking after all. Exceptions must be made.

"So what's this about Kyubey being a girl now?" asked Sayaka. I felt an uncontrollable spasm begin to take over my eyelid as I tried to come up with a reasonable answer. This surely must be unhealthy, but then again, so was what I wanted to do to the real culprit.

"You! You let them listen in!" I pointed an accusing finger at Yukari.

"Of course," replied Yukari. She didn't even bother to try and deny it! Infuriating beast! "You said you needed time to figure out what to do. Five heads are better than one, no?"

"Only when they have a full five brains amongst them!" I snap back. Petty, I know, but it feels good.

"Hey! Are you saying I don't have brain?!" came a shout from the other room. How typical.

"Sayaka Miki, why is it whenever I make mention of mindless incompetence, you get offended? Have you something you need to share with us?" Sayaka starts to splutter, and then Kyoko starts to giggle, and that sets the blunette completely over the edge. Good enough, for now.

"What are you going to do, Homura-chan?"

"I don't know." There, I said it. Let someone else come up with a plan for once.

"Well, what's so bad about this 'reintegration' thing, anyway?"

"Aside from being thrown right back into the middle of an extremely deadly conflict . . . How do you two feel about swapping spit on a regular basis?" I don't know what cause the flip sarcasm to come to mind, but it was out of my mouth before I could stop it. There was a matched set of bug-eyed expressions facing me.

"What!? No way! You're making that up!" Sayaka was on her feet, raging. I saw what was going to happen next as soon as the idea formed in Kyoko's head. I managed not to spoil the surprise until the redhead slipped her foot out and kicked Sayaka's feet out from beneath her, causing her to spill to the floor.

"Shaddup, Blueberry! It's not like you're such a catch yourself! What, did the other me have terminal brainworms or something?"

"Why you! I'll- Gahhh!" Sayaka pounced upon Kyoko, fists flying. For her part, Kyoko rolled with the punches, and even managed to turn the tables her attacker. Now she was giving as good as she was getting, and both of them would be looking pretty shabby by the end of this, if not for the healing factor of their Soul Gems. Mami meanwhile simply slid out of the way, as she was well accustomed to Kyoko's brash nature. I was more disturbed by Reimu's lack of concern at the brawl breaking loose in her living room. Maybe the unusual events we were a party to in the last cycle weren't that unusual after all? That doesn't bode well for our living quiet, peaceful lives after all this settles down.

"Okay, that's enough!" I clapped my hands for attention when Kyoko managed to get her hands around Sayaka's throat, and when that proved insufficient, I gave Kyoko a helpful kick in the ribs to dislodge her. "You two started by trying to kill each other in the last cycle too, but that quickly turned to a different kind of screaming and tearing at one another's clothing." That got the job done quick enough. The two problems seemed to teleport back into their respective seats, and they had identical expressions of downturned eyes and steaming red ears.

"I think you should go back." I looked at Madoka. I had heard her words, but I couldn't understand yet what she meant. "The people in the other world, they were your friends, weren't they?"

"I-" No use in denying it, I suppose. "Yes, they were."

"Then, you should go back to them!"

"Haven't you heard what I've said? They are on the brink of destruction! What if I lose them?"

"Are you saying you haven't lost them already?"

"W-what do you mean?" Damnit, I can't afford to lose myself again. I must not break down!

"Homura-chan," Madoka had a sad smile on her face. "I've seen it ever since you came here. You're always on the verge of saying something, doing something, and then you stop yourself, because we're not who you think we are. I can't imagine anything so sad as that."

"Hey, Homerun, can I ask you a question?" Kyoko looked at me, but her eyes were still downcast, and her face still flushed red. I nodded, not trusting what might come out of my mouth if I spoke. This is a new turn for her, I have no idea what's coming next. "Was I happy? In your world?"

"Yes. You were as well off as any of us, and better than some, if not brittle."

"Then do it. Go back. If this time-travel story isn't just some crazy lie, then you know my past. I'd rather go to oblivion knowing some form of me somewhere is happy, rather than living this dead-end life."

"For what it is worth, I am also in favor of reintegration." Yukari spoke from out of nowhere. "If nothing else, I would like to slap silly this shade which has so tarnished my reputation. Honestly! To think that there is a version of me that could so bungle things that Reimu would feel the need to attack me! And to think she might win? Unconscionable!" Haughty words, of course, but I could hear the note of worry beneath. Circumstance could lay even the mightiest of mightys low, it seemed. The thought warmed my heart greatly.

"Very well, then. Are you ready to perform the spell?" Yukari started to reply, only to be cut off.

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Sayaka cried out. "We're just gonna do it, here and now? Shouldn't we go and say our goodbyes, or something?"

"There's no need. For all intents and purposes, nobody is going anywhere. You will simply begin to exist somewhere else, and what few memories you have from this branch of the divergence will be no more than a sour daydream, and fade away just as quickly. Well, those of you who are whole on the other side.

"Madoka will be a bit weak and disoriented when the reintegration finishes. We're basically 'averaging out' two separate people here, so you're going to feel like you're half-dead when you merge. Which is technically correct, I suppose. And from the images I gathered, I've lost most of an arm in the fight?" I nodded. Damn, this is going to take away the one bit of good Nova did in the fight! I suppose the saying is 'beggars can't be choosers'. "Yeah, that's gonna sting like a bitch." Yukari stepped to the middle of the room and a circle formed, inscribed with a diagram of incredible complexity, glowing with radiant light. Yukari beckons me forward. I hesitate for just a moment. A simple touch on my shield tells me the exact status of my entire arsenal. It will have to suffice. In this place, where I have been so thoughtlessly honest, I must admit the reason I hold back is because I am scared. I don't like being backed into a corner, and I really don't like fights where I have no hope of winning. This might be both. But no amount of shying back will save me from what Fate has woven. Time to face up to what I have created. I step into the circle. Yukari begins to chant her spell . . .

BGM: Syrufit - Where is Love - "Kizu Kakushi"

BGM: 2:49

When will we next meet?

Will my wishes be granted?

Nova raised her hand for another strike-

-and Yukari raised her own restored hand and threw out a barrier, pushing the berserk Incubator back. A gap immediately swallowed the Border Youkai and she then reappeared on the other side of the room. The strange, off-color simulacrum of the world shattered and deposited the combatants back into the courtyard proper. Almost immediately, however, the world began to change once more. For a moment, the world seemed to become a desolate black glass nightmare, but only for a moment. However, the real world seemed to have no firmer anchor, and the glass struggled to overwhelm the landscape once more. Copper-jacketed slugs slammed into Nova, high on her chest, but instead of the splatter of bullets tearing through meat, there came the crunching of blackened-iron armor resisting the hits.

Where are you going?

The sun will rise..

"What's happening now?!" Byakuren cried out, eying the treacherous, shifting landscape.

"Don't look at me!" Yukari shouted back. "I dispelled my Border!"

"It is a Witch's Barrier, trying to form." replied Homura. She shifted her aim, targeting the one spot that could stop Nova before she went truly over. I'll let the others shed what tears are needed was Homura's one thought as she got ready to fire, but then the black glass was back and suddenly Nova was right there, sliding out of the shadows at the edge of Homura's vision. There was no time for her to react, barely even enough time for horror to take hold. With a shriek of rage, the ex-Incubator struck not with her void, but with her free hand outstretched like a claw. There came a horrible wet tearing sound, and gore washed Nova's arm as she plunged her claw-hand into her victim clear up to the elbow.

Homura stumbled into a sitting position from where she had rolled away from the attack. At first, it appeared as though Nova had wrenched blood from the empty air, but then there appeared a figure around the terrible wound. Only a few of the combatants present recognized who it was they were seeing, and those that did gasped with shock. Koishi Komeji, the girl whose closed eyes blinded all others to her presence, had been at the temple alongside her sister the whole time, but only now that her life was gushing out onto Nova's feet did any of them see her.

Incubator, grant me my wish.

Recognition caused the little bit of humanity which remained within Nova Floresca to assert itself temporarially, stunning her with the realization. She stood still as a statue as Koishi took her collar in both hands and dragged her in close, so that only her ears could hear Koishi's next words.

"Become someone who I could love once more." Unearthly light surrounded the pair, casting both into shadow for a moment as the spell did its' work. Nova's hand clenched of its' own accord and withdrew from the terrible wound she had caused, and when she pulled completely free of Koishi's body, she was holding a blaze of light.

"Oh, good, it worked," Koishi mumbled, as she pried the source of the brilliant light free from Nova's hand. As soon as she touched it, the Soul Gem shrank doing into a single bright streak, only whereas for a Human that beam would end up touching down on her finger, for Koishi it shot beneath the lid of her Third Eye. After a moment, the stitching melted away and the Eye opened for the first time in an age.

"Myaaa . . . what happened?" Nova shook her head, trying to clear it, and then she scrabbled back in disgust after realizing she had sat down in a pool of gore. "It worked, huh? Wait-" Nova took a look at her blood-soaked hand, then back at Koishi, then at her hand once more.

"Y-you let yourself get hit without knowing what would happen? Are you crazy?!"

"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"What if you had been killed before you could make a wish? What if the wish hadn't-" A tap on the shoulder interrupted the ex-Incubator's rant.

"Ahem." Homura looked down upon Nova with anger smoldering in her eyes. "You would be well advised to stand up, shut up, and count your blessings." The black-haired girl flicked a hand through her hair, and Nova could see now the fatigue tamping down the fire in Homura's eyes. "Today has been an extremely long day, and I for one would like to see it end." That got a half-nod from Nova. Without the power of a soul-shattering rage coursing through her, Nova was remembering that she was slightly shorter than Homura . . . and still afraid of the black-haired girl. Homura then reached out a hand, causing Nova to quail back for a moment, until she realized what the other was offering.

"I-is everything okay?" asked Nova as she was pulled to her feet.

"Perhaps the madness of this place has overtaken my senses," replied Homura a bit wistfully. Meanwhile, at the other end of the courtyard, Reimu looked down at Yukari, who was still sitting on the ground after having been dumped from her emergency exit. The shrine maiden drew a handful of ofuda and contemplated the figure upon the ground.

"So are we done here?" Reimu asked, although her voice put it as more of a command.

"I believe so, yes." came the reply.

"Well, all's well that ends, I say." Reimu offered Yukari a hand up as well.

"Wait, so does that mean we win?" asked Suika. The little oni appeared to be hanging intently upon the answer.

"Well, I'd call it more of a forfeit," replied Reimu. "But technically, yes, the good guys won." said the shrine maiden, with a bit of a smirk on her face.

"Yay! That means we can get on with the victory drinks!" Suika cried happily, and hoisted her gourd to begin.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. If it pleases you all, I believe a celebration is in order, and I would be most happy to provide." replied Byakuren, slipping back to the role of beatific saint with only a moment's hesitation.

"How do you do that?" Miko grumbled.

"Taishi-chan, if you intend to remain by my side, one day you will have the pleasure of giving orders to Captain Minamitsu Murasa, and in doing so you will be given the opportunity to hone many saintly virtues to perfection." Byakuren favored her student with a warm smile. "Or you'll die with your hands locked around her throat, and hers about yours." Miko blinked in surprise.

"Well, if the time comes, I hope I'll manage it as successfully as you did," replied Miko, to which Byakuren laughed.

"Oh no, we went the 'strangling one another' route more times than not. But we were already in Makai; what more could come of it?"

"Oh."

"Thank you, for saving me." Nova bowed her head to Koishi in one of the side corridors of the Temple. Even there, a raucous clamor filled the air; Byakuren was putting on a grand victory feast indeed. Apparently, the Youchrist had been so confident in their triumph that the kitchen had begun the preparations before the first blow was even struck. However, the main table was a strictly Gensokyan affair; the Puella Magi were sitting separate for the time being. That was perhaps not the wisest course of action, and yet no one could begrudge the girls their necessary time to regroup.

"I haven't saved you, not yet," replied Koishi. Nova eyed the other girl strangely; she didn't have a lot to go on, but the girl with the pale green hair was quite odd. And then there was the matter of the blue ball on her chest- Nova had heard it called a "Third Eye", and she knew from dealing with Satori that it was the focus of their kind's powers, but that alone didn't explain why Nova could feel it looking at her constantly, even when the eyelid was closed. Even when Koishi had been out of the room, finding a clean shirt to replace her old one, she had felt that gaze upon her. It was also handy, though, or at least Koishi hadn't needed any briefing on how to work the new powers she had wished for. Speaking of, there was the curious factor of Koishi's Soul Gem itself, which had disappeared when she willed it away. The iris of her Third Eye had changed into a heart-shape and shimmered with a diamond radiance, which Nova recognized as the mark all Puella Magi received . . . but that's supposed to go on your fingernail like, er, mine? A thrill of confusion took Nova when she looked down at her hand- her mark was still there, but the red teardrop was gone, replaced by a linked set of circles in red. Ahh, whatever. It's not like there's an instruction manual for this stuff anyway.

Koishi poked Nova in the shoulder, jarring the white-haired girl from her thoughts. Nova saw a broad grin on her companion's face and her sensitivity gave her an impression of bubbly warmth, and suddenly it seemed like Koishi was the only thing in the whole world as the other leaned in closer. While she wasn't sure what was happening, the feeling made Nova lightheaded with giddy excitement, like things were about to go rushing out of her control and she was looking forward to that ride! Then Koishi flinched as though suddenly burned.

"Uh-oh. I'm so sorry, but I gotta go. Good thing you topped up my Soul Gem after the fight, I think Sis is gonna kill me!" And with that, Koishi turned and dashed off. Nova let out a long, winding sigh as the curious feeling drained from her. There was still work to be done. I don't know what she took with her, but I want it back!

The mood in the room the Puella Magi had taken for themselves was somber. Madoka was withdrawn, Sayaka and Kyoko looked somewhat depressed, and Mami was down just from seeing everyone else unhappy.

"Really, Akemi-san, you should eat. I know you're not happy, none of us are-"

"That is not it. Honestly." Homura flicked out her hair and glared daggers at Mami. "Did you not hear me explain how Yukari's repair worked? I'm not hungry because I just ate three hours ago!"

"Even so, I don't see how that could affect you this much."

"Teppanyaki. Kyoko. Business card." Homura crossed her arms and almost pouted. Mami just stopped and blinked.

"Oh, well in that case, it's a wonder you didn't burst open." That drew some giggles from around the table, and took the edge off the mood slightly. Nova took the opportunity to slip in and sit down.

"I'm sorry," all eyes turned suddenly at the apology, but that was because it was Madoka making the offer, to Nova and to the rest of the group. "You see, my spell was supposed to dish out righteous punishment for the guilty. But when I used it, I wanted to see Yukari hurt for the things she said. I hoped it would hurt so bad it killed her, and because of that it bounced back and hurt me too. If not for that, she wouldn't have been able t-to . . . "

"So what you're saying is, you're human afterall?" Kyoko butted in. "Lord have mercy, finally! Look, Pinkie, no offense, but you're wayyy too nice for your own good. The lady who runs this place is some kinda saint, but the way you've been going, it's like you were planning on getting elected patron deity of niceness or something."

"I-I'm not, I promise!" replied Madoka. Sayaka just covered her face with the palm of her hand.

"Not to heap more unpleasantness upon today, but I have bad news, and then I have worse news." Nova looked up from her dinner to make sure she had the attention of the other Puella Magi as she spoke. "When I went, er, out of alignment earlier, I connected to the Locus. That's like Incubator Central Dispatch, for want of a better term. While I was connected, I pulled in some information. The bad news is, Ragnarok has Hitomi. The worse news is he has taken her back Home to stand trial for crimes against the Project, as part of his coup attempt against the Overseers."

"Okay, so what do we do then?" replied Sayaka.

"Do? What'd'ya think we do? We go there, rip out Ragnarok's heart, stick it on a trophy rack, and then get your girl back!" Cirno crossed her arms and nodded to herself as she made her pronouncement.

"Umm, Cirno, that's gonna be hard-"

"What, dont'cha have a trophy rack? Eye can sell ya one pretty cheap!" The ice fairy smirked at the disbelieving faces looking at her, then her face returned to sober seriousness. "No, really. I know it won't be easy, but it's the right thing to do, and that means it's what we're gonna do, got it?"

"Well, okay, yeah, but how? I mean, do you still have the keys to the ship Nova?" asked Sayaka.

"Uhh, what ship?"

"The ship that brought you here originally!" Sayaka snapped back, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Alright, that's it, no more late-night anime for Sayaka!" replied Nova with a smirk. "No, we don't use spaceships, except for the Examiners, and even that's more like a flying apartment complex than a battleship. But I can still get back into my Box, which will have to do."

"Uhh . . . sure. If you say so."

Koishi caught up to Satori just outside the Temple proper, where she and the others from the Mansion who hadn't actually participated in the battle had been brought over for the victory feast. Unfortunately, Byakuren had sent Kogasa, and the karakasa had been so wound up from her part in the battle that she had blabbed everything that happened. Satori was livid, she was so angry that Koishi didn't even need her Third Eye to feel her sister's wrath.

"Yes I did, yes I am, yes I do, no you can't." said Koishi, with a grin on her face. That caused Satori to stop in her tracks, and for a moment confusion replaced anger on her face.

"W-what?"

"Oh c'mon sis, it hasn't been that long since I closed my Eye! Have you forgotten already what it's like to be caught in the gaze of the cursed beast? Wait, wait, I know you have, and I don't even need to read your mind. You've gotten so used to reading everything from everybody, and them hating you for it, you've stopped trying to keep up with the social graces! Well, I at least remember how to act properly. Go on, say it!" Koishi folded her arms as anger darkened her face as well, daring her sister to speak her mind and say I liked you better when you were still damaged and couldn't see!

Instead what happened was Satori flung her arms around Koishi and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Welcome back, sister." Satori said in a thick voice, as she could no longer hold back tears.

"Umm . . . does this mean you're not going to kill me after all?"

"Of course not! I was only angry when it seemed like you were going to disappear completely. But now I know she isn't going to steal you away from me. I would have wished that you had chosen differently-" Satori was interrupted by giggles from Koishi, and frowned.

"Pun intended, sister?"

"Huh . . . ? Oh!" Then Satori began to laugh as well.

"You do know, I will have to fight by her side still. Our real battles are not yet over."

"I have been following the situation, you know. Those Outsiders, the Purifiers, they have struck at me and mine. I have only one request; leave enough pieces that Orin can retrieve some of their souls. I wish for them to roast, and slowly, for what they have done."

"Absolutely."

"Well this isn't where I would've expected to find the woman of the hour, ze!" Marisa clapped a chummy hand on Reimu's shoulder, as the latter leaned against the archway overloooking the Temple gardens and watched the moon rise. Inside, the victory celebration was still roaring along, with considerable assistance from Suika's gourd, which was propped up beneath a decorative fountain. Water went in, sake came out, and no one needed an explanation for what to do with that. "If I had to go on looks, I'd think you had lost the battle today, not won it!"

"And what exactly did we win, huh? Where is the joy in fighting a battle that shouldn't have taken place to begin with, in order to clear the way for an even worse battle to begin? And yet again, the Outsiders cheated death by half a broom straw! Using powers they themselves don't even really understand, and blind freaking luck!"

"Oi! Cheer up, ze! You brought Yukari Holier-than-Thou Yakumo to heel, and that happened because you brought together the most awesome collection of power Gensokyo has ever seen! A month ago, I wouldn't have expected to see a group like that in the same place for anything besides an all-you-can-eat beatdown and lunch buffet!" That drew something between a cough and a laugh from Reimu. "Plus, you got 'em to sign their names to paper that states they'll actually sit up and listen when you tell them to stop misbehaving!"

"Yeah, and how long did that last? I mean, do you realize, it hasn't even been one whole day since the Compact was signed, and oaths have already been broken?"

"Say what? When?!"

"Provision 4: Contracting with Incubators is expressly forbidden to all residents of Gensokyo."

"Oh, c'mon! If Koishi hadn't stuck her nose in it, we'd be holding this party at Komachi's place!" Marisa fumed for a moment before continuing, "There's gotta be exceptions!"

"And when do they end?" Bitterness and sorrow both clogged Reimu's voice. "Ok, fine, this time was special. What about the next time something special and unusual happens, and I let something slide? Pretty soon, we're right back where we started or worse."

"And how many people is a rule worth? Who would've been acceptable to let die to drop the fluffball, huh?" Ofuda zinged past Marisa's ear, razor-sharp and charged with magic.

"Godsdamnit, I don't know! You think I would be out here letting all that eat me up if I knew? You think I could even stand being me if I started putting values on peoples' heads, like fucking knicknacks in Korindou? Huh?!" Marisa just stood and glared at Reimu, who was flushed with anger. Inside, the shrine maiden noted with annoyance that Marisa had her thumbs tucked into her belt in such a way as to put her Hakkero and Spellcards in hand with just a twitch.

"Welcome to my world." said Yukari, stepping out of nowhere to join the conversation. The reactions of both Reimu and Marisa could best be summed up as "Gah?!".

"Now that you've had a taste for rulership, how do you find it?" Yukari asked, her tone deceptively light.

"Honestly? I hate it. I wish there was someone, anyone, to put in charge instead. But I'm the one who pushed for this thing, and that means I'm the one who will hang for it if everything goes sour." Reimu grumbled.

"Good. The last thing you want in a leader is someone who enjoys telling people what to do." replied Yukari, drawing a snort of disbelief from Marisa. "For the record, Marisa, I don't enjoy telling people what to do, I enjoy teaching people lessons which they need to learn. It simply happens that many people need lessons on humility and authority, and they need those lessons repeated several times before they stick."

"So what do you want?" Reimu asked back. "I assume you didn't come out here just to argue with Marisa." Her response to that should be worth a laugh, at least! Reimu thought as she studied Yukari.

"I would like to sign the Compact." was Yukari's reply, not at all what Reimu was expecting.

"Honestly and truly? No strings attached, no favors or special titles?"

"Yes, honestly and truly. For one thing, I need a vacation." Yukari looked rather withdrawn at that. "That Spellcard that was used on me damaged me in ways that will not be easy to mend, and until I am able to come to terms with myself once more, I will be unable to acquit myself well." Reimu gawked at that, shocked by the admission.

"I knew that girl looked dangerous when I first saw her, but if I may ask, what did she do that could cause that much damage?"

"Curiosity, Reimu, or are you looking for something to try for next time?" replied Yukari, the smug ghost of a smile upon her face.

"I, er, well hopefully there won't be a next time." replied the shrine maiden, her face coloring.

"Indeed. Although, I dare say, had you truly been trying to kill me, you would have succeeded." That drew a shocked look from Reimu, which mirrored the look Marisa was aiming at her.

"We weren't trying to kill her? Coulda fooled me, ze!"

"If she had only wanted me dead, then her opening shots would not have been Spellcards. I am no more immortal than you are, Marisa, just better at cheating the reaper. In any case, I suppose I shall give you an answer Reimu, given that I owe you a ransom anyway. What that girl did, the pain which Madoka Kaname's Spellcard inflicts, was to remind me of who I really am."

"What? That's it, ze? How's that supposed to hurt?" Marisa asked, incredulousness written all over her face.

"Do you like being called the Starlight Berzerker? Do you revel in that title, and the destruction for which it stands?"

"Hell no! I hate it!"

"And what if you were to change your mind? What if you did something so foul, so profoundly wrong, that you would have to bury Marisa Kirisame in the ashes of the past and let her name never be spoken again in order to go on living?" Yukari stood there with her half a smile in place as her audience tried to decipher her message for a minute. "That was very clever, by the way, using the Seeds of Non-Identification to hide Ran. I'll be going now. Do enjoy your evening." A gap formed before either Reimu or Marisa could say anything, and then the Border Youkai was gone.

"Why do I feel like I just got swindled?" Reimu asked, bitterly.

"Spellcards, huh? Were you really not trying to kill her?"

"No, and yes. I still hoped even when the fight started she could be made to see reason. And besides, a Spellcard will eat up a ward just as well as a killshot."

"If it had come to it, would you have actually thrown the finishing blow, ze? Much as I don't like her, I dunno if I could have." Marisa shivered, from more than just the chill of evening.

"May the gods damn me as a coward, but yes. I had briefed Sariel and Mima both; either one of them would have stepped in to do the deed if it came to it." Marisa giggled suddenly, drawing a glare. "What in hell is so funny, if I may ask?!"

"Nothing much, ze. I was just thinking what would have happened if you'd gone all yandere when you found out about me and Alice." Reimu looked at Marisa as though maybe she should be bundled off to the padded room where they stashed people who accidentally looked Reisen in the eye until they became unbent. No, that wouldn't do, by Eirin's standards, she'd never be let out!

"You performed well today." Miko stopped in her tracks and looked at Shou, as if looking for proof that the tiger youkai was really who she appeared to be, and that she had actually spoken the words Miko had heard. Then the Taoist looked over her shoulder to see who Shou was actually addressing, but there was no one else in the hallway."I would of course have preferred to be at Milady's side in the battle, but I understand the reasons behind her commands."

"D-does that mean you're going to stop sharpening your bloody spear all night?"

"That depends . . . on your intentions." Miko looked at Shou in confusion; she could hear what the tiger youkai wanted, but her powers didn't help make the desires of others make sense.

"I'm not giving up my Way, if that's what you're after," grumbled the reanimated princess in reply.

"Good. It is better to have an honest argument than dishonest agreement."

"If you say so," replied Miko.

"Milady has done many great things here, and she deserves a turn of good fortune. As long as you continue to be that good fortune, I shall not hinder you any longer." Shou gave a formal if short bow to Miko, then turned and marched away.

". . . bloody-minded furball."

Elsewhere in the halls of Myouren Temple, things were going less smoothly. Nova and Koishi ran into one another in a most literal fashion as both headed for the sleeping quarters Byakuren provided. "You'd think between the two of us, we could have avoided that," muttered Nova, as she picked herself up off the floor. Koishi offered a hand to help the ex-Incubator to her feet, but then she blurted out, "I'm terribly sorry Nova, but I can't share a room with you." That drew a frown from the white-haired girl, but Koishi pressed a finger to Nova's lips to preemptively silence her.

"I want to get to know you, completely," said Koishi, and there was a weight on "completely" which put Nova's heart on a rollercoaster run once more. "But I just can't yet." Koishi frowned at her Third Eye. "It's been a long time since I last had my Eye open, and in the meantime, I've somewhat forgotten how to use it. It's our curse, you see, because unless you blind it the Third Eye sees the thoughts of everyone around you, all the time. All the time."

"Okay, that sounds a bit rough."

"That's putting it mildly," Koishi replied with a giggle. "I need a little while to get readjusted to how it works, especially since you are also a sensitive. I'm worried that until I learn how to stop seeing what I look at again, we could end up hearing somebody's nightmare and pass it back and forth, and get caught in a feedback loop. It happened once when Satori and I were younger, and let me tell you, it was the most awful thing I've ever experienced."

"Even worse than getting, er, your guts punched out?"

"Wayyy worse. Of course, there are other instances we could use to trigger a feedback loop, and those could be a lot more fun." Koishi licked her lips as she spoke, and Nova suddenly felt that dizzy-giddy feeling return. "Good night, sweet dreams," said Koishi as she sauntered off, leaving the ex-Incubator to lean against the wall, trying to collect her thoughts.

"Are we having fun yet?" Nova looked up at the intrusive voice to see Miko smirking at her. "Romancing a satori, huh? Here I thought I was doing things the hard way!" Miko gave the white-haired girl a comradely clap on the back, but Nova just looked up at the Taoist in utter confusion.

"Er, no, she's Koishi. Satori's her sister." Miko chuckled at that, which only deepened Nova's frown.

"Listen kid, 'Satori Komeiji' is more like a job title than a proper name. Goofy, I know, but that's what you get for being a legendary creature out of myth."

"Okayyy . . . Anyway, is there something I can do for you?" Miko just chuckled, and Nova swallowed hard. It felt a little bit like being caught between Kyoko and a buffet line.

"Well first, you can learn to say 'bugger off' if that's what you mean to say. But no, I want to know what I can do for you." Miko lifted her earmuffs slightly. "These aren't just a crackin' good fashion accessory- they help me filter out all your noisome desires that you lot are constantly shouting out."

"Congratulations?" replied Nova. Miko just sighed.

"Do you have to sign away your brain to get one of those contracts? You have a girlfriend who won't sleep with you because her power lets her sense too much. I made a device that filters out sensory powers. Do you want me to teach you how to make one for her or not?!"

"Oh. Oh! Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" Nova nearly dropped to her knees to beg for help from the semi-tamed Taoist. "But . . . what do you want from me in return?"

"What indeed. Can you tell the red oni and blue oni to tone it down a bit? They're damn handy in a scrap, but let them alone in a room too long and the things I start hearing . . . makes me want to take a shower, with a steel-wool loofa." Nova chuckled at the complaint.

"Try being empathicly linked with them 24/7."

"And it took you until today to snap? You're better than I first thought."

"Uh thanks, I think." replied Nova.

"Homura-chan . . . " Homura looked up to see a faraway expression upon Madoka's face. "I'm sorry, for what happened today. A-and starting tomorrow, I promise I'll get better. I can practice with Sakuya and the others and get stronger, so stuff like that doesn't happen-" Time ground to a halt as Homura drew upon her power without even manifesting her full kit. She vaulted across the futon which lay in the middle of the small guest room and let time return to its' normal course just in time to place a warning finger upon Madoka's lips.

"Don't say such a thing! You stay just how you are."

"But, Homura-"

"But me no buts! So you made a mistake today. Yes I could have lost you, and I can't guarantee that we will always be able to cheat death as we have so far. But I will not have you walking down the same path I took." Homura paused to wipe her eyes before continuing. "If you do that, you will be just as lost as if you had been killed!"

"I'm sorry."

"Please, don't be sorry, just be yourself. If I learned anything from this horrible day, that is it. I overturned the hourglass again, thinking that I had to get you back. Instead, I found that I needed you, all of you in this world we've made together, rather than any other set of bodies wearing the same faces." Homura let out a bitter laugh. "Back when this cycle first went out of control, Kyoko said some horrible things to me, about how I treated everyone. And as ashamed as I am to admit it, I've proven her right. I had hoped I was better than that. If anything, I should be apologizing. I've caused nothing but misery this entire time-" Now it was Homura's turn to be silenced by a finger placed to her lips.

"83 years. That's how long 1000 months is, Homura-chan. The habits that kept you safe all that time won't just go away in a few months, and I'll smack anyone who says they should!"

"Thank you," replied Homura with a smile. "As ever, you come to my rescue when I need it most. Now however, I would like to get some sleep. Today has been one hell of a long day!"

The morning light found Mami already awake and busy in the Temple's expansive kitchen, alongside Youmu. Both girls had entered the facility at the same time, drawn by similar impulses; the both of them were early risers and each had a monstrously big eater to provide for. After a momentary staring contest, the two of them mentally divided up the kitchen and each got to work on half of breakfast.

Now there would be a useful skill, thought Mami as she watched Youmu at work. The blonde gunner was admiring her counterpart's facility with a blade as Youmu ever-so-casually flipped an umeboshi into the air and then Hakurouken left its' sheath in a blur, and only perfect thin slices of pickle made it down to the serving platter. If I were Kyoko, I would probably try something stupid and showy to one-up her, like try to cook the rice with a Tiro Finale, and wouldn't that be a mess! Mami stirred the soup she was cooking and then took a sip of tea, simply enjoying the peaceful harmony of a well-run kitchen. Predictably, fate chose that moment to fling a wrench into the works.

"Reeeiiiimmmmmuuuuuu! Help! Quickly!" The scream rocked the guest quarters, and the Puella Magi were doubly inundated, for it was Cirno who was shouting to wake the dead and in her panic she was broadcasting through the empathic link as loudly as her voice. Cirno braked hard in the air in front of Reimu's door just in time for the door to bang open and a hand to seize the ice fairy by the throat.

"Reimu, if you bring that pest through the door at this unmerciful hour, I shall incinerate you both," came the voice of Remilia, thick with sleep. The spear Gungir waved uncertainly from beneath a mound of blankets to emphasize the Scarlet Devil's point. Reimu spared not a glance for the threat, instead reserving the full strength of her glare for Cirno, who went paler and colder than usual under the shrine maiden's withering gaze.

"I-it's Charlotte! She's bleeding out the, er, from the inside! What do I do? You gotta help, it sounds like she's dying!" Reimu's glare turned to something along the lines of disbelief, and for a moment her hand twitched upon the ice fairy's throat in time with the nervous tic in her eyelid. Then Reimu dumped Cirno on the floor and set off down the hall, pulling her robe tight as she did so. By now, the whole of the guest wing, if not the whole of Myourin Temple was aware of a problem, if not exactly what, and heads were popping out of doors. One white-haired head in particular caught the shrine maiden's attention.

"You!" Reimu thrust an accusing finger at Nova. "I would have thought your contract would have disposed of problems like this!" When she got a blank stare in response, Reimu clenched her jaw to keep from grinding her teeth to dust and counted to 20, then outlined the problem in quick, uncompromising terms.

"Oh. No, by default we don't alter any of the contractee's biological functions. It's possible a Puella Magi to alter the, er, factory settings, but they have to do that themselves."

"Well that's useless. I get better benefits than that just for being linked with the Yin-Yang Orb."

"Yes, well, our philosophy was not to alter things more than what's absolutely necessary. Sudden changes do not work well with the, shall we say, emotionally vibrant people who make good Puella Magi candidates. Sayaka went into a killing rage and then suicidal depression just learning that I'd moved her soul into a more secure location, I can't imagine what would've happened if we'd started outright editing their bodies."

"I suppose you have a point." Reimu rapped gently on the door, which stood only half-closed from Cirno's mad dash. "Hello, Charlotte? Are you in there?"

"Is she dead yet?" came a growl from a corner of the room.

"Not yet, no."

"Good. Make sure she stays that way for a while. I call 'dibs' on beheading her. Arrgh!" Reimu was unsure if the peach-haired girl was crying out in rage or from the same pain that just made her double over. Nova leaned against the wall in the hallway, looking at the now-closed door as if it could tell her whether or not she was actually dismissed. The door was not thick enough, however, to contain the noise as Charlotte howled "This is gonna happen every month?!" followed by profanities that would make even Kyoko blush, at which point Nova slunk away. If any deities happened to take offense, the ex-Incubator wanted to be nowhere near the point of impact.

If the morning had started off poorly, it got worse when excited mutters led Reimu to the main hall. "Just what is all this?" asked the shrine maiden, but only as a conversational gambit- there were only so many things that could be happening with a bunch of baskets tied up with cloths sitting at the feet of Yukari Yakumo, none of which were good in Reimu's opinion.

"Why, we're packing for a picnic! I thought we could all have a nice excursion Outside, and bond with our new friends over tea and cakes. I hope you didn't outlaw that lovely tradition anywhere in the Compact, or I might regret signing on." The cheerful expression on the face of the Border Youkai was enough to make Reimu want to punch her.

"(Hey, at least she gave you one evening before butting in and taking over. That's gotta be some kinda record, ze!)" whispered Marisa, who approached Reimu dressed in a poofy blouse, vest, and trousers that looked like they could pass for Outside wear, in her trademark black-white scheme. Looking around, it appeared the picnic plan was popular, judging by the amount of food which had been packed. Even if she invites Yuyuko, that's enough for quite a gathering.

"Okay, but why?"

"Reimu Hakurei, has no one taught you not to ask useless questions?" The reply came not from Yukari, but from Koishi Komeiji, who sauntered up to the gathering as if dancing to a song only she could hear and humming along. "You know that one will never give you a straight answer, not if her throat was actually in the noose. But of course there are ways of actually finding out . . ." Koishi gave Yukari a smile which quickly turned predatory. "Ahh, you think you can block me, how cute. Sis has spoiled you, I see. Oh my! I didn't think even a kitsune could perform such an act without dying of shame, or possibly internal bleeding!"

"What? How dare you!" Yukari flushed scarlet and aimed a glare that had tamed gods upon the errant satori, but it failed to dislodge the smirk on Koishi's face.

"I win again! Really Yukari, you can't even maintain your composure in the face of a little teasing? Or your barriers either? Pathetic. And as for your plans . . . oh dear. Well, that would explain some things. Do not worry, I won't tell them why you thought the way you did, but only because I didn't delve that deep. I am soiled enough with just what little I saw of your mind.

"No, I won't apologize, and no you won't get anything on me by whining to Reimu or trying to twist Satori-oneesama's arm with that silly scrap of paper you signed. Someone has to keep you in check, you sick, vile thing. I don't know how you knew this Incident was going to happen before the instigator herself knew, or was even Human, nor do I understand this burning need to have the Puella Magi under your dominion, but I don't really care. Yes, I did confront you in public precisely so others could hear, so you need not try to deny with your liar's tongue what your unguarded anger shows to be true. And you will not cause any of them harm by action or inaction, and the same goes for my sister and her pets, do you understand?"

"Are you threatening me?" asked Yukari, with as much amazement as anger.

"No, I am ordering you. There's a difference. If you try and harm any of them, I will rip out your entrails and hang you with them, right in the main square of the Human Village so all can see you thrash out your end, that would be a threat. Now did anyone remember to pack the pickles and peanut butter?" Koishi turned and began rummaging through the picnic supplies, as though a confrontation with the woman who could still make a claim to being the most powerful being in Gensokyo was of no more importance than tending to some peculiar eating habits. Sighing in frustration, Koishi wandered off in the direction of the kitchens, grumbling about the situation as if no one else was present.

"D-did that just happen? Am I really here, or did Remi knock me over the head when I went to answer the door?" Reimu stared in the direction the carefree girl had gone with shock upon her face, a popular choice of expression for everyone in the room.

"What am I supposed to have done now?" asked Remilia, who had only arrived in time to catch Reimu's outburst.

A hasty knock on his door gave Captain Daichi Miki barely a chance to look up before the door opened to admit the desk officer for the current shift into his office. The young man was unsettled, scared even, which did not bode well in the mind of the White Knight.

"T-there's, er, someone to see you at the front. I think you might need-"

"It's okay, Tarada-kun. I will handle the situation. Go get a coffee."

"Yes, sir!" replied the young officer, buoyed by his Captain's confidence. Now, if only someone could provide the same for me, thought Daichi as he contemplated what might have spooked his man. No, that's unworthy. I should not wear these stripes upon my uniform if I am not willing to wear the responsibility likewise. Even so, what awaited the Captain in the meeting room off the front desk was enough to make him weak at the knees.

"Greetings, Captain," said the figure, who appeared to be carved from living shadow. The figure was quite familiar to Daichi, if not welcome.

"I wish to arrange a . . . plea bargain, you might say." said the Overseer. Can I trust it? thought Captain Miki as he looked over the Overseer's ebon visage for any hint as to its' intentions. Do I have a choice?

"Very well. Tell me what you have to offer."