Chapter 19

All things considered, Mami was taking the news better than she had the last time.

Alright, maybe that was unfair to the Mami in Flick's universe. Still, Flick had learned the truth at the same time as Mami back then. Mami's reaction had been to tie Flick up in her ribbons and try to shoot her soul gem. Only Homura's actions had saved her back then.

So yeah, even though Mami had tied almost everyone up in her ribbons, at least she was giving Flick a chance to prove herself before shooting anyone. The only problem was that Flick had no way to prove she was telling the truth in that moment.

"I can teach you the spell," Flick said slowly. Between her, Yachiyo, and Kanagi, they could probably take Mami down if needed. Even so, Flick wanted to avoid a fight if possible.

Everyone else remained silent as Flick tried to appease Mami. None of them wanted to draw her attention when she was this unstable.

"How long would that take?" Mami demanded. A rifle was in her hands, which were trembling. Both Yachiyo and Kanagi had their own weapons pointed at her. "Days? What if one of us becomes a Witch before then?"

"You're safe in Kamihama," Flick reiterated. "There's time for you to come to a decision."

Mami shook her head. "No. I need to know right now that we can be saved."

Flick grimaced. "If I could use magic myself, I would show you. I can have one of you cast an easier spell, but . . ."

"If I may." Mitama spoke up. Everyone turned in her direction. "If a demonstration of the spell is all you need, I could always perform it."

"Huh?" Flick blinked. For someone who had never cast magic before, utilizing a spell as complicated as that shouldn't have been possible for Mitama. It was one of the first lessons any Heretic learned—magic was not fast. Unless Mitama had sat through hours of lessons like Flick—

Wait.

"Your magic," Flick said. "You can look into my memories to see how the spell is done."

"Exactly." Mitama smiled. "Now, Miss Tomoe, if you wouldn't mind releasing me so I can provide you with your proof?"

Mami bit her lip, but in the end, she let Mitama go. Mitama sent her a smile, then walked over to Flick. "May I?" she asked.

Flick nodded, and Mitama got to work, peering through her memories. The sensation of having her soul examined was cold, but not terribly so. Flick bore it for the minute that it took for Mitama to closely study her memories of the spell.

Mitama hummed. "I see . . . so you push your magic like that . . . I think I've got this."

"Are you sure?" Flick asked.

Mitama waved off her concern. "I specialize in adjusting soul gems. This shouldn't be a problem."

By now, the remaining bound Magical Girls were starting to get restless. Sayaka opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. Kyoko only glared at Mami, more than aware of how dangerous her power could be. Homura and Madoka were focused on each other. No doubt both were thinking of how they could protect one another.

That left Mifuyu and Kuroe. Mifuyu shifted in place, given no choice but to wait and see if the others could diffuse the situation. Kuroe, on the other hand, was staring intently at Mitama.

"If you know how to use the spell, then test it on me," she said, drawing everyone's attention. She shifted under their gazes. "You said the spell has to be used on someone with less magic than the caster, right? I probably fit that description more than anyone else here."

"Well, let's see if that is the case," Mitama said. She walked over to the spot where Kuroe was hanging from. Though ribbons covered most of her body, her soul gem was exposed. Mitama placed a hand on it, eliciting a shiver from the girl.

Flick looked over to where Mami was. Thankfully, she had lowered the gun a few inches, probably without realizing. Yachiyo and Kanagi had gotten closer to her without being noticed, ready to disable her if she snapped. Flick sent them a nod of gratitude.

"This should work," Mitama said. "Shall I begin?"

"Please," Kuroe said.

Mitama closed her eyes, keeping her hand on Kuroe's soul gem. Under her hand, the gem started to glow, alongside Mitama's own. Magic began to leak out of Mitama's soul gem and into Kuroe's.

The rest of the room watched with bated breath. All of them were praying for the spell to work, for all sorts of different reasons. Whatever the result was, it would shape the future of Kamihama. Or rather, of this entire universe.

Finally, there was enough energy in Kuroe's soul. All Mitama had to do was draw the rune on her body, and activate the spell. Flick didn't have a spell engraver, but Mitama had a marker which she used as a substitute.

"Does this look right, Flick?" she asked.

Flick walked over and examined the rune. "Perfect."

"In that case," Mitama said. "Kimifina."

With that word, the spell activated, bright enough that Flick had to cover her eyes. The glow lasted for only a few seconds, though, before it faded entirely.

"D-did it work?" Sayaka spoke up.

"I . . ." Kuroe frowned. "I can still transform."

"That's normal," Flick said. "Your soul gem is powered by pure magical energy now. When it runs out, it will break, and you won't be able to transform anymore. That's all."

Well, the situation was a bit different for Witches who had their souls returned to them. They still had to protect their soul gems or risk dying. For these girls, though, that shouldn't be a factor.

"Feel your magic," Flick said. "There was a deep, intimate connection before. That shouldn't be in place anymore."

"It . . . does feel a bit different," Kuroe said. "I can't describe it, but it feels less overwhelming when I look inside my soul gem."

Flick smiled. "Then the spell worked."

Those words might as well have been a massive sigh of relief. Following them, Mami retracted all of the ribbons, freeing everyone.

"What happens if she walks away from her soul gem?" Sayaka asked.

"She'll be perfectly fine," Flick assured her.

"I don't know who I would trust to test that with," Kuroe said. "Except . . . Madoka, you take it."

"Eh?" Madoka jumped. "Why me?"

"You wouldn't try anything with it," Kuroe said. "I don't think you're capable of intentionally hurting someone."

"O-okay." Madoka stepped forward and took Kuroe's soul gem.

"A hundred meters, right?" she asked.

"That's right," Homura said. "I'll go with you."

No surprise there. If nothing else, Flick expected Homura would be staying in Kamihama to learn the spell as quickly as possible. Any tool that could help her protect Madoka, she would acquire as quickly as possible.

A tense silence remained in the room while the two girls were gone. No one quite knew what to say. Between the revelations, the argument, and now the hope they were all feeling, everyone was afraid of speaking.

That changed when Madoka and Homura returned.

"We were definitely further than 100 meters from this building," Homura said. "The spell . . . worked." She looked stunned.

"Holy crap," Kyoko muttered. "I call being next!"

"I'm afraid my magic isn't that powerful," Mitama said. "But Flick here is willing to teach everyone the spell. Right, Flick?"

Flick nodded. "It will take some time, but now you've seen the result."

Kuroe took her soul gem back from Madoka. "I'm free." She said the words as if she had trouble believing them. "I no longer have to fight."

"I'm ready to learn!" Sayaka proclaimed. "After what Kyubey did . . ." She glowered. "I'm going to give that rat a piece of my mind the next time I see him."

"What about the Magius?" Madoka asked. "You said they're raising Witches to save Magical Girls?"

"They are," Flick said. "Will you help us stop them?"

"Of course," Madoka said. "I can't stand by while innocent Magical Girls are suffering!"

Homura frowned at her words, but didn't speak up. Another difference between her and the Homura that Flick knew. If she were Flick's Homura, she would have demanded Madoka stay out of danger.

"What about you, Mami?" Flick asked. Mami was frozen in place, staring into the distance.

"I . . ." she finally spoke up. "I'm sorry. For before. Please, let me help you."

Flick grinned. "Don't worry about it. It all worked out in the end.

"Now, let's get to work on teaching you all that spell."

"Homura? What's wrong?"

Homura forced away the thoughts plaguing her mind, showing Madoka a smile.

"It's nothing. I'm still in shock, is all."

Madoka smiled back. "It was a lot to take in, huh?"

Hours had passed, and the Mitakihara Magical Girls had returned home. They had gone their separate ways, with Homura walking Madoka to her house.

This is it. The final timeline.

Homura would make sure of it. This was her best shot at saving Madoka from her fate. Not only that, but if she helped the Magical Girls of Kamihama, they might help fight Walpurgisnacht.

I have to save Madoka, no matter what. Homura wanted Madoka to remain safe until the rest of them had the spell down. Between all of them, they should be able to fix her soul. Except Madoka wanted to put herself in danger by fighting the Magius, all to help Magical Girls they had just met.

Enough timelines had passed for Homura to be more than familiar with Madoka's caring side. No matter what Homura said, Madoka wouldn't back down from helping those in need. All Homura could do was help her.

That in mind, she stopped as they reached the door to Madoka's house. "We'll be returning to Kamihama tomorrow, right?" she asked.

Madoka nodded. "I want to practice the spell more. And maybe help, if they'll let me."

"Madoka, I . . ." Homura looked away, before meeting Madoka's eyes. "Promise me you won't get hurt."

"Homura?"

"Please. The thought of something happening to you, it . . ." her eyes watered, "it scares me."

Homura yelped as a pair of arms wrapped around her. Hearing that, Madoka squeezed just a bit tighter.

"You're so kind, Homura-chan," Madoka whispered. "I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

"I . . ."

"We'll get through this together," Madoka said.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Madoka released her. "See you tomorrow."

"R-right. See you tomorrow." With that, they parted ways. Homura walked away from the Kaname household, taking slow, deliberate steps.

Those steps gradually sped up, and before long, Homura was running. Buildings blurred around her, as the stars shone brightly above. A look of determination was plastered on Homura's face the whole sprint. Her destination was not her apartment. In fact, she ran right by it on her path.

She was gasping by the time she reached the train station, but she didn't stop. She stepped inside the train bound for Kamihama, her mind racing all the while.

I promise, Madoka. This time, I will save you.

The Coordinator's building was dark, and Homura wondered if she should have waited after all. Chances were, no one would be there to greet her.

That was Homura's assumption, except she saw a familiar head of blonde hair by the entrance of the building.

"I figured you would show up," Felicity Chambers said, stepping into the light.

"I . . ." Homura shuffled her feet. Now that it was just the two of them, she wasn't sure what to say.

"You want to keep practicing the spell, right?" Felicity asked.

"I-I do," Homura said. "I'm sorry if I'm inconveniencing you."

Felicity shook her head. "Not at all. As long as you're willing to learn, I can keep teaching you."

"Thank you." Homura stared at her feet. She jumped when Felicity placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Like I said, it's not a problem." She led Homura away from the building. "Come on, Mifuyu said I can use her apartment tonight while she stays at Yachiyo's place. We'll have it all to ourselves. I do want to get some sleep, though. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day."

"Are you going after a Rumor tomorrow?" Homura asked. Mifuyu had explained the concept behind the Rumors as they were practicing part of the spell.

"Yeah," Felicity said. "Mifuyu's going to give us the details in the morning."

"Let me help!" Homura said. She flushed when Felicity turned her way. "I . . . want to protect someone. I don't want them to put themselves in danger."

Felicity smiled. "I appreciate it, Homura. And I'm sure Madoka does as well."

Homura's face was beat red. "I never said—"

"You made it obvious." Felicity chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you, Felicity."

"Call me Flick."

"Alright . . . Flick, then."

"There we go," Flick said. "Come on, let's get to Mifuyu's."