Chapter 31

The Realm Eternal

Oh my god what's happening?! Madoka was both terrified and fascinated. She was flying rapidly in a pillar of light through what appeared to be space. Stars, nebulae and planets all rushed past her, barely giving her time to notice them before they were swept aside by the next sight. She looked up to see a blinding light growing ever closer, until it enveloped her. Madoka closed her eyes, and then suddenly felt solid ground beneath her. She stumbled, before regaining her balance.

When she opened her eyes, standing before her was a tall black man wearing a suit of golden armor. He was standing on a pedestal, gripping a sword that as plunged into it.

"Welcome to Asgard." He said.

"Good to be back, Heimdall." Thor answered.

"Might I ask who your guests are?"

"I am Ramuh, Esper of Storms and Knowledge."

"I'm Madoka Kaname." She said, bowing.

"Interesting."

"I apologize for the suddenness of this request, but it is imperative that we speak with the Allfather."

"I have already sent word to the palace of this. He will be expecting you. A transport should be waiting at the other end of the Bifrost."

"Good. Thank you. Madoka, let's get moving."

"Right!" Madoka stepped out of the portal chamber, and then gasped, dropping the phone to a startled "Ow!" From Ramuh.

Asgard was beautiful! It was a city that seemed to combine medieval style architecture with futuristic technology. Towering golden, castle-like buildings were traveled between by flying vehicles. Massive statues dotted the area, depicting ancient warriors. She looked down to see that she was standing on a rainbow bridge. It glowed radiantly as it shifted between the colors. Beneath the bridge was a sea of crystal clear water, all leading to a massive waterfall that seemed to run off into space. The entirety of Asgard was on a massive floating island!

It was then that she remembered that she had dropped her phone.

"S-sorry! So sorry!" She said as she hastily picked it up and dusted it off. It was thankfully undamaged, and Ramuh's hologram quickly reappeared.

"It is no problem. Asgard is a beautiful city. Perhaps even more beautiful than it was when I was last here a few centuries ago."

Oh right. Ramuh was really old. Well, he looked really old (and Madoka felt guilty about thinking that), but that wasn't it. Thor looked like someone in his late twenties, and yet according to Ramuh, he was about 1500 years old. The others had to be of similar ages, making her curious. It was so interesting, though it also seemed rude to ask.

"You look like you want to say something, don't you? What is it?"

"Um..." Madoka stuttered. "It's n-nothing."

"It's certainly not nothing. Come now, speak your mind. It might be uncomfortable, but it's better to let air to these thoughts rather than become mired in regrets. Knowledge requires one to seek it out."

Madoka took a deep breath. "How old are you?"

Ramuh paused for a moment.

"S-sorry!" She said.

"Don't be. I see age as a mark of pride. And to answer your question, I'm not entirely sure myself. As I said before, we Espers are concepts given Heart and Body. I am Ramuh, Esper of Storms and Knowledge. In truth, I know not the exact moment of my birth. Very few of our kind do. But I have lived uncounted eons since, so many that even I have lost count. I remember the First World, the Keyblade War and the Worlds that came after. And before you ask, yes, I was born this old." The Esper then chuckled.

Madoka tried to wrap her head around that. Thor was 1500 years old. Ramuh was so many many many times older than that. To live that long… to be aware of that much time. "How does that even work? I keep trying to comprehend that and… I come up… well… short."

More questions burned through her mind. "You've met a lot of people… but inevitably outlived many of them. You've had friends right? Mortal friends?"

"I have known many over the course of my existence."

"But… won't you outlive them? How do you cope with that? So many friends lost in what must be the blink of an eye to you."

"We Espers are not alone among each other, and I do have friends among my own kind. But I also value my interactions with mortals no matter how brief they may be. Mortality brings with it a perspective that we immortals are often lacking in. Things like urgency, minor scale understandings, appreciations for the small details and so forth. They are an immense source of knowledge, even if from my perspective, such unions can only be brief. Though I may only know them for a short time, I would rather keep moving forwards. I may mourn their losses, but I see it better to have embraced those bonds, however brief, rather than deny them. Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, as they say."

"I suppose it helps that even then, you have people like you who you can relate to. People who have been around as long as you have. People who can understand what you experience.." Madoka frowned, deep in thought. Strange feelings were coursing through her. She felt… loneliness? Longing? Regret? But why?

"Well, not all of us are the same age." Ramuh continued, not having noticed Madoka's change in mood. "We are born from concepts, and not all concepts arise at once. The World is ever changing and growing. New concepts may be born from that evolution, and from those new concepts, new Espers can form to embody them. There's always more knowledge out there to seek." Ramuh said, smiling. "New Espers can even arise from mortals. There have been a few mortal beings that have ascended to divinity in the past, like Gilgamesh, or Alexander or Golem..."

"Mortals attaining divinity? How would you do that?" Madoka asked suddenly. An odd sensation of Déjà Vu washed over her. As if she already knew the answer before she asked the question.

Ramuh's smile faded as his eyes widened. He then looked forwards. "Oh, would you look at that? Our ride is here!"

And like that, the sensation was gone, so completely that Madoka wondered if she had just imagined it. She followed his gaze, to see that they had arrived at the other side of the bridge. Waiting there was what appeared to be a viking longboat. Save that it was made of metal and currently floating a few inches off the ground.

"Wow!" She rushed forwards. The side opened and a ramp emerged, ushering her, Thor and Sif into the ship, where pilot urged them to take a seat. In short order, the longboat took off into the skies, flying through the city.

Madoka couldn't help but gawk at everything she passed. The city looked beautiful from a distance, but also even more stunning up close. Each of the buildings was intricately designed in a way that captured the attention, drawing the eye from one wondrous design to the next, staring in sheer awe at the towering structures made of glass and gold, the beautiful gardens and astonishing works of art. Statues, sculptures, fountains, and so many more.

Then she looked forwards.

The palace towered over all the other buildings in the area, a massive, elegant, complex comprised of countless golden towers all combined together into an immense and stunning castle, a beautiful design that left her speechless.

This almost didn't feel real. Here she was, in a divine city, keeling before a god-king in a castle. It was too much, and Madoka kept worrying that she would make some mistake, or say something wrong. As she was kneeling, she was worried she'd lose her balance, and slip and make a fool of herself. She tried to breath to calm herself down, though it wasn't working that well, and now she probably sounded like she was hyperventilating.

She attempted to distract herself by looking around the throne room. Her attention was drawn to a sort of mural on the ceiling. A beautifully painted depiction various Norse gods, with halos around them. It was fascinating to look at, and slightly hypnotic, as due to some sort of magic, the images moved slightly.

Eventually, Madoka managed to tear her gaze away from the mural, and found herself looking at Odin himself. The god was an elderly man with a white beard in armor and a red cape, similar to his son's, with a metal patch over one eye. He sat on a golden throne flanked by two statues of wolves, and a spear leaned next to him.

It appeared that Thor and Sif's report was nearing its conclusion.

"…and so, the Marauders have withdrawn from all major villages, and retreated to their ships, currently leaving Vanaheim. With the defeat of their leader, those strange creatures they were fielding seem to have abandoned them. It's highly doubtful that the Marauders will strike again anytime in the near future."

"Well done, my son. A victory well earned." Odin said. "You are dismissed for now, I wish to speak with this newcomer."

Thor and Sif nodded, and departed.

Then, Odin turned his one-eyed gaze to Madoka as she rose. Though standing she suddenly felt small, very small. Here she was, an unremarkable girl of 16 standing before a god in their own throne room. What did she say, what did she do? She was keenly aware that she was most likely not looking her best, coming off of crashing a ship and then getting engaged in a battle. She was likely all sweaty and her hair was a mess and her clothes were probably dirty and… she was suddenly aware that Odin was talking to her. And she hadn't noticed!

"...name? Speak up, child."

"Uh… uh… m-my name is Saya… wait no... that is… Maname… n-n-n-no, sorry, it's M-Madoka Kaname. Um… your majesty!" Madoka instantly bowed so that the upper part of her body was parallel to the floor.

"Well met, Lady Kaname. I heard you were crucial in the battle in Vanaheim."

"Oh it's nothing, I'm not really that good." Madoka said. Strangely, those words came easier. She wasn't sure what to feel about that.

"Nonsense. Thor and Sif both spoke very highly of you."

"Really?" Madoka asked. She hadn't been paying that much attention to their conversation, being too lost in her own thoughts.

"Rise, Lady Kaname."

Madoka obeyed, now standing stock straight like a soldier.

Odin chuckled. "It is fine to be at ease, girl."

Madoka breathed a sigh of relief as she relaxed.

"I must say, it's been a long time since a Key Bearer has stood before me in this World. And to come accompanied by an Esper as well."

Madoka felt her phone vibrating, and then the hologram of Ramuh appeared, floating over Madoka's shoulder.

"Indeed, it has been a while, Lord Odin." Ramuh said.

"Come out. I would speak to you in person." Odin said.

"Wait..." Madoka asked, getting at what odin was saying. "You want me to summon him?"

"Indeed."

Madoka took out her gummiphone. This would be the first time she summoned an Esper knowing what she was doing. What if she messed it up?

"Don't worry, you'll do fine." Ramuh said quietly.

Madoka nodded and activated the app. Immediately, the phone began to crackle with electricity. That lightning emerged from the device and shaped itself into a crackling magic circle. As she did so, words came to her lips.

"I call you, Esper of Storms and Knowledge, by the circle, and by my will! Ramuh, the Elder Justiciar, come forth at my command!"

The lightning converged in the center of the circle, transforming into a bright yellow light, that took on a humanoid form.

When the light faded, Ramuh now stood in the room, crackling with electricity. He looked different to how he previously appeared. Now, he had dark skin, was balding and had a long mustache. He wore orange robes.

"Ahh… it's good to stretch." The Esper said. "And it's good to see you again, Lord Odin. It's been far too long."

"I must say, your arrival was most unexpected. And with a Key Bearer in tow as well."

"I do apologize for the sudden intrusion in your domain. It was not by our own choice that we are here. We had our own destination we were traveling towards, the city of Radiant Garden, only to be waylaid. We wound up here, scattered, separated from our companions."

"What caused this?"

"Heartless."

"They have even intruded into this World, much to my chagrin." Odin said.

"We've noticed." Ramuh said. "Though even I must question the attack. I did not believe our enemies knew where we were, and the routes we were to take were believed to be clear of obstructions, and yet, a powerful Heartless like that just shows up… it concerns me."

"How?" Madoka asked.

Both Odin and Ramuh turned towards her, making her flinch slightly. However they turned back towards each other, exchanging glances.

Finally, Odin spoke. "Child, please, who are your companions?

"Sayaka Miki. She has blue hair and eyes. Kyoko Sakura, she's a redhead with red eyes. Mami Tomoe, she's older than the rest of us and is blonde, and Nagisa Momoe, she's eleven and has white hair."

"Hmm… I will send their descriptions to Heimdall, and have him begin searching for them. It may take some time as they are not a part of this World."

"Thank you."

"Lady Kaname. You are victorious in battle. Such a victory should be honored with revels. Such a feast is currently being held to celebrate the end of the conflict. Why not join them in the feast hall?" Odin said.

"Um… what about you, Ramuh?"

"I would stay and converse with Lord Odin here. There is much we must discuss. Nothing you need concern yourself over."

"Oh… okay." Madoka said.

Despite the fact that Madoka had detected no means of calling them, two palace guards entered the room, directing Madoka to her destination.

The first thing Mami noticed upon rising to consciousness was how dry her mouth was. She was thirsty. She attempted to open her eyes, only to immediately close them as a bright light shone in, painful to look at. She tried to move, but she barely could. She felt so weak. Then, she heard the sounds of conversation.

"So how many are left?"

"A big chunk got captured. Probably off to Asgard's dungeons now."

"Huh, shame."

"Well, they were idiots, sticking around like that after it was clear that the Bifrost was fixed. Served that dumbass Kronan right getting chunked by Thor. I was always a better fit anyways."

"So what now?"

"We pull the fuck out. Get out of dodge before those golden assholes start chasing us. We've got a decent enough haul. Plenty to stash, plenty to trade, goods and prisoners."

"Where though?"

"Hmm… I know a guy at Knowhere."

"Wait, where?"

"Ha ha. I'll put in the coordinates, smartass."

"No seriously… where?"

The rest of their conversation was difficult to hear. Mami's head was swimming, and soon lost consciousness.

Madoka had always felt out of place, never really belonging anywhere she went. Now, however, that feeling was perhaps at its worst ever. Here she was, a 16 year old girl sitting at a feast table with Norse gods. She was still wearing her street clothes, a simple jacket, tube top, miniskirt and thigh-high stockings, while the Aesir were variously clothed in fancy tunics, robes, and even armor.

A lute and drums were being played somewhere in the distance, filling the hall with music, while various other Aesir danced. The food being served was delicious, a thick stew made from boar and fish. She had been given a mug of mead as well, though she hadn't touched that.

At the moment, Volstagg was regaling the revelers with tales of the battle, who were captivated even when full of alcohol and food. Even Madoka had to admit that he had a talent for storytelling.

"...cracking under the strain I threw the beast off, but… six more beat me to the ground, crushing my blade as if… as if it were paper!"

Madoka then heard giggling sounds nearby, and turned to see a gaggle of children running into the room. Volstagg immediately perked up, and gestured for them to come closer.

"You're missing the best part!" He said, as a young girl sat upon his lap.

"Now… where was I?"

"You were surrounded." Thor reminded.

"Again!" Fandral said, amused.

"Oh yes, yes, by the most vile criminals the Nine Realms have ever produced. To our left, dark, savage, beasts, with fangs like knives." He said, poking towards his daughter for emphasis, causing her to giggle. "To our right, soldiers of fortune, their blades dripping with blood! And who was there to face the horde? Why, Fandral the Dashing!"

"I was." Fandral said nonchalantly.

"Hogun the Grim, and Volstagg the… uh." He struggled for a title.

"Voluminous?" A woman suggested.

"Fat?" Fandral jibed.

Madoka flinched at these barbs, but Volstagg only seemed amused at the jokes. "...the Invincible!"

"I don't mind telling you, I feared for Thor's life as these villains closed in on me. But just when all hope seemed lost, out of the blue, Madoka emerges!" Madoka immediately froze as Volstagg gestured to her. She tried to say something, but no words would come to her, and now she was certain she was blushing as all eyes turned to her.

"You all should have seen her as she cut a swath through the dark creatures, as brave and fierce as the Valkyries of old! And together, with steely courage, intrepid spirit, and an axe, victory was ours! Cheers for Madoka the Fierce!"

Shouts of encouragement and applause went up all around the room, overwhelming Madoka, and causing her to try and sink into her seat. Fortunately, it didn't last long, as many of them began to take large swigs of mead.

An elderly man in sunglasses sitting near her gestured for her to drink her mead, which she hadn't touched.

"Oh, um… I'm not old enough to drink." Madoka said. The man then snorted as he leaned back in his chair, sipping from his mug.

"Old enough to fight, old enough to drink, if ya ask me, pinky." He said. He then leaned his chair back too far, toppling over, and letting out an anguished. "Excelsior…"

Madoka was worried for a second only to see several others move over to assist him. Relieved, she turned back the mead. She picked up the mug, and then steeled herself, before taking a big swig.

Though she was underage as well, Kyoko had drank beer before (though how she got a hold of it without any proper ID was a mystery), describing it as bitter and gassy. Sayaka had then asked why bother if it wasn't even that good, to which Kyoko had said, "Why not?"

Prepared for distaste, Madoka was pleasantly surprised. The mead was sweet like honey, with a slight hint of spice, mixed with fruit. Not bad at all.

Still conscious that she was young, she ended it there, looking back at the other revelers. Volstagg was currently chugging his drink.

"Truly, a tale for the ages." Thor chuckled.

"No doubt he'll be telling it for that long as well." Fandral said dryly.

"Another!" Volstagg tossed his mug behind him.

More followed suit, the sound of crashing metal and breaking glass filling the room as the Aesir cheered and celebrated. Madoka hesitated, only to see Thor gently lower his mug to the table. Madoka followed suit. Thankfully, the spotlight wasn't on her anymore, and she reclined in her seat, simply relaxing.

Freed from all intruding presences, the two had left the throne room, and now stood upon a balcony, looking over the divine realm of Asgard. There they spoke, not as king and visitor, but Esper and Esper.

"Your arrival in my realm was no coincidence, I fear." Odin said.

"That, I may have to agree with you on." Ramuh said. "Though I cannot fathom the reason."

"An attempt against myself, perhaps? A significant portion of my essence is invested in this realm. A blow against it would have significant repercussions for my greater being within the Feymarch. If only my awareness of other Worlds was not so limited in this state."

"It is a consequence that cannot be helped." Ramuh sad.

"True. Though sending a Key Bearer into my midst. It is a dangerous gambit."

"Surely you do not suspect young Madoka of duplicity?"

"A Keyblade is a powerful device, capable of bringing about both great prosperity and great ruin. A Key Bearer could end this World single-handedly if they felt so inclined. One can never be too cautious with her kind."

"I can vouch for Madoka's integrity and virtue. The girl lacks confidence and conviction, but she has a good Heart. A pure Heart, filled with light."

"The light may be better than the darkness, but it has its own dangers." Odin said. "Though you seem to be strangely invested in this girl. A Princess and Key Bearer she may be, but that in itself is not entirely unheard of. Why, I have heard tell of another existing at this very moment."

"Yes, in fact we were en route to meet with her ourselves. But let's not beat around the bush, and instead address the elephant in the room."

Odin sighed. "The spark of divinity. I can feel it within her. It's faint, and for some reason feels… incomplete, but it's there. What is this girl?"

Ramuh closed his eyes. "Merely a part of a whole."

Odin raised an eyebrow.

"Lord Odin, what I am about to tell you is sensitive information. The Madoka that stood before you, is but a fragment of a greater being, a powerful goddess known as the Law of Cycles."

"A goddess fragmented?" Odin said.

"Indeed. She was split apart by another, a being by the name of Homura Akemi. Some time later, the Heartless came to their world, placing it in peril. The fragment Madoka was chosen by a Keyblade at the time. After several encounters with the Heartless, she came into contact with Homura Akemi again. Just as they were about to clash, I intervened."

"You were observing."

"To some degree. Her divine self called me to her World, seeking knowledge of what was transpiring, unable to intervene as she was."

"That Homura Akemi seems like a right villain."

"It's not so simple as that. The goddess worries for her well being as well." Ramuh sighed. "Now that I think about it, she is almost certain to be upset at me for striking poor Homura in the face with Judgement Bolt."

"Why would she do that, after what this Homura Akemi did to her?"

"Their relationship is… complicated, to put it lightly."

"Ah… divine lover's squabbles." Odin said with a knowing and exasperated sigh. "Much chaos has been wrought from deficits of communication. A tragedy I've seen far too often."

"Indeed, and I hope that such a thing does not ultimately come to pass. But at the moment, we must face the dilemma in front of us."

Odin paused in thought. "The girl. Does she know of her true nature?"

"No. She believes herself to be mortal. In fact, her divine self specifically requested that I not tell her. I agree that it is likely for the best. She may be a potent force for good, but for the time being, she must remain as she is."

"Perhaps, but her presence here does present a severe threat to the security of the realms. If I can sense her divinity, then other Espers clearly can as well. No doubt they will be seeking to take advantage of that pair. Perhaps they already are, if your arrival here was indeed deliberate. Though the identity of the culprit is a mystery all its own. We have many enemies, sadly." Odin then coughed loudly.

"Odin?"

"Unlike you, I am fully manifested into this World, and thus subject to its laws. Here, I was born, I lived, and soon I shall die. I am not strongly gifted with future sight, but I can tell that my end is coming, though I know not the specifics. Whether by age or violence, I am not long for this World. Someday, I must leave this to my heir."

"You mean Thor."

Odin nodded. "I am aware of my failures as a father now. Failures that led my daughter astray. Failures that drove both of my sons against each other."

"I would have more faith in Thor. He's a lot better than the last time I saw him. A bit arrogant and headstrong, but that's nothing compared to how he was when I last saw him centuries ago. He has developed a good, strong, Heart."

Odin sighed. "And that I fear has little to do with my own parenting. He has learned more from his brief sojourns to Midgard than he has from centuries of life in Asgard. Though you are right, my friend, in that I do feel confident in leaving the throne to him."

There was a brief moment of reflective silence, before Ramuh spoke again. "So, about Madoka and her companions."

"I have already pledged Asgard's aid in finding them, and I intend to honor that promise. However, once they are reunited, I must request that you leave my kingdom immediately. Both for my well being, and yours."

"That would be rather hard considering the likely state of the vessel we were traveling in."

"It should be no problem. With the aid of a Keyblade, the Bifrost should be able to send you to Radiant Garden."

"Then we have a plan." Ramuh said.

It was too much.

Madoka was wide awake, contemplating her circumstances. She was lying in a luxury bed, in the castle of a god. The pillows were full of feathers, and the sheets were incredibly soft. The frame seemed to be made of gold. The entire room around her was wonderfully decorated with beautifully detailed carvings on the walls. Countless dangerous looking yet expertly crafted weapons hung from the wall while intricately painted and molded vases dotted the room, many inlaid with gold leaf. Opposite the bed was a vanity beautifully wrought, with the spotless mirror lined with silver and handles of the drawers dotted with gemstones. She was wearing what appeared to be extremely expensive sleepwear that was probably something even more luxurious than silk. And she had just come off from a feast with Norse gods.

Here she was, in the lap of luxury, while her friends were off who knew where. They were possibly struggling for their very lives. And all the while Madoka was partying.

God she was such a horrible person.

Keyblade wielders were supposed to be great figures. Leaders, heroes, champions. Meanwhile, Madoka's quest had already gone so wrong. Ship crashed, friends scattered to the winds, ending up in a World where she stuck out like a sore thumb. Barely out the gate and she had already fallen flat on her face. As usual.

Madoka the Fierce? More like Madoka the Fool.

She held out her hand, and Crystal Clarity formed. She looked at the weapon. Keyblades were supposed to be sapient to a degree, choosing who could and couldn't wield them. Could they make mistakes? Perhaps it had chosen wrong. She certainly didn't feel like someone who should be wielding a Keyblade.

Madoka sighed and sat up. Maybe Kyoko really was right. She was some stupid, sheltered, privileged kid who had never really suffered in her life. Why was she worthy the Keyblade? She had no real idea what she was even doing! She had screwed up nearly everything.

If she had told her parents the truth, then maybe Mama wouldn't have been taken. If she hadn't snuck out to go see Homura, she could have saved Papa and Tatsuya. They were gone and it was entirely her fault. And now, their whole mission had been derailed.

Kyoko had said that Madoka hadn't asked for any of this, but she recalled the dream that led to all of this. The questions she had been asked.

"What do you want most out of life?"

"I want… I want to do something meaningful with my life. Something that makes a difference, something big and important."

Was this really all her fault? She got to live out her fantasies, never mind all the people that had to suffer for those escapist scenarios to even exist. Maybe she really was just some stupid kid, wanting attention, dreaming of things she never deserved.

Madoka stood up, walking across the exquisitely tiled floor, opening the door to step out into a balcony overlooking Asgard. At night, the city was perhaps even more beautiful. Buildings were lit up in a variety of colored lights, making the place shine like the Bifrost, which itself glowed wonderfully in the distance.

Madoka looked up, at the vast reaches of space. It wasn't the True Sky, but it was still immensely beautiful, a view of stars and planets and nebulae in a dazzling array of colors.

But a screwup like her didn't deserve this beauty. She looked down, feeling a pain in her chest, only to notice something lighting up below. It drew her attention, and looking closer, she saw Sif in one of the palace courtyards, practicing sword techniques. Each time she swung her blade lit up, crackling with energy.

Madoka was transfixed as she watched Sif train. She was so skilled, in a way far beyond Madoka could ever imagine herself being, fighting with a speed and grace that was as hypnotic as it was intimidating.

The Asgardians as a whole were amazing. They reminded her of the characters from comic books and manga that she used to love to read. Larger than life heroes who fought for honor and justice. Who always did the right thing, regardless of the dangers. A sort of awesomeness that she could never in her life hope to live up to.

So fascinated was she that she almost didn't notice when Sif had stopped. She was now looking up at her, and gestured for her to come down.

Madoka looked around. Surely it wasn't her she was beckoning? There must be someone else nearby. She looked around, but there was nobody else in sight. Madoka hesitated before finally relenting. She leaped off the balcony, landing in the courtyard. She attempted to land gracefully, but instead stumbled and collapsed, falling on her butt. Of course.

She looked up to see Sif offering her a hand. Madoka graciously took it.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"Um… yes."

"I know the feeling. Too much to think about?"

"Yeah." Madoka admitted.

"Then would you care to join me in training?" Sif asked. "It might help."

"Um… okay. I'm not sure I have much to contribute though." Madoka said, transforming into her costume.

"Nonsense." Sif said. "Regardless, we should keep it simple here, this late. Basic katas. Always good to practice those."

Sif demonstrated a pattern, attack, block, attack, block. She would swing her sword, Madoka would block it with her Keyblade. She'd swing from a different direction and Madoka would block from there. It was simple and slow, allowing Madoka to keep up. Soon, it was a steady rhythm, allowing the two of them to focus on other things.

"I must say, it's nice to have another warrior woman here, even if your stay will be brief." Sif said.

"Um… I'm not really a warrior." Madoka said. "I'm not really that good at anything."

"Really? You must certainly be good at fooling me at least. I saw you in Vanaheim. You were a force to be reckoned with out there."

"I… I shouldn't have even been there in the first place." Madoka answered. "I was only there because things went wrong."

"I've faced losses and setbacks plenty in my life. I've had missions go awry, sometimes due to circumstances outside my control, sometimes due to my own mistakes. It's just how things are sometimes. Even if you give it your all, sometimes, you just won't end up getting what you were hoping for. The world just isn't fair like that. More than likely, it will never be."

Madoka sighed. "I suppose that's true. I don't really have much to offer even trying my best."

"Don't discredit yourself. Even if you acknowledge that you can't make things perfect, it doesn't mean you shouldn't strive for that. That's where heroics come from."

"But… am I really worthy of being a hero? Kyoko says-"

"Who's Kyoko?"

"She's one of my friends. She says I'm not worthy of the Keyblade. I come from a rich family. I've had an easy life. Meanwhile, her family suffered and suffered until they died, despite the fact that they hadn't done anything wrong. They'd tried to help people!"

Sif sighed, stepping back from the exchange. "Suffering is not an objective measure of worth. Someone can suffer and come out stronger for it. However, far more often, I've seen suffering break a person. Harden their Heart and make them close themselves off from the world, rejecting any attempts at help. Don't think that because you haven't suffered through something that you cannot help someone else suffering that way, even if it's just letting them know you care. You have much to offer the world and you do it and more specifically yourself a disservice by believing that you can't."

"Do I? I'm clumsy and stupid. I'm not good at anything. Kyoko's been through a lot more than I-"

"Hmph. Don't discredit yourself so easily. I lived my entire life being told that what I wanted was foolhardy. That I couldn't be a warrior because of my gender. That a woman could not fight as fiercely as a man. In the end I made fools out of them all. From that triumph, other women were inspired and the Valkyrie force was created."

Madoka considered her words. Sif reminded her of Mama, and her constant complaints about how her misogynistic bosses would pass her over for promotions and deals in favor of less deserving people simply because they were men. Even in the face of obvious discrimination, she refused to let them keep her down.

"Compromise where you can. Where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, 'No, you move'."

"That sounds like a quote."

"It was. A brave woman I met on Midgard a few decades ago said that to me. A hero, leading other heroes."

"She sounds amazing." Madoka said.

"She is." Sif replied. "Thus, sometimes, you have to simply trust your own judgement. No matter how skilled you are, if you don't accept that you are really that good, you'll never live up to all the potential you have. They called you Madoka the Fierce. Embrace that title. It's not arrogance, it's confidence. You're stronger than you think you are."

"Um… thanks." Madoka said. She then yawned.

"It looks like this exercise has helped." Sif grinned. "We'll probably be setting out to go find your friends tomorrow. You'll need to be rested for that."

"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks."

"Any time." Sif said.

Madoka leapt back up to the balcony and headed back into her room. After dismissing her costume, she collapsed into the bed and was quickly asleep.

From caverns to cold, Nagisa had no idea how she had even wound up here. One second, she was looking at some sort of red fluid, and now, she was wandering through a frozen wasteland.

She wore her costume. Despite the fact that her midriff was exposed, she felt oddly warmer wearing it over her normal clothes, even though they covered more. In fact, she felt almost feverish.

Her vision flickered, rapidly shifting feelings coming over her. She was hungry. She wanted cheese. But she also felt sad, and giddy, and angry, and confused. Charlotte was…

Wait… Charlotte? What? Her name was Nagisa, wasn't it? Nagisa Momoe, not Charlotte. Right. Where had that come from?

Nagisa Momoe trudged forward through the snow, barely managing to keep her head above the drifts, struggling to stay upright in the driving blizzard. Then, she heard a voice.

"Do you smell something?" The voice was deep.

"Yes, come to think of it… I do. Smells like a Midgarder."

"Here?"

The snow storm abated slightly, the ground shook as she saw a pair of silhouettes approaching. At first, Nagisa thought they might be rescuers. Unfortunately, she was let down. The pair were definitely not human, instead, they were blue skinned giants, covered in ice and rime, with glowing red eyes.

One of them snorted. "Bah! It's only a whelp. A girl-child won't have much meat on her."

"Still might make a good snack." When they opened their mouths, Charlotte could see that their yellow teeth were razor sharp.

Wait… Charlotte? No, she was Nagisa. Why did that name keep popping up in her head?

"Fair enough." One of the giants held out its hand, and a large spear made of ice formed in it's grip. The other followed suit. Nagisa raised her trumpet, prepared to fight.

Fighting them hadn't gone well. Not well at all. Nothing was working. Not her trumpet, not any of her spells. Not even her Gummiphone. Every time she tried, her vision would flicker red.

Now, she was currently running for her life while two giants tried to eat her.

"Don't bother, whelp. You won't get far!" One of the giants taunted. There was the sound of shattering ice as one of them threw an icicle at her and narrowly missed. Nagisa kept running, though she didn't get much further before she was forced to stop, finding herself standing at the edge of a cliff. She desperately tried to find another direction to flee in, only for a large hand to grab her, lifting her up into the air. Nagisa kicked and punched and bit, but the giant didn't even react.

"Let me go!"

"So, I assume were splitting her up the middle, right?" The giant asked.

"Those terms are fair." The other said with a chuckle.

"Alright." The giant said. He grabbed Nagisa's head with his free hand, and was about to twist, only for a sudden surge of fear and adrenaline to surge through her. Then, she felt a horrid sensation come over her, like her skin was crawling, like she wanted to cry. Like every happy memory was starting to gray out. She dimly noticed that the giants grip had loosened. It's expression was hard to read, though it soon transformed into a clear one of fear.

Good…

Despite the fact that they once towered over her, now, they seemed smaller and smaller, as she looked down on them. They were scared. And she was hungry...

Wow, this chapter kept going and going... There were several times where I though I was finished, only to realize that I still had more to say. So enjoy an extra long update.

And thanks to The Name Of Love for beta-reading and idea sounding!

~Dragonexx