Chapter 9
I'd Never Allow That to Happen
You will remember, Kyoko Sakura bore witness to Sayaka Miki's transformation into a witch, following the darkness in her soul gem bursting out and becoming a grief seed, which soon hatched into Oktavia Von Seckendorff, the Mermaid Witch. The sight shocked Kyoko to no end, even as Sayaka's body fell to the ground below, causing her to jump and catch her, as Oktavia tried to attack her with large wheels which she dodged left and right after attaining her magical girl form. The witch screamed loudly, as the redhead demanded to know what happened, only for Homura to arrive and tell Kyoko to retreat, after she threw a grenade and asked her to take her hand.
"What are you gonna do?" she asked.
"Just do it!" Homura said urgently.
Kyoko did so, then noticed that time and space had at last come to a stop, and quickly told her to retreat, just as she asked Homura what was going on, only to learn that the witch was once Sayaka, and that fighting while carrying her lifeless form would result in their own demise. After leaving the labyrinth, they soon reached a safe haven away from the entrance where they saw Madoka ahead of them. The pinkette soon rushed up to them, asking where Sayaka's soul gem was located, only for Homura to tell her that it had changed into a grief seed, which in turn became Oktavia, just as Sora, Mami, and the others arrived to hear the bad news as well.
"No, it can't be," Madoka shuddered.
"It is. That's the final secret of the soul gems. When our soul gems get too tainted, they turn completely black. We transform into grief seeds, then we're reborn as witches. See, this is the destiny from which no magical girl can escape," replied Homura.
"This is not happening. It can't be happening. It can't," added Sora.
Even the rest of Team SKYYLAR had to agree, and Madoka as well, until Mami finally snapped, her eyes welling up with tears of shock and disbelief.
"So you knew that soul gems give birth to witches. Then it seems we have no alternative but to die! Both me, Kyoko, and you!" she howled.
"So you know the truth at last, Madoka Kaname. Yes. The foolish Sayaka Miki always wanted to be something of a knight who would protect the people of this city and become a hero, all because she wanted to be a magical girl. I sensed that dark curse slowly becoming just as powerful as the wish she made, thanks to my dark sense. It seemed a fitting end for such a fool who's stubbornness proved to be her downfall. Every man, woman, and child she saved from the darkness meant that the other would be forced to endure a terrible form of great darkness, only to be transformed into Heartless in a single instant," smirked Kurai who appeared.
Enraged, Kyoko rounded on him, then pointed an accusing finger at him.
"You bastard! How could you say something like that!? Do you want to make us become even more submerged in darkness!? You have no right to say such bullcrap, Damn you! Sayaka was Madoka's…!" she snapped.
But Kurai just laughed at them and turned away.
"Oh yes. I know she was her friend. But in the end, the darkness stole away her heart, and transformed her into our newest ally, Oktavia Von Seckendorff. Now that she knows the truth, she will never truly be saved from the darkness, and return to the light she once had faith in. Feel free to do what you will with this discarded shell, Madoka. That's in your hands, poor pathetic child of Junko and Tomohisa. Besides, magical girls and witches are indeed monsters, who have neither dreams nor honor. Accept it as the time-traveling Homura did," he explained.
Then he disappeared with Homura walking away from them, as Sora looked at the now deceased Sayaka.
"There may be a way to save her, Sora. Don't lose hope," Eraqus said in his mind.
"I think you're right. If I can restore Sayaka's light… But… But how?" Sora asked into the air.
"You'll always find a way, Sora. That's what you've always done, for as long as you can remember. You can still change Sayaka's destiny, just like how you and Sailor Moon nearly did for Nehelenia and Galaxia, even as they succumbed to an even darker fate," assured Queen Serenity, who's spirit continued to offer him guidance.
He then remembered how he once saved Asuka and another girl called Homura from Dogen's wrath, by averting their deaths, even after he and the others brought the heartbroken Madoka back home, with Team KRYYSTAAL doing the same with the distraught Mami, where she sat holding her legs up to her chest, just as Kyubey arrived, asking if would come in.
"Fine, Incubator," Sora said coldly, not sounding like himself at all.
"Sora," Yang murmured worriedly.
"Please, don't think negatively," added Ruby.
"Is it true what Kurai said? That Sayaka Miki cannot be saved?" Kirito asked darkly as he pointed oblivion at Kyubey.
"It's true enough that I can't deny it,' replied Kyubey.
"Then the only reason that you transformed those girls into magical girls was so you could see them become so lost in darkness that they'd turn into witches," glowered Asuna, as angry tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Please, don't misunderstand our intentions. We don't do what we will because we harbor ill will towards humanity. Everything we've done is to prolong the life of the Realm of Light. Everyone, do you know what the word entropy means?" explained Kyubey.
"We do, Kyubey. It means darkness and death," remarked Leafa who had an angry look in her eyes that seemed to mirror Kirito's.
"Then you know as well as I that the energy a bonfire gives off is not equal to the energy it took the wood to grow that fuels it. When energy changes form, some of it gets lost. We found that the amount of energy in this world is decreasing. So we began searching for a form of energy that wasn't limited by the laws of thermodynamics. And then we found the energy created by magical girls," the creature stated.
"Then what the hell are you really supposed to be?" demanded Kirito.
"My civilization created a technology that creates the emotions of sentient lifeforms and energy. Unfortunately, our species doesn't possess the capability to express emotions. So we searched the universe and studied all the various species, until we finally found you humans. With the size of your population, and the rate at which you reproduce, we saw how the amount of emotional energy produced by a single human is greater than the amount used between its birth and growth. The human soul is the energy source that counteracts the amount of entropy. The most effective energy came from females in their second stage of development, when they had the most intense fluctuations of emotions of hope and despair. At the precise moment when the magical girls' soul gems flare out and become grief seeds, an enormous amount of energy is created. As an incubator my job is to gather up that excessive energy," explained Kyubey.
"So this is what magical girls really are to monsters like you? You think that Madoka and all those other girls who signed your contract should lose themselves to darkness just because you turn them into magical girls, just because kurai says their dreamless, honorless monsters after they sign your contract?" Ruby asked in dismay.
"It makes us think that someone like you doesn't give a crap about who lives and who dies, so both Ruby, Yui, Leafa, Asuna, and I formed an agreement to not sign your contract, which would probably put Homura in a good mood, until Sora told us about her emotional breakdown," added Yang, as she clenched her good hand in anger.
"Do you know how many civilizations there are in the Realm of Light? Can you even comprehend the amount of energy they produce in a single second?" asked the incubator.
"Even though it's because there'd come a time when the people of this world would leave it and travel the stars, they'll eventually become aware of the other worlds around them, and realize that they'd find that it's a far more beautiful place. And considering the long terms of what you'd call a good deal, it's all because you're nothing more than a liar, Kyubey. The only reason why I chose to save Mami's life from Charlotte is because Sephiroth showed me a premonition of her death, but none of us knew that Sayaka would lose herself to darkness, just as Sunset Shimmer, Riku, Mamoru Chiba, Hotaru Tomoe, Chibiusa, and Starlight Glimmer once did, but I know that she can be saved from herself. What you've done was not in the name of Kingdom Hearts. You're cruel, cowardly, and above all else, filled to the brim with nothing but contempt. You lied to Mami, Kyoko, and Sayaka, and even told them that if their soul gems were more than 100 meters away, or transformed into grief seeds to release the witch that lives inside of them, which I can assume is the dark side of every magical girl, even if you believe you don't show these girls any and all forms of ill-will, by utilizing something called the power of deceit," argued Sora.
"Why do you believe we use the power of deceit? Why is it that when humans regret a decision they made based on their own misunderstanding, they feel resentment toward the other party?" questioned the catlike alien.
"Enough, Kyubey. We've heard enough of you. I suggest you get out of our sight now, before I really have to dispose of you so that another can take your place. All that you say is nothing but lies and deceptions to Madoka, and she can't endure that kind of suffering at all," glowered the lightning flash.
"I see that you otherworldly people are also understanding of what the other girls are feeling, because of their values and beliefs. And due to the fact that there are many more people in every other world, thanks to what Sephiroth and Kurai told me, the amount of energy will still increase by every ten seconds. It's a lot that you care so much about the loss of a tiny handful," remarked Kyubey.
"Don't say another world you devil! You have no soul! You may think that magical girls have fire, but all you do is make them give themselves to darkness so they'll be witches after they sign your contract!" snapped Sora, as he pointed his Keyblade at the incubator.
"Why is it that you're so stubborn as Sayaka was, just because I want to explain things to these girls?" questioned the cat.
"I refuse to accept any kind of world where sacrifices are meant for the greater good in the Realm of Light, after I saw Xehanort strike down Kairi to recreate the X-blade, when Sephiroth killed Nehelenia so that he could make everyone worship him as their one true god, and when I was forced to kill Galaxia after Chaos awoke Omega within her so that she could return all life to Kingdom Hearts. That's something I will never permit at all, just as Madoka won't. And if you think that you believe that she'll truly be the most powerful magical girl of her own making, then you understand absolutely nothing at all. So for your sake, remember these words. I am Sora. I'm gonna still make a difference, and I will never ever stop, until I erase every single slimy stinking incubator in the realm of light once and for all, because I will not allow her to die for the sake of all good things, even if she did choose to agree with your demands, because you'll pay for everything that you and your kind have ever done, Kyubey. Now get out of our sight," he said coldly.
Nodding quietly, Kyubey scampered off, as Madoka started to weep for her friend, Sayaka, only for Sora to slump down next to her and hold her close in his arms, until he remembered what his friends from the afterlife had told him, causing him to rush to Sayaka's home, after asking his friends to remain behind. At the same time he did, Kyoko shone her soul gem's light on Sayaka's lifeless form, even as Kyubey asked why she was trying to use her powers to keep her from decaying, only to see her sit down and begin eating some pork buns.
"Is there a way to get her soul gem back the way it was?" she asked him.
"If there is a way, I'm not aware of it," he replied.
"That's funny. it looks like you don't even have all the answers, do ya?" snipped Kyoko.
"The existence of magical girls defies logic, so I wouldn't' be surprised if you were capable of doing all kinds of amazing things," said Kyubey.
"Then it is possible," remarked the redhead, until she heard
"It is possible, Kyoko. The power of waking. I may have used it multiple times in the past, but that in turn made me disappear into the world of Quadratum, until Riku found me and brought me back, so that he could help me reawaken it, and fully master it, so that I wouldn't abuse it so foolishly. If we can find a way to subdue that witch Sayaka's become, I can use it to call back her heart from within, and restore her soul gem and she'll be back to her magical girl self," explained Sora.
"How can it work?" questioned the rogue.
"Because I can restore people's light, and help heal the wounds on their hearts, despite not being a magical girl myself," he replied.
"But how?" Kyubey asked, looking confused.
"I always believe in my friends, because Sayaka's not dead yet. I can hear her heart calling out for someone to help her be free of the nightmare she's trapped in," Sora answered bravely.
This made Kyoko surprised, as she looked up at him and thought she saw a tiny spark of Sayaka's courageous spirit within him.
"Strange… Even though you're a boy, you somehow remind me of Sayaka. But, if you really can free Sayaka's heart from the darkness, then I'll choose to believe in you, Sora," she admitted.
"Thanks, Kyoko," Sora replied, as the two of them shook hands with each other.
By the next day, Hitomi saw that Madoka wasn't acting like herself, as Mami walked with her and the others, but the pinkette assured her that she hadn't slept well at all.
"That's too bad. And it looks like Sayaka's staying home again. Maybe we should go see how she's doing," she suggested.
"I don't think that'd be a good idea, Hitomi. She might get angry at you and say a lot of horrible things in your face, without thinking straight," replied Kirito.
Madoka! I need you to come over here. Sora's given me a bit of a crazy idea to save Sayaka, Kyoko called to her with her telepathy.
Although surprised, Madoka turned away from Hitomi and looked up to see the redhead with a now much calmer Mami, after she learned that Sora could create a new kind of miracle.
Could we talk in private? I think you need to hear Sora's plan, she added.
Madoka nodded in agreement, then turned to Kirito and the others, who nodded their understanding to her.
"Hey, Hitomi, could you let Miss Saotome know that Madoka's gonna stay home? I have a feeling that Madoka's not fully recovered yet," suggested Asuna.
"Uh, okay then, Miss Yuuki," replied the greenette.
"Madoka, let's go," murmured Kirito, and they all hurried off to meet up with them.
Once they arrived, Sora stepped forth and looked solemnly into Makoka's eyes.
"Madoka, listen carefully. I've come up with a plan that might sound crazy, but should work in helping Sayaka come back to the light," he said.
"Really? You think there's a way?" she asked earnestly.
The spiky brunette nodded in agreement, and Kyoko did as well.
"That's right. Sora's gonna use the power of waking," said the redhead.
"What's the power of waking?" asked Leafa.
"It's meant to be used to travel worlds to find hearts, rather than traveling hearts to find other worlds. In a way it's like a double edged sword. If Sayaka can truly be saved from the darkness, then I'll do it. I won't give up hope in always finding a way to help people, no matter what happens, and neither will the rest of us. That's my oath as a Keyblade Master. Even after learning that she became a witch, I can hear her light calling out to my heart, so that she can be returned to her regular self, before she ever lost herself to darkness. Pain is actually what helps a magical girl know they still have traces of humanity within them. If I can reach out to her, and have my heart call to her light from within the darkness, that will be able to bring her back to her senses," Sora answered.
"You think that'll really work?" questioned Madoka.
"Of course it will. I'm willing to put that theory to the test, just like my friend Ami Mizuno would. After all, I've got plenty more friends in many more worlds that'd definitely hear my heart calling out to theirs, and it'd all coalesce into one all powerful light that could truly help Sayaka see redemption. Love, friendship, courage, respect, light, and honor are what make me who I am. So think of me as the brave knight saving a princess who was taken by great evil, after being told by her father, the king, to save her from that same evil. Kyoko's wish to be a magical girl was so that she could have people notice her family more, but that proved to be a serious mistake. It was just like how Dante's pizza had pretty much gone to waste after a horde of demons crushed it underneath their feet, which in turn made him truly irritated, before he named his shop, Devil May Cry. But Sayaka helped her realize that she should always help other people rather than herself, so it's time we taught her how to help herself instead of helping others," explained Sora.
"It's cool if you don't want to come. We're not gonna force you. I mean, it's gonna be pretty dangerous for sure. And you know, if things start getting super hairy in there, I can't promise I'll be able to protect you," added Kyoko.
But Madoka gently shook her head at her.
"I'll help. I really want to help," she said.
"Madoka's right, Kyoko. She does want to help Sayaka come back to the light, but only if we agree to work together as a true team. In a way she's just like me and Sora," agreed Ruby.
"Oh, seriously? You're so cramping my style. But, I'll agree to let you test that theory, so let's work together," replied Kyoko, who handed her something that she considered as her way of forming a powerful friendship.
"Oh, just one more thing, Madoka. Don't bother wasting it, or you might actually regret it," added Sora.
In her class at Mitakihara Middle School, Homura could see that Madoka wasn't in class, and she asked the teacher to let her go to the nurse's office, due to not feeling well. The teacher agreed, and was about to ask who the nurse's aid was, when he learned that it was Madoka who wasn't there. Despite his belief that the class rep would take her, Homura slowly walked off out of the class. At the same time she did, Madoka, Kyoko, and the others were now walking back to where Oktavia's labyrinth was located, even as she said that Homura could help them out, while Mami brought up the rear.
"Sora, are you really sure that this power of waking, can help restore Sayaka's light?" she asked.
"It has to, Mami. That's what I believe. Sayaka may have been the kind of girl who'd want to help people no matter what they'd be, and I chose to acknowledge it. Listen, I know that you and Kyoko stopped working together after you got into a fight, but you're still connected by the magic of friendship. Sometimes people can agree to disagree, but they're still friends no matter what. Friendship is far more powerful than any other magic in any world, no matter what anyone says," explained Sora, until he heard Kyoko saying that Walpurgisnacht would be coming in the next couple of days.
The redhead then explained that it was a far more powerful witch that no one could ever truly defeat on their own, but they still agreed to work together in defeating it, regardless of their differences.
"I know what you mean. But Sora won't allow such a dangerous enemy to truly destroy everything it hates, and neither will I," said Kirito.
At last they arrived, and soon began the dangerous journey into the labyrinth of Oktavia.
"Are you sure it's really Sayaka?" Madoka asked.
"I am. I can feel her inside that witch calling out to us for help. Kyoko knows that it's her. That's why I choose to trust in her judgment," assured Sora.
"I just hope you're right about how the power of waking can bring her back, Sora," replied Mami, who transformed into her magical girl form.
"We must always have hope. And right now that is exactly the one thing that Sayaka truly lacked before she became Oktavia," said Yui.
After finishing her meal, Kyoko soon transformed before them, and soon prepared herself for battle, with Team SKYYLAR and Mami deciding to do the same, as they summoned their Keyblades, while the blonde drilltail transformed as well.
"Okay, point of no return time," she said.
"Get ready, Sayaka. We're all gonna save you!" declared Sora.
"You said it. And I'll cheer for you, Sora. The thing is, all I ever did was tag along before. I've never really been able to help much, but I'm ready. So take me with you," replied Madoka.
"You and Sora really are alike, ain'tcha?" smirked Kyoko.
"Yeah, well, that's what I really love about Madoka," grinned Sora.
Together they opened the doorway, and entered the labyrinth. Once inside they saw several posters on the wall.
"Hey, you guys," Madoka said.
"Yeah?" her friends asked.
"I feel bad I can't help," she admitted.
"Don't worry, Madoka. Even though we've done most of the fighting for you, you are no coward," assured Mami.
"Yeah, Mami's right. It may seem odd why someone like you would want to be a magical girl, but you shouldn't try and underestimate this at all. This is a job that only magical girls and Keyblade Wielders like us can do," agreed Leafa.
"If you get to eat good food everyday and live a happy life with your family, why would you want to give that up, if that's what you really want?" questioned the redhead.
"I'm gonna have to agree with Kyoko on this one. Don't bother being a magical girl on such a stupid whim. You know she'd never allow that to happen at all," added Yang.
"As sad as it sounds, you shouldn't do it. Besides, there's no way you'd ever be a match for Kyoko, Madoka. If you truly feel like you've got no other choice at all, then all the hope you've truly longed for is gone, because I'm what you'd call a Light of Hope, just as Galaxia was. People who want to try and make a difference might end up viewing it as a hopeless cause, but nothing is ever a hopeless cause. But there's an old saying that goes like this, you never know if you don't try. I've done a lot of fighting, even when my back was truly against the wall, but I always put my everything on the very edge of my existence. 'Cause when the time comes for you to truly become a magical girl that defies destiny, we'll stand by your side, no matter what, Madoka," explained Sora.
Nodding slowly, Madoka had to agree, until they came to a room where they heard loud orchestral music from far away. She was about to ask when Kyoko warned her that Oktavia had found out they were in her labyrinth, and ordered them to prepare themselves. The music soon began blasting into their ears, as Sora stood firm before Oktavia, with all of his other friends at his side.
"This is it, guys. Let's save Sayaka, together!" he called over the noise.
Everyone nodded, as Madoka and Yui stood back, while Team SKYYLAR, Kyoko, and Mami soon charged into the battlefield.
"Sayaka Miki! It's Sora, Kirito, Yang, Yui, Leafa, Asuna, Ruby, Madoka, Mami, and Kyoko! We've come to help you come back to your senses! We know that you were still Madoka's best friend, when you saved her from some heartless bullies that tried to hurt her, and you gained her trust, respect and admiration. I know that you never wanted to try and hurt the people you cherish, because you wanted to be a hero of your own making, don't you realize what that meant? You gave Madoka courage. Hmph… maybe you should've kept some for yourself. I mean are you really gonna throw your own humanity away? Remember what it was like before you became a magical girl? Our meeting with Mami changed your perspective, but when I saved her it made you even more motivated. And I know for a fact that you really were a strong and stubborn person, just as Yang was. When she lost her arm to Adam Taurus, she felt like she would have to just give up, but she chose not to do it, because she still had something worth fighting for. I know you weren't the kind of person that would hurt Madoka and even break her heart after all the horrible things you said to her, AND I BELIEVE IN YOU!" Sora explained.
Then he felt the spirits of his other friends' hearts surging through him, granting him even more strength, which surprised Kyoko and Mami, just as Oktavia sent more spinning wheels at him, but they were reduced to nothing in an instant, while Madoka stood watching in awe.
"I'll prove it to you with my strength! And the bond I've forged with you, and everyone else in this city! Kyubey will pay for what he's made you become after you signed his contract to be a magical girl! So I'm gonna help you see the light, no matter what it takes, even if it kills me for trying something crazy! Because you and I can agree, that evil never wins! And as your friend, I won't give up on you! Because there's more to light THAN MEETS THE EYE!" he cried out in a loud clear voice, as he assumed his Divine Harmony form, which soon evolved even further, becoming Divine Lucian Harmony, until the orchestra in that labyrinth began playing a different tune.
(This it everyone, the battle to change Sayaka's destiny begins now, so play Wings of Freedom by Linked Horizon, from Attack on Titan, and let your imagination show you how Sora and Oktavia's battle is gonna play out, as the music now takes on a far more symphonic rock approach, with the rock music representing Sora's desire to protect and save people from the darkness, and Oktavia fueling Sayaka's rage and frustration at always being weak and foolish, as Homura shows up with Kyubey)
[Intro]
"O, mein freund! Jetzt hier ist ein sieg
Dies ist der erste gloria
O, mein freund! Feiern wir diesen sieg
Für den nächsten kampf!
[Post-Chorus]
(Die flügel der freiheit...) Oh...
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh... Ha!
Sora: It's time to wake up, SAYAKA MIKI!
[Verse 1]
"Muimi na shi de atta" to...
Iwasenai saigo no hitori ni naru made...
[Pre-Chorus]
Der feind ist grausam, wir bringen!
Der feind ist riesig, wir springen!
[Chorus]
Ryoute ni wa gloria, utau no wa sieg
Senaka ni wa flügel der freiheit (Diese elenden biester...)
Nigirishimeta ketsui wo hidari mune ni
Kirisaku no wa ringe der torheit (...Werden vernichtet!)
Madoka: You can do it, Sora!
[Post-Chorus]
Soukyuu wo mau flügel der freiheit! Ha! Ha! Oh...
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh…
Kyoko: Bring Sayaka back to her senses!
[Keyboard Solo]
Mami: We believe in you!
[Verse 2]
Tori wa tobu tame ni sono kara o yabutte kita
Buzama ni chi wo hau tame ja nai daro?
Omae no tsubasa wa nanno tame ni aru
Kago no naka no sora wa semasugiru daro?
[Bridge 1]
Die freiheit und der tod, die beiden sind zwillinge
Die freiheit oder der tod? Unser freund ist ein!
[Verse 3]
Nanno tame ni umaretekita no ka nante
Komuzukashii koto wa wakaranai kedo
Tatoe sore ga ayamachi datta to shitemo
Nanno tame ni ikiteiru ka wa wakaru sore wa rikutsu ja nai
Sonzai yue no "jiyuu"!
Kirito: Our strength is your strength!
[Guitar Solo]
Yang: Bring back her heart, Sora!
Yui: Your friends are your power, Big Brother Sora!
[Bass Solo]
Leafa: Don't give up on her, Sora!
Asuna: Show Sayaka the way back to the light!
[Drum Solo]
Ruby: Show her the meaning of true hope, Sora!
[Interlude]
Die flügel der freiheit...
Sayaka's voice: Sora, please, help me return to the light.
[Refrain]
Kakusareta shinjitsu wa shougeki no koushi da
Tozasareta sono yami to hikari ni hisomu Titanen
Kuzuresaru kotei kannen mayoi o daki nagara
Soredemo nawo "jiyuu" e susume!
[Bridge 2]
Rechter weg? Linker weg? Na, ein weg welcher ist?
Der feind? Der freund? Mensch, sie welche sind?
[Chorus 2]
Ryoute ni wa instrument, utau no wa lied
Senaka ni wa horizont der freiheit (Diese elenden biester...)
Sekai o tsunagu kusari wo onoono mune ni
Kanaderu no wa hintere front der möglichkeit (...Werden vernichtet!)
Sora: My friends, lend me your strength!
[Post-Chorus]
Soukyuu wo mae flügel der freiheit! Ha! Ha! Oh...
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh...
Sora: POWER OF WAKING!
[Outro]
O, mein freund! Jetzt hier ist ein sieg
Dies ist der erste gloria
O, mein freund! Feiern wir diesen sieg
Für den nächsten kampf!
Der feind ist riesig, wir springen!
Der feind ist grausam!"
(And the battle ends with Sayaka now back to her old self, as her labyrinth vanishes into nothingness, and her soul gem is now fully restored, thanks to Sora's use of the power of waking, and the strength of his bond with her, as she slowly awakens from what feels like a horrible nightmare)
"Sora, is that you?" Sayaka asked groggily, when she found herself in his arms.
"Yeah, I'm here, Sayaka. And so are Madoka, Homura, Kyoko, Mami, and the rest of our friends," assured Sora, after he helped her to her feet.
"Welcome back, Sayaka," Madoka said happily, as she ran up and hugged her friend, who was surprised to see her smiling face again.
Sayaka smiled happily at him, then hugged Sora back. Homura was secretly impressed to learn that magical girls could come back to the light, after they were willing to accept the light of redemption, which made Kyoko soon understand that Sora's bonds of friendship and trust were far stronger than hatred and mistrust.
"I… I don't believe it," she said.
"Yeah, that was really gutsy of you, for a non-magical girl," admitted Kyoko, as she placed her spear behind her neck.
"Yes, we're all so proud of you, just as Madoka is," agreed Mami.
Then Sayaka slowly stood up, and bowed to Madoka, after she let her go.
"Everyone, I was foolish, arrogant, and an even bigger idiot than I realized. And for that, I take full responsibility for my actions. Please, forgive me for being so stubborn and prideful," she said.
"None of that matters anymore, Sayaka. You and your friends were right all along. I was also stubborn and prideful as you are. So, how about this? Let's both be immature idiots together, until the very end," replied the redhead, as she extended her hand towards her.
"You bet, Kyoko," agreed Sayaka, and they soon shook hands thus closing the gap between them, but deep down they'd still train hard to try and one up each other as friendly rivals, and even Sora agreed to considered Kyoko to also be another friendly rival of his own.
"How interesting. It appears that Sora saved Sayaka from the darkness, and sealed Oktavia away in her now restored soul gem," smirked Kurai, as he watched from the distance.
"Yes. This boy's power is truly unique, but had Kyoko and Sayaka perished in fire and darkness, only then would Vanitas break free," agreed Sephiroth.
"Walpurgisnacht will soon be here, and when she arrives, this world will indeed meet its end," said the son of Ardyn and Galaxia.
"Then I'll remain here, and watch how this battle will play out, Kurai. You return to your father and let him know what's happening," replied the One-Winged Angel.
"Hey, Sora, I'm really sorry. But you were right all along. I shouldn't have hurt you and Madoka, said those things, or been so stuck up and stubborn. The only thing left of me now, is my admiration for Kyosuke, but I know now that we're simply not meant to be. Therefore, I'd like to meet Riku, if you're okay with it. Now that I realize I'm not alone, I think I may be a little stronger than I was before. However, to tell you the truth, I guess I ended up hurting myself after all, as well as hurting you guys as well," Sayaka said to him.
"But you can make amends with everyone you've hurt, Sayaka," assured Ruby.
"Ruby's right, Sayaka. Sora once told me that no one is ever alone. And we are not alone, because we'll always have each other, and we're all connected by the Magic of Friendship," agreed Madoka, as Homura quietly left them in peace.
But once she was gone, Sora decided to go after her, after asking Kirito and the others to tell them about Walpurgisnacht. On the way, however, he was soon afflicted by a powerful surge of darkness that caused him to hallucinate, as he grabbed at his head.
"Within my being flows the power of entropy. Walpurgisnacht's power will be mine," Sephiroth's voice said.
Even as Sora managed to recover, he saw the true Sephiroth standing before him with that same cruel smile he knew so well.
"You," he hissed.
"So you saved Kyoko and Sayaka, I see," replied the One-Winged Angel.
"What's it to you?" questioned Sora.
"They were meant to die in each other's embrace," sneered Sephiroth as he walked up towards him.
"That was something I could never allow," he remarked.
"Could you do the same for Madoka and Homura?" the silver soldier asked ominously.
Quickly turning around, Sora looked and watched as Sephiroth vanished into the dark corridor, as he continued glaring at where he was walking away.
"Forget it, Sora. You'll get your chance to kill him later," he told himself, and continued to follow Homura.
As soon as he arrived in Homura's apartment, the dark-haired girl agreed to let him in, as they both sat down and looked at each other on opposite sides of the room.
"Please tell me, Sora. How is it that someone like you was able to turn Sayaka back to normal?" she asked.
"Because I always believe in the power of redemption, Homura. After all, even though Kyubey wasn't able to stop us, I still chose to help her come back to her senses with the power of waking, which sealed Oktavia back inside of her, thus restoring her soul gem and bringing back its radiant light. That's why I refused to let her and Kyoko die, the same way Nehelenia and Galaxia died. Now that she, Kyoko, Mami, and yourself are the only few magical girls remaining, we can fight and defeat Walpurgisnacht together. And I've got a plan in mind for how Madoka can't die or become a witch even if she does become a magical girl," explained Sora.
"But if she does, then I've truly failed," replied Homura.
But then she grew somber and looked up at him.
"However, by seeing how you brought Sayaka back from the darkness, with what you call the power of waking, I believe the time has come for me to tell you the truth about me, as I promised you after you saved her," she said quietly.
"Thank you," smiled Sora.
But in another world that was far away, Kurai Izunia was now walking with several more people of unknown origin as Sailor Neptune was now on another world to spy on him, due to Reeve Tuesti's special mission. There, she saw a huge collection of fighting machines being built, along with several more starships being constructed from gummi blocks and other materials.
"We must persuade Deus Ex Machina Industries and
All other industry giants on the other worlds, to sign the treaty," he said.
"And what about Madoka Kaname of Mitakihara? Is she dead yet? I will not sign your treaty, until I have her skeleton on my desk," sneered Sir Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott.
"I'm a man of my word, Isaac," assured Kurai.
"Yes, and with these fighting machines from both DEM and the Anti Spirit Team, which we helped create, We'll have the finest army in all of the Realm of Light," agreed Ellen Mira Mathers.
Michiru Kaioh knew that there was trouble going on within that huge building, so she quickly raced down the stairs as quietly as she could, so that she could listen in on more of the conversation. At last she found a room where a conference table was discovered and decided to take a listen at what was going on, but decided to open a secure comm channel to Haruka Tenoh, her companion, who was also the Sailor Guardian of the very world named in honor of the God of the Night Sky, Uranus.
"As I explained to all of you before, I am truly confident that several more organizations from the other worlds will rally to our cause with your full support, ladies and gentlemen," explained the son of Ardyn.
"But what you could be asking for is considered an act of treason," protested Captain Ryouko Kusakabe of the AST.
"Whatever remains of Adam Taurus' White Fang on Remnant is at your disposal, Commander Kurai," said a wolf faunus, named Krishna.
"And Hydra will agree to sign your treaty," said L. Atwood.
"Excellent work. Our friends from DEM have pledged their full support to us and when their soldiers are united with our own, we will most certainly have an army greater than any in the Realm of Light. The Warriors of Light will be overwhelmed. The RGRO will agree to any demands we make," Kurai said with a sadistic smile.