Chapter 8: Bonds

I do not own PMMM or Magia Record. PMMM is own by AniplexNA. Magia Record is owned by f4Samurai


a month later

The witch screamed in agony as the trio stood their ground. Mifuyu turned to her two juniors, "Now follow my lead."

The fiery brunette pumped her fist, "Right Mifuyu! Leave it to the mightiest magical girl!"

Hanna said nothing, but nodded.

Angry familiars rushed the trio, only to be forced back by bolts of dark energy from Hanna's staff. Mifuyu summoned clouds of mist to obscure them from the witch before rushing forward. The witch's own arms, giant appendages with thorns for fingers, swung at them.

Mifuyu swiftly leaped to one side before swinging her massive chakram down upon the arm, slicing cleanly through the dark appendage. The witch roared in pain, reeling back and trying to attack with its other arm.

Mifuyu jumped back and called out, "Tsuruno, blind the witch."

"Right!" Tsuruno called back, and sent a wave of flame at the Witch's face.

Hanna pointed her staff at the Witch and sent another wave of purple energy while Mifuyu leaped up and over the witch until she was clean behind the witch's head. With a single swipe, the witch's head tumbled to the ground.

Hanna allowed herself a breath before stooping to pick up the grief seed, the black item feeling fragile in her hand. As the labyrinth collapsed, Tsuruno and Mifuyu joined the purple haired girl.

"We did it Mifuyu!" Tsuruno cheered.

Mifuyu smiled, "well done girls. You pulled that off wonderfully."

"Yep yep!" Tsuruno giggled before turning to Hanna, "You were awesome too Hanna!"

Hanna thought about it before giving a small thumbs up. "I guess it was alright."

Mifuyu glanced at her phone, "Oh my, it's almost 6. We'd best get going."

She looked at Hanna, "You want to come? Yach-chan's making udon."

Hanna shook her head, "Sorry, I need to go home. Maybe next time."

Mifuyu frowned, "Ok, see you next time then."

Tsuruno waved, "Bye Hanna!"

Hanna walked back towards Mizuna, not once looking back. The road to Mizuna was quiet and comfortable. Hanna liked it quiet. It left her to her thoughts, and let her feel angry, mad, and cynical. Angry at her nonexistent parents. Mad at her classmates. Cynical of her magical girl life.

As she turned towards the orphanage, she looked up to see the head caretaker standing over her.

"Where have you been?" The woman demanded.

Hanna didn't meet her gaze. "Hanging around"

The woman frowned, "I warned you repeatedly about breaking curfew."

Hanna didn't respond.

Slap! Her cheeks burning, Hanna didn't even budge.

The woman scoffed, "Go get yourself cleaned up."

"s'rry" she mumbled as she trudged past the caretaker and through the doors.

A few hours later, Hanna lay in her bunk, staring at the next bunk. The world was just a dipshit awful place and it could all go die for all she cared. Her pathetic parents. These awful caretakers. Her cruel classmates.

And…Mifuyu. The first human being who had ever extended a hand to her. Someone who had found her alone, uncaring, and new to magical girl life, and dragged her into the weird family that was team Mikazuchi.

And they sure were weird. Yachiyo was aloof and calm, but would just as easily go from cool classy model to overprotective mother. Mifuyu was kind, warm, and friendly, but she acted like a pitiful puppy from time to time who needed pampering. Kanae was cold, dark, and moody, but she was also kind, protective, and thoughtful. Homura was cool and collected, but it wasn't hard to see how she was just as socially awkward as she was. Momoko was friendly…way too friendly. Kaede was pitiful. Rena was standoffish. Karin was way too invested in her comics. Yet this band made up the Mikazuchi family.

Could she really…did she really deserve to be in such a warm family?

"Yeah, that's not happening" Hanna muttered before rolling over into the dark ravine of sleep, her previously anger and hatred all but vanished.


A few days later
Mel Anna was having a wonderful day. She had woken up, pulled out her cards and discovered that she had "Good fortune". That was such good news that she had hummed a happy tune while dressing and had left for school with a skip in her step. Nothing could possibly go wrong.


Mel Anna was having a terrible day. Everything had gone wrong. Almost immediately after leaving the house, she had stumbled into a witch's labyrinth. Which was already terrible luck. But that wasn't the end of it. The witch decided to fly and scoop Mel up with it. Now she was high in the air and had no idea where she was.

"This is absolutely the worst day of my life!" Mel muttered, checking her cards for something that could defeat the witch. No good. She would have to wait for the witch to land and then make a run for it.

Just then, a yellow ribbon shot out from the sky and wrapped itself around the witch's horn. The witch hollered in rage but the ribbon only tighten its grip.

Mel looked up in time to see two figures drop in from the sky. Two girls, one with blonde hair and the other with jet black hair.

The blonde turned to the raven haired girl. "Master, allow me to show you how much I've grown."

The other girl nodded, "Alright, but don't get too cocky."

To Mel's amazement, the blonde stood up and summoned dual long barreled muskets from her sleeves.

"Woah," Mel muttered as she watched the musketeer leap into the air, shooting out ribbons to allow her to swing around the labyrinth with ease. Firing shots with her muskets, the blonde gracefully dodged attacks while peppering the witch with attacks. Then she remembered something.

"Umm, watch out for the familiars!" She called out. The blonde turned in surprise as the witch's head opened up, allowing familiars to pop out from its neck. Just as they popped out though, several of them exploded.

Mel turned around in surprise to see the black haired girl hoisting…a black round tube over her shoulder.

"Is…that…an…"

The black haired girl nodded, "It's a rocket propelled grenade, or an RPG for short. Good catch."

Now free from distraction, the blonde resumed her relentless harassment of gunfire. With the witch effectively weakened, Mel watched in sheer amazement as the blonde leaped backwards and summoned a giant mega sized cannon.

"Trio finale!" she yelled proudly.

"What?" Mel managed as the witch was obliterated by the massive cannon shot.

The black haired girl appeared next to head suddenly. "Grab onto me. Mami, let's go!"

The blonde, now named Mami, nodded, "Right sensei."

She ran up to them and wrapped them with her ribbon. As the labyrinth collapses, the trio fell to the ground only for Mami to shoot out a pair of ribbons. The ribbons wrapped tightly around a set of antenna, allowing them to swing forward. A few short swings later, the trio landed safely on the ground.

The moment Mel's feet touched the ground, she fell on her knees and clutched the ground, kissing it fervently. "Land, sweet land!"

The black haired girl shared a smile with the blonde, "Are you alright?"

Mel realized the position she was in and jerked back. "Yes, I am. Thank you very much for saving me. I'm Mel Anna."

"I'm Mami Tomoe and this is my mentor and sensei, Homura Akemi."

Mel's eyes widened. "You're Homura Akemi?"

The raven haired girl nodded, "You've heard of me?"

"Who hasn't heard of you! You're Homura Akemi, the famous model partner of Yachiyo Nanami!" Mel gushed, "And then, you're also the infamous Enforcer of the West!"

Mami turned to Homura, "Do they really call you that?"

Homura nodded in regret, "It's a mistake honestly. I just had to remind a few girls of their place and suddenly everyone is afraid of me."

"Well Sensei, I can see how they might think you're terrifying."

Mel froze. That's right. Homura was the enforcer of the West, and if they were here, that meant that…she was in West territory.

She immediately seizta'd. "Please accept my apologies!"

Homura raised her brow. "Huh?"

"I am in West territory as an East girl. I profusely apologize for you having to save me."

Homura nodded, "Think nothing of it. You started the fight in the East but were moved West. So you didn't break any truces."

Mel let out a breath. "Thank you so much! And you guys are so awesome! Especially you!" She gesture to Mami. "You have all those guns and ribbons and that super cannon! You're so amazing!"

Mami blushed lightly, "Ahh…well I have Sensei to thank for that."

Mel sighed, "I wish I had such cool tools. All I have are my fortune cards."

"You don't have to be like that." Mel looked up to see Mami placing her hand on her shoulder. "You know, I didn't always have these guns. My original weapons were just my ribbons. But Sensei mentored me and taught me how to turn them from ribbons into muskets. So I believe with you teaching, you can become strong too."

Mel looked into the blonde's warm eyes, "Really? I can be badass too?"

Mami smiled in response, "Of course you can. Right Sensei?"

Homura frowned, "There's a bit when it comes to your potential and latent power, but it is true that anyone can adjust their weapons if they wish."

Mel realized this was her one and only chance. She bowed deeply. "Please mentor me too!"

Homura and Mami looked to her in surprise before Homura shook her head. "I am simply too busy to mentor a new magical girl. I've got too many things to deal with as it is."

Mel's head drooped. "Ok, sorry for bothering you. Thanks for saving me Homura and Mami."

As she stood up, Mami interjected. "Hold on a sec."

Mami turned to her Sensei. "Homura Sensei, perhaps I could mentor Mel!"

Homura raised her brow.

Mel's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes!" Mami nodded, "I have been under Sensei's tutelage for over a year now and I feel that I could pass on your teaching to Mel, if you'll have me."

Mel's eyes lit up. "Y-yes! Of course!"

Mami beamed. "Well then…"

"Wait a moment." Homura interjected, "You're forgetting something Mami."

"Huh?"

Homura facepalmed. "You live in Mitamihara. Mel lives in Daito from the looks of it. That's even further away from where I live."

Mami froze. "Oh…I'm sorry. I hadn't considered that."

Mel watched her shoulders droop and realized that yes, Mami had genuinely wanted to help her. Just like her fortune, someone was trying to give her good fortune. Mel seized the opportunity. "Umm…it's not that bad. I can commute to Mitakihara!"

Mami looked up in surprise. "Mel…"

Mel took the blonde's hand. "I really, really, really want to learn under you, if you'll have me."

Mami eyes sparkled. "Y-yes, I would still be happy to mentor you. I'll come when I can and we can work out the rest! Isn't that great Sensei?"

Homura watched the two girls while deep in thought. "Very well…I'll see what I can do."

The two girls who only met each other barely 30 minutes before squealed and hugged each other. "Mel we'll have such a splendid time!"

"Yes Mami! I'll take anything over being tortured by Kanagi!"

Mami's eyes widened, "You too? You've been attacked by Kanagi?"

Mel nodded, "Not only attacked, but constantly harassed! She's an evil taskmaster, dragging me to places I hate!"

"I know how you feel!"

"Truly, we must be sisters from different mothers! To celebrate our union against the cruelty that is Kanagi"

"Oh!"

"Oh?"

The duo froze at a familiar voice.

As one, the two teenagers turned around to find a petite white haired girl watching them with an amused expression, her arms folded across her chest. "So I'm an evil taskmaster am I?"

Mel glanced around, "Ah…Kanagi, how are you? What are you doing on this side of…of…"

"Minagi." Mami supplied.

"Right, Minagi!" Mel corrected herself.

Kanagi's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Searching for you actually. You never showed up at school and your home room teacher asked me to look for you. I heard about the witch that had crossed the ward lines and realized you might need assistance."

Mel let out a sigh of relief, "Ah well thanks Kanagi"

"But not only did you not need saving," Kanagi continued, "But you also fraternize with West girls and tell falsehoods about me."

Mel's body went stiff as Kanagi put her arm on her shoulder. "Come, we have already spent enough time away from school. We must be off."

"Hold on a second."

Kanagi paused to see Homura behind her. "Ahh, Akemi. I apologize for any problems this one might have caused."

Homura frowned, "Actually, I was going to say that Mel actually made a good friend out of my pupil here. I was wondering if we could work out a way for the two to train together and improve their bonds."

"Oh?" Kanagi raised her brow, "Is that so Mel?"

Mel nodded, "Yes, Mami and I are best friends now!"

Mami took Mel's hand. "That's right! I promised to mentor Mel, even if it means having Mel move in with me."

Mel and Kanagi froze at those words. Kanagi frowned, "This is a lot of trust for someone you just met. I've known Mel for years now and she's a terrible roommate."

Mami shook her head. "I don't know why, but I just feel this deep sense of kinship and friendship when I look at her. That's why I want to grow our friendship however possible."

Mel's eyes shined, "Mami!"

Kanagi was about to respond when Homura interjected, "Actually, I might know a way to make that happen."

Kanagi once more raised her brow, "Oh?"


1 week later

Mitakihara

"I can't believe this is really happening!"

Yachiyo chuckled as she lifted another box through the door. "You can thank Mifuyu. She's the one who set everything up."

"It was nothing," Mifuyu smiled, "Homura set up the account."

Homura managed a small smile. Nothing was far from the truth. Using Mifuyu's illusion abilities, Yachiyo had convinced Mel's parents that Mel had won a scholarship to Mitakihara middle school. Homura helped provide some of the funding for the tuition while Mami took care of the food budget.

Kanagi looked around, "I must say. I am rather envious of your manipulation abilities."

Homura frowned, "Mifuyu's abilities are rather dangerous, but she's shown maturity in using them wisely."

The white haired girl nodded sagely, "Well you have my thanks. I haven't seen Mel this happy in ages."

Homura looked to the two younger girls decorating their new bedroom and managed a brief smile.

A year ago, she never would have considered doing Mami any favors. She would have written off Mami as a lost cause from the start. But training Mami from scratch had changed that view. She realized just how alone Mami had been before meeting them, how lonely it had been to trudge onwards alone, without anyone else to help. She had learned that lesson herself while working with Yachiyo, Mifuyu and the others. So when Mami expressed having another girl join her, the new Homura had decided to help however she could. If Mami could have another magical girl alongside her as an equal, then maybe she wouldn't be so lonely…and maybe…just maybe…she might take the truth differently. She glanced around the lush apartment as the rest of the Mikazuchi team were helping move Mel's belongings in. She wished that Madoka could see her now. She would have been thrilled at her new plethora of friends. This was nice. This was comfortable. And she wished deep down, that these happy warm days would remain.