The group was walking across a space that was full of stars and worlds, almost like an observatory for an entire universe.
"Damnit, how big is this giant Witch's body? Feels like we've been going through it forever!" Zephyr said.
"Although, the scenery in this room feels...kind of nice, at least." David said.
"It looks to me like this room is a projection showing the entire Magical Girl universe." Double D said. "You can see the worlds of Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure, even the place where Etheria used to reside. It's fascinating, though I wonder what such a sight is doing here."
"Well, it was mentioned that Walpurgisnacht is the former Color God of this universe." Cheetah said.
"Former? Oh, right. I keep forgetting." Luke said.
"Yes, it was mentioned at one point in time that the former Color God Pink was corrupted into the form of the Witch of Helplessness." Jade C said. "As you can see now, her memories of her time are still left intact."
"Y'know, even though she was sorta a big bad of Madoka's world, if Walpurgisnacht was formerly Madoka's Predecessor as Pink, I'd have to imagine she wasn't all bad." Hope said.
"She probably wasn't. She was probably just as pure as Madoka is. But defending them all for so long would eventually take its toll." Alphamon said.
This comment seemed to strike something with Madoka, who lowered her eyes to the floor in silent contemplation.
"Hey, kid, you okay?" Sans asked. "You're looking a bit down there."
"...Am I good enough?" Madoka wondered aloud, looking at the floor below. "If the last Pink couldn't stop the corruption… what can I do?"
"Are you seriously questioning yourself as the current god of your own universe, Madoka?" Hope asked. "You became a god because you made the call to wish for all the Magical Girls in your world to find peace when they die."
"Yeah...but...this Pink probably protected a lot more Magical Girls than I have. True the Witches are gone, but there are still evils in this universe." Madoka said. "The corruption is still here."
"Well if getting rid of Witches isn't going to fix things, then what will?" Mark asked.
"Mark." Ace said.
"Er… damnit, I'm sorry." Mark apologized.
"That's the thing… As long as there is evil in the hearts of man, it will never go away." David said.
"So, what am I supposed to do about corruption? How can I get rid of it for good?" Madoka asked.
"You can't really get rid of all the evil in the world just like that, Madoka." Hope said. "Good and evil always have to remain in balance together. One side can't outweigh the other."
"Hope is exactly right, there will always be evil in man's hearts, just as Fusoya once said." David said.
David thinks back to Zeromus' last words as he was defeated so many months ago…
"I will never die…" Zeromus' voice rang out in David's mind. "...As long as there is darkness in the hearts of men..."
"It is a fact of life, an unchanging reality in this existence. Evil can not be eradicated." SE said. "However, that doesn't mean life itself is hopeless. As long as you have hope and believe in yourself, you always stand a chance against the tide of corruption. You may have losses along the way, but you must simply learn from them and keep pushing forward. That, I believe, is the mark of a true savior, a true hero. And… that is what you really want to be, isn't it Madoka?"
Madoka looked at everyone. "I- yeah, that is what I want to be. I'm sorry, everyone. I was so caught up in everything that was in front of us in this dungeon, that I forgot all the things we've done before together. Ever since that day I crossed paths with Hope, and became friends with all of you, I've seen what it truly means to be a hero, and call myself a Color God."
"That's right. You've seen all the adventures we've been through and we've been fighting enemies that we've had to work hard to defeat. But there will always be more to do, with other evils lurking and popping up everywhere, that's why we can't take any shortcuts. It's our duty to fight evil, as long as there's hope and belief in ourselves, we can stand against darkness and evil as long as it takes." Hope said.
"Speaking of pushing forward, I finally see another door." ZS said, pointing to a purple door with a pink handle. "It probably breaks a few aesthetic laws, but it'll do."
"Behind that door is the magic power source we're looking for." Glimmer said. "No mistake about it."
"Alright, we're close to the end. Let's take out that power source and we'll be home free of this twisted place!" Vashyron said.
The group opened the door, revealing a room that seemed to be split straight down the middle, pink on one side and purple on the other. On the floor of the room, multiple chairs stood facing a stage of some sort. The room was eerily quiet as the group stepped in.
"Ah, I'm guessing the stage isn't the treasure." ZS said. "Other than that… there's nothing here."
"A stage? Homura, I don't suppose you know what this would-" Ultra started as he turned to face the still tied up girl, only to see that she was glowing with a purple light.
"She's glowing!" G. Aqua said.
"It's not just her, Madoka is too." Mirror Match said. "What is-"
Then the laughter started. Laughter that filled the whole room as the two Magical Girls were suddenly on the stage and the rest sitting in the seats, without having moved at all.
"Greetings, one and all!" a distorted voice said as a figure, not unlike the figure from the cliff, appeared on the stage in between Madoka and Homura. "To the first and final performance on the Witch's Stage!"
"Um, guys, I don't think we can get up…!" Kazuma said as he tried to stand up, being unable to.
"Gee, ya think?" Kagura asked.
"Quiet you two. No heckling." the figure said. "Now then...our performers today are the Color God Pink and the Magical Girl Homura Akechi. Or rather… God and the Lizard Girl. And I am your stage master tonight… Walpurgisnacht!"
"I take offense to the Lizard Girl comment…" Rhatla said.
"We'll address that later. She's the one, alright." David said.
"She just said Walpurgisnacht, how is that possible?" Ace asked.
"We're inside her corpse. She's supposed to be dead, right?" Legolia asked.
"Witches are odd creatures, Legolia, and this is the most powerful one of them all." Mirror Match said. "It would seem that a part of the Witch's consciousness either managed to survive, or was brought back to act as this dungeon's boss."
"Oh yes, the dungeon stuff and all that." Walpurgisnacht giggled. "I bet you're wondering where the treasure is. Well, good news: it's on this stage! Well, at least it will be."
"What are you talking about? Why are me and Homura on this stage?" Madoka asked.
"I'm glad you asked, my dear, dear, successor." the Witch of Helplessness said. "You see, you and your friend will be tonight's show, an old-fashioned kind. It's going to knock them dead! And so will you, as you knock Homura dead. Or she knocks you dead, whoever does first."
"Uh...going a little far for a show. Just get to the point!" Pit called out.
"The point, is, only one of them will be the treasure! Madoka, or Homura! Selflessness for the world, or selfishness for Madoka! They are going to fight, one will die, and the other will become a treasure for this whole, corrupted universe!"
"Objection!" Hope stopped, bringing everything to a halt.
"...I told you, no heckling from-"
"Silence!" David called out, stopping the Witch in her tracks.
"I've had enough of this torture. David and I both." Hope said, breaking free of his restraint. "We've gone through hell inside your body, witnessing so much mindless torture, and now you want us to watch as these two kill each other or become Witches?! No way!
"And I suppose you have a better way to settle things?" the witch asked.
"Yeah. We're changing this tragic play into a trial. If you wanna put Madoka and Homura on the bubble for their separate doings, that's fine. But I'm gonna defend them both, and get them both outta here, not as treasures, but as friends!" Hope called.
"What are you saying?! You can't possibly defend the likes of these two! They're the center of suffering for the entire Magical Girl Universe!"
"And that's why I'm gonna defend them. So that we can justify the reasons why they went so far for their own reasons in this world." Hope said. "But in order for this to work, I need a prosecutor. David?"
"Heh… Never thought I'd end up being a prosecutor." David said.
"Don't think of this the way that Franziska did. Think about this as working for both sides of the law." Hope said.
"Well, when you put it like that…" David started.
"Hope, what're you doing?" Madoka asked as he and David took the stage as it morphed into two separate benches.
"Saving you and Homura and justifying your actions." Hope said.
"I don't need your help! You're the reason Madoka-!" Homura started.
"Homura Akemni, will you just shut up for once and hear us out?" Hope asked.
"He is right. After all, it is in this very court, where the truth will be laid bare for all to see." David said.
"It doesn't matter how far you two took your wishes. Because no matter what, I'll save you both so you can keep living, and neither of you have to die." Hope said.
"Wh- what are you?" Homura asked. "Why are you going so far for me? I don't need, want, or deserve this. Who are you to help me?"
"...your friend." Hope said. "And also, I'm one of the Ultimate Hopes of the universe. And as long as I keep hope alive, I'll keep fighting, no matter what anyone thinks of me. Now, let's get this started. Court is now in session for the Trial of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi… and the defense was born ready!"
David simply chuckled. "This really is so surreal… My very first case as a prosecutor. And not so long after a stint as a defense attorney. Do you feel this ironic, Hope?"
"No. Because it's the truth we are after. Danganronpa, Phoenix's cases, no matter where we are, that's all we're after." Hope said.
"I know. Honestly, I feel kind of excited spending a case in the prosecutor's shoes. I finally get to see the other side of the case." David said.
"So, you ready? I already said I am." Hope said.
David simply spun a tennis ball on his finger as a racket appeared on his hand and he arched it on his back. "The prosecution is also ready."
"Then let's go." Hope said. "Madoka and Homura's case is ours. Let's see if we can save them both."