(Cue- Trial/Court Begins (California) 2016: Phoenix Wright- Spirit of Justice)
"I seriously cannot believe this is happening at all." Kazuma said. "A bloody finale where we were only supposed to keep one surviving girl has turned into a trial for the both of them."
"Be sensible, Kazuma. If Hope had not recommended this, we would've had a more bloody scenario." Mirror Match reminded.
"Unless you actually preferred if one of them died." Crusadermon said.
"N-No. I'm not saying that at all." Kazuma said.
"Then you should be glad this is happening." Mirror Match said.
Hope breathed a sigh. "David, I know this was last minute, but this was the only way I could save Madoka and Homura both without one dying."
"I completely understand. I wasn't willing to just bow to her insane torture either." David said. "Her original method was simply inexcusable."
"That said, it's time to do our jobs. Ace, I want you to keep an eye on Walpurgisnacht. She tries anything funny, purge her spirit and send her straight to hell." Hope said.
"I appreciate it, Hope. But note that if he does that, this room, and the entire dungeon would collapse." David said. "We need her intact right now until we settle this matter."
"You two don't have to worry." Ace said. "I'll make sure this trial goes smoothly."
"Okay then, David. Let's get started. Your opening statement, please?" Hope asked.
"Haha… I've always wanted to do this part." David said as a holographic screen came up, displaying information to him. "Approximately 4 years ago, Madoka Kaname made a wish that would prevent the emergence of Witches and Magical Girls, and became the new Color God Pink, in exchange for everyone's memory of her being wiped and creating a new timeline where she didn't exist. However, this wasn't completely foolproof, as there was one person that still remembered everything."
"Right. Homura Akemi. As it has been stated, all she wanted was Madoka to be at her side. And she was willing to do anything to return her to mortality." Hope said. "Not only is she a defendant in all this, but she is also a witness to Madoka's temporary fall from Godhood, and that loop of a single month that she tried so hard to break." Hope said. "David. I think it's time Ms. Akemi was brought forth to testify."
"The prosecution has no objections." David said. "We would like to call Homura Akemi to the stand."
Homura walked forth to a created witness stand a minute later.
"Witness, for the record's sake, state your name and occupation." David said.
"...Homura Akemi. Formerly a high school student. Now I'm a full time magical girl, watching out for Madoka." Homura said.
"Now, if I understand, on the first day of school, before the two of you got caught up in all of this Magical Girl business, you had a fateful encounter with her, is that right?" David asked.
"That's right. It was as if I met her in my dreams. That's why after she was killed by Walpurgisnacht, I made it my mission to save her, no matter how long it took." Homura said.
"So why are you still trying to save her now? Why are you so intent on saving her from us, from this? Tell us why you are so focused on saving Madoka Kaname." Hope said.
Homura was silent, not wanting any part of this. The trial was quiet until she sighed, realizing she had to say something. "Fine. I'll tell you."
Witness Testimony: Homura Akemi
-Why I need Madoka-
(Cue: Testimony ~ Allegro 2001- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)
Before I met Madoka, I was faced with an illness that confined me to a hospital bed for a long time. When I finally became well enough to attend school, I was inferior to the other students in virtually anything; questions that were easy for some were difficult for me to understand, my weak physique left me unable to do physical activities, and I had a lack of social skills. But then… I met Madoka. She approached me, and immediately, she began treating me like a friend. She… she planted a small spark in my heart with that first meeting. And that's why… that's why Madoka means so much to me.
"So, you basically came into school with difficulties, and when you met Madoka, your life changed?" Hope asked.
"Yes, it's because of that meeting, that I have to be near her." Homura said.
"(Homura seems to really admire Madoka, as evident from the testimony. But the strange thing about that is she really is so protective of her to the point that she would try to strip her of her title.)" Hope said.
"Hmm… From what I can tell, this testimony seems pretty solid." David said before he chuckled, head shaking. "...Is what I probably would've said if this were my first case ever."
"Cross Examination time, David?" Hope asked.
"Yes, it would seem so. You know how that is done, right?" David asked.
"No worries, I've seen you and the others do it in the courtroom during our little stint in Phoenix's past. I got this." Hope said. "(In fact, this testimony is so easy, I can definitely see where I can present. Here goes.)"
Cross-Examination
Hope reviewed Homura's testimony until she got to that final line. That's where he wanted to strike. No need for pressing on this one.
"...that's why Madoka means so much to me."
Present: Second Meeting
OBJECTION!
Hope sighed. "Homura, I gotta say. For one so protective of Madoka's well being, you don't really guard yourself all that well."
"Why do you say that?" Homura asked.
"Well, approaching someone and treating them like a friend would make that someone more friendly, true." Hope said, "But for the lengths you've gone, it would take more. Something like saving your life when you'd lost all hope. Someone at that low point would cling to any salvation they had. That's what happened the second time you saw Madoka, didn't it?"
Homura flinched just a bit before she caught herself and regained her composure. "...Yes, that is correct. That is what happened."
"And it is after that second time you met Madoka, when Walpurgisnacht destroyed everything and everyone…" Hope said. "That you made it your mission to save Madoka!"
OBJECTION!
"At first glance, it all seems well and good… But you're missing a few key details." David said. "Namely this… How was she able to make that wish? There was only one possible being that could have granted her the power to do so."
OBJECTION!
"I know exactly what you're talking about, David. Walpurgisnacht might be the ultimate magical girl, but there are some beings that will grant the wishes of any girl to make them a reality. And I have proof of who they are." Hope said. "(Time to earn some Love.) This is the being that could've granted Homura's wish!"
Evidence: The Incubators
TAKE THAT!
"Huh? That strange cat we saw before?" Legolia asked.
"That's right. The same one that Ainz torched. But through my research, I discovered a particularly startling fact." David said. "When one Incubator dies...another arises to take its place."
"The Incubator we saw before wasn't the one Homura made her wish on. She proclaimed her wish to another active Incubator that took the name 'Kyubey"."
OBJECTION!
"However, there is no distinct way to tell the difference between them. As such, there's no way to tell which one of them was assigned to the both of them." David said.
"But David, one fact is clear. The fact that Homura made a deal with Kyubey to get her wish granted…. With the intent of saving Madoka from being killed!" Hope said, catching Homura off guard. "Why? Because that spark turned into a raging fire of love. So she used that wish of hers to go back in time one month, intending to keep Madoka from dying. She goes back, finds Madoka, she dies, and Homura fails, over, and over, and over!"
"Such a process would have driven anyone to the brink of insanity." David said.
Homura wasn't about to be told her entire life story. Though shaken by what had been said so far, she decided to speak up.
"Yes, that is what happened." Homura said through gritted teeth. "I wanted to protect Madoka! Wouldn't any of you have done the same thing, trying to protect someone who you held dear?! Why, then, are you examining my actions?!"
"Because, while no one is saying your actions were wrong up to that point, what we want is the truth." Hope said. "If you believe we're wrong in our positions, then you can testify against the truth and justify your actions."
Homura growled. "Fine then… I guess I'll just have to force you to stop this insanity with this next testimony!"
"Ooh… Be on your guard, Hope. It looks like she snapped, big time." David said.
"(I knew this was gonna be tough on her… guess I'll just have to push through and try to get through to Homura. No matter how hard she fights!)" Hope said.
(Cue: Last Chance- Friday Night Funkin')
Witness Testimony: Homura Akemi
- The Brink of Insanity -
I went through one hundred loops to try and save Madoka from the Witch of Helplessness. Each time, karma kept getting tied to her, making her a target for those vermin who saw humans as a resource. And no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do it! Madoka had to make that wish and leave the world forever, because I wasn't strong enough! Now here you all are, putting me on a trial for the crime of wanting to protect someone!? You… You will never understand!
"(Oof… her emotions really are getting intense. Guess this is all those times she failed to save Madoka coming out.)" Hope thought. "(She's really set on what she believes is right. Getting through to her won't be easy.)"
"Why can't you all just let Madoka come with me? Why can't you just… let her be safe?" Homura panted, 12 years' worth of emotions clear on her face.
Cross-Examination
It was a bit harder to focus on a good point to object to Homura's claims with her so angry. It took a bit, but Hope found the two words that formed a crack in her testimony….
Madoka had to make that wish and leave the world forever, because I wasn't strong enough!
The world
Present: Homura's True Motivation
OBJECTION!
Hope slammed his hands on the defense table. "Homura… there's a glaring contradiction in your testimony."
"And what would that be?" Homura seethed, with a look that would have killed Hope on the spot if it could.
"It's something you've kept hidden for a long time, maybe even from yourself." Hope said. "The truth, the real reason you made your wish. You don't want to save Madoka so you can be together. You want to save her….."
Hope then pointed in true Phoenix Wright fashion straight at Homura.
"...because you want to possess her!" Hope declared.
(Cue: Pursuit ~ Cornered - Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)
Homura looked absolutely speechless, unable to respond to what was just spoken.
"Love takes on many forms, sweetie." David said. "Unfortunately, some ways of love are more destructive than others."
"David's right." Hope pressed on. "Madoka was the first bit of light, of hope, you'd ever had in your life. Before her, you simply lived life day to day, not caring about yourself. Once you met Madoka, you had a reason to truly live… and then...it was ripped away."
Hope's tone became softer at that point, but no less definitive.
"That's why you made a deal with the Incubators. Not to save everyone in the world selflessly like Madoka did, but it was like Walpurgisnacht said, because you were so focused on Madoka, you didn't care what happened to the rest of your world. Your love for Madoka turned into a selfish obsession, to the point where you would risk your own sanity by going back in time endlessly to save her. Without Madoka…what point was there to live? Your wish…was a wish of pure selfishness." Hope finished.
OBJECTION!
"Selfish it may be, it was because of that wish that she was able to last as long as she did." David said. "But then of course… there was what happened afterward."
OBJECTION!
"Once Madoka finally ascended to her status as the new Pink, you weren't content with her governing your world and all the other MG worlds, including Etheria at the time. It took some time, but you found Madoka in her domain, hoping to bring her back home. You shot her with a bullet that sealed away her godly powers and would erase all her memories of godhood, just so you could have her again. But there was one thing you didn't count on. Interference from someone who wanted all the power of the Magical Girl Universe to themselves."
Homura winced, knowing that what she explained at the start was about to be turned against her. "A-And who would want to take advantage of me?" she said, trying to feign ignorance.
"Oh, you know." Hope smiled. "This was the individual that took advantage of your love!"
Present Evidence: Color God Black
TAKE THAT!
"That's right! Black!" Alice said.
"We all are familiar with Black by now, and he's not a direct fighter. For all the power from being a Color God, his greatest talent lies in the manipulation of others, whether through direct mind control, or through taking advantage of people's emotions to push them to do things that would benefit him." Hope said.
"He doesn't care about life on other worlds. He would even destroy his own, given the chance. Believe us. We have seen this for ourselves multiple times. In fact, you were involved in one of his attempts as well." David said.
"I believe you know it pretty well, Homura. After all, you were in the same boat as a few of us here." Hope said. "Or have you forgotten that you willingly became the Magical Girl Universe Elder of the Anarchy Kings, who were being manipulated by Black to unknowingly unleash Void, under the promise of destroying the Color Gods, while Sigmund promised you you'd get Madoka back!"
Homura was shocked. "Th… that's right… he did. But-" she tried to say, before David cut her off.
"And to that end, you even transported us into a different world to make sure none of us interfered. Face it, Homura. You claim to be opposed to Black, but you were willing to use any means necessary to achieve your goals…" David said, slamming on his desk. "Even if it meant following your supposed sworn enemy!"
"Unknowingly or not, you played right into Black's hands not once, but twice!" Hope said. "Because Black knew exactly how to tempt you. In short, Akemi, your wish was a direct opposite to Madoka's; a wish of selflessness to save the world at the cost of the wisher, against a wish of selfishness to fulfill a wish powered by an emotion stronger than desire, stronger than hope… a wish powered by love."
Homura was speechless.
"I believe I speak for Madoka and everyone here, that it was fortunate that Madoka fell to me that one day in Cho-Tokyo. Because she's better safe in my hands, then someone who is corrupted by love and only wants to possess her for herself, not caring if the universe you come from burns to the ground. So, Homura Akemi, with all this coming to light before you right now….." Hope said, pointing at her once again defiantly. "WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!"
Homura stood motionless on the stand for what felt like an eternity… before a drop fell onto the stand, followed by another.
Homura Akemi lowered her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "...I am a devil." she choked out before she fell to her knees, sobbing. "I am the devil. I don't… I don't deserve to-"
"And yet, with all this in mind…" Hope said. "...You aren't evil."
David fell silent for a bit at her breakdown. "...You know, Homura…"
"Hm…?" Homura mumbled silently, looking up, tears clouding her eyes.
"Even with all of that… Madoka still treasures her friendship with you. She hasn't forgotten about you, even after all this time." David said. "You know what I mean, right Hope? After all, you were there too."
"You're right David… I know exactly what you mean." Hope said.
Present: World Buddyfight Cup
TAKE THAT!
"Did you forget the WBC? When Madoka selected you out of all the other magical girls in the world to be your representative?" Hope asked.
"Madoka could've picked anyone from the Magical Girl Universe to represent her in that tournament." David said. "Yet… she didn't just choose 'anyone'. She chose you."
"This was after she regained her memories of godhood, after she traveled with me all over the Multiverse, to see what it's like to be a hero." Hope said. "I may have taken her in after she fell due to you and Black… but she still viewed you as someone she cared deeply about."
"Hope's right, Homura." Madoka spoke up, giving a calm smile. "I wasn't desperate to call on you at the time that happened. Truthfully, while I was nervous that you were representing me and the universe I watched over despite what you did back then… I was also happy. Happy that I could call on a friend I knew for so long to participate in the WBC."
"...Why?" Homura asked, staring at Madoka, still crying. "Even after all I did, all this, why… Why would you still consider me a friend? I'm nothing! I've always been nothing! So… after everything… Why do you still care?"
"...Because I'm your friend. And no matter what happens, I always will be." Madoka said. "And you're not guilty of trying your best to save me, just like I'm not guilty of what I've done to save the world, and become a god. Friends don't care where in the world they are. Just as long as the bonds they share are still tied."
Homura cracked a smile. "...Thank you, Madoka… and thank you… everyone. You're all…!"
The room started to glow and shake as Walpurgisnacht was crying in agony.
"Aaaargh! No! Nononononononono NO!" She screamed. "This wasn't how it was supposed to end! My perfect show! The new Witch who'd destroy the corrupted universe! My ultimate performance of revenge..!"
David heard enough and blasted her specter with Ebony and Ivory, making her scream as she exploded.
"I think that look suits you better." David said.
"...my light in the darkness!" Homura said in renewed hope as the room was bathed in a blinding light.
(Cue: Never More - Persona 4)
Upon the light's dissipation, the group was standing outside, the corpse of Walpurgisnacht gone, no trace of it left.
"...She's gone." Madoka said. "The Witch of Helplessness… the first Color God Pink… she's gone for good now."
"And you're both still here. No one died, nothing bad ever happened." Hope said. "You both are not guilty."
"Thanks so much for defending us both, Hope. And helping Homura finally crawl out of the darkness in her heart." Madoka smiled.
"Yeah, Madoka's right." Homura said, wiping away the tears still on her face. "I… I needed someone to tell me the truth I kept denying. I… I'm not a good person."
"Maybe not, but you're still our friend." Ethox spoke up. "All of us are. And I'm glad you're finally free of your own self darkness."
"And hey, it's not like all of us claim to be saints either." David said.
"Well, with that dungeon settled, it looks like the nightmare's finally over." Ethox said. "Say, Homura, y'wanna tag along for the final four?"
"...That's nice of you to offer, Ethox. But I'm not up for adventuring with you all, or joining your team." Homura said. "Not yet, anyway. I… I need time to reconcile with all this. Now that I've come to accept the truth of my actions, I can't just move forward. I'll think about joining you, and if I want to do that…. But for right now, I need to go my own way."
"I get it." Ethox nodded. "You have a lot to decide for the future. But know that the door's always open."
"Thank you." Homura smiled, before she turned to look at Madoka. After a moment, she approached the Color God and embraced her. "No matter where we are?"
"Always." Madoka answered, returning the hug before Homura left, not looking back.
"...Phew. I dunno about you guys, but before we do any more dungeons that will involve fighting, I think we need one that's less dangerous." Hope said. "What say we head to the Future Universe and see what they have to offer next?"
"We're game. We'll even give Kira a call to clear us through." Cheetah said.
"Kira?" Matthew asked.
"Yeah. Kira Yamato." David said. "Cheetah and I were working with him while I was kind of off on my own during the whole Angels of Sin incident."
"Ah, he's a friend from work. Got it." Zephyr said. "Everyone ready to go into the future?"
"You really wanted to use that line, didn't you?" Leanne asked.
"I did…" Zephyr said.
"Well...let's...do it anyway." Leanne said as a few cheered.