The newly established Eight of Saints' March already showed their hostility to Pryus' presence. They were cautious with the militia that accompanies this knight, claiming him to be some paragon.
There is a reason why Pryus has come. all this way to intrude and crash the meeting.
Sayaka stood up, arms on her hips. She was glaring at Pryus. "What are you doing here? There's a meeting, and you aren't invited!"
"My apologies for my rude interruption," Pryus calmed Sayaka.
Samael continued speaking for Pryus. "My Lord has come not as your enemy tonight but as a friend. He comes with final terms that we must can all agree on, or there will be consequences."
"An ultimatum...," Parasoul speculated, looking at Samael.
"More like a peace treaty, Princess," Samael sugarcoated.
"Let Pryus speak about this then," Mami requested as she stood up, "What are you granting?"
"Your lives— you precious 'normal' lives," Pryus complied, "Take it and return to your homes, and I'll forgive any act to treason you've committed here in The Fabric."
This offer left everyone silent, and some whispered to one another, mumbling with questioning about Pryus' kindness. Could it be trusted?
Hange decided to question this. "And what shall we do in return for the lives that you'll spare?"
"Relinquish any plan on advancing further towards the Tower and against me," Pryus answered, "As I said before, return to your homes, and leave me to my work."
Madoka, Kyoko, and Parasoul who were still in the center of this meeting chamber did say anything. Homura carefully walks back to her seat. They cannot surrender to Pryus at this point, and they know the consequences of reusing these "peace terms". They've seen those consequences.
Madoka and Kyoko look to Parasoul, who is still given the role of leader of their alliance.
Parasoul looked at the then and nods. She took a deep breath and give an answer.
"A leader of the Eight of Saints' March, I, Princess Parasoul, refuse to yield to these terms." Parasoul then notices Madoka stand by her side. She didn't really mind at the moment. "We've seen enough from our homes and on our way here that make your terms unacceptable."
Everyone in the meeting chamber agreed, already knowing something's sinister in Pryus' work. They all agreed with Parasoul's decision.
"I see, so you decided to think that way about me? A monster?" Pryus calmly argued. "You do not know how much I suffered and what I did to rise to this occasion. It may have been luck, but it was an opportunity to make a better future. And I know it's always people like you who will never accept it!"
Pryus then walked about the room, and started panning everyone that is against him:
"Says the Alicorn whose royal position will shatter a friendship. Says the Titan-Slayer who will one day bring Humanity to war with one another and betray his friends. Says the Ronin who is too old to seek out strength through the Soul Edge, wasting his life away. Says the Angel who's dependent on the guidance of his goddess, Paleutena, and the 'friends; he made to fight Tabuu. Says the kids who ended the world with a game and ruined their own lives and the lives of others. Says the Vanguard girl who is too attached to his dead lover who she killed with her foolishness. Says the Magical Girls who wish for things to come true only to find tragedy in the end. Says the Gundam Pilot who hates his own 'father' who is just like him. Says the experiments who do not know their place in the world. And says the Princess of the Canopy Kingdom..."
Pryus stops walking about and stepped towards Parasoul. Madoka and Kyoko stood by her side, ready to defend.
"You, Princess Parasoul, killed a child seven years ago. All for the destruction of the Skullheart." Pryus then looked at everyone. "I am not a monster! The true monsters are yourselves! And I know everything to prove that it's true! What I do is for the greater good! And I suggest reconsidering the peace terms I give and behave like normal people!"
This is what Pryus gets in return.
"I rather die than accept!" Mitsurugi stood up. "To war!"
"I'm with him." Sayaka stood with Mitsurugi.
"What choice do we have...," Twilightsparkle agreed, "This is wrong, Pryus, you should know it."
Everyone else soon stood together, still refusing to Pryus's terms. They could've accepted, but they know that whatever Pryus is working on needs to be stopped after all he did to their worlds. If he cannot realize and accept the corruption that he possesses and spreads, then he truly is a monster. And The Eight of Saints' March will have to stop him no matter what.
Pryus ordered Samael and his men to wait outside, following behind them. Homura decided to leave this meeting early, exiting quietly. He stopped at the doors and turned to look at them all with one more speech:
"You will regret this decision — all of you will regret this decision! There will be no place for in the Future for people like you! There will be no glory in the sacrifices that you'll all make tomorrow. I shall erase your universes, and their memories will never be spoken of in the histories of the Multiverse! No great archive shall carry words of them, and will be burned if found. Anyone who speaks of you or writes about you or remembers you shall have to live the rest of their lives blind, deaf, and dumb until death! A perfect example to those who will bring up the treasonous. The Multiverse will never know all of you existed and what you believe in or how your lived."
And with that Pryus storms off with his men following him out of the Stronghold.
Sayaka got up and quickly went after Pryus. Mami tried to stop her, but it was too late. Duo got in her way, but Sayaka intimidated him to move aside.
Madoka looked at Parasoul with a relieved smile, but Parasoul looked at her with distressed eyes and face of grief.
"I have troops to prepare," Parasoul told Madoka.
Parasoul leaves the meeting chambers of the Senate building with Molly and some Egret Troops following. Hange and Levi left with their troops to help Parasoul prepare for the battle.
The meeting ended. Everyone had to prepare.
Sayaka was able to stop Pryus and small army at the gates. She can see him preparing mount his horse along with Samael and his army waiting for him. Samael had a flintlock pistol ready and aimed at Sayaka when she came, but Pryus gestures him to lower that weapon.
"I'll handle her." Pryus turns to face Sayaka. "Lovely time to meet face-to-face again, Miki Sayaka.
Sayaka stops where she was.
"Your friends are a fascinating bunch, especially when they accuse me as an enemy," Pryus commented, "You chose the right people to die."
"What was that all about, scolding us for what we did in the past!?" Sayaka yelled. "How dare you jump down our throats , as if you had the right!"
"But it's all true, is it not?" Pryus justified. "And you think of me as the offender in this when you have nothing to defend? Why defend something so... wrong?"
"You said you could prove it, I want to know how you can prove it!" Sayaka questioned. "I want to know how you know 'everything' to prove that we are monsters?"
Pryus then gave a laugh.
"This isn't funny! I want to know!" Sayaka demanded.
"I don't need to prove anything," Pryus arrogantly answered, "The prove was right before my eyes when they spoke out against my proposal for peace."
"But it doesn't make any sense—" Sayaka argued.
"You're too ignorant to understand," Pryus threatened, "Admit your wickedness. Don't even deny it, you know it's there."
Pryus then turned to prepare to mount his horse. When Sayaka decided to step closer and grab him, Pryus struck her down with a simple slap that made her fall to the ground. She carefully got up and place her hand on her cheek.
"...Is this what a hero does?" Sayaka glared at him. "Do you even see yourself as one?"
Pryus shook his head. "I'm only doing what is natural. My heroism is just me being a normal human being. If you could simply control your life and abide to what the cruel reality throws at you, all things make sense. Think that way, there is no need for Heroism for it is just a label. If people want to see me as one for what I am about to do for the Multiverse, then so be it. Still, it won't change anything."
Sayaka can see there is no point in continuing to argue with this man who claims to be benevolent. No matter how many time people would accuse him, and no matter how many times they try to reason with him, Pryus will deny it and return with a force that overwhelms them. He's beyond moral and reasoning, believing that his power has exempted from anyone who would be a threat to his ambitions and his bubble. He was forcing his mentality on reality. All Sayaka — and for that matter everyone against Pryus — can do is fight for their cause.
She carefully got up and dusts herself.
"You are all selfish, contradicting, and meek. You are normal living beings, your heathens — parasites of the status quo," Pryus scolds further, "What I said back in that Senate House is true. Your claims already leave you all with no place in the Multiverse. You will all be vanquished. That is how I'll execute justice."
"We won't let that happen... not without a fight," Sayaka warned.
"I'm already tired of fighting and arguing with people like you," Pryus condescended, "We can discuss this if you survive one battle."
Sayaka sighed. "I'll see you in the battlefield." She then turns and leaves him.
Pryus and Samael signaled their army to leave The Stronghold and depart. They can be seen head straight towards the Tower.
Sayaka decides to check on Duo who was in a warehouse with a balcony where his Gundam, the Deathscythe, is completely repaired. All Duo needed to do is modify, refuel, and reload. Sayaka entered he warehouse and leaned against the leg of the Gundam. During Duo's time spent managing the Gundam, Sayaka got to know a bit more about him.
"So you originally lived on Earth with your pastor father?" Sayaka looked at the stars through the balcony. "Why do you live on Mars now?"
"At the end of the whole war thing, my father became Third President of the Mar Federation." Duo was busy using some tools to reinforce the Gundam's chest. "And after that, I stay on Mars with an Earth organization and stuff, assuring peace until Pryus came."
"What is your father like if I ever were to meet him?" Sayaka wondered.
"He's kind of like me, but you can say he's more mature," Duo replied, "I didn't really get along much with him. Sometimes I question if he really is my father, especially with how I came to meet him and mom."
"...Duo, could you talk with me directly?" Sayaka requested. "You can do that later. I need to tell you something."
"Fine." Duo stops what he's doing and hops off the Gundam Deathscythe. "What do you want to talk about?"
Sayaka brings him out into the warehouse balcony. She stood before him with a hesitant look on her face. Duo had an eyebrow raised, wondering why Sayaka is making that look at him.
"Uhhh... Again, what is it?" Duo asked.
"Duo Maxwell! I need to confess!" Sayaka confessed.
"Confess?" Duo looked confused
"Ever since we found you, I've been building up feelings that I haven't felt for some time. And this is really bothering me! And one the way here, we been through some highs and lows that seem to be affect my feeling towards you." Sayaka rubbed her arm, turning her head to the side to look away. "Yes, we have some relationship, if you could call it that, but I want it to mean so! And I really mean it when I said that you can take me to your universe so that we can spend time together! I want to be with you."
"Sayaka... what are you...?" Duo was then cut off by more of Sayaka's rambles.
A blush can be seen on Sayaka's face as she continued. "It's not fair of what will happen after we're done! It's not fair that I'll never get to see you, hang out with you, or even get to know you more! It's just not fair!" She was about to cry.
"Sayaka, calm down, will ya?!" Duo puts his hand on her shoulders. "What you are trying to tell me?"
"A-after all these days with you... I want to say..." Sayaka took a deep breath and took his hands. "Duo! I want to say... I love you! And I mean it!"
It was silent for a moment, but Duo gave a little smile and a chuckle. Sayaka looked at him, fearing a bit that he's rejecting those feelings.
"I guess we're taking this 'relationship' to the next level," Duo replied jokingly before taking it seriously, "Is that right?" He wiped the tears off her cheeks.
Sayaka took that as him accepting her feelings. She smiled a bit which grew more as she began to laugh. Duo joined her in the laughter.
Soon, they were leaning their arms on the balcony railings. Sayaka rests her head on his shoulder which Duo allowed. She even had placed a hand over his as they watch the stars twinkle. A shooting star passed by.
"Promise me that you take me to your universe," Sayaka asked, "Take me on the Gundam and show me your home, your family, your friends, everything."
"If killing Pryus reverses things, I guess," Duo promised.
Below them is a sloped walkway from a food storage house to an aqueduct. Kyoko was in the middle of that walkway, looking up at the balcony. She can see Sayaka and Duo clearly, holding hands and gazing at the stars. She heard most of what they said. She didn't look impressed and instead, she didn't like where this relationship was going. She treated it as just a joke, but look where it lead to. She wish she can just come up there and object to this; however, Sayaka is happy, does Kyoko really want to ruin that? She didn't say anything and just continued on her walk. She was eating an apple along the way.
Madoka was kind of worried about Parasoul after that meeting, so decided to check on her. Parasoul and the Black Egrets were a military sector of the Stronghold, training the troops with Hange, Levi, and the Survey Crops' troops. Painwheel would've accompanied Madoka, but Twilightparkle and Marta noticed that she was deteriorating. Painwheel had to be taken to a hospital in the Stronghold.
Madoka was able to convince Molly to lead her a room in the barrack that Parasoul is staying in.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Molly asked.
"Yes, I know she' upset after that argument... I just didn't mean to make her that upset..." Madoka looks down. "I just wonder what this had to do with a girl named, Umbrella?"
Molly did have an answer for that, but she didn't want to give it. "I have some idea... but it's best you speak to her about it."
They stopped at the door to that room.
"I'm sure you can talk things out, Madoka," Molly insisted.
"Thank you very much." Madoka bows slightly to Molly.
Molly salutes back and leaves the barracks.
Parasoul was sitting alone on a sofa, having some tea that's on a coffee table; She looked as if she been crying for a while as there are some tissues. There were some stacked beds, a few mirrors and chests, and some unused spears and swords that are rusting away.
When Madoka came into the room, Parasoul didn't welcome her inside. Madoka walks over to sit across from her. They both remained silent for a while; Parasoul didn't make eye contact with her. Madoka began the conversation."
"Princess Parasoul, can you explain to me about what you said back at that meeting?" Madoka questioned. "You mentioned 'Umbrella' as if you were close to them?"
Parasoul closed her eyes for a moment. She didn't feel comfortable at first.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about, I guess it really painful." Madoka hesitated to talk any further. "I also came here to apologize about earlier..."
"Umbrella was my sister," Parasoul came out, " She was my sister... She was carefree, albeit spoiled. Still, I did care for her. It was some time ago. She was dragged into the affair of finding the Skullheart. The people that took her claims she had a strong connection with it as if she was destined."
"What happened to her?" Madoka asked.
"When I defeated the Skullgirl, I found her, reaching out to the it. I had a choice, destroy the Skullheart, or take the wish for myself. I chose to destroy it, and she was too close to the blast... There was no time to carry her or even treat the wounds."
"But I don't understand, I thought Filia received the Skullheart to make her wish." Madoka was confused.
"Yeah... I-I remember... But I could've sworn I destroyed it. Why then...?" Parasoul then covered her nose as it started to bleed, a headache followed after.
Madoka got up and walked over to her. "Princess Parasoul! Hold on!"
She took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off. She made sure the to never leave Parasoul's side as long as the headaches were present. When the headaches did go away, Parasoul took a deep breath and relaxed.
Parasoul glanced at Madoka and stared into her pink eyes.
"You know... You look quite a lot like her. You have her eyes and her hair..." Parasoul sighed and looked at the floor. "Oh, what am I saying?"
"Did she say anything to you before she... died," Madoka worryingly asked.
"...She said 'You always do the right thing. I shouldn't have put you in that position.' And afterward, she died of those wounds." Parasoul soon teared up again. She covered her face. "It should've just wish for her to never become the Skullgirl... She had a whole life ahead of her. Me becoming the Skullgirl is better than losing a sister. I didn't get to say to my sister that I love her for who she is. I didn't even get to say good-bye."
Madoka puts aside the handkerchief and comforted Parasoul. "Parasoul, if I were her... I would've accepted whatever apology you gave."
Parasoul looked at her.
"She would've wanted you to continue protecting the Canopy Kingdom, so do it for her," Madoka comforted.
Soon Parasoul let out her emotions, embracing Madoka and sobbing. She repeated a few apologies that she didn't get to say to Umbrella. She can almost pretend that Madoka was her sister for a while.
Madoka smiled looked at a mirror that was hung on a wall; she noticed that something has changed. Her eyes were turning from pink to gold.
Madoka leaves Parasoul after their talk, and she was heading back to stay with Mami and Painwheel. But she then noticed someone stealing a horse.
It was Homura.
Finding this suspicious, Madoka followed her all the way to the Stronghold's gate where Homura mounted the stolen horse. There, Madoka approached her. Homura saw her but remained with a calm look on her face.
"Homura-chan, what are you doing?" Madoka demanded.
Homura kept staring at her with no response. There was something about her: Her shield no longer had crystals jammed into the clockwork, but she still had the crystal infection present on her chest.
"Are... are you leaving us?" Madoka questioned.
Homura closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I know this battle will be all for not. It will be a slaughter." She then glared at Madoka. "I will not be a part of this anymore after what Pryus has said back there."
"So you're just going to abandon us? Abandon them? Our friends and allies?" Madoka glared back.
Homura then dismounts and steps closer to intimidate Madoka. This did not work. So, she grabbed Madoka's hands and held them together.
"Madoka, come with me," Homura suggested, "We can forget all about this."
Madoka knows desertion is wrong at this point, knowing Pryus will hunt them down once he defeats The Saint's March. She shook her head, refusing Homura's offer.
Homura didn't do anything else. She lets go of Madoka to step away and mount back on the stolen horse. She wanted to lead her a hand, asking one more time, but even that didn't sway Madoka. Homura puts her hand down.
"I'm sorry, Madoka." Homura turns her back on Madoka and prepares to ride. "I'll promise you that I'll find another way... I promise..."
"Homura-Chan... don't do this," Madoka begged.
Homura didn't reply. She rides off slowly at first.
"Homura-Chan! Please don't do this!" Madoka followed after her.
Homura ignored her, she wanted to stop and confess something. Instead, she had the horse move faster. She rides off west towards the mountains.
Madoka ran after her, leaving the Stronghold and calling out to Homura.
"Homura-Chan! Wait! Please! Come back!" Madoka trips and rolls down the small slope before stopping halfway down. She nearly scrapped her knees in the process and there was some dirt on her clothes. She carefully got up and watched Homura ride off.
All Madoka can do was sob and reach out.
"Homura... Don't go..."