Sacrifice

"WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN ME?"

Homura was flying over Mitakihara, angry and frustrated: for some reason, she was not able to go any faster. Air gusts reached her face strongly and fluttered her long black hair.

".em raeh ot tnaw ton did uoy dias uoY"

"Don't make a fool of me! Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

".evoL"

"What do you mean by that? I didn't understand."

".lliw uoY"

Homura gritted her teeth, face trembling with anger. "You useless thing! Should I still trust you?" And it did not get worse because, even at that speed, would not lack much for her to get to the destination.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Madoka was sitting, watching her surroundings. The large platform made of wood where she was located offered a privileged view of a great hall. Unlike the rest of the room, the platform was well lit thanks to the moonlight that cut through the huge stained glass windows. It seemed to be an old building, where the debris on the floor below and broken stained glass gave clear evidence of abandonment.

"Want one?" Kyouko, standing, reached out with a small chocolate bar. "I brought enough to both of us for the entire night."

Madoka lowered her head and spoke in a low tone. "I just want to go home..."

"You won't be returning. That, you can be sure of." Kyouko said seriously.

"But I don't remember anything." Madoka shook her head. "I've tried really hard."

"So you have to try harder!" Kyouko said angrily. "I showed that I'm a magical girl and spoke about the Law of Cycles. You need to go back there. I told you everything you need to know!" Then she sighed. "I see that she messed with your head nicely. Huh?"

"Are you talking about Akemi-san?" Asked Madoka, closing her eyes.

"Yeah. As I said before, she betrayed you and screwed with us." Kyouko was stroking the baton of her spear.

Madoka hid her face. She spoke in a tearful tone. "This is too crazy. It can't be true. Can't be me. It must be someone else, you're wrong. Please...!"

"Get up!" Kyouko raised Madoka by the collar of the uniform and stared her with menacing eyes.

"Ah! I believe! I believe! I believe! Don't hurt me." Madoka turned the face.

"Look here!" Kyouko shook Madoka to bring her attention back. "Do you know who is Sayaka Miki? Huh?"

"She sits next to you in the classroom. She's your friend... I think... isn't..." Madoka trembled with fear lest the answer that was given.

"You're right." Confirmed Kyouko, but that was not enough to calm her. "But that's not all. She's your friend and is part of the Law of Cycles too."

"She's my friend..." That sounded to Madoka as a great irony, considering her difficulty adapting at school.

"She's now facing Homura Akemi, buying time for us." Kyouko then widened her eyes to emphasize. "Got it? She's risking her life and you'll have to remember."

"You chose an appropriate place to deal with me."

"Shit!" The voice that echoed through the hall warned the senses of Kyouko. She released Madoka and firmly held her spear, looking at all sides. "MADOKA! YOU MUST REMEMBER NOOWWWW!"

Panic-stricken, Madoka jumped and gestured. "Kyaah! How? I can't! I don't have anything!"

The sounds of footsteps, on the wooden steps that led up to one of the sides of the platform, made Kyouko to react. She pulled Madoka and the two got as far away from the source of that sound.

Afterwards, on the other side of the platform bathed in moonlight, came the figure of Homura, in her school uniform.

Kyouko pointed the spear. "See Madoka? Now do you believe it?"

Madoka took the lead of Kyouko, her hands to the chest. For her, Homura did not seem as threatening as the girl who carried a spear. "It-it's true what she said, Akemi-san?"

Homura's eyes flashed, not that the other two could notice from that distance. "What did she say?"

"She said that... that... ummm..." Madoka was staring off.

"Madoka?" Asked Kyouko.

"It was something about magical... girls... yes... magical..."

Homura was surprised. How is she still remembering?

"How so?" Kyouko put her hand on the shoulder of Madoka. "Are you kidding me? Right?"

"Ah! What is this?" Madoka's eyes widened when she saw the spear of Kyouko. "You're in my class. What are you going to do?"

"Damn! She messed with your head again." Kyouko glanced at Homura and then returned to Madoka. "Try to remember, fight it."

However, afraid, Madoka began taking steps back.

"Kaname-san!"

Madoka answered the call of Homura.

"Don't listen her!" Kyouko ordered.

Homura continued "This is all just a bad dream. A mere nightmare. Remember what you were doing before? The geography homework."

"Geography homework..." Madoka was blinking.

Looking Madoka at that state, Kyouko pondered. Screw this.

"Uh-huh! A very tiring homework. You were at your desk doing it when... wheggn..." Homura's vision blurred, her legs buckled.

Madoka made a face, wondering. "No. I had not begun yet."

Homura composed herself. What's happening to me?

So Madoka smiled slightly. "Yes, it's a very tiring homework, but I need to finish it. I need to wake up from this dreaAHH!" It was when she felt an arm wrap her chest and pull it.

"Let's bet if you'll really wake up." Kyouko placed the blade of her spear close to the neck of Madoka.

Homura held her breath. "What does that mean?"

Kyouko giggled. "Heh. What do you think?"

"Ah! Help! Mom! Dad! Wake me up! Uuuuhhhh!" Madoka was in tears.

"You... wouldn't dare." Homura said confidently.

Kyouko released Madoka.

At first, Madoka took a few steps forward. However, she stopped. Where would she go? That strange, dark place with two girls from her classroom that she knew so little about. She never got to exchange words with either of them. At least Homura was not armed...

A swipe at her nape was the last thing she felt before the image of Homura Akemi, in despair, disappeared under a black veil.

"MADOKAAA!" Homura started to advance.

The author of the strike, Kyouko, held Madoka by the hair before she collapsed on the floor and once more put the spear against her victim's neck. "Take it easy! She was just taking a nap. You turned her into a big crybaby, you see?"

Homura obeyed, stopping.

"With whom do you think you're talking to? With Mami? Sayaka? Huh?" Kyouko was intimidating. "I'll make it simple for you to understand. Stop trying to play doll house with us or the pink here will die."

"Kyouko Sakura... This has gone too far." Spiteful, Homura made a snap with the fingers of her left hand. In addition to the sound, nothing else happened. Stunned, she tried several times.

Kyouko smiled. "Cool. I also know how to do that."

Homura could not believe what was happening. She then looked at the top of her left hand, where her diamond-shaped gem was located.

"No magic!" Kyouko was keen to leave the blade closer to the neck of Madoka.

The violet gem was opaque, off, almost black. Homura's eyes grew. My power reached a limit? But where and how...

".evoL"

The heart sank, it was like in the hospital. Only now it was not an unfair disease. It was clear to Homura that the pain was more than deserved. "Could I have achieved the greatest sin? What have I done..." She stammered.

".em evah llits uoY"

Homura, with a short breath, continued speaking in a low tone. "It was everything you wanted, isn't it?"

".akodaM tcetorp ot tnaw I .enola sruoy era sekatsim ehT"

"No... I won't let myself give in."

"Hey! What are you whispering over there?" Kyouko was impatient. "Where's Sayaka?"

I need time, maybe my powers will come back. Homura smiled again. "She's alive, that's all you need to know. Speaking of which, what do you suppose she'll think when she learns what you've been doing with Madoka."

"You've been opening some old wounds of her, so she came up with this plan to distract you while I tried to make this girl here remember." Kyouko glanced at Madoka, completely unconscious, resembling a puppet. "I found that plan a little weak and came up with this plan B. Heh. If anything, I'll say it was your fault, she gonna believe it."

Homura clenched her fists. Even if it was Kyouko, this attitude was extreme, but it was necessary to consider the circumstances of the occasion. "I don't know what Miki-san told you, but think about it. What if I had been taken away?"

"That's a tough question. Lemme think." Kyouko grimaced, trying to express effort, but it was not very convincing. "You're go on to have a nice trip with your Madoka. Something like 'And they lived happily ever after...'. That... That's it."

"And Kyuubey?" Homura asked.

"What about the white thing?"

"He didn't witness the Law of Cycles acting, but he knows about Madoka. Do you think he would give up?" Homura pointed at Kyouko. "You and Mami would be the next, because you also have memories of her now. And if he failed again, he would try with every magical girl you two had contact with. Worse, he could even use her family."

Homura point to herself. "So I did what was necessary."

Kyouko did not hide her indignation. "You're quite shameless, huh? Claiming to be the heroine when in fact you're behind everything."

"How?" Homura was intrigued.

"Sayaka told me everything, backstabber." Kyouko expressed with a menacing smile. "It was you who told it all to Kyuubey. Talked about Madoka, about these witches... everything. I don't give a care for that animal, Mami even thought he was cute. Now you... ah... you knew very well with who you were dealing with."

Homura slightly glanced down.

Kyouko snapped. "BITCH! YOU GAVE US ALL ON A SILVER PLATTER BECAUSE OF THAT GIRL!"

Homura came with a questioning look to Kyouko. "Do you still remember your little sister?"

That question further stirred Kyouko. "WHAT!? How do you know about my sister, I never told you."

"Not this time." Homura stood firm with her question. "Do you remember her? Do you remember your family?"

"Of course I remember!"

"Do you? Are you sure?" Homura pressured.

"Damn you! Where are you going with this?"

"Because I didn't." Homura had a sad countenance. "I didn't remember Madoka."

Kyouko was surprised. "Huh? But you kept talking about her."

Homura continued wistfully. "I heard her, but was not sure if it was her voice. I saw her, but was not sure if that was her image. I felt her, but was not sure if it was her presence." A single tear ran down her face. "You know what the problem of memories? It's difficult to discern fact from fiction."

"Heh. This is the same dilemma that many people have when they came here." Kyouko looked at the area around the hall of the church. "My father said it was a matter of faith."

"And if one day your faith failed, Kyouko Sakura? You would look for your family records. Texts, photos, news... anything. Would you not?"

Kyouko fell silent on the question of Homura.

"Fufu." Homura gave a bland laugh. "That's what I did. Kyuubey was the one who could help me."

"Yeah..." Kyouko raised her eyebrows. "He 'really' helped you."

Homura glanced at her gem. Remains the same. After taking into account the ironic tone in the statement of Kyouko, she began to tell. "He and I discussed the contract Madoka made and the possibilities to prove her existence through it. Kyuubey concluded that the most logical way would be to compare the differences between my memories and the universe."

Kyouko suspected. "You're just bullshiting now, right?"

"No. It's not even complex, because the differences, that I and Kyuubey nicknamed distortions, aren't too many." Homura then took a deep breath. "The first distortion is the existence of Madoka. There was no trace of her passage in the world history, apparently."

"Well, that's nothing new." Kyouko had the spear in its position, even if Homura did not present hostile intentions until now. She knew that if she left any openings, she could lose control of the situation.

"See? Very simple." Homura continued. "The second distortion refers to the demons."

"Kyuubey said that they represent the 'curses of humanity'. You told me that these guys replaced the witches."

"Yes, but both I and Kyuubey believed we're wrong."

It took a few seconds to Kyouko process that statement. "What?"

"It's true that the demons go to where humans are more concentrated. However, Kyuubey revealed to me that there were large conglomerations of demons emerging in remote places, far from any civilization." So Homura smiled. "Soon I concluded that there should be another source generating them. I believed that understanding this process could bring evidence to prove the existence of Madoka. Kyuubey said no magical girl even tried that and it would be very risky. Fighting demons in a city is different than in a desert, jungle or mountain. But I had nothing to lose."

"So that's why you left the city. Heh." Kyouko bit her lip with the canine tooth. "It was during one of those fights he got you. You fell into his trap. "

"Yes... I fell." Homura opened a smirk. "But there is a third and final distortion, one that I not shared with him."

Kyouko grimaced. "Huh? What distortion?"

"I."

Homura made a pause then continued. "More specifically my existence as a magical girl." She looked at the unconscious Madoka. "You know my contract is directly related to her."

"Needless to say. You only talked about it. I even asked Kyuubey and he said he didn't remember doing contract with you."

"Yes. Imagine waking up one day in the hospital and finding that you're now a magical girl and your only memory about it is the wish you did."

"Yeah." Kyouko agree. "That would make anyone crazy, but you remembered, right?"

Homura nodded, confirming. "When Miki-san was taken, when I witnessed for the first time the Law of Cycles acting, things became clearer. However, it raised a new question too..."

Kyouko became very curious.

"How my wish is possible in a universe in which Madoka never existed as a person?" Homura continued, more serious. "This is an aberration of cause and effect laws. It's true that the wish that Madoka made itself defies causality, but it only applies when you become a witch and not when you become a magical girl..."

"AHHH!" Kyouko was grimacing again. "This is getting complicated. Speak in my language!"

"That was something I was thinking about since I regained my memories and came a hypothesis: what if my wish was not an anomaly? For this to be true, the first distortion I told you would have to be false too." In a gesture with her hand, Homura pointed to Madoka. "This is the result of that idea."

"So these two distortions were false." Kyouko thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. "Wait... wait a minute... You were already believing in the existence of Madoka before..."

Homura gave a simple smile.

"You used Kyuubey!"

Homura said. "You're right in saying that I knew very well with who I was dealing with, but no. Not the way your accusing eyes are expressing. I just took advantage of the opportunities presented." Then she raised her eyebrows. "You know very well on this aspect, isn't Sakura-san?"

Kyouko smiled. "Heh. Yes, but I usually don't meddle with the life of the entire world. And what about demons?"

"What about them?"

"It's also one of those false distortions?"

"Hunting demons in these remote places proved to be a fruitless task." Homura said in disappointment tone. "This world I created with the idea of them staying out, but such generating source, if it exists, somehow managed to enter. But no matter, I can deal with."

"And you're doing this alone?"

"Yes, and if this keeps Madoka happy and protected, I'll continue to do forever and ever." Homura took advantage of Kyouko's relaxation to fold her arms so she could easily see the gem on her hand, still dark. "You should feel grateful too."

Although less tense, Kyouko held steady her spear at Madoka. "I feel a bit better. I can take longer naps now."

"Not only that. Huh? Hunting them always brought to you very bad memories."

"Tch." Kyouko did not like to hear that.

"You hunted them to keep your gem clean and just that. Have to feel this pain every day to survive. That life of yours was soooo bad, no?" Homura tilted her head to the side.

Kyouko looked down for a moment. "You bet."

"Now you no longer need to follow this routine, I wished and gave to you a much better future. So I ask you Kyouko Sakura." Homura extended her right arm. "Do you treasure this world? Do you consider stability and order more important than desire?"

Kyouko thought for a moment that seems like an eternity. The moonlight witnessed when she formed a smile. "Yeah. Fuck the world."

Homura shared the smile triumphantly.

However, that same light witnessed when Kyouko shuddered her face in fury. "And fuck YOU!"

The blade cut Madoka's neck.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Homura twisted her whole body in a scream.

"STAY THERE! I DIDN'T CUT THE ARTERY YET." Kyouko pulled the hair of Madoka to stretch her neck. The blood escaped through the cut, staining the school uniform in red and dripped to be absorbed by the wooden platform.

"PLEASE!" Homura gestured and started advancing.

"FREEZE!" Seeing that Homura obeyed, Kyouko lowered her voice. "You see the shit that you have done? You see?"

Homura tried to hold the tears. If only she had a weapon, her shield, anything, but now she was so helpless as had been once.

".em evah uoY"

"No. NO!" Homura denied once more.

"Sayaka told me that you're evil." Kyouko had to hold the spear firmly, nearly still, as a mere centimeter more and the wound would be fatal. "You know what I think? That you're dumb, useless."

Homura put her hands on the head, her legs were wobbly. "Dumb... useless..."

"This is how you want to protect those you love?" Kyouko said dismissively. "Madoka is mortal. You turned an eternal divinity mortal. Got it?" She burst out laughing. "Bwahaha. You're really a joke. With a 'guardian' like that, I'd rather sleep in the same bed with my enemies."

Homura still bewildered. "No... it was not for that... I carried all these sins."

"?derised uoy eno ehT ?seiromem ruoy fo akodaM eht ton si tahT ?oN"

Homura's eyes widened.

"?hsiw ruoy edam uoy taht deid ehs esuaceb ton saw tI"

".laremehpe si tahw hsirehc eW"

".su ot esolc ton si ti nehw ssim eW"

".hcaer ruo nihtiw niaga evah ot epoh eW"

".gnisselb a si htaed eroferehT"

".evol ruoy fo sisab eht si ti seuaceB"

"I fully agree." Homura breathed deeply and composed herself.

"Yeah? You really agree?" Questioned Kyouko.

"Uh-huh. Fufufu..." Extending her left hand, Homura conjured her crown-shaped soul gem. It didn't emit any light.

Kyouko again threatened. "Hey! Are you wanting her to die?"

Homura then threw her gem. I have not changed...

The gem was bouncing on the ground.

...I only bring trouble to others, no exceptions,...

And bouncing.

...and it will always repeat...

Until it arrived at the feet of Kyouko. "What?"

"Destroy it and you all will be free." Instructed Homura.

Kyouko looked at the gem and then at Homura. "But it looks like a soul gem. If I break it..."

Homura smiled.

Kyouko snapped. "Damn it Homura!"

"!?gniod uoy era tahW"

".regnad ni eb lliw akodaM ,uoy tuohtiW"

"And with me, much more." Homura replied.

"What are you saying?" Kyouko did not understand the meaning of that last statement. "Shit! There's gotta other way! Any other way!"

"There's none." Homura narrowed her gaze. "Or you don't have the courage?" And she began to walk slowly.

"I-I said to stand still! I swear I'll kill her!" Kyouko moved the fingers she was using to hold the spear.

Homura kept coming. "You don't need her anymore, I'm at your mercy."

Kyouko looked back at gem on the floor.

".hsiw ruoy yarteb ton nac uoY !pu evig ton nac uoY"

"...effo ym redisnoceR"

"Shut up, witch! I'm not betraying my wish, I don't want to betray anymore!" Homura stopped and yanked the earring from her ear, holding it tightly.

"Who are you talking to?!" Kyouko was scared.

"Kyouko, please! DO IT!" Homura walked again and begged. "Protect Madoka... from me..."

Kyouko nodded, pressing her lips. Carefully removed the bloody spear at the neck of Madoka and pointed against the gem. At this time, she began to shake and lose strength. "Shit. Shit! I did not want it to end this way. This was not my plan, Homura."

"DO IT!" Homura was just a few steps from Kyouko. She forced a malice in her voice, that was being betrayed by her tears. "I said Miki-san was alive, but didn't say how. Fufu. I broke every part of her body. Imagine what I'll do with you."

Even if it were true, it was not enough to ignite the fury that Kyouko needed to overcome the remorse that was already forming. She breathed through her mouth again and again and thought about Sayaka, Mami and even Bebe, wherever she was now. And also Homura, that girl so isolated, so closed in herself. Now that she was in front of her, with her chest open, showing her heart torn by discredited truths and accepted lies, finally, although too late, the mystery about her vanished. At least, Madoka would not witness her act. "Sorry."

"No need, Kyouko-chan."

Kyouko stopped, not only because she heard the voice of Madoka, but because everything was disappearing. Madoka, Homura, the church, all this gave their places to stars, comets, galaxies and nebulae.

Kyouko was alone in the middle of outer space. "JEEZ!" Floating, with no sense of direction, she clung to her spear like a shipwrecked clings to the wreckage.

"Aaargh!" Suddenly, a strong tug on her ponytail caused so much pain that it made her close her eyes tightly.

Kyouko felt that gravity had returned before opening her eyes. Such was her surprise to see that was being held by the hair, by a Homura with wings and a revealing black dress, on the edge of a cliff. Under her feet only darkness, seemed an endless drop.

She tried to use her spear against Homura, but Kyouko found herself without it. Her clothes were again that sweltering school uniform.

Lying unconscious on the grass field, Madoka was behind Homura. Apparently she had stopped bleeding, it was hard to tell if this was a good or bad sign. However, Kyouko had a certainty: she had failed.

Malice was stamped on Homura's face.

Kyouko found that to be hung by the hair was not a pleasant experience, even then she smiled. "Heyyy! Nice dress."

Homura gave no answer, just let go and saw Kyouko disappear under the black sea.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"Homura-chan was so distressed."

Nagisa was flying over Mitakihara in her bubble, thinking aloud.

"It must be something with Madoka. For sure."

Peace, was all Nagisa wanted at that time. Peace to everyone, including Homura, especially Homura.

"She worked so hard already... it never ends?"

Before the fight against Sayaka, everything was going so well. Homura seemed to be much more happy, eager to move on, to live.

This contrasted with that moment when Homura had become a witch. Nagisa knew well of that pain. Sayaka too, but she considered it a past.

But the pain comes back, her mother was a proof of that. Her curse. If it was something she learned and taught with Homura, was that the pain should be shared together, so that no one keeps a burden alone that would crush them.

Homura-chan, I'll save you.

Nagisa smiled, but not for long. She soon felt the intense use of magic. That left her alert. It was not far... was... in Homura's home?

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

The great hall, painted in white with red lines, had become a battlefield. Craters and mountains of rubble were part of the new 'decoration'. On one side of this clash were its residents and the other a magical girl.

"AAAAKKKEEEMMMIIII-SSSAAANNN!"

Mami Tomoe, in her costume of magical girl, found herself again obliged to dodge large black pins. The dolls launched them as if they were missiles and did not seem to be that different, since they exploded at the slightest contact.

Looking all over the city for Homura, her soul gem brought her to this place. Recognizing the fact that it was the residence of the girl with long black hair, Mami believed to be closer to her goal. Great was the surprise when the gem reacted and summoned a strange magical portal and, unfortunately, that's when she faced a 'welcome committee'.

When the first pins touched ground and exploded, Mami was long gone. However, five more pins were on their way, they changed the trajectory in the air and were too close.

Mami slid the tip of her boot, forming an imaginary line in front of her and stepped back. From the imaginary line, a thick network made of yellow ribbons rose, blocking the pins, but they really were too close...

"AAAAHHHH!"

The explosions hurled Mami back, making her roll over on the hard floor. Without delay, she gave an impulse when she planted her feet on the ground to dodge another hail of pins.

Homura did not appear, there was only these accursed dolls. Mami remembered to have fought against them in the battle for the liberation of Homura. They were formidable opponents, which imposed difficulties against a team of magical girls, and now she had to fight alone.

The only way to compensate the fact of being so outnumbered would being mobile as possible, but keeping the physical capabilities of her body beyond the limits was costly for her magic reserves. Mami had to think of something fast.

When she looked up, came an idea, but first she would need to distract her opponents. She took her beret and threw it up. From inside the beret, started coming out several muskets.

The dolls, forthwith, whirled and launched new pins.

Mami jumped to escape the explosions and with a ribbon that went out of her hand, she captured every musket in the air. When the beret landed precisely on her head, she was in possession of one bundle of muskets tied with a bow.

As if they were a single weapon, the musket fired against the dolls. The recoil was strong enough to drive Mami up the wall behind her.

The shot was not accurate, but against the speed of those dolls that would have been very difficult to perform a good one. Some dolls had to jump to escape the bullets that hit the ground, but the majority of them just continued to launch more pins. However, from the bullet marks, thin ribbons began to leave and grab the dolls. Alone or with the help of colleagues, the dolls were trying to break free of ribbons by biting.

While firming her feet on the wall, Mami was pleased with the result. Using her magic to concentrate all the strength in her legs, she took a big jump, escaping the last pins that were launched that ended up making a big hole in the wall. The destination of that jump was only one: a huge nonworking clockwork at the hall ceiling.

What she did not expect was a flock of dark birds that came out from the mechanism with full intentions to intercept her.

Mami then conjured a musket of large caliber and fired. The bullet exploded in mid-air, scaring the birds. However, to make that move, plus the recoil of the weapon, made her lose speed and start to fall. Quickly, she released a ribbon to the mechanism.

Some dolls had already managed to break free and returned to throw pins.

With the ribbon wrapped around an axis of the mechanism, it pulled Mami. The pins just miss their target and hit the ceiling, knocking off part of it.

Now over a large rusty gear, Mami watched the dolls below.

I better put together a barrier soon, I will need time to...

She noticed something odd: the dolls were standing with pins in hand, but they did not throw.

Why did they stop...

Before she could cogitate anything, Mami heard the sound of the vibrating metal, because someone had just set foot on the same gear. In reflection, she turned and felt the tip of a pin grazing her left arm. Conjured two muskets, one in each hand and pointed directly against the face of the doll that attacked her.

In the meantime, she could see up close with whom she was fighting. It was a doll with short black dress, red hair with a white flower with black laces as adornment. Its green and red eyes and sharp teeth expressed a menacing semblant.

Pulling the trigger, the shots exploded that semblant, at least that was what Mami thought. However, despite apparently being made of wax, the head was hard enough to resist, it just disconnected from the body.

Still in its silent laughter, the doll's head rolled across the gear and fell. Even without it, the body still attacked Mami, but awkwardly.

Mami simply blocked the blow with her muskets and pushed the body. It fell and shattered on the floor of the hall, detaching all the members from the torso with the impact.

While this doll fell, two more jumped to get to the clockwork, but were prevented by a large barrier ribbons intertwined that Mami had just cast around it.

The magical girl wasted no time, strengthening the ribbon that was wrapped around the axis and tying the other end of it around her waist. She ran and took a long leap across the ribbon's barrier, that allowed the passage of her and the ribbon tied to her naturally.

When the ribbon reached its limit, Mami began to fall. Replacing what was not moving, she became the pendulum of that mechanism. With great speed, she passed close to the ground and shoved the soles of her boots on the surprised faces of two dolls.

The dolls had mechanical notion, including ballistics. Even with the targets at that speed, the dolls launched their pins in full awareness of its trajectories.

But the mechanics can only predict.

With the magic following her will, Mami spun across the ribbon tied around her waist like a yo-yo back to the hand of its owner. The pins failed again.

Once arriving at the balance limit, she was about to start falling again. Mami projected muskets from her bust, which started shooting shortly thereafter against the dolls. It was necessary to press them in those moments when she was an easy target.

Passing through the hall again with speed, this time Mami was still closer to the ground, lying. With the barrel of a musket, she gave a sweep so strong in one of the dolls, that it whirled in the air again and again before bumping on the ground.

Mami then stepped on the floor to change the trajectory of the swing, the variety was the spice of life. Now rising, passing close to the wall, used the momentum from so she could run across it. Pulling the tip of her skirt, made it fall muskets that were fixed on the wall and fired.

The dolls rushed to protect themselves from the rain of bullets, hiding behind the rubble.

Mami screamed. "AKEMI-SAN! SHOW YOURSELF!" However, instead of Homura, what appeared was a mouth in the wall.

Mami almost stepped inside the mouth. She jumped from the wall and then saw that the mouth belonged to a flying tooth that began to chase her. She drew a musket and finished the creature effortlessly.

However, to the astonishment of Mami, numerous teeth started coming out of the wall. They flew into the ribbon and began to chew it. There were too many to be eliminated with simple shots while explosive bullets would end up destroying the ribbon too.

Without awaiting for the inevitable, Mami loosened the ribbon and took a dive toward the ground. She opened her arms to cast some muskets around her, who shot at the place where she would land.

When the bullets hit the ground, they raised a great curtain of dust where Mami entered. Lastly, she left the curtain, rolling across the floor.

When she started to stand. A large pin, wielded by a doll, crossed her thigh, others crossed over her body and one even pierced one of her eyes.

Eight dolls had just impaled Mami. They were grinning even more, knowing that they master would be pleased to have her home protected.

Except a doll, which hung her head to the side, curious about the magical girl's expression.

Despite the situation, Mami smiled and winked. Then her body exploded in a tangle of ribbons, which wrapped the dolls like tentacles.

A strong yellow light dispersed away what remains of dust, revealing Mami next to a mortar with a mouth so large that she could fit in easily.

Of course it was not for her.

The ribbons hurled the dolls, one by one, into the mortar.

The flying teeth, finishing to remove all wrapped ribbons in the clockwork, advanced towards Mami.

Mami pointed the mortar to the swarm of teeth.

"Tiro FINALE!"

With a bang, a bullet, composed of the dolls stuck together by ribbons, rose to some extent and exploded. Arms, legs, body, head of the dolls flew in all directions, destroying the teeth along the way.

Unfortunately, Mami did not have time to celebrate because a burst of pins came to her. There was still dolls to fight, but at least the numerical disadvantage was not so great.

By avoiding the explosion, Mami was intercepted by a doll. Conjuring a musket, she parried the attack and shot at close range.

While on the other hand came another musket, Mami noted two dolls coming in different directions. She dismissed the used musket with a kick. The musket whirled in the air, reaching the legs of one of the dolls, making it to fall face down. The other was easily dispatched with a shot before she could touch the girl.

Meanwhile a doll was advancing with a pin, ready to backstab Mami, but was surprised when the girl jumped.

Mami landed on the pin rod and gave a kick, plucking the head of that doll. Before she could breathe, another doll attacked.

Mami held the doll's pin with her hands and the two rolled on the floor. While disputing for this pin, the magical girl's eyes widened.

Red hair with a white flower, short black dress, no doubt it was the same doll she had previously destroyed!

Suddenly Mami felt a sudden magical power go through the pin. Not wanting to risk, she used all her strength to push the doll away, with pin and all.

The doll was thrown to the air and soon its pin exploded.

Panting, Mami stood up and witnessed with horror: A colleague was helping to put back the head of the doll she had torn with a kick. Arms, legs, body, head of the dolls she had packed with the mortar, lightly rolled on the ground to join again. The dolls helped each other to finish the repairs.

New teeth came out of the wall and took the area around the clockwork.

The fight would not end.

"AKEMI-SAN! YOU COWARD! NOT EVEN TO LET ME SEE YOU ONE LAST TIME!"

Mami would not shout anymore, was exhausted, it was time to end it.

The dolls come close, holding their pins.

Conjured up a musket and closed her eyes.

Father, Mother, Bebe... I'll join you. I made terrible mistakes, please forgive me.

"STOP IT!"

That voice made Mami to turn in a jump.

"Mami..." Nagisa had just entered the hall.

Mami ran and fell in her knees, hugging Nagisa. Followed by kisses on the face of her protégée. "Bebe! Bebe..."

Nagisa was static. "You remembered..."

"I thought I had lost you forever. I was so stupid. "Mami was in tears. "I should never have talked to Akemi-san. She's just a lost soul now. She did something with you? Tortured you?"

"I'm fine Mami." Nagisa assured smiling, but was concerned about the claims of Mami. "But Homu..."

Mami's eyes widened and gritted her teeth. Still on her knees, she turned the torso and pointed her musket to the dolls.

"No Mami! Leave it to me." Nagisa grabbed the barrel of the musket.

Mami was surprised by that, especially when Nagisa acquired her witch's face and gave a series of unintelligible grunts to the dolls.

The dolls were frightened and ran away, entering into the first door they found. The teeth also returned rapidly inside the walls.

Mami did not believe. "What... what did you do?"

Nagisa returned to her appearance of a girl. "I said that they were responsible for all this mess and that their master would return soon. Ehihi."

"Akemi-san isn't here?" Mami asked.

Nagisa only nodded to confirm.

"Then let's go!" Mami stood up and pulled Nagisa's arm.

But Nagisa did not move.

"We have to go! Before she appears." Mami returned to pull Nagisa.

Nagisa continued to resist. "No. Homura-chan asked me to wait here."

"'Homura...- chan'?" Mami spoke very slowly, then shook her head vigorously. It must be a mistake. "Look. If we run now, we can get out of Mitakihara. Yes. When she arrives, we'll be far away. We can... we can hide and..."

"I can't abandon her." Nagisa interrupted.

"And then you'll ABANDON ME?!" Mami snapped, dropping Nagisa's arm violently.

Nagisa retracted the arm and rubbed her aching wrist.

Seeing this, Mami lowered her head and put the free hand on her temple. "No... no... you wouldn't abandon me."

"L-Listen!" Nagisa pleaded. "You were right Mami! Homura-chan is not evil! She just has trouble trusting others."

"Homura-chan... Homura-chan..." The musket on hand of Mami began to shake. "Now I know. Yes. She changed your memories. That damned girl is using you against me!"

"No Mami! I remember everything! I know about Madoka, about the Law of Cycles. She would not let me know these things. Understand?" Nagisa gestured frantically. Then grinned. "I tell you more: we can be together. She told she'll seek a family for me! I can convince her to stay with you and then she would leave us alone!"

"HuhuhahaHAHAHAHAHA!" Mami laughed, raising her head. "It's worse than I thought. You're not even real."

"Real? I'm real! You hugged me." Nagisa reached for Mami, aiming to hug her.

"Stay away from me, Akemi-san." Mami pointed her musket to Nagisa.

"Mami?!" Nagisa put both hands on the chest. "I-It's me! Believe me!"

"Do you think I would believe in that silly story?" It was clearly possible to see the tension that Mami was going through by the contraction of her neck. "You mess with reality. Plays with what is not yours. You must be laughing now."

"Please... don't..." Nagisa begged, avoiding any sudden movement.

"Of course you're laughing at me. This weapon would have no effect on you." Mami smiled. "But I didn't come here for that, just to thank you."

"Huh?"

"You stripped me of everything I had and, with that, I understood everything about what I am, my role."

"Mami, what are you talking about?" Nagisa was confused.

"A corpse does not make friendships, nor does have a family, nor can love. That day I made the contract, I thought I had cheated death, but the truth is that I only fooled myself." The barrel and the stock of the musket began to reduce in size, acquiring the appearance of a pistol.

Understanding the intentions of Mami, Nagisa threw herself against her. "No!"

Mami was fast: when the gun fired, she almost hit the gem. Instead of it, the victim was her beret, which went flying.

The two fell to the ground.

Mami wailed. "You demon... when I remember again... I'll finish it."

"I'm not her, Mami! I... uh!?" Nagisa's eyes widened at that sight. "Your gem! It's all dark!"

"...let me die... let me die..." Mami, with eyes closed, was given to despair.

Kneeling next to Mami, Nagisa feared. She never asked Homura if the Law of Cycles was acting. What would happen to Mami? She would be taken? Or would become a witch or even die?

Homura was not there to purify the gem and there was not time to look for demons and their grief cubes.

Nagisa found herself without a choice. In her left hand came her grief seed. "Mami."

"...die..."

"I know you can still hear me. Please." Nagisa's left hand trembled. "You'll be fine, but I don't know what can happen to me. So I ask you to run away, run as much as possible. I love you." She gave a kiss on the cheek of Mami.

Nagisa then approached her grief seed to the gem at the head of Mami. A dark essence began to move from the gem to the seed.

The tense expression and short breathing of Mami were gradually replaced by a relaxation.

While Nagisa felt as if her organs were being crushed. "HHnnnnnggg... nnnngggggAAAAHHHHH..."

When completely purified the gem, the seed was absorbed again. Nagisa rose with difficulty and began to back away, writhing.

"...AAAAAHHHHWWWWWRRRRR..."

With clearer thoughts, Mami opened her eyes. "Bebe?" She saw Nagisa with a hand on her head, her face turning.

With her colorful eyes and her big purple mouth full of sharp teeth, Nagisa pleaded. "RRRRUUUUUUUUUUWWWRRRRRR!"

"No!" Mami reached and hugged Nagisa, not letting her go back more. "Not after what I did. I thought about terrible things, pointed the gun at you. Sorry, please, sorry! I don't know what I was doing, but I can't leave you like that. I caaaaAAAAAARRRRGGHHH!"

The powerful jaw of Nagisa closed over the right shoulder of Mami. The teeth penetrated deep into the flesh and dyed the fabrics of the blonde's garment in red.

"AANNnnnngg... ah..." With the help of magic, Mami reduced her sensitivity to pain. She leaned her head on Nagisa and stroked those long white hair. "It's... just a nightmare Bebe. Just a bad dream. It already passNngngnah..."

A cracking announced that her collarbone had just been broken. Her right arm went numb.

"It's okay. The shadows of the night will give way to dawn... ah... ah..." The pressure of the bite was increasing, Mami was having trouble breathing. "...Ah... I'll be here by your side, we can watch together."

Suddenly, the pressure decreased.

"Nnnngg... ah..." Mami felt the blood flow more intensely under her clothes, but she smiled with what she had seen.

Nagisa was looking at her, her mouth washed in blood, but her face was back to normal.

"Bebe." Mami called.

Nagisa replied with a serene smile.

"Bebe... ah..." A surge of cold took Mami's body. Blood poured from the serious injury.

Nagisa, still smiling, looked at the shoulder she had bitten.

"It's alright, Bebe. Don't feel guilty about it." With her left hand, Mami removed the gem from the hairpin and turned it into the shape of an egg in front of Nagisa.

Nagisa continued with a serene expression.

"I can heal this." Mami made her soul gem shine.

Until Nagisa slapped the gem, making it roll on the floor.

"Bebe..." Mami froze, not knowing what had happened.

"You're a great source of grief, Mami-san." Nagisa said.

"How? What..." Before she could form a more complex question, Mami felt herself being gripped by large whitish hands, pulling her away from Nagisa and dumped to the ground. "AAAAHHH!" Fallen, the blood left in her body froze when she saw who grabbed her.

The indiscernible face, the white robes. Around Mami, standing like towers, demons looked at her. The blonde did not hesitate to reach out to her protégée. "Nagisa! Look out!"

Great was the terror, in her blurred vision, to observe the shadow of Nagisa extending across the floor and becoming covered in more miasma and demons.

Nagisa placed both hands on her chest and spoke kindly. "Don't worry Mami-san. Homura-chan trust me now. She'll take good care of you. Just as I'll take care of her."

For Mami, this could only be a nightmare. She would wake up and see the morning light pushing away the shadows.

However, what followed were the darkness taking care of everything as she fell into a deep sleep.

Next chapter: Solve the riddle