Author's Notes: Well, so much for my once-a-month deadline, hahaha. Stories are harder to write the further you go along, and I've been busy, so yeah!
Check out Chapter 1, by the way - I wrote up an extended opener for the series as well :D
Anyways, hello from the United States! I've been going around San Francisco, but I just can't find Salvae's Branch - not that they'd let me through the doors if I did.
Here is my second US-published chapter (the other one being Chapter 10). Once again, I apologize for the long, long (and spontaneous) delays, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
...
A small ramen stall near the banks of the Mitakihara River stood open in the late hours of the night. The young ramen chef in charge for the night had just bid farewell to his last batch of customers; bankers, salespeople, dockworkers, the usual fare. Stealing a glance at the stall's clock, the chef saw that it would be midnight very soon.
"I guess it's time to call it a day." The chef sighed.
Stretching his back and yawning, he started to close down the stall. It was at this time, though, that an unusual customer came by the stall. It was a young girl wearing the Mitakihara Middle School uniform. The chef scratched his head. It wasn't quite midnight yet, after all.
"Irashaimase!" The ramen chef greeted the girl and gave a small bow.
The young girl hobbled forward, barely acknowledging the chef's welcome. She slumped onto one of the stools, prompting the ramen chef to attend to her.
"What can I get you?" He asked
"A bowl of Yokohama-style, please." The girl replied, her tone rather distant. "And don't go easy on the spices."
'Yokohama-style', thought the ramen chef. It had been a while since anyone called it that. Most of the folks called it 'Mitakihara-style' nowadays. In reality, it didn't matter. Whether one called it 'Yokohama-style' or 'Mitakihara-style', it was still ramen.
"Coming right up..." The chef gave in and turned around to prepare Sayaka's order. As the sound of boiling water filled the stall, Sayaka Miki leaned against the stall counter and ran her hand through her hair. With unfocused eyes, she watched the steam rise up from the chef's stove. The resolute tone of a certain transfer student then rang in her ears.
"If you continue to cause Madoka pain... I will personally kill you right here, Sayaka Miki."
She saw it again, that scene in the abandoned hi-rise building. Homura Akemi raised her hand to Sayaka's face, the plain monotone of her voice now harboring murderous intent. In those moments, Sayaka did not feel fear. She did not fear for her life, not even for a moment. She just felt sorry for herself.
She was a failure of a Puella Magi – a subpar fighter burdened with protecting Mitakihara City after the death of Mami Tomoe. Her mentor had died before she could learn to properly fight, leaving her flirting with death in every encounter she faced. Aside from that, her best friend, Madoka Kaname, had the potential to be a much better Puella Magi than her – and she didn't even have to try. Still, Madoka refused to become a Puella Magi despite her potential.
Was Madoka taking pity on her?
Not only Madoka, she thought. That Kyouko girl pitied her too. The spear-wielding girl appeared in the nick of time, restraining Homura and allowing her to escape.
"Go now, Sayaka! Get out while you can!"
As she hobbled away from the abandoned building, she felt so useless and powerless. It made her sick.
Her thoughts were then interrupted as the ramen chef set the bowl of Yokohama-style ramen before Sayaka. She rifled through her pockets and scrounged up a handful of coins, barely enough to pay for the meal.
"It's on the house." The chef then said, turning away to start closing the shop. "You look famished – kids your age ought to eat well."
Sayaka didn't reply, not sure of what to make of this act of charity. The glassy ding of the Grief Seed that Homura tossed her rang in her ears. For a moment, she considered refusing the meal, but her stomach grumbled.
How long had it been since she last ate? Even she had lost track.
She just broke her chopsticks and started to eat her noodles.
As she wolfed down the ramen, the sound of police vans and ambulances rushing through the night tore through the uneasy calm. All of them were headed for the nearby train station. Sayaka's face grew sour – the selfish voices of the two men on the transit train came to mind. Her sword arm was still tense from the encounter. Dashes of blood still stained her hand – the mere thought of it made her shiver.
The sight of the corpses would not give her peace. Sayaka then raised her desperate eyes and looked out to the Mitakihara river, looking for anything that would give her solace. Instead, she found a cherry blossom tree at the graveyard by opposite riverbank, dead and withering. The thin branches of the tree waving in the night wind beckoned to her, almost taunting her.
"Hero of justice, huh..." Sayaka whispered bitterly, a tear sliding down her cheek "Where did I go wrong?"
Magia, Pacem, Bellum Terrarum
It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This
Prologue
Dust, debris and shards of broken glass littered the first floor of the Edificio Gumamela. Spent bullet casings were scattered about and splashes of blood marked the corpses of Elise de Lamarliere's Aspirants and Zealots. Many of them had been alive only moments ago, up until their gems all started to suddenly shatter. In mere seconds, their lives slipped through their fingers, spilt out on the mahogany floor.
The Aspirants of the Padre Faura, victorious as they were, felt empty. They had come to subdue the garrison, after all, not to kill them. The horror they felt as the defenders suddenly passed away was still fresh in the Aspirants' minds.
They had no time to weep for their former comrades as an army of Puella Magi encircled the Edificio Gumamela.
From the corner of the Calle Escolta and Burke Road, the Mexicans and Canadians marched side by side with their banners raised up with a dignified air. The Canadian Red Ensign, adorned the iconic British union jack and the coat of arms of British Canada, fluttered in the night breeze alongside the tricolor Mexican flag depicting a mighty eagle clutching onto a snake with its talon.
At the other end of the road, at the corner of the Escolta and the Calle T. Pinpin, the Puella Magi of the United States marched in double-line standard. The flag of the United States and the forty-eight stars she bore was raised high. The Carissimas of Ville de Quebec, Ciudad de Mexico and the city of San Francisco walked beside their respective flags with commanding gait. They were the vanguard of Salvae, Terrae Magicae's Philippine Expedition.
Even in the darkness of the decimated Calle Escolta, the flags were illuminated by the wan light of the moon and the bright gems of the many Puella Magi that walked under them.
"By order of our lady, Lorelei Sankt," Cried the Carissima of San Francisco, raising her Soul Gem emphatically "we are here to deliver punishment for the crimes you have committed!"
Huddled by the cracked walls and the blackened windowsills where the corpses of Elise's garrison still lay, the Aspirants took cover with their weapons close to their hearts. They were being court-marshaled on the spot – a token show of formality and due process. There would be no trial – just a prelude to the impending charge. Behind their sparse cover, the Aspirants carefully reloaded their guns and healed the wounds and injuries they had sustained. They peeked out every now and then to catch a glimpse of the attacking army, only to be awestruck by its sheer size. Then, the final clauses of the trial were declared.
"The accused: Carissima Serafina Larivenko of Kiev, the Discipulas Ligaya de la Cruz and Audrey Burnham of Manila, the rogue Puella Magi of the Empire of Japan and all of the Puella Magi who have lent their powers to their treachery.
The penalty: death by the sword. If you do not take your own lives within the hour, we will be compelled to take them for you. You have until midnight – make your choice."
Then, there was silence. Anxiety started to fill the hearts of the girls of the Padre Faura.
"We aren't prepared for this…" an Aspirant mumbled, feeding her Sturmgewerhr 44 a new magazine, "No… not at all…"
"Keep faith, comrade." One of the Russian Puella Magi then said, passing by the Aspirant as she inspected their defensive line, "There is a chance we will not even have to fight. We just need our Lady Lorelei Sankt to know the truth – she'll call off the attack."
"But what if she doesn't?" The Aspirant asked
"Then we have no choice." The Russian said, handing the Aspirant a pouch of Grief Seeds, "Just like the in the Romashka Building in Stalingrad, we will have to fight tooth and nail."
Act XL – Mens Rea
"Elise…"
Lorelei Sankt sobbed; her cracked voice scathingly somber. Bitterness reigned on the Magni Domina's face as she knelt beside the corpse of her most trusted Carissima and her most treasured friend.
"Elise…? Elise…!" Lorelei repeated her friend's name desperately as tears formed in her eyes. "Elise!"
This couldn't be happening, Lorelei thought. Rather, it must have been some kind of nightmare, or maybe even some sort of act. If she called out to Elise, if she shook her friend hard enough, her friend might wake up somehow and tell her that everything was alright – just like she always did.
The French Carissima's body, however, grew cold as the evening draft swept into the shattered windows of the Edificio Gumamela. Elise's blood was spilled out on the chessboard floor, dripping down cruelly from the hole in her chest. Her sharp grey eyes that commanded both fear and respect from the Puella Magi of Salvae for almost three decades were blank and unfocused, staring beyond the Magni Domina who knelt beside her.
Elise de Lamarliere was dead. No matter how hard Lorelei tried, she would not be able to awaken her. Grimacing, Lorelei gently laid her a hand on Elise's forehead and carefully closed her friend's eyes. The tears that Lorelei had forcefully held back now started to fall.
Audrey, Ligaya, Michi and Serafina all watched that tense scene in utter silence. The Americana and the Filipina stood side by side at the threshold of Elise's room but were afraid to take a step closer. Michi, on the other hand, tended to the injured Serafina who was still too weak to stand on her own. None of them wanted to break the uneasy silence that dominated the room in those moments.
From outside, the declarative accusations read out by the Philippine Expedition reached Audrey's ears, albeit muffled. They did not have a lot of time left before midnight, and Audrey knew. This silence would have to be broken and would be broken – but not in the way Audrey had intended.
"How did this happen?" Lorelei asked, wiping the tears that soaked her cheeks. "Tell me…"
"Elise betrayed us all, my Lady…" Serafina replied, her voice determined but weak. "You have to understand us…"
"No, Carissima!" Lorelei suddenly lashed out, lifting herself up from where she knelt. "How did this happen?"
The Magni Domina wore a ferocious face, baring her teeth menacingly. Her sky blue eyes, always kind and caring, were ablaze with fury that was almost primal. Audrey, Ligaya and Serafina were paralyzed by the sight, unable to fathom the raging, inconceivable anger they now saw in Lorelei.
Michi, however, did not flinch. Instead, she just turned away from Lorelei's scorching rage. The final, dying words of Elise de Lamarliere still haunted the Japanese girl, after all.
Impatiently, Lorelei Sankt left Elise's side and summoned her scepter, glaring angrily at Michi and Serafina as she marched towards them.
"No!" Ligaya cried, begging the Magni Domina for calm, "Please, don't do this!"
Lorelei did not listen to the Filipina's plea. With her scepter in hand, she marched on. Her eyes were fixated on Michi and Serafina, compelled to spill their blood and crush them completely until they begged for mercy – and she would give them none.
Michi just closed her eyes regretfully and stood up as well, standing between Lorelei and Serafina. She summoned her naginata with a turquoise blue flash and took a steeled stance. When Michi opened her eyes again, the regret vanished to be replaced with a warrior's determination. She was prepared to fight.
Both Audrey and Ligaya watched in disbelief, hesitant to intervene. If they even tried to hurt Lorelei Sankt, the Philippine Expedition would rush in to destroy them all. But as things stood, it didn't seem like Lorelei was willing to call off the attack. It was a terrible predicament.
Then, Michi spoke.
"Elise was the one who was behind the killings." She said adamantly, her grip on her naginata firm. "She was the one who commanded the black-shawls."
Michi's words, however, only infuriated Lorelei more.
"DON'T YOU DARE TARNISH HER MEMORY WITH YOUR LIES!" Lorelei screamed hysterically, furiously cutting the air with her scepter.
A powerful shockwave then burst forth from the scepter, headed straight for Michi and Serafina. The Japanese girl raised her naginata and steeled herself to withstand the blow, only to be pushed back a great distance by Lorelei's powerful magic. Dust and debris were launched skywards as Michi's wooden slippers scraped the marble floor with a dull screech. As the dust settled, Audrey, Ligaya and Michi froze in shock.
The Magni Domina had walked passed Michi and now held Serafina up from the floor by the collar of her Equestrian-Grenadier attire. With a forceful tug, Lorelei pulled Serafina off from her feet.
"M-my Lady…" Serafina croaked as her legs flailed weakly in the air.
"I am not your Lady anymore." Lorelei spat, her words bitter.
The Ukrainian tried to struggle from Lorelei's grasp, but to no avail.
"Y-you will always be my Magni Domina…" Serafina was defiant. "I… I believed in your dream, L-Lady Lorelei… the dream where no P-Puella Magi will be hungry, homeless… or… or lonely…"
Lorelei's grip faltered for a moment, a flicker of doubt sparking in her eyes, but she refused to let go of Serafina's collar.
"T-that dream… is what convinced me to become a Puella Magi." Serafina continued, starting to feel the strain on her neck. "At times of war, it is us girls that get the worst of it – Puella Magi are no exception. I fought to keep that dream alive, Lady Lorelei! I fought for you and your dream!"
"Why then, Serafina!" Lorelei demanded, her teary eyes glaring at Serafina, "Why did you have to take Elise away from me?"
"We already told you." Serafina spoke in a restrained whisper, "I couldn't believe it either, at first, but it is the truth…"
Lorelei's heart sank as the weight of Serafina's words became clear to her. Confusion mixed with doubt and remorse in the Magni Domina's heart as she watched Serafina suspended in the air before her. With all those conflicting thoughts swirling around mercilessly in her head, she didn't know what to believe anymore. All that remained in Lorelei's heart was grief, etching a bitter frown on her face. Then, without warning, Serafina cried in pain.
The Magni Domina was stunned, as were Michi, Audrey and Ligaya. A trail of maroon light seeped out of Serafina's sickle shaped gem, drawn towards the gem that encrusted Lorelei's crown. All the while, the maroon gem lost more and more of its radiance until it became dull. Frightened, Lorelei's grip on Serafina's collar faltered, letting the Ukrainian fall to her knees.
"… What… what's happening to me?" Serafina coughed, panicking as she saw her Soul Gem wither before her eyes, "What the hell!"
In a split second, the rage Lorelei felt towards the Ukrainian disappeared, and she rushed to Serafina's side to see what she could do to help. As Lorelei got closer, though, Serafina's pain grew acute and her Soul Gem grew darker again. The Magni Domina sprung away, as if she were branded by a hot iron. This strange phenomenon now frightened her. Michi dashed forward and pulled Serafina away from Lorelei Sankt and towards the threshold where Audrey and Ligaya stood.
The Ukrainian girl panted heavily, sweating profusely as a desperate fear was etched on her face. Audrey helped Serafina sit upright with her back against the wall while Ligaya hurriedly opened her satchel, stuffed to the brim with the Grief Seeds of the Edificio Gumamela's storehouse. Barely able to keep calm, the two girls took turns in cleansing Serafina's gem.
Seeing Serafina thrash around in pain like this, Michi furrowed her brow. She had seen a similar scene in the past, on the last day of the Greater East Asia Conference in Japan with Lorelei Sankt. These were no mere coincidences, and Lorelei herself started to piece the puzzle together as well.
"… I don't understand." Lorelei spoke with her eyes fixated on the floor, "What is going on…? Surely, you must know…"
Michi faced the Magni Domina, unsure of whether or not she should speak or what to speak about, for that matter. As the Japanese girl tried to string together something, anything, to tell Lorelei, an airy voice filled the room.
"So then, it seems an explanation is in order."
The Japanese girl's eyes sharpened. She did not have to look to recognize who had spoken.
"Incubator."
Everyone's eyes turned over to the far end of the room where the painting of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People hung, its colors already faded. Under the crumbling paining sat Kyuubey, calmly watching the exchange with keen interest. Had he been watching them all this time?
"This is a most interesting turn of events, I must say." Kyuubey hummed, wagging his tail to an amused beat "Now, I can fully understand the full breadth of Elise de Lamarliere's wish."
"… Elise's wish?" Lorelei was dazed, her mind torn between sadness, anger and fear.
"Yes." The creature nodded, sitting upright as he looked straight into Lorelei's eyes. "In all honesty, Mademoiselle de Lamarliere's wish absolutely confounded me. It was a wise wish, I thought, that harnessed the strength of Puella Magi and rallied them together with fierce loyalty. See how the Mademoiselle fought for you until her dying breath."
Lorelei lowered her head, saddened even more by this thought. Kyuubey's red eyes gleamed and its eerie smile seemed to widen just a little bit. The creature then continued his explanation with a satisfied tone.
"In essence, the ritual of Soul Gem binding, the process that sprung forth from Elise's wish, brought the Puella Magi of Salvae together into a tree of sorts. You, Lorelei Sankt, constitute the root and trunk as the Magni Domina. Mademoiselle Elise, Ms. Larivenko and the other Carissimas are the branches while those bound to them are practically the leaves.
This is the reason why the Puella Magi of Salvae are so strong. Through the ritual of Soul Gem binding, the girls are bound in duty and honor and share each other's strengths to overpower their foes. However, the ritual does more than just bind their strength. The ritual also binds their fates."
"… what do you mean?" Lorelei asked
"When a branch of a tree falls," Kyuubey blinked, "do not the leaves of that branch wither as well?"
Audrey and Ligaya's faces suddenly grew pale. They remembered seeing the gems of the Zealots and the Aspirant defenders of the Edificio Gumamela all suddenly shatter in their hands. When Elise died, every Puella Magi bound to her died as well. The stubborn Zealots and the treacherous Incognitas bound to Elise were dragged to their deaths, but so were the Aspirants they had hoped to liberate.
The faces of the Puella Magi that Audrey, Ligaya and Serafina had chatted with, eaten with and fought alongside flashed in their minds and filled them with regret. They had so adamantly wanted to see Elise de Lamarliere killed in the name of justice. What they had thought was a righteous, even benevolent act, was actually cruel, heartless and blind.
The Japanese girl then looked at her hand, still stained with the blood of Elise de Lamarliere, and grew somber. With one precise blow, Michi had taken the lives of thirty girls. She could only grit her teeth remorsefully.
"So does that mean…" Lorelei then hesitated, "If I die…"
"Then every single Puella Magi of Salvae, Terrae Magicae who have undergone the binding will die as well." Kyuubey said unflinchingly, "In short, virtually every active Puella Magi in the world."
"N-no…" The Magni Domina stammered in disbelief, "T-that's impossible…"
"The evidence for that is already there," Kyuubey blinked, "They're littered in the first floor of the Edificio Gumamela."
"Damn you!" Audrey hissed, pointing her M1918A2 BAR at the creature, "How inconsiderate can you be? Why didn't you tell us… why didn't you tell those girls about this?"
"It's simple, really." Kyuubey turned to the American, "You never asked!"
Angrily, the American roared as she squeezed the trigger. Shots rang out and pierced the creature dead. Empty bullet casings struck the marble ground with hollow dings and Audrey exhaled. Kyuubey was dead, she thought; the damned creature would be silenced forever. Audrey's hopes, however, would be crushed in an instant.
"Now, now… killing me would make no difference, Ms. Burnham." Another Incubator revealed itself, perched up on the room's windowsill amongst the broken glass "I am not the only one of my kind, after all."
As Kyuubey spoke, a whole host of Incubators revealed themselves. Trotting nonchalantly through the main threshold, about twenty of them entered the room. Audrey jumped in fright, but quickly prepared herself to shoot again.
"Don't waste your ammunition." Michi gestured the American to lower her gun. "No matter how many of them you kill, they will keep coming back."
"It's nice to see someone with sound, logical sense." The Kyuubey at the window said. He then turned to Michi. "Of course, you of all people would know this fact, Hideyoshi-san. That incident in Hokkaido may seem so very long ago, but I remember it clearly…"
"Urusai. (Be quiet.)" Michi growled in Japanese, "Ima, taisetsu ja nai! (That does not concern me anymore!)"
"Oh?" Kyuubey hummed, "But I think it does... it was such a fascinating display of raw force, after all. Dono yō ni ōku no murabito ga korosareta, sâ kashira? (How many of those villagers were killed? I wonder.)"
Before Michi could retort, Serafina started to groan and rolled to her side as the pain harassed her again. The Ukrainian's gem was on the verge of turning completely dark once more.
"Ah, but we digress." Kyuubey apologized, "Today, we may bear witness to something most extraordinary. I, for one, am rather excited."
Bitterly, Michi turned away from the creature and Audrey was forced to stand down. Ligaya and the American feverishly drew Grief Seeds from the satchel to try and cleanse Serafina's gem.
"W-what's going to h-happen…" Serafina croaked, barely able speak, "I-if I don't die… if my g-gem stays like this?"
"Interesting question. I too wish to find out." Kyuubey hummed, "Every phenomenon that had advanced human society, after all, came forth from trial and error."
Serafina then shrieked in pain, no longer able to stand the scathing sensation from her gem that robbed her of her strength. It was as if cold knives stabbed through Lorelei's heart as she watched Serafina in such a helpless state. There was nothing she could to lighten her suffering Carissima's ordeal.
"This is my fault… all of it…" Lorelei whimpered, rubbing her tearful eyes, "And for Elise to keep this all from me… I was such a fool to have so much hope…"
"If you think like this, Lorelei Sankt…" Michi then interrupted, remembering the dying words of the girl she had slain, "then you really are a fool!"
She fixed Lorelei with a steady, unflinching stare. The tearful Lorelei turned to Michi, but she did not know what to say.
"Elise de Lamarliere didn't know everything there was to know about the consequences of her wish." Michi continued, feeling Elise's blood drying on her palm "She knew her wish wasn't perfect, so she did everything in her power to allow you to fulfill yours even if it meant walking the path of darkness… and it was a dark path indeed.
Still, I think I can understand why she chose this path. The dream you have is a beautiful one, Lorelei."
No matter what she told the incubators, or how stoic she tried to be, her past sins still haunted her.
"Some way, somehow, she must have believed in that dream too. Never let it go, and continue to chase it – this is what Elise would have wanted. She wouldn't want you to destroy yourself like this!"
The Magni Domina fell silent as Michi's words floated around in her head.
"So please." Michi pressed on, "Call off your army's attack and listen to us – then we will explain everything in full. Let calm minds prevail, Lorelei. We do not wish for any more bloodshed."
Michi's eyes then strayed from Lorelei's.
"I have seen enough bloodshed for a lifetime."
The Magni Domina took a deep breath then faced Michi, though rather hesitantly. She considered Michi's words and prepared herself to order the Philippine Expedition to stand down. However, before Lorelei could say anything…
"Oy! Serafina! Stay with us here!" Audrey cried, horrified. A stream of blood started to flow from the Ukrainian's mouth. Serafina's eyes shifted around as she tasted the irony tang, turning from Ligaya to Audrey in absolute fear.
"… Comrades…" Serafina's voice was fading away, "Please… don't let me die like this…"
"Hold on!" Ligaya cried, running another Grief Seed by Serafina's gem. However, no darkness would flow out of the maroon gem. Even as she tapped the seed against the gem, it would not purify it any more. "No way…"
"The seeds aren't working anymore!" Audrey panicked, turning to Michi fearfully. "W-we need do something, fast!"
"It's over…!" Serafina whimpered in terror, "Please… don't let me become a Witch… the Puella Magi of Stalingrad I called to help us – they're bound to me, all four of them!"
"What!" Audrey gasped, "Then… then… the Aspirants downstairs are in danger!"
"Kill me, comrade!" Serafina pleaded, grabbing Audrey's sleeve desperately, "Death is a better fate for us than Witch-hood! Hurry!"
A tear then escaped from Serafina's eyes,
"And… I have betrayed Lorelei, after all, and doubted her dream. I f-failed as a Carissima… This will be my atonement."
"It can't be helped, then." Michi summoned her naginata and pointed its blade at Serafina's blackened Soul Gem. "I'm sorry, Serafina."
"No, don't!" Lorelei pleaded, dashing towards Michi and restraining her.
"Let go of me!" Michi cried, struggling out of Lorelei's grasp. "Serafina has to die."
"I've already lost Elise!" cried Lorelei, clinging tightly onto Michi's kimono, pinning the sleeves, "Don't make me lose anyone else!"
"You're making a mistake!" Michi cried, horrified as she fought to free her arms from Lorelei.
Suddenly, a glassy crack resounded in the room. Tears ran down Serafina's cheeks as she gave one last sharp cry. Then, dark energy burst forth from the maroon gem, threatening to consume the girls in its grasp. An oppressive aura enveloped the room; an aura similar to the one Michi had felt when she first entered Elise's room.
Everything around them was slowly being painted in an irony hue – darkened crimson. The room itself grew distorted and warped into unreal shapes and colors, all of it centered on Serafina who started to rise in mid-air as if suspended by a cord on her chest and the shattering gem she held in her limp hands.
"Serafina!" Audrey cried, shielding her face from the overwhelming force that assailed her, "NO!"
With great effort, the American reached for her hip and drew out her M1911A1 pistol and aimed it at the blackened gem. She fired and struck the gem, only for the bullet to be deflected.
The Ukrainian did not respond to Audrey's call. Her glazed eyes stared into the ceiling and her body was stiff. She was dead, suspended lifeless there like a puppet as the room changed around her. Then, from the cracks of the blackened gem, a horrifying creature arose.
A fearsome entity appeared before the girls and the Incubators, wailing and lamenting with a shrill voice. It was a being with broad, black wings, a sorrowful face and a wreath of withered laurels in its hair – a fallen angel chiseled out of black stone.
In her hands was a thin, menacing blade of pure obsidian ignited in a dark yet scathing, otherworldly flame. Then, a veil of maroon light blanketed her and the creature of black stone started to disappear from sight.
"Stay together!" Michi cried, gesturing Audrey, Ligaya and Lorelei towards her. "This Witch might come out at us any time… stay on your toes!"
The marble floor beneath them became polished cobblestone and the walls crumbled away, giving way to stone buildings; apartments, grocers, banks and churches. The buildings were pockmarked with bullet holes and the roofs were shell-shocked, but an eerie air of order and oppression hung about the square. Gilded baroque statues draped in red velvet stood around the rubble-strewn square, standing proudly, oblivious to the scars of war in their midst. A nauseating, irony tang permeated the air, and hung about like stagnant water.
The girls grimaced, overpowered by the smell. It was like blood or rust, or maybe both. Either way, it seemed to be coming from the very stones and buildings around them. Whatever it was that reeked, or wherever that odor truly came from, they weren't keen on finding out.
Four subway entrances tunneling downwards beneath the ground, labeled in an odd marriage of Cyrillic script and runes, led to the other portions of the barrier. Michi and company, however, were not inclined to descend into those tunnels. The Witch herself was here, after all. The city square was the epicenter of the Witch's barrier.
"Ah, so this is what it is like…" An Incubator then spoke, "This is the barrier of a Grand Witch."
First Interlude
The Carissimas of North America stood adamantly at their positions around the Edificio Gumamela with their three flags flying in the wind. They and the army at their command waited for midnight to fall. They checked their timepieces and prepared their armies to move in and retake the occupied building in the name of Salvae. For the past few minutes, though, the defenders had been silent and not a single shot had been fired between them.
"Hmm…" The Carissima of San Francisco hummed, "Did they reach an agreement, perhaps?"
All of the sudden, the wind ceased to blow through the Calle Escolta and the flying flags wrapped around their poles. A shrill cry from the fourth floor suddenly rang through the streets, followed by the sound of fizzling magic. A wave of confusion swept across the disciplined ranks of the Philippine Expedition.
The Puella Magi of Salvae watched as the magical veil that had blanketed the entirety of the Calle Escolta, hiding the street from the eyes and ears of the rest of the world, dissipated. This veil, however, would be quickly replaced by a powerful magical aura that all seasoned Puella Magi knew well.
"Barrera de la Bruja? (A Witch's barrier?)" Gasped the Mexican Carissima, "What's going on?"
Powerful waves of pulsing, dark energy emanated from the Edificio Gumamela, forcing the girls of the Philippine Expedition to take cover. The defenders at the first floor of the building then screamed in terror, caught in the midst of the maelstrom of this ungodly force.
Within seconds both the defenders and the Philippine Expedition were absorbed into a barrier unlike any barrier they had seen before. The combined army of Puella Magi found themselves at the mouth of the barrier, a woodland path ridden with dying pines and rolling hills. Inside, the girls of the Padre Faura stumbled into the middle chamber of the barrier; a smoke-filled maze of foundries, steel mills and railroads lined with elevated platforms and concrete watch-towers that loomed over the entire maze.
Then, towering over this maze was an artificial ceiling from which four crooked, staircases descended erratically. Above this ceiling was the heart of the barrier – the war-scarred city square. Here the Witch, a fearsome fallen angel chiseled out of black stone spread her wings as she wailed in sorrow.
The Carissimas of North America turned to each other, conversing telepathically. Then, they nodded in agreement.
If they could make it through the labyrinths, they would be able to fight and defeat the Witch as they always would. Minions and familiars would come to try and halt their advance, but they would be able to overcome. However, minions and familiars weren't the only beings that were spawned into this strange barrier.
Four other Witches rose up in this strange barrier, standing guard around the entrances to the barrier's core. They too were made of black stone, but were draped in cloth and camouflage nets that changed with their surroundings like the skin of chameleons. Instead of swords, they wielded black, splintered sniper rifles. Under their camouflage of cloths and nets, the four Witches scrambled around and hid, disappearing into the barrier without a trace.
'Five Witches at once', thought the girls assembled outside of the Edificio Gumamela. One Witch was hard enough to deal with, but to face five altogether was something else entirely. The girls of the Philippine Expedition, however, were not intent on backing down now.
"Forget the midnight deadline!" The Carissima of Quebec cried, "We strike, now!"
…
.
…
Sayaka was light, thought Kyouko Sakura, lighter than she had expected. Remembering the ferocity with which Sayaka, the swordfighter, had fought her and the witches she had encountered, she expected her to be huskier... tougher. Holding Sayaka over her shoulder there by the tracks of Mitakihara City's rail junctions, the swordfighter was undoubtedly light, soft... and cold. Kyouko's face was painted with remorse as she held Sayaka. She forced herself not to look at her tearful, lifeless face. Under the flashing lights of the railway junction, life was frozen still - two girls and their dead.
Homura Akemi stood nearby, a few paces away from Kyouko, looking up to the night sky. The face she wore was stoic and detached, the kind of face that everyone she knew had grown accustomed to. Beneath that poker face, though, doubt started to twist her heart. For once, the resolve that Homura had steeled for what seemed like a lifetime was starting to waver. She closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts and composing herself. Then, she spoke.
"There are only two fates awaiting Puella Magi like us, Sakura-san." Homura chose her words carefully as she brushed her hair aside, "Death, or Witch-hood… and neither one will do us any good."
She felt that familiar pang of bitterness deep inside. No matter what she did, or how many times she tried, she could not change their fates.
"Neither of them will break this cycle…"
Kyouko turned to Homura, unsure of what she was talking about. This girl was being mysterious again, with her talk of cycles and fates. Did she not choose her own fate?
Before Kyouoko could open her mouth, a young disheartened young girl approached them. She was a slight, defeated figure who stumbled slightly as she followed the railway tracks. Her head hung from her shoulders as she followed those tracks hoping that they would lead her back to her friend. With every step she took, though, this hope faded so painstakingly slow. The girl raised her eyes and saw Homura and Kyouko… then, she saw the lifeless Sayaka in Kyouko's arms. Her hopes were immediately crushed.
"Sayaka-chan!" Madoka wailed, rushing forward over treacherous rail sleepers and loose gravel towards them. "Where's her Soul Gem? What happened to her?"
"Her Soul Gem turned into a Grief Seed." Homura spoke, her voice ever so detached, "She died and…"
A memory suddenly flashed in the eye of Homura's mind – a fearsome mountain of pure darkness reaching up to the skies. Homura turned to Madoka with her sharp, sharp stare.
"… and became a Witch."
That was right, Homura thought. She remembered that sight so clearly, though she wished she would forget. There was no barrier surrounding that monstrous mountain, save for the ruins of Mitakihara City that Walpurgisnacht before her had destroyed. That dark mountain, therefore, was a Dreadnaught Witch – the successor of Walpurgisnacht.
But, that was a different time.
"Y-you're kidding, right?" Disbelief stained Madoka's voice. The young girl's legs wobbled and she fell to her knees. The sight made Homura's heart sink.
The mountain that Homura had seen knelt before her right there at the rail tracks. She was a mere human being that day who knew nothing of the ordeal and the things Homura had seen. The timelines Homura had lived through… the tales of the Puella Magi of the Second World War. Only she knew about these now. And she made sure that it would stay that way.
"… you!" Kyouko then growled, grabbing Homura by the collar "Who the hell are you? How can you talk so coldly about this? That's Sayaka's best friend you're talking to!"
Homura didn't reply, turning her head instead to Madoka who wept at Sayaka's side. She then spoke.
"Do you understand now, the truth behind what you had admired so much?"
The dark-haired girl then brushed Kyouko's hand off her collar and turned away to hide her face from Madoka.
"You carried Sayaka's body out of the barrier, but be careful with it." Homura kept her voice frigid. "It'll be troublesome if you get rid of it carelessly."
This was the last straw for Kyouko. Nobody ought to talk like that, not after what had just happened.
"Oy!" She lashed, "Are you even human?"
"Of course not." Homura coolly replied. She then ran her hand through her hair. "And neither are you, Kyouko Sakura."
She then turned around and walked away, leaving Kyouko and Madoka to deal with Sayaka's corpse. As she got further and further away, Homura bit her lip as the tears fought to burst from her eyes.
This was her duty and her responsibility, Homura reminded herself, to see this through to the end. She did not need Mami's help nor did she need Kyouko's. All she needed was her own strength and her knowledge of the past; both her own past and the past of Walpurgisnacht.
"… and no one else… would have to know, especially her."
…
.
…
Second Interlude
The grassy hills of the outer woodland barrier trembled as three large formations of Puella Magi marched forward at the command of the three Carissimas of the Philippine Expedition.
This company of a hundred and fifty strong was the pride of Salvae, Terrae Magicae in the Pacific. They had been trained to storm buildings and to defeat rouge Puella Magi with without impunity. As such, they had come to Manila prepared with a clockwork plan to force the girls of the Padre Faura to capitulate, as is what their Lady Lorelei Sankt had hoped for. That evening, though, there would be an unwelcome and abrupt change in their plans.
Thrown so suddenly into a strange and complex barrier, all of their planning had gone to naught. All they could do now was to storm the Witch's barrier in their line formations and hope for the best. These hopes, however, would be quickly dashed against the stones.
Countless traps were scattered and hidden throughout this barrier, even in that woodland entrance. What had seemed like a peaceful, pristine forest quickly turned into a hellish, violent scene as girls fell victim to these traps. Girl stumbled into large pits covered in leaves and hidden tripwires snagged them from the legs, leaving them suspended helpless in midair.
The three Carissimas halted their advance in a heartbeat, stopping to help the girls out of the traps. Girls rushed to pull their comrades out of the bits and to cut those suspended from their ropes down to the ground.
The faint rustling of leaves in the distance reached the Carissimas' ears, drawing their suspicion. They turned, trying to look for the source, but found nothing – everything blurring into that sea of trees. Then, the crack of a powerful rifle rang out.
A dark bullet shot through the woodland and struck one of the magi hanging from the trees. The girl shrieked in pain as she felt the bullet dig through her flesh. Painful sensations coursed from that bullet, biting deeper into her wound as it lodged itself into her chest. Then, the shot was followed by a second and a third in quick succession.
By the time the Carissimas realized it, the girl was already dead.
Those were corrosive shots, the Carissimas could tell. White, chemical smoke wafted up from the girl's wounds as the bullets burned her from within. A single bullet would deal tremendous damage, let alone three. They couldn't afford to take any more hits.
Get those girls out of there, double time!" The San Franciscan barked. "Bows and guns, prepare to lay down suppression fire! Support team, defensive wards. Pronto!"
At her command, the girls did as they were told and reconsolidated their lines. The second rank of magi raised their weapons, ready to unleash a barrage, while a handful of magi summoned shells of protective magic around their formations.
The Carissima of San Francisco readied herself as well, conjuring up a Gatling chain gun before her. She held onto the chain gun's hand-cranked trigger and scanned the forest with sharp eyes, searching for even the slightest disturbance.
Black bullets then flew again, striking one of the defensive barriers thrice and breaking it.
Their magic shields weren't as strong as the Carissimas had hoped them to be. They weren't invincible – that much was made clear to them now. However, neither were these Witches. A slight flash of light against the sniper scope caught the San Franciscan Carissima's eye.
"Over there!" She cried, turning her Gatling gun to face the Witch. "Open fire!"
A hail of bullets and arrows ripped through the forest in a powerful gust of wind, headed towards the direction of the Witch. Many of the shots struck at trees and rocks, but a shrill cry of pain echoed resounded throughout the woodlands. They had somehow found their invisible mark.
Encouraged, the girls continued their assault and pounded the wounded Witch with a relentless barrage of accurate shots. Unable to stand such heavy fire, the Witch hastily retreated and disappeared into the forest.
Act XLI – Heart of Oak
"Anne-Marie!" The San Franciscan turned to the Canadian Carissima, "Find a safe path through the forest for us and chase her down! We'll handle things here."
"Les Canadiennes take point today, eh?" The command made the Quebecer grin and she gave a resolute nod. "Very well, but don't take too long now."
Accustomed to the forests of Quebec, Carissima Anne-Marie and her girls navigated the forest with ease, finding those treacherous pits and tripwires that had caught the expedition by surprise the first time. She barked out her orders in rapid-fire French, shepherding her girls around the traps and leaving markers for their allies to follow.
They cleared the forest before long and were quickly sucked into the middle barrier. Factories and foundries shot up all around the Canadians, churning thick smoke and soot that covered the once clear skies in utter darkness. The corridors and hallways were cramped and narrow - proceeding in their standard line formation would be foolish. Thus, the Carissima divided her company into seven squads of seven and gave them their objectives.
"First and second to the northeast. Third and fourth to the northwest. Fifth and sixth will take the southwest. Seventh, stick with me and we'll take the southeast. Go!"
The girls quickly got into their squads and started down the corridors to their objectives. The Carissima and her squad too moved out, looking up to that jagged southeast staircase that shot up to that artificial platform in the smoggy sky.
Suddenly, the oppressive aura of a Witch sent shivers up the Carissima's spine. The Witch that they had been sent to chase was close by. Judging by the unusual strength of that ill aura that hung about, she knew that Witch wasn't alone. Minions, perhaps?
Then, the unnerving sound of cocking guns reached the Carissima's ears.
"Halt!" Three young girls appeared, flanking the Carissima and her squad. "Stay where you are!"
They were the girls of the Padre Faura, holding up their Sturmgewehr assault rifles in their hands. The smog and soot painted their faces black along with traces of blood and tears. There was a maddened, terrified look in their eyes, as if those eyes had witnessed savagery of the basest degree. Also, there was only three of them. The Canadian Carissima had expected at least fourteen.
"What happened?" The Carrissima asked calmly, sounding as impartial as she could. "Where's the rest of your troupe?"
At the mention of the others, the girls were struck with grief.
"The Russians from Stalingrad…" An Aspirant shivered as she struggled to speak, "There were four of them… T-they all turned into Witches! All at once!"
The Aspirant then pointed her gun straight at the Carissima's face.
"You're here to finish us off, aren't you? Just leave us alone!"
The sound of screams filled the other corridors of the industrial maze and distressed telepathy flooded the Carissima's mind.
"The Witch got us pinned down! Requesting backup!"
"There's traps everywhere here too! We won't last long over here!"
"Damned smog is toxic, Carissima! We can't see a thing beyond it, but the Witches just stick us with shots! We're pulling back!"
Her company was being whittled down mercilessly at the hands of the Witches or the hazards of the barrier. The Americans and Mexicans too were held down at the entrance of the industrial maze, cutting the Canadians off from their allies.
"Now is not the time to fight amongst ourselves, Aspirant!" The Carissima lashed, "We are Puella Magi – our mission, first and foremost, is to defeat this Witch."
She then pointed up to that artificial platform and spoke.
"Lorelei Sankt is up there in the barrier's core. We're here to save her, but we'll need every bit of help we can get. Your friends are with her over there too, right?"
"If we can make it there and defeat the Witch, we'll be able to save your friends too." Anne-Marie then extended her hand towards the Aspirant. "We can deal with the politics later, okay?"
The Aspirant hesitated for a moment, but eventually took Anne-Marie's hand.
"Okay."
Act XLII – Flanders Fields
Through the long, narrow corridors of the Industrial barrier, the girls of the Philippine Expedition advanced in small groups towards the jagged staircases that shot up through the smoggy sky.
Standing between them and the staircases were the four sniper Witches, taking positions around the barrier to engage the divided mass of Puella Magi that traversed their lair. Bunkered up in the concrete watchtowers overlooking the maze or hiding behind the thick factory smog, they would make sure that none of the girls would make it through.
The barrier itself would not be kind to the girls of the Philippine Expedition. Instead, it was horror manifest – hell on earth.
Smokestacks that stood four stories high coughed up thick, poisonous fumes that rose up to the sky and coalesced into dark, oppressive clouds that practically covered the sky. The girls covered their faces with handkerchiefs or their sleeves lest they suffocate to death or burn from within.
Industrial machinery of all shapes and sizes lay hidden around in these corridors as well, striking suddenly at the girls as they advanced.
Large vertical wood saws sprang out of the ground, slicing clean through an unsuspecting magi or maiming them viciously. All the while, embroidery machines launched sturdy threads, hoping to ensnare a Puella Magi and draw them within range of their automatic sewing needle.
Indeed, many girls were sawed nearly in half around the maze and a number of them lay motionless, stitched mercilessly to their fallen comrades in a macabre fabric.
Large gunpowder barrels and crates sat around the narrow corridors as well, sensitive to the touch and turning into a blazing inferno at the drop of a hat. Unfortunate magi who tried to use those barrels and crates for cover or used their firearms nearby were mercilessly blinded and burned in a mockingly colorful blast.
Faceless dolls wandered around the corridors as well, each and every one of them wearing an Equestrian-Grenadier uniform and bearing a sharp fencing rapier at their sides. Their resemblance to the most celebrated Maultier and dishonored Carissima of Salvae, a girl that every magi of the Philippine Expedition had seen before, was shocking. The squads of girls hesitated to fight the facsimiles, but the entities drew their blades and attacked them. With heavy hearts, they fought those faceless visions.
Whittled by the countless, treacherous traps of the Industrial barrier, the black, corrosive shots the Witches fired and the faceless facsimiles they spawned, the Puella Magi of the Philippine Expedition pressed onwards.
Their progress was marginal at best and their casualties grew unbearably high, but they had no choice but to march on. No matter what the Witches and their barrier threw at them, they had to make it to the core barrier and save Lorelei Sankt.
Anne-Marie Doucette, the Carissima of Quebec, knew this objective well and was inclined to reach it. Armed with her array of grenades and explosives, Anne-Marie led her squad of Canadian magi and the three Padre Faura Aspirants through the maze with a delicate mix of tact and urgency. With her observant eyes and quick reflexes, the Carissima shepherded the troupe around the traps and away from the thickest masses of smog.
Together, the girls advanced forward in a single-file line as if to storm a building as the Expedition had originally prepared to do.
The facsimiles who tried to attack them were quickly routed with teamwork that was almost like clockwork. Fragmentation grenades broke the ranks of facsimiles, quickly followed by a salvo of arrows and gunfire. The swords and spears would then charge into their injured foes to finish them off. Shattered dolls were whisked to the sides of the corridors as Anne-Marie's company passed by.
Inch by inch, the troupe came closer and closer to the south-east staircase.
Naturally, the Witches were displeased and acted accordingly.
Corrosive bullets shot through the smog and struck one of the Padre Faura Aspirants in the back.
"Witch, six-o-clock!" The Carissima barked, "Turn around and pepper her up!"
"No!" The injured Aspirant cried. With a shaky hand, she pointed out to the distant watchtower where a second Witch was taking aim at Anne-Marie. The first Witch too was coming too, her approach heralded by light, ghostly steps. "Leave me! Get out of here!"
The Canadian Carissima shook her head. "Let's go."
At her command, the rest of the troupe dashed into a different corridor. They could hear the hail of corrosive shots tearing through the young magi, hissing mercilessly as the acid burned her body. Then, the first Witch pounced on the dying girl, thrusting an obsidian knife into her throat.
In the corner of her eye, Anne-Marie caught a glimpse of the first Witch as she slew the magi – it was the Witch they had injured and scared off in the forest barrier. Anger burned deep in the Carissima's heart.
As the troupe retreated from the scene, Anne-Marie quickly slapped a small, taped package onto the corridor walls before joining the rest. The first Witch came in pursuit of the girls, passing by that package. Curious, the Witch took a closer look at the package. It had a fuse.
A powerful blast rocked the corridor, throwing the Witch against the wall and igniting her camouflage net in hungry flames. Shrieking, the Witch rolled around on the floor, trying to douse the flames.
This was when the Canadian Carissima returned, a cold glare in her eyes and a Webley pistol firmly in her hand. She emptied its magazine into the Witch's face until it ceased to move. The Carissima then turned the Witch over to the side to find the small Grief Seed lying on the floor. She picked it up and frowned.
Was this all that was waiting in store for Puella Magi in the end?
The treacherous wood-saws and embroidery machines promptly fizzled into oblivion and a handful of facsimiles faded away into nothingness. A fraction of the sky even seemed to clear up as a smokestack or two came crumbling to the ground. Then, a lifeless body appeared before Anne-Marie. From her features alone, she could tell that she was Russian. Now, Anne-Marie knew whose barrier this truly was.
Anne-Marie could not lament. The rest of the barrier, still remained after all. Their job wasn't over yet – not by a long-shot.
Before she could even raise her head, a corrosive shot whizzed past and scraped the Carissima's shoulder, coating the small wound in acid. Anne-Marie fell to her side, gasping for air as the pain filled her body. Her heart raced as she saw the second Witch approach, its obsidian blade drawn. The Carissima couldn't focus, unable to summon her explosives in that critical moment. It was over.
All of the sudden, the two remaining girls of the Padre Faura rushed forward to strike at the Witch. It was a suicidal attack and the two Aspirants knew. However, there was no fear in their hearts. Their swords were raised to the level of their eyes and their target was clear, standing their right before them in plain sight.
The exchange was quick, to say the least - Quick and one-sided. The two girls stood no chance and found themselves covered in slash and stab marks that now bled them to death. However, their assault was not fruitless. Their swords had struck and maimed the Witch's legs, enough to pin her down to the ground. The Aspirants died with victory in their hearts.
Seeing this, Anne-Marie clenched her fist as a tear forcefully ran down her cheek. Gritting her teeth, the Carissima waved her arms around gracefully, calling forth a flash of bright light. Sticks of dynamite appeared, tied together into a large belt that wrapped the Witch and held her in place. With a loud cry, she raised her hand and threw it down in a grand chopping motion. A chain of powerful blasts engulfed the Witch and the Aspirants' corpses in a ball of flame. Only ashes remained, atop which the body of the second Russian magi lay.
Anne-Marie wiped her tears and hobbled back to join the remnants of her squad. All around them, the vicious traps that were scattered about grew derelict, collapsing into piles of cogs and sprockets. The rest of the smokestacks crumbled as well and the smog slowly started to clear. Now, only the facsimiles remained in the barrier, appearing more frequently as they approached the staircases.
The Carissima rested a hand on her injured shoulder as she saw the mass of facsimiles standing between her small squad and the south-east staircase. She summoned a fragmentation grenade before her and caught it with her free hand. She turned her eyes from her grenade then to the dolls. The dolls all raised their sabers, prepared to charge.
"So that's how it is, eh, Serafina?" Anne-Marie thought, the pain on her shoulder still biting into her. "You have served Salvae well all these years… but la Ville de Quebec has nothing more to give you…"
Suddenly, the unmistakable burst of machinegun fire rang out and hails of bullets struck the facsimiles and mowed down their ranks. Anne-Marie turned around and saw the Carissima of San Francisco, turning the Gatling gun's hand crank as fast as it would let her.
"Sorry we took so long, Annie." The American Carissima apologized, "We met a lot of trouble along the way – but we're here now!"
A handful Mexican and American magi were with her. Together, they formed a unified rank and laid down heavy fire on the facsimiles with their bows and guns. It was a refreshing sight.
Then, the Mexican Carissima appeared as well, mounted on a spectral horse as she held onto an Aztec spear. Behind her were the remnants of the Canadian squads that Anne-Marie had sent out. These thirty girls were all that remained of the grand Philippine Expedition. Though the deaths of so many of their comrades stung in her heart, Anne-Marie was glad to see at least these magi make it through.
"Oye oye, Anna-Maria!" The Mexican cheered, mispronouncing the Canadian's name on purpose, "We still have work to do, amiga!"
As the Mexican Carissima spoke, the spectral horse whinnied supportively and raised its front hooves up, eager to continue the fight.
"Oui." The Canadian said, a relieved smile on her face. "We'll rebuild the North American branches after this... for now, let's finish what we stared."
She then turned to the south-east staircase and the horde of facsimiles that still stubbornly stood between them.
"Marchons! Pour nos sœrs!"
…
.
…
Epilogue
The clear bells of the Mitakihara Middle School rang that early morning, marking that the classes would be starting soon. A whole host of students from the prestigious middle school thus picked up their pace, walking faster to class lest they wanted the gates to be shut on them. Madoka Kaname walked in the midst of this crowd of students, but was headed in the opposite direction. The other students whispered amongst themselves as they watched Madoka, wondering what the girl was up to.
The upperclassman she had befriended, Mami Tomoe, had been absent from school for quite some time now. Her best friend too, Sayaka Miki, started skipping school not too long ago. All eyes then turned to Hitomi Shizuki, hoping she would know what was going on. She could give them nothing more than a worried frown.
Madoka ignored the eyes of the crowd. There was already a lot going on in her mind. The things she had heard and seen at the railway junction, for instance… or the horrifying visions of the past she now had practically nightly. These people looking did not understand the truth, after all, nor would they believe it. Madoka just walked on, into the streets of Old Mitakihara.
The cobblestone streets and the old European-style buildings of Old Mitakihara unsettled Madoka. Her heart raced nervously as she walked through those streets. They reminded her of the city she saw in her dreams – and the Witch that had once assaulted it. Still, she walked on. There was someone who had called her out to Old Mitakihara after all.
"You made it." Kyouko Sakura then appeared, leaning against a building under the shade of one of the corridors. "For a moment, I thought you wouldn't come. After yesterday and all…"
A frown grew on Madoka's face, but she quickly shook her head.
"What did you want to talk about?" Madoka asked, her composure restored somewhat.
The red-haired girl peeled herself off from the wall then turned to Madoka with an earnest question,
"Do you want to save Sayaka Miki?"
To Be Continued
Episode 15 Preview
Dark circles started to thicken beneath Homura Akemi's eyes as she sat silent in her classroom. As the teacher read through the morning announcements and the attendance sheet, Homura kept her heavy, heavy eyes closed to rest them. She hadn't been able to sleep well at all.
"Sayaka Miki?" The teacher called out, pausing for a moment to scan the room. "Not here again, huh?"
For nights on end, Homura had been watching the girls of the Second World War. She had followed them, hoping to learn more about the mysterious Walpurgisnacht. Instead, she found more than what she had intended to find.
"Madoka Kaname?" The teacher called out again. Her lips twitched, a little bit displeased. "I didn't think Kaname-san would be out today as well. Moving on…"
More and more, Homura started to feel troubled. The reality and the nightmare, she could no longer discern when one began and the other ended. Who was it that watched? Whose life was it she was watching?
"Homura Akemi?"
What was she even doing in class?
"Excuse me." Homura apologized. "I don't feel well."
Before the teacher could even speak, Homura lifted herself up from her seat, gathered her things and left the classroom. This wasn't the time for her to be sitting around like this. The clock was ticking, after all. Once again, Walpurgisnacht would attack Mitakihara.
"We Don't Have A Lot of Time."