A/N: This chapter will address some things that came up during the previous one. It will also provide exposition. That is all. Enjoy.
-Troubling Discussion-
Majo Toron was waiting anxiously. Pop had said she was going to come back for a while to explain everything new she found out. But what was taking her?
The inventive Witch had been looking over the holo-grid and the map of the mansion that had been formed over it. She had recorded Pop's travels over that area of the mansion, alternating between scans to see if familiars could truly show up.
No luck.
Fortunately, she was able to track the fiends that were in the mansion.
A sound like a slight breeze alerted Majo Toron to a visitor.
"I was wondering when you would come here again..." Majo Toron greeted dryly, "Shadow Ruka."
Pop wasted no time in getting to the foyer and trying the door. It was locked.
"Come on! I need to get back to the Center!" Pop griped. She yanked at the door one more time. It wouldn't budge. "I don't have time for this!" Pop whipped out her poron. "Pipitto Purito Puritan Peperuto! Door, unlock!"
Pop saw her magic reach inside the lock and begin working it. After it receded, Pop again tried the door. It was locked.
Ok! That tears it! And by 'it', I mean those damned locks!
Pop switched the Vac-Drive to its Dark energy mode and took aim.
"So that's why you're here," Majo Toron said to Shadow Ruka, "You want to lend a hand?"
"That's what I've been trying to say, Majo Toron," Shadow Ruka replied.
Pop entered the Magic Research Center just before the conversation could continue any further.
"Majo Toron! I have a lot of-" Pop began, but caught sight of Shadow Ruka, "Uh, why are you-?"
"I'll just have to explain all over again, won't I?" Shadow Ruka deadpanned.
Everyone sighed as Shadow Ruka explained everything to Pop. She mentioned helping Majo Toron with developing anti-Shadow add-ons that can be used. She explained that they were for use against the Shadow Ojamajos since it's all but confirmed that they're the ones responsible for this crisis. She finished by expressing curiosity and concern at the presence of familiars in the mansion.
"I don't know why those things are there," Majo Toron replied, "But Pop's found a means to fight them with, so we don't have to worry about them as much."
"I beg to differ, Majo Toron," Shadow Ruka said, fear noticeable in her voice.
"But the Medallions are good against them!" Pop said in defense, "Are you sure they're still all that?"
Shadow Ruka shook her head. "If familiars are left alone long enough, then they could grow into something much more deadly. Something that could easily spawn more of the things."
"Eh?"
"Hmm," Majo Toron pondered, "Something tells me you know why some areas are blacked out on the holo-grid. Can you explain?"
"I have a theory," Shadow Ruka replied, "Pop-chan? Have you found yourself in some place that's like a different dimension?"
"Y-yes?" Pop said, "But why?"
"Majo Toron? Can you point our which rooms were blacked out?"
Majo Torn nodded and zoomed in on that part of the holo-grid map. She pointed to a room that could be scanned normally.
"That's the second room I was in when I was in that hall!" Pop gasped, "Majo Toron? You did say one of the rooms couldn't be scanned there, right?"
"Yes, I did. And it was that one." Majo Toron pointed to the formerly blacked-out room. "For some reason a while after you entered, I lost contact. And I regained contact almost as suddenly as I lost it…right when the scan was able to read it again."
"I fought something powerful in there," Pop said, "But I beat it, so no worries!"
"Once again, I beg to differ," Shadow Ruka replied. Her voice was more fearful now than ever. "I believe what you went up against was a Witch. Not your kind, mind you, but the kind that Puellae Magi fight against."
Pop and Majo Toron were speechless. The mention of Witches being what tried to kill Pop didn't make sense to them.
"H-how could that thing have been a Witch?!" Pop shouted, "There's no way!"
"I specifically said it wasn't your kind of Witch, you two," Shadow Ruka replied, "Your kind of Witch is basically long-lived humans with magic at their disposal. The Witches that the Puellae Magi hunt and kill are eldritch abominations." Shadow Ruka sees that Pop and Majo Toron are shooting her incredulous looks. "You're not getting it, are you?"
"What gave you that idea?" Pop said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Shadow Ruka sighed and went in depth in her explanation. It takes a while, but Pop and Majo Toron eventually understand the difference.
"But how do you know so much about these kinds of Witches?" Pop inquired, suspicion evident in her voice.
"Kada is one of the few male Puellae Magi –called Puer Magi, mind you- out there. He knows these things and even helped make a database," Shadow Ruka continued, "Skaj too, of course."
"I guess that explains your knowledge then," Majo Toron surmised.
"But now I have a few questions myself."
"Eh?" Pop peeped.
"How are you two able to see those Witches and their familiars? Normally, they're invisible to everyone but Puellae Magi and the Incubators!"
Eh?! Pop thought, Wh-what does she mean 'they're invisible to everyone but Puellae Magi and Incubators'? And what's an Incubator anyway?!
"If you have no answer, then I'll just tell you my reasoning." Shadow Ruka cleared her throat. "Either you two were affected by a Puella Magi –odds are it was Kada or Skaj- or you were targeted by an Incubator or a Witch. Either or the other."
I see she's gained some of Skaj's mannerisms… Pop mentally deadpanned, "But then, you're saying that…"
Majo Toron tapped Pop's shoulder and shook her head. "All that matters is the fact we can see them."
Pop looked towards Shadow Ruka and then back at Majo Toron. She then nodded her head in agreement.
"I forgot to mention," Shadow Ruka blurted out, "I always forget these things- The strange world you got sucked into when you fought the Witches, Pop-chan? They're called barriers. Unless you're close to them when they form, you'll have to navigate your way through a labyrinth."
Pop gulped. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Hold on," Majo Toron interjected, "These barriers? Do you believe they're the reason the scan doesn't work on some of these rooms?"
Shadow Ruka shrugged. "Likely."
Majo Toron wheels herself over to the terminal and pulls up the scan. At once, the holo-grid map of the mansion appeared, allowing the trio to see it. The inventive Witch typed in a few combinations and pushed a few buttons. Moments later, the map split into several floors, including the basement.
"Now we can tell how many Witches there are!" Majo Toron wheeled herself back to the others.
The trio counted the rooms and scanned through the floors. They found seven rooms blacked-out, causing Shadow Ruka a level of distress.
"Th-this many?!" Shadow Ruka burst out.
"You're the expert on these things," Majo Toron replied, "This isn't good, is it?"
"This many Witches in one confined area. Pop-chan! You have to hurry and defeat them!"
"How is seven too many?" Pop asked, "It's not like-"
Shadow Ruka shook her head. "Majo Toron? How many rooms were blacked out last night?"
"Only one," Majo Toron replied. Her eyes went wide underneath her goggles. "Oh dear god!"
Pop gritted her teeth. She barely survived two of them and she was sure the first of them was more than a little traumatizing for her. And then she discovers that their numbers are spiking, even as she gives her thoughts?
"The number of Witches should have blown the mansion to bits by now," Shadow Ruka said grimly, "But what baffles me is how quickly they've managed to get to such a high number!"
Pop looked at the holo-grid. "What do the Witches feed of off?" Pop asked with concern.
"Human suffering and despair."
Pop clenched her fist. "Onee-chan and the others are trapped there. If they are suffering in there, then I guess that explains why there are so many Witches now."
"I wouldn't be too sure, Pop-chan," Shadow Ruka replied grimly, "Six humans with a magic that's different from theirs would never be able to give them enough to multiply like this." Shadow Ruka turned back to the holo-grid. "They must have another source. Have you studied the fiends closely, Majo Toron?"
"I have, but I don't recall the details," Majo Toron replied. She went over to the terminal again. "I'll pull up the results." Pop looked on as Majo Toron typed in more combinations and pushed more buttons. In moments, Majo Toron has turned back to the red Ojamajo and Shadow. "It seems that the fiends are made of suffering and despair and given form via dark magic."
"Can you-?"
"Yes!"
Majo Toron punched in more combinations. Moments later, several small dots along with five large dots appear on the holo-grid.
"Each of those dots are fiends," Majo Toron explained.
"But, aren't those big ones where my friends vanished at?" Pop asked.
The trio skimmed over the map and compared it to the previous recording. There was no mistaking it; the large dots were in the same rooms where Aiko, Onpu, Momoko, and Hana's dots vanished; the sole exception was wandering the mansion, particularly the area where Pop first explored. Doremi's dot was still visible normally, though it was clear she hadn't moved from the basement.
"Those rooms can still be scanned," Majo Toron said with relief, "Which means we can rule out the Witches kill-"
"Everyone! Look!" Pop called.
The trio looked at the map and could not believe what they saw. Five of the dots were rushing towards the far end on the first floor and quickly entered a room. The two rooms adjacent to it were blacked out; the trio guessed that the fiends/arti-ghosts couldn't enter the Witch's barriers. They then watched in fascination and shock as the group of dots vanished one by one. Moments later, the room was blacked out.
"It was a familiar, wasn't it?" Pop asked. Majo Toron nodded, confirming Pop's question.
"That's proof right there," Shadow Ruka said sadly, "The familiars eat fiends." The Shadow of Majo Ruka sighed in despair. "Those Shadow Ojamajos have really done it this time: They've made the perfect manufactory for Witches. And if they're not dealt with, then those things will overrun Majo Kai!"
"Then I don't have any time to waste then. If I get rid of the Witches, then I'll be one step closer to saving my friends and my sister!"
Majo Toron snapped her fingers. In a puff of smoke and a loud crack, a small device had appeared.
"I made this on the off chance the Shadows were responsible. It'll help shield you against your magic and allow you to suck them up as though they were fiends." Majo Toron shook her head. "But you'll have to have it active first and it can't protect you while inactive."
"I understand," Pop replied, "I guess the sooner I get back to the mansion, the sooner I can save my friends." Pop scratched her head. "But I have to ask: what are these weird black gems?" Pop took out the black gems that the Witches left behind. "And why did the Witches have them?"
"Those are Grief Seeds," Shadow Ruka replied, "They birth Witches and hold their essence after they're killed. They can eventually revive the Witch, though it can take a while like this..."
"Good. If they can't do it quickly, then they'll be safe here." Pop hands the Grief Seeds to Majo Toron. "Well, I'm off then." Pop turned to leave. She quickly turned around again. "Thank you, you two."
Majo Toron and Shadow Ruka nodded in response.
Pop opened the door to the mansion and entered. The foyer hadn't changed since she last left with the exception of the window she had to shatter.
Why didn't I put a doorstopper there? It would've made leaving and entering so much easier!
Pop approached the door below the balcony. Not even one second later, the chandelier above slammed onto the ground. The rose-haired Ojamajo just barely got out of the way but suffered a small scratch.
It's official: I hate self-resetting traps!
The chandelier returned to its lofty position. Pop glared daggers at it and then turned back to the door. It still had the web-like barrier and thorns covering it. She could discern a shape beneath them, but couldn't figure out what it was. Remembering the pink heart-shaped key she received after defeating that last Witch, Pop got an idea and took it out.
Nothing happened.
But this key should have-
Pop's though was interrupted by a small metal object falling on her head.
"Ow~! Again?!" Pop yelled. She glanced upwards and once again caught a glimpse of the strange shimmer that had been clearly hounding her steps. She looked down at what had hit her in the head and found it to be yet another key, only this one was gold and had a shape reminiscent of a spade. Pop picked it up.
No sooner than she did, the web-like barrier started pulsing violently, going faster and faster until it finally glowed and vanished, taking the thorns with it. It was then that Pop saw the shape on the door: A spade.
I guess I was given the wrong key. Oh well, this mansion likes having different keys for different doors, so I'll keep this one.
Pop went to the large gold-tinged door and inserted the spade key. It fit and turned easily. One resounding click later and Pop opened the door to the hallway beyond…
A/N: This chapter isn't meant to be interesting given the abundance of exposition here. I would've given more information, but there really wasn't enough space. All in all, this chapter doesn't concern me as much, so I can skip out on proofreading this time around.
I have made sure to do as much research on the Witches as possible, though some will not be appearing.