A/N: Warning! This chapter contains violent content that should NOT be read by a minor. Reader discretion is advised. Seriously, it's very depraved stuff. That is all. Enjoy.
-Voices-
It was quiet in the sanctum. Shadow Doremi was pacing back and forth while Shadow Aiko and Shadow Hazuki were lounging around and trying to figure out what to do next, respectively.
"I can't take this anymore!" Shadow Aiko finally burst out, "There's gotta be something we can do!"
"We can always go up and nab Light Pop," Shadow Hazuki sarcastically replied, "Otherwise, Black Queen-sama will catch us and, well, you know the rest."
Shadow Doremi paused before Doremi's portrait. "I have an idea, but we'll need to be really sneaky."
"How sneaky? Sneaky sneaky?" Shadow Hazuki mocked.
Shadow Doremi shook her head. "Much more than that, if we are to get past Black Queen-sama's occasional surveillance."
All three Shadows face-palmed. They were going to pay dearly for this scheme if Black Queen ever found out.
Pop's blood ran cold. That voice sounded familiar, but at the same time, she swore she had never heard it before. The strangeness was still there, and it didn't seem ready to fade.
The voice had a strange, almost motherly feel to it. It definitely did not belong to Doremi.
Hmph! If you're just giving up, then why the hell are you even here anyway?
That voice. It was not the same motherly voice from before. It was laced with aggression, but was still familiar nonetheless.
"Wh-who are you? Where are you?" Pop half-shouted, "Please!"
Whoa, no need to burst out!
The voice was different again. It sounded tomboyish, but it was again familiar.
Why are all these voices so familiar? Pop mentally asked herself.
Because we got most of our memories, that's why! The aggressive voice retorted.
Pop's blood turned to ice. The voices could hear her every thought. "I'll ask again: Where are you!?"
Please don't be mad, the motherly voice replied, We're all in your head.
"So I'm hallucinating?"
In a way, yes, the tomboyish voice answered, I guess it's because you felt like you needed someone around and your brain took stuff and made us.
More like brought us back to life in your body! The aggressive voice sarcastically added.
"I've heard your voices earlier," Pop said, "But where…" Pop thought hard, and in a split second, recalled the intense memory surges from when she entered barriers of Candeloro, Ophelia, and Oktavia von Seckendorff. She had it right there on the tip of her tongue. "You! The motherly one! You're Mami Tomoe, aren't you?"
Why yes, the motherly voice, Mami, replied.
"And you! The tomboyish one! You're Sayaka Miki, aren't you?"
You got it! the tomboyish voice, Sayaka, replied.
"Which means you're Kyoko Sakura, right?"
Who did ya think I was? the aggressive voice, Kyoko, deadpanned.
Pop couldn't believe it. She was speaking with three fallen Puellae Magi right there in her own mind. At least, that's what it seemed like.
"So then, let me get this straight," Pop continued, "If you came from those memory surges, then why are you waiting until now to show up?"
You can't expect us to form instantly, can you? Sayaka replied.
"…" Pop stood silently for several moments. She was skeptical; not only did three entities come out of the blue from her mind, but now they were trying to talk with her. Adding to that was the fact that the Sayaka voice hadn't given too much of an excuse. Unfortunately for the red Ojamajo, these illusions were the closest things to companions she would have for the time being. At once, she felt reminded of what her real friends had been turned into…
Like I said, said Kyoko, If you're just going to stand there and sulk, you may as well give up now.
"You know as well I do that I can't do that," Pop bitterly replied.
We're in your head, genius.
"The point is-!" Pop took a deep sigh. "The point is…I promised myself I wouldn't give up, no matter what happened." Pop looked around; she quickly face-palmed. "Ok, I'm really starting to freak myself out here. If I don't have a way of speaking to you in person, then how do I feel…oh, what's the word?"
Comfortable? Sayaka asked.
"Thank you." Pop shook her head and stepped forward. A sound like cracking glass from her feet stopped her immediately. She looked down and noticed that it was the mirror she used to trigger Hazuki's weakness. Cracks radiated out from she stepped on it. "You can't be serious!"
You have magic and plenty of magical spheres left. Mami interjected, Why not repair and use it?
Pop pondered about whether she should follow the Mami voice's advice. Finally, she conceded and brought out her poron.
"Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto!" Pop chanted, "Fix the mirror!"
Pop's spell did the trick. With a puff of smoke, the mirror fixed itself. Pop picked it up to inspect it, but instead of seeing her reflection, she saw Mami, who smiled sweetly.
The mirror really worked! You can see us now!
Pop smiled and nodded. She had three companions in her head that she was now able to see. "But, why does only one of you appear at one time?"
Pop blinked once, but the image changed suddenly into the appearance of Kyoko. There ain't enough room for all of us to be talking at once. Seriously, you're head's only so big, kid.
Now, now, Kyoko-chan, Sayaka replied, No need to be so blunt…
"Kyoko's right, Sayaka," Pop conceded, "I can only channel so many thoughts at once." Pop put the mirror away and stared at the door. "I wonder…"
Go for it, Mami said encouragingly, She must have a means of tracking your device down!
Pop immediately got out the All-in-One and activated it. As usual, Majo Toron was on the other side.
"Oh?" Majo Toron stared back in surprise. "I certainly didn't expect another message so soon!"
"Majo Toron-san?" Pop began, "Do you have a way of tracking down the Vac-Drive?"
Majo Toron dejectedly hung her head. "I'm sorry, Pop-chan."
Pop's blood ran cold. Already, all signs were pointing toward Majo Toron making what could easily be the worst mistake of all time. If confirmed, then Pop feared she would suffer a self-induced concussion.
"I really am sorry, but I didn't think I would have to have been replaced and at was all on short notice!" Majo Toron continued, "If it's any consolation, then I guess I could tell you that the scans are detecting several powerful ghosts in the second floor corridor right after the stairs leading up to it."
"Just what I needed: An ambush. Excuse me for a moment." Pop set the All-in-One on the bed and walked over to the wall. Moments later, Pop was repeatedly slamming her head against it. When she was done, she collapsed to the floor.
"POP-CHAN! POP-CHAN!" Majo Toron shouted, "ARE YOU OKAY!? POP-CHAN!"
Pop recovered and wasted no time in retrieving the All-in-One. "I'm…fine…Just fell to the-ugh…"
"Pop-chan, please! Don't do that again!" the inventive witch urged, "Remember: Any injury you take is going to stick."
"I'll remember it…"
Majo Toron let out a sigh. "I'll see if I can-Oh! I-I think I've found out something!"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me: Did the Vac-Drive have any elemental energy in it when the ghosts took it?"
"Well, yeah, but, what does-?"
"If I shift the scans a bit, then it can detect elemental energy! And right now, it registers elemental energy in your room and in another room on the second floor!"
Pop's eyes went wide. "C-can you tell me exactly which room it is?"
A silence followed. Finally, Majo Toron gave her answer. "It's located in the room you pass after making the turn. Considering the damage to the room next to yours and the rooms above, you should be able to get to it, no problem!"
And with all these keys Hazuki-chan left me, Pop mentally added, "Perfect!"
So what are you waiting for? Kyoko asked, Go get it already!
"Please wait, Kyoko-chan!" Pop retorted.
"What?" Majo Toron replied in confusion, "Kyoko-? Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"Not really, but it's all I got right now."
"If you insist. Good luck!"
On that note, Majo Toron cut off communications. Pop now had to think on what to do about the upper floors. She would have to search out which keys opened which doors before proceeding and only if she got the time needed. Unfortunately, her magic could only keep time frozen for so long and she had the nagging feeling that it simply won't be enough.
Eventually, with the aid of the voices in her head, Pop came up with a plan. As soon as she did, she enacted it.
First, she froze time and managed to reach the second corridor. By then, the spell wore off and she found herself unable to search her keys without alerting the ghosts to her presence.
"Are you sure we can do this?" asked a voice. Pop instantly recognized it as belonging to Onpu.
"Hazuki-mama is still trapped in there!" replied another. It was Hana's.
"Then what are we waiting for?" a third voice, Ghost Pop, retorted, "Let's set her free!"
Pop tip-toed over to the corner and tried to get a better look. There they were: Hana, Onpu, and Ghost Pop. And the former was as much of a ghost as the others. Not surprised, the red Ojamajo found her gaze drifting down slightly and seeing that they had surrounded something: The Vac-Drive. Pop held back her surprise and decided to eavesdrop.
"Alright, you two," Onpu began, "Pop-chan, I'm a little disappointed that you didn't have your minions free Hazuki-chan."
Ghost Pop sighed. "That doesn't matter now, Onpu-chan."
"Yeah!" Hana chortled, "The sooner we set Hazuki-mama free, the sooner we can go after your living half!"
Onpu nodded her head. "Pururun Purun Suzuyakani!" Onpu chanted.
"Pipitto Purito Hogarakani!" Ghost Pop chanted.
"Pororin Pyuarin HanaHana Pii!" Hana chanted.
"Magical Stage!" All three shouted. "Free Hazuki-chan from the Vac-Drive!"
Pop looked in discontent as the powerful spell penetrated into the Vac-Drive. It didn't destroy it, but it started vibrating violently. The next thing that happened was Hazuki's ghostly form bursting out from the hose and immediately stretching.
"Everyone," Hazuki said timidly, "Thank you very much!"
"'Thank you very much' isn't going to cut it with what you pulled, Hazuki-chan," Onpu said with disappointment.
"Please give Hazuki-chan one more chance, Onpu-chan," Hana said innocently, "She just didn't-"
Hazuki gestured for Hana to cease talking. "Onpu-chan's right, Hana-chan. I helped Pop-chan when I should've been helping all of you." The orange Ghost straightened her glasses. "I will fix my mistake."
"If the rest of us don't do it for you first," Ghost Pop joked.
All four giggled somewhat, the sight of which bringing a tear to Pop's eye. Even though they were now ghosts that were bent on making her one of them, they still acted roughly the same as they usually did, right down to comforting and joking around.
But what's really going on in there? Pop mentally asked, Is this really what they're doing, even on the inside?
There's one way to find out, came Sayaka's voice.
Pop debated on whether or not she wanted to pull out the All-in-One and scan them for their thoughts. On one hand, she could get an answer to her question. On the other hand, she risked drawing their attention and getting turned into a ghost. In the end, her answer would have to wait. Right now, she needed to get out of there. One more peer around the corner revealed that the Vac-Drive was once again possessed by one of Ghost Pop's minions. She promptly drew her poron.
"Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto," Pop whispered, "Time stop."
Her whispering didn't matter much at all. The music coming from the poron was loud enough to alert the others; they were just about to come around the corner and get her just as the spell took effect. Pop wasted no time in going down the hole at the far end of the hall and returning to Hazuki's old haunt.
When the spell wore off, Hazuki, Hana, Onpu, and Ghost Pop floated over to where they heard the tune come from.
Onpu chuckled. "I guess our little friend is feeling a little brave, isn't she?"
"Ooh! Ooh! Hana-chan knows! Hana-chan knows!" Hana squee'd, "Can Hana-chan do it? Can she?"
From outside Hazuki's old haunt, Shadow Hana and Shadow Pop were watching the rose-haired girl as she debated about what to do.
"This is disturbing," Shadow Pop deadpanned, "Look at her, talking to that mirror like it's her only companion!"
"Maybe this whole ordeal really is too much for her?" Shadow Hana guessed.
The two Shadows had been keeping an eye on the red Ojamajo. Indeed, they had followed her up and eavesdropped on the other ghosts, using their natural abilities to keep themselves concealed.
"There was a day when I would've loved to see Light Pop snap and go insane," Shadow Pop reminisced, "But now that I see it, I feel kinda bad. Of course…"
"Yeah," Shadow Hana replied, "That happened. And none of us have really been the same ever since."
"Shadow Hana-chan? Shadow Pop-chan?" came Shadow Doremi's telepathic call, "Can you come down here? I think we're going to need your help!"
"Coming!" Shadow Hana and Shadow Pop telepathically replied. Both Shadows quickly and quietly left the premises and used the shadow of a table to warp back to the sanctum.
"Why would they want to do that?!" Pop demanded.
That's how mind control works, kid, Kyoko replied, Believe me. That was one of my powers. Hell, you're even capable of it too! …although…
"Don't remind me."
Pop couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kyoko's voice had said that mind control required some part of the victim to be willing in order to work. She had even brought up several examples, such as when Onpu used forbidden magic to make people do what she wanted when she first met them.
"But it can't be right!" Pop griped, "Would they want me to be a ghost?! Their real selves helped me fight and defeat their ghost selves!"
That is true, but since when have they shown loyalty to higher powers? Kyoko replied, Let's rewind a little, starting with Momoko: She baked you cookies because that's what she would've done in any scene.
"Yes, and? If I may recall, she tried to kill me and turn me into a ghost."
Kyoko's voice chuckled. Which means a small part of her had given up and didn't want you to be alive by yourself. And it remained even when she was trying to warn you.
Pop gritted her teeth.
Then there's Aiko. Going by your memories, she and Momoko are in a relationship. Kyoko's voice waited for a retort from Pop. When it got none, it continued. So naturally, when she learned you beat Momoko, well, a large part of Aiko would've wanted to punish anyone who hurt her girlfriend and the rest is history.
"Then why did Ai-chan suddenly become able to fight back?"
Pop felt a grin coming from thin air. She knew then that it belonged to Kyoko.
None of her wanted to kill you that brutally. Unless you have something else in mind?
Pop dropped to her knees in despair.
Your ghost half is pretty much willing, so we'll skip her. As for Hazuki-
"Hazuki-chan had the Light medallion," Pop explained, "It allowed her to ignore whatever's making them do this until her resolve failed."
And now she's up there conspiring to turn you into a ghost. Kyoko's voice turned serious. And with your Vac-Drive stolen, the others could've easily lost hope in you saving them.
"But I have to try! If I don't, then-!"
We know you're predicament, Pop-chan, Mami's voice replied, But that's why you're amazing: You won't give up no matter what happens. And that will allow you to save them despite all odds!
Pop got off her knees and clambered onto the bed. Her mind was filled with self-doubt. She didn't know if her determination would be enough to save everyone. Already, she was tired and could likely collapse at any moment, after which it would be too late to save the others. She had to keep going, but would it really be worth it in the end?
"If I'm to go up there again, I'm going to need more information," Pop surmised. She quickly got out the All-in-One and called up Majo Toron. "Majo Toron-san?"
"Ah, again? I guess the trip up to the second floor was a success?" Majo Toron inquired.
"No. They still have it, but I'm planning to make a second run up there. If you could-"
"I'm on it!"
Pop kept the channel open, but only silence came out. Finally, Majo Toron replied.
"I cannot get a reading!" Majo Toron shouted, "The entire second floor! It's being cloaked somehow!"
"It has to be them then. I saw them doing Magical Stage and I believe they heard me escaping. They must know what I'm planning!"
"Then you mustn't go up there! If I can't detect anything, it's a trap!"
"If I stay here, they're going to come down and get me sooner or later. I barely escaped last time, and I doubt I'll escape again!" Pop stopped talking long enough to catch her breath. She didn't notice how heavy it had become. "I promise I'll stay safe, Majo Toron-san. And I promise I'll try and get the Vac-Drive this time!"
Before Majo Toron could voice her protest, Pop cut off the transmission. She then stared at the burnt doorway with uncertainty. Already, her resolve was wavering, but she had to press on. She knew her ghostified friends would expect her to come from there, so she had to refer to another route. Thankfully, there was and, ironically, it was the path that would've been the most obvious. She would have to chance it if she was to regain her Vac-Drive.
She knew she had to spend as little time as possible. To that end, she mounted her broom and flew straight to the stairwell, dismounting it and putting it away only when she reached the door. Swallowing hard and drawing her poron and flashlight, Pop opened the door…
The corridor was just as dark as it had ever been. Even so, Pop was in no position for confidence and never will be until got what she came here for. At the same time, she hoped she would be able to save Hazuki again along with the others in one fell swoop. But she didn't know if she would be able to pull that-
"Pop-chan!" shouted a voice.
Pop froze at once. She slowly turned around to face the source.
"Hana-chan?!" Pop gasped.
Sure enough, there was the white Ojamajo, floating just before her, smiling sweetly. She glowed white and her eyes glowed an even brighter shade of the color. Pop frowned at the pattern repeating itself.
"Mmhmm! Hana-chan's so glad you could come up here and- Woah!" Hana blinked twice in surprise. "Mama's weren't kidding! You really have become old!"
"Thanks for noticing," Pop bitterly replied, "So what now? You're here to turn me into a ghost and help Ghost Pop reunite with me?"
Hana shook her head. "Nah. Hana-chan isn't interested."
Pop raised an eyebrow at that. "Eh?"
"You heard Hana-chan." Hana's smile widened. It was no longer the smile of an innocent girl. "Hana-chan thought it would be better to just kill you instead!"
"Wh-wh-wh-wha-?!"
"Pororin Pyuarin HanaHana Pii!" Hana chanted, "Axes, come out!"
A burst of smoke emerged from Hana's spell, and from out of it came two large axes. Hana, using ghostly telekinesis, hefted them into the air and prepared to strike.
"Hana-chan only wants to make you end!"
"No…Nonononono!" Pop was taking steps back as Hana advanced on her. "This…This REALLY isn't you!"
"Hana-chan loves you…Which is whyyyy yoooou shouuuuld dieeee!"
Pop went with her better judgment and ran for it. Rounding the corner, the red Ojamajo made a break for the ruined doorway and managed to enter it. Now all she had to do was-
"Going somewhere?" Hana said, suddenly appearing before the burned doorway, "Hana-chan wouldn't like that at all, would she?"
Pop saved her reply and shined her flashlight on the ghostified Ojamajo. This only elicited a series of giggles from her.
Why do I keep forgetting that?! Pop mentally berated herself.
Instead of continuing her mental rant, Pop ran out of the room and back down the hallway, dodging a strike from the still-pursuing axes. This time, she didn't round the corner and instead opted for the door, the first one after the stairway door. It was locked, forcing Pop to pull out her bag of keys and rummage through them.
"Come on, come on, come on!" Pop mumbled feverishly as she tried one key after another, Come on, come on, COME ON!"
As she continued her desperate attempt, the rose-haired girl turned and faced behind her. Hana was clearly toying with her, given how slowly she was approaching.
"You can run, Pop-chan, but you can't hide!" Hana playfully taunted.
Her eyes widening, Pop returned to the task at hand and finally the door opened. She wasted no time in getting through the door and then shutting it. She then locked it, knowing that the axes wouldn't be able to pass through it.
Calming down slightly, Pop took in the room. It seemed to be a cross between a dining room and a bar. However, there were no plates; the only fine china there was were cups. Two tables were placed longways in the middle of the room. Finally, shelves holding the fine china were on either side and there were windows overlooking the courtyard. From what could be discerned, the room was clearly for having tea.
A knock at the door snapped Pop out of her stupor.
"Little witchy, little witchy, let Hana-chan in!" Hana said in a sickeningly sweet tone.
Her panic reinstating itself, Pop hid under table furthest from the door.
"Not by the hair on your, uhm, what's the right word in your case, Pop-chan?" Hana-chan said, "Hana-chan's confused." Pop, still shaking from the oncoming storm, didn't answer. "Oh well, Hana-chan tried. Pororin Pyuarin HanaHana Pii! AK-47, come out!"
Pop's blood turned to ice. "Oh, no she didn't, no she didn't, no she-"
"Say hello to Hana-chan's little friend!"
At that moment, the sound of machine gun bullets bursting through the door was the only sound to be heard. Pop covered her ears from the awful noise, but to no avail. The sound of shattering glass and china quickly became part of the horrible noise. It ended just as suddenly as it began.
"Time for Hana-chan's main eve~ent!" the white Ojamajo said in a sing-song voice.
Immediately, she followed by repeatedly striking the door with her axes, and with the earlier damage from the assault rifle, the door stood no chance and was quickly broken down after just a handful of swings. Once a large enough hole was made, Hana threw the axes and gun through it, though the gun went too far and flew out the window. No sooner did the weapons cross it, Hana phased through the severely damaged door, complete with a huge, demented smile plastered on her face.
"Ooh! Ooh! You wanna play hide-and-seek! Hana-chan would love to play with you!"
At some point, Pop had gotten out the All-in-One in hopes of scanning Hana with it, but she feared that it might not matter in the end. The whole thing really was a trap and that they had decided that she wasn't worth joining them as a ghost anymore.
Hana telekinetically throwing the tables to the far wall half-snapped Pop out of her stupor.
"Found you!" Hana chortled, "Now we can play a new game!"
Pop didn't answer. Instead, she felt herself crawling away from the psychotic ghost girl while she herself advanced further on her. In no time at all, the red Ojamajo found herself against the other wall's shelves and cowering before the white Ojamajo.
"How should Hana-chan kill you? Should she cut off your head? Ooh! Ooh! Can she? Can she? Can sheeee!?"
Hana didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she raised both axes and prepared a swing that would most certainly kill the rose-haired girl. Pop stared at Hana in sheer terror tears beginning to streak down her face. And then…Hana swung…
…and threw both axes to the side.
"Teeheehee," Hana laughed.
Pop continued to stare at the white ghost in terror.
"Heeheeheeheeheehee! Hahahahaha!"
Finally, Pop recovered, but now looked at the ghostified Ojamajo in confusion.
"OHH, you –HAHAHA!- You should've seen the look on –Heeheehee- On your face!" Hana chortled.
"Wh-wh-what-?! The hell do you mean!?" Pop demanded. Her left eye began twitching.
"Don't you get it? Hana-chan played a joke on you! Would she ever hurt you like that?"
At that, Pop's mind froze. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It had been a joke? Some kind of sick practical joke?! It was unbelievable. And the red Ojamajo felt that if anyone else had somehow witnessed it, they too would find it unbelievable.
"You…think this is funny!?" Pop yelled. Hana stopped laughing and gave a look of bewilderment. "How could you do something like this?!" Venom was now the only thing in her voice. "How could you not fight this?! How could you-?!"
Pop didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she ran past a dumbfounded Hana and out of the room, tears streaming down her aged face. In the hallway, she ran past Onpu, who chose not to attack her. It didn't take long for her to make it down the stairs. Moments later, she was on the bed, burying her head in the pillows.
"Hana-chan?" Onpu asked indignantly, "What did you do?"
Hana just floated there, her mind still in a daze from Pop's words.
"Hana-chan!"
"Eh! S-S-SORRY!" Hana replied, "Ehhh, Hana-chan just…eh heh heh!"
Onpu just shook her head. "Hana-chan…you've done many good things in the past." Hana beamed at the statement. "You've entered Majo Tourbillon's heart and helped awaken her." Hana beamed even more. "And you've even helped out against the Shadows, among others." Hana shook with pride. "But this. Is. Not. ONE OF THOSE THINGS!"
At that, Hana's sense of pride and her beaming vanished. She shrunk away from the purple Ojamajo.
"If anything, any progress of getting Pop-chan to give up and become a ghost just got erased because of you!"
A tear of white ectoplasm emerged from Hana's eye and fell to the floor. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'M SORRY!"
"Apologies won't help, Hana-chan," Onpu said rather bluntly, "You have a lot to think about."
With those words, Onpu vanished, leaving the white ghost to herself. She looked at the spot where she had cornered Pop. She then looked at the destroyed door. Finally, she drifted to the floor and began weeping in disgrace.
Pop got off the bed. She no longer knew what to do anymore. Hana clearly didn't fight her ghost self and had apparently decided to aid it in hurting her. But what was she thinking? She didn't honestly believe that this kind of control needed a willing part of the victim to be effective! At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
The rose-haired girl kept quiet in the room, and yet, the voices didn't return. She was alone once again, and again, she let the tears slide down her face. If there was anything she could do to at least have some benign company, then she would do it. She begged to herself repeatedly, but nothing happened.
She then noticed that her left eye was still twitching. She moved her hand to it and rubbed it, but all that accomplished as drying the tears there. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't stop the twitching.
A/N: I was going for as realistic a reaction as possible during the Pop/Ghost Hana scene. Said scene was inspired by a pic I found on DeviantArt. If you didn't like it, then I'm sorry. But it's that kind of fic.