The Last Ring

Chapter Two: The Stereotypical White Knight Character Defies All Expectations In More Ways Than One, In Good Ways and Bad

Hello again. It's me Nexal. How have you been? Good I hope. After all if you die who will I tell my story to?

How do you like it so far? Think that Sozo will be able to mingle well with the girls on their little 'Witch hunt'? Why don't we find out?

Have fun

It was early in the morning when Madoka woke up, and even later when she set off for school. After getting ready, she left and met up with Sayaka and Hitomi. Once the awkward scene from the final Time-Line was over and done with, class started.

"Now before we start class" Saotome sensei began "we actually have another new student joining us today."

The 'New Student' entered the room and the girls were faced with total shock, even Homura! The boy wrote his name on the chalkboard. It read 'Julius Snip'. The immediate thought that crossed the girls' minds was 'liar'. It was obviously Sozo, though he looked their age for some reason.

"Julius just moved here from and I forget where he came from. Julius, do you mind?"

"Not at all Saotome Sensei. I come from the country of England. Beautiful place. But I decided to move here after... Actually I'd rather not talk about it."

'Julius' was then told to sit down in the only empty seat there. Which was next to... Homura. Not Madoka, not Sayaka, but Homura. And down he sat. Homura was actually pretty freaked out, though she didn't let on. It was the next thing that almost caused her to blow her cool front.

'Hi Homura.' Homura heard in her head. This was not only excessively random, but was totally unexpected. She didn't know how to act. And he had to just keep on yammering.

'Listen Homura, I'm sorry about yesterday. Please don't take it personally. I hope we can get along.'

'If you want us to get along, then tell me, what are you?' Homura responded, just getting the hand of this telepathy thing.

'I'm whatever you want me to be Homura.'

'Shove it.'

'Ok, I deserved that' Sozo began 'but I'm not your enemy Homura. Even though I hang around Kyubey, I would prefer it if those two don't make contracts. Especially...' His voice trailed off.

'Especially?' Homura questioned. The more information she knew about this strange being, the better!

'Especially Sayaka Miki.' Sozo answered honestly. This threw Homura completely off guard.

'Why her?' She thought.

'Homura, I can be honest with you... I hope. I can tell that if she made a contract it wouldn't turn out well.'

That was the understatement of the century. Sayaka becoming Oktavia was a little worse than 'not ending well.'

'Also Homura' Sozo started. 'You are kind of cute.'

'Sure. … WAIT WHAT?' That had come even more completely out of nowhere than the entire conversation up until this point.

'What is it with you guys and deflecting others' goodwill. It's a complement. Nothing more, nothing less.'

'Really now?' Another voice said. It was Sayaka. Homura's heart sank. Still though, if one were to look at her, they would have no idea what humiliation she was going through right now.

'How long have you been here?' Sozo asked obliviously.

'Long enough.'

'Seriously though.' Sozo rebutted.

'I just heard the 'complement' you gave her, and that's about it.'

Great, Homura thought to herself. Now I've gone from being cool to being a Tsundere. At least Madoka didn't hear that.

Unbeknownst to her, Madoka did in fact hear that. She just decided to stay out of it. Mami and Kyubey heard it too, but they decided not to intervene as well. It was the beginning of a beautiful hateship.

It was lunchtime and Team Contract decided to retreat to their base for some eats. Their base being the rooftop, and some eats being their lunches. Sayaka and Madoka ate theirs, but couldn't help noticing the strange star shaped fruit pieces Sozo was throwing at Kyubey for him to eat.

"Um, excuse me Sozo, but what's that you're feeding Kyubey?" Madoka questioned

"Carambola." Was the reply.

"Eh." Was the reply to the reply.

"Or to put it in plain language, Star Fruit. I heard about it from an alien space frog from the far away planet Keron." Sozo explained.

"Why do you always need to speak in that language Sozo?" Sayaka asked. Though everyone had been wondering this. Even Mami who hadn't said a word yet. Even Homura who wasn't even there with them. Even flippin' Kyubey who'd been with the guy for who knows how long.

And then he answered.

"Because, omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina."

Sozo waited a few seconds. He wanted the awkward silence to last as they tried to decipher what had just jumped out of his mouth. After ten seconds he just gave up and spelled it out for them.

"Everything is stronger if said in Latin."

"Oh!" Was everyone's reply. Even Kyubey.

"I'm surrounded by people who don't speak my language. And I myself point out the obvious."

It was after school, and you know what that means. Time to face down an eldrich abomination! Mami led them to the abandoned building, tracking the witch they had seen before. She saved the girl as she did in the other time-line, and with a spell put in place by Sozo so she would wake up when they got out, Team Contract left for the Labyrinth

It was a dark and dismal place with evil protruding everywhere. And also flowers. And mustaches This fazed them not at all as four fifths of the party had been there before. They made their way to the witch's chamber, killing familiars along the way. Sozo made it a point to Say "Home Run" whenever Sayaka hit one with her club. Eventually they made it to the chamber of Gertrud, The Rose Garden Witch.

And the fight began. Yet another thing left unchanged. But fate has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you think you're safe. A very sneaky way. Especially if you name happens to be...

Kaname Madoka

Gertrud noticed that there was more than one intruder in her chambers. And, being the being of sound mind she was, she decided to brutally murder it. She cast her tentacles out, aiming at Madoka. Mami lost her composure. Sayaka was shocked. Homura was going to come out of nowhere and "That won't be necessary" the Witch to pieces. And Kyubey had the word 'contract' repeating through his mind.

"Madoka!" A voice screamed.

But no one could tell who it was who screamed it. After all, the voice was distorted. Everything was distorted. The ringing in everyone's ears was unbearable. Mami barely made the final shot, and a distorted voice called out.

"TiRo FiNaLlE!"

The Witch was dead, and the labyrinth had vanished. After the ringing in their ears subsided, Mami gave her demonstration on Grief Seeds. The headaches didn't stop however.

"What the Hell was that?"

It was Homura, she stood in front of the group.

"If you mean the headaches, we're confused too." Sayaka answered.

"You know damn well what I mean. How? How did you do that?"

"Oh me?"

It was Sozo who replied.

"Well, Mami can summon guns, you can summon bombs, and Kyubey can contract Puella Magi.

I can control noise. Both acoustic, and non-acoustic. Is that a problem? After all, if I didn't have some power, how could I protect Madoka and Sayaka."

He continued before the shock wore off.

"Still though, usually I have the time to cast a spell to filter it out from my allies, or even yell 'Cover your ears!' I wasn't this fortunate this time. But I'm just glad everyone's safe."

Mami knew what was coming next. She knew of his power as Kyubey had explained it to her before. He always used one line after explaining his power and that line was...

"Now, elit mauris?" (Any questions?)

Next chapter preview. By Madoka.

I didn't expect for Sozo to be able to do that. It's really creepy! Well, next time Sayaka visits Kamijo and talks with him. Sozo tries to explain himself to us on the roof, but it better be good. My ears still hurt! And we fight another Witch by the hospital.

In the next chapter of The Last Ring

Ya' Know, This Could of All Been Avoided If You Didn't Throw Out Your Cheese Stick At Lunch Sayaka

I hope no-one gets hurt!