CHAPTER 12: LET US GO BACK
*EYE OF DARKNESS*
Kairi stands on the twisted checkerboard floor; riddled with train tracks. She stares at the Witch; bearing a figure of a mermaid knight on a podium. Unlike the other Witches though, Kairi has no intention of slaying it. She wants to save her friend that turned into it; Sayaka. Sayaka's lifeless body lies next to Mami, having a musket ready. At the same time, Madoka, having her hands in front of her chest, and Kyoko, standing ready to protect the pinkette, stare at Sayaka's new form.
Kairi runs forwards, hoping to save Sayaka before she is lost forever. The Witch summons several giant, carriage wheels. Kairi does not alter her course. Just as one of them is about to directly run over her; Kairi disappears in a flash and blur and appears, in the same manner, to the side, still continuing her stride. She dodges three more wheels; teleporting out of danger. The wheels however kept going; heading straight to the others. Kyoko manages to bat them away as Mami knock down the wheels that are farther away by shooting at them.
Kairi is almost to Sayaka. When in range, she jumps into the air. Kairi makes multiple 'jumps' in the air, eventually getting in the air above the Witch. Kairi dives down at the Witch. Kairi somersaults forward, ready to strike vertically. "Sayaka!" she yells out. The Witch responds by swinging its sword, which is long as the Witches height. The blades clash, a bright spark emanating from the impact point. The next moment a bright light shines from that point consuming Kairi.
Kairi is now in a different space. Everywhere she could look, she is surrounded by a deep blue color with black lines of runes circling around the area. Kairi would take in her new setting if she isn't shocked of what lies in front of her about fifteen yards away. It was a blue silhouette of Sayaka. Kairi runs forward. "STAY BACK!" it said with Sayaka's voice, only distorted. Kairi continues her approach. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" it cries out as it suddenly leans forward, arms thrust to the ground. In response, several wheels appear from the air behind the figure; charging at Kairi.
Is that Sayaka… Kairi wonders before the wheels reach her. Kairi cartwheels to dodge the incoming objects. Kairi jumps to avoid the last one. No… It's a manifestation of her negative thoughts and feelings. Kairi air slides; propelling herself forward and going past the illusion. As soon as Kairi lands in a kneeling position, five wheels surround her and approaching fast. Unexpectedly the wheels bounce off of some sort of barrier; protecting the Keyblade wielder. A small glow directly above her catches her attention. It was a small, dim blue light, barely fading in and out. Kairi'e eyes widen; realizing what it is. Kairi stands up before closing her eyes, her right hand tightly grips onto her Keyblade, pointing towards the ground, as she brings her free, left hand to her chest. Kairi holds the position for a few seconds before snapping her eyes open. At the same time she swings her Keyblade directly to the light above; grabbing the hilt of her weapon with both hands. "Light!" she says instantly. The Keyblade gives a bright light. At that same moment, the dim light suddenly expands drastically, covering everything in a white flash of light.
Kairi feels her body jerk backwards. Her eyes seeing the Witch's body getting farther away. The Witch grabs hold of its helmet of a head, giving off a wailing cry as it bends down. Kairi continues to fly through the air before she recovers and lands with a skid; stopping in front of the other girls. Kairi immediately looks at Sayaka's lifeless body with wide eyes. Eyes full of hope and not fear.
"Hey, what did you do?!" Kyoko yelled out, drawing Kairi out from her trance.
Kairi's eyes narrow before looking back at Sayaka's Witch form, "I honestly don't know. But…" she turns to Madoka, "Madoka now's your chance!" Madoka looks at Kairi with a confused expression. "Call out to her!"
Madoka's expression softens before nodding. She starts speaking out to Sayaka as Kairi goes for another run. Madoka talks about the memories that she and her best friend have shared. Kairi is half-way there, when the Witch reorients itself. Raising its arms, the fallen Magical Girl summons more wheels both onto the ground and in the air; all aiming at the Princess of Heart. As Kairi dodges the wheels through cartwheels and teleporting. Madoka talks about their recent adventures since they became aware of the existence of Magical Girls and Witches. The wheels that were used to strike the Keyblade wielder draw close to them. Kyoko calls out to Sayaka about her stubborn nature as she does her best to knock down the incoming wheels. Madoka talks about how Sayaka never truly wanted to hurt anyone before begging for Sayaka to come back. "Please, come back to us!" Madoka pleads as Kairi performs several jumps in the air.
Hovering above the Witch for a second before diving in, Kairi calls out to Sayaka, "Sayaka, please. Wake up!" she declares as she somersaults forward, preparing her next blow. The Witch raises its free hand to grab her. Kairi performs an aerial flip to get away from its grasp and lands on its arm. "Sayaka!" Kairi declares as she jumps towards the face. Kairi is ready to swing her Keyblade, time slows down for Kairi. Kairi catches sight of its sword moving. She performs a backwards double jump before aiming towards the incoming blade. Kairi swings with all her might. Their weapons clash against each other. Kairi gives off a desperate scream; in response, a bright flash from the Keyblade consumes her and Sayaka's Witch.
Kairi finds herself surrounded by walls of blue silhouettes; each one playing a violin. In the center of the open space is the manifestation of Sayaka's negative thoughts. This time the silhouette bears Sayaka's Magical Girl form; wielding a cutlass. The silhouette dashes to the Keyblade Wielder at high speeds. Kairi manages to block the incoming attack before the two go into a dance of clashing blades. After a minute, the silhouette backs off; preparing its blade. Kairi is ready, she has an idea what the manifestation has planned. The silhouette leaps forward as Kairi raises a barrier protecting her from its next assault. The manifestation goes into a frenzy of swift attacks before performing slower, more powerful blows followed by an even powerful finisher (Ars Arcanum). But the barrier holds still with Kairi wincing with each strike; doing her best to maintain her defense. Kairi uses a counterblast, disorienting the figure before Kairi uses Photon Blade; striking her opponent six times as a spear of light; causing the figure to stagger.
The silhouette jumps before hovering into the air, raising it cutlass towards the 'sky.' At that moment, tens of carriage wheels appear in the air one after another. The avarice swings its sword towards Kairi, commanding its creations to rain down upon the Keyblade wielder. Kairi goes for another defensive tactic, this time casting a powerful Reflect barrier. The barrier manages to hold on against the many of the wheels. The spell begins to crack. Kairi puts even more power into her spell, to maintain it. The final wheel manages to break the barrier before bouncing away. Kairi gathers the remnants of the barrier; gathering the absorbed power still contained in those remnants into her Keyblade. When the process is done, she fires off her Reflega Shot. The blast of light knocks down the silhouette, which gives off a distorted cry as it kneels. At that moment a blue sphere of light appears above the silhouette; though not directly above it. Kairi rushes up to the space below the light; standing next to the silhouette. Kairi brings her left hand over her chest, eyes closed. Seconds later, she raises the Keyblade to the light, calling out its power. The light expands and the silhouette gives one last cry before everything fades into the light.
Kairi finds herself in complete darkness after the light fades. Off in the distance she sees a ghostly figure. After confirming the figure to be Sayaka, in her civilian clothes and her back turned towards the Keyblade wielder, Kairi runs to her. Just as Kairi is about to reach her, Sayaka slowly turns around. When Kairi could be able to touch her by reaching her arm out, Sayaka suddenly fades away, replaced by a miniature version of her Witch. Immediately it screams out and Kairi is immediately pushed back to a large distance before her vision goes white.
The next moment, Kairi gets pushed away from the real Witch. With a loud screech, several wheels appear out of nowhere and charge at the airborne Princess of Heart. Kairi is still in a daze of what just happened, leaving her to get whacked hard by the wheels before falling near the others. She painfully grunts as she tumbles before skidding next to Kyoko and Madoka. Kyoko turns to the Keyblade wielder, asking if she's okay. Madoka warns Kyoko, but as the spear user turns around, she too gets pummeled by several wheels. Mami is able to stop the wheels that are now aiming towards her with her muskets; however her eyes are still full of confusion and fear. Madoka looks around; her own thoughts thrown out of order. She closes her eyes before running up to the Witch. Kairi, who is starting to stand up, catches sight of the pinkette, "No, it's too dangerous!" she warns.
Luckily, the Witch does not use its wheels as Madoka makes her approach. She stops before the Witch, looking up at where its face would be. "Sayaka. Please stop this. Please there's no need to fight." The Witch does not respond. "I'm right here," she says with a quivering voice, eyes that are about to burst into tears. "Sayaka, remember everything we did together." The Witch makes a low growl, "Sayaka… do you remember me at all?" she asks with a trailing voice.
Kairi, just able to stand up, looks on as Kyoko struggles to get up on her feet. The next second, Kairi's eyes go wide as does Kyoko's. Madoka is trapped in the Witch's tightening grasp. Madoka winces as she feels herself being crushed as the Witch brings her towards its head. Before Kairi and Kyoko do anything, they hear Mami shout, "TIRO FINALE!" A large glowing shell propels past them after hearing a cannon going off. The shell arcs before impacting the arm holding onto Madoka. The impact forces Sayaka to let go of Madoka, who is falling fast to the ground. Just as she goes past the midsection of the Witch, she simply vanished, as if she got deleted from a computer screen. The next moment a small object instantly appears in front of the Witch's face before exploding. The next second someone lands next to the other girls. The two redheads look back, finding Homura with Madoka's unconscious figure in her arms. The black-haired Magical Girl stands behind Mami; a yard or two to the right from Kairi's perspective. Kairi and Kyoko run to them. Kairi casts a healing spell on Madoka. After a green aura envelops the pinkette before disappearing, she slowly opens her eyes as she slightly groans.
"Are you okay?" Kairi asks with worry.
Madoka nods before Homura lowers her arms so Madoka can stand on the floor. The Witch makes a loud cry getting all the girl's attention. "Sayaka…" she says softly.
"That is no longer Sayaka." Homura states in her usual cold voice. "The girl you once knew is now a creature that only knows how to hate and curse innocent people."
"I refuse to believe that," Kairi states as she stares as the Witch.
"It's the truth. This is the fate all Magical Girls eventually face: Death." At that note, Mami froze considering those words as well to what she witnessed. "Magical Girls either die to a Witch or they become Witches themselves and lose all sense of their humanity."
"I can't give up," Kairi states once more.
Kyoko makes a sound of annoyance, "Listen. I don't like it as well but face it. She tried to crush Madoka! I hate to say it, but Sayaka's long gone."
"No!" Kairi yells out. "I refuse to lose another friend to the darkness!" she continues as she swings her weapon; pointing it at the Witch. Her words caught the others' attention. Each one wanting to know what she is talking about. "I'm going to save her, no matter the cost!"
"How?" Homura coldly states with narrow eyes on the Keyblade wielder. "What could you possibly do?"
Kairi's eyes widen in realization. She's right… Kairi thought out as her eyes begin to fill with doubt. Even with the Keyblade, all I would do is defeat her and all that would be left is her Grief Seed. At that point, she would truly be gone. Her hands tremble before she slowly shifts away from her stance, loosely holding onto the Keyblade as it points towards the ground in front of her. For once… I don't know what to do. Just having Sayaka transform right in front of me… It's like… She closes her eyes; her body shaking as she looks down. It's like losing Sora all over again… A second later her eyes snap open wide. Wait! She looks back, staring at Sayaka's original body.
When I got pushed back the first time… Kairi recalls the event. She was flying through the air, her body heading towards the others. Before she can recovers in the air, her eyes caught something. At that moment time slowed down around her. Hey eyes catches one of Sayaka's hands slightly twitching for about two seconds. I'm positive… she thinks as she brings her mind back to the present, her body made some sort of response when I used that light. The light that she helped grow during her first trip inside the Witch, at least that's where she thought that space was. According to Riku's logs, he felt something from that one girl that suddenly became Witch. Kairi turns her head towards the Witch before looking down, closing her eyes. What if… she thought before bringing a closed hand to her chest. Nothing happened for the next five seconds. Kairi's eyes snap open; eyes full of determination. That's it! Seconds later, she dismisses her Keyblade. "Kyoko…" she said, catching the said girl's attention. "Can you put a barrier strong enough to hold off against her attacks?"
"Yeah…" she answers in confusion, "I mean I can try doing that," she's not that confident in the strength of her barrier is enough to stop the Witch's attacks.
"I want you and the others to stand behind it." Kairi said before walking forward.
"Huh!" Kyoko looks at her incredulously. "What about you then?"
"I'm going to get Sayaka back," she says softly.
"Are you nuts?!" Kyoko declares with a swing of her arm.
"What you're doing is impossible," Homura inputted. "If you truly wish to help her. The least you can do is destroy her."
"Homura…" Kairi says softly. "Just give me one last chance. Either I bring back Sayaka," she clenches her left hand into a fist, "or I'll die trying."
"Kairi!" Madoka called out, "Don't do it!" referring to Kairi's statement about dying. She does not wish to lose another friend.
"I have to. If I can't save her…" she says before trailing off before looking slightly towards the ground. "How can I expect myself to help my friends when they need it most?" Madoka responds by muttering Kairi's name, with a worried expression. "Please let me do this."
Kyoko makes a sound of annoyance. "Fine. Just don't blame us if you lose your life." She grasps her hands together and in response creates a barrier dividing Kairi from the others.
*SACRED DISTANCE*
Kairi walks forward before stopping a distance away from Sayaka. "Can you hear me Sayaka?" Kairi says with a soft smile after looking up towards the Witch's head. "It's me, Kairi. Tell me, are you lost?" Nothing is said for a while. "I bet you're in someplace dark…with no idea of which way to go. It's okay. There's no need to be afraid anymore… There's no need for you to fight anymore. You've done enough… You've saved many people, even though they don't realize it. Maybe you may not have saved someone at those times, but you protected people from becoming a victim to those Witches." Kairi places a hand on her chest, "Sayaka, you're a strong person. You may be stubborn and rash, but making mistakes is part of growing up… If it's a mistake you can't fix, then you should keep on going. You might not be able to fix it… But you can do your best to try and set things right. If you understand the mistake you made, then you have the chance of not making that same mistake again." She looks up at the Witch whispering Sayaka's name.
The Witch responds by giving a loud shriek; launching several wheels at the Keyblade Wielder. Kairi does not budge; allowing the wheels to strike her directly. After the last hit nails her, she is tossed into the air back towards the others. She grunts as she tumbles onto the floor. Madoka call's out to her in a mixture of fear and worry. "You idiot!" Kyoko yells out. "Madoka already tried to talking to her. What can you do differently?!"
"That's enough Kairi," Homura says with her impassive gaze. "Kyoko, bring down the barrier."
"Wait!" Kairi yells out before getting up, panting for breath. "I'm fine. This is nothing," she says after getting back on her feet before looking at the Witch. "It's nothing compared to what I felt when I lost Sora," she mutters to herself. Wincing at each step she takes, she manages to get back to her previous position in front of the Witch.
She stares at it for a few seconds before growing a forgiving smile. "It's okay, Sayaka. Like I said there's no need for you to be hurt anymore." Nothing happens for awhile, the others look at Kairi. As much as Kyoko wants to take down the barrier, she has this feeling to keep it up and put her faith in Kairi. Similar feelings go through Mami and Madoka. Homura on the other hand impassively stares, though she cannot help but feel something is happening. Kairi closes her eyes before looking towards the ground. "You're wondering why I'm not giving up on you. It's because I can't let you go. I don't want the darkness to take you away. And I'm not doing this for me. Don't you want to see everyone again?" Kairi makes a short pause. "I'm sure they all want to see again. Especially your smile when you're happy and your tears when you're sad."
Kairi pauses again before continuing, "I understand. The darkness is vast and deep and it appears there's no way out. Sayaka… even in the deepest darkness, there's always a light to guide you." She looks up at the Witch as she slowly open her eyes. "If you can't find that light, then listen to my voice; let that be your light." Kairi slowly raise her arms to her sides, as if she's offering herself to the Witch. "Can you see that light?" Kairi pauses again. "I'm right here… everyone is here for you…There's no need to be afraid…Sayaka…you are a friend to all of us. Now it's up to you. What is it that you truly want?"
Sayaka makes a small growl. The Witch brings back its sword, aiming it at the Keyblade wielder. The girls gasp at the Witch's movements. Sayaka thrusts its sword forward. "KAIRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Madoka cries as the blade closes in on the Keyblade wielder. Still holding her smile, she closes her eyes.
The next moment, all the girls are in shock. Madoka's mouth and eyes are widen as she gasps about every two seconds. Mami's has her hands covering her mouth. Kyoko looks on with a slight jaw drop. The most shocked of all is Homura, "I don't believe it," she says with an audible whisper. "What…What is she?"
Kairi opens her eyes, seeing the sword's tip just an inch from her face. But that's not the sole reason of the girls shock. The Princess of Heart emits a holy aura around her; glowing with a sacred light. The girls continue to look on in astonishment. Something catches Mami's eyes. She makes a small gasp after looking towards the ground, "Look!" she yells out.
The other three look at her before looking at where Mami is staring. Their eyes are still wide open as the three gasp at the sight. "No way…" Kyoko whispers. On the floor, Sayaka's body is also emitting the same light as the Keyblade Wielder. "What is going on here?"
"She's glowing…" Madoka says in a soft voice full of hope before looking at the other glowing girl, "Just like Kairi."
The Witch stares down at Kairi. Kairi's smile deepens. Sayaka makes a low growl before lowering the sword to the side. "Let us go back," she says in a soft tone, "Everyone is waiting, Sayaka." The Witch growls again. In a burst of light, Kairi's Keyblade appears in front of its owner; hovering in the air. Kairi nods before grabbing the hilt.
*THE KEY OF LIGHT*
Kairi lowers her weapon towards the ground, closing her eyes. Seconds later, the Keyblade too is wrapped by the enchanting aura. Slowly, she raises it towards the Witch. Light gathers into the tip of the Keyblade for a few seconds. A beam of light slowly travels from the Keyblade with a soft whistle. The beam gently touches the Witch's chest. The Witch soon shares the same aura at its true body and the Keyblade wielder. The aura overtakes it, transforming it into light before everything goes white; blinding the girls. When they can see again, they are surrounded by nothing but white. They look around as the space slowly dissolves into glitter, revealing the abandoned train station. Amazingly, Sayaka's body is still there; still glowing bright before the aura fades away after the white space disappears.
The girls look forward and gasp at the sight of a large blue light hovering above the Keyblade Wielder. Kairi dismisses her weapon before opening her eyes. The light descends towards Kairi as it shrinks. Kairi cups her hands. By the time the light shrunk into the size of a small marble, it lands in Kairi's hands. She puts her right hand over the light, grasping it with both hands. The light makes one final pulse. Nothing is said for a few seconds. "It's okay everyone," she says as she turns around. "Look," she says in a loud whisper while looking down at her hands.
*DESTINY'S UNION*
She gently raises her right hand, revealing a bright blue Soul Gem in the palm of her left. Madoka gasps before taking a step forward. "Sayaka!" she says; sprinting to the Keyblade Wielder. After stopping in front of Kairi, she looks down at the gem.
"Go on, take it." Kairi says with a gentle voice. Madoka looks up to the Keyblade wielder's face. Kairi nods, "You're her best friend, right? So, you should be the one to give it back." The pinkette stares at Kairi with hopeful eyes before looking down and carefully picking up the Soul Gem. After staring at it in her hands for a few seconds, Madoka rushes it to its owner. She stops in front of the lifeless bluenette before kneeling down. She places the Soul Gem on Sayaka's palm. Madoka brings her hands up to her chest as she and the other girls look on in hopeful astonishment.
Seconds later, Sayaka regains some color before slightly groaning. She slowly blinks her eyes several times. After opening them up, she sees Madoka's face that slowly turns into a relieved expression; tears filling up in Madoka's eyes. Sayaka groans as she manages to sit up. "Sayaka!" Madoka she cries out happily as she quickly hugs the bluenette. "Welcome back," she whispers.
Sayaka softly gasps before closing her eyes, a gentle smile on her face, "It's good to be back," she says softly.
"Sheesh!" Kyoko says with a smirk, "You had to make us worry like that. Next time, when someone offers you a Grief Seed, use it so you don't Witch out on us again!" At that moment, Mami froze, remembering what transpired before all of this as her thoughts finally gather and come to focus. However this goes unnoticed by everyone.
"Yeah." Sayaka says with a slight chuckle, "I guess I really am an idiot," she says with a humble smile.
"Sayaka…" Homura says softly, eyes full of renewed hope. A fact that Madoka, Sayaka, and Kyoko noticed when they turned to her. "Is it…" she says with a quivering, yet aspiring tone, "Is it really you?" Sayaka responds with a nod along with a small smile.
Kairi looks at the scene in front of her. Looking at their faces; full of renewed happiness and hope. Mami on the other hand slowly drifts towards the tracks as the pinkette and the spear-user start asking questions to Sayaka. After Mami stops before the tracks, Kairi finally notices her before walking up to the blonde; she has a feeling that there's one more person that needs to be filled with hope.
Mami stares to the other side of the tracks. Kairi stops when she is right behind the blonde. "Mami?" She asks in a worried tone. She stretches her arm for a second before her eyes slightly widen at the sound of a mechanical click. Mami, looking down, is pointing a musket at the Keyblade Wielder.
Everyone else turns to the scene with wide eyes except for Homura. "Hey, what are you doing!?" Kyoko asks out loud.
"It's pointless…" Mami whispers. "In the end, no matter how many Witches we destroy, we'll become Witches as well. To think all along, I thought I was helping people, but along me, no all of us, are turning into these monsters." The blonde stifles for a couple seconds, "That's why…" She looks up at the Keyblade Wielder, eyes full of tears; an expression full of despair. "That's why we all need to die right now!"
Kairi's eyes snap into a glare. Immediately, she slaps the blonde on her cheek with a thunderous echo. Mami's face instantly turns to the side and stares there for a few seconds. During those seconds her arms go limp, the musket in her right hand points to the ground. She slowly looks back at Kairi. The moment she could look at her face to face, the Keyblade Wielder quickly embraces her into a hug. "Kairi…" Mami whispers, "But we…"
"Don't say it…" Kairi interrupts, softly saying those words into her ear.
"But we become Witches…"
"I said don't say it!" Kairi says with a distressful voice. "I know the truth is hard to bare. But you shouldn't give up. You have to keep fighting."
"Why?" Mami replies with a quivering voice. "We no longer have a purpose other than becoming Witches. Tell me, what other reason do we have?"
"Getting your souls back." Kairi mutters out.
"What?" Mami let out in a whispery voice, audible to everyone.
"That's your reason!" Kairi declares before letting go of her embrace and stands several inches away from her to put her hands on the Magical Girl's shoulders. "Getting your souls back. Until then you can't give up." The other girls are drawn to those words. "I don't know how. But I'll find a way help you get you back your souls. Until then…" Kairi looks to the ground, arms trembling. "If any of you were to become Witches, I'll just bring you back. No… I won't let any of you become Witches again!" She looks back up at Mami with a determined expression, "I promise! I'm not going to let any of you turn into Witches!"
"Kairi…" Mami said with a hopeful voice, despite the despair in her expression.
"You shouldn't keep promises you can't keep." Kyubey's voice rings in all the girls' heads. Kairi's eyes snap wide before all the girls turn to Kyubey, swishing its tail, standing in the direction that Kairi and the others came from when they arrived at the station.
"Kyubey…" Madoka says with a fearful tone. Kairi's tightens her grips on Mami, catching the blonde's attention. She notices the Keyblade Wielder's dangerous glare at the Incubator. Kairi let's go of her before walking up to the white alien.
Kairi stops at couple yards away from Kyubey. "What is it exactly you are trying to do?" she asked in a slow, dangerous tone.
"Are you aware of entropy?" was Kyubey's response.
"Yeah. I know what it is. I also know that you pit Magical Girls against Witches to collect the necessary energy to stop entropy. What I don't get is why. What is the reason of turning ordinary girls into Magical Girls before becoming Witches?
"Of all the types of energy that exist, the only known energy source to counteract entropy is through emotions. We have developed the technology to extract this energy. However, since we are incapable of emotions ourselves we had to find species that do possess this trait. We discovered that humans are the best candidate to collect this type of energy from. This highest capacity of emotional output is from girls that are in their second stage."
Kairi's glare deepens, though the Incubator is unfazed. "That still doesn't explain why you turn girls into those monsters."
"I was getting to that. When a Magical Girl eventually transforms into a Witch, it is this moment that the amount of energy released is at its highest."
Kairi grinds her teeth for a few seconds. "Then, what type of Witch would it take for you to get the amount of energy you need?"
"It would probably take a thousand more years to collect the necessary energy for us to meet out our goal. However, a Witch that can help meet our goal at this time… is a Witch that is capable of destroying this world." At that moment, Kairi felt her heart skipped a beat. The other girls, minus Homura, are simply shocked.
Kyubey shifts its head looking at the pinkette, "Madoka has potential to easily meet this goal. I do not know how, but the type of potential she has is not possible. With the right wish, she can become the most powerful Magical Girl ever. And as the most powerful Magical Girl, she'll eventually become the most powerful Witch." Madoka's blood suddenly goes cold. The thought of her destroying the world she lives in and loves is too much of a shock for her to process her thoughts.
Kairi on the other hand looks down to the floor, most of her body is trembling. "I don't believe it…" she mutters. "All along, you've been planning to destroy this world?"
"That's not true. Our goal is to collect the emotional energy necessary to counteract entropy. Though whether Madoka makes the contract or not, eventually this world would be destroyed by the Witches based on calculations by the time we acquired to reach our quota. But if you look at it from a universal scale, the destruction of one world," Kyubey tilts its head, "is insignificant to the preservation of hundreds, thousands of systems of worlds."
"Enough!" Kairi yells out. "I don't care about that. Whether it is intentional or not, your actions would bring an end to this world. The worst part of it, it is done by innocent girls that live here." Kairi continues to tremble, "They put their faith into you. Along with their hopes and dreams. Sure they get what they wanted at first, but sooner or later, they'll lose everything. You used them. You betrayed them. You tell them they are doing good; but all they are doing is continuing this senseless cycle." Tears start to build in the Keyblade wielder's eyes. "No, your even worse than that. You give them a granted wish, but in the end they end up turning into monsters! All because you came to them!" Kairi stifles for a second, "I…I don't whose worse," she says in low voice. "You or the Organization!" she yells out.
"Organization? What are you talking about?" Kyubey asks with a serious tilt. The same question echoes in the minds of the other girls.
Kairi froze for a second, realizing what she just said. She takes in a slow, deep breath. Seconds later, she expels the used air. "That doesn't matter…" she says in a low voice. "The point is…" Kairi's hands shaking violently. "This world…" she mutters out, "this world…" Kairi stifles once more before yelling, "This world would be a lot better off if you never came here in the place!" Despite her attempts, her tears start to fall.
"Kairi…" is the only thing that Madoka can mutter out.
"For once, we are in agreement," a deep voice echoes around the station. At that moment, Kairi's eyes snap open wide before frantically looking around. The other girls and Kyubey also look around to find the voice's source. Kairi looks forward before making a quick gasp and shifts to a defensive posture.
*ORGANIZATION XIII*
A Corridor of Darkness appears a few yards behind Kyubey. After the darkness left, in its place is a tall man. The other girls and Kyubey take notice of him. Kairi can't help but feel she met this person before. What she is sure of that this person is with Organization XIII. The Organization member crosses his chest with his right arm before thrusting it; a spark bursts from the thrust hand. At that moment, a bright spark appears on Kyubey's forehead. Kyubey struggles against an unknown force before it flings into the air spinning and goes into the man's open hand. After tightly gripping the creature, he lowers his arm. Kairi notices a mark on Kyubey's forehead; an 'X' in the Old English font. After a few seconds, the cloaked figure looks at Kairi, "We meet again, Princess?"
"Princess?" Kyoko asks with several curious blinks. Her mouth slightly opens, "Wait a minute, you don't mean…" she says as she looks at the Keyblade wielder. Everyone else looks at the Princess of Heart.
"Who are you?" Kairi says in a lows voice.
"Forgotten me already?" the man responds. "I almost feel sad," he says with a shake of his head.
"It would help if you take off that stupid hood," Kairi retorts.
"Point taken." The man raises his free hand to remove the hood.
When he did, Kairi makes a small gasp before her eyes narrow into a glare, "You…" The man in front of her has long, blue hair, yellow eyes and an 'X' shaped scare between them. He was a member of the original Organization; Saïx.
"So you do remember me," he responds with a cold, calculated demeanor.
"How can I forget?" Kairi exclaims as she swings her right, while taking a step back; shifting to a more defensive pose. "You threw me in that cell. I was nothing more than your prisoner!"
"I prefer the term, guest," the man responds with a slight have of his hand.
"Well, you have a twisted sense of showing your guests a good time."
"Is this how you treat someone you haven't seen in a while?"
Kairi realizes this is getting nowhere and decides to change the subject. "Why are you here?"
"Tying up a few loose ends. I also wanted to see you face to face. To think… you, a Princess of Heart, is able to wield a Keyblade. Quite intriguing. So intrigued, we decided to keep tabs on you.
"What are you talking about?"
"We have been monitoring your progress and testing your power. However, we couldn't determine your strength truly; considering you had help during several of your trials," he said the last part looking at the girls behind Kairi before looking back at the Keyblade Wielder. "I'm surprised though. I didn't expect you would pull that girl's heart, as well as her soul, out of the darkness. Such is the power of a Princess of Heart."
"So you sent those Nobodies at us as another test?"
"Not quiet, Princess!" another voice calls. A dark portal opens behind the Madoka and the Magical Girls, revealing another tall figure in a black coat. With one hand, he reveals his face, wearing an eye-patch over his scared right eye with another scar on his left cheek. His silver and gray hair is wrapped into a long, thin ponytail. The man Kairi knows as Xigbar. "They were meant to stall you for your real test. Wanted to see if you would truly take down a friend that gave in to the darkness." Kairi glares back at him. Xigbar notices this and raises his hand defensively. "And don't go blaming us; that girl there took the train to Witchville all by herself," he points at the bluenette for a couple seconds before lowering his arm. "We thought it would be a perfect test to see how well you go up against someone you once knew. And I have to say, you passed with flying colors." He expressed the last sentence with an exaggerated wave of his arms.
"So it's been about me all along?!" Kairi ponders out loud. For the moment, she felt that because of her, Sayaka turned into a Witch. Luckily the thoughy only existed for that moment.
"Not exactly," said the Luna Diviner, prompting Kairi to turn around and look back at him. "As I mentioned before, we're tying up loose ends. It would be quite… tragic, if these Witches were to escape to other worlds."
"How come I don't buy that?! What is your real reason for getting rid of them?"
"Smart girl. I'm sure you have realized the Heartless' behavior towards these Witches. When that buffoon summoned his Heartless, we were intrigued on how they disobeyed him and turned against him. Since the Heartless play a vital role in our designs, we determined it is best to exterminate a potential threat to our goals. And so we have done that, eliminating Witches…" He looks at the girls between Xigbar and Kairi, "as well as those that are fated to become them."
The Magical Girls gasp at this statement, scared of what this is man is capable of. "If you want them, then you have to go through me!" Kairi says in a strong, defending tone. The other girls' expressions slightly soften at those words; having a feeling that Kairi is going to protect them no matter what happens.
"We have no desire to deal with them," Saïx states as he looks back at the Keyblade Wielder. "Their fate will be up to you. In fact, I highly recommend you postpone their judgement; for you would need their assistance."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kairi says in a low, defensive tone.
"Surely you can feel it? The darkness that continues to build in this city."
"Walpurgisnacht…" she says in a low tone.
"Correct. The Keyblade Master is currently dealing with the rest of its kind. Once he's finished, Walpurgisnacht will be all that's left," he states as his gaze focuses more on Kairi. "Once you defeat it, I recommend putting those four out of their misery," referencing to Sayaka, Kyoko, Mami, and Homura; the four girls make a slight sound of apprehension. "After that, the Witches will no longer exist. And to be sure of that. We shall dispose of this Incubator."
"That's impossible." Kyubey responds calmly. Saïx averts his gaze to the creature in his grip. "Even if you are able to get rid of me, another Incubator would come and replace me."
The man makes a sound of amusement. "That would prove problematic. If there are any Incubators that still exist."
"What?" Kyubey responds with a confused tone.
"We paid your homeworld a visit. Sealed it off before exterminating each one of you. And to ensure that we did not miss a single one…" Saïx trails off.
Kairi's eyes widen as a thought comes to her. "So the world that vanished a few days ago…" She was referencing to the sight of a star that blinked out several days ago.
"Quite perceptive," Saïx responded to Kairi's insight. "Now, only this one remains. And we have an appropriate place to dispose of it." Kyubey shifts its head up in shock, 'gasping'. "You claim 'anomalies' on things that you do not understand. The truth is…" he looks back at the Incubator in his hand, "You are the true anomaly."
"What do you mean?" Kairi asks in a serious, yet curious tone.
The Organization member looks back at Kairi, "Answer this question. How can any living being be unable to feel any emotion at all?"
Kairi glares at the man for a few seconds before her eyes widen, "You're saying… They don't have hearts, at all?"
"Correct," he says with a nod. "It's quite interesting. A race that consists of only souls and bodies. and yet have no hearts to understand emotion or to connect to the hearts of others," he states as he clenches his free hand for a second. "Those that do gain emotions, along with a heart, are truly the lucky ones. In a way, you can say that these Incubators… are the real Nobodies. As such, they are simply nothing. They wish to claim superiority and wish to extend the universe's remaining time as a means to prove their existence. Quite a foolish notion, there is an inevitable end to everything. " He looks down on the Incubator, "especially you."
Kyubey jerks its head in response. After Kyubey lowers its head for a few seconds, the sigil on its head glows. "What?" Kyubey said in a confused tone after the mark stopped glowing.
"Trying to hop into another body," the man said in an amused manner before making a sound of the same amusement. "Pointless. The mark we have placed upon you. It ensures us that you won't escape and leave us with an empty husk."
"So you're the one who gave him that?" Kairi asks in a soft, curious voice.
"That was my work." Xibar said, prompting the girls to look back at him. "See, I was given the task of tracking down that little critter and let me tell you it was quite a pain in the neck. Always moving around. Or so I thought until you and it had a chat after you got rid of the Heartless that Saïx sicked at you. I just happen to find it in the area and what luck, it just stood there." He said this while waving his right arm. "So I took aim," the Freeshooter states before bringing his right hand up; in the shape of a gun with two fingers pointed at the Incubator, making a movement, "and bang," he says with a motion of his hand to indicate he 'fired it', "'X' marks the spot." Xigbar lowers his arm, "Since then we've been keeping track of his every single move.
"Through this so-called 'Messenger of Magic,'" Saix continues, "our search for the remaining Magical Girls and Witches proceeded more smoothly.
"Now that we've done our part in cleaning up this mess, it's time for us to be on our way," Xigbar says before jerking his head slightly back. "Oh, yeah," he says softly. "Hey, don't forget to leave them a consolation prize," he said to his partner in crime before disappearing into a Corridor of Darkness."
Kairi looks back at Saïx, "What does he mean?"
"Just a small farewell gift," said the blue-haired man. He puts his free hand into his left pocket. He pulls out a black pouch and tosses it into the air. The strings on the pouch loosen. After the pouch lands with a bounce, small, black objects rolled out of it. The girls gasp at what Saïx had given them; Grief Seeds. "I believe those would be quite useful in your final bout." The man stares at the Princess of Heart, "We are expecting great things from you. Do not disappoint us." The man is surrounded by a plume of darkness that appeared for a few seconds before disappearing; taking away the Organization member and the Incubator.
Kairi stares at the space where the two were. The others also looked into that area before their eyes fall on Kairi. Madoka calls out to the Keyblade Wielder in a soft voice full of confusion. Kairi sighs before turning around; looking down the floor. She looks back up with a sheepish chuckle, "I~ have a lot of explaining to, don't I?" she says with a sheepish grin; with one hand behind her head.
Riku's Log 11
I happened to have a run-in with Saïx, a member of the new Organization XIII. Apparently, he is the mysterious figure that has been leading people to the bodies of dead girls. We had an exchange of words, and confirmed my suspicions regarding to Witches and Kyubey. Turns out, the Organization had their eyes on this world ever since I first arrived here. Their original intention was merely observation, but according to Saïx, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Witches work in the shadows, their presence unknown to ordinary people. The ways that they affect and attack their victims do not leave much an impact, considering the nature of most of these incidents can lead to standard investigations. Perhaps it is their very nature that could possess a possible threat to the Organization's plans if they become an inter-world problem like the Heartless.
Speaking of the Heartless, they are drawn to the darkness emanating from the Witches. If the Witches do become a problem in other worlds, Heartless in those worlds would be drawn to them. No doubt the Organization plans to use the Heartless to their extent in the coming battles. But if the Witches do become as active on the same level as the Heartless; the Heartless would probably ignore the Organization, thus posing a threat to their plans.
As I stated earlier, our conversation confirms my theory about Witches. Witches are in fact the final stage of a Magical Girl's transformation. I may not understand why, but this appears to be Kyubey's endgame. I remember one of Ansem the Wise's observations: all life consists of three elements: the body, soul, and the heart. I won't go into detail of the relationship of these elements, only to describe I believe what occurs. Upon making the contract, the soul gets separated from the body and is placed into a Soul Gem, which somehow acts like a remote control for the now lifeless body. With the soul separated from the heart, it can easily be contaminated through emotions and the use of magic. I should note that Magical Girls' form of magic, uses power from their very soul, thus fragments of their soul turn black.
The heart serves to hold both the light and darkness of a being. If there is no heart in the Soul Gem, the darkness would then infect the next closest thing that defines a person, their soul. In the final stage, in which their soul becomes completely black, they will be overcome by fear, regrets, anger, and despair. The mixture of these feelings would have them to curse their lives and be envious of the lives of others. At this point, the Soul Gem becomes a Grief Seed, and the girl's blackened soul would give birth to this entity, the Witch.
Saïx has given me information on the remaining Witches in this world. He said once we defeat the final Witch, they will become extinct just like their creators. From the sound of this statement, looks like the Organization has been busy. Knowing how the Organization works, no doubt they would take extreme measures in order to eliminate any threat to their goals. After he left, I started to get worried for Kairi. There is no doubt that Saïx, or at least another member of the Organization, will make contact with her. However, I don't think they will try to pull a fast one on us. For now, I will hunt down the remaining Witches in this world.
Author's Note: Chapter 12 is now up.
I couldn't focus on my studies due to this being the pivotal point of the story.
Now that I got this out of the way, I can focus on my work.
If you are confused about something, it will probably be explained in the next chapter.
Again, thanks for reading the story this far.
Until next time.
Preview
TIME
What does your heart truly want?
MADOKA
I'm the one you're looking for.
WALPURGISNACHT
This time…I'll end it once and for all.
HOMURA
I…I want to fight as well.
Next Chapter
YOU ARE THE SOURCE