My dream
The pink light bathed the humid gallery with craters on the ground and Kyuubeys, many of them. Dolls were midair, with its displaced members, falling slowly. Who was actually floating were two fallen girls inside a bubble. There were two other girls, one who probably think she was a fearsome pirate more for her eye patch than her claws, and a small one carrying a curious furry wand with tail that even remotely did not looked like a weapon.
For Sayaka, that scene only led to a conclusion. "What a mess..." She turned, facing to the hologram of the Law of Cycles' symbol. In her hand, a grief seed with a pink bow on top. "It worked... I guess it's safer to send it back." Then she threw it toward the image. When both disappeared, the girl of sword and cape was perplexed.
There was Madoka, unconscious inside a crystal covered by a lively and sticky goo.
Sounds of heavy and hard things falling on the floor caught her attention back to what was around.
The dolls met the ground at the speed that was expected.
Something which Kirika also seen. "Shit. With this light show, I forgot my magic."
While Homura was kneeling inside the bubble, she exchanged glances with Sayaka. "Miki-san..."
The blue magical girl placed the sword's tip on the ground, talking to herself. "So she's here..."
Before Homura could stand, she received a strong hug from behind.
Holding the other as she could, Oriko shouted. "KIRIKA!"
"Okay. Okay..." Kirika gestured to the new magical girl. "Hey deep blue, can you take a small step aside? I have to break it."
"Huh?" Sayaka raised her eyebrows. "HellooOOO! Didn't you see that black thing?"
Kirika sighed. "That's what gives to be a little polite..."
The dolls began to move.
Scaring Yuma, who was still close to them. "Papa! They're standing up!"
"Ah... I'm tired!" Kirika stepped hard on the ground, creating an aura. "I've seen many strange things for today, it's time to end this!"
Sayaka saw the other raising her claws. "I don't know what's got into you." A circular blue aura formed under her, fluttering her cap with its magic. "But I won't allow you get close to her."
"I don't need permission. Kukuku." When everything went slow around her, Kirika ran targeting the prism. Her claws ready to work. However, her plans to leave that sword girl behind were interrupted when she quickly stood on her way. "What?!"
Instinctively, she left everything even slower, this time having an expected effect on the blue haired girl. She's fast. Diverting, Kirika passed the girl, who now was turning slowly toward her. But not enough. She smiled and kept going to her goal.
Around the prism, numerous and small blue circular portals emerged and swords came out from them. They stood in midair.
Kirika stopped before the wall of blades.
"What did I tell you?"
She turned and saw the other girl in her blue aura, again moving at normal speed. Kirika also used the moment to check on the situation of the rest.
Yuma was with her mouth half open, eyes wide, her step toward the prism creating a crown of water in a puddle. The dolls behind her were already getting to their feet.
Meanwhile, Oriko still held the girl with a frightening aspect, both making strained faces.
Sayaka was also watching. "You can leave everything slower."
"And it seems that you can compensate this by increasing your own speed. Even in your reflexes." Kirika said.
With a slight smile in response, the blue magic girl again put the sword tip on the floor bathed by the light of her aura. "My name is Sayaka Miki, what's yours?"
"You want to know the name of your opponent?" Kirika was surprised. "What's the sense in that?"
"Maybe because I don't want you to be one."
"Well..." Kirika sharpened her claws, releasing violet sparks. "I have bad news."
Seeing the other girl charging toward her, Sayaka raised her blade, catapulting water from a puddle.
Which splashed in the eye of Kirika. She stopped moving while closing it, when she opened she saw a silver thread up her nose to the forehead.
Sayaka retreated with her sword.
Kirika realized her vision was clearer and wider. On the floor, her eye patch.
"There must be a misunderstanding. Let's talk before you get hurt." Said Sayaka.
"Girl." Kirika's eyes widened. "You got into big trouble now." Her claws gained size and she jumped.
Despite the fury of the attack, with a flutter of her white cape, Sayaka easily avoided the attack.
Kirika connected her attack with a powerful flying kick.
That Sayaka blocked with the body of her sword, her feet dragging on the ground with the force of the blow.
"So you don't live only of tricks. Good, kukuku... very good..." With a big smile, Kirika was preparing for a new assault, but was surprised when the other one suddenly flew like a torpedo, passing over her head. "Wow!"
Sayaka put her feet in a circular wall built in the air by her magic. Once the girl with claws turned, she flew off the wall with speed and gave a headbutt in the chest of the other.
"Ugh!" Kirika fell back with open arms. Still on the ground, she saw that Sayaka was on her feet, snapping her neck.
"You must be used to fight with the advantage that your magic offers. I've dealt with people like that."
Still catching her breath, Kirika rose. "The last person... ah... who said that to me didn't do well... you know?"
"I could have killed you." Affirmed Sayaka.
"Your loss!" Kirika charged again.
Sayaka stepped back to avoid every attack. "I'm asking you to stop!"
"Who must stop is you!" Kirika's gem shone.
Sayaka was preparing for a new dodge, but the claws were faster or, rather, she was slower. "Aahh!" Three crimson lines were drawn on her chest.
That's what I want to hear." Kirika said, more confident.
But Sayaka did not complain more of pain, instead she showed a look of conviction. On her cuts black circles formed and, as they spun, the wounds closed. Even her uniform was repaired.
Kirika tried to lift the eye patch she had not. "Heeey... that's cheap!"
"See?" Said Sayaka seriously. "It's better not to waste more of your magic."
"I thought you'd be quiet after that... you're really hopeless..." After saying, Kirika opened her arms. "Do you think you can deal with me? You're already sweating!"
With the affirmation of the other, Sayaka was surprised.
"And I haven't even started. I just need to cut deeper." The claws of Kirika went from violet to purple and purple to black. They lengthened and became flexible, on their bodies various scythe-shaped blades sprouted.
Sayaka made her aura to shine more when she saw those claws, now bladed whips, come to life and fly against her. With fast movements, she parried the attacks with her sword.
Kirika cheered the other sarcastically. "Keep it up and you will last a few more seconds!"
Unable to bear the pressure, Sayaka took a giant leap into the air and covered herself with her cape. When she opened it, several swords flew toward her attacker.
Kirika retracted whips that came from one of her arms and blocked the attack easily. "When you get to fight seriously, let me know. Ok?"
Now with two swords, Sayaka fought against three whips that chased her on her return to the ground. One of the whips rose and plunged, targeting the top of her head. She rolled and the tip stuck in the concrete.
When she got up, Sayaka noted that it was unable to free by itself. Another whip lunged at her. She managed to deflect it, but at the cost of a sword that flew from her hand. Using her other blade, the girl repeatedly hammered the whip, sinking the energy scythes into ground. She only did not continue, because the other whip reached her sword, pinning both on the floor.
It pinned itself willingly? Sayaka wondered to herself what it meant when the whips stretched, the scythes serving as hooks. She then turned.
Kirika came flying speed, being pulled by the whips like a reel. In her other arm, the whips had returned to be huge claws, bigger than her own body. "It's time for the Gran Finale!" Her eyes bulging, her teeth bared in glee.
Such face oncoming was so terrifying that Sayaka felt like punching it and did.
"WHOOOAAAAAHG!" Kirika flew a dozen meters back, whips tore chunks of concrete where they were stuck before disappearing.
Sayaka was scared, not by her deed, but because her arm was now cladded in iron.
"Aw, aw, awwwuuu..." Kirika pulled her lower lip where her teeth had sunk into its flesh. Sensing the taste of the flowing blood, she stood eyeing her opponent. "What is it? An armor? Cool, I didn't think a magical girl could have more than one uniform."
Water ran down Sayaka's face and dripped on the breastplate, with a red bow. Her body shivered. "Oh no..."
"Are you feeling bad girl?" Kirika took the opportunity to see how were the others.
Yuma continued on her run. At the moment, with both feet off the ground, it seemed to she was flying. Behind her were those ominous 'children'.
However, still the highest priority after the prism was Oriko. The girl who wore ridiculous braids had already freed herself from the hug, she should be quite dangerous.
"Did you burn all your magic?" Kirika returned to cast her claws. "Well... better for me."
Sayaka gestured with her gauntlets. "Please! Stop!"
"Come and try!" Kirika sped off.
Sayaka spread her hands. The waters of the nearby puddles rose up to them and solidified, forming long sabers.
"More tricks?!" When she saw Sayaka brandishing her blades, Kirika bent down and slid across the wet ground. The armored girl jumped to avoid the claws and she passed under her.
"By the way, your cape is now blue." Kirika stood up and grabbed the cape to cover the head of Sayaka with it. "Want to see?"
"Damn you!" Sayaka removed the cape and spun with her blades. What came next was a bright violet movement. "AAAAAHH!" Then she felt, apart from the terrible pain, that one side of her body had become lighter. Glancing, she saw her arm on the ground, severed at the shoulder height. Seeking retaliation, she tried again brandishing her other sword.
But it did not move because it was caught between the blades of one of the claws of Kirika. "Kukuku. Too bad, Sayaka-chan." She held up the other claw. "In the end you just lose your head."
Before she could deal the blow, however, a sword pierced her arm.
"Shit!" As more swords came flying in her direction, coming from the wall of blades, Kirika backed with a long jump.
Sayaka bowed and raised her sword, stopping the attack.
With the truce, Kirika checked her injury. The blade was stuck in her biceps. Blocking the pain, she removed and the blood shed, but not for long thanks to her magic. However, the movement of the arm was impaired. "Yeah... it seems a draw." It was then that she noticed blue droplets on her clothes, like a dye. Turning her attention to the other, something left her stunned.
At the site of the amputation of Sayaka's arm, a light blue jelly came out and was taking shape. Like before, the water came from puddles and wrapped that blue ink, earning a metallic appearance. In the end, there appeared a new gauntlet.
Meanwhile, the old arm lying on the ground melted, mixing with the waters.
"This is bad." Kirika clenched her fists. "This is reeeeally bad! What is she made of?!"
With her new arm, Sayaka lifted a little her skirt to confirm something she feared. Under the damp skin of her thighs, fish scales were appearing. She is right.
Standing, she looked at the swords that protected the prism. I amusing a lotof magicto keep it. Then to the other girl. Besides what I am using to compete with her.
But why did I notlose control?
Sayaka focused on the stifling weight of her armor. Mybarrier should have been formed here. Her blue aura continued to shine, sending drawings of musical notes in the air. Isthat? Isher magic slowing downthis process?
The other girl was trying to move her injured arm as far as she could.
So the moreshe usethis spell, the more time I will have. Sayaka wielded her sword with both hands. But I must preparemyself. She shouldbe at her limit.
Kirika analyzed the situation. That's the worst thing I've ever faced. Beyond being strong, she is boring as hell. If she can regenerate to the point of recovering a full member, so my only chance is the soul gem. It was on her belly, right?
But...
She put a hand on her gem. My arm is done, my gem should not be different as well. While she watched the aura of the armored swordswoman. And I can not give myself the luxury of thinking that she will continue passive.
Then she went a hand in a bulky pocket of her jacket. I still have cubes, I can try something. She squinted, pleased with her own idea. I can slow down much more than the other times, more than I have ever done!
Kirika put it into action, her opponent froze as if she had stopped in time.
"This will put my gem on the edge." Kirika took her soul gem and turned, putting it on the black and white tiled floor. "But I can slow down the corruption of it too!" Still talking to herself, Kirika took the cubes and put them around the blackened gem. "While these here remain the same."
A black essence left with normal speed from the gem and was absorbed by the cubes.
"I'm not even have to consult my big love this time!" Kirika put her hand on her hip with pride. "For now I won't run the risk of disappearing... well... I don't know anymore. Good thing it isn't and..." But something made her intrigued. "... why is the floor like that?"
While trying to understand what had happened, her eyes fell on a crawling creature, a worm the size of a cat. Worm was the closest word she could find to describe it, since it was actually more a shapeless blob. Its skin was white and smooth, with a partial transparency which allowed to see the pulsing flesh underneath. There were a few hairs, which could count on the fingers of a hand, black and curled, as long as thick, distributed without a pattern throughout the body. The stranger, however, was the black top hat on what would be the head of it.
"The hell?!" Kirika rubbed her eyes.
Her vision now only saw the wet concrete.
"Ahhh! I already said! No more oddities!" Annoyed, Kirika turned back to her opponent and called her claw. However, only appeared a small blade of energy. "Uh-oh... not much magic left, this should be my last chance..." Recovering her will, she advanced. "... and I won't miss it!"
Getting closer, Kirika saw the aura of the swordswoman to shine and she started to move her sword, but still very slowly. She noticed me, but she did not know she need to accelerate more. With differences in their speeds, everything seemed easy. She stopped in front of the girl and struck the blow where there was a drawing of a punctured heart.
Sayaka lowered her head.
"DIE!" Meanwhile, Kirika struck more blows in the same place. The same blue ink from previously flowed through the perforations until the arm of the girl broke the armor and plunged inside. "Y-Yuck..." There was no gem there, her hand just brought back a wet and sticky blue paste.
Which began to be washed by a stream of water.
Kirika looked up, following the line of the water. What she found was not the head of a girl, but a helmet. Then she felt the painful pressure of metal burying in her stomach.
The knight revealed her visor, where the water leaked. In a single move, her saber opened the abdomen of the other girl till the end in a horizontal cut, splashing blood on the puddles of water. Justice was done.
Kirika opened an incredulous smile. "You... cheated." She pulled away and turned, holding the wound. On her arms, a waterfall of blood poured. In a slow, staggered steps, she tried to reach her gem, which now seemed so distant.
The world began to spin.
"Ah... not again..." Extending her arm in a last effort, she collapsed to the ground and her magical girl clothes evaporated.
Sayaka put her hands on the ground. "i PuNiSHEd HeR. I PUnisHED hER. I puNisHed HEr. i pUniSHed Her."
The swords that protected the prism fell and mixed with the water. Her armor began to melt.
"I punished her. I punished her. I punished her. I punished her."
Her wet body trembled.
"I punished her. This... this..."
"STAY AWAY FROM PAPAAAAAHHH!" Yuma hit with her shining wand accompanied by all her fury.
"UUAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Sayaka flew high, to where the lights of the gallery did not reach.
The little green magical girl quickly pointed her wand to Kirika.
The fallen girl was soon surrounded by a green light. "Little love..." Being saved twice by her, causing her to spend her magic. Kirika was already certain that she would receive a reprimand from Oriko. Yes, she would receive one when they return home. When the green light dissipated, however, a major problem arose.
Two of those children were holding her gem, looking at it with a certain fascination.
"Hey!" Kirika tried to get up, but felt a strong impact on her back. Some of them had jumped on top of her.
"Oh no!" Yuma tried to go to her, but some children blocked the way.
"GIRL!"
Yuma answered the call coming from the bubble that was floating high from the ground.
Homura was helding the face of Oriko, while her other hand was on the gem.
"Mama!"
"Surrender your gem!" Homura ordered.
Yuma shuddered with that voice, noting that a child approached her with her outstretched white and smooth hand. She turned her head and looked at the prism.
"Oh... you're brave." Affirmed Homura. "Feel free to try, but with the certainty that both will die."
Yuma looked at the legs of Kirika which struggled while she was being held on the ground by those hard and cold beings.
"Give it NOW!"
A flash of green light and her magical girl uniform gave way to a dark green dress, her cap for golden hair clips. On the palm of her left hand, Yuma offered her gem.
The doll picked up the object eagerly. The others who were near approached, curious, watching corruption behaving like an oil in midst of the green inside it.
"Good." Homura pushed Oriko's face, throwing her against the surface of the bubble.
The little girl knelt down and sat on her heel in silence, with an expression of dismay. Then she heard footsteps on puddles and saw the silver flash of a blade.
Sayaka thought for a moment that they would exchange glances, but it was not the case.
"You're late, Miki-san." Homura said.
Sayaka turned to her by answering. "And you don't seem to be being able to protect her, devil."
Homura closed her eyes. "You remember... a shame that you're always one step behind."
"How is it?"
Homura then widened them. "Devil is dead!" After she pointed to herself. "Only the carcass remains."
"Carcasses don't speak." Sayaka sighed before continuing. "Could you stop talking like that? I'm not in the mood to keep guessing."
"We are similar, Miki-san." Homura said. "Moribund echoes of our wishes."
Sayaka paid attention at the dark attire of the other and in the braids she returned to use. "You..."
Homura interrupted. "I'm not so surprised that Madoka have a backup plan than you be it. I thought you were in a more unpleasant state..."
"She knows she can trust me." Sayaka smiled. "I followed exactly as she asked me. I waited all this time, trying to keep everything the Law of Cycles built, until I receive a signal."
Homura nodded. "I see..."
"L-Law of Cycles...?!"
Homura turned to Oriko.
The girl was agape, eyes wide and her brow furrowed. "The... The Law of Cycles is not a myth... I... I was wrong all this time."
"No. You're right." Homura answered.
Oriko was confused.
She continued. "The Law of Cycles is a myth, built over time by those who had no knowledge of what is true. The truth is Madoka and only Madoka!"
Oriko looked at the girl inside the prism.
... She IS the Law of Cycles...
The voice Kyouko echoed in her memory, echoed from a future she fortunately could avoid. "So that is why we do not disappear..." After babbling, Oriko called aloud. "You! You with the sword! Miki-san, is it not?"
Sayaka pointed at herself. "Hi? Yes?"
"Please!" Oriko asked. "Break the prism! Free the Law of Cycles from Incubator's paws!"
Sayaka shook her head. "No... that black thing over there, I don't know what it is, but it seems dangerous."
"I know." Oriko nodded. "I know that want to corrupt the soul of Madoka, it would be our end as well, but it is weaker now and she is strong. I brought many cubes, I can purify her before the worst happens!"
Sayaka thought about what she had heard and glanced at the prism.
"Do not even think about it."
Just for her attention be called by Homura.
The girl with long braids continued. "Tell me what you know, Miki-san."
"Madoka told me her plan. I could not believe it when I first heard." Sayaka spoke. "She would cooperate with Kyuubey to deal with a major threat, and with your help too." Then she pointed the sword to the prism with some indignation. "But this looks like a cooperation?"
"She asked to trust her, didn't she?" Inquired Homura.
Sayaka looked down, pressing her lips before confirming. "Yes..."
Homura smiled. "So..."
"Do not listen to her!" Oriko intervened. "This insane girl wants to allow the annihilation of the universe!"
"Yup! Really insane!" Sayaka lowered her sword. "But I don't believe she wants it. Madoka would never forgive her."
Homura grinned. "Are you quite sure of your words? Sayaka Miki..."
"You won't annoy me with this silly facade of a villain!" Sayaka said in annoyance. "I know all about the 'tea and cookies'."
"It was actually a kind of fried dumpling..." Homura corrected.
"You fool! This is not a facade!" Oriko exasperated.
"You have no more arguments." After saying that to Oriko, Homura spoke again with Sayaka. "Miki-san, by any chance Madoka said something about these girls?"
"No." Sayaka raised her eyebrows. "Wasn't you that called them?"
"This was supposed to be a joke?" Homura asked, angrily, then raised a hand to her chin. "They came on their own... hmmm..."
"Are you thinking about something?"
"Nothing special." Homura looked up. "Just that Madoka should not have said anything about the witch, too."
"Witch?!" Sayaka was surprised. "What witch?!"
"Learned to fight, but don't know how to hunt yet..." Homura commented. "Concentrate and observe that tunnel."
Sayaka followed her orders, looking at the tunnel with fog.
"You must be feeling that there is more than one source." Homura said. "I sent Charlotte there."
"So she's still with you." After answering without thinking, Sayaka took notice. "Hey! Don't call her like that!"
Homura rolled her eyes. "You question me after what you did to her?"
Sayaka closed her eyes and her face became tense.
"But you have your chance to redeem yourself and maybe even more."
"What do you mean?" Sayaka asked suspiciously.
"I have something interesting to tell you." Homura continued. "This girl that is kneeling beside you, I've met her. I remember that she was with Sakura-san and Tomoe-san."
Oriko was dumbfounded.
Sayaka even more. "Really?!" She turned her attention to the little girl. "Tell me..."
Yuma saw the glow of the blade closer, with that she winced and put her hands on her head.
Sayaka shook her head. "No, I won't hurt you."
"Truth. Talk and nothing will happen to you." Homura affirmed.
Sayaka turned furiously. "That's not what I meant!"
"Now Miki-san! She's a magical girl." Homura shrugged. "Cutting her a bit will not do any harm."
Oriko rose. "You monster!"
Only to have her hair held by Homura. "Say!"
"I TELL! I TEEELL!" Yuma was in tears. "Just don't hurt mama more... uuuuhhhhhh..."
Sayaka was outraged.
"Worked." Homura was brief, while threw Oriko back again.
"Madoka will have a lot of work with you." Said the bluenette.
"Mami-senpai, Kyouko-neechan..." Yuma sniffed before continuing. "T-They are there... and has a huge monster."
"A red rider with a spear." Homura added.
Yuma looked at the bubble with surprise.
"Yes..." Homura looked at Sayaka. "It's her."
The swordswoman clenched her fists.
"It's a very dangerous witch." Homura continued. "And if Tomoe-san is there, she will not want to fight. They need you."
Then narrowed her eyes.
"Unfortunately I am not in a position to offer help." Homura smiled. "I need to keep the situation under control here. Madoka's mission can not fail."
Sayaka gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. "I'll be back."
"I'll be waiting." Homura crossed her arms.
Seeing that the girl with cape was really starting to leave, Oriko exclaimed. "What are you doing?! You have been chosen by Madoka, you can not abandon her!"
Sayaka ran like a torpedo toward the tunnel, vacuum lifting water from the puddles on the way.
"YOU IDIIIOOOOT!" The cry of Oriko was of anger and frustration.
"She knows that." Homura spoke. "And you should be grateful."
"Because...?"
"If Miki-san was more stubborn about the prism, I would threaten the lives of you three." Homura continued. "This would be an irrefusable offer."
"You are a lot worse than her." Oriko lowered her head. "All efforts, all the sacrifices, all being crushed by your ignorance."
Homura turned her head. "How many times have you had a vision of this moment?"
Oriko took a while to respond. "Fifty? Eighty? I have lost count..."
"Hmmm... it's a good number..." Homura turned her attention to a Kyuubey that was collecting grief cubes near the children who were holding the gem of Kirika. [Incubator.]
That Kyuubey continued with his work, but the voice of the creature sounded in the mind of the girl. [Madoka seems to be prepared for eventualities.]
Homura looked at the sphere, which looked more like a black hole, absorbing the abomination that now only covered one third of the prism. [Tell me. Are you storing all that energy?]
[Storing and transmitting. Although it is above expectations, we were prepared.]
[Right...] Homura lifted one of her hands and examined its palm of stitched leather.
[Is there anything more to ask?]
Homura closed her hand. As always, Kyuubey was very observant. [According to my memories, Madoka did not instruct you on what to do after this is over.]
[No. She did not instruct.]
Homura insisted. [Even at some point that I was not present. Did she not say anything?]
[I do not know when you were not present, Homura Akemi. I say again, I did not receive any instruction.]
Homura mused, watching the girl inside the prism.
The unconscious expression of Madoka was of complete peace.
Covering her face with her hand, Homura closed her eyes. [What do you intend to do?]
There was a silence.
The hand slipped and closed above the mouth. [Incubator...]
[Nothing.] The creature replied. [The truth is that we did everything before it happened. We studied Madoka, but since she did not manifest her powers, all results showed that she is a magical girl as common as any other, even in this form.]
Homura opened her eyes and faced the prism and the monster, at their side the weak and distorted reflection of herself on the bubble surface.
[We could further study, but after the incident we had with you, we no longer want to deal with such a risk.]
[According to the contract, is it not?] Homura added. [The end of the magical girl system.]
[Exactly. We will comply with our part.] Answered the creature. [With so many visits we are receiving today, after finishing the best thing to do is to release her.]
[No.]
[Homura?]
The girl held her breath, her hand over her mouth trembled as she watched more black tentacles being consumed by the sphere. [Don't release Madoka. Don't do anything.]
[Is there any reason?] Kyuubey questioned. [I assume Sayaka Miki is not aware about that.]
[If Madoka gave no instruction to do something, then do not.] With some anxiety, Homura released her breath and fetched her braids. Each hand holding one end with the two tied laces.
／人◕‿‿◕人＼
The roar of gunfire and the flash in the mist were the only evidence that the paper soldiers had about their end, being shattered along with the walkway they were in a series of explosions.
"Ok Bebe! You can go faster!" Mami turned the crank of what looked more like a meat grinder, which pulled the endless yellow ribbon tied on her collar. That fed the cannons, which alternated with each shot. She was already getting used to the speed, centering her sights on any flame she found in the fog. This was only possible thanks to the trust she had placed on the serpent in which she was riding.
Charlotte suddenly stopped.
To the shock of Mami, who felt the G-force pulling her. "Bebe?!"
Charlotte turned her face from one side to the other until she stopped and made several grimaces.
Mami noted that her companion's strange nose, which looked more like a birthday hat, moving. "You found something?"
Charlotte smiled and nodded.
Mami's eyes sparkled in joy, but before she could say anything more, her Bebe was already going. Recovering her concentration, she noticed that they were now flying parallel to a walkway.
Soon a flame appeared in the mist, but Mami hesitated. Would not be Kyouko? However, when they got closer she saw that it was more than one, besides being small. She turned the crank, firing against the horde of soldiers.
Another walkway crossing above that they were following, appeared on the way. There were soldiers and they threw fire.
Mami turned the cannons. The first shot exploded in the air, scattering the flames, while the second hit them fully. Unfortunately, she had no time to celebrate, as more fire came toward them.
What Mami did not expect was the cunning of Bebe.
Charlotte went down the walkway and switched sides. Doing this alternately, she could at the same time avoid and get cover against the attacks.
"Nicely done, Bebe." Mami was still alert, so that she saw a new flame, certainly larger than the others, still distant. They quickly approached and soon she confirmed that the flame belonged to a rider, like all the others she had ever seen.
Charlotte made a curve and began to circle the witch known as Ophelia.
"Bebe, so is she?" Mami pulled her hand away from the crank.
Ophelia stopped and raised her spear. The fog close to her began to coalesce and gain colors, rising new riders.
"We were not very discreet..." Mami concluded. "Bebe, stay more away from them, I will try something." She then created with her ties a megaphone. Before she could use it, however, spears flew toward them.
Mami returned to her gun, but it was too late. Unlike the fireballs, spears were much faster and Charlotte was pierced at various points. "No!"
Spears carried the serpent in agony until they got stuck in a short wall of another walkway.
If Mami was not being held by her ribbons, she would have flown even further. "Bebe! BEBE!" Shouted desperate seeing the other in such excruciating situation.
Charlotte opened her big mouth and an exact copy of herself started to left out from inside.
"Bebe...?" Mami was so amazed that she barely noticed the riders riding on the walkway, already close to them. In an act that mixed instinct and desperation, she broke free of her ribbons and jumped out of the body that was deflating to cling to the new body of Charlotte, only with her bare hands.
The dessert witch was quick to flee before the riders jumped on her too.
"Bebe! We have to try again!"
It was a mistake, Charlotte was more than convinced. She exposed Mami to a huge risk for something uncertain. The minimum she could do now was to find a safe place, even if it was under protest.
However, escaping from the true witch would prove to be difficult.
Red barriers formed by intertwined chains emerged in the way blocking the passage. Charlotte changed direction in order to get around, but soon found another barrier and another. She could not help but feel that she was being led somewhere.
A trap.
Then the barriers disappeared, but from the fog emerged spears. They came flying from many directions and angles, even retreat was impossible.
For Mami, it was like everything was gone in slow motion. Bebe might had a chance to survive that, but she did not.
So be it.
The polluted gem of Mami shone and shone... like it was purer than ever.
This also happened with the body of Charlotte, taken completely by a golden flash. From the fabric that made up her skin, giant yellow ribbons sprang up and whipped the spears, throwing them away.
With loss of aerodynamics due to these foreign bodies, the flying serpent lost control. Only managed to stop when she fell on a walkway.
It was not a soft landing, but there was no more spears threatening them and the giant ribbons evaporated. Charlotte turned to check on Mami.
"Bebe... are you okay..."
The witch felt relieved to know that the blonde had not let go, despite being weary.
"That glow... I knew it was the work of Mami-san."
Both Charlotte as Mami recognized that voice.
Walking down the walkway, Sayaka approached the two. "That redhead is giving alot of work, isn't it? Tsk tsk..."
The three of them heard the sound of a march.
"Ah... can't we be left alone for a while?" Sayaka turned and from her cape several swords left out and stuck among the rocks. Using the sword in her hand like a conductor's baton, she made the others gain life.
Like they were being carried by invisible soldiers, the swords advanced against the flames in the mist. Soon, they began to disappear.
"M-Miki-san..." Mami took a breath. "The Law of Cycles..."
"Don't worry, where I am, there is hope." Sayaka turned with a confident smile.
Mami smiled as best she could in response, but then looked back to where the fog covered.
"I felt too." Said Sayaka. "She's still chasing you, but I won't allow her reach here."
"Please..." Mami knelt over the body of Charlotte. "Kyouko..."
"If you continue to believe that Kyouko can be saved, she will be." Sayaka replied promptly. "After all you are my inspiration, Mami-san."
"Thank you... thank you..." Mami said in tearful tone.
"Now rest..." Sayaka came closer to Charlotte and spoke in a lower tone. "Nagisa."
Charlotte nodded slightly.
Sayaka looked away. "You must remember, right?"
The witch did not move, nor did any expression.
Sayaka felt that meant 'yes'. "Madoka told me about what happened to you."
Charlotte opened a little her mouth and blinked, without understanding much what it meant.
"I thought I was more right than you and I didn't realize, by doing that, I was already wrong. Madoka did not tell us about everything, she had a reason to. The poisonous words of Homura..." Sayaka was angry, angry at herself. "But none of this justifies! I believed I had overcome everything... how I was arrogant..."
Charlotte saw Sayaka sigh.
"I don't ask your pardon, I don't deserve. I just think... you needed to know."
The witch smiled brightly and showed her purple tongue, accompanied by a wink.
"Ok Nagisa!" Sayaka raised her voice. "Protect Mami-san with all you have! If you need, get her out of here." She then ran to where Mami was.
The blonde was hugging herself and breathing deeply. Her drooping eyelids did not hide the fatigue.
A blue aura came under Sayaka, before she said. "Believe in justice." Then she disappeared, leaving a blue trail and rolling mist with the vacuum left.
Charlotte approached her head toward Mami.
The blonde smiled again. "We gave... the best... isn't it Bebe?"
The witch smiled and swayed her plumes.
"I'm so... relieved..." Mami closed her eyes, letting out a tear. "Now I know... that'll be... everything... okay..."
Charlotte gasped when the magic clothes of Mami evaporated and she rolled to the ground.
Next chapter: My world