"Sana."

Sana opened her eyes. It felt like she had been sleeping for such a long time… only to be woken by the only friend she ever had. "Ai."

Ai hugged her. "Sana. I'm so happy that you're back."

Sana hugged her friend. Ai was smaller now, different. Her hair was still green, but her skin was pale rather than flashing in luminescent light. She looked human now. A lot like Sana herself actually, but in the end, she was still the same person that she knew.

"I'm sorry," Sana said as she returned the hug. She remembered. Bits of what happened before, like it was all a bad dream. She wished it was just a bad dream.

"It wasn't your fault," Ai replied. "You were lost. You weren't in control."

"But I hurt you… I hurt so many people."

Even in the darkness, even in that dream, Sana could recollect flashes of what she had done. It was enough to know the damage she had caused, the people she had hurt. She really was just a burden on others. Maybe it was better to just disappear, it wouldn't be hard with her magic.

"Sana," Ai let go of her hug only to hold Sana's hands in reassurance. "You're not a burden. They wanted to save you, I wanted to save you because you're our friend."

"Friend?" The word is almost foreign on Sana's lips. She had never imagined that anyone could come to value her. To actually want her around.

"They'll all forgive you. Because they're the ones that saved you," Ai told her.

They did save her… but at what price. "What's going to happen to you Ai. You… used up so much power."

"I can no longer take a physical form on my own," Ai admitted. Sana gasped only for Ai's grip on her hands to tighten. "But that's because I'm a part of you now. There is an energy in this city. An unknown power that allows me to exist within you, separate from the one who created me. So long as you live, I'll be here too."

"Does that mean we'll be together?" Sana asked, tentatively.

"Yes. We'll be together. I will always be with you. Ready to help you. Ready to talk… So as your friend, please do something for me."

"What is it?" Sana asked. "I'll do anything."

"Live. Live in the world that you belong. Don't hide in some dark isolated place anymore."

"I don't… think I can do it on my own…"

"But you aren't alone. We aren't. Wasn't there someone out there that called out to you? Someone whose voice resonated with you even as you were trapped within a dream."

"There was," Sana said. Pink was the first thing that came to her mind. A girl who could be so kind and brave, despite everything that she had done to her.

"Then I think it's about time you go out there and introduce yourself."

Iroha collapsed on her knees. Even with her Soul Gem bright she was still exhausted, that last attack had nearly drained her of everything she had.

"That was incredible Iroha!" Tsuruno shouted with the endless energy she always seemed to have. "I didn't know you had a move that was that powerful!"

"I didn't either," Iroha admitted. Strada Futoro was her trump card, her most powerful attack, most Magical Girls had one. But it was never that strong before… Did it have something to do with that dream? She couldn't even remember most of it now that she was awake, just a vague sense of nostalgia… and hope.

"I'm glad you didn't use your Doppel back there Tamaki," Yachiyo said, switching back to a more formal tone now that the danger had passed. "We've seen the danger of using it now."

"It's addicting." They all turned to Sana who had apparently woken up. "Even just once made me want to use more… and I ended up losing myself."

"Are you… ok?" Iroha asked as Tsuruno helped her stand up and gave her a shoulder to lean on.

"I'll be fine," Sana replied, before carefully standing up on her own. "I'm Sana Futaba. I'm sorry for hurting all of you."

"It wasn't you and what happened back there… could've happened to me," Iroha admitted.

"Oh… well. Thank you for saving me… and Ai."

"You're welcome," Yachiyo said. "But what happened to Ai?"

Sana put a hand to her chest. "She's… a part of me now. She fused with me to expel my Doppel."

"Wow must be weird fusing with an Uwasa," Felicia commented.

"Can't imagine going through something like that," Tsuruno said/

"It's not. It actually feels… good," Sana admitted as the world began to collapse around them. "Without her though this place is going to disappear."

"You look disappointed," Yachiyo said.

"It's the only place I ever felt safe… like a home to me," Sana admitted. "I… don't know where to go next."

"You can come with us," Iroha suggested. "I- Yachiyo has a place you can stay, if you don't have a place to go back to."

"… Really?"

Yachiyo shook her head, though there was a slight grin on her face. "You're welcome to live with us."

"I-we want to live with you all then," Sana replied.

"Yay we got another roommate!" Tsuruno cheered.

"You don't even live with us!" Felicia argued.

It was at that moment that Iroha remembered something very important. "Wait guys shouldn't we be getting out? Didn't Archer warn us about-"

What was once Ai's world disappeared and they were brought back to reality. A reality that currently had them surrounded by Black Feathers, Shadow Servants, and one particularly flamboyant looking Magical Girl with greenish yellow hair and a black army cap on her head.

"I think this is the trap Archer warned us about," Felicia commented.

"Alina Gray," Sana whispered.

"You know her," Yachiyo asked.

"Ai does. Be careful."

The Magical Girl known as Alina Gray stepped forward. Her fury was clear. Her tilted head and erratic movements, the insanity clear in her seemingly endless green eyes.

"What have you done?" No one answered as Alina stepped forward. Instead those who could still fight took positions in front of Iroha and Sana. "To think that they would send I, Alina Gray, to deal with some rats… only to find that they ruined my rearing cage." She held her hand out and a bright green cube appeared above it. The cube expanded and inside was a Witch that had somehow been stuffed into. "You girls are guilty. It's only okay for an artist to break a work of art! To compensate me, I shall give your body to my creations!" She held up her hand. The cube expanded even further.

Then an arrow of pink light broke it. Alina could only blink and stare dumbly at the jagged remains of her cube and Witch within it.

"Quelle?"

Another arrow, this one of black steel, flew and Magical Girl barely had the reactions to duck under it before it took off her head. It was still close enough that it had ripped the hat off her head.

"Damn it!" Alina shouted angrily as she turned toward the direction had come from. "My beautiful Witch! Who would dare-"

Arrows of grey metal that streaked a red light were quickly followed by arrows of pink that streaked a white light. Together they seemed to blot out the sky and cast a shadow below all of them before finally falling into an overwhelming barrage.

"Run!" Iroha didn't hesitate to grab Sana's hand and try to run for the edge of the roof.

"Go!" Alina commanded as she brought out more cubes and the Witches within to block the barrage. A good number of her underlings weren't so lucky, several Black Feathers and Shadow Servants already being taken out, though there were still plenty that remained. "Kill the rats and hunt down all those who would dare destroy my art!"

Iroha fought off her exhaustion and shot out whatever bolts she could. Even with Archer and Madoka's aid there were still so many in the way that it was difficult to clear a path, especially with how exhausted they all were.

An arrow with a spiral shape struck the center of a large Witch that Alina had brought out. It exploded, completely obliterating it, and sending shockwaves that knocked everyone nearby off balance. However, it was not the only Witch that Alina had brought and those that remained were able to form their labyrinths. In there, Archer would no longer be able to provide ranged assistance and escape would be that much more difficult.

"I will deal with you personally," Alina said as she stood on top of the Witch that now towered over them.

Things… were starting to get bad.

Yuma gulped as she watched the small army of Black Feathers and Shadow Servants converge on their location. Many had been struck down by the combined fire of Archer and Madoka, but they quickly learned to avoid the roofs and instead use the streets and alleys as cover. There the two bowmen couldn't shoot haphazardly without destroying the city or possibly hurting innocents in the process.

She had volunteered to fight, but well didn't quite expect to be thrown right back into the fire like this after having to blind side a Servant.

"Certainly didn't waste their time getting here," Kyoko commented as she peeked out the corner of the window. They had to make sure they remained unseen up until the right moment. "Got the whole welcome party coming."

"Will Iroha and her friends be alright?" Yuma asked.

"Dunno," Kyoko admitted. "Archer thought we could clear a path for them. Didn't plan for a Magical Girl who could bring out Witches and trap them in a labyrinth…" She paused and looked at the direction of the roof. "Now he wants us to run while he sticks around. Try and see if there's anything he can do on his own."

Like that, any nervousness that Yuma had previously felt had completely disappeared. "Yea, no."

"Figured that'd be your answer," Kyoko replied. She looked back out the window. "Going to get here soon. Already see a couple going for the entrance. Taking the stairs, smart. Got a couple… running up the side of this building. Aaaand they're right below our window." Kyoko took a few steps back and took a stance with her spear. "Three… two… o-"

Yuma shot forward, hefting her warhammer up with both hands, and swung with all her might. Two Black Feathers and a Shadow Servant appeared at the window just as the hammer had made contact. The hammer shattered the glass and made full contact with a Black Feathers chest before blasting the rest of them away with the concussive force. The Black Feathers fell to the ground incapacitated, one with their chest completely caved in. The Shadow Servant tried to recover midair, only to get shot down and finished off by several arrows.

"Jesus, Yuma!" Kyoko chastised as she dragged Yuma away from the hole she made and started throwing a few fireballs out of it. "Calm down, you don't have a lot of Magical Energy to spare."

"Sorry," Yuma apologized. Probably got a bit too excited back there and ended up using about a third of her entire reserve. She would have to pace herself if she was going to continue being useful.

"Just stick behind me," Kyoko demanded as two more Black Feathers tried to jump through the hole. Kyoko blocked one with her spear while straight kicking the other one in the gut. She then set the remaining girl's face on fire. "Let me deal with the brunt of the fighting. You swing only when you see a good chance."

"Got it," Yuma replied as they made their way toward the stairwell. The building had large winder stairs that had a long drop at the center. Not that that mattered much to Magical Girls or Shadow Servants but this area would give them the high ground while allowing them to see anyone coming for them. At least that was what Kyoko had said.

Kyoko made a gun shape with her hand and then began shooting Gandr at the first things that came into view. Her aim was pretty good, likely due to training with Archer, but it still took several shots just to take one person down. And there were a lot more coming.

"Well, Archer just went off to Iroha's group. Left us with the stragglers while the rest chase after him," Kyoko grumbled. "Madoka's still on vantage though, so we gotta head to the roof and keep them off her as long as we can."

"He'll save them," Yuma replied as she got her hammer ready once more. If this was how she could help him, then she would do it.

Archer pushed himself to the limits of his speed as he made his way toward the Labyrinth that now surrounded the Radio Tower. The scene was utter chaos. The sound of fire, explosions, and destruction came from the building he had just left. There were lines and blurs of black that flew across the skyline as Black Feathers and Shadow Servants tried to intercept him. And finally pink and black hell rained down as Archer continued to join Madoka's barrage of arrows with his own.

It was a warzone. Complete and utter war that would not go unnoticed by the inhabitants of this city. Or at least he would think so if it wasn't for the Grail Wars he had participated in. Even without Alaya covering things up, usually by killing all witnesses, someone would always find a way to somehow cover it all up. It was a miracle really.

As he arrived near the entrance of the labyrinth, he found a pair of Black Feathers standing guard in front of it. He dismissed his bow, took out his twin blades, and spun midair to take them both out and drill himself a way into the labyrinth in a single motion.

A bit flashy, but theatrics wasn't an issue when it had a purpose.

As Archer landed on his feet, he quickly scanned his surroundings and took stock of the situation.

It was something resembling a last stand. Everyone was desperately fighting off a pair of Witches, evading a barrage of green light coming from the Magical Girl that controlled them, and trying to protect the newly acquired girl with long green curly hair who he assumed was Sana. Iroha especially looked like she was on her last legs.

Archer acted quickly, summoning his bow and taking out Hrunting. He charged his arrow, long enough that everyone there finally noticed his arrival, and released.

The first arrow eviscerated the lower limb of a Witch and sent it toppling over. The second blew off its head. Before he could draw a third though he was forced to evade a stream of green energy coming from the opposing Magical Girl.

"Only an artist gets to destroy their art!" the girl shouted in rage as she raised another cube. He tried to shoot her down only to have his projectiles absorbed by several other cubes that floated in front of her. She then released a large barrage of green light that blanketed the area and forced everyone to dodge

Those cubes of hers could apparently absorb and store things, with very limit to size judging by the Witches she was stuffing into them. That would be an issue, especially if he was right to assume that she could just as easily turn their own absorbed attacks back at them.

"Iroha!"

Archer turned to find that Iroha was now under the shadow of a Witch, standing protectively in front of Sana.

Shit. Neither of them were going to survive that.

He tried to intercept only to find himself blocked by a pair of Shadow Servants that had followed him into the labyrinth. The other wouldn't be able to get there either, not with that Magical Girl still shooting at them relentlessly with her cubes.

Iroha fired, desperately, but what little she could fire with her fading stamina were quickly absorbed by the sheer mass of the Witch. The Witch reared back a fist. Iroha turned, ready to protect Sana with her own body if needed, when Sana suddenly stood up and walked past her.

"Iroha. Thank you for being our friend," Sana said as the Witch's fist came. It slammed down, crushing both girls underneath it, and likely nothing but two bloody smears on the ground.

Archer grimaced and looked away from the sight, instead focusing on the opponent in front of him. The pain of seeing someone due in front of him was still as fresh as always, he just got better at coping with it. In some ways he did seem dull to it… but it never did get easier no matter how many times it happened. He dispatched the Shadow Servants and turned back to his remaining allies expecting them to be in shock, if not struck down because of said shock. On their faces though was awe instead of despair.

He turned back to where the fist had come down and realized that it had been stopped. Underneath that fist, pushing it away, was a girl. A girl made of flashing lights like, wearing a pink chest plate on top of a green doublet. The doublet reached down to her waist and was paired with a black skirt that had a short white cape with pink outlines attached to it. Her steel plated boots were blue at the bottom before turning yellow up to her knees and until it reached her lower thighs where it was green. Most notable of all though were the horns attached to the sides of a crown that she wore and the giant shield that she held in her hands.

The same shield that completely stopped Witch's strike.

"Sana?" Iroha asked.

The girl with iridescent green hair turned back to Iroha. Her iridescent green eyes teemed with determination. "I will protect you. Ai and I both will."

"It is possible," the Magical Girl named Alina said in awe before snarling and recovering from the shock. "No matter. We've learned all that we need from you. Your existence is no longer necessary." With a flick of her wrist, Alina commanded the Witch to rear back its arm and strike once more.

The shield on her arm disappeared only to be replaced by a large blade of pink and blue light. A blade that surrounded her forearm and was taller than she was. With her weapon in hand, Sana stood steadfast and unwavering as she awaited the Witch's strike. It wasn't until the Witch's arm was just meters away from her that she moved. With a single clean swipe Sana cut the Witch's arm, splitting it in half and causing the limb to fall harmlessly around Sana and Iroha's sides.

It was an incredible display of power and unlike anything he had seen a Magical Girl pull off before. But then again… she probably wasn't even just that anymore.

Before the Witch could even process the damage, Sana charged. She flew up into the air and lifted her blade skyward. It grew until it towered over the Witch itself before Sana swung down.

Alina was quick to jump and move out of the way. Her Witch was not so lucky and it was completely obliterated in that strike.

With the Witch gone the labyrinth collapsed. Rather than take the chance to immediately run though Sana stood on the rooftop and pointed her blade at Alina. "You won't hurt them. Not while we're here."

Archer took that opportunity to fire, distracting Alina long enough so that Sana could grab Iroha and run with her. The rest of the group were soon to follow, and he covered their escape until he was the last one on the rooftop with the enraged Magical Girl.

"You," Alina growled at Archer. "I don't care how much the Magius values you Servants, you will pay for what you've done here."

"Hmph. Get in line," Archer said before jumping off the rooftop and making his escape.

"Kyoko, your left!" Yuma shouted.

Her warning had come quick enough. Kyoko was able to quickly bat away the Black Feather that had tried to somersault from below to ambush them. They landed roughly, wobbling on the very edge of the roof, which was very good for Yuma.

She swung her hammer, hitting the Black Feather at the waist, and sending them all the way to the wall of the neighboring building. She then stepped back to let Kyoko duel with the other pair that came to take their fallen ally's place.

Kyoko, with furious swings of her spear and flame, was able to force them on the defensive. The second they stepped back, Yuma rushed back in and slammed them with her hammer. The attack didn't take them out completely, but it made it very easy for Kyoko to just poke and skewer them with her spear while they were recovering.

"I thought I told you to stay back," Kyoko chastised Yuma before being forced to trade blows with a Shadow Servant.

"You told me to attack when I saw a good chance," Yuma replied. She tried to sound casual, but it was hard while she was trying to catch her breath. She wasn't just tired; she could feel her Magical Circuit getting hot from use. She would be hitting her limit soon.

A pink arrow flew right between where Yuma and Kyoko were standing, striking the Shadow Servant in the head. Despite the arrow sticking out of its head, it still continued fighting. It took the combined efforts of Kyoko's spear and Madoka's arrow turning it into a pincushion before it went down.

"Those Shadow Servants are tough," Madoka commented as she faced her back to the two of them.

"What do you think they're based off of?" Kyoko asked as more Black Feathers and another Shadow Servant jumped onto the rooftop and there was definitely more to come. "We're not going to last much longer; we need to run."

Madoka looked horrified at the suggestion as she started firing at the Shadow Servant. "But Iroha and Archer-"

"I can use a Seal to bring Archer back if he's in trouble. As for the other group, we've already done as much as we can. No point if we die with them," Kyoko said as she continued to fight. With each one that was defeated another would take their place, and soon enough she was starting to get tired. It was clear by how Kyoko was starting to move a bit more slowly.

Slow enough that it allowed a Black Feather to cut Kyoko on her arm while she was busy grappling with a Shadow Servant.

At that moment Yuma saw nothing but red. She rushed forward, no longer caring for Kyoko's instruction, and slammed her hammer into the Black Feather. The hammer broke through and shattered the chain the Black Feather used as a weapon before continuing on to their face. The metal head connected with soft flesh and Yuma forced her weapon down to slam the girl onto the ground. She then proceeded to lift her hammer and then slam it down again on that exact same spot. She wasn't bothered by the mess or the blood that splattered all over her clothes, she saw worse when her parents were killed in front of her.

As she caught her breath, Yuma stepped back and regained sense of her surroundings.

Kyoko looked disturbed and Madoka looked ready to throw up, but thankfully they were too busy fighting to focus on her. It helped that the other Black Feathers were also a bit shaken up by seeing their friend getting crushed into a red smear, something that Kyoko took advantage of by blasting them all away with a surge of fire.

"Is she… dead?" Madoka asked during the brief reprieve that they had.

"Better her than us," Kyoko said, though she looked worriedly at Yuma as she shook some smoke off her hands. "Think its about time we should get going."

Yuma was ready to agree when the Labyrinth at the radio tower suddenly disappeared and revealed Iroha's group, Archer, and a new girl with a large shield that seemed to be made of a flashing green light.

"They're out!" Madoka cheered.

"Great! Now so are we!" Kyoko shouted.

Yuma didn't need to be told anything else. She quickly jumped onto Kyoko's back and let herself be piggybacked off the rooftop while Madoka followed.

Iroha finally undid her transformation once they arrived at the safety of the boarding house. Everyone else was quick to follow suit, though Archer kept his armor on and stayed outside to make sure that no one else was coming for them. It didn't seem likely though, the Magius didn't really chase them far after their plan had failed.

"We did it," Iroha let out a sigh of relief as she sat on the living room floor. It was good to be home and even better that everyone was able to come back. She wasn't too sure what she'd do if something happened to anyone here.

"It was difficult, but we did do it," Yachiyo admitted. "You were right to want to go there Tamaki."

"Thanks, Yachiyo."

It felt good… to have finally made a choice and for it all to work out in the end. Maybe… maybe it wouldn't be so bad to do it again in the future. As long as Yachiyo agreed of course.

Kyoko stared at Iroha unamused before grunting. "Yea it worked out. Good job back there."

"Thanks Kyoko."

The rest of their group, except Archer, were quick to gather at the table. Introducing them all to Sana and Ai was a bit weird, but Iroha made sure to stick by Sana so that wouldn't be overwhelmed.

Sana was quick to bow her head to everyone once introductions had been finished. "Thank you all for coming to rescue me and Ai."

"What's it like being fused with an Uwasa?" Yuma asked.

"It's… like she's a part of me that I was missing," Sana replied.

"Well, you certainly looked cool back there. With your big shield and laser sword," Felicia said as she made laser noises and swung around her arm as a reference.

Sana blushed. "It just… felt natural. I just listened to Ai and what my body told me."

"You saved me," Iroha put a hand on Sana's arm. "Thank you."

"You saved me too," Sana smiled. "I just wanted to help."

"As long as there aren't any adverse effects to this fusion…" Yachiyo crossed her arms. "Then we're glad to have you two join us."

"This is going to be our home?" Sana asked.

"It is," Yachiyo replied. "We'll show you to your room after we get cleaned up."

"And grab some dinner," Kyoko said.

"Let's get some take out!" Felicia said excitedly.

Tsuruno immediately perked up. "Let's go eat at Banban-"

"No-" Yachiyo and even Archer's voice from outside was enough to shut that suggestion down.

While Tsuruno sulked Madoko turned to Iroha. "Did something weird… happen to you in the radio tower Iroha?" Madoka asked.

"I don't really remember anything while I was unconscious," Iroha admitted. It was weird having such a gap in her memory. She knew something important happened in her sleep, but she didn't know what it was. "I just woke up, knowing what I had to do… What about you? Are you ok?"

"I'll be fine, this scar was just me doing something reckless a long time ago. I only got a few scratches today," Madoka replied.

"But you aren't a Magical Girl," Iroha remembered before also turning to Kyoko and Yuma. "You can't just heal your wounds like we can."

"Yea," Madoka admitted and winced as she tenderly touched a wound. "Do you guys have a first aid kit? I was the Nurse's aid in school so I learned how to treat cuts like these. I can also help Kyoko and Yu- Yuma, what's that in your leg!?" Madoka shouted.

Iroha turned to where Madoka had shouted at and covered her mouth in horror.

"Oh," Yuma looked down at the large piece of black metal embedded firmly into her calf. It was about the size of the girl's fist, and that was only what they could see. "Must be from the chain I shattered."

"Oh!?" Kyoko shouted. "Yuma, you have a piece of shrapnel embedded in your calf!"

Yuma shrugged. "It hurt a bit, but I was worried about you and Archer."

Yachiyo was the first to recover from the shock and rushed to Yuma to look at the wound. "Tamaki, I'll take out the metal. You heal her wound and do it quickly or else she might bleed out."

"Your magic is healing?" Kyoko asked.

Iroha nodded as she rushed to Yachiyo's side. "I should be able to heal Yuma."

Kyoko let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god."

Yachiyo hovered her hand over the metal. "This is going to hurt, but we're going to have to pull it out quick so that Tamaki can-"

Yuma grabbed the metal, her arm glowing with a green light, and quickly yanked it out of her leg with a single tug. She didn't seem fazed at all even as her blood splattered all over the living room.

"Yuma, what," Iroha was too shocked to say much else. Just the casualness of her opening up that horrible wound, like a person swatting a mosquito. She didn't expect that from anyone, especially not an eleven-year-old girl.

"I've had worse," Yuma said nonchalantly before tossing the metal aside and then presenting the leg to Iroha. "Could you heal me please?"

It took a brief moment, much too long, for Iroha to recover from the shock and start healing Yuma. Iroha couldn't help but watch in morbid fascination as she used her magic. It worked quickly, stemming the bleeding of Yuma's wound and knitting the veins and then muscles together. The skin was last, covering up the red muscles until what was once a wound was just a spotless part of Yuma's leg.

Iroha breathed a sigh of relief once she was done. "It's done, I think you should rest for a bit though Yuma."

"Yuma what the hell!" Kyoko's relief turned into frustration. "You aren't a Magical Girl, you can't jus-"

"Take a fatal wound I know," Yuma replied. "Had to know my body really well to do Reinforcement. I know what I can take."

Kyoko stared at Yuma in shock, anger, and fear, before letting out a frustrated sigh and sitting back down. "We're talking with Archer about this later."

Yuma rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mother."

"Someone has to be around here."

Everyone at the table was left in awkward silence. It lasted up until Sana shyly raised a hand.

"Um… where's the bathroom?"