I zoomed into Madoka's World, passing through the Dimensional Barrier with ease.
I felt Alice's Soul Gem pulse in my pocket, relief appearing inside her Heart.
I glanced at Xine, making sure that he was still stable- which he was, of course.
The Keyblade Glider dropped lower, entering the atmosphere of the planet.
A moment later, it came to a halt, Madoka suddenly appearing in front of us.
"I'm back."
Gently, Madoka took the Soul Gem from my hand, fretting over it for a few moments.
"Thank you." She murmured, glancing at me for a second.
"You're quite welcome, Madoka."
She smiled, looking back at the Soul Gem. "Now, let's get you home."
I felt space twist- this time, not of my own doing.
A moment later, our surroundings changed, all of us appearing in a hospital. Alice's Body -at least, I assumed it was Alice's Body given that it lacked a Heart and Soul- was laying in the bed, an IV Drip on her arm, a heart monitor steadily beeping.
Madoka carefully placed the Soul Gem in the girl's hand.
A moment later, the body twitched.
Madoka smiled.
One of the machines began beeping loudly, and I felt space twist again, and we were promptly taken away again.
Kind of odd not being the one to do that.
Madoka turned around, smiling at me. "Again, thank you."
I rolled my eyes, and pulled the girl into a hug. "I said it before, you're welcome. It wasn't a problem on my end, at any rate."
A slight groan caught our attention and we looked over to the wall where Xine was wrapped up.
He shifted slightly, before becoming still again, remaining unconscious.
"I wonder how long it will take him to wake up."
Madoka bit her lip -which was absolutely fucking adorable-, looking at him. "I... don't know."
"I do hope that it is soon." I summoned the Proof of Courage, examining it. "There are things we need to talk about."
Oh yes. Things.
I'm sure that it will be an... enlightening conversation.
Homura, I could tell, did not like Xine.
The death glare she was sending at him was evidence enough.
The slowly swirling, barely restrained anger in her Heart was only more fuel for the fire.
Kyubey, in contrast, was distinctly interested in him. And I wasn't entirely sure whether that was a good thing or not.
It definitely wasn't good for Xine, however.
"You know, if you were glaring any harder, you might cause him to spontaneously combust."
Homura glanced at me for a second, before going back to staring at Xine.
"Homura-chan..." Madoka gently began.
She scowled slightly, before sighing. "Fine."
She gave one last look to Xine, before moving over to take a seat next to Madoka.
"Thank you." Madoka smiled.
Homura slumped slightly, taking a sip from her cup.
I looked over to Kyubey, whose eyes were still fixated upon Xine.
Seemingly sensing that, Kyubey immediately spoke up. "The clothes that he wears." Kyubey turned towards us. "They are unlike any used on this planet."
"He is not from this planet." Madoka took a sip of her hot chocolate.
"He is Human." Kyubey noted, turning back to Xine. "Where is he from?"
"A..." Madoka paused for a moment, considering. "Another dimension, I suppose would be the best way to explain it."
I am suddenly very uncomfortable for some reason.
"I see. Thank you." Madoka tipped her head, acknowledging him while she took another sip. "We once attempted to travel between dimensions."
Everybody heard the implied question.
"They are separated." Madoka explained. "The barriers are very hard to get through." She glanced at me, and then Xine. "There are ways, however."
Kyubey's head tilted to the side. "If you would not mind explaining?"
She gave a light shrug. "Not particularly. All the ways that I know require an item of some sort. Without them, even I can't get through those barriers." She paused. "Well, not without destroying the barriers, anyway."
"I take it that there are negative consequences to this?"
"The barriers aren't there to keep things in." Madoka looked into the air, her eyes unfocusing. "They're there to keep things out. And it's in everybody's best interest that the things they're meant to keep out, stay out."
Rather ironic, actually. Since I was one of the things meant to be kept out.
"And, Kyubey?" She looked at the bunnycat. "I really can't stress this enough. Please do not go searching or interfering with those barriers. If those barriers break down, everything dies." She was more serious than I had ever seen her, her expression grave.
For a few moments, Madoka and Kyubey stared at each other, neither one of them moving.
Finally, the latter nodded, agreeing to it.
Madoka relaxed, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "Thank you."
A groaning noise caught our attention.
Xine shifted, twitching slightly, his eyes blearily opening.
"Hello Xine."
His eyes shot wide, instantly looking in my direction. He tried to move, but the metal wrapping had him fairly well contained.
"You." He hissed.
Madoka's pleasant smile suddenly became much more frigid.
I felt the Light begin to warp, starting to flow into Xine.
Madoka frowned.
PULSE
I almost stumbled as the Light warped again, suddenly and violently halting the flow.
Xine, however, violently and visibly shuddered, letting out a choked gasp.
His eyes shot to Madoka, widening.
"No." Madoka stared at him. "None of that." Her frown deepened slightly. "Shame on you."
Did she just-
"It was very rude to steal Alice's Soul Gem." She kept looking at him. "You will not also attack us."
He stared at her, incredulous.
I felt the Light shift, beginning to move as it normally did again.
She waved her hand, the metal around Xine bending and warping, freeing him from the wrapping. It collapsed into a ball, floating towards Madoka, vanishing in a burst of light as it came close.
Without anything to support him -and utterly, totally shocked-, he promptly collapsed to the ground, still dumbstruck.
She glanced downwards, and a chair slid outwards soundlessly.
She waved at it. "Please, sit. We need to have a conversation."