Promises
[The scene opens with a shot of a green field, the bright blue sky with light clouds accompanying a picturesque landscape one might see in a storybook]
[We pan over to where two young girls are sitting next to one another, rows of dandelions surrounding them as they gaze up at the sky. The girl on the right has short pink hair with a gentle air about her, the one on the left has long black hair and appears to have a rather cold disposition about her]
[That is until a hand is placed on her own. The ravenhead looks over to see the other girl giving her a warm smile]
Madoka: Hmmhmm, isn't this beautiful?
Homura: …Yes…I suppose it is.
[Homura's stoic expression slowly morphs into a subtle smile as she embraces Madoka's hand in her own]
Homura: It's moments like this that make me…appreciative of life…though, wherever you are, I'm happiest.
[Madoka tilts her head slightly in a way that Homura can't help but find adorable]
Madoka: That's good to hear…I always have a soft spot for that smile, it's just so…rare.
Homura: It's reserved for you because you deserve it…I would sacrifice the world just to see you like this…
Madoka: Well…maybe you won't have to…I'd love for us to stay like this, no fighting, no fear, just…peace…
Homura: …Yeah…peace.
[Just as Homura says this, we get a flashback to her nightmare sequence from 'Escape' as the black and red vines pull her down, Madoka wrapped in stems, Homura trying to reach out to her before cutting to the girl in the room of intricate lines. Cut to Homura looking ahead as she mirrors what she said before]
Homura: …You.
[Cut to Homura being face to face with a familiar incubator as it retains its signature cat-like grin, its expression burned into the girl's head like a sadistic taunt]
Homura: …Ah!
[Homura blinks…she looks over to her left…Madoka is laid down on the other side of the bed, sleeping peacefully…the black-haired girl peers over at the clock, a quarter past three as the night sky is still dark as ever…Homura sighs as she tries to assume a more comfortable position on the bed, looking back at Madoka]
Homura: You'll be safe…I promise…
[Homura slowly closes her eyes as she begins to drift off back to sleep, trying to put the memories of her dream behind her…roughly a minute passes before soft breathing can be heard once more]
[Transition to the next morning as Diesel is shown going away from the Cedar Refinery with a train of oil tankers in tow before we cut to Spencer rushing past Oak Station with his signature coaches. We cut to the town proper as people are shown walking about, the Aristocats; Thomas, Duchess, Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz pass by the bus stop while Daria, Jane, and Quinn are waiting for one]
[We then transition to a scene by the Sweets Shoppe as Fix and Foxi are shown exiting with an array of chocolates. Zorori, leaning against the shop wall, sneakily tips his hat as Icy, Stormy, Darcy, and Selina pass by, with the Witch of Ice giving an unamused sneer at this display before we pan over to Homura and Madoka on the sidewalk as they head towards the shop]
[Madoka looks over at Homura and notices that the girl to her right seems to be in a bit of an odd mood. Namely, the fact she has, or is at least trying to appear with, a more pleasant expression on her face. Even more so with what she says next]
Homura: Isn't it a beautiful day?
Madoka: Huh? Oh, yes, it is.
[Homura looks to her left and notices the Sweet Shop coming up, an idea pops into her head]
Homura: I was thinking I'd treat us today, how does dessert sound to you?
Madoka: Well…I wouldn't mind at all.
Homura: Good, I'll pay for both of us.
[Homura and Madoka make their way to the shop, but quickly catch the scent of smoke in the air. They find their answer soon enough as Nuka is shown lazily leaning against a lamppost with a cigarette in his mouth. He puffs out a large cloud of smoke, right into the path of Prince John, Sir Hiss, and Sheriff Ashton]
[*Sidenote: Apparently, he has an official name now via 'Eustace'...but we're keeping Ashton for consistency's sake]
Prince John: PHUH! How undignified!
Sir Hiss: CUCUH! Nasty fumes!
[Ashton whips the smoke away with his paw]
Ashton: Sonny, you best mind where you're aimin' that thang.
Nuka: Aaaaaah…sure…
[Nuka casually flips the cigarette back into his mouth while Prince John rolls his eyes]
Prince John: Use a pipe at least, it looks less rubbish.
[Prince John turns his nose up as his two underlings follow him while Nuka watches with a sly eye]
Nuka: Hmmhmmhmm, that's a keeper…
[Homura hand-waves the sight as she and Madoka enter the shop, only to find a line waiting for them; Kiara, Kovu, Vitani, Kaltag, Nikki, Star, Lance, Manfred, Priscilla, Penelope, Si, Am, Amy, Rouge, Tod, and Copper are standing in front of the duo. Homura's eye twitches at this]
Homura: I was hoping for swift service…
Madoka: Ah…I'm sure it'll clear up in a bit…
Homura: [sighs] You're right…sorry, just…thinking too far ahead…[under her breath]...wouldn't be the first time…
[The two girls stand at the back of the line for some time as the rest of the patrons fill their orders. Slowly, the line becomes shorter and shorter as Madoka looks at the array of desserts and sweets lined up in the window display. The one that stands out in particular are the thick strawberry Pocky sticks lined up in a row]
Madoka: That looks good. I'm sure you'd like one, Homura.
Homura: Hmm?
[Homura looks towards the dessert Madoka is pointing to…a thought fills her mind with the perspective of her looking at Homura who puts the stick in her mouth, then turns to Homura, giving her a look to take the other end…cut back to Homura in reality as her face has flushed a light hue of red]
Homura: Oh…that sounds…lovely…
[Madoka does another one of her signature head tilts which causes Homura to give a gentle smile in return]
[The two are then shown having made their purchase and sitting down at a table where Max and Ruby can be seen to the left while Ms. Frizzle and Carmen Sandiego can be seen to the right. Homura removes the sticks from the bag and hands one over to Madoka, who politely accepts it]
Madoka: You know, strawberry always was my favorite flavor.
Homura: Is that on account of your pink hair?
[Madoka playfully rolls her eyes]
Madoka: Very funny. I didn't peg you to have a sense of humor.
Homura: I've been…experimenting, you could say. After all, what better way to make you smile than to make you laugh?
Madoka: True…I'm glad to see you're opening up more. It's just nice to see you…smiling.
Homura: I would say it's reserved for you…but I will admit, it feels nice…yeah…it feels-
[As Homura says this, a flash occurs as she has a vision of the dream from the night before, particularly with Kyubey's mauve eyes staring back at her with their signature grin. Cut back to reality as her expression has dropped to something more akin to being shell-shocked]
?: …mura? Homura?
[Homura blinks back to reality as Madoka looks rather concerned]
Madoka: Are you okay?Homura: Huh? Sorry, just…zoned out for a second…
[Homura puts the pocky stick to her mouth to take her mind off the recent flash, but even the sweet Strawberry flavor can't mask the anxiety from within her]
[Transition to the duo walking down the street as they pass by Penny and Rocko going in the opposite direction. Madoka notices that Homura has a rather solemn look on her face]
Madoka: I don't mean to pry, but…could you tell me what's wrong?
Homura: I'd like to…but I can't…
Madoka: …You've been having those dreams again, haven't you?
[Homura doesn't respond, Madoka, however, knows her too well by the silence]
Madoka: I understand, I could hardly sleep when I had them.
Homura: Hold on…you've had them as well?
Madoka: You and I both know what we saw. No one could unsee that…[sighs]...many are lucky they won't have to…
Homura: …I've been through so many resets, been in the same body for fourteen years, never aged a day…all because I wanted to make sure you were safe.
[By this point, Homura and Madoka have stopped walking and are now standing in a secluded spot between two buildings]
Homura: Sometimes I wonder…is this world perfect enough for you?
Madoka: What…?
Homura: I want to believe I finally found a world where we could live in peace, no more pain, no more fighting, no more broken promises…I just want to live a normal life with you…but, who knows if this is all genuine…
Madoka: Homura-chan…
Homura: Madoka-chan…are you content with this world?
Madoka: …I'm content when you are…I don't want you to feel anxious…why not live this life to the fullest? Make the most out of it and look back with fondness…right?
[Madoka places her hands on Homura's…the black haired girl looks down…and embraces them with her own]
Homura: …You're right…if I'm going to be with you, the very least I can do is be grateful.
[A subtle smile forms on Homura's face]
Homura: You truly are one of a kind, Kaname-san…
Madoka: I try, Akemi-san…
[Pan-out from the two girls as we transition to Napier Park as Fiona and Petunia pass by the camera where Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami are sitting on a bench, the blonde girl in pigtails contently resting with her back arched, while Sayaka and Kyoko have a bag of popcorn between them, the latter noticeably taking larger samples]
Kyoko: I knew there was something off about that guy, but you both looked at me like I was crazy.
Sayaka: Yeah, I'll give you that one. Even I'm surprised by how hard I fell for it.
Mami: As if we all haven't acted suspiciously due to the circumstances.
Sayaka: I'm sure you'd know about that, wouldn't you, Mami?
Mami: I only act as I see fit…besides, you wouldn't have humored me if I had been all cryptic, hmm?
Sayaka: …Yeah.
Kyoko: Do my eyes deceive me, or does Doom and Gloom look in a better mood than usual?
Sayaka: Huh?
[Sayaka and Mami look over to see Madoka and Homura approaching them]
Sayaka: What's got you looking less stoic than usual?
Homura: You could say it's acceptance.
Mami: Ah, she is learning after all.
Homura: Charming…
[Madoka and Homura take a seat next to Sayaka on the right side of the bench]
Homura: I will admit, this is nice…not having to worry about…life in general for a change…
Mami: Truer words never spoken…it's strange, I once felt trapped by expectations and the value of my own self-worth…
[For a brief moment, it appears as if a dark memory came back to Mami, but she immediately regains her composure]
Mami: Regardless, I'm just happy to be where I am now…
Sayaka: I get what you mean, there's no point in dwelling on the past.
Kyoko: As if there's anything to look back on with nostalgia.
[Sayaka and Kyoko glance at each other, and both of them express a knowing look, referring to their respective 'it']
Kyoko: Ya' know, when you go through a whole lot of suffering, it makes these kinds of moments more…gratifying. Huh…
Sayaka: I guess that's what happens when a contract isn't being held over your head…hey, if there's a chance, I'll take it.
Madoka: Maybe we found the perfect world after all…hmmhmm, even if it does have a few colorful characters.
Sayaka: You kidding, that's the best part.
[Madoka and Sayaka share a laugh together, Kyoko gives a bemused grunt while Mami covers her mouth to stifle her chuckling. Homura gives a small smile at the exchange as she looks up to the sky; a beautiful orange as the sun is setting to the west]
Homura: Maybe now…I can finally rest…[thinking]...for now, she's safe…and if she isn't…then I promise to reign hell upon anyone who disturbs the peace…
[As she thinks this, Homura has a brief flash to her form as 'the devil' before reverting back to normal]
[The group are shown leaving the park, passing by Wile and Roadrunner, ironically not in the midst of the former pursuing the latter as the scene transitions to nightfall. Cut to a window as Homura is shown looking out towards the moon, a mug of a warm beverage below her on the windowsill]
[Madoka comes alongside Homura]
Madoka: Star gazing?
Homura: Moon gazing more like…
[Suddenly, Homura squints her eyes, as if she's trying to read something…from her perspective, two mauve lights appear in the sky before settling down towards the moon…in a way, they look like…eyes…Homura freezes and Madoka instantly notices her turning cold]
Madoka: Homura?
Homura: [blinks] Huh?
Madoka: You looked a bit pale there…did you see something?
[Homura looks back at the moon…the mauve lights are gone, showing only the pale full moon]
Homura: …Must have been a trick of the light. It's nothing to worry about.
Madoka: Ah…let's go back to the couch.
Homura: …Alright.
[Madoka leads Homura back to the couch with her mug in tow as the other three Magical Girls are either sitting on or below it; Mami is sat to the far right while Sakaya and Kyoko are sitting on the floor, a bucket of popcorn in the center between them. Madoka takes the center while Homura sits on the far left, resuming their watch of a film on the television. Homura looks over at Madoka]
Homura: [thinking] 'You'll be safe, Madoka Kaname…I promise…'
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, Sayaka Miki, Kyoko Sakura, Mami Tomoe, Kyubey - Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Nuka, Kiara, Kovu, Vitani - The Lion King (1994) / Simba's Pride (1998)
Prince John, Sir Hiss, Sheriff Ashton - Robin Hood (1973)
Amy Rose, Rouge the Bat, Fiona Fox - Sonic the Hedgehog
Angelina Mouseling, Alice Nimbletoes, Priscilla Pinkpaws, Penelope Pinkpaws - Angelina Ballerina (2002)
Carmen Sandiego - Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
Daria Morgendorffer, Jane Lane, Quinn Morgendorffer - Daria
Duchess, Thomas O'Malley, Marie, Toulouse, Berlioz - The Aristocats (1970)
Fix, Foxi - Fix and Foxi
Icy, Stormy, Darcy, Selina - Winx Club
Kaltag, Nikki, Star - Balto (1995)
Lance, Manfred - All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Max, Ruby - Max & Ruby
Ms. Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
Penny Proud - The Proud Family
Rocko - Rocko's Modern Life
Si, Am - Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Tod, Copper - The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Petunia Pig - Looney Tunes
Zorori - Kaiketsu Zorori
Diesel, Spencer - Thomas and Friends