Renascence: A Homura Quest

[ ] Head back to Sayaka's. Get some much-needed rest.

There are things that might be worth dealing with today. You could talk to Ruki, you could arrange yet another ice cream meeting to stabilize everyone, you could hunt more, you could go see Yuuko finally, you could work on Yamato, you could explore the city, you could go raid more Yakuza bases, you could talk to Mami about meeting with the military girls, you could explain to Kyouko why you were at her Church, you could go study your magic some because you're *definitely* going to need that for Walpurgisnacht, you could go work on clocks, you could---

You sigh, and nod, "Yes, I think some rest is called for. I'm nearing my limits...I feel like I could endure these things more easily, once, but...sleep is a need, now."

She smiles, a bit sadly, gently resting a hand on your shoulder, "...Go get some rest, Ribbons."

Glancing around, and finding the others all out of earshot or asleep, you nod, "Take care of them for me, Kyouko. Don't overfeed them, but ice cream works usually works well. Don't let them get too depressed, or they'll explode. You should probably wake Ruki up in a little while, so she can call home. Nanoha may have nightmares after that, so go easy on her if she starts screaming at night. You and Mami are probably okay, since you're together, but make sure she gets enough attention so she won't feel lonely." And make sure Kyouko doesn't find herself with nothing to do, or else she might start thinking about things best left unthought of.

That gets a chuckle out of her, and she takes her hand from your shoulder, just to lightly punch you in it, "Yeah, yeah, I gotcha. Keep the girls sane while Senpai's away. Can do."

Hearing the word "Senpai" come out of Kyouko's mouth fills the scene with a sudden, overwhelming surreality. She's not technically wrong, but you can't shake the memory of those early days, when you were so lost, and she and Mami were the experienced experts.

It occurs to you, now, how utterly horrifying that is. That the most experienced members of your group did not know the truth of Witches, or how the world really worked. You really were child-like, in a way.

'We're older now, Homura. We're the Senpais they need, as weird as it is.'

'That's...how are you so calm about this?'

You get a mental shrug in response, and return to the Kyouko in front of you, "Thank you, Kyouko. I'm going to go get some sleep."

With that, you depart, thanking Mami for hosting your Kouhai and trans-universal visitor as you go.

Soon enough, you find yourself approaching the familiar door of the Miki house. With a twist of magic, you unlock the door and let yourself in, quietly locking it behind you, and head to Sayaka's room to check in. Where you find Sayaka...



Collapsed on the ground, her sword still grasped in her hand. You rush over, checking for a pulse, and find one, thankfully. You try to shake her awake, but receive no response.

"Sayaka." You whisper, trying not to wake her mother by shouting, "Sayaka!"

She doesn't stir, and you quickly try to heal her, pulling together what you remember of the few occasions you've healed others.



You manage to scrape something together, but only barely. You definitely need to work on your healing, if you're going to be fighting beside girls who aren't Puella Magi.

[Ability Gained: Poor Healing]

Crudely formed bandages of light, more like torn rags than true anything proper, form around Sayaka's head, and you feel a chill go down your spine. A concussion? Brain damage? What did Sayaka do!?

"Wake up Sayaka. Please, just wake up. I don't want to lose this you. Not another friend. Please."

She seems to tremble slightly at the sound of your voice, and her eyes slowly slide open, "...H-Homura?"

You sigh in a relief, smiling for a moment before giving her a glare, "What. Did. You. Do."

She pales, "Uhh...well...I..."

"You were unconscious. My healing spell had to heal your brain. What did you do?"

She fidgets, "...I was trying to get better with...uh...so, this is a magic sword."

You nod, completely unsurprised by that, considering what you've seen so far.

"But I can't just use it. I can kind-of remember things when I'm using it, if that makes any sense, but I still have to learn exactly how to do those things. I was trying to do that, but...uh...something kinda went wrong. I messed up one of the steps, and something broke a bit. I really didn't think the whole walking with death thing was so literal."

You can't quite make out that last mumbled sentence, so you press, eyebrow rising, "What?"

"I really didn't think it would be nearly that dangerous. It was reckless, and I'll make sure I have someone to heal me around before I risk it again."

You nod, pleased, and decide not to pry further for now. You're exhausted, and you're not her mother, "Good. I'm going to bed. Have a good night, Sayaka." Perhaps that last bit was a bit more forceful than necessary, but you decide that's acceptable, considering.

She raises an eyebrow, but nods, sitting up, "Yeah, yeah. You too, Homura. Try not to go crazy."

You cringe a bit as she calls you on your hypocrisy, "I will try. See you tomorrow."

With that, you make your way to your bedroom, and lie down with your Grandfather's pocket watch in hand, listening to its soft ticking as you doze off into slumber.

----

You do not awaken, but you find yourself in your hospital bed. Immediately, panic sets in as you are stricken by the sudden notion that you may have looped somehow, that something may have happened while you slept!

But that panic fades, to be replaced by something new as you open your eyes and find yourself staring at a blue ceiling.

You immediately sit up, calling for a weapon, and find yourself holding a strange spear--it feels like it's yours, but you've never seen it before.

You do not have time to worry to much about that, however--your location is the first concern.

You are in a small room. There is a long dresser against one wall, with a clock built into the top. Opening it quickly, you see it has several outfits--and they're yours, mostly. Different things you've worn over the years, including your school uniform and a copy of your regalia, as well as a rather scandalous cocktail dress that would never fit you and a military dress uniform that seems vaguely nostalgic.

Beneath a large mirror that shines with warm white light is a long table, festooned with unopened makeup jars. Piled in the center are a collection of pale masks, each with varying designs--tears and red glasses, a kind smile, a pristine unmarked expanse, a snarl and bloodstains, and numerous others; all of them are weathered and cracked. Some are brokenPulling out one of the drawers, you find neatly scrawled lines of text and notes--looking closely, you read them briefly, and then forcibly slam them back in place and close the door.

Lies. All of your lies, written out for anyone to find. It's a terrifying prospect.

You quickly turn to search the room furth--

You are interrupted by a loud knock at the door, and you quickly turn to face it, spear awkwardly held in position to strike, but no one comes through. Instead, an oddly familiar voice calls through, "You're on! Hurry!"

You, of course, don't exit--instead, you stare for a minute at the door, befuddled; that sounded like your mother's voice, "Mom? Is that you?" You haven't seen her in person in many, many loops, but that voice still brings her to mind.

There is no response, however, and you slowly, slowly approach the door and open it. When nothing attacks you, you take the opportunity to step carefully out, scanning the room you find yourself in for threats.

You find nothing. Only an empty, darkened room, lined with over a dozen doors--each door is marked with a symbol of some sort, but you can't make them out in the dark, so you turn to look at the one you emerged from.

An image of a clock--no, as you watch, it is an actual clock, the hands moving in an endless circle, never reaching any destination. You wonder if it's been wound recently, and how much longer it will keep working, but no you have no time to waste worrying. Beneath it, your name is written; the letters attached to the door are made of a strange, purple metal that does not exist in nature, and you begin wondering where you are.

Because this does not feel like a Witch's Barrier. Odd, but not like that.

"Hey, Homura! Thank God I found you!"

You spin in an instant, your spear ready to lance out, but go still as you see Kyouko walking up to you. The redhead raises her hands defensively, "Hey, it's okay, it's me. Nothing to worry about."

You stare her down, trying to think of a way to be sure, but ultimately realizing that you can do little. Instead, you simply make a one-word demand, "Proof."

She rolls her eyes for a moment, then turns her gaze upwards, considering how to answer, "Uhhh...you were offended that my Church didn't have a clock anymore, so you went and bought me a nice one for my room. You replaced it the next day because it supposedly wasn't good enough."

You relax, if only slightly, lowering your spear towards the ground, "They used a weak component. The clock kept time almost perfectly when I bought it, but rapidly grew fast over the next day. It had to be replaced."

"It seemed fine to me, but I'll take your word for it. Anyway, you have any idea where we are?"

Glancing around, you shake your head, "I've never been here before. The last thing I remember was going to sleep, and then--"

Light floods the room, and you turn towards the source--the wall, which is now slowly parting in the middle. As light fills the room, you can now make it out for what it is--a long, blue, velvet curtain.

You are standing on a stage. Sitting alone at a small desk, replacing several seats in the audience, is a very strange man, with a very, very long nose.



"Welcome to the Velvet Room! This place exists between Dream and Reality, Mind and Matter! I am Igor, the proprietor of this place. It is a room which only those bound by a contract may enter...and, though you may not recall signing a contract, you most certainly have. So please, my guests, let us speak--here, let me get you a chair."

He claps twice, loudly, and the light go out. Moments later, they return, and there are two familiar chairs on the stage.

The chair Madoka always buys for you, and the one she sometimes buys for Kyouko. It's a bit unnerving, but you nevertheless sit down. This is likely just a dream, after all, or a particularly intense hallucination. You almost hope so, at this point.

The strange person, Igor, looks at you with that unnervingly wide grin of his, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances properly, at long last. I had hoped to speak to you sooner, but this place was not ready for visitors until today, I fear. You are surely wondering why you are here?"

You nod, unsure of what, if anything, to say.

"That's a bit of an understatement, Cyrano. Did you drag us somewhere weird? How the hell could we have signed a contract!? Why do I have a body!?"

He chuckles at that, raising both hands in a calming gesture, "Please, allow me to explain. This is a dream, or, more accurately, this almost a dream. You are here in mind and spirit, but one neither has flesh, nor needs flesh in this place. One such as you, a spirit torn asunder from its body, is as real and alive as anyone else, in this place. As for how you signed a contract...well, that is a question, isn't it?" He chuckles again, the friendly sound unsettling you in spite of itself, "Sadly, it is not one I may answer. My Velvet Room and I are operating under certain rules, and those will hold my tongue on the deepest mysteries of your world. Suffice it to say that, while you did indeed sign the contract, your lack of recollection is expected. I'll even assure you of this: You have not forgotten signing the Contract, but you signed it nevertheless."

His words are true, and a shiver passes through you as you consider the ramifications of that. If you signed the contract and do not remember it, but have not forgotten it...does that mean it is something you will do? Or could it be worse yet than that?

You table that, for the moment, as the man places a deck of cards upon the table, the back marked with a strange mask-like design.

"Now, I can answer what questions I can answer later; first, we must set things in order."

He flips the deck in his grasp, spreading the cards across the table; in the process, he reveals their identies--a full set of the Major Arcana of the Tarot.

He sweeps seven of those cards away, leaving only fifteen.

"Now, normally, I would present you with the Fool--you certainly are suited to it in many ways, Miss Akemi." He looks at you with a long, steady gaze, and you are, for the first time in a long time, struck by the notion that this person is older than you are.

"But that is not the case, today." He sweeps his hand forward, and throws a card to you, "Is this your card, Miss Akemi?"

You look down at it.



"The Devil. Impulsiveness, selfishness, and domination by one's feelings, yet also devotion and unyielding attachment. Truly, it might be called the Arcana of the mortal world. So, I ask you again, Homura Akemi: Is this your card?"

You stare at it for a time. Something about it calls to you. You recall standing outside Madoka's window, watching her, fearful that she might be killed or Contracted if you left her alone for a mere moment. You recall chasing Sayaka away, trying to keep Madoka to yourself, so no one else could hurt her. You remember loop after loop after loop of struggling to keep her safe, without caring about her feelings, dreams, or Wishes. Selfishness incarnate, trying to cage Madoka for your own happiness.

You recall--

You can't recall--

There was something--

A sudden pain shoots through you, and you reel back, grasping your head, but you can't find the memory. It isn't there, no matter how hard you look for it, but you know.

You know your answer, in spite of that.

You hold up the card, looking at it for a long time. You consider it. Trying to decide if you're certain or not.

Then you hold it up in two hands in front of you, each hand grabbing an upper corner, and tear it in half, allowing the pieces to fall to the floor.

"No. Maybe it could have been, but I will never be that person. Nothing good comes of it. I will protect the people I love for their sake, not for my own."

Igor smiles, "Good, good, you got it right. No, that is not your card. That card belonged to another girl entirely, but she is not welcome here. No, this is your card."

He extends a hand, and the card vanishes in flash of blue light, only to appear in front of you.



"The Magician. Determination, the will to act, and the ambition to become one's greatest self. A worker of wonders who defies reason. That is your card, Homura Akemi."

You take it, staring down at it with a faint smile, although you're not entirely sure why, "I see."

He turns to Kyouko, "And you, Miss Sakura. This is yours--I do not believe it will be a surprise, to you."

Hers teleports from the desk as the Magician did, and she plucks it from the air, looking at it curiously, "Hanged Man? Look, the symbolism of these things is wildly inconsistent, so why don't you tell me what you mean with this?"

He chuckles, "Yes, it is quite strange, how many different ways these cards can be read, isn't it? In this case, the Hanged Man represents self-sacrifice, reflection, peace, and martyrdom. For you, who has set aside her own fear, selfishness, and grief in order to save others, this is the only card."

She grimaces, "Yeah, fine. Feels weird to have it said out-loud, though. Anyway, thanks for the card. What the hell's going on?"

He sighs, still smiling, "Ever impatient, though. Those cards are your cards. These cards," He indicates the other thirteen, "Are for others. One is almost ready to be delivered," He sweeps forward his hand, and the Chariot sweeps forward, "Although I fear that may be risky, right now. These," He pushes forward the Death, Tower, Sun, and Moon cards forward together, "Have already been found, but are not yet ready to be received, and this one," His eyes gleam in the light as he pushes forward the Star, "This one has been waiting for a very long time, but cannot yet accept her card. Hopefully, she will get the chance once the others have found their owners."

Looking at those cards, you can see the people they belong to, somehow knowing without thought.

The Chariot, running forward blindly, so full of confidence that she does not notice the ruin that lies ahead. Sayaka Miki.

The Tower, standing tall and proud, unwilling to yield or flee even in the face of disaster. Mami Tomoe.

The Moon, all knowing and mysterious, moving quietly and shifting the tides through power unseen. Oriko Mikuni.

The Sun, bright and encouraging, filling a room with light and cheer, but all too intense and destructive for those who draw too close. Kirika Kure.

The Death, always dreaming of an ending, only to find a new story beginning each time. Nagisa Momoe.

The Star, shining down from the heavens, looking upon all that is with hope and compassion, inspiring and guiding them in the darkness. Madoka Kaname.

"...So I need to find them all. If I find them all..." You watch his expression carefully, searching for deceit.

He sighs, smiling still, "You will have the key to the true victory you require. Find them, save them, and forge powerful bonds with them. What is past can still be reborn, and for the sake of a golden future."

He's not lying. This could still be a dream, he could still be a hallucination, but...

"Is this why Kyouko returned?"

He nods, pressing his hands together, "Yes, very good. You had forged a strong connection to her, and through the Gift of Resurrection you received, that bond was far stronger than one would normally anticipate. When you needed her most, and she reached out to you, you held on to hope, and put your faith in her, and she was able to return. She will not be the last, as long as you do not give up on your other friends."

You look from the cards you recognize, to the cards you do not, "And those?"

He chuckles, "Ah, well, some friendships transcend mind and matter and reason alike. You may not know them at first sight, and you may not remember them, but they are surely among your oldest friends. Oh, and before you get confused, don't worry! None of these friends were caused by the recent universal fracturing. You may certainly make friends with those visitors, and you may even be old friends with some of them, but none of them are the people you need most." Probably not Weiss or Nanoha, then.

"Anyway, I know everything is dreadfully confusing, but, on the bright side, I've been encouraged to offer you a bit more guidance than I usually would. Your situation is far more complicated than most, after all. So feel free to come by if you have any inquiries. I'll answer what I can. You'll find the door to this place, if you but look for it, and I mean that quite literally."

He pauses, looking at you quietly for a moment, and your discomfort grows, but he finally speaks again, "After some consideration...I will also provide you with an up-to-date record of your bonds' developments. It should help you cultivate the connections you need in order to achieve your goals. I'll even let you know if someone is dead, at that."

Kyouko groans, "...Oh hell. This isn't going to be easy, is it? Why couldn't you have told us all of this several years ago? Like, really?"

Igor shrugs, "I wasn't here. I believe the one who invited me had expected my arrival to be sooner, but we are here now, at least. I'll look forward to seeing how you grow, and helping you achieve the ending you require."

Seeming to have finished his little lecture, he folds his hands in front of him, "Any questions? We don't have much time left, but I can answer a few before you awaken."

[ ][Questions] Write-In (The top three will be asked.)

[ ]Plan for the Morning
-[ ]Remain at home today until your Father's driver comes to pick you up. He's a pain, but he's family.
--[ ]What do you do while you wait?
---[ ]Train a Skill.
----[ ]Write-In Resources to Use (Books, Tools, etcetera.)
---[ ]Try to develop a new Ability.
----[ ]Write-In Objective (More specific goals generally make this harder for Homura, but are more predictable. The opposite is also true.)
---[ ]Try to Meditate. It's not a normal practice for you, but your Grandfather once told you it helped with the Madness.
---[ ]Play SAO. (This will not be a full, multi-update adventure, like the last time.)
-[ ]Write-In