Puella Magi Persona Magica!

You're...pretty overwhelmed, honestly, but the prospect of being able to Wish for any single thing you want...

It's hard to resist. But, at the same time, you need to try and probe for the catch, since Violet said there was one. But Mami doesn't know...

"Um, can I ask some questions first?" You ask, uncertainty leaking into your voice.

"Of course! I'm here to help, after all!" Kyubey's voice sounded excited. You...admit that it was disarming, but you wonder if you should trust that. And...Violet seems to frown more deeply at that comment.

"Perhaps we should give..." Violet looked at you expectantly, and you startled.

"Oh! Um, Okamato Yui! And, erm, I don't know your name...?" You chuckle nervously, even though you know that response is perfectly fine. You're not freezing up, but you almost wonder if maybe it's because you've managed to push past shutting down entirely and have made it to acceptance.

"Akemi Homura. We should give Okamoto-san some privacy, M-Tomoe-san." Homura turned on a heel, before jumping to a nearby rooftop, the force of the leap somehow not cracking the rooftop. Mami gave you a glance, before she nodded and followed. You...wonder a little, if that was to give you the freedom to ask questions that Homura didn't want Mami to hear.

"Um...my first question is...um, what was happening in that...pocket dimension?" You're uncertain as to what it was, really, but...

"That was a Barrier. It is where Witches reside, who are the enemies of magical girls. The barrier is formed around the nature of the Witch, and it's familiars are like smaller pieces of itself that perform duties within said barriers." Kyubey's explanation made sense...

"Okay. What does...being a magical girl entail?" This was something you were altogether more certain on, from what had been said, but it was a question that needed to be asked.

"Being a magical girl means fighting Witches to protect the general populace, who are incapable of defending themselves against them. You have the lingering marks of a Witch Kiss, so you should be aware that they seize upon the victim's mind to make them want to open themselves to consumption. To stop the Witches, I have Contracted Magical Girls around the world. In return for risking your life in battle against the witches, you gain a Wish, which can be anything. Should you have enough Potential, you can rewrite history or change a fundamental rule of the world. Or, you can solve more personal difficulties, such a social isolation, healing somebody who is injured or sick, or even just a place you feel you belong." It's answer is longer this time, but it answers another question which makes hope swell in you chest. You could...you could Wish for someone that cares about you. To never be alone again.

"Can I bring Father back?" The words slip from your lips before you can stop yourself. You flinch, slightly, taking a step back from Kyubey.

"I cannot raise the dead. Perhaps if it was within the time in which his soul was still connected to his body, but it is not. A properly worded Wish may be able to make a copy that is infinitely similar to him, however." You feel the hope that briefly burned in your chest shrivel up and die at those words. You don't want a copy of Father. You...no, you can't afford to cry. You...

"Wh-what is this 'Potential'?" You ask, just to get your mind off of the words that were just said to you. If you had known, if you had been able to contact Kyubey when you first learned, would you have been able to bring him back?

"It is the karmic weight of your destiny. Think of it as a measurement of your impact upon the world-not necessarily in grand strokes, though if you were to revolutionize a field of science, for instance, you would a proportionally high level of potential-but in lives you affect and change. Yours is fluctuating, but over this conversation has stabilized somewhat in the middle. It still flickers between higher and lower. I must conclude that before it was uncertain that you would deeply affect something important, and that has become certain. I wonder who you are now so important to...?" You gasp at it's choice of words. Yo-you're important to someone? You want to know, but it clearly doesn't know.

"How specific does a wish need to be? You aren't trying to be like a...a...a monkey's paw, right?" It took you a moment to remember the term, but your gaze has turned intense. You could use this to change everything, to make yourself useful to others instead of being so painfully alone!

"Wishes are guided by intent within the bounds of your wording, for the most part. Leaving them open ended could result in a great boon or for it to be something you don't want." Kyubey hadn't blinked once this entire time, you note, and it makes you a little queasy now that you realize, "One of the magical girls in the area is of the opinion that you should be selfish with your wish, but I have also had many girls believe that being selfless is the correct path. Ultimately, it is your choice whether you are specific with the wording or open ended." That was...a lot of words, but you're pretty sure that it means that he's not going out of his way to give you a result you don't want...

So it offers a reality altering wish in exchange for you fighting things that prey upon unsuspecting innocents? You're...not sure you see a downside, beyond needing to fight. But...at the same time, that weird dream that you feel isn't so much dream said you would have to fight anyways. And this would make the magical girls that are already here have an easier time, and Mami seemed to be excited as the prospect of having allies to hunt Witches with...

"Have you made a decision, Yui-chan?" The offer was appealing, it really was. You...almost wanted to Wish that someone would care about you. But you don't speak, instead trying to think harder about it.
It seems our guest is rather cautious about it's Contract...perhaps we need to find some other contract for her to sign, to satisfy the rules I must follow...
[] Write In any questions
- [] Assuming you intend to make a Wish, what is it?

QM's promise that I won't stretch wording to screw you over with Wishes. Partially because it's annoying for everyone involved to attempt to lawyer it into immunity to Monkey's Paw. Should I have expected SV to be wary of Wishing? Yes. Did I? No, not really.

EDIT: Also, what's wrong with having your own bestbuddy?