Magia Resurrection (PMMM Quest)

Exiting the bedroom, you see Madoka sitting on a cushion, sipping some tea. Her eyes were downcast, staring longingly into the glass table's reflection. Her finger tapped the cup, as if she was waiting for some poor news regarding your fate. With a heavy heart, you venture over and sit down across from your sister.

"Sorry about that." You apologize as Mami walks past you to return to the kitchen. "Mami and I had some stuff to talk about."

"Oh, uh, I understand." Madoka says, breaking from her trance. "But, Momo, are you sure you should be moving around like that? You should be in bed."

"Well, I don't have any deep cuts or anything."

You look down, examining your body. Aside from a white shirt, sweatpants, and a few bandages, there was nothing amiss. Madoka probably dressed you when you were brought to Mami's place. It was yet another thing you were grateful for. She made arrangements to stay the night, brought the overnight bag, dressed your wounds.

"I'm not sure what I would do without you." You say, smiling.

"Huh?" Madoka stares.

"You took care of everything while I was out." You say. "Definitely saved me an earful from the folks."

"Well, we had to tell Mama and Papa where we were."

"I guess, but you got clothes from the house, dressed my wounds. That deserves praise at least, right?"

Madoka averts her gaze. "No, I didn't do anything. If anyone deserves praise, it's Sayaka, Mami and Miss Midori."

"Can't you take at least a little credit." You sigh. "Who was beside me when I woke up?"

"Me, but…"


"I just want to say that I appreciate everything you did." You lean back, taking in a deep breath. "Seeing your face when I woke up was enough to let me know that everything was going to be alright."

"Momo…"

"What?" Your face flushes a deep red. "I said something embarrassing, didn't I? Wait, I totally did. I just sounded like a sappy K-drama."

Madoka laughs.

"I'm slowly becoming a middle-aged woman." You rest your head on the table. "Not like this."

"Miss Kaname! Don't put your head on the table!" Mami yells from the kitchen. How did she know?

"Sorry!" You say, sitting at attention.

"Momo got reprimanded." Madoka says.

"Not the first time. I forgot to take my shoes off earlier today."

"Oh, you came here to see the other Momo earlier. That's right."

"Yeah. We didn't exactly hang out like you'd think. I had a bunch of questions about magical girl stuff." You sit back. It was hard to believe that this was all happening in a single day. Two days before your birthday, no less.

"Magical girls…" Madoka pauses. "Why didn't you tell me, Momo?"

"I didn't want you to worry, so…" You cast your gaze down. "But that didn't work out like I wanted."

Madoka shook her head. "No, it didn't."

"I'm sorry about keeping this from you. I didn't intend for any of this to happen. Things just got out of control… way too fast, way too soon."

Madoka closes her eyes and clutches her chest. "I want to say that it's okay, but… I don't like that you lied to me."

"That makes two of us."

"I'm serious."

"I didn't say that you weren't."

"I was really worried. What would've happened if you didn't come back?"

"I don't know." You click your tongue. "But if I died, I know I would be missed. I know that. I'm not stupid. Or, well, maybe I am, but I didn't have much of a choice."

"You didn't?"

"If I didn't do what I did, Sayaka would've definitely made a contract." You scratch your head. "So, I stopped her… kind of. She didn't have any reason to throw her life away."

"Does becoming a magical girl mean giving up your life?"

From the way that Mami and Kyouko talked, it certainly seemed like it. But, at that moment, you weren't thinking about becoming a magical girl. You were only concerned with saving those in front of you. It's just that desire ended up being answered with the power you were bestowed.

"I don't know. I asked Mami the same question, and she said there were good parts and bad."

"Sounds like Mama with her job."

"Yeah, it really does… except you don't get paid." You sigh.

"Momo." Madoka hesitates, her brow furrowed. "If this was your first fight as a magical girl, then I don't know what to do. I was thinking that I could make a contract to fight alongside you."

"Hey, listen, remember the conversation we had. I don't know how my contract differs." You try to ease her worries. While there were a lot of unknowns, it was best to be a little optimistic. "I might not have to fight at all."

"That's wishful thinking, Miss Kaname." Mami enters the room, unfastening her apron as she sets it on a hook. Kyubey sits on her shoulder, licking his paw.

"It is?" You narrow your eyes. "So, I'm basically stuck."

"Well, I wouldn't say 'stuck'. It is true that the terms of your contract may be different, especially since you weren't granted a wish." Mami sits down next to Madoka. "We'll have to see."

There were too many unknowns for you to even make a decision. The other Madoka hasn't spoken to you since you woke up. Reaching out to her was something you would have to try later.

"Your situation is certainly unique." Kyubey leaps down from Mami's shoulder, landing on the cushion next to you.

"I gathered that much." You say. "So, what do you think, Kyubey?"

"From what I have observed so far, your body doesn't handle magical energy in the same way as other magical girls."

"What do you mean?"

"How did it feel to use magic, Momoka?"

"I was constantly in pain. It felt like I was burning up."

"Ah, I see. Your body is likely rejecting the magic of your Soul Gem."

"Rejecting?" Mami crosses her arms. "Is that possible?"

"A similar phenomenon has been observed in the past." Kyubey flicks his tail. "If the power granted by a wish is rejected by a magical girl, their magic could be lost. While I don't know of any such cases resulting in physical harm, it's not outside of the realm of possibility."

Something about that explanation didn't seem right. The older Madoka referred to the Soul Gem as an 'orphan', as if it was a living thing. The memories that resonate with you from inside of the Soul Gem was enough to know that was true. If the Soul Gem was alive, then what, exactly, was a Soul Gem?

Given the name, it should be obvious.

Another soul.

Your soul.

"So, because of the wish made to get the Soul Gem, my magic is causing me pain?" You ask.

"That's one theory. It's incomplete, and requires further observation before making any critical conclusions."

"You seem a little excited, Kyubey." Mami says with a smile.

"What? No, of course not. It's simply an issue that warrants looking into." He leaps up onto Madoka's lap. She pets his head. "Madoka, have you considered my offer?"

"Um, I have, but I'll have to say no. I don't want to cause any trouble for Momo and Mami."

"Ah, that's too bad. I understand. If you ever change your mind, I'll be here."

"Thank you." Madoka picks Kyubey up.

You breathe out a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good. But, wait, does that mean I can't use magic at all?"

"Not necessarily. If your body acclimates to the use of magic, it should be possible to fight as any other magical girl would."

"So that means…"

"The more you use your Soul Gem, the easier it will be to fight."

"Right." You look at Mami.

"That actually leads into what I wanted to talk about." Mami stands up. "I was thinking that I could teach you how to use magic."

"I'd like that." You nod. "Even if it's just an excuse to come over and hang out."

"Miss Kaname." Mami narrows her eyes. "This is serious."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." You wave a hand.

"Mami!" Momo screams from the kitchen. "I think I messed up!"

"I'm coming! I'm sorry, excuse me for a moment." Mami dashes back into the kitchen in a panic.

"Hope the apartment doesn't burn down." You mumble.

"That's mean, Momo."

"Hey, just making an observation."

Madoka seems like she's doing well now. You weren't sure how long the refusal to contract would take hold, but at the very least, your mind was now more at ease. With Mami handling things with Momo, you would probably just get in the way. Midori had to be around here somewhere, and there was the girl that, against all odds, managed to be rescued. With that in mind, you …

[_] … go find Midori. She has to be around here somewhere.
[_] … go see the girl you rescued. She's likely in Mami's room, if she's resting.
[_] … relax with Madoka. It's been kind of a rough day.
[_] … Write-in

As you chatted away with Madoka, the thought of the devoured girl entered your mind. Her outstretched hand, her hushed plea for help. The spear entering the witch, the rain of crimson spilling onto the ground. That had to be her blood. The moment plays itself over and over in your mind. Each second is more excruciating than the last. You look over your shoulder to the hallway across the room. The half-cracked door beckons you forth.

"Madoka, I'm going to go check on the other patient."

Your sister pushes her empty teacup to the center of the table. She stands up, patting her school uniform free of wrinkles and knots.

"I'll come with you." She says.

"Are you sure?"

"I want to check on her too."

The two of you walk toward the door, making sure not to make any noise. You pass by Mami as she scolds Momo with a wag of her finger. Part of you wanted to help her, but you had more pressing matters to attend to. You slowly nudge the cracked door open.

It was as if you were stepping into a different world. A room dyed in the red hue of the setting sun. The wall consisted of nothing but clean, glass panes. The room's artificial color struggled to stand against the flood of natural light spilling in from the windows. Whereas Momo's room looked more sensible, more mundane, this seemed like it was avant garde -- similar to the make of the school and the mall. No matter where you went, Mitakihara's architecture was inescapable.

"Hello?" You greet as you push the door open.

"Good evening." A soft voice returns your greeting.

A book clasps closed. The girl turns toward you, a soft smile pulling at her lips. It was as if the ordeal she had gone through was nothing more than a bad dream. Honestly, you were envious of her demeanor if that was the case.

"How are you feeling…?" You open up with the first question that comes to mind.

"I'm fine." She says, tucking a stray white hair behind her ear. "What about you?"

"I'll be alright." You walk inside as Madoka follows.

"Do you need anything, um…" Madoka asks, your nervous tendencies apparently being contagious.

"My name is Alexus."

"Alex…" Madoka mumbles.

"Lexi is fine too."

"Lexi then." She nods, satisfied.

"Some food would be nice." Lexi sits up in bed, setting her book aside.

"Mami's got dinner going." You sit down on the foot of her bed. "Can I sit here?"

"Go ahead. You're not bothering me."

"She's making udon. Looks like it's going to be pretty good." You say, crossing your arms. "Minus any apparent fire hazards."

"Geez." Lexi cringes. "Well, I mean, as long as no one was hurt?" Her eyes drift to Madoka for confirmation.

"I don't think so." Madoka says, looking toward the door.

"So… I have to ask, Lexi. Uh." You weren't sure if this was breaching any sort of privacy, or if it was a delicate situation, but it was something you had to know. "How are you still alive?"

"Well, it's because my heart's still beating."

"What?" You stare.

"My heart hasn't stopped, so I'm not dead."

Madoka chuckles, and you groan.

"That's not what I meant. You were inside of a monster, so--"

"I was inside of a monster?!" Lexi sits up straight. "Whoa, that's way too scary. You guys beat it up though, right?"

"No…?" You exchange glances with Madoka. "We fought it, but no, it's still out there. I think."

"Well, that sucks."

This girl was eaten by a witch -- or rather, was in the process of being eaten by a witch. Yet, she's talking to you as if nothing happened.

"Yeah, it does." Your smile slowly shifts into a frown. "I'm trying to be serious here, Lexi. What happened? If you don't remember, that's fine, but we want to help, if we can."

Lexi pushes herself to the edge of the bed. "There's nothing you can do." She says, grinning. "There's nothing really anyone can do." Her arms splay out as she collapses onto the bed.

"Why's that?" Madoka asks.

"Because you just can't. It's my problem, so I'll deal with it." Her eyes close as she basks in the sun's warm glow. "No point getting you guys involved. As soon as I get dinner, I'll be out of your hair."

This person was … certainly something. Not at all what you were expecting. What was her problem? Something that only she could deal with?

"Lexi, you're not a magical girl, are you?" You ask.

"Nope." She raises her hands. "Do you see a ring?"

"No." You frown. "But Lexi, I'm just worried."

"Hey, don't sweat it." She stretches. "You don't have to feel bad for me. I'll be fine. You probably got better shit to do than worry about me."

"Not really, I'm a teenager. What else do I have to do besides eat, sleep, and homework?" You say.

"I could think of a few things. Hanging out, finding love, finding yourself, drinking."

"W-what?" Madoka stutters.

"Forget that last one. Don't drink." Lexi points at Madoka. "You look like a good girl. See? I'm a bad influence, I'm not worth worrying about."

"You sound kind of like our Mom." You grin.

"I'm NOT that old!" Lexi slaps the bed. "I'm…" She pauses. "I'm sixteen."

"I mean, if you say so." You blink.

"I am. See, uh, what was your name?" She looks at Madoka.

"Madoka."

"See, Madoka? Bad influence. I drink and I'm underage."

"Mama drinks a lot, so it really wouldn't bother me." You say.

"Momo! Mama isn't a teenager."

"I mean, yeah, but…"

"Not buts. We shouldn't break the rules like that." Madoka reprimands you. "You shouldn't either, Lexi!"

"I mean, I don't even drink hard stuff. Not that I could get my hands on it anyway…" She mumbles. "Anyway, again, not worth worrying about."

"I want to help you." Madoka walks forward, placing her hand on Lexi's.

"Uh." Lexi stares at you with pleading eyes. "What is going on?"

"She pities you." You say with a wry smile.

"No, I don't!" Madoka shakes her head fervently. "I just want to help."

"I can tell you guys aren't just going to let this go." Lexi groans, closing her eyes. "Alright, okay, fine. I give up. What do you want to know?"

Select two:
[_] "Why are you still alive?"
[_] "How did you end up inside that witch?"
[_] "What do you know about magical girls?"
[_] "How old are you really?"
[_] Write-in