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Magia Resurrection (PMMM Quest)

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Episode 3 - 5
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    • Midori stands in front of you, clutching her jacket close to herself. Her eyes look to the night sky for the right words. Her mouth moves, but only a veil of white mist escapes.

    After watching her struggle with her failing words, you tap the empty seat next to you. She stares for a moment, lost in a trance. Another tap on the bench is enough to snap her from her stupor. With a solemn nod, she sits with her hands clasped in her lap. Midori leans back as her eyes close.

    You both heard the sound of splashing water in the fountain; the sting of the cold autumn night. Despite sitting next to Midori, you never felt further away. You were cast away on an island that no one could ever hope to reach. In just a short week, the world you knew had become a distant memory. The door had been opened. There was no going back.

    You knew things you weren't supposed to, saw things you were never meant to. How your mind isn't breaking apart at the seams is itself a mystery. You had the answers that you wanted; why it happened, what happened, and why it had to be you. Having them didn't make your problems go away. In fact, it arguably made things worse.

    You knew that Madoka sacrificed everything for the sake of people she never knew. The struggle that she endured to get to that point must have been unbearable. She was a fragile girl, always wanting to do her best to help others. It wasn't an inherent sense of justice, or an earnest desire to be selfless. It was because she didn't want to be a burden. That's the beginning and end of it.

    Did that make her a bad person? No. Not at all.

    However, it did make her short-sighted. If she was anything like your own sister, it was the kind of choice that she might regret. In that sense, during your birthday, she had given you the opportunity that she never had; a chance to back out and return to a normal life.

    The resolve that pushed you to contract remains firm. Not once have you reconsidered the contract with the older Madoka. If you did, it would be understandable. No one would know if you turned your back on her. No one would judge you, not even Madoka.

    Knowing what you do now, you had to fight harder than ever. If your sister's fate was to become a goddess and to leave those she loves behind, then you would reject it. Fight tooth and nail, even if you had to exchange your life for hers. It wasn't out of a sense of obligation for others, or self-sacrifice; it was purely your own selfish desire.

    You wouldn't consider yourself a bad person. You did what you could to get by and that was all. Your earnest desire was to protect those close to you. Life was becoming complicated enough as it was. There was no room in your life for haphazard heroics, even if you were a magical girl. Of course, you would save people if you could help it. You weren't heartless.

    But, would you throw your life on the line to save someone you don't know? The answer eluded you. Most people might give the same answer. It's the kind of question you never know until the moment arrives.

    "Momoka." Midori breaks the silence.

    "Yeah?"

    "I wanted to thank you for your help. You know, against the witch."

    You lean back, resting your head on your hands. There was nothing to thank you for. According to Mami, what you did was reckless. One misstep would have led to disaster. The fact you were still here right now was a miracle. Then again, with a goddess on your shoulder, a 'miracle' might not be the proper term. 'Blessing' seems more appropriate.

    Regardless, it wasn't fair to say that you really did anything. You made the decision to make use of her power, but that was it. If anyone was deserving of any credit, it was your sister. Not that Midori would believe you even if you explained it.

    "I didn't do anything." You say.

    "No, you did." Midori shakes her head. "I didn't think I would… I mean, I didn't think I'd have the chance to…"

    Midori's hands fidget as she averts her eyes. What she wanted to say must be difficult. Midori didn't seem to have trouble talking to people. She had enough resolve to face down that witch on her own. It wasn't just a witch, it was her former friend. It was the magical girl that spoke to Midori in the vision. The one that pestered her about her wish. A wish that Midori was too embarrassed to share.

    "I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance to remember her."

    Midori clasps her hands around yours. Her touch is warm and her grip tight.

    "Just seeing you wield her weapon, use her magic… I don't know." She says, smiling wide. "It just reminded me of something that I'd forgotten."

    "Really?"

    "Yes." She smiles. "The reason I became a magical girl in the first place."

    Midori looks down, realizing her hands are still locked with yours. She retreats, throwing herself to the other side of the bench.

    "Sorry!" She yelps.

    You laugh at her expense.

    "So, why did you become a magical girl?"

    You already knew the answer. It was to become a 'hero'. What that meant to her, though, was something that you didn't know or even understand. It was a word that had a lot of different meanings. With magic, anything was possible. A 'hero' could be anything from a conventional super hero, to a magical girl, or to something as mundane as a doctor or a firefighter.

    "It's, um… actually, it's a little embarrassing."

    "You don't have to tell me."

    "N-no. You deserve to know."

    "If you say so."

    "I wanted to be, like… a hero. You know, someone who saves people."

    "So, like a superhero?"

    "Well, yeah, I-I guess." She reels back, trying to take refuge in her jacket. "You're going to laugh, right?"

    "No." You shake your head. "I actually think that's pretty cool."

    Midori's shoulders slack. "So, you're not teasing me?"

    "No." You shake your head. "Not at all. It's something I could never do."

    "What? I mean, with your power, you definitely could." A pondering hand rubs her chin.

    "That's not what I meant." You frown. "It's not that I couldn't do it, it's more like … I'm too much of a coward."

    It was the only word that came to mind to describe what you were. You were scared, yes, but no one could blame you for that. Witches were far too much for a normal person to even consider. The fact they were real, lurking around the corner, was enough to evoke fear in even the bravest. It could be even someone as stalwart Mami was scared. Maybe not of the witch, but of what happens if she loses. It meant leaving Momo and Kyouko on their own.

    In truth, outside of distant relatives or a pet, you've never lost anyone. You've never even been to a funeral. It was a pain that you've never felt. An experience you've never had. Despite that, you were afraid of dying, of leaving everyone behind. It should be a transient fear for someone your age. Your biggest worries should be waking up in the morning, school, and finding young love.

    For magical girls, it was a persistent fear of death. You were afraid of putting people through the pain of losing someone precious. It's why you didn't want to lose anyone. It's why you didn't want Sayaka to contract. It's why you made the spur of the moment decision. A decision that may have defined the rest of your life.

    "A coward?" Midori scoffs in disbelief. "Everyone's scared, Momoka. There's not a single magical girl who fights a witch and isn't scared."

    You shake your head, freeing yourself from the grasp of your gloomy thoughts.

    "Isn't that a bad thing, then?" You say. "If someone freezes up during a fight, wouldn't that mean…"

    "Being scared means you're on your guard. It pays to be properly paranoid."

    "Then when you charged into the witch's barrier a few days ago…" You roll your hand as if expecting a response.

    "I… Listen, don't follow my example." Midori crosses her arms. "I can give advice, I'm just not too great at following it."

    You roll your eyes. "You're not going to do that again, are you?"

    "No." Midori shakes her head. "I don't intend on dying. I realized I got some people waiting for me. So, if I die, then I won't get to see them again." Midori nods to herself. "I'll fight hard and come back in one piece."

    "That's good. I'd rather you didn't die."

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence." Midori grins. "It'll be a hard fight, but I think I can do it. Especially if the witch isn't regenerating like she was." A frown wrinkles her brow.

    "What's wrong?"

    "Eh, it's just after the job's done, I'll probably be getting out of here."

    You were well aware of magical girls and their territories. Mami didn't strike you as the type to make too much of a fuss. Then again, you were friends with Momo and were Mami's new protege. Midori was from another town with a territory of her own to protect. Probably.

    "Is this about territory, or something else?"

    "That's part of it." Midori grasps the locket around her neck. "I have my own reasons too."

    [_] … tell Midori that you'll help her find and fight the witch. The more magical girls, the better the odds.
    [_] … wish Midori luck in her efforts to subdue the witch. It wasn't your fight, you had your own mission.
    [_] … suggest that she shouldn't jump into it so soon. Even if she has rekindled resolve, rushing things could end in catastrophe.
    [_] Write-in
     
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    • Episode 3 - 6
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    • Midori had the courage to speak her heart. It must have been hard, considering the weight of the fragmented vision you bore witness to. Answering her resolve, you smile. "I'll help you find the witch. The more magical girls, the better the odds, right?"

    She goes quiet as her eyes focus on the prismatic colors of the fountain. Her fingers piano on the bench as silence hangs in the air.

    "Midori?"

    "I don't think that's a good idea," Midori says, meeting your gaze. "You're a rookie. If anything, you would probably get in the way."

    "But we fought together before, so--"

    "Desperate times, desperate measures." She stands up from the bench, stretching her arms above her head.

    "So, you're saying I would be a burden."

    "Yes." She sighs. "This is a serious fight and you've been a magical girl for, what, a few days?"

    The truth stung. Yes, you had only properly begun training just today. Your first experience training lead to a revelation that shook your own resolve. The depths of your power are something that began to frighten you. A deeper dive would unearth more mysteries, more power, but at costs you weren't willing to pay.

    You think back to the fight with the witch. Burning pain, like magma running through your veins. An aching, bleeding heart that wouldn't stop. You shiver from the chilling memory.

    "I think you'll be a strong magical girl some day, Momoka." Midori places a hand on your head. "But this isn't your fight. I appreciate the help you've given me, but please, just stay out of this."

    "I'm already involved." You lightly push Midori's hand off your head. "I can't just ignore you."

    "Ignore me?" Midori grins. "It's not your job to keep tabs on me."

    "It doesn't have to be."

    You clasp your chest to quell the growing anxiety. You shake your head, standing up from the bench. You pivot, facing the veteran magical girl head on.

    "I'm worried. I can't explain it, but … I feel like you're walking to your death."

    "I was." She keeps her same smile. "It's why I wanted to be alone when I fought the witch."

    "Why?" You ask.

    Despite knowing that the witch was Midori's former friend, there had to be more to the puzzle. Something that you didn't know.

    "Because it killed my friends."

    Your heart skips a beat.

    "All of them. I'm the only survivor." Midori clenches her fists to quell her growing frustration.

    "I'm sorry." Guilt forces your head down. "I didn't know."

    "Yeah, you didn't know. You couldn't." She grits her teeth, then laughs. "If I got my wish, I finally would've gotten my revenge, and I'd be dead. I thought it was a win-win."

    There was nothing you could say to rebuke her. You could say 'that's wrong', but it would amount to little except empty platitude. If her heart was already fractured, the only person who could mend was her. You can't control what she does, or what she feels. It's part of what makes talking to others so difficult. You could hardly control yourself half the time.

    "But, I can't throw my life away." Midori claims. "I can't. Not after you and Tomoe saved it."

    Midori places both hands on your shoulders.

    "The only thing I can do is repay the favor. This isn't your fight."

    "But--"

    "It isn't." She shakes her head. "You say you're a coward, but you're so quick to throw your life away for someone else."

    It was a paradox. You were scared, but were you willing to die for someone else? No, your intention isn't to die. It's to make sure that everyone else comes out alive.

    "The witch will kill you. You nearly died once. You won't be so lucky the second time."

    She was right. That witch, even if she couldn't regenerate like she used to, was still a major threat. Definitely not a typical witch, given your limited knowledge on the subject.

    "That won't happen." You protest. "I can--"

    "You can do what?"

    "You saw what I could do!" You say. "I was able to use that cleaver, I stripped the witch's armor."

    Midori grits her teeth. "Yeah, and look what happened after. Bed bound for two days. What happens if you collapse again?"

    "I…"

    "I'm not trying to insult you, Momoka. I'm genuinely thankful for what you did." Midori clasps the locket on her neck. "But listen to me. I don't want you collapsing in the middle of the fight, or exploding after using magic or whatever."

    Exploding? That was a new one.

    "I don't know your circumstances, and I don't know your wish, but I can tell you're not cut out for this."

    "Even still. I know I can help, Midori, if you'll just--"

    "You're not listening to a single word I'm saying, are you?" Midori frowns. "Okay, I'll make this easy."

    Midori tightens her grip and pulls you close.

    Close enough to feel her breath.

    Her eyes overtake your own.

    An indignant stare.

    "You're not throwing your life away. You aren't coming. Do you understand?"

    You try to pull away. You struggle in her grip. There was no escape.

    "Do you understand me?"

    She inches closer.

    You feel your legs shake. What was once a request and a plea became a command. Your heart jumps into your throat.

    What do you say? You feel helpless. Not just in her grasp, but to aid her. What she says hasn't been entirely wrong. It hurt to even consider you were a burden but, in the aftermath of the witch battle, you had to be carried out. The next moment you were conscious, you had Madoka at your side.

    Someone was waiting for you to wake up. Madoka, Mami, Momo, and Sayaka.

    What did Midori have? Did she have anyone waiting for her on the other side?

    No. She did, but they're gone. Either dead or a witch.

    How much pain did she carry?

    [_] … Respect her wishes. She's clearly in pain, despite the demand. If she feels it's a fight that she has to undertake herself, you had no right to stop her.
    [_] … Reject her wishes. Just as you couldn't mend her broken heart, she cannot control yours. Even if you have to prove yourself, you will help her, whether it be in battle or otherwise.
    [_] … Write-in
     
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    • Episode 3 - End
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    • What was it like to lose a loved one? For you, it was an ephemeral anxiety, a worry you've yet to experience; for her, a cruel reality.

    The severity of Midori's warning was undercut by her shaking hands, her quivering lips and moistening eyes. The weight of loss beared down on you just as Midori's grip began to slip. Despite never grieving yourself, it was hard not to feel the tortured girl's pain as your own. The glimpse into her past painted a precious memory. The bond between mentor and student, of two friends working toward the same goal. It was the same bond you began to foster with Mami.

    It was too soon to say. Despite the past few days, it felt as though the bonds you've formed were destined to crumble away. It was that fear that spurred you to help Midori. It felt as if she were to walk away, you would never see her again. The moment you let go is the moment that she vanished from your life. You didn't want Midori to just become a memory. Some part of you felt entitled to that desire, after you went out of your way to save her. It was selfish, yes, but at the very least, it was honest.

    When a magical girl makes a wish, she trades the present for any chance at a future. She cuts her life short for the sake of her wish and nothing else. A struggle without end that eventually sees her hope turn into despair. A tragedy that plays out not just between you, Midori, and others -- but all over the world.

    Whether it be through your connection, or your own understanding, the other Madoka's wish began to make sense. Salvation for every magical girl that simply wanted to help someone with their wish. If this revelation had never been shown to you, then you weren't sure how you would take the eventual fate of turning into a witch. At the very least, you knew there was hope beyond despair.

    Midori didn't have that solace. She watched her friend turn into a witch and kill her friends. There was nothing you could say to mend her broken heart. It was only through action and self-reflection that Midori stood here now. It was by her own will that she still lives.

    You hear the pain hidden beneath her harsh words. The agony stirring from the inside. The despair welling up, ready to take hold.

    "I don't want to lose you, or anyone else." You gently caress Midori's hand. "I know it's silly, but I already think of you as a friend."

    "Then--" Midori's eyes light up.

    "But it's because of that I can't leave you alone." You match Midori's gaze, unmoving. "I've been worried about you since the moment we met. I mean, it was kind of hard not to be, since you nearly lost your Soul Gem to a claw machine."

    It was Midori's turn to be silent.

    "Then you ran off to go fight a witch. I ended up running after you." You lightly push Midori's hands off your shoulder. "Honestly, if it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't be where I am right now."

    Midori takes a step back.

    "I'm not blaming you." You shake your head. "Far from it. It's just another thing I need to thank you for. The witch was… scary, yeah, terrifying. I still have nightmares about it."

    You clench your palms.

    "But now, because of you, I can fight. It's not in the same way that you do, or Mami, or even Kyouko does."

    It was hard to put it into words. You had someone depending on you that others couldn't see, couldn't speak with, nor hear. You were the only one who could hear her pleas. It was a responsibility you never asked for, but couldn't be happier to have.

    "I-if you feel like you owe me so much, then please, just walk away from this," Midori says, her arms dangling at her sides. "You'll die, Momoka."

    Magical girls fight as part of their very nature. They are born from a miracle, and with that miracle they combat despair. It wasn't just magic that flowed forth from your Soul Gem, but memories and experience. Memories of a 'you' standing side by side with your sister, laughing. There were other magical girls you didn't know. Within the fragile memories of the Soul Gem, there were no tears shed. The 'you' of another time would always smile, despite the pain. Not because you regret it, but because you had to be there for those who needed you most.

    The Soul Gem on your finger shines with a warm glow.

    "Yeah, I might, but the same can be said for you, Mami, and Kyouko." You clasp your hands together. "Whether I'm with you or not, I'm still a magical girl. Death and despair follow us in equal measure. It's naturally part of the job."

    You walk forward and grasp Midori's hand.

    "If you're going to tell me not to fight, then I'm going to have to tell you no." You sigh. "I'll fight each and every time. If you're alone, and you're in trouble, I'm going to help you. That's the end of it."

    "Even if it costs you your life?"

    "I don't know what the cost would be." You prod the ground with your foot. "But, I'd know that if you were making a choice that might cost your life, I'd want to be there with you until the end."

    "We barely know each other." Midori pinches the bridge of her nose. "How can you say that?"

    "It's because I have people that I care about I can say that."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Listen, if I had to choose between losing my friends and family by doing nothing, or sacrificing myself, there's no choice to make." You shake your head. "But acting like that's the only solution is stupid. Why is everything life and death with you, Midori?"

    "That's because we're magical girls! That's all there is!"

    "No." You clasp your Soul Gem. "No, it isn't. We're human before we're magical girls. Where do you think those wishes come from? They don't just come from nothing."

    "You're annoying, Momoka."

    "You wouldn't be the first to tell me that."

    "You keep blabbering about things you don't understand, pretending like you know everything." Midori grits her teeth.

    "I'm sorry if it's coming off that way to you." You say. "I genuinely want to help you."

    "I already told you how to help me, you could--!"

    "Ladies! Ladies! You're both right"

    A familiar voice breaks the tension. You and Midori turn toward the top of the hill.

    Lexi stands next to Mami, her hands cupped around her mouth. Mami, on the other hand, is rubbing her temple with her hands.

    "Chiba, what are you doing?" Mami walks down the steps to the fountain.

    "Nothing. I-I was just leaving." Midori turns to walk away.

    "If you leave without explaining yourself, then I don't want to see you again."

    "That works for me." Midori shrugs. "Once I hunt the witch, I'm out of here anyway."

    Lexi walks up next to Mami, her arms crossed. She had changed out of her maid uniform into more casual winter wear. An orange turtleneck sweater that seems a little too large on her. It was probably stolen from Mami.

    "Isn't that a little extreme, Tomoe? One disagreement and that's it?" Lexi puts what you were thinking into words.

    "It's between magical girls, Miss Tanaka." Mami sighs, nursing a headache. "Please, remain quiet."

    "Yes, Ma'am." Lexi salutes.

    "Midori was just speaking to me out of concern. It might've gotten a little heated, but she means well." You plead.

    Midori stops walking away.

    "Is this true, Chiba?" Mami asks.

    "I don't want her throwing her life away," Midori says. "Not after what happened last time."

    "Well, the circumstances of that fight were rather unique." Mami turns toward Lexi out of concern. Once she finds that Lexi was sitting near the fountain, she continues.

    "The exact same circumstances happening again isn't likely. Especially since you would be going with another magical girl, correct?" Mami concludes.

    "Ah, Kyouko told you, didn't she?" Midori winces.

    "Of course." Mami grins. "I had discussed assisting you on the hunt, but Miss Sakura was against it. But now I suppose things have changed, if my apprentice wants to get involved."

    "She's not coming." Midori protests. "She's--"

    "Why not?"

    "Well, she'll get hurt and get in the way, so…"

    "I think you're underestimating her, Chiba." Mami frowns. "But I can see to Miss Kaname's safety. That way you and Miss Sakura can focus on fighting the witch."

    You didn't really have much sway in the conversation. Your eyes dart between Midori and Mami as the conversation proceeds.

    Lexi stares at the colorful streaks of water souring into the sky. It was like the fountain demanded more of her attention than the fight.

    Midori bites her lip. Part of her wants to refuse, but given how stubborn you are, you would find your way into the fight regardless. With no other recourse, she sighs in defeat. "Okay. Fine. Just make sure she isn't hurt."

    That was that. That's all it took. It had never occurred to get Mami involved, since it felt like a matter between you and Midori. Given Mami's experience as a magical girl, it made sense her words had more sway. You were a rookie, as Midori was so quick to remind you.

    "Thank you, Mami."

    "You're not off the hook either, Miss Kaname."

    "Uh." You wince. "What did I do?"

    "You have my phone number for a reason."

    "I'm sorry."

    "It's fine, just remember for next time."

    "Next time?" Lexi speaks up. "Oh, great. So, I'm never going to get to bed on time."

    "Miss Tanaka, you have not slept since you've begun living with me." Mami's hand comes to her face.

    Lexi shrugs, putting her attention back on the fountain.

    With that, the night comes to an end. While there may be some lingering tension between you and Midori, it wasn't anything time couldn't mend. After another reprimand from Mami, you make the rest of your way home.

    Surprisingly, you're not chewed out by your parents. You venture upstairs to your room, fatigue finally bearing down on you.

    "I'm home." You collapse face first onto the bed.

    "Welcome home, Momo." Madoka turns around in her chair, a book open on her desk.

    "Mrf," you say, attempting to say 'thanks' but your words are muffled by a face full of pillow.

    "So what did you do at Mami's? Did you have fun?"

    You recount the day's activities to Madoka. You mention the magic training, but not any of the experiences tied to it. You talk about getting Lexi a job, suspicions on how that actually worked notwithstanding. Finally, the fight with Midori that, upon reflection, was extremely stressful.

    Madoka nods, patting you on the head.

    "I just want this day to end. Bluh." You smack your head into the pillow again.

    "Oh, um." Madoka looks at her desk and back to you. "Momo, I was uh…"

    "Was what?"

    "Hoping you could help me with some homework. I've been… struggling a little so uh."

    "Oh, sure. I can do that."

    End of Episode 3​
    Bonds gained after Episode 3.
    Sayaka - 2/10
    Mami - 2/10 > 3/10
    Kyouko - 0/10
    Momo - 2/10
    Midori - 2/10
    Alexus - 1/10 > 2/10
    Mabuyu - Is she allowed to be employed?/10 > No, she isn't, but she's working anyway/10

    As you lay down to sleep at night, the memories of the Soul Gem and the other Madoka coalesce and you begin to dream with their memories. When you dream, you dream of…

    [_] … a fight between close friends turned enemies.
    [_] … a black-haired girl wandering in a world without purpose.
    [_] … strength borrowed for the sake of others.
    [_] … a silver-haired girl alone in a world of decay.
     
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    • Episode 4 - 1
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    • You wander through the ruins of a familiar, desolate landscape. Skyscrapers lay tilted on the horizon, their once powerful frames giving way decay. They couldn't be called buildings anymore. What shelter they once offered had been eaten away by time. What support they lacked had been reinforced by malformed trees puncturing their foundations. Vines coil upward, covering the building in a tapestry of greenery and shattered glass. It was as though nature had uprooted the people that once called this place home.

    You walk along the base of a dilapidated building, rounding the corner to an alley marked by upheaved concrete. Your corporeal form moves through the air like a ghost. The thought of why you were able to step on the ground at all propped up, but you quickly tuck it away. This must be a dream, a vision. Whether it was something to be, or something that has already happened, was another question entirely.

    The sidewalk sits fragmented, concrete chunks laying on sides of the road, uprooted by weeds and bent branches. Glass fragments litter the walkway. You're hesitant to step over them but, once you see your foot pass through, you continue onward. After venturing down the block, you're met with a familiar sight.

    An apartment complex no taller than three or four stories. Its outside looked much like the rest of the buildings on the block.

    Ruined and in disarray.

    An automatic door sits at the entrance, partially bent, its purpose lost. It sits eschewed at an odd angle, almost as if inviting you inside. You accept the gracious invitation, ducking under its frame as a matter of consideration rather than necessity. You struggle up the slippery steps, wet with moss and the residue of a rain the night before.

    A glance up reveals the crumbling interior. The tiles above were held together by thin roots and little else. You slowly walk up the steps, a sense of awe tempting you forward. You exit out the top of the stairwell and into a fractured balcony. A large tree had found its way into the middle of the complex, claiming it has its home. Large birds sit perched atop its branches, paying you no mind. Their heads turn, their beaks flap, chomping on what you can only assume is the catch of the day.

    Shaking your head, you walk forward, stopping just at the edge of the jagged walkway. You stare down the one story drop. You would never consider the possibility of jumping, normally, but as a 'ghost', it was more than possible. That is, if you truly were a ghost.

    You had no interest in actually testing that theory.

    It was a dream, obviously, so if you were going to fall, you would wake up in your bed.

    That was all there was to it.

    You take a few steps back to gauge the distance. When satisfied, you spring forward. Once at the cusp of a fall, you leap. You leap up and over the gap, rolling to a stop on the opposite side.

    You land upright, smiling at the accomplishment. With your newfound pride, you continue the journey forward. Though, your destination wasn't far from where you landed a moment ago.

    A shattered wooden plank lay at the entrance, functioning as more of a welcome mat than a door. You look at what seems to be the nameplate, completely covered in moss and grime.

    You walk forward, trying to wipe it off, but to no avail.

    There was no need, honestly. You could already tell where you were.

    You've been here enough times to notice.

    It was Mami's apartment.

    Gone were the vibrant colors and warm memories, replaced with bug-eaten carpet and a collapsing ceiling. The balcony that once held your attention had been completely caved in. The kitchen was no longer visible through the shrapnel. It was as if the place had been ransacked with a wrecking ball.

    A sense of melancholy presses you against the rotted doorway.

    What happened? You ask yourself, turning toward the large tree looming behind you.

    You pull away from the entrance and retrace your steps to the front of the apartment complex. Making sure not to slip down the stairs, you shuffle past the partially collapsed entrance. You were greeted by the sight of the reclaimed remnants of what you now knew was Mitakihara.

    You never knew the town you grew up in could be so alien. It was as if you didn't belong.

    How many years had passed between closing your eyes and waking in this dream world? If this was a dream, then time meant very little. A better question would be what year it was.

    "What really happened here?" You speak it allowed, more to yourself than to anyone specific.

    But, against all odds, the impossible happens.

    In a city with no sign of human life, you hear a voice.

    "It's you again, isn't it?"

    You turn toward the voice.

    A girl with white, silver hair in a braid that runs just down her shoulder. A partially torn sundress and a straw hat. Her body is adorned with cuts and bruises that slowly vanish as she steps out of the darkness.

    "Lexi?" You stare, eyes wide, as if you've seen a ghost.

    As far as you knew, she couldn't die, but you didn't know the extent of her immortality. But if this dream was proof, then you had your answer.

    "I thought I was going crazy the first time you showed up."

    You open your mouth, but no words escape. Clenching your palms, you muster up what little courage you had. "Lexi…"

    "Can you say that again?"

    "I…" You shake your head. "How long has it been?"

    You brace yourself for an answer you didn't want to hear.

    "I dunno."

    "What?"

    Despite however many years, and that was assuming this was another time, she was still the same. Given the environment, her apathy may have been a blessing in disguise. Still, you wanted answers, and she was the only one who could give them.

    "I lost count a long time ago."

    "N-not even a guess? Nothing at all?"

    "I mean, you're part of my imagination, so shouldn't you know what I know?"

    You were fairly sure you weren't imaginary. You could argue she was a figment of your imagination. Honestly, it was a waste of time to even consider it.

    "I'm not."

    "You said the same thing last time, too."

    "So you've actually gone crazy?"

    "I guess. Not like anyone is around to care." Lexi shrugs as she walks

    She was right. If she had lost her mind, who would be around to care? Certainly not the birds and the trees.

    "If I had to guess, though…" Lexi stops, furrowing her brow in frustration. "If I had to give a number, at least a thousand years? Maybe? This is just an estimate, but like… after everything went dark, my mind got kind of blurry."

    The same as when she was devoured by the witch before.

    Wait, did she say a thousand years?

    Was the panic warranted? This was just a dream. None of this was happening. There was no reason to be scared. You weren't around for this, you would be dead, even if it did happen. But, why did you feel hollow? Alone?

    "This isn't fair." You mutter.

    In this 'world', you were gone, as was your family and everyone you ever loved.

    This might be a thousand years in the future, by Lexi's estimate, or it could be a one-hundred, for all you knew. Regardless, another question pops into your mind.

    "What caused this? Do you know?"

    "Yeah, I do." Lexi says, pulling on the necklace around her neck. "Because of this tiny thing."

    It was a black sphere covered with silver trim. A pink ribbon sat atop its rigid frame with a jagged, ivory spike pointing down. It wasn't the pendant she once carried. No, it was something else entirely.

    It was a grief seed.

    "A witch? How… how could a witch do all of this?" You turn, pointing to the green hellscape behind you.

    "I don't know. Witches are weird, man."

    You stare at the grief seed, particularly at the pink ribbon.

    "Do you know whose… grief seed that is?"

    "It's yours, ain't it? That's what you told me before."

    "Mine?"

    "Yeah, it isn't, isn't it?" Lexi tilts her head. "Guess not? Maybe I am crazy."

    The question of Lexi's sanity aside, you stare at the black sphere. The questions that you had lingering in your mind slowly revealed their answers. This could be a world in which you were born, or it may not be. The end result was the same. A contract was made and your sister had become a witch.

    This was the end result.

    A world devoid of human life.

    No hope, no despair, no miracles or curses.

    It existed simply to exist and nothing more.

    You couldn't fathom it. It still didn't make any sense, even after being convinced of its permanence.

    Then, all at once, your eyes shoot open.

    Beep. Beep. Beep.

    An alarm. Your eyes adjust to the light peeking in through the curtains. You reach over, trying to hit the snooze button the alarm.

    You touch the top, expecting cold plastic.

    No, it was warm.

    It wasn't the snooze button.

    It was your sister's forehead.

    "Momo?" She stares at you. "What are you doing?"

    "O-oh, nothing." You scramble out of bed. "Sorry."

    She yawns. "It's okay. Let's get ready for school, okay?"

    You nod, doing what little you can to hide your embarrassment.


    The next day had come as you wished.

    It didn't make anything better.

    Your excitement from the previous day had all but vanished. The culprit could be anything; lack of sleep, the fight with Midori, and the invasive dream from last night. Sayaka's usual antics did little to penetrate your fatigue-induced apathy. Your gaze is firmly on the window instead of your open notebook.

    The skyscrapers stood tall and proud, the glass paneling unshattered and pristine. It was a small comfort, even though it somewhat justified your concerns about the city's architecture. You frown, staring at the open notebook in front of you.

    Your pen stops moving at some point. Normally you could push yourself to invest for the sake of your sister, but you didn't have it in you.

    Your eyes flicker shut as you force yourself to pay attention.

    The clock winds down until the final bell rings.

    "Momo!" Madoka walks over, gripping her bag in hand. "We're going to head to the mall. Did you want to come?"

    "No, sorry. I've got other plans."

    "Oh, right." Madoka frowns, exchanging a glance with Sayaka. "Alright. I'll see you at home, okay?"

    "Yeah."

    Sayaka places a hand on Madoka's shoulder. Your eyes meet hers, and she shakes her head before walking off.


    After school let out, you met up with Mami at her apartment. After a while, you made your way to the industrial district where Midori and Kyouko awaited your arrival. As you approach, Midori averts her eyes.

    "Hey, Mami. Brought the rookie along, huh?" Kyouko grins. "Am I being replaced? Damn, thought we had somethin' special."

    "I'm not sure what you mean, Miss Sakura."

    "Hah." Kyouko chuckles, offering you a stick of pocky. "Hey, you alright?"

    "Yeah." You nod. "Just a little tired. That's all."

    It was an understatement. You couldn't quite put your finger on it. Maybe it was just that the past few days were finally catching up to you? You could smile, put your best foot forward, and fight to the end. But after last night, it felt like your burning determination had dwindled into a fledgling ember.

    Midori's words echo in your mind.

    You try to ignore them, hiding behind the veneer of bravado, but you are still scared.

    You had it in you to make a sacrifice if need be.

    It didn't have to be the only option.

    "Miss Kaname?"

    Mami snaps you out of your funk.

    "Sorry." You bite into the pocky stick that Kyouko offered you a moment ago. "I'm good. Do you think the witch will be here?"

    "It's as good a guess as any, honestly." The red-head shrugs. "Witches pick all sorts of places to hide."

    If Lexi once called the industrial district her home, then it was no wonder that she ended up inside of its barrier. It was dank and decrepit with abandoned factories and empty warehouses making up the whole of its real estate. The heat would normally be unbearable with the concrete surface, but in the midst of autumn, it was pleasantly cool. Regardless, you couldn't imagine someone sleeping in one of these warehouses, let alone living in one.

    "The witch is strong, but it seems to be solitary." Kyubey says, finding a comfortable place on Mami's shoulder. "Four magical girls should be more than enough to deal with it."

    Each time Kyubey spoke, it felt like a knife stabbing through one ear and out the other. The others were ignorant of what you knew. Your entire world had been flipped again just a little over a day ago. The fact you could even get out of bed may as well have been a miracle.

    The four of you begin your search. Midori and Kyouko take point, walking ahead as you traverse the labyrinthine alleyways of the industrial district.

    "Miss Kaname." Mami walks beside you.

    "What is it?"

    "Are you sure you're okay?"

    "As okay as I'll ever be." You smile. "It's my first actual hunt, just a little nervous. That's all."

    Mami frowns, but doesn't press the issue any further.

    Soon enough, a trace of the witch resonates with Midori's soul gem. The barrier sits between an unused crane and an old water tower. Midori transforms, brandishing her sword before ripping into the concrete wall.

    You transform, adorning the familiar armor. You try to conjure an accompanying weapon, but end up with nothing. Disappointed, but unperturbed, you follow the veteran magical girls inside the witch's domain.



    The clamorous applause of the witch's barrier had completely stopped. The line of statue familiars so eager to see the show were toppled over. Their heads were fractured, leaking black blood onto the cobblestone path. The river of blood filters through the cracks, spreading into a pool of dark ink.

    Your heart thumps in your ears.

    This wasn't normal, was it? Did another magical girl run through and kill each familiar? That was an explanation, but each and every single one? That was a waste of magic. They weren't hostile. They were still familiars but upon your first visit, they paid you no mind as you walked to the barrier's core with Midori. Did their behavior suddenly change?

    No, that wasn't likely.

    Something else was going on.

    "Let's go." Midori says, walking forward.

    Kyouko looks at the familiar, frowns, then follows.

    Mami looks at you.

    You look down the path.

    Each and every single familiar was either broken or beheaded. Their bodies were thrown left and right, marking the trail with carnage. It looked like the feast of a ravenous beast as opposed to anything a magical girl was capable of.

    [_] Turn back. Something was wrong. You didn't know what, but something was definitely wrong. Tell the others to turn back.
    [_] Continue down the path. Stay together. Cover the sides. You could deal with whatever was here.
    [_] Say you're heading back, let the others go on ahead.
    [_] Write-in
     
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    • Episode 4 - 2
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    • The knot in your chest tightens, almost tethering you in place. You free yourself from the bind and walk forward, staying close to Mami. A chilling sweat runs down your back.

    A glance toward Mami confirms that she's still composed, despite the definite change in atmosphere. Midori strides forward, her hands shaking. Kyouko walks without a care, acting as though this was nothing special. For her it made sense, considering she likely hasn't seen this witch barrier before.

    "Kyubey," You say, struggling to speak with a dry throat. "Do you know what's going on here? The barrier wasn't like this last time."

    "It could honestly be anything. But, a witch is the master of its barrier." He says, tilting his head toward you, mouth unmoving. "So, it makes sense that a witch would be able to alter it, right?"

    What he said made some amount of sense. Still, it wasn't an answer. You didn't understand a lot about witches. What you did know is that they were born from magical girls. After the initial change, you weren't sure if they were capable of changing. Not drastically, at least. Not to the point where it would start eviscerating its own familiars.

    Something else was at play.

    "There's only one witch, right? There's not another one?"

    "I can't sense the presence of another witch, no." Kyubey shakes his head. "You haven't taught Momoka how to search for witches yet, Mami?"

    "I have. She just hasn't really been given an opportunity to practice." Mami pets his head.

    The barrier altering to suit the witch…

    The thought lingers as you look out at the contorted landscape.

    The paper mache architecture that once made up the false city lay in a crumpled heap. Each city block had been completely flattened to the floor. Brass and stone heads lay atop each heap, fractured and broken, their black yolk smearing the overturned mannequin in the city streets. Cardboard lamp posts sit half bent, their bases torn from the ground.

    You look at the bodies stacked in between each alleyway. Well, not bodies, but familiars. Creatures that attack victims and intruders at the behest of the witch. They were supposed to be servants or, in a way, an extension of a witch's will. They dutifully serve their master, or they separate in order to become a witch themselves. It was part of their lifecycle, if it was even appropriate to call it that.

    There is only one witch in the barrier, and Kyubey hasn't mentioned anything about other magical girls either.

    Then what was--

    Crunch.

    Your heart sinks.

    The silence was broken.

    "What's that?" Midori says, holding her shield at the ready.

    Where was it coming from?

    You move closer to Mami.

    "It's coming from up ahead." Kyouko walks up next to Midori, hefting her spear forward. "Come on!"

    The path leads forward and then to the right. It was the same road that you had taken toward the park. Last time it was somewhat lively, with the sound of battle ringing in the air. A fountain of cotton and mannequins standing in as people. It made you wonder the kind of person that Midori's mentor was. Was this something that she always wanted, or was it something she detested? Even after knowing the secret, there was so much about witches that you didn't know.

    The coliseum comes into view.

    But, it was no longer standing. Much like the rest of the buildings, it lay in a pile of rubble. The path was completely blocked off by a mountain of burned paper and cardboard. Following the wall down, you finally see what remains of the park.

    . The fountain was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a pile of plastic bodies. Mannequin parts scattered around the park as if they were dismembered bodies. Atop the pile sits a figure partially covered in armor.

    Crunch.

    Kyouko stops. "That's the witch?"

    "Yes, but…" Mami conjures a musket. "Miss Kaname is right. Something is off."

    Crunch.

    The witch doesn't turn to face you. It sits atop the pile, preoccupied with its meal.

    It wasn't defenseless. Not at all. If this witch was anything, it was fast.

    "We've returned!" Midori announces your presence, raising her sword.

    "W-what are you doing?" Kyouko whispers. "We can just--"

    "No." Mami steps forward, forming another musket. "Chiba has the right idea. Surprise attacks aren't very effective against this one."

    Kyouko sighs, "Alright, we'll do it your way."

    She spins the spear above her head before gripping it with both hands.

    "I'll cover you two from here." Mami says, stepping back toward you.

    Midori's shadow elongates. Out from the darkness steps the knight wreathed in smoke. Owain steps forward, brandishing the black blade.

    "Sorry, you three?" Mami tilts her head. "I'm still not sure how to feel about that."

    "Talk about it later." Kyouko pulls out a pocky stick and puts it between her mouth.

    Crunch.



    "Still ignorin' us, huh? Alright." Kyouko dashes forward. "Then you won't mind if I take the first strike, do ya!?"

    Her body leaps into the air. With a spear in hand, she thrusts toward the hulking mass beneath her.

    The movement was quick and precise. Practiced, well-trained, it spoke of her experience as a magical girl. There was determination within the attack. The tip of the spear tears into the fleshy mass. Blood spills through the air, tracing a clean arc as Kyouko stabs forward. She leaps back, sliding on the ground to gauge her distance for another attack.

    "Did that get your attention?"

    The beast moves. Slow, labored movement as it pushes itself off of the pile of mannequins. Its head turns.

    "The hell…?" Kyouko stares.

    Black blood splatters the ground. From Kyouko's spear, and from a wound of its own.

    Its arm had been stripped bare.

    No tendrils or blood.

    Just bones made of steel.

    "It was eating itself?" Mami stands in front of you.

    The witch roars. It roars in pain, in agony. No longer was it a predator, no, it was a cornered beast. With its helmet gone, its head was visible. A beast with no eyes. Fur made of serrated, protruding steel. A maw of bent blades.

    Through the roar, you hear words.

    "It's been a long time, Midori! How've you been?"

    What was that? Was it talking? No. No, it wasn't. It couldn't be. It was a witch. The magical girl was gone.

    The beast sprints forward. It ignores Kyouko, heading straight toward Midori. It swings wide.

    Midori freezes.

    "No you don't!" Kyouko interjects, ramming her spear straight into its waist.

    The witch tears itself free and leaps at Midori, thrusting its arm forward. It brandishes its claws.

    Mami fires. "Chiba, get a hold of yourself!"

    The witch winces, rolling to the side to recover. It stands tall, screaming in agony.

    "R-right!" Midori sprints forward, thrusting her sword forward.

    The witch's hand gets skewered. Then, it grasps the sword's hilt and wrenches the blade free.

    "You're leaving yourself wide open, you know?"

    "Ah!" Midori braces herself with her shield. "Owain!"

    The knight rises from the ground, ripping into the assailant's wrist. It loosens its grip on the sword, causing it to slide to Midori's feet.

    "You always loved your dirty tricks."

    That was the voice of Midori's mentor.

    Kyouko's spear enters through the witch's back. It pierces the ground as easily as it does the monster's armorless hide. It couldn't move. It pushes off the ground with its one good arm, but can't get enough leverage. "Midori, go!"

    Midori runs forward, grabbing her sword.

    The witch rears its head up.

    It doesn't bite, nor does it roar or howl.

    If it had eyes, it would be gazing into Midori's own.

    "You beat me? Nah, I think you cheated."

    Why wasn't it attacking? Witches were supposed to be monsters.

    Midori's eyes fill with tears.

    Her grip loosens.

    Her mouth moves. The words don't reach you, but the intent certainly does.

    "Even now, I can't do it."

    Kyouko presses down, trying to keep the monster pinned. It grits its serrated teeth and with one last push, throws the magical girl off.

    It snaps free.

    "Gah!" Kyouko flies through the air. "Midori, move!"

    Mami fires a line of muskets.

    The witch powers through as the binds struggle to tether it to the ground.

    It wasn't enough.

    Crunch.

    Crimson blood splatters the ground.

    Her arm was gone. It was stripped from the shoulder down.

    Midori yells in pain as she grasps the soul gem at her belt. What was she doing? Afterward, she throws it. Not into the air, not at Kyouko or Mami, but to you.

    She flashes you a knowing smile.

    Then, all at once.

    Her magical girl attire vanishes.

    The beast opens its maw.

    It happened in the blink of an eye.

    All at once.

    You catch the soul gem in your hands. You clasp it and hold it close.

    What was the point? Why did you fight? Why were you here?

    "Damn you!" Kyouko swings her spear down, bashing the witch's head into the ground.

    Was this what the older Madoka was talking about? The kind of struggles you'd have to endure?

    "I'm going to kill you!" She grits her teeth, stabbing forward. "That was my sister's friend, you bastard!"

    She was Momo's friend? That day at the arcade, Midori was looking at Mami and Momo.

    "Do you know them?" You asked.

    You knew it was Kyouko and her little sister Momo now.

    "No." Midori said. "No, I don't."

    She couldn't be gone, could she?

    No. You couldn't accept that. If the other you persisted within the soul gem you carried, the same was true for the present Midori. Her soul still lingered, but her body was gone. Magic was capable of miracles.

    Mami conjures another line of muskets. She fights her tears and fires.

    She wasn't leaving your side. Even as Midori faced down the witch, she stood beside you. Not budging an inch.

    She made good on her promise to Midori.

    What about yours?

    You weren't a burden.

    In the end, what caved wasn't you, but Midori's heart.

    This wasn't your fault.

    But, why did you still feel guilty?

    "That was a clever trick." Kyubey says, scratching his head. "Throwing her soul gem like that."

    Part of you already knew what Kyubey was about to say.

    "What?" Mami says, eyes darting between the rat and the battlefield. "What are you talking about, Kyubey? Chiba is dead. We just--"

    "No." Kyubey shakes his head. "Midori Chiba still lives."

    "What are you talking about?" Mami mumbles, trying to split her attention.

    "Mami, get your ass in gear!" Kyouko parries another lunge from the witch.

    "That body over there is nothing more than an empty husk."

    You clutch Midori's soul gem. Your eyes move to the body, to Mami, then to the dueling Kyouko. You make your choice. You…

    [_] ... run to Midori's remains and return the soul gem, despite the fight going on nearby.
    [_] ... tell Mami to help Kyouko and you'll stay back. You would be alright. Kyouko needed her more than you did.
    [_] ... hand Mami Midori's soul gem and aid Kyouko using your own power. There must be something you could do.
    [_] ... Write-in
     
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    • Episode 4 - 3
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    • What could you do, right now, at this moment?

    Tap into the soul gem, mimic the witch's weapon, and strike with all you had. It worked before, so it would work again, right?

    It had to. There was no way that it couldn't.

    No.

    The circumstances, albeit similar, were still too different for that to work. The witch was aware of your presence. Jumping in with a hail mary would not only spell your end, but Kyouko's too.

    It was reckless, and what good did thrusting yourself into danger do? You pay an unknown price for a power you don't understand, and then what? Just because you had the ability to do something doesn't mean that you should.

    You couldn't simply yearn for things to change. Even in a world where things could be changed by a single prayer, the cost for the miracle was too high. To think that you were exempt from the rule would only lead to an early grave. The only difference between your miracle and anothers was who granted the wish.
    In the end, it was all the same.

    Even with a wish granted by a goddess, you were powerless.

    You grit your teeth and clench your palms.

    You wanted to help, you wanted to be stronger. You think back to the argument from the night before. The bravado that carried you through the tempest of emotion was nowhere to be found. The bitter truth of Midori's words almost force you to wretch.

    After all your posturing, you stand as nothing more than a witness.

    You were nothing more than a burden.

    As much as you wanted to deny it, what Midori said was true. You couldn't fight, not like her, not like Mami or Kyouko. Whether it be due to the nature of the contract, or the nature of your power, it was a truth you could no longer ignore.

    "What are you two doing? Aren't you going to help Kyouko?" Kyubey says, leaping off of Mami's shoulder onto yours.

    "I made a promise to Chiba that I'd protect Momoka, whether she's gone or not." Mami explains, keeping her gaze toward the witch.

    "I don't understand that way of thinking. If both of you die, doesn't that make your promise worthless?"

    You can't see Mami's reaction to Kyubey's cutting words.

    "Mami." You say, gritting your teeth. "Help Kyouko."

    Mami looks toward you, then back to the dueling magical girl and witch.

    She was holding fast to the promise she made to Midori. The fact she was keeping the promise, despite the circumstances, was admirable.

    "I'll be fine."

    You put on your best smile, clutching Midori's soul gem to your chest. It was a lie, as far as you knew. It wasn't as though you would simply roll over and die. However, you could only do what you were capable of and nothing more.

    Mere feet away, Kyouko parries another blow. The witch stumbles backward, its jagged claw raking at the ground for balance.

    Without a word, Mami leaps into battle, a musket in each hand. She slams the triggers, landing two shots in the witch's shoulder and face. The target recoils, stumbling backward as if it was about to fall.

    Kyouko exploits the dropped guard with a forward thrust. The spearhead dives into the hide, swimming through the witch's stomach, emerging through to the other side.

    The witch looks down with its eyeless visage. It slowly tugs at the lance with its clawed fingers. It struggles to grasp the heft, slick with its own blood.

    But, it still keeps fighting.

    All at once, it pushes strength into its legs and stands. With a hole in its stomach, with a wounded shoulder, it finds the strength to stand. It grabs the spear and rips it forward.

    Kyouko falls, defenseless.

    A claw rips straight through her chest.

    Then--

    Nothing.

    The 'Kyouko' that was stabbed vanishes into thin air, as if an illusion. The spear was never there.

    "You just don't wanna go down, do ya!?"

    Kyouko yells, dropping from the sky with her spear facing downward.

    The witch tries to leap out of the way, but ribbons explode from its shoulder. The yellow tethers bind it in place as Kyouko levels her spear toward the giant's head.

    "It's gonna take a lot more than that to do me in."

    The voice echoes in your mind.

    The witch vanishes, replaced by the visage of a vibrant, red-haired girl. The ruined park fades away under the light of a new vision.

    The girl wears a smile on her face as she stares at the sky, her opponent closing in. Her body is adorned in open wounds. Her assailant, a creature made of razor blades, spins through the air and closes in.

    She grasps a red gem on the back of her neck. "Chiba, catch!"

    A black needle tears through the vision.

    It flies straight at you.

    You hit the ground, hugging Midori's gem close.

    A violent wind rustles your hair as the projectile passes overhead.

    Opening your eyes, you look at the soul gem to see if it's damaged.

    But no, it's something far worse.

    A coalescing darkness stirs within the gem stone.

    "Miss Kaname!" Mami calls out.

    "F-focus on the fight, Mami!" You reprimand, trying to quell your quivering legs.

    "What's the plan?" Kyouko says, standing with her spear embedded in the ground and the witch standing a fair distance away. It was as though their battle had yet to start. The witch stands atop the mountain of debris at the park's center, its wounds slowly closing.

    Mami walks to Kyouko's side, her hand raised. "Not letting it heal, Miss Sakura."

    She swings her arm down, the movement emphasized with a hail of gunfire. Muskets by the dozens slam down their hammers. The bullets explode into ribbons upon contact, binding the monster to the ground.

    The witch flexes as blades protrude from its back, tearing the magical fabric into pieces. The blades thicken and sharpen to a fine point. They retract close to the body, stabbing into its bleeding flesh.

    "Kyouko! Something's happening!" Mami cries out. "Momoka, hide!"

    Your breath stops as you run to cover.

    You hide, holding one hand over your head and one hand over Midori's darkening soul gem.

    You can't see anything.

    But you hear it.

    Thousands of whistling darts pass overhead. Steel runs against rock. You hear the sound of tearing fabric echoing in the air.

    A sharp pain reverberates up your arm.

    A hole the size of a pin breaks through your cover. A needle, black as night, sticks out of your forearm.

    "Ahhh." You grimace, stifling a scream. "What is this? What happened?"

    You struggle to stand, peering over the debris.

    Mami limps to her feet, her body looking more like a pin-cushion than a person. She stumbles on her leg, collapsing to the ground nearby. Her breathing is ragged, her clothes torn to pieces. Open gashes and cuts running along her skin. "Miss Kaname, are you… okay?"

    Her voice was weak, but she was alive.

    A wall of red diamonds sits covered in thin, black needles. Kyouko stands with her hair unfurled and a black ribbon at her feet. She wipes blood from her brow, scanning the battlefield. Her eyes widen once she sees the witch.

    A carcass of writhing mass, clinging to a ribcage made of steel. The blades that comprised the witch's body lay in disarray, scattered around the battlefield like rain.

    The loose needles roll on the ground toward the mass, filling in the gaps in its missing body.

    Kyouko collapses behind your cover.

    You are alone with the witch.

    "Momoka, you need to do something!" Kyubey urges.

    "Don't listen to him." Kyouko says, using the debris to sit up.

    "Don't be illogical. Momoka is a magical girl, after all."

    "Here, Momoka. Give this to Mami." Kyouko holds her hand out to you.

    You hold out an open hand to see a grief seed drop into it.

    She had one.

    She had a grief seed.

    Mami was injured. A quick glance tells you she wasn't in danger of transforming into a witch, but that was the least of her problems.

    Midori's soul gem was blackening at a steady rate. Even if you got the gem to the remnants of her body, her transformation was guaranteed.

    Kyouko gave the grief seed to you, but if she had it, then she wouldn't have any issues healing herself to dispose of the witch.

    You rack your mind, trying to figure out what to do.

    "Momoka."

    The voice of your older sister.

    "Never give up on hope."

    You stare over at the remnants of the fountain. In place of the witch was a magical girl. Her face turned up, her hand toward the sky.

    Finally, you …

    [_] Give the grief seed to Mami.
    [_] Give the grief seed to Midori.
    [_] Give the grief seed to Kyouko.
    [_] Grant mercy to the witch.
    [_] Write-in
     
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    • Episode 4 - 4
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    • Answering Kyouko's plea wasn't something you could grant. It wasn't what you had in mind. While your body quivers in fear, your heart steels its resolve. You walk forward. Not toward the witch, but to the bleeding, broken girl atop a pile of rubble. Kyouko's plea falls on deaf ears as you step forward.

    Not through the witch's domain, but through a serene, white void.

    You approach the rubble, each step heavier than the last. Your thoughts race; What would you say? What would you do?

    With no answer, you continue onward, stopping at the base of the desecrated fountain.

    You gaze at the sky, clutching your hand.

    You lament your anxiety, and simply force out a greeting.

    Greet her as you would anyone, as you would a friend.

    "Hi." You say, giving your brightest smile.

    "Oh." The girl, not the witch, speaks. "Hey." She says, her voice raspy and weak.

    Blood drips from her mouth as she matches your smile. Her face was pale, almost as if she were a corpse.

    "Have we met before?"

    You have. Not as friends, not as people, but as magical girl and witch. As opponents. You weren't sure what her memories were, or how you were even speaking to her. How did you speak to her?

    Did you do it as a magical girl? No, as far as you were concerned, you weren't a magical girl. You may have a soul gem, but that was the beginning and end of it.

    Did you speak to her as a victim? No. She was just as much of a victim as you were. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair.

    Then the answer was obvious.

    You spoke to her as Midori's friend.

    "No, we haven't." You sit at her side, placing a hand on her own. It was cold. "I'm Momoka Kaname. I'm a friend of Midori."

    "The name's Chiyo. Nice to meet you." She grins. "So she made some more friends. That's good."

    Chiyo's eyes close.

    "If you're friends with Chiba, then we're friends too."

    "She talks about you a lot." You say, trying not to avert your eyes.

    "Does she now?"

    "Yeah. You're all she talks about. She really misses you."

    "Ah, so I'm dead then."

    She was, but in a way, she wasn't. You frown, staring down at the ground. "Yes and no. Do you… remember what you are?"

    "Kinda." Her head falls backward as she stares into the white void above. "Feels kind of like I'm waking up from a bad dream. Like I'm tossing and turning. But, I'm a witch, right?"

    "Yeah."

    "That explains it."

    "I'm sorry."

    "What're you apologizing for?"

    "I'm so sorry."

    "You had nothing to do with this, Kaname. It was my own stupid choice." She forces a laugh.

    It was hollow. An attempt to console your growing concern with cold dismissal.

    "I'm as good as dead. So, do what you gotta do."

    "What do I do?"

    "You're a magical girl, right? Do your job."

    "I can't. I can't do that."

    "Sure you can." Her frigid fingers curl around your hand. It was weak, but you felt the weight of her conviction.

    "You have to, or you'll end up like me. We wouldn't want that. I know Chiba wouldn't."

    She sighs in resignation, throwing a hand in front of her face.

    "You'll end up a monster. Hell, when I 'woke' up, I saw where I was. The barrier, familiars, everything. I wanted it all gone."

    The destruction present throughout the entirety of the domain was her doing. In her half-lucid state, she wanted to kill herself. She wanted to die. What awareness she's been blessed with resulted in her seeking out her own end.

    "So I tore it up. Every single bit of it. I wanted the nightmare to end, but … I couldn't do it. No matter how hard I tried. The nightmare just wouldn't end."

    The fate of a magical girl that transforms into a witch. A prisoner of your own despair. The loss of identity and the self. A fate worse than death. A soul damned to eternal damnation for the sake of a miracle.

    For Chiyo, death was a preferable alternative.

    "I know you can do it." Chiyo says.

    Tears flow as you grasp her hand. Tighter and tighter still. Your mind races. What could you do? Was there anything you could do to save her? You weren't only killing a witch, but another magical girl.

    "I can't."

    "What? And you're a magical girl?"

    "No. I'm not. I'm not like them." You vehemently shake your head. "I'm not strong. I'm a coward. I'm a burden."

    Midori's words still echo in your mind.

    Chiyo places her hand on your head.

    "You're way too soft."

    "I'm weak."

    "I can see why you're friends with Chiba."

    "What?"

    "You're just like her." Chiyo grins. "Doesn't want anyone else to get hurt. Kind to a fault. She'd give you the shirt off her back if you asked."

    Midori was concerned for you despite how long you've known each other. She didn't want you to be pulled into a fight that she was sure would kill you. In the end, despite acting tough, it was her own fragile heart that cracked. Each and every moment, she thought about what she's lost. What she would never have again. Her friends were gone. The fact she found the resolve to keep on going was a testament to her strength.

    "I know you've got a good heart. And I'm sorry things ended up this way." She coughs. "But I'm depending on you for this."

    Your eyes cloud with tears.

    "Please."

    The sword-spear appears in your hands.

    "You got this."

    You hold it over her open chest.

    Bring it down.

    You had to.

    There was no other choice.

    You had to do this. You had to.

    There was no other way, right? No way out.

    "Kaname, come on." Chiyo yells. "There's not much time left!"

    "Shut up! Just shut up!"

    You thrust downward with all of your might.

    The spear pierces the rubble at your feet. It falls from your hand and lands on the bottom of the pile.

    "There's got to be another way. There has to be!" You yell.

    A memory springs forth.

    I want to erase all Witches before they are even born.

    There was a way. She was with you. While the world may be distorted, there was a chance. A singular chance to save Chiyo. "Madoka!" You say your sister's name. "I know you're watching! Where are you!?"

    The goddess' flickering form appears over you. Her head lay on your shoulder, her hands resting atop your own. "I'm here, Momoka."
    "Can we save her?"

    The older Madoka remains silent.

    "I know you said the world was distorted, and that you need me to do stuff. But, I want to help her if I can."

    Madoka's face becomes stern, almost pensive.

    "Madoka? Please, say something."

    "Is this what you really want, Momoka?"

    Why was she asking you that? This is definitely what she wants. Was she putting you before herself, even when she was a god?

    You click your tongue and look down.

    Chiyo's eyes were closed, awaiting an end that had never come. It was as though she was frozen in time. It must be Madoka's doing.

    "I don't know, but it still feels like the right thing to do." You sigh. "Can you do it?"

    "Not in the way you're probably thinking, no."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I can relieve her of her burden before she transforms into a witch."

    "Which means…?"

    "Saving Chiyo means she wouldn't simply go back to being a magical girl. She never would have become a witch in the first place."

    "So, wait… if Chiyo never became a witch, then that means…"

    The past few days would've never happened. Meeting Midori at the mall, the encounter with the witch, none of it would have happened.

    All of those memories, those moments, are gone in the blink of an eye.

    What would stay the same? What would be different? You wouldn't know. In fact, you couldn't.

    "Does that mean I'd forget too?"

    "No." Madoka says, frowning. "You would remember everything."

    A blessing and a curse.

    "You can't just … make the choice for me, can you?" You laugh, grabbing Midori's soul gem from your belt.

    You stare at it, weighing what Madoka had just told you. What you had the opportunity to do.

    If Chiyo never turned into a witch, Midori's friends would still be alive. She wouldn't be alone anymore.

    It would undo the meeting with Kyouko, Momo, and Mami -- but as long as they were still in Mitakihara, you could meet them again.

    But Sayaka would never find out about witches, and neither would your sister. She wouldn't have to worry about you the way she's doing now. You could protect her.

    But, you would never see the Midori you knew again. You would be strangers.

    "Is this what you meant, Madoka? About not wanting to see me in pain."

    She doesn't respond.

    Why was it your decision? It was her power, but … it was you who was being affected. Losing a friend you'd probably never have the chance of meeting again. The struggles over the past few days, the emotions felt, the people saved would vanish.

    What were you going to do?

    [_] Break your bonds in order to reforge them anew. For each bond lost, another can be gained. Save Chiyo, Midori and her friends.
    [_] Persist in the current world and find a way forward with what you have. The past is the past, pave way for the future.

    The first choice will revert all bonds to 0, save for Sayaka's and a certain someone. Choosing the second option will allow you to bring down the spear onto Chiyo and allow you to save Midori with the grief seed provided from the witch's death.
     
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    • Episode 4 - End
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    • You look down to the soul gem cradled in your hands. Midori, the stubborn girl who gets her hand caught in a crane game. She pushed and pulled, to no avail. No matter how hard she tried, her hand never came loose. From the minute you saw Midori, she reminded you of yourself. Foolhardy, never knowing when to give-up, and stubbornly sticking to her own poor choices.

    She was a girl who ran off, your growing concern prompting you to follow. Your choice to run after her pulled you into the world of magical girls, miracles and witches. It was that moment that determined your future. You met Momo, Mami, and Kyouko. You met another Madoka, fought a witch, and saved an immortal girl. Despite the harsh revelations, you wouldn't replace a single moment you've experienced over the past week.

    It wasn't simply lost time, but you would've never existed in their lives. Nothing would remain. You clutch your chest as your heart aches. Was this how Madoka felt when she made her wish? This sacrifice was nothing compared to hers.

    But, that didn't mean you couldn't feel sad that you were losing your friends. Even if you met them again, the bond would be different. How you met, how they saw you, what they knew of you would change. Mami would probably be suspicious, but you didn't see Momo changing very much, or Kyouko for that matter.

    You had an idea of where Lexi lived and, if you truly wanted, you could go out of your way to see Midori in her hometown. You would certainly come off as weird, strange, but nothing a little white lie couldn't fix.

    The idea is enough to make you laugh. Maybe you could make it a trip with Madoka, Sayaka and Hitomi? They would be just as weirded out, honestly.

    "How do you know this person?" They would say.

    "You had friends?" Sayaka would comment.

    The thought brings a smile to your face.

    Time begins to march forward.

    "Kaname?" Chiyo says, expectantly.

    You sigh. She was begging you to end it, so she wouldn't need to fight anymore. You wipe away your tears. You meet her expectant gaze with a wide smile.

    "Sorry, Chiyo." You say. "I can't do it after all."

    Chiyo chuckles in self-derision. Was she let down, or did she expect it? Regardless, her hand falls flat against the rubble.

    "Ah, well… guess we're fucked then."

    "You know, I said this to Midori once." You sit down, taking Chiyo's hand in yours once more. "It doesn't always have to be life or death."

    "What?"

    "Are you ready, Sis?" You look up.

    "Huh?" Chiyo blinks, tilting her head up. "Who are you talking to-- what?"

    "I won't let your wish end in despair."

    Madoka's hands extend from the white expanse. The grief seed at the base of Chiyo's neck begins to crack. White seams trace along the black surface. From the white cracks spills forth black smog. Every regret and every curse born from within the grief seed spills forth into the open air.

    "W-what?" Chiyo mutters.

    She stares at the coalescing darkness overhead. Words fail her. A miracle had occurred. She knew she wouldn't return to being a magical girl. No, this wasn't that convenient. It was an alternative she never would've considered -- never could have considered.

    "You don't have to curse anyone anymore."

    On Madoka's proclamation, the dispelled curses swell and then coalesce, absorbing into Madoka's flowing form. Upon contact, the manifested despair disperses into stardust. The ephemeral fragments fall like a gentle snow.

    "Who are you?" Chiyo's eyes, wet with tears, lock with yours.

    "I'm nobody." You clutch your hands, forcing a smile. "But, I was a friend of Midori Chiba. And, I guess you too, Chiyo."

    "So, this is it, huh?" Chiyo's body slowly began to fade. It was slow. Deliberate. No pain. No suffering. "This is good-bye, isn't it?"

    "CHIYO!"

    In the white world, she stands there, just behind you.

    Midori.

    How?

    You look down at the soul gem in your hands. The darkness that spread within it had completely vanished. Was this Madoka's doing?

    "Chiba?" Chiyo laughs. "Man, your timing sucks."

    "Shut up!" Midori shakes her head, correcting herself.

    "I mean, I want… I wanted to say thank you! Thank you for everything!"

    "Yeah. No problem, Chiba." Chiyo's form dissipates.

    "Just don't make the same mistakes I did, and you'll be fine."

    "You're asking a lot." Midori laughs, shaking her head. "I'll try not to. And wherever you're going, don't be a bother. Okay?"

    "Not making any promises."

    Chiyo looks down one last time, a coy grin pulling at her lips. "Take care, Chiba, Kaname. See you again soon."

    Madoka's form vanishes alongside the magical girl turned witch. Her curses no longer existed, because she never turned into a witch.

    You sit up from the debris and start walking toward Midori. "Sorry, Midori. I couldn't keep my promise. I ended up stepping in after all."

    "Momoka?" She blinks. "What's going on?"

    "Here." You slap the soul gem down into her hands. "You lost it again."

    "A-again?!"

    "I can't keep doing this. I'm not always going to be around."

    "What do you mean you won't be around?"

    You raise your hand and look at Midori. You could see her through the back of your palm. Transparent.

    "This."

    Midori's eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly rushes forward to grasp your hand. Her fingers move through you like open air.

    "No." Midori shakes her head. "Where are you going? You can't be…"

    "Things are happier this way. Say hi to your friends for me, okay?"

    "My friends? But they're--"

    "I don't know about that." You smile as wide as you can. "You're a magical girl, right? So you should know miracles can happen."

    "You're making fun of me again, aren't you?"

    "No." You hug Midori with your translucent form. "Not this time. I know we fought a bit, and things didn't turn out for the best, but I hope the next time we meet… things go a little smoother."

    "We'll meet again!"

    "I hope so."

    "No! We will meet again! Even if I don't remember you, I'll come running! I promise!"

    "Momo."

    Madoka appears in the air overhead.

    Your body begins to float. It was unprompted, causing your arms and legs to flail for balance. It was time to go. "Sorry, Midori. Looks like I have to go."

    "Thank you, Momoka and …" Midori stares at your sister. "Madoka!? Wait… what's going on here? When did she get here?"

    "Long story, Midori." Madoka says. "You'll understand someday."

    "Can't I understand now--?" Midori catches herself before sighing. "Right, I won't remember."

    She frowns. "I won't say bye, Momoka. I'll just say 'see you later', okay?"

    "Yeah. See you later, Midori." You offer a wave as Midori's form shrinks into the white void below.

    The white void fades, giving form to the crumbling witch barrier. As you ascend higher, the world around you loses form. It cracks and snaps before completely breaking apart. Then, all at once, a flash of light.

    An encompassing, blinding light.

    Where were you?

    What were you?

    How were you?

    The questions assault your mind.

    What happened?

    "Momo."

    Madoka's voice.

    "Momo!"

    She was talking to you.

    "Did it work?" You say, eyes slammed shut. "Are we back?"

    "Back…?" Madoka mumbles.

    "Back? What are you talking about, Momo?" Sayaka's voice.

    You open your eyes.

    A red, sprawling sky unfurls in front of you. Glass buildings reflect the sun's evening light. Conversation hangs in the air as people walk past. You were back in Mitakihara. A city street just a few blocks away from the mall. This was the same route you took that day when you went to the mall. The day you met Midori.

    "Hey, Sayaka." You say.

    "Yeah?"

    "We went to the mall a few days ago, right?"

    "Last week, yeah."

    "Do you remember what happened?"

    "Of course?" Sayaka tilts her head. "Why wouldn't I?"

    "Can you just tell me?"

    "Well, we hung out at the arcade, went shopping for some music and went home." She shrugs, her bag hanging off her shoulder. "Did you hit your head or something?"

    "No." You shake your head. "No, just wanted to make sure, you know?"

    "Momo? Ah. You're crying." Madoka places a hand on your shoulder. "Are you okay?"

    You sniffle and wipe your tears.

    It was almost like a return to your idyllic days. A second chance at a quiet life. Well, not truly, since you knew of the world of magical girls, wishes and witches. It was creeping just out of sight, just out of earshot. It wasn't whether or not it would happen, it was simply a question of when.

    It was best to enjoy what time you had left. Whether it was a day, a week, or a month. What time you had with your sister and your friends was precious. Even if you didn't choose to spend it all with them, you wouldn't take them for granted.

    Your hand wraps around Madoka's and you tap Sayaka on the shoulder. "Come on!"

    "M-momo! What's gotten into you?" Madoka trails behind you, her legs scrambling to keep up.

    "Hey! Don't rush! You'll hurt yourself, hey!" Sayaka dashes after you.

    You laugh.

    You'll laugh to hide the tears and drown out the sorrow.

    Not only for yourself, but for others.

    At least until the day you can see her again.

    Bonds gained after Episode 4.
    Sayaka - 2/10

    The relaxing days have returned, but for how long, you don't know. As a magical girl, it was your destiny to fight witches but, at the same time, you could save them. As the days come and go and as the season changes from fall to winter, what was your goal? What did you want to do?

    [_] Prioritize training and saving witches like you had done with Chiyo. The world may change, but it would change for the better.
    [_] Focus on reforging the bonds you had lost with the sacrifice. But, the question of that was where to start:
    ---[_] Midori
    ---[_] Mami/Kyouko/Momo
    ---[_] Lexi
    ---[_] Mabayu
    [_] Focus on living your life the way it is. Don't rock the boat. Simply ride things out.
     
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    Episode Midori
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    • Episode Midori: A New Day​

    Midori stared out the screen door, using her palm as a headrest. Her gaze drifted in a listless daze. There was nothing to do, nothing to see, to put her mind elsewhere. Any attempt to distract herself ended up with her staring at the old tiling of her bedroom. The only meaningful decision she apparently made today was coming out to the dining room. It was, at the very least, a change in the scenery from the literary labyrinth of her room. Navigating it was hard enough with books stacked by the dozens on each corner. Just opening the door was a task in and of itself.

    Midori sighed, her head hitting the table.

    An elderly woman walked down the dirt road outside the window, shuffling down her driveway. If Midori remembered correctly, her name was Kumiko. The owner of a flower shop downtown in Yamabuki. She recently retired, so she spent most of her days home alone. Midori exchanged words with her when she went to school, but no more than that.

    Kumiko lost her husband a few months ago to a short-lived illness. The memory of the funeral was still present in her mind. Despite Yamabuki being a small town, a lot of people turned up for the ceremony. Almost as many strangers as there were family members.

    It was a trend in Yamabuki. If someone you knew died, you showed up to the funeral. It was almost an unwritten rule of small town life. If something happened, you knew about it. There were so few people that you had no trouble remembering names and faces. When someone was reported missing, or dead, in the local news, it wasn't some distant nobody. It was someone's loved one.

    It wasn't just the family that mourned, it was the community. Midori didn't know Kumiko well, or her husband, but it was hard not to think about him. Midori's uncle made it a habit to have him over for breakfast. She hardly spoke to him, but it was hard not to know him. He didn't have an indoor voice. He spoke without restraint, his country droll echoing through her room as she stirred from her interrupted slumber.

    "Aye'll get to that there truck 'ventually."

    "You keep saying that, old man." Her uncle would laugh. "I can help you get to it."

    "Nah, aye got it. Ain't that old."

    Her husband's old, rust-eaten truck sits across the street, unfinished and untended. Weeds grow out from under it, pushing up through the holes in the faltering frame. There were whispers of moving it out from Kumiko's yard, but she thinks of it as a fixture. It makes her feel like her old man was still around. Or maybe it's because she feels he'll come back to finish it someday.

    He wouldn't, of course. Not without a miracle.

    "Midori?"

    A voice pulled her from her malaise. Midori blinked, spinning around in her chair to see her uncle Shou. His eyes were slits with puffy bags almost pushing them closed. Stubble dotted his face. He looked sullen and almost famished. Sauntering over to the coffee brewer, he reached into the cabinet above the sink for a mug. Steam filled the air as black liquid drained into the cup.

    "What's got you down?" Shou said, stifling a yawn.

    "Chiyo." Midori sighed.

    Shou frowned, opening the fridge. He fetched the milk and poured some into his cup. After setting it back into the fridge, he took his seat across from Midori at the kitchen table.

    "I've got some business in town today, if you wanted to come."

    "I'll think about it." Midori pushed herself up from her seat. "Actually, I should get breakfast started."

    "I was thinking we could go out to eat today."

    An odd gesture, considering how Shou was frugal with spending. He was the type of person to hunt for bargains to the point of saving even a single yen. The motive was obvious, if she thought about it. He wanted to get her body out of the house and her mind out of the clouds. Probably something about 'the devil finds work for idle hands'. A phrase that's popped up in the books she's read. The essence of the quote doesn't apply, but the idea is the same. He wanted to keep her busy with something, even if that 'something' was just being out of the house.

    "I wanted to try making breakfast today." Midori said, her eyes downcast.

    Shou sighed. "Alright, we can go out later, then."

    Midori stood up from her seat and walked over to the fridge. Her culinary expertise was lacking, but given their small selection of ingredients, breakfast wasn't difficult. Her mother taught her how to make simple meals. She knew how to make rice, eggs, and pancakes. Pancakes were a favorite, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with the batter and the inevitable mess she would make.

    The stove flicked on and the eggs broke into the pan with a satisfying sizzle. Afterward, two pieces of bread tucked down into the toaster. She set its time for three minutes before taking a step back.

    Cooking was partially to take her mind off of her wandering thoughts, and because she wanted to do something nice for her uncle. Normally they took turns prepping breakfast. She's been slacking off. She's aware of that. It's not without reason, but, regardless of why, it was still just an excuse. It wasn't fair to her uncle, especially since the arrangement was her idea.

    Midori looked out the window just above the sink. It was the same dirt road she walked down with Chiyo. When they would hunt witches as a group, when they were done, she would ask Chiyo to walk home with her.

    "Chiba, you're a magical girl. You're still afraid of the dark?"

    "Yeah, what of it?"

    "Man, you're kind of hopeless, aren't you?"

    "Hey! Noa said not to bully me anymore!"

    Midori sniffled.

    When did she start crying?

    She wiped her tears.

    Midori grabbed two plates from the dishrack. The eggs gently slide into place atop the plate with two pieces of buttered toast on each side. Afterward, Midori enters the dining room, placing the plates down with the practiced precision of a waiter.

    "Here you go." Midori said.

    "Thanks." Shou flashed a grin.

    "No problem."

    Midori took back her seat.

    Shou yawned as he dipped his toast into the egg.

    "Did you work late again?"

    "Did you?" Shou said, biting into the crisp bread.

    Midori frowned. "What I do isn't a 'job'."

    "Might as well be."

    "I don't get paid to hunt witches."

    "You should." Shou quirked a brow.

    Shou didn't have any idea that Midori was already paid. She had been granted a wish. A wish with no practical purpose, but it would still be called a miracle. It wasn't typical for a relative to know about a magical girl's business. Midori knew that just from speaking to other magical girls. It was a double-life, as some would call it. By day, Midori was Shou's niece, by night, a magical girl who fought witches. Moonlighting as a magical girl had its perks, but ultimately, it was draining.

    Sleeping in, missing school, and staying out late were enough to push her uncle to act. He stayed up one night to see Midori coming home. 'What are you doing out so late?' he said, putting on his best impression of what he thought a father sounded like. Whether it was guilt, or a desire to vent, she came clean. Midori had no choice but to tell him.

    Even after she transformed and displayed her magic, he was skeptical. 'Nice magic trick, what is this?' he asked. After pestering him enough, and doing her best to convince him, he finally believed her. Then again, whether he was serious when he mentioned her 'job' or not was something she earnestly couldn't tell.

    It was its own can of worms. He apparently couldn't see Kyubey, even if he was in the room with them. Apparently, only those with potential can see him. Some part of her wondered if there had ever been magical women, or even magical boys at some point. Kyubey has neglected to give much of a proper answer on the latter.

    Breakfast continued in silence. Whether it was the dour atmosphere, or fatigue, neither Midori nor Shou spoke another word. The warmth of the sun drifted away as a natural darkness set in.

    It was just another day.

    "Hey, Midori." Shou said, his chair screeching against the floor as he stood. "I'm going into town today. Did you want to ride?"

    Midori's plate floated out of sight as her uncle picked it up. Words failing her, she responded with a deflating grumble.

    The plates clinked together as they sat in the sink.

    "Is that a yes or a no?"

    Midori heaved a sigh, forcing herself out of her seat. "Yeah, I'll go."




    Midori grasped the hand guard above the car door as the truck cruised out into what could be called the 'main road'. Dirt spun through the air as the truck pulled out. It rocked at a rhythmic pace, stones crunching under the tires as dirt passed through the air.

    Downtown Yamanaki was but a stone's throw away from where Midori lived. At an even pace, by car, it took anywhere from ten to fifteen minutes to traverse the winding mountain paths. Civilization drew closer with each passing second; uneven dirt roads gave way to splintered concrete, wooden fences and barbed wire transitioned to rigid steel. It was a trip that Midori had become used to since living with her uncle.

    The countryside was completely different from her hometown of Kazamino. You didn't need a car, as far as she knew. Public transportation was readily available; buses could take you from one block to another, trains could whisk you away to any corner of the city you could dream of. Having a car seemed more a burden than a benefit. Out in the country, it was essentially a different world. Without a car, you were trapped.

    Suddenly, the truck was in the air. It bounced up, then back down.

    Midori paid it no mind. It was, again, something she was used to. She couldn't drive, so she was at his mercy. That's not to say she hasn't ridden her bike into town. She has, it just wasn't her preferred method of travel. The roads were already treacherous enough with a car, it was best not to tempt fate with a bike.

    "So, anywhere you want to stop?" Shou said, his eyes fixed on the road.

    "Not really, no."

    "That so?" He frowned. "Sorry if I'm being a bit pushy. Still not very good at this."

    What was he talking about? Midori thought, her eyes wandering from her uncle to the intersection ahead. A red, triangular sign forced the truck to a gradual stop. Shou glances right then left. After two cars round the turn, he follows after them. The road gradually dipped down before eventually straightening out. They had left the poorly maintained roads of the countryside. Midori loosened her grip on the handle above the door.

    "Sometimes I just don't really think I'm cut out for this gig." Shou lamented.

    "Gig?" Midori said.

    Was he talking about his job? No, that wasn't it. Then, it hit her. She grimaced. Of course that's what he meant.

    "No, Shou. It doesn't really have anything to do with you." Midori crossed her arms, leaning against the window.

    "I-I mean, it kind of does?" Shou sputtered out.

    He fought the urge to look at Midori.

    "I'm trying not to be my brother, but …" He froze. "Sorry."

    "I mean, you're here, aren't you?"

    "That's not… what I meant."

    "Just focus on driving, Uncle Shou."

    "Yeah."

    It wasn't something she thought much about anymore. Her father lost his job, left her mother, that was that. It was how Midori tried to think about it. There was a faint ache, a longing for what could've been. Feelings that pushed her to think that she was part of the problem. Her uncle often told her that wasn't the case, that she shouldn't blame herself, but it did little good. A child like her couldn't understand. Even now she hardly understood. Perhaps she never would.

    Even when given a wish from Kyubey, she never once thought about wishing for her Dad to be a part of her life. It wasn't something she truly wanted. Kyubey was a little late to the party if that was even his goal. He had approached her a year after the fact. At the time, she was more focused on trying to be happy with her mother. They were struggling, but content. Her mother had found work at a bar and found solace in a religious group in Kazamino.

    Midori came with her mother to a few of their meetings. The priest used words and concepts that she didn't quite understand or grasp. He spoke of saving the world, of trying their best to make the world a better place. That's all she understood. She agreed with it, of course, it sounded as good as anything to a young girl. The heavy atmosphere held her more in place than the priest's sermon.

    Then, that's when she saw her.

    A girl a year or two younger than her. A head of light-red hair poking out from behind a pew in the back. Her eyes sparkled in adoration. Midori approached, moving through pews with ease. She walked further into the back.

    The girl, noticing Midori's approach, smiled wide.

    "Hi, I'm Momo!"

    Midori didn't have to say anything.

    "I'm Midori."

    "Midori?"     Momo tilted her head. "But your hair's blue."

    To anyone else, it was a simple exchange; to Midori, it meant the world. Alone, feeling adrift in the world with her mother. No friends, no place to really call home. From then on, she attended whatever sermons she could with her mother.

    It was more an excuse to play with Momo than it was to actually attend. The 'play' was limited, mind. Half the time it was Momo and Midori quietly talking in the pews. After the service, they ran around outside. Her older sister, Kyouko, watched to make sure neither Midori nor Momo hurt themselves.

    Midori often left with tears in her eyes, waved good-bye, forced to wait in anticipation for next week's sermon.

    "Midori?"

    "Huh?" Midori stirred. "What's up?"

    "We're here."

    Midori picked her head up. Where were they?

    A field. There weren't any buildings.

    "I hope you'll… forgive me."

    "Forgive you for what?"

    Midori knew this place. The fence enclosing a field with a single tree. She pushed the door open, stepping out into the cool mountain breeze.

    "I used to come here a lot." Midori heard Chiyo's voice in the wind. "I could just forget about everything. It doesn't change."

    "I could… tell you were thinking about your friend. So, I called them out here to surprise you." Shou frowned. "Sorry I didn't ask you."

    Midori wanted to protest, to speak out. Nostalgia had pulled her from her seat. If there was any anger or frustration, it was carried off by the wind. She sighed.

    "You're really nosy." Midori scoffed, hiding a smile.

    "I'm sorry."

    Shou placed a hand on top of the truck. "So, what're you going to do?"

    "I don't know."

    "They're waiting for you."

    "They can keep waiting."

    "Midori!" A voice bellows out from under the shade of the distant tree. "Come on, say hi to Chiyo!"

    "Shut up, Noa! Yell any louder and Chiyo'll wake up!" Midori yelled back.

    "Idiot." The boy next to Noa tapped her on the head. "Respect the dead."

    "Ow." Noa winced. "Come on, Yuu."

    "Personally I think you're both pretty annoying." The shortest of the three, a girl with bangs that hid her eyes, spoke up.

    Midori walked forward, leaping over the fence and down the well-trodden path leading to the top of the hill. She turned back to her uncle. He leaned on the roof of the truck, waving her off. She scoffed and turned toward the tree, running as she waved.

    She ran toward the resting place of her second friend, the girl who gave her hope.

    She ran toward tomorrow with the friends that she still held dear.

    She ran toward a tomorrow in which she can smile.

    The End​

    I was fighting if I wanted to post this now or not, but I promised it out on Monday. I'm like a few minutes late, so it's technically Tuesday, but I tried. I slacked, and I'm not satisfied with the latter half of this, but here it is.
     
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