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Magia Resurrection (PMMM Quest)

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[X] Write-in
-[X] Story about Midori's life in the new timeline now that Chiyo has been taken by the LoC instead of becoming a Witch

future is tempting, but I'm quite interested in seeing this
 
Adhoc vote count started by Shinobu Oshino on Jan 29, 2024 at 1:39 PM, finished with 21 posts and 11 votes.
  • [X] Write-in
    -[X] Story about Midori's life in the new timeline now that Chiyo has been taken by the LoC instead of becoming a Witch
    [X] A story from Kyubey's PoV talking to Lexi, the last human on earth.
    [X] Focus on reforging the bonds you had lost with the sacrifice. But, the question of that was where to start:
    -[X] Mami/Kyouko/Momo.
    [X] Focus on reforging the bonds you had lost with the sacrifice. But, the question of that was where to start:
    ---[X] Mabayu
    [X] Story about the future, likely revolving around Madoka and Momoka.
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Votes tallied. Will keep voting open until 3 PM EST.

Voting is closed! Midori story wins. I'm going to start writing today.
 
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Update! Short story is at around 1.5k words. It's slower than usual, but I'm being deliberate with rereading the work and editing. I might take this approach with my posts from now on. But we are alive! I'll post a bit of a preview. Comments on this much would be appreciated as I'm still working on it!

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, shuffling about in no real hurry. 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 her hometown. 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 thought of it as a fixture. It makes her feel like her old man is 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.

Edit: Made some wording adjustments since I worked on it earlier today. Should be fine now.
 
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Episode Midori
  • Sidestory
    • 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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  • Sidestory
    • Shinobu Oshino said:
    It makes her feel like her old man will come back some day to finish. Or maybe it's because she feels he'll come back to finish it someday.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Aren't these sentences saying the same thing with slightly different wording?

    Shinobu Oshino said:
    Her culinary expertise was lacking, but given their small selection of ingredients: eggs, rice, bread, and milk, breakfast wasn't difficult.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Either the colon and the comma after "milk" should be dashes, or the ingredients should be in parentheses.

    Shinobu Oshino said:
    It was often something she thought about anymore.
    Click to expand...
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    Something went very wrong with this sentence and I can't tell if it's saying that this is something that Midori thinks about frequently or that it isn't.
     
    JAGwin said:
    Aren't these sentences saying the same thing with slightly different wording?


    Either the colon and the comma after "milk" should be dashes, or the ingredients should be in parentheses.


    Something went very wrong with this sentence and I can't tell if it's saying that this is something that Midori thinks about frequently or that it isn't.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Made corrections, and in order:
    1) I thought I edited that line into what I just edited to now, but I guess I didn't or I reverted it. Changed.
    2) I just got rid of the listing because the food that Midori can make is literally talked about a sentence or so later.
    3) Changed the line to what it's supposed to be.
     
    Episode 5's first post is well underway (1.1k words so far). Post isn't likely to be out tonight, since I've got a TRPG session I'm attending until late, but it'll definitely be out tomorrow!
     
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    Episode 5 - 1
  • Threadmarks


    • A fresh start. An opportunity many wish for but can never get. Would they want to avert a tragedy? Or maybe redo a meeting with a long lost loved one? For you, it was more the latter. Just replace 'long lost loved one' with 'friend' and it was right on the money. Except, the thought of redoing the meeting instilled within you a deep-seated anxiety. Maybe it was naivety, maybe it was because you were stubborn. Either way, you didn't have it in you to give up. Not on yourself, and not on your friends. Even if they didn't remember you, you remembered them, and it was enough.

    Persevere.

    Keep fighting.

    Metal scrapes against metal.

    The barrel still stands even after a barrage of sword strikes. The onslaught was enough for divots and dents, but not to breach its rusted hide. You look at the white sword in your hand and to the shield in your other. The sword felt comfortable to wield, but the heft of the shield was hard to get used to.

    The spear felt awkward, Mami's ribbons felt exclusive to her, even if you could mimic them. The hard part was actually forming the musket; the practical and magical theories involved in their creation were beyond you. With no solution to what your weapon should be, Midori's sword and shield vanish into thin air.

    You kneel down, grasping a bottle of water at your feet. You unscrew the cap and drink. Even in the midst of autumn's cold embrace, you manage to work up a sweat. It wasn't hard, mostly because the weather was a bit warmer than you expected.

    Your magical girl attire dissipates as you lean against the chilled railing of the underpass. Your mind wanders back to the first day you came to this new world. It was a week ago to this day.

    After returning home with Madoka, your mind scrambled for answers. How did you reconnect with Momo? Mami? Even Kyouko? You couldn't just greet them as a long lost friend. If you did, it was certainly a good way of botching any hope of rekindling the friendship. The approach had to be meticulous and well-planned. A prospect that was easier said than done.

    You sat at the kitchen table, pianoing your fingers on the table. A mug of hot chocolate sat just a few inches away, steaming and untouched. Madoka blew the steam off of her own mug. She dipped her finger in, recoiling from the heat.

    "Still too hot." She winced, sucking on her finger.

    "You're going to burn yourself." You said, chin perched on your palm.

    "I-I'll be fine." Madoka frowned. "Are you okay, Momo? You've looked mad ever since we got home."

    "I'm not mad." You said. "I'm just thinking, that's all."

    "What about?"

    This Madoka led a different life than the one that you had known. Most of the events lined up, from what little conversation you had. The only difference was that she knew nothing about magical girls. It was a large difference, but the only one you could genuinely discern. The rest would have to be chalked up to guess work.

    "It's complicated." You murmured.

    "Well, if it's difficult…" Madoka narrowed her eyes. "Then why not do the easy parts first? It's what Mama usually tells me."

    "I'm not even sure where to begin with that."

    "Really?"

    Was the problem actually that complicated? The part about being in a new world, yes, that was completely beyond the pale. There was no way Madoka would understand that. The other aspect of the issue, however, was easily understood. It just came down to making a friend.

    "Well, I'm having trouble making friends."

    "Oh!" Madoka's face brightened up. "You're trying to make a friend, Momo?"

    "Yeah, that's one way of putting it."

    "Then, I think you should just be yourself!"

    You couldn't take Madoka's words as patronizing. If anyone else had said them, it would be a different story. Even if the advice seemed obvious at a glance, it was her way of affirming her faith in you. Sometimes it helped to hear someone else say what you already knew.

    "You think that'll work?" You mumbled.

    "I think so."

    "I think I'd just be a burden."

    You let your true feelings slip out. It felt self-serving, to lean on your weakness, but it was the truth. Midori's words had drilled themselves into your mind. As much as you try to deny them, even in a new world, they haunt you. If you were stronger, then you may not have had to make the choice to sacrifice your original life. But, if you were stronger, would you have the chance to make that choice to begin with? Chiyo would've been defeated, and she would have never found hope at the very end.

    If you had been stronger, and if you had defeated Chiyo, would it have made a difference? You would likely still see and hear witches as the magical girls they once were. It was haunting. The prospect of having to fight them made you hesitate. Chances are there were magical girls that knew who and what witches are. It was an inevitable truth that would make itself known with time, whether magical girls were prepared or not.

    If you started to hunt witches, does that mean you couldn't save them? Was there a methodology to it? You had asked the other Madoka, but you haven't heard her voice since that day. Your best guess was that performing that miracle probably drained her. You had nothing to base it on, but it was the only thought that settled your anxious mind.

    "I don't think that's true," You said.

    Madoka pulled her mug closer. She lightly blew on it, causing the steam to waft off into the air.

    "Sometimes I feel the same way with Sayaka and Hitomi." Madoka said. "I don't feel like I'm good enough. Sayaka is outgoing, and she never backs down. She's stubborn. And Hitomi, she's amazing, you know? Tea, dance lessons, piano. She's good at everything she tries."

    You feel a weight in your chest as you're made to endure your sister's self-admonishment. Whether what she's saying is true or not doesn't matter; it's how she feels. It was important to listen to the end.

    "You too, Momoka," Madoka said, holding her head down. "You're always helping me with homework and when I need help with Takkun. I think you're incredible, so that's why I think you won't have any problems making friends. You're a hard worker."

    "I'm not a hard worker." You sighed. "I study the way I do because of you. I couldn't care less about the school work."

    "What do you mean?" Madoka tilted her head.

    "You weren't there when I went to the mall with Sayaka. I froze up everytime I had to speak to someone." You laughed. "I had to fight with myself to even agree to go. It wasn't easy, let me tell you."

    "But you still did it." Madoka reaffirmed with a smile. "I think that matters."

    "My point is I couldn't do it by myself." You reached forward, pulling the mug toward you. You blew off some of the steam and sipped. It was still hot, but not unpleasant.

    You tried to be there for Madoka just as much as she's there for you. It felt like an uneven trade, never being able to pay back what you felt you owed her. It was wrong to view the relationship as a transaction. It was more about love and familial obligation. For your friends, they pushed you to do what you felt you needed to. Sayaka pushed you to the mall. Mami pushed you to train. Lexi and Midori pushed you away, but you pushed back. Lexi got a job, and you ended up making the choice to change Chiyo's fate. The cost was high. Not in the moment, but for what eventually came after.

    None of it was alone. It was because you had others to depend on.

    "I just wanted to say thank you." You took another sip from the mug. "I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for you."

    Madoka shrunk in her chair. "I didn't do anything."

    You scoffed. "Fine, deflect the compliment."

    "Oh, I-I didn't mean to!" Madoka blushed as she stammered.

    "No, it's fine. I get what you mean."

    The Madoka sitting across from you wasn't a god. She was flesh and blood. She was someone who would go to great lengths for her family and friends, then act like it was nothing. A girl so selfless she would give up her own life for people she never even knew. It was an admirable quality. You thought you weren't capable of the same thing, but here you were, seated across from her.

    She was someone you didn't want to let go.

    That's why you wanted to get stronger. It's why you had to get stronger. To protect Madoka, and to reconnect with your old friends in this new world.

    In the present, you continue your training. One swing after another with the white sword. Once again, the barrel doesn't budge. You grip the blade with two hands and swing. It leaves a dent, but doesn't slice clean through.

    Frustrated, you dispel the sword. There was one other weapon from your repertoire you had yet to use. The weapon itself, not necessarily the magic attached to it. You raise your arm into the air, grasping your wrist with the other hand.

    Magic flows forth. Your arm heats up as a new weight bears down on it.

    Chiyo's cleaver.

    "If this doesn't do it, I don't know what will-- whoa!" The weight of the cleaver forces you to stumble back. "Okay, more magical energy. Nice. This thing is heavy."

    You swing the cleaver with both hands. The blade easily rips through the barrel as if it were made of paper. The ground underneath doesn't fare much better, the concrete splintering upon impact.

    "Oh shit."

    Your hands come free from the cleaver's grip as you step back. Why did you say that? Did you pick this up from Kyouko? Wait, did anyone hear tha--

    "What are you doing?"

    You whip around to see a familiar face.

    It was Lexi.

    Someone you were fortunate enough to meet again. A part of you chose this spot in the hopes of running into her at some point. Without Chiyo's witch abducting her, she was free to continue living her life. You knew she lived in the Industrial District. It was honestly only a matter of time before you met. The circumstances, however, were something you didn't expect. It was much like now, except Lexi was screaming "I'm trying to sleep. Keep it down" instead.

    "I-I'm training. What are you doing here?"

    "I'm walking home. From work. You know, that thing adults do." Lexi narrows her eyes, hand resting on her hip.

    "You're an adult? Could've fooled me." You rip the cleaver out of the ground and let it rest on your shoulder.

    Then, the unexpected weight of the weapon drags you to the floor with a thud.

    "Ouch." You massage your rear as your magical armor and the cleaver vanish into thin air.

    "You look like you're working yourself half to death." Lexi offers a hand.

    "Thanks."

    Lexi pulls you up. "No problem. So, I got a question."

    "Yeah?"

    "Are you just going to keep destroying my furniture, or are you going to go out and actually fight witches?"

    "Your furniture? You weren't even using that."

    "Yet."

    "Yet? You know what? Whatever." You sigh. It wasn't worth it. "Yeah, okay, sorry."

    "You owe me a barrel."

    "I don't owe you squat. Anyway…"

    "Have you checked your soul gem recently?" Lexi quirks a brow.

    "I mean, yeah, it's-- oh."

    It was a little dim, but nothing too concerning. It didn't look nearly as bad as you recall Midori's gem looking before it was about to witch. It wasn't anything to be proud of, of course. Any more expenditure might be a little concerning. You wouldn't turn into a witch, but you still had plenty of things you needed to do.

    "Uhh…"

    "I'm waiting."

    The longer you stood still, the less of a chance you had of running into Mami, Kyouko or Momo. The only real way you were going to do that is by going on patrols. You wanted to show them that you could be dependable. That wasn't the entire reason for your training, but it was a large part of it. At the same time, you could screw things up. With that in mind, you …

    [_] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[_] Apartment complex where Mami lives.
    ---[_] Hospital.
    ---[_] The mall.
    ---[_] Around the school.
    ---[_] Back alleys around town.
    ---[_] Head to the park.
    ---[_] Abandoned church on the east side of town.
    [_] You weren't ready for that yet. Best to keep practicing.
    [_] Write-in
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.

    Patrolling near Mami's apartment or the Sakura Church strikes me as a bad idea because I expect we would be viewed as an intruder and potential threat, so with those ruled out, the mall seems like the place where we have the best chance of running into Mami or one of the Sakuras.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] Back alleys around town.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] Abandoned church on the east side of town.
     
    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.
     
    JAGwin said:
    She's beautiful, but I'm pretty sure her hair is the wrong shade of pink (it looks more like Ui's if you ask me). Also, are her eyes supposed to be a different color than in the last pic of her?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    They're supposed to be a bit more gold, and I think the lighter shading on the hair may have brightened up the pink. I still think it looks great regardless.
     
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    [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
    ---[X] The mall.
     
    Adhoc vote count started by Shinobu Oshino on Feb 9, 2024 at 5:23 PM, finished with 11 posts and 8 votes.
    • [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
      ---[X] The mall.
      [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
      ---[X] Back alleys around town.
      [X] You think you're ready to go on patrol. If you were lucky, you may run into a familiar face. But, the choice was where to start looking:
      ---[X] Abandoned church on the east side of town.
    Click to expand...


    Tallying votes, voting closed. Post should be up either tomorrow or Sunday!

    Update: Some stuff came up, and I'm going to have to push the post back. Sort of in a funk. Will try to get it up Monday after work (7 PM EST).
     
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