Magia Resurrection (PMMM Quest)
- Thread starter Shinobu Oshino
- Start date
- Location
- Florida
[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
[X] "If you were anyone else, you probably wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you."
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
On the one hand, Momoka's life is a series of impossibilities even by Magical Girl standards. On the other hand, so is Homura's.
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
On the one hand, Momoka's life is a series of impossibilities even by Magical Girl standards. On the other hand, so is Homura's.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] "If you were anyone else, you probably wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you."
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
- Location
- Laniakea
....Gotta point out, we still don't actually have firm confirmation that Homura is, well, the Homura we expect her to be.
On the other hand, whether she is or isn't, we really gotta try and find out sometime. And now is as good a time as any.
[X] "If you were anyone else, you probably wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you."
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
On the other hand, whether she is or isn't, we really gotta try and find out sometime. And now is as good a time as any.
[X] "If you were anyone else, you probably wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you."
-[X] "The truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about…"
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
Votes tallied, voting closed since this is pretty cut and dry. Will try to put up a post later today.
Episode 8 - 2
New
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
"If you were anyone else, you probably wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you." The heavy words leave your mouth, doing little to ease your burden. What if she didn't believe you? What if this was a mistake? Even if Homura travelled through time, even if she's met you in every world, why did you expect her to believe you? What if this moment ends up erased, like all the rest? The pain and regret would've all been for nothing.
Invisible needles poke and prod your face. Your breathing becomes erratic. Sweat dampens your brow. You clutch the bed sheets, your fingers turning a deep crimson. Was it okay? What if Kyubey overhears you? He saw you. You know he was there, staring down at you, his red eyes stirring in the shadows.
You turn, expecting to see a small, dark silhouette in the window sill.
There was nothing, save for the form of the ephemeral Madoka, something only you could see. Her transparent figure blends with the light of the setting sun. Her eyes were bright, and her smile beaming. "It's okay, Momoka. I'll be fine. Do what you think you should."
"What did you want to say?" Homura says, prompting you to jump. Homura sits in the chair just to the right of the bed. Your eyes meet. You avert your gaze, doing what little you could to stifle your anxiety.
"T-the truth is, there's something I've been wanting to talk about. Something important."
"Something important?" Homura purses her lips. She pauses, then frowns. It was her turn to look away. "More important than your sister?"
"What?" You grit your teeth. "No, what are you talking about?"
"It's a simple question, Momoka Kaname." Homura leans forward, her face hovering just inches from yours. She gazes into your eyes. A cold, piercing stare that threatens to freeze you whole. "Is it?"
"I-I…" Your teeth chatter. "I-it's for her. It was for her sake."
"For her?" Homura clicks her tongue.
"Yes, it was for Madoka! I wasn't trying to kill myself. I was just trying to help." The sheets crumple in your grip, your knuckles turning a pristine white. "Please, you have to understand!"
"What would've happened if I hadn't come along?"
"You would've--"
"You would be dead."
An irrefutable truth. It was a fight you couldn't win. If you had that much trouble fighting Kaoru, the minute Umika joined properly, it was a foregone conclusion.
"Maybe, but… you have to understand." You've yet to explain, or give her a reason to believe your words. If she knew your circumstances, then surely that would make a difference. "But, you would have turned back time, right? You'd make it so that nothing would have ever happened. So, even if I died, you would have--"
"You knew?" Homura stares.
"Y-yes, I'm sorry." You apologize, retreating into your covers. "I knew."
"How long have you known?"
"Since before you transferred."
"You're a fool." Homura pinches the bridge of her nose. "Madoka would grieve. It doesn't matter what your reason is. If you end up dead, it would have been for nothing."
"That's…" She was right. You would be dead. "But, I just couldn't sit by when I could save someone else." Your eyes blur, wet with tears. "Homura, I'm trying to save Madoka. I'm trying to…"
Homura's hands strain, her knuckles their own shade of white. "Don't use her as an excuse."
The words weren't coming to you. All you had to do was explain yourself. Tell her about the other Madoka, about shifting to a different world, about the isolation. Despite her indignant glare, you wanted to tell her everything. "I've been purifying witches."
The words catch her off guard. Homura blinks, forgetting her anger for a brief second. "What?"
"I've been purifying witches. Well, not 'me', specifically. It's more like a power I have." It was easier to explain the 'power' than it was the presence of another Madoka. "Since I knew about you, I know about witches."
"Purifying witches?" Homura's eyes narrow.
"It's… like making so they never contracted to begin with." You frown, your eyes drifting to the swaying curtains.
"That was you?" Homura brings a hand to her chin.
"Wait!" You sit up in bed, grabbing Homura's arms. "You can feel that? You notice it!?"
Homura pulls her arms free from your vice grip.
"S-sorry." You stutter, nestling back into your covers.
"How did you find out about me?"
You look to the transparent Madoka for reassurance. She nods. If Homura has experienced the shifting, then this next part was easier to explain. "Another Madoka. She's the one who purifies the witches. I'm acting as ... kind of like an inbetween."
A silence falls. Homura rests her hands on her lap, color returning to her fingers. She exhales. "For the sake of the argument, let's say I believe you, given what you've said so far. How does that change your situation?"
"That's why I was fighting. It doesn't change what happened, but it's the reason I did it." You frown. "It was for Madoka's sake. She wants to make a world without witches. If I can make that happen, then I have to do whatever I can." Your body has been pushed to the limit time and again. The only thing that spurred you on through the loneliness was the promise that it would end some day. Whether that day was soon or not, you didn't know.
"Did she ask you to fight them?"
"What?"
"You said it was for Madoka's sake, didn't you?" Homura stands up from her seat, a hand resting on her side. "Did she ask you to fight them?"
"W-well…"
"Of course not." Homura frowns. "She's much too kind."
"I didn't have a choice!" You lean forward, your body aching. "I had to do something, Homura!"
"You didn't have to do anything." Homura sits, unfazed by your anger. "What good is that power of yours if you die for the sake of one grief seed? For one magical girl? If you die, that's it. It's over."
"But I didn't die!" You hit the mattress with an open palm. "I'm still here, and I still have a job to do! I can't let this one thing hold me back. I have to make her dream come true. I have to!"
"You're hopeless." Homura runs a hand through her hair, her braid billowing in the gentle breeze. She pivots, walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Out." She doesn't turn to face you. "I don't want to be here for what happens next."
"What?"
The door opens with a thud.
"Momo!" A familiar voice snaps your attention to the door. Your sister dashes in, her face wet with tears of her own. "Momo, are you okay!?"
"She's fine." Homura says, her frigid demeanor switching back to the demure school girl. "I was just on my way out."
Sayaka enters the room. "See, Madoka? The doctor said she was fine. Thanks for taking care of the idiot for us, transfer student. It was, uh, Akemi, wasn't it?"
"Homura is fine." She bows. "I'll be taking my leave. Feel better, Momoka."
"Yeah." You grit your teeth, averting your eyes from Homura as she shuts the door behind her.
"What happened between you two?" Sayaka glances between you and the door. "Were you fighting? Thought we heard yelling coming down the hallway."
"Kind of." You frown. "What did the doctor say?"
"Said you were good to go home in a little bit." Sayaka says, a hand resting on her hip. "Man, how did you end up collapsing? You not taking care of yourself?"
"I don't know." The question prompts fatigue to wash over you like a wave. You fall backward into the pillow, staring straight up at the tiled ceiling. You were, and you weren't. You did the bare minimum as far as your health was concerned. Grief seeds weren't a problem, given your circumstances -- not that they knew about that part of your life.
"Momo, what happened?" Madoka asks, her hands clasping your own. "You seemed fine when we were talking on the phone. So, when the next thing I hear is that you're in the hospital, I'm…" Tears well up in her eyes.
It wasn't grieving your death, but you still made her cry. After all of that, you had nothing to show for it save your sister's tears and a broken bond.
You couldn't win.
[_] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
[_] Say nothing, because you had nothing to say.
[_] Come up with a plausible story. Madoka shouldn't know about this. This was your fight, not hers. If you tell her, she would inevitably contract and who else knows what would happen.
[_] Write-in
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- Pronouns
- He
This is all cards on the table. Madoka and Sayaka would learn everything, and all the consequences that come with it.
The wishing, the Witches, the constant threats to their own lives, and Kyubey itself.
The option that most likely pushes them away. They learn only that even with this you're going to keep secrets from them.
The harmless little lie that would put Momoka's words mean less, while also risking everything.
Personally, I'm gonna go with the first choice. Momo's confidence is shot, and has proven that no matter how hard she tries, she can't handle this on her own.
If it puts Madoka and Sayaka at odds with herself permanently, than that's fine in her eyes as long as they're safe, and she can't ensure their safety with her own strength anymore.
[X] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
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There should only be one person speaking per paragraph!
[X] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
-[X] Insist that Madoka promise never to make a contract to become a magical girl. Especially because, if she does, the next time Momoka gets hurt could be in trying to purify Madoka herself.
I'm honestly not sure what the right call is out of the default options, but if we're doing this, we should make damn well sure we cover everything.
Also, @Herofox, your vote is missing a word.
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[X] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
FIXED! Thank you!
- Location
- Laniakea
Oof.
Homura thinks Momoka is like a second Sayaka. Given Momoka's obsessive behavior as of late, that is probably not entirely incorrect and she's probably extremely annoyed and disgruntled about it, as it makes the chances of Madoka contracting to save her suicidal sister all the much higher.
The last option even warns that would happen if things continue as they are.
I feel like the right option here, regardless of how much she tells her sister, has to involve Momoka extracting a hard promise from Madoka not to make a contract.
There is no guarantee she will keep that promise, but it will at least buy a certain amount of breathing room and make it so she probably won't do it for anything short of maybe Momoka actually dying. Might go some way to placating Homura too, even if the latter will probably also be skeptical about the likelihood of Madoka keeping that promise.
[X] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
-[X] Insist that Madoka promise never to make a contract to become a magical girl. Especially because, if she does, the next time Momoka gets hurt could be in trying to purify Madoka herself.
[X] Tell her the truth of what happened. This was no time for secrets. It may be a mistake, but it was better than torturing her like this. You would deal with the consequences.
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
-[X] Insist that Madoka promise never to make a contract to become a magical girl. Especially because, if she does, the next time Momoka gets hurt could be in trying to purify Madoka herself.
Oh Momoka, rellying on the "For madoka's Sake" excuse as homura did for god knows how many years, you cant win an that argument vs someone who has been on that copium for like 2 lifetimes.
-[X] Tell them everything, including about the other Madoka, Midori, Mami, Kyoko, the time-resets, everything
-[X] Insist that Madoka promise never to make a contract to become a magical girl. Especially because, if she does, the next time Momoka gets hurt could be in trying to purify Madoka herself.
Oh Momoka, rellying on the "For madoka's Sake" excuse as homura did for god knows how many years, you cant win an that argument vs someone who has been on that copium for like 2 lifetimes.
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
Votes tallied. Will close votes at 8 PM EST tonight.
- Pronouns
- He
In before Madoka contracts as a magical girl.
Since according to tropes we foreshadowed it, it's going to happen.
To be fair, Homura didn't have a ghost of Madogod following her around.
- Location
- Laniakea
It was actually foreshadowed in the voting options:
We've basically been told that if Madoka finds out, she's liable to contract.
Problem is, it's almost certain that she's going to find out at some point. Momoka can't really keep it under wraps forever, certainly not once Walpurgisnacht arrives. That was the point Madoka canonically contracted, even after Homura told her everything. All that zipping lips does is, effectively, to buy time. We don't actually know how much time. That depends on how nosy Madoka gets and a lot of other factors outside Momoka's control (particularly Kyubey, as much as Homura would probably be trying her best to keep him in check).
Making Madoka promise not to contract is just another way to buy time, hopefully a more effective way than trying to stonewall Madoka. It definitely can't guarantee it won't happen, particularly if Momoka gets grievously hurt. But hopefully will make it a lot more difficult for Kyubey to pull one over her by pretending Momoka needs a wish to be saved, when she doesn't.
Now the thing is. Momoka can likely purify Madoka's Witch too. She's apparently running off Madokami's power and Ultimate Madoka can purify herself too.
....The main problem is surviving Madoka's Witch long enough to do it (with the secondary issue of how many memories end up getting lost in the process).
With some luck, if Momoka can buy enough time, she'll be able to use it to "get buff" enough that she can pull it off without an excessive amount of sacrifice. Who knows, if Madoka's smart enough and she knows enough about the situation, she might even be able to rig her own wish when contracting in such a way as to make it easier for Momoka to get the job done afterwards.
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
Voting is now closed. Will begin working on the post tomorrow!
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
I'm not either - it makes writing the scene hilariously awkward, especially after coming off the last post, so I'll be doing everything on my end to make it palatable to read for the sake of pacing.
Episode 8 - 3
New
Shinobu Oshino
Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade
- Location
- Unseen Horizon
The weight of your actions pushes your gaze to the floor. You couldn't bear to look at the pain you've caused them. Just because you couldn't see it, the anxiety didn't go away. "Listen, you two. I…" The lingering deceit suffocates your words. Your throat constricts, forcing a dry cough.
"Here." Sayaka brandishes a bottle of unopened water. "Take it slow. It'll be alright."
You take a drink, savoring the lukewarm moment before the inevitable explanation. You struggled through it with Homura, and round two had come so soon. You weren't ready. If you could avoid it, you would, but you couldn't. It was a door you wanted to keep closed to them. The same dark corridor you ventured through so long ago. Beyond it, you found your purpose, for them, they would find only ruin.
"Do you remember that day, a few months ago, when we were walking back from the mall?" The day the deed was done. When the world shifted, and the lies began. It was a weight you thought yourself ready to carry. Something you could push through to the end with nothing but bravado and determination. What a fool you were.
"Yeah? What about it?" Sayaka nods.
"Momo?" Madoka asks, her brow pensive. Some part of you felt like Madoka knew. Not the exact contents of what you've been doing, but the fact that something was off. You were twins, so it was only natural.
"I cried out of nowhere. Saying things that didn't make sense." You set the bottle down on the bedside counter. You toss the sheets off and stand as tall as you're able. "I didn't want to worry you guys, so I just acted like everything was fine."
"Where are you going with this, Momo?" Sayaka crosses her arms as she leans against the wall. She frowns, tilting her head. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head?"
"Sayaka." Madoka reprimands.
"Yeah, sorry." She sighs after failing to lighten the mood. "So, what're you saying?"
"Nothing you would believe." It was little more than an assumption. A barrier propped up for their eventual disdain. You walk toward the half-open window, staring out to the reddening horizon. "Just know that I …" You stop. You hesitate. You lost the the right to lie. Get it over with. Speak the truth. You grind your teeth, shake your head, and pivot, the sun shining at your back. "I lied to both of you."
Sayaka narrows her eyes. "About what, exactly?"
"Momo, you don't have to do this right now." Madoka steps forward, a hand on your shoulder. "You don't have to push yourself."
She was right. You knew she was right. Everyone knew your limits better than you did. Never knowing when to quit, always pushing forward even when the sensible thing to do would be to stop. But if you stopped, you wouldn't be here now.
If you stopped, you would die. If you stopped, she would die. If you stopped, everything would be for nothing. If not now, then there's no telling when something would go wrong. When the chance would slip you past. When you end up in another world where none of this ever happened to begin with. A guillotine called time hung overhead, ready to drop the moment the world shifted.
"It has to be now." You clasp the ring in your hand. "I'm sorry, Madoka. I want to show you two something. Can you guys follow me to the roof?"
"The roof?" Sayaka looks at your sister. "Can she even walk?"
"I should be able to--" As if on cue, despite your words, you lurch forward. Instead of meeting the cold floor, you fall into Madoka's embrace. "I guess I'm weaker than I thought."
Madoka shakes her head. "You should be in bed, Momo. This can wait."
"No, it can't. The longer I wait, the worse it'll get." You couldn't hide it anymore. If the veil would be torn, it would be on your terms and no one else's. "To both of you. Please."
Sayaka sighs. "Madoka, move over, I got this." She grasps your arm and gently sets over her shoulder. "Let's go, one step at a time."
A practiced, gentle movement. It was unexpected, considering the last thing you would describe anything Sayaka did was 'gentle' or 'practiced'. The thought alone was enough to stir your guilty conscience. You step in rhythm with Sayaka as you exit the room. Madoka walks to keep pace, treading carefully beside you. You limp down the curving hallway. Each step is a painful reminder of your failure. Each step, your resolve wanes. Shadows elongate, stretching over the elevator doors as they open.
Madoka presses the button for the furthest floor toward the roof. You hang limp, your hair blocking your vision. "I've done a lot of stupid things."
"Join the club." Sayaka sighs, tightening her grip on your slipping arm as the elevator ascends. "Honestly, it's weird hearing you talk like this."
"Is it?" You say, your voice low.
"I mean, you never tell anyone anything." You grimace at the truth of her words. "Feels like you're always wondering off to do who knows what. You make time, yeah, we do hang out, but it still feels like you're in a totally different world."
"Sayaka," Madoka reprimands. "Momo's already not feeling well, just saying that is…"
"Sorry, but someone has to say it." A half-hearted shrug. "You've been thinking the same thing, haven't you?"
"I-I…" Madoka stammers, clasping her hands together. "I mean, this isn't really the time or the place for--"
"No." You shake your head. "It's fine. I deserve it."
"Deserve it?" Madoka mumbles the word and shakes her head. "Please, don't talk like that."
The elevator door opens. The cold air washes over you like a wave. You squint, adjusting your eyes to the setting sun's light. In the mire of your blurred vision, you see a moving shadow. A tapestry of black flowing in the breeze in front of a colorful flower bed. Despite its beauty, you felt only disgust. Not at the girl standing there, nor your friends, but yourself.
"Homura?" Madoka asks, stepping out of the elevator. "I thought you left."
"I heard the hospital had a nice garden on the roof, so I wanted to stop by before I left." She says, a smile pulling at her lips. "What about you? What are you doing here?"
"You knew I would be here, didn't you?" You frown.
"No." Homura answers with a frown. "I didn't. It's simply a coincidence."
"I don't think there's such a thing with you."
"What is going on between you two?" Sayaka walks you forward. Once you're out of the elevator, you stand on your own.
"Nothing." Homura says as she walks forward. "Sorry, I'll get out of your way."
As Homura passes you by, you…
[_] … grab her hand.
[_] … let her go.
[_] Write-in