[x] Learn Alchemy from Mami. You'll have to risk getting involved with the group if something goes wrong, but that risk is certainly outweighed by the reward.
4th of May, 1910
...It's yet another risk, but you're going to take it. You don't have your reset ability, so if something happens to Madoka, you won't be getting another shot.
So even if being close to the group hurts you, if it helps you to learn faster, and protect her? Then its worth every single second of keeping up appearances. You can't afford to do anything less than your all as you progress forwards. You won't fail.
-----
5th of May, 1910
You could have avoided this.
Over the course of well over 100 loops (you forgot to count sometime after 147), you have seen many strange things. There was the Soy-sauce sachet witch, the loop where you were a boy, and the time you'd woken up in Hawaii.
But never have you ever seen Mami with a sparkle.
If this was some kind of trashy romance novel, this would probably be the part where you'd just be done.
But it's not. And as ridiculous as it sounds, you would swear on your life that Mami Tomoe (Mami Tomoe Armstrong in this universe, you remind yourself) has a small, pink sparkle next to her face.
...Should you mention it? Possibly...But then what if you're just imagining it? Everyone would think you're crazy, even Madoka. Besides, it doesn't look like anyone else is treating it as weird. Just go along with it then?
Well fine. Meeting up with the girls hadn't been much of a problem. It had been nice, though uncomfortable, to see Madoka smiling when you'd turned up.
"So then," The heavy lidded girl says "I heard that you wanted to learn Alchemy from me, Homura?"
"Yes. I was told that you were the best person in the school to ask about it, Miss Armstrong"
The blonde chuckles lightly "No need to be so formal. Please, call me Mami, and I would be honored to teach you."
You first lesson with Mami is simply covering where you've gotten to so far: Equivalent Exchange, transmutation circles, ecetera. However, when you ask her why Alchemists keep all their notes in code, she becomes far more serious.
"Because it's dangerous. Much like any science, if you try using it without any knowledge - or worse, with a patchwork one - the consequences can be severe." She quickly sketches a small transmutation circle onto the ground. "Homura, would I be right to say you've never seen a transmutation before?"
"Yes Mi- Mami." you correct yourself. "I'm afraid that I haven't"
"Well then, perhaps Sayaka can give you a demonstration?"
"Eh?" is the incredibly informative response given by the bluenette "Wait, seriously?"
"You've been studying hard for well over a year Sayaka" Mami smiles "I'm sure you'll be fine"
Sayaka seems slightly nervous as she places her hands on the transmutation circle, though it mostly seems to be from being put on the spot rather than actual nerves. The circle begins to glow an electric blue.
The transmutation process itself is far more interesting than a lot of magic you've seen. Most of that looked like it happened by...well, magic. You didn't need to explain shit. Alchemy on the other hand, has a feeling that there's something more to it. Perhaps it's because anyone, with the right knowledge, could do it? In any case, there's something about the way the material flows from the ground, restructuring itself as it goes, that catches your eye, making it less a process and more an art form. If you didn't know better, you would have thought that Magical Girls really did exist in this world.
Sayaka finally finishes the transmutation, holding a sword. Really, you can't say you're surprised by the shape. Sayaka seems pretty happy at her success though.
Madoka is staring open mouthed at the results"Sayaka, that was amazing!"
"You did really well. That was one of the largest transmutations you've done, and it has fewer marks than some of your previous attempts"applauds Mami. She turns towards you, "That, Homura, is what a transmutation is meant to look like. However, If you end up trying to make something from too little material, you can have the transmutation rebound on you. The results can be very horrifying: Steel where skin should be, for example. That's why Alchemists make sure to keep their work encrypted: To protect people from themselves."
...Well. You hadn't expected the consequences for making a mistake in alchemy to be so severe. Then again, it's not nearly as bad as the price of overusing magic. At least you won't have to worry about becoming a witch. Actually, when you think about it like that, you realise that's one advantage Alchemy will have over your regular magic: You'll be able to abuse it with impunity once you know how to use it, rather than being reliant on something like grief seeds. That could make a huge difference for you.
Yet another reason for you to learn it as fast as possible, you guess.
-----
You practiced Alchemy with Sayaka and Mami over the next half a year. The fact that nothing bad happened during this time honestly surprised you. Your loops were usually over within 45 days, at the most. Whilst the lack of a presence of witches makes you doubt Walpurgisnacht's existence, perhaps there is another calamity waiting to befall Madoka. You know that whatever higher power that delights in your suffering will not just let you off the hook so easily.
During that 6 month period, there were two events of significance. They were...
[ ] Mami inviting you for a meeting with her family. Wait...Since when did Mami have a mansion?
[ ] Madoka asked you to come for a party at her families house. You met some...Interesting characters there.
[ ] You found Sayaka at the Central Train Station, looking depressed. Trains and Miki have rarely ended well...
-----
You know, if there's one part of this quest I dislike, It's having to write it.
Don't get the wrong idea: I love thinking through this quest, watching your reactions, and seeing how it progresses. I'm not going to just abandon it.
But I find it so difficult to actually write things according to character. I mean, I'm genuinely trying it so that Homura shows more emotion mentally, but it's still hard to get the right words down. I don't know how guys like Moid or Bleach can do it.
In short NEVER WRITE A QUEST. UNLESS YOU'E A MASOCHIST. THEN YOU'LL PROBABLY LOVE EVERY SINGLE SECOND.Like I am
Also, If it wasn't obvious at this point, I'm trying to add more humor into the story here. This isn't Ed in PMMM universe (my first idea of the crossover), It's Homura in FMA universe. And FMA does have it's lighter, funnier moments despite how dark the universe can get. So I'm trying my best to integrate those into here.
Lord knows Homu needs it bad.
Finally, If you guys like Mami so far...Oh when you see Kyouko... HueHueHueHue...
