Puella Magi Cliche Antagonist - The REAL Final Boss
It's an impressive gathering. More than a small part of you twitches at letting so many girls onto your territory, but that insane girl was very clear about where and when the fight would happen. Better to take charge and organize this mess into something cohesive and maintain your authority than to try and put your foot down and be ignored. You spare a moment to smile at Homura and Kyoko -
she came back! - for helping you, before you call out, ribbons lifting you above the croud.
"Everyone, please stay calm! Make certain that you've made your role clear with both your group's leader, if you have one, and with either me, Akemi, or Kyoko!"
---
You're not foolish. The Anomaly wasn't anywhere near as carefree as she pretended to be. Goading as many groups as possible to gather
here,
now? There was only one explanation. It was difficult to believe that an external foe could unite so many puella magi, and yet...
This must be most of the major groups in Japan! With this many girls...
You'd never even considered gathering this many girls before. It seemed unlikely that she'd managed it without any kind of social manipulation power, and the implications galled you.
Still, if it keeps Madoka safe...
As yet another healing-type magical girl looks to you for directions, you repeat the mantra to yourself.
For Madoka...
---
God
damn, you're glad you figured out how to switch off sleep. Three in the morning is
way too fucking early to deal with all these dipshits.
"So
do you have a long ranged attack or
not? The girl mumbles something asinine and you resist the urge to shake her. "No, throwing your sword is not a ranged attack!"
Fuck! It wouldn't be so bad if you'd gotten proper sleep the day before like the others, but yesterday's last minute briefing with Oriko and Sabrina took way too long, and messing with your gem makes you feel like you've mainlined pure caffeine.
Other than maybe Akemi -
Yeah, I buy that she's a time traveler. Not like it's that weird compared the the shit she pulls off - you probably know the most about what's going on. You just need to make sure everything stays on track.
It's surprisingly nice to be on speaking terms with Mami again. Hope she doesn't fuck this up...
As you glance up, though, even though you
know what's happening, you still don't notice anything amiss.
That's really fuckin' creepy. You look at your watch.
3, 2, -
---
A shudder runs down the gathered girls spines, as the perception filters that had prevented them from noticing the massive buildup of grief suddenly vanished. Far above them, a girl, apparently no different from the crowds below her, except for the building sized wings of unreality that grew from her back. One hand was buried in her overcoat's pocket, while the other gestured grandiosely with her weapon: an impractically long katana that was practically impossible to use indoors.
"GREETINGS, FOOLISH SERVANTS OF THE 'GREATER GOOD'." The interloper's voice swept across the gathered girls with crystal clarity, ignoring both distance and background noise, as if she was shouting in the ear of each attendee personally. "THE TIME OF DESTINY IS UPON US. PREPARE TO MEET...
YOUR DOOOOOM!"
And then, as Kyoko's watch alarm went off, as Homura once more tried to twist her shield -
this is becoming truly aggravating - as hundreds of colorful blasts bounced off a hexagonal glowing barrier... She threw a simple red and white sphere, the world shattered into glass, and a phantom melody began to play.
"GO, WALPURGISNACHT!"
---
Now this is unusual. She defied my usual preparations, but I can forgive her, given the stage she's set. A lighter tone, for once? Well, never let it be said that a playwright of my caliber cannot do comedy as well as tragedy. Ahem.
"WALPURGIS, WAL!!!"
---
There's a moment of stunned disbelief, as the massive Witch looms overhead, before well honed instincts kick in, and the kaleidoscopic barrage finds a new target. Well, except for a few stragglers.
You keep an indulgent smile on your face as Akiko keeps her water pressing in on your spherical force field. There were a few flashes earlier, as various teleports and more esoteric attacks were rebuffed -
really, mind control against me?- but they've tapered off. You'd pose with your katana, but after you embarrassed yourself in Sendai...
Few of the girls like knowing how much you
patronize them by stooping to their meager level, but she takes it much worse than most. Still,
crushing her as an example to the others isn't an option, and taunting her would be counterproductive,
but hilarious, so you do it.
"Mwahahahahaha! You may be The Jörmungandr, but with the immense grief provided by the Witches Night, you don't stand a
ghost of a chance against me! Tonight,
I AM INVINCIBLE! NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW!"
Shit! Internally, you wince as soon as you say the words, but it's far too late to take them back. Still, nothing's gone wrong yet, and judging by it's health bar, Walpurgis should be dead any moment, so maybe-
---
As the sudden split in the sky opens, nauseating -
yet oddly familiar- miasma seeping out, as a figure emanating raw
power, power that you somehow
know could tear the world asunder steps out, as the battle freezes, most of the girls flinching, some even cowering in fear, there's only a single thought in your mind.
What the HELL am I wearing!?
---
Step. Step. Step.
The staircase the figure walks down didn't exist a moment ago, until something
shifted, and suddenly it had always been there. She idly glances at Walpurgisnacht before snapping her fingers, leaving only the crack of air rushing inwards as the witch simply vanishes. A smirk plays at her lips. It was quite cathartic, you'd imagine.
You're paralyzed with fear. None of your grief is responding. There's an "
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-" sound coming out of your throat as the figure slowly walks in front of you.
Ohnonononono. How?! You were so sure that Madoka wouldn't...
She sniffs in disdain.
"A poor showing. Using legendaries is prohibited in tournaments." What.
"And besides, that battle theme is anachronistic. X and Y don't come out for years." What.
"Still, it's what I'd expect from a mid-season villain." Whaaaat!?
"Excuse me? I'm no
mere MID SEASON VILLAIN!" The gall! "I'm the main antagonist! You're the villain of the movie sequel at best!"
She frowns, before tossing something at you.
"At least I'm canonical." You look down and briefly glance at the 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion' BluRay. "How villainous that Homura was IS DEBATABLE AT BEST! I
AM THE VILLAIN, and I'll prove it!"
"Oh?" There's a twinkle in her eye. Wait... why's the ribbon
pink? Shouldn't it be-
"You don't stand a chance against my final technique!" Her hand reaches behind her head and - oh.
"ULTIMATE AKUMA HOMURA HAIRFLIP!"
---
You lift yourself up onto your elbows. Almost all of the other girls are unconscious, but you aren't sure if that's 'cause they're wimps, or because Evil God Homura or whoever decided to spare you for old times sake. Sabrina kept telling you not to do anything violent if she showed up, over and over again, as if she thought you wouldn't get it. Sheesh, you're not
stupid.
Looks like they're having some sort of argument. Probably 'bout something really fuckin' dumb, knowing Sabrina. Still, where the hell is -
ah, there. You jump over to regular, not-stripper Homura, who's blankly staring at the ongoing stupidity, her hands twitching. You poke her with the base of your spear.
"Hey, maybe you should... I dunno. Talk to her or something?"
She twitches again, more violently, drawing your attention to "evil" Homura doing one of those hairflips, and Sabrina, melodramatically wailing on the ground.
"Who could possibly resist such power?!? There's only one hope left for this world! GREY HEART! Only you can defeat the EVIIIL WITHIN YOUUUU!"
---
You give up. None of this makes any sense. You crank your shield one hundred and eighty degrees, relieved when it turns without protest, before suddenly realizing that you aren't time traveling. The silence of timestop resounds.
She's in front of you, thankfully wearing a black colored school uniform, instead of...
that. A hug envelops you.
"I know this must be confusing. You don't need to run. Deep breaths. Deep breaths."
You clutch onto her, almost sobbing. "Who
are you?"
Amusement.
"I'm -*cough*- I'm Akemi Homura. You, of all people, should recognize that."
"But... how-"
There's a fondness in her voice now. "Madoka tricked the Incubator and became a goddess, if you'd believe it. But I wanted to keep an eye on her. So..."
A chill down your spine. "What did you do?"
"I stole much of her power. The Incubator's wishes always come true, which made it simple for me."
You scramble back, shoving her away. "You
hurt Madoka?!"
She shakes her head. "No. She wasn't happy, being alone. Better to split the work and keep each other company."
You're still shaking. "Why are you
here?"
"Dedolere - Walpurgusnacht - isn't the type to be relegated to a side note, even in a comedy. It mixed references with Final Fantasy and unleashed it's final form. We did win. But when Madoka saw all the girls that got hurt or died doing it..." She turns around and stares into the middle distance. "In any case, intentionally providing a common foe is surprisingly effective at uniting magical girls. Also, Madoka was a surprisingly good schemer when I let her in on the plan.
That trick with Hitomi and the Yakuza was genius... Just some advice."
You sit on the ground, hugging your knees. "And... t-that outfit?!"
She laughs. Will you be able to laugh like that, some day? "That was just to scare Sabrina. Ask her about it sometime.
Also Madoka picked it." She spins around, and you can see her starting to fade. "My time here's almost up." A wink. "And practice that hairflip! Madoka really likes it!"
---
There's only one Homura left, the original, sitting on a building while her long hair flutters victoriously in the wind. The self proclaimed "main antagonist" politely applauded before vanishing in a puff of smoke and a cry of "NINJA!" You, on the other hand, are warily watching the circling news helicopters, filming hundreds of unconscious girls scattered around in frilly outfits.
"Kyuubey, is this going to be a problem?"
For a second, you swear you hear Kyuubey sigh.
No, Mami. With a lot of hard work, I should be able to keep magic secret! Even if the interference field is still active...
"What was that?"
Nothing, Mami. If you'll excuse me, I need to remove that staircase.
