> Send Sayaka and Tira in together.
Oh, good. Not the stupid option. Because it's a house instead of a large candy cavern, breaking and entering could have disastrous consequences.
A smile ghosts over Sayaka's lips. "...yeah, probably not."
That's a weird thing to smile about, though maybe it's because all the depressing stuff lately has dried out Sayaka's sense of humor, but at least they're getting along despite everything. Also, maybe Sayaka is optimistically happy that Mami is finally there with her, that someone she already knows and admires can share her burden of imprisonment?
<I'll just wait out here and watch through you two. Do your best to keep each other safe and out of trouble, alright?>
You only realize after already having said it just how... motherly that sounded. Ick, bad thoughts.
Aw, she cares about her captives like family! I'm not sure where it's coming from, but it's sweet of her.
"Shall we then?" Tira asks, thankfully choosing not to comment on your wording.
Did Tira even notice the odd word choice? Ashy is almost the opposite of omniscient, so this could be a case of unreliable narrator.
Cautiously moving past the familiars, whose heads slowly turn to watch them go,
Familiars: "They have her attention. Quick, now is our chance to escape!" *trips over self, tumbles off bridge*
Yeah, the familiars are physically bound, so I realize that they might not be happy staying there any more than the girls they're modeled after were.
There's also a large red sign staked into the ground on the left, with black witch runes inscribed on its surface that read "Welcome All"... you suppose that may be another good sign?
Eh. The witch may be nice, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. Charlotte should have made this perfectly clear, but I guess Charlotte didn't blatantly welcome people in with cheerful red signs either.
You don't get to examine the sign for long, as Sayaka and Tira soon turn to the cottage door, which you now notice has an intricate yellow-and-black symbol on it in place of a window. After a moment of trepidation, Sayaka moves forward to pull it open, and with a synchronized intake of air, she and Tira step inside.
Beyond the entrance of the cottage lies a grand chamber, far larger in size than should be physically possible given its comparatively minuscule exterior.
Ah, so the house is the second layer of her labyrinth. A clever disguise, if it were hidden or blocked in any way. In fact, the entrance is a door (not to mention the only door in sight) and is easy to reach, which just goes to show that it's actually meant to be accessible.
Also, you know how in older Pokemon games, the buildings are bigger than they look because the interior uses a separate map? This is
exactly that.
At the same time, there's a bizarrely festive atmosphere to it all, owing mostly to the golden, key-laden chains strung like party streamers from the walls, as well as the colorfully-wrapped presents spread all across the floor, huge piles of which are stacked up in every corner like miniature dragons' hoards. A bush covered in white flowers and trimmed into the shape of a picture frame is set high upon the back wall, at the center of which is another set of witch runes, these ones in white and which read "Happy Birthday".
Happy birthday, Candeloro! Wow, that's several birthdays in about as many days. Ashy must be super-lucky to celebrate so many!
You suppose it's possible that the real witch is still hiding somewhere, and this is just a "unique" familiar in the same vein as Shemesh, but more likely, she's the real deal.
I like the subtle implication that Shemesh, being unique elite cannon fodder, can be a decoy witch. That sort of deception wouldn't be very effective against veterans who can one-shot him anyway, but it's something to try out.
Her body is roughly humanoid, but comically over-proportioned, with a waist that's literally pencil thin and a set of hips nearly twenty times as wide.
So are we going to ignore her bust size? She somehow retained it perfectly after witching. How does that even work? Is fanservice a universal constant?
The doll-sized witch doesn't seem to have noticed her visitors yet, too busy using her evidently quite sharp ribbons to snip off a large pink tag attached to the back of her bonnet. The tag looks to have even more rune writing on it, but neither Tira nor Sayaka are close enough to see what it says before the witch abruptly slices it to pieces.
"These clothes are bought now, so I'm keeping them for good." Damn, that hurts to read. Right in the feels.
if only you had some idea what "Candeloro" is supposed to mean.
I think Ashy should have paid more attention in English class.
The witch suddenly darts forward, a sparkling gold aura filled with equally golden flower petals springing into existence around her as she does.
"Yay, guests! FRIENDS!"
This reminds me of episode 1, when she found Madoka and Sayaka and started showing off. But this time, her excitement isn't hidden under the 'confident mentor' facade. I'm not sure how I never noticed it before, but Mami always seems to be genuinely happy when she starts sparkling flowers all over the place.
wait a second, she's communicating with her familiars? So that is a thing! Why can't you do that?
But. But you did. With Shemesh.
By accident. 
Sayaka stiffens and looks up at Mami's witch with renewed wariness. The witch seems to droop slightly at the scrutiny, and Sayaka's expression softens again.
For some reason, I think it's appropriate to say she
wilted. Not sure what gave me that idea. Maybe it's the flower motif.
As they settle down on the oversized furniture, you idly you notice a pair of large windows built into the wall across from them, both of them set at completely different heights. They look out onto a gridded teal sky, which doesn't remotely match the one you're seeing through your real body... wait, does that mean the barrier does go further than this?
It took this long to notice? My, someone is
very unobservant today. *idly sips tea*
Now that you see her up close, you notice that her apron looks almost like a smiling pair of lips- strike that, those are lips. They have teeth.
Don't think about it too much. As long as she doesn't do anything weird with her apron mouth, it's no cause for concern.
"You're not gonna hurt us... right, Mami-san?" Sayaka asks, a tentative hope in her voice.
In response, the witch moves the plate with the cake over to herself and proceeds to use one of her ribbons to cut out two equally-sized pieces of it. She then slides the pieces onto two of the table's spare plates before placing them down in front of Sayaka and Tira.
So either she doesn't understand social cues, doesn't understand what Sayaka is saying, doesn't know she's the one being addressed, or is deliberately ignoring Sayaka. "Read the fricken' bonnet, Blue Friend!"
<...'Candeloro'?> Tira telepathically questions. <I cannot claim to be familiar with that term. What does it mean?>
<I'm not sure, actually. That's what the runes in her bonnet read though, so I assume she might at least recognize the word.>
<...hang on a sec, are you telling me those weird symbol things are an actual language?>
They should start a Remedial English Club.
"She does appear to recognize that..." Tira says, eyes widening in surprise.
"Which means she must understand us, right?" Sayaka says, her voice growing excited. "And she wouldn't be being this nice if she didn't know who we were — she must recognize us too!"
Oi! Candeloro can understand you (maybe) and
she can still hear you. She is
right in front of you, patiently waiting for you all to
chill.
Shut up and just enjoy your tea already.
"Even if she can no longer speak, surely she could write something to the same effect, or signal as much in some similar fashion."
True, she should at least know how to make shapes with ribbons. I mean, it should be way easier than guns. But that doesn't mean she knows how to articulate the right symbols or is literate in any other way. The Remedial English Club has found its fourth member.
"Tomoe-san, if you truly do understand us, could you extend your left... ribbon, I suppose, as proof?"
The witch looks at Tira, then floats forward and extends her left ribbon... before wrapping it around the handle of the magical girl's teacup.
Again with the ambiguity. They might as well be talking to an alien, because they never truly understood Mami despite thinking of her as a friend. And that's sad.
As Tira fails to grab hold of the teacup, the witch switches tactics, moving it away from Tira's hand and up towards her mouth, before pressing it forward even more insistently.
"Please, enjoy your tea.
I insist."
You feel like someone should be clapping right now.
Says the only other one with ribbon arms.
It swiftly produces a large silver lid from somewhere, which it uses it to cover said platter, then waits a few seconds before lifting it back up... revealing that the plates have magically been replaced by a pair of golden lacquer bowls, each one with a pair of ornate black chopsticks delicately laid upon its rim.
"Hm. They must be in the mood for a different food. It's not really my style, but PREPARE THE LEFTOVERS!"
And suddenly, I have the sneaking suspicion that I don't want to know what the food is made of, if it is indeed real food. How does it transform into a completely different food in just a few seconds, and why does it need to be hidden during that time?
"Is this... toshikoshi soba?" Tira questions, squinting confusedly at her own bowl. "But we are months past New Years."
I think all the food here is supposed to be for parties, celebrations, and the like. Just like the house decor.
Sayaka pauses, breathes in some of the steam from her tea, and shrugs. "It looks fine, and it smells fine, so I'm guessing it's probably fine... though, I think I'll pass on the cake too. I had enough sweets yesterday as is."
Huh. Sayaka, who listens to her common sense, is the voice of reason this time.
"Mami-san may have tried to kill me, but... it wasn't intentional." she says. "I still trust her."
Okay, maybe not so sensible after all. She just trusts her friends a lot. I don't think she's wrong about the food, though.
"This is hardly real food-!"
That is a stuffy, ungrateful attitude. I think Candeloro had the right idea, spoon-feeding her.
Man, why is witch food so consistently amazing?
Wait until you try Yu Hong's food. I hear it's a solid 5/10!
As if in agreement with this, the witch turns her attention back to Tira, grabbing and offering the teacup to her once again. If the way Tira immediately flinches back is any indication, she still isn't particularly convinced, and based on how the tiny witch leans forward in turn, her ribbons starting to furl in on themselves like slowly clenching fists, you suspect you're not the only one who can tell.
"In goes the choo-choo train, Orange Friend. You are going to at least drink tea,
and you are going to enjoy it."
<It has, actually. Just yesterday, in fact — Charlotte is the witch of sweets, and her entire barrier is full of them, hence why all Sayaka had to eat yesterday was candy. That was all witch-made too, and we haven't had any problems from that as of yet.>
It would be funny if Ashy described Charlotte as a troublesome next-door neighbor, falsely insisting that her cuteness and candy labyrinth are her only redeeming qualities... There goes my wild imagination again, ruining the mood with crack omake ideas.
"...Tomoe-san is gone, Sayaka." Tira says solemnly. "This witch is not her — not anymore, at least."
It's complicated. She's not Mami Tomoe anymore, but she's still very much herself. If that makes sense.
"She is acting quite benevolent for a witch, yes." Tira agrees. "However, she is not acting like Tomoe-san,
Stop right there. Am I just imagining it, or did Tira just imply that Mami wasn't this benevolent to her?
"She may have simply been excited to have anyone here at all."
Says the introvert who abandoned her friend, not understanding what loneliness is. At this point, since Tira is so perceptive, an inability to comprehend the source of Mami's suffering is her only excuse for not understanding why she's so happy to have company.
"Her name is Tomoe Mami!" she cries. "Not Candyladle or whatever you two keep saying! Here, let me just-"
Sayaka, this is not the time to be thinking about sweets!
"I didn't ask for your input!" Sayaka shoots back as her hands light up even brighter.
Candeloro can't hear Ashy's end of the conversation. She must be
so confused by all this, wondering why the others are talking to themselves and each other so passionately! And what's worse, they aren't enjoying tea time at all.
"...what do you want?" Sayaka asks flatly. "They're right. You're not her, and I can't fix you."
Rude!
Candeloro rapidly shakes her head, the motion causing her entire body to twist from side to side, and loosely wraps her ribbons around Sayaka's right arm. Sayaka ignores her, pulling her arm free and brushing past the witch before reaching out towards the door-
A pair of enormous yellow lengths slam into the exit with enough force to rattle the entire wall it's attached to. Sayaka and Tira let out simultaneous startled cries, the former jumping back towards the center of the room as Candeloro floats upwards, her golden aura reigniting as her ribbons retract and return to normal size. She leans forward in the air, chirping in a notably more menacing manner than before, and a pair of maid familiars moves to block the door.
Suddenly, surprise serious mode. At first, they feel welcome and familiar. But then there's that small nagging feeling of wrongness that becomes increasingly prominent as the characters realize they want to leave... only to realize that staying is compulsory. This whole scene gives me Coraline vibes, which really works!
"Tomoe-san — no, Candeloro-san, we do not wish to fight you!" Tira yells.
Yes, yes. Let the pacifism flow throw you...
Sayaka and Tira are both left somewhat stunned as the witch's aura winks out again, and she returns to calmly watching them, as though none of that even just happened.
Ooh, curses come with mood auras. And is she even aware of the behavioral shift?
She stands back up, only for Candeloro to immediately reach out and push her back down. Does she just not want Sayaka or Tira to go anywhere...?
I've got an idea. Tell Candeloro that you have to use the restroom ASAP. Then leave before she realizes she doesn't have a restroom. Oldest trick in the book, works every time.
<Wait, don't!> you cut in, forcing both their hands to still. <Stop resisting!>
Sheathe Your Sword sighted! Tropes for the trope page!
[-] Attempt to lure Candeloro outside to talk, by...
[-] ...making an illusion. You're fully stocked on grief at the moment, so you can spare enough for at least one or two of these. [Write in: What?]
[-] ...throwing shatterwords at the ground outside. You imagine you'd want to know what all the racket is if you suddenly heard things start breaking all around you.
[-] ...opening the cottage door and waving at her. A simple, non-threatening greeting may be best, especially if she doesn't already know you're here.
[-] ...opening the cottage door and making a "come here" gesture. She's done this with her familiars multiple times now, so she must understand what it means.
[-] Write in.
All of these can go so horribly wrong. I'm inclined to believe that combat and trickery is not going to lend itself to a peaceful solution, and mimicking the gestures Candeloro makes to her own maids is just... Yeah, definitely not voting for any of these. But luring her outside sounds like a good idea.
[-] Break open Candeloro's cottage, then...
NO!
[-] ...grab the girls and run. You expect the other witch will just chase you if you try this, even if you were willing to leave this problem until later.
Actually, this could work. If she doesn't get too angry at Ashy for meddling, of course.
[-] Have the girls continue eating. Given her behavior thus far, you think Candeloro might just not want the girls to go anywhere because her party isn't "over" yet. If they finish the food, maybe the witch will just let them go...?
Ha! No, probably not. I think she'd rather die than let them go. Still, even if it isn't a solution to the problem at hand, there is merit to the idea. Sayaka and Tira have been terrible guests, so they should learn to be nicer while they wait for help.
Pedantry aside, while I'm not gonna say anything about Ash's family status, I will say that although she doesn't remember her specific age, she does know that she, Sayaka, and Tira are all in roughly the same age group. This makes any such comparisons very weird one way or the other.
