aboxfulloftea222 | The 46th Post!

[The outside world - The Kagamine household]

[Eight sighed a bit, then.]

What I meant, Rin, was that since you're a Puella Magi again, you really can't ignore what's going on in the Puella Magi society in general. What if Miki Sayaka's mini world ended up turning into the biggest Witch Barrier ever or something, for example?

[And then, he took a look at Rin's Soul Gem, and blinked.]

...Though on the other hand - This is quite interesting, indeed.

[He poked at the Soul Gem with his paw.]

- Hmm, the golden musical note is still there, but the D'aurich family crest is gone, it seems?

[And then, Seven shook his head.]

...No, it's not entirely gone - Look at the base of the music note, there's still a miniture version of the crest there. And look here...

[And then, the rogue Incubators put their furry heads together, mumbling.]

- How strange - I can't tell where those energy links are going to, at all. And look here - This doesn't look like a normal Soul Gem to me at all, to be frank...

[The outside world - Outside the school.]

[The little Witch grinned, then.]

< Okay, then, Nee-chan - Don't forget your promise! .

[And then, she bounced away and faded, just like that. Copy Sayaka stared at where the little Witch had been, and then she sighed, and bent down to Shizuka.]

...Hey, are you OK?

[Shizuka simply groaned, and then slumped over, closing her eyes. Copy Sayaka started for a moment, but then relaxed when she saw that Shizuka had started to snore a bit.]

- Hey, come on...

[She groaned, and then sat on the ground next to Shizuka, wondering what to tell her when she woke up - ]

[And then, she blinked as she caught sight of her Soul Gem. She de-transformed, and took it in her hand to look at it better.]

[Her Soul Gem was almost all clear, with just one small black spot to the side. Copy Sayaka stuck her nose next to the Soul Gem, trying to get a better look at it - And then, a small ball of dark energies popped out of her Soul Gem, and nearly hit her in the face as it floated away into the skies!]

...Ouch!

[Copy Sayaka muttered, shaking her head - And then, she stared at her Soul Gem again. Even the little black spot was gone, now, and her entire Soul Gem seemed serene and clean.]

[Inside Sayaka's mini-world]

[Sayaka-Oktavia looked up at them from inside the water, then, her mermaid ears twitching.]

< Mami-Candrelo. Kyoko-Ophelia. Hello, hello? >

[That were her friends names, right?]

"And what about that energy link connecting to Len?"
"Well their souls are connected in a way" [The roguen incubators continued examining
Rin pouted and curled onto Len] "I don't care... I don't wanna be involved..." [There was a shuffling as the twin's mother came into the room,still waking up. The twins paused, wondering what if she saw these two strange critters]

[Copy Sayaka blinked and stared.Was that normally supposed to happen? Well,, it was probably nothing... Now, what to do about Shizuka. She couldn't very well left her here, so Sayaka hoisted her up. shizuka finally awoke] "ah.. ah?! Where's that creepy littlle girl and those drawings! It was so scary! I was all fat and round and bouncing and sayaka san had a sword and_"
"Woah, that sounds like some dream, shizuka san!" [Sayaka chuckled]

[Kyouko was aghast and was frozen for a few moments, before they heard her speaking telepatically] "Sayaka..." [though what were candloro and ophelia? though they did sound familiar. Kyouko knelt closeer to the water while Sayaka Oktavia peeked her head out a bit cautiously

[The outside world - Kagamine household]

...You don't want to be involved in what, darling?

[Anabelle said, and sat down besides Rin on the bed. Len sighed a bit in relief, as it seemed like their mother couldn't see Eight and Seven at all, but then his brow furrowed as he realized that their mother had stepped around Eight and Seven even though her eyes had never focused on them.]

[Maybe she could feel them somehow, even though she couldn't quite see them properly?]

[Rin, in the meanwhile, had leaned agaist her mother, her eyes sad and tired.]

- Nothing. It's not important.

[And then, she closed her eyes.]

...I just want to close my eyes, and go back to sleep. I had such nice dreams, Mama - I was just a well to go commonor girl, and I had a mother and a twin brother who both loved me...

[The outside world - Outside the school]

...I was dreaming?

[Shizuka said, frowning. Copy Sayaka pasted on her best game face, and nodded.]

- Oh, yes - And you were drolling a bit too, I'm afraid, ha ha ha!

[Inside Sayaka's mini world]

[Sayaka - Oktavia smiled, then, and went closer to her friends.]

< Mami-Candrelo is still mostly Mami but becoming more Canderelo. Kyoko-Ophelia is still almost all Kyoko. >

[And then, she smiled.]

< But still friends! For ever and ever and ever! Right? >

[The twin's mother sighed and put her arms around Rin] "Oh darling. Of course you have a mother and twin brother who love you!"
[Rin sniffled and resteed her head] "I know..."
[her mother stroked her hair comfortingly] "Darling, is something wrong?"

[Meanwhile, Shizuka blinked and blushed a bit] "Oh. I see then. I don't recall falling asleep really, but,"
"Hey, it's cool, Shizuka san" [Sayaka patted her shoulder] "Anyway, let's head back to class now."
"Yes. All right, Sayaka san..."

[Kyouko frowned and kneelt down] "Sayaka, what the heck are ya talking about? What happened to you, why are you suddenly a mermaid now!"
[Sayaka Oktavia shrugged] "Because, I was meant to be a mermaid..."
"Well, this is strange. But you poor thing, being stuck in that dirty river!" [Mami sighed] "Come, let's go home and get you cleaned up. I'll make you a nice cup of tea"
"Good idea, Mami" [Kyouko hoisted the mermaid up in her arms] "Come on, Sayaka"

[The outside world - The Kagamine household]

[Rin sniffled, and leaned against her mother.]

...Everything and the kitchen sink is wrong, Mommy...

[She said, making herself sound childish at least halfway on purpose.]

[Annabelle chuckled, then, and gave her a hug.]

.....That's OK, darling. Everybody feels like that, sometimes. And with what happned today, and Miku-chan just - just disappearing like that...

[Rin sighed, then.]

- I don't think Miku's gonna be coming back, Mommy.

[Annabelle looked at her, and gave her a hug, then.]

...Maybe, maybe not - I mean, as your father used to say...

[And then, waved a finger at Rin, waiting for her to chime in.]

Sometimes, life throws an entire truckful of lemons at you. In that case, the first thing to do is duck and run, so the lemon barrels don't crush you flat. And then...

And then, you grab as many of those frigging lemons as you can, and go and make lemonade, and lemon cakes, and lemon salad dressings, and any other lemon-y thing that you can possibly think of. Nothing should be wasted - Especially lemons. You can make a fortune that way, OK?

[Rin chimed in - And then, she leaned against her mother, and hugged her tight.]

[The outside world - Outside the school]

[Copy Sayaka and Shizuka both returned to the school, then, only to discover that the school hours were long over, and the only people left there were the people doing club activities.]

...I missed more then half of school!?

[Shizuka said, disbelievingly, while Copy Sayaka sweatdropped.]

[Inside Sayaka's mini world]

[Sayaka Oktavia hummed happily as her friends carried her along. Oh, yes, her house was near here, right?]

[Mami and Kyoko, in the meanwhile, stopped dead as they turned the corner, and the place that was supposed to be Sayaka's house came into view.]

[Sayaka's home was there, all right - But right next to it was something that looked like a gigantic amusement park pool, and some of the sliders were actually curling all around the house!]

...Wheee! So it was true that your family won the lotto, Sayaka?

[Kyoko said eventually, while Mami just stared at the gigantic structure and sweatdropped. What the heck were Sayaka's parents thinking of, anyway?]

Edited 2016-01-04 06:38 (UTC)

"That's right, Rin darling" [Annabelle cooed, stroking her daughetr's hair lovoingly, then involving Len in the hug as well] "Listen, it's been a big night last night. You two can just relax today."
"Ok Mommy..."
"Now, who wnats breakfast!"

[Geez, that much time all ready?] "Shizuka chan! There you are!" [another class mate waved] "Where were you all this time!"
"I'm sorry Aya chan, I fell asleep at the gym! "
"Yes, she's fine now" [Copy Sayaka added] "Well, I'd better head back now" [hm, what could Kyousuke be up to now? No, she'd actually better train...]

[Sayaka Oktavia shrugged. Kyouko raised an eyebrow. How long ago was it that they won the lottery, and how did that big pool already get here? They brought the mermaid inside. As Mami went to make tea and snacks, Kyouko started filling the bath tub and pulled off the ragged remains of Sayaka Oktvia's shirt. ] "Ok, here we go." [She notcied the soul gem on her belly. It seemed different now, with a black casing and the jewel was a swirl of black and blue]

[The outside world]

[Both of the rogue Incubators looked at each other and sighed a bit, then, as they watched the Kagamine family hug.]

- Your mother is right, you two probably should take a break for now.

[Eight said, while Seven laughed.]

...You shouldn't think you've seen the last of us, though, 'cause we'll be back, I'm pretty sure. - Hasta la vista!

[And then, they both rolled under the sofa, softly sneezing as they crawled past the dust bunnies.]

- Really, though, Rin - Ya should clean under the bed once in a while. Aren't girls supposed to be the ones cleaning stuff all the time and everything?

[Seven said, giggling, and then both of the Incubators auras disappeared. Rin looked at Len, and nodded at him - Yes, they would have to talk about this later, she was pretty sure...]

[And in the meanwhile, Copy Sayaka was looking around for a place to transform and train in peace. It was pretty worrying that that Witch had just shrugged off her attacks like that, she did have to admit.]

[And that was when her mobile phone rang. Copy Sayaka blinked, and fished her phone out of her school bag, wondering who was calling her now.]

[Inside Sayaka's mini world]

[Kyoko poked Sayaka Oktavia's Soul Gem with a grin, then.]

...Hey, Sayaka! Did you notice that your Soul Gem looks a bit different, now? It's still pretty, but it's got black swirls inside it!

[Sayaka Oktavia blew some bubbles at her, then, grinning.]

< I know, I know! >

[And then, she pointed at Kyoko's Soul Gem.]

< And now, you're starting to get them, too! >

( copy sayaka looked down at the phome to see who was calling her. It was from homura. Sayaka gave a small sugh of annoyance and answered ) " hello. What do you want."
" sayaka miki. We need to talk."
( sayaka sighed) " about what."
" important things. We can discuss it over a witch hunt. You may keep the grief seed"
( sayaka considered it)

( kyouko frowned and looked down at her soul gem ring) " how can you tell? Lookes fine to me"
( sayaka oktavia just chuckled mysteriously and blew more bubbles. Kyouko sighed and becan scrubbing her scaly mermaid skin with a sponge) "whatever. Les get you clean"
( meanwhile mami was maling tea and cakrs, thinking about what was going on. Oh how strange. Sometimes she thought it would be nice to have a never ending tea party with friends... She looked over at bebe playing with a tea cozy, butterfly in her garden and miss idol in her television)

[The outside world]

...OK, then - I was planning to go talk to you some day or another, anyway. We're probably shorthanded in this area in either case, right?

[Copy Sayaka said eventually, as she decided to take Homura's offer. Two powerful and experience Magical Girls had disappeared all of a sudden after all, and...]

[Copy Sayaka wondered what Mami and Kyoko were doing now - And then, all of a sudden, her mind took a sudden left turn, and she found herself looking at the phone. What in the world had she been thinking of, anyway?]

Um, OK. So where do we meet?

[Homura looked at her phone, and then looked at a part of the city that was filled with half built and abandoned buildings. The ecomonic downturn hadn't been good for Mitakihara either, after all.]

[And then, she told the other girl where to go, and put her phone away.]

[In Sayaka's mini world]

[And then, Miss Idol waved at them from inside her TV set. Mami smiled at her, and poared her a cup of tea. She then got a small tray out, and put the tea cup on a saucer and a plate with some cookies on it.]

- Here I go, then, Miss Idol!

[Mami said, grinning - And then, she pushed the tray right toward the TV set. Miss Idol clapped her hands in delight as the tray appeared right in front of her.]

...Ohhh, thank you, Lady Mami-Candeloro!

[Then she realized she should let her friends know she couldn't join them , after all Madoka had left her messeges hoping she was ok, so she texted then telling them that she still had things to take care of. After that, she headed off to where Homura would meet here. There would probably be witches in that sort of area anyway.]

meanwhile]
"You are welcome, Miss Idol." [Mami didn't realize at the moment why she called her Candleoro, or that she could understand the stange language.
[After scrubbing sayaka Oktavia clean,, drying her off and dressing her in a clean shirt, and blushing a bit as she realized that sayaka oktavia wasn't wearing underwear, not that mermaids needed that, Kyoko carried the mermaid out to the living room and placed her on the couch.
Mami came out brightly with a tray of yummy looking tea and treats] "Here we are!"
"Thank you!" [Sayaka oktavia grabbed it hungrily]

[Inside Sayaka's Mini-World]

[Mami-Candelero - and yes, that name felt right, now - smiled happily, then, as she saw all her friends gathered around her.]

...This is good and comfortable.

[She said, as she poared Sayaka-Oktavia tea, and pushed the plate of cakes toward her.]

- If only life could be like this, all the time. Happy friends, and tasty tea and cakes...

[The black stripes floated through her Soul Gem, then, lazily and prettily. Mami's Soul Gem was slowly changing it's shape, becoming slightly more like a Grief Seed...]

[And that was when there was a cough, and the TV screen buzzed!]

[Miss Idol blinked as a purple something pushed it's way past her stage-room inside the TV set, and waved at the other girls outside.]

< ...Young Ones! It is good to see more younger sisters who are serene and happy, indeed! >

[The thing that was trying to talk to them looked like a happy cartoon ladybug. Sayaka-Oktavia grinned at the TV screen, and waved her hands. So did Mami-Candeloro, while the little Witches ooh'd and ahh'd.]

[Kyoko, in the meanwhile, was just staring at the TV screen.]

< And now, I bring an invitation from the Walpugis Queen herself! Yes-yes?>

[In the outside world]

[Copy Sayaka looked around the abandoned buildings with a grin.]

...All right, then, transfer student - I'm here!

[Homura, in the meanwhile, was raising her eyebrows at her from her perch on a nearby building.]

- There is something strange about your aura, Miki Sayaka, though I'm not sure what it is. Has anything strange happened to you, recently?

[Sayaka's aura felt somewhat, well, flat, for lack of a better word. It didn't feel like it was contaminated or anything like that, quite the contrary, but...]

Edited 2016-01-11 06:31 (UTC)

[Mami Candleoror perked up more at that] "Oh really? Please do tell?"
[the ladybug bounced cheerfully, still smiling] "you are cordially invited to the walpurgis festival and the queen's arrival and celebration at the end of the month!"
[The mini witches cheered at that. Their queen was coming!]
"Ah, we would love to!" [Mami candloro clapped her hands] "Shall I help with the party?"
[At the mention of the queen and the festival, something felt bothered in Kyouko and the remainder of Sayaka in Sayaka Oktavia. Was this fetival, a good thing? Something was upcoming? What was it...]

[meanwhile]
[Copy Sayaka frowned at this remark and crossed er arms] "You mean aside from me being a magical girl and madng the contract?"
[Homura shook her head] "It has been ever since last night." [Did Sayaka even remember Miku Hatsune's transformation last night? Did any of the girls? And, Mami and Kyouko were still nowhere to be seen,,

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

[Mami-Candeloro blinked, then. The end of the month? She did have the vague feeling that that was important, but...]

- But wait - Something special is going to happen at this festival, correct? What is it?

[The ladybug Witch smiled happily, then.]

< Oh, yes - At long last, our time has come! Our Lady has been gathering energies for ages and ages, but now, at long last, we have enough to turn the entire world into a paradise!>

[And then, she smiled again, and blinked her eyes.]

< None of us will ever have to lose our minds or our words again! And we will live for ever and ever, then, happily ever after. Oh, you are so lucky to be alive at this moment, Young Ones - For from now on, none of us will be trapped in our own Nightmares, ever again! >

[In the outside world]

[Homura sighed, then, and rubbed her eyes. No, the Miki Sayaka in front of her was not a plastic figure pretending to be a real girl, what the hell was her idiot subconcious trying to tell her, anyway?]

...Do you even remember what happened last night, Miki Sayaka?

[Mami Candloro and Sayaka Oktavia's eyes shone at that] "That sounds wonderful!"
"Yeah, it's, great" [Kyouko paused. This didn't sound right...]
"Indeed!" [the ladybug witch nodded at sayaka oktavia.] "you've made a nice start, mermaid sister!" [she nodded then to mami candleoro] "And thank you for cheering up our rose sister, our box idol sister, and of course our little sweet sister!" [the ladybug blinked and smiled some more] " Ah yes, also at the celebration, our lady shall pass the crown to our next queen! With a kind and pure soul, she will be the one who create our paradise!"
"Oh? Who is it?" [Kyouko asked, still doubtful, though somehting subconciously was trying to tell her otherwise]
"Ypu'll find out soon enough." [the ladybug witch giggled] "Of course, you still have a while to go before the transition, you stubborn silly! Hurry up, you're missing the fun!"

[Copy Sayaka blinked and still ffrowned] "Well yeah. A witch attacked at the concert, of course!"
"And do you emember who the witch was?"
"It was some doll hiding inside a magic tv." [They defeated her, right?"

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

< But now, I have to go, for I have miles to go and many other Young Ones to talk to before I sleep! - See you later at the Ball, Young Ones! >

[The ladybug Witch said, and then disappeared back into the TV set, waving all the while. Miss Idol waved at her again as she danced through the stage area and left behind the curtains.]

...I'm missing the what, now?

[Kyoko sighed, and then turned toward Sayaka-Oktavia, who flipped a fish tail lazily at her. Kyoko sighed again, and then started to wipe at Sayaka-Okvatia's hair and fish scales with a towel, talking all the while.]

- You know, Sayaka - I keep having this weird feeling that something really strange is happening right before my eyes, but I can't figure out what it is. It's like I'm trapped in a Wonderland or something, except that this Wonderland seems to be much nicer then the one Alice was tossed into, ha ha ha -

[In the outside world]

[Homura sighed, then - It wasn't like she hadn't already figured out that something even stranger then usual seemed to have happened yesterday, but...]

[...Oh, well, at least Madoka was safe for the moment, anyway. Or so Homura hoped.]

...Fine, fine. Alright, then, Miki Sayaka - Could you try transforming in front of me, so I can get a good look at your aura while you're doing it?

[And then, Homura paused.]

- No, wait. Miki Sayaka - Have you transformed at all, after what happened last night?

[Copy Sayaka paused, then.]

...I did, and I fought a really weird Witch today, but...

[And then, she made a face. She didn't want to mention what had happened, to be frank - It really was sort of embarrassing.]

< What could be strange or bad? > [Saykaa Okatvua murmured, stretching] "Everything is well...."
"You sure everything, then how did you end up a mermaid for some reason? finding you in the river! We thought you were aat that fancy music school!" [Kyouko frowned] "N=And you're being so, nonchalant about it!"
[Tere was a hissing noise and a whisp of darkness as the spare grief seeds Mami had finally woke up, releasing several more witches. Mami Candleoro smiled at that] "Ah, more friends! Welcome!

[meanwhiel]
"But?" [Homura raised an eyebrow.
Copy Sayaka shook her head, flustered ] "It's none of your business, transfer student!" [suddenly their soul gems started blinking as they sensed a witch nearby] "Never mind that! I'm going after the witch!" [She transformed and ran off, skimming the consturction work]

Edited 2016-01-17 05:36 (UTC)

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

[Sayaka-Oktavia looked at Kyoko, and blinked.]

< But I'm at the Academy too, when I feel like it? And so is Kyosuke!>

[Mami-Candeloro nodded at that.]

The Academy doesn't have any rules against mermaids and sirens joining up, correct? I mean, it would be really strange if they did - Sirens are tranditionally considered to be one of the best singers, after all!

[Kyoko sighed, then, as several more little Witches came into the room and plopped themselves right next to the sofa.]

< We're hungry! Feed usss! >

[A little one that looked like a tiny little painter doll piped up.]

[Mami grinned, then, and started to poar more tea for the newcomers.]

...Yes, of course!

[And then, Kyoko groaned.]

- Something's still weird, though - I can feel it in my bones!

[The outside world]

[Homura sighed, then, as she felt Sayaka transform.]

...Why in the world are your power levels so low? And your aura -

[The bluehead's aura was clean as a whistle, but also as flat as a board. It really was strange, Homura thought - It was like somebody had exchanged a beautiful big opal with a big blue plastic imitation or something!]

"Oh, don't worry, dear Kyoukoo." [Mami served her more tea with a smile] "Eveything is just fine!"
"I guess..." [Kyouko finished her tea and stood up, stuffing more snacks into her jacket pocket for later] "I gotta go now."
"Hm? Already?" [Mami candlloro pouted]
"Yeah. I gotta help my dad set up things for church." [kyouko stretched]n "We still on for the shadow hunt later?"
"Ah, yes, that. I almost forgot. Well I do have the party I must plan for..."
[kyoiko frowned at that] "Party?"

[and meanwhile,
[The two magical girls found the entrance to the witch lair and went in. Inside it was decorated like a spacious church, but eveyting was black and white, silhouetted shadowes in the back ground.]
"Here we are. Try to keep up, transfer student."
[After serachign for a while, suprinignly no familars around, they came upong the witch. It was the shadow silhouette of a girl with hair like tree branches, she was kneelign at the altar in prayer]

[Inside Sayaka's Mini-World]

...Why, to greet the new little ones in style, of course!

[Mami said, and then laughed, a pair of pretty fangs showing.]

- Everybody loves a good party, right?

[Kyoko stared at that, too, but then shook her head, smiling ruefully. So why did she feel that there was something wrong with Mami having fangs, again?]

...Alright, then - Have fun party-planning, and don't forget to call me for the actually party, OK?

[Kyoko said, and then waved goodbye toward Sayaka. Sayaka-Oktavia grinned, and waved back, her tail flipping on the sofa.]

< Of course not! See you later, Kyoko-Not-Yet-Ophelia! >

[Kyoko waved, then, and turned to go. She walked toward her house, humming to herself, and then blinked as she saw somebody that looked like her sister Momo talking to something that looked like a shrub.]

< No, no, we have to clean it up, right now - Big Sis is going to cry if she sees anything like that! Come on, come one - >

[And then, she jumped up as she caught sight of Kyoko, groaned. Kyoko blinked, as she realized that she could see right through Momo. Since when had her sister been a shadow, anyway?]

< Big Sis! Oh, no, you have the worst timing - >

[And then, she took a deep breath.]

< Hey, Big Sis - There was something I wanted to ask you about. Could you come over here a bit, and talk about it with me? >

- Sure, Momo! Just wait a sec, I'll go talk to Mom and Dad first -

[Kyoko said with a smile. The shadow girl grimanced at that.]

< ...No, no, not now! Please come this way, Big Sister... >

[And in the church, two shadows who looked like Kyoko's parents and a lot of chinese doll like things were quickly clearing away things that looked like a lot of dead bodies. A couple of shadowy goldfish were swimming around in the air, too, quickly lapping up the dark blood on the floors.]

< ...Poor Kyoko! I wish she'd stop doing things like this to herself, I really do... >

[A shadow that looked like Kyoko's mother said, and then sighed, picking up a body that looked just like hers.]

< ...Husband! Help me carry this, OK? >

[In the outside world]

[Copy Sayaka sighed, then, and pointed to the girl like figure kneeling at the alter with her sword]

...Alright, then - Is this your turn, or mine?

Edited 2016-01-21 06:40 (UTC)

[Kyouko started to head into the church, but Momo pulled on her hand] "Wait Oneechan! Mama said, you have to buy me ice cream first!"
"But you had ice cream yesterday!" [kyouko couldn't help smilling at that. Not that it counted, considering Kyouko's own appetite] "Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh! Ice cream! Or something else yummy! " [She smiled cutely at her sister] "And, there's a surprise!"
"Well then" [Kyouko patted her head] "Let's go!"
"Yay!" [So they headed off, before Kyouko could see the gruesome scene inside the church. Later after getting some ice cream together, Momo led Kyouko to a field , where a black and white speckled horse was waiting[ "Look oneechan! It's your horse!"
[Kyouko blinked and smiled, recahing up to pet it] "I remember you. It's good to see you again, my friend." [The horse knickered and nuzzled her]

[meanwhile]
[homura just quielly pulled out her gun and aimed it at the witch's head, hoping to finish this as quietly and quickly as possible]

[The outside world]

[Copy Sayaka noticed what Homura was doing, and almost started to complain, but then, she shrugged. She'd let the Transfer Student go first, if that's what she wanted to do.]

[Homura took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger - And then, she almost groaned, as two Familiars came out of the Witch's hair, and deflected the bullets at the very last moment!]

...Ha ha ha! Nice try, Akemi-san - So now it's my turn, eh?

[Copy Sayaka said with a grin as the Witch howled. And then, she charged in with a yell, her sword held up high!]

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

[Kyoko sighed a bit, then, as she ate the ice cream.]

...Everything's going so well, though, it's almost scary! I have friends, real friends, not people you just hang out with sometimes, and school is even fun every once in a while! And the church is doing OK, too, right? Father even really smiles, sometimes, not those fake smiles he used to paste on his face when he was trying to talk to what was left of his congregation...

[Kyoko stopped talking then, and paused. Wait, what?]

[And that was when Shadow Momo sighed.]

...Papa always loved us. He really did. It wasn't just lip service, and he wasn't just pretending.

[Kyoko looked at her, her eyebrows raising.]

- Yeah, I know. So?

[Shadow Momo sighed again, and licked at her ice cream.]

...He loved Mama, even though he'd had to give up becoming a priest of the Chatholic Church because she got pregnant and he couldn't bear to just run away from her. He loved us, too, even if getting married and having a family had never been part of the original plans for his life. And then, he became a Minister of this really tiny Protestant sect - Do you remember our old church, Big Sis?

[Kyoko stared at her, and put her hand to her head.]

- Yeah, of course. The church with all the doggies, right? I never could figure out the real reason we had to quit, anyway. Papa and Mama used to be pretty happy back then, I think...

[Shadow Momo nodded at that.]

...Yeah, I'm not sure either, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with church politics. And Papa was starting to get all sick and depressed, too, which didn't help matters at all.

[Kyoko stared at Shadow Momo, her eyes wide.]

......Yeah, he was, wasn't he? I...I...

[Shadow Momo looked up at Kyoko, then, her eyes sad.]

- And then, he tried to make his own religious organization, and tried to make it on his own, but that didn't work out very well, either.

[Shadow Momo leaned up, and patted Kyoko's head, then.]

...What I was trying to say, Big Sis, was that Papa - Our real Papa - loved us, and would never have hurt us.

- That was all his Witch's doing, OK?

[Kyoko stared at her, as her vision began to swim.]

...But he...wasn't a Magical...

- Yeah, yeah, he wasn't a Puella Magi or a Puer Magi, and his Witch wasn't this big obvious thing, but still, it was there. And that was what killed us all.

[And then, Shadow Momo leaned over, and gave Kyoko a hug.]

...It wasn't all your fault, OK? And that - that thing wasn't really Papa, either, even if it started out as part of him. The Papa who loved us, that was our real Papa! Not the other one!

"Wait! sayaka san! Don't be so reckless!" [Homura called after her. With a cry, copy Sayaka dived towards the witch, swinging her sword. more familiars, looking like serpentine shadow puppets, burst out of the witch's hair, striking at sayaka. Sayaka yeleld out as some hit her, but she cut through them, getting closeer to the witch. Tree branches grew out as well, stabbing through sayaka]

[And the memories came rushing back to Kyouko. Her father's messages and the difficulties with the church. That white creature Kyubey. Making the contract, becoming a magical girl. Meeting Mami and going under her tutelage. And then, her father's discovery of her magic.,,his expression of shaock, and disappointment. His depresion,,, and then that horrible night, the fire, the blood, the bodies...]
"..No...." [Kyouko fell to her knees, her heart thumping] [lashing out at mami afetr the tragedy, going on in her lonely new life, hardened from the experience,,, meeting that stupid sayaka... and something worrth in her life again, that stupid sayaka,,,

[The outside world]

[And that was when Copy Sayaka shook her head, looking annoyed indeed!]

...What the bloody hell!

[She grunted - And then, she began to saw through the tree branch things, not seeming to care overmuch if she was sawing through parts of her own body in the process.]

- Hey, Transfer Student! You can have this fight for now, OK!?

[Homura stared at her, her eyes wide - And then, she took a deep breath, and started to rush toward the Witch, time-skipping as she ran. She took out a couple of generades out of her shield, hoping that would work...]

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

[Kyoko cried, then, burying her face in her hands.]

...I - I made the wrong Wish, all right!? What I really should have Wished for was for Papa to get better, and for all of us to be able to live together happily, as a family!

[Shadow Momo sighed, then.]

- Hindsight is always 20 : 20, Big Sis. That's what Mama always used to say, remember?

[And then, she hugged Kyoko again.]

...And Papa was depressed for a long time, from long before you ever met that red eyed creep with that stupid, stupid smile.

[Kyoko started to cry in earnest, then.]

- I - I couldn't even tell if he had a Witch Mark or not, in the end! There was just too much blood and death, and...and...

[And then the witch finally looked up and turned aorund to copy sayaka, a smile visible on her shadowy face[ "Ah, dear sister. Can you feel it? " [She said in witchspeak. Copy sayaka could understand her] "The rapture is coming! Our saviour's arrival is soon!"

[meanwhile]
[Kyouko sniffled and looked around] "And now, he's dead. And mom, and you, little sister..."
[The ghostky Momo hugged her sadly[ "Uh-huh. We are, unfortunately. What you see now is just a memory of us."
"That's right...this world, isn't real, is it." [Kyouko rememebred the events from yesterday at the concert now] 'It's just a n illusion, Sayaka made. But I can't be made at her fro it...

[The outside world]

[Copy Sayaka sweatdropped, then.]

...Since when could Witches say anything we can understand, anyway?

[Homura stopped in midair, then, and turned back to her.]

- You can understand her!?

[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]

[Shadow Momo smiled, then, and looked up at Kyoko again.]

...Hey, we're real too, OK?

[And then, she gave Kyoko a hug.]

- Even if we aren't really the same people you remember - We're still your family, and we still love you.

[Kyoko hugged her back - And then, all of a sudden, they were both in the church, and Kyoko's Shadow Mother and Shadow Father were looking at them happily. There was no sign of any dead bodies or carnage anymore, and everything was sparkling and clean and warm.]

...I love you all, for ever and ever and ever.

[Kyoko's Shadow Father said happily, and then gave her Shadow Mother a kiss on the cheek.]

[Kyoko smiled, then, as the chinese doll girls and the goldfish appeared around them, all clapped their hands and flippers. Pretty dark streaks had started to float through her Soul Gem, and they were very fitting, she thought dreamily.]

[...This wasn't bad. This wasn't bad at all.]

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3

Re: The continuation of Path 3