[The 5th continuation of the Rin, Len, Miku, Nagisa and the Madoka girls thread, including Path 1, Path 2, and Path 3! (Path 3 has been branched off Path 1)]
[Copy sayaka remained on the ground in a faint heap. Homuraa sighed and shook her head, then picked her up. She froze time and carried Sayaka back to her house. By then the wounds on Sayaka were already healing. She did not notice that the witche's grief seed suddenly vanished.
And it reappeared moments later in the dream world] "Never mind! Here it is!" "Ah! Splendid!"
[In the meanwhile, Homura had realized that the Grief Seed had vanished in the confusion.]
...Damn it, where'd it go?
[She griped, searching about the place the Witch Barrier had been.]
- Those things are dangerous, damnit!
[And then, she looked at the churning dark energies in the upper part of her Grief Seed, and sighed.]
...And I could have used a cleansing, too, if I was being honest with myself, I suppose...
[Well, it wasn't like she didn't have quite a bit of spare Grief Seeds stored up, but still, this was annoying indeed.]
[And that was when there was a chuckle...And a golden ribbon with a Grief Seed attached to the end of it came drifting out of a wormhole that suddenly opened up in the air!]
[Homura stared, flabbergasted, as the golden ribbon quickly stuck the Grief Seed to her Soul Gem. The dark energies seemed to be being drawn out as five times as fast as normal.]
[And then, the ribbons and Grief Seed were both gone with a jaunty wave,drawn back through the wormhole in the air - And the wormhole itself was gone, too, like it had never existed.]
[Inside Sayaka's mini world]
[Sayaka-Oktavia grinned, then.]
< That was very nice of you, Mami-Candeloro! >
[Mami-Candeloro grinned back.]
< But of course - Homura is Madoka's friend, after all! And Madoka is Sayaka-Oktavia's friend, and my friend, too! >
[Kyoko-Ophelia sighed a bit at that, and crunched on a rice cracker.]
< ...Hey, come on - The pinkhair's my friend too, right? I mean, she is in lots and lots of Otherworlds, anyway, so... >
[Homura sighed and shook her head. she would have to look into this later. She reacjed Sayaka's home. Good, her parents weren't home. Unsure exactly what to do with the sayaka in her arms, she just lay her down onto the couch and left. Aftewards, Homura decided to head to Madoka's house to check up on her, just in case. Madoka was just finishing up dinner and helping her father clean up. Homura hestitated, then rang the doorbell.]
:"Her name is Madoka!" [Sayaka Oktavia suddenly spoke up] "Will she be joining us?"m [Candleoro asked lightly, forgetting that this was only a dream world and Madoka shouldn't be there.]
[Kyoko-Ophelia said, and then, she crammed some potato chips into her mouth.]
- I mean, she does have a family who loves her and takes good care of her, and all that stuff...
[Mami-Candeloro nodded, then, and then, Sayaka-Oktavia laughed.]
...Well, we could always invite her whole family here too, if it came to that, I think!
[And then, she paused.]
- But not right now, I don't think.
.......Hey, there's something important coming up, now that think about it, right? This Walupgis thing, whatever it really means?
[The outside world]
[Homura went home, then, and flopped on the sofa with a sigh.]
[Things were so confusing - So what was that ribbon thing, and why was it so much like Mami's ribbon, anyway?]
[And that was when there was a cough, and something rolled out from under her sofa.]
...Hello, Akemi Homura - I'm called Eight, or Hachibei if you prefere, and I've talked to your friend Madoka before, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't destroy this body before you hear what I have to say, ha ha ha - I can't afford to just use up spare bodies like a certain younger brother of mine does, I really can't!
[Homura stared at the dust covered critter, and groaned. It had amber-red eyes instead of bright red eyes, she realized now - But now what?]
( mami could hear her witcj self tittering in excitement ) " walpurgis! Our queen! Our celebration! She is arriving!" ( but, was that a good thing? How did the witches know that?) " hang on a minutes..." ( kyouko ophelia sat up, frowning a bit) " we should probably look into this whole upcoming event or something... Somethings not right." " true. We should be prepared...( sayaka oktavia agreed with a nod. She felt her witch self tut in disagreement. .it shouldnt matter, thry should just go on in this perfect world without a care... )
( and meanwhile)
( still, homura was suspixcious at this new incubatir and pulled out her gun at it.) (Hachibei chuckled wryly and shook his head) "i understand your concern miss akemi, but really. I am not yiur enemy. In fact, i am a traitor to my knd. A defect, because i have deceloped real emotions and thoughts of my own. I want to help you.) ( he smiled at her hopefully ) " please listen to what i have to say, at least. Is that all right?
...Look, we're over thinking this, I think. All we have to do is ask our Witch Selves what's actually going to happen, right?
[And then, she closed her eyes, and tried just that. Hmm, a world filled with Witches, where nobody would ever have to worry about losing their sanity again - That did sound pretty nice indeed, yeah.]
[But then, she blinked a bit.]
...But where, in this new world, are the human beings???
[The outside world]
[Homura groaned, then, but she did put her gun away.]
...Sure, whatever, talk away. Whether I believe a word you say is another matter, of course.
- Splendid!
[Eight chirped, and then smiled up at her.]
...I've got a couple of things I wanted to talk about, but the first thing is - Have you realized that the Miki Sayaka you've been talking to today is not the original item, Akemi Homura?
[Homura blinked at that - And then, she went over to the table, and took a sip of the cocoa she'd been making before Eight had come along.]
- Huh, that does explain a lot. So she's, what, an copy?
...We believe she is a construct of some kind, yes.
[Eight said, and then, he eyed Homura's cocoa.]
- You know, Akemi Homura - I tend to be much more talkative when somebody feeds me something good to eat first. Hint, hint!
[Homura groaned, and put a hand to her forehead. Incubators.]
[She got him some cocoa in a cup with a sigh. Hmm, what else?]
[And then, Homura remembered that she'd been planning to eat some crackers and cheese and pickles, and got two plates worth of that ready, as well. It felt weird preparing food for an Incubator like this, as she kept remembering a happier time when they'd actually trusted Kyubey, but - She really could use all the extra info this distinctly odd version of an Incubator could throw her way, after all...]
< That doesn't sound any good at all! Where is Madoka and her family going to live, if there's no place left for the humans anymore? >
[And then, she blinked.]
< ...Oh, wait - My real human family is back there, too, now that I think about it - And so is the Copy Me! >
[Kyoko Ophelia, in the meanwhile, was just munching on another donut.]
<...Well, I don't have any humans that are important to me anymore on the outside except maybe Madoka-chan, buuut - >
[And then, she blinked, too.]
< - No, wait! My horsie! What's my horsie gonna do, if all the humans are gone? >
[The outside world, Homura's apartment]
[Eight jumped toward the food that Homura gave him with a grin.]
...Itadakima~su!
[Homura smiled a bit in spite of herself as she saw him chew down the food, and then took some of the crackers with cheese and pickles on them herself.]
- Hmmm, so if that Sayaka is a copy of some kind - The real Sayaka has shut herself up in that dream world of hers after all, right? And so has Mami and Kyoko, probably, so...
[Eight nodded at that.]
...Probably, yes. But on the other hand - Akemi Homura, have you noticed anything strange about Witch related activities in general around this area, recently? They're getting strangely organized, in my not so humble opinion...
[Homura stared at him, then.]
- Organized? What do you mean?
...There've been cases of Witches just disappearing before a Magical Girl could go destroy them - They just disappeared, Witch Barrier and all. And there also seem to be some other cases of Witches actually entering another Witches's Barrier, just so they can talk to them, I suppose...
[Homura's eyes narrowed, then.]
- Witches - Talk to each other?
[Eight sighed, then, and licked at his paw.]
...Oh, yes, yes they do, if the conditions are right...
[And then, he looked up at Homura, his amber red eyes quiet and somber.]
- Akemi Homura. Have you ever heard of a Witch Queen?
[come tot thihnk of it, homura did remember times when witch barriers have crossed paths. usually the withces briefly greeted eachtot her before going on their way. Sometimes they fought over territory,. But sometimes even, they joined forces. Mami's with and Nagisa's witch were a combo at least once...... Homura narrowed her eyes at the later question] "the witch queen. of course. Walpurgisnacht." she pressed a button and all the research, including 18th century german texts recording her first sighting, she had collected about Walpurguisnacht so far appeared holographically on the walls] "according to statistics, she is due to appear in this city at the end of the month."
- Oh, nothing, nothing - It's just that you're not actually the only Magical Girl who danced the timey whimy dance by a long shot, you see...
[Homura groaned again, her hand to her head. She'd been trying as hard as she could to avoid giving Kyubey any information about her time travel related abilitiies, but this one had figured it out in about five seconds flat!]
[...Oh, well, part of that was her own fault, she supposed.]
[Eight, in the meanwhile, had not been actually able to figure out whether Homura's abilities were time travel, seeing the future, or something else entirely yet, but he wasn't going to mention that to her, no he was not.]
[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked at Sayaka-Oktavia then.]
- Hey, Saya-Okty, do you mind if I make a stable here, and bring my horsie inside?
[Sayaka-Oktavia looked at her with a grin.]
Of course not - Any pets you bring here are quite welcome, Kyoko-Ophelia!
[Kyoko-Ophelia smiled, and then, she blinked. She'd probably have to talk to the man who was the caretaker of her horsie first, if she was going to go get him, right? ...Could she even remember how to talk Human-Speak in the first place? Hmmm...]
[Eight, in the meanwhile, was trying to get as much information about the situation in general as possible.]
...So what happens when the Walpugis arrives? Oh, I'd like to know what it looks like, and what it's abilities are, too, if that's possible...
[Inside Sayaka's mini world]
[Kyoko-Ophelia took a deep breath, then. Well, she'd just have to try this, wouldn't she?]
[And then, she opened up a portal to where she thought her horsie should be, and stepped through it, changing her form to what she thought wouldn't look too out of place in the human world.]
[She arrived in a wide open space with plenty of greenary, and a stable in one side. An old man in work clothes looked at her and grinned.]
...Kyoko-chan! It's you, isn't it?
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked at the old man, and paused, trying to smile.]
< Oh, yeah, it's me, Genjirou-san! Long time no see, eh? >
[The old man tilted his head, then.]
...Is there something wrong with your voice, Kyoko-chan? I couldn't get what you're saying at all!
[[Homura frowned at Eight] You don't know?" "We weren't there when she first made the transition We felt it though. Her potential and wish and transformaiton it changed some of the reality of withches. That's why they have new lairs of lost dreams, appearences, and European names and mostly german" [he scrtahced his year] "I can tell you this. She was a Gernman queen, already an adult. and a bunch of the young wards she had in her care were magical girls."
[menawhile, Oh yeah. Still the witch language. Kyouko Ophelia cleared her throat, doing her best to switch back to japanese] "sorry. Yeah, long time no see, ojii chan!" [He smiled warmly ] "Ah yes, it has been. You've grown up so much.] "It was only a few months since I last visited, ya know." [she shrugged] "I know, I know. but I can till remember when you were a child. Ah how the years go by... ] [he shakes his head wistfully, yet sadly] 'Are you getting on all right?" "Yeah yeah, staying with some good friends of mine, things are goin pretty good. " [of course she didn't mention the illusionary dream world] "Anyway can I see my friend?" "Of course. out in the pasture." [the old man led her out to the pasture where the black and white speckled horse was grazing.] [Kyouko ophelia smiled and reached out for it gently] "hello there, my friend..." [The horse shifted warily as she approached. It sensed the dark energy eminnating from her. Yet, it also recognized her as its old frined and rider...
- Oh, I didn't mean that all Witches have german-ish names now, of course - They're just lots more who do, compared to before. And the lairs of lost dreams thing seems to be something most Witches automatically seem to know how to create now, for whatever reason...
[Homura stared at him, then.]
...Lairs of lost dreams...Wait a minute - You mean to say Witches creating Witch Barriers is a recent innovation?
[Eight shook his head.]
- Well, it wasn't at all unheard of, even back then, but it wasn't something that happened practically automatically, either. They usually needed some time to figure out how to do that, and a lot of them never did produce any Labyrinths, at all.
[At the stable where Kyoko's horse lives]
[Kyoko smiled at the horse, then, and slowly reached out, a cube of sugar in her hand. The horse stared at her, and then at her hand, but eventually ate it.]
...Did you miss me?
[The horse wuffled, then, and put it's face on her shoulder.]
- Awww, you did, didn't you!
[And then, she turned back toward the old man.]
...Hey, Ojii-chan - I got a friend who says I can keep my horse at her place, if I wanted to. She's got a big pasture and a stable and everything, and...
- Huh, really?
[The old man said with a smile - And that was when he turned away, and began to cough.]
...Hey, Jii-chan, you OK?
[The old man kept on coughing for a while. Kyoko-Ophelia's eyes narrowed when she realized he was coughing up blood on his handkerchief.]
- Do you want me to call a doctor?
[The old man swallowed some medicines with a sigh, then, and sat down on the ground.]
...Naah, never mind, girl - I've been to the doctors, and they've done all they can do, already.
[And then he looked up at her with a sigh.]
- It's probably a good thing you came over, actually - The doctors said I only have an year or so left at best, and I have no idea how to find anybody to take care of all the animals here...
[Kyoko looked around the pasture, then, thinking. The old man was taking care of her horse, an old pony, and and about ten cats and dogs, if she was remembering things correctly.]
[And that was when an idea struck her. Maybe she could just move everybody - her horse and the old man and the pony and the other pets - into Sayaka-Oktavia's mini-world, eventually! She'd have to ask Saya-Okty's permission first, of course, but they had plenty of room, she was pretty sure.]
[But as for now...]
Hey, Jii-chan! Let me rub your back for you, OK?
[And then, she sighed a bit. She didn't think healing other people had ever been a thing she was particularly good at, even when she'd been a - a what? A normal Magical Girl?]
[...Were they any such things as normal Magical Girls? Well, whatever.]
[She tried to push herself back into Puella Magi mode as far as she could, and then visualized her magic powers floating into the old man's body, making it easier for him to breath and healing what was wrong with him. Soft and fluffy was the key, right?]
< Sickness sickness go away, make Jii-chan genki again! >
[She chanted in Witchspeak as she made the magic float into his body, and then sighed. Oi, come on, she was trying to get into Puella Magi mode now, or that was the idea, anyway.]
[The old man blinked for a couple of moments, and then, he started to cough a lot, coughing up even more blood and plegm onto his handkerchief. Kyoko-Ophelia looked at him in alarm - She hadn't made things worse by accident, right?]
[And then, the old man took a deep breath. And then another deep breath, and another deep breath after that.]
...What are you doing? It got easier to breath, all of a sudden!
[Kyoko-Ophelia, in the meanwhile, was staring at the old man's aura. Was it just her, or had Genjirou Jiichan's aura just started to turn slightly Familiar-ish around the edges?]
[Kyoko-Ophelia grinned, then. Hey, this wasn't a bad thing, now that she thought about it - Humans, and probably horses too now that she thought about it, couldn't really live very long in a Witch Barrier, after all. They'd have to be transformed into Familiars of some kind if Kyoko-Ophelia wanted them to live with her, she was pretty sure, and...]
[...Well, she wasn't a 100 percent sure that Sayaka-Oktavia's mini world was actually a Witch Barrier all the way yet, but whatever, whatever.]
< Hey Jii-chan, I changed my mind - Could you take care my horsie for a while more? I've got some arrangements I have to make! >
...Sure I can, Kyoko-chan!
[Genjirou said with a smile, and then stood up and put his arms up, moving them about. Even his arms were moving better!]
[Kyoko smiled at him, and then blinked. So he could understand her Witchspeak now? Good, good, that would make things easier, she was pretty sure...]
< I'll try to come visit every day for a while, OK? And there's something else I wanna talk about with you, later...>
[It'll probably take her about 10 days to get her horsie and Genjirou Jii-chan and the rest of the dogs and cats Familiar-ized enough to bring into Saya-Okty's world safely, Kyoko-Ophelia thought with a grin.]
[That should be plenty of time to get them used to things...Right?]
[she opened the portal back up to Sayaka Oktavia's world and went back in. By now, the witches they had brought in had gone up to around human size, some even starting to look more human. Some of them had even set up their wards again, though smaller, a habitat for them. Gertrude had her gardens, Kirsten Elly had her tv set and music studio, Izable had her art studio and paintings and Albertine had her playroom. Bebe, starting tolook a bit like Nagisa again, had remained with Mami candleoro. Along with Kyouko's family church and Sayaka's house, it was like a witch neighborhood now.] "Yo, I'm back!" "Welcome back!" [Sayaka Oktavia looked up from the music sheets she was working on] "Did you find your horse?" "yeah. Things went well. be ready to bring 'em in soon."
[Mami-Candeloro said, clapping her hands, and then she blinked. Wait, so how were the Mini Witches - Or rather, the ex Mini Witches - getting enough energy to make their own Barriers, even little ones, anyway?]
[She put a finger to her head, and then went and looked into the Music Box Thing.]
...Ohhhh - Ha ha ha! The sly little things!
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked into the Music Box Thing, then, craning her neck.]
- Huh? Where'd the Grief Seeds go?
I'm not sure, but...Bebe! Oh, Bebe, where are you~
[Mami-Candeloro sang out, and it wasn't long till Mami stuck her head out of a round door that hadn't been there a moment before.]
< Big Sister! What is it? >
[Mami-Candeloro grinned at her, and then shook the music box thing is Bebe's direction.]
...Is there something you haven't told us going on, Bebe-chan? This is mighty suspicious, you know!
[Bebe sweatdropped a bit at that.]
< ...But we didn't do anything! They all came back on their own, once we were all stronger and thinking better and stuff like that! >
[Mami-Candeloro and Kyoko-Ophelia looked at each other, then, blinking.]
...Ya mean the Grief Seeds went back to you on their own, once they decided you could handle them better?
[Kyoko-Ophelia said slowly.]
That's...sort of neat, actually, isn't it. Ha ha ha!
[Kyoko-Ophelia went every day to the farm, then. She usually spent some time putting some of her aura into her horsie's, and then went on to the old man and the pony and the cats and dogs.]
...Ohhh, I feel so much better since you started visiting me regularly, Kyoko-chan...
[The old man said with a smile as she massaged his shoulders and tried to make his aura resonate with his.]
< - Yeah, that was sort of the point, Jii-chan. >
[Kyoko-Ophelia said with a smile, and then stood up and took the towel she'd put on his shoulders. The old man stood up, and windmilled his arms about.]
...And you know, it's weird, but I think I can understand the animals a bit better then I used to nowadays - It's almost like they're trying to talk to me or something!
[Kyoko-Ophelia grinned brightly at that.]
< They probably are, now that I think about it! >
[And then, she paused. Somebody was coming down this way...And their magic was wafting over everything, like grape juice that was only beginning to slightly ferment!]
[Kyoko-Ophelia groaned, then. It was a Puella Magi!]
[And a very lovely mediterranean looking puella magi with long dark hair and wearing a green and blue robe with gold accesorries and carrying a wand. Her sould gem was blue green and shaped like a branch on her arm. she was followed by a pig, a sheep, a dog and a snake, wearing leashes, very likely enchanted. She narrowed her eyes at Kyouko Ophelia] "Strange. i could have sworn i sensed a witch around here." "well maybe your'e mistaken" [Kyouko ophelia crossed her arms, not wanting to deal with this at the moment] "who's pryin'?" "my name is Circe hamada. and these are my pets. But, maybe I should ask you the same thing, you're more curious after all." [The magical girl smiled coyly and leanred forward] "Yes, I can definitely smell witch on you. Oh, but there's something different as well." [She pointed her wand at the redhead's chest] "Tell me. Is it possible for a witch to wear human skin? " [She chuckled] "Maybe I should go ahead and dispose of you monsster, or figure out what you really are?" [Kyouko Ophelia growled and took out her spear] "If you only knew..." "This won't be necesary." [Homura suddenly appeared between them. Kyouko blinked] "Homura Akemi...." [Circe was taken aback by Homura's sudden appearence, then put her coy dememanor back down] "My my, so a rival appears. This shall be fun." "This particular situation doesn't concern you, miss." [Homura handed some grief seeds over to Circe in offering] "Take these and go. I shall deal with this." [Circe scoffed in annoynace] "What, just blowing me off like that?" "Like I said..." "Homura chan!!" [Madoka ran over] "Ah so itss true!! you found Kyouko chan!" "Madoka, go back to the inn to your family! You shouldnt get involved here!" "But I_" [Circe looked over at Madoka and sneered wickedly] "And youre a normal powerless human girl. She's right, girls like you shouldnt get involved with magical girl business! How annoying, you interupted us. Maybe I should teach you a lesson!" [She twirled her wand, brimming with magic, and shot a spell at madoka] "Madoka!!!" [Homura teleported in front Madoka to shield her, and took the spell straight in the back] "No~~ Homura!!" [There was a bright light for a moment , and Homura was gone, only her clothes remaining. ] [Kyouko gaped, flames starting to spark in her hair ]"what did you do to her!!!" [As Madoka fell tp her knees and sobbed, something in Homura's discarrded clothes wiggled and a small black and purple lizard poked its head out of the collar. There was a familiar purple diamond embedded in its hand]
[Kyoko-Ophelia snarled out, her spear materializing in her hands.]
[Madoka stared at her, Lizard Homura still in her hands.]
[Wait. What? Why - Why couldn't she understand what Kyoko-chan was saying!?]
[The other Magical Girl, however, was having none of that.]
...Seriously, you're weird. I mean, I've seen Magical Girls who were on their way out, but none of them were like you, I don't think.
[And then, she tilted her head.]
- I have no idea if you're gonna drop a Grief Seed, though.
[And then, a Circe grinned coldly, and looked back at Madoka, who had now stood up, Homura's school uniform over one arm, and Lizard Homura held to her chest.]
...So what do you think, Pink-chan? Is your friend Witchy enough to drop a Grief Seed or what?
[And then, she snarled, as some of her "pets" whimpered.]
- Oh, come on, don't make that face, girl - It's an important question, right!? Ha ha ha ha ha!
[Madoka was trembling in fear, but she tried to stay strong] "P-Please miss. You don't have to do this, miss! Kyouko chan is my friend! I know we can work something out!" [And then she realized that Kyouko's language was the same one that she had heard witches speak. so did this mean Kyouko had become a witch somehow? She still looked like herself, except for her blazing hair. And her features did start to look darker now.] [Homura Liazrd struggled in Madoka's hands, feeling panicked. She found that she was unable to use her magic in this form. What if this disrupted the magic she put up to keep Kyubey from tracking Madoka to the coutry side? She tried to talk, crying out to Madoka to leave to safety but all that came out were raspy squeaks.] [Kyouko Ophelia realzied she was still speaking the witch language and cleared her throat, forcing her voice back to Japanese] "Madoka chan! You and Akemi better get out of here!" "Fire heads right, pinky" [Circe sneered] "Unless you wanna do something about it!" [ And she could sense this girl had amazing magcial girl potential, but she wasnt one yet] "Listen, I'm gonna be nice and let you keep your little lizard friend." "Kyouko-chan..." "Just go!! I'll be fine!!" [She threw her chain link around madoka and lifted her onto the back of her horse] "Hold on tight! Hyah!" [And she sent the horse away to carry Madoka to safertu[
< Just go, Pinkie. And try to take care of Purple, all right? >
[Kyoko-Ophelia groaned - And then, she snarled at the other Magical Girl, then, not bothering to pretend to be any more human they she was.]
< You damn fool. All you're doing is making things worse for yourself! >
...So sorry, but I couldn't understand a word you said just now - Could you elaborate?
[Circe laughed, maniacly, as her magic swirled.]
[Kyoko groaned, and then forced herself to speak Japanese again.]
- Calm down, keep yourself under control, and clean off your Soul Gem, you dumbass. Otherwise, the results wouldn't be pretty at all.
[And then, she sighed.]
...You're gonna Hatch in less then a day at this rate, all right? You're almost there already, as a matter of fact. And it's not like you even have a proper Nest where you can turn into a Witch safely and properly or anything, correct?
[And in the meanwhile, inside Sayaka's Mini World...]
[Mami-Candeloro paused, a kettle in her hand.]
[...Wait a minute. Was that a ...whinny?]
[And in the outside world...]
[Madoka stared in alarm as the horse she and Lizard Homura were on galloped straight into something that looked like a scene out of a very strange picture book for kids.]
[Lizard Homura, in the meanwhile, was almost facepalming. All of a sudden, there were in a place where daikons where almost the size of horses. Some cats and dogs and a pony were looking at them, their auras faintly glowing amber red.]
[Madoka and Lizard Homura both looked at each other, then. The animals didn't feel like they were ready to attack them or anything, though, which was pretty odd in it's own right, considering how things usually were like within Witch Barriers...]
[Circe tilted her head, looking annoyed] "Jud]st what are you talking about! Nest? Me, become a witch? hah!" [Ophelia scowled and marched up to her] "Don't you get it! Magical girls become witches! witches used to be magical girls! Its all connected!" [Circe hesitated] "I, no! You're lying! That's not true!"
[And Mami Candleoro came through the door, still human looking but still dressed in the frilly teal and yellow dress and bonnet. Her pale face lit up in a deilghted smile] "Oh! Madoka chan! you made it! Ah, though we were not expecting you until later. Oh well!" "Mami san? " [Mami ran up to her, looking relieved] "there you are! We were so worried about you and kyuko sam when you went away!" [homura lizard bristled anxiously at mami candleoro, sensing her witch aura. Yet like Kyouko ophelia's , there was still the feeling of magical girl.] "Ah, do not worry, we are doing just fine!] [she noticed the little lizard in madokas hands] "and who is this little one?" "this is homura chan! she was turnned ito a lizard! Mami san, Kyouko chan is in trouble!
Ahh, OK, Madoka-chan - Don't worry, we'll deal with this, all right?
[Mami-Candeloro said with a smile, and then she made the tea equipment she was still holding in one hand disappear with a flick of her wrist. Madoka blinked as she saw Mami's ribbons start to float around her, like she was some kind of jellyfish or something, and then almost clutched Lizard Homura, who squeaked back at her apprehensively. Oh, Mami was very pretty like this, Madoka did have to admit, but...]
[And in the meanwhile, near the farm...]
[Kyoko-Ophelia was sighing.]
...Why the heck would I bother lying about something like this? It's all true - Puella Magi turn into Witches, eventually, unless they die first. You've been a Magical Girl long enough to see what happens when Magical Girls run out of time, right?
[Circe staggered away, then, her eyes wide, and nearly tripped on one of her dogs, which seemed to be as frightened as she was.]
- No...No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't. I'm - I'm not going to lose my mind like that...
...Sorry, girl, it doesn't work like that, I don't think -
[Kyoko-Ophelia said, sighing again - And that was when an idea struck her.]
...Though on the other hand - You can come and live with us in our Nest, I suppose, as long as your make a contract to obey our orders and everything. You'll probably go Witch slower in that case, and even keep your sanity too if you're lucky...
[And then, Kyoko-Ophelia looked at Circe, and grinned again.]
- Well, I'll have to ask Sayaka-Oktavia for permission first, cause it's her place, but I don't think she'll say no, to be honest - The more the merrier, after all!
[And then mami candleoro's magic twinkled, and a a cute, tiny purple dress appeared on Homulizard.] "There we go!" [Madoka and Homulizard blinked and sweatdropped.] "Ah, I'm sorry, I can not turn Homura back. Only the magical girl who placed the spell can. Oh, do tell me, what happened anyway? "I'll tell you exactly what afterwards but, Kyouko is in danger now! She's fighting with that magical girl outside! Then she put me and Homura on her horse, and then the horse took us here!" " [ oh my..." [mami candleoro tutted and shook her head] "Hold on a moment then."
[And circe just blinked, shaking her head, still horrified] "No..no way! I'm not joining you freaks!" "Look, I am jst trying to help," "I DONT NEED YOUR HELP!!!" [and Mami candleoro poked her head out of the portal] "Kyouko ophelia! Come in, I just baked some brioche!"
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked at Mami-Candeloro, and grinned.]
...Ohh, yeah, I just love those...
[And then she turned toward the Circe.]
- Hey, kiddo - Why don't you just calm down and eat some of Mami-Candy here's nice brioches, now? Good food makes everything better, it really does!
[Mami-Candy? Mami-Candeloro giggled at her new nickname, and then turned to the other girl, who was beginning to smell more and more like fresh wine.]
<...Circe-san! I hadn't seen you for a while - Have you been well? >
...You too, Tomoe!?
[Circe groaned, and then sank to her knees as a wave of dizziness hit her. She looked at her Soul Gem, and almost snarled as she saw the dark energies rolling around inside it, like a boiling stew.]
- What are you...doing to me...
[Kyoko-Ophelia and Mami-Candeloro looked at each other, mystified.]
< ...Nothing? I don't think? >
[Kyoko-Ophelia sighed, then.]
< ...Well, we weren't doing anything on purpose, but on the other hand - We'd been practically been showering her with Half-Witch energies, and this is when she was near the edge already, soo... >
[Mami-Candeloro looked at Kyoko-Ophelia, and then at Circe with alarm.]
< - Damn. What should we do now? I don't have any Grief Seeds left anymore, I think...>
[Kyoko-Ophelia nodded, thinking - And that was when an idea struck her.]
< ...Hey, I just got an idea - Why don't we try a little experiment? >
[And then, she pointed to Circe's Soul Gem.]
< ...So what do ya think would happen if we went and stuck that in ya Music Box Thing, eh, Mami-Candy? >
[Madoka, in the meanwhile, had quickly moved away to the other side of the field with Lizard Homura still in her arms, the moment that Circe had collapsed. She put Lizard Homura on her shoulder, so she could see what was going on better, and then hid behind a old tractor, watching what was going on.]
"Brioche... witch... no...!" [Circe stumbled weakly to her feet and ran off. she seemed a bit plumper now...] [Mami Candleoro shrugged] "Ah well, She'll join us soon enough. Now, shall we, Kyouko Ophelia?" "Sounds good." [Madoka sighed, feeling genuinely sad for Circe. She was sure she wasn;t actually so bad, and she was in pain. So she decided to run off after her in concern. Homulizard squealed in protest at this] "I know Homura, but, she looked so sad! " [AMdoka responded, petting her] "I'm sure, maybe she just needs a hug! And maybe, once she feels better, if we ask nicely, she can turn you back to normal!" [Homulizard shook her head, doubtful.] [Kyouko Ophelia watched Madoka run off and sweatdropped, and looked at her horse] "I told you to take her to a safe place!" [the horse knickered, almost apologetically]
[meanwhile, Circe had collasped in sorrow and exhaustion, wheezing, her sclothes straining as her body was reverting back to the form it was before she made her wish to be thin and beautiful. As her gem darkened and throbbed, voices echoed in her head, the thin pretty girls who used to tease her mercilessly, calling her a pig. It wasn't her fault she was that size, it was glandular. her only comfort was more food, and animals who she had a touch with, and the legends form the mediterranean side of her family. ....]
Re: The continuation of Path 3
And it reappeared moments later in the dream world]
"Never mind! Here it is!"
"Ah! Splendid!"
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[In the meanwhile, Homura had realized that the Grief Seed had vanished in the confusion.]
...Damn it, where'd it go?
[She griped, searching about the place the Witch Barrier had been.]
- Those things are dangerous, damnit!
[And then, she looked at the churning dark energies in the upper part of her Grief Seed, and sighed.]
...And I could have used a cleansing, too, if I was being honest with myself, I suppose...
[Well, it wasn't like she didn't have quite a bit of spare Grief Seeds stored up, but still, this was annoying indeed.]
[And that was when there was a chuckle...And a golden ribbon with a Grief Seed attached to the end of it came drifting out of a wormhole that suddenly opened up in the air!]
[Homura stared, flabbergasted, as the golden ribbon quickly stuck the Grief Seed to her Soul Gem. The dark energies seemed to be being drawn out as five times as fast as normal.]
[And then, the ribbons and Grief Seed were both gone with a jaunty wave,drawn back through the wormhole in the air - And the wormhole itself was gone, too, like it had never existed.]
[Inside Sayaka's mini world]
[Sayaka-Oktavia grinned, then.]
< That was very nice of you, Mami-Candeloro! >
[Mami-Candeloro grinned back.]
< But of course - Homura is Madoka's friend, after all! And Madoka is Sayaka-Oktavia's friend, and my friend, too! >
[Kyoko-Ophelia sighed a bit at that, and crunched on a rice cracker.]
< ...Hey, come on - The pinkhair's my friend too, right? I mean, she is in lots and lots of Otherworlds, anyway, so... >
Re: The continuation of Path 3
Aftewards, Homura decided to head to Madoka's house to check up on her, just in case. Madoka was just finishing up dinner and helping her father clean up. Homura hestitated, then rang the doorbell.]
:"Her name is Madoka!" [Sayaka Oktavia suddenly spoke up]
"Will she be joining us?"m [Candleoro asked lightly, forgetting that this was only a dream world and Madoka shouldn't be there.]
Re: The continuation of Path 3
...I dunno...Maybe later?
[Kyoko-Ophelia said, and then, she crammed some potato chips into her mouth.]
- I mean, she does have a family who loves her and takes good care of her, and all that stuff...
[Mami-Candeloro nodded, then, and then, Sayaka-Oktavia laughed.]
...Well, we could always invite her whole family here too, if it came to that, I think!
[And then, she paused.]
- But not right now, I don't think.
.......Hey, there's something important coming up, now that think about it, right? This Walupgis thing, whatever it really means?
[The outside world]
[Homura went home, then, and flopped on the sofa with a sigh.]
[Things were so confusing - So what was that ribbon thing, and why was it so much like Mami's ribbon, anyway?]
[And that was when there was a cough, and something rolled out from under her sofa.]
...Hello, Akemi Homura - I'm called Eight, or Hachibei if you prefere, and I've talked to your friend Madoka before, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't destroy this body before you hear what I have to say, ha ha ha - I can't afford to just use up spare bodies like a certain younger brother of mine does, I really can't!
[Homura stared at the dust covered critter, and groaned. It had amber-red eyes instead of bright red eyes, she realized now - But now what?]
Re: The continuation of Path 3
" hang on a minutes..." ( kyouko ophelia sat up, frowning a bit) " we should probably look into this whole upcoming event or something... Somethings not right."
" true. We should be prepared...( sayaka oktavia agreed with a nod. She felt her witch self tut in disagreement. .it shouldnt matter, thry should just go on in this perfect world without a care... )
( and meanwhile)
( still, homura was suspixcious at this new incubatir and pulled out her gun at it.)
(Hachibei chuckled wryly and shook his head) "i understand your concern miss akemi, but really. I am not yiur enemy. In fact, i am a traitor to my knd. A defect, because i have deceloped real emotions and thoughts of my own. I want to help you.) ( he smiled at her hopefully ) " please listen to what i have to say, at least. Is that all right?
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Kyoko-Ophelia sighed, then.]
...Look, we're over thinking this, I think. All we have to do is ask our Witch Selves what's actually going to happen, right?
[And then, she closed her eyes, and tried just that. Hmm, a world filled with Witches, where nobody would ever have to worry about losing their sanity again - That did sound pretty nice indeed, yeah.]
[But then, she blinked a bit.]
...But where, in this new world, are the human beings???
[The outside world]
[Homura groaned, then, but she did put her gun away.]
...Sure, whatever, talk away. Whether I believe a word you say is another matter, of course.
- Splendid!
[Eight chirped, and then smiled up at her.]
...I've got a couple of things I wanted to talk about, but the first thing is - Have you realized that the Miki Sayaka you've been talking to today is not the original item, Akemi Homura?
[Homura blinked at that - And then, she went over to the table, and took a sip of the cocoa she'd been making before Eight had come along.]
- Huh, that does explain a lot. So she's, what, an copy?
...We believe she is a construct of some kind, yes.
[Eight said, and then, he eyed Homura's cocoa.]
- You know, Akemi Homura - I tend to be much more talkative when somebody feeds me something good to eat first. Hint, hint!
[Homura groaned, and put a hand to her forehead. Incubators.]
[She got him some cocoa in a cup with a sigh. Hmm, what else?]
[And then, Homura remembered that she'd been planning to eat some crackers and cheese and pickles, and got two plates worth of that ready, as well. It felt weird preparing food for an Incubator like this, as she kept remembering a happier time when they'd actually trusted Kyubey, but - She really could use all the extra info this distinctly odd version of an Incubator could throw her way, after all...]
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
[Sayaka Oktavia scowled, then.]
< That doesn't sound any good at all! Where is Madoka and her family going to live, if there's no place left for the humans anymore? >
[And then, she blinked.]
< ...Oh, wait - My real human family is back there, too, now that I think about it - And so is the Copy Me! >
[Kyoko Ophelia, in the meanwhile, was just munching on another donut.]
<...Well, I don't have any humans that are important to me anymore on the outside except maybe Madoka-chan, buuut - >
[And then, she blinked, too.]
< - No, wait! My horsie! What's my horsie gonna do, if all the humans are gone? >
[The outside world, Homura's apartment]
[Eight jumped toward the food that Homura gave him with a grin.]
...Itadakima~su!
[Homura smiled a bit in spite of herself as she saw him chew down the food, and then took some of the crackers with cheese and pickles on them herself.]
- Hmmm, so if that Sayaka is a copy of some kind - The real Sayaka has shut herself up in that dream world of hers after all, right? And so has Mami and Kyoko, probably, so...
[Eight nodded at that.]
...Probably, yes. But on the other hand - Akemi Homura, have you noticed anything strange about Witch related activities in general around this area, recently? They're getting strangely organized, in my not so humble opinion...
[Homura stared at him, then.]
- Organized? What do you mean?
...There've been cases of Witches just disappearing before a Magical Girl could go destroy them - They just disappeared, Witch Barrier and all. And there also seem to be some other cases of Witches actually entering another Witches's Barrier, just so they can talk to them, I suppose...
[Homura's eyes narrowed, then.]
- Witches - Talk to each other?
[Eight sighed, then, and licked at his paw.]
...Oh, yes, yes they do, if the conditions are right...
[And then, he looked up at Homura, his amber red eyes quiet and somber.]
- Akemi Homura. Have you ever heard of a Witch Queen?
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
Homura narrowed her eyes at the later question] "the witch queen. of course. Walpurgisnacht." she pressed a button and all the research, including 18th century german texts recording her first sighting, she had collected about Walpurguisnacht so far appeared holographically on the walls] "according to statistics, she is due to appear in this city at the end of the month."
Re: The continuation of Path 3
...Stastistics???
[Eight tilted his head at Homura, and laughed.]
- Ohhh, you're one of those, aren't you?
[Homura stared at him, and groaned.]
...What are you nattering on about now?
- Oh, nothing, nothing - It's just that you're not actually the only Magical Girl who danced the timey whimy dance by a long shot, you see...
[Homura groaned again, her hand to her head. She'd been trying as hard as she could to avoid giving Kyubey any information about her time travel related abilitiies, but this one had figured it out in about five seconds flat!]
[...Oh, well, part of that was her own fault, she supposed.]
[Eight, in the meanwhile, had not been actually able to figure out whether Homura's abilities were time travel, seeing the future, or something else entirely yet, but he wasn't going to mention that to her, no he was not.]
[Inside Sayaka's Mini World]
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked at Sayaka-Oktavia then.]
- Hey, Saya-Okty, do you mind if I make a stable here, and bring my horsie inside?
[Sayaka-Oktavia looked at her with a grin.]
Of course not - Any pets you bring here are quite welcome, Kyoko-Ophelia!
[Kyoko-Ophelia smiled, and then, she blinked. She'd probably have to talk to the man who was the caretaker of her horsie first, if she was going to go get him, right? ...Could she even remember how to talk Human-Speak in the first place? Hmmm...]
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
[Homura sighed, then. Incubators.]
[Eight, in the meanwhile, was trying to get as much information about the situation in general as possible.]
...So what happens when the Walpugis arrives? Oh, I'd like to know what it looks like, and what it's abilities are, too, if that's possible...
[Inside Sayaka's mini world]
[Kyoko-Ophelia took a deep breath, then. Well, she'd just have to try this, wouldn't she?]
[And then, she opened up a portal to where she thought her horsie should be, and stepped through it, changing her form to what she thought wouldn't look too out of place in the human world.]
[She arrived in a wide open space with plenty of greenary, and a stable in one side. An old man in work clothes looked at her and grinned.]
...Kyoko-chan! It's you, isn't it?
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked at the old man, and paused, trying to smile.]
< Oh, yeah, it's me, Genjirou-san! Long time no see, eh? >
[The old man tilted his head, then.]
...Is there something wrong with your voice, Kyoko-chan? I couldn't get what you're saying at all!
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
"We weren't there when she first made the transition We felt it though. Her potential and wish and transformaiton it changed some of the reality of withches. That's why they have new lairs of lost dreams, appearences, and European names and mostly german" [he scrtahced his year] "I can tell you this. She was a Gernman queen, already an adult. and a bunch of the young wards she had in her care were magical girls."
[menawhile, Oh yeah. Still the witch language. Kyouko Ophelia cleared her throat, doing her best to switch back to japanese] "sorry. Yeah, long time no see, ojii chan!"
[He smiled warmly ] "Ah yes, it has been. You've grown up so much.]
"It was only a few months since I last visited, ya know." [she shrugged]
"I know, I know. but I can till remember when you were a child. Ah how the years go by... ] [he shakes his head wistfully, yet sadly] 'Are you getting on all right?"
"Yeah yeah, staying with some good friends of mine, things are goin pretty good. " [of course she didn't mention the illusionary dream world] "Anyway can I see my friend?"
"Of course. out in the pasture." [the old man led her out to the pasture where the black and white speckled horse was grazing.]
[Kyouko ophelia smiled and reached out for it gently] "hello there, my friend..."
[The horse shifted warily as she approached. It sensed the dark energy eminnating from her. Yet, it also recognized her as its old frined and rider...
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Eight paused a little, then.]
- Oh, I didn't mean that all Witches have german-ish names now, of course - They're just lots more who do, compared to before. And the lairs of lost dreams thing seems to be something most Witches automatically seem to know how to create now, for whatever reason...
[Homura stared at him, then.]
...Lairs of lost dreams...Wait a minute - You mean to say Witches creating Witch Barriers is a recent innovation?
[Eight shook his head.]
- Well, it wasn't at all unheard of, even back then, but it wasn't something that happened practically automatically, either. They usually needed some time to figure out how to do that, and a lot of them never did produce any Labyrinths, at all.
[At the stable where Kyoko's horse lives]
[Kyoko smiled at the horse, then, and slowly reached out, a cube of sugar in her hand. The horse stared at her, and then at her hand, but eventually ate it.]
...Did you miss me?
[The horse wuffled, then, and put it's face on her shoulder.]
- Awww, you did, didn't you!
[And then, she turned back toward the old man.]
...Hey, Ojii-chan - I got a friend who says I can keep my horse at her place, if I wanted to. She's got a big pasture and a stable and everything, and...
- Huh, really?
[The old man said with a smile - And that was when he turned away, and began to cough.]
...Hey, Jii-chan, you OK?
[The old man kept on coughing for a while. Kyoko-Ophelia's eyes narrowed when she realized he was coughing up blood on his handkerchief.]
- Do you want me to call a doctor?
[The old man swallowed some medicines with a sigh, then, and sat down on the ground.]
...Naah, never mind, girl - I've been to the doctors, and they've done all they can do, already.
[And then he looked up at her with a sigh.]
- It's probably a good thing you came over, actually - The doctors said I only have an year or so left at best, and I have no idea how to find anybody to take care of all the animals here...
[Kyoko looked around the pasture, then, thinking. The old man was taking care of her horse, an old pony, and and about ten cats and dogs, if she was remembering things correctly.]
[And that was when an idea struck her. Maybe she could just move everybody - her horse and the old man and the pony and the other pets - into Sayaka-Oktavia's mini-world, eventually! She'd have to ask Saya-Okty's permission first, of course, but they had plenty of room, she was pretty sure.]
[But as for now...]
Hey, Jii-chan! Let me rub your back for you, OK?
[And then, she sighed a bit. She didn't think healing other people had ever been a thing she was particularly good at, even when she'd been a - a what? A normal Magical Girl?]
[...Were they any such things as normal Magical Girls? Well, whatever.]
[She tried to push herself back into Puella Magi mode as far as she could, and then visualized her magic powers floating into the old man's body, making it easier for him to breath and healing what was wrong with him. Soft and fluffy was the key, right?]
< Sickness sickness go away, make Jii-chan genki again! >
[She chanted in Witchspeak as she made the magic float into his body, and then sighed. Oi, come on, she was trying to get into Puella Magi mode now, or that was the idea, anyway.]
[The old man blinked for a couple of moments, and then, he started to cough a lot, coughing up even more blood and plegm onto his handkerchief. Kyoko-Ophelia looked at him in alarm - She hadn't made things worse by accident, right?]
[And then, the old man took a deep breath. And then another deep breath, and another deep breath after that.]
...What are you doing? It got easier to breath, all of a sudden!
[Kyoko-Ophelia, in the meanwhile, was staring at the old man's aura. Was it just her, or had Genjirou Jiichan's aura just started to turn slightly Familiar-ish around the edges?]
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
[...Well, she wasn't a 100 percent sure that Sayaka-Oktavia's mini world was actually a Witch Barrier all the way yet, but whatever, whatever.]
< Hey Jii-chan, I changed my mind - Could you take care my horsie for a while more? I've got some arrangements I have to make! >
...Sure I can, Kyoko-chan!
[Genjirou said with a smile, and then stood up and put his arms up, moving them about. Even his arms were moving better!]
[Kyoko smiled at him, and then blinked. So he could understand her Witchspeak now? Good, good, that would make things easier, she was pretty sure...]
< I'll try to come visit every day for a while, OK? And there's something else I wanna talk about with you, later...>
[It'll probably take her about 10 days to get her horsie and Genjirou Jii-chan and the rest of the dogs and cats Familiar-ized enough to bring into Saya-Okty's world safely, Kyoko-Ophelia thought with a grin.]
[That should be plenty of time to get them used to things...Right?]
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
By now, the witches they had brought in had gone up to around human size, some even starting to look more human. Some of them had even set up their wards again, though smaller, a habitat for them. Gertrude had her gardens, Kirsten Elly had her tv set and music studio, Izable had her art studio and paintings and Albertine had her playroom. Bebe, starting tolook a bit like Nagisa again, had remained with Mami candleoro. Along with Kyouko's family church and Sayaka's house, it was like a witch neighborhood now.]
"Yo, I'm back!"
"Welcome back!" [Sayaka Oktavia looked up from the music sheets she was working on] "Did you find your horse?"
"yeah. Things went well. be ready to bring 'em in soon."
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Mami-Candeloro said, clapping her hands, and then she blinked. Wait, so how were the Mini Witches - Or rather, the ex Mini Witches - getting enough energy to make their own Barriers, even little ones, anyway?]
[She put a finger to her head, and then went and looked into the Music Box Thing.]
...Ohhhh - Ha ha ha! The sly little things!
[Kyoko-Ophelia looked into the Music Box Thing, then, craning her neck.]
- Huh? Where'd the Grief Seeds go?
I'm not sure, but...Bebe! Oh, Bebe, where are you~
[Mami-Candeloro sang out, and it wasn't long till Mami stuck her head out of a round door that hadn't been there a moment before.]
< Big Sister! What is it? >
[Mami-Candeloro grinned at her, and then shook the music box thing is Bebe's direction.]
...Is there something you haven't told us going on, Bebe-chan? This is mighty suspicious, you know!
[Bebe sweatdropped a bit at that.]
< ...But we didn't do anything! They all came back on their own, once we were all stronger and thinking better and stuff like that! >
[Mami-Candeloro and Kyoko-Ophelia looked at each other, then, blinking.]
...Ya mean the Grief Seeds went back to you on their own, once they decided you could handle them better?
[Kyoko-Ophelia said slowly.]
That's...sort of neat, actually, isn't it. Ha ha ha!
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
[Kyoko-Ophelia went every day to the farm, then. She usually spent some time putting some of her aura into her horsie's, and then went on to the old man and the pony and the cats and dogs.]
...Ohhh, I feel so much better since you started visiting me regularly, Kyoko-chan...
[The old man said with a smile as she massaged his shoulders and tried to make his aura resonate with his.]
< - Yeah, that was sort of the point, Jii-chan. >
[Kyoko-Ophelia said with a smile, and then stood up and took the towel she'd put on his shoulders. The old man stood up, and windmilled his arms about.]
...And you know, it's weird, but I think I can understand the animals a bit better then I used to nowadays - It's almost like they're trying to talk to me or something!
[Kyoko-Ophelia grinned brightly at that.]
< They probably are, now that I think about it! >
[And then, she paused. Somebody was coming down this way...And their magic was wafting over everything, like grape juice that was only beginning to slightly ferment!]
[Kyoko-Ophelia groaned, then. It was a Puella Magi!]
Re: The continuation of Path 3 2/2
"well maybe your'e mistaken" [Kyouko ophelia crossed her arms, not wanting to deal with this at the moment] "who's pryin'?"
"my name is Circe hamada. and these are my pets. But, maybe I should ask you the same thing, you're more curious after all." [The magical girl smiled coyly and leanred forward] "Yes, I can definitely smell witch on you. Oh, but there's something different as well." [She pointed her wand at the redhead's chest] "Tell me. Is it possible for a witch to wear human skin? " [She chuckled] "Maybe I should go ahead and dispose of you monsster, or figure out what you really are?"
[Kyouko Ophelia growled and took out her spear] "If you only knew..."
"This won't be necesary." [Homura suddenly appeared between them.
Kyouko blinked] "Homura Akemi...."
[Circe was taken aback by Homura's sudden appearence, then put her coy dememanor back down] "My my, so a rival appears. This shall be fun."
"This particular situation doesn't concern you, miss." [Homura handed some grief seeds over to Circe in offering] "Take these and go. I shall deal with this."
[Circe scoffed in annoynace] "What, just blowing me off like that?"
"Like I said..."
"Homura chan!!" [Madoka ran over] "Ah so itss true!! you found Kyouko chan!"
"Madoka, go back to the inn to your family! You shouldnt get involved here!"
"But I_"
[Circe looked over at Madoka and sneered wickedly] "And youre a normal powerless human girl. She's right, girls like you shouldnt get involved with magical girl business! How annoying, you interupted us. Maybe I should teach you a lesson!" [She twirled her wand, brimming with magic, and shot a spell at madoka]
"Madoka!!!" [Homura teleported in front Madoka to shield her, and took the spell straight in the back]
"No~~ Homura!!"
[There was a bright light for a moment , and Homura was gone, only her clothes remaining. ]
[Kyouko gaped, flames starting to spark in her hair ]"what did you do to her!!!"
[As Madoka fell tp her knees and sobbed, something in Homura's discarrded clothes wiggled and a small black and purple lizard poked its head out of the collar. There was a familiar purple diamond embedded in its hand]
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Kyoko-Ophelia snarled out, her spear materializing in her hands.]
[Madoka stared at her, Lizard Homura still in her hands.]
[Wait. What? Why - Why couldn't she understand what Kyoko-chan was saying!?]
[The other Magical Girl, however, was having none of that.]
...Seriously, you're weird. I mean, I've seen Magical Girls who were on their way out, but none of them were like you, I don't think.
[And then, she tilted her head.]
- I have no idea if you're gonna drop a Grief Seed, though.
[And then, a Circe grinned coldly, and looked back at Madoka, who had now stood up, Homura's school uniform over one arm, and Lizard Homura held to her chest.]
...So what do you think, Pink-chan? Is your friend Witchy enough to drop a Grief Seed or what?
[And then, she snarled, as some of her "pets" whimpered.]
- Oh, come on, don't make that face, girl - It's an important question, right!? Ha ha ha ha ha!
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Homura Liazrd struggled in Madoka's hands, feeling panicked. She found that she was unable to use her magic in this form. What if this disrupted the magic she put up to keep Kyubey from tracking Madoka to the coutry side? She tried to talk, crying out to Madoka to leave to safety but all that came out were raspy squeaks.]
[Kyouko Ophelia realzied she was still speaking the witch language and cleared her throat, forcing her voice back to Japanese] "Madoka chan! You and Akemi better get out of here!"
"Fire heads right, pinky" [Circe sneered] "Unless you wanna do something about it!" [ And she could sense this girl had amazing magcial girl potential, but she wasnt one yet] "Listen, I'm gonna be nice and let you keep your little lizard friend."
"Kyouko-chan..."
"Just go!! I'll be fine!!" [She threw her chain link around madoka and lifted her onto the back of her horse] "Hold on tight! Hyah!" [And she sent the horse away to carry Madoka to safertu[
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Madoka cried out as the horse galloped away.]
< Just go, Pinkie. And try to take care of Purple, all right? >
[Kyoko-Ophelia groaned - And then, she snarled at the other Magical Girl, then, not bothering to pretend to be any more human they she was.]
< You damn fool. All you're doing is making things worse for yourself! >
...So sorry, but I couldn't understand a word you said just now - Could you elaborate?
[Circe laughed, maniacly, as her magic swirled.]
[Kyoko groaned, and then forced herself to speak Japanese again.]
- Calm down, keep yourself under control, and clean off your Soul Gem, you dumbass. Otherwise, the results wouldn't be pretty at all.
[And then, she sighed.]
...You're gonna Hatch in less then a day at this rate, all right? You're almost there already, as a matter of fact. And it's not like you even have a proper Nest where you can turn into a Witch safely and properly or anything, correct?
[And in the meanwhile, inside Sayaka's Mini World...]
[Mami-Candeloro paused, a kettle in her hand.]
[...Wait a minute. Was that a ...whinny?]
[And in the outside world...]
[Madoka stared in alarm as the horse she and Lizard Homura were on galloped straight into something that looked like a scene out of a very strange picture book for kids.]
[Lizard Homura, in the meanwhile, was almost facepalming. All of a sudden, there were in a place where daikons where almost the size of horses. Some cats and dogs and a pony were looking at them, their auras faintly glowing amber red.]
[Madoka and Lizard Homura both looked at each other, then. The animals didn't feel like they were ready to attack them or anything, though, which was pretty odd in it's own right, considering how things usually were like within Witch Barriers...]
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[Ophelia scowled and marched up to her] "Don't you get it! Magical girls become witches! witches used to be magical girls! Its all connected!"
[Circe hesitated] "I, no! You're lying! That's not true!"
[And Mami Candleoro came through the door, still human looking but still dressed in the frilly teal and yellow dress and bonnet. Her pale face lit up in a deilghted smile]
"Oh! Madoka chan! you made it! Ah, though we were not expecting you until later. Oh well!"
"Mami san? " [Mami ran up to her, looking relieved] "there you are! We were so worried about you and kyuko sam when you went away!"
[homura lizard bristled anxiously at mami candleoro, sensing her witch aura. Yet like
Kyouko ophelia's , there was still the feeling of magical girl.]
"Ah, do not worry, we are doing just fine!] [she noticed the little lizard in madokas hands] "and who is this little one?"
"this is homura chan! she was turnned ito a lizard! Mami san, Kyouko chan is in trouble!
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[Mami-Candeloro said with a smile, and then she made the tea equipment she was still holding in one hand disappear with a flick of her wrist. Madoka blinked as she saw Mami's ribbons start to float around her, like she was some kind of jellyfish or something, and then almost clutched Lizard Homura, who squeaked back at her apprehensively. Oh, Mami was very pretty like this, Madoka did have to admit, but...]
[And in the meanwhile, near the farm...]
[Kyoko-Ophelia was sighing.]
...Why the heck would I bother lying about something like this? It's all true - Puella Magi turn into Witches, eventually, unless they die first. You've been a Magical Girl long enough to see what happens when Magical Girls run out of time, right?
[Circe staggered away, then, her eyes wide, and nearly tripped on one of her dogs, which seemed to be as frightened as she was.]
- No...No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't. I'm - I'm not going to lose my mind like that...
...Sorry, girl, it doesn't work like that, I don't think -
[Kyoko-Ophelia said, sighing again - And that was when an idea struck her.]
...Though on the other hand - You can come and live with us in our Nest, I suppose, as long as your make a contract to obey our orders and everything. You'll probably go Witch slower in that case, and even keep your sanity too if you're lucky...
[And then, Kyoko-Ophelia looked at Circe, and grinned again.]
- Well, I'll have to ask Sayaka-Oktavia for permission first, cause it's her place, but I don't think she'll say no, to be honest - The more the merrier, after all!
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[Madoka and Homulizard blinked and sweatdropped.]
"Ah, I'm sorry, I can not turn Homura back. Only the magical girl who placed the spell can. Oh, do tell me, what happened anyway?
"I'll tell you exactly what afterwards but, Kyouko is in danger now! She's fighting with that magical girl outside! Then she put me and Homura on her horse, and then the horse took us here!"
" [ oh my..." [mami candleoro tutted and shook her head] "Hold on a moment then."
[And circe just blinked, shaking her head, still horrified] "No..no way! I'm not joining you freaks!"
"Look, I am jst trying to help,"
"I DONT NEED YOUR HELP!!!"
[and Mami candleoro poked her head out of the portal] "Kyouko ophelia! Come in, I just baked some brioche!"
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...Ohh, yeah, I just love those...
[And then she turned toward the Circe.]
- Hey, kiddo - Why don't you just calm down and eat some of Mami-Candy here's nice brioches, now? Good food makes everything better, it really does!
[Mami-Candy? Mami-Candeloro giggled at her new nickname, and then turned to the other girl, who was beginning to smell more and more like fresh wine.]
<...Circe-san! I hadn't seen you for a while - Have you been well? >
...You too, Tomoe!?
[Circe groaned, and then sank to her knees as a wave of dizziness hit her. She looked at her Soul Gem, and almost snarled as she saw the dark energies rolling around inside it, like a boiling stew.]
- What are you...doing to me...
[Kyoko-Ophelia and Mami-Candeloro looked at each other, mystified.]
< ...Nothing? I don't think? >
[Kyoko-Ophelia sighed, then.]
< ...Well, we weren't doing anything on purpose, but on the other hand - We'd been practically been showering her with Half-Witch energies, and this is when she was near the edge already, soo... >
[Mami-Candeloro looked at Kyoko-Ophelia, and then at Circe with alarm.]
< - Damn. What should we do now? I don't have any Grief Seeds left anymore, I think...>
[Kyoko-Ophelia nodded, thinking - And that was when an idea struck her.]
< ...Hey, I just got an idea - Why don't we try a little experiment? >
[And then, she pointed to Circe's Soul Gem.]
< ...So what do ya think would happen if we went and stuck that in ya Music Box Thing, eh, Mami-Candy? >
[Madoka, in the meanwhile, had quickly moved away to the other side of the field with Lizard Homura still in her arms, the moment that Circe had collapsed. She put Lizard Homura on her shoulder, so she could see what was going on better, and then hid behind a old tractor, watching what was going on.]
Re: The continuation of Path 3
[Mami Candleoro shrugged] "Ah well, She'll join us soon enough. Now, shall we, Kyouko Ophelia?"
"Sounds good."
[Madoka sighed, feeling genuinely sad for Circe. She was sure she wasn;t actually so bad, and she was in pain. So she decided to run off after her in concern. Homulizard squealed in protest at this]
"I know Homura, but, she looked so sad! " [AMdoka responded, petting her] "I'm sure, maybe she just needs a hug! And maybe, once she feels better, if we ask nicely, she can turn you back to normal!"
[Homulizard shook her head, doubtful.]
[Kyouko Ophelia watched Madoka run off and sweatdropped, and looked at her horse] "I told you to take her to a safe place!"
[the horse knickered, almost apologetically]
[meanwhile, Circe had collasped in sorrow and exhaustion, wheezing, her sclothes straining as her body was reverting back to the form it was before she made her wish to be thin and beautiful. As her gem darkened and throbbed, voices echoed in her head, the thin pretty girls who used to tease her mercilessly, calling her a pig. It wasn't her fault she was that size, it was glandular. her only comfort was more food, and animals who she had a touch with, and the legends form the mediterranean side of her family. ....]
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Re: The continuation of Path 3
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Re: The continuation of Path 3