[The 6th 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)]
[And Sayaka thought some morwe] "So, you and Mami used to be close?" "yeah. I was her protogee, back in my early days as a magical girl....but we had a falling out... mainly on my part..." [Kyouko looked away almost sadly] "But, thing are different now. Maybe, you can try to reach out to her? " [Sayaka suggeted] "try to make ammends?" "I dunno..." [Kyouko shrugged] "It's the past now. She doesn't need me. Besides, she's got that little brat to take care of now..." [she chuckled dryly] "how did a cute 'lil kid like her end up in the ugly life of magical girl.... she's lucky she's got Mami..." [she sighed, thinking of Mono]
- She doesn't know anything about the turning into Witches thing, right? And since Mami-san doesn't know either, and it probably would be a bad idea to tell her either way...
...Yeah, yeah - Seriously, I think Mami might crack if she actually figured it out. Even the kid would probably take it better then her, methinks.
[Kyoko said, and then, she made herself smile.]
...So - You did mention something about a house I might be able to camp out at, right?
- Oh, yeah, of course!
[Sayaka said, making herself smile too, and then took Kyoko to the old house her granny had used to live in. It was still in fairly good shape, though it was dusty, and some of the doors rattled.]
...Here, you can have the spare key. I can't figure out how to get the gas and water and electricity and stuff turned on without my parents noticing, though...
[Kyoko grinned at that.]
- Naah, don't worry about that - I don't really need the air conditioning anymore, anyway, ever since I made the Contract. And though it'll be nice if I could use the bath or the washing machine, I've gotten into the habit of going to a sento with a landromat attached when I wanna to take a bath or wash my clothes, anyhow.
[And then, she tilted her head, thinking.]
...No, wait - Hey, Sayaka! Nobody taught you how to use your magic to clean yourself or your clothes and stuff yet, right? It usually happens automatically when you de-transform, but you can do it whenever you want, too. It's a bit tiring, so I wouldn't recommend using it all the time, but it's very useful in a pinch, if I say so myself...
"I already learned how." [Sayaka shrugged] "Lemme guess. Mami ttaught you how." [Kyouko just rolled her eyes] "Ah well."[She continued munching on the bag of chips she had and lounged on the sofa.
Meanwhile, now that Nagisa had some more energty, she was up to join in witch hunts with Mami again. She was especially nervous however, now that she knew the truth about who they used to be.] "Hopefully we weon't be out too late tonight, Nagisa" [ Mami was saying as she followed the witch energy trail] "Important as magical girl duty is, you still need your rest. " "I'll be fine, Onee chan. I can handle it!" [Nagisa replied, trying a smile]
[Nagisa shook her head, then. Wait, what was this? Why did her mind keep insisting that she knew something about Witches, something important and terrifying? She kept getting images of Magical Girls superimposed on the images of Witches, as if - ]
[She remembered Akemi Homura talking to her by the gravesite, looking at her like there was something she wanted to tell her, but didn't dare too. Nagisa hadn't been really watching the stage when the Witch Battle had begun at the Hatsune Miku concert, but some of the other Magical Girls and Madoka-san had been, and they had all acted so weird during and after the battle, now that Nagisa thought about it. And then, after the battle was over, Akemi-san had talked to her again, telling her not to trust Kyubey. Well, she wouldn't anyway, but - ]
[And then, she shuddered as a unreasonably cute Witch with a orange scarf with pompoms around her neck appeared in her mind, looking at her.]
(Cheese! Cheese! Where is the Cheese?)
[It was the exact same scarf with orange pompoms that Mami had given her as a gift a couple of days before. Nagisa gasped and went to her knees, nearly fainting as her mind almost grasped something - ]
[And that was when her Soul Gem started to glow, with the lines Kyubey had etched on them some time ago glowing faintly purple, orange and black!]
[Nagisa shook her head, then. The something she'd almost grasped had faded away from her mind's eye, though she was pretty sure it would come back sooner or later.]
- Oh, yes, Mami-Neesan!
[She said, and stood up, happily.]
...And once this Witch-hunt is over, we're going on our Onsen trip! Right, Mami-Nee?
"[Mami tolted her head, a bit worry at the glimpse of Naagisa's distress, but she patted Nagisa's shoulder.] "Of course we will, Nagisa. Are you all packed?" "Not yet," "Then you finish up when we get home. Do you need help for it?" "Well, Maybe." "We have to make sure you don't over pack." [Mami tensed and looked up as she sensed another witch.] "Two witches..." [ as they entered the witch realm, indeed they could feel the energy of two different witches there, both of their realms merged. One like a child's drawing of a playroom , the other a mesh of famous expressionist paintings] "Two witches teaming up?" [Nagisa gaped] "Is it possible?" "It doesn't happen very often, but yes it is possible, I've seen it before." [they found some familiars attacking some teenage school girls, abstract drawing paper cutouts wrapping around one girl and a childs marker drawing of a girl in an airplane turning the other girl into a ball. In the center of the lair, one with, a stone statue of a magical girl upon an arch was working on a painting, while the other much younger witch, a crayon drawing of a little girl, lay beside her, scribbling with crayons]
[Mami looked at the scene in front of them, planning their attacks - And that was when a Kyubey appeared at their feet, red eyes glittering.]
...You should be careful, Mami - This Witch teamup is different from the other ones you've fought before, you see!
- Kyubey!
[Mami said happily, and leaned down to pat his head.]
...So how are they different? I did feel that the Witch Barrier felt different, like two of them had melted into one, but...
[The Kyubey nodded, while Nagisa turned away, groaning. That damn little while and red eyed creep just had to come and ruin their fun, it seemed...]
- The other Witch teamups you'd fought were the ones where there was an original Witch plus a couple of Familiars which had originally been created by the same Witch, and then managed to get upgraded to full Witch status. They'd just been originally one Witch Barrier to begin with, in those cases, and the upgraded ex-Familiar Witches often just kept adding their powers to the original Witch Barrier rather then create a new one themselves.
[And then, the Kyubey waved at the Witches in front of them.]
...However, in this case, two original Witches have merged their Witch Barriers, which means that the Barriers themselves are much more mutable and hard to deal with then usual. What do you think would happen if one of the Witches just decided to run away while you fought the other one, for example?
[Mami groaned at that.]
- We're going to have to fight in a Witch Barrier where the rules of reality are changing all the time, you mean?
( and mami thought some more) " actually kyubey, i remember, i have fought two true witches who have teamed up before." ( she could remember that bee like witch and that pin cushion flower like witch.) " oh." (Kyubey's constant expressionless face hid the jab of annoyance of having misremembered something) " but thank you for the information. It would probably be best if we took out both witches at once, if possible. " ( mami glided to the familiars and got rid of them) " hang on you two, everything is going to be all right." ( she put a protective barrrier around the two girls who were attacked. The dark magic effects and memories of thd event should disappear after the witches were defeated.) " let us go, nagisa!"
[The Kyubey, in the meanwhile, was checking through Incubator Flock Niner's shared databanks regarding Tomoe Mami and the Witches she had fought, inwardly muttering to himself. So why did he remember - ? - ]
[And then, he blinked as even more discrepancies showed up. Darn, this was yet another reality glitch thing, wasn't it? He opened up the subsection regarding reality glitches, and started to toss in some data, highlighting the places in his memories that didn't match what was in the databanks.]
[Mami and Nagisa, in the meanwhile, were having a hard time fighting the Witches, who apparently were very used to fighting together, unlike most of the other Witches Mami had fought up to this point.]
- Yikes!
[Nagisa cried out. The Witch who looked like a crayon drawing of a little girl had suddenly grabbed her, and pushed her right into one of her drawings, giggling up a storm!]
...Nagisa-chan!
[Mami cried out, turning around in mid-air.]
- Are you OK!?
...Yeahhh, I think so - Don't worry about me, Mami-san!
[Nagisa said, and flapped her arms about, trying to get her balance. So she was stuck in a crayon lake filled with flowers, now? Jeez...]
[Mami, in the meanwhile, had turned her gaze back to the Witch who looked like a stone statue of a Magical Girl, biting her lip. She'd known the Magical Girl who'd been the model of that statue, once upon a time, she was pretty sure...]
( The little crayon drawing witch giggked happily and dove into the drawing, entering the scene and arriving next to Nagia, babbling in witch speak. To Nagisa's surprise, she found she understand what the witch was saying!" "Hooray! A new friend! Now we can play together! My name is Albertine! What's yours?" (Nagisa tried to put on on a brave face and aimed her bubble gun at the witch) "I'm going to defeat you, witch!"
(Yes, Mami remembered her now. She was an artist and used art related attacks. She even had a young magical girl junior just like Nagisa. Hm, apparently in the news later, there was a scandal about her art work and she had a mental breakdown, and then went missing, her junior still disappearing after...)
{Nagisa blinked , a chilling feeling of horror coming across her at those words ) "N-no! You;re wrong! I'm not like you, a witch! I'm a magical girl! A-And my name is not Charlotee! It's Nagisa!" (Albertine contuined giggling and twirleeled up to her, leaning closely with a big grin on her otherwise emotionless face.] "Nuh-uh! You're one of us! All magical girls become us, and I can sense you're on your way!"
{Mami hesitated. She could under stand what the witch had said.. Didn't people only understand witches when they prodded at their dark thoughts when they were in a state of despair...?" no, this was probably a trick. Mami remained her composure and aimed her rifle)
[Albertine laughed at that, and twirled around again.]
(Of course it does, silly, silly Charlotte! And Redeyes is a filthy lying liar who lies!)
[Nagisa nodded at that, her eyes almost going blank with shock.]
- Well, he is, yeah...
[And that was when her Soul Gem started to glow again, the force lines Kyubey had placed there glowing purple! Nagisa shook her head, then, the blankness fading from her eyes.]
...So that was the big secret? Huh, well, that's awful and nasty and all kinds of mean, all right, but on the other hand, I knew there was something wrong with Kyubey and all the rest of the stuff he said anyway, so...
[Albertine giggled, then, and clapped her hands.]
(...Your Witch colors just went even brighter then before! So pretty, Charlotte!)
[And in the meanwhile, Mami was growling under her breath as Izabella just ducked away from her magical rifle's attacks, laughing.]
(- Foolish, foolish Puella Magi - Why don't you just give up, and come and join us? We can paint for ever and ever, while you have your tea party - You like tea parties, right? Why, of course you do!)
( nagisa snarled and attacked the little witch wwith much aggresion, most of her cute whimsy gone. Her face was even paler and her teeth sharper. She was angry, snd frightened, and somewhat empty..,
Mami meanwhile continued battling the artist witch with experience, though her wirds still rang in her mind, sending a chill. The witch just had to be messing with her, right? She had to stay focuesdd!
(I think you should come back later, when you and your Neesan are more fun to play with! Fun is good, right?)
[And then, Albertine flipped over in mid-air, and called out - ]
(...Hey, Izabella-Nee! I have an idea, OK?)
[Nagisa groaned, then. Albertine had made a gesture, and Nagisa suddenly found herself being tossed out of the Witch Barrier entirely!]
- Oh, no!
[She groaned, and scrambled to her feet - And that was when Mami came tumbling out of thin air, almost landing right on Nagisa's head!]
...Darn! I didn't think they could actually kick us out like this. Are you OK, Nagisa-chan?
[Mami said, and then, she sighed as the Witch Barrier energy markers started to fade away.]
- And now they've gotten away, drat them all...
...I'm fine, Mami-Nee!
[Nagisa said, and then, she went over and gave Mami a hug.]
- Hey, we can just go and take our trip to the house with the Onsen now, right? I mean - Those Witches fought us once already, and they couldn't defeat us the first time, so they're not going to let us inside their Barrier that easily anymore, I don't think...
[Mami nodded at that, sighing.]
...That's true, now that I think about it - It might be better if we left them along for a while, I suppose. Or maybe we should even let some other Magical Girls deal with them, if they could. This is so annoying, though - It's been a while since any Witch got the better of me like that, to be honest...
[And then, she checked her little pouch of Grief Seeds, just in case.]
- And yes, we have enough Grief Seeds to keep us in good shape at least a week or more, I think, so everything should be OK.
[Mami gave Nagisa a big hug back, then.]
...I'll just go talk to some Magical Girls tonight, and then, tommorow, we can go on our big trip to the onsen!
[Nagisa grinned, widely, though she didn't forget to kick a nearby Kyubey while Mami wasn't looking. The nerve of those critters, lying about something as important as Magical Girls turning into Witches...]
[...Oh, well. It couldn't be helped, though. Nagisa sighed a bit, wondering how and when to tell Mami about that particular problem. She had the feeling that she should wait until after they'd had their fun onsen trip, though - Mami should be further along at that point, so she probably wouldn't freak out as much.]
[And then, Nagisa paused a bit. Further along? Further along what?]
[And then, she shook her head with a smile, her eyes glinting red for a moment. Never mind that for now - For now, they were going to have some fun!]
[Later that night, after Mami had tucked her into bed, Nagisa was looking out the window, thinking about what she hadd found out about magical girls that earllier that evening during the fight. ] "...so.. that's the truth..." [That was the connection. Magical girls bcame witches. that explained everything. How witches were all female, how one turned up after a magical girl started acting strange then went missing. How a grief seed actually looked like a tiwsted black soul gem. And that actually almost happened to her, right after her mother died. Yes, she would already be a full witch now if it wasn't for Mami saving her... Nagisa held up her soul gem, examining it, with a small dazed smile on her face] "But, would being a witch really be that bad?" [She wondered aloud] "Maybe if you were in control of it, it wouldn't be so scary. Maybe it could be fun, and hepful!" [a dark bubble emerged from her hand and popped into what looked with a polka dotted mouse with a nurse cap and a round mask. Nagisa cheered and pettedb him] "Pytor! you came back! Oh I'm glad! Oh, we should get big sister to be a witch too! Should we tell her? teehee, maybe it will be more fun as a surprise!"
[The little mouse Familiar squeaked at her, waving it's paws about.]
...Oh, you're right, Pyotr. We shouldn't rush things - Good cheese takes time to make properly, after all!
[And then, she gave him a little hug, and tucked him in besides her.]
- And I still miss Mama a lot, and Papa too, but hey, I have Mami-Nee now, right? And now I have you too.
[The little Familiar smiled at her, then, and nodded.]
...So we should wait, until the proper time comes, and just have fun in the meanwhile. And after that - We can have our tea party, for ever and ever and ever!
[Nagisa fell asleep, then, and slept until morning. She woke up and shook her head, yawning.]
...I think I had a good dream last night, but I can't remember what it was all about. Isn't that odd, Mami-Nee?
[Mami laughed from the other side of Nagisa's room's half open door.]
- Oh, that isn't odd at all, Nagisa-chan! I mean, it would have been nice to remember it if it was a good dream, but that happens all the time, frankly.
[Nagisa smiled back, went and ate her breakfast, and then went back to her room, to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Hmm, everything seemed to be all right, but...And then, Nagisa blinked as suddenly, she saw a half transparent polka dotted mouse with a nurse cap and a mask, pointing at her desk. Oh, right - She probably should take the keys from those boxes that Mami-Nee's Grant Aunt Miyoko had left her, and maybe some of the other stuff, too. The keys were supposed to fit the locks of something in the big old house with the onsen, right? Well, that was what that creep Kyubey had said, anyway, and he didn't usually outright lie, even though he fudged the truth all the time.]
...Thanks, Pyotr!
[She said, and put the keys and anything else that felt relevant into a smaller lacquer box that she's also inherited from Miyoko-san, and put the whole thing into a soft bag.]
[And then, she put her rucksack on her back, and raised her voice.]
- I'm ready now, Mami-Neesan!
[Nagisa took a good look at Mami's apartment as they got out of it.]
...Bye, apartment! I have no idea if we're ever going to be coming back here or not, but you were fun to live in, anyhow.
[She whispered toward it, and then went toward Mami, smiling. The Kyubey at their feet nimbly avoided Nagisa's kick this time, and quickly hopped into Mami's arms.]
...Hello to you too, Momoe Nagisa. You feel a bit different today, do you not?
[The Kyubey said with a snicker - And then, he looked up at Mami, smiling brightly.]
- We're going to eat bentos on the train, right? I love bentos!
[Mami chuckled and patted his head.]
...Of course we are, Kyubey! What kind of bentos do you want to eat this time?
[Nagisa, in the meanwhile, was staring at the Kyubey, sweatdropping a bit. So that was what a Kyubey's smile looked like when it wasn't fake all the way...]
[Mami and Nagisa both ate their bentos, then. Nagisa tried not to look at the Kyubey, as it was apparently hugely enjoying whatever food that Mami was giving him at the moment, and watching any Kyubey enjoy itself was annoying indeed.]
[Sometimes, Nagisa was pretty sure that the Kyubeys actually liked Mami, except that didn't seem to stop them from treating her like they treated all the other Magical Girls at all. Well, they weren't human, that much she did know, but...]
[But whatever, whatever! Nagisa shook her head, and smiled brightly at Mami, pointing at a map.]
...So we're going to the big old house over here, right?
- Oh, yes!
[Mami said, grinning, and then, she explained that though they'd usally take a car, she thought it would just be faster to transform and run to the house once they got to the nearest station, since she and Nagisa were both Magical Girls.]
...Haha, OK!
[Nagisa said, grinning - And then, it was time to get off the train. Mami, Nagisa and the Kyubey got off at a very tiny station, and then the girls transformed into their Magical Girl forms as soon as they were sure nobody was watching. Mami picked up the traveling bags she'd brought, and put the Kyubey on her shoulder.]
- OK, then - Follow me!
[They had a great deal of fun after that, running through the hills and jumping over rivers and cliffs. Haha, it was sometimes a great deal of fun to be a Magical Girl, Nagisa had to admit...]
[And in less then an hour, they had reached the old house in the mountains they'd been planning to stay at. Mami opened the door with a old fashioned key, and then bowed to Nagisa and Kyubey.]
...Welcome to my not so humble house, Nagisa-chan, Kyubey!
" ooh! Pretty house!" Nagisachirped as she skipped inside, running. Around to explore the house curioukly. Mami chuvkled and followed, making sure to close the door behind her. After checking. Out their establishments, they concluded that mami wouls sleep in the master bed room ans nagisa would stay in the smaller bedroom aceoss thr hall.) " how a out we get settled in snd unpacked, have a spot of tea, and thengo to tge hotsprinfs?@ mami suggested " ok!" Nagusa skipped into her room, abd with the dior closed, let the nouse outof her pocket abd onyo the bed " pytot! Were here!"
[The little mouse thing rolled across the bed, and cheered happily, clapping it's little paws.]
(Yes, yes we are - This is the right place, indeed!)
[And then, she looked at Nagisa, and grinned.
(Go have tea with you Big Sis, Little Mistress - We will clean up the baths while you do!)
[...We? Nagisa was a bit puzzled for a moment, but then decided not to worry about it.]
...Thanks, Pyotr!
[She whispered, and then, she turned in the direction Mami was.]
- OK, Mami-Nee - I'm coming!
[And in the meanwhile...]
[Several rogue Incubators were outside the house, looking at what was going on. A small army of Mini-Familiars were now trying to clean the hot spring area up, rubbing the tubs and the walls and the floor until they shined, and getting fresh towels and soap and the like.]
...Huh.
[Eight said with a soft sigh, while Seven nodded.]
- Yeah, this is sort of new, if I say so myself. I never thought Niner would ever reach the point of being halfway original with his experiments, but he's getting close to the tipping point, isn't he?
[So Niner was getting more and more "contaminated by emotions" and - Some of the little Familiars over there smelled more like Mami then Nagisa, if he wasn't mistaken.]
[Eight sighed, then, and licked at his paws, wondering what would happen now...]
[Mami was in the kitchen at the moment, brewing up some tea and warming up some croisscants that she had made before they left and had brought along. She had even made sure to bake some cheese on top for Nagisa. with a somewht glazed smile, Mami watched her dear friends, clad in cute maid outfits with heart prints, do their work outside. How darling Kyouko, Madoka,and Sayaka were! So cute and loyal and lovign and would never leave her alone and... ... Wait a moment...... Kyouko? Madoka? Sayaka? What were they doing here? Mami's curious notice was interrupted by Nagisa merrily skipping in and hugging her0 "Big sister!!" "Ah, Nagisa!" ( Mami smiled and hugged her back) "Shall we go have tea and snacks now?" "Yes please!" (to Mami's surprise as they went out to the patio for the tea and snacks, there was already a table all set up for them, pretty table cloth and a vase of fresh flowers and all!)
[The Mini Familiars, in the meanwhile, had hidden themselves under some convenient bushes, giggling.]
Everything pretty and nice now - Tee hee!
[Eight and Seven watched a pack of Mini-Familiars that looked a lot like Mami's friends, curiously. There was even a pink-haired Madoka lookalike, who had now climbed up on the shoulders of Pyotr, watching the tea party.]
...This is strange, though - Who could have set things up so nicely?
[Mami said, and poked at the flowers, curiously.]
- Oh, maybe it was some of the local fairies or something!
[Nagisa said, and then, she sat at the table and started to poar Mami some tea.]
...Hmph. Well, I don't know about fairies, but nothing seems to be particularly dangerous about this table, I suppose.
[Mami said - And then, she poared some tea for Nagisa and Kyubey, as she was pretty sure Nagisa would not even give Kyubey the time of day in this case. Nagisa still didn't seem to like poor Kyubey, sadly enough, she thought...]
- Here are your cakes, Nagisa-chan, Kyubey!
[And then, they all sat down and started to eat their very nice cakes.]
[And in the meanwhile, the Mini Familiars had started their own small tea party too. Eight sighed a bit as a Mini Kyoko lookalike tossed a piece of cake at him and Seven.]
...Thanks for the thought, but I'm pretty sure your cakes wouldn't agree with us, Mini-Things?
( later, after the two girls finished up their tea and enjoyed a relaxing soak in the baths, they decided to explore the house a bit more. Eventually they came upon a large , western styled library) " this is charming " maki commmented as she browsed the books) " uh- huh!" ( nagisa agreed as she searched for picture books . Pytor appeared and swueaked, waving its littlepaw in nagisas direction as if motioning her to follow) " what is it, pytor?) ( nagisa followed the mouse to a wall. The mouse squeaked again, pointing to a small keyhole near the bottom)
[Nagisa blinked for a moment, and then, she clapped her hands as she realized that this must be one of the keyholes that fit the keys that Miyoko-san had left her. She put one of the keyes into the keyhole, and grinned when she felt the key catch.]
...Mami-Neesan! Look, look - I think there must be some kind of secret door over here!
[Mami came over, then, and took a good look at the keyhole and key.]
- You appear to be right about that, Nagisa-chan!
[The two of them spent some time getting the secret door which looked just like part of the wall to open up properly, then. Nagisa sneezed a bit as the door opened up at long last.]
...It's so dusty, ha ha ha -
[And then, her eyes opened in wonder as she saw what was in the secret room behind the secret door. There were two large portraits on the walls, and some really old looking books on a desk in front of it.]
- Ohhh! Mami-Nee, Mami-Nee, look, look - The people in this picture look just like you and me!
Re: The continuation of Path 2
"yeah. I was her protogee, back in my early days as a magical girl....but we had a falling out... mainly on my part..." [Kyouko looked away almost sadly]
"But, thing are different now. Maybe, you can try to reach out to her? " [Sayaka suggeted] "try to make ammends?"
"I dunno..." [Kyouko shrugged] "It's the past now. She doesn't need me. Besides, she's got that little brat to take care of now..." [she chuckled dryly] "how did a cute 'lil kid like her end up in the ugly life of magical girl.... she's lucky she's got Mami..." [she sighed, thinking of Mono]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
...Yeah, poor kid...
[And then, she sighed.]
- She doesn't know anything about the turning into Witches thing, right? And since Mami-san doesn't know either, and it probably would be a bad idea to tell her either way...
...Yeah, yeah - Seriously, I think Mami might crack if she actually figured it out. Even the kid would probably take it better then her, methinks.
[Kyoko said, and then, she made herself smile.]
...So - You did mention something about a house I might be able to camp out at, right?
- Oh, yeah, of course!
[Sayaka said, making herself smile too, and then took Kyoko to the old house her granny had used to live in. It was still in fairly good shape, though it was dusty, and some of the doors rattled.]
...Here, you can have the spare key. I can't figure out how to get the gas and water and electricity and stuff turned on without my parents noticing, though...
[Kyoko grinned at that.]
- Naah, don't worry about that - I don't really need the air conditioning anymore, anyway, ever since I made the Contract. And though it'll be nice if I could use the bath or the washing machine, I've gotten into the habit of going to a sento with a landromat attached when I wanna to take a bath or wash my clothes, anyhow.
[And then, she tilted her head, thinking.]
...No, wait - Hey, Sayaka! Nobody taught you how to use your magic to clean yourself or your clothes and stuff yet, right? It usually happens automatically when you de-transform, but you can do it whenever you want, too. It's a bit tiring, so I wouldn't recommend using it all the time, but it's very useful in a pinch, if I say so myself...
Re: The continuation of Path 2
"Lemme guess. Mami ttaught you how." [Kyouko just rolled her eyes] "Ah well."[She continued munching on the bag of chips she had and lounged on the sofa.
Meanwhile, now that Nagisa had some more energty, she was up to join in witch hunts with Mami again. She was especially nervous however, now that she knew the truth about who they used to be.]
"Hopefully we weon't be out too late tonight, Nagisa" [ Mami was saying as she followed the witch energy trail] "Important as magical girl duty is, you still need your rest. "
"I'll be fine, Onee chan. I can handle it!" [Nagisa replied, trying a smile]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
[She remembered Akemi Homura talking to her by the gravesite, looking at her like there was something she wanted to tell her, but didn't dare too. Nagisa hadn't been really watching the stage when the Witch Battle had begun at the Hatsune Miku concert, but some of the other Magical Girls and Madoka-san had been, and they had all acted so weird during and after the battle, now that Nagisa thought about it. And then, after the battle was over, Akemi-san had talked to her again, telling her not to trust Kyubey. Well, she wouldn't anyway, but - ]
[And then, she shuddered as a unreasonably cute Witch with a orange scarf with pompoms around her neck appeared in her mind, looking at her.]
(Cheese! Cheese! Where is the Cheese?)
[It was the exact same scarf with orange pompoms that Mami had given her as a gift a couple of days before. Nagisa gasped and went to her knees, nearly fainting as her mind almost grasped something - ]
[And that was when her Soul Gem started to glow, with the lines Kyubey had etched on them some time ago glowing faintly purple, orange and black!]
[Mami looked back, then, looking slightly worried.]
...Nagisa-chan! Are you OK?
[Nagisa shook her head, then. The something she'd almost grasped had faded away from her mind's eye, though she was pretty sure it would come back sooner or later.]
- Oh, yes, Mami-Neesan!
[She said, and stood up, happily.]
...And once this Witch-hunt is over, we're going on our Onsen trip! Right, Mami-Nee?
Re: The continuation of Path 2
"Not yet,"
"Then you finish up when we get home. Do you need help for it?"
"Well, Maybe."
"We have to make sure you don't over pack." [Mami tensed and looked up as she sensed another witch.] "Two witches..." [ as they entered the witch realm, indeed they could feel the energy of two different witches there, both of their realms merged. One like a child's drawing of a playroom , the other a mesh of famous expressionist paintings]
"Two witches teaming up?" [Nagisa gaped] "Is it possible?"
"It doesn't happen very often, but yes it is possible, I've seen it before."
[they found some familiars attacking some teenage school girls, abstract drawing paper cutouts wrapping around one girl and a childs marker drawing of a girl in an airplane turning the other girl into a ball. In the center of the lair, one with, a stone statue of a magical girl upon an arch was working on a painting, while the other much younger witch, a crayon drawing of a little girl, lay beside her, scribbling with crayons]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
...You should be careful, Mami - This Witch teamup is different from the other ones you've fought before, you see!
- Kyubey!
[Mami said happily, and leaned down to pat his head.]
...So how are they different? I did feel that the Witch Barrier felt different, like two of them had melted into one, but...
[The Kyubey nodded, while Nagisa turned away, groaning. That damn little while and red eyed creep just had to come and ruin their fun, it seemed...]
- The other Witch teamups you'd fought were the ones where there was an original Witch plus a couple of Familiars which had originally been created by the same Witch, and then managed to get upgraded to full Witch status. They'd just been originally one Witch Barrier to begin with, in those cases, and the upgraded ex-Familiar Witches often just kept adding their powers to the original Witch Barrier rather then create a new one themselves.
[And then, the Kyubey waved at the Witches in front of them.]
...However, in this case, two original Witches have merged their Witch Barriers, which means that the Barriers themselves are much more mutable and hard to deal with then usual. What do you think would happen if one of the Witches just decided to run away while you fought the other one, for example?
[Mami groaned at that.]
- We're going to have to fight in a Witch Barrier where the rules of reality are changing all the time, you mean?
Re: The continuation of Path 2
" oh." (Kyubey's constant expressionless face hid the jab of annoyance of having misremembered something)
" but thank you for the information. It would probably be best if we took out both witches at once, if possible. " ( mami glided to the familiars and got rid of them) " hang on you two, everything is going to be all right." ( she put a protective barrrier around the two girls who were attacked. The dark magic effects and memories of thd event should disappear after the witches were defeated.) " let us go, nagisa!"
Re: The continuation of Path 2
[And then, he blinked as even more discrepancies showed up. Darn, this was yet another reality glitch thing, wasn't it? He opened up the subsection regarding reality glitches, and started to toss in some data, highlighting the places in his memories that didn't match what was in the databanks.]
[Mami and Nagisa, in the meanwhile, were having a hard time fighting the Witches, who apparently were very used to fighting together, unlike most of the other Witches Mami had fought up to this point.]
- Yikes!
[Nagisa cried out. The Witch who looked like a crayon drawing of a little girl had suddenly grabbed her, and pushed her right into one of her drawings, giggling up a storm!]
...Nagisa-chan!
[Mami cried out, turning around in mid-air.]
- Are you OK!?
...Yeahhh, I think so - Don't worry about me, Mami-san!
[Nagisa said, and flapped her arms about, trying to get her balance. So she was stuck in a crayon lake filled with flowers, now? Jeez...]
[Mami, in the meanwhile, had turned her gaze back to the Witch who looked like a stone statue of a Magical Girl, biting her lip. She'd known the Magical Girl who'd been the model of that statue, once upon a time, she was pretty sure...]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
"Hooray! A new friend! Now we can play together! My name is Albertine! What's yours?"
(Nagisa tried to put on on a brave face and aimed her bubble gun at the witch) "I'm going to defeat you, witch!"
(Yes, Mami remembered her now. She was an artist and used art related attacks. She even had a young magical girl junior just like Nagisa. Hm, apparently in the news later, there was a scandal about her art work and she had a mental breakdown, and then went missing, her junior still disappearing after...)
Re: The continuation of Path 2
(...What in the world are you talking about?)
[And then, she grinned again.]
(- Didn't you know you're more then half one of us already? Silly, silly Charlotte!)
[Mami, in the meanwhile, was staring at the Witch who looked like a living statue. The Witch stared back, and tilted her head.]
(...Half here, half there, and half stuck in the middle? So what has the red-eye'd been trying to do now, anyway?)
[But then, she brandished her weapon with a cold grin.]
(- But never mind that. I am Izabela, and together with my little sister Albertine, I shall defeat any and all foes that come against us!)
Re: The continuation of Path 2
(Albertine contuined giggling and twirleeled up to her, leaning closely with a big grin on her otherwise emotionless face.] "Nuh-uh! You're one of us! All magical girls become us, and I can sense you're on your way!"
{Mami hesitated. She could under stand what the witch had said.. Didn't people only understand witches when they prodded at their dark thoughts when they were in a state of despair...?" no, this was probably a trick. Mami remained her composure and aimed her rifle)
Re: The continuation of Path 2
[Nagisa said, blankly.]
.........But that makes no sense.
[Albertine laughed at that, and twirled around again.]
(Of course it does, silly, silly Charlotte! And Redeyes is a filthy lying liar who lies!)
[Nagisa nodded at that, her eyes almost going blank with shock.]
- Well, he is, yeah...
[And that was when her Soul Gem started to glow again, the force lines Kyubey had placed there glowing purple! Nagisa shook her head, then, the blankness fading from her eyes.]
...So that was the big secret? Huh, well, that's awful and nasty and all kinds of mean, all right, but on the other hand, I knew there was something wrong with Kyubey and all the rest of the stuff he said anyway, so...
[Albertine giggled, then, and clapped her hands.]
(...Your Witch colors just went even brighter then before! So pretty, Charlotte!)
[And in the meanwhile, Mami was growling under her breath as Izabella just ducked away from her magical rifle's attacks, laughing.]
(- Foolish, foolish Puella Magi - Why don't you just give up, and come and join us? We can paint for ever and ever, while you have your tea party - You like tea parties, right? Why, of course you do!)
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
...Witch colors, huh. Well, I don't really have time for that, I'm supposed to go on a fun trip with Mami-Nee-san from tommorow, OK?
[And then, she powered up her magical weapon, which now happened to be shaped like a cheese knife, her eyes glowing crimson.]
- So just die, you idiot Witch - I don't have the time to deal with the likes of you!
[Albertine wrinkled her crayon nose at that.]
(Oh, well, you'll change your mind soon enough, I'm pretty sure...)
[And then, she sniggered.]
(You're almost one of us just as you are now, anyway, ha ha ha!)
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
Mami meanwhile continued battling the artist witch with experience, though her wirds still rang in her mind, sending a chill. The witch just had to be messing with her, right? She had to stay focuesdd!
Re: The continuation of Path 2
( - Darn, you're boring like this, aren't you.)
[And then, she snickered again.]
(I think you should come back later, when you and your Neesan are more fun to play with! Fun is good, right?)
[And then, Albertine flipped over in mid-air, and called out - ]
(...Hey, Izabella-Nee! I have an idea, OK?)
[Nagisa groaned, then. Albertine had made a gesture, and Nagisa suddenly found herself being tossed out of the Witch Barrier entirely!]
- Oh, no!
[She groaned, and scrambled to her feet - And that was when Mami came tumbling out of thin air, almost landing right on Nagisa's head!]
...Darn! I didn't think they could actually kick us out like this. Are you OK, Nagisa-chan?
[Mami said, and then, she sighed as the Witch Barrier energy markers started to fade away.]
- And now they've gotten away, drat them all...
...I'm fine, Mami-Nee!
[Nagisa said, and then, she went over and gave Mami a hug.]
- Hey, we can just go and take our trip to the house with the Onsen now, right? I mean - Those Witches fought us once already, and they couldn't defeat us the first time, so they're not going to let us inside their Barrier that easily anymore, I don't think...
[Mami nodded at that, sighing.]
...That's true, now that I think about it - It might be better if we left them along for a while, I suppose. Or maybe we should even let some other Magical Girls deal with them, if they could. This is so annoying, though - It's been a while since any Witch got the better of me like that, to be honest...
[And then, she checked her little pouch of Grief Seeds, just in case.]
- And yes, we have enough Grief Seeds to keep us in good shape at least a week or more, I think, so everything should be OK.
[Mami gave Nagisa a big hug back, then.]
...I'll just go talk to some Magical Girls tonight, and then, tommorow, we can go on our big trip to the onsen!
[Nagisa grinned, widely, though she didn't forget to kick a nearby Kyubey while Mami wasn't looking. The nerve of those critters, lying about something as important as Magical Girls turning into Witches...]
[...Oh, well. It couldn't be helped, though. Nagisa sighed a bit, wondering how and when to tell Mami about that particular problem. She had the feeling that she should wait until after they'd had their fun onsen trip, though - Mami should be further along at that point, so she probably wouldn't freak out as much.]
[And then, Nagisa paused a bit. Further along? Further along what?]
[And then, she shook her head with a smile, her eyes glinting red for a moment. Never mind that for now - For now, they were going to have some fun!]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
"...so.. that's the truth..." [That was the connection. Magical girls bcame witches. that explained everything. How witches were all female, how one turned up after a magical girl started acting strange then went missing. How a grief seed actually looked like a tiwsted black soul gem. And that actually almost happened to her, right after her mother died. Yes, she would already be a full witch now if it wasn't for Mami saving her...
Nagisa held up her soul gem, examining it, with a small dazed smile on her face] "But, would being a witch really be that bad?" [She wondered aloud] "Maybe if you were in control of it, it wouldn't be so scary. Maybe it could be fun, and hepful!" [a dark bubble emerged from her hand and popped into what looked with a polka dotted mouse with a nurse cap and a round mask. Nagisa cheered and pettedb him] "Pytor! you came back! Oh I'm glad! Oh, we should get big sister to be a witch too! Should we tell her? teehee, maybe it will be more fun as a surprise!"
Re: The continuation of Path 2
...Oh, you're right, Pyotr. We shouldn't rush things - Good cheese takes time to make properly, after all!
[And then, she gave him a little hug, and tucked him in besides her.]
- And I still miss Mama a lot, and Papa too, but hey, I have Mami-Nee now, right? And now I have you too.
[The little Familiar smiled at her, then, and nodded.]
...So we should wait, until the proper time comes, and just have fun in the meanwhile. And after that - We can have our tea party, for ever and ever and ever!
[Nagisa fell asleep, then, and slept until morning. She woke up and shook her head, yawning.]
...I think I had a good dream last night, but I can't remember what it was all about. Isn't that odd, Mami-Nee?
[Mami laughed from the other side of Nagisa's room's half open door.]
- Oh, that isn't odd at all, Nagisa-chan! I mean, it would have been nice to remember it if it was a good dream, but that happens all the time, frankly.
[Nagisa smiled back, went and ate her breakfast, and then went back to her room, to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Hmm, everything seemed to be all right, but...And then, Nagisa blinked as suddenly, she saw a half transparent polka dotted mouse with a nurse cap and a mask, pointing at her desk. Oh, right - She probably should take the keys from those boxes that Mami-Nee's Grant Aunt Miyoko had left her, and maybe some of the other stuff, too. The keys were supposed to fit the locks of something in the big old house with the onsen, right? Well, that was what that creep Kyubey had said, anyway, and he didn't usually outright lie, even though he fudged the truth all the time.]
...Thanks, Pyotr!
[She said, and put the keys and anything else that felt relevant into a smaller lacquer box that she's also inherited from Miyoko-san, and put the whole thing into a soft bag.]
[And then, she put her rucksack on her back, and raised her voice.]
- I'm ready now, Mami-Neesan!
[Nagisa took a good look at Mami's apartment as they got out of it.]
...Bye, apartment! I have no idea if we're ever going to be coming back here or not, but you were fun to live in, anyhow.
[She whispered toward it, and then went toward Mami, smiling. The Kyubey at their feet nimbly avoided Nagisa's kick this time, and quickly hopped into Mami's arms.]
...Hello to you too, Momoe Nagisa. You feel a bit different today, do you not?
[The Kyubey said with a snicker - And then, he looked up at Mami, smiling brightly.]
- We're going to eat bentos on the train, right? I love bentos!
[Mami chuckled and patted his head.]
...Of course we are, Kyubey! What kind of bentos do you want to eat this time?
[Nagisa, in the meanwhile, was staring at the Kyubey, sweatdropping a bit. So that was what a Kyubey's smile looked like when it wasn't fake all the way...]
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
[Sometimes, Nagisa was pretty sure that the Kyubeys actually liked Mami, except that didn't seem to stop them from treating her like they treated all the other Magical Girls at all. Well, they weren't human, that much she did know, but...]
[But whatever, whatever! Nagisa shook her head, and smiled brightly at Mami, pointing at a map.]
...So we're going to the big old house over here, right?
- Oh, yes!
[Mami said, grinning, and then, she explained that though they'd usally take a car, she thought it would just be faster to transform and run to the house once they got to the nearest station, since she and Nagisa were both Magical Girls.]
...Haha, OK!
[Nagisa said, grinning - And then, it was time to get off the train. Mami, Nagisa and the Kyubey got off at a very tiny station, and then the girls transformed into their Magical Girl forms as soon as they were sure nobody was watching. Mami picked up the traveling bags she'd brought, and put the Kyubey on her shoulder.]
- OK, then - Follow me!
[They had a great deal of fun after that, running through the hills and jumping over rivers and cliffs. Haha, it was sometimes a great deal of fun to be a Magical Girl, Nagisa had to admit...]
[And in less then an hour, they had reached the old house in the mountains they'd been planning to stay at. Mami opened the door with a old fashioned key, and then bowed to Nagisa and Kyubey.]
...Welcome to my not so humble house, Nagisa-chan, Kyubey!
[She said with a grin.]
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
" how a out we get settled in snd unpacked, have a spot of tea, and thengo to tge hotsprinfs?@ mami suggested
" ok!" Nagusa skipped into her room, abd with the dior closed, let the nouse outof her pocket abd onyo the bed " pytot! Were here!"
Re: The continuation of Path 2
(Yes, yes we are - This is the right place, indeed!)
[And then, she looked at Nagisa, and grinned.
(Go have tea with you Big Sis, Little Mistress - We will clean up the baths while you do!)
[...We? Nagisa was a bit puzzled for a moment, but then decided not to worry about it.]
...Thanks, Pyotr!
[She whispered, and then, she turned in the direction Mami was.]
- OK, Mami-Nee - I'm coming!
[And in the meanwhile...]
[Several rogue Incubators were outside the house, looking at what was going on. A small army of Mini-Familiars were now trying to clean the hot spring area up, rubbing the tubs and the walls and the floor until they shined, and getting fresh towels and soap and the like.]
...Huh.
[Eight said with a soft sigh, while Seven nodded.]
- Yeah, this is sort of new, if I say so myself. I never thought Niner would ever reach the point of being halfway original with his experiments, but he's getting close to the tipping point, isn't he?
[So Niner was getting more and more "contaminated by emotions" and - Some of the little Familiars over there smelled more like Mami then Nagisa, if he wasn't mistaken.]
[Eight sighed, then, and licked at his paws, wondering what would happen now...]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
... Wait a moment...... Kyouko? Madoka? Sayaka? What were they doing here? Mami's curious notice was interrupted by Nagisa merrily skipping in and hugging her0
"Big sister!!"
"Ah, Nagisa!" ( Mami smiled and hugged her back) "Shall we go have tea and snacks now?"
"Yes please!"
(to Mami's surprise as they went out to the patio for the tea and snacks, there was already a table all set up for them, pretty table cloth and a vase of fresh flowers and all!)
Re: The continuation of Path 2
Everything pretty and nice now - Tee hee!
[Eight and Seven watched a pack of Mini-Familiars that looked a lot like Mami's friends, curiously. There was even a pink-haired Madoka lookalike, who had now climbed up on the shoulders of Pyotr, watching the tea party.]
...This is strange, though - Who could have set things up so nicely?
[Mami said, and poked at the flowers, curiously.]
- Oh, maybe it was some of the local fairies or something!
[Nagisa said, and then, she sat at the table and started to poar Mami some tea.]
...Hmph. Well, I don't know about fairies, but nothing seems to be particularly dangerous about this table, I suppose.
[Mami said - And then, she poared some tea for Nagisa and Kyubey, as she was pretty sure Nagisa would not even give Kyubey the time of day in this case. Nagisa still didn't seem to like poor Kyubey, sadly enough, she thought...]
- Here are your cakes, Nagisa-chan, Kyubey!
[And then, they all sat down and started to eat their very nice cakes.]
[And in the meanwhile, the Mini Familiars had started their own small tea party too. Eight sighed a bit as a Mini Kyoko lookalike tossed a piece of cake at him and Seven.]
...Thanks for the thought, but I'm pretty sure your cakes wouldn't agree with us, Mini-Things?
[The Mini Familiars just shrugged and laughed.]
Re: The continuation of Path 2
" this is charming " maki commmented as she browsed the books)
" uh- huh!" ( nagisa agreed as she searched for picture books . Pytor appeared and swueaked, waving its littlepaw in nagisas direction as if motioning her to follow)
" what is it, pytor?) ( nagisa followed the mouse to a wall. The mouse squeaked again, pointing to a small keyhole near the bottom)
Re: The continuation of Path 2
...Mami-Neesan! Look, look - I think there must be some kind of secret door over here!
[Mami came over, then, and took a good look at the keyhole and key.]
- You appear to be right about that, Nagisa-chan!
[The two of them spent some time getting the secret door which looked just like part of the wall to open up properly, then. Nagisa sneezed a bit as the door opened up at long last.]
...It's so dusty, ha ha ha -
[And then, her eyes opened in wonder as she saw what was in the secret room behind the secret door. There were two large portraits on the walls, and some really old looking books on a desk in front of it.]
- Ohhh! Mami-Nee, Mami-Nee, look, look - The people in this picture look just like you and me!
Re: The continuation of Path 2
Re: The continuation of Path 2
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
Re: The continuation of Path 2 2/2
Re: The continuation of Path 2
Re: The continuation of Path 2
Re: The continuation of Path 2