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It had been a few months since the day everything fell apart.
Through a string of unfavorable events, Akemi Homura lost Kaname Madoka, again. As well as nearly…NEARLY all of her godlike powers.
On a certain day, after a certain event, Madoka regained her Godhood without any sort of meaningful resistance and, regrettably, could no longer stay with Homura, and Homura wasn’t sure if forcefully bringing Madoka back down to this bitch of an Earth would be a good idea for either Madoka or herself either.
Still, it wasn’t as bad as the last time Madoka, again, regrettably, left Homura. This time, everyone who ever knew Madoka, families, friends, and acquaintances, did not forget her as if she never existed. Instead, she was instead treated like a missing child.
Alright, maybe it was a bit worse in some aspects. Homura could no longer bear going anywhere near the radiating gloom that is the Kaname Household. It has gotten so bad to the point that any lesser magical girl would mistake the place to be a place infested with witches or wraiths. Still, if someone were to go there at night, one would actually find some Nightmares to fight. Powerful ones that can only be handled by the pros.
Homura couldn’t stand it any longer. She WILL bring down Madoka again, and this time, she WILL stay, WILLINGLY. If not for herself, then at least she will be doing this for those other people that also long for Madoka’s mere presence.
Some might think that after her many failures, Homura would fall into a deadly spiral of self-loathing, but Homura is nothing if not tenacious.
Homura nearly went through a hundred timelines to save Madoka, why would she give up now?
And now here Homura stood: in front of Madoka’s heavenly palace. Next to Homura stood one of her surviving Clara Dolls, Manuke, who had somehow stowed away without her noticing. Homura rubbed the doll's head, assuring it that she was not mad at it for its transgression in the slightest.
Suffice to say, she was actually starting to get attached with all of her few surviving Clara Dolls, not just Manuke.
Homura surveyed the area, seeing many souls of slain magical girls, young and younger, ran around all over as if they owned the place, and only a few stopped from whatever they were doing as they watched the notorious Homura in apprehension. Homura paid them no mind as she briskly walked into the palace alongside Manuke, eyes filled with confidence and determination.
What could she possibly do now that she no longer has the element of surprise? That will be revealed very soon.
How did she even get to this place without her godlike powers? Not important.
The marble halls that she strode through were gradually getting more and more silent the deeper she went inside. Looks like they are intimidated by her presence or something.
It didn’t take long until she entered the throne room, only to find…The Law of Cycle, Madoka, dozing off on her throne.
Homura hesitated. On one hand, she wanted to finish this as soon as possible, on the other hand, she didn’t want to be a bother to her beloved's sleeping form.
Homura unrusted her rusty steel resolve and strode to wake Madoka up. Placing her hand on the pinkette’s cheek, caressing it, until golden eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting her own violet eyes.
“H-Homura-chan…? Am I dreaming?”
“No, I’m here.”
The still-drowsy Madoka, however, still found it hard to believe and continued assuming that she was just dreaming. “Sure you are. Come here...”
With a sort of strength that Homura should have expected from a deity, Madoka pulled Homura into a tight embrace and went back to sleep.
Foiled again, Homura thought. But, at least, she can safely say that this may be her best defeat so far, if she can even call it that. Being hugged by the girl that she loves, after so long (read: a few months), was hardly a defeat.
Soon enough, Homura drifted to sleep as well, within Madoka’s warm embrace.
Manuke, who had been watching the entire time, smiled gleefully. Happy with the prospect of having a new story to tell to her surviving sisters.
A few minutes later, Miki Sayaka, the Gabriel-equivalent, walked into the throne room, intent on accompanying her best friend for another day, or whatever it is that passes for ‘day’ in this probably-timeless realm, but paused at the doorway when she saw a sleeping Homura within the embrace of a sleeping Madoka.
She had to stop herself from yelping in surprise.
Sayaka had so many questions about how Homura ended up in this situation, but seeing her cuddled with Madoka like that…Gosh, she really wished she had her phone right now…
So Sayaka slowly backed out of the room and decided to come back later. Besides, she hadn’t seen Madoka look so…tranquil…Not for a long time. Sure, Sayaka’s presence does put a smile on Madoka’s face whenever the bluenette checks up on the pinkette, but this?
Sayaka has no animosity towards Homura, seeing her raven-haired friend here does put a smile on her own face as well.
Homura’s presence did make Sayaka feel homesick though…She briefly wondered how Kyoko, Mami, Nagisa (who vehemently decided to stay in the mortal universe), as well as others are doing right now…
As Sayaka quietly left the room, she didn't notice the clara doll stealthily hanging on her cape for dear life.
The Law of Cycle slowly opened her eyes, waking up from her slumber with a smile. She had to admit, Madoka hasn’t slumbered peacefully like that for a relatively very long time. Homura being in that dream may have something to do with it…
Homura…
Madoka’s smile gradually faltered. The reminder that she’ll never see Homura again until the day the grief and despair finally overtakes Homura soured her mood…
…That is, until she noticed the raven haired head that she had been hugging in her sleep.
It wasn’t a dream…
It wasn't a dream!
Despite the visible eye bags under her eyes, Homura was a habitual light sleeper, a habit that was picked up during her time loop arc. The moment Madoka touched Homura’s face, Homura woke up with a jolt.
“Madoka…”
“Homura-chan…”
The girls looked at each other in the face silently, until…
Homura shot out from her position and stood in front of the throne looking guilty, but not feeling guilty about it either. “I’m sorry for sleeping on your lap like this!”
Madoka chuckled, she can tell that Homura did not actually regret it in the slightest. “I-it’s alright, Homura-chan. I was the one who pulled you into my embrace…” Madoka, still sitting on her throne, then rubbed her own chin. “...I think.”
Madoka then fixated her gaze towards the other girl. “But Homura-chan, how did you get here? Your soul gem looks fine to me." She asked, pointing her finger towards the ring on Homura's hand.
“I got here by…It’s…well…” Homura struggled trying to come up with a response, between not wanting to spoil her secret way in, and not knowing what to say in general.
Fortunately, Madoka cut her off as she stood up and went to hug Homura again. It was a very firm hug.
“Ah, whatever. You’re here and that’s all that matters. I know it’s been months since I last saw you, but I missed you so much…!”
Homura hugged back with equal firmness. “...I can imagine…So, Madoka, how are you?" Homura asked, who then noticed the eye bags under Madoka's eyes, significantly less visible than her own, but still there.
"A little tired, I guess recovering from what you did to me would actually take relatively a bit of time."
Now Homura actually felt guilty, and slightly worried. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't worry, Homura-chan, I'll be okay! And besides…" Madoka frowned. "...what about you? You look way more tired than I am. Do you have any trouble sleeping?"
"I have no trouble with it. But my sleep had been dreamless for the past few months…"
But all good things must come to a rest eventually. This small talk had been…nice…but Homura was getting sidetracked.
"So, Homura-chan, what brings you here?"
"I'm here to bring you down again."
"...What?"
Homura was quick to realize just how alarming that sounded. She quickly stopped hugging the other girl. "Oh, sorry. That came out wrong…" she then summoned her shield — now battered and broken — and started rummaging. After a few seconds, she pulled out a large dusty old book. "I got this thing."
Madoka accepted the book and wiped the dusty cover so she could read the title, dirtying her white glove in the process. She then read the title out loud. ""Physical Manifestation for Dummy Deities" by Umar At-Tawil?"
Homura eager nodded, face chock-full of hope. "Yes! Everyone misses you, you know? And I'm hoping that this could help you walk the Earth again!"
But Madoka doesn't share her sentiment and only returns Homura's hopeful gaze with a sad frown. "Oh, Homura-chan…I already know how to manifest an avatar."
Homura's face first fell into a state of confusion, and then a frown rivalling Madoka's own. "...Then how come you never visited?"
"I know how to physically manifest, but I can't…no, I shouldn't!"
Homura nearly yelled hysterically. "But why not?!"
"If I physically manifest, then my sheer presence could destroy the universe!"
"Then what about that time when you saved me from my labyrinth?! You were there, weren't you?"
"Homura-chan…the moment that I shot all those arrows after I made my wish that day. That would be the first and last time I could ever manifest safely."
Homura froze.
Madoka looked away. "All those arrows...they contain a part of me."
"When I told you that somewhere, someone is always fighting for you…" Madoka touched Homura's ring, and pulled a familiar-looking arrow out of it. "I meant that literally."
She then jabbed the arrow back into Homura's ring, neither gently nor violently.
"Ironically, asking you to not forget about me only ended up making you feel all alone." Madoka then looked straight at Homura's face. "I'm sorry for making you feel that way…"
But Homura, while shaken, was not deterred in the slightest. With a reignited determination, she closed her eyes, sighed, and beseeched her beloved. "Madoka, if you would please open page 101 of this book?"
Seeing Homura's resolve clearly plastered all over her face like that, despite Madoka basically telling her to knock it off with the whole rebellion thing, made Madoka feel a bit of hope herself.
Madoka then proceeded to read this part out loud as well. "This part is dedicated to Deities that are too powerful and too new and relatively inexperienced within the superlinear timeframe to safely manifest physically with reckless abandon."
Madoka paused, and looked up at Homura with an astonished look. She then continued. "Usually, a sort of failsafe would activate if an overly-powerful Deity attempts to manifest physically (usually through intervention(s) from other Deity(s)."
"The steps that are needed to be taken are the following:"
- Everything that a Deity wants starts with an intention.
- [THE REST OF THESE STEPS ARE TOO LONG AND TOO INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO THE MINDS OF MORTALS]
After a good few minutes of reading and re-readings, Madoka's godly mind finally managed to comprehend the steps.
Her verdict? Madoka wanted to facepalm herself repeatedly.
It was so (relatively) obvious! So (relatively) straightforward! How did she not think of this before?!
"Homura-chan, I can say with confidence that I am, at least partially, omniscient. But this?" She said, lifting the heavy book nonchalantly with one hand. "Where did you even find this book? This sort of knowledge couldn't be found anywhere in this universe!"
"That's because it wasn't from this universe." Homura answered, suppressing the urge to boast and smirk smugly. How could she feel otherwise, surprising Madoka was in itself a special sort of feeling. "I took great lengths in my quest for knowledge. So, why don't you try it out?"
Madoka's face never looked so refreshed. "Vvehihi~ You know what? Maybe I will!"
But before they could do anything, Miki Sayaka, the Emissary from Hell, entered the room, carrying Manuke by the back of its neck, paralyzing it like a cat.
“Yo, Homura, fancy seeing you here.” Sayaka greeted the newcomer in a nonchalant, but happy manner. She then lifted the clara doll for everyone in the room to see. “I found this little brat hanging on my cape. This is your kid, right?”
Homura seemed nervous for some reason. “She not my-” Homura paused, deciding to be honest with how she felt about her own familiar. “Alright, I guess she is my kid…”
Said familiar was dropped onto the ground, which then ran towards Homura and jumped into her shield.
Madoka silently giggled at the sight, but then decided to get to the point and tell Sayaka about their recent findings. “Sayaka-chan, please come here, I got great news!”
It took a bit of time, and a lot of repeating and translation since Sayaka herself wasn’t a deity, but they finally managed to make her understand the steps and procedures on how to basically get back to the mortal universe to live somewhat normally.
One small issue…
“Wait, this guide is intended for deities. I’m not like you two. It’s not gonna work on me!”
“Yes it will.”
“Why?”
“BECAUSE, Sayaka-chan…” Madoka tried to answer. “...You’re like my…my…” But faltered and lost her momentum when she forgot the word that she was trying to stay. It was just at the tip of her tongue.
“Archangel?” Homura offered.
“Archangel! Yes!” exclaimed Madoka, who looked like she just had an epiphany. “Like I told Homura earlier, all those arrows that I shot contains a part of me, and as long as I am with them all, then it should work…!” Madoka clenched her fist. “It has to!”
“Then…” Sayaka made up her mind. “Madoka, Homura, let me be the one to try this out first!”
“Sayaka-chan…Are you sure about this?”
“Hey, if this goes wrong, then there’s a better chance of you saving me than the other way around. Right?”
“I guess that’s true…” Madoka slowly nodded, before giving the bluenette a thumbs up. “Alright! Go ahead!”
“Right!”
Sayaka closed her eyes, did the steps, and…
Sayaka slumped on the ground.
Homura blinked. “Was that supposed to happen?”
Elsewhere, back in the mortal universe…Specifically at Mami’s apartment…
Mami, Kyoko, and Nagisa knew about Homura’s new attempt, to put it bluntly, to bring down god again. They couldn’t help but wonder if Homura actually managed to do it this time.
While Mami had mixed feelings about Homura’s little rebellion from a few months ago, Kyoko was fully sympathetic to the raven-haired girl’s cause. So she was hoping.
Nagisa was just happy to be here.
Aside from the mild anxiety that permeates the entire room, the place was otherwise quite cozy. The loud sound of pots and pans banging, courtesy of Mami baking something in the other room, was only muted by Kyoko’s idle thoughts.
“Would be nice if she actually succeeds…” Kyoko muttered, slouching on the table
“Would be great if Sayaka appears on this table…” Kyoko muttered again, switching her position.
“Any moment now.” Kyoko’s starting to struggle to find the most comfortable stance.
“...Any moment now…” Until she found it.
“Kyoko, saying that repeatedly won’t bring her here.”
Kyoko tilted her head to face Nagisa. “Yeah, I know…I just really miss Sayaka, ya know?”
“I know- Wait, what’s this light over the table?” Nagisa asked as a ball of light, originally the size of a pinprick, gradually getting larger and brighter.
The light gradually spread, momentarily blinding the two (three, actually. Mami just walked into the room) girls. When they could see again, they saw Sayaka, clad in her magical girl outfit, floating eerily in midair…
…Before suddenly crashing down the table, shattering it into hundreds of pieces.
“Ow…” Sayaka moaned in pain.
“My table!”
“Sayaka?! You’re here?!”
“Well well well! It did bring her here after all!”
Back in heaven, Madoka and Homura were quick to move towards their fallen friend.
They examined her, and nearly jumped back when Sayaka stood up again, albeit quite wobbly and unbalanced. Eyes distant and hair disheveled and yet her skin still looked healthy and warm.
“Did…did it work?” Madoka cautiously asked.
“It doesn’t look like it…” Homura cautiously answered.
“No, it definitely worked…uhhh…” assured Sayaka, who suddenly had a distant look on her face. “No, Kyoko. I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to Madoka and Homura.” And then her gaze looked a bit more focused once again. “Ugh…This feels weird…”
Madoka and Homura looked at each other, before looking back at Sayaka.
“Sayaka, how do you feel exactly?”
“It’s like being in two places simultaneously.” Sayaka looked like she was about to fall off again, but caught herself this time. “Actually, I think that is exactly what’s happening right now.”
Sayaka then looked at the vacant throne of The Law of Cycle. “...But what if…”
Sayaka walked over to Madoka’s throne, sat on it, and fell asleep.
“...Is she alive?”
“She’s alive, just sleeping.”
Homura sighed in relief. For a moment there, she thought that she messed up again somehow.
“Homura-chan, please send Manuke to wherever Kyoko is.”
“Alright.” Homura replied unquestioningly, not verbally, at least.
Although Madoka doesn’t exactly have mind-reading abilities, she knows that Homura was just wondering what her plan is. “I have a feeling that it’ll find Sayaka there too…”
After sending the clara doll to Mami’s apartment back in the mortal universe, Madoka and Homura decided to prod Sayaka’s sleeping form even further, just in case they missed something crucial.
By the time Manuke returned with news that Sayaka is well and healthy (glass shards on her back aside), Madoka was eager with the idea of returning back to the mortal universe without any repercussions. Sure, heaven is peaceful, but the monotony tranquility can be boring after a relative while.
Before Madoka could begin the steps, she finally asked. “Where do you want me to find you?”
“How about that grass field near the river? The one with the wind turbines?”
“Then meet me there, alright?”
Homura smiled and nodded.
Madoka finally started the step to physically manifest safely. She made herself comfortable by sitting on Sayaka’s lap. The sensation felt familiar to her. It was almost like that time when Homura tore her in two, except…this felt way less intense, less restrictive, and more flexible.
Before The Law of Cycle fell into a deep slumber, she wondered if everything would really, really be okay if she’s doing this. “Oh well.” she thought. “I can always check back whenever. Besides, I still have to spread this news to all the other magical girls here…”
Homura could feel it now. The slumbering Law of Cycle sitting in front of her felt a tad bit weaker, just a bit.
With that done, Homura ran out of the palace and out of heaven, jumping off the metaphysical palace on the cloud and gliding away with her own weakened raven wings.
Reality shifted momentarily and now she was back within Mitakihara airspace. Homura carefully glided herself to the place where they promised to meet each other again through the near-evening sky…
The sight was…scenic…when viewed from up here.
Homura had to admit. She did quite well recreating the entire universe. All she had to do was start a catalyst and let gravity do all the rest.
When all of this is said and done, maybe she and Madoka should try flying around in the afternoon. Ya know, just for fun…
As soon as she landed exactly near where Madoka awaited her, the overjoyed pinkette ran into a full sprint to embrace Homura once again.
For the third time that day, against all odds, Homura found herself hugged by Madoka.
“Madoka…I finally have you again…”
“Yeah…you have…”