1513/Be Careful What You Wish For

Be Careful What You Wish For
Date of Scene:	26 May 2016
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown
Synopsis:	Kyubey reveals a dark secret. Do the Puella Magi have much longer to live?
Cast of Characters:	Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi, 119

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Madoka Kaname has posed:
    It's an average evening in Mitakihara. The sun is low in the sky, obscured by the vast array of skyscrapers that make up it's skyline. The streets are quieter than they were earlier in the day as people return home, various drinking establishments filled with corporate salary men and women. Pacing patiently through the streets are two teenage girls, one with pink hair and one with black, on patrol and keeping an eye out for a very specific kind of trouble, the pink haired girl looking carefully down at some odd trinket held in the palm of her hand.

    Not everything is normal despite the relative regularity of the day. The girls, obviously enough Puella Magi hunting for Witches by anyone who'd recognize them by their methods, are neither in school or magical garb, but instead finely tailored suits. The long, dark haired girl is wearing a black suit with a purple necktie that matches her eyes, and the girl with pink twintails is wearing a light pink suit and a flashy red tie that matches the ribbons worn in her hair.

    Together they cut an impressive figure as they walk down the sidewalks of Mitakihara, their strides calm, confident, and self assured. One might hardly guess they're only teenagers, if not for their distinctly youthful features.

    They'd been out hunting for a couple of hours now, and Madoka hadn't seen so much as a single blip in her Soul Gem. There have been many hunts like this though, both recently and in the past, so she isn't giving it much thought other than the lack of springing into action it entails. In a way she's actually glad; it's nice having a small break from fighting, even if the hunting is still necessary, and fewer Witches means fewer people being affected by their curses and hurt or killed. It's hard to see a lack of danger as anything but good, from her point of view.

    She peeks up from her Soul Gem and looks over to Homura, smiling after a moment. "It's nice getting to go on walks and spend time with you like this," she says after watching the other girl for a little longer. "I've been so busy lately with everything it's kind of nice to do something calm and relaxing." A short pause and she adds, "There's a lot going on right now, between school, clubs, volunteering, and the Contractors."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura doesn't like it. The lack of Witches, on the surface, is a good thing. No one's dying, no one's getting hurt, and really it also means that no one has turned into a Witch recently. It also means that the familiar-spawned Witches aren't coming around either, and it also means, with the number of Puella Magi currently in Tokyo, that people might start turning into Witches soon.

    Or maybe not. Maybe Homura and Madoka are just getting unlucky. Yet, surely a veteran and her talented partner can't be the only ones having trouble lately, are they?

    Of course, Madoka manages to bring up the good side of all this. It's more time, more peaceful and happy time to spend with Madoka. Homura spares her a smile when she bring it up. She almost feels guilty for needing to say something that will spoil it.

    "It is nice. Fewer battles mean fewer risks. It does work out for us... but Madoka-chan, just to be careful, I think we should stay out of fights until we can start getting regular Grief Seeds again. If Kyouko's experience was any indication, we can stretch out our time for a while if we don't waste our magic."

    She frowns slightly. "I'm not going to ask you to never fight, but... just be careful, okay?"

    Homura's eyes glance down an alleyway as the two of them pass by it. It's empty. Her hair flows behind her as a wind picks it up.. "I have to wonder where all of this is coming from. Is someone over-hunting? Normally I wouldn't mind an easy night, but a pattern like this..."

    It seems strange, to be worried about the lack of fighting, and the lack of killing... but Homura's first and foremost priority is keeping Madoka safe, and she can't do that if Madoka can't get Grief Seeds.

    "... still. It's pretty busy for the two of us, isn't it? I guess we both have a lot going on. Starting the Contractors is fun, but it's not without its share of work."

Kyubey has posed:
As the girls walk down the street, a little white creature with two beady red eyes and a fluffy tail peers down at them from a street lamp. He's not talking, but of course, the girls can hear Kyubey's voice in their minds as plain as any other day.

"Fewer risks is in itself a different sort of risk though, isn't it?" Kyubey says. He never really asks anything, never puts the right inflection on statements to turn them into questions, even if there's a feeling that's how they're intended.

"I have to admit, the sudden lack of Witches is something I find very interesting." The fact that he knows he's responsible for it, of course, doesn't mean he doesn't find it interesting. "Well, that and the obvious potential outcomes. I haven't seen a new witch hatch in a few weeks, and the rest roaming around are starting to become scarce." His tails flit back and forth below his perch.

"But you know... Puella Magi need grief seeds to survive, and there's only one source for more grief seeds."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka gives a small shake of her head, "I haven't been using magic for anything frivolous lately. Don't worry, I'll be careful, Homura-chan." She knows the risks involved in running out of magic better than most, having had insight into Homura's past. She also knows how large the danger is for herself particularly, and not just to her.

    She blinks a little then as Homura mentions wondering about the reason for it, because she hadn't yet put any thought into the 'why' of it. "Do you think it's something like that? I thought it was just something natural. You did defeat Walpurgisnacht... and before that there were very many Witches."

    The pink suited girl is just about to reply about how busy she's been and the Contractors, but before she does she hears a familiar voice, her eyes turning upwards and her head turning to catch the sight of Kyubey up on the street lamp. "It is, for us," Madoka answers to the rhetorical question. A small frown shows on her lips as he mentions 'potential outcomes'.

    "It isn't fair." Her eyes close and she gives a small shake of her head, "For someone to die because they've done too good of a job, because the people they're protecting are finally safe." Soft pink eyes go from Kyubey to Homura, and she considers her partner for several moments before looking back to Kyubey briefly before closing them. "Do you know why this is happening, Kyubey?"

    He'll probably answer if he came here to talk to them, she figures. Whether or not that answer will be of any use is the real thing to consider.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura's quietly glad that Madoka agrees not to use magic pointlessly. She hates to sound like she's telling her what to do... but... she has to make sure. She tilts her head at what Madoka says next. Something natural? Well... maybe. She doesn't know what to think about it being something natural. It's true that she doesn't know what's 'normal' for a Puella Magi. Maybe she could ask someone like Mami or Kyouko about that...

    Or she could ask Kyubey.

    All relaxation vanishes when Kyubey suddenly appears. Stupid rat. Stupid, stupid rat. From the way she glares at the creature, one might think that Homura blames him singularly for every single thing wrong in the world.

    "We don't have any Grief Seeds for you to eat," says Homura, about to blow him off, but she lingers when Madoka starts asking questions. When Madoka looks at her, Homura stares back. The meaning isn't lost on her.

    Purple eyes flicker towards Kyubey, as the dark-haired black suited Puella adjusts her tie. "The source of Grief Seeds. Are you referring to Witches, or are you referring to yourself?"

    After all, Kyubey is, ultimately, what causes Grief Seeds to come into being. He's the initial catalyst of a long process that leads to their creation.

Kyubey has posed:
Kyubey tilts his head and Homura, but answers Madoka's questions first. "I don't think that it's particularly unfair. The agreement was that you would continue to hunt witches. If there are no more witches, you can't keep up the agreement. So it seems rather correct that some of you will fail, and then others will have witches to hunt, and they'll keep their bargain, so they'll stay alive. The agreement didn't have an expiration date. You each got your wishes."

"Of course I know what it's happening. As Homura Akemi says, I'm... in a way, the source of grief seeds. Of course, really, the source of grief seeds is the wishes of humans who want to fight against reality." Kyubey lays down on the street lamp. "But really, I was referring to not witches, but Puella Magi. Who are, factually, a source of grief seeds... eventually."

"The real question is, who will suffer that fate so others can have what they need to carry on?" he continues, though he hasn't answered what is likely the most pressing question from the two girls.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka doesn't tense up the way Homura does at Kyubey's arrival. She can't help seeing him as an enemy knowing what she knows about his motivations but she sees him as a more passive kind of enemy rather than one whose arrival means immediate danger. She also believes that he doesn't intend actual malice so much as having disregard for the girls he contracts.

    "Maybe it wouldn't be if you told them what would happen if they ran out before they Contracted with you, but you don't." Which has always been the crux of the issue and where the greatest disagreements and anger comes from when Puella Magi learn about what it truly means to make a contract with Kyubey. He might not consider lies of omission lies at all, but you'd be hard pressed to find a Puella who agreed with that assessment.

    It's made clear that Kyubey is talking specifically about Puella Magi falling and becoming Witches, and a look of unrest shows on Madoka's face. He's trying to get under her skin. Madoka knows that, but knowing it doesn't make it less effective. "Someone is going to die in agony and turn into a monster... that's what has to happen for us to keep going. We're 'predators', right? There has to be victims for us live."

    She takes a small step towards the light post, lifting a hand to her chest, "But... why does it have to be this way? I don't understand it. Magical Girls... we can do many amazing things with our magic and even create miracles when we Contract with you." She gives a sake of her head, "Can't there be some other way, Kyubey? To help you get what you want without all the suffering and cruelty?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura is coldly silent as Kyubey talks about how fair it is that the two of them will likely die before their 20s. "We got our wish? Did we really?" She glances towards Madoka, briefly, before looking back at Kyubey. "I wonder what would happen if one of us didn't get what we're contractually entitled to?"

    It's not a question she expects an answer to, nor does she expect it to be understood. Nor does she care to hear the answer, really.

    Kyubey explains what he meant, and Homura narrows her eyes. It's unlikely that there's anything he could possibly say that would have made her happy, but at least now she gets the general direction he intends to move this conversation in. What Kyubey brings up next causes Homura's eye to twitch.

    "Reality is inherently broken. We can't be blamed for being dissatisfied with an openly flawed system. Sacrificing those who want to make things better isn't an acceptable answer."

    Homura wonders about Madoka's question. Is there another way? Could there be? Surely the incubators would have gone that route if it were possible, but Homura couldn't reject the idea that this was somehow only the most convenient way to do things.

Kyubey has posed:
"Really, all truly successful species we've observed seen throughout the universe are predators on some level - humans were predators before we arrived here. You were just far less efficent at it. " Kyubey says. "But you've gotten better over time. You know, when I say you'd still be living in caves without me, it's not a figure of speech." he says, lazing on the street lamp a bit now. "I don't do those."

"Maybe I can help you understand why I do what we do. The universe suffered a massive wound at some point, even before our history. And because of that, the system doesn't self-sustain. There's a finite amount of energy in the universe. No energy means no universe. And I would imagine you have a vested interest in seeing the universe continue?"

"We've searched all over the universe trying to solve this problem, but the only action that creates more energy than it costs is the moment when a young girl's emotions turn from hope to absolute despair. The moment when a Puella Magi becomes a witch. But that same moment pushes the universe on and lets us all survive a little longer."

"From the standpoing of continuing on an entire universe, one human girl's suffering means very little. And it's not like there's a shortage of you. Most of you aren't even fit to make the sacrifice..."

He looks to Homura, next. "That's why you get your benefits up front. After all, you did get to re-do your meeting with Kaname-san and protect her." he says. "Your wish didn't specifiy success! And you even got that." He rolls sideways, off the lammpost, hitting a trash can with a THUD, and landing on all four feet, like the most graceless cat ever.

"Would it be better if reality ceased to exist? Without our efforts, it's entirely possible that neither yourself nor Madoka Kaname would exist at all. In a way, every moment is built on the grief seeds of those Puella Magi that came before you."

"It would be interesting if there was another way, wouldn't it?" he says, bright red eyes looking at both girls. "It would also mean interesting things for you and your friends, wouldn't it..."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "Of course we want the universe to continue, but that doesn't make it okay to use people like you do. You're taking their hopes and dreams, the very things they care about most, and turning them into sadness and despair. You say you don't understand us and... that's exactly right! To the girl that turns into a Witch the whole universe may have well have died, because everything worth living for in it has turned against her. It's horrible!" Madoka shakes her head quickly, her twintails moving back and forth quickly enough for the ends to hit her cheeks, "If all you care about is the universe continuing you'd have to see it die to understand what they feel. Even if it was just 'one human girl' suffering it'd be too much, but it's more than that."

    She frowns further at Kyubey's words, that Homura's wish didn't require success to be properly granted, only to shake her head again after he finishes speaking. "I think if there was another way you wouldn't have much trouble keeping Puella Magi alive if that's what you wanted to do. We're only like this, needing Grief Seeds, because you made us that way, right? If we didn't you wouldn't have any leverage over us if we found out what you intended to happen to us."

    Madoka's voice is quiet and she looks down at the ground, upset at just how harsh and unfair the life of a Puella Magi is. Not because it is unfair and cruel, but because it was likely intentionally engineered to be that way, something intentionally inflicted. It's while she's thinking on this that she suddenly blinks and looks over to Kyubey.

    "You're wrong." She doesn't shake her head this time, but rather stares at him like a deer in the headlights, so surprised that the Incubator before her could actually miss something or make a mistake. "There is something else. Something that creates more energy than it costs; I've seen it." She looks briefly to Homura, "We both have... and it's exactly the opposite of what you're doing... the moment when a Witch's despair is renewed back into hope."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura's eyes go a little wide at Kyubey's answer to her. It's not rage. It's apprehension. She clearly can't believe what she just heard. "You aren't lying, are you? You actually think like that." Well, he wouldn't have any reason not to. Clearly Homura sees it differently, but there's no point in explaining that now.

    Instead, she decides to address some of the other things being said. "So the universe was wounded a long time ago, and since you can't address the wound itself you're treating the symptoms. At least, I'm assuming that, otherwise you'd treat the wound if you could. It's only logical."

    Something about the word 'logical' makes Homura's stomach churn.

    She decides to point out the one thing that nobody probably wants to hear. "Reality probably will cease to exist. If there's anything I've learned since coming here, it's that evil eventually fails. Anything that murders the innocent is evil, and that says some very unfortunate things about this universe. Even if you could argue that we're not innocent, the people kissed by Witches certainly are."

    "Medicine can help you live longer, but all things die, Kyubey."

    Homura then hears what Madoka has to say, and then blinks. Then she frowns. It does make sense, and it would be a way to save the universe. "I've seen incredible power, in Madoka and others. A few others, rare even among magical girls, but there are very powerful things in this timeline. Hope is one of them. Especially the kind of hope that Madoka has. Could that hope let the universe live longer? I don't know."

    She points her gaze back at Kyubey, saying, "You really are a mad scientist, aren't you? Playing with powers that you don't understand. Emotions, for example. Except you're not just playing with our feelings. You're playing with the whole universe."

Kyubey has posed:
Kyubey brings up a hind leg to scratch his ear. "Well, if I was to use human values - something you seem so insistent that I try to do - I would say that since the Incubators have brought your entire species into a new, better standard of living, and been active in controling your destiny, we should be allowed to continue this - it's no different than making hamburgers. Only perhaps, more fair, because we are at least doing this for the good of the universe."

"Just because it's horrible doesn't mean it's not necessary. After all, it was horrible that Hayakawa-san had to be finished off, but it was necessary to avoid her destructive nature." he says, rolling on his back.

"I really do not understand your concern about a relatively statistically insignificent portion of your race, who will still get the wish of their heart granted as best I can. I do think it's fair. That's why we secure permission."

"If Hope could bring the universe around, we wouldn't need Puella Magi. We could make due with all of the other magical girls." he states. Then, after a moment.

"You assume grief seeds are the symptom. The grief seeds are the cure, Madoka Kaname. They help keep the system running within the laws of reality. There's a lot of checks and balances in there..." he says, tilting his head.

"Of course, you removed one recently and changed some of the rules. Which makes you far more of what you humans envision a mad scientist as than I am. I play within the rules. You've broken them."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka looks over to Homura with an expression of concern on her face, "Homura-chan... the universe isn't evil. It has bad and awful things in it, but it has all the amazing and wonderful ones, too. If this world wasn't worth living in we wouldn't fight to protect it and we wouldn't be so upset when people die."

    Perhaps unexpectedly she agrees with her girlfriends next point, "Everybody dies, eventually. Some people are afraid of dying, but... there are also a lot of people who aren't, who feel they've lived a happy and satisfying life, and that they've done everything they could for the people they care about. Sometimes it isn't sad, if it's the right time." Spending so much time in a hospital can change your perspective on things.

    "I don't think the universe dying should be anytime soon, though. It's different for everything to die rather than just one thing... but maybe it won't last forever?" It's a bit of a confusing and contradictory thought, and Madoka can't take it much further than that right now.

    "They're not a cure. If they were a cure the universe would be fixed by now. Homura-chan is right; you're treating the symptoms not the disease. They're just a band aid that comes at the cost of human suffering, and it's wrong. You shouldn't sacrifice people without giving them the choice to do so for themselves, but you can't do that because nobody would accept your offer if they knew what it really meant." Madoka frowns at Kyubey again, "You made the rules so that they worked for you. I don't think I broke any of the rules, anyway. I made a new one."

    She looks over to Homura and smiles, "I think you're wrong about one other thing, Kyubey. Hope and love are the most powerful things in the universe, you just don't realize it because you can't feel it for yourself. What I did means that now even Witches have a reason to Hope, and have the chance for a better future."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Madoka doesn't think the universe is evil. That's not a surprise to Homura. Between the two of them there's a huge difference in how willing they are to accuse or condemn someone, or something. "Even if the universe is worth saving, that doesn't mean it isn't guilty of something." She could argue the point further, but Kyubey mentions something that gets Homura thinking.

    Madoka? A mad Scientist? Homura glances at Madoka, scratching her chin. Unbidden, a thought crosses her mind. One of Madoka wearing a lab coat. A sneaky grin crosses her face. Nice...

    No! Bad Homura! Now's not the time for that! Focus! Focus!

    "None of this is getting to the point," says Homura, suddenly trying to move the conversation forward to play off her momentary distraction. "I could accuse you all day, and believe me, there's no end to the number of ways I can express that I don't like you. However, I highly doubt that you came here for me to tell you what you already know."

    Homura walks up to the white alien, looming over him and glowering in a way that looks really threatening but is completely pointless against a creature who can neither experience fear, pain or death.

    "As far as I know, Madoka-chan has only ever been able to save one person, me, so that's only one Grief Seed taken out of the equation. I highly doubt she's the reason why there are so few Grief Seeds."

    She leans forward, sticking her nose closer to the white creature. "So... what's going on? And what do you want from us? I assume you had a goal for coming here, after all, and I'm pretty sure you know something about why the Witches are suddenly disappearing."

Kyubey has posed:
Kyubey shakes his head. "You humans keep trying to assign your ideas of ethics to everything. The universe isn't good or evil. A nuclear weapon isn't good or evil. And neither am I." he says, walking around, stretching.

"Well, maybe the disease is terminal, to use your example, and girls like you are the medicine. Are you saying we should give up treatment just because it'll require the person to be on medication for the rest of their life? Or, in this case, the universe?"

"Oh I'm not talking about what you did, Madoka Kaname - not what you did individually. In fact, when this rule was broken, you hadn't even yet made a contract with me." Kyubey says, cryptically, eyes unblinking.

"The reason you can't find any witches to hunt is simple, Homura Akemi." he says as he rolls on his back and plays with his paws in the air. "It's staring at you every time you look in the mirror. Your actions, your changes to this timeline, the modifications you've made, and the way you've shared my secrets with so many people has meant it's no longer feasible for me to keep doing things the way I intended."

"So I've had to find an alternate means of getting what I need. And I don't currently intend to make any more contracts until you've died, Homura Akemi." the creature says, face unchanged, and the lack of hostility in his voice just makes his comment creepier. "I no longer require them in such a hurry. And Kyouko Sakura, as well. Perhaps I shall wait for Madoka Kaname, Mami Tomoe, and Sayaka Miki just to be sure. But you should be wary of trying to make changes to a system when you're dependant upon the way it works to survive."

"I suppose though, it's too late to learn that lesson. Now that the witches have been hunted to near extinction, I wonder who's grief seed you'll end up using so the next time you need to save Madoka Kaname from a monster or enemy, you'll have the strength. Or maybe you'll tell Madoka to use yours? I am curious to see how you handle these last few decisions before you become a witch once again."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka gives Homura a curious look when she notices the glance and sees the grin. Her head tilts in a confused manner, and for some reason gets embarrassed and blushes.

    Homura moves the conversation along and she nods to her comment about how many Puella Magi she'd saved; Homura is still the only as well as the first she'd returned from being a Witch. Her eyes then turn to Kyubey as he responds. "It isn't treatment I object to-" in a moment of frustration she sighs, "Torturing people until they give up all hope and turn into monsters is wrong!"

    So making her Wish and using the power she gained from it wasn't the rule he was talking about? Madoka blinks a couple of times and looks at Kyubey in confusion. This doesn't last long because he's soon explaining exactly why there are so few Witches and the reason he isn't contracting new Puella Magi- or at least part of the reason.

    Her jaw drops, and then lifts, and then drops again. Madoka's eyebrows lower and she makes a small frown, glaring at Kyubey. "It's almost like you're trying to be as terrible a person as you possibly can. You do the wrong thing for the right reason all this time, and now you're doing the right thing for the wrong reason. You don't know how to cope with us anymore so you're just going to try and let us die so you don't have to deal with us anymore."

    Her hands clench into fists and she leans forward and shouts, "Have you ever even tried actually working with Puella Magi instead of working against us and trying to play us against each other?" She calms down a little and sighs, "You're mad at Homura-chan for giving away your secrets, but all you're doing now is proving that everything she's ever said about not trusting you is true."

    Madoka closes her eyes, tilting her head upwards. When she opens them again they're looking towards the sky. "If that's how it's going to be, then we really can't play by your rules anymore. You say I've broken one of them... then fine. I'm going to keep breaking them until there aren't any left. I won't let you do this to me and my friends." She looks back over towards Kyubey and shakes her head, "I won't let you turn me into a monster that destroys this world. You say we should care about the universe, but to us this world is our whole universe, and you really don't care if it's destroyed at all, do you? Not so long as you get what you want out of it first."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura coldly regards Kyubey. Her eyes narrow. "So that's what you're talking about. You do know, people would have figured it out if I hadn't said anything, right? All I did was try to control the situation before it turned even more ugly."

    What Madoka says does make her smile. Telling Kyubey off, and that she's not playing by his rules... that makes her happy. That makes Homura very happy. It's one thing to admire her for being sweet and endlessly wonderful, but it's something else entirely to see her making good choices.

    She glares at Kyubey again. She raises her hand, and drops the back of it across Kyubey's face.

    "Don't lie to me you little rat. You know just as well as I do what will happen when Madoka Kaname turns into a Witch. Everyone here knows. There won't be a world left, and there won't be any girls to make contracts with. Last time she turned into a Witch, you told me it'd take about 10 days to end the world. This time..." Homura glances sideways at Madoka. "... well, who knows? One thing's for sure, if you take this route, it spells the end of your little system. Earth will no longer be a resource that you can rely on."

    Homura turns her back on Kyubey, walking away from him and further down the sidewalk. "You've made two things very clear to me today, Kyubey. First, you either have absolutely no idea what you're doing, or you want to give me that impression. Second, well... Actually, I think I'll keep that to myself." Someone, at least, doesn't want to say too much. "Under different circumstances I'd almost be happy about the end of our suffering, but you'll excuse me if I'm not entirely satisfied with the result that Madoka gets."

    She turns around to face Kyubey again, this time she has a handgun out. "You always were a twisted little creature. You intend to starve me to death? Whatever. It wouldn't be the first time I died or turned into a Witch." She raises her gun, leveling it at Kyubey. "However, you're screwing up, in a big way, and you've got no one to blame for yourself. If a cure to the universe's problem exists, it's on this planet, and your idiocy will mess that up."

    She pulls the trigger. "I'm not going to let you succeed. No matter what I have to do. And you're wrong, in very big, and very dangerous ways."

Kyubey has posed:
Kyubey stays oddly still and unblinking, and doesn't respond to Madoka's accusations at first. "Well, it would be difficult for me to be a terrible person, as I am not a person at all." he points out. "I've worked with many Puella Magi over the years, as allies and friends. It always ends up the same way, though." he continues. "The happiest Puella Magi are the ones who never find out the answers to the questions they neglected to ask."

"But you know, it wasn't too long ago I began to question my methods - perhaps I have been going about it all wrong." he says. "Perhaps it would be more efficent if I took a more active role in saving the universe." It's such an odd way to put what the little rat-monster does.

"And for every human like you, Madoka Kaname, who worries about the plight of her fellows? There are ten more in suits and ties who would gladly trade the lives of their fellows for a leg up. Even Homura Akemi would burn the world for you alone."

Then Kyubey gets smacked. "Well, you defeated Walpurgisnacht, didn't you? I'm sure this world could muster the force necessary to live on after Madoka's witch hatches."

A gunshot rings out, and an empty shell falls to the floor. Of course, there's more shells that pop up. For the first time, they pop up in force, in groups, over the tops of buildings and around alleyways. Little red eyes staring at the two Puella Magi all around. They speak in unison. "I don't understand you. But I've decided that's irrelevant to my goals." the Kyubeys say.

"If you're going to work so hard to ruin a system that's been profitable for both Incubators and Humans for tens of thousands of years, I'm not going to be able to keep out of it any longer. This time I have other actors who will work in ways I'm not able or allowed to. And as numerous as the Incubators are, I can't blot out the sun - but my allies can." And at once the Kyubeys walk behind objects, hop off fences, or just duck down and away from rooftops.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "I don't believe that. Maybe you think you did, but if they didn't know the truth then you weren't really their friend, you were just someone taking advantage of them. I meant working with them while trying to solve the real problem, the wound in the universe, not just guiding them along the path to their deaths." Madoka gets the feeling she's talking more for her own sake than trying to actually convince Kyubey. By this point he has her fairly convinced he'll never come around to her point of view, which is rather a feat considering just how forgiving she is.

    "Homura-chan wouldn't burn the world for me, because she knows I wouldn't want to live in a world made of ashes. She wants to keep me safe and happy. You're right, you really don't understand us at all."

    The mass of Kyubey's rise up and show themselves, and for once Madoka considers using violence against them herself. It's potentially a tactical error on their part; she could destroy them all in a single attack if she wished. But then the loss of resources it would represent to Kyubey would likely be much less than the cost in magic to her, wouldn't it? "Hannah-chan is lucky she isn't a Puella Magi," she says to herself quietly and with a sigh.

    She walks over to Homura once they leave, looking up to her, "I knew he was bad, but I never thought he'd actually become hostile. I don't know who his allies are, but I think Tokyo is going to need the Contractors sooner rather than later."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura shooting Kyubey is barely even a threat, and she knows it. To her, it's more like an expression. Of anger, of hatred, of contempt. The closest she can come to expressing a feeling to a thing that doesn't feel. When she starts seeing the multiple Kyubeys come out, a chill runs down her spine. In a fight, they're just as harmless to her as she is to them, but that knowledge doesn't quell the reaction one feels when numerous red, glowing eyes start staring down at the two of them.

    She moves closer to Madoka, wanting to reassure herself that Madoka is still here. Which, of course she is, but Homura can't really fight a decade of fear-based conditioning.

    "I won't burn the world. If you're not careful, you will, though," she warns the gathering crowd of Incubators. It occurs to her that he might know something about this world that she doesn't, because what he's actually claiming to do makes no actual sense to her. It defies everything she knows.

    Homura has to ask herself: Could someone like Sailor Moon and her friends, Hannah Sharpe and her people, Riventon and his kind... could they muster enough strength to defeat Kriemhild Gretchen? Homura glances towards Madoka. ... No, Homura can't allow that to happen. She'd never forgive them... but that's what they'd do, isn't it? Without a way to save witches, they wouldn't have a choice... but that would mean letting Madoka die, forever, with no way to save her.

    ... Right now, in this moment, Homura experiences a very familiar feeling. She feels very, very alone.

    Well, she's not alone. Not really. Not with Madoka here. The others might still help her... but Madoka's the one she trusts the most. With Kyubey gone she turns to Madoka with a soft sadness in her eyes.

    "So, he intends to let me die. Not only that, but Kyouko Sakura as well, and maybe Mami, Sayaka, and you as well. He's wrong if he thinks that Walpurgisnacht compares in any way to Kriemhild Gretchen."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka notices Homura moving closer to her, and quietly reaches out to take her hand. When she looks at her with that expression Madoka steps over and hugs the slightly taller girl, squeezing her warmly and rubbing her hands over her back. "He always intended to let us die. He's just surprised we haven't yet, so he's changing tactics." She considers her words carefully, only to pull away from Homura just enough so that she can look her in the eyes.

    "It is scary to think of. He knows so much about us, all of our weaknesses and strengths. He knows what a Puella Magi is better than we do, and if he wants to hurt us he knows how. But if he really is changing tactics after 'tens of thousands of years'?" Her chin lifts slightly, her eyebrows dropping again to give her a fierce look not unlike the one she gave Kyubey earlier, only with determination in place of anger, "That means we're winning. It means for the first time we, Puella Magi, have done something he has to deal with and react to. Maybe we're even strong enough together, all of us, that we really would never die as long as we were careful. I don't like this, and I'm worried about what it will mean... but for once he's reacting to us and having to change his plans." Her head gives a small shake, "I don't think that's something we should overlook."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    The warmth of Madoka's hand is nice, and Homura reaches out to grasp it. She needs that now, to know that Madoka is there. To know it not only intellectually but viscerally. Homura can't deny what her girlfriend says. It's true. "He did always intend to let us die. He just expected us to do it on our own, either by turning on each other or..."

    She trails off. She listens to what Madoka says, and once more... Madoka does manage to give Homura a dose of hope. Kyubey has had to react to them. They've all survived far longer than he expected, and more than that they know enough to be dangerous. He feels like he has to get rid of them, no matter what, in order to make his system work again.

    She turns her body to face Madoka, cupping both hands around one of Madoka's. "It means that we're at war with him. He said that we spilled too much information, and created a situation where he can't create new Puella Magi. If he's reacting to us, then that means we have the initiative."

    There's a glint in Homura's eyes. "If we can reuse Grief Seeds, maybe we can extend things a bit longer. I've never tried it before, but I'm willing to give it a shot. More importantly... There are many magical girls around who aren't Puella Magi. If we die, we need to make sure that people outside of the Puella Magi will spread the word so far that Kyubey will never be able to recruit another girl ever again. I might not be willing to burn the whole world down, but this creepy system of his? I'm more than willing to get rid of that."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "It's worse than that. He only made us Puella Magi so we would die and become Witches. Maybe not all of us had to die that way, but he always tried to get as many as possible to. We're just a tool for him, and since we're not doing what he wants anymore he wants to throw us away. Except we're not tools, we're people, and we won't let that happen so easily. Especially not if he's just going to go back to the way things were before once we're gone." It hurts Madoka a little to have to be so pragmatic. She was doing her best to try and look at even Kyubey in the best light possible, to see him from the side that he really does think what he's doing is necessary. But the fact he's willing to go so far to return the status quo means he's more than just a passive threat.

    With a slightly embarrassed look Madoka replies, "I never thought the Contractors first enemy would be Kyubey. I don't think we have to worry about public opinion going against us if we're fighting him, though. He says he has so many allies, but doing something that might kill all Puella Magi will turn everyone against him even if they don't agree with us."

    Homura mentions reusing Grief Seeds and Madoka nods, "That's exactly what I was thinking, Homura-chan. We give him our used up Grief Seeds so they don't hatch again... but we already beat that Witch once to get it, right?" She trails off and quiets, looking Homura in the eyes, "And if things get truly desperate... we do have some options."

    As for other magical girls? Madoka nods softly, "We should play that one by ear, Homura-chan. There are people we can trust, that we'll have to trust... but it's still dangerous for so many people to know the truth about Puella Magi. If someone got the idea we all had to be destroyed it'd play right into his hands; he can start fresh as many times as he needs to, but we only have one chance."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura doesn't mind being pragmatic at all, and while she's surprised to hear Madoka talk this way, it's far far better than hearing meaningless platitudes. When she sees it hurting her, Homura loses a bit of steam... but it's important. This is important. This is what being a Puella Magi really means. Kyubey always was their enemy. Now he's just making it clear.

    "The way things have gone is clearly unacceptable. I was never happy with the notion that we'd have to die. We might be able to really change the system this way, permanently."

    Homura looks down and away. "In order to explain the situation to people, we'd have to tell them the truth. I don't know who knows already and who doesn't, but there's no way we can explain this problem without telling them where Witches come from."

    Defeating the Witch a second time seems like it should be fairly possible. Homura doesn't know if that would refresh the Grief Seed or not, but it's something that they could try. Even if they didn't work, Homura and Madoka could stretch out their Grief Seeds for quite a long time.

    "Other options?" Homura asks. What could that be?

    On the subject of spreading the word, Homura shrugs. "Here's what I'm thinking. Killing one or two of us isn't going to be enough. He's going to want to kill all of us, or at least scare the rest of us into submission. Maybe if we set it up so that... say, if all of us die, then Hannah-chan, Mamoru-kun, and whoever else start spreading the word... there won't be any Puella Magi left to get hurt, and he won't be able to recruit anyone else, either."

    With a slight grin, Homura looks at Madoka and adds. "We won't even have to just leave it at that. We can hold his entire system hostage this way. It will be who knows how long before he contracts another Puella Magi. Maybe even never. He wouldn't want that to happen no matter what."

    Homura glances off to the side. She frowns, and says one more thing. "However... that's not even the biggest concern. There's a reason why I asked about not getting my Wish, and it wasn't a bluff. Having the power to do something means that you have a reasonable chance of doing it. My wish overcame entropy, so I must have a reasonable chance of protecting you, yet the fate of Puella Magi means that I wouldn't have any chance at all. It's a contradiction, and when a contradiction appears in that system, then that system is about to break."

    She closes her eyes. "I don't know what that means. Maybe he's lying and we aren't doomed at all. Maybe he isn't, but that means the contradiction is in the rules of the universe, and if the universe has such an open flaw... well... I have no idea what would happen as a result of that."