／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

The greatest practical joke

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

Author Notes:

So, I was planning to give a finisher to this one a long time ago, but hadn't had the chance to do so…until now.

I don't remember all that happened in the movie so will improvise; hope it retains the quality of the previous chapter. Reviews are always appreciated!

BTW Save yourself Timmy Sparx! From spoilers and despair!

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

Epilogue – Ascension

It was over…she had lost again…

While staring in anger at this version of the Incubator Homura Akemi waited for the right time to get a reset.

'I have no reason to stay here anymore', thought Homura while clutching at her broken arm; 'now I only need for Sayaka to provide me a distraction and flee before he can kill me.'

It wasn't going to be easy, her arm was broken and even though numbed, she would find it harder to get a hold of it and turn the hourglass against such a fast and strong opponent; 'I have the advantage of distance' she thought while eyeing the offender who was looking at them smugly atop a set of stairs; his frame enhanced by the set of black ice sculptures depicting several scenes from the Incubator's world. At her side, Sayaka, or more likely 'Oktavia' was standing against the threat, sword in hand and bent armor while strangled huffs of breath coming out of her, as she prepared to charge against Kyubey. Homura felt slightly guilty about abandoning Sayaka against this demon that would surely kill her without support, 'but it's for the best' she tried to reassure herself; and just as they were about to prepare another charge against the Incubator, the floor started rumbling and the ice cracking as the blackness inside the ice started coming out in thin black threads, breaking through the glazier.

Kyubey glanced around slightly nervous at this event, 'it wasn't supposed to happen, such an inconvenience…'

Homura clutched her shield and prepared to reset everything when she was stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the pained whimpers of the girl she knew very well. "Madoka!" whispered the black haired girl as she looked around, looking for the source of her friend's whimpers…

In the middle of the room, the ice cracked under the force of a black beam that sprout from the ground, taking down half the ceiling and sending powerful shockwaves that sent everybody, Homura, Sayaka and Kyubey stumbling. The beam cut across the clouds themselves, evaporating them and raining black ash that tainted the ground black whenever they settled.

Homura's Soul Gem flared to life to the presence of such a massive amount of despair, a feeling of utter revulsion at the figure that came floating from the floor of the Incubator's fortress.

"Madoka…is that you?" asked Homura, eyes wide and hands to her side, walking slowly, limp as she approached her best friend, a figure as pale as a ghost, it was certainly her Madoka but everything about her seemed washed off, as if she had lost all color in her; even her rosy pink hair seemed almost white, having lost most of its luster and looking disheveled. Her pink and white Puella Magi dress, usually pristine in every timeline Homura had been in, was now a dark black and gray, keeping the same frilly pattern but looking as if the blackness within it absorbed the light into its being, a black void hungry to consume all hope. All across Madoka's pale body broke small cracks from which the darkness seemed to emanate, like blackened veins that gushed forth a fine mist that coagulated into the black threads that surrounded the fortress. 'So the black ice wasn't actually Kyubey's making, it was Madoka's body all the time!' thought Homura impressed by her friend's state, expressing Kriemhild Gretchen's power even in her Puella Magi state.

Madoka looked around without seeing, as if she was unable to discern if she was dreaming. She opened her mouth to speak ominously…

"They claim their labors are to build a heaven, yet their heaven is populated by horrors…Perhaps the world is not made…Perhaps nothing is made… " she started, Homura and Sayaka looking in horror at this Madoka who just kept muttering nonsense.

Madoka's face became one of horror and she clutched her head while floating high in the air while raising her voice as she spoke, "A clock without a craftsman…It's too late… Always has been… always will be! TOO LATE!" she said almost shouting at no one in particular; even Kyubey looked slightly nervous at this unexpected happening as he started recoiling towards his only escape route, too late, as Madoka gave him a stare devoid of any emotion, which abruptly changed to one of rage as she shouted "INCUBATOR!".

Kyubey could only think 'this is gonna hurt' as he was telekinetically lifted from the ground and thrown headfirst towards the ceiling, the blackened ice hitting his floppy head with the strength of a bulldozer and not leaving him a moment's respite, Madoka threw him against a nearby wall from which he crashed, breaking the ice and rolling around on the floor by the force of the impact.

The Incubator raised a white paw trying to stand, but found himself stuck to the floor by Madoka who floated towards him with the same pained expression. Madoka clutched at one eye while the other fluttered wildly, still struck with the visions of all the Puella Magi in story that Kyubey forced her to see all those hellish months ago, watching their rise and their sudden and inevitable fall into despair. At first she had only trashed about, screaming while trying to shut down the visions, but the Incubator would have none of that and using his technology he managed to keep her alive and restrained as she relived the suffering of all those girls; in the end it had been too much and Madoka had cracked with the pressure, now she would make sure the Incubator paid.

"Madoka, listen to me, I can explain…" spoke the Incubator still pinned to the ground by Madoka's power, but the girl would have none of that and instead focused her will into disintegrating the offender. Kyubey felt as if his skin was on fire as his white flesh started melting; struggling, he managed to get out a control whose button he pressed.

Madoka could only wonder for a moment that control's function as a laser rained from the sky directly at her position and disintegrated her.

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

"Madoka!" screamed Homura as she ran as fast as she could to where Madoka had once been, now a huge smoking crater; she kneeled, tears in her eyes as her only working hand rested on the cold and jagged pieces of ice, scrapping her hands as she looked out for any sign of her friend, none to be…and Homura cried, even though she had seen Madoka die countless times, she had learned to love each and every Madoka she had ever met across the timelines.

"Why?! Why did you kill her?!" screamed Homura while staring with rage at the Incubator at the other side of the crater; Kyubey only braced himself and prepared for the worst as he himself spontaneously combusted to Homura's astonishment.

A blackened mist started forming in front of Homura, getting more and more defined, first black veins were created, then a skeletal structure with resemblance of that of a young woman, which was quickly covered in muscles and tendons that linked everything in place. The body opened and closed its mouth at uneven intervals, as if gasping for air; afterwards skin and hair grown and finally the black veins rose from the ground and formed the figure's garments. Madoka had just reformed herself to Homura's astonishment.

Likewise a small and furry creature materialized, its paws skidding with grace across the ice, carefully avoiding the jagged forms while sporting the same stupid grin Homura had seen before. It stopped besides the many screens while looking at everybody; Madoka and Homura stared at it with eyes of contempt as he put his paw over another button while Sayaka materialized and readied her sword to retaliate in case it was necessary.

Madoka spoke in a cynical tone Homura had never heard before "I'm disappointed in you, Kyubey, very disappointed! Thinking that you could confine me using that, let alone battling me… for the smartest being in the world poses no more threat to me than its smartest termite"

The white furry critter only stared at her with the same ruby red eyes and said calmly "Oh that was never the plan, darling, I guessed with your power you would be able to free yourself from my confinement easily" he said conceding that victory to Madoka. "However, both you and me know what is at stake here" it spoke while putting his paw against the button, ready to press it.

"And what is that? Another ultimate weapon?" said Madoka stiffly, trying to keep herself together after those months playing in the Incubator's paws.

"Yeah…you could say so" finally said Kyubey with no little amount of satisfaction as he pressed the trigger. The screens flashed to life and started showing several views, to his left, the screens showed several alien vistas which Homura could make no sense of, it seemed as if the black holes were being turned outwards, whereas to Kyubey's right the screens showed the cities being razed over by different climatic catastrophes, deluges so titanic the waves crashed against the buildings and demolished everything in their path, volcanoes roaring and erupting simultaneously as the streets were set ablaze with lava. It truly was the end of the world…

"Look at this Madoka, this is what you caused" said Kyubey while Madoka stared in shock at the destruction. Homura herself couldn't believe it, the end of the world was usually an aftereffect to Madoka turning into witch, not into a Puella Magi.

"Madoka…what did you wish for?!" spoke Homura towards the pinkette incredulous.

"I…I wished for the end of human civilization…" Madoka answered in a whisper, as if she herself couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Exactly, my research on the development of you humans made me understand it was only a matter of time before you would have to become 'enlightened' in our existence to finally join us in the stars" said Kyubey in his usual voice, "but it was obvious from our economic viewpoint that if you humans, the greatest source of negentropic energy in the Universe suddenly got to understand the value you provide to us all, and based in your savage and selfish nature, you could potentially monopolize the production of negentropic energy for your own gain, and that could be problematic…" said Kyubey explaining his utilitaristic view to everybody "so I felt a reset was necessary!" he said as he pushed another button and the screens flashed views of the medieval era.

"With the coming of a new 'Dark Age' as you call it, your technological development and general culture will decrease, along with the population; this will result in a decrease in the standards of living and security which will become harsher as the survivors struggle to claim valuable resources for themselves and kill each other to survive." Kyubey said pausing momentarily to let all the information sink in before continuing, "this in turn will lead to an increase in superstition and higher vulnerability to the supernatural, which includes witches…" Kyubey said with a hint of joy in his voice, "which should be enough to enable us to keep making mass Contracts in the centuries to come…".

"How dare you?!" spat Sayaka gruff at their left as if she couldn't restrain her anger any longer.

"I did what I had to do" answered Kyubey while staring at her with cold red eyes. "If humans entered the galactic conflict a war of intergalactic proportions could be reached as other species try to grab your precious negentropic energy for themselves, and it would result in either the destruction of the resource or the slavery of humanity to far less 'noble' species" he said without skipping a beat. Then he turned to face Madoka again who was silent, "You saw it too Madoka, I showed you the tense political standing we have been facing, but today I've saved the Earth from hell, we both have, this is as much your victory as it is mine. And once your Soul Gem finally breaks we'll have enough negentropic energy to reverse the death of the Universe for millennia to come! There's only one thing left." he said coldly.

"We were supposed to exact justice! I…I'll stop you somehow!" said Sayaka while bearing her sword menacingly to the Incubator and approaching further.

"Really…" said the Incubator while looking at Sayaka defiantly, as if he was having lots of fun by watching the warrior's reactions, 'You humans never cease to amuse me.' "I just brought prosperity to the whole Universe, Sayaka Miki"

"Prosperity? At the cost of ruin and destruction!" argued Homura defending their position, this world was doomed, all for the Incubator's benefit, and the worst thing was that her dear Madoka had been played to achieve it.

"But prosperity nonetheless" answered the Incubator, he could never understood why the humans wouldn't appreciate all he did for them.

"He's right…I saw our fate with my own eyes…" said Madoka which halted Homura and Sayaka, this was truly unbelievable.

"No…we can't do this…" spoke Sayaka directing her rage at Madoka this time, a tinge of silent menace in her voice as the caped crusader brandished her blade in Madoka's direction. Homura tensed at this movement, unsure of what to do…in the corner of the eye she saw the Incubator staring at Madoka as if they were communicating, and Homura understood what was about to happen.

She spoke with fright in her voice, something she hadn't heard in a long time, "don't even think about it, Sayaka, lower your blade, NOW!" she addressed Madoka and Sayaka respectively. Sayaka didn't respond, instead approaching Madoka, her sword trembling visibly in her hand as she got closer to the black figure that floated next to her.

"You understand, don't you?" questioned Kyubey towards Madoka. "It was all for the benefit of the many"

Madoka just looked at the Incubator while pondering what she had seen, the terrible fate that awaited mankind, a sacrifice had to be made… "Without condoning…or condemning. I understand." spoke the pinkette with finality, a sad look in her eyes.

That was the last straw for Sayaka as she took off her helmet, which she promptly threw to the ground; making a metallic sound as it bounced and rolled on the floor. "Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. One more body amongst foundations makes little difference, doesn't it?" said Sayaka, tears in her eyes as she stared at what was her former's best friend, her arms and legs shaking from the strain and for what she was about to do. "Well, what are you waiting for…" the bluenette said softly, almost in a whisper, "do it…" she said still trembling as Madoka stared at her in apparent conflict, Sayaka threw herself at Madoka while wielding her sword attempting to slice Madoka's head, "DO IT!" she shrieked as the sword got inches from Madoka's eyes.

Sayaka was instantly disintegrated in a pile of blood.

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

"Sayaka!" shouted Homura at what she had just seen, her hands covering her mouth in horror as she stared at the red patch that now covered the floor where Sayaka had been moments before.

Madoka just stared without emotion at what she had done as she started floating in the air.

"It's over, Madoka, now the only thing left is to complete your destiny" said the Incubator to Madoka, still in the same cheerful voice as if no one had been disintegrated in front of him.

"Madoka…where are you going?" said Homura with tears in her eyes as Madoka started hovering; the pinkette only looked at her in the eyes and spoke softly.

"This is over Homura, the world will need to rebuild, and it won't do if I become a witch and destroy it." she tried to give the black haired girl a smile but it fell flat, "With my current power I can live anywhere, I guess I'll set to Mars, it will be a nice place to die" she said as Homura tried to get closer to her friend, trying to hug her, but the amount of despair Madoka was emitting prevented her to do so, her outfit charring just from proximity to Madoka. Still, that wouldn't prevent Homura from trying and even though it scorched her arms, she managed to get Madoka into am embrace.

"Madoka" said Homura with tears in her eyes.

"It's okay Homura, I hope you have better luck in the next timeline, remember I love you, and I always will" said Madoka as she let go of the embrace, lest she keep hurting Homura.

"We'll meet again, never lose hope!" said Madoka as she disappeared, leaving only a sobbing Homura.

Homura took some minutes to collect herself after what had happened, certainly this had been one of the worst timelines she had been in; but she had to keep fighting. Going outside, not even looking back and where the Incubator had been moments before, Homura stared outside the fortress, at the stormy sky from which lightning and blackened ash fell, the end of this world.

'Next time for sure, I'll save you Madoka', was the last Homura thought as she turned the hourglass.

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

End Notes / Rant:

I'm impressed by the generally positive reception this one got and the amount of people that were appalled (I had no idea "horrorized" doesn't exist in English) by this incarnation of Kyubey, such a shame he's not mine because as Gray Shadow & Sailor Ptah correctly deduced, these are the lines of the awesome movie Watchmen, which is considered by many to be the Evangelion of the superhero genre. It's a highly recommended although quite violent movie.

And will take this into consideration for future villains, I feel Ozymandias was a perfect example of what a villain should be like.

And have you guys seen the third Madoka movie trailer? I just saw it and man! What an experience! Can't wait for it to come out, although it seems more grief will come and more despair for Homura. I still don't get why shoot her head though…