A New Platform [Intro Post March]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day One of the month of Kazoo. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog is thick, the air is warm and humid and there are rumbles of thunder, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alfredo Martini, Daia, Enna Alchiba, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuno Yuuki, Nita Callahan, Saku Gyousou, Sakura, V and Wen Qing

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large, and seems smaller with twenty-seven figures scattered around. All facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist.

A roaring sound, and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). Those not new to the train will note the addition of an eighth sleeper carriage. The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, it seems the month of Kazoo is defined by the tomato and there are plenty of them.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers as thunder rumbles further and the storm threatens to break. The doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[redmeguca]

Sure you don't. Hell, maybe you're some version of Homura Akemi that made a different wish and you actually don't know. Not that I ever actually knew what your wish was, but I'm betting it was something to do with Kaname.

[recurrens]

[ She has no intention of telling Kyoko what her wish was -- or what her wish has changed into. It’s certainly none of her business, for one, not to mention that it’s all incredibly complicated unless you know every single thing she’s gone through.

And so, it’s not a lie when she looks at Kyoko and says, ] I don’t have time powers. [ Because she doesn’t. Not anymore, at least. ]

[redmeguca]

Huh. You know, when you say it like that, I actually believe you. Which means I have just one question for you:

[Kyoko looks straight at Homura, completely serious.]

Would you know what I'm talking about if I mentioned the Law of Cycles?

[recurrens]

[ Homura’s gaze sharpens. Kyoko knows too much -- way more than she should. There is no possible way she can know about Madoka, Homura’s time powers, and the Law of Cycles all at once.

Homura deeply, deeply does not like this. Not one bit.

But, she has faced much, much scarier things than Kyoko Sakura. And so, after a long pause, all she says is: ]

What do you know about the Law of Cycles?

[redmeguca]

The Law of Cycles was the result of a single wish from a girl with way too much karmic potential. She saw the suffering the Incubator's system brought first-hand and wished to change it, losing her existence as a human in exchange. Her wish completely rewrote the timeline, creating a world where Witches never existed and Magical Girls whose Soul Gems reach the point of no return just vanish instead. I don't know much about that timeline beyond that, I'm from the original one.

Homura "i know nothing" Akemi

[recurrens]

[ Homura tilts her head to the side. All that information is, technically, correct. But what Kyoko doesn’t mention is that it was Madoka who made that wish and become the Law of Cycles. Homura isn’t sure if Kyoko truly doesn’t know or if she’s purposefully omitting it. And she can’t exactly ask without showing her hand.

Kyoko mentions that she’s from the “original” timeline. While Homura doubts she’s truly from the original timeline, she gets the gist. It’s impossible to know which “original” timeline she’s from but, just to make sure, she asks: ]

Witches?

Kyoko "sick of your bullshit" Sakura

[redmeguca]

Come on Akemi, cut the crap. Witches, what really happened when a Soul Gem went completely dark before the change. A transformation into a total monster that nobody can come back from, no matter what lies Kyubey tells. Or are you gonna tell me you don't remember Walpurgisnacht?

Homura "technically not a liar" Akemi

[recurrens]

[ Homura lets the pause hang in the air for a second. ]

Before I showed up here, I was hunting down a wraith. [ Not a witch. ] Since you don’t seem to know about them, allow me to explain.

[ In a practiced motion, Homura flicks her hair over her shoulder. ]

They are the thing that magical girls fight. They prey on negative emotions -- not just of humans, but of magical girls as well. If they manage to devour every single one of your emotions, it does not kill you. It simply leaves you behind as a lifeless husk.

[ She brings her hand up, looking at the ring on her finger. ]

Can you imagine what that must be like? What it must do to your soul gem, to lose your emotions like that?

[ She drops her hand, bringing her attention back to Kyoko. ]

At least we can rest easy, knowing the Law of Cycles will take us away if our soul gems go dark.

[redmeguca]

W-what the hell? Kaname sacrifices everything, even her own existence, and that's what happens? Where do these "Wraith" things even come from anyway?! Is Kyubey just that intent on screwing us all over? I mean, it's still an improvement from Witches, but that's like calling rusty spikes an improvement over acid covered spikes. You know what? I'm gonna convince her to wish for Doppels instead. Doppels for everyone, past, present, and future. It'll solve the Witch problem, give Magical Girls another weapon, and let her keep existing. Ophelia's a pain, but she's not... that.

[recurrens]

[ And that was entirely the wrong thing to say.

Homura takes a few deliberate steps closer to Kyoko, face dark and deadly serious, eyes flashing. ]

You will not be convincing Kaname-san to wish for anything.

[redmeguca]

Look, you know her better than I do. Can you really say that Madoka could be convinced to not make a wish that could help every Magical Girl out there? I don't think she can. The girl's got a core of steel under that pink frilly exterior. The most I think I can do is convince her to change her planned wish to something that will make being a Magical Girl infinitely less dangerous, for both herself and everyone else. Doppels mean you don't turn into a Witch when your Soul Gem fills, or even vanish into some magic afterlife. Hell, I'll even show you mine if you want.

[recurrens]

[ And Homura keeps her face very, very blank. ]

Yes, [ she says, unfalteringly looking Kyoko in the eye. ] If your soul gem does what you say, I would like to see it.

[redmeguca]

Heh. If you say so.

[Kyoko's Soul Gem glows as she begins purposefully wasting magic. Spears rise up and disappear, and illusory walls and solid chains cut them off from their surroundings, all while Kyoko maintains eye contact.]

Don't mind the walls, they're just there so Mami doesn't see something she couldn't handle. Well, that and to burn magic. Speaking of which, here's where the real magic happens.

[As Kyoko's Soul Gem becomes completely dark, the blackness expands beyond the limits of the Soul Gem itself. It grows and shapes itself into a colorful kimono and candle-stand, which should look quite familiar to Homura. Kyoko's face briefly becomes pure white with a wide grin before flickering back to normal with a smirk.]

Well? What do you think of Ophelia, Akemi?

[recurrens]

[ Homura remains impassive throughout the entire display. It’s only once it’s over, with Kyoko smirking and her soul gem clear, does she react.

She reaches out and slaps the soul gem straight out of Kyoko’s hand.

Then she reaches out, grabbing a fistfull of Kyoko’s shirt, tugging her close. ] I don’t care about your doppels, Sakura-san. Stay away from Madoka, or I will do much, much worse.

[ And with that, she pushes Kyoko away before spinning on her heel and walking out of the room. ]

[redmeguca]

[The flying Soul Gem is caught- by Kyoko Sakura. Specifically, it's caught by a Kyoko that appears in a flash of red light right in it's path. Several more flashes and Homura is completely surrounded.]

Akemi. Homura, Homura, Homura, I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. But I've kinda gotta wonder: are you really doing this for Madoka? Or are you doing it for yourself? I know better than anyone how the lines can get blurred there. Which sounds better? A Madoka who'll never become a Witch and is too powerful to lose, or both you and her losing everything because she didn't realize there was a third option? I get it, if she makes a wish like that, is it really you saving her at all? Wouldn't you rather just go back and try again than accept that Madoka's not dependent on you? There's a point where you need to take a step back and evaluate your priorities, Akemi, and I think you've reached it.