The Carriers of her Banner

[bondtolife]

Laying on the grass, in the new world that Mami was reborn in, Mami held Homura's hand.

It was a moment of relief that Mami barely felt happening. In those days that she pondered about her duty after Kyouko's passing, and realizing all she was left with was Homura in a world that condemned them to endless fighting, there also came a moment in which the fights turned into a crawl as they found the source of the wraiths.

And then, as if waking up from a nightmare, Mami woke up on a field of grass caressed by soft mountain winds, holding Homura's hand, with a picnic kit and tea already served for the two of them nearby, looking up at an unfamiliar blue sky.

There was a long moment in which Mami realized there were threats in the distance that made her soul gem glow, evidence that the fight would not be over just yet. Then, she turned her head to Homura, not letting go of her hand, silently asking her if this was real.

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[bondtolife]

Homura's curt retort took Mami by surprise. But she respected her wishes, understanding that whatever Homura had gone through, whatever that girl she knew, Madoka, had gone through and done for them all...

... was possibly still out there. The very concept of hope, as Homura called her.

The first thing Mami did to prepare a vantage point was to materialize a musket for her to hold, "we should move around the hills for greater observation."

She looked at the hill above the town, barely above a hamlet, that had straw roofs and stone walls for enemies that would have held all but whatever they fought.

There were screams. A bell was rung in the distance. Mami's walk was still measured, although determined. She materialized another musket from her sleeves, now holding them as clubs.

"I can be the scout if you wish," Mami stated, "you can take the hills as the vantage point. I'll be down there trying to help the town. If our enemies become too many, move in."

She then smiled to Homura, asking about a friend Mami honestly wished she could have met, "your friend wanted us to protect people while we could, didn't she?"

[timeunending]

Straw roofs, stone walls, warning bells. Not only were they in a different world, but in a different time period entirely. And now the screams. They'd barely had time to get their bearings, and the situation had already changed. Not for the first time, the former time traveler wished she could still slow the world to a standstill.

Homura shook her head, not even turning at the telltale sound of muskets being summoned. "It would be safer to stay together," she murmured, her voice giving no indication to whatever she might be feeling. "Right where the enemy is headed."

The black-haired girl didn't quite smile at the mention of Madoka, but the corners of her lips just barely quirked up. "I'll cover you from the bell tower." Homura's fingers twitched up toward the side of her head- a nervous tic, making sure that well cared-for red ribbon was still there- before she summoned her bow.

Instead, she felt the touch of cold gunmetal against her fingers, a reassuringly familiar weight clamping onto her left arm. Slowing to a standstill, Homura stared at her hourglass shield, her face pale as if she'd seen a ghost.