Kiwako’s little house was empty. The furniture continued to exist in a perpetual state of disarray, television tuned to silent, empty static. A stovetop was still lightly smoking from recent use, but no sign of cookware or food remained. Most noticably, the guests that once stayed in this house after their individual defeats had cleared out. The hooded woman in blue expected this. This was, after all, part of the script.

Walking down the empty streets of Kamihama, the Oracle of the Conductors was barely taking note of the scenery. The town, as described to her, had lost its life. The residents of the city vanished, and the survivors had no recollection as to how or why this happened. Girls who had made their wishes upon the Incubators found that the natural end to their journeys… simply didn’t happen. And they soon discovered that the other side of the coin of their souls was not something to fear. ‘Witches’ became ‘Doppels’. It was for this reason that Cecilia Ambrosi initially came to this city. The phenomenon of looking at the other side of one’s own coin is what first drew the Oracle of the Conductors to this anomaly of existence. This affront to the natural order. It was not, however, how Cecilia and Kiwako first met.

“Cecilia.” The voice was familiar, and came from behind the Oracle. “You did it. You defeated all of the members of the Coven, and have saved—”

“Kiwako. There is no need to continue the charade. We both know what comes next.”

“. . . Kiwa-chan.” Her correction was hollow, lifeless even.

“There is no need to adhere to what was rehearsed by fate all those years ago any longer. We know what happens now.”

“You’re trying to leave, aren’t you?” A rehearsed spark of life echoes in Kiwako’s voice.

“I could never have stayed here forever, Kiwa-chan.” Cecilia turned to face the girl, unable to read her expression through her hood.

“…But /this/ is the Ideal World, Cece-chan. It’s… it’s what I wished for. Even if I don’t remember it… even if I don’t remember what I wished for exactly… I know, deep in my heart…”

“I know. I saw it firsthand, after all. And someday, I may be able to tell you that story.” Cecilia approached Kiwako, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You told me to let go of my own mistakes. To learn from them, to grow. Isn’t it time you did the same, Kiwa-chan?” Her tone was far more gentle than it ever had been during her stay in Kamihama.

“…No. I… I can’t. Not yet. Not alone… ’cause even with my Coven, I…”

“You’re not alone, though. We can tear down this barrier, and you can return to your life—”

“A magical girl HAS no life to return to”, Kiwako shouted, trembling as she broke free from Cecilia’s grasp. “…This is all I have. And if I gotta keep my toys on the shelf so I got someone to talk to, then…”

Cecilia showed no signs of shock, however. “…As you wish. So, we shall have this song and dance again, then? I will play my part if I must.”

A shadow formed beneath Kiwako, coalescing into the shape of a giant wolf, its color brightening to resemble an empty sky’s reflection beneath her. The girl said nothing in turn.

“…For what it is worth, Kiwako… I appreciate what you have done for me. Allow me to repay my debt in full.”

“…That’s not your line, Oracle.”

Cecilia sighed, her silver staff appearing in her right hand as she assumed a stance. “…My final duty as the Oracle, here in Kamihama… I shall tear down your Ideal World, once and for all!”

Kiwako showed the hint of a smile, a tear rolling down her cheek and hitting the street below. “That’s better. It’s much easier this way… if we at least pretend to stay in character.” Behind the girl, a large, humanoid, crystalline wolf appeared. Hovering over her, it lunged, jaws snapping down and engulfing the girl all in one motion. Kiwako’s voice echoed from the empty space her human form once stood. “Now then! One last fight, Cecilia Ambrosi!”

The buildings slowly melted and reformed into the shape of large, thick trees. The street formed into a field of dirt and moss, and the sky turning into a blank void, only littered with the light of the stars.

“But I must warn you! No one has ever seen my Miracle Forest and lived to tell the tale!”

Cecilia simply sighed, her winged orb of eyes emerging behind her. “…Very well. Our final battle, then.
…Same as always.”