The road before the pair seemed to go on forever. The Oracle walked the road, calm and collected as she always was. Her companion, equally as committed to her routine, was bounding about, circling excitedly around her “big sister”, the questions flowing like a waterfall.

“Oh, oh! Here’s a big one. Does Yui-chan know? That a part of her Witch is still alive with you?”

This, the final question after what felt like hours upon hours of questions was what got Cecilia to stop in her tracks with a resigned, impatient sigh. “…If she didn’t before, she sure does now.”

“It’s like a reunion, Cece-chan! You two haven’t seen each other since the big fight, right? Then-“

“It’s not like that. I can… only imagine how traumatic it must have been for Yui. To feel a part of her soul that she killed, tore from herself… come to life again.”

Kiwa-chan stopped circling the Oracle, standing in front of her, looking up at her hooded face with a tilted head, her expression more geniune. “Y’think it was scary for her?”

Cecilia merely nodded. “Indeed. She resigned herself to becoming a Ghost– that is, a magical girl whose Witch has died, yet the girl herself remains– when she caught wind of Kae’s plan to make her into an Angel. It was her failsafe, so she could live on. Truth be told… it was always an ideal of hers, when she first learned of their existence. But to face it in such a harsh way… and only to learn she did not fully succeed.” Cecilia sighed. “…I have a lot to answer for, back in Mitakihara.”

“Assuming you get that far! Or didn’cha notice that the road goes on forever?” A voice called out through the fog at the far end of the road, and a silhouette, one not much larger than Kiwako stood, emerging enough to make out a shape, but not much more. “The Oracle, right? We’ve been expecting you!”

“Oh… I know that voice!” Kiwako immediately shuffled behind Cecilia, peering out from behind the Oracle’s side. “Kotone-chan! D… Do you really hafta do this now? Cece-chan–“

A blue, cloaked arm reached out, covering Kiwako’s form as Cecilia spoke up. “Kimura Kotone, I presume, then? I’ve equally been briefed on you and yours.”

“Big talk, lady!” The girl stepped from the fog, a green and brown outfit, resembling that of a bard covered most of the girl’s small form, her short black hair covering one cheek, and her soft, hazel eyes denoting a warmer expression than her words and tone would imply. “But we know the best part about you! You can’t use your Doppel, can ya?”

“Kotone-chan…”

The sky began to dim as she spoke, and her eyes closed as she continued. “See, that’s the problem with you. You can fight a feral Witch, but one that’s under control? That’s dangerous, ain’t it? The best of both worlds, our Doppels!”

“Kotone-chan…!”

“Back in Mitakihara, you mighta been top dog, but here? You’re in OUR house, and play by OUR rules!” As she continued to rant, several clockwork mice began to gather around her, and several more, becoming a small swarm. “Now tremble in fear, here on Miracle–“

“KOTONE-CHAN!”

“Wh… What is it, Kiwa-chan?!”

The mice began to tremble behind Kotone, who finally opened her eyes, seeing the winged white orb in front of her. “…Oh son of a–“