Magia Record Main Story Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Surround Fendthope

As with the previous chapter, this chapter is told in branch format.

Iroha 1

Iroha Tamaki summarizes the story's previous events, and wonders how she can escape her imprisonment. Elsewhere, Nemu Hiiragi is still unable to create a new Rumor. Alina Gray is concerned, but Touka Satomi says that with Walpurgis Night coming they just need to keep playing defense. Nemu is able to adjust the mansion's existing Rumor to make them harder to detect, and to block telepathy from the invaders. Touka asks if they can use Alina's collection. Alina says they can, but wants Iroha's Soul Gem and body brought to her.

Within in the barrier of the Ten Thousand Year Cherry Blossom, Kanagi Izumi notes the space is warped. Yachiyo Nanami, Tsuruno Yui, and Felicia Mitsuki resolve to save Iroha. The girls storm Hotel Fendthope. The various Feathers detect the intruders and go after them. Meanwhile, Sana Futaba sneaks into the hotel to find Iroha. Elsewhere, weather reporters say that a powerful storm is coming and recommends people take shelter to avoid flooding. Walpurgis Night's laughter can be faintly heard. The chapter ends with Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi resolving to save Iroha. Homura further resolves to destroy Walpurgis.

Sana 1

Despite her invisibility magic, the Feathers are somehow able to detect Sana's presence. Sana tries to magically detect Iroha but fails. Sana suspects the building has something to do with this. She then hears two Feather's discussing Iroha's location, and that Alina requested Iroha's body and Soul Gem. The Feathers don't understand what's going on, but are willing to work for their release. Sana is able to trick a Black Feather into leaving her post and traps her. Sana tries to interrogate the Feather, but she still remains loyal to Magius despite everything that happened previously. Sana knocks the Feather out and takes her uniform.

Sana 2

Disguised as the Black Feather, Sana goes to a White Feather and asks why Alina would want Iroha. The White Feather thinks Iroha is to be fed to "the Eve". Sana comments that Magius's actions are counter-productive, but a Black Feather appears and says all they can do is obey. The group goes to Iroha's cell, where Sana reveals herself and attacks the Feathers.

Sana 3

The White Feather, before falling unconscious, gives a key to her subordinate and orders her to tell everyone what happened. Sana breaks open the prison door so Iroha can escape. This causes a Rumor familiar to appear, which makes Iroha realize that the building itself is a Rumor. Sana defeats the Rumor, and then goes to search with Iroha for Iroha's Soul Gem. Iroha thinks they should leave the building and regroup with the others, but Sana says they can still feed her Soul Gem to Eve. Elswhere, a Black Feather reports that Iroha has escaped, and Yachiyo is invading.

Yachiyo 1

The heroes enter Fendthope. Momoko Togame, Kaede Akino, and Rena Minami marvel at the hotel, thinking it's like a castle. Rena thinks there should be a princess there. Tsuruno tries to find Iroha and Sana but fails. All the other girls notice their sensing abilities and telepathy are blocked. The group decides to split up. Before they do, they're attacked by Feathers. The girls fend them off. Kanagi notes that one of the retreating Feathers has some doubts. Yachiyo she expected that only the most loyal followers would be in the hotel. Kanagi thinks they're more loyal to release of magical girls. Kanagi and Yachiyo decide to chase after the Feather to interrogate her.

Yachiyo 2

The Feather that Sana attacked before borrows a White Feather robe and goes to confront the intruders. The Feather thinks she's different from the others, since she does not care she's being used as a tool. The Feather runs into the other Black Feather Yachiyo's group was chasing after. Yachiyo's group then arrives, and Yachiyo tries to talk with them. The not-White Feather tells the other Feather to contact the others while she hold the group off.

The Feather is outmatched by Yachiyo's group. Yachiyo tells her to surrender, but the Feather says she can't abandon her chance to escape the fate of magical girls. Kanagi says the Feathers are just being used, and Momoko says that they're only causing more suffering. Yachiyo points out that Magius hasn't told the Feather how they will release magical girls. The Feather angrily protests, but then starts to consider their words. Tsuruno and Felicia say they can work together to stop Magius. The Feather is till hesitant. Yachiyo then asks about the locations of Iroha, Sana and Mifuyu Azusa. The Feather doesn't know, prompting Yachiyo's group to leave. The Feather muses that she might still be used even after release.

Yachiyo 3

As Yachiyo's group discusses the situation, Kanagi and Yachiyo point out they haven't seen Mifuyu. Rena and Kaede think they might be hiding, but Kanagi points out Mifuyu leads the Feathers. Yachiyo says Mifuyu wouldn't abandon her subordinates. Felicia asks if Mifuyu has been captured. Yachiyo says that might be it. Tsuruno suspects Mifuyu would be in the room that she was in when she was brainwashed by Magius. Tsuruno believes the room is upstairs. Felicia then decides to smash a hole in the ceiling, which causes a Rumor to appear.

The girls fight off the Rumor, but draw the attention of the Feathers. Momoko suggests rushing to the top, but Yachiyo tells her to wait and listen to what the Feathers are saying. They overhear the Feathers are searching for Iroha and Sana. Suddenly, Yachiyo's group is discovered by more Feathers, but they quickly hear the other group is going to the first floor to catch Iroha. Yachiyo asks Momoko's team to follow the Feathers searching for Iroha, while the rest of the group tries to find Mifuyu. Yachiyo tells Momoko to meet them on the first floor. The girls then fight through the Feathers.

Sana 4

Iroha tells Sana that Magius has called Walpurgis. Sana says even the Feather's don't seem to know about it. Sana wonders if they can prevent Walpurgis from coming if they can give Touka and Nemu their memories back. Iroha says she doesn't even know how to do that, and that all they can do is keep fighting against their enemies. The girls are then spotted by Feathers. Iroha recognizes the Feather who took a key from earlier. Sana tries to defend Iroha from the Feathers, but the girls get surrounded.

Iroha asks the Feathers if they can leave their lives in Magius's hands. Iroha points out that the Feather's have no guarantee they'll be treated better even if Magius achieve their goals. The Feather doesn't care, saying all the Feathers in the hotel actually put the release of magical girls above Magius. Sana is able to make an opening, and she runs off with Iroha.

Sana 5

Just as Sana and Iroha are about to be caught, Kyoko Sakura intervenes. Saying the Feathers don't think for themselves, she claims they're all either empty inside or causing misfortune for others. Kyoko then says she's not here to save Iroha, merely to beat up people she dislikes. She then deands Sana help her. Sana and Kyoko then knock out all the Feathers. Kyoko explains that she had infiltrated Magius, and was looking for Soul Gems earlier. Kyoko quickly deduces that Iroha has lost hers.

Sana asks if Kyoko knows where the Soul Gems are. Kyoko says she did, but they were moved. Sana then asks where the Magius, saying that Iroha's Soul Gem could be taken there. Kyoko says she doesn't know, but reveals that Magius is planning to deal with Mifuyu, Tsukuyo Amane, and Tsukasa Amane. Suddenly Iroha collapses. Something attacks Kyoko and Sana, while a Feather takes Iroha's body. A gate closes down, trapping Kyoko and Sana. Kyoko says that Iroha must have been too far from her Soul Gem, but figures she'll be revived when they're closer. Kyoko says they should just smahs through the gates and chase after the Feathers. Sana agrees.

Yachiyo 4

Reaching the top floor, the girls spot two Feathers and deduce they're guarding Mifuyu's room. Kanagi tells Yachiyo to head inside while the rest of them fend off the Feathers. As they fight, Kanagi reads the mind of a Feather, and tells Yachiyo to get Mifuyu and the Amane sisters (having learned of their presence from the Feather's mind). Yachiyo finally enters the room, only to see all three girls are seemingly dead.

The rest of Yachiyo's group arrives, having defeated the Feathers. Kanagi drags a White Feather into the room and explains Mifuyu and the Amanes were separated from their Soul Gems. Yachiyo demands the Feather reveal where the Soul Gems are,but the Feather refuses to answer. Kanagi reads the Feather's mind, and finds that Iroha's body and Soul Gem are being taken to the first floor. Kanagi suggests they jump out the window to go straight to the first floor.

Iroha 2

Iroha suddenly awakens, having been paralyzed by two Black Feathers. The Feathers explain she's being taken to Magius. Iroha admits she can't escape.

Iroha 3

Iroha tries to talk the Black Feathers about what they're doing. The Black Feathers say they're putting everything on a chance to be saved from becoming witches, and are willing to deal with any consequences that arise from this. One Black Feather explains she saw her little sister become a witch, and says that saving magical girls from the same fate would help her find closure. Iroha discusses her own sister, Ui Tamaki, and says she doesn't think Ui would have ever sacrificed many people to save herself. The Black Feather says Iroha can only say that because she's strong, and admits that she's willing to sacrifice others to fulfill her own selfish desires.

Iroha 4

Iroha points out that they're still saved as long as they stay in Kamiahama. Both Black Feathers explain they came from outside Kamiaham. The other Black Feather explains she came to Kamihama when she heard a girl say magical girls could be saved there. Iroha remembers an illusion of Ui saying something similar, and wonders if the Feather met her sister. The Feather says she didn't see a magical girl, or even an ordinary girl. She explains the other Feathers from outside Kamihama all heard the message from some kind of shape. After further discussion, Iroha admits she'll never see eye-to-eye with the Wings of Magius. However, she starts thinking Ui has something to do with Magius. Iroha then hopes that Sana will notice something.

Momoko 1

Momoko, Rena and Kaede chase down the escaping Feathers. Meanwhile, the not-White Feather talks with the other Feathers, and learns there's another group transporting the Soul Gems through another path. Momoko's group then fights a group of Feathers.

Momoko 2

After being defeated, the Feathers flee without a word. Suddenly, Momoko spots the not-White Feather. Momoko tells the girl she'll suffer by believing in Magius. The girl admits she thought it was fine to fight for Magius even if she didn't believe in them, but says that now she doesn't know what is right anymore. Kaede and Momoko say they can work together to save magical girls. The Feather says that if she gives up and her friend turns into a witch, she wouldn't be able to handle it. The girl then summons a Doppel and attacks. Rena says Momoko has bad timing again.

Momoko 3

Momoko's team defeats the Feather. The Feather apologizes and says she feels like she woke up a little. Momoko says they can talk later when it's all over. Suddenly the Feather recieves a telepathic messages and says Iroha has been captured. She suggests they break the floor to reach the level where Iroha is. Momoko says the building is a Rumor, but the Feather says she'll handle it. Rena and Kaede break the hole in the floor, and the White Feather fights the Rumor that appears while the others go down the hole. The Feather apologizes to someone for her betrayal, even though they "were looking forward to it".

Momoko 4

Momoko says they're still one floor two high. Rena and Kaede break the floor open again, and fight off the Rumor that appears. The girls tell Momoko to go on, saying they'll follow later. After reaching the bottom, Momoko sees Iroha being taken by the Black Feather. Momoko quickly defeats them and rescues Iroha. Iroha tells Momoko they took her Soul Gem. Suddenly a White Feather appears. Iroha then senses her Soul Gem in the possession of a group of Black Feathers, who give it to the White Feather.

(To be continued...)