Continue feeling and being useless, I guess. All I can do right now is observe and follow the rest, fighting if it's needed with my gun.
Maybe start thinking of what could I wish for when this is over. I'm not sure if wishing for more wishes is allowed, or if wishing to have all of my problems solved will actually work. Think about how do I currently feel towards my family and the magical girls.
You sit back in the ash, leaning against a trio of thick flower stems with your rifle resting in your lap. You fiddle with your ear protection, trying to make it muffle the excessively loud music a little better, while the other girls gather around the edge of the flowers, clearly ready for a fight. Too bad you can't actually communicate with them with this music; you'd pretty much have to shout.
As time drags on, everyone waiting for something unknown, your thoughts drift to what you'll do after this. What you'll wish for.
The first thing to pop into your mind, of course, is your bedridden grandfather, delirious with sickness. You've been taking care of him for the last week, watching him slowly... fade away. You scrunch up your face and stare down at his rifle, unhappy. That would definitely be the best thing to wish for, but you think it was mentioned that Asha can heal people, without needing wishes or anything? If you can convince
her to heal your grandfather, you'd still have your wish.
Maybe you should wish for money? You know your grandfather had to start working again after your dad disappeared, just to get enough money to take care of you, and it's been really hard on him. Plus, the other adults in the family are always complaining about not having enough money anymore, so maybe if you wished to be rich, and then shared, they would be nicer to you?
...No, your father always said they weren't judgemental and unhappy because they were poor. He always said that was just who they were, rich or poor, and that you should accept that. Maybe you could wish for them to be better people? Your father taught you that you couldn't change people, only learn who they were and how to deal with them, but you have a
wish, maybe you could make them change.
...But if you could do that, maybe you're thinking small. Maybe you could wish for Russia to become a great country again, so everyone back home would be happy, and nobody would have to leave the country. Or, you could wish for the whole world to be happy! You suddenly recall your dad talking about a book he liked, where a man wished for something like that. What was it? 'Happiness for everyone, for free, and no one would walk away unsaisfied'? You struggle to recall what your dad said about that wish, whether he thought a selfess wish like that was good or bad, but you draw a blank. You really wish you could ask him, he always knew the answers, to everything.
You look back up at the other girls, still poised, ready to attack. They're really serious about this stuff. It's really dangerous. You look back down at your rifle, and think about the war stories your grandfather occasionally tells. He once said that when you've been in combat, everything else looks different. He said people don't understand what's really valuable in life, not unless they've had to wonder whether they'd still be alive tomorrow. When you're in a true fight for your life, the only things that are valuable are those that will keep
you alive, and those that will keep
your brothers alive. Maybe you should think like that, if you're going to be fighting in labyrinths like this. Instead of making a wish to help your family, or other people, you should just wish for something that will help keep you and your friends alive. Like a wish that you and the other girls are invulnerable, or extra powerful, or something...
You're brought out of your thoughts when Asha sits down next to you, resting her chin on her knees while giving you a worried look. You guess she got bored of waiting with the other girls. After a moment, you hear her voice in your head, and suddenly remember that she's been able to speak into your mind since she gave you that ribbon.
<Are you okay? Your thoughts seemed sad. Uh, I mean, I can sort-of sense how you feel, but I can't read your mind or anything! Umm. Are your ears still hurting, or, uh, anything else? I could heal you if you're hurt, you know! I shouldn't do it a lot, but ocasionally healing people isn't a problem for me!>((Also, Syv, how about posting the answers to those IC questions I asked of you?))
(Devastator) Hmm, can you defeat a witch by running her out of magic?
(Devastator) Consider that question asked of Pumsy.
(syv)
"What? Uhm, well, sort of I guess? Their magic isn't like your magic, though. They don't have much of your magic left."(syv)
"Oh, please don't try, Alida! Your magic is *way* limited than theirs! It works differently, if you just pit your magic against their's then you'll be drained super quick!"(Devastator) "Limited.. is that why you're having us work together, then? So we can team up?"
(syv)
"Uh huh! Magical girls who work together do much better! Your magic only gets stronger when you're with each other."(syv)
"Well, usually. But you all get along, so it's okay!"(Devastator)
"Yeah.. If you see Mina again, tell her I'm sorry about that kick."(Devastator) "If she wants, she can kick me back."
(syv)
"Okay, Alida! I'll go tell her now!"((Pumsy then left, visited Mina, and didn't tell her anything.))