History FanFic / AsNApproachesInfinity

* Without contracting and being introduced to the Magicial Girl system more subtly and truthfully, Sayaka turns out to be quite sharp, according to Hitsugaya, being generally more emotionally insightful once her usual bluster blows over. Of course, it helps that without contracting, her sanity is mostly intact.
* Kyoko is at first assumed from the profile given by Homura to be a simple BigEater BloodKnight by Urahara. Her perception of the Incubator's system however, is quite philosophical, much to his surprise, and legitimately makes him wonder if the Incubator's endless supply of bodies truly is endless.

* BreatherEpisode: Chapters 59-64 form something of a breather mini-arc, dealing with the fallout of the battle against Ayase Soju, with Homura being sent to Karakura to rest. There's no direct threats against the characters during this time, just them coping with the aftermath. Somewhat [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Urahara when explaining the circumstances to Homura.

* {{Deconstruction}}: Urahara's ''entire character'' gets hit with this during the second arc. Him being an AntiHero? It makes Homura wary of him. BunnyEarsLawyer he is...which thoroughly annoys Homura to no end, as while she knows that Kisuke is intelligent, him behaving in more comical manners infuriates her. Him being CrazyPrepared in canon concerning Aizen's plans made sense because he had over a century to thoroughly study the problem. The Incubator's plans involve even more scientific complexity regarding the Magical Girls, and as an OutsideContextProblem that Urahara didn't even know about, unlike Yhwach (Whom Urahara had basic knowledge of), he needs just as much time to study it, which he can't do in the six weeks allotted before Homura can turn back time. This causes him to be put off-guard when [[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica Ayase Soju]] shows up, as he didn't take her appearance into account. Him being a MysteriousBacker only adds to Homura's reasons of not fully trusting him. His SinkOrSwimMentor tactics, as [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Benihime herself, are '''not''' going to work for Homura like they did with Ichigo. Overall, the situation is one that Urahara has to adjust to, his tactics may have worked in Bleach canon, but for PMMM canon, he is out of his depth.

** Of course, there are figures such as Soi-Fon and Kurotsuchi who are far less sympathetic.

** The aftermath of [[spoiler:

** Detective Misako Ishijima subverts this. She has been investigating magical girl activities for years but because no one ever believed her it all seemed to be in vain until she is approached by Junko and Tomohisa Kaname who want to bring her research to Urahara. Even the incubator considers the exposure of Ishijima's research to the right people to be a great enough risk that it considers killing her.

* BattleInTheRain: The battle against Walpurgisnacht, as in the anime.

* BrutalHonesty: Homura says she prefers it.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Sayaka to her parents in Chapter 71 after finally having had enough of their neglect and them insulting Homura and Mami for being orphans

* DeathByAdaptation: Homura's parents.

* SirSwearsALot: Karin, Jinta, Ichigo's Hollow.

* TooMuchAlike: As multiple characters point out, this is the reason Homura and Urahara has so much trouble cooperating with each other.

** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen -- whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him -- to caution Homura -- who is also considerably powerful and intelligent -- to against pushing away the people who want to help her. Indeed both individuals lie to and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with. They both also have difficulty admitting when they are wrong and tend to assume they always know what is best for everyone. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who -- in his isolation and hubris -- couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has major self-esteem issues and only wants to save the people she cares for.

* BreakTheBadass: Happens to Ichigo in Chapter 81. [[spoiler:In an effort to break the extreme spiritual feedback loop between Homura and Madoka he pushes some of his own spiritual power into the middle and inadvertently witnesses Homura's memory of her destroying Madoka's Soul Gem in a previous timeline, as well promising her to save her from from the Incubator]]. He begins crying without even knowing it, goes int a state of paranoia, and can't even stand the light being on.

* CoverBlowingSuperpower: The powers and abilities of Homura's Shinigami allies in the second timeline would inherently give away to the Incubator who they are and what they are capable of, and has been one of their main challenges to keep secret.

** Homura and Toshiro. Both of them are stoic no-nonsense veteran combatants who are far more mature than their physical appearances would suggest. Both are physically children but -- due their unique conditions -- are considerably older than they appear to be. However, Toshiro retains a sense of honor and a desire to do things "the right way" whereas Homura has far, far fewer scruples about how she conducts her duties.

** Urahara and the Incubator. Both put up a facade that would make them far more likable and approachable to people, particularly young children. Underneath their respective facades both conceal a far more calculating and logical side that is constantly working on long-raging schemes and manipulations. But ultimately whereas the Incubator is emotionless and doesn't care for who gets hurt in the path to achieving its goals, Urahara genuinely cares about people and works to make sure he doesn't get too detached from them.

** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen -- whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him -- to caution Homura -- who is also considerably powerful and intelligent -- to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals lie to and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with. They both also have difficulty admitting when they are wrong and tend to assume they always know what is best for everyone. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who -- in his isolation and hubris -- couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has major self-esteem issues and only wants to save the people she cares for.

* GroundhogDayLoop: Over six weeks instead of one day. Includes ResetButton.

* PoliceAreUseless: Played with. Homura mentions police being the opposite of helpful in a timeline in which [[MistakenForCrazy she went to them about the magical girl plight]]. But once there is concrete evidence of something shady happening, the police quickly start linking preexisting suspicious incidents together. Averted with Detective Misako Ishijima, who has been investigating magical girls for years in Kazumi Magica canon.

* BreaktheBadass: Happens to Ichigo in Chapter 81. [[spoiler:In an effort to break the extreme spiritual feedback loop between Homura and Madoka he pushes some of his own spiritual power into the middle and inadvertently witnesses Homura's memory of her destroying Madoka's Soul Gem in a previous timeline, as well promising her to save her from from the Incubator]]. He begins crying without even knowing it, goes int a state of paranoia, and can't even stand the light being on.

* ParentalSubstitute: Isshin towards Homura, he even refers to her as his third honorary daughter at one point.

* StrongerThanTheyLook: Homura is a mere 14-year-old middle school girl but is amongst the most experienced Magical Girls in the story. Yoruichi and Kisuke both note multiple times that even with her power restrained, she is at the level of a Shinigami Lieutenant, and may be far greater unrestrained.

* AmazonBrigade /SmashSisters: Karin, Yuzu, and Homura; also Kazumi, Umika, and Kaoru; and any magical girls who work together in general.

* BigBad: The Incubator; hands down.
** Chapter 77 hints that Incubator has a "master" having influence over it; meaning that there might be another being who is truly responsible for the conflict of the story.

* BigDamnHeroes[[spoiler: Homura get one in Chapter 77 when she arrives with Mami and Toshiro and saves Tessai, Tomohisa, Junko, and Detective Ishijima with her Time Stop just as the Dawn of Hyades descends on Asunaro.]]

* CallBack: In the first story arc, Ichigo gives Homura some words of wisdom “is that a realistic thing to expect of yourself?” In the second story arc/timeline, when an Ichigo who doesn't know her is upset, Homura awkwardly repeats what his future self said to her as she starts to really get the significance of the words.

* CassandraTruth: Homura has a history of not being believed by the other Mitakihara magical girls. Homura also briefly reflects on an early timeline in which she went to the [[PoliceAreUseless police]] and spent the rest of that cycle as a [[MistakenForCrazy “mentally ill runaway”]] dodging cops and social workers on top of the magical girl mess.
* CataclysmClimax: The end of the first story arc. [[spoiler:Almost every soul in Karakura-- including shinigami-- are sacrificed by the Incubator to create a King's Key to break into the King's Realm]].

** Chapters featuring Witch or Familiar battles have “Witch Data” entries before the author's notes at the end. The blurbs are constructed like the PMMM franchise Witch Cards.

** Homura's line “That won't be necessary” shows up several times.

*** [[spoiler:The lotus pictures in Hitsugaya's shrine room allude to his bankai being named Daiguren Hyorinmaru-- “Daiguren” meaning “grand crimson lotus;” the dragon art refers to his zanpakuto.]]

** Urahara has Homura, Karin, and Yuzu draw Kyubey. Tessai looks at the drawings and says, “It looks like a magical girl anime mascot."

** OC Noriko Chiasa, implied to be Patricia, the Class Representative Witch who is perched in a blue sky. Noriko = “rule/precedent/ceremony child” and Chiasa = “one thousand mornings”

** “Mami mogu mogu” is embedded in a scene in Charlotte's labyrinth. It is a joke about Mami's canon fate of being decapitated and eaten by a Witch.

** Junko also tears into Urahara for his manipulations of the already mentally damaged magical girls.

** “It's complicated.”

** Yuzu says Karin is the [[Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor Mars to her Sailor Venus.]]

** Witch Beatrix, her Familiars, and her labyrinth were inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorn's story “Rappaccini's Daughter”.

** The Pumpkin Witch, her Familiars, and labyrinth were inspired by the video for the Vocaloid song “Mrs. Pumpkin's Comical Dream” and Cinderella.

** OC Saki Yamaha, implied to be canon Witch Kirsten, is named for [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Hatsune Miku]]. Saki Fujita is the actress whose voice is used and Yamaha is the company that invented the base Music/{{Vocaloid}} software. The anime shows Kirsten's magical girl form to have long pigtails and her Witch form is associated with computer screens.
** Witch Marcia is a direct cameo of Nonon Jakuzure from ''Anime/KillLaKill''.
** The phrase “ye who enter here” is hidden among the description of the final door in Cynthia's labyrinth. This is the second half of the famous inscription on the gate to Hell in Dante's Inferno. The unsaid first half is an order to [[{{Foreshadowing}} “abandon all hope.”]]

** The door to Witch Alexandria's labyrinth is inscribed with hidden text: [[Literature/TheHobbit “my precious.”]]
** The description of the rooms leading up to the central chamber of Witch Alexandria's labyrinth is inscribed with hidden text [[Literature/HarryPotter “thief you have been warned beware”]] If you recognize the quote fragment, you should know it ends “...of finding more than treasure there.” They do.

** New Witches are constructed through word/concept-association research, as explained on the author's Website/DeviantArt account http://corisanna.deviantart.com/. This account contains collages to show “[[AllThereInTheManual production notes]]” like those made for the Madoka Magica anime. Currently only has Witch Beatrix and her Familiars.

* StrongerThanTheyLook: Homura is a mere 14 year-old middle school girl but is amongst the most experienced Magical Girls in the story. Yoruichi and Kisuke note multiple times that with her power restrained she is at the level of a Shinigami Lieutenant and that she may be far greater unrestrained.

* SurveillanceAsThePlotDemands: Urahara's aforementioned hidden cameras plus his following and observing Homura in the first timeline.

** Karin, after defeating her first Witch: [[NaiveNewcomer “Being magical girls is gonna be awesome.”]]
** Yuzu wondering if the Pumpkin Witch [[spoiler:uses a decoy.]]
* ThatsNoMoon: Homura at the end of the the first arc: “Those aren't wings.”

* ThisIsUnforgivable: The Visored in Soul Society have this reaction after Urahara presents an [[spoiler:[[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica Evil Nut]]]] during a briefing, as it seems similar to whatever method Aizen used to Hollowfy them. Kensei in particular, is disgusted by the idea of the Incubator basically going around Hollowfying little girls.

** Chapter 31, [[spoiler: Walpurgisnacht shows up in Karakura instead of Mitakihara, and its [[OhCrap stronger than before]].]]

** Chapter 77, [[spoiler: Junko and Tomohisa Kaname finally meet with Misako Ishijima, a human detective from Kazumi Magica who has been investigating magical girl activities for years and has been hinted at throughout the story. The Incubator prepares to escalate its campaign against Homura and Urahara's faction and hints that it may have a master. It also hints that Homura descending into despair could give it the same kind of energy that it hopes to gain from Madoka contracting and eventually becoming a witch. The Dawn of Hyades descends thanks to Kanna Hijiri's own machinations. Homura is forced to reveal her Time Magic to Mami and Tomohisa in order to save them.]]

** Detective Misako Ishijima subverts this. She has been investigating magical girl activities for years but because no one ever believed her it all seemed to be in vain until she is approached by Junko and Tomohisa Kaname who want to bring her research to Urahara and Homura. Even the incubator considers the exposure of Ishijima's research to the right people to be a great enough risk that it considers killing her.

** Chapter 77 hints that Incubator has a "master" who has influence over it; meaning that there might be another being who is truly responsible for the conflict of the story.

* {{Deconstruction}}: Urahara's ''entire character'' gets hit with this during the second arc. Him being an AntiHero? It makes Homura wary of him. BunnyEarsLawyer he is...which thoroughly annoys Homura to no end, as while she knows that Kisuke is intelligent, him behaving in more comical manners infuriates her. Him being CrazyPrepared in canon concerning Aizen's plans made sense because he had over a century to thoroughly study the problem. The Incubator's plans involve even more scientific complexity regarding the Magical Girls, and as an OutsideContextProblem that Urahara didn't even know about, unlike Yhwach (Whom Urahara had basic knowledge of), he needs just as much time to study it, which he can't do in the six weeks allotted before Homura can turn back time. This causes him to be put off-guard when [[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica Ayase Soju]] shows up, as he didn't take her appearance into account. Him being a MysteriousBacker only adds to Homura's reasons of not fully trusting him. His SinkOrSwimMentor tactics, as [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Benihime herself, are '''not''' going to work for Homura like they did with Ichigo. Overall, the situation is one that Urahara has to adjust to, his tactics may have worked in Bleach canon, but for PMMM canon, it's a whole other story.

** Homura and Toshiro. Both of them are stoic no-nonsense veteran combatants who are far more mature than their physical appearances would suggest. Both are physically children but - due their unique conditions - are considerably older than they appear to be. However, Toshiro retains a sense of honor and a desire to do things "the right way" whereas Homura has far, far fewer scruples about how she conducts her duties.

** The Incubator and Aizen. Though Aizen has yet to make and appearance in the story, many characters have drawn parallels between their methods and goals. Neither of them have any qualms about who gets hurt as they work to achieve their goals and they are both detached from other people. Aizen however, is known for being a ConsummateLiar whereas the Incubator - while far from honest - avoids telling an outright untruth.
** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen - whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him - to caution Homura - who is also considerably powerful and intelligent - to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals have been known to lie and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with. They both also have difficulty admitting when they are wrong and tend to assume they always know best. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who - in his isolation and hubris - couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has major self-esteem issues and only wants to save the people she cares for.

* InSpiteOfANail: As of Timeline X + N + 1, the plot of [[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica Kazumi Magica]] is occurring mostly as it does in canon, just slightly slower due to the Incubator sending Soju to Mitakihara. [[spoiler: As of Chapter 77, the Dawn of Hyades descends upon Asunaro.]]

* TheManBehindTheMan: Chepter 77 has the Incubator refer to a "master" that can influence it. Meaning that the Incubator may not be the main antagonist.

* MentalWorld: The mindscapes shinigami share with their zanpakuto spirits. So far, only Ichigo's and [[spoiler:Urahara's]] have been shown in-story.

** The shinigami [[spoiler:defeating Walpurgisnacht]] at the end of the story's first timeline.

** Junko Kaname delivers a rather glorious one to Sayaka' parents about how to treament of her caused her run away.
** Junko also tears into Urahara for his manipulations of the already mentally damaged Magical Girls.

** The Kurosaki sisters revealing they know more about shinigami and their father than the adults think they should.
** Ichigo not knowing how influential he is with the shinigami.

** Chapter 77 hints that Incubator has a "master" who has influence over it, meaning that there might be another being who is truly responsible for the conflict of the story.

* TheReasonYouSuckYouSpeech:
* Junko Kaname delivers a rather glorious one to Sayaka' parents about how to treament of her caused her run away.
* Junko also tears into Urahara for his manipulations of the already mentally damaged Magical Girls.

* StrongerThanTheyLook: Homura is a mere 14 year-old middle school girl but is amongst the most experienced Magical Girls in the story. Yoruichi and Kisuke note multiple times that with her power restrained she is at the level of a Shinigami Lieutenant and that she may be far greater unrestrained.

* StrongerThanYouLook: Homura is a mere 14 year-old middle school girl but is amongst the most experienced Magical Girls in the story. Yoruichi and Kisuke note multiple times that with her power restrained she is at the level of a Shinigami Lieutenant and that she may be far greater unrestrained.

** Yunichiya Textiles: named for Unitika (Yunichika Kabushiki-gaisha ) [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitika]], chosen because of the Witch's cotton ball minions.

** Yunichiya Textiles: named for Unitika (Yunichika Kabushiki-gaisha ) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitika], chosen because of the Witch's cotton ball minions.

* CoverBlowingSuperpower: The powers and abilities of Homura's Shinigami allies in the second timeline would inherently give away to the Incubator who they are and what they are capable, and has been one of their main challenges to keep secret.

* Cover-BlowingSuperpower: The powers and abilities of Homura's Shinigami allies in the second timeline would inherently give away to the Incubator who they are and what they are capable, and has been one of their main challenges to keep secret.

* YouAreNotAlone: Various characters keep trying to convince Homura of this.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: See also FunnyAneurysmMoment.
** Karin vaguely mentions [[spoiler:the concept of the King's Key]] to Kyubey in a flashback. Many chapters later, Kyubey [[spoiler: [[NiceJobBreakingItHero uses the method she outlined to create a King's Key.]]]]

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:
** Karin thinks to herself that Homura is “a tough nut to crack”. Turns out [[spoiler:Karin's own Soul Gem isn't. She destroys it herself with a nutcracker.]]
** Karin crows over an unintentional joke she made with "hahaha, [[spoiler:I kill myself.]]" She eventually does.

* TearJerker: Ichigo and Isshin's reactions to [[spoiler:Karin and Yuzu's deaths]].

** Homura and Urahara. Both of them are highly strategic individuals and effectively the co-leaders for the resistance against the incubator. Both have a penchant for lying to others and playing their cards close to the chest. They are also both significantly less morally scrupulous than their allies or the ones they are trying to protect, which strains their relationships with them. Urahara however at least tries to be approachable and sociable by putting on a facade of eccentricity and childishness while Homura is aloof and stoic and is generally far less approachable.
** Homura and Toshiro. Both of them are stoic no-nonsense veteran combatants who are far more mature than their physical appearances would suggest. Both are physically children but - due their unique conditions - are considerably older than they appear to be. However, Toshiro retains a sense of honor and a desire to do things "the right way" whereas Homura has far far fewer scruples about how she conducts her duties.

** Homura and Toshiro. Both of them are stoic and no-nonsense veteran combatants who are far more mature than their physical appearances would suggest. Both are physically children but - due their unique conditions - are considerably older than they appear to be. However, Toshiro retains a sense of honor and a desire to do things "the right way" whereas Homura is far far fewer scruples about how she conducts her duties.

** Urahara and the Incubator. Both put up a facade that would make them far more likable and approachable to people, particularly young children. Underneath their respective facades both conceal a far more calculating and logical side that is constantly working on long-raging schemes and manipulations. But ultimately whereas the Incubator is emotionless and doesn't care for who get hurt in the path to achieving its goals, Urahara genuinely cares about people and works to make sure he doesn't get too detached from them.

** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen - whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him - to caution Homura - who is also considerably powerful and intelligent - to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals have been known to lie and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with. They both also have difficulty admitting when they are wrong and tend to assume they always know best. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who - in his isolation and hubris - couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura suffers greatly from low sef-esteem, and wants nothing more than to save her frieds.

** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen - whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him - to caution Homura - who is also considerably powerful and intelligent - to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals have been known to lie and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with.They both also have difficulty admitting when they are wrong and tend to assume they always both. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who - in his isolation - couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has no such grand ambitions and simply wants to save her friends (by any means necessary).

** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen - whose immense power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him - to caution Homura - who is also considerably powerful and intelligent - to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals have been known to lie and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous than people would generally be comfortable with. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who - in his isolation - couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has no grand ambitions and simply wants to save her friends.

** Homura and Toshiro. Both of them are stoic and no-nonsense veteran combatants who are far more mature than their physical appearances would suggest. Both are physically children but - due their unique conditions - are considerably older than they appear to be. However, Toshiro retains a sense of honor and a desire to do things "the right way" whereas Homura is far more morally scrupulous.

** The Incubator and Aizen. Though Aizen has yet to make and appearance in the story, many characters have drawn parallel between their respective conniving and manipulative natures. Neither of them have any qualms about who gets hurt as they work to achieve their goals and they are both detached from other people. Aizen however, is known for his being a ConsummateLiar whereas the Incubator - while far from honest - avoids telling an outright untruth.
** Homura and Aizen. Ichigo brings up Aizen - whose power and intelligence led him to isolating himself from the people around him - to caution Homura - who is also considerable powerful and intelligent - to not push away the people who want to help. Indeed both individuals have been known to lie and use others for their own ends, while also being less morally scrupulous that people would generally be comfortable with. Both are also incredibly controlled in their emotions for the most part and have difficulty understanding other people. Ultimately though, Aizen was a megalomaniac who - in his isolation - couldn't accept a world where he wasn't in charge, while Homura has no grand ambitions and simply wants to save her friends.