DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, but Rei Masamori is my character. All rights go to Studio Shaft.

Prologue: If Only I'd Known

I'm running down a dark alley in the city, protecting a little girl I don't even know from some unknown thing. I think to myself, "What the hell am I doing, I have no obligations, no need to protect this child." But I do, I don't know why, but I do. I'm the type of person to protect whoever, whenever, for no reason. The name of that person is Rei Masamori.

"Lady, what is that thing chasing us?" asks the little girl.

"Just hold on…we'll get you to your family soon…" I reply, avoiding the question, not knowing what "it" is either.

A large pillar comes down and almost smashes the two of us, but we make a narrow escape. I hear a shrill and menacing voice come from the direction of "it".

"Help me", it says.

It sends a shiver down my spine and by now the little girl is in tears. I try to occupy her and get her mind off the fact that we could be facing certain death.

"So, what's your favorite color?" I ask, huffing and puffing from running so long.

"Purple", she replies bluntly.

"Do you have any siblings?"

"Siblings….?" She replies in an inquisitive tone.

"Well…what do you like to do at home?" I ask, trying to get her to talk.

"Home…?" she replies as if she has never heard the word or is unfamiliar with it.

I feel a sense of sadness wash over me and stop the conversation; I conclude that she is an orphan, perhaps living on the streets? From the looks of her clothes though, she is very well dressed for an orphan…

Crash Another pipe, and now debris from the collapsing buildings are coming down on both sides. I see the alley path ending slipping out of sight, covered by the rain of debris.

From a dumpster I hear a small sound, a gentle voice.

"Who's there?" I yell over the crashing of debris around me.

Barely audible, but very distinct I hear the voice, "You want to save yourself, and that girl too right?"

"Yes, of course", I reply.

The voice says, "Come with me then, just wish to save you and the girl and it'll come true…."

I contemplate whether I should listen to the voice, but with little time left, I hesitantly accept.

"I wish to save this girl and myself", I shout with all my might.

I see the landscape disappearing around me as the hand of "it" comes crashing down. I feel my senses turning to nothingness and feel myself evaporate like a rain puddle. A sense of relief washes over me right as I disappear.

If only I'd known.


This is my first story, comment and rate c: Thanks.