Alright, this is (obviously) a new story. It will be considered to be of lower priority than Braver, but I intend on updating this semi-regularly. The idea is fairly simple, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica world is fairly dark. I thought, what if in one of the timelines Homura traveled to there were people who are fully aware of the Magical Girls (referred to by Exorcists as Puella Magi) and try to make everything easier? Individuals who have their best interests at heart and actively try to prevent them from turning into Witches at any personal cost? So this idea formed into a story that may or may not be any good. Hope you enjoy it!

Prologue

Shifting Shadows

My name is Alex Rockholt.

I am an Exorcist. An individual chosen by fate to shoulder the burdens of certain special girls. We relieve their pain, banish their fear, and ease their grief. We protect them from beings known as Witches, which they are charged to defeat.

The irony? We use the power of those Witches to protect those girls. The source of our power? Grief Seeds. The corrupted Soul Gems of Puella Magi, also known as Magical Girls.

The vast majority of Exorcists have a single Grief Seed in their possession, corresponding to a single Puella Magi that they are charged to protect. I have more. Five, to be exact. I should clear this up, but a Grief Seed possessed by an Exorcist does not tend to be connected to a specific Puella Magi. We are assigned Puella Magi as they appear. This only applies if the Exorcist in question has a single Grief Seed.

I have five. And if Kyuubey, the source of Puella Magi and Witches, can be believed; they are the Grief Seeds of the future Witch forms of my girls. That sounds too possessive... I'll just call them my charges. Sounds much better. Anyway, where was I?

Kyuubey. Right.

Alright, Kyuubey has identified one of the Puella Magi. Mami Tomoe, or Tomoe Mami in her country. Her Soul Gem is apparently the original form of my Candeloro Grief Seed. I wonder what she's like? If she's anything like Candeloro, I don't have anything to worry about.

I don't know if this holds true for other Exorcists. but my dreams are the domain of the Witches of my Grief Seeds.

Maybe someone can tell me who my Seeds are connected to if I give the names of my Witches...

Candeloro, the inviting Witch of Dress-up.

Homulilly, the self-sufficient Nutcracker Witch.

Ophelia, the Wǔdàn Witch of abandonment.

Oktavia von Steckendorff, the loving Mermaid Witch.

Kriemhild Gretchen, the merciful Witch of Salvation.

Regardless, I should note how our magic works. Unlike Puella Magi, the mechanics of our abilities depend on the Grief Seed we use. For example, Mami apparently uses ribbons in her spells. I understand that she began to expand into firearms, but she started with ribbons. Exorcists are not limited to a theme, but to spells that we 'load' into our Grief Seeds. Also, the nature of the Grief Seed we use affects the spells we 'load' into them.

For example, Kriemhild Gretchen is so powerful that any offensive or defensive spell I use is severely overpowered. I once tried to create a barrier. Said barrier managed to tank the assault of a very powerful Witch that lasted twenty seconds. Without any evidence to show it took any blows. However, if I try to heal others; there is no issue. In fact, healing spells are more efficient when I draw on Kriemhild Gretchen. Also, Kriemhild Gretchen seems to willingly aid me when I attempt to exorcise a Witch. This is very helpful considering that it can be a major pain in the ass sometimes.

Anyway, Kyuubey has secured me a place in Mitakihara City, which is very nice. After all, that's where Mami is. That's where I need tooooooo-"what the hell, Kyuubey!?"

"I was under the impression that you wanted to go to Mitakihara immediately. Was I wrong?"

"First, don't say 'I was under the impression'. No one says that in English anymore. Use 'I thought' instead. Second, you should wait for verbal confirmation before dragging a person halfway across the globe! Third, I can't speak Japanese!"

"That can easily be rectified."

"Oh, this is gonna suck..."

One minor mind hack later...

"Are you okay?"

"Go to hell..." That hurt like a dozen sonsofbitches had a family reunion in my skull. Pardon my language.

"Write it. You know you want too."

"You are creepy as hell, you know that right?"

"You've told me many times. It is extremely fun to creep people out."

"You fucking troll, I knew you were doing it on purpose."

"I try."

"Asshole."

So now I am in Mitakihara City. I just don't know where I am.

Wait, somethings off...

I look down.

"SON OF A BITCH!" That scares Kyuubey; as much as an emotionless, wish-granting, reality warping alien bent on preventing the destruction of the galaxy via the Second Law of Thermodynamics can be scared. Win for me.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Is there something wrong? IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG? Kyuubey, I was nineteen when I woke up this morning. Why do I look like I did when I was fourteen?"

"Because Tomoe Mami is fifteen years old. If you were nineteen, you could be investigated for statutory rape and possibly pedophilia." He says this in a completely flat voice. No inflection at all.

"Word of advice, remember to use inflection when you are trying to comfort someone who is freaking out in front of you."

"And if I am not?"

"Use diplomacy."

He seems perplexed.

"Diplomacy? What does that have to do with comforting others?"

"Diplomacy in this instance is best explained by a quote from William Churchill. 'Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip'."

"Any other way of explaining human diplomacy?"

"Yes. Another quote explains how to diplomatically handle people you can't stand. This one is from Will Rogers." I take a moment to clear my throat. "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice Doggie' until you can find a rock."

"Is there another?"

"You can bet your ass there is. This one comes from Daniele Varè. 'Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.' This version concerns manipulation and trickery."

"Fascinating. Humans are such an unusual species."

"You sound extremely interested, you fucking piece of stone. Remember, you need to emulate emotions in order to seem trustworthy to potential Puella Magi."

"Language. Remember, you are supposed to be fourteen years old."

"Like I give a fuck. So long as I am in my house and there are no visitors, I will swear as I see fit."

It doesn't seem he has anything else to say at the moment. I should probably finish what I was doing before I was dragged halfway across the planet.

But before I finish Inferno, I need to continue researching potential new spells. I should probably write a spellbook or something. A spellbook, wouldn't that be hilarious.

I would like to take a moment to appreciate the irony of an Exorcist protecting what could easily be considered undead witches from undead demons created by the despair of other undead witches.

...

...

Moment over. Moving on, I need to create a checklist of shit I need to do.

Discover the Puella Magi of Candeloro. Check.

Make a hat out of Kyuubey.

Discover the Puella Magi of Oktavia Von Steckendorff.

Discover the Puella Magi of Homulilly.

Discover the Puella Magi of Ophelia.

Discover the Puella Magi of Kriemhild Gretchen.

Finish Inferno.

Prevent the reemergence of the Witch from forty-two years ago.

"Kyuubey."

"Yes?"

"What was the name of the Witch that appeared forty-two years ago?"

"Which one?"

"April first, nineteen seventy three."

"You mean Walpurgisnacht?"

"That's the one. Thanks."

"No problem."

I should write this down before I forget.

There are three Walpurgisnacht. The first appears once a year, every year during the Walpurgisnacht festival. This version is the Stage-constructing Witch that embodies the nature of helplessness. She is beyond the ability of average, and even exceptional, Puella Magi and Exorcists to fight. Of course, sheer numbers can render that a non-issue. But, if she is killed, she just comes back the next year. In a different area of the world that you won't know until exactly seven days before she appears. Also, the sign of Walpurgisnacht may not be noticeable on the single day it appears. Overall, this is the least dangerous incarnation of the Witch.

The second is a very different story. This version has no set date for when she appears, and may even be prevented from appearing at all. This Walpurgisnacht forms when the barriers of several Witches merge into a single barrier. Then the familiars of those Witches fuse into abominations worse than what they already are. Then, those fused familiars fuse into a single familiar that equals the Witches, but is not a Witch itself. Then, the Witches themselves begin to fuse into gestalt of themselves, taking traits of each Witch into the final form. Then the familiar fuses with the gestalt Witch and forms the new Walpurgisnacht. The barrier breaks and fluid fills the area, heralding her birth. The new Walpurgisnacht is almost always extremely dangerous, but the process is easily interrupted. If one Witch or Familiar type fail to fuse within the confines of the barrier, the entire process fails and everything is separated. Just get out of the barrier before that happens. Also, the Walpurgisnacht is rather easy to exorcise. The reason being that she is held together by effectively nothing at all. The only hard part is surviving that long.

Now, the third incarnation of Walpurgisnacht is something to be feared. I've only encountered her once, and she severely out-classes even Kriemhild Gretchen. This Witch, despite her incredible power, takes the form of a young woman. Fourteen years of age. I don't know why she attacked all those years ago, but she did. And killed one million plus Exorcists. Not a single Puella Magi was killed, showing that those Exorcists did their duty. It is believed by many Exorcists that the original Walpurgisnacht is the Saint Walpurga, hence the name. I don't believe this is the case, but I have no evidence to back up my theory. Regardless, she is very powerful, and seems to know me. Don't know why that is. She did help train me in fighting Witches, but I didn't know she was a Witch herself at the time. Anyway, I learned how to fight and how to use magic effectively from her. You could say I admire her. She even told me what everyone calls her. It wasn't until I took that name back to the Order did I learn she was a Witch, and the most powerful known to Puella Magi and Exorcists alike. I just want to-

"Alex."

"Yes?"

"Mami is about to fight a Witch. She is approaching the barrier with two other potential Puella Magi."

Game time. No more time for writing right now. I have to go perform my fated task. Until next time.

Alex Rockholt.

And that's a wrap! Tell me what you think of the concept and I'll try to have the next chapter up soon.