Disclaimer: Puella Magi Madoka Magica is property owned by Aniplex and Shaft. No Money is made out of this.

Author's note: This is basically a reflection story based on the life of Kyouko Sakura. The first chapter directs from "A Different Story." Read no further if you didn't read the manga.

Cry Just a Little
by ViciousTongue

There was a time when I recall a moment when I first became a magical girl. That one wish I made was to help my father with his situation. To get people to listen to him. To have them understand his teachings and gain knowledge out of him. That one wish felt like a miracle. I remember how our church was packed with a lot of people. I never thought a wish like that would bring fortune into making those people listen to my father. For me, it felt as if I have brought life back into our world.

There was a time when I had to do my work as a magical girl. My experience of fighting was amateur. I was not good at finding witches and my abilities did not bring improvement. Yes, I was a rookie as I learn the ropes of being a magical girl. That first fight I have against a witch nearly cost me. I thought that my defeat was going to bring me down. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. My life was spared as another magical girl comes in the picture. She saved me as I was able to team up with her and defeat the witch together. I will never forget her face.

Mami Tomoe. For her, she was like a veteran in her fighting style. In fact, she became a magical girl last year. It's interesting to meet someone who's more experienced and is capable of what she does in terms of her fighting abilities. For someone like Mami, I call her my "senpai" whereas I am her "kouhai."

There was a time when I learn many things about Mami. For us to work like partners helped me out in my skills to fight witches. The real reason for doing our part in fighting witches is to save those that are cursed by the witches' kiss. In this case, we were like fighting for a cause by getting rid of evil that is being plagued in the City of Mitakihara. Mami said that she is fighting for justice to stop witches so that she can keep the innocent from falling into their curse.

Even so, we rarely have time to get to know each other. For Mami, she was usually a lonely girl. Her family died in a bad car accident and seeing that she was the lone survivor, she was rescued by Kyubey that made her accept a contract. I don't know how she managed to be on her own with nobody around her. Although she is a magical girl, we have to be on our own. Not for me. I wanted to fight alongside with her. I want her to help me become better to the way I fight. I didn't want her to be alone at that time.

There was a time when tragedy struck at my home. That night, my father's church was being under siege by a witch. A group of people were about to burn his place down. Taking action and preventing all of this, I knew that I have to save my father's church. I did all that I could on my own, without Mami. Showing determination, I cannot allow a creature to cause major damage to my home. The house that father built. I was able to defeat the witch by myself. I am pleased that I have saved not only the church from being burned down, but for the people that were cursed by that witch.

But then, my father came into the scene and saw me with my outfit on. He was shocked to see me dressed like this. He was not happy to see me like this as a magical girl. The look on his face did not seem promising. It looked like a sign of disappointment.

There was a time when I had a one on one talk with my father. Father was drinking more and more. It was almost as if he was about to lose it. On that day, I confessed everything to what I have been doing. Father said to me that what I've just done was selling my soul to the devil. Father thought I was crazy that he would have a daughter like me to go out there fighting witches while he continued to preach. What's even more surprising is that he labeled me a witch. I felt broken. How could you say that to me? Calling your own daughter...a witch? You can't say that to me! Since then, he took matters into his own hands. Taking the life out of my mom and my sister. Until he hanged himself. A total loss for me big time. All because of that one wish that changed everything.

There was a time where I felt completely hopeless. Never would I think that my wish meant nothing. Never would I think that making my wish for someone other than myself would turned out this way. It was like a turn of events that blindsided me without seeing the real truth. Being a magical girl felt worthless. What was I fighting for? Justice? I mean, seriously, what the hell was I fighting for? I lie on the snowy ground as my Soul Gem was tainted with darkness. I don't know why I paid such a high price of ultimate suffering. All that talk about fighting for justice meant nothing. I don't know what else will bring to me as I felt the despair inside of me. No family. Nowhere else to go to. No one. Just me, by myself. Alone in the world. Fate was about to close in, but miraculously, I was saved through a Grief Seed. That someone would be you, Mami.

I don't know why you came to save me and leave me as I is. Were you there for me to give me another chance? Were you concerned about my feelings after I have lost my family? Those moments are true. But it does change how I feel about all this. All that talk about justice and all that bull? What the hell were you talking about? Yes Mami! That meant nothing to me! That wish destroyed something big that I hold on to dearly. And I have to accept this?

No. I can't. I refuse to look up to you Mami. I don't want this. I don't want to work together with you anymore. I learned as much as I can from all those fights against those witches. I'll do all the fighting for myself.

You tried to reason with me. I wanted you to let go of me. Yet, you and I fought each other. I noticed that none of your attacks were nailing at me. I took matters into my own hands and got serious. Pointing my spear against your neck, I told you that we could no longer work with each other. I didn't want to be your "senpai" anymore. I have accumulated enough through your battles alongside with you. From that point, we went both ways, not to look back at each other.

Learning from all that have happened, I have realized that I made a big mistake. My wish, that led me to help out with my father, went all the way to a complete disaster. I swear that I would have never made a wish for him, but I did it so that I would have those that would understand him. I cry just a little after I can vision my family again, as well as my sister. I can't undo what has been done as it was a price that I paid for. Even if I regret it, it wouldn't matter much more. All I can do was to just move on and see what else life has to come.