Chapter One: Reality as We Know It

It was the road to school. People walked along it on their daily business. The cherry trees dropped their petals across the path. Sayaka knew better, however. This wasn't real. None of it was real. And she knew exactly who to blame. The dark-haired girl with a red ribbon in her hair now sitting at a cafe table. A cafe table in the center of the road, unnoticed by the surrounding students.

Sayaka stood by the river, trying to contain her fury. The world was all wrong. 'Hey, do you have any idea what you've done?'

Homura turned around. 'I do. But if you'd like to share your thoughts, please, enlighten me.'

'Okay.' said Sayaka 'You broke off a piece of the Law of Cycles! It's the only salvation us Magical Girls had!'

'I only took a tiny sliver of it, that's all.' said Homura 'The piece that used to be Madoka. Before she ceased to exist.' She put a finger to her chin, then began to run it around her cup. 'For some reason, you were all pulled in with her. Now you can't return to where you came from either.'

'You have no right to screw everything up like this!' roared Sayaka

'I'm an existence called evil now.' said Homura. 'And if evil is supposed to disrupt the divine and be a force of chaos…' Suddenly Homura was standing in front of her. Their faces were inches apart. 'it's only natural for me to upset the laws of a god.'

'Oh yeah?' asked Sayaka 'What will you do next? Destroy everything.' She summoned to her power. She would not allow this. She'd take on Homura herself if she had to.

Homura flipped her hair. 'After all the wraiths have been wiped out, perhaps I will. When that day comes, I suppose I can be your enemy then.' Her cup began to overflow and violet liquid began to spill out over the table. Then over the cobblestones, soaking everything. 'The question is: Will you be able to stand up against me?' And she clapped her hands once.

The impact echoed in Sayaka's ears and she suddenly found her memories fading. The power she had summoned faded away. Sayaka looked down. What was going on? What was she doing here? Who was she?

Memories began to return to her but they were wrong. She knew they were wrong.

'You're having a hard time remembering things, aren't you?' asked Homura.

Sayaka saw a girl. A girl like her, but younger, with white hair. It was Nagisa. Playing. Why? Why was she like her? She couldn't remember! Had they been part of the same club or something? She had a vague recollection of a person greater and more brilliant than anything she had seen but…

'I think I remember being part of something.' said Sayaka 'Some kind of being, or power bigger than this world. But… but I can't remember what it was anymore. All I know is I'm not supposed to be here.'

'You're getting another chance at being human again.' said Homura 'If anything you should be happy about that. Eventually, life here will seem natural to you and you'll forget all about the past.'

That was worse. That was far far worse. But it was happening.

'Even if I do,' said Sayaka 'there's one thing I won't forget. You, Homura Akemi, are a demon!'

Homura smiled. 'We should pretend to be on good terms. If you're always attacking me, Madoka might end up hating you.'

Nothing made any sense anymore.

Then everything was back to normal. Sayaka was standing there on the road watching the students pass by and there was no sign of Homura. Why would there be no sign of Homura? Why was that strange? The white-haired girl ran to her friends.

Then he saw them. A boy and girl she'd known a long time ago. Wait a minute no, she'd known them all her life. What was she thinking?

'Hey Sayaka,' said Kyosuke 'how you doing?'

'Sayaka, sleep well?' asked Hitomi.

'Uh, yeah…' said Sayaka, before finding tears welling in her eyes. She turned away. This couldn't be real, could it? 'Are you…' She turned back. 'Hey guys, how's it going? What's up?'

'Are you okay Sayaka?' asked Kyosuke.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' said Sayaka 'It's just… I don't know. When I heard you guys and heard you both say good morning again, I got super happy. That's all.'

'Oh Sayaka,' said Hitomi 'sometimes you say the most mysterious things.'

'Yep, that's me.' said Sayaka, turning around and putting on a smile that wasn't entirely fake. 'The original international girl of mystery.' It was… nice seeing them, and Sayaka felt laughter bubbling up inside her as she ran off.

When she got to school, however, everything was strange. She recognized things of course. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong here. Everything seemed oddly gray. The people were all like usual, but the world itself was weird. She tried to put it from her mind and got to class.

'Remember children, do not associate with men who will not eggs unless they have been half boiled.' said the teacher. 'And you boys had better not grow up to be men who complain about how the darn eggs are cooked! Understand!'

'So I'm guessing her date didn't work out.' said Sayaka.

Whom was she talking to? She had the sudden feeling that she had experienced this moment before. Sayaka looked to the seat next in front of her and saw only Homura. Homura. Just the thought of that red ribbon wearing bitch made her blood boil. She wasn't sure why she hated her, but she was sure she had a good reason.

'Now that that's out of the way,' continued the teacher 'let's give a big welcome to our new classmate. Ms. Kaname, come on in.'

This was so wrong. Everything about this was wrong as Madoka, Sayako knew her first name was Madoka, entered the room. She should have been sitting in front of her, and Homura should have been the one walking into the room. But she would have done it with confidence, instead of looking like she wanted to be anywhere else. Why was Madoka up there?

'Um, my name is Modaka Kaname.' said Modaka as though they didn't already know. 'It's nice to meet you. M-I I'm sorry I mean my mother, she was transferred to the US. So we had to move there. We lived there for three years and then we moved back. And now that we're back I'll be starting school here today. And it's nice to meet you.'

This was all wrong. All of this was wrong. Sayaka's memories confirmed everything she said, but none of it seemed real. Everyone was clapping. Everyone except Sayaka because of the sheer wrongness of this.

'Since she's been out of the country so long,' said the teacher 'she might need some help adjusting. So let's all pitch in and help her out. Okay.'

Later in the day, everyone was crowding around Madoka, talking at her. The girl was trying to be friendly. Sayaka watched. She shouldn't know this girl. But she did. She definitely did.

'Hey, what was going to school like in America?' asked a girl 'Was it fun? I wish I could go.'

'You're so tiny and cute.' said another. 'You look like a grade schooler.'

'Hey thanks,' said Madoka 'but I'm not that tiny.'

And then Homura showed up. As usual. 'You guys, can't you see you're making her nervous bombarding her with questions. Why don't you give her a moment.'

'Oh yeah,' said the girl 'sorry about that.' And they dispersed, just like that. Why did everyone always act as though Homura was something special anyway?

'I'm Homura Akemi.' said Homura as she approached. 'Nice to meet you, Ms. Kaname. May I call you Madoka instead?'

'Um, sure.' said Madoka.

'If you don't mind.' said Homura 'I'd like to show you the compass now. Follow me.'

Sayaka looked to the others. Then she stood up and trailed after Homura and Madoka, doing her best to remain unseen. As they walked she listened to what they had to say.

'Um… Ms. Akemi.' said Madoka. 'I, uh…'

'Call me Homura.' said Homura.

'Homura, I uh… I mean… why are you showing me around?' asked Madoka.

'How does it feel to be back again?' asked Homura, not answering the question.

'I… well… I guess… everything feels familiar.' said Madoka. 'And at the same time, it's different. It feels strange.'

'I'm not surprised.' said Homura. 'It's been three years.'

'No…' said Madoka 'It feels like nothing has changed at all. In fact… If anything has changed around here, it's me.'

Homura stopped at the gray veil of the world began to peel back. This was it. This was what Sayaka had been missing all this time. The clouds were flowing by in the windows as Homura whirled around.

'Yeah,' said Madoka 'it is me. I should have a different form. A different purpose here. So… Why…'

Homura hugged her. Instantly it stopped. The veil was put back on. Sayaka began to wonder if she'd seen anything at all. Even so, Homura was out of line touching her like that. Yet she couldn't move.

'Homura,' said Madoka 'hey! Let go!'

'It's okay.' said Homura 'You're exactly what you should be. What you've always been.'

It seemed suddenly like Homura was looming over Madoka. Like she was about to eat her. Sayaka tried to take action, but she couldn't. She couldn't move an inch, she was frozen in place looking at them from behind the corner. Like someone stuck watching the people in a movie, they can see them but never touch them.

'Madoka Kaname,' said Homura 'do you treasure the world you live in? Or would you break its laws to follow your heart?'

'Huh?' said Madoka 'Well I don't… I, I mean yes! I do treasure this world! But I don't think a person should go and break the rules, just because they feel like it…'

'I see.' said Homura, letting go of her and taking off a ribbon from her hair. 'Well then, I suppose one day you will also be my enemy. It's fine. I don't care.' She began to tie the ribbon in Madoka's hair. 'I'll keep wishing for a world where you can be happy.'

'Homura, um…' began Madoka in confusion.

'I knew it.' said Homura 'They always did look better on you.'

Then Homura walked by her. Sayaka tried to move away to avoid being caught, but she still couldn't move. The hallways they were in suddenly seemed to get longer and longer until only they were inside it.

Sayaka could move, but Homura seemed to grow larger and larger. No, it was just her presence. She was still the same size and suddenly they were face to face. Sayaka felt her hand on her face as Homura got too close for comfort again. Wait, again? When had…

'Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to eavesdrop?' asked Homura.

'What… what did you do to us?' asked Sayaka.

'Now that would be telling.' said Homura 'And it would be such a waste since you won't remember any of this in a moment anyway. Why don't you go say hello to Kyoko?'

Then she set her hands on Sayaka's shoulders. Sayako felt her memories fading, fading, fading…

And suddenly she was staring at a stick of pocky and sitting on a bench outside the school. Looking up she saw Kyoko looking at her. 'Well, you want it or not?'

'Um, sure, thanks.' said Sayaka, taking it. 'Is… is it dusk already?'

'You catch on quick, don't you?' asked Kyoko, munching on pocky. 'So you want to go play DDR or something?'

'I… not really.' admitted Sayaka 'I don't know why but I've felt really weird all day.' She took a bite of the stick and flinched. It was horrible, like the worst thing she'd ever tasted in her life. 'What is this stuff, Kyoko?'

'Just ordinary pocky.' said Kyoko.

'Right,' said Sayaka 'you sure this batch didn't expire?'

'Of course, I didn't!' snapped Kyoko 'I don't waste food!' She paused. 'Whatever. let's head back then. It's pretty late anyway.'

Something was wrong. Sayaka shook it off or tried to as she finished her pocky. Then she paused. If she went to bed like this she'd end up thinking about this all night. 'Actually going to the Arcade sound pretty cool.'

'All right!' said Kyoko 'Let's go!'

It was a lot of fun and before long Sayaka had practically forgotten about her earlier concerns. The flashing lights, the games, the sight of Kyoko's hips swaying and moving. It all made a spell which had her smiling and laughing. Afterward, it was pitch black outside as they munched on snacks on their way home. Or rather Kyoko munched on snacks, everything Sayaka ate seemed terrible. Maybe it was just her.

'Hey Kyoko,' said Sayaka 'how do you always manage to keep these snacks on you?'

'What you think just because I'm living with you now that it means I've forgotten how to keep food on me?' asked Kyoko.

'Right, yeah, I guess.' said Sayaka 'Hey, tonight was a lot of fun wasn't it.'

'Yeah.' said Kyoko 'You really seemed out of it earlier. Feeling better?'

'A lot.' said Sayaka. 'Thanks for tonight.'

As they got home Sayaka opened the lock and entered. Mom and Dad looked like they were asleep so they made their way up to their room. Even as she got into bed Sayaka lay awake. No sooner had they finished the memories came rushing back to her.

'Hey Kyoko,' said Sayaka 'it's been a couple months since you came here, right?'

'Yeah, obviously.' said Kyoko from the top bunk. 'My town was getting pretty boring.'

'Do you remember how we convinced my parents to put you up?' asked Sayaka.

'That's easy, it was…' Kyoko paused. 'actually, I can't remember. Weird.'

'I can't either.' said Sayaka 'It's really weird. Ever since Madoka showed up as a transfer student nothing has really added up. The world seems strange.'

'What are you lovestruck?' asked Kyoko 'The world is what you can touch, see, smell and feel. Everything else is just bogus philosophy. Look where it got my dad.'

'Sorry.' said Sayaka.

'Hey, do you know that Madoka girl from somewhere?' asked Kyoko.

'Yeah,' said Sayaka 'we went to middle school together before she left for America.'

'The funny thing is,' said Kyoko 'I feel like I know her too. Like I've always known her. Even though I've never seen her before in her life. Why do you think that is?'

'I don't know.' said Sayaka 'But I'm sure it must be Homura's fault.'

'Why is always Homura's fault with you anyway?' asked Kyoko 'What? Did Homura curb stomp your puppy when you were ten?'

'Something like that.' said Sayaka, before laughing. 'I guess I am sort of wrong to accuse her like that without any evidence.'

'Do what you want.' said Kyoko 'I'm going to sleep.'

Sleep was difficult to come by.

The next morning Sayaka woke up to find that her Dad had already gone off to work. Mom had just finished making breakfast and Kyoko was eating. 'Morning Sayaka,' said Kyoko between mouthfuls. 'you should try this stuff. It's really good.'

'I know.' said Sakaya, sitting down. 'I've lived here a lot longer than you. Thanks, Mom.'

'No problem dear.' said Mom, before pausing. 'Dear, um,' Her gaze turned to Kyoko.

'Yeah?' said Sayaka.

'Nevermind.' said Mom. 'We'll discuss it later. You'd better finish your breakfast and head to school. I'm sure your friends will be waiting for you.'

'Right.' said Sayaka. And she ate. It didn't taste as bad as last time. Maybe the weirdness was passing.

Madoka was waiting for her. She had been talking with Hitomi and turned to see Sayaka approaching with surprise. Sayaka waved her hand. 'Hey Madoka, it's been a while.'

'Oh, um… Sayaka.' said Madoka, blushing. 'We haven't seen each other in three years, have we? I wasn't sure if you'd remember me.'

'Of course, I remember you.' said Sayaka 'There really is no time like the present to catch up. Let's talk while we walk. So what was America like?'

'Oh, um, it was nice.' said Madoka.

'Right, anything different about it than here?' asked Sayaka 'I mean I'm no expert on other cultures.'

'Well there are a bunch of things.' said Madoka 'Um, like the age of consent in America is eighteen instead of thirteen.'

'Well that's kind of weird.' said Sayaka 'Anything else?'

'Well… um…' Madoka paused. 'Oh right, well they take religion really seriously there. And they're a lot more laid back. Less formal I guess.'

'Okay,' said Sayaka, a suspicion. 'anything which I couldn't have figured out with one google search?'

'Well um…' said Madoka.

'Forget it.' said Sayaka 'If you don't want to talk about it that's fine.' She wrapped an arm around her. 'It's great to have you back, Madoka.'

'Um, thanks.' said Madoka 'So how is Kyosuke doing?'

'Oh him.' said Sayaka 'He's going out with Hitomi now. Or did you guys break up?'

'No, we're still together.' said Hitomi 'It's going great.'

'Cool.' said Sayaka 'You know Kyosuke got into this really bad accident right before you came here. Everyone thought that he'd be paralyzed for the rest of his life. Then there was this miracle and everything worked out. He recovered in record time.'

'Glad to hear it.' said Madoka. 'I'm sorry if I don't have any interesting stories to tell about America. I uh… didn't get out much.'

Madoka had been in America for three years and she had nothing to say about America. This was just plain weird. It was like it was some kind of prank, but Sakaya knew Madoka hadn't been here all this time. 'Hey Madoka,' said Sakaya.

'Yes?' said Madoka.

'Do you ever get the sense that things… aren't as they should be?' asked Sakaya.

'Well…' Madoka clasped her hands. 'I guess I sometimes feel that way. But I get to spend time with all of you, so it's fine. Do you get that feeling?'

'Sometimes.' said Sayaka 'Something has been really bugging me ever since yesterday. I just can't put my finger on it.'

They didn't talk much until they arrived at school. Things went smoothly during that time and Sayaka didn't get any weird feelings for most of it. She didn't even feel herself thinking of Homura as a demon. Lunch was only moderately awful as she ate it with her friends. Still awful though.

'What's wrong Sayaka?' asked Homura. 'Don't you like your lunch?'

Sayaka tensed as soon as she spoke and looked up to the dark haired girl. She was gazing at her with something akin to amusement. 'I don't know. I haven't been very hungry lately. Things aren't tasting right, I guess.'

'I think that's called dysgeusia.' said Nagisa 'It passes.'

'Yeah, well I've been waiting for it to pass for days.' said Sayaka, taking a mouthful.

'That reminds me.' said Mami 'I was wondering if all of you might want to come over to my house after school. Nagisa and I would love the company.'

'Um, sure.' said Sayaka.

'Sounds fun, I'm in.' said Kyoko.

'I'd love to.' said Madoka.

'I'll come, of course.' said Homura.

Later that day it dawned on Sayaka that she was alive.

Why was that odd? And why was it that now that she thought of it she just…hurt. The world around her seemed suddenly drab and gray again. It was as though she was walking in a painting which had been washed out rather than a real place. It was nice to see her friends again though. Again. Why again? She'd lived her entire life here. So why couldn't she enjoy it?

At first, when she'd heard Kyosuke's voice and spoken with him and Hitomi she'd felt like she'd come home. Like she had seen them for the first time in years. It was the same with Kyoko and Mami and Nagisa. Yet after the euphoria faded she began to feel like she'd returned to a broken home.

It was hard to describe.

Because everything was the same.

And somehow it was Homura's fault. Her memories told her that Homura had been at this school for as long as Sayaka could remember. They told her a lot of things, but the one thing they didn't tell her was why she thought, no, knew that Homura was a demon.

'Wow Mami, this cheesecake is great!' said Nagisa, a white-haired little girl.

Well, I tried making it with a special ingredient this time.' said Mami 'Would you like some tea, Madoka?' Madoka was a transfer student. She'd only just arrived but Sakuya had been friend with her before.

'Yes, thank you Mami.' said Madoka, offering her teacup.

'Would you like some Homura?' said Mami.

'Of course.' said Homura.

Sayaka's blood ran cold. White hot rage filled her veins. But why? Why did she hate Homura? None of this made sense.

'Sayaka are you all right?' asked Mami 'You haven't touched your tea?'

'Right, sorry.' said Sayaka before sipping it reluctantly.

It tasted like the worst medicine she'd ever had to gulp down and then some. Taking a bite out of her cheesecake was like eating ash. She'd always used to love Mami's cheesecake. She'd always used to enjoy food of all kinds.

Now she couldn't and it was driving her crazy.

'Sayaka,' said Madoka 'are you okay?'

'You still have that dysgeu- thingy?' asked Kyoko.

'Yeah, I'm fine. What are you talking about?' asked Sayaka with a smile.

She couldn't fake it anymore. She couldn't go on like this. It had been days since… something had happened. But what? Then she remembered something. A faint sensation of indescribable happiness she'd experienced once. She found a smile creeping onto her features.

Then it faded.

'I…' said Sayaka 'Madoka can I talk to you in private for a moment.'

Homura's eyes flashed or was that her imagination. Madoka looked at her in greater concern. 'What is it Sayaka?'

'I…' Sayaka was suddenly filled with a sudden absolute reluctance to say anything to Madoka. She looked to Homura, but why was she looking at Homura? The bitch looked almost amused. She couldn't talk to Madoka about this. Homura wouldn't let her.

'Nevermind, I just remembered something I have to do.' said Sayaka.

'But don't you-'

'Sorry bye!' said Sayaka.

Then she fled out onto the street. Something wasn't right here. She felt like strange creatures were dancing around her but everything seemed normal. She sat down on a bench and tried to think. As she did so she became aware of a shadow looming over her. Looking up she saw Kyoko looking down at her in concern.

'Hey, you all right?' asked Kyoko.

'Yeah,' said Sayaka 'I'm fine.'

'Okay, let me rephrase that.' said Kyoko 'You're not all right. What's wrong?'

'Kyoko,' said Sayaka 'do you ever feel like the world is wrong? Like nothing around you is real.'

'Isn't that deja vu?' asked Kyoko.

'No that's when you feel like you've experienced this moment before.' said Sayaka. 'This is… I feel like I was part of something. And now I've been cut off and no matter what I do I can't get back. Like… like I've lost everything. But I still have everything.'

Kyoko sat down next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. 'Listen, I don't know exactly what you are feeling but I lost my family once, so I think I have an idea. You just have to press on. Your feelings don't go away, they become more and more distant. Eventually, you learn to live with it.

Now stop being such a wimp. You've got it easy.'

'Yeah,' said Sayaka with a smile. 'I know.'

'Now how about we go in and see the others.' said Kyoko 'I was running late as it was, so you've got no business running out on them.'

It was all in her head. This would all go away in a bit. Right? Why did she have the feeling her problems were only just starting.

Authors Note:

Welcome to my first Madoka Magica fanfiction. I recently binge-watched the entire series and was hungry for more. Unfortunately, movie 4 is taking forever to come out so I figured I'd put out a continuation of my own.

This chapter was weird to write. have to write a character who is constantly having their memory altered. to fit the setting. Tell me if you like this and want me to continue it, okay. Do you think I got the characters right?