She hadn't been hunting witches for long. Maybe a week or two, three tops. Certainly not as long as Mami or Kyoko—it always seemed like they were veterans at what they did, old war heroes that were broken and scarred on the inside, telling stories that would horrify most but always left them with a small glint in their eyes. Remorse, Madoka though at first. But when the signed that contract she realized that it was something much deeper than that. Achievement. Accomplishment. Another witch defeated, another grief seed collected, another chance to see the sun rise. But always as a Puella Magi. That part didn't change.

But they were gone now. Long after Sayaka had turned, but it still hurt all the same. Kyoko simply had no chance once Mami lost her cool. "We shouldn't be breathing," she'd gasped through thick sobs, her serene face pink and mottled by her tears. She turned her musket to the redhead. "We shouldn't be alive. We should be dead!" And in a flash Kyoko's soul gem was in pieces scattered at their feet.

And Madoka was sobbing now, unable to see Mami turn to her, identical tears streaming down their faces, but the blonde's waterlogged eyes brimming with righteous justification. Beside her, Madoka could hear Homura gasp and the single sound of a heeled foot stepping forward before she screamed, "No!" and Homura was gone. Mami's finger twitched, but her musket lowered. Through her blurred vision, Madoka watched her lifeless body fall harmlessly amongst the pieces of Kyoko's gem, her eyes empty though the tears were still flowing and dripping from her chin. Homura was standing before Mami, where she had not been seconds before, gun in hand. It wasn't hard to connect the details in Madoka's head, and she let out another sad wail and sobbed into her gloved hands.

She flinched when a hand touched her shoulder, she couldn't help it. It was Homura, of course—who else would it be? Everyone else was gone, except Homura and herself. Madoka hiccupped and rubbed at her eyes.

"Walpurgis Night will still come, if we have the others alive or not." Madoka thought she saw Homura discreetly wipe at her face, but she couldn't be positive. "Will you still fight? It's powerful—maybe too powerful for just us to handle. We could run away…"

"No, I'll fight," The pinkette shakily got to her feet. "I have to, for Sayaka and Mami and Kyoko… and for you, Homura. I'll fight for you, too." Her voice was almost pleading, as if she thought Homura would try and stop her. But Homura turned and took Madoka's tear-stained glove in her hand and gave her a small smile. "Yes. I'll fight for you too. And the others. We can defeat it if we stick together, right?"

Through her tears, Madoka gave a singular nod and squeezed Homura's hand. "Mm. Right."


485 words/ 30 minutes

2011 September 08