-PROLOGUE-

So many times! I had done this so many times! And yet nothing had changed! In fact each time it just got worse. Losing Madoka the first time was heartbreaking enough but to lose her over and over again! I couldn't take it anymore! How could I have any hope!? Madoka was my hope!

I fell to my knees and watched as my Soul Gem was beginning to crack. Well, I guess this was it. My despair had reached its breaking point. If I became a Witch then all my pain will be over. I would be rid of whatever humanity I have and become a creature of despair and spread my despair to others. I guess this is my punishment for trying to change the inevitable.

As the cracks on my Soul Gem started to spread, I looked up at the sun. There was an eclipse. I guess the darkness would become my blanket as I was devoured by it. I closed my eyes, waiting for the end.

But then my eyes snapped open! No! No, I could not give up! I shouldn't give up! I still had a chance! I still had hope! I could still fight and change Madoka's destiny! I focused on Madoka, focused on the girl who gave me hope. I was not going to give up! She never gave up! Even after knowing the ultimate fate of a Magical Girl, Madoka still fought Walpurgis Night!

My Soul Gem then began to shine with a bright light and then after that…

Nothing.

When I woke up, Walpurgis Night was gone. However, Madoka's body was still there. So cold. I remember how she died. She begged me to destroy her Soul Gem before she turned into a Witch. The Soul Gem, literally the crystallization of her soul, was broken by me because she didn't want to become a monster. But by killing her, I became a monster.

Wait, my Soul Gem was cracking, wasn't it? How come I was still here then? This didn't make sense at all.

"You've managed to hold onto hope in the midst of despair," someone spoke and I turned to see someone standing behind me. He was a man, and dressed in white robes with golden trim. He also wore a hood and his face was covered with an amber-colored mask. White strips of metal formed eye-like shapes on the mask. He sported a metal belt with a hand-shaped buckle and a chain of ornate rings hung from the belt.

"Who are you?" she asked. The mysterious man didn't answerer and then she saw a magic circle appeared at his side. Magic? Magic and he wasn't a Magical Girl. The centre of the circle resembled his mask and the rings that rotated around the centre seemed to be marked with symbols representing the phases of the moon. He reached into the orange magic circle and pulled out a device which resembled his belt but without the belt strap. He tossed it to me.

"Use this to change their fate and give them hope," he told me. "Now, come. You have much to learn."

"Wait!" I said. "Who are you?"

"You may call me the White Wizard," he said. "And I know who you are, Homura Akemi."

I stared at the device in my hand which had a hand-shaped ornament on it. How could something like this help me change fate?

"What about Madoka's body?" I asked.

"Her body will be found but it is no longer your concern. Now, come with me. There is much you need to learn about your new power, Homura Akemi."

What new power? What was he talking about? Well, considering I had nothing else I could do, I followed. I did glance back at Madoka's body and whispered, "I'm sorry."