The Emblem Chronicles

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Chapter One: Junko

"I wish people didn't have to act upon nightmares."

Those few simple words—only eleven, in fact—changed Junko's life for the better. When the little Incubator named Kyuubey came to her, she made her wish on the spot. And she had absolutely no regrets.

Just a few months ago, fourteen year old Junko Hayashi made a wish to become a magical girl.

Each girl made a different wish. Kimi, a veteran, had wished for her sister to get through her depression. Amaya, who moved from Kazamino, wished for her friend to learn to play the violin and finally be happy. And Suzume wished her mom wouldn't be so distant, and was the newest magical girl Junko knew.

Now, they had been fighting witches in exchange for their souls. A seemingly drastic price, but Junko thought it was worth keeping Mitakihara safe.

However, though most of Junko's friends were magical girls, one of them wasn't—her sisterly friend, Mami Tomoe. But one day, the impossible happened, and Mami became a magical girl. And it started with a crash.

"Amaya, give it to me! Give it!"

"Not yet, Suzume. I just want to read one of these diary entries…"

"Don't you dare, Amaya Naito!"

"Dear diary, today everyone but me got perfect scores on their mathematics tests—"

Suzume snatched her diary back with a growl as Amaya laughed. Ever since Amaya had moved to Mitakihara to help with the witch hunt, they had been immediate rivals. Kimi looked at them both with a smile.

"You're both hopeless," she said with her signature laugh.

"It's not my fault she's so intimidating and rude." Suzume muttered, making Amaya cross her arms in mock frustration.

"Quiet, both of you!" Junko said, forcefully yet quiet. "I don't like all the noise you're making."

"Says the girl who screams when someone steals her cookies."

Of course Amaya would make a rash comment like that. In fact, she may be the most straightforward person she knew, but Junko still respected her.

As Suzume started her rant on the meaning of "personal belongings", Kimi started shushing her. "I have a call, so you'd better be quiet." she said. Suzume calmed down while Kimi answered the phone. "Hello?" she said. "Yes, I'm a friend of Mami." As the girls all tried to listen in, Kimi's face became much graver. "What hospital is this?"

Hospital?

"A car crash? How—her parents?" Kimi said in a hushed tone as everyone was almost completely still. "I don't think she has any other family."

"How the heck could something have happened to Mami?" Amaya whispered.

"I'll be right over," Kimi said with all seriousness. As she closed her phone, she said, "We have to go to Mitakihara Hospital. Mami was in a car crash."

"What about her parents?" Junko asked hopefully. "She was with her parents, right?"

"They were killed." Kimi said mournfully.

They were all silent for a moment. Then, Suzume yelled, "We should've been there! We could have done something!"

"But we weren't. And we have no room for regrets right now." Amaya said.

"Besides, we're lucky Mami lived at all." Junko added. Suzume sighed, but agreed.

"We should all get over as soon as possible," Kimi said. "I'm sure Mami would love to see us. Has anyone got money for the bus?" They all nodded. "Then let's go see our friend, right?"

As the girls went to the bus stop and boarded the ride, Junko looked at the Soul Gem ring on her finger. Could they have saved her parents? Could they have had that type of power?

The bus stopped at the hospital in just a few minutes, and all four ran off the bus in an instant. They went through the doors as Suzume demanded at the front desk, "Which room is Mami Tomoe?"

"B102, second to your left down that hall." the woman said, smiling.

They didn't even bother to thank her as they started sprinting again. The room's door was already open, and they tumbled through the threshold, landing on the ground with a thud.

Junko looked up to see Mami looking calmly at them. "Hello, girls." she said.

Their blonde friend didn't look fazed at the least. In fact, she seemed to be quite normal. Blinking in disbelief, Junko slowly picked herself from the ground. "Mami, you look perfectly… well, perfectly fine. Like you weren't in a car crash." she stuttered.

"Well, I suppose so." she replied. "I was lucky, wasn't I?"

"Thank god you're alive!" Junko said. "Who knows what could have happened to you."

"We're all so sorry about your parents, though." Amaya said.

A shadow cast across Mami's face as she looked down. "I wasn't supposed to live," she sighed.

"Mami!" Kimi gasped. "You shouldn't be thinking like that! We're all glad you're alright."

"Then at least some people don't think my wish was a waste."

All four stood in silence as they tried to take in what she said. By wish, she couldn't mean what they thought she meant, right?

Mami put up her hand, displaying the mark and ring on her middle finger. "I've traded my soul to live another day and become a magical girl." she said with a small smile. "Like all of you."

"You knew about us?" Suzume gasped.

"Actually, I just found out." Mami replied. "Kyuubey told me all about you." The small Incubator now revealed himself from behind a flower vase.

"It's a pleasure to see you all again!" he exclaimed.

And there they were again, dumbfounded at the sight before them. Mami Tomoe, a magical girl?

Kimi beamed right when she saw him. "Kyuubey!" she squealed, taking the creature in for a hug. He didn't look the least bit annoyed. "This is amazing, Mami!" Kimi said.

Suzume had a positive approach as well. "Imagine if we could all fight alongside each other," she fantasized.

Now, Mami becoming a magical girl seemed amazing to Junko. Another person fighting alongside them would be such a great help.

She and Amaya walked over to Mami's bedside, and Junko pulled her in for a quick hug. "It could be interesting having five of us. This means we have a better chance of defeating witches." Amaya commented behind her.

"I hope I can be of a help to you all," Mami said.

"Nonsense, Mami!" Kimi said, releasing Kyuubey. "Maybe you can even keep Suzume's head intact."

"I have no temper!" Suzume cried, and Kimi couldn't help but laugh.

"You guys should really stop fighting," Junko said. "We're here for Mami, not a debate over our personalities."

"Well, Junko, Miss. Peacemaker," Amaya began. "Since when have you turned down a good old-fashioned debate?"

"Just because I'm in debate club doesn't mean I like fighting!"

Amaya laughed. "I'm just teasing. Calm yourself."

Mami started getting out of bed, and stood up with ease. "I'll probably be out of here soon," she said. "After that, you all wouldn't mind showing me how to be a magical girl, would you?"

"Not at all!" Kimi said with a grin. "We'll see you tomorrow, 'kay? Bye, Kyuubey!"

"Goodbye, Kimi Shizuki. I'll see you all very soon." Kyuubey said.

As they exited the hospital room, Junko saw Mami sitting back down in her hospital bed with a sigh. "Are you sure I can do this?"

Kyuubey was quick to answer. "There's a reason we Incubators chose you to be a magical girl." he said. "You'll be a very powerful fighter, I know it."

"Maybe even more powerful than Kimi."

Junko turned around to see Amaya looking down at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I can tell Mami is going to be a great magical girl," she explained. "Right now, I think Kimi's the most powerful of us all. But if Mami trains enough..."

"How do you know Mami could be more powerful?" Junko asked.

"Open your eyes," Amaya said. "It's the truth." And she swaggered away like she hadn't just made Junko drown in her thoughts.

Kimi was a powerful magical girl… wasn't she?

Was Mami strong enough to take her place?

Author's Note:

Yay! My first chapter of my first fanfiction!

I really, truly hope somebody is reading-I swear, just one comment would make my day, and critique is always welcome! I'm only fourteen, so of course I need to brush up on my writing skills.

So basically, this fanfiction is about Mami's life before she met anyone of the Puella Magi Holy Quintet (Homura, Kyoko, Madoka, Sayaka), this time with my four OCs-I haven't heard too much about fanfictions focusing more on Mami (my favorite character), so I decided to write one.

But I must warn you, in a few chapters this will definitely be what is more typical of Madoka Magica, and by that a darker theme.

Until next time, my lovelies!

-Julietta