"It's quite stifling yet beautiful here. At least that's what I think." The silhouette twirled as she pointed at the scenery of eternal sea of darkness. "It's always just you in here, isn't it, Homura?"

Homura Akemi - the time traveling demon gazed back at her opponent with glowing reddish violet eyes. "Why are we here again?"

"Oh don't ask why. You know why," for a moment, the silhouette appeared disheartened, but stiffened its shoulders once more, "This place, me. What do you think this all means?"

"An annoying waste of my time," Homura waved her hair with her right hand.

"All of this beautiful yet exhausting change of scenery is very much that - time. All of your failures, all of your weaknesses. Unable to save any of them. Not even the most important of them all. You should wake up now, Good-for-nothing."

"Homura!" The raven-head bolted up, surprised as she saw Kyouko's hand snapping at her dazed expression. Kyouko noticed she returned to the land of the living, "Jeez. You've been daydreaming more often lately. You're the smartest in the class but you sure you're feeling alright?" She pointed at Homura's massive eye-bags.

All 4 group members (Kyouko, Hitomi, Madoka, and Sayaka)- apart from Homura, looked at her in worry.

"She's right, Homura-chan. You look really pale and exhausted. Do you need to go to the nurse's office?" The pink-haired tiny figure known as Madoka Kaname expressed her worry.

"No thanks, I'll go there myself," Homura rejected her helping hand, "I'll finish my work by the end of the day, so don't worry about being behind on the project."

Akemi raised herself from her desk, told about her condition, and walked out of the classroom.

"What crawled up her butt?" Sayaka snarled. Kyouko couldn't help but chuckle at Sayaka's comment.

"I think it's a matter of pride," Hitomi puffed toward Kyouko's childish behavior, "Girls like her don't really like to admit anything's wrong."

"I hope Homura-chan is okay…" The pink student's gloom expression was caught by Sayaka, who hugged her in the spur of the moment.

"Aww don't be sad, Madoka! If Homura won't give you attention, I will!" Madoka squeaked at Sayaka's sudden affection.

For Sayaka, it was natural to be close to Madoka. The two of them hadn't seen each other for a very long time ever since Madoka moved away to America due to her mother's work. After she came back, she was shyer than what Sayaka would remember. In fact, her accent changed (she got an American accent). Even then, the two were inseparable. They were the best of friends.

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After school, Madoka and her friends dashed out into the setting sun. "Did you think about that wish yet, Madoka?" Kyouko wrapped her hands around her head while she chewed on a piece of pocky.

The girl in question shook her head, "I don't really think I want anything right now. I want to give my wish some thought."

Kyubey jumped from Sayaka's shoulder to Madoka's, and nuzzled near her ear. "If you ever need to make a wish, I'll be there," the white alien licked its paws in a cutesy manner.

"Now now, Kyubey, nobody likes a pushy boy," Mami wrapped her arms around the creature, and carried it like a pet. "Give her some time. No one wants to regret their wish."

"Hahahaha," Madoka laughed awkwardly, "I also have ballet lessons. Tomorrow's my last day of scheduled practice, and then next week will be the Swan competition. Fighting wraiths would probably shorten my ballet time…"

"Man I never would've thought you'd be into ballet 'till you returned from America. Kinda like a certain someone's boyfriend," Sayaka nudged at both Hitomi and Madoka, albeit with a strained laugh. She still wasn't over Kamijou Kyosuke.

"Lately it's all just recitals for him," Hitomi puffed, "But it's also what I love about him.." The green-haired girl blushed deep red as she said that. It was typical teenage love.

Kyouko rolled her eyes, "Bet Hitomi's wish is gonna be 'Make Kamijou pay attention to me!' " She laughed while Hitomi puffed, until Mami cleared her throat.

"Remember Sayaka, Kyouko. Tonight," The upperclassman reminded the two fellow magical girls about the patrol tonight.

"I wish you wouldn't leave Madoka and I out of the loop…" Hitomi's face grew sullen and sad.

"Ahahah sorry, Hitomi. I promise, I'll hang out with you and Madoka soon," Sayaka turned toward the right intersection, along with Mami and Kyouko.

"This is where we split up. Don't get lost, you two." Mami waved goodbye.

"Yes, Mami-senpai!" Madoka and Hitomi synced.

Kyubey released itself from Mami's grasp, "I should leave it to you three then. Goodbye for now." With that, the strange incubator disappeared.

After the two girls left out of sight, the trio revealed their soul-gem rings. "Think Homura will show up tonight?" Kyouko munched on her pocky, "She hasn't been showing up on our rendezvous point lately."

"A girl like her is like a wild card. I can't trust her," Sayaka voiced her complaints, "Every fiber in my body screams goosebumps."

"You shouldn't say that, Sayaka-san. She brings in the most grief cubes and even shares it with us."

"That's what I find reaaallyy weird," Kyouko twirled around the two magical girls, unable to keep herself still, "How does she get all them grief cubes? Like seriously. She must know of a gold mine that she ain't telling us. Probably got a lot more under her thumb."

"Let's not start seeding doubts on our fellow magical girl. She is a little mysterious, but I don't think she has any bad intentions," The blonde held up her golden soul-gem, and transformed in an abandoned parking lot, "And besides, I think she's just a little lonely." Mami was always the most positive of the group. Or was it more out of desperation?

Sayaka frowned and muttered some incomprehensible words, but Kyouko just laughed, "That's Mami alright. Hey, now that I think about it, where's Nagisa?"

"She's at home studying. She has a big test tomorrow and I don't want her failing."

The other two girls transformed, and jumped on the rooftops with inhuman strength.

In the core of Mitakihara, the three magical girls climbed up the largest skyscraper.

Mami pointed toward the direction of Kazamino city. There was a medium-sized cloud of darkness swirling around it. "Is it just me, or did that thing get bigger?" Kyouko gasped.

Mami nodded - confirming Kyouko's suspicions, "It did. We might have to go on a hunt there earlier than predicted..."

"We'll be less ready though," Sayaka worried.

"Just raid Homura's house. Bet she got tons of grief cubes."

Mami sighed, and nearly facepalmed. "I'm sure Akemi-san will join us. After all, that's a huge Wraith infestation. And it's growing by the day."

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Homura was clad in a beautiful feathery dress that exposed her thin bare shoulders down to her slick lower back. Her diamond stockings delved over her long heels.

The Demon shuffled through the waving grass in the pale halved moonlight, dancing the ballet of Swan Lake. Her high heels cut the grass beneath her as the wind brought them down from the large cliff as Homura performed her solo. She spread her wings, and plunged off the cliff.

She walked the empty streets, dancing alone in the chilling night. A bright smile crossed her face. She was alone, but Homura finally managed to tear down her walls of confinement.

No more time loops. No more deaths. Homura accomplished everything she ever wanted.

So what did she feel like doing more than anything?

Dance of course! Her Dark Orb jittered around her, excited and unrestrained.

Shadows emerged from her own, and danced in unison. They followed her, performing for an audience of one.

Feathers flew up in the sudden gust of wind. One day, the world might rebel against The Demon, but not tonight.

She did the impossible. She melded every broken dream, created a peaceful universe with friends and family at the epicenter of it all.

And she finally saved her best friend, her goddess, her reason for existence from alienation.

What more could she possibly want?

Everything. Take everything, The salamander in her ear whispered, Everything's rightfully yours.

The plum diamond in her earring cracked as it swayed in the chilly wind as Homura basked in her solitude. Her giggles echoed throughout the night.

She left a mountain of dead white cats in her wake.

So I decided to restart the series, considering I read a few reviews saying my writing was awkward. Let me know if you prefer my writing like this, or if you prefer the old chapters. (I'll let the old chapters sit for about a week if everyone prefers the rewrite). I also made things a little simpler and a bit slower, probably a bit slower since I also read that I was rushing things and the content was confusing.

Also, thanks to equach for looking over my chapter. You might be inexperienced as an editor, but you did help out quite a lot. Thank you.