An ambulance was able to arrive and pick up Madoka and Sayaka and carry them to the nearest hospital. The police were at the hospital moments later, and they were there to question Madoka and Sayaka. For now, Madoka had to cover the scene up since Sayaka was being treated for wounds; Madoka told them that they got lost and that it was an accident. Both Sayaka and she were let go with a warning for now and the police remained in the hospital overnight. Though, they still had to report this to their families. Madoka's family were worried when they were told about what happened; when Madoka returned home, they were glad to see that she's safe.

As for Sayaka, she was in the same hospital as Homura. They were able to patch up the punctured lung, but they decided to keep her in the hospital for the weekend to recover. The police questioned her once she was able to speak, but gave them the same answer that Madoka gave except her perspective.

Madoka decided to report the encounter with Pryus to Mami and Kyoko through text messaging, but she hasn't got word from them by the time she sent it.

There was an aurora that appeared by the time Madoka went to bed.


The next day, Madoka decided to go to the hospital to visit Sayaka and Homura. While on the way, she picked news that started to spread recently in Mitakihara and then it's neighboring cities. They report a phenomenon of a strange aurora in the sky that has affected more than 500 civilians physically and mentally. The interesting part of the report was the epidemic that followed, and those that were infected ended up with blackened scars similar to Homura's. Madoka wasn't deterred from this, but she wanted to let Homura know about this.

When Madoka came into the recovery room, Sayaka surprisingly is in that room with Homura, and she already filled Homura in on their meeting and the encounter from yesterday. Homura was worried about Madoka when Sayaka told her, and she's glad Madoka and her are alright. Madoka tells both of them about the phenomenon and the epidemic.

"No way, everyone is getting this?" Sayaka was shocked.

"Are you sure they have the same condition as me?" Homura worried.

"It was on the news this morning, happening after that aurora." Madoka took a seat near Homura. "I saw the scars, and they're just like the ones that you have."

Homura looked outside.

"And to think the witch problem is the only one we're having..." Sayaka sighed in annoyance. "Could things get any worse."

Homura has her hand together, looking down. "Madoka-san, there's been something I wanted to ask before you guys left for the meeting yesterday."

"Hm? What was it Homura-chan?" Madoka looked at her.

Homura hesitated to answer Madoka as it felt embarrassing, but she took a deep breath. She replied with all seriousness and confidence.

"Madoka, we both know we're friends, right?" Homura questioned.

Madoka happily nods. "Of course we are."

"Well, I want to say that I..." Homura was then held back a bit. "Uhm..."

"Homura-chan?" Madoka was waiting for her to finish.

Suddenly, some hospital staff and visitors were checking the windows, reacting to something going on outside. Madoka decided to get up and check through the window. Sayaka and Homura aren't able to see for themselves, so they rely on Madoka to tell them what's going on outside. Homura sighed and shook her head, eyes closed.

"What do you see?" Sayaka asked.

"There are jeeps driving through the streets," Madoka surveyed, "Some tanks and motorcycles are also there. I don't know what this means..."

Outside, a convoy of black vehicles is heading to somewhere in the city where they can bring attention. Most of the people in the convoy were dressed in dark green military attire with spiked helmets and gas masks. Their armbands and the vehicles carry a symbol: A black opened umbrella in a white circle and red background. They were not from Mitakihara nor are they from the Japanese military.

"They must be from some kind of military," Madoka described, "They seem to be heading to city hall." She then looked a Homura and Sayaka. "I'll have to go and check it out. Homura, can you hold that thought you have for later?"

Homura nods. "It's alright, it's not really important anyway." There's a blush on her cheeks.

"Alright. I'll be back soon." Madoka walks out of the recovery room and then exits the hospital.


Attention, Citizens of Mitakihara, the military personnel you saw enter out city goes by the name of "The Black Egrets". They're here to handle quarantine in our city and our neighbors. For now, it's highly recommended you do not leave the city and continue your daily activity while waiting for official instructions. That'll be all.

By the time Madoka arrived at city hall, there were already announcements from sirens, addressing the soldiers of the convoy as "The Black Egrets". They're here to assure they're putting the reported epidemic under quarantine so that it doesn't spread. They also mentioned that Asunaro and Kazamino are also going through the same quarantine situation and that those cities had to evacuate some of the residents there. Madoka knows these Black Egrets have other intentions in quarantining these cities.

Madoka took her time to pass through the security and enter the building, but she stopped at the main entrance when three Black Egrets officers came out. One of them didn't have his helmet and mask on, revealing a young man with greyish brown hair and blue eyes; he is likely a high ranking officer. This officer called one soldier over.

"Have Molly report our findings to Commander Parasoul in the Canopy Kingdom. Asunaro and Kazamino aren't the only cities that mysteriously appeared on the map." The high ranking officer ordered.

"Yes, Sir." That soldier soon got on a motorcycle and drove off somewhere with four other soldiers following.

Adam sighed and looked at one of the officers next to him. "Have the soldiers search for someone named Madoka Kaname, Sayaka Miki, and Homura Akemi. You know what to do once you find them."

"Yes, sir." That officer gets into one of the jeeps and splits from the convoy.

Madoka kept those names in mind, but she's now worried about the order that Adam gave. What do those Black Egrets want to Sayaka, Homura, and her? She had to find out the intentions that these Black Egrets have.

"Excuse me, Adam!" Madoka called out.

As Madoka left her hiding spot to approach Adam, she stopped and detected something in front of the door. She reached out to Adams.

"Look out!" Madoka warmed.

As the Black Egrets opened the doors, three Familiars burst into the hall, ramming into Adam's two soldiers. Five more familiars were outside the building. The Black Egrets that were outside the city hall were either knocked out or injured. Civilians that were present were forced to scatter to safety in a panic.

This kind of Familiar appeared abstract in the form of pillow-sized books with triangular heads on the spine, white-gloved hands at the upper corners, and brown buckled shoes at the bottom corners. Untranslatable words and undefinable pictures were popping out of each page whenever the book opens. Sometimes spells were cast when the book turns a few faces and their white-gloved hands make a few signs. When the book closes, they rammed forward to deliver impact.

Adam is pushed down to the ground, and he got back up to arm himself with a pistol. He looked back as Madoka.

"Miss, get to safety! Barricade yourself in one of the rooms if you must!" Adams called back.

Madoka found this sudden Familiar attack to be strange. Familiars never reveal themselves to the public nor do they attack people like predators. They were only supposed to spread grief and influence victims to harm or inflict self-harm. And another question that Madoka has is how they're present if there isn't a witch currently present in Mitakihara. Her soul gem wasn't detecting any. If only Kyubey were here to answer such questions.

She didn't want to leave Adam with the Familiars, and she needed to find out what the Black Egrets planned. She had no choice but to reveal her magical girl form. She held her arm out with the ring turning into her soul gems in the palm of her hand.

The soul gem glows, turning Madoka from a normal girl into a magical girl. Afterward, she took out her bow and sent pinks arrows at the three familiars that are attacking Adam.

Adam is shocked and looked at Madoka.

"You... you're a magical girl!" Adam recognized.

"Huh?" Madoka is now confused to how Adam knew who she is. "How did you...?"

"We'll have to talk about this later," Adam requested, "For now, assist me and the Egrets!"

"Yes, sir!" Madoka answered.

With no time to spare in this situation, Madoka nods in agreement and followed him outside to deal with the five remaining Familiars. Currently, the familiars are still around, wrecking a few vehicles and structures in the front of city hall.

Adam approached an unconscious Black Egret soldier and picked up a machine gun. He surveyed the area after making sure his ammunition is loaded.

"We'll need to keep those things in this area," Adam stated, "We can't let them roam about. I'll lure them back if they go too far."

Madoka remained at the entrance and pulls the string of her bow all the way. An arrow of pink light manifested as the string is pulled. She was ready to shoot a familiar down. Adam aimed his machine gun and shot at one familiar at a time.

Once all five of the familiars have their focus on Madoka and Adam, they started moving towards them.

"They're all your, ma'am!" Adam saluted.

"Right!" Madoka soon started firing her arrows.

Some of those arrows missed as these familiar were moving erratically, but Madoka was able to take the familiars down. Unlike witches, familiar do not leave a grief seed, so they just vanish and that's it. They did leave a huge mess though.

Adam got up and took a deep breath, shaking his head. "I would have to report to Parasoul and call medics for this one. But thank you, Kaname."

Madoka turned to face Adam. "Now, tell me how you know my name know that I was a magical girl."

Adam nods, knowing Madoka deserves an explanation. "We found two magical girls in Kazamino, one of them came from Asunaro, and they mentioned there are three more here in Mitakihara. I was given the order that if I do find them, I need to report it immediately to Parasoul."

Mami and Kyoko, Madoka thought.

She wasn't sure if it is them, so she decided to not ask. She'll just have to leave for now, and probably call it a day. She immediately changed back from magical girl to a normal girl.

"I'm really sorry." Madoka bowed slightly. "But you have to excuse me."

Adam nods, excusing her.

Madoka soon ran off. She needed to tell Sayaka and Homura about this before returning home.

As she left, Adam took out a radio transceiver to call someone. He still had a team he just sent out to search for Madoka, Sayaka, and Homura.

"Call off the search and come back to city hall," Adam order on the transceiver, "We got soldiers to tend to and a report to make to the Commander."