Notes: It has been stated that Sayaka is predestined to die in every timeline. That says nothing about how.
All eyes looked upon the figure hovering in the sky. They could barely make out Madoka's humanoid features in it, seeing it mostly as a ball of light with wings. They did not know what lay beneath it. Madoka could have gained multiple heads, or multiple eyes, or had a body that wasn't human at all. It was beyond their comprehension. The wings wrapped themselves like a blanket around the light sphere, which slowly began to fade. In its place, Madoka, her proportions returned to normal, clad in a pure white dress with white ribbons in her hair, appeared in its place. She brandished her bow, the rose on it in full bloom.
"Madoka!" Homura said.
Madoka lowered herself to the ground, retracting her wings. "When I reach this level of power, I can choose my form. I want to remain as I am, as Madoka Kaname. That's all I need to face you!" she pointed her fingers at Gretchen.
Gretchen understood, and spoke another garbled message. She returned to her black puella magi form, fully restored.
"Your Saintess is still naive, Rebirth. Gretchen is the most powerful witch yet. This will only end in pain for you," said Kyubey.
Kyubey lowered his arms and let Gretchen step in. She struck a contorted pose and jumped into the air, holding her feet out for a diving kick. Dark energy began to surround her feet, turning her into a black comet aimed at Webster.
"Mitaki!" Webster shouted.
Webster let out a roar and held his head towards the skies. Madoka jumped off the tile and into the wave of flame that had been released from his mouth. She altered her trajectory, flying towards Gretchen once more. Pink enery surrounded her legs. Gretchen was notably silent. Madoka was yelling all the while as her speed picked up. Drops of rain began to fall on the girls' faces, running down their cheeks.
They met in midair, an explosion filling the skies. Avatars of Gretchen's pitch black upper body and Rita's incomprehensible winged form could be seen screaming at each other before fading away.
In this gap in the attack, Sayaka ran up to Kyubey once more and punched him on the fleshy side of his body. It was a sting, but Kyubey felt it, and looked down at Sayaka. Her body was bruised, and it hurt when she moved her leg. She grabbed a hold of his claws, struggling to hold on.
The Soul Gem on her belt was reacting oddly. It hadn't grown brighter, but it hadn't grown darker. The blue aura, the sign of Sayaka's soul, was fading, losing its opacity. Looking in, one could see to the other side of the Gem. The edges of the setting were starting to fold in, causing cracks in the exterior. Yet, Sayaka did not notice.
"You are in great pain. You should surrender," said Kyubey.
"Like I'm taking orders from you anymore," said Sayaka, "I swore I'd be a protector of this city, saving it from those who would do it harm. That means you," she said, catching her breath between each sentence.
"Your hope is worthless to me," said Kyubey, "You'll be finished one way or another." He lowered his leg, aiming for Sayaka's waist where her Soul Gem lay.
Madoka and Gretchen touched foot on the ground. Each stood up and faced the other, traces of flame snuffing themselves out on their clothes. Gretchen remained expressionless. Madoka caught her breath, clutching her hand to her chest. Her soul shone out within her body.
A shot rang out from a nearby rooftop. The air curled around the curved tip of a large bullet with floral designs across its side.
"Ultima Shoot!" a voice called out.
"English?" asked Kyoko.
"Tomoe?" asked Hitomi.
Sayaka rolled out of the way.
The bullet jammed itself into Kyubey's armpit, between his chest plate and shoulder pads. It pierced his body and exploded, leaving a hole revealing blood red innards in its place. Kyubey struggled to move his left arm. He let out a hellish roar towards the rooftop, where Mami Tomoe stood.
She held up the large musket she had fired off the shot with, and let it dissolve into yellow ribbons in her hands. She called out to the puellae magi below.
"Mami Tomoe, has returned," she said, winking. "That was the only shot I had. As long as I can be of assistance."
Tatsumi could see a faint golden aura surrounding her. The spectral image of a puella magi, one dressed in golden Nordic robes with a wing-shaped Soul Gem, appeared above Mami and smiled, before fading into the Soul Gem on her hairpin.
"Musou..." whispered Tatsumi, feeling a sudden burst of energy course through her body. She recharged herself with a drink from her tote bag and walked out into the streets, standing between Madoka and Webster, with a calm expression.
"We had a perfect system set up, Rebirth. You didn't need to interfere. With the amount of despair as low as it is, we'll never be able to harvest the energy we need," said Kyubey.
Gretchen drew her bow with the wilted rose. She loaded a darkness arrow and aimed it at Webster's neck. In her shadow, her true form could be seen, stretching to the other end of the block.
"I have only done so much, Incubator," said Webster.
"Hey, weasel," said Tatsumi, "I noticed something last night. When it's three in the morning, your brain starts going places it never would when you're alert. That's how I was able to figure it out. There's something about Soul Gems unknown even to yourself."
"Everything towards the creation of witches and the harvesting of despair," said Kyubey.
"Not quite," said Tatsumi, "It works the other way too."
"What other way is there?" asked Kyubey.
"You can't have despair without a little bit of hope. The Grief Seeds aren't entirely black. At their very center is a tiny light. When a puella magi gives her despair to the Grief Seed, the fallen warrior gives her some hope in return," she said.
At the Miki house, Mami's Soul Gem rested on the table, undisturbed by no one. Sunlight shone in through the window and struck the top of the Gem, illuminating the flower symbol. Golden wings of flame wrapped themselves around the gemstone egg, shaping themselves into a hand, and then a full arm, before exploding into a full body. They cooled down into a yellow blaze before taking the shape of Mami's body.
Mami blinked and looked down. Her own Soul Gem was in her hands. Her body felt warm, alive. She remembered being dragged down into darkness, but it was hazy, a monochromatic dream. Her puella magi outfit reformed on her body, and she heard a voice whisper in her head.
"If only I had the power of the warriors who survived."
Her Soul Gem was pulsing. There was a witch loose in this city, one stronger than any before. Even at this distance, she could pick it up. With that, Mami set off.
"When that hope becomes strong, our friends lend us their strength. For every Grief Seed you've consumed, the power of its puella magi is alive in the heart of another. And now, they're all turned on you," said Tatsumi. "Every despair is different, but all hopes are the same."
"Thank you, Tatsumi," said Madoka, placing her hand on the girl's shoudler. "Homura, you're not alone. I know what I want to use my power for."
Madoka spread her wings across her back. She drew an arrow across her bow. Her wings flapped back and forth, creating a powerful wind that drew forth the light of the Soul Gems. From within every Gem, multicolored spheres of light flew outward, gathering on the tip of Madoka's bow. Homura and Kyoko's Gems alone provided enough lights to blind Kyubey. Tatsumi felt something in her body jump. Lights poured forth from her chest, joining the gathering of puellae magi.
"I dedicate a prayer to fill the world with love," Madoka said, "be freed from your despair, and raise up your voices!"
Madoka shot the arrow up into the stratosphere. Rays of light shone out from the tip, where it exploded like a firework, scattering lights in every direction. The embers took on a humanoid form, each moving of their own will, dressed in their own look. Spectral puellae magi filled the skies, each drawing their weapons in the direction of Kyubey. Madoka floated upward to be at their center.
Tatsumi looked down at her body. She felt a hot sensation run across her skin. Her soul shone brightly, recreating an image of her own red and silver outfit over her clothes. Though it was little more than an illusion, she could feel the weight of her hand cannon across her wrist.
"There's so many," said Kyubey, looking up at the army before him. One dressed in roses, another in pastel pink candy colors, one clad in brilliant silver.
"This is just from this prefecture," said Madoka, "Imagine how many more there are in this country, in this world. You led all of them to despair. With the weight of your sins present before you, what do you have to say?"
Kyubey pondered for a moment.
"I did exactly what I intended to do. Where's the problem with it? There are plenty of future puella magi waiting to be born," said Kyubey.
Madoka loaded another arrow, "You say that ignorant of your supposed ally. She will worry no longer. I'll wipe away those tears," she said.
"My friends," Homura said, "Full power towards the Incubator," she looked towards Hitomi, "That means you too."
Hitomi slashed her scythe across the air, creating four rings of green energy. The rings blasted outward, clamping themselves around Kyubey's legs. She detached the gemshorn and threw the snath at Kyubey, embedding it in his chest, right on what used to be his nose.
Homura grabbed the edge of her shield and stopped time in short bursts, dashing across the street until she was within jumping range of Kyubey. She spun her spanner around and jammed it inside Kyubey's shoulder, breaking open the plating around the fleshy pink joint. She clamped the spanner on his arm and pulled herself onto his back, holding up her shield.
Sayaka, Kyoko and Mami held out their Soul Gems. Tatsumi and Kyosuke held out their hands, letting out energy from their souls as well. Energy in their respective colors gathered in the jewels on Homura's shield, causing the gears to start spinning. The avatars of the puella magi in the sky above launched off their shots from a multitude of weapons. A rainbow of energy charged Homura's shield. The force was pushing against her arm. She strained to remove it, slowly sliding it off until the edges of the shield hooked themselves into Kyubey's back. The centaurian creature let out a pained roar.
"I'll break this cycle," Homura said, "Receive karma!"
Hitomi played a peaceful tune on her gemshorn. Pillars of green light surrounded Kyubey on all sides, closing in. The warmth scared Kyubey, and strengthened Homura. She activated the dial on her shield, bringing time to a halt once more.
Homura struck her spanner down on the shield. A metallic sound echoed out, joining with the rattling of the gears. A circular sound wave radiated out from the shield. Homura beat the shield three more times. The sound waves spun around to form a sphere that enclosed around Kyubey. Time restarted.
Homura jumped out of the way. With the final note being played, a large pillar of light in purple, in green, in so many colors that it became pure white, erupted from the spot where Kyubey stood, prismatic sparks jumping off for miles around. Kyubey did not scream. He could not be heard over the sounds of the light breaking down his true form into the purest essence of magic. The pillar faded, as did the ghosts of puella magi past.
"Thank you," Homura said.
"Musou... we'll meet again," said Tatsumi.
A cracking sound could be heard at the far end of the battlefield.
"Receive salvation!" Madoka said.
Webster's mouth breathed out a blue ring of fire that wrapped itself around Gretchen's legs. Pink runes appeared behind Maodka's wings, energy coursing through them like a pinball machine into the tip of her arrow. Madoka released the projectile straight at Gretchen's Grief Seed.
The pink energy cleared away the darkness, reconstructing the golden setting. Gretchen's body, made of an infinite blackness, began to swirl and dissolve away. She stretched out her arms towards Madoka. On her face, in the final moments, was a smile, one that Madoka recognized as her own. A teardrop-shaped symbol appeared at the top of the newly formed Soul Gem, which was still burning hot. Madoka descended and held it in her hands. It seemed to be magnetized in her direction.
"When a Grief Seed is purified, it returns to its original body," said Webster, "in this timeline, that's you. I can create a new Touchstone with it, if you'd like."
"Please do," said Madoka, "I'll ignore no one's tears. Even my own."
Webster shrunk down to his impish form and pressed his hand to the Soul Gem. The golden setting disappeared as a glossy marble coat appeared around it. The new Touch Stone moved towards Madoka's navel, replacing her new one. What happened next, only Madoka could say.
It was as though she was inside the Soul Gem, floating, naked, with another her, a longer-haired her, beside her. The other Madoka did not say any words. She didn't need to. The Madoka of another time embraced the one known, and, piece by piece, transformed her into a new outfit.
Her stockings and sleeves were white, with a pink and gold waistcoat, with poofy shoulders, appeared. Her bow transformed into an arm mounted crossbow, itself pink and gold, with a small sword embedded into the spot where it connected to her arm. The other Madoka kissed this one goodbye, and the dream ended.
"Puella Superstes," Madoka said, her outfit transforming before us in an instant, "Madoka."
Madoka and Homura lost their puella superstes forms. Homura looked down at her ring. Her Touch Stone was going wild, purifying the black magic that had been used with as much white magic. Her hand felt like it had just woken up, pins and needles pricking at her skin.
"Kaname, you have to hurry!" shouted Tatsumi.
Sayaka was clutching her stomach. Her Soul Gem was full of cracks, and almost completely transparent. Only the faintest glimmer of blue remained.
"Webster, can you heal her?" asked Tatsumi, "This is all my fault."
"Sayaka!" said Kyosuke, leaning down to her face.
"I'll see what I can do," said Hitomi, holding her hand over the Soul Gem. The cracks didn't disappear, but the blue light regained itself by a little bit. Hitomi, already worn out from the battle, was starting to feel her mana dropping. The blue light was still dim.
"Even the human soul has limits," said another Kyubey, this one as weaselly as the others, who had just appeared at the base of the clock tower.
"I thought we killed you," said Webster.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Kyubey, "That was a rogue Incubator from another time. For disobedience, we disconnected him from the hive mind. He didn't have time to convert his Grief Seeds yet. So many wandering souls are loose on the world now, and Walpurgisnacht is on the way. Best of luck."
"Get back here, you weasel!" shouted Webster.
"Madoka," said Sayaka weakly, "Fight on in my place. End this stupid battle."
"Sayaka!" said Madoka, screaming out.
Kyoko placed her Soul Gem against Sayaka's, using her magic to try and repair some of the cracks. "I'm not doing this so we're even. I'm doing this because we're even. If I'm going to use these powers to save someone, I want you to be my first," said Kyoko, struggling to keep a strong face.
"Something's coming," said Mami.
The skies were beginning to darken. Storm clouds swirled around the harbor, heralding the arrival of a witch whose name had been passed down for centuries, her mission unknown. Flocking her were several witches that had been seen once before. They moved in the same direction, yet their cries called out to different parts of the city.
"We'll get Sayaka to safety," said Kyoko, placing her onto her back. Sayaka grinned weakly.
"Go on ahead. I put my faith in these two," said Webster.
Madoka looked out towards the stormy clouds. Homura had a look in her eyes that said she had seen this all before. She turned towards Madoka and adjusted her glasses. That feeling Madoka had before came back, stronger, but not entirely clear.
"Madoka, we have to win this time. There's so much I want to tell you," said Homura.
"I'd like to hear it," Madoka said.
"Will you be my partner in battle?" asked Homura.
Madoka nodded. Webster walked in front of both of them. His tufts of fur were blowing in the strengthening winds. The coven of witches approached Mitakihara. They weren't attacking. Their prey were not yet in sight.
"One thing," Madoka said, "Don't die, Homura."
A genuine smile crossed Homura's face. Two trails of tears rolled down her eyes, staining the inside of her glasses. Homura placed her hand over her Soul Gem ring. "You as well," she said.
Madoka and Homura placed their arms at their waists. Their puella superstes suits formed over their bodies. They grasped their weapons in their hands. Madoka sprouted her wings from the back of her suit. Webster transformed into his lion form, and waved his tail, ushering Homura onto his back. He galloped off towards the witches as Madoka flew overhead.
"Homura, if you fail here, my contract with you can't carry over into the next timeline," said Webster. "I'm sorry."
Homura nodded. She knew. She had accepted that risk the moment she made the contract.
Webster felt the weight of his rider, and looked at his first soldier up above. Their bond did not need words. The rain was starting to fall, and the winds were picking up, but within these three, there was a feeling of confidence.
The warrior of darkness, clad in light. The warrior of light, clad in darkness.
"Madoka. Homura," Webster thought, "I'm counting on you. No matter what happens beyond, I can say, without a doubt, that this life has been worth living!"
Fin.
