Puella Magi Contract Registry

Name: Hypatia

Weapon: None. Fights with hand-to-hand combat with light armor enhancing attacks

Power: Augmented combat ability; boosts to strength, speed, reflexes, etc.

Home world: Olympus Coliseum—Thebes

Wished for strength and power. A simple wish that extended from an obsession with the tournaments held in her world's famed coliseum. She trained her body long and hard, but when it became apparent she held no promise as a warrior, she turned to the Incubator's contract, and now holds a power that rivals any champion or, perhaps, even the gods of that world.

Additional notes: "So, apparently she was born into a noble house. Further details have been difficult to find, and not just from that world's lack of proper record keeping. From what I can tell, her house was destroyed many years ago, back when Thebes was beset by endless disasters. Back then, nobility rose and fell in a matter of days; her line was just one of many. It is quite fascinating sometimes to see how divergent one's path can get from their origin point."

Chapter 10

Today had been long, but at least the worst was over. Madoka relaxed, leaning back in her seat as she and her friends enjoyed their meal at their usual café. Three tests, all in a row, and naturally they were all in the latter half of the day, giving her plenty of time to dread as the hours slowly crept by until the horror finally arrived. There wasn't even anything special about today, just a horrible twist of fate and some abysmal luck. She studied as hard as she could, giving it her best shot, but even now, after all was said and done, she didn't feel very confident. Not like Hitomi, who seemed as unfazed as ever. She probably got perfect scores. But for as bad as Madoka felt, she still had some hope that she did alright. At least she fared better than Sayaka, judging by her friend's grumblings.

"Man, today was a killer. And that last one, don't even get me started!" Sayaka took a bite of her meal, only to let out a sigh. "Not even the food tastes the same after that. Ugh, I know she said it wouldn't be easy, but even after all we did? Jeez!"

"There were some pretty tricky questions," said Hitomi. "But exams are getting closer. It only makes sense, I guess."

"I wonder…if Homura would have helped us." Madoka spoke without thinking. Hitomi and Sayaka stared at her, and even Madoka herself was surprised at what she said.

"Ms. Akemi?" Hitomi asked. "What brought that on?"

Madoka flushed. "W-well, I just…she seemed so smart and…I just thought maybe…she might have…you know…" Her words petered out as she shrank from embarrassment.

Sayaka's head tilted ever so slightly. "You're still worried about her, aren't you?"

Madoka nodded. "I know you don't like her, but it's been over three weeks now. Ever since those officers came to class, I can't help feeling something awful happened to her."

"Hey, I never said I didn't like her! Just that she was super creepy!" Sayaka held her hands up defensively. "I mean, do you know what she meant by all that weird stuff she said to you?"

"…No. I don't," Madoka said slowly. Don't change. Stay as you are. She remembered those haunting words, but even now couldn't fathom just what Homura had meant by them. She seemed too serious for it to be something inconsequential. It sounded like a warning, but for what, Madoka didn't know.

It's not like I can just be someone else. The only person I can be is me, right?

"We're all worried about Ms. Akemi," said Hitomi. "I'll be glad when she finally returns to us."

"Y-yeah. Me too," Sayaka added. "She may be weird, but it's not like I want anything bad to happen to her." She took a sip of her drink. A small flash of inspiration crossed her face as she set the cup back down. "How about this: the day she gets back, we take her with us—weirdness and all—and give her a proper welcome-home lunch. What do you say, Madoka?"

A smile grew on Madoka's face. "Yeah. Let's do it."

The mood grew considerably lighter after that. The girls enjoyed the rest of their meal discussing lighter topics, from the promise toward the transfer student to the ease of the coming days. With the burdens of such important tests lifted from their shoulders, the girls looked forward to the next few days of peace and relative relaxation, at least until the next one showed up.

After a while, Hitomi looked down at her phone. "Oh my, is it that late already? Excuse me, but I should be going now."

"Let me guess. Tea ceremony, right?" asked Sayaka.

"Piano, actually. Although I suspect it's mostly going to be more studying tonight. Would you care to join me? I'm sure my parents won't mind."

Madoka and Sayaka shared a look, and the latter spoke up again. "Sorry, maybe another time. I don't think I can take any more studying right now."

"I understand." Hitomi finished gathering her belongings. "See you tomorrow, then."

Madoka and Sayaka waved as they bid her farewell. Not long after they too finished up and left the café, but decided to stay at the mall just a bit longer, idly browsing through one store after another, and occasionally pining over some trinket too expensive for their price range. But as they explored, Madooka noticed how Sayaka seemed to be avoiding the music store, how she lead them in a different direction whenever they got too close. It was strange. Before, Sayaka loved to take every opportunity to find some new piece of music for Kyosuke, but then a few days ago she just…stopped. Madoka had assumed it was just the stress of the tests getting to her, but now…now she was wondering if something had happened to Kyosuke. As much as she wanted to ask, Madoka sadly knew her friend would laugh it off, insisting that it was "no big deal" or something similar. The best she could do was wait for Sayaka to come to her.

'Help…me…'

Madoka stopped. Her ears strained as she thought she heard something. She looked around. The mall was crowded, but no one looked like they were in any trouble.

"Hmm?" Sayaka turned towards her. "Something wrong?"

Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, Madoka slowly shook her head. "…No. It…It's nothing." She moved to catch up with her friend.

'Help me…'

Madoka stared again. She definitely heard something that time. "You heard that, right?" She asked Sayaka.

"Heard what?" Sayaka looked at her confused.

'Help me!'

This time Madoka got a sense of the direction of the voice. She followed it to a nearby hall, leading to a dark, deserted part of the mall. She cautiously stepped past a construction sign warning people away. Behind her, she heard Sayaka urging them to go back, but it was too late now; her curiosity and desire to help had both been piqued.

The site was cluttered with tools and unfinished projects. There were signs of recent activity, but any workers must have finished for the day and already left. It gave the area and ominous air, as if something still lurked within, but Madoka wasn't deterred. Perhaps a bit scared, but she mustered the courage to keep going deeper.

"Madoka!" Sayaka grabbed Madoka and turned her around. "What are you doing? We shouldn't be here!"

"But can't you hear it?"

"Hear what!? I don't—" Sayaka stopped as her brow furrowed. Madoka heard it too: a faint panting in the distance. A small white figure came running out of the shadows, leaping onto Madoka.

'We gotta get out of here, now.'

"W-whoa, wait." Sayaka stared, taken aback. "Is that a…cat? And…and did it just speak!?"

'There's no time to explain. You guys need to run. Hurry!'

More creatures emerged, only these ones didn't seem to leave the shadows even as they stepped into view. Pure black…things with beady yellow eyes creeped towards them. There was something predatory in their movements, enough that they managed to be intimidating even despite their small size.

"What are these things?" Madoka asked with a twinge of fear.

"I don't know, but it can't be anything good." Sayaka quickly grabbed a nearby pipe and positioned herself in front of Madoka. She brandished her makeshift weapon at the creatures. "Stay away! You hear me! Back off!" She swung the pipe around, hoping to scare them off, but they only came closer. One of the creatures suddenly lunged forward, antennae twitching, and Sayaka swung at it. The pipe impacted with the creature's head, sending it tumbling off to the side. However, to the girls' shock, it immediately got back up, seemingly unfazed by the blow. "Wha…what the…?"

'It's no use! The only thing we can do is run!'

The strange cat's words registered in both girls' minds. Madoka and Sayaka turned, about to move, only to find more black creatures approaching from behind as well.

'This isn't good. Come on, this way!' The cat bounded off Madoka, making a break for it, and both girls followed without question, panic now setting in and desperate to get away.

The shadows gave chase, tailing them with alarming agility. The girls only just managed to keep them from closing the distance with the adrenaline coursing through their bodies. Even as Madoka's breath started becoming shorter, raspier, she forced herself to keep going, feet pounding against the ground at full sprint. Perhaps it was the just the burgeoning exhaustion clouding her perceptions, but the area seemed to change as they kept going. Were the walls always made of brick and mortar? It seemed odd for a mall to have chains and barbed wire laying around, and—perhaps her eyes were just bleary from all the running—but she was having a hard time reading some of the signs they came across.

"This…this isn't making any sense." Sayaka said between breaths. "Where'd the exit go? Where are we!?" Despair set in as the realization came that, somehow, they weren't in the mall anymore, and neither of them had any idea where they had wound up.

"Everything keeps changing…" Madoka whispered. It was difficult keeping focus on any one thing. Shapes and objects kept flitting about randomly, threatening to make her dizzy, and everything she did see looked…off, like fiction trying to become reality, but making a poor impersonation. There was something artificial and uncanny about everything. It was impossible to tell if they were even inside or out. Off in the distance, there was movement, more so than the surrounding environment. "There's something over there."

"No. No, no, no. We do not need those things following us even here!"

To their relief, and horror, the shapes were not the shadowy monsters, but some kind of mustached cotton-balls. Marching on tiny butterfly wings, they circled the Madoka and Sayaka in droves, chanting in some language unintelligible to either of them. The two huddled together, clinging to each other as the monsters started wielding thorny vines and scissors, becoming all the more terrifying as they got closer.

"This isn't happening. This cannot be happening." Sayaka's voice trembled, skirting the edges of hysteria. "Talking cats, shadow monsters, and now…this? This has to be a dream. I am dreaming, right Madoka?"

Madoka could only let out a small whimper, unable to tear her eyes away from the nightmare before them. But just as the monsters were about to close in on them, a circle of light burst out from beneath the girls' feet, radiating out and forcefully shoving the creatures away.

"What…just happened?" Sayaka asked cautiously.

"I don't know." Things seemed be just a bit calmer now, but Madoka was still on edge, her heartbeat loud enough to echo in her ears. At least her life was no longer flashing before her eyes.

"That was a close one." A voice rang out from behind. Madoka and Sayaka turned to see another girl coming towards them. She appeared to be about their age, possibly a little older, with blonde hair pulled into two curls in the back. She wore an unusual outfit, but most importantly held an air of confidence and composure that put Madoka's mind somewhat at ease.

'You got here just in time, Mami,' said the cat.

"You two aren't hurt, are you?" the girl asked. Madoka and Sayaka shook their heads. "That's good. This place is incredibly dangerous."

"Who are you?" asked Sayaka.

"Oh, that's right. I should introduce myself. I'm—" Movement caught the girl's attention as the monsters recovered and more thorns rose up. "Actually, that's going to have to wait. Please excuse me while I wrap this up." She leapt into the air with inhuman strength, summoning an array of guns out of thin air. Madoka and Sayaka stood shocked and amazed as they watched her dispatch the monsters.

'My name is Kyubey,' said the cat. 'And that is Mami Tomoe. She made a contract with me and became what you see now: a Magical Girl.'

A Magical Girl? Like from those shows? Madoka found it a little hard to believe, but with what she was seeing, there really was no other explanation. The things Mami was doing could only be described as magic; even her movements carried that same dramatic-yet-elegant style as one of those characters. It was all so surreal, but Madoka was glad for Mami's help, and even found herself…enthralled as she watched her fight. Just a little.

The battle was over quickly. As the last monster fell, Mami brandished the gun in her hand and it disappeared in a shower of scattering light. "Now then, let's get you two out of here."

'This deep in, the only way we can do that is to beat the Witch.'

"…Right," Mami slowly nodded.

"Um, witch?" Madoka didn't like the sound of that.

"I'll explain everything later, but basically, a Witch is the creator of this space."

'If we defeat the Witch, the space will disappear, and we'll be brought back to the real world.'

Sayaka looked at Kyubey nervously. "Uh…when you say "we", you don't mean…?"

Mami giggled. "Don't worry. I'll be doing all the hard work. I just need you to keep behind me and don't get hurt. Alright?"

"Y-yeah, alright." Sayaka relaxed a little. "I feel bad, though, having to leave everything to you. If I could help, I would, but these things…they're just a little out of our league, huh?"

"There's no need to apologize, and you shouldn't blame yourself either. This isn't something any normal person should have to face," consoled Mami. "Now, shall we?" She beckoned the two in a seemingly random direction.

Madoka and Sayaka followed, and the group began making their way, hurried but cautious. It was impossible to tell what, if any, progress they made. One minute they'd seem to be stuck in the same room, walls refusing to come any closer despite how far they went, and the next they'd suddenly find themselves traveling through halls and stairs at ludicrous speeds that conflicted with their pace. Occasionally, they were beset by more cotton monsters, but Mami quickly cut them down; any stragglers that got too close learned the hard way that Mami was just as deadly up close as she was afar.

'Just a little farther. We're almost there,' said Kyubey.

"I know. I can feel it," Mami replied with a cold sternness.

Madoka looked around, but couldn't see whatever those two apparently could. Everything had been blurring together for her, and she had long since lost track of how far they had come or how long they'd been here. They went through a series of doors, only unlike the other times, these ones went on longer, until at the end they came upon a new and horrendous sight. In the center of the chamber rested a large, gelatinous-like monster, its shape difficult to make out as parts of it blended with its surroundings. Its head—at least, Madoka assumed it was its head—stood out the most, being a mossy blob with numerous roses poking out. The…thing seemed to perk up, lifting its head as it became aware of their presence.

"There it is. That's the Witch," Mami told them.

Sayaka's face paled. "Ugh, gross."

"It's awful…" From the name, Madoka had been expecting some nasty hag with a cauldron or something similarly unpleasant, but this was far, far more repulsive. "Are you really going to fight that?"

"I'll be fine. I won't lose, not when I have a promise to uphold." Mami conjured a rifle, twirling it and slamming the barrel into the ground, imbedding it. She pulled the trigger, and cracks burst within the ground, splaying out in a circular formation far too smooth to be natural. A soft glow emanated from the circle, enveloping the group. "Stay here. This'll be over quick." With the barrier set, Mami strode into the chamber, staring unflinchingly at the Witch looming over her.

Mami threw out her arms, rifles materializing in each hand, and the monster sprang into action, hurling its large seat at her. Mami nimbly dodged out of the way, blasting the chair's back and sending it toppling away from her. She took aim at the Witch and fired, only just grazing it as it moved away, scurrying up the walls as it tried to flee. With a wave of her hand, Mami surrounded herself with rifles, standing upright and awaiting use. One after the other, Mami grabbed one, shot, and discarded it for the next. Like a turret she rained bullets upon the Witch. Very few made their mark, but she created substantial damage to the area with each shot, cracks forming in walls that seemingly shouldn't be there, all of which made the Witch increasingly agitated, hissing with an unnatural, otherworldly screech.

With Mami's endless volley both pushing it away and keeping the pressure, it seemed the Witch could do little but continue avoiding her attacks, but down on the ground Madoka caught sight of movement, and lots of it. A whole bunch of tiny creatures, similar to those before, were slowly surrounding Mami.

"Watch out!"

Mami heard her just in time to notice the creatures climbing her legs. They clustered together, forming a tendril as they wrapped around her. The gun in Mami's hand grew thinner and longer, becoming limp and wispy as its once silver coloration turned a bright yellow. Mami cut away at the tendril with the newly formed ribbon, slashing pieces of it off and forcing it to lose its grip. More of the Witch's minions surged toward Mami, and whether by ribbon or gunshot, she cut each one down as it approached, maneuvering about the field in a graceful dance of destruction, culminating in a leaping pirouette that launched her high into the air. The Witch, no longer under fire, took the opportunity to retaliate, sending a stream of thorns at her.

Madoka's eyes widened at the incoming attack. She was just about to warn Mami, but the blonde was already in action. Latching onto a vine with a ribbon, Mami swung off it, not only avoiding its strike, but slinging herself closer to the Witch. Vine after vine, she grappled closer and closer, taking shots between swings to put the Witch back on the defensive. Very few of her shots made their mark, hitting the walls mere inches away from the creature, especially around its head, but each time the Witch changed direction, slowing ever so slightly. With each delay, Mami got closer, until finally she was right on top of it and blasted its mossy head. The Witch recoiled, screaming in an unnatural tone, but Mami wasn't finished, using the pushback of the shot to spin around and come down on the Witch with the empty musket. The force of the impact was enough to send the Witch toppling. As it fell, helpless to do anything, Mami conjured one last gun, one far larger than anything before, dwarfing even her with its size. A gun of such scale shouldn't have been feasible, let alone impossible to use, but Mami wielded it as easily as any other weapon. The Witch crashed into the ground, and before it could recover, Mami pulled the trigger.

"Tiro Finale!"

The blast was huge, completely vaporizing the Witch. A small flock of butterflies flew off as Mami landed back on the ground. She looked over at the two girls, giving them a reassuring smile.

"So, you won?" Sayaka cautiously asked.

Their vision blurred. Reality distorted as the room faded, turning back into the darkened section of mall they had left.

"Amazing…" Madoka said, awestruck.

Mami crouched down, grabbing some unseen object before turning to them. "Back safe and sound, as promised."

"Seriously, we can't thank you enough," said Sayaka. "You really saved our butts back there, like a real life superhero or something."

"Don't mention it, but I am curious how you ended up there. This doesn't look like the kind of place people just wander into."

"It was…Kyubey, right?" Madoka tried to explain. "I heard him, calling out to me."

Kyubey nodded his head. 'That's right. Though I wish it were under better circumstances, I have been wanting to meet you for some time now, Madoka Kaneme. In fact, there's something I'd like to ask of you, and Sayaka Miki, too.'

"Of us?" Sayaka asked. "What?"

'I want you to make a contract with me, and become Magical Girls!'

Madoka's mind reeled at the request. Magic…us? Even with everything they had just witnessed, that one statement seemed so unbelievable. Sayaka appeared just as speechless as her. What were they supposed to say to something like that?

"Don't let him pressure you," Mami interjected. "As much as he'd like it, you don't need to answer right now. If it's alright with you, why don't we head back to my place? I do owe you both an explanation, after all." The two agreed. With a snap of her fingers, Mami transformed, her clothes becoming mundane and casual, indistinguishable from any other person. Any surprise Madoka had at the sudden display was quickly quashed. Of course a hero would have a secret identity. Her costume would only have drawn attention, even if it could be passed off as some cosplay.

The path Mami led them wasn't too far, but after the journey through that strange, other world, Madoka and Sayaka were trailing behind slower than they normally would, adrenaline leaving their bodies and leaving only a weary exhaustion. By the time they reached Mami's apartment, the sun was already well into the horizon, painting the sky with a dull orange glow.

As they went inside, Madoka and Sayaka were taken aback. When Mami told them she lived alone, Madoka had honestly expected something simple. Clean, organized; a nice, cozy place, but simple nonetheless. She couldn't have been more off the mark. The interior was lavishly beautiful, fully furnished and brimming with so much life and personality that befitted more a well-off family than a lone teenage girl. Mami led them to the living room before running off to the kitchen. Within a few moments she returned with a fresh brew of tea and desserts. It all gave off a pleasant aroma, and it tasted even better as Madoka took her first sip.

"Mmm, this is amazing!"

"Thanks," Mami replied. "So, what would you like to ask first?"

"Getting right into it, huh? Hm…" Sayaka took a slice of cake as she thought.

"Um, well…" Madoka looked at Kyubey. "What exactly is this contract you mentioned?"

'I will grant you one wish,' he said.

"Seriously!?" Sayaka exclaimed, but quickly reeled herself in. "What's the catch? There's gotta be a catch to this, right?"

'Not at all. I can grant you anything you want, even the most impossible of wishes.'

"The 'catch' is the contract. He gives a wish, and in return…" Mami held out her hand, showing them a small yellow gem encased in gold. "This is a Soul Gem. Proof of our contract, and source of my magic."

It was very pretty to look at, but Madoka noticed a strange shape emblazoned over the gem. It wasn't anything she recognized. In fact, it was actually hard for her to discern anything apt to compare to. There were a lot of harsh angles and points to it that made it just a little bit intimidating, which only stood out more against the beauty of the glistening gem behind it.

When she brought it up, Mami told her, "It's the mark of the Puella Magi. The symbol of our organization."

"Puella Magi?" Madoka tested the words.

"It's just what we call ourselves. There's not really any meaning behind it, but it does help avoid the preconceptions that come with 'Magical Girls'."

"And there are enough Magic—" Sayaka stopped herself. "Sorry, enough Puella Magi to create an entire organization?"

'Yes. There are Magical Girls all over the world, working together to fight Witches wherever they appear.'

"Like a team of superheroes fighting evil and delivering justice? Oh, that's so cool!"

"It's not quite as glamorous as you make it sound," said Mami. "There are many who fight for other, even selfish reasons. Our goals are simply the same, so it only makes sense to join together."

Sayaka's enthusiasm deflated, but only a little. "But…I mean, it doesn't really matter that much, right? Witches are still defeated, and people are still saved."

"Yes, that is one way of looking at it." Mami's face softened. "And I like to believe that too. Whatever our intent, directly or not, our actions do help people."

Fighting evil and saving the day. It was hard not to get drawn into the fantasy, despite Mami's insistence, but Madoka knew exactly where she was coming from. What they'd experienced today was not some easygoing adventure. "Um, about that…" she spoke, reluctant. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know, but at the same time, If Kyubey was telling the truth, if she could be a Puella Magi, she should at least know what they were going up against. "Could you tell us a bit about them? The Witch, I mean…a-and that weird place."

For a moment, silence held the air, but slowly Mami nodded. "Alright." There was hesitation in her voice, but with Kyubey's help, she told them. About Witches, purveyors and spreaders of despair. About Labyrinths, the domains Witches create for themselves and lure people into for nourishment and sadistic pleasure. About Familiars, the servants of Witches that help fulfill their twisted desires. At the mention of them, something trickled in the back of Madoka's mind.

"So, those black creatures were Familiars too, right?"

For the first time, Mami looked genuinely confused. "Black creatures? There wasn't anything like that there."

"Oh, right. Guess that was before you came, outside the labyrinth."

"Outside the…?" Mami's eyes widened. Her head whipped toward Kyubey. "Don't tell me. You ran into Heartless?"

'Unfortunately, yes. I was ambushed when Madoka and Sayaka helped me. We only managed to escape them when we fell into the labyrinth.'

Madoka noticed how intensely Mami was staring at Kyubey. "Um…is something wrong?"

"…No." Mami sipped her tea, taking just a little bit longer than necessary. "But apparently you're luckier than we realized. For normal people, I'd consider Heartless even more dangerous than Witches." As Mami went into detail, Madoka's face paled. The idea that the evils of humanity could take a physical form and eat other people was utterly terrifying. That anyone, even her, could just…turn into one of those was even worse.

"You're…joking, right? That sounds like some crazy zombie movie or something," Sayaka said, completely aghast. "There's no way all that can be true."

"Mm, zombies… yes, that is one way to describe it. And I assure you, it's the truth." Mami nodded solemnly. "Luckily things are light here. We haven't heard of any attacks anywhere public or overly crowded. They tend to stick to secluded areas, but in other places, things are a lot different." There was a heavy weight to her voice. Her gaze slid down to her cup, and Madoka noticed a glint of sadness in her eyes. "Entire cities have been destroyed because of them."

"How…?" Sayaka shook her head. "How has something like this—so widespread—remained so secret? There has to be someone who's seen them."

'I've no doubt there are some, and they might have even tried to make the Heartless' existence known. I wouldn't be surprised if the knowledge was out there, but humans have a way of ignoring things they don't understand, even when the answer is right in front of them.'

"And nothing works on them?"

"Most weapons have very little, if any, effect," replied Mami. "The most surefire way to beat them is with magic, or a weapon imbued with it, but even that is only a temporary measure. A Heartless may fade, but it only comes back from the darkness again after some time." Mami looked between the two girls, both their expressions grim. "I'm sorry, but a part of me is glad you see how dangerous this is. As a Puella Magi, there is always a very real chance of dying…or worse."

"W-worse?" Madoka stammered.

'True, the danger is real, but part of being a Magical Girl is having the ability to combat it. That ability—that magic—is given to you as part of the contract. I would never make you fight while defenseless,' Kyubey added. 'And that's in addition to your wish, whatever it is you desire.'

"Right. The wish." Sayaka leaned back. Her face relaxed, and even brightened at the thought. "'Anything' is an awful lot, you know. I could ask for power. Or money. Or an eight-course banquet!"

Madoka laughed. That last one might be a little much. "We could wish to be the smartest ones in class; start getting straight A's like Hitomi."

"Right? Or how about becoming a super famous celebrity?"

"Or maybe even finding the perfect boyfriend."

"Yeah! …Y-yeah."

Sayaka's sudden deflation caught Mami's attention. "Something on your mind?"

"Uh, well…" Sayaka looked at her anxiously. "Does the wish have to be for us? Say there was someone who's worse off than me. Would it be wrong to, say, use my wish to help them instead?"

'Not at all,' Kyubey replied. 'I said I can grant any wish. There's no rule saying you have to be the one who benefits from it.'

Despite Kyubey's assurance, Mami appeared apprehensive. "Who is it you're talking about?"

Sayaka opened her mouth, only to close it again. Whatever she wanted she say, she couldn't get out.

"It's Kyosuke, isn't it?" Madoka answered for her. Sayaka nodded.

"May I ask what happened?" asked Mami.

Sayaka paused again, but slowly managed to find her voice again. "There was an accident. He was injured pretty badly, and even…he lost the use of his left hand."

"But I thought—" Madoka's mind whirled as everything clicked into place. It all made sense now. "Sayaka, I'm so sorry."

"I was there the day the doctors told him, or a little after, at least. He's a musician—a really good one—and I brought him some music, thinking it would help. But it didn't. I only made it worse. He was so angry, so frustrated, and…and sad. I hated seeing him like that, and hated myself even more for being powerless. No, worse than that, I added to his pain! But now here you are, telling me I can have anything I want. Do anything I want. I can change all that. I can actually help now. I can make a difference."

"Yes, you certainly could…" Mami dipped her head. "One last question: would you be doing this for his benefit, or yours?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's all well and good to want to help someone, but you should also understand why it is you're doing it. Are you truly looking for their well-being, or their gratitude? The motive behind a wish is what matters most, and either way, you'd be doing it without your friend's consent. I know in this case, your wish would only help, and I'm sure he'd want it too, but is it right to force your desires on someone else like that?"

Sayaka sat at a loss for words. Madoka spoke out, "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"I know, but it needs to be said. If you don't know the exact reason behind your wish, you're only going to regret it."

Madoka and Sayaka turned to their drinks as they mulled over her words. If she didn't know what to wish for before, Madoka was completely at a loss now. Tentatively, she asked, "Would it be alright to ask what your wish was? Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to!" She wasn't sure what the rules were for something like this, but it definitely seemed rude to ask. Even so, an example might help guide her in the right direction.

"It's no problem, but I don't think I'm going to be of much help. My situation was…quite different." Mami took a drink, taking a little longer than usual before continuing. "I was in caught in an accident. A bad one. When Kyubey showed up, I didn't have the luxury of thinking about my wish. I had to make it right then and there: survive as a Puella Magi, or die. I don't regret my decision. Even if it gets difficult at times, I like to think the life I have now is better than being dead. But for you, it's different. There's no pressure or urgency. You're free to make your wish anytime you want, so take as much as you need until you're one hundred percent certain you know what you want. And if you find that you can't, then don't."

Madoka blinked. "What?" Even Kyubey looked at Mami questioningly.

"You know the dangers we face now, and this life of constant conflict will demand much from you. School, dreams, friends, even family. You will have to leave all those behind, and you might not be able to see them again for a long time. Whatever you wish for, ask yourself: is it important enough to give your life for, or if the worst should come, to die for?" Her question lingered as she let Madoka and Sayaka think on it. Neither of them managed to give her an answer. "I know how hard it must be. I just want you to think about it when you think you're ready. For now, why don't we step away from wishes and Puella Magi. Care to tell me about yourselves?"

Madoka shared a look with Sayaka and laughed nervously. "There's not really much to talk about." There wasn't anything special about them, not really, especially compared to Mami, but the older girl insisted, and they relented. Madoka started with her family, talking briefly about her hardworking mother, her orderly father, and her adorable baby brother. Sayaka was a little less forthright, but also gave some insight into her home life. Her parents spent much of their time away at work, often leaving days where she'd return to an empty home. They were busy, but still cared. She understood that, and they did try to make time for her, when they could.

At Mami's behest, they talked about friends, hobbies, school, recent happenings, all sorts of topics, even some Madoka and Sayaka normally thought too mundane to consider, and throughout it all, whether feigned or genuine, Mami's interest was squarely on them the entire time, listening intently to every word they said.

Soon, the setting sun completely sank into the horizon, submerging the sky in the darkness of early evening. The group winded down, sad to end their time together. Mami escorted them to the door.

"Sayaka," she said. "If helping your friend is really what you want, that's fine. Just...take your time, okay? It's alright if your reasons are selfless—or otherwise—as long as there isn't a shred of doubt that's what your heart is set on, but there's no shame in choosing to stay as you are, either. You don't need to force yourself to change."

Don't change. Stay as you are. The words rang familiar to Madoka. "Hey, Mami? Will we be able to see you again?"

Mami opened her mouth, but it was Kyubey who spoke. 'A Magical Girl's duty often has her traveling far, across the country, and sometimes even the world. We'll be leaving soon to reconvene with the others for our next target. But don't worry, I'll still be around should you have any more questions, or are ready to make a contract.'

"Oh," Madoka replied, somewhat dejected, but that wouldn't stop what she had in mind. "Well, there's someone whose been missing from our class for a while now. I know it's not very likely, but if you see her, can you let her know how much we miss her? We're all really worried for her."

"Of course. What does she look like?"

Black hair. Dark eyes. A personality that was polite yet curt; not quite friendly, but not rude either. As Madoka described her, Mami's smile never wavered. Her face was unchanging, almost uncannily so. "What's her name?"

"Akemi. Homura Akemi."

Mami didn't respond immediately. Rather, it was Kyubey who replied. 'We'll keep an eye out. If we see your friend, we'll give her you message. Right, Mami?'

Mami blinked. "…Yes. Of course."

Grateful, Madoka said her goodbyes and departed with Sayaka. Kyubey followed after, leaping onto Madoka's shoulder, insisting that he see them home safely, now that they knew just what dangers awaited in the dark.

As everyone else left, Mami stepped back into her home, closing the door behind her.

'You know that wasn't how it was supposed to go.'

Mami's grip tightened on the doorknob. Of course he'd send another body to complain. "You wanted the ideal Puella Magi, and that's exactly what I gave you. What role model wouldn't worry about her protégé's well-being? But I suppose empathy's never been your strong suit."

An odd sensation of a sigh reverberated in her head as the Incubator shook its head. 'If only you would cooperate, we could have already made the contract.'

"The objective was to make contact, nothing more. You have those girls' trust now, thanks to me. Go ahead and complain to the Organization. We both know how that'll go." Even if she couldn't see him, Mami could feel Kyubey's gaze boring into her from behind.

'I laid out all the steps for you. You should have been able to easily carry them out. I just cannot understand why you won't stick to the plan.'

"Were the Heartless part of the plan?" Mami whipped around, glaring at the alien sitting on her table with pent-up anger that had been building within her all afternoon. "Was it your plan to needlessly risk their lives? It was bad enough having to let them run into the Labyrinth! What if they died? Or worse!? Did you want to make contracts with Heartless?"

'We didn't know about the Heartless until it was too late. They were unexpected, but proved to be of use in the end.'

"Do you really expect me to believe it was just a coincidence?"

'I can only surmise they were drawn in by some lone human wandering into the area before Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki. After taking down their prey, they must've lingered until we came across them.' Mami held her gaze, unconvinced. 'You know I don't have any kind of control over Heartless. Darkness stems from emotion, after all. It was risky, I'll admit, but a calculated risk, one that I feel paid off greatly.'

"And Homura? You couldn't let her own friends know how she's doing?"

"They only asked that we deliver their message, nothing more.' Kyubey said, mirroring Mami's own words. 'I trust you can see to that, correct?'

Mami seethed. It was just like him to twist their words for his benefit. "This mission is over. Get out of my house."

'Very well. I suppose you'll want to stay behind for a bit. Don't take too long.' The Incubator hopped off the table and vanished from sight, presumably disappearing to who-knows-where.

Mami exhaled loudly, trying to release all the frustration within her.

"My" house. As if I can say that anymore.

True, the apartment was listed under her name, but it had been so long since Mami had last been here. The place was still as she remembered. Everything was so pristine and gorgeous; the perfect place to invite guests. However, Mami opened a door to one of the bedrooms. Hers, to be precise, and the inside looked like something out of a haunted house. Nothing was broken or unusable, but there was a visible layer of dust everywhere, and the stagnant air only further punctuated the feeling of abandonment. The kitchen was like that as well. Not nearly as derelict, but there was a definite lack of food. The refrigerator barely had anything at all, most of its contents prepared beforehand for this very mission. Once upon a time, Mami called this place home, but the apartment had long lost its hospitality to become a safe point of entry into this world. Any beauty and sense of normality it retained were all a façade, hiding the empty shell underneath that exists only as an asset to the Organization.

Mami could only laugh pitifully at how accurately this place represented her.

After idly wandering around the apartment for a bit, Mami slumped down onto the sofa. She tried getting her mind off of the events of today, but to no avail. She hated these kinds of missions, these farces that falsely glorified the Puella Magi and portrayed Kyubey's contract as a wondrous stroke of fortune. It was all an act, and she hated it, and yet she found herself volunteering for these missions as often as she could, even going so far as to have other girls notify her whenever Kyubey was preparing one of these schemes.

As detestable as it was, these were also the only opportunity she had to protect would-be Puella Magi; her chance to prevent the suffering before it began, and stop the contract from ever being formed. Doing so, however, was always treading a fine line. She couldn't outright tell them about the horrors they'd face or the truths behind their fates, else the mission would end in failure. Worse than failure, really, and the Organization wouldn't hesitate to punish her for such sabotage, even with her reputation. No, she had to be subtle about it; dissuade them from immediately making a wish, make them hesitate, think things over, and—hopefully—ultimately decide against it.

I might have gone a little overboard this time, though.

Her desperation wasn't unwarranted. Ever since the instant she met those girls, Mami had been on edge, quickly realizing why Kyubey wanted a contract with them so badly. Or rather, why he wanted her so badly.

Madoka Kaname. The potential that radiated off her was incredible…and terrifying. In terms of raw power, she could easily become one of the strongest Puella Magi Mami had ever seen, and consequently one of the most fearsome Witches. The very idea made Mami shudder. They already had one Witch too powerful to combat, they did not need another.

With those horrible thoughts haunting her mind, Mami's eyes drifted to the Grief Seed set on the table. Though there were slight differences, she sadly recognized some of the dark patterns entwined around the small orb.

Kiroi.

A pang of remorse gripped Mami's heart. Many of the girls, herself included, had their suspicions after Kiroi's sudden disappearance, but that made it no easier having them confirmed. Kiroi was gruff and cold, difficult to talk to, but Mami had seen glimpses of the girl she was before. Perhaps if she had tried harder to reach out, to get past the walls…

Maybe…I could have saved her.

She knew it was ridiculous blaming herself. It wasn't her fault, she knew that, but a part of her still felt responsible. She felt it her duty to help oversee the Puella Magi, helping everyone forge some small life for themselves at the edge of existence and stave off despair. It was a faint hope, but she clung to it, although seeing one of her comrades like this always served as a reminder that their fate can't be avoided forever. It brought to mind others girls Mami felt might also be at risk, and while a certain redhead stuck out in particular, someone else stood at the forefront of her worries—Nagisa Momoe.

Ever since joining their number just a few months ago, Nagisa had latched onto Mami. Looking back on it, Mami found it kind of surprising just how close they had become in so short a time, so much so that the young white-haired girl was practically a sister to her now. She's always so cheery and optimistic. Her Soul Gem was mostly unblemished, but that wasn't the problem…at least, not yet. Nagisa was one of the younger Puella Magi, having not even reached that prepubescent age Kyubey liked to aim for. Her innocent naiveté brought a smile to many a face, but its fragility was obvious for all to see, maintained only through ignorance, as she blissfully remained unaware of what happened to her mother.

Oh, she asked often enough. Who wouldn't be concerned for family in the hospital? But when the tragic news was first discovered, there was talk, and eventually the decision was reached to keep her in the dark. Was it cruel? Perhaps. It definitely wasn't a permanent solution either, but it's better than the alternative, or so Mami felt. Witchdom was a fate no one deserved.

Mami fell to the side, splaying herself across the couch. So much weighed on her mind, threatening to overwhelm. In this rare moment of complete solitude, she tried to forget the burdens of the Puella Magi. She glanced down at her clothes. How long has it been since she had completely disenchanted herself like this? Weeks? Months? Long enough that she had almost forgotten what she was wearing underneath all the magic. There was just no point in disengaging. Maintaining a Puella Magi's attire took very little magic—almost unnoticeable—that most kept it up at all times. And if an occasion called for a certain look, they can just re-enchant their clothes however they please. Magic was such a convenience, that most Puella Magi didn't even have a wardrobe.

But Mami wasn't a Puella Magi. For once, right here and now, she was just a normal girl. At least, she could pretend to be. She imagined what her school life might have been like. At her age, she'd probably be in her final year of middle school. She wondered if she would have been able to maintain her grades. She remembered doing well, but that was only an elementary level. How much harder would middle school have been? Would she have joined any clubs? Made any friends? Or even…lovers?

She went further, imagining her high school years, and even going beyond that. Would she have continued and gone to university, or strike out in the world to make a living? Would she have stayed here in Mitakihara, or set her sights on traveling? Would she have one day started a family? She indulged in one fantasy after another, exploring the countless possibilities she could have taken. For the first time in a long time, Mami was having…fun.

And yet, throughout her musings, one thing lingered in the back of her mind. These fantasies were nothing but lost futures of a girl that died over three years ago. The things Mami envisioned could never come to pass. It was a sad truth, but one she accepted long ago. Her path was already laid out for her, and she had no choice but to walk down it.

Her duties beckoned to her. Saix probably had some words for her upon her return. She'd be able to make him see reason, just like always. Whatever arguments Kyubey may bring to him would all be moot with the mission being technically successful. She should be heading back, Mami told herself. She should…but that can wait, just a bit. Even if for only a few more minutes, Mami lay there on the couch, pretending and dreaming.

"I'll be away for a while, but I suppose I can fill you in. You know, since we're friends and all…"

Friends…

…What is that, exactly?

According to Axel, friends were people one chose to be around, even when not working. They talk about anything, and nothing in particular. They eat ice cream together. A lot of ice cream, apparently, but Roxas didn't mind. In fact, he liked it, and he liked being friends with Axel. But what was going to happen now that Axel was gone? That thought had been plaguing Roxas since he first heard the news. Even now, while wandering the streets of Twilight Town, those thoughts prevented him from focusing on the mission.

He sensed movement in his peripheral. Off in the distance were three kids. Roxas faintly remembered them from before.

"…Sir?"

Axel had said they were friends too, except only with each other.

"Sir?"

Roxas watched them closely, trying to see if they did anything different, if there was more to being a friend.

"Thirteen, sir!"

Roxas blinked. At his side, a blue frizzy-haired Puella Magi looked at him apprehensively. Ito, if Roxas remembered her name right. "Is something wrong, sir?" She asked.

"Uh, n-no…no. It's nothing," Roxas shook his head. It was weird being called that name again. He'd gotten used to hearing it refer to the other members, but this time, there was no other Nobody to take the lead. Today, he was alone to lead the mission, no longer working alongside Puella Magi, but commanding them. Perhaps it only made sense he'd be "sir" again, but even so, he couldn't get used to that name. He doubted he ever would.

"We should get on with the mission, then," said Ito.

"…Right." Roxas trudged forward, taking the lead. His thoughts kept drifting, though, and as the day progressed, everything sort of blurred together for him. He didn't even realize the mission was over until Ito gave a relieved sigh, exclaiming they were done.

The pair made their way down one of the town's back streets, preparing to return to the castle, but even then Roxas's mind lay elsewhere. His footsteps slowed. Feet dragged against the ground before stopping entirely. Ahead of him, Roxas faintly heard a sigh.

"Alright, sir. What is it?"

"H-huh?"

"I mean no disrespect, but you've been like this all day, so what gives? Some Organization business?"

"Er, no. Nothing like that. It's just…" Roxas faltered. Would she even be able to understand? How could he even begin to explain when he barely knew it himself? Ito looked like she was expecting an answer. Unable to meet her gaze, Roxas's eyes set upon the cerulean gem embedded in the clasp on her shoulder.

That's right. They have their hearts. Even if misplaced, they should be able to feel, just like those kids. Perhaps she could give him some insight. Thinking how best to go about it, Roxas asked, "Do you…have friends?"

"U-uh, I—what?" Ito reeled, taken aback by the sudden question. She seemed hurt too, somehow, which seemed odd to Roxas. Her stammering didn't give him any comfort.

"Oh. Guess not, huh?"

"Of course I did!" Ito said sharply. "Me and Seiko, we were best friends! Completely inseperable!"

That caught Roxas's attention. Best friends? Was that different? "So what kinds of things did you do?"

"What did we do?" Ito scoffed, but the corners of her lips curved upward, and her eyes drifted away from Roxas, gazing wistfully off in the distance. "What didn't we do? We were always in the same class, and our houses were such a short distance away. There was rarely a moment we were apart." As reticent as she was initially, the more she spoke, the more fervent she got. Roxas didn't understand much of what she was saying, but he felt he got the gist of what she meant.

"Did you ever eat ice cream too?"

"Definitely, especially on really hot days. How I would have loved if things just stayed that way. But…"

Roxas shot her a quizzical look. "But…what?" The brightness that had been on Ito's face was gone now, and she seemed reluctant to speak again. "Did she…turn into a Witch?"

"N-no, no. She isn't a Puella Magi. She..." Ito took a shaky breath. Only due to Roxas's prodding did she slowly continue. "…She was going to move away. Her father got some high-paying job in another city or something."

"She…left?" Roxas's eyes widened with familiarity. "What happened after that?" He wasn't quite sure if he really wanted to know the answer, but he asked regardless. "Were you no longer friends?"

"What!?" Ito shrilled. "W-why would you say that!?"

"Well, if you can't do those things with them, then they aren't friends, right?" After everything Axel had told him, that was the only unfortunate conclusion Roxas could come to.

"No! That's not it at all! We could've—no, we would have stayed friends, no matter what! We would've found a way; figured something out. We could have…we could have…"

Roxas crossed his arms, brow furrowed. "You can still be friends, even when apart?"

"…I should have…if only…"

Roxas shook his head. "I don't get it," he sighed dejectedly.

"…If only…I'd known that back then…"

"Anyway, I guess we're done." Roxas tried to remember what Axel would say in this situation. "I, uh…there's something I need to check out first. You can head back to the castle now." He glanced curiously at Ito for a moment, noticing water forming in her eyes, but ultimately paid it no heed. He had a lot to think about over that ice cream.

Roxas walked away, ignorant of the girl he left behind, crying in the alley. Leaning against the wall for support, Ito slid to the ground, unable to stand anymore under the weight of her emotions.

"I was so stupid. I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"

A/N: So, I had this whole chapter already planned out long ago, before even some of the ones before. I actually expected this to be a short one at the time, until I started putting it all down and it became one of the longest ones yet.

Events may have delayed it this time around, but things have once again been set in motion for Madoka (and Sayaka, but Kyubey's looking at the grand prize). While some things did play out the same, I also wanted to explore what might be different, especially Mami. Circumstances being what they are, this Mami is far different from the one in the show.

With Roxas's disposition, I've always tried to go for a neutral, innocent outlook, especially here in the early stages. While he doesn't really have any sympathy for the girls, he holds no animosity toward them either. He doesn't have a grasp on emotions, especially those of others. He's learning, trying to figure things out, but unaware of what impact his actions have on others.

For anyone wondering about using the same Witch, Xemnas did have a perfectly usable Grief Seed just laying around that Kyubey could borrow and set wherever he pleased.