A/N: We've made it to the final chapter, not including the epilogue. I did something a bit different with the music in this one. For SB and AO3 users, I've been linking the songs in the text where they start, keeping them out of the way for those who wish to ignore them. For this chapter, so that FF readers can enjoy the song as well, I'll be linking the song through bold brackets stating the title of the song, [Like This]. The song used in this chapter was the reason I decided to include PMMM music in this fic, so I figured everyone should be able to have that experience.

That said, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 32

Kyoko could only watch, as Pace's body glowed a radiant green. Unlike most girls who contracted, Pace remained standing as her soul was ripped out of her body and forced into a forest green soul gem. Her body was lifted into the air, and with a flash, her new outfit appeared.

Her clothes could only be described as tribal. A balance of green and white, she wore a sleeveless top, shorts, and ankle length boots. In her hand was a dagger with an emerald hilt.

Kyubey was gone, Kyoko realized. His last body forced off the planet. There would be no more wishes, no more Magical Girls.

Good riddance.

Carmentae had recovered from Avalon's attack, and was picking herself off the green. The entire time, her wide eyes were glued to Pace. Kyoko had a strange urge to put her hand on Carmentae's shoulder, but her feet were rooted to the ground.

Still glowing, Pace turned her attention to Flick and Homura. "The connection," she said, and though her voice was soft, it held great power. "The Heretical Edge is connected to an entire network of reapers. So much power . . ." Her feet finally touched the ground, and she took a step forward.

"I can make you Committee members," Pace said. "They share their powers through the Heretical Edge. If I let you into their network, you'll have all of their powers. In her current state, you should be able to take on Madoka."

"Can you afford that?" Avalon asked. At some point, she had put an arm around Flick. "Your soul gem . . ." The object still shone brightly, but everyone understood the meaning behind Avalon's words.

"Two people," Pace said. "I can make two people Committee members. The rest of my energy will be spent on supplying those two with more magic. Hopefully, it will be enough to bring Madoka back."

"Me and Homura," Flick said. "You mentioned us before."

Pace nodded, watching Flick with a soft gaze. "Can you do this?"

Flick looked away for a moment, before meeting Pace's eyes once more. "Of course."

Nothing else needed to be said. Even Kyoko could make out all the unspoken words between them. The promises, the thanks, the goodbyes, all silently communicated on their faces. Kyoko felt like she was invading a private moment just from her presence.

There was no beacon of light, no visible flow of magic between the girls. The only sign of the great power entering Flick and Homura was how the two girls stood taller, any signs of weakness vanishing from their bodies. The two turned to each other and nodded.

"Let's go," Homura said, taking to the skies. After drawing a rune on Madoka's limp body, Flick began to float—as though to follow—before pausing. She turned to Pace one last time.

"We'll never forget you," Flick said. "I promise."

Pace only smiled. "Good luck."

As Flick took off, Pace took a deep breath. "I'll keep you going as long as I can," she murmured, loud enough for both Kyoko and Carmentae to hear.

"Wait!" Carmentae blurted. "There has to be a way to save you! Conserve your energy. I'm sure Flick and Homura will figure it out."

Pace shook her head. "We have to bring Madoka back. Carmentae, I . . ." A sob escaped her throat, and she steadied herself before continuing. "I'm glad I met you."

From the look on her face, the words might as well have been foreign to Carmentae. "You . . ." She shivered. "Why? I enslaved you. I m-made your life hell."

It had to be taking all of Pace's concentration to supply power to Flick and Homura. Despite that, she stepped forward and embraced Carmentae.

"I don't blame you," she whispered. "You mother broke you, but you got away from her. You helped bring everyone together, and now Madoka has changed the universe. I only hope I helped you find your way here."

Carmentae, who had stiffened upon being hugged, wrapped her arms around Pace. "It was all you," she cried. "The other helped, but none of it would have been possible without your influence."

"That's enough for me," Pace said. "I'm ready for this. So keep staying strong without me, okay?"

The others were still there. Kyoko had forgotten about them, her attention entirely centered on the incredible pair before her. They had gone silent, holding one another tightly.

Kyoko had no idea how much time passed before they separated. Carmentae whispered one word, so quiet that she could barely hear it.

"Okay."

That was it, then. Kyoko eyed Pace's soul gem. Darkness had begun to creep into it from the edges. It wouldn't be long before her magic ran out entirely.

I'll finish you off, Kyoko promised. You'll never have to fight your friends. I promise.

Carmentae, I hope you'll forgive me.

It was oddly silent. Flick and Homura's flight made no noise, other than the wind brushing past them. Flick's mom was fighting Madoka up ahead, but they were far enough away that Flick couldn't hear them. The lapse in action gave an odd sense of tranquility, despite the world ending Witch they were flying toward.

Pace . . . Flick had no doubts that she had seen the girl for the final time. Madoka's Witch was unlike any other, and not even the Heretical Edge held as much magic as her. Pace would use her own magical reserves as well, giving them the final push they needed to extract Madoka from her Witch. And then . . .

Kyoko would kill her. After fighting Madoka, they wouldn't be in a position to bring Pace back from her Witch. There was a high chance it would kill one of them if they tried.

I have to do this. For Pace.

Finally, sounds of conflict reached Flick's ear. Her mother threw a wave of fire at Madoka, who seemed like she hadn't even noticed the attack. She retaliated, one of her fingernails extending greatly. The action happened so fast, Joselyn couldn't dodge in time, and the nail as sharp as a blade cut into her chest.

"Mom!" Flick yelled. She narrowed her eyes.

"Are you ready?" Flick asked.

Homura flew silently behind her, seemingly unresponsive. Flick couldn't imagine Homura had ever fought Madoka's Witch in any other timeline. What was going through her head in that moment? Was she tempted to fly away, or was her resolve set to do whatever was necessary to save Madoka?

Flick could guess the answer, and it was confirmed when Homura spoke,

"Yes."

[Magia]

They accelerated, rising into the air to be on the same level as the Witch's torso. Above them was a swirling, pink vortex. The banishment spell.

We have to do this before the spell is at full power. If it stops draining her energy, she'll be unstoppable.

That in mind, Flick summoned a massive blade behind her, using a steel creating power one of the Committee members had access to. She didn't know if it was Pace, or the Heretical Edge itself, but Flick knew what her powers were.

With a thrust of her palm, she sent the blade forward, covering it in ghost fire. It went through Madoka's torso, going far enough that half the blade was out the other side before it stopped.

The Witch screamed, a sphere of darkness bursting from each of its eyes. One approached Flick, and the other Homura.

Black holes. Flick and Homura gripped each other's hands, using each other's weight to keep the parallel black holes from pulling them in. Meanwhile, Flick's mom had recovered from the initial hit, and she threw her two weapons at the black holes, murmuring a spell.

Upon contact, the black holes vanished, and the axes returned to Joselyn's hands. She channeled lightning through them, surrounding the Witch with a wave of electricity that continuously zapped it.

Suddenly, the lightning vanished, and Joselyn staggered in flight. Flick nearly rushed to her side, but a wave of energy from Madoka forced her to back up.

"There's no way we'll have time for the spell while Madoka is like this," Flick said, flying near Homura. "We have to weaken her first."

Homura sharply inhaled, her entire body tensing.

"It's for her sake," Flick said.

"I . . . I know." Homura clenched her fists. "I'm not going to give up now."

"I didn't think you would," Flick said truthfully. Her hand glowed as she held it out. "Help me out?"

Once again, Homura took her hand, and a wave of magic sprung from their connection. When it hit the Witch's torso, the force bent it backwards. Only for a second, though, and once it was back up, it sent a sharp pain through Flick's mind.

"Ah!" Flick clutched her head, which felt like it was about to explode. Her mom and Homura were in a similar position, leaving them all open for the wisps of darkness rushing toward them.

Flick surrounded herself in crystal which would absorb the magic. Meanwhile, Homura and Joselyn met the darkness offensively. Homura used similar magic, forming it into a whip to smack the wisp away. Joselyn chucked a miniature star at her threat, the combustion which followed taking both attacks off the field.

Still, that headache persisted, and Flick found her consciousness slipping.

What . . . is this? A force tugged at Flick's mind, and she struggled not to lose herself. Was Madoka's Witch capable of taking away someone's life with a thought? At full power, she would be able to end all life in Mitakihara within seconds.

Wind rushed past her, and Flick realized she had begun falling. In her efforts to stay conscious, her flight had run out.

Then, as quickly as it came, the pressure on her mind vanished. Blinking, Flick looked up and saw an unfamiliar woman. Or rather, she was familiar, but only from descriptions given to her by Avalon.

Gaia Sinclaire?

"Gaia!" Flick's mom called.

Gaia grit her teeth. "I'm blocking it from reaching your minds, but it's taking all of me to do so. I won't be able to do much else."

Joselyn smiled. "Thanks, Gaia. We'll make this quick."

Homura rushed forward, using the Committee's power to stop time. Suddenly she was above Madoka, her fist covered in obsidian. She rushed down, slamming her fist into the Witch's head. While it was stunned, Flick followed up by duplicating herself, and having her first body chuck the second at Madoka. Upon reaching Madoka, the second Flick struck with her own punch, strong enough to level a tank. Madoka hardly paid it attention, but the Flick near her continued her assault with a stream of plasma, before there was a flash of light and she vanished.

I couldn't even see what happened. Madoka just disintegrated my clone, too fast for me to follow.

Staying still was clearly a bad idea. Flick rose higher into the sky, watching as her mom brought water up from the sea and chucked it all at Madoka. The Witch didn't pay the force of the attack much attention, but the water pushed her back a bit. Enough for Homura to drop a building on her.

They were striking with a force greater than that of Walpurgisnacht, and the Witch born from Madoka still stood. Force just wasn't going to bother it.

This had to end.

"Homura!" Flick yelled. "The spell!"

Homura teleported next to Flick, and they both spread a palm out, facing Madoka. Starting the spell, Flick immediately felt the immense well of magic inside the Witch. It made her gasp, and she almost lost her connection. Homura wasn't faring much better.

Still, they persisted, and thanks to Flick's mother, the Witch didn't kill them on the spot. Joselyn realized what they were doing, and made sure Madoka was thoroughly distracted. To do that, she sent the minions she had been collecting during the fight forward.

Cars. Dozens of them, ruined by Walpurgisnacht. Joselyn had enchanted each of them, making them durable and covered with spikes. The cars sped back and forth, striking the Witch from all angles. Power emanated from Madoka, making the cars plummet to the water below, but the distraction had given Flick and Homura time. Already, thanks to some pushing from Pace, they had half the energy needed gathered, and were starting to grip Madoka's own magic.

There was more fighting going on, Joselyn giving her all to buy the two girls time. Flick hardly paid it any attention. Her focus was entirely on building up the spell, preparing to shift all of Madoka's energy back into her body at once.

Finally, there was a click in her mind. An ocean of energy made itself known to her, strong enough to drown out all else. Flick couldn't even begin to understand the emotion—or the power—behind it all. It was a force she was struggling to rein in alongside Homura. Within seconds, they would lose control.

Seconds were all they needed. Homura drew a gun, one which hadn't been shored on her shield. She had prepared it ahead of time, keeping it on her person at all times.

The gun was enchanted. Its bullets would activate the spell they had spent so much time practicing. Once the bullet connected, this would hopefully all be over.

No, it will be over, one way or another.

Homura fired.

Unlike when Flick had woken up from her Witch state, Madoka immediately remembered all that had happened. She parsed the thoughts in her head, which had told her to free the world from misfortune by bringing all life into her heaven. Those were her thoughts as a Witch, telling her to do whatever was necessary to succeed in her goals.

There was still a connection between Madoka and her Witch, so she knew what was happening to it. Most of the Witch's form had gone into the banishment spell, while Madoka's own magic kept the Witch's body intact. With Madoka's soul returned to her, the Witch's body was absorbed into the banishment spell, which allowed the spell to remain in place.

It was over.

Madoka opened her eyes and sat up, beaming. "You guys did it!"

Right away, she was met with hugs from two sides. Mami and Sayaka both held her tightly.

"Madoka!" Sayaka sobbed. "You're alright!"

Madoka smiled, patting Sayaka's back. "Of course. I knew you all would find a way to save me."

Truthfully, there was far more going on in her thoughts. Fear and disgust warred to dominate, as memories of her wish and what followed haunted her. For now, she could push it aside for her relief, but she knew nightmares would torment her for years to come.

"I'm so glad you survived," Mami choked. "I-I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Madoka!" The shout drew everyone's attention, as Homura dove down from the sky. In a move entirely uncharacteristic for her, she plunged into the embrace they all shared, squeezing Madoka harder than the others had.

"It's over," Homura whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I did it. You're finally safe."

"Homura . . ." Madoka returned the hug with equal enthusiasm. "When I returned your soul, I understood your magic. You repeated this past month so many times . . . it was all for me, wasn't it?"

Her throat failing her, Homura nodded. Madoka pressed their foreheads together.

"Thank you," Madoka said. "You don't have to fight for me anymore. You're free."

The group held onto one another, and it would be awhile before they let go.

Another girl wasn't in the mood for hugs. She hung back, focused on keeping herself composed. Her eyes were on a single corpse, unable to be torn away.

"Hey," Kyoko murmured, putting a hand on her arm. "You okay?"

"No."

Kyoko winced. "Figured. Are you . . . mad at me?"

Carmentae sighed. "No. You did what was necessary. I just . . ." Dammit, she thought she had finished crying. "I don't know what to do."

Kyoko hesitated. Then, she leaned into Carmentae. "Maybe you don't have to. For now, if you want, you can rely on me?" What had started out as a suggestion ended as an uncertain question.

There was a gasp beside Carmentae, as she leaned into Kyoko. Then, both their breathing settled, as they took comfort in each other's presence.

Despite all her worries, and the grief which threatened to swallow her whole, there was one fact which Carmentae knew for certain.

She would never be alone again.

"I'm happy for them."

Joselyn and Gaia still flew above the scene. They took it all in, but their focus was mainly on their daughters, who held hands and whispered words to one another.

"We should have saved all of them," Gaia said. "They're only kids. In no world should they have gone through so much suffering."

Joselyn sighed. "We did what we could with the Committee and Seosten breathing down our necks. We can only move forward from here. Speaking of which, how were you able to get here?"

The question brought a small smile to Gaia's lips. "That girl erased the memory spell. Everyone remembers the rebellion again."

Joselyn raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"It made quite the scene at Crossroads. I helped evacuate much of the staff and students. They're at Gabriel's camp for now, but we'll have to find a better place for them eventually."

"Definitely," Joselyn said. "How many students were there? It's not like they were around for the rebellion."

"More than you would expect," Gaia said. "The hybrids and their teammates, along with many Bystander-kin. First years especially were eager to leave, since they still weren't used to Crossroads' teachings."

"All young, and I'm sure the Committee wouldn't hesitate to drag them all back in chains." Joselyn scowled. "We have to find a place for them."

Gaia's eyes scanned over the kids below her once more. "I may already have a place in mind. One which will help these girls as well."

Joselyn followed Gaia's gaze, and focused her own eyes on Madoka. "I don't want them to fight anymore, but something tells me at least a few of them won't allow that. What do you have in mind?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but if a Magical Girl has transformed into a Witch, restoring her with a spell still leaves part of her soul attached to the soul gem. The Magical Girl still risks losing her life."

"Yeah." Joselyn winced. "They killed Flick. Shot her soul gem. She was supposed to be safe after Avalon saved her."

"She's not in danger anymore," Gaia assured her. "Neither are any of them girls who avoided turning into Witches. If Avalon's soul gem breaks, she will be unharmed. And now that the line separating Heretics and Magical Girls has been removed, we can assure the same for other Magical Girls as well."

"You're going somewhere with this," Joselyn noted.

"We need to bring in as many Magical Girls as possible," Gaia said. "If we can, we should recover the Witches too, though I suspect that their number will swiftly diminish in the coming days. We bring them all in, teach them how to use magic. Create a version of Crossroads that doesn't target Alters, and protects the children to a greater extent."

"One of the earlier plans from the rebellion," Joselyn said. "One we never got to implement."

Gaia nodded. "We'll do our best to teach and protect them all. With luck, they'll have powers unlike any others."

Joselyn blinked. "What does that mean?"

"Madoka Kaname's soul gem is unique," Gaia said. "One with more strength than the Edge, that turned into a grief seed, then back into a soul gem again. What if one were to come into contact with a piece of that magic? Heretic, Alter, Magical Girl, restored Witch, Bystander, they would all be affected the same way."

Joselyn's eyes widened. "Are you saying—"

"I am," Gaia said. "I will need the girl's permission, of course, but I believe she will agree.

"With the help of Madoka Kaname herself, we will use her soul gem as our own Heretical Edge."