A Goddess stood in the expanse of the universe. Her white dress and long pink hair flowed with a nonexistent wind as she drew her bow.

She hated conflict, much less that was brought by her own hands, but she was resolved to see her purpose fulfilled.

Her arrow ready, she pointed it at the enemy in front of her.

The curses, the hatred, the despair of the entire world. She would shoulder it all, accept it and bring salvation. For she was the Law of-

Madoka's eyes shot open and she quickly sprang up from bed. Her hands still ready to use her bow. She panted, caught her breath, and finally began to process that she was in her home. There was no target for her to shoot at, just her bedroom wall. She relaxed her arm and let the arrow go slack.

Wait. Arrow?

She looked down and let loose a squeal. She was holding a bow. A wooden bow with a blooming pink flower on top of it. An actual bow meant to shoot an arrow of pink light that she was holding in her hands.

She gently released the arrow from her grip. It disappeared before into several motes of pink light even had a chance to land on her bed. She tried the same with the bow and got the same results.

So. She apparently now had the ability to create magic bow and arrows with her bare hands. Neat. And apparently easy to get rid of too.

That was a good thing. The door to Madoka's room opened just as the last of the light faded.

"Madoka!" her Papa shouted as he charged into her a room, his cooking pan still held in his hand. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Papa," she shot a quick glance to her bed and made sure that there was no trace of that bow she held in her hands. "I just had a weird dream."

Her father lowered the pan. "A nightmare?"

Madoka glanced at Amy who sat at the foot of her bed. "Meow," it said calmly.

"No… it wasn't that bad actually," Madoka replied.

"If there's bothering you Madoka-"

"I'm fine now Papa," Madoka gave him a gentle smile. "I just need a bit more sleep." Thankfully it was Sunday, so it was a good enough excuse.

"Ok then." Her Papa closed the joy gently. "Sweet dreams sweetie."

Madoka waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps holding out her hands. It only took a few seconds before the bow answered her call and reappeared in her hands. Summoning it was much easier than she had expected.

She brought it closer to examine it. It was beautiful, pretty, and it fit so easily into her hands. It was meant for her, made to be used by her, though against what she wasn't entirely sure.

She wanted to test it out by trying to create another arrow but firing a deadly projectile in her house probably wasn't the best idea. No matter how much Amy seemed to be encouraging her to do so with its expectant gaze.

Madoka smiled gently as she watched a group of children play in the park, their parents nearby keeping a constant and happy vigil. It wouldn't long until Tatsuya was one of those kids, running on his own and playing with his friends.

Those smiles… they really were precious.

She looked down at her hands.

First that feather. Now a bow appearing in her hands out of nowhere. It was just so strange. Why was this happening to her? She was supposed to be a normal girl. And now she was summoning deadly weapons out of her bare hands.

She really needed to talk to a friend, but it was Sunday. There was no school and Hitomi and Sayaka were both busy doing things with their families.

"What do you think Amy? You're the one who brought me to that feather," Madoka asked her cat.

"Meow," it replied once again.

Madoka sighed. She really needed to learn how to speak cat. Or somehow convince her Mama to have her company invent some sort of cat translating device. Either one.

"M-Madoka?"

Madoka looked up. "Homura?"

Homura was dressed in a white blouse and a grey plaided skirt. It was simple but cute and matched well with her hair and glasses.

"What are you doing here?" Homura asked.

"Oh, I was just… taking a walk. Ended up here." Madoka moved aside to make room for Homura on the bench. "Keep me company"

"Are you sure?"

"You're my friend," Madoka answered quickly

"Meow."

"Amy's too!"

Homura blushed before taking a seat next to Madoka. She kept shooting glances at Amy for some reason.

Was she afraid of cats? She had been shocked to meet Amy yesterday when the cat had come to pick Madoka up from school.

"The other day… I forgot to say that you have a very pretty cat," Homura commented.

"Thank you."

"How did the two of you meet?"

"Amy was a stray. I saw her sometimes." Madoka began to pet her cat. "We didn't start living together though until her accident."

"Accident?" Homura looked worried. "How is Amy fine then? You didn't make your w-" she clamped her mouth shut.

"Uh… are you alright?"

Homura nodded vigorously before letting go of her mouth. "Sorry… I was just surprised that Amy seems perfectly healthy after her… accident."

"Well, she didn't get hurt in the first place. One second she was in the middle of the street about to be run over by a car and then," Madoka raised her hands and made a light poofing motion, "She's suddenly in front of me."

"Did she dodge it?"

"Didn't even see her move at all. It was like she teleported. Amy looked pretty surprised by that too. It was like magic."

"Not mine though," Homura muttered.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

"Well anyway," Madoka continued. "I was so happy that Amy was safe that I just carried her home with me. She didn't seem to mind."

"Meow." Amy suddenly jumped onto Madoka's lap and laid down on it.

"I think she appreciates you," Homura said, a light smiling showing on her face.

"I'm lucky to have her," Madoka replied. "I don't know why she chose me though. She was always so aloof with everyone before"

"I think it because it senses how kind you are."

Madoka blushed lightly at the compliment. "I'm just a normal person."

"No. You're incredibly kind. Willing to go out of her way to help a transfer student like me."

"You were the one who came to me," Madoka replied.

"And you accepted me. Let me join your group. You are so incredibly kind… and much stronger than you think," Homura whispered.

"T-thank you." Now it was Madoka's turn to stutter. It was the first time someone that wasn't Sayaka or her mother complimented her like that. It was nice. It was also at that moment that Madoka realized that she had a friend she could talk to right in front of her. "Hey Homura. There's something I want to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"Could we go somewhere a bit more private?"

"Uh… my apartment's close by. But it might be too-"

"That sounds perfect. I'd be happy to visit your home!" Those words caught even Madoka off guard. When had she become that assertive?

"Um… sure," Homura replied hesitantly.

"If you don't want to…" Madoka immediately backpedaled. She probably pushed too much into her friend's boundaries.

"No! It's fine. I'd be happy to bring you to my home."

"Could you… give me a moment before I let you in?" Homura asked. They stood in front of a plain black door within a large apartment complex.

Madoka clasped her hands behind her back. "That's fine." She probably just wanted to clean up or something.

"Thank you," Homura opened her door, stepped inside, and closed it before Madoka could take a peek into her apartment. It was only a few seconds though before the door opened and her head popped out. "Sorry I kept you waiting."

"That was fast," Madoka commented. "What did you do?"

"I just had to put some things away."

Madoka stepped inside to find it so incredibly… bare. There really wasn't much furniture at all apart from the basic necessities.

"Sorry it's so bland," Homura apologized.

"No. It isn't. It's just…" Madoka glanced around that apartment. "Is it just you here?"

"Yes."

"What about your parents?"

Homura looked at the floor. "They're not here anymore."

It was difficult for Madoka to not shed a few tears at that moment. Just the thought of Homura alone in this apartment. "I'm sorry."

"Madoka," Homura raised a hand, but stopped just short of grabbing her shoulder. "It's fine you don't need to cry for me."

"But…" Madoka sniffled.

"It's been a long time and I've gotten used to it."

"Aren't you lonely though? Transferring to a new school with no family?"

"I-I…" Homura brought her head up and looked at Madoka in the eyes. "I'm not. Thanks to you."

Walking up and hugging Homura at the moment just felt natural, even though it was first time they had ever done it. It was nice and warm, different from the hugs she had received from Sayaka. And judging by how Homura reciprocated it after her surprise wore off, she liked it too.

"Even though everything's so different now you're still her for me," Homura said fondly. Her words were a bit strange, but Madoka had more or less gotten used to her occasional eccentricities.

Madoka let go and gave Homura a bright smile. "Do you want to come over to my place tonight for dinner?"

"I'd like that," Homura replied before she suddenly perked up. "Wasn't there something you wanted to show me."

"Oh yea." Madoka fiddled with her hands and took another look around the apartment even though she knew it was just the two of them. "Could you keep this a secret. I'm still trying to figure things out."

"I will. What is it?"

Madoka raised her hand out, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Drawing from something from somewhere, maybe her soul or something, she summoned her bow and held in her hands. She opened her eyes and found Homura staring at her.

That, Madoka had expected. What she didn't predict though was the abject fear in Homura's gaze as focused on the bow. That, caught Madoka off guard.

"W-why. I thought you didn't make a contract, thought that you wouldn't-," Homura's eyes went up and down. "But why didn't your outfit change?"

"Is it supposed to?" Madoka asked looked at her own clothes, currently self-conscious of the fact that they were pretty plain. "Do you know something about this?"

"Did you… not make a contract with Kyubey?" Homura asked.

Madoka tilted her head. "Contract? Kyubey? Who's that?"

Homura held her hand out. Suddenly her ring flashed. A pretty yet strange purple gemstone came out of it. She then turned her hand over and let the newly appeared gemstone rest in her palm. "This is a Soul Gem. It allows a Magical Girl to transform."

"Magical... Girl?" Madoka asked. Sayaka would definitely comment that that sounded like something straight out of an anime if she were here. And also call Homura crazy for that matter. Homura didn't seem crazy though, it was just a bit hard to believe.

Or at least it was until Homura was enveloped in a flash of light and her outfit suddenly changed into a white coat and a light purple skirt. Strapped to her arm was a strange mechanical shield.

It took a few seconds for the reality of the situation to hit her

"Y-you're a Magical Girl. Magical Girls are real. Magic is real," Madoka said to herself. And once reality hit her, it hit her hard.

"It is," Homura replied. "But you don't have a Soul Gem. I don't sense one on you and you just summoned a bow without one. How can you do that?"

"It happened after I picked up a feather," Madoka explained.

"A feather?"

"It was a very pretty white feather, that was also a little pink. When I touched it, it just," Madoka turned her bow around a little, "let me do this."

"That's so… weird," Homura replied.

"But you're a Magical Girl right? Do you know anything about this?"

"No. Nothing."

So after everything, Homura was just as confused as she was.

Hah. Hah.

Madoka went to the lone couch in the apartment, leaned her bow against it, and promptly took a seat. Homura also took a seat next to her.

They sat there, in silence, for quite some time. Neither taking the chance at glance at each other.

So, Homura was a Magical Girl. And Madoka she thought that she was the only one to be doing the surprising today. Turns out it had been mutual.

It was crazy, just the situation in general and the rapid-fire revelations. Also, the many unanswered questions that the two of them had.

Madoka pinched her thigh. She wasn't dreaming. It was good to check.

"Heh," Madoka chuckled once she had confirmed she was awake.

"Heh," Homura joined her.

The two faced each other and eventually their chuckling turned into full blown laughter. It seemed that they had gone a bit insane after all that, but at least they were coping.

Eventually Madoka wiped a tear off the corner of her eye. "I don't think I expected any of this to happen."

"Same." Homura smiled. "Why are things always so interesting with you around?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Madoka replied playfully. "What do Magical Girls even do?"

The smile fell off of Homura's face. "We… hunt Witches."

"Witches?"

"They're… creatures that hurt people."

"So, they're the bad guys?"

Homura shook her head. "They aren't bad… It's just, their nature to destroy and hurt. They can't help it. The best we can do is to put them to rest."

"You mean… kill them?" Madoka asked.

Homura gave her a somber smile. "It's the best way to give them peace. There's nothing about Witches to be saved."

"How long have you been doing this?"

"Not that long… but I guess I have some experience."

"And you were by yourself?"

"No…" Homura fiddled with the shield slung across her arm. "I had a few… companions before. We've split up recently though."

"I-…" Madoka scooted closer. "I can be your companion then."

"Really?"

"Yea! It'll be great we can fight together."

"You can fight?" Homura asked. It was a reasonable question.

Madoka paused before looking back at her bow. "Uh. I think so? I actually haven't used it yet?"

"You haven't?" Homura asked.

"No, it… kinda just popped up this morning. I didn't think it was a good idea to use it in my home since I'd probably break something."

"That's probably for the best," Homura agreed. "I can take you to hunt a familiar if you want to try it out. They're a Witch's minions. They aren't usually very strong so it should be a good first fight for you."

Madoka reached over to grab her bow. She wasn't sure where this confidence was coming from, but she was going to take advantage of it while it lasted. "I'd like that."

Mami drank her tea alone. She was accompanied by naught but the sound of her cup lightly clinking against the saucer.

She had plenty of time to reflect. To think about her options and prepare for the next hunt. There were always Witches to hunt after all and it kept her busy. Busy enough that she wouldn't plague her mind with other things.

Or at least that's how it normally was. Unfortunately, the number of Witches in her area had been steadily decreasing. It wasn't just her either, other Magical Girls in the surrounding areas were having the same issue. It left many with no choice but to slowly migrate East where many Witches seemed to be going for some reason.

She would go and investigate herself, but that would mean leaving her territory alone. Not only would she risk another Magical Girl wandering in to take it during her absence, but there would be many civilians that would get killed by the Witches and their familiars while she was gone.

Even with decreased numbers, just a few Witches could easily devastate a city's population if left alone. If one needed an example, then simply look at the time Japan had been nearly wiped out when the asset price bubble popped in 1992. You could also look at the recent Great Recession just a year ago.

As if the financial instability of these events weren't enough, many people were killed or compelled to kill themselves by the Witches during these times. It was because many Magical Girls at the time had starved or were forced to move elsewhere. Then when things got really desperate there was a sharp influx of new Magical Girls to combat that threat, only for many of them to die in the chaos. The ones that survived the Witches then had to fight each other for territory.

That was the thing about Witches. If it was just them then they would be manageable for the most part. The problem was how they could take wars, natural disasters, and economic instability and create a feedback loop of death and destruction. Asian countries were often hit the hardest due to higher population density compared to most Western countries. Japan was about ten times denser than the United States which led to significantly higher percentage Magical Girls among the population in the former, which lead to more conflict among their numbers. Of course, that was nothing compared to the density of countries like Singapore or China. How Magical Girls operated there, she did not know. Nor could she imagine.

Mami.

She set her teacup down. That was enough of her history lesson for now. "Hello Kyubey. Would you like some cake?"

You know I don't eat, he replied as he jumped on the table. Yes, his race was technically genderless, but it was a lot easier for her to think it was a boy nowadays.

"It's polite to ask," she replied. "What do you need?" For as much as she appreciated his company, she knew that it rarely showed up for reasons outside of business. It was only after said business had been dealt with, that she could convince him to stick around in her apartment for a bit.

There are two girls in your territory that you would be interested in.

"Potential Contractors?"

Only one of them. And they're both anomalies.

"What do you mean?" He didn't use the word anomaly lightly. If he said that, then things were definitely strange.

One is a Magical Girl that I do not recall contracting.

Mami raised an eye. Yep, that was strange and certainly cause for reason. "I thought you were responsible for contracting all Magical Girls?"

I am. Which is why it's unusual that I can't recall her.

"Is she dangerous?"

I do not know what her magic is, but she doesn't seem aggressive. There's a high chance she'll be amendable to discussion at the very least.

It would be best if Mami could reason with this Magical Girl. She was still prepared to fight though, if it came to it. "And the other?"

Has access to powers despite not having a Contract.

Mami's eyes grew wide. "A Magus."

Possibly. And she also has incredible potential.

"How much?"

It easily dwarfs yours and Sakura's combined.

Mami flinched at the reminder of her previous Junior.

She could likely be one of the strongest Magical Girls alive if she were to Contract. Possibly the strongest given enough time."

Mami gulped. A girl with such incredible power. What would they do once it was in their hands though? "Who is she and what is she like?" She had to make sure that this girl wouldn't be a threat to the world.

Kaname Madoka. By all accounts she is a fairly normal human, which makes her vast potential even more unusual. Those around her have the opinion that she is kind if a bit naïve. Our observations so far support this. She can do much with the proper guidance.

Mami could definitely work with that. Kaname's potential was frightening and the other girl was still a complete unknown, but they would at least be willing to talk should she approach them carefully. And if Kaname really was as kind as they said, then she would be a great boon to this world. Someone who could help a lot of people. All she needed was for someone to set her on the right path.

"And you came to me to teach her?"

You are considerate of your own kind, much more open to cooperation, and have had experience mentoring other Magical Girls.

"My track record… hasn't been very good though." Most of the Magical Girls that she had tried to Mentor had simply left, unable to cope with the life. There had only been one pair of siblings with the potential and strength to last and she had already failed them. One had died and the other had lost nearly everything important to them in their life.

Through little fault of your own, according to our observations.

"I'm aware of your observations," Mami sighed. Still didn't change the fact that Momo had been her responsibility. Saku-, no Emiya was fully justified in holding that against her. "Am I really the best person for this?"

Kyubey tilted his head. We wouldn't come to you otherwise. You are our best hope for Kaname and thus insuring the prosperity of the universe.

It was never just the world with Kyubey. It apparently had to take responsibility of safeguarding the universe. Mami didn't know how it was able to do that, but it was a good enough cause. If a bit vague at times.

She picked up her teacup and took a sip.

She might've failed before, but that didn't mean she was destined to repeat her mistakes. Maybe this was a chance to make amends, to finally achieve what she couldn't do previously.

And maybe she could finally start inviting people to her apartment again. Tea and cake were best eaten in good company after all.

"I'll do it," Mami announced. "I'll be their Mentor."