I

Sayaka felt her head spinning as she ran. Every shift in her thoughts led her into more darkness. She felt like such a fool, reflecting on everything over the last month, how every step she made was a wrong turn.

She had made the contract with so much confidence; she would heal Kyousuke, find Homura and defeat her, then save Madoka and continue to protect the innocent with her new power. She was going to become a hero, just like Mami. In reality, she was an idiot who could not do anything right.

She knew what she had to do, she had to get stronger. Her hands still shook whenever she remembered Kyoko's spear crashing down over her. When she tried to motivate her thoughts toward getting stronger, collecting more GriefSeeds and raising her power, she remembered that boy who she'd almost let die. Even Kyousuke, who she loved and gave up her one wish for, was lost. Then, she realized how foolish she was for not using her wish to save Madoka in the first place. So foolish for blindly believing she and Mami would stop Homura within days and bring Madoka safely back home.

If only she had known. She thought becoming a Magical Girl would fix everything. She assumed she'd be strong. In reality she was too weak to solve anything and she was an idiot for overestimating herself so much, thinking it would be any different.

Sayaka cried out as her legs finally stopped carrying her and she fell to the ground. She curled up, feeling cold, and felt her eyes stinging with tears. If she were to have stayed, and told Junko everything, she knew Junko would no longer look at her the same way again. Not only did she not save Madoka when she could have, she was cold hearted enough to stand by and watch a young boy die. How could she face her now? How could she face anyone?

Sayaka cried, laying in the fallen leaves that littered the forest's floor. She could hear the ambient sound of traffic echoing through the night, only the constant drone of her own thoughts accompanied it as she laid there all alone.

She sniffed and her gloved hand covered the SoulGem near her belly button. She disenchanted herself from her Magical Girl form, and tightened her hand around it as it changed back to its egg shaped form.

It was clouded, full of black fog. It looked so ugly now compared to the soft blue glow when she had first received it. Back then, she believed it could solve all of her problems. Now she knew, given this wonderful gift, how unworthy she truly was of possessing it.

II

There was no sympathy, they all looked at her with disgust.

Chains were wrapped all around her body, the loose ends swaying as she walked, the ones connecting her ankles dragged on the concrete. The chains around her waist and elbows were the tightest, keeping her arms locked at her sides. If she tried to move her hands the chains which bound her wrists rattled. Underneath it all she wore a black and white prisoner's uniform.

She had not made it to the courtroom yet, but already felt she was being judged. The faces that glared at her with hatred, or turned away with revulsion, they all reinforced her crimes, her failure as a mother.

Please… she thought, I always tried my best, I love my children, I never meant to let them down.

Soon, a large red door stood before her. The guards stopped and she stared up at it. She felt tiny, insignificant. Not since she was a child had she felt so helpless. She worked hard in her adult life, facing all her fears and anxieties with unmoving resolve. She did everything she could to both provide for her family and serve as a role model.

The door creaked open.

That's right, she just had to convince the court that the charges against her were false. She may have some shortcomings but nobody is perfect. She taught her daughter that as well. Even if she failed to do something right, or ended up hurting someone, she shouldn't just beat herself up and cry. The best thing anyone could do is work to make it right and do better in the future.

She would make her case, show the jury all the ways she had supported Madoka, Sayaka and Tatsuya over the years. The charges against her were wrong!

However, when the doors opened, and they all turned to stare at her, she saw the venom in their eyes. She remembered all the nights coming home late, barely able to walk straight. Traveling for work, leaving her family alone to pursue her own ambitions. Chastising Madoka and Sayaka on the occasions they would get into trouble… was she ever too harsh with them? Was that why Sayaka did not open up to her?

One of the guards pushed his boney hand against her back. She stumbled through the threshold and nearly fell. The gallery was packed with crow-headed people wearing suits. As she balanced herself and looked around, they pointed their beaks at the sky and cackled at her. Some flapped their wings, letting loose black feathers. They laughed with such disdain. She knew they were all here to see her suffer. To see justice done.

Am I really so horrible?

She always saw herself as someone who people respected, but apparently she inspired so much hate in these people that they did not offer her even an ounce of human sympathy.

The jury was all that mattered, though. She had to convince them. Looking at them, they were similar to the policemen in that their faces had no features, just a black void except for their teeth. Some looked bored, others were smiling, but none particularly menacing. Not like that gallery of crows who squawked and ridiculed her with their milky yellow eyes.

She was led to the bench. She stood, staring up at the podium the judge would sit behind. It towered above everything, with the proper lighting behind it would cast the entire courtroom into shadows.

Junko tried to remain calm, ignore the voices echoing her head about every bad thing she's done.

This is just like a business meeting, Junko thought to herself, just think of it like that. She often felt nervous before a big meeting where she had to be the voice of her company. She learned to squash those feelings and focus on her goal, focus on the points she needed to get out, show strength and advocate for the best deal possible, sometimes under hostile circumstances.

She had to be found innocent, she had to walk away from here as a free woman. Otherwise she would not be able to help Madoka anymore.

Focus on Madoka, do it for her. You have to survive this!

Her inner pep talk did help, but not for long. The insistent squawking from the gallery behind her died down, the flapping of their wings lowered to a murmur and then stopped.

A hand appeared from below the podium, it grabbed the surface of the desk and pushed to raise it's owner up. At first Junko would have described it as wrinkly and scabbed, as if it had been in some kind of horrible accident. However, it only took a moment to realize those crusty brown wrinkles were moving and Junko had to hold the horror back when she realized they were worms.

The judge's skin was covered in worms, or more accurately, her body was made of them. She rose up, wearing a curly white wig like you would see in history books from the 1800s. The wig too, was messy and matted. Small white bugs, maggots, crawled around inside it and fell out onto the desk.

When her mouth opened, slugs fell out and in a matter of seconds the desk was covered in the bugs which made up her body. She reached for the gavel and banged it and all sound in the courtroom stopped.

Suddenly there was a spotlight on Junko, she could feel the sickly eyes of the crows on her, silent in anticipation. She knew they could not wait to see her suffer.

The judge's mouth opened again, dropping more slugs and worms onto the desk. There was a moaning sound but somehow Junko understood it's words.

"How do you plead?"

Junko swallowed, reminding herself to be brave, be cool and collected. She was not guilty and she had to show that. She had to believe it herself.

"Not guilty, your honor," she said.

Instantly the courtroom was alive with commotion. The crows squawked with anger, their wings flapping violently. It only took a moment and their feathers were raining down around her.

She stood bravely and glanced over to the jury. Their complacent smiles from before had become more amused. Nobody thought she had a chance. They thought she was a fool for claiming innocence.

The judge banged her gavel, there was no response. She banged it harder and finally the gallery calmed down.

It was at least easier to think without the squawking and knowing the pure hatred that resided inside of it. Junko again reminded herself to stay calm, cool and collected.

If she ever wanted to see her family again she had to get out of here. Madoka was still being held prisoner somewhere and Junko knew she would never be able to help her if she was a prisoner herself.

However, to her surprise, she would see Madoka much sooner than she imagined.

A door opened and people she knew started coming out. Past business associates of hers, some of whom caught a bad deal thanks to her skillful negotiations, stepped out. There were at least half a dozen of them. Then, her husband. She gasped and called to him, "Tomohisa!"

All at once she felt her confidence build, for she was not alone. However, something was strange. His button eyes could not move on their own, but he turned his head until they pointed at her. He did not smile, or give her a gesture of confidence to help build her courage like he normally would. He just stared, dispassionate. Little Tatsuya was at his side, and looked up at his father, but likewise when he looked over to his mother behind the defendant's stand he showed no recognition of her. No happiness to see his mother, no worry for any understanding of her situation.

Junko felt her eyes stinging. Was her family going to turn on her? Were they not here to defend her but to help the prosecution's case against her? If that were the case, it was a worse punishment than any sentence the judge would hand her.

Then finally, the last witness came out. It was Madoka.

"Madoka!" Junko yelled. "Madoka, is that you!?"

This stirred up the crows once again. More slugs fell from the judge's mouth as she gave an irritated gurgle and banged the gavel.

Madoka stared at her mother and shook her head. Her pink button eyes were just as uncaring as her father and little brother. The pink yarn that made up her hair was messy, the red ribbon Junko had last seen her in was tied poorly with a loose strand hanging down. Red strings were sewn into her cheeks for blush.

Junko felt her heart sink. She thought seeing her daughter again would fill her with immense joy, but now she felt broken, seeing how Madoka was not happy to see her at all. "Madoka…" Junko whispered. "Please… I'm sorry I haven't helped you."

The pink yarn that made up Madoka's eyebrows curved into a scowl as she took one last look at her mother, then took a seat with the other witnesses, sitting directly next to her father and little brother.

III

Mami rolled over as her alarm blared. She would love a few more minutes of sleep, but, looking at the time, she sat up and closed her eyes as she directed her telepathy to Nagisa across the street.

"Good morning Nagisa. Are you awake?"

There was a long delay until she heard, "Hey Mami."

Mami smiled. "You sound tired. Just wake up?"

There was again a long delay until Nagisa said, "No."

There was heaviness in the delay. So Mami then asked, "Are you okay?" She could already tell Nagisa was not her bright and cheery self.

"I'm not. I need to talk to you."

"Okay, want to come over before school?"

"Yeah… are you going to school today?"

"No, I think Kyoko still needs my help. Hopefully she'll be better in a couple more days." Nagisa did not respond so Mami added, "If you like, I can at least walk you to school. I'm sure Kyoko will be fine for an hour or so. I needed to do some shopping anyway."

"Okay," Nagisa said, her tone still had none of her usual cheer. "I'll be over soon."

Mami sat up and thought for a moment. She wondered what was going on with Nagisa. She hoped she was alright.

Then she heard a thump from somewhere in the apartment and sighed. "Great, what is she up to now?" She got up to go check on Kyoko, who she was sure she was going to find on her feet again. She wished Kyoko did not have to be so hard headed over every single thing. The least she could do is stay in bed until her injuries healed. Mami was not sure how much more school she could get away with missing.

She got up and walked out of her bedroom to find Kyoko in the kitchen. She was standing in front of the stove, cooking eggs. "Kyoko…" Mami said in a dry voice.

Kyoko looked over her shoulder. Her one eye that had been swollen shut was still badly bruised and bloodshot, but she at least had it open now. Her left arm was in a sling still, and judging by how she leaned against the counter her legs probably were not healed enough to be standing like that.

"Don't give me that look," Kyoko said. "I can get around now, see? I'm making breakfast." Then she turned back to the stove. Her hand shook as she lifted the spatula and flipped the eggs.

"Just take a seat," Mami said. "I'll finish that. Here, I'll help you."

"Don't put a hand on me," Kyoko snapped as she got closer. "It's almost done. Get the plates if you want to do something."

Mami's eyebrows lowered. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"I'm the stubborn one?" Kyoko responded and cocked an eyebrow.

Mami sighed. "All I've been trying to do is help you, you know."

"Yeah, and nobody asked you to."

Mami glared at her. "If I had just left you there you would have died."

Kyoko frowned and turned the oven off. She reached for the pan but Mami grabbed it first and moved it off the burner. Her intense expression did not come off of Kyoko for even a moment.

Kyoko's eyes remained to the side, not meeting hers. "So what?"

"So what?" Mami shot the words back.

"So what if I died?" Her eyes lifted to meet Mami's gaze. Mami didn't seem to know how to respond, so Kyoko continued. "It wouldn't have been your problem. You could focus your attention on your new kohai and not be stuck worrying about me."

Mami's expression softened. "Kyoko… I could not have just left you like that."

Kyoko turned away and started moving towards the table, wincing with each step, practically dragging her left leg which was in much worse shape than her right. "Those rookies ain't gonna last without you. Don't you see that? I wiped the floor with them without even trying." She grunted as she lowered herself down into the cahir. "Yeah, I'm a lot more experienced, and I had more magic saved up when I fought them. But damn, it's not just talking crap if I say I didn't need it. They got nothing. They aren't cut out for this."

"They are new, and they've been doing fine," Mami said. "They will be okay."

"Bullshit. They would not have lasted this long and you know it. It wasn't like that for us in our first days. So, the point is…" She winced again as she adjusted herself in the chair. "The point is, why are you wasting your time with me?"

Mami started gathering the plates and putting the eggs on them. "It's not like I'm abandoning them, I just need to take a break while I help you heal. Maybe if you'd just stay in bed it would not be taking so long." She brought the food over to the table, set one plate in front of Kyoko then sat down herself.

"I'm your competition, you shouldn't be helping me like this." Kyoko made eye contact from across the table. "What do you think it's going to be like once I'm healed? Are you expecting me to be so grateful that I'll start playing nice and join your little team?"

"This has been a burden on me," Mami spoke sternly. "A small show of gratitude wouldn't kill you. So yes, I do expect you to play nice." Mami had to admit Kyoko was starting to get under her skin. After all the trouble she's gone through, Kyoko still insisted on belittling her friends and insulting her.

"You're the one who did this to me in the first place. You think I like being nurse Mami's happy little patient? This crap's been humiliating." She stuffed a bite of eggs into her mouth.

"You left me no choice. You were taking things way too far."

"Yeah, so why the hell am I sitting here in your kitchen right now and not under that pile of rubble you dug me out of?"

"I told you, I would never leave you like that."

"You should have. Going through all this for your enemy is something only an idiot would do."

"Just because you think like that does not put you on some pedestal over people who are not so cold hearted. You act like anyone who has a little compassion for someone else is just being a fool!" Mami shook her head in frustration.

"Yeah well, if you keep trying to save everyone you're going to end up losing everything in the end." Kyoko's tone became softer, more thoughtful. "The way you operate as a magical girl. I mean, anyone else wouldn't have been able to keep up the way you do it. You're top notch, though, so it's been working for you somehow." Kyoko moved the eggs around with her fork. "Somethings gotta give somewhere, though. You can't keep this up forever. It's going to come back to bite you one day, and bite you hard."

"No, my path hasn't been easy," Mami admitted. "If I thought the way you did, then yes things would have been much easier for me. However, I'm not just going to stand by and watch someone die while I do nothing. I'm not like you."

Kyoko's eyes narrowed at that. "You're missing the damn point." She stabbed the eggs, tore off a big chunk and stuck it in her mouth. "Decide what you're doing and dedicate yourself to that. Are you babysitting the rookies? Saving the damn world? Playing Mitakihara's dedicated hero of justice? Or are you helping your main competition get back on her feet? You can't do it all!"

"Just because it's hard does not mean it isn't worth the effort!"

Then there was a knock on the door. Mami turned to the door and telepathically asked, "Nagisa, is that you?"

"Yeah… it's me."

Mami got up and slid her plate over to Kyoko's side of the table. "I'm not hungry. I'm sure I can trust you not to let these go to waste." She was tired of listening to Kyoko's jaded philosophies and right now she could tell Nagisa needed her.

Kyoko sat back and watched the front door as Mami opened it.

Nagisa's head was hung low. She looked absolutely miserable. Mami crouched down and gave her a hug. "Hey, what's going on?" she asked. Her tone was so kind.

Kyoko remembered how she used to idolize her. Actually, she might not admit it, but she still did idolize her in a way. It was ironic. The side of Mami that made her so great is exactly what Kyoko resented about her and wished she would change.

No, I'm not on any pedestal. Kyoko thought to herself. It's definitely Mami.

Nagisa shook her head, probably not wanting to talk about it in front of Kyoko. Mami released her from the hug and smiled. "Please, come in for a moment. I just need to get changed. I'll be quick."

Nagisa came in, but stayed by the front door. Her eyes locked with Kyoko for only a moment, then she turned to lean against the wall and just stared at the floor.

Kyoko knew why Nagisa looked like that. She knew better than anyone. If Mami handled Nagisa's situation the same way she did those years ago when Kyoko lost her family… Kyoko already knew, Mami was going to lose another one of her kouhai. She wished she could tell her that, but Mami would never listen.

That little girl just lost everything, the world screwed her over. Don't tell her the solution is sacrificing herself for that same world. Kyoko pulled the plate closer to herself and started stuffing the eggs into her mouth. She's not strong. When she becomes disillusioned with you and goes off on her own she won't survive like I have. Don't screw this up Mami! Just drop the bullshit for once! That's what she wished she could say, but she felt like it was pointless.

Mami came out a couple minutes later wearing a peach colored hoodie and black pants, her purse hanging off her shoulder. "Ready?" she asked Nagisa.

Nagisa gave another small, sad nod. Mami took her hand and they walked out the door together, hand in hand. Once it shut Kyoko sighed and leaned back, thinking about the old days.

Once upon a time, she thought she and Mami were an unstoppable duo. It would have been nice if those days could have lasted forever, but it was just stupid childish fantasies. It's a ruthless world, so you have to be ruthless too.

She got up and slowly made her way back to her makeshift little hospital room. She winced with pain as she lowered herself down to the floor and grabbed her duffle bag. There was one more GriefSeed in a hidden pocket she had not told Mami about. She figured she was healed enough by now that this GriefSeed could give her enough to heal her legs and get out of here.

Sorry Mami, but nothing has changed. She thought to herself as she transferred the grief from her SoulGem and then began healing her legs. When she was done, she was still in pain, but she could at least walk. She slipped on her green hoodie, pilfered Mami's kitchen for enough food to last her a couple of days and then left the apartment.

IV

Sayaka woke to her ringtone playing an excited classical tune from a composer Kyousuke had gotten her into listening to. She opened her eyes and found she was still laying on the forest floor. She felt dirty, and her head pounded.

Did I fall asleep out here? She thought as she sat up and looked around. Thin rays of sunlight peeked through the trees overhead and she could hear birds chirping. It was morning time.

She reached into her skirt and found her phone. By the time it was out the music stopped and she saw there was a missed call. It was from the Kaname household. It was probably Junko trying to contact her.

She saw there was a message and sighed, feeling guilty. She wished she'd held it together a little better and didn't freak out in front of Junko like that. She didn't know how she would explain what she meant about wasting her wish now. Even if she could face Junko again and explain everything it would just make Junko hate her more.

She looked at her SoulGem, thinking about how she let down her best friend. She used her wish so selfishly, how could she face anyone from the Kaname household again? Most of all Madoka.

Her gem had barely any blue left, little flakes of its formerly brilliant color could be seen behind the cloudiness, but she guessed she didn't have much magic left. She made it disappear in her hand as she tightened her fist around it.

"Such an idiot… I probably barely have any magic left."

"Sayaka Miki!" She heard Kyubey's hurried voice inside her head.

"Huh? Kyubey?" She looked around and spotted him standing on a nearby tree branch which was just high enough that when she stood she was eye level with him.

"What are you doing just laying around?" Kyubey asked. "Don't you feel that?"

"What?..." Sayaka seemed confused but then she jumped as she realized. "There's a witch nearby!"

"You better hurry! Your friend is in danger!"

"My friend? Is Mami fighting it already?" Sayaka asked, not sure what he could mean.

"No, the one you were with last night."

Sayaka's eyes widened. "Junko!? Madoka's mom!?"

"Yes! You better hurry!"

"Oh crap!" Sayaka instantly started running, her magical girl costume appearing around her as she put her phone to her ear, listening to the message as she ran. Hoping Kyubey was mistaken and Junko had simply gone home last night.

"Hello Sayaka, it's Madoka's father. Did you end up meeting with Junko last night? She said she was going to meet with you but hadn't come home yet. Please call me back when you get this. Hope all is well."

"Shit!" Sayaka cried out and dropped her phone, not even thinking about it anymore. She ran full tilt towards the labyrinth.

Kyubey watched her go, his red eyes glistening.

He had suspected Sayaka would have succumbed to her grief last night, but now it seemed things would work out far better than expected. He doubted she had the power to defeat such a powerful witch on her own, so she would either find Junko Kaname dead and lose to her grief right then and there, or the witch would kill her and they would both die anyway.

Homura may be able to hide Madoka from him, but eventually he would find her and once he did he would reveal that both her mother and best friend were dead. Then the contract would be all but signed.

The song "The Trial" by Pink Floyd set the seed for planning this labyrinth. That's what got me thinking about a court-room themed witch, anyway. At first I struggled with it, then thought about the girl who the witch would have once been. What wish would she have made, and why is the representation of her grief a courtroom? I came up with a loose story for her and then the pieces fell into place quite quickly; the appearance of the witch itself and the familiars. Here are the notes which served as the foundation for building the labyrinth. It's vague and rather generic, but it helped get things moving.

The witch was once a girl with an abusive parent. Social services eventually intervened and the girl believed she would finally be taken away, but the court ended up getting things wrong and leaving her in said parent's custody. The abuse got worse until the parent believed she accidentally killed her, then took her to the woods to dump her body.

Not dead, but on the brink of death, Kyubey shows up to grant her a wish. She wishes for revenge, resulting in the parent being magically transported to the woods where the body was dumped. The girl instantly turns into a witch and her parent is the first victim of her labyrinth.

The crow familiars, watching the trial from the gallery, symbolize the birds that would have scavenged her body if she had died. The witch itself is made of worms and other bugs, symbolizing that her body would decompose. The familiars with black, featureless faces (the jury, police men and onlookers) symbolize the people around her in her life who never noticed or spoke up about the abuse.

As always, thank you for reading.

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