A/N: Here we are again. I've decided to write a sequel to my Madoka Magica and Heretical Edge crossover, Wish I Were a Bystander. That said, this isn't a traditional sequel. You do not need to read Wish I Were a Bystander to understand this fic. Most of the characters from that story will not be in this one, and any events from that story will be at most passively mentioned.

Just like with Wish I Were a Bystander, you do not need knowledge of Heretical Edge to enjoy this story. I know Wish I Were a Bystander ended up including more Heretical Edge elements in it than I had implied at the start, but that's definitely not going to happen in this story. The reasons why will become apparent in this chapter.

As for readers unfamiliar with Magia Record, I will do my best to explain the Magia Record elements of this story as they appear. That said, I recommend at least knowing the basics of Madoka Magica.

Now let's get into Repairing a Broken Record.

Chapter 1

The goddess looked at two records. They were vastly different, yet both were equally abnormal. In both of the records, she could not interfere and save Magical Girls from their fates. Any interference would risk the records breaking.

For the first record, that was not a problem. The Magical Girls of that time had not only found a way to end the cycle of Magical Girls turning into Witches, but they continued to fight valiantly against the various other threats of the universe.

Interestingly enough, though that record was an abnormality compared to all the others, it was the original universe. Her universe, and so many others, had branched off from that one, all created by a powerful force. That was the reason creatures known as Alters did not exist in the other records.

The second record was a greater problem. There was a group which hoped to free Magical Girls from their fate in their own way. This was what prevented the goddess from saving them herself. Even so, she was not confident these girls would succeed like the girls of the first record. In fact, she was worried she would have to destroy the record entirely in the future.

How terrible would that be? All those innocent girls, destined to suffer. A whole universe, fated to crumble.

The goddess could not let that happen. And yet, she was powerless to divert their fate. Her actions might lead to the disaster she was hoping to prevent. What could she do?

Her attention returned to the first record. To the girls who won in a battle against destiny. Her friends were all alive and happy there, and so was she. There were many factors which could have led to this outcome, but watching the record unfold, she found the greatest changes all happened due to one girl.

Felicity Chambers. Though she had been shocked by the truth behind Magical Girls, she had pressed on regardless. She had saved Madoka's friends from the brink of despair multiple times. Though Flick herself had been a Magical Girl, her destiny was not one of despair. No, she had been the first to fall to despair and rise up once more.

The goddess herself could not get involved in the broken record. Nor could she pull on help from the records she had a presence in. What about the record which all others spawned from? Could she call upon help from this world which seemed so strange when compared to all others?

Perhaps there was a way after all.

Flick was dreaming. She knew that the moment her eyes opened. For one thing, she was floating in space, surrounded by an endless sea of stars. Granted, stranger things had happened to her, but even so, she had no doubts this was a dream. There was a presence in her mind, one which almost screamed of separation from the waking world.

Even so, this wasn't anything like her usual dreams. She wasn't a lucid dreamer, and every time she happened to realize she was in a dream, she almost always woke up soon after. That, and this felt more real than her past dreams. There was no mist clouding her mind, and her body felt real. She pinched herself, and the pain was there.

So why was she so positive this was a dream?

"I didn't want to confuse you more than I had. I'm sorry for that."

The voice was familiar, yet Flick couldn't match a name to it.

"Who are you?" Flick asked.

"I am the Law of Cycles. The savior of all Magical Girls."

"That . . . doesn't make any sense," Flick admitted with a frown.

In response, there was a flash of light in front of Flick. When the light vanished, a radiant figure was standing there. Her pink hair, with two white ribbons in it, flowed to her legs. She wore a pure white dress, and her golden eyes were shining.

Though she looked so different from the girl Flick knew, her eyes still widened in recognition. "Madoka?!"

Madoka smiled at her, the warmth from that smile seeming to reach Flick's soul. "Hello, Felicity. I hope you are doing well."

"How—why—wha—" Flick's jaw was on the verge of detaching. At least she knew why the voice was familiar, yet not. It was certainly Madoka speaking, but not the timid Madoka Flick knew. This Madoka was wiser than most people, and there was a focus in both her gaze and tone that belonged to someone far older.

"Let me explain," Madoka said. "I'm Madoka, but not the Madoka from your universe. I'm from another universe, one where I made a wish which made me into the existence you see before you."

"You wished to become a god?" Flick blurted.

Madoka laughed. "Not quite. That was a side effect of my real wish. To save all Magical Girl's from turning into Witches."

The final form of all Magical Girls. It was supposed to be inevitable, a destiny which could not be averted. Gaia Sinclaire, the former Headmistress of Crossroads Academy for Heretics, had created a spell which could save them. With that spell, the souls of Magical Girls and even Witches could return to their bodies.

Yet here Madoka was, apparently taking on that entire responsibility for herself. It seemed like the sort of thing she would do. The Madoka of Flick's world had made a wish on an equally impressive scale. Maybe that was why this didn't come as too much of a shock.

"How was this possible?" she found herself asking.

An image appeared in front of them. A haze which formed into images, depicting a city which Flick immediately recognized.

"This is Mitakihara."

"It is one version of Mitakihara," Madoka said. "This universe is where I came from. In this universe, Heretics and Alters don't exist. Magical Girls had no hope of being helped from outside help."

"Magical Girls without Alters?" Flick asked. "That's possible?"

"More than possible," Madoka said. "Your universe is the only one where Alters exist."

There was silence following Madoka's statement, during which she was clearly waiting for a response. Flick's brain was too busy bluescreening to come up with one.

"Oops!" Madoka covered her mouth with both hands, in a way that felt so much like the Madoka familiar to Flick, that she found herself giggling.

"I'm guessing there's a story behind there being all these different universes," Flick said, "and mine being the only one with Alters."

"Yes," Madoka said, smoothing over her dress. That act seemed to bring her composure back. "What's important is that there are other universes where Magical Girls exist. I came from one of those, where I saw my friends fall victim to the cycle we face."

There was no need to elaborate. Flick understood, and the pang in her heart was almost enough for her to collapse.

"Mami, Homura, and the others," Flick whispered. "They . . . ?"

"Don't worry," Madoka assured her. "I made sure no Magical Girl needs to despair anymore. Their lives aren't easy, but when their soul gem darkens, they will return to me."

Flick found herself nodding, if only to free herself from the horrible thought of her friends suffering. "What about my universe? She asked.

Madoka smiled and clapped her hands together. "You saved them yourself, Flick! I can't interfere in a world where Witches are no more."

Flick blushed. "That was more your doing than my own."

Madoka shook her head. "Your presence changed everything. I wouldn't have called you here if I wasn't sure of that."

Flick's embarrassment was replaced with confusion. "What do you mean?"

With a sigh, Madoka lowered her arms. "There's another universe I can't access. Magical Girls are still turning into Witches, there. I can't save them."

"What?!" Flick's eyes widened. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know entirely," Madoka said. "But it's centered around a group of Magical Girls in Kamihama City."

Kamihama? Flick knew that name. Multiple Magical Girls recruited into the Unity school started by her mother had originated from there. Why would that place be stopping Madoka from interacting with the whole world?

"There's a group called the Magius," Madoka said. "Their actions are changing the fate of Magical Girls." She looked down. "Their goals aren't so different from my own, but their actions might cause the entire timeline to break."

"Break?" Flick asked.

"I would have no choice but to destroy that universe."

The words made Flick stumble back, her breath taken from her. A thousand thoughts were racing through her head, and none of them were hopeful.

"The Magius are hoping to hatch a creature known as Eve," Madoka said. "The existence of Eve in an embryo state has already kept me from saving Magical Girls."

"Eve?" Flick rasped.

"You'll know it when you see it," Madoka said. "I wish I could tell you more, but . . ." She pouted, another act that proved this really was Madoka. "I don't know what's going to happen. Everything surrounding Eve is filled with fog. I could only figure out the events leading up to this timeline being so different. Other than that, I'm blind to this world's future."

"Someone needs to help them," Flick said. She met Madoka's eyes with her own, and took a step toward the goddess. "Please, let me help them. There has to be a way."

Madoka reached out and put a hand on Flick's shoulder, smiling. "Funny, I was going to ask you to do just that. I needed someone who's also from an abnormal universe, and close to myself in that universe, to help them in my place. Anyone closer to me would be similar to getting involved myself, and anyone further would be impossible to send in. But you shouldn't rush into this, Felicity."

"I know it's dangerous, but—"

"Not just that," Madoka said. "You would be on your own. "Remember, this universe doesn't have Alters or Heretics. Many of the people you know from your world don't even exist. I wouldn't be able to send any of them with you, either. Until your task is complete, you won't be able to see them. Not much time has passed since you got your family back. I don't want you to have any regrets."

Flick turned away. Her family. Mom, Dad, Tabbris. What about her girlfriend, Avalon? And everyone else she met since the founding of Unity? The thought of losing them, it was enough to make Flick hesitate.

But this isn't losing them. It would only be a temporary separation.

The thought still hurt, and Flick found herself unsure of what to do.

"I . . ."

"You don't have to take on this burden for yourself if you don't want to," Madoka said. She was still smiling, but Flick could see the worry in her eyes."

"Would—" Flick swallowed. "Would everyone know where I was?"

"I can tell them," Madoka assured her. "I'll reach out to your family the same way I am with you, and they'll tell the rest."

Flick took a deep breath.

What would Mom do?

"I'll go." Flick said. She was able to meet Madoka's gaze once more. "This is more than my family and friends. There's a whole universe that needs help. As long as I can see everyone again, I have no reason to refuse."

Madoka beamed, and that was enough to draw a smile to Flick's own face. "Thank you! I'll talk to you whenever I can, usually while you're dreaming. I promise to let you know how your family is doing."

Tears found their way to Flick's eyes. She wiped them away. "Thank you. That . . . means a lot."

"Of course," Madoka said. "Before you go, let me tell you a few things to guide you. First, your normal powers won't work in this universe. You're connected to a powerful force, but you won't be able to draw upon that power. The distance is just too far."

"I won't have any powers?" Flick asked.

"Not unless you make a contract with Kyubey," Madoka said.

Flick grimaced at the thought of dealing with that monster again. Even so, she had no doubt she would make a contract. That power was just too important, and she would be able to fix her soul once she returned.

"There is one insurance," Madoka said. "The Magius have already discovered a way to prevent Magical Girls from becoming Witches when their soul gems darken. It only works in Kamihama, but you'll be safe within the city."

"Really?" Flick asked. "What will happen if my soul gem darkens, then?"

For the first time since the dream began, Madoka looked uncomfortable. "It might be better for you to see it in person. I could tell you more about the city, and the girls there, but there are some things you're better off learning for yourself."

"I understand," Flick said. "And I know that the more knowledge I have, the better equipped I'll be. But you're right. I don't want to be making any premature judgements."

"I will at least tell you this," Madoka said. "The Magius, leaders of the Wings of the Magius who seek liberation for Magical Girls, consists of three girls. Those girls are Alina Gray, Touka Satomi, and Nemu Hiiragi. Oh, and you can trust Iroha Tamaki."

Flick blinked. Madoka giving her the names of the Magius made sense, but she had expected to meet and judge every other Magical Girl on her own. Honestly, Flick preferred it that way. So why had Madoka made an exception for Iroha Tamaki?

"Are you ready?" Madoka asked.

Not really, Flick thought.

"I am," Flick said. "I promise, Madoka. I'll destroy Eve so you can save them all."

By that point, Madoka had already begun to fade. There was only a faint outline of her figure remaining, and her voice barely reached Flick's ears. Even so, Flick heard the words of the goddess who had given her this task.

"I believe in you."

A/N: Yes, since Godaka watches over the timelines, she could give Flick a rundown on all the Kamihama girls. But there's no story if the main character knows everything, and part of Homura's problem in getting others to trust her was that she knew things she didn't. Seeing that happen so many times, it makes sense that Godaka wouldn't want Flick to deal with the same problems.

This chapter was extremely dialogue heavy, with not much going on otherwise. Sorry about that. I promise info-dumps like this won't be common going forward. In fact, we're going to get into some action as soon as the next chapter.