Hello everyone! Meduka here to tell you she has returned from a hiatus! Now, I would like to thank the REAL assistant for the positive review. I feel so happy to know this story doesn't confuse people. :) Now, back to the story...

Chapter Three: I'm not afraid of anything anymore

Darkness. That was all Homura could see besides Madoka who was frozen in terror, clutching Homura's left wrist. Wait a second...Homura looks at Madoka, who has begun to get out of her frozen state. But as soon as Madoka releases her grip on Homura, she stopped moving, as if paralyzed. Oh no. We don't have much time. We've got to escape now! Homura grabs Madoka and bends down to crawl under Charlotte's open jaw. "Homura-chan, what's going on?" Madoka said, confused and fearful for her life. "No time to talk, just don't touch Charlotte's teeth!" Cautiously Madoka does the same, never letting go of the purple attorney's hand. When they get out, Homura pulls a bomb from her time shield- the very object that triggered the time freeze- and tosses it to where they previously were. "Run, Madoka! Time is running out!" Homura yelled as she ran with Madoka (who was still shocked and scared) to the witness stand. However, as they reached the stand, Homura tripped and fell to the floor, with Madoka on top.

Suddenly time started back up, the court and all in it regained color, and a loud explosion was heard as Charlotte ate the bomb. Kyoko and Sayaka immediately drew their weapons, but Kyoko stopped Sayaka. "Look kid, I don't care if you trained under Mami-san, or that your best friend just got killed by that witch, or that"- Sayaka ignored Kyoko and proceeded to attack Charlotte. " HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING! " Kyoko chased the blue rookie with her spear.

Please remain in the courtroom, the Puella magi will handle the witch. Kyubey soothed the tense mortals of the courtroom. To their dismay though, the courtroom was looking less like a courtroom and more like something you would see while on LSD.

Meanwhile, Homura got up, gently picked up Madoka and placed her on the stand, and rushed to Kyoko. "Be careful, this witch is not like the others!" The scenery was getting increasingly trippy and colorful, but the magical lawyers were unfazed by the setting. Poor Madoka watched the scene with fear and awe. Even Kyubey watched attentively. Truly, the witch had fooled them all with the innocent, doll like behavior, only to reveal the true monster within.

Charlotte, though powerful, was no match for the three ace magi. Sayaka combatted the witch with swords, Kyoko aimed her spear to impale her, and Homura used her bombs from her shield to damage the witch. All the Dessert Witch could do was try to eat them, with no avail. But as soon as Sayaka stopped her blade assault to catch her breath, Charlotte pounced and...

Sayaka launched herself into the witch.

( play "a duel with a witch")

" Fool! Does she really think she can handle the witch herself?!" The red magical lawyer angrily looked at Charlotte, who was writhing in pain. Homura activated her time stop ability again and snatched Sayaka by the cape from inside the witch. "Hey! What was that for! I had this planned!" Sayaka shouted as Homura threw an onslaught of bombs and some grenades into the Dessert Witch's jaws. "I'm getting the job done quicker. What you were doing was just too risky, and besides, you are still on trial, and defendants don't need to become victims of witches. How else am I going to defend you if you die?" Homura shot back. "H-how am I still on trial if there is a raging witch in here? This is nuts!" Sayaka said, bewildered by her attorney's remark.

But what she said next was worse: "It's not 'nuts' Miki Sayaka. It's what you signed up for, ever since you made that contract with Kyubey. Trials or witches, both battles, mentally and physically, are part of our job. You should know that by now, you reckless girl."

Time started back up, but Sayaka was stunned by Homura's words. For the last time, a loud explosion was heard as Charlotte finally was defeated, and dropped an item that was essential to every magical lawyer: the grief seed. "MINE!" Kyoko yelled as she snatched the black object from the ground.

Not yet Kyoko, we need to see something first before you claim it. Kyubey jumped from his place on the judge stand and took the grief seed. With his paws, Kyubey placed the black needle like object on the ground and the markings on his back began to glow.

Watch the memory of Charlotte now, from her birth to her demise in this courtroom.

(Play theme of Puella magi )

The hospital. It felt so terrible, so full of grief. All she wanted was a cheesecake. But then...Mother died, and it became miserable for not wishing to make Mother better. Strange things clouded its vision. White cats taunting it for failing to save Mother. It became frantic for cake, for sweets, anything to make its grief and suffering subside. Cake. Especially Cheesecake. Suddenly it heard voices. The door bust open, and two figures came in. One was blue, like the ocean, and the other was yellow, like cheese. ChEeSe. CHEESE. The two people started to bicker.

"You did WHAT?! This will affect your entire life! Are you sure you can handle this life?"

"I'm sure. I'll never regret my wish!"

"You sound confident now, but you need to know about witches. There's something about them that might..."

"Might what? Feel remorse? But you WANTED me to become like you. So you didn't need to be lonely anymore!"

"...You need a better mentor. Someone like Homura perhaps. Wait..is that a-"

At this point the cheese girl saw it looking at her. A battle ensued, but it could tell it was winning. The cheese girl shot many muskets at it, and the blue one managed to strike her with a blade, but then clumsily slashed cheese girl, drawing blood. Cheese girl cried out in pain, and it decided to take advantage.

It rose up, letting itself get tied with yellow ribbons from cheese girl, who then yelled, "TIRO FINALE!" A huge musket appeared, and it felt the impact like a thousand fires burned its body. It was a mistake on the cheese girl's part. Unleashing its true form, it opened its jaws wide

and bit cheese girls head off.

At that point the blue one attempted to strike it, as if wanting revenge,but it knocked the blue one down, and rendered her unconscious. Knowing the blue one could have reinforcements, it escaped, hoping it would not be caught in the act...

The rest you already know.

At last, the vision was over. Kyoko rubbed her head, dazed, while Homura looked unsurprised. Madoka was on the verge of tears, having now seen Charlotte's story. Homura then realized there was one more thing that needed to be done.

"Your honor Kyubey, having seen this vision and our claims, what is your verdict?" Kyubey leaped onto his usual place, and announced, My verdict, for the case of Sayaka Miki for the murder of Mami Tomoe is...

NOT GUILTY

The weary jury threw only a scant amount of confetti, but no one celebrated. All was quiet as court dismissed,and Madoka went to Homura, who was dealing with Sayaka.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything.."

Sayaka grinned, "Not at all! Homura here was just giving me tips on how to fight witches better!"

Homura couldn't help but feel troubled for the future. At least her Soul badge wasn't all black or she would need that grief seed for using so much magic. Ah, I get a sense of deja vu from this case. If I don't hurry up and save that mortal friend of Madoka's, Sayaka could die in this timeline along with Mami.

Something the matter, Homura? Kyubey asked the purple attorney. "Your contracts are the only thing that's wrong." Whispered Homura to the white cat, with a frown on her face. Kyubey didn't seem to mind though. Hmph. All work and no play, that Homura.

Outside, later at night

A young girl with green hair was walking on her way home, when a shadow abruptly attacked her, silencing the poor girl's screams. When the attack was over, the girl walked out, as if nothing had happened. Only now, a dull look shone in her eyes...

To be continued...