The Truth-Kind Of

Sorry for the wait, but it's finally here! I apologize ahead of time for my grammatical mistakes. For those who are waiting for the witches to come into the play, you won't have to wait until another two chapters or so! So stay tuned ;)

Pairings: Slight Homura X Madoka

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot

Enjoy~ :)

As Madoka walked down the pebbly path towards the school, she saw Sayaka and Hitomi talking to each other.

"Hey guys!" Madoka called out to them while increasing her pace to catch up and walk alongside her two best friends.

Sayaka turned around and waved at the pinkette, "Ohayo!"

"Good morning Madoka-san," Hitomi smiled warmly. A white cat and rabbit looking creature hopped onto the pinkette's shoulder with only Madoka and Sayaka noticing. Sayaka looked horrified.

Good morning Miki Sayaka, Kaname Madoka.

Kyuubey!?

Madoka, why is he here?!

E-Eh?! I don't know.. Kyuubey?

Do not worry Miki Sayaka, Kaname Madoka. Not everyone can see me, only puella magi and the two of you are the only exceptions.

Whew, that's reassuring! Ehehehe.. But that's not exactly what we're concerned about... Madoka rubbed the back of her head, remembering the night before. Sayaka smiled half-heartedly, in a 'I give up' manner.

"Madoka-san, Sayaka-san, after one night you two could speak to each other without saying words! Is this FORBIDDEN LOVE!?" Hitomi yelled while running towards the school.

"E-Ehh?! No that's not it..Hitomi..!" Sayaka yelled after the green haired girl, but she was already running farther and farther away yelling incoherent words of "forbidden love" and such.

"Well then.." Sayaka sweat dropped. "So… about last night.."

Last night, Sayaka and Madoka were introduced to the world of Puella Magis and Witches. It turned out that the mysterious transfer student was a magical girl! Sayaka didn't trust her, but she grudgingly thanked Homura for saving them from the horrid witch that had attacked them.

Madoka had seen part of the witch's barrier creeping from an old looking door. It read: Do Not Enter, but her curiosity took over and she cautiously went in. Sayaka had noticed and followed quickly after Madoka.

They walked on and on for what seemed like eternity but probably was only ten minutes. Finally they saw a blonde in an elaborate costume with two guns. She was shooting at an odd-looking creature who was chanting incoherent words that only it could understand, but she didn't seem to notice them.

The blonde's moves were flashy and coordinated but not calculated. In a flash she had made a grave mistake and the "familiars", as Homura had told them that they were the witch's minions, charged toward the two scared girls. Thankfully, out of nowhere, Homura had a appeared in her full Puella Magi outfit and saved them. She had disappeared for a split second, three gunshots were heard and then she appeared just as the three familiars who were advancing towards Madoka and Sayaka popped and turned into butterflies which slowly faded away.

"H-Homura-chan?!" Madoka squealed in surprise.

"You have to be careful." The ravenette swiveled head towards the scared pinkette. Sayaka moved to intercept but Homura interrupted. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know. Be careful otherwise someone's going to get HURT."

"H-Hey it wasn't her fault-" Sayaka tried to defend Madoka but Homura interrupted her.

"Yes, it is her fault! Time and time again I keep telling you not to be so curious. This has nothing to do with you! So stop getting involved. I can't always be there to protect you.." Homura's voice softened. She sighed, "No matter what I do you'll just do anything to become a magical girl.."

"A magical girl?" Sayaka asked, "What, is that some kind of cult?"

"Actually, we are what some would say beacon of hope who fights evil and despair. Witches are born from despair and Puella Magi are born from hope. We fight those things that were attacking you." The blonde came up from behind Sayaka and beamed at Madoka, a white ferret-like creature sat atop the blonde's shoulders. "This is Kyuubey, he's a dear friend of mine!"

Greetings Kaname Madoka, Miki Sayaka!

As Mami spoke, the barrier dissolved and reality was once again broke free from distortion. "I see you already killed the witch Akemi-San." Mami murmured coldly.

Homura's eyes narrowed but she nodded, "Anyways, you two are also from Mitakihara High School? I'm Mami Tomoe, I'm a sophomore." Mami smiled warmly, brushing aside all hostility. "Would you like to have tea at my homely abode? I'll answer all the questions you need to be answered! "

As the four of the walked towards Mami's apartment, no one noticed the white creature bound out of sight. Except for amethyst eyes which glanced behind her suspiciously.

What are you planning this time..? Incubator!

*:.｡. TimeSkip .｡.:*

(At Mami's apartment)

A group of four sat at a triangular shaped coffee table. The blonde being the host smiled at two others, a pinkette and bluenette. The fourth, a raven-haired girl, sat to the side with a well kept posture.

The Bluenette broke the half icy, half comfortable silence. "So… How do you become a Puella Magi?" Sayaka asked.

"Kyuubey makes a contract with you. He grants any wish you desire-" Mami started off until Homura put up her hand.

"There is something you all must know." Homura solemnly inquired, "Mami, Kyuubey has been lying to you all this time." Homura spoke with an icy coldness and a hint of pity.

"E-Eh..? Kyuubey wouldn't lie to me.." Mami's voice wavered.

"Mami, you have been trying to recruit Puella magi for quite sometime? Have you ever wondered why we are so invincible in a fight? Why we never really feel the pain to be so much if we get hurt during battle? Why our soul gems are called soul gems?"

Madoka and Sayaka exchanged a worried glance. They did not like the sound of what was happening. They did not fully understand the situation, but they did realize that Mami was very... fragile.. at this point.

"Kyuubey, no, Incubator has been tricking Puella Magi into making contracts with him for generations. When a contract is formed, Kyuubey extracts our souls and creates them into these gems," Homura held up her amethyst gem, it omitted a glowing purple hue. "Although it makes us stronger, we can separate our minds and numb the pain when in a fight, the fact is that we have become walking zombies. Our bodies are technically not living. If we were to be 100 meters away from our gems, our body would be as if we were dead."

T-That's too cruel..!

"If we would be to be sliced in half, punctured through with a sword, or if our heads were bitten off, we would still live as long as our soul gems are okay. We could just regenerate new body parts. However, if our soul gems are to shatter, there would be no turning back." Homura concluded as she, almost smugly, watching blue, pink, and gold eyes as they stared at her.

Mami suddenly broke down into sobs. "I-I'm so sorry to all the girls I tried to befriend and encouraged to become magical girls! I never knew I embedded them a fate worse than death!"

"W-Wait so does that mean you all are basically immortal..?" Sayaka asked timidly.

"Mami.. MAMI! Get a grip okay?! It's not you're fault! Although I would prefer to blame it on you, however they made their own wishes themselves. Sure, you had an influence, but it's still their wishes they created with their own judgment. Plus.. Kyuubey has been tricking us all, for quite some time now too.." Homura attempted at calming Mami down. She turned to Sayaka, "And yes, as long as our gems do not shatter, we do-don't die."

Homura narrowed her eyes at Sayaka. Hopefully this will get to her thick head. I hope this prevents her from contracting. However, even after all these loops, there had never been a single one where Sayaka Miki does not die before Walpurgisnacht. I must accept that Sayaka Miki is always destined to die, no matter what..

Homura turned towards Mami, she frowned slightly. I have to be careful around Mami.. Considering all those timelines, especially the third... Mami Tomoe is not mentally stable. She must never learn of the truth about Puella Magi. But I must tell Sayaka, Madoka, and Kyouko when she appears later on. Sayaka and Madoka just in case they still desire a wish even knowing half the consequences. Especially them. Kyouko won't be really a problem, she deals with the truth much better than Mami at least. Even if I can't prevent Kyouko from wishing, at least she can know the truth.

"I-I think its best for all of us to turn in early tonight. It was a pleasure to have you, Miki-san, Kaname-san.. a-and Akemi..san." Mami shakily recovered and smiled a tiny bit. Even if the smile was small, it was still genuine.

Two figure turned to the right and walked towards their homes. Whispering urgent whispers towards each other. A lone figure watched as they left. A sad look painted her amethyst eyes.

"Akemi..san..?" A timid but mature voice asked. Homura turned around to face Mami san, who opened her door slightly. "You should be going home.."

Annoyance flared in Homura's chest, "Listen, Mami. What I told you today was no lie. It would be better for you to stop living in that little dream world of yours and face cold, hard reality. I'm not trying to pick a fight, in fact I was hoping we would get along.. But you have to stop lying to yourself! If you don't believe me, you could just ask Kyuubey, no, Incubator."

Homura then turned her back on the Tomoe Residence, and walked briskly away into the night. Mami watched the ravenettes' retreating figure and frowned slightly. She sighed dejectedly and walked back inside the apartment, shutting the door behind her.

Curious red eyes watched the lone figure walking away from the building. Another pair of red eyes watched the golden-haired sophomore drink her already cold tea, sitting in her living room looking very lonely.

A third pair of eyes walked across a fencepost in a park. They watched the water fountain spew multiple streams of colorful water.

Everything is falling into place..