Stepping into a labyrinth for the first time was certainly an experience for Madoka. This strange cartoon like reality made her feel… sad. Not afraid, just sad. Was it something to do with what Homura had said? That it wasn't their fault? That the creators of this place were just following their nature.

"Are you alright Madoka?"

Madoka tried to give her friend a reassuring smile. It probably wasn't working. "I'm fine. Just… feeling a bit weird."

"It takes some time to get used to your first labyrinth. You're doing well so far," Homura said.

"Thank you. So, what do these familiars look like?"

"They're unique depending on the Witch that created them. They're easy to find since they usually come for us."

"You mean like that grey mustached head with giant scissors over there?" Madoka pointed. Yea, it was hard to miss one of those.

Homura turned around. "That's one of them." The Magical Girl reached into her shield and pulled out a-

"A golf club?" Madoka asked. "Is that your Magical Girl weapon?"

Homura blushed though she made sure to keep her attention focused on the familiars. "No, my weapon is this shield. It lets me store whatever I put into it for later. It also… lets me stop time."

Madoka looked at Homura in awe. "Really? That's amazing."

"You believe me? Most people don't until I actually show them."

"I don't think you'd lie to me. I trust you."

"Oh…"

The familiar chose that chance to jump at them, only for Homura to suddenly reappear behind it and smack it on the back of the head. She then kicked away its scissors and held it against the ground with the head of her golf club.

"Do you want to take a swing now?" Homura asked. She looked at her golf club. "Er, no pun intended."

Madoka held up her bow but hesitated to draw the string. Homura was awfully close to that familiar. "I'm afraid I might hit you."

It was Homura's turn to smile. "I know you won't. I trust you."

That encouragement was all Madoka needed to create her arrow and draw the string. Her hands were steady as she nocked her arrow and released. It flew true and pierced the familiar's head.

"You always- er… I had a feeling you were a good archer," Homura commented as she stepped back and let the familiar fade away.

"It was a lucky shot," Madoka said. That was the first time she had ever used a bow and yet it felt completely natural to her. "Thanks for holding it still." She looked around. "Is that it?"

"No, it's only over when the labyrinth starts fading. There's no Witch here so we'll have to kill all the familiars to get rid of it." Homura began walking deeper into the labyrinth. "Follow me."

"How many of them are there usually?" Madoka asked as she followed the Magical Girl closely.

"A lot usually. We're almost always going to be outnumbered."

Eventually they ran into a small group of familiars. At least ten of them if Madoka was counting correctly.

Madoka gulped as she raised her bow once more.

That was… a big jump from just one.

Homura on the other hand put away her golf club away into her shield and then pulled out a-

"Is that a gun!?" Madoka squealed, almost breaking her stance.

"Uh… yes?" Homura replied as she casually held a semiautomatic handgun. It seemed surprisingly fitting in her hands, much more so than that golf club. "I was told it was a good weapon for me to use."

"What else do you have in there?"

"A few shotguns and rifles. Also, some bombs."

"Where did you get those?"

"I er… stole the guns from Yakuza."

"How!?"

"I stopped time. Also, I made the bombs myself."

Normally Madoka was against stealing, but considering that Homura had taken them from the and she was using them for a good cause…

At that moment the familiars finally noticed their presence and started their charge. Homura immediately raised her gun and fired.

BANG!

The sound of the first shot was near deafening and the ones that followed it caused Madoka's ears to ring.

"Loud!"

"S-sorry." Homura replied but still continued firing.

Madoka grit her teeth and tried to shoot at the familiars with her bow.

It was one thing to shoot an immobilized target, but trying to aim and fire her bow against several monsters running at her with deadly intent? Well, she panicked and completely missing her first few shots. The only damage her arrows caused were the holes she left in the walls and floors. Thankfully Homura had been there to shoot down any familiars that got within a certain distance.

Did guns have to be so loud though? Every time Homura fired it felt like Madoka's head was getting rattled.

"Just... remember to take a deep breath and focus on the target in front of you. Don't be afraid of missing, just try your best," Homura said as she stopped firing before her last bullet and released the magazine. She reached into a shield and pulled out a new clip which she promptly inserted into the gun. That entire process took less than second. "That's what an old friend told me."

Madoka took a deep breath and felt that her nerves had calmed.

Focus on the target in front of you. Don't be afraid of missing. Just do her best.

She nocked her arrow against her bow and tracked the movement of a familiar that had begun strafing on its way towards her.

Just be the best that she could be.

Madoka released and her arrow blew off one of its legs. Not killing, but an immobilizing blow. Enough that she could ready another arrow and shoot it down before it could get back up. She then turned back to Homura's direction and shot at the one of the familiars the Magical Girl had been keeping occupied.

Deep breaths.

Her fated enemy was in front of her. All she had to do was shoot them down.

Like clockwork, she fired her arrows. Again and again. Until everything in front of her had been shot down. She then moved forward with Homura to hunt down whatever familiars remained within the labyrinth. It wasn't the world around them began to collapse before she finally let herself relax.

"That was great Madoka."

"What?" Madoka replied unable to hear her. Her ears were still recovering from the gunfire. She decided not to mention that lest the Magical Girl blame herself for being its cause.

"That was great Madoka," Homura said a bit more loudly this time. "How do you feel?"

"Tired I think?" Madoka replied. "My arm and back is sore."

"Is that it?"

"Am I supposed to feel something else?"

"You're not a Magical Girl and it was your first time using your bow. It would make sense that you're sore."

"Magical Girls don't get tired?"

"Not physically, but we can use up our magic." Homura showed Madoka her Soul Gem. "The more we use up, the darker our Soul Gems get. We need to cleanse it with a Witch's grief seed before it gets too dark or else it'll get us killed fighting… or something worse."

"Something worse?"

"It's… nothing you need to worry about right now."

"Ok." Madoka looked around the site where the labyrinth had been located, a closed off section of the mall that she and her friends went to regularly. It was a good thing they had dealt with those creatures, a lot of people could've gotten hurt. Now they were safe.

There wasn't even any damage to the building. All the damage to the labyrinth had disappeared with it, as did the traces of the familiars. It was as if their battle had never happened in the first place. It was starting to make sense how the existence of Witches could be kept a secret from most other people for so long.

Convenient too, as it gave them enough time to get back to her house before dinner.

"I'm home," Madoka called out as stepped inside her house with Homura following close behind. "And I brought Homura." She had already texted her father beforehand so that he could cook an extra portion, it was just polite to announce a guest's presence.

"Meow." Amy greeted first, as always, before going back to the food in its bowl.

"Welcome back," her father called out from the kitchen.

"Mado-ka!" Tatsuya called cheerfully out from his little booster seat.

"Hello Mr. Kaname." Homura bowed her head. "Thank you for having me over for dinner."

Her father smiled. "Make yourself at home. Any friend of Madoka's is welcome."

"You're very kind."

"Why don't you show her to your room?" he suggested to Madoka. "There's still some time before your mother gets home for dinner."

"Oh! She's finishing early today?" Madoka asked.

"Yes. She also wanted to meet your new friend."

"I'm looking forward to meeting her," Homura replied.

"And this is my little brother, Tatsuya." Madoka brought her hand to the toddler who grabbed it eagerly.

"Mado! Sis!"

Madoka gestured to Homura. "This is Homura she's a friend."

"Homewuh friend?" Tatsuya looked at Homura curiously

"Yes."

"Homewuh!" Tatsuya raised his arms and shouted cheerfully.

Madoka giggled and Homura smiled.

"That mean he likes you. A lot. Even Sayaka had to play with him a lot before he started calling her name."

"Thank you, Tatsuya." Homura held a finger out.

Tatsuya grabbed it, tugged a few times, and then brought their hands together. "Friend!" he happily exclaimed.

Well. Apparently Homura had gotten her brother's approval.

After playing with him and Amy for a bit, they made their way up to Madoka's room.

"You have a nice family and home," Homura commented as she sat down on the carpet.

"Thank you," Madoka replied as she opened a window to let some air in. "Mama works really hard to provide for us and Papa is always there to take care of us."

"Do you ever find it weird that your father is the one that stays at home?" Homura asked. "N-not that that bothers it's just something you don't see very often."

Madoka thought about it for a bit. "Not really. At least I don't think its weird. A couple of boys back in elementary used to make fun of him though."

It all had all started on Class Observation Day when her mother had been busy with work. Her father had shown up instead, and he had stood out in a room full of mothers. When it came out that he was a househusband, several boys and even a girl began to make fun of him.

"That can't have been easy," Homura said.

"It wasn't," Madoka admitted. How could it not? Considering that they were mocking the people she loved. "Thankfully Sayaka was there too. She got mad and got them to stop."

"That should've been interesting."

"It was. She said," Madoka cleared her throat, "What's wrong with her father staying home? And her mother is a successful businesswoman. What do you mother's do?"

"That does sound like Miki," Homura chuckled.

"Yea she's always been there to protect and help remind me how great Mama is."

"Your mother seems like a very impressive woman."

"She is. I really want to be like her one day. She's so strong and cool and doesn't let anyone mess with her." Madoka scratched the back of her head. "Me on the other hand? I need Sayaka to deal with a couple of bullies. I… can't say anything to them really."

It was something that she regretted, being unable to act by herself. She wanted to do something, but it was just hard. She didn't like hurting people even if they were hurting her, but that didn't mean she should let them get away with it.

She should've done something.

She should do something.

She would do it.

"M-Madako? Why did you take your bow out?"

Madoka looked down. Her eyes went wide once she saw her bow in her hands.

"Eep!"

She let it fall out of her hand and disappear.

That was scary. Just because she wanted to do something didn't mean that that something was to shoot them!

"Still trying to get control of your powers?" Homura asked.

"Yea," Madoka chuckled nervously. "I'm worried that it might just pop up in class if I'm not careful." The bow just came to her hands so easily now and it made her feel brave holding it. Maybe a bit too brave. "You ever have issues like that with your powers?"

"No… Magical Girls instinctively know how to use their Magic. There's always room for us to learn, improve, and adapt it but we usually have no issue controlling it unless something really bad happens to us."

"Really bad?"

"I knew a girl who lost her magic, because something really bad happened because of her wish and she felt terrible. She was still one of the toughest Magical Girls I knew without her magic, but… I don't think she ever recovered."

"Magical Girls go through a lot. Don't they?"

"They do. It's not an easy life… which is why I don't suggest you become one."

"Homura?"

Homura raised her hands. "I mean I won't stop you from making your own decision. If you want then I won't get in your way, but just make sure to think about it. Make sure that you know you really want."

"You're really nice Homura."

"Eh!?"

"And considerate. Thank you for worrying about me."

"Y-you're welcome."

They talked a bit more before Homura requested to use the bathroom. After being given directions, Homura left the room leaving Madoka alone.

A sudden breeze brought a swift chill to her home. She stood up and turned around to close it only to find a… white bunny cat thing sitting on her windowsill.

It looked fairly cute if a bit peculiar. Something that Madoka would've definitely cuddled with had it been a stuffed animal and not a living creature with a swaying tail and eyes that seemed to follow her every movement.

Hello Madoka.

Its voice was cute. It was also apparently telepathic.

"H-hi," Madoka said.

You're very calm. Most girls react differently when they see me for the first time.

"I've… had a long day," Madoka replied. Honestly, stuff like this stopped being strange to her. Kinda have to roll with it at some point. It was either that or lose her mind.

Certainly, a productive one. You did well, dealing with those familiars.

"Thanks."

Even as a normal human your powers are quite exceptional.

Madoka wasn't really sure that having powers characterized her as normal at this point but she wasn't going to argue with it.

You would make an excellent Magical Girl.

At that point her brain had essentially shut down. She simply stared at in silence. Long enough that Homura had time to finish with her business and step into the room to find the two of them staring at each other.

"Kyubey!?" Homura shouted.

"Is everything alright Sweetie?" Madoka's father called out form downstairs.

It was at that point that Madoka's brain had finally jumpstarted itself, if only to stop her father from running in. "Everything's fine Papa! Homura just read something funny."

"Okay! You girls have your fun!"

You know of me? Kyubey turned to Homura. Yet I do not remember ever forming a Contract with you.

"The situation of my Contract… was complicated," Homura replied. She was stiff and nervous in the cat's presence for some reason.

I'm sure I could understand if you told me.

Homura remained silent.

No matter. Kyubey turned its head and began to address Madoka. As I was saying, you are very capable and would make an excellent Magical Girl.

"You want me to become a Magical Girl?" Madoka asked. "H-how does that work?"

You form a Contract with me. In exchange for any wish you desire, you become a Magical Girl and fight Witches.

"B-but why me?"

Kyubey tilted its head. You have great potential, the potential to become one of the strongest Magical Girls in existence. And you've already used what powers you currently have to fight familiars. Imagine what you could do with the strength provided from a Contract.

"How long have you been watching us?" Madoka asked.

"It's always watching us," Homura replied. "Even when we can't see it most of the time."

I am not suited to combat. It's a necessity to keep myself hidden so that I am able to provide guidance as needed.

"So… like a mascot. In those Magical Girl animes," Madoka said.

There are some similarities. The first of those animes and mangas were based off the life experiences of a previous Magical Girl who had pursued a career in that field.

"Isn't magic supposed to be kept a secret though?"

We allowed it because it was promoted as a fictional work. Did you believe Magical Girls existed by watching those shows alone?

"No," Madoka admitted.

It was also a way of gauging how receptive society would currently be about the existence of magic, should we ever consider making Magic's existence public knowledge. Or should a situation arise in which that is forced to happen outside of our foresight. It doesn't happen often, but we wish to avoid another situation like the Salem Witch hunts. We lost a number of Magical Girls because of rampant fear and paranoia that humans seem prone to experiencing,

Madoka shivered at the thought. Being hung, drowned, or burned alive at a stake wasn't a fate she would've wished on anyone.

"And now?" Homura asked.

We are still gathering information before we can form a consensus. As for your Contract Madoka.

"Madoka. You shouldn't force yourself to make a wish," Homura said. "It's not a decision you should make lightly… if at all," she muttered under her breath.

Madoka looked at Homura before turning to Kyubey and then back to Homura. "I think I need some time to think about this."

We will give you as much time as you need. Kyubey bowed its head and turned around. Just know that we will always be there for you. It then jumped away and disappeared into the night.

Once it was gone, Madoka let out a deep breath and sat on her bed.

"Homura?"

"Yes Madoka?"

"You wouldn't happen to know a good psychiatrist. Would you?"

"No. Sorry."

"That's fine then."

Madoka buried her head into a pillow. She then let out all her stress and frustration in a single scream.

"MMUAAAAAAUUUHHHH!"