Sayaka awoke to find herself lying in ankle-deep water. The last thing she remembered was having her Soul Gem drained of its magic, then being taken by Homura. The sensation had felt oddly similar to when Madoka took Sayaka's soul to the Law of Cycles. Evidently, Homura had stolen that power from Madoka. Sayaka wasn't too surprised about that. Homura was never very creative or original. Sayaka stood up and looked around. Her surroundings looked like the water-logged ruins of Mitakihara City underneath a gray, cloudy sky, no doubt the aftermath of Walpurgisnacht's attack. She then looked behind her and gasped as she saw the shadow of Madoka's witch form, Kriemhild Gretchen, looming over the horizon. Sayaka shed a tear for her fallen friend, then readied her sword, prepared to slay the witch and save what was left of the world.
"That's not really Madoka, you know." Sayaka turned around to see Kyoko standing there. "Homura told me and Mami about this place. It's a sort of pocket dimension that appeared when she rewrote the universe." Sayaka glared at Kyoko, but the red magical girl kept talking. "I think I get it. If the Law of Cycles is Magical Girl Heaven, then this place must be Hell. Homura's idea of Hell, anyway."
"What are you doing here?!" Sayaka asked, pointing her sword at Kyoko.
Kyoko stared at the tip of Sayaka's sword. "After we first talked with Homura, I was on board with her plans, but Mami still didn't trust her."
"Gee, I wonder why."
"Yeah, well… A while ago, Mami and I made a little backup plan for if Homura ever crossed a line. One of us would sacrifice herself to awaken Madoka…" Kyoko pointed to herself. "… and the other would become a double agent. Now that Madoka's a goddess again, she should be coming to rescue us. With Mami's help, of course."
Sayaka kept her sword trained on Kyoko. "Mind explaining why you two helped Homura in the first place?"
Kyoko took a deep breath. "First of all, don't be mad at Mami. Working for Homura was my idea. I dragged her into it."
Sayaka scoffed. "Nice of you to cover for her, but I still want answers."
Kyoko looked away from Sayaka. "I know Homura didn't mean to, but she brought you back from the dead. After I lost you, I was this close to giving up on everything when Kyubey did his little experiment with Homura's Soul Gem. And let me tell you, being inside that witch labyrinth was the best time of my life. Know why?"
Sayaka lowered her sword. She was pretty sure she already knew where Kyoko was going with this. What she wasn't sure of was whether she wanted to hear it. Sayaka said nothing as Kyoko continued.
"It's because I got to see you again. Fighting alongside you, being friends with you, living with you… I loved every second of it." Kyoko paused. "And Homura rewriting the universe let me be with you again. How was I supposed to say no to that?"
"Kyoko…" Sayaka whispered.
Kyoko turned to face Sayaka, looking her straight in the eye. "I love you, Sayaka! And I can't live in a world without you!"
Sayaka dropped her sword. There might've been a time when that was exactly what she wanted to hear from Kyoko, but with their present circumstances and after everything Kyoko had done, Sayaka had no idea what to think anymore. All Kyoko's confession did now was stir up a torrent of emotions in Sayaka's mind. "Great. You lied to me for over a month, and now you lay this on me."
Kyoko gnashed her teeth. "Well, I'm sorry, but that's just how I feel about you."
"What exactly was your long term plan, huh? Were you just gonna hold me and Madoka hostage as you and Homura lived out your fantasy world? Were you ever planning on telling me the truth?"
"Okay, you got me. I didn't think that far ahead. Are you really surprised?" Kyoko's eyes started to water. "Back in Homura's labyrinth, you told me you regretted leaving me behind. Did you really mean that?"
Sayaka didn't answer right away. Unable to sort out the mess going through her head, she walked over to a pile of rubble and sat down on it, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know." Sayaka cried. "I just don't know anymore."
Kyoko didn't say anything. Unfortunately for her, Sayaka had a point. In Kyoko's desperation to be with Sayaka, all she ended up doing was getting them both hurt. Both Kyoko's plan and the two girls' friendship, relationship or whatever there was between them had literally gone to Hell in a handbasket. All they could do now was sit down and wait for Mami to come save them. Then at least they'd have an eternity in the Law of Cycles to work things out.
After disappearing from the physical world, Madoka found herself in a celestial void. She remembered that this was the same realm she and Homura ended up in just after Madoka made her world-altering wish, but before she ascended to godhood. Madoka began to weep remembering that moment when Nagisa appeared beside her. "Looks like we're going back." the white-haired girl said.
"Yeah, I guess we are." Madoka said, sniffling. Her attention was on Homura and Mami as the two of them made their way back to Homura's apartment. Madoka also sensed the presence of the hellish void Sayaka and Kyoko were held in.
"I see it, too." Nagisa said. "I don't know how, but we're gonna have to save them, aren't we?"
"Yep."
"Well, then we'd better rally the troops! I'm thinking we do a full scale assault on Homura, with-" Nagisa stopped when she noticed that Madoka had buried her face in her hands.
"This is so messed up. We shouldn't be fighting her like this. She's supposed to be our friend, and I… I…" Madoka couldn't even finish her sentence before bursting into tears.
"I know what you mean." Nagisa placed her hand on Madoka's shoulder. "I don't want to fight her either, and I especially don't want to fight Mami." The white-haired girl then turned her attention to her father and Ms. Saotome, who were desperately looking around for Nagisa after she'd "wandered off" in the middle of their date. "And to tell you the truth, I actually kinda liked Homura's world."
Madoka observed her family waiting for her at their house. Though she didn't say it out loud, Madoka sort of agreed with Nagisa. A part of her enjoyed living a happy life with her friends and family. Thanks to Homura, she now knew what her life might have been like if she'd never made contact with Kyubey.
But that was a life that could never be. Madoka had given that up when she made her contract and became the Law of Cycles, and now it was her duty to save all the magical girls of the world. Now two of them needed her help, and if Madoka had to fight Homura and Mami to save them, then she'd just have to accept that this was her destiny.
"Nice place you got here." Mami observed as Homura magically set up white walls and holographic images around her apartment. In previous timelines, Homura habitually set up her apartment like this when she made her plans for dealing with Walpurgisnacht. This layout helped her think by cutting down on distractions. Homura took a seat around the circular table in the center of the room. Mami sat down opposite her. "I have to admit, I never expected Sayaka to form an alliance with Kyubey." Mami looked straight at Homura, who had transformed into her demon form. "I don't blame you for wanting to torture him, but wouldn't it have been safer to just erase him altogether?"
Homura paused before answering. "I would have if I could, Mami Tomoe, but even I'm not that powerful. I can defile its mind, I can destroy its bodies, but I still can't get at its soul. As long as that still exists, the Incubators can't be permanently killed. Perhaps one day I'll find a way to destroy it, but Kyubey isn't our top priority right now."
"Right, Madoka…" Mami mumbled. "So what do we do now?"
"It's obvious, isn't it? My plan fell apart because I lost control of it, so I'll have to try it again from the beginning. But this time with fewer moving parts."
Mami tilted her head at Homura. "And by 'moving parts' I'm guessing you mean Kyoko and Sayaka?"
Homura stared at Mami for a moment. "Anyone who would jeopardize Madoka's happiness has no place in this world. They deserve to be kept in the Nexus of Despair for all eternity."
"Nexus of Despair, huh?" Mami scoffed.
"Yes, that unholy realm that the Law of Cycles can't reach."
Mami fell silent as she took all this in. If neither Madoka nor any magical girl from the Law of Cycles could enter that place, it was up to Mami to rescue her friends. As screwed up as Homura's plans were, Mami would have to play along until she found a way to save Sayaka and Kyoko, as well as take Homura down. "So how are we going to bring Madoka back to Earth?"
"Again, the answer should be obvious." Homura looked up at the projected images, all of which changed to pictures and schematics of Kyubey's isolation field. "As much as I despise that creature, I must admit its plan for capturing Madoka was clever, to say the least." Homura waved her hand, and an isolation field of her own appeared floating above the table in the center of the room. "My plan is more or less the same as that of the Incubators. All I need now is a Soul Gem."
"Okay, but where are we going to get…?" Mami gasped, realizing just where Homura was going with this. The yellow magical girl quickly got up and made a run for the exit, but was stopped by Homura's Clara Dolls manifesting in front of her. Unable to flee, Mami turned back to face Homura and conjured a rifle. She shot at Homura and missed, and the Clara Dolls started to gang up on Mami, eventually disarming and restraining her.
"Did you really think I didn't catch on to what you and Kyoko Sakura were planning?!" Homura shouted as she floated towards Mami. "Like I said, anyone who would jeopardize Madoka's happiness has no place in this world! I won't give you another chance to betray me!"
Mami struggled in vain against the Clara Dolls as Homura snatched her Soul Gem right out of her hair. Homura then placed Mami's Soul Gem inside the isolation field. Cut off from her soul, Mami's lifeless body fell to the floor. Homura waved her hand and Mami's body disappeared.
There had been a small number of timelines wherein Mami had succumbed to despair and turned into a witch. Because of that, Homura was familiar with Mami's witch form. She would bring victims into her labyrinth and sit them down to a neverending tea party. Anyone that tried to leave would be swiftly dealt with by her familiars, who each bore a strong resemblance to Mami's friends. Such a witch would be perfect for luring Madoka back to Earth.
With her preparations complete, Homura grabbed the isolated Soul Gem and teleported herself to the same place Kyubey had conducted his experiment. The distance would ensure that Mami's witch didn't place a kiss on any innocent bystanders. Homura conjured a demonic black throne and sat down to observe Mami's Soul Gem. With her plan in motion, all that remained was to wait for the opportune moment.
Madoka manifested inside Mami's witch labyrinth, dressed in her pink-and-white magical girl outfit. The isolation field Homura crafted cut off Madoka's access to most of her goddess powers, so this was the best she could do. Fortunately, it did allow her to bring along some of her allies from the Law of Cycles. She looked to her left to see Nagisa manifesting beside her. "Are you sure you're up for this? I know how close you and Mami were."
"All the more reason for me to help save her." Nagisa replied. "Don't worry, Madoka. We're ready for this."
Madoka raised her eyebrow at Nagisa. "We?"
"Yep." Nagisa replied. Beside her, the rose garden witch Gertrud, the box witch H.N. Elly and the shadow witch Elsa Maria appeared out of nowhere. "I figured we'd need all the help we could get, so I brought a few friends with me."
"Are you three staying in witch form?" Madoka asked. Elsa Maria nodded on their behalf. "Alright, then." Madoka turned to her right and waved her hand. In response, four of the strongest magical girls who ever lived came down from the Law of Cycles: Joan of Arc, Cleopatra VII Philopater, Queen Himiko, and perhaps the strongest of them all, Saint Walpurga.
Walpurga was arguably the most powerful magical girl in all of human history, barring Madoka. Unlike most magical girls who died young, she lived long into her 60s before joining the Law of Cycles. She'd mentored and commanded numerous other magical girls during her lifetime, and before Madoka rewrote the universe, Walpurga's witch continued that endeavor for centuries afterward, recruiting an entire "coven" of other witches and combining into the immensely powerful stage-constructing witch by the time she attacked Mitakihara City. Madoka hoped that Walpurga's tactical and leadership skills would ensure victory.
"Alright, ladies, are we ready to defeat the demon and save Mami Tomoe?!" Walpurga raised her warhammer in the air.
"We're ready!" Joan, Cleopatra and Himiko and Nagisa shouted in unison. The three witches beside them bowed their heads. Madoka said nothing, but went along with them as they followed Walpurga.
The entrance to Mami's witch labyrinth resembled a forest with a rainbow pathway winding every which way through the trees. Madoka's party followed the path, encountering several of Mami's familiars, the Du Polignacs, along the way. They vaguely resembled Mami's friends dressed up like maids carrying serving trays. Madoka and Nagisa felt rather uneasy seeing these caricatures of themselves and their friends. Rather than fight the magical girls as most familiars would, the Du Polignacs merely guided them along the path towards the center of the labyrinth.
Eventually, the party made it to a small house. A Du Polignac resembling Sayaka, Aoiro-san, opened the door for them, and they were treated to the sight of a room full of presents with a long table in the middle. A banner that read "Happy Birthday" hung on the wall, and a cake and several teacups sat on the table for the guests. A Du Polignac of each kind stood behind the table awaiting the witch's guests, and the one resembling Hitomi, Midoriiro-san, placed a cloche tray on the table and uncovered it to reveal Candeloro, the dress-up witch.
"Mami…" Nagisa muttered.
Madoka readied her bow. She didn't have time to indulge Candeloro by sitting down for tea. This wouldn't be like infiltrating Homulilly's labyrinth. The plan was for Madoka to literally get her hands on Candeloro as quickly as possible. Then she could erase the witch, destroy the isolation field and bring Mami's soul to the Law of Cycles, hopefully before Homura could intervene. Madoka nocked an arrow and shot it straight at Midoriiro-san's head, barely missing her target.
Candeloro's familiars responded in kind. The one resembling Madoka, Momoiro-san, shot back. Cleopatra conjured a khopesh in each of her hands, then jumped in front of Madoka and deflected the arrow. Aoiro-san charged and slashed at Cleopatra with its sword, but the Egyptian queen blocked it masterfully. While the two of them dueled, the Du Polignac resembling Kyoko, Akairo-san, came to Aoiro-san's aid and impaled Cleopatra from behind, taking her out of the fight as she healed the grievous injury. The red and blue familiars then turned their attention to Madoka.
"Something's wrong here." Himiko said as she jumped between the Du Polignacs and Madoka. "These are just familiars. They shouldn't be this powerful." Himiko conjured a katana in her right hand and a wakizashi in her left, then attacked Akairo-san, picking up where Cleopatra left off.
"It's Homura." Walpurga replied as she struck Aoiro-san in the head with her hammer. "She's amplifying the witch's power. But don't worry. We'll still win the day!" Walpurga then observed Candeloro latching on to Midoriiro-san and making a run for it. "You, take out the green one!" Walpurga yelled, pointing at Gertrud.
At Walpurga's command, the rose garden witch summoned a number of her familiars. The swarm of Anthonies and Adelberts flew at Candeloro. Midoriiro-san punched and kicked some of them away, but was quickly overwhelmed. Gertrud lurched forward to finish off Midoriiro-san. In the green Du Polignac's last moments before being stamped out, it tossed Candeloro to the familiar resembling Nagisa, Shiroiro-san.
"I've heard of being your own worst enemy, but come on." Nagisa quipped. Shiroiro-san blew its trumpet and blasted a barrage of bubbles at Nagisa. The white-haired magical girl jumped out of the way and responded in kind, dealing some damage to the familiar. Nagisa and Shiroiro-san kept at it a few more times before Nagisa tried a new strategy. "Bet you can't do this!" Nagisa then transformed into her witch form: Charlotte, the witch of sweets. In her serpentine second form, Charlotte lunged at Shiroiro-san with her mouth agape. Candeloro jumped off right before Shiroiro-san was swallowed whole.
With the dress-up witch temporarily unprotected, Elsa Maria launched her dark tendrils, trying to make a grab for Candeloro. Akairo-san jumped between the two witches, and Elsa Maria flinched, pulling back her tendrils. Joan took notice and joined up with Elsa Maria. "I know what you're thinking, but you need to focus!" Joan shouted as she conjured her lance. The two of them then ganged up on Akairo-san and made short work of the familiar. Unfortunately, Akairo-san provided just enough of a distraction for Momoiro-san to swoop in and pick up Candeloro.
Upon seeing several of her "friends" be destroyed, Candeloro became enraged. She went on the offensive, taking possession of Momoiro-san and using its body to fatally shoot Cleopatra while she was down. Candeloro then ensnared Gertrud in a web of yellow ribbons. With the rose garden witch bound and helpless, Candeloro shot her in the head. Gertrud was destroyed, and her body faded to nothingness. H.N. Elly flew at Candeloro in a reckless attempt to avenge Gertrud, but the box witch was quickly shot out of the air, meeting the same fate as her cohort.
"No!" Himiko shouted.
"They'll be fine." Walpurga said. "If any of us die here, we'll just go back to the Law of Cycles." With that, Walpurga landed the final blow on Aoiro-san, destroying the blue familiar.
"That's not the point…" Madoka mumbled. As Candeloro prepared another shot, this time aiming for Charlotte, Madoka launched an arrow at her Du Polignac doppelganger. The arrow struck true, and Momoiro-san was destroyed. Candeloro then fell into the hands of the only remaining Du Polignac: Kuroiro-san, who resembled Homura.
I think we've been at this long enough. Homura's voice echoed throughout the labyrinth. Madoka and her party turned their attention to Kuroiro-san, who had been enveloped by darkness. After a moment, the shadows dissipated to reveal Homura's demonic form looming over them, clutching Candeloro in her left hand. "It's good to see you again, Madoka."
"Homura… I don't want to fight you." Madoka said.
"Nor do I wish to fight you." Homura replied. "But I can't sit idly by while you suffer eternally. I promised I'd prevent you from making a contract, and if this is the only way to save you from your fate, then so be it!" With that, Homura crushed Candeloro in her hand, killing the dress-up witch.
Mami awoke to find herself lying face-up in shallow water in a ruined Mitakihara City. She then sat up to see Kyoko and Sayaka in front of her. It didn't take long for Mami to realize she'd been sent to the "Nexus of Despair" as Homura called it. "Mami, what happened?!" Kyoko shouted. "Why are you here?!"
Mami looked away from Kyoko. "The plan failed." Kyoko and Sayaka reeled back as Mami filled them in on what happened. She told them how she never got a chance to undercut Homura's plans before her Soul Gem had been used as bait to recapture Madoka. Mami also mentioned that Madoka couldn't reach them here in the Nexus of Despair, and that depending on the outcome of her and Homura's battle, the three of them could very well be stuck here forever.
"Dammit!" Kyoko kicked a piece of rubble in her frustration. "I should've known Homura would throw you under the bus like that."
"That's Homura for you. Completely obsessed with Madoka and to Hell with everyone else. Literally." Sayaka said. "So now what? How are we supposed to get out of here?"
"I don't know. I don't think we even can." Mami replied. "Sayaka… I'm sorry for everything. Can you ever forgive us?"
Sayaka sighed. "I'll see if I can. It's gonna take time, though."
Kyoko took a look around. "Well, we've got plenty of that."
"No!" Madoka shouted. She, Himiko, Joan and Walpurga readied their weapons and stared up at Homura's gigantic form.
"Give Mami back!" Nagisa shouted after she transformed back into her magical girl form. She and Elsa Maria joined up with the rest of the party.
"I can't." Homura said to Nagisa. "She was a threat to Madoka's happiness, as were Sayaka Miki and Kyoko Sakura." Homura stretched out her hand, and Candeloro's labyrinth changed to resemble Homulilly's. The Clara Dolls and Homulilly's other familiars appeared out of nowhere and surrounded the six magical girls. "Madoka is mine. Kill the others." At Homura's command, her familiars attacked.
Joan and Himiko sprang into action. The two of them charged the nearest familiars, slashing at the dolls with their blades. They both put up a good fight, taking out five of the fourteen Clara Dolls before being overwhelmed and killed by a squad of Lotte familiars.
Elsa Maria called forth her familiars, the Sebastians. Each of the dark, serpentine creatures wove throughout Homulilly's minions, constricting and swallowing as many as they could. But despite the shadow witch's valiant effort, there were simply too many familiars to deal with. The remaining Dolls managed to close in and destroy her.
"We need a new strategy!" Walpurga yelled. She pointed at Nagisa. "Change into your witch form, now!" Nagisa complied, transforming back into Charlotte. Walpurga and Madoka jumped on Charlotte's back, then the dessert witch flew them away from the familiars and straight towards Homura.
"Do you really think you can win?" Homura pointed her open hand towards Charlotte and blasted a purple energy beam at the witch of sweets. The beam grazed Charlotte and knocked Walpurga off of her. But before Walpurga fell into the mob of familiars, Madoka tapped into what little power she still had, and a pair of angelic wings sprouted from her back. The goddess took flight and caught her cohort just in time.
"Thanks. Now let me return the favor." Walpurga threw her warhammer at Homura and hit her square in the face. With the demon momentarily distracted, Walpurga jumped out of Madoka's arms and back on to Charlotte. "Take care of these familiars." Walpurga ordered Madoka. "I'm going for Homura."
"Alright, I trust you." Madoka looked down at the familiars. None of them seemed to be paying attention to her, likely because of Homura's order. Instead they were throwing their weapons at Charlotte, who barely managed to weave between their attacks. Madoka nocked another arrow, pointed her bow skyward and fired. An enormous sigil appeared in the air, and a hail of arrows rained down on the familiars, wiping out nearly all of them.
As Madoka dealt with Homura's minions, Walpurga rode Charlotte towards Homura herself. The demon shot more energy blasts at the veteran magical girl, but Walpurga created a magical shield to block them mid-air. She then conjured dozens of hammers and flung all of them at Homura, dealing a significant amount of damage. "You might not want to make yourself such a big target!" Walpurga boasted.
Homura scowled at Walpurga, but took the saint's advice. The demon shrunk down to normal size. She then spread her wings and flew towards Charlotte and Walpurga. Charlotte opened her mouth and tried to swallow Homura whole. Charlotte succeeded, but it backfired when Homura ripped Charlotte apart from the inside, destroying the witch and causing Walpurga to fall to the ground.
"Not bad, Homura." Walpurga said as she recovered. "Maybe in some other timeline we could've been allies. Shame we were always enemies before."
"What do you mean?" Homura asked as she touched down. The remaining three Clara Dolls joined up with her.
"Here's a hint." Walpurga performed several arcane gestures with her right hand, and the shadowy spirits of seven fallen magical girls appeared around her, cackling and dancing in circles. Homura flinched, having just realized who she was up against. Walpurga took the opportunity to charge Homura while the saint's minion's kept the Clara Dolls off of her. Walpurga's hammer struck Homura's shoulder, fracturing it and flinging her back. Homura winced, then materialized her Dark Orb and magically healed herself.
Walpurga jumped at Homura, about to strike another blow. But before it landed, Homura tapped into her Dark Orb's powers and teleported away, reappearing behind Walpurga. The demon then spread her wings, launching the black feathers that fell from them at her enemy. The razor-sharp feathers cut down some of Walpurga's familiars and slashed Walpurga herself, bringing the veteran magical girl to her knees. Homura raised her left hand, the Dark Orb floating above it, preparing to eliminate Walpurga.
Suddenly, one of Madoka's energy arrows grazed Homura's hand, causing her to drop the Dark Orb. Homura turned to see Madoka pointing her bow at Homura, trembling and barely holding back her tears. "Homura, please…" Madoka squeaked out. "Please stop. I didn't want it to be like this."
"Madoka…" Homura whispered.
"How 'bout we make this simple?" Homura turned to see Walpurga holding the Dark Orb in one hand and a warhammer in the other. "This is your only chance. Give back Sayaka, Kyoko and Mami, or I'll break it."
Madoka gasped. "Wait, Walpurga, you can't-"
Homura waved her hand, and her few remaining familiars rushed Walpurga in an attempt to retrieve the Dark Orb. "I see you've made your choice." Walpurga made good on her threat and smashed the orb with her hammer. The familiars around her disappeared, and Homura's lifeless body fell to the ground.
"NO!" Madoka shouted. She flew over to Homura's body, clutching it as tight as she could right before it disappeared into darkness. Madoka fell to her knees, bawling uncontrollably. "How… could… you…?"
Walpurga looked away, surveying their surroundings as they slowly faded away. "Believe me, Madoka, I know a thing or two about endlessly spinning in circles. Homura was never going to learn, only pursue her obsession endlessly. That's why she became that demon. I know it's hard to accept, but the Homura you knew and loved died a long time ago, if she even existed at all." Walpurga sighed. "We'll have to find some other way to rescue your friends."
Madoka had no words. She'd made her wish so she could save every single magical girl from despair, and yet the ones closest to her, the ones she most wanted to save, she couldn't. As she and Walpurga returned to the Law of Cycles empty-handed, the goddess could only weep.
Homura awoke to find herself in the Nexus of Despair, the Hell of her own making. Having failed Madoka once and for all, she was truly beyond redemption. Madoka would be better off with Homura sealed away in this miserable place forever.
Homura looked up to see Sayaka, Kyoko and Mami staring down at her. She could feel the immense hatred and resentment emanating from her former allies. Considering all she'd put them through, this wasn't surprising in the slightest. As the Clara Dolls manifested around her, the three magical girls silently turned their backs on the demon. Homura made no attempt to resist her own familiars as they dragged her into the false Kriemhild Gretchen's labyrinth. This was exactly the ultimate fate she deserved.
Hitomi took a deep breath, then rang Homura's doorbell. Unsurprisingly, there was no answer. This was exactly how it had been with all the others. Hitomi had noticed that all her friends had been absent from school for the past several days. Growing concerned, she first visited Mami's apartment only to find it empty. A distraught Mr. Momoe had been passing by at the time, and he told Hitomi that Nagisa had been missing ever since his date with Ms. Saotome. Hitomi then went to the Miki residence, and Mr. Miki said that neither Sayaka nor Kyoko ever made it back from Kyosuke's recital. After that, Hitomi checked the Kaname household and found out that Madoka never came home that night either. At least that's what Hitomi pieced together from Tatsuya's crying and Junko's drunken ramblings. Now here she was at Homura's apartment, and without her, that meant all six of Hitomi's friends were missing.
"Hey, are you a friend of Miss Akemi's?" Hitomi looked behind her to see a middle-aged man, who she assumed was the apartment manager. "Any idea where she is?"
"I wish I knew." Hitomi replied. "No one's seen her in days."
"I was afraid of that." The manager used his master key to unlock the door. Hitomi followed him in and saw Homura's cat hiding under the couch. The manager walked over to the cupboard, took out some cat food and poured it in the cat's food dish. "I've been stopping by to feed Amy here for the past couple days, but if her owner is missing, I'm gonna have to give her to an animal shelter. Terms of the lease, you know."
"Would it be okay if I took her?" Hitomi asked. She figured that Homura wouldn't want to go through the hassle of getting Amy back once she got home from wherever she was. Hitomi's parents might not be too happy about having a cat in the house, but maybe they'd understand in this case.
"Yeah, if you want. I'm not sure she's gonna like it, though. That cat never gets along with anyone."
"Well, if that's true, I don't think she'll like the shelter any better."
"Good point. She's all yours, then." With that, Hitomi and the apartment manager packed Amy's supplies into Hitomi's bag, then spent the better part of an hour wrangling Amy into a cat carrier. As the apartment manager called the police to file a missing persons report, Hitomi took off with Amy in tow.
As Hitomi walked home, thoughts of her missing friends plagued her mind. Where were they, and how did they all vanish in one night? Were they even still alive? Between the immense worry and the pain of losing almost her entire friend circle at once, Hitomi's eyes started to water. She pulled out her phone to give Kyosuke a call, but before hitting the call button, she stopped. Knowing him, he'd probably say something oblivious and insensitive, if he even picked up at all. Either way, that wasn't what Hitomi needed at the moment. Realizing how alone she was right now, Hitomi's tears began to flow.
Run, Hitomi Shizuki! A voice echoed in her mind. She opened her eyes to see a white weasel-like creature running away from her, then turned around and saw an enormous ghost floating towards her. Hitomi screamed, dropped her phone and ran away for dear life, holding onto the cat carrier as tight as she could. This way! That same voice, which Hitomi assumed belonged to the weasel, called out to her again. She saw him turn a corner into an alleyway and decided to follow it. Both of them hid from the ghost behind a dumpster.
"What is that thing?!" Hitomi asked. "And what-"
The creature put its ear over Hitomi's mouth. Don't speak. We can communicate using my telepathy.
Hitomi's mind was racing, frantically searching for a logical explanation for all this. Maybe it was some kind of grief-induced hallucination? She put down the cat carrier and observed that Amy was also reacting to the creature, hissing and attempting to claw at it. Unless the cat was having the exact same hallucinations as she was, Hitomi didn't have much choice but to take what she was seeing at face value. What's going on?!
My name is Kyubey. And that thing chasing us is called a wraith. It's a ruthless phantom born from the curses of humanity. Kyubey poked his head around the side of the dumpster to take a look. It won't be long before it closes in on us, but you have the power to destroy it!
Hitomi stood up and saw the wraith lurching toward them. Okay, and how do I do that?
Simple. All you have to do is make a contract with me, and become a magical girl!