Archive of Our Own ^beta

Homura loved Madoka.

It was always a fact. Homura loved Madoka. She was the one who opened that ivory window for her, to a world filled with possibilities. To her very own witch labyrinth.

She even loved Madoka as she lied here, the soft weight of her soul gem on her body, as Mami and Kyoko stood there. They were all staring.

Staring at Madoka. The girl Homura loved. The one who donned a white dress, while the chariot moved alongside the rainbow road, while Sayaka spoke to a familiar (was it Bebe? She didn't know.)

She opened her eyes slightly. That divine being in front of her was gorgeous. Madoka was always gorgeous. She was so much better than Homura, it hurt. It almost blinded her back then, it that fight with Walpurgisnascht. When Madoka had pulled the string to the sky, saving all magical girls from despair.

Madoka was so selfless. Another virtue down. But Homura knew that. She was so tired, despite all of it. Every day, before, when Madoka was gone, she'd went through agony. Knowing Madoka would never come back. Knowing that the only reason she didn't end it all was because of Madoka's wish. Madoka's wish. Madoka's wish, Madoka's wish, you fucking idiot, can't you remember that? You should be remembering Madoka, Madoka, Madoka, MADOKA-

But it was okay now. Madoka was with her. Madoka was telling her that she would stay with Homura, that they could be together forever. She was so tired, she just wanted to give in. She just wanted to be carried away by this etheral, divine presence. This "Madoka."

But Kyubey. Kyubey would invalidate Madoka's wish. And just thinking about that damn cat's ugly face made sparks of rage bubble up in her chest. And what about Madoka's feelings? Madoka was selfless, yes. But she said she was sad. That hurt so much more. Madoka couldn't even live, and now she was sad. Now she was sad. Now Madoka was sad, so sad, so alone.

Her eyes glazed over. Maybe this was Madoka, but this wasn't the real Madoka. It wasn't her Madoka. It wasn't the Madoka she remembered. It wasn't Madoka. Maybe it was her witching out, but she really couldn't keep Madoka safe in the end. Madoka needed to be safe. Madoka needed to be kept safe.

"Yes, we will." Homura whispered. A small smile made up on her face. She could feel the beauty reaching for her now unearthly soul gem, and she might have been relieved, she might have been able to rest-

Madoka is sad. Madoka is sad. Madoka is sad.

Madoka was sad. She couldn't let her Madoka be sad. She needed her Madoka back.

She grabbed "Madoka"'s wrists, not letting go. 

"H... homura-chan?" "Madoka" asked, a look of pure shock scrawled over her face. Homura couldn't help but smile.

"...I've... finally..."

Her soul gem let out a noise, like a level up on an arcade machine. Like the ones they used to play back in those early timelines. What timeline was it? It didn't matter.

"...caught you."

Her soul gem began to leak, or something like that. Pure tendrils of whatever was corrupting her soul gem started to wave around frantically, moving Madoka closer to her. Now Madoka could be her Madoka. Not some stupid Law of Cycles, where she was destined to be upset. She was safe. Finally.

"O-oi!" Kyoko gasped, stepping back a little. Mami's hair was swaying in the breeze. Both of them didn't know what was going on. Well, was Homura meant to answer? She couldn't know what was going on. She had Madoka, that was all that mattered.

"What is that? Desire? Insatibility? Akemi Homura, what are you-?!"

Her eyes were going pure technicolor. She finally had Madoka in her grasp. She'd went through so much pain as a witch, and here was her salvation. It was just getting drunk on love, because that was all there was. Love. It was intoxicating, filled her with pure esctasy. She was high on her own emotions, that nobody could understand. She was truly human, possessing the symbol of Venus and Aphrodite, but she'd forever be above them after this.

"I don't expect you to understand." She exhaled, mouth curving into a smile. Everybody could be forsaken, and Madoka could be left behind. Her Madoka. Saved.

"Yes, nobody could understand. This emotion is mine alone. It's for Madoka alone!"

All the Puella Magi were bracing themselves. For what? For her despair and new-found power to overflow? She did nothing wrong. She just saved Madoka.

Then her soul gem cracked. If she was meant to feel upset, or dead, she didn't now. She felt better than before. Always better. Reality was shattering before her eyes, like shards of glass. The elephant carrying chariot moved off rails, dragging its passengers alongside it.

"Homura, don't!" this fake "Madoka" screamed. Her eyes were frantic, and she was starting to phase out of reality. For a minute, she felt sad. The despir was catching up on her, the hangover after the party. This would invalidate her wish. But in a flash, she realized it would end up hurting her more. After all, Homura knew what was best for Madoka. For her Madoka. Not this corrupted, insane Madoka that didn't know what she was doing. "You'll rip me apart!"

And so she did. Only a few cracks seperated this Law of Cycles, and the true Madoka. Homura couldn't help but smile. Here she was, she finally got Madoka. Now everybody else could be forsaken.

"I told you, Madoka." She whispered, as she pulled Madoka down to her height. She could hear galss shattering, multiple cracks running through her surroundings. That "Madoka" was now caught in the crossfire of the white lines, slowly being ripped apart. She could feel that power surging through her, the power to protect the real Madoka. One more shatter, and Madoka was in her arms.

Her soul gem sparkled a little, before cracking. A dam of ebony, multicolored plasma spewed out of it. Filled with circles, like tainted love. Love that weighed on Earth so hard it shattered reality, rewrote the universe. Like a devil who could finally don the title of "fallen angel."

It covered up the other girls. Quickly, she could feel her power spreading across the universe. The Earth shattering, before being filled with a void of pure love for Madoka. Yes, she would save Madoka. Finally. Finally, Madoka was here, safe and sound.

In an orange space, she floated. Her soul gem bubbled out of her throat, which she promptly cracked. As the Nutcracker Witch.

Of course, her soul did not shatter. It instead became a million concepts, a million fractions of herself. To keep her immortal.

When the threads of Madoka's fate collided with the concept, it created a new soul gem. One that was purple as the night, with dark outlines. It filled up her technicolor mind, with nothing but satisfaction.

On a moonlit night, a girl sat on a white chair, hair swaying in the breeze. Legends say there was another chair, but the other person was gone now. Just like her, pereptually alone for her own selfishness.

The wind whistled through her hair, the trees, and stalks of grass. The city lights across Mitakihara city were slightly nostalgic, but now simply held bitter memories.

The wheat behind her rustled. She turned around, expecting her beloved, but was only met with a cabbity creature, its fur matted and dirty. She stood up, and held out a crown like figure. It rotated around her as she began to dance, stepping around the cabbit with triumph.

She gazed upon the thing, her sign of absolute love and devotion. With a small smile, she leaned over to fall off the cliffside.

It was funny, she thought, laughing as she fell. It was so funny that Madoka had opened that window for her, which was now shut. Shut with the own pink ribbons she once held so dear. After all...

Homura loved Madoka.