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Violent, gray, and swirling clouds begin to slow their rushing. Holes perforate the once total cover of the sky, orange light shining through into the despondent city.
Pieces of what were once the great, world-ending Walpurgis, fray and slowly fall to the ground below. Smitten by the righteous goddess of the Magical Girls, the Supreme Witch is dead.
Homura Akemi, the black-clad Devil, spirals downwards, unable to keep herself in the sky any longer. Her captive deity has reclaimed power, power which she had so suddenly stolen upon gaining the chance some time ago.
Her feathers erratically oscillate back and forth, weakly connected to long bony wings. Many fall off through the wind on the way downwards. Small black fragments of this form's fabric break off and become suspended in air. Terror fills Homura's soul as she continues to spin and fall.
Her eyes dart around at the ground below. The city is largely in ruins, yet again. Like she's seen dozens of times. Orange light spreads across the gray wreckage, a melancholic land to which she falls.
The landscape below grows closer, larger, sooner. Perhaps this impact, if it hurts much at all, is what she deserves.
Madoka's true form has been restored. United, one entity again. The goddess who brought the Magical Girls hope, who made sure their wishes never turned into the very curses they fought... has returned.
Millions of memories, a knowledge of everything which has ever happened, floods her ascended mind. Other universes, which were destroyed and rebuilt into new ones, the current world a product of one such reset. At the center of all this lies a girl, brave and driven by love, who went through hell to save Madoka.
The savior of Magical Girls finds herself descending from the dusk sky, majestic white wings stretched outward and slowly swaying as she descends towards the site where her lover lay.
Not everything is in order as it typically would, having only just regained this power, but that is okay. She is here, and that is what matters most.
The air around her twinkles, leaving white, peaceful sparks behind her. She moves as an arrow of light through the tragedy that has befallen this world. That has befallen Homura, the poor girl.
"Homura... it's all going to be alright."
Her soft, godly voice echoes through the now still air.
A beacon of pink light, facing from the sky down to this pitiful state among the rubble, shines upon Homura's eyes, half-open. Something she's seen before, yet only once. The girl she loves with all her heart descends from above, bringing with her the form of her ultimate sacrifice.
She is beautiful in her white and universal form, long pink hair seemingly stretching on without end. Five pink gems adorn the top of the dress, one fit only for a goddess.
Homura's arms and legs sprawl across chunks of concrete, but she cannot bother to move them. Weakness, as it has always plagued her, keeps her in this state. She is unbothered by the rough, jagged rubble upon which she lies.
Madoka grows closer and closer. Homura wanted such a thing for so long... yet, she knows what it means:
She has failed. Madoka will forever remain merely a concept, the Law of Cycles, never to see her family or friends and experience a normal human life. Homura doesn't know what will happen to her, nor does she care; only Madoka is her concern.
Memories flash into her mind. Losing Madoka, over and over again. Having to even kill her. Begging her in vain to stay a regular girl. This is a continuation of all that, isn't it?
Perhaps for her sins, it would be best she be punished by the girl who she violently tore in half, driven by an insane, all-consuming love. The devil and her evil cannot go without retribution, can they?
Water begins to collect in her eyes. The merely stare at Madoka, the unreleased tears growing larger.
"Homura... you don't have to cry. I won't let you continue to hurt like this, okay?"
Golden, illuminating eyes look into Homura's. Madoka cares so much for the poor and broken girl, her smiling face gazing upon her. Homura notices the forgiving tone with which she speaks. Yet, her fear remains. Madoka does not blame her, after all that has happened.
Homura starts to cry. Slow, soft, overwhelmed sobbing. Her breath trembling, she speaks to her savior.
"Madoka... I’m so sorry..."
The goddess turns her body around as she floats, now only a few meters from Homura. She places her winged heels gently upon the slanted and broken pieces of the city. Above and behind her flows that endless, glowing pink hair.
"You don't have to apologize, Homura. I understand everything now."
The former rebel's fear and uncertainty is mixed with confusion. Madoka was always so endlessly kind... yet, she doesn't deserve it. Did she ever? Yes, she does. She always has, ever since they met.
"B—but—"
"I know. I'm sorry too, Homura."
"No!" Homura cries, eyes shutting and squeezing out tears which trickle down her face. "It's my fault! I was so weak, and I just took you all for myself! Please, don't blame yourself!"
Madoka shakes her head, smiling as she closes her eyes momentarily. "It's not. I know what you're feeling, Homura. I should never have left you alone. You fought for so long, and you only took away my power to protect me."
"And I failed!! I even became a devil to save you, and I still couldn't do it!!! I’m so weak, Madoka!! I never protected you, did I!?"
Homura continues to sob, head propped up against ruins of Mitakihara.
Failure! Over and over again, nothing but failure! Even an eternity burning would be a mercy upon someone like her. So pathetic.
She isn't. She deserves no more suffering like this after she's fought so hard.
Madoka takes three steps toward, somehow floating and walking simultaneously towards Homura. She stands by her twitching legs, kneeling beside her. She takes her hands slowly and carefully towards the dangling earring of Homura, cupping her white gloves around the purple gem. Homura stares in uncertainty and anticipation at what Madoka is doing. She's going to be okay.
The jewel, perhaps a soul gem, perhaps something more, returns to its crown-like form. It erratically flashes with both dots of colors and black substance. Its glow is dulled, the source from which it once drew power now acting by her own volition.
Madoka stands up once again, delicately holding the manifestation of love and despair. Both dedicated to her. She looks at Homura, her personal warrior all this time.
"You're not a devil, Homura. Not at all. Please, don't call yourself that. How can you be evil for loving me? For doing everything you could to keep me safe? You dedicated your life towards creating a world where I could be happy. What is so wicked about that?"
Homura stares in awe and shock at the verdict of the ever-benevolent goddess.
"Thank you, Homura."
Looking into Madoka's kind eyes, her own start to cry once more. She wonders if she deserves the thanks of the girl she loves. She does.
"Madoka..."
"It's all going to be alright, just like I said. I'm going to make sure you finally get what you've wanted for so long, okay?"
How could Homura get such a thing? She wanted to protect Madoka, it's been the drive keeping her going for so long. Madoka, however, thinks different; it was a mission thrust upon her, one she so bravely accepted and put everything towards. In her view, it's time Homura concludes it.
"What's going to happen? Are you just going to make yourself all alone again?" Homura asks, painful fear in her voice.
"No." responds Madoka.
What could she mean by that? She's going to find out very soon.
The goddess lifts herself into the air, before floating slowly over Homura. Madoka descends gently in flight, putting her arms around her. She cradles Homura, carefully lifting her upwards out of the rubble.
Suddenly, Homura begins to feel strength flowing back into her. As if it is being granted by Madoka's warm, godly touch.
Siphoning some of her power back into Homura, she places the girl back onto her feet, still wearing those black boots. Madoka holds her until she feels that she's standing on her own, letting go.
"What are you doing?" Homura softly asks.
"I’m going to return to my duty, and save all the Magical Girls before they turn into witches. But, before we go, I'd like to do something."
Homura is confused, not knowing what Madoka means by "we". What is it she wants to do before that?
She'll surely like it. Madoka has seen the endless desire of her lover. It's beautiful.
Madoka puts her warm, gloved hands upon the bottom of Homura's head, below her face. The girl feels her face tingle as she stares into golden eyes.
"Would that be okay, Homura?"
Trying not to push against Madoka's hands, she nods, still looking into her eyes with wonder and anticipation.
Gently, Madoka leans forward, bringing Homura's head ever-so-slightly closer. She sees in her lover's eyes that she didn't expect this. Yet, she's going to embrace it all the same.
Both their eyes shut, Homura pushing out a tear from each one. Madoka turns her head ever so slightly.
Their lips are brought together, and they tenderly kiss one another. Homura feels Madoka's radiant and buzzing warmth upon her face, melting into it. Madoka senses quivering and soft whimpering from Homura, making sure to comfort her, assuring the girl that she deserves it.
As the kiss ends, Madoka slowly brings herself away from Homura. She takes her hands off the girl's face, moving them to hold her hands, instead. Like her own, they are gloved, black rather than white, running up to her elbows.
Somehow, the ripped outfit of Homura begins to mend itself, by some kind of magic. Holes are filled in, rips closed, and tiny pieces of debris whisked away.
Then, her broken wings suddenly rise once again, stretching out and sprouting forth the black feathers previously shed. Her form has been restored, yet Madoka is still right here, preparing to fulfill her duties as the Law of Cycles. Why is she giving her back what she stole?
Because she trusts her.
"How do you feel, Homura?" Madoka asks.
"Why are you doing this for me? Shouldn't you be afraid?"
Madoka shakes her head. "Not at all. We're going to share this now, okay? Would you be fine with that? I don't want to let you be alone anymore. I don't want you to feel like you're lesser than me, when you're not. You never were, even when it didn't feel that way!"
"What do you mean? That can't be possible, you wished to make yourself suffer all of it alone!!"
"Homura... you really want to be with me, don't you? You already fought so long. You were already saved from becoming a witch. You don't need to do any more."
"I've always wanted to be with you, Madoka... but how can I let you accept a fate worse than death again? Your family, your friends... you won't be able to see them anymore! You'll make them forget who you even are again!!"
"But it means I'll always have you, Homura. I'll be able to help so many Magical Girls without leaving your side. I always missed you when I was serving my duty... I waited so long to be with you again. It would make me so happy if you came along."
The girl is left speechless. She's hesitant to accept this new fate, clinging to the ideals she fought for so long. Madoka will make sure that she can be happy and never have to feel alone again.
The goddess continues. "Are you ready to go, Homura? Will you help me give hope to all the Magical Girls, so that they can fight until the end for what they believe in?"
Homura looks down, conflicted and in thought. She can't do anything to stop Madoka from returning to serving as the Law of Cycles. After that fateful day, she had never let Madoka fight for her again... until Madoka decided to make a wish that would destroy that endless maze. Deep inside, however... she misses when she and Madoka were so close. Such incredible friends. And now... they could be even more. Forever.
Madoka patiently awaits Homura's decision. Sure, perhaps it's not easy acting as a concept, but the worst part is isolation. If Homura agrees, they both will never need to be alone again, never separated.
"Yes." answers Homura, her voice quiet yet clear. "I love you, Madoka."
Homura begins to tear up, imagining being with Madoka for all that time. Madoka thinks of how she hasn't ever seen the girl cry happy tears.
"I do too, Homura." speaks the goddess softly.
The two girls smile at one another, wondering what their future—perhaps not of linear or finite time—will bring. Will it finally all be okay? It will be, surely.
Light shines all about them, bright and warm. A white beacon engulfs them both as they look through the blinding light into each other's eyes.