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Hello, everyone. It's me... Madoka! Sorry that I've been so quiet lately. I wanted to work extra hard so I could buy some decorations for my apartment with Mami-san and Sayaka-chan.

I hope this doesn't come off as strange, but... um. I'm trying to find some hobbies here. I wasn't very good at anything back home and... well, my job made me really busy. [By which she means, becoming the Law of the Cycle and ceasing to exist.

More importantly, Madoka is thinking of Sayaka and Mami. Being a magical girl ultimately wore them both down, mentally and physically, and she wants to distract them from constant witch hunts. ]

What kinds of fun things do you all do here? We've got a new shot at life, s-so... Might as well use it, right? For me, I used to really love gardening with my father... Oh! But also, I'd go over to a friends' place when she got video games. I saw something here called "Virtual Reality MOO?" Is that like the cute farming video game? Does anyone play it? Um... is it fun?

[And would it appeal to both Mami and Sayaka's heroic natures without actually putting them in harms' way??]

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Eh? She... She found out like that..?

[Madoka is filling with dread. This is her fault! She could have told Mami, but she didn't...! She didn't have the courage to ruin Mami's afterlife with those sad truths.]

I... um. I know. [She holds up her hand, showing off her Soul Gem in ring form.] They're called Soul Gems. When we make contracts to become magical girls, 'Kyuubey' turns our soul into magic like this... But Kyuubey never told the girls that their souls were put in their Soul Gem.

[Madoka lowers her head, ashamed.] Telling her... is something I should have done sooner. But I know she doesn't handle it well...

I'm afraid so.

[He listens patiently to her explanation, his expression growing more dire by the moment. This 'Kyuubey' needs to be taken out of the picture, altogether.]

Power like that doesn't come without a cost. I can't help but wonder if Kyuubey told you all what that cost was. Am I to understand that there are others like you two, who were given this 'gift'?

Kyuubey tells the girls that they have to fight witches in exchange for their wish, but he doesn't understand that not telling a full truth is deceptive. He's... different.

He doesn't willingly tell the girls that their souls will become a Soul Gem, or that... that when our Soul Gems turn dark and we lose hope, we become the very witches we're fighting.

Is there any way to reverse the darkening? I noticed the gem on her ring has started to darken, but I wasn't sure of the significance. I offered to try to help her; I have some expertise in working with souls, and with darkness in particular. That's... when she ran off.

Normally, we use grief seeds-- the leftovers of witches-- to absorb the curses on our Soul Gems. But there are no witches to fight here, so...

[Madoka goes quiet for a long moment, then starts again:]

If I'm here, I don't think they can become witches. But I'd still have to... destroy their... [AND ON THAT NOTE madoka proceeds to cry.]

You'd have to destroy their soul gems, allowing their souls to return to their bodies... and costing them everything they've worked for.

[His expression is one of deep sympathy. How did he work that much out, from the information she gave him?]

There is a process in alchemy called the magnum opus - the great work. The first stage of it is called Nigredo - the blackening or decomposition. That sounds remarkably like what your friends are experiencing. The second stage... is called Albedo, and it involves the purification of the material.

I may be able to recreate the Albedo stage in such a way that your friends can use it to purify their gems.

No..! It would kill them! They die when I-I..!

[There is more wailing. Madoka knows Soma did nothing to deserve this, so tries to quickly mop up her tears while he's speaking. Sniffing, she nods in understanding.]

If... I-If you're going to try, though... Please use mine f-first...?

I see. [He had held out hope that breaking the gems could undo the damage... but that seems not to be the case.]

Actually... I was thinking I could use a substitute. The problem will be in recreating the gem itself; for that, I would need to study one of yours. In the Lesser Key of Solomon, a method for containing a soul is described, but... it's large and rather clunky by comparison. It would likely work for experimentation purposes, though.

Really...?

[She's still wiping tears, but Madoka sees reason to have hope now.]

Um... In that case. As long as I'm nearby? If I'm too far from my Soul Gem, I can't move my body...

It shouldn't take me too long to analyze it. I can drop by your place, and bring Mami's things with me, if you like?

Could you really..? I would really appreciate it. Just, uh... I'm not sure how to explain it to her yet...? You see, uh...

In... Another timeline. When she found out we become witches, she uh. Killed...[Madoka won't finish that sentence. What she saw was just too awful... Even remembering it makes her want to cry again.]

[There is no ending to that sentence that can possibly be good, unless it's referring to Kyuubey - and somehow, he doubts that.]

You don't have to finish that sentence. I understand. I'll be as discreet as possible.

Thank you... Thank you so much. I appreciate this. [She breaths in, stabilizing herself, then exhales calmly.] How do I repay you...?

You're welcome. [He smiles, waiting for her to calm down, and shakes his head at her question.] You don't. I can't stand by and let something like this happen, when I might have the power to help.

[His words finally get through to her, reminding her of why she made her wish. People are kind. They can help each other. If they have hope, they can make miracles. Even a miracle that keeps a Soul Gem shining.]

Yes... Mm. That's exactly right. I won't let them suffer for having hope. That's absolutely not allowed.

[He nods in agreement. He may not know the exact details, but this much at least they agree on.]

I can come by later today, if you like. I'm off this weekend, thankfully.

Please, if you could? I think Mami-san and Sayaka-chan are off too, but they might need to go prom dress shopping.

I'll be there soon. Just need to load her bags up first.

[Not an easy task, considering most of what she had looked to be compacted baking materials in packs weighing no less than five pounds each, but he's tough, he can handle it.]

[An hour later, he's pulling up to the curb outside on a touring motorcycle. He detaches the cargo shell and pops the extendable handle, turning it into a rather handy cart.]

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