A Wish to Remember

Prologue

Homura stared at the broken city she called home, then up at the Witch, Walpurgisnacht, that stood between her and her wish to save Madoka.

Why...? No matter how many times I try, why can't I beat it? Homura grunted, her leg crushed under the rubble, and she knew even if she could get free, from the pool of blood, it would take magic she didn't have to even walk.

Homura struggled to stay awake, knowing she'd die if she fell asleep, or worse... she reached for her shield to turn back time, then paused.

If I go back, I'll only make Madoka's destiny worse. Everything I've done, everything I've tried to do... Homura's arm fell as she began to cry, watching her gem quickly get darker.

Her eyes closed as darkness drowned out the last of the purple, swallowing it up as the world darkened, then she froze when someone grabbed her hand.

"That's enough, you've done more than enough Homura." Madoka said softly, smiling sadly at her.

"Madoka..." Homura breathed as the pinkette stood up.

Homura stared up at her, then noticed something white next to her, when she saw it was Kyubey, she realised what was going on.

"Madoka...!" Homura cried.

"Homura," Madoka began, turning back to her. "I am sorry, but I... want to become a Magical Girl."

"I finally figured out what I want to wish for, I know what I want now more than anything else, and I'm willing to trade my life for it with no regrets." Madoka admitted.

"But you can't! If you do... then everything I fought for... it's all for nothing!" Homura began to cry again.

Madoka crouched down and wrapped Homura in a hug. "I'm sorry, you've been protecting me for a long time, and I'll never forget that, ever." Madoka promised. "You're the reason I'm the person I am today."

Homura rested her hand on Madoka's arm.

"I won't let your efforts be in vain, I want this, it's the answer I've been looking for, and I... deep down, that it's what you've always wanted too." Madoka admitted vaguely, giving the time traveller a strange smile.

Homura frowned in confusion. "Madoka...?"

Madoka stood up, Homura making a noise of complaint at the loss of contact.

"You are the centre of karmac destiny from many different timelines, so no matter how enormous your wish, it most definitely will come true." Kyubey stated.

Madoka smiled at Homura. "Good, I'm sure it's been a long time, Homura deserves this."

Kyubey blinked, but didn't ask, he was about to find out anyway. "So what is the wish you would trade your soul for?"

Homura drifted off to sleep, much to her annoyance, despite not wanting Madoka to make a contract, she was curious about what Madoka was talking about.

There was a flash of white, and Homura woke up in her hospital bed, hair in braids and red glasses on the table next to her.

Only now, unlike before in every other timeline, the ribbons were red.