"Madoka!" Mami smiled at the young girl. "We've been waiting for you." Madoka smiled back at Mami, happy to see her after her death in the arena, then her smile faded.

"Aren't you supposed to be...dead?" Something in Mami's eyes flickered, and she looked away.

"This is an alternate reality," Rena explained to Madoka. "I brought you here because it might be easier for you to understand, with the creation of your friends." Madoka looked around her, at the happy atmosphere, where all the people who had suffered so much now lived. Yet it was all fake.

"Madoka," Rena began."From the time you began to exist, since you were born, your fate was never to live as a normal human girl. You were destined for something much...bigger. Your magical potential is so powerful, but it can be so dangerous. Tell me, why do magical girls pose as the best choices in contracting?" Madoka searched her mind for an answer.

"Kyubey said it was because we hold the most emotional energy," Madoka replied uncertainly. Rena nodded.

"Yes, and when they grow up, they no longer possess that energy, because their life stabilises and the energy just trickled away. Normally the changes are small, miniscule, too minute to make a difference, but in your case, the energy you possess could tip the universe off balance. If that happens, energies in the universe will be extremely unstable, and so, something has to happen."

"What happens?" Madoka asked Rena fearfully. "Will I be erased?" Rena looked at Madoka solemnly.

"You have two choices. Either to be erased and no memory of you will exist, or for you to be turned into a goddess like me." Madoka felt an arm go around her, and saw Homura next to her.

"Homura-chan, are you okay?" Madoka asked Homura, seeing her distant gaze.

"Do you have to do this?" Homura asked Rena, not listening to Madoka. "I can't let you erase her or take her away!" Her voice rose as she said the last part, full of fear and dismay.

Rena looked at Homura steadily.

"You know it has to be done, or the whole universe will be at risk." Her eyes were sad as she told the black-haired magical girl, but full of determination.

"I don't care!" Homura replied. "I won't let you do this!"

"It's okay," Madoka told Homura softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't mind." Homura stared at Madoka, her face distorting in pain and grief.

"So, after everything I did," she began, her voice trembling. "I just made it worse. I'm sorry."

Her arm fell away from Madoka's shoulders, as she stood there, watching Madoka sadly.

"It'll be okay," Madoka repeated. "I don't mind being erased, if it means the whole universe will be saved."