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Miki: Homura! Homura, is she okay?

Homura: [relieved as Madoka slowly pulls herself up to her knees] Thank you.

Madoka: You don’t have to thank me.

Homura: Yes, I do. [both look at Mami's body on the ground] Kyuubei won. Mami’s prosecution, everything she fought for – undone. Any chance you gave us at fixing our world dies with Mami’s reputation. We bet it all on her. Kyuubei took the best of us and tore her down. People will lose hope.

Madoka: They won’t. They must never know what she did.

Homura: Five worlds destroyed, two of them populated? You can’t sweep that up!

Madoka: No. But Kyuubei cannot win. [kneels down next to Mami, whose scarred left side is facing up] This world needs its true hero. [turns Mami's head so that her unmarred side faces up]

Homura: [immediately understanding] No!

Madoka: [quoting Saotome-sensei] “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” I can do those things because I’m not a hero, not like Mami. I killed those people. That’s what I can be.

Homura: No, no! You can’t, you’re not!

Madoka: I’m whatever this world needs me to be. [hands Homura her radio] Call it in.

Homura: They’ll hunt you.

Madoka: You’ll hunt me. You’ll condemn me, set the dogs on me. Because that’s what needs to happen. Because sometimes… the truth isn’t good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.

[Madoka runs]

Miki: Madoka? Madoka! Why is she running, Homura?

Homura: Because we have to chase her.

Miki: She didn’t do anything wrong.

Homura: Because she’s the hero this world deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we’ll hunt her, because she can take it. Because she’s not our hero. She’s a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Puella Magi.