==Episode 7==

===Part A===
Previously,
Sayaka's Soul Gem tumbles in the air, tossed by Madoka.
Kyubey (not pictured):   A magical girl's old body is nothing more than a piece of external hardware.  Your actual soul is given a much safer, compact form that is capable of controlling magic much more efficiently.
Sayaka's lifeless body lies limply in Madoka's arms.
Kyubey:  It's part of my job, when I complete a magical girl's contract.  I extract your souls and turn them into Soul Gems.

====Sayaka Room====
Sayaka returns.
Sayaka and Kyubey are alone in the room.  Sayaka tosses her Soul Gem on her desk, her expression changes as she asks Kyubey.
Sayaka:  <u> What's going on?  You said my body is but an empty husk...</u>
Kyubey:  <u> I simply give your soul physical form, so your spirit can be converted into energy--</u>
Sayaka:  <u> I never heard of this! </u>
Sayaka erupts in anger.
Sayaka:  You tricked us, didn't you?
Kyubey acts confused.
Kyubey:  I distinctly remember asking you to become a magical girl.  I just didn't explain precisely\N what would be involved.
Sayaka:  Why didn't you tell us?!
Kyubey:  You never asked.  It wouldn't have bothered you one bit if you'd never found out.  Mami, for example, never did.
Kyubey stays nonchalant in front of a pissed-off Sayaka.
Kyubey:  Besides, you humans don't even realize you have souls in the first place.
Kyubey points at Sayaka's head.
Kyubey:  Your body's nothing more than a collection of neurons--
Then points towards her heart.
Kyubey:  ...and a centralized cardiovascular system.  In addition, when the human body ceases to function, the soul is lost.  I gave your soul a physical form to prevent that from happening— a form you can pick up and protect with your own hands.  That way, you can battle withes with greater safety.
Sayaka:  Nobody asked you to do that!
Kyubey:  You still don't understand what it's like to fight, do you?
Kyubey sighs in disappointment.
Kyubey:  For example, take the pain you would experience upon being impaled by a spear.
Sayaka:  Ah--!!
An excruciating pain suddenly returns to Sayaka's abdomen.  She falls to her knees from the pain.
Kyubey:  This is how it would actually feel.  A single strike would be\N{\alpha&HFF&}.{\r}enough to incapacitate you.
Sayaka:  Ah...Oww...
Struggling in pain, Sayaka recalls her battle with Kyouko in [[Episode 5]].
She shivers from remembering how many killing blows she received.
Kyubey stares attentively at Sayaka.  He continues to explain in his neutral fashion.
Kyubey:  Pain inhibition was the only reason you remained standing to the end against Kyouko.  It was only possible because your consciousness isn't directly linked with your body.  That's how you were able to survive that battle.
Kyubey releases the Soul Gem.
The pain immediately disappears.  Her breath short and her body limping.
Kyubey:  In time, you can even learn to completely cut off pain.  But I won't recommend that, since it tends to slow you down.
Sayaka:  Why... Why did you do this to us?
Sayaka asks in tears.  Kyubey smirks.
Kyubey:  You had a wish important enough to commit yourself to a life of battle, did you not?  And your wish came true, didn't it?

====School - Classroom====
Morning.  Before Class.  A bunch of rowdy classmates.
Miss Saotome comes in.  The class rep calls for attention.
Saotome:  Stand.  Bow~
Madoka glance warily at Sayaka's empty seat.  She's not coming today?

====Sayaka Room====
Curtains closed, the room is dark.
Sayaka buries herself in blankets.
Cupping her Soul Gem tightly in her hand, she stares at its faint glow.

====School - Rooftop====
Break time.  Madoka and Homura faces each other.
Madoka:  Homura-chan, did you know about that?
Homura nods in silence.
Madoka:  Why didn't you tell us?
Homura:  Nobody I've warned has ever believed me before.
Madoka:  ...
Madoka wants to ask Homura why she always look like she has given up on everyone, but the words won't come out.  Madoka decides to switch topic.
Madoka:  Why would Kyubey do something so cruel?
Homura:  He doesn't think it's cruel.  He's a creature that doesn't understand human values.  He'd just say it was an appropriate payment for bringing about a miracle.
Madoka:  That's not fair at all!
Madoka can't help but scream.
Madoka:  How could he do that to her?  All Sayaka-chan wanted was to heal the person she loved...!
Homura:  It was still a miracle.  He made the impossible possible.
Homura answers calmly.
Homura:  Even if Miki Sayaka dedicated her entire life to caring for him, he would never have recovered enough to play the violin again.  Normally, a miracle costs far more than a human life, but that's the price for which Kyubey sells them.
Madoka doesn't agree but can't find a rebuttal.  After a moment, she asks another question.
Madoka:  Sayaka-chan won't be able to go back to her normal life?
Homura:  ...
Homura seems lost for words.
Madoka:  <u>If she stop using magic, she doesn't need to find more Grief Seeds;  She doesn't have to keep fighting Witches, right?</u>
Homura:  <u>Just maintaining the body consumes a minimum amount of magic.  So Grief Seeds are still a requirement at the end, so she still need to hunt Witches.</u>
Madoka:  ....
Madoka falls silent, but she doesn't want to give up on Sayaka.  Her mind races desperately for another way out.
Seeing Madoka struggle, Homura finally forces herself to speak coldly.
Homura:  ...I've said this before, have I not?  Give up on Miki Sayaka.
Madoka:  ...Sayaka-chan saved me!
Madoka recalls when she was attacked by a Witch in [[Episode 4]].
Madoka:  If she hadn't been a magical girl at the time, Hitomi-chan and I would have died...!
Homura:  Don't confuse gratitude with responsibility.
Homura speaks plainly, without any emotion.
Homura:  There is no way for you to save her.  If you're thinking of returning the favor to alleviate your own sense of guilt, I suggest you reconsider.
Madoka can't stand Homura's indifference towards Sayaka.  Madoka's body shakes involuntarily.
Madoka:  ...Homura-chan, why are you always so cold?
Homura:  I suppose...
Homura looks down on the Soul Gem in her hand, a self-deprecating smile as usual.
Homura:  ...it's because I'm no longer human as well.
Madoka:  ...
She has given up on herself as well.  Madoka's heart sinks at that realization.

====Sayaka Room====
It's afternoon, yet Sayaka still hasn't left her bed.
Depressed, her mind wanders to Kyousuke.
Sayaka:  How can I visit Kyousuke after being turned into this thing...?
At this moment, Kyouko suddenly calls for Sayaka telepathically.
Kyouko:  How long are you gonna lie there feeling sorry for yourself, dummy?
Sayaka:  ...!?
Surprised, Sayaka jump out from under cover.
She looks out of her window to the street below.
Kyouko stands at Sayaka's doorstep, eating an apple.  She holds a grocery bag full of apple in her other hand.
Kyouko:  Come out for a bit.  We need to talk.

====Dusk - Outside of the City====
On a hill, they follow on a small path covered in weed.  Kyouko walks out front, holding an apple.
Sayaka follows, staring at Kyouko's defenseless behind.
Sayaka is tense.  Looking down on her again?  Is this a trap?
Kyouko:  You regret what was done to your body, don't you?
Sayaka:  ...
Kyouko ignores the non-response from Sayaka and continues.
Kyouko:  I'm starting to think it doesn't really matter.  I mean, I'm able to do what I want because I acquired these powers.  It's not really something I regret.
Sayaka:  You... just got what you deserved.
Kyouko:  Yeah!  You can just think of it that way.
A nonchalant reply.
Kyouko:  If you live only for yourself, everything you do is your fault.  You have no reason to resent others, and you'll never have any regrets.
Sayaka:  ...
Sayaka still doesn't read Kyouko's intentions.
The two arrives on the top of the hill.  Here rests what remains of an abandoned church.

====Abandoned Church====
Kyouko kicks open the entrance and enters.  Sayaka follows behind.
Sayaka:  ...Why did you bring me the way out here?
Kyouko toys with the apple in her hand, as if gestating for words to say.  She walks, step by step, towards the altar.
Kyouko:  It's kind of a long story.
Kyouko takes out an apple from her bag and toss it to Sayaka.
Kyouko:  Want one?
Sayaka:  ....
Sayaka clenches her teeth in anger, then tosses the apple aside.
Kyouko suddenly rushes toward Sayaka, grabbing her by the throat.  An anger exposed like never before.
Kyouko:  Don't ever waste food... I'll kill you if you do.
Sayaka:  ...