[if Dirk can't undo the corruption in her Soul Gem, and if she can't find another solution, then her fate is sealed. she'll fight for as long as her soul remains pure, and then she'll be gone. that's always been a magical girl's fate, after all, whether the rules have been bent or not.]

[but that's not even close to the top of the list of Madoka's concerns right now — and John's hit her thoughts right on the nose.]

I made a promise ... I can't back away from it, no matter how much it scares me. I can't — I can't face everybody who's been fighting for so long, if I just run away from this like a coward...