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Homura's internal monologue served as the catalyst that finally explained the mountain of mysteries that had accumulated since the opening credits.
'So this entire place, this entire city, is actually a Witch's Labyrinth?'
'But wait. If Madoka erased all witches from existence, how is this possible? Is this a prequel after all?'
Satori found herself mentally flip-flopping for the tenth time. Was this a prequel or a sequel? The narrative was playing a high-stakes game of tug-of-war with her brain. However, Homura's next monologue shattered her doubts once and for all.
'I remember now. Countless loops... and finally, through the sacrifice of a single girl, the chains of despair were severed. The world should have been guided by a new set of Laws! And yet, I forgot. Someone tampered with our memories. Someone is trying to trap us.'
With those words, Satori was 100% certain. This was a sequel. A definitive, absolute sequel.
Homura had simply lost her memories within the confines of the Labyrinth. Now that she had reclaimed them, she immediately identified the most glaring anomaly in this artificial world.
Mami Tomoe's pet, the witch Bebe.
Homura, remembering Bebe as the monster that decapitated Mami in the third episode of the original series, concluded that this creature was the one responsible for fabricating their memories and imprisoning them. She moved in for the kill, intending to end the charade once and for all.
However, her aggression put her at odds with Mami. What followed was a sequence that lasted several minutes, a time-stop battle that surpassed anything Satori could have imagined.
It was a masterclass in art and sheer cinematic flair. Since Mami had used her ribbons to bind herself to Homura's leg, she was able to remain active within Homura's frozen time-space.
The two engaged in a duel, firing muskets and semi-automatic weapons at point-blank range. The bullets hung suspended in the air, thousands of them forming trails of white light and static energy. The battle spanned the sky, the city streets, and the surrounding ruins.
The moment time resumed, tens of thousands of rounds ricocheted simultaneously, creating a deafening roar of metal and sparks.
The sheer visual style and storyboarding of this fight left Satori breathless.
It was pure, unadulterated "cool."
Ultimately, Homura was outmaneuvered and restrained by Mami's ribbons. But just as the situation reached a stalemate, Sayaka intervened to save Homura.
Satori was now completely possessed by the story. Who were those trolls online saying the movie was going to be bad? The duel between Mami and Homura alone was worth the price of admission. It was exhilarating.
And the plot... it was just one enigma after another.
Why did Sayaka save Homura? Why did Bebe suddenly transform from a witch into a cute young girl named Nagisa? What was the truth behind this world? How much time had passed since Madoka became a God? Who was powerful enough to trap Mami, Kyouko, and Homura while rewriting their memories?
Furthermore, if this was a sequel, Sayaka and Bebe should have been erased by the Law of Cycles. How could they exist here?
Sayaka's dialogue only pushed Satori's confusion to a fever pitch.
"Attacking Bebe just because she used to be a witch? You really need to learn some patience," Sayaka said with a knowing smile after rescuing Homura.
It was clear from her tone.
Sayaka knew about the concept of "Witches", a concept that should have been forgotten by everyone except Homura.
"To manifest a Labyrinth this vast without killing a single human... To keep us trapped here while doing nothing else... Is that really the behavior of the Bebe you remember? Think about it. This Labyrinth wasn't built to lure prey in. It was built to keep things exactly as they are. It was built to stop anyone from leaving."
The exchange between Sayaka and Homura shifted the suspicion from Bebe to Mami, then to the possibility of a new, unknown despair.
Sayaka's expression was enigmatic as she gazed at Homura.
"If you find the witch who created this world, what will you do? Kill her? Simply because she is a witch?"
From a mystery-laden dialogue to a clash of ideologies, the tone shifted. Sayaka seemed to be defending the existence of the Labyrinth, while Homura remained steadfast in her mission to purge all witches.
"To live together without hurting anyone... If a heart prays for such a thing, is that a sin that must be punished?"
On the screen, Sayaka walked across a puddle with a light, rhythmic step. But in the reflection on the water's surface, her shadow was not that of a girl, but of a colossal, monstrous form.
The Mermaid Witch, Oktavia von Seckendorff.
Satori's pupils dilated.
'Sayaka... is actually a witch! The very monster she had turned into after falling into despair in the original series.'
"Are you trying to protect a witch?" Homura's tone turned cold.
"It's the fate that awaits all magical girls. Of course I would sympathize with them," Sayaka countered.
The background music shifted abruptly. Homura's memories, returning in fragments since she pierced the illusion, finally hit a critical revelation.
"I just remembered the most important thing. When Mami spoke earlier, she remembered fighting 'Wraiths,' not Witches."
In the new world created by Madoka, witches were replaced by Wraiths. No one in the world should have known the word "Witch" besides Homura. Yet Sayaka knew. It was an impossibility.
"Of course I know. Witches no longer exist in this universe. That girl reshaped the entire universe to make it so."
"Yes. And I should be the only person left who remembers that."
The BGM ramped up, becoming frantic and soaring. Homura, looking sharper than ever, stood face-to-face with the mystery that was Sayaka.
"There are three things in this world that shouldn't exist. First, the witch who created this Labyrinth. Second, Bebe, who still has the form of a witch. And third, you, Sayaka... you who knows too much."
"Who are you?"
"Are you really Sayaka Miki?"
Faced with Homura's question, Sayaka simply offered a playful smile.
"That's a mean thing to say... I'm exactly who you think I am! Transfer student..."