“Just like we used to.” You went on like, what, three tag along missions with Mami? You goonie child! But yay! Madoka is going. And what did I say? It’s easier to be brave when you have someone around you who you know believes in you and you need to protect. I’m probably going to regret being happy Madoka went along but... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Ugh. Yes, Kyubey. She did watch her friend die. It’s in fact because she realizes how dangerous it is that she doesn’t want Sayaka to go alone. I mean... no. I don’t think she fully understands, but I think if she did, she’d be even more compelled to go. Do ya’ll not get that she doesn’t want to lose her friend?? 

So, first of all, HA! Sayaka’s making up excuses right now for why she should let Madoka come along. Like. On the spot. She didn’t know Madoka was going to ask to come. But also... it doesn’t have to be ‘fine with you’ Kyubey. No one seems to care what you think. Homura tried to kill you, and vamp girl doesn’t care whether or not you want her to take out your newly found Magical Girl, soooo... yeah. Pipe down. 

Damn. I mean, I figured vamp girl would be a better fighter, having done it for longer and all and having more experience, but Sayaka didn’t even stand a ghost of a chance. 

Stay down child. Stay down. This girl has been talking about killing you, and I don’t want you to die. 

I mean, I’m proud of my girl Sayaka for not doing the ‘I can’t fight someone like me.’ I mean, it’s not like her to do that. I’m proud of her for standing up for her beliefs and the innocent people who would be hurt by vamp girl’s method of doing things, but get stronger before you take her on again, please darling! 

Oh my. Back at school, things seem, on the surface, back to normal, but Hitomi is talking about her run in with the witch, even though she doesn’t know that’s what happened. Sayaka acts like a normal kid, more so even than Hatomi who is talking about her bizarre situation. 

Homura and Madoka are not amused. 

But that is just so in line with Sayaka! I mean, she didn’t get the conversation with Homura that Madoka did, but it’s not like she’d believe Homura at this point anyway. Homura never attempted to build any bridges with her after all. 

But I also can’t help but think that altho Sayaka doesn’t have as much information in some ways than Madoka now, she’s not truly oblivious to what she’s gotten herself into. But... it’s been said and done. There’s no turning back now, so there’s nothing to do but forge ahead and accept her fate. Sayaka is going to make the best of it and find the good. It’s why she can claim she won’t regret her decision. She needs to not regret it, so she is going to make sure that doesn’t happen even out of sheer force of will if she has to. 

Innnnttterrestting

Finally we get some answers. It doesn’t seem directly linked to creativity, but the wish clearly affects your abilities as a Magical Girl. It doesn’t reassure me that much though, given that there’s no healing from death if vamp girl kills her.

Sayaka I love you so much but stay doown. I’m still worried about you. 

But what did that mean for Mami? Who wished for life? What would it have meant if someone had wished Mami back to life? Would they be unable to die? How far does this extend and how linked is it all? 

There’s our Steven/Usagi. I knew it was coming! And it was of course going to be Madoka. I’m so much more a Sayaka here. I mean, I don’t know that Sayaka should have started a fight with Kyoko(?), but Kyoko also wasn’t letting her pass to follow the familiar, which is going to go out and kill people. And now Sayaka’s fighting for her life, sooo... can’t really blame her for the fight. 

But of course, of course Kyubey is trying to wheedle Madoka into making a contract with him. That was the plan all along wasn’t it? Once he learned Kyoko’s plans, it was just perfect that he could use this situation to coax Madoka into a contract. ‘Cause I can’t believe that’s not what he means. 

Call Homura! Tell her you’re about to make a wish if she doesn’t get her ass down there and keep Sayaka from dying. I mean... it’s the truth isn’t it? And you  have to have her number by now. 

Again, I feel like I’m being left out of the party. I’m sure it’s exactly how Sayaka feels, but she, at least, has gotten her hands on at least one grief seed already, and we didn’t get to see what she did with that. 

What’s so great about the Grief See? It... clears out the muddiness of the Soul Gem, is how Mami described it. But that really doesn’t tell us anything. Clearing out the muddiness also keeps them strong... for some reason. But that seems like something you need if you have to fight, not a reason to fight. So what else is happening there? Did Kyubey not explain it to them? He referred to the Grief Seeds and fighting for them as the ‘rewards’ for Magical Girls... but isn’t their wishes their reward? And isn’t the point of having Magical Girls to save and protect people from the witches? Because if it’s no big deal that Magical Girls are letting people die, well then... why are they necessary at all?