"Alright, settle down!" Seiichi called out to them, since Sherry had chosen to stay and watch. "SO, we just watched 3 'arcs', as I like to call it, of Minoru's story so far. Any concerns any of you wanna raise?"
Minoru raised his hand… and pointed to his head. 'So is there any way I can set the memory recovery to occur at specific times per person? Like I want Sherry to recover her memories when she's stealthing around, since she makes less contact that day- that way, she can convincingly act like she doesn't hate Lutheran… and I imagine that the others have similar timing issues, if there are any.'
Seiichi pondered before he responded- 'Yes, there is, but you would have to decide the time before you leave. Capice?'
Minoru simply nodded and they left it at that. Klaus had raised his hand slightly later than Minoru, so his question was the second. "What issues would result from allying ourselves with Shadow Garden?" Klaus was seriously considering doing that, since the school incident proved that the cult was a threat.
Iris was already prepared to swallow her pride.
Aethra responded. "This next arc answers that question rather… clearly, so you can watch and find out."
Seiichi then declared that the next arc would only have two episodes. "Oh, yeah, Epsilon, sorry, but some secrets will be coming out here". He said, causing the turquoise-haired loli to pale. So they focused on the screen again as he pressed play.
So summer vacay's early. We plebs still agonize about the unfair luck they possess. [Cid] avoids [Claire] by hiding on the ceiling, as he whines about not having shit to do, which is when [Alpha] messages him, telling to come to {Lindwurm} if he wanted to see something interesting. He monologues about it in [Shadow's] voice, cuing the opening, with the final scene shifting to a night scene of a large arena.
Needless to say, Claire was pissed. Too bad for her that she can't actually challenge Minoru in anything.
"How exactly do you even stick to a ceiling?" Aurora asked curiously.
"Oh, it's quite simple, actually, see, you can put slight threads in your fingers and…" Epsilon and the others took note as he rambled, it could be useful.
We see snippets of {Shadow Garden}'s morning. [Gamma] yawns without her morning coffee (night owls FTW!), [Delta] sleeps in her undies while dreaming of [Shadow] doing R18 things to her (or just patting her head- lewd), and [Eta] literally becomes a societal menace, lugging an [Eta]-sized wrench with her in a sleep-deprived stupor, before falling asleep in a corridor of {Mitsugoshi}, and [Epsilon] not-so-shockingly reveals her true nature as a loli hiding her loli body with slime… her desire to conquer nature (personified as [Beta]'s boobs in a flashback) connected to her desire to bed her master. Meanwhile, [Beta] is apparently the princess that was saved from [Zenon]'s grubby mitts by [Shadow]... but she's just writing a chronicle and the scene was cringe enough to make one of the authors of this fanfic consider abandoning this reaction fic. Why is she writing while in her undies though?
Epsilon is shocked that that was seen. 'I did notice back in Part 4 of the first arc, given that control of your mana is connected to sensing mana' Minoru continues putting holes in her confidence, Delta not helping by claiming she assumed everyone knew, nods occurring while Alpha comforted a crying Epsilon.
'While I'm at it, we really need to work on your need for sleep, Eta' he continues in the same vein, also giving his resident mad scientist a shock and bullet holes in her confidence.
"... But… better… ideas-"
"You try to kill us thrice a week, Eta," Gamma reminds gently as the scientist blinks, apparently unaware of such things.
Beta, meanwhile, is wondering why she hates Alexia so much in the future. It's not like they met each other… it helps that Lord Shadow made it clear he doesn't see her that way… perhaps they're just too similar?
Alexia for some reason felt annoyed.
As [Eta] is retrieved by two employees, [Beta] and [Epsilon] meet and have a verbal (not actually violent) catfight over their assets at the rooftop. All this while three members of {Shadow Garden} obsess over the cuteness of a black cat. [Nu] goes in to break the catfight as [Alpha] has given mobilization orders. While that happens, [Iris] and [Alexia] are shopping at {Mitsugoshi}. They discuss the white-haired interloper visiting {Lindwurm}, which quickly devolves, as [Gamma] interrupts, using the cover name of [Luna]. Of course, fanservice in the form of a yuri kabedon between sisters… serves to provide a lot of comedy. [Alexia] dommies [Iris] into letting her buy some sexy thongs and g-strings.
Klaus facepalms, knowing now that Iris cannot inherit the throne. She's a warrior through and through.
"Alexia, prepare for additional management lessons if I manage to remember everything- you will be inheriting the throne when my reign is over." Yes, he really said that. Needless to say, Iris is also quietly accepting… although she might just go on and become Alexia's lover… and she now is in a bi-induced ID crisis.
Alexia wonders if she can dommy Minoru- before she remembers that he's got a harem of more than 200 girls without intending it, meaning he cannot be dominated.
Flashback to the flaming school- students are being tended to by the {Knight Order}, flames are being tended to, and [Rose] is rushing to find someone…to be ecstatic over [Cid]'s survival. Which naturally means she declares her love for him (In front of the Two Stooges dozing in the corner on each other in a compromising position, but she only has eyes for him). Scene cut to a train running, as [Rose] is currently holding his arm rather tightly there.
SG, Alexia, Aurora, Beatrix and Sherry stare at Rose, who's blushing to the tip of her fingers, before she shoves Sherry off Minoru's lap and plops herself there, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. Needless to say, Minoru's good at hiding his boner (he didn't pop one with Sherry because the situation was serious then)
Turns out they were both headed in the same direction, so she kidnapped him into her suite. [Cid] regrets taking an economy-class seat instead of full-on sprinting to {Lindwurm}, since [Rose] is talking about thorny rose paths for their love while he infodumps about the sacred land they're headed towards. He slides his hand out of her grip while she closes her eyes and rambles on. He thinks that she's trying to convert him to her religion. Or maybe he's in denial. He takes advantage of her kindness anyway.
Rose is still embarrassed, but Minoru, who quite understands her words now, due to not being obsessed with achieving his dream (given that he's now a shadowbroker), simply hugs her back, apologising for his insensitive self.
"Still… your words did resemble a cult's teachings a lot," Rose smiles sheepishly at this.
Aurora wondered if she could visit Oriana, perhaps find loopholes where she stays as a ghost?
Having reached {Lindwurm}, [Cid] and Rose] are exploring. As they do so, the legend of [Diabolos]' left hand arises due to pendants. Anyway, that's interrupted by the book signing session of [Rose]'s favourite author- one [Natsume Kafka], whose works are so wildly different from each other that they almost seem like they're written by different people. Sure enough, as he picks up and reads her book, he realises something. Lining up, he also finds definite proof- [Natsume Kafka] is actually [Beta] blatantly plagiarizing the stories he told her as part of his treatment of her. He actually wanted her to use the stories he told her as a base to write some excellent stories… disappointing him, even as she passes him op deets using said book.
Cue Beta being depressed as she heard about his hopes for her. Minoru pats her head as well, and 'Well, I don't mind, but in the future, please, for fuck's sake, lemme know when you adapt the knowledge I'm passing on for this world! This goes for ALL of you!'
Rose, forgetting her receding embarrassment, asked for her autograph… before Minoru on-screen decided to reveal the truth, shattering her fangirlism.
Beatrix blinked then eyed Aurora, "The arm doesn't match…?"
The witch had no clue either while Alpha had a theory or two, mainly regarding demon possessing…
[Cid] and [Rose] discuss Natsume's personalised autographs- leading to a discussion of what [Beta]'s runic code means. [Cid] dismisses it as being cool- which gives Rose the misconception of what cool means for most men. Later, at night, [Alpha] walks around the Church, questioning the Hero [Olivier]'s actions and the brutally murdered Archbishop [Drake]'s secrets. She leaves, as the Archbishop's corpse is discovered, leading to bells ringing in alarm. As this happens, [Cid]'s laughing on the city borders, eating ice cream and revelling in the fact that he's clearing his bucket list so easily. Then he spots a running cloak, and lures him into a trap, defending with an… ice-cream stick? And then watching as he succumbs to three descending claw strikes. The culprit is revealed to be [Epsilon], who reports the mission's progress to him. While making her fake boobs bounce. As he leaves, he comments in his head on [Epsilon]'s slime-stacking habit, referring to it as pride.
Once again, Epsilon is a blushing mess while Iris feels completely baffled, "An ice cream stick?"
"Meh, I used worse," Minoru shrugged, Claire gnashing her teeth.
"Oliver certainly looks similar to Lady Alpha," Nu notes, how far has their research progressed?
Beta and Gamma were equally frowning. Beatrix and Alpha share a glance, wondering if they were directly descended.
"Call me an idiot, but I didn't really focus on much other than my obsession- so someone better explain this 'Goddess' trials' to me!" Minoru bursts out loud, although he has a bit of an idea, based on the name.
"You'll get an explanation of this in the upcoming scene, so just watch," Aethra responds, pressing the YouTube 100 Million Subscribers Play Button (She stole this from T-Series, seeing as they don't deserve it)
The next morning, [Cid] goes in to bathe. While thinking about his love for onsen. Man's ripped. It's a mixed onsen. [Alexia] (who's also buck naked, fanservice blatant in ye clear water for both sexes) and him talk about the Goddess' trials, cuing an infodump. She tries force-recruiting him into the {Crimson Knights}, but is rebuffed. They talk about his lack of peeping, and he reveals that he doesn't look at others in the bath. She insults his penis… so he shows it to her (from the shock she expresses, either she's a prude or he's large), and then slaps his ass with the towel on hand as he leaves. We shift away as she does the same.
TL;DR1
Man barges into the onsen.
It's a mixed onsen.
Doesn't acknowledge his bitch in the onsen.
Flexes his penis.
Refutes further elaboration.
Leaves.
Needless to say, everyone was blushing with their jaws dropped, except for Minoru himself… 'Isn't eight inches the average penis size? I decided to go two inches over that to keep myself reasonable, but that shouldn't shock anyone, given that it's within standard deviation…'
Naturally, Seiichi decided that he was removing that stupid notion from his head. 'The world average is the same in both worlds- you're 4 inches over the average- what did you want a monster penis anyway?'
Claire wondered if it was safe for her to… and there she goes. So did the other girls… so they resumed after reviving them.
Stupidly, fireworks are fired into a sunny sky. The Goddess' Trials have begun. As Interim Archbishop [Jack Nelson] rambles on about the event, and about the blessing of the War Goddess Baeatrix 2, [Alexia] rambles in her mind about her stonewalled investigation, and her distaste for [Beta], who for her part, hates [Alexia] because she was [Cid/Shadow]'s ex-girlfriend- the thieving bitch! Anyway, they then compete over attention their boobs draw (more fanservice!). [Alexia], being a petty loser, stomps her new rival's leg, as she takes petty victory. [Rose], in the meantime, takes the opportunity to smile and wave at [Cid], who regrets the mob character setting at the moment.
As Beta realizes that her future self is speaking the truth, she glares at Alexia, being joined by the rest of SG. Needless to say, Alexia's terrified- enough to not laugh at Beta being unable to stomp Alexia's foot on-screen.
While Rose was fascinated by it, Aurora wonders if she will appear next, Beatrix having similar thoughts.
As the barrier is raised and the Trial begins, the actual NPCs infodump on the significance of the Trials and gaining glory in them. As [Cid] hears this, he further laments the inability to participate without exposing himself. The competitors have funny names. For example:-
[Toppe Batterius], from the {Oriana Kingdom} - Top Batter
[Neks Tinline], from the {Midgar Knight Order} - Next-in-line
[Stihl-Aint Hapnin], from the {Laugus Vigilante Corps} - Still ain't happening, or funnily enough, Shit ain't happening
[Annerose Nichtsehen], formerly of the {Seven Blades of Velgata} - Gracefully Blind/ Annerose the Void-eyed.
[Annerose] is the only one who has summoned an ancient spirit. Next in line is one [Cid Kagenou]- having been entered by one [Rose Oriana] in the hopes that the honour here can help their path of love. As he considers his options, the audience reaction changes from admiration to confusion.
Rose, embarrassed again by her actions, tries hiding her face again, before she sees the Minoru on-screen deciding to push up a purple flame.
Of course, in typical EIS fashion, [Shadow] disrupts everyone's attention and expectation. He also spouts some BS that sounds cool. [Nelson] keeps underestimating the man, and he's an idiot. Even if he managed to force-summon [Aurora] the Witch of Calamity, who is said to be capable of destroying the entire world, man's decided that a nuke's his goal- obviously, he wins, and both [Beta] and [Alexia] agree on that. Sure enough, he defeats a shackled [Aurora] before making his exit, much to the shock of the rest of them..
Apparently, [Shadow] naturally activated the ritual, as opposed to [Nelson] activating it for the warriors- what a ripoff! [Shadow] thinks about the fact that he's been unable to have a conversation through battle in a long time.
'It's been so long since I've had a real conversation with anyone!'
'I wish I could've fought the you without your shackles'
[Beta] uses seduction on Nelson to get an infodump on Aurora. It's super effective! Much to the disgust of the two princesses.
Nelson=pedo confirmed. Also, Minoru is too much of a monster. Everyone's staring at him. Minoru's thoughts are…
'So, currently, I've got about a hundredth of the power I have on-screen. Aurora, as I sense her beside me, has about half that at her greatest (discounting the very real possibility of her being possessed by Diabolos), which means in a battle of attrition, I win. Maybe I should focus on the use of my powers while increasing my personal suppression.'
Seiichi and Aethra, reading that, shudder at the possibility.
Aurora thought, eyes Beatrix, "... I don't think we'd have a nice 'conversation'," the elf apologises, Aurora sighing.
As [Shadow] leaves, the barrier breaks and a red magic circle, shaped strangely like a door unfolds. [Alpha] comments on it beside a sleepy [Delta]. Cue ending featuring both [Alpha] and [Gamma].
Everyone was curious about this magical door, SG most of all… if they weren't almost all terrified of the mana that Minoru was unleashing while muttering about something. Even Aurora, who is the only one to even give him a decent fight, was terrified- which should tell you just how powerful both Seiichi and Aethra are, since they just raised their eyebrows.
"What's wrong, Minoru?" Seiichi, who had the closer relationship of the two with him, asked.
'You read my thoughts and tell me I'm wrong!' Minoru simply replied.
Considering Minoru's incredible insight thanks to being an otaku, Seiichi read his thoughts. Then he paled slightly. 'He figured it out' he told Aethra, whose marks stopped glowing in response.
'Bu-but how!?' she asked him, surprised.
'The clues are right there! The fact that I reincarnated into a different world, the fact that Diabolos is only one demon, that Aurora is my only match, that the Cult seems to want to revive Diabolos, that they have red pills acting as a berserk switch, any two of them isolated can be construed as coincidence! Three if you push it! More than that!? When a magical portal to a subspace opens!? I'd be stupid if I didn't figure it out!' He yelled in his mind, before opening his mouth and bellowing.
"Shadow Garden! Alexia! Claire! Rose! Sherry! Aurora! Beatrix! Before we leave, and maybe even after we leave, I'm going to train you! No objections or additions!" Seeing Klaus moving to add Iris, he rejected that immediately. "As of right now, Shadow Garden is not allowing the Cult's objectives to succeed- EVER!" With that, he grabbed the play button.
AN: OK, so quick choice panel here- I have two titles for this chapter-
a) Divine Aurora and the Shadows
b) Overshadowed Aurora (with NSFW)
c) Come up with your own title- just try linking it to shadows.
To clarify something you may be wondering about- The first eight to be viewing this are still at their canon ages prior to the 2-year timeskip (Minoru and the 7 Shades are whatever age they were at Claire's kidnapping). So are Claire, Beatrix and Aurora. The rest of the viewers are aged appropriately for the start of the school year (before the Alexia Kidnapping arc.)
1- Garnt (Gigguk on YT) made this line and I think it's perfect
2- I know the spelling's wrong, but this kinda makes sense with Aizawa's naming trends, also, it differentiates the Beatrixes, who have the same spelling but are not homophonic words.
Read, Review, and please ffs decide on a title, because I'm too conflicted.
And with that, Seiichi and Neutral are Bonkers at the Races!