One single change can lead to a greater understanding of the situation. For Cid, that moment was when the bandit leader that kidnapped his sister directly referenced, by name, the cult he thought he'd made up.
Now very aware of the real state of Shadow Garden and the Cult - and still lacking a lot of important details - Cid will do what he does best: act like he knows what's going on so his subordinates don't find out. At least he's finally achieved his dream.
But I made it up? by The_Real_Lee is a The Eminence in Shadow fanfic that follows a Cid that actually realizes he's already become the shadowy overlord he's dreamed of being, and how this effects his decisions.
It can be found here
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The fic contains the following tropes:
- Cover-Blowing Superpower: Cid strikes Skel at superspeed, counting on no-one being able to notice him. Lutheran is able to notice it with his enhanced senses, making him suspicious.
- Dramatic Irony:
- Iris is convinced that Cid couldn't possibly be a member of either Shadow Garden or the Cult.
- Cid notes that, unlike one of the Crimson Knights, he does not want to be part of a 'lame' harem plot.
Cid: Really, how could anyone miss multiple women flirting with them.- Rex thinks Cid is uninteresting, is confident outside threats like Shadow 'Guardian' aren't as big a worry as internal threats, and is convinced no one saw him exit or leave Lutheran's office (the previous section showed Nu was watching the office the entire time).
- Embarrassing Nickname: Alexia continues to call Cid 'Pooch'. After accidentally calling him that if front of Iris, Cid responds by giving Alexia the nickname 'Kitten'. Only one of the sisters seems to enjoy this development.
- Feigning Intelligence: Shadow, not wanting his subordinates to know how out of the loop he really is, acts as though he's already aware of anything they learn. This, unfortunately, still leaves him in the dark about a lot of details (such as how to translate the coded cult documents Shadow Garden keeps sending him).
- For Want Of A Nail: Viscount Grease namedropping the Cult of Diablos in front of Cid is what sets the fic - and its changes - into motion.
- Cid isn't able to practice his big confession to Alexia, due to spending more time trying to translate the Shade's coded messages. He opts to just abruptly confess like a jerk to get the same result. She still accepts.
- Cid doesn't act like a dog for Alexia (as the Eminence in Shadow cannot be bought), though he does agree to be 'rented' as her fake boyfriend (as he doesn't know how to get Shadow Garden's funds).
- Cid brings Beta along to rescue Alexia (so he can focus on getting translated Cult documents), leading Beta to save Millia (Grease's daughter) before she mutates and goes on a rampage. This in turn keeps Iris and Alpha from meeting.
- Cid still turns down Alexia's offer of continuing their relationship, but avoids injury by offering to stay friends and see where things go. This also keeps him from (literally) running into Sherry the first time.
- Cid's first trip to Mitsugoshi (now aware it's a Shadow Garden front) is with Alexia and Iris instead of Skel and Po. He later doubles back on his own to snoop in Gamma's office (learning Tuna King is a Garden front) before appearing in the throne room to meet Gamma.
- Princess Alexia decides to induct Cid into the Crimson Order. This leads to him interacting with Sherry and her father more, as well as the two Knights guarding her.
- Due to Cid spending more time at Mitsugoshi with Alexia (and actually learning Shadow Garden's codes), Nu follows them one evening. This allows her to take down the fake Shadow Garden killers without either princess getting involved or injured.
- Cid, annoyed at Skel for signing him up for the Bushin Festival, uses superspeed to strike him in the head, banking on his snowcone consumption to pass it off as bad brain-freeze. He does this in Sherry's study, in front of Lutheran, who picks up on it with his magically-enhanced senses. This entices him to attend the Bushin Festival, where he uses those senses to pick up that Cid is dodging Rose's strikes and faking his injuries.
- Cid, actually paying attention to Gamma's reports, hears about Sherry's backstory and concludes the Assistant Principal (by virtue of being the only other person Sherry's close to) might be a traitor. Nu is sent to spy on his office, and catches sight of Rex taking orders from the room at night.
- Lutheran, now aware that Cid is more than he seems, personally leads the elites to Cid's classroom when the Academy attack starts. When Cid seemingly dies, Lutheran decides to stay behind to chop off Cid's head himself.
- Also, Cid actually catches Gamma most of the time when she falls in front of him, and catches on to the fact that trying all his Mob-Fu Arts in the Festival made him look too much like a determinator.
- In Spite of a Nail: Even with Cid's increased awareness, plenty of events still proceed as they do in canon, even if some details are changed.
- The fight with Grease is largely unchanged, aside from Cid realizing he isn't just a bandit.
- Cid's fake relationship with Alexia, torture by interrogators, and battle against Zenon play out roughly the same as in canon.
- Cid still gives Sherry some chocolates in passing.
- Cid is still forced to take part in the Bushin Festival, and tests his failing techniques against Rose Oriana.
- Cid still takes a hit for Rose when the Academy is attacked.
- "It" Is Dehumanizing: Lutheran only refers to Sherry and her late mother as 'the Asset' or 'it'.
- The Mole: Cid is brought in to the Crimson Knights, helping/hindering their investigation into the Cult and its relics.
- Properly Paranoid: Lutheran becomes excessively cautious around Cid once he realizes the boy's stronger than he looks. Rex thinks he's just going crazy, but the audience is aware he's right to fear Cid.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: After realizing Cid is carrying out some act, Lutheran realizes Cid is deliberately sabotaging Sherry's research by giving her useless books to read over. However, the conclusion he reaches is that Cid is actually another member of the Cult vying for the Rounds seat, and that Zenon targeting him earlier was an attempt to remove another rival.
- Skewed Priorities: When Shadow first learns the Cult is real, what's the main thing he worries about? How 'cringe' it would be if the Shades learned he was wrong about something.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Grease's daughter is cured of her corruption before she can mutate into a kaiju, allowing Shadow Garden to rescue her.
- Spotting the Thread: After seeing how fast Cid really is, Lutheran looks over Cid's file and realizes he's too average: no one could achieve average scores and grades across everything.
