No one outside the Solar System knows they did that, and given the Starlights saw them trying to use it to backstab Galaxia. They're if asked they'll mention it was quite obviously a badly thought out plan to kill Galaxia, as was obvious a few minutes later. I'll probably have to mention there are those who tried this a lot, with and without witnesses to them trying it.
Actually, no one in Shadow Galactica would be vulnerable to this specific kind of betrayal. They ALL don't have Starseeds, so it's a relatively safe way to see if the newbie is faking. If they can be trusted, they eventually get told how the extractor bracelets work. If they're traitors, they try what H Aruka and Michiru did and get vaporized.
edited 2nd Nov '16 7:25:13 PM by SCMof2814
New actual character piece! Some parts of this I might or might not have hinted at in previous segments, so if something seems wrong, tell me so I can streamline it.
Ahem.
Anyway, how had her life turned out like this? From knight and king to filthy, filthy debauchery (very debauched. Extremely debauched. Oh, so debauched. Like, 'Ryan Reynolds Valentines Day Movie' debauched) most nights of the week? From protector of a kingdom and protectorate lands (and some parts of, ugh, France, what had she been thinking?) to the almost completely unknown vigilante protecting a single city with a bunch of other vigilantes (all right, it had more people on it than her whole kingdom at its peak combined, so what?) barring the distressingly common threats to all humanity, from being owner of all she surveyed to being landless, penniless, and not even owning the clothes on her back most of the time. She lived on the generosity of her Lady Irisviel (for she would always be her Lady to Saber, despite how her mind had gone even weirder since they had last seen one another), on the sufferance That Man (because NO ONE could hold a grudge, however politely they acted, like a female knight betrayed), on the restraint of Irisviel's daughters, and the alarmingly naïve niceness of her lover. Her dreams of saving her kingdom from herself gone, her only hope blasted from this world to thwart the birth of a twisted wish for Ultimate Evil, and the possibility of her fading easily back to oblivion taken from her by the bizarre final touch of the Grail. Ah, the ironies of life. It was quite bittersweet, but palatable as long as she didn't dwell on it too much. This was the way the world was now. She had to deal with it.
The city blurred beneath her as she ran and leapt from building to building, rising and falling as easily as breathing while her golden gaze swept through brilliantly lit streets and darkened alleys. Her dress was dark tonight, her armor having a little extra spikiness, a quality of tenebrousness only accented by the faintly glowing crimson accents upon it. She searched not for obvious dangers, but for the crimes that would likely have been overlooked and unseen. Movements in dark shadows, where murderers could murder, thieves could thieve, hussies might find themselves hustled, policemen didn't police, vague yet menacing government agencies might find themselves vaguely menaced by those more vaguely menacing, vampires might vamp, and things that go bump in the night might bump hard.
Such was now her lot.
There was a strange, everyday normalcy to it. This was her life now, and she found herself fitting within it. She lived expecting tomorrow to be reasonably similar to the day before, baring a crisis of some sort once a month that was handled more by brute numbers than cunning, that posed danger that was more abstract and distant than personal when not viewed in the immediate heat of battle. Old not-quite-enemies-turned-not-that-reluctant-allies became everyday companions, and everyone was glad that Gilgamesh had moved away to Tokyo to live with his brother and serve his King and Queen (she was still trying to wrap her head around that arrogant existence bowing to anyone, much less doing so fervently).
Tonight was her shift to patrol the city with Shiro, a shift that was ending soon. Shiro would patrol unceasingly all night if he wasn't stopped, so part of her duty was to get him to stand down and cede the rest of the night to Assassin and Lancer. Landing at one of the many skyscrapers, Saber drew her cellphone from a discreet pocket and checked the time. It was past their shift, she saw. They needed to get back home to rest. With now-practiced movements, she sent a short message to Lancer and Assassin that they were standing down and what area they had finished their patrol. Though the two would be taking their own route, they would know what areas hadn't been swept through yet. That finished, she dialed Shiro's number.
After a while, he answered. “Hello?”
“Shiro, it is time,” Saber said. “We need to return home.”
“Oh,” Shiro said. Saber had at first been confused, then exasperated at how disappointed he sounded every time they had this conversation. “Couldn't we patrol a few minutes more? Lancer-san and Assassin-san might need our help, and– ”
“Shiro, it's late, my armor is getting cold, and we both need our sleep,” Saber interrupted, her temper short, acerbic and sharp as it tended to be when the remnant of the Grail's taint was strong, as it was tonight. “Get some sleep before you die from a bad idea. I need my prana restored tomorrow, and you're a much more adequate lover when you're rested.”
It was, even by her standards when she was under taint, a cheap shot, but she didn't feel like fannying about trying to convince him tonight. He seemed to sense that as she heard him sigh through the open line before agreeing to head back. Even then, she watched as he started moving in the direction of home first before heading that way herself.
As she was launching herself up from the perch, she head a message arrive at her phone. As she flew through the air, the wind blowing past comfortingly, she reached back into her pocket and checked it. It was from Illya, reporting that someone was at the door. Alertness and concern immediately coursed through her at the oddness. At this time of night? Had something happened? The skies seemed to still be their correct color, despite the light pollution, and there seemed to be no sign of invaders from the stars again, so she hoped the matter wasn't too–
For a moment, Saber blanked, because she couldn't think of a word accurate enough to describe what she feared besides 'insane'.
A few minutes later, there was an electronic chime as another message came through. When Saber drew out her phone, the message preview on her phone's screen showed only one word.
HELP!-!-!-!-!-!
edited 4th Nov '16 12:17:31 AM by SCMof2814
Something that might come up when Saber and her sister get past the fighting and start family bonding. There's a tale of King Arthur that Saber might very well hate more than Monty Python - Disney's Sword in the Stone.
The Nasuverse makes it clear that Saber knew exactly what she was getting into when she drew Caliburn, knew what she was going to do with the throne once she had it (even if it didn't work out how she hoped), and had presumably been prepared by Merlin before she chose to draw the sword. Disney, on the other hand, portrayed the young King Arthur as a dumb kid who came across the Sword in the Stone by chance, drew it in ignorance, and clearly had no idea how to be a king. And Merlin's teachings were all about how to have problems. Not how to understand problems or solve them, just having them - something most people figure out naturally.
Oh yes, and it claimed that Saber's first suitor was a squirrel.
Her first reaction: "How did they know about the squirrel?"
Second Reaction: "I blame the French for this. I don't know how, I don't know why, but the French are to blame."
Actually, There might be something there...
(goes off to seriously try to make an omake from this)
She'd REALLY hate the Once Upon a Time version, and wonder why Lancelot was a Moor. The Merlin version, she'd likely be more forgiving towards, since she'd see it as cosmic justice, though again, wonder why random Moorish keep showing up.
edited 7th Nov '16 8:36:05 PM by SCMof2814
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There's an easy reason for her to be able to blame the French. Disney is a lingual corruption of D'Isigny, which means "of Isigny", and Isigny-sur-Mer is a coastal town in Normandy, France. Fifteen centuries later, the French are still taunting her.
In addition to her own portrayal, she might also take offense to the portrayal of Ector and Kay. The Nasuverse holds that whatever their faults, they did care for her (Kay carving her a lion toy when she was younger, for example), while Walter of Isigny had them as the knightly equivalent of the Jerk Jock, who mainly used Wart as a source of manual labor and as a sparring pell for Kay, with no indication that they had any intention of even giving their charge the kind of training one would need to achieve squirehood, much less knighthood.
edited 8th Nov '16 7:05:01 PM by Bissek
“There's nothing there Jason,” Superman said, as he refocused his eyes back to only the wavelengths on the visible light spectrum. The X-ray, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays, microwaves, and even faint radio waves all faded out, replaced by visible light and some slight tinges of strange red and violets he knew only he and a few species on Earth could see. “The mansion has extensive underground chambers,“ though a disgusted part of him felt it would have been more accurate to call them dungeons, “And something that looks like some kind of steampunk cloning lab, but aside from some heavy equipment that I'm assuming ran on magic, there's nothing of value here. It looks like someone stripped this place before they blew it up.”
He forbore mentioning the hideous mass grave under the house, filled with hundreds upon hundreds of bones. Many looked positively ancient, and even the topmost layer obviously predated the destruction. What kind of people had lived here? Who keeps a mass grave in their basement?
The obvious Gotham joke begged to be added as a punchline, but he disgustedly edited it out.
“No sheath?” Jason asked. “Nothing vaguely sheath-like? Scabardous in any way?
That last managed to elicit a quickly-repressed chuckle. “No. I'm sorry.”
Jason nodded with the assured and experienced resignation of a man who knows that of course things couldn't possibly be this easy. “Well, I suppose it's back to research to try and get ahead of Morgaine,” he said. “I thank you for your assistance, friends. I only wish we had something more substantial to show for it.”
“Me too,” Flash said. “No offense Jay, but we'd usually have at least two more Dramatic Fight Scenes and Green Lantern blowing something up by now.”
“Flash, shut up,” Batman said. He turned to Jason. “What now?”
“Now I believe you had best leave me here,” the immortal said. “I have a lot of digging to do, in case the sheath has been stored in some secret magically-guarded bolthole Superman's eyes can't see, followed by a lot of researching to find out where the sheath might have gone from here if I don't find it at all.”
“I'm sorry we weren't more help,” Superman repeated, and he was. He didn't like leaving thing unreseolved like this. “Call us if you come up with anything.”
Jason's expression managed to look polite. “I will keep your kind offer in mind.”
As the Leaguers awkwardly begant o troop back tot he Javelin, there was tone as someone's cellphone accepted an incoming message.
“Not mine,” Flash said. “And who left their phone on?”
“It is mine,” Diana said, pulling a cellphone out from her shield. “When Green Lantern gave it to me so she and others may contact me.”
“Huh. I wonder what roaming charges you're getting? Also, what's your number?” Flash asked.
Diana drew out her cellphone and frowned, then swore. “Batman, I need you to take me back to Japan. Someone is attacking my hosts in Fuyuki. The two Mahou Shoujo who live across the street from us are locked in battle, but it seems they are outmatched.”
“It'll be half an hour before the Javelin can get you there,” Batman said. “Flash can get you there in five.”
“You might end up throwing up all over me, but what's a little sick between friends,” Flash said. “These Maho-something… that means little kids like Green Lantern, right?”
“Yes,” Diana said.
An uncharacteristically grim look came over the visible parts of Flash's features for a moment. “Three minutes, and you'll definitely throw up.”
Diana tucked her phone back in her shield. “Done.”
Flash held open pen his hands, and Diana was only mildly reluctant to let him carrier her. “What are we getting into?” he asked as he made sure of his grip.
“Some sorceress in a golden mask and her child,” Diana said. “They keep demanding something called Avalon.”
Jason's head whipped around so fast there was an audible snap, but by then Flash was running, only a flamming line of vegetation and a sonic boom heading eastward the only trace of him.
“Batman!” he called. “After them!”
And so Diana learns a major lesson about the world of Mahou Shoujo (And superheroing in general): it pays to be aware of what's going on in your neighborhood, because all too often your friends, family, and/or neighbors will have or do something that will make them villain's target, or sometimes just be the villain in the first place.
Today's short segment is bought to you by the letter 'L'.
The dimensional barrier Illya had cast had given them room to let loose and spread out beyond their house, allowing them to fuck subtlety. Their fighting had also roused Miuyu and Luvia next door, making the fight a bit more in their favor.
“All right!” Kuro cheered. “Team Hot Loli Ass is on the case.”
“No,” her sister said flatly. “Just… No.”
“We are not Team Hot Loli Ass,” Miyu agreed.
“Denying it doesn't change the fact it's true,” Kuro said, wiggling.
Further banter was cut off as they dodged a fierce and vaguely dragon-shaped (Eastern serpentine type, though the head appeared Western) blast of destructive magic. It honed in on Kuro, possibly on the assumption she had the least mobility, since she couldn't flight or float, but her mad scrambling, dodging, and occasionally seemingly flickering of existence to reappear somewhere else allowed her to avoid it with, if not ease, then at least the appearance of ease. Her grin and laughter certainly reinforced the impression.
Miyu and Illya, relatively free, went on the offensive, Miyu going for the red-clad child with the sword who didn't seem to know how to use it very well. They did, however, know how to throw bolts of golden magic very well indeed, and did not seem to be in danger of suffering from power loss any time soon. Bolts met shields in the shapes of hexagram stars, stopping them cold. The bolts backed power, however, breaking through in three or four direct hits, forcing Miyu to keep moving as she sought to close the distance.
Illya went for the sorceress in the golden masked, over-powered and multi-layered shield in front of her as she charged directly, her Silence Wall and Round Shield tanking blasts she wasn't able to avoid, trying for close range strikes. Miyu and Kuro were both too close for the blast radiuses (radii?) of most of the spells she knew Hayate could do, leaving her options slightly limited. For one thing, multi-projective guided spells gave her a headache when they went past three.
That didn't mean she couldn't use them, however.

So, I've been thinking of starting a new side-story in the vein of Fate/Holy Grail War of 2814, the reason being the next arc after this one is looking to be long. Like, really long. Hence it might be a better idea to spin them off into their own story for a while.
How long are we talking about? Well, I expected the Fate sidestory to take up only 10 chapters, and it went on for much longer. How long do you think this should be?
It's an A.R.G.O. News Network exclusive report! Don't worry, it's A.R.G.O.!
For the first time in millennia the Sailor Senshi of the galaxy have called a Concilium of the Stars. The Concilium was called to discuss the state of affairs of the Post-Galaxian era. The Concilium is to be hosted by the Cardinal system, aboard the specially constructed colony stations the Infinity Moment, Alicization and Progressive. After the Concilium, the stations are to be used as new orbital colonies.
While Apokolips and New Genesis are not expected, and some worlds such as the long-silent Silver Imperium, worlds that have not yet recovered such as the Gamindustri system, or destroyed worlds such as Krypton of the Rao system, are predicted to remain absent, sources disclose that many worlds and Senshi have been confirmed. These include Lady Nyaruko (Sailor Nyarlathotep of the Koikraft system), Duchess Louise (Sailor Halkegenia of the Halkegenia system), Lord Trey (King Ranger of Triforia), Lady Rozalin (Sailor Veldime of the Nether System, within the N1 Nebula), Sorceress Mysa Xola Aq (Sailor Zerox of the Thaum system), High Seer Nura Nal (Sailor Naltor of the Thaum System) and Queen Projectra (Sailor Orando of the Thaum system).
Included among those attending the Concilium are many Senshi who are known collaborators of Shadow Galactica. While no official position has been taken by Senshi at large, many individual systems have undertaken to place known collaborator worlds under punitive sanctions and embargo. These include monetary restitution and temporary revocation of evolutionary rights.
Empress Vindication (Sailor Scadrial of the Cosmere system) has been a very vocal supporter for harsh penalties against collaborators, stemming from having been betrayed by the Senshi of her moons, Sailor Tin Nyanko, Sailor Lead Crow and Sailor Aluminium Siren. The Cosmere system is a major metal exporter, and is a prime source of Transuranic Iron, Adamantium, Vibranium and raw treacle.
Others, such as Queen Alipheese the 17th (Sailor Arpegia of the Monmusu System) have advocated mercy, defending the collaborators on the grounds that they had merely done their best to save their constituents. The Monmusu system was under assault from no less then three collaborators when it fell. The movement is drawing a surprising amount of initial support from other Senshi, including Captain General Bastille (Sailor Nalhala of the Alcatraz System) Princess Kakyuu (Sailor Kinmoku of Kinmoku), and Princess Dex (Sailor Edenoi of the Kayarkuro System).
It is not known if Sailor Galaxia will be in attendance, or what actions will be taken should she appear. No word on whether the Green Lantern Corp will be sending a representative. A representative of the Zamarons, the assigned Star Sapphire of sector 2814, has been confirmed as an observer. Due to the history of amicable relations between the Sailor Senshi and the Star Sapphires of Zamaron, the presence of the representative has been accepted provided they agree not to, among other things, trap everyone in violet crystal as a preservative measure.
edited 1st Nov '16 11:12:43 PM by SCMof2814