Episode 5: Deep Love, Dark Shadows

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Scene: A town square in Landsol.

Even having gained new abilities, the magical girls were conscious of continuing changes in their enemies.

Shiori
The anti-beasts are growing stronger every day...

Kasumi
It's as though they're committing everything they have. And yet, even now, we still don't know their true aims...

Morra
That's true... But thanks to your splendid efforts as magical girls, the anti-beasts haven't been able to cause as much damage!

Kasumi
... Huh? As much damage?

Shiori
Right. Think of what would have happened if we hadn't turned up right before the anti-beasts went on their rampage.

Kasumi
Right before...? Now that I think about it, up until now, the anti-beasts have been...

Yuuki
1. "What is it?"

Kasumi
Huh? Ah, sorry, Assistant. I was just thinking about something. Lately, with all the patrolling we've been doing, my mind's been feeling a bit muddled...

Shiori
Ah. In that case, why don't we get some crepes? I've heard that having some sugar can help clear up your thoughts.^[1] And I know a crepe shop right near here...!

Morra
Shiori, you really like sweets, I see.

Shiori
Ah, um... Yes. Just a little bit.

Yuuki
1. "That crepe shop must be..."

Kasumi
Oh, my. You know it, too, Assistant? Hmm... In that case, let's give it a try.

Scene: Labyrinth's crepe shop.

Shizuru
Little brotheeeeeeer!

Kasumi
Eep!? W-What's this!?

Shizuru
Welcome, little brother! Did you come to see your big sister? You did, didn't you? I'm so happy, let me pat your head some more!

Shiori
Big sister... Yuuki, is this your big sister?

Shizuru
That's right! I'm his big sister -- the consummate big sister of big sisters!

Kasumi
I-Is that right...

Kasumi
(This person has some big energy... Yuuki seems to be making a troubled face, though... I wonder? Could it be that, because of his amnesia, he doesn't have any hard evidence that she is?)

Yuuki
1. "We'd like some crepes."

Shizuru
Ah, crepes? You came to eat some crepes made by your big sister! Which is kind of like saying, you came to have a bite of your big sister...!

Shiori
Is that what it's come to...!?

Shizuru
It sure has! All right, I'll whip up some crepes for you all, chop-chop, so just sit tight!

Later.

Kasumi
Nom. ... Mmm. Just the right amount of sweetness and sourness.

Shiori
Yes. It's just right.

Morra
Just right.

Shizuru
Little brother, open your mouth! Ah, you got some cream on your cheek. I'll wipe it... No, I'll lick it right off!

Kasumi
... His seems a little too sweet.

Shiori
Um, I wonder if that's good for business...

Shizuru
Don't worry, don't worry. We basically never get any customers anyway. Besides, my little brother is always my top priority!

Morra
What powerful love... I've never felt anything so strong before.

Kasumi
Love... huh.

Shiori
Kasumi, what is it? Have you figured anything out?

Shizuru
Oh, little brother, is all that sugar making you dehydrated? Do you want some water? I thought this might happen, so I got some earlier! It's a little warm now, but it's the warmth of your sister's love!

Kasumi
... Not quite. Rather, I should say, there's one lingering question that I just can't figure out.

Kasumi
... Hey, Morra. You said that the anti-beasts' target was love, right?

Morra
Yes. In contrast to magical girls, who exist to spread love and hope, anti-beasts exist to steal love away.

Shizuru
Hmm? Little brother, are you feeling worn out? Your muscles look all stiff. In times like these, your big sister should give you a massage!

Shiori
... Um. So, what's your lingering question?

Kasumi
The question relates to the idea that the anti-beasts haven't caused as much damage as they could have. Think about the places where the anti-beasts have appeared. They've all been near us... Which shouldn't have been the case, right?

Shiori
Now that you mention it...! It does seem strange when you think about it, doesn't it?

Kasumi
According to Morra, the anti-beasts are bringers of calamity, and yet...

Morra
You think they have some other objective?

Shiori
What could their motive be for only appearing very close to us?

Shizuru
Rub, rub... Wow, you're all knotted up, little brother. Ah, and don't think about running away -- I'll use my Big Sister Hold!

Kasumi
(H-How distracting... Both of them. We're trying to have a serious discussion here. Aren't you supposed to be my assistant? ... Come on.)

Shiori
... Huh? Um, Kasumi. When I think back, the very first anti-beast we encountered also appeared right in front of us, didn't it?

Kasumi
That's right. Of course, we had just met Morra that time...

Kasumi
But my assistant had already been fighting it...

Shiori
Um, could that mean...!

Kasumi
From the very beginning, the target of the anti-beasts was...!

Shizuru
You really are adorable, little brother! But, you know, I'm worried. You've had it pretty difficult lately, haven't you? Is everything okay? You've been...

Shizuru
... spending all your time with those magical girls.

Kasumi
... What!?

Shiori
Yuuki! This way!

Yuuki
1. Extend my hand.

Shiori pulls Yuuki away.

Shizuru
Oh, my. So you mean to take my little brother from me.

Morra
Oh! ... Could this be an anti-beast!? The two of you, transform!

Kasumi
Misty, theory, truly! Magical ribbon, spiral!

Shiori
Pure heart, lock on! Magical arrow, critical!

Shizuru Noire
Heh heh. So the magical girls have arrived.

Shizuru Noire
To take a little brother from his big sister... That's unforgivable, don't you think?

Purely Shiori
Shizuru... it was you...!

Misty Kasumi
That form isn't just for show...!

Shizuru Noire
I'm a big sister, you know. Yuuki's big sister. But right now...

Shizuru Noire
You can call me the Dark Sister.

Misty Kasumi
The Dark...

Purely Shiori
Sister...!?

Shizuru Noire
Ha ha. I'll give you a special taste of my power. ... Come.

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Misty Kasumi
It's huge...! And all this pressure...!

Purely Shiori
Could this be the true form of the anti-beasts...!?

Morra
There's no doubt. All of the anti-beasts up until now have been conjured by her!

Morra
What's more, her presence is the same as what I felt earlier! Mixed together with the anti-beast's power... There's no mistaking it... The strong, deep power of love...!

Shizuru Noire
Ha ha. This one here was the first one to attack. None of my attacks had any effect, so I had no way to fight back... But I thought hard about my little brother, and suddenly, I gained a secret power.

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Shizuru Noire
The power to make these creatures obey my commands!

Misty Kasumi
You can't possibly mean, you tamed them!?

Morra
No, that should be impossible! Anti-beasts have no minds of their own! There should be no way to tame them!

Morra
No, unless... The power of her love is just that strong...?

Purely Shiori
Does that mean this power is a part of Shizuru? Has this power of love always been surrounding her?

Morra
No, nobody should be able to contain this much power...!

Yuuki
1. "Is she okay?"

Morra
I don't think anybody can be near an anti-beast for this long without ill effects. It must be influencing her somehow...

Shizuru Noire
Ha ha, you're so kind, little brother. You're worried about your big sister.

Shizuru Noire
Ahhh, I can't hold it in any longer! I want to be with you forever, I want to hug you forever, I want to lavish you with love forever and ever and ever!

Misty Kasumi
... She wasn't like this up until just now, was she?

Yuuki
1. "This is normal."
2. "This isn't normal."

Option 1.

Misty Kasumi
Really!? She's always like this!?

Purely Shiori
I'm sure she's been influenced somehow by the anti-beast... probably.

Option 2.

Misty Kasumi
As I'd thought, the anti-beast's influence has affected her... Huh? Usually, she's even more so?

Purely Shiori
... Perhaps some things are best left to the imagination...

End of branches.

Morra
I think that soon, her power of love is going to run rampant! Be careful, you two!

Shizuru Noire
Hee hee, I really can't take it anymore! I'll be taking my little brother now! I'll bathe him in my overflowing love!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Morra
It's coming! Kasumi, Shiori, Sir Knight! We must defeat that anti-beast! If we do, we can at last bring peace back to Landsol!

Yuuki
1. "Let's bring peace back, together!"

Misty Kasumi
Yes! Let's solve this case once and for all!

Purely Shiori
Yes. I'll pierce through with all my might!

Shizuru Noire
Magical girls! I will never forgive you for stealing my little brother's love away from me!

Shizuru Noire
It's time to eliminate you misbehaving children!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

The anti-beast attacks. Misty Kasumi dodges.

Misty Kasumi
Nice try! Here -- Misty Bullet!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Misty Kasumi
That's the power of a Magical Detective!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

The anti-beast attacks again.

Misty Kasumi
Whoa!? That was close!?

Purely Shiori
Kasumi, allow me! Purely Arrow!

Purely Shiori
I'll shoot you all down! Yaaah!

Morra
Whoa! You really shot them all down!

Purely Shiori
The name Magical Huntress isn't just for show...!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Morra
My eyes aren't deceiving me! The two of you are truly exceptional magical girls!

Misty Kasumi
My, my, finally he admits it.

Purely Shiori
But I'm happy to hear it...!

Purely Shiori
Kasumi, let's end this now! Purely Aiming!

Misty Kasumi
No objections here, Shiori! I'll ensnare you in my ropes -- Misty Wrapping!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Morra
Nice, it's been stopped! Now, the two of you, finish this!

Shizuru Noire
I can't let that happen so easily, can I?

Morra
Huh? Waaah!?

Yuuki
1. "Morra!"

Shizuru Noire
I've got you! Morra, was it? It looks like the power you have is... just right!

Morra
L-Let me go! Ahhhh!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Misty Kasumi
Wha -- it broke free from my Misty Wrapping!? Is Morra's power strengthening it!?

Purely Shiori
Kasumi! I feel our power draining away! The power we got from Morra is disappearing...!

Shizuru Noire
Wow, what incredible power. With this, I'll be able to cherish my little brother even more!

Shizuru Noire
Hmm hmm. Just wait there, little brother. Your big sister's coming to give you a hug. I'll let you feel your big sister's love as I squeeze you...

Morra
W-What powerful love... But at this rate...!

Anti-beast
Roaaaaar!

Misty Kasumi
What!? The anti-beast is... growing...!?

Purely Shiori
What... What can we do...!?

Shizuru Noire
Ha ha, ha ha ha. The tables have turned, haven't they? In the end, not even the strongest walls can withstand the power of love...

Shizuru Noire
Hey, little brother.

Shizuru Noire
Will you accept your big sister's love?

Narration
Dark Sister Shizuru reveals her true form as the embodiment of the most powerful love. In the face of that power, our magical girls -- and me, Morra -- are in in a desperate situation! What will become of Magical Detective Misty Kasumi and Magical Huntress Purely Shiori!?