#Shaula Gorgon

[resbangmod]

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[goldstarknight]

Shaula Gorgon (2023)

Shaula Gorgon was very much the highlight of Soul Eater Not! for me. Easily in my top 3 characters from the franchise. Love her scorpion motif and the way Ohkubo plays with it. Also: cool floral-pattern hair! Felt like the perfect opportunity to draw something in this manga-esque style again. I love thick outlines and screen tones, so here's some fanart! 🦂

[beeejayy]

I redesigned shaula . The worst Gorgon sister EVERR anyways my words about the process on this is under here if you care about that

HOLY SHIT I HATE HER ORIGINAL DESIGN SO MUCH . I hate soul eater not too she's the worst. I want to fix her entire personality but that requires watching it again and I'm not doing that yet. Anyways, Shaula, the youngest Gorgon. I wanted her to look more like Arachne to make Medusa stand out more as a middle sibling. Shaula's hair better represents the scorpion stinger, I also made her outfit match the other two in their black and dark design while still making it her own and not a fucking school girl uniform with ugly cuffs. Shaula's boots are supposed to look like the skin of a scorpion, as well as her earrings being stingers. Her disguised outfit was also upgraded. Girl thought putting on a hat would hide her.... Not with that bright hair sweetie. Anyways that's all I think I have to say for now. Soon I will fix her whole....thing she has character wise.

[bcbdrums]

Soul Eater NOT - part 9 (MAJOR SPOILERS)

But now we come to the biggest issue of all...

Untrained NOT students (the three main characters) defeat the witch. TWO meisters, using a single weapon, none of which who have any battle training or real practice together, are suddenly incredibly competent and powerful, even more-so than Akane and Clay, and kill the witch.

This undermines the whole of Soul Eater.

In Soul Eater we learn right away... The ultimate goal is to kill a witch and for the weapon to eat her soul. This is the power that transforms the weapon into something greater. It is stated that many meisters and weapons die in battle with witches. The witches are the centuries-old enemies of the DWMA.

So...for these untrained students to suddenly have the ability? And of course--the author has thrown in that the princess was forced to study martial arts, and that our lovable ditz has also studied martial arts... None of that changes that our weapon is in the NOT class. Specifically just how to use her weapon form not to hurt herself or others. Zero combat training. Their defeating the witch makes NO SENSE. It feels like the biggest let-down of the entire story. It horribly demeans Medusa entirely, it makes Maka's defeat of Arachne feel meaningless... If untrained students can suddenly do it, then, why can't everyone? What threat are witches at all?

Now one can make the argument that Shaula was a lousy witch. But! She somehow mass-poisoned and mind controlled all the NOT students and a bunch of citizens! So surely she has a lot of power??

But again...the manga didn't give us anything about her character. She's supposed to ride on Medusa and Arachne's coattails and we're supposed to believe and feel she's threatening by nature of relationship. Unfortunately, it doesn't work at all. It feels insulting (just like Akane being Star Clan).

Now, in one of the very last panels right before the girls defeat Shaula, we get a sudden full-page image of Lord Death telling the witch: "Listen, you... Do you know who you've picked a fight with?" Out of nowhere. And this is the one and only time he appears. Subsequently, Shaula screams his name and then the girls kill her. SO.... One could headcanon that it is in fact Lord Death taking over the three girls and it's he who defeats the witch in the end. This is the only way to make this ending palatable. But even that just doesn't feel right...

Support for this idea is that...very suddenly, when the witch is defeated (at the girl's dormitory) who should suddenly show up next but...! Tezca, Justin, Spirit, and Death the Kid, who take the witch's soul. This last chapter's opening panel shows all eight death scythes with Kid and Lord Death, and they're all perched on that rooftop so it's even implied that all eight may suddenly just...be there. Not only does this make no sense generally, the sudden arrival, but we know from SE canon that the only death scythe in Death City is Spirit! Author forgetting his timeline again. Just...tossing things in last second to be cool I guess? Gotta get all the cameos in before it's over.

But again, the sudden arrival of all these huge players could imply that Lord Death took over the girls and it was truly him that defeated Shaula. But this is some far-reaching and it really only softens her defeat slightly.

So in conclusion, the entire villainous plot and the witch's defeat is a hot mess.

[dreaming-wavelength]

Day 30 - Free day!

Prompts by @rennikun

Once upon a time there was a mother who had three daughters. A spider, a snake and a scorpion. They all lived happily together in one home.

One day the mother left their home. She said goodbye to her daughters before she left. "Be good, my little ones, I'll be home soon."

The three of them obeyed and stayed in the house, playing together and doing chores. Together they waited for their mother to return, late into the night, but she didn't come back, no matter how long they waited.

Eventually they had to accept that their mother would never return, and that they would have to manage on their own from now on. It wasn't long before they started arguing, especially the spider and snake.

Eventually the two left home, so that only the scorpion lived there. All alone.

[blackbloodteeth]

Past Rambles #13

Reaching the end of this particular collection of ideas. This one is notably unfinished somehow despite the length, and was definitely based on The Little Mermaid.

Starts off with a moody Soul who is a shark merman. He's kind of an outcast because "toothkin" are feared, and his father and brother ended up being "flipperkin" (a dolphin counterpart) while Soul takes after his mother.

He has this flat ledge by the land that he often goes staring at the sunset on, however one day he finds a strange person there instead. When he quietly gets a closer look, he sees it's a girl drawing the sunset and he admires how she captured it, but upon finishing it she sighs, leaving him to wonder why she is unhappy.

So he goes and finds shells to leave for her on the ledge for the next time she happens to show up. She notices them and draws that next, and he notes how well she captured those too, but yet she still sighs unhappily at the end.

He finds bigger, more pretty shells in hopes of keeping her inspired, and while the same thing happens, she's starting to get suspicious.

When Soul notes that she's still dissatisfied with her art, he begins searching out pretty stones for her. She is now definitely catching on that someone knows she's here when she comes back again today, and starts drawing normally before stopping suddenly, causing Soul to duck down into the water noisily. She then pretends to keep going long enough for him to pop back up until she turns around to finally spot him.

Soul flounders back into the water while she exclaims the she knew someone was there all along, however when she goes to stare at him he's already moved over to her sketchbook, letting her note his pointed ears as he then swims to the other side of the rock ledge. When she questions him on why he's in the water watching her, he finally speaks up and says he likes her art, which makes her huff and take her leave. Soul swims in front of her and begs her not to leave, but she simply notes his sharp teeth and leaves anyway. While on the shore, she turns back to see him still in the water staring at her and comments on why he doesn't just get out and follow her. He ends up scrambling to come up with a dumb excuse, and she starts connecting the dots as she pretends to walk back home.

He returns to being moody again and beats himself up while sitting up on the ledge, wishing to have seen how she would've drawn the stones he brought. The girl actually returns to confirm that he is in fact a merman, which startles him into the water and makes her laugh, teasing him for being so shy despite being something that others would fear (to which he acts like a grumpy little tsundere). She decides to talk with him though, and when she asks why he kept bringing her stuff, Soul admits that he admires how she captures beauty and that he just wanted to help with her seeming so unhappy. The girl ends up explaining that she never really wanted to be an artist but it's what her mother did, leading to Soul asking what she would want to do, which is writing. He encourages her, however she relents that she'll be in trouble if she doesn't keep making art. Of course he offers that she could do it in secret here with him (if she wants to of course), so she makes up a poem on the spot and he loves it 'cause it's like music to him. Eventually the girl decides to head back home for real in case it might rain but tells him she'll come back here when he asks about it.

Now in a good mood, Soul goes looking for a way that he could make something nice with her too. After swimming a little too far out though, he ends up encountering the Gorgon sisters: The eldest, Arachne, is an octopus who tells him that the girl on the surface is a human and that there would be trouble if he kept being with her, to which he denies that she's different. Then the younger, Medusa, who is an eel that tells him his family would disapprove and that he'd be in danger, to which he denies that he's being careful and he's always over there, anyway. And finally the youngest, Shaula, who is a squid that instead apologizes for her sisters, telling him that they were simply too excited to help a toothkin in need. Soul doesn't trust it but she goes on asking if he has sisters, and he tells her no, but he does have a brother, and she says that he'd understand then what it's like to be overshadowed and forgotten. She then wishes him well and that if he ever needs assistance he is free to call upon them anytime.

The next day Soul goes to visit the human and she reads him stuff that she wrote. He mentions that he wants to find a way to make something pretty too, so she suggests maybe singing and he says he'll think about giving it a try. Later his brother knows something's up with how Soul's been out all the time and having heard him trying to use his voice like that. Soul tells him not to worry about it an' that he's just bored, but Wes barely lets it slide since he has to go do important dolphin things.

When Soul meets her again the next day and tries to sing, he gets embarrassed too easily (especially with it being much different above water), and instead they end up talking about him being a shark. The girl starts to open up a bit more about herself, even if not her name (as Soul is still too reluctant to share his), and the two are becoming friends now (woah).

As he goes back afterwards though, he's encountered by his brother again which he finds a little weird, but Wes confronts him that Soul's been going to the surface to meet with a human, hasn't he. Soul quickly denies it saying it's none of his business and to "flipper off," however Wes says that he's going to have to tell their father about this, which causes him to swim away pissed off before remembering what Shaula told him.

Soul goes and finds the sisters, and they offer a spell to help him get away for a while but at the cost of his voice. He hesitates, however they all assure him that if he proves he is safe up there, his family may just back off. Feeling like he has no other alternatives, their spell then takes his voice and turns him into a human (torn-up sail to cover him already provided, and they preemptively warn him that he won't be able to breathe water anymore), and he eventually finds the girl again after just kinda laying on the sand but can't tell her what happened. The girl decides to bring him back with her to her home after helping him walk, and just comes up with a lie that he'd been shipwrecked.

Antics ensue as he knows nothing about being human but finally learns the girl's real name is Maka. Her father is overprotective and doesn't want a stranger (let alone a weird, unkempt guy who smells like he just came from the ocean) near her, but she's defensive of him saying she's already met him while out by the sea (which contradicts the shipwreck lie a little but Soul's not gonna stop her).

Eventually after spending time together, Soul realizes the spell is almost up and he tries to find a way to tell Maka that he has to go back, however when she takes him to the shore while the sun sets and the spell wears off, his voice doesn't return.

Soul goes back underwater to try to get it back from the sisters but they're not home, instead having went to Maka to make a deal with her, presumably wanting to barter Soul's voice in exchange for something important from her as this is the point that the sisters being witches is made more obvious as the antagonist. The idea is unfinished from here, however I recall at the very least that Shaula ends up being the real antagonist, using the deals to her personal advantage to overthrow her sisters (and possibly endangering both worlds). Knowing myself, I'm going to assume that the deal Maka makes ends up turning her into a mermaid at the cost of not being able to talk to Soul still despite him getting his voice back.

[choujinx]

SOUL EATER NOT! (2011-2014) by ookubo atsushi

[howlingday]

If medusa is jaunes grandma it implies arachne and shaula gorgon are create aunts.

That it does. And what lovely graunties they must be.

[aeb-art]

some soul eater doodles

[soul-dwelling]

Do you think Shaula was so disappointing that adding her as a "Gorgon Sister" puts a stain on the legacy of Medusa and Arachne? Like a restaurant that serves Lobster, Caviar and then like offbrand poptarts that are already stale

I don’t think Shaula puts a stain on the legacy of the other Gorgon sisters, for a few reasons. 

First, Shaula isn’t a bad character, just poorly and under utilized. It helps to see other artists do great work figuring out what to do with Shaula. For example, I really like this art from jume-pl, showing how much we were denied to see Medusa and Shaula interacting with each other in Death City, how that would affect each of their schemes against Lord Death. It’s a missed opportunity that the two never interacted in canon. 

Second, Shaula isn’t so bad that she somehow ruins what we get with Medusa and Arachne. (This isn’t like my ranting about how Fire Force diminishes Soul Eater.) 

Finally, Shaula is part of the NOT spinoff, which in itself is not strictly necessary to read to understand the story or themes or messages of the original manga. NOT is its own largely self-contained story, nothing Shaula or anyone else does in NOT strongly contradicts the story or themes or messages, so whatever Shaula does is at worst harmless. 

Now, as for comparing Shaula to off-brand Pop Tarts and Medusa and Arachne to fine cuisine: I think that’s a bit harsh--as I said, I have seen fan creators see the potential to Shaula and make her work well as a character. This isn’t about quality alone or taste alone--Shaula could have worked, and even if she was better written, that still wouldn’t suddenly make people like her if she still didn’t suit her tastes. You can have Pop Tarts be a secret ingredient for an episode of Iron Chef and have the contestants make the classiest meal possible--that still won’t change the fact that people may still dislike the meal just because they just don’t like Pop Tarts.

[let-me-take-your-soul]

I know this is not a request but, as a soul eater fan i wanna ask, have you ever been curious to know what the witches' backstories are? like eruka, kim, medusa, arachne shaula, etc. what are your thoughts? I'm just curious. you don't have to answer.

Oh 100%! Like, we do get a teeny tiny bit of background on Kim if you look at both the manga and at Soul Eater Not, but like, it's such a tiny amount I wish we would have been able to get more!

And I definitely would love to get a deeper background on Eruka! She's one of my favorites of the witches (I just really like frogs!)

It also would make a lot of sense to get more background on any or all of the Gorgon witches. Like, they end up being the big baddies but we only get tiny glimpses of their history. They have so much that could be explored!

Thanks for the question, Anon!

[maguro13-2]

Death Vengeance ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Chapter 3 Pt.3

[Secret Altar - Hideaki Kobayashi]

Master Phanto : Today is the year 2003, this is a very big day for ahead of us, and I have one great task to go clean up that Shinra act of their's. So this is your first day of showing me your powers that I gifted to you and I'm aware to use it properly.

Moirai Albarn : Well, gladly we can do. I have so many questions to ask or for their, answer. My sister and I have been obtaining the souls from one of those heartlesses and we will do well on gathering magnificent energy. Sister?

Maka Albarn : So, much of you had bear the fact that I have the reason that there is a city in a foreign country on the planet.

Master Phanto : It's called the USA. It's probably home to that plumber who is the hero of the mushroom kingdom or eventually hero of Subcon or Muu, the place that we althought that me and people used to live in that world only connected by dreams. We heard that an enemy to witchkind is responsible for possesing people with the Poison Spear. There is one enemy that holds the Poison Enemy, and her name is Shaula Gorgon, one of witchkind's most renegades and that renegade is one pretty slick creature. But that's not the Shaula Gorgon they know, the one that the witches sent wasn't a member of the Majo Order. [a hologram of the Sand Scorpion from Sonic and the Secret Rings appears] This is the creature of the Poison Spear, Sand Scorpion. A monster that is usually some kind of scorpion with eyes and it could bring poisonous epidemic to the populace.

Moirai Albarn : We'll do! Even though, Witchkind was not really that smart enough to think that the witch Shaula they sent was really an imposter. But my suggestion that this girl wanted to defeat her so badly it's unbearable that it's only one doppelganger that is dumb enough to attack one country. I bet it's after making it's attempt to find Heartless Medusa and that Demon Spider Jorogumo as well in order to revive Shinra's grandson.

Master Phanto : Shinra's Grandson? Is that what they're after? Well you do have a point, that Shinra fella is always one heck of a hero. He always keeps his cool and has a hero complex for that matters. So I want you to do to find this Shaula Gorgon doppelganger and destroy it before it could spread chaos on the planet.

Moirai Albarn : Yes, father. We'll do.

Maka Albarn : We mustn't give up, we'll have what it takes for to have that challenge.

Phanto's Servant : Master, the transport to Earth is ready. I've just set up the coordinates to Nevada, USA.

Moirai Albarn : This is should be a piece of Cake!

Maka Albarn : Yeah!

Maka's Mother : Be careful when you are needed to get back.

Maka Albarn : Okay, mom.

Moirai Albarn : Let's get to it.

Master Phanto : Remember. We're a proud Phantonian race. The human race could not the bear fact that human-turning weapons made from the bones of Shotaro aren't that lucky to face the true evil itself. Our blood is capable of using magic as a weapon and it's advanced to our old civilization.

Moirai Albarn : We'll do and understood! Come on, sister! We got somewhere to be!

[the two leaves and the scene changes to Mai Thi Hoang at a bazaar in the real world version of Death City]

Mai Thi Hoang : Oh my, the place for this weird fictional city in a foreign country is really not satitisfying for a place to live in, not exactly what I'm capable for. (sighs) Dumb Shinra Kusakabe and his stupid legacy of his, always the bastard for being a hero of why did he chose this place for a home of the legacy. If the Men of his influence wouldn't suspect of handling the truth out of the public eye, then I would get the truth spread from the mother of Maka Albarn. I wish if there was a way that I could really spread truth to the people and would just live in the real world anyway.

Shaula Gorgon (?) : [in a creepy voice] PSST. Hey, buddy. Over here.

Mai Thi Hoang : Huh? Who said that?

Shaula Gorgon (?) : I got a surprise for you.

Mai Thi Hoang : Really? Say, you kinda look familiar than that the "Real" Shaula Gorgon who was hiding around the world, somewhere. Are you sure that I can really trust you?

Shaula Gorgon (?) : Sure you do. After all, I can't say "no" to a girl like you.

Mai Thi Hoang : Are you sure?

Shaula Gorgon : Does it look unsure that if I may lick you for a special treat.

Mai Thi Hoang : Oh, about that. Well I basically do and--Wait, did you say you are gonna lick me like a dog?

[JOJO SFX : Menacingly]

Shaula Gorgon (?) : [chuckles] And now you just become a traitor like the rest of them.

Moirai Albarn : Hold it right there, Heartless creep!

Maka Albarn : And where do you think you're going of licking that girl's face like a dog or something?

Shaula Gorgon (?) : What the-?! [turns and sees Moirai and Maka appearing behind them, wearing Phanto's mask] Huh? Who are you?

Moirai Albarn : We are the daughters of Phanto, and we are the sworn protectors of Earth!

Maka Albarn : And we come to destroy the evil that is the dark forces of Evil!

Moirai Albarn : We knew that a heartless Doppelganger like isn't getting away of destroying this planet!

Shaula Gorgon Doppelganger : Y-You! How did you know that I'm a heartless doppelganger of the "real" Shaula Gorgon?

Moirai Albarn : It's easy. We found out that your little licking maybe the poison spear and therefore, Heartless knows it's true form that is a living shell.

Maka Albarn : Yeah, a living shell.

Shaula Gorgon Doppelganger : DAAAAH! Now I know you two really are! You're the daughters of that mask enemy Phanto from weird alien race! He was Phanto, he was the guardian of the key! He is that badass who is a soul-eating monster!

[The Grudge - Jun Senoue]

Moirai Albarn : I've known your movements, your plan on resurrecting the Kusakabe's grandson was a plan to destroy the legacy that Shinra created! Now tell me, why would Witchkind ever sent a Heartless phony like you to attack this mysterious city built in a foreign country? or else I'll have my blood to destroy you and take your soul away for good. You won't be dealing of destroying the Kusakabe Legacy anymore, you heartless moron!

Shaula Gorgon Doppelganger : Okay! Okay! You got me! I was expelled from Shaula Gorgon's heart and we heartlesses wanted to destroy the whole planet! We're on a path to genocide and it's all that demon spider's fault! The one who stole Shotaro's creations the demon weapons that are actually made from his bones and of course, Alchemy! But all that Death and Destruction made us realize how brainless we are! Thought that Ansem might be at the highest stake to have the whereabouts of opening the door to Darkness, so it turns out that this was all a tricky trap orchestrated by him to lure the heroes out! But more importantly, the Arachne Gorgon I know that stole the bones of Shotaro or a witch, isn't her at all. It's Jorogumo, the demon spider who wanted to feast on Shinra's Grandson. That spider was so stupid that it's attraction to Demon Vibe's power is so incredible, no witch on the planet would able to resist!

Moirai Albarn : So what's it going to be? Facing the light, facing truth, or facing my powers of blood magic?

Shaula Gorgon Doppelganger : Okay, I'll tell you who wanted to destroy the devil's legacy! It was Demon V-

[DBZ SFX : Energy Blast]

Moirai & Maka : [in shocked]

[Shaula yells and reverts to it's true form, which turns out to be a Neo Shadow heartless]

Moirai Albarn : That energy of light. Was it Keyblade Magic?

Maka Albarn : Could be.

Mai Thi Hoang : That stray beam of light. So this strange witch that tried to possess me was a Heartless Imposter all along? I...didn't see that clearly.

Maka Albarn : Hey, sis. That weird "Thing" that the stray beam of light hit it's back, was this a "Heartless" that father talked us about?

Moirai Albarn : Yeah, it could be. But this one over here is just bigger heartless. It's called a "Neoshadow", an adult-sized form of a heartless that way big and super strong. These heartlesses that have the ability to change one's appearance and become it's doppelganger. Luckily, this witch Shaula Gorgon that everyone mentioned about and known, is actually a Heartless doppelganger disguising itself as a witch using with dark evil magic. Not only that it fool the humans easily that much, but everyone in the real world had no idea she was a heartless herself.

Maka Albarn : So, it's just a Heartless Doppelganger. Why in the world would anyone think that Heartless Doppelgangers would easily fool the human race that easily?

Moirai Albarn : Apparently, this isn't the work of Witchkind, it was probably someone else that has been pulling the plug. Nobodies made by Xemnas, or the Shadows their selves.

Mai Thi Hoang : I see...Technically, thing that has been poisoning every human being the tongue of a Poison Spear. I get it, there was something fishy with the witches on this planet. They were hiding something superstitious about the Kusakabe Legacy that has been connecting to Soul World for a long time. The world of Smash knows that half of the Ohkuboverse was destroyed by the powers of the Time Eater, and now there is hope to finding out the answer of why are these heartlesses attack Soul World and what is their demands of destroying a hero's legacy?

??? [voice heard] : It was I, who sent the Gorgon Sisters' doppelgangers to destroy the devil's legacy and had it plans that the Ohkuboverse will soon be gone into nothingness. It was a simple plan to bring the true forces of evil that is me and I will have my puppet to dispose of you and conjure this planet for myself, wether will be me or the Time Eater gets it.

Moirai Albarn : Ngh! Who is this?!

??? : This is the ruler of Shadow Realm, and I'm putting everything on tight schedule. Although I did say that the so-called "Madness" is all nothing but a wordplay. But to me, It should be the fate of others.

Moirai Albarn : Fate of others? What are you talking?

[images flashing]

Moirai Albarn : Aaah! [holds head in pain] *painting* Fate of others, just what are their demands of destroying the legacy, and what's this silly fantasy world of theirs have to do with ending it with darkness or the time eater will destroy it?

~ Thirty-Fourth Scene : Monsters in Disguise ~

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

How do you think the Gorgan sibling reader would fair in twst? Like they were taken in the place of Yuu?

Escaping into Twisted Wonderland | Yandere Gorgan Sisters

Should you finally find some way to escape

It’s likely a purposeful decision to be sent to a separate world

And you can enjoy whatever time you have with them

Whether you're falling in love or joining a club

It won’t last forever 

because your sisters were coming for you

“Did you think we’d let you get away so soon? You’ve barely outgrown your gills!”

What makes it worse is that they don’t immediately begin to attack

Especially with a world full of mages

Granted what they can do is much more violent 

They slip into the cracks

Becoming the nurse that you never see 

“Ace you look so much better, now.”

“Right?! I got a visit from the gorgeous Miss Dusa! I can tell you now she’s so into me!”

“Well, whoever this new nurse is I feel sorry for her.”

“Oi so cruel!”

Or gaining a devoted gaggle of ‘poisoned’ students

“Good work, you truly are a worthy boyfriend. Now for your next task!”

Or even wooing Crowley into answering her every call and whim

“So generous of you my darling crow. You’ve gifted our little…chick enough food.”

“Yes! This way they won’t be relying on those nasty snakes! Right?”

“...Yes, my dear.”

Eventually, it all leads to you

Making sure your life with your newfound friends crumbles 

So that when they offer their consolation and a path back home you’ll be more willing to go

But should you see through their tricks and are backed up by your friends 

There is no way there will not be bloodshed

The boys you’re so close to are best at subduing mindless monsters of ink or even just outwitting a powerful adversary

Fighting witches with insatiable bloodlust is another

Medusa is likely the worst offender more than eager to call upon the snakes she implemented into the medicine

It’s horrifying to watch her snakes spring out of the brave soul that charged ahead

Next to her is Shaula who personally seeks to destroy those interpersonal relationships as she orders the poisoned students to attack

Watching those poor students use their magic to bring their friends to their deaths

Lastly is Arachne who mostly decides to focus on obtaining you and letting her awestruck minions to bring all the best magical items to her as she prepares to send herself and you back

And your other sisters if they’re fast enough

To make matters worse the most powerful students the ones closest to you are the ones they hone in on

Their pressure is so visceral they make it a point to eliminate them or hypnotize them accordingly

Or align with them

“As promised you’ll have our blessing once those obstacles are dealt with.”

“Do you suggest I…kill them?”

“Kill them, cripple them, heck even eat them for all we care!” 

“But if you are successful I’d be willing to overlook your interest in our little sibling.”

“...consider it done.”

In hindsight maybe it’s better if you don’t leave

That way you don’t have to witness the heartwrenching sight of another world beginning to change

Under the regime of your oh-so-powerful sisters

[witches-wings]

Soul Overture: Chapter 1

Read on Ao3.

Chapter 1 (You Are Here) | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10

Darkness loomed over Patchwork Laboratory, the yellowed moon laughing overhead at all the little people down below. The moonlight painted everything in soft tones, illuminating the form of a woman standing near a dead tree in the front lawn. She was small in stature with blonde hair and bright eyes that matched the brightness of the stars that dotted the night sky.

A massive being darted through the opening in the stone fence that surrounded the stitched building, meeting with the slender woman. The being’s fur was dark and its clothing darker. A dark colored scarf moved like a cape behind the creature—a wolfman.

The woman moved closer to the wolfman. “Conri, what has you so worried?” she asked in a soft tone. Her brow was furrowed in her worry. “Why meet with me in the middle of the night in Death City? You know the meister’s would hunt you—will hunt you—as soon as they find out.”

“Eula,” the being—Conri—started, his Irish accent thick. He held a worn scroll in his clawed hands, the paper weathered by time. He seemed concerned about something. “I came across a prophecy that concerns little Julian.”

Eula’s eyes narrowed, her posture becoming tense. Anything concerning her son was important to her. “Show it to me.”

The wolfman held the scroll out to the woman, placing it in her outstretched hands. She gingerly unrolled it, her gaze scanning the words scrawled across it.

In the shadows of night, where moonlight meets the dark,

An owl witch shall rise with an unwavering spark.

A great evil looms, casting its malevolent shroud,

But the owl with wisdom will make the darkness cower and bow.

Feathers as soft as velvet, eyes piercing and keen,

A guardian of secrets, a force rarely seen.

With incantations whispered in the language of the stars,

He'll summon his magic, removing evil's bars.

The night shall be his ally, the stars his guiding light,

As he soars on silent wings, ready to fight.

With talons sharp as daggers and a heart pure and bold,

The owl witch's tale of triumph shall forever be told.

For in the end, his courage and wisdom will prevail,

A timeless prophecy fulfilled, as darkness turns pale.

The great evil shall crumble, and the land will rejoice,

Thanks to the owl witch's power, the people's unwavering choice.

Eula’s hands began to shake, nearly dropping the scroll in the process. Her skin paled. “A great evil… No,” she whispered. “He was never supposed to meet her, Conri,” she said softly. Her voice was full of fear about something only the two knew.

“I wish I never found this, Eula,” he agreed, his expression grim. “The pup doesn’t need to face an evil like hers. Maybe you can find a way around it, though. The prophecy does speak of an owl, like you.”

She chuckled humorlessly, her own expression dark. “The last time I tried to divert a prophecy, I inadvertently awoke Shaula and three NOT students had to kill her. I don’t want him dealing with any of my family, but look at how things are turning out. I still haven’t let Franken know about any of them.”

His eyes softened, knowing the woman’s worries well. “Maybe it’s time to let him know,” Conri said. “You can’t hide it forever, Eula. Medusa is still out there and Arachne could wake up at any moment. Not to mention her.”

Eula was the one to sigh next, running a hand through her long hair. “I know, it’s just… I guess I’m afraid.” She let out a soft laugh. “I know he won’t judge me, but if Julian were to find out…”

“He deserves to know, Eula.”

She closed her eyes, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “I’m going to tell him. Tonight. About my sisters, about Athena, about the prophecy.”

“Would you like me with you while you do?” He sounded concerned for his friend.

Eula nodded. “He’s in his lab still.”

Knocking on the door to the lab, Eula opened it slowly. “Franken, we need to talk about something. Conri is here as well,” she said, keeping her voice soft. She didn’t want to wake Julian, the infant had a hard enough time falling asleep as it was. “It’s… about Julian.”

A head of silver hair looked up from their computer. Turning his chair, green eyes bore into Eula’s blue. “What’s wrong?” Stein asked. She could hear the concern in his voice, even though he tried to hide it. Even though he was new at being a father, she knew that he felt the same way about their son.

“It’s… There’s a lot about this, and we need to start at my mother.” Eula pulled out another chair, sitting down in front of him. “You’re not going to like any of this.”

Conri held the scroll once more and held it out for Stein to take. He was now in his human form, his soul protected by Eula’s magic. “This concerns the pup in general.”

“My mother, Franken, was not a nice woman. She was… She is a great old one, currently sealed in Mount Fuji. Her specific madness is destruction. Her name is Athena Gorgon.”

“The Gorgon sisters,” he said as he opened the scroll.

Eula nodded, she knew that he knew where this was going. “Athena created Arachne, Medusa, Shaula, and myself. I…” She sighed. “I never subscribed to her beliefs, her desire to create a world of chaos and destruction. My sisters did, in their own ways.” Threading her fingers together, she continued. “Lord Death and I sealed her in Mount Fuji. Arachne was reduced to spiders and sealed in Europe, Medusa ran off, and Shaula was sealed within the body of a scorpion.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I inadvertently unsealed her while trying to divert a prophecy about Athena waking up, but it seems she is destined to regardless of what we do.”

“And Julian is the one to end her,” he said bluntly. He threaded his fingers together, resting them and his chin on the back of his swivel chair.

“It seems that way,” Conri answered with a short nod. “Trying to go around this prophecy could make things worse. We could very well end with Athena taking down Lord Death, in a worst case scenario.”

His gaze became determined. “Then we’ll make sure to prepare Julian as much as we can.”

Eula nodded. “Of course. I’ll also let Lord Death know myself. Maybe he can find a suitable partner for Julian when he comes of age. He needs to be trained in combat by the school as well.”

Stein put a hand over Eula’s in a sort of comforting gesture. “Thank you for telling me, Eula.”

She closed her eyes, leaning closer to her husband. “I wish you never had to find out about my family this way. I was waiting for the right moment, but it seems that wasn’t in life’s plans.”

A piercing wail was heard from another room of the lab and Eula gave a tired chuckle, moving to get up. “It seems someone is awake. Don’t worry, Stitches, I’ll get him.”

Stein shook his head. “You need to go to sleep, Eula. I’ll get him, I don’t plan on sleeping for a while yet.”

She smiled softly. “I don’t deserve you.”

Putting a hand on Eula’s shoulder as he stood, the scientist smiled. “I could say the same about you.”

[bcbdrums]

Soul Eater NOT - part 8 (MAJOR SPOILERS)

The villainous plot is thin and unexplained. All right, now let's get to it... Nearly the whole of this entire manga is random, unrelated silly little stories about the three main characters (who I will get to soon). Almost nothing at all is about the villain, the plot, or how it's all resolved in the end. So let's get into this.

Shaula Gorgon. The third Gorgon sister (SE canon tells us there's a third, besides Medusa and Arachne). This one has a scorpion motif, but never uses actual scorpions like her sisters use their creature. Weirdly there's messenger bats?? Anyway... There is no motive ever to be revealed, except a thin mention at the very end in the last battle that madness and chaos will reign over Death City and that there's bliss in the emptying of emotions. How she accomplishes this is by putting citizens and NOT students under mind control en masse (how??? it's never revealed! ugh.) and she can direct them to kill people, even themselves.

A symptom of mind control is insomnia. Something the story did well is blindsiding us by having one of the main characters, the ditzy and forgetful Meme Tatane, having been under the witch's mind control all along, and we didn't see it coming. She's the one who killed Sid. But...how had she been placed under the witch's control??? Never revealed! Ugh.

Also, the academy just randomly has three suspects. Unnamed witch #1, unnamed witch #2, and Shaula. All this mentioned very briefly. How they came to suspect Shaula? Unknown! Any actual investigation? Never suggested or seen!

So the actual villainous plot which takes up an extremely small amount of the story is extremely thin and poorly crafted and leaves you with far more questions than answers, and not feeling threatened at all by this villain.

The best scene in the manga in terms of...actual battle and feeling serious, is when Shaula in disguise at the Death Bazaar (flea market) sells a scorpion ring to a NOT student, Eternal Feather. The ring "stings" her, poisons her, and she is now under the witch's mind control. She seriously hurts another student and very nearly kills herself at the witch's mental command. THIS is spectacularly executed! Sadly, that's the start and end of believable seriousness in the story, in my opinion.

But let's review...

No motives for the villain.

The academy concludes she is the villain because ????????????

No explained mechanism of how she poisoned everyone.

No explanation for how she poisoned/controlled one of the main characters the entire time.

No explanation of how the academy identified victims in order to cure them in the end.

In four of the five books, almost nothing whatever is about this villainous plot at all... It only comes to a head in the last book.

But now...we come to the biggest issue of all...

[dreaming-wavelength]

Day 10 - Witch

Prompts by @rennikun

Carefully, Shaula threaded one bead after another onto the string. Purple, magenta and then black, that was the pattern. When the string was full, she tied the two ends together.

The witch sitting next to her looked at the finished bracelet. “Wow, that's pretty. You really have a talent for that.”

Shaula felt her cheeks begin to glow. She took the young witch's hand and attached the bracelet to her wrist. “You can have it.”

The witch smiled. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Shaula took another piece of string from her box and began threading beads onto it again.