Luna Nova and the White Dragon

## Images

**Luna Nova and the White Dragon** (ルーナノヴァと白い龍 *Rūna Nova to Shiroi Ryū*?) is the 5th episode of the *Little Witch Academia* anime series.

On Netflix, the episode is titled "**Pact of the Dragon**".

## Overview

*After getting into a fight in class, Akko and Amanda have detention together: They must clean the New Moon Tower, where they find dragons.*

## Summary

The episode begins in Lukić's potion class, where the students are assigned to brew any potions they please. Akko tried a combination of "sugars, spices, and everything nice" (the last being a jar of her favorite pickled plums!), only for the mixture explodes into a pink dough in the middle of the stirring process. Lotte remarked it to be the result of extra additions she put into the mixture. Just then, Akko noticed the progress of Amanda's team, which was not going in the same way with others that they questioned their integrity as witches-in-training: Jasminka was occupied by her snacks as usual, whereas Amanda slacked off, leaving Constanze doing the job all by herself (which is not an issue since she has a mixer and a Stanbot in its microwave configuration). Annoyed, Amanda pointed out an irony by reminding the Japanese of her reputation as the academy's dunce, provoking an argument between the two, culminating in them knocking the latter team's boiling cauldron and causing it to explode. Fortunately, Diana uses her magic to undo the mess they unwittingly caused before she and Lukić discipline the two.

Later, while in the middle of their detention of cleaning up areas around the New Moon Tower, Amanda and Akko caught sight of a winged creature above them. Upon closer inspection by flying after it, the two are shocked to see more of the creatures and that they are stealing Luna Nova's Sorcerer's Stone. As if that was surprising enough, Amanda and Akko discovered that the teachers had somehow foreseen this when the two met them at the Headmistress' office, with Lukić unintentionally mentioning something about the dragon's wrath, earning them suspicion from both girls. Akko offered to aid them in retrieving the stone only to be dismissed by the Headmistress, with Finnelan adding that both girls still had detention with their new duty of assisting other students in managing Luna Nova's chores being part of it.

Later that night, Akko is as disgruntled by their situation as much as Sucy. Lotte informed the Japanese that the Sorcerer's Stone powers the whole system of Luna Nova, and they cease to function without it. Faery laborers of Luna Nova were also affected as much as the rest of the academy, as the loss of the Stone's magic prevented them from doing anything, not even moving, resulting in the students having to do the chores in their stead. Amanda remarked how terrified the teachers are of the dragon, while Sucy doesn't help the situation by explaining how dragons replenish their magic by sucking in witches' blood, which the former dismissed only occurred in ancient times. Deducing that the dragon after the Stone for themselves, Akko rallied her friends to give chase as Lotte mentioned the closest dragon lair being somewhere at Rastavan Ruins. Just then, Diana appeared and discouraged them from doing anything futile before telling the group to handle the water under Finnelan's orders, much to Amanda and Akko's dismay. Akko then asked Diana whether the Stone's supposed thievery affected her as well, only for the latter to rightfully criticize the recklessness in the Japanese's intention to retake it, no matter how noble it was before leaving.

Discovering that they have a common resentment towards Luna Nova's top student, Amanda puts aside her mild differences with Akko and agrees to join her in the quest for Rastavan Ruins. Lotte worries about the matter since they have laundry and water to finish, only for Constanze and Jasminka to complete both with an invention and sheer strength, respectively. With their tasks completed, Akko, Amanda, and the rest of the group (Lotte, Sucy, Constanze, and Jasminka) set out for the ruins.

Returning to Headmistress' office, Diana sees Finnelan struggling to understand an ancient scroll Holbrooke left for her to solve. Inspecting the scroll's writing, the Cavendish revealed her familiarity with its language, much to the strict professor's surprise.

Closing in for Rastavan Ruins with the help of Constanze's customized broom (powered by gas instead of magic), Amanda notified the gang that the battery of their brooms had replenished themselves, allowing the girls to fly on their own. The group was soon ambushed by the same dragon horde who stole the Sorcerer's Stone, and knowing that they could not shake the beasts off, Amanda implored everyone to split into groups to fight back. A dogfight ensues with Constanze opening fire on the dragons with her Stanbot's shotgun configuration while Amanda conjured a large flower popping out of one of the chasing beasts' snout, causing it to crash along with two of its packmates and allowing the German mechanic to finish them off. Sucy spreads out explosive powder, which covers the air behind her before igniting it with magic, creating a trail of explosions that incinerates unfortunate monsters caught within its path. Checking on downed dragons, Akko is shocked upon discovering their true robotic nature but unable to dwell on it for long nor relay what she found to the others as the remaining beasts have overpowered and grabbed Lotte and Sucy away. Constanze attempted to stop them with an RPG shot, only to be dismayed that the rocket missed its mark before getting caught by other dragons along with Jasminka as well.

Seeing the dragons taking their friends into the ruins, Akko and Amanda set out to give chase, only for the former to unexpectedly fall into another entrance in the form of a stone chute. After ensuring that Akko was not injured in the process, the two explored the interior of the ruins. Entering a giant dark room with what seemed to be titanic torture instruments, the two rushed into hiding upon noticing the presence of a shadowed, draconic figure within. Following the figure, Akko and Amanda see it approaching a cage their friends have been locked into. When it appeared that the shadowed figure was about to threaten them, Akko recklessly swung to the rescue with a nearby chain. Much to Amanda's dismay, she and the others watched as it single-handedly caught the Japanese in the air. As if things were getting worse for them, the figure suddenly cried out in annoyance, reasoned that the Japanese is not worth eating before tossing her back for Amanda.

The giant figure, none other than Fafnir the dragon, noted them as the ones who triggered his security systems before drinking some juice. The gang is still processing facts about him not liking what he is rumored to be (being an anthropomorphic dragon who can talk, wearing a bathrobe and slippers, and other things) when he unexpectedly asks whether Holbrooke sends them to bring him the debt. Just then, Headmistress Holbrooke herself arrives with Lukić and Badcock bringing some old artifacts, which he immediately rejects. When Akko demanded why he took Luna Nova's Sorcerer's Stone from the start, Fafnir explained that he did so because the academy owed him a lot of money in return for his part in its construction as written in their contract long ago. He further criticized Luna Nova's staff for focusing on magic above all else, saying that they failed to adapt to changing times, contrasting his success in online investments. When Fafnir decides to sell the confiscated Sorcerer's Stone as compensation for their troubles, Akko stands up for the sake of Luna Nova as she has her own ambitions to fulfill while it stands and calls him out for his greed.

Suddenly, Diana and Finnelan enter the room with Fafnir's contract with Luna Nova, written in Dragonese (ancient language professors of Luna Nova and their predecessors are unfamiliar with). Having mastered the language when she was 12, Diana deciphered the ancient deal within the note and discovered that paying the interest was never part of it in the first place, which means it was Fafnir who abused the deal since he believed none of the staff could decipher it, to begin with. Before Fafnir could argue further, Diana pointed out that the sum of the payments through the contract between them far exceeded the principal sum of the initial debt, but Luna Nova would provide him the proper documentation about the refunding of the overpayment nevertheless. As such, Fafnir had to return the academy's Sorcerer's Stone at once with his treachery now exposed.

With Luna Nova reclaimed their Sorcerer's Stone thanks to Diana, Akko overheard Fafnir lamenting the impending end of magic along with witches and dragons in the light of the age of science. The Japanese reassure him that magic has the power to move hearts even to this day. As much as he is skeptical about such a statement and remarks that the young witch is the naïve one, the dragon nevertheless reminds her that no man can live off of dreams alone. Continuing his work, Fafnir realizes that there are still some humans who retain the same optimism in Akko and took her words into his heart.

On the next morning at Luna Nova, Akko and co. are dismayed that they have to continue the laundry in the light of leaving the academy without permission. While Sucy stated that their detention ends as soon as they complete the task, Amanda is unable to help but disgruntled by the fact that Diana got the credit in the end. Akko, on the other hand, acknowledged Diana as her worthy rival. The episode ends with Amanda ridiculing the Japanese's resolve by reminding her of her own reputation as the academy dunce, leading to another argument between the two...

## Order of appearances

* Atsuko Kagari
* Lotte Jansson
* Sucy Manbavaran
* Amanda O'Neill
* Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank Albrechtsberger
* Jasminka Antonenko
* Diana Cavendish
* Hannah England
* Barbara Parker
* Lukić
* Miranda Holbrooke
* Anne Finnelan
* Samantha Badcock
* Nelson
* Fafnir
* Explosive Powder
* Stanbot
* Magic Wand
* Magic Broom
* Sorcerer's Stone
* Time Delaying Spell
* Rewind Spell
* Flower Spell
* Flying Spell
* Robot Dragons
* Dragon

## Trivia

* Three of ingredients Akko poorly chose for the potion (sugars, spices, and everything nice) are a reference to *Powerpuff Girls* to how the girls are made of, or a popular nursery rhyme dating from the early 19th century.
* This is the first episode in the series that doesn't start in a cold open, as the title theme plays immediately.
* In Netflix worldwide release, the episode was name changed to **Pact of the Dragon**.
* This episode takes place in June, along with "Night Fall" and "The Fountain of Polaris", as stated in the chronicles book.

## Errors/Goofs

* It's rather odd that Fafnir seemingly managed to scam Luna Nova for centuries until Diana exposed his treachery as the school's professors were supposedly not fooled so easily, more so considering some, if not all of them, likely familiar with alternate methods to properly review the school's contract with the elderly dragon (ex. Dragonese potion). A plausible explanation behind such a mess is that some of the past professors misinterpreted certain parts of the contract at one point between the day it was signed and the present (at very least some time after the end of the Golden Magic Age), and things went downhill from there with Fafnir exploited the error as the way to scam the school since then. To add insult to injury, later professors underestimated the importance of understanding Dragonese and other certain languages until it became a major problem.

## References

1. ↑ Little Witch Academia's Netflix Release Date Announced - IGN
2. ↑ https://www.netflix.com/title/80156387
3. ↑ https://www.netflix.com/title/80156387
4. ↑ https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/265265778230689793/354307531914608650/IMG\_20170904\_124940318.jpg

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