AN: Alright, so I finished my exams...finally! And now I have more time to write,
so I thought I would start one of my other planned fanfictions, because...why not?
I'm already working on the next chapter for Chronosphere, don't worry XD
Tell me what you think.
Enjoy^^
As Akko fell down, crashed onto the hard ground beneath her, it rendered her completely breathless for a moment. Hot flashes of pain shooting through her whole body.
Why did this happen to her?
She just wanted to get to Luna Nova, the school that Shiny Chariot once visited. To learn to be as great as her someday. When she got her acceptance letter, it was like a dream come true. She would finally be able to take her first steps to follow her Idol's path...
But as soon as she arrived at the city, everything went so wrong.
Looking stupidly for a bus stop, meeting a fellow classmate only to be dumped into the river and now making a fool of herself, because those girls laughed at her and talked about her behind her back. Then they just flew away with such superior grins on their faces, that it made Akko's stomach churn in anger.
She was definitely going to be a witch!
'I'll show them!'
But even as she thought that, tears began to blur her vision. She couldn't give up now!
Maybe she should try to climb the vines again...
A soft jingle ripped her from her thoughts and she turned her head curiously towards it.
"Aw man, I'm so late", whined a blonde haired girl wavering to the Leyline terminal, almost as heavily packed as Akko herself.
She was wearing a Luna Nova uniform and her eyes were shadowed by big, round glasses sitting on her nose.
'Another newcomer like me?'
But before Akko could make her own presence known, the other girl stumbled over a lose root on the way, toppling down, scattering her belongings in the process. Her hat sailed softly to the ground in front of her.
"Darnit!", the blonde grumbled frustrated, "Mom and Yanne gave me way too many gifts to bring back."
As she scrambled around to collect her things, Akko herself stood up and walked towards the other witch, taking the broom and the hat from the ground, handing them wordlessly back to the obviously distressed blonde. Confused blue eyes met her red ones, as she accepted them back, uttering a slight:
"Thanks."
Before running past her into the stone terminal and readying her broom. The brunette followed her slowly, staring at her with longing.
'I want to fly too...'
It seemed that her gaze had become too intense, as the other girl interrupted herself to glance at her irritated.
"A-aren't you coming?", she asked nervously, "The matriculation ceremony starts soon."
Akko pouted at that, trying to convey her problem with her eyes alone. The blonde still didn't seem to get it, but she apparently was nice enough to not just leave her alone.
"Since I don't recognize you, does that mean you're new?", she questioned the brunette softly, which earned her a slight nod.
"Luna Nova is really strict about its rules", continued the other girl, in a much firmer voice, "Not only will they shut the doors at you if you're late, you'll be expelled too."
Feeling defeated, Akko sighed loudly, hanging her head slightly.
"I don't have a broom", she mumbled quietly, "And even if I did, I couldn't ride it."
This was totally devastating. It was not her fault that she didn't have a broom nor that she couldn't fly. She was from a normal family after all. How did the principal think, she would make it to school?
'It's not like anyone wants to help me with that...'
"S-sorry", stuttered the other girl with an uncomfortable look on her face, "I don't want to be late."
'See...'
Akko pouted even more. Looking down on her shoes, she tried to think of an alternative way to reach the school. Maybe if she tried to climb again and then jumped into this so called 'magical highway' when another witch would flew by?
"Want a ride?"
'Huh?'
The soft voice of the blonde girl diverted her attention back to the person standing in front of her. Akko blinked in disbelief. Did she hear that right?
"I've never flown double before, but I might be able to pull it off."
A bright smile spread over her face.
'I'm saved!'
She wanted to run forward, to just barrel into the other girl and hug the life out of her, but...
She still looked so uncomfortable...
As if she didn't really want to help her at all.
Akko's expression darkened slightly. She wanted to become like Shiny Chariot, to make people smile with magic, making them happy, not uneasy.
Forcing a smile herself, she shook her head.
Maybe later she would regret it, this decision she was about to make, but...
'I'm going to get to Luna Nova by myself.'
After all, Chariot always said, 'a believing heart was her magic', she could definitely do this.
The other girl seemed puzzled by her answer.
"Are you sure?", she asked concerned, her eyes flitting from her broom to Akko and back again.
"Yes", answered Akko enthusiastically, staring at the ceiling in concentration.
Did she really need a broom to enter this 'Leyline'?
Looking at her suitcase, she began to ponder her options. She remembered a documentation, she had seen two years ago, where Chariot had explained different flying technics, one of them involving some kind of wind energy, or something like that, to keep its rider afloat. She had demonstrated this with a normal, non magical broom and a wide, white cloth, holding the ends in her hands to change directions...a bit like...
'Like sailing!'
That was it!
Dropping her suitcase to the ground, followed by her heavy backpack, she opened it, loading most of her things into the extra bag she carried around, until most of the trunk was empty, creating enough space to sit in it. Fiddling with the strings attached to it, she strapped them around her waist, chaining herself tightly against both parts of the suitcase. Grabbing a thin blanket from her bag, she stretched it through the straps of her backpack and bound it to both handles of her trunk, building a deformed triangle in the process. Holding her backpack in front of her and shouldering her bag, she fixed her gaze on the ceiling again.
Now she only needed to get up there...
The blonde haired girl hadn't said anything while Akko was busy tinkering away, but when the brunette dared to finally let her gaze wander over the other witch's face, she could see her dumbfounded expression.
Scratching the back of her head, she laughed sheepishly.
"Could you maybe lend me your wand or something like that?", asked Akko with a mishievous grin, "I need some sort of jump start."
Motioning to her obscure construct, she added:
"I have to get to the ceiling somehow."
Still seeming utterly bewildered, the other girl drew her wand, handing it to the energetic witch as if she was in a trance.
When the wand was dangled in front of Akko's vision she snatched it away, feeling excitement bubbling inside her. She leaned backwards, tilting the suitcase into a vertical position until her back hit the stone floor.
"Thank you!", she almost squealed, before her expression grew serious.
Taking a deep breath she raised the magical item above her head.
'Alright, here goes nothing!'
With a determined yell, she brought the wand down again, swinging it violently towards the ground.
A loud explosion was heard and the resulting shock wave pushed her up into the air with such a force, that Akko almost lost her grip on her backpack. She dropped the other girl's wand to strengthen her hold, concentrating on the nearer coming, glowing passage way. It was as if she was gravitating towards it. Throwing a glance back, she grew uneasy. The room changed, appearing more and more unstable, until the Leyline sucked her in completely, leaving a slightly panicked girl behind.
"Oh dear god, I killed the new student!"
Speeding through the so called 'highway' made Akko sick to her stomach. This was pure torture. How anyone enjoyed traveling like that was beyond her. She didn't even know when she had to stop. Her vision was limited. Her self-crafted sail was working so far, but also cut most of her field of view.
'Maybe this was a bad Idea after all!'
She tried to keep her suitcase from wavering too much, as some turbulence wrecked her means of transportation, steering her into another direction. Gritting her teeth, Akko craned her head around the blanket and...crashed into another person!
She yelped startled, as she felt their body smash harshly into her, hearing a faint cracking sound, accompanied by a muffled groan, as her provisory sail ripped, causing them to spiral down rapidly.
The brunette squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the other person tightly.
'I don't want to die!'
Blinking slowly, Akko came to. Looking around, she saw trees...dark and scary trees.
A forest?
'Is this Luna Nova?'
Trying to cut the straps that bound her to her suitcase, she moaned in pain. Landing on her backpack wasn't so good for her back, she surmised. Scrambling to her feet, she petted herself down, making sure that nothing was broken. She had experience with accidents that involved falling from heights. After all she had trained to become an entertainer like Shiny Chariot one day since she was six. By the way...
She began to browse through her things. Where was it?
'Don't tell me I lost it!'
No, please no! It had to be here somewhere!
A soft groan made her stop in her tracks. Whirling around, Akko saw another blonde haired girl, this time without glasses, lying on the mossy ground, a broken broom right next to her. She also wore the Luna Nova uniform, but her hat seemed to be missing entirely and her sleeves appeared to be slightly torn...probably from the fall. Running towards her, the brunette knelt down.
"Are you alright? Did you get hurt?", she asked the other witch concerned, extending a hand to help her up.
Piercing blue eyes met red ones, as the blonde frowned at her, but took her hand nevertheless. Standing up gracefully, the girl began to study her new environment, letting her gaze wander over the crooked trees, shadowed by the dark, stormy clouds that hung all over the place. She froze as she saw her broken broom, neatly cut in two halves and her expression grew furious. She turned to Akko, crossing her arms and said in a surprisingly calm and collected tone:
"I appear to be fine, my broom however is not."
The brunette shrank slightly, raising her hands in a placating way. This girl freaked her out. Why wasn't she screaming at her? It was her fault, after all.
'How can she be so calm?'
"Yeah", she uttered nervously, an uneasy smile upon her lips, "Sorry about that."
"Sorry?"
The girl narrowed her eyes dangerously, fixing her with a deadly glare, but continued in a still reserved manner:
"Is that all you have to say in our current situation? Do you even realize where we are?"
Flitting her gaze from the girl to the scenery and back again, she tapped her chin with her index finger.
"Isn't this Luna Nova?", she asked unsure, which earned her a sigh.
Shaking her head, the blonde flipped her long hair behind her back.
"As I expected", she stated coolly, "you have absolutely no Idea.
Collecting her scattered belongings from the ground, she grabbed her splintered broom, motioning for Akko to do the same and search for her things. Hesitating shortly, the brunette went to her suitcase, sweeping anything that wasn't broken into her bag and backpack, leaving the trunk behind, but not before untangling the thin, ripped blanket from it. Stomping back to the blonde, she couldn't keep quiet anymore.
"If we're not at Luna Nova, where are we?"
The crystal blue eyes fixed her again.
"Somewhere no student should ever be. Arcturus Forest!"
'Arcturus Forest?'
Before she could ask her question out loud, the other girl continued to explain, having seen the perplexed look upon her face:
"The forbidden forest, a forest of ancient legend. This is sacred land, protected by a magic circle. It is said, that even witches can't escape once they have wandered in it."
"What?", Akko interrupted loudly, her eyes widening comically, "That's no good! How am I supposed to make matriculation now?"
The blonde stared at her irritated, annoyed even.
"Firstly, you are not the only one with that problem.
Secondly, we have much bigger worries right now.
And thirdly, we wouldn't be in this mess, if someone didn't play 'Der fliegende Koffer'!"
'Now she sounds mad.'
The blonde's voice had risen with every new sentence she spoke, her patience apparently depleted.
What she said sounded true enough, but Akko wouldn't be herself, if she didn't try to refute those claims.
"Firstly", she mimicked her in a mocking tone, imitating the other girl's posture, crossing her arms, "me attending the matriculation is more important, because I'm from a non magical family and therefore already kind of sidelined."
The grins of those three young witches flashed through her mind, making her ball her hands into fists, gritting her teeth slightly.
"Secondly", she continued passionately, "there is no greater problem, than making it to the ceremony. I have to attend Luna Nova or I won't become a super witch, like Shiny Chariot!
And thirdly..."
She paused, losing her confident stance as a wave of confusion washed over her. A nervous smile spread over her face and she scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"What is 'Der fliegende Koffer' supposed to be?", she asked embarrassed, causing the blonde's lips to twitch slightly.
Schooling her features back to a neutral expression, she let out a quiet sigh.
"It means flying suitcase", she explained in a matter of fact tone, "It is a German fairytale about a man and a flying trunk."
Akko was impressed.
'She knows so much...'
Maybe she should try to talk to the blonde more. They probably just had a rocky start.
"Wow, you really seem to know a lot", Akko said, a grin forming on her face, extending her hand towards the other girl.
"I'm Kagari Atsuko! Call me Akko!"
The other witch seemed to have trouble to adapt to the brunette's new mood, appearing a bit lost, staring at the raised hand in front of her.
"I want to become like Shiny Chariot one day", Akko continued undeterred, "Do you know interesting facts about her too? I mean, she is so awesome, she must be a great witch even in the magical community, right? I have almost every premium card there is. I collected them from the time I was six and saw one of her shows. Since then, I follow her every activity. There are some rumors that she wants to take a break right now, but I personally think she shouldn't. Her magic documentaries alone are so important to learn more about witches and magic. And don't get me started on her shows, she-"
"You would be hard pressed to find anyone who respects Shiny Chariot's magic."
'Huh?'
She slowly dropped her outstretched hand, disbelief clearly showing on her face.
The blonde stared at her blankly, almost pitying.
"In any case, you will not find anyone in the magic world who holds Chariot's magic in high regard.
It is in your best interest to remember that."
What was she talking about? That didn't make any sense. Akko felt herself getting riled up. Chariot was her Idol, Chariot gave her a dream, she had to defend her!
"That can't be true!", she retaliated, "Chariot's magic shows are world-renowned and beloved by all!"
A brief flash of longing flitted through the other girl's eyes and she seemed to falter slightly, before steeling her gaze once more.
"I must admit", she acknowledged,"she does enjoy a period of popularity among the non magic community, however, those gaudy yet insubstantial spectacles of hers have no lasting power. It is a miracle she even lasted as long as she did. Soon she will only be a shadow of the past."
How could she think that? How could anyone think that?
Chariot was...
She was...
"Chariot is...", Akko exclaimed hotly, her voice growing louder, searching for the right words to express her emotions, "She gave me a dream! That much is true!"
Before the blonde could respond to her outburst, a shrill scream ripped through the air and the ground began to shake. Something was coming, breaking through the thick forest, a...giant rooster?
The brunette couldn't decide whether to cry or laugh at that, not that she had to, because the other girl gripped her arm and began to run, pulling her with her.
"What's this thing?", Akko found herself asking, as they sprinted through the forest, dodging under some low hanging branches, trying desperately not to trip over the protruding, almost hidden roots on their way.
"This way!", was the only answer she received, as the other girl turned left sharply, causing Akko to loose her balance, slamming against a tree.
Stars danced in her vision. Feeling a bit light-headed, the brunette searched for the blonde, who had let go of her the moment she deviated from her path. A shrill scream urged her to turn around, looking directly into the eyes of the giant rooster.
"Akko!"
Someone called her name, but Akko was frozen solid. Her heart hammered in her chest. She needed to move, but she was paralyzed with fear, feeling her insides turning to ice. Swallowing hard, she tried to stop herself from throwing up violently.
'A believing heart is your magic...'
It opened its gigantic beak, coming even nearer.
'I want to meet Chariot...'
Its tail swished through the air, rattling the trees behind it. Only now realized the brunette that it was a snake tail with a whole head on its peak. This thing really was a monster.
'If I don't do something, my story will...'
The rooster stretched its big leathery wings.
'I won't die here!'
With a loud yell, she threw her heavy bag against its right eye, causing it to cry out in pain, forcing it a few feet backwards. Now she only had to hide and find the other girl again to escape this thing. But that's when she saw it!
'My card!'
Her premium Chariot card. Her greatest treasure, lying on the mossy ground, right in front of the rooster's claws. It must have been in her bag after all. Akko barreled forward. She didn't think about the still prominent danger looming over her, she just needed her card back. The rooster had apparently recovered enough to fix its attention on the brunette again, raising itself to its full height, screaming down at her. Akko shrieked, grabbing her card tightly, closing her eyes forcefully, waiting for the monster's sharp beak to nick her.
"Kutchur Katela Flala!"
Nothing happened. Squinting warily, the brunette saw the other girl, behind a couple of trees, waving her wand around, chanting the ominous phrase again, loudly. The rooster seemed to be offended, because it ignored Akko and made its way toward the blonde, who pointed her wand at it.
"Murowa!", she yelled vigorously and a bright, green blast of magic hit the monster against its head , blinding it for a short moment.
Using this disadvantage to her benefit, the girl didn't waste any time, sprinting towards the brunette, helping her to her feet, trying to drag her behind her. The motion threw Akko off and in a desperate attempt to hold herself upright, she clung to the other witch, causing them both to tumble down the uneven hill. Their fall came to a sudden stop, as the brunette crashed yet into another tree, knocking her breath away. Her eyes found that of the other girl's and they listened intensely. The rooster seemed to have lost their track, only screaming here and there, cocking its head to the side. They both nodded at each other and crawled behind the nearest bush, releasing a relieved sigh.
"What is that thing?", whispered Akko breathlessly, trying to stop her hands from shaking too much.
"That is a mythical Cockatrice", answered the blonde, panting slightly, "It only lives in Arcturus Forest. They say its feathers contain a deadly poison. It can also exhale a grayish gas that can petrify anything it touches, but that seems to be short ranged."
Trying to digest the information, Akko pondered their options.
"So, if we kept our distance, we could outrun it?", she asked quietly.
The other girl shook her head.
"That is not a possibility, it can also conjure long ranged fire. It would burn us to a crisp."
"There has to be a way!", said Akko vigorously, "what about the spell you used back then?
Kutur kata fla-whatever?"
"There is none", the other girl denied resigned, "That phrase only means: 'Hey stupid come and eat me if you want to shut me up.' I was essentially provoking it. A fight would be too dangerous for two novice witches, so our best bet is trying to flee. Only considering what I know that seems hardly possible. Maybe if we could fly, but my broom is sadly out of commission for the time."
'Flying!'
That's right, they needed to fly.
"Then we repair it", the brunette replied stubbornly.
Grabbing the broken broom, she turned it in her hands, looking at it from every angle.
"That won't work, we will never make it!"
"Don't say that!", Akko said forcefully, taking the ripped blanket, she had untangled from her trunk before, and bound it tightly around the broken pieces.
"I'll never give up!
I have to go...
I'm going to be a witch!"
Straddling the broom, she motioned for the blonde to do the same.
"This is ridiculous...", muttered the other girl embarrassed, sitting in front of Akko.
"We won't know until we try", encouraged the energetic witch her, smiling brightly, as the flying incantation was uttered, making the broom flash brightly.
"If I reach out it's sure to begin!"
The light intensified. Akko felt her feet disconnecting from the ground, as they began to float softly.
"Thrilling and exciting!"
The other girl's breath hitched, as they soured higher into the air.
"My very own story!"
As soon as she finished the words, they skyrocketed over the forest. Akko squealed happily.
The blonde looked at her in wonder, mumbling:
"It really held...", before she cleared her throat:
"Diana Cavendish."
At Akko's puzzled expression she added:
"That is my name."
A bright smile spread over the brunette's face and she extended her hand again.
"Nice to meet you Diana, let's be friends!"
Different emotions flittered through Diana's eyes as she stared at Akko uncertainly, before flashing a faint smile herself, shaking the still outstretched hand.
But their brief joy was short lived.
The Cockatrice seemed to have heard or seen them and emerged from the woods, screaming angrily, following the young witches. Opening its beak, it began to throw streams of fire after them, igniting the bristles of their broom.
"Oh no, we're burning!", yelled Akko shocked, waving her hands around, trying to extinguish it without burning herself.
They were too slow. There was no way, they could escape the giant Cockatrice. Another blast of fire knocked them off. They didn't even have time to scream, it happened so fast. As Akko saw the ground come closer, she felt a gentle squeeze. Diana had apparently grabbed her hand again and tried to reassure her. Even as they fell to their certain deaths, the blonde's face didn't betray anything. In the beginning that calmness had freaked her out, but now it was oddly comforting.
'Thank you Diana...'
Her eyes burned from the cold air, causing her to blink violently, and then she heard it:
"Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor!"
Those words! Akko craned her head to see behind her, but the only thing she could glimpse was a flash of red hair?
'Could it be?'
"Shiny Arc!"
A glowing, green arrow zoomed past them, opening a giant portal.
She had seen this before...
'Chariot?'
As they entered the portal, the scenery behind them disappeared. They sped through the magical passage way, seeing blurred pictures whizzing around, passing them on their path.
'So beautiful...'
Feeling Diana's hand still in her own, Akko relaxed slightly. A wave of peacefulness washed over her, making her sleepy, warming her heart. It ended all too soon, as a blinding, white light drew nearer, forcing the two witches to close their eyes. The next thing the brunette felt, was the hard ground, as she tumbled on her butt.
She really should stop doing this...
Beside her, she could hear a groan, Diana apparently hadn't fared better than her.
Rubbing her back, she looked around...and froze.
She saw hundreds of people, all clad in the Luna Nova uniform, standing in the hall, apparently listening to an old lady on a podium. It hit her like a brick.
'This is the matriculation ceremony!'
Which meant...
Jumping to her feet, Akko raised her arms into the air, yelling happily:
"Oh, yeah!
We made it!
Yay!"
Before proceeding to laugh joyfully.
"You tricked me!", accused Chariot Professor Holbrook irritated.
As soon as she had heard the announcement, the redhead had cornered the headmistress in her own office, glaring at her with resentment.
Who did she think she was?
Why did she have to meddle every time?
This was exactly the reason she had refused to hold their contact any longer.
"Honey", Professor Holbrook stated calmly, "it's only for three months. Don't tell me you can't even last that long without seeing her."
Clicking her tongue annoyed, the redhead narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms, looking at anything but the principal, instead inspecting the office with fake interest. This wasn't like her other visits, she had told her as much beforehand.
"That's not it and you know it!", she said bitingly, turning towards the door.
"What has you so rattled, dear?", asked Holbrook softly, her face falling ever so slightly.
Nothing...
Nothing had her rattled, everything was fine, in fact more than fine. She just needed to...
She desperately tried to get those two girls out of her head. How the Claiomh Solais had suddenly reacted...
Maybe she could try again...
'Screw that!'
Nothing had happened!
Holbrook hadn't changed. She still tried to manipulate Chariot thinking it was for her own good.
She wouldn't give her even more ammunition.
Walking to the door, the redhead uttered in a bitter tone:
"Stay away from me!"
Slamming it shut loudly behind her, she made her way through the empty school, trying to calm her racing heart. Glancing at the Claiomh Solais on her belt, she sighed deeply.
'Nothing happened!'