It took another few years but I've got a bit of my writing juices back. Not sure for how long, though I hope you all enjoy these little stories from a very cute series I've grown to love. Let's start with this little crossover with a rather infamously popular game.
(This was not beta'd so you have my apologies beforehand lol)
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Little Witch Academia or Destiny.
When she thinks back on it, Chariot would have never thought this would be her fate. She never would have guessed she would have enlisted as a soldier - off to serve humanity in their stand against enemies from far beyond the reaches of their galaxy. She never would have believed she would wield weapons that could cut and pierce through skin, scales, metal, and any other texture. She never would have imagined she would learn how to kill to survive and to win instead of finding a peaceful method to resolve conflict.
(After all, Chariot had been a researcher and later performer endowed with the gifts from the Traveler. Though agile, quick, and talented, actual combat had not been in her repertoire.)
However, she wasn't surprised that she would die.
Afterall, war brings death and though she counted her lucky stars for every battle she lived, Chariot knew that someday that luck would eventually run out.
She certainly would have never even considered that she would become a Guardian.
But there she stood with a floating pointed sphere that spun happily after having successfully resurrected her from centuries old remains. A Ghost she would soon learn that would guide and protect her from permanently dying again. (As well as becoming a dear friend and voice of reason for all her more reckless ideas.)
She would have expected to be amongst the Warlocks when she arrived at the Tower in the Last City. But it was the Hunters that welcomed her with open arms - something else she had not quite grasped.
Chariot was dexterous, agile, and shockingly stealthy for such a naturally attention-grabbing presence. But the weight of her Golden Gun and grip of her Arc Blade never quite felt as exhilarating as they seemed. Instead her eyes were always drawn to the feats of Warlocks - their bodies covered head to toe in flames from their Radiance or most of all, the pure power contained in a single Nova Bomb.
That explosive power contained in the void - like a firework amongst foes, burning thought there were no flames - she wanted to grasp it. But Hunters were not Void users. The played with the aura's of Sol and were called by the Arc. She learned to be a BladeDancer and a Gunslinger but she would not cherish the void like Warlocks and Titans.
… At least that's what she initially believed.
"A Nightstalker?"
The Vanguard Hunter gave her the exo equivalent of a smirk. His bright orange eyes lit up as the mechanical plates of his face shifted into a grin. He motioned towards the Warlock Vanguard who studied her with a firm expression.
"Yea. See, we don't have very many of those and after a long boring meeting, the Vanguard as a whole decided it was time to add more to our ranks."
Chariot blinked as she looked between the two commanders.
"So you picked me… to become a Nightstalker?"
She paused.
"Um… excuse me but what even is a Nightstalker?"
She felt her face burn in embarrassment as her commander bellowed a laugh. Sending another grin her way he looked back at the senior Warlock.
"I think she'll manage it after all."
The other guardian chuckled and shrugged
"We'll see once Woodward takes her through the steps."
The red-head could only scratch her cheek nervously.
"Um… that's… Woodward the Elder Warlock?"
Both commanders nodded as the Hunter stepped forward and clapped her on the shoulder. Chariot squeaked in response.
"You've got this du Nord. Come back to us a Nightstalker ya hear?"
She could only nod in response, not knowing the stress of the next few weeks.
And stressful was putting it lightly. Chariot found herself warping to Venus to find her new elusive mentor. The Elder Warlock didn't make it easy for her with having her traverse enemy controlled territory until finally tracking her to the believed gates to the Black Garden.
That's where the real struggle began.
As a Hunter, Chariot was used to keeping a still position for long periods of time - when stalking a target, monitoring enemies from the scope of a sniper, and even biding her time under camouflage to escape enemy holds. When it came to other matters though, she was full of energy and rarely in one place for long.
("Restless" is what Croix, her mission partner and fireteam's go-to Warlock would usually say. "Hyper" was what Marjolaine, her fireteam's Titan would more often use.)
Thusly, when Woodward set her up to meditate for days, Chariot du Nord found herself floundering to focus. She sat on a high cliff overlooking ruins of the Golden Age and overflowing acidic rivers that ate away at the remaining buildings. Working to pace her breathing, she spent hours upon hours simply trying to empty her mind and "draw energy from what you feel…"
Or something of the sort.
(Chariot quickly discovered her mentor, while wise and helpful for the most part, tended to only guide through speech and watch. There was nothing hands on about Woodward.)
So she meditated - or attempted to. The young red-head had no idea what she was looking for, but according to the words of her mentor, she would know when she felt it. If she ever did at least. She felt her pulse, the Light bestowed to her by the Traveler, and the Solar and Arc energies of her Hunter abilities. All in all, everything felt accounted for and nothing felt different.
… Except for this tingle at the back of conscious.
It's probably my hair bunched up in the same place under my helmet. I can't really take it off to fix it.
Remaining ignorant, she pushed on.
Things changed when her partner dropped by to "check her progress."
(The Vanguard never specifically said to go see how she's progressing, but when Croix acquired Chariot's whereabouts, she assumed it was an order to get that data.)
What she found was a weary, agitated, short-tempered, and all around anxious Hunter.
"It's been nearly two weeks Croix! I've tried and I've meditated and I've run laps and destroyed enough murderous robots to build another scrap city!"
At that moment a Vex Goblin teleported a few meters behind the Hunter, it's blaster aimed at the back of her head. Without missing a beat, she tossed a solar-infused throwing knife over her shoulder and straight into the machine's core. Croix was sure the red-head didn't even break eye contact from under her helmet as the robot burst into flames and detonated behind her.
(She was also pretty sure that she was mildly turned on by the sheer "lack of fucks" and power displayed but she would rather dive into the nearest acid river than admit that.)
Croix snapped back to attention as Chariot let out an exasperated groan.
"I have no idea what I'm doing Croix…" The young Guardian slumped forward. "I don't even know what a Nightstalker is and no one wants to give me a straight answer."
The Warlock stared at her friend for a moment. It was rare when the young Guardian would look even remotely defeated.
(Memories of cries and a pleading voice calling out into the dark plagued the Hunter in her earlier days after her initial resurrection. Pain she learned to hide behind a peppy and eager demeanor. Afterall, no Guardian was ever fully recovered from their previous life's tragic ends. Chariot wore her masks well.)
A gauntleted hand reached out to tap lightly on the upset woman's helmet. Chariot looked up at her friend as the older Guardian cupped the side of head. Unknowingly, Croix met the red-head's eyes through their visors and smiled softly at her.
"Chariot. I've seen what you're capable of in and out of combat. I've experienced first hand your excellent senses when it comes to using your Light based abilities." She chuckled. "And I've seen first hand your determination to succeed and reach your goals."
Croix gave the younger Guardian a gentle pat on the cheek.
"Believe in yourself. Let the Light in your heart be your guide."
Chariot stared at her companion with wide eyes.
Did the cooling system in this helmet shut down or is it just me?
Clearing her throat, the Warlock retracted her hand and motioned to her partner's previous spot at the edge of the cliff.
"Now let me not bother you while you have another go at it."
She turned to step away from the Hunter when a hand grasped the back of her robe.
"C-Croix!"
Surprised she turned her head to her friend.
"Hm?"
"Y-you um," Chariot fidgeted, "won't leave yet right? Can you stay awhile?"
The Warlock hesitated before looking back and catching site of Woodward who watched them with rapt attention from afar. Seeing the Elder Guardian nod in approval, she gave The younger an affirmative before moving to her own spot on a nearby boulder. Sighing in relief, Chariot sat once more with her legs crossed as she gazed out across the expanse of Venus.
A tingle made itself known as she thought about her Warlock companion. How Croix always helped her whether in battle or training. How knowledgeable she was and always sharing it with Chariot who would listen intently. Her thoughts turned to wanting to help her, to be her support as much as she was to the red-head. The older Guardian was an incredible asset and partner. Chariot wanted to return the favor.
The tingle shifted to a buzz.
Wait… is this-?
The buzz increased as Chariot concentrated and followed its pull. Vaguely, she heard Woodward's voice filter through her head as she felt a new energy surround her.
"Hunters are known to be loners. Unlike us, Warlocks who seek their knowledge in libraries and the Titans who stand as protectors of the City's walls - you find your place in the wilds."
Chariot felt the constant grip on her Solar and Arc abilities fade as the new essence of energy filled her. They were not fully gone, simply muted by this new presence. It was as if she was setting down her gun and daggers and reaching for something else.
"A Hunter must have a quick draw, or a quicker blade… But sometimes, you must seek other tools. For a Hunter will not always be alone. You know the difference a team makes in battle. Will you then fight alone?"
She thought of her past missions. Of her days struggling alone and commanding fire and lightning as she charged through her enemies. Then she thought of the day she met Croix. Their bond formed through combat. The dark matter that the older Guardian commanded enveloping her senses - how exhilarating it was!
She felt the energy pulse through her body before gathering at her finger tips.
"Or will you touch the Void? The pull of the stars, the dark matter that surrounds us."
Chariot gasped as she opened her eyes and saw the deep, purplish glow that enveloped her arm and hand.
"Will you accept it as a part of you?"
Eyes set in determination, the young Hunter stood. She kept full control of the energy surrounding her. It came much easier than expected now that she was aware of it. Hunters never really pulled from the Void - but she seeked it like a Warlock seeking answers from the stars.
The image came to her then.
"Harness the tether of Light. Hunt from the shadows. Never let them see you coming."
A glowing bow formed within her hand. Its curved, violet arches pulsed with Void and Light. Chariot found herself awestruck by its beauty.
"Now take the name and walk the path!"
Her head snapping up to the clouded skies, Chariot raised her bow and aimed. The arrow forming as her fingers drew the string.
It was like watching fireworks as the Shadowshot exploded. Strings and veins of violet, purple, and white stretching almost like lightning across the expanse. The bow itself disappeared but its aura enveloped Chariot as she beamed under her helm.
Clapping nearly startled her out of her thoughts before she turned to the Warlock who had been watching her.
"That was very impressive- Oof!"
Croix found herself enveloped in a tight embrace by the younger Guardian.
"I'm a Nightstalker! I'm a Nightstalker! I'm a Nightstalker!"
She chuckled as she patted Chariot's back.
"Yes yes. I guess you're a Nightstalker now."
She nearly gasped as she was squeezed.
"Ch-Chariot!"
"Thank you!"
The Warlock blinked.
"Thank you. For helping me believe I could do it when I lost faith. Thank you so much Croix."
Said woman chuckled as she patted her helmeted head once more.
"Silly Chariot. You did this on your own. You earned it."
The Hunter gave her another squeeze before pulling away.l and taking her hand.
"Now come on! Let's go and practice on more Vex!"
"Eh? W-wait you just got that thing!"
"Yea so it's time to practice!"
From afar, Woodward watched both young Guardians summon their sparrows and take off into the wilderness of Venus. She smiled with pride but as she turned to gaze up to the skies, her expression changed to one of worry.
If the Vanguard requires more Nightstalkers… Darker days are looming on the Horizon.
-This little crossover happened around the time I was trying to get my last trophy for the game Destiny. I actually like this game despite its many critiques as well as how much potential it has. I'm hoping Destiny 2 will have much more story but at least the game gives quite a bit to work with in terms of coming up with your own story from its elements.
-This story also happened cuz I kept imagining Chariot as a Hunter and not a Warlock. I briefly considered a Titan Chariot because come on that woman does not skip leg day and I'm pretty sure she could blast someone into space dust with one punch. I know whatever remains of my conscious after that would thank her.
-For those unfamiliar with the game, in Destiny, there's 3 energy types that allow for 3 subclasses for each class: Arc (lightning), Solar (fire), and Void (gravity/dark matter). Hunters start with Solar ("Gunslinger") then Arc ("Bladedancer"). Warlocks with Void ("Voidwalker") then Solar ("Sunsinger"). Titans with Arc ("Striker") then Void ("Defender"). You have to do a special class story mission to gain the third energy subclass. For the Hunter, this is a rescue mission that allows you to inherit the bow from another Nightstalker. I wondered how they got the bow in the first place so I came up with this.
-Guardians do missions solo, partnered, or in a 3-man fireteam. Raids and Crucible (pvp) matches are 6 people. Chariot and Croix are partners (and subtly possessive of each other) but when they need a fireteam, they round out their Hunter/Warlock duo by adding a Titan. That Titan being Marjolaine cuz eyyy why not. If she can just stand in heels while riding a broom like a boss I'm pretty sure she has the potential to obliterate someone with a shoulder-charge.
-Vex are murderous robot aliens that you can't one-shot with a headshot. You need to hit their core which is in the center of their body. They teleport and don't run unless you blow of their head. So just imagine Chariot meditating for days on end with these casually walking murder machines encroaching on her while she gives no fks.
Don't hesitate to ask questions in a review about the game if you're unfamiliar with it. I wanna make sure ya'll can enjoy this as much as I had fun writing it. Also I have more ideas for this AU that I'm already playing with so that's something you might see soon. Thanks for reading!
