Tempus Ante. The Flash-forward spell. Chariot had seen it in a book that sat behind the headmistress's desk, one that she had shown to Chariot only once. It was a very complicated spell, one that required rigorous focus, determination, a steady hand, and a steady heart. The counter spell required the same of course. And both required a large amount of magical energy, more so for every year one moved further up or down the timeline. Chariot hadn't seen the second spell, she wasn't even supposed to see the first, as both were forbidden magics left only to witches with daunting responsibilities. Chariot supposed she had her own responsibility to restoring magic. But what would be her excuse to visit her future? To know what she needs to do to get there? She still didn't know the second spell. Only the first. Though she had a feeling that she knew the witch who could send her back in time if she ever got stuck in the future. The same witch she could ask for advice on what to do in the present about finding the next word.

Chariot drew her wand, closed her eyes, and focused. The spell required a clockwise turn of the arm, as it extended, almost as if she was punching the air or jabbing it with her wand. She took in a breath. "Tempus Ante," she said, following the instructions. Nothing. Not a glow, not a spark. Chariot groaned. "I guess I'll need the Claiomh Solais for this…" She tucked her wand away and tried again, this time picking up the rod instead and thrusting it forward as she was supposed to. "TEMPUS ANTE!"

It was like falling through a leyline without a broom, there were all of these colors, violent violets, crisp cyans, graceful greens, occasional flickering orbs of things to come, faces she knew, or faintly recognized, some she couldn't make out at all. She watched the way the vines of color wrapped around this tunnel of light and barely had any time to trail them with her eyes before she popped into existence on the other side, barely remembering where it was she was going.

She half expected the place she landed in to be familiar, expected it to be the same field she had been standing in, the one she returned to over and over again to cast spell after spell. But the longer she stood, the more she understood, this was not the same place at all. There were so many machines, each with dials and knobs and inscriptions she could barely understand if at all. The lights flickered and hissed like a band of demons and she couldn't help but feel vastly unwelcome inside this place that she had somehow managed to spawn in. She wanted to wander around but every step she took from where she started put her stomach more and more in a state of unease. She stopped when she reached a table, there was a laptop, some sort of machinery that matched the tons of other machines around her, a large discus device that had two glowing lights on its front like eyes peering up at her, and a set of tools. She reached onto the table to touch the disk-like robonoid only to be startled by a noise. Footsteps. Someone was coming.

Chariot ducked under the table against the wall, backing herself further and further into the shadows under the dim light until her back was against the uneven surface of wall. She held her breath and waited, watching as a pair of high-heeled red boots clacked against the tile floor. She noticed the teasing length of red fabric that bobbed with every step, a cape of some sorts most likely, She took in a silent breath, and dared herself to poke her head out from under the table. "…Croix?"

Croix stood before her, albeit a lot older. She was even taller now, if that were possible., hair slicked back and over, and shorter too, eyes glazed, cold and callous from the years between them. "Either you're a ghost or an imposter…" mumbled the older woman. "And I dare to say I've seen enough ghosts in my life to know you aren't one."

"No, Croix, it's me! Chariot!" Chariot crawled out from under the table, holding up the rod. "I promise. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

Croix sneered and refocussed her attention to her laptop, typing away. "A ghost seems more likely than not now. Or maybe you're a figment of my imagination, meant to torment me."

"Torment you?" This Croix was not the Croix she knew. Sure she had grown, become more mature, and possibly far more beautiful, but not that Chariot would admit that, but there was something else off about her. "I don't understand. I came here for your help, Croix. I'm… stuck? Well- in more ways than one I guess."

"Stuck?" Croix's eyebrow raised for a moment before she shook her head. "I'm afraid I cannot help you."

"Well if you don't help me then I can't return to the present," Chariot crossed her arms, "or- the past in your case."

There was a moment of pause as Croix thought over their current situation. "You used the flash forward spell… For what purpose?"

"I wanted to know the next word," Chariot said, as if the answer were obvious.

"I can't tell you that, Chariot," Croix snapped back. "I can't give you any information other than how to return to your original timeline."

Chariot's face fell and she pouted, slumping her shoulders. She had come all this way for nothing other than a glimpse at her best friend. "Aw, come on! Why not?"

"Because it is dangerous to know too much about your own future," Croix looked at Chariot with cold, unfeeling eyes. "And I cannot meddle with time, not when there is so much at stake. I don't care how tempting the outcome is."

"Tempting?" Chariot raised a brow. What could Croix possibly want to change about this future? And why was she so distant and cold. "What did you do that you're not fond of?"

"I can't tell you that. I shouldn't even be having this conversation with you right now." Croix sighed. "The longer you stay here the more dire the consequences are to time. Time takes time to solidify, so if I have any chance of saving you from yourself, I need to send you back."

"Send me back? I just got here!" Chariot took a step back. "I haven't even got the chance to look around yet. By the way, what is this place?"

"You shouldn't even be here!" Croix growled. "And this is my laboratory. Which is exactly why I can't let you stay."

"Why are you doing some mischievous magic stuff in here?" Chariot moved to the table again, poking the discus droid. "What's this?"

"Chariot Du Nord," Croix grabbed Chariot's hand and tugged her forward, the green of her eyes lighting up with such anger. "Don't. Touch. Anything."

"Y-yes Ma'am…" Chariot swallowed, slowly receding into herself. Croix was still rather terrifying when she was mad. "A-are you going to send me home now?"

There was a silence as Croix stared at Chariot long and hard, and Chariot could feel her eyes dissecting her, taking her apart piece by piece. At last, Croix returned to her laptop. "What was the spell you used exactly in order to transport yourself here?"

"Tempus Ante. I thought about you and ten years into the future, and ended up here- oh- and I had to do this twisty thing with my arm when I casted the spell, like this!" Chariot proceeded to demonstrate the motions of casting the spell. "Clockwise. I believe the counter spell is counter-clockwise, but I'm not really sure what it is exactly."

Croix typed away, pulling up a list of spells and shifting through them until she found the one she wanted. "Tempus Peregrinatione. That is the counter spell. And you're right. It's the same motion, only in reverse."

"Amazing!" Chariot grinned, before pausing and looking up at Croix. "Can I come see you again?"

"You shouldn't," Croix said quickly. "But I have never once been able to stop you, at least while you were the age you are now."

"Ah so we're still friends then!" Chariot beamed. "Daw, I can't believe we've lasted this long. I thought by now surely you must have gotten sick and tired of me…"

Croix fell silent, looking away. "I need you to cast the spell, Chariot. Leave here before you cause any damage."

"Aw, okay." Chariot moved to give Croix a hug. "Thank you for helping me. I'll definitely come back and visit."

Croix set a hand on Chariot's head, and though she smiled, there was a hint of melancholy behind it, just where Chariot couldn't see. "Goodbye, Chariot."

Chariot moved a reasonable distance away, before she held out the Claiomh Solais. "Tempus Peregrinatione!" she shouted, turning the rod in her hand as she tugged it back towards her, disappearing in the same manner she had appeared, and leaving Croix alone to her own devices once again.