Yahallo!

Is anyone else pretty bummed with the Netflix handling of our witches? The dub really changes the tone of the show in my opinion. At least it's finally here though! I'm desperate for more of these girls!

I switched over from Word to Google Docs, so please let me know if I messed up any formatting. Hope you enjoy Episode 4: Part III! 3

Our Magic!
Episode 04: Reason and Feeling
Part III

"FOOLISH MAHOU. IT IS ME, TAKAMINAKATA! THE GREAT SHINING DEITY!" Lotte started coughing uncontrollably. After she recovered, she looked up at Chariot with watery eyes, "Did you say something?"

With wide eyes, Chariot asked, "Takaminakata-san?"

Instantly, Lotte shouted with the fury of a ten men, "That is -sama to you, foolish great mahou!"

"Takaminakata-sama!"

"Why are you shouting, Professor Chariot?" Lotte asked innocently, "And who is Takaminakata?"

"Ara, ara," Chariot said in defeat.

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Amanda slurped noisily on her soft drink as she stared expectantly at Akko across the booth. Akko was looking everywhere except at her friend. With each slurp, Akko flinched as though she had been struck.

"So," Amanda finally broke her string of slurps with the declaration, "Are you going to talk at all?"

Akko thought through everything that happened and grew angrier and angrier. She puffed up her cheeks as she looked peevishly to the side, still avoiding Amanda's gaze "Is that really fair? You came to Japan and I'm sitting here with you. Shouldn't you do the talking?"

Amanda sighed, "OK then, so let's clear the air. I kissed the girl you like and you ran away." Akko scrunched her eyes shut and Amanda sighed again, "Pretending I'm not here?"

"You—Diana—you, UGH!" Akko threw her hands up and finally looked across at Amanda. The cocky smirk she expected to find was there, but it seemed fake to her somehow. Looking into her eyes, she saw a scared girl: a friend that she had fought with and fought beside. "Amanda, why are you crying?!"

Confronted with the truth, Amanda couldn't keep up the front she had been holding onto with every last fiber of her being. She devolved into a weeping mess, "You left us!" She tried to throw up a smokescreen, "How do you expect Constanze and Jasminka to deal with that so suddenly? And what about Sucy and Lotte? Everyone's going crazy!"

Akko rushed around the booth to slide next to her and hugged her tightly; Amanda wailed, "That's not fair! Why are you so nice? I hur-I hurt you."

Akko smiled bitterly, "I couldn't really blame you. I was so mad and so scared and so jealous, but how could I blame you for falling for Diana? After all, I don't understand how everyone hasn't fallen for her."

Shocked from her tears, Amanda gasped, "Oh God, do you think more people might go after her?"

Akko laughed, "Well, yeah, I guess so. I always thought Hannah and Barbara were wayyy too into her before we got to know them better."

"Me too! I wanted to slap that adoring look off their faces every time I saw it."

"Dayo! And I think half the reason Avery and Diana don't get along is because Avery is too hetero to deal with how gorgeous Diana is."

"You really think Avery plays for that side?"

"Have you seen the way she fawns over Andoru? It's something else."

Amanda hesitated, "You're not acting like I thought you would be."

Akko let go of her friend's hands and sat side-by-side, staring at the now empty seat across from them, "I had been pretending to be straight for so long . . . You're American, so maybe you don't realize it, but Japan is still a very conservative country. I fought every sign I could of being a lesbian. I wouldn't care about people thinking badly of me, but if it had come back on my parents, I don't know what I would do."

"It's not like America is a gay utopia either, you know. And I don't really think of myself as gay or straight, I just know that I like Diana and you."

Akko shouted in surprise, "YOU LIKE ME?!"

Amanda slapped her forehead in disbelief, "Are you for real right now?"

"BUT YOU LIKE DIANA!"

"And I like you too! The same way I like Diana!"

"HOW WOULD THAT WORK?!"

"How am I supposed to know?!"

"Excuse me, can you please keep it down for the sake of our other customers?" A waitress asked them softly in Japanese.

"Ack!" Akko shouted in surprise. She hurried to reassure the waitress that they'd be quiet from then on.

"What did she want?" Amanda asked once she walked away.

"We were being too noisy."

"Ah, that makes sense."

"They were probably paying extra attention to us since you look American."

"What kind of weird stereotypes do you have about America anyway? And you were being twice as loud as me."

"Nuh-uh," Akko gave her ultimate argument finisher and stuck her tongue out.

"Careful, or I'll bite your tongue."

Her ultimate argument finisher had been defeated with next to no effort. Akko eeped as she looked down blushing.

"Now this is amazing. A blushing Akko sitting next to me in a restaurant. It's almost like a date."

"Chi-chigau." Akko slipped into Japanese.

"Hmm?"

"It's not like a date. You're just flirting with me to put me off-kilter. I'll show you that I'm always off-kilter," Akko said defiantly.

"Everyone knows you're always off-kilter."

"Nuh-uh," Akko refrained from using her finishing move this time.

"Yes-huh."

"Not. Not everyone."

"Everyone that's seen you for more than a minute, which, oh yeah, last time I checked was the entire freaking world."

"What do you want, Amanda?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you want from me? From Diana?"

Amanda sighed again, "Right now I'd love it if you stopped being such a moron and made up with Diana, then came home to Luna Nova."

"But I saw how Diana kissed you, she clearly likes you."

"You're really dense, you know? How do you think someone is going to react to me kissing them? I could kiss Avery gay."

Akko laughed hollowly at Amanda's bravado, "I know what I saw."

"Apparently you ran away pretty quick, since the first thing Diana did after was apologize to me and try to find you so that you could start dating."

"No way."

"Yeah way, dummy. You just about killed her with that note. Well, you just about killed everyone with that note."

"Then why are you here and not her?"

"You really are dumb. Everyone is here. Diana left us before we knew it and she's over here somewhere, but no one can reach her, and the rest of us followed as soon as we could."

"What?"

"Everyone is here, and we're all here to bring you back, and I'm sure a big part of Diana's plan to bring you back is to kiss you into submission."

"Haha, yeah right," Akko said dismissively, but not being able to hide the smile that cropped up at the thought.

"So come home already."

"Oh, I already decided to come back," Akko said, having just remembered she hadn't said that yet.

Amanda fell forward and her head banged off the table, "Are you serious?"

"Well yeah, I mean, I tried calling but you were all already over here I guess? Or on your way?"

"So what was all this, a tantrum?" Amanda asked incredulously.

"Well," Akko became a little embarrassed, "I came out to my parents. And I thought they were going to flip, but well, they were pretty great about it. They refused to support me in moving back and insisted I continue to study magic at Luna Nova."

"That's really great!"

"Yeah, but what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You really like both me and Diana?"

"Yeah. I have for a while. I was all set to quit school and the thought of missing you was enough to keep me around, and I've always been crushing on Diana."

"You were really obvious about that."

"Hey!"

Akko tried to understand, "So like, you want a harem or something with me and Diana?"

Amanda slowly processed the innocuous question, her face becoming redder and redder as she did, "WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD?!"

A quick shush from a passing waitress stopped Akko from shouting back, "I just don't understand. It seems like no matter what would happen between the three of us, you would be miserable." She started counting off on her fingers, "One. You and Diana get together, and you don't get me. Two. You and me get together, and you don't get to be with Diana. Three. Me and Diana get together and you don't get to be with either of us. And that's the one that you're going for? I don't understand."

Amanda shook her head, "You can't help who you like, but I think you do understand. Why did you run away? What was the real reason?"

Akko nodded, "Because I thought you and Diana could be happy together, and I want Diana to be happy more than anything."

"It's like that. I want the two of you to be happy more than anything."

"I'm sorry, I don't want to share Diana."

Amanda slapped Akko in the back of her head, "I swear to God, Kagari, if you don't drop the harem thing . . . "

Akko smiled at Amanda, cherishing her acting normally. The smile quickly dropped from her face as she said, "I wish you and Diana were together. It would make everything a lot easier."

Amanda frowned, "What? Why? How?"

"Well, I mean. I am dying after all."

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"We don't have time for this! We have to get to the Kagari's!"

"You're being possessed by an ancient spirit of Japan and all you're worried about is Akko?" Chariot returned, "We have to deal with this now!"

"What is wrong with you?" Lotte shouted, "This is going way past not wanting to face her parents over the past! That's already been dealt with and Akko is fine now!"

"That's all it is, Lotte, please leave it alone."

Takaminakata's voice rumbled up from the center of Lotte's chest, "GREAT MAHOU, TELL THE LITTLE MAHOU THE TRUTH!" Lotte finished in her own voice, "That feels really weird, but yes, tell me the truth! If it has to do with Akko, it might help bring her home!"

"Lotte, please," Chariot pleaded, "I haven't even spoken about this with Croix. I promise that I am on your side in bringing Akko home, but if it's me doing it . . . "

"What? You don't believe in Akko's love for you?"

Chariot turned away, "I've always been Shiny Chariot. How could her feelings be real? She's idolized me her entire life. She's liable to do anything I ask her to and who's to say if that would be best? The last time she had a chance to impress me she channelled all of Yggdrasil through the Shiny Rod."

"WOODWARD SEEMS TO BE LOSING HER TOUCH!" Lotte coughed, "Ack, do you have to shout every line? Those are my vocal chords you're borrowing, but before we go any further, two things. Akko never knew you were Shiny Chariot until she already loved you for you—Akko is the only one of us that still calls you Professor Ursula and I'm sure you know that's because of how important you were to her independent of being Shiny Chariot. And this second thing Sucy told me and it's been a source of comfort ever since: Akko's an idiot."

"Ha?"

"Akko wouldn't think that she needed to do all of those things to impress you, she would have just done them because she thought she might be able to. If you think of her as being someone that just does the first thing that pops into her head without thinking of the consequences, then it makes it a lot easier to understand her."

"That can't be . . . Is that really OK?" Chariot said after a moment of thought.

"As long as it's by people like us that love Akko, then yes, I think so!"

"ENOUGH OF THIS! WE ARE ON A QUEST TO RETURN THE LITTLE MAHOU! LET US EMBARK!"

"I understand there's more to it that you don't want to say, Professor, but for now, just trust in Akko."

Chariot nodded, "Very well, I'm with you."

"IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

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"I need your help! Please! Speak with me!" Croix's shouts rang through the lonely halls beneath Luna Nova.

Desperately, she continued to travel deeper. At this rate, I'm going to run into a minotaur or a dragon. "Woodward! Please! I know we have had our disagreements in the past—" That's an understatement if there ever was one, "But this is for Chariot and Akko!"

"Croix, I am so happy to see you." The looming presence of Woodward behind her startled her.

"Oh thank God, I never thought you would come out."

"Oh? You must have though, for you would not have attempted a fruitless endeavor." Woodward said calmly as she regarded the young witch.

"Chariot is in danger. I need to get to her as soon as I can."

"It is interesting to me that you believe that someone attacking you can only mean an attack on Chariot. Do you have such little self-worth, Croix?"

"Oh come on, can we skip the psychology for once? Of course they are going after Chariot and Akko. There's no reason they'd come after me." Woodward stood silently, "That wood face of yours is as stoic as ever I see."

"You are correct in one regard. Chariot is in danger."

"What?" Croix exclaimed in surprise. "From the same people that attacked Balto?"

"Do you recall your report concerning the risks facing the world with the return of magic? What might come about in places such as, say, Japan?"

Croix slipped into recall mode, devoting half of her attention to reading one of her own reports in her head. She spoke distractedly, "In areas of historically low magic, the influx of magic is certain to cause problems the local magic community will be ill-equipped to deal with."

"Correct, I believe you likened it to when the indigenous peoples of the Americas were exposed to diseases like smallpox for the first time. Unlike the Europeans which had resistance to the disease, over 90% of their population ended up dying."

Croix smirked, "Should I be surprised that you know it better than I do?"

"Let me pose a hypothetical situation to you, suppose the ancient great powers of the world—what Akko might refer to as kami—were given new life? New power? And unlike centuries ago, little to none of the restraints that once held them in check were functioning?"

"Professor Woodward," Croix bowed her head, "Please. Where is Chariot?"

"You could find this out on your own, so I can tell you she is in Japan with Akko."

"And Diana, too?"

Woodward inclined her head, "All of the girls have made the trip."

"And some kami is waking up there?!"

Woodward remained silent.

"What can you tell me?"

"I believe you are stronger together."

Croix couldn't stop herself from laughing without mirth, "Really? Now you believe we are stronger together?"

Woodward scoffed, "I have always thought that. I believed in you, Croix. Believed in Chariot and you. In the same way, I believed in Akko and Diana. It has always needed two to make it work. If you had stayed with Chariot back then, I am sure you would have succeeded in unlocking the seventh Word. As it stands, it took a while longer than I thought, but you did eventually succeed."

"Are you joking?"

"Have you ever known me to joke?"

"So all this time, since the beginning, I was supposed to help Chariot?!"

"As she would have with you, if you could have been the primary wielder of the Claiomh Solais."

Despite herself, Croix began crying, "I'm past this already. I already knew I was wrong to abandon her!"

Woodward glided closer and enfolded Croix in her arms, "It all ended up working out Croix. You do not have to blame yourself any longer. Believe in Yggdrasil. Believe in Chariot. Believe in Akko. Believe in your love."

"A believing heart . . . " Croix thought of Chariot when she first came to Luna Nova. With the thought, a gate to Yggdrasil opened at their feet, "Where does this go?"

"To Chariot."

Croix leapt.

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"Don't you think that's a little dark?"

"Nah, I can feel the change," Akko replied, thumping her chest, "In here."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I'm being overwhelmed by my own magic," Akko said. "I have been struggling with it, and I can usually keep it from hurting, but it's a losing battle."

"Aren't you Akko? Aren't you the wielder of the Shiny Rod? What do you mean it's a losing battle?! You convinced us to fly on our brooooms after a miss-sile, have you forgotten? You don't know the meaning of lose!"

Akko smiled, "It's different when it's on the inside."

"Alright! As soon as Chariot and Lotte come back we're going after Diana. I've figured it out, you're broken in the head and we need Diana to put you back together."

"I'm really not . . . "

"I mean, more broken in the head than we usually take you for."

Akko pouted, but managed to think about what else Amanda had said, "Where did Ursula-sensei and Lotte go?"

"To your house."

"WHAT?!" Akko screeched, jumping up and earning a scowl from the waitress.

"Whoa, what's the big deal?"

"Ursula-sensei is going to my house? Where my mom is?!"

"Um, yeah? We came to bring you back. They went first so we didn't overwhelm you."

"Ursula-sensei CANNOT meet my mom, come on, we have to go!"

"I don't get it. Why can't Chariot meet your mom?"

"Because it will be so embarrassing I really will die!"

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Thanks for reading!