Diana was livid.
She finally found the source of these invading feelings, but she wasn't prepared for the ugly truth.
She made a soul link with Akko.
Soul links allow someone to feel the emotions of another. For example, some mothers are soul linked with their children, knowing when something was wrong or if their child is in danger. Twins are often soul linked as well, knowing when something was amiss with their counterpart. Soul links occurred in both magical and non-magical families, though witches had stronger bonds allowing them to know exactly what was wrong. However, that wasn't the major issue. The thought of Akko suffering from loneliness and heartbreak while she was right beside her unnerved Diana. Akko was taking on this burden on her own without seeking help from anyone, not even her own girlfriend.
She reminded Diana of herself.
It was strange how they were so different yet so similar at the same time, but Diana could dwell on that later. She stormed out of the library, ignoring the surprised looks she earned.
Akko was in for it now.
Training Outside
"Why can't I do it?" Akko sighed as her dragon once again turned into a smiling worm. The spirits cheered as the wiggly apparition circled them. "I'm glad at least you guys like it," she smiled defeatedly as she sheathed her sword. Akko sighed. Akko was always the optimist, but her failed tests and spells weighed down on her already aching heart. At this rate, she won't be able to catch up with the class or with her girlfriend.
Akko loved the way Diana's eyes shone when she spoke about her dreams. Diana was paving a way for herself and had a bright future ahead, but Akko was unsure is she'd be part of it. How could she remain by Diana's side if she only got in the way? Being a dreamer herself, Akko would never want to hinder Diana on her mission, even though she knew her girlfriend wouldn't ever blame her. The selfless blonde would sacrifice everything for Akko, and Akko knew this. That was precisely the reason why Akko needed to work harder! She couldn't become a burden on Diana! Diana deserved better. Guilt ate at her as she thought about how much Diana was willing to give to Luna Nova's dunce.
Akko sighed again, wishing Ursula would hurry back. Her mentor had left to retrieve something, a gift, to be precise when she saw the way her pupil struggled. The red-eyed witch smiled as she remembered the way Ursula scurried off, insisting she didn't need Akko to fly her back. She wanted it to be a surprise! She's always looking out for me, Akko thought. Suddenly, she felt a presence approach. She didn't need to turn around to know who.
"Atsuko Kagari, we need to talk," Diana ordered. The spirits scattered and disappeared.
Even though Diana sounded absolutely furious, Akko couldn't stop the excitement bubbling in her chest. She felt a strange mix of love and loneliness as Diana landed. Diana's presence made her heart race and ache at the same time. Akko turned to meet Diana's blazing blue eyes. She'd never seen Diana this angry before, and the witch's fierce expression felt like a challenge aimed at Akko. Akko could easily pin her down and subdue the fire in her girlfriend—
Akko shook her head. Even now she was being greedy! Wanting more and more from Diana, never having enough. She looked up to see Diana's piercing gaze was replaced with a confuddled expression. Diana halted her trek toward Akko. There was a slight pink tinge across her cheeks, probably from the summer heat and Akko found it absolutely adorable. She wanted to run up and kiss Diana with all the love she could convey with her lips, but her anxieties cemented her to the floor.
Meanwhile, Diana had no idea what the hell was happening with Akko. The other witch's emotions were all over the place and switching so rapidly, Diana had to pause and sort them out. She decided to just address Akko directly since she wasn't getting anywhere like this. "Akko, we're together now. We need to talk to each other if something is amiss. Please, tell me what's wrong?" Diana pleaded.
Akko smiled falsely at her, "What are you—"
"Don't you dare feign ignorance. What's wrong?" Diana demanded. Akko looked away, feeling both ashamed and guilty for making her love worry. Diana sighed and approached her girlfriend, hands behind her back in her signature lecturing pose. Akko mentally braced herself for the scolding she probably deserved.
Instead, the grass grew so high it tickled her chin. Akko squeaked in surprise and panicked when she couldn't see Diana until she felt a pair of delicate hands gently lift her up. Her girlfriend had turned her into a rabbit! "Now you can't run away. You're going to tell me what's going on with you," Diana commanded as she sat on the grass with Akko cradled in her arms. Even though metamorphosis magic was one of her greatest strengths, because Diana's magic was much stronger, Akko couldn't shift back. This blatant difference in skill made Akko's mood sink even lower, but she tried to play it off by nuzzling Diana's hand, hoping Diana would by her act. "That's not going to work," Diana argued seeing right through the bunny's ruse. The prodigy decided to use her trump card. "I wish you would tell me what's wrong," she asked, softly petting Akko behind the ears. It felt wrong using Akko's heartfelt gift in such a way, but she was forced to pry.
"That's not fair," Akko whined. There was no way she could deny Diana a wish! While she tried to think of a way to (or not to) respond all her fears, her doubts, her anxieties forced their way through her, swallowing her whole. Diana felt the change and held Akko closer. The bunny shuddered in her arms and Diana felt her chest tighten. Diana learned to embrace her feelings, but this? It was as if Akko's emotions took a life of their own and overpowered her. Diana wondered how on earth Akko dealt with this on her own. She looked at the small trembling form in her arms. Akko was crying, but the most alarming thing was the missing sparkle in her eyes. Diana knew if she released Akko from her rabbit form, the girl would bolt the moment she had a chance.
"Akko," Diana soothed, "Let me help you. We can work through this. I won't leave until you answer."
"But you should." Came Akko's quiet response.
"I don't understand—" Diana started.
"You should leave! I don't deserve you! You're so amazing and I'm just…Akko," the transformed witch answered.
Diana could feel Akko's heartbreaking at the admission. "You don't want me to go," she stated calmly.
"I don't. I love you so much," Akko confessed, "But I can't give you the things you deserve. I'll hold you back. Diana, you're fulfilling your dream!" Akko finally looked up into Diana's eyes, ears drooping. "You shouldn't need to worry about babysitting me, you should focus on the future you've been working so hard for!" Diana remained silent as she released the spell and held Akko close. Akko clung to Diana, needing her to stay yet wanting her to go. Diana didn't say a word but rubbed soothing circles into Akko's back and stroked her hair. When Akko's tears stopped, Diana pulled back looked into her watery red eyes. She smiled and cradled Akko's face, feeling the distressed witch relax.
"You want what's best for me. You want me to be happy." Diana remarked, an ambiguous smile on her face.
"Of course I do! That's why,—" before she could finish Diana pulled her cheeks harshly, making Akko yelp.
"Who said you could make that decision for me! Regardless of what you think I deserve, it's my choice to make!" Diana chided. She relinquished her hold on Akko and held her hands. "Akko, do you know how I got this far?"
"You invented your own powerful healing spell! Just like I thought you could!" Akko beamed for the first time since Diana's arrival.
Diana shook her head, "I found out the secret for unlocking magic's true potential: Emotions." She felt Akko's confusion and continued. I needed to embrace my emotions in order to fully use healing magic. Every time I use my spell, I think of you," Diana admitted. "I love you, but it took nearly losing you to realize just how much. If it weren't for you, I'd never even come this far." She kissed Akko's scar, "You are my strength and my future. I don't have a future without you in it, whether you believe you belong there or not."
Diana felt the negative emotions release their hold on Akko and a wave of relief washed over the two witches. Soon, longing, understanding, and acceptance followed. It felt as if her feelings and Akko's became one, in a perfect sync. They intertwined both of their hands and put their foreheads together. A sudden sense of completion came over them, all doubts about their relationship exorcised. They both knew something special was happening. Some people searched their whole lives for a relationship like this, yet they found it. They doubted, struggled, and fought for this moment without knowing their destination but now everything clicked into place. This was the final goal.
This was love.
"No one ever told me love would be this complicated." Diana chuckled.
"Maybe we just suck at it?" Akko half-joked.
"Perhaps," Diana smirked.
The spirits returned and chimed happily around the couple, cheering them on. "Your little friends are cute," Diana smiled.
"You're cute!" Akko beamed, eliciting a giggle from Diana.
They kissed each other, feeling like they were the only two people left in the world.
Except they weren't.
"It's so beautiful! Goodness, I'm tearing up!" Ursula grinned while wiping away a stray tear.
"We've truly witnessed something special today. I knew you two would go far, but to consistently exceed my expectations! I'm glad I chose to stick around. Congratulations, you've become soul-mates!" Woodward smiled.
Having a soul link was one thing, having a soul-mate was another. Soulmate relationships were not something people found, they were earned. While Diana's soul link may have been a fluke, the fact she and Akko's relationship evolved to such a spiritual level was anything but.
Akko slowly helped Diana to her feet and continued to hold her hand. She stared at the tall, ethereal woman beside Ursula who just smiled back at her. "We have not been properly introduced. My name is Woodward and I am one of the Nine Olde Witches who founded Luna Nova. I'm also Chariot's mentor." Woodward introduced.
"I'm Atsuko Kagari, but you can call me Akko! Ursula told me about you!" Akko exclaimed happily. Woodward patted her head and smiled. The powerful witch had left a legacy behind, being known for her wisdom and kindness. Even after all these centuries, she was—
"She said you were really nosey!" Akko finished. Diana slipped on her perfect mask to hide her amusement while Woodward glanced over at Ursula who was carefully avoiding her eyes. She'd talk with Chariot later, right now there were more pressing matters at hand. Before she could open her mouth, Akko fired another question.
"Are you haunting us?" Akko asked, red eyes shimmering. There was no malice in the question, just honest, unfiltered curiosity.
"Akko, Woodward would like to discuss something important with us. You can ask her questions later, ok?" Diana explained gently. Akko nodded in response and focused all her attention on the duo in front of them.
"Actually, it is Chariot who would like to speak to you," Woodward informed while stepping aside to make room for her former pupil.
"Akko, you have so much potential but you just can't see it. You are just as strong as Diana, but you haven't tapped into that potential yet. As your mentor and your friend, I'm asking you to listen very carefully," Ursula started. Akko's expression turned serious as she nodded her head and listened. Diana gave Akko's hand a gentle squeeze.
"You have such a wonderful heart. I've seen the things you can accomplish when you give it your all! However, instead of embracing your emotions, you let them take over. Your recklessness and impulsive tendencies are by-products of letting your feelings run wild. Your desire to make people smile gives you strength, but on the other hand, when you're feeling low you let those emotions possess you, disregarding everything else. Your feelings are a double-edged sword and you must learn to manage them, lest you hurt yourself or others," Ursula finished.
"I wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose," Akko defended.
"Not intentionally, but Akko, your life isn't your own. You can't be so reckless." Ursula continued. Akko felt a foreign sense of fear. She looked over at Diana and realized what Ursula meant. Diana was still shaken from Akko's accident. Because Akko let rage take over her in the greenhouse, she blindly chased after the culprit on her own when she should have sent out a signal. Akko was ready to face the consequences of her actions, but it never occurred to her that the people she loved would suffer too. Her friends, Ursula, the love of her life, she needed to take better of herself for their sake, not just her own.
"You're right, I always leap before I look. I spent all this time thinking about how I wasn't good enough for Diana when I should have spoken to her! Instead, I let my feelings eat me up and I couldn't see the truth right in front of me," Akko admitted while wrapping her arm around Diana's waist. "But, I don't know where to start. Will you help me?" Akko pleaded. Diana kissed her cheek and Ursula patted her head.
"Of course, just like the way you've helped us. Once you can manage your emotions, you will become a splendid witch! I believe in you," Ursula replied. She let out a sigh, "Croix suffered from something similar. She was a kind-hearted person, smart but humble. She was my best friend! But jealousy consumed her, changed her into someone else. She wasn't my Croix anymore, she was the enemy."
Akko and Diana hugged their mentor, knowing Croix was a difficult subject for the astronomy teacher to talk about. Woodward felt her own heart clench. After all, she was the reason Croix and Chariot fell apart. Had she been more focused on her both her pupils rather than the Grand Triskelion, their friendship would have lasted.
"You saved her. Because of you, Croix returned to me," Ursula smiled. "I stayed in contact with her after the Crisis. Akko, Croix wanted me to let you know that even when she was consumed by jealousy, she honestly enjoyed your company. Even though she was out for revenge, she couldn't hate you even if she wanted to. Croix made something for you when I told her about your struggle with your dragon spell."
The couple released Ursula so she could reach into her pocket. She pulled out two little cubes with Croix's signature design. "These can replace your wand. If you wear them both, it'll be like having two wands, but with much more control! With these, you'll be able to successfully pull off your dragon!" Ursula explained as she tapped one of the cubes to Akko's ring finger. The cube transformed into a ring and slipped on with ease, a perfect fit.
Akko examined the ring a with a huge smile on her face. "Can you tell Croix I had fun too? I liked her class and spending time together. I've already forgiven her." Akko said as she took out her wand. "Oh! And tell her I said thanks too!"
Akko turned her wand into her spectral katana and used the ring to conjure the dragon. The immense beast lit up the sky, and every scale shimmered on its detailed long body. The majestic creature followed Akko's blade as Akko guided it effortlessly. The other three witches applauded and the spirits bounced around in merriment at the wondrous display. "I did it! Diana, look!" Akko shouted happily.
"There's no way I could miss it. Akko, it's stunning!" Diana praised, her heart filled with pride. Akko's warm smile and bright eyes made her heart flutter. Akko had a way of making Diana fall for her over and over again. She didn't want to interrupt Akko's moment, but she really wanted-
Akko dismissed the spells abruptly before running up and kissing Diana, catching her off guard. "I felt like you wanted to be spoiled," she remarked while nuzzling into Diana's shoulder. Diana was startled, Akko couldn't feel her emotions before, so why now? Woodward smiled at Diana's confusion.
"Soul-mates can feel each other's emotions. It works in both directions. There are other benefits too, but it is up to you two to discover them. Akko couldn't feel your emotions before because her own feelings caged her, keeping yours from reaching her. You two will need to work on controlling this new ability." Wood ward explained.
Diana watched as Akko took the remaining cube and tapped it against her girlfriend's ring finger before smoothly slipping the ring on. "Akko, this is yours," Diana objected shyly.
"I only need one anyway. I want you to use this ring to fulfill your dream," Akko replied before kissing Diana's ring. The matching rings made this entire scenario feel like—
"You may kiss the bride!" Ursula joked as she watched the two lovebirds. They smiled at each other and did just that. Woodward glanced at Ursula. Her pupil became such a wonderful guide and mentor. The ghostly witch thought maybe she could learn a thing or two from her former student. The spirit vanished, knowing Chariot would take care of those two.
"When's the honeymoon?" came a voice from above. The pair looked up to see their friends on their brooms.
"We thought something big was going down after we saw that dragon. Looks like it's just you two flirting again." Amanda smirked. The other friends snickered before flying down to congratulate the blushing witches on their 'marriage'. They teased the 'newly-weds' as they made their way back to the dorms. Diana couldn't help but think about how much she'd miss her companions when the year ended. The thought of being away from Akko made her anxious. She'd nearly lost her once, she didn't want to part again so soon.
"Diana, look at me," Akko urged gently. The moment their eyes met, Diana's tension dispersed. Akko kissed the scar on Diana's lip. "What is it?"
"There are many things I need to look after back home, but I don't want to be separated from you," Diana answered honestly.
"Then I'll come too!" Akko chirped. Before, Diana would have immediately objected. However, things were different now.
"I need you, Kiwi." she replied while stroking Akko's cheek.
"I'm here, Princess!" Akko beamed back.
"Barb, we can't lose to them!" Hannah smiled as she hugged Barbara.
"Hannah!" Barbara blushed, but she returned the hug anyway.
"With all this flirting you guys will be suspended before the year is over anyway," Sucy remarked.
Lotte laughed while the green team followed behind chatting excitedly about the upcoming Summer Break.
The school year was ending, but they all knew this was only the beginning.
To be continued in the Sequel!