Little Witch Academia: The Fantasia Melody

Chapter 5: You Are A Monster

Akko was glad it was the weekend, she needed a break from all those classes cramming so much stuff into her fragile brain. But sadly, she would not be able to enjoy her weekend because of her punishment. She was in trouble already for hurting Elizabeth and was told to clean the troll baths, and now thanks to the dragon incident that happened yesterday, she was forced to fix the tower by herself using magic. Even though Akko had the worst luck, cleaning and being ridiculed by everyone was not on her mind currently. What she couldn't stop thinking about was the fact that Elizabeth, the new girl, ate a person last night!

She was a vampire and Akko didn't have to go to a magical school to know what that is. It kinda made a whole lot a sense when Akko thought about it. Elizabeth's skin was extremely pale, she had no body heat, Akko never saw her eat any food in the cafeteria, and she didn't bleed when Akko's spell cut her during their duel. Of course, her being a vampire isn't a problem, Akko would bet a thousand dollars that the school wouldn't mind a non-human student, but the problem was her purpose of keeping it a secret and her reason for being at the school. While she was eating the poor boy, Akko overheard her saying something about a "Master", did she serve under someone? And why did she trick her into powering up the dragon and almost getting her expelled? These were questions Akko needed the answers to.

In the cafeteria, the Red Team and Green Team were eating breakfast and talking about what they were going to do for the day.

"That Shooting Star prototype is so cool! I gotta catch a ride on it!" Amanda yelled aloud as she banged her fists on the table.

Constanze raised her eyebrow and her Stan-bot spoke for her, "Oh, so you have the money to pay for something like that?"

Amanda became silent.

"Didn't think so."

"I heard that some shops are selling some interesting mushrooms from different magic regions all over the world, you already know I'm going to see what that is all about," said Sucy.

"My friends on the web said that a new Nightfall comic has just been released and they say the art is beautiful. I have to see it for myself!" the cheerful Lotte said as she was cutting her pancakes.

"I hope we get some sweets along the way," said Jasminka as she was eating a whole plate of biscuits.

"What about you Ak-oh yeah you're not going…"

Akko stared up at her friends as she was stuffing two pancakes into her mouth. She wasn't really paying attention because she was thinking about how to find out what Elizabeth was planning.

"I'll be fine guys!" Akko said with a smile, "After all, I honestly have no reason to be in Blytonbury so it's ok."

"If you say so," Lotte put her hand on Akko's arm reassuringly, "We promise to get you something when we come back."

"You don't have to guys."

"It's cool, you definitely need something to cheer you up after all the crap you went through yesterday," said Amanda, sounding more caring than usual. "Seriously, I can't believe those assholes tried to make you fix an entire tower by yourself! Even if it was kinda your fault it's not like you knew that dragon absorbs magic power."

Akko's heart felt warm from the love of her friends, "Thanks, guys…"

The morning was almost over and Lotte, Sucy, Amanda, Jasminka, and Constanze went out to Blytonbury without Akko. The brunette witch had nothing to do at the moment, she wasn't supposed to clean the troll baths until three o'clock, so she used her free time to spy on Elizabeth.

Akko had her eyes on her since her friends left and she never let them up since. She stayed in the background like a shadow, she was as quiet as a mouse, and her eyes were sharp like a hawk, she didn't miss a thing. Elizabeth didn't really go anywhere of importance and it didn't seem like she knew that Akko was following her either so she continued. After the cafeteria (she didn't eat any of the food), she was in the library most of the morning with Diana, doing homework together, and once they were finished the two went their own way and Akko watched Elizabeth go out the castle doors. Akko went to the window and saw her sitting outside in the courtyard reading a book as the students around her were talking amongst each other.

"I guess she won't really do anything suspicious with so many students around…" Akko whispered to herself. "I'm surprised she's even moving in the sunlight at all since she's a vampire, how is she doing that?"

"Good morning Akko."

A yelp came from Akko because of the sudden greeting that came behind her, however, it didn't sound like the person who said that seemed so cheerful to see her. She turned around to see the last person she wanted to encounter, Diana Cavendish.

"Could you please explain to me why you are spying on one of my teammates?"

"Spying? Whatever could you mean?" Akko put her finger to her chin and stared at the ceiling, pretending to look so innocent. Obviously, Diana wasn't buying into that one bit.

"Shouldn't you be fixing the New Moon Tower, you know, after the destruction you caused yesterday?"

Akko dropped her innocent facade and yelled back, "That wasn't my fault! Your "teammate" tricked me!"

Diana gave Akko a pitiful sigh, "There you go again, blaming something or someone else for the mistakes you made. I don't see why you haven't gone back home yet, you obviously don't belong here."

You don't belong here…

Those words echoed in Akko's head, bringing back memories she didn't want to think about ever again. It made her brain pulse violently and she clenched her teeth to force the headache she was having to disappear.

As Diana was walking away from Akko, believing she won the argument, Akko responded in a tone the blonde witch never heard her use before.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Diana stopped in her tracks and turned back to now extremely angry Akko.

"Excuse me?"

"I said who the hell do you think you are? I don't know what your problem is with me and I don't care. Just leave me ALONE!"

For a moment as Akko was raging at Diana the young witch could've sworn that her scarlet eyes became dark as blood.

Diana whipped her hair back, trying to regain her composure, "W-whatever! Go ahead and continue screwing up. The faster you get out of here the more soundly I sleep."

The blonde witch then walked away, leaving the brunette witch in peace. Akko took a deep breath and her eyes returned to normal as the steaming rage in her heart was finally gone. She returned her gaze back to the window she was staring out of but gasped when she saw that her target was no longer sitting in the courtyard reading her book.

"Where the hell did she go!? Dammit, Diana! If you didn't distract me I wouldn't have lost her! What if she's eating another person or something!"

Akko left the window and ran all the way out to the courtyard without stopping. When she made it to the place where Elizabeth once was she was breathing heavily and holding onto her knees.

"Where did she go?"

"Who are you looking for?"

Akko jumped up in surprise and turned to see a girl she hasn't talked to in a while. The girl had dark skin with light brown eyes and a long teal-blue hair that covered her right eye. Her name was Molly McIntyre, once known as the Ghost Witch of Time, she is a student around the same year as Akko and is a member of the Yellow Team.

"Oh, Molly! How are you doing?" Akko smiled with delight.

"I'm doing ok, just strolling around the area and enjoying some fresh air," Molly answered as she breathed in and out.

"By the way, are you looking for someone?"

"Uh…" Akko didn't want to look suspicious, but she asked anyway.

"Actually I am. I'm looking for Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth Lucifer?"

Akko nodded, "Yes! Do you know where she went?"

Molly pointed to the right, "She just went down to the broom flying field by herself, she seemed out of it though…"

"What do you mean out of it?" Akko got all up in Molly's face, definitely enticed on what she had to say about Elizabeth. Molly felt a little uncomfortable, but she responded to Akko's question as if there was no problem.

"Well...when I came outside I heard her having a conversation with someone, but...there was nobody around her. And when I approached her, she looked annoyed and walked away to the field…"

"That's...weird…"

"I know right...so why are you looking for her?"

"Um…" Akko's brain was running circles inside her head to find a perfect excuse, "I'm...just trying to...get my book back!"

Molly raised an eyebrow, "Your book?"

"Yes! She borrowed a book from me and I wanted to get it back, so…..yeah...gonna go get my book!"

The Japanese girl was about to run off until the call from Molly stopped her.

"Wait! Akko…"

Akko turned back around to see what the girl had to say. It took Molly a few seconds to come up with the words she wanted to speak, but when she found them she looked at Akko and spoke with kindness in her natural quiet voice.

"Don't worry about what other people say about you and don't let people get you done. That's all I really wanted to say...um...take care!"

The dark-skinned girl then ran back into the academy, not looking back at Akko. But if she did look back, she would've seen the wonderful sight of Akko smiling.

"Thanks, Molly!" She shouted to her as she ran off to the broom flying field.


Many students were soaring in the sky above the broom flying field, either practicing for a relay or just goofing around. And sitting on the ground was Elizabeth, all alone with a book by her side. Akko hid behind a tree, staring at Elizabeth from afar. For the whole hour she was there Elizabeth did nothing but sit down and mumble to herself (Akko could see her lips moving).

"Is she a psychopath? Why is she just talking to herself…?"

The air was getting colder, the skies became grayer, and Akko was feeling like this spying mission was going nowhere.

"Ok, I don't think she's going to do anything. Maybe I should just..."

Before Akko could turn around and leave, she witnessed something bizarre. Elizabeth's shadow, that was sitting below her, took the form of standing up version of Elizabeth even though Elizabeth herself was still sitting down. And then it began slithering like a snack and moved in great speed towards the New Moon Tower. Akko didn't even have time to process the situation, but some crazy idea popped into her brain and told her to "follow the shadow"!

The brunette witch abandoned her hiding spot and quietly hurried to the New Moon Tower, little did she know that the roles were reversed and Elizabeth was staring at her.

"Foolish girl…" Elizabeth snickered.


Akko didn't think about what she would do if she caught the shadow or how to catch it actually, but she didn't have time, she was afraid that whatever the shadow thing was, she might never get a good chance to catch it like now.

As she entered the New Moon Tower, all that was there was broken stones and holes letting in the light from outside.

"Where did it go?"

Akko took out her wand and slowly walked around the area. She didn't want to make any noise to attract teachers or scare the shadow thing off, so she quietly searched the grounds. She turned every stone, inspected every dust, and lit up the dark corners of the floor, the silhouette of Elizabeth was nowhere to be found.

Akko growled in frustration, "Did it go upstairs or downstairs? Dammit! If only I was quicker!"

"Wow didn't think you would actually come."

Akko perked up in attention as she heard the voice of a girl through the walls. She readied her wand and stood in a battle stance.

"Who's there!?"

"Seriously, I didn't think you were this stupid," the voice laughed.

"Elizabeth, is that you? If it's you, show yourself! I know what you are! I saw you last night!"

"...No, it's not Elizabeth. It's me, your fellow "Chariot fan"."

Akko stopped as the voice said those words but her suspicion didn't cease, "What are you talking about? Show yourself!"

"...If you say so…"

At that moment, similar to a blanket covering a person's point of view, darkness deeper than the night was cast over the entire tower. Akko couldn't see anything but herself thanks to the little light coming from the tip of her wand. The girl was starting to sweat.

"O-ok...whoever this is stop a-and...show yourself!" Akko's voice was breaking from the fear she was feeling.

"Are you afraid…?"

"N-no!" Akko lied to the mysterious person and herself.

"You are afraid...that's kinda cute…you humans are so fragile..." the voice chuckled.

Akko couldn't take it anymore, "S-stop playing games! Just...who are you!?"

"You can't see me? I'm right behind you!"

Akko jumped and turned around as she heard the voice coming from her backside and her mouth hung open when the person revealed themselves. It looked like a normal human girl with short fiery red hair, she wore a black witch hat, a black cloak, and black boots. She smiled at Akko cheerfully as her red eyes seemed to emit light from them.

"M-Mirage!?" Akko shouted in surprise.

"Oh good, you remember me! For a second I thought I had to go through a whole introduction again."

Akko remembered her all too well, it was during her first year in Luna Nova when she encountered Mirage and her other friends. Mirage came with three other students and their weird professor Miss Oakenheart when their school challenged Luna Nova to a broom relay. Akko, Amanda, Jasminka, and Constanze raced against them and in the end, came out winning. But Akko hadn't forgotten how tough Mirage was during the race and how she tried to steal the Shiny Rod from her.

"Why are you here Mirage!? And what are you doing with Elizabeth!?" Akko questioned, still holding up her wand.

"Elizabeth? Oh, me and her go way back and I wanted to introduce her to this cool academy."

"W-what do you want? Are you here to try to steal the Shiny Rod again?"

"Nah. I'm no longer interested in that dusty old staff. I'm just here for you...only you..." as she said that Mirage took out her wand as well. As she waved it in the air a strange phenomenon happened.

To Akko, it felt they were leaving the earth itself and entered another planet. All of a sudden the destroyed insides of the tower were gone and Akko was outside staring up at the beautiful night sky and the moon that looked as red as blood. She looked down and also realized she was standing water that was coated with a raspberry red. She bent down and put her whole hand in the water to realize it so no puddle it seemed deep. There were also trees with autumn leaves growing out from the blood ocean creating a creepy but beautiful scenery.

"Below the sea is the void. Be careful or the shadows will take you," stated Mirage.

"W-what kind of magic is this?" Akko asked her face in awe.

Mirage laughed at Akko's amazed face, "It's an illusion that I created that is my special magic. Of course, this is only a taste of my true power."

"You're so young and you can already do stuff like this?"

"Well, the reason why is because I am not human at all."

"Huh?"

"Enough let's get down to business…"

Mirage held up her wand and took a battle stance Akko responded appropriately taking a stance of her own as well. At first, nothing had happened as the two stood in their positions and stared each other down. Even though Akko looked like she was ready for a fight she was honestly scared of how much power Mirage and the Mirage herself were just staring at Akko with her usual calm smile. Time continued to pass and no one did anything. The red sea's waves became restless and as they smacked into the autumn trees making them drop their leaves. Once all the leaves on all the trees were knocked Akko launched her first attack.

"Murowa!"

A green energy ball was fired at Mirage but the girl easily swiped it away with her wand as if it was nothing. But Akko wasn't down yet as she sent a barrage of energy blasts like buttles from a gun. Mirage still didn't even flinch as she deflected them all and now finally it was her turn.

"Spiritus Dei!"

Before Akko knew it all the air was knocked out of her as she was flung back many yards away from her original position. She fell face-first in the water but somehow didn't sink. She got up slowly while holding onto her chest which felt like she was punched by a giant troll.

"Oh come on Akko I know you can do better than tha-"

"Murowa!"

Mirage didn't get time to defend herself as Akko launched her counterattack. She was knocked several feet and fell right on her back and got herself wet.

"How do you like that!?" Akko taunted.

"Hope you liked that free shot!" Mirage grunted as she got up, "You won't be able to hit me like that again."

"We'll see about that! Ignis!" Akko shouted as the fireball was released from her wand.

"Inrita!" but Mirage yelled out her spell and the fireball burned out before it could even reach her. Akko growled in frustration, "Alright try this!"

Using all the strength in her legs Akko jumped high in the sky holding her wand up in the air. And as she was descending back down Akko roared, "RUINA METEORUM!"

Like a nuke, the moment Akko crashed down a whole barrage of fiery balls that were bigger than the previous one was heading towards Mirage. Even though it looked dangerous Mirage did not move from her spot and smiled as she saw the attack heading her way.

"I see...I didn't give enough credit. But even so…"

Mirage held up her wand, "Absoluta Inrita!"

With that, the fiery balls disappeared in an instance, but Akko was expecting that.

"I gotcha! Exarmaueris!"

Because Mirage's wand was out in the open it was easy for Akko to hit it with a disarming spell. Mirage's wand flew out of her hands and into the air the red-haired girl tried to move fast but Akko was already a few steps ahead.

"Got it!" Akko fired a magic blast at the flying wand. Once the blast hit the wand it broke in half and its pieces fell into the red waters.

"Yes, I did it! It's over Mirage!" said Akko as she pointed her wand back to the now defenseless Mirage. "Tell me about your relationship with Elizabeth and what you two are doing!"

Mirage stared at Akko with an emotionless stare that made the Japanese girl feel uncomfortable. Before Akko could yell again out of nowhere Mirage started laughing as if she just heard the best joke coming from a clown.

"W-what's so funny…?" asked Akko.

"Do you think I need my wand?" as Mirage said those words her voice sounded a lot deeper and more menacing. Akko was taken aback by that but quickly regained her composure.

"What are talking about you idiot!? Without your wand, it's impossible to use spells!"

"Yes...for a human…"

"What?"

"Have you forgotten what I already told you Akko…"

Then all of sudden a steam of darkness was coming out of Mirage's body engulfing her. The last thing Akko saw was Mirage's glowing red eyes peering holes through her confidence. The young witch didn't know what to do as she stared at the cocoon of darkness minutes feeling like hours as Akko waited for what kind of monster was going to emerge.

Finally...the darkness subsided…

Akko thought at first that Mirage disappeared and was replaced by the incarnation of evil that was standing before her. She was a few inches taller than before her and her skin was chalk white until you reached the arms that were covered in black scales and her fingernails were long and white. Her scarlet hair turned white and was long enough to reach her waist. And the first inhuman thing Akko noticed about her was the antlers that were poking out of her head. Her clothes were different too with the old witch robe gone, she was now wearing a dark gray dress with gray flower patterns and designs. Then her arms were covered in what seemed to be black scales of a snake with her fingernails being long and white and her feet were now talons. And finally right on Mirage's back was large, lustrous and golden and scarlet colored butterfly-like wings.

"...I am not a human…"

Staring at this majestic but scary beast that was Mirage filled Akko with a great fear that she had never felt before. She began quivering like if she was out in the middle of a massive snowstorm and she desperately held on to her wand as if she was hoping for it to save her. But not just fear was coursing through Akko but also a sense of familiarity. She didn't know why but the way Mirage looked reminded her of something that she should know.

"W-wh...what are yo-"

All of a sudden the New Mirage disappeared from the place where she stood only the sound of the waters splashing against the trees could be heard. Before Akko could even be in shock to see her enemy disappear she felt an extreme pain slamming her in the back. As if a cannonball slammed right into her Akko was pushed back and started flying forwards. As she was flipping in the air Akko could see Mirage standing right behind her with her palm out. It was a quick attack and there was no way Akko could've followed that.

As Akko was still flying Mirage appeared in front of and gave her a powerful kick to the chin launching her up into the sky. Now Akko was still flying but now heading upwards into the beautiful night sky that was conjured by Mirage herself, but Akko wouldn't get time to enjoy the scenery as Mirage appeared before her again meeting her before she even reached her destination. And for the third time in a row, she hit Akko by balling up her fists and slamming them right into Akko's chest.

In an instant, Akko was sent straight down into the red sea and a heavy splash echoed throughout the area as she did. For a few seconds, Akko was unconscious from the brutal last attack from Mirage but quickly got a hold herself and swam up so she wouldn't drown. As she got back to the surface she gasped for air and began coughing out whatever remaining water was in her lungs.

"Holy crap!" Akko screamed in her head, "She's faster than the speed of sound! I couldn't even-"

"Akko~?"

Akko looked up in the sky to see Mirage floating right above looking extremely smug.

"Finished with your bath?"

The brunette witch growled in response and got back on her two feet. She pointed her wand at Mirage and concentrated all of her magical energy into this one attack.

"Alright, this has to work...Trabem!"

With that, a red beam of energy was fired and hit its target with an explosion right on impact. Akko was about to jump for joy but her victory feeling was short-lived.

"Wow…"

As the smoke parted there was Mirage floating there unscathed.

"...that attack was so pathetic. Why are you wasting your time using those mediocre spells instead of using your real power?"

"W-what are you talking about!?" Akko yelled, "You're not making any sense!"

Mirage sighed, "Either you are playing the fool or you actually have forgotten. If that is this the case let me remind you."

Once she said that Mirage lifted her right arm and a portal that led to nothing but darkness opened up. Coming out of it was a black and red spear of immense size with the blade being a half-circle.

"Tengoku no yari! (天国の槍)" Mirage yelled in a mighty voice that made the seas restless. And once she did, a powerful golden beam was fired from it and landed right next to Akko making a water geyser and making her fly back.

"OH GOD WHY!?" Akko yelled as she was now running away from the multiple golden beams that were being fired at her.

"You won't escape!"

Akko tried to make a break for it but a golden beam exploded in front of her knocking her off her feet. She got up and turned around to see another beam heading directly at her and she had no time to run. Using quick thinking Akko held her wand and chanted, "Praesidio Cingunt!" and a purple dome surrounded her before the beam made an impact.

Even though the dome did its job the power from the blast still flung Akko back and the spell wore off the minute she hit the ground. The beams had stopped coming and Akko used this time to catch her breath and she looked up at the moon. She got on her knees and looked at herself in the reflection of the water; she was a mess. Her nose was bleeding, her uniform was ripped and burnt, and her hair tie was undone, letting all of her hair loose.

"Did that help you remember, idiot?"

Mirage floated down towards Akko and was now standing before her with her spear hovering by her side. Akko got up and stared at Mirage with a confused and tired look.

"What...do you want from me…?"

The monster girl shook her head and sucked her teeth, "Still having trouble I see. I guess giving you a physical example is not enough...that's right! Let's do visual!"

"Huh?"

Mirage smiled, "I'm taking you to the void. Have fun~!"

Right on cue, the waters below Akko parted and the poor girl found herself falling into the abyss of the red sea. As she was screaming and getting deeper in the waters closed in on each other taking Akko's vision and oxygen. For what seemed like forever Akko found herself floating in the darkness of the void unable to see the light of the world above ever again. Before she could consider the fact that she might be dead she heard a familiar voice coming from her right side.

"Akko...Akko dear wake up!"

Akko opened her eyes quickly and nearly fell off the chair she was in when she saw she was no longer drowning in the dark waters, as a matter of fact, she wasn't in Mirage's dimension either, she was outside.

"Are you tired, sweetie?"

Akko looked up to see a beautiful Japanese woman with pearl-colored skin and luscious reddish-brown hair sitting next to her. This woman was her mother, Ryuko Kagari.

"You don't want to miss the show now do you?"

The confused girl turned her head to the other side to see a male this time, a handsome Japanese male with dark brown hair and glasses. His name was Hajime Kagari, Akko's father.

"M-mom? D-dad? What's going on, why am I-"

Akko looked down at her hands and realized they were smaller than usual, and she also noticed that her voice went up a bit. Before she could examine herself any further, the noise of cheers and claps was heard from the people in front of her who were looking at the stage before them.

The Japanese girl recognized the stage and then immediately knew where she was.

"I...I remember. This is the-"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The Japanese announcer yelled aloud through the speakers. "Put your hands together for the Great Star Witch, Shiny Chariot!"

Akko looked up at the sky and saw the constellation of the Big Dipper. All seven stars fell down to the earth's atmosphere and took the form of a white bird. The bird was coated in a light and most of the light flew off of it like dust. It landed right in the middle of the stage and morphed into another being. The form of the person was someone Akko knew very well and admired.

It was a beautiful woman with short fiery red hair and crimson eyes, she wore a white jacket with long sleeves which doesn't cover her armpits, clavicles, cleavage, and navel, giving it a similar appearance to a corset or vest. She had coattails on the sides of her hips; and two blue buttons holding everything together; a blue skirt; a brown body-belt with a golden ring-shaped buckle; blue thigh-high stockings; white boots with a diamond-like shape in the tip, two parallel buttons right under it, along with a red tip and heels; a white witch hat with a blue hatband and a red-and-blue diamond/spade-like symbol with a golden four-pointed star in the middle; and also a red cape with a brown strap and golden buttons.

"Shiny Chariot…" Akko breathed as she saw her idol in person once again.

"Welcome everyone to the world of magic!" Shiny Chariot said aloud, her voice was louder than a microphone.

"Pathetic…and to believe I was once a fan of her..."

Akko turned around to Mirage but in her normal form sitting right behind her. She had a very disgusted look on her face.

"What a fool she was for trying to use the power of Seven like that. And in the end, she failed…"

"What are you talking about!? Shiny Chariot was amazing and she changed the world with her magic!" Akko yelled back.

The red-haired girl smiled, "Maybe for a time, but that didn't change all the hearts of humanity. People feared the power of magic and that fear led to hatred. That hatred made their hearts wicked and vile. You and I know better than anyone just how vile people can be…"

"W-what..?"

"It surprises me how you continue to live like a normal human being when that's not what you are. You're just like me...a being of darkness stripped of all life and never given the chance to die..."

The scarlet eyes of Akko began to glow brighter than a flashlight. The Japanese girl didn't know what it was, but Mirage's words made her remember something that she wished she could forget. It made her thoughts go back to days before she came to Luna Nova, darker days.

"Who are you and what's your connection with Elizabeth!?" Akko got off her chair and approached the girl. Eerie laughter filled the air as Mirage witnessed Akko's impatience and frustration.

"Turning your fear into your rage...pointless. You will break like you always have…"

Mirage snapped her fingers and the scene of Akko's parents, the audience, the stage, and Shiny Chariot went straight to black as if someone flipped the switch. Darkness was all around Akko and she could do nothing but hold on tight to her wand and be ready for whatever the enemy was preparing.

"Let's continue our trip down memory lane shall we?"

The darkness passed and a new scene was presented to Akko's view. The girl looked up to see the pale sky accompanied by many clouds and buildings with Japanese writings surrounding the area; Akko knew automatically that she was still in (fake) Japan. But the familiarity of the area itself gave Akko a terrifying chill that was as intense as when she was facing the Briton Red Dragon.

"This place…"

Akko looked ahead to see a large school building that had a Japanese sign that could be translated to say: "Mogami High School".

"Oh guys, look it's Shiny Akko!"

The young Japanese girl turned around to see a whole group of other Japanese girls wearing school uniforms but there were three who were in front of the whole group that got Akko's attention.

The one on the left had pale skin, brown eyes, and black hair with an asymmetric bob haircut. The one on the right pretty with fair skin, red eyes, and long, orange hair with a red bang down her forehead. And the one in the middle was a beautiful, young girl with blonde hair that is usually tied up at the left side of her head with a blue scrunchie and blue-eyes.

"N-no…Michuri? Nazuna? And Yomi? What are you all doing here?"

The three girls approached Akko as she was slowly trying to back away from them. While backing up Akko tripped and fell right in a puddle getting herself wet. The girls laughed in response.

"Aw~! Poor little Akko is all wet! Wanna call your momma you freaky little witch bitch!?" the girl named Yomi spat at her.

As Akko tried to lift herself up she gazed at the puddle and saw that her appearance was different again. She looked older again but her hair was still short and she was wearing the same school uniform as the other girls.

"Oh god, not again…!"

"Hey! Show us a magic trick, Kagari!"

"Get away from me Yomi! Getaway!"

"She looks so terrified!" Nazuna laughed hysterically as Akko tried to get up but slipped again like an idiot.

"God she looks so pathetic!" Michuri snickered while shaking her head.

"You should be terrified of me, Kagari. Understand that witches like you have no place in this world. Maybe we should burn you at a stake that way you'll be a real witch!"

The girl named Yomi grabbed Akko's legs while her partners grabbed her arms. The scared girl was twisting and screaming but the other girls were stronger than expected. Yomi then pulled Akko out of the puddle and led her to the concrete ground. She chuckled and then jumped onto her stomach and began punching her.

"YOMI! *punch* STOP IT! *punch* SOMEONE HELP ME!"

But Yomi didn't listen; she gave Akko a barrage of punches to the face. After ten minutes of this pain train, Akko's face was covered in purple and red bruises and a black eye. When Yomi finally stopped Akko covered her face and cried bitterly letting the watery tears touch her wounded face even though it stung a little.

"That was fun wasn't it Shiny Akko?" Yomi asked the bruised girl as she smiled down on her.

When Akko responded her voice sounded broken and almost inaudible as she was whimpering in between, "Please…*whimper*...just leave me a-alone…*whimper*..."

"Hmmm...no…"

Yomi's voice became eerie and dark. It was Mirage. Akko removed her hands from her face and stared angrily at the fake Yomi.

"W-why are you doing this to me?"

"Why? You idiot...I'm trying to help you remember…"

"What are you talking about!?" Akko shouted, "Remember what!?"

Mirage giggled, "You still haven't figured it out yet...what a pity. That's fine I'm sure you'll remember soon enough. But first I want to break you even more…"

All of a sudden darkness took away Akko's vision once again and she could feel the void molding the area into something new. After a few minutes of this transition, Akko was standing and looked around to realize she was in the middle of a forest that was darkened by the night sky.

"Does this place ring any bells in that hollow head of yours Kagari?"

Mirage appeared in front of her again, her scarlet eyes piercing through the darkness of the night.

"What...what are you…?" Akko asked for the millionth time as she readied her wand.

"I am a dryad."

"A dryad?"

"Spirits, nymphs who control the forces of nature. Different from other weak creatures we are born from the foundations of magic. We are magic itself. So I guess you can say Akko that we are deities who rule the world. Which means I am a goddess..."

"You're not a goddess," Akko barked back, "You're a monster!"

After saying that the red-haired dryad only gave the exhausted and frightened witch silence, but then she spooked her again by exploding in laughter that even made the leaves on the trees rustle.

"W-what's so funny you-"

"Oh, Akko you're the true monster…"

"What…?"

"Look below you...don't you see your sin?"

Akko didn't know why she listened because the last thing she wanted to do was take her eyes off her enemy, but her body went against her and the girl looked down to the forest ground to see something that made her blood run cold.

It was a pile of bodies...the bodies of the same girls who harassed her earlier swimming in a pool of their own blood...they moved slightly indicating that they were still alive…but just the sight of them…

"You remember don't you?" is what Akko heard but it was not the voice of Mirage. Akko quickly looked up to see that Mirage was gone and it was just her and bodies lying before her.

"When we took revenge on them...when we gave them back the pain they gave us in tenfold ...it felt sooooooo good…"

The voice came from behind the Japanese girl. She quickly turned around and saw before her a young girl who wore a school uniform (the same as that Yomi girl and her friends) her brown was short and a ponytail was sticking from the side of her head, similar to Akko's. She stared at her with a cruel smile, her eyes were black with glowing red pupils, and tears of blood escaped her black eyes and ran down her cheeks.

This demon...it was her...this was Akko…

"You continue to live life pretending like what you did back then never happened…"

Akko's heart was beating so fast she swore it was going to explode. She dropped her wand and it disappeared into the dark grass; the Young Akko was slowly approaching her.

"I-I...I wasn't trying to forget…" Akko replied to her other-self. "I was just trying to move on...to start over...I wanted to complete my dream to become a witch and be a new perso-"

"That's impossible," Young Akko replied with venom in her voice. "You can't change you, idiot, you're cursed to remain this way until you finally die...you're a violent creature who loves to tear apart things she hates...for example…"

The Young Akko pointed at the bleeding girls below her feet, "You nearly killed them because of all the times they made fun of you and made your life a living hell! You were weak and you let them terrorize you until you cried tears of blood! But then you were able to surpass them...you finally gave that bitch Yomi exactly what she deserved!"

"That's not true!" Akko screamed. "Even though they bullied me I never wanted to do all of that to them! I would never want to hurt any-"

"But what about Mogami?"

Akko clamped her mouth shut and looked away in shame.

"Remember how you stormed into Mogami and how you roughed up those other bitches Michuri and Nazuna!? You liked doing it...you liked making them suffer for all the times they made you suffer! So why...why are you being so weak in this academy!?"

The Young Akko disappeared at first and then reappeared behind Akko, clinging onto her back like a koala.

"You let these pathetic witches treat you like dirt like if you were the scum of the earth. I had thought you have learned your lesson since Mogami, but no...you continue to let people just walk all over you, especially that Cavendish…"

"No…" tears were streaming down Akko's face.

"You know the truth...you don't have anyone in that academy you can call a friend. That freak Sucy just uses you as a guinea pig for her potions, that loser Lotte just hangs out with you because she thinks you're a "special case" and that you need someone to keep you in check, and those other freaks Amanda, Constanze, Jasminkia, they just see you as a clown! Running around in the academy making a fool of yourself and they just want to be sitting in the front row to see it! And then there is Diana and her lackeys who continue to belittle you because they don't see your true power and that weak Professor Ursula!-she's scared of you-she's scared of what you're capable of!"

"N-no…*hic* stop...please…"

"Don't be afraid...show them how dangerous you are...prove to them you're not weak...use the Shiny Rod...make them see who Atsuko Kagari really is!"

"Just. Leave. Me. ALONE!"

Akko could feel her body twist and turn and all she could see was red. A dark and reddish aura surrounded her entire body and she was beginning to change shape. Through the process of her transformation, she could still hear Mirage, laughing at her.

"Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL! I'LL KILL YOU ALL! I"LL SHUT YOU UP FOR GOOD!"


"Well, that was a bust."

The Red Team and Green Team returned from Blytonbury with a few shopping bags in hand. Although they all seemed down and disappointed.

"Those potions were nothing special and they didn't have the mushrooms I wanted," Sucy grumbled.

"The Nightfall books were all sold out...I was too slow…" Lotte said as she was on her knees ready to cry. Constanze patted her shoulder to console her.

"The Shooting Star prototype looked bad too! It looked broken and unsafe to ride!" yelled Amanda. "Seriously! They tried to pawn off some trash to us!"

"Like you had the money to afford it anyway," Constanze's Stan-bot replied.

"Conse I swear to god I will tear that little machine of yours to pieces."

"Just forget about it guys," said Jasminka. "Let's go get some sweets! I heard they were serving pudding in the cafeteria~!

"Ew! Their pudding tastes like cardboard," replied Amanda.

"Doesn't taste bad to me."

"Cause you'll eat anything if it's sweets Jasminka."

"Oh! You girls are here!"

The two teams looked up to see Professor Ursula who looked like she just came back from running a marathon.

"Good afternoon Professor Ursula!" Lotte said, "Are you ok? You look exhausted."

"Have you girls seen Akko?" Ursula asked out of the blue.

The girls looked at each other and then Sucy answered, "Uh no, we just got back."

"Dang! Where is she!?"

"What happened? Akko's dodging her chores?" Constanze's Stan-bot asked.

"Either that or she forgot what time she is supposed to be cleaning the troll bathes. Well, she better hurry because Finnelan is already throwing a fi-"

Before Ursula could finish what she was about said, she was thrown off her feet by the sound of an explosion coming from far away.

"What the heck was that!?" screamed Amanda as she dropped her shopping bag and ran to where the sound came from.

The other girls helped Professor Ursula to her feet before they followed their American friend as she was heading to the New Moon Tower where the sound of the explosion came from. Amanda went to the entrance and all she saw was smoke and darkness.

"What happened?"

"Amanda stay back!"

Professor Ursula came up from behind her and took out her wand, "You girls go back to the academy let me see what's going on!"

"What? Oh, come on! I wanna see what's happening to-"

"H...help me…"

Everyone stopped their bickering as they heard a familiar voice within the tower.

"A-Akko?" Jasminka said with a worried expression.

"H-help…"

"AKKO!" Professor Ursula was the first to run inside as she used her wand's magic to blow the smoke to see. Once all the smoke was gone Ursula was able to observe the scene before her and what she saw left her in shock.

Akko Kagari was one the ground, her right arm was leaking out heavy amounts of blood, and she looked lifeless as her eyes were blankly staring into the ceiling. The only way Ursula could tell she was still alive was by her repeating her quiet and eerie call for help.

"H-help me...Help m-me…"

Professor Ursula ran to the injured brunette and knelt down by her side holding her up.

"Akko, Akko! What happened to you!?"

"Help me...Keiko…"

"Who?"

All of sudden, light returned into Akko's dull eyes, she opened her mouth and a piercing sound escaped from her vocals.

"AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The blue-haired professor couldn't tell if it was a scream of pain or anger, but she had to cover her ears to make sure she didn't go deaf.

Once she stopped screaming Akko sat herself up ignoring the extreme pain in her right arm, "Where is she!?"

"W-where is who?"

"Mirage! Where is she!?"

"Akko I don't know who that i-"

"She was one of those girls Yggdrasil Academy!" Akko roared, "The one with the red hair! Did you see her!?"

"What? N-no Akko I didn't see-"

"Oh, you're useless! Get off of me!"

"No, you're injured! Stay still and let me-"

"GET OFF OF ME!"

Akko then used her good left arm to forcefully push Professor Ursula back, knocking her to the ground. The girl then quickly got up and started running to the entrance passing her scared and worried stricken friends.

She ran to the castle and opened the doors with a kick, she ran down the hallway in such great speed that even a car would have trouble keeping up with her. Akko opened the doors to the cafeteria with a loud bang and gained the attention of the entire academy. Everyone gasped as they saw Akko looking like a deranged lunatic and her arm spilling blood and making a mess on the floor.

"WHERE IS LUCIFER!? WHERE IS ELIZABETH!?" Akko yelled aloud so that the whole cafeteria could hear.

Akko looked around and saw the table of the Blue Team, Diana and Elizabeth looked at Akko in bewilderment and shock while Hannah and Barabara just looked purely afraid and were holding each other.

The injured young witch walked over to the table and got up to Elizabeth's face, "Where. Is. She?"

"W-where is who?" Elizabeth asked.

"YOUR DRYAD FRIEND! MIRAGE!"

"Mirage? Who is that?"

"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME! I KNOW THE TWO OF YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER, WHERE IS SHE!?"

Akko grabbed Elizabeth by the collar bringing her so close that their noses were touching. Hannah and Barbara mustered up the courage and yelled back at the fuming Akko.

"Hey! Let our teammate go Kagari!" yelled Hannah.

"Yeah! Who the hell do you think you are!?" screamed Barbara.

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Akko roared at the two, her eyes glowing redder by the minute. With that yell, Hannah and Barbara's courage was destroyed and the two returned to holding each other.

Akko turned back to Elizabeth, holding up her injured hand and balling it into a fist, "YOU THINK YOU'LL GET AWAY WITH THIS!? I WILL TEAR YOUR UNDEAD ASS APART!"

As Akko was about to bring that fist directly to Elizabeth's face, someone yelled out a spell.

"MUROWA!"

It was Diana who quickly took out her wand and launched the spell at Akko. The young witch was blown back doing three somersaults in the air until she finally landed on her face in the middle of the cafeteria. Running into the cafeteria was Professor Ursula, the Red and Green Team, and Professor Finnelan along with other professors.

Diana went over to Elizabeth who was on the ground breathing heavily, "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah…"

"I was not ready for today," said Amanda as she stared at the scene before her in disbelief.


It was a struggle for Akko to open her eyes. They felt like heavy rocks that only a giant could lift. Luckily Akko was able to do it and she sighed as she saw the sight before her.

She was in the infirmary once again.

"How many times am I going to keep coming here?"

"That's what I should be saying!" Akko turned to her side to see Professor Lukić with a tray of medicines.

"I am really sick of seeing you here! Can you get through the week without destroying things and causing a scene!?"

Akko's cheeks tinted pink in embarrassment, "S-sorry…"

As Akko was taking the bitter and sour tasting medicine from Professor Lukić, outside the door to the infirmary was Professor Ursula and Finnelan. Ursula's face was filled with worry and anxiety while Finnelan was holding the bridge of her nose trying to not show how stressed she was at this moment.

"Miss Callistis...can you please explain to me what happened to Miss Kagari?" Professor Finnelan asked, but she was definitely at the end of her patience.

Professor Ursula turned to the old professor and responded, "I'm not sure. She was injured when we found her and she was saying that Mirage Aradia was here. She said she was on the campus."

"There is no way another student from another academy can just sneak into Luna Nova and sneak right out, but I think I have a pretty good idea what happened," Professor Ursula looked up at Finnelan, "She was probably attacked by a monster escaping the labyrinth and maybe it hit her in the head a few times too."

Ursula snarled, "Take this seriously! Akko was just attacked by someone and she says they're somewhere on the campus!"

Finnelan shook her head, "That's not possible. If there was someone other than a student in the campus the magical defense system around the castle would have activated and we would have been able to catch them. We have already dispatched professors and other staff members to search the campus and they found nothing. Nevertheless, this doesn't explain why Miss Kagari was attacking Miss Lucifer!"

"W-well…"

"That girl has lost her mind. She got herself hurt and tried to blame Miss Lucifer for it."

"Akko would never-"

"Would she? I mean Miss Lucifer was the one who ratted her out to you that she released the dragon and gave it energy, maybe this little stunt was payback."

"B-but-"

"I really feel bad for you Professor Ursula. You have put so much faith into that girl, but she is nothing but a troublemaker. I think it would be better for all of us if she was gone."

Professor Finnelan said her final statement and walked away leaving the young professor alone in her thoughts. She has known Akko for a good amount of time and knows she could be a challenge, but now she was afraid she knows nothing at all.

Before Ursula could leave she turned to the door and Akko was the only person in her thoughts, "Was Akko the right choice? Is the Shiny Rod safe in her hands?"

Back in the infirmary Akko was all alone laying back on the comfortable bed and drinking a bottle of medicine that tasted like fungus.

"You really did it now Kagari," Akko said to herself, "Nobody is going to take your side after what happened. When did everything go so wrong?"

"You know...I kinda feel bad for you."

Akko perked up in attention as she heard a voice coming from the dark corner of the room. Revealing themself was Elizabeth Lucifer with her arms folded and her evil smile making Akko's blood boil in anger.

"How did you get here!?" yelled Akko.

"I don't really need to use doors. Anyway, I have to say you actually scared me back there," Elizabeth said as she chuckled, "But that little episode of yours worked in my favor sadly, now everyone thinks you're insane."

Akko wanted to get up from the bed and beat the crap out of Elizabeth, but the pain in her side made her grimace in pain so she was forced to lay back down.

"Yeah, Diana hit you pretty hard! You're going to be feeling that for a few days I believe."

"Why?"

Elizabeth tilted her head, "Why what?"

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you and Mirage want from me!?"

Elizabeth didn't say anything at first; she just stared into Akko's red eyes with a look of...pity? Akko really couldn't tell. But then the vampire girl walked over to Akko's bedside and sat where her feet lay.

"I have nothing against you Kagari- well maybe Mirage does but I don't. I'm just here to fulfill my mission."

"What's your mission?" asked Akko.

Elizabeth turned to the confused girl, "Akko, this school is obsolete. You will never reach your full potential if you are still in a place that will never let you grow. Don't worry, when this is all over you will thank me and Mirage for what we did for you."

"W-what do you-"

"Come to the botanical garden tomorrow night and bring your Shiny Rod you're gonna need it," Elizabeth sat up and walked away from the bewildered Akko's bedside.

"W-why!? What are you planning to do!?"

Elizabeth turned around to Akko again she smiled with her fangs showing, "You want payback don't you?"

"What?"

Elizabeth then faded into the darkness and left Akko alone in the room feeling even more confused and afraid than she was before.


Author's Note:

Another chapter finished! I apologize for taking so long I was too focused on other things in life. But I am determined to finish this story and don't worry I will. I don't want to spoil anything but it is only going to get more intense from here!

EDIT: The Spear of the Heavenly Host (Mirage's Weapon) is based of Basquis that Gloxinia uses in the Seven Deadly Sins. And the two girls Michuri and Nazuna are from BNA: Brand New Animal which is another Trigger anime. They will be important later on, especially for Akko's backstory.

Next Chapter: Connection