Author's Note: Finally, Netflix has revealed when they will release the first season of Little Witch Academia! It's coming out June 30th, only nine days after my birthday, I couldn't image a better birthday present. Except maybe if I got thirty followers. Come on people, we're so close. Once this story gets to forty followers, it will officially be a big boy fanfiction, and then maybe Mama Momoxtoshiro will notice me. Leave her high castle, and mingle with us commoners?

I sit at my desk in my dorm room, looking over my schedule for next year.

So far, I've chosen Alchemy II. I like that class, even if it almost killed me earlier. I haven't seen Akko, Lotte, or Sucy since first period. When they get in trouble, usually they come back next period with some kind of story. Not in this case.

Whatever Ms. Finnalin has in mind for those three, it must be big. Maybe they're assigned to wash our uniforms, or repair brooms that have been abused. That seems too small, though. What kind of punishment would be so big that they need all day? I'm sure those three will tell me sooner, or later.

I look back at my schedule. Think Theodore, what classes do I want? Or, more appropriately, which classes will be the most useful for the eventual rise of Rome? Advanced Magic History II might be an option. Learning about magic and what caused its downfall might give me an advantage if such a similar situation were to happen again. Those who know the past can predict the future. And those who can predict the future have the ability to change it. I hope Ms. Europa is teaching that class.

I mark it down on my paper, now having two confirmed classes in total, with only four left. I look over my other options. Nothing is really standing out to me. I wonder what classes Diana is choosing. I should ask her tomorrow-

A soft knock comes from my chamber door, only this, and nothing more. Confused, I look at my clock. It's 10:40 at night. Who could that be at this hour? I walk up to my door, opening it.

"Lotte? Sucy? What do you two want at this time?"

Lotte looks at me a bit nervously.

"Um, well…it's better to explain in our dorm. Are you doing anything right now?"

"Nothing immediately important, I'm just creating my schedule for next year."

Lotte looks at me, confused.

"Oh, that reminds me…" I mutter, going back into my room.

I grab the two schedules, walking back to the door.

"Mr. Brink handed these out while you were gone. I have one for you…"

I hand Lotte her incomplete schedule.

"Thank you." She says, taking it.

"…and one for Ak-"

I stop myself, realizing she's not here.

"Where's Akko?" I ask.

"She's probably still throwing her temper tantrum." Sucy states in her classic monotone manner.

A temper tantrum? About what? Her punishment? It can't be that bad, right?

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Please, come with us to our room. It'll be easier to explain." Lotte requests.

"Unless, of course…" Sucy playfully temps. "…you don't want to hang out with six lovely ladies in their dorm at night."

Six? Who are the other three? Hannah, Barbara, and Diana? No, of course not. Frankly, I'm still surprised Diana had that sleepover with us in the first place.

"Oh Sucy, sometimes you really need to get your mind out of the gutter." Lotte sighs to herself.

"If I did, then who would liven up this chapter?" Sucy suggests, her tone full of fake innocence.

"Sure, I'll come with you two. Like I said, I have nothing better to do."

Well, maybe sleep.

With that, I follow them to their dorm. With us three not being the most talkative people in the world, nothing much more is said.

Lotte opens the door, holding it as Sucy and I walk in.

I see Akko sitting at the top bunk of her bed. I expect some kind of greeting, however her expression is anything but friendly. Her fingernails are dug into a pillow, as she angrily grips it against her chest as tightly as possible. Her eyes are staring off into space, a scowl spread across her normally smiling face.

Something is definitely wrong with her. What can be so bad that the energetic Akko is now seething with rage? She's normally quick to aggravation, but real heartfelt anger is something that she rarely shows. Interesting. Even more interesting is the fact that it's not just the four of us.

I spy with my little eye Amanda sitting on the bottom bunk under Akko. She's lazily flipping her wand around like one would do with a switchblade, a bored frown tugging at her face. I also notice Jasminka sitting on a chair, eating a bag of chips, an empty chair next to her. Constanze is sitting on the other bed, busily tinkering with her latest mechanical masterpiece.

As Sucy takes a seat next to Constanze, Lotte closes the door, announcing

"Okay everyone, Theodore is here."

They all look up at me. It's been awhile since I've seen this three, and it's been awhile since they've seen me. They haven't changed that much, but I have several physical differences.

Immediately, all three take notice. Constanze looks mildly amused, while Jasminka stares at me in concern. Amanda, on the other hand, asks with a playful smile

"Whoa, what happened to ya? It looks like you fell out of a truck, or something!"

She means my cast and bandages. Of course, those three know nothing about Mendacius, or what transpired. The last time I saw them, Bruno was still alive. For the few weeks I've had these injuries, no one has been this direct, not even Mr. Brink seemed to bat an eye. But that's Amanda, crude and straightforward, a more outgoing version of Sucy.

Should I tell these three what happened? If I do, that's just three more people to add to Mendacius's power, and I could barely handle him with just one. Plus, I don't know these three very well, we've only met twice. I have nothing to gain by telling them, but potentially everything to lose if I do. I'll just repeat the same lie I told everyone. A lie to stop the god of lies…if only they understood the irony.

"It was a study accident. I was practicing my fire magic, when I accidentally shot my mirror. The hot glass cut my face, and burnt my hand."

With that, I casually take a seat on the bed next to Sucy and Constanze. Seeing that the cause for my injuries was nothing important, the robo lady returns to her work. I look at Lotte, who looks back. She's slightly saddened, maybe by my lie, whatever punishment she's been assigned, or both. Who could blame her? After what happened last time I lied, I surely don't want the same result.

But, that's my problem. I have to, no one can know about what happened during break. It's for their own good, and my own.

"Well…" Amanda says, returning to her wand spinning. "…at least you'll have a few badass scars."

I wouldn't call an unwanted, permanent change to my physical appearance 'badass'. How am I going to explain this to my mother?

I look over at Lotte, who is now sitting by Jasminka.

"So, what's going on? Why am I here?"

"Well, you see…" Lotte begins. "…remember when Akko, Sucy, and I got into trouble earlier today?"

I nod.

"It turns out that was the final straw, so our punishment is to organize the parade for an upcoming festival."

An upcoming festival? This is the first I'm hearing of it. But then again, I have been a bit preoccupied these past few weeks. Organizing a parade? While that's not ideal, surely that can't be the cause of Akko's intense anger. There must be something else to it.

I raise an eyebrow, silently requesting her to explain.

"It's not the parade organizing that's the bad part, but it's the meaning behind it. It's a parade reenacting the witch hunt."

Ah yes, the burning times. The second event that destroyed my family's power, and their mastery of magic. The first being the fall of Rome. An event commemorating the innocent people who were burnt alive just for being different? Why wouldn't we want to remember those horrible times? Just thinking about the sheer ignorance and stupidity of those who carried out those obscene actions fills me with an anger similar to Akko's. If I ever meet people like that, they'll pay, all the same.

"Is that all?" I ask, slightly annoyed. "What's so bad about that?"

Lotte senses my frustration, as she nervously answers.

"It's not exactly the meaning behind it…but how it's carried out."

"And that is?" I ask.

"It's a sham, the whole thing!" Amanda declares, joining our conversation. "I've seen the footage from last year, and do ya know what they did?! They threw tomatoes at students, dunked them in water, and even imprisoned them in barrels, that's what they did!"

The whole room grows quiet, as I take in this new information.

That's what it is?! Just a mock witch hunt, where the townspeople abuse us?! Nothing is learnt from that! The only thing the kids think is 'Oh man, that was so much fun, let's do it again next year!' They don't think 'I'm sorry for what these witches had to go through, and I hope that it never happens again.' They associate the witch hunt with fun. The festival only encourages hostilities, not creating peace and understanding between our two peoples.

Lotte senses the growing tension in the room. No one wants to do this, but they must. At least I can keep my self respect and not participate. Although, I'm sure I'll be involved somehow.

"Come on girls." Lotte says in an obviously fake cheerful tone. "It's not that bad, right?"

She looks around, seeking feedback from the others. She looks at Jasminka, who is currently eating from a bucket of candy. Lotte then glances at Amanda, who has returned to her wand flipping, a rather cross expression on her face. She looks in Constanze's direction, who hasn't looked up from her project in some time, her blow torch cutting through a metal cube. I wonder what she's making. Lotte looks at me, giving off an uncomfortable, wide mouthed frown.

"Unbelievable!" Akko suddenly erupts, savagely beating her pillow. "That's not a parade! They're just ruining the witch's image by participating in that thing! It's so outdated and stupid!"

I couldn't have said it better myself.

"By the way, that's my pillow…" Lotte passively whispers.

"We're the bright future of witchcraft!" Akko yells, now violently slamming her pillow against her lap. "How could they treat this next generation of great magical stars like this?! It doesn't make sense!"

Feathers from the pillow begin pouring out, littering the floor.

"But we still have to do it, or else she's going to fail us." Lotte explains.

"Well, that's how other people see us witches." Sucy mutters next to me.

"Impossible!" Akko cries out in protest.

Impossible? Let me lecture you on Sempronia history, and then we'll see how impossible it is.

"I don't wanna…" Amanda mutters, fanning away the falling feathers with her wand. "Come on, let's just get it over with."

"No, we have to do our best." Lotte objects. "Or at least try, right?" The Finn asks, looking over at Jasminka with an encouraging smile.

The food fanatic takes no notice, as she quickly pops one candy after another into her mouth. Perhaps that's her coping mechanism to counter the growing tension in the air.

The pink haired girl, suddenly stops her consumption, looking back at Lotte with an obnoxious smile. Slightly uncomfortable by direct eye contact with a stranger, Lotte slowly nods at her.

Instead of a response, Jasminka holds out a single red candy.

"You want some?" She asks, her speech muffled by unswallowed food. "Happy flavored."

"Happy flavored?" Akko quietly questions, a finger at her chin.

After a few seconds of thinking, Akko's face suddenly brightens with excitement, as her eyes shine with her epiphany.

Akko jumps from the top bunk, landing on the floor, grabbing Jasminka's offering. She pops the candy in her mouth, smiling from ear to ear, as her eyes shine like the sun, bursting with energy and life.

"We have to do it anyways, so why not make it super happy?!" Akko joyfully proposes.

The newly created energetic girl slides over to Sucy.

"Let's give witches a completely new image!" Akko declares, playfully dumping the pillow's contents over her head.

Sucy stares blankly at me, feathers stuck in her hair and mouth. I crack a smile at her new look.

In retort, the Filipino coughs the feathers in my face, muttering

"Oh no, here we go again."

Slightly disgusted, I wipe the wet feathers sticking to my face, as Akko begins happily jumping around the room.

"Gorgeous costumes! A fun ceremony! Let's make them see how cool we are! Yeah, just like Shiny Chariot!" Akko proclaims. "We're going to sing, dance, and fly in sparkling costumes! That's how the next generation of witches outta be!"

I agree with Akko that this so called festival is in a dire need of reform, but this isn't what I have in mind. Once you educate kids about the boogeyman, they're no longer afraid of it. I believe the same can be said about witchcraft. And they can't learn if they're too busy having their senses dulled by loud music, and candy.

"Uh, I don't know if it's a good idea to change it that much." Lotte says, sharing my view point.

"Fireworks, floats, great music, and a dance party for the main event!" Akko joyfully envisions, ignoring her friend's plea.

Constanze suddenly retreats from her work, taking off her goggles. With a flick of her wand, he project comes to life, growing arms and legs. The machine jumps from her lap, and onto the floor, posing with one hand on its metal hip, and the other pointing at the sky, similar to a dancer. Constanze seems to like Akko's idea. I never knew that quiet girl was a secret fan of parties.

"If you want, I can choreograph something." Amanda offers. "I used to dance."

"Seriously?!" Akko demands joyously, slapping her hands onto her legs in astonishment.

"Yeah, it's no biggie." Amanda casually responds.

"But Akko-" Lotte begins.

"Okay! In that case…" Akko says, sliding over to Sucy, Constanze, and I. "Sucy and Constanze are responsible for the stage setting. Make something that's going to amaze everyone!"

Akko quickly looks in between the two girls, at me.

"And Ted can-"

"Don't get me involved, Akko." I say, raising my hand in protest. "Ms. Finnalin made this a punishment for you, not me. I'll help, but I don't want a job."

"Okay then, you can just be our little helper!" Akko declares, as chipper as ever.

Little? I'm 5'4. That's not too small, right?

With our engagement done, Akko quickly slides to Lotte and Jasminka.

"And Jasminka is in charge of the food. Prepare some cute and delicious snacks for everybody!"

Akko turns her gaze to Lotte, brightly smiling at her, making the Finn slightly nervous.

"And Lotte, you are…the project manager!" Akko declares, forcefully slinging her arm around Lotte. "You have the most important job! I know I can totally count on you!" Akko gives Lotte a thumbs up of encouragement.

"It will be absolutely amazing!" Akko shouts proudly, puffing out her chest, with her hands on her hips.

Akko pulls out her wand, pointing it grandly at the ceiling.

"It will be called…The Happy Time Project!"

A quick pop from her wand, and magically conjured streamers explode out, covering all of us.

I lean back against the wall, thinking about this. This definitely sounds like an idea that's not half bad. Having kids love the witch parade for the plain fun of it is definitely preferable to us being tortured for their amusement. We'll have to go over the details further, but at least Akko seems dedicated in making it something special.

"Akko, I don't think-" Lotte begins, only to be interrupted yet again by Akko.

"That concludes our first meeting! Amanda, can you teach us how to broom dance tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. We can do it after school."

Akko looks at me, smiling with excitement as she thinks about her plans.

"Do you want to join us tomorrow?"

"No thank you, I'm fine. I have other things to do tomorrow, like work on my schedule for next year."

Akko sighs at my refusal, looking back at all of us.

"Okay then, me and my project manager…" Akko fires a wink at Lotte. "…have things to discuss. Thanks for stopping by, all of you!"

With the meeting over, we all exchange our goodbyes as Constanze, Amanda, Jasminka, and I leave their dorm.

"Ah, damn…" Amanda mutters, sighing to herself. "I really don't want to do this project. Oh well, at least I'm going to dance during the parade, so that's a plus, I guess."

"Well, you shouldn't have gotten in trouble then." I state in a matter of fact way.

She rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever mom." Amanda sarcastically responds.

"What did you three get in trouble for, anyway?" I ask.

Amanda points behind her with her thumb at Jasminka.

"This one couldn't stop eating in class. Imagine those egg heads trying to concentrate when ole Jas here is crunching on her chips." She says, lightly laughing.

"Constanze was caught selling her high tech tech."

The silly little short fellow nods, confirming the story.

"And I tried stealing from Luna Nova's treasury." Amanda states, pointing at herself with pride.

"What? Why?" I confusingly ask.

"Cause I was bored."

I had no idea that Luna Nova was so lax when it came to punishments. I mean, when Akko, Lotte, and Sucy set fire to the dormitory, the only repercussions they faced was to clean the bathrooms for a week. Then just earlier today, they almost caused the death of an entire classroom, Amanda is caught stealing from the school's treasure repository, and yet all they're assigned is to organize a parade? I would've at least expelled them. Maybe the school is trying to keep what few witches they have together. We're not exactly in quantity nowadays.

"By the way…" Amanda asks. "…what happened to that dog you had?"

I freeze up.

Just thinking about Bruno floods me with many emotions, all of varying intensities. When I think of Bruno, I feel sad. I feel sad about my failure to keep him alive, especially after he saved me. His story in my life is a depressing one. He lived as the father of Lotte, and died a mercenary on some small Mediterranean island far from home. All he wanted was to see his daughter again. Mendacius offered him a deal, bringing him back to life in the body of a dog, if Bruno served him.

In the end, Bruno go what he desired, and entered Summerland a happy father. That's why he also makes me happy. Throughout his constant struggles and hardships, he never lost sight of his dream. He strived and suffered, but in the end his dream was realized, and he saw his daughter again.

I use his hardships as an example for my own agendas. My path may be uneven and bumpy, but I walk down a Roman road. In the end, all roads will be Roman, and the Sempronia family will rule supreme, exactly the way we were meant to.

"I was just looking after him. I sent him back home a few weeks ago. I'll see him again one day, I'm just not sure when."

I look at Constanze, ending the subject on Bruno's whereabouts.

"By the way, I still have your reverse hyper kinetic particle matrix arranger. I can give it back to you later."

The silly little short fellow nods, accepting my offer.

Amanda lets out a wide mouthed yawn, raising her arms in the sky in a stretch.

"Whelp, I'm getting tired. I'm gonna head back to my room. See ya."

With that, she leaves, as well as her friends, as they follow her. It's not hard to tell who wears the pants in their group.

I make my way to my own dorm as well, wondering how this whole parade is going to work out.

Author's Note: This chapter in my opinion was pretty short, uneventful, and predictable. Summer just started, and I wanted to get a chapter done before I go on vacation on Monday. So please forgive me of my sins, and try not to scream too loud in the review section. Keep your hate speech out of this campus. Don't worry though, it'll get juicy in the later chapters, trust this stranger on the internet.