Author's Note: Hello everyone, I am The Solar Gamer, and welcome back to Civilization V, Gods and Kings as Rome!
Well, the new chapter is finally out, only like three months of waiting, and here it is!
And now, my first semester of college has finished up, so while I'll still be working, I'll at least have more free time to write.
And just what sort of grades did your bitch, one step away from being a soy boy, get. Well since I neglected this fanfiction like libtards neglect the facts, you could hope that they were pretty good, and I think they were.
97% in World History, 94% in both US History and Life Skill, 85% in English, and 78% in Trigonometry, the math that non retards take.
Anyhow, I forget to mention this last time, but TAWAGOfan2000, the original creator Mel, that character with the spaghetti leg who non-sexually assaulted Ted in that one chapter, has written his own fanfic on her.
Called 'A Different Point of View', it's her as a Pokemon fighter, or whatever they're called, I never watched it.
No new comments to respond to this time, that's sad ;(
The Ilinalta soars through the skies, scrapping the clouds as we fly through the air, thousands of feet above the ground, far from Luna Nova and the island that contains it.
Hours have passed since we've boarded, and hours have passed in this unfamiliar air.
Upon take off, I have been in constant clench, whether it be my hands against the leather seat or my whole body, flying has never been my forte in any sense of the word.
I had never flown when I was younger. What was the need to? I had everything I needed in our villa on the outskirts of the gem that is Rome. Family, security, and a closeness to the heavenly city, what more could anyone need?
Now I find myself on the fourth flight of the year, the first one being my arrival to Luna Nova, which was anything but unstressful, and the other two being Diana and I, back and forth from the school to Rome.
While I still found myself unnerved by those flights, at least on the journey to Rome, I had Diana during the whole ride, excluding a certain overweight, out of shape, balding, lonely man. All I needed was a glance into Diana's eyes, as calm and yet so confident as ever, and I would slumber into a sense of safety. By Diana's side, it was as if I was an ordinary flier with no phobia whatsoever.
However, as I continue to deep breath through my nose, my heart taking steady yet heavy beats, the setting on the airplane itself is almost too surreal.
However, Diana is no longer here, herself slumped from a sickness in Luna Nova. And now it seems between us students, I may be the most level headed on here.
While I sweat and shake at every little bump on this tarless road, Akko and Lotte have completely silent the whole ride over here.
Akko, herself, acts as if every step she takes lands on egg shells, every little action she does and every little sound she admits shall be used against her in the highest form of punishment possible.
And who can blame her?
I've failed to do so due to recent events, but just a glimpse into her point of view reveals a great deal.
After a hopefully satisfactory Christmas Vacation with her family, she was called back before the 25th, plucked from all that holly jolly joy and thrown into her past mistakes and present consequences.
She was already in a great deal of trouble already, having accidently overspent what the school could afford on Luna Nova's Witch Parade once all her fellow planners had left her alone. The damage was done, she had flushed the already dwindling funds to nothing, giving claim to the school's fault as well, themselves having trusted their money with what they say already as 'problem students'.
And on top of all that, after unknowingly putting the school in threat, receiving many hash scowlings from staff, I was most likely the straw that broke the camel's back.
Already being in a state of most likely horrible stress, she still put on a straight and happy face, making the most of the situation with her fellow friends.
However, after an accidental incantation, a misfire which resulted in someone I have great affections, and now realize my love, for, becoming not seriously, but horribly sick.
And in the aftermath of that event, I turned on Akko, screamed and yelled, cursed and hated, called her every hurtful word, insulting everything from her race to her own life.
And now, with Lotte in some other world, Akko drew into herself, becoming a shadow, a mere shell of the lively and joyfuly Akko that everyone knows.
It was only through Diana that I came to think about this in detail and came to this conclusion. If it wasn't for the blonde, I'd probably had forgotten about my fear of flying and been glaring daggers at Akko through the whole ride over.
Now, I'm filled with nothing but regret and remorse for my actions.
Speaking of Lotte, she was hard pressed to say anything today. I haven't even heard her utter a moan, a breath, nothing. It's as if she's shut down, but unlike Akko's shut down, I can sense some deep darkness coming from the Finn, some sort of negative energy, almost like a black shadow has wrapped itself around her, affecting the mood of anyone who gets to close.
If she hadn't been so bold when she demanded to join Akko and I, I would've chalked up her current state to nerves, a fear of the monsters and whatever else we may find.
However, in Lotte's case, nerves are the least of her afflictions.
I can't just let her waste away inside of her mind, not without at least letting her know that someone is still here for her.
I've waited for some time since Lotte's outburst, and so far she has come out with nothing, no justification or explanation.
Now, with still a long flight ahead of us, the least I can do is make an effort.
Leaving my seat, I move my way through the many empty rows, only the four of us inhabiting this rather sizeable private plane.
I pass by a silent Bob Jones and an even more silent Akko.
Silent myself, I take a seat next to Lotte, herself not even registering my presence, staring out the window at the cloudy sky ahead.
"Concerned about the island?" I ask her, attempting to engage in some sort of conversation.
No response is emitted from the witch, not a sound nor movement.
I push on.
"Don't worry about it, Lotte. I'm here for you, and so is Akko. Diana might be sick, but she taught me a lot before that happened."
Silence is all the feedback I get.
Straying away to a different subject, I tell her
"You know, I was concerned about Diana's health, but it looks like Diana is getting better. Why, I bet, once we get back to Luna Nova, the first thing I'll see is Diana running up to me."
I can't help but crack a smile as I imagine the formal Diana doing such a thing.
A few chuckles and a happy sigh later, I mutter
"I really can't wait for that..."
These good memories are shattered by rather harsh words, the first ones uttered by Lotte since Ms. Holbrooke's office.
"Theodore...I don't care about Diana or her sickness right now…"
She speaks!
My mouth hangs open at this, both due to herself speaking and the lack of compassion behind it.
The words weren't menacing or wishing ill will in the slightest.
Just like her, those words were rough, but lacking any real emotion and passion behind them.
"Lotte...what's wrong? I'm worried about you. This is the first thing you've told me in days?"
Ignoring my concern, she turns her back to me, gazing out the window.
"I'll tell you later. Just leave me alone right now. Please."
Please, that magic word, that one little sound that halts everyone in their tracks and hexes them into obedience. It's that one single worded phrase that, uttered from the mouth of Lotte, has done just that.
Whatever connection I have with her, whether it be a protective sense, deep friendship, or perhaps some sort of synthetic kinsmanship between us, I find it hard to ignore her, to simply brush off her wishes with no conscience.
Even through the reflection in the airplane window, I can still the lack luster, the deficiency of emotion and motivation, almost as if he whole body has shut down.
It pains me to see her like this, but it pains me even more that there is little that I can do. Even if I could mend her soul, Lotte seems content with blocking all out, whether it be me or Akko.
We're both sitting on the sidelines while Lotte brews on her negativity.
I sigh at this.
No progress has been made from the principal's office to now. She is in the exact same state as before, weary and depressed from reasons unknown to me.
There is nothing that I, nor anyone else, can do.
More depressed from this visit, I stand up from her aisle, beginning to make my way towards my seat.
Passing Bob, and then Akko's seat, I take a glance at her.
Catching my gaze, the magic student quickly looks at her feet, both embarrassed and afraid.
She must be thinking about what I told her in Faralda's classroom.
Taking a chance, I slide into Akko's aisle, taking the seat next to her's.
"Hey Akko...how's it going?"
I notice her jump slightly at my entrance.
"Oh, hey Ted…" She slumps back down, glum as ever. "I'm alright, how about you?"
"I'll be honest, I'm not feeling very well right now." I tell her, thinking about what happened the last time we spoke.
The pain, the rage, the aftermath and the Earth shattering epiphany.
She raises her head up to look at me, slight concern in my phrase.
"Why? Are you sick or something?"
"No, but I feel sick whenever I think about what happened between you, Diana, and I in Faralda's classroom." I admit. "What happened doesn't sit well with me."
"Oh...that…" She mutters, her head slouching down again. "I keep telling you, I didn't mean to-"
"I wanted to apologize." I interrupt her.
She stops herself, raising her head back up to meet me with inquisition.
"You...what?" She questions me in disbelief.
I take a breath, struggling to find the right words.
It's normally hard for me to apologize in general, let alone admitting when I'm in the wrong.
"I wanted to apologize...for all that I said to you...for not believing you."
This apology also strikes her hard, herself knowing of my weakness as well.
After a moment of thought, perhaps of what happened, or maybe even what to say, she opens her mouth.
"I-"
"I know now that you didn't do it on purpose…" I interrupt her again, not wanting my message to be misinterpreted. "That Diana did not catch that sickness just because of your ill will towards her. I thought you intentionally hit her with that spell, but I know now that you didn't do it on purpose."
I take another deep sigh, remorse running wild.
"You're my friend, Akko. I just wish I had been one to you."
After my words have finished, a mutual silence envelopes that cabin.
The quiet is almost maddening.
Ever since Diana told me her side, I've been going over some kind of apology, some sort of commitment to my remorse. Now that I've finally let my inner emotions out in the open, all I can accept is some sort of similarity in return. Just something, anything that could put my mind in some sort of ease.
"Th-thank you for your apology." She finally tells me, myself at the edge of my seat. "I...I was worried that this was the end of our friendship."
Her words finally steady, herself facing me with a slightly comforting smile.
"I just...I just need some time to think. A lot going on right now, you know?"
I shed a slight smile at well.
"I can understand that."
A moment of awkward silence passes, but not a wretched silence.
A band aid might've been placed on the wound, but the pain remains.
Only time and shared experiences can fully fill the whole between us.
And who knows?
Maybe combined, we can pull Lotte out of whatever unfortunate state she's found herself in.
Akko fiddles with her skirt in discomfort, herself glancing out the window, then back down at the ground.
It looks like she's holding something back, that there's still tension between the two of us.
"Akko?" I question her actions.
I want it all to be let out in the open, any comments, any questions, anything that we need to get off of our chests.
After a sigh of her own, she turns to face me, asking
"You're not racist, are you?"
This question strikes me harder than any spell Faralda or Diana could conjure up.
In the heat of the moment, the height of my rage, I did call her Jap.
But that was due to raw anger, wanting to jab at her in any and all ways that I could, and not a hatred towards Japanese people.
"No, of course not." I tell her. "At least not to Japanese people. You're from a strong militaristic race that challenged the industrial west."
"Huh?" She asks, her brows raised in question, herself not quite understanding my words.
"Well…"
I stop myself. Just how do I explain this to her?
"Grandpa Roma taught me that in life there are superiors and there are lessers, a sort of hierarchy. According to him, while not necessarily relating to race, it's a good guideline to follow."
"Who?"
I can see I've lost her, and any further explanation will continue to alienate her.
Only now do I notice she has an earbud in her ear, loud but unintelligible music blaring.
"What are you listening to, Akko?" I ask, turning the conversation towards something else.
"Superhero." She sullenly answers, still in a slight pit of depression.
"Is it from…" I stop, as I forgot what that band was.
How could I forget? Faralda mentions it every time I'm around her, that and Rockstars!
"Five Family Force?" I guess.
"Five Family Force? Five Family Force?" She questions, beginning to chuckle at my misspeaking, each laugh shedding away her sense of gloom.
"Family force five!" She corrects me, bursting into her usual giggle. "They're my favorite band!"
"Yeah, Faralda told me that you have a crush on someone in the band. Jericho Franklin, right?"
"Solomon Olds!" She yells out in glee, laughing at my mistakes hysterically. "Stage name: Soul Glow Activatur!"
Usually, I'd respond harshly to someone laughing at me, especially at my mistakes.
But for Akko, I'll let it slide.
Besides, I'm close enough, Solomon and Jericho are both Biblical names.
"It's a little strange though." I admit. "I thought you were obsessed with Shiny Chariot, not Family Force Five."
"In an ideal world, Shiny Chariot would be synchronizing her magic to a live Family Force Five concert!" She sounds of without hesitation.
Now it's my turn to be in a state of confusion, as she explains her case to me.
"You see, both Shiny Chariot and Family Force Five have never toured in Japan, and international flights are very expensive."
"That they are." I agree with her.
My grandpa, in all of his money saving ways, practically busted a nerve when he heard I'd be leaving Rome early for this quest, only to come back in a few days and leave again.
"And so I could only afford to go to one or the other, and I picked Chariot!" She continues her tale, returning to a slightly timid voice, twiddling her thumbs together as she uncomfortably admits. "Although...apart of me will always regret choosing Chariot over FF5…"
"They're that good, huh?" I ask, remembering all the times Akko and Diana fought over Chariot.
"Uh-uh!" Akko beams. "I even wrote a song about them! Wanna hear it?!"
"Sure." I tell her, smiling along as a form of encouragement.
Whatever makes her happy, and helps her forget about that whole issue is fine by me
Akko takes an obnoxious loud breath, opening her mouth with
"A rock band is performing. The world they are storming. They are a part of Restoration Generation, a nation of creation. This grand Rock-N-Ride Night, when all the other bands they will smit, will be taking place in Sioux Falls, sights so grand, ecstasy will consume your eyeballs. This group is Family Force Five, and they do more than survive, they thrive. Not just any rock band, you'll learn that first hand. Their lyrics are positive, addictive. Casually, they are one big happy family. Having parties that are hearty and smarty. For all members are Christian, and this isn't fiction that they rule over the competition, so get ready for this grand expedition!"
Wow, well she definitely does like them a lot, and loves to talk about them.
Akko's happiness, in almost all circumstances, has proven to be infectious. Almost like a smile from Lotte, the joy radiating from this girl at my side is overwhelming.
I can almost feel myself not being a cringy, edgy emo.
"So, what are your favorite songs?" I ask her.
If she loves the band so much, maybe there's something to this group.
She takes a deep breath, quickly saying
"My favorite song is Cray Button, but I also like Zombie, Earthquake, Love Addict, Radiator, Cadillac Phunque, Dance or Die, Kountry Gentleman, Chainsaw, Ex Girlfriend, Peachy, Wake The Dead, Numb, Wobble-"
"Anything else?" I ask her, cutting her off.
That was a little too much for me to take in all at once.
Not at all affected by my actions, Akko continues to smile at me, saying
"Yeah, all the others I didn't mention."
"I see…" I inform her, still a little overwhelmed by all she's showed me.
A window of silence is all the otherwise silent tour guide needed.
Turning around to face us, slinging his arm around the chair in the process, he tells us.
"I've always hated flying. You never spend like half an hour on a plane, it's always multiple hours. It's strange, you get giddy, you want to move around, but you're just too tired to do so. You know?"
"I know right!" Akko beams, still fired up from our past Family Force Five conversation. "Most of the time, I'm bursting at the seams with energy. But the plane just sucks it right out of me!"
As bipolar as ever, Akko.
Once sad and depressed, and now her usual state of happiness.
I hope this mood lasts.
"I can agree with that." I inform him.
While I have my own reasons for my dislike of flight, at least we share that quality.
"Once we get to the island, you'll see all sorts of creatures." He continues to tell Akko and I. "Jackalopes...Gorgons...Boo Hags. That whole island is just a very diverse place for monsters. Just be glad we'll be safe on the plane, and not on the ground. Those things can be dangerous."
"Right…" I say, trying my hardest to sound convincing.
He still doesn't know the truth.
The staff never told him due his almost sure denial of his participation. And now, us three students, are supposed to give him the bad news.
It really is a horrible act committed.
Bob Jones, one of the few survivors of The Filicudi Incident, is now what he believes to be, a simple aerial tour of the island, completely safe and sound from any creatures that might stir down below. To be forced back into that mess, especially without any knowledge regarding our landing, is anything but kind and courteous.
But I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures.
And with the school coming extremely close to a permanent closing, this is a very desperate time.
"So, how do you three know each other?" He asks Akko and I, also referring to Lotte, the Finn still in her own aisle, gazing out the window at nothing.
I still need to work on her though.
"Lotte and I met about six months ago!" The Japanese says, referring to our orientation to the school.
I remember that day fondly.
I first met Diana after she had just blasted Akko with flame magic, what I now know was illusionary magic.
Akko, Lotte, and Sucy then proceeded to start a fire in their room, causing a dorm wide evacuation.
Just a small dosage of the hijinks that Luna Nova has to offer.
"And you?" He asks me.
I know that Bob doesn't know that we're landing on the island! Who knows what else he doesn't know?!
Does he know we even go to school, or did our teachers lie about that one too?!
Quick, think of a lie!
"Uh...through our church." I finally mutter out, that being the first thing to come to mind.
Bob nods at this, believing this small lie that I've stated.
With the question now answered, Bob stands from his seat, saying
"I need to visit the little tour guide's room."
He then makes his way to the back of the plane, departing from our brief conversation.
"Ooooh, Ted!" Akko calls me out, pointing to the window. "Look at that!"
Following her finger, I see the ground below us.
An almost picturesque scene greets us.
Heavy city lights, waning due to the rise of the morning sun, still raining strong, lighting up the grand and well carved city and the ancient marble and stone buildings.
Recognizing the layout of the city due to careful memorization from grandpa Roma, I feel my mouth curving into a smile.
"That's Rome…" I come to the realization.
We're in Italian airspace now.
Just to think, my family, Feliciano, Romana, my parents, and Roma, are all snuggled in our home, right below me. And then there's Anchovy, herself probably writing me another letter, or perhaps preparing a schedule for us once I make my grand return.
I'm very glad that Diana hit it off with Anchovy, and eventually with my sister.
I hope by the time this expedition is done, Diana would have recovered fully, and we can return to Rome in time for Christmas.
Christmas with Diana, now that is something worth fighting for.
So close, but yet so far...
"Ah Rome…" Akko longingly sighs out, dreamingly staring out the window at the city below. "The City of Lights…"
"I don't think that's right." I inform her.
Usually, that phrase is used for Paris, which while still beautiful, is nothing but a dirt village compared to Rome.
"Well, there are lights, aren't there?" Akko questions me, confused by my doubt.
Now this is the Akko that I miss!
I let out a few chuckles at this, saying
"I suppose there are."
It's been too long since Akko and I have shared an amusing moment together, even before Diana's sickness.
I suppose you don't know what you've lost, until you've lost it.
Not understanding the humor at what she sees as a rather accurate statement, Akko shrugs, digging into the backpack at her feet.
She pulls out a candy bar, ripping of the wrapper, casually throwing it into her backpack, as she then eats the bar in just a few bites.
A moment later, and Akko begins digging into her backpack for another one.
She must've smuggled them when Ms. Finnalin wasn't looking.
Such an Akko thing to do. Risking further punishment all for a few candy bars.
Another candy bar is pulled out, the wrapper being stripped as per the usual.
"Hey, I think you're eating a bit too much." I tell her, stopping her as she hovers her bar inches from her open mouth. "A few more of them, and you might end up like Jasminka."
Finding my joke about our mutual friend humorous, Akko shouts
"No way!"
"They got a lot of sugar in them." I tell her. "About thirty grams per bar I think."
Akko huffs at this, almost annoyed by what she sees as my ignorance.
She digs into her backpack.
"Look at this." She instructs me, holding out one of her many empty candy wrappers. "It says 'Serving Size: One'."
That it does.
"Okay. And what of it?" I ask her, not getting the point of her example.
"Serving Size: One." She repeats herself. "That means I can only have one bar, right?
"Yes."
She drops her wrapper, pulling out another candy bar from her backpack.
"So that means, after I eat this Twix, for example, it's not recommend that I have another one."
"That's literally what I just told you-"
"Uh uh uh!" She tells me, holding up a finger to silence me. "I can't have another Twix. It doesn't say that I can't have, say a Milky Way or a Crunch Bar. As long as I keep eating different kinds of candy bars, I'm still obeying the serving size."
What logic!
However, this is the type of logic that I expect from Akko, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
This is nonnegotiable to Akko.
To Akko, this is a tried and tested way of life!
"Alright, Akko." I tell her, coming to the realization that I'll never be able to break her logic.
As the witch goes for her third candy bar, I take the book from my satchel.
While I haven't read this book in quite some time, it definitely drew my mind into a whole other world.
I examine the title, 'The Brink Of Salvation', cover dusted due to neglect.
Dusting away the title, I take one last glance at Akko.
I just hope that this conversation we shared boiled away all the tension between as rather than put a stopper on it.
With my conscience now semi cleared, I open the book, my mind leaving this plane and into a this world of Americans and Europeans.
'My children, although those who inhabit the concrete slab known as Europe are infamous for their autism, they have the intelligence to emulate other's cultures. I know, my little ponies, while the thought of them embracing American culture continues to frighten me to this day, this will never happen. The raw testosterone and super male vitality that our culture contains shall never be absorbed by the screechers of Europe. However, some Europeans have successfully emulated the culture of a certain sub species that inhabits the lesser areas of America The Beautiful.
While the gang, The Stockton Boyz, continues to run most operations in the city, many Europeans have taken it upon themselves to become hoodlums of their own. And in my travels throughout the land, I have conducted a great deal of research on this matter, and have compiled a list of predictable behavior and expectations from these 'people', if they even deserve this title.
Some of these primary sources include 'Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood', 'Everybody Hates Chris', and 'BlastphamousHD'.
These Europeans are extremely dangerous, as they not only have the minds of Europeans, but combined with the technology of America, you basically have a caveman spongebob armed with the Tsar Bomba.
While The Stockton Boyz have mostly gone quiet due to increased regulation and patrolling of the RIPD, The Stockton Man, leader of the Stockton Boyz, still runs amuck.
However, organized European crime has gone down in recent years. One of the most important victories would be the capture of Richard, the leader of the Tiger Mafia, responsible for The Rape Of Nanking.
Even with this successful struggle in the fight against European, there is still the one who lives, the one who is unconquerable and has stood the test of time, even under the wear and tear that all the B17 flying fortresses can bear, she still strives on.
Yes, she, one of the few European women who have yet played The Taharrush Gamea, a popular game on Cool Math Games, a website designed to weaken the mind of all the lesser creatures known as Europeans.
PagetDaPanda, the girl who lived, as they call her. She survived Hiroshima, Aleppo, and every Diakko from here to Timbuktu.
She is the arch nemesis of The American Dream, third only to the King and Prince of Europe.
Legend has it that she is The Legend27, the Weeaboo Witch, and so on.
However, there is only one weapon that can smite her, that can finish her off for good.
Only the American made Eirhorn, 20 mm, gas operated, semi automatic, twelve shot magazine fed, rotating bolt, recoil reducing muzzle break, high explosive incendiary-"
My reading is cut off by a voice coming from the loud speaker, coming in Tom's voice.
"Attention all passengers, we will be arriving at Filicudi momentary."
I notice Akko jump in her seat, herself practically licking the window as she stares on in anticipation.
A glance at Lotte reveals that she's fast asleep.
I can never understand how people can sleep on an airplane, there's so much that could go wrong, so much to look out for!
"Oh god…" I hear Bob mutter to himself, the tour guide nervously grabbing hold of the arms of his chair.
Of course, he's a survivor of The Filicudi Incident. It's only natural that he would respond in such a way.
And here we are, himself being unknowingly dragged to ground zero.
I can't help but pity him.
As the small passenger plane descends from the cover of high clouds, the island comes into sight.
It's a very lanky island, looking similar to a teardrop. The ground itself is covered in bright green trees, scattered all around the island.
As we cut above the island, more begins to appear.
Small and remote towns and villages, long since abandoned due to the events, dot the otherwise thick tree coverage. A river cuts through the island, leading towards the island center, where there is a large mountain, a collage of greenery and brown cover the large incline.
A small but quaint island, a tourist trap that eventually became a trap for the inhabitants.
And now here we are, years later, claiming the treasure that lies within.
The dense trees begin the thin, until we are eventually lead to a large clearing, the sight almost too much.
Animals, no monsters, of every single kind, centaurs running in herds, dwarfs and gnomes working together, fairies flying, griffons fighting golems, ogres and orthros organizing, cyclops chasing unicorns. It's a very diverse sea of monsters, all doing their own thing, whether big or small, all playing whatever part they can, whether that's helping or harming their fellow creatures.
Here, the creatures are free to roam, to do as they please, free from school, work, or any other responsibilities we see as necessary.
Even if these creatures are responsible for the evacuation of the island and raiding of those nearby, it's just like what the professors said. Perhaps it's due to long term inactivity, or some sort of darwinism at play, but the monsters seem relatively docile. While some are indeed fighting and chasing after each other, it's not the absolute bloodbath that I had envisioned.
Things have changed.
"My god." Bob mutters to himself, also seeing the surreal scene before us, the monsters and creatures in their activities. "I'd forgotten…"
"Lotte, wake up!" Akko cries, shaking her companion awake with excitement. "We did it, Lotte! We're here!"
I see Lotte tiredly sigh to herself, as she weakly looks out the window, still fatigued from her recent slumber.
"Ted! If you see anything, yell up!" Akko cries out to me, perhaps referring to any notable monsters or treasure itself.
Why would she even need to tell me? Of course I wouldn't hold precious information like that!
"Nah, I thought I'd keep it to myself!" I sarcastically call back to her.
"Oh, sorry." Bob mutters out to us, taking his official tour guide position seriously, as he points out the window. "And if you look out of the left of the plane, you can see a whole herd of jackalopes. In fact, if you look at the front of the group, you can see the alpha male grazing there. Notice the larger horns. That defines their class, the larger the horns, the higher the jackalope is on the social ladder."
Interesting information.
Having been raised on Roman myths and legends, mythical monsters and creatures have always interested me, Luna Nova only adding to my curiosity.
I do feel bad though that Diana is missing this opportunity.
She would have loved to take a few notes here!
However, I can't dwell on what could have happened. Rather, I must pay attention to the situation at hand.
"Tom, how about up front? Do any of you two see anything?" I call out to the pilots, referring to a landing strip.
"Nothing yet, Mr. Sempronia." Tom informs me.
"And look here, Ms. Yanson." Bob points out the window at another creature. "Over there, you can see a-"
"Mr. Sempronia!" Brad calls out to me. "We have a landing strip! You want me to set her down?!"
"No!" I shout back at the cockpit. "I told you, I want to circle first to see the whole island."
"What do you mean 'set her down'?" Bob asks in confusion, everyone coming to a collected silence at his question. "You can't land here."
I freeze, Akko doing the same, even her usually clueless self understanding.
This whole time, I knew that an exposure of our true intentions would be taking place. It would only be a matter of time until he would have found out our true reasons for coming here.
Rather than thinking of a solution, some sort of explanation that could justify our lies and keep him in our current line of work, I instead was focused on my strained friendships with Akko and Lotte.
Now, I have no explanation, no way to talk my way successfully out of this one.
Bob knows that he's been deceived, and he's rightly confused and soon to be enraged by this fact.
But even still, we need to land. We need his help to find the treasure which would pay off our school's loans.
I turn to face him, at a loss of words.
"Now hold on, I can explain-"
"You cannot land on this island!" Bob shouts at me as he takes off his seatbelt, standing up and leaving his aisle.
In response to this possible future aggression, I also unbuckle my seatbelt, leaving my own aisle.
"Mr. Jones, it's going to be fine." Akko attempts to calm him.
"Are you crazy?!" He snaps at her, moving towards the cockpit in rage.
At this point, Bob doesn't care. He'd rip that door open and fight for the wheel if he had to.
He's too far gone. No amount of words could get him to comply.
I silently curl my hand around my wand, located inside of my satchel.
"Mr. Jones, if you would just please-" Akko stops herself, as she notices me raise my wand, pointing it at Bob.
"Toru Rirurara." I whisper.
Upon my words, blue stars surrounded by a white dust cloud around Bob's face, himself growing visibly tired, until his eyes flutter only once, himself collapsing to the floor in a deep sleep.
The whole plane goes silent after that, save for the usual turbulence of the outside.
Even I'm surprised at what I just did, a simple spell was all it took to sort out this conflict.
I quickly put my wand away, as if that would reverse my incantation.
All I can say is, once we land and Bob comes to, he's not going to be very happy.
Damn it, just what have I gotten us into, just what has Akko gotten us into, the school staff, all of them, all of us.
Akko quickly kneels down at the now unconscious Bob, ensuring that he is in fact all right and out of it.
"Was that necessary?!" Akko fires at me, the positive vibes we once had now gone.
"Yes." I simply tell her, trying my best to justify my actions.
I don't have the strength to restain a guy of his size.
If I hadn't of knocked him out, who knows what he would have done if he reached the cockpit?
"What's going on back there?!" I hear Tom yell, poking his head out of the cockpit.
"Nothing important!" I call back to them. "Just handling a problem!"
He takes a glance at Bob on the ground before sighing to himself, muttering
"They don't pay me enough for this…"
He then disappears back into the cockpit.
As Akko tends to Bob, I take a glance at Lotte.
The witch just stares on at what just transpired, completely unfazed by it.
Where it be the Lotte that we all know and love, she would be on the ground with Akko, tending to the man out of pure concern.
However, now she takes on much of the same manner of Sucy, completely numb and apathetic to everything that goes on around her, whether pleasant or not.
Whatever may be troubling her, I just hope to figure it out soon. Anymore of this out of characterness, and I might just be focused solely on Lotte rather than the situation at hand.
And it is only now, through Lotte's blank stare, through the reflection of her large glasses do I see the current state on the plane, all before we even landed to face the real enemy.
An irritated Tom, an angry Akko, an unresponsive Lotte, and an unconscious Bob.
I can already tell, this is going to be hell.
Without any further words, the plane lands gracefully on the abandoned landing strip.
By this time, Akko has securely fastened the unconscious Bob in a chair, ensuring his safety.
I, myself, just wish that his rage would have passed by the time he wakes up.
Looking out the window, I see the airstrip, littered with trash and overgrown with unkempt plantlife.
It's likely that this strip hasn't been used since the whole island was abandoned years ago.
The forest mentioned earlier strays not far from the strip. In fact, it seems like the landing strip is nothing but a scar on the ground, giving space to an otherwise overgrown and abandoned world.
A strip that was once used for tourism had been used to quickly shuffle the island's inhabitants away from the monsters that were taking over. And now, it's in a way being used for tourism once again, so that all of us shall reap the treasure that can be found.
While Akko and Lotte silently get ready for our unboarding, I grab the suitcase from the luggage compartment.
Opening it up, I grab the satellite phone that Diana gave us.
Looking it over, I contemplate giving her a call, a brief interview that all is well.
However, I know very well that that conversation shall not be brief, but drawn out.
And besides, I promised to call her after it was confirmed safe, nothing less.
I instead put it in my pocket, intending to call her later.
I also grab what Sucy and Constanze call 'In Ballistae de Kulog Drachen', or Ballista Of The Thunder Dragon, the name written in a mix of our respective native languages.
The last and only time I used this thing was when Sucy and I tested it out in the woods outside of Luna Nova.
While it managed to destroy a tree with ease, its effectiveness against an actual monster remains in question.
It's probably more powerful than whatever magic I can conjure up, though.
"Jesus Christ…" Tom mutters to me, as he enters the scene, glancing over my weapon. "When I was a boy, every little squirt wanted to be a pilot or a sailor, but we'd never use something like that. What've you got there? A coat hanger or some kind of new IPhone?"
"This will help protect us." I tell him as I fasten the crossbow to my arm.
"Will that thing take out a dinosaur?" Tom rhetorically asks me, doubting this small things capabilities.
"You know…" Tom tells me. "Back when I was a fighter pilot in The Cold War for the RAF, they used to strap bigger and bigger bombs to our Close Air Support, to take out a Soviet tank if they ever attacked they said. I thought to myself, 'Just what good will that do? They'll just make bigger tanks!' Whenever you think you have a big enough gun, eventually someone with a thicker hide will come along."
"You were a military pilot?" I ask him, rather impressed by his experience.
His references said nothing about that!
"Mh hmm." He tells me. "My father fought in World War Two during The Battle Of Britain. Thought I should carry on the tradition."
"My great grandfather was in World Two." I reveal to him, finding a connection between us. "The Italian side."
"What did he do?" He asks me, a bit of respect in his voice. "El Alamein? Greece?"
"Something like that." I lie to him, hiding the details of his participation. "It happened a while ago, I just know he served."
"Whatever he did…" Tom goes on. "You gotta have respect for all who fought, Axis or Allies, brave people, all of them."
I smile at this.
While which side was right is hotly debated, this is a truth.
"Yes, you do." I agree with him, before asking. "Just how long did you serve?"
"Most of the war." He answers. "Mostly routine aerial drills, a few operations in Egypt and The Middle East, preparing for the war with The Red Menace that never came."
"And that's why you're here." I tell him, putting my suitcase back into its cabinet. "You're experienced, seasoned."
He lets out a happy huff at this, saying
"Well thank you for that."
Hearing movement in the cabin, we both glance to Brad, the copilot.
"Alright, Tom, I finished." He tells the elder man, as he straps off his flight helmet.
"You turned off the radio?" Tom asks him quizzically. "Don't want to leave the battery to burn out like you did back in Kabul."
"Oh come on!" Brad begs Tom. "That was years ago! How was I supposed to know that Kabul was 'one of those' cities?"
One of those cities?
To answer my silent confusion, Tom glances over to me.
"He killed the plane from leaving all the lights on." He explains to me. "We ran into a few radicals and didn't have a getaway vehicle. Thought that was the end of us."
"Yeah, yeah…" Brad quickly brushes that bad memory away. "So, are we heading out?"
Still staring at me, Tom tells me
"Your staff paid us to take you to the island, and provide whatever services that are necessary here. Although, I've never had a kid in charge of me. How old are you anyway?"
"Sixteen." I tell them. "Although, I'll be turning seventeen this month."
He snorts at this, saying
"Yeah, whatever. So, what's going to happen now?"
"Akko, Lotte, and I going to set up a perimeter around the plane." I tell them, motioning to the two witches who are already outside, taking in the view. "Make sure that the area is safe for camp."
As I say this, I begin to make my way to the plane stairs, leading to the ground below.
"Yeah? And what if the tour guide wakes up while you three are gone?" Tom asks, referring to Bob Jones.
"Tell him the truth." I say while walking down the stairs.
"Why do we get stuck with him?" Brad complains.
"Cause we're getting paid." Tom tells his apprentice. "Back in my days, a simple knockout would have been a blessing. I remember one time my fighter accidentally crossed into a no flight area and was shot down by a pair of Soviet BTR-40A's. Luckily, I crash landed the plane in friendly territory."
"Enough of your stories, Tom!" I hear Brad yell before I set foot on solid ground.
As I do, I feel something change in the atmosphere.
While it was all warm and cozy on board the plane, the taste, the nature of the air is different.
I notice how quiet it is.
Without human interaction, the sounds of the television, children playing outside, planes flying by, it's a deathly silence, the only sounds coming from the nearby dense forest.
I also get a jolt of anticipation, something that I first noticed on touchdown.
It was safe in the plane, when the monsters were looked at from a great deal up. There, no harm could have come to us.
Now, the three of us are out in the open, exposed with only our basic training to guide us.
Speaking of the two, while Akko stares at the forest full of wonder and awe, Lotte retains the same worrisome expression she's had this whole trip.
This is not the best of places for her at the moment.
"I still don't know why she wanted to come here, she looks miserable." I whisper to Akko, out of earshot of The Finn.
"I don't know either." Akko tells me. "I still have cold feet about this whole thing, but Lotte looks more miserable than I feel."
I take a deep sigh at this. It's so apparent that even the normally clueless Akko can firmly bear witness to it.
I come to an ultimatum.
"Lotte...she's not built for this kind of environment." I tell the witch. "She's too caring...she can't handle these monsters if they ever come. You and me, Akko, we can handle them. But more so, I can handle them myself. So, whenever a monster comes, whenever things are looking dangerous, no matter what, Akko, I want you to look after Lotte. No matter what that means, keep her safe."
"Alright, that's fair." She agrees. "But, what about you?"
Even if we hadn't been getting along recently, one thing that we'll always have in common is our protectiveness of Lotte.
I smile at her, saying
"I'm a professional. I can handle myself."
Akko nods at this, although a bit hesitantly.
Without further word, the three of us disappear into the trees, all the while Tom and Brad manage the plane with the unconscious Bob.
Lotte seems to more or less lag behind us, dragging her feet against the ground as she does so, while Akko stays with my pace.
Although the professors strained to us that the island is mostly peaceful, and the viking fury of the island inhabitants have gone down over the years, I still can't help but dart my eyes back and forth amongst the flora.
Not just for me, but for the two girls next to me.
While Akko is more hardy than Lotte in terms of self defence, I still can't help but keep an eye out for her.
Akko is someone, who only now that I've realized, is a good friend, good for a laugh, and input on just about anything.
Although she has her airheaded moments, most of us do to begin with, she has an occasion spike in wisdom and knowledge. While not an academic like Diana, Akko can be considerably intelligent on certain subject, if she wants to be.
There is also no doubt that she has magical talent, as much as we all like to make fun of her for a lack of it. After, Akko, Lotte, and Sucy were able to perform Luna Lana, the most difficult synthesizing spell, and all that under the stress of the parade, the crowd, and the titan itself!
She is a great girl, a true true friend.
Only when I was about to lose her as one did I come to realize this.
I can also apply this same thought to Lotte.
I can admire her gentle, delicate and demure personality. It's similar to Diana's, smart and intelligent, caring and kind, but just more so.
I believe that even if the Bruno situation did not happen, we would have bonded either way, or at least I love to think so.
Lotte and Akko, Diana, Sucy, even the spiteful Hannah and Barbara, all the witches, they've all added so much to my life, this whole school has.
I could have been home in Italy, but now I'm learning more than I ever had in awhile, all with a girlfriend!
The twists and turns that this magical school brings knows no boundaries.
As the three of us continue our migration, I spot something hidden in the deep underbrush.
It's not a rock or any other inanimate object, but two white horns, poking out of the brush.
"Hold on…" I quietly say to my two friends, holding a hand out to stop them.
"What is-" Akko begins to ask, herself cut off as I force my hand to her mouth, silencing her.
Too loud…
A snarl comes from the brush, the horns rising as the head bearing them comes into view.
It's a sharp face, the shape of a bull, with long jagged horns, and a strong muscular body.
The large minotaur stares at us with its dark, lifeless eyes, its mouth opening in a growl, revealing horribly yellowed teeth, sharpened through use.
"Oh no, not again.." I hear Akko mutter to herself, herself facing a minotaur in the school's labyrinth.
The minotaur leaves its brush enclosure, staring straight at us, mouth still bearing teeth, thick and foamy slobber now dripping onto the ground.
With its ribs pressed up against its skin, it's obvious that this thing hasn't eaten in a while, and is awfully hunger.
Making a quick decision, I swiftly grab my wand from my satchel, causing the beast to let out a mighty roar, itself screaming at the sky to face this challenge.
"Murowa!" I cry out, sending a bright green bullet at the beast, smacking it in the cheek.
It staggers, letting out a horse whimper, injured and now angried beyond belief.
I'm going to need back up for this.
"Akko!" I shout to my companion. "Cover my-"
My sentence hangs in the air, unanswered, as when I glance to her location, I find none, not an Akko or a Lotte.
I twist my head around to behind, seeing the two disappear into the brush, and towards the plane.
They're running away!
"Akko!" I scream out to her.
In a flash, I spot the minotaur lunge at me, causing me to narrowly dodge a powerful punch from the creature.
Instead, his fist slams against a large rock, smashing it into pebbles.
Damn it! That was a close one!
Staggering back, I flash another bolt at the creature, striking it in the chest.
To no effect, the minotaur lowers its horns to my level, charging at me.
I manage to dodge the beast, jumping towards the right.
I thought they didn't attack anymore! What is this?!
My attacks have no effect on the beast, it just takes it like nothing!
But it's the only option I have!
I raise the wand again, intent on delivering whatever blow that I can.
"Murowa!" I cry out, the tip of my wand beginning to glow brightly.
As I feel the wand grow hot, the magic pumping itself through, a mere puff of smoke eeks out, and nothing more.
I glare at the wand, overcome with fear and confusion as to the ceasing of its operations.
Then I remember.
That moment with those kids in the market, after a few spells, my wand had the same effect.
It's out of magic! Far out of range of The Sorcerer's Stone!
Another charge by the creature comes at me, myself lunging once again.
I feel the horns scrap the side of my torso, tearing my shirt, as I manage to dodge again in the nick of time.
Landing on the ground, I hear something, something that is quite distinct from whatever roars the minotaur has yet to emulate.
It's a low rumble, the sound of some kind of machine, almost like an engine.
It's the plane! It's leaving without me!
As I'm distracted by this epiphany, I feel the minotaur grab me with one of its large hands, tightening its grip around me.
Panicking, I claw at its fingers, fighting against the beast as it draws me closer to its mouth.
However, rather than simply tossing me into its mouth, the creature holds me close to its face, staring at me with its wild and soulless eyes.
Almost like a curious child, staring in wonder at some insect he just found in his backyard, pondering what it is, what it does, how it works.
I feel the noxious nostril gust from the creature, its nose ring rattling as it does so.
I stare back at the thing, tense and on edge.
Only the licking of the minotaur's lips reminds me of my current situation.
Screaming for power, I slam my face into the minotaur, stabbing my nose into its eye.
Letting me go immediately, the thing grabs at its injury, letting out a roar of pain, myself roughly tumbling to the ground.
Slighting stunned but free from its grip, I raise my right arm at the monster, pointing the crossbow at it.
The monster removes his hands from his face, revealing one bloodied eye, and another glaring at me, rage and pain all fueling this beast.
As I fire the crossbow, it slaps me with one of its hands, the force throwing me against one of the many large trees, myself slamming painfully arm first against it.
Collapsing to the ground, I see the ball which I'd fired smash into the dirt ground, erupting into a gaseous explosion, causing any vegetation near the impact to die instantly.
I missed!
I groan in pain as grab at the base of the tree, pulling myself up.
The minotaur balls up its fist, cocking it back, about to deliver a mighty punch.
I hobble behind the tree, the beast's fist making contact with the trunk almost immediately after.
It lets out another agony filled scream, its knuckles bloodied and possibly broken.
Taking advantage of this, I decide that maybe it's time to cut and run.
I limpfully jog back through the trees, the sounds of the plane engine being the only thing guiding me.
Rubbing my badly bruised arm, sweat and adrenaline running wild, I hear the crashing of trees and breaking of branches behind me, as the lumbering monster chases after me.
I jump over a fallen tree log, losing my footing on a wet spot, slamming against the ground.
I cry out as my already bruised arm takes the landing, myself scrambling up, my heart pounding almost as wildly as the island itself.
I spot the thinning of the trees, as the clearing where the plane landed comes into view.
Almost there!
In one last burst of energy, I sprint through the brush, the minotaur behind my letting out a blood curdling roar, intent on claiming its prize.
Grass and trees are replaced by dirt and trash, as I run into the middle of the runway.
Hearing the engine to my left, I spin around, seeing the plane zooming down the runaway, heading in my direction.
"Hey!" I scream out to the plane, waving my hands in desperation. "Stop!"
Of course, no response comes from the plane, as it bumps along the runway.
For the first time in a while, I feel a few tears well in my eyes, the feeling of powerlessness and impending doom shadowing over me.
"Please…" I whisper with the last of my strength. "Stop…"
I hear the minotaur plow through the forest, screaming in rage all the while.
Twisting my head towards the thing, I see it charge at me, a hand outstretched.
It's going to grab me again!
I stumble backwards, slipping, and falling to the ground, exhausted and out of options.
Seeing this, the minotaur lets out a cry of triumph, lunging at me mouth wide open, sharp teeth and horrible breath coming ever closer to me.
With not a moment to spare, the incoming airplane smashes into the giant beast, the propellor gorging into the monster's flesh, revealing white bone and red blood.
The creature lets out one final cry of agony before being thrown to the ground, the airplane spinning out of control.
As soon as it had taken off, the plane then flies out of the air, making one last final attempt at take off.
As it goes down back to Earth, it crashes into a far flung patch of the forest, and then silence once again covers the forest.
I breath heavily, as I stare where the plane disappear, swallowed up by the forest, before taking one last glance at the beast that almost claimed me.
Lifeless and still on the ground, dead, as a puddle of blood begins to pool around the corpse.
So much went wrong in so little time.
Taking another glance at the forest, I manage to pull myself up, myself not breaking contact with the trees.
That's when two names hit me, striking me harder than whatever punch or slap the minotaur could have thrown at me.
Lotte! Akko!
As if these names were magic spells of their own, I feel a new burst of energy welling up inside of me as I run towards the crash site, howling these two mantras all the while.
Author's Note: Well, it looks like Cooper, I mean Ted, survived in the universe of Jurassic Park Three, I mean Little Wizard Academia Ch. 36.
This was a bit of a struggle to write, but I'm glad that I finally got it done.
It'll be nice to see what you gender non queer folk have to say about it.
And oh boy, boys, I keep getting closer to my dreamer's goal of 100 followers. It was 99, then it dropped down to 98, then rose again to 99, and back at it again with the 98! Now this is podracing!
In really cool news, the little demonic European, the one who I lost contact with for many months, PagetDaPanda is back to spread terror and hell across the land.
As it turns out, I've done the grave cis deed of assuming genders.
SHE also has another account WhenChocolatesWereBorn. Make sure to cyberbully HER for HER neglect.
Also, expect a little Xmas 'surprise' coming your way! Yes, Xmas, cause Christ would want no part in what's getting brewed up...