Croix is lost and doesn't know what to do after watching Akko break the seal of the Grand Triskellion.
A little angsty this small piece, but I thought that since in my stories Croix and Akko are really close, a very deep and emotional scene had to happen between them.
Hence this little piece.


Croix was terribly confused. Her lifelong dream, her never-ending quest; had been finished by a fifteen-year-old girl. Her non-stop hours of work, her sacrifices and past regrets, had been shown to be all unnecessary and regretful sacrifices by Akko Kagari. The young girl had made her see that her idea of what magic is, had been wrong. Had shown her that Chariot had been right all those years ago. And that, if Croix would have believed in her and supported her (instead of manipulating her and using her to further her selfish desires), they would have also been capable of breaking the seal of the Grand Triskellion.

Why then, were Croix and Chariot not capable of doing the same all those years ago?

Was it because of her jealousy? Or because of their innocence and the fact that there wasn't someone there that protected them from said jealousy. Akko had Chariot besides her, a guidance that had prevented many accidents and calamities from befalling the little witch (Croix being one of them). While in their situation, it was Croix the one that usually had to protect Chariot from herself.

Closing her eyes, Croix didn't know the next step she would have to take. She, with the help of Chariot, had already disposed of all of her SS machines and was patiently waiting for the Ministry to arrive to Luna Nova. She knew that Principal Holbrook had to inform the authorities of what happened and had insisted to the older woman that it was the right thing to do.

Besides, some time away from Luna Nova and her past demons could help her move on.

She had been so focused on the Grand Triskellion and bringing magic back that she had forgotten why SHE had wanted to learn magic.

She had forgotten her dream…

"Excuse me…" Croix hears a hesitant voice asking from outside the door. "Can I come in?"

Looking up, the lilac-haired woman sees Akko smiling softly at her. Surprised, she simply nods and lets the brunette witch sit in front of her.

"I'm surprised to see you here…" she tells her honestly because she had been expecting Akko to stay away from her.

Specially after all she had done to the young girl, she didn't deserve her forgiveness.

"I wanted to come see you…" Akko tells her confidently. "I have so many questions… But I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

Croix chuckles sadly.

"You, Akko, are truly something…" she smiles warmly. "Here you are, worried about making me remember something painful when all I did since I arrived to Luna Nova was prevent you from succeeding and making your dream come true."

"I'm sure you had your reasons for doing so." the brunette tells her softly. "Misguided reasons perhaps, but still, reasons that made you act that way towards me." she gives her a warm smile. "Because the times we didn't talk about magic and its future, I saw a side of you that was good and kind. You were confident in your beliefs and skills. You truly wanted a better world for magic and that is something I respect. Because in your world, people like me, who don't come from magical families, can have the same aspirations and dreams as the rest."

"Akko…" Croix murmurs in complete awe.

"You know how mean and relentless people can be to you when they realize that you're different than them." Akko gives her a knowing smile. "You saw it happen to me many times and intervened on my behalf. You welcomed me with open arms to your class when all the other teachers, expect Ursula-Sensei, tried their best to make me quit Luna Nova."

"But I did it because you were the owner of the Claiomh Solai… To observe you and see what kind of witch you were."

"Perhaps that was one of your reasons…" she tells the older woman brightly. "But surely you could have seen my abilities after one class. And, you could have told me that I wasn't good enough and ask me to leave the class since it was an elective. But you didn't. You even taught me very valuable things, Croix-Sensei."

Croix feels horrible. She didn't deserve this kindness. She deserved to be punished and to be alone. This outstretched hand, offering her understanding and forgiveness, shouldn't be trying to grab her from the darkness.

"Why are you telling me all of these things?" she chokes out while feeling tears falling down. "I hurt you Akko! I used you because I knew how much Chariot cares about you and I wanted to hurt her. I didn't think about your wellbeing and I got you in terrible danger! How can you possibly be there, smiling at me and consoling me? You should hate me for what I have done to you."

"I could never hate you, Sensei. I think I even love you a little." she smiles sadly at the woman and gets even closer to her while grabbing her hands. "When I was using the Shiny Rod, it allowed me to see and feel the memories of its past users. And there was one memory that made me feel so warm and happy. It was of Chariot performing magic before the Lunar Witch contest. There was no one around, and it was in the middle of the night. But Chariot was there doing her magic, smiling and laughing at the fact that she had gotten better at magic."

Akko, with tears in her eyes as well, gives Croix a dashing smile while squeezing her hands tighter.

"And while I was watching all of this, I felt so much happiness and love. A love that didn't correspond to my feelings because I didn't know Chariot. I admired her, and wanted to be like her, but I couldn't love her the way that memory's feelings did. And it took me this long to realize it, but I now know that those were your feelings, Croix-Sensei. You were the one watching Chariot that night, the one telling her that she was a great witch and that her magic was beautiful and true."

Now openly crying, Croix was doing her best to not collapse because of the memories of that night. She had realized that day, while watching Chariot perform, that she loved her friend. It had been way before they got separated. When both of them were excited about being the ones asked to bring magic back.

When they were a team…

"That was such a long time ago." the lilac-haired cries desperately. "I am not the same person I used to be back then."

"I think you could be…" Akko tells her confidently. "And just like you believed all those years ago, I will believe in you, Croix-Sensei. Like I know Chariot will do as well."

"I… I don't deserve this from you, Akko. I don't deserve this from anyone." she continues saying brokenly. "And Chariot, she could never forgive me."

"Would you forgive her, if your situations were the opposite?"

"Yes, I would." Croix surprises herself by the quickness of her answer.

"Then why wouldn't she forgive you as well?" Akko asks her with a soft smile. "I know that she cares about you the same way you do."

"That cannot be. I have hurt her very much. If you only knew how much…"

"I know." Akko whispers sadly. "But I also understand that she hurt you as well… Or at least that's what she thinks, Croix-Sensei."

Chariot had hurt me?

"She blames herself for not being a good friend. For not seeing your pain and being selfish in her dream. For not realizing that her claim of making people happy with magic was making you, her closest friend and the person she most cared about, unhappy." Akko tells her sadly. "And I think she has the same difficulty that you have in forgiving herself for that."

"But I didn't tell her… It wasn't her responsibility!"

"Then perhaps you should tell her that."

"Even if I did…" Croix says defeatedly. "What she did to me doesn't compare to what I did. What I almost caused…"

"That may be…" Akko admits softly to her. "But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to earn forgiveness, right? To try to be better and make your dream come true."

"My dream…" she whispers sadly. "I think I have forgotten what it is."

"To make magic of course!" the young witch tells her happily. "To have people of all backgrounds use magic! To make magic known and to help people like Chariot and I make our dreams come true!"

Croix looks up when she feels a soft body hugging her tight.

"Isn't your dream, Croix-Sensei, a beautiful one? Isn't it worth fighting for?" Akko asks her softly. "Because I believe it is. And I will fight and help you make it come true."

"Akko…" Croix whispers brokenly. "Do I really deserve this?"

"We all deserve love and a second chance, Croix-Sensei." the brunette witch explains to her warmly. "Please, accept it. Embrace it. And be happy."

Crying and nodding, Croix just lets herself go and hugs the young girl that had become a guiding light in her darkness. She had a very long way to go, but today, she had been offered the opportunity to start anew.

And she was not going to waste it.

She was going to embrace it and make things right.

For Akko…

For Chariot…

For herself…

Now I understand, she kept thinking while getting comforting and kind words from Akko, why Chariot loves you so much…