After getting a call from her friends back home, Akko decides to invite Diana, Ursula and Croix to come to Japan with her.

Notes:

So this is a new arc that I will be writing! It takes place after the First Time arc (which I promise I'll finish the moment the Ecchi muse comes back). I hope you like it and that you enjoy the surprise that will be in this chapter!


Akko had never regretted leaving her home and coming to Luna Nova. In fact, ever since she first saw Shiny Chariot perform, she realized that her dream was to become a witch. And in Japan, to achieve that dream would have been impossible. Nevertheless, having such a dream meant that Akko had been teased and laughed at during her childhood. Magic, as it tended to be outside Luna Nova, was seen as a dying career and in Japan many just thought it was staged. Hence, when Akko said that she wanted to be a witch like Shiny Chariot, she was mocked by her classmates. And at first, that had not affected her much because her parents were supportive and told her to fight for her dreams. But when they both died just after her first year of middle school, it all became more difficult. Nevertheless, she had a small group of dear friends who always stood by her. Ones that now that she thought about it, were perhaps just as crazy as she was (crazy in a good way).

Were it not for them, Akko's days at school would have been much darker and terrible.

Hence, she was a little surprised when she got a call from them asking her about her plans for New Year's Eve. Although she had told her friends that she was leaving Japan, she didn't tell them exactly why. Witches, and the magic from Luna Nova, had been ordered to be kept a secret. Which is why her friends believed she was in England studying English. Akko had expected things to change after the missile crisis. But, according to both Ursula and Croix-Sensei, Diana and her identity had been kept a secret thanks to the Nine Witches' magic.

A protection of sorts against people who may wish to use their powers for the wrong reasons, Ursula had explained the moment Diana asked the older women what would happen to them now that the whole world knew who they were.

Hence, Akko wasn't sure of what to do with their invitation. Although Luna Nova celebrated New Year's Eve, there was just something about the way her country did it that couldn't be replaced. And the Japanese witch was starting to realize how much she was missing her home. That call with her friends had made her further realize this. In fact, considering the dates, this would be the perfect time for her to go back to her hometown. Luna Nova usually gave students two weeks off right after Christmas and expected them to come back before the end of the first week of classes. Diana had told her that magical families tended to travel around the world during the last weeks of the new year as part of a magic tradition.

One that her girlfriend had been patient enough to explain but that she had unfortunately already forgotten.

Akko knew that this opportunity to go back to Japan was no coincidence. She had been recently talking to Diana about their country's traditions and the holiday season had been one of the topics discussed. Ironically, the call from her friends had come a couple of days after said talk. And while Akko had not thought much about going home during this winter break (mostly because the people she most cared about were at Luna Nova), she couldn't deny that she was excited about the possibility of showing her country to Diana. Specially since Akko started to notice that the blonde witch was acquiring an interest in Japanese customs (which included getting food or drinks that came from Akko's hometown during their picnics or tea dates).

How she even got Japanese sweets all the way to Luna Nova? That was a question Akko always asked and Diana never answered.

And regarding Ursula and Croix-Sensei joining them for the trip… Well, the brunette had become so accustomed to spending time with the two older women that taking this trip without them just wouldn't do. Not when she saw both Ursula and Croix-Sensei as family. And Akko knew that this trip would be good for her. After everything that happened with Sarah, with Kristen and with the rest of witches at school; Akko needed to show her family (because she saw them as that) what they meant to her.

And she knew that this trip to her hometown would help her do this.

Akko was known by everyone at Luna Nova as a loud and extroverted person. Ironically speaking, most people in Japan were not like this (except her friends who were loud and unapologetic about it). Hence, Akko behaved and acted differently before coming to Luna Nova. What had started to make Akko's behavior change was watching Ursula-Sensei perform. The brunette, who had been used to calm and silence, had seen in Shiny Chariot a teenage girl who was confident and open about her desires. A witch who fought against monsters and dark magic while using clothes that were scandalous and sexy.

That, to Akko, had been the beginning of her transformation and what had made her leave Japan.

And yet, she was now craving to show Diana, Ursula and Croix-Sensei that hidden part of herself. The insecure and scared girl that had dreamed of doing magic and making people happy. The girl that had wished for a family and hadn't really expected to get one.

The girl that had been too afraid to be herself.

Now things were different. Akko was no longer that girl who had struggled to find a place to belong. Nor the brunette that had always tried too hard to fit in. Now that she thought about it, maybe that was another reason for her to go back home.

To show all the people that knew her before what she had now become.

To show them how lucky she was of having a girlfriend like Diana and women like Ursula and Croix-Sensei by her side.

All of these ideas and thoughts had led Akko to the Astronomy Tower, making sure of calling Diana, Ursula and Croix-Sensei to ask them to meet her there after class.

Knowing them, the three witches were probably freaking out about her call, wondering why they were being asked to meet and what was so urgent and important for Akko to summon them all.

Opening the door to Ursula and Croix's room, she notices right away that the three women were already waiting for her, all of them calmly reading a book.

"Relax, relax…" Akko says with a confident smile. "I have not taken or tested anything Sucy has tried to give me." she appeases them all, who merely look up from their books.

"Oh, we know." Diana tells her while focusing yet again on her reading.

"Wait, so you weren't worried about me?" the brunette is surprised.

They always tended to overreact when it came to things like this.

Maybe they were starting to trust her judgment more.

"I asked Sucy about it a couple of minutes ago and she promised she didn't give you anything." Croix says absently.

Oh, that made more sense, Akko thought and was ready to explain herself but Ursula speaks first.

"Which I guess makes us wonder why you asked us to meet here?" the former performer asks curiously.

Akko takes a deep breath but is interrupted again.

"I was telling them that maybe you wanted to go grab something to eat." the lilac-haired woman adds cheekily. "You did promise to buy us dinner after you lost that bet the other day."

"And I was telling Professor Croix that perhaps you wanted something simpler like having tea together and catch up. You did mention to me that you missed spending time with the four of us together." Diana says while smiling softly at her.

"I know we have not been spending time together as much as we used to." Ursula tells her softly. "But with New Year's Eve approaching, we have been so busy that all we do after we finish class is sleep."

"But Char and I had also been talking about the fact that we missed you." Croix adds with a warm smile. "Having you around all the time has certainly spoiled us." she chuckles.

"Certainly, the days before New Year's Eve tend to be very busy at Luna Nova." Diana converses with the two older women. "In fact, I just came from a meeting with Principal Holbrook where she asked me if I wanted to preside the student body that would volunteer to help and guide the Ministry during the festivities."

"Oh right…" Ursula says with a smile. "I did remember your name being mentioned during our weekly meetings as a candidate for the position."

"Nice Diana!" Croix compliments her and just hearing them all say this has made Akko realize one thing.

Ursula, Croix and Diana were busy. And she, selfishly, had asked them to meet her here for no reason.

Well, for a reason that would certainly make them be busier.

Akko couldn't ask that of them when they already did so much for her.

"Akko…" she hears being said to her and this makes her focus on her girlfriend. "Did we lose you?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry." she chuckles nervously while moving from side to side. "I…" she tries to say but nothing comes to mind.

This makes Ursula look at her with a soft and encouraging smile on her face.

"Has something happened?" the red-haired woman asks and in turn Diana and Croix put their books down and focus on her.

"No, well, I mean yes, something did happen."

This makes Diana immediately get close to her and inspect her analytically.

"You know you can tell us anything, right darling?" the blonde witch asks her softly.

Akko takes a deep breath.

"Of course I know that!" she laughs and tries to change the subject. "It was just like you all guessed. I had missed spending time together and wanted to catch up."

This makes the three women in the room stare at her knowingly.

"Now while that may be true…" Croix tells her with a warm smile. "It's not the whole truth."

"You must realize Akko that we know you just as well as you know us." Ursula adds surely.

"And that we can tell when you're not sharing with us what you truly feel." Diana grabs her hands tenderly.

"I just…" she closes her eyes. "Hearing you discuss how busy you are has made me realize that what I was going to ask you is foolish."

"Akko." the blonde scolds her softly. "Nothing you say will ever seem foolish to me. Nothing that I can clearly see affects you like this."

"Besides, you must know that you three will always come first to me." Croix murmurs embarrassed. "So what you have to say, Akko, matters to me much more than my classes or schedule."

"Croix-Sensei…" Akko says touched.

"What did you want to ask us?" Ursula encourages her sweetly and for some reason this is all Akko needs.

"Would you like to come to Japan with me?"

"Go to Japan?" Diana asks pleasantly surprised.

"Yes…" Akko continues embarrassed. "And I know that you are incredibly busy…" she adds softly. "But I was thinking that this holiday is the perfect opportunity for me to share with you my past. Where I come from and the traditions and customs of my country."

"Akko…" Ursula says touched.

"And I know that you have been there already." she adds while staring at her mentor. "But I was still hoping you would come. So I could show you my home." she whispers embarrassed and feels the older woman immediately hug her tight.

"You know it would be an honor, Akko."

"I've always wanted to go back to Japan." Croix adds as well and this makes the brunette run towards her and hug her tight.

"And you must know that I'll go wherever you go." Diana says with a warm smile.

"But that position Holbrook offered you…" Akko whispers dejectedly. "Having that job listed in your curriculum would mean a lot."

"I remember telling you once Akko that you were the most important thing in my life. That you would always come before my name, before my goals, before my dreams, before anyone." she promises her girlfriend confidently.

"Diana…" the brunette witch whispers and runs to where Diana is. "Thank you, thank you!" she says and kisses her longingly on the lips. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"I love you Akko." Diana says warmly to her and kisses her again.

This makes the older women in the room chuckle and make some noise to remind them of their presence.

"Ok, ok, so you both love each other." Croix jokes with them. "Now stop kissing and explain to us when we will travel and where we will stay." she says to Akko who is blushing.

"Hai!" she smiles widely and begins explaining to the other women about her preparations and what they needed to do.

LWALWALWA

"You know…" Croix says while putting her sunglasses on. "I had forgotten how annoying it is to fly on something that is not a broom."

"Certainly." Diana agrees and grabs Akko's hand absently. "Remind me again why we decided to fly and not use the Leylines?"

Akko chuckles.

"Because I want us to experience this trip as if we didn't have magic!" the brunette tells them excitedly.

This makes Ursula laugh.

"Well, it has certainly been a long time for me since I've been on a plane as well." the red-haired woman shares with them. "Though I always enjoyed the experience because it's safer to fall asleep on a plane than on a broom."

"And she speaks from experience." Croix says bemusedly while going to the hangar where their bags were being returned.

"Really?!" Akko asks excitedly. "You fell asleep while flying on a broom?"

Diana chuckles while Ursula blushes.

"I was tired! It had been a long time since I had a good night's sleep and the day was just so nice…" she mutters. "Anyway…" she grabs her bag and watches the three other witches do the same. "What's the plan now, Akko?"

"Well, I did talk to my friends before leaving England and they said they would be waiting for us. That way we'll get a free ride to the city and we can then drop our stuff at my place."

"Your place?" Croix asks curiously.

After that talk they had with Akko, they had allowed the brunette witch to take care of everything, the three other witches instead deciding to do everything in their power to get their affairs settled before the winter break started.

Which meant that up until now they hadn't asked Akko too many questions, deciding to trust her judgement when it came to organizing the trip.

"Yes." the brunette woman simply says. "After my parents passed away…" she murmurs. "I was given all of their belongings, including the house." she smiles sadly. "Though I didn't live there for long because I moved with my grandmother who was closer to my school."

"Akko…" Diana whispers and grabs her hand assuredly.

"Anyway…" Akko squeezes her girlfriend's hand and stares ahead. "The place is under my name and I asked my grandmother to make sure that someone went to prepare it."

"Akko, you didn't have to." Ursula says softly.

"I know." the younger witch assures them. "But that house is a part of me and I did say that I wanted to show you all my past, including the parts that may not be so pleasant to remember."

Croix nods in understanding before grabbing Akko's shoulder and squeezing it tight, showing her support and presence with that gesture.

"So your friends will be the ones picking us up." the inventor says while watching the people waiting at the arrival gate. "Are they here?"

"Well, they said they would be…" Akko starts looking around but is not kept waiting for long before hearing some familiar screams heading her way.

"AKKO!" they all turn around to see a brunette and a handsome man with black hair running towards them.

"Are your translators working?" Akko asks them and the three witches nod in confirmation before focusing on her friend and the man with her. "Naru!" she says excitedly while hugging her tight.

"Akko, I can't believe it's really you!" the taller woman says happily. "In fact, I can't believe you're here!" she then notices the people behind Akko looking intently at their conversation. "And with your friends."

"I know, I can't believe it either." she murmurs while turning around to get Diana, Ursula and Croix-Sensei closer. "Naru, I want to introduce you to my friends." she smiles warmly. "This is Diana Cavendish, Croix Meridies and Ursula Callistis. They all live with me at Luna Nova and are very dear to me."

"My name is Naru Osaka and it's very nice to meet you." she says in English and this surprises the brunette. "My English has improved." she jokes and grabs the man's hand to pull him closer. "And this is my boyfriend Gurio Umino."

"UMINO!" now Akko is the one that screams. "He's Umino?!" she asks excitedly and hugs him tight. "I can't believe it's you. And why didn't you say anything earlier?!"

Umino chuckles.

"Guess I wanted to surprise you." he smirks. "Besides, it seems like you didn't recognize me. So mean of you."

Akko huffs embarrassed.

"I… I mean I never saw you without your glasses!" she explains to Diana, Ursula and Croix. "So I didn't realize that you looked like this."

"Oh yeah, Umino didn't look like this when he had his glasses on." Naru further explains while taking her phone out and showing the picture to Akko's friends. "See, this is him." she points at a nerdy kid with weird glasses.

"I can see why she wouldn't recognize him." Croix murmurs amused and gets by her girlfriend. "Ouch."

"Don't be rude." Ursula admonishes her. "Forgive her, her honesty at times can be quite uncouth."

"It's alright." Umino smiles at them. "And if you're Akko's friends then you must be good people. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is ours." Diana answers in Japanese and can see the surprised faces of her girlfriend's friends. "I asked Akko to teach me some Japanese. I have always been fascinated with your culture."

"Nice! If Akko has had the patient and dedication to teach you then that must mean she likes you." Naru smirks at Akko knowingly and this makes the brunette witch blush.

"She has also told us many things about you." the blonde witch finishes politely while smiling at Akko.

"I hope only good things." Naru jokes before helping them with their bags. "Now, how about we start to make our way back to the city? It will take us a while to get to Akko's place."

"Are you driving?" Croix asks curiously. "We read that there was a bus that could be taken straight to the city."

"We won't need to do that." the brunette simply says. "My driver will take us."

"Naru comes from a family that owns jewelry stores around the country." Akko explains to them. "They've been doing quite well if the news I've read in England are true."

"That's right. If I remember correctly, didn't your family just open a store in London?" Diana asks Akko's friend.

Naru nods in confirmation.

"It's their first store in another country." she tells them proudly. "Apparently an investor came to one of our stores, loved the jewelry and offered my parents to invest in expanding their business."

"Fascinating. Perhaps you could take us there so we can see the kind of jewelry your family produces?" Ursula asks politely.

"Of course." she smiles. "You'll have plenty of time to explore the area and my parents' store is near our high school."

"The school Akko went to before she left for England, correct?" Diana asks.

"Yes, Juuban High School." Umino tells them. "Akko, Naru, Usa and I all became friends in middle school and then moved up to high school."

"They're all in the same building so they just move to different areas." Diana explains to Ursula and Croix.

"Yes, and Akko would have been with us as well but she decided that she wanted to learn English in England and hence left us." Naru fake-pouts and they all know she's teasing her friend. "Could have learned it here just fine."

"You all know why I needed a break. Why I needed to go somewhere new." Akko smiles sadly at them.

This makes Naru and Umino nod in understanding while getting some concerned looks from Diana, Ursula and Croix.

They all knew that right now was not the time to talk about something so serious.

"You mentioned you had another friend." Diana changes the topic carefully. "Someone named Usa?"

"Usagi." Akko smiles warmly at them. "She was the first person that approached me when I got to Juuban and we immediately became friends. She just has this incredibly kind and warm personality."

"She was going to come." Naru promises her. "In fact, that's why we were a little late. We went to pick her up but for some reason on our way to her house she called and told us to go ahead. That she had an emergency and would meet us later for lunch."

"She probably forgot she had to do something." Umino chuckles.

"Which wouldn't surprise me at all because it's Usagi we're talking about." Akko adds and moves her hand so she can grab Diana's, a gesture that is not missed nor mentioned by Naru.

The moment the five of them step outside, the two older women of the group take a deep breath and look at their surroundings, trying to remember how it was years ago.

"My driver is here." Naru informs them and they all watch him put their bags in the back before making their way inside the car, all of them comfortably fitting in the back.

"It's been quite a while since I've been to Japan." Ursula says with a warm smile on her face while watching the many buildings and trees. "I had missed it."

"You've been in Japan before?" Umino asks interested.

"Both of us came to Tokyo." Croix smiles at them. "Though it was a long time ago. Could it be 15 years ago?"

"Then things have certainly changed." Naru chuckles. "Though there is this small restaurant that is very popular. Perhaps you tried it when you came? Natzuko Mio?"

"I loved that place!" Croix shrieks and gets the attention of everyone in the car.

"You remember the name of the place?" Diana asks amused. "That is very surprising."

"I remember because their ramen was incredible." Croix blushes and this gets her some laughs from the people in the car.

"Croix's favorite food is ramen." Ursula informs them. "She is addicted to it."

Akko and Diana chuckle.

"I guess this means we're going to Natzuko Mio after we drop our stuff?" Akko proposes to the group because it would be great to make Diana try some ramen.

"Or we can just go now and leave your stuff in my car." Naru smiles. "We're actually quite close."

"We wouldn't want to impose." Diana says embarrassed.

"Nonsense! We have missed Akko a lot and we want to be with her." the Japanese woman says honestly. "That is, of course, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not silly." Akko hugs her friend tight. "I have missed you too."

"You know..." Croix turns off her translator while whispering to Ursula. "It's quite nice to see Akko be so open."

"I know." Ursula agrees. "I mean, she's usually very extravagant and loud when we're in Luna Nova." she looks at the brunette witch. "But here, she's calm and composed, her affection for some reason more measured and noticeable."

"Akko did say that Japanese people are quite conservative and serious about their personal space." Diana includes herself in their conversation. "That for her, because of her hyperactivity, it was hard to stay still or in one specific spot for long amounts of time."

"Makes sense." Croix murmurs. "Our Akko is like an energizer battery." she chuckles but the other two women just stare at her. "Seriously, you need to learn more about the rest of the world that is not Luna Nova or the magic community."

Diana and Ursula blush.

"Are you bullying them, Croix-Sensei?" Akko asks with a smirk on her face and the three witches turn on their translators.

"Not at all." she says worriedly. "I was just saying that it's such a pretty day."

"Yeah sure." she grins but stops talking when she feels a strange energy in the air.

Turning around to look at Diana, Ursula and Croix; Akko notices that they must have felt it too.

"Anyway…" Naru continues saying but feel the car stopping when they hear an explosion over them. "What's happening?!" she screams and takes out her phone.

"I don't know." Umino says worriedly while checking his. "There's no signal so no chance for us to know what's wrong."

"Maybe it's just a tower that fell." Diana tries to reassure them while giving Akko, Ursula and Croix knowing looks.

That explosion had been made with magic.

"Diana's right." Akko adds with a soft smile. "You know how old those towers are. It probably fell and that's why we're stuck in traffic."

"Yeah, it seems people are getting upset about it." Naru opens the window to take a quick look outside. "Though I don't see anything in front of us."

"Well, there must be something." Umino yawns. "Why else would the car stop and…" he falls asleep before finishing his sentence.

"Umino? What's…" Naru also collapses and this makes the three witches in the car relax.

"Really Croix-Sensei, did you have to make them fall asleep?" Akko chuckles.

"Croix didn't do this." Ursula interjects and that's when Akko realizes that all the screams and noises around them had disappeared.

"Someone is using magic to make the people fall asleep." Diana mutters while taking her wand out. "Professor Croix, can you give us the Ley Line Routers we packed?"

"Sure." Croix takes out four of them and hands each witch one. "Now, forgive my ignorance, but I thought there was no magic school or magical entities in Japan."

"There shouldn't be." Ursula tells them worriedly. "And this type of magic." she moves her wand. "It doesn't feel like it comes from the Leylines."

"So it's not magic produced by witches like us." Diana murmurs.

"Or magic from this world." Croix says worriedly. "What should we do?

Akko merely smiles brightly.

"What we do best!" she opens the door of the car. "Save the world!" she laughs and exits.

"Akko!" Diana huffs. "Seriously, I swear she will give me a heart attack." the heiress runs behind Akko.

"And those two will be the death of us." Ursula adds while also leaving the car followed by a determined Croix.

"But we wouldn't want them any other way." Croix says what her girlfriend is also thinking and takes four small cubes out of her bag. "Nevertheless, good thing I come prepared." she uses her wand and they all transform into sorcery units. "Now jump in one and let's go." she pushes the remaining two units to catch up to Akko and Diana.

Meanwhile, Akko had been using enhancing magic on her legs to run faster than what she normally could, thankful to Ursula-Sensei and her lessons. She knew that Diana was very close to her and was also using her own magic to keep up with her.

"You know…" Akko slows down a little bit so she's next to her girlfriend. "This is not the way I was expecting to show you my home." she chuckles.

"I know." Diana smiles brightly. "But this way is totally you." she turns her head around when she hears a familiar buzzing. "Jump Akko!" she does as she says and quickly finds herself in a sorcery unit.

"Seems like Croix-Sensei came prepared." Akko nods to the two incoming older witches and they all start to head towards the epicenter of the magic.

"According to my calculations it seems like the highest concentration of magic comes from there." Croix points to a building a couple of miles ahead. "I don't know what this type of magic is, but it seems like we will be capable of eliminating it by destroying the core. I believe that core is storing energy stolen from the people that fell asleep."

"So the core doesn't produce its own magic but stores stolen magic..." Ursula murmurs. "I don't like this."

"What will be the plan?" Diana asks the inventor.

"If it has a core, it will be in the center of the building, probably heavily protected." she looks at her tablet yet again. "I'm getting readings that suggest there will be some kind of magical beings keeping watch and there seems to be a barrier placed around the building."

"Then the plan will be divide and conquer." Ursula decides. "Croix and Diana will get the beings away from us and eliminate as many as they can." she gets two nods in confirmation. "I will go ahead and hide my presence and try to make my way as far as possible inside the area before Akko joins me to take down the barrier."

(Start listening to the song here)

"Ok." Akko says determined but uses her magic to move out of the way when she feels a ray of magic being fired her way. "Incoming!" she warns her friends.

"What are those?" Diana asks while helping eliminate some of those creatures from Akko's trail. "I've never seen creatures like this in my life."

"If the magic and the creatures don't look familiar then we must assume that they come from somewhere out of this world." Ursula simply tells them. "Murowa!" she screams and hits one of them, it exploding immediately. "But they're still vulnerable to our magic. Now, remember the plan and let's go." she uses her unit to fly high in the sky and hide in the clouds.

"Good." Croix smirks and points at a hoard of them. "Belga Veeda!" the creatures are destroyed. "Now come on, Diana, are you going to let me beat you?"

"Of course not." Diana smiles and concentrates on her magic. "Diphulaniado!" she yells and an explosion bigger than the one Croix made is produced. "I was just preparing myself."

"Show-off." the lilac-haired woman chuckles while using her phone. "Akko, you better go now before more come."

"Ok!" Akko uses her magic to make the sorcery unit move faster and concentrates on her legs. "Vega Varulus!" she stands up from the unit and jumps straight up into Professor Ursula's unit. "Ready Sensei?" she asks her knowingly.

"Ready whenever you are." Ursula smiles and the two witches point their brooms at a large group of creatures. "Now!"

"Ein Ein Sof. Ein Sof Ohr. Luna Lana." both scream and watch the barrier that had been surrounding the building disappear.

"We did it!" Akko says excitedly and takes out her phone. "Diana, Croix, the barrier is down."

"We're coming your way." Diana promises her girlfriend.

"And so are more of those creatures." Croix warns them.

"Does that mean that we split up?" the brunette witch asks her mentor.

"It means I will have to get busy." Ursula gets down from the broom and transforms her wand to a sword. "You keep going and destroy the core. Diana, Croix and I will keep them outside the building."

"Will do." Akko promises and knows her professor will be careful. "Now…" she moves faster than before and enters the building, making sure of using the phone Croix had designed for them to trace the alien magic. "Where is this core?"

The moment Akko asks that questions she feels strong vibrations coming from underneath her, a sign that the core was below her. Running as fast as she could and using her arms and legs to get rid of the remaining creatures in the building, Akko finds herself in front of what she assumes is the core.

"Ok, I think I'm here." she lets them all know. "Though I'm not sure how I'm supposed to destroy this."

"Although it must look very different to normal machines, there must be a part in it that seems more vulnerable than the rest." Croix tells her calmly. "Is there something that matches my description?"

Taking a look, Akko quickly analyzes the machine and notices that there's this section in the center of it that doesn't seem as strong as the rest of it.

"I did!" Akko smiles and takes her wand out, thinking of a spell powerful enough.

"You'll have to use Diphulaniado if you want to make sure the spell works." Ursula tells the brunette witch.

"But there are times when it doesn't work when I cast it."

"We trust you Akko!" Diana sounds confident. "Now you need to trust yourself."

"And the quicker you do it the better cause we think that core is the one that is producing more of these weird creatures." Croix adds.

"Croix!" two familiar voices say annoyed.

"Don't pressure her!" Ursula huffs.

"I will hang up if you don't stop talking." Akko warns them and they all remain silent. "Thank you." she takes a deep breath and starts concentrating her magic.

Feeling it moving through the Leylines and entering her, Akko is confident that she is absorbing the right amount of magic and that it is going into the correct direction. Once she felt her wand's power pulsing, Akko opened her eyes and prepared herself.

"Ready!" she yells and starts speaking. "Diphu…" she can't finish saying because she's hit from behind by a creature.

"AKKO!" the brunette hears Diana, Ursula and Croix scream frantically.

"What happened?! Why did you stop casting the spell?" Diana asks worriedly.

"I'm ok." she huffs while standing up. "I got careless and didn't notice a creature behind me."

"I'm on my way Akko!" Diana promises her. "Just hang on."

"Then perhaps I shouldn't tell you that although I didn't cast the spell, my wand though I did and it will take a while for the router to re-charge?" she tries to joke while moving out of the way from the creature's beam. "Shit, that was close." she jumps away yet again but fails to see a piece of debris falling and trapping her.

"What happened?" Ursula asks worriedly. "Akko?!"

"I'm trapped under some debris." Akko mutters. "I can't move."

"I'm almost there!" Diana promises and Akko can hear how scared she sounds. "I will be there."

"Diana, Ursula and Croix-Sensei…" Akko smiles softly and watches the creature pointing its weird hand at her. "Meeting you… It was really fun." she closes her eyes when the light from the beam starts blinding her. "I love you all." she whispers and just waits for that strange being to finish her.

"AKKO!" the three witches scream panicked.

"RAINBOW MOON HEARTACHE!" Akko hears and suddenly the blinding light in front of her disappears, the core and everything that had been surrounding her being wrapped in a ray of…

In a ray of hearts?

Looking further up, she notices a woman standing in front of her. She had long blonde hair and a blue uniform with what seemed to be a wand in her hand. Yet her magic, though it seemed quite powerful, was not destroying anything, merely repairing what had been damaged or tarnished by the alien magic.

"AKKO! AKKO!" she hears panicked screams coming from her phone and that's what makes her speak for the first time since she said goodbye.

"I… I'm alright." Akko whispers and notices the woman in front of her stop using her magic.

"Thank Jennifer!" Ursula says relieved but the rest of what her family was telling her was being completely lost on Akko, who was now staring at the woman in front of her in complete shock.

Because this woman, her savior, was someone she knew.

Someone she cared deeply about.

"Akko…" the blonde woman in front of her says surprised. "It... It can't be."

"Usagi." she whispers and faints; the shock of almost dying, of depleting herself of magic, of meeting Usagi and seeing her use magic making her collapse on the floor.

Followed by complete darkness.

A Souivre...


Surprise! This will be a LWA/Sailor Moon arc! Hope you find the idea fun and right now I don't know how long this arc will be. But for sure it will be at least 3 chapters.