AN: Alright, here we go, I wanted to post this sooner, but I got caught up in today's episode spoilers...
You probably know, what I'm talking about. I'm heartbroken right now.
Thank you all for still reading the story, I appreciate it.
Enjoy^^
July 2006
Chariot didn't know where she was.
Floating through an endless void, she saw nothing, she heard nothing...
Everything was red.
What should she do?
What could she even do?
No one beside her seemed to be here...
She was alone...
"Chariot!"
A voice sounded loudly, ripping through the silence with such a force, that it made her head spin.
Did she even she have one?
She didn't seem to have control over her body at all...
Feeling dizzy, she tried to follow the voice, stretching her senses, grasping for the faint, familiar magic signature...
Only to be welcomed by a blinding pain.
Chariot couldn't even pinpoint where it originated. It tore itself through her, as if she was being electrocuted. Hot and angry, keeping her trapped.
'Make it stop!'
She wanted to scream, to trash around, to rid herself of this feeling, but...it wasn't possible.
Withdrawing into herself again, the pain receded, leaving her drained and exhausted.
'I just want to go home.'
The only question was…where was it to begin with?
Not in France with her parents, who only cared about appearances...
Not in Luna Nova with her nonexistent friends...
Home was...
'Croix'
She needed to get back to her. The worrywart was probably beside herself.
Always thinking too much...
Always causing her so much trouble...
A faint muttering spread through the void, rippling the surface, relieving some of the tension that resided there. The intensity of the red faded, slowly changing the scenery, revealing the silhouette of...someone.
Another person was here?
The presence drew nearer. Although still heavily shadowed, Chariot could make out a pair of piercing blue eyes, staring at her...or not.
There appeared to be no focus behind their gaze, as if they were still somewhere else, far away. They walked silently, murmuring quietly to themselves, not acknowledging her. Hastily, she tried to say something, gaining the person's attention, but she couldn't. Panic began to bubble in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't talk...
'I want to get out…'
...
Wait!'
She could still think. Maybe, if she tried really hard to connect to the presence, then...
They could hear her.
Losing herself in the strands of magic, she searched for them.
Just like the last time, a horrible pain erupted inside her, not letting up, slamming forcefully against her. But...this was her only chance...
She had to endure it.
She didn't get the fourth word for nothing.
'Mayenab Dysheebudo'
There!
Alongside the crippling waves of hurt, that muddled her mind, she could feel it. The thin string of magic that linked the person to this place.
Grabbing it with all her might, as to not pass out, when the pain threatened to fully overwhelm her senses, she thought as intensely as she could:
'Help me!'
[What?]
Chariot paused for a second. It worked...
But she couldn't afford to lose more time. She didn't know how long she could hold on without blacking out, feeling the magic pulling at her nerves, slicing them open.
'I'm lost, can you hear me?'
[Who is this?]
A jolt of hot pain ripped through her.
'Everything hurts!'
She hadn't meant to think this. It was becoming so hard to focus.
[Your name?]
Why were they so fixated on her name?
She just needed help. Trying to concentrate once more she thought:
'...Chariot...'
Only for the presence to abruptly vanish.
It was, as if her strings were cut, the pain disappearing like nothing had happened. She was spent. Her head was pounding so much. Where did they go?
'Please, come back.'
But no one answered her...
She was alone again...
Letting her gaze wander, she realized, that her body seemed no longer numb. Flexing her fingers and stretching her aching limbs, the redhead tried to move forward...
Only to be yanked backwards.
Looking at her arms and feet, her eyes widened. She appeared to be shackled. Faint red lines chaining her into nothingness, keeping her in place. Defeated Chariot tumbled down and sat on the ground, if that even existed here, curling up into a ball. Blinking violently, she tried to stop the tears that swam in her vision from escaping. She couldn't give up now...
But without help, there was nothing she could do.
Only wait.
She didn't know how long she was here already. Feeling more faint signatures running through the void, too far away to try to connect to them, made her frustrated. Not that she liked doing that in the first place. It always felt like an invasion of privacy to her. She only did it once with her parents when she was still a small child and they seemed to punish her for it ever since…
That's why she never connected to someone again, only skimming the surface…
But now…?
Why was no one coming for her?
Didn't she matter to the school at all?
Or was she already dead?
No, that couldn't be it. If that were the case, it wouldn't hurt so much to be here.
'Croix...'
Was she trying to safe her?
Did she even know what happened to her?
After all, she did disappear on Chariot without explanation.
Leaving her alone...
Resentment bubbled inside her.
'Where were you when I really needed you?'
She knew that was unfair. Croix was probably doing everything she could to help her...
But she couldn't stop to feel this way. If the older witch had come with her, she wouldn't be in this mess. She would have never allowed her to pull such a self sacrificing, and in her eyes now, stupid stunt.
'But it was my own decision.'
And that somehow made it worse. She was angry, she was alone and she was so tired.
Why hadn't the rod chosen someone else?
She just wanted to make people smile, make them happy. She didn't sign up for the responsibility to restore magic to the world. That was Croix's dream.
The look in her eyes when the Claiomh Solais appeared for Chariot instead of her was something the redhead would never forget. So much hatred...
And the way Woodward had simply ignored her question...
Come to think of it, had the old witch ever answered her that day?
Why not her?
'Yes, why not Croix?'
As soon as she thought this, she felt a slight pull. Raising her head, she saw a big string of green light, divided into three finer lines, which seemed to have latched onto her head and her chest.
'What's going on?'
She was pulled again. The lines tensing, stretching, trying to take her with them. Chariot's eyes widened in panic. She was still chained to this place, if they tried to draw her away, then...
The pull grew stronger. Chariot felt her body move, without her consent, taking her farther and farther from the void, until the shackles that bound her were stretched to the limit, jolting her to a sudden stop.
What happened next was maybe the most painful thing she had ever endured.
It felt like being torn apart. The strings and shackles clawing at her chest, trying to rip her heart out and no side seemed to relent. She struggled to stay conscious, gritting her teeth together, focusing on anything, but the pain that consumed her. Black dots clouded her vision, as she felt herself going numb, drifting away, her eyes closing, welcoming the nothingness.
'I guess I failed after all...
I'm sorry Croix...'
[You have to wake up!]
'Huh?'
[Akko needs you!]
'Akko?'
[I can't do this without you.]
'What?'
[Please, Sensei, just open your eyes...]
Chariot blinked awake, the darkness disappearing. She laid on her back, staring into the void, once more. So she was still here...
[Who are you?]
Startled, the redhead sat up, supporting herself with her hands, as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She was getting more and more exhausted.
'This place is killing me...'
[It is?]
Turning her head, Chariot saw a blonde haired girl, with piercing blue eyes, standing a few meters away from her. She had her arms crossed and a frown was plastered over her face. Apparently she was as thrilled to be here, as the redhead herself.
It was the presence from before.
'It's you.'
The girl seemed confused.
[What do you mean?]
Offering her a tired smile, the first one she ever gave in this place, she thought kindly:
'You are the one who talked to me before.'
Grimacing slightly, still keeping her distance, the blonde mustered her skeptically.
[I wouldn't call this 'talking', wouldn't you agree?
Besides, could you inform me about our whereabouts?
I seem to be at a loss.]
Chariot shrugged awkwardly.
'It's the next best thing, you know.'
Her smile faded, when she looked around again, her eyes darkening slightly.
'Don't know, I call it 'the void', but I have honestly no Idea where we are.'
The girl's gaze grew suspicious. Uncrossing her arms she walked towards her, coming to a hold right before the redhead, her hands on her hips, fixing her with a glare.
[Who are you?]
Chariot hung her head, a bemused expression on her face. What was it with this girl? She reminded her of her roommate. Always making her feel small and unimportant, as if she was at fault here.
'I told you already, it's Chariot.'
[That is hardly a possibility!]
The redhead had enough. She was tired and got repeatedly tortured by this place. Why did no one give her a break? Narrowing her eyes at the blonde, she thought hotly:
'What do you want from me?
I'm Chariot du Nord! I'm a first year student at Luna Nova and probably lucky if I get through the exams. I'm the infamous troublemaker no one wants to befriend and I fail at almost everything.
Are you happy now?
...
I just want to get back to Croix...'
[Croix!]
She hadn't meant to think the last thought, but the reaction she got from the girl was...interesting, to say the least. A mix of shock and surprise.
'Do you know her?'
[No.]
The blonde schooled her features again, but seemed to have lost her animosity towards the redhead.
That didn't mean, Chariot was fooled by that obvious lie.
[But if you want to get back to her so badly, why are you still here?]
She rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed with the blonde.
'Because it's so nice here.
No, seriously, didn't you listen to anything, I said to you?
I'm trapped.'
To reaffirm her claim, she raised her hands and pulled on the strings that chained her, sending a shockwave of pain through her arms.
[Stop!]
Chariot did, as she was told, letting her arms drop to her sides, exhaling slowly. Fatigue plainly showing on her face.
The girl knelt down next to her, examining the red lines, a concerned look in her eyes.
When she touched one of the strings, it glowed in a golden light.
Startled she dropped it immediately, giving Chariot a bewildered look, who had a similar expression on her face.
'Could you try, I don't know, ripping them apart?
Then I would at least be able to wander around.'
The blonde seemed to think for a moment…
Then nodded her head.
[I will try it.]
Flashing her a grateful smile, Chariot extended her arm, to give her a better angle.
Dropping to her knees, the blonde carefully took one of the strings in her hand again. Making sure, not to hurt the redhead further, she proceeded to grip the line right with both hands, drawing them away from each other. The golden glow returned, only more intense than before. It seemed as if it attacked the girl now, her face scrunched up in concentration, biting her lips.
'Stop!
It's hurting you.'
But the other witch ignored her, pulling even stronger on the strands that bound her, gritting her teeth.
[It is draining my magic.]
She finally responded.
[I just need a little more time.]
A blinding gold light illuminated the place, robbing Chariot of her vision. She could hear a loud cawing noise, followed by a biting snap and a resurgence of magic, welling up inside her.
Then...everything stopped. Something crashed into her with a muffled thud, making her gasp out in pain. A sudden silence enveloped the void, the light receded slowly...
When the redhead was able to see again, she looked around disoriented.
The blonde laid sprawled on her chest, totally exhausted, gripping Chariot's arm tightly, breathing heavily. Beside her sat a tiny white crow, staring up at her.
(Chariot?)
'Huh?
Do you mean me?'
The crow cooed happily.
(Found...Chariot)
Puzzled the redhead cocked her head to the side, trying not to move, as to not disturb the drained girl.
'Who are you?'
(Help...Croix...friend...)
'Croix send you?'
A wave of relieve washed over Chariot, eliciting a watery smile. She could go home.
'Croix didn't forget me.'
[I am happy for you.]
Stirring slightly, the blonde sat up, still pretty exhausted but with a small smile of her own.
[I guess Al- the crow will lead you back to where you belong.]
Chariot stood up on shaky legs, the strings that bound her completely gone.
Extending a hand to the girl, she grinned sheepishly.
'Yes, my friend did send him.'
[Croix?]
She nodded her head, helping the other witch onto her feet, keeping their hands connected.
The redhead still didn't know who she was and how she knew Croix, but she had helped to save her from this place. She wouldn't ask. Maybe putting her trust in someone she just met was another typically foolish Chariot thing to do, but it felt right.
'Thank you.'
The girl looked at their still intertwined hands, seemingly at a loss.
[No need to thank me, I am sure the crow would have come to save you, regardless of my own actions.]
'Maybe, but I'm still grateful to you.'
Flushing slightly the blonde looked away, squeezing her hand nervously, a conflicted look on her face.
[You should be on your way now.
There is someone who is waiting for you to return after all.]
She seemed to want to add something, but shook her head quickly. Chariot let go of her hand, eyes widening comically.
'You're right.'
Turning around, she knelt down and let the crow hop onto her shoulder. She felt a strange band of magic connecting them, warmth spreading through her entirely exhausted body. She felt safe, somehow. The same feeling she had when she was together with Croix.
[Diana.]
'Huh?'
Looking over her shoulder her gaze fell on the blonde once more.
[My name...is Diana.]
A grin spread over Chariot's face, waving at the other witch, as she walked away.
'I hope we'll meet again someday, Diana.'
A green light engulfed the redhead, separating her from the void completely.
[Don't worry, we will.]
2018
Diana couldn't believe her ears.
Was everyone beside her a blind moron?
She may not know what Croix would do to Ursula, but leaving her in the tech witch's care, seemed risky. As risky as handing Amanda O'Neill the Shooting Star and expecting her not to fly with it.
Absolutely unnecessary.
No, she couldn't let them do this.
Straightening herself up to her full height, she spoke, before Professor Croix could even contemplate the Idea:
"I will do it!"
Every head in the room turned towards her. In each of them, she could see absolute confusion, regarding her proposition. Even Akko seemed speechless, fixing her with a bewildered look.
Professor Finneran appeared to be the first one to get over her inability to speak, regaining her composure. Croix on the other hand had an easy smile upon her face, raising her eyebrows at her, urging her to go ahead.
Diana didn't like it one bit.
'What are you planning?'
"That is a preposterous Idea Diana", Professor Finneran's voice diverted her attention back to the vice principal. The other teachers began to murmur quietly in the room, agreeing with her, only Professor Holbrooke seemed to think about it, a serious expression on her face.
The blonde crossed her arms, looking at Finneran with a calculating gaze.
"How so?", she asked coolly, cocking her head slightly, "If you are currently understaffed, then shouldn't you be grateful for my offer?"
The vice principal exhaled harshly, trying to control her anger, at being called out like this.
"So", she said coldly, "you propose we let a student handle this matter?
Someone who is still largely inexperienced, nothing more than a child?
You believe you can do what none of your elders accomplished?"
Diana didn't like to call attention to herself, she just wanted to learn everything there was about magic. She loved it. She probably loved it as much as Akko. She didn't mean to be disrespectful towards her teachers, but...
"Yes", she replied evenly, not even blinking, "I do. Actually I already accomplished more than most of the Professors in this very room. For example, the dispute with the dragon."
A light chuckle was heard behind them. Croix held her hand over her mouth and laughed heartily.
Finneran glared at the tech witch, not at all amused.
"Do you have something to add, Croix-Sensei?"
The lavender haired witch shook her head, still chuckling to herself.
"No, by all means, continue."
The vice principal gritted her teeth, massaging her head gently, turning her attention back to Diana.
"As brilliant as your achievements were-"
"No, she is right, Finneran-Sensei", interrupted her Professor Holbrooke, folding her hands on the desk, "We shouldn't treat her like a youngling, rather like the great witch, she already appears to be."
Her gaze wandered to Diana, before she continued:
"You want to take care of Ursula-Sensei yourself?"
The Cavendish blinked surprised. Did the headmistress take her seriously?
Was there still hope to thwart this stupid Idea and protect Ursula?
'Thread carefully, this might be your only chance.'
"Yes", she answered, as composed as usual, inclining her head, "as it was me, who was with Ursula-Sensei at that day, it is my responsibility to nurse her back to health."
"That is-", began Finneran, but Holbrooke cut her of yet again, raising her hand.
"You realize, that this was not your fault Diana?", she asked gently, with kind eyes, a sad smile on her lips.
"Of course", conceded the blonde, still keeping her voice neutral, "but if I may be so bold, you have not the faintest Idea what ails her to begin with. And I am confident enough in my abilities to guarantee that I can find the cause of this sickness."
"Hm", pondered the headmistress, raising her hand to her chin in total concentration. Throwing a glance towards Finneran, she nodded.
"Finneran-Sensei", she said in a commanding tone, which startled the vice principal, "tell her everything we know about Ursula-Sensei's 'illness'."
"You cannot seriously consider-"
"Finneran-Sensei!"
Sighing Finneran inclined her head, fixing Diana with an unfathomable expression.
"Ursula-Sensei seems to suffer from a high unrelenting fever", she uttered defeated, "In addition to that, she also has strange fits, where she trashes around wildly. They are mostly paired with magical outbursts, but they appear to have lessened over time."
When she finished everyone looked at the blonde expectantly.
Diana closed her eyes, thinking intensely.
What did she already know?
Ursula collapsed after she felt a strong surge of magic in the room...
A flash of red light blinded her...
Fever episodes that didn't seem to stop...
Strange fits, magical outbursts, body spasms...
When did it lessen?
'Chronosphere!'
Right!
After Croix had talked about some transmission changes, Ursula had seemed better, so...
'Does Croix make her sick?'
One more reason to stop this madness from happening. If that were true, then she definitely couldn't be trusted to take care of the blue haired teacher.
So in the end, it probably wasn't a natural illness.
Maybe a magical one?
...
But nothing seemed to fit the description of the symptoms...
'I am missing something...'
"Psst, Sensei", whispered a familiar voice behind her, loudly, "is this a magic sickness, like that Sensorial Overload, we talked about earlier?"
A round of gasps swept through the room. Diana's eyes fluttered open instantly, turning around to face Akko.
'Sensorial Overload!'
"Don't be ridiculous", Finneran reprimanded the brunette sternly, "that illness is a mythos."
Pouting, Akko sprang forward, glaring at the older witch with contempt.
"That's a lie", she proclaimed hotly, "Chariot got it, when she was a child. It is no mythos at all."
'Chariot!
That's it!'
That was what she missed. Chariot was a witch with a natural sense for magic. And if she already got it in the past, then...
"Akko", she interrupted the silent starring duel between the brunette and Finneran, beaming at her with barely concealed pride, "you are a genius."
Turning around to face the headmistress once more she said with certainty:
"Ursula-Sensei suffers from Sensorial Overload!"
The defeated silence that followed rattled Diana.
Why did no one react?
Wasn't Finneran just talking about how ridiculous this theory was?
So why was no one arguing with her?
Professor Holbrooke sighed and smiled sadly.
"Only you would be able to astound us with your keen intellect, Diana", she said gently, a stricken look in her eyes, "who would have thought, that you and our Akko here, would figure it out, after all?"
A sinking feeling spread through her stomach, she didn't like where this was going.
"So, you tested me?", she asked quietly, glancing at Croix, out of the corner of her eyes, who still smiled smugly at her.
She couldn't let her win.
'I can't give up now!'
"Diana", Holbrooke began, only to be cut off by the blonde witch.
"Then I proved that I am more than capable to take care of Ursula-Sensei."
She desperately tried to keep her voice even.
"But how would you do that?", the headmistress stressed the point patiently, "You do have classes to attend."
'Don't give in!'
"I will skip them.
I already know everything for the exams."
"You can't skip all of your lessons.
We can't give you special treatment."
'But you can give me a ridiculously big room and special permission to use the library in the middle of the night?'
"Then...then Akko will help me", the Cavendish stated stubbornly, taking Akko's hand in her own.
"Huh?", the brunette spluttered startled, looking at Diana with surprise.
It didn't take long for the words to sink in and when they did, the young witch smiled brightly at her classmate.
"Of course", she agreed determined, "if this sickness is as dangerous as everyone says, then there is no way, that I leave Ursula-Sensei's side."
"That is enough!", said Finneran loudly, glaring at her two students, "We have already contemplated this whole issue, it is decided. Croix-Sensei will take care of Ursula-Sensei, if she agrees."
Everyone in the room turned their head towards the tech witch, who was still smiling lazily at the scene before her. Crossing her arms she replied charmingly:
"How could I decline, if Ursula-Sensei's life is at stake?
Don't worry Akko, I'll take good care of her."
'Of course you will.'
Looking between the tech witch and Diana, Akko seemed conflicted, squeezing the blonde's hand softly.
"Why are we not just calling for the person who healed Chariot?", she asked sheepishly, trying to lighten the mood.
"That's-", Diana began, but the puzzled look from the headmistress made her stop in her tracks.
"But we already did", she said perplexed, pointing at Croix with her hand.
'What the?'
Akko seemed a bit slower on the uptake than her, eyes flickering from Holbrooke's extended hand to Croix and back, until it apparently clicked, as she let out a surprised yell:
"You healed Shiny Chariot, Sensei?"
That was why she was so calm the whole time, her trump card.
How could she have been so blind?
Her ears started to throb, making her head spin in response. Tuning out the now muffled voices, she tried to calm herself down, failing horribly.
There was nothing she could do.
She was all alone.
'I never stood a chance from the very beginning!'
She couldn't stay here.
Walking to the door, she ignored the questioning glances from the teachers.
Someone called her name obviously concerned, but she couldn't make out who it was, for as soon as she opened the door, she ran.
Her feet carried her to the infirmary.
She had to wake Ursula...
There had to be a way...
Diana didn't bother to close the door, as she reached the sleeping Professor.
"You have to wake up!", she said loudly.
Ursula didn't react.
"Akko needs you!", she tried again, her voice cracking slightly.
Nothing...
She dropped to her knees slowly.
'What am I doing?'
"I can't do this without you."
Her breath hitched, as the throbbing in her ears got even worse.
"Please, Sensei, just open your eyes..."
She finally broke down, her mask shattered.
And then, there was a pair of arms holding her from behind, pressing her comfortably into another body. Getting lost in the warmth, Diana felt a faint jolt of magic running through her. Without being able to even think another thought, she blacked out.
July 2006
"Chariot"
Where was she?
"Chariot, don't ever do this to me again..."
Blinking the sleep away, the redhead, raised her head slightly, searching for the source of the voice.
"Please wake up..."
There, on her stomach, laid Croix's head, weighting her down, apparently crying. Chariot opened her mouth to say something, but the next words from her friend, made her stop in her tracks.
"I love you..."
Chariot felt her face getting hot, flushing as red as her hair. That was definitely an interesting way to get a confession. Not that she complained, because…
Croix loved her!
'She loves me!'
Suddenly nothing else seemed to matter anymore. Raising her hand, she caressed her friend's head softly. She was finally home.
"I love you too, Croix", she rasped slightly. Her voice sounded foreign to her ears and felt kind of scratchy. When was the last time she talked?
'How long was I asleep?'
She felt the head under her hand stiffen. Fidgeting fingers grabbed hers, squeezing gently, refusing to let them go. Croix raised her head slowly until tear streaked green eyes met their red counterparts. Chariot smiled mildly.
"I'm home", she whispered, looking longingly at the lavender haired witch.
Croix said nothing, staring at the redhead blankly, barreling forward, pressing the younger witch back against the mattress, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.
The kiss tasted salty, but Chariot couldn't care less, grabbing onto the older witch's shoulders, keeping them together. She never wanted to be parted from her again.
Breaking apart for a short moment, to catch their breaths, Croix whispered hotly into her ear:
"Never leave me again."
Before kissing her again, this time more roughly. Chariot shuddered, urging her on to continue, trying to erase every trace of 'that place' from her mind. Jumping slightly, as familiar hands began to wander, roaming gently over her body, igniting everything they touched. Subconsciously arching into them, getting lost into the feeling, she sighed contently until a soft cooing made them pause.
There, on the ground, sat the little crow, obviously protesting about something. Croix's enthusiastic greeting had apparently thrown the bird, from Chariot's chest.
Groaning in annoyance the older witch sat back up, leaning towards the floor and grabbed the little disturbance.
The crow cooed happily, pecking Croix's finger gently.
Chariot looked at her friend, totally out of breath, but with a beaming smile.
"Looks like Alcor likes you just as much as me."
"Alcor?", asked Croix amused, mustering the bird in her hand, "Really?"
Laughing embarrassed, the redhead scratched her head.
"I…kinda thought it fit him."
"It does", the older witch conceded, letting the bird go, "I literally napped him from the sky."
He cooed again, hopping on Chariot's head, spreading his wings, brushing against the electrodes, causing them to fall down.
"What's this?", asked the younger witch, grasping one of them, turning it in her hand.
"It's an electrode", explained Croix, motioning to her machine in the room, "I used them, to connect you to my magic output system."
'Magic output what?'
Chuckling softly, the lavender haired witch continued:
"It is essentially an artificial Leyline. It uses the excess energy from the sorcerer's stone and functions as another power source. I'm trying to generate magic in a new, modern way."
Modern Magic?
That sounded simply...
"Amazing, Croix", whispered Chariot awed, "do you think, that even non witches could use magic with this?"
Croix's expression froze slightly, gazing at the redhead with an unfathomable look in her eyes, as she smiled:
"Perhaps…I am going to be the greatest witch of all times after all."
Taking Chariot's hand gently, she pressed a soft kiss onto it.
"For sure!"