POV Narrator:
Monday, 2 October 2017, Luna Nova
Due to the broom relay, Akko, Lotte and Sucy, ended up being punished because of the race that Kagari won unfairly, having to spend the whole weekend paying detentions that in this case was repairing broken brooms of the classes. The Monday arrives and before the classes start the trio arrives in order to settle with the headmaster and the teacher about a possible way out.
POV Lotte:
It's Today, I can't miss the Night Fall book fair, it's going to be a unique moment, Annabel Creme will be there, not only her but also GreatBen8103... I will finally get the chance to meet her, can't wait for that... Akko has been of great help to us now, she will really have the courage to go head to head with the headmistress, I hope we can get that chance.
We arrived at the headmistress's office and there was Miss Finnelan and also Miss Babcock and Miss Holbrooke herself.
"What do you want?" said the headmistress.
"Mrs Holbrooke please give us permission to go out to the city after class" Akko said begging even to the headmistress.
"They have finished repairing all the brooms already ma'am, I was able to check with Nelson, they have even done a decent job, I think they will be able to be released" Teacher Finnelan said and yes we gave them the hardest time because Akko made sure to work with everything when we were punished, she felt really guilty.
"I don't see why I shouldn't allow them, since they have done your detention work, but anyway, rules are still rules, but I can relieve you, I think you have learnt your lesson with hard work and well done, I would leave you all week of detention here, but you can leave if it is so important to you" said the director and my eyes start to shine with excitement.
"Akko thank you so much, you saved our day, you have no idea how happy I am to finally be able to go to the Night Fall fair for the first time" I say delighted even hugging my friend, but it seems like everything would fall apart again.
"I saw Miss Kagari stealing pies in the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, one of the goblins who work in the pantry told me about it, so she is causing financial damage to our academy, I would not release them so soon Miss Holbrooke" said Professor Babcock.
"Well unfortunately that's one thing to consider, I could punish you more severely, but I will ease up a lot, you will just stay in detention inside Luna Nova until the week is up," said the headmistress and now my world fell apart.
"Please Mrs Holbrooke, if you are going to punish someone punish me, not them, the one who did something wrong was me, don't make them worse... It's important for Lotte to go to the event, I can handle it" I said to Akko relieving me.
"I can't do that, you are a team, if one of you does something wrong, the others have to suffer the consequences too, so that you understand once and for all that you will have to think carefully about every action you take, they can affect everyone, that's it then you can leave" said Mrs Holbrooke.
I left the room broken, holding myself not to cry of frustration, how can after everything we still get away with this, the two teachers didn't even stand by us, this is all so sad, but Akko didn't mean anything by it, we were starving, she stole the pies for all of us, she didn't do it just to cause trouble, she did it for our own good, we had no money to eat and she was only doing what she could, unfortunately now my world has fallen apart... I don't know what I'm going to do without being able to go to the fair.
Later after school in the courtyard of Luna Nova...
I was quieter than usual the whole time, it was like a feeling that was eating me up, a day that I'd waited so long and looked forward to, and now it's gone out of my hands, and I can't do anything about it, and it happens every year, when would I have the opportunity to see Annabel Creme again? I wouldn't even be alive to see the current one, or I would be too old.
"You seem to really love Night Fall huh, Lotte" said Sucy.
"I love Night Fall, it's my favourite book, it has everything a good story has, romances, intrigue, mysteries, investigations, magic... These books are what encouraged me as a child, when I could enter the world where there is Arthur and Edgar, and the beautiful Belle" I say with passion.
"Sounds like a cool book, how many of those are there?" Akko asks and I get all excited to answer.
"365 and today I was supposed to get issue number 366, new and written by Annabel Crème" I tell them who are shocked.
"Wow, I don't know how you managed to read all this and still be so young, it would take me years and even decades to finish all this, it's simply too much text" Sucy said.
"Unfortunately now all of that has come crashing down with this whole Principal Holbrooke thing"
"Oh well, if it isn't the three girls with the trouble, make sure they aren't arguing about Night Fall, what a cheesy little book isn't it Barb" Said Hannah, who showed up without me noticing, just to cause trouble.
"That's it Hannah" Said her friend agreeing with her head.
"If you have nothing else to do, get out of here!" Akko said and they laughed.
"We have, we will not stay here watching a cheater and her friends around here, who like this mediocre book, so much that we will go to this fair and then tell detail by detail what was there to give even more envy, no one told you to cheat against our Diana" Barbara said and I was getting more and more crestfallen but she left at least.
"I'm serious, don't let them get to you Lotte, it's just a silly fair, we can go to another one, it's really bad that I messed it up" she said and I couldn't stand it, after those comments.
"Akko! There won't be another one! These fairs are super rare and still happen in this city! All plans have been ruined and I can do nothing but lie down and cry!" I say somewhat angrily.
"Woah easy there Lotte" said Sucy.
"I can't stay calm, it's a once in a lifetime chance" I say getting all down then sitting on the bench looking down.
All that was rising in me was frustration, even getting a bit out of hand, I just wish I could attend this book fair, all I wanted to be able to do, but unfortunately fate wants me to not even be able to do that, but then I see Akko's hand holding me.
"Lotte, do you want to do this? Then let us do it anyway" Akko said, getting up.
"But what about detention?" Sucy asks.
"Fuck detention, you guys rest in case they catch us and throw us in detention, I do the hard work, I can't let my friend down like this, we're going to that book fair is now" Said the silly Akko already thinking of a miraculous plan.
The three of them go to the bedroom, where Lotte puts on a cosplay of the main character and then they sneak off to where the pantry is, which Akko discovered is also where they unload products.
I must admit that this is something I've never done, breaking the rules to go see Annabel Creme, I'm sure it will be worth it, we get inside the truck compartment just in time, we run out and I was even laughing a little bit, feeling the truck passing by Ley's line.
A unique feeling of freedom, I could never think of doing something like that in all my life, it's very strange, but at the same time it leaves me so free, ahhh, this is wonderful, the feeling that I'm travelling so I can see the Night Fall fair.
We got to a point where the truck stopped and with that Akko was looking outside, where she signaled us to get out and I excitedly went with Sucy too, where we went looking from one side to the other.
"Finally! Thank you for everything Akko, you really are the best friend I could have - I say happily and excitedly hugging her.
"I just did what any friend would do, now let's go and enjoy some - Akko said and I obviously went to enjoy it.
POV Narrator:
And off they went, with Lotte getting enchanted with each person present at the Night Fall fair, practically identifying each one of the girls that were there, what was even causing a strange was the presence of Hannah and Barbara passing by, where Parker seemed very excited, but that without showing it to her friend Hannah since she didn't want to be discovered for that.
The ride was also interesting when Lotte met GreatBen8103, her friend who was always talking at night using the crystal ball and discussing the history of the books.
Then comes one of the most awaited moments of all, Annabel herself shows up.
POV Lotte:
I can't believe this is actually happening, this is the best moment of my life, I just needed to get out there, walk around, I never thought it would be this easy, even more so since there would be so many people even from Luna Nova who appreciate the book, I even found it a bit weird that Hannah and Barbara showed up, even more so since they had mocked us earlier, when we went to see her, the big Annabel who was actually not that big, actually kind of small I would say.
"What? Is that girl the author of the book? She wrote all 365 books? How can that be?" Akko asks.
"Young lady? She's more like a child anyway" adds Sucy and they don't know anything anyway.
"She is like that because of magic" Akko asks.
"She is incredibly beautiful... What a big woman" I'm simply too enchanted by her beauty to answer the girls.
"Annabel you have something to say to the fans" One of the presenters says into the microphone and she takes off her headphones.
"Ah... Thank you" She said then turned and I just felt my heart palpitating, this girl is being the reason for my bi panics, it's not enough the beautiful Arthur and Edgar, now the author is a beauty too.
"What a stuck-up girl I am, huh, is that all?" Akko said.
"Tell me about it, and what's more, the crazies are falling for it, aren't they, Lotte?" said Sucy.
"She is wonderful... I would do the dishes for her" I say delighted and the two girls get a bit of a look on their faces, I also notice a similar reaction with none other than Barbara too and I even see an expression of strangeness on Hannah's part, I think someone is also a Night Fall fan and has been hiding around.
Wow it's really wonderful to experience that, I never thought breaking the rules was being this fun, even if the worst happens I think the day is more worth it than anything.
"Alright, now that we have had short words from our Annabel who writes thousands of words in her book we will start a quiz and in it we will test the knowledge of our readers, let's go the first question, it is beginner level, where did the maker of the gloves Belle got from her great grandmother move to? - The announcer said.
"Come on, who would know about something like that?" said Sucy and everyone around us raised their hands, just like me.
"Right, the girl with the dark hair and almond eyes? - I looked to the side and saw Barbara which already made me weird.
"43.5 White Street north of Granpiashire - She replies.
"The answer is very correct - said the announcer, now this damned girl who keeps mocking us wants war and war she will get then.
"How did you know that Barbara - Hannah said and she just goes shrugging.
POV Narrator:
The quis was continuing with several hits coming from Lotte, Barbara and GreatBen8310, the three were becoming the great finalists, but due to a silly little mistake Parker ended up making a mistake, leaving only the two participants who were on fire answering the questions with everything, knowing the most specific information about the book which scared Akko, Sucy and especially Hannah, who was getting no idea that her friend simply liked Night Fall and was also one of the great connoisseurs of the book.
Until the last and final question, which was much more personal to Annabel herself, about which flower was grown in the bakery where the teacher's father-in-law used to go, GreatBen8310 was wrong in pointing out the Sommerset bakery and Lotte was left scratching her head.
POV Lotte:
That's specific, even too specific, roses... No... I wonder what the flower is, that's specific information at a very high level, not even in the book, in any chapter I remember seeing that... Wait a minute, the cover of Annabel's mobile phone, is it really that, well it's worth a try, if I get it right here it will be very good.
"Hydrangeas!" I say, and I see a hitting sound coming.
"And the girl in the red hoodie is the champion, come here to pick up your prize" Said the announcer and I went nervously waving to everyone.
"She's pretty nervous," said Sucy.
"I would stand like that in front of Chariot too" Akko adds.
"And Annabel's gift is none other than Annabel's favourite fountain pen!" Said the announcer and I get right in front of it and I keep having my bi panic, but I keep holding myself back.
"You must really love Night Fall" She said in such a cute and velvety voice, I never imagined she would have a sweet voice like that ahhhhh, I swear I would be a little bitch to her on the spot.
"Yes, of course, I love you very much... you... I mean, Night Fall" I answer her all shuffled and flushed.
"So you love Night Fall, do you? And you'd like that right?" She hands it to me and I just nod.
"Yes..." I say shuffling and she hands over the pen and then disappears like a magic pass.
"You're the next Annabel, the author of Night Fall is not just one person, I'm the twelfth Annabel and now you'll be the thirteenth, you'd better write soon, because if you don't have new chapters of Night Fall, the book could die" She whispered in my ear and I was scared all over, pen in hand.
"Woah What a turnaround huh, they are quite typical of Night Fall, who would have thought, and now with that we close the presentation" Said the presenter and I was getting desperate.
I started to look around, I can't carry this weight on my back, I'm not a good enough writer to carry on Night Fall's legacy, I couldn't handle the heavy criticism that would come with it, I think I'll find a way to follow her, but which way? She doesn't look like a witch, she must have used some trick I'm sure. I looked at the ground and noticed that she made a little smoke grenade, until Akko and Sucy arrived.
"Come with me, we have to find the whereabouts of Annabel Crème" I tell them.
"What? But why?" They said.
"If I continue with this pen I will be the thirteenth, it's apparently a curse of the writers and I can't carry this weight, I don't even know how to do a fanfic, let alone write several volumes of books" I tell the two and we go running after the girl's tracks.
Now it is going to be very exciting, in search of my idol again, I never thought they were several, so this is already a good sign, my favourite has been precisely the last of them that is this little girl, she wrote the most creative and intense parts of the book, I will love to give it back to her.
POV Narrator:
The search was intense, at the same time Barbara also runs away from Hannah, leaving in search of Annabel herself, not being very satisfied with the result and already causing even more suspicions around England itself that was finding very strange all the reaction and the way in which her friend acted all the time, especially for knowing many things about the book that she considered very cliché and not very good.
It didn't take that long and they eventually found Annabel who was sitting in the middle of the grass relieved that she no longer had her pen while fiddling with her mobile phone, behind the bushes there was Barbara watching and with that Lotte, Akko and Sucy went towards the girl to talk to her as well as Parker.
POV Lotte:
Until she didn't go too far, which is a relief, I can give it back in time before the worst happens, I get close to her, I also see Barbara coming, how strange, but at the same time I'm already feeling a rivalry, we get together until the girl, closing her so she doesn't run away anymore, now we'll settle the score.
"I can't accept that Annabel" I tell her.
"But why? You're a Night Fall fan, accept my gift" she said.
"Yes, I think that's strange, Lotte, you're not a fan of Annabel and Night Fall, imagine the opportunity you'll have to write your own stories based on the story you like so much, it will be like a fanfic of great style" Akko said and Barbara was getting amazed.
"Akko I am not like you are with Chariot, I don't want to become Annabel and do everything she does, I just appreciate her art and want to continue to appreciate it, please Annabel, I can't carry this weight" I tell her who got all stubborn.
"It's yours now" she said.
"What? So Lotte is going to be the new writer? Girl you are crazy, I don't even know if she can write properly, her last volumes have been the best ones" Barbara said.
"When Arthur went into space" I say complementing.
"It was a clear desire of his, it's been identified by expert for ages, as has the Oedipus complex he has, any Night Fall fan recognises this" Barbara even knows quite a bit I think we're tuning in here.
"But still few like it" she said.
"And even more few will like my writing, I have no talent" I tell her.
"And as for the prison story, the one where Belle gets a nuclear warhead, the a cappella championship, they were all spectacular, the last few volumes are pretty amazing, please Annabel, don't stop writing for these two fans, I don't understand how anyone doesn't like it, it can only be something in poor taste" Parker said helping me, finally this girl has gone to do something useful on our side.
"It's interesting, but nobody likes it, I get heavy criticism all the time, just for being myself in the writing" she said.
"And what is your favourite story?" We asked her.
"Volume 363" Annabel replies.
"When did Edgar lend Arthur the shoehorn?" I ask.
"This I always wanted to write, it was the moment I could live my happiness there, where my creativity caught fire" She said and I also see Hannah kind of coming and getting kind of floored with the girls
A Conversation of three fangirls talking about specific details after...
"You see Annabel, your stories are amazing and captivating, you as a fan can make Night Fall even better, bringing the magic that only those who really love history can bring, you are unique among us" I say to her that then ends up taking the pen from my hand.
"Look I thank you once and for all for everything you have done for me, I will continue yes, thank you for the motivation you two, if you have fans like you then I will continue writing to see more of your smile on your faces, be sure that soon you will have new volumes much more interesting" She said hugging us.
After the hug, she left, Akko even had a smile on her face in front of me, Hannah seemed to have the expression that she was doubting everything, I can only imagine what's going to happen with that, Barbara was all blushed on our side.
"What the fuck was that Barb? You like that cliché?" said Hannah.
"I like it, so what? No more hiding it, you also like shameful things and nobody says anything, Diana always said she likes women and we never even questioned it, you're going to criticize me now because my taste is different" she said and wow, it seems that this girl has more layers than I thought, I always found them a bit empty.
"Fuck, what a cliché thing to say, we'd even report you to the teachers, but I don't think Barbara would ever speak to me after that" Hannah said.
"You what?" Akko said.
"I would even be a bit bad for missing the quiz, but the moment with Annabel was priceless, thanks to you guys for bringing it to reality, I would say you were the coolest of the three Lotte, now let's get back before it's too late" Barbara said and we nodded in agreement.
"Wow, but Night Fall... Seriously Night Fall, so much to like that's cool, but then this huge, cliché book Barb" Hannah said and I was just laughing at her reaction.
"Now you're going to stop being my friend because I like Night Fall?" She said and England got all indignant.
"Of course not, this is absurd already, you're my best friend, I'm not going to put aside a friendship because of a book you like and I think it's cliché, our friendship is worth more than that" Said the brown haired one and now it seems even cool to see them having this side.
"Shocking even would be if Diana was a Shiny Chariot fan hahahahahaha" Barbara said and that kind of got Akko a bit miffed.
"Oh come on, you're going to pick up on this again, I'm behind you guys you know" said the Japanese woman who was already feeling sorry for herself.
"Exactly why Akko, but anyway the day wasn't that boring" Hannah said as we reached the ley line.
In Luna Nova...
We arrived there and when we landed we simply bumped into teacher Ursula, teacher Finnelan the headmistress Holbrooke, Diana and also teacher Babcock holding the GreatBen8310 costume, so the teacher that was her... I didn't know that, interesting, but at the same time now there is no escape from it apparently.
"And apparently we're in trouble, aren't we?" Akko said.
"You are in a lot of trouble" the headmistress said to us.
"Minus Hannah and Barbara" Diana said.
"Except for them, they were only accompanying the criminals" Professor Finnelan said.
"Look girls, I'm sorry, but we didn't expect that, stay there with you" said Barbara, who then left and we saw that the situation was getting ugly.
"Well I will leave the punishment to babcock's discretion, she told us that you were leaving Luna Nova by some means, so if you tell her it may be that the suspension is less worse, anyway, it was against the rules to break detention" said the director.
"Now let's see if eliminating at quiz was worth it Miss Yanson" She said with a sadistic smile.
And the punishment was decided, clean the Trolls' latrines in the Luna Nova underground...
The smell in here is terrible, but at least it's not tidying up brooms, you can tell Akko is getting a face like he's not enjoying this at all, I can imagine what it's like, but at least today was fun, despite the hardships.
"Look Akko, thanks for today, really, if it wasn't for you I would never have gone to the fair and I would never have met my idol" I tell her.
"You know, you made me see something that put a lot of admiration in me which was the fact that you don't want to be their idol, you appreciate their things and not only did you do that, you managed to put her up, to keep doing what she is so passionate about, Lotte that is an admirable thing, even that stupid Barbara helped, who knew" Akko said.
"I think your presence may have also influenced that, I talked to Barbara after the punishment came through the crystal ball, she told me it was thanks to you being so out of the wardrobe with your admiration of Chariot that it ended up giving her a bit of motivation to express herself and hit out at Hannah who is outraged about the whole thing still" I say leaving her with even a bit of a smile on her face.
"I still want those Diana's bitches to fuck themselves, they are too privileged, they should be here with us, but this is slave work, and the worst kind, I'm a scholarship student, but you two pay to stay here and are working for free, I don't know how nobody revolted against it before" Akko said and I was kind of trying to find the most obvious answer.
"These are Akko traditions, this is part of the traditions to educate badly behaved pupils since always, we should respect traditions as witches, since if we keep breaking these traditions magic can die by itself, it's the only way we have to keep magic alive" I explain to her.
"For I think it's the stupidest thing there is, traditions this, traditions that, if slave labour is a tradition then witches are fucking shit, did Chariot really think that was right?" I tell them and they kind of shrug
"Anyway that's funny" Sucy said.
"Funny where? That's slave labour" Akko said.
"Funny because we are literally in the shit hahahaha" Said sucy being funny and I even got a few giggles out of it.
"Ah, Akko, it's not all terrible, is it? In Japan, can you tell me it wasn't like this when you guys got up to mischief?" I ask her.
"No? We have never done slave work for behaving badly, we go to the headmaster's office and then we end up having to stay after class, as has happened many times to me, besides the voluntary cleaning that always happens, but that's it, a voluntary cleaning, something that is to create awareness among us that the school belongs to everyone, not just to one, that we should preserve, but there is nothing like that here, we have some very absurd and archaic things that I noticed, there is no reason to use fairies and spirits to light the lamps, we could use electricity, We could use electricity, or fire spirits to have hot water in the bath, we could use gas to heat the water, this thing of denying basic technology to preserve tradition is the biggest nonsense there is, look at Constanze, she can make all those modern equipments using magic, there's how to make magic change for the better, even in bringing well-being to everyone, there's no reason to force us back to the Middle Ages" Akko said and I noticed that teacher Ursula was watching everything and I nudged her a little.
"Akko" I say to her.
"What is it?" she said, a little agitated.
"Professor Ursula heard everything, not for nothing no, I think this could get worse on our side" I tell her and I see Akko getting a kind of scared expression.
"Oh shit, sorry girls..." She said with a downcast face.
"Don't worry about me girls, just keep it down, Miss Finnelan or Babcock might listen, I'll turn a blind eye to that, now we just need to finish the job, come on you can do it" She said and I kind of like this teacher, she is the only one who thinks more to our side, while we are always getting screwed by the older teachers who annoy us all the time.
POV Narrator:
That was the Night Fall fair, an event that Lotte managed to go to in a twisted way after everything that went on, with Akko's way of always going for the loopholes, But unfortunately it didn't work out so well when the GreatBen8310 was none other than Professor Babcock herself, who got the girls into a lot of trouble when they were discovered breaking the rules and now face one more session of forced labour, which is hidden by the premise of detention, where Kagari's revolt against this system is already noticeable.
See you, writer witches...
Lotte Yanson
Date of birth: 6 September 2001
Place of birth: Helsinki, Finland (Finnish)
Height: 1.56m
Weight: 47kg
Sexuality: Bisexual
Gender: Female (cis)
Occupation: Student (Luna Nova 2014)
Measurements (bust / waist / hip): 77/60/80
Hair colour and appearance: Yellowish blond, short, straight 1A, reaching down to the neck with some fringes passing over the forehead, usually tied with a bow
Eye colour and shape: Blue
Physical appearance: pale Caucasian skin, presence of freckles, wearing glasses, slim build, short stature
Likes: Night Fall, books, romance, singing, magic
Dislikes: Missing out on anything Night Fall related, having one's books touched, any nasty remarks about one's favourite work
Lotte is a sweet and gentle girl, she's the biggest fan of the Night Fall book series, knowing every specific detail of her favorite book, so since she was very young, she shows a huge ability with the spirit control also in the matter of going after finding someone, Besides being a person that is very affectionate and always tries to help the others as she can, as she did with Akko, since when she was a child she never had anyone to help her, only her spirits, but soon this was becoming something useful, since she uses them and the music to do very well in the classes.