POV Narrator:
After the revelation that was made about Akko, she ended up isolating herself from everyone in the middle of the city of Glastonbury, with the intention of disappearing and never be seen again, even more so because the news came to her with the biggest shock, something that she didn't even expect, even more knowing that her idol was not only all the time around, but also, she had been responsible for the difficulty that Kagari has been going through lately with magic and even being the target of bullying many of these times. With all this concern the teacher Ursula came to warn the girls about the disappearance of the Japanese girl, starting a search there.
POV Diana:
I go flying with the broom arriving in Glastonbury, I hope Officer Morris really can solve the case fae us, I can't take all this drama anymore, I arrive through the town, I go tae the Ley line square where I notice that Professor Ursula was sitting on a bench, she seems tae be waiting for me, which I go to her, kind of strange tae see her around here, even more sae as she should be holding up Croix.
"Diana... Finally you came, we have a big problem" said the teacher.
"What happened? Why are ye here?" I ask her.
"A disaster, Croix lured me into a trap here in the city, which she trapped me into and used Akko's emotions for her machinations, now Akko knows everything, she knows who I am and this time we are trying to track her down" She said and I was left with a world falling on me, my expression turned tae utter concern.
"What? Nae that one! Akko can't know... And Croix? Where did she go? Go after her, I'll go after Akko, she might be at risk, in this cold she might freeze tae death, she must have run out of hope... She lost the biggest motivation to continue" I say tae the teacher who agrees with her head.
From there the teacher takes Ley's line going tae Luna Nova, I take a deep breath, I need tae find Akko at all costs, she won't make it through the first night out here if something happens, she's probably already emotionally destroyed and I'll be the one tae fix that, I walk a little further and see Lotte and Sucy calling fae her.
"Where did ye last see Akko?" I ask them.
"Oh Diana, I thought you were settling something more important" Lotte said.
"There is nothing more important than Akko at this moment, ye know her very well, where she liked tae stay the most and where ye saw her before she disappeared, ye're always together" I need tae know exactly.
"We last saw her on the main street, before turning into the square, she got separated on the way to follow some strange cubes, that's where Professor Ursula last saw her too" Answers Yanson.
"She usually likes to stay at The Last Wednesday Society, it was also there on that bridge where we met the first time, at the ley line portal we already checked properly, she's not there either, this time Akko hid very well" Sucy said.
"Thanks anyway, I'll find Akko even if I spend all night here, she must be devastated" I tell the girls who should know by now.
"Professor Ursula only said that she heard something quite shocking, I don't know what it is..." Manbavaran said.
"I know what it is, I'll tell you tomorrow when everything comes tae light" I say before going off on a more detailed search.
After this conversation I go walking in the middle of the square, I try tae see in the snow piles and nothing, there is nae presence of Akko here, if she is covered with snow things can get much worse, besides that also had the girls of the green team looking in the surroundings, what I dinnae think she can be in the square, it's too obvious... I remember the day she accidentally turned into a rat, Hope's village, could she be in that alley, with that I walk tae that alley, I remember clearly where it is, I also take a look at others, seeing that they had street people warming their hands in a fire barrel, I make sure to ask them.
"Have ye seen a girl with an outfit like mine and with straight brown hair?" I ask them.
"Are you going to give us some goo?" asks one of them, half drunk.
"This is a matter of life and death, I'll pay for yer drinks if I have tae, but ye can help me"
"I'm joking Scot lassie, we saw her, she's a bit stubborn, she doesn't want any blanket or anything, she'll freeze to death this way, we saw her in Grant's alley near the corner with Hugh, if that's the person you're looking for" said the homeless man and I take the opportunity tae take some 25 pounds tae give tae them.
"Okay, take this and buy whatever Scotch ye want, I have something important tae do, thank ye" I say that after handing over the money.
It's definitely nae in the alley where Hope's village is, it's in another corner, at least I have the idea where Akko is more precisely, I start running, a little feeling desperate, poor thing, she dinnae deserve such a thing, I need tae revive the Akko full of spirit from before.
I get tae the alley where they pointed, where I see a pile of snow, I get close and start tae take the excess, where I see her head, eyes pouring tears the sad countenance, I had never before seen her sae down like that, Akko was always cheerful and all up, full of herself, it broke me a lot.
"Akko!" I tell her who looks at me and then looks away.
"Go away Diana, you were right in the end that day, I don't have the capacity to be a witch... Even if you insist I'll never make it" She says in a half cold tone, besides being destroyed.
"Nae! Akko, please, I dinnae want ye tae go away, ye're too special, come with me" I say with my hand on her frozen face which was showing a melancholic expression still.
"It's no use Diana, this place is full of lies, I don't even know who to trust anymore" She said until I decide tae take a drastic measure.
"Ye can trust me then" I say this before bringing my face closer.
I hold her head, pushing fae a kiss, feeling all the cold that was circulating her, I want tae be able tae use this tae warm her heart, I went feeling her lips, her tongue, everything touching each other, a wonderful sensation, warming up inside until I am pushed by her own who dinnae even show tae be blushing.
"Would you like to leave one last kiss on me?" she said, nae caring.
"Nae! I want tae try tae warm yer heart by giving you my warmth, come on, I'll put ye up, I have things tae tell ye" I say holding her hand.
She held my hand, I went tae The Last Wednesday Society, where we sat at a table and from there I take something from my bag, which also has a little box, where I keep something very special, opening it I reveal tae Akko my Chariot card, which I only got much later and that makes her continue with the same semblance, which I thought could work.
"That girl with the tooth gap, who spoke unpronounceable English, who gave ye the card from Chariot, that girl is me Akko, I spent years and years trying tae buy that card, because I wanted one day tae get tae the girl I gave the card tae and say that I had got it too, it was the only card from Chariot of all my collection that remained, the rest my cousins tore them all up... I was that day too, I was also affected by the magic" I tell her that her expression changes and she takes the letter in her hand still half trembling, until Chum appears with a blanket.
"Your magic is believing in yourself, I knew you were her all along... You hide it very badly Diana, but then how... I was the affected one, you're the best witch in Luna Nova... I'm rubbish, I'm spent" She said putting herself down.
"I wasn't always like this Akko, back when I was younger I had difficulties, I suffered some pretty heavy bullying fae it, I could barely do spells right, look at that, look at how I was complete rubbish and a denial tae magic too, I suffered horrors, all because I was also in the same show, I was also affected" I tell her showing her a little in my crystal ball the visions of my past.
I decided tae show her a part of my past that embarrassed me a lot, when I still had my tooth gap, when I was a constant target for bullying, when I was having difficulties, tae try tae motivate her more, tae give her the idea that she can also reach where I reached, I show her how hard I worked tae get where I am now, I can even see some of her face change, things will get better, I am sure.
"Akko, ye have the greatest potential fae magic among all of us, I believe in ye, I know ye will be a great witch and together we will manage tae build this amazing witch that ye are, one day ye will be able tae perform magic in the blink of an eye and it won't be this magic that will stop ye".
"I'm already 15, you went through all this as a child, so you can understand why you did it... I'm too old, I don't have a chance anymore" She said until she put her finger over Kagari's mouth.
"Shhhhhh, dinnae think that way, I took time yes, but together we can build, one thing that I dinnae have and that ye have can help ye, I had tae work alone, I was put down all the time, I even wanted tae give up of being a witch because of that, even more that everyone made fun of me for being a witch, while also my family was putting me down mainly because I was already alone, I dinnae know that my mother was dying, she gave me the ticket and the plane ticket tae Japan sae that I wouldn't be at home tae see her die, what I feel all sorry fae, I love Chariot, but I wish I could be with my mother in her last moments, after that it was only downhill, I had tae put up with my aunt and cousins putting me down, making fun of me for my looks or for liking Chariot, always saying that I would never be a witch... Ye have something different Akko, ye have the support of everyone... . including mine, I know ye're going tae be a more impressive witch than me" I said, and seeing her finally smile, amidst her runny nose, I went on feeling accomplished.
"Do you really think so Diana?" Akko asks.
"I'm sure, ye deserve everything good, ye'll get through this and I know ye'll become a great witch, just like Chariot was" I cheer her some more.
"As long as I don't have to steal anyone's magic, I already feel better than her..." Said the girl herself half laughing, but in a melancholy way.
"Akko, I have some things tae tell ye about this... I also know the truth and it shocked me as much as ye can imagine, I hope ye are ready to listen" I tell her.
"I've heard worse today" She said even half trying tae laugh at the situation, but I notice her tone of voice is totally different.
I feel happy now, I can relieve this weight from inside me, finally let it out, she deserves tae know too, and even more sae that now Akko is on our side, I hope things really turn out well, I take a deep breath, I try tae think here, because it won't be easy.
After Diana tells all...
"So it was Professor Croix? She who ruined Chariot's career? She who made the magic-stealing device? Diana, what are we going to do about it? We have to clear Chariot by all means, she doesn't deserve to go through this, but Professor Croix has to pay" she said all in shock.
- Dinnae worry, I've got enough evidence tae get Chariot acquitted and Croix arrested, it's all going tae be over and we've got it all figured out, believe me, she's a good person, Chariot deserves that help, I just dinnae want tae involve you before because I know ye'd be shocked, I was myself, I felt destroyed and that's because I dinnae idolise Chariot as much as you did" I tell myself.
"We have to stop Croix's plans now, she will destroy Luna Nova this way, in the end all the cubes, it was a great manipulation, she wanted to use us for her experiments... What a cruel witch, just when I was starting to like it," Akko said as I stroked her now warm hands.
"Let's just pretend nothing happened, soon the WCI will arrive and surrender her fae good, we just have tae get ready tae see Chariot again, let's go back to Luna Nova, rest, sleep and tomorrow we'll meet with Chariot sae ye can talk everything ye want tae talk tae her" I say trying tae cheer her up, which she displays a smile full of motivation.
"Okay Diana, I just really want to be able to get to Professor Croix and say that she is a monster who ruined a child's dream, I can't believe I could believe and side with this woman... I feel destroyed... Anyway... Thank you for everything Diana I will not leave Luna Nova, I will do everything I can to make things better too, but don't leave me out anymore!" She said with a huge smile until we heard bells.
It was the girls entering The Last Wednesday Society, what Akko new them and goes running tae hug them in a way all honey and full of affection, where I'm watching everything, what a cute thing, it's really good tae see that things are working out and this way they'll have tae be, I'm happy that I could have helped in some way, then she comes and gives me the biggest hug too, but she practically dinnae let me go, I can even feel her face on my shoulder, where she was wetting it with her tears, which I dinnae bother a bit.
"Thank you Diana, you really found her" Lotte said.
"Alright girls, now let's go back to Luna Nova, tomorrow is going to be an eventful day for us" I tell them and they nod their heads in agreement.
"Hey, wait up! Aren't you going to stay here for a hot chocolate? It's on the house for those" Chum said and we decided to stay fae a while.
We all sat down, I could see Akko talking all extroverted and opening up again, things are slowly getting better and by the looks of things she dinnae open her mouth at any time about Chariot's identity, I think she understood the message I wanted tae send, it's good tae know she's finally back, radiant as ever, my sunshine.
A while later in Luna Nova...
We went tae our rooms, but before going back fae good, Akko decides tae go tae a more private place with me, where she holds my hand, making me blush a little, I'm even a little embarrassed, but I think it must be something else, I hope it is, because I dinnae even know if my emotion will be ready fae another kiss.
"Thanks really Diana, I'll try to hold on to whatever I can until the reveal tomorrow, anyway, I liked that kiss you know... It warmed a little my heart that was breaking, we could have another one of those don't you think" She said kind of pouting and I was getting a lesbian panic.
"Akko! Here? Ahhhh" I get a bit out of control and she brought our faces closer together, which we got tae give one more of the kisses, feeling her lips deep once again, this time she took full control and was dominant.
"This here's for what made me cheer up and for the kiss" She said after kissing me "And this here's for what made me keep it a secret, you're the girl I've been trying to find for years" She said after patting my arm.
"Okay astrid ah git th' message" I say half blushing, shuffling the words with my accent again.
"Oh Hiccup knows, you know where the reference came from, well anyway I'm going, I'll still destroy you in magic, you're my great rival after all... And you're also my moonshine" She said leaving towards the room and I went feeling as if I had taken an arrow in my heart.
Holy Lesbian Beatrix, I'm getting gay fae a lassie again, now I've really melted fae good for Akko... Ahhhhhhhhh... Will she date me? Ahhhhhhhhhhh... What do I do? I'm running out of focus... That's it, Diana Cavendish. Focus. Try tae keep your posture without getting gay panic. She was just being nice. Get a grip, Cavendish. I'm a denial with lassies. Ahhhh. I head back to the room, where I wave tae the girls who were having a cup of tea, I sit down with them and I think I'm going tae need some advice here.
"And so you're back at last Diana, what did you go and do today? "Hannah said.
"Tomorrow ye will know, but anyway, can ye help me with a little something?" I ask them half-heartedly.
"You finally admit you're in love with Akko?" Barb said and as she already knew.
"What?" I say in shock.
"And there's another thing? You're terrible at hiding your feelings for her, what was it this time, she touched your face with her finger and now you can't control your gay panic? Diana, Diana, we're not very experienced, but tell us what you've been feeling for Kagari," Parker said, and I took a deep breath, sitting down next tae them.
"It's a lot tae talk about, but also tae build, I dinnae even know where tae start, I'm nae like Hannah" I tell them.
"Hey, me and Amanda are still just friends, she calls me once in a while for something more, but from the look on her face I can already tell we're never going to get together, she's the kind of girl who's more of a loose cannon, apart from the times she's hit on Barbara too" Hannah said.
Meanwhile in the red team's room...
POV Akko:
I get to the room and see the girls there happy to see me, while my nose kept running, I guess I must have got too much snow today, by the nine witches, what a silly idea I went for, but at least I feel happy that Diana is always around putting me up.
"My suspicion has come true" I tell them.
"Which one?" Sucy asks.
"Diana is the girl I met at Chariot's show, she really was a Chariot fan in secret the whole time, hahahaha, it's kind of funny, but it was touching, knowing the story from her side, I already knew it was cruel, but coming home and losing your mother must be very painful" I reply to them.
"You really can't stop talking about Diana, something is brewing there Akko, you're going to tell me you've fallen in love with her" Manbavaran said teasingly.
"Ah stop exaggerating, I just have a huge appreciation for her, that's all, she is a wonderful person, who also went through what I am going through now, I now know how it is, I understand her better, I hope that one day we can get along better and I will also improve my magic, I will destroy my great rival once and for all" I tell the girls.
"Look how cute, they are going to be enemies to lovers" Lotte said and I blushed even more.
"They have chemistry, you can't deny that, and they match each other a lot, I can't wait to see where this couple goes hahaha" Sucy really doesn't stop picking on them.
"Ahhh, I'm not going to date Diana, she's my rival! I... Ahhhh, never mind, forget it, tomorrow you'll hear something shocking, it will be amazing" I say trying to get away from the subject.
"Look at her trying to run away from the subject, what a rascal hahaha" Sucy said continuing to tease.
"And what will you have tomorrow?" Lotte said.
"As I said it will be a shocking surprise, you will discover some truths from here in Luna Nova, I don't want to tell you because it will spoil the whole surprise"
"Ahhhh so there's gossip there" Sucy said.
I just shrug and stare at the ceiling of the bed, just thinking about what happened today, it was like a rollercoaster of emotions, I went from the bottom and now I'm back on top, all thanks to Diana... A rival who puts me up all the time, I swear I'll leave here being the best, she'll see how I can still beat her head on... The most important thing is that... She's fallen for me, Diana is terrible at hiding these things hahhaha, I admit it would be really cute to have something with her, but still in the whole issue of her life, I don't even know if she would want to put it forward.
In the Croix laboratory...
POV Croix:
71% how wonderful, it was really a whirlwind of emotions, so I have more than enough to continue my grand plan, soon I will get the Noir Rod, tomorrow I will put it all to work with gusto and nothing and no one will stop me anymore, I swear by the nine witches that now the magic will change.
"Satisfied now?" Said Chariot behind me, I even thought she would never see me again, so much so that I was thinking of quitting because of her.
"Look who's come forward, I see you haven't given up, Chariot Du Nord" I say to her in a debauched tone.
"It is I have come, I have to stop the worst from happening, I have to stop you really losing your humanity, I have given you the time to think, do you feel satisfied and happy about all this? Are you really the Croix Meridies that I fell in love with?" she said, and I could see that even Chariot was no longer hiding her red hair, which was beautifully long like this.
"Being honest, I don't feel like it, do you think I wanted to have destroyed the dreams and hopes of that girl? I was greedy I know, but all in the name of a greater sacrifice, think that Akko helped in the construction of a new era of magic, where we will be able to be freer" I tell her that then she comes closer to me even more to the point of putting me against the wall.
"I still don't sense a sincerity in your response Croix, I know you still have some of your humanity here, let's tell me, you'd be happy knowing you're doing all this and you're not going to have any more of that here" She said as she went to start unbuttoning my shirt a bit and also running her finger over my neck.
"Chariot... I..." I say half losing my touch.
"Can we at least say goodbye one last time mon amour?" I was already melting, lifting my leg, feeling Chariot's hand on my thigh, she still wants more.
"Chariot... You've gone mad... What about all that stuff from before? Do I deserve this?" I'm falling for it again, Chariot's charm is too irresistible, by the nine lesbian witches, I can't believe I'm going to end up in this.
"Let's give a reminder of our past a little Croix Meridies, let's see if you're still the same as before" She said eventually then leaning her thigh between my legs.
"Chariot... nhhhhhg,.." I'm already exploding.
"Something seems to have gone missing from those legs" she said, already discovering that I had surgery down there.
"I operated a while ago, now magic is doing the rest... I never got to..." She put her hand inside and I became even more sensitive.
"Well then, let's have one last time to debut this new thing" she said and I couldn't resist.
After a moment of love...
This has gone beyond what I expected, in my lab, me and Chariot, after 10 years we finally love each other intensely, but now it's different and I have something I always dreamed of having, but... I don't feel so happy, I don't know what happened, I was supposed to be jumping with excitement.
"Croix, why do you still want all this? Look what you're going to be without" she said as she stroked me.
"Chariot... It's not about me, it's about the world, it's about magic, I'm not doing this because I want to see myself succeed, I want witches to be able to have a better future, try to understand that" I tell her as I take a glass of water, and also hand one to her.
"At the cost of what? Stealing magic from children, ruining their dreams, all this being something directed at your envy of me being the chosen one, and it wasn't even my fault or anything" she said, then went on to drink her entire glass of water.
"Look I know there were sacrifices, but what part of the history of witches didn't? There's always going to be controversy behind it, Jennifer used her influence and manipulated the results, buying votes so she could become the representative of magic during the golden age of magic, back there the witches made a loan to Fafnir to get out of debt and used most of the money to squander instead of reforming here to preserve against future fires, and we know what happened in 1517, even you used the dream fuel spirit to boost your career"
"It's quite different, I didn't know what your dream fuel spirit did, you tricked me and don't try to lighten things up Croix, you could be different, imagine if together we found the last word, I would grant Gran Triskellion's wish... To... Your request... I always knew... That you were more capable of changing magic..." She was falling asleep and went deeply to sleep.
"Sorry about that Chariot, but it's no use trying to buy time, I have to do this, I know that was a tactic of yours, but magic can't wait" I tell her who was already asleep.
I start to put my clothes back on, I had to dope Chariot to be able to do this, otherwise everyone will realize what I am going to do now, I walk to my computer, turn on the screen and start the main plan, I press the buttons and the cubes start moving towards the tower of Luna Nova.
"Now it is all or nothing, when Luna Nova dawns and all this here will change, with the power of the Gran Triskellion I will manage to change everything in this world and bring back a glory of magic, but this time a new glory" I say looking at the screen.
Meanwhile I wait until she arrives, noticing that all the lights of Luna Nova were going out little by little, I know that it is a sacrifice to do, but it will be only for one night, I will return in the morning when everything finishes, soon the sorcerer stone arrives, I take it placing in the compartment of the Noir Rod, now it is all or nothing, I will need the power of this thing to supply my magic. I start to type and little by little the machine is filling up, starting there the load of the Noir Rod, soon we will have enough magic for me to break the seal, from what I could analyze the sorcerer stone is able to leave the Noir Rod with 30% of charge, then it was what I needed.
"Now stay there growing my child, tomorrow will be a new day in Luna Nova, we will start this new era" I say giving a few hand strokes through Noir Rod.
Then I return to the laboratory room seeing Chariot sleeping deeply, I take the opportunity to cover her, making her more comfortable, as well as her clothes that I leave turned to the normal side and on a hanger, that way she wakes up and can dress normally, she is so cute sleeping like that, a pity she doesn't want to be with me in my new plan.
"Good night Chariot" I say this kissing her forehead, then lying down next to her on the bed, sort of hugging her a little.
POV Narrator:
Akko was found after Diana showed up and also gave a speech to try and cheer up her friend to get her to hope in magic again, but in that also ended up letting a feeling of love between the two start to blossom, growing even more than usual, but on the other hand between Croix and Chariot things are coming to another end point, even more so with Meridies going for her last part of the plan, catching Du Nord off guard.
See you, disappeared witches...