POV Narrator:
Saturday, 24th March 2007, Dublin, Ireland
Croix and Chariot's relationship got better after that mess in Wagandea, starting a relationship that would be full of love, in the middle of this time, Du Nord even introduced his girlfriend to his family, who could meet the Meridies, besides some walks they took, The Italian girl then went to Ireland for a few days on a call from her mother, and her girlfriend had an appointment for a performance in Belfast, near where Croix and April live, so during the performance there was a conversation between Meridies, Jordan and McLaren about a future plan involving the boss.
POV Croix:
Wow I can't wait to graduate soon, Chariot is going through the worst things at the hand of that Alan, I honestly can't stand that businessman, he is ripping off my girlfriend's money and on top of that destroying more of her career, should be some talk with them about it, because if it is I am all willing to do, I want to help my girlfriend's career take off for good, it will be a resounding success.
"It's good to see you've got a bit of humanity in you Croix, but look we need to talk about something you're going to 'ave to do for us, it's about de boss" Laura said.
"Oh, did you guys find out more about the boss?" I say curious.
"You'll find out, keep up de plan of pretending to be de prodigy student, when you get enough attention from de boss you'll start working for him, do whatever services you need to gain his trust and find out de identity of the boss" McLaren said and I was getting a bit shocked.
"But... What if it's some job that will be very controversial? I don't want to cause any harm just because of the boss" I said to them a bit reluctant
"You don't 'ave to, we only called you because you are de most likely to gain the trust of dis boss, since we are de revolutionaries 'ere, you are not seen like dat by him, so you can be a vital piece in dis fight" said Laura.
"I didn't say I don't want too, what I want most is to find out the identity of this damned boss, he killed my other mother, killed Eleanora, plus a lot of people, besides separating you from your wife, I'll do it, you bet, when I find out the identity of the boss I'll tell you and together we'll defeat him once and for all" I speak very motivated and even put my hand in the middle for her who smiles at me.
"Dat I like to see Croix, you see how you don't need Claiomh Solais to change de world, it's just you having actions is the most important ding" Said my mother stroking my head.
"I still feel a little jealous for not being the chosen one, but the important thing is that I should accept, after all Chariot is an incredible witch, she shows why she deserved the staff, she is doing great things that I never thought of, we just need to find the final word soon, but we never find anything, it even seems that Woodward wants to test us or something like that" I tell them.
"If you keep working as a team maybe you'll get dere, but for now it's you striving to change de world together" Mrs McLaren said.
"Just first of all, don't tell Chariot anything, when de plan is at a more critical point, den you tell 'er, she has to 'ave some of de negative reactions and not 'ave the slightest idea of what is going on, so it makes everything more believable to de boss" Explain my mother and this I know.
POV Narrator:
The plan was given and Croix was already quite willing to give it her all if it means defeating the boss to succeed in changing the world, soon Du Nord returns from the presentation, the couple goes on to have a few days of spring break full of romance, enjoying that they can show that love more often without the restrictions of Luna Nova.
When they returned to class things went according to plan, Croix still didn't show much proximity to Chariot, so as not to provoke anything and until then things were pretty calm, although sometimes the other students threw insults at Du Nord due to discover that she was performing as Shiny Chariot, this was something that
became a reason to joke the whole school, because they found the choreographies a childish and silly show that didn't add anything, she was soon becoming a laughing stock in school with this discovery.
Croix was going about trying not to intercede to go ahead with the plan and her girlfriend understood that she couldn't by that compromise the couple's relationship, which were pretty heavy times in the third term before Meridies graduation. In the midst of this time Croix ends up receiving a paper in hand about a proposal.
Sunday, 8 April 2007, Place unknown
Croix was waking up from another normal day, where she would go to the tower of Arcturus with Chariot, there was the safe place where the two would take the opportunity to catch each other from time to time or else go to each other's room to play, but that morning something different happened. Croix received a letter with a butterfly on top of the envelope, when she opened it she could find a very peculiar message.
POV Croix:
What can that be? A butterfly over the letter, is it the boss, I don't doubt it, wait, that's a moth, can you call him Black Moth or have you already taken this name, but anyway, let's see what's here, I open the envelope and see that the paper is well written, there's formality.
"Turn up at Glastonbury Square at 10:30am, don't think about being even a minute late, let's have a dialogue about business, I know you'll be very interested"
Then the letter catches fire by itself and I let it go, seeing that it was destroyed, I suspected so, this boss is not stupid at all, it took a while, but I managed to call this guy's attention, I go to my wardrobe, just to get some clothes, I have to be more discreet, so they won't think it's me, I put on a white sweatshirt and these black trousers too, so no one will notice me.
I leave the school by the ley line, I look at my mobile phone, it was close to the time, now I just have to wait, I stay at the exact location, this boss didn't make it clear, what will be the signal that was given. Not long, I see that Chariot even sent some messages, I warn her that I'm going to buy some things to eat, which she answers with an Ok. Soon I notice that there is a light flashing in a bush, it must be there.
I walk towards that bush and strangely there's nothing there, what a weird thing, I swore I would find...
Croix is fainted on the spot by a blow that she didn't even notice, when she woke up she was in adark room, where there was the boss, wearing a tunic that covered the whole body...
I open my eyes, someone must have hit me, damn it, I knew I couldn't trust the boss so blindly, now he's captured me and he's going to keep me as a hostage in this room, I hope I don't end up hurting anything, it must be part of the plan, I see the boss appears, wearing a scarlet hood, a darkness was inside preventing me from identifying him and in his eyes a red light was shining, he sits down right in front of me and looks at me.
"Are you going to kidnap me?" I tell him teasingly, I have nothing to lose and I just watch him shrug.
"I'm sorry for my methods, but how can I trust my location to a witch who has just met me, you have to have a notion that I have a point here, I just came to discuss a plan, I know you can be quite useful in this Croix Meridies" He said and I go giving my neck a stretch which was hurting.
"Ah well subtle this way of introducing yourself, now tell me what do you want with me? Why are you interested in someone who is against what you believe, I am a witch who works with technology where I will be useful in your mission?" I ask him, who laughs.
"I'm not as moral as you think I am, but anyway, I know you're very upset that Claiomh Solais' chosen one is Chariot Du Nord, after all a girl of her calibre deserves such a thing? Her of all people? You'd be more deserving of this, but for this I thought I'd give you an opportunity, you'll be able to help us with our plans, from now on, I want you to be the manager of her career, you'll bring more relevance and technology to call attention, I know you can do these things" Said The Boss
"Sorry to interrupt but you asking me to do this? I'm going to help someone you don't want to see succeed but for what reason? Why am I going to do that? It doesn't make a bit of sense, you're really just helping to cause a revolution or something" I tell him who shrugs his shoulders.
"Oh Croix Meridies, you really have a small brain, or you have no idea what I'm doing, that's exactly why you come in, I want you to be useful to give that impression to those rebellious witches that the world is changing in their favour, when the time is right I'll make my way, trust me I'll make you escape from this, I've even
drawn up some plans of what you're going to do" He said handing me some folders and I was even getting tense, I don't know what to do, it was so fast.
"What is it?" I ask him.
"Well, this you will do and when you get the most relevant and expensive presentation you will use according to the plan, until then I just want you to intervene and improve the level of Du Nord's presentations, don't worry about the financial issue, I guarantee you enough for you to leverage her career to success and also so that you can build the machine that is in the plan - said the boss who put a bag on the table and when he opened it he showed that it was full of money.
I am perplexed, this is not such a silly thing, this is something big in front of me, it's not even a question of how much money there is here, but how much power this boss has, worst of all I can't even say anything or else I'll end up dying here, I even take a deep breath because I don't want to compromise the mission.
"And so Croix Meridies, do you accept?" I nod and shake the boss's hand.
"I will do what you ask" I tell him who after a while winks and
In that blink Croix is again knocked unconscious by a beam of light from the boss, eventually wakingup in her room on Luna Nova, which is quite strange in itself...
And again this boss leaves me stunned, at least he didn't kidnap me, I look around and see that it's my room, I could recognize by the posters and also my video game, I notice that things are on my side, the suitcase full of money and also just the briefcase, what I'm getting up and looking around, there's no one, I put the suitcase under my bunk, then I take the briefcase, where I'm seeing in detail what it was that the boss was talking about.
"Magic potential supply device, using children's potential magic, will bring a light show and also give an illusion to audience and audience who will get more excited by using the active device"
What? This is absurd. I can't do something like this. I can't risk Chariot's career with something like this, that's why the boss said I'd be important, I'll... I'm gonna... Damn it... I don't have much choice, do I? The way the boss has shown that he can know every step I take, it's really risky and dangerous.
I keep it in the suitcase full of money and then go to where Chariot is, where she sent more messages
[Chariot: Croix where are you?]10:55
[Chariot: Croix I'm worried, it's important, come here] 11:21
[Chariot: I am at the door of your room, you are not here] 11:30
[Chariot: I am in the courtyard of Luna Nova, let's talk love, a terrible thing happened today] 11:40
I go walking to Luna Nova's yard, I see that she is on a stool, all sad, you can see that she is crying and nobody even called, I go running to her half worried and I start stroking her head and she looks up to me with that cute look, she even takes my hand and passes it on her face.
"You finally came, I was getting worried, I already thought you had been kidnapped" She said and I give a smile.
"Oh Chariot, did something happen to you?" I ask her who shakes her head.
"Something horrible happened Croix... Alan, that disgusting guy, he wanted to offer naked pictures of me so I would be more successful, not only that but he offered sex as a way to pay more for my performances, I clearly denied and he stood there complaining that I'm a failure and that I only caused him harm... I... I... I tried to impose myself, he came all imposing on me, I pushed him and Alan said he will never work with me again" she said and I was pretty devastated too.
"Oh no, that's horrible love, just when you've made such a success as Shiny Chariot, he goes and does that to you? Well at least you showed him you have dignity" I say to her who nods her head in agreement;
"I'm 17, Alan would be arrested if he tried to promote this kind of thing, besides I would never subject myself to it" I take her chin and give her a smile.
"It's not the end of everything you know, I was already going to make you this offer, in fact I went out to get money, I took out a huge loan, everything to boost your career in a few days, Chariot now I don't care so much about looks anymore, you've got a new manager, I already wanted Alan not to work with you anymore, now we are going to work together and you are going to keep a good part of the money you earn from the performances, if not all of it, I just want to see you succeed love" I tell her that she is all radiant, the tears dried up and she stood up hugging me.
"Croix this is wonderful!" she shouted and I was even smiling, unfortunately this is all going to have a huge price, because I subjected myself to something like this for the boss.
"Are we going to celebrate? Today we have a full day, money is no problem for us to spend, look at some of what's in this cake" I take out of my pocket a cake with 10 thousand pounds and give it to her hand that is impressed.
"Croix that's a lot of money, how did you get such a huge loan like that?" Chariot asks and I go on a lie.
"Business loan, for sure they recognized it, now the amount I prefer not to talk so as not to worry her, but what do you think about spending this cake here just to have fun today? I've never seen so much money in my hand before, it's scary the power it gives" I answer her.
"Alan paid me a thousand pounds for every performance we did, I even earned what's in that cake, no doubt you are better than him, I was even questioning why he did not pay me so well, after all I was on stage, I who did almost everything, I even worked with the workers setting everything up, he was just sitting in the chair counting the money" said Chariot and now all this is over, unfortunately I wish it was really a loan.
POV Narrator:
And they couldn't even spend all the 10 thousand in a single day no matter how many things they bought, like clothes, video games, even new consoles, they got a Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and also a Wii, in the intention of emptying the cake, besides eating in more expensive restaurants, and buying what they could of food for later, the couple took advantage of the money to also go to places where it was more expensive, taking that moment to also express more of the love between them, this because it was still a tiny part of the money given that was in the suitcase, that had many more cakes of 10 thousand pounds, so much that Croix could barely count afterwards.
And so it was being spent in the first presentation, already gave a huge leap in relation to what Alan could do, with a stage service more quality and well paid, already drawing attention in London, only a single week after this conversation, they were already starting to spend with presentations, thanks to Croix machines the effects were better, having more action, not only the choreography of Chariot, this time had the inclusion of stories with her facing creatures attacking her and with this was having a rise in the career of Du Nord.
It was 5 million pounds just in that first bag that was given to Croix, that she was spending in heavy advertising too, with products of all kinds having the face of Shiny Chariot, of all forms calling the attention of children, which already the second presentation in Leeds was having an audience larger than in London and it was then that the attention of the witches was being called by the phenomenon that had been Shiny Chariot and this was intensifying more and more, Du Nord made almost weekly presentations for cities in the UK and spread like a fever, what with so much publicity had already sold out the first case, but soon the boss sends another, everything to get as much attention and follow the plan, what Croix under the covers was building the Dream Fuel Spirit.
June arrives, and with it things get even easier, Croix graduates from Luna Nova, Chariot enters the summer holidays and if before with weekly presentations it was already a lot, this time with more frequent presentations things really exploded, starting to create a huge and more explosive legion of Shiny Chariot fans, thanks to the coming of Croix who was using her machines to give better effects to the presentation and showing how magic also had an enormous power and capacity.
They were no longer only relevant in the UK, thanks to a huge relevance on the internet, people from other parts of the world wanted to know more about the witch's performances and that's when the Shiny Chariot World Tour starts in a short period of time, having the first stop planned to be in Tokyo on the 17th of June 2007, they wanted to show that they had a worldwide relevance by going to the other side of the world. They just didn't expect one thing.
During that time the boss already pressures Croix to use the Drem Fuel Spirit that was ready, just when Shiny Chariot's short wave burst, and she fearfully forces herself to use it well in that first performance. The
one that was the most expensive so far, Croix made sure not to skimp and paid for a stadium to be the place where it would roll, just like all the stage effects as well as Merchandising, which the boss didn't bother giving about 15 million pounds in total spending for that last performance, it was a huge success and about 62,000 people bought tickets, including in them a little girl named Atsuko Kagari and another one named Diana Cavendish who came from Scotland to watch Shiny Chariot.
Sunday 17 June 2007, Tokyo, Japan
The infamous day of the presentation arrived, Chariot was impressing the audience, while Croix was getting a bit worried, she knew that it was all just a set up by the boss to ruin the plans of the witches' revolution, she was just getting apprehensive every minute, just waiting for the interval where she would still have to appear confident of the plan she had made.
POV Croix:
I've just graduated and now I have to deal with all this, the World Tour can't even start, it's not even two months right now that I'm working with Chariot and this happens, I've barely managed to expand the business and the worst of it is that the kids seeing this won't be able to be witches anymore because of me, why did I go to this point? Why did I go on this crusade to defeat the boss? He must be laughing at me now. Soon she comes back, I notice her eyes shining with happiness, I can't believe I'm actually going to have to say this, I see her beaming, but let's pretend here, just to save her from the worst.
"Wonderful presentation Chariot, you have managed to show that we are a real success, you can do the best" I tell her who gets all smiles.
"All thanks to the effects you put on" She says and I take a deep breath.
"Dream Fuel Spirit, it drains the magic from children so it can bring excitement to the audience, believe it or not it's been a success, I even get excited how well it works" I tell her who gets a shocked look on her face.
"To what? Did you hear what I just said?" She asks.
"Yeah, it's just Chariot kids, it's not like it's going to be relevant, it's a worthwhile sacrifice, how many of them will actually be interested in seeing magic for these performances? They'll grow up to be like any other worldly person, thinking we're old fashioned..." On the spot she shouts at me.
"Croix you've lost your humanity!" she said angrily and I had to speak this way, or I won't sound believable.
"It's reality Chariot, I've learned that's the way it is, look you don't want to work with me anymore with this then I won't pay you anymore, we're cancelling gigs in Sydney, in Auckland, in Sao Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Toronto, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and the other ones on our World Tour that I can't remember that come after..." I get slapped in the face by her.
"I'm going to end it all now" she said walking all motivated, I was feeling like something was eating away inside me, I don't know why I would do such a thing, the boss really planned all this.
I go running to one of the scaffoldings on the stage, I see Chariot coming back, everyone is surprised that she was in front of all those people, she raises her arm with her staff in hand, she makes the bow become a huge Ballista, shooting it towards the moon with all the power, which is causing an explosion up there and all the people are confused, I look at Chariot, the Claiomh Solais, it is disappearing from her hand, I am devastated, I don't know what to do, I am sorry for that Chariot Du Nord.
POV Narrator:
From that day on Croix fled, she went running away to Ireland first, with the intention of meeting Laura and April to tell them what happened, already Chariot was getting devastated, she didn't know how to react, she had just been framed, the magic council went after her and the WCI as soon as they found out what happened in the presentation, she had to start living in the shadows, without being able to go back home, she was doing what she could to escape from Japan.
Tuesday 19 June 2007, Dublin Ireland
Croix arrived in Ireland, she went desperately to her house, where there were alreadyApril, Rosemary and Laura waiting for her, all because of the chaos that came to be the presentation, they were quite furious to see that Meridies arrived and ran away from everything, leaving Chariot behind.
POV Croix:
I'm here, I'm really in trouble, they're all here, I heard the news about Chariot's disastrous tour, I can't believe the boss did all this, I can't believe I'm to blame for it, I can see they're not happy with me at all, by the nine witches, why did I go and do this, why, ahhhhhhhhhhh, what the hell, I hope they don't kick me out of the house.
"And den coward, how was it running away from Chariot?" Said my mother with her arms crossed.
"Sorry Mum, I just did what I could, I wanted to..." I'm interrupted by Rosemary.
"Chariot is being sought fae a magical crime, she stole magic from children from what we could see and only one person messes with machines here from ye two, come tell all" Said the agent and I take a deep breath.
After telling everything...
I see that they have an expression that they are very disappointed with their daughter, I really screwed up, I should not have left her behind, what did I do, why did I cause something like that? Why... Why did I have to corrupt myself to such a thing, was it worth paying that price? Certainly not, now I've lost everyone's trust.
"Your obsession with dis boss is unhealthy, please Croix, get your things and get out of my house, I can't believe my daughter would do something like dat" she said.
"You said that I should follow what the boss did so that I could gain his trust and so I did" I tell them and they take a deep breath.
"Dere's a limit to everything, you could 'ave pretended you did dis, we would be fine now, 'ave you ever stopped to dink how many lives you 'ave ruined? 'Ave you ever stopped to dink dat de life of de person you love de most was ruined?" Said my mother giving me one of those scoldings.
"I know... I know... I will leave here, I will try to find the boss and I will show you who he really is, I will defeat him and make you proud" I said to them
"We don't care about dat anymore, we care about Chariot, she had 'er life ruined because of you and is a criminal on de loose" April said.
"I could arrest ye now Croix, but I will only do that if I find out that Chariot is nae well, fae now I will let her get through this one" Officer Morris said.
I even swallow saliva and go up to the bedroom, already packing my bags, now I'm going to have to turn around from here on out if I want to redeem myself from all this, I was stupid to have to break up with this boss, now I've ruined the relationship with all the people I love, I can't believe it, by the nine witches, I'm a horrible person.
In a hotel nearby, where Croix went to stay after being thrown out of the house...
I get to the room, lie down on the bed and just stare up, I can't believe I did all this, that I ruined Chariot's career for this mission to defeat the boss, I can't believe it, I'm already crying a lot, when I see moths appearing, the same ones from that letter from the boss and I soon see him appearing in front of me.
"Satisfied?" I tell him.
"Excellent work Croix Meridies, I was going to shoot you in the head, but I'll take my time, you were a useful idiot in this plan of mine, you will still serve in the future, turn around you are now alone, that was my plan too, do you think I didn't realize that you are April Jordan's adopted daughter? That you are one of the revolutionaries, I called your attention so that you work for me, I really wanted to see this kind of thing, my intention was to destroy the career of your current ex girlfriend and also your efforts, your mother and her friends won't have power anymore, I wanted to separate you from them to take your power in hands, now they will never accept you again" He said laughing at me and I was just frozen with fear, I can't believe I fell for that.
"You are a monster! You..." I tell him who keeps laughing.
"Monster? I'm not a monster, I'm god" Plus a huge ego.
"You will still pay for everything you have done boss, for all the evil you have caused" I say motivated.
"Well save that anger for your livelihood, you won't have as much of your money now, you were still a fool to leave all the profit to your little friend, but she will have all the fortune confiscated by the WCI, soon she will be arrested and so will you, it's just a matter of time, while I remain free here and without the threat of Claiomh Solais" he said and then disappeared.
I was an idiot, I fell for the boss's trick, he did everything according to what he wanted to cause me, now I am without a life, I lost my opportunities, I am alone, without my Chariot, without money, without my family, now it is just me and my lonely life, I will have to do everything to reverse this, without Claiomh Solais I will still change the magic, I can still make it, I know I can.
POV Narrator:
And so were the ups and downs of the career of Shiny Chariot with the help of Croix, a roller coaster where the boss managed to manipulate the whole situation in her favour so that they would come to destroy each other and ruin any effort of a possible revolution of the witches and so it was going so that the effort did not happen, Croix alone and without anyone will have to work even harder to overcome everything that happened, having partially the blame for having destroyed some lives due to the ambition of defeating the boss.
See you, shiny Witch...