POV Narrator:
Croix had been expelled from home after the events that were happening with her obsession with her boss, after Chariot's career had been destroyed with the presentation that contained the Dream Fuel Spirit, in that the Meridies ended up by kind of getting into a deep depression, by losing her girlfriend, She was alone in the world, with the risk of also being arrested for the crimes she committed, so much that she was even writing some confessions in case she was caught, she didn't want Chariot to be incriminated, but soon Du Nord would be found, she was preparing for a disguise still in Japan. Having the help of Laura's friend, she got her hair blue and long with the help of magic, so she could pass herself for another person, soon she also had the help of Rosemary, a measure of house arrest was taken with the Frenchwoman who did not care much, since she only wanted to keep herself away from her ex-girlfriend and with that she also started to study to be a teacher and to take a new identity.
2008, Croix spent a good period of six months depressed, spending the money she had left, kind of crying in the house she had rented, but she couldn't stay still, after all the money was running out and the way ended up being her having to get a job, starting to work in the computer area, thanks to what she learned with her adoptive mother she could quickly get a job that guaranteed her a good support, she was kind of trying to forget everything that was happening, as well as ignoring any trace of the past, she just wanted to live a new life.
2009, was another monotonous year for Meridies, she still remained in the same job, kind of climbing more in her function, even earning better, but as always lonely, all the things she conquered with the money were worth little, nothing closed the hole that was left in her heart with the past she had with Chariot Du Nord, nor the regret of working with the boss, In the middle of this time the Italian finally did something that she had been waiting for in her life that even cheered her up, the surgery, she had been using hormones and magic for a considerable time, which allowed her to operate and thus develop the future organs, it was a very successful surgery, that even cheered her up a little more.
2010, a new decade begins for Croix, she was at the most just accumulating the money she earned since she wanted to just let it all go, not caring much about what happened, she shut herself off from the world, but one thing would bring hope back to Meridies, a visit until unexpected, after so many years without seeing each other, since Croix even went to another city in the interior of Ireland to try to make a living.
Sunday 7 March 2010, Cork, Ireland
Croix was having another normal Sunday day like any other, during her time off from work Meridies would either watch TV or go and play video games, she'd kind of lost hope of what to do in life after everything that happened, but some knocks on the door came while she was eating a slice of pizza and kind of trying to choose some channel to watch.
POV Croix:
Surely it must be those Jehovah's witnesses again around here, don't they remember that I'm a witch? You can't convert a witch just like that, well, let's see who it is, if it's them showing up here again I'll scare them, I even leave my pizza slice on the box and walk to the door, when I answer and open it I see that it was April and Laura? What are these two doing here? What do they want with me, I just feel out of nowhere my mum hugging me with everything.
"Mum?" I say, a bit surprised at all that.
"I missed you girl, you don't talk to me anymore, you isolated yourself from everyone, I was worried all these years" She said even crying on my shoulder.
"She couldn't take those years away from you Croix, you may 'ave made de blunder you did, but she still loves you" Mrs McLaren said.
"What are you guys doing here? I don't want to... You... I.." I'm starting to cry and I was closing the door but Laura blocks it and goes in with my mother.
Once again my mother hugs me and wipes my tears, I am very emotional with all of this, I can't believe that April came to see me, it's been almost three years since the last visit, I am very emotional indeed, I didn't expect this, for the nine witches, they both look me in the eyes and give me a smile.
"Do I deserve this?" I ask them.
"Say it yourself, we've just come to tell you 'ow dings are going" Mrs McLaren said.
"Sorry for the mess, but feel free, this is my house" I tell them.
"Croix do you tidy your house?" my mother asks.
"I've been too depressed to even do that" I tell her rubbing the back of my neck.
"Let's talk a lettle den my lettle girl, I've already 'eard dat your surgery was a success, now we just 'ave to wait a year and you'll 'ave organs dat are 100% functional, just be careful when you start menstruating, it's something dat comes from nothing, but soon you learn to use pads, anyway, it's good to see dat my girl is well" said Mrs Jordan stroking my head.
Then we walk to the living room, where they sit on the sofa and I finish the slice of pizza I had left on the box, gee, I'm really eating like a pig these days, but that's what's been giving me a little excitement lately, besides playing once in a while, my life around here lately is a boredom without limits.
"Well first of all Chariot is fine, but she doesn't care about you anymore Croix, I know dis may seem painful to say right away, but don't try to get back to 'er for now, you know 'ow devastated she is by what happened in 2007, besides she doesn't even 'ave a clue of de true story, she thinks you set her up out of sheer jealousy, but apart from dat she hasn't been arrested, she's just not allowed to leave Luna Nova, now dat she's taken de identity of Ursula Callists, dis very year she graduates and she'll be able to work as a teacher dere" Laura explains to me and I understand.
"Oh good, at least she'll have something to do in life, I wouldn't even be able to go see Chariot, I feel extremely guilty for everything, I wanted to tidy things up, you know" I say to them.
"Well, dat I know you want to do, girl, but anyway it's good to see dat you are healthy and well, my lettle girl is fine, but now it's serious, you must 'ave given up on de witches' revolution I imagine, in all these years we have been thinking of a way to bring 'er back" said the mother.
"Still at it? That's what got us in the shit, the boss just used me, I don't want to work for him again, he knew I'd be a useful idiot and used me" I tell them.
"Dat is why we will dink of a more elaborate plan, dis time de generation will not be yours, but de one to come, I 'ave plans for de revolution to happen based on our daughters' generation, dey will soon be at de age to enter Luna Nova," said Laura.
"I won't put Megan in dat place to study, but dat's up to you Laura" said my mother.
"I don't know about Diana, because I 'aven't 'eard from her since Bernadette's death, I literally came 'ome from 'er funeral when you arrived 'ere in Ireland, so I was furious and devastated, even more so when Daryl told me she killed 'er and ordered by de boss, it made my blood boil" she said and I can imagine, it must have been awful.
"De witches' revolution can't stop, you're a vital part of it Croix, dey dedn't let us defeat de boss, but you can find a way to still do something in parallel, I've been dinking 'ere and you could build mechs or something, intimidate de boss, show dat you're not messing around, or I don't know" She said and I think it's time to show what I've been planning.
"Come with me" I get up from the sofa.
I go with them to a place that has become my office, showing the plans I've made to get around something I've done, the plan to have a power in hand that will defeat the boss, more perfected than the Dream Fuel Spirit, the Noir Rod, will be able to bring me some glory again, who knows so bypass the need for Claiomh Solais.
"What is it?" Mrs McLaren asks.
"Interesting machines, it seems your inventor side still exists girl, I'm proud you still 'ave it in you" My mother said.
"That's Noir Rod, my last attempt, without the power of Claiomh Solais I thought of bringing something similar, break the seal of the Gran Triskellion and thus have the power in hands to destroy the boss once and for all and bring the witch revolution, I may have given up, but deep inside little by little I studied a way to get
the power for that, my solution was to find a power that is based on emotions, so I won't drain anyone's magic, I will use that to be able to penetrate the Gran Triskellion" I say to them that are quite shocked.
"A good plan, but we have to say, de Gran Triskellion is sacred Croix, it's not just any lettle place you can misrepresent with your machines, I doubt very much you'll be able to penetrate it" Laura said.
"Let you say for yourself, I believe in my daughter, I want de traditions to be broken, show me what you can do girl, I am with you on dis, but 'ow will you make de plan come true?" asks my mother.
"I will save money, more than I have now, I will take and build this machine, besides that I will study a bit to graduate as a teacher, I already have a plan in mind when the time comes, depending on how many years it takes I will get into Luna Nova and when the Noir Rod is ready I will finally change things - I tell them.
"Oh Croix, you know Chariot is out dere, you know the risks of it" Laura said and I nodded in agreement.
"I know, but it's going to be years of preparing my psychology, I don't know if I'll be able to make Noir Rod in time it's something I want to get out of my own pocket and effort" I tell them who run their hands over my head.
"Well then good luck Croix, just don't let de power go to your head" Laura said.
"Make a good Girlboss entrance, show dem who's boss, you can do it Croix, anyway, if you want to come home the door is open, Megan misses you" said my mother with her hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks for coming Mum, but I'm not coming back, my house is here now, but I'll come visit you and Meg, she must be much older, I bet she misses her older sister" I say smiling at her and she nods.
POV Narrator:
And that conversation was the trigger for Croix's plan to begin, she only imagined how it would be using some stories that she drew about the moments, but she saw herself in the opportunity that all that could be real, making her very eager to make her plan, starting to work to earn more and climb more in her career in computers, what she was guaranteeing herself more, due to her programming and mechanic skills to the point of being practically the leader in the sector and the one that called more attention.
2011, Croix at the same time started a course to become a teacher in a magic school, with the target already being Luna Nova, besides starting little by little the assembling of Noir Rod, little by little in every detail, with the target already being the witches' revolution, she was conquering her space to change things more in her favour.
2012, more advances, Croix was being the right arm of the computer company, earning much more than she could imagine, which helped her even more to set up the Noir Rod, which also made her ask to get a bigger house, what she ended up doing by buying a land in Dublin to set up the house, since she took the opportunity to have proximity with the family, interacting a lot with Megan, besides she was getting more comfort there than in the old house.
2013, the house had the necessary space for the construction of the huge machine, which was getting more details, in the course of teaching magic Croix was standing out, mainly by showing the new way of teaching magic based on technology, it was something that could revolutionize, the course itself was recognizing the potential of Meridies.
2014, the structure of the Noir Rod was ready, just missing the rest of the things involving cables, programming and the mechanical functioning of some parts, but this Croix was managing to arrange, besides that she was preparing the presentation for when she arrived in Luna Nova, she was dedicating herself to this, not to look like just a common teacher, she was already developing methods that would draw everyone's attention, already being the one who would act with cleverness in all these years.
2015, Croix graduated from the course, she already had the license to teach, what she was needing, the Noir Rod was just missing some final touches to be ready, the mechanical part of it was already ready, just missing even the programming parts and also functioning, already showing a progress, this time without the course it was getting easier and Croix's money reserve was quite high due to her career in the company she worked for.
2016, Croix leaves her position at the company, fully dedicating her time to the Noir Rod project, by this point she had already earned millions with her services, which was fully investing in the machine, just like her time,
that year she could finally leave the Noir Rod ready and with that she did several tests, perfecting more her machine, what was impressing all when seeing qeu Croix arrived so far, she also was investing in the style, leaving the machine more beautiful and all involvement around when developing the cubes to surround it, everything to arrive in the best way Girl Boss possible.
2017, Noir Rod ready, the machines were already in place to start the mission, only that Croix still invested in one more thing, something that she didn't care much with the years, her own appearance, she wanted to appear to be the most Girl Boss possible and after practically 18 years of hair hitting the shoulders always long Meridies cut her hair and leave them short, which surprised all of them when seeing how it had looked like, besides dressing with something that appeared she looked less like the Tomboy Nerd of before, everything for the presentation, besides the well elaborated plan, that she already made clear for her friends, before leaving for the witch academy.
Sunday, 24 December 2017, Dublin Ireland
All the projects were ready, Croix was very presentable to arrive with everything, no one would imagine that that Nerd Tomboy from before would become a hell of a woman with a very flashy appearance, that Christmas Eve they were gathered at Laura's house, talking about how the year 2018 would start, McLaren was already leaving something with Meridies before her departure, that would involve Laura's re-approach to her daughter.
POV Croix:
Wow, for the first time that I let my hair short in years I don't feel even a little bit dysphoric and uncomfortable, I feel even hot, wow, I can't wait to arrive, they'll find me the most angry of the teachers, with my plan nothing will fail, I'm sure, Noir Rod will already have some fuel to feed himself, even this I managed to take there by stealth, just wait and soon I'll accomplish my mission.
Laura hands me a flask in my hands, I even strange what it was, I only saw a liquid half brown inside, it seems a bit disgusting, but it must be an important potion.
"When you come to Luna Nova, give dis to Diana, it's de cure, I will finally get to see my daughter in person" McLaren said and I even get a smile on my face.
"Oh, this is wonderful Laura, after so many years you have found the cure, now you will be able to see Diana, I was waiting years for you to get it" I say all excited.
"And what about you already 'ave de plans drawn up for Luna Nova?" she asks and I nod.
"I will cause some instability among the workers, I want them to rebel against the working conditions there and generate a strike, meanwhile I'm kind of bringing a little terror to the students and the headmaster, when the time comes for me to show my face I promote a solution to everything that there will be no denying, in this case the SSSS system, which will serve to help workers and students, as the majority will vote for it I'm sure I will soon become a teacher at the beginning of this second term" I say to them
"Dat's wonderful Croix, a plan well done, but what's to say dey'll let a witch who messes with technology teach dis stuff over dere?" Laura asks and I just shrug.
"I also thought it was an impossible plan, but a good manipulation and all that. You know, Holbrook is easy to convince when she's under pressure, I know the older teachers will be hard to convince, but I can do it my way," I explain to her.
"I still dink the Noir Rod is going to be a Croix failure, trust me, nothing replicates de power of one of Lilith's most legendary relics, let alone a machine, it's a sacred power of de nine witches, dat must 'ave more magic stored in it dan anything, more dan a sorcerer's stone, I know dis because I've felt de power of Claiomh Solais in my hand" I know this Laura.
"Even so it is my last attempt, it is all or nothing, if I am defeated I surrender and finish this story of the Chariot once and for all, if it is a success the revolution of the witches will begin, well anyway I will try what I can with my limitations, I was 7 years assembling this thing, it is the last onslaught of Croix Meridies in the revolution of the witches" I Answer Laura.
"I trust you can do it daughter, you 'ave always shown yourself willing, look if you fail, know dat I will never fail to visit you in prison, it would be a noble gesture on your part" April said.
"I just don't want to force Chariot to be what she's not for all these years, I know what it's like to go through this too well, apart from that I want to get things over with" I tell them.
"I'll only say one ding, you've already got one chosen and it seems Claiomh Solais doesn't really like calling prodigy witches, I would 'ave sworn it would be my eldest daughter, but it was a weird Japanese girl, I found dat out from Chariot, she can't even fly a broomstick and can barely hit a spell" Mrs McLaren said.
"I said Claiomh Solais is defective" Now it's clearer.
"I don't say defective, dere is something Woodward saw in de Japanese girl that it didn't see in my Diana, dere must be something special about dat girl, she is de opposite of what witches expect 'er to be, I don't know about you, but for me it is already clear dat dis girl has something great dat is going to happen, remember dat I found 5 of de 7 words, Chariot found 6 of de 7, dis Japanese girl may be de one who will find de seven" I don't know, I am just suspicious that the staff is making mistakes on purpose.
"Anyway, I will not give up using the Noir Rod, this is my life's mission, the future of the witches is also in my hands and something I learned in these years that I should have put into practice when I was devastated with Chariot being the chosen one is that... It doesn't matter the words, what matters are the actions, it's no use the chosen one finding the words if the people around her stand by and do nothing" I tell them.
POV Narrator:
And so came to the end of the demonstration of the story of Croix Meridies' past and what ended up motivating the Italian to do what she did, making it even clearer to the girls who were watching about her past, which even surprised the stubborn Cavendish a little when she saw it all, it was even clearer in her head, but she still made a point of looking at the Italian with a frown.
Back to Doras...
POV Croix:
This really has been quite a journey, I didn't even remember what a tense journey it was to get here, gee I cried a little bit, I'm really ashamed of it all, even when I tried to be more... Why did I do that, why did I go and ruin Chariot's presentation? I still feel sorry for myself, I look at Diana and she stared at me still angry.
"Now it's all clear, ye're nae ill-intentioned, ye were just stupid, ye thought the boss wouldn't manipulate ye and fool ye? I'd rather risk standing up tae her than lower my head tae her, yer chance tae expose her plan was that one" Diana said and I know it was my mistake.
"You think I don't think about this every day, every time I think about it I imagine how it could be if I hadn't agreed to work with the boss, but what can I do? The damage from the past has already been done, the most I can do is make sure this won't happen in the past" I tell Cavendish.
"Well at least it explains a lot, now I know my mother is also quite attached tae ye, but at least I'm relieved that ye genuinely feel regret fae all of this, well that dinnae do my head in about nae going with yer face, but it makes me tolerate ye as the one tae do this sae called witch revolution" I completely understand, you can't please everyone, but at least Diana will help.
"It was the kind of answer I wanted, seriously I will be a good help and after all, I am willing to pay for what I did, I will not run away, I just want the world to be a better place for you" I justify myself to Laura's daughter who just shrugged and turned her face really she is furious.
Soon we hear the sound of knocking on the door, Laura goes over to see who's come, I stay in the most hiding, it's going to be WCI, now that I'm a wanted criminal I really might run the risk of being wanted and arrested again and I who don't pull into Arcturus prison again, I even stay under the bed, hiding, when I recognise the pair of purple all star, it's my mother.
"'ey Laura don't 'ide my girl no, I know she ran away and is with you" She said and I give the faces from under the bed as I grab her foot.
"I got you mum!" I say to her who looks down all scared and I just laugh.
"Ahhhhhh, look who's come forward, come 'ere and give me a hug" Mum April said.
I get out from under the bed and give my mum a big hug, she even squeezes me a little later and lifts me up, all cute, then I look at her right in front of me, crying a little, I make sure to wipe the tears and see that she's also with a redheaded girl by her side, it must be that Brooke girl.
"How happy I am to see you free of dat horrible place, when Laura told me she was going to run away with you I couldn't believe it, but now 'ere in front of you I am relieved, I thought you 'ad died in prison" she said.
"Little help from the best" I say looking at Chariot and Laura.
"So you're the Croix? I'm her younger younger sister, pleasure Brooke Hunter" She said giving me her hand and I happily squeeze it then push into a hug.
"Welcome to the Brooke family, mommy told me you just joined, after what happened in Luna Nova, look from me I'm sure you'll make these idiots swallow those words" I tell her and she smiles back.
"Wow, you're too beautiful, mum showed me some pictures of you when you were younger, I was just, gee Goals, you've surpassed what I had of my impression of how you'd be in the transition, thanks to her I was able to change everything to be Brooke, besides I'm starting the transition with magic soon, before it was just on my own, the NHS is shitty when it's to attend to us, now I really don't know how it's going to be, have you heard there's such a thing as Corona Virus" She said and I have no idea what they're talking about, I barely had contact with the outside world.
"Do you really dink it will reach Europe? Dings in China are already getting tense" said Mrs McLaren.
"It's like a flu from what I 'eard, dis could be an attempt to block tourism in China or something like dat, or I don't know, but I don't dink it's going to 'appen 'ere, well anyway I dink it's going to be like H1N1 in 2009, we are already prepared for something like dat" April shrugged her shoulders.
"Or it could be like de Spanish Flu dat almost killed my great grandmother Anne, although it was de same virus of de 2009 flu, but anyway, we'd better be careful, it might not be a hoax" Laura said.
"Armed in what sense? Do ye really think anyone would want tae cause biological crimes tae affect the global economy?" Diana asks.
"I don't know, it might be something bigger dan we think, but anyway, now you know what was Croix's past, dose were not easy times, she had to go through a lot to overcome, you can trust that she will not be against us, just like us she is also a victim of de boss" Mrs McLaren said.
"Whatever, do yer stuff, I'm going tae Luna Nova, I dinnae want tae bother ye" said Diana, who turned to us and walked away.
"Diana calm down!" said her mother.
"Don't worry Laura, I'm going there with your daughter, you can stay there, she must be a bit devastated by all this" Akko said, taking her broom and leaving, it surprises me that this girl has evolved a lot, she makes me think a bit how the chosen one doesn't need to be the best witch, but the one who believes the most in change.
I watched the girls leaving, until it was just me, April, Brooke, Laura and Chariot, now it will be a new journey, I even look out the window, the cold wind blowing, but we protected by the glass so we don't freeze outside, I will miss the freedom, but I think being an outlaw will be just for now, I want to finish this soon.
"Now it's a new step we'll take from 'ere" Laura said.
"A new step for new times" she replies.
"We will bring this new era of magic to the fore," said Chariot.
"I just really 'ope de boss is defeated soon" April said.
"Now with the Mechas she won't have the power to fight, we will use the power of everything that exists in magic to fight the cursed one, she will pay for everything that she caused to us, I believe in this, I think that my attempt with Noir Rod didn't work, but it was for lack of collective work, now we will have the chosen one by our side to operate the mechas, even more that we will have the other relics, the power of this will be enough to reach and fight the boss" I say confidently.
POV Narrator:
Croix's past is revealed to the girls, which was quite shocking to know how in the beginning she had to practically turn herself around to be who she was, how she was received by a caring mother full of love, how she overcame all the difficulties, even going up against her boss, but in the end being deceived by her when she made the worst decision of her life, she had to fight a lot to achieve her goals, but even so she still does not have the full confidence of those people around whom she will need a lot of help in the future.
See you, last straw wiches...