AN: Hi, everyone! I come bearing more angst.
For those of you who have read Tales from Luna Academy, some things I explore in this fic are extensions/alternative interpretations of things that were discussed in that fic.
As is to be expected, to make elements of this story work, I had to play a little bit with some characters and plot elements (mostly stuff from the pilot). I hope that isn't too jarring.
Content warning: Depictions of physical and verbal bullying, intense scenes.
"RUN FOR IT!"
The usually-silent Arcturus Forest was alive with the chaos of a large, chicken-like creature shambling around and breathing fire. Bolting away at top speeds were Akko and Lotte, followed by Sucy flying above them on her broom.
"Stay there!" Sucy shouted down at them. "I'll sort this out!"
She encased the duo in a large mesh ball. Startled, Akko grabbed the ropes and began to shake them.
"W-What the hell is this?! She trapped us!"
Lotte clung to Akko, too terrified to even form any words.
"It's a barrier! You'll be protected from cockatrice breath in there, so don't move!"
Sucy's words fell flat underneath the stomping of the cockatrice and Akko's shrieks. She wasn't sure if the duo even heard her, but there wasn't any time to dwell on that.
"HEY!" Akko cried. "GET US OUTTA HERE!"
"I'm sorry, just hold on!"
Sucy flew up to the cockatrice and tried to get its attention, but it was fixated on the other two witches. Thinking fast, she flew around to the beast's tail and yanked one of its feathers out.
The cockatrice roared with fury and immediately spun around to finally meet Sucy's glare before beginning to chase her down. However, as it spun around, it kicked the mesh ball and sent Akko and Lotte flying into a tree hanging over a cliffside.
Over by a large mandrake, Sucy managed to get the cockatrice entangled in its vines. She spotted Akko and Lotte attempting to hang on to the tree next to pieces of the splintered mesh ball, so she leaned forward to speed herself up and floated down next to them.
"Get on!" she said urgently, gesturing to her broom. "The vines won't hold it forever!"
With falling to their deaths being the only other option, they both clambered onto the broom, which began to sink a little under their combined weight. Regardless, Sucy took off, but an unfortunate blast of fire from the trapped cockatrice splintered her broom and sent the three of them plummeting.
Just when all hope seemed lost, something in Akko's possession seemed to resonate, and in conjunction with seemingly random words she shouted aloud, a portal was opened. The trio fell through it and tumbled for what felt like hours.
Once they opened their eyes again, they were piled atop each other on the floor of a grandiose hall, with an entire cohort of witches staring at them incredulously.
"Um, h-hi everyone!" Akko stuttered, waving at them all. "Looks like we're on time!'
Lotte clutched her knee and hyperventilated as Sucy just stared blankly at the mess they were in the middle of.
"I've half a mind to refuse you three on the spot."
The footsteps of both Sucy and Professor Finnelan echoed down the quiet halls of the dormitory block. The tension in the air was incredibly palpable, and Sucy could barely even focus on the professor's words.
"However, the Headmistress has made an exception after a discussion with Professor Ursula. Don't take their generosity for granted."
Sucy continued staring blankly ahead as she followed Professor Finnelan.
"Do I make myself clear, Miss Manbavaran?" Finnelan queried firmly, stopping in place. Sucy bumped into her and suddenly realised she was being asked a question.
"Y-Yes, Professor."
The duo stopped in front of a door. Upon opening it, the faces of the dorm's inhabitants visibly fell.
"These will be your roommates for the next three years. Ensure you three remain on your best behaviour, as we'll be monitoring you closely."
Hesitantly, Sucy stepped into the dorm and heard Finnelan shut the door behind her. From the bottom bunk, Akko and Lotte watched her cautiously, the former holding onto the latter as she finally seemed to be calming down after that morning's ordeal.
Nobody said a word as Sucy removed her satchel and gravitated towards the only unoccupied bed, the singular one on the right. The whole time, two pairs of eyes were on her, and she turned to meet their gaze again.
"Okay," she sighed. "Listen, uh…"
"Atsuko. Just call me Akko."
"Um, Lotte."
"Listen, Akko. Lotte. That cage was for your own safety, it was resistant to cockatrice attacks."
Akko stood up very suddenly. "What, you don't think we could've helped you out?"
"Neither of you have brooms," Sucy explained, gesturing to the pieces of Lotte's broom lying on the top bunk. "I did what I had to."
"We could've DIED!" Akko shouted, her temper rising. "Do you know how much I wanted to come to this school?! To learn magic and meet Shiny Chariot one day? You almost stole that dream from me!"
Lotte pulled the back of Akko's shirt in an attempt to hold her back, but she took a step towards Sucy.
"What's your name?" she demanded.
"Sucy."
"Well, Sucy, you don't need to worry about me annoying you anymore. I think we should keep our distance."
For a moment, Sucy froze in place before looking at Lotte. All she could do was sadly shake her head before climbing back up to her bunk.
"Whatever," Sucy spat. "Sorry I tried to help."
So much for finally making friends. The three of them got ready for bed in silence and tensely awaited the next day.
As Sucy approached the lecture hall, she could hear that there was already a lesson in progress. The door creaked annoyingly loudly as she pushed it open, casting all eyes in the room on her, including those belonging to Professor Finnelan.
"Miss Manbavaran!" she demanded, folding her arms. "Your first day, your first class, and you're late. Explain yourself!"
Sucy shrugged lazily. "I got lost."
"You couldn't have asked your roommates for help?" Finnelan asked, and Sucy looked up at Akko and Lotte, who avoided her gaze.
"Sorry, Professor."
She slouched over to her seat, which was unfortunately right next to Akko. Blinking sleepily, she propped her head up with her hands and attempted to listen to the remainder of the lecture.
A few classes later, and it was time for lunch.
Swarms of students headed towards the cafeteria, chatting about their first lessons and sharing what they had learned. On her own, Sucy headed in the same direction, looking out the windows for possible places to pick mushrooms.
Out of nowhere, a pair of students bumped into her while she wasn't looking, knocking her onto the floor.
"Ooops!" one of them exclaimed, crouching down to meet her.
"Want me to help you up?" the other one asked sweetly, holding her hand out.
Hesitantly, Sucy reached out to grab it, but as soon as she made contact, the girl flung her hand back onto the floor.
"Eww! It touched me, Barbara!"
Cackling shrilly, the two turned around and headed off. Sucy got back to her feet and dusted herself off, cursing to herself in Filipino.
Excited chattering and the clinking of cutlery filled the cafeteria as students talked about whatever. Old friends and new friends all mingled together, sharing notes and discussing assignments they had already received.
Underneath one of the staircases in the cafeteria, Sucy sat on the floor and ate her lunch in silence.
Assignments were on her mind, too - particularly a potion brewing task set by Professor Lukić. Potions class on its own made enrolling at Luna Nova worth it. Sucy took a bite of her food as she flipped through a book detailing the effects of various kinds of potions.
What could she make that would really impress her professor? She'd have to round up the ingredients somehow. This might call for another trip to the Arcturus Forest, but that would have to wait until after her broom was fixed.
Sucy became so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Hannah and Barbara walking past and snickering at her situation. This time, however, a third witch was with them, exuding an aura of confidence as she approached Sucy and looked down at her.
"Excuse me," Diana said, as Hannah and Barbara flanked her threateningly. "You must be Miss Manbavaran."
Forcibly pulled out of her happy place, Sucy looked up at the trio and blinked slowly.
"That's me," she grunted.
"My name is Diana Cavendish, and I'd like to welcome you to Luna Nova. Why are you seated on the ground?"
Sucy shrugged. "I like it here."
"There's a perfectly good spot right by Miss Kagari and Miss Jansson. Why not take it?"
Glancing around the side of the staircase, Sucy spotted Akko and Lotte, the former animatedly showing the latter a collection of what looked like oddly-shaped cards. Upon seeing Sucy, their expressions fell and they began to eat quietly.
Sucy cracked her neck and turned back to the Blue Team.
"Thanks, but I'm fine," she insisted.
Hannah leaned over and whispered loudly in Diana's ear.
"She's a freak, Diana. Leave her alone."
Barbara leaned into her other ear. "Don't let people see you talking to her."
"Girls, that's quite enough," Diana stated firmly, pushing the duo away from her. "Good luck with your studies, Miss Manbavaran."
She flipped her hair and turned to leave the cafeteria, tailed by her two friends. Sucy watched them go, an odd feeling brewing in her stomach.
Being treated like a human for once served to remind her about how desperately lonely she was.
Roused by a light tapping at the door, Akko opened it to reveal Diana, standing very formally.
"Good evening. I've been sent by Professor Finnelan to check in with you three after your first day of classes."
"Oh, it's amazing!" Akko gushed. "I kinda suck right now, but I'm learning! I already made a chair move!"
"Yeah, you kicked it…" Lotte observed, and Akko waved her hand dismissively.
"Whatever. Point is, I can already tell this is gonna be awesome!"
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Diana stated professionally, before her eyes were drawn to the empty bed on the right side of the room.
"Where's Sucy?" she asked. Akko's face immediately turned sour.
"I dunno. Probably off terrorising some other witches."
A little confused, Diana cleared her throat and decided not to pry any further.
"R-Right. In any case, I hope you continue to enjoy your classes."
She gently shut the door and walked back down the hall, ready to report back to Professor Finnelan. However, something inside her was telling her to go seek Sucy out and get her perspective on things first.
Thinking back to the Potions class they had together, she noted Sucy's apparent obsession with mushrooms. With this in mind, Luna Nova's botanical garden was Diana's next stop.
Sure enough, Sucy sat cross-legged on the grass, holding a book and quietly watching a group of mushrooms as her mind wandered. Aside from her and Diana, the botanical garden was empty.
Diana approached Sucy and stood next to her. Noticing the new presence, Sucy raised her head to meet her.
"Yeah, the gardens are closed right now. I know," she grumbled. "I'll get out soon."
"It's okay," Diana assured her. "I'm just here to ask how your first day went, on behalf of Professor Finnelan."
Sucy thought back to the day's events. She was outcast, humiliated, and mocked, just for being herself. Nothing she wasn't used to.
"It was fine," she stated, her face as blank as ever. "I liked Potions class."
Diana tilted her head. "Did you make any friends?"
"Sure," Sucy uttered, gesturing to the mushrooms. Diana sighed and kneeled down to Sucy's level.
"What's going on with you and your roommates?" she asked, the concern in her voice audible.
"Well, I blew it, as usual," Sucy replied flatly. "I put their lives in danger not even an hour after I met them."
"What do you mean?"
With a sigh, Sucy decided against telling Diana the details, fearing the trouble she'd get herself and the others into.
"Just the way it is," she remarked, shrugging lazily. "Some people aren't meant to have friends."
They both remained silent for a moment, Diana not really knowing how to respond. Instead, she took a glance at the pages of Sucy's book, noticing detailed illustrations of mushrooms varying in shape and size.
"I take it you're interested in mycology?" she asked, and Sucy's demeanour very subtly shifted.
"Yeah. Weird, I know."
"They're quite interesting, aren't they? Very hardy little things."
Diana's response threw Sucy for a loop, and she turned to look at her again. A warm smile was on her face, and Sucy found herself unable to contain a small grin of her own.
"They thrive in all kinds of conditions, from open fields to unwashed bathtubs. They'll always be there, no matter what."
She plucked one out and looked it over with an air of wistfulness.
"I'm surprised you're even giving me the time of day," she muttered. "This is usually the point where most people back away slowly."
"I've seen how the other witches are treating you. Call me old-fashioned, but I think we should be helping each other out, especially when magic is becoming so obsolete."
Sucy rubbed the back of her neck.
"I've heard people call you stuffy, but I don't see it."
"Some don't like the way I compose myself. I try not to pay them any mind."
"Does it get to you?"
Diana paused for a moment before nodding slowly. Before Sucy could ask anything further, though, Diana stood up.
"It's getting late. I need to report back to Professor Finnelan, and I encourage you to head back, as well. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to visit my dorm in the east block."
She smiled at Sucy before taking her leave. Sucy just watched her as that odd feeling came back.
All of a sudden, more than anything, she wished Diana was still sitting next to her, chatting about things. The void of loneliness was much more evident after experiencing a sample of what having a friend might be like.
Shaking these feelings off, Sucy picked up her book and headed out of the botanical garden, dreading facing Akko and Lotte again.
These feelings were cut short by a pair of shrill voices calling from the grounds outside the garden.
"HEY, YOU!"
"YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE!"
Hannah and Barbara emerged from the shadows, eyeing Sucy like lions staring down a juicy meal.
"You leave Diana alone!" Hannah demanded, pointing at Sucy.
"I bet she was trying some kind of mushroom ritual on her!" Barbara exclaimed, holding her friend's shoulders.
Sucy just stared at the pair, not in the mood for any of this. As they continued to make suggestions and mock her, she just slouched off and left them.
"What?! Hey!"
Both girls raised their wands and forcibly pulled Sucy towards them using control magic. As she struggled, they flipped her so she was facing them again, before Hannah got in her face.
"Listen to me very carefully, poison queen," she snarled. "If Barbara or I catch you anywhere near Diana again, we'll make you regret it."
Without a word, Sucy hocked a loogie right into Hannah's eye.
"GAAH!" she cried out, clutching her face. "YOU FUCKING BITCH!"
"Are you okay, Hannah?!" Barbara put an arm around her, attempting to quell her rage. With both of their guards dropped, the control spell loosened and Sucy was free.
Cracking her neck, she stormed up to the pair and grabbed them both by their collars.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you both right now," she hissed.
"LET US GO, FREAK!"
Hannah delivered a swift kick to Sucy's groin, making her cry out in pain as she doubled over, letting them go. Barbara grabbed Sucy's arms from behind to hold her still as Hannah rolled up her sleeves.
"You brought this upon yourself," she growled, balling her hands into fists.
One, two, three punches to the face. A further one in the gut for good measure.
A warm trickle from Sucy's nose indicated that it was bleeding. Her sheer rage was insurmountable, and before Hannah could land any more blows, Sucy wrestled her way out of Barbara's grip and pulled her wand out.
In a burst of sparkles, Hannah's ribbon turned into a pair of venomous snakes that began attacking her and Barbara. The pair began to scream and fled the scene, leaving Sucy breathing heavily and shakily.
She touched two fingers to the blood pouring from her nose to assess the damage before deciding she'd deal with it later. Moving slower due to the pain she was in, she headed towards the Luna Nova building, which seemed to exude an aura of dread despite being well-lit against the now darkened sky.
She didn't even make it halfway across the field before Professor Finnelan descended on a broom, followed by Hannah and Barbara on brooms of their own, looking incredibly smug.
"MISS MANBAVARAN!" Finnelan shouted, with a look that could kill. "COME WITH ME THIS INSTANT!"
Shutting her eyes tightly and thinking about mushrooms, Sucy climbed onto Finnelan's broom.
"It's all true!" Hannah bawled, holding Barbara's hands for support.
"We were just trying to tell her that the botanical garden is off-limits at night!"
The three girls stood in the student counselling office. Sucy stared at the floor with her arms folded as Hannah and Barbara trembled in exaggerated fear.
"And you attacked them?" Finnelan demanded from behind her desk, turning to Sucy.
"My nose is bleeding, Professor," she retorted.
"Yes, which I've been informed is a side-effect from an incantation you performed on Miss England and Miss Parker."
"She even kicked me, Professor!" Hannah wailed.
"And slapped me across the face!" Barbara added. Sucy clenched her teeth and held back several violent thoughts.
"That's enough!" Finnelan said with irritation. "Miss Manbavaran, for the rest of this month, you are to hand-wash all of the laundry in the school, from both the west and east blocks."
"But, Professor-"
"No arguments!" she shouted. "I'll discuss your future at Luna Nova with the rest of the staff tonight."
"Ooooh…" Barbara drawled. "Laundry on the day Akko blew up a cauldron full of gunk…"
"I think I see some dirt stains on my vest!" Hannah exclaimed. "Those are so hard to get rid of…"
The three of them were dismissed from the office and finally headed their separate ways, but not before Hannah and Barbara laughed like a pair of shrill hyenas, having held in their amusement during the entire meeting.
Surrounded by piles of clothing, Sucy sat alone on a wooden stool in the west laundry, working away with her sleeves rolled up. Unable to find time to see the nurse, she resorted to stopping her nosebleed with a wad of tissues.
Every article of clothing that was washed was tossed into a basket to her left. The hour was quite late, and more than anything, she just wished she was asleep.
The tedious process at least gave her time to think things over.
If she was expelled, why should she care? Aside from Potions class, there wasn't anything about this place she liked. Except for Diana, of course, but as far as she knew, Diana could have just been acting polite, like she does with everyone.
Sucy could always investigate the origins of that vial of poison somewhere else.
Her thoughts were cut short by a gentle tapping at the door. Sighing with frustration, she looked up, not expecting anyone to be awake at this hour.
"What the hell do you want-?"
Her eye widened when she spotted Diana at the door.
"My roommates told me you'd be down here," she stated. "What happened?"
With a sigh, Sucy recounted the fight and resulting conversation with Professor Finnelan. Diana's eyes widened as she continued.
"You probably won't believe me, either. I can't prove it."
"Oh, Sucy… I do believe you. Their explanation didn't really make sense, to be honest."
Sucy threw a now-clean shirt into the basket and grabbed another from the pile. To her surprise, Diana rolled up her sleeves and began to wash a shirt, as well.
"I'm sorry," she said solemnly, fully aware of her tenuous relationship with Hannah and Barbara, as well as her general status in the school. "There isn't much else I can do for you, but please let me help you with this."
The two of them worked into the night, talking a little more about themselves and sharing anecdotes from their lives. Despite the messy situation Sucy seemed to be in, Diana's gentle presence assured her that things would be okay.