Sunday 20 August 2006, London England
"The rest of the tour of Europe went according to plan, I was getting a lot of applause and it was evident theleap I was making in popularity across the continent, my social networks were growing a lot and this in sucha short period that I had started, I didn't even imagine that I had managed to get this far, But there I was,achieving greater success, except that this would be the pinnacle of that year, as it also signalled the start ofa slight downward shift in my life, all because of Alan, he was on his last legs with us mainly about Croix andhow I continued to work with her and we were very friendly.
Today is the last day, after a lot of travelling, we're about to wrap up, it's still afternoon for now, but I can smell what's coming, I woke up now already practicing my choreography, I'm sure everyone will love the way this is going to end, I keep looking out the window just thinking about things, I've worked so hard these days, not just on stage, but off it.
My girlfriend comes up to me looking out of the window and shows me a bit of her way with me, giving me a hug from behind, then I let her kiss me and we continue to admire the city for a while.
"We're finally here, on the last day of all this, now this last presentation I know you're going to rock it, I'm with you on this, today's work on the computer has already been done, I've publicised what I needed to and edited the presentations that came in, it's all on our website, the first one in France is already getting some good views" That's very good, knowing that I'm going to be with my beautiful girlfriend all day.
"I'm shocked at how far we've come, until last year I was in Glastonbury working at The Last Wednesday Society as a clerk, surviving day to day, sleeping in that dark, cramped place where I could put up a bed, everything I'd done running away from home, tired of my father, for this here, my dream being realised, which wasn't so much the dream I wanted, but I'm still happy, I know I'm doing the right thing" I say holding her hand.
"We're going to take a break, eat a bit, later it's the big day, after that we'll enjoy the last few days in Ireland where we'll go back to Luna Nova... To think that it's going to be my last year now, I'm even impressed that I'm going to graduate" She leads me to the chair where we start breakfast.
I just watch her making toast, even making us both a juice, that look of someone so beautiful, her in that cute way, I want to see her in her pyjamas more often, making breakfast for me, a bit sloppy, but it's my Croix, it's her way and I love it.
She sits down with me with the toast, which I pick up a little stupidly and end up letting it burn a little and I see her laughing, which makes me feel a little silly, come on, these things are hot, I didn't even realise.
"You and your little way, I always love how you're all like that, Chariot" said my girlfriend with a giggle as I blew on the toast in my hands.
"Why didn't you tell me it was hot? That way I'll get sore hands when I go on stage, it's no fun" I say in disgust.
"Come off it, girl, just don't touch the toast too much, they're hot, but they won't give you third-degree burns, if you have to set them on fire I can do it another way" She's already showing her expression, but I'm not the one who gets all melty like that, this silly girl, she gets all embarrassed when I show my claws.
[...]
I spent the time rehearsing with my girlfriend, she laughed a bit and so did I, showing her my steps, she even tried a bit, it's cute Croix trying to do ballet steps, I soon get close to her who is dancing and I see her stumble, falling into my arms, which I go to catch her before she falls, right on the waist watching her get very embarrassed.
"I'm no good at dancing Chariot, I'm not as talented as you" I pick my nose and laugh.
"Don't talk like that, you're funny and I love you just the way you are" I say, lifting her up.
"That's why you're different, you have all the knowledge of these things and the steps, I could come out of this with a twisted ankle, but you do it as if it were natural and an extension of your own body" How cute, her being all complex like that.
In the middle of our steps we are interrupted again by the unwelcome presence of Alan himself, which makes me roll my eyes, but I'm sure he wants to, I hope it's not too much trouble, it's been a good few days since I
arrived here in London, rehearsing and so far I've done several interviews in my own trailer, I wonder what's next.
"Look, they're wasting all the time Chariot could have spent rehearsing for her to dance like a rock, what a complete waste of time" Ugh why does he have to be like that and hurt Croix's feelings, what a rotten bloke.
"Tell me what you want with us, I've already done all the interviews in this trailer, what else do I have to do?" I ask him.
"Another interview, but this time you're going to be on television on a national network, today after the presentation I want to warn you that you'll be live in an auditorium being interviewed, so make sure you rehearse well what you say, I don't want all this to be a failure, now it will be a way to practice, since there's another team coming to interview you, change those clothes and wait in the trailer, as you always know, Croix stays out" I thought I was free of these things, but there's no way out of this, I'll always be stuck in this.
I huff and walk all the way back to the bus, just when I thought I'd be free, once again I'm proved wrong, and on top of that I have to perform on stage and this auditorium programme, I really hope it's all worth it.
I change my clothes and look at myself in the mirror, which causes my hands to shake a little, which I try to hold back, it's all weighing me down in a way, I don't want to have to become dependent on it, it's been a week since I used one of the ones in the packet, but the urge has been very strong. I'm just waiting and then I'm let in through the bus door by yet another television crew, at least this one I can understand everything that's being asked very clearly.
"And here we are in the humble and comfortable bus that took this star across Europe on a tour that was a real magician on this continent, now back to her origins when she started presenting here in England, a witch who is only 16 years old but who has a lot of talent and who has been a fever among children, we are talking about her. Shiny Chariot!" The reporter says and I just nod, showing my excitement, kind of pretending, at first it was nice, but now I'm getting overwhelmed.
"Hello hello, a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Chariot Du Nord, better known as Shiny Chariot, and it's a pleasure to be here for this interview" not so much, I just wanted to spend a few moments with my girlfriend and everything got spoilt.
[...]
It's a good thing these things are quick, this is another one of those presentations where the lines are ready almost everywhere in the world, well the television crew have already left the bus and I'm relieved, but with my head a little overloaded, I put my hand on my forehead, and my manager comes to fill me with patience.
"Very well, everything went according to plan, you're excellent at interviews Chariot, so it's good for us to keep earning well, keep doing it the right way, we'll be much more rewarded for it, don't forget the presentation tonight and after that you'll be live on television to millions of people, so just say the right thing" said Alan who nodded at me.
"I've understood everything, you don't have to say it again, I've understood that I have to do everything right, now call Croix here, I'm a bit tired in the head at the moment" I say to him, who shrugs.
"Your girlfriend went out for a while to get some food while you were interviewing her, she told me to tell you that and that she loves you too, I'm going back to the hotel now, I still have to count the money and split it correctly according to the contract" said my manager as he left.
It's not possible that I've had this bad luck, just when I'm nervous, he gets off the bus and well, I've been without it for a few days, but this shaking is too much to bear, I'm going to get some things and take them outside to eat and get rid of the smell of these things, to think that there's still a while to go before I finish this packet, I really have to finish putting all this in my mouth.
Well, I'm going to have to make that sacrifice, I can already feel some of it throbbing in my mouth, I take a deep breath, I've got to get off this bus straight away and I see Alan's car pulling away, it's my chance to get out and de-stress my mind, I'm sorry about that Croix, but I've got to do this, my body has become dependent on nicotine.
[...]
Well it's evening, time to do what I have to do, here I am on stage, having smoked two at once has helped a little to relieve the tension, I'm not shaking, I really hope Croix doesn't notice how my breath has changed
with the cigarettes, but there's no way, I'm almost ready, today is the time to show London with the house overflowing who I am.
"It's a record crowd Chariot, the tickets are sold out and there are 50,000 people watching you, all for your final Tour, it's so many people that it's like an anthill from above, everyone coming to watch you, if we can get all this on stage here, then it's a good sign for further on in the World Tour" Croix said and I even get a bit nervous.
"All these people today... They came to see me? I don't know how to react, what does that mean?" I'm really surprised.
"Yes, Chariot, you've already risen to the status of a more well-known person, I guarantee you'll have a page on Wikipedia, I don't doubt it, but anyway, are you ready, love? Have you done your make-up and everything?" I nod my head in agreement.
"Today nothing is going to go wrong, I'm going to do my best on stage, after that I know we'll go downhill, as I'll be more limited to just the outskirts of England, I just want to finish Luna Nova soon, it was my dream to study there too, but studying is getting in the way of my dreams of becoming a stage entertainer" I say as I see my girlfriend leaving and leaning against the door.
"Don't let yourself be seduced by the idea that this dream of yours could give you a better life, Chariot, never give up your other dream for this dream, I guarantee that one day it could help you in life, now I'm going, we'll start soon, I know you'll be able to impress" She left my dressing room and I took a deep breath.
With my costume ready, I look in the mirror, very motivated, ready to keep going, I'm not going to give up for anything, no matter how complicated and difficult it is to take these steps, I have to keep going, come on, today could be one more performance that will change the world for some children, I know it could be them. I leave the dressing room, listening to the introduction that comes before me, shaking my head and now it's all or nothing, London is where I'm going to close the Shiny Chariot European Tour, and I'm going to do it in the best possible way, my theme comes with everything.
I appear on stage quickly with smoke rising from the ground and revealing me, and I can already hear the screams of everyone, and wow, I just see so many heads, I never thought it would be on this level, I'm known on these proportions, a whole stage full of people shouting my name as I do acrobatics, what started as a dreamy little girl in France just wanting to be able to afford the entrance to Luna Nova, has become this.
"Your magic is believing in yourselves!" I said, waving to the crowd, who shouted even louder at my words.
There are so many people that it's immense, it's not for nothing that there's a huge open field to watch what I'm already doing with the broom going through all this ants' nest, passing the trail and even my hand in the midst of this beautiful audience, it's all so grand and so huge, I'm here in England kicking ass, the people here love me, I hope that future generations grow up really thinking of me, as Mum and Croix say.
[...]
I've just finished everything, I'm waving to the audience before the curtains close, it was all like a normal performance, I didn't have much to add outside the role, but well, this way the tour can end in glory, all I can see is my name echoing through all those people who really love me, want to see me continue to be like this, it's such a different and wonderful feeling, I feel so full.
The curtains close, I'm relieved, a little tired, because even though I'm doing the same thing, I've made an extra effort not to stop showing my talent on stage, and that's when Alan claps for me.
"Well done, well done Chariot, now that's a spectacular way to end this tour, now as you know it's good to fix your make-up and also those clothes, before we leave for the talk show" said my manager and I just nodded.
"I know that, I'm not going to stop doing these things, I just want to rest" I say, going to the dressing room.
When I got there, I sat down on one of the chairs, and soon some people were touching up my make-up for me, getting me really ready for everything, I coughed a little, feeling a little uncomfortable with a cloth being passed across my chest, it must have been because of the sweat, I really give my soul in these presentations, which also brings up a strong smell of perfume and when everything eased off I saw that Croix was watching everything leaning against the door.
"You were marvellous, love, I know you only did the usual, but even so, your usual is still something marvellous and enchanting, there is no witch who equals the great Shiny Chariot, you on stage are the greatest of them all for me" I get a little emotional, but I hold back from crying, so I hug my beautiful girlfriend.
"Thank you, I wouldn't be this person without the help of the best of all, who does the best effects, who does the best publicity, who looks after me, who supports me, you also did everything great to help me, without you I don't know if I'd be here" I say smiling with my hand on my Croix's shoulder.
"Now go on that programme and kick ass, show more of Shiny Chariot, I'll be on the bus watching" said my Meridies who even gave me a little kiss on the lips.
We leave the stage and I get to Alan's car, I'm snorting, it can be a luxury car, I'm annoyed at having to get in where my manager is, he's taking me through the streets of London, with a bit of movement as people are still parked up leaving the gig, I just sit there in the freezing air thinking about what this interview is going to be like.
I look at the city, its night landscape, the cars passing by, me in this car, it brings back memories of when I was a child and I took this route, only reversed, I was going out with my dad, up in the sky I could see this city from afar.
We arrive at a place that looks like a television studio, the doorman gives us the go-ahead and that gate goes up and we pull the car over and I get out of the car, looking at those studios, all full of things, lights and everything.
"Here we are, have you realised how big this is? It's your first time live on television on a Sunday night" said Alan.
"It's my first time having to lie live, you mean" I say, huffing.
"Whatever, just don't forget to remember what was in the script I gave you, this guy is very picky, he can ask you very uncomfortable questions" said my manager.
We got to the studio and wow, how huge it is, how gigantic everything is. We were given the go-ahead and I took a deep breath, standing at my post where all the television people were telling me what to do, while my manager watched everything from the smaller television, I just listened to the stage and the small audience, just breathing deeply.
"All right, here we are to start another Sunday evening for you who are getting ready to go to bed for work, but without getting sleepy we've brought a special guest, this one who has been a hit with the kids, even though she's a witch she's not going to cast a spell that will make you fall asleep in front of the telly, come on Chariot Du Nord!" Said the guy, I don't even know his name, but I take a deep breath.
I'm signalled in, I wave to the people who are applauding, and wow, it's a different kind of atmosphere, I never thought I'd turn up like this, I've been walking until I get to the armchair, apparently this is Ed's Sunday night talk show, that must be his name, he's an older bloke, let's see if I can hold my own here.
"It's surprising you didn't come flying in on a broom or something Shiny Chariot, quite peculiar for a witch like you, did you lose your broom somewhere? You came in all dressed up as a witch, but you forgot the most important thing" everyone bursts out laughing.
"You know Ed, I don't need to fly all the time, magic isn't something you can spend all the time" I answer, nodding my head.
"Oh that makes a bit of sense, how a girl of your age comes to blows, I think we know well enough now that I'm up close here, isn't it a bit controversial for someone of your age to wear an outfit that shows so much skin? Or is it purely a strategy?" This guy definitely wants to be daring.
"My outfit doesn't say anything about provoking the audience, it's inspired by the nine ancient witches, I made it inspired by one of them, all my presentations are a way of showing witches and the marvellous world of magic" I'll continue with the answers.
"An art so old-fashioned you still won't give up on showing it to the world, what are you thinking? My daughter is imitating you and won't stop spinning around doing somersaults, soon she'll throw herself off the building wanting to fly on a broomstick" How awful, and you still make people laugh at it.
"Magic isn't such an old-fashioned, traditional art, I just want to give it a new face, to encourage people not to let it go, after all, everything deserves to live on in people's minds, especially magic, which has helped people so much" I'll answer him.
"Magic is such a silly thing, you really do look like a Disney princess girl, I didn't think I'd be interviewing Cinderella around here, someone 16 years old I expected something different" What does he mean by that? What a strange guy.
"There's nothing silly about magic, it's an art, I want to show people how it can be the future, it's not an old-fashioned art, together we can bring something new to magic, that's my idea" I get a bit silly.
"Oh but do you think glitter and glitter will save the world? Tell me how you're going to solve global warming? Are you going to arrive at the factory dancing and doing ballet, spinning with a broom? It looks like we've found the solution here people, Shiny Chariot has just reduced the pollution rate to 0% by pirouetting with a broom" everyone's laughing and this guy is ridiculous, there's no need to humiliate him so much, I even wanted to talk about Croix, but my reputation is going down.
"We can use magic for many things, believe me, we can repair things with magic, we can use magic as energy, it's not just a little witches' show, it's much bigger than that, magic is stronger the more people believe in it" I try to be more myself, but I realise the guy was just laughing.
"Do you really believe that, little Disney princess? Well, I'm not one to criticise other people's beliefs, we're very tolerant here and we're free to talk about anything. Anyway, let's move on from the subject of the dreamy girl to another topic, how did you get here? How did all this make you a worldwide sensation?" Asks Ed himself.
"Well Ed, I've always been a dreamy girl, I've always thought about being a stage entertainer since I was a child, which I started to put into practice at a very young age, when I still lived in France, my father and I moved around a lot and I used that to raise some money sometimes, to help out around the house, which I took a liking to, I also took the opportunity to learn ballet and theatre, I saw that it was something that captivated people and that made me more sure of my dream" Now a normal question.
"A beautiful story, I can imagine it must have been quite embarrassing the first few performances, and quite comical, but it's an evolution that we can see, today your steps are better than any circus and your talk is very similar too, you would do well as a comedian, the talent to captivate people is there" I swear I would use my magic to turn you into a frog like they say witches do.
[...]
I almost kept myself from crying, but it was humiliation after humiliation, when I arrived to go back I only saw my manager looking disappointed, we walked out of the studio and to the car, a tremendous silence, it even made me feel bad, being that I was humiliated for a good part of the interview, this Ed guy is cruel, the guy lives for mocking the guests, for the nine witches, I quickly got in the car and started to throw away my tears that I had been holding back the whole time.
"It was terrible, what an embarrassment we've been through, all we had to do was answer the questions correctly, go along with his sarcasm, show the charisma of an adult, now the whole national network knows that you're a joke, you're nothing more than a romanticised little girl who dreams of magic, I have no doubt that even for the witches your image has been tarnished by this interview, what we had every chance of a great success and leverage, you destroyed with your childish chatter?" He humiliates me even here, he doesn't need that much.
"And what did you want me to do? I wasn't prepared for a guy to humiliate me on his show, what was your point in doing that? It's not my fault I'm there, you're the one who told me to go on the show" I'm already crying.
"Oh please, hold your tears, soon you'll have less or even more to cry about, I've already told you your share of the money and I have some news to tell you" said Alan and I was still crying.
He doesn't understand how humiliating it was, the guy spent 50 minutes making fun of magic in front of me and everyone was laughing at what he was saying, it brings my morale down, I felt diminished the whole time, but an arsehole like that who only thinks about his wallet doesn't understand.
We got to where the bus is, I went inside with Alan and there was Croix at the computer editing the video of my last presentation, she must have done a lot already, so he left the suitcase full of money on the table and it was a considerable suitcase, when I opened it there were lots of notes.
"£540,000, that was your share, now you're holding back the tears, that's a considerable amount of money for your European tour, at your age I've never made a lot of money in my life, not even when I became your
manager, those gigs gave us a lot of money, are you happy now?" No, because it would be just money, I don't see it as a big deal, he must have made even more money.
"It's still unfair, if she's won half a million pounds that means your pockets have almost five million pounds in them, all that money in your hands is unfair, she should have that share, especially as you're paying for it with the sponsorship money, not the money that's being used for the performances" said my girlfriend angrily, glaring at Alan.
"That's my bad news for the day, you're sacked Croix, you have a very unwelcome presence for me, even more so with your complaints, it's been ruining my business, I want you out, not to mention that I know you've been plotting to get me out of the game, that's unacceptable in itself, I'm the one who owns Chariot whether you like it or not, it's all in the contract, now finish doing your last services, I'll have them paid for, I know you're not going to walk out on your girlfriend and leave her in the lurch" He threw two cakes worth £10,000 each to Croix who was devastated and so was I.
"That's not fair!" We said together.
"Croix is the one who does the effects on stage, she's the one who edits my presentation videos and understands camera angles, without her I can't maintain my quality, you're making a very wrong decision Alan" I say to him who shakes his head in denial.
"Say that before you conspire against me, I listen to everything they say on this bus, and if you can manage with the effects you'll have to manage without them and show that you're the best in other ways, get on with it Chariot, get your own team and without Croix, she's forbidden to go with you to the performances, I've had enough of this" said Alan himself who was just imposing himself, but Croix clenched his fists.
"Did you know that this is a criminal offence? You're violating our privacy, do you have cameras too? Are you filming minors having sex? Then this could land you in jail, I demand to know, if you sack me this will all go public" He just kept the same confident expression.
"I didn't do it, I'm not that stupid, I know what a risk it would be, there's no point in conspiring against me, now that you're useless I'm going to take this off here" said Alan, who picked up the recorder and then took it off the bus.
I didn't see Croix devastated and crestfallen, she was crying, but you could see the anger coming from her, she was genuinely angry, after all this I kept hugging her, trying to console her, I was crying too, it all got me down terribly, I would even consider smoking again, but I need to do what's most important.
"The bastard isn't the only one recording here, mark my words Chariot when I'm eighteen I'll show this recording to his mothers and they'll cancel their sponsorship of him, my word against Alan's for them will nullify any attempt by Alan, which I'll become his manager and we'll go back, I just ask you to hold on tight, I'll still keep an eye on him, that much I'm sure of" she whispers in my ear.
I'm going to put up with it, I know it's going to be a difficult time, but I hope that everything goes very well, with Croix with me she'll share everything fairly, I know that the money I've earned now is very high and I can just enjoy swimming in it, but that's not all, these are just sheets of paper that say I can take things from people full of these sheets of paper, it doesn't mean anything about helping people on the contrary, that's what brings out the worst in people.
"Well, as you may have remembered, it was during this period that my performances declined a lot in qualitybefore the rebirth of Shiny Chariot as a phoenix, it was precisely intentional for Alan to scrap me, he wantedto do this to purposefully have some reason to get me out of the game, but also to earn a comfortableamount of money, let's get to my second year in Luna Nova, it was much more of a rollercoaster of emotionsthan the first, things changed to an extreme here, it was where I got to really know who Croix is.
See you, fired witches...