Friday 2 December 2005, Luna Nova
'A few days have passed since the first times we went on missions with Woodward, but they were more likeclasses in which we learnt more about the history of witches, or reflected among ourselves, which I wasalready observing a lot of the history of the witch herself, being impressed and increasingly enchanted,getting more inspiration for something great that I was already planning, maybe it could be something thatwould change my life until, when I got to Woodward again, accompanying Croix on our missions.
It's been almost a month of lessons with Woodward, it doesn't seem like time has flown so much, we've come so far, I want to think about how we're going to do today, we pass through the ruins and so far it's been pretty quiet, Croix is still a bit stubborn and selfish, she really doesn't want anyone with her on this mission for the magic sceptre, it's a real shame, because it could help us a lot.
We arrived at the tower, climbed all the way up, which I'm taking deep breaths in preparation for the next lesson, I just want to see what there is to progress today, there's sure to be a big mission, it's been 28 days since we first came here, four weeks, it's about to be a month.
"Woodward has only been giving us lessons lately, no special Chariot missions, are we really doing the right thing? I've already done everything she asked" said Croix.
"Except for the idea of forming a team, so far we're stuck with ourselves" I say to her, who just ignores it.
"We don't need this, your mum never needed it, let alone us, apart from the fact that we can achieve this together, one day she'll have to choose what she's going to do with Claiomh Solais, she's not going to waste the chance" Which will make Woodward appear.
Just as Meridies was complaining, out came the leaves and butterflies that formed the witch, as always it's a beautiful magical effect until her spirit shows up, wow, it's always the same way of reacting and being impressed, she always has an entrance that shows why she's one of the nine witches, now I'm sure there's a scolding coming from Croix's side.
"Oh, she's after me, isn't she?" Said the bespectacled one, who then walked away.
"With this way of thinking and attitude, it's difficult for you to become a Chosen Croix, if you continue to be bitter like this, it could be your grave. You have to think that the Claiomh Solais is not just for you, but for everyone, even those people who don't deserve it, they benefit from the power of the sceptre, it's not an individual thing, the conquest has to be for the collective, you want something that will revive magic and benefit all witches, it's not simply a sceptre that you'll point out to others as the card that will change the world, your life won't change with this thing in hand" Here she really spoke, and a lot, it was the explanation I wanted to give.
"And how do you think it's going to go wrong? I was born ready for Claiomh Solais" She's really always full of it, I have to help her more to be the chosen one or it could end up going worse.
"Do you want to see what would happen if I let you be the chosen one now?" She even shakes her head and Woodward comes closer.
Then the witch arrives at Croix, she puts her hand on her head, and ends up projecting an image, this image simply shows something very different, it's as if I'm inside the place, what we're seeing is a world totally destroyed, in ruins, it's very peculiar, why would things be like this if Croix was the chosen one, which passes to a place, looking like a castle, in it is Croix sitting on a throne with a staff in her hand.
"Croix!" I call out to her and I see her with a sadistic smile on that throne and I realise it wasn't my voice, it was someone speaking with my voice, I had long hair and an eye patch.
"Look who's turned up, if it isn't the Chariot, you're still defying me, my authority, why don't you join me straight away" she says and I can only see myself taking a wand in my hand.
"You promised you'd help the world and now we're in ruins, after all, you destroyed everything, I trusted you, look what you've done, billions of lives have died because of you" I'm really shocked by this reality and I could see that Croix herself was equally horrified.
"It was a necessary sacrifice Chariot, all to be able to bring a new era of magic to this world, unfortunately nobody wanted to agree with us, just look at the places where they joined, we are returning to prosperity, we will soon be a magical civilisation" She really got megalomaniacal.
Then the two of them go at each other, as if they were going to fight, I myself have a sword, while Meridies is using technology, even so I'm destroying her devices that go up, getting closer and closer, I'm really shocked, how could this happen if she was the chosen one.
All this ended with the moment where we get close to each other, I'm being taken away and I feel my hand with a sword stuck in Croix's chest, which gives the whole impression that we were moving and I really had my fist closed on her chest.
"What was that?" I say, shocked and blushing because my hand is on my friend's chest.
"This has nothing to do with anything! Are you trying to traumatise me? I wouldn't cause a third world war or extermination, nor would I be so inhuman, you're just trying to scare me" She really got angry.
"That's an approximate prediction, I can't be precise with it, but that's what would happen if we approximate events and their reactions, you'd be frustrated to know that Claiomh Solais isn't the one who changes the world, but that change comes from you, that's why I'm here to warn you, don't be so selfish, the sceptre isn't for your own benefit, you're still in this mindset of helping yourself instead of thinking of your neighbour, so much so that we're stagnating in class, it's easier for me to choose your friend than you" Me? I'm a terrible witch compared to Croix.
"I wouldn't be any good at this Woodward, as a witch I'm a joke, the whole school makes fun of me, I just wanted to be better..." I say to her and she smiles at me.
"This will be my last lesson for the year, so the last mission I ask of you before we return next year is to make some effort to realise your dream, to take some inspiration and go for it, that's what I wish for you, to achieve your dreams and think about them, not about Claiomh Solais' achievement, to show how you can change the world for yourselves" I get it, I think I'll focus a bit more on the idea of Shiny Chariot.
"Is that it? What about quests to really improve magic? What about lessons? Are we going to go almost a month without any lessons from you, without any progress?" Croix is really dedicated to this mission.
"Give it a rest Croix, you need it, think about other things, enjoy Christmas, try not to keep Claiomh Solais in your head, you're only reducing your chances of being chosen like this, this pressure you've created in your head to be perfect and not make mistakes is only getting in the way of you progressing as a witch, so do something for yourself that's different, think more about the collective, think about everything - said the witch who then gradually disappeared.
And we just watch her go, which I already have some of my answers to, Croix seems very confused, she's really feeling quite different since Woodward showed up, her behaviour has changed a lot, I think I'll try to help her with this mission, maybe she'll have fun while she's helping me make the costume to be Shiny Chariot? I hope this help will be useful.
She kept quiet the whole way, she really was much colder and different from everything else, so we walked all the way back, without talking or opening our mouths, she wasn't happy at all, I think it was because of that vision
"Bye Chariot, I'm going to my room, I've got to cool off" I've already thought of something to do.
"Why don't we have some fun, let's clear our heads, enjoy the day, think about celebrating Christmas together, have you thought about it, me and you at the McLaren house for Christmas" I say to her, who just continues to sulk.
"Chariot, I saw something very heavy, and you still act as if everything is fine... Don't you realise how serious it is? Woodward has made me look like a genocidal tyrant, I'm not that, I'm a witch, I want to change the world, I don't want to cause death and destruction" I hug her to calm her nerves, which are continuing like this.
"You won't, we can take the steps to change that, the first step in all of this is to see your own mistake, above all to avoid that vision, come with me, I'll help you get it out of your head, you can use your angry technology to bring a smile to my face, maybe then you'll feel better" I say holding her hand.
"Do you think I can still have a little hope? I'm a monster Chariot, you saw how I looked at you without mercy... I don't want to be like that" I continue to hold her in my arms.
And so she becomes a little tearful and I take her to my room, we have to think of a look for Shiny Chariot, maybe then we can think of a way to change the world in these small actions, that's how we have to think about doing it, I'm going to help her with this small action that could be a huge kindness on her part.
We got to my room and the girls weren't there, they must have left, so I grabbed my notebook and already had some sketches in hand of what Shiny Chariot's costume could be, showing the inspirations I'd taken from Woodward's visions.
"What do you think, Croix? Do you think we can get a result here? You might know a way to make a costume that catches everyone's eye" I say as I show it to her.
"I'm not much of a fashion connoisseur, just by the way I dress you'd realise, but we can think of something inspired by Woodward, I think it might help distract me, then we'll put it together with a sewing machine, I used to make my Halloween costumes so it's easy" She really is improving a lot.
"This open neckline would fit in well with Woodward's idea, I want something that reminds me of her, but that is also more me, an outfit that really catches the public's eye and is memorable, that's why I needed your help, I've been thinking about a lot of looks, look how it turned out" I show my drawings, something I've learnt a lot in this time is how to draw.
The costumes are diverse, one even with a mask, fuller shoulders, another with trousers, but I thought the idea of a skirt was more interesting, in conjunction with long boots, the trousers are very discreet and not flashy at all.
I can see that Croix was looking at the looks to get an idea of what I was trying to show, since the aesthetic was already in my mind, to show something more mysterious and youthful, which also fits in with this more current idea, which counts for a lot in the look, in something new
"The shoulders, this one with the shoulders showing and long sleeves looks interesting, put it together with this dress with the neckline cutting across the top and down the middle, like the one Woodward had in one of the classes she showed, only make it a top up to the waist, it would look interesting, put trousers or a skirt underneath, and with colours that show, a cape would also look interesting - I can think of this combination.
"I haven't tried this idea, I'm going to draw it now, let's see if it's interesting, maybe your idea will work, I'll draw it here" she even smiles.
I'm starting to make the first sketches, I'm posing with my body, with various gestures, while Croix is apparently seeing things, she really notices some photos of me with the mums, she notices how I always keep an energetic manner, even the photos of me in France, after I've taken my album, I'm just looking at my references to make something, I have to make the costume very interesting in the end.
Shoulders showing, belly showing, cleavage, skirt, long sleeves, cape, a hat could also be interesting, I think the idea of the big boot from the other more pompous and gaudy look with a sword would be interesting, I'm going to do it together with Claiomh Solais, I think it could match the aesthetic.
It's turning out really well, I like the result, it's really something that matches, if I leave the cape red, the skirt blue, the rest white, it would already have an interesting aesthetic, also add a choker around the neck, it's perfect, they'll look at me and know that I'm Shiny Chariot, I've done sketches in various poses, it really is beautiful to see.
"It's great to know the context of those photos you took and how much you've lived over the years, even when it's hard you've always shown a smile, I really wanted to know your secret" Meridies said and I just shrugged.
"There's no secret, you just have to keep your happiness within you, don't let anything get you down, that's what I do, even in the most difficult times" I say as I finalise the sketches of the outfit and it looks wonderful
"I wish I wasn't like this... Will I always be like this? Looking like a dead fish, depressed, sad..." I put my hand on her shoulder and then show her the drawings.
"You won't, what you need is more reasons to smile and I'm here to give you those reasons" She blushes and looks at the drawings, impressed.
I can see her reaction as she looked at every part of my outfit and it was the reaction of someone who genuinely liked it, I thought about every detail, I made something that's eye-catching but not provocative, that's striking and unique, there's no reason for me to go for something more explicit, my intention is to present it to everyone and be able to attract attention, to be striking with my look, I think the message has been given.
"That's really marvellous Chariot, it shows that you're really ready for this, I love how you've applied everything I've said to a costume, discard the others, it'll be perfect, if you team up with Claiomh Solais when
we go to get it, it'll match too much, let's go to the city, we'll get the things and take your measurements" she said more excitedly.
"You really liked it" I say happily.
"This is your look, you'll attract attention wherever you go, no one will forget this look, you already know what colours to use, because I've thought of good, striking combinations" I nod my head in agreement.
[...]
It's already nine o'clock at night, we've spent hours and hours sewing and taking my measurements, everything to fit just right, I hope I don't grow more than that or get more body, otherwise it'll ruin the whole costume.
Now that it's all done, I look at the clothes and wow, I've really managed to make something perfect, the look matches so well, even my friends are watching us do it with the sound of the sewing machine around here, it's amazing how Croix always has everything in hand.
"Now, that's it, Chariot, you can put it on, we want to see if everything's all right" she said and I was already thinking it was beautiful.
"Wow Croix, you really brought this outfit to life, I really appreciate it, you're marvellous" I said, jumping into an embrace with her as she blushed.
"Wow, not for nothing, but the four-eyed one really knows how to sew, if it wasn't for being such a controversial witch she'd be one of the greatest seamstresses in fashion, I'm not even joking, this is at the level of detail and sophistication that a lady wanting to buy a Versace would want to see, maybe this is a start, seamstress witches are much more efficient, even more so seeing with the machine like this" said the impressed Daniella.
"Go and put it on, Chariot, we're dying to see it" said Becca.
I take a deep breath and get my clothes, I get to the bathroom and take off my uniform, I'm left with just my knickers as the neckline already serves as a bra, I even look in the mirror, changing the parts of the clothes, I see that there's a whole way of putting it on, it's really fitting well, it's something different and peculiar.
I'm looking really beautiful, everything is fitting really well on my body, Croix really knows how to get everything just right in terms of measurements, I'm looking really good in this, it's amazing, wow, look at me, I look lovely, I even take a deep breath and go to the other side of the door already changed.
"Welcome to a new world of magic" I say, picking up my hat and waving to everyone as I use a little magic.
The girls were simply amazed, especially Meridies who blushed when she saw me like that, I was really perfect in all of this, the marvellous ensemble that I got is impressive, I think the beginning of Shiny Chariot happened today, she's as alive as ever, I can't wait to show her tomorrow.
"Chariot, you look perfect! This outfit is really marvellous" said the bespectacled one.
"Croix has done well with this one, tomorrow we'll show it to everyone in Luna Nova" said Becca.
"Don't you think it's too risky, especially with Chariot's reputation as a cookie witch before? We have to think of a more elaborate way, apart from the fact that she could be reprimanded for it" said Parker.
"Outside Luna Nova we can't use magic, it's against the rules, so it wouldn't make any difference here, I'd launch my career here, they'd already know what I'm like" I tell them.
"And how do you intend to start all this? We've already got the clothes, apart from the fact that winter is hitting hard, with clothes like that you'll freeze outside" said Croix.
"The first Shiny Chariot Magical Party, let's think of something for before the winter holidays so everyone is impressed" I say to her.
"I have time to get permission, we'll do it in the square near the Ley line, as I'm a second year student with a certain popularity, we can get it up, I'm sure it'll work, in the meantime we'll also take the opportunity to do the rest" I'm already excited.
[...]
Friday 16 December 2005, Glastonbury, England
"You may have already read that this was the first performance of Shiny Chariot, still as a street artist, it wasthe first time I presented it to everyone, it took two weeks to prepare everything, we did it alone, we set upthe stage, Croix took care of the effects, we made the drawings that were then printed on posters, we spreadposters, The only reason we didn't get permission was thanks to the director Holbrook having a friendshipwith my mum. She allowed us to use magic outside of Luna Nova and put on this performance, which I wasstaging for a few days, with a few steps, reminiscent of the steps used at the Samhaim festival, which wouldbe our joint performance."
For the nine witches I didn't expect it to work, there's a good crowd in the square coming to watch us, it was a lot of work, I was setting up the stage and also rehearsing at the same time, everyone helped each other with this one, that's because we're not going to make any money, according to what the director let us do, we can perform, but without making any money, it would be a non-profit performance, just an amateur performance of ours.
I'm just waiting for my moment, with my wand in hand, I'll be able to put on my show, this is the Shiny Chariot's first Magical Festa, it's today that it's born, it's today that a star will rise in the sky.
"Good afternoon Glastonbury crowd, you've waited so long for this time to come, in this cold weather today you're going to warm your hearts with our great witch Shiny Chariot!" That's right, everything went smoothly, even Daniella helped us out and went on stage for this one.
It's my turn, I'm nervous, but I calm down, the girls even pat me on the back and I go flying with the broom set up as if it were a skateboard, out through the curtains and round the side of the stage until I'm near the middle where I pull on my hat and use the microphone to announce my arrival, with a little magic already spreading across the stage.
"Welcome to the world of magic! I'm Shiny Chariot and I'm here to enchant you! Your magic is believing in yourself!" I even used the phrase I learnt from Croix, but it's a shame she hardly ever uses it with herself.
I start doing acrobatics, getting close to the audience, standing up with the broom, passing with the wand and this creates a hologram of a dragon arriving on stage, which shocks everyone, but it's all an effect of the Croix, using some of her cubes that create this illusion, the dragon makes its way to the audience, who are frightened, but I create a magic bow with my wand and shoot an arrow at it, which ends up swallowing the arrow and exploding into several pieces, creating a shower of magical things on the stage.
Butterflies, fairies, flowers, glitter all went into the audience and I started to come back on stage doing some dance moves, which everyone seemed to be enjoying.
"Believe in the magic you have inside you! The enchanted world of Shiny Chariot magic has only just begun!" I tell the audience as I do dance moves and create more holograms with the Croix cubes creating more effects.
This time they were imitating the papilloidias that we saw in those fields, and it really was something of a revival of the missions, creating a shower of lights, coming to me and the audience who were getting into the wave of nature, which they were already going to be enchanted by, then everything moved on to appear another of the adventures, this time some ruins, with bears created as holograms,Arcas, and mother Ursula, I was showing everyone in a delicate way.
Making steps and enchanting everyone with what was coming together, thanks to the cubes the demonstration of magic was getting more impressive, I thank Croix for everything, she really made everything happen here.
"This is the magical world of Shiny Chariot for you at Glastonbury!" I'm coming to the end of the presentation.
I finish putting everything together and the holograms take me to the top and then I throw myself onto the broom where I sit on it a little sideways, take my hat and wave to the audience, going back behind the curtains, somehow the theatre classes have to pay off, the ballet too.
Applause comes, lots of applause, I've really charmed people, mundane people have been impressed by me again, I'm simply very good... I didn't fail, I succeeded, I'm a very good witch.
"Chariot, you did it!" Croix said, impressed.
"I couldn't have done it without your help" I say, hugging them.
[...]
We ended up dismantling everything and we were called to the board, I don't understand why, we impressed, we're allowed everything, it can only be complaints about the use of magic, even though we can, it was all of us, my trio with Croix, working together, that's too unfair, I really hope they don't say anything bad about us. I'm even a bit nervous about the scolding, we didn't get any money for this, I just did some stage performance, nothing much, did I attract too much attention? I don't know, but I did well, that's for sure.
"All right, you've committed the sacrilege of ruining the seriousness of magic with a circus performance like that... You really have no shame in what you've done, do you? And mixing it up with the technology of the Meridies, but all this I know came from someone, didn't it Miss Du Nord, what were you going for? People are going to look at magic and think it's a circus joke now" said Professor Finnelan, and I decided to stand up for myself.
"So what do you want to do to promote magic? Are you going to stand there and think that people will just want to become witches with this old-fashioned idea of yours, until when are you going to sit there and wait for witches to appear, while they remain uninterested?" I say to her, already tired of it all.
"Please Miss Du Nord, stop being so hysterical here, this is not the behaviour of a decent witch, but what do you expect from someone who was raised by Laura McLaren, someone who was also raised byApril Jordan, you're both to blame for this, you coerced these two into this thing, you should be punished, but Holbrooke probably won't let you, how long will you stay in this protection? I don't know, I know there won't be a Shiny Chariot next time, I'll do everything I can to make sure there isn't" We'll see about that, I'm not giving up on my dream.
"One day you'll thank me for helping to change the world and bring in a new generation interested in magic, while you stand there elitising magic" I say to her, who just signals for us to leave.
"Get out soon and go where you want to go, the winter holidays have started, I hope you don't hang around here causing trouble, or else we won't have the mercy to punish you, Holbrook leaves today, you're lucky, without her I won't allow this kind of action" We just turned round and left, but what a nagging little woman.
We headed for the outside door, which we celebrated, no scolding was given, the headmistress really is on our side, that's so good to know, next year I'll start presenting more often like this, I'm sure one day I'll get enough attention.
We walk until we reach the corridor to the rooms where we laugh together, it was quite amusing really, to see the teacher's frustrated face, everything worked out in the end
"I knew it would be bad on the one hand, but it was fun, I've never seen this more ferocious side of you Chariot, you didn't lower your head to Professor Finellan, anyway I'm going to my room to pack, I'm travelling home today, I have a Christmas to spend, I miss my sister Barbara and my family" said Daniella.
"Me too, I'm going home today, I've got to rush to the airport, it's going to be a long journey home, and then I'll be back here on New Year's Eve, my day is basically going to be spent on a plane until I get back here, but I hope you have fun in your seats and you Chariot, where are you going?" This time I can and I will.
"I'm going to Ireland with Croix, to spend Christmas with my family, after six years I'm finally going to spend Christmas with my mums, my sisters, I'm really looking forward to it" I say excitedly.
"Good luck to you, let's go to the bedroom" said Parker, who walked with Becca to the bedroom and I went to hold Croix's hand.
We kept looking at each other and I can see that after everything she's really changed a lot, she's more friendly, I think that event with Woodward was a warning, she really listened to everything, I'm proud to see my friend improving after everything.
"Thank you Chariot... I was able to understand Woodward's message thanks to you, it was all I needed to do, I realised how teamwork really helps, if one day I want to be chosen I just have to dedicate myself, I'll do it more often, it was all fun, but I'm sure there will be more fun ahead" I'm sure there will.
We hug, I can't wait to see her again, after everything we're becoming really good friends, which was a moment I didn't expect to be so wonderful, Croix is one of the most marvellous things I've met in my life, she really doesn't pretend to be someone else, even the most flawed sides of her, she still shows it, I really like her.
"This performance was very controversial, before we even left for home the Luna Nova Times appearedabout the performance, with a tone of debauchery around us, which you'll realise all the slander over my
name is fabricated by witches, which the mundanes didn't do until much later in my career, but in thebeginning those who supported it the most were people who weren't connected to magic, I could see thatpeople are really interested in magic, what was missing was the right way to show it."
See you, shiny witches...