Thursday 27 November 2017, Luna Nova
"Well now the time has come that I didn't want to tell you about, even more so because it's the end of myjourney practically, whether I want to or not it's a bit difficult to talk about since I never expected it to come tothis, but here we are, I think Mum Laura is very curious to know how Croix's arrival was and I bet you Dianawill like to know how some more intimate conversations with her went, but from what you've noticed weweren't doing very well, especially as she found out very quickly about my identity and caused a real mess,so let's start when she arrived here".
I hate the fact that even after two years of working here the heavy manual labour is still with me, how can we have run out of magic all of a sudden and now I have to take care of getting the bare minimum for this place, if we had at least electricity it would be good enough, I keep glancing at the tower and I can see that there's a strange movement, but I can't do anything, it's up to Akko to sort it out.
I go outside and see her from afar protesting alongside the workers, who would have thought that this girl would understand class problems so quickly, she has potential, not bad, but I have to continue my work, otherwise we'll run out of resources for nothing, I leave things in place and panting I sit down.
"Ursula, we have to call you to a meeting between teachers immediately, we have a new teacher who wants to join us before the semester even starts, she says she has the solution to our problems" said Professor Lukic in the corridor as I walked back.
"A new teacher?" I ask her.
"Just as we're also going to resolve the situation of this mundane protesting in a piteous manner" Ah finally they're going to resolve the situation of magic.
I breathe a sigh of relief and head for the boardroom, I see that the teacher has gone to warn Akko and I hope that everything will be all right for now, which I think will be the end of all this, but even so, why all of a sudden? Is Fafnir angry with us now? I hope it's not that, because I'm not ready for this kind of thing.
I walk into the headmaster's office and see the headmaster with a very familiar expression, that lilac hair, those beady green eyes, the big body, she's exactly as Rosemary described and showed in the photos, even better than I thought, it's bizarrely scary what she's doing here, which I glance at from a distance and she glares back at me, I bet she must have figured me out so quickly.
"Finally Ursula arrived, I was going to tell you that there's a new prospective teacher in the area, she could put an end to all this work you've been doing" What is she doing here? I can't believe this woman found her way into this place so easily.
"Ch... Ursula, hello, you're the youngest teacher here, nice to meet you, Croix Meridies" She gives me her hand and I'm a little afraid to touch it, with a little of the feelings that have arisen.
"Ursula Callistis" I answer her, but I'm already seething with anger.
We stare at each other, she looks like she's enjoying all this while I'm in the deepest rage, how can this be real, Croix here in Luna Nova, this bastard had so many places to show up and she showed up here, for the nine witches my whole plan is going to be ruined, what is she doing in this place? What does this bastard want with me now? Damn.
[...]
They discussed it and indeed Croix is going to study here, I thought it would never happen, magic and technology mixing, I wanted it to be real, but not that she would come back and it would work out that way, I stay alone in my room, still in shock, shaking and smoking, until I hear knocks on the door, how can she have come back, after so many years, it's been at least 10 years since we split up and I can't get over anything, the cigarettes aren't enough, each one burns out too quickly. I answer the door and it's her, it can't be anything but Croix, anything but her.
"Oh Chariot Du Nord, it's been a long time" she spoke my name and I used a spell to inhibit sounds so that no one would hear us.
"You found out pretty quickly, didn't you?" I say, turning my hair red and glaring at her.
"Why so much resentment? It's been 10 years Chariot, don't you remember the good times we had together, the good times? Our romance? Our good days? Look, I didn't come here to bother you Chariot, I know who you are, I just have one goal in mind" I even get a little angry.
"Why don't you go somewhere else instead of bothering me with past traumas?" I tell her that she still has the same expression and I'm almost in tears.
"I'm sorry, but my mission is more important than anything involving us, I have to prioritise the future of witches, look how much better everyone feels when technology comes along" I even have my theories that she set this up.
"Oh yes, because you didn't set it up, did you?" I get angry.
"I have to start somehow" I just want to ignore her
I take my packet of cigarettes and go to the window, until she leaves, that's what I'm going to do, I put it in my mouth and my Gitanes just don't last, I can make it end so easily, I'm horribly tense, my packet was running out very quickly no matter how much I smoked, I kept shaking and I turn my face, she's still here, she's looking at me a bit worried.
"Are you still here? Aren't you happy? That's what you caused Croix" She even has a few tears falling and I don't understand a thing.
"Chariot... Please, I know you'll never forgive me for anything, but I've missed you so much, I'm not making fun of you, but I really miss you, I wish I could make things better, but I'm stupid" she said, crying in my arms, and then I interrupted her.
"Stop it, I'm not having any drama Croix, just get out of my room and leave me alone, you think I'm going to forgive you and hey presto, we'll be a happy couple and have two hundred daughters? I'll never be happy, in fact I've never been happier in my life when I was with Daniella, we were going to get married, I'd be happy with her if nothing happened like it did" I'm going to be more blunt.
"Don't you want to know why I came here?" Do I look like I want to? For the nine witches.
"I want to know when you're leaving, that's for sure" I'm really looking forward to it.
"Look, I'm not interested in your forgiveness, what I did was pretty stupid and all, I ruined the lives of many children, I know that, but what I want to say is that my intentions in Luna Nova are simple, with the help of all of you I will intensify the power of my Noir Rod and thus be able to break the Gran Triskellion that will grant me the wish I want, I just want that, my mission is to be able to change the world, don't you see how well intentioned I am" You don't have to talk to me about this.
"Still at it? Seriously, you can't let go of that kind of intrigue with Woodward, but unfortunately it won't come true, the chosen one is doing a great job and soon she'll have the seven words" I'm being confident and I see an even comical expression coming from Croix.
"That dumb girl? Her? I spied on her and checked her out before I came here, she's horrible at magic, she's the worst chosen one who's ever set foot here, I'm really not going to have any competition, how pathetic, well if you want to carry on with me, then I'm leaving this place, just know that from now on I won't treat you the way I wanted to treat you, We'll be rivals and I'll do everything I can to hinder your journey with this girl, as much as I don't think she'll get very far I mustn't underestimate her, goodbye Chariot Du Nord see you around" Damn it, I really hope she ends up getting very frustrated, that's for sure, I'll manage to sort it out in any way I can.
She left, but she has no idea, Akko is already on her fourth word and is walking very well, I trust my girl, she can show signs that the magic has been affected, and it really was our fault Croix, you have no idea what the Dream Fuel Spirit can do to a child, now I do, even more so with one like Akko who is mundane, she has to take the hardest road possible to get here, but I really hope she comes to grips with reality.
[...]
Friday 23rd March 2018, Glastonbury, England
"Croix and I have had many conflicts over time, including the last one when Akko got the sixth word, shecame to kill me and Akko too, it wasn't possible that that drone attack was something normal, if I hadn't been
smarter she could have ripped my head off, but in the end we did what we did, I worked my arse off to saveAkko and in return I can never fly a broom again, I've been beaten to that level mum, imagine what it must belike for a person who loves flying to lose that ability, because of Wagandea, Croix wanted to take Akko thereby a trap that could starve her to death since Wagandea doesn't have a top, but anyway, we're getting toanother moment here which is when Akko found out everything."
"I'm shocked to say the least that all this has happened, you have enormous tension between you, all thesedays it's scary, I don't know how you got out of this alive, but at least it's good that everything worked out, atleast nothing had a tragic ending."
I see Akko bursting into tears while I'm tied up in one of Croix's traps, how could she cause all this, I look everywhere, people with their emotions affected by football and also Akko herself, she's found out everything, me and Croix stole her magic at the show we had in Japan, she just ran off and left just like that, this very day when it's snowing and very cold, it's dangerous for her.
"Croix, what have you done? Akko is heartbroken, you've destroyed her dream" I say trying to get loose and I'm soon released, which is strange.
"I didn't do anything, tell yourself Chariot, it was you who agreed with me to use the Dream Fuel Spirit, it was you who stole her magic and continued to perform it anyway, her blood is also staining your hand, don't try to clean those bloody hands in the sink, you'll only end up staining them even more" Damn, I'm too worried and angry at the same time.
"Is that what you mean? Is that how you intend to act? You only told me about DFS when I was in Australia, at the next gig I even stopped using it for good in exchange for ruining my career, you only told her half-truths" She shrugged.
"Well that's up to you, it's not my fault at all, you just got desperate for me not to tell you, it made you look like you weren't to blame at all, what an ugly thing to keep a secret like that" I walk up to her and she keeps the same expression.
"You're going to pay for all this Croix, we're going to beat you and Akko is going to come back" I say pointing my finger at her.
"I don't know about that, but do you have to keep saying things and pointing fingers to alleviate a guilt you have? I don't do that, I'm just as guilty of it as you are, anyway, you want a lift to Luna Nova, to reflect your guilt" I keep crying my eyes out, there's not much I can do.
I climb into her roomba and walk away separated from Croix, watching her from afar with my arms crossed, honestly if she wants to set a trap to kill me, this could be the opportunity, but it wasn't that, I really am on Ley's line and then I'm left on the inside looking back shocked.
I have to swallow my tears, come on, let's move on, I have to think about how I'm going to defeat Croix, how I'm going to deal with looking for Akko? I don't know, but now everything has been ruined for good, she knows everything.
[...]
Sunday 25 March 2018, Luna Nova
"The one who ended up finding Akko was Diana, she was the one who came to my room to ask about meand Akko's whereabouts, I ended up focusing on trying to defeat Croix, but it was too late and it all ended inthe missile fight on the day that magic would really change for good and made history, the girls defeated themissile with the help of me and Croix who had finally surrendered after her own experiment failed, that wasthe last moment I saw her, since then I haven't laid a finger on her to visit her in jail."
They're going to make it, I believe in these two, I stare at the sky in amazement, with faith in them both, they're already going into space to get to the missile, I look at Croix and she's also looking at the sky with me, even smiling a little, but with a much lighter and softer expression, which I return to looking at the sky.
"From here I'll probably be arrested Chariot, I caused all this, I think that's enough... I've already done a lot of bad things in your life, I have to pay for what I've done, I'll take the blame for the magic theft and the missile chaos, you're not to blame for what you've done" I'm even a little shocked to see that someone who's gone this far is trying to redeem herself.
"Why would you do that? You'll only ruin your life, if I were you I'd just run away, they'll find you and there are many witnesses, unfortunately your future is to rot in jail or be a fugitive" She even smiles reassuringly.
"I have to pay for what I did, tell you... It was all planned in the end, our fights, my revelation, I wanted to cause a stir so I could shock the world, I had to stay in character for a long time... All this to see them shock the world with their motivation, I knew it would all work out this way, this was my big plan, the whole world is now watching witches save the world from a possible third world war, it was all or nothing Chariot, if I didn't do this I wouldn't make it" I'm even more confused, I had no idea about all this.
"What do you mean, Croix? What do you mean? Have you been lying to us all along?" She smiles with the calmest smile in the world, like she's ready to leave.
"I planned it alone for ten years, I learnt what it really means to be chosen by Claiomh Solais, it doesn't matter if you're the best witch, a pure heart is what counts most, I discovered that... The truth is that I know why I wasn't chosen, I didn't have to, I can change the world without a stupid staff, that's what I realised about it, I've spent the years thinking of the best plan and I had to play the villain to do it, but heh... That won't stick when I say it in court, I'd rather be tarnished as a villain, I'll possibly spend the rest of my life in prison, but I know you know my true intentions and I've made it clear to the person I love the most and I feel bad about ruining their life, I know I won't get your forgiveness for what I've done, but I wanted to do one good thing in the world at least" I hug her, I was so sorry.
I look into her eyes with genuine tears, she's shocked by the hug and then I face her, I stare right into her eyes, I see the magic flowing around her and our bodies, going up into the sky, it must be the girls about to defeat the missile, so I bring our faces closer and we kiss, after so many years, I couldn't resist, it's been 11 years since I've touched that mouth and it was one of the most emotionally charged kisses I've ever had, crying and feeling what I had before, then we separated and I could see from the sky that they had defeated it together and it even showed their faces stuck together.
"We did it, they're spectacular, your sister and your pupil, they're our future heroines, I'm sorry for being such an arsehole, I'm ready to go one day" I cry deeply, overwhelmed with happiness and a little saddened by Croix's possible departure.
"Croix... I just wanted to say... Thank you" I say to her.
"I thank you, I met you, I had these memories of our life, we lived a lot of things together and I spoilt everything, I could have been happy by your side, us doing shows to this day, becoming famous riches, me with my technological magic, you with your career, us together, being considered heroines of magic, the world living in peace and thanks to magic everything would be solved, wars, hunger, pollution, but I was immature, I spoilt everything, the seven words would come much easier to you if I didn't get in your way... Chariot Du Nord, if you ever forgive me, don't stop visiting me in prison" I'll think about it a lot.
Now it's all glory, the girls have managed to save the world, even though I know it was all just Croix's plan, I'm still impressed that she's brought about the change in the world that she wanted so much, in the end Gran Triskellion must have realised the dream that she wanted so much, let's hope that from now on everything really does work out.
[...]
*End of crystal ball presentation
I'm moved to tears, remembering what she said, I think I owe Croix a visit, after all she's changed in all these years, I think I should have listened to her more, I see my mum and Diana and they get very emotional too, I hadn't revealed that part to anyone but them, after all that's what we end up being.
"That was it, that was my story Diana, I ended up making questionable decisions in my life, I spoilt a lot of things that happened, but that's what I ended up doing" I said crying and she came to hug me.
"Chariot... Now I see that you've done all this, your real story is much better than the one in the book, it's much more exciting, all the time you had this wonderful mum by your side when you could have her, I could have mixed feelings, I could feel happy, knowing that the truth is this, I now know my origin, I know who my family is, I know everything, thank you sis" She gets really smiley and emotional.
"You were strong, girl, it's been eight years of missing you, I think I learnt the truth during those years away, I'm happy and proud to see how hard you fought, my Chariot has grown a lot, you were strong" She keeps hugging me too.
"What do we do now? What are we going to do now that you know everything?" I really want to know.
"Now I think we can enjoy these last few days of summer, there's still a week to go until school starts again, I'll stay here for a few more days, let's enjoy it as a family, in winter things could get a lot warmer, Daryl will finally pay for his crimes" Mum said.
"Do you really think my aunt is still as bad as she is? I kind of saved her life" I agree with Mum on that, Diana's thinking she'll be fine with the three of us together, that's what she wants the least.
"Daryl will only be okay when she's arrested, that woman is a trickster, she only acted like that because there were visitors and she owed you for exactly saving her life, but as soon as December arrives I'll have the police arrest her for good, but anyway, let's not talk about that bitch, right now I'm with my two girls and soon Hellene will be here" Mum Laura is right.
"I can't wait to see my little sister here, how is she today?" I ask Mum.
She showed me a photo of Hellene and wow, she's short like her mum, but wow, look at those arms, those muscles, she's even got a defined abdomen, that's no small feat, this girl is very strong, by the way I loved her prosthetic hand, it's really cool, wow, my little sister has become very beautiful over time, I imagine she's going to come here with everything, she's going to surprise everyone when she reveals herself as Diana Cavendish's sister, I think they're going to be shocked by me too, but that's the least of it.
"She's a lot like Mum Bernadette too, is Hellene like that? I never thought a strong witch like that would come along" Mum even smiles.
"She's strong, but she still loses to me when it comes to combat, I'm still more experienced and have strength, even if I don't look it, Hellene is a prodigy just like you Diana, this girl will sweep the broom relay completely, the speed she's had since she was very young is impressive" She was already fast as a child, imagine now.
"I think we could visit Croix in prison this week too" I say to them.
"You go on alone, this is the time for you two to sort yourselves out, I'm going to stay here with Diana until Hellene arrives" you could imagine the look on Mum Laura's face when she said that.
"You really do have a lot to sort out and talk about, and Daniella too, imagine how she'll feel when she finds out the truth of everything" Don't even say that to me.
"She'll understand, she just won't end up leaving her husband to be with Chariot, but it's not the end of the world" my girl knows that there are many beautiful girls in this world - I know, but there's one that I think has always been the one I wanted.
We hug once more and I'm happier, the good thing is that in the end everything turned out all right, I take a photo of the three of them together and that's the strongest image I could have, our family has come together again after years, in fact for the first time Cavendish, Du Nord and McLaren are together to form a union that isn't quite by blood, but even so, the photo is even posted by my mum who is all happy.
"I'm glad we're back together, me and my daughters, now to never be apart again" said Mum.
"By the way, Mum... And the things from the mansion, are they really fakes?" I see Mum Laura shaking her head.
"They're all fakes, Hellene traded them over the years, we even distracted Daryl when she was going to take everything, I had an emergency plan in case she came to take everything back when she found out about Chariot's whereabouts, as she had taken her time, that's what I had thought, after everything she took back fake copies of everything and it was easy for Hellene to get the rest, the real relics are stored very well in a shed in Ireland, waiting for their return, Daryl can't do anything, she's just about to lose" I'm even relieved, the plan worked.
"Wow, you guys are great, so everything my aunt sold all those years was pure fake relics, that's bizarre, me afraid of losing everything" I'm even feeling happy about it.
"By the way, before I go to Croix, I want to tell you something Chariot, the patsy in the plan to try and assassinate Daryl... It was Croix, she was going to take the blame for the murder, she was going to offer herself up for it, just so she could save us, she wanted to do it, so she could get it over with once and for all,
also to redeem herself, possibly, if she'd been arrested at the time she'd have already served at least half her sentence" I can only imagine how horrible it must be.
"We've really spoilt everything, haven't we?" My sister said.
"No!" we said together.
"Diana, you didn't even know that things could be like this under your cloth, apart from the fact that Chariot isn't to blame for being a sister to you, I don't judge her for that, I'm surprised Hellene didn't do it, she must have been so traumatised by Chariot's disappearance that she became much more furtive" That must have been it.
"I can only imagine how marvellous it would be to have lived next door to Chariot in France and with Daniella, even the twins could have been less worse with me, even if I only stayed in France for three years, I'd still always come home, now I have a home to always come back to where I know I'll be welcomed, from everything I've seen Chariot show, the McLaren family seems very happy, I want to meet everyone" And everyone wants to meet you Diana.
"You can't imagine how long we've waited for this to happen, I'm sorry I've been so absent over the years, I think that if maybe I explained the curse properly we could still be a family, I wouldn't put you through this, but I was afraid of what might happen, Daryl would make things even worse and could threaten Hellene's life too" Mum said.
"That's what I was going to say, I couldn't help it, that's why I understand everything, at first I was even a little devastated, a lot because I was left alone suffering, but even so, there was no way, I saw you treating Chariot in the crystal ball, I saw the kind of mother you are and when I discovered the conversations you told about the curse, when I saw you in person arriving here in Luna Nova, I'm sure of everything, you really are a loving mother, the best mother in the world" I even cry seeing Diana and Mum Laura hugging.
"My name isn't Bernadette Cavendish, but thank you for the compliment Diana" I'm going to cry more and more, what a beautiful scene.
"I want to know much more about your stories with Mum Bernadette, I want to know what she's like as a person, Chariot has already shown me what she's like, the same one I knew when I was a child, but I want to see it from the point of view of someone who has also lived with her for more years than the two of us" I'd love to see that too.
"When you tell Akko everything and then when next summer comes I can tell you, there's about 20 years of history together, we've lived many adventures, many things, how I love Bernadette, to this day I don't think of anyone else but her" Mum said smiling.
"Really? You haven't once thought about getting a girlfriend in that time?" Diana asks.
"I've already found one, honestly I don't need anyone other than your mum, Bernadette is the only one in my heart, I love her with all my heart and I only look forward to the day when I'm united with her again in another life" Mum really is the CEO of monogamy.
"What love, gee, to think that you two have lived through so many loves, you had the courage to be who you are, that's what I admire most, you didn't keep up appearances, neither did my mum Bernadette, I believed all my life in a lie about what she was like, but the reality is that she's just like you, like Akko, she's not a nice lady, she clashed with everything and everyone, that only makes me admire her more, you've shown me a side of the Cavendish that was erased, I thought it was just a legend, but they exist, there are people like me and you" There is and always has been a girl.
"They've always existed Diana, the truth is that they've always been erased, but today is the time to stand up and change everything, you're the future of the Cavendish, don't be afraid of your feelings, by the way, I'm very supportive of Akko, the Japanese girl who is the daughter of the samurai Kagari, she's very cute and seems like a lot of fun too" Mum said and I agree.
"She's very mum, Akko gets up to a lot of trouble here in Luna Nova, but Diana is crazy about her, every time she hears her name she gets a little embarrassed, she wants to play the perfect lady, but we know that deep down she wants all the affection of the girl who makes a mess" Diana blushed.
"Stop it, both of you! There's nothing to it! Hmpf, Akko is a girl of behaviour... Ugh, you're worse than I thought, forget it..." Her face was as red as a tomato.
"Stubbornness had someone to pull on" I say laughing.
"Wow, she's just like me when I was younger, I thought Diana would be a copy of Bern in personality, but you're as hard-headed as a McLaren" said Mum, laughing.
She was still blushing, how cute, I'm even happy to know that everything will be fine now, in the end this cycle has come to an end, things have been resolved, now only happiness will come, unity will prevail among our family and this time golden times will come, I can finally say that things will get better, there's no way, I'm confident and happy again, Croix, one day we will meet again with you out of jail.
See you, concluded witches...