Friday 20 October 2006, Luna Nova
"Well, my relationship with Croix didn't really improve much, she wanted to take a break and we just becamefriends, which ended up with us having much less contact, it was clear that what was once an active andintense friendship had become just a time for us to see each other and exchange glances and occasionallytalk about how things were going with my career, I was still pretty down about our relationship, but Icontinued to train with my mum, who was teaching me more things so that I could get each of the wordsright, and on the morning of one of the days I got another chance, since the night looked like it might be mychance."
I'm a little exhausted from training so much, my body is pretty broken for today, but my head is pretty much in place, I think Croix's decision to take a break wasn't so bad, even if I really wanted our relationship to flourish and reach new heights.
You stop training, I'm even managing to be much more precise than before, I wouldn't have thought that all my dance lessons could help my movements, you can tell by the way my mum has been using the moves.
"Okay, that's it for today, I think you're doing well, your head's more in place and I don't see you worrying about Croix so much anymore" said my mum.
"Well, she wanted to take a break and leave the friendship, so I don't have much to worry about apart from getting the seven words, I think I'm ready for the second word" I say to my mum, who's getting a big smile on her face.
"Well then Phaidoari Afairyngor, that's the second word, but the meaning of it, it's up to you to have an idea of how to look for it, when I looked for it it was on an autumn night like this, here in Luna Nova there are more frequent blue moons, which I went into one of the many secret chambers here to explore and I could find myself in an ordeal, I think it may be a chance for you to try" That's very interesting indeed, if you help me I will certainly try.
"And do you think that I can do it in the same place, even more so if it's the same blue moon night that you say?" I say curiously.
"Well, I don't know about that, but you won't get the things you dream of, Chariot, but you'll get the things you chase after. That's what I always say, try to chase after your dreams more" she said, stroking my head and I smiled a little.
"Well, it's something I've done all the time Mum" I just shrug and walk towards Luna Nova.
"I know that, girl, go take a shower and have a good lesson, that's all for today" Phew, I was really getting exhausted.
It's not enough to wake up very early, I still have to train my body to the limit of what it can handle, it's really as challenging as it can be, but I'm managing to manipulate my magic better, it's quite different from anything I could do before, it's bizarre how I never really knew how to do it, now my control of magic is one of the best in my class, this way I might even become the best.
I huff and puff my way to my dormitory, where until then the corridors had been pretty deserted, there's no one awake at this hour, it's seven in the morning, they must still be getting ready in their rooms before classes start.
[...]
Well, another day at school, I've improved a lot compared to the clumsy girl I was last year, sometimes I'm a little shocked that I've improved, I still don't understand how I could get so good, I wish Croix could see my progress more closely, but she's not even in my class, well it's time to go to my room, I'm going to enjoy playing a little rest, maybe at night I'll be able to find the second word.
On the way I reach the corridors to the dormitories, there was Croix, near the staircase, since her room is on the upper floors I came to try to talk, let's see if she'll stay with me in the room today, at least to play.
"Croix, do you want to come with me to the bedroom, let's play a bit, be closer, I miss these moments of us playing, since last week at your party you haven't come to play" I say to her and she huffs.
"I'd like to, but I've been very busy lately, we have to discuss something about your career, the letters are being made and I'm going to need you to draw some of them, it's not time to mess around, can you do it?" Oh more work, seriously, today is a Friday, when I thought I could go and relax and enjoy myself.
"Do we really have to work for today?" I say with a sour face.
"Do you want to perform again and be more successful? That's the way, girl, let's get down to work, I've already got the suggestions of what to put on the cards, you do the drawings in the format I suggested and keep adding to them, I trust you, if they look good we'll put them on your cards, you can be sure" I get a bit frustrated, but that's okay, at least she'll be with me.
"Then I'll do it, it'll be fun to draw with you" I say all smiling and excited.
"Oh about that, so I won't be able to join you now, but we can talk by message, I have to work from home now, my mum's asked me to help her programme her game" My game? For the nine witches, we won't even be able to do that.
"And how will my game be? Will it even be good? What's it going to be about?" I ask her.
"It's going to be about a magical kingdom, we're kind of programming it to make the versions for each platform very unique, I'm going to take care of the Magicstation 2 version, my mum is taking care of the Ree versions and the Mbox360 and MagicStation 3 versions, they'll be very different graphically and even in gameplay, you'll like it, we're first programming the movements and everything else, then you'll come along and we'll take care of the more meticulous details, we're really busy, your return should be very triumphant in the spring, as well as a future world tour that we're planning for the summer holidays" that makes me very hopeful.
"So I'll draw the cards with pleasure, you can be sure, have a good job Croix, I love you very much" I hug her excitedly and I can see that she doesn't hug back.
"You don't need all this Chariot, I promise I'll spend some time with you later, but I'm really busy" I nod my head in agreement and take the folder from her hand.
Now I just have to put these ideas into practice, this is going to be really interesting, I go into my dormitory and there I see Parker reading a book, being alone, quite strange, for someone who just mingles with the girls, anyway hands on, I'm already putting the folder on the table and I'm starting to warm up, drawing is one of the things I like to do the most.
"What is this, Chariot? I don't remember the teachers sending us work like this, and you're not even that close to being made up, the year has barely started" Daniella asks.
"This is one of the jobs for a future Shiny Chariot card game, I'm going to work on making the artwork for the cards, Croix gave me this task, we're working very hard to get back on stage" I say reading the first sheet and it was about Loveshroom, this here I can make a good drawing for her.
"Croix is it? Well, she's there giving you a hard time and she won't even help you with it, show me how to do it" She's never been interested in these things, there's something very strange here, so much so that she got out of bed and came towards me.
"Ah, I'll take the cards and their descriptions, then I'll draw a picture based on what I've already observed in many of my adventures with Croix, it's very simple, I'll just leave it with a picture that the children will like, carrying the love that I have" I say as I read Loveshroom's description.
"And these are the photos she gave you as a basis? It's just a bunch of mushrooms, I know you can do something cool, Loveshroom isn't it? Interesting, is that for making a love potion? I don't pay much attention in potions classes, I haven't even heard of it" Parker's been very strange lately, she's never been one to talk to me so much, coming so close to me, I even keep looking at her with a little smile and further down she was wearing a tank top that made her cleavage obvious, which made me blush a little.
"They're quite rare, but they can be used for a love potion, yes Parker, I think so at least, well you're really close to me these days" Could it be that she wasn't really teasing to get Croix more into mine? For the nine witches' sake, don't even think about it.
"Don't call me Parker, we're close friends, you don't have to refer to me by my surname, okay Chariot? Call me Daniella or you could find a nickname for me, I wouldn't think it was so bad, Rebecca you call Becca, you could give me a nickname too, I'm just really wanting a bit of redemption for the arsehole I was back there" She even keeps stroking my head which makes me blush slightly and that makes my eyes go straight to her cleavage, how embarrassing.
"Please, Daniella, it doesn't have to be like this, I've already forgiven you for the accidents that happened before, I just want to be able to work here for a little while" I say, scratching the back of my neck in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry about that little cherry, I'm going to let you do your little letters, I'm going to go back to reading my book quietly, but if you want to play with me, talk about your things, I'm all ears" She runs her hand over my face and it makes me blush a little.
By the nine witches, is she really hitting on me? Croix can't find out about something like this or there could be a huge fight between the two of them, I'd better not fill my head full of things and concentrate on the cards, that's what I'm going to do, that's focus Chariot Du Nord, the most important mission here is to get all the cards done, or at least sketch as many as I can.
I even take a look at Parker lying on the bed reading a book and she's quite pretty, I've never looked at her like that before, but she's a very attractive girl, her body even has some nice curves, but I'd better not get distracted by that, she's probably showing more skin just to tease me.
[...]
The night has come and I look out of the window, it seems to be a blue moon tonight, should I try to do what my mum asked? I still have some sketches to do, the girls are here in the bedroom, Becca is playing and Daniella is in the book, well I don't think there's a better time for that, I put the sketches in the folders carefully and get up, getting ready to try and start the journey.
"Where are you going at this time of night, Chariot?" Leyland asks.
"My mum told me that on a blue moon night she found the second word in one of the many secret chambers of Luna Nova, so that's what I'm going to do now" I say more confidently.
"Don't risk too much Chariot, this cold and dangerous night may have some monsters in these places, who will want to warm up your body" I nod.
"I think the monster Parker is talking about is a girl with purple hair and glasses" What monster looks like that? Daniella even gets a little mischievous smile looking at me.
"This weird monster, I've never seen anything like it and I'm a good connoisseur of beasts, I'm going girls, I'll be back soon, I'm sure I'll make it" I say confidently and leave the room.
I walk out of the door, wearing my school uniform, I haven't even changed since late, I was expecting that, well anyway it's time to go, everything's been really weird since I left, especially the way Daniella's been acting, I'm afraid she'll make a move on me and we'll end up doing things I used to do with Croix.
Better not think about it Chariot, focus, I'm going to Luna Nova's tower, I know of a secret chamber just there, it'll be good if I can free the second word just there, I hope, come on Chariot.
"I can do it, I'm going to do it" I say determinedly.
I'm arriving outside Luna Nova and the icy wind is hitting my body, I'm a little cold, but it will pass, it looks like winter is going to come this year, I'd better get ready, thank goodness there's heating inside, it's so beautiful here at night too, the light of the fairies, the lamps, the butterflies is something I love to see.
Here's the tower of Luna Nova, right next to the trees, this is where we practise a lot of our broom flying and also where the sorcerer's stone is, I get close to a staircase and see that there's something underneath, this is going to be interesting, I'm already going down the spiral staircase, This must be where the place that can activate the seventh word is, what I end up in is a half-empty room, it looks like one of those dungeons, am I really going to have to face monsters, not that it's a problem, the training I did with Mum Laura helped me a lot.
What I see is the stem of a tree right under the ground, passing inside, that's strange, the top of that tree is here, it must look like a bush from above, how come I've never noticed a tree like that before? It starts to move and forms a face, I'm a bit scared, but I hold my pose.
"What's that?" I ask a tree, as if it's going to say something, but well, it's Luna Nova, bizarre things can happen.
"Hello Chariot Du Nord, you've come this far, I can give you a wish that will bring you the future you've always dreamed of, but it will have a huge trade-off" She starts to show something.
It's me, me performing on stage and having a huge audience, the children clapping, then you show me with the older Croix, the two of us together forming a family, us having children, wow she looks so beautiful with short hair, I never thought I'd see her like this, wow it really is all a dream, look at all this stuff, I'd be daft not to want it, but on the other hand...
"You can accept all this, by going through this portal you can have the life of your dreams, but in exchange I will erase all the memories of what you have lived through so far" So it doesn't make sense.
I start to see all the memories of my life, the things I've been through so far, getting to know the Croix, living my childhood alongside my wonderful mums, the friendships I've made living in France, all the good things I've experienced, but that could simply fade away when I go through the portal, it won't be worth it at all, if I go through the portal I'll forget everything that made me me, it won't be worth any of it at all.
"So what's your choice? You'll be able to get rid of all the traumatic memories, as soon as you pass through the portal new memories of the good things you've experienced in this reality will be shown, you won't experience any trauma, isn't that what every person wants most? You'll be able to live the perfect life you've always wanted, look at all the things you can stop remembering" said the tree and I'm starting to realise a lot of things.
She shows me my most traumatic memories, the times when Daryl scared me as a child, when my father used to mistreat me, taking my money and my things, the times when I had to work hard... The times I had to stop being the little cookie witch, that I was the chosen one, that's a very traumatic memory, she shows me all that going away, but I clench my fists and now I'm understanding that phrase my mum said to me earlier, which makes me even more full-chested and determined.
"No! If I erase even the traumatic memories I'll stop being myself, I may not have the perfect reality, but that's what makes my reality the best, it has its ups and downs, it makes me human and it makes me myself, I'm not going to achieve the things I dream of just by dreaming and wanting them to change, I need to work and chase them so that they come true, after all these dreams only really become something worthwhile when you dedicate yourself to chasing them, without chasing them these dreams will lose their meaning" I say as I notice the glow on Claiomh Solais getting brighter and I think that's exactly what Mum said.
"Oh so I guess I'll have no choice but to pull you into this reality, I've deceived you all along, I devour the memories of witches who come here wanting their dreams to come true" And it won't be today that you get it.
"Today is your unlucky day, because I'm here and I'll be the one to put an end to all this! Phaidoari Afairyngor!" Wow, that's exactly what I needed, when she comes at me with the branches I turn my staff into an axe and manage to cut her down without getting caught.
"Get ready to become one of the many trees in Arcturus Chariot Du Nord!" You're the one who's going to become a pile of dry branches thrown around this place.
"ShinyAxe!" I've even decided to give it a name and wow, it's going to give me a whole new choreography to use later in one of the shows, now it's time to prune that tree.
I take an axe to her stem and a huge glow emanates, causing a huge flash that comes on and even leaves me a little blinded, which I then feel the axe returning to normal and as the lights come back on I see a very familiar dress and as I look up I see Woodward's face, was she just testing me all along? Wow, that was really scary.
"You did it Chariot, you really didn't let me down, you can bring the second word and it showed even more because I made the right choice, it was the necessary provocation apparently, I'm really proud to see you progressing like this" Woodward said and I'm really breathless and relieved at the same time.
"I had a little help from the best, she was the one who showed me that I don't have to keep dreaming, I have to chase those dreams to make them come true, since forever" I say with a smile on my face.
"And keep trusting her, I'm sure that together we'll get to the seven words in no time, but now I have to go, I've helped you enough for now, goodbye Chariot and see you later, keep being the marvellous witch you've become" She disappeared as usual, goodbye Woodward.
"I'm still going to see you more often..." I say as I watch her go, and I even see a smile on her face before everything turns to butterflies.
At least I've got a lot of support from Woodward, she's always helped me a lot with everything, it's time to leave and go back to the room, that second word has left me a little exhausted, as well as my head full of things, will I really be able to bring that reality to the surface? I really hope so, I don't want to be alone like this.
I'm getting outside, much more determined, now there are only five words left and soon I'll have the power to change the world done, I can even do it very quickly, I trust that I can do a lot. I arrived outside and saw my mum leaning on the wall outside the tower, she had a smile on her face when she saw me.
"I knew you could do it" she said, smiling.
"Were you following me?" I ask Mum Laura, who nods.
"I wanted to see my girl come out of there with her dreams realised, apparently you did, I wanted to be the first person to see you go through such an ordeal, seeing you smile like that is very invigorating" said my mother, who hugged me.
"I had no other choice, having a marvellous future isn't the most wonderful thing in the world when I stop being myself" I tell her.
"It was the same thing I thought, no way was I going to stop living the years ahead with my friends and Bernadette until I reached that moment, even though nowadays I still regret the horrible things Daryl did to me, I even remember that in that reality I was much older than I am today, I think those predictions Woodward makes are pretty accurate, because I didn't look 30 at all, in many of these visions I seemed to be at least 50, so much so that my daughters were adults, but Bern herself didn't appear, that's really strange, maybe she was somewhere doing something else, anyway, I'm proud that my girl made it, let's go for a walk in the city, I'll buy you a McDonald's" said Mum who kept stroking my head, being very gentle with me.
"Thank you for everything Mum, I don't think I could have done it if it hadn't been for you and Mum Bernadette teaching me about life, I've been able to become a better person thanks to you" I tell her and she strokes my head.
"I just did what a mum would do, it's the minimum, now let's get going, I'm a bit hungry" said my mum.
And so we ended up getting on our broomsticks and taking the portal to the Ley line where I followed her to get to the city, it brings back a lot of good memories, it's good that I have such a caring mum, even though Croix is still in a bit of a fight over Claiomh Solais I still have the company of wonderful people that I can appreciate.
[...]
What a wonderful evening, I could feel nostalgia returning, I love going to McDonald's in Glastonbury with Mum, it always brings back memories of the day I went here the first time, well now I've got the word out, it's time to get more inspired and go draw, I arrive at my dormitory door accompanied by Mum and she gives me a little kiss on the forehead and hugs me, it's always sweet that she has to get on the broom now for that.
"Good night Chariot, I'm going now, I have two children waiting for me and I hope they haven't turned the house upside down, goodbye daughter, see you tomorrow morning" said Mum.
"Bye Mum, thanks for everything" I say to her and she comes out, patting me on the head and smiling, getting off the broom she was leaning on to stand taller.
I go into my room and there I see that it's pretty much business as usual, well it looks like Becca is still playing, Daniella is reading a book and when they see me come in they both wave smiling at me, what I see is that Parker is being much more different, she's not one to wave like that, she's being more... She's showing a bit more sensuality, it's strange, but at the same time it makes me blush.
"Look, she's finally remembered that she has a place to sleep" said Leyland sarcastically.
"My mum called me for a walk, and after I found the second word, I did it!" I say excitedly.
"That's marvellous Chariot, I'm glad you're getting the words out, it's all very good to see that you're making progress, I can see that you're getting really excited" Wow, Parker was never like that.
"Parker? Are you OK? Did a mosquito bite you?" Becca asked, finding the brunette's behaviour strange, and I did the same.
"Oh I'm fine girls, I'm just happy for Chariot, she's giving her all to be the best witch" That's really strange.
"I've understood everything" said Leyland, who went back to playing, and I really don't want to, for the nine witches' sake.
"Well, I'm going to start drawing again, I have to at least sketch each one, I'm sure Croix will love to see how it's turning out" I say happily as I start to draw.
"Ugh Croix, she's just a bitter nerd, it's the children who buy her cards who have to like her, not that grown woman" I never thought I'd see Parker talking about Croix like that, I even see a few giggles coming out of Becca's mouth.
Now that I'm happy and inspired, it's going to come out of my head wonderfully, I'm going to do the sketches that are going to impress the most, both adults and children are going to look at these cards, I'm really enjoying seeing how the sketches are going to turn out, imagine when I put the lines and colours together, it really has to look like something that came from my hand, so they'll know that I did it.
I'm looking at the girls and I see some of Leyland's smirking glances at the two of us, I just try to ignore it, because it doesn't make any sense, well anyway, it's better to focus, I'd rather not look at Parker because she's sure to provoke me in some way.
"So Chariot, how are things with Croix? Is it really true that you two took a break? Because I hardly see her here any more, but you're doing something for her now" I'm sure it was Daniella's mouth that told Becca about the letter work.
"She's just trying to give her mind a break, you know the Claiomh Solais thing still gets to her a lot, but I know that one day maturity will come to her, it's not easy to have a dream shattered, she's waited her whole life to be the chosen one" I answer my friend and then I hear some noises coming from Parker's bed.
"Well, let her learn to be mature like that, she's the one who chose to be stuck on a stick and now you have to take the blame for something out of your control, that's the height of immaturity, seriously, she can work with you, she just wanted that stick to change the world and do her crazy things, seriously Chariot, I'd break up with her straight away" said the one who's been indirectly hitting on me since the day Croix turned 18.
"I think it's an interesting part to think about, to reflect a little, you could be in a toxic relationship with Croix, even talk to your mum more about whether it's really right, she's the experienced one, remember that" It's true, my mum knows more about relationships than I do, it could be good to talk to her.
"Maybe that's also how you value those who really want something with you without being toxic, it's good to always think about that, you can't let Croix simply always be like that with you, she's always been the boss in your relationship, there's no balance, it's always one-sided, I'm not saying this because of what you think my intentions are, I'm saying this as your friend, as someone who wants your good" Parker's a bit right about that, but she's never stopped helping me with my career.
"But she also helps me with my career" And I can see that there's a little anger in her eyes.
"Of course, as if she wasn't doing it for a very selfish reason, you can see the damage in that, believe me, one day you'll hear her say something like "I got you this far, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be at the top" and you'll remember my words when you go through it, it won't be a lack of warning Chariot" Wow Parker really is very interested in me.
I'd better stop thinking too much about it and just focus on drawing, I'll just keep concentrating, otherwise I might lose my creativity by getting my head so full of things, that's what I should do, as correctly as possible, come on Chariot Du Nord, don't exhaust your head with nonsense like that, even if Daniella herself is right about a lot of things, but I know Croix, she's not going to be toxic like that.
"And it was in a very similar way to Akko with whom I discovered the second word, where Daniella Parker'sadvances also began to become more evident and she played a small part in my story, in my biography youdidn't see my relationships, a lot because I'm a lesbian, but with Croix you've certainly heard a lot of it beingtold so far or even many times indirectly you could tell that we had a past, but it wasn't just Croix whoappeared in my life."
See you, dream witches...