Friday 23 February 2007, Luna Nova
"My birthday, even without Croix, was still a very good day, I was able to enjoy it a lot with my friends andeven appreciate some of the love and affection that Daniella Parker gave me that day, but I still missedCroix, but I was trying my best to control my anxiety, since that week I was going to see her again, preciselyin Wagandea, where it will be the stage for another moment that was decisive in the relationship between meand Croix, after so much she kept holding back she would really speak the truth to me."
Well it's time, it's the end of term, it's been a pretty normal day, it's time to settle the score with Croix, she told me to go to Wagandea, so there's something else we can talk about together, bizarrely it's in this very place, I'm a bit scared from what I've heard, she's chosen a place where we could be in danger of losing the ability to fly and also where there's an infinite tree, how can that work out in any way? Well, I don't know, but I'm going to find out.
I first go into the bedroom, where I pick up Claiomh Solais, I walk around with him strapped to my waist and with a broom in my hands I reach the hidden part of Luna Nova, I look around, I take a deep breath, I reach the ruins, I see Arcturus from afar, well it's time to fly, I take a deep breath and look ahead.
"Wagandea, here I come..." I say as I get on my broom and start flying.
The broom goes in the direction of the place, it's very close to Arcturus and Luna Nova, you can even see it from here, in this winter atmosphere it's a bit scary since the trees are somewhat leafless and only have these pointy branches, but I still continue on the long way.
I hope you're telling the truth about finding me here in Wagandea, I'm on my way to get to this place and I'm really doubting it all, I take a deep breath, I'm getting close and I arrive exactly at the infinite tree, I look at my mobile phone and notice that there's no signal here, I've come a long way to get to a point like this.
"Well, I've arrived, Croix, where are you?" I keep calling you, but nothing.
She probably hasn't even arrived yet, I'd imagined it would be like this, well, I'll just have to wait it out, I'm already in the place she asked me to be, there's not much to do now apart from that, I'm looking around, getting a bit scared, how can she send me to a place like this? If something happens to me, they'll never know since it's too far from Luna Nova.
I hope there aren't any scary creatures here, although I wouldn't be afraid to use the power of Claiomh Solais against any monsters, you can come and I'll show you my powerful arrows, you can come, in fact preferably don't come at all.
I look in Luna Nova's direction, I see that someone has finally shown up, it was Croix, she didn't come on her broom, she came on a flying hoover, it must have been one of her inventions, now that the discussion she was hoping to have is going to start for real, I'm ready for whatever comes.
"Croix, you came!" I say excitedly and she lands with a neutral expression.
I even wanted to go in for a hug, but as I got closer she showed with her gestures and everything else that she wasn't in the mood for a hug, I was a bit afraid too, I saw the look on her face and even took a step back, but I saw her in a very different way, she wasn't happy, she seemed to be the complete opposite, she must still be very upset by everything that had been happening.
"So Croix, what do you want with me here?" I ask her, who has a rather strange expression and I'm very confused.
"You don't even feel it, do you?" She asks and I look even worse.
"But Croix, I've missed you all these days, I wanted to talk to you a lot, you ignored me and here I am at your request, to settle the score, isn't that what we came for?" I get even worse and she stomps her feet and clenches her fists.
"You act as if everything is nothing! As if it were a joke! But that's real life, Chariot Du Nord, I don't know how you can't feel devastated even with all this, I've been down for days and weeks because I've been away from you, because of your affair with Parker, with the envy of Claiomh Solais eating away at me and it's changed me in a way that I don't even know if I'm me anymore, but you act like it's nothing, like it's all just a phase that's passed, that's what makes me angry, your lack of emotion, like you're made of steel, even in that you have to have more than me!" Croix comes towards me angrily.
"It's not my fault that I'm like this, I've been through a lot of bad things in my life, I can't just put my head down and beat myself up, I have to try as hard as I can to move on, it's not like these days were that easy, I
needed my mums help so I didn't end up so depressed and spend days crying and not eating, it's not easy for me either Croix" I make it clear to her who keeps shaking her head in denial.
She walks backwards and even pushes me backwards, I feel strange, how strange she looks, but she must be very upset by everything that's happened, I'm very shaken, but I'm trying to keep it together, it's not as if I don't have my problems, she looks at me again and I don't understand anything, what does she want with me.
"Enough! Don't talk to me like that! I can't believe that a smoker like you was still chosen, I did everything right, I dedicate myself as a witch, but not you! You're just a showman, you're a playful child and you went there to take what was supposed to be mine!" She takes out her wand and casts a spell on me, which ends up hitting me.
"What is it Croix? Why are you attacking me?" That spell was no small feat, it really hurt.
"Since you want to be the chosen one so much, let's settle this once and for all" She made little cubes appear around her.
"Croix! I don't want to fight! I didn't want to be the chosen one" I keep crying and she doesn't seem to mind, she even closes her face and looks away.
"Stop acting like you're the poor thing and pretending like you don't want to! I want to settle this once and for all! If you want the staff so badly, then show me that you can get it!" She continues to attack me with those cubes and I try my best to defend myself.
Those little things are coming towards me, attacking me, I don't know how she did it, but they're the ones that form dragons and figures when I was still performing with her help as Shiny Chariot, but they're coming towards me, they're attacking, I'm using my magic to protect myself, but I'm being hit and thrown against a tree, which I see her noticing that she was going totally seriously against me.
These little cubes are pinning my arms and legs against the tree, they start shooting beams of magic at me and it hurts so much that I can't stand it, I clench my fists and feel the magic flowing into Claiomh Solais and I escape.
"Enough of this Croix!" I aim at the Shiny Rod and fire magic from it.
Her cubes form a kind of shield, but the power is so intense that it shatters most of the cubes as if they were nothing, heading straight for my friend who is hit full on, she's being deeply electrocuted and there's even a bit of steam coming out of her body after the attack, but not enough to immobilise her, she's still just badly hurt, staring me right in the eye.
"Croix!" I'm worried.
"So that's it, Chariot? You want to fight me too? When you're put up against the wall, do you want to fight? When you're trying to justify yourself, is that how you act? Do you come down on me with violence?" It's not like that.
She's badly hurt by a simple attack I made, but she still made a point of using her cubes once again and coming at me with everything, this time I wasn't afraid, since they came with more speed and also strength, which I dodge remembering the training I did with Mum.
It can't be that at this point she really wants to fight, I'm going to have to use this and I didn't expect it, since she's too violent and the staff is too strong, I'm going to use my bare hands, I'll even leave the staff at my waist and I'll use my magic.
"Are you really going to underestimate me?And she thinks she is!" She's very upset.
I run towards her and dodge the cubes that come at me faster, but I still use my resistance, getting hit by some of them, but without giving up, I get as close as I can, but I manage to get close enough to hit her with a kick and then a punch which knocks Croix down and with the magic I throw her against a tree, I turn round seeing that several cubes were coming and I quickly take Claiomh Solais from my waist, hitting the ground and dissolving everything that comes my way, which I look at Meridies and she gets scared.
"I told you, I don't want a fight!" I say to her and she still clenches her fists and forms a sphere of magic in her hand.
"So why are you fighting with me? For someone who doesn't want to fight, you hit aggressively. If you're going to carry on like this, then get ready for what's coming" she said, raising her hands.
I'm going to have to attack anyway, where does she get this power from again and again, it was all just to warm me up, she even floats a little and gets to the height of the trees, with several cubes surrounding her and I watch from below, I take the Claiomh Solais with both hands and shoot at it, only a few cubes are destroyed, which made me realise that it's not going to be easy.
She launches a wave of cubes towards me, I get ready, use the fifth word and with her power I teleport right in front of Meridies, which I hit with the broom sending her higher and then disappearing again with the impact and throwing her against the treetop, I then use the first word, seeing that the cubes were following, and the arrow passes right through the middle of them and explodes as if it were nothing, all the cubes are dissolving, how marvellous.
But in the distraction I look to the side and I'm hit by Croix herself using her flying hoover, which throws me right into the middle of the trees and I fall into the thick branches of Wagandea, the impact also causing Claiomh Solais to fall out of my hand and onto the ground, which is at least 20 metres away.
"And now Chariot?" She gets down from the roomba and goes at me using magic, she casts spells and I dodge.
"Why all this Croix?" I try to protect myself, but she keeps attacking, without the staff I'm not as strong, well at least she doesn't have that many cubes.
"I hate that you've been chosen, I just hate it, you've thrown away my whole purpose in life Chariot!" She's attacking and I'm dodging and well, I'm going to react.
I dodge and get closer, I cast a spell with my bare hands to hit her, which causes her to be thrown back a little, already feeling pain, she fights back doing the same thing, but it doesn't hurt as much, I'm used to it, we stare at each other, panting, and then we get very close to each other, trying to push each other as hard as we can.
I saw her pushing as hard as she could, I pushed a little harder, she was being dragged backwards and with that I let go of one of my hands, but I'm hit by a cube right in the face, which leaves me more dazed, which I even try to react to, but she hits me again, with me coming very close to falling the moment I slip.
I was about to fall, but I cast a despair spell that hits her harder, she hits the tree, stays unconscious for a while, but I quickly go towards her with my magic and hug her, trying to wake her up, in the middle of the fall, I'm almost out of magic.
"Croix wakes up!" She's still a bit dazed and we're very close to the ground, she gives a brief smile.
A net is created underneath us with her roomba and this cushions the fall making us hit the ground with less speed, which leaves me near the staff, a little bruised, I go to hug her, I was very close to the staff and I see her with few signs of being able to stand like that, my tears are falling, I was too violent now.
"Thank you..." These were the words I managed to get out, noticing a glow in Claiomh Solais.
"Do what you have to do Chariot..." She's very weak.
I start to get really desperate, the staff keeps glowing brightly, what do I do now? Croix could die from the spell I hit her with, I look at my hands and they're bloody, I hit her really hard, I need to do something, try to remember Chariot, the word, will it help, the fourth word, it won't cure a bleed and I don't even have potions, what do I do now, there are more things... That thing Mum said when she left, after the fifth word, it's too peculiar a word not to be, I have to try at least that, for the nine witches it'll work.
"Lyonne!" I notice that Claiomh Solais is shining brightly.
I stare at the surroundings, a shower of magic is falling on us, I look at Croix, she's pale with her eyes
closed, which gives me enormous concern, I shouldn't have hit her like that, she was badly hurt, she can't die here.
Her skin is gradually coming back into colour, she's starting to heal, I'm also stopping feeling pain, but Meridies is still unconscious, I keep crying, I keep shaking her, she can't be dead, I saw her skin coming back, I put my hand in front of her nose and a very weak breath comes out, I put my head on her chest and I could hear a heart beating.
"Croix! Croix! Croix!" I shout at her and try to swing her round and I see her blink.
My tears wet her completely, I was so worried, but finally Croix regained consciousness, I was able to heal her with the sixth word, I found the sixth word and all this after a long fight with Croix, she stared back at me, strangely, what could have happened? Did she lose her memory or something serious, did I cause a sequel with all this? I really hope not.
"Chariot?" She's recovered everything, she hasn't lost her memory, which I hug very tightly.
"I'm sorry for everything Croix, I'm so sorry! I don't want to lose you again!" She felt awkward hugging me, while I cried into her arm.
"For what? Chariot, what is this rain of magic? What am I doing in Wagandea?" She has no idea.
"Huh? Don't you remember anything?" I look into her eyes, finding everything strange.
"Actually, I do remember... I'm joking with you, you made it to the sixth word, I don't think I have much to think about, except that I'm never going to be the chosen one, you really do things like a chosen one... What can I say other than that, we're almost at the end of the Claiomh Solais and I haven't accepted that yet, but I have to admit, you've put in all this time and that can't be underestimated... I guess I lost on this one" she said in a much more downcast tone.
"I just wish I could sort things out between us Croix... I still love you very much" I say right into her watering eyes.
"I love you too, I'm just an arsehole a lot of the time, I don't know if you deserve all this, I just put you through it" Meridies said and we moved our faces closer.
I couldn't resist and I had to kiss her, she gave in to it, our lips touched after months and months of waiting, I had one of the most relieving sensations I could have hoped for, it was as if it was my first kiss, everything was happening all over again, very different from all the sensations I'd had with Daniella, I felt as if I'd had a fresh start.
"Croix..." I say, looking her in the eye.
"Chariot, I don't know if I deserve it, but I've thought about it a lot, we can start again" She ran her hand over my face as I cried.
"Do you think we can?" I ask her.
"This is going to be the final chance between the two of us, we're going to start again, make everything better for both of us, this time I'm not going to think selfishly about this staff anymore, you're the best, you've earned your way here, and together we're going to get the last word" She held my hand and I felt like a whole glow came over me.
"Really?" I ask excitedly.
"This time without mistakes, without hiding anything from each other, a new thing, a fresh start, I promise to be a better girlfriend than I've ever been, I promise Chariot, I'll improve, I'll forget all the mistakes I've made and improve them" Is she really going to do that? I won't resist if I have to go back.
"Even after that fight we had?" I ask her.
"Especially because of this fight, it was the final point I wanted to reach to break myself and get out of this prison that was in my head, if we're going to go after something, let's do it together and then we can achieve these goals together" I nodded.
"So let's give each other this second chance, in all these months I've had to express my strong love for you, I've been waiting a long time for this" I hug her and give her more kisses.
We grow closer together, I think that must be the effect of the sixth word as well, as we kiss harder, with all our love flowing and we hold hands, I use the fifth word and we fly with the broom back to Luna Nova, where I reach the door of my team's room, despite everything I have to tell them the news.
"Do you think Parker will be okay?" There's only one way to find out.
They open the door very worried and notice that our clothes are very torn, a lot because of the fight, they have no idea what happened, at the time they also look at the blood stains and also find it strange because we were unharmed, even though all our clothes show the opposite, well I can say that now it's gone.
"What happened to you?" asked Daniella worriedly.
"It happened" I said, kissing Croix.
"Huh? And you started dating again after you came back all messed up?" Daniella asks, confused.
"Are you back?" Becca said, shocked, looking at the two of us.
"Now it's final, I've promised Chariot that I'm going to start again and be a better girlfriend than I've ever been" said my girlfriend confidently.
"I'll get back to you on that, Meridies, but well... We want to know everything, will you tell us?" Well, that's going to be complicated, but come on.
We even look into each other's eyes, because it's going to be a long story, I don't think Daniella will be happy to hear how it turned out, but well, we'll have to tell you at some point, by the nine witches, I didn't even realise how we got back together so suddenly, after I broke my girlfriend's face, how can I be so stupid and impulsive like that? Anyway, now I'm back in Croix.
[...]
"OK... So that's it, you went out on a limb and now you're dating, I'm not going to question anything, I'm not going to be surprised, because that's the most Chariot and Croix thing that could come from you, it's such a drama" said Parker and I even laugh a little, but that's what ended up happening.
"Well that was really peculiar, but I'm not even going to question it, you're back, the great couple is back, how I hoped you'd be together" said Becca.
"What a washed up liar, a little while ago you were rooting for me and Chariot to work out, now you're rooting for them" said Daniella and we laughed.
"I really want to do what's best for Chariot, I know that all that time we spent together wasn't good for either of us, I got into a fight over something silly and I really want to improve" said Croix, and I'm really happy to hear it.
"Well, I want to talk to Croix alone, you two wait for me, I want to see if she's sincere" Woah, Parker's even got serious.
Becca and I even nod our heads, because it must be something serious, I can tell it's not going to be a small matter, so I shrug and go outside with Leyland, we go out the door to wait outside, they've even used magic to inhibit the sound, which means we won't be able to hear the gossip and we won't even be able to use our mobile phones, because if they catch us we'll be without them, even more so with Professor Finnelan coming to give us a hard time.
I'll wait with the blonde and we'll even play some cards in front of the door, sitting on the floor, that's the way, she started to play a bit of 21, while the girls passed in the corridor, it looks like it's going to be very tight between the two of us, knowing how Parker is, she's not going to let this comeback of our relationship go so cheap.
[...]
The door opened, it really was a long conversation, when we went in we could see that they were both staring at each other, but they weren't as furious as I'd imagined, which was a bit of a relief, at least that, I look at them and they smile at us, I imagine that things must have settled down, I hope nothing ended up worse.
"Well, we've talked a lot and we've come to the conclusion that Chariot and Croix should stay together, you two love each other and you can see that, I've been able to talk and I support the relationship between you, but I'm going to demand maturity between the two of you" said Parker.
"Are you sure about this, Daniella? You said at the beginning of the year that you wouldn't give up on me" I told her.
"I'm not going to give up on bringing you happiness, I'm not going to give up on loving you and that I can be sure of, I'm going to give you the best you can have, the best is now in the guise of Croix Meridies, it really is she who's going to make you feel better, I trust you, but I'll keep an eye on you so you don't step on the ball, which is my green light, I'm going to support and help your relationship, or did you really think I was going to act so different? I want what's best for Chariot" says Daniella and I hug her.
"Thank you for your support Daniella, I know you wanted to be with me now, but I'm sure I'll be happy with Croix" I say going over to my girlfriend.
"Well, I think we should change our clothes now, love, take a shower, you know? Get rid of this dirt, I may not be hurt, but I'm dirty, we still have the remains of Wagandea on our bodies" That's right, a bath will be better for both of us.
I nod my head and hug her, taking her in my arms, showing her how strong I still am and also how I'm almost her size, I measured myself these days and I'm finally 1.70 tall, I'm almost Croix's size, I went to the bathroom and well it's time to relax in the shower, it's been a long time since I've had a bath with my beloved.
[...]
Having showered, we switch on SphereGame and it's been a while since we've had that too, a session of the four of us playing together here in the bedroom, I even see some crisps coming out of the cupboard and onto the poufs and also some cans of soft drink, as well as some chocolate bars, we're already in our pyjamas, apparently today will be the day that Croix spends the night with me here, after so long.
"Do the Croix Meridies still have the gas to beat us?" Becca said teasingly.
"I'm not the least bit rusty, you're the ones who should have taken advantage of it before I came along and blew you all away in the very game you play" she said confidently.
"All this confidence, I want to see if it continues when we show that we've trained hard" I say to her, already concentrating to play.
"In a game of luck, it's easy, we're really going to play Ronaldo Party" Oh, look at her excuse.
"She's already full of excuses, she doesn't want to admit defeat, she's already come in complaining, lucky game, but she's going to lose the minigames, she mustn't even remember how to strategise" I say teasingly.
"We'll see about that, Chariot Du Nord. What do I get if you lose?" Ah, so you want to place a bet.
"I know what you'll get if you lose to me" I say, teasing her.
"Oh no, I just regretted supporting you two" said Parker with a look of disgust as I approached Croix.
"If I win I'll use magic and have the first time on our return eating you" She even blushes.
"Chariot!" She's so cute with her embarrassed face.
I know she loves it when I come round like this, you can see the little girl's embarrassed face, now I'm going to show her that I can fuck in another way too, it's not just going to be a game, what I've been wanting to do isn't even written down, since Daniella has never used magic on me so it's my turn to give it back to those who deserve it.
"I heard that very well, you don't know how to whisper softly Chariot" I even blush.
"I didn't say anything, it was just your imagination" I said, blushing.
"For the nine lesbian witches Chariot, I told you that it would have been better if you'd said that more quietly and preferably away from the girls, we haven't even got back and you're already saying it like that, but if that's what you're betting on, I'm betting the opposite" she said confidently.
"Don't think about fulfilling that bet here, or if you're going to do something like that, use the bathroom and soundproof it, for the love of all nine witches" said Becca.
"Don't give them any ideas!" Parker said and I laughed.
"It's not such a bad idea" I say, making a face.
"Chariot! No! We'll get the key to the blue team's room, tonight's going to be special, or we'll go there another way" You're right, love, it's better this way.
"That's too bad, Croix at least thinks we're safe" said Daniella and I laughed, but blushed.
Well, things are back to the way they were, that's good, I didn't realise it could finally be like this, it's a bit of a relief, but at the same time it worries me a lot, I hope it really lasts, I'm trusting you Croix, things will have to work out between the two of us, no more lies, no more fights, no more anything, just me and you trusting each other, I'm even trying to improve so that this relationship really works out, it's like it's always been.
"The sixth word came with a fight, but it also came with something good, at least for a short time I was ableto get back together with Croix, during this time of dating all the things that happened in my career will still berelevant, the story will only get more interesting and also for me, the traumas will only come back, I was quitedeluded that it could work out, but anyway, I gave Croix the second chance he wanted so much, at least Idon't consider it a mistake, I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, in Croix's case she deserveda third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and well, how much I saw her mess up and still forgave her is not writtendown."
Thank you, lesbian witches...