Chapter 3: Starting Over
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Needless to say things are about to get exciting as we dive into Little Witch Academia. I hope you like the surprises I have in store. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was the day before the new term started at Luna Nova and while the witches were required to be there for the orientation Jaden thought it would be his best chance to get what he needed and see the school for himself.
"I'll be back later tonight mom." Jaden calls out.
"Tell me what the school is like." Maya said.
"I will." Jaden said walking to the door.
"Hold on. You can't go without this." Maya held out a small pin with the Luna Nova symbol on it. "You'll need this if you want to get there."
"Thanks Mom." Jaden said taking it and putting it in his pocket.
"You know are you sure you don't want to ask to live on campus? It's not that far?" Maya asks.
"Mom, I'm very happy living here. Besides no way any magic school can make happier than home." Jaden smiles.
Giving him one last hug, Maya waved her son off.
Grabbing his skateboard, Jaden skated down the street.
"There he goes." Maya smiles.
Once he was a good distance away, Jaden let out a sigh.
"Besides, there are many reasons I can't." Jaden frowns.
Jaden could never choose to live on campus. Not only would it be a pain to afford but Jaden could never leave his friends and he absolutely COULD NOT leave his mother, especially not long after his dad's death.
On the other side of town at the train station, a teenage girl with long brown hair and a little ponytail on the side exited the station. This was Atsuko Kagari or Akko for short.
"I'm finally here. The place where Shiny Chariot learned to use magic!" Cheering Akko spun around with joy. "This is where I become a witch!"
Looking around Akko tried to find the way to Luna Nova, but was having trouble.
Opening the brochure, Akko tried to find clues.
"Man in a city this big how am I supposed to find the right bus stop?" Akko asks when she noticed the old tower on the outskirts of town.
Pausing Akko looked at the brochure and then at it.
Smiling Akko took off down the street never taking her eyes off the old tower.
However, had she watched the sidewalk she would have seen someone walking out making Akko fall over and her backpack spilling open.
"I'm sorry." Akko groans when she noticed a Luna Nova brochure land in front of her.
Turning around Akko saw a teenage girl around her age with pale skin, mauve hair covering half her face, green and brown clothes and a broomstick. This was Sucy Manbavaran.
"Is this yours?" Akko asks holding out the brochure. "Are you a new student? Are you on your way to orientation? Cool! I was so nervous about going to school all by myself. My name's Akko. I've dreamed about coming here since I was 6 and I saw Shiny Chariot's magic show. You know her?"
Reaching into her pocket, Akko pulls out a trading card of Shiny Chariot.
"Check it out. I even have her super rare card. She's super famous but I can't seem to find many people who are fans of her." Akko said as Sucy walked past her. "People say she's from a bygone era but I think that just makes her special."
Looking at a stuffed bird plushie, Sucy takes out a small vial and drops a bit of potion on it making the bird come to life.
"Whoa, Puppet Magic. I've never seen that before." Akko said bending down to the bird. "Hey little guy. I won't hurt you."
Holding out her hand Akko let the bird walk to her but as it got close it pecked her right in the eye. "AAH! My Eye!" Akko screams in pain.
Rubbing her eye, Akko looks to see Sucy walking away. "Hey wait for me! That wasn't nice!"
Running to catch up with her Sucy stops at a small bridge over a river.
"Hey what's your name?" Akko asks catching up with her. "How did you do that? I tried using the training guides they sent but I didn't do very well."
Turning to her Sucy held out her hand.
"Oh it's nice to meet you." Akko reaches out to shake it when she did two snakes appeared around her wrists scaring her.
Stumbling backward Akko falls off the bridge and into the water.
Looking to her hands, Akko saw the snakes were just ropes.
"Hey are you okay?" A voice calls out.
Looking up, Akko saw Jaden looking down at her from the bridge.
"Uh yeah just wet." Akko frowns.
Walking down Jaden offered her a hand.
"Here take my hand." Jaden said.
Smiling Akko took it and he helped her out. "Thanks I'm Akko by the way."
"I'm Jaden. So Akko what are you doing all the way out here?" Jaden asks.
"I'm heading to Luna Nova." Akko said.
"Oh cool you're one of the new students." Jaden said as they walked up the hill.
"Yep, so Jaden why are you all the way out here?" Akko asks.
"Same reason as you. Heading to Luna Nova." Jaden said surprising her.
"Wait what? But aren't you a boy?" Akko asks confused.
"Yeah last time I checked." Jaden chuckles.
"But I thought boys couldn't learn magic?" Akko asks.
"I'm in the new Inter-School Work Program. In exchange for helping around the school, I get to take lessons there." Jaden explains.
"Wow that's pretty cool so you must be the first boy to ever go to Luna Nova." Akko said.
"Yeah that's what the professor said. By the way who was that girl back there?" Jaden asks.
"I don't know who she thinks she is but she sure liked to mess with me." Akko said in a huff.
At the top of the tower, they saw three girls in Luna Nova uniforms and holding broomsticks.
"They must be new students too." Akko smiles as they headed up.
"How was your spring break?" One asks.
"Too many tourists, I couldn't enjoy it." The second said.
"Did you hear? One of the newcomers isn't even from a witch family?"
"No way!"
Pausing Jaden and Akko stopped to listen in.
"They've been letting in too many commoners lately."
"I heard they're not doing well financially and that's why they're letting commoners in to help keep the school open. They even created some stupid program allowing people who can't even do magic to attend this school."
"Disgusting."
"If this keeps up who knows they'll let in. What's next boys?"
"I bet she can't even ride a broomstick." They said making Akko nervous.
Akko tries to turn away but the three girls noticed them. "Who are they?"
"Uh hey there I'm Atsuko Kagari. I'm new." She said.
"I'm Jaden Cooper. Also new." Jaden introduced.
"Wow they actually did, they let a boy in." One of them said repulsed.
"Uh so when does the bus show up?" Akko asks.
"What bus?" One asks.
"The one that comes to this stop." Akko said making them laugh.
"Are you really that dumb?"
"I can't believe you actually thought there was a bus here."
"Hey she just asked a question. You don't have be so mean." Jaden said.
"Tia Freye!" All three said as their brooms glowed.
"This is a broom stop morons."
"The Leyline terminal."
"This is the only way to get to Luna Nova."
"Magic has been flowing through her since ancient times."
"It takes you right to your destination."
"It's the magic highway." All three brag flying inside and to a portal.
"We better hurry. If you miss the opening ceremony you're banned."
Being engulfed by a bright light they disappeared.
"Wow these Witches sure know how to make you feel welcome. I think you need to switch the W with a B if you ask me." Jaden said making Akko snicker.
"No kidding, but how are we gonna get to the school if we don't have brooms?" Akko asks.
"Well I mean the school gave me something so I could go through this without a broom but I don't know if it'll work for two people." Jaden shrugs.
"What is it?" Akko asks before gasping. "Is it that skateboard? Do you have a flying skateboard?"
"I wish that sounds awesome." Jaden smiles.
"So what do we do?" Akko asks when they heard someone approaching the terminal.
It was a teenage girl with short blonde hair, glasses and a Luna Nova uniform. This was Lotte Yansson and she seemed to have a lot of bags on her.
"I'm gonna be late." Lotte pants before misstepping and falling over. "My Mom and Yanne packed too many things."
Looking up she saw Akko holding out her hat that had fallen off.
"Oh thank you." Lotte said making her way in.
As she was about to say the magic words she noticed Akko. "Uh are you a student too? I've never seen you before."
"Yeah but she kinda can't get to school." Jaden explains.
"I don't have a broom and even if I did, I don't know how to fly one." Akko admits.
"Luna Nova is pretty strict about rules." Lotte said making Akko tear up. "Uh would you like a ride? I've never had a passenger before but I'm willing to try."
"Oh thank you! Thank you! You've restored my faith in good witches!" Akko said hugging her. "I'm Atsuko Kagari but you can call me Akko."
"My name's Lotte."
"Aren't you gonna introduce me?" Jaden reminds.
"Oh yeah, this is Jaden." Akko points.
"What's a boy doing here?" Lotte asks.
"Geez am I that weird?" Jaden smirks gesturing to himself.
"I don't think I have enough room for 3 people. Sorry." Lotte said.
"It's no trouble. You help Akko and maybe I'll run into you guys at school." Jaden said.
"Alright let's go." Lotte said as Akko climbed on. "Tia Freye."
As the broom slowly took off the ceiling above them began to glow sucking both of them in.
"Well that's pretty wild. I just hope this thing works." Jaden said taking out his pin.
Holding it up as high as he could the terminal began to glow in response to it Jaden quickly got on his skateboard as he was lifted out of the air.
"Oh man this is trippy." Jaden said before he shot up after them.
"Whoa!" Jaden cheers riding his board through the magic highway. "Oh man this insane!"
"I can't do this let me off!" Looking down Jaden saw Lotte and Akko struggling.
"It's a little late for that!" Lotte said as the magic highway knocked them around causing their stuff to spill out. "Our things!"
Down below them, Sucy was reading a book.
"An average witch is not capable of entering the Legendary Forest of Arcturus. For only a powerful witch can hope to avoid the monster that preys on the weak, The—" Before Sucy could finish Akko's bird plushie hit her square in the face.
"I've never experienced this! It's weird! Do you have any salt on you?!" Lotte asks.
"Salt?" Akko asks confused.
"The leyline doesn't like salt." Lotte explains.
"Like this?" Akko asks holding out a sealed jar.
"What is that?" Lotte asks.
"Pickled plums." Akko said.
"Throw it away!" Lotte orders.
"But I love my Pickled Plums!" Akko whines.
"Oh just get rid of them!" Jaden yells.
"Huh?" Distracted Akko turns in Jaden's direction but when she did her Shiny Chariot card flew out of her pocket. "My treasure!" Akko panics.
"Akko no!" Lotte said as they ended up flying all over resulting in Akko falling off and crashing into Sucy.
As the three girls plummeted down, Jaden looked around frantically. Up ahead he saw the exit to this crazy magic highway.
"Guess school is gonna have to wait!" Jaden said pulling out his mask and diving down after them.
Meanwhile at Luna Nova, Ursula was in her office filling out forms.
"Okay this is the last of the Student Work Program applicants." Ursula said putting some papers down to reveal the lucky students who would be learning/ working at Luna Nova, Jaden included.
Suddenly her train of thought was interrupted when her bird called out to her.
"What's a matter Alcol?" Ursula asks turning around.
Tilting its head up Alcol gestured to something.
Realizing what it meant, Urusla stood up and drew her wand making a constellation map appear.
Scanning around she saw a light shining brightly from one.
"No way. The Forbidden Forest of Arcturus? But if it finds them." Ursula gasps.
In the forest of Arcturus, Akko groans revealing she had landed in some branches.
As she tried to get up, the branches break making Akko fall to the ground.
Groaning Akko gets up to see her Shiny Chariot card land on her chest.
"Yes! Thank goodness you're safe." Akko smiles when the ground under her felt weird.
Looking down she saw she had landed on Sucy.
"Oh no, is she dead?" Akko panics getting off her.
"You really are a pain you know that?" Sucy said getting up.
"Oh good you're alive." Akko said.
"Witches don't die easy." Sucy said.
Looking around for Lotte, Akko sees her on the ground behind a tree.
"Lotte are you okay?" Akko asks.
"I'm fine, but my broom is broken." Lotte said showing the broken broom.
From a good distance something spotted the three girls.
"It seems we've arrived at our destination." Sucy said.
"This is Luna Nova? Then where's the ceremony?" Akko asks looking around.
"This looks like some sort of forest." Lotte said.
"The Forest of Arcturus." Sucy declares.
"Wait you mean the forbidden forest?" Lotte gasps.
"Man I wish Jaden was here to help." Akko said looking around.
"Jaden?" Sucy asks.
"You mean that boy? Akko why would he be here?" Lotte asks.
"When we were in the Leyline I heard his voice." Akko said.
"Well clearly he got lucky unlike us." Sucy said.
"We need to hurry or we might miss orientation." Akko said.
"That might be hard, this forest is so big even a witch can have trouble getting out if she's lost." Lotte said.
"Assuming the beast roaming this forest doesn't find us first." Sucy said.
"Now is not the time for jokes Sucy." Akko said.
Looking around she noticed her stuff laying near a large flower.
"Hey all our missing luggage." Akko said walking over to grab it.
But when she did the flower grew large in size.
"Akko get away from that!" Lotte yells.
Confused Akko looks over to see the flower grow in size and attack her.
Screaming Akko narrowly avoids its vines.
"What is that thing?!" Akko asks.
"A Mandrake, a type of human-eating plant!" Sucy said.
As they turned a corner something flew over them.
"Well what do we have here?" A voice calls out causing Akko and Lotte to freeze up.
Turning around the three of them saw a strange figure circling them from the sky.
"Three little witches all alone. Soon to be like a forgotten song, nothing." Landing down the three girls gasp to see it was some sort of monster. It had the body of a human but his body was like a bird. He had black wings coming out of his arms, a black cowl around his neck, a sharp beak for a nose and sharp talons for legs. (Google Ultimate Spider-Man Vulture)
"Uh hi there, who might you be?" Akko asks nervously.
"I am the terror of this forest, and I do not allow trespassers." He hisses.
"The Vulture." Sucy declares.
"The what?" Lotte asks not liking this.
"You don't need to know. Many witches think they can trespass in my forest, take whatever they want, but in the end, they leave with nothing." Vulture said taking a stance.
"Well that's great because we don't want anything. We just want a way out. So if you'll just point us to the exit we'll be on our way." Akko said.
"No because you won't be leaving with anything, not even your lives!" Vulture roars going on the attack.
Screaming all three girls scrambled and made a run for it.
As Vulture flew in a web was suddenly fired making him fall to the ground hard.
"What is this?" Vulture growls trying to break free.
"Hey why so angry Tweety? Did you see a Puddy Tat?" A voice calls out.
Looking up Akko, Sucy and Lotte look to see Spider-Man standing atop a tree branch.
"What in the?" Lotte gasps.
"Oh great another weirdo." Sucy said as Vulture broke free and flew up.
"Who are you to meddle in my affairs?" Vulture asks.
"Well Bird Boy since you were so kind to ask, I'm your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. If you say yes I'll even give you a nice handful of crackers." Spider-Man said making Akko giggle.
"Uh Akko I don't think it's smart to be laughing at the monster trying to kill us." Lotte advises.
"But it was funny." Akko said.
Letting a powerful shriek Vulture makes all four of them cover their ears in pain.
Cringing Spider-Man fires a web at Vulture but the shriek made it fly off course.
'Alright new plan.' Leaping to another tree, Spider-Man bounced off the branch and grabbed Vulture by the legs.
Swinging his talons at him, Vulture flies around attempting to knock Spider-Man off.
Firing one web at the ground, Spider-Man leaps off and fires another web at Vulture's back trapping him.
"Gotcha!" Swinging in Spider-Man delivers a powerful kick sending Vulture crashing into a tree.
Grabbing a broken tree stump, Spider-Man rips it out of the ground and throws it at Vulture.
Using his wings, Vulture slashes the tree in half.
"What was that?" Akko gasps.
"It looked like…like magic." Lotte said in awe.
"But that's impossible, boys can't do magic." Sucy said.
"Well what do you call that?" Akko asks.
Cawing Vulture cut himself free and flew after Spider-Man.
"Whoa! Hey watch where you swing those things!" Spider-Man said dodging his attacks.
Jumping onto the treetops, Spider-Man leaped from branch to branch with Vulture right on his tail.
"Hey there Vulture you seem a little on edge. Why don't you go find a nice birdbath or maybe a nice bird feeder?" Spider-Man asks.
"Shut up!" Vulture said as Spider-Man leaps down.
Firing webs at two trees, Spider-Man uses them to slingshot at Vulture and nail him in the face.
"Bye-Bye Birdie!" Grabbing him by the legs, Spider-Man throws him against a tree and webs him up to prevent him from escaping.
Leaping towards the girls, Spider-Man lands in front of them.
"Is everyone alright?" Spider-Man asks.
"Uh yeah." Lotte said nervously.
"That's good, come on let's get you out of here before Bird Brain gets loose." Spider-Man said.
"Yeah good idea." Akko said when Spider-Man noticed something.
"Wait." Spider-Man said grabbing her shoulder. "What is that?"
"What's what?" Akko asks when Spider-Man looks over her shoulder to see the card.
"No way…is that a Super Rare Shiny Chariot card?" Spider-Man asks in an excited tone.
"Wait you like Shiny Chariot?" Akko gasps.
"Yeah she is so awesome. I mean the things she could do." Spider-Man said making explosion noises. "Mind blowing."
"I know right! Finally another Shiny Chariot fan!" Akko cheers.
"Oh great another one." Sucy rolls her eyes.
"So uh what are your names?" Spider-Man asks.
"My name's Akko and this is Lotte." Akko introduced.
"Nice to meet you." Lotte said.
"And who might you be?" Spider-Man asks looking at Sucy.
"Sucy Manbavaran." She said.
"Well girls, I'm Spider-Man." Spider-Man said leading them down the path.
Spotting the Mandrake with all their stuff Spider-Man cut its roots with his stingers allowing him to grab all their stuff.
"Here you go. I think that's everything." Spider-Man said.
"Thank you, how can we ever repay you?" Lotte asks.
"No thanks necessary." Spider-Man said when his spidey sense went off. "Incoming!"
Before the girls could even react Vulture flew in and used his Sonic Shriek blasting Akko and Lotte down a hill.
"Akko! Lotte!" Spider-Man gasps.
"You will suffer for humiliating me in my own domain!" Vulture said flying in.
Jumping on her broom Sucy narrowly avoids being cut in half.
"No way to get in the way now." Vulture said.
"Look I think we got off on the wrong claws Vulture. Just let us leave and you can go back to your little birdhouse and forget this whole thing ever happened." Spider-Man suggests.
"When you're dead!" Vulture shrieks attacking him.
Tumbling down the hill, Akko grabs Lotte's arm catching her before she fell off the edge.
"Are you okay?" Akko asks.
"I think so." Lotte said as Akko pulled her up.
"We need to get out of here. If we don't hurry we'll never make it." Akko said.
Lotte tries to get up but cringed in pain.
"My knee." Lotte said gesturing to a nasty bruise. "I can't walk. I won't make it."
"We can do this." Akko assures helping her onto her shoulder. "We can't give up after coming this far."
Looking up she saw Spider-Man grab onto the Vulture from behind.
Flying backwards Vulture rams Spider-Man against a tree.
Cringing in pain, Spider-Man delivers two kicks sending Vulture flying back.
"My story is about to begin." Akko growls as a light shined from a plant. "Reach out, adventure awaits! My heart is pounding, my head is spinning, and I will become a witch!" Akko declares.
Making it to the top of a hill a bright light shines getting everyone's attention.
"What is this? More tricks?" Vulture growls.
"Wait a second." Spider-Man sees the light take the shape of a magic wand. "I know that wand!"
"That's Shiny Chariot's wand!" Akko gasps.
As Vulture grabs Spider-Man with his talons he slams him to the ground.
Seeing he needed help Akko turns to Lotte. "Lotte go find a place to hide."
"Huh?" Lotte said as Akko pulled the wand out of the ground and ran towards the fight.
"Hey Vulture!" Akko yells throwing a rock at his head. "Bet you can't catch me!"
"Akko what are you doing?" Spider-Man asks as Vulture throws him off.
"Fine, you want to play that way?" Cawing Vulture flew at Akko but at the last second, Spider-Man fired a web yanking her out of the way.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Spider-Man asks catching.
"I got an idea! But I need you help!" Akko said.
"Hang on!" Pulling Akko close, Spider-Man fired a web allowing them to swing through the forest with Vulture hot on their tails.
"Need a lift?" Sucy asks flying down to Lotte.
Swinging through the forest, Spider-Man leaps into a clearing as he and Akko took stances.
"You sure this'll work?" Spider-Man asks.
"Oh yeah." Akko said as Vulture shriked at them.
Jumping out of the way at the last second Vulture ran into a mandrake resulting in the plant attacking him.
"How'd you know about the mandrake?" Spider-Man asks.
"Ran into one earlier." Akko smiles as Sucy flew in.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Sucy said.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Akko said as she got on.
Firing a web, Spider-Man hitched a ride.
Stabbing his talons through the mandrake, Vulture rips it to shreds and flies after them.
"We'll never outrun him with all of us on it!" Lotte said.
"You fly I'll shoot!" Spider-Man said.
Up above, Ursula had finally arrived and spotted them.
"This is terrible!" She gasps.
Firing webs, Spider-Man attempted to shoot Vulture out of the sky but he was determined to get his pray this time.
"Turn left!" Spider-Man said as Sucy made a sharp turn making Akko swing the wand up to regain balance.
"It can't be! She has the Shiny Rod!" Ursula gasps.
Sharpening his wings, Vulture flew in at top speed.
"Sorry girls!" Kicking the broom, Spider-Man knocks them out of the way just in the nick of time but he ended up hitting too hard causing them to plummet.
"Recite the spell!" Ursula yells getting their attention. "You have to use the magic!"
Reacting to Akko, the Shiny Rod began to glow.
"It's glowing!" Akko gasps.
"Quick Akko! Do it!" Spider-Man said.
"Noctu Orfei!" Ursula calls out.
"Noctu Orfei!" Akko repeats.
"Aude Fraetor!" Both declared as a gem on the shiny rod glowed. "Shiny Arc!"
Just like in Shiny Chariot's show, Akko turned the wand into a bow and fired an arrow opening a portal.
"No! You can't escape me!" Vulture said diving after them through the portal.
"Oh no you don't!" Firing a web, Spider-Man grabs Vulture's wings.
"NO!" Vulture tries to gain control but he ended up plummeting down into the forest as the four of them entered the portal.
At Luna Nova Academy, all the students were gathered in the main hall as the Headmistress was giving a speech.
"Welcome everyone, I hope you had a good holiday. Luna Nova has a long history of producing many great witches. This is where you must devote yourself to the study of magic with great determination, but remember to stay humble and always be respectful. With that being said—"
Before she could finish a bright light Akko, Sucy and Lotte appeared in the middle of the room much to everyone's surprise and confusion.
"Alright! I made it!" Akko cheers.
In the back Ursula slowly snuck in and joined the staff.
Little did any of them know Spider-Man was hanging on the ceiling completely out of everyone's site.
'You were dad, I am gonna like it here.' Spider-Man thought crawling out of the room while everyone was distracted.
Meanwhile in the forest, we see Vulture having slaughtered a Cockatrice and devouring it.
"Rage. Vengenace. The drive that can pierce an enemy's soul and cannot be stopped until he finds peace." Vulture said ripping his dinner in half. "Three witchlings escaped me today. And it was all because of you…all because of Spider-Man. One of these days I will find you and I will tear you apart." Vulture declares.
That night while Akko, Sucy and Lotte were being assigned their room, we find ourselves at Jaden's home as Maya and Winry were setting up dinner.
"Thanks for letting me come over Mrs. Cooper." Winry smiles.
"No trouble at all. We enjoy your company." Maya said as the door opened revealing Jaden.
"Mom I'm home!" Jaden calls out walking in holding a zipped up back containing his new uniform.
"Jaden!" Maya smiles as he walks in.
"So how as magic school?" Winry asks.
"Ehh it was alright. Just orientation so I just sat around and listened to some teachers explain what I'll be doing." Jaden brushes off.
"You meet any interesting people?" Maya asks.
"Hmm yeah a few." Jaden admits.
"Ooh maybe you can bring me along. I hear they have an Alchemy course that I would love to see." Winry said as they sat down for dinner.
"I'll have to get back to you on that. I better do good for a while before I ask for any favors." Jaden said.
"Just be sure to focus on your studies." Maya said putting a big salad bowl down.
"Come on Mom it's me." Jaden chuckles.
"We know that's why she's reminding you." Winry giggles.
"Real mature." Jaden said as Maya raised her glass.
"A toast to a new school and hopefully new adventures." Maya said.
Smiling Jaden and Winry raised their glasses and clinked them in the middle.
