AN: Hey everyone! Obviously I don't own anything, oh except Kai! I recently got reintroduced to LWA and I was inspired. We all have our ship of Akko/Diana, but I wanted to explore a world where Akko was free to love Chariot…actually love her. You can't tell me that the way Akko speaks about her is just hero worship. I'm not buying it. Anywho, here's my contribution to Akko/Chariot. Who knows I might actually jump the Diakko ship for this one instead. Nothing is going to be like you remember, but I still think it would be fun!
As the legend goes, Woodward predicted that the Claiomh Solais would be found first by the mate of the one who would bring about the Magical Renaissance. It is said that the Claiomh Solais would leave its owner when they have wronged their mate only to be found a decade later by the soul charged with the revival of magic. No one knows when in time this is to happen, but the finding of this staff is said to be the greatest achievement of a lifetime.
Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan (10 years ago)
In the town of Hakodate, the normal hustle and bustle of the sea town was muted. The local lord's family had just received distressing news. Shiro Kagari has reached out to the magical academy in Tokyo for their assistance in the disappearance of his daughter's magic. It was a troublesome circumstance. One day her magic was vibrant, beautiful, and overwhelmingly strong and the very next…gone as though she never used magic a day in her life. An investigation into her magical circuits showed that three-quarters of her circuits had been deactivated. Most troubling indeed for this family of magic users. A knock on the door brought Shiro from his thoughts.
Shiro placed his glasses on the desk and sighed. "Enter" He looked up to see his apprentice coming back into the study carrying scrolls and books under one arm while looking at a letter in the other hand.
"Master Kagari, the Tokyo Academy has sent back the most interesting response to your original missive. It appears as though the Claiomh Solais has gone missing and its owner, one Shiny Chariot, has receded into the shadows. That is most peculiar as she is…" Shiro's gasp caused him to stop midsentence.
"Kai. I want you to repeat what you just said."
The young apprentice audibly gulped. "Sir, the Claiomh Solais has disappeared as has its owner." Kai took a moment to look at his master. He noticed a few things. At the mention of the staff disappearing, his master began sorting through papers on his desk and muttering to himself lowly.
"…wronged by their mate…Kai. It is Akko!" Shiro jumped up and ran to his apprentice throwing his arms around him in sheer joy. He picked him up in his exuberance. "Kai, I knew she would do amazing things! But to bring about the revival of magic." He put his apprentice down. "She is going to need training. She needs to be prepared. We have to help her. What else does the missive say?" He snatches the paper from Kai. Glancing over it quickly. "Another strong candidate…The English Cavendish Family…Her magic has slowly been returning. They suspect Akko or this Cavendish girl to be the next wielder of the Claiomh Solais. Akko's magical ranking is higher of that of the Cavendish girl." He crushes the missive in his hand. "Tokyo is sending a tutor for Akko. Do they not believe that our family magic is strong enough to teach our heir how to reactivate her circuits?" The lights around the study began flickering. "This is preposterous. Kai, send a response, no Tokyo upstart will be teaching my daughter. They will soon understand why the Kagari family is known as the dragons of Japan." With a snap of his fingers, fire appeared on his fingertips with a small blow of his breath, it resembled a dragon breathing fire. The apprentice absolutely amazed by his master's command of magic could only stand in awe.
"Right away sir. And sir" His master looked up from his fire display, "Akko is standing in the hallway. Would you like me to send her away?" His answer came in the form of his master walking past him to greet his daughter. He turns to see him pick up the small girl from the ground and giving her a big hug. Kai walked closer to the duo when he heard mumblings.
"…you are going to do great things Akko. You just wait. We will have your magic back in no time."
The young mistress looked up at her father with eyes full on wonder. "You think so Otosan? I want to be a great witch like Shiny Chariot! Her magic is so pretty and it makes everyone smile!" Kai watched as his master's face went through several emotions.
"Akko, there's something I need to tell you. Chariot…"
"Shiny Chariot otosan" Akko interrupts.
Shiro chuckles at her stern tone. "Yes Shiny Chariot. Well Akko, she is why your magic won't work right now." He saw his daughter's face fall. "But it's okay we will get it back and find her and charge…"
"NO!"
Kai watched as his master looks at his daughter. "No?"
Akko shook her head and glared at her father. "No otosan. Shiny Chariot needed to borrow my magic. She didn't mean to take it all. I don't want you to hurt her. She makes me happy. She makes me want to love magic more than I already do. Don't hurt her otosan. I need her to teach me. Please otosan, please." Akko pleaded with her father with little tears going down her face. Both Kai and Shiro were moved by her strength given the circumstances.
"But Akko, she took your magic. We need to do something." He sighed when she muffled something against his shoulder. "What was that? I couldn't hear you"
Akko leaned back. "Make me strong again otosan. So that when I meet her again, I can make her happy with my magic." Her bottom lip started quivering. "Please otosan. I want to make her smile like she made me smile."
Kai thinks over the missive again. "Soul mates" He mumbles to himself. "Master, it is Akko. The bond has already manifested." Shiro looked over at Kai and back down at Akko with wonder in his eyes. Kai walked next to his master and young mistress and crouched down to eye level. "Mistress Akko. I will do everything in my power to make you strong again" He stopped as Akko started cheering. Kai cleared his throat to regain her attention. "However, the first thing I am going to teach you is how to identify your magical signature and call it back to you. When you meet this Shiny Chariot in the future, you can make that choice, but this is how you will know its her. You will be a beacon of hope for the world young mistress. Tonight we celebrate," he held his hand out to Akko "for tomorrow Usagi-chan we begin training".
Present day, Leyline Terminal, Brightonbury, England
"Niisan is going to kill me. 'Usagi-chan don't forget anything. Make sure to pack your broom' Pft. Stupid niisan, he knew how excited I was about today! I finally get to go to the school that Shiny Chariot went to!" Akko continues mumbling to herself as she walks up the hill leading to the Leyline Terminal.
"Didya hear about those two new students?" "I hear one isn't even from a witch family." "Lately, there's just been too many normal people coming in." "Luna Nova's reputation is going to fall like this" "I know the schools been having financial troubles as of late, but to think they're just letting anyone in…"
'Seems like niisan was right to spread those rumors. Let them think I am useless to not draw attention to me immediately. Time to put my Japanese finesse to work as niisan would say' "Pardon me ladies, but I seem to be looking for the Leyline Terminal for Luna Nova. Judging by your uniforms I would say that I am in the right place. My name is Kagari Atsuko" Akko bows as if meeting the emperor. 'Niisan says to make them feel important.' Akko looks up and smiles "You may call me Akko. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
The two girls look at Akko as though she was beneath them. "Our names aren't important. You are one of the new students then? Do you even know how to fly a broom? Can you DO magic? Kagari, that's not the name of a witch family. Better hurry up to Luna Nova. If you are late, they won't you in." The girls mount their brooms, pull out their wands, announce their spell, and take off into the leyline.
Akko looks up at the space that once held the leyline. 'Interesting, they have to channel their magic with a wand. Magic does feel concentrated here. It was very faint on the train ride here. Niisan should've come with me. I wouldn't have forgotten my broom then' Akko sighs. "Oh well. I'll have to find a new way there. I doubt I could just fly there myself." Akko looks around and sees other girls walking towards her. Maybe I can ask for a ride. Several girls pass her but none seem like they would be kind enough to offer a stranger a ride; until Akko spots a small girl with orange hair. There. She seems like she's kind. She has calming qi. Akko stands next to the young girl and clears her throat. Hearing whispers from the girl and knowing that she didn't hear her, she reaches a hand out and places it on her shoulder. "Excuse me, but I was wondering if you could help me." The girl jumps in fright and slowly looks over her shoulder. "My name is Kagari Atsuko, but you can call me Akko. I left my broom with my brother in my excitement to be coming to the same school as Shiny Chariot!" Akko has stars in her eyes, then looks down at her feet all of a sudden. "Would you be willing to give me a ride to school? I can pay you for your effort. Please, I need to go to the same school as Chariot did! It's been my dream since I was a young girl!"
The small girl looked torn. She opened her mouth, then immediately closed it looking pensive. "Uh…Ak-ko, I'm not sure I can handle a lot of weight on my broom." She said motioning to the bags next to Akko.
Akko looks down and frowns before waving her hand and shrinking the objects. She picks them up from the ground and places them in her pockets before shrugging her shoulders. "Problem solved?" The young girl's jaw dropped. But Akko didn't notice. "Excuse me Miss…?"
The girl shook herself out of her stupor. "Lotte"
Akko gives her a big smile. "Miss Lotte if you would please give me a lift to school. I will answer any and all of your questions once we arrive."
Lotte nods her head and motions for Akko to sit on the space behind her on the broom. "It's my first time with a passenger, so please be mindful of that." Akko chuckles behind Lotte.
"I promise I won't cause you a problem" At least not intentionally "Shall we go?" Akko points to the ceiling and Lotte nods. She pulls out her wand and casts the spell to cause her broom to fly. Akko looks at the broom in wonder. So they don't just push their magic and will into the broom to fly. Interesting. I think school is going to be a much more fun adventure than I thought. The girls shoot into the leyline and watch as the world around them blurs. Akko gets lost in her thoughts until she feels her companion turn.
"Akko.." Lotte starts "How did you do magic without a wand? It's just…I've never seen magic done like that before."
Lotte feels more than hears Akko's deep sigh. "Well you see, where I come from, magic is plentiful. My family has been a magical family since the inception of magic in my country. We serve the emperor and do his bidding. I am the magical heir for my family, therefore my magic is vast. Much more so than the girls who mocked me earlier. But I hide it. I don't want to be known as the "It witch". I want to go to school that Shiny Chariot went to. Learn the things she did. Perform the same type of magic as her. I want to make people happy with my magic" I want to meet my soulmate and make her happy with my magic too. "I just learned magic differently than everyone else has. That is all. I learned that a wand makes magic weaker. The stronger the will of the caster, the easier it is to cast magic." Akko looked at her companion and saw the question and desire in her eyes. Suddenly sure of what it was she wanted she hesitantly offered to attempt to teach her.
Lotte's celebration is cut short when the broom starts shaking and not listening to Lotte's demands. "Do you have salt on you?! If so get rid of it! It's causing the leyline to react this way!"
Akko thinks about what is in her pockets and frowns. "I don't have salt. Someone else is doing this." She begins to look around their space in the leyline and sees another girl flying behind them chuckling to herself. "I know who is doing this! Lotte just hold on tiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhttttt….." The girls suddenly begin to feel themselves being drawn to an exit of the leyline.
Akko, Lotte, and the unnamed girl begin freefalling out of the leyline and land in a heap on the ground. Akko pulls herself up first and takes a look around. "The Arctorus Forrest"
The unnamed girl looks up at Akko. "You've heard of it?"
"Yeah otosan and niisan taught me about a lot of different places I should avoid. This place feels…wrong…but like I'm drawn here." She gasps. "LOTTE! Where are you?!" She runs around yelling Lotte's name and hears a response after 2 minutes. She finds Lotte sitting behind a tree holding her broken broom. "Lotte, are you okay?"
Lotte holds up her broom. "I'm fine Akko, but my broom is broken." Lotte looks downcast. "How are we supposed to get out of here now? We are going to be late to the ceremony."
Akko holds out her hand for the broom and starts pushing magic into it. Lotte watches as the broom begins repairing itself. "We have to get out of here soon Lotte. That other girl is what caused this to happen. We need to move…" Akko looks up and notices the cockatrice looking at them "Now Lotte, RUN" Both girls begin running away from the giant chicken. Akko feels herself being pulled deeper into the forest. "Lotte follow me!" Running as fast as they can, Akko leads them further and further in. She hears a noise behind her and sees Lotte trip and fall towards the cliff. Akko reaches out to catch her before she goes completely over. "Lotte hold on!"
Lotte looks up at Akko and then down at the space under her. "Akko you have to let me go. I'm only going to slow you down."
Akko begins pulling Lotte back up. "I refuse to give up Lotte. We can do this. We are going to get out of here and our stories are going to begin. Just. Like. Chariot's!" Akko hugs Lotte to her as a bright light encompasses the trees behind them. Once the light dies down Akko looks behind her to see the one thing she's waited her whole life to see. "The Shiny Rod…niisan said I would get it…but I didn't think…" She looks at the staff and walks towards it as if in a trance. She reaches out slowly, still not believing that the staff is in front of her and wraps her hand around it. She is flooded with warmth and magic…but most importantly, the feeling of how right it feels to be holding the staff. She looks back and Lotte and notices the other girl being chased by the cockatrice. "Lotte, you still have your broom right?" At her nod Akko creates a plan. "Okay we are going to grab that girl and get the hell out of here." She holds out her hand. "I need you to trust me and hand me your broom. Can you do that?" Lotte slowly places her broom in Akko's hand.
"Akko, you are going to save us right? We are going to get to Luna Nova on time?"
Akko twirls the broom and mounts it with confidence. She pats the space behind her and smiles at Lotte. "Of course. I am the best flier in Asia. Hold on!" Akko and Lotte zoom out of the tree line and collide with the other girl. "I'm Akko. Hold on to us and we will make it out of here." Akko pointed the Shiny Rod at the cockatrice and thought of the first offensive magic she could. A yellow stream left out of the staff and wrapped around the cockatrice, turning it into a statue. Akko heard a voice in her head telling her to recite words. "Notto Ohfei Ohden Fraetor…SHINY ARC" Before their very eyes the staff became a bow with a knocked arrow. Akko shot it at the space directly in front of them and flew them into the leyline.
Their journey inside was short and the trio were spit out in the auditorium. "WE MADE IT! LOOK LOTTE ITS LUNA NOVA! WE DID IT!" Akko and Lotte hugged and the other girl began chuckling still pleased by her escape with multiple cockatrice feathers.
The other girl tapped Akko on the shoulder. "Sucy, Sucy Manbavaran. Thanks for saving me back there."
Akko bows and smiles. "It was my pleasure to help a fellow witch in need." Suddenly Akko stiffens and looks towards the teachers. Her eyes widen as they pass over the youngest teacher there. For within her aura, Akko could see a piece of her magic. "Chariot" she whispers to herself. She stands up to make her way to the teacher but is stopped by a stern looking woman.
"Young lady, do you know how much trouble you are in? You have disrupted the sanctity of the opening ceremony, opened an unauthorized leyline inside of the school, and brought harm upon two of your classmates. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Akko looks up at the woman who has decided to tear her down in front of the whole school and smirks. She looks around the teacher and spots the headmistress.
"Aunt Miranda, it is so good to see you again. Sorry about my entrance I can explain in your office if you would let me?" The headmistress inclines her head and begins leaving the auditorium. The sound of silence was deafening as the stern teacher looked between Akko and the headmistress. "Wait auntie!" She points to the young teacher who was Chariot. "She needs to come to. Its important" and holds up the Shiny Rod. Noise fills the auditorium as witches young and old look at the staff in Akko's hands. "Excuse me ma'am." She steps around the stern witch in her way. "I have family business to attend to."
Headmistress Holbrooke's Office, Luna Nova Academy
Akko takes a deep breath and knocks on the door to her aunt's office. A muffled enter is all the invitation she needs to open the door to face her destiny. She takes a look around the spacious office and is happy to see one of her paintings on the wall, but then stops when she sees her father in the communication orb hovering above her aunt's desk. Busted. Akko comes to stand next to the teacher she requested to attend her sentencing. "Auntie, Otosan, niisan. I can explain."
Akko jumps when she hears her father. "Yes Akko, please explain to me how you forgot your broom with Kai. Then end up in the Arctorus Forest and almost miss the ceremony completely? If it was not for the familial relation Kai has to Miranda here, you would be on your way home. I have half a mind to go to Luna Nova myself and bring you home."
"Otosan" "Shiro!" "Master!"
"Otosan, you cant!" Akko pleads holding the communication orb closer to her to stare at her father.
"And why can't I Akko. I am your father. I do as I please." Shiro closes his mouth abruptly when Akko holds up the Shiny Rod. "You found it? Already? But when…how? Akko, what happened in that forest?"
Akko sighs, conjures a chair, and sits down. With her head in her thoughts, she misses the look of wonder on her teachers' faces. "Sucy, a girl I met, intentionally wanted to exit in the forest to get a feather from the cockatrice. I caught a ride with Lotte, another girl I met, and we were being used for bait. Lotte got injured and wanted me to leave her behind. But I couldn't otosan. I had to save her. So I did…and it just appeared? Anyway, I fixed Lotte's broom, flew to Sucy, heard a voice in my head, shot an arrow that opened a portal…and poof we were here."
Shiro sighed "Akk…"
"Usagi-chan! Not even 2 hours out of my sight and you already cause trouble! Maybe master and I should pull you from school. You would flourish more at home where we can monitor you."
Akko immediately stood up. "NO! I won't leave!" She turns to her aunt and the young teacher. "I can't leave. I found her niisan. I found Chariot." A gasp of surprise came from everyone in the room. Akko turns to the young teacher. "When I was in the auditorium after we landed. I looked up at the teachers. I immediately recognized Auntie. Her aura and qi are so soothing that I relaxed. Each teacher had different colored auras. All brilliant and it made me happy to know I would be learning from such talented witches." Akko reaches out and grabs the woman's hand. "But when I looked at her, I saw a piece of my magic. Otosan, niisan you both told me that I would be able to recognize Chariot that way. My magic shines so brilliantly from within her." Akko squeezes her hand and looks back at the communication orb. "How can I leave when I finally can be with my soulmate? How can you ask me to leave when I just found the one person in the world who can help me? My magic is strong otosan. You trained me until I could perform magical feats greater than yours. But now, I have the Shiny Rod. I know that my destiny is about to begin. So I am staying. I'm staying here with Chariot and Aunt Miranda. I'm staying with Sucy and Lotte, and I am going to learn magic the way the continent does. I am going to make you proud otosan and bring even greater honor to the Kagari family." Akko takes a deep breath and waits for her father to respond. She can see Kai looking at her father and that they are speaking. Akko takes the chance to look back at the witch whose hand she is still holding. Chariot has tears in her eyes and her other hand is draped across her stomach as if that is what is giving her the strength to remain standing. Akko conjures a handkerchief and wipes her tears. She offers Chariot a smile before looking at her aunt.
Headmistress Holbrooke looks like the cat caught the canary. Her smile is so infectious that Akko breaks out into giggles. "Shiro, I do believe that my niece will be safe here. If you feel the need to come to Luna Nova, then by all means England will welcome you with open arms. But these logistics need to be discussed between you and I." She gives Akko a pointed look and nods towards the door. "I do believe that the two young ladies have a very important conversation they need to have."
Akko gives a small bow to her aunt and begins walking to the door pulling Chariot behind her. "Get the girl Usagi!" Is all she hears as the door closes behind them. Akko chuckles and lets out a deep breath. She uses her free hand to drag it down her face, suddenly feeling much too tired and afraid of the next big conversation she needs to have. Chancing a look at the quiet woman next to her, Akko uses their still clasped hands to lift her chin so their eyes meet.
"Chariot, you have nothing to fear from me." She kisses their clasped hands and brings them back down between them. "Is there somewhere we can talk? I promise to tell you my story, from the day I saw your show to today. I'll tell you about the legend that surrounds us, and I'll tell you how my magic is strong. But what I need from you…is to just be strong. Please. I've been strong for the last 10 years and now I'm ready to have someone to lean on and that's meant to be you." Chariot gasps and her eyes widen. "If this is not something you want, we will talk through that too. But please…please…hear me out. That's all I ask." Akko leans her head down and waits.
Chariot looks at the girl in front of her and is in awe. How can she still want this…after I stole her magic. She should hate me and yet she offers herself to me. Can I do this? Can I really be what she says? Her…soulmate. I can't deny that I am drawn to her…but is that her magic being drawn to back to its source? No. I don't feel the same draw to any of the other little witches who attended my show. She's special…and I have to learn why. Chariot using her free hand wipes away the remaining tears. "Akko?" The girls lifts her head up in surprise. "I want to know everything. Please follow me."
AN: So what did you think? Leave some love, leave a flame, leave some words of encouragement. Either way, i am really enjoying writing this so I will be back with another chapter soon! Hope you enjoy!