Everlasting (ch16)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS! THANK YOU!

A brief chapter now just to get us through to the finale scene!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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														Chapter 16. Resolutions

For a brief while after that, the seven of them warm up and wind down. Akko apologizes to them all and thanks them for searching for her. She explains everything that she can without revealing what doesn't need to be said.

However, it is long after that when she feels Diana's hand squeezing hers a little harder. Akko steals a glance at her. Diana's gaze is fixated on the door across the room.

"Something is happening..."

Akko and the others all turn to look outside. They'd only seen the rioting crowds from afar up until this point. But now, there's a mob right outside the cafe, hollering and shouting as they pass by.

All seven girls stand, and Akko is the first to begin making her way to the door. Lotte hastily follows, and then Sucy and the others file behind her. Diana can only thank the shopkeep one last time before grabbing her broom and hurrying after them.

Outside, the sky is still blackened with night and with fog. The contained fires the mobs have been burning are filling the town with smoke.

But even through all of that, something unsettling is visible in the sky. Those little red cubes again, and this time they're gathering in massive numbers, swirling around each other in some kind of deliberate pattern. It is clear they are moving in a certain direction.

"What's happening?" Akko asks.

"Looks like they're heading toward the leyline," Amanda answers.

"This is strange..." Diana promptly turns to look at Akko. "Let us return to Luna Nova."

Her girlfriend gives a determined nod.

"Okay!"

Everyone readies their brooms right away. Akko naturally sticks close to Diana, but the white-haired witch gently coaxes her toward Lotte instead. She'd seen for herself how upset Lotte had been about Akko's absence. Letting Akko ride with her would be like a small gift. Akko understands and turns to Lotte instead.

"Wanna give me a ride?"

Her friend smiles. "Sure!"

Once they're ready, they all cast the spell together and take off for the leyline. Traveling at top speed while still staying together, they make it within a few minutes.

They must be about halfway back to Luna Nova when something begins to happen. The natural bright greenish color of the leyline begins to fade suddenly. When Akko looks behind herself, she can see an eerie darkness creeping up all around them, moving rapidly closer.

"Wh-What now?"

"The leyline-"

"It's disappearing?"

"This can't be..."

But in only seconds, the blankness swallows them whole. Their brooms spiral out of control, and they all lose their direction and tumble into nothingness.

Akko reaches for whichever of her friends is closest to her, grabbing Lotte with one hand and Diana with the other. All of them quickly grab onto one another so no one will be lost. The black hole brings them plummeting down with such speed they're forced to close their eyes-

-until a sudden impact makes them all yelp.

Akko loses her grip on her friends as she's plopped down onto hard earth.

"Ow ow ow!"

Rubbing her backside, she winces as she opens one eye at a time.

The place they find themselves in is barely any less dark than the leyline had become, but at the very least she can see that all of them are here with her.

"Is everyone all right?" Diana asks.

There are moans and groans from all around, but everyone agrees they are fine.

Only then does Akko recognize the spindly trees and shadowy forest all around them. She's been here twice before, in this place that ordinary witches are not able to enter.

"Isn't this... Arcturus Forest?!"

Diana tenses.

"This place is?" She's only ever read and heard about it, but to be here herself...

"Man, this place is givin me the creeps," Amanda mutters. "Let's get the hell outta here. Tia Freyre! …Huh?" It's little surprise that nothing happens when she tries to fly, considering what had just happened in the leyline.

Diana narrows her eyes and pulls out her wand to check the charge and finds it depleted.

"It appears our magic power has been drained."

"The leyline was messed up too," Lotte frets. "Something's definitely wrong."

"Look, there!" Akko's sudden shout draws everyone's attention.

In the distance, three long trails of smoke are stretching out across the sky, resembling claw marks. They're convening at a specific point up ahead in the forest.

"What is that?"

"I suspect it is related to these occurrences."

Akko's already on her feet with her eyes set straight ahead.

"Let's go!"

Keeping one hand on the staff at her side, Akko begins marching toward the source of all this, following the wispy clouds of smoke. The others pick up their brooms and follow behind her. Diana makes it a point to keep close to Akko's side.

They trek through the forest, though Diana warns them to keep their senses alert, as there very well could be other creatures lurking nearby. Amanda and her team take on the roll of keeping watch at the back of the group while Lotte and Sucy look to either side. Akko and Diana keep their eyes focused ahead, guiding the group onward.

It isn't long before more smoke begins to rise up from up ahead. The ground begins to shake, and loud, unnerving sounds begin to disrupt the air. When it becomes obvious something is happening, Akko and Diana need only to share a glance before they take off running, and the others follow suit.

The sounds of destruction and battle only grow louder and louder as the ground rattles beneath them. They run as quickly as they can in this uneven terrain.

Even from a distance, Akko can tell there is something massive up ahead, some horrifying creature. When they are finally near enough, she can hear voices screaming.

Skidding to a halt, she throws her arm out in front of Diana to prevent her from going any further. The others all freeze behind them.

Before them now is a clearing, but the black monster is massive enough to fill it almost completely. Professor Croix is lying crumpled and battered on the ground, screaming a familiar name.

"Chariot!"

With a gasp, Akko looks up to the monster where its massive red jaws art parting. Dangling helplessly from its coiled tail is her beloved idol and professor.

She doesn't have the time to be scared. Instantly, Akko pulls the staff from her hip and takes aim. But she's shaking and she can't get a clear shot without risking hitting her professor.

"Diana, please!"

No sooner had Akko called for her than Diana is right there beside her, placing her steadier hand beside Akko's, each of them keeping an equal hold on the staff. Their fingers brush, and together they take aim.

They don't even need to consult one another on which spell to cast. It's the one that had brought them together many months earlier.

"Murowa!"

As their voices ring out across the forest, a sharp bolt of green light shoots forth from the Rod, slicing directly through the dragon's tail. Chariot is freed and falls safely to the ground, just inches shy of its teeth.

"Professor!"

Akko calls out to both of them, but she's looking at Croix. She knows Croix has something that can stop this monster. She's paid enough attention in her classes.

Behind them, the monster beings to twitch suddenly. Akko isn't sure what it is, but she can tell Croix realizes something. She pulls out her tablet and types something into it.

But Akko and the others all see what she can't.

With a roar, the monster opens its jaws wide and lunges forward straight at Croix.

Frantically, Akko flashes a glance at Diana.

We don't have the time to cast another spell-

"Croix!"

Suddenly, Chariot jumps forward, ramming Croix out of the path of the massive jaws-

-and disappears inside of them.

Akko's heart seizes.

"Professor!"

But just like before, just like all the other times she's needed her, Chariot is there. Her voice rings out in Akko's mind.

"The Words!"

Akko hears her as clearly as if she'd shouted it in reality – perhaps she had. Either way, she wastes no time.

She can feel Diana's hand on her back, supporting her. And the others are all backing her as well.

Akko closes her eyes as the memories come flooding back to her. The first time she'd been in this forest, falling with nothing but the staff in her hands. She'd heard Chariot's voice then too.

"Cast the spell!"

Akko remembers the words perfectly. It's almost as though she can hear Chariot chanting them along with her once again.

"Noctu... Orfei!"

With both hands now, she readies the staff and concentrates.

"Aude!"

Concentrates-

"Fraetor!"

All at once, the magic floods through the staff, bursting out with excessive energy just waiting to be cast. She opens her eyes, feeling the Rod taking on a familiar form in her hands.

"Shiny-"

The magic pools at her fingertips as she pulls back on the bowstring.

"Arc!"

She releases her grip, and the arrow of light blazes forward, piercing straight through the beast's skull. It rears back, howling, then begins to break apart into its former cube-like state. Light and energy and wind swirl all around it.

Diana covers her face with one arm and pulls Akko back a step with the other. There's an explosion, and the beast goes up in a puff of green and black smoke. With the danger gone, only their professors are left before them now.

For a moment, everyone is simply in awe of what they've just born witness to. Amanda is the first to break the silence.

"Yeah! You did it, Akko!"

Diana, too, breathes a sigh of relief. But before she can begin praising her girlfriend as well, Akko takes a step forward. Her eyes are set ahead, unblinking.

On the person she's been waiting her whole life to meet.

On her most beloved idol.

On the person she's come to know all along.

Chariot.

Diana longs to go with her, but she knows it is not her place. So she steps back and lets Akko live her dream.

Akko drops to her knees in front of her professor, her idol, her inspiration. Diana can only hear bits and pieces of their conversation from afar, but she knows exactly what is being said between them. Though she stands at bay with the others, her heart is fluttering just as it did so many years ago, the first and only time she ever saw Chariot's show as a child.

Somewhere along the lines, seeing Akko live her dream had become Diana's.

And now they both get to live them.

Just as Diana had spilled her heart to Akko earlier, now Akko is spilling hers.

And it's beautiful. So beautiful.

Her dreams, her aspirations, how far she's come...

Diana doesn't miss it when Akko looks back to all of her friends, thanking them for getting her to where she is today. Her eyes linger on Diana's for an extra second before she turns back to her professor.

"It's thanks to them, and also... also... thanks to you, Professor."

Her voice wavers, thick with emotion. It elicits something inside all of them, something warm and soft.

Diana is aware of the tears in Lotte's eyes and even in Amanda's. Diana herself is doing her best to fight back her own, not wanting to break down in front of everyone.

But when Akko lifts her arms and wraps them softly around Chariot-

"I wouldn't want anybody else."

-and Chariot returns her embrace.

"Akko..."

"Thank you, Professor. I love you."

Not even Diana can remain composed any longer. She has to turn away, ducking her face into her sleeve. Amanda playfully nudges her side.

"Hey, hey, you cryin'?"

"Absolutely not."

"You totally are."

"Look at yourself."

"Geh-" Amanda quickly paws the tears off her face. Diana smiles and wipes away her own as her eyes ultimately return to Akko.

That's when a familiar green light catches her eye.

"That is..."

The Rod has started to glow again, in a way Diana knows very well. Her voice is what causes Chariot and Akko to part, holding the Rod between them.

"Akko," their professor whispers. She holds up the Rod, offering it to her. "Put your feelings into words. They will surely be the final Word."

And Akko accepts, closing her eyes, feeling the magic at her fingertips. Diana holds her breath with the others, watching as Akko gets to her feet and holds the staff close to her heart. Her voice is steady and her words are empowering.

"Change the world. Connect with other people and your dreams will grow."

The light emanating from the Rod brightens. Akko raises it above her head.

"Phasansheer Shearylla!"

The light expands, culminates, and converges all at once. Akko doesn't know what to expect. The Rod might transform again, into something much bigger than the bow-

"...Eh?"

But when she next blinks open her eyes, the object floating before her is nothing more than a thin little twig. Everyone seems equally as confused.

"What's that?" Amanda wonders.

"Isn't it just a stick?" Sucy grunts.

Akko looks it over again, tilting her head to either side to get a better look at it.

"This is the world reconstruction magic? Diana...?"

"Eh?" When Akko calls for her, Diana immediately tries to fish back into her memories of all the books she'd read up on, but to no avail. "Well, I'm afraid I am not sure..." She doesn't remember any mention about what the Grand Triskelion itself looks like. But if this stick has revealed itself now-

"Try it out and see what happens," Lotte suggests.

Akko blinks, then grins.

"Okay!"

With the Shiny Rod in one hand and the Grand Triskelion in the other, she focuses her energy once again. She can feel the magics flowing through each of them, and through herself. It's strongest when she crosses both objects together in front of her heart.

"Phasansheer Shearylla!"

And it's like she's fit a key into a lock. The Grand Triskelion weaves itself around the staff, molding itself into it to create an entirely new form.

A bright light gushes forth from Akko's hands, shooting up into the dark gray clouds. It cuts through the sky and makes it blue.

Light, color, and magic begin to flood the ancient Arcturus Forest.

The once-dead, crusty, ashen plants and trees are rejuvenated with life and color. It spreads in waves across the forest, breathing vivacity back into every leaf, every root, every blade of grass.

The thick fog across the sky clears, allowing sunlight to shine through. Thousands of flowers blossom in seconds along fresh green vines, sprouting up, opening petals of every color. Sparkling, shimmering.

Akko creates this new world with her own two hands.

Bearing witness to it all fills Diana with unbridled joy. She is absolutely mesmerized, as much as she had been by Chariot's show ten years earlier. Her heart is racing with sheer happiness. It's truly like living a dream.

Even coming from a family of witches. Even after years of learning at a magic Academy.

This... is the most magical thing she has ever seen.

And it's all thanks to Akko.

The same joy that overwhelms Diana fills the others as well. With bright smiles spread across their faces, they rush forward to Akko, laughing with arms outstretched. Diana goes with them.

Lotte reaches Akko first, hugging her tightly. Sucy is right behind her, and then it's Amanda bumping into them. Diana pauses when she realizes they're about to topple, but Constanze joins in, and Jasminka gives the final push to bowl them all over.

Diana blinks, but she's warm and happy enough just to see them all like this, smiling and laughing and hugging one another, happier than they've ever been before.

And no one is happier than Akko.

Though she's pinned beneath the five of them, Akko's giggling like a little kid, her bright smile spread all the way across her face, gleaming like the sun, equally as bright.

One by one, the girls push themselves off of Akko and stand, helping each other to their feet.

But it's Diana who steps forward to offer her hand to Akko. The brunette sits up, holding the staff in one hand and accepting Diana's with the other. Diana pulls Akko to her feet, wishing she could do much more, but there are so many other people around-

"Diana~!"

"E-Eh?!"

Without a care left in the world, Akko throws both arms around Diana, pulling her into a tight, exuberant hug for all to see.

"We did it, Diana! We unlocked the Grand Triskelion's seal! We revived the world reconstruction magic! We revived the final Word!" She squeezes her so tightly she actually lifts Diana slightly off the ground.

Frantically, and with her cheeks heavily pink, Diana holds onto Akko's shoulders, heart thumping as she realizes how close their faces are.

E-Everyone is looking-

"A-Akko..."

But she doesn't care anymore. She doesn't care if everyone sees.

So she locks her arms around Akko's shoulders without restraint, without shame.

"You are mistaken... we did not do all of those things, Akko. You did."

"Mm-mm!" Akko shakes her head, nestling into Diana's soft hair. "If it weren't for you, Diana, I'd still be out in the cold on that bench! You gave me the push I needed to get back on my feet. You gave me back the power to believe in myself. It's all thanks to you..." Her voice tapers off so that only Diana can hear her now. "Thank you so much, Diana... I couldn't have done it with you..."

Another surge of emotion rises up in Diana's chest, wrapping gently around her heart. She tucks her face into Akko's shoulder, trusting no one else will be able to notice the secret kiss she plants on her cheek. Akko giggles and does the same to her.

At last they part and step back to bask in the warm glow of this new world they'd helped create together.

It's finally over. Finally-

"Eh...?" Akko's puzzled voice has everyone turning their heads, but so too does another, much more unnerving noise. "What's that sound?"

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A/N: Sorry for, again, ending exactly where the show did, but next chapter will be the final big scene in detail!

I enjoyed writing even this scene from Akko's perspective. You know she was probably panicking when she saw Chariot fighting that monster, so Diana undoubtedly provided much-needed support for her.