EVerlasting (ch15)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGHER-PLEDGING PATRONS!!

This was one of my favorite parts to write, honestly, particularly the search scene. Of course the cafe scene is basically another re-write of the show's dialogue, but I added in a few thoughts, words, scenes, and actions just for Diana and Akko's relationship. I hope you'll like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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												  Chapter 15. A Small Spark

The night is absolutely frigid. Diana's shawl does next to nothing to protect her from the piercing winds that batter her from high above the snow-covered treetops as she continues her search.

She'd started from the Leyline as promised, and has continued searching all around town since then. Occasionally, she's heard the other members of their search party calling out for Akko, or glimpsed one of them searching. But they've yet to find her.

It's been hours. Diana is chilled to the bone just from being out here that long, but she knows Akko's been out here even longer.

Presently, Diana arcs her broom over the alleyways of Appleton and heads for a small park she's yet to scope. The snowflakes are falling harder now. They're crystalizing on her eyelashes and seeping into her hair, making her shiver.

She's already used up half the magic in her wand casting warming spells on herself repeatedly, but she refuses to use anymore than that in the event she actually does find her girlfriend out here.

/I will find her. I will not stop until I do.../

Diana continues her flight, wiping her eyes clear of frost so as not to hinder her vision. She calls for her, over and over, her voice ringing out across the cold, quiet night. Her breath is thick and white, and her voice is beginning to take on a dry rasp.

The winds continue whipping past her in varying directions, chilling her twice as quickly than if she'd been walking. She can't stop shivering, but it isn't just from the cold.

She's so scared. She's terrified for Akko.

/I have to find her... It is not an option./

Diana is forced to slow her speed when her vision suddenly blurs. Tears rise up behind her eyes, and a wave of dizziness slams into her. She shakes her head, drawing in a sharp, painful breath of cold air to wake herself up.

She has to keep looking. She has to...

"Akko!"

Diana calls for her for the umpteenth time. Maybe Akko would hide from her friends or her teammates, but Diana is praying she won't hide from her. Not after all they've been through.

The echo of her voice carries out once again, and once again she receives no reply.

The only benefit to the snow is that it reflects the moonlight so strongly that it makes it relatively easy to see by on such a clear night, but it also serves to darken the more shadowed areas.

Diana purses her lips, breathing through her nose so as not to allow her lungs to freeze over. She bites into her bottom lip to keep her teeth from shaking. But she'd lost feeling in her legs a while ago, and her fingers are stiff around the broom handle. She knows she'll have to take a break and warm herself soon.

/If I do not take care of myself, I will only cause more trouble.../

She can't look for Akko if she herself on the verge of passing out. She knows this.

But she can't stop. She just can't.

The snowflakes continue their descent, covering more and more of the world below in unforgiving cold.

Diana scours the park below, but finds nothing and no one. The wind pushes her back, but she persists.

Soon, a dilapidated structure is in sight, some kind of ruins. Diana isn't sure what it is about this place, but it draws her in.

Slowly, she makes her way around the perimeter, hovering lower, away from the blasting winds. She wipes her eyes again, calls out again.

"Akko! Ak-hhk-"

A bout of violent coughing silences Diana as she's forced to land her broom. She stumbles when her shoes hit the ground. The impact jars her legs back into feeling, breaking the barricade of numbness with pain.

Using her broom for support, Diana clutches her hands to her chest one at a time, but it does her frozen fingers little good.

Panting, she draws in more of the freezing air, turning the area around herself as white as the snow itself. She can't fly anymore, not like this. She knows she has to rest, if only for a moment.

Distraught, Diana begins making her way back toward the town, her shoes crunching softly in the snow. It's all so much quieter down here, away from the wind. It allows her thoughts to grow louder.

/What if she's hurt? What if I am too late...? What if the time it takes me to rest is as long as it takes for her to leave Appleton...?/

Every inch of her is numb, be it from the cold or from pain. She truly feels as though she's going to be sick. Her stomach heaves and gnarls with every step, every breath, every frantic glance that finds Akko isn't here with her. Her heart hurts. Everything hurts.

Diana limps through the snow, bound for the lights of the nearest kiosks and shops, but her eyes never stop scanning the area around her.

"Akko... Ah..."

It-

It must be a dream. A mirage. She must be so exhausted she's seeing things now.

Diana halts in her tracks, both eyes going wide as they focus on a figure hunched over on a nearby bench. She's wearing the same uniform as Diana, her long brown hair dusted over with snow, her eyes downcast. Hidden in plain sight.

"Ah..."

Diana wipes her eyes, but the figure before her doesn't vanish. Gasping so hard that it hurts, Diana screams her name.

"Akko!"

She runs as quickly as her legs can carry her, given the state she's in. Akko doesn't look up, but at least she doesn't try to run.

As soon as Diana nears the bench she drops her broom without a care, throws both arms across Akko's shoulders, and collapses to her knees in the snow. Desperately, she looks up into her eyes while her own being to overflow.

"Akko? Akko! Are you- hn-"

Diana's voice cuts off once again as her chest is assaulted by terrible coughs. She turns her face into her sleeve, but only clings more tightly to Akko's shoulders. The second she's able to speak again, Diana cups her cold hands onto Akko's cheeks and coaxes her to look up.

"Akko! Are you... are you all right?"

She knows the answer. But she just wants to hear Akko's voice. She just wants her to say something.

Her eyes are so dull, so lifeless. The sight of Diana throwing herself before her like this barely elicits any reaction from her at all. Her ears and nose are red from the cold. And past her own shivering, Diana can feel Akko trembling as well.

When her girlfriend doesn't respond, Diana heaves herself up onto the bench beside her and draws her wand. She drapes her arm and half of her shawl around Akko's back and casts a heating spell.

"Aflena."

Diana wraps both arms around her now, sharing whatever warmth she may have left in her own body. She can feel Akko shuddering against her chest.

And Akko can feel Diana shaking, too.

Diana.

/Diana.../

Only now does she realize Diana's actually come out to find her.

/She must've been so cold... so tired.../

As Diana pulls her into an embrace, Akko feels the warmth of the spell spreading throughout her body. She hasn't been keeping track of time. She doesn't know how long she's been out here. But she's been so cold all this time. Cold and alone and scared.

But now...

Now Diana is here, and it's warm.

So warm.

She can feel Diana coughing and sobbing into her shoulder, her body jolting with surges of pain. She must have been searching for hours...

Everyone must have been, she realizes. Amanda, Jasminka, Constanze... Lotte... Sucy...

"Diana..."

Slowly, Akko lifts her arms and settles them around Diana's back and sides. She feels and hears her gasp, watches the puff of white rise up from her girlfriend's lips as she pulls back to meet her eyes.

"Ah-Akko?"

But Akko can't smile. She can't even look into her eyes. She simply sighs and hides her face in Diana's shawl.

And Diana pulls her in close, wrapping Akko in her embrace as the cold melts away. She breathes a sigh of pure relief. She'd only ever been this scared in her life once before, back when Akko had been infected by the poison of her Aunt's snakes.

Back then, Diana had been able to help her. She just prays she can do it again for her now.

For a long moment, Diana holds her close, relishing her touch, her warmth. The panic in her heart begins to falter into a less hurtful state, and the knots in her stomach start to unravel.

But Diana knows she isn't finished yet. Finding Akko was only half of the battle, and now that she's safe, there are other things to be done. Firstly, Diana must bring her to shelter.

Once they are both warmed enough to move, Diana eases herself back a little, her voice soft.

"Akko. You must get inside. It is far too cold out here. Please come with me."

Diana slips her hands along Akko's arms until their fingers are clasped together. Akko looks down at their hands and says nothing.

But Diana takes a lack of denial as compliance.

She stands, pulling Akko up with her. And ever so softly, Diana presses a gentle kiss to Akko's cheek.

The contact seems to finally snap Akko back into reality. All at once, tears brim up and begin to overflow.

"D...Diana..."

Akko's hands reach up, trembling in the cold. Diana holds onto her girlfriend's waist as she feels Akko's fingers brush against her cheeks. The sight of Akko's tears brings Diana's back as well. She's just glad that awful dullness has disappeared from Akko's expression.

"Akko..."

Diana pulls her close and kisses her, just for a second. It's brief, but it says everything her voice can't.

Akko quivers against her and Diana covers her again, allowing Akko to hide in her arms.

Diana waits until she's quieted down. She picks up her broom and steps over the handle, having Akko hold onto her waist as she takes off. She can feel Akko pressing closely up against her back, still shivering, still crying.

Diana flies lower to the ground where the winds aren't as bad, making quick work of getting to the main streets of town. She helps Akko dismount outside the nearest cafe and magic shop, then urgently takes her hand and leads her inside where it is warm.

The man behind the counter is a familiar face to Diana. He recognizes both Akko and herself and urges them to come inside and take a seat. He even goes so far as to bring them each a mug of hot chocolate.

As Diana settles herself across from Akko, she offers him pay, but he refuses.

"It's on the house," he says. "Stay as long as ya need to."

Diana bows her head low.

"Thank you so much."

Once he leaves, Diana draws her wand and opens the chamber of its handle. She's been sheltering one of Lotte's sprites here, keeping it out of the cold.

Now, Diana requests that it return to its owner and inform her of their current whereabouts.

The little sprite squeaks, gives a bounce, and then fades away through the window.

Diana takes a sip of her drink, allowing the warm liquid to soothe her parched throat and quell her stomach. It warms her slowly but gradually.

Akko doesn't touch hers. There are still tear trails on her cheeks from earlier, and that emotionless glaze has come back into her eyes.

Now that Diana has her strength of both mind and body back, she knows she has to be delicate with what she says. But she isn't worried anymore. She truly believes she can help Akko now, just as Akko had helped her back during the eclipse.

After warming her hands up on her mug and taking another sip, Diana keeps her eyes trained on her girlfriend. Her shoulders are slouched again, and her eyes seem to be looking through the table rather than at it. Diana puts her mug down and starts off gently.

"Have you warmed up somewhat? You must have been freezing. I was shocked to see you sitting out there in the cold. More than that, I was so worried, Akko."

Despite the shopkeep's presence across the room, Diana feels this is a safe environment to let the act drop. She isn't about to hold any of her feelings back from Akko. Not now.

The brunette doesn't say or do anything by means of response, but Diana knows she can hear her. She also knows they will both be best off if she just gets to the heart of the matter.

"I asked Professor Ursula about what happened with you and Chariot."

It's so strange. Diana's just mentioned Akko's most beloved idol.

And Akko doesn't react. She doesn't smile, she doesn't flinch, she doesn't even blink.

Just... nothing.

She's truly lost her faith, her enthusiasm.

Diana winces as a pang goes through her chest. She hates seeing Akko like this. It isn't right.

However, Diana is far from finished. Keeping her eyes on her girlfriend's downcast face, she goes on.

"Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to show you."

Now she reaches into her shawl's inner pocket and touches the smooth plastic of her treasure.

Though she and Akko have been close for so long, these matters have never come up between them. Diana had confessed many things about herself to Akko. But never this.

She'd always been scared to think Akko might judge or ridicule her like almost everyone else in Diana's life. It was an innate fear of hers.

But now, Diana knows it won't become a reality.

Akko needs this. Now more than ever. She needs to know this final secret about Diana.

The white-haired witch extracts her premium card and lays it on the table, then removes her hand to reveal it. Unlike before, this elicits a reaction from Akko. Her eyes widen, if only a little, and her voice falls from her lips.

"The Chariot premium card..."

Diana nods.

"I believe you were collecting them as well."

Akko's gaze remains fixated on the card, but her voice remains lifeless.

"Why do you have this?"

Diana had always feared this moment would come, and she'd dreaded that it would be painful. To reveal the truth to Akko, after keeping it from her for so long, despite how close they've become. She'd always been afraid to do it.

But now...

Now it comes so easily.

Diana confesses her final secret with a smile on her face.

"Because I used to look up to Shiny Chariot as a child, too."

Akko lifts her head, just a little, and her eyes travel from the card to Diana's eyes.

"Huh? You looked up to her?"

Diana dips her head.

"I was infatuated. At that point, those from the world of magic were already looking down on her. I couldn't collect these cards but in secret. Pressure from those around me made me give up on seeing a show myself. Countless nights, I could only dream of seeing Chariot's performance."

The smile on her face remains, though it starts to become wistful as the memories come back to her, one by one.

"But one day, my mother arranged for me to see one overseas, where nobody would notice."

She lifts her gaze, and to her relief, Akko is still engaged in the conversation, though perhaps not as excitedly as she would've been if Diana had told her all of this before today's events.

But instead of bursting into a smile and clapping and eagerly leaning over the table with a sparkle in her eyes to discuss her idol, Akko reacts now with mild interest.

"Huh? You went that far to see her?"

"Yes. To your country." Akko straightens her back up another inch now. She can feel her heart beginning to pound a little harder.

"Then you were at that show, too?"

She waits, keeping her eyes trained on Diana's reminiscent smile. The lighting of the cafe itself is somewhat nostalgic. When Akko looks into her girlfriend's eyes now, she can tell Diana is reliving her past.

"It was fantastic. I can remember that night as clearly as if it were yesterday."

Akko's never heard her sound like this before. There's such a softness to her tone, a fond, wistful aspect that makes her nose sting with a familiar sensation. To think she's known so much about Diana all this time. But never this...

But in spite of Diana's smile and her reflective mood, what flashes through Akko's mind next is a very upsetting image. She's back at the Cavendish estate, outside with Andrew before Akko had gone to find Diana. His voice recounts one thing in particular.

/"There was a time when Diana became completely unable to use magic."/

Akko swallows hard, curling her fingers more tightly into her skirt.

"Then... does that mean that's when you became unable to use magic...?"

Diana blinks.

"You knew about that?"

"Yeah, Andrew told me. He also said you never gave up and worked hard until you got your magic back."

"I see." At the very least, that is one less thing she needs to explain to Akko now. Diana takes another sip from her drink, during which time Akko's shoulders slump again. But Diana is far from finished. "What happened to us was an unfortunate accident. But I will not give you my sympathy. I am the greatest example that it is possible to regain that lost power."

Perhaps she was a bit too harsh with her wording just now, especially with her own girlfriend and especially when she's so upset. Akko's reaction is still lacking emotion, and it takes Diana by surprise.

"Of course you are, Diana."

That phrase.

Diana has heard it many times before, from many different people. From her teammates, from her professors, from her family members.

Always from people who expected something of her, be it greatness, success, or perfection.

But never Akko.

It sends another pang through Diana's chest, to hear her say what everyone else always says, even though Diana has never once asked them to.

And yet, for Akko to be repeating that phrase to her now, Diana knows she is still so distraught, despite all she has revealed to her.

Akko stares blankly down at her untouched hot cocoa.

"Even though your ability was snatched away too, you worked hard and became an amazing witch. But here I am, still unable to even fly..." Her voice cracks and trembles, and a bitter, pained smile is plastered over her lips.

She just seems so... defeated. So hopeless.

But Diana isn't giving up on her.

"Do you know why it is I never gave up?"

At the very least, Akko is still engaged in the conversation.

"Because you had to become the Cavendish family head?"

"That is one part of it, of course. But as a young girl, that reason alone could not have compelled me to keep going." She pauses, draws in a breath, and prepares herself for her final confession.

She's told Akko so much already, shown her so much, shared so much with her. Her secrets, her feelings, her first kiss...

And now, finally...

"Akko. I am the same as you."

"...Huh?"

"I, too, was charmed by Shiny Chariot's magic."

This revelation draws the biggest reaction from Akko since they'd arrived at the cafe. Her eyes grow wide, her back straightens, and she gasps softly. As Diana recounts her first ever Chariot show, Akko's memories take her back there as well.

"It was the first time I saw Chariot's magic. My heart was racing with pure happiness. I felt the preciousness of magic deep inside me..." Her voice becomes distant, but doesn't lose that heartfelt affection. "Chariot filled me with emotion. That in itself was my greatest support back then."

But then, her smile fades once again, and the joy in her voice dwindles. "Unfortunately, the more I learned of magic and the more aware I became of the expectations placed on me, the further my heart grew away from Chariot... 'I cannot continue with these childish dreams.' Telling myself I had to become an adult, I closed the lid."

She raises her gaze once more. Her lips tug upward, just a little. "Even so, the true reason I entered Luna Nova was because it was the school Chariot went to." At last, the smile returns fully to her lips. "When we first met, I could not stand you at all."

"Huh?"

"I know it seems strange to consider it now that we are like this," Diana continues. "But you know as well as I do that I did not approve of you for a while. Of course, various circumstances eventually led to the two of us... getting ever closer, until we..."

She blushes faintly, remembering their first kiss together in the library, and then all the ones after it...

Behind the school buildings, in the hallways, in their rooms during secret sleepovers, after the party, in between classes, in their secret meeting places, at the Cavendish estate... and then just a short while ago, out in the snow.

Diana sighs, feeling a familiar warmth in her chest, one not resulting from the hot cocoa.

"At the beginning, you went around telling everyone you loved Chariot, and your grades and magic could not have been worse. You always acted without thinking and caused trouble for everyone..."

Diana sees she's made Akko lower her eyes again. Beneath the table, she gently nudges Akko's shoe with her own, coaxing her to look up into her eyes. Diana reaches out across the table, her palm upturned, waiting. Slowly, Akko pulls one of her own hands up from her lap and rests it on hers. Diana squeezes gently and continues.

"However, at the same time, you were able to do things that I could not. Your magic had a mysterious charm to it. It captivated me, particularly during the Samhain Festival. Even after we had initiated our relationship..."

Akko's eyes waver slightly. The emotions are coming back, one by one. Diana confesses one more thing.

"I was envious of you, Akko."

"...You were?"

"Thinking back, the reason I tried to leave Luna Nova might have been to run away from you. Not because I no longer wanted to be in a relationship with you. I have never once regretted what we have, Akko." She is firm in saying this, wanting Akko to know for certain she means it.

"Part of the reason I left might have been because I longed to avoid facing the reality of you being far closer to Chariot than I was. Despite how close we had become throughout our time together, I had never mustered up the courage to tell you of my love for Chariot. I was worried you might resent me somehow. Of course, now I realize how foolish that was of me..." She sighs. "But even so, I must apologize for keeping it all from you, Akko. Even when we had promised to be honest with one another in regards to our feelings."

Akko can feel Diana's hand shaking lightly beneath hers. She doesn't want Diana to be upset about this. She doesn't want her to apologize.

/She didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who should be apologizing... for being so selfish, for making her worry, for making her come out looking for me in the snow.../

"Diana..." She curls her fingers more tightly around her girlfriend's fingers. Warmth radiates between their palms. "You... don't have to apologize. If anything, it should be me... I should've talked to you. I should've explained things... to you, of all people..."

But Diana shakes her head.

"There is no need. We both kept certain things to ourselves, presumably for the other's benefit. There is no use in regretting the secrets we kept from one another. It may have taken us this long, but now we can finally be honest with one another."

With this said, Diana gives Akko's hand a grateful squeeze, then carefully slips her hand away. Her fingers brush over the premium card she'd left on the table. Now she slides it across toward Akko, without hesitation.

"I will give this to you, Akko. Accept it with the meaning of the card."

Akko's eyes widen, back to their comfortable, usual size.

She'd dreamt of finding this card for so many years as a child, back when she'd still whole-heartedly believed in Chariot. To think Diana had collected these cards as well, and had the only one Akko was missing.

All at once, Akko realizes what this means.

Diana's mother had arranged for her to travel overseas to see Chariot's show. Considering all she knows about Diana's family, Akko can infer that her mother was the only person who ever supported Diana's aspirations.

And she had passed away.

This card...

To Diana, it's a symbol of the love and support her mother had given her as a child. In a way, it's all Diana has left of her mother.

This card... is her most precious treasure.

For her to be giving it to Akko now, without hesitation, without regret...

This is how deeply Diana trusts her.

This is how deeply Diana cares for her.

This is how deeply Diana believes in her.

Akko can feel the tears welling up behind her eyes. Her hand trembles as she reaches out to touch Diana's card, gently tracing her fingertips over the written meaning. It's one she knows by heart. One she's always known.

"A believing heart is your magic."

She feels the warmth renewed as Diana rests her hand on top of hers this time. Her voice is soft and kind, as is her smile.

"I believe as well," Diana says. "I believe in your believing heart, Akko. Your magic is stronger than anyone else's." She says this with pure conviction, from the bottom of her own heart.

Akko can hear the genuine emotion in Diana's voice, and she can see it in her eyes. Akko doesn't think she's ever looked more beautiful.

"D...Diana..." She can feel her tears slipping out, but makes sure not to let them drip onto the card. Akko wipes her sleeve across her face. "Diana-"

Just then, the shop's door swings open, clattering back against the wall as the bell sounds. Startled, Akko turns to see who's just entered. It's someone she knows.

"Lotte?"

Her teammate is hunched over panting. Clearly she'd run all the way here, faster than she'd ever ran before. She hasn't even finished catching her breath before she dashes into the cafe.

Akko's only just barely stood out of her seat when Lotte throws her arms around her, crashing into her with such force she spins Akko around. Lotte collapses to her knees in her relief, her voice raised in a yelp of relief.

"I found you, Akko!"

"W-Wait, Lotte?"

"You won't go anywhere, right?"

"Huh?"

"You won't quit school, right?!"

"Lotte..."

Akko blinks. But the numb feeling that had been consuming her all night has been melting away bit by bit ever since Diana had found her.

And now, it vanishes completely. Her lips curve up into a smile, which only looks and feels right.

"Of course! I'll never quit, not until I become a splendid witch!" She can both hear and see Lotte's relief. In the way her eyes shimmer and her lips form a wobbly smile.

"Really?"

"Really!" Akko says. "I'm sorry I made you worry egk-!"

A sudden pain in her back has Akko turning around. Sucy is smiling back at her, pushing the Shiny Rod into her spine. She then flips it over and offers it to her with a smile.

Akko turns slowly, looking over Sucy first, then the staff. Reaching out, she accepts it. It fits so perfectly into her palms. It only feels natural for her to hold it. The tears well up again and she begins to sniffle.

"Thank you..."

Then another voice joins in.

"You here, Akko?!"

"Amanda! Constanze and Jasminka too..."

They've all come to get her. All of them...

"Akko says she isn't going anywhere!" Lotte declares proudly. Amanda smirks.

"See? That's exactly what I told you."

Akko turns as the shopkeep comes around the counter, holding out several mugs of fresh hot cocoa.

"Come in, you kids must be freezing," he grins. "Drink up! It's on the house."

"Thanks!"

"Thank you!"

As they all chorus their gratitude, the girls begin making their way over to the tables to take their seats.

Amanda's team sits at a separate table nearby. Lotte and Sucy sit side by side where Akko had previously been sitting. Akko makes sure to quickly and discreetly pick up Diana's card and hide it in her pocket. She then uses this opportunity to sit directly beside her girlfriend.

With a smile and a sniffle, Akko snuggles up to her a little when the others are looking away to accept their drinks. Akko knows she still needs to thank Diana. There's still so much she wants to say. But for now, she simply steals a tearful glance at her.

Diana reflects her smile and reaches out to place her hand over Akko's in her lap beneath the table, a gesture that goes unnoticed by anyone else. Akko squeezes her hand back and sets the Shiny Rod on her other side so she can press closer to Diana.

"Hey, Akko!" Amanda calls. "Don't tell me you were crying."

"Hah? I wasn't crying! The cold just made my eyes-"

"You're full of it," Sucy grunts. "I can still see the tears."

"Th-That's not it!" Akko whips around from Amanda to Sucy to defend herself and sniffles again. But then it's Diana who gently adds in a teasing comment.

"No, you were certainly crying."

"Geh! D-Dianaaaa!"

The others all burst into laughter, save for Sucy who simply closes her eye to take a drink. Diana ensures everyone else's eyes are closed as well before she leans in to place a swift, soft kiss onto Akko's pouting cheek. Akko smiles and nuzzles her nose quickly.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "I'll thank you properly later, but-"

Diana hushes her with a small kiss to her lips.

"You are very welcome, Akko."

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A/N: Decided to cut it off in the same spot as the episode (only with added gayer scenes haha) I hope you enjoyed my take on it!

I really wanted to emphasize the value of Diana's card and what it must've meant to her. And for her to give it away to Akko... I feel the show didn't really show what a HUGE deal that must've been for her. That card was SO precious to her. She'd never give it to anyone other than Akko.

I wanted the title to be a "spark" both in reference to the physical warmth Diana gives Akko, and the "spark" of belief she kindles in her.