Chapter 8:

*beep,*beep,*beep,*beep

Diana groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. She felt herself lying down and began to look around her. She looked to her side and saw a monitor displaying her heartbeat. She was back in the hospital, not one in Japan, but one in England. She could tell by looking at a poster on the door, it was written in the Latin alphabet instead of Kanji.

"H-how did I..?"

"Diana, you're awake!"

Diana looked to her side and saw Andrew Hanbridge, a welcoming sight to say the least, but there was something different about his face that Diana couldn't put her finger on.

"...A-Andrew?" asked Diana in a tired voice, "H-how did you?"

"Easy there, just relax," calmed Andrew. "Everything's going to be fine."

"W-what happened?" asked Diana, still waking up. "How did I get here?"

"You've been in a coma," replied Andrew, "we were worried you weren't going to wake up."

Diana frowned, "Yes, I know I've been in a coma for the past month Andrew, what I meant was how I got to England from Japan."

Andrew looked at Diana, "...You went to Japan?"

"Yes, I'm a bit perplexed as to how I got there myself but-"

"Diana, you've been here the past three days."

Diana stopped and looked towards Andrew in confusion.

"B-but how could I-" Then she saw a calendar that was hung on the wall. She did a double take and then hopped out of the bed to get a better look, surprising Andrew. Diana saw the date marked as December 24th, Christmas Eve. Did that mean? Could it be? Diana turned to Andrew.

"Is this calendar accurate?" she asked.

"I think so," he answered walking over. "Why? Does something look off to you?"

Diana then looked towards Andrew's face, and finally figured out what was different. The ugly black eye that had plagued his face was now missing.

"Andrew, what happened to your black eye?"

Andrew looked towards Diana with a puzzled expression. "...I've, never had a black eye," he said, "Are you feeling okay?"

A smile began forming on Diana's face. Is it possible? Am I really…?

"Actually," continued Andrew, "The only mark on anyone's face is that gash on your lip."

"My lip?" Diana felt around her lip and felt a wound. She let out a joyous laugh.

"Ha ha! I am! I- Where's my wand?"

Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled it out. "Uh, here; I've been holding on to it for you for safe keeping."

Diana caught it and looked towards the magic gauge, and saw a line of green fill it up completely, Diana's smile widened to as big as it had ever been in a long time.

"YES!" she exclaimed "YES! YES! I'M BACK! I'M BACK! I'M BACK!"

She turned to Andrew and wrapped her arms around him squeezing him tight.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" She shouted, before grabbing a coat off the nearby hanger, and running out the door; leaving a very surprised Andrew.

"Uh, and to you as well!" he shouted down the hallway. What is it with witches? He wondered So strange, yet so interesting.

…

Diana ran right out of the hospital, and into the snow-covered streets of Blytonbury. She nearly slipped on the ice she was so excited! She shouted "Merry Christmas!" to anyone she saw. The citizens, who looked a lot more cheerful, gladly waved back and wished the blonde good tidings as well.

Soon Diana was in the town square. She ran to the sealing stones and looked them over. Not a single blotch of paint was to be seen

"YAAAY!" She proclaimed, almost hugging one of the stones. She then looked past the stones and saw the magic shop, sign still intact, and the shopkeep, who was just at the moment locking up the store for the night. Diana ran towards and gave him a hug as well. The shopkeep looked over.

"Oh! You're outta the hospital!" He said with a relaxed smile, "That's great! Your friends were worried about ya, looks like they don't need to worry anymore."

"It's great to see you again too!" exclaimed Diana.

"Hey, you got a way back to school?" asked the shopkeep. Diana hadn't even thought about that. "I-I"

"No worries," he reassured, "Let me see if I have some spare brooms in the back, I'll let ya rent one out." With that, the shopkeep walked back in, leaving Diana, who was shaking with happiness.

"Yo, Princess!"

Diana looked and saw a head of fiery hair and a head of navy blue that stood much shorter. Diana ran to them immediately.

"Hey," greeted Amanda, "Me and Cons here were just in town lookin' at the Christmas lights, and look who we found! Good to see ya up and at em! Especially after you went to the doctor, heh," Amanda's face then looked guilty, as she looked down. "Look, I-I'm sorry for hittin' ya. I just, lost control and-"

"Are you expelled?"

"W-what?"

"Are. You. Expelled?" asked Diana again.

Amanda looked at Diana in confusion.

"Uh, no. I've gotten some detentions before but- hey!"

Diana was now squeezing Amanda as tight as she could, before whispering in Amanda's ear:

"All is forgiven."

Diana let go of Amanda and turned to Constanze, who looked at Diana with that same stoic expression she was well known for. Diana made happy noises and picked up Constanze in a hug.

"You're back too!" She shouted as they spun around, Constanze only grunted in annoyance and squirmed out of Diana's grasp. Amanda looked at the sight in confusion.

"You sure ya don't need to go back to the doctor's Diana?" asked Amanda.

"Here ya go!"

Diana looked and saw the shopkeep holding a broom, Diana ran towards him and gripped the broom. She then looked towards all three of them.

"Merry Christmas!" She shouted happily, she then looked up. "Tia Freyre!" The broom levitated and Diana flew into the winter air…

…

Diana had forgotten how great it felt to fly. She laughed happily as she zoomed through the night sky. The lights from Blytonbury providing plenty of guidance on her way to Luna Nova. The ride, unfortunately, had to come to a stop when incoming snow threatened to knock Diana off. Luckily, she was able to land in Glastonbury, a small town which was home to a nearby leyline terminal she could use to get back to Luna Nova quicker. She looked around her and proceeded to walk along the road to the leyline.

As Diana walked along the path, she noticed a head of orange hair and another that was colored mauve pink.

"Sucy! Lotte!"

The two heads looked over and gasped at the sight of Diana, who was running over towards them and caught them in a hug.

"You're alright! You're alright!" exclaimed Diana as she squeezed the two.

"Um, y-yep!" stated Lotte with an awkward smile. "We're alright." Diana released the two; relieved to see that neither one was sick in any way.

"It's good to see you're out of the hospital, Diana." said Lotte, "Akko was so worried about you."

"Where's Akko now?" asked Diana.

"She's still at Luna Nova," murmured Lucy. "She's waiting till she hears that you're okay."

Diana nodded, "Thank you Sucy." She was about to run towards the leyline before stopping and asking another question: "Is she, still upset over?"

"You dummy", smiled Sucy, "This is Akko we're talking, what do you think?"

Diana smiled brightly at Sucy's reassurance and shouted in joy.

"Yes, yes YES!" she proclaimed, she turned to her classmates, "Merry Christmas!" She shouted, and ran down the path, laughing joyfully all the way.

"And I thought Akko was too happy for her own good."

"Sucy!"

…

Diana continued running towards the leyline. The happiest thoughts filled her head. Magic is back! Everyone's okay! The world is at peace! And I just can't keep myself together! Diana was so happy, she didn't notice the empty car wedged in between a tree she passed by.

When she got to the cobblestone bridge, she saw what looked like a man in his thirties with an overcoat and blackish brown hair standing on the bridge. He looked like he was crying, his hands covered his face as he leaned on one of the barriers on the side of the edge. Diana could just barely make out his voice. "Please," he wept, "let me live again..."

Someone this miserable on Christmas? Not on Diana's watch! She ran over to the man, ready to hug him. The man looked up at the incoming blonde.

"Merry Christ-"

"Go on! Get outta here! Or I'll hit ya again!" He shouted suddenly.

Hit me? Wondered Diana, When did he-? Then Diana recognized the man.

"Wait, I know you!" she exclaimed in realization, "You're the owner of the old building and loan company in town, aren't you?" The man stopped suddenly and gaped.

"Building and- Ya know me?" he asked, hopefully.

"Well, sort of, but you looked so sad and I-" Diana looked at the man's face and saw a gash near his lip.

"Look!" She pointed out, "We have matching scars!"

"Matching scars?" the man felt around his lip at where the wound was. When he found it his eyes lit up, and he let out a joyous laugh.

"My mouth's bleedin'!" He shouted happily

"Yes! Yes!" agreed Diana.

"My mouth's blee- Zuzu's petals!" The man then reached into his pocket and pulled out two pink flower petals. He held them out in wonder.

"There they are!" He proclaimed.

"Yes! Yes! Zuzu's petals!" jeered Diana, (even though she had no idea who Zuzu was).

"Well whaddya know about that?!" he exclaimed, overcome with joy. He pulled Diana into a tight hug, which Diana returned tenfold.

"Merry Christmas!" he told Diana, before running back into town.

Merry Christmas!" shouted Diana back, and continued her run to the leyline terminal.

Soon she reached the old tower that was the leyline terminal. She looked up and saw a green portal begin to open up. Diana happily hopped back on her broom, recited the spell, and flew through.

From then on, it wasn't too far of a flight to Luna Nova. Diana walked to the main entrance. The only thing the ground was snow and the building along with its windows all intact fueled up Diana's happiness to the brim. Diana ran through the entrance and ran all the way to Akko's room. When she arrived, she knocked on the door and eagerly awaited an answer.

Diana heard the click of a doorknob turning, and watched the door open. And on the other side was the familiar sight of brunette hair and a melancholy face.

"Professor Chariot, I know Christmas is best spent with family; but I just want to wait until- Diana?"

Diana couldn't contain herself any longer, she immediately pulled Akko into a hug and spun around in joy. Akko, relieved at seeing her friend alive and well, returned it with a smile on her face, and tears of joy forming in her eyes.

"I was so worried about you!" choked Akko, "Professor Chariot found you unconscious outside the north building! W-we didn't know if you'd ever wake up!"

"Well, I'm here now!" comforted Diana, "and I'm glad to see you back too!" She let go and looked at Akko. Akko's tears had begun to fall with a smile on her face. She then looked down in embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry" muttered Akko.

"Akko, you can cry! It's completely natural!"

"Not that," corrected Akko, "I'm sorry for embarrassing you at the feast. I just wanted to show you something great, and include you in it. But I guess all I really did was make a joke out of you."

"Oh, Akko," sighed Diana, pulling Akko into another hug. "If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me." Akko looked surprised as Diana explained.

"I was so worried what other people thought about me and my own image, I didn't stop to consider your own feelings. I yelled at you for no other reason than me being selfish." Diana felt like she was about to cry herself. She looked back to Akko.

"Could you possibly forgive me? " asked Diana. "Please?"

Akko smiled brightly, "How could I not?"

The two shared one last hug, one Diana wished could last forever.

"Welcome back, Diana."

Diana turned and saw standing at the door Professor Chariot; red hair and all. Diana ran and grasped her close.

"It's good to see you again, Chariot." murmured Diana happily between the hug. Chariot smiled.

"That's great, Diana. I stepped outside from the party to make sure you were alright. I was a little shocked when I saw you enter the north campus building."

Diana and Akko listened carefully to Chariot's tale.

"When I went in to find you, I found you lying in the Fountain of Polaris, I pulled you out before you could fully drown. You were still unconscious when I found you, so I brought you to the Blytonbury hospital as fast as I could."

Diana absorbed every word, it all made sense. The Fountain of Polaris. Had that been what had granted her wish? It certainly made sense. But, how could? Oh, forget it. She was back home. Why question anything now?

"Hey, Diana" perked up Akko, "Did you have any weird dreams while you were in your coma?"

Diana stopped, a little shocked at being reminded of the horrifying things she had experienced.

"I, guess you could say so," responded Diana, "but it felt more like a nightmare than a dream. A nightmare I'd rather not talk about."

Diana sighed and looked out the nearby window, watching the snow fall, peacefully. Akko and Chariot walked up beside Diana; to make sure she was okay. Diana smiled softly.

"It's good to be back, and to have both of you back." Diana turned around and wrapped her arms around the two witches, who gladly squeezed Diana in return.

"Merry Christmas, Diana." murmured Akko.

Diana smiled warmly. Akko may have been an odd person, but she didn't care. They were friends, and good friends always stick together, no matter what…

A/N: Thanks to all of you who stuck by with this story, I greatly appreciate it. And always remember, don't take your loved ones for granted. They are the ones who truly care for you, and who you care for back.