Grimm

The Dragon Valkyrie

What if after Noelle saved her siblings during the Elven Invasion, she didn't make it, never heard Nozel's apology, never got to learn to love her family again.

But what if she got a second chance instead, and what if she chose to be anything but a Silva.

Corvus

'You will never be rid of me daughter.'

That was the last thing she heard as she passed through the stinging branches of trees and her eyes began to shut. That was the last thing she heard before she slammed straight into the ground.

Masterlist

Sosshi Village. She remembers this place, remembers exactly what is about to happen as she, Magna, Yuno and Asta make their way to the Village.

Warnings: Slight panic attack

Sosshi Village. She remembers this place, remembers exactly what is about to happen as she, Magna, Yuno and Asta make their way to the Village. It irks her a little to know that this is the mission that kicked off the whole Eye of the Midnight Sun business for the kingdom, and for timeline’s sake she has zero clue if this means she needs to do another stupid dungeon mission but she keeps her mouth shut.

Magna chatters on talking about Seihi and how he helped him become the man he is today and Ella feels her chest sink, she knows by now they’ll be too late… or maybe not. Considering how different the circumstances in the dungeon was…

“Come on let’s get to the village now so we can go back to the base.” She ushers them along.

“Why so rushed Ella?” Magna asks.

“I smell like dead boar and want to go back to Alder I miss him.”

“Oh yeah why couldn’t Alder come today?” Asta questions.

“He was off hunting food when we left.” She shrugs, “You know how dragons are.”

“Well we know how Oak and Alder are.” Yuno adds.

“True. Now come on lets go see this famous village of yours Magna.”

From the hilltop they watch as mages enter the village, that’s them alright, Eye of the Midnight Sun members. She can hear Magna and Asta growling beside her as the leader of the group sends an ice shard flying forward and a scream follows just as mist begins to rise.

“Asta you cut through the mist, Magna you guide us, Yuno you see if your wind magic can move the mist as well.” Ella says, sliding down the hillside.

“What about you?” Magna yells behind her. “And don’t go telling me what to do I am your superior!”

“Yes Finral!” She yells back.

“Oi!”

“I’ll cause a distraction.” She unsheathes Gloaming and rushes into the mist.

“Reckless.” She hears Magna mutter.

She knows and Yami will definitely not be happy with her and this very stupid plan.

Wind caresses her back, a push, gentle. She looks behind her to see Asta cutting at the mist and Yuno, hand out, letting his wind magic push at the spell. She nods, not that they can really see her now and continues on.

Her hands press against stone, a window and… a pipe. Barely a second and she sheathes Gloaming before starting to climb, boots pressing into the brick wall while her hands grasp the metal for her to go up. The slanted roof and magic mist makes for a good hiding spot as she hears familiar voices walk passed. Distantly familiar since she only heard them once, Heath Graice.

“Search for the stone if we do not find it then we will kill them all.” She tried her best to see through the mist, to find their exact location and even if she could sense their ki it was difficult. Stupid mist magic, all mist mages suck Ella decides. Slinking forward across the roof she squints as the mist thins for a moment and takes a leap of faith, landing as soundlessly as possible on the next roof.

“What was that?” One asked and she could hear him turn as though trying to see through the magic.

So she stuck instead, jumping from the roof on top of the dark shadow below legs wrapping around his neck as she swung down bringing her weight and his with her. He let out a strangled yelp of surprise, enough that someone definitely heard but it didn’t matter not when she tightened her hold on him until he stopped moving. Not dead just unconscious.

The mist was thinning now, and she could hear both Asta and Magna yelling, the found the town square and Graice it seems. Good for them, it’s the two mages that just found her and the unconscious one that concerns her.

Unsheathing Gloaming again she bolts forward and wastes no time enveloping the blade with her magic and sending a strike forward, stopping both in their tracks as she slices through their cloaks. She strikes again, not giving either a chance to even use an innate spell let along one from their grimoires. Gloaming sings as she swings it through the air blade slashing across their chests and knocking them down in record time.

“Go me.” She huffs happily before turning on her foot and rushing for the town square, the mist all gone now.

There was ice shards hanging in the air, dangling over the crowed of injured civilians they hadn’t been fast enough to protect. Asta and Magna were rushing forward fighting Graice while Yuno sent a rush of wind to one of the lackies knocking him off his feet- the other, the mist wielder, already unconscious. Yuno sent blades of wind at the ice above the crowed but they just reformed.

“Another pathetic Bull to join the party.” Graice says icily, like he was offended at the mere sight of her. “You are too late, I estimate a total of thirty seconds before their lives are no longer.”

She runs, still no closer than a moment ago, Yuno’s wind magic slashing at the ice only for them to reform again and again. Ella sucks in a breath and hopes to whichever God favours her that she gets Sea Dragon’s Nest in time.

The ice is falling, falling, getting so, so close to the villagers and Yuno’s wind is doing nothing, Magna and Asta are too busy with Graice and she, she.

Ella feels her muscles tighten as a cramp forms in her left thigh, she’s still running with no plan to stop, she has to save them, has to help them otherwise getting to the village early was a waste and she can’t-won’t let anyone die.

“NO!” She screams out, watching the ice daggers fall, she stumbles and trips as she hurries into the crowed just as her grimoire finally begins to glow. She shuts her eyes and screams. “Sea Dragon’s Nest!”

Silence.

It went so, so quiet.

For a brief terrifying moment she thought everything was over, thought that being brought back in time had been all for naught. What a waste of her life, having changed so little and done absolutely nothing. Showing absolutely nothing for having to endure reliving her life.

Then she heard the relieved sob of a mother, heard children sniffle and muffle their cries into their parents clothing.

“Ella.” Yuno said quietly beside her, his hand on her shoulder. So she opens her eyes, safe, they were safe inside Sea Dragon’s Nest, she had still been able to conjure the defensive spell. She let out a shaky breath and steeled herself.

“Asta and Magna?” She asks Yuno.

“Just dealing with the ice guy now.” He looks like he wants to say more but doesn’t.

“Do they need our help?” Gloaming hangs loose at  her side, fingers twitching and ready to tighten their hold again.

“Actually I think they’re fine but… do you think I can leave this?” He points to the shield towards the boys. “As backup.”

“Yeah you should be able to. I’ll keep Sea Dragon’s Nest up you go capture that bastard.” Yuno smiles at her and exits the barrier.

A little girl tugs on her tunic and so Ella crouches down.

“Hey sweetie, everything will be okay we are the Black Bulls Magic Knight Squad.” Her eyes shimmer with excitement though obviously still being scared.

“Thank you Miss.” Ella ruffles her hair and uses her free hand to wipe away a stray tear.

“You’ve been so brave, now head back to your guardian okay I’ll keep you safe in here while Magna, Asta and Yuno finish the fight.” The girl nods and rushes back to who Ella assumes is her mother.

It feels like an eternity when Asta delivers the final blow to knock Graice out allowing her to drop Sea Dragon’s Nest. Her breath caught in her throat and it was hard to breathe. They did it, they did it but she was almost too late, what would have happened if the spell didn’t form, what would have happened-what would have happened?

Yuno wrapped his arms around her, letting her face tuck into his shoulder as her own shook.

“You did it they’re safe, we are safe.” He said quietly, and for a brief moment it felt like she was back in Mórilanta, somewhere safe and warm.

His hand smoothed over her back in rhythmic circles helping her get her breathing back. Was she going to be a wreck after every mission? Or just ones she’s reliving?

“That was so cool Ella!” Asta announced, as loud as ever. Magna was restraining the prisoners.

“That was too close for comfort.” She says, tilting her head to look at Asta.

“You’re telling me! But look at you another spell in the bag!”

“Can you please stop your yelling?” She and Yuno ask.

Suddenly Ella realises that she’s still being held by Yuno so she clears her throat and takes a giant step back. As kind as that was, as warm, it was still a little embarrassing to have nearly had a panic attack on him.

“Sorry.” She murmurs.

“It’s okay.” He says back, turning away though she spies a pink tinge on his ears.

Not long later does Seihi appear and Ella nearly has a little heart attack when his hand plants on her shoulder out of nowhere. The gash across his stomach looks bad but the woman attached to his side, with glowing hands appears to be healing it.

Magna rushes over, arms outstretched as if to hug him before stopping short and coughing like he wasn’t relieved to see his mentor alive.

Seihi, still bleeding and being healed clearly doesn’t like that Magna stopped and pulls the man into a tight embrace.

“Thank you for coming. Thank you for keeping our village safe.”

“Of course old man.” Magna starts. “We wouldn’t be very good Magic Knights if we couldn’t do that.”

After that they walk off to talk, leaving the rest of them to check for injuries and let the villagers give their thanks (seriously Ella thinks her hands are about to be crushed with how tight they are holding them).

“Ow!” Ella and Yuno turn to look at Asta.

“Are you alright?” Yuno asks just as Asta lets out another yelp.

Nero.

Ella totally forgot about Nero… whoops. Nero has been with them the whole time how is it both times in Sosshi is when she notices the anti-bird.

With a magic stone in its beak.

Nero hits the stone into Asta’s head again making her giggle before reaching forward and holding her hand out for it.

“Can I have a look?”

Nero seems to look her over before dropping the stone in her hand and then nesting on Asta’s head. At least that wont change.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella sits on the rooftop of the Black Bulls base, watching the stars shimmer in the sky as she strokes Nevermore’s silky black feathers.

“You always show up whenever I need a familiar face huh.” She jokes, the Corvus caws softly at her while nudging the letter in her hand. “Okay, okay I’ll open it then we can go downstairs and get you some scrap meat hm.”

Nevermore caws happily.

Hello Yule Tide.

I have great news, uncle is letting me venture out to see you! I was hoping you would ask Captain Yami if that was acceptable so I didn’t surprise anyone. I’d really love to meet your squad and newest family. We miss you so much here in Mórilanta. I’ll bring pictures of everyone too, Estella is so big now!

Kindest Regards,

Nyx.

She smiles, continuing to pat the large bird familiar.

“I miss everyone too. Come on Nevermore lets get you some treats hm.” He squawks in reply.

Downstairs is quiet, most of the squad off doing their own thing or in bed early. She hears tapping on the kitchen window indicating that Nevermore is waiting in his spot outside as Ella makes her way passed.

“Your bird friend is here again.” She jumps, Yami’s large frame taking up the archway of the kitchen. She hadn’t sensed him at all, damn.

“Nevermore just dropped off a letter, was coming to give him some meat scraps.” Yami nods and takes a drag of his cigarette. “Oh, Nyx was wondering if he could come visit the base, he would like to come see me but he also wants to meet all of you guys.”

“Nyx? That the boy your send letters back and forth with?” His eyes squint like he’s suspicious of something.

“Yes he’s the friend I told you about, his uncle taught me sword fighting.”

It was a long quiet minute besides the occasional tap of a beak to glass.

“Sure, kid can come visit.” Yami takes another drag of his cigarette. “He hurts you he’ll deal with us.”

“Yami he isn’t like that.”

“Just making sure you know that.”

“What are you my dad?” She deadpans then watches Yami cough and face away from her.

A second later and he pats her on the head before exiting the kitchen. Weird. Ella shakes her head and goes into the kitchen only to spot both Nevermore and Alder practically with their faces squished into the window. While laughing she grabs the meat scraps, opens the window and divides up the food for them both. Alder makes a soft grumbling noise while Nevermore coos, giving them both a good scratch between the eyes she lets them eat and head back to wherever they sleep before she shuts the window and heads to bed herself.

We’ve headed into Sosshi village I wonder what will happen next?

Masterlist

Ella Dreki was strong, she was reliable and bold… Noella Silva, however, was afraid.

Warnings: None

“Ella you need to come out.” Vanessa called through the teens bedroom door.

“No.” The girl replied angrily.

The mirror across the room stared at her tauntingly, reminding her of what had almost happened.

A flash of silver-white out the corner of her eye has her sinking to the floor, her back against the door as if she could hold the locked door shut further.

It wasn’t Magna or Luck’s fault.

They didn’t know that her pouch of sweets weren’t really sweets.

They didn’t know that she needed to have them by a certain time.

They didn’t know that she was hiding something from them all.

The second she had seen the confusion etch onto their faces she had bolted, knowing exactly what they could see as a strand of silver-white hair slipped into view.

“Ella please.” Charmy called instead. “No one is mad or upset or anything you could be thinking la.”

“Please just go away.” She doesn’t know if they heard her with her face pressed against her pulled up knees, arms wrapped tightly around her legs. “I want to be alone.”

“But Ella-” Vanessa sounds worried. Fair, she supposes but that doesn’t mean Ella wants to see anyone right now.

What if they can tell?

What if her hair was such a give away that one of them contacted the Silva’s? Rationally she knows that would never happen, that Yami would sooner skin his squad alive than make her go back to a place she had confided him about.

A stray thought wanders passed, has Yami figured it out? Does he know one of his misfits is the Clover Kingdom’s forgotten and missing Princess. She wasn’t stupid, she’d seen Nozel and Nebra around the last few years, they looked haggard and exhausted and had even heard Fuegoleon mention to Yami once that Nozel refused to believe Noelle Silva was dead…

No.

She didn’t care. It wasn’t time for her to return, maybe she would never return but they deserved it didn’t they? For letting Solid hurt her, for Nebra pushing her away, for Nozel ignoring her… they deserved it.

She heard the soft clacking of sweets being placed by the door, the pouch that usually held them muffled the noise and then the fading padding of feet as the women walked away. Ella bit her lip, she didn’t want them to be mad at her, didn’t want them to be upset but she couldn’t help that small amount of fear she had let fester over the years since leaving the Silva home.

Ella Dreki was strong, she was reliable and bold… Noella Silva, however, was afraid.

~~*~~

Yami let out a deep sigh as he watched his squad sulk about. With a drag of his cigarette he eyed each one of them, even Luck the ever cheery berserker was slumped in his chair.

He could feel a headache coming on as Lyra and Morgen whispered quietly to one another- when he had asked them why his squad looked like shit neither had had an answer.

“What did you lot do?” Lyra finally asked just as Asta and Yuno entered the base, a completely different set of emotions falling from them and just as the excitable Asta went to reply Yuno stopped him, drawing his attention to the sombre mood.

“We made Ella upset.” Magna admits. “Just messin, ya know like normal and snagged her pouch with the mints in it.”

Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose.

“We started runnin’ ‘round, it was all good fun at first, didn’t notice when she started lookin’ panicked.” He continued. “Next thing we know her brown hair lost all its colour.”

“She ran away from us.” Luck, a surprise to all of them honestly, looked the most beat up about it. “We weren’t even fighting… but she ran away.”

“It’s not your fault Luck.” Vanessa said soothingly. “You didn’t know and we never did explain that they aren’t actual sweets or mints. Look I don’t even know why she uses them and I made them. Just give her some time to calm down, she was probably just a bit worked up.”

Lyra gives her partner a look and Morgen nods, turning towards the stairs.

“Where is Morgen going?” Asta asks.

“To check on Ella.” Lyra replies.

“Yuno lets make her something!” Asta announces, dragging his brother back out of the base and towards a sleeping Alder.

Well, who had been sleeping as a big watery blue eye slid open to watch the two mages stroll forward.

“Wonder what those two are planning’?” Yami sighed again and takes another drag of his cigarette. “Better not blow anythin’ up.”

~~*~~

“Ella, it’s Morgen can I come in?”

“Why?”

“I just wanted to check on you. It’s been a while since we just chatted.”

A soft click and the door creaks open slightly, the only indication that she’s allowing him in. As the dark haired mage steps in he eyes the gold-brown hair on her head, not a strand of white in sight. He remembers those early days of her time at the Black Bulls base, when her hair was long and bright, he remembers even then she would try to hide it. Remembers the day she came downstairs with Lyra, hair cut to her shoulders and had asked Yami if she could go buy dye a mere few hours after Nacht had told him (Morgen) that she had asked about his hair. Whatever the reason for covering it was she had every right to be upset if she hadn’t been ready to tell anyone.

Ella stares at Gloaming, at the description etched into the blade.

Tul Dreki Valkyr.

The Dragon Valkyrie name taunted her just like the mirror had earlier. How could she be strong when she’d immediately panicked, when she had let her mind tumble into the worst scenarios?

A hand rest gently on her shoulder, the soft smile of Morgen Faust made those racing thoughts halt.

“Want to talk about today?”

“Not really.”

“Alright.” He sat on the bed beside her.

Silence filled the room, neither one speaking up as she continued to stare down at Gloaming.

“Why brown?” Morgen asked after a moment.

“Pardon?”

“I’ve always wondered why you chose brown hair? Black would have been nice too.” He teases, the small cheeky smile on his face giving that away.

“Why not brown? It looks nice.” She says defensively. Morgen just laughs.

“But then you could match me, or Lyra.” He bumps his elbow into he side. “Look like a sibling- I mean you practically are by now, my strange little sister hm.”

“I’m not strange.”

“Yes you are.”

“No I’m not.” She pouts, though her lips twitch as she holds back a smile. “So is Yami our dad or-”

Morgen lets out a bark of a laugh. “Best not let him hear that.”

“We’ll see.” She giggles, feeling much better than earlier.

“Would you like to come back downstairs now? Luck and Magna are beating themselves up over upsetting you.”

“They’re… not mad at me?”

“Why would they be?” Morgen looks genuinely puzzled by the notion.

“I mean… I have been lying to you all… keeping secrets and all that. Don’t families get mad when you keep things from them?”

“Are you hiding your hair to hurt us?”

“What? No I would never-”

“Then whatever the reason is Ella-” Morgen strokes her hair gently, like a caring older brother. “-it is your reason alone and when you are ready to tell us then we will understand.”

“Promise?” Her voice sounded so small, so tired.

“I promise. Shall we go downstairs? Have some dinner and carry on like normal?”

“I’d like that.”

~~*~~

Dinner was awkward.

Of course it was awkward Ella had run away from her squad mates like they had burnt her earlier and they… well actually looked like puppies as they stared at her sadly.

“We’re so sorry Ella!” Luck had exclaimed once the food was eaten, his lithe arms wrapped around her shoulders and his cheek squished against her temple.

It was so unlike Luck that she almost pushed him away.

“It’s okay… I’m sorry for running off.” She says, though slightly muffled by Luck’s shoulder.

“No don’t apologise we’re the ones who upset you.” Magna slouched in his chair. “We were just playin’ didn’t know that we shouldn’t have gone for the pouch.”

“Thank you for apologising. I um… I don’t like my hair colour so I panicked.” She saw Yami give her a look, reminding her of their rooftop chat only a fortnight ago, he understood a little bit better than the others.

“We won’t do it again.” Luck said. “Please don’t run away from us again.”

Oh.

Some flash of a memory hit from her past life, where Luck mentioned people leaving him… that’s why he was so clingy.

Her heart clenched with guilt.

“Hey Ella!” Asta interrupted, swiping away the guilty thoughts that were forming.

“Yes Asta?” She asks.

“Yuno and I made you something to make you feel better.” He grinned making her pezzottaite eyes dart between the two boys as Yuno stood, hands behind his back.

They’d hidden something all throughout dinner? How?

Suddenly Yuno was beside her and placing something on her head, it was soft, and she could smell something light and… floral.

“It’s a flower crown.” Yuno said softly. “Sister Lily taught us how to make them back at the village and we both saw these pretty pink flowers on the way back from our mission so- with Alder’s help I hope you don’t mind- we went back and picked them.”

Luck pulled off of her at last so she could lift the flower crown off her head and look at it, the pink camellia’s- from memory these flowers meant longing but… well its not like they’d know that, know that she longs to tell them all the truth but can’t just yet.

Ella doesn’t even know how the Hel she would begin explaining time travel to them, not even remotely.

“Do you want to go train?” Asta says abruptly just as she’s about to thank them. She blinks.

“When I’m upset I like to train!” She lets out a giggle, one that even surprised herself as Asta’s hands begin to wave around while he explains himself.

“Sure.” She says, standing and placing the flower crown on the table so it doesn’t break. “Why not?”

“That’s the spirit!” Finral claps. “Back to our brawling ways already, you certainly know how to keep the mood from being sombre.”

“Yeah lets go Ella!” Asta drags her from the kitchen by her wrist, all kinds of excitable energy rushing from him as he does.

“Okay, okay I’m coming.” She laughs again, “You’re like an annoying little brother ya know?”

“I’m not annoying!” Asta pouts as they exist the base.

“Hm ya sure about that?”

“Hey! I am not! Captain Ella called me annoying!”

“What do you want me to do about that?” Yami asks, leaning against the doorframe as the two teens get into position. “Beat her in a spar for once and maybe she’ll be nicer.”

There was a ghost of a smile on Yami’s face as he watched them, swords drawn and ecstatic expressions on their faces.

Why on Midgard did she let the ghosts of her past (future?) make her so paranoid? Why did she even remotely doubt her team?

Masterlist

An inside into a new point of view and at last a revelation.

Warnings: None

Yuno was not a particularly brave person and for as long as he could remember he never had been.

Asta was the brave one, he was his brother, his protector and his best friend but Yuno was the one with magic. It didn’t matter to others that he wasn’t brave enough, it mattered that he had powerful magic and Asta didn’t and he hated it.

Hate… such a strong word but it was true. Yuno hated how people treated his brother, how even Father Orsi and their other siblings acted like Asta was fragile for his lack of Mana when in fact Yuno thought his brother was the strongest person in the world.

Then came the Magic Knight Entrance Exam that Yuno had been determined to only join should Asta get in too- that was the deal, if no one picked Asta he would walk out of the arena and wouldn’t look back, it’s why he’d made Asta go first after all. There they’d bumped into some towering man with a terrifying aura with two other men behind him, one bubbly and the other quiet… and then he spotted a girl, surely no older than themselves with a sweet smile and coppery hair who’s only comment had been to “Aim for the Black Bulls, we’re a lot more fun than the rest.”

So they did. Even with Asta’s urging to show off he still followed his brother when that towering man from earlier raised his hand for both of them and they do not regret it one bit.

Though the Black Bulls had a reputation, even the small village of Hage knew about the mess of misfits this squad was but Yuno had never felt more alive than he did with these people. They were a family through and through and that was all it took for Yuno and Asta to know that this was the right choice and he would write so in his letter back home, Asta’s often tucked in the same envelope.

Captain Yami was blunt, he didn’t care much for what his squad did which left them all with free reign to do as they pleased… Yuno suspected however that he was a lot gentler than he’d ever willingly let on.

Nacht Faust is the vice-captain and his older twin brother Morgen tends to take on his duties whenever the shadow mage is on long missions (does that make him vice-vice-captain?). Lyra, a fire mage who has a DRAGON seems to be dating the light mage while keeping an eye on everything that goes on in the base (Magna lit a kitchen chair on fire once and she appeared out of nowhere to scold him).

Speaking of Magna, he and Luck fought (trained) often enough that even Asta had been concerned, and that’s coming from the boy whose work ethic rivals the most dedicated mages. They seemed nice enough… just a little overwhelming from an introverts perspective. Even Finral opted to save the brothers and portal them away like some protective older sibling muttering things about hurting the newbies or scaring them away.

Grey, Gordon and Gauche Yuno has no opinion on, honestly he doesn’t know a single thing about any of them (and he’s actively ignoring the weird obsession the former conman has with his sister) but Grey he at least thinks is shier than him while Gordon at least makes an effort- he’s just too quiet and Yuno genuinely has no clue what he’s saying.

Vanessa and Charmy were like two peas in a witchy pod, always leant over a large cauldron that Lyra had explained did not exist in the base until a few months ago. They seemed to bounce ideas off one another and were planning some great creation… maybe, when one wasn’t drunk and the other shoving food into his personal space (he won’t complain too much because the food was incredible).

There was also Ella Dreki, he’d been right in thinking they were close in age- in fact she was a few months younger than them. She was brown haired (he could have sworn it was copper at the exam) with a sword on her hip similar to the captain and always seemed to pester him with questions pertaining to swordsmanship that Asta had similarly taken on board in doing before she would get dragged away by the other women of their squad or her own dragon, Alder.

He thinks she is sad because every time Asta flung his arms around Yuno’s shoulder’s something in her eyes made his heart clench. She was sad and Yuno didn’t know how to help that. They weren’t friends at least not yet and even after their devastating first mission he admits he hasn’t tried to reconcile that… but now maybe he should.

He’d passed Ella a few times on the roof, both finding solace in the stars above and the crisp breeze that flowed through and never once would they disrupt the silence like it was some great secret neither was willing to break. Tonight he had assumed it would be the same as he eased himself out of the window leading to the tiled roof, he couldn’t get to sleep and so as he always did he went up (back in Hage Asta would sneak up with him but now Yuno couldn’t even wake his brother who would drop dead tired with all the extensive training he’d put himself through).

There she was, in the same spot as always watching the stars glimmer overhead… but she wasn’t alone- Captain Yami was sat beside her, listening to whatever she was saying, her voice far too quiet and the teen too far away… Yami placed a hand on her head and pulled the girl towards his side as she spoke again, this time just loud enough for him to make out the words that struck.

“I’m scared they’ll find me and hurt me even when I dye my hair and change my na-.” 

He wasn’t supposed to hear that.

He repeated that sentence over and over, the wavering of her voice striking something deep. She was scared of someone-someone’s and for someone he already thought was as strong as his brother.

He wasn’t supposed to hear that.

He was not supposed to hear that.

So quietly he made his way back inside using the ever changing halls as a way to purge the sentence from his mind until he found his room again… it hadn’t worked.

Someone had hurt her, someone had hurt this girl he wanted so badly to befriend, who he thought to be so like his brother. She dyed her hair she changed her… name- she had been about to say name. Suddenly it felt like he was compiling a list, like an investigative mage in one of those old books he used to borrow in Hage’s library… he wanted to help her yes that was all, Ella was in his squad and squad mates look out for their own.

He'd help her. He’d at least try.

~~*~~

Mimosa and Leopold flicked through the pages of the album. Images of varying ages and types printed on its pages. For once Mimosa felt grateful for those magic crystals that captured moments because with each page turn she felt her heart soar.

Every picture of the three of them made her want to weep and leap with joy, something sparking deep in her chest when she looked over the final image… from when they were seven, not quite eight yet.

Noelle and Leopold were either side of Mimosa, their arms looped over her shoulders while hers were around her waist- all three soaked to the bone. They’d fallen into the pond outside of one of the Vermillion manors while playing dragons and each had beaming smiles when Fuegoleon had brought out the crystal, equally happy for them.

Mimosa’s smile dropped as she looked closer at the image, at the pendant around Noelle’s neck, Cordelia had given Noelle that necklace on her seventh birthday and never took it off.

A memory flashed forward, so quick she barely recalled the slim pale hand tightening around a dragon pendant while the echoing pop of a relocating shoulder followed.

“Mimosa?” Leopold bumped his shoulder against hers.

“That necklace…” Tears welled in her eyes.

“Yeah? Cordelia gave it to Elle right?” The fire mage frowned.

“Yeah.” She whispered. “Nevermind it’s nothing… just being sentimental.”

Leopold gave her a smile that said he understood, so she smiled back.

Masterlist

There are clues all around and yet no one seems to find them. Mimosa recounts a bit of history while something echoes in her mind and Ella divulges in a bit of her past to Yami.

Warnings: Nasty family dynamics, mentions abuse and neglect

You will know their bloodlines by their hair and their eyes.

The Kira’s with deepest of blacks and ocean blue tides,

The Vermillion’s hair the same shade as their name;

Their eyes like green daylily’s on a warm summers day,

Then the palest named Silva with hair like the moon.

With eyes like a blue moon deep in its bloom.

The queen of all Clover with her ocean green eyes,

Her three sons most of all her greatest of prides.

Born Kira, Vermillion and Silva in stride

She is one with her bloodline and will never hide.

It had been written for the first and only queen of the Clover Kingdom, Queen Evangeline Silvamillion- also known as the Forever Queen for her youthfulness. Along with this she was the younger half-sister of the first Wizard King Lemiel and Princess Tetia- with her sons who had eventually made up the three divided royal families.

All three families are extended from the Queen who had ruled with an iron fist and a kind heart… an inspiring woman that many even now when they study her reign and how she had honoured Lemiel and Tetia until her untimely death alongside her youngest sons Princes Leon Vermillion and Arden Silva. This left her eldest and heir now King Nathanial Kira and their children to carry their lineage.

~~*~~*~~*~~

A few hours prior

~~*~~*~~*~~

“That’s a long rest period for a burnt arm?” A familiar voice echoed through the hall, boisterous and lively. Meroleona... Meroleona?

Meroleona was home, staring down the youngest Vermillion with that bright smile that usually scared people half to death.

“The healers thought it best I rest as much as possible.” Mimosa replied without breaking her stare, defiance hidden in her daylily green eyes. Her oldest cousin grinned wider, she could practically sniff out Mimosa’s ire towards their grandparents.

“The scar could be removed with more efficient healers.” The matron huffed. “A ghastly scar like that should be taken care of.”

“You never stated such things when Fuegoleon came back with scars from missions.” The words were out before she could stop them, even Leopold snapped his head towards her.

“Do not take that tone with your grandmother.” The Vermillion grandsire snipped. “You go on one mission and think you are almighty- girl you aren’t since you got hurt.”

“Look at Cordelia, she has lost so much and yet has never once talked back.” Mimosa’s mother huffed. Her father said nothing- the timid man that he was, married into the family, only ever aimed to please the elders and could care less for the children he sired… at least in public- but then again that wasn’t good enough.

Meroleona’s face turned dark, like she’d never heard their grandparents speak that way before- Fuegoleon and Leopold’s expressions were no better- in fact the younger male looked a little sick. Cordelia’s eyes were wide as she looked between the Magic Knight members of the family.

“I would like to refrain from being brought into this argument.” The soon to be mother gave a tight smile. “Mimosa was injured Lord, she did not run away.”

“But she is no longer beautiful.” Kirsch complained. “Not that she was much before.”

Mimosa felt tears prick at her eyes, for all her brother’s faults… this was not something she thought she would ever hear. A flurry of conversation barrelled through, Fuegoleon standing, trying to get the elders to calm down, to stop glaring holes into Mimosa… but it was of no use, the damage had been done.

“Vermillion’s do not burn.” The matron snarled out.

“Well I did.” Mimosa, her voice was barely a whisper, a weak and defeated sound but it got the message across to the family that mattered- a line had been crossed.

She tuned out the sounds of chatter, tuned out Meroleona’s outraged growl, barely felt how Leopold helped her stand, his hand gripping hers tight. Cordelia was up, waddling towards the door while Fuegoleon followed suit.

The room filled with heat, flame dancing like a crown around Meroleona’s hair as she stared down their family, looked at them like she had never seen them before… and Mimosa remembers nothing after that.

She barely noticed Cordelia take her from Leopold and take her to her room, help her out of the suffocating dress and hold her tight.

Her, why was it her? Why did she have all the expectations? Why was everyone else perfect?

She missed Noelle. Wished her cousin was with her, playing dress up and tea parties… she missed her hugs the most.

And then she had fallen asleep.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Present Time

~~*~~*~~*~~

Mimosa sat up straight, her bed suddenly the least comfortable thing here, sleep addled mind now clear as lyrics of a familiar tune ran through her mind… as the thought of Queens and Valkyries echoed. She wracked at her brain, remember… remember why was that important… Valkyries were an important thing. Queen Evangeline wasn’t one (though her youthfulness certainly didn’t stop that from ever being a theory) but she and Noelle never brought them up… right.

Mimosa had always loved learning about the Forever Queen, loved knowing that she was the descendant of such a strong and wonderful woman. When she was little it was all she and Noelle ever talked about, wanting to be like Queen Evangeline, wanting to be strong and brave… like a Valkyrie… she wished she was as brave as a Valkyrie and not so… weak.

Ella was a water mage like Noelle. Mimosa blinked- unsure on where that thought came from. She blinked again, head whipping as she glanced around the gloam lit room, her eyes landing on a book tucked high on her bookshelf… an album… she needed to see, needed to remember something… something that was right in front of her.

Mimosa reached for the album  at the top of her shelf. She was too short and she had no energy to use even a drop of her magic. Her head thumped against the bookshelf, a slight sting of pain whispered through as she did. She didn’t know what it was but she needed to see, needed to look at this album, this pale blue coloured book that she hasn’t touched in years.

A whimper left her mouth as she tried to reach again, the bookshelf wasn’t worth attempting to climb, not with how tired she felt but she couldn’t sleep, she needed this album, needed to see what was drawing her close.

The bedroom door creaked open just as her arm dropped once more and she turned, tired green eyes meeting turquoise.

“Hey Mo.” Leopold smiled. In his arms a pillow was held tight to his chest- like when they were little.

“Hi Leo.” He blinked, she hadn’t called him that since they were little.

“Do you need some help?” He sounded so gentle, so kind… her heart leapt into her throat. “What are you looking for?”

“Trying to reach that album.” She pointed to the pale blue cover. Leo just nodded and stepped further into her room, the door shutting with a soft click. “What are you doing?”

“Thought you would want some company- I heard you shuffling around when I walked past a few minutes ago.” He grinned. “We can have a sleepover like we did when we were kids.”

With Noelle was the part he couldn’t dare say- they may have been a strong family, ones who took pride in their own… but they still missed their cousin.

“I’d like that… could you help me get the album down?”

“Of course Mo.”

~~*~~*~~*~~

Somewhere else

~~*~~*~~*~~

After all that time she had spent in Mórilanta the night had become her favourite time of day. The glittering stars while not as bright as they seemed in the Elven city brought her more peace than anything else did. Looking down at her arm she willed a shield of water to appear before making it vanish again, it was something she had mastered by the Morren family’s side and a skill she had yet to use on a mission. Once the water shield was gone she stared down at her hand where the silver ring- that fit perfectly now and rested on her middle finger instead of her thumb- seemed just that bit brighter under the night sky.

She sighed, one day she would tell them everything… even if it hurt.

“Ella.” The water mage looked over her shoulder, it had been Captain Yami who spoke.

“Hello Captain.”

With careful steps- or as carful as Sukehiro Yami is capable of at least- he makes his way across the roof until he is by her.

“How’s your arm?” He scans her, even under the dim moonlight she can see the worry hidden in his eyes. “How are you? You’ve been quiet the last couple-a days.”

“Sore. Owen says he can have it healed fully by the end of next week so long as I don’t irritate it.” Ella gives the captain a weak smile. “Otherwise I’m fine Yami just annoyed I can’t train.”

That was true, she desperately wanted to go sword to sword with Asta as she watched him train and train non-stop the past week- she wanted to test her water against Yuno’s wind and Magna’s flame… but no her shoulder had been dislocated during the dungeon mission and she was strictly on rest.

“What else?” He asked, now sitting beside her. “I know you better than you think kid.”

“Do you?” She turned away, eyes searching the star speckled sky once more. She can feel his stare tunnelling through her skull before she concedes. “I wonder about my family sometimes.”

“They the ones who send you letters?”

“Gods no Hel would melt before that ever happened.” She rolls her eyes. “The letters are from my friends and previous teacher.”

“Don’t be smart with me brat.” He ruffles her hair, that golden brown she’s come to love. “Tell me ‘bout them.”

Ella blinks up at the man and she can’t tell if he means her family or her friends, surprise must be all over her face going by the offended look on his. He opens his mouth to make a retort before she says the one thing she had wanted to tell him for years.

“I ran away just before my eighth birthday.” Yami shuts his mouth- he’s listening. “I was being abused… took a long while to admit it though. It was just neglect at first- because my birth was the reason our mother died- and then it became verbal abuse from my siblings and at one point it turned physical…”

Ella kept her gaze across the darkened tree tops, pezzottaite eyes empty as she recounted her young life with as little detail as possible.

“That didn’t last long because you can’t hide the fact that you almost drowned your baby sister.” From her peripheral she saw Yami’s fist tighten. “So I ran away. I made my way through the Common Realm all the way into the Forsaken Realm before I found the Hissing Woods, which was where I spent nearly two years training, learning and understanding that I was and am still hurt by the people I share blood with… because family is meant to be good it is meant to be kind and safe and I wasn’t.”

Ella shook her head, unwilling to let tears fall.

“I’m scared they’ll find me and hurt me even when I dye my hair and change my na-.” Yami’s hand rested on her head, awkwardly pulling her into his side- some weird side hug that neither would ever admit to having occurred. Ella let out a dismissive sounding laugh before moving on. “Nyx is my best friend, the Corvus that delivers the letters is his familiar. His older sister Ashera is a lot like Lyra- less crass but close enough- their uncle, Lydon trained me during my stay in their village and helped me gain just that bit more control… it’s also where Alder came to life. Ashera’s husband and wife Thranduil and Elwyn have a child they named Estella and after our recent correspondence it appears another is along the way so more Aunty Elle for me… I have never been happier.”

“Why did you leave?” Home or the Village she had no clue.

Ella bites her lip hard, she can taste the tang of iron as she takes in the question.

Masterlist

An insight to Mimosa's home life and her racing thoughts as she is given too much time to rest and heal from her Dungeon mission's injury.

Warnings: None

Mimosa knew something had gone wrong the second that man put his hands on her.

Knew that when her plant magic sizzled and burnt against his skin that something wasn’t right and that the searing pain in her arm would leave her scarred no matter how good her healing magic was. No matter how hard she kicked and scratched at him she wasn’t strong enough against him.

Mimosa was grateful to the small team that was here for this mission, knew they were fighting as hard as she was amidst the pain and then she heard Ella yell. Mimosa had turned her head fast enough to see the swirling of magic, the glow of her grimoire as she raced towards her. Her arm wrenched back too hard and then it was like she was gone, her eyes glazing over just as this massive dragon came straight for Mimosa and the man burning her arm.

And then he was gone and she wasted no time beginning to heal her arm as she looked at Ella.

She had seen the way Ella looked at her, like she knew her and was so unbelievably afraid for her. Saw the way she stopped being there, she had blacked out- that was what Captain Yami had muttered that little while later when he and Captain Jack had showed up. Mimosa hadn’t even noticed them not as her unburnt hand grasped Ella’s one, not the one with the unnaturally sloped shoulder, not where the sword had clattered to the ground or where Alder was softly nuzzling his nose against her.

And then her attention was back to Ella, to the way she was paling faster and faster as Yami pulled her back to the ground… paling, she was so pale… Mimosa glanced upwards, Ella’s hair was fading too. Silvery-white peaked above fading-brown hair like the colour was being leached from her and those soft pink eyes looked so very dull. Then Captain Yami whispered something, she’s not sure what could be so important that he needed to whisper it but the next thing Mimosa knows Ella has let go of her hand to eat what looked like one of those peppermint starlight mints she ate when she was nauseas. Though… it seemed to bring back some colour to her instead, that honey-brown replacing those silvery roots.

The look on her face told Mimosa one thing- she didn’t want anyone to see that so instead she asked.

“Ella? Are you okay?” Green eyes scanned the brunette’s face who was still so pale but she could see the worried look in Captain Yami’s eyes.

“I’m fine- are you?” She sounded so worried for her that it surprised Mimosa. “Can I touch you?”

Mimosa caught the way the Captains heads snapped her way.

“Keke… what did that creep do? I’ll slice him.”

“No-nothing!” Mimosa exclaimed, face heating like a flame.

“Tell that to the burnt arm.” Nikolas said. “Klaus is using his magic to restrain all the rogues… bandits? Whatever they are- and Captain Jack took out the diamond guy.”

Mimosa frowns and barely remembers telling them that the man had been… handsy or at least trying to before he had burnt her. How terrible is it that her heart actually swelled at the look the Captain’s sent that unconscious bastards way… her own brother had never done anything like that.

Mimosa stared at the ground, unburnt hand clasped in Ella’s uninjured hand- her burnt arm however was glowing a soft green as she nods towards the unconscious buffoon.

Yami sighed and stood, surveying the room he looked between the kids and Jack who was staring at the slimy man- seems like the Green Mantis Captain would be ‘taking care of him’ Mimosa shivered.

“We need to get you out of here- Julius can send people to scavenge through this shit, you all need a healer and neither Jack or I brought supplies. Let’s get out and go to Finral who should be at the entrance and get you all to Owen.”

The next thing Mimosa knew she was stood in front of the Wizard king and the Captains, a bandage around her arm, though mostly healed would definitely scar- Owen had confirmed her earlier diagnosis. She could feel the worried stares of her older cousin, could practically hear his racing thoughts as Ella began her barrage of anger towards the Wizard King- Hel she and Yuno had effectively told her own Captain off amidst it.

She hadn’t been paying all that much attention at the time, too tired and sore to want to so she barely noticed when Fuegoleon made strides across the room until he was kneeling before her.

“Mimosa is this true? Your arm?” She had just nodded.

“I was grabbed by… by one of the men in the dungeon. He- he tried to…” Ella had pulled her in for a tight hug, talking softly, there was so much care and worry in Ella’s voice, in her eyes… why, why did she look like she’d seen a ghost when she looked at Mimosa.

“Shh Mimosa it’s okay.” It was here when Fuegoleon finally knelt before her.

“What happened Mimosa?” He asked gently.

“His hands were on me.” Her lip shook. “But I fought him off- kicked him and used my plant magic after the surprise wore off and then… he had fire magic- grabbed my arm again and… it burnt really bad- I healed most of it.”

“Then Ella sent this giant water dragon at the bastard!” Asta announced, with a grin aimed at her that made her face heat up to what she was sure had been an embarrassing shade and smiled back. “I thought it was Alder at first before I realised he was still behind Yuno and I with Dorien and Nikolas- then he shot off towards Yami… Ella got a new spell Captain and I got a new sword- how cool!”

All eyes looked to the pink eyed girl who just shrugged and stepped away from the Vermillion’s back to Yami’s side.

~~*~~*~~*~~

That day had been weighing on Mimosa’s mind for the last week, granted all she was allowed to do for now was be on bedrest until the healers gave her the okay to go back to her squad… that was possibly another weeks’ worth of rest if her mother had anything to do with it.

Her brother had been of no help, just looking down his nose at her like she had failed her first mission- technically they hadn’t. They were just meant to explore it and bring back any interesting artefacts and they had, Asta had a new swords and Ella a new spell along with a few jewels and Yul Alder had accidentally swallowed. (Though he was made of water it wasn’t like anyone had touched stomach acid when he spat it back up).

Mimosa sighed as she pulled on a red and gold dress- her house colours- though injured she unfortunately couldn’t avoid the family dinner tonight. Her arm was still wrapped in bandages as the new scar tissue was still soft and could be damaged… and it was still an unsettling pink colour. Her hand was fine, she had complete mobility of it but she would have a near handshape scar there until it completely healed- if it did, it was more likely a part of her arm would remain slightly welted and pink no matter what kind of healing she does or has done. Mimosa paused, eyes landing on a pair of gloves her father had bought for her that would cover up to her elbows… they already wanted her to hide it, hide the scar that she didn’t even hate but was annoyed by- so what if burn scars were harder to heal she was still learning but being near her family, who for the most part were fire mages, did make something pit in her stomach.

“I think scars just make us better people, they show we are stronger than what hurt us.” Ella’s voice fluttered through her mind, the words she’d told Mimosa before Yami had taken the Black Bulls back to their base. She briefly remembered her saying something about a scar on her calf someone had given her and that she knows she’s stronger than they are because that was all they left on her, just a scar… Mimosa glared at the gloves in hand and threw them to the floor to instead redo her bandage and was thankful to be right handed in the moment as she wrapped up her left arm.

Vermillion dinner’s were neither boring nor particularly interesting. Mimosa however hated the scrutinising glares sent her way from the family elders as they spotted her non gloved arms and it was no surprise when Leopold jumped into view, hiding her from their scowling grandparents at the head of the table.

“Hey Mo!” Her cousin greeted. “Leon said you were on bedrest is everything alright?”

Leopold only used nicknames when he was genuinely worried (though on occasion it was because he was too tired to bother which she always found amusing).

“I’m fine, got injured on my first mission is all.” She said with a tight smile- her grandmother was looking don’t make it seem like anything is wrong, don’t let anyone know when you’ve made a mistake.

She always wondered if Meroleona ever had to go through Grandmother’s scrutiny and ‘teachings’ as well, because none of the male Vermillion’s did.

“Dungeon right? That would have been cool to see- not cool that you got hurt or anything but I imagine dungeon’s and their magic are interesting.” She smiled again, a real one this time, as he began prattling about how dungeon magic was raw and uncontrolled because it had no bodily conduit to have it take shape.

She wished he did that more often, talked about magic like it was a real person right in front of them because he was always so excited- it was sweet. Though she did find him yelling about rivalries and fighting to be the most amusing since that is what people usually saw first.

“Mimosa.” Green eyes turned to meet brown. “It’s good to see you again.”

Cordelia had joined the Vermillion family a few years ago after leaving the Silva residence when Noelle had vanished (at the thought it felt like something crawled up her spine, like a shiver of cold) and though she had been sad and sick with worry she’d managed to fall in love with Fuegoleon who wasted no time trying to help her- Hel they tried their hardest to find Noelle too, most of the royal families did.

“You as well Cordelia.” Then Mimosa’s eyes widened, dropping downwards, to the swell in her belly that her dress couldn’t hide. Cordelia laughed, pressing a hand to her abdomen. “It’s been a while.”

“Yes it has.” She gave Mimosa a quick hug and whispered, “Already six months along now.”

Leopold, who was still beside them, grinned wide- excited for the niece or nephew he would have. Cordelia then quickly and with the grace of a highborn noblewoman made her way to her seat and so Mimosa, with her head held high, made her way to her seat beside Kirsch- Leopold now sitting on her right.

Mimosa’s mind wandered throughout dinner, she only really spoke to Leo- Fuegoleon and Cordelia spoke to her too but she couldn’t help but be… annoyed. Annoyed at the look in Fuegoleon’s eyes as they darted to her arm- and she truthfully couldn’t tell if it was pity in his eyes or annoyance in himself, for whatever reason that could be. She had much preferred the way Ella had looked at her, though she had been worried it wasn’t about her looks, it wasn’t about her being able to heal herself, that look was like she had known her for years and was worried about Mimosa simply because she could… like she couldn’t lose…

Silver roots atop a faded brown.

Eyes a shade of gemstone pink… she knew a tune that told of hair and eyes… the Kira’s had one- the Vermillion’s too…

“Mimosa have you been given a return date back to the Golden Dawn?” Leopold pulled her from her wandering thoughts- pulling her away from… wherever her line of thinking had been taking her.

“Hopefully one more week of rest and I’ll be back to the base.”

“That’s a long rest period for a burnt arm?” A familiar voice echoed through the hall, boisterous and lively.

Meroleona...

Masterlist

A new point of view, a meeting filled with tension. Ella is mad that Julius didn’t warn them if a potential trap and makes it known.

Warnings: none

Fuegoleon prided himself on his keen eye and aptitude for figuring things out. Nozel was equally as sharp as he, though in the last few years he had watched as his rival had crumbled the same way his now wife had after the youngest Silva vanished. The difference was Cordelia healed, worried still, had nightmares sometimes too but she had healed and it was quite obvious that none of the Silva’s had.

He shook his head as he looked between the knights sitting battered and bruised before them- four Black Bulls, two Golden Dawn and two Crimson Lion’s.

From what he could tell from Julius’ expression he had in fact called them into this Captain’s meeting- most likely to discuss their mission to the dungeon. Something had clearly happened.

His own two knights were shaking, teens who had clearly seen something unexpected for their first mission and he felt horrible while (though shaky) Mimosa and the other Golden Dawn knight looked as composed as possible – good on them he supposed. It was the Black Bull’s however, who pulled his attention, the shorter boy seemed to have stars in his eyes as he loudly introduced himself- the magicless one from the exam some weeks ago- the taller as meek and powerful as he had been then too… and the cheery berserker always sent a chill down his spine.

The girl caught his eye, besides Yami standing beside her seemingly glaring at the cut along her forehead as though it would vanish under the stare and the way her fist clenched at her side- the other held in a sling (apparently she had dislocated her right shoulder) he recognised her. He remembers her from the exams as well… stood beside Yami’s chair, watching the crowd below with eyes that seemed far older than herself. He wanted to chuckle at the memory of how he had whipped back around when he saw her first- her hair a coppery colour and eyes a somehow familiar dark pink in the dim lighting.

“Should they not be in the infirmary still?” Fuegoleon heard Charlotte question even as his mind still wandered, the soft snores of Dorothy at his side didn’t help the lost thoughts.

Had the girl’s pinkish eyes been more purple one would think with the muddy copper hair she’d sported she was a Vermillion bastard- what a funny thought. Now her hair was a plain brown, dull just like those far too old eyes as she stared down Julius.

“It was a trap.” She declared. “Had Alder not been with us… had Luck and I not been there to sense the traps we’d still be stuck.”

What was her name… Who is Alder?

“Alder was there!” Julius exclaimed, eyes gleaming. “I-I mean are you certain? Dungeons are filled with traps already.”

Who the Hel is Alder?

“Yami taught me the difference between manmade traps and naturally formed ones in my first week of training with him Julius.” She replied- the wizard king seemed to… lean back in acceptance? She was a child she cannot talk to him that way.

“Mind your tongue girl.” Poizot said for him- the girl only levelled him a glare that could rival Meroleona’s… perhaps she is a secret Vermillion after all… he needs to talk with his sister. Fuegoleon shook his head again, clearing his thoughts as he watched everything unfold.

“I will mind nothing- he sent us on this mission knowing something would go wrong and had any of us died instead of being stood in front of you I would let Alder have him- Oak too.” She growled.

“Yami seems to have rubbed off on you Ella keke.” Jack snickered as he looked towards the angered teen.

Ella. That’s her name is it? And for the love of gods who is Alder… who is Oak?

Nozel seemed to flinch slightly as he finally looked up from the table to see the group of knights.

“Had I not been there Mimosa would certainly be missing an arm and both Dorien and Nikolas would. be. dead.”

His eyes snapped to his young cousin’s left arm covered in gauze- how had he missed that when she walked in.

“I did my fair share of-” the Golden Dawn knight started.

“You did your fair share of nothing Klaus besides yap about your superiority of being a nobleman until Asta saved your ass while we were fighting those… those rogues.” Ella was on a roll apparently as she turned her glare towards William instead of Klaus. “I would have thought you’d teach your knights differently Captain Vangeance.”

“I apologise and will correct such chatter amongst my knights.”

“Have more commoners in your squads.” The tall black-haired bull said. “I know I could have chosen any one of your squads… but because of attitude like that I’m glad I didn’t.”

Unfortunately he had a point.

“I…” Klaus looked apologetic and Mimosa extremely uncomfortable- her eyes darting towards Fuegoleon with a grimace.

“Mimosa is this true? Your arm?” The Crimson Lion Captain questioned his shy young cousin. She nodded.

“I was grabbed by… by one of the men in the dungeon. He- he tried to…” Mimosa’s voice shook and before Fuegoleon could even move Ella had pulled her in for a tight hug, talking softly.

“Shh Mimosa it’s okay.”

Fuegoleon had made strides across the room until he was kneeling before her.

“What happened Mimosa?” He asked gently.

“His hands were on me.” Her lip shook. “But I fought him off- kicked him and used my plant magic after the surprise wore off and then… he had fire magic- grabbed my arm again and… it burnt really bad- I healed most of it.”

“Then Ella sent this giant water dragon at the bastard!” Asta announced, with a grin aimed at Mimosa. She smiled back clearly relieved he took over (and with a blush- not that he noticed… keen eye Logi’s ass). “I thought it was Alder at first before I realised he was still behind Yuno and I with Dorien and Nikolas- then he shot off towards Yami… Ella got a new spell Captain and I got a new sword- how cool!”

All eyes looked to the pink eyed girl who just shrugged and stepped away from the Vermillion’s back to Yami’s side.

“I do apologise for sending you… I did know something would happen but I did not know what.” All of the Captain’s turned at that. “I apologise Ella, Asta, Yuno, Klaus, Luck, Mimosa, Nikolas and Dorien please expect an increase pay for your next month of missions- I would pay for your medical but as Magic Knights at your age they are free.”

“I accept that.” Nikolas said, rubbing at their forehead where a large bruise lay. Dorien’s hand moving to tap his chin. “Dorien says thank you as well.”

Fuegoleon only placed a hand on Mimosa’s shoulder, gentle enough to be a comfort before he turned to fully face Ella.

“Thank you Ella- I’m glad all of you are safe but as Mimosa is my cousin I must thank you properly.”

“It’s fine.” She said all too quickly, eyes darting away- those familiar pinkish eyes (again Logi’s ass)- avoiding eye contact at all costs. “I’m just glad we all made it out in one piece.”

“I think we’ll be upping your training now.” Yami grumbled to the girl.

Then it hit… Yami was training her- a stray memory from a few years ago where Yami was grumbling about some ‘brat’ bugging him and yet living at the base.

~~*~~*~~*~~

The Captain’s had been out, drinking and relaxing away from their hectic squads while Yami and Jack prepped a round of cards for them all- Charlotte and Dorothy not joining in favour of *girl time*.

“She’s a pain in my ass.” Yami muttered to Jack beside him, Fuegoleon on the slashing captain’s other side listening with little interest.

“Keke, kick her out then.”

“Lyra would kill me and then Morgen would help her.” Yami slurred. “Brat wants me to train her even though she’s like… eleven now? Been living with us for a year already”

“Who would want you to train them?” Nozel cut from across the table, on one of those rare, good days. “Some wild creature?”

“I’d call her that.” Yami snorted, throwing back a pint of beer- calling for another soon after.

“Oh that young girl who was with you outside of the Captain’s meeting the other week?” William asked- and Fuegoleon couldn’t deny it now, he was intrigued in the conversation even as he sipped slowly on his wine. “Ella was it? Very shy girl- but training for what?”

“She wants to join the Bulls- I use a sword, she’s pretty decent with one and has a great sword and knife set that looks more expensive than our wages- and wants me to help her use her sword as a conduit or some shit. She’s stubborn I’ll give her that.”

“Says the man who bought her a book on sword fighting techniques Keke- and those weights I told you about.”

“Sounds like she’s got you hook line and sinker Yami.” William laughed. “Why gift her anything at all if you don’t like her a little bit?”

“It was her birthday- that day I took her to the capital.” Fuegoleon turned his head at the serious tone in the Black Bull’s Captain’s voice.

“And?” Poizot questioned.

“Not my story to tell- just that she’s had a rough life for only being eleven.”

~~*~~*~~*~~

He can see why Yami finally agreed to train her. She clearly had a stubborn streak- and the amount of mana Fuegoleon could feel on her from that day at the exams and now… he gets it, she’s powerful, she needs the training- the question is why did she choose Yami?

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella didn’t like the way Fuegoleon watched her, like there was something he was figuring out… and by the gods she hoped he wasn’t figuring anything out. She was already mad that Mimosa could have seen the colour drain from her hair in the dungeon let alone if the Crimson Lion Captain could recognise her.

It was Nozel though that she was more worried about.

He was so, so fucking close and she wanted to leave, to run away again. She clenched her good fist again, angry- she was so mad at Julius for sending them in even though she knows it couldn’t have been his fault that it was a trap… but he knew something was going to go wrong… she was mad at how dishevelled and broken Nozel looked, like her disappearance had actually hurt him- had brought him to the end of the world but he had broken her so much in her last life.

A phantom itch in her wrist grounded her as she kept her eyes on the Wizard King- don’t look at Nozel, no matter what do not look.

Ella let out a sharp breath through her nose, like when the Dragons huffed out steam, it was grounding, calming enough that she could tear her eyes from the calm faced Wizard King. She was still pissed beyond measure, but calmer. Yami placed a hand on her good shoulder, grounding her again.

“Alder going to be jealous of that new spell?” The Bulls Captain joked- easing the tension in the room.

“Alder is sentient, whatever shit I pulled in the dungeon wasn’t… I don’t think so anyway.” She beamed up at him- forced but still an honest smile.

“Who is Alder?” Captain Vangeance’s softer voice brought Ella away from Yami. She blinked at him, pezzottaite eyes gleaming bright as a mischievous smile etched on her face.

Masterlist

The newly recruited Black Bulls have their first mission... and it's not the one Ella had been expecting- and it most certainly went all kinds of wrong.

Warnings: Swearing, unedited, injuries- bruising, scratching, cuts, burns and dislocation

“Alright listen up shitheads.” Yami said as Ella, Asta, Yuno and Luck stood before him- the cheery berserker grinning the creepiest smile yet. “Julius has a mission for you lot but you’ll be teaming up with two Crimson Lions and two Golden Dawn.”

Ella blinked- okay this had to be the dungeon mission instead of the one at Sosshi. With a pause she rubbed at her wrists (it felt weird not having the weights on today) before looking up at Yami.

“Will we be meeting them before or at a location?” Ella questioned.

“At location. It’s a dungeon on the border of Clover and Diamond.” She nods- Asta and Yuno doing the same. “He just wants you to check it out- feel out any bandits and take them out if you can. Do not overdo it. If there is too many you bring your asses back here immediately. Understood?”

“Yes Captain Yami.” The group chime, Luck giggling as he did.

Finral moved from the dining room to where they were stood, opening a portal.

“I can’t send you all the way there because I haven’t travelled to the location before so this is the closest you’ll be.”

She remembers that it wasn’t a long walk, took maybe twenty minutes tops.

“I’m so excited.” Asta grinned, “What about you Ella?”

“Very.” She smiled back. “Yuno?... We all know Luck is excited.”

“Yes I ammmmmm.” Luck yelped as he practically dove through the portal.

“I can’t wait.” Yuno said quietly, also stepping through the portal- Asta hot on his tail.

“Be careful Ella.” Yami said, hand on her shoulder. She just grinned up at him and threw one of Vanessa and Charmy’s lollies in her mouth.

“Always.”

“Take this communicator with you.” Yami said. “Lyra will kill me if you die.”

“I won’t die.” She snorted, hip checking the Captain as she took the device from his hand before following through the portal, Alder slithering in behind her.

“You are such a dad.” She heard Finral say behind her- Yami’s swearing muted by the closing portal.

“I can see it from here- looks like the other squads are walking over as well.” Asta said- charging into the foliage with Luck.

“He has too much energy for me.” Yuno sighed as he and Ella began jogging down the hill and through the foliage to catch up with the two balls of energy- Alder following along.

Masterlist

Nebra Silva could have cared less about Noelle going missing some years ago... but is a nightmare all it takes for her to be knocked off her feet just like Nozel had been.

Warnings: swearing, blood, death and panic attack

Note: Someone asked about the dreams/nightmares in a previous chapter... I hope this helps- or not mwahahah

~~*~~*~~*~~

Four Years Ago

~~*~~*~~*~~

Nebra Silva has never thought she was good enough.

Nebra Silva has never been a good daughter.

Nebra Silva has never been a good sister.

She covered her failures as a Silva by looking down on anyone she could: commoners, servants, magic knights and even her baby sister… her baby sister Noelle who looked so much like their mother it hurt. From her sharp features to her determination Noelle was more like Acier than she was, so the day Noelle Silva vanished Nebra thought that it had been a blessing in disguise. She had killed their mother. Had plagued the family with her failures ever since Nozel brought her home- even their father loathed her existence.

Solid could have cared less about their sister or her vanishing from the castle- if anything the boy was more annoyed that he could no longer take his anger out on Noelle- and Nebra had never envied her sister more for disappearing without a trace because now on more than one occasion Nebra found herself with a new bruise or scratch to hide… just like Noelle did.

And then she noticed how Noelle’s nanny, Nozel’s childhood friend at that, crumbled. Cordelia wasted away from the second she found out that the youngest Silva was gone as if it was her fault and as much as Nebra wanted to comfort the woman she didn’t- she couldn’t. So she wasn’t surprised when she left the Silva residence and moved back into the arms of the Vermillion family as she had when she was younger and she wasn’t surprised by the letter now sat on her desk inviting her to a small engagement party- Cordelia was getting married… to Fuegoleon Vermillion of all people. Nebra tutted- of course she would go but… she had always thought it would be Nozel considering she had watched them smile shyly to one another, whisper sweet things to each other and then they just stopped- long before Noelle was gone.

Gone… but not dead and Nebra isn’t sure why but she knows it and has no way to convince anyone else on it because it was like everyone but those present in the castle that day remember. She sucked in a breath and turned to look out the window where Stargazer Lily’s of all colours bloomed and where Nozel sat once a week to clear his mind and ignore the fact that he too was crumbling.

Of course Nozel, her older brother, who she looked up to- who all the Silva siblings had looked up to had never stopped looking for her even when told she was most likely dead. It’s been three years and he is hardly the man he used to be. Don’t get Nebra wrong she cares deeply for him and sometimes she does miss the brat of a sister but she just doesn’t understand what about her vanishing broke him so much.

He was getting paler, bruising beneath his eyes showed his lack of sleep- if not for lack of trying. On more than one occasion she had heard him wake up screaming- on others she had heard him retching until he was in tears- but he wouldn’t get help and he wont tell Nebra anything, nor Solid or Father (who didn’t give a shit anyway). She needed to intervene.

Somehow, even as her own dreams had started feeling a little too real.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Noelle stood beside Nozel, her stance protective in a way Nebra knows that she should have been doing… Nebra should be standing beside Nozel, Nebra should be standing protectively over her siblings, but here she is laying limply in her little brothers arms as her blood pools beneath her.

She can’t even really hear what’s happening anymore, she’s too focused on ignoring the pain and wishing she was fighting.

Next thing Nebra knows Nozel is shielding them in a mercury ball and the magic space is flooding… Noelle’s idea… Noelle’s magic. She’s grown tremendously in her time away from them and Nebra can’t help the overwhelming sense of jealousy… but maybe it was guilt? But why would she feel guilt for the girl who’s birth took away their mother?

Nebra isn’t sure what happened next, her mind was hazy and dull, but she could see Nozel stood over her, just barely hear as he… apologised to Noelle.

Nozel apologising sounded too good to be true regardless of the why. Nebra hadn’t expected to look up and see their baby sister’s eyes go glassy with tears, and a watery armoured dress dripping from her like a waterfall.

Gods she looked so much like their mother.

Nebra found a strength that had been slowly depleting as she tried to rise as Noelle began swaying on the spot. Any other time she would have paid to see her older brother apologise- any other time she wouldn’t have lodged compass needles further into her bleeding out body as she tried to move.

"Brother? Noelle doesn't look so good." Solid said but Nebra’s own ears were ringing and her head spinning as she tried to move from his hold.

Any other time Nebra would have revelled in seeing her sister look so weak- but the sickening crack of her knees against tiles made her wince. Nebra dreaded what she would see when she finally looked towards her baby sister- the one she has detested since her birth. Going by Nozel’s expression however, it wasn’t pretty.

“Noelle!” He’d screamed.

She could feel Solid try to bring her back into his arms, but she was just dead weight now… dead… Nebra was dying and there was no mistaking that.

No mistaking Nozel rushing towards the baby sister they neglected.

No mistaking the snap of Mercury around the Elf in the corner. She was out for good now.

The second eldest Silva whined as she forced herself to roll onto her side, the compass needle seeming to dissipate once Kivn was knocked out completely. She could feel the slick of blood under her palms as she pushed herself, forced herself to see what happened. Solid thankfully decided to help her, bring her closer to their siblings. He was as white as his hair as he did.

Of all the things Nebra thought would frighten her… never once did she think seeing her lifeless baby sister would be one. A deep wound across her stomach to her hip… she felt sick as she reached a blood-soaked hand as if, from this distance, she could grasp Noelle’s hand.

"Nozel what's happening?" She asked, and though his mouth moved she heard next to nothing.

Nebra could barely do more than whine, but she could see the shaking breaths in her little sister’s chest even with her own fading vision. She wasn’t gone just yet… but Nebra knew neither sister would be making it out of this room.

"Noelle I need you to answer me." Nozel shook Noelle, she had a far off look in her eyes as she swayed, muttering ever so quiet, too quiet for Nebra to hear.

"No. No Noelle you didn't kill her! You didn't it isn't your fault!" Nozel wanted to scream as his youngest sister's eyes slowly shut and she began to slump. Nozel moved her so she was lying down, facing the night sky. "Noelle! Please.. I need to fix this; I need to tell you the truth."

It was too late. She wasn't breathing anymore and those pezzottaite pink eyes now dull and lifeless.

"Nozel?" Solid questioned quietly. "Noelle what's wrong?"

"She isn't breathing." Nozel said, hands searching for a pulse in her neck and wrists. "I can't feel a pulse."

"Why are you panicking though? What's she done for the family? She killed mum." Solid snapped... he didn't mean it really but what else could he say he's hated Noelle since she was born but regardless...

"She didn't." Nozel said. "Mum was killed by... something else... I needed to keep Noelle safe, this was the only way... and I still failed. I failed to protect Mum, I failed to protect Nebra and now I've failed to protect Noelle again.”

Nebra didn’t understand. Solid didn’t understand. What was Nozel admitting?

Solid gave a grunt in response- he didn’t care about Noelle, but Nozel clearly did. A tear slipped down Nebra’s cheek as she took in a slow painful breath.

“You didn’t kill her Noelle… a monster did, and I couldn’t… I can’t tell anyone who or what it was… I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry all of you.”

And oh, how Nebra wished she knew all of this before. How she wished she could start again. It was too late now… the room was dark, the sounds muted and her body cold.

~~*~~

Apparently she had been in and out of consciousness for a few days now, her heart trying to give out more than once. Was it terrible that she wished it had, that she had been correct in thinking she was going to die. Even with Solid by her side and Nozel practically living in the nearby med bay bed (according to the soft chatter she heard when she did wake briefly) she felt like shit.

Noelle hadn’t killed their mother.

Noelle wasn’t a monster.

Noelle was dead.

Noelle was dead… dead… dead…

Solid spoke to her, but she couldn’t respond. Wouldn’t respond as she stared weakly at the ceiling of the private room. She felt sick, felt wretched and awful. She had watched as Solid hurt Noelle, had laughed as he did and for what? So Nozel could keep her safe in some sick and twisted way.

Nozel… Nebra dragged her eyes towards the ragged looking man who had only left the room on occasion to see the other Captains. She hated him- hated herself for what they did to their little sister- she would never be able to fix it, be able to be the sister she should have been all because of him and her own selfish anger.

“Nebra.” Nozel had placed a hand in her hair. “Awake now?”

“Where is she?” She rasped out instead.

“The Black Bulls are preparing for her funeral.” He choked on a sob as she brought her eyes back to the ceiling. She said nothing more, barely hinted that she had heard him as Solid tightened his grip on her hand.

The funeral was as dreary as it should be, Nozel knelt in the mud, rain pelting down on them all just as it had when they had mother’s funeral. She hadn’t seen him in the days leading up to this one and it wasn’t like she wanted to see him.

Nebra sat in a chair she had been half carried to not hearing a thing her brother was saying, not hearing anything the Black Bulls were saying either as she stared at the grave, dirt freshly thrown atop a now buried coffin containing her little sister… instead of herself.

She heard nothing as she was taken back to the med bay bed, nurses fretting over her getting a cold as she began getting sleepy. The kind of sleepy that will be dreamless, the kind that had the nurses begin to panic.

Nebra Silva wished she was enough.

Nebra Silva wished she was a better daughter.

Nebra Silva wished she was a better sister.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Nebra awoke with a start, like her heart had been jump started into a racing beat.

She was in her room… her room that used to be right by Noelle’s. She doesn’t remember sleeping here, she remembers being in the med room but why would they bring her here of all places- her room, the one she moved to well after Noelle had been moved to the Black Bulls was on the other side of Nozel’s further down the hallway.

But she knows this room, if she looked out the window she would see the Stargazer Lily’s… in the other she saw the forest and blue, blue skies. In this room she had decorated it with violets and whites, in the other it was blues and creams.

But… no this was her room… was, is, was, is, was… her head began to spin as images and flashes of memory struck her. She needed to see Noelle, needed to make sure she wasn’t buried beside their mother. Why? Why did she need to see that? She wasn’t buried, she wasn’t even here.

What?

Nebra rose and stumbled, her nightgown sticking to her sweat soaked skin as she nearly tripped towards the door, out the door, taking those few trembling steps towards Noelle’s room.

She pressed open the door… the smell of dust tickled at her nose, invaded her senses even though the room looked clean… and young, too young. The cupboard was open, small dresses fit for a child hanging proudly, ribbons and stuffed animals decorating the room. It was getting so stuffy in here, she couldn’t breathe.

She can’t breathe.

She can’t..

She…

She fell to the floor, heaving, trying to catch her breath as her mind and the room began to spin. Noelle, where was Noelle? She was dead- no she was gone, missing- dead… dead…

“Princess.” A voice so distant called, a voice smooth and warm- trying to ground her. “Princess Nebra, hey it’s me Thomas I’m in your squadron placed on guard duty tonight. I need you to focus on me. Please princess focus on me.”

She can’t, she can’t, she can’t.

“Tell me three things you can see.” He said.

“You, bed… floor.” She said shakily.

“Something you can feel.” He continued.

“Feel? Nothing, nothing… cold… the floor is cold.”

“Good. You’re doing so good. Something you can hear?”

“Your… your voice… my voice.”

“Now take in a deep breath, follow my breathing.” Thomas pulled her hand to his chest, taking deep breaths, holding and exhaling, holding and doing it all again.

After a few minutes she found herself leaning against the cold stone wall of Noelle’s room, still shaking but no longer… gone.

“Want to talk or would you rather I walked you back to your room and forgot this happened?”

“Had a nightmare.” She said without thinking as she finally registered the man with the honey smooth voice. Thomas O’Malley- a man with copper red hair, gold eyes and an attitude that she couldn’t help but react to every single time. “Don’t… don’t know what’s real…”

“Want to tell me what you think is and isn’t real?”

“Where’s Noelle?” She said instead and she watched as his eyes softened. Dead? Gone… where was she?

“It’s been three years, two months and nine days since Noelle went missing Nebra.”

“Missing?” She said breathlessly. He nods.

“Come on, let me take you back to your room. I won’t tell a soul I swear it.”

She only nodded, letting him guide her through the hall back to her room.

“How did you…” she trailed off.

“I was making my rounds as you started stumbling towards her room.” He said quietly. “Only I saw you… nightmares make you do weird shit- trust me I know and immediately having a panic attack wouldn’t help you.”

She nods again as he pushes open the door for her, escorting her into the room.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thanks.” Nebra said weakly.

“You can talk to me if you need to Princess.”

She didn’t answer this time, numbly making her way back to bed as he shut he door on his way out. She would figure this out… later… she just needed more sleep.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Sleep had been of no use.

Hadn’t been for the days, months and years following. She watched as Nozel became a different man, felt how she began to change too and Thomas had kept his promise- he told no one, never even asked how she was outside of squadron meetings… she just didn’t get it.

What was real? Noelle was gone or… was she dead?

Those questions plagued her even now- even though she knew that those nightmares… that’s all they had to be right?

It wasn’t like she could see the future… and time travel certainly didn’t exist… did it?

Nebra sniffed indignantly as she and Nozel strode towards the Captain’s balcony whilst she eyed the other Captain’s and their companions. They all had the usual vice or senior mage by their side but Yami… The Black Bull’s had some nobleman’s son, some weird looking man and a young copper haired girl who truthfully looked like she should be in the exam not with Yami. The Captain’s greeted one another, companions saying hello as well even though that young girl managed to keep well away from practically everyone (Though Leopold certainly tried his best to say hello).

Masterlist

The Black Bulls are coming together and honestly Ella is just a little bit tired. Oh and some of Yami's thoughts on his... kid.

Warnings: Swearing, dump-taking 😂

He’ll probably pick the Golden Dawn again, maybe Crimson Lions instead if her gut was right and he wasn’t going to pick Vangeance’s squad but of course Yami raised his hand again and Ella was content with that, with knowing no matter what they would be inseparable rival-brothers or not.

But his next words surprised her, made her double take physically as she snapped her head towards him.

“The Black Bulls.”

What. The. Fuck?

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella masked her surprise as best she could as Yami dragged the two boys towards her, Gordon and Finral- a portal opening just as the Captain and recruits made their way into view.

Yuno picked the Black Bulls… what the fuck? Asta it made sense… Yuno? She knew little of him but that he was quite content with beating Asta as rivals was the first thing she had ever notices… now? He offered a small smile, Asta beaming beside him and Ella could only smile back at them- at least she wont be alone as the youngest in the squad now- besides Alder who had made several attempts to wear a Bulls cloak once she had been given hers.

“Hello, my name is Ella- welcome to the Black Bulls.” The once again golden-brown haired girl said, spinning on her heel to step into Finral’s portal.

“We did it Yuno.” She heard Asta say. “We made it into a squad- together.”

“We did! Father and Sister Lily will be so proud of us. Everyone back home will be.” Yuno replied.

It was weird… Yuno not being so stoic and serious was weird but she would deal with it. This isn’t her other life, this one is new and good and perfectly alright… for now.

Alder greeted them first, slithering towards them with nothing but curiosity on his face even as he curled himself around Ella protectively, large snout bumping into her chest affectionately- wetting her tunic and Black Bulls cape in the process.

“What is that?” Asta exclaimed, alerting Oak who’s head dropped down to look at the newcomers too. His massive head creating a shadow even in the dimming daylight.

“This-” Ella started, patting the water dragon’s snout, “Is Alder, my water spirit and that is Oak, Lyra’s dragon.”

“Who is Lyra?” Yuno then asked, looking wide eyed at the giant dragon above.

“That would be me.” A thud followed as Lyra dropped from Oak’s back. “I’m one of the senior members of this squad and you two must be the newbies.”

“Yes Ma’am.” The boys said, still staring between the two dragons. Lyra just laughed moving to drape herself over Ella to pull her towards the base- Alder slithering to be beneath Oak as she did.

“Your hair is a different colour than it was this morning Els.”

“The work of Vanessa and Charmy- You cut your hair. It’s short again” Ella pointed out, bronze eyes glimmered gold as they darted down to meet pezzottaite.

“Like it? It shouldn’t get in my way as much while flying Oak when it’s this short.” The black bob now cut against Lyra’s jawbone- as short as it had been five years ago when Ella appeared in their lives.

“Fair enough.” Ella snickered as she glanced back at Alder- large enough for her to ride sure… but flying? She didn’t even know if he could do that.

“The base looks so cool!” Asta’s voice cut through and the women watched as the shorter male tugged Yuno forwards, racing to the front doors and allowing them to swing wide open.

“Hello Black Bulls!” Asta yelled, Yuno greeting them much quieter from what Ella could see as they all finally entered the base. “My name is Asta!”

“My name is Yuno.” The taller boy bowed slightly.

Vanessa was draped over the lounge chair (and for once not just chilling in her underwear), Luck and Magna racing around the room ever so close to knocking over the witch’s wine bottle. Charmy was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm as she usually does while Gauche seemed to be sat at his… alter for his little sister in the far corner. Ella glances around the room, Nacht is on a mission for who knows how long but Morgen was probably in the librar- Lyra pulled away from Ella, before moving towards the aforementioned man coming down the stairs. Ella turned her focus back on Asta and Yuno- because she had zero doubts that Lyra and Morgen weren’t doing that weird silent flirting they do in the shadows of the stairs.

Yami grunted as he pushed passed the group to head towards what was claimed as ‘his chair’. As he stood beside it Ella watched as he commanded attention even when doing nothing outside of taking a drag from his cigarette.

“Welcome to the misfits, the rebels and the best damn squad.” Yami laughs before pausing. “Now get to know each other and then find rooms- I need a shit.”

Ella rolled her eyes. Of course he did.

“CAN WE FIGHT!” Luck’s voice echoed off the stone walls. “I wanna know how strong you two are!”

“Fight?” Magna adds. “No not yet… we can initiate them though.”

And Ella had to fight off the groan surging in her throat as she pointed back outside.

“Not in the base you don’t.”

“Hey, I’m older than you, you can’t give me all that ‘tude dude.” Magna said, loud and proud even if he was joking.

“I’ve technically been here longer than you so I have right of duty- outside initiations only.” She poked her tongue out in defiance.

“Ella’s *‘tude* is warranted. You two have destroyed many walls.” Finral stated with a laugh. “If you don’t listen to her- listen to me I have seniority over you.”

“Uh… initiation?” Yuno turned to Ella, gold eyes wide and clearly filled with worry.

“Meh. They are just messin’ with ya.” She shrugs. “It’s just like a test of strength. He’ll probably throw a fireball or some shit.”

“And the grinning one?” He pressed.

“Best you decline his ‘offers’ for now.” Ella replied, fingers creating air quotes as she explained.

“Wait- you havtah indrotuce uzzz.” Vanessa slurred. “Aztah and Youunooo? I’m Vanessa.”

“Oh, oh I’m Charmy!” The half-dwarf announced as she brought out a platter for the squad to nibble on as she made dinner. “That in the corner there is Gauche.”

Ella chose this moment to promptly block out the mirror mage’s exclamations of adoration for his little sister as Grey shuffled out of the shadows she had been hidden in- granted she only waved and said her name in way of greeting, a puff of smoke following suit.

“Already met me but I’m Lyra.” The woman smiled, arms tightening around her partners waist.

“Morgen Faust, nice to meet you. My brother Nacht is the Vice Captain but unfortunately is on a mission so you will not meet him for some time.”

“Finral Roulacase- if you need anything let me know.”

“Magna.” The only person she knows who has named their broom (yes she still thinks Crazy Cyclone is a dumb name even in this timeline).

“Luck- I still wanna fight…” Yeah… okay crazy eyes calm down- Ella’s inner monologue was going to become hectic now wasn’t it?

“It’s amazing to meet you all thank you for allowing us to be in this squad.” Asta beamed as Magna threw his arms around both Yuno and Asta to drag them outside. Ella just snickered and made her way to the kitchen.

“Yes- yes… so this is how the initiation goes-” she heard Magna start- no doubt for some more chaos to begin.

“Not going to watch?” Morgen asked. “Or are you peopled out?”

“Peopled out.” She yawns. “I think I’ll just get some food and then head to bed if that’s cool.”

Morgen as always ruffled her hair as he walked past. “Get some rest Ella.”

“Will do boss.” She mock salutes as she turns towards the steaming pot of creamy chicken soup, a gurgle sounding from her stomach as she grabbed a bowl.

A loud flap of wings was the only thing that pulled her away from the deliciousness that was Charmy’s cooking- Nevermore arriving as he always did… when there was food out.

“I wonder what Nyx has in store for me now.” She murmured, painfully pulling herself away from the delicious meal. Ella reached for the letter in the Corvus’ claws and a treat from the specially made box for all the critters now scattered in the base. Nyx always had something to cheer her up after all.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Yami had been thinking.

He’s known Ella for five years now… ever since the brat had arrived at the base at ten years old with silver hair and a mission that only Yami could help her complete- when did he get so soft?

Through these five years he’s figured some things out.

First and foremost that she has been lying to everyone since she showed up… well lie was harsh but she had one massive secret big enough to rival the dump he was currently taking- probably not a good analogy when trying to decipher a fifteen-year-old-girl’s secrets.

There was her story to Nacht that he had told the Captain some months after the girl had started living at the base whilst the adults were drinking and she was sleeping- he’d saved her at some point? Pretty sure he’d remember saving some snot nosed brat who was far to confident for her own good.

She had a home once, one she had stubbornly avoiding ever talking about but had commented that she wasn’t an orphan and that she didn’t want to talk about it. That the place where she learnt how to fight wasn’t her secret to share either but should those letters she keeps getting ever hint that she can tell them she will (so at least that was something because she actively shared anything in those letters that she thought would interest the Bulls).

Ella had somehow wormed her way into his good graces enough that he wanted to train her, to help her, wanted to see the kid smile a real smile. Soft bastard that he was now. He’d been the one to drop Yul into her pouches when she went with the girls to the nearby village, had restocked her weapon cleaning supplies without notice- and he would never admit it but it was his idea for Lyra to buy the golden-brown hair dye to cover that silvery-white hair of hers that she hated with a passion- why? He hadn’t given a shit at the time and hadn’t thought about it since.

And another thing…

Ella Dreki was also most certainly not her real name… but he had no proof other than the way her ki spiked when she introduced herself- the same way it had spiked at the exams today… the same way it had spiked multiple times today.

Shit.

Why had she been so adamant on those boys joining the Black Bulls and yet surprised when the taller one chose him? Why did her ki still spike when William was around- granted he’s pretty sure she has no clue why either since he isn’t the only one she’s spiked for. Why had Fuegoleon and Smallgoleon startled her when they greeted them?

Why had the lion asshat taken a second glance her way?

Fucking hell his head hurt from all the thinking. The kid was fine, she was happy with the Black Bulls- that she never once lied about. So whatever dots he was trying to connect were in fact not connecting for shit and he didn’t feel like trying anymore.

With timely glance to his left he notice a rather large lack of toilet paper and so with a roar his voice carried through the base his previous thoughts vanishing with the yell. “FINRAL!”

Two arms appeared with a stack of new rolls that he took without a thanks and continued on.

He needs to send the newbies on a mission now… shit- because that includes Ella too and he’d be damned if she got hurt even though she can protect herself… learning from the best and all that.

Masterlist

Four years later and Ella is offically a Black Bull with Yami wrapped around her pinky (he will not admit to this) and this time she gets to see the Magic Knight Exam from behind her Captain... but how much did she change when she ran away instead of staying with the Silva's.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of bood, death and injury

Notes: Alder is bigger now... like Toothless bigger now and the squad is coming together even with a few changes.

Nozel sat staring at the board before him. Strings, images, papers, notes… everything pinned to that board.

He’d thrown himself into his work since Noelle’s funeral, had explained everything to the other Captains, to the Elves sat in that now claustrophobic meeting room- everything he knew about devils and curses even when he felt numb doing it. He had no regrets punching Patri and breaking his nose and had no plans to apologise to the man that dominoed his sisters death.

How he wished Cordelia was here, how his mother and Noelle could be beside him as he barrelled through cold case after cold case solving the impossible. He didn’t want a break he wanted his family to be whole again and it was his fault, his recklessness tore them to pieces all because he thought neglecting Noelle was the best course of action.

He let out a shaky breath, ignoring those thoughts, ignoring the swelling panic attack in his chest as he stared at the nine-year-old cold case he’d placed on the board of his office. The sliced-up body of a young woman found outside of the Witches Forest. The Jane Doe was missing part of her right ear, her left hand and she had been found with slash marks all across her body- she had been bled dry- and if the mark carved into her thigh meant anything it was that a cult had done it.

She had probably been very pretty when she was alive, a bob of black hair, bronze eyes, she probably had a healthy glow to her skin…

Then he noticed it. The sharp point of her remaining ear…………………………….

~~*~~*~~*~~

Nozel sat up with a start, his chest heaving, his hands clawing at his seemingly closing throat. That was the twelfth time this month he’d had this dream… this nightmare of him standing and staring at cold cases, at broken bodies and old reports. Sometimes Noelle was in them, an older Noelle who looked so much like their mother with a wound in her stomach that never stopped bleeding- his heart ached but never… never had he had a revelation in one of his dreams, he’d found something important… but what… what did he realise?

~~*~~*~~*~~

New Timeline - Four Years Later

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella found herself at the mercy of Vanessa and Charmy’s… who knows what this is.

Pots were bubbling, Lyra’s cauldron was practically spitting back at the two mages and Ella could only watch on in confusion as she waited for someone to tell her why she was dragged into the kitchen yet again. But she could be patient, she didn’t have to pretend to be a kid who was curious about anything and everything anymore- she had her grimoire and everything now.

With a sigh she lifted the small doll Gordon had given her precisely five seconds before she’d been forced into the kitchen (though at current she realised it looked a lot like a lab). Ella smiled, the doll was of her with Alder wrapped around her shoulders- it was so cute that she couldn’t help but smile because the Leviathan was no longer able to do that and was now large enough for her to ride though nowhere near the size of Oak.

“Okay!” Vanessa clapped startling both the halfling and the princess (she inwardly sighed, she hadn’t referred to herself as that in a long while). “Ever since you and Lyra told me you dye your hair Charmy and I have been working on a lolly that will produce a sort of glamour so that you don’t ruin your hair with all those icky potions!”

“A hair glamour lolly?” Ella spared a glance out the window to her Leviathan, Alder just tilted his head in confusion. “Because you don’t want me to damage my hair.”

“Yes laaa.” Charmy grinned. “It can always be improved but try one please!”

“Today is the magic knight exams and you want me to try an experiment.” The two mages nodded excitedly passing the now fifteen-year-old the coin sized lolly. “My hair is already brown from the recent dye? I don’t think we’ll be able to see the difference…”

“Ah we thought about that.” Vanessa chided. “Plus it isn’t like you are attending the exams as an examinee you are already a Black Bull.”

One glance Ella’s way and it was obvious, the black cape draped over her shoulders, hiding most of her blue tunic- matched with tawny coloured pants and boots, her sword and knives tucked to her sides.

“I still don’t really want to accidently have my real hair on display.” The teen tutted.

“No worries, you’ll need to keep a batch on you for now because we aren’t sure how long they last BUT!” Vanessa punctuated. “Just think of a hair colour, imbue it with a little bit of mana, eat it and BOOM new look.”

Ella, and Alder to be truthful, looked sceptical at the treat but rolled her eye and did as told.

Think copper, think copper.

A close colour to her current hair that it wouldn’t bother her too much. She raised a brow at the two masterminds who’s faces only split in two with the widest grins she had ever seen. Vanessa shoved forward a handheld mirror… her hair now had a slightly orange hue to it.

Holy shit it worked.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Ella had planned on doing the exam. Had planned on showing up and showing off whilst hunting down Asta and Yuno, maybe convince them both to join the Black Bulls… not that she had doubts about Asta still joining the squad but Yuno… something told her his decision would be different this time around- and gods did she hope he didn’t pick her broth- the Silver Eagles squad.

Yami stopped suddenly in the middle of the arena, someone… someone’s plural, had bumped into him.

Asta.

Yuno.

Her heart lurched upwards, they were here, that hadn’t changed. The only difference was… Yuno seemed meeker than she remembered and yet that was a four-leaf clover grimoire at his side and Asta’s own gritty and damaged looking one at his. She offered a sweet smile as they looked towards her Finral and Gordon in a panic- Yami’s glowering stopped bothering her a long time ago (granted it may be because she accidentally called him dad once which she was only saved from embarrassment by Luck and Magna following suit).

Yami muttered something, probably swearing up a storm as he continued on, the trio following behind but she leaned towards them, smiling as she said.

“Aim for the Black Bulls, we’re a lot more fun than the rest.”

Now standing behind Yami, between Finral and Leopold Vermillion she watched with keen eyes, ignoring the way her heart hammered in her chest, ignored the way Fuegoleon had looked twice as their eyes locked before offering her an awkward smile that didn’t reach his eyes. This was the first time she had seen him since her last life, having avoided all Captains since that one market trip on her birthday some years ago where she met Vangeance and saw Nozel… she had to double take when she saw him and Nebra this morning.

He looked dead tired, the bruising under his eyes so dark she though he’d actually been hit and Nebra didn’t look that much better yet at the same time she looked healthier.

Ella didn’t want to wonder why, didn’t want to know what happened after she ran away they weren’t her family anymore.

“Glad I made you a knight now Ella?” Yami snorted, interrupting her thoughts. “Too many fucking people down there.”

“It is very crowded yes.” And she has to admit although she had wanted to try and see if anyone would raise their hand for her, prove to herself that Nozel was wrong she isn’t entirely mad with Yami’s decision… that is a lot of people.

Ella didn’t care for Vangeance’s speech,( she still felt that chill up her spine when she saw him and granted she still felt it around Julius, Nacht and Lyra on occasion) she was too focused on Asta and Yuno. In part she was nervous for them, she could hear the jeering sent Asta’s way from here and with how Yuno trailed his brother her heart just ached for them both. She swears to whichever God thought her worthy of a second life that if they don’t get into a squad at all… she just grit her teeth, watching proudly as brooms appeared before all the candidates.

As expected Yuno had flown high above them all, gold eyes darting towards the Captains before he flew back down to Asta… who just the same as last time had not made it off the ground.

The next few tasks went no differently with the adoptive brothers hanging by one another even as Asta clearly urged Yuno to show off- the pained look on his face would make anyone with a soul crumble but he was supportive just as he always had been.

Asta had been a better brother to her than her own… how pathetic is that- that Ella considered this boy who no longer knew her to be all that much better than her own immediate family. All the Black Bulls were… and now don’t get the teen wrong she misses her cousins, misses braiding her hair with Mimosa and gossiping on moonlit nights as they slept over with one another but she couldn’t bear it, didn’t want to feel that pain in this life again and again and again.

No matter how many times those damned Gods plan to make her start over she won’t ever regret this new path.

“Your Ki is spiking brat.” Yami muttered, low enough that she heard and no one else (except Finral but he doesn’t usually poke her about shit until way later.”

Pezzottaite eyes dart to the back of her now Captain’s head and she shifts slightly. In her peripheral she sees Leopold turn her way before placing his attention forward again. Her heartrate flew skywards and suddenly she was in that ballroom again, that small party for Captains, Royalty and high Nobility alike when Solid poured water atop her… that day when Fuegoleon’s words branded themselves on her brain.

Being weak is nothing to be ashamed of… staying weak is.

Ella leant forward to Yami’s ear, him barely offering a hint that he knew she had- but Ella knew he was listening as she quietly made her request.

“Those two boys from earlier- please raise your hand for them both.” Yami didn’t react as she continued on. “I know I have never attempted to act on my gut reactions before… I know I have only told you of that one time on my eleventh birthday- when you had a meeting and brought me to the capital. I know you can tell when I don’t act on it…”

She dared a glance his way, the Captain now clearly watching the brothers.

“But I am now.” She said finally and she can swear she saw a ghost of a smile on his face.

She cringed away from Salim Hapshass even from way up here very well protected by her Captain who against his better judgement would in fact part mountains for her (and the rest of the squad but mostly Ella). The noble made her nose scrunch in ire as he tried and failed at egging Yuno on- eyes wide, almost innocent but most definitely fucking annoyed by the stuck-up prick. With gusts of wind and a small tornado he had won as expected- of course Yuno was perfect even during the exams tch. Ella absolutely delighted in the way the match ended immediately just as she remembers Asta telling her whenever he raved on about his tight knit family.

She had envied that family bond for so long.

Finally it was Asta’s turn and she watched with bated breath as Sekke Bronzazza coaxed Asta forward, that annoying laugh bouncing throughout the arena in horrendous waves.

And then came the sword- Demon Slayer- and she swears her eyes sparkled. Her newer love for blades sparked some strangely deep discussion with people over the years- Hel even Nyx wasn’t spared in their letters to one another as she detailed every new fact she learnt. Demon Slayer was so interesting, the edges cut mana and the sides can deflect spells so who wouldn’t want an anti-magic mage to be in their squad- idiots obviously.

She frowned as Sekke surged forwards, his magic was certainly intriguing but his personality could use some work. Asta found his footing, sword cutting through that bronze shield like butter, oh was it glorious.

“Yes.” She found herself muttering in relief, even if she had known he’d win she wasn’t sure how much her running away had changed things besides the obvious ones.

But this was good. Hopefully- oh please help her hopefully- Yami will raise his hand for both.

Ella’s attention was snagged away after Asta and Yuno’s fights, back to the constant nagging of her mind that had only been getting worse since the nightmare stated again on her fifteenth birthday. She had less than a year before shit went sideways and.. oh they were calling numbers already shit.

Asta stepped forwards, a determined look on his face as his number was finally called, Yuno right behind him (weird he was definitely before Asta from what she had been told) offering an encouraging smile.

Her heart hammered in her chest again. Why wasn’t Yami raising his hand? Asta glared up at them, determined for someone to choose him… and then her Captain raised his arm.

She nearly sagged in relief at the bewildered look on the boys face, the emotions running across his face at speeds she thought impossible as he bowed low and deep towards the Black Bulls group and turned to his brother, scooping him into a tight hug before stepping away.

Yuno’s turn.

He’ll probably pick the Golden Dawn again, maybe Crimson Lions instead if her gut was right and he wasn’t going to pick Vangeance’s squad but of course Yami raised his hand again and Ella was content with that, with knowing no matter what they would be inseparable rival-brothers or not.

But his next words surprised her, made her double take physically as she snapped her head towards him.

“The Black Bulls.”

Masterlist

Oak finally arrives much larger than expected and a letter makes its way into Ella’s pocket, but… it seems there may be more that meets the eye when it comes to our friendly sea dragon.

Warnings: none

A beat of wings echoed above the clearing, wind roaring loudly followed by a terribly distinct sound. The Black Bulls were up and ready, faster than ever, pyjama clad, bare footed and grimoire’s ready they rushed outside.

The beast was massive, towering the first floor of the base. It had horns like twisting branches and teeth like gnarly thorns. It’s skin was patches of brown bark-like scales with moss-covered scars. It’s wings long and stretched like a bats, legs like tree trunks and eyes a dark, oaken green.

“Oak!” Lyra called, relived. The dark-haired woman stepped forward, hand outstretched to pat the large beasts nose. “You’re so big now boy.”

“I’m sorry what is that?” Finral questioned, now very much awake.

“A dragon, Lyra’s dragon. Little bastard was getting irritable and then vanished on us last year just after Vanessa arrived… seems he was having a growth spurt.” Yami grunted, sleep still present on his face.

Lyra began scratching the large beast under its chin- which was followed by the loud, reverberating thumping of Oak’s hind leg. Alder began to squawk from around Ella’s shoulders, almost indignant at the size of the much older dragon. Gauche stared between the fire mage and the tree like beast.

“So why do you, a fire mage, have a tree dragon? Isn’t that a fire hazard?” The mirror mage couldn’t help but question. Golden eyes turned his way, almost staring into his soul.

“Probably.” She replied with a shrug.

“He showed up a little while after we met.” Morgen added. “He’s almost never left her side… except to become this giant.”

Oak seemed to purr at the recognition… he was in fact a very large beast now compared to when Ella had met him. He was large then, in that brief interaction, perhaps no larger than Yami’s dog (if it could be called that) and Alder had been able to fit against the small of her chest- now he was coiling around her shoulders like a serpent.

“I think Lyra has it covered I’m going back to bed.” Vanessa announced, turning quickly on her heel, followed by Grey, Charmy and Gauche without a word.

Yami released a grunt, making Lyra turn towards the Captain.

“Make sure he doesn’t make a mess or else you clean it.”

“Who else would?” The woman rolled her eyes before continuing her cooing and awing at the dragon.

~~*~~*~~*~~

“Letter! Letter! From Mórilanta!” Noelle spun with a start, cutlery clattering into the sink as the large Corvus landed upon the open windowsill. Charmy, who had been mindlessly cooking lunch jumped.

“Nevermore!” Ella exclaimed, practically leaping towards the bird. The Corvus crooned, head aiming for some friendly scritches before handing the letter to the eleven-year-old. “How have you been? Nyx giving you the good treats?”

“What’s that?” Charmy asked, drool pooling at the corners of her mouth. “Can we eats it?”

Ella gasped and flung her arms out as Nevermore squawked at the small mage. “No Charmy!”

“Okay then.” The halfling pouted before turning back to the Black Bulls’ lunch, a sheep chef now by her side.

Nevermore crooned again, feathers ruffling as it waited for the eleven-year-olds attention once more. Ella pulled the letter from the Corvus’ claw, the neat scrawl putting a smile on her face.

Dear Yule Forest,

I hope you and Alder have been well. I’m sorry for the lack of letters these last few months- like Uncle Lydon told you a while ago as Mórilanta is a gate way of sorts for all these other creatures who make their way in and out of our villages and sometimes the gate needs to be shut. I unfortunately forgot when the gate was shutting and didn’t send a letter in time- I apologise.

Which Ella you cannot imagine all the amazing Folk that have come through, I only recently found out that some Dragon Folk have purple scales! I met a Mermaid with an eels tail and a Dryad who sneezed flower petals! Oh and a witch older than Elwyn’s Adar with the wrinkliest skin- it was kind of weird- and rainbow hair.

On another note I hope training is going well, I’ve been working hard too and cannot wait to spar with you again- blade to blade, magic to magic. I can successfully shift into a Raven now! Flying is the best and having feathers is just awesome. Thranduil’s siblings have started joining me too- Luka and Tia are fast learners too though Tia prefers helping Ash and Elwyn with Estella.

Oh Ashera, Elwyn and Thranduil are going to send you a letter soon too but told me to let you know Estella has been calling you Aunty Elle and that she has started calling me Uncle Nyxie.

Anyway send me a letter soon, Nevermore missed you a heap so please give him scratches and treats (yes he did tell me not to write that and I did anyway).

We miss you a lot Ella. And don’t forget~

You are the rock against which the surf crashes.

Nyx

Ella smiled as she folded the letter and placed it in her pocket. She missed them greatly but she was glad that letter could resume now, she’d been worried by the lack of communication but everything was okay, every thing was fine. Ella grabbed a piece of meat cutting that wouldn’t be used to give to Nevermore who made a happy purring noise in return.

“What a good bird. Get some rest and then I’ll write a letter back okay.” Nevermore seemed to nod before flying out towards a low resting tree branch by Oak’s large tail.

Ella blinked before glancing towards Alder who was happily snoozing and snoring in a patch of warm sun- she hoped he didn’t grow as fast as Oak did in the months he was gone… who would she cuddle if he suddenly became giant? How did Lyra even get Oak? She’d never actually asked her before…

A thought sprung to mind as the eleven-year-old spun on her heel, speed walking towards the living room where Lyra and Vanessa were talking, Morgan sat beside his girlfriend reading a novel.

“Lyra can I bother you for a second?”

“Sure kiddo what’s up.”

“With Oak you say he just showed up for you right? What did you mean by that?” Ella sat on the ground, looking up at her, waiting for the fire mages reply.

“Well… after I woke up from that- what did we call it- void? We spent a few days healing and trying to figure out how I got there and what happened and he just showed up I guess because I have no memories from before I met the twins.” She shrugged. “Morgan and I had gone on a walk and heard crying, found him stuck in some bramble- he was no larger than Alder is now and the rest is history. Why?”

“Oh well… I guess I just had a thought about Alder and after seeing Oak grow so large I- sorry it was dumb.”

“No it won’t be dumb.” Vanessa smiled and Ella could see Morgan was now paying attention too. “Tell us Ells you’ve made me curious.”

“Okay well… I was wondering if Oak and Alder were similar but from your story they aren’t. Alder is made from my magic, he’s a spell I made when I was in Mórila- the village before I came here and I noticed it around the same time Yami agreed to train me but Alder doesn’t go away anymore.” Ella said in one breath, her face pinkened slightly. Lyra seemed to freeze but Ella took no mind to it.

“Alder was a spell?” Morgan piped in, hand moving to cover his mouth. “I thought he just liked to vanish sometimes when he was smaller… I had no idea… oh he must be one then”

“Who must be what?” A new voice called, Nacht had entered the room. Morgan just smiled at his twin and pointed to the youngest mage.

“Alder is a spirit or well something like that.” Morgan exclaimed.

Ella’s jaw went slack. Spirit? What the Hel did that mean? Like the one Queen Loropechka supposedly has? Unline… no, Oondeen- UNDINE!

“Well, well. Our little Ella Dreki is stronger than it seems.” Vanessa crooned. “Now I can’t wait to see what you can do when you get to go on missions!”

“Who is going on missions?” Yami yawned as he stepped into the room.

“Ella, when she officially joins the squad.” Vanessa’s face flushed as Yami stared her down.

He only grunted before continuing on, stepping around the now awake young dragon.

Alder hissed in greeting as he slid into Ella’s lap.

“So…” Ella pouted. “This definitely means he’ll grow then?”

“Afraid so.” Lyra said quietly.

~~*~~*~~*~~

With a gasp Nozel sat up, those pezzottaite eyes haunting his dreams and silver hair soaked in blood pooled at his feet. He could feel the sweat dripping from him, leaving trails that chilled his skin in the cool night air. That was a… strange dream, one he’d been having for quite a while now but… it was different?

He always saw Noelle, the spitting image of their mother, grown, pigtails and steely glare as she holds her own in a fight by his side… and then she’s down, blood pooling beneath her as the sickening crack of knees against stone flooring echoed in his ears even as he sat awake well into the dark hours of the night. But the ending of this nightmare was different, she was young again, happy… no gods no she was never happy here not with them… never with them.

Nozel choked on a sob, his eyes darting towards the desk he’d had placed in his room three years ago, the mass of papers and ink strewn across it in a heaped pile, how unlike him to be so unorganised. Maybe… maybe if he had never started having those nightmares, maybe he’d feel like himself.

Masterlist

Ella finally got Yami to train her (How? He won't tell her...) but the squad has grown and so has a liking for knife puns.

Warnings: swearing, knife puns

A clashing sound echoed through the open land outside the Black Bulls base, metal against metal.

“Again!” Yami barked, swinging his sword down on the now eleven-year-old girl. Gloaming blocking the dark mage’s katana with practiced ease.

Ella spun, shoulder-length golden-brown hair gleaming in the morning sun as she turned, one of her knives flicking forwards to land between her Captain’s feet. He side stepped, mana flowing through the katana as he slashed towards the girl, she blocked again- her own mana swirling around the blade like a spire of water.

“Alder!” Ella called, water splashing against Yami’s face as she did. Yami’s stumbled back, blinded for a moment… but his Ki was not hindered as he dodged the swing of Gloaming and the whip of Alder’s tail… the little dragon was much bigger now- he couldn’t even sit on Ella’s shoulder, or nest in her hair anymore, though he could curl around her neck now like a serpent.

The katana was at her throat, she had lost again.

“You’re getting better kid.” Yami smirked.

“I have a good teacher.”

“Watch it brat.” Ella only poked her tongue out at the man.

It had been a whole year since Ella had come to the Black Bulls… since she officially became Ella Dreki (though Noelle Silva still echoed in her mind) and it had been one hectic and wonderfully chaotic year. Firstly as a Christmas present after her tenth birthday Yami decided that he could officially train her- so long as the others pitched in too (being Lyra, Morgan and Nacht exclusively because Vanessa couldn’t really train her). He’d been gruff and about as pleasant as usual when he’d dragged her from her bed Christmas day, told her to get dressed and to wear closed in shoes (which she usually wore anyway… she liked her boots very much thanks) and told her to meet outside… the sun had barely risen and she was in fact NOT a morning person regardless of how much she tried to be.

In true Yami fashion however all he told her to do was prepare to block- and block she did.

Not only that but most of the squad in her previous life had joined… it was strange and Ella was certain she remembered them saying they joined at vastly different times- oh well.

Vanessa had joined the year prior, rescued by Yami from her bitch of a mother… already drinking to the grave but Ella loved her so very much (especially when she put little braids and flower crowns in her hair. It was hilarious the first time she found out that the golden-brown hair Ella donned was simply dye- she had spewed nonsense about Ella being too young to be going grey… Lyra had promptly lost her shit over that comment.

Gauche was next, spewing the usual about how lovely his sister was and how he’d do anything for her (it didn’t matter how long it had been that sentiment still stung a little bit) and was snippy if anyone looked at a picture of Marie for too long. It admittedly took a while before Ella realised that he wasn’t quite the Gauche she knew yet, he was still angry and volatile but at least he was a familiar face.

Gordon followed and this time Noelle… Ella was determined to befriend him and understand him. She wanted to know what he was saying so quietly all this time- that and he expressed (through a scrap piece of note paper) that he really just wanted some friends and that Yami was the first person to offer him a place to be that wasn’t just his family. Ella had mused that she had been lonely for a long time before she found some good friends.

Then came Grey, tall, round and quiet Grey who Ella wished would be confident in herself to show off who she really was because she is so pretty. That was that- Ella’s side quest was to help Grey grow her confidence... though it was funny when Grey would morph into the young girl and poke fun at Yami with her (before she ran away and hid because she got embarrassed).

Ella was admittedly surprised at how shy Finral was when he joined, freshly seventeen and seemingly very uncomfortable. Ella had poked and prodded at him (thanking whatever gods there were that he hadn’t started trying to flirt with Lyra or Vanessa because one of them would have quite literally roasted him alive) getting him to open up as to why Yami had dragged him to the base by the scruff, in which he’d poked and prodded back and asked why she was at the base in the first place since she was far to young to be a magic knight. Touché but he really was such a big brother to her now (Langris was missing out).

Most recently was Charmy. Ella has no idea how Yami found her, no clue where the half-dwarf came from at all. It was like she just appeared before him and then wound up at the base- chef sheep in tow…. Ella paused her thought- she doesn’t remember talking about the smaller woman being half-human… she digresses as Yami’s sword came her way again.

“Getting lost in thought will get you killed kid.” He said just as her sword slammed against his.

“Sorry Captain my Captain.” She teased, poking her tongue at him once more.

Something moved out the corner of her eye, the flickering of a red cloak catching her attention- and Alder’s. The small water dragon hissed loudly, water splashing into the face of whoever it was.

“What are you doing here Julius?” Yami asks.

“Sorry Lord Julius!” Ella yelps as she finally turns to face the Wizard King- who seemed completely unbothered by the water soaking his face and chest.

“Oh it’s quite alright little one! You must be Ella, Yami’s spoken about you quite fondly.”

“Have not.” Yami grunted.

“Yami? Fond? I think you have the wrong man.” Ella says seriously- unbeknownst to her the little dragon around her neck was mimicking her expression of seriousness making the Wizard King laugh. “Yeah can’t be Yami he’s only fond of the bathroom and gambling.”

“Oi!’ Yami’s hand swung down, aiming to grasp her by the scruff- Ella dodges, golden brown hair barely being grabbed instead. “Don’t go sayin’ shit like that you weirdo.”

“I am learning from the best… Nacht says to always insult at the least expected moment.”

“You are a delightful ball of chaos. I like her Yami.” Julius laughed. “I wanted to officially meet the youngest Magic Knight member.”

Ella cocked her head to the side, Alder copying at that. “What’s that mean?”

“Well I suppose you won’t be one officially until you turn fifteen but Yami has been training you- so I can only assume you’ll remain with the squad when the time comes.” Julius mused, his hand resting thoughtfully against his chin.

“Oh… yeah I don’t want to go anywhere else. I might do the exams for the fun of it though- I haven’t decided yet.”

“Why?” Julius’ eyes seemed to comically widen.

“I guess I want to see if anyone would raise their hand for me- Yami you better though because I’m picking you regardless.” She levelled a glare at the Black Bull’s Captain who just rolled his eyes.

“Yeah whatever. Did you need anything else or are you hiding from Marx again?”

Julius seemed to turn sheepish, offering an extremely awkward grin before he turned back to Ella- ignoring Yami’s question.

“So is that a water spirit? What’s it called? What spells do you have? Oh you don’t have a grimoire yet… how much magic do you have!” Ella blinked owlishly… she hadn’t been honoured to have the Wizard King nerd out over her magic in her last life… she’s sort of glad she didn’t (and what was with the cold spine feeling again?).

“Uh… his name is Alder. I’m not sure if he’s a spirit I just sort of conjured him once? He used to be so tiny- he’s much bigger now.” Ella stated. “Spells… well the basics that anyone has before they get their grimoires… but I have too much mana so I struggle with control.”

There was this strange gleam in Julius’ eyes, like he knew something she didn’t.

“Excellent!” He clapped. “I foretell you’ll be a strong mage if you keep this up.”

“Oh… thank you Lord Julius-” A sharp screech came from Julius’ side, a magic stone gleaming brightly.

“LORD JULIUS!”

It seems Marx has found where the elusive Wizard King was.

“Oh hello Marx.” Julius grinned, hand rubbing the back of his neck.

“Lord Julius you have paperwork to complete…” The conversation trailed on as Yami grabbed her by the scruff, with Alder hissing as he slithered onto the Captain’s arm in protest and dragged them back towards the base.

“What about training? I thought we were working on my water bursts?”

“It’s lunch time and we don’t need to listen to Julius get chewed out… again.” Even Yami seemed exasperated by the Wizard King’s behaviour… fair enough really.

~~*~~*~~*~~

“Okay, I’m very angry all the time and I look like I want to be anywhere but here!” Finral shouted, his arms waving around as he did.

“Could it be Yami?” Vanessa guessed.

“Nah Jack is like that too.” Lyra snickered, leaning further back against Morgen.

“Is it Nacht?” Ella added. Finral let out a joyful sound, pointing at the young girl.

“Ding, ding, ding we have a winner!”

“I’m not angry all the time.” The white-haired vice tutted. The knights turned towards him, all of their brows raised (including his own brother). “At most I am mildly miffed.”

“Okay Ella your turn.” Finral chuckled, passing the deck of home-made cards to her. She pulled out the person everyone had to guess. Ella chuckled, Charmy would be easy.

“Laaa.” She sang.

“Laaa?” Gauche’s brows furrowed- to be honest all of them were surprised he was even playing the game.

“Oh, oh! Me!” Charmy yelled. “Laaa!”

“Correct.” Ella giggled.

“That was too hard.” Vanessa pouted.

“Really? She says it all the time.” Ella replied.

“That’s true.” Morgen added. “Often when it involves food- which when doesn’t it involve food?”

“Food is good for the soul, laaa.” Charmy grinned, jumping up to replace Ella in the game. “Okay, alight…”

“Oh this’ll be good.” Yami snickered.

Charmy inhaled a deep, deep breath. “Somebody gave me fire!”

“That’s a drunk Lyra.” Morgen announced with a laugh. Said fire mage just sat quietly laughing with her mouth agape. “I also think an adequate ‘do not fucking touch the fire dumbasses’ would have worked.”

“Betrayed by my own partner… what is this.”

“New quote.” The group chorused. Lyra’s jaw dropped again- though quickly shut again as she gave a swift smack to Morgen’s ass as he stood.

“Get a room.” Ella heard Gordon whisper. “Too much flirting for me today- but I am very glad they are happily together, ah such romance.”

“Ah this one’ll be difficult.” Morgen snickered. “What do you have there… a knife? No!”

“Ella!” Vanessa shouted. “Oh my god that’s you, you knife gremlin.”

“Give me all the knives!” Ella yelled with a laugh. “I know I can be blunt but I am the knife of the party so…”

That earnt a snort from Yami who had just been listening to the chaos unfold.

“Oh cut it out.” Charmy laughed.

“You’re so cleaver Charmy, in fact I would say you are the sharpest in the squad.” Ella added.

“Well-blade Ella.” Lyra chimed in, watching as her partner rolled his eyes (still very much laughing at them all).

“You’re all so knife-ty guys.” Finral stated, uncontrollably laughing at them. “And so co-knife-ing.”

“They’re getting worse!” A Gauche-copy yelled out (Grey)- but even they couldn’t stop their laughter. Yami just shook his head, newspaper hiding the approving grin hiding on his face.

Masterlist

Ella's getting to Yami, she just knows it... but she hadn't expected such a wonderful surprise from her new family... but why does she feel strange when she meets the masked man?

Warnings: swearing, tears, absolute FLUFF

Noelle could admit that as Ella brown hair suited her… as Noelle it was such a strange change, one Lyra was more than happy to help with after a couple of days asking. Nothing overbearing but she wanted to know what dye felt like, what colour would suit her- things like that. She’s gone with a pretty golden brown, something light and easy to get used to for now- maybe in the future she would choose a darker shade… just as long as it hid her silver-white hair.

No one seemed to question her further about the change, which she was extremely grateful for during the last month of her living with the Black Bulls. She wanted to leave as much of her life as Noelle Silva behind as possible… at least for now. With this different hair colour it now decreased any risk of a Silver Eagle even thinking it’s her at all and on the smallest chance she ever ran into a family member (or even Cordelia) there would be no way to recognise her.

Right?

Of course luck was not on Ella’s side as Yami grabbed the girl by the scruff and dragged her outside the base. All she wanted to do was train! Hel she may not actually know what day it was but still!

“Yami let me go!” Ella groaned, not even fighting the giant man.

“I need you to get shit for me at the Capital while I’m in a meeting.” Yami grunted.

“Can’t you get Morgan or Lyra too- or even Vanessa she’s new make her do it.” The woman having joined about two weeks after Noelle had (not that she counted yet apparently) and as the water mage had expected was a wreck- having met her mother she honestly understands why.

“Morgan and Lyra are on a date, Nacht is busy and Vanessa has a hangover.” Yami countered as he hoisted the girl onto his broom with him balancing precariously behind her, feet planted against the magical object. Her small hands grasped the broom tight as she made herself comfortable. “Don’t go expecting free rides all the time kid, this is just because you can’t fly yet.”

And then they were off and Ella couldn’t help but feel utter wonder as she stared at the world below with one stray thought passing- Was Vanessa even allowed to drink alcohol yet?

~~*~~*~~*~~

“Be back here in an hour you got it kid.” Yami instructed as they landed before the Wizard King’s base of operations. “Here’s the list, it shouldn’t take you long to find everything so if you have the time wander around, get some lunch or whatever. Here Lyra’s given you some Yul for the trip.”

“Sir yes sir.” Ella offered the magic knights salute, her nose scrunching and tongue poking out at the man. He gave her a warning look as she took the Yul from Yami. “See you in an hour.”

“Don’t get lost.”

“I won’t.” She called, rushing down the steps and passed the knights at the gate- she barely registered an awfully familiar voice greeting Yami with distain as she vanished into the streets. She wouldn’t look, wouldn’t turn to see him… she couldn’t. Ella shook her head of any thoughts, any memories, sucked in a deep breath as an image of her oldest brother’s face as she was dying echoed through her mind.

She wasn’t Noelle anymore… at least for now.

She needed a kilogram of Ash bark, ten sprigs of Rosemary, some varying meats- chicken and beef had been written in a different scrawl which she can only assume was Yami instead of Lyra’s neat writing- a pound of white salt, bags of flour and sugar and whatever other cheap herbs and charm ingredients Ella could find. Lyra was handy with her charms, using twine and sprigs to make anything from a lucky charm to warding off attachments- not that the young girl knew what she meant by that and she hadn’t wanted to ask Nacht who’d only looked pained that it had to be done at all and Morgan had only snickered at his twin… so whatever it meant was probably not something she needed to ask about.

The now brunette sighed as she wandered the market, her hand trailing to the dagger pinned to her hip while the other grasped the basket she now held. Her pezzottaite eyes eyed the dark alleyway at the end of the market, the entrance to the Black Markets… a place she has no business being in nor wanted to be in- especially so young now. With a huff she made her way towards the butcher, having just enough Yul left for the portions written on the note and a nice snack on her way back to Yami.

“Hello Lil miss what can I get ya.” The older man greeted, he reminded her of Mr Cook with his broad smile and crooked grin.

“Hello Mr Butcher.” She greeted in kind. “Can I please get these portions here of beef and chicken. Thank you.”

The old man laughed as he took the note she handed him. He squinted, reading the order before he looked down at the girl.

“That’ll be about fifty Yul.” She beamed, passing him the shiny gold coins. “All good, wait five minutes while I chop up the goods.”

“Alright sir.” She nodded, stepping to the side in case any other customers came by.

Five minutes later and her basket was full, now all she needed was her snack and to make her way back to the Wizard King’s base. She spotted a bakery and made a run for it, skilfully dodging everyone as she did- she didn’t want to be in a long line just for a chocolate pastry.

“Hiya kiddo what can I get you.” A woman greeted as Ella panted before the stand.

“Just a chocolate pastry please. I have about twenty Yul here.”

“The pastry is only ten, keep the change… busy with errands I see.” She smiled down at Ella.

“Yeah, my… guardian had a meeting so he brought me here to get some stuff.” Ella replied, exchanging her Yul for her delicious pastry.

“Ah.” The woman nodded. “Well kiddo if you ever find yourself running errands here again you’re welcome to hang here for a while. Name’s Selene.”

“I’m Ella, nice to meet you Selene… oh sorry I have to go now. His meetings almost over.”

“All good, stay safe Ella!” The honey blonde woman laughed as she waved the girl off.

Apparently Ella had been closer to the base than she’d thought with fifteen minutes remaining in Yami’s meeting. She found a seat beside Yami’s broom as she nibbled on her pastry- it was delicious. She really should have taken her time, being so close to Nozel and the Wizard King was making her mind tick and she didn’t like that… and so she people watched- with Alder now sitting on her shoulder.

“Hey kid!” Ella jumped turning towards the voice of her Captain (whether he liked it or not). “Didn’t get lost?”

“Nope. Got everything Yami.”

“Good. Wait a few more minutes and then we’ll go. Gotta talk to Goldie Guts first.”

Ella can only hope that Nozel didn’t appear, she didn’t want to see him, wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of them… Plus what kind of shitty luck could a near ten-year-old have for him to even show? Alder vanished as she moved closer to Yami.

She saw the masked Captain step out of the shadows and a chill ran down her spine… something about him was off. She took a deep sidestep behind Yami, only peaking around him to see what he wanted… she could see Nozel further back- gods she hopes he didn’t notice her. Vangeance looked down at the mess of brown hair behind his friend.

“Hello there.” The Captain greeted with a laugh. “Who’s this Yami? A bit young to be a knight hah.”

“Eh? Ella’s just some brat who wouldn’t leave me alone… lives at the base with us now though.”

“Yeah but you care- we know you do.” She poked her tongue at the man, ignoring the way her fist tightened against his Grimoire’s holder.

“Ella, nice to meet you then. I’m William.” The masked man smiled, it was warm and kind but… she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was off. Her eyes darted towards the Silver Eagle Captain who’d been ignoring them for the most part… until his eyes met hers.

Nope.

She tugged against Yami’s pant leg, she couldn’t control the gut wrenching feeling she had as he looked at her. Her heart hammered in her chest, she felt like she was going to throw up, even at the slight chance he could tell who she was… what would he do to her? What would any of the Silva’s do? Would they beat her senseless? Scream and cry over her reckless plan to run away…

“What’s wrong with you?” Yami grunted ruffling her short hair. She only turned around and reached for the basket of items she had brought, ignoring the question. “Kid’s probably tired and grumpy now.”

“It is midday so I don’t blame her.” William laughed. “This wasn’t going to take long anyway- just wanted to see if your squad was up for a joint mission?”

“Ah? Yeah Lyra and Morgan would probably be happy to do it. They can drag Vanessa along too. Why?” Yami questioned- though keeping an eye on his young ward (not that he would call her that aloud).

“Lord Julius wants to send some of my knights to a dungeon but my only available people are new and have very little experience.” William stated. “We may be rivals my friend but well we are… friends. Thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“I’ll talk to them and let you know. Send them the mission details when I do.” William nodded before offering his goodbyes to the Black Bulls Captain and ward.

Noelle… Ella wanted to leave, before Nozel got closer, before he spotted her. It seemed Yami was just as eager to leave as he hoisted them both onto his broom, the basket looped over the broomstick so that it wouldn’t fall.

“You okay kid?” Yami asked after a few minutes.

“Fine.” She replied. He grunted out a laugh.

“You aren’t going to get far in my squad if you lie to me ya know.” He said. Ella blinked owlishly and snapped her head back towards the Captain.

“So I’ll get to join? You’ll train me properly?”

“Who said I’d train ya!” He scoffed. “Lyra’d skin me if you didn’t join after all ya effort.”

“Morgan’d help ‘er.” Ella added with a grin… ah she’d picked up his inflections- how nice.

“Probably… don’t change the subject what’s wrong?”

Ella faced forwards again, eyes darting across the sky as the broom glided through the air. Her thoughts were swirling like a whirlwind… what could she even say? There was no way in Hel she’d tell him about Nozel… not yet at least… maybe one day. Though perhaps-

“I don’t like the masked man.” She shrugged. Ella could practically feel the way Yami’s mana shifted, and she couldn’t say Captain Vangeance because he didn’t introduce himself as such and it would be weird if she knew his name right? Though she did know Yami’s so perhaps that was redundant.

“Why? His mask scare ya? I’ve never seen him without it so I can’t tell you why he hides his face.”

“No… it was weird, like… my spine got really cold?” She didn’t know how to explain it, how off it felt just being around Captain Vangeance.

“That’s weird.” Was all Yami said, she just shrugged again.

~~*~~*~~*~~

The base was dark… really dark. Not a single light was on nor an open window in sight as Yami and Ella landed. The Captain said nothing as he grabbed the basket and Ella by the scruff of her shirt and pulled them in. It was just so dark… and weird and

POP! BANG!

The lights were back on.

“SURPRISE!”

Ella jumped, her head near reaching Yami’s shoulder as she let out a high-pitched squeak. Alder re-materialising mid-air, a small stream of hot water splashing against a nearby streamer.

“Surprise?” Ella questioned after a moment, the squad trying desperately to hold back their laughter from scaring the poor girl. “What’s this for?”

“Happy birthday kiddo.” Lyra snickered, hand musing against her golden-brown locks. “You’re ten now.”

“Oh.” Ella said, stunned that they even remembered. Her eyes welled up a little, she hadn’t expected this… hadn’t even remembered what day it was. “Thank you everyone.”

“Aww.” Vanessa cooed (Ella wouldn’t be surprised if she’d already had some wine). “We love you little dragon!”

“Love you all too.” She said, and she meant it with her whole heart.

“Come on into the living room- we have presents.” Morgan smiled, Nacht’s face echoing his twins as his shadows pushed the now ten-year-old mage forward.

It wasn’t much but she loved everything they bought her- and now she knows why Yami decided to take her to the city today she’s happy that he did. This meant so much to her, no one had ever done anything like this. Vanessa bought her a charm to tie to Gloaming- a little silver dragon with black ribbon that managed to resemble Alder (who was very happy with this). Nacht gave her some new cleaning equipment for her knives and sword while Lyra and Morgan both bought her some books- one was about Valkyries, another dragons and the last one was a fantasy story about a runaway princess… how ironic. Yami, however, he surprised her with a book as well… a book with sword techniques and fighting stances, but that wasn’t all.

“One last gift!” Lyra announced, pulling forward a small box that made a slight jingling noise. “We all pitched in for this and we hope you like them.”

Ella grasped the box, opening it carefully. Two plain silver bands sat on a velvet cushion.

“What are they?”

“Weights, they’ll help strengthen your wrists and arms for your sword fighting. They can be imbued with as much mana as you need to help with flow and movement.” Nacht was the one who answered and she could only smile wildly- ignoring the way Alder tried to lick at her tear-soaked-red-cheeks.

“Thank you… thank you so much.” Ella’s lip wobbled as she looked between each knight. This was her family, this was her home… and she loved them so, so much.

“Happy Birthday.” They all said again and Ella couldn’t stop herself from barrelling towards the dark-haired couple, hugging them tight- Vanessa reached over and ruffled her hair while Yami and Nacht watched silently (both fighting off a smile).