bulk Locke the the grim head: Thank you but I don't think the Clover Kingdom has anything like the Grand Magic games.
BanRedfox: Thanks, I figured it would be good to add that even if it was short.
It was a bright and shining morning as all the members of the Black Bulls were gathered in the main lobby of their headquarters with their captain, Yami, standing before with the usual cigarette in his hand. They were on their knees in the order of Noelle, Asta, Gauche, Charmy, Vanessa, Luck, Magna, Gordon, and Final from left to right as they paid close attention to their calm yet easily angered captain.
"Okay, everyone listen and listen good. It's that time again, the time when our wages come in and you guys get the day off." he said calmly.
As usual this cause a round of cheers all around as they loved this day, not only for the pay but the free time to do whatever they chose.
"Alright, extra time to train." Asta said as he quickly got into a push up position and started going as fast as he could.
"Thank you, Yami Sir! A great call as always!" Magna said as he raised his arms in the air.
"I say we celebrate with some drinks!" Vanessa said as she went to the couch and poured herself a glass of wine, most likely the first of many.
"This also calls for a feast! Second breakfast to be exact!" Charmy said as she placed herself at a small round table.
The table currently had a small platter of cupcakes with various topping, a pot of tea, and a cup full of said tea as the food loving girl start eating two cupcakes, alternating between the two.
"It's time to get busy!" Finral said as he stood up. "Ladies, here comes your dream guy, Finral!" he pointed to himself and gave a smile.
"Chhuuuuu." said Grey as he just let out the usual puff of smoke from his mouth.
"By the way, Gauche. Good job, dealing with all those bandits yesterday." Yami said as the mentioned man had a nose bleed from looking at a picture of his sister.
"Thank you but could I make a request?" Gauche said as he turned to Yami. "Today's my little sister, Marie's, birthday. Can I extend my time off to her next birthday?"
"Hell. No." Yami said as he meet to creepy older brother's gaze.
"We've got free time?" Luck said as he threw some air punches. "I hope somebody attacks the capital again, I could use a good fight! OH! I just got an idea, I'll attack the capital!"
"That's an even bigger hell no!" Yami said as he slightly smiled at the boy lust for battle, it made him a valuable ally if there was a war raging.
As this was going on, Gordon was doing his usual talking in a mumble while polishing a gold coin. "This is great and all but money can't buy the true happiness of friendship."
"100 percent agreed, Gordon! There's nothing like good friends to make your day better!" Asta said, since his enhanced hearing allowing him to hear his fellow, mumbling bull, from his push up spot.
"You got that right, Asta." Gordon mumbled in reply as he smiled, happy that Asta could hear him even if he mumbled.
As everyone did their various things, Noelle seemed to try and be the voice of reason.
"Does no one feel like working?" she asked even if she already knew the answer.
It was then Charmy opened her grimoire and cost her arms before saying, "Cotton Creation Magic. Sheep Cooks, Ho!" she finished as she raised her left fist in the air.
In a matter of seconds, 3 fluffy sheep with cook hats appear from small cotton balls and worked at a fast pace to make their master more food. After about 5 seconds, they had created a smorgasbord of potato related dishes but these weren't just any potato related dishes as Asta caught of whiff of them and recognized that smell.
"Oh yeah!" Charmy cheered with her arms in the air.
"Wait a second." he said as he stopped his push up and turns his head to Charmy. "Are those?"
He immediately got up from the floor and went to the table to confirm his theory.
"They are! They're pot-potatoes!" Asta said with joy in his voice.
"Yes, they are!" Charmy said with her mouth full. "They're a specialty from a place called Hage Village, the same place where my prince is from. Go ahead, have some!"
"You bet I will! I haven't had these since I left to join the Magic Knights!" Asta said before he went to a plate of pot-potato croquettes and started eating them. "It's been so long! They taste like home!" he finished with tears of joy running down his face.
Curious as to the hoopla of the food, the others decided to try these pot-potatoes and see how they taste.
"They're very dense but that means their good for you, high in fiber." Yami said as he sampled a hash brown.
Meanwhile on the couch, Magna was holding a plate of pot-potato chips as Vanessa sat to his right and Luck sat on his left. They stared at dish for a moment before each trying a chips.
"Crumbly. So good." Luck said as he ate one.
"Not bad and it's amazing how they take all the moisture out of your mouth." Magna said after he ate one.
"Yeah, and these would be perfect for bar snacks. Really makes you thirsty for a drink." Vanessa said as she held her right check.
Grey was currently eating a salad with pot-potato sprinlkines as he let out the usual puff of smoke but you could hear a bit of satisfaction in his tone. Charmy was currently stuffing her face as usual with to kabobs in her hands.
"The love for my substance savior knows no bounds and it shall never be denided!" she said as Gauche walked past her and out of the headquarters, most likely to visit his sister.
Finral was about to follow but was soon stopped by Yami, who placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a dark look.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. You wanted me to take you into town for another match, right, captain?" Finral said as his smile wavered a bit.
"Uh huh but first," Yami started as his stomach started to gurgle and placed a hand on it. "All that fiber seems to be doing its work. I might be pushing past my limits right now." he finished speaking as he had an uneasy look on his face and sweat on his forehead.
"That is one limit no one want to you push past sir! So disgusting!" Finral said as he opened a portal and pushed Yami through to the bathroom.
As this was happening, Asta continued to eat the dishes made from the specialty of his home in Hage and tried not to think about Yami and his "limit."
-Timeskip, unknown. Location, outside of the Black Bull Headquarters-
It seemed to be mid day as Asta was outside with Magna as the man was polishing his broom, Crazy Cyclone. Unknown to them, Noelle was also outside and was overhearing their conversation. The reason why is because she had nothing to do on her day off, so she decided to see what they were talking about.
"Magna, Sir! I know you're busy but I was wondering if you could please take me somewhere on your amazing broom?" Asta said with respect as he stood like a soldier with Nero on his head.
Even if Asta was a Junior Knight 3rd Class and Manga was a Junior Knight 5th Class, he still respected Magna due to him being a Magic Knight longer than him.
"Well, when you ask all polite and respectful like that, how could I saw no, Rasta?" Magna said as he gazed at his friend. "So where to, man?
"The Village of Nean, sir!" Asta said with respect.
After the name of the place was said, Noelle began to ponder behind the wall she was eavesdropping from.
'Nean? Wait, that was where Asta went for that dumb mixer.' She thought as she continued to listen.
"No problem, but why exactly?" Magna asked.
"Well, it's something I promised someone." he said as he rubbed the back of his head.
'Promised someone? Wait, that girl he was with at the mixer. She said she wanted him to meet her siblings, could that be it?' Noelle thought as she placed a hand on her chin. 'Wait, why do I suddenly care?! I know he said it would be fun but why am I worrying about it?!"
As she pondered, Magna had gotten on his broom and said, "Well, get on."
"Huh, we're going now?" Asta said in surprise.
"Well, it's now or never. So, what's it gonna be?" Magna said with a bit of annoyance in his throat.
"Now's good!" Asta said before he climbed on Crazy Cyclone.
It was then Noelle heard the sound of the broom taking and pulled her from her thoughts as she look around the corner.
"Hell yes!" Magna said as he took over with Asta on Crazy Cyclone.
Noelle decided to come out from behind the wall and gaze at them as they took off. As they flew threw the sky, Asta had just finished explaining why he was heading to Nean in the first place.
"So you promise a chick you meet that the mixer you'd play with her little siblings?" Magna said.
"Yeah, I think it'll be good for them to have a new playmate!" Asta said with a smile as Nero stayed on his head.
"Wow, Asta. Already bringing her family on a date. Fast learner, I'm proud of ya!" Magna said with a proud smile.
"Thanks!" Asta replied.
Magna turned his head back towards the front as he saw the village of Nean was dead ahead.
"Nean is coming up fast, Asta!" he said, causing Asta to cheer a bit.
"Alright! I can't wait to meet Rebecca's siblings, it's gonna be great!" he said with his arms in the air.
"Take it easy there, man." Magna said as he flew Crazy Cyclone faster into Nean.
-Timeskip, a few hours later. Location, Nean Village-
It was the evening and the sun had gave the village of Nean a beautiful glow as the day was reaching it's end. Though this was normally a time of ease, the people of Nean were put in a state of creepiness as Gauche of the Black Bulls walked down the road, carrying 3 large bags full of toy and having an enormous nose bleed. The reason he was present in Nean and had bags of toys was due to his little sister, Marie, who lived in the village and it was her birthday.
'Salutation, my sweet sister, Marie. Please forgive me, for my blood lose has made me late.' Gauche thought as he had a creepy smile and blush on his face. 'I have bought you many birthday presents and I hope you enjoy every last one of them.'
He continued to talk through town as everyone around him kept starring at him in slight fear, worry, and disgust but, unfortunatly, it never got to him.
'All of my wages are gone but no price is too high to see you happy.' he thought as he continued to walk towards his destination. 'I can't wait to see you again, my sweet little angel. I can not wait to see you smiling face. My sweet little Marie.'
Gauche continued to think of his little sister until he rounded a corner and fell upon a horrendous sight in his eyes that caused him to freeze as if he were made of stone. Marie, his little sister and the light of his life, was smiling, laughing, and had a blush on her checks as Asta, his fellow Black Bull who was also smiling and laughing, was was swinging her around in circles as she hung onto his arm. Watching the display besides him was, Rebecca with her hair down, wearing a purple dress with an apron and a baby with light red hair strapped to her back, a young boy, and slightly older girl, a older boy, and a young girl that was close to Asta's height.
"You having fun, Marie?" Asta asked, having a little fun swinging Marie from his right arm.
"Yeah! It's so fun!" said Marie, who was wearing a pink dress in black flat shoes.
The sight was amusing and looked fun as the two kids around Rebecca's legs wanted to join in.
"I wanna go next!" said the small girl, who had Nero on her head, with short red hair wearing a white dress over a long sleeve purple shirt.
"Me too!" said the small boy, who also had short brown hair, wearing a beige shirt and black shorts.
"You got it! One ri-" Asta said until a boot came crashing into his face and sent him to the ground.
This caused everyone to gasp and stepped back as the culprit responsible was Gauche, who had his hands in his pocket as he was digging his heel into Asta's cheek. His little sister, Marie, was watching from his right with shock as he continued to do so.
"Get away from my sister, you scum." Gauche said.
This caused Asta to groan a bit as it went on for a few second until Marie shouted, "No, stop, big brother! I don't want you doing bad things to him, please! Asta is going to marry me someday!"
'Wait, what did she say?! And when did I agree to it?!' Asta thought as he heard this claim.
This caused Gauche to stop what he was doing and freeze, hearing his little sister's words repeat in his head over and over as his other functions ceased and he crumbled to the ground. Asta and Gauche weren't the only ones to be shocked by this as Noelle was around the corner in an ally with a shocked face and white eyes.
'Her husband? I came out of curiosity but I did not expect this!' she thought as someone was behind her, a broomstick driver who had flown her to Nean.
"Um, the fare, ma'am?" he said as he wore a blue suit and hat, holding a broomstick with a lantern at the front.
"Here. This should be enough." Noelle said as she uncaringly dumped a large amount of gold in his hands before turning her attention back to Asta.
'More than enough! Thanks!' he thought in shock and glee.
Back with a now standing Asta, Rebecca, Marie, and her siblings, Gauche had begun to get up after his crumble and began muttering something as well.
"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill." he muttered as he got up.
"Um Gauche? Are you alright?" Asta said as his instincts sense an abnormal amount of danger coming from his fellow knight.
"Kill, kill." Gauche said as he raised his head, showing a teary right eye, bloody nostrils and a small, creepy smile. "I'll kill you."
This sent Asta, Rebecca, and her siblings into a state of fear as Asta scream a bit and Gauche opened his grimoire, which was coated in blue magic, with the wave of a hand.
"Mirror Magic! Reflect Ray!" Gauche said as he gained a dangerously calm face with his hair giving shade over his right ear.
Soon, a mirror floated out of his grimoire and showed Asta his reflection before it fired a bright, light blue magic beam at him. Asta quickly dodged as he fell on one knee.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" he said in panic and a little anger.
"Now die, you scum." Gauche said as he fire another beam.
Asta acted quickly and crossed his arms while shouting "Iron Dragon Club!"
His magic went to work and transformed his arms into iron columns as more beams came towards Asta, causing a cloud of dirt to kick up as the blast hit his iron covered arms. As this was going on, Rebecca and her siblings ducked to the sides to avoid the blasts while Marie stayed beside her brother and watched as this happened.
"Please! Stop this, stop hurting him!" she exclaimed.
This only stopped when an old voice came into earshot.
"Oh my, what is with all this racket?" the voice said, causing everyone to turn and see who it was.
The person in question an elderly woman with short, light-colored hair wearing a nun outfit. She had a large, jagged scar running down over her left eye, extending from her forehead to her left cheek.
"Marie, it's time to head back to the church, it's getting late." she said with a kind smile.
"Sister Theresa." Marie said, a little surprised to see her.
Sister Theresa then laid her eyes upon Gauche and instantly lost her smile and said with distaste in her mouth.
"Oh, so you're the cause of the noise, Gauche. You're here again."
"That's right you, hag." he said with equal distaste.
"That's "sister" to you, boy. Remember your manners." S. Theresa replied.
Asta, after turning his arms back to normal, and the other simply watched the exchange as the magic glow around Gauche's grimoire ceased and he closed it.
"My sister and I are spending the evening together, so you can go back to the church on your own." he replied as he glared at Sister Theresa.
"No, she coming with me to the church, Gauche. And the sooner you accept this, the better for you and everyone else." S. Theresa said as he face morphed into a calm state. "You need to realize that being around someone like you is not wise for an impressionable child such as Marie."
This comment caused a growl to come out of Gauche's throat as his glare intensified towards Sister Theresa.
"It's better for her to be in the company of someone better, someone without a bad attitude and smart mouth like yourself." she said without a hint of remorse or doubt..
"Excuse me, you old crone?" Gauche said as her words fell to deaf ears.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about." S. Theresa said as he just proved her point.
"Go die in a ditch." he said as he walked forward.
Sister Theresa soon followed his lead as she returned his nasty comment.
"Such a nice thing to say to an elder who's nearing the end of her life, you thoughtless oaf." she said.
"This coming from a demon which who will live for another hundred or three hundred years." Gauche replied.
"That sort of insult is only something a thug would resort too." S. Theresa said as she came to a halt in front of Gauche.
"Quite, you useless old bag!" Gauche shouted as he got in her face.
Asta, after letting this escalate enough, decided to jump in front of the two and try to stop it.
"Okay, that's far enough! You have no right to talk to an elderly woman of the church like this. It's not right!" he said as he held his arms out with Nero on his head.
"Stay out of this! No one asked you to help!" Gauche yelled.
"Just go home, Gauche." S. Theresa said before turning her attention to Marie and sounding cheerier. "Now, come along, Marie, it's getting late."
"Okay, sister." Marie answered as she took the nun's hand and walked away before turning back to everyone and waving. "Bye, big brother! Bye Asta! I had a lot of fun!"
While the little girl and nun walked away, Gauche fell to his knees and watched her leave with heavy heart.
"No, Marie. Come back!" he said before he fell to the ground.
Though Gauche was feeling down for her to go, Asta, Rebecca, and her siblings had happy faces as they waved by to the young girl.
"Bye, Marie!" Asta said as the other kids gave their good byes as well.
After the farewell had been complete, everyone turned their attention to Gauche, who seemed to be as lifeless as a statue.
"Uh, dude are you gonna be okay?" Asta asked as Gauche didn't more an inch.
"Marie..." he said in a deathly whisper.
"Wow, this guys is weird." said the boy with a beige shirt and black shorts as he poked Gauche with a stick.
"Yeah, I know." Asta said as he stared at the scene.
"Well, now that that's over, are you hungry?" Rebecca said. "We could grab some food at the restaurant I work at while your friend recovers. And maybe you could stay the night with us?" she finished with a blush on her checks.
"Really? That's so nice of you!" Asta said as he smiled at her.
"Yeah, that's a great idea!" the boy said.
"Yay! Yay!" shouted the little girl as she celebrated.
As the young kids celebrated the idea, Noelle watched from her ally and grew shocked as she gripped the wall so hard, it cracked. This was something Asta caught with his advanced hearing and turned to the ally, where he saw no one but he had a feeling someone was there.
'Spend the night?! How did it turn from a play date to spending the night?!' Noelle thought as she had her back against the wall of the ally. 'This is just madness all around!'
-Timeskip, midnight-
After a wonderful meal, Asta and Nero were having a pleasant night's sleep but unknown to them, their slumber was about to end as Gauche had appeared in the room with a deranged look in his eye. It was clear the he was still insanely, upset about Asta getting all friendly with his sister and he wasn't going to have ANY of it.
"Now, it's time to die." he said as he opened his grimoire. "Mirror Magic. Reflect Ray."
As the mirror rose from his grimoire and began to charge to fire, Asta's instincts roared him awake and he turned his head as the magic beam grazed his nose.
"WAHHH! What the heck, man?!" he shouted as he shout up from the bed.
"Prepare to die, Asta." Gauche said as he didn't take his eyes off the boy.
"Hey, wait a second! Why are you doing this?!" he asked, curious to this new brand of crazy.
"Simple, I refuse to let you marry Marie and I am taking the necessary steps to insure it." Gauche replied as his mirror spell charged up.
With his instincts and fear guiding his body, Asta done his shoes and bull robe as he summoned his Iron Dragon Scales and stood away from the bed.
"Take it easy, it's just something that a kid says!" Asta said as he punched through a beam before punching through another. "And only a low life would attack someone in their sleep!"
Gauche didn't seem to listen as he continued to fire beams at Asta, who counted with as many punches and kicks as he can give.
"Your insults mean nothing to me, since you'll soon be a dead man." he said before he cast another spell. "Mirror Magic. My Real Double."
The magic mirror in front of Gauche gave a bright glow and covered to room until it died down and reveal that there were two Gauches with a mirror floating in front of both of them. The only different is that the second Gauche is is reversed, meaning his left eye is showing instead of his right eye.
Asta gave a gasp as he thought, 'There's two of them now? And they each have a beam blasting mirror? What kind of magic is this?'
"You have deemed guilty of a heinous crime." said the original Gauche.
"The crime of meeting my little angel, Marie." both Gauches said unison.
"But that doesn't make sense! A lot of people have probably meet your sister!" Asta said as he punched and blocked several magic beams.
"Be quite and just die, scum." both Gauches said as they continued to fire.
The beams soon become too much as Asta was blasted through the wall and landed on his back outside, where it was snowing for some reason.
"Uh, what did I do to deserve this?" Asta said before he noticed the snow all around the village." Snow? But it's not even winter yet. What's going on?"
"Forget about the snow and die already!" Gauche said, drawing Asta's attention before firing another beam, which Asta blocked.
No later, than a second later, Rebecca came out wearing a nightgown and a blanket over her shoulders, screaming, "Hey, what do you think you doing? Stop it!" before walking down a set of stairs.
"Oh, sorry things just go-" Asta started until he was cut off.
"Never mind, that, I need your help." she said with worry. "It's my brother and sisters, they're missing!"
"What? Missing?" said a shocked Asta as he heard around the village.
It would appear that Rebeeca's little siblings weren't the only ones missing as it appears all the children in town were missing and their parent were outside searching for them.
