A/N: Hi guys! Here's chapter 26, this time there's a bit more explaining on the time gates and we finally get to figure out who's going to the past and how they're getting there hehe. I hope you all enjoy~!

—

The next few days passed in a blur. After the training incident Alistar didn't leave his room much and had completely quit training, with William and the others, when asked why he just said he didn't feel like he needed to train anymore. Everyone knew that was a lie. In actuality he was scared he would lose control and hurt someone again.

But Hikari and William gave Alistar space and instead focused on helping the others.

All the kids were steadily improving, their magics were becoming stronger and they were all getting better at controlling them. But the adults weren't sure if it would be enough.

" As long as they have us and each other it will be." Charlotte had said with a firm nod, the others agreed as well. As long as the kids were in a team with each other or were with the parents, then they would be okay.

On the last day of their training the adults were called out by Julius for a small meeting. They had been a bit confused since they were supposed to meet tomorrow, but they agreed.

" Alright listen up!" Yami started as he had all the kids gathered in the common area. " We're all going to be gone for a while so you'd all better be on your best behavior while we're gone, if not then every single one of you will be training all night!" Yami added, to which the kids nodded.

" Good. Now Hikari's in charge so anything she says goes!" Yami said, to which Josslyn and a few of the others grumbled.

Soon the adults left and headed to the Capital using Finral's spatial magic. Hikari turned to the others with her arms crossed.

" You heard him, I'm in charge and whatever I say goes!" She reiterated but with a mischievous look in her eye.

—

The adults walked into the meeting room to see Julius and Marx at the head of the table. Everyone saluted him before sitting down. Julius looked out at everyone with a smile.

" I apologize for calling you out so late, especially since we're supposed to be meeting tomorrow but I wanted to give you my congratulations on your hard work these past two weeks a bit early." Julius told them happily, Yami looked at him suspiciously.

" I don't think that's the only reason you called us out here." Yami pointed out, to which Julius nodded.

" You're right as always Yami," he said with a sheepish laugh before becoming serious. " I actually had something I wanted to discuss with you all before the Witch Queen arrived tomorrow."

" I went down to the basement and inspected the Time Gate myself, andI found something unusual." Julius started, Charlotte frowned.

" That's the Time Gate Hikari came through, correct?" Julius nodded in confirmation.

" Yes, that's correct. There's a panel off to the side of it with strange writing that I've never seen before. I looked through all the books the previous Wizard Kings had and I didn't see any writings that looked similar, so all I can assume is it's either from a different continent we haven't explored before, or it's something else entirely."

" Maybe another race of people created it? Such as the elves?" William asked, Julius shrugged.

" Possibly. But it doesn't look elvish or anything similar. The dwarves could have made it but I wouldn't see for what purpose." Julius said with a sigh.

" Do you know how we can make that thing work?" Yami asked, Julius shook his head.

" I tried to use my Time magic to activate it, but for some reason it wouldn't work. In Miku's memory Yuno was able to make the Time Gate in Spade work with what remained of his mana so I'm not sure why this one isn't the same." Julius muttered to himself.

" Could they have been made differently or each made by different people?" Asta asked curiously, but Neva answered before Julius could.

" That's pretty unlikely. If the Time Gates are a pair, as they appear to be so far, then it's more likely they were made at the same time and by the same person. Also most times when a pair is made they are made nearly identical, although there are a few rare occasions where they'll be different." Neva explained, Julius nodded.

" Neva's right for the most part, but since we don't know if there is one currently in Spade we can't be sure that they're exactly the same or completely different." Julius said with a soft sigh.

" But changing the subject somewhat, how are the kids doing with their training? I heard it's going well?" Julius asked more lightheartedly.

" It's going well, although there have been a few hiccups-." William started but Nebra cut him off.

" By 'hiccup' you mean when your son lost his mind and attacked everyone with his magic?" Nebra pointed out in a snarky manner, William sighed.

" He's already apologized to everyone, as have I, what else would you like us to do, Nebra?" William asked calmly.

Julius had seen what happened between Josslyn and Alistar, and as shocking as it was, he was also amazed! Who would have thought the kids would develop new abilities that their parents hadn't? He had started to fanboy a little bit, but Marx calmed him down and dragged him somewhere safe.

" It's good to hear that the kids' training is going well," Julius said, effectively cutting Nebra off as she opened her mouth. " Do you think they're ready for tomorrow?" He asked, he noticed the parents all give each other a look.

" I think the older ones are, the younger ones would need to be in a team together or with their parents." Charlotte said, the others nodded in agreement as Julius leaned back in his chair.

" I have a feeling The Witch Queen won't like that very much, but there isn't much we or they can do. Especially since they're all children who don't even have their grimoires yet." Julius said. " It's the adult's job to protect the young, so that's what we'll do." Julius added, he hated how so much rested on these kids shoulders.

" You may all head back to the house now, and get some rest because tomorrow our scouting mission begins."

Everyone walked out of the meeting room, most were talking amongst themselves and few were quiet in thought. Charlotte belonged to the latter group. But she wasn't thinking about what the Wizard King said, her mind was somewhere else entirely.

As she stared at Yami's back Charlotte couldn't help but think back on what she heard from his and Hikari's conversation a few days prior.

" Your mom, I'm not good enough for her yet. She deserves someone like her, a noble from clover, instead of someone like me."

Those had been Yami's words to Hikari as to why he and Charlotte weren't dating yet. She remembered how her heart ached at them, Yami Sukehiro didn't feel good enough for her? He was more than good enough! So what if he wasn't a Noble and was a foreigner? That didn't matter to her and she thought it didn't matter to him as well, but apparently when it came to his feelings for her it did?

She wanted to talk to him about it, and tell him all these things. But she knew it wasn't the time nor the place, maybe once this was all settled and the kids were sent back she could, but right now that had more important matters to attend to.

—

The adults used Finral's spatial magic to get back to the house, Yami frowned when he noticed that they were outside instead of inside. He turned to look at Finral.

" Hey Wheel's what's the deal? Why're we outside?" He asked, Finral took a quick breath before answering.

" Sorry Captain, but I have to use a lot more mana when transporting lots of people so I was only able to bring us outside." Finral said tiredly, Vanessa patted him on the back and gave him a thumbs up.

" You did your best, Finral. At least you got us all here in one piece so that's all that matters." She told him with a smile, which made the spatial mage blush.

" Yeah, at least he didn't drop us off in the middle of the woods or something." Nebra muttered with a roll of her eyes.

Yami rolled his eyes before walking towards the door and opening it, and when he did the adults were met with a very surprising sight.

The kids were laughing and playing, the younger ones were using their magic to make things fly and were having small battles. While the older ones watched over them and sometimes participated themselves. Meanwhile Hikari was in the kitchen preparing a meal with Alistar, much to William's pleasant surprise!

" Oh you guys are back already?" Hikari said as she looked over her shoulder, the kids all stopped playing when they noticed their 'parents' were back.

" Yeah it was just a small meeting," Yami said slowly as he and the others walked into the house. " What happened here?" Hikari turned around and gave her father a thumbs up and a bright smile.

" You left me in charge of course!"

Earlier while the adults were away

" You heard him, I'm in charge and whatever I say goes!" Hikari reiterated but with a mischievous look in her eye.

The others looked at her almost nervously but Josslyn smirked at her.

" So we get to party? Or can I go out to the city?" Josslyn asked as she stood up, but Hikari chuckled.

" Oh no, we're not going to party and no one's going anywhere so I suggest you sit your ass down!" Hikari said loudly, suddenly looking identical to Captain Yami. All the kids gathered around quickly and sat as still and quiet as though Captain Yami were there himself.

" Now, we're going to talk and work these issues out!" Hikari said firmly and everyone knew what issue she was talking about: Alistar.

" You two," she pointed to Josslyn and Aloys. " Alistar apologized to both of you. I'm not quite sure why he apologized to you Aloys but he still did!" She then pointed to Kaiyo, Ezio, Maelie, and Mizuki.

" You three are in the middle with all of this so I don't really need to say anything to you." Hikari said with a shrug before pointing to Ace, Brielle, and Miku.

" I appreciate you guys standing up for Alistar and I'm sure he does as well, but he still did something wrong and everyone does have a right to be mad at him. But they don't have the right to continuously hold it over his head even after he apologized for it." Hikari said pointedly at Josslyn and Aloys.

The kids all looked at each other, most of whom had never been scolded by Hikari before. But after this they definitely would never let it happen again. Hikari crossed her arms and looked at them all.

" Now, since we have a big day tomorrow can we just put what happened behind us and enjoy tonight?" She asked the group, they all looked at each other again and nodded. " Good. Now I'm going to bring Alistar and you guys are going to forgive him, even if you don't mean it you're going to say it, and we're all going to get along again!" Hikari added before going down the hall and to Alistar's room.

Present

Yami blinked as Charlotte chuckled next to him, Hikari was as stubborn as Yami was.

" So now we can all sit down and have a 'family meal' together! I'm not as good a cook as Charmy but I think I'm okay!" Hikari said cheerfully as she and Alistar finished cooking and were beginning to set the table.

" I'm sure the meal will be lovely, I'll help you two set the table." Charlotte said as she and the others walked up to the table.

As the meal started and went on the atmosphere in the room became warmer and livelier. It reminded Yami of the many Black Bulls dinners they had at the Hideout. He watched as the 'parents' talked with their children and amongst each other as they ate. It almost seemed like everyone was just one big happy family. Yami suddenly became sad as he realized the kids could all be leaving soon, and when they did life would go back to normal somewhat. He had to admit he would be pretty sad to see them all go, especially Hikari.

" You're awfully quiet." Charlotte said softly as she took a sip of her water, Yami turned to look at her and shrugged.

" Sorry. Just got to thinking." He muttered as he took a sip of his wine.

" About what?" The blonde asked curiously, Yami sighed softly.

" About how it's going to feel pretty empty with all these knuckleheads gone." He chuckled, Charlotte laughed softly with him as she nodded.

" You're right, it will feel a bit empty. But they aren't leaving just yet, tomorrow's just a scouting mission to see what's going on, and if we can fix it. If we are able to fix it tomorrow then that's a good thing isn't it?" Charlotte asked, Yami grumbled. He knew she was right and it was a good thing. But that still didn't mean he liked it.

" Now," Charlotte started as she looked at the clock. " It's getting late and we all need our rest for tomorrow, so I think we should turn in for the evening." She added, the kids all looked down sadly and with a bit of a pout. But eventually everyone agreed and they all began to turn in.

—

The Next Morning

The 'parent's', children, Julius, and the Witch Queen all sat in the meeting room quietly. Everyone was so anxious you could almost cut the tension with a knife. The Witch Queen and Julius just stared at each other, it was as though they were speaking telepathically or something.

" I see you've all trained and got stronger," The Witch Queen started slowly. " That's a good start. But it still isn't enough to defeat your enemy."

" Seriously? But we worked so hard." Brielle muttered sadly as Asta gently patted her on the head.

" Your enemy has worked just as hard as you have, and they've been working harder longer. So their strength will be much greater than yours." The Witch Queen told her.

" So have you decided who'll be going to the future?" Julius asked her curiously, she nodded.

" I have. There's only five of you who are strong enough to take on the enemy." She said before looking at Yami. " Captain of the Black Bulls, Captain of the Blue Rose Knights, Captain of the Golden Dawn, and your children will be going to the future."

Everyone sat there stunned, just those five? They were the only ones strong enough?

" Hey, no fair! What about Yuno and I? We're nearly as strong as the Captain's so why don't we get to go?!" Asta shouted, the Witch Queen smirked a bit.

" Because I said so." She told him as she leaned back in her chair. Asta opened his mouth to argue but the Witch Queen cut him off.

" Were you able to figure out how to work the Time Gate?" She asked Julius curiously, he shook his head and leaned forward resting his arms on the table.

" No we weren't, but I think you already knew that." He told her with a tilt of his head, the Witch Queens smirk only widened.

" I did. Only certain Magic users can activate them." The Witch Queen stated matter of factly.

" If that's the case then why was I able to open the Time Gate in the future?" Yuno asked curiously, the Witch Queen turned to look at him.

" Equivalent Exchange. It's a law Alchemists used to use hundreds of years ago, but it's still very much active today. For example, in order to save a person's life something of equal value must be exchanged." The Witch Queen turned back to the table. " A life for a life."

" So an 'alchemist' made the Time Gates?" Charlotte asked curiously.

" That I couldn't say, all I know is those gates were here long before we were." The Witch Queen answered simply before standing. She suddenly walked over to Ezio who stood as still as could be.

" Luckily for us we have a Magic User who can open them," she stated before sighing. " it's a pity that this power was given to a man, but I guess I must be grateful that this gift was given to my grandchild instead of someone else." She muttered before placing a hand on Ezio's chest.

" What are you doing?" Vanessa asked as she and Finral went to move in front of their 'son', but the Witch Queen held up a hand.

" I'm unlocking your child's true magic. It was something he was supposed to inherit when he was older, but it can't be helped." She explained as, suddenly, bunches of pink thread began to pop up around Ezio. But these weren't Vanessa's threads.

" Ezio's 'true' magic?" Finral asked softly as he watched the thread swirl around Ezio, these threads looked very different then Vanessa's, they almost looked like Finral's spatial magic but pink and, well, threads.

" Yes. Spatial Thread Magic."

Everyone watched with shock and awe, Ezio, was a Spatial Thread mage? What even was that? It was the first time anyone had heard of that. Julius sat at the head of the table with wide and bright eyes, he was resisting every urge to go over there and see what kind of magic this was.

" I-I'm sorry," Ezio stammered as the Witch Queen moved to sit back down. " When you say 'S-Spatial Thread' what um, w-what does that mean?" He asked nervously, she sighed in response.

" It means you can connect the threads of time and space together. You can connect the past with the future, the present with the past, etc;. You can also send your enemies to different time periods if you wish, maybe you can send them to alternate realities if you work hard enough." She said with a laugh.

" S-So, what you're saying is-?" Ezio started as his face paled significantly.

" You're the key to getting everyone home."