Summary:

Augustus' birthday party brings together all the nobility of Clover, the royal family of Diamond, the Heart Queen, and the interim government leaders of Spade. Cue a security nightmare for the Magic Knights and some uncomfortable situations for Kirsch and Mimosa.


Wish, Wish

By:

IAmStoryteller

"...And the last order of business. The King's birthday party and the security detail," said Julius to his nine Magic Knight Captains.

Rill, Yami, and Jack groaned. Dorothy slept. Charlotte rolled her eyes. Fuegoleon, Nozel, and William kept stoic, but they all stiffened in their seats at the mention of the King. Kaiser sighed.

"Now, now," said Julius, pleasantly. "We can get through this. Kaiser, Rill, Charlotte, Fuegoleon, Nozel and William, you'll all be in attendance as guests, so you'll be our eyes on the floor. Yami, Jack, and Dorothy, you'll be watching from the gallery, which will be closed to guests."

"Do all of us have to be there?" Rill asked.

"All the Captains have to be, yes," Julius answered patiently. "However, all Magic Knight squads won't be there. The Black Bulls, The Green Mantis and the Coral Peacocks will be all in attendance, as well as the Royal Guard in the gallery. In addition, I'd like Yuno, Langris and Vivian to join the security detail. Need I remind you that King Augustus invited all the Noble Houses of Clover, the Royal Family of Diamond, The Heart Queen and Lady Undine, and the Interim President of Spade. This will be a tall order."

"This is a nightmare," said Nozel. "We're inviting very dangerous people into our Royal Capital. This is a mistake."

"Are you and Fuegoleon going to try to talk the King out of this? Damnatio and I both tried, but he's insistent. He says it will show Clover's strength," said Julius, sternly. Nozel shut his mouth. Julius continued, "The Bulls, Mantis and Peacocks' squads are also required to wear the Magic Knights' dress uniforms."

"We have dress uniforms?!" Yami and Jack asked in shock.

Charlotte said unamused, "We're a military, of course, we have dress uniforms."

"Yes," said Julius, stressing the word. "Take a packet from Marx. Yami, Jack, please, please, hand these to your Vice-Captains. And if you need help with the dress uniforms, have Nacht and En talk to Kirsch, who is a good source of information about clothing."

"Yes, sir!"

"Last thing," said Julius. "Every single one of you will be on your best behavior. I don't want any inter-kingdom incidents."

"Yes, sir."


Kirsch sighed as he took a glass of sparkling cider from one of the servers' trays and thanked them. Here he was dressed in the most fabulous and stylish outfit at the biggest party of the year and his partner was stuck up in the gallery in the security detail. Granted, Kirsch worked security from the floor since he was the Vice-Captain of the Coral Peacocks, but he was also playing the part as a member of the Royal House Vermillion, which meant that Kirsch had to play diplomat and sweet-talker.

The party was in full swing. This was a very formal party. At the moment, they were in the mingling and appetizer stage of the party. When Augustus was drunk enough, he'd call for dinner where everyone would sit in their assigned seats and have a six-course dinner. And then, Augustus would give a big speech and dancing and more drinking would commence.

"You always hate parties, and yet you are always the best dressed, Prince Kirsch," said a feminine voice.

Kirsch put up his polite smile and greeted, "Crown Princess Matilda, it's been a while."

"My sixteenth birthday party went pretty poorly, wouldn't you say?" Crown Princess Matilda of the Diamond Kingdom, the oldest daughter of the King of the Diamond Kingdom. She was a year older than Kirsch and the oldest of many siblings and half-siblings. Out of all her siblings, she was the most amiable and the most attractive. She had brown eyes and neatly curled brown hair. Her dress was a light blue strapless dress with a puffy skirt.

"Well, your brothers dumped a keg on your birthday cake and caused a small fire in the Diamond Castle, so yes, I would say it went poorly," said Kirsch, mildly. "How is the rebuilding going?"

"As well as can be expected," said Princess Matilda. "The Dark Triad really did a number on the outlying towns. My father put me in charge of the rebuilding efforts, so I started in the commoner towns to keep the remaining populace happy. The...Dark Triad did murder all of our noble houses, after all, so I don't have to cater to their whims. He said that it would be good for me to learn before he dies. I have General Mars with me all the time. He...doesn't talk much." Princess Matilda gestured to the awkward General Mars, standing behind the chair of the King of Diamond, who was falling asleep in his chair, listening to Augustus prattle.

Kirsch internally grimaced. He needed to change the topic to something less depressing than the consequences of the invasion of the Diamond Kingdom by the Dark Triad. "So, who made your dress?"

Princess Matilda laughed, "Oh! This is my mother's dress. The seamstresses modified it for me. And where did you find that outfit?" She moved closer to him.

Kirsch reluctantly let her hold onto his arm, as any good gentlemen would. It was better that he kept Princess Matilda company than any of the Clover noble-ladies looking for a husband for their daughters. "Oh, here and there. I had it in my closet."

"Lies," Princess Matilda gasped, teasingly.

"Oh, it's the truth, but I shall tell you where I found each piece," said Kirsch, smiling charmingly. "It's an adventure."


Zora leaned against a column in the gallery overlooking the ballroom, watching the floor for any troublemakers. He pulled on the collar of his dress uniform, as it was very uncomfortable, especially since his normal leather strap mask had been replaced with a soft fabric mask. He wasn't feeling like his Super-Wizard self in a dress uniform, matching with the rest of the Bulls. Granted, they did actually look like a proper team in them, but Zora preferred everyone's unique looks. Zora had been sent several hours before the party started to set up traps around the perimeter and wished that he was able to skip out. He didn't want to spend the time watching a bunch of high-born idiots party like fools.

He especially didn't want to see Kirsch have a woman attached to his arm the whole evening. Zora tried not to be a jealous person because he trusted Kirsch with his whole being and he knew that Kirsch was wholly devoted to Zora. He wasn't jealous about Kirsch spending time with another person, because that wasn't the case. Zora just wished he could be down there with Kirsch, holding his partner's hand and enjoying Kirsch in that wonderful outfit that made his ass look really good. Zora got a good look at Kirsch in the outfit just a bit earlier when everyone arrived at Clover Castle, but they had to go their separate ways.

"Stop glaring holes into the Diamond Crown Princess' head, Zora," said Nacht, nudging him and giving Zora his placid fake smile. Unfortunately for Zora was stuck with Nacht for the evening,

"Shut up. Like you wouldn't be doin' the same thing, if someone cozied up to Vanessa," Zora snapped back.

Nacht's smile was chilled a bit. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Zora."

"Dirty liar," said Zora, snorting. Nacht acted as though Vanessa's flood of admirers and suitors hadn't suddenly backed off recently, at the same time as Nacht and Vanessa's relationship changed to something much more romantic. Zora said, "And I trust Kirsch to take care of 'imself. I don't trust that woman."

Nacht snorted in disbelief.

While the Black Bulls, the Coral Peacocks, and various members of the other squads who were friendly with Zora and Kirsch knew about their relationship, Zora and Kirsch had to keep their relationship quiet from the public eye for the time being. Fuegoleon was still working on changing the laws pertaining to royal marriages, but it was a long process to change them, especially considering that Fuegoleon wasn't just doing it for Kirsch, but for himself too. Zora's eyes found Kirsch's head of vermillion hair once again. The Crown Princess hadn't let go of Zora's partner's arm yet and it was kind of getting on Zora's nerves.

Alright, Princess, I see you. Keep your hands all proper and we won't have a problem. Zora thought to himself. Grumbling in annoyance, Zora went back to his job to watch the rest of the crowd. Kirsch would be fine. Like he told Nacht, Kirsch could handle himself.


Mimosa smiled placidly at the next man who came up to her and tried to get her to join him for the evening. She hated coming to events. Mimosa was always a target for admirers and wannabe suitors. And this evening had Kirsch keeping Princess Matilda company, Nozel and Fuegoleon stuck talking with the old men about politics, Leo and Fragil on a sweet, fancy date, and Nebra already three wine coolers in and no sign of stopping because she's upset she couldn't be with Vivian. Noelle and Mereoleona don't get invited to events (Noelle was up in the gallery with the other Black Bulls and Mereoleona was probably training in a volcano). And Mimosa would rather eat paint than spend prolonged time with Solid. It left Mimosa to navigate the shark-infested waters of a Royal Party on her own and dressed in her prettiest dress wasted on these morons.

She knew that Yuno and Langris were somewhere in the gallery. Langris didn't get invited to events anymore since the King hates him, so she couldn't even count on her noble-born partner to be here. Yuno was invited as the former Spade Kingdom Crown Prince, but he turned it down. Mimosa managed to brush off another suitor when the worst person ever appeared in front of her.

"Princess Mimosa, it's been ages. You've gotten so beautiful," said Prince Albert of Diamond, the young brother of Princess Matilda. He stared at her chest as he said it. He had messy and greasy-looking brown hair and dull brown eyes. His suit was too big for him, which was his normal look and not because of Diamond's recent monetary troubles.

Mimosa gritted her teeth and smiled politely. "Prince Albert, I see you're still….you."

"Yes! I'm delightful, aren't I? How about you save some dances for me, Princess Mimosa?" Prince Albert crowed.

Mimosa said, easily lying, "I'm afraid I'm not dancing tonight. I just came back from a hard mission yesterday and I'm still a bit tired."

"If you were my wife, I'd never let you out of the house," said Prince Albert. "A beautiful lady like you shouldn't be working as a Magic Knight. You get hurt. Or scar your pretty face."

Mimosa smiled tightly. Never mind that she did have scars from her various battles, how dare this little man belittle her? She promised she wouldn't run away. Good relations with Diamond were important. "Well, small miracles that I am not your wife," said Mimosa, blandly. Yuno and Langris would be proud of her deadpan delivery. She had been practicing.

Prince Albert laughed like Mimosa told a joke. "You're so funny. Sweet princess, do save me at least one dance?"

Mimosa reluctantly agreed.

She regretted it already.


"Langris, breathe," said Yuno.

Langris glared at Yuno, though the situation wasn't Yuno's fault at all. Langris was just that bad at emoting. He said, "I should have been her date for tonight. She keeps getting harrassed." Langris hated, hated that Mimosa had to dodge questionable men and their advances all on her own. Her ridiculous older brother was stuck with the Crown Princess of Diamond, so he was no help, as was the rest of her Vermillion and Silva cousins.

"Harrassed is a strong term," said Yuno, calmly, far too calmly. "And you know the King still hates the both of us, so it'd just cause her more trouble if one of us was with her."

"You don't like it either," said Langris.

Yuno stared impassively at Langris for a moment and then back out to watch the ballroom floor where the guests were seated for the impossibly long dinner. Langris knew Yuno's gaze was immediately drawn to Mimosa seated tensely between a nobleman from Clover and the Prince of the Diamond Kingdom, Yuno said, "Of course I don't, but Mimosa can handle herself perfectly fine."

"I didn't say that. She shouldn't have to deal with it at all," Langris said, moodily. Mimosa was too sweet and kind to have to deal with such nonsense on the regular. Of course, she was one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom with a sweet personality and a reputation for being a kind-hearted healer. Langris understood that to many people, Mimosa was still an eligible bachelorette, but she wasn't.

Mimosa had him and Yuno. And true, things weren't exactly normal or easy for them to be open with their triage relationship with each other, Langris would one day like to be able to show people that, yes, he was loved by two amazing people who he didn't deserve.

Yuno chuckled lightly. "You're so cute."

Langris scowled. "You're a brat."

"Uh, please spare me." Bell said, from her spot on Yuno's shoulder.

"Shut up, Bell," said Yuno and Langris at the same time.

Langris kept scowling as the main course had been finally brought out. He narrowed his eyes. "Who was on the Charmy watch?"

Yuno said, still looking at Mimosa. "Finral and Gauche, I think, why?"

"Charmy took a seat on the Heart Queen's lap and began to eat," said Langris, gesturing to the Heart Queen happily giving Charmy food.

"Well, we all knew that was gonna happen," said Yuno. "Oh, look, fancy Prince is getting too close to Mimosa."

Langris turned his head and glared.

I will not throw the Prince of the Diamond Kingdom out a window. He just had to tell himself over and over again.


As Langris seethed in anger next to him, Yuno observed the big party. He was honestly not surprised that Charmy found her way to the dinner table. He spotted Vanessa over at the open bar too. Yuno shook his head. The Black Bulls were a disaster. Asta was in the gallery across from where Yuno and Langris kept watch. Asta was with Noelle and Liebe and Asta kept gesturing to Mimosa whenever he also saw someone weird go near her.

Yuno didn't like leaving Mimosa on her own, just like Langris, but Yuno knew that Mimosa would and could handle herself. He had seen her take on opponents twice her size without flinching. This was a young woman who had stitched together Yuno and Langris again and again while they faced down Zenon so many months ago without missing a beat. A petty asshole Prince was nothing in comparison to the monster that killed half their squad and almost killed their Captain.

This party so far was pretty boring and dull. Many of the nobility were smashed already, as it was free booze all around, and people knew that there were three Magic Knight squads in the galleries around the ballroom. It was why they all had to wear their dress uniforms. All dress uniforms were black, but the shirt and tie were based on the color epithet of the squad. Yuno and Langris wore golden-yellow shirts and a tie with the black suits. Asta and the Black Bulls wore black shirts and ties. The Coral Peacocks' squad members wore coral shirts and ties. Vivian of the Silver Eagles had a silver-white shirt and tie. Granted, the Golden Dawn normally wore a uniform anyway, so it wasn't too much of a hassle for Yuno and Langris.

The simpering king was loud, loud enough that Yuno could hear, about his victories over the devils and elves.

Yuno frowned. I really hate that guy.

Langris jolted Yuno out of his thoughts by grabbing his arm and gesturing to where another man who had saddled up to Mimosa and was in her face. "I'm going down there."

"You're not," said Yuno, pulling Langris into a half-hug. "She'll be fine. We don't want any incidents. Doofus."

Langris wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Fine."

"If you just want to hold my hand, you could have just asked," said Yuno.

Langris sniffed in annoyance, but still held Yuno's hand anyway, which just made Yuno smile. You are so easy to see through, Langris.


Other than Charmy interjecting herself into the dinner as a guest, Julius found that the party was going well. It was going a bit too well and that made Julius nervous. He caught the gaze of Damnatio from across the banquet table. Damnatio looked as grim as ever and doubly so as the night wore on and the guests became drunker and drunker and thus rowdier. Julius suspected that Damnatio waited for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, just like Julius.

Julius was usually spot-on predicting things.

The six-course meal had been served and the cake had been put on standby so that Augustus could give a proper birthday boy speech. Julius didn't think that it was a good idea, but it was the man's birthday.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. I do hope that you enjoyed our first-rate hospitality and food. Our chefs are some of the best in the world. My birthday cake is a red-velvet cake with a cream-cheese frosting, so I'm sure you all will be dying to have the recipe," said Augustus, voice squeaking annoyingly the entire time. "And I would like to thank my dear Magic Knights who saved the world multiple times in the last couple of years. Without them, I might not have lived to see another birthday!"

Julius raised his eyebrow. That was unusual coming from Augustus, who usually just complained about how Julius ran the Magic Knights into the ground and "in my father's day" had been a phrase Julius heard often.

"On that note, I would like to thank my fellow Kings, Queens and leaders for visiting. I know that our four kingdoms have had our differences, let's say, but new beginnings are upon us," said Augustus. "With that, I have two big announcements."

Damnatio shot Julius the most worried look.

Oh, Augustus, what did you do? Julius thought, wondering how much of a mess he was going to have to clean up this time.

"To better facilitate our relationship with the Diamond Kingdom, we have two betrothals in order. Crown Princess Matilda will soon be ascending the throne and she needs a wonderful, intelligent husband and who better than the Vice-Captain of the Coral Peacocks, Kirsch Vermillion? But of course, I couldn't separate two siblings, so Mimosa Vermillion, 1st Class Intermediate Magic Knight of the Golden Dawn, will be marrying Prince Albert. It will be such a shame to see two of our best Magic Knights go but this is all in the name of diplomacy."

Julius grimaced. He sensed a lot of angry mana in the galleries and at the dinner table. Julius moved to speak when Kirsch and Mimosa stood up and said, in unison, "Excuse me?!"

You know what? They're Nickole's kids, they've got this. Julius would watch and stop things if they got too dicey. It honestly can't get any worse. At least, Mereoleona wasn't here.


Kirsch's fists were clenched at his side as he glared at the King. "How dare you think to marry me and my sister off without even consulting us or our House Head?" Kirsch was not going to get married and move to the Diamond Kingdom. His place was in Clover with his family, the Coral Peacocks, and Zora. Princess Matilda was a fine lady, but no one compared to Zora for Kirsch.

"You're getting old, Lord Kirsch," said Augustus, laughing snootily. "I'm sure that your mother would want you to marry a lovely lady and have children before you're twenty-five. And Lady Mimosa, she's in the prime of her life. You'll have beautiful children."

Kirsch glanced at Mimosa whose face was purple with quiet rage. Kirsch sneered, "Thank you for the concern, but what Mimosa and I do with our love lives is no one's business but our own."

"Now, now, Lord Kirsch, don't be like that. This is a good thing. Right, Crown Princess Matilda?" Augustus asked.

Kirsch looked at a confused Matilda, but maybe not for the exact reason he thought. Did she know about the betrothals and sought me out tonight to reconnect as old friends? Kirsch shook his head. "I cannot-"

And then, Kirsch felt a familiar mana at his side. Zora had come down from the gallery to come to Kirsch. Taking Kirsch's hand in his, Zora snarled, "Like fuck I'm lettin' ya marry off my man to the damn Diamond Kingdom, you shitty king."

The gasps around the table echoed, whether it was about Zora's disrespect of Augustus or the announcement that Kirsch was Zora's man, Kirsch didn't know.

"Zora-" Kirsch started to say.

"Julius, your peasants are speaking to me again," said Augustus, fanning himself. "Every time, they insult me."

Zora gripped Kirsch's hand tighter. "Kirsch and Mimosa are stayin' here where they belong. They're my family and I'm not lettin' 'em go, even if I have to fight the whole fuckin' lot of ya."

Kirsch's eyes softened when he looked at Zora. I love you so much, you reckless, handsome man.

Mimosa looked teary-eyed at Zora. Kirsch noticed that Langris and Yuno had gotten themselves down to the ground level and were coming towards Mimosa in a hurry.

"Zora, my love, I am not going anywhere," Kirsch said, softly and reassuringly.

"'Course ya ain't." Zora said, gently back to him. He yelled at the king. "Whatever deal you made, it's off."

Augustus looked apoplectic.

"Um," Crown Princess Matilda said, standing up. "King Augustus, I was under the impression that you had spoken about the betrothals with Prince Kirsch and Princess Mimosa and that they were on board with the idea."

Augustus grumbled. "Well, how was I supposed to know that Lord Kirsch was fucking a peasant? No taste in partners whatsoever."

"Watch it," Kirsch cautioned. He'd hear no slight against Zora. "And Princess Matilda, I truly am sorry but I can't marry you, even if I wasn't with Zora."

Matilda shrugged. "You're handsome and smart and know how to lead, which is why I had asked, but you're not my type, so it's not a big deal." She said, nervously. "Can you get your partner to stop death glaring at me? I swear my type of guy is your handsome Green Mantis Captain." Matilda winked at Jack the Ripper, who blinked once.

"Zora," Kirsch chided. "It's alright."

Zora looked at Kirsch and said, "It's not fuckin' alright." Zora said, much louder than before. "Kirsch, I love you so much and I want everyone in this room to know it. I was gonna wait to do this, but it seems like I gotta snatch ya up more permanently sooner rather than later."

Frowning in confusion, Kirsch watched as Zora pulled something out of his suit pocket. Kirsch's heart stopped. In Zora's hand was a ring box. "Wha?"

Zora opened it and Kirsch didn't see the ring, too absorbed in looking into Zora's blue eyes. "Kirsch, will ya marry me?"

Kirsch's eyes watered. He didn't ever think that Zora wanted to get married, because he didn't seem the type and so Kirsch was okay with just being with Zora forever in any way possible. He said, "Yes. A million times, yes." Kirsch pulled Zora into a tight hug, which lasted a few seconds before Kirsch slid down the fabric mask on Zora's face to kiss him senseless.

The moment their lips met it was like there was nothing and no one else in the world.


Mimosa looked at her two boys and said, "If you propose to me right now, I will punch both of you."

Yuno snorted. "Not likely."

"They really ought to get a room," Langris grumbled.

"Ugh, whatever. So it's clear that Lord Kirsch is taken," said Augustus, "but Mimosa will still marry Prince Albert."

"No," said Yuno and Langris, loudly.

Augustus finally realized that Yuno and Langris were standing next to Mimosa. "Oh, it's you two. Julius, the one peasant and the boy who almost killed me are speaking to me again. You really ought to get them all under control."

Lord Julius looked so tired.

Mimosa said, sternly. "Your Highness, I am not marrying anyone until I'm ready but I sure, as the sky is blue, am not marrying Prince Albert." She continued, "I'm very happy with Yuno and Langris, so please don't use me as a bargaining chip."

"Mimosa…" Langris said, moving to hold her hand. "You shouldn't have."

Mimosa smiled at Langris. Let the people talk about the Vermillion girl who had two partners. Let them. Mimosa didn't care. "Everything will be fine. I don't care what anyone says, as long as I have you, Yuno and my true family."

At that moment, Prince Albert who had been sitting close to Mimosa stood up and said, "I wouldn't want you anyway, Princess Mimosa, when it's clear that you're a wh-"

He never finished the sentence because Yuno punched Prince Albert in the face.

Asta's cheer echoed in the ballroom. "Go, Yuno!"

Langris gapped at Yuno and Mimosa giggled because she knew full well that Yuno wasn't as calm and stoic as he tried to be. "Yuno!"

"Well, Albert, you deserved it," said Princess Matilda. "Nice right hook, Golden Dawn boy."

Yuno shook his hand and said, clear as day and with great authority, "No one has the right to insult Mimosa. Or Langris. They're mine. I'll gladly have a conversation with anyone who has a problem with it."

Mimosa and Langris both sighed fondly, though Langris did it much quieter. Yuno was so amazing.

"Well," said Julius, "that's that then. Sorry about the betrothals falling through and-Noelle! Be a dear and dump a little water on Zora and Kirsch!"

Mimosa laughed when Zora and Kirsch, who had been kissing the entire time, got hit with one of Noelle's water balls.

Langris held her hand and Yuno came back over and held her other hand. She smiled at them. One day, maybe, she'd get a proposal from them, but until then, she was content.


Much later that night, after celebrating their engagement happily, Kirsch cuddled up to Zora. Zora held him close. Kirsch sighed happily as he looked at the ring on his finger. It was a simple golden band with three pink diamond stones. It was so beautiful and Kirsch loved it. Zora's hand trailed circles on Kirsch's lower back absentmindedly when Kirsch had a thought. "Zora, you better not have spent too much of your wages on this ring."

Zora said, "Didn't. The gold band was my Dad's wedding band. Mereoleona threw a pink diamond she found at the volcano at my head seven months ago and told me to make an honest fella out of ya. Ma Shula ain't no jeweler but she modified the ring for me on account that she sees me as family."

Kirsch said, "That's so sweet, my heart. I love it more." Kirsch was never ever going to take this ring off.

Zora said, a little bashful. "I'm so happy, sweet'eart."

"So am I, so much," said Kirsch, leaning to kiss Zora gently on the cheek. Kirsch trailed kisses down to Zora's neck. "Hmm, love you so much."

Zora hummed. "Love ya too."

Kirsch smiled and pressed a kiss on Zora's neck. "Make love to me again."

"Anything fer ya." Zora chuckled.


Much later that night, Mimosa was cuddled up with Yuno and Langris using her as a pillow while they soundly slept. They had been super clingy when they returned to the Golden Dawn base. The trio were supposed to sit for a recap of the night's events, but Captain Vangeance just waved them off. Captain Vangeance told Mimosa not to worry about any more betrothals and Mimosa didn't know whether or not to be scared for Augustus, especially if Captain Vangeance teamed up with Captain Unsworth, who may have slept through the whole thing but she definitely knew what happened.

She trailed her fingers through Yuno and Langris' hair and sighed happily. She wasn't leaving them any time soon. They've been through so much together already.

Mimosa whispered, "I do love you both so much, forever and ever. You make me so indescribably happy."

"Love you, too, Mimosa," mumbled Yuno, half-asleep.

"Hmm, yeah, love you," Langris said, sleepily.

Mimosa smiled. Her boys were adorable. She really did love them so much. She couldn't wish for anything more.

~fin