Before anything, I'd like to thank those who read the story.
I am so happy that my first fanfic reached a point at 1000 views! Yahoo)
So, there it is:
Tom's grimoire rule:
If Dima's adventure with a certain friend ended before that friend reached his prime at the powers, Tom could upgrade his magic to the level Dima's friend reached with or without Dima
(For example: If Dima would have left Strawhats at the Alabasta arc, Tom will still be able to reach Gear Fourth, Zoro's Ashura or Sanji's raid suit)
Chapter 6. Noble recruit.
Black Bulls are gathering for a feast.
"Yay. We are going to eat.", said Charmy.
"Do we have anything to drink?", asked Vanessa.
"I'm very proud of you guys. I'm happy to have new friends like you", mumbled Gordon.
"Shi-shi-shi. Free food is always best.", said Tom.
The squad came in. Laughter and drinks dominated the feast. Tom and Asta, newly recruited members were sitting close to each other as the main stars of this party.
"So you're Asta. I guess I didn't have a chance to introduce myself to you. My name's Tom, I am from Rasta town. It's in the Commonwealth realm.", said Tom to Asta.
"Nice to meet you!", said Asta loudly, "I'm Asta from the Hades village."
"Likewise, shi-shi-shi", laughed Tom.
"You seemed strong even with a broken arm.", said the white-haired teen, obviously surprised that he's not the only one who trained physically.
"To be honest I was caught off guards too when I saw another teen who's strong physically!", said Tom with a grin.
"Yeah, me too.", responded Asta with a smile.
Tom and Asta tried to stay away from the alcohol, but since Magna's tests, they both saw a rival in each other, so when Tom drank a cup of ale, Asta, seeing this, did so too, and when Asta drank a cup of ale, Tom did so too. In the end, the two sat there drunk and chatted about Magna's tests.
"You saw how did I break that stone?", bragged Asta, "I did it flawlessly!"
"Yeah, but I did it with only two hits! Hail to me, shi-shi-eek!", said Tom sarcastically.
"You can laugh all you want, I am still stronger than you.", said Asta with a challenge.
"What did you just say?", said Tom.
"I said what I meant, eek, I am stronger than you!", repeated Asta loudly.
"Okay", said Tom, "Let's settle this! Armwrestling! You and me! Now!", said Tom.
"Fine by me!", responded Asta, "Hey, Finral! Eek. Where do we can take the barrel?", asked Asta.
"It's behind of you.", said Finral.
"Thanks a lot.", said Asta taking the barrel and putting it between him and Tom.
The two stood up and warmed up their hands a little.
"Are you ready, eek, to cry, noisy boy?", said Tom.
"It's only your fate, weakling", responded Asta.
"I'll show you who's weakling", said Tom, placing the hands in the position.
"Oi, Grey! Count to three for us", asked Tom.
The big guy with smoke from the mouth didn't really respond to the request.
"Oi, Magna! Come here and count for us to three!", asked Asta.
"Coming.", said Magna.
"See? I am stronger than you even in calling people.", said Asta with a grin.
"Shut, eek, up. I'll show you who's stronger."
Magna came closer.
"I am starting to count!", he announced. Contestants were focused as much as they could.
"One! Two! Three!", Magna counted.
Tom and Asta started the contest. They both struggled hard, but none could get the upper hand. Asta, who came from the village wasn't used to drink, so the drinks hit him hard, on the other hand, Tom who was more familiar with the alcohol from living in the town had his hand broken. The tension between them was higher and higher. Suddenly, Asta started to get the upper hand of Tom, but since they both were strong, the barrel under their hands shattered.
"I won," said Tom.
"It's unfair! I've won!", said Asta.
"No! More pieces of the barrel flow in my direction than yours! I won!", said Tom.
"I was winning!", said Asta.
"No, you're not!", responded Tom.
"Want to fight?", said Asta, rolling up his sleeves.
"And you?", responded Tom.
"Shut up, both of you!", said Yami, "Magna! Show them their rooms."
"Okay. Come on guys.", said Magna, starting to drag the recruits away.
Magna showed them their rooms. Accidently, they were the neighbours.
"Here are your rooms.", said Magna, "Crappy, huh? You should go see my room. It's twice the size..."
"My. My room!", said Asta with stars in his eyes, "I've never imagined having my own room! It's so cool!"
"Fine by me", thought Tom.
"And one more thing", said Magna.
"Yeah, what's up?", said Asta.
"You two make sure to take some time to write", said Magna.
"Okay.", said Tom.
"Right.", said Asta.
"You can't just go, making everyone worry about you. That's what being a man is all about.", said Magna turning around, "Find me if you need anything. See you tomorrow".
Asta and Tom closed the door behind them. While Asta started to write the letter almost immediately, Tom unpacked his things. Tom had a few books that were mostly about magic theory and a little alchemical laboratory that was enough to make coke for Franky's magic. After unpacking Tom sat at the table and started to write a letter to Henry and Yuki. He wrote:
" Dear Henry and Yuki,
I was enlisted to the magic squad that's called Black Bulls. The Royal Capital is fascinating to see. It's far bigger than Nanto and the marketplace here is way too big. In the squad, there are only two recruits – me and this boy named Asta. He's loud and a little silly, but I think I could get a wrong impression because I was tired from the exam. Everyone else here is kind to me. Our captain – Yami Sukehiro – is a bit strict, but he seems to be also fair. How's Yuki? How are you, Henry? I hope you are well. I will transfer the money as soon as possible.
Sincerely yours,
Tom"
"Well, I didn't write about my broken arm, but I don't think I have to. Yuki will worry about it.", thought Tom to himself, before falling asleep.
Tom's POV:
At the next morning, the punk guy woke us up early the morning. He told us that he will show our squad's base and that the base itself changes its shapes constantly. I thought that if it's true then showing the base is a bad idea, because it will change anyway, but he was so fired up, I couldn't resist.
The punk guy firstly showed us a cafeteria which was huge. I saw a little girl who cooked a lot of pancakes at the party already eating there. I wonder how much she can eat. Then he showed us a bath. It was too hot, so I and Asta weren't enjoying the bath as much as Magna did. I wonder if one of my magics will have invisibility, so I can sneak into the girls' bath.
(A/N: He still has Sanji's magic)
Then he showed us a girls room. Well, "showed" is a bit overestimating, rather pointed out that they are there. He also said that the trap's magic will kill us if we try to go there. I have to try it, a little sneak has killed nobody.
Then he showed us Yami's pets. Asta gained the privilege to feed them, I was so happy about my colleague, that when he looked at me with a readable question in his eyes, I said that he's the only one who's worth that privilege.
After that, we went to the library and playroom. As I thought, squad's library is far bigger than Nanto's and also contain more useful books on magic, but the library itself looks a bit abandoned. When I asked Magna about this, he said that practice is far better than theory and that people in the squad come to the library on rare occasions. I wonder just how big is the capital's library. In the playroom, there wasn't anything interesting. I was also right about Asta, during the day he seemed ok. Don't judge the book by the cover, heh.
Tom's POV End.
Tom, Asta and Magna ran through the corridor. Suddenly Magna stopped. Asta ran into Magna's back. Tom calmly stopped near Magna.
"Ow. Magna?", asked Asta.
"Who is this?", Tom looked, "It's...It's a lady!", shouted Tom starting to dance weirdly with his eyes taking the form of hearts. "Lady, Lady, Lady! How can I serve you, my white-haired queen?", Tom got down on one knee while asking.
"Tom, Asta. That's your colleague. She's the other new recruit this year.", said Magna.
"You are with me in one squad! Love, Love, Love!", said Tom while dancing.
"Huh, colleague? I like that!", said Asta, "Hey, I'm Asta from the Hage village. Let's do our best and get to know each other.", said Asta giving his hand to the lady.
The girl in a sleeveless, backless, short purple dress covered by a silver-coloured blazer with a Black Bulls robe, looked down upon the Asta's hand and Tom's dances. She took a little step forward and hit firstly Tom's face and secondly Asta's hand.
"I didn't give you permission to dance around me and speak to me.", she said to Tom, "Besides, I barely sense any mana from you, insect", she said to Asta.
"Insect?", said Asta with confusion.
"Permission?", said Magna with confusion.
"Mademoiselle, you are beautiful even when you're angry", said Tom.
"My name is Noelle Silva. I am from the Royal family. It's the highest nobility in this kingdom."
"W-What?", said Asta even more confused.
"As expected from such a beautiful lady", muttered Tom.
Tom and Asta took a little step back, looked at each other and bowed to her. They were praising her:
"We are begging your pardon, noble lady. We are nothing but tiny insects, existing to serve you and your family."
"As long as you understand", said Noelle.
"Wait! Who are you calling insect, huh? We're supposed to be equal in the squad. Who cares if you're royalty?", said Asta with anger.
"You can call me how you want, my lady, I am glad that you are my colleague!", said Tom, hardly restraining himself from dancing.
"You tell her, Asta! Status here means nothing!", said Magna.
"Of course it does", said Noelle confidently.
"Why is that?!", simultaneously said, Asta and Magna.
"If the status means beauty, then it's the most important", said Tom in response starting to dance.
"Fools like you are unable to understand the words, huh. I'll show the difference in the magical powers between the nobility and peasantry.", said Noelle starting to form a water spell.
"Hey", said Magna and Asta while taking a little step back.
"The lady that casts such a strong spell! Love, Love, Love!", said Tom in dance.
"I'll show you how to disobey my orders.", said Noelle to Tom.
She formed a giant ball from the water and cast it on Tom, but since she had bad magic control her magic damaged Magna, who was standing on the left side of the corridor, instead of Tom, who stood on the right side of the corridor.
"Tsk", Noelle turned around with disgust.
"Wh-What?", muttered Asta.
"You! How dare you attack your senior?", said Magna to Noelle.
"It's your fault that you stood there. Who gave you permission to stand there?", responded Noelle.
"I am your senior!", said Magna.
"And so what? I am royalty.", said Noelle.
"And so what?! I don't care if you are royalty or Silver Eagles' captain's little sister! A spoiled brat like you got accepted only because Mister Yami is too kind! I held back because you are a girl, but it seems you will have to go through tests too!", shouted Magna at Noelle.
Noelle silently took off her black robe and threw it on the floor.
"Who cares about this squad? Who cares about your tests? This is the absolute worst squad in the Kingdom, where royalty like myself doesn't belong to!", said Noelle and she started to walk away from them.
"You! Come back here! Come back here and apologize!", shouted Magna to Silva's back.
"The robe I worked so hard to get... She just...", muttered Asta.
"Wow, such a lady-y-y!", said Tom, who was dancing and making compliments to her all this time.
After that incident, Magna showed them the rest of the mansion. Magna told them that since they are new recruits, they will do the housework in a day or so. The night has come, as Tom and Asta went to bed.
On the next morning.
Tom and Asta were always getting up early, so they ate breakfast together. After finishing it they went outside. Tom was keen to look around this forest, to finish the knowledge about his new base. Asta, however, wanted to train, so they split up.
Asta was walking in the forest when he suddenly saw a giant ball that was flying towards him. He jumped back and the ball left a hole where he stood. It's piqued his interest and he looked from the bushes in the direction, this ball flew from. Noelle stood there heavily breathing, with the area around her was covered in the holes. In front of her stood a tree. The tree was undamaged and with a mark on it. Noelle started to form another ball and she tried to hit the tree, but the ball flew aside and almost hit Asta.
"Why? Why won't it go the way?", said Noelle to herself.
"I guess I'm just...", said Noelle remembering her family and their words, that she is a failure, "No, I am not a failure. I will make them acknowledge me."
"She took it hard, huh", said Asta and the bird around him flew in Noelle's direction. She looked at the bird and quickly saw Asta in the bushes.
"Hey.", said Asta.
"Insect? How long have you been there?", said Noelle.
"Oh no! I am going to be mocked again!", Noelle thought to herself.
"N", Noelle mumbled.
"N?", repeated Asta.
"No!", said Noelle starting to form a giant ball, but she couldn't control it, so she got soaked in and the ball started to grow.
Meanwhile, Tom was in the forest. He knew that he has not great magic for cartography, but he liked the forests from a little age.
"How cute.", said Tom looking at the bird's nest with little birds.
"What's that?", Tom sensed mana.
Then Tom saw a forming of a giant ball and how one of the water streams that were coming into that ball was forming around him. Tom started to run to the base.
Back in the base, Luck and Yami sensed the mana too. Bulls gathered outside, wondering what to do with that ball.
"Looks like someone's magic is out of control", said Goshu.
"Such a power...", said Magna.
"Finral, can you teleport us there?", asked Yami.
"Don't joke like that. I can't even get near that", said Finral.
"If we had someone who is nullifying the magic...", said Yami.
At that moment Asta flew from the bushes right in Yami's left hand.
"Looks like we have our first volunteer", said Yami, and at that moment Tom flew out from the bushes into Yami's right hand.
"And a second volunteer as well", said Yami.
"A volunteer for what?", asked Asta.
"You two have to deal with that ball", said Yami.
"Okay.", said Asta.
"I'm on it", said Tom.
Asta and Tom were literally in Yami's hands. Asta who fought only on the close distance before, and Tom who had a Kin'emon's magic today, they both were ready to deal with it, but they didn't know how to even start.
"Wait. I can't do it with my magic today.", said Tom.
"I can't fly.", said Asta.
"Quit your whining!", said Yami terrifyingly.
Tom and Asta were scared of their captain.
"Now is the time when you need to go beyond your limits!", shouted Yami, while he threw them into that ball.
"AAAAHHH", shouted both Asta and Tom.
Asta pulled his sword from the grimoire and Tom pulled his katana out of the sheaths. Noelle's first ball Asta managed to cut, but the water hit Tom anyway, so he as a devil fruit user was weakened. Asta saw it and looked ahead, determined to slash Noelle's ball. Second ball Asta cut near the main ball, so he made two slices – one for a little ball, and another for the ball with Noelle inside it.
The ball shattered and Noelle, just like Asta and Tom, started to fall down. Noelle and Tom were weakened so they started to fall down dead bodies alike. Asta looked down and thought: "Is this... the end?".
Luckily for the Black Bull's recruits, it wasn't. Finral opened the portal, so they landed on the land safely. Asta quickly stood up.
"I am alive!", Asta said happily, "Thanks for the spacial magic!", he thanked Finral.
"No problem.", Finral responded.
"Yeah, thanks a lot.", said Tom standing up.
"Well done brats", said Yami to Asta and Tom.
"Right", said Asta.
"Right", said Tom.
"Hey", said Asta to Noelle.
Noelle, after hearing his voice, was mentally preparing for mocking. She was mocked by her failures time after time, so she expected to be humiliated by the little insect in front of her.
"You... You have amazing magical powers! That's so cool!", said Asta.
"Huh?", Noelle looked at him hardly believing in what she had heard.
"I don't have any magical powers, so I am so jealous of you, damn it!", Asta continued, "If you will train so you can control them you will be invincible, Noelle!"
Noelle blushed and stood up.
"In... Asta...", muttered Noelle.
"I will do my best so I won't fall behind either!", said Asta.
"Jeez. Is that it? You can't control your magic? You should've told me earlier, you royal failure", said Magna, "We're Black Bulls. We are a whole group of failures!"
"Speak for yourself", mumbled Tom.
"No one cares if you have any flaws.", ended his speech, Magna.
"Anyway, It's good you're safe. By the way, I know a great tavern, want to go sometime?", said Finral.
"My food will restore your mana.", said Charmy.
"It was amazing. I know how to control the magical powers, so I'll help you.", said Vanessa.
"I'll join you sometime.", said Tom, "I have some magics, I have a hard time controlling"
"I'll tell you how much of an angel my little sister is.", said Gauche.
"Let's start out as friends", mumbled Gordon.
Noelle's eyes watered. They showed so much empathy she never felt before.
"Come on. Let's do our best together.", said Asta giving his hand to Noelle.
"It's a pleasure to work with you.", said Noelle.
"Yahoo! We're having a party!", said Tom.
"Who said that you will be on it?", said Yami.
"What?", said Tom.
"Ha-ha-ha", laughed Asta.
"You're next to leave", said Yami to Asta.
"What?", loudly said Asta.
"Ha-ha-ha. I'm joking. Come on in.", said Yami.
"Hey. Have I heard you correctly? You said magics, right? What do you mean?", Vanessa asked Tom.
"Heh. In short, my magic randomly changes every day.", said Tom.
"What?", said Vanessa.
"Wait, what?", said Finral.
"Yes, it's true. One day I had magic like on Magna's tests and today I have different magic", Tom explained.
"Wow! That's so cool!", said Asta.
"Yeah, especially if the magic is fight-oriented", Tom agreed.
"So your dances yesterday were a part of the magic too?", asked Noelle.
"Yes. It's too long to explain, let's party!", said Tom.
"Yes, let's go!", said Asta.
Black Bulls are coming to another party and they finally know about Tom's magic.
To be continued...
So, that's it.
I hope you enjoyed it. I would appreciate your comments on the chapter.
See ya!
