I do not own Black Clover or any of its characters.
Royal Knights Assembled
Dane stared at the final Black Bull. Despite Mereoleona allowing Raya to finish healing Finral and bring him to them, it was only for him to transport them to the building where they were being sworn in. Finral hadn't made the cut, and despite being up and about and able to use his magic a little, he wasn't fully recovered yet. Instead, the final Black Bull was Asta and Mimosa's other teammate, who had impersonated Xerx Lugner, which wasn't a huge surprise. His arrival had been showing up late, then reflecting Mereoleona's attack back at her when she attacked him for being late. She wasn't harmed, and he'd claimed that he couldn't entrust his life to her without knowing what she was made of first. He then explained to Asta and the others that Yami had scouted him personally and drafted him, introducing himself as Zora Ideale, a First Class Junior Magic Knight. Then, Mereoleona had yelled at them for chatting instead of going to change into their Royal Knight robes, explaining they had high magic resistance, designed explicitly for the upcoming battle.
Dane hated the robes. The base was puffy black pants and shirts with long sleeves and high, snug collars, then extremely loose maroon robes over them, a white cloth over the shoulders and across the upper back with a teal cross diagonally on the lower corners of the front, teal, anchor-shaped decorations on the bottom corners of the maroon robes, and a teal border along the top of the maroon robe with a cross extending down out of it in the center. And instead of the symbol of their Magic Knight Squads, the back of the white cloth had the emblem of the Royal Knights, a circle with the top resembling the King's crown, three curved objects like branches extending from each side on the bottom of the circle, and a curving, three-leaf clover in the center.
"This robe sucks," Dane grunted.
"It's not so bad," Asta shrugged, wearing the only unique robe, which consisted of the maroon robe and the white cloth, but together taking up no more room than his Black Bulls robe, leaving his normal outfit underneath.
"That's because you got a special one," Dane said dryly. "Mine's like a dress."
"You sure do complain a lot," Zora commented.
"It's just because he doesn't have anything else to be mad about right now," Luck said. "That means his impulses are quiet right now."
Dane grumbled a string of complaints about the robes under his breath as they all went to join the others. In full, the Royal Knights included him, Noelle, Luck, Asta, Zora, Mereoleona, Mimosa, Yuno, Klaus, Hamon of the Golden Dawn, the girl with the Snow Magic that Leopold had faced in his first match named Fragil, Luck's heavy-set female teammate named Puli, Captain Rill, two Crimson Lions whose name Dane didn't care to learn, Nils of the Silver Eagles, Noelle's mushroom-wielding teammate named En, and Kirsch.
"Alright!" Mereoleona called out once they'd all assembled. "Is everyone wearing their robes now?"
Everyone except Dane shouted a confirmation, Dane merely raising his arms to display them while simultaneously displaying his displeasure at the robes themselves.
"Ah, it's so beautiful!" Kirsch gushed. "To think a mere manmade garment would suit a god so perfectly!"
"To think your narcissism would give me such a perfect urge to puke," Mimosa countered.
"They certainly make it official," Klaus acknowledged.
"And I must say, they're awfully flattering on those of us who sport a more robust figure!" Hamon commented.
"They're dresses," Dane grumbled. "Just because they hide how fat you are doesn't make them good."
"I'm ready for anything!" Puli cheered, roughly shoving Dane aside.
Dane snarled in rage as his impulses roared with his rage, only for Mimosa to step in front of him, taking his arms at the wrists but smiling sweetly.
"How do I look, Dane?" Mimosa asked. "I'm undecided."
Dane blinked slowly, staring at her, then sighed. "It looks good on you. It looks like shit on me."
"I guess when you're half a man you only get half a robe," Zora teased Asta, who was complaining about his shorter robe.
"Asta, I'd trade with you in a heartbeat," Dane grumbled. "Actually..."
He reached up to the shoulders of his black shirt, tearing the sleeves off. Then, he tore the maroon robe, which was one piece, into four individual sections, one in front, one in back, and one on each side, his arms extending through the new slit between the front strip and the sides. He grimaced.
"That's a little better, at least," Dane sighed.
Mimosa nodded, smiling. "I like it. It suits you."
Thanks," Dane sighed, smiling in spite of himself.
"We ran out of fabric," Mimosa explained to Asta, nodding approvingly at Dane's alterations. "You see other than you lot, we ended up calling upon some extra people to help out."
"It had better not be Nozel Silva," Dane growled.
These Magic Knights may not have participated in the selection exam," Mereoleona explained, turning as several more walked in wearing Royal Knight robes, "but their special skills will be indispensable. Meet Cob Portaport and Shiren Tium!"
Julius's Spacial-Magic-using assistant waved and smiled at them all as a Golden Dawn stared out at them.
"Shiren's Stone Creation Magic can summon a mockup of the enemy's hideout and give us an idea of the magic power possessed by the mages hiding inside," Mereoleona explained. "And Cob can use the ever-useful Spacial Magic. We've enlisted his support since Finral Roulacase is still in recovery."
"That's not so bad," Dane admitted.
"Last but not least, Nozel Silva!" Mereoleona announced. "He'll be joining us as well."
"Son of a bitch!" Dane snarled.
"The Silver Eagles Captain will be fighting with us?" one of the Crimson Lions Dane didn't know asked. "I'm glad we have him!"
"Definitely!" Nils agreed. "Having the opportunity to fight with someone like him...it's really an honor!"
"Why don't you two stuff your noses a little further up his ass," Dane growled. "I can almost see you when he opens his mouth."
Both glared at him, as did Nozel, while Mimosa "eep"ed in surprise, and Noelle and Asta shrieked.
"You need to be careful, filth," Nozel growled. "You're only here because Mereoleona believes you will be an asset."
Dane took a step forward, only for a pair of arms to wrap around him from behind, a pair of voluptuous breasts pressing against him. His impulses went silent instantly, and he sighed in relief, smiling. "Vanessa. You made it."
"You must really like them if you know me by them," Vanessa smiled, kissing his cheek before he turned to inspect her Royal Knight robes.
"I know you by my impulses obeying you," Dane smiled. "Surprisingly, they suit you. You actually look presentable."
Vanessa laughed.
"What are you doing here?" Mimosa asked.
"The last addition will be Vanessa Enoteca," Mereoleona said, gesturing to her. "Her magic allows her to support others excellently, and allows for one ability that could be the key to an impossible victory."
"Plus she can just fuck the homicidal maniac anytime he freaks out," the other Crimson Lion Dane didn't know muttered.
Fury roared through Dane's ears, but Vanessa hugged him from behind again as Mimosa stepped in front of him, resting her hands on his chest in case she had to push him back.
"Calm down, Dane," Vanessa said calmly. "We both know that's your favorite way I calm you down."
Mimosa's face turned scarlet, but Dane let out a slow breath, calming himself. At least, for about two seconds.
"Salutations!" the King's obnoxious voice grated on Dane's nerves. "The Eye of the Midnight Sun is strong! So we're lucky to have the help of our fearless Magic Knight Captains, especially those who possess Royal blood! You are called the Royal Knights, after all!"
Dane's teeth clenched so hard he thought they might break, but Mimosa stepped into him to add her own weight to her strength as she and Vanessa began to subtly hold him back.
"Don't do it," Mimosa whispered.
"WHAT!?" the King shrieked suddenly. "Why is a Royal consorting with a good-for-nothing commoner!?"
Mimosa glanced at him, realizing he was staring at her, and blushed scarlet, though she didn't release him.
"You can let go, Mimosa," Dane said, forcing himself under control. "Shouldn't give them the wrong idea." He leaned down to whisper. "Or Asta."
"Let's give a warm welcome to His Majesty King Augustus Kira Clover the Thirteenth!" Mereoleona shouted, still glaring. though she didn't seem particularly angry.
Although Dane could sympathize with glaring at the King for no reason. He certainly was. Especially when the King recoiled from Mereoleona in fear, looking shell shocked by her yelling.
"Listen well, Knights!" the King yelled, voice cracking still. "You mustn't sully the name of-"
"As I'm sure you're aware," Mereoleona interrupted him, "victory is all we need! The Eye of the Midnight Sun is a contemptible terrorist organization! If we don't pull it up by the roots ourselves, our nation will never know peace! We may have successfully banded together to drive them out during the attack on the royal capital, but the cost was unspeakably great. My fool of a brother, Fuegoleon, fell for their scheme and remains bedridden to this day! Based on what we've learned from the operatives we've captured thus far, their leader is a mage called Licht, who carries a four-leaf Grimoire!"
Dane rolled his eyes. Yes, the prisoners were their only source of information about Licht.
"Their three mightiest fighters once made up a group called the Third Eye!" Mereoleona continued, then paused. "Isn't that correct, Dane?"
All eyes turned to Dane in confusion, as Dane stared on the small smirk on Mereoleona's lips.
"That's right," Dane nodded. "I can personally confirm Licht's identity and Grimoire, as well as the speed and power of his Light Magic, and I can confirm that two of the three members of the Third Eye have been dealt with. The last member wields Copy Magic to replicate other types of Magic, although I'm not sure of the mechanism of replication."
"How can you confirm anything?" one of the Crimson Lions scoffed, only for Mereoleona's flaming cat paw to lift him by the head.
"He can confirm it because he has personally fought against Licht and both of the defeated members of the Third Eye!" Mereoleona announced. "He was instrumental in the defeat of both of the Third Eye members!"
Everyone stared at Dane in silence before Mereoleona dropped her underling, then continued.
"The Eye of the Midnight Sun intends to gather Magic Stones because they believe that doing so will allow them to be reborn into their 'true forms,' and come to possess incredible power!" Mereoleona explained, Dane frowning at the new information. "They have all but three stones. Fortunately, we've been able to recover two of them before they were located. Both of the stones' recovery coincided with the defeat of a Third Eye, Vetto who wielded Beast Magic, and Fana who was partnered with the Fire Spirit, Salamander. The final member of the Third Eye is the Copy Magic User known as Rhya. He and their leader Licht are, without a doubt, the greatest and most powerful enemies we'll face during our campaign!
"Their stronghold is the last line of defense they have. If we attack it, the enemy is likely to put up all-out resistance. We may see some casualties, but victory will still be ours in the end! Every life in the kingdom is at stake! If anyone here is uncomfortable with that, then I'll kill you now and save the enemy the trouble! Are you ready!?"
"Ma'am!" they all responded obediently.
"And now, His Majesty King Augustus Kira Clover the Thirteenth!" Mereoleona re-introduced the King, who was once again scared into a stupor by her yelling in his direction.
"There's no need to raise your voice!" the King wailed.
"I'm done," Mereoleona said evenly. "Feel free to continue with your address."
"Er, thank you," the King squeaked, then turned away to silently fume at her having interrupted him. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Well, do your best Royal Knights! Dismissed!"
Dane smirked, keeping his voice in a low mutter. "Good choice. Don't overstay your welcome."
"Wait!" Asta called out, raising his hand. "Your Majesty, where do we find the Eye of the Midnight Sun's hideout, anyway?"
"You see, it-" the King began.
"Rest assured, we will be making our way to their base immediately!" Mereoleona thundered as she interrupted the King again. "Listen up! It lies in the Floating Dungeon found within the Strong Magic Region called Gravito Stones!"
Dane sighed. "Another Strong Magic Region." Then, he grinned. "And it's all stone, and lots of it. Finally, I know where to aim my impulses."
"Do you really think that you'll have control after we deal with them?" Vanessa asked.
"Maybe," Dane said. "Worth killing them either way." He frowned, focusing on an image of the Gravito Stones he'd seen once, feeling his Impulses stir just at that. "But it feels like my impulses are excited to go. Whatever happens there, my impulses are probably going to go wild."
Vanessa nodded seriously.
"We depart in three days," Mereoleona announced. "In the meantime, all of you will remain in the capital. We can't allow any information about our raid to leak."
They all acknowledged her statement before beginning to clear out. Dane and Vanessa headed directly to the capital while the others all left to gather what they'd need and to take care of personal business first. Dane and Vanessa didn't need anything, because both could make clothing with their magic, and Vanessa would be wearing nothing but her underwear around anyone else and nothing in the room she'd definitely be sharing with Dane.
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