0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 19th chapter of The Silver Valkyrie! I do not own Black Clover, nor its characters, nor the OCs that are used in this chapter. The OCs are owned by Warmachine375. Chapter start!^^
Chapter 19
"So we're heading to the Underwater Temple for our mission Mother?" Nozel, Nebra, Solid, Noelle, Courtney, and Asta all sat in the large living room so Acier could discuss the mission to them.
"That's right Nebra." Acier nodded. "And we're not the only ones going. The Amber Phoenix squad are joining us." At the mention of the new squad, Solid rolled his eyes in utmost irritation.
"Are you kidding me?!" Solid grit his teeth in frustration. "The Silver Eagles Squad is far better then them!" Nebra pinched the bridge of her nose, Acier and Nozel sighed, Asta, Noelle and Courtney groaned.
"Solid." Acier began in an exasperated tone. "The Amber Phoenix squad is still new to the Kingdom. Therefore, it's our job as a far more experienced squad to help them out. Besides, I've already talked with Captain Fana and she agreed to this as I have."
"So does this mean you'll do the coronation after the mission Mother?" Noelle asked.
"Yes." Acier nodded. "Which means once I'm Queen, Nozel will take the mantle of Captain of the Silver Eagles."
"Though you were thinking of Nebra to be the Silver Eagles Captain at one point Mother." Nozel told her. Acier nodded at Nozel's words.
"Yes I did." Acier admitted. "But considering you're the eldest child of mine Nozel, it's only natural that you would take my position as Captain after the coronation for me to become the Queen of the Clover Kingdom." She paused, then added. "Well, if we're all set with the mission briefing here, I will contact Captain Fana to let her know where to meet us at."
"Raqay Beach Mother?" Noelle asked. Acier looked at Noelle and nodded.
"That's right dear." Acier smiled. "Which means swimsuit shopping. Assuming we don't have any here already."
"We will probably have to go swimsuit shopping anyway." Nebra spoke up. "Because I don't think the Amber Phoenix squad members have any swimsuits."
"Wait, what do we need swimsuits for?" Courtney questioned.
"To relax!" Asta grinned. "We aren't going to the beach to just sit around until the sun sets! That's boring!" Acier laughed at Asta's reply to Courtney's question.
"Asta is right Courtney." Acier told her.
"Regardless, the mission remains the same." Nozel spoke up. "Wait until it's near midnight, then gather everyone outside when the mana currents in the water are weak enough for Noelle to use Sea Dragon's Cradle to get us down to the Seabed Temple."
"In that case." Nebra spoke up. "Mother, you should contact Captain Fana to tell her to come here with her squad."
"Actually," Acier smiled. "I will contact her to tell her we're going to her squad base. After all, her squad's base is closer to the Raqay Beach than we are."
"Ack! Dazu! What the heck?!"
"Sorry Captain, Captain's elf counterpart. But this is necessary for the mission ahead." Dazu explained to both her Captain and her Captain's elf counterpart.
"How is coming to a store that sells swimsuits going to help us on our mission to the Seabed Temple?" Elf Fana asked with a sweatdrop. Captain Fana sighed.
"Like really…" Dazu glanced at her pinkette Captain.
"Think of the day as a good beach date with Mars." Dazu smiled at her "innocently". Both Fanas looked at each other, then back at Dazu. After several seconds, Captain Fana's face became dark red, while Elf Fana just giggled as she tried to sneak away.
"DAZU!" Captain Fana shrieked out of extreme embarrassment. Dazu just laughed at her Captain's reaction. Despite Elf Fana trying to leave, Dazu took notice.
"Ah ah! Where are you going?" Dazu questioned.
"Leaving." Elf Fana spoke nonchalantly. Before she could move another step, her human counterpart grabbed her.
"Nuh-uh! If I have to suffer through this shopping trip, so do you!" Captain Fana told her elf counterpart. Elf Fana groaned loudly in response. This caused Dazu to smile again.
"Oh relax! By the time we're done, the Captain should be getting a call from Captain Acier." Dazu told the 2 pinkettes. Captain Fana and Elf Fana glanced at each other and sighed.
"Alright fine. You win Dazu." Captain Fana spoke in a defeated tone.
"Whoo!" Dazu brought the 2 into a store that sold clothing products. Including swimsuits.
After about 20 minutes, the 3 exit the shop with 2 bags which carried 1 swimsuit each. One for Captain Fana. The other for Elf Fana. But like Dazu said earlier before the trio entered the shop, Captain Fana's communicator blipped. Captain Fana unclipped it from her belt and answered it.
"This is Captain Fana." Captain Fana spoke.
"Ah Fana dear! It's me, Captain Acier." Acier spoke as a screen with her face appeared. "I'm calling to let you know that my squad is going to your squad's base to meet up. I hope that's okay with you."
"Yes, that's fine." Captain Fana confirmed. "Me, my elf counterpart, and Dazu just left the shop for swimsuits. We should be back in about 20ish minutes. Maybe less."
"Great!" Acier smiled. "I'll see you then!" And with that, the silverette woman Captain ended the call.
The Silver Eagle squad members arrived at the Amber Phoenix Squad Base. Before Acier could knock, Bow answered the door.
"Oh, Captain Acier." Bow spoke. "I see you and your squad came here for the meetup before the mission."
"You mean more like we came here to pick you lot up for the mission." Solid grunted. "Be grateful we did so." Bow just raised an eyebrow at Solid's words, then stepped aside to allow the Silvas, Courtney, and Asta inside the base. Acier looked around the base in intriguement. She watched Asta and Noelle chatting with Lily and Friede, along with Mars.
"If you're waiting on our Captain, our Captain's elf counterpart, and Dazu, they should be back soon." Valeria spoke up to Acier as she approached her. Acier glanced at Valeria and nodded.
"Thank you." Acier remarked. "So, how do you like it here in Clover?" Valeria's expression became a quizzical one before she gave a light smile.
"It's pretty great." Valeria replied before looking at Solid with a deep frown, who was trash talking Mars. "I just do not like the arrogant nobles and royals."
"Oh I can understand that." Acier retorted. "Please pardon Solid though."
"In all honesty, the soon-to-be former "King" of Clover is far worse than Solid from what I've heard from Captain Fana." Valeria remarked with a light laugh. "Which makes me happy that you're replacing him."
"And we're back!" The Amber Phoenix and SIlver Eagle squad members looked up to see Captain Fana, Elf Fana, and Dazu
"Ah, you're back!" Lily smiled. "That's great!"
"I still don't get why we need swimsuits if Noelle is going to use her Sea Dragon's Cradle spell to get us down to the Seabed Temple." Elf Fana muttered.
"Oh you'll see!" Acier smiled. "Now I'm sad to inform you Captain Fana that not all of your squad will be coming." Captain Fana chuckled lightly.
"That's fine." She replied. "Meshu, Vide, and Bow aren't much of fighters. And they are aware of this.
"But that means we get to go." Kabwe nodded. Onoby and Siona also nodded.
"That's right." Acier confirmed.
"So when do we leave?" Friede asked, a grin on her face.
"Why not right now?" Captain Fana asked curiously as she turned to face Captain Acier. "So long as everyone is prepared for the beach, of course." Acier turned to Captain Fana and smiled approvingly.
"I don't see why not." Acier retorted with Fanzell cheered, while Dominante, Alice, Mariella, and Mars all smiled. Mariella just chuckled at Fanzell's cheering at going to the beach. Dominante then, Alice, and Mars left the living room are to go to their rooms to get ready to go to Raqay Beach with the Silver Eagles squad.
"Oh heck yeah!" Fanzell cheered as he proceeded to follow Dominante to their room.
"The one time it's actually appropriate from him to not wear a shirt." Mariella remarked; causing the others to laugh. Solid grunted irritably before his attention to Courtney..
"Hey taxi!" Solid called to the purplette. "Make a portal to the beach already!" Courtney looked up at Solid with an equally irritable glare. She was about to retort hotly, but Acier approached Solid and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Now now Solid. Courtney is waiting on the Amber Phoenix squad members that are able to come for this mission to finish prepping." Acier told her 2nd son. "Please have some more patience."
"And we're ready!" Acier looked up to see Captain Fana, Vice Captain Mars, Elf Fana, Fanzell, Dominante, Mariella, Kabwe, Onoby, Siona, Lily, Dazu, Alice, and Valeria crowding the threshold to the living room of the Amber Phoenix squad base. Each of them carrying their own personal bags for sunscreen, their swimsuits, and a change of clothes inside.
"Finally!" Solid spoke in exasperation. "Now make that portal already taxi!"
"Alright alright!" Courtney groaned; thus creating a portal. "Now all of you hurry up please. I can't keep it open forever." Shortly after saying that, both squad's members began to walk through Courtney's portal. Once everyone else had gone through, Courtney went through; the portal closed. Vide, Bow, and Meshu waved the ones going goodbye.
"Ahh… This is relaxing…" Captain Fana spoke in a relaxed tone as she put her arms behind her back as she sat in her beach chair. Acier was next to her, watching there squad members playing at the beach.
"Yes it is." Acier spoke. "But while this is ultimately a mission, there is nothing wrong with relaxing at the beach and having some fun." She looked over to see Elf Fana and Valeria trying to teach the members from both squads unique techniques: Mana Method, and Ultimate Magic. "It looks like 2 of your squad members are trying to teach both our squads 2 special techniques that are unique to them and their culture." Acier then looked past them and towards the waters. "Asta and Noelle are having some fun in the ocean." She smiled before turning back to face Captain Fana. "You and Mars should join them."
"Uhhhh…." Captain Fana flushed, glancing over at Mars, then back at Acier. "M-Maybe later. Huh?" She looked over at Elf Fana and Valeria, who were training Dazu, Solid, Nebra, Friede, Lily, Mariella, Fanzell, and Dominante. Siona, Kabwe, and Onoby were sunbathing on their towels.
"Ugh! This is ridiculous!" Solid growled. "Why should we be training when we should be doing other things?! Besides, you 2 are awful teachers!" Both Elf Fana and Valeria looked at each other, then back at Solid with angry tick marks above their heads. Nebra waved her hands in an apologetic manner.
"I apologize for my little brother's behavior you 2." Nebra told them. "Please, continue training us." She then grabbed Solid's left ear and whispered to him through her teeth. "Be glad I'm doing this and not them. You hear me, Solid?" Solid felt himself sweating. Both inwardly and outwardly.
"Yes Nebra…!" Solid spoke in a feared tone; thus Nebra let go of him. Acier smiled in satisfaction.
"I'm glad my disciplinary techniques have reached Nebra as well as they have." Acier spoke towards Captain Fana and Mars. "I take it you 2 had similar experiences?"
"I-I mean… N-Not really." Captain Fana stuttered, surprised by Acier's question.
"As you know, we were practically raised by Evanora and Lotus." Mars explained as he put his book down.
"Yes. And because of that, we never really saw our magic as a means to harm people." Captain Fana added. "We always wanted to help people with our magic. Save those that need it, you know?"
"Is that why you went with the name Amber Phoenix for your squad?" Acier inquired curiously. Captain Fana and Mars gaped, then looked at each other, then back at Acier and nodded.
"Yes." Both Mars and Captain Fana replied.
"But to be honest…." Captain Fana began, looking up to see her squad members having fun during the training Elf Fana and Valeria were putting them through. "I accepted the role as Captain not because Wizard King Julius was excited to have a 10th Magic Knight Squad in the Clover Kingdom. But because I wanted to give those in life a second chance. Evanora, Lotus, you Captain Acier, and even Wizard King Julius. You all gave me and Mars a second chance at life. So it's only right that I do the same for others." Acier opened her mouth, then closed it as her lips formed a light smile.
"I'm happy to hear that, Fana." Acier smiled.
After a few more hours of playing and training, the group of mages from both squads headed into the beach house to rest up for a few hours before the rest of the mission. However, both Asta and Noelle were outside.
"Asta, we should be inside with everyone else." Noelle told her childhood friend as they walked on the beach.
"But look at the sky." Asta spoke as he pointed up to the sky. "It is beautiful tonight." Noelle followed Asta's gaze and felt herself smiling.
"Yeah, you're right." Asta grabbed Noelle's left hand with his right, surprising the silverette, but she allowed Asta to guide her. "Where are we going Asta?"
"There's a patch of grass somewhere around here." Asta spoke. "If I can find it, we can lay down on it and watch the stars." Noelle felt herself blushing.
"O-Oh Asta." Noelle spoke, flustered. "Oh alright. Besides, it's not too bad outside anyway. Any colder and I'd want us to be inside."
"Right." Asta nodded with a grin.
After about 10 more minutes of walking, Asta and Noelle found the patch of grass and laid down and looked up at the sky.
"So pretty…" Noelle breathed as she glanced over at Asta. To her surprise, he seemed focused on something. "Asta? You okay?"
"...Do you remember when your Mother told us about my Mother?" Asta questioned softly. Noelle's expression softened.
"Yeah, I do." Noelle replied. "Your Mother was a very kind and compassionate woman from what I remember Mother telling us. But, what does this have to do with the mission?"
"It doesn't." Asta admitted. "I've just been thinking about her after seeing a photo Captain Acier has of my Mother in her private office in House Silva. Since I never met my Mother, I want to know about her and all." He turned to face Noelle and smiled. "But the mission comes first. I can talk to your Mother about her after the mission is over." However, Asta's grimoire glowed red and it floated out of his satchel. Asta and Noelle stood up immediately and covered their faces as high energy winds blew right at them.
"What's going on?!" Noelle shouted at Asta over the intense energy surge from Asta's grimoire as it came at them.
"I dunno!" Asta shot back.
"Kek kek kek! So you want answers on your Mother huh? Well then….I suppose a human like you deserves the truth. And I can give it to you!" Asta gaped, as if remembering the sound of the voice. Before Asta and Noelle knew it, they were sucked into (metaphorically speaking) Asta's grimoire. But in actuality, there minds were transported to the inside of the grimoire.
Asta blinked several times before opening his eyes fully and looked around.
"Huh? Where are we?" He wondered aloud. He looked over to next to him to see Noelle, who was out cold. Thus he proceeded to shake her gently. "Noelle. Noelle wake up."
"Mmmm….. 5 more minutes Mother….." Noelle spoke in her sleep. This caused Asta to sweatdrop.
"Uhh….Noelle. I'm not Captain Acier." Asta told her.
"Huh?" Noelle spoke more clearly as she sat up and rubbed her eyes before looking around. "Whoa…! So this is what the inside of a grimoire looks like?"
"I guess." Asta shrugged. "More specifically mine."
"Kek kek kek kek. That is correct." Asta and Noelle turned to see a male Devil with white hair, red eyes, 2 bat-like wings, as well as 2 lines coming down from both sides of his face, as well as a line going from his neck down to his chest.
"You're…!" Both Asta and Noelle began, gaping. The male Devil's lips formed into a grin.
"Kek kek kek. Yes. I am Liebe." Liebe introduced himself to Asta and Noelle. "And I will tell you what you want to know about my Mother."
0713MM: Ayyyy guys! Sorry it awhile for me to finish Chapter 19. But regardless of how long it took me, here it is! The start to the Seabed Temple Arc! Now the ending of the chapter may seem a bit odd, but I felt like introducing Liebe a lot earlier than in canon. The reason why? Well...you readers will have to find out for yourselves!^^
