0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 58th 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 and spells used in this chapter belong to guardian of the aura Aurasoul and Warmachine375. Chapter start!^^

Chapter 58

"Noelle Silva, would you stop pacing? You're giving me anxiety!" Koji scowled on the log he was sitting on, staring at Noelle. Noelle finally stopped her pacing to look at Koji apologetically.

"I'm so sorry Koji." She told him. "It's just that… I don't know how to describe it… Maybe it has something to do with what we felt back that's happening in the Clover Kingdom. Or maybe I'm just anxious for another reason. I dunno."

"It can't be helped. Ren nearly turning into a Dark Elf is not something I wanna feel ever again." Koji frowned.

"Yeah…" Noelle agreed, hugging herself. "I can't even imagine what Zenon is feeling right now…"

"Sad, for one." Raguel told her telepathically.

"But he'll definitely be someone Ren really needs right now." Koji sighed.

"That we can agree on." Noelle smiled ruefully. "He is like her son, so it makes sense that he'd want to be there for her."

"Not just that." Koji frowned, staring at the sky. "Ren had helped Undine raise Lolopechka. To her, she might as well have been a daughter to her. As her remaining child, Zenon's presence will be important."

"You mean him being there for her will help her recover faster?" Noelle asked curiously.

"I'd like to think so." Koji nodded. Noelle's lips formed a small smile at his words.

"Yeah." She spoke softly. "I hope so too." Her small smile then became a frown. "But then there's Yuno… No doubt he'll try everything to keep Zenon away, thinking that he's the answer to the problem. Not like Mimosa nor Alina will let him."

"Yeah .Alina will be sure to keep Yuno busy." Koji smirked. "She has her ways like that."

"Don't you mean his Captain as well?" Noelle couldn't help but snicker at her own words.

"Don't know if he's recovered enough for that." Koji chuckled.

"You get what I mean though." Noelle laughed lightly. He chuckled to himself, nodding in agreement. "Unintentional or not of him getting a girl, Ren helped Captain William a lot by doing so."

"I bet." Koji nodded. "No doubt William will want to stay in Clover, so it'll be the same for Alina. It's a shame to lose her, but I know she'll do great there."

"Oh yeah." Noelle recalled. "Alina is a healer from Elysia. You really think she'll be okay with living in Clover?"

"Heh yeah, no doubt about it." He nodded.

"That's good." She smiled. "I'd want Alina to be comfortable with that fact."

"She adapts well. And it's quite obvious she's taken a liking to WIlliam." Koji hummed.

"True that." Noelle smiled lightly in agreement.

"It's almost a surprise they're not together yet." He remarked. Noelle laughed at that, her smile barely faltering.

"Who knows?" She grinned. "Maybe they'll be together when I get back to Clover."

"I don't think you're that lucky." He snickered.

"Probably not." Noelle agreed. "Doesn't mean I can't be hopeful though."

"True enough." He chuckled, looking up.

"Mm?" Noelle too looked up. "What is it? See something?"

"Nah, just staring." He stated.

"Staring at what?" She couldn't help but ask.

"The sky dummy." He smirked, playfully poking her temple. Noelle laugh-coughed in response.

"H-Hah..! Sorry for the dumb question then." Noelle responded. "I guess what we need is something to lighten our moods."

"Oh?" He asked.

"Yeah." She replied. "Like say, I dunno, maybe seeing if the children here are around? Maybe we could help them out."

"They're off playing, it's good for them." He replied.

"Do you know where they are?" Noelle asked curiously. Luckily for her, her answer came sooner than expected, as they both saw the fluffy fennec fox-like spirit flying by them, with several children chasing her.

"Who thought it'd be a good idea to have the children chase me?!" Carbuncle cried out.

"They do it to Fay all the time. It's a thing!" Koji called with a thought. Along with Demons, but they don't need to know that.

"Fluffy!" The children cheered.

"Aaah!" Carbuncle cried out, continuing to fly away while the children chased her. "Noelle Silva! Help me!" Noelle watched Carbuncle carefully, as if considering it. She then giggled, much to the Spirit of Metal's horror.

"Sorry! No can do!" Noelle laughed.

"Ha!" Koji laughed.

"I feel betrayed!" Carbuncle moaned, then cried out as a young elf girl tackled her to the ground. Soon the other children followed; dogpiling the spirit. "I surrender! I surrender!"

"Alright kids, get off the spirit. She needs to breathe." Koji smirked. The children awwed, then got off of Carbuncle, who shook herself to fix her now ruffled fur. She looked over at Koji and Noelle, and gave the 2 a light glare.

"Humph…!" She grunted. "Glad you helped out there. I blame Dryad for this."

"Hey you're fluffy; the kids like that." He shrugged.

"I know that now." Carbuncled grumbled. "Would have been nice to have known earlier though that the children here adore fluffy things."

"Any child does." Noelle remarked. "I certainly did when I was younger. Had a teddy bear and all that."

"It is a common knowledge throughout the ages." He nodded.

"Why is that anyway?" Carbuncle couldn't help but ask curiously.

"You're asking me? I don't even have kids." He sweatdropped.

"You could end up with your own someday." Carbuncle countered. "Besides, you have helped with the children here before, right?" Noelle couldn't help but listen intently, a light smile on her face.

"Helping is different than raising them." He pointed out.

"Fair enough." Carbuncle agreed. "Besides, I was merely asking."

"You'd have to ask Gradielle. She's the midwife that helps new Moms here." He replied.

"Then I shall ask her when I get a chance." Carbuncle remarked. "Although since I'm over here with you 2 now, how have you 2 been holding up?" Noelle and Koji stopped looking at one another and gave shrugs.

"Can't exactly give an accurate answer except the slight numbness in our chests." He sighed.

"Yeah." Noelle agreed. Carbuncle's lips formed into a sad frown.

"I see….." She mused. "Well, I did feel something terrifying, but it wasn't Ren or Lolopechka. It was what happened to Undine."

"Megicula has her." Koji scowled. "So you sensed that? I remember Fay mentioning that you Spirits are connected in a way."

"Yes, that's right." Carbuncle nodded. "And yes, I did sense that. Megicula having Undine and all that. No doubt she's being tortured the worst way imaginable for the sake of information to satisfy that whimsical Devil."

"Dammit." He scowled.

"I would have tried to get her out but…" Noelle frowned, clenching her right hand into a fist. "I had let my anger get the better of me, and I focused solely on Megicula, not realizing that I should have also tried to get Undine out as well."

"Nothing you can do about it now." Carbuncle frowned deeply. "I'd fight that bitch of a Devil myself but…. A spirit alone may or may not triumph against a High Ranking Devil like her. And if she was a Supreme Ranked Devil? Yeah, I'd be screwed."

And getting her contracted is out of the question too. Koji thought with a sigh.

"We'll need to deal with her one of these days."

"If by that you mean to lecture her for her ignorance and arrogance, then yes, I agree." Carbuncle retorted.

"I'm leaving that to you Spirits, but Megicula is a problem." Koji frowned.

"On that we can agree." Carbuncle remarked, with Noelle nodding silently.

"But for right now the two remaining Zogratis are the main focus." He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know about you, but I rather not have to deal with a tree of darkness opening the gates of hell."

"We'll need to get in contact with Mother about setting something up to discuss the next course of action here." Noelle pointed out. "Other than that, I agree with you."

"I'll give her a call soon enough." He replied.

"Thank you Koji." Noelle gave him a light smile.

"Oh and by the way Carbuncle, you're not out of the woods yet." Koji replied, pointing behind the spirit.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Carbuncle asked, turning to look behind her. Just as she did, the kids cheered and she shrieked, running as they chased after her. "Aaaah! Not again!"

"There they go." Koji hummed.

"Yup." Noelle agreed. The two looked at one another and smiled amused as they watched the children chase Carbuncle.

"The fresh air is good, don't you think so Mom?" Zenon pushed the wheelchair Ren sat on, walking through the regrown garden of the Golden Dawn base. Ren gave a small nod, her Grimoire on her lap, not speaking.

"I'll take that as a yes." Zenon remarked in regards to Ren's nod at his question. As he walked through the gardens while pushing the wheelchair Ren sat in, he looked up at one of the windows of the second floor to the base; frowning slightly. He heard 3 voices-Mimosa, Alina, and Yuno. "Oh dear… Mom, point to where you want to go, alright?" He did not want to be in the vicinity to hear the trio arguing. Again. Not just for him, but for Ren too. Ren looked to Zenon, then looked around and pointed to the flowerbeds. Zenon took notice and smiled.

"Alright Mom." He smiled, wheeling the wheelchair over to that area. Once they were over at the flowerbeds and out of range of the base's windows…

"This is absurd you 2." A scowling Yuno spoke towards Alina and Mimosa. Both healers stared at Yuno, unamused.

"Boy, do not make me get the spray bottle on you like the fussy cat you are." Alina deadpanned.

"Or don't make me consider trapping you in my Plant Magic." Mimosa added, her arms crossed. Yuno groaned, then tried again.

"What's wrong with me being there for Ren?" He asked. "Why does it have to be…..him." He spoke the last word out of disgust and distrust. "Are we ignoring the fact that he's nearly tried to kill me twice, as well make Ren lose her cool back when Patri was being an ass about reviving his clan with Forbidden Magic? Are those things not important to this at all?"

"Please Yuno. If he had seriously wanted to kill you, he would've done it a long time ago." Alina scoffed.

"And if not then, then at the Eye of the Midnight Sun's HQ." Mimosa added. "He could have killed me or Klaus to get a point across, but he didn't. Sure he's blunt and doesn't talk much, and probably is more brutal with his magic than most, but he hasn't seriously tried to kill you or Ren." She narrowed her eyes at Yuno as she continued. "Or have you forgotten that he was a double agent and was really on your side the whole time?"

"And technically saved your Mother's life." Alina added.

"Saved her? How?" Yuno demanded.

"He was supposed to be the one to have killed Ciel Grinberryall. But in actuality, he faked her death and allowed her to escape." Alina frowned, arms crossed. "That allowed her to go into hiding with the Resistance."

"And you know all of this…how?" Yuno pressed.

"Tyson. After I had to heal him from the punishment Ren dealt him for not telling her." Alina replied. "Poor guy got his butt whooped badly."

"He's a former Spade Kingdom General, right?" Mimosa asked.

"That's right. He had served under the late King Loyce and Queen Ciel before the coup. Once Eva Zogratis stole the throne, Tyson had gone against her, which resulted in him escaping to the Clover Kingdom." Alina explained. "Ren actually knew him in his younger years when he first joined the Spade Kingdom's military. That's how she knows he was telling the truth when he told her about Ciel. Hence the oh so brutal punishment she dealt. Tsk tsk tsk, almost felt bad for the guy."

"I see…." Yuno mused. "I think I remember Vanica mentioning something about fighting him, but I could be wrong." He paused, then added, crossing his arms. "But we're not here to talk about that, we're here to discuss Ren and why I can't help her. Ultimately, give me good reasons why I should let that Bone Magic… Ugh, can't find a good insult for him. Anyway, why should I let him, and be okay with him, being near Ren?"

"Because he is her son." Alina frowned. "Yuno, you have to understand. Lolopechka was practically her daughter. She helped Undine raise her to become the Queen she had become. Only to have her be ripped away from her thanks to Megicula. And she could've almost lost Zenon too if he had even thought of going back, and that would've sealed her fate. She needs him."

"But-" Yuno began, only to be interrupted by Mimosa.

"No buts Yuno." The Golden Dawn female healer told him sternly. "Look, I get it. You're worried about Ren. We all are. But so far, ever since Zenon has come here, Ren is slowly getting better. Probably faster than if you were there. And you do want her to get better, right?"

"Just look at them right now." Alina said, motioning to the window. Yuno followed her gaze to see Ren and Zenon at the flowerbeds. Zenon was kneeling down at Ren's height next to her wheelchair with a caring smile pointing to the flowers and Ren gave a small smile of her own. Her green eyes weak, but having a light to them.

"Ren…" Yuno spoke softly.

"Yuno, she really needs this. Don't try to push on this for her sake." Alina frowned.

"But I….." Yuno began, then looked away. "Ugh…!"

"I know it's hard, but do this for her." Alina said gently. Yuno looked back over at Alina and Mimosa, nodding silently.

"...Alright." He relented, albeit reluctantly.

"Good." Alina nodded. Mimosa put a hand on Yuno's shoulder, getting him to look at her.

"It'll be okay Yuno." She told him, a light smile on her face.

"If you're sure…" Yuno spoke softly. "I just…. I dunno…"

"You're worried." Mimosa smiled. "And as a healer, and I think Alina can agree with me here, we get it. We understand your concern. But sometimes, especially in this case, you have to trust us on this. That Zenon being there for Ren is what she needs the most right now." Yuno wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words right away. Just when he did, and was about to speak, Alina beat him to it.

"Exactly." Alina nodded.

"Well..alright." Yuno remarked. "I'll trust you 2 on this." He looked back out the window, and saw Zenon put one of the flowers from the flowerbed in Ren's hair. Ren had a surprised expression on her face, but gave a small smile, patting Zenon's head as if in thanks.

"You like that Mom?" Zenon asked Ren, a small smile on his face. Ren kept her small smile. "Heh, I'll take that as a yes." He added.

"Aww look at him." Mimosa couldn't help but giggle at the gesture. "He's being so gentle with her."

"I wouldn't have imagined, given he's quite brutal in a fight." Yuno noted.

"So is Ren when you make her mad enough." Alina smirked.

"Or when she's being strict in training." Mimosa added.

"Heh, yeah." Yuno laughed lightly at Mimosa's remark.

"Oh she isn't that bad." Alina snickered. Yuno and Mimosa looked over at Alina incredulously.

"Eh?" Mimosa gaped. "What do you mean?"

"I heard from the other Golden Dawn Magic Knights here how she's doing your training." Alina smirked. "And trust me, she could be a lot stricter. This is her being nice." The two gaped, Mimosa letting out a freaked out squeak.

"E-Eh?!" Mimosa stammered.

"What do you mean by that?" Yuno asked.

"You don't just become the leader of the Elysian Tribe unless you show the power, potential, intelligence, and willpower to do it. And believe me, you lot wouldn't be able to handle the tutelage and training Ren went through under the previous leader, rest in peace, from what I heard, it was quite something." Alina replied.

"What about the training she did with Zenon?" Mimosa asked curiously. Then a lightbulb went off above her head. "Oh! If Yuno wasn't forced to leave Spade and his parents remained in charge, I wonder what type of life that'd lead for him and Zenon."

"...What are you trying to say, Mimosa?" Yuno asked her.

"Ha! If anything, little Yuno would have been totally jealous of Ren giving Zenon attention and not him." Alina smirked, making Mimosa shriek in giggles.

"Pfft! Haha!" Mimosa laughed, while Yuno simply stared at the 2 with a roll of his eyes.

"We don't need to be in the Spade Kingdom for me to be jealous of Zenon getting time with Ren and I don't." Yuno remarked bluntly.

"Yeah, but a little you being jealous would be cuter and more hilarious." Alina snickered, Mimosa giggling more.

"...Fair enough." The Spade Prince retorted with a shrug. "Though perhaps in that life, me and Zenon would actually get along."

Well at least he's willing to admit that. Alina thought, glancing out the window again and choked, swiftly turning. "Oi, oi, oi! Why is he here?!" Confused, Mimosa and Yuno followed Alina's gaze and were surprised to see Nacht walking on the Golden Dawn grounds.

"The Vice Captain of the Black Bulls?" Yuno wondered aloud.

"Yeah, I have the same question as Alina." Mimosa noted.

"Shit…! This is bad…!" Alina hissed.

"What do we do Alina?" Mimosa asked the elf healer.

"Gotta stop this cause I do NOT wanna explain to your Wizard King, Clover Queen, and Black Bull Captain why his Vice Captain died in the gardens!" Alina hissed, quickly moving. Mimosa instinctively decided to follow. Yuno, seeing no alternatives, shrugged and followed the 2 healers.

"Eh, got nothing better to do." Yuno murmured to himself. "Might as well help those 2 stop what's about to happen."

Ren relaxed in her wheelchair while stroking the cover of her Grimoire, touching the four leaf clover with a rueful smile.

"Hey Mom." Zenon spoke up, holding a food tray. "I got one of my Bone Magic soldiers to go get this from the base for you to eat. Would you like some?" Ren looked up, eyeing the tray for a moment before giving a nod. This got Zenon to smile lightly, getting the small fork from the tray and getting a bit of salad on it before holding up to Ren. "Here you go." Ren opened her mouth eating the salad with a soft hum before she swallowed. Zenon's smile remained as he fed her another bite of the salad. Just as he was about to give her a 3rd…

"Pathetic." Zenon looked up and saw the Black Bulls Vice Captain approaching them.

"Nacht…" Zenon scoffed. "What the hell do you want? Can't you see that R-Mother is recovering?"

"I can see that perfectly clear." The clad in black of the Black Bulls squad, Nacht, remarked. He opened his eyes and the dark blue eyes of his scanned Ren, then Zenon. "But I suppose you can say that I'm surprised. Surprised that all it took was someone who couldn't even fight to save her life, and a god awful Queen at that to die for Ren to go from all confident to this pathetic state we find her in." Ren's finger twitched as Zenon set down the tray with a frown.

"Don't talk as if you know a thing Nacht." Zenon retorted. Nacht cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"Hoh? And why's that?" Nacht wondered aloud. "Is it perhaps that you think I don't know her? As true as that may be, that is ultimately irrelevant in the grand scheme of the word known as justice. And I seek it on you, and your family. None of you are in the right when it comes to how things should be. You merely being alive is making my skin crawl out of disgust. You, a Zogratis. You think your cause is just and noble? If your ideology of protecting your home was so strong, then why did you falter after your friend got killed, hmm? Was it because you felt like you had no other options to kill that Mid Ranking Devil in that dungeon? Regardless, you broke and swore your allegiance to the Devils for your own selfish purposes." He raised his right hand up. "But don't worry, I'll be sure you get a nice long trip to Hell so you can see him, and everyone else you've killed." His right hand was now imbued with Shadow Magic. "Now, die you stain on this world. Shadow Magic:-" Zenon himself got his own grimoire out, preparing to defend himself. But surprisingly, he didn't have to, nor did Nacht get to finish casting his spell.

"Why is it whenever you show up and open your damn mouth it's always to talk some self righteous bullshit? When in actuality, you're a hypocrite." Ren was snarled, gripping Nacht's neck in a near death grip. making him choke. "And now here I am, having to listen to you insult MY SON and my deceased DAUGHTER right after I JUST lost her? You truly have no self preservation for your own mortal life, you pathetic, rancid, wretched, sorry excuse of a Vice Captain and human being." A blade of light was pointed directly at Nacht's eye to his shock, her green eyes dark as jade to show how extremely furious, annoyed, and outright tired she was.

"So maybe I should take something from YOU and make you feel so useless and see how you like it." Ren grunted. "And maybe just maybe, you won't be such a deluded danger to EVERYONE HERE!" Nacht mouthed something that sounded like "Do it then…!" or "Kill me if that satisfies you…..!", but neither Ren nor Zenon heard it.

"Ren!" Alina, Yuno, and Mimosa quickly reached the garden panting as Alina carefully held up her hands.

"Now Ren, I know you're mad, and you have every right with that idiot there, but let's not commit a murder." She gulped.

"If I wanted to kill him, I would've done it from the start." Ren deadpanned, her dark jade eyes gleaming at the three. "I'm just thinking of having an old friend of mine use his magic to make Nacht relive the worst memory of his life over and over again to make a point."

"Again fair, but we kinda need him sane." Alina pointed out carefully.

"Do you…..?" Nacht croaked out. "Is that…..what you believe…..?"

"Given how much Acier and Julius know as much, yes. Cause even though you are a sack of shit who hurts others just to hide his own guilt, sins, and self hurt, which does in fact make you a hypocrite, but a useful hypocrite." Alina scowled. "You got issues and you totally need a shrink. but that's a problem Acier is gonna deal with. So shut up and let us calm Ren down. Cause no way in hell you're getting out of this, especially when your little Devils aren't as stupid as you." Nacht blinked at this and then finally took notice of all 4 of his Devils hiding in the flowers, petrified.

"Pl-Please don't kill us!" Plumde stammered, granted it sounded more like meows due to its appearance being more like a cat.

"This is all Master Nacht's fault!" Gimeledo added. "We tried telling him not to go and do this, but he did it anyway!"

"See what I mean?" Alina deadpanned, before facing the Devils, ignoring Ren slightly choking Nacht harder. "So if he dies, do you guys die too due to that contract? Or how does that work?" Gimeledo looked at the other 3 Devils partnered with Nacht, then back at Alina.

"We're still in the Underworld." Gimeledo started. "But to be honest, I'm not sure how it works. Considering what I said, I'd imagine we'd just lose our connection to him and return to our lives in the Underworld."

"Which means being stuck with the sadistic High Ranking Devils. Ren." Alina voiced. "Do you really wanna put these poor guys through that? So put Nacht down and sit back on the wheelchair cause you look like you might just fall over."

"I umm…I can handle this." Zenon finally spoke up after being silent ever since Ren got out of the wheelchair to choke Nacht.

"Please do before she crushes his windpipe!" Alina hissed. Zenon gulped and carefully walked over to his Mother, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Mom please…." Zenon spoke softly. "Please let go of him and sit back in the wheelchair. I can handle this." Ren was silent before finally releasing Nacht and they could see the nail marks on his neck as he dropped to the ground while she faced his Devils.

"Tell Yami if he doesn't get his shitty Vice Captain in order, there won't be a second chance." She frowned darkly. "Got it?"

"A-Ah, g-got it!" Gimeledo stammered. Ren walked to her wheelchair and collapsed on it with a heavy sigh. Once she sat back down in the wheelchair, Zenon turned to face Alina and Mimosa, holding out the food tray.

"One of you mind holding this for a second?" He asked them.

"Yup." Mimosa said, quickly taking the tray.

"Thank you." He told Mimosa. Confused, Yuno looked between the small group. His confusion grew as Zenon turned back to face Nacht. The Black Bulls Vice Captain simply stared up at Zenon, his dark blue eyes narrowing.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Zogratis?" Nacht snarked.

"This." Zenon retorted bluntly, his hands now imbue with Spatial Magic. "And in honest truth, you 100% deserve this. Spatial Magic: Nihility Fist!" In mere seconds, Zenon's right hand's fist imbued with Spatial Magic collided with Nacht's face and sent him flying upwards before falling down and through a tree before landing on the ground out cold.

"Welp, can't say I didn't see that coming. Then again, he did deserve it." Alina replied, looking at the little Devils. "I'd take him back now." Nacht's 4 partnered Devils scampered over to their fallen Master and carried him away the best that they could. Once they left, Mimosa turned to look over at Yuno, whose face was now filled with more confusion and looked stunned.

"Yuno?" She asked her friend. Alina glanced at Yuno curiously. Yuno heard Mimosa, but didn't answer.

He cares about Ren that much? Yuno thought.

"Earth to Yuno!" Mimosa tried again, waving her hand in front of his face. This time, he snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the youngest child of House Vermillion with slight annoyance.

"What?" He asked her irritably.

"And he's back." Alina sighed. She then looked back at Zenon, who went back to Ren and kneeling down, worried while Ren coughed slightly. She patted his head with a small smile.

"That's my boy." She said fondly.

"Mom…" Zenon spoke softly, yet bore a light smile on his face. "Are you doing alright? I know that guy coming here wasn't on either of our plans but….. I still want to spend time with you." Ren smiled softly and gave a small nod. This got Zenon to smile as well, turning back to face Mimosa.

"May I have the food tray back please?" He asked her.

"Here you go." Mimosa said, handing back the tray.

"Thank you." Zenon said before turning back to Ren, holding up another forkful of the salad. "Here you go Mom." Ren smiled softly while eating the salad. Yuno continued to watch as Zenon helped Ren. Though he still had trust issues with Zenon, he knew that both Alina and Mimosa were right in the end. Even if he found himself having a hard time accepting this face.

"Are you 2 going to stay with them?" Yuno asked both Alina and Mimosa, while gesturing to Zenon and Ren. "Because I think I'll head back into the base."

"Nah. We'll go back in now that the situation is over." Alina replied.

"Yeah." Mimosa smiled.

"Then we shall head back inside." Yuno remarked, turning on his heel to leave. The two healers only shook their heads in amusement before following.

"So this is what you had in mind?"

"Yes and I do believe it is our best shot." Acier looked at the ancient tome Julius showed her showing of an ancient tree.

"The Tree of Kabbalah." Queen Acier noted, reading the tome's text. "Interesting. The way to bring it forth is similar to the Tree of Qliphoth. Just with Light Magic with World Tree Magic instead of Dark Magic." She frowned. "I know there will be those that will oppose this idea, but considering we're running out of time, we need the help of the Angels now more than ever if we are to prevent the Tree of Qliphoth from being completed. Then again, this may very well bring forth a 2nd Angel-Devil War upon the world."

"It is a gamble, yes." Julius nodded gravely. "But given the current situation, with the death of Lolopechka and Megicula now controlling the Heart Kingdom, our hands are tied.

"Yes…" Queen Acier spoke softly, her voice filled with sadness. "But I believe that this gamble will pay off. Sadly, we'll need both William and Patri to help perform the ritual. Which I do not think Alina will allow William to participate. And then there's Patri."

"Well if Ren is feeling better, we could always have her scare him or Elf Fana." Julius replied with a light smile.

"Heh." Queen Acier laughed lightly. "That too. Though I believe Elf Fana or even her human counterpart doing it, or any Amber Phoenix Magic Knight scaring Patri into helping would be better for right now. For we don't know when Ren will be better."

"Do you know how she's been currently?" Julius asked gently.

"I don't." She admitted. "I'll be sure to check in with her once I figure this out."

"Can't imagine how she must be feeling after hearing the news of Lolopechka." Julius frowned sadly.

"Yeah…" Acier solemnly agreed. "Still, I'd like to believe she's doing slightly better because I told her in comparison to Megicula revealing it to her."

"Because she has her son." Julius nodded.

"Yes. She has Zenon." Acier smiled. "As long as he lives, she won't lose herself entirely."

"And of course we can't forget Yuno." Julius added.

"Yes, him too." Acier agreed, then frowned. "Though I'm not sure how much he'll be allowed to help her."

"Oh I'm sure Alina and Mimosa will give him some space himself." Julius chuckled.

"Maybe they will. Maybe they won't." Acier hummed.

"Well hopefully they will. Wouldn't want a grumpy Yuno now." Julius laughed.

"He's already irked because I sent Zenon over to the Golden Dawn base." Acier sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Though I can't really blame him in that regard. It's understandable as to why he wouldn't trust Zenon. But at the same time, he'll have to try and get along with Zenon sooner or later."

"It can't be helped. His entire destiny was uprooted and changed due to the Zogratis. Not to mention being forced into a Devil Contract due to them, so it will take time." Julius sighed.

"Indeed it will." Acier mused. "In any case, I will have to call a meeting soon enough to decide the next move and course of action to be taken. Hopefully Ren recovers soon, for I'll need her for this meeting." Just as Acier said that, her communicator went off surprising them both as she picked up to reveal Yami.

"Oh Yami what's the prob-" She didn't get to finish as the Captain of the Black Bulls, Yami Sukehiro, interrupted and spoke up and over the Clover Kingdom Queen. Given his very irritated expression, Acier could not blame him.

"I want this on the record when I say I have nothing to do with what my stupid Vice Captain does." Yami deadpanned, making Acier and Julius blink.

"Eh?" Acier gaped.

"What did Nacht do?" Julius asked curiously.

"He pissed off Miss Tribe Leader and nearly got his throat crushed." Yami grunted. Acier and Julius looked at each other, then back at Yami.

"He pissed off Ren?" Acier repeated. "Oh dear…"

"But she was hardly in any condition to move, let alone speak." Julius blinked. "What in the world did he say?"

"He insulted her kids in front of her and she jumped his sorry butt!" They heard Magna shout from Yami's side.

"He deserved it too!" Luck added cheerfully.

"I think Zenon gave him a good punch too." Vanessa chimed in.

"What they said." Yami grunted.

"Oh dear…" Acier sighed. "Well, do you know Ren is?"

"According to Nacht's Devils, who apparently are smarter than my Vice Captain and are petrified of Miss Tribe Leader, she seemed ok, tired as hell, but ok." Yami shrugged.

"That's good." Acier lightly smiled.

"Anyway, the reason I'm calling is I figured I'd tell you before a pissed off sunny elf would and that if you wanna punish Nacht, be my guest." Yami informed them. Once again, the Wizard King and Clover Kingdom Queen looked at each other before turning back to face Yami.

"Very well." Acier remarked. "I believe he should be punished, and I think I have something in mind."

"Like what?" Julius asked curiously. Acier held up the tome that she and Julius were looking over, following by holding up a couple other books. Her lips slowly turned into a small smile; already knowing what to do to Nacht.

"He'll be helping me understand the Angels and Devils." She answered Julius's question. "Not just for the rituals, but the Angels and Devils as a species. If we are to defeat the Devils while gaining the Angel's favor to aid us, outside of the 4 Angels willing to help us, we will need to understand them. And while Nacht is contracted to 4 Mid Ranking Devils himself, he hates the very existence of Devils. And given Angels are the polar opposite of Devils, he probably isn't too fond of them either."

"I approve." Yami replied, shouting. "You heard her Nacht!"

"Excuse me?!" Nacht snapped. "There's no way in hell I'm helping her with that nonsense! All she'll find is disappointment because both races are nothing but black and white. One is good, the other evil. There's nothing else to them."

"Well too bad. It's your own damn fault for going to Goldie's base, talking to Miss Tribe Leader when your little Devils of all people told you to keep your mouth shut and you still opened your mouth, and talked shit in front of the one person who can kick your ass." Yami deadpanned. "And this is an order from your Queen so deal with it."

"And what happens if I say no?" Nacht challenged.

"I'll put you on Charmy duty for a month." Yami stated, and Acier and Julius could tell Nacht shuddered at that.

"...Goddammit…! You win…!" Nacht relented.

"That's what I thought. You can grab him whenever." Yami informed Acier.

"Very well. And thank you Yami." Acier smiled lightly.

"Sure whatever." Yami simply shrugged.

"I just hope that I don't have to do that shit for a year." Nacht grumbled irritatedly.

"We can make it two if it makes you feel better." Acier hummed 'innocently'.

"Oh piss off woman." Nacht snarked.

"Wanna try 3?" Acier challenged.

"Someone shut him up." Yami sighed.

"On it Captain~" They heard Vanessa cooed and then Nacht shout and the sounds of dragging. Acier couldn't help but laugh.

"Pfft!" She snickered.

"Well I see you have that handled." Julius remarked, amused.

"Eh, Vanessa knows how to handle him and shut him up. So I'm content with that." Yami remarked.

"So I see." Julius chuckled. "Just be sure not to go overboard."

"No promises." Yami smirked. Julius and Acier chuckled.

"Well then, I suppose that's a sign that Ren's is on the road to recovery." Julius smiled.

"She should be recovered by the end of the week, if not sooner." Yami informed them.

"People will no doubt be surprised." Julius remarked.

"Yeah." Yami huffed. "Well, I'll leave you 2 to it then. Vanessa will make sure that Nacht can't escape until you get here."

"Great to hear." Acier nodded. Yami gave the 2 a nod and a half salute before ending the call.

"Well despite the circumstances, it is good to hear Ren is recovering." Julius replied.

"I agree." Acier smiled softly.

"And just as ferocious it seems." Julius chuckled with a sweatdrop.

"That she is." Acier agreed. "But despite all that, I do admire her."

"You've known her since you were a child, yes?" He asked Acier. Acier turned to look at Julius and nodded.

"Yes I have." Acier confirmed. She laughed lightly, remembering her time in Elysia as a child with her younger sister Erde. "I remember being a mischievous one, to which my younger sister Erde would try to convince me to not do stupid stuff. I of course ignored her concerns and snuck around Elysia, being carefree and enjoying my time there."

"Oh dear. And I take it Ren was the one to catch you?" Julius asked with a chuckle.

"Yup." Acier laughed. "In her hut when I and Erde were inside her hut looking around. Ren did eventually return and scolded us for snooping, specifically me. And ever since then, Erde has been a bit scared of Ren."

"Oh dear." Julius chuckled.

"But I was fine in the end." Acier smiled lightly.

"And you've been in contact with her since?" He asked.

"My sister? Yes." Acier nodded. "Same with Ren, of course."

"Heh. It's good to know Ren has people to support her." He smiled.

"That I can agree to." Acier replied.

"Now then, shall we get to work ourselves?" He asked.

"Yes we should." She agreed. With that Acier stood up, taking the book as she followed Julius out the office for the library. Unbeknownst to her, a small smile appeared on Julius's face. What type… Well, that remains to be seen.

Yuno sat at his desk in his room, reading over notes. It was already late with a candle lit by his desk. He set down his notes to rub his eyes and then stretched as Bell flew up to him.

"Finally going to bed?" She asked, far too used to Yuno's late nights.

"Yes Bell, I am." Yuno retorted.

"You know this is why Mimosa controls your coffee intake." Bell replied.

"Oh shove off about that." Yuno snarked. "I need the coffee just as much as that arrogant prick Langris does."

"Only cause you never got the chance to have it till you became a Magic Knight and got totally hooked on it." Bell smirked. "So Mimosa had to control your intake."

"Humph." Yuno grunted. "Well I don't like that. So tell her not to."

"Nah." Bell smirked. "Especially when Klaus is helping her too." Yuno groaned loudly, then banged his head on his desk.

"Ugh…! Goddammit…..!"

"No swearing." Bell said, patting his head. Yuno raised his head up and gave a glare at Bell. Though given how tired he was, his glare didn't look as intimidating as he would have liked. Then there was a knock at his door, making them both look up.

"Did you get someone to come check up on me or something?" Yuno asked the Wind Spirit.

"No. Usually Mimosa or Klaus take turns doing that. Why do you think there's always a blanket over your shoulders every time you fall asleep on your desk?" Bell shrugged.

"...I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that second part." Yuno deadpanned before frowning. "But if not either of them, then who?"

"Yuno, it's me." Zenon voiced on the other side and Yuno scowled. "And before you try to pretend you're not in there, know I can sense your mana and I have Mother with me."

"You have Ren with you?" Yuno asked. "Why? Did you do anything to her?"

"Open the door you paranoid nancy!" Fay shouted from the outside, Bell snickering.

"...And if I don't?" Yuno questioned.

"Then I'll bust the door down." Zenon replied. Yuno groaned loudly again, then went over to the door and opened it.

"What do you want?" Yuno snarked at Zenon. Zenon had Ren in front of him, no doubt pushing her wheelchair as he sighed. Fay was snickering on Ren's head while Ren pouted at the two with a pink blush.

"It's not what I want. It's what Mom wants." Zenon answered. "And as long as she's happy, then I'm content." Ren fiddled with the magic stone, still flushing as Fay hopped off her head. "Go on, tell him what you told us." Fay told his master. At that remark from Fay, Yuno's disdain for Zenon changed to confusion.

"Huh?" He questioned. "Ren, what's Fay talking about?" Ren sighed, still looking embarrassed.

"It's just well…" She tugged on the stone. "I um… I wanted to sleep with you, but I wasn't sure if you wanted me to come over so um…"

"Ren…" Yuno spoke softly, his lips forming a small smile. "Yes, I'd like that. And I think you'd like it too. No need to be shy about it." Ren gave a happy and relieved smile, reaching her arms out to Yuno. Yuno went into her arms and hugged her. Granted the hug was a bit awkward because Ren was still in the wheelchair, but still. Ren happily nuzzled Yuno and Zenon smiled, glad to see her happy.

"I'll go turn in then. Have a good night." He said.

"Thank you Zeny." Ren smiled.

"You're welcome Mom." Ren felt Zenon kiss her forehead before he left the room. Ren smiled, then took notice of Yuno's desk and his candle.

"You've been up working again I see." She remarked.

"Yes I have." Yuno told her. "Better than sitting around doing nothing."

"And you wonder why Mimosa only gives you a small cup of coffee instead of a large one." Ren huffed, amused.

"Humph." Yuno grunted. "Well she should allow me to have more than a freaking small cup of coffee."

"She can't play favorites my star. Otherwise she would have to let Langris have more coffee and then we're all in trouble." Ren giggled.

"...Fair enough." Yuno sighed. His irritation at not being allowed to have more coffee subsides as he looks back at Ren. "Are you feeling better? I know it's around half a day since…you know…" Ren was silent, rubbing her palm with her thumb.

"I'm… I'm not gonna lie and say I'm fine. I don't think I will be for awhile. I know it's the same for Fay here." Ren motioned to her spirit and Yuno could see Fay's wings were still slightly tattered. "But I know I don't have the luxury of really going through the mourning process. Though having Zenon near helps."

"Because you view him as your son, right?" Yuno asked. Ren nodded, fiddling with the stone again.

"To me he and Lolopechka are like my children. I watched them grow up and helped in raising them. So finding out I lost one of them tore me up inside and having Zenon around helps me not panic; thinking I lost another." She explained softly.

"But you haven't lost Zenon." Yuno reminded her. "And while I may not like him, as long as he's around, he'll help you."

"Heh. Yeah, I know." She smiled softly.

"Do you mind telling me about him?" Yuno asked Ren. "Maybe if I can understand him, then maybe I won't throw hate and disdain his way every chance and opportunity I get whenever I see him." He paused, then added. "But if you'd rather not talk about him, then I can understand that."

"What do you want to know?" She asked.

"Anything really." Yuno answered indifferently.

"Well… Zenon joined the military by attending the academy when he was 13. But people who saw him often would be mean and bully him due to his magic." She began.

"Ah." Yuno hummed. "What else?"

"He was a shy and easily flustered kid back then. No doubt due to the bullying and his piece of shit family." She remarked, spitting in disgust at the mention of the other Zogratis. "They never even cared that he was bullied, and his own siblings were mocking him for it. Loyce often had make sure I wasn't in the same building as them so I couldn't torture them for it. Tch, should've done it when I had the chance."

"Oh…" Yuno spoke softly. And for once, his voice wasn't filled with disdain for Zenon. Instead he held sympathy. Though of course he himself would never admit this out loud to anyone.

"But despite it all, he loved his home, his homeland, and wanted to fight to protect it. He took pride in being in the military and it was the same for me watching him grow up." She said with a soft smile. "People admired him and respected his skills and I was so proud of him."

"Not being snarky when I say this, but I'm going to guess that some of the people that bullied him started to admire his skills, right?" Yuno asked. "If so, that kind of makes them hypocrites."

"Oh no, those people were jealous and envied him, as they should. I meant the ones he fought alongside him, the adults who watched him progress, the soldiers who respected his resolve." Ren smiled fondly. "He changed and grew and I enjoyed being there to watch it."

"But then something happened that almost made him do a 180…" Yuno murmured. "At least from what I've been told anyway." Ren only frowned silently, fiddling with the stone. Yuno looked up at Ren before continuing. "If you don't want to tell me, that's alright. I won't force you. Especially if it's a sensitive topic."

"...Thank you." She whispered softly. He smiled lightly, patting her hand with one of his own.

"You're welcome Ren." Yuno smiled. "And thanks for telling me some of his backstory." She gave a small smile before she yawned.

"Tired?" He asked her.

"It has been a day." She admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Then let us sleep, yeah?" Yuno asked her. She nodded and squeaked as Yuno picked her up from her wheelchair.

"Mm. Let us head to bed." Yuno smiled lightly. She flushed, but smiled as he carried her to the bed and they both laid down under the covers. Yuno held Ren close as they did so.

"I love you Ren." He told her. She breathed as she held him.

"I love you too Yuno." She spoke softly. Yuno smiled softly before falling asleep, as did Ren shortly thereafter.

0713MM: Oh boy do I have a treat for you! Yeah, that's right! You're getting more than 1 chapter! In fact, you're getting not 1, not 2, nor not even 3, but 4 CHAPTERS today! Isn't that great?! Whooo! And yeah, this one right here is a LONG one. Well, long for me anyway.