#blackbullsmonth2023

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt 6: Missing Scene

Luck gazed at the scene before him. Captain Jack was beaten to hell. Zora remained on the sidelines. Asta stood a good foot between himself and the person the lightning mage was fixated on.

Magna Swing had returned.

Not only had he returned but he knocked out one of the most powerful adversaries that stood in the Black Bulls way. Dante was out cold behind him. Small flames still burned bright throughout the room. Magna's clothes were burned, ripped, and torn. His typically perfectly gelled hair fell apart and down his face, framing his triumphant smile. 

The lightning mage took a small step forward and then stopped. What should he say? It's been over 6 months since they last spoke. With so much on the line he wasn't exactly supportive when his partner's training went south. 

No, he gave him a hard time instead. 

It's something that has haunted the blonde since the pair parted ways back in the Heart Kingdom. He doesn't regret the power he now holds. But the thought of their separation that day left a bitter taste in his mouth. 

He tried not to dwell on it at the time. Instead focusing all his energy toward gaining more power. So that he could fight harder, longer, so he can protect the team that has become a family to him. 

But he always wondered how Magna was holding up. 

Now here he is. Mere feet away and the blonde just can't bring himself to move forward and congratulate his partner on a job well done. Captain Yami himself struggled against Dante even with Asta's help and Magna was able to finish the job. 

"Luck…" 

It was a breathless whisper. He barely heard it. But the sound of his name on the Fire mages lips snapped him to attention. Piercing gray eyes met brilliant blue as the two stood there like time itself stood still. 

It was Magna who acted first as he hobbled toward Luck to close the gap in a big hug. 

"I told ya I wouldn't let you pull ahead of me ya jerk." Magna chuckled as he held the lightning mage tight. 

"Magna I…" 

The fire mage pulled back to stand in front. He was clearly favoring one leg and kept one hand on the blonde's shoulder for balance. The hand burned from overuse of magic. Luck could feel it almost burn his skin.

"If you two are done playing grab ass…" Zora walked past the pair toward the doorway. "I think we still have a job to do." 

"Right." Magna nodded, "You ready to go kick some ass? Yami is waiting for us." 

The reminder of what's at stake snaps Luck back to reality. 

"Then let's go! This time you can see what new tricks I've learned! This will be so much fun!" 

Just like that he was gone in a flash of blue. Ready to take on the challenge that lies ahead of him. 

[blackbullswk]

Get ready for #BlackBullsMonth2023 🖤⛄

This is a black clover event for the one black bulls squad and their loved ones. The event will be held from Jan 1st to Jan 31st, but it can be taken any month during the year if desired. Kindly use the official hashtag and tag this page to make sure your work will be properly reblogged.

There are two recommended methods to participate:

daily, one prompt per day.

semi-weekly, thirty-one days will be divided into five parts, with six days and six prompts per part (1-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24, 25-30, bonus day 31).

You know the drill, right here and right now, surpass your limits! But if you get a question or concern, feel free to send an ask.

(special thanks to @meircury for providing the event’s lovely designs)

[the-black-bulls]

my attempt to the first day of the black bulls month, prompt: morning - in which nacht observes the bulls over the morning breakfast table, and he’s utterly speechless

[acacia-may]

A Family Where There Once Was None

Description: In the future, the Black Bulls gather together at the beach with their families causing Asta to reflect on his life’s journey and the family he found along the way.

Rating: G

Warnings: Mentions Pregnancy, A character accidentally gets hit in the head

Fandom: Black Clover

Genre: Black Bulls Squad as Family; Domestic Fluff

Relationships: The Black Bulls Squad as Family is main focus. There is some Asta/Noelle, and Asta, Noelle & Their Children. There are a few hints at Grey/Gauche and Rill/Charmy. (Henry/My OC is also briefly mentioned). The rest is left intentionally ambiguous so choose your own adventure.

Characters: Asta (POV Character), Noelle Silva, Liebe, Charmy Pappitson, Vanessa Enoteca, Finral Roulacase, Finesse Calmreich, Yami Sukehiro, Zora Ideale, Nacht Faust, Gauche Adlai, Grey, The Black Bulls Family, Lorelei (Swallow) Legolant (OC), and the Children: (Katsu, Marceline, Tirion, Lia, Kalon, Narah, Asa, Toshi, Mira, Summer, Daphne, Rye, Anni, Altan, Licita, and Kai).

Word Count: 4905

Link to original post on AO3. Please do not repost to another site.

This story was written for Black Bulls Month Day 3: Found Family. I checked with the organiser and got the greenlight for this idea so hopefully what I've written still fits the prompt. I honestly can't believe I actually got this finished in time! 😅

Story Below the Cut! Thank you for reading!

“Dad! Dad! Come see my sandcastle!” Licita’s bare feet made a trail of excited footprints as she ran straight for Asta. Beaming, he scooped his daughter up in his arms causing her to giggle before she grabbed his hand and dragged him off towards the town of sandcastles she and several of her Black Bulls cousins had been building with their Uncle Rill. Judging by the ice cream smeared all over her face, Rill’s daughter Anni had seemingly been distracted from her own sandcastle by snacks leaving her dad to finish it on his own—not that he seemed to mind much since he didn’t even notice Asta wave at him as he walked by. Captain Yami’s son, Katsu, and Lia Roulacase seemed to be equally caught up in their work and, if Asta had to guess, some sort of competition to see whose sandcastle would be the biggest—though they did both find the time to quickly wave back at him. On the other side of their sandcastles, Liebe, in what Noelle affectionately referred to as his “cutesy form,” was smoothing the wall of a much smaller and less elaborate structure.  

“This one is mine,” said Licita excitedly—her little blonde pigtails bobbing as she talked. 

Asta beamed at her. “It’s beautiful!” 

“I’ll show you around, Dad!” Licita’s eyes sparkled with pride as she dragged Asta around the sand structure. She pointed to a cluster of shells stuck into one of the mounds of sand. “That’s the door. Narah helped me find seashells to make it. Narah didn’t make a sandcastle, but she was helping build mine before she went to get more seashells.”  

Asta’s smile widened. Narah Roulacase had inherited her father’s kind heart and had always been particularly attached to Licita seeing her more as a little sister than just a little cousin. “That’s really nice of her.” 

“Narah is really nice. I like her a lot. I like all my cousins!” Licita prattled excitedly with a smile that seemed to fill her tiny face. “Did you see Lia and Katsu’s sandcastles? They’re really big!” 

“Yes, I saw them when we came over,” chuckled Asta. “But your sandcastle is really big too, Licita, and I love all the windows!” 

“Uncle Liebe made those. I’m making this sandcastle for him to stay in, and I want to be big enough. Can you help us, Dad?” 

“Sure,” said Asta as he reached for a nearby shovel. He couldn’t help but chuckle a little as he glanced over at Liebe who had returned to work—carving another window in the sand. Asta knew that if he had even jokingly suggested making a sandcastle for Liebe, Liebe probably would’ve crossed his arms and scowled at him, but he had such a soft spot for his niece that these days he could be caught building sandcastles, having tea parties, playing dress up, and doing a wide variety of other things, Asta could have never imagined Liebe doing before Licita was born. Asta wondered if it was perhaps how much his daughter took after him and her namesake that caused Liebe to be so attached to her or perhaps it was all the ways she was like Noelle—her smile, the way her nose wrinkled when she laughed, how her shoulders stiffened and she fidgeted when she was nervous. Liebe and Noelle had bonded so much over the years, and she had once confided in him that Liebe, despite only being her brother-in-law, felt as much like her brother as Nozel, possibly even more so. 

At the thought of his brother-in-law, Asta glanced towards the ocean where Nozel was standing at the water’s edge holding onto the hands of his young daughter, Acier, who giggled as the water crashed against her feet in tiny little waves. It had been Asta’s idea to invite him and his family along with them to Racque—after talking it over with Noelle, of course—and he liked to think Nozel was grateful to be there, even if he did look a bit exhausted, probably from chasing his twin boys up and down the beach earlier. 

Asta was at least pleased to see that he looked happier to be there than Langris, who Finral had invited along for, Asta presumed, much the same reason that he and Noelle had invited Nozel and who had unfortunately, despite ample amounts of sunscreen, gotten horribly burned on their first day. Asta chuckled a bit to himself remembering how Vanessa had teased him for looking like a beached lobster at dinner the previous evening, but immediately felt sorry for it. Despite still being a bit red, Langris seemed to be doing alright now—collecting seashells with his son and his niece not a few yards away from the sandcastle village. Asta wondered if Narah was collecting seashells for her older sister’s sandcastle too or just Licita’s. 

It warmed Asta’s heart to see everyone together again. He was sure that most of his former squad mates must have felt the same way since they had all jumped at Vanessa’s idea for everyone to meet at the beach in Racque that summer. Asta and Noelle had been some of the first to commit to the idea and had been planning the trip for months. Of course, that had been before Noelle had found out she was expecting their third child—or the ’tie breaker’ as Luck liked to refer to the baby—and despite Asta’s reassurances that they wouldn’t have to go if it was going to be too much for her, his wife, in that strong, determined way of hers, had insisted that they keep their vacation plans. She had already had two children, she had reasoned, so she knew what she was dealing with, and Asta trusted her judgment. Still, that didn’t change the fact that he was a bit worried about her being in the heat and bright sun for so long when she was so heavily pregnant. He was sure he wasn’t alone in this type of concern seeing as he and Noelle weren’t the only ones expecting—even if their baby was due the soonest. 

Asta glanced over at the cabana Henry had set up which Zora had nicknamed “the nest” with a sort of affection on account of all the new or expectant mothers congregating there. Noelle was lounging there now, positively in stitches over Henry’s wife, Lorelei, balancing a tower of seashells on the wide curve of her abdomen. She was due a month after Noelle and had recently knitted a set of matching booties for her baby and theirs since she was determined that they should grow up to be friends. Finesse, who was giggling behind her hand, had also been given a set of booties as she was due nearly two months later and was sporting quite the bump of her own which was a source of much stress, worry, and fussing for everyone, her husband and brother-in-law especially, given her often delicate health. Not an hour ago, Vanessa had told them all to calm down and stop worrying for what had to be the fifteenth time that day, but she too had been keeping a watchful eye on her. She had been looking out for Lorelei and Noelle too, which Asta appreciated. He was sure that Henry did as well especially while his attention was focused on watching his boys splashing around in the shallow water. 

It seemed that Vanessa’s strong maternal streak, which Asta had always admired, had only intensified when she had children. Even now, she was helping Charmy pass out water and snacks to the other ladies despite the fact that she could probably benefit from some rest and relaxation of her own considering the fact that she too was, as she called it, “unexpectedly expecting” and seemed to be at that uncomfortably round stage of pregnancy, though she swore she wasn’t nearly as far along as she looked. Still her little one would be also arriving this year along with the rest of the new Black Bulls cousins, and her baby’s matching set of Lorelei’s booties appeared to still be a work in progress—attached to some temporarily forgotten knitting needles. It brought the brightest smile to Asta’s face. He couldn’t wait for all the children to get to grow up together. 

He was also glad to see Noelle in such bright spirits, despite being a little bit squished given the wide curve in her belly and the two little boys who were currently leaning on her like a pillow that is. Almos Silva, the elder of Nozel’s twins whom Asta had affectionately nicknamed ‘Al’ much to his father’s chagrin when the nickname had stuck, was particularly fond of his Aunt Noelle and had fallen asleep leaning against her side at nearly every family gathering Asta could think of. This time, however, he had company, as Kai, Asta and Noelle’s two-year-old son, had curled up next to his mother and fallen asleep on her other side with a half-eaten and now melting popsicle in his hand. Asta couldn’t help but laugh a bit as he watched Noelle chuckle at her attempts to fan herself without upsetting her sleeping son and nephew. 

His laughter must’ve startled her as she turned towards him with a slight shrug and playful roll of her eyes. Asta beamed at her before turning back to his daughter. 

“I’m going to check on your mom real quick. I’ll be right back.”

Licita smiled and nodded. “Tell her about my sandcastle, okay?” 

Asta beamed and nodded at her before making his way towards Noelle. Even by the time, he had walked over to the umbrella, Charmy and Vanessa were still busy handing out large glasses of water with festive umbrella straws to the group. 

“Here,” Charmy said handing him one. “Drink up. We don’t want anybody getting dehydrated. Take Noelle’s too.” 

“Thanks, Charmy!” said Asta as she handed him another cup with a different coloured straw, before she turned to Grey whose hands were currently full, rocking her daughter, Mira, to sleep. Amira Adlai was the first girl in a long line of boys and a generally fussy baby, but she looked so peaceful now as she slept. Charmy gave Grey an understanding nod and thoughtfully placed her cup next to her on a small folding table as Asta took a seat next to his wife and sleeping son and nephew. 

He rubbed her back gently with his free hand. “You doing okay, Noelle? Do you want to go back to the hotel and rest?” 

“I’m fine,” she assured him with a slight smile. 

“At least let me take, Kai,” he said reaching out to scoop up his son. Kai stirred but quickly nestled into Asta’s shoulder and drifted back off to sleep. “Well, someone needs a nap,” Asta chuckled affectionately ruffling his fingers gently through his son’s silvery hair. 

Asta thought Kai must be exhausted from playing around in the water with him and his uncles. Though Asta had ducked out about an hour ago, from what he could tell, Magna and Luck were still engaged in an intense splash fight with several nieces and nephews, and every few minutes or so, “Asa, stop turning into me!” or “Kalon, get down from there!” would echo across the beach followed by Asa Adlai, transformed into one of the Silvas, giggling at having drenched Uncle Magna again with borrowed water magic, Rye Boismortier complaining that he was starving before painting up a popsicle or an ice cream cone for himself, or little Summer Legolant running up the beach hand and hand with Daphne Agrippa excitedly exclaiming that she had found yet another hermit crab for the growing collection of “friends” that Gordon was keeping a watchful eye on in a nearby tide pool. In other words, the same kind of fun chaos the Black Bulls had enjoyed back in the day—just with a few more, younger members. That reminded him…

“Oh, Licita wanted me to tell you that she’s building a sandcastle for Liebe. I think she wants you to come see it when she’s done. As long as you’re up for it.” 

Noelle tilted her head at him with an almost bantering exasperation. “Bakasta…” 

Asta’s mouth twitched into a smile at the nickname which his wife only used in an affectionate and, generally, playfully annoyed way these days. “Sorry. I know. I just want to make sure you and the baby are okay,” he said as he pressed his hand to her stomach. 

“Don’t worry. We’re taking good care of her,” reassured Vanessa with a kind smile. “And I swear Nozel has been over here every five minutes to make sure she’s drinking enough water.” 

Noelle rolled her eyes and sighed. Asta knew that her only reservation about inviting Nozel along was that he would probably be fussing over her constantly, and, naturally, being Nozel, he was. “I told him I’m fine,” she huffed. “He’s such a worrier.” 

“I think that it’s sweet that he cares about you so much,” said Finesse in her soft and gentle way. 

Vanessa laughed. “Of course, you would say that,” she teased, and a pale rose filled Finesse’s cheeks. 

“I like when he brings his daughter over. She’s so cute,” gushed Charmy. “All those Silva babies with their big, pretty eyes!” She turned to Noelle and Asta with a bright smile.  “Who do you think this one will take after?” 

Asta and Noelle looked at each other thoughtfully. Their third little one was a tie breaker in this way as well since Licita looked more like Asta and Kai looked more like Noelle. He shrugged. “Dunno. What do you think, Noelle?” 

Noelle’s brow furrowed. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see…” she conceded with a sigh. 

“Just don’t mention it around Zora or Magna or they’ll start a betting pool again,” joked Vanessa with a wink. 

“Where is Zora anyway?” asked Charmy.

“He said something about going with Finral to go pick up some watermelon,” replied Vanessa with a shrug. 

Charmy frowned. “We have enough food already.” 

“I think it’s for a game,” chimed Grey quietly enough that she wouldn’t wake the sleeping baby. 

As if on cue, Finral and Zora suddenly appeared through a shimmery portal. 

“Hey, we got watermelon!” Zora yelled at the chaotic group of kids still playing in the water with Luck and Magna. Finral, however, turned to the cabana with a weary sigh. 

“Sorry about that. Did we miss anything?” Everyone seated under the cabana shook their heads. “Good. Zora was very insistent about getting everyone together for some watermelon splitting but couldn’t find any watermelon so I told him I’d portal him to the market to pick some up. He’s a very slow shopper though…” 

“He was probably just stalling so he could get a break from all the chaos around here,” laughed Vanessa. 

Finral shrugged but chuckled, “Yeah probably. I think he picked up every single watermelon they had, and—” He paused holding up a hand to the group. “Hold on just a second…” 

In an instant, he had pulled his son, Kalon, gently through a portal. Kalon’s brow furrowed confusedly, but he beamed at him. “Thanks, Dad!” 

“Please be careful, Kalon. How did you even get up there?” 

Kalon, however, didn’t seem to hear him as his attention had turned to Asta and Noelle. “Oh hi, Uncle Asta. You and Aunt Noelle are still married right?” 

“What?” Noelle’s confused exclamation caused her sleeping son and nephew to stir, but they swiftly drifted back off again as Asta double-checked that ring on his left hand, just to be sure. 

“Yeah, we’re still married and very happy.” 

“Oh good! I’m glad!” Kalon’s smile widened, and he turned to glance over his shoulder exclaiming, “Tirion, don’t worry! Uncle Asta and Aunt Noelle are still married so it’s okay!”  

Reaching the edge of the cabana after, Asta presumed, running after Kalon, a particularly flushed Tirion ran a hand through his already messy pink hair before rubbing his hand across the back of his neck. “Thank goodness. I was really worried for a minute,” he sighed in relief before being pulled into a hug by his mother, Vanessa. It seemed to visibly calm him, and his face softened to a gentle smile. 

“Kalon, what did you do?” asked Noelle with a stern but affectionate sigh. 

“Nothing,” he insisted before he noticed his father’s pointed tilt of his head at him and fidgeted a little. “Well not nothing, but nothing bad…” 

“Kalon, we talked about this, remember?” Finral said—his voice kind but a bit weary. “No time traveling when we’re on vacation.” 

“Sorry, Dad. It was an accident. But don’t worry, I didn’t break any of the rules on the list—I don’t think but I don’t know because I didn’t have it with me because I didn’t want it to get wet and I’m not supposed to time travel on vacation.” Kalon nodded empathically with a bright, cheerful smile. “I was just checking with Uncle Asta to be sure, and everything is okay. I don’t think anything could break up Uncle Asta and Aunt Noelle. Young Aunt Noelle really, really likes him. I can tell.”

Asta stifled a bit of chuckle at the faint blush of pink that filled Noelle’s cheeks even after all these years.

“I’m sure, your Uncle Asta really liked her too,” suggested Finral, and Kalon nodded. 

“He’s just more sneaky about it.” 

Vanessa and Charmy could scarcely contain their laughter, and even Grey chuckled quietly to herself, always careful of the sleeping baby in her arms. Noelle glared at them with an almost playful roll-of-her eyes, though she did give a genuinely grateful nod to Finesse who was kind enough not to have laughed though she gave Kalon a gentle smile and pat on the head. 

“Please be careful, Kalon,” she said, and Kalon nodded. 

“I will—Ooh popsicles! Can I have one Aunt Charmy?” 

Charmy shrugged but motioned to one of her sheep to bring Kalon a popsicle. “Do you want one tool, Tirion?” she asked. He smiled and nodded. 

“Yes, please.” 

When Kalon and Tirion had both run off with their popsicles, Finral wearily took a seat in an empty chair next to Grey and turned apologetically to Asta and Noelle. “Sorry about that. He’s still learning how to use his magic. I don’t think he has messed anything up too badly yet…” His voice trailed as his brow furrowed. “But I guess we wouldn’t really know if he had, right? Since the future would be different…?” He rubbed his temples. “I don’t know…” 

Asta shrugged. He didn’t know either and thinking about it too much made his head hurt, but he smiled and reassured Finral, “Don’t worry. I’m sure it’s fine. Besides Noelle and I are pretty solid”—he smiled brightly at his wife—“I don’t think he could break us up.” 

“You should worry more about your own relationship” said Noelle with a frown. “If he messes that up, he'll make himself not exist.” 

Finral sighed. “That’s what keeps me up at night…”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” chimed Charmy with a shake of her head. “If she was going to settle for you once, she’d definitely do it again.”

Noelle snorted a laugh, and Finesse gasped, covering her mouth with her hand while Vanessa scolded, “Charmy!” She huffed but rolled her eyes with an almost playful affection before turning to Finral, “Don’t listen to her. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” 

“And you should take advantage of the time you have to catch up on some sleep,” teased Lorelei Legolant. “You’ll have a baby keeping you up all night pretty soon.” 

“The baby’s keeping me up now,” sighed Finral wearily, running his hand through his hair. “Not to mention all the nieces and nephews…” 

“I wish you wouldn’t worry so much, especially about us,” Finesse said. 

Vanessa comfortingly patted his arm. “You worry too much. It’s not going to help and will only end up hurting you, you know? You’re going to make yourself sick.” 

“I know. But really—how are all of you? Can I get anyone anything? Noelle is there—?” 

“Asta is taking very good care of Noelle and he and Nozel have cornered the market on worrying about her,” interrupted Vanessa. “Honestly, they’re about as fussy over her as you and Langris are over Finesse.” 

Finral sighed. “I really am sorry about that…” 

“Here, sit down and drink this,” said Charmy, handing him some water with a colorful straw. “You look awful.” 

“Thanks Charmy,” he muttered sarcastically before running his hand through his hair. 

“You look tired,” Vanessa corrected. “Did you sleep at all last night?” 

Finral sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with a yawn. “Around 2:30, Kalon completely kicked me out of bed—literally. I couldn’t get back to sleep after that.” 

“It’s probably karma,” quipped Charmy. 

Vanessa rolled her eyes before she patted Finral’s back. “Maybe you should go take a nap. There’s plenty of adults around to keep an eye on the kids.”

“I don’t need—” His protest was cut off by a yawn, and Vanessa blinked at him.

“Please, Finral,” sighed Finesse, and he shrugged his shoulders and conceded. 

“Alright, but only if you’re sure it’s not too much trouble.”

With a smile, Vanessa waved her hand at him. “We’ve got this. I mean, we’ve been here all day without any emergencies or injuries.” 

“You jinxed it, Vanessa!” huffed Noelle as their long-retired captain made his way up the beach holding his crying daughter, Marceline. 

“Charmy, you got any ice back there?” he called as he neared the cabana. 

“What happened to her?” asked Noelle in concern, gasping, Asta could only presume at the big, purple bump on her forehead. 

“Toshi accidentally hit her in the head when he was trying to split the watermelon.” 

Sure enough, there was Gauche running up to the cabana holding a shaking, rattling teacup and saucer which Asta supposed would probably seem very odd to anyone who didn’t know that Toshi Adlai had a bad habit of turning into inanimate objects whenever he got stressed or upset. “Is Marceline okay?” asked Gauche, handing Grey the tea cup as she handed him baby Mira in exchange. 

“She’ll be fine,” grunted Yami, taking a towel and a block of ice from Charmy and pressing it to his daughter’s forehead. He turned to Marceline who stared at him with teary blue eyes. “You’re okay,” he reassured her. Marceline sniffled but nodded.

“Is Toshi okay?”  asked Asta turning to Grey who shrugged her shoulders as the teacup rattled in her hands.

“Everyone knows it was an accident,” said Gauche shaking his head as he rocked the baby. “You don’t have to get all upset about it.”

“I didn’t…mean to…Dad…” cried a particularly weepy Toshi Adlai as he transformed back into a little boy caught in a hug by his mother. “Marceline, I’m so sorry!”

Crossing her tiny arms, Marceline wrinkled her nose and frowned at him. “You’re a moron.”

Most of Asta’s companions began to stifle laughs, and even the former Captain Yami struggled to hold back a grin as he grunted, “That wasn’t nice.”

“But you say it all the time, Dad…”  Marceline argued causing most of her aunts and uncles to burst out laughing. Before Yami could scramble to salvage the situation, Toshi started to cry harder.

“No. No, Toshi, it’s okay,” soothed Grey patting his head comfortingly, before he turned into a butter dish. “Gauche!” she called turning to her husband in concern.

Gauche, however, just let out a long weary sigh. “Just leave him. He’ll be fine.”

“Is Marceline, okay?” interjected Nacht as he appeared in the doorway to the cabana with Zora who practically beamed as he turned to Gauche.

“Your son’s got one hell of an arm.”

“Swear jar.” Nacht frowned, holding up the colorfully decorated swear jar Gordon had made. Huffing, Zora dug through his pocket for some spare Yul and dropped two coins into the jar. Despite this only being the second day of their trip, it sounded pretty full to Asta.

“What are we going to do with the swear jar money when it’s full?” asked Zora with a bitter shake of his head.

“We could buy a cake,” Charmy suggested.

Noelle’s eyes narrowed. “It’s supposed to be a punishment.”

“Okay well, you can buy me a cake and watch me eat it.” Charmy hummed thoughtfully, and Noelle huffed.

“What if we gave it to charity?” asked Asta. “To an orphanage maybe?”

“Good idea, Asta.” Finral smiled at him but yawned and tiredly rubbed his eyes. “Sorry…”  

“You still need that nap,” said Vanessa with a light, good-natured chuckle.

Finral sighed. “Eh, I’ll sleep when the kids are grown up and out of the house.”

“That’s gonna be awhile,” said Yami dryly as Charmy and Zora didn’t even try to hide her snickering. Before anyone could protest, however, Licita came running up the beach with a somewhat panicked Liebe in tow, now at his full height trying to catch up with her

“Mama! Mama! Mama!” she yelled, excitedly grabbing Noelle’s hand and pulling her towards the door. “My sandcastle is done! Come see! Come see!”

“Okay. Okay. Just a second,” said Noelle with a smile. Asta knew that Noelle would have probably been the first to admit it was getting harder and harder for her to get around quickly now that she was nearing the end of her pregnancy so he offered her his arm. “Thanks,” she mumbled as she stood up from her seat with a glance towards Al to see if she had accidentally woken him. Asta stifled a chuckle. His nephew really could sleep through anything and had barely stirred despite all the commotion. Kai, however, was beginning to fidget and yawned before Asta laid him down on the chair and Noelle tucked him in gently with a nearby beach towel asking if their friends wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on him for a minute.

With Asta’s hand in one hand and Noelle’s in the other, Licita led her mother and father towards the sandcastle village. Katsu and Lia were still hard at work on theirs, and Anni and Rill appeared to be making a moat or trench of some kind.

“This is mine, Mama!” said Licita triumphantly as she began pointing out her sandcastle. “It’s really for Uncle Liebe, but it has rooms for everybody! You and Dad and me and Kai, but all the aunts and uncles too and the cousins can all play together right here.” She pointed to one of the mounds of sand. “And there’s a big kitchen for Aunt Charmy and Anni and Rye, and this is where Uncle Gordon and Uncle Gauche and Aunt Nene can show me and Narah and Genevieve how to do crafts. And over here we can play hide and seek with Toshi and Kalon and Summer and Uncle Finral and Aunt Grey. And there’s lots of shelves with books for Uncle Nozel to read to me and Al and Adler and Acier. And there’s a really big yard where Uncle Magna and Uncle Luck and Uncle Zora can show us how to play really fun games. And here’s a fireplace where Uncle Yami can tell us all stories if Katsu and Hana and Marceline ask him to. It’s big enough for the whole family! Do you like it?” Licita turned back towards them with the brightest, beaming smile, but her little brow furrowed as she tilted her head in concern. “What’s the matter, Mama?”

Asta turned to Noelle to find her wiping glistening tears from the corners of her eyes. She sniffled but reassured Licita, “Nothing. It’s okay. I’m just”—her face softened into a gentle smile—“really happy.” Asta took her hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. He knew without the look she gave him that the tears were mainly a result of the pregnancy wreaking havoc on her mood, but he also knew what it meant to her to see their daughter’s sandcastle, thoughtfully made big enough for her whole family, a family that, at Licita’s age, Noelle could have only dreamed of. How much it meant to her to know that Licita would get to grow up surrounded by a whole group of people who loved her and would have everything that Noelle never got to have before joining up with the Black Bulls.

“I love it!” said Noelle as she scooped up a giggling Licita in her arms.

“Do you want to help me build more of it, Mama?”

Noelle beamed at her. “Of course. Maybe a nice nest for your Aunt Secre, hm?”

As Licita cheerfully prattled about Aunt Secre’s nest, Asta watched as Noelle glanced from the sandcastle, to the cabana filled with cheerful chattering and laughter of their former squad mates, to all of the happy children, their beloved nieces and nephews, running up the beach or splashing around in the water. She smiled, and as she turned to look at him now, no words were needed. He understood—knew Noelle must feel it too, that warm, safe feeling as if everything that had come before, all the sadness, loneliness and pain of the past was just a distant memory now. They were finally home.

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt 5: Bonding

Silence.

It was a quiet day in the Black Bulls Hideout. No arguing. No screaming. No laughter. No sheep cooks running in and out of the kitchen. There wasn't even the sound of smoking or newspapers flipping.

It made Luck absolutely restless.

After living in the hideout for many years. There were certain things that one didn't think should or shouldn't happen. It just happened. Like the sound of Asta screaming, "GOOD MORNING FELLOW BLACK BULLS!" or Magna leaping out of his seat to pick a fight post provocation. It eventually just becomes a norm.

Until it doesn't.

The evening prior, a high amount of mission requests came in from the Wizard King. Asta and Magna were already gone on an assignment before these came in, and the new ones required… a less destructive approach.

So the lightning mage was stuck by himself in the hideout in case anyone contacts the base. He paced the common room. His mana sense in overdrive waiting for something, anything to happen.

That's when he felt it. The familiar warmth approaching the front door. Without realization the Blue Grimoire floated out of its case. Lightning wrapped around his legs as he bolted toward the door. The door was barely open when he divebombed the entryway. Static sparks scattered everywhere on impact, completely shattering the wood door and frame.

The two teammates whom he just snuck up on sat in a comical scene. They were covered in dirt and sweat, and their clothes had pieces of the door stuck to it. Stunned expressions and static hair. The lightning mages laughter echoed through the base.

They never saw it coming.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR LUCK?!" The anti magic user screeched once the initial surprise wore off. The fire mage, however, decided to speak with actions. The warmth of his mana intensified as he pulled his fire bat out of his grimoire and pointed it in his teammates direction.

"You wanna go?! Let's take this outside!" His voice felt like fire in Luck's ears. A fire he didn't realize he needed after pacing the base all morning. The fire mage eyed him carefully. His posture leaving little opening for another surprise attack.

It absolutely thrilled him!

"Hahaha sounds like fun! Let's go Magna! Hope you're ready to lose!" Blue lightning enveloped his frame once more as he raced passed his partner and out toward the training ground.

"Yeah right! You're the one who's gonna lose! Wait for me ya jerk!" His voice filled with excitement as it echoed behind the lightning mage.

This was what he needed. What he was missing earlier today. His daily bonding with his best friend.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt 7 : Trust

Magna's POV:

"I'm not too sure about this." Lilah eyed the broom in front of her with uncertainty. Today Luck and I decided it's time she learned how to fly on her own. The broom we bought her for her grimoire acceptance ceremony hasn't been used yet and it would be a waste to just leave it on the ground.

"Oh don't be a baby Lilah this will be so much fun!" Luck chimed, already floating a few feet off the ground on his own standard broom.

"It will be fine. Luck and I will be nearby to help. We won't let you get hurt."

"You make it sound like I'm destined to fall off this thing." She grumbled. The slight pout forming on her face made Luck laugh. I had to fight to keep my own lips from curling.

"Everyone falls for the first time. But that's usually the thin standard broom. Yours is wider with cushion. You should be fine in terms of balance. It's more learning to control it. It takes a bit more precise magic to move it accurately."

The broom was very similar to my own Crazy Cyclone. It was purple though instead of red. Luck thought she was going to give me a hard time for the design. But she loved it.

Problem was she's afraid to fly it.

"What if I do fall off it?"

"Then we catch ya! A real man wouldn't let you fall without any backup."

"He's right Lilah! We'll catch you!" Luck's smile curled ear to ear. Like the cat who's been busted for something.

"Okay umm let's do this then." She straddled the broom and carefully began to flow her magic in. I could feel the cool energy that came with her mana. Like fresh snow falling. It wasn't long before she floated off the ground just enough for her feet to no longer touch the ground. "You sure you guys can catch me if I drop this thing?" Her hazel eyes glowed a bit due to the angle of the sunlight.

"Of course. You trust us don't ya?" I quipped back as I finally flowed my own magic into the Crazy Cyclone to match her height off the ground. Luck circled a few feet above her head. Occasionally teasing the poor girl for not going high enough.

Finally, she let out an exhale, "I trust you Mags. Okay let's do this." Her magic still steady as she floated higher off the ground. I stayed slightly below her just in case she lost her balance. Eventually we made it several feet above the treeline. Luck floated beside her, standing on his own broom, encouraging her to try the same.

"Hey!" I shouted from my position below them, "Let her get used to flying seated first! We haven't even moved yet!"

"You're just saying that because you don't like standing on the Crazy Cyclone."

"That's because you keep knocking me off balance!" The crazy mage would zap me off my broom. He always caught me before I made impact with the dirt but not before scaring the hell out of me first.

"You worry too much! Get up here and fly with us!" He chirped happily.

We flew slowly around the forest area close to the hideout for a while. Using the time to let her get used to flying, correcting her technique as necessary. Luck would occasionally encourage some type of chaos in good fun of course.

Until it was time to get serious.

I noticed the way the front of her broom was shaking. By itself it wouldn't be that big of a deal. It was the look of sweat and exertion she was exhibiting.

"Hey.." I floated until I was level with her left side. Our knees barely touched. "You wanna take a break? We've been up here a long time."

Wrong decision. I must have broken her concentration because the entire broom was shaking now. Quickly a grabbed hold of the handlebar closest to me and flowed a bit of my own mana into the broom to stop the shaking. My fingertips felt like ice touching the frost mages broom. I look over to Luck and nod. This isn't the first time we've given lessons and we know what to do in this situation. The lightning mage nodded back and flew out of my line of sight.

"Okay I think it's time we descend. Do you think you can do that?"

She was clearly anxious but nodded anyway.

"Okay keep your mana as steady as you can. When you're ready, slowly lower the amount of mana you're inputting into the brooo-!"

She lowered her mana too fast. The backend of the broom dropped from under her. The front end was upright barely from my own strained mana input. She was dangling from the handlebars. I lowered the Crazy Cyclone. While trying to keep her broom in the same spot. "Lilah can you hop onto the Crazy Cyclone?"

"What about-"

"Don't worry about the broom. Just hop on!"

I could see one of her hands starting to slip. She wasn't gonna make it on in time.

"LUCK!" I called out.

"I got it!" I looked down and he was a few feet below her.

"Okay new plan! Let go of the bars!"

"Are you insane!?" She screamed while trying to adjust her grip.

"You gotta trust me! Just let go!"

She scanned my face briefly. "I trust you." Was barely a whisper before she let go. Her following screams drowning the prior sentence out. Luck caught her in his arms and with that her screams cut off. There was a brief moment of silence as we all floated in place before their laughter was the only sound that could be heard. I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Eventually we all made it to the ground okay.

"That was fun! When can we do it again?" Luck was already zipping around us like nothing happened.

"No way, battle freak. Give us a break before we go back up." I quipped back before facing Lilah, "Are you okay?"

She looked thoughtful, "I'm fine Magna. The scare aside I had a lot of fun. Thank you."

All in all it was a good day for the three of us.

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt #1: Morning

Pairing: Magna x Luck

Magna was gently woken up by the rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains of his bedroom window. There was a sense of calm and peace. The sound of birds chirping outside. Staying where he was, he relaxed and listened to that sound for a bit before opening his eyes.

Facing him was a sleeping figure. Blonde hair in various directions, eyes closed, blanket held up to the chin, curled up against his side. It was the calmest the fire mage ever seen his partner. It made having an early internal time clock worth it. Getting to see that peaceful expression every time he woke up.

He thought back to the first time Luck spent the night in bed with him. It was just after a tough mission. The kind that left them injured and bloody but at the same time victorious. Magna always keeps extra burn creams and healing ointments in his desk drawer due to all the training he does with his flame magic, so he invited Luck in to help patch him up. The lightning mage was so exhausted from the fight that he didn't argue or tease. He just lied down on his stomach on the soft comforter covering the mattress while Magna applied the ointments on the wounds.

He was overly gentle in the application of the ointment, hands shaking slightly, making sure there was no added discomfort. But then lightning mage had fallen asleep during the process. It came as a shock to the fire mage when he noticed that fact. Very rarely does Luck get this tired that he just passes right out. Typically it's the other way around after a tough mission.

A chuckle escaped Magna as he finished applying the ointment and decided to get ready for bed himself as quietly as possible. Letting the lightning mage get some much needed rest. Once his hair was down and he changed into some more comfortable clothes, he carefully climbed into bed next to his partner. Sleep came quickly as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Zzzt!

That following morning, a zap of electricity woke the fire mage up and shot him out of bed. The sound of laughter being the first thing he hears as he shakes the sleepiness from his eyes and figures out what's going on.

"Hahaha good morning!" Luck said as he stood over Magna's body on the side of the bed with a large smile plastered on his face.

"What the hell was that for!" He responded loudly, his gray and black hair floating in different directions due to the static generated by Luck's wake up call. "Is that really how your gonna wake someone up first thing in the morning?!"

"Not just someone! You!" The lightning mage matter of factly answered.

Magna was not quite sure what to do with that response, his face dusting a light shade of pink. Mouth opening and closing a few times before he could finally grumble, "Good Morning to you too."

"Ahh don't be like that Magna! Come let's grab some food and then we can spar!" He cheerfully grabbed Magna's hand and dragged him out the door.

His mind snapped out of his reminiscing and back to the present when he felt the body against him begin to shift. His body tensed, preparing for one of his partners usual morning stunts. He looked down and grey eyes made contact with blue. Pink dusting both their cheeks. Time lost all meaning to both of them. Luck ended up speaking first, voice raspy from sleep, "Morning"

Magna chuckled and felt his body relax. Contentment filling him as he held Luck closer.

"Good Morning."

[blackbullswk]

Hi, thanks for hosting the event! I was wondering if late works are allowed and if it was acceptable to include other characters from different guilds with the black bulls?

Yes, and yes.

Black Bulls Month 2023 is an event that runs throughout the year on repeat, the event can be taken as a challenge and in whichever style, order, or method that suits your muse.

Black Bulls Month 2023 is also open to any character that's not part of the squad as long as the attention is kept on at least one member of the black bulls.

Feel free to drop any questions if you have more, and enjoy your time!

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt #4: Rooftop

It was a quiet evening in the Black Bulls Hideout. The moon was shining bright in the sky, stars could be seen clearly, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. Everyone had turned in for the night except for one mage who sat on the rooftop enjoying the cool nighttime air.

Luck couldn't sleep on nights like this. It was too calm, too peaceful, like a calm before a great storm. He would never admit it out loud but it was a concern of his that would haunt him in when he did allow sleep to take over. The kind of unrestful sleep that would wake him up with cold sweat and horrible phantom images that he can't quite shake.

So he would sit up here, the rooftop allowed for the perfect view of both the sky and ground without anyone noticing him being up there. He could just watch the world go by and let his nerves wind down as much as possible until morning when-

"I thought I heard someone up here, what's going on man?"

Luck turned to the owner of that voice. Magna was still in his sweatpants and t-shirt, his hair down and his signature glasses removed. He was clearly ready for bed but still took the time to check in on who couldn't sleep up at the rooftop.

It made his heart warm with affection he rarely wants to acknowledge.

"Not much, thought everyone was asleep so I decided to hang out up here." The blonde quipped, looking back up at the moonlit sky. "What about you? You didn't just come up here to check on me did you?" His ask was partly curious, and partly hopeful.

"Couldn't sleep." He murmured before yawning, "I know you hang out up here a lot at night figured I'd say hi. Do you ever sleep?"

Luck took a moment to consider the fire mages words. Has he really come up here that often? How many sleepless nights would that have been now? Normally he would laugh off his best friends question but tonight was one of those nights that had him nervous. His battle partner has become the center of those nightmares and those images were currently playing out in his mind like a horror film.

"It's too quiet for sleep…" Luck chuckled dryly in an attempt to shake the images out of his head.

It would be so much easier if he could just fight it out. But Yami would probably kill the both of them.

"Too quiet? Isn't that when you're supposed to sleep?" Magna's inquiry was serious. He new something was off but he didn't quite know what the problem was or how to fix it. It would be something much easier if the lightning mage would pick a fight or something but instead he just looked up at the sky.

"No, that's when they expect you to sleep." Luck confessed.

"They?"

"Whoever's out there who's targeting us right now."

"Is there someone out there? I thought we settled all scores by now? Do you sense something with that mana sense of yours?"

"Nothing yet, but there's always someone new."

"Well thats why we have each other isn't it?" Magna was gentle in his approach with Luck. He wanted to be taken seriously yet at the same time if he pushed him too far it would just trigger a brawl that would wake everyone up. "To back each other up through the hard times?"

"But what if I could stay ahead of it? Those hard times?" Only with Magna could he truly express something like this. It was terrifying.

"Then the fights would get boring." Magna didn't miss a beat with his response. "Those fights you love so much wouldn't be as excite since you'd always get the drop on them. You still want that thrill don't you?"

Luck finally took the time to look at the fire mage sitting beside him. Blue eyes met with gray, the look in Magna's eyes were intense like he was trying to decide weather to pick a fight and smack some sense or to have an actual serious conversation that neither of them were ready for.

It made Luck burst out into laughter.

"What's so funny!"

"Hahaha you're a funny guy Mags. Thank you."

"You're Welcome?" The fire user was confused to say the least but grateful to see his friend back to his normal self again. So he got up and held his hand out to his blonde battle partner.

"Does this mean you're ready to go inside?"

"Sure!"

Luck grabbed Magna's hand into his own and let off some electricity zapping him almost off the rooftop. The static caused his ungelled hair to float in every which direction.

"W-what the hell was that for?!?!"

"Hahahaha you didn't even see it coming!"

"Why you litt-"

"WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!"

All the color drained from Magna's face but Luck just looked amused. Contentment filled his chest as he thought of tonights events. He would fight when the time comes but for now he just wanted more moments like this with his closest pal.

Maybe he can say how he feels another time when he's ready.

[magnaswingwritings]

Black Bulls Month 2023 Prompt 3: Found Family

It was a quiet evening in the outskirts of Saussy Village. Families were inside having dinner, couples enjoyed each other's company and small business owners were closing shop so that they could go home for the night as well. The sun was just beginning to set leaving the sky with an orange hue.

At the very edge of the village was a small cliff that overlooked a good chunk of the Forsaken realm. Where the former Village Chief was laid to rest after falling to the Eye of the Midnight Sun a few years back. It was this location that Magna Swing of the Black Bulls chose to visit on his one day off this month. 

The Fire Mage sat in front of the grave marker. He was in his usual attire, hair slicked back, glasses hiding his eyes from the world. The only change between then and now is the lit cigarette between his lips. He took a long drag before speaking, "Hey Old Man, it's been awhile." 

"I suppose I should start by apologizing for not visiting in such a long time. A real man wouldn't make others worry by not checking in. That's what you taught me." 

He took another drag while he thought of the events that prevented his visit over the last few years. The elf attack, the spade kingdom invasion, the Wizard King losing his mind to a devil. So much had happened and it all started with an attack on a small village in the middle of nowhere. It was hard to imagine. 

"You also taught me that a real man fights for his family and loved ones. And I guess that's why I haven't been around lately. You see…"

He began to tell the story of his journey with the Black Bulls since the former chief's passing. Tales of trials, heartbreak and triumph spewed from his lips as soon as he thought of it. He laughed, cried and cheered throughout his tales until that bittersweet ache set in and the last cigarette burned out. 

"You see old man, what I've been trying to say is you don't need to worry about me over there. You were a great father figure but I found a family within the Black Bulls. With them by my side I'll be just fine. Thanks to you I was able to find them so I hope you're resting easy out there."

The flight back to the Black Bulls Hideout was quiet. The only light was the glow from the back of the Crazy Cyclone. But the breeze and silence helped the fire mage collect himself before arriving at his destination. After securing his ride and entering the base everyone screamed out in the middle of the chaos.

"Welcome Back!"

It was good to be home with family.