Hey guys, I'm... Well, this chapter came out a bit earlier than I expected. So, first off, we see where the Wayfinders came from. And I skipped that, and another scene because... I planned for that chapter to be as it was, and it just fit into the chapter scheme I have up. This chapter is just lighter in general in terms of advancing the plot. It sets up a few scenes for the next few chapters. So, enjoy guys!
Also guys, Final Fantasy XV, I would say how awesome it is to be coming out soon, but... It got delayed a few weeks back to November. But regardless, the TGS trailer that came out, and my god. It's awesome guys, I cannot wait for this game. I will have to definitely plan ahead, and write a few chapters in advance for December, because... Final Fantasy XV is coming out at the end of November, and since 2.8 got delayed, the entire month of december is basically FFXV month for me. But enjoy this chapter guys, tell me your thoughts of it, or FFXV, or 2.8, anything, or dont. No bother either way, see ya!
-Aftermath- Virtuoso City, Pulchram Animae- Thursday at Noon-
"So, why exactly are we doing this?" Yuri asked, Tanner smiled, and shrugged as the two walked into the jewelry store owned by Janice.
"Because Violet, Jesse, and Damon need Wayfinders. A physical reminder of their bonds, not that they're needed necessarily, but they also serve as a form of magic." Tanner explained, Yuri nodded.
"I know that. But why just those three? Why not Kya?" Yuri asked him, since Tanner had some block on his mind, Yuri had to actually ask questions. It was unusual, and he didn't necessarily like it. Tanner hid too many things from him, from everyone actually.
"Kya is not apart of their trio. She's Violets dearly beloved." Tanner remarked with a smirk, Yuri couldn't quite read what it meant, but he felt it was something only Tanner knew, and would refuse to reveal. The two arrived at the counter, and Janice looked at them, with a smile.
"Why, if it isn't Tanner. Your sister was in here just earlier this week complaining about you, and this World, and your current job." Janice greeted, Tanner nodded, as Yuri stayed silent.
"Of course she was. She's been getting antsy, more than usual lately. Anyway, I came here for a purpose." He told her, Janice nodded.
"Which would be?" Janice asked him, as he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, and handed it to her. Janice examined it with a raised brow.
"Wayfinders… Like Zack, Toni, and… Dethunter had…" Janice said, with a sadness in her voice. Tanner nodded.
"Yes, but these are designed differently. They're for Violet, Jesse, and Damon." Tanner told her, she nodded looking over the design. A simple star shape, heart in the center, with a gemstone at each tip, with a typical cord coming from one of the tips, that lead into a clip.
"These are good designs… Who did them?" Janice asked, Tanner chuckled.
"Who's to say? They came from the Book of Prophecies, at least a copy of it, or more accurately, Miranda's copy, I would never rips pages from mine." Tanner told her, Janice just looked at him.
"These are from the Book of Prophecies… Hm, okay. I can have them done by tomorrow…" Janice trailed off, Tanner chuckled, as Yuri just stared at him.
"No questions… You always were the smartest in the group Janice. Anyway, I'll be going now. Come on Yuri, I'm sure you have many questions." Tanner told him, Janice just smiled and waved them off, as the two left the building, and began walking down the street.
"Okay… How do you and Miranda have two copies of the Book of Prophecies?" Yuri asked him, Tanner chuckled.
"When you've been alive as long as we have, you have many possessions. We have them because they were gifted to us, so we can do our jobs properly." Tanner told him, Yuri glared back at him.
"What exactly do you do?" Yuri asked bluntly, Tanner chuckled, and gave him a lopsided smile.
"Me and Miranda nudge history where it's required. Violet is needed for a Prophecy involving a War between Light, Darkness, and Balance. We're making sure she fulfils her role as intended. Every part of it. She needs a Wayfinder, I give her one. Kya needs to be with her, I make sure they stay together, even if they're separated. People have to die… They have to die." Tanner told him, Yuri just stared at him.
"What about me?" Yuri asked, Tanner merely started laughing out loud at him, Yuri glared at him deeper.
"Spoilers Yuri." Tanner replied cheekily, Yuri just glared at him.
-Aftermath- Apex High-
"Alright Ruby! Show me what you've got!" Violet yelled at her, Ruby nodded, and took a deep breath, gathering her Light. The two were in the Central Courtyard, Damon, Jesse, Arthur, Jamora, and handful of their other friends were watching, curious as to how Ruby fought, since no one had seen it before. That was half the reason Violet challenged her, the other half was because she was bored.
"No holding back then…" Ruby muttered, as she finished gathering her Light, Violet tightened her grip on Oathkeeper, and took a breath before she ran at Ruby. Out of nowhere, a spear of Light sped towards Violet, making the blonde flip to the side to avoid it, without stopping her forward momentum.
"Nice trick!" Violet taunted her, before jumping up, and bringing Oathkeeper down on Ruby, only to meet resistance. Ruby hadn't moved her feet, she was just glaring up at Violet, a blade of Light keeping Oathkeeper from hitting her. Ruby clenched her fist, and grit her teeth, performing an uppercut, making the blade push back, and send Violet flying away from her.
"I've got more than tricks Violet. Remember that my father is the leader of the Protectors of Balance!" Ruby exclaimed, before she reached out, and gripped a solid looking sword, that had materialized from Light. She dashed at Violet, and swung at her as the blonde got regained her footing.
"Gotta try harder Ruby! I fight with Kya!" Violet yelled, as she spun her Keyblade in her hands, turning it into a large shield, and using it to block Ruby's blade. Violet then pushed the shield, and Ruby in turn to the side, before calling her Keyblade back to it's original form, and hitting Ruby in the side, while she was stumbling, knocking the redhead away from her.
Ruby fell forwards, and outstretched her hand, once it connected with the ground, she used it to spring forwards, and flip in the air, before landing on her feet, she summoned another sword from light, and swung behind her, at Violet. Who sidestepped it quickly, spinning around, and pushing her hand to Ruby's side, using Aero magic to push her away.
"Wish I had two swords…" Violet complained, before looking at her Keyblade, glaring at it. "Adapt to her you asshole!" Violet yelled, before she had to focus, Ruby jumped at her, and swung at her, bringing both swords down on the blonde, who quickly moved to block, managing it just in time, the ground cracked beneath her due to the force of Ruby's attack. "What are you?" Violet asked, Ruby shouldn't have that much force behind her attacks.
"I'm just a normal girl…" Ruby answered, with a small smirk, Violet scoffed, and pushed up, moving Ruby to one side, while she rolled the other way. Ruby landed on her feet, and let go of the two swords, letting them fade into Light, before she dropped into a battle stance. Violet took a breath, and looked over at her.
"Giving up already Ruby? Ha, thought you were stronger than that." Violet told her, with a smirk, Ruby just giggled, and ran at her, six blades of Light appearing behind her, similar to the Guardian of Light, Ventus, and one of the fighting styles he used. Ruby pushed her palm forwards, and sent the two top blades flying at Violet, who spun and blocked both, with relative ease.
The four other blades that came at her however she had less luck with. Blocking the first blade, the second ended up hitting her in the leg, knocking her in the air, the third hit her left hand, that was holding her Keyblade, knocking it from her hand, and the fourth hitting her in the chest knocking her towards the crowd watching the fight. Ruby jumped up in the air, and raised her hands, all six blades of Light gathered above her in a straight line, she prepared to bring them all down on Violet.
Violet held out her hand, trying to summon her Keyblade to stop the attack, but a scythe was placed in front of her before she had the chance to fully summon her weapon. She looked behind her to see Antonio standing there, holding his Scythe out, blocking the blades from hitting her, she didn't recognize him however.
"You?" Ruby asked, a hint of fear lacing her voice, as she landed on the ground. The blades of Light vanishing. Antonio nodded, and banished his Scythe, before stepping to Violet's side, and offering his hand, along with a slim smile. Violet accepted his offer, and pulled herself up, summoning her Keyblade in her left hand, but quickly banishing it, and clipping it to her belt.
"Sorry to interrupt but you would've gotten hurt." He told her simply, she rolled her eyes.
"Pssh, I had it handled." Violet told him, letting go of his hand, and looking to Ruby. "Ruby, good match girl, you beat me fair and square!" Violet said, with a smile, Ruby just nodded, and stared at her nervously. Jesse and Damon stormed up to the group.
"Hey man, what are you doing here?" Damon asked, his tone a bit hostile. Antonio just looked at him understandingly, before gesturing to Violet.
"I wanted to apologize for my previous actions Violet…" Antonio told her, Violet nodded, with a raised brow.
"Um… Who are you?" She asked him simply, he just looked at her surprised, as Jesse, and Damon got closer to Violet in a protective manner.
"I'm… The guy you fought on your first day here… I kinda hurt you real bad, and I'm sorry for that. I was stupid, and acted rashly." He told her sincerely, Violet just looked at him, her eyes glassing over slightly, as the memories flooded back to her, she glared at him.
"Well, I don't forgive you." She told him simply, Antonio nodded.
"That's fine too. I just wanted to say sorry, to let you know, that I feel terrible about it, and I would do anything to take it back." He told her, Violet rolled her eyes.
"Maybe you shouldn't have hurt me in the first place asshole!" Violet yelled at him, before she turned and stormed off. Damon and Jesse shot Antonio a look as he attempted to reach out to her, before the two boys chased after Violet, Ruby just looked at him, with a glare, but clearly afraid.
"I know…" He muttered, just as Arthur strolled up next to Ruby, and threw an arm around her, raising an eyebrow at Antonio.
"So, this is the guy? Come on Little Red, you need to get out of here… We gotta celebrate!" Arthur exclaimed, as he lead Ruby away from Antonio, Arthur threw one look back over his shoulder, glaring at Antonio, before he looked back and started talking to Ruby. Antonio just let out a sigh.
"You can hate me all you want… But, I'll still do whatever I can to help you two…" he muttered to himself before letting out a sigh.
-Aftermath- The Four Nations, Republic City- Present Day-
"Violet, Jesse, come here!" Damon yelled, as he kneeled behind a barrier, several torrents of fire were launched by several Fire Benders. Violet winced as she ran to Damon, one hand holding onto her leg, where a sharp icicle had punctured it. Jesse ran up behind her, and grabbed her sides, pushing her forwards faster, the two ended up nearly falling into Damon, who outstretched his arms to them. Violet curled into a ball, and Jesse moved so his body covered hers slightly, Damon wrapped his arms around the two of them, and ducked down, covered their bodies with his own, as another torrent of flames erupted from the Fire Benders.
"We gotta get these assholes!" Jesse yelled, Damon nodded, as the torrent of flames faded away, Damon got up, and summoned his Keyblade, jumping over the barrier, not caring about the world order at the moment.
"We gotta help him." Violet said, Jesse nodded, and pressed a hand to her leg, using a powerful healing spell on it, Violet smiled at him and stood up, summoning Oathkeeper in her left hand, and running to catch up with Damon. Jesse stood up, and held out his hands.
"These Flames come too quickly, I'm not asking for an eternity, but only a moment, just a moment for them to Stop!" Jesse said a quick incantation, casting stopga on the three Fire Benders attacking them.
Violet, and Damon nodded, Violet jumped forwards, and Damon prepared to swing his Keyblade, as Violet jumped past him, planting her feet on the ground, and springing backwards at Damon, who swung his Keyblade at her, Violet raised Oathkeeper, and smirked as their Keyblades made contact, Damon followed through with his swing, sending Violet spinning in the air, her Keyblade leading the way. She hit two of the Fire Benders, while Damon got the other one.
Violet landed on her feet and let out a sigh, Damon glared at them, as the three Fire Benders came back from Stopga, and felt the full force of their attacks, each falling to the ground, knocked out. Jesse let out a sigh, and ran up to Damon, and Violet.
"So much for the world order." Jesse muttered, Violet nodded, with a slight glare.
"It was the only way to win." She told him, he shrugged, just as a speaker sounded overhead, and they were covered in the shadow of a large blimp.
"Stop where you are!" A female voice sounded from the blimp, Violet, and Damon dismissed their Keyblades. Tsubaki came running up to them from the place she had been hiding. Four people in metal armor came down from the blimp using cables.
"Can I at least get my bag? It's right over there in that shop, it has pink stars on it." Violet told one of the officers as they walked towards her, Tsubaki jumped up on Violet's shoulder, and squeaked, licking Violet's cheek, trying to comfort her owner.
"We'll handle that miss." He told her, before telling one of the other officers to get her messenger bag from the shop, which had it's storefront destroyed by fire. The officer read the three their rights as their arms were bound behind their back.
-Aftermath- Police Station- An Hour or so later-
"They were robbing the shop, and yelled at me to get on the ground. I fought back, it was self defense." Violet told the chief of police, Lin Beifong, she had gray hair, pulled back, and a light skin tone, with green eyes, narrowed at the blonde teenager, who had Tsubaki on her shoulder still.
"You still should have called the police, instead of fighting them yourself miss…"
"Hart. Violet Alexandria Hart, you might know my uncle, Tyler?" Violet asked, Lin raised an eyebrow.
"Tyler Hart is your uncle? He's helped me out on a few cases from time to time, good man. Regardless Miss Hart, you made a mess of an entire street."
"But I stopped criminals! Three had fire, and one had water, and the other had earth. He did that to the street, not me." Violet told her, Lin just shook her head.
"I still have to punish you somehow. Vigilantism is not right in the eyes of the law." Lin told her, a laugh was heard as the door opened up. A woman was standing there, three years older than Violet herself. She wore a blue shirt, with a brown cloth wrapped around her waist, with a white fur trim on the bottom, baggy dark blue pants, and boots. and a cocky smirk. She had short brown hair, that reached her chin, cyan colored irises, and a brown skin tone.
"You say that like you were never a vigilante before. Plus you should go easy on her, I did more damage to the city when I first got here. The damages weren't even her fault." The woman said, Lin glared at her, as Violet blushed slightly, this girl was pretty, and well built.
"Korra, you shouldn't be here right now, I'm busy interrogating Miss Hart." Lin told Korra irritably, she just shrugged in response.
"Come on Lin, she's not a bad kid, you know that. Let her off with a warning, I'll even have Asami pay for the damages, if need be." Korra said, Violet raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you being so nice?" Violet asked her, Korra shrugged, with a smirk.
"I see a lot of myself in you, plus you stopped some guys that I've been hunting for a while, you shouldn't be punished for that." Korra pointed out, looking to Lin with a raised brow. "So…" Lin let out a heavy sigh.
"On account of you catching the criminals, defending the innocent, and your Uncle, I'll let you and your friends off the hook, but only if Asami pays for the damages." Lin stated, using her Metal Bending to release Violet's bonds, Violet rubbed her wrists, with a small smirk, before she stood up.
"Um… So, I'm free to go? Great! Thank you… Korra, was it?" Violet asked, as Lin stood up from the table as well, Violet walked up to Korra, who nodded.
"That's me. Avatar Korra, at your service, and you are?" Korra asked, as the three girls left the room. Lin walked up to one of her officers, and explained the situation.
"Violet Alexandria Hart." Violet told her, as Jesse and Damon came out of two rooms identical to the one Violet had just been in. They smiled when they saw Violet, and made their way over to her.
"You okay Vi?" Jesse asked, Violet nodded, Tsubaki squeaked loudly, happy to see her friends once again, Jesse chuckled. "Good to see you too Tsubaki."
"These your friends Violet?" Korra asked, Jesse and Damon nodded.
"Jesse Oliver Valentine, and my friend Damon Ty. Darnell." Jesse introduced the pair of them to Korra, who nodded.
"Alright. Well, can you guys talk and walk? I have somewhere to be. And you guys seem fun." Korra told them, Violet shrugged, she followed Korra out of the station, with Jesse and Damon behind her, the latter grabbing Violet's bag for her.
"Where do you need to be?" Violet asked as Damon moved to catch up with her, he poked her shoulder, and held her bag out to her, Violet smiled at him, and took the bag, putting the strap over the shoulder Tsubaki wasn't on currently.
"A party. You guys want to come? You'd need fancier clothes, but I'm sure Asami wont mind me spending money." Korra told them, Violet looked to Jesse and Damon, and shrugged simply.
"I mean sure, if she really wouldn't mind, who is this Asami you keep talking about by the way?" Violet asked, Korra smiled widely, as Violet caught up to her, to walk beside her, Korra glanced at her.
"She's my girlfriend." Korra told her, Violet smiled widely at her.
"I've got a girlfriend too! Her name is Kya, oh, and this is my little Frost Ferret, Tsubaki." Violet said, Korra smiled, with a slight laugh.
"She reminds me of Pabu. He's a Fire Ferret my friend Bolin has, anyway, where is Kya?" Korra asked, Violet shrugged.
"I don't really know exactly where. She told me, I'm sure, but I don't remember where." Violet told her.
"I see, well, it's a shame she couldn't be here. Anyway, I know a shop nearby, where we can get you three outfits." Korra told them, Violet nodded, with a smile.
"Sounds good." Violet replied, with a smile, Korra nodded, and kept leading the group forwards.
-Aftermath- Virtuoso City, Unmarked Warehouse-
"That went smoothly." Reeve said happily, as he reclined on a chair, putting his feet on a table, and throwing his arms behind his head. Laura smiled slightly as she got three drinks for them. Zephyr let out a sigh, as he sat down.
"Least we got paid this time." Zephyr said, Reeve nodded, as Laura brought the two some drinks, before sitting down next to Zephyr.
"So, Zephyr, why are you doing this anyway?" Reeve asked. Zephyr looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"I need to support someone close to me. This is the best way to do that." Zephyr told them, Laura nodded, with a slim smile.
"That's really awesome Zephyr… I'm just doing this because, well… I have nowhere else to go, and nothing else to do." Laura told them, Reeve sighed.
"I'll spill too… I'm here because, well… I'm good at killing things, my original world, Winniplex was destroyed a long time ago, I ended up here, no money, nothing. I found these guys, and haven't looked back." Reeve said, Zephyr looked at him.
"You world was destroyed, how?" Zephyr asked, Reeve shifted uncomfortably.
"Some evil fucker did it. Don't remember his name, but he was the leader of the Children of Darkness for a time, he's dead now." Reeve told them, Laura got a worried look on her face, as Zephyr contemplated his words.
"Wait… He destroyed the world?" Zephyr asked, Reeve nodded.
"Yeah, that fucker was something else…" Reeve muttered, glaring at a slim figure, dressed in an Organization cloak that walked into the warehouse. Reeve stood up, Zephyr, and Laura looked at him.
"What's up?" Laura asked, before she followed his gaze, seeing the slim figure walk, heading for a room near the back. Laura, and Zephyr stood up, as Reeve began making his way over to the figure.
"Let's corner them, and get some revenge." Reeve muttered, darkly, Zephyr nodded, as Laura looked worriedly between them, as the figure entered the room, closing the door behind them.
"Fighting's against the rules Reeve. Let's just track them, I have a few left over from our last contract." Laura said, pulling a small ball from her back pocket, Zephyr nodded, as Reeve let out a heavy sigh.
"Ugh, fine. Whatever." Reeve resigned to her, before he grabbed the door handle, and looked back to Zephyr, and Laura. "But if they attack first, don't hold back." He told them, earning nods from the two of them.
-Aftermath- The Complex-
"Rose, what are you doing here?" Zack asked his oldest daughter, who smiled at him. Vani closed the door, and went to stand behind Zack's desk.
"I just wanted to visit my dad to see him. I haven't had a chance to in the last couple months." Rose told him, Zack nodded, and moved out from behind his desk, hugging his daughter, she smiled, and wrapped her arms around him.
"Well, I'm grateful you're here now. I needed to speak to you about a few things actually." He told her, she nodded, as he stopped hugging her, and returned to his place behind his desk.
"What is it?" Rose asked, Zack shifted uncomfortably for a moment, and glanced at Vani, who nodded, understandingly.
"It's about The Protectors of Balance… Who will lead them after I pass…" Zack told her, Rose's eyes widened.
"Why talk about this now dad? Is something wrong?" Rose asked him, he let out a sigh, closing his eyes wearily, and hanging his head.
"Yes. Something is very wrong. Have I ever told you about ZaZick?" Zack asked her, Rose shook her head.
"No, not at all, who is that dad?"
"An evil force of nature. That's the only accurate way to describe him… He tried to destroy the world using Darkness at one point. I ended up stopping him before his influence spread too much, but the cost was great…" Zack muttered, Rose looked worried, while Vani just looked more, and more uncomfortable, her eyes filling with pain, and sorrow. Zack remained completely calm despite his words.
"What happened?" Rose asked, Zack looked at her, with a slight frown.
"The only proper way to tell you, would be to start at the beginning… The beginning of my Senior Year." Zack told her, sighing, before he began the story, of how he accepted a Dark Being into his Heart.
-Aftermath-
So, the next chapter, or two will be focusing around Zack, ZaZick, and that whole conflict around Winniplex. This is a plot point I've been waiting to get to, it is very, very important to the future, and moving forwards with the plot. I also did throw in a reference to Final Fantasy XV, with the whole Benders vs. VDJ Trio.
Because of that game, I have finally found an overall theme for this entire story. Yes, Violet has her own, along with her theme with Kya, but this is for the entire story, both character arcs. Stand By Me, by Florence + The Machine. Yes, the song used as the theme for Final Fantasy XV. I'm sorry , but fuck, it's so good, and it does actually encapture the whole story, especially with VDJ trio, Kya, Ruby, Antonio, all of that. It just fits so well, check it out guys, it really sets the tone for this story.