So, here we are guys, another chapter of Aftermath! Finally into the new Arc. Though this is a set up, the big conflict officially begins next chapter. This is necessary though. For several reasons, some to set up for later on, others sooner. So enjoy the chapter guys!
-Aftermath- 5 Months In-
~A Broken World - Two Broken Hearts~
"Violet, are you finished in there?" Jesse asked, he was currently standing outside of a changing room, in a clothing store. They were purchasing new clothes at the moment. Violet opened up the door, holding a pile of clothes in her arms, with a satisfied smile.
"Yup, all done. I'm getting all of these." Violet told him, as she began making her way to the counter, Jesse pushed off the wall, and walked alongside her.
"Bit excessive, but considering our line of work, necessary. You seem against getting flame retardant clothes." Jesse said, Violet rolled her eyes.
"I got it for important stuff, like my choker, and glove, and wristband… Other than that, I have Munny so why not spend it?" Violet asked, Jesse rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure Janice is thrilled with you consistently spending her hard earned Munny."
"She loves me." Violet told him, simply, as if cutting off all forms of future conversation. Jesse simply sighed, and nodded, she was right of course, Janice didn't seem to mind, and in fact seemed to condone such behavior.
"True." Jesse agreed with her, Violet smirked at him, he simply chuckled a bit.
"So, where'd Damon go?" Violet asked Jesse, who looked to the counter, as she put the clothes on the counter, and handed over her Munny card.
"He went to the food court to get us food, and a table." Jesse told her, as the clerk rang up her, Damon, and Jesse's clothes. Which had already been put on the counter beforehand.
"Great… Where are we again? I like this world, I know you told me, but I wasn't paying attention." Violet told him honestly, Jesse huffed at her. She simply smiled innocently at him, as he shook his head.
"The World of Eos, in the city of Insomnia. Where that girl, Iris came from, Cidney is also from this world, though she didn't live in the city." Jesse told her, Violet nodded, as the clerk handed her card back to her.
"Ah, this place have a thing for darker colors? Because…" Violet stopped, looking around, generally the clothes were darker. There were lighter colors, but darker clothes seemed to dominate. Jesse simply let out a sigh, he had explained various things about the world beforehand, obviously she had ignored him entirely, or forgotten the information. This happened more often than he liked to think about.
"Black is the Royal color, meaning most clothes are simply darker colors by nature." Jesse told her, Violet nodded, as the clerk bagged their clothes.
"Royal color? This world has Royalty?" Violet asked, tilting her head, Jesse just blinked at her, and placed his hands on the counter, staring down at it silently.
"Violet… I-"
"I'm fucking with you Jesse. I know about the Royalty bit, and the Kingsglaive, and Crownsguard." Violet told him, nudging him with her elbow. Jesse looked over at her, with a slight glare.
"So, you memorized that, yet not where we were?"
"It involved fighting. The Kingsglaive warping thing sounds like my ability… Maybe Seilo learned it from here…" Violet murmured, Jesse simply hummed, as he and Violet grabbed the various bags of clothes, smiled at the cashier, and left the store. Heading to the food court of the mall they were currently in.
"He may be from here, or simply learned of the ability from a book that someone from this world wrote, or someone who visited wrote. Many possibilities." Jesse said, Violet nodded, and smiled at Jesse, who returned her grin.
-Aftermath- Keire Residence, Virtuoso City-
"You could show me a little respect here Yuri." Zen said, dryly. The emotionless boy glared at him simply.
"I was assigned to simply advise, and assist you in leading the Protectors here in Virtuoso City, this is not the same as me respecting you." Yuri replied coldly. Zen was put in charge of the Protectors of Balance in Virtuoso City, with Yuri as his advisor. In order to ensure he did nothing too stupid.
"I was just saying you could." Zen said, Yuri shook his head.
"I do not see you as fit to operate things, but I will not defy Rose. You are a horrible person, this is coming from someone who can read your every thought." Yuri told him, Zen shook his head.
"Anyway, how are we doing?"
"No changes since you asked yesterday. Things are quiet." Yuri told him, Zen hummed. Rose had put them in charge the moment she heard about Victoria leading the Children of Darkness in Virtuoso City. No word from the New Guardians as to who would lead the operation in Virtuoso City thus far, but anything could happen.
"It's my house, and my brother! Let me in!" Ruby yelled from beyond the door, Yuri looked to Zen, who simply nodded. Yuri made his way over to the door and opened it, seeing Chrysander blocking Ruby from entering.
"Door Guard, let her in." Yuri said, belittling Vani's former apprentice. Chrysander glared at him, and moved aside. Once Zack had been killed, and Rose had taken over, Vani had decided to stop training members herself, and devote herself to fully protecting Rose, and Fiona.
"Watch your tone." Chrysander warned, as Ruby slipped past him, sticking her tongue out, as she went into the room. Yuri hummed.
"I see no reason to respect you." Yuri told him honestly, before closing the door to the room, Chrysander glared at him, gritting his teeth. Yuri saw that Ruby wanted to tell Zen something.
"Hey, bro? I've got a friend coming over later, so can you get these weirdoes out of my house?" Ruby asked, Zen gave her a look.
"It's kind of a base of operations sis…" He told her, any hostility gone from his tone, he seemed to like Ruby way more than he did other people, and it was genuine. Yuri knew that Zen was protective of his little sister, like Zack was with all his friends, it made Yuri have a bit of respect for that single aspect he inherited.
"But… She's like… A former member of the Children of Darkness, so none of this Protector stuff." Ruby told him, and Zen smirked at her.
"A girl huh? Is she a friend, or like… Girlfriend material?" Zen asked, Ruby blushed, and glared at him.
"Just because I like girls doesn't mean that I want to sleep with all my girl friends, or date them for that matter." Ruby told him, Yuri simply hummed, Zen chuckled and held his arms up in surrender.
"I get it sis. I can have a few relocate, and Yuri can use magic to seal this room." Zen said, Yuri glared at him.
"I do not take orders from you, and I will not seal this room, because trust is something we don't have in abundance. I would like to believe that we could all get along someday, pointless fighting, and distrust will only get us in another pointless war." Yuri told him, with a firm glare.
"You sound like Violet, well… In a more… Dignified way." Ruby giggled, Yuri nodded.
"She has had a bit of an influence on me, I admit. Her beliefs are something more people should share. In time… Perhaps they will, people seem desperate for a clear path at the moment." Yuri told her, Ruby nodded.
"Right, well, all the philosophical stuff aside, I'll be waiting for my friend, we'll probably leave the house eventually to do stuff." Ruby told them, before she walked out of the room, Chrysander glared at her, she blew a raspberry at him, before dashing to the door.
Ruby opened up the door to see Emma coming up the sidewalk, she smiled at her, and waved. Emma waved back, and dashed to the door, with a smile on her face, as she greeted her friend. The two girls made their way through the house, before getting to Ruby's room. The walls were pink, along with her comforter, and pillows. She liked pink.
"You like pink as much as Violet did huh?" Emma asked, Ruby shrugged.
"I guess… Also, can we not talk about her in the past tense like that, she's still alive." Ruby said, Emma hummed.
"Maybe, haven't heard anything in five months. It's a dangerous life that we live, you know, the people who fight." Emma said, Ruby nodded.
"Yeah, but I know she's okay. I mean, she's Violet, there's no way anyone would beat her, especially not with Damon and Jesse at her side." Ruby told Emma, full of complete confidence in Violet's abilities.
"You still got that crush?" Emma asked, Ruby shrugged.
"Maybe. I definitely admire her, but I don't know if I want to be with her anymore. I kind of just want to be her friend. My family and hers are pretty close. My parents and hers… I feel like, I want to be there for her, you know? What about you?" Ruby asked, Emma shrugged.
"Don't know. Haven't been sure of anything these past few months. Ever since I left the Children of Darkness… I feel like, I don't have anything to follow, or devote myself to anymore, I guess that kind of includes any lingering feelings for Violet, I don't feel anything like that anymore."
"You depressed?" Ruby asked, Emma shrugged.
"Nope, I'm fine, just… Lost I guess. You spend so long working towards something, and then just give up… Kind of hard to get into anything anymore." Emma said, Ruby hummed, and nodded.
"I see. Well, let me know if you need any help, I'd be happy to assist you." Ruby told her, with a smile. Emma smiled back, with a small chuckle, Ruby really was too nice. Emma felt herself possibly, falling for the girl, or at least, she felt like she could fall for her eventually.
-Aftermath- Insomnia Multi-Mall, Insomnia, Crown City of Lucis, World of Eos-
"So, Noct, where to next?" A blonde young man named Prompto asked a black haired young man, looking similar in age. The two were sitting at a table next to Violet, Jesse, and Damon. Noctis was simply watching them silently, Prompto followed his gaze. "You know those three?" Noctis shook his head.
"Not at all."
"Why're you spying on them then? Is it the girl? Do you think she's pretty?"
"What?" Noctis asked, looking at his friend, who smirked at him.
"Is it, what would Lady Lunafreya think if she saw you staring at some other blonde girl?" Prompto teased the Crown Prince, who simply shook his head.
"It's not that. They're not from here. They're from another World, I'm trying to figure out why they're here though." Noctis told him, Prompto hummed, and nudged him with his elbow.
"Why don't you talk to them then?" Prompto asked, Noctis hummed, and stood up, stretching out slightly as he did so.
"You've got a point." The Prince said, as his best friend stood, and joined him. The two walked up to Violet's table, jus as Damon threw a fry at her, and she caught it in her mouth, throwing her arms up afterwards.
"I'm a legend!" Violet exclaimed, before giggling, Damon chuckled a bit, while Jesse simply smiled, and nudged her with his elbow, before pointing to Noctis, and Prompto. Violet turned her attention to them, and smiled a bit.
"Hey, uh… what World are you three from?" Noctis asked, Violet looked back at Damon, and Jesse curiously, both merely shrugged, Violet looked back at the Prince.
"Virtuoso City, and who are you?" Violet asked, Noctis smiled a bit at her, but before he could respond Jesse sharply elbowed Violet in the ribs, causing her to glare at him. "The fuck was that for?" Violet demanded, Jesse simply glared at her.
"Be more respectful, you're speaking with Royalty." Jesse said, Violet blinked at him, before she looked back to Noctis, and Prompto.
"I am? Oh, I think I remember, from before… Crown Prince Noctis, right?" Violet confirmed, Jesse and Noctis both nodded.
"Uh… Yeah…"
"I'm Prompto." Prompto introduced himself, with a nervous wave. "What are your names?" he asked, Violet smiled at him.
"I'm Violet Alexandria Hart, scarf boy is Jesse, and hoodie is Damon." Violet introduced them.
"Hoodie? Really?" Damon asked, Violet gave him a look.
"You're wearing a hoodie, and I was too lazy to gesture with my hands." Violet told him, he simply shrugged, accepting her logic. Jesse simply shook his head, and looked to Noctis.
"I apologize for them. They don't know how to be respectful." Jesse told the Prince, who smiled a bit, and shook his head.
"It's fine."
"See? And, I can be respectful. I'm typically very respectful." Violet told him indignantly, Jesse rolled his eyes at her, Damon spoke up next.
"Yeah, we're both respectful as shit. Don't think you're the only one." Damon told him, with a friendly smile, Jesse shook his head.
"You know, I have a friend who's kind of like you Jesse. He's always fussing over me, trying to keep me in line, and on time." Noctis said, with a smile, placing a hand on his hip.
"Yeah, something tells me Scarfy, and Specs would get along swimmingly. Probably face palm in unison." Prompto laughed, Noctis gave him a side eye.
"Scarfy?"
"Yeah… Cause he's wearing a scarf… Listen, it makes sense."
"Sure but… Scarfy sounds too close to Barfy." Noctis remarked, Prompto nodded in agreement.
"Never said it was good, just that it made sense."
"Hey, hate to interrupt you, but do you think we could fight?" Violet interjected herself into their conversation. Noctis looked at her, with a raised brow.
"Like training? Uh, sure… But if we do, we should go somewhere else." Noctis told her, Violet nodded, standing up from the table, Jesse, and Damon followed suit. Jesse pulling out a phone, and pressing a few things on the screen.
"Why don't you have that set up yet?" Violet asked him, Jesse simply glared at her.
"We got it yesterday, and have been running around ever since, there's been no time to set it up for something so small." Jesse told her, Violet shook her head.
"Can teleport people, but it cant do simple bags of clothes. Great investment there Jesse." Violet said, Jesse glared at her.
"You didn't earn the money, only spent it. It's a good investment, so shut your hole." He said with a smile, Violet scoffed. Noctis had pulled out his phone and messaged his driver to get ready to leave.
"Ooh, Jesse bringing in that sass." Violet teased him, he shook his head, and pressed another button before a light erupted from the phone's camera, and enveloped the bags full of clothing they had bought. Moments later, the bags were gone, as well as the light.
"Wow, that was so cool… Uh, where did they go?" Prompto asked, Jesse smiled, and pocketed his phone.
"Our Gummi Ship." Jesse answered him, as the group finally began their way out of the mall.
"Wow, that's so cool!" Prompto gushed, Violet smiled.
"Yeah it is. A cutie named Cidney made it for us, she's from this world, that why I mentioned her. Do you know her?" Violet asked, Prompto's eyes widened, and a light blush came to his cheeks.
"Uh… Yeah, I know her. She's so great isn't she?" Prompto asked, in a lovesick voice, Noctis chuckled a bit, while Violet smiled. She could see that Prompto wanted to gush about his crush.
"For fixing up our ship, hell yeah. She's the only mechanic for us. But, anyway, where are we going to train Prince?" Violet asked, as she sped up, so she could walk next to him. Noctis looked at the younger girl, with a smile.
"You can just call me Noctis, or Noct. No need to be so formal, but anyway, we're going to the Citadel, it's where I grew up, and go to train. I was actually about to head over there anyway so this works out great."
"So, it's basically the Royal Palace, cool." Violet said, Noctis smiled, and nodded.
"Basically. Anyway, for training I was thinking we could start it out, then maybe your friends and mine could jump in. Sound good?" Noctis asked, Violet nodded.
"Sure, Noct." Violet said agreeably. Noctis smiled at her, as the five made their way out of the mall, and over to a car, a man was waiting by it. He had brown hair, slicked back, with shaved sides. He smirked at the Prince.
"Hey, Highness, got a new girlfriend there?" The Kingsglaive teased the Prince as he opened up a door for Noctis, and Co. Noctis huffed at him, with a smirk.
"Nope, just a friend. Uh, guys, this is Nyx. Nyx this is Violet, Jesse, and Damon." Noctis introduced them, as he sat on the drivers side of the backseat. Violet sat next to Noctis, smiling at Nyx as she passed him, he returned her smile happily. Jesse was next, while Damon was after him. Prompto took the shotgun seat. Luckily there was enough room in the back for all of them. Nyx made his way over to the drivers side, as he closed the door.
"He your driver?" Violet asked, Noctis shrugged, as Nyx got in the car, looking at Violet in the rear view mirror.
"Demoted to being a Driver for now. Not that I mind, I like running around with the Prince. Hell of a lot more fun than most jobs." He said, as he started the car, Violet smiled. She was liking this world, and it's people so far.
-Aftermath- The Citadel, Insomnia, Crown City of Lucis, World of Eos-
"Hey Noct, who're your friends?" A tall muscled man asked, he had long dark hair, and a scar over one eye, tattoos going up his exposed forearms. He was currently in the training room. He was currently standing, and cleaning a large Great sword. It was massive, with a large flat blade, looking to be rather sharp.
"This is Violet, Jesse, and Damon. They wanted to come here and train." Noctis told his friend, and trainer, before he looked to the Trio. "This is Gladiolus, Gladio for short. He's the one who trained me." Noctis told them, Violet nodded, as she started unbuttoning her blouse.
"Alright, let's get this started." She said, as she shed her pink blouse, now wearing only a white tank top. She grabbed Oathkeeper from her belt loop, and Summoned it in a brilliant flash of Light. Gladio nodded appreciatively, as he moved out of the way. Noctis smiled at her, before he took off his own jacket.
"Pretty cool weapon, where'd you get it?" Noctis asked her, she looked at Oathkeeper, and smiled.
"My uncle gave it to me." She told him, Noctis nodded, and summoned a sword of his own, with a quick flourish. It had an engine attached to it, separating the blade from the handle. Prompto, Jesse, Damon, Gladiolus, and Nyx watched from the sidelines, as the two stared each other down.
"When do we stop?" Noctis asked her, Violet shrugged.
"Until someone wants it to stop? I don't know, let's just start, and see where we go from there." Violet said, Noctis nodded, and let a small smirk onto his face, he relled back, and threw his sword at her, as she smirked.
Noctis' engine blade slammed into Oathkeeper, with Noctis appearing along with it. Violet smirked at him, as he spun on his heel, creating some distance from her. Violet threw her Keyblade at him like a Strike Raid. She Warped to Oathkeeper, grabbing the handle, and swinging at him, he turned into a shroud of blue particles, and her blade phased through, as he moved to the side.
"Wow! You just like… Phased through my attack! You've got to teach me that!" Violet said, Noctis looked at her confused. She could Warp, but as far as he knew…
"Wait a sec, you can Warp? How can you do that?" Noctis asked her, as opposed to replying to her bout asking him to teach her how to Phase.
"I learned it from a friend of mine, who may or may not have learned it from a book, or person, who had most likely been here, and learned about it." Violet answered him, Noctis scrunched up his brow, as he let his weapon vanish entirely.
"I still don't quite understand." Noctis said, before they heard someone clear their throat from the door. Noctis, and Violet turned to see a man with light brown hair, styled up, with glasses.
"I believe I can explain." He spoke, with a dignified tone, Noctis nodded, Violet just raised an eyebrow. "I am Ignis Scientia, Noct's Advisor, and friend, and you are?" Ignis asked, Violet chuckled, he reminded her of Jesse. She looked to her friend, who simply glared at her.
"Violet Alexandria Hart, my friends over there are Jesse and Damon." Violet introduced the three of them, Ignis nodded as he approached her, and Noctis.
"Pleasure to meet you three. As I was saying however, Noct, I can explain how she is able to Warp such as your family, and the Kingsglaive. You see while the Royal families magic is limited in this world, as to who can use it. Her magic is different. It doesn't quite abide by the normal rules of our World, because she is not from our World. Thus, she is able to use the Royal magic without being granted the ability by you, your father, or the Crystal." Ignis explained, Violet nodded.
"Ah, so I can learn that Phase dodge thing he did?" Violet asked, Ignis nodded at her.
"You should be able to, yes. Now, please continue with your sparring match, I'm quite curious to see what other abilities you may hold Violet." Ignis said, as he went to stand beside the others, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
Violet and Noctis faced each other once again, Noctis summoned his Engine Blade with a flourish once again, and Violet dropped into a fighting stance. The two rushed each other once again, Violet slammed Oathkeeper into Noctis' Engine Blade. Noctis winced, as he pushed Violet away, his Engine Blade vanished, and within the same second he had a Great sword in his hands, and was bringing it down on Violet. Who squeaked, and rolled out of the way, hitting Noctis in the side with Oathkeeper.
Noctis grunted, as the Great sword vanished from his hands, he jumped away, and spun on his heel, summoning two daggers, one in each hand. Noctis stepped towards her, and slashed in an X, Violet jumped up, and over Noctis. Violet planted her foot, and twisted around, trying to hit Noctis with Oathkeeper, only to meet his Engine Blade.
The two jumped away from each other once again, smiling. Oathkeeper began to glow for a second, before it's shape transformed into a shape resembling the Engine Blade. Violet smirked, and dropped into a stance mirroring Noctis' own. Noctis raised an eyebrow, but nodded appreciatively.
Noctis let his Engine Blade vanish, and summoned a Great sword once again, he planted both his feet, and leaned back, holding his sword behind him, before he leaped at Violet, and brought the sword down on her. Oathkeeper glowed once again, and shifted to a shape identical to his Great sword, as she blocked his strike. Noctis let his Great sword vanish, and jumped away from her, summoning two daggers in his hands, Oathkeeper didn't shift this time however, causing Violet to glare at it.
"Come on! You were doing so good!" Violet complained, Noctis smiled at her, as he threw both daggers at her, Violet tilted her head, as she knocked them both aside, before Noctis vanished. The next second Violet had two feet planted against her chest, knocking her to the ground, she and Noct both fell on their backs, Violet wincing in pain, as Noct used his hands to leap back up to his feet from his back.
"Not throwing in the towel yet are you?" Noctis asked, with a warm smile on his face, Violet smirked, and jumped up, rubbing her chest, glaring at Noctis slightly.
"You know, if I had bigger boobs, that would have hurt way more…" Violet muttered, Noctis widened his eyes, and blushed a bit.
"Uh… Right, sorry, I-" Noctis was interrupted by Violet leaping at him with a Great sword, he narrowly evaded her strike, while Phasing through it, Oathkeeper reverted to it's original form, and Violet smiled at him. Noctis smirked, and summoned his Engine Blade, swinging it was her, Violet swore, and tried to dodge it, however her arm wasn't so lucky. Though she felt no pain as she closed her eyes tightly, and awaited the pain.
"I cant believe she actually learned that!" Prompto sounded, Violet turned to look at him. Ignis was simply smiling, alongside Jesse, Damon, and Nyx. Gladiolus was nodding appreciatively, Prompto looked shocked. Violet looked to Noctis, who chuckled a bit.
"You did it, you phased through my attack." Noctis told her, Violet simply hummed.
"Right… My magic is pretty strong. As you could tell, I'm particularly adaptive. It's kind of like my… special ability you could say. Still don't know why Oathkeeper didn't transform into daggers…" Violet muttered.
"Mind if I take a crack at it?" Nyx asked, Noctis looked to him, and shrugged. Violet smiled at him, Nyx pulled his twin Kukri's from his belt, and spun them in his hands. Violet readied Oathkeeper, as Nyx threw a dagger towards her, he warped to it, and swung at her with the other, Violet blocked his strike, and Oathkeeper glowed a bright Light. When it cleared she held two daggers Identical in style to Nyx's own.
"See, just took a little extra to get out." Nyx said warmly, nudging her shoulder. Violet smiled at him, as Oathkeeper reformed into it's usual Keyblade state.
"Wow… Oathkeeper is really particular, and difficult sometime… Okay, can we get to group training now?" Violet asked, Noctis nodded, with a smile.
"Sure, Ignis, Prompto, Gladio, you three are with me." Noctis said, the three men nodded, each summoning their weapons. Ignis with his daggers, Gladio with his Great sword, and Prompto with his pistol.
"Nyx, you mind teaming up with me, Jesse, and Damon?" Violet asked, Nyx smiled at her, and went to stand beside her.
"Not at all. Be glad to fight next to a warrior such as yourself." Jesse and Damon made their way next to Violet, Damon summoned Fenrir, while Jesse grabbed his scarf, and held it in both his hands. It was his primary weapon aside from magic, and he would rather not use such a destructive force inside of the Citadel.
-Aftermath- Virtuoso City-
Tanner sat silently in a tree. He was looking into the windows of a house. Inside the house, a few people were in the living room, talking and laughing with one another. He let a frown slip onto his face as he watched the scene in front of him. It was happy, and that made him unbearably sad.
"Tanner? What are you doing here? I mean, you sort of just gave the audience Blue balls, with the cut." Miranda said, as she came out of a portal next to him. Tanner looked over at her for a moment, before looking back to the happy scene in the house.
"I was just curious… As to why this reality turned out like this, instead of the one we're from. It's not fair…" Tanner muttered, Miranda nodded beside him, as she watched the scene as well.
"It's weird…"
"Victoria got caught here… Jesse didn't fight with Emily, she didn't go outside, neither did Violet. Victoria was found by Yuri, who was at the party, instead of off world. Victoria was drained of her magic, and banished to another realm, left to rot…" Tanner recapped some of the events that lead here.
"It's certainly something…"
"Zack missed the trip, and thus never took ZaZick into his body, Bondeshire found him, and destroyed him in his weakened state, at the cost of his own life… Is it wrong of me to prefer this reality?"
"Well, you don't really like Bondeshire."
"It's not that… Its that… Everyone is happy here. Violet, and Kya. Emily, and Jesse. Damon, and Ashley. Even Zen straightened himself out. Toni, Kelsi, Zack, and Dethunter are alive. Everything is okay here… Why couldn't this be our reality?" Tanner asked, Miranda frowned, and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her own look of joy had been replaced by a quiet, and pensive one.
"It is our reality… We just cant share it with the people who really need it…" Miranda muttered a reply, Tanner nodded, opening a portal up next to them.
"We should head back… Got some things to do still, in our Virtuoso City." Tanner said, Miranda nodded. "Also, the chapter is ending, so you guys wont get to accompany us." Tanner noted.