Okay, so here is Aftermath, Still The Same Arc. This is... I mean, it's shorter, probably only going to be this chapter, and the next one, the Arc after this will be slightly longer, maybe a chapter or so, not much though. This one is... Well, I'll let you guys read it.

I'm liking it so far, having fun. I actually had the idea for this Arc, and the next a long time ago, like, when the story first started, I knew I wanted to do this Arc, and the next one. So, this has been in planning for a long ass time, hope you enjoy, we jump around a lot this chapter. Enjoy!

-Aftermath-

~Still The Same~

"Tanner? Didn't expect to see you here." A girl said, being around the age of eighteen. She had pale blonde hair that flowed beautifully to her mid back, and framed her face. Pale skin, with dark, mesmerizing blue eyes that seemed to shine slightly. She was dressed in a simple black shirt, and pants, with a pair of red rimmed glasses.

"Didn't plan on coming to see you. Just wanted to check in… How have things been?" Tanner asked the young woman, who shrugged, as she went to sit on a dirty couch next to Tanner. The sky outside was dark, and clouded over, with bright orange embers floating through the air.

"Haven't gotten any better… But, they also haven't gotten any worse, so I guess good overall." The girl answered him, with a slight smile. He simply hummed.

"You think this is good? ZaZick destroyed everything here…"

"It's all I've ever known. Been fighting and running all my life, so it's good that I haven't had to do either in a week. So, yeah, from my perspective that's a good thing." The girl told him, Tanner quirked a smile, and nodded.

"Right…"

-Aftermath- The Gummi Ship- Present Day-

"Tanner?" Violet asked, as she knocked on the door to his room. The boy looked up at his door for a moment, before he placed the picture of himself and Emily back on the bedside table, and stood up, moving over to the door to open it. As soon as he did, Violet grabbed his collar and pulled him away without another word, literally dragging him to the cockpit with her, despite his protests, and questions.

"Violet? What's happened, what's the matter?" Jesse asked, Violet shook her head, and dragged him over to their chairs, where a Holo-Screen was open, and showing a World.

"We got a job, come on, get focused!" Violet answered him, pushing him towards his chair, before sitting in her own. Jesse simply huffed, and shot a glare at her, fixing his collar.

"You could've told me." He muttered, as he moved the Holo-Screen so he could examine the world better, Damon was already flying the ship towards their destination.

"Yeah, but dragging you is so much more fun!" She told him, Jesse simply sighed, as he relaxed in his chair. "So, Jesse, I got a question, feel free to call me stupid but… Can you help?"

"Sure, shoot." He said, Violet hummed, and brought up several Holo-Screens, pushing each of them to Jesse.

"Why are there different versions of this Earth world? Each one has a different subtitle, but they're all Earth." Violet pointed out, Jesse nodded simply.

"There was a study done about that years ago. Simplest explanation they had was that Earth was used as a template World. Since it has an optimal support for life generally. Don't know why, but it's essentially copied with slight variations on it. Such as… This Earth: YoRHa, is a desolated Earth, thousands of years older than some other versions."

"What's a YoRHa?" Violet asked, Jesse hummed as he brought up another screen and searched the name.

"It seems to be an organization founded to take back the Earth from the machines using androids."

"Can we go there?"

"It's marked as incredibly dangerous, so I wouldn't recommend doing so. Some worlds aren't meant for people like us… Plus, no fighting between Light, Darkness, or Balance has taken place there, it's essentially untouched, at least by magic."

"Okay… So basically, with the Earth thing, going back to that… God was just being lazy, or Kingdom Hearts, or whatever was lazy?" Violet asked, Jesse simply chuckled a bit.

"I would like to imagine not, but it would certainly seem that way." Jesse smiled at her, Violet laughed a bit, and reclined in her chair, closing her eyes, and resting her head on her hands as she laced her fingers behind her head.

"Sounds like someone I would get along with!" Violet spoke with a carefree tone, Jesse and Damon simply chuckled a bit.

-Aftermath- Mysterious Tower-

"Keyblade Apprentice, Kya… Today you will be tested for the Mark of Mastery. In this test, your Heart will be put in judgment, to determine if you deserve, or are worthy of the title, and any special powers, or rights associated with it. Your Heart's True power will be revealed, do you accept this trial?" Master Aqua asked, standing across from her sole pupil, who simply nodded.

"Yes, Master Aqua." Kya said, tightening her grip on Rainfell. Aqua smiled a bit, and nodded, before her face turned serious once more, she raised Master's Defender, and pointed the tip at Kya's chest. Before Aqua fired a beam at her, Kya's eyes closed instinctively, expecting to feel pain, but finding none.

Kya opened her eyes, to find herself in the Courtyard of Apex High. She hummed, and looked around, she definitely wasn't in the real Apex High, but her body still felt real. She was here physically, but it wasn't really the Courtyard.

"Kya, come on, don't hold back!" Kya's eye twitched, as she turned to see Violet, Oathkeeper in her hand, she was dressed like she was the first day they formally met. Kya hummed, this was apart of the test, so this Violet wasn't real, meaning she wouldn't hold back. Kya adopted a fighting stance, mirroring Aqua's, waiting for Violet to attack.

"Been waiting to beat some sense into you." Kya muttered, slightly angry. Tsubaki had forgiven her, and the two had grown into a rather comfortable life. Kya had even brought the small Frost Ferret along with her, causing Master Aqua to fawn over the animal for a bit, until it was time for the Mark of Mastery.

"You're just mad because my life doesn't revolve around you!" Violet yelled, as she vanished, Kya looked around, before a Keyblade slammed into her side painfully. "It's not always about you Kya!" Kya was knocked back, the blow being both physical, and mental, she glared at the blonde.

"I know that! God, do I ever know that!" Kya shot back as she rushed at Violet, jumping into the air, and bringing her Keyblade down on the blonde, causing her to dodge to the left, Kya smirked, as she fired a powerful Blizzaga from her free hand, hitting the blonde in the chest, knocking her back.

"You hurt me!" Violet cried, with a few tears coming to her eyes, Kya landed on the ground, and stared at the illusion, as it stared up at her in fear, a fear she knew from the time she actually had hurt the blonde, or… when Kya would watch her sleeping face twist and contort into a pained look.

"I didn't-" Kya choked the words back, even though it was only an illusion, it still looked, and behaved exactly like Violet, she couldn't just ignore the kind of pain she was in. She hated hurting Violet, illusion or not. Kya frowned and let her Keyblade slip in her grasp, lightly holding it between a few fingers.

"The Kya I know would never back down so easily!" Violet shouted into her ear, appearing from the side. Kya simply shut her eyes tightly, and grit her teeth, as she swung in the direction of the voice, hearing a pained scream in response, and feeling some blood splash on her.

Kya peeked one eyes open to see Violet on the ground, face twisted in horror as she spat some blood and held her slashed stomach, Kya quickly shut her eyes once again, feeling sick to her stomach. She wanted to die, but this was all apart of the test right?

"Would you kill someone you Love, because of Love?" A Voice echoed within Kya's head, Kya simply let out a shuddering breath, she already had, hadn't she… But…

"Since when did I… Love her?" Kya asked, as a bright light swirled around her, causing her to shut her eyes, when she opened them again she was the World she and Violet had lived in for two weeks… Where they had got to know each other better… "This feels like so long ago…" Kya muttered to herself, as she stared at the bright purple sunset.

-Aftermath- Amaryllis Academy-

"You the guys who called us?" Violet asked, as she placed a hand on her hip, and raised an eyebrow, Jesse and Damon flanking her on either side. The three were at the dorm room of two guys, Adam, and Ace, brothers it seemed. Adam had dark blonde hair, cut short, while Ace had longer, lighter blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, they had matching blue eyes.

"Yup. That's us." Adam confirmed, welcoming the Trio inside their room, Violet smiled a bit, and walked forwards, Damon and Jesse behind her, as Adam closed the door behind the three. Ace leaned up, and looked over at the three from his desk, where he seemed to be studying.

"Got a problem you three are perfect for." Ace told them, as he spun in his chair, and twirled a pen in his fingers, Violet nodded, and rolled her shoulders.

"How'd you hear of us anyway? This World connected to others?" Violet asked, Ace nodded, Adam smiled, and went over, leaning on the edge of a desk, and crossing his arms.

"Yup. You three are pretty famous. One of the top rated problem solving groups out there."

"Problem solvers? Really? That's all we are?" Violet complained, Damon chuckled a bit.

"What else would you call us?" Damon asked, Violet shrugged in response.

"Meddlers, rebels… something badass."

"Yes, because something as trivial as a label matters. What matters, is that we do solve problems, and help people." Jesse spoke up, Violet looked over at him, and nodded.

"Right, so what's the problem?" Violet asked, turning back to Adam, and Ace, who chuckled at the trio, Ace grabbed a paper, and held it out to Adam, who took it, and examined it.

"Well, first your payment…"

"We don't need anything like that really. Helping is enough of a reward." Violet told him, Jesse sighed.

"You make it seem like anyone can take advantage of us." Jesse said, Violet glared at him.

"That's because I like helping people! You're the one who wanted people to pay, fuck that!" Violet exclaimed, Jesse simply glared at her. They had been having the argument for a few months now, and frankly Violet was sick of it, but Jesse wouldn't let it go.

"Just calm down…" Damon told the two, placing a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders, Violet pouted, and turned her head away from Jesse, who simply rolled his eyes. Damon sighed, and looked to Adam, and Ace. "Payment can be discussed later, what's the issue?"

"Well… Our Principal is doing something shady. We… don't exactly know what." Ace muttered, as he looked over a few papers on his desk, Adam nodded.

"Right, and we cant find out because… He only selects certain students for his program." Adam said, Ace nodded, and continued.

"Girls."

"New ones."

"From other worlds." Ace finished, Adam nodded. Violet tilted her head.

"So… you called us… Because, I'm bait." Violet confirmed, Ace nodded, Adam shrugged.

"Problem is, he knows who you are. Got posters of you up."

"So, you'll need a disguise." Ace told her, Violet smirked a bit, while Damon and Jesse looked uncomfortable.

"I don't like this."

"You don't like anything Jesse." Violet teased him, Damon nodded.

"I don't like it either Baby-Girl. What if you get hurt, and we cant help you?"

"Hold on… Now, we haven't even come up with a plan, or disguise yet, one thing at a time here." Ace told them, Violet, Damon, and Jesse turned to look at him.

"Right… So, where do we start?" Violet asked, Ace hummed.

"I'd say, disguise, while you're doing that, I can forge some papers." Ace said, Jesse hummed, and nodded.

"I'll assist you. Violet, you, Damon, and Adam go and get a disguise. If you're recognized, this plan will fail. I would like to find out what this Principal is doing. Speaking of… What evidence do you have?" Jesse asked.

"I mean… the whole new girls going missing after being personally selected for the Principals special program, that only began recently, isn't evidence enough?" Ace asked, Adam shrugged.

"To be fair, we didn't explain that… Point is, recently, our Principal just recently, this year began a new program. Like we said, he only selects new girls, from different worlds for this. They don't come back, or at least, we haven't seen them. Last one was a month ago." Adam told them.

"Sounds pretty shady to me." Violet muttered, Ace nodded.

"That's another reason we called you three specifically. With three of you, more of a chance of success, four guys watching your back is better than nothing."

"And two of those four focusing on my ass I imagine?" Violet asked, Adam smirked a bit, while Ace rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, Tanner, you'll stay here, and help me. Adam, don't get into trouble."

"Got it. Come on guys, I know a place." Adam said, Violet rolled her eyes and smirked.

"You mean a store?"

"Well… Yeah." Adam smiled, Violet laughed a bit at him, Jesse looked over at her and Damon.

"Watch out for each other." Jesse told them, Damon smiled, and Violet smirked.

"I'll keep her out of trouble." Damon said, smiling at Jesse, who simply gave him a look in response, as Violet smiled widely.

-Aftermath- Mysterious Tower-

"What is this?" Kya asked, as she held up her hand, she was washing her face in a stream, when she noticed a red string tied around her pinkie finger, it was only visible in her reflection, it seemed to be tied to something off in the distance.

Kya simply hummed, she had seen something like this before, or heard of it from someone… Well, it was the only thing she had to go on at the moment. Kya stood, and looked down, the string was still only visible in the stream, so she would follow the stream, or…

Kya held up a hand, and used Water magic, forming a floating pool of water over her hands, and waving it under where she thought the string was. She couldn't see it, and hummed, as she stopped the spell, and the water fell into the stream. She tilted her head, and began following the stream, so she could follow the string.

"This seems tame really… Just following a string… Probably gonna get tougher eventually though, better be ready." Kya said, obviously to herself. It was something Violet had told her that she did from time to time, to think more clearly. Talk to herself like this, Kya had been doing so more and more lately.

"This test is merely a formality. It's a test of your Heart, which I believe to be strong enough to survive anything Kya. Be careful, and do not give up. When you emerge, you will be named as Master." Aqua's words flashed through Kya, as she hummed.

"If it's a simple formality, why am I taking such a test so extreme?"

"Because I trust in you. Formality or not, something dangerous is right around the corner, you need to be prepared for anything. This test is simply to ensure you can do whatever necessary to protect what really matters, and persevere through the deepest Darkness, or, the brightest Light if necessary."

"What aren't you telling me Master Aqua?" Kya asked, as she walked through the darkness, holding a small bit of flame in one hand to light the immediate area. Whatever form of existence she was in now didn't need to stop, and sleep. "Where exactly am I? Is it my Heart?"

-Aftermath- Amaryllis Academy, Daisy's General Store-

"So… A disguise…" Violet said, as she slowly sauntered through the store, with a basket over her elbow, Damon beside her, and Adam trailing behind, looking at some magazine he found. Damon hummed, as he scanned the aisles.

"Any ideas?" Damon asked, Violet shrugged.

"Maybe I could change my makeup a bit… Used right, you can kind of modify how your face looks with a bit of magic. Caver up my freckles, change my hair, colored contacts… Hey, Damon, could you go find me some contacts, blue ones if you can." Violet said, looking over her shoulder, Damon smirked, and saluted before walking off, leaving Violet with the makeup.

"So, how goes?" Adam asked, as he approached, closing the magazine and tilting his head as he examined the blonde, who appeared deep in thought as she looked over the makeup.

"Well enough… Could you go find me a pair of glasses? Like, reading ones? Black rims preferably, and a red ribbon, or bow, something like that." Violet said, Adam nodded simply and walked elsewhere. Violet smiled to herself. "Just gonna…" Violet trailed off as she reached for some eyeliner. "Man, Kya would kill me if she found out I was gonna do this…"

Violet grabbed the other makeup she would need for her disguise, and placed it in the basket, before she moved over to another aisle, looking at the different hair colors, and imagining herself with them. Red streaks, or completely light blue, or pink, like she suggested to Kya, once upon a time. Violet smirked, and grabbed the pink hair dye.

"Why not just use magic?" Damon asked, as he came back over to her, with a pair of blue contacts in hand, Violet turned, and smirked, before she rolled her eyes.

"Because magic can permanently fuck me up, if someone fucks up. I like how I look."

"Yeah… You really do look like your mom, you know that?" Damon asked, Violet's smirk faded entirely, replaced by a bitter frown, she glared slightly at Damon, as she took the pair of contacts from him, placing them in the basket with the makeup.

"Yeah. I do." She told him, before turning back, Damon frowned at her.

"Sorry."

"Just…" Violet stopped, choking on her words, and closing her eyes tight. "Don't." Was all she could manage, Damon simply sighed, she seemed fine on a daily basis, but whenever this came up, she was always defensive, and sad, like Jesse, or Damon himself at times. He couldn't be mad at her for that.

"Wow, who died?" Adam asked, with a smirk, as he came back, Violet's head snapped to him, with a dangerous glare. She stormed up to Adam, and grabbed the red bow, and glasses he had gotten for her, placing them in the basket, before brushing past him, without a word. Damon rubbed the back of his head with his hand, as he walked up to Adam, before they followed after Violet.

"Sorry, she's… Going through a tough time." Damon told him, Adam shrugged, with a light smile.

"No big deal… Think she'll still buy this magazine for me though?" Adam asked, Damon shrugged.

"Wouldn't go assuming one way or the other." Damon said simply, as he crossed his arms, and came up behind Violet, who was placing things on the counter. Adam moved and placed his magazine gently next to her items, Violet examined it for a bit, but said nothing of it.

"Sorry, Violet." Adam said, looking to the blonde, she didn't even spare him a glance as she handed over her Munny Card. The cashier, a student by the looks of it, took it, and swiped it, smiling at Violet for a moment, as she handed it back to her. Violet politely smiled back, but said nothing.

The group soon made their way outside, Violet carrying everything in a sack, Adam glanced over, and held out his hand a bit. Damon walked on the other side of Violet, occasionally looking towards the blonde.

"So… Can I have my magazine?" Adam asked, Violet simply pulled it from the sack, and held it out to him. Adam smiled at her. "Thanks!" He said, as he reached for it, only for the magazine to be engulfed in a bright blue flame a second before he touched it, as Violet smirked. "But…" Adam complained.

"Sorry." Violet told him, as the flames completely consumed the magazine, leaving nothing behind. She wasn't even looking at him, Adam pouted at her, as Damon rubbed his neck, with a sheepish laugh.