Hey. This is... I'm sorry you had to wait so long, been busy, and this chapter proved difficult for me to write out. Then... I started playing Stardew Valley... Man, that game... It takes you over. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and sorry for the wait... I dont want this to turn into a story that you have to wait so long for, this was all my bad, and definitely not a thing that will happen too much more. So, I hope you enjoy guys!
-Aftermath-
~Shadows of Light~
"So… Is no one going to say anything?" Violet asked, looking to Jesse, and Damon, who were on either side of her. Jesse simply stood wide eyed, and stared at the princess in front of her. Damon just shrugged, and leaned closer to her.
"Nah."
"Fine, that bitch looks like Emily!" Violet exclaimed, pointing at the Princess who smiled uneasily at her. Her blonde hair shining in the light of the sun, and blue eyes sparkling, her pale shin similar to Violet's own. She was dressed in a fancy, frilly pink dress. Violet, and Damon looked to Jesse, expecting him to ridicule her, but he was frozen.
"Weird." Damon muttered, Violet shrugged.
"I'll take care of this. One second Princess." Violet apologized, before she moved in front of Jesse, and gripped his shoulders, shaking him a bit. "Jesse! Jesse! Jesse!" She exclaimed, but he didn't respond. Violet glared at him and let go of his shoulders, before she smacked him across the face, causing him to stagger back, and knock him from his trance.
"Violet, what the hell?" Jesse demanded, Violet shrugged.
"You weren't paying attention. Bad Jesse." Violet told him, before turning around, and smiling at the Princess. "So, you needed us for something?" Violet asked, smiling brightly at her.
"Yes, I would rather us talk inside, if that is okay with you three." The Princess said, Violet nodded.
"Sure, guys come on, and stop leering at the poor girl, yes she's pretty, get over it." Violet said to her companions, Damon chuckled at her, as the Princess giggled a bit, before she began walking towards the castle doors. The castle itself was a massive building, with bright white stone, and bits of gold decorating it, with golden banners hanging.
"You're just saying that because you already checked her out." Damon said, Violet glared at him, and shushed him. Jesse didn't say anything, but simply followed Violet, next to Damon. The Princess lead the three inside the castle, the guards eyeing them, but saying nothing.
"So, Princess how much magic and technology do you have here?" Violet asked, The Princess smiled at her.
"All our technology is intrinsically linked with our magic, which is very potent, and strong. The whole land is drenched in magic." The Princess told her, Violet nodded. "Also, feel free to call me Mitsuha." The Princess told them, Violet nodded.
"Got it Mitsuha."
"Princess." Jesse said.
"Yes?" Mitsuha asked, Jesse shook her head.
"Not you. Violet, it's Princess Mitsuha." Jesse reminded her, Violet groaned at him, rather unattractively.
"No, really it's fine. Just Mitsuha is fine with me, formalities get in the way of friendship." Mitsuha said, Violet turned, and gave Jesse a superior, shit eating grin, he simply shook his head.
"See? We're all friends. Fuck you Jesse." Violet said, Jesse glared at her, and shook his head, with a slim smile. The three made their way up to Princess Mitsuha's room, a large grand bedroom with a guard stationed by the door. The white curtain letting the bright sun through. Her bed lined with gold trim, and a golden flower stitched on it.
Mitsuha sat on the bed, and smoothed out her dress, while Violet sat next to her, Jesse stood in front of the bed next to Damon, Violet smiled at the Princess.
"So, what did you need us for Mitsuha?" Violet asked, Princess Mitsuha smiled a bit at her apologetically.
"Actually, it's more than one thing… Is that okay?" Princess Mitsuha asked, Violet smirked a bit.
"Since we're here… I'll let it slide, so what are the things?"
"It's going to sound stupid, but it's linked to the second job I want you for… I have an arranged marriage coming up, for the good of the Kingdom and it's future. It's the only way my father would accept a peace between my nation, and our age old nemesis."
"We can work with that… What's the second thing?" Violet asked, Princess Mitsuha grinned painfully as she stood up, and motioned for Violet, Jesse and Damon to follow her. Violet got up from the bed, and followed Mitsuha over to the window, where she lifted the cloth so they could look at the city, when they did Violet, Jesse, and Damon saw a large plume of smoke emanating from the square, people's bodies were being burned.
"That. You see my father, and this Kingdom bathes in the Light. However, my father has, in recent months taken the situation to the extreme. He kills, and burns anyone who he suspects has a bit of Darkness in their heart. Darkness exists in every Heart, so it's been problematic. He's even killed an ambassador from another country earlier this week. I fear he will only grow more dangerous as time passes." Princess Mitsuha said, with a painful frown, Violet looked to Damon and Jesse, Damon shrugged, while Jesse looked contemplative.
"Can we really go around knocking kings off their throne? I get what he's doing isn't right, but I don't know if we have the authority…"
"Fuck that, we're helping. I get that this guy is probably part of your faction, but I don't give a damn, anyone corrupted enough to start killing random innocent citizens needs to be dealt with."
"It's not my faction I care about. Plus, I doubt he is acting within their interests."
"I'd believe it. Same people who wouldn't let me enter their building because I had Darkness in my Heart, and some of my magic is powered by it." Violet told him, before she shook her head. "We're helping Jesse, have a problem with that?" Violet asked, Jesse let out a sigh, and shook his head.
"We were called here, and are already here. Might as well help out. We'll have to be careful, more than usual." Jesse said, Violet nodded and looked to Mitsuha.
"Okay Mitsuha. Whatever you need we're yours. We'll help you out, just point us in a direction." Violet said, with a smile, Princess Mitsuha smiled widely at the blonde.
"I thank all of you for your help. I didn't know what else to do. You three are my only hope." Princess Mitsuha said, smiling at Violet, who smiled back at her. Her golden blonde hair turning pink at the tips, and reaching her shoulders, as it shifted, and shined in the light.
"Anything for a Princess. Arranged marriages aren't something I support, so whatever you need, we're yours." Violet said, with a smile, Mitsuha giggled a bit at her.
"You might want to be careful with your promises Violet, I might order you to do something you don't like." Mitsuha said, Violet smirked.
"You're a good person, I can tell. You wouldn't do that." Violet told her, with a smile. Damon and Jesse exchanged a look. "You're dad sure is creepy though, he's too… Obsessed with punishing the Darkness. What he's been doing in town is abhorrent." Violet asked, Mitsuha nodded.
"That's part of the reason I wanted the famous Flower Trio to help me." Mitsuha said, causing Violet, Jesse, and Damon to exchange looks.
"Flower Trio?" Violet asked, Mitsuha smiled at her.
"It's what you three are called. I think it's because your name is Violet, if I'm not mistaken."
"Probably, I am the most important part of this Trio. Just you two are boring as all hell." Violet said, Jesse shook his head at her. "Anyway, we need to formulate a plan… Your father, can we get an audience with him?" Violet asked, Princess Mitsuha gave her a look.
"It will be extremely dangerous Violet…"
"No big deal, I already have one Light Warrior who's mad at me on a day to day business."
"Me?" Jesse asked, Violet scoffed.
"No, ya conceited fucker, it's my girlfriend, who is probably very, very mad at me all day every day, because besides general affection, and anger that's the only emotion I bring out of her. Anyway, I want an audience with him, can we go off and do that Mitsuha?" Violet asked, the Princess looked unsure but nodded.
"What about us?" Damon asked, Violet hummed, crossing her arms, and looking at the smoke plume coming from the town square.
"You two head into town. Talk to people, are they happy, and okay with their current ruler? That sort of stuff, just make sure we can safely do our job, and place Mitsuha on the throne early." Violet said, Jesse, and Damon nodded.
"A quality idea Violet. If we can get the people on our side, we could overwhelm the guards, and prevent them from stopping us."
"Yeah. But let's formulate a better plan before doing anything." Violet told them, before she looked to Mitsuha. "Okay Mitsuha, let's go meet your father." Violet said, as she and Mitsuha began walking towards the door, Damon, and Jesse following them. Once they were out of the room, Damon, and Jesse headed in a different direction, as to leave the castle. Violet, and Mitsuha moved through the halls together.
"I do not wish to get the people involved too heavily, they could be harmed."
"Right, but the land is steeped in magic. My power let's me adapt to any type of magic, and I can share it with Jesse, and Damon. They could be with the civilians, and protect them from the guards. Should be easy, this magic seems to meld with mine quite nicely."
"There is something we could do… My country has certain laws in place where the current ruler may be challenged for their throne. That's why I called on you, I lack any combat skills… If you were to challenge him on my behalf…"
"Right. We can do it that way, I still want to make sure the people are okay with this change in ruler."
"I agree. So, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead." Violet said, with a smile at her.
"Your friend Jesse, he seemed very stricken with me… Why is that, and who is Emily?" Mitsuha asked, Violet nodded, frowning a bit.
"Right… About that… Emily was Jesse's first, and only love. She… Was killed in front of me actually. It was a really dark time for all of us, but you know, Jesse loved her, so he was hit the hardest. I try to avoid the topic on a day to day basis, but he's still hurting. We all are actually."
"You said I looked like her… I see now."
"Yeah, though she had orange pixie cut hair, and you don't, but the resemblance is pretty striking. Even got the same sized boobs." Violet told her, causing the Princess to blush, and smile warily at Violet. "Oh, sorry, didn't meant to make you uncomfortable. Was just saying."
"It's all fine. You are quite outspoken Violet. It's refreshing, everyone I talk to dances around their meaning with pretty words. No one is honest, except for my arranged Fiancé actually. He also doesn't want to marry me."
"Glad to know I wont be breaking any hearts. Don't like doing that, prefer breaking faces." Violet said, with a smile, Princess Mitsuha laughed a bit.
"Regardless of my fathers actions, I hope we don't have to kill him."
"I'll leave that up to him. I'll kill if I have to, but I'd prefer not to. Don't like having blood on my hands, and I don't want to hurt you."
"You sound like you're smitten with me." Mitsuha said, with a smile, Violet blushed a bit, and scoffed.
"Oh, no… My girlfriend would literally kill me." Violet told her, Mitsuha smiled at her, and laughed a bit. The two then stopped, in front of a large set of doors, Mitsuha quickly frowned, and looked to Violet.
"If things go wrong, challenge him immediately. Say the phrase 'corruptio optimi pessima' It roughly means, Corruption of the best is the worst." Mitsuha said, Violet nodded.
"Makes sense. Anyway, let's hope it doesn't come to that." Violet said, as she pushed open the door, letting Mitsuha in first, she smiled at her. Violet followed her into the room, and closed the door behind her. "Also, do the guards care that we're planning something?"
"No. They're not real guards, at least most of them aren't, they're armor enchanted by magic. Something our founder used to help in fights, and protect the kingdom. We've managed to keep it around."
"I assume you're related to the founder?"
"No, actually. My grandfather challenged the king of the founders family. A shame really, they had ruled since the ancient Keyblade War." Mitsuha told her, Violet nodded, as they approached the throne. Two guards stood on either side of the throne, the king sat, with short blonde hair, and a braided beard, dressed in a white, kingly attire, and gold trim.
"My beloved daughter, what reason do you have to visit me dear, and who is your friend?" The King asked, Princess Mitsuha curtseyed, and Violet bowed to him.
"Father, I come to you to introduce Violet Alexandria Hart, of the Flower Trio." Mitsuha said, as she looked up to her father, Violet locked eyes with him, as he brightened considerably.
"Violet Alexandria Hart! I've heard of you, I'm glad you made it here, to my Kingdom."
"It's certainly nice, and warm here. Very welcoming you majesty."
"I'm sure it is very welcoming to one such as you."
"Meaning?" Violet asked, him, tilting her head.
"You have Keyblade Master Meredith's magic yes? She was the one who founded this Kingdom, and gifted it's people with magic." The King said, Violet's eyes widened, before a sour look took over.
"Yeah, I got her magic. Not like I asked for it, I don't have a connection with this place." Violet told him, the King simply looked at her, with a raised brow.
"Regardless of you wanting her magic you have it. So, have you anything to request of me? I would do anything to make you comfortable." The King said, Violet hummed, crossing her arms, and looking up at him.
"I actually have a question for you… You're a New Guardian right? You seek to banish the Darkness?" Violet asked, the King nodded.
"Our Leader has advised me to strike against the Darkness, in any form, in my own world."
"Right. So, you have permission to kill your own people?" Violet asked, narrowing her eyes, the King simply hummed.
"It is my Kingdom. I am free to punish my citizens for their use of Darkness."
"What about me? I inherited Meredith's magic, and I use Darkness on occasion, I'm in your kingdom, and world… What will you do to me?"
"Nothing. You are out of my jurisdiction. If you start causing trouble however, I will be forced to take action." The King said, Violet nodded.
"Right. Well, you know of my friends, they're in the town at the moment. No harm will come to them, I'm certain?" Violet asked, the King smiled at her, and it unnerved Violet a considerable degree.
"No harm will come to your friends, I assure you." The King told her, Violet nodded.
"Right. Thank you, your majesty." Violet said, as she turned, and went to leave the room, Mitsuha at her side.
-Aftermath- Virtuoso City, Golde Park-
"So, Little Red, haven't had much of a chance to chat recently huh?" Arthur asked, Ruby smiled a bit, shaking her head. The two were sitting on the edge of the fountain.
"No. Life's been hectic, Kya's pretty demanding. I needed this." Ruby said, with a worn out smile, Arthur chuckled.
"Your brother keeps sending me out on missions… Fell on my ass chasing some Heartless the other day. No one even asked if I was okay."
"Never thought you'd be such a baby, do you need someone to kiss it better?" Ruby teased him, he smirked.
"Kiss my ass Little Red, as if to say… yes, please." He chuckled, Ruby giggled at him, and the two settled into a comfortable silence for a few minutes. "So…" Ruby looked over at him. "You seen Emma around at all?" Arthur asked, causing Ruby to blush, and look away.
"No!" She shrieked. "I mean… I've seen her around but…" Ruby just blushed further, Arthur chuckled at her.
"You've been avoiding her. Little Red, you need to face your problems head on."
"Yeah, I know but… What do I say to her?"
"You're friends. Just, I don't know, talk like a normal person with her. Anyway, Little Red… I gotta get back to it." Arthur said, standing up, and stretching a bit, Ruby pouted at him.
"Are you serious? We literally just sat down to talk!"
"Yeah, well, unlike you, my boss makes me work hard." Arthur told her, Ruby shook her head.
"Kya makes me work."
"You run around delivering reports, and traveling to Radiant Garden, to have meetings with her. I go on missions, and fight Heartless, and Nobodies. Which one of us honestly has to work harder."
"I have to…"
"Exactly. Anyway, gotta go. See you around Little Red."
"Same time next week?" Ruby asked, Arthur shrugged.
"If I can. Later Little Red." Arthur said, before he walked away from the fountain, Ruby sighed, and pulled a coin from her pocket, flipping it into the fountain, making a wish.
"Hey, it's little old Rubles!" Ruby looked up to see Ashley, standing with Jason, and Chris Royal next to her.
"Rubles?" Ruby asked, Ashley smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Don't think too hard about it. So, what's up?"
"I must remind you, we are on patrol." Chris said, Ashley shrugged.
"So? Fuck that spoiled little brat… Oh, wait, he fucked me." Ashley smirked, Ruby shook her head.
"What's up Ashley?" Ruby asked, Ashley shrugged.
"Not a whole hell of a lot." Ashley said, as she moved over to the fountain and sat next to Ruby.
"I'm just relaxing a bit before my next mission. Gotta attend a meeting with Kya in about an hour."
"What meeting, with who?" Ashley asked, Ruby smiled.
"Her two contacts in Radiant Garden, twin brothers. Just to get some Intel we need."
"Ooh, Intel. Sounds so sophisticated Ruby." Ashley teased her, Ruby shook her head.
'Shut up. Don't you have a thing to do?" Ruby asked, Ashley nodded, and stood up, looking to her two friends.
"Okay, you two, time to stop slacking, let's go!" Ashley yelled, making both boys jump.
"Okay, stop yelling all the time Ash."
"I'll turn you to ashes…" Ashley muttered, before she smiled at the boys. "So, let's get moving." She said, ruffling Ruby's hair, before she left, Ruby pouted, and shook her head, before she tried to smooth her hair out.
-Aftermath- The Mystical Kingdom, Princess Mitsuha's Room-
"So, what'd you guys see?" Violet asked, she was sitting on the bed, next to Mitsuha, Jesse, and Damon had just entered the room.
"People are scared. Terrified, and that fear is only creating more Darkness." Jesse told her, Violet nodded.
"Right. Well, we're fine here for now. The King wont execute me, or Damon just because of who I am… He's also got full permission to kill his own people."
"I… had hoped…" Jesse trailed off, before his gaze steeled. "I will not serve an organization who kills innocents, or endorses it." He told them, Violet looked up at him.
"Yeah, but…"
"I shall stay with them for now, we could use their reports to plan moves against them. If they're doing something shady here, then no doubt they're doing it elsewhere. After this job, I would like to investigate further."
"We will Jesse. In fact… I think if we dethroned the King, we could see his reports, that could help as well." Violet said, Mitsuha frowned, and Violet looked over at her. "You okay Princess?"
"I'm fine… It's just… I wish it didn't have to be this way." Mitsuha said, Violet nodded, frowning a bit, and placing at hand on her shoulder.
"I never had a dad, so… I don't know how that feels, but I lost both my parents. It hurt, and still does. But… you'll be okay. I am. Generally." Violet said, Mitsuha looked up at the blonde girl, who had a big smile on her face. Mitsuha let out a breath, behind Violet's big smile was an inexplicable sadness that she didn't seem to bother hiding.
"Guys…" Damon said, from the window, Violet, Mitsuha, and Jesse looked up, and over to him, the girls got up from the bed, and Jesse walked over to the window with him. The town square had a large pool of Darkness forming in it. Violet let out a breath.
"Princess. You stay here. We'll go take care of this." Violet said, Princess Mitsuha nodded, and looked to the trio, who rushed out of the room. Princess Mitsuha let out a sigh, and worriedly looked out over the town square.
"Be safe…" Mitsuha whispered, as an air of foreboding took over her, the door opened, as she saw Violet, Jesse, and Damon crossing the bridge to the town, from the castle, Mitsuha turned around to see her father, and four guards with him. "Dad? What's going on?" The King simply looked at her, and shook his head.