Do you know what day it is? It's February 14th, which if you remember, means it is Violet's birthday today. Now, I don't have an actual special chapter, or event planned for today, but just a cool thing to note. So, happy birthday to Violet! At the same time, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I had a lot of fun with it, I've had a lot of fun with every chapter of this new Arc really, as you can tell by them coming out so close to one another, inspiration just keeps flowing from one chapter to the next. So, yeah, enjoy!
-Aftermath-
"Each charm on my bracelet represents a different event, and person tied to that event. On my twelfth birthday, I got the bracelet, and the silver Heart charm, I also convinced my best friend to kiss me, so I could see how it feels. At sixteen, I seduced another girl, and bought the silver Cross to represent me losing my virginity, seventeen I ran away with another girl for several weeks, before I eventually came back with her, after I got some time away from everyone, I bought the Locket for that one." Stella explained, as Violet watched curiously, and Iris hummed, Ruby tilted her head.
"After that, it's all recent stuff, around my eighteenth birthday, I got engaged to my girlfriend at the time, before I got bored, and called the whole thing off, I kept the ring though, and that's the one on my necklace, I also bought the Skull and Crossbones then. A couple months after that, some girl was passing through town, little older than me, and she stole my heart, for the first time, I wanted to spend my life with her, and then I woke up one morning, and she was just gone, a part of me was happy, because being tied down just isn't me, and so I bought the Four Leaf Clover charm." Stella explained further, Violet hummed, as Stella pointed to each one, as she detailed the events, also looking at the engagement ring hanging on the silver chain around her neck.
"Four months ago, I met this really nice rich girl at school, and seduced her, we dated for about two months, before I broke up with her, kind of broke her heart I think, I bought the Dollar Sign for that one, because I kinda just used her to buy things for me and slept with her a bunch before breaking up. Then… after that, in fact the reason I broke up with the rich girl, was because I met a new girl, transfer student at school. We're in love, and it feels nice. I bought the Golden Heart Charm then, neither of us planned on leaving really, but neither of us like to be tied down, so we got engaged, agreeing that we could see other people, but always come back to each other." Stella smiled, as she looked at the engagement ring on her finger, Violet sighed.
"Wow. Quite a story, you're kind of… Ruthless in relationships." Violet noted, Stella nodded, with a shrug.
"I can talk, it's probably the thing I do best. I can pretty much convince people of anything, if I wanted to. What do you think?" Stella asked, Violet smiled, with a shrug.
"I think my daughter has been in more relationships and slept with more girls than I have. But hey, you're my kid, so I shouldn't be surprised at how great you are. After all, God, or Enna Kros knows I have relationship troubles." Violet smiled, Stella nodded.
"Yeah, that's kind of what you told me in my reality Mom. So long as I'm happy, though you were kind of upset when I manipulated that rich girl, and even I'll admit, that wasn't the nicest thing I did, but… I wanna make that better. My current engagement is actually me trying to atone, my Fiancée was pretty mad at me when she found out." Stella smiled, Violet nodded.
"But you're in an open relationship? So, you're okay with her sleeping with other people, and vice versa?" Violet asked, Stella nodded.
"Yeah, like I said, our engagement is a promise that we'll always go back to each other, she has my heart, but a girl still must have fun, and when you go to an all-girls school, there are plenty of ripe fruits to pick from." Stella said, smiling, Violet laughed, as Ruby smiled, Iris shrugged.
"So, lesbian I assume? You didn't mention any boys at all." Violet said, Stella nodded.
"Yup, never been with a guy once in my life, and have no interest either, and the Sis I know is also only into girls, is the same true for you?" Stella asked, looking to Iris, who simply shrugged, Violet was curious too, as she looked to her other daughter.
"I don't really know. Never had time to think about that, girls are cuter, I guess? Bianca is nice, but our other friends are too, I don't know." Iris said, Stella smiled, and nodded sagely.
"Not a problem, while we're both here, I'm gonna help you find out! Leave it to your big Sis! Just like I did in my world, you were always so quiet around girls you liked, I always took initiative, the girl you had the biggest crush on, I took to our room with me, then made up a convenient excuse to leave, and then you two talked, and now you've been in a steady relationship for a year now!" Stella explained, Iris frowned a bit, looking saddened by this information.
"It's sad to think in another reality I live in peace. Why did my reality have to be destroyed in the first placed?" Iris said, with a sad sigh, Violet frowned, and placed a hand on her shoulder, making Iris look down at her.
"Hey, you're here to get stronger to change that. I'm sure you and this Bianca will fix the world eventually. Then you can live in peace, I'm sure it'll happen." Violet smiled confidently up at Iris, who nodded.
"Right. I just wish I could live in a peaceful world." Iris said, Violet smiled.
"You will. You're my kid, I know you'll do something great. Call it intuition." Violet smiled, before she looked around back to Ruby, taking her hand off Iris' shoulder, crossing her arms. "So, Ruby, we should probably get going. Sorry we got distracted for talking about Stella's charms, I was just so curious about them." Violet smiled, Ruby shrugged.
"Fine by me, it was interesting to hear about." Ruby said, Stella smiled.
"Glad I could serve as entertainment. But I am curious about this world as well, we didn't live here, so it's all new to me." Stella said, Violet nodded.
"Where did we live?" Violet asked, Stella smiled.
"Well, we moved around a little bit, but the three major places were Radiant Garden at first, then we moved to Twilight Town, and now we live at the Destiny Islands. I love it there." Stella said, Violet nodded.
"I've only been to Twilight once, but Radiant Garden, and Destiny Islands are both beautiful. Excellent job other me." Violet smiled, Stella nodded, her hands on her hips. "Anyway, lets go Ruby." Violet said, Ruby nodded. Without much further conversation, the group of four continued their walk through the city, making small talk.
"So, Stella, am I with anyone in your time?" Ruby asked, Stella shrugged.
"I don't think so, you've brought a few girls around, but I know at least two were really scared of Mom after talking to her." Stella replied, Violet smiled, as Ruby hummed, nodding.
"Sounds like I put the fear of God in them, or Enna Kros I guess." Violet smiled, Ruby laughed. "Don't worry Rubes, you can bring girls to me for a screening process, I'll make sure they aren't bitches." Violet smiled, Ruby smiled, nodding.
"Thanks, but I think I'm a pretty good judge of character myself." Ruby said, Violet yawned, and nodded, smiling at Ruby.
"Alexandria!" Violet perked up at the familiar voice, seeing Ashley in the distance, with two boys travelling behind her. She was currently making a beeline to Violet, who laughed, and raised her hands. In defense, only to be engulfed by a hug. "How ya doing?" Ashley asked softly, smiling, as she leaned her head on Violets.
"I'm good Ariana." Violet smiled, and hugged the older girl back, before she was released, Ashley grabbing her shoulders and looking her up and down with a smile. The two boys caught up, Jason, and Chris Royal were with her, as they were her team mates assigned to her by Yuri, and Zen.
"You look it. Good. Glad you're back, been so boring without you." Ashley said, before she looked to Iris, Stella, and Ruby. "Hey Rubles, who are the new girls?" Ashley asked, as she let go of Violet completely, and placed her hands on her hips. Violet smiled, shrugging a bit.
"Promise you won't think I'm crazy." Violet said, Ashley shrugged.
"Well, shit, that ship sailed long ago." Ashley smiled, before nodding. "Okay, I won't, who are they? Your daughters from the future or something like that?" Ashley asked, laughing a bit, Violet just blinked at her, Ashley stopped laughing and looked at her, before looking at Stella, and Iris. "Holy shit they're your daughters from the future." Ashley said, before she hummed.
"Yeah, surprise! It's like-"
"Future Trunks from DBZ, I know the deal." Ashley smiled, Violet laughed, nodding.
"This is why we get along." Violet smiled, Ashley nodded, flashing a smile.
"You know it sis. So, I guess that makes me an Aunt." Ashley smiled at the two girls and waved, both waved back, though Stella looked more enthusiastic than Iris, but Iris had never known Ashley.
"Yeah! You're so badass in my time Aunt Ash!" Stella smiled, Ashley nodded.
"I never knew you in my time, but I'm glad I got to meet you now, Mom told me plenty of stories about how cool you were." Iris said, Ashley nodded once again.
"So how exactly did you two get here?" Ashley asked, Violet huffed, with a good-natured smirk.
"Tanner brought them. Iris is here to train, since her timeline is kind of screwed up by ZaZick, while Stella is just here because Enna Kros, God, by the way, I met God, said it was okay." Violet explained, Ashley nodded.
"Seems like a normal Violet day. Anyway, what are you guys doing? Just chilling?" Ashley asked, Violet shrugged.
"Ruby's taking us around town, so I can see the stuff that's different, and these two can see what it's like. We're ultimately going to see Xinek right now, meeting with him about sharing intel, and his cooperation with the Flower Trio, that being me, Damon, and Jesse." Violet smiled, Ashley nodded.
"Hope that goes well, and really Flower Trio? Just because you're Violet right?" Ashley smirked, Violet shrugged.
"We didn't choose it, twas bestowed upon us, by our adoring fans." Violet smiled, Ashley laughed, nodding.
"Fair enough. Well, I just wanted to see you for a bit, we gotta get going though. You staying at Kya's place?" Ashley asked, Violet winced a bit, and shook her head.
"No, Auntie Janice's mansion. You're welcome to move in, or visit. But yeah, me and Kya… we're kind of… broken up…" Violet muttered, Ashley frowned, and pulled Violet into a hug, the blonde smiled. "I'm the one who did it, I'm fine." Violet said, trying to convince her, Ashley just shook her head.
"You sound miserable Vi. Want me to break her face for ya?" Ashley asked, Violet shook her head, with a slim smile, before she pushed Ashley away gently, smiling, not showing a hint of tears, other than her glassy eyes.
"No, we'll get through this. Need to talk to her about it, emotions were too heavy yesterday, I think if we give it time, we could talk it out, and get back together, or… not, you know? Either way, I want her to know I'll always care about her." Violet smiled, Ashley nodded.
"Sounds good, but regarding me moving in, yeah, sorry Sis, not happening. I like my apartment actually, plus I wouldn't want to bring boys home while you're around. They'd probably go for you, instead of me." Ashley laughed a bit, Violet nodded.
"I am cuter." Violet said, Ashley shrugged.
"Yeah, but I'm sexier. Got these big lady bits." Ashley said, shifting side to side, Violet frowned and stared at Ashley's larger than average chest, huffing a bit.
"Yeah, well, all the fat from those weighs you down when fighting, that's why I'm faster than you." Violet said, Ashley laughed a bit.
"You wish you were faster than me Alexandria, I would kick you ass in a race." Ashley said, Violet got a glint in her eyes, and Ruby frowned.
"Oh yeah?" Violet asked, before Ruby politely tapped Violet on the shoulder.
"You two can race later, we have to go see Xinek right now." Ruby said, Violet nodded easily, and smirked back at Ashley.
"We'll settle this later Ariana, I'll show you how much faster I am." Violet smiled, Ashley laughed, and nodded.
"I look forward to it, I'll probably be over a few days from now, I got a longer mission to do. Speaking of, you two! Get ready to run, we're gonna train, on our way to our mission!" Ashley told the two boys in an authorative voice, Jason nodded, while Chris sighed a bit, but smiled at her.
"You work us so hard Ash."
"If that's what you want, then okay."
"Okay, then, later Sis, and Nieces, and Rubles. Come on boys!" Ashley yelled before she took off, the two boys took off running after her, Violet smiled at their retreating figures, laughing a bit, before looking back to Ruby and smiling.
"Alright, let's get going." Violet said, Ruby nodded, the group began walking once again, Ruby pointing out things, and Violet noticing a few new things, Stella was interested, but Iris was far more interested in all the different stores, and restaurants. Soon enough, they found themselves at the meeting point, Xinek was waiting, idly checking his phone.
"Hey! Xinek! Long time no see!" Violet smiled, and waved, as soon as they were close, Xinek looked up at her, and smirked.
"So, Violet, gotta ask, where have you been for the past two years? Do I need to call the nearest loony bin, and ask them if any blondes have escaped recently?" Xinek said, Violet rolled her eyes, smirking back at him.
"Who the hell says loony bin? Kind of out of touch, low effort, hipster bullshit insult was that?" Violet asked, Xinek laughed a bit.
"You try and be nice and look where it gets ya…" Xinek trailed off, Violet nodded, placing her hands on her hips.
"Yup. So, Xinek, I do have actual business to talk with you about." Violet said, Xinek nodded, pocketing his phone entirely, and crossing his arms over his chest.
"You want me to share what I know of the Children of Darkness, right?" Xinek asked, Violet nodded.
"Yup, you got it. I assume pretty much everyone has heard of the Flower Trio in the Children of Darkness by now, we did spend two years fucking their operations up on multiple worlds, and I beat Victoria not too long ago, of and beat an entire two-hundred-person army with Jesse, and Damon, so that was fun." Violet smirked, Xinek laughed.
"Man, I wouldn't believe you if I didn't already know about that stuff, and find you very attractive, and god damn terrifying. It's amazing how you manage to do both." Xinek smirked, Violet shrugged.
"I appreciate it, but seriously now. Can we count on you to be our official informant in the Children of Darkness?" Violet asked, Xinek hummed.
"Do I get any specific benefits to being apart of the team? Like a uniform, or special medallion?" Xinek asked, Violet laughed, and shook her head.
"Nah, just the assurance, that when me, Jesse, n' Damon completely dismantle the Children of Darkness, you'll be safe." Violet smiled at him, Xinek nodded.
"Sounds like a deal. I already have something new to share. You see, Victoria was gone, on a mission, the same one you messed up, well, she only came back a few days ago, and she's different now." Xinek told them, Violet narrowed her eyes, now immensely interested in what he was saying.
"Different how? I know I beat her, but what do you mean?" Violet asked, Xinek sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.
"She has a very dark, and frankly terrifying aura about her now, and her eyes, yeah, those weren't a bright yellow when she left. She's also a lot angrier, and prone to violence, before she yelled a lot, but now, it's like there's too much Darkness inside her, and it's taking control." Xinek said, Violet hummed, and crossed her arms, Zack inside her head huffed.
"Sounds an awful lot like what ZaZick did to Evelyn. He filled her to the brim with Darkness, some of it was his own, and she… stopped being herself. On the outside she was fighting, but inside, there was nothing left of who she was before that." Zack recalled melancholy in his voice, Violet's eyes widened.
"But I thought Tyler said she was in prison, isn't she alive?" Violet thought back to him, she could just feel that Zack nodded at her.
"She is. But she's basically catatonic. Whatever ZaZick did to her, I'm sure he did the same to Victoria. In which case… there's little chance she will ever recover from it. It hasn't been long, but I don't have much knowledge on the subject of course." Zack said, Violet nodded, everyone around her look at her weird, she just spaced out, and then nodded.
"Well… shit." Violet muttered out loud, crossing her arms. "That was very helpful, thank you Xinek. Give me your number so I can get in touch with you." Violet said, holding out her hand, Xinek pulled his phone from his pocket, and handed it to her.
"This mean I gat to call anytime I want, and talk with a beautiful lady?" Xinek asked, Violet shook her head.
"No, Jesse will probably be the one to arrange everything, you'll mostly be in touch with him, I just need to send him your number." Violet replied honestly, he nodded, seeing no problem with this, as Violet sent Xinek's number to Jesse, before handing the phone back to him, he nodded, and took it.
"Well, this was fun, I'll be in touch I guess, but before I go… Who are those two beautiful girls with you?" Xinek asked, looking to Iris, and Stella, who had been standing behind Violet on either side the entire time, watching silently. Ruby was standing next to Violet.
"Only two? I may not like guys, but a girl likes compliments you know!" Ruby told him, angrily, he nodded, smiling good naturedly.
"Yeah, I know. Sorry about that Ruby, you're cuter though. But back to my point, would either of you two ladies be interested in going out sometime?" Xinek asked, Stella recoiled in disgust, not even bothering to hide it, while Iris just blinked, and shrugged.
"Ew, no." Stella said, looking visibly uncomfortable he even offered, Violet smirked, while Xinek merely looked to Iris, after wincing at how blunt she was.
"Um, no? I wouldn't be interested in that." Iris told him honestly, Violet laughed, as Xinek deflated.
"No more girls are allowed to be friends with you Violet, none of them like me." Xinek said, Violet nodded.
"That's right." Violet smirked, Xinek shook his head, and smiled, chuckling a bit.
"How do you know these two anyway?" Xinek asked, Violet hummed, and shrugged.
"Well, you gave me something, so I'll give you some info too, but you can't tell anyone, they're my daughters from the future. It's why they both have such good taste." Violet smirked, and Xinek hummed, and shook his head.
"You have the strangest things happen to you, but it makes sense. Kinda harsh though! But I guess, that's also in line with what I know about you Violet. Pinky is mean." Xinek said, laughing, looking to Stella, who made a disgusted noise.
"I don't like him. Mom, can we leave?" Stella asked, Violet smirked at her daughter.
"You don't like him because he's like you are, always trying to get with girls." Violet said, Stella shrugged.
"Well, only one of us is actually any good at it." Stella said, obviously referring to herself. "I could go ask any random girl right now and get her number." Stella said, Violet hummed, and looked to Xinek, who hummed.
"Is that a challenge? You want to have a pick-up contest?" He asked, smirking, Violet sighed, and shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm gonna put a stop to this, Stella you're not going to embarrass him, and Xinek, you really don't want to challenge a Hart girl on who can get the most girls." Violet told him, Xinek nodded.
"Okay, fine by me, we'll do it another time then, at least, if you're not chicken." Xinek said, Violet sighed, Stella glared at him, and looked to Iris, who just looked at her curiously, as Stella tugged on her sleeve.
"Hey Sis, you wanna help me embarrass this guy? Since I'm gonna be teaching you about all that anyway?" Stella asked, Iris shrugged.
"Sure? I don't really know what you guys are talking about though…" Iris said, Stella smiled, and nodded, Violet sighed.
"Girls, come on, seriously. I'm right here, I am your Mom, even if I haven't had you yet." Violet said, Stella nodded respectfully, as did Iris, Xinek just smirked.
"It's really true, eh? Huh, well, I do have to get going. Victoria's a slave driver, we'll continue this conversation another time." Xinek said, as he glanced at the time on his phone, before casually walking away, Violet smiled a bit, and shook her head, before looking to her daughters.
"Okay, now we can go back to exploring! Ruby, take us to the nicest restaurant you can think of that's close. I'm hungry." Violet said, Stella and Iris both nodded in agreement, Ruby smiled, and nodded, before leading the group to the nearest, nicest restaurant she could think of.
-Aftermath- Zen's House-
"Hey man, how's it been the past two years?" Damon asked, smiling widely as he shook hands with Yuri the half Japanese boy smiled at him, before, sighing.
"Well, having to reign in a childish brat all the time can be draining." Yuri replied in deadpan, with a slim smile on his face, Damon hummed, nodding. "You are no longer a member of the Protectors, you came here for permission for the Flower Trio to operate without interruption in our territory. I can tell you now, you have my support." Yuri said, Damon nodded. As soon as Damon had approached the house, Yuri went outside to greet him, so they could talk before Zen got to Damon.
"Exactly, always so easy talking to you Yuri." Damon smirked a bit before, looking around. "You got guards?" Damon asked, looking at the two Protectors guarding the door, Yuri nodded.
"Zen's idea. One I begrudgingly support. He doesn't fight, or hasn't in years, so he's weaker than both other leaders of the factions here. They don't need guards, he does, and I can't be babysitting him all the time." Yuri said, Damon nodded.
"Makes sense. So, should we head inside?" Damon asked, Yuri nodded, and turned, walking into the house his posture perfect as always, Damon smiled, he was glad Yuri seemed fine, he was in love with Violet, but he never acted on anything, he didn't seem disheveled in the slightest, and didn't seem angry at the blonde either. He had probably watched her from his, and Jesse's minds.
"I did no such thing. I merely support Violet in all things. Unconditionally." Yuri piped up, looking back at Damon, who nodded, and continued to walk with him. The soon arrived at the door to Zen's War Room as he called it, Damon waving to various people he recognized, which was pretty much anyone, but there were a few fresh faces he had only heard of.
"Yuri why did you run off, we were in the middle of something!" Zen exclaimed as soon as Yuri opened the door, Yuri merely gave him a blank look, as he and Damon entered the room, Damon closing the door behind them. Zen eyes him up, and down before looking back to Yuri.
"I have no respect for you, or our conversations frankly." Yuri told him, Zen huffed, and shook his head.
"Asshole. So, Traitor, what do you want?" Zen demanded from Damon, who recoiled a bit.
"Traitor? The fuck are you talking about?" Damon asked, Zen shook his head bitterly.
"Rose told me how you left the Protectors because of my dad's orders. What, you couldn't handle an organization lying to you? What a coward, you have no conviction." Zen said, Damon glared at him, Yuri merely sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Zen, stop being a child. Damon did nothing wrong, imagine you were working for the Children of Darkness and found out they killed your father, and then hid it from you? How would you react?" Yuri asked logically, Zen shook his head.
"Nah, it's fine. I'm a coward huh? You're the little bitch who wont even fight because his former girlfriend hurt his pride so much, oh, she broke your Keyblade, and sword? What a bitch, get back up and fight like a man." Damon mocked him, Zen glared at him, Yuri merely sighed.
"Zen, Damon, be civil with one another, please. Damon, you came here, not as yourself, not as a former Protector, but a member of the Flower Trio. Zen, hear him out, I'm sure Rose, or your father would." Yuri said, Zen grit his teeth, and nodded, swallowing his pride for the moment, Damon smirked, crossing his arms.
"Fine. Speak your case Damon, what do you want, and why are you here?" Zen asked, Damon hummed.
"I want your permission to operate, and gather intel in this district of the city, the Flower Trio is working on something, and we would prefer no interruptions." Damon said, Zen hummed.
"No. You've insulted me, and your Flower Trio is a threat, not being associated to any faction makes you a threat to all of us. Plus, you have sensitive information regarding the Protectors." Zen said, Damon huffed.
"Technically, Damon, Rose could order him to comply, since she has authority over him. She is actually in the city right now, eating lunch near the meeting place of Violet's group, and Xinek." Yuri smiled, Damon smirked, and nodded, looking back to Zen.
"So, are you really not going to let us operate here?" Damon asked, Zen shook his head, Yuri merely sighed, and Damon nodded, before he pulled out his phone, texting Violet, telling her about where Rose was, the blonde replied that she would be on the lookout since they were going to lunch anyway. Damon smiled, and nodded to Zen, and Yuri before he left the building. Zen glared at his back, as Yuri simply remained emotionless, before drawing Zen back into a conversation about the patrols they were having before Damon arrived.