Setting: Fortuna

Violet stomped down the streets of Fortuna, fuming with rage. Pedestrians stepped away from the angry girl in fear of receiving her wrath. She stormed through the town with no real destination, walking aimlessly. All she knew was that she couldn't return home yet.

"This is so frustrating! I want my life back!" Violet thought, furiously as she continued to trudge on her endless expedition.

"Wallflower?" a familiar voice called out. Violet turned her head sharply to the source. She saw Lady of Fortuna herself, Clair de Lune Vantablack, sitting at a table outside a tea shop where she was drinking a cup of their merchandise.

Her attire was different from the one she wore when they met in Edesia. She wore a white, ruffle collar blouse, a black skirt that stopped just above her knees, and she wore black heels with silver stones that resembled stars. The feature that always stood out the most was her Vantablack hair which still looked blacker than the night sky, even during the day. Today, she fashioned it into a tousled hairstyle that slightly covered her left eye, giving Claire an air of mystery. She showed a face of worry which betrayed her natural beauty.

"What's wrong, darling? You look like you're ready to break something, or someone," Clair said, with motherly concern.

Violet stared at Claire for a long time. She debating whether or not she can trust her. However, her anger ate away at her patience and she took a seat at Clair's table

"Here's what happened."

Violet gathered her team into the kitchen. Remus, Zelts, and Silver all sat at the small table as best they could without shoving the other off. Well, Remus and Zelts were trying not to push someone and Silver was trying to squirm in whatever elbow room he could. Violet stood before her comrades with a smile on her face, ready to make her fantasies a reality. Nothing could ruin this moment. Her smile was sending mixed signals to Zelts and Silver because she rarely smiled around them. She always had a serious air so her happy expression could be good or bad. Zelts leaned on good, Silver thought bad.

"Mind telling us what we're doing here boss," Silver said, putting a lot of sarcasm on boss.

Violet's smile quickly changed to a frown. That's the expression they were used to seeing.

"As leader of Team VRSZ, I decided we need to work more on teamwork. So far, we've been doing individual missions or ones that only need two of us, but we have never really done anything as a whole team since Terra Cotta. There are other threats out there like Turquoise and Royal, so we have to be prepared."

"We're not gonna trust fall like they do in camp are we?" Silver shivered at the thought.

"No, dummy, we're going to work on making team attacks that combine our strengths. Now, let's begin, everyone take a seat at the table or find room," Violet said, brimming with confidence.

As Remus and Silver were moving ahead, Zelts walked to Violet "Very good. You really are thinking like a leader."

"You think so?"

"Yes. This will surely improve the team's relationship, something a new team like this needs, badly. It's a win-win."

With everyone in the living room, ready and waiting for Violet's command, she looked to her notepad for the team attacks she written down a few days ago. "Alright boys, here's the what I have listed." Violet placed the list on the table and her teammates looked at the first move on the list.

Delta Stream: Zelts aims one of his wingblades to his opponent and creates a funnel of wind by rotating his swords to stun and keep them at bay. Remus then enters the funnel which drastically increases his speed as he rides the wind until he reaches his opponents and unleashes a powerful slash with his sword that slices the enemy with increased attack power.

"Imaginative. I'm so used to making giant tornadoes to dispatch opponents, that I never really thought about making something smaller or anything like a funnel. Remus, do you think you can ride the wind?" Zelts asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes," Remus said, still looking at Violet's notepad. Their approval encouraged Violet to continue. "Here Remus, this next combo is for us."

Cloak and Dagger: Remus teleports in front of the enemy and attacks relentlessly in order to draw their attention while Violet uses her semblance to be unseen and undetected. Remus continues to wear the enemy down as Violets gets closer to unsuspecting foes and strike their blindspots.

"Do you like that one?" Violet said, looking at Remus with a grin. He looked at her and copied her expression. She was glad to get his approval. "Zelts, we have one as well."

Petal Storm: Zelts creates a large tornado that swallows all foes then Violet throws multiple Vorpal Swords that travel up the tornado and rips the enemy to shreds. Use the various dust in Vorpal Swords to add additional effects, like using ice dust to create a hailstorm inside the tornado to mercilessly pelt opponents (Diamond Dust).

"You put some real thought into these team attacks Violet. I think we can make them happen." Zelts was very impressed with Violet's creativity. Some of this stuff he wouldn't even think of doing. Not only was she smart, she was imaginative and he thought it was another good leadership quality.

Violet was going to continue until she noticed Silver dismissed them to watch TV. She grabbed her notepad and walked over to Silver, who was slouching as far as possible as he flipped through channels.

"Don't you want to look at the team attacks, Silver? I have attacks with you next, you should read-"

"I think you're getting too attached to this team," Silver interrupted.

"What are you talking about?" Violet said, offended by his words and Silver sighed.

"Look, I know you're finally getting excited about all this teamwork and stuff, but you know this team won't last long enough for this to work right? I don't know if you figured this out, but Team VRSZ is temporary any way you look at it. We have a common enemy and when that's gone, boom, we go our separate ways."

"Common enemy!? We have no common enemy. YOU picked a fight with Royal, YOU begged to live here, YOU are the cause of all this and once you're done, you're going to leave!? You can't mean that, right?" Violet asked, with mixed emotions. Their argument was getting the attention of the others as Remus and Zelts observed them silently.

"What are you getting so upset about? You made it clear you weren't a fan of this 'team' invading your home. Having a change of heart?" Silver's words were met with silence as Violet didn't know what to say.

Violet wouldn't admit her true feelings out loud. She didn't like this arrangement at first, but she was gradually growing accustomed to their presence. Her lonely life was over and before she knew it, Team VRSZ was becoming her new normal, even Silver. She could admit that they never met eye to eye, but deep down she thought there some glimmer of friendship. Not as firm as her bonds with Remus and Zelts, but there had to be some spark of camaraderie. The fact that Silver didn't feel the same way about her or the team actually wounded her.

"I'm an opportunist. I use whatever I can, whoever I can, whenever I can to my advantage. When I got here I already planned to take down the criminal underground. You guys got involved and I saw...this 'team' as a shortcut to my objective nothing more, nothing less. You guys make the job so much easier. And once the job is done...I'm out," Silver said, seeing that Violet wasn't going to say anything. She stood there paralyzed by his blatant disrespect of what these past few weeks of partnership. Violet clenched her fists tightly, scrunching up the notepad. Silver himself was regretting his choice of words, but thought there was no turning back now.

"Silver stop! I know you didn't mean a word of what you just said. Take it back." Zelts got up and stood between him and Violet. Silver got up and stared Zelts down. Violet stayed behind Zelts' form and Remus remained seated, but looked at the situation confused and unsure of what to do.

Silver and Zelts continued their staring contest for about a minute until Silver realized he wasn't backing down.

"Tch. I don't need this." Silver walked to the door and left. Silence filled the base after he left.

"I'm guessing you want me to go after him and bring him back right? For the good of the team?" Violet said to Zelts, expecting his answer to be yes, but Zelts' prolonged silence made her wonder.

"I don't know. That's for you to decide."

"What do you mean I have to decide?"

"Whether Silver admits it or not, one thing is certain, this team is real and you're our leader. In times like these, you have to make a decision."

"A decision on what?" she asked, knowing what he was going to say next.

"To keep Silver on this team or..." Zelts didn't want to finish his sentence, but Violet knew what he was talking about.

"Wait, you're the one always sticking up for him all this time."

"I know, but this is different. This has become a turning point for Team VRSZ, but more importantly, it's a turning point for you," Zelts said, shocking Violet.

"Silver's attitude cannot be tolerated anymore. He'll jeopardize the whole team with his rogue behavior and you have to put an end to it, one way or the other. Reprimand him or kick him off the team, those are your only choices," Zelts said, unsympathetically.

"I- But I don't know which is the right choice," Violet said, struggling to keep her composure. She felt like the consequences of this would be her fault no matter what she chose.

"There is no such thing as a right or wrong choice. Every choice in life has a cost. You're a leader now, Violet. Whatever choice you make is the one you must stick by, and we'll follow that choice with you. You must be unwavering because this is merely the first of many."

Violet's head hung low as her vision was on the floor with her eyes focused on her feet. She felt so much pressure on her shoulders that she couldn't bear it.

"This is too much. I don't know what to do. Why does this have to fall on me? I never wanted to be in charge of anything, that's why I abandoned everything to live here. None of this would be happening if I never met them,"

Fed up with Silver's words and Zelts' strict schooling, she dropped her notepad and walked out of the base in the same manner Silver did, only she took the jeep with her to drive to Fortuna.

The fallen notepad landed on the next page with several other moves written down. One of them was titled Thick As Thieves (T.A.T).

"I needed to get away and now I'm here." Violet felt a little more composed now that she vented to Clair.

"Seems like quite the ordeal,"Clair said, before she took a sip of tea. She seemed unfazed by her story due to her calm expression throughout the account. "Are you feeling better, sweetie?" she asked her guest, who started sinking in her chair.

"...I don't know. This is so much in such a short time. I feel like life would've been better if..." she hesitated to finish her sentence. Clair looked into Violet's eyes. She knew what she was going to say and the gravity of saying those words aloud.

Clair rose from her chair and walked past Violet whose eyes followed her. Clair stood beside her and extended her hand. "Come. I have things to do and I don't want to leave you alone. I'll hear you out all you want, my Wallflower."

The Lady of Fortuna began to leave the tea shop. Violet stared for a few seconds before following Clair. She couldn't understand it, but this woman made her feel safe, a different feeling she doesn't get from her team, probably because she was in the presence of another girl. She usually didn't enjoy the company of people, especially other girls, but Clair was different. Right now, she created a nurturing environment that made Violet feel better than she was several minutes ago.

Setting: Fortuna

Silver was in Moneta, pretending to look for new missions as he was thinking about the team and the things he said. He groaned loudly over the what happened earlier today.

"I probably went too far, but..I didn't say anything that wasn't true. I made this team for one thing, the mission, the REAL mission. This job can't have any distractions," Silver thought, but his mind was bouncing between this statement and the team. He shook his head to clear his mind. "Once Royal is gone, the mission is over and phase two & three can begin."

"Is everything all right, Master Silver?" Silver was brought back to reality when he heard Moneta's proprietor, Sterling. The elderly man stood behind the young troublemaker.

"Oh, hey old man. Yeah I'm fine, just thinking."

"About which new mission will lead you to Royal? You are a relentless one I'll give you that, but maybe it's better to leave things as they are. I don't think Royal has been a problem for a few years now. I doubt he'll be going away anytime soon."

"No. I- I can't stop here. Once Royal's gone it'll be over and...maybe...my life will be better." Silver whispered, more to himself than to Sterling.

"What was that sir?" Sterling asked.

"N- nothing," Silver deterred. "Um, I need a new approach to this Royal business. You know anything about him or the Vantablacks?" Silver asked, trying to change the conversation.

"Hmm Royal's been around for a few years, but he's very secretive, I'm afraid I can't help you there."

"Ugh, didn't think so," Silver said, slightly dissatisfied.

"But I can tell you whatever you need on the Vantablack family."

"Really?"

"Of course after all, I am a Vantablack." Sterling smiled.

"WAIT WHAT!" Silver yelled.

Additional Information

Ages of Current Characters:

Violet: 17

Silver: 17

Remus: 15

Zelts: 19

Turquoise: 23

Ghost: 16

Clair de Lune Vantablack: 21

Sterling Vantablack: 55

Fortuna is a goddess from Roman mythology said to bring good or bad luck. This is played upon by the residents of Fortuna who say their good and bad luck is the whim of Fortuna. Other major buildings in Fortuna like Moneta and Edesia have names based on Roman gods and goddesses.