(Here's your chapter)

(No apology with a ukulele though 😃)

[Revised a lil bit, no Emanator yet]

"What do you think? I think the uniform suits me, but I wanna hear your thoughts! Well?"

A little grin, e/c eyes radiant and glimmering with life.

"Do I look like a Cloud Knight now?"

M/n felt numb.

The world around her was silent. Everything moved, others went about their day. Time kept going forward.

But she felt stuck as she stared at her daughter's empty room, her body numb as she looked over another room that would be vacant. Forever, this time.

She still remembered how y/n felt in her arms as she'd died. M/n could remember how that last breath she took just barely stirred the air, she remembered feeling the life leave her child's body.

Y/n was gone. It didn't feel real.

As her child was taken away, M/n expected her to pop right back up. Kicking and laughing about how she wasn't dead yet. Or maybe she'd blearily awaken at the Ten Lords Commission, simply having been napping.

Ah... the Ten Lords Commission.

Because of her abnormal transition into becoming mara-stricken, a Judge from the Ten Lords had come to take her away. To ensure that she'd stay dead and couldn't cause any more damage.

"Mom?"

The woman didn't reply for a long moment. She felt weak, tired, but a tug on her hand from Yun caused her to glance his way.

The boy's expression was solemn, "Y/n's friends are here to speak with you. Do you... want to talk with them?"

M/n exhaled quietly.

Right, her friends.

She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I... can't, right now."

Yun glanced at the stairs, then back at his mother, "Alright, I understand. I'll go let them know."

The Astral Express Crew were all waiting at a table, seated with the cups of puffergoat milk and tuskpir wraps Yun had offered to them.

The sweet treats that Caelus and March usually would've been excited to eat remained untouched. Welt nor Dan Heng seemed all that eager to eat either.

Thanks to Dan Heng's efforts, followed by some assistance from Bailu after Welt suggested a trip to the little Vidyadhara, Welt and March 7th were as good as new despite taking the brunt of y/n's attacks during her rampage back at the arbor.

They wouldn't have to worry about the wounds chasing them any problems, though March would need to take it easy for a while. The four trailblazers who had boarded the Luofu would be just fine, able to return back to the Astral Express.

Their fifth, however would be laid to rest on the Luofu. The home which she had dedicated her soul, body, everything. It would be the place where she would finally rest.

"I'm sorry, my Mom is... unwell at the moment. She would love to see you all, but I don't think now is the best time." Yun murmured with a solemn expression as he stood by the table where the trailblazers were seated.

His ears drooped a little, "I'm very sorry."

Caelus managed a weak smile, "Don't worry about it, Yun. We understand. Right now, your Mom just needs some time."

Yun nodded, his eyes fixated on the ground, "I, uh... I heard that there was going to be a ceremony for those many who passed during the Stellaron Crisis. My Mom and I won't be attending, but we did know many of the Cloud Knights amongst the fallen."

The boy took a deep breath before straightening up again, "I prepared everyone's favorite dishes! Every single one! If you have the chance, could you take them to Star Gazer Navalia and place them on their starskiffs. That way, as they sail amongst the stars, they can enjoy their favorite meals!"

"Yeah, we can do that. But how will we know which is which?" March questioned and the boy smiled.

"Don't worry, I-I've made a list! Hold on..." the young boy rushed away before halting and glancing at Dan Heng, "Uh, Dan Heng, was it? I dunno much about y/n, but you two were close. Before she boarded the Astral Express, right?"

Dan Heng frowned, "How..."

"Mom was looking at an old photo album once! It had a photo with y/n and a Vidyadhara who looked a ton like you! I thought it was a coincidence after you came here with Miss March and everyone else to talk to her, but I pieced it together after a bit." Yun explained, "If you don't mind, maybe you could talk with my Mom. I don't really want her to be by herself right now."

Dan Heng glanced at Welt who nodded before looking back over to the Foxian boy, "Alright, I'll go see her."

"Thanks a ton." Yun hummed before glancing at the other trailblazers, "Here, since you all will be delivering these dishes, you ought to know which is which."

Caelus and March were both a little slow, they still had yet to recover from the shock of watching their friend die for good right in front of them, but some encouragement from Welt got them to their feet.

Dan Heng headed upstairs as his three companions followed Yun to the kitchen, the boy just barely holding back tears as he listed names and dishes.

As the dark haired man walked up the stairs, he found that he remembered it. While he didn't remember a lot about Dan Feng, he vividly recalled the moments Dan Feng spent with y/n.

The archivist continued on upstairs, looking around before spotting a room with an open door. He quietly approached and found M/n standing in the room. She was staring at the wall which was lined with countless weapons of various sizes and shapes.

It was a moment before she became aware of Dan Heng's presence, but she didn't look at him. Only sighed.

"I never through I'd see you again."

There was no sign of disdain or malice in her tone.
It was blank, weak, hardly audible.

Dan Heng looked to the floor. He remained silent.

"Don't just stand there. You're here to hold onto her a little longer, aren't you?" M/n murmured, gesturing for him to come closer, "You can come in."

Dan Heng hesitated before proceeding into the room, standing next to M/n and looking at the wall of weapons. A comfortable silence fell, only broken by M/n's, "How much do you remember?"

"Not much." Dan Heng admitted quietly.

"Mm. I suppose that doesn't matter though, huh? That day y/n first dragged you here and proudly declared that you helped her beat her brother in a duel, she was so happy..." M/n laughed quietly, "I'm friends with THE High Elder! We're gonna be friends forever! She'd shouted it so loud, our neighbors fussed at her the next morning for making a ruckus so late at night."

Dan Heng couldn't remember, he wasn't surprised, yet he could see her. Laughing, grinning with pride, demanding to spar again.

"She really meant it, I suppose. Considering she managed to find you again on the Atsral Express." M/n chuckled.

Dan Heng let out a small ha, somewhat amused.
"I made a promise to her. That, I remember."

"That girl and promises... those things were worth gold to her." M/n murmured, her smile beginning to fade. The pain in her eyes made her e/c gaze foggy, "The Ten Lords Commission took her away... she won't be able to be sent off with the others. Jung Yuan came by, told us that we had the option to join him to say our farewells to y/n one last time."

The woman glanced at Dan Heng, "I had my chance. As did Yun before the Judge came. I think you and the others ought to get a chance as well, don't you think?"

"Miss M/n—" Dan Heng began but she wasn't listening, picking up a sheathed sword and offering it to Dan Heng.

"Y/n loved March, Caelus and Mr. Yang very dearly. I can tell from the way she looked at them." M/n hummed, "And even the day you were taken to the Shackling Prison, she continued to love you just as dearly as she always had. I think she'll truly be able to rest peacefully if you all visit her one last time."

Dan Heng couldn't find words as he stared at the sword the woman was holding out to him. How odd... he still remembered some things.

"A sword that never breaks, something that can keep up with me and my unbreakable loyalty to you!"

"For someone who skipped classes every single chance she got, you've got a way with words."

"I don't need stupid classes to be eloquent!"

Yeah, there were some things that not even reincarnation could keep him from forgetting.

"Promise me this, you'll always be my friend. No matter what, through thick and thin, got that?"

"Very well, I promise."

"Really?"

"Mhm, it'll be a promise that I'll never break."

Dan Heng carefully took the sword, meeting M/n's gaze and nodding with a soft, "Thank you."

The woman shook her head before glancing back at the wall of weapons, "I should be thanking you. Now, go on. Don't wait around here."

Dan Heng went right back down stairs where March was trying to soothe a sobbing Yun who was still devastated over the loss of so many Cloud Knights who had been like family to him.

It took some time, but his tears eventually slowed enough for him to thank the trailblazers before bidding them farewell as they headed to Stargazer Navalia.

The trio there was quiet, bleak.
Without y/n rushing ahead to eliminate danger, her and Caelus fawning over Welt, or her and March occasionally stopping to go back and forth about something, it didn't feel right at all.

Especially not to March.

Things were different without y/n there.

Perhaps it was selfish of her to want y/n back. Having y/n back would mean that the darkness she was always fighting in silence would continue to torment her.

Fine, March would be selfish! But this time, she wouldn't take y/n's 🐂💩 lies about how she was fine and nothing was wrong.

March would let y/n know that she was there to talk to her too! Maybe she couldn't offer ridiculously bitter coffee like Himeko, or wise counseling like Welt, or the quiet comfort y/n sought Dan Heng out for but March was there too!

It always frustrated her how y/n would force down her struggles to match March's bright eyed, bushy tailed demeanor, lie about how she felt to avoid dimming her bright light. She shouldn't have had to worry about it, because it was a stupid thing to worry about!

March 7th was as bright as she was in hopes that she could share that light to bring others some relief. If y/n could just come back, March would surely refuse to accept her 🐂💩 and join her in those constant battles she had in her mind.

But... it was too late now, wasn't it?"

The pink haired woman couldn't seem to muster any energy to perk up as her and the others placed the meals in the respective Starskiffs. By the time they finished and it was time to head back to Starskiff Haven to watch the ceremony, she was feeling even worse than before.

While eavesdropping wasn't a good thing, she'd listened in on Dan Heng and M/n's chat.

While she didn't know a ton about the Ten Lords or Judges, she did get the message that y/n wouldn't be having the same ceremony as the rest of the fallen.

'Up there. She should be up there, gliding along with Miss Tingyun and everyone else among the stars.' March thought as they all watched the many starskiffs glide towards the Jade Gate, 'This isn't right. This isn't fair. She should be up there too...'

March frantically pat her face, squeezing her eyes shut, 'No, no, no, don't cry! Don't you dare cry! It's not like you won't get to see her again! We're gonna see her at the Ten Lords Commission or whatever!'

She'd see her again, but now how she wanted to see her. She wanted her to be alive, to be able to hear March's insistence that she's there for her.

...well, reality was cruel. At the very least, March could make sure y/n had Mimi by her side again.

She'd dropped the poor thing. She likely wouldn't be able to rest well until she had it by her side again.

March 7th hadn't been able to reach out to offer her comfort to y/n while she was alive, so bringing Mimi yo her so she could rest well for eternity was the least she could do.

She nodded to herself, 'Yeah, okay.' she glanced down at Mimi, the little beat up lion plush staring back at her, 'Let's get you back to y/n. It'll be up to you to keep her nice and comfy while she rests!'

March 7th dusted it off and heaved a sigh.
Caelus glanced at her before patting her on the shoulder, murmuring a quiet, "Come on, the General is here to see us."

March perked up a bit, then glanced over to where Welt and Dan Heng were waiting by Jing Yuan. Ah, his bum 🍑 kid was there too. He had a little patch over his cheeks, but the bruise form where y/n had socked him in the face was still very visible.

'I knew y/n wasn't the type to go easy on kids, but the fact that the patch couldn't even cover the bruise...' March thought wearily, then looked back down at Mimi, 'Are there kids in the afterlife? Will she punch them too? I hope not...'

But then again, if she punched enough kids, the afterlife would likely decide it was tired of her and boot her right back out into the land of the living, right? March wasn't sure if that was how it worked, but she sure hoped it did.

'On second thought, tell her to punch as many kids as she wants.' March decided as her and Caelus approached the white haired General.

He was very solemn, the smile on his face seeming much more sad than the others the trailblazers had seen on him. Yanqing looked pretty worried about him. Pretty understandable since, in Caelus' insensitive words during his attempt to try to cheer up March, "He got clapped pretty hard."

What the hell did that mean anyways?!

Whatever it meant, it wasn't funny, and Caelus' timing was about as good as having one's windpipe crushed.

"General, you should go rest now that the ceremony is over." Yanqing was advising the man as Caelus and March joined their other trailblazing companions.

"I will, but I have a few other things to attend to first." Jing Yuan assured the boy before glancing at the group of trailblazers, "First and foremost, I have some things I also wish to convey to my Astral friends." he offered them all a tired smile, "My apologies for being unable to get to you sooner. Yanqing made sure that I had ample time to recuperate."

"No problem, we're glad to see that you're feeling better." Caelus hummed with a nod and March side eyed him, appalled by the audacity of him to say such a thing after what he'd said before.

Clapped... what the hell did that mean?

"Before you leave the Luofu, there are two things I wish to gift the Express." Jing Yuan hummed.

"Two gifts?" March 7th mumbled.

"I'd like some talk therapy, please!" Caelus declared, before glancing at March, "...make it for two, please."

"We can discuss it at the Seat of Divine Foresight." the man hummed, to which Dan Heng stepped forward.

March immediately perked up.
'Ah! Here it is!'

Just as expected, Dan Heng brought up the visit to the Ten Lords Commission that M/n had talked about. March really was as sharp as the sharpest blade!

"Miss M/n said that her and Yun weren't going to go, and suggested that we all see y/n one last time." Dan Heng explained carefully, "I was going to contact our other companions, but I didn't want to do so until we received permission to see y/n first."

"The Judges said they would keep the visits reserved for her family..." the General murmured and March's heart plummeted straight to her stomach, "I'm sure they wouldn't mind after all the Astral Express Crew has done for us. If you want to see her now, we can make our way to the Ten Lords Commission immediately."

March 7th's eyes lit up, Caelus nodded eagerly, and Dan Heng seemed to relax instantly. He looked to Welt who only nodded with a, "I'll have to send a message to Himeko first so she can come join us. If that's alright with the General."

Jing Yuan nodded with a gentle smile.
"Of course, I'm sure y/n would be even happier with all of you there to see her. Take as much time as you need, there's no rush."

There was indeed a rush, Caelus text bombing Himeko until she finally called. There was a bit of a hesitant silence when she did so, as they all collectively realized she had no clue what had happened, so they simply asked her to come on down to the Luofu.

It took some time, but when she arrived, Welt was the one to explain what had happened to y/n. Seeing the smile fade from Himeko's face, and sorrow dull her gaze made March 7th's heart hurt.

Himeko didn't quite bounce back, but she took a deep breath before asking to go see her as soon as possible.

At the Ten Lords Commission, they were greeted by a judge called Xueyi. She didn't seem too happy to see so many people that were not y/n's mother and brother, but reluctantly agreed to let them see her with some convincing from Jing Yuan.

Her only rule? One visit at a time.

That rule was immediately broken, as Caelus and Dan Heng accompanied March when she went to see y/n.

🚚ing horrible. The Ten Lords Commission was 🚚ing horrible. WHO THE HELL CHAINED UP A DEAD BODY, HUH?!

Y/n's body had healed itself, nothing new, with the exception of the spot where she'd stabbed herself. The wooden tendrils that once obscured her eyes were gone, allowing her friends to better see her face.

She looked peaceful, like she was napping.
For a second, March wondered if she'd just fallen into a really deep sleep and they'd mistaken her taking a nap for death.

...

March knew better than that.

She'd been set atop a strange table of sorts, like one used for surgeries. Her ankles and wrists were chained, the long bindings matched to the floor.

Wtf did they think she was gonna do?
Pop up and start rampaging again?

"Ahem." Caelus cleared his throat, "I dunno if you can hear us, y/n, but we wanted to say goodbye one last time. Y'know. Cause that's what decent friends do."

Dan Heng frowned, and March side eyed Caelus.

The hydrogen bomb continued, "I may not have known you for as long as Dan Heng or March, but I, uh..." he took a deep breath, "I'm really gonna miss you. D-Don't worry, I'll continue treating Miss Himeko and Mr. Yang like the gods they are! I'll keep the weapons in your cabin clean, I'll do the dishes too! I'll even help Dan Heng with being Archivist and Train Guard."

"You just get the rest you deserve, alright? Take as many naps as you want, do whatever you want! You've earned it!" Caelus exclaimed, "And, uh... thank a lot. For everything. I hope we'll get to meet again. I dunno how, where or when, but I'll use every bit of my willpower to will it into existence."

He coughed awkwardly, then glanced at his two companions, "Dan Heng? March?"

March 7th glanced back at y/n, giving the chains a disdainful look before sighing and carefully setting Mimi by y/n's side, "Just so you won't be lonely... I know we bickered a lot, and I hated how you treated me like some kind of fragile snow globe, but you mean a lot to me. Always have, always will."

"I hated that you would hide your pain all the time, and I wish I'd called you out for your 🐂💩 sooner, but... now I can't." March's eyes began to well up with tears before she fiercely shook her head, "But that's okay! I told Mimi to make you talk no matter what you say! Also— I saw the bruise you left on that kids face! If there's kids in the afterlife, don't punch them! No... actually, punch them! So you can come right back and do things right this