(These last few days have been spent writing stuff in preparation for three different mock trials so I've been too tired to write up until now)

"Hey... Dan Heng?"

Y/n gave him a light shake, her eyes widening when he grimaced, clearly in pain. Yeah, swords to the chest are supposed to hurt, "Hey, you'd better not die, or else I'll drag you right back and kill you again! Stay awake!"

She popped him on the cheek a couple of times, frantically trying to get him to keep his eyes open but he'd already slumped over in her grasp, "Hey! You sleep when I say you can sleep! Dan Heng!"

How was she going to explain this to the others?
No, that wasn't the main concern. The main concern was that clown who no-scoped his 🍑 with a 🚚ing sword.

As y/n was planning murder, the little brat who couldn't even take a damn sword to the shoulder pointed his little bum 🍑 kitchen knife at Blade as the man approached with a smile.

"I have news for you, boy." the dark haired man sneered as movement from Dan Heng drew her attention back to him. Broski was floating? "Behind you is none other than the traitor of the Xianzhou."

Y/n and that bum 🍑 kid watched on as Dan Heng started ascending or some 💩, and a 🚚ing bubble of water started surrounding him. The young woman squinted, "huh."

"A criminal forever banished!"

Y/n actually flinched when the bubble popped and out came a dragon— WHY THE HELL WAS THERE A DRAGON HERE, HUH?! It disappeared as quickly as it came in a burst of blue light, though y/n could make out a figure amongst the goddamn flash bang.

"Imbibitor Lunae." Blade strolled past the bamboozled kid, looking like he was trying to get a hug or something, but y/n was fixated on Dan Heng.

First of all— how the hell did he get stabbed then suddenly get a whole 🍑 change of clothes and several year's worth of hair growth in a matter of seconds?!

"Ah—" y/n rubbed her eyes, then looked at him again. He had horns? Wtf was he standing on? When— how— what? "...my brain hurts..."

"You really thought the Stellaron Hunters were the only ones to infiltrate the Xianzhou?" Blade sneered.

That little bum 🍑 kid gritted his teeth, frost and a bunch of swords swirling around him as he started floating too.

Y/n rolled her eyes, "Well damn, why do I have to stay on the ground with Kitchen Knife and that Kafka lady?"

"Fine then, I'll bring both of you to justice!" the kid snapped as Blade and Dan Heng with the nice fit turned to face him, "I've heard of you Imbibitor Lunae. First it was the Stellaron Hunters, and now an exiled criminal has infiltrated the Xianzhou."

"Criminal is a bit of a strong word, I'm sure that Dan Heng has done nothing wrong." y/n looked at this new form her friend had, giving him a once over. "...probably."

"You stay out of this! This is too dangerous for a civilian to get involved!" the boy snapped and y/n sputtered.

"I watched my friend get stabbed by some raggedy old dude, I'm not gonna let some twerp stab him again!" y/n retorted as she prepared to join the fight, "Sorry, brat, but you're gonna have to fight me too."

"Y/n, stop!" Dan Heng protested, grabbing her by the back of her clothing before she could lunge at the blond boy. He turned his attention back to the impulsive 🍑 kid, "Listen, we're only here to ensure the safety of our friends! We don't want to fight!"

That dumb 🍑 dude with the raggedy cut only laughed, "Better, but I'm afraid you won't be seeing your friends. They're caught in their own bitter struggle."

They're WHAT?

Y/n didn't know what she regretted more now.

Listening to what Caelus said, or not killing this snot-nosed brat the moment he showed up. He was getting in her way!

"Silence! You're not getting away either!" Yanqing snapped as he sent a flurry of swords at Blade instead, all of which the man deflected with ease (No the 🚚 he didn't, he tanked that 💩 in the boss battle. Anyways, I apologize for this dog💩 fight scene)

"Is that so?" Blade sneered, "Let's heat heat things up then, Kafka!" Oh, right, she was here.

Y/n glanced at the woman and was rather surprised to see her looking not so at ease for once as the Stellaron Hunter piped in, "Bladie, listen to me, unleash the Mara."

Y/n gave Blade a blank look.
'Oh, he's bat💩 crazy too—'

"So it begins..."

Blade was no longer y/n's focus as she returned to Dan Heng side, deflecting and destroying whatever flying swords came his way while she left him to attack the kid.

He was wayyy too gentle in y/n's opinion, but that pearl of his seemed to be doing some damage so y/n wouldn't get on his 🍑 about it until later.

(Im not even gonna try to guess what that orb is so I'm just gonna call it a pearl until I know for sure.)

He was actively trying not to kill the kid, something y/n didn't really agree with, but Blade was the one to actually comment, "What's wrong, afraid to hurt the boy?"

Dan Heng didn't reply, he was thinking about the other Astral Express Crew Members. Y/n was amongst those, and— oh, all the swords were broken.

"You all just won't give up. I only have one choice!" y/n blinked when the boy's stance changed, and she readied herself to move as a big 🍑 sword formed in the sky.

It slammed into the ground, surrounding the little trio with ice before shattering in a great burst of light... only to chip off barely even a fourth of their health.

The attack kinda left Dan Heng a little low on hp, but the only thing Blade lost was the little sanity he had.

"So familiar... did she teach you?" the man seethed before lunging for the boy, "You deserve no mercy!"

The kid was ready for another attack, only to find himself unable to move. A horrible, suffocating pressure was weighing down on him, not from the menace preparing to gut him like a fish, but from something behind him.

He turned his head to look, and saw y/n preparing to punch him in the face. It was just a punch, a fist, but it gave the boy the same feeling of a sword headed right for his throat.

Just a punch, just a punch...

No.

The punch would take his head right off his shoulders!

'Move, Yanqing.' the boy urged himself, 'Move!'

'Move, or you'll die!'

"Y/n!" Dan Heng shouted.

The young woman's eyes widened slightly but her fist still slammed into Yanqing's face, sending the boy flying away from her and Blade where he went tumbling across the platform before rolling to a halt.

The next thing y/n felt was searing pain as Blade's sword was slashed once across her chest, the attack being cut off halfway as a vortex of water surged from the ground, knocking the two homicidal sword wielding goobers away from each other.

Blade staggered back while y/n lost balance, almost falling only for Dan Heng to catch her. He didn't need to see her face to tell that she wasn't quite there, already holding onto her with a firmer grip as she moved to attack again.

"Damn it, stay still!" he protested, his gaze darting between his friend and their adversaries, "Get ahold of yourself!"

"I'm gonna kill that piece of 💩-!" y/n snapped, palming Dan Heng in the face in an effort to get him to let go of her, "🚚 off, Dan Heng!"

Dan Heng caught sight of poor Mimi hanging halfway out of y/n's bag and snatched the plush, smacking y/n in the face with it, "Here!"

"OW! DON'T HIT ME WITH IT!"

"All of you, listen to me — stop."

Kafka's voice caught everyone's attention, aside from the kid who was still laid out on the ground after getting sucker punched. Y/n's attempts at attacking halted while Mimi dropped into her lap, Blade stilled, and even Dan Heng found himself locked in place.

"Well, Bladie? Are you satisfied?" Kafka inquired as she looked to Blade who looked as if he had a bit of a headache.

The man merely grunted, looking to the blond boy as he managed to sit up a little. Yanqing looked between Dan Heng, Blade, and y/n with the look of a cornered animal, clearly frustrated but still wary.

"Hmph." was all that left Blade as he kind of just glowered at the two train guards and Yanqing.

Dan Heng looked down at y/n, finding that she wa shielding Mimi with one free hand while she had another trembling hand pressed against the cut across her chest. Between the blood, he could see the faintest bit of gold beginning to appear.

The dark haired train guard looked to Kafka.

"I'm just clearing the stage for the grand entrance." the woman replied, "Can't have you four misbehaving in front of the Luofu's hotshot general."

There was a small chuckle as Jing Yuan arrived, standing beside the fallen Yanqing. Blade's expression was difficult to read, "Jing Yuan..."

"General!" Yanqing began, but fell silent when the man gave him a look. Ooo, somebody was in trouble.

Jing Yuan looked back towards where Blade and Dan Heng stood, y/n still being held up by the dragon dude as she slowly recovered from getting 🚚ing stabbed.

Through the haze, y/n could make out Jing Yuan's face and his expression. As usual, her memories couldn't give her answers, but a feeling did pop up. Not the usual urge to pull on his hair and kick him, but a feeling of sadness.

She let out a puff of air, waving Dan Heng off yet not making any protests when he helped her stand again.

"Many years have passed since the two of you departed the Xianzhou, and yet the circumstances of your return appear to be equally unhappy." the General hummed as y/n debated attacking Blade again, "If you still thought of me as a friend, you should've forewarned me."

'These three goofstes? Friends?' y/n looked between Blade, Dan Heng, and Jing Yuan before huffing, 'Right. Birds nests.'

"My task is complete." Blade stated simply.

Jing Yuan crossed his arms with a nod.
"Mm, that it is. Thank you for assisting the Xianzhou in this small matter. Take this person away, I will pretend I didn't see anything this time."

"General, I—!" Yanqing began but another sharp look from Jing Yuan shut him up real quick.

"Now is not the time."

Y/n's brain started steaming as she processed what was happening, Blade and Kafka simply walking away without another word. Wait a damn—

"You mother🚚er." y/n whispered.

Jing Yuan merely smiled, an oddly sad one, as he turned to face the train guard duo. Y/n glared at him, some choice words bubbling up before she opted to brush dust off of Mimi instead.

The General focused on Dan Heng next, to which the *arguably* more efficient train guard frowned.

"It has been a long time, old friend."

Upon hearing those words, Dan Heng inhaled sharply before averting his gaze, "I'm not him."

"Mm... I'm sorry." Jing Yuan apologized.
Y/n still wanted to grab him by the hair, but the thought of giving him a hug presented itself as well.

She glanced back and forth between the General and Dan Heng, a little confused, and was taken aback when her train guard buddy grabbed her by the hand and began leading her away, "Wh— Dan Heng?"

He didn't say a word, continuing to drag y/n along, only stopping when the General spoke.

"You cannot leave yet. Your Astral Express friends are waiting for you in Scalegorge Waterscape."

It was a long moment, before Dan Heng glanced back at the General with furrowed brows. The golden eyed General only smiled, "Shall we go see them together?"

They didn't leave to see them immediately, some Cloud Knights gathering to join them while a disgruntled Yanqing was being sent away.

As they were preparing to depart, y/n approached the boy with a soft, "Are you alright?"

The boy flinched, whirling around with wide eyes to look at y/n, 'What the-? I didn't hear her approach!'

...

"Well? You okay?" y/n asked again before gesturing to her cheek, "Punches like that are no joke."

Yanqing immediately lifted a hand to his cheek where y/n had punched him, eyes widening before he quickly gathered himself, "I'm fine! It didn't hurt at all!" 'I think... my ears are still ringing.'

Y/n nodded, "Still, put some ice on that. It'll probably still bruise, but at least it won't hurt as much."

With that, y/n turned away and wandered away from the boy who immediately let out a relieved breath when she walked away from him.

She was beginning to return to Dan Heng and Jing Yuan, but came to a staggering halt when pain that seemed to split her skull seized her.

Y/n grimaced, immediately bringing up a hand to clutch her head. Through a blurry gaze, she looked ahead to where Scalegorge Waterscape was located.

She... couldn't go there.

Going there meant bad things.

But her friends were there.

'Just a little further, I won't let myself slip until I'm sure that it won't cause the others any trouble.' y/n told herself, forcing herself to lower her hand and ignore the pain, 'I just have to ensure they're all okay first.'

. 　。　　⋆　　•　 　ﾟ　　。 .　.　.　。 .　。⋆　　　。　　 ⋆。　 ඞ 。　 . • . . ⁎ 。　. 　。　.　　⋆. 　　。 .　 .　　 . ⋆. 。. ⁎ 。•　 　ﾟ　　。

"Caelus, remind me why y/n isn't here."

"Because I asked her to stay behind."

"And why did you do that?"

Caelus pursed his lips, "Because she wasn't well."

"Don't you think that maybe she would've been better off with us where Mr. Yang could've kept her calm?" March pressed and the hydrogen bomb winced.

"Maybe..."

"And if she were here, THESE CLOWNS WOULDN'T HAVE APPROACHED IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!" March shouted, pointing to the anti-matter legion enemies in front of them, "You screwed us over, Caelus."

"It wasn't my intention!"

"Well you did it anyways!"

Caelus and March was going back and forth as them and Welt all fended off the Antimatter Legion enemies currently swarming them.

Things had been rough ever since they left y/n behind. Caelus kept telling himself it was to keep her nice and sane, but was starting to believe he'd made the wrong decision.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the antimatter legion 🚚ers raising its blades arm to cut him, but a flash of light damn near blinded Caelus while cutting the creature's arm off.

Huh. He recognized that light.
That light tried to kill him not too long ago.

Not even a second later, Caelus got BODYSLAMMED to the side as y/n charged at the creature in complete, eerie silence. The thing actually screamed when she tackled it, and all the others could do was watch in horror as she mauled the thing with her bare hands.

Mailing an antimatter legion creature.

With one's bare hands.

The others met the same brutal fate, punched until they had more holds than swiss cheese and dissipated into nothingness.

"Pathetic vermin..." y/n sneered, her expression full of contempt before relaxing as she glanced at her friends, "Sorry, was I too late?"

"Nope, right on time!" March 7th chimed, running over to y/n and jumping on her to give her a big hug, "Ahh... I feel so much safer with y/n here now. Don't you, Caelus?"

The hydrogen bomb didn't reply, staring at the mutilated creatures with a blank look.

By the time Jing Yuan, Dan Heng and the Cloud Knights caught up, y/n was happily allowing March 7th to hug her while Welt pat her on the head.

She blinked open an eye, then grinned at the group.

"A little slow there, old timer." she hummed.

Jing Yuan only chuckled, "I guess I still have some work to do if I wish to keep up with your speed."

Y/n gave a little huff of pride while March gave her a bewildered look, 'What was that... huh?'

"Jing Yuan!" Fu Xuan called as the General and Cloud Knights approached, "Where have you been?"

The man only chuckled, "Forgive my late arrival, Lady Fu — we are indebted to you and your forces. The Seat of Divine Foresight relayed the battle reports to me. As for Phantylia's plan..."

"The Ambrosial Arbor, that's her focus." Fu Xuan finished, "Lord Ravager Phantylia's strategy was to create civil strife — then met it consume the Xianzhou from within. She wanted to use the Arbor to disseminate the power of the Plagues Author and turn the Luofu into a hell of undying abominations."

"Mm, that is clear to me now." Jing Yuan hummed before turning to y/n and the other Astral Express crew present, "Friends of the Astral Express, I have brought someone with me who I think you'll be eager to see."

Y/n tapped March and gestured for her to look over to where Dan Heng was approaching. He stopped in front of the group, smiling gently while Caelus and March seemed taken aback by his new look.

Understandable, mans is... mm.

Anyways—

"Huh? I—Is... is that...?" March covered her mouth, and looked to y/n for confirmation, "This is... Dan Heng, right?"

Caelus gave y/n a look, "Did you kidnap some random Vidyadhara and dress them up to look like Dan Heng?"

"No, dumb🍑, this is Dan Heng!" y/n snapped before grabbing him by the horn, the action causing him to gasp as she yanked him forward and pointed to his face, "You see that face? You know this face! Tell them, Dan Heng!"

The young man cleared his throat, "Y-Yes, it's me, March. It's a bit of a long story, but it's still me..."

Y/n smirked, "See? Our Dan Heng."

"Huh. So you do have some secret power." March murmured, a small smile creeping onto her face.

Caelus chuckled, "I've got my power up, Dan Heng's got a power up. Who's next? Y/n? Or maybe March 7th."

"Let us save such reminiscence for later, shall we?" Jing Yuan said as he joined the small group, y/n still keeping a firm but gentle hold on Dan Heng's horn. "My astral guests, when you first appeared on the Luofu, your stated aim was the resolution of the Stellaron crisis."

Y/n heaved a sigh, 'Oh boy, another monologue.'

Dan Heng watched y/n irritated expression carefully, taking notice of how she shifted to stand more comfortably while taking to messing around with the horn still in her grasp. Fidgeting.

It felt odd, but nothing unfamiliar.

Y/n paused, then glanced at Dan Heng.
"May I?" she asked quietly.

Dan Heng nodded, remaining still as y/n fidgeted around with his horns and waited for the dialogue sequence to end already.

"I was concerned that the Stellaron Hunters harbored ulterior motives and refused your offer. I see now that I was overly anxious." Jing Yuan continued, "Nevertheless, it is true that the motives of the Stellaron Hunters were not what they appeared in order that the Express and the Xianzhou fight side by side, Kafka lured you here and broadened the scope of the crisis. In doing so, she succeeded in making clear that your sincerity is beyond doubt. The Luofu is in your debt, and I have no right to seek further assistance from you."

March sighed, "I already know where this is going."

"Even if the crisis on the Luofu had nothing to do with the Stellaron, I would still be willing to help." Welt hummed, "...but I can't speak for the other members of my crew. Explore, understand, establish, and connect. As the crew of the Express, that's the Trailblaze creed we follow. Still, when the journey gets tough, those words can feel far off."

Ain't that the truth.

"Fear, risk, enemies, and death are the obstacles we face in pursuit of the creed. That's why the Nameless who are able to stay the course number few indeed." Welt continued as Caelus and y/n both swooned, "Whether our destination lies before us or behind us, the decision is ours to make. Here, as on the Express,