Book 4: The Winds of Change
Epilogue: The Adventure Continues
Teyvat, Mondstadt
Nighttime
Outside of the City of Mondstadt on the stone bridge, a blue magic circle appeared and out came Zi-O, Starlight, Jean, and the other members of the team in a flash of light before the magic circle vanished.
"Here we are, back outside the city gates." Mona informed the group.
"Thanks for the teleportation magic, Mona." Zi-O thanked. "We'd fly our way back to Mondstadt, but then you and the others came instead, causing a change of plans."
"Ah, of course, the enhanced Wind Gliders made of magic silk, correct?"
"That's the one." Starlight confirmed. "Did you get one too?"
"I did, but I'll only use it on some occasions. I'll keep relying on my teleportation magic instead." Mona replied.
"Suit yourself." Starlight shrugged.
"Well, let's head back inside the city so Jean can finally get her rest." Gaius declared.
"Indeed." Jean agreed before yawning. "It's been a very long day."
When the group arrived at the city gates, Swan the knight guard called them over. "Ah! Master Jean, the Honorary Knight and his allies! You've finally returned! The Anemo Archon protects you all."
"Swan?" Jean responded. "Were you waiting for me? Has something happened?"
"Yes, at Angel's Share." Swan answered. "Don't worry, it's nothing big, but..."
"Does it involve a bar fight filled with drunkards?" Gunvolt guessed. "If so, we're going in to put a stop to it."
"But you can leave Jean out of it. It's been a long day for her and she really needs to rest." Joule added. "And besides, who knows when her illness will return if she doesn't rest."
"I know, I know I said it's nothing big, but..." Swan sighed. "Alright, how can I put this... They just really need the Acting Grand Master."
"Huh?" Paimon responded.
"Is it really that important, sir?" Theresa asked the knight. "Because if it's not, then let Jean go and rest while we take care of it."
"I'm really, really sorry about this, but they really need Master Jean for this one." Swan apologized.
"Well Jean, it's your call." Aether said as everyone turned to her. "What's it gonna be?"
"...Very well, Swan, I will go to Angel's Share. I should not let the other knights down." Jean decided after some pondering. "But after this, I'm taking my long rest. Understood?"
"Of course, Master Jean." Swan replied. "And again, sorry for all of this."
"It's fine, you're only doing your job." Jean replied back. "Come on, everyone, let's go."
"Okay, Jean-san." Miku responded as the group went inside the city.
"Before we go to Angel's Share, could you give me, my sister and Hibiki a moment to revert back to our civilian forms in private?" Zi-O requested.
"I understand." Jean nodded. "We'll wait for you."
"You can use my magic lab to change safely without any onlookers lurking around." Mona offered.
"Thanks, Mona-san! Please excuse us!" Hibiki replied as Mona quickly escorted her, Zi-O and Starlight inside her magic lab for them to power down without being noticed.
Moments later, Mona escorted Zeo, Akira and Hibiki out of the lab in their civilian forms and regrouped with the others. "Okay, we're Ret-2-Go!" Akira declared with a thumbs up.
"Ret-2-Go?" Jean and Mona repeated in confusion.
"Another term for Ready to Go." Lumine clarified.
"Oh..."
"Ret-2-Go? Who came up with that?" Paimon asked.
"Shantae, a friend of ours." Kiana answered. "It's actually a cool phrase to use."
"Right then, let's not waste time and head for Angel's Share." Theresa declared before the group began heading to their destination.
"For goodness sake, what is happening to the world!? Swan used to be the most honest fellow, now he's dumping things onto Jean..." Paimon complained.
"Well... Swan was clearly agitated. Maybe it is an emergency after all." Jean commented.
"Or maybe it's something else." Miku added. "Either way, let's find out for ourselves."
Angel's Share
Eventually, the group arrived outside of Angel's Share. "I'll go first and see what's going on. After that, the rest of you will come inside." Jean instructed.
"You got it, Jean." Zeo replied. "Give us a call and we'll come right in."
"Mm." Jean nodded at the group before turning to the door and grabbed the handle. "Okay, here goes..." She opened the door and went inside.
And what she saw inside was something she'd never expect. It was a surprise party filled with decorations, food and drinks all prepared. Not only that, Kaeya, Lisa, Amber, Barbara, Noelle, Venti and Diluc are also there, waiting for a certain someone to arrive. And that person happens to be Master Jean herself, who was feeling surprised at what she saw.
"Wha... what's all this?" Jean asked.
"It's a thank-you party for you!" Amber replied.
"Jean, when we heard the news about your illness, we were all so worried about you." Barbara explained.
"We can only imagine how much pressure you must be under as Acting Grand Master, and you do so much work all over Mondstadt." Noelle added.
"We thought that since you so rarely take any time off, we'd take this chance to throw you a party." Kaeya also added. "So please, enjoy yourself, Jean. After all, you'll never let us do this once you're back at work." He chuckled.
"Ahh..." Jean was speechless as her face began to blush.
"Jean?" Amber asked.
"I... Uh..."
"Huh? Is this Jean when she's... shy? I've never seen her like this!" Amber remarked.
"Indeed. This is new." Noelle agreed.
"It's easy to forget that outside of work, Jean is just a normal person, like anyone else." Lisa stated.
"I... This is just all such a surprise!" Jean finally spoke and smiled. "Thank you, everyone. This really means so much to me."
Amber giggled. "Well, it's nothing compared to the amount of work you do for all of us, day-in and day-out."
"Yeah. But... there's still plenty of things I need to take care of first." Jean replied, making the group groan. She's supposed to relax, not go back to work.
"Fear not. We wanted to make sure you could relax and enjoy yourself. So- huh?" Kaeya stopped mid-sentence when he saw Jean giggling. "Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
"I'm just kidding. The Honorary Knight and his friends have told me about the commissions being completed by them earlier." Jean assured. "And I'm really grateful for their assistance with the Knights while I was resting from my illness." She then turned her head around. "Aether, Lumine, everyone, you can come in now! It's a false alarm!"
Soon after, Aether, Lumine, and the rest of the team went inside the tavern, and felt shocked at what they saw inside. "Whoa...! What's all of this for?" Hibiki asked.
"Not only that, I saw plenty of familiar faces here, including Venti." Miku added.
"Hello, Hibiki, Miku, Kiana! Fancy seeing you girls again!" Venti greeted. "Thanks again for helping me retrieve my lyre strings from that missing cat."
"No problem, Venti." Kiana replied before turning to Jean. "Is this some kind of party?
"Yes." Jean nodded. "A thank-you party for me for all of the hard work I did for Mondstadt."
"Aww, how sweet of them to throw a party for you." Joule smiled, making Jean nod and smile back.
"Huh, so I guess it's not a bar fight after all." Gunvolt remarked. "Thank gacking goodness for that, or else Diluc would throw a fit at the mess."
"I heard that, Azure Striker." Diluc retorted with a smirk.
"Well if isn't the little helpers that foiled the Fatui ambush outside of the cathedral several days ago." Kaeya said. "I take it you're the ones who kept a close eye on Jean after helping us with the commissions today?"
"Yup." Zeo nodded. "She had to pray for Vennessa at Windrise for a while, so we followed her to make sure she's okay."
"Oh yeah, forgot to mention that Noelle and Barbara told us earlier about Jean taking a walk but never coming back, so me, GV, Joule, Theresa and Mona set out to find her." Gaius mentioned.
"So that's explains why you guys had to go and look for her." Akira noted.
"Yup, and we ran into you guys too." Theresa replied. "Speaking of which, how did you guys find Jean?"
"Zeo, Akira, Hibiki, Kiana, Lumine, Paimon and I were on top of the gate entrance to relax until we saw Jean heading out, so Zeo decided to follow her to see what's up." Aether explained.
"Ah, so that's how." Theresa noted.
"You could've told us earlier, but I guess she'll be long gone by the time you told us." Joule said.
"Exactly." Lumine replied.
"Regardless, thank you for keeping an eye on Jean, cuties." Lisa said. "You know how stubborn she can be when it comes to work and not resting much."
"Lisa..." Jean sighed.
"Well, that's enough for now. No more thinking about work today and enjoy yourself while you've got the chance." Lisa declared. "You cuties can join the party if you wish."
"Well..." Zeo pondered for a moment before shrugging. "Sure, why not. I guess we have some spare time for a party after a long day of work."
"Alright! A party!" Hibiki cheered.
"So much for taking a nap." Miku sighed before smiling. "But I guess having a party won't hurt."
"Indeed." Mona agreed. "Still, I'm taking a break from my magic research, so attending this party will do nicely. Speaking of which..." She turned to Kaeya. "Is this what you're planning all this time instead of helping us and the Knights?"
Kaeya chuckled in response. "Actually, Aether and Lumine were the key organizers for this party."
"Eh?" Zeo's team blinked as they turned to the twin travelers.
"Us?/The organizers?" Aether and Lumine responded, pointing at themselves.
"See all of these food and drinks? Aether made sure it all arrived on time." Kaeya explained, pointing at the dishes and beverages on the table. "Not only that, but Lumine cooked each one of these beautiful dishes along with her friends. So relax already. There's no need to be so modest!"
"Eh? You were watching us this whole time?" Miku questioned.
"Only the ones helping Sara's commission." Kaeya answered.
"Wait a minute..." Lumine began to realize. "All those last-minute urgent orders... It was you all along, wasn't it, Kaeya?!"
"You sneaky little..." Aether muttered.
Kaeya chuckled again. "Guilty as charged. And another thing, we also have Master Diluc to thank for the venue. Otherwise, we would be looking at quite an alarming bill right about now."
"...Despite my initial reluctance to sponsor a Knights of Favonius event in any way, I, like any other citizen of Mondstadt, owe Jean my gratitude for her hard work." Diluc admitted.
"Oh, Master Diluc..." Jean responded. "I..."
"Alright, alright!" Barbara interrupted. "Jean's supposed to be taking it easy, so stop crowding her!"
"She's right." Amber agreed. "Let the party begin!"
"Yeah!" The group cheered with their fists raised as everyone began to have a spirited and cheerful party along with some introductions with each other.
"Barbara-chan, are you having a good time?" Hibiki asked with Miku right beside her.
"I am, thank you, Hibiki." Barbara smiled. "Whew... This is quite a lot of excitement, considering that the idea was to relax and take it easy."
"Do you want me to get you a drink to help you relax?" Miku offered.
"Sure, as long as there isn't any alcohol involved." Barbara accepted.
"Don't worry, Hibiki and I never drink alcohol."
"So what do you normally drink?" Hibiki asked.
Barbara began to answer. "Oh, y'know, I normally mix a few things together but I always add some bright red-"
"Apple juice? Watermelon juice?"
Barbara giggled. "No, it's chilies! I add chili peppers in my drink."
"Chili peppers...?/In a drink...?" Hibiki and Miku blinked in utter disbelief at the deaconess' answer. Who would put chili peppers in a drink?!
"Hello there, travelers." Kaeya greeting the approaching Aether, Lumine and Paimon. "Having a good time?"
"Yup, sure did." Aether nodded.
"But why did you say we're the organizers?" Lumine asked.
"The thing is, Jean knows all of us so well now." Kaeya explained. "When someone organizes a surprise party for you, the closer you are to them, the more bashful you tend to feel about the whole thing. So instead, we just gave you two all the credit. After all, you did do more than your fair share of work anyway."
"So... You gave us the credit to hide your own shyness?" Lumine guessed.
"Of course! This party was clearly Kaeya's idea!" Paimon exclaimed in realization. "Shy Kaeya? Ha! This is gold!"
Kaeya chuckled. "You think so?"
"So you DO admit it!"
"Hehe... I'm only indulging you since it's such a special day today."
"So that's how you and Aether got the stolen book back from the Cryo Abyss Mage." Gunvolt said, having a conversation with Lisa. Mona and Joule are also there to listen.
"But that's just a normal book. Why would an Abyss Mage want a book like that for?" Joule questioned.
"No one knows." Lisa shrugged. "Still, it's troublesome work to get that book back. Now then, GV was it? I can sense that you also use Electro, but in a different color. How did you get your Vision?"
"Actually I'm not a Vision Bearer. I was just born with Electro powers." Gunvolt answered, hiding his real past as to how he got his Septima.
"Sorry but, GV's not comfortable to explain about his past. It's complicated." Joule added.
"I see." Lisa noted. "Then I shall not pry onto it for your sake. But if you're willing to answer, feel free to let me know."
"No problem." Gunvolt nodded. "Though you should also invite Joule along since she's my partner."
"Oh? And I thought you both were engaged." Lisa teased.
"Eh?!" Gunvolt and Joule stuttered before looking away with blushes on their faces while Lisa giggled at their reactions.
"Leave them be, Lisa. It's rude to tease them like that." Mona scolded.
"Hehe, sorry. I just wanted to see their reactions since the two seemed close." Lisa apologized. "Now then, Mona. With the outfit you're wearing, I assume you're also a mage, and using a Hydro Vision?"
"Correct." Mona nodded. "I specialize in Hydromancy. But I also specialize in astrology."
"Astrology, you say?" Lisa raised her eyebrow. "So you can read the stars?"
"Actually it's more than just stars. You see..."
Meanwhile, Zeo, Akira, Gaius, Kiana and Theresa were sitting at the bar area next to Venti who's drinking yet another glass of wine, causing the group to sweatdrop. "My word, the Dawn Winery's wine is every bit as delectable as they say!" Venti spoke. "I would never be able to afford this normally, so in the spirit of enjoying the moment while it lasts..." He raised his empty glass. "Another glass for the bard, please!"
"As you wish." Diluc complied with a sigh, pouring another glass of wine for the bard who began drinking again. "Aaand that's glass number thirty-seven."
"You're counting the number of times Venti drinking?" Zeo asked while the bard is busy drinking.
"Mhm." Diluc nodded. "In an alarming pace of progress no less. Only the Knights drink for free tonight, but it seems he didn't get the message."
"Huh, no wonder Paimon called him a Tone Deaf Bard." Akira remarked.
"Good god he's worse than Himeko! Even more so since Venti's young!" Theresa mentally exclaimed. "Then again, he IS the Anemo archon, but the point still stands considering he's drinking a frightening large amount of wine!"
"Why is he the Anemo archon, I'll never fully understand. The multiverse really IS weird." Kiana thought.
"Anyway, when he sobers up, I will present him the bill." Diluc said.
"Really?" Gaius asked with a raised eyebrow.
"...I'm joking, of course." Diluc chuckled. "I highly doubt he could afford it anyway, so I shall spare him the bill. But I must say, the sheer volume of alcohol this fellow can put back is just not normal."
"Well, considering who he really is, I wouldn't be surprised." Zeo remarked, before turning to the bard. "Yo, Venti! Doing okay over there?"
"Ah, hello! I didn't see you there." Venti greeted, finally noticing the group. "I blame the wine for monopolizing my attention! Much like my ballads, it deserves to be enjoyed for generations to come." But then his head began to feel a bit heavy and dizzy. "W-What is this floating sensation I feel? Have I discovered the true meaning of Anemo power?"
"That would be the drink talking." Akira deadpanned, with everyone else sharing the same expression.
"I hereby declare that every son and daughter of the City of the Wind must be compelled to taste this finest of wines." Venti proclaimed, raising his glass. "Here's to good wine!" He began to drink again. Until...
*THUD!*
"And down goes the bard." Gaius sighed, looking at the collapsed Venti, out cold and asleep from wine overdose. "This is why I never drink alcohol or wine."
"Aye." The Naotoras agreed with a nod.
"Good for you." Theresa also agreed.
"Hey guys!" Amber greeted as she approached them. "Mind if I sit with you?"
"By all means." Diluc approved, prompting the Outrider to sit with the group.
"Before we talk, let me get the drunk bard to safety." Zeo raised his finger before turning around. "Hey Noelle, could you help me out for a sec?"
"Of course." Noelle replied, approaching him. "What would you need?"
"Could you please put Venti outside the tavern?" Zeo requested, pointing at the sleeping bard. "I think he's done for the night considering the numerous amounts of wine he drank."
"As you wish." Noelle bowed before picking up the bard in a bridal carry and left the tavern for a moment.
"Thank you!" Zeo thanked before turning to Diluc and Amber. "Now with that out of the way, I need to tell you and Amber about something."
"Is something the matter?" Diluc asked.
"Remember when we said that we're keeping an eye on Jean when she's praying at Windrise? An eavesdropping Pyro Mage was planning to ambush her, but that foiled thanks to Hibiki's ki sense detecting his presence."
"What?!" Diluc and Amber silently gasped.
"Yup." Akira confirmed. "We, alongside Jean, went after the mage which lead us into a secret cave occupied by the Abyss Order. But we promptly kicked their asses while keeping an eye on Jean's condition. Her condition improved by the time we're done dealing with the Abyss inside that cave. Barbara's healing must've did the trick."
"So that's why you guys took so long to come back." Amber noted. "How dare that Abyss Mage try to attack Master Jean in a weakened condition."
"But at least Jean is safe and sound, and the Abyss taken care of." Diluc stated.
"Oh, by the way, something else happened after that." Akira continued. "Jean requested to join Team XDR as an honorary member."
"What?!" Diluc and Amber silently exclaimed.
"Not only that, she's coming to Liyue with us to have a private meeting with Ningguang of the Liyue Qiexing for a possible alliance between Mondstadt and Liyue." Zeo informed.
"You two don't mind if Jean becomes an honorary member of the team?" Gaius asked. "And before you ask, Diluc, she asked to join as the Dandelion Knight, not as the Acting Grand Master."
"Well, Zeo's the one who accepted Jean's request, so I'm not going to judge too much." Diluc remarked.
"I agree." Amber nodded. "But it's great that you have the Dandelion Knight on your side."
"Ah, one other thing. Noelle's also going to Liyue with Zeo's team in order to learn more about Teyvat to strengthen her will to protect instead of reading in the Mondstadt Library." Theresa informed.
"I see." Amber noted. "With you guys taking care of Noelle, I'm sure she'll be just fine like how you did with Jean earlier."
"Yup." Theresa nodded. "Also, I'm staying in Mondstadt along with Maria, Regina and Kallen to take care of the city in Jean's absence, and to fix the problems the Knights of Favonius are facing. And Amber, since I'm your superior, you better listen to my orders. Understood?"
"You got it, Theresa." Amber saluted.
"It's 'Principal' Theresa. But only during work hours."
"By the way." Gaius spoke up. "GV, Joule and I are leaving after this. Another Gjallarhorn fragment has been detected in another world, so we need to return to Earth to begin preparations for the upcoming mission."
"I understand." Diluc noted. "I wish you and the others the best of luck. Don't worry about Mondstadt, we'll take care of it."
"That's right!" Amber nodded.
"Thanks, you two." Gaius smiled, sharing a fist-bump with them. "We'll come back to Teyvat and head for Liyue when we're done with the mission. Still, it's a pleasure to meet the both of you."
"Pleasure's all ours, Gaius." Diluc smiled back.
"You're always welcome in the City of Freedom!" Amber also smiled.
"Anyway..." Gaius turned around. "Hm? Has anyone seen Jean around?"
"I know where she is." Noelle replied, approaching the group after finishing her task earlier. "She's upstairs, looking outside of the balcony alone."
"Thanks, Noelle. We're gonna go see her for a bit before leaving the tavern." Zeo replied back as the group (minus Amber) stoop up from their seats. "Diluc, Amber, have a nice night."
"You too. See ya!" Amber replied and wave with Diluc nodding before Zeo, Akira, Gaius and Theresa went upstairs.
Meanwhile, Jean was stargazing outside of the tavern's balcony, until she sensed Zeo and the others arriving, earning her attention. "Oh, it's you guys." Jean greeted. "Did you have a good time at the party?"
"Sure did." Zeo nodded. "What about you?"
"Yes, I had fun, thanks for asking." Jean replied before looking at the stars again. "I just wanted to get some fresh air and see the stars."
"That's nice." Akira replied back as they also stargazed. "The stars are always amazing to look at every night."
"Indeed."
"Anyway, GV, Joule and I are gonna head back to Earth after this to prepare for the next mission involving another Gjallarhorn fragment." Gaius informed.
"You're leaving?" Jean asked, turning to the Rider.
"Sorry, but the Neo Time Jackers are constantly on the move, so we need to get moving too before they get the upper hand." Gaius replied. "But me and the others will return to Teyvat after the mission's over."
"I understand. The mission comes first."
"Hopefully you'll get some new allies during the mission." Theresa said to the Rider.
"I think it's possible considering the allies Akira recruited during her mission, you included, Theresa." Gaius replied.
"Mhm." Akira nodded. "If you do find some new allies in your mission, let us know, okay?"
"Got it." Gaius nodded back before turning to Zeo. "Well then, ready to head back to base?"
"Yup." Zeo replied. "Let's gather up the others before heading out."
"Good luck on your mission, Gaius Cornell." Jean said, offering a hand.
"And good luck to you with your talk with Ningguang, Jean Gunhildr." Gaius replied, shaking her hand.
Team XDR Base, Basement
Several minutes later, the team (minus the honorary members) are gathered in the basement, with Gaius, Gunvolt, Joule, Tsubasa and Mei standing in front of the recently completed Dimensional Gateway, which has a large circle frame that can stabilize the dimensional portals it creates, along with a ramp in front of it to walk on.
"Well, this is it, everyone." Gaius said to the group, with Gunvolt and Joule standing beside him. "It's been fun living in Mondstadt for a few days, but it's time to move on. And tomorrow, Zeo's team will head for Liyue to witness the Rite of Descension and have a talk with the Geo Archon to warn about his Gnosis in danger of being stolen by the Fatui Harbingers."
"Not only that, Theresa, Regina, Maria and Kallen will remain in Mondstadt to take care of it while Jean is going to Liyue with Zeo." Gunvolt added.
"Yup, that pretty much sums up our current tasks at the moment." Zeo noted.
"Mhm, pretty much." Regina nodded.
"I don't know how long our mission in the Blaster Master universe will take, but we'll be just fine. I'm sure of it." Joule assured.
"Considering how strong you guys are, I shouldn't worry too much." Kanade replied before turning to Mei and Tsubasa. "And you two will return to Earth for training in preparation for the mission in Inazuma someday, right?"
"That's correct, Kanade." Tsubasa replied with Mei nodding. "But don't be afraid to call us for help if needed. We'll be there in a heartbeat."
"Got it, we'll let you know." Kiana replied with Kanade nodding. "Until then, Tsubasa-san, Mei, take care of yourselves."
"The same goes for you and your friends, Kiana-chan." Mei replied as she and Tsubasa smiled.
"By the way, has anyone seen Einstein?" Sucrose asked. "I've been looking for her earlier, but she's nowhere to be seen."
"Oh, she already left Teyvat on the Zi-O Liner, bringing along the Time Mazines and the Anemo Gnosis with her." Theresa answered.
"Oh."
"But she did send her regards to you, Sucrose, wishing you luck on your alchemy studies."
"I see." Sucrose noted before smiling. "Tell her I said thank you when you see her again."
"I will." Theresa smiled and nodded back.
"Okay, our friends have waited long enough." Fu Hua stated. "Elfnein, activate the gateway."
"Understood, Fu Hua-san." Elfnein replied as she began operating the gateway, pushing several buttons until the machine lit up, generating a portal on the gateway, revealing an image of the room where the Trans Server is inside S.O.N.G HQ. "Okay, the gateway is safe to enter."
"They built the other gateway inside S.O.N.G HQ?!" Hibiki gasped with the Symphogear team, Gunvolt and Joule reacting the same way.
"S.O.N.G HQ?" Paimon repeated.
"It stands for Squad Of Nexus Guardians. Their HQ is a large mobile submarine." Miku explained.
"Amazing, isn't it, dess?" Kirika smiled.
"A moving underwater base? Whoa..." Aether remarked with awe.
"We'll go there after our mission in Liyue, so look forward to that." Lumine assured with a smile and a wink.
"You bet!" Paimon cheerfully replied with Aether nodding.
"Okay, I did not expect that to be built within S.O.N.G HQ." Gunvolt remarked.
"Indeed." Miriam agreed.
"Did the Old Man approve of this, building the gateway inside his base?" Chris asked.
"According to Einstein-san, Genjuro-san allowed it after having a talk with Prairie-san before beginning construction of the gateway." Elfnein answered. "But we're planning on constructing another gateway for our new base on Earth. A base for Xross Drive Rebellion."
"A base for us? On Symphogear's Earth?" Zeo repeated. "Where?"
"There's still working on a location, so it will take time."
"Fair enough."
"I'm guessing this new base will house our mobile bases?" Akira guessed.
"That's what they're aiming for since it was Copen-san and Ciel-san's idea." Elfnein replied.
"Ah, I see."
"We'll think about where to place our main base for later. For now, time to go." Gaius declared before facing the group. "Good luck in Liyue, guys. And remember to keep Jean safe."
"Don't forget to buy any Liyue souvenirs when you have the time." Joule added with a smile.
"And you be careful on your mission in the Blaster Master universe." Zeo replied to the Rider.
"As for the souvenirs, we'll see what we can find." Akira added and smiled back at the idol.
"Theresa, Maria, Kallen, Regina, take good care of Mondstadt while Jean is in Liyue with Zeo's team." Gunvolt said to them.
"We'll make sure of that, GV." Maria assured with Kallen, Theresa and Regina nodding.
"Kanade, Hibiki, Chris, Miku, Kirika, Maria, Elfnein, take care of yourselves." Tsubasa said.
"Stay safe, Kiana-chan, Fu Hua-san, Kallen-san. And remember to call us when you need us." Mei added.
"We will! Take care, everyone!" Hibiki and Kiana replied as the group waved them goodbye.
"Best of luck, Gaius Cornell and friends." Woz said as Gaius, Gunvolt, Joule, Tsubasa and Mei entered the portal before the gateway powered down with the portal vanishing.
The Next Day
Mondstadt City
Daytime
Once morning arrived, everyone had their baths and meals, packed up the things they needed for the trip to Liyue, and head for the city gates where Beidou, Yanfei and Jean are waiting for them.
"Good morning, everyone." Jean greeted the arrivals. "Did you get enough food and rest for the trip to Liyue?"
"Sure did." Zeo replied with the others nodding. "We got all we needed and we're set to go."
"Great, because my crew are itching to meet you guys." Beidou smiled.
"During the voyage, we may need to stop at a nearby Statue of the Seven, the one with the Geo Archon sitting on the throne, for Aether, Lumine and Miriam to gain his blessings." Yanfei said.
"Right." Aether, Lumine and Miriam nodded before the group stepped forward, except for Maria, Kallen and Regina.
But then, Paimon noticed someone missing. "Wait, has anyone seen Theresa? Isn't she with us earlier?"
"She's gathering a few people to come see you guys off." Regina informed, until she heard footsteps approaching, earning her attention. "Ah, here they come now!"
The group turned to the ones approaching them, consisting of Theresa, Amber, Barbara, Lisa, Kaeya, Diluc, Mona, Sucrose, Eula, and even Venti. "Sorry we're late. It took a while to find them all." Theresa said.
"Huh. I was wondering if the heroes of Mondstadt are gonna see us off." Zeo remarked.
Kaeya chuckled. "Well it wouldn't be right if we didn't come to say goodbye."
"The Knights of Favonius and the people of Mondstadt are very grateful for your help. So thanks for everything." Amber smiled.
"You'd better take good care of Jean, or you will face my vengeance." Eula warned.
"Remember to stay safe and to keep an eye on Jean, cuties." Lisa smiled.
"Come by Angel's Share when you return from Liyue. I'll be sure to prepare some drinks." Diluc said.
"You'd better be careful in Liyue. Who knows what will happen when you arrive in that region." Mona cautioned.
"R-Remember to bring back any new materials found in Liyue to me. I'd love to study them up close." Sucrose said.
"Have a safe journey, travelers, and may the winds be with you wherever you go." Venti said.
"Thanks, everyone." Aether replied with a smile.
"We'll be sure to remember our memories living in Mondstadt and helping its people." Lumine also smiled.
"And it was a lot of fun, too!" Paimon also smiled.
"Jean, take care of yourself. I'll continue to pray for your safety and your return." Barbara said.
"Thank you, Barbara." Jean smiled. "And Theresa, Maria, Kallen, Regina, take care of Mondstadt while I'm away."
"Leave it to me and the others, Master Jean." Theresa assured as she, Maria, Kallen and Regina nodded. "We'll make sure to keep it safe, with assistance from the Knights of Favonius, of course."
"Good. I'm counting on you." Jean nodded before turning to Zeo's group. "Now then, shall we get going?"
"Wait..." Akira spoke up. "Has anyone seen Woz? I was wondering if he's coming to Liyue with us or not."
"He's inside my magic lab, Akira, helping me with my astrology research. He's staying with me, so he's not coming with your group." Mona informed.
"Huh, so that's where that bookworm is." Kanade noted before shrugging. "Oh well, can't be helped."
"However, he'll be sure to visit Liyue once he's finished helping me." Mona continued.
"Well that's good to know." Fu Hua noted.
"Okay, I think we've waited long enough. We don't wanna be late for the Rite of Descension, so it's time to go." Beidou declared.
"Right." Zeo nodded before he and the others waved at the group staying behind. "See ya, everyone! Wish us luck!"
"See you again soon!" Hibiki also waved.
"Take care of yourselves, and come again soon!" Amber waved back as Zeo's group left the city and en route to Beidou's ship, the Alcor.
Unknown to everyone however, a certain chronicler is watching the whole scene from atop a windmill with a book in hand. "And so, our heroes have left the City of Mondstadt and on their way to their next destination; Liyue Harbor." Woz narrated. "While Gaius and his team set off to explore the universe of Blaster Master in search of the next Gjallarhorn fragment." He let out an amused smirk. "Heh, I wonder what will they encounter on their journeys? Until then..." He looked at the sky. "The legend of Xross Drive Rebellion continues..."
Symphogear World
Tokyo, Japan
S.O.N.G HQ, Command Center
Daytime
Meanwhile, Gaius, Gunvolt and Joule are at the command center, awaiting orders from Genjuro, while Mei and Tsubasa are busy in the training room. "Good to see you three here." Genjuro greeted the group. "Did you have a good rest?"
"Sure did, though it feels different when comparing to sleeping here and Mondstadt." Gaius replied.
"Well you have been staying there for several days, so it's understandable. Anyway, I'm sure you all know why I called you here, correct?"
"Yes, sir." Gunvolt nodded. "We're planning to depart to the Blaster Master universe, using my Metal Attacker to explore their Earth's underground ecosystem to locate the Gjallarhorn fragment before the Time Jackers do."
"Don't forget about the mutants, GV." Joule mentioned. "You'll never know if they'll take interest in the fragment. Remember what happen to Zonda who had the fragment inside her body?"
"Yeah, I remember it all too well." Gunvolt remembered. "If the mutant leader does get its hands on the fragment, then we'll just have to take it back by force. But something tells me that the mutant leader will not go down so easily."
"Exactly." Genjuro nodded. "Not to worry, because you three are not the only ones partaking in this mission." He then noticed the door opened behind Gaius' group. "And here are the volunteers."
The group turned around as their eyes widen in shock as to who has arrived. "Copen?/Lola?!" Gunvolt and Joule responded.
"Bronya and Shirabe?!" Gaius exclaimed. "I understand Bronya since she's an expert when it comes to navigation and hacking, not to mention her guardian mech; but Shirabe?"
"Let's just say she's taken an interest in technology, even helping out Bronya and Ix with their projects." Lola explained. "I think she might have potential to become a scientist."
"Which is why I, alongside Tesla, Dr. Fleuve and Dr. Ciel, began tutoring her for the past few days." Copen added. "Trust me, her new skills will be useful in the future."
"I see." Gaius noted.
"The Bronya will assist you in the mission. Just give the order and the Bronya will respond." Bronya said.
"I'll also support you guys." Shirabe added. "Kiri-chan may not be with me at the moment, but I can still help. And besides, Bronya and I are also gamers, so we should know how the dungeons work in that world."
"Very well, you two. We're counting on you." Gunvolt replied, making the girls nod back before the group faced the commander once more. "So chief, I take it that we're using the Zi-O Liner to travel to the Blaster Master universe?"
"Not this time." Genjuro replied. "You'll be taking the Grand Nuage this time, with their newly installed Dimensional Warp Drive."
"What?!" Gaius, Gunvolt and Joule exclaimed.
"That's correct." Copen confirmed. "Not only that, since it's the Grand Nuage, the Guardians and the Mega Men will also assist with the mission."
"Kohaku and Reiko will also come along for the ride, but Dr. Ciel will stay here." Lola added. "Though considering how Prairie and the Guardians can handle the disasters without Ciel's help, I wouldn't worry too much."
"One more thing, Tesla already sent GV's MA and Gaius' Time Mazine into the airship earlier this morning. Also, the Gjallarhorn Ridewatch which has the pathway to the Blaster Master universe is with Commander Prairie at the moment." Bronya informed.
"So all that's left is to wait for you guys to come on board the airship so we can head out." Shirabe added.
"Thanks for the info, girls." Gaius replied before turning to the commander. "By the way, where is the Anemo Gnosis at the moment?"
"It's currently hidden inside S.O.N.G HQ's storage area where it's kept safely inside a vault." Genjuro answered.
"Good." Gunvolt nodded. "That'll keep the Fatui and the Abyss Order off our backs for a long while. But..." He placed his hand on his chin.
"Is something wrong, GV?" Joule asked.
"There will be a time when all seven Gnosis are altogether, which could decide Teyvat's fate."
"Oh..."
"You do have a point there, GV." Gaius agreed. "But let's not focus on the end goal yet. The journey ahead is more important. It's like Venti said, '"The destination is not everything. Before you reach the end, keep your eyes open, and use this chance to take in the world around you.'"
"Heh, now those are words I can live by." Genjuro remarked.
"That, I can agree with." Gunvolt agreed with Joule nodding.
"Okay, we'd better get going now, chief." Gaius declared as he and the group saluted. "Wish us luck."
"Mhm." Genjuro nodded and saluted back. "Go show those mutants that the Rebellion is not to be messed with."
"Yes, sir!" The group responded before leaving the command center.
Teyvat
Mondstadt, Stormbearer Point
"And there she is, the pride of the Crux Pirates... the Alcor." Beidou announced as the group arrived at the location where her ship landed, making the group respond with awe at how amazing the ship is. It's a large wooden Liyue oriented boat with a dragon head on the front, oars on the sides, a pair of waterwheels on the back, and large red sails with the crest of the Crux Pirates on them. "So, what do you guys think? Pretty neat, huh?"
"That is one beautiful ship you have here, Beidou." Zeo remarked.
"Yeah, a lot more beautiful than the other pirate ship I was on last time." Akira added.
"Risky Boots, eat your heart out." Kiana thought.
"Paimon can't believe we get to ride on a ship like this! It's amazing!" Paimon commented.
"I agree!" Hibiki agreed with starry eyes. "It's my first time riding on a pirate ship like this!"
"For myself, Kiana and Akira's case, it's our second time riding a pirate ship." Fu Hua said. "But her ship is a bit small compared to yours, Beidou."
"Huh, fancy that." Beidou replied.
"Once again, before we head for Liyue Harbor, we need to stop by the Statue of the Seven with the Geo archon on it, so that Aether, Lumine and Miriam could gain his blessings." Yanfei reminded.
"Yeah, we remember." Aether noted as he, Lumine and Miriam nodded.
"But we didn't meet any other Geo Vision Bearers besides Noelle to learn new skills." Lumine said.
"Lucky for you, Ningguang happens to be one of the Geo Vision Bearers, though she's more of a mage instead of a warrior like I am." Beidou informed.
"Interesting." Miriam mused.
"Ah, that reminds me!" Kirika spoke. "Sucrose-san mentioned another Geo Vision Bearer named Albedo who's good with swords and magic, dess!"
"Oh yeah, I completely forgot about Master Albedo." Noelle remembered. "Though he's mostly busy with his research within Dragonspine."
"But he does return to Mondstadt City at certain times to get more alchemy supplies." Jean added.
"I see." Miriam noted. "A shame that we didn't get to meet him yet even during my exploration in Dragonspine alongside Regina two days ago. Oh well, maybe next time."
"Don't worry, you'll get that chance someday, Miriam." Jean assured with a smile, making Miriam smile back.
"Hm?" Miku noticed a young man with white hair on the ship, looking at the scenery ahead without noticing the group. "Beidou-san, who's that on the ship?"
"Oh, him?" Beidou replied, looking at Miku's direction. "That's Kaedehara Kazuha. But you can just call him Kazuha. He's a wandering samurai from the nation of Inazuma, who's now a part of my crew after leaving the nation."
"A wandering samurai?" Chris raised an eyebrow as the group noticed him.
"He's from Inazuma?" Jean responded.
"Kaedehara Kazuha, huh?" Kanade repeated, glancing at the samurai. "Too bad Tsubasa and Mei are not here to meet this guy."
"Yes, a shame indeed." Elfnein agreed.
Kazuha has red eyes with a yellow hut at the bottom, along with having choppy, medium length hair, some of it tied in an off centered ponytail to his right. It is a platinum blonde color, apart from a single orange-red streak on his right. His outfit consists of a grey short sleeved kimono and a black haori coat. Half the coat is worn normally on his left arm, with a flowy orange sleeve decorated with orange and red maple leaves, while the other half is draped behind his waist and secured by an obi belt he wears over top. He wears a black and red scarf with gold accents, and a slanted belt that goes under his right arm and over his left shoulder where his Anemo Vision is pinned behind, which is tied to a red tassel decoration, and near a samurai shoulder plating. He wears red hakama pants with maple leaf designs and black sandals with dark red tights and a black piece of leather on both legs that covers from under his kneecaps to near his feet. Lastly, he wears black glove plates that protect the backs of his hands and his left forearm, while his right hand is bandaged.
When Kazuha looked down, he suddenly noticed Beidou and Yanfei, along with people he's never met before. "Beidou, are those the guests you mentioned yesterday that are heading for Liyue Harbor?" He asked.
"Yup, that's them, alright." Beidou confirmed with a nod. "Call themselves Xross Drive Rebellion, or Team XDR for short."
"Xross Drive Rebellion, huh...?"
"So, is the ship ready to depart?" Yanfei asked.
"Mm." Kazuha nodded. "The crew is waiting for you and your guests to board before we can set sail. And all of the supplies are already on the ship."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Beidou said to the group. "Everyone hop in so we can move out!"
"Aye, captain!" The group saluted before everyone got on board the ship. Afterwards, the anchor was raised and the waterwheels moved in reverse, pulling the ship away from the shore.
Beidou approached the steering wheel and put her hand on it with a grin. "Alright everyone, time to set sail once more! Next stop: Liyue Harbor!"
"Aye, captain!" Her crew responded as she quickly turned the wheel with one swing of her arm before the Alcor began to set sail towards its destination.
"This is it, you guys. Our journey to Liyue has begun." Zeo said to his team. "Once we arrive at Liyue Harbor after paying a visit to the Statue of the Seven to gain blessings for Aether, Lumine and Miriam, our mission will begin."
"To be honest, I'm not sure what's going to happen there, but we will help the people of Liyue and face those problems head on." Akira added.
"Don't worry, Zeo, Akira, we'll be ready for anything." Aether replied with Lumine and Paimon nodding.
"Hopefully we can talk to the Geo archon before the Fatui could reach him." Kiana added.
"And to establish an alliance with the Qiexing during the talk with Ningguang." Jean also added.
"I wonder what kind of mysteries we'll discover in Liyue?" Elfnein pondered.
"Shouldn't it be treasure?" Paimon guessed.
"Something tells me that it's more than just treasure we'll find there." Chris replied. "There's also some new monsters that might be found in Liyue, the Geovishaps being one of them."
"Well, we'll be sure to find out once we get there." Hibiki said.
"Until then, let's get comfortable, 'cause this is going to be a long voyage." Kanade said as the group glanced at the vast ocean ahead, while Kazuha glanced at Zeo's group at a corner with a curious expression.
"The guests Beidou brought along... I wonder if they will be the key to solving Inazuma's problems in the near future?" Kazuha thought.
"Ah, Jean-san! I almost forgot." Elfnein realized before pulling out a Zikan Phone from her pocket, which has a sky green and blue color scheme and approached her. "This is yours. I made it last night after hearing the news of you joining the Rebellion. This Zikan Phone has plenty of useful features such as long distance contact with other phone users."
"I see." Jean noted, taking her new phone from Elfnein and smiled. "Thank you for the gift, Elfnein. I'll make good use of it."
"You're welcome, Jean-san. I'm happy to help." Elfnein smiled back.
Symphogear World
Tokyo, Japan
Guardian Base, Command Center
Meanwhile inside the Guardian Base, Prairie, Vent, Aile, Grey and Ashe are awaiting the arrival of Gaius' team, while Kohaku is sitting in front of the navigator console with Reiko right beside her. Eventually though, Gaius' team arrived as they finished their preparations for the mission. "Good morning, Gaius and company." Prairie greeted. "I assume Genjuro already notified you about the newly built Dimensional Warp Drive on our airship?"
"That's right." Gaius replied as he and the others nodded.
"He also told us that my MA and Gaius' Time Mazine are already inside the airship." Gunvolt added.
"Would be nice if we had more Time Mazines and Metal Attackers to use." Ashe remarked with her hand on her hip.
"It's gonna be a long while before we can start building more of those vehicles." Aile stated. "There's still the construction of the Dimensional Warp Drive on S.O.N.G's submarine base, along with the Tesla Drive to enable flight."
"Though a flying submarine base sounds a little... unexpected?" Grey questioned.
"True, but that's exactly what we're making our enemies think. No one will expect a flying submarine out of nowhere." Lola replied before giggling. "Here's hoping they'd piss themselves when they saw it."
"Highly unlikely." Copen deadpanned. "But it does intimidate our enemies in surprise, allowing us to counterattack before they get a chance to strike."
"Yep." Gaius chuckled. "Don't you just love video games and anime? They always come up with crazy ideas that can actually work."
"Yeah, it literally defies logic." Vent agreed. "But considering what we've been though so far, logic is officially thrown out the window."
"Mm." Shirabe agreed with a nod. "That part I can agree with, considering the types of Alca-Noise me, Kiri-chan and the others have fought so far."
"Especially the ones that looked like fruit." Bronya remarked. "The Bronya saw the footage of the Alca-Noise the Symphogears fought, and the Bronya still cannot believe it since some of them looked like bananas and grapes."
"Yeah, I don't get it either." Reiko agreed with a sweatdrop. "Those invaders were weird. Dangerous, but weird. By the way, where is Tsubasa and Mei at the moment?"
"They're undergoing a training session with Sakura, Shinji and Seele in preparation for their future mission in Inazuma." Gunvolt answered.
"I see. Hope their training will be enough for the battles to come."
"I hope so too, Reiko." Joule agreed.
"Anyway guys, the Grand Nuage is ready to depart on command." Kohaku informed. "Did you finish your preparations for the mission?"
"All set and Ret-2-Go, Kohaku." Gaius confirmed with a thumbs up. "Prairie, do you have the Gjallarhorn Ridewatch?"
"Right over here, Gaius." Prairie took out the Ridewatch from her pocket and gave it to Gaius. "I'll let you do the honors. Just place it on the main console to receive the coordinates for warp travel."
"Yes, ma'am." Gaius complied with a nod, heading for the console, slotting the Ridewatch onto it, turning the dial and pushed the button, causing the main screen to appear, showing the image of the Blaster Master universe along with the underground ecosystem beneath the Earth.
"Coordinates received and setting course for travel." Kohaku informed as she and the other operators began typing on their consoles.
"Dimensional Warp Drive System ready and active." Tulip also informed.
"Grand Nuage engines all set to go." Gardénia also informed.
"Commander Prairie, give us the order to depart." Marguerite added.
"Ah, before you give the order, can I ask about something really quick, Prairie?" Joule interrupted.
"Of course, Joule." Prairie replied. "What is it?"
"Is this the first time we're testing this system on the airship? If so, should we hold onto something due to the speed of the warp?"
"Well it's been installed since yesterday, so yes, it's the first time we're testing this. And also, better brace yourselves just in case."
"Alright, in that case..." Joule then disappeared back into Gunvolt's relic pendant. "...I'll stay in here for the time being."
"You know what, good idea." Lola agreed before disappearing back into Copen's relic pendant. "There. Much better."
"What's the matter? Can't handle the g-force?" Ashe teased.
"Hey, better safe than sorry!" Lola retorted. "Don't blame me if something happens to you during the warp!"
"Leave them be, Ashe. It's their choice to stay inside our pendants." Copen said.
"Alright, fine..." Ashe sighed with her hands behind her head.
"Not all of us are thrill-seekers like you, Ashe." Grey deadpanned.
"Okay, Prairie. Give the signal." Gaius said.
"Mm." Prairie nodded before looking ahead and swiped her arm forward. "Grand Nuage, take off! Destination: the Blaster Master universe!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The operators complied, typing on their consoles as the airship began to lift off the ground. The thrusters began to ignite before moving the airship forward. Once enough speed is reached, the warp portal appeared in front of the airship as it quickly went inside before the portal closed.
S.O.N.G HQ, Command Center
"The Grand Nuage has safely entered the portal." Sakuya informed as he, Aoi, Genjuro, Himeko, Ciel and Tesla observed what occurred on the main screen.
"Looks like the warp drive system on the airship was a success, commander." Aoi added.
"Mm. Thank you for the report." Genjuro nodded with crossed arms.
"Hope our two teams can finish their missions with victories." Himeko said.
"I hope so too." Genjuro replied. "But there are times when our missions ends in failures, but as long as they learn their mistakes and never give up, they'll bounce right back and win."
"I agree." Ciel nodded. "We'll be there to support them when they need us."
"I wonder how many new allies will join the Rebellion from where the teams are going?" Tesla pondered. "Zeo and his team already gathered plenty of them during their expedition on Teyvat in the Mondstadt region."
"Who knows?" Himeko shrugged. "But I do know one thing; we're gonna need a lot of help in the fight against the Neo Time Jackers."
"You're right, Himeko." Genjuro nodded. "They could be more powerful than all of our respective enemies combined, which is why this alliance is formed."
The group nodded in agreement before glancing at the screen. "Best of luck, everyone. I pray for your success..." Ciel mentally prayed.
And so the stage is set for our heroes, splitting up into two paths. Zeo's team for Liyue, and Gaius' team for the Blaster Master universe. Will Team XDR be able to overcome their respective missions? Until then... only time will tell... as this Book, comes to a close.
Book 4: The Winds of Change
Fin
Author's Note: And with that, Book 4 has officially ended. And now the stage is set for the next two Books to be written; one for Blaster Master, and one for Liyue's Archon Quest. Oh, and as for giving Shirabe a scientist role, you can thank Another Shirabe from Symphogear XDU for that idea. Anyway, here's a list of members going to their respective missions:
Zeo's Team for Liyue:
Zeo and Akira Naotora
Aether, Lumine and Paimon
Jean Gunhildr and Noelle
Beidou and Yanfei
Kiana Kaslana and Fu Hua
Hibiki Tachibana and Miku Kohinata
Chris Yukine and Kirika Akatsuki
Kanade Amou and Elfnein
Miriam
Gaius' Team for Blaster Master:
Gaius Cornell
Gunvolt and Joule
Copen Kamizono and Lola
Kohaku and Reiko/Blade
Bronya Zaychik and Shirabe Tsukuyomi
Prairie and the Guardians
Vent and Aile
Grey and Ashe
And here are the members on standby, Honorary Members included:
Symphogear World:
Tsubasa Kazanari and Mei Raiden
Yae Sakura and Seele Vollerei
Himeko Murata and Serena Cadenzavna Eve
Mondstadt:
Theresa Apocalypse and Kallen Kaslana
Maria Cadenzavna Eve and Regina Madoka
Sucrose and Mona Magistus
Eula Lawrence and Amber
Diluc Ragnvindr
And that will be it for me. Until then, stay safe and see you in the next Book!
