"Himeko, Dan Heng, March. I'm glad you're all safe. Thank you for bringing back Arlan!" The woman named Asta said, a warm smile on her face.

"I didn't do much." Himeko admitted. She gestured to March, Stelle and Dan Heng. "It was all these three, we're just glad Arlan is safe.

"How's the situation on the space station?" Dan Heng asked.

Asta shook her head. "Contained at least. We lost some people however. One of them was even hit with a localized timequake when the legion first attacked."

Stelle blinked. "A timequake?" She couldn't help but speak up.

"Yes, it's a disruption in time. It can displace people temporally, which isn't as huge of an issue as it might sound except this was a special case where she apparently got sent to a different time axis."

Stelle's brow furrowed. "Is it a problem because the dilation of time is instead different on this new axis which means contacting them is possible but depending on the severity of the dilation it could take an exorbitant amount of time to send or receive a response?"

Asta blinked. "Yes, actually. That's exactly right. We've managed to locate where she is but getting her back is an ordeal."

"And because the response time would be large you're unsure if it's going to be worth getting them back to this axis due to the fact that many many years could have passed here or there by the time any sort of progress might have been made."

March blinked.

Dan Heng stared.

Himeko had an eyebrow raised.

"I suddenly feel the need to apologize for any preconceived notions I may have had about her." Dan Heng muttered to his crew.

"Yeah no kidding. I didn't understand a word of what they said." March replied.

"Correct." Asta smiled. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm Asta, director of the space station."

"I'm Stelle." She returned the smile. "You're very cute."

"Ah. There it is." March commented.

"I no longer feel the need to apologize." Dan Hend agreed.

Asta blushed. "Thank you. You're… quite cute too."

"Would you happen to want to get dinner sometime?" Stelle asked.

"I think I would like-" Asta started her response, only to be interrupted by alarms starting to blare.

"Ohhh… so close. That's rough buddy." March spoke up.

A red screen popped up in the hologram in front of Asta, it opened to reveal the stars in the galaxy, only for the inky darkness of space to be broken by a large flying… dragon.

It was a dragon.

Stelle had no other words to describe it.

She didn't know much about the size of the space station from the outside, so trying to size it up relatively just from the cameras was a difficult task, but even with her lack of knowledge she was able to tell that the dragon was big. It had four large wings that seemed belied a wingspan quadruple the size of its already large torso. Its claws seemed to be able to penetrate whatever security measures the space station had in place as there was a clear strain on the barrier as it tried to hold it back.

"The Doomsday Beast." Himeko spoke up, her tone grave.

Stelle did not like the sound of that. Nothing good ever came from something with the prefix of 'Doomsday'. Nothing ever good came from something with a suffix of 'Beast'. Therefore, by Stelle's impeccable logic, the Doomsday Beast was something that should be avoided at all cost.

She should get out of here.

"You guys should get out of here." Asta told them.

Stelle knew that Asta was the head director of the space station for a reason. It was obviously because she was incredibly smart.

"We should listen to her." Stelle spoke up.

"You should listen to me."

The two women shared a look.

"I knew there was something I liked about you."

"A shame circumstances couldn't be better."

Himeko sighed in exasperation. "Alright, we'll head back to the express. March, Dan Heng, get ready to go. You too Stelle."

"M-Me?" Stelle stuttered. It wasn't as if she was against it, frankly being anywhere except where the giant Doomsday dragon seemed to be good. Asta seemed as if she knew how to handle things anyways.

"Yes." Himeko said simply. "Stay safe Asta."

Asta nodded. "We'll survive."

March frowned. "Alright, I don't really like the idea of leaving you all behind but if Himeko says so…"

The newly formed quartet used that moment to head out, taking the main elevator to what the interface read as the Supply Zone. The second they stepped out they were met with more monsters from the antimatter legion. Himeko took them out quickly, but it wasn't enough to stop Stelle from groaning at the prospect of more fighting.

She wasn't a fighter. She… didn't even really know what she was. She had zero idea of who she used to be before and although she had certainly been winging it the entire time, now she was starting to feel the effects of really being out of her depth.

Stelle swung her bat at the head of an antimatter legion monster, instead of doing any real damage, its helmet flung off and catapulted itself into the gut of another monster. This allowed Dan Heng to run the distracted monster through with his spear and March to shoot an arrow at the now exposed head. Both of the monsters exploded into black dust.

"Nice combo!" Dan Heng shouted.

At this point, Stelle couldn't tell if she was actually a good fighter or not. She very much doubted it for the fact that she hadn't actually done anything and each and every time seemed to be some sort of weird set of coincidences that just worked out in her favor, but she wasn't going to look a gift in its face. They had a moment of reprieve now that all the monsters had been cleared out of their immediate vicinity. Stelle was planning on using that to catch her breath.

The lights flickered for a moment.

Or perhaps not.

"Are you sure we shouldn't go back and help out?" March said nervously.

"What could we possibly do? We don't exactly have the means to combat the Doomsday Beast ourselves." Dan Heng pointed out.

Himeko shook her head. "Herta's space station is strong. It can defend against something like this so long as there's no other interference."

Dan Heng frowned. "We saw it ripping through the defensive shielding with ease."

"The best thing we can do right now is reach the express. If we reach Welt he can help turn the tide against such a monster. Of course, even without him we have a backup plan." Himeko said, turning to look at Stelle.

It took Stelle a few beats to understand what the red haired knockout was implying. "Wait- Me?" She questioned.

"Her?" Dan Heng echoed.

"I knew it!" March said. "I feel so much better now that you're here Stelle!"

Inwardly Stelle was impressed at how fast March could flip her emotions.

"Yes… It's a feeling more than anything, but it's likely Stelle will be able to help us turn the tides." Himeko explained.

Stelle gaped, what in the world could she do. She couldn't even kill a simple monster on her own!

"...Are you saying… I'm 'The One?'" She couldn't help but ask.

There was silence for a brief moment before the telltale sound of a hand slapping against a face resounded.

"I don't… doubt you, Himeko. Rather decent combat abilities aside, I'm just… a bit skeptical." Dan Heng said.

"I'm not!" March interjected.

Stelle mentally thanked March for the vote of confidence. At least someone believed in her.

"Regardless, let's start moving on. The Express isn't far." Himeko urged them forward.

The three Astral Express members trudged forward, Stelle lagged behind a few steps. The golden eyed woman didn't really know what to make of the entire situation. It wasn't as if she felt like an outsider to everything, but more like she felt as if she hadn't yet found her footing.

What were they going to do when they found out she didn't even have any memories prior to today? With the way things were shaping up, she was fairly certain that this band of… travelers? Wanted her to join them. Which, now that she was thinking about it, would probably be a good thing for her. A place to stay, people that had her back.

"Oh."

"That's… not good."

"Boss battle incoming!"

So why was she so hesitant?

Probably because the second the quartet reached their destination, the Doomsday Beast swooped out from the stars and nearly crushed them to smithereens.

If this was what the Astral Express members had to deal with on the regular then joining up with them suddenly became a lot lower on the list of priorities. Maybe she could talk to Asta and secure a job at the space station? She seemed to like her. Stelle knew… things. Those things were usually much easier to understand when a pretty woman was explaining it but she was sure she could learn in other situations as well.

"Aim for the core! I can keep the left claw distracted! Stelle you handle the right claw!" Himeko directed.

The core was a cubical design in the front middle of the boss. It lay on his torso and seemed to be alive in its own respect. Barriers writhed and pulsed, encapsulating a black orb that if Stelle had to guess, was what gave the dragon its power. Unless it was the similar looking orb that was on the top of its head? She ignored it. She had her orders. She just needed to focus on the claws.

The claws were… claws. Pointy and deadly and one of them was aiming straight for her.

She ducked under a claw hastily. It was more like a trip than anything, one that happened to let the claw glide harmlessly above her. She could have sworn a few strands of her hair were clipped off from the giant object.

Oh fuck she was going to die today wasn't she.

"March!" Stelle called out.

"Yes!?" March responded, her hair fluttering as she somersaulted out of the way of a blast of energy.

"If we survive this, can I get a kiss!?"

Stelle swung her bat at one of the beasts' stationary claws. It bounced off with minimal damage. Stelle cursed her handicap in fighting.

"Didn't you just ask out Asta?!" March asked, nocking an arrow and shooting it between the chinks in the core of the beast.

"Yes! But she's not here right now!"

"So I'm just a backup?"

"No! I've been wanting to do it since I first met you!" Stelle paused the rest of her explanation to physically throw her bat at the core of the beast. She had zero expectations if it would even do anything, but seeing as how lady luck wasn't on her side with regular swings and hits she decided to do something else.

To her surprise (though she was quickly realizing that her surprise in combat related things was quickly becoming diluted in wake of the absolute insanity that accompanied her fighting 'style') her plan of throwing the bat actually worked. She completely missed her initial target, instead hitting one of the large wings, but it ricocheted off all four of the gargantuan wings until it landed between the open barriers of the core. It landed upright, and acted as a way to prevent the barrier from closing, exposing the black orb to the team.

"Good opening!" Dan Heng commented, instantly moving in for the kill.

March took aim as well, firing an arrow in tandem. "Listen Stelle. You're cute and charming, but a girl like me doesn't kiss before the first date!"

"You two… I can appreciate the fact that you two are getting along, but maybe save this for when we're not fighting a gigantic monster?" Himeko chided them.

Evidently whatever they were doing was working, because the beast groaned in pain and collapsed onto the railway. It's head was now exposed to the party, showcasing the glowing orb that was now in reach.

"Weak point spotted!" March shouted.

"My turn!" Himeko cut in, rushing forward with a flurry of flames.

The beast seemed to jolt awake when Himeko's attack landed. There was an ungodly sound as the monster groaned in pain, before it detached itself from the platform. It's great wings beating as it flew back up into the stars.

On the brightside, the sudden movement caused Stelle's bat to fly back towards her, allowing the woman to catch it in her hands.

On the not so brightside. The monster unleashed an attack with small beams of energy that descended from the sky, exploding the place where Stelle had just been had she not immediately backpedaled.

The force of the explosion wasn't so big that she went flying from the recoil, but it was enough that she tumbled onto the ground from it.

Dan Heng and Himeko seemed to suffer the same fate, but only March was left standing. Having shielded herself using her ice instead. The beast seemed to have taken note of such a thing, tilting its head downward so the glowing orb started to vibrate. A thick ray of pure energy emerged from it, shooting out towards the stars before swiveling down into the path directly towards March.

"March!"

Stelle wasn't sure who called out for the girl. It could have been her, and just as equally it could have been Himeko or Dan Heng. All she did know was that she raced towards the girl with a speed she didn't know she possessed. Stelle practically tackled the girl out of the way, grabbing her and rolling from the beam of energy, the two of them dodging it by a hair's width. She could feel parts of her back nearly on fire just from the close call, and nearly allowed herself a sigh of relief.

"Stelle!" March panicked from beside her.

Stelle turned back towards the beast, only to freeze at the sight before her.

The Doomsday Beast was lunging toward her impossibly fast, one deadly claw already extended and hurtling at her. There wasn't a chance she could dodge that, the position she landed in after tumbling was too awkward. One of her knees was still halfway off the ground and her balance was off.

A part of her wondered if this was where she was going to die. Without even having a full day of memories inside of her.

Stelle closed her eyes-

And opened them to the vast emptiness of space.

A being was before her, for what else could it possibly be?

Immense, powerful, destructive. Nothing else could truly describe it. It gazed down upon her, and Stelle could feel it's intentions to crush everything from the universe into nothingness.

"Now now." A voice chided. "None of that~"

Stelle closed her eyes-

And opened them to another realm.

Pink.

It was the first thing anyone would notice. The color of pink permeated the area, from the flowers blooming in the ground, to the numerous petals falling from trees. Even all the way to the luscious hair and eyes of the woman in front of her.

Beauty.

It was the second thing that Stelle noticed in her new destination. That the place she was in was now beautiful. The person, in front of her, was beautiful. It evoked a different emotion from seeing her than with other women.

Ethereal.

It didn't feel real. It felt… like an echo. A single step forward didn't match up the sensations it should. It was as if her moments and her feelings were out of sync. Out of touch with reality. Yet still tangible, as if at the very least it was something that once was.

Warmth.

But despite everything. It felt warm. Like the gentle sunlight on a nice day at the beach. Sensations that Stelle knew she couldn't possibly have experienced or remember, yet emulated perfectly.

Love.

Stelle felt… loved. Like someone was giving her a big hug, soothing her and whispering into her ear that everything would be alright. That all her anxiety would fade away and she could confidently face any of her fears.

"Hello there my little Flame Chaser." The beautiful woman with sharp ears and luscious pink hair said to her.

Stelle opened her mouth to respond, but the woman continued onwards.

"You, who hold so much love in your heart, yet know so little. I hope that one day you will come to find beauty in all of humanity like I do."

For some reason, Stelle found her words odd, as if they were the ending notes of a letter saying farewell.

"Wait…" Stelle tried to speak up.

The woman closed her eyes, her pink eyes disappearing, and shook her head. "Know that fate nor destiny will shackle you. You will come to blaze a trail of your own one day."

"Stop…" Stelle attempted to step forward, stumbling at the desynchronization of senses in the world they were in.

"The Flame Chasers will be walking alongside you. So please carry on our will."

It was a feeling like meeting up with a friend of a lifetime. Only knowing that after the meeting, they would never be able to meet again.

"Please!" Stelle begged.

There was a sad melancholic smile on the pink girl. It looked odd, foreign. As if the concept of sadness didn't apply to her yet was so clearly displayed.

"I'm sorry. In another timeline perhaps. Another world. Another universe. We could have been the best of friends. So don't fall for me okay~"

Stelled swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. She had so many questions welling up.

"At least tell me your name." She whispered.

The pink elf-like woman smiled.

"My friends called me Ellie." She said.

"Ellie…" Stelle echoed.

Stelle closed her eyes-

"Please don't forget about us."

And opened them to the sharp claw of the Doomsday Beast rapidly approaching.

On some instinct that she didn't know she had, Stelle brought up her arm. A pink shield materialized from nothingness. It had four protrusions on each of the cardinal directions, each of them were pink and shaped like crystalized petals.

A half a beat later the claw smashed into her new shield. It sent lances of pain throughout her entire body, pushing the woman back as the full force of the weight of the beast slammed into her. She felt as if every bone in her arm had been shattered to pieces and she struggled to not just keel over on the spot.

Someone was screaming, she wouldn't be surprised if it was herself. The sound of her own blood rushing through her veins seemed to drown out everything else as the entire world focused on the singular point of contact between her and the beast.

She was losing.

She was losing badly.

Stelle had no idea how much longer she could take it. No idea how much time had already passed. She felt as if such a moment extended for even a second longer she would crumble and the beast would run her through.

She-

She felt thirteen pairs of hands on her back.

The Flame Chasers will be walking alongside you.

She felt a strength well within her. One that wasn't there previously. Some internal fire that had been lit and started to blaze into an inferno, giving her power to push back against the beast. Gone was the pain that coursed through her being. She clenched her fist, and took a single step forward.

The dragon seemed to realize something was amiss, as it let out another roar and redoubled its efforts into running her through.

Too little too late.

Stelle kept pushing against the beast, step by step she took and with it the great Doomsday Beast was repelled. She could feel the fire blazing through her as she let out a roar of her own, her spirit revitalized by the turn of the tables. She pushed it all the way back to the edge of the hanger, where she shoved it back into the stars. It tumbled head over heels as it tried to correct itself, and eventually did.

Her shield of petals disappeared with a flash. In its place was a flutter before fire appeared in a burst. Pink flames materialized before her, stretching out and thinning into a bow made of the inferno. It flickered and shimmered, yet when she reached out to grasp it. It was solid. The flames licked at her palm, as if welcoming her home. It didn't burn her, only infused her with warmth.

An arrow sprung to life, made of pure white flames. It settled into the nock of the bow, shining brightly. Stelle moved her hand onto the string of pure light. She didn't know anything about bows, but she felt as if someone was guiding her actions. Reassuring her and keeping her calm.

She drew back the string, and the arrow seemed to light up the starry sky.

The Doomsday Beast roared once more, plunging directly toward her. It was as if it knew the impossible danger that her bow of flames possessed, and sought to eliminate the threat before it could come into fruition.

But just like before, it was a step too late. Stelle released the string and let her arrow of flames go. It raced through the stars, impaling and piercing the beast before it continued onwards. Flickering out of existence as the flames sputtered. Her bow disappeared in a flash, giving her one burst of heat before it vanished.

The beast continued forward, flecks of black dust starting to evaporate from the point of impact. Its half dissolved body crashed into the ledger, where it crumbled like sand slipping through someone's hands.

And then all was silent.

Stelle inhaled deeply. Her thoughts drifted to the woman she met in another realm. Someway, somehow, Stelle knew that the pink woman was responsible for the help. She wasn't sure how it was possible, but at least she could rest.

"March?" Stelle called.

"Y-Y-Yes?" March responded. It seemed to take her a few tries to find her voice.

"I'm changing our deal. I don't want a kiss anymore. I just want a lap pillow."

"W-what?"

With the adrenaline exiting her, Stelle could feel the edges of her vision darken in exhaustion. Each and every part of her body suddenly ached with an intensity she hadn't felt before. She teetered dangerously on her feet, stumbling slightly backwards until she was caught by someone.

Gently she was lowered to the ground as her eyes slowly shut themselves.

Ah. Stelle thought. At least I survived my first day.

Start: May 9th. 2023.

End: May 12th. 2023.

Words: 3813

I'm sure many of you also made the connection. Trail blazers? Flame chasers? No? Just me? Oh well. I guess you could call this a tribute to Hi3. This is probably the most direct I'm going to get about any references to it, so if you're expecting anything similar to a crossover you're going to be disappointed. The most you'll see is another reference in like 20 chapters from now.

Of course, this doesn't mean anything about the powers. This Stelle might be useless in combat but I can now do some wacky stuff that doesn't break the immersion of the fic because of it.

Uh yeah. Enjoy. I didn't mean for it to get so serious but then again it needed to get serious at some point. Either next or the chapter after we'll finally get to the meat of Star Rail. Belobog. Don't expect it to end up like canon!

I've read every review and comment so thank you all.

-FN