Before this starts, I have decided to switch from Sparkle being the sole love interest to Sparkle, Sparxie, and Silver Wolf. With what I have potentially planned for future chapters, it'd be a shame not to do so.
I hope you don't mind too much. I apologise to those who didn't want this to turn into a harem. It will not increase any further from here on. In any case, I need to severely catch up, I'm still on 4.0...
xXx
Caelus and March were at a complete loss as to what to do, both of them could only stare in silence at the scene in front of them. Two of the most chaotic individuals they've ever known were currently staring each other down with looks that could kill.
They were honestly unsure why they were doing so, but despite the sharp grins on both their faces, the literal sparks of electricity dancing between their eyes told an entirely different story.
"Uhh..." Caelus muttered nervously. "March, what do we do?"
"I-I don't know!" March shook her head vigorously. "Knowing them, I thought they'd actually get along well with one another. Why do they look like they're going to kill each other anytime soon?!"
If March was being entirely honest, she wasn't sure which would be worse.
The union of the two craziest individuals she's ever met, or an all-out death battle between said individuals. Whichever happened, she didn't doubt for a second that the only outcome would be chaos.
"You totally jinxed us back on the express..." Caelus sighed. "As expected of you, March."
"That was pure coincidence! How would I know that we'd actually run into Sparkle?!" March argued back, desperate to clear her name of any potential fault. "We should try and get out of here, and you'll have to drag Nico!"
"Uhh, crowd trouble, remember?"
"Huh... ah-!"
When March turned to look where Caelus pointed, she flinched heavily when she finally remembered the crowd that swarmed around them upon arrival. That same crowd was still very much present, very much active... and very much growing.
"This is ridiculous...!" March felt her eye twitch before she shook her head. She then snapped her head back towards where Nico and Sparkle were having their death stare down. "Let's grab Nico and just try and push throu-what the?!"
When they both turned back to where their new companion was, they were dumbfounded when they saw both the latter and Sparkle herself now firmly holding each other's hands in a solid handshake, as a look of respect was on both their faces.
Somehow, within the very few seconds that the two were turned away, the duo of chaotic troublemakers had turned from what seemed to be mortal enemies to comrades that have braved countless wars together.
Truly, truly incredible.
"What did we miss?!" Caelus's jaw dropped in disbelief. "They're suddenly friends...?"
March felt like her brain was about to fry itself. "..."
"Though, it is kind of funny to look at." Caelus smirked with visible amusement as he held and rubbed his chin. "Just look at the difference in height between them, it was hard to take her seriously glaring up at Nico."
"Is that really important right now?" March gave her companion a side-eyed glance before looking back towards the two in front. "Nico, we need to get going! We'll get completely swarmed if we wait any longer!"
"Aren't we already swarmed?" Nico blinked in confusion after hearing March's voice. "Alright, I hear ya! Let's kick up the dust and dash our asses out of here!"
"Don't forget me now, Gray Hair and darling March." Sparkle spoke up as both she and Nico walked back over to the other two. "I am Planarcadia's cultural advisor, and not to mention the tour director assigned to the Express crew."
"Still not sure if I fully believe that." March shook her head in doubt as she looked down at Sparkle. "In any case, as long as you can help us get through this ridiculous crowd, we'll be willing to believe you-."
Before March could completely end her sentence, a loud, familiar sound of an incoming train entered their ears as they all unconsciously glanced towards the source of the noise. When they did, they saw a rather incredible sight.
On the opposite side of the station platform, a rather flashy, vibrantly coloured train was coming to a stop. Unlike the traditional look that the Astral Express had, this train was cartoonish in nature, with a large blade-like horn, a pair of sharp eyes, and even a head of flames flowing back like hair.
"What kind of train is that?" March couldn't help but wonder in both surprise and evident curiosity. With a look of expectation, she turned towards her companions. "You guys, let's go take a closer look- where are they?!"
"Darling March, keep up now~!"
"H-Huh?" Turning her head, she saw Sparkle waving from a distance. Even further away, she saw both Caelus and Nico already next to the train. "When did they... hold on, wait for me! Don't leave me behind!"
Without hesitation, March rushed over while avoiding the crowd.
"I see, so you're an imagenae." Nico voiced with clear interest as he looked at the living train in front of him. "A being born from paintings, is it? Does that mean I could create something and it'll come to life?"
"It's not as simple as that, I'm afraid." The train responded. "Wishpower is vital!"
"Wishpower?" Caelus tilted his head. "What's that?"
"The very power that sustains all strangelings." Sparkle was the one who answered as she walked over alongside March, who had finally caught up. "The belief in things yet to exist is known as Wishpower. If you ask me, this power must be a blessing from The Laughter."
"Strangeling?" The train was the first to respond, its words slightly confused. "That term is extremely outdated! The times have changed, dear guests. We now prefer to be called imagenae."
"Prefer those fancy scientific names from the IPC textbooks, huh?" Sparkle frowned with clear displeasure before shaking her head. "Have it your way... As you now know, this is a unique species to Planarcadia. Imagenae, beings born from paintings."
"Born from paintings?" March sounded doubtful. "How does that even work?"
"Wishpower, darling March. As I said before, it's the power that sustains all imagenae." Sparkle explained simply. "Once upon a time, the artists here discovered that sketching creatures from their imaginations and giving them names, they could bring their creations into reality."
"Unless that has some crazy restrictions, that's some overpowered shit." Nico hummed after hearing that. "So, does that mean as long as whatever I paint gains enough recognition, I could even create a powerful bomb, one powerful enough to say... destroy a moon?"
"Hm~?" Sparkle blinked at the question. "Theoretically, that would be possible. As long as it can gain enough Wishpower to sustain its existence."
"I see... hehe~!"
"Nico..."
"What? I'm not planning anything." Although he said that, Nico failed to hide the sinister smirk on his face, making both March and Caelus sweatdrop. As for Sparkle, she glanced at him for a moment before giggling. "What's this imagenae's name?"
"This one? This here is Bullet Wrym Express, an imagenae in charge of transportation." Sparkle explained in response to Nico's inquiry. "You could say they're in the same line of work as you folks."
"Oh? Hahaha~, so these three must be the Nameless from the Astral Express. The passengers in my stomach are always gossiping about you! When you get the chance, hop aboard and give me a try~! Let's see who's faster, the Astral Express or me!"
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Nico grinned before he began climbing over the safety doors. After doing so, he hopped and latched onto the side of the Bullet Wrym Express "I want to feel SPEED!"
"No, no! Not right now! And were you going to ride on top of the train?!" March quickly intervened as she rushed over and leaned over the safety doors, gripping onto Nico's clothes and pulling him back as much as she could. "We have other things to do!"
"Tch, what a party pooper..."
Nico clicked his tongue before reluctantly hopping off.
"Hello, everyone!" An unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out as they turned to see one of the security officers approaching. "Welcome to Duomension City!"
"Holy smokes, there are cops at the station?" March suddenly felt rather nervous. Perhaps past experiences of being wanted criminals were still haunting her as she turned to look at Sparkle with a critical gaze. "Sparkle, don't tell me you're about to get arrested on the spot?"
"I swear I wasn't gonna blow up the civilians to get through, nor have I been evading my taxes, and I most definitely was not thinking of blowing up the ridiculous moon in the sky!" Nico immediately threw out many words while waving his hands. "I know these guys look like notorious criminals, but believe me, we're innocent! At most, I'm an innocent bystander!"
March turned and screamed at Nico. "What are you saying?!"
Caelus blinked and pointed at himself. "We look like criminals?"
Sparkle just broke out into hysterical giggles.
"Uhh, I see..." The security officer rubbed the back of her head in confusion before continuing. "Having heard of the Astral Express's visit, many citizens got up early just to catch a glimpse of the Nameless. If anyone acts out of line, please don't hesitate to call us."
Hearing this, Nico turned his head towards the people climbing on top of the Astral Express in the distance. He then nonchalantly turned his head back to look at the officer, acting as if it was completely normal.
"Yeah, sure."
"Ooh, Gray Hair and darling March. You're real celebrities now!" Sparkle smiled brightly as she held both hands on her hips, though she then glanced to the side towards the crowd. "I intend on showing you all some mind-blowing stuff, don't be consumed by the crowd now~!"
"May be a bit difficult..." March felt uncertain as she looked at the sheer size of the crowd forming. "We may have spent too long lingering around here."
Caelus also looked doubtful. "What do we do...?"
"You guys are hesitating too much, sometimes you just gotta believe and go for it!" Nico spoke up in a firm, confident tone as he stepped forward. "A crowd like this? Easy peasy! Just watch and learn, and try to keep up!"
Before they could say anything, Nico rushed forward with incredible speed.
Like a snake, he wove through the crowd as if it didn't exist, his sheer speed sending a rush of wind that made some people lose their balance. Nearing the stairs, Nico hopped out from the sea of people and began running along the walls.
Like a cat, as if ignoring the laws of gravity, he ran along the walls without difficulty. He ran so easily that he even made it up the staircase tunnel and was completely out of view of the others who were watching with wide eyes.
"...Is he some kind of cat?!"
xXx
To say that the further they managed to get out from the underground waiting platform, the less the crowd would be, would be a massive lie. In fact, the crowd only seemed to become even more rabid the further they went.
"As great as it feels to be the centre of attention, this is getting ridiculous!"
"It wasn't ridiculous already...?" Caelus blinked after hearing March's words as they had security helping them safely make their way through the surrounding crowd. "I wonder if Nico is around here?"
"He better be!" March huffed in annoyance. "I need to teach him a lesson for leaving us behind!"
"Well, it seems that he's right over there." Sparkle spoke up as both March and Caelus looked to see none other than Nico himself standing in the distance. "He seems to be in a conversation with that noodle-looking cat."
"What are we waiting for? Before he goes off somewhere again!"
As the trio made their way over, Nico was indeed in a very deep and obviously serious conversation of great importance with this stretchy cartoonish feline. Nico had his arms crossed with his eyes narrowed.
"You sure you don't have a dog on the other end of that noodle body of yours?"
"I already said that I don't, esteemed guest! Why would I?!" The noodle cat spoke up indignantly, even using the megaphone in its hand to amplify its voice. "I am Stationmaster Meowton, responsible for overseeing Perdidio Station!"
"I'll figure out the truth with my own two hands, sit still!"
"W-Wait, what are you doin-!"
"Nico!" The male in question, who was about ready to leap up at Meowton, suddenly stopped as he turned to see March along with Caelus and Sparkle rushing over. "I can't believe you left the three of us down there!"
"I told you to keep up," Nico responded indifferently. "Not my fault, you're too slow."
"A cat?" Caelus, unlike March, seemed uncaring of Nico's ditching of them as he looked up curiously at the stationmaster, who was looking down at them. "Is this also another one of those imagenae?"
"Exactly, esteemed guest! I am Stationmaster Meowton!" The stationmaster confirmed Caelus's words with a nod of its body. "I am the one responsible for overseeing this entire station! Including making sure that you esteemed guests make it safely out of here!"
"Then chop chop, Mr Noodle-Looking Cat." Sparkle chimed in. "It'll be difficult if you don't make a move fast!"
"N-Noodle-Looking Cat?! That's very rud- wait, the station is completely surrounded!" With horrified realisation, Meowton started panicking a bit. "I-If any of the esteemed guests gets so much as a scratch or loses a few strands of hair to these rabid fans today, my measly pension will go right down the drain!"
Taking a deep breath, Meowton then gestured using his megaphone towards the empty corner of the station. In response, they all turned to see a pixelated-looking round doorway of sorts pop up from out of nowhere.
"I've prepared a staff passage for our Astral Express VIPs. Please hurry and exit the station that way!"
"Oh~? The imagenae staff passage, is it?" Sparkle, with clear anticipation, smiled sharply, naturally drawing the attention of the other three, who looked at her. "It's Planarcadia's must-see attraction. The portal entrances known as the Interplanar Jump!"
"Interplanar Jump?" Caelus repeated. "What's that exactly?"
"You'll just have to wait and see~!"
The three of them looked at one another, both Caelus and Nico, rather nonchalantly, and were more curious than worried. March, on the other hand, already held her hand against her head with a concerned look.
"I have a bad feeling about this..."