ARRIVAL

Rogue was startled awake as she felt Lady’s carriages shift and shudder as she looked up and around.
Keeping her scarf tight and mask fitted to her face, she rose from her seat in the deluxe seating where she had been napping and moved up train to where she guessed the Constellation siblings would be.

Things had been a lot bumpier since their departure over a new energy source Wesley had been tasked to seek out and explore to define that as a new realm in his Sibling’s log of places. Lady seemed to be steaming away though the outside looked dark and bleak almost… unhopeful. Hurting, tearing, D A R K.

She greeted Lyra who seemed to be sulking as she tuned her guitar and proceeded to the cab. Rogue found Wesley half hanging out as he kept watch, leg dangling above the abyss of what appeared to be purple shreds and threads. It was almost tempting to touch them, seeing as how they all ripped and broke after joining. An Ocean, her mind went and reasoned with her. Rogue leaned towards the doorframe, Wesley’s arm shot out in front of her. She paused and turned to the Conductor.

“Don’t think about it.” Wesley hums as if to read the girl’s mind. “I’ve already stopped Lyra from doing the same and I don’t want to be the one to explain how I lost passengers.”

Rogue snorted softly.
“Well not like I can be lost so easily.” Rogue muses as she looks out. “Almost there?”

Though it… certainly didn’t look like they were arriving anywhere or any station.

“Yeeep, then we can see what kind of place this might be. Who knows, they won’t see us though whatever force holds it together may do.” Wesley mutters as the Train chimes in excitement, her bell-like whistle ringing in harmony, but there's a feeling of surprise almost to it.
“What’s gotten you so startled?” Wesley patted the inner driver’s compartment, gently brushing the paintwork to ease Lady.
"Easy, My Lady...."

He noticed Rogue looking around and then freezing up, he could almost sense she was bristling, almost like a bird would.
Then he followed where Rogue’s eyes have been staring towards suddenly as… something sits in the coal bunker. Something that had not been there before.

It looked… fluffier than the bunch of coal that had been prepared and maybe had rolled around within the coal itself due to its coat. Wesley looked at Rogue in apprehension before stepping forward and poked the object which rippled like a bunch of jelly, but the texture… wasn’t as it seems, Skin like in his opinion.

Wesley jumped back startled as whatever it was, grabbed a slice of coal, instantly chewing and gnawing at the object. Two small beady eyes glancing around at the people and the room they were in; full of wonder and curiosity. Lady whistled sharply as the being bounced from its perch almost rolling into the compartment section, Rogue rushing to close the door while Wesley caught them in his hat, scooping them up and bringing them to his face as if to get a better look.

The creature squeaked before Wesley fell… into stunned silence. The two seemed to stare at each other for a while as Rogue watched in confusion, hand on the door handle.
“Incredible… These creatures…” Wesley murmurs as the puffball bounced from his hat up to his shoulder, his finger gently reaching out and being held by the nubs of the creature as they nibbled on the tip of his finger.
“What… is… it?” Rogue narrowed her eyes behind her mask.

“He, not it.” Wesley admitted as he scooped up- “Caboose here appeared from something called the Tatters, the ocean underneath us. He caught sight of us and wanted to investigate… and we’ve become… Allies? Is that what I’ve gotten right so far?”
“Yeeep” ‘Caboose’ chimed in. “Where are we also? Who is this and Who is the pretty train?”
Lady let out a soft whistle as if to let out a; “Oh Stop! I’m going red!” As much as a train could maybe blush.

Rogue laughed as she held her stomach. This felt… safe and warm, she reveled in the soft feeling.
“Well, Lady likes him! And Caboose?” She raised an eyebrow.

“A section of train used to house crew on freight trains who needed to switch or shunt.” Wesley quickly explained, having his hand at her. “He’s our NEW crewmember!” He beamed excitedly as Rogue shook her head and leaned on the door. Lady seemed to agree with a warm chime to welcome to Caboose. And what a fitting name.
“We ain’t even there yet!” She shook her head towards Wesley, over how HE had been the careful one and now was the one right in the situation. “And This is the Constellational Express. Wesley here is the Conductor and the Train you’ve sweet-talked is named Lady. I’m Rogue and in the carriage behind us should be Lyra, Wes’ sister.”

Caboose glanced around from Wesley’s palm, letting soft ‘oohs’ and aahs’ as his eyes explored.
“Well, I’m a Nibblug! We are Kith! We come from the Tatters and are brought into reality, though there are many of us! All shapes and sizes!”
“Kith…?”

Rogue was about to ask further until Lyra burst through the door excitedly.
“Guys! There are multiple worlds a… and hey! HOW COME YOU GOT A CUTE PARTNER” She pointed towards Wesley and Caboose. “NO FAIR”
Lyra flicked her braid behind her as she slowly started to strum her guitar, the notes of; d d D A before Rogue grabbed the instrument’s neck and stared at Lyra with a warning.
“No Megan… wait Worlds?” Rogue turned her head back to the sister in confusion.

“Yeah! Over here!” Lyra blinked, losing her rage in an instant as her new interest took hold as she led the group behind to the viewing carriage as what appeared to be threads, connecting other worlds to what appeared to be a hub world of sorts. Rogue’s eyes lit up excited as Caboose bounced excitedly, nub pointing towards what appeared to be an area of space. A large ship loomed into view as it sailed along.
“Home! Where I’m from!” He pointed out as Wesley stares. “We help people travel the Tatters safely! I think? Maybe? I’m still new to this.”
Rogue’s eyes scanned over some of the other worlds. A Stage, a Reef, a… Colosseum of sorts? A Woods… So many places that gave her mixed emotions, her eyes staring firmly towards the Ocean world. Calm. Dangerous. Melody. Adventure.

“So there’s more to this it seems! Say, Rogue, are you up for a little adventure?” Wesley looks over.
“We can drop you off though we, of course, can’t stay for long as we need to report the findings,” Wesley admits.

“Sorry Lil guy. Not sure what effects there maybe if we take you with us… And I’d rather not lose you already.” He pats Caboose as the Nibblug slumps, almost melting comically.
“We can leave you with Rogue though, but I’ll be sure to visit more myself!” That brightened Caboose up a bit more as the Kith bounced up again.
“Deal!” The Kith shouts.

Rogue thought to herself if she had a say in this or no. She shook her head before turning to what appeared to be a School looming in the distance, arms untucking as she glanced out. It was… bright, warm. Cozy almost.
Felt like Home. Hope. Light.
Rogue felt eyes on her decision as she felt herself flex and tense slightly. A bright flicker appearing before her as a Lantern like creature appeared into existence, holding out her hands in a cup-like shape to catch it.
Their eyes blink a few times before turning to Rogue, they felt a familiarity over her mask; Could their world be the Stage? Their home?

Dark, Fear, Playful. Resignation.

“I think I might be interested,” Rogue confirmed to herself as the Lanturn…. Castwick… no, Agi beamed appropriately towards her.

“It’s time for me to enroll here… Maybe I’ll find new flying grounds.”

Lady chimed in time with the School bell’s ringing as she finally descended through the tatters and to let off her passenger for what felt like a new adventure.

-Tale End -
-Arrival-