Unsettling truths come to life, along with horrible realizations that the Apex (and Chloe) can't continue as they are.
- An Aesop: Sometimes catharsis just isn't worth it even if you feel like it does.
- Alas, Poor Villain: The children of the Apex are serial killers who are the epitome of Kids Are Cruel, going as far as to state Chloe deserved her death in the previous chapter, and yet it's hard not to feel sorry for them when the Awful Truth completely breaks them.
- Armor-Piercing Question: When Chloe tries to defend her tendency to resort to vicious speeches by proposing that they should be delivered to people who deserve them like the Apex, Paul promptly asks if he deserved the lecture Chloe delivered him after everything he went through with Walter and Henry. Later, Alain asks if Chloe will start yelling at Grace, who may 'deserve it' but is in the process of losing everything as a result already and is taking responsibility.
- Amelia adds a few more in regards to how the Train works and that the Apex prioritized their fun and excitement over their loved ones.
Amelia: I wonder...how long has it been since you last told your parents that you loved them? I wonder...what were the last things you ever said before the Train picked you up? And I wonder how they must be feeling that their little angel has disappeared completely and never to be found? - Ask a Stupid Question...: Think of it like this
Kurune: What are you doing?!Turner: Well, this is a gun, and inside are what we call bullets, so WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?! - Awful Truth: Alongside the reveal that their quest was All for Nothing, the children of the Apex discover, to their horror, that not only have they been separated from their family and friends for months, if not years to an end, but they'll be further separated for another year at the very least thanks to the crimes they commited, not to mention that they'll never be able to explain this all without sounding crazy.
- Blame Game: It returns yet again, this time being played by the children of the Apex as a last ditch attempt at finding a silver lining to their horrible situation.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Sean's death was both on him and on Paul. Sean shouldn't have attacked Paul and Electivire on his own, and Paul shouldn't have told Electivire to Thunder Punch the kid and not knowing that Sean couldn't swim.
- Breaking the Fellowship: What remains of the Apex splinters off once Grace reveals everything about how their ultimate goal was All for Nothing. And with Simon dead and Grace too broken to keep up with the facade, the Apex is well and truly gone at this point.
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Catharsis Factor: Deconstructed - Alain remarks that Chloe is going in circles because a part of her wanted to reclaim the satisfaction she got when she finally vented her anger and frustrations, but those feelings got complicated when she started reflecting on herself and the people around her. Much like Parker's catharsis, even if she started with valid targets and genuine problems, her feelings took over and her standards for what warranted lashing out began to slip. - Commonality Connection: Chloe and Grace bond over how bad communication problems brought about undesired results with a close friend of theirs.
- I Lied: Grace begins her speech to the children of the Apex by revealing she lied about knowing how the Train works, and it only gets worse from there...
- Internal Reveal: Grace finally reveals the truth to the children of the Apex. And naturally, they don't take it well.
- It Will Never Catch On: The author notes that begin the chapter has Green Phantom Queen not expecting the fanfic to become so popular...only for her to see within the span of nine months on how much love it's gotten.GPQ: How did this evolve into such a beast again?
- I Want My Mommy!: One of the Apex kids shouts this upon realizing that they've been separated from their parents for so long.
- Jerkass Realization: Chloe realizes she was a prick to the Trainers and apologizes for it. Alain also helps her realize that her personal catharsis was ultimately not worth it in the end.
- Laser-Guided Karma: A minor, roundabout way. After discovering Grace's backstory, Chloe shows No Sympathy and willingly calls her out on how horrible she was. This chapter, Chloe has no choice but to sit down and shut up while Grace does some Oblivious Guilt Slinging over how she's gonna bathe in praise for defeating the Apex, while bringing up some sore points to her.
- Liar Revealed: Grace begins her speech by revealing she lied to the Apex.
- Meaningful Look: Hazel looks at Grace with complicated sympathy before Amelia takes her away to cool down.
- Motive Decay: Part of the deconstruction of catharsis is that in the process of wanting to feel it again, the standards for what 'deserves' it begin slipping.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: While talking with Chloe, who at this point has come to realize how unfair she's been acting towards everybody in the story, Grace brings up the fact she'll not only be the only one mourning Simon's death, reminding Chloe of how Goh nearly killed himself, but how Chloe will get to celebrate the fact she defeated the Apex, all while being showered by praise and adulation by the Denizens.
- Rule of Symbolism: Sean's soul is able to move on when Grace conefesses to everything. In other words, the truth set him free.
- Villainous Breakdown: Turner has a complete meltdown when she realizes that Goh is about to be broken free by Ash.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Grace admitting that them looking down on denizens was absolutely horrible because in a way, the denizens were just like them: scared, confused kids or people who were trying to survive.
- Who's Laughing Now?: The author reveals she was part of the Tvtropes Pantheon project long ago and the tropers there weren't interested in her ideas. Now she admits that if she showed them this fanfic, she'd love to see them eat their words for how they treated her.
- You Could Have Used Your Powers for Good!: Sean and Grace both muse on how the Apex could've been a beneficial group on the train.
