Just like in Blossoming Trail, there are a lot of heart-wrenching moments as the passengers try to survive the Train and work through their traumas along with knowing that Gladion's quest to be the knight to slay the Apex ends up in vain.
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In General
- As proven in Voyage of Wisteria, everything Gladion will do to stop the Apex will be for naught. His actions will be forgotten by almost everyone — barring the Canals of Fondue Car and Larkspur — London will still be on the Train by then (but he has some comfort with Easter being his partner), and Goh will still not learn the truth about Tokio until after his other friend vanishes and thus believe that Tokio is a liar and that friendship is worthless. This means that the Apex will still continue their terror for months until Chloe arrives to put an end to all of this.
- To add onto this, London bitterly notes that when everyone's memories of the events sink it, the group will no longer be seen in a lofty position compared to Chloe.
- The Apex's cruelty is highlighted here more than in Blossoming Trail and they don't show any remorse for it at all. All because Grace couldn't swallow her pride.
The Pearl Gates Car
- Lillie's idolization of her brother was shattered by her realization of how his efforts to 'protect' her from the truth inadvertently hamstrung her chances of recovery. In the Prologue, she finds him about to leave her behind without word again and gives him a parting gift: a bouquet of orange gladiolus lilies and a declaration of how much she hates the way he treated her like a helpless damsel in distress.
- Mallow warns Lillie that giving the gladiolus will send either her or Gladion "to a bad place". Lillie states that she already was in a bad place thanks to Gladion abandoning her...not knowing that Mallow was warning Lillie of the Infinity Train. We learn how Mallow was taken after exclaiming she hated her mother and was gone for three months, with only Bounsweet as company and no one knew where she had gone.
- Margaret did brainwash and drug Gladion, but only because she's trying to replace her son who was murdered by the Apex. As shown in Blossoming Trail, she still hasn't gotten over losing her only child.
The Toy Brick Car
The Orange Knight
- Robbie reveals how all he wants is his parents back and thinks that getting the Master Brick and making such cool stuff will bring them together. Gladion has to tell him that it won't work that way and helps Robbie understand his pain by bringing up Tulip's own struggles.
- Penelope is torn over how her ambition made her lose her friendship with the Cooper gang. All she can hope is that maybe she'll be forgiven one day.
The 400 Rabbits Car
The Rabbit's Bride
- Tokio's entire story: fresh out of escaping an assault on the Apex, he got trapped in a casket for hours on end, screaming and begging to be loose and meeting up with Kisaragi. Then he gets to join the celebrations of Kisaragi's friend, Utahoshi, becoming the new White Rabbit only for the Apex to literally come knocking at their door, destroy the celebrations and Grace murdering Utahoshi under her belief that it's "saving" Tokio. Tokio is in tears, beats Grace within an inch of her life and is so grief-stricken that he begs Kisaragi to make him the White Rabbit, resulting in four months of brainwashing and isolation. When Kisaragi even woke Tokio up, all Tokio wanted was to atone for a mistake that was never his fault and become the White Rabbit forever.
- Throughout the entire story, Gladion, London and Specter are in horror at what Kisaragi did to Tokio and plead with the boy that it's not right to beat himself up for mistakes that were never his fault: for Goh, Tokio was just more susceptible for being sick and for Utahoshi, the Apex would've done the killing whether or not Tokio was involved. Even seeing his tattoo causes London — who committed murder — to look sick.
- You know that something is so terrifying that the likes of Specter who has only cried once in the show (and a single tear at best) is actually saddened at it.
The Four Skillful Brothers
- The entire chapter is a tearjerker from beginning to end and none of the White Gestalt is spared.
- Gladion: The realization of what Kisaragi is doing and how he has to separate from Larkspur for the time being. He wants Larkspur to join but realizes that she can transfer crucial information across the Train and asks her to not follow her. Larkspur agrees and hands him back the orange lily bouquet he gave her in the Pearl Gates Car.
Gladion: I'm sorry, Larkspur.
Larkspur: (sad laugh) Don't be. You are...a knight.
(The door to the 400 Rabbits Car closes as Gladion walks across the bridge. He looks down and sees the orange lilies in his hand)- Specter: Briefly reunites with Lampetia but the next time they meet, she's dead thanks to London. All he has left of her is her heart.
Specter: (tears falling down his eyes as he places the heart to his chest) Lampetia...LAMPETIA!!!- London: Aside from being horrified at this "White Rabbit", he has to kill Lampetia per her request. He is against the decision as he will not kill anyone under assisted suicide, but has no choice.
- Tokio: Believes the entire situation is his fault from beginning to end and London tells him that it's not his fault and has to deal with the fact that he's been gone for almost two years now — it's said that he has been at the 400 Rabbits car for 16 months — and his parents are desperately looking for him.
- Gladion tells London that it's his fault for everything that happened. London then asks if it was better to just leave Tokio in his perpetual mindless state forever. Gladion has no words and begins screaming into a pillow.
- In a way, Lampetia's death affects nothing as Larkspur essentially takes her place for Kisaragi to conduct surveillance on the White Gestalt. The only hope she gave is that her other sisters have gotten a message that something dire has happened.
The Shock Street Car
- Poor Queen Cutie was torn apart by the Apex — there are stitches on her ear and leg — and had to watch her friend be taken away by the cult. And given how there is a small track record of denizens surviving the Apex...
- Specter is in no mood to talk about what happened with him being knocked out again and wants to see Lin as soon as possible. It's implying that he's trying to get over the death of Lampetia (even though she'll create a new body after some time) as he references Lin and her "other sisters".
The Wind Fish Car
- Despite only knowing her briefly, Tokio is clearly hurt on finding out Marin wasn't who she said she was. Especially since he ends up reliving his fears of abandoning Goh in the climax thanks to the Death Eye's Shapeshifter Guilt Trip. To make it worse, readers know that Goh put the blame on Tokio for seemingly "abandoning" him and shut himself from making friends for the next three years.
- Specter is torn between terror and exhaustion with the Easter situation, and only gets so much in the way of answers.
- Given that he was taken sometime after the end of Season 2, the number of people who are concerned about his whereabouts can literally be counted on one hand. Say what you will about Specter, but just imagine what Ryoken, Kyoko, Aso and Dr. Genome are feeling that one of their own is missing and for all their skills in hacking, they can't find him at all.
- Lin was seriously frightened by Lampetia's death, enough to strengthen the nightmares around the island.
- When London asks if she's mad, Lin states that London did what he had to do.
The Desert Racetrack Car
- Dulse is annoyed with how Zossie is so obsessed with working around Paniola Ranch for ice cream. Zossie then becomes serious by stating that to have such a treat under a warm sun only comes around once in her lifetime. She might never get this chance again.
- Upon seeing his sister nearly hurt by Viren, Kiawe goes into a pure rage by stating how it became personal. When Lillie questioned why it has to be the older brother doing this, Kiawe states that he'd never forgive himself if something happened to Mimo, making Lillie remember how much Gladion effectively abandoned her in order to get revenge on Nihilego.
- Ryoken is not doing well, having learned that Specter disappeared, is now receiving nightmares of his loyal servant being electrocuted and now learning from the last people about how Specter was discussing the possibilities of having his own bond with the Earth Ignis.
- The fact that Specter deep down wanted something like this is saddening, considering that the Ignis could have lived with humanity had it not been for Lightning's machinations or Queen's avarice and Go Onizuka capturing it for her own uses.
The Canals of Fondue Car
- Lillie getting into a fight with Mallow when Lillie tears down Ulu being distracted and running off on a quest, bitter by Gladion leaving her. Lillie points out that Mallow hasn't suffered a horrifying trauma...and bites her words seconds later when Abe reveals that Mallow's mom died seven years ago.
- When asked by Specter about what Tokio did as the White Rabbit, Tokio himself can't recall if it was he himself or if it was the rabbits before him.Tokio: The White Rabbit is a title, so for all I know it’s what...my predecessors did that has everybody wound up. And what I did...I’m not quite sure it was me anymore…Sometimes, I remember, sometimes I don’t. I know I did some good, other times I feel like I hurt a lot...
- Daimonji asks why Tokio is fighting him, stating they have happy memories. Tokio screams that those memories aren't his and regrets having made that request.
Act 2
The Fog Car
- Given how heartbreaking this car was in Blossoming Trail, get tissues. Get a lot of tissues.
Over
- Specter's assault on Easter, who only wants to help even if they have been pushy. They don't even try to fight back before Specter kicks them out of the window without pity.Specter: Never...bother me...again.
- Jack Hotchner terrified to find his father following someone or something looking like his mom...but his mom died a few years back.
Horror Show
- London having to see what happened to Specter and it is not pretty and London can't do anything to help out, except just make a promise that hopefully they can get out.
- Upon confronting Easter, London admits that there's a lot he missed out on. One of his friends killed themselves, and he hasn't talked to his other one in a while, not to mention that he will forever carry the sins of murder on his back. The only thing he can do is let Easter torture him in exchange for Specter to go free. London tasks Umbreon to lead Specter to the other White Gestalt members before he uses his telekinesis to wrench the door open. Specter wants to go back, but London coldly slams the door, forcing the two to leave.
Mirrors
- Gladion is forced to watch the aftermath of Nihilego's attack... from his sister's perspective. All her loneliness, all her pain and isolation, her struggle to try and understand why she can't interact normally with Pokémon like everyone else... answers he held the key to, but withheld 'for her own good'.
- All the while, George complains about how boring Lillie's side of the story is, and how the only one who matters is the 'hero' and his grand quest. Further driving home for Gladion how he completely discounted his sister's feelings — her suffering was an abstract, distant thing for him, part and parcel of her being a Damsel in Distress who needed her brother to fix everything for her.
- London going through agony and pain and torture so Specter can finally muster up the courage to confess what's going on. He knows he won't survive against Pyramid Head. He knows that Specter's not the nicest person out there, but he still will get Specter out of the Fog Car even if it kills him. What makes it hurt is that Specter feels guilty that the wrestler is risking his life for the single chance Specter can redeem himself and can't do anything to stop Pyramid Head (well, physically anyway).
- The truth about what happened to Easter — it turns out Easter felt horrible on how they hurt Specter and transferred themselves into his Duel Disk. The Duel Disk then spit them out into two forms: Light Easter, who gets to enjoy the feeling of having a body, and Dark Easter, who was the one Specter assaulted and kicked out of the window for no other reason except being there. Upon realizing what Specter has done, you can see how horrible he was and how he really hates how is anger got the best of him.Dark Easter: That infernal device [Specter's Duel Disk] can’t contain us as we are; it split us into two parts. So while you were sauntering about enjoying your freedom, I was attacked and abused for no reason except that I existed!
- Dark Easter gets to the matter on what's eating Specter, a big jab made to punish the passenger who they wanted to help.
Dark Easter: Stop beating around the bush about that damned Ignis, Earth-as-Specter. What a pathetic name for someone so desperate for companionship. As if someone, or something, would actually want to give him that. - London's plan to strike Lampetia's heart with a bolt of lightning from Easter, particularly when Specter is begging London not to do it and Light Easter is refusing. London states that's their only hope and, thankfully, she gets revived. Still, both Specter and Easter's reactions to it are in a state of absolute panic.Specter: You...you killed her...you just… Lampetia… she’s…why did you…. No… nonononononNONONONONONONOO!!!!!
- Acerola's status as a orphan is given some elaboration. While Acerola will occasional reference a 'royal touch', her father was obsessed with his status as having the lineage of royalty and was a bit of an ass about not being treated like one as a result instead of an Impoverished Patrician and was implied to be a bit of a jerk about it. One of the reasons Acerola likes Nanu so much, despite his tendency towards being a Lazy Bum, is that he doesn't care about a person's past.
One
- Specter finally reveals the truth: all he wanted was a chance to know what it would've been like to at least encounter his Ignis, form a bond, at least have a life outside his role as the Knight of Hanoi, but he's had to suppress these desires for his boss/savior Ryoken.Specter: I wanted to ask that, what would happen if I...if we...if something happened. There was a man, Go Onizuka, who didn’t even care what happened to Earth, destroying the crystal heart important to them. Go worked for an evil woman named Queen and all she cared about was money, even as Earth cried they were alive and could think. I couldn’t do anything except think that I could’ve done more. Should have done more. But no, I was thinking only about destroying them because that’s what Ryoken...that’s what Ryoken wanted. What I want doesn’t matter in the end...
- London nearly dies from losing too much blood and the wounds inflicted on him by Pyramid Head all while Specter, who was shown to be annoyed with London getting into his business, frantically begging him to wake up and all but begging anyone in the heavens that he'll do anything he can if it'll mean London is healed. And even while wounded, all London cares is everyone getting to safety.
- In the afterlife, London is approached by Mascarita Sacrada who tells him that Mascarita had planned his death by London's hands after London rescued Mascarita from Son of Madness. London is not amused that this Thanatos Gambit made him to pass the MEH and sacrificing Mala Suerte and Saltador. London then admits that all he can do now is just try to get something done and help Specter out.
- When Dark Easter takes over London for a second, Specter (who just gave London a Man Hug in relief) pushes them aside and takes Lampetia's spear, threatening them to not hurt London or else. Even worse, his hand now has the same static as Specter, but his number is even bigger, meaning that it'll take even longer for him to go home.
- The scene in the The Little Baroness is just as bittersweet. Specter tired and gone through torture, London covered in blood, as they apologize for the mess up that caused Pyramid Head's assault. London even tells Specter that in order to make amends, he should work on himself first and foremost.
- How depressing is this entire chapter and the events with Easter? Gladion wishes he was old enough to be drunk.
- Tokio decides to hand back his White Rabbit Mask to Kisaragi, stating that he can't be the White Rabbit anymore. Gaim and Ryugen are saddened by this, implying they loved truly loved him.
- Gladion apologizes to Larkspur about how he's been a fool and that he can't even save her.
The Doormouse Car
- While everyone is resting, there is a bittersweet tone in how everyone is quiet. Tokio is holding his breath underwater after he goes through the decision to no longer the White Rabbit and Gladion tries to break the ice by asking what Specter did in the Toy Brick Car. Well...
- The story is that Specter was dragged to a building contest by Lampetia who asked him to build his "heart's desire". Easter took over and created the pretty brick heart that Lampetia had to destroy when she sensed something wrong. Easter was heartbroken over it and pleaded Lampetia to bring it back, causing an electrical surge to strike all of the rides in the Car that Specter had to summon his Sunavalons in order to stop.
The Puppet Hospital Car
- When confronting the Apex, Tokio reminds Grace about she murdered Utahoshi. How does she respond?Grace: (looks at the knife, the number on her arm) So what?
(every member of White Gestalt looks in disgust and give her a collective Death Glare)
Tokio: So what....so what?! He was supposed to be the leader of his car! Have a happy life with his friends and you don't care ?!
Simon: You saw what he did, the rabbits he controlled. He could have hurt you
Tokio: You two hurt me more than he ever did! (hurls his boomerang to create a tornado) LET'S SEE HOW YOU LIKE BEING STABBED!" - The entire fight is showing how Grace is so apathetic and doesn't care about the damage she caused; for every monster, how many peaceful villages did she destroy? And for every denizen she killed? Oh they weren't real people. This one is enough for London to snap as it shows that they would kill thousands, millions for a god that doesn't give a single fuck about them, just like how sacrificing Mascarita Sacrada, Mala Suerta and Saltador was for nothing.
