Ryuko sighs, herself sitting bored on the top of a hard hot railing. Next to her a trio of students. Death The Kid, and his weapons Liz & Patty.

"What are we doing in this wasteland...? It's hot and sandy and horrible!" Liz complains.

Patty pants. "So hot..."

"Quit complaining. We're here on Dad's orders... You guys have heard of the "Runaway Express," right...? The high speed train that runs through the desert without following any tracks?"

"Ian may have mentioned it a few times. Has it actually run continuously for a hundred years now?" Ryuko asks.

Kid nods. "That's right."

"A century's a long time to run without maintenance. How does it work?"

"Apparently it's run by a Magic Tool."

Liz raises a brow. "What's that?"

"A device that could cause wide-spread destruction if used by the wrong people. It seems that Arachnophobia would like to get their hands on this one."

"It's so freaking hot out here!!!" Patty shouts.

"That's why the four of us are here. We must reach the tool before they do. Tomoe & Ian are out on a search & destroy mission, and the other Star siblings are scouring Asia for Arachnophobia members. So, the four of us were chosen for this task."

"That explains why I'm here. Senketsu would make this almost too easy." Ryuko comments with a sad smile.

"Senketsu?" Kid turns to Ryuko.

"Oh right, you don't know about him."

"Care to elaborate?" He frowns,

"I use to have a uniform that could transform and make stronger. But he's gone now. Funnily enough no one else could hear him talk."

"Sounds to me like the madness got to you." Kid suggests.

"Oh no, this was like a year and a half ago, long before I came here. This was like, when I first met Ian, or well technically he was Daniel at that time, eh moving on." Ryuko shrugs stepping forward while looking for the train.

"Kid, I thought that as a Grim Reaper you were immune to sunburn. What's the point of wearing that silly outfit in this heat?"

"It sets the mood..."

"That this is a comedy? And nothing has meaning?" Ryuko asks, joking about what could have been someone's existential crisis.

"Jesus that's deep." Liz says.

"No, not really." Ryuko shakes her head.

"Besides, it keeps the lines in my hair partially hidden. No matter how many times I dye it, those damn lines keep coming back."

"Huh, it's kinda like my red streak." Ryuko looks at the bits of red in her hair.

Kid turns back to Ryuko. "What?"

"Huh?" She responds.

"Here we are. The train will arrive any minute now."

Ryuko sighs. "Bout time."

"That train arrives on schedule every time. Never a minute late nor a minute early. How could I not be excited about seeing such a perfectly executed mode of transportation?"

"You sound like a few annoying people I already know. Hey, was there a fifth person with us this whole time?" Ryuko asks earning a hum from Kid.

They all glance over, and next to Ryuko stands a person who glances at them. The group seemingly ignore the person when the train burst in front of them leaping throughout the air. The person then releases a witch protect. Ryuko feels it first and suddenly leaps into the air as an explosion launches them. Ryuko uses the explosion and launches herself atop the train. She clings to the top of it crawling her way forward, after a moment or two she jumps down and enters on of the cars allowing for her to travel easier, a moment later there's a thud just above her.

"There's always fucking something." She comments.

A second later an explosion rocks the cart. She growls and runs forward, jumping after Fisher disconnects the cart, and after a moment she crashes into the door, she turns drawing her scissor blade and smashes it into the door. A moment later she sees as Fisher & the others rapidly approach, she turns swiftly and breaks for the engine room. She then turns around as they land and Fisher King attempts to hit her, before striking him with her scissor blade cutting him completely in two. After killing him, she sighs grabbing the key allowing the runaway express to finally sleep.

"Cool, it kinda reminds me of my days back at Honnouji." Ryuko comments.

"It's an evil tool, just seeing it disgusts me." Kid says.

"You only say that because it's not perfectly symmetrical."

"You're a typical academy student... that tool... was created by... the grand wizard... Eibon... its a work of genius." Fisher says quietly, some of his final words Ryuko hopes.

"What, Eibon? If he made this, he's an evil piece of trash."

"Would you say that of Lord Death as well?"

"What does my father have to do with this?"

"Oh how cute... so you're the... grim reaper's son? Then let me show you something... open the box that held the eternal spring... look inside."

Ryuko, getting annoyed kicks the box causing it to open as simple as that she looks at the writing rolling her eyes in annoyance. "This shits getting real annoying... Kid, I think I agree, your dad's hiding a lot of things." A moment later a knife stabs into Fisher King's head, killing him. Ryuko growls as members of the DWMA arrive, and with them, Daniel & Ian.

Daniel smiles. "Yo, Ryuko."

"Daniel?"

"Yup, Big Bros was gonna be on vacation and wanted to ride the runaway train, but..."

Daniel shrugs. "I can see that's not happening anymore. Let's get you kids out of here." The group all leave the train, with Ian and Daniel in front of everyone.

"So, how fun was your first mission without me, Ryuko?" Ian asks.

"I finally got to fight. So I say fucking awesome."

"I'm not stopping you from fightin'."

Daniel hums. "Yeah, but your OP."

Ian scoffs. "Am not."

"He gets his ass kicked to often for that to be the case."

Ian holds his chest feigning pain. "Okay, that just hurt."

"Ah, seeing you youngsters is fun."

"You're barely older than us!"

"Correction, he's 16, your 17, and I'm already 19."

Ryuko sighs. "Fucking moron."

"Can we not fight, please?" Ian asks.

Later

'Twas was a normal day at the DWMA Ian and Ryuko were fighting, Black Star was fighting, Tsubaki apologizing, and several of the others simply went about their days. While the students were in classes Ian sighs as he sits next to Crona and Ryuko, lazily looking to the stuff he's directed to during lecture. Crona meanwhile looks to the pair of He & Maka and begins thinking of everything they, and the group has done for him since he was let out of his cell. That night, everyone meets at Kid's place for a fancy little party. Ian despite hating having to dress up, does so, and humors the symmetrical kid by dressing perfectly symmetrical before he unbuttons a single button on his left arms cuff.

"Why do you have to patronize him like that?" Ryuko asks.

"Because it's funny." Ian comments.

Tomoe deadpans. "It's mean."

"Why do you two pick on me?" Ian asks incredulous.

Ryuko smiles. "Because you're small."
Tomoe remains deadpanned. "Because you're mean."

The trio enter the house and mingle around, Ian glances around and smiles as he watches several of the others as they talk and hang out with Crona. A moment later he watches as a person leaves the party early and follows them. Unfortunately, he doesn't get far before loosing the person. He sighs, turning to head back when he suddenly draws an axe and blocks an attack which sends him flying through a teleportation circle. When he opens his eyes he sees an older woman, probably in her 40's or 50's, standing before him, sword drawn. She runs directly for him, however he dodges, using his axe to parry and deflect attacks. A moment later the person's gone. Ian growls as he tries to make a teleportation circle back to death city but his vision goes blurry, he shakes it off before sighing and starts wandering the location he's currently. He grabs his phone, only for it to be broken.

"Fuck."

Days Later

Ian growls as he walks into an antique shop, working at the front desk is Sats, the pair have a pleasant exchange, though Ian hurries to the back for a quick shower and a change of clothes. A bit later he's seen leaving the shop atop another motorcycle, or one of his fastest. Ian drives insanely fast as he travels back to Death City, himself using a magic enhanced Dodge Tomahawk, normally it can travel at top speeds of 482 km/h (300 mph), but with the magical enhancements and parts Ian had added by the Mankoi's this baby can travel a top speed of 1448 km/h, now you'd think he'd be arrested for speeding... but... good luck even seeing him. When he returns he finds all of the students lined up for a single student and beside a strange being his entire body shades of white, with a stupidly tall top hat, and a cane. Ian growls seeing it, and the student with him looks to Ian annoyed that he dared step in the way.

"You got a death wish?" The kid asks Ian arrogantly.

"I'm not the one stupid enough to let that thing out of the cave I left it in."

"I drew the mighty "Excalibur", you're just jealous." He taunts.

"Why would I be jealous of a loser who clearly doesn't know the difference between becoming strong and a poser. Tell me, "Hero", is this how you're gonna become the main character of my story, or is this how you become "Excalibur's Zero. I assume you bended over so he could shove that cane in your ass, or did you ask for it? Cause other wise, (summons Excalibur) I think this'll fit better."

Excalibur stomps his foot down. "You dare mock me by summing the inferior copy of me?"

"I chose to summon this instead of Caliburn, but, if you want, transform right now, I'll show you how dangerous I really am."

"What are you doing you idiot?!" Ryuko asks from the side.

"Dealing with a mess, that for some reason wasn't dealt with while I was gone."

"Excalibur" transforms, and the pair stand off everyone watching the pair. Ian smiles removing the goggles on his head and sending his jacket flying. He steps forward, mocking Hero, who calls himself Hero The Brave, he uses "Excalibur" to launch a wave of golden energy at Ian who easily blocks it with Excalibur. Hero, stunned by his ability to block takes a step back. Ian smirks and turns around spreading his arms out overlooking the city.

"Try it. While my backs turned. It's the best shot you'll get, but if you waste it..."

Hero launches the attack and for a brief moment Ian's eyes glow bright green overpowering the golden light from "Excalibur" for a moment, when everyone is able to see again, the attacks gone and Ian remains untouched having not moved a centimeter. He smiles turning around his yellow eyes having returned and he slowly walks towards hero deflecting every single attack launched his way. Hero growls raising Excalibur above his head.

"With this, You will be defeated, Hero The Atomic."

Ian smirks as he sends away Excalibur and from his back fallen angel wings unfurl revealing 6 wings. A moment later his eyes transform a sparkling blue with what looks like trillions of stars sparkling inside.

"Sage Art... Swords of a thousand heavens." Ian mutters.

And in a brief flash, far to fast for anyone to see, Hero was unconscious, his memories of Excalibur erased, and the blade itself put into an even more secure cave, hopefully, to never be seen again. Then when everyone could see again, Hero was unconscious himself hanging by his underwear from one of the spike of the school, and Ian was happily napping on a bench in front of everyone using Ryuko's laps as good pillows.

Chapter End.

Hey y'all, hope ya enjoyed this smaller chapter, it's been mostly big sprawling battles or lore revelations recently, so I wanted to have some fun, and also, Ian kinda needed to show off a bit, he hasn't had a "good" fight since at least his first encounter with Crona, maybe even so far back as his fight with Ryuko during Season 5 Kill La Kill, so yeah, hope ya liked it. I'll be seeing ya when I see ya. Ciao.