#Starlight Express AU

[moonkit60633]

Henryyyyyy

Just a silly guy really, just a dude

[electricfied-wolf]

Gripping Rusty by the shoulders. Buddy they're going to invent train therapy just for your ass specifically.

[mus1ca1]

taurs taurs and more taurs

[goblinlovesmusicals]

Au where Brick isn't just a brick but he's an actual train.

Brick is a flat car that lives in a different yard, he's Flat-Top's boyfriend. He's just as punk as Flats and at least half a foot taller.

People assume Brick is just a brick because they think Flat-Top is weird and couldn't pull anybody and is just weirdly attached to his bricks.

But no, Brick is a real guy, he just has a very ironic name and doesn't have the chance to visit Apollo Victoria much.

@green-planets @storyweaverofgondor @cielfangirl1

Also leave suggestions on what to call this au I'm attached now

[razorsrockinart]

Hi yes starlight express fandom folks who are bitching and crying about female GB I have one thing to say.

Shut up, keep crying, go back to Roblox..we got what we got, grow a pair and move on. Nothings gonna change no matter how much you’re bitching about it.

Psa don’t argue with me cause I’ll just delete your Bs.

[captainmvf]

Made this up last month for some peeps on Discord but here's the full deets:

Rusted Brakes Nutcracker AU

"Once upon a time in the land of toys and fantastical winters, was a little prince. The little prince loved playing with toy trains and loved to show them off. His mother warned him that boasting about his treasured trains made of gold and pearls would earn him the ire of other kingdoms but he did not listen. One day, the horrid Rat Queen grew jealous of such novelties and decided to steal them to play with them herself...

"Enraged, the little prince ordered the three best of his knights to go after his trains: His burly champion of gold and black leather, his most famous of wires and electricity, and his knight of the people he barely paid much attention to. The champion could part the waves of the rat minions with a single swing of his sword but was grievously wounded by all three of the Rat Queen's heads. The electrical knight was more cunning and offered to trade the trains for any other amount of riches but was thrown out of the castle with his makeup ruined...

"Yet, the third knight skillfully crept into the enemy's castle and was able to sneak all the way into the treasury. He secured the trains and was able to make off back to the castle with the little prince's most treasured belongings. However, what nobody but the Rat Queen knew is that she had put a powerful curse upon the glittering toys. To whoever were to take the toy trains from under her three noses were to become an enchanted nutcracker...

"Upon the third knight's return to his home and the toys given back, he fell to the floor with a clack and became a wooden doll with strong jaws. The little prince had no idea what to do as he was happy now that his trains were back and had no use for a nutcracker...

"The nutcracker ran away in the dead of night. No one has seen him since. With an angered Rat Queen causing turmoil and a kingdom in disarray as their little prince plays with his trains once more, it might take a miracle or some winter magic to get things back to normal...

"...just be careful, as there are many truths that may be hidden within this storybook fantasy."

Rusty the Knight of Rust and Smoke:

Rusty was the third knight!

He wasn't really looked fondly upon due to his rusting and how he was favored by the people of the Toy Kingdom.

He ran away since no one seemed to be able to help him figure out how to get him back to his real form and he was already getting teased for it by Greaseball and Electra. Rusty lives on the edges of the winter kingdoms and does his best to thwat the rats and their plans.

Rusty's the one to yank CB out of danger when stuff starts to go bump in the night at the guy's house and he partners himself up with him since the guy is out of depth as to what the hell all these rats are doing. He's gotta be the one to yank CB away from doing something stupid (flinging himself into battle without any armor).

CB's still caught up on the fact that this weird but beautiful nutcracker he's been gifted for his vintage toy collection has come to life and whisked him away on some adventure on how all rats are the root cause of evil in the world or something. He's ready to unleash a can of whoop-ass with the many hidden tools and knives he has on his person (and tries to keep them hidden when Rusty shakes him down before they enter a settlement of sorts). Despite being a bit of a nuisance, CB thinks Rusty is pretty neat and will try to ask as many questions as to how his wooden toy-ness works exactly.

CB the Knight of Candy and Smiles:

CB was the third knight!

He was favored very highly by Control but the little prince never spared him a second glance due to how 'well-behaved' he was in court.

He ran away since he had self-esteem issues because of above^ CB couldn't bear to be seen as imperfect and thus ran off before his friends got a good look at his face. Maybe Greaseball and Electra would have turned their smirking gazes at him. Nowadays he's on the edges of the kingdoms planting booby traps and tricks a-la Bugs Bunny style.

CB is letting Rusty tag along with him as they venture deeper into Rat Kingdom territory and the conspiracy of the Rat Queen unscrolls itself. CB is more of Rusty's bodyguard and likes to tell him entertaining stories and lies about the winter fantasy world. He's actually pretty surprised how well Rusty is with tools and such and would hate to be on the other end of a power drill within Rusty's hands.

Rusty still thinks this is some kind of nightmare that he really needs to wake up from. His adoptive father figure gave him this kind of creepy nutcracker as an early Christmas gift since it's an heirloom and now it's come to life and quoting late twentieth century pop culture references at him. He kind of finds this endearing, even if there are rat creatures trying to bite his face off. There's a bit of a 'too tired to deal with this' attitude from him as every person in this winter fantasy land loves to monologue and Rusty just wants to go back to sleep.

[op3ra]

lore bit: facial markings

(rusty, dinah, wrench, caboose)

general lore about markings in my au is under the cut. feel free to shoot me an ask if there are other characters whose markings you'd like to see :>

All trains have colorful designs on their faces. Known mostly as facial markings and sometimes facial patterns, they’re permanent parts of a train's livery (so, closer to a tattoo than to face paint). They’re intended to be unique to each train; there’s nothing exactly keeping track to make sure every train has something completely brand new, but there’s generally an effort to come up with something distinctive.

All trains are given basic markings when they’re manufactured (typically around the eyes), but most trains gradually add on to them to create a truly individualized design. Although patterns are mainly centered on the face, lots of trains have them on their necks and even down their bodies--for example, Dinah has a chevron across her chest, and my OC Screw has them along her left leg. Typically, patterns are 1-2 colors, although it's not a strict requirement.

Trains are generally very proud of their liveries and even when trains repaint the rest of their liveries (to either match a company contract, or just to switch things up), their markings tend to stay the same or similar.

When originally manufactured by humans, trains were given blank, vaguely human-colored faces; after they separated from humans and took over their own manufacturing, trains developed their markings, desperate for something to give themselves individuality and separate themselves from humans.

Rusty is very self-conscious about his rust overtaking the majority of his markings; after he wins it’s a little overwhelming to finally repaint them after so many years of them being missing :,,,,)

[welcome-to-the-districts]

Comfort

A little self indulgent oneshot with my version of GB. Brief mention of death and a tiny bit of angst under the cut.

The diesel’s piercing and predatory gaze drifted down towards the tiny human woman that was curled up on his chest. He felt a soft gentle smile tug at his lips as he watched her sleep. He slowly and carefully resituated himself on the bed to get a little more comfortable, all the while keeping an eye on the human on his chest to make sure she didn’t awaken. She stirred ever so lightly in her sleep before she grew still once again. He purred softly at the sight and she snuggled into him further, feeling warm and safe in the presence of the diesel. He chuckled softly as he lifted a hand and gently ran his large fingers through her dark brown hair. She was so small and fragile compared to him, a prey item to him, yet here she was, sleeping soundly on his chest. He had to admit, she was a nice weight on his chest, the very small pressure she was applying was calming in a sense, as if she were a very small weighted stuffed animal.

He could hear her heartbeat. It was slow and calm as she snored softly in her slumber. That was one of the ways he picked up even the most subtle signs from her. Even a change of pace in her heartbeat told him everything he needed to know. Earlier, she had been stressed and lacking sleep. Out of all the individuals she could’ve gone to, she went to him. Of course, she and him had known each other for quite some time. He found it odd as to how she managed to find his presence so comforting. Perhaps it was the fact he was so much bigger than her? Maybe it was the fact that so few would dare to try to rise against him and she knew she was safe as long as he was by her side? Whatever the reason, he didn’t mind it at all. If anything, he rather enjoyed moments like this. It was a reminder for him to slow down and to rest every now and then.

He rested his head down on one of the soft pillows as he sighed in contentment. The warm light of the fire in the hearth flickered and licked at the walls, illuminating some of the room in a welcoming and calming light. His eyes drifted towards the walls, looking at the various photographs he had on the elaborate walls. Most of them were from his racing days with Dinah. Although, some were memories he’d rather not recall. He glanced towards the one in the far corner, concealed in shadows where the warm light couldn’t reach. It was a picture of him and his beloved engineer, Mike, after their first win in the races together. The photo brought back many memories he’d rather forget. Mike’s last moments were burned into his memories. He felt a twinge of remorse and grief as his gaze rested on it for a split second. He made a mental note to hide it under the bed or in the nightstand. He couldn’t stand looking at it anymore.

His golden eyes quickly returned their attention to the little human resting on his chest, the small woman he had grown to adore. He stopped stroking her hair and slipped a finger or two under one of her tiny delicate hands. He gingerly lifted her hand up to get a better look at it. A small smirk formed on his lips as she gently wrapped her small delicate fingers around one of his much larger ones. He softly stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. She stirred slightly as she slept and he paused for a moment, waiting to see if she would wake up. She quickly grew still again, her head resting right in the center of his chest, listening in to his inner workings and that strong heartbeat of his. He found the sight to be endearing. She was so small, so helpless, and he was so massive and powerful. Yet, she found comfort in the most unlikely of individuals. It never truly failed to amaze him just how much she trusted him, knowing he’d keep her safe as long as she lived.

All the lives he had taken or shattered didn’t matter to her. He was her safe space. It was odd to be considered as her safe person, but he welcomed it nonetheless. He gingerly slipped his finger out of her grip and gently placed her hand back down against his chest, right where she could feel his heartbeat, a gentle reminder he was always there for her. He yawned like a giant cat. His sharp teeth shone in the warm light of the hearth. He considered it for a moment before he carefully rested his hand on top of her, letting it rest on her like a weighted blanket. He chuckled softly as he saw a small smile creep across her face. He began to nod off, feeling perfectly comfortable like this. He slowly closed his eyes and gradually fell asleep. He wouldn’t trade this for the world.

[ruleroftheblooddistrict]

This isn't technically a crime in international waters...

((hi I saw the post title and decided to make my own sus sentence 🤣))

The caboose looks down at you in confusion, taking a sip from his goblet. He shifts his gaze to those who are around him in his royal court. "I see... Not that that would be a problem here.. I do whatever I please so.."

He gives a shrug before giving you a wolfish grin. "Now... what brings you here? To my District, hm?" He tilts his head to the side slightly as he lets out a chuckle reminiscent of a hyena.

[electra-stextra-stole-my-ass]

I wanna hear more about your urban fantasy au! Necromancy is an interesting choice for Dinah, what lead her to start dabbling in it? What are the other coaches in this au?

thank you so much for the ask!!

dinah’s interest in necromancy was kickstarted by two things 1. her natural curiosity 2. the death of flat top (don’t have a more human sounding name for him yet lmao) when he died she was grieving so heavily and as was dustin so he came to her to ask if there was anyway she could bring him back and well… it half worked! the resurrection wasn’t completed and so now flat top is a zombie

as for the other coaches! pearl is a fairy, buffy is a siren (the bird kind from greek myths) and ashley is a vampire!

[moonkit60633]

Ok so I’ve seen people talk about au head canons so I also wanted to

Technically all engines can ‘drink’ that’s how they refuel their coolant, kinda like how humans know to not breath in the water they are trying to drink (also how Steamers don’t accidentally throw water on the coal they just ate)

They also all have secondary ports, but eating/drinking their fuel is more fun, and tasty

[electricfied-wolf]

Thinks about my au... I very much imagine that holding a conversation with an engine would be oddly comforting. You'd expect to be afraid of this metal giant but they look so much like people and engines especially who pull passenger would be MADE to look friendly and easy to approach. Imagine sitting on a railing next to where they're laying down. Maybe they're having maintenance. Maybe its a slow work day for the both of you. Hearing the loud rumbles or whirrs from their body. Hearing their powerful voice echo throughout the area. Listening to them ramble on about their travels, about things they've seen. Talking to them and relating the best you can. Answering the questions they have about being human that they don't know the answers to. Just a nice little chat. You'll hardly talk very much with how busy they are, but you got to have time with them, and it was like magic even though the engines have been around since 1952.

[mus1ca1]

(november 2022) robot designs au

gb and pearl concepts under the cut

[tabooiart]

like five (5) people expressed interest at more starlight express lords in black so i just haddddd to do more. anyways heres nibbly train. snack car nibbly.

umm i honestly dont have too much to say for him he was very clear in my mind. also i feel like obviously he should be a food related car. also his body is pieced together from scrap metal as an homage to his pig-carcass-body in Honey Queen

[great-green-hunslet]

My initial take on Starlight Express inspired costumes for a TUGS centered Broadway show! (The left color palette is based off of the more "polished" current day costumes, whilst the right is based off of the more grittier designs of the early productions.)

[the-starlight-project]

(pardon me putting some rambling thoughts on your blog)

Some little things we know so far, mostly about "Shadow":

Shadow seemed slow to Sonic when he showed up at the very beginning. He could still keep up pretty well, though. Air shoes!!

Sonic hit his chin when he landed, so whatever's going on here probably isn't just because of a concussion. Though, well, we didn't see how Shadow landed...

The red (paint?) on Shadow is getting everywhere all of a sudden!

Actor!Shadow immediately goes for his inhibitor rings, which means he knows Character!Shadow's lore pretty well. I'm not sure Eggman would mention that detail to some hench-hedgehog...

Shadow here seems to take "Eggman hired you? Impressive!" to mean "You're an impressive actor", which is an unusual way to interpret that. It seems more like it's Eggman's audacity that Sonic meant was impressive, not Actor!Shadow's skill at pretending to be Character!Shadow.

Come to think of it, the Shadow we know has been in some pretty scary places before, it'd be interesting to hear how Actor!Shadow would describe those past adventures. Does he believe he filmed a flashback where he watched a fake Maria fake die? Would that cylinder he was in at that time have been bad for his claustrophobia?

Shadow has apparently never seen Sonic do cool stuff in person, or believes any previous spindash thingies were effects. But this one wouldn't get special effects since it wasn't scripted, I suppose?

Come to think of it, if they were being filmed, them going off-script should be making a lot of crew panic right now. Assuming Actor!Shadow isn't the only one involved with this "filming" idea, anyway, which is apparently Sonic's current theory.

What's that damaged bot doing there? Did it get hit by the spindash, or is that damage older?

That all sure is something, though I'm not sure what that all means. Maybe we'll find out Next Time, on Project Starlight Z!

Now THESE are the kind of posts that I love to answer! A long-form question requires a long form response (as much as I can respond, anyway)!

Excellent observations on our pal "Shadow" - air shoes indeed! I have more to say on the air shoes and special effects at a later date, but I think you'll find that a least a few points you bring up are going to be touched upon in upcoming pages!

As for a hypothetical crew hypothetically panicking, I think it'd be worth reexamining "Shadow"'s response to Sonic's reaction to all of this. Perhaps it'd give you a launching point ... not that you'll have to guess for much longer.

Also, a general note on the bot in the tunnel! You may find something interesting if you look at it very closely, given that this comic takes place after the events of Forces.

Next Time on Project Starlight!!!