why I am insanely in love with Trails Crossbell arc's writing and each/every character in that series: a little thread

The main theme of the Crossbell arc is "Home".

The first scene is Lloyd traveling back to Crossbell after being away for years and it really encapsulates the feeling of being a stranger to what is essentially home. Crossbell is a city that houses people from all over Zemuria,

Unique for its economy/culture but never quite belonging anywhere and Lloyd trying to bridge the gap left by his brother, finding his own place among the CPD. Then the introduction of the SSS, a group to mend the relationship between government and the citizens, was established.

Of course it was always more than that, but brought people like Elie closure for a direct approached. It gave Randy somewhere to belong to after wandering here and there. It gave Tio somewhere to direct her attention while she was still trying to find reasons for living...

They all had reasons, or lack there of, for joining the SSS - devoting their time into others as a means to an end. Whether it was to avoid facing their own problems or genuinely wanting to change the system, they poured themselves into their work and created a "relationship".

The warmth of protecting the people, the grim reality uncovering horrible truths and fighting for their right to exist as a city that belonged to no one - the SSS became a home for nowhere boys like Randy and Wazy, and nowhere girls like Tio and Rixia to belong.

Crossbell isn't perfect but it's theirs. And that's the underlining reason why Zero/Ao is near perfect writing because it's about finding yourself in the people around you, creating a makeshift family on love and conviction alone, and most of all - going home.

Which is why losing it hurts so much.

Those "barriers" they're overcoming by working together and fighting to go back home after working so hard to create it. Wazy, Rixia, Tio, Randy, KeA, Elie, Noel, and Lloyd... they want to go home and soon they will be. :)