Mistandra

Mistandra is the femslash ship between Misteln Shariac and Alexandra Zaychik from the Honkai Impact 3rd fandom.

Canon
In the end of the Second Eruption, Cecilia Shariac used her Shariac Stigma to heal the mass Honkai corruption in Siberia, causing the birth of "Shariac." Being the complete opposite of Cecilia's healing, "Shariac" brings destruction in her wake everywhere she goes, producing an overabundance of Honkai energy. To prevent humans from dying from her, she attempts to awaken their stigma, but she only ends up killing them.

As a manifestation of stigma, "Shariac" intermittently gets transferred between the stigmata space and reality, unwittingly wreaking destruction as she returns to reality. One of these times, she comes across the cabin of Alexandra, who is 6 months pregnant with Bronya. "Shariac" is able to successfully awakened her stigma, Alexandra does not die. In the darkness of the cabin, "Shariac" finds a hatchet, contemplating suicide even though attempts have not been successful in the past. Alexandra turns the lights on, talking her out of it.

"Shariac" spends three days with Alexandra, taking care of her and not revealing her true nature. She stays with Alexandra to figure out how she was able to become a Stigmata Awakened. Alexandra brings up that "Shariac" has only told her last name, to which "Shariac" admits that she has never had a real name. She goes on to explain that she is unworthy of the name Shariac, but it is accurate, which confuses Alexandra but she doesn't press further. "Shariac" asks what Alexandra wants to do today so that she may go outside in her stead, so Alexandra gives her dried cornflowers to put on her husband, Alexei's, grave.

When "Shariac" returns, Alexandra has laid out dried plants on the foot of the bed, asking "Shariac" to pick one. She picks the dried, messy, fruitless plant, which she found most similar to her life. Based on this choice, Alexandra suggests "Misteln" as her name, since she picked the mistletoe plant. She explains that in some legends it represents life, and in some connotes death, a fitting description for her. "Shariac" is conflicted, as names have no purpose to her, but Alexandra tells her its her choice and not to overthink it.

Just then, they hear a knock at the door. Misteln warns Alexandra to stay quiet, knowing that the man outside is Gray Serpent, who had been attempting to recruit her into World Serpent. It is revealed that a conversation shown earlier in the chapter took place at this moment; Gray Serpent tells Mistlen that if she joins World Serpent, she can die like she had been trying to do. However, now that Misteln has successfully awakened the stigma in someone, she no longer wants to die. Gray Serpent realizes that Alexandra, who is watching by the window, is the reason for "Shariac's" hesitation and attempts to shoot her, but misses because his time spent with Misteln has worn down his body.

Misteln assures Alexandra that no one will hurt her again. Alexandra continues what she was going to tell her earlier, which is that she had arranged to be transferred to a place with better conditions, so that her daughter can be born in a good place. This is why she gave "Shariac" a name, so that she can recall her wonderful memories with a name. Misteln realizes that she can't stay with Alexandra forever, especially since any other visitors would die by her.

Misteln hesitates to say something, but Alexandra assures her that even though she doesn't know what Misteln has done, she knows that Misteln is kind. She asks who Misteln is, so she confesses her origins and the deaths she's caused. After an unbearable silence, Misteln reveals that Alexandra's child can't be born, because the awakened stigma that saved her life is attacking the child through her blood. Misteln apologizes for keeping this from her, but Alexandra doesn't blame her and asks if there's a solution. She assures Misteln that she is fine with dying for her child, but Misteln exclaims that it's not worth it. Alexandra then gets angry for the first time, saying that Misteln is not in any place to decide the fate of another life. She apologizes for the outburst, but reasons that even if the future is uncertain, the child deserves to have one. Misteln concedes and removes the awakened stigma. Before saying goodbye, Alexandra invites Misteln to hear her new idea for her epitaph. Just before Misteln can hear it, she is suddenly transported back to the stigmata space, where she screams Alexandra's name to no avail.

Misteln returns to reality 3 months later. The first thing she does is look for Alexandra, though never finds her. Misteln then approaches Gray Serpent, who agrees to find Alexandra for her, though she will owe him on top of joining World Serpent. One year later, Gray Serpent finds that Alexandra has been dead since even before Misteln asked him to search for her. They visit the grave, where he tells her that Alexandra's child is alive but average, not Stigma Awakened like her mother.

As Hare, she sees herself as a separate person from her past self, and thus views Misteln Shariac's memories with Alexandra from an outside perspective.

Quote
"...Yes, I'm here. No one will ever hurt you again, I promise."

- Misteln to Alexandra, Chapter 32.

"I hope... when I recall this fortuitous encounter, I can call you by your own name in my heart."

- Alexandra

"—Bronya Zaychik, you have grown beyond all expectations. ...Including her."

- Hare alluding to Alexandra.

Fanon
Mistandra is a rarepair. The ship gained traction after the release of Chapter 33 Act 2, where Misteln's backstory with Alexandra was revealed. Fans appreciate how the impact Alexandra had on Misteln despite their short-lived bond. Fans like to make scenarios where Alexandra lives, and Misteln becomes Bronya's step-mom. Mistandra fans also love having Misteln make the "I f*cked your mom" jokes that are popular online, because in the context of shipping her with Alexandra, Misteln could say these jokes to Bronya and it wouldn't even be a lie.

The ship got a resurge of attention in the end of March 2023, when Misteln's signature stigmata for her playable battlesuit was released on the CN 6.6 Beta. The set features Alexandra, adding more shipping fuel and interpretations to how Misteln sees Alexandra. The set is named "Dreams Comes True", implying that her dream is for Alexandra to live happily. Alexandra being pictured in a book, picture frame, and snow globe adds to this interpretation, showing that Misteln's dreams are fictional. Additionally, in the T piece, Alexandra is surrounded by heart-shaped bushes.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TWITTER
 * April Fool's joke by @beaconofstars
 * April Fool's joke by @beaconofstars
 * April Fool's joke by @beaconofstars
 * April Fool's joke by @beaconofstars