Hi, sorry, a short chapter, but I thought that last cliffhanger was a bit mean - hope you enjoy, and any reviews are welcome. :3

Flynn was torn between helping putting out the fire, and rushing in after Rita, but when he heard the thunderous sound of wood and rubble moments after she had disappeared into the flames, his mind and body snapped into action, and he found his feet carrying him manically into the burning house. But it was her cry that made his stomach drop.

Charging in shoulder first, he became temporarily disorientated by the fractured wreckage, trying to fathom where Rita would have run. He took a few steps, eyes darting around, trying to see a figure any figure through the heavy smoke. This place no longer looked like a house at all, just a marred mess of towering flames and smoke. The heat was unbearable, breathing was becoming difficult, and he had to squint lest the smoke sting his eyes, but when he saw the small figure standing at the foot of the staircase, all of that didn't matter.

"Rita!",he yelled, starting forward and grabbing her by the arm. Rita turned around, staring at him.

"We have to go – now!" he shouted through the roar of the flames, trying to pull her along. Rita resisted, snatching her arm from his grasp and instead stepping up the first few steps and pointing downwards.

"We can't save your work – we have to move – now!" he cried, ignoring her gesture.

But when she wouldn't move and kept vehemently shaking her head and pointing. He felt his panic and frustration growing alarmingly. Why wouldn't she move? It was creepy how motionless she was. Her face and body completely still, some flames licking at her body and charring her clothes, yet she did not do so much as flinch. It was as if she was waiting for him. This wasn't right at all- he had just seen her sprint in here without hesitation. So why wasn't she moving?

Then it dawned upon him that this wasn't Rita. This Rita wasn't talking, was completely without emotion and expression. She looked so much like Rita, yet there was something missing. That spirit, that life. But how was this possible?

"You're not..." he said, and the Rita nodded, still staring at him. Then it occurred to him. "Where is she?"

If this wasn't the real Rita, where was she? The fear inside him reached boiling point as images of her trapped under the burning house began flitting through his mind. But before he could resume his search again, the Rita in front of him had grown impatient with his panic, and had grabbed his arm and marched him up a few stairs and to the edge of a huge hole that prevented them going up anymore. He looked at her and before he could talk, she pointed into the hole again.

Flynn peered into the crater before his feet, and through the smog made out the small frail outline of the real Rita curled awkwardly amongst the wreckage and flames. Somehow, she was more motionless than the Rita standing beside him. His heart jumped into his throat when he couldn't see any signs of life, and the bloody burns that ran along her legs.

"Rita!" He leapt into the hole without a second thought.

Even at the sound of his voice, she did not stir. When he got closer, he could see that her injuries were far worst than what he had originally thought they were. As carefully, but as quickly as he could, he scooped her up, trying not to cause any more damage. But time was running out, and he could see from the nearly black smoke and the worryingly loud groaning noises coming from the structure of the hose that he had at most a couple of minutes to get them out.

"Here!" he yelled up to the Rita, stretching up and placing Rita on the edge of the counter. "Drag her!"

The Rita obediently grabbed the real Rita under her arms and tried to drag her down the few steps. Flynn climbed out, and quickly took over, lifting the unconscious Rita again and gesturing with his head for the Rita to escape. She didn't hesitate now that Flynn safely had Rita in his arms, and swiftly obeyed. Flynn swiftly followed.

The first breath of night air outside was not completely fresh, but it slammed into his lungs, causing him to cough and gasp for more of it. He stumbled forward a few paces, before sinking down on one knee, aware that the Rita was now dashing off towards the fountain, which was now surrounded by a wall of mist as opposed to fire.

"Help...", he called, but his throat refused to shout underneath the layer of smoke he had inhaled.

Flynn glanced at the girl lying limp in his arms. She looked deathly pale, and the horror that coursed through him when he thought that she may be already dead shocked him into a panic. She couldn't go – not now, not at this age. She was only just 18! He resolutely stood back up again, and made his way up to the castle, ignoring the pleas and cries of pain his own body screamed at him. The scenes around him didn't distract him; all he could think about was Rita, the scalds and burns riddling her skin like some obscene pattern. He didn't stop until they had reached the castle.

Hands pulled her from his arms racing Rita away with urgency, leaving him in the entrance hall staring after her, face creased with worry. He barely noticed the screams that were Estelle's

The fire behind him in the city didn't seem so important now.

He stared at the girl as the nurse began to bandage his hand. What was unnerving was the way she stared back at him, seemingly not in pain from the burns that flecked her skin. The Rita that he had first found in the fire had apparently run ahead of him to fetch help in the castle. He wondered how a mute girl could convey such a message, but it seemed that Estelle had come across her, believing her to be the real Rita, until he had of course, and burst in with the real Rita in his arms.

She was currently sitting on the bed next to his in the castle, letting a nurse dab at her wounds with some sort of lotion. But she wouldn't take her eyes off him, and it was starting to make him nervous. Perhaps some conversation would help.

"Thank you for getting help," he smiled at the Rita. She just blinked, and nodded. "Shall we visit Rita tomorrow?"

The real Rita was alive, and thanks to Estelle's immediate magic, her life had been secured and her recovery sped up considerably. He had been warned that he couldn't see her yet, though they had refused to say why, despite his demands. But at least he had this Rita for company, albeit very quiet company. He wasn't sure what she even was, but he supposed her continued existence was sign that Rita was still breathing and well enough to keep up this magic trick of hers.

As the Rita considered his question, the nurses finished their work and hurried onto other patients. He was taken aback when she finally shook her head. He knew this Rita had no emotion in her, or that was what he suspected, but he couldn't understand why a creature that had been so keen to save the real Rita was so suddenly nonchalant about her.

"How can you do that? How can you just leave her like that when earlier you stood in flames to make sure she got rescued?" He wondered, leaning forward to examine the face of this creature. "Surely you care for her, even a little bit? Don't you want to see her?"

He was close enough to her that he would be able to see the smallest of emotions flicker through any normal person's eyes, but this Rita merely stared back, and nodded, before pointing at herself at shaking her head.

"I don't understand", Flynn replied, trying to work out her puzzling answer.

She considered him again before pointing at him and nodding, and pointing at herself and shaking her head. He still didn't understand her, and didn't know if she was actually trying to answer his question or trying to say something completely different.

"I think the doppelganger is tryin' ter say that you should see Rita, instead of her," a voice interrupted from the foot of his bed. Flynn hadn't noticed Raven, or Captain Schwann as he was currently dressed, standing close to them. He had been so wrapped up in this mystery girl.

"What do ya think she is?" Schwann asked, bending down to poke the girl in the cheek, who did nothing. "Woah! That woulda been my arm off if that had been the real one."

"You're right. But I don't know what it is. It was in Rita's house."

He explained the whole thing to Schwann, how he had spotted the fire when he and Yuri had been walking to the inn, how he had seen Rita rush in, and how he had encountered this girl.

"Hmm, sounds like some of her handiwork if ya ask me. She does churn out some impressive work", he responded, rubbing his chin in thought. "Well, I thought I would let ya know that the fire is out. No one badly hurt, jus' minor injuries. Lower quarter is gonna need loads of work though."

Flynn felt relief, and guilt wash through him at these words. How could he have not gone back to help the people who he had grown up with? To try and save the place of his childhood? But the image of Rita flashed through his mind, and the guilt faded somewhat. If he hadn't have saved her, no one would have known, and she would now be buried in the burnt grave of her house.

"It was a good job ya fetched our Ice Queen," Schwann said, smiling solemnly at him, his thoughts obviously matching Flynn's.

Flynn brushed his good hand through his hair and sat back in bed, feeling very weary. "Why she even went into that building I..." He trailed off, his anger and worry for her mangling the words he was trying to say. "But she's okay."

"Yeah, she's okay." Schwann smiled at him, and this time it was proud. "Ya should do what this one says an' go visit her tomorrow."

He ruffled the hair of the Rita, who raised her hands to try and smooth it down again, making Schwann retract his hand hastily, experience telling him a fireball was on its way. But when it never appeared and she stared at him blankly, Schwann gave a strained laugh and muttered "weird" under his breath.

"I will, I need to make sure she's okay."

When he looked up, the look Schwann gave him was just as blank as the one the Rita had, but his eyes glittered with knowledge and understanding that caught Flynn off guard. It held such power and wisdom that it looked somewhat odd, but fitting for Schwann. It was uncomfortable, but before he could say anything, Schwann was walking away, smiling to himself. But before he had vanished from Flynn's sight, he called out.

"She's gonna be okay, because of you."