A/N: Some shout outs to those who left their kind reviews for the last chapter:

Shizuku Tsukishima749- Aww, thanks hon! Here ya go!

TheSeagullMilker- Yes. Yes, he is. XD

Well that was... unexpected.

"So you are from the future," Callum repeated if only to try and let this elf's story settle. "And in the future, I am a mage who sends you back to prevent the end of the world..."

"Yes."

"And you and I were friends?"

"Yes. You, me, and Ezran take Zym- the Dragon Prince- back to his mother, but Viren frees a powerful archmage from his prison and destroys the world!"

"I... I cant believe it," Callum mumbled.

"It does sound pretty crazy."

With a startled jump, Callum turned to the door that connected his and his brother's rooms. There stood Ezran carrying Bait under one arm and a jelly tart in the opposite hand.

"Ezran! How did you get in here?!"

Ez motioned to one of the tapestries in his room. "I came from the tunnels. I was about to go exploring and wanted to see if you would come." Ezran looked to the elf and held out his swiped treat. "Jelly tart?"

Callum saw the elf's face light up with relief, her eyes started to water. "Ezran," she whispered, covering her mouth.

Ezran studied her with his head tilted before smiling. "Hi. It's nice to meet you, but I guess you've already met us before."

"Wait! You believe her?" exclaimed Callum.

The younger prince shrugged. "I mean, her story sounds crazy, but she seems like she believes it."

"She believes it because she is crazy, Ezran!"

"I don't see why we can't see if she's right."

"Ez-"

"Thank you, Ez," the elf- Rayla she called herself- interrupted as she wiped tears from her eyes. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"No... I don't," Ezran answered sadly. "I'm sorry you've had to go through so much."

She sniffled again. "That's okay. We have another chance. We can change things."

"Change things? Like this horrible future you described?" the elder prince asked sardonically.

The elf... Rayla glared at Callum, but it was one combined with desperation and hurt. Hurt that he didn't believe her. Perhaps he had gone a little too sarcastic. A pit of guilt settled uncomfortably in his stomach. Callum plopped back on his bed, burying his face in his hands. He couldn't believe he was considering this.

"This is insane," he groaned, "... but, if you can protect Ezran and the king, I guess it's worth investigating." He dragged his hands down his face and tried to offer an encouraging grimace. It didn't work if the way Rayla shifted uncomfortably was any indication.

"Can you two trust me?" she asked.

Callum and Ezran shared a glance. Trust an elf... Callum never thought he'd see the day where he would be asked to trust an elf. Ezran took a deep breath before replying hesitantly," ... This is... a lot to take in. Let's see if you're right about this egg and then... maybe."

Something crossed Rayla's face, but it went too fast for Callum to dwell on. Instead, she readjusted the pauldron on her arm and put her helmet back on.

"Alright then. We just have to sneak into Viren's lab and show you the proof."

"Yeah... about that. Lord Viren doesn't have a lab, at least not one I know about," said Callum.

"How did you find the lab in your time?" asked Ezran.

Callum shot Ezran an incredulous look. How his brother was handling this whole situation so casually was beyond him.

Rayla's brow furrowed and she stared off into the distance, thinking.

"I... I remember I was chasing you two when Bait blinded me and you had run off into these tunnels-"

"Hold up!" Callum interrupted. "Chasing us? What, were we playing a game or something?"

Rayla shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, looking ashamed.

"No. Legitimately chasing you to, you know..."

The truth dawned on Callum, causing him to blanch. "I thought you said we were friends!" he exclaimed.

"We are-were... ugh! This is so confusing. In my original time, I and a team of other moon shadow elves were sent to assassinate the king and prince to avenge Thunder and his egg! I said that in my story!"

"Yeah, but I didn't think-"

"Look!" she cut him off. "It doesn't matter now! I'm not here to hurt Ezran or your Dad!"

"You said we ran into the tunnels?" asked Ezran, refocusing on the primary issue.

Rayla huffed a sigh and crossed her arms. "Yeah. There was a wall with some kind of patterned code to get in that led to Viren's lab."

"Oh!" Ezran lit up with understanding. "I know where you're talking about. I've been practicing that code for almost a month."

Rayla knelt in front of Ezran. Callum, not so subtly, sidled up beside his brother ready to provide some sort of barrier in case the elf made to attack.

"Can you lead the way, Ez?"

Ezran grinned and nodded his head. "I think we can do that," the boy said, sharing a confident look with his glow toad.

Callum glanced out of the window. "You said we didn't have much time. When exactly is this team of Moonshadow assassins supposed to strike?"

"During the full moon," Rayla answered. "But the binding ceremony was in the afternoon. If we don't get the egg to them before they bind themselves to the job, convincing them otherwise will be even more difficult to do."

Ezran readjusted Bait under his arm and walked deeper into his room. "Then let's go!"

"Ez," said Callum. "The door is this way."

"To the hall," said Ezran. "We want the tunnels." The crown prince set his jelly tart and Bait down on his bed and went to the tapestry he had pointed to earlier. Lifting the corner high enough, he revealed a hidden door. "Remeber Callum? Dad said if there was any trouble in the castle that we were supposed to use the tunnels to escape. They all connect so we can get to the puzzle wall easier this way."

"Will wonders never cease," Rayla grinned. With a motion of her arm, she bent in a mock-bow. "After you, Your Highness."

Ezran picked up Bait again and started leading the way through the hidden door. Before Rayla could start to follow, Callum slipped behind Ezran to be his buffer. Anything to put more space between him and the crazy lady. Rayla followed behind him and closed the door, the only counter to the darkness of the tunnels was Bait's glow.

Harrow woke with a yawn and stretched, refreshed and ready to start the day. That was until he looked at the tower paperwork stocked on top of his desk, likely the courtesy of Viren. The king groaned inwardly and fell back into his pillow face first, regretting his position as king not for the first time.

There was a gentle knock on the door. "Your Majesty? Breakfast is almost over. Would you like the kitchens to save you a plate?"

"Mmm... yes please," Harrow called back through the door. He looked out the doors that led to his balcony and recognized how late he had slept in today. The staff would probably like to clean his room and get on with their day. Best to not put a wrinkle in their plans.

Once Harrow was groomed, dressed and set to begin, he made his way down to the kitchen. If he wanted to make a dent in that workload on his desk, he would need to take his breakfast in his room.

On the way he passed Gerard, one of the castle's stewards, instructing what looked to be a new maid.

"Good morning, Gerard."

The steward and maid stopped and bowed. "Your Majesty. I trust you slept well, Sire?"

"Wonderfully. And is this someone new?"

"Ophelia, Your Majesty," she introduced herself with a humble curtsy.

"Welcome to the castle, Ophelia. My staff may not have the easiest job, but they are some of the best people I've met. You're in good hands."

"T-thank you," she smiled, a little more relaxed before remembering herself. "Your Majesty."

Harrow returned the grin and looked to Gerard. "I'm a little late today. Do you know if my sons had their breakfast yet?"

"I don't believe I've seen either of the princes this morning, my king. They may have skipped breakfast today."

Harrow's grin slipped a little as he thanked Gerard and Ophelia before excusing himself. He would have to have a talk with the boys. It wasn't unusual for one or both of them to skip breakfast, but it wasn't a good idea. The days they skipped usually meant grumbles from the kitchen for interrupting their scheduled work to supply impromptu snacks or complaints against Ezran from the local bakery in town.

As he approached the kitchen, he saw Claudia heading towards a wall, her nose in a book.

"Claudia!"

She looked up and noticed where she was heading. Just in time she spun out of the way and paused to thank the king.

"You really should be more aware while walking and reading," Harrow reprimanded lightly, a smirk pulling at his mouth. Claudia was like a niece to him. He had seen her grow up into her bookish and flighty self and was amazed at how someone so intelligent and bright could be so spacey. Claudia took the counsel with a grin of her own.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You haven't happened to see Callum or Ezran today, have you?"

Claudia tapped her chin thoughtfully and shook her head. "Uh... no? I think Callum has sword practice with Soren and Ezran could be anywhere."

"Alright. I'll check the training grounds before heading back to my desk." The word desk came out a bit more bitter than he intended.

"Dad leave you some early homework?" she asked teasingly, earning an exasperated sigh from Harrow.

"One thing about your father: he is quite efficient."

Harrow and Claudia parted before the king retrieved his saved plate of ham and jelly tarts from the kitchen with gratitude. Taking a route back to his room that let him pass the training grounds, he saw Soren and a squad of men honing their skills, but no Callum.

"Soren!" He called. Soren started and looked for the source of the voice. Upon seeing his king, the knight blanched.

"Y-your Majesty," he answered after a quick jog over to the king and a bow.

"Isn't Callum supposed to be training with you today?"

"Uh, yes sir. He was, but he never showed for practice. I don't blame him with how his lessons have been."

Harrow furrowed a brow, which caused Soren to backpedal.

"N-not that he doesn't try. He just needs more practice."

"Callum knows better than to miss his lessons. No one reported that he was ill."

"Maybe he didn't want you to worry?" Soren supplied.

Harrow sighed and fingered his breakfast plate nervously. He would check and see if the boys were in their room. He couldn't pinpoint what, but the more he dwelled on it, the more the day seemed off somehow.

"You may continue, Soren," the king dismissed.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Soren answered and headed off to run drills with his squad. Harrow, meanwhile, headed for the princes' bedchambers.

Standing before the door, King Harrow couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off? Wrong? It was only a feeling, like a breath on his neck or a shadow of the corner of his eye; it was starting to set him on edge.

He knocked and waited, but no one answered the door. He knocked again... and again...

"Ezran? Callum? Anyone there?"

"Harrow?"

Harrow turned and saw Viren walk up.

"Is everything alright?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Harrow shrugged.

"Probably. I haven't seen the boys all morning and was just wondering where they were." Harrow opened the door to the princes' bedchamber and found nothing.

"Perhaps we should rally the guards," suggested Viren, ever paranoid as usual. Harrow rolled his eyes.

"Its not like the princes haven't done this before. Ezran probably dragged Callum off on some kind of adventure. They'll be back by supper."

Harrow shut the door and began walking to his room, Viren at his heels.

"Your majesty, I really must insist that the boys have some kind of guard. Any number of things could happen to them and we would never know about it."

"Calm down, Viren. The princes know the castle walls inside and out and I have the utmost faith in our castle guard. If there was any danger, we would know about it."

"You can never be too careful."

Harrow sighed and pushed past his door, into his room and to the desk where the rest of his morning waited.

"If it sets your mind at ease, I'll have a talk with the boys about letting someone know where they're at when they go exploring. I'm sure they're fine."

That last line was more for himself than for his high mage. The unsettled nagging in his heart lingered.

A/N: So I have a question. Who thinks the elves should still attack? Let me know in a review and we will see if/how the attack on Castle Katolis goes.