"That was the basic attack!? -The Warriors"

When they got there, they went inside, hurrying to where Aelita was seen last. Sure enough there she was, dealing with a fussy Ruine. She seemed to be trying to calm them down. The fluffy critter lets out a frustrated screech and rushes off deeper into the building. Aelita simply sighs, shaking her head.

"Wonder what that was about..." Odd mumbles to himself. He's going to go and see after they get answers.

"Oh?" She heard that, turning to face them. "Why are you back? There's not going to be another attack for awhile. You can go back to your lives as normal, we won't need your assistance til the next attack."

"We have some questions. Can you answer them?" Jeremie asks.

"I'll answer the best I can. Go ahead."

"Why is like we're living in the past? What happened?" Ulrich checks his watch again to make sure.

"We returned to the past. It is a safety protocol to prevent this place from getting discovered by those that aren't assisting in the fight against XANA. Memories of what have happened will be reset, unless you have marks and charms. It does have its draw backs though."

"Like what?"

"If someone dies, they can not be brought back, injuries will heal, but lives can not be replaced."

"Oh..." All of them seemed to say it once... Then silence, until Jeremie asks another question.

"What was that thing? Why was it going after the school?"

"That was a manifestation of XANA in the form of an attack. Each time it is awakened, it does the same attack. It is the basic attack for it to test its powers to see how to grow. It was going after this place, these ruins. Without them, we can not return to the past."

"That was the basic attack!?" He's going need a moment, as shown by Odd waving a hand in front of the other's face. He's shocked and zoned out.

"Is that all the questions you have? If so, I will return to talking to Ruine."

"Actually, I have one. What is Ruine? She doesn't match anything I've ever read about."

"You'll have to ask her about that, for I do not know. If you wish to know more about her, the place she goes to is father into the ruins. I need to talk to her, so I will lead the way. Follow me please." She starts to walk off the way Ruine dashed off.

So everyone followed along, even Jeremie after Yumi got him to snap back to Earth.