AN: So, I finally found some free time somewhere! Thank you for reviews/follows/favorites! I love feedback and appreciate everything you guys say!

(Ravio)

The last few moments before he blacked out were ultimately too fuzzy to describe. He was already fazed by the blows from the ambush at his home, so his awareness was brought way out of focus. The merchant felt like he was wearing spectacles the whole time, but then they torn off his face, leaving him vulnerable and practically blind to the situation at hand. Colors bled together as the music of a winter battle became a constant roar of static and muddled voices. The winter cold that had leaked through the demolished building numbed him form head to toe.

(Link)

As if this whole ordeal could not become any stranger, now he was peering below him from one of the many balconies. Emerald stood next to him, leaning against the iron railing and watching the world below. The timeline of recent events was bizarre, almost like it was a part of his imagination. Things just seemed to flow and melt together. What felt like weeks of adventure was crammed into just fa little over a week and the very surreal thought of it made his head spin like a tornado. The images from his memory surfaced again; one minute, there was the quest. Then, there was prison and escape, then Irene's, then Volvagia's baby cousin. Now they were here, watching the twisted reality of this world pass below them.

This was a place that did not exist, nor was is supposed to; but it did. This was the Republic of Nocturnia. To be even more specific, they were idle in the capital of Warfang. No, not idle. They were trapped. He grit he his teeth at the very thought of it.

"Link," Emerald started, "I've been thinking about a lot of things that just happened. And about what Ravio told me. It's just- it's just that don't you ever feel like you're being used? I mean, I feel like nothing more than Archadia's pawn and I feel like she didn't tell me everything that I should know. Who can we trust, besides each other?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feel there's some holes somewhere in the story, but I've been through this. We're all in it now, and now we have to just with it for now. If the world's at stake, then we gotta be there."

"I know, but they way it was gone about just feels so... wrong."

He was wasn't exactly sure how much time had passed as the two friends just talked, discussed anything and everything. However, the temperature was dropping fast, so they retreated to the inside as everyone below did as well.

"Well, I see everyone is finally here."

A peculiar figure came into view, a man that looked to be in his twenties. Link studied him carefully, noticing his his russet hair the fell in front of his ocean eyes. Who was this guy?

"Why so puzzled?"

"Oh sorry, Lord Cloelius," Link explained, "I forgot about the-ah- shape shifting."

Cloelius nodded. "Of course. Are you all enjoying your stay at the Castle?"

"I guess." Emerald spoke up. "Hey, where's Ravio?"

"Right here!" The bunny merchant ran up behind them, a grin plastered on his face as if nothing tragic had happened at all. "I was checkin' the place out! It is sweet! This is better than your digs, Mr. Hero!" Ravio teased Link with his old nickname, which made Link's cheeks heat up a rosy pink.

"Shut up man!"

Emerald rolled her eyes. "Hello! World's gonna end here!"

They both abruptly stopped messing with each other, and brought their attention back to the priority.

There was a drawn-out, unsettling pause. "Now, there is the matter of-"

CRASH!

-()-

(Emerald)

Every hair on her neck stood up at the suspicious blast.

"Uh, w-what w-was t-t-that?" Ravio squeaked. Emerald saw him literally shaking as he clutched and played with his sleeves, innocent green eyes darting around nervously.

The echo of the crash had faded rather quickly, and silence followed. They all stood there, unsure of what exactly to do. The stillness was followed by the faint sound of crackling and popping. It was dull, as if it was only in her mind. However, it became very real when she could taste the bitter smoke that coated her tongue and permeated her nostrils and throat. "Fire!"

"Fire? In the castle?

Emerald traced a trail of thin choking fog to the back of the hallway. She noticed something that alarmed her even more: the smoke wasn't coming from the castle. It was coming from the town below, for it had just made its way through the window.

Link peered out the window. "Emerald! Look!"

Her eyes look over Link's shoulder and scanned the devastation of the capital.