Kenopsiadraws has been leaving so many lovely comments on my work over on AO3 and seemed especially taken with the descriptions of The Chain's wardrobe, so this chapter is dedicated to them and filled with much such descriptive fluffs. :) Thank you for all the wonderful feedback and keep being your awesome self. Thank you for being my Numero Uno fan!

"Is that….blood?" Winona asked, eyeing the air hockey table, and looking a little perturbed as she made her way into the rec room. Today the woman was wearing a grey oversized frayed sweater that looked like it had been shredded by something with huge claws over black leggings and punky destroyer boots.

"Huh?...Oh. yeah." Said Legend without looking up from his cards. "There was….an incident. But it's ok now.

"Uhuh.." said Winona, non-plussed, as she stepped down into the sunken den next to the fireplace in the far side of the rec room and sat beside the pink-haired man on the rich leather couch. The group was all focusing hard on their game. Apparently while unsupervised, Danielle had decided to teach the Chain 'Texas Hold 'Em' (using the colorful paper monies from a monopoly game that currently sat unused at the end of the table at their currency.) and they were now lost to the world, each man fixated on their own hand. Dani grinned up at Winona and winked. She was destroying them.

Legend glanced at her as she made herself comfortable and did a double-take. "Are you alright?" he asked earnestly, briefly lowering his cards before catching himself. Wind took full advantage of his momentary lapse and made a not-even-remotely-subtle lean to look at his neighbor's hand earning a dirty look from Legend. 'Hey! I saw that. You little pirate cheat!"

Wind only shrugged and stuck out his tongue. The boy was wearing a bright turquoise tee-shirt emblazoned with pineapples, a pair of distressed baggy jeans, and Canary-yellow vans sneakers. Even though they were in the house, he had opted for a pair of heart-shaped baby-blue-tinted sunglasses and was rocking them with a swagger that would have even the illustrious Sir Elton John tip his hat in respect. He looked very much in his element.

Winona smiled at Legend's seemingly unwarranted concern for her. "What? Yeah. Why?"

Legend pinched at the hem of her sleeve and gave her a meaningful look causing her to snort laughter.

"Oh.. haha. Yeaaah. Its…just a 'look' ok? Like…I dunno, I just Like this sweater. I've had it forever" She giggled and wrinkled her nose at him.

Legend raised an eyebrow at this "You…look like that…on purpose?"

"Nothing happened to me, I Swear…"

"Okaaay…." He said slowly, seeming to weigh his next words in his mind. "If you really like it, I Could patch it up for you?"

Winona raised her eyebrows at this but continued to smile. She ruffled his fringe. "Yeahhhhhno. Don't you dare…"

Dani gave the woman a knowing glance over her cards and shook her head with a smirk.

Time chuckled from across the low coffee table. He looked casual and comfortable today in a burgundy-colored V-neck tee over a simple pair of relaxed jeans. The shirt was a bit snug, but it only accentuated his Goddess-given 'virtues'. He was quite tickled by the appreciative glances from the women in the house. He decided he would keep these items when they left this world and see what Malon thought of his new 'look' when he got home…

Sky who sat beside him had opted for a very casual 'beach' look of a white tissue-light hooded jumper over some airy sky blue board shorts and sandals. He still had his beloved sailcloth with him, but today he wore it as a sarong over his shorts and it actually looked quite nice. Natural even…

Twilight also looked very comfortable and outdoorsy with a pair of khaki shorts, hiking boots, and light green plaid button-down worn open over a tee with a forest-scape printed upon it. Winona recognized the bald peaks in the picture as belonging to Yosemite National Park, but she figured that he had no way of knowing this and just thought it was cool. It was.

Last but certainly not least was Hyrule who had 'cleaned up' startlingly well (with a little/lot of encouragement from Danielle...) today he fully embraced his newfound inner 'Californian'. He wore a pair of dusty rose Bermuda shorts, his now-signature white Nikes, and a billowy white linen button-down which he wore loose and untucked with the sleeves rolled up. His throat was adorned with a puka-shell necklace that seemed to glow against his golden-tanned skin. He looked breezy and ethereal. Winona grinned, she recognized her friend's handiwork at once, and she had to admit. The man looked Fantastic…

They All looked fantastic! And she was delighted.

"Hyrule! You look Great!" She chimed as she waved hello to the man across from her who immediately turned red and looked away, stammering a quiet thanks. Dani grinned wide, still looking at her cards, and gave a little wiggle of delight in her seat. This seemed to make the poor man beside her blush harder… (what was all that Dani had said about not 'breaking' them?) Poor guy.

"Okay boys and girls! Pack it up!" came Ravio's somewhat jolly voice as he swanned into the room, and lifted his expensive shades up onto his head. "We're taking this circus on the road."

Today the man wore poppy-pink plaid Madras shorts, flip-flops, a white and blue striped 'sailor' tee-shirt and a royal purple sweater vest pulled over it to help hide his considerable gut. He also had on several heavy-looking gold chains draped over his neck. (Frankly.. Winona thought, he looked ridiculous. Dani should give Him a 'make-over.' He could certainly use it…)

"What?" She asked, incredulously. He looked at her and folded his arms impatiently.

"Circus?" Wind perked up looking at the older man with hopeful eyes only to have them dashed in the next instance.

Ravio gave a dramatic sigh and rubbed his temple. "We're leaving. For maximum stability, we needed to place the portal a fair distance away. It's a little less convenient this way, but I prepared for this eventuality. We're going to have to head about around dusk to make it. That should give Her Highness enough time to set it and stabilize it, then all we have to do is jump."

"Only a few hours.." Winona murmured and her face suddenly looked far away. She gave a small sigh. "Ok... I guess? How long before we can come back to San Fransisco? 'Til this weird war of yours is over, you think?"

"Come…back?" Ravio looked startled by the question and then immediately guilty. His answer was clear without even having to say another word. Winona looked horrified. Dani only looked sad, she had discussed this with Valda at length at the hospital and had come to grips with her fate already. She was surprised that Rav hadn't thought to make it clear to Winona though, it was clear that there were still things he was keeping close to his chest. That coupled with his inherent seeming lack of communication skills Period made Dani want to kick him.

Winona stood up and began to walk towards the door. Ravio opened his mouth to say something but then closed it seeming to not know what to say..

"Winny..?" It was Dani who spoke, she looked up at her friend from her seat uneasily, deep lines of concern etched her pretty face. Winona didn't turn around for a long moment. She was very still for a moment, shoulder heaving as she tried to calm her breathing. Her fists were balled at her side. Just when Dani was about to call out again, she finally did turn around. She had a small smile on her face that did not reach her eyes and tears were leaking down her face in unbid rivulets. She did not brush them away.

"heh. ..Its ok Dan.. I'm just… Wow. Wasn't expecting that…you know?" She hiccupped a small sound that was probably meant to be a laugh but sounded like a sob cut short. "I just…If this is my last night at home I'm just gonna go grab some food and sit somewhere for a bit..Make a few calls.. Find someone to take care of my cat, I guess.. I Just.. I can't bear the thought of leaving the city forever and never.." her voice broke and she covered her mouth and seemed to fold inward for a moment before regaining her composure. "I can't leave without ever tasting a good cioppino again. You know?"

Understanding and empathy washed over Dani's features at this. She smiled sadly…knowing only too well what her friend was feeling. She too was caught up in all this, after all. "Sotto Mare sound ok?"

Winona's smile widened just a little..becoming a little more real and she wiped her eyes. "Yeah…that sounds perfect."

"Well Sheeeet, load up the van girly! My treat!" Dani jumped to her feet, slapping down a devastating Royal Flush that would have cleaned out the table had they continued to play.

"What? Absolutely not!" Ravio sputtered, eyes wide. "Have you forgotten just how much DANGER we are all in? You can't just traipse off to some stupid restaurant!"

"Are we ever coming back?" Danielle asked him flatly.

Ravio was silent for a moment and then offered a halting and unconvincing "perhaps..?"

"Ahuh.." She replied, making up her mind. "We're going. We'll be back shortly! We'll bring the boys for safety…We'll call it a cultural 'food-based' field trip. You guys hungry?" She turned to the Chain with a winning smile. Hyrule stepped forward without even realizing that he was doing it and nodded. She beamed at him.

"I like Food..." Wild chimed.

"Great! Let's go.." Dani cried triumphantly and made her way out of the den and to the door

She turned and waved goodbye at Ravio with a wink as she sauntered out of the den with a neat little train following her.

Ravio hesitated for a moment and then chased after the departing group. "Wait! I'm coming too!"