Anime Portal Station (Actually it's more of a break room.)

Mana: *purses her lips and continues to pull them through the castle* Ones that always come true.

*Van both catches, and is uncomfortable with, Mana's tone*
Van: Oh...

Mana: *pulls to a stop in front of a room with pristine white doors and smiles comfortingly to Van and Whip* Do not fret; Tikal is one of the most compassionate people one could ever meet. *knocks on the door before pushing it open, revealing a small indoor garden with small chao all floating around an orange echidna who is smiling at them*

*Van enters the garden, trying very hard not to slip into his appreciation for it, and bows respectfully to the echidna*
Van: Tikal, right? It's nice to meet you~
*AU Whip doesn't step in*

Tikal: *looks somewhat startled by Van's appearance* O-Oh! Hello! *bows quickly and some of the chao flock to Van curiously, one playing with his spikes while another two play with his tail*
Mana: *walks up to Tikal and is goes into the automatic curtsey that her class instills in her* Lady Tikal~
Tikal: *smiles kindly at Mana and other chao flock to the girl as well* Princess Mana, a pleasure to see you as always. *looks to Van and glances at Whip* Are these your friends?
Mana: Yes, they are. I was entertaining the possibility that you might be willing to help us...?
Tikal: *nods* Of course! It would be my utmost pleasure.
Mana: Wonderful~ *blinks* Oh! Please excuse my manners. This is Van, *gestures to him and she turns around to look at Whip with a curious expression* And that is Whip... *frowns and takes a few steps towards the swordsman* Whip...? Are you well?

*AU Whip pushes his head down and grunts in response. Van sweatdrops*
Van: He's going to be like this all day, huh?
*AU Whip enters the room, though he doesn't bother looking up*

Mana: *huffs a bit at Whip's disrespect but turns back to Tikal* Lady Tikal, would you do us the kind favor of reading a fortune for our friends? They are in a different region, and we're rather concerned with their well beings at the moment...
Tikal: *nods while some chao have flocked to the upset rabbit, some cuddling up next to him to make him feel better while others are curiously looking at his damaged ears* Of course, I understand.

*AU Whip grows a vein of anger as the chao flock to him, and another when they gather around his ears. He shakes violently to shoo away the chao. Van sweatdrops again and tries to ignore the grumpy rabbit*
Van: E-eh... Anyways, we're looking for our friends... Uhm... do you need their names or something?

*Some of the chao grow angry and start beating Whip, while others begin to cry. To try and calm them as well as the rabbit, Mana starts to take them all and bring them away*

Tikal: Hmm... I believe there is an easier method. Come this way. *starts to lead them to the waterfall and lake, and Tikal gently moves some of the swimming chao out of the lake, petting them in a way that earns her a heart from them as they make their way elsewhere* Oh, they're so sweet~ *turns back to the tiny lake and places her hands on it, and the water starts to glow with a soft light, and she turns back to the two* Think of your friends and look into the lake. It will show you what is happening right now to them. If you wish, I can reverse the clock and show you what has happened to them since they have arrived in this world. I can also move it forward, but the further we go into the future, the more vague and unclear it will become. Still. *bows again to the two, smiling* I promise I will do my very best to help you as I can, Sir Whip, Sir Van, Princess Mana~
Mana: *smiles happily* Thank you, Tikal~ Your efforts are very much appreciated. *looks to Whip* I would believe this is best up to you.

AU Whip: Wh-what?
*AU Whip was already hesitant to approach the lake, and is surprised by the election*
Van: You know who we're looking for better than we do.
AU Whip: ....Fine....
*AU Whip closes his eyes for a little bit, thinks of AU Mana, and then looks into the lake, waiting for something to happen*

*As Whip looks into the lake, images become visible to him, revealing a familiar lavender feline with a much fiercer look than her counterpart, currently holding her own against a human girl, with long raven black hair tied back in a way that it resembles a dolphin's tail, both exchanging heated blow for blow against each other. However, the wine-eyed colored girl lands a solid blow on AU Mana, showing her strength is much more than it appeared to be when she sends the poor mobian flying somewhat off what looks to be a sparring ring.

The expression shows that the girl is concerned by how much force went behind that blow and rushes to Mana's aide, but the feline looks sheepish and laughs at her supposed sparring partner, and soon enough the other girl joins in with the laughter. A rabbit sporting a mixture of ebony and ivory colors dressed in a witch-like outfit goes to the both of them, wearing a look of concern and seems to be slightly scolding Mana, to which the girl just waves her off, possibly saying that she's alright or something of the like. Sugar looks a little concerned, but suddenly looks to the right as if listening to someone else, and after that, she gains a look of reassurance.

Another human brunette girl donned in an excessive amount of pink walks in holding some food, and Sugar's face lights up as well, and mentions something as she points to cookies on the said plate, to which both Mana and the long haired brawler both seem to pale at. Both Sugar and the smile brilliantly and happily, and the two brawlers gain a look that is usually seen on martyrs as they take the food items from the tray*

Mana: How are they?

*AU Whip watches the reflection as if he were in a trance, intently watching the group of girls. He finally gives a small sigh of relief*
AU Whip: ....They're okay.
*AU Whip slumps back onto his knees*
Van: That's good to hear, right?
*AU Whip suddenly tenses a little*
AU Whip: You said we could see what's already happened to them, right?
*AU Whip is still visibly avoiding Tikal*
AU Whip: Could you show us... what they've been through?

Tikal: *nods* Of course. *she taps the water again, and the water changes its glow a bit, before showing the images of the past*

*The images move a little faster this time, perhaps in an effort to mash all the events into a basic summary. However, the basic gist of it can be discerned from the images. AU Mana seems to appear next to Sugar when they enter the game, and some words are exchanged before they enter an establishment named 7th Heaven. The scene skips ahead and Mana seems to be making a serious agreement, shaking hands with a large black man with a gattling gun for an arm with the familiar girls from before, smiling at her behind the man, and a blond swordsman in the back, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, a giant sword on his back.

The scene moves ahead and the group seems to be in a serious firefight now. AU Mana seems to be fighting for her life as well as everyone else's as a military group tries to pin them down. The group retreats, seeming as if they're about to make it out, but a woman in a dark purple dress that borderlines black cuts them off and smirks, before the nails on her hands elongate to ridiculous lengths, aiming for the wide-eyed Sugar. Reacting quickly, Mana pushes her out of the way, but is unable to dodge the strike herself, and notably, her health gauge drops into the red area before completely depleting. The group she had been working with seem horrified as she hits the ground, disappearing into a shower of sparkles with only a little cyan ball floating being her remains.

The group quickly get over their shock, Sugar going into take Mana's sphere and cradles it gently, quickly running for the exit with the two girls and gun-arm man from before, while the blonde swordsman disperses his swords, dual-wielding, multi-wielding, whatever it takes to keep Mana's murderer busy as the team escapes the building. After stringing a large combo on the woman, leaving her paralyzed and too busy regenerating, the blond swordsman makes his escape as well.

Ripples in the water change the scene once again, and a recovering Mana smiles weakly at the teary Sugar, and by the wry look on the feline's face, she's obviously trying to make light of the situation, perhaps joking about "how cat's have nine lives". It works slightly, as Sugar looks somewhat cheered, and the girl with the pink bow from earlier reprimands Mana slightly before casting another healing wave on her.

The scenes catch up to the present and stop, the water clearing for awhile*

*AU Whip is silent*
Van: ...Whip?
*AU Whip stands up, his fists notably balled tightly into fists*
AU Whip: ....She's already lost a life.
*His teeth begin to bear*
AU Whip: While we were wasting time eating dinner.... She was hurt. She was killed. She was there to protect her when I couldn't.....

Mana: *looks shocked* M-Mana fell in battle?! So soon...?
Tikal: *looks somewhat alarmed as well as confused, but looks at Whip in concern* But she is fine now, is she not...?

Whip: No thanks to me. She's only got two lives left now!
*He impatiently starts walking out again*
Whip: We're wasting time here! We have to-
Van: Just wait, okay? Mana.
*Van turns to Mana*
Van: Just how far is this <<Generation Jurisdiction>> place anyways?

Mana: *frowns sadly* It's quite a ways away. One must travel through <<Grand Larceny>> first before reaching <<Generation Jurisdiction>>. Making to that area in a three day trip would require a huge stoke of luck...

AU Whip: That's three days more time than I have to waste.
*Van scratches the side of his muzzle in an annoyed manner*
Van: Come on! You can't seriously think you can make it out there on your own! Even ignoring those monsters, by the time you make it half way there, Lord Tempest will have declared war on <<Generation Jurisdiction>>. There are gonna be some really tough soldiers out there, maybe even stronger than Sir Sonic!
*AU Whip growls, but he recognizes the truth in Van's words*
Van: ...Let's just assist M'lady Mana first. Then we can go to <<Grand Larceny>>, and find a way to get into <<Generation Jurisdiction>> without being mobbed by tons of anti-princess soldiers.
AU Whip: .....

Tikal: *steps forward* May I offer a suggestion...?
Mana: *tilts her head* What is it, Lady Tikal?
Tikal: *looks to the lake* I understand that you are worried about your friends' conditions... Perhaps, in order to calm your minds, you could look into the future. That way, you would know how much time you would have to make it to them and if they would be alright while you were away. The future might be a little more cloudy, but it does not tell lies. Just hidden truths.
Mana: *nods in approval* That seems like a most reasonable suggestion, Lady Tikal. *looks to Whip* Would that calm your mind and ease your worries if you saw Mana and Sugar safe until we reached them? If it happens that there is something terrible to happen in the near future, then I will be most sure to find a solution that will get you to them in time. But as of the moment, I would prefer we take the normal route.

*AU Whip looks at Mana, his expression dark, but reasonable, and he nods*
Van: Great. If you would, Lady Tikal~?

Tikal: *nods and lets Whip look into the lake once again, this time a slight fog covering it as well as the images*

*The images seem a little blurred, but they move slowly, as if unsure about what is supposed to occur. Images of what looks to be a military parading through a street in cobalt and gold uniforms appear in the water, and the image pans out to Mana examining the group from afar, before relaying information to her teammates.

Although the clouds on the water seem to clog up the scene a bit, the water flashes to several different humans, one that notably has five stars on his uniform and has an eye patch to cover one eye, another showing another man with ebony hair, fixing his gloves that are marked with a tattoo, standing next to a woman with calculating eyes, and then finally a scene of a young, short boy with a long golden braid standing next to what looks to be a man in old fashioned armor, standing aside from the military and looking very upset with the military parading through the streets, clenching tightly some sort of silver charm in his hand.

The scene shifts into another, perhaps the day after, showing the group that Mana seems to be very comfortable with to be training. In this scene, Mana seems to be trying to work with the girl with a pink bow and emerald eyes to learn magic, but seems rather frustrated with her results, or, in this case, lack of. Sugar also attempts to aide Mana, but both apparent magicians seem to think that Mana's attempt to learn magic is rather unlikely, judging by their concerned looks and Mana's aggravated appearance.

Later, the scene that shows the same man with the gloves from before enter the establishment that the team is in, revealing that Seventh Heaven is a bar. He takes a seat and the female brawler with long black hair smiles at him and supposedly takes his order as a barmaid, although her normally cheery disposition seems a bit different today, as her smile towards the man doesn't reach her eyes. The girl still treats the man to his order despite her somewhat cold appearance towards him, until the man seems to mention something as he gestures to the miniskirt she's wearing, to which the girl looks very displeased and comments on something before treating the next customer.

Notably, beneath the bar where an upset Mana is fuming from being supposedly unable to go upstairs because of her appearance, the swordsman guardian playing jail keeper towards her has a darkened expression as he examines his sword supposedly out of boredom.

The scene shifts into later in the night, showing that the man has left the establishment, somewhat drunk and tipsy, but despite his stupor, he looks to the same girl from before that stood by his side earlier and exchange words, before a look of grim determination takes place on his face.

The next day, the group is resting up and lounging around, when suddenly, the scene shifts abruptly to an exchange of gunfire, magic, and alchemy as Seventh Heaven is torn up from a surprise attack from the military. Mana exits from a secret exit of the bar, pulling along Sugar on tow with a very pissed off expression on her face, obviously hating the fact she's running away from the fight. However, the man from the previous night appears in front of her, blocking her way as well as Sugar's, making Mana glare as she hides Sugar behind her own body, forming a slight shield. The two exchange a few words, with Mana looking extremely confused for a moment, when the man takes out his gloves and secures them on, before suddenly, the scene in the lake becomes engulfed in fire.

After a few tense moments pass and Sugar appears in a jail cell with a very shell-shocked Mana, comforting her as best as she can. A few moments later, the man from earlier with the eye patch on his eye who can be assumed to be the leader of the land appears in front of them. He pulls out a newspaper that, as best one can tell form the moreso-foggy scenes, seems to mention something about the war at hand and shows pictures of Mana as well as her group, similar to how they would appear as criminals. Despite her shaken state, she seems to say something biting to the leader, who smiles for a moment before suddenly lashing out with his sword and piercing her shoulder.

Sugar appears to scream as the leader retracts his now bloody sword and Mana grasps her new wound with a labored breath, glaring at the leader with open defiance. The leader simply smiles and he seems to be mentioning something when the scene changes once again, but this time, the lake is too foggy to discern anything else*

Tikal: *seems slightly weakened and overwhelmed by the influx of images she's had to show Whip, but still manages a strong look of concern* ...It seems... three days is exactly what you will need to save your friends...

*AU Whip is speechless, expressionless, and breathless, but somehow manages to let air fill his lungs and respond*
AU Whip: ...Three days...That's all I have...
Van: Whip. Before you say anything, remember that the future is cloudy, and-
AU Whip: To HELL with waiting! I'm not going to let her die because you want to waste time drinking tea with the King!
*AU Whip turns away from the pond, Mana, Van, and Tikal so quickly, his jacket whiplashes and flaps loudly in the air as he storms his way out. Van tries half-heartedly to keep up with him*
Van: Wh-wait! Whip!
*Van's arm falls limp as AU Whip unflinchingly slams the white marble doors behind him, and he stops in his tracks*
Van: ...
*Van turns to Mana, lost on how to proceed*
Van: ....What do we do now?

Mana: *has a concerned but contemplative look on her face* I'm afraid I will have to ask Father and Mother anyways. *looks down and clenches her fist* ... *sighs and looks at Van with a weak smile on her face* Do not fret. I will have a solution for Whip so he does not go mad with worry from the wait. Nor will he be unable to do anything reckless such as leave the castle.
Tikal: *looks guilty* I'm sorry. I worsened the situation, didn't I, my Lady?
Mana: *shakes her head* Of course not. *the weak smile continues* Whip, however, has a penchant for recklessness, no matter the universe. It's unfortunate, but cannot be helped.

*she opens her hands and a little ball of energy turns into a screen of the sort, showing Yui and her parents from earlier* Yui-chan? Asuna-chan? Kirito-san? Would you be so kind to see to it that my friend does not take his leave from this kingdom just yet? He will be quite stubborn and temperamental; I suggest caution against him.
Asuna: *nods seriously* Yes, of course, Mana-hime.
Yui: *looks concerned* Is Whip-san alright?
Mana: He is simply driven by worry. It cannot be helped, I suppose... *her face looks a little sad* Love is a powerful driving force, is it not? *at the three's concerned silence, she shakes her head and smiles* Thank you for your assistance, you three.
Asuna: *nods her head* It is our pleasure, Mana-hime.
Mana: *turns off her communication abilities to her servants and looks to Tikal* Van and I will be sure to talk to my parents, Lady Tikal. *goes into her curtsey* Thank you for all the help you have given us.
Tikal: *returns the bow* It was my pleasure, Princess Mana.
Mana: *looks to Van* Shall we depart?

*Yui, Asuna, and Kirito wait at the only entrance of the castle that the group came through earlier, expecting Whip to try and come through*

*Van bows to her*
Van: As you wish, M'lady~
*He also bows to Tikal*
Van: And thank you again for showing us where our friends are!

*AU Whip, in his tempered frustration, barely notices the three standing together in front of the entrance as he walks. He stops a few meters before them, not bothering to look up at the two Knights and fairy*
AU Whip: ....An assassination order from his highness for yelling at his daughter?

Asuna: *looks shocked by Whio's callous words and frowns* No, Mana-hime just wanted us to make sure you don't leave the castle.
Kirito: If the King wanted you dead, you'd already be taken care of.
(Simultaneously)
Asuna: Kirito-kun!
Yui: Papa!
Kirito: *looks somewhat reprimanded* It's true...
Asuna: *frowns but looks to Whip* Sorry, we can't have you leave.