"An exchange of favors," Robin said. She couldn't quite fault them for it, and focusing on that -- rather than the feelings that memory of being pulled away brought out -- felt safer. Sometimes, armies needed allies. Could she really blame them? The Shepherds acquired more than a few allies in similar ways.

"If they need the help, I can't complain," she determined. She glanced down at Ventus, then she nodded. "Helping us, if that's what they did... it's fair. And there's a lot of people in this city."

And another city, she was told, even larger. Her expression became thoughtful, instead of distant and a little sad. The lack of information around the situation proved disconcerting, but they had a few leads. Maybe whatever pulled them here could only share so much.

"I wonder who or what brought us," she said. "It must have had something to do with that crystal."