This was requested a while ago and I'm just now getting around to posting it.

TW: It's sad.. Set in an Alternate Universe

Title: ~Not Us~

"I'm not crazy, Rythian. It exists. There is a castle, and there is a nuke. They look like us, but they live in fear of the scientist, and there's no peace. They can't find peace at all."

The boy sat beside the girl who spent most of her life lying helplessly in her white hospital bed. He had been her friend as long as he could remember, always keeping her company; always listening too. There was never any confusion or questions about sanity, but that was before she began telling of a world that no one else could see.

"I know you aren't crazy. I just don't understand where all this is coming from."

Her gaze was glued to the open window carrying a gentle breeze and the sweet scent of flowers, but as she turned away; her worry filled eyes were glued to him, "I can see it. A Blackrock Castle. Science and Magic. Mushrooms and Endermen. A boy and a girl. You and me."

"Is... Is this a game, Zoey? Are you playing a game?"

"No, it's not a game. It's real. Don't you believe me? How can you not believe me when there's a tragedy coming? How can you not believe me when the nuke is going to explode?"

He was trying his hardest to follow her, but none of it was making sense. The nurses had warned him not to try; claiming she was making everything up for attention or simply out of desperation, but even though everyone had given up, he told himself he would continue to listen even when all logic was gone.

" I.. I do believe you. I just... I just... what will happen when the nuke goes off? Will...they see each other again?"

"I don't know... I don't know at all..." He watched the worry in her eyes turn to sorrow as she desperately tried to uncover the answer herself, "I can't see the outcome... It drives me insane. He is so afraid... and she is crying alone. If the wrong wire is cut, that will be the end of everything. The scientist will win. Our story will be over."

He felt the suffocating fear that she felt just from the tone of her voice. Whether or not this other world existed, she believed it did and wanted more than anything to do something. But she couldn't. Trapped in her room, she saw things no one else could; worrying about things she couldn't control. It was heartbreaking, and Rythian couldn't help but be dragged down as well. There was just something so wrong about it all. So messed up as she refused to worry about herself, while slowly without even trying to, became absent from the world that was hers.

Her whole body trembled and deeply reflected in her eyes was the world she trembled for, but as he reached for her hand, the trembling stopped almost immediately, "Zoey... I believe you and I know it must be real, but those two are not us.  There is no castle... There is no nuke... Here, you don't have to worry about all that. Those two will be alright. I think it's time that you start taking better care of yourself."

She seemed so taken by him that even if it was for a split second, she was aware and living in her own world. For just one moment, she was seeing what she should. "My..self?"

"That's right. You've been here so long. So very long that you've forgotten that you're alive, Zoey. That outside this hospital, you could have your own life. Your own story."

"My own..."

"Wouldn't you want her to see you with a smile on your face? It's possible that she's watching us even though she's scared. Maybe at this very moment she is just as worried about you as you are of her."

Her eyes widened. Such a concept never crossed her mind. "Watching me? You actually think she's worried about me when it's her who's about to... even though she's the one who's in more pain than anyone else?"

"Yes." Clutching her hands, he believed that more than anything, "That's how you are and if she really is the same, that's the definite trait you share. Overlooking your own pain to watch over someone else. It's admirable, but very self destructive."

Shaking again, her voice seemed to fall to pieces, "I... I don't mean to. I just... I see her and I can't do anything!"

"You're wrong..." After holding back in a moment apprehensiveness,  he held his breath and pulled her into his embrace. Their hearts thumped in unison. It was the first time they had ever been so close. "You've done everything you can and it's enough. She knows she's not alone now. It's okay. Everything will be okay, alright?"

She gripped at his back, "H-how can you be so sure?"

He held her tighter in response and felt the heat rising in his cheeks as his nervousness continued to rise, "Because you... are stronger than anything that gets thrown your way. You've suffered, been damaged, and yet, you haven't given up. You're still here even after countless times you've tried to convince yourself to disappear."

"Ryth-"

"And she's no different, Zoey. She's terrified, and yet, in order to spare everyone else, she's handling everything alone. I can't even imagine the amount of strength and courage that a person must have to do something like that, but just like you, she's giving all she has to do all she can. It's scary, I know, but she's already survived the destruction of one world and though I can't promise she'll make it out in one piece, I know she'll survive..." Gently breaking the hug to look at her face, he could see tears rolling down her cheeks without stopping, "as will you."

Sniffling uncontrollably, she couldn't hold herself together at all, "I- want that to be true. I want us both to live. I'm tired of being like this. I'm tired of seeing her cry. I just want to be happy. I just want us to be happy, Rythian! You and me! And her and him!"

Giving a half hearted smile, and sighing quietly as his face still burned red, he laid his hand on her cheek and wiped the tears from her eyes, "Me too. I've had enough of all this unnecessary sadness."