Disclaimer: I own all three Animal Crossing games. Sadly, this does not mean I own the characters or the franchise. If I did, there would be a whole lot more backstory in all the characters' lives. But alas...I can only write mere fanfiction. [pouts] Hope you'll enjoy it anyway!

Warning: This contains shippy material. If you are offended at the thought of two kitties in love, I'd suggest you a) not read this, and b) see a psychiatrist.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction (that I will publish on here, anyway [laughs]). I really hope everyone will give me a warm welcome and submit lots of replies! Your reviews will give me the courage to keep writing, and since I'm going to college for Creative Writing, your input would be very influential to my writing style and methods! Help a person out here! [laughs] Well, I sincerely hope my work will please you, and without further ado, may I present...

Not Just a Pretty Face

::Prologue: New Places, New Faces::

On the bus again, headed for a new town, new friends, and new adventures...

That was just the way Rover liked it.

The blue-and-white cat sighed and settled into his seat, watching the scenery roll by as he took the bus from Angelton. Traveling was Rover's passion. He just couldn't get enough of it. The new places, new events, new faces...

The bus stopped briefly, and another passenger stepped on, though Rover didn't see them because of the seat in front of him. The newcomer made their way down the aisle, head bowed. The bus was very small, with only three seats on either side, so it usually didn't take long to find a seat.

Rover noticed that the passenger was a cat like him, but female, as the newcomer sat in the seat ahead of him. Her fur was snow-white and very pretty.

"Um...hello, ma'am! Are you traveling, too?" he asked, eager to get to know this pretty cat.

The cat didn't face him. "I...suppose so," she answered in a small voice.

Rover beamed. "Glad to meet a fellow traveler! I'm Rover. What's your name?"

There was a moment's pause before she answered. "...Blanca."

"Blanca," Rover savored the name. "That means 'white,' doesn't it? What a pretty name for such a pretty gal!" He wasn't sure why he had complimented her. He was pretty sure she was pretty, but more than that, the white cat seemed sad. Maybe a compliment would cheer her up.

But to Rover's dismay, Blanca only bowed her head morosely.

"Hey, hey," he said, feeling bad. "I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?"

"No."

"Then why are you so sad? C'mon! Put on your happy face! Yar har har!" He demonstrated by grinning widely, but Blanca still didn't look at him.

"...I can't," she said sadly.

Rover stopped grinning. "Well, why not?"

"You wouldn't understand," she said softly.

"Hey, I'm no dummy," Rover protested. "Try me."

As he stared intently at the back of Blanca's head, she seemed to tremble. "I can't put on my happy face..." she said, and then turned to face him. "—Because I have none!"

Rover gasped. Where the cat's face should have been, there was only white fur. Her face was blank and white, just as her name suggested.

Rover blinked. He wanted to say something. There were a lot of things he could have said. Something comforting. Something sympathetic.

What he said instead was, "How are you talking and seeing?"

Much to Rover's dismay, the faceless cat burst into tears (though Rover didn't see how that was possible, either). "I-I knew it!" she wailed. "E-everyone always m-makes fun of me!"

"Hey, hey!" he said soothingly, patting her head awkwardly. "I wasn't making fun. You just surprised me, that's all."

"Y-yeah right! You think I'm u-ugly! Just like all the others!" she blubbered.

"No I don't," he said honestly. "I think it's kinda cool."

Her sobbing slowed, and she gave a small hiccough. "Cool?"

"Yeah. Wish I could see and stuff with no eyes or nose or mouth!"

"You do?" she said suspiciously.

"Sure! People tell me I've got a big mouth anyway—if I was like you, no one would say that anymore!"

She made a small noise halfway between a sniffle and a giggle.

"And I could keep my nose out of animals' business if I didn't have a nose!" he continued, heartened by her reaction. "And when I take too much food, no one would tell me my eyes are bigger than my stomach!"

She giggled again. "You're... different, Rover," she decided.

He beamed. "If that's a compliment, I'll take it!"

The bus stopped again. "...I'm getting off here," Blanca said sadly.

"You're leaving?" Rover said, and he was surprised to realize that he was sad. He met lots of animals traveling and eventually said good-bye to them all—so why should he be sad now?

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Blanca replied. "Good-bye, Rover. Thank you for talking to me." She bowed politely and shuffled out of her seat and stepped off the bus. Rover watched her sadly as she walked away.

"Good-bye...Blanca..."

Author's Note: How was it? Not too great. [laughs] Please remember that this is only the prologue! Keep reading; I promise it will get better. ^_^;