The warm sunlight shone through the small window, warming his fur almost instantly. It looked like it was a bit windy that day judging by the way the trees swayed. A nice day to fly a kite though. A small smile formed on his face. He could imagine flying a huge kite, or maybe getting one of those hang gliders. The wind would carry him through the clouds and across the planet... the glider could have engines too, and a small force field, that way you could catch the wind currents and by hitting them just right, you could soar through the atmosphere and...

"My prince? Are you listening?"

Eryll blinked. "Huh? Oh, uhh... Yes?"

The elderly Yonderian sighed slightly. "Maybe it would be better if I shut the blinds?"

"I guess it would be a good idea," Eryll reluctantly agreed, knowing he'd just start daydreaming again.

Another year had passed, his birthday just a few weeks prior. He was seventeen now, nearly an adult. Eryll also had more responsibilities, after all he had to prepare for the day when he would take the throne. Eryll knew how important these lessons were. He wanted to be a great king and make sure everyone was happy, and he did try, honest to Glorn he did! There were still plenty of moments however where he didn't quite accomplish his goal, whether it was listening to one of his teacher's lectures or remembering what time to return to his home.

As soon as he closed the blinds, his teacher - Science major who's fur had a greyish-green color to it - continued his lesson on two elements from nearby planets that combined could... what could they do? 'Shoot,' Eryll winced, he would have to look it up in his textbook later. Afterwards would be his Intergalactic Government lesson, and then he would finally get to take a break. 'Alright, you can do this!' Eryll told himself as he sat up a bit straighter, adjusted his crown, and focused squarely on his teacher.

To be fair, he did pay attention to his teachers, never looking at the clock even for a second and even taking a few pages of notes. Of course, when the young prince put his mind to something, he really put his mind to it. Luckily determination was a great attribute for a future leader.

But as soon as his government teacher finished his lesson and excused Eryll for his break, the teenager rushed out of that room like it was on fire. "Thanks for the lesson!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Turning a corner in the hallway, Ruby quickly moved out of the way. "My prince, where are you going? The dining room is-"

"Oh! Sorry Ruby," Eryll said, screeching to a hault, "I was kinda plannin' on eating somewhere in town today. But if you've already went to all the trouble..."

The royal adviser forced a smile. "Just please remember to come back on time today."

Eryll grinned. "You're the best, Ruby!" he said, giving her a huge hug before running off again. Ruby just sighed and gave him a small wave goodbye. With the weather still perfect, Eryll was more than willing to run down the path to the town, far too happy to take his time. Besides, he knew the way plus every little detail of the trail forwards and backwards.

Upon entering the town, he could see that plenty of other Yonderians had the same idea. Many were sitting in the grass or on the sidewalk eating a light lunch, while others were in pairs or small groups walking towards a diner or food stand.

Eryll would of course wave and give a quick hello to everyone he saw or recognized, but of course as casual as he tried to be, the people would still bow and be as polite as possible, just because of the crown sitting atop his head.

"Good afternoon, Prince Eryll."

"I would be glad to give you something to eat, Prince Eryll, on the house of course."

"Have a good day, my Prince."

Despite the smile on his face, Eryll couldn't help but wonder if these people really were as friendly as they acted like he was, or if they were simply doing so because they had to.

"Hey! Give it back!" Catching his attention, Eryll turned to see three Yonderians running down the street. Two of them - one a boy and one a girl that looked a couple years younger than the boy - had pink fur while the other boy had yellow fur. In the yellow boy's hand was a ragdoll, which the young girl kept trying to grab.

"Gotta be faster than that!" the pink boy shouted.

"Come on, give her back!" the girl cried, reaching again for the doll. The yellow boy tossed the toy to his comrade - who nearly ran into Eryll. As soon as he saw the crown, the boy's face paled.

"U-uh, excuse me Er- Prince Eryll. I was just-" Remembering the doll in his hand, the pink furred Yonderian put it behind his back.

Surprisingly, Eryll gave the boy a small smile. "Ya know, if you wanted to play a game, there are plenty of ones that are fun for everyone. Get what I'm saying?"

The boy glanced at his friend, and then at his sister. They really were just playing around since they were bored with nothing else to do, but he could see that his sister was more upset than he thought she would be. Revealing the doll, the boy handed it back to it's owner. "Sorry sis, we really were just playin' around."

The girl hugged her doll tightly and then smiled at Eryll. "So, um, you wanna play hide and seek?" her brother asked.

"That actually sounds kinda fun," his friend added, and the girl nodded. Willing to forgive and forget, the three kids ran off towards a small forest where there was sure to be some good hiding spots. 'I don't know why some people always get all nervous around me,' Eryll thought as he continued walking down the street, 'They know I would never hurt anyone.' Maybe it was just another way of the townspeople trying to be polite. Whatever the reason, Eryll was just glad he could help out the little girl and give all three kids a fun afternoon.

He passed by shop windows and small carts, with every little thing catching his eye no matter how common it was. Turning a corner towards the restaurant that served his favorite sandwiches, Eryll could hear the faint sounds of plucked strings.

Turning towards the sound, he could see a brown furred Yonderian strumming a song on his banjo. Eryll had never heard much of the instrument, but he did like the sound. The music took over his body, making him feel even more carefree than usual as he started to dance in the street. He even started singing along, even if the lyrics he made up were simple. "Ba-do-do-da, dettle-dettle-de-de do-da! Deedeldeedel leedodee do-da! Debade dadi do!"

The banjo player smiled at him, giving him a quick bow with his head, and Eryll happily tossed a few coins into the sunhat the musician had next to him before continuing to dance down the sidewalk. As good of a mood the music put him in, Eryll would have been lying if said he didn't notice some of the stares focused on him. So, he settled down a bit as he walked into the sandwich shop.

"Turkey and a bag of chips please, with mustard." His eyes wandered around the shop, looking at the several tables that were filled. There were a few adults and little kids sitting at the tables, but most of the customers were his age. Fellow teenagers who were with their friends, planning what to do next and laughing at the stories they shared. As bad as it made him feel, Eryll couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

If it was simply his lessons and his duties keeping him from really having any friends, the solution would've been simple. He would just have to talk to his mom, and together they would rearrange his schedule to give him some freetime. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.

The moment that made him realize had taken place only a few months ago...

The winter months had returned with a vengeance, but nearly everyone on the planet had a heat source to shield them from the court, and this of course included the royal family.

His mother had been sitting on the loveseat reading a book while he was relaxing on the floor (technically, he was supposed to be working on his essay for his speech writing class but that could wait). Eryll had waited patiently and when he saw his mother close her book, he decided now was as good of a time as any.

"Say, Mom?"

"Yes, son?" Eryll sat up and looked at her straight in the eye.

"Am I... is there... Mom, why can't I make friends?"

Her smile slipped, and instead she gave a small, sad sigh. "Why do you say that?" Aurora asked, though she already knew part of the answer.

"Well, I saw some kids my age in town today, and I thought it would be fun to hang out with them a little. I tried striking up a conversation with them, but I must've not been very good at it." Maybe 'good' wasn't the right word, maybe he just didn't know how to do it right. Eryll knew he was different, he may have been a bit naive but he still knew that much. He enjoyed exploring and trying new things and trying to live life to the fullest. But teenagers - even Yonderian teenagers - were more grounded than that, having long lost their childlike innocence while his was still alive and thriving. But again, that wasn't to say he was stupid.

He saw the strange looks they gave him, and he could still feel their rejection through the polite phrasing. Despite this, he would still smile and give a polite farewell. But as he heard the conversation behind him return and go on just fine as if he was never there, it hurt - Glorn almighty did it hurt.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Aurora said finally, pulling her son into a hug, "I know how difficult making friends can be at this age." She gave a sad smile. "Why, when I was young, I acted more like an adult than a child. I soon found that because of this I couldn't really connect with anyone. But whenever I felt lonely, I simply remembered what my father told me. Do you know what he told me?"

"What'd Gramps tell you?"

"He said that no one in the universe his truly alone. In order to survive, everyone has to and does look out for each other, even if they don't know it. And everyone has a friend waiting for them, they just have to find each other. It may take a while, but they will meet. Because in a world filled with billions and billions of lifeforms, loneliness is only an allusion."

"Huh," Eryll said, letting his late grandfather's words sink in, "So, I can make friends?"

Aurora nodded. "I know it can be difficult, Eryll, but you have such a kind, good heart. I know one day you'll have plenty of friends, you just have to keep trying, and always be yourself."

Eryll smiled at her, believing her one hundred percent. After all, she had never lied to him before, and he had even seen her invite her own friends to their home for visits. So, he would have to keep trying, and keep remembering. "Thanks Mom," he said, snuggling closer to her and growing sleepy.

"You're welcome, my little prince," Aurora replied as the flames that filled the fireplace began to burn out.

Eryll smiled to himself. The group looked friendly enough, and surely they wouldn't mind one more. Heck, he'd even share some of his chips with them if they wanted some. He was getting excited now, so much so he wasn't even worried about fitting in with them. 'Yeah, I bet we'll have a lot of fun!'

*Ding* "Oh!" That meant his sandwich was done. Thanking the cashier, he took his bag. But as he said thank you, Eryll couldn't help but notice that the clock above the employee read 11:48. He had twelve minutes before his next lesson.

'I did promise I'd try to get back on time,' Eryll thought to himself. He looked back at the group of friends. Judging by the trash on their table, they were almost done with lunch anyway.

'Oh well, maybe next time.' With that, Eryll exited the restaurant and began walking home.

()()()()()()()

"I received a message from Queen Aurora. She should be back by tomorrow evening."

Eryll smiled. "That's great. Hope she's havin' fun."

"I'm sure she's being productive," Ruby answered as she and Eryll returned to their meals. Usually Ruby ate her dinner at her own home, but Eryll had invited her to stay and when she saw the somberness in his face that he was trying - and failing - to hide, she couldn't help but accept.

As much as he knew it was his mother's job, Eryll did wish she was home more often. Even if she was home more, she would most likely work late into the evening, but at least Eryll would be able to keep her company - and vice versa. Of course, the queen had kept her promise to take her son on more business trips with her. The young prince had been so excited the first time he went on one.

Unfortunately, he quickly learned that while he got to meet new people, not many of the leaders or their servants were interested in having a long conversation with him, just a quick hello. Then there were the schedules, which were even tighter than his usual ones, leaving absolutely no room for sight seeing. After a few more times, Eryll decided not to go with his mother anymore, slightly disappointed with how the trips turned out. He could definitely see why Keir didn't care to go on them.

Speaking of which... "Say, Ruby? Do you know if Mom's taking a trip Skulldrion anytime soon?"

"Thankfully not," the adviser answered, "In fact, I haven't heard much from them after the whole Wittkalla dispute, other than Lord Obsidian and Lady Arcana taking control of a couple more planets in the north section of the galaxy." She still wasn't completely sure why Eryll had taken an interest in the evil lord's heir. He had even tried sending a couple letters, but never received a reply. Of course, he'd never let it get him down. "They could have gotten lost in the mail," Eryll had said, "Or maybe he's just busy." Part of her actually wished they did become close friends, as ridiculous as it sounded.

'Oh well, can't change the past,' she thought as she finished off her plate. Seeing that Eryll was finished as well, she took his dish and excused herself to go place them in the kitchen. When she returned, he was still sitting at the table, lost in his thoughts. "Goodnight, my Prince."

Blinking, Eryll gave her a small nod. "Goodnight Ruby." She nodded back, and the two went their separate ways - Eryll heading towards his bedroom and Ruby towards the front door.

He took a bath in silence, cutting it shorter than usual and then dried his fur. He was tired, but not quite ready to sleep. So, he did what he always did:

Eryll sat down on his balcony and watched the stars. One by one they would appear, bring light into the dark sky. Some were big, others he had to squint to see, but they were always constant. Surprisingly, he didn't mind seeing the same stars each night. They would still make him smile. He searched for all the constellations he knew and even tried to find some new ones, but didn't see any.

The teenager let out a yawn. He could feel his eyelids getting heavy. "Guess I better hit the hay," he mumbled to himself as he stood up. But just as he was about to turn his head away from the sky, a bright flash made him wide awake. A shooting star.

He had seen shooting stars before, but they still excited him. He didn't make a wish, but he did watch it shoot across the sky until it's light faded away. "Have a safe journey," he said quietly, smiling as he walked inside his room.

Tomorrow would be mostly the same, and part of him didn't mind. Eryll had a happy life, he knew that and he did enjoy it. There were things about he loved and wouldn't trade for anything. So, why did part of him still feel unhappy?

'You know why,' Eryll thought to himself, pulling the blankets over him. But he couldn't just up and leave. His planet needed him, didn't it? He had skills to learn, skills he would need if he wanted to keep Yonderia a happy place and make his mother proud. His mother, if he left who would keep her company? He couldn't be selfish. For those very reasons, he would stay and fulfill what ever duties he had.

No matter how lonely he got or how much he wished to see the stars up close along with the planets they surrounded.

Letting his eyes close, Eryll's thoughts began to play out for him, showing him new worlds and amazing places that made him smile and mumble in his sleep.