Confrontation
It wasn't until two o'clock (Townsville time) that the girls were free to return home. Rather than catch the last bit of school, they agreed to report to their dad.
"We're thinking of paying Princess a visit personally," Blossom said. "We don't think this waiting game is getting us anywhere."
He sighed in weary relief. "I hope that pans out, though given our past experiences with Princess I doubt that. I've told the callers--the serious ones, that is--that when we do make a statement no organization is going to hear it before another. Maybe that will get some of them to be patient, but they do expect we're going to say something. Granted, they always expected that. And you're right, Blossom, the longer we say nothing the worse this looks.
"Assuming Princess is still at school herself, why don't you girls rest up a bit for now. Have you already eaten lunch?"
The girls were careful about this approach. Princess hadn't broken the law this time, as far as they knew. They touched down at the front gate of the Morbucks mansion rather than the front door. They didn't want to risk getting pinned with entering private property with neither invitation nor just cause.
Whoever answered the door took ten minutes to give them the go-ahead to approach the front door. It was another five before that door was opened. They were escorted to a waiting room where Princess left them for half an hour before a servant came to lead them to her.
Princess was lounging in her "study," her back to the girls. Some show catering to stock market enthusiasts was on the gargantuan television, already replaced, though she seemed to ignore it, clacking away on the laptop on the desk before her.
The girls had endured meetings with Princess before and resisted the urge to begin the conversation. A few minutes later, the show reached a commercial. Princess muted the T.V., closed the laptop, and swiveled around.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said flatly, her face impassive. "We normal folk always have something to be doing. Whereas you," she turned her gaze to Buttercup, "seem to be running out of ways to, ah, 'pass the time.'"
"All right, Princess, you're clearly having fun with this. So tell us, what's up? What do you want?"
Princess sighed and responded in the tone of a weary parent answering yet another foolish question posed by their child. "Blossom, when I want something you'll know it. I'll have it."
"So, what? You're saying this is over?"
"Oh, Blossom, this is far from over. Everyone still has their questions, including me. We're all still waiting to hear what you have to say. Though I will admit you know how to build up anticipation."
Buttercup wanted to lash out. All this waiting was getting to her. Princess's jibes were getting to her. A day of doing nothing while everyone tried to figure out what happened next was getting to her. But she knew diplomacy wasn't her strong suit. That fell to Blossom or Bubbles. But this wasn't even diplomacy. This was Blossom's turf all the way, and Buttercup just had to trust her sister to come through somehow.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Princess, but you expect me to believe that's the extent of your involvement?"
"My, ah, 'involvement,' as you say, isn't the issue at hand, though, is it? Now really, Blossom, is this so complicated? Just go out, tell everyone this is some petty little thing blown completely out of proportion and go on your way. I'll have 'had my fun,' as you put it, Buttercup will be vindicated, and we'll all be back to business as usual."
Princess clasped her hands and reclined. "Unless it's not that simple, of course."
"Nothing's simple when it comes to you, Princess. C'mon, girls, I think we're through here."
Princess spoke again after the girls turned around. "Now that can't be all you're here for, is it?"
"Goodbye, Princess," Blossom reiterated without bothering to look back.
"Well, they'll be talking now, won't they? Wondering what in this mansion could hold your attention for almost forty minutes."
Blossom paused but failed to think of anything worth saying. She started walking out and her sisters followed suit. Buttercup was the last one to reach the door, and stopped again when Princess called out.
"By the way, Buttercup, just so you know, I know a really good therapist. Perfect for this sort of thing. If there's anything I can do, just let me know. Don't be a stranger!"
Buttercup slammed the door. Carefully.
She was near breaking and her sisters recognized this. They left the mansion quickly, without another word.
They took flight after stepping outside. Blossom took lead, but she didn't head home. Her sisters caught on and followed her. They touched down in the overgrown ruins of a mountaintop monetary in Asia. The thick growth obscured it from above, and did about as good a job on the ground.
The girls, able to walk up and down the planet almost as casually as they would a garden, had each found several places they could go to be alone. Some of these were closer to home, like Buttercup's seaside cliff a hundred miles or so out of town. Bubbles visited a farm they'd spent a few weeks of their childhood at. This spot of Blossom's was a bit farther out, to say the least.
Her sisters noted a bed of sand clear of growth, dotted with stones positioned in the style of a Japanese rock garden. It stood out in stark contrast to its untended surroundings.
"I use it to teach myself to let things go," Blossom said softly. Her sisters realized they'd been starting at it in silence for a while, now. "A lot of times I just watch and make myself let go of my time. To just do nothing. Sometimes I draw in it then wipe it away. I...have trouble letting things go, sometimes. I always try to take responsibility for so many things, and I take it personally when I can't make things right."
Blossom walked to a spot beside the sand bed and sat cross-legged. She stared at the garden as she spoke to her sisters. "I could probably stand to spend a little time here now. I'm sorry if you think I'm pushing too hard or asking too much. I think I've been doing pretty well... I'm trying to be there for you two, because I don't think anyone else will."
Blossom turned her full attention to her sisters, and her face expressed clearly her restored seriousness and focus. "As far as Princess goes, though, I don't like any of it. Maybe she's playing on our paranoia, but I think it's genuine. I don't know what we do from here. You girls didn't see anything when we were there either, did you?"
They shook their heads.
"Then I guess when we get home we'll try to talk to dad. I'm pretty sure one of his lab rooms is sound proof."
"Blossom," Bubbles said, "do you think we're being too cautious?"
Blossom looked at her garden again. "Who can say? When can we ever be sure there isn't somebody watching? Princess or otherwise. This kind of paranoia never ends so long as we have something to hide."
They all took in the garden for a time. All of their special places had two things in common. One was isolation. The other was just as deeply-rooted. From an old wheat field, to the sea endlessly pounding away, to the quiet stillness of this garden, the other clear connection was simplicity. Blossom's sisters could certainly empathize.