Author's Note: Halfway there! Three down, three to go. If you like the story, please leave a review! I know people are following and favouriting, but reviews are how I know I'm doing well. Even just a few short words would be wonderful.

Three: Fabia

Fabia sat on the railing of her balcony, staring out at the night sky on Neathia. She sighed quietly. Let the wind roll over her skin and muse her hair. Even alone, she was still in her human form. She wasn't sure what bothered her more – the fact that she didn't mind always being human, or the fact that no one seemed to notice she never switched back.

It had been easier, once, to be herself. But she'd lost that when she'd gained Aranaut. Lost the ability to look in the mirror without wanting to shatter it.

She sighed again. It had been easier, once. But the Brawlers helped. As castle knights, they were helping to save Neathia. And with them around, she felt herself laughing more easily, smiling without thinking about it. Enjoying herself more than she had since…. Well, since.

"Hey." A soft voice sounded from behind her. Fabia turned to find Shun leaning on the door jab, still in his castle knight uniform.

"Hey," said Fabia. He came forward and leaned against the railing, maybe two feet to her left.

"Lovely night," said Shun. "Is it always like this?"

Fabia hugged herself. The night sky was a brilliant mesh of purples and navy blues, of deep pinks and succulent greys. She shook her head. "No, not always. Just when something important is coming."

Shun raised an eyebrow. "The sky changes to warn you of the future?" he asked.

"Code Eve changes it to tell us," said Fabia. She felt herself smile. "She's done it as long as I can remember. You should see the sky on my birthday. She lights it up in these amazing greens."

Shun nodded. "I'd like to see it, sometime," he said.

Fabia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Saw the way the light reflected back onto his face and left him looking both impossibly old and impossibly young. She caught herself smiling, despite knowing she shouldn't.

Her sister had told her over and over – don't get involved with the humans. It would lead to nothing but trouble. But she couldn't help it. He was beautiful in an ethereal way. Wise and quiet, watchful and inquisitive.

"I hope the war will be over before then," said Fabia quietly.

Shun tipped his head to look at her. The light caught his eyes and turned them into a swirling vortex of deep blues and vibrant purples. "That doesn't mean I won't see it," he replied.

Fabia blushed. He would come back. He'd come back just for her birthday. That would be wonderful. To see Shun on her birthday – to dance with him by the light of the moon. It would be a birthday like no other.

"I'm sure the others would like it as well," said Shun, offhandedly. Fabia slumped. Of course. Shun rarely went anywhere without the Brawlers. Without Dan. Not that she could blame him. Dan was wonderful. But he was no Shun.

"You seem troubled," said Shun. Fabia blinked. Did she? Conflicted, maybe. Love struck, definitely. But troubled? She thought about it. Thought about the battles and the fighting and Aranaut and all the trouble with Jake and Ren.

"A little," she confessed. "I'm glad to have Ren, of course, but many of the castle knights are still worried about having a Gundalian working with us."

Shun hummed. "They think he's a double agent."

"Yeah," said Fabia. She tugged at her hair and leaned back, hands on the railing, to stare straight up at the stars. "It's not right. The way you look shouldn't determine the way you're treated."

Shun glanced at her. "Really?" She didn't miss the dry tone. "Your appearance disagrees with your words."

"Is it so bad?" she asked, quietly. "To want to be human when you're around humans?" She turned her body to look at Shun. Let herself look at his face – at his lips – and bit her own lip. "When you look human, people forget you aren't." Her voice was soft. Breathy. She leaned toward Shun. "It makes some things…" She tilted her head. Drew closer. "Easier."

Shun stepped back and ducked away from her. He put his back to the side of the balcony and stared at her with eyes half full of pity and half full of confusion.

"Fabia," he said, and his voice wavered.

Fabia went red. She looked away from him. "I'm sorry," she said. Her voice broke. "I thought you liked me."

"I do," said Shun quickly. "But not the way you like me."

Fabia grimaced and clenched her hands around the railing. She trembled – her shoulders vibrating as she struggled not to break down crying. She would not cry. She was a princess. She was a castle knight. She was strong.

"Why?" asked Fabia, and her voice lingered in the air. It hung between them, heavy with the weight of all the things they left unsaid.

"There's someone else," said Shun simply.

Fabia turned to look at him. She frowned. "Who?"

It was Shun's turn to falter. His cheeks pinked and he looked away. His ears turned red. He folded his arms across his chest and turned his body away from Fabia.

"I just humiliated myself in front of you," said Fabia tightly. "And you can't even do me the courtesy of telling me who you actually like?" She tried not to let her voice raise to a scream. Barely succeeded.

Shun stared out at the sky. "Think about it," said Shun. His voice was tight. His cheeks and ears burning bright red. "There's only one person it could be."

For a long moment, Fabia thought about it. But once she let her mind clear, the answer came to her easily enough. She tried not to stare – failed – and let the words fall from her lips.

"Dan."

Shun sighed. "Yeah," he said. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Slumped. "Yeah." The second one was quieter, more of a confession than anything else.

"How long?" asked Fabia.

Shun fiddled with his hands. "A year? Maybe two?" said Shun. He shrugged. "It's not a big deal." He looked at her. His eyes soft. "I'm sorry."

Fabia thought Shun looked a bit like a kicked puppy. Like a boy who expected his friends to walk away from him forever. Like the whole world was crumbling down around him.

Fabia slid off the railing and dropped back onto the balcony. She crossed the short space to Shun. Then, tugged him into a tight hug. Shun went stiff. Faltered. Then, he wrapped his arms tight around her and buried his face into her shoulder.

He didn't cry, but it was a near thing. His shoulders trembled lightly. His breathing grew a bit ragged.

Fabia said nothing. Just tucked her face into his hair and let the two of them linger – the secret wrapping around them and enveloping them like a thick, suffocating blanket.

"You should tell him," said Fabia after a long minute. Shun jerked back from her. Tense and on guard immediately.

"No," he said. His expression closed off. Back to the shadows and stoicism that Fabia had grown used to, though she still didn't know how to read those expressions.

"Why not?" asked Fabia.

Shun shook his head. "I'm not telling him. We're friends. Dan doesn't care about me that way. He's had girlfriends – he has a crush on you – and he doesn't like guys." Shun clenched his teeth when he mentioned the crush. Fabia pinked. Ah. That would explain a few things about Shun's recent behaviour.

"I'm not telling him, and neither are you," said Shun.

Fabia nodded. "Okay."

"You're sure?" said Shun.

"I'm sure. I'm not in the habit of wrecking friendships."

Shun slumped. Took a deep breath. Headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" asked Fabia.

"Bed. We've got a world to save," said Shun. He looked back at her. "You should get some sleep too."

Fabia nodded at Shun's retreating form. Then the door was closed and she was alone. She sighed; shook her head; tried to clear her thoughts. The Brawlers were confusing. But they made good friends.

Now if only she could return the favour.