The entire world felt warm. Furret Abigail nestled her back deeper into the warmth after feeling a bit of a chill hit her face. She rubbed her eyes, then opened them to an uncomfortable, white ceiling.
The light shining down grew easier to handle as her eyes adjusted, but she still wanted to go back to sleep. The tension in her eyes from the light held her awake. When she turned over on her side, she saw Bellossom Helen sitting on a cold, metal stool against the wall on her left with her eyes half-open. Extra wrinkles showed that she probably missed sleep, but her reaction time gave it away more. Helen stared at her for a solid ten seconds before she blinked and rubbed her hands down her face.
"Abigail…" Helen muttered. "Hi."
"Hi," Abigail said quietly.
Helen stretched her arms up towards the ceiling, then straightened out her back.
"Do you remember last night?" she asked.
"Yah," Abigail said.
"How do you feel?"
Abigail wiggled and shifted around a bit. She felt like pudding.
"Frail," Abigail answered.
"They said that you would," said Helen. "You passed out before they brought you into the Nightlight Tower."
"Did I, like, screw something up?"
"No, no. Of course not. You impressed everyone. And me. I mean, I didn't know any of that... Or that you were doing when you said you had errands to run." Helen paused, staring at Abigail for a short moment. "But, uhm, yes. You did good."
"I thought you'd be a little more, uh… Angry at me," said Abigail.
"For what? You were just trying to help people, even if it was… aggressive. If anything, people think of you like some kind of hero now."
Furret Abigail's focus got a little sharper. She looked down at her fur and noticed something different.
She had gold fur. The dark brown stripes on her body changed to a gold color. Abigail lifted the white blanket covering her body, and it was the same all the way down to the tip of her tail.
She didn't have to ask for a mirror; Helen reached over towards a short drawer next to her bed and handed a small round mirror to her.
The dark brown fur on Abigail's head and face were the same. It turned into a shiny blonde color. It was close to being the same color as her hazel eyes.
"What's this?" Abigail asked. "What happened to my fur!?"
"We don't know," Helen said. "They're analyzing things and want to keep you here for a few days until it's done."
Abigail barely recognized herself. Looking down at her arms and the rest of her body felt like looking at someone else.
"They said there's nothing to worry about," Helen said, nodding her head firmly. "Just don't worry about it. Think about other things."
"Ah… Okay. Like what?"
Helen put on a devious smile. "Which one of those princes is the cutest?"
"Oh, yah. Forget about them."
Helen opened her eyes wider and tilted her head down.
"What?" Abigail asked.
"Answer the question, Abigail."
"I mean… I don't really know any of them. How am I supposed to answer?"
"Do I need to call them so I can get an answer?"
"I'm not Sleeping Beauty," Abigail said.
"Then what's your answer?"
"I don't know them. That's my answer."
Helen smiled, reaching behind her back and pulling out a small, flat black tablet. She pushed on the screen, then set it down behind her back again.
"Did you just call them?" asked Abigail.
"Really…?" Abigail sighed.
"Yes."
"You know this isn't helping with first impressions."
"You already made a first impression. The Lodestar."
Abigail wiggled up against the white pillow on her bedframe. She brought her arms on top of the covers.
"What?" she asked.
"The Lodestar," Helen repeated. "That's your nickname."
"Why do I need a nickname?"
"It's a city thing. Don't worry about it. But it is cool."
"Can I just… get something to eat soon?" Abigail asked. "I'm hungry."
"Sure. Right after you have a little chat with their parents. They should be on their way now."
"Wait, they're parents are all kings and queens."
Helen nodded.
"Why did you just- why?" Abigail asked. "I'm in a hospital bed."
"They wanted me to call them when you woke up."
"But why'd you actually do it?"
"You woke up. And since you wouldn't tell me which one of them you liked best, you can answer when they ask."
A knock sounded on the door. Abigail retreated her arms and half of her face back under the covers.
"Come in!" Helen called.
A Mightyena, Umbreon, and Serperior entered the room in a single file line. Furret Abigail cleared her face trying to match their plain expressions. They all faced her standing side by side against the back wal, giving her some room from the heat of their gazes.
"How are you feeling, miss Abigail?" Mightyena asked.
"I. Well, okay," she muttered.
"She's still feeling a bit run-down, but she's doing well," Helen said.
"That's good to know," Mightyena said, "we were worried after what happened. We've never had an intensely trained pokemon go through this process during our tests, so we were also surprised by that among other things."
"I think we wouldn't mind a bit of a brief explanation for the process," Helen offered.
"Of course," Umbreon said. "By using a small energy reading device, we have psychics produce the picture in the water. Important memories leave small traces in the pattern of a person's body, and that is what we used to show them. And because it was a look at your memories, that is why that 'dream' of yours was unnatural."
"Thank you," said Helen. "I think she was a bit surprised by all of it."
"We'll let you have some time to yourself," Mightyena said, "but I also would like to offer you time with my son, Aaron, at your leisure."
"Oh?" Seperior said. "Strange. I was here to offer more time with my son, Zen."
"And I was to also offer time with my grandson, Gawain," Umbreon said.
The three pokemon looked at each other strangely. Abigail shivered at the invisible force behind their eyes while they looked at each other, the Umbreon turning his head to give both of them glances.
Clearly, they didn't talk it out beforehand.
"I do believe, my son, as mere children would say, 'saw her first'," Serperior said.
"That was actually my son," Mightyena said. "Aaron is a very unique-"
"My son is more mature," Umbreon said. "So, I believe he's ready to speak with someone as impressive-"
"Why don't we settle this with our champions in the arena?" Mightyena offered.
"Both of our champions would both fall to the Lodestar in battle," Umbreon replied. "That'd be embarrassing, and weird."
"Yes… Well…"
"Why do I have to be the one to suggest to you two it be settled like gentlemen?" Serperior asked.
Umbreon and Mightyena stared at each other, seeming to understand what the Serperior suggested. They turned towards Abigail at the same time. She flinched a little bit.
"We all offer you more time with our sons, at your leisure," Mightyena said. "The only time when they will be required to leave and take the throne is in the unfortunate incident one of us passes away, so you have as much time as... Well."
Mightyena and Serperior turned towards the older Umbreon. His face soured, and Abigail could tell he was starting to stand up straighter on purpose.
"Continue speaking. Amateur," Umbreon said.
"Uhm... Yes," Mightyena said. "All the time in the world... Naturally."
"Thank you, your majesties," Bellossom Helen said. "I will give Abigail that phone we were talking about as soon as it's here."
"Oh," Umbreon blinked, "right. We'll have that sent in just a little while."
"Feel well soon, young lady," Serperior said. "We will be in this building if you need anything, such as an escort. You should be comfortable inside, though."
"Thank you… your majesty," Abigail said. Her tone waived up and down as she just copied what Helen said.
Umbreon still had a tinge of a sour face on the way out. Abigail relaxed as she closed the door behind them. Her ears steadily rose again on her head.
"You alright?" Helen asked.
"Yah..." Abigail said. "I don't think work will be normal again, though."
"Oh, actually. About that… the Nightlights offered you, uhm, a job. For obvious reasons."
After what happened, Abigail had been avoiding work for the Nightlights. She shivered at the notion that her dad could've easily died on the same floor she was in right now.
"Oh, uh, I don't know..."
"Abigail, the pay is ridiculous," she said. "And walking around being a vigilante is practically the job, and now everyone knows that was your hobby..."
"No, I get where you're coming from. I just don't like all this attention."
"I just want you happy, and I just... I'm all for independence. But… well, it's just my opinion, I don't think that moving back to the countryside will be good for you."
"What…? I want to be alone. What's wrong with that?"
"That's the trap, Abigail. Being alone isn't as great as it might sound to you right now. So for the time being, it really wouldn't hurt to just play along."
It made sense to play along for now, but it didn't change Abigail's mind about going back. She hated most people she met in the city. She doubted royalty would be less snobby than them.
"Okay," Abigail said.
"Well," Helen said. "Okay. Well, when you're ready, we can head up to the guest room they set up."
Furret Abigail shifted to the side of the bed and stood up. The floor was cold and hard. Places like this always felt alien on her feet. Carpets were okay, but walking on metal just felt wrong.
Bellossom Helen opened the door to the hallway. After Abigail followed her through, she noticed that the hallway had white carpet that eased her discomfort. The ceiling lights seemed more gentle, and the eggshell walls helped her eyes relax.
Abigail had read about the Nightlight Tower when she originally planned to come here. A single, enormous elevator ran through the heart of the building. It visited certain important floors, like the lobby or the hospital floor she was on. Then, ramps let the Nightlights reach other floors the elevator didn't directly go to. Calling the elevator could occasionally take a while, but it moved fast.
So, Abigail knew where they were going when Helen took glances at arrows on the wall pointing to the elevator. There were dozens of closed doors that were the same as the one to Abigail's room. The hospital floor being inactive was probably a good sign.
The elevator occupied the end of a hallway. The doors were black and cylindrical, and taller than Abigail by four times over. There were multiple metallic panels on the wall to the right of it for species of different heights to use. Helen used the bottom one to call the elevator going up.
"So," Helen said, "which one of them made a more convincing argument?"
"Well," Abigail said, "they are arguing. That is true…"
"Just tell me what you're thinking."
"You'd be surprised how little I think."
Helen sighed as the elevator doors opened.
The inside felt surreal to be in. All of the pictures in Abigail's books were more outdated than she thought. There were dozens of gadgets attached to the wall she didn't even understand. She only had a hint at one of them because of the coffee bags next to it. One the side of the doorframe, there were panels labeled with numbers at different heights.
Helen pressed the number forty-seven, and it lit up on all of the panels. Abigail was a bit surprised. The highest number was fifty. They were putting her up high.
The force of the elevator going up felt a little rough on her weak limbs, but only for a short moment. She faced the door side by side with Helen, rotating her neck.
"I met and talked with all of them," Helen said. "They are all, well, excited."
"I don't get it," Abigail sighed. "Shouldn't they be looking to marry celebs or something? People with stuff to offer?"
"It's funny you say that. All of them knew who your mother was before last night."
Abigail turned her head down to her. "What…? Really?"
"She was very famous."
Abigail never imagined anyone knowing her mom outside of her friends, but she never actually mentioned her to anyone. She could've been famous without Abigail knowing about it; the question was how famous. If princes knew about her, it must've been more than she would've ever imagined.
"And as for what you have to offer," Helen continued, "your battling skills are more than enough by themselves, famous or not."
"Why battling skills? They have guards."
"It looks very good to other countries. And citizens."
The elevator doors opened. The wide, eggshell cement walls and brown carpet were highlighted under gentle yellow lights. It felt soft and supple with just one step on it. At the end of the hallway, there were arrows pointing left and right with numbers under them to continue.
Helen took a right at the end of the hallway. There white doors with three keypads at different heights on the side of each. She stopped at one sooner than Abigail expected. She also apparently knew the code, typing it in without even stopping to check for the green bar at the top to glow to show it was unlocked.
The inside of the room itself was smaller with brown walls and tan carpet. A tan, beanbag chair facing a TV propped itself up on the wall to the right coming in. On the left, a short, simple bedframe with a clean mattress held up brown covers on top. Just next to it in the back center of the room, a small, white metal pit in the floor with a steel water faucet pointing down to it poked out from the wall.
"Anything specifically you'd like for a bite to eat?" Bellossom Helen asked. "I'll bring it back up here."
"Just a sandwich. And, uhm, fruit gummies, if they have them," Furret Abigail said, staring in.
"Alright, back in a bit."
Abigail took a few steps inside when she heard the door close behind her. She circled around in place for a while before choosing to settle on the beanbag.
Before she could, a stiff knock hit the door. Abigail walked to the door and pulled it open.
She came face to face with the same Mightyena. She jumped back in place away from his eyes.
"Here's your phone, already set with contact information," he said. Mightyena handed Abigail a moderately-sized black phone. She picked it out of his hand.
"Thanks, your majesty," Abigail squeaked.
Mightyena gave a firm nod, then turned and walked down the hallway. She closed the door, exhaling when she was in her own space again. She went back to the beanbag and sat on it with the phone dangling in the gold fur of her paw.
The phone surface boasted pitch black with the exception of a shining white symbol on the back. Abigail recognized it as the Compass Rose, but it took a second for it to fully click in her head.
It was the symbol of the North Star: the star travelers used to know which direction was north. It felt a little strange to have it on her phone if she had to carry it around everywhere, but it was pretty.
Abigail had used a phone some before, she just didn't like it. She felt around the edge until a button clicked in and the screen lit up. She saw some kind of message notification and tapped it until the phone screen changed.
Different messages had pictures of a Buizel, shiny Zorua, and Quilava with the names Zen Verity, Aaron Valor, and Gawain Acuity above them respectively. Abigail's chat icon looked like a white Compass Rose on a black background. It occupied the top right of the screen with her full name already on it.
"Hello, my name is Zen Verity. It's good to meet you, Abigail." - Zen
"y are we doing this? he knows our names. its right on the thing" - Aaron
"*she" - Aaron
"Hey, she can read this, Aaron." - Zen
"our parents wont read this, right?" - Gawain
"No." -Zen
"why" - Gawain
"She can still read this." - Zen
"why am I here" - Gawain
"It's nice to meet you, Gawain." - Zen
"." - Gawain
An indicator on the bottom of the screen showing that they were all typing. Abigail clicked in on the bar several times trying to bring up the letters.
"how long have you two known each other?" - Gawain
"too long" - Aaron
"sup with him using grammar?" - Gawain
"It's not all that." - Zen
Abigail wanted to enter the conversation and started thinking of openers. They were typing much faster than she could.
"i cant tell if i think you two are snotty or not" - Gawain
"Hey, we're world leaders. Be nice." - Zen
"."- Gawain
"big yikes" - Aaron
"uiovnlnvoliwah" - Abigail
"You'll be fine, Gawain. It's just-"- Zen
The typing paused for a split second before continuing. Lightning shot through Abigail's head.
"dang, u know how to use that thing?" - Aaron
"Of course you'd text that. Say it to her face. I dare you." - Zen
"youre daring a valorian prince. guess gawain really is the smartest" - Aaron
"i was expecting this group chat to go so differently" - Gawain
"^" - Abigail
"stop scaring her into using one liners" - Aaron
"Sorry, Abigail." - Zen
"hey if u want her to be relaxed about royalty just send those screenshots of your parents texts"- Aaron
"Stop." - Zen
"ok, so what am i supposed to do right now?" - Gawain
"we literally just party now. u don't have classes for months, and theyre ez" - Aaron
"ok" - Gawain
"Abigail, would you like to walk around the building with us to get familiar? It'd only take a few minutes to show you the important stuff." - Zen
"When?" - Abigail
"Anytime. We have all day, right guys?" - Zen
"ur telling me" - Gawain
"my dad is watching one of those detective shows again so im pretty sure we dont have to do anything for the rest of the day " - Aaron
"Not sure, I'm pretty tired." - Abigail
As soon as Abigail finished the text, a knock sounded at the door. She got up and opened it. Bellossom Helen came back in with a round, hefty basket and a smile.
"A few of them knew, so uhm, it was all free," Helen said. "Had to run a little bit at the end there."
Helen Bellossom set down the basket while Abigail looked back down and continued reading the chat. She stayed at the door while Helen closed it, staring at her screen in front of the door.
"Of course, just call us when you want for anything." - Zen
"i would also be tired after battling miss destiny" – Aaron
"Miss Destiny?" – Zen
"the cinccino" - Aaron
"i heard that my grandpa is looking into all that stuff. ill update you, abigail" - Gawain
"Thanks." – Abigail
Abigail lifted her chin, then turned around. Helen stared back at her with a tiny smile. Her eyes darted back and forth between eye contact and her phone.
"How about now?" Helen asked.
Abigail's arms flopped down at her side. "I still don't know them."
"Sooooo?"
"They're weird."
"So a perfect match?"
Abigail grunted and shook her head.