Furret Abigail ended up in her old room, sitting and reading a book on her old mattress. She had been there for about two hours. When the princes texted to ask her whereabouts, she replied that she wasn't feeling well and went home.

There were only one or two occasions when someone had knocked on her home's front door: food deliveries, or Helen inviting someone over. With neither criteria met, Abigail stood up and walked down the ramp to the first floor as soon as she heard it.

Bellossom Helen answered the wooden door before Abigail could reach it. Buizel Zen, Quilava Gawain, and shiny Zorua Aaron were outside, all curiously peering in from the street. Abigail put on a light smile and came to the doorway. Helen heard her coming and stepped off to the side wearing a wide smile.

"Are you alright, Abigail?" Zen asked. "We were worried when we saw, uh… you know."

"I'm good," Abigail said with a scratchy voice, "just needed a second."

"C'mon. Take a load off. We just got kind of worried since you seemed like you were, uhm. Feeling down."

"Cause I fell on the floor cause of those stupid… never mind," Abigail huffed.

"Abigail," Helen spoke up, "why don't you go hang out with them for a while? Maybe tell them what you've been up to over the past few months."

"Uhm… Got a little better with a yo-yo."

"Did you ever fight someone with a yo-yo?" Aaron asked.

"Uh… Maybe."

"We came here to check on you," Gawain said. "Wondered if you want to hang out anywhere close by that you might normally go to."

"I mean, thanks," Abigail said. "I appreciate you guys checking up on me, but don't you have more… princey things to do?"

Zen and Aaron turned towards each other and shrugged.

"Don't worry about it," Zen said. "Let's just hang out somewhere. Anywhere."

"Maybe move to a field so Zen can show off his siiiick roundhouse kicks," Aaron suggested.

Zen gave Aaron a confused stare, then shook his head.

"Uh, do you battle?" Abigail asked.

"We haven't been taught anything that isn't defense," Zen said. "Well, me and Aaron at least."

The comment drew her attention to Quilava Gawain's ruby red eyes. He subtly shook his head.

"Well, I guess I'm not doing anything," Abigail said. "Lemme just grab my, uhm... Cape."

Abigail stepped back and turned around. Helen took over for her while she raced up to her room and back, grabbing her brown, hooded cape from a hanger on the wall. She put her phone in one of the cape's pockets as she hopped back down.

Helen cut herself off mid-sentence when Abigail came back. She moved off to the side with a smile on her face.

"Hey," Zen said. "So, where'd you like to hangout?"

Abigail didn't reply. It might have been the undertone of adrenaline, but she couldn't think of anything.

"How about a restaurant?" Aaron suggested. "We could go where you used to work. Could tell off the boss and not have to pay for it later. I mean, I've never worked a job like that before, but I assume that's the ideal, right?"

Abigail chuckled. "Well, sure, I guess. I think I still have to get my last paycheck, anyways." She looked over their shoulders out towards the road. The street was empty with no sign of a carriage anywhere. "How'd you guys get here?" she wondered aloud.

"Well, our protection's more discrete," Zen explained. "We can go anywhere you want."

"So, like, someone up on the rooftops watching you guys?"

"As a matter of fact," Aaron said, "yes. That is exactly right."

Abigail led them down a few quiet streets. As the minutes passed, she realized how Gawain barely said anything compared to Zen and Aaron. She occupied herself with looking towards the rooftops to try and spot their guard. She never did.

The restaurant blended together with a few scattered apartment buildings. Further from the inner city, buildings had more grass and sidewalk between them. Furret Abigail stood next to the three princes a few paces away in front of the beaten walkway leading to the glass doors in front of the lawn riddled with weeds.

Concrete underlaid the building, and light blue wood that read "Elsa's Kitchen" melded together with the roof. Abigail felt a strange pang of embarrassment looking at it. Cooking was always a kind of second hobby, but she hated working here. The conversation they were having about nothing paused.

"So, Abigail," Buizel Zen said, "did you cook here?"

"Yah," Abigail answered, "it was just kind of, uh, whatever, I guess."

"Sounds like you didn't like it too much. You know, I'm kind of surprised you didn't choose to be a bounty hunter. Even with the Nightlights, in the city you could make a haul. And there are plenty of villages and a few smaller cities."

"I didn't spend the years learning how to make money. If I do go after someone, it's not for pay."

"Well that's a cold chill at night," Quilava Gawain said. "Ever actually go after someone?"

"Maybe another time. It was kind of illegal..."

"I heard Gawain's a vandal," shiny Zorua Aaron blurted.

"Artist," Gawain corrected, "and no. I didn't do it illegally."

"Oh, well… That's boring..." Aaron said.

"You're free to talk about all the illegal stuff you want to, Aaron," Zen said.

"I tried."

"Tried?" Abigail asked. "What does that even mean?"

"Just keeeeep walkin," Aaron said. "It's not as rad as it sounds. After all… I only tried."

Abigail tried to ignore the comment as they continued, but she couldn't even come up with a guess for what he meant. So, she couldn't stop guessing.

Gawain and Zen both bounded up to the doors and each held one open. They stared at Abigail while avoiding eye contact with each other. Aaron went by Abigail's side and stared at them with her.

"You guys know this won't change I'm the class clown, right?" he asked.

"Question is who's side she'll walk through," Gawain said. His smirk spread to all of their faces.

Abigail bent her head down and walked through the middle of the doorway. The familiar white tile floors felt dirty on her feet compared to her new room. The silence in the air seeped through her fur and calmed her down.

She didn't interact with customers much, kept her head down and tried to act normal. Looking at the floor made it hard to tell if anyone stared at them, but she didn't want to look up. She slowed her pace to let one of the princes go in front of her towards the counter. Buizel Zen took the opportunity.

A waitress Nuzleaf Abigail didn't recognize came up to answer them. Abigail could tell her movements were stiff from nerves.

"W-welcome," Nuzleaf said. "What kind of t-table would you like!?"

"A booth sounds good," Zen said.

"Good... Right this way..."

Nuzleaf performed a nervous laugh. She stepped from behind a brown wooden counter and led them down the pathways between round tables and rows of booths. She brought them to a booth in the corner, close to a window with nothing but weeds, grass, and trees on the other side of it.

Abigail stepped in and leaned back. She let out a small, relaxed sigh, then opened her eyes. Buizel Zen, Quilava Gawain, and shiny Zorua Aaron all stared back at her, still standing up in front of the brown wood table. They all waited and let Abigail slide in first.

"Uh, who'd you like to sit next to?" Zen asked.

"Oh," Abigail said, "just uh, whoever jumps first."

Zen hopped in place. He passed overly-excited glances at Aaron and Gawain before getting his face back together and sitting down next to her. Gawain went in first on the other side, followed by Aaron.

"So," Zen's voice squeaked, "how are you, Abigail? Feeling alright?"

"'Yah," Abigail said. "Do I look like I'm in pain or something?"

"No, just, uh… Nothing."

Abigail hadn't paid too much attention, but started to realize how much they were staring at her when they all sat down. Her gut told her they were more anxiety driven stares than anything else. It could be that she intimidated them, adding to the antsy feeling they all had.

Aaron, on the other hand, didn't have the potential to even have anxiety. After Abigail remembered that, his excitement just confused her.

The same Nuzleaf from before took their orders with the same nerve-wracked smile. Once she left, Abigail decided to keep the table from falling into silence.

"What's happened with Reshiram?" Abigail asked. "I mean, you guys probably know a bunch of… secret royal things, right?"

"Not really," Gawain said. "I think they just recently found this one island it landed on, off the coast of Kaigan. Apparently, it was torched and shredded up. It was just made public recently that some people might have been on there when it happened, but it's hard to say."

"Kaigan is just about as peaceful as the world gets," Zen said. "If the old stories were true, something must've happened."

"What are the old stories?" she asked.

Gawain, Zen, and Aaron glanced at each other. They seemed to come to a sort of silent agreement to let Zen explain.

"They say Reshirm was like a judge that was never wrong because it could look into people's hearts. There are all sorts of folktales about it."

"Can't help but draw a connection between that and the White Star..." Gawain said.

Abigail flashed him a curious look.

"Oh, you haven't seen him?" Zen asked. "Your nickname inspired his. I guess you have been pretty stomped lately, though…"

"Whose nickname?" Abigail asked.

"He's just called the White Star. I don't think anyone knows his name. He was the one fighting Reshiram in the live-stream. You saw it, right?"

Abigail turned away from Zen when Gawain slid a phone with a lit screen across the table to her. She wordlessly stared at the Flareon on the screen.

Snow white fur underlied a gray tail, mane, and fluff on his head. Shards of glass around his round face seemed to highlight his big blue and white eyes. He looked like a ghost. She only half-believed he existed.

She slid the phone back to Gawain.

"I guess I was kind of focused on the giant, white dragon cursing at everything..." Abigail said.

"Lots of people still have mixed feelings on whether they believe it's real," Gawain said. "But obviously everyone's taking it seriously considering the governments are. And in turn, that means a lot of people everywhere were wondering where his nickname came from."

"It's not a big deal," Zen added, "just a... little thing on the side."

"Duck before his nose wacks you," Aaron said.

Furret Abigail ducked on the cushion with her hazel eyes peering over the table. Zen looked down at her with tired eyes while the shiny Zorua continued to snicker at him.

"Yah, yah," Zen groaned. He peered around the back of their seats, possibly looking for their food or at the other clients. Abigail brought herself back up into a normal sitting position while he did.

"It'll probably only be a few minutes," Abigail said, "especially when they're not busy and rushing."

"I was actually, uhm, looking at a dessert..." Zen said.

"Legend has it that a sweet tooth is on our genes, too," Aaron said. "Although, I don't think I'd drool over it."

Zen started to turn back around to Abigail, but stopped midway. He rubbed his mouth with the side of his arm. Curious, Abigail looked around trying to see what Zen was looking at.

A Delcatty she hadn't seen in a few months stole her attention. She pulled her head back down behind the booth, but he already seemed to notice her.

"You good?" Gawain asked.

Before Abigail could answer, Delcatty approached the side of their table with a gross, fake smile she recognized. He glanced at each of them.

"Hey Abigail," Delcatty said, "how's your little date going?"

"Nice to meet you," Gawain said.

"Nice to meet you, too," he said. "How are things? I hope you're not waiting too long on your order."

"We're all set," Zen said, "thanks."

With the Vertian blessing, odds were that Zen could tell Abigail didn't want to talk to Delcatty. He started to speak in a stronger tone than she'd ever heard from him.

"Sounds good," Delcatty said. "Well, a little advice. She does seem mellow, true. But she hates when things don't go her way. I better make sure she gets her food on time, or she might get a little pissy like last time."

Abigail jumped back in her seat. Buizel Zen stood up and snagged Delcatty's back leg as he tried to turn away. Delcatty screamed as he dragged him across the floor. His claws screeched as he grasped at nothing.

"Gee gee," Aaron said.

Abigail and Gawain both glanced at Aaron. When she looked back towards the doors, she saw Zen throw his flailing body straight out of the building. He started to walk back without a word.

"Veritan blessing," Aaron said. "Stronger emotional responses sometimes. He can get reeeeeally happy too, at least."

"I haven't been intimidated in a long time," Abigail said.

"He can control himself. You good, Abigail?"

"Yah, I'm alright."

Zen plopped down next to her with his arms crossed. He had the most serious look on his face he could probably muster until he made eye contact with Abigail. His blue eyes got brighter.

"What's wrong?" Zen asked.

"Just kind of reminded of a few times I've been, uhm, impatient," Abigail said.

"We all make mistakes and just keep moving," he said. "I mean, I probably made one a minute ago, but I'm not really thinking about it. I already chucked him."

"But how do you just not think about what you could've done better?"

"That's a good attitude for improvement," Gawain said, "but you can't get stuck on trying to be perfect. You probably know better than anyone that there's no perfect fighter. Only good ones. It's the same thing."

"It's like food," Aaron said. "You have a taste for some things and not for others. And that's okay."

"I just don't think very hard," Zen said.

"Mmmmmm," Abigail sounded.

"You'd be surprised," Zen admitted, "maybe not super surprised, but there'd be something. If you want to see, you could come with me to a movie or something and see how I never realized who the badguy was."

"Oh, uhm."

"Maybe you'd like a concert with me better," Aaron whispered quickly.

Zen and Aaron flashed each other looks. Somehow, Gawain seemed to move further away from them without moving his body. Abigail got hung up and how he managed that. They seemed like they were just scraping by arguing. They stared at each other as if they were in the middle of yelling.

The waitress Nuzleaf approached the table with a tall tray on wheels behind her, but neither of them broke from their staring contest.

"Sorry about that," Nuzleaf apologized, "he's, uhm, you probably already know since you worked here... Sorry. Here's your guys' food."

"Thanks," Gawain said.

The other two snapped out of their stupor and thanked Nuzleaf in time. The group's conversation slowed and dulled while they ate (no thanks to her dry salad), but Abigail started to think about their questions.

She didn't know Zen or Aaron well enough to really make a choice to meet with them. Maybe she could ask about their experience. She waited till everyone had slowed down eating to ask.

"So, how many people have you guys dated?" she asked.

Gawain smirked to himself staring at a gold, crisp potato fry. Aaron and Zen both started to stammer over themselves, and each other.

"Well, uhm, not really," Zen said. "I mean, I guess I could have..."

"I'm not judging," Abigail said, "I just don't feel like I know you guys too well yet..."

"Yah, that's true," Aaron said, "sorry. Short answer is, we've never dated anyone.

"Let's do something relaxing," Gawain said. "Let's set up that spa thing for tomorrow."

"I don't think I should relax at a spa when I just failed to catch a robber a few hours ago," she said.

"Trust me, no one will mind you trying to relax," Zen said, smiling. "Besides, Anne kind of wants you to. That Victini."

"I dunno... What if they need me?"

"Then we'll handle getting you over there, so you don't have to worry about a thing. Besides, your job is to react to emergencies. For now, you can leave all the strategy to Anne and just learn at an easy pace."

"So let's do whatever you want," Gawain said. "There's gotta be something, yah?"

"A concert for tonight does sound nice," Abigail suggested.

They all seemed to like the idea, reacting and taking out their phones When the check came, Zen slapped a blue-colored paper bill on top of it without even looking up. Abigail noticed shiny Zorua Aaron barely scrolling on his phone before he spoke.

"Thing is, all the concerts are at night," Aaron said. "So, should probably sleep before so you can stay awake."

"That sounds fine," Abigail said.

"What kind of music do you like?" Zen asked.

"Uhm... Pop rock. Like, pop music and rock..."

Aaron changed his voice to be in a strange, nasally monotone. "Target locked. The eagle has left the nest."

"He's smarter than he sounds," Zen said, "it's probably good."

"I'll pick you up at eight," Aaron said. He winked.

Abigail's face twitched. She wanted to hug him like a puppy. She casually covered her face with the end of her tail.

"We'll escort you back to your house for now," Zen said. "Whenever you're ready."

"Yah, all set," Abigail said.

Abigail stood up from the table last, but they all waited for her before they started to walk away. They paid attention to detail.