An hour after Ruby had settled into her new bedroom, Crystal told her sister they were going out for pizza. Thanks to cultural classes back home, Ruby knew what pizza was. However, she didn't enjoy her sister's quick lecture. So instead, her twenty-one-year-old sister gave her a short briefing regarding the city they were in, which happened to be Chicago.

Shaggy had gotten into Kendall College to train to be a professional chef. Meanwhile, Crystal was attending the University of Chicago. While posing as a nature photographer, she'd come to love it. So she was studying to become one while still maintaining her job as a liaison with the government.

After a quick rundown on the city itself, Crystal asked her sister if she had her protection crystal, to which Ruby held up her right wrist where a bracelet with colorful stone was. Again, their society was mainly pacifist. Yet, they did have some unique crystals for protection. Crystal hadn't told Shaggy about them yet and only made him aware that they're designed for safety. She'd even made him a similar bracelet. She hadn't had a chance yet to explain all that they did.

Shaggy knocked on the door and asked if the girls were ready to go to Giordano's for some Chicago pizza. He gave Scooby a sad look. Unlike back home in Coolsville, Chicago had much stricter laws regarding animals. While Scooby didn't seem to realize he was a dog, he knew he couldn't come along for pizza. He wasn't a service dog, and only service animals were allowed to enter restaurants. Shaggy promised to bring home a small pizza for him and Amber to split. His best bud had been struggling some since moving here. Regardless, he understood, and they decided they'd watch the Live Action "Lady and the Tramp" on Disney+ while the rest went out.

Ruby was still reluctant to go out. But did follow her sister and her boyfriend to the parking lot where Crystal's flowered jeep waited—getting the proper paperwork to pass perfectly as a human had been challenging. Thankfully, Crystal had managed it. According to her driver's license, her name was Crystal Starstone, DOB 10-3-02. This did correspond with her actual birthday back home.

Back on her home planet, they measured time differently. Their weeks were ten days long. Sunday: Pink Diamond, Monday: Moonstone, Tuesday: Blood Ruby. Wednesday: Lilac Amethyst Thursday: Pink Sapphire. Friday: Teal Emerald, Saturday: Turquoise, Day 8: Blue Topaz, Day 9: Aquamarine, Day 10: Green Peridot.

Also, their months matched the Earth's birthstones. January: Garnet, February: Amethyst, March: Bloodstone, April: Diamond, May: Emerald, June: Alexandrite July: Ruby, August: Sardonyx, September: Sapphire, October: Tourmaline, November: Golden Topaz, December: Tanzanite. Even their four seasons were named after gems that represent those seasons. Spring: Green Aventurine. Summer: Rainbow Fluorite, Fall: Carnelian, Winter: Malachite.

Truthfully, Shaggy still had much to learn regarding gems' nature. However, he was slowly learning and putting great effort into becoming knowledgeable of Crystal's culture. That's what you do for someone you love. Either way, they drove to 223 W Jackson Blvd. It was a twenty-minute drive from their apartment. Ruby was taken in the sights the way only a child can. She did find a few things of great interest, others she could've done without.

Ruby, for one, had always had sensitive ears. So, she wasn't enjoying the loud noise of a bustling city. However, her sister had given her some earplugs to dampen the noise. So it was at least tolerable. Ruby then asked, "Crystal? Why does everything have to be so overwhelming? Why can't this city be calmer? Even the cities back home aren't nearly as over-stimulating as this city."

"I'm afraid I can't answer that, sis. It's just the way things are here. Now please, don't make a scene," as they pulled into the parking lot. Ruby sighed and nodded. They headed into the restaurant, where Shaggy ordered them a Chicago-style pizza. He also requested they bring the girls water. But, again, their bodies couldn't metabolize sugar. So soda and lemonade were out.

Hesitantly the preteen took a slice of the pizza, and after another moment of hesitation, she began to eat the pizza. After she finished her first slice, Shaggy kindly asked her what she thought of it. After a moment, she replied, "It's not too bad. We've nothing like it back home. So, it an explosion of new flavors for without a doubt."

"I'm glad you like it. Pizza seemed to be one of the few universal foods that almost everyone likes. Of course, a few people don't care for it, but most people do. So please tell me a little more about yourself?" he asked kindly.

"Well, again, our species ages differently then yours. So according to Earth's sense of time, I'm eleven. I'm younger then that back home as we age at half the speed of humans. Nevertheless, again, by your standers, my age is eleven."

"Your planet must be quite a sight," Ruby nodded.

"We've got an abundance of colorful flora, and our fauna would likely be similar to your mythological creatures. However, we do have outstanding scenery. So overall, we do have that in common with your planet. Since we can't deny Earth's plants and animals are also beautiful. One of my favorite locations is the Crystal Forest. The trees are made from various crystals, and the wildlife is similar to your horses and a few other critters we've studied about in school."

"It's true, Shaggy. We've got an entire branch of our government dedicated to maintaining the health of our wildlife and plants. I've got a friend named Obsidian who works in that department."

"Well, one thing for sure. Scoob and I would be quite honored to see your world up close. Tell me more about how the government on your planet works. You've not told me about that yet."

Crystal and Ruby took turns trying to simplify their government. On Earth, their government would be called a constitutional monarch. So it was similar to England or Japan. They did have some similarities to part of the USA's government, yet it was still more similar to England's or Japan's system.

Shaggy asked a few more questions about Ruby. Initially, She seemed reluctant but slowly opened up about a few intimate details. She explained she desired to join the ecology branch of the government. She also wanted to work towards helping animals with disabilities improve their quality of life. She had some fascinating ideas for prosthetics for more then a few animals.

So she was keen to see what Earth's ecosystems and veterinary medicine had to offer. She was sad she didn't have a pet of her own. First, however, they had to honor their landlord's rules. When they'd returned to their apartment, Ruby felt slightly calmer than she did initially. However, her sister knew it be a long and troubling road ahead of them. Still, she was happy that her first-night things had gone well.