The night faded to morning quietly. I didn’t even hear movement from outside the door but once the twins were up and we left, there was no sight of anyone being there last night. I still couldn’t figure out what that guy wants cause if he knew we went to the sub, he would probably already have everything on it. We all made our way to a small café for breakfast and sat down. We sat there for a few minutes waiting for our order to come before Jennifer looked at me and spoke.

“What’s wrong with you Shade? You have been quiet all morning.” She asks with concern in her voice. I don’t respond straight away, rather I contemplate whether I should tell them about the guy. He seemed to have an efficient method of collecting information. “Shade, you there?” She asks.

Yeah, I’m here. I respond.

“Then why didn’t you respond to my first question?” She says with a hint of annoyance in her tone. Although it was primarily a tone of concern. Oliver looks quite interested over at our conversation despite only being able to hear half of it while Sune and Lumi both move closer to me to comfort me. I glance around before I respond.

Okay, so, try not to panic. But someone was outside our room last night. All three able to understand the conversation went wide eyed with surprise. And they have been following us since at the very least the submarine.

“They have!?” Jennifer worriedly yells, causing Oliver to get nervous.

I woke up late at night and found a letter under the door. They also know I can read as the note was addressed to me. Jennifer froze slightly at that. But apparently, we have something he wants. I can’t figure out what he wants though. He wanted me to open the door as well to talk to him face to face but I wasn’t doing that.

Jennifer, Sune, and Lumi are all in various states of worry, with Jennifer being the worst, while Oliver looks on with concern and manages to get Jennifer to explain the situation and he went into a similar state of worry as his sister. The concept of someone following you and able to get information without your knowledge is scary regardless of who you are. Our food came out and everyone but me ate quietly. I was too worried to. Probably because the notes were addressed to me.

“We need to contact the authorities.” Jennifer suddenly says as she grabs her phone.

We can’t. Jennifers hand stops while holding the phone. If he can find out about the sub, he can very likely know we contact someone. Jennifer puts her phone down on the table and leans back with her hands on her face.

“Then what are we going to do?” Jen quietly says to herself.

Are we going to be okay? Lumi shyly asks me, and I look down to her to see her starring back with big eyes almost on the verge of crying.

We will be fine. I say to comfort the small artic fox.

Are you sure? Lumi shyly adds.

I’m sure. I hesitantly say.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

We sit at café a while longer before getting up and leaving to explore the town some more. We wandered the streets quietly, both foxes managing to sit on my back. We managed to wander near the garden again and I looked towards the center of the garden again. I remembered back to the request of the florges.

Hey Jennifer. I say looking to her. She looked down to me with a hopeful look, probably thinking I thought of something to help us. Trust me on this. I vaguely respond as I start walking towards the garden. A few minute walk and I reach the center, Jennifer and Oliver deciding to stay far back, and both vulpixes at my side.

You came back! I hear an excited feminine voice squeal in delight as I feel energy coat my body and I start rising with Sune and Lumi. Its always fun to meet interesting individuals. We are lifted over the hedge wall and through a gap in the willow tree’s branches before being placed on the ground in front of the Queen of the Garden, sitting at an ornate small metal round table and one of three similarly designed metal chairs. Both vulpixes were shivering out of fear. Oh, I’m sorry if I scare you little ones. My aura can be quite deterring for most. But I know why you have come which unfortunately isn’t just for a friendly chat but at least you came. The garden pokemon cheerfully says.

How on earth do you know that? I question.

I am quite good at knowing things little umbreon. Like how your prior experiences have been, let’s say otherworldly.

I just stood there in shock at her knowing that. I didn’t even know how to even respond to that, and both Sune and Lumi looked conflicted. The florges before me only seemed to smile. But how on earth did she even figure that out? Is that why she finds me so interesting?

But I am getting off topic. You want to know how to deal with your note writer don’t you? The Queen says as she stands. Although, I only give an answer for an answer so if you want to know how I know about you, you will need to answer another of my questions. The queen says with a smile.

I want to know how she knows about me. But I would rather find out about our stalker first. That is the main reason I even came here.

Okay then, how do we deal with the note writer. I say with slight inpatients.

Well it looks like having to ask that first hurt to do but to catch your little follower, you need to meet with him face to face. She says, still smiling. That is the only chance you will have to catch her. Now then. She adds as she sits down once again. Answer this question, and I’ll give you your desired answer. Don’t, and you three may leave.

She leans forward, placing her hands together as a sly smile appears across her face.

What is your old world like?

Sune and Lumi both suddenly look wide eyed towards me. I simply stand there contemplating my answer as the garden pokemon looks on. Seconds turn to minutes. My mind is racing, both vulpixes are still confused and scared. The potential to know how to hide myself better sounds to valuable to pass up,, but her wanting to know about my old world shows she doesn’t know everything. She just knows I am not from this world.

No.

The florges face goes from the sly smile to a slight frown.

No?

No. I wont answer that question. I state. Her frown stays but the hedge behind us parts enough for us to leave.

As promised, you can leave, but do visit again if your around. She ends with a smile.

I turn around and walk towards the hole in wall and both vulpixes, despite the now confusing past that was partially leaked to them making them worries, still followed me. Likely because they were more afraid of everything else than me. Once we were out of the central hedge, and the gap closed behind us, I saw the twins in distance, staying at the edge of the garden. I turn to the two scared pokemon beside me and can see the unsure eyes looking to me.

Look, once we are out of the city and on the road, away from everyone, I’ll explain. I calmly say to the adopted vulpines. This doesn’t entirely fix their worries, but it helps to calm them down knowing there is a potential answer to the bomb that was just dropped. But for now, we have an anonymous writer to catch.