This has nothing to do with the Yugioh Zexal plot! This is my own idea. Please be considerate of this story. Thank you!

Astral's POV:

(Flash):

"Astral." A soft and gentle voice calls out.

"Who's there?" I said glancing around the darkness.

"Did you forget me?" She asks as her voice quiver as if she was about to cry.

"Who are you?" I repeat once more to the darkness in an annoyed tone of voice.

She takes a shaky breath. "I'm..."

(Flash)

I snap my eyes open and clutch my forehead. Who is she? Why do I keep having that dream?

(Knock)(Knock)

"Yes?"

"Pardon my intrusion, Your Highness, but the King and Queen wanted to speak with you."

Why is that? "I will be right out,"

I hop out of bed with a sigh. I can already guess. It is somehow related to Barian World. Honestly, I'm getting so tired of this war. Millions die every day... it's starting to have a toll on my psyche. I clutch my head with a hiss as my vision wavers. And that dream... Why? Who are you?

"Careful!" An arm grips my arm tightly pulling me back from the stairs. Who?

My eyes widen as the sudden force of the pull catches me off guard causing me to slip and fall back on the person. Ow! Our bodies hit the ground with a thud as the servants start staring at me in concern.

"Are you okay, Your Highness?"

"Should I request a doctor?"

"I'm fine," I said after a moment. "No need to panic."

"You might be fine but I'm not!" Huh?

A feminine voice calls out as I look around. That voice... "Maria?" A hand taps my shoulder as I got off of her with my eyes widen. The person I fell on was her? "What are you doing here?" I ask in confusion as I kneel to her level helping her sit up.

She gives me a deadpan expression. "Astral," Her eyes narrow. "What on earth were you thinking? Honestly, were you not looking where you were going?" Huh?

"What?"

"You almost fell down a flight of stairs and still have that clueless expression on your face?!" She yells as I cover my ears with a wince. So loud.

"Must you be so loud?"

What she said clicked in my head. I almost fell down the stairs? My gaze shifts to the stairs not far from us. So, she must've... I let out a chuckle as she glares at me. "Seriously, was your head in the clouds or something?"

"Oops..." I said embarrassed as she sighs deeply.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" I ask in concern as I help her stand.

She waves a hand dismissively. "Nah, nothing can-Ow!"

"Careful!" She leans on me and hisses in pain. A purple bruise forms near her ankle. Must've sprained it during the fall.

"Lady Maria, want us to notify the doctor?"

My friend shakes her head. "Thank you but I should be fine after some time."

"I'm so sorry," I look at my friend, still wincing from the radiating pain. "If I-"

"I'm fine. Just watch where you're going next time, will you?"

A minuscule smile forms. "Of course." My gaze shifts to her leg once more. "I think it's best to see a doctor just to be safe."

"No, I'm-" I meet her hazel eyes with an emotionless expression as she gulps. "If you say so."

I knew that would work! "Okay, can you walk?"

"Ahhh!"

That's a no. "For the being, lean on me." My friend nods as I direct my gaze toward my butler. "Waltari,"

"I will notify the doctor right away, Your Highness." He kneels and walks in the other direction as the others disperse leaving us.

"Where were you going before this happened?"

"Oh, I was going to meet my parents." We got to the stairs as I glance at her. I doubt that she would be able to walk down the stairs with a sprained ankle. Hmmm... I crouch down. "Get on,"

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious? Your ankle is sprained. You cannot walk down the stairs even with my support."

"True..." She slowly hops on my back as I support the back of her knees.

"All set?"

"Yup!" I stand up and start to go down the stairs.

"Don't drop me." She warns as I ruffle her hair.

"Relax, I haven't dropped anyone yet."

I got to the door as I kick the door open to find my parents sitting on their thrones. "Finally," My father walks up to me. "What took you so long?"

"Son, is there a reason why Maria is on your back?" My mother asks in curiosity.

"Greetings, Your Majesties," My friend said with a smile. "As for your question, I sprained my ankle."

Their eyes widened. "Has a doctor checked on it?"

"He will come in later."

"I'm like this because of you, you know that?" She said as I sigh.

"Must you remind me?"

"Duh, if I haven't pulled you back, you would've fallen downstairs."

"Fallen down the stairs?" My mother looks at me in alarm.

"Was it an attack?" My father said as I gulp. Oh boy.

"No no," I hold up my hands to ease their fears. "It wasn't an attack."

"He wasn't paying attention to where he was going. If I hadn't grabbed his arm in time, surely there would be more damage would have taken place."

My parents blink with a sigh of relief. "Son, you have got to pay attention to your surroundings."

"You say it like I don't pay attention to surroundings," I mutter as they stifle laughs.

"Were your head in the clouds?" My mother teases.

"That's exactly what I asked him." My friend chimes in as I let out a sigh. These people.

"Ahem," I clear my throat hoping to redirect the topic. "You called me here because of something?"

"Oh yea," He said morphing back to a serious demeanor.

He glances at my mother. "Son, we wanted to discuss something that will end this war between us and the Barian world..." Ok... but why the hesitation?

"Really? That's great! What is it?" I said happily. If this war ends, people's lives will start to improve again.

"We fear that you wouldn't like it." My father said, nervously looking at me. Hmm... What do you mean?

"Ok...?" My eyes narrow in suspicion.

"Did you know there is a Barian princess called Starlight?"

"Yes, I have heard of her before. She's the last Barian princess of her kind. Why do you mention her? Does she play a key role in this plan?" I ask as they nod.

"She does play a role in this plan and so do you, my son." She said as my face pales. Please don't be what I think it is. "You're not saying..."

"To achieve peace with Barian world, there's only one way. That way is to have an arranged marriage between Starlight and you, Astral."

My breath hitch as those words come out of her mouth. An arranged marriage? "We know that this is hard for you but this is the only way to get peace for our world." My father said gently.

"Is this the only way?"

"Unfortunately, this is the best way that we could come up with." My mother said as I blink. Ok... So I'm getting married to the Barian Princess...

"I am not getting married to a stranger."

"This is the only way we could think to resolve this." My father repeats.

"So..." I utter slowly after a moment. "What I'm hearing is that you want me to get married to Princess Starlight for political reasons?"

They glance at each other. "Yes."

Really? I stare at them in appall. "You two," I gesture to them, "Want me to get married to a stranger for the sake of politics?" I utter in great disbelief as they glance at each other again. Huh... if it helps this world then I guess it can't be helped. "Alright."

They look at me in shock. "R-Really?"

I nod. "Just to be clear, I don't do things without any benefit to them. Personally, this doesn't benefit me in any way shape or form but considering it's the only way to help this world," I flash them a small smile. "A little sacrifice from me can't hurt." Plus, who knows. Maybe she will turn out to be pleasant.

"You can't be serious!" My friend hollers as I sigh.

"I'm serious."

"This is a marriage we are speaking about."

"It benefits this world. As a Prince, this is also a part of my duties."

"What if she turns out to be unpleasant? What then?"

I shrug as she clings onto my neck tighter. "If that's the case then I will keep my distance. After all, I have no obligations to fulfill any of my husbandly duties in a contract marriage."

She smacks the back of my head. "Why is everything a business transaction with you? Marriage is not business."

"That's where you are wrong," I calmly said. "Marriage, whether it's for love or some other reason, a person always has something to gain from another person. Take this marriage, for example, if I get married to her, the war will end."

"Well yeah," She said after a couple of minutes. "I guess you're right but I'm talking personally. What do you have to gain from this marriage?"

What do I have to gain? Hm... "The answer is quite obvious," I start out saying. "A man always has something to gain from a woman."

She facepalms. "Seriously?!"

"Are you sure about this?" My mother asks me gently.

"I already said-"

"Son," She walks up holding my hand firmly. "Marriage is not like a business."

"Sure it-"

A finger connects with my lips as my eyes widen. "Listen to me, this is a marriage we are talking about."

I blink in confusion. "Don't you want me to agree?"

"Well yes," My father said. "But we want you to be happy."

"Father, you must know our standing in this situation. If this continues, the beings in our world will suffer. This is the only solution to it."

He sits down and sighs. "I know but still," He looks up at me. "I don't want to see you stuck in a loveless marriage."

Love huh?

(Flash):

"Astral," A woman with long black hair and amethyst eyes kisses my cheek with a gentle smile. "You're my best friend!"

(Flash)

A chuckle escapes my lips. "Love you say?"

"How interesting." I ponder as they blink in confusion.

"Interesting? How so?"

"It just is an interesting thing to think about." I simply explain to my friend as she raises an eyebrow.

Love… what an interesting notion indeed.