"Hey! Let me go!" Zuzu cried, as she was shoved through yet another door. This time into an enormous room, bright blue and sparkling with golden decorations here are there. It had perfect circular pillars lining both sides of the room reaching to the, what looked to be about, 30ft high ceiling. At the far end of the room were a series of steps reaching up to a platform, upon which two blue and gold thrones sat. Zuzu was dragged through the middle of the room and throw to the floor in front of the steps. She looked up at the figure sitting on one of the thrones. He was an astral being but not like the ones she'd seen before. This one had heterochromatic eyes, one gold and one a pure white. His skin was a translucent blue and covered in blue gems and green swirls. His matching blue hair curved up into a Mohawk style and he had two silver earrings dangling neatly by his shoulders. Zuzu knew him right away, he was Prince Astral, ruler of the Kingdom of ZEXAL. She gulped as he looked down at her, face completely void of emotion. He stared at her for a good three minutes as the room held its breath, everyone present too nervous to say anything. Finally, he opened his mouth.

"Who are you?" He asked, his voice deep and resonating.

"Um…" Zuzu stammered, her nerves jamming the words in her throat.

"Well? what is your name?" He tried, his eyes softening a bit as he registered how anxious she was.

"Zuzu, my- my name is Zuzu." She said.

"Zuzu…" He repeated, as though testing the name. "And what were you doing snooping around the palace?"

"Well… It's kind of a long story."

"Hey!" The guard with the spiky green hair who'd dragged her in here yelled. "Show some respect, the prince asked you a question,"

"Um… Well—" She began but was cut off as the door burst open and three small animals ran to her, followed by a figure in a billowing black cloak.

"Zuzu!" They all cried at the same time as the cat, dog and rabbit all jumped on her.

"Guys?" She gasped in shock as she was tackled to the floor.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The guard demanded.

"I'm sorry," A new voice called out. Everyone looked to see a tanned boy in royal armor like that of the green-haired man. He had green eyes and brown hair that framed his face in thick curves, one set of which completely covered his left eye.

"I couldn't catch them in time," He said, bowing his head.

"It is quite alright Alito." The prince said. "Please, would you mind summoning the rest of the emperors and my advisors, I suspect I will need their input."

"Yes sire." He said, bowing again and leaving.

"Now, I take it these are your friends." Astral said, gesturing to the room's new occupants.

"Uh, yeah," Zuzu said.

"We're very sorry about this." Said Yuya.

"And who might you be?" The prince asked.

"My name is Yuya." He replied. The prince's eyes widened at that, like Zuzu, he wondered if he could be the same Yuya that vanished from the Kingdom of the Pendulum nearly fourteen years ago. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the noisy entrance of his personal servant and best friend Yuma.

"Astral!" He cried as he burst through the door and ran up to the prince, not even noticing the other people in the room. "You sent for me? What do you need, I will do anything, just say the word, well, unless it's something stupid, come on what is it!" Yuma babbled endlessly. Astral smiled fondly, Yuma's enthusiasm was both infectious and entertaining.

"I assume these people have something to do with it." His advisor Kite said, gesturing to the group huddled on the floor as he entered and stood by the prince as Yuma had. The rest of the emperors filed in behind him. Their leader Nash, Shark, Reginald, whatever you wanted to call him, went to the front of the room to stand next to Astral with Kite and Yuma. The other six emperors lined up on either side of the room, effectively surrounding the group on the floor. Zuzu and Yuya suddenly became aware of their position now that there were so many eyes on them. They stood up quickly, while Tate, Ali and Fredrick cowered at their feet; intimidated by the hoard of scary looking soldiers.

"Yes." Astral said. "Perhaps you would all care to tell us your story now."

"Well you see we came here to—" Yuya started but Shark cut him off.

"First, I think it would be better if you took you're cloak off." Yuya tensed. "Forgive me but I don't trust anyone who doesn't show me their face." He sneered at Yuya.

"I—I um…" Yuya stuttered, clutching his cloak tighter around himself. "Please."

A lot of people in the room were taken aback at the desperate, terrified tone in his voice.

"I think Nash is right." Kite said. "He should take off the cloak so that we might see who it is we've captured."

"Yuya…" Zuzu said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We're here for you."

Tate, Ali and Fredrick rubbed against his legs in an equally soothing way, letting him know he had their support too. Yuya smiled, he was lucky to have such wonderful friends. He took a deep breath, hands shaking horribly as he reached for the clasp protecting his identity. He shut his eyes, too frightened to see their reactions as he took the cape off and let it drop to the floor. His wings instantly flew up into the air, desperate to breathe after being trapped for so long.

"Oh my goodness." Marin cried, hand flying to her mouth to stifle a gasp. Everyone else had similar reactions. Gasps, coupled with wide eyes came from all those that had never laid eyes on Yuya before. The three animals at his feet took offensive stances and Zuzu tightened her grip on his shoulder. The only one who didn't react in any way was the prince. He just calmly observed Yuya.

"Pardon my asking." He said. "But what are you?"

Yuya tensed again, keeping his eyes shut. "I don't know." His whispered, pain and fear evident in his voice.

Astral didn't reply, just kept observing. He found he learned a lot that way. So far his observations about the boy in front of him told him he was timid, self-conscious and friendly. His fear of revealing himself and self-consciousness told Astral he'd been abused because of his appearance and his interactions with his friends told Astral he was kind.

"I can see you've been mistreated for how you look." He said aloud. Yuya's eyes flew open in shock. He could read him that easily?

This time Astral did react. He could see Yuya's eyes now. They were a perfect crimson, exactly as people had said the lost prince's eyes were. Astral was becoming more and more interested.

"That's awful." Yuma said. Everyone turned to him, having temporarily forgotten he was there. "My parent's always said it was wrong to judge people by how they look. To think people have abused you for—" He clenched his fists in anger.

"Hmm…" Astral placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps this is too much pressure. A change of setting might help." He stood up and turned to Shark. "Tell the other emperors they may leave."

"Are you sure that's—" He began.

"Yes." Astral said firmly.

"As you wish." Reginald nodded, he turned to the other emperors and ordered they return to their own activities. Like himself, they weren't thrilled with the idea but wouldn't go against their leader's orders. Ray and Alito went back to the duel they were having before all this started; Girag went to the training arena; Dumon returned to the library to finish the book he'd been reading; Rio retired to her room and Mizar decided to go get a snack.

"Now I suggest the rest of us go relax in the lounge in the East Wing and you can tell us the full story." Astral said, already standing and making his way to the door. Yuma ran to catch him up, rambling nonsense to him. Shark and Kite followed silently behind, both with blank yet scary expressions. Zuzu, Yuya, Ali, Tate and Fredrick didn't move, still a bit unsure of what was going one.

"Come on then." Kite said, turning to them. They all exchanged looks and followed to the lounge.

Meanwhile, two rough looking criminals had just begun to make the two-day journey from Don Thousand's castle to the Kingdom of ZEXAL. Sharpening their knives to pass the time…

"Now." Astral said when they were all settled, Yuya and his friends on one sofa, Astral, Yuma and Shark on another with Kite taking a nearby armchair. "Perhaps you would care to explain why you're here and why you were snooping around the castle."

Zuzu explained everything from the beginning. She told them about how Yuya had ended up with Don Thousand under mysterious circumstances and not long after the three animals had joined him and the four had suffered his abuse for years. She talked a little about her meeting with Yuya, but saw he was still affected by it. Everyone else seemed to notice too and allowed her to move on. She then explained their plan and how they wanted to get into the archives.

"We just wanted to help Yuya find his family." She said. Yuya lowered his head.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"What?"

"You got in this mess because of me."

Zuzu laughed and shook her head. "Don't be silly." She smiled, "You're our friend, we know you'd do the same for us. Besides, I've never had a family, I know what it's like to grow up without anyone, I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

The other group of people in the room watched this with interest and took time to consider the story. Yuma then surprised everyone by walking over calmly and placing his arms around both Yuya and Zuzu in a hug.

"That was so horrible, no one should be treated like that."

Those in the room that knew Yuma weren't surprised by this but moved none the less. He'd always been sensitive when it came to things like this. He had a big heart. Trouble was he had a big mouth too but that wasn't important right now.

"I agree, I am sorry to hear of your hardship, and I will have to revaluate the visitor system in this castle."

"Yes, someone better tell that no good reception guy he should let people in if they want to help it's just—" Yuma began rambling again.

"I will see to it we take better care to listen to those who come here." Kite said solemnly."

Astral nodded at him gratefully. "Now, it has been a long day, perhaps you would all care to spend the night."

"Are you sure that's wise sire?" Shark asked. Astral nodded. "Yuma would you show them to their rooms."

"Just leave it to me!" The energetic young boy said confidently. "Follow me."

The six of them left.

"Are you certain—" Kite began but Astral cut in.

"Yes." He said firmly. "I don't think they're bad people, the way that girl stood up for herself and her friends even though she was scared, you could see in the way her hands shook, she's very brave. Those animals, they care for their friends, and that boy… I've never seen so much pain in someone's eyes before. He's suffered a lot in his life but you can see he still has hope."

Both Kite and Nash were unsure of how to respond. They were both cautious characters but could hear the truth in their prince's words. They decided for the time being they'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but one wrong move…

Yuma lead the five friends down some corridors. Whenever they passed people they'd stare at them. It wasn't every day you saw three brightly coloured animals, a scruffy street girl and a boy with black skin and wings. Yuya placed his arms around himself shyly, still uncomfortable being the centre of attention. (Ha! The irony)

"Here we go." Yuma stopped, opening a door.

"Yuma?" Came the sound of a female voice. The six all filed into the room to find a young maid with green moon-shaped hair making the bed.

"Tori!" Yuma said happily.

"How nice to see you." She said with a smile. It dropped when she noticed the other people in the room. She looked at them with confusion. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Yuya, Zuzu, Tate, Ali and Fredrick. They're going to be staying with us for a bit."

"Nice to meet you." Zuzu said with a bow.

"Hello." "Delighted to meet you." "Hi there." The three animals said.

Yuya just gave shy wave. His wings folded behind him self-consciously. Tori smiled, she could tell just by looking at their faces these people were friendly, even if they looked a bit strange.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Tori."

"Zuzu." Yuma said. "This will be your room."

"Really?!" Zuzu gasped. She'd never had a roof over her head in all her life. Now this entire room was to be hers. It was huge and beautifully decorated with carvings of flowers and white drapes and rugs.

Tori laughed, "I'll help you settle in if you like." She offered.

"Really?" Zuzu asked again. "Thank you."

The two girls smiled at each other and Yuma lead the other's out. He took them down two more doors then opened onto a room decorated with blue paint and wooden furniture.

"You three can stay in here." He said to the animals.

"Yeah?" Ali asked.

"Oh thank you." Fredrick said, running to jump on the bed. Soon the other two joined him, laughing happily.

The two boys left them to it.

"And this one is for you." Yuma said, opening the next door. Yuya walked in and gasped. The room was huge. It was a pure white with a large four-poster bed in the middle.

"Yuma?" He asked.

"Yes Yuya?"

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"For not thinking I'm a monster…" Both his voice and head lowered. Yuma walked over and embrace Yuya in a hug.

"Don't let anyone make you think you're a monster Yuya, I can just tell you're a great person."

"Thanks."

They both smiled and broke the hug.

"Goodnight." Yuma said, leaving Yuya to himself. Yuya smiled and went to collapse on his bed. Now that he was alone he suddenly realised how tired her was. It had been a long day. He fell asleep feeling incredibly warm inside.

Zuzu was right… People can accept me…