Yzak's fourth day, he was greeted by Mikael, who was bandaged and one of his arms hung in a sling. Yzak was shocked to see him in that state. The two had met in the common area.

Mikael waved with his free arm. "Forgive my appearance, Mister Joule. I am also recuperating from an accident." Yzak wondered what had happened He was close to asking. "Since I am recuperating, I will be here to keep you company at times. Did you get a tour?"

"Ah, yes," Yzak stammered.

"The whole mansion?" Mikael moved his hand around in a circle.

"No, only this wing by Prince Sven," Yzak explained.

"Ah," Mikael smiled. "That's because this is the only wing you're allowed to roam around in." Mikael moved closer to the middle of the room. "On this screen." One part of the wall switched to a tv screen. "Is the whole mansion." As he spoke, he explained the rest of the mansion layout. "Left side is dedicated to the royal's living areas. Right wing, the main floor and part of second floor contains a small ballroom. There is a room before the ballroom that is usually used for dining for large groups. The second floor that is not open for the ballroom's ceiling, has smaller rooms to gather privately, along with a hidden door to enter the balcony to overlook the ballroom. Third and fourth floors are guest rooms and rooms for private gatherings, similar to the common areas here. There are two kitchens on the main floor. The second kitchen is used for large parties.

"Between the end of the wings is the conservatory," Mikael continued to explain while the screen shown pictures. "Both main floor wings have doors connecting to it. In the center of the wings, this green area, has a small path through the native botanical garden. Outside the mansion, there is a path that connects to the stables that has an indoor and outdoor arena. Many trails to ride for leisure."

"It is grand," Yzak watched the screen. "Not surprising as it is built for royalty."

"Oh, but it is humble," Mikael explained. "This is Her Highness' private mansion." The screen showed slides of grandiose mansions and castles. "Those are the official homes that Their Highness' have inherited but for now they have chosen to stay with Her Highness in her private home."

"Was it due to the assassinations?" Yzak looked to him to gage his reaction.

"Yes and no," Mikael explained with no signs of change. "This mansion is above Her Highness' personal workshop. Her Highness needed to be closer to continue her work. Their Highnesses can live on their own but the three need to have contact periodically. It's easier to live with one another due to their genetics. Hence why Her Highness' room is the biggest."

Mikael would answer Yzak's questions the best he could that he could allow. Yzak's day to day life from then on, seemed to mirror staying at a fancy hotel. He would receive exquisite meals on lavish trolleys. He would use the personal amenities to continue his physical therapy. It felt a bit weird to wander around by himself. Sometimes Mikael would show up but not participate. He would never be there for meals, unlike Sven who would show up randomly. Sometimes he would look haggard and tired other times he would chat Yzak's ear off as they dined in the common area.

On one occasion, Yzak was trying to figure out the television channels. He had figured he was not getting all the news sources. His stay here was hindering him but they were also keeping information from him. Still, no one had come to get him for the summons. He clicked it off. He had brought his laptop to the common area. He didn't want to stay cooped up in the guest room.

He heard the muffling of voices coming from the waiting area. Yzak glanced to the door. He went back trying to out the chess game. The door started to open.

"Ah you're being haunted by her EHSAINCE," Sven first entered through the door still looking to the person he was talking to. "Understandable. She is swinging back and forth between life and death at the moment." His eyes glancing to see if Yzak reacted to his words.

"It is getting unsettling," a familiar voice spoke. Yzak perked up when he heard the voice. He stopped what he was doing. He was a bit afraid to turn that way. "We're at seventy-six percent-" The person stopped when they saw Yzak sitting down. Sven had a slight smirk. He knew this was going to happen.

Yzak looked over to see as the two had stopped talking. When he saw his mother, he automatically stood up in shock.

"I forgot about your relation to one another, my apologies, Yzak," Sven explained. "I know you must have several questions, both of you. Director Joule, please take this time. I will send up someone to serve afternoon tea." Sven left the room, while shutting the door.

Yzak couldn't believe he was seeing his mother, alive, and in front of him. Ezalia was doing her best to stay calm.

"I know you must have so many questions," Ezalia started to explain herself. She couldn't really stare at him without feeling embarrassed and guilty. She didn't see him come over to her face to face. She looked up to see him full of concern. Was he always that tall? She thought to herself. He embraced her in a hug. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. She held onto him, hugging him tighter. It had been such a long time with no contact to one another. "I'm sorry for not telling you about my situation. I am not allowed to. Also, you could see the shock on how I was surprised to see you here as well." She didn't want to let go of him, tears streaming down her face.

"I thought you were in prison or worse," Yzak didn't want to say the rest. He squeezed her again. Tears escaping from his closed eyes.

"I know," she pulled away enough to cup his cheek. He opened his eyes filled with tears. "After everything that happened, I would have believed the same. Come, it's going to be a long story on why I am here." She moved towards one of the sitting areas. Yzak followed behind her, wiping the tears on the back of his shirt. The two sat on the same couch. As if it was timed right, one of the maids came with a trolley full of snacks and a tea set. It was placed down on the coffee table. The maid left the two alone. She explained what she could. Gilbert Durandal threatening the former Zala followers about joining his side or to expect elimination. Several had thought they would be stripped of their offices and titles only to be put on house arrest. That was the notion, Durandal had first tried to bait them with but it was actually a harsher punishment. All those that went against Durandal that had ties to Zala were transferred to a vessel to receive punishment. It was a surprise when they found out they were taken to the Kingdom of Scandinavia instead. The two had come to a deal of some sort. The first thing the group did was go through rehabilitation. As well as explaining their situation in the First War along with spilling any secrets they had.

After their rehabilitation, living in small communities where some of their family was reintroduced to them. No contact to the rest of the family outside of the Kingdom but they could learn to know how they were doing. The former PLANTs citizens became citizens of the Kingdom, integrating in the Royal Military under Princess Selena. One day when things were stable enough, all of this would be revealed to the rest of the world.

"So, all this time, you have been here?" Yzak had placed down his teacup. "And the rest were here too?" He felt relieved. Everyone he knew back at the PLANTs who were struggling with the same situation would be relieved to be in the same situation as he is in now. "I'm glad all of you are okay. Some of us have thought the worst, while others are still holding strong. You may have already known that, but it will be a weight off all our shoulders when its revealed. I'm guessing I cannot say anything further to anyone once I leave the Kingdom."

Ezalia shook her head. "No. Her Highness would like to keep it a secret."

"But that means she lied during the investigation at the PLANTs," Yzak brought up.

"Her Highness likes to do what she wants," Ezalia smiled. "Especially His Highness. They have their reasons. After working with them, I can almost see their way of thinking."

"Is it nice, living here?" Yzak asked. He was curious on her daily life.

"It is nice," Ezalia gave him a comforting smile. "I can have as many days off I want. I can travel around the Kingdom. Its affordable. Everyone has access to healthcare. We're not treated as outsiders. I didn't think living in a neutral nation would be this blissful. We're still worried about the outside trying to come in, but for the most part, we keep to ourselves. During the Second War, it was hard. We all wanted to fight. We saw the injustices. We didn't want to do just nothing. Underneath the Royal Military, we were able to use our skills and abilities for that. For those that have lived in the Kingdom before us, they can sign up for either military, join volunteer organizations that would collect donations of all sorts to send off to those in need. Nothing is forced. If you want to help out, there are several ways to do that. If you don't, no one looks down on you. We all understand. Some can give, some can't." Ezalia glanced away. "Now that you know, do you resent that I couldn't tell you?"

Yzak grabbed his mother's hand. "No. I could never feel anger towards you. We all thought the worst. Her Highness works in ways none of us knows, as you mentioned, she does what she wants. I am happy, lucky, even to be sitting here, next to you, knowing that you're alive and well. The rest would be happy to hear of this news. I thought maybe you might have resented me for not looking for you enough like Dearka has looked for his parents."

"No," Ezalia clasped his hand back. "Never. Her Highness has allowed us to keep tabs on all of you. I was so worried when I heard about the last battle you were in. It was so hard knowing I couldn't do anything to help you."

"Will I be able to spend more time with you?" Yzak asked.

"Yes," Ezalia started to cry again. "Yes. As long as you are here in the Kingdom, we can spend time with each other as much as we want." The two of them hugged one another. It felt surreal being back together after the wars.

During Yzak's first week of getting acclimated to the Kingdom, Selena had been allowed to enter the simulation cockpit. It didn't take her long to figure out the controls. Ra and the others watched as throughout the week; she progressed handling the cockpit while taking down enemies in the simulation.

"She's progressing beautifully," Ra watched on a screen in another room. He would still keep his distance at times when testing her abilities under his conditioning. "Have her ZAKU primed and ready. I want to do a field test before we finish things here on the planet. How are the other tasks coming along?"

"Everything is ready, we just need your approval," an underling answered him.

"Good, good," Ra smiled. "Let's let her cool down from this. She's ready for action. Send her back to her room, don't do any more puzzles or tests. Just let her rest. I'll need her pristine. Once I approve of this next project, I'll retrieve her. Everything's coming along so well. It's rather something isn't it?" He left the room.

In front of Diana's office, Sai had just knocked on her door. There wasn't an answer. He had started to get doubts from that breach. He even tried looking into some information since he did have access. What he was finding seemed to be off. The only other person he could trust was Diana. He had to know if his suspicions were right. He also wanted to know if she knew anything about this. He needed to speak with her, so he didn't really move from her office door. He was going to wait. He had the time. There was a time he did leave to use the restroom, when he came back, he saw a flash of a person going into her office.

Sai ran down the hallway, catching the door before it was slammed shut. He could see a pink haired person, crouched on the ground, holding themselves, trying not to sob so loudly. Sai shut the door, locking it, as the person turned back around, scared that they had been caught.

"Miss, are you alright?" Sai crouched down.

"Sai!" Diana flinched back. "How did you get here? Did anyone see you? WAIT-NO-Don't look at me!" She turned away from him, taking off the wig, trying to crawl away. "It's not what you think! Go away!"

"Diana!" Sai went after her. "You can tell me! I'm not going to harm you in anyway. Please! Let me help you!"

Diana hit the wall, the lights were still off in her office, only the hallway lights were casting a light through the window. She turned towards him, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes grey instead of her natural color. She didn't look the same. That look felt familiar. He glanced down to the pink wig clutched in her hand. He stared at her outfit; it looked like something an aristocrat would wear. It dawned on him. "Why do you look like Princess Selena?"

Diana placed a handover his mouth. "Don't you dare say another word, for both our lives. No one must know." She warned him. "I can't tell you, but I like you a lot. I really do. You're so nice and funny, and smart-anyways." Tears started to stream down her face. "But if you say something, we'll both be dead. I'm sorry for getting you into this. I didn't mean to, but please, please, please, keep this a secret." Sai could see how pale she was getting. He nodded to her. She pulled her hand away.

He sat down next to her against the wall. The two sat there in silence. "I like your look by the way." Diana glanced away. "Not this one. Your look. You. The you that you are." Sai scratched the back of his head. "I know it's not making sense, but I like you. I don't know why you have to be someone else, but I like you. Now that you're like this, maybe the you I like may not be the real you."

Diana flinched. She looked over to him. "No, the one you see all the time, that's me. That's my real face, my real hair, my real eye color, my real voice. All of it is me."

Sai looked over to her, giving her a comforting smile. He wiped her tears with his thumbs. "Well, I'm glad then. I got to see the real you. I can understand if it wasn't. I thought this place was for good, but now I'm starting to have my doubts. Especially now that you came here dressed as the Princess from the Kingdom. I'm beginning to believe we're with someone who is making lots of trouble."

"We are," Diana glanced away. Her voice almost inaudible but Sai still heard it.

"I'm here with you in this. We both were lied to," Sai cupped her face. "We'll think of way to get out of here together. I have friends who are probably right now trying to find out who this is. I can send them a signal. I have a friend who is outside, in one of the cities. She's probably here for that. We can take whoever is behind this down, and save those who really need to be saved."

Diana started to get scared. Sai was no match for Ra. She knew who Sai's friends were due to the files. She believed they were no match for Ra either. Maybe Supreme Council Chairwoman Lacus Clyne could hold up a fight against him, but not when he had what he wanted. No one will be able to stop him. He finally got his queen, and got her under his control. The whole galaxy was no longer a threat to him. He has become invincible, but she could not let Sai know that. She only nodded to him.

At the hidden camp near there, Miriallia was looking through the photos 8 had retrieved on her personal laptop. There were some she had never seen before. Her eyes opened wide when she saw a scene developing as she thumbed through the pictures.

"8! Why didn't you tell us about this?" She looked up to see if he had responded. Jess had come in just the right time with lunch when he saw the pictures on her laptop. His jaw dropping.

What pictures? 8 asked.

"The pictures of where Her Highness Princess Selena is getting engaged to the clone!" Miriallia stood up. This was big information. How could 8 keep it from them.

That isn't Her Highness, 8 refuted.

The two blinked. How could it not be? That was Selena right there, being proposed to. Taking off the clone's mask with a loving adoration on her face. The clone scooping her up into a kiss. That was all Selena.

"This is a big deal!" Miriallia moved to the controls on the cockpit. She found them on the drive. She clicked on the most important ones. "Send these off!"

No. 8 refused.

Jess was still in a state of shock. He couldn't reply only watch.

"We need to send these off!" Miriallia demanded.

That is not Her Highness. This is Her Highness. 8 displayed pictures of the actual Selena on the screen. Pictures of her ranging in age. A picture of her when she was younger, dressed in a light blue wool coat with the hood up, lined with white fur. The coat came over a light blue dress that went above the knees. She wore white stockings and black boots. She stood next to Anita in a similar outfit but hers was a darker blue. Sven stood next to them in a trench coat similar in color and style as Selena's. A picture of her a few years back in a ball gown of embroidered sheer fabric. The sheer fabric was of hues of lights blues and light pinks. Flowers embroidered were light pink and light purple. Green leaves and stems swirled around the flowers. Rhinestones were throughout the dress like morning dew. Light pink almost white fabric was underneath all of the dress. The edges were embroidered with the same flowers. Her sleeves were sheer and reach the end of her biceps before draping out. She wore her hair up in a floral crown with small flowers and rhinestones at the front and big flowers holding her hair up in the back. A variety of pictures like that popped up one after another. Her doing ballet. Selena at her parent's funeral.

Jess noticed these pictures were not ones seen in the public. "How-how did you get these?"

When pictures are made public of Her Highness, I store them away before they are gone. I have collected many over the years. 8 explained. And those pictures are not Her Highness.

Miriallia scrutinized 8. "I don't know what Lowe's opinion on the Princess to have you keep an eye on her, but this is something that's affecting the whole cosmic area. This is big! Send those off!"

I refuse. 8 took a stand. I am not willing to send off images that will harm her when that's not her. His screen went blank. Showing that he was not going to go further.

"Alright, if you won't I will," Miriallia grabbed her laptop. She headed outside. Jess followed behind her. She took out her satellite, placed it on the mobile suit.

"The signal isn't going to go far, who are you sending them to?" Jess was perplexed that 8 was hiding something like that.

"We're close to Orb, Athrun should be able to receive them," Miriallia started to send the images. "Also, while 8 was showing pictures of the Princess, I took that time to steal his images from him. We also have copies. I'll send these images first. Then when we look through to see if we find any clues through his files, well send those next."

The images were sending while the two looked through the pictures. It was almost like an online album dedicated to the Princess. 8 had saved pictures journalists would pay top dollar to have. The scrolled through to only see another bombshell. Princess Selena enjoying the company with two clones. Miriallia started to select the pictures with the clones and send them off as well.

Her and Jess went back to the cockpit to have a talk with 8.

If you're here to talk about someone else, we can, but not about the Princess, 8 explained.

Miriallia went through 8's drive to find the pictures.

Hey that's rude! 8 complained.

Miriallia pulled up the images of the two other clones. "What are these then?" She countered. "If you say those images recently taken were not the Princess, then what are these then?"

8 didn't say anything.

"Come on now," Jess crossed his arms. "Its clear Princess Selena has ties with the clones. Now its not a surprise seeing as she is now engaged to one. And to the same clone too. All of these are the same clone of one dude. Those two clones are dead. You have pictures of her at their graves with her in tears and placing down flowers. Or her kissing the headstones! I can't believe it myself, but 8, the Princess has ties with the clones. I don't know if it was her first love, and he died so she's marrying another clone instead, but pictures don't lie. We need to send this off to Terminal. They need to know."

I have come to trust both of you, but now you have used my words and my pictures against me, 8 explained. I will still stand by I said. That is not Her Highness. I will not send images that are not her. His screen went back to black.

"There's no use," Jess let out a sigh.

"That's alright," Miriallia went back to her usual way of sending information. "We have a workaround. If 8 doesn't want to cooperate, then that's fine. We'll still get that information to Terminal." She sent off the new images to Athrun once the first sent had been sent successfully.