Blaze stayed close to the guards as they led them into the castle itself, taking in the sights of the home she was born into.
The pictures of her ancestors stood on the walls, though some were covered by curtains.

They reached two large doors, and Blaze wondered if her parents were on the other side. One guard went in and was inside for but a moment, then he opened the doors, and Blaze stepped in, seeing her father for the first time. "Dad...!"

King Asher stood there in silence, his clothes dark with flame designs on the cuffs. His fur was a brick red, and his eyes the same amber as hers. "Blaze...Can it really be my little kitten?"

Blaze was suddenly swept into his embrace, hugging him tightly as he did the same for her. "Dad, I missed you so much...!"

"I missed you too, Blaze... Oh," he held her out as he looked at her. "You grew up to be so beautiful...When your mother sees you, she's gonna freak."

Blaze giggled, a rare occurrence for her. "I'm just so glad to be home..." she gasped. "Oh, I almost forgot." She turned back to the others. "Dad, this is Shadow, Sonic, Silver, Venice, Amy, Rouge and Tails."

King Asher looked up too and gasped. "Good Heather! All of you made it at one time! That's a relief."

"We're glad you're happy to see us, your highness." Tails replied.

"Oh yes, of course! You're all welcome here in Zipherwixo. I'll have rooms prepared so you all can rest."

"Thanks." Sonic replied. "Oh, and by the way, we weren't raised as royals, we have no idea how to behave."

"That's an understatement." Shadow mumbled.

"What a coincidence, I wasn't raised a royal either. I'm royal by marriage."

"You go on and see your mom, Blaze." Silver offered. "We'll be fine."

Blaze nodded, then took her father's hand as he led her away from her friends.

.............................................................

There were fire designs all over the castle, it truly was their royal element. "So you're a pyrokinetic too?" Blaze asked.

"Not just a controller, but a mimicker as well. So I have to be careful."

They reached a door, and the king paused. "I must tell you, your mother is...disabled. An accident not long after your absence left her paralyzed from the waist down."

Blaze nodded, though curious what the 'accident' had been.
She entered the room, looking around until she saw her mother by the window.
Her fur was a deep blue like Sonic's, and she sat quietly in a wheelchair, staring out the window.

Blaze stepped into her line of sight, bending down in front of her mother. "...Mother?" She whispered.

The queen turned slowly, her eyes sparkling a bit as she recognized her daughter. "...Blaze...!?" Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Oh, my darling little girl...!"

Blaze was careful not to roll the wheelchair backwards as she hugged her mother. "I'm home...! We're all safe...!"

"The Nimbians too?"

"Yes, Ignacia." King Asher replied. "I'm having rooms prepared for them to stay the night."

"Oh, thank Chaos...! Unfortunately, if we try to send a message to Minerva, it'll probably just be intercepted."

"Don't worry, I have a plan." He bent down to his wife's eye level. "Remember who's coming to dinner tonight..."

"Oh yes..."

"Who?" Blaze asked. "Who's coming?"

"You'll find out soon enough, my dear." Queen Ignacia grinned. "Now go get cleaned up and in fresh clothes. You're covered in sand!"

Blaze smiled back, then followed her father back out of the room to do as her mother asked.