Allura and Lotor kissed, but it was Prince Lotor broke away first. He hung his head.
Allura frowned and said, "D'aavid, what is wrong?"
He sighed heavily, "You would not wish to bonded to me if you knew who I really was." Allura raised his face with her hand and she said, "It doesn't matter. You are D'aavid and we were meant for each other."
His eyes looked sadly upon her and he said,"No.I am known as Lotor,the Dark Prince of Hell, and I -I am a murderer, a raper of women and worlds. I have become like my father, Zarkon!"
Allura thought..the Dark Prince..wait..long ago..an old woman..and he will make you his own.
Allura wrapped her arms around him and said, "D'aavid, you can change.I think you want to.Everyone derserves a second chance - even you."
Lotor looked into her eyes, so blue, so filled with love and confidence.
He said shakily, "What have you done to me, Allura? I have never felt so..." His handsome face lit up with a smile and he said, "Yes, you are right, I do want to change, I just never could before. With you, I can.."
He frowned and looked into her eyes. "I have many things to atone for, Allura.I will get your world back and return your people. I cannot replace the ones I have killed, but I can begin again." He kissed her deeply and felt as if he were reborn. A new man from the old. He felt more than just mere passion for her. He felt as if he could never live without her.
She kissed back and she felt as she hadn't with Keith or with Coran. There was no fear in this man's embrace or kiss. She felt alive and she felt as if he was the one who would complete her, make her whole. She felt as if she had known him for all her life They continued to kiss and hold each other, an unspoken question between them. Of course, as with all young lovers, that question was soon answered.
She watched him sleep, her bonded one, her new husband and smiled. He had been gentle and loving. His kisses and his touch energized her, and made her as if she had entered a new world. She had and it was wonderful. She looked at his handsome face, boyish in sleep and she touched his long white hair. She saw his lips curve into a gentle smile. Allura had the errant thought of what their children might look like. She smiled. Who knew? That was the future, and this was now. Who would have ever thought that the Dark Prince of Doom would have a heart of kindness or noblity? A core of goodness within him?
He had murmured "I love you, Allura.." Words that he had never spoken before to another woman besides his mother.
Allura felt her beloved's arm tighten around her waist. She remembered that before they went to sleep, they had talked of their plans. They would go to Aden and bring back Voltron. Between Voltron and the troops who were loyal to D'aavid, they would fight Zarkon's tyranny over the galaxy and the Garrison Cartel.
(A/N): This Cartel used to be a "good" organization till Zarkon had corrupted it, ala V3D.)
They would free the slaves and return the people to Arus. D'aavid had said that they could stay on Arus if she wished it. She smiled. Everything looked so hopeful now. She couldn't wait to begin.
Allura tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't-she was too excited. Maybe she should get the documents and the keys. She knew exactly where the tombs were. She could go in while he was asleep and come right back. Then they could leave for Aden right away. Excited by her idea, she got up, trying not to wake him. He was deep asleep. She put her nightgown back on and took the two pendants that were on the dresser(they had took them off to avoid tangling them up) and she left the ship. Fleet of foot, she entered the castle and made her way to the Royal Tombs...
Allura shivered. She knew that her mother and father were buried here and as always when she visited this place she was sad. She made her way to her father's tomb and looked around at the base. She didn't see anything. Wait! There! The small niche... She bent and placed the joined pendants into the niche. It fit perfectly. A small drawer slid out and she saw two keys-one large and one small-and a rolled up scroll with the royal seal upon it, sealing it. She took the items out and she closed the drawer.
As she rose to get up, she felt a warm hand upon her shoulder. Allura screamed and suddenly, another hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her scream. She was raised up and pressed against a body.
"Be quiet.." a voice hissed.
In her fright, Allura had lost the keys and the document in the darkness. The unseen figure's hand encircled her waist.
The voice said, "I will not hurt you, Allura."
Her eyes widened. Coran! He was alive! She did not struggle,so he removed his hand from her mouth.
He asked, "You will be quiet?"
She nodded mutely. She heard him say, "Good."
He released her and then spun her around to face him.
She sputtered and said, "You're alive!"
Coran smiled and said, "Yes, the demon only wounded me."
He glanced down to the floor for a moment and he narrowed his eyes as he saw the document and the keys. He also saw the two pendants joined together.
He grabbed her suddenly by the waist and pushed her against the tomb, bending her backwards.
Coran yelled in rage, "So! That half-breed found you, did he? That damned Drule lives! Did he take you, Allura? Did he?" Coran's face was a mask of rage, jealousy, and madness.
He pinned Allura and kissed her hard, his hands sliding downward.
Allura was breathless, but she yelled, "We are bonded! Mother and Father-"
Coran yelled back and said, "I don't care! I won't let that Drule and you- you did, didn't you? You let him, didn't you? Damn you!"
Allura tried to scratch him and he caught her wrists in his large hands and said, "It doesn't matter. I will destroy the documents, the keys, the pendants-I should have long ago." He looked into her frightened face and said, "I will be a better husband to you, Allura." He kissed her deeply, fitting his toungue into her mouth.
She broke away in repulsion and screamed,, "I don't WANT you! I love-"
He cut her off and kissed her again, leaning on her hard.
He whispered, "After I kill that half-breed, you will grow to love me. I - I have losr so much..." including your mind!~ Allura thought.
He kissed her again, his free hand sliding her gown up. He murmured, "Allura, I love you so..god, your skin..so beautiful.."
Tears flowed down her face as his lips travelled everywhere...I shouldn't have come here without D'aavid..She tried one last time to reach him. "Coran-don't do this! You're practically my father!"
He whispered against her skin, "It is too late, Allura."
Suddenly a voice yelled, "Let her go, you bastard!"
Coran whirled, still holding Allura, and said, "So, half-breed! You are here to take her? Well you won't! She is mine and I am sworn to protect her!"
Lotor branished his sword. "And I am here to protect her from you!"
Coran smiled and said, "Ha! As if someone like you had any honor! Yes, you Drules are savages...raping innocent women and killing children!"
Lotor was at a loss. He could not attack and he knew it. Allura was too close! There had to be a way! Allura thought,...he is not attacking because of me!..must be a way to get away!
Then she had an idea. She thought,..I hope D'aavid understands this! She said, "Albert.." He turned his head and she said, "Please let me go, you're hurting me."
Coran's face softened and he said, "I'm not letting you go with him, Allura."
She forced a smile upon her face and said, "No.Albert..you don't understand.I don't want to go."
His eyes widened in surprise. "You don't?"
She said softly,"No, Albert." She forced herself to say this, "I love you, Albert, please."
He let go of her wrists and he brought her up. He said softly, "Do you mean that, Allura?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and murmured, "Yes, Albert. Please kiss me."
Coran smiled and said to the shocked Prince. "She loves me, do you hear, you damned Drule? She is mine!" He closed his eyes and kissed her, his hands gentle on her waist. Allura made herself relax and then with all her strength, she kneed him in the crotch.
With a groan, he let go of her and she scrambled away, quickly grabbing the the keys, the pendants and the documents. Lotor quickly grabbed her and said, "You almost had me fooled there, Allura . I will finish him."
Allura started to say no when suddenly, they heard a ominous rumbling. Allura looked down and saw that one of her fingers had pressed hard on one the smaller keys.
She sceamed, "The castle! The new one's coming up! We must get out of here!" They ran as the old castle crumbled around them.
Coran struggled up, enraged that she would trick him so. He would go after them. The ground rumbled around his feet and a wide gap suddenly opened under him. He yelled as he hit one of the spires of the enmerging castle. He had been run through, he knew. He continued to fall, as the gap widened to admit the new castle He hit the bottom finally, his body broken, his breath coming in rasps. He whispered."Alfor, forgive me..Allura.I will love you always."
As the new castle rose above the heaving ground,rocks and debris filled the gap. Albert Coran was dead by the time his body was covered by the cave-in.