They were flying the lions back from practice, and Keith was upset with Princess Allura. "Princess,
what the hell were you doing back there?" Allura snapped, "Gee, Keith, I think I was flying my lion
through manuvers!" this she said in a sarcastic tone of voice.
Keith said, "Well, it sure didn't look like it
me..you were reckless! You pull anything like that for real.." She interrupted him.
"Oh you'll ground
me, right Commander? Hmph! You get mad if I don't fly aggressively then when I do, you get mad!
There's no pleasing you.."
Lance broke in and said, "Princess, he's not mad, it's just that you can't
take risks.."
Allura snapped at him, "Who asked your opinion? And as for risks, you try ruling a planet
and fighting Zarkon and Lotor all the time! See how you do!" Lance winced and then he grumbled,
"Must be that time of the month.."
Allura yelled, "I heard that, Lance!"
Lance thought, Geez..what has gotten into her?..
Hunk and Pidge wisely remained quiet.
They all flew back to the Castle without speaking and they all stalked into Castle Control with Keith in
the lead.
Allura went straight to her room.
Coran saw all that was going on and said, "Okay, Keith,
what's going on here?"
Keith ran his hand through his thick hair and said, "Coran, it's the
princess..she hasn't been herself ever since that battle we fought on Veng'aal.
She's moody,
irritable, and she disregards my orders. She takes a lot of risks. If she doesn't improve soon, I'll have
to get a replacement for her- probably Sven.."
Coran nodded his head and said, "Yes, I've noticed it
too. She's much like her father was. King Alfor was always pushing himself so hard, trying to do
everything for Arus, but nothing for himself. You practically had to kidnap him to get him to take a
break.
Keith nodded, "Yes, I have suggested that, but she won't listen. She used to relax a little, but
now it seems that she won't let herself."
Coran walked over to one of the starcharts and looked
intently at it. He turned to Keith and said, "What the princess needs is some time off - not long, just
some time by herself to relax and not worry about things."
Keith said, "Yeah, but getting her to do it is
another thing.."
Coran's eyes twinkled. "I know how to handle her. I had to get her father to do the
same thing myself..you contact Sven and I will make the other arrangements.
Keith nodded and
thought, ..if anyone can get Allura to take some time off, it's Coran...
Allura knocked on the outer door of Coran's office. She said wearily, "Coran, it's me, Allura.." She
thought ..what paperwork do I have to look over now?...
as she opened the door. Coran was in front of
his desk smiling. Allura sat down in one of the windsor chairs by his desk and scowled..what is he so
happy about?..
She said, "Okay, Coran, what is it?" Coran folded his hands and said, "Princess, you
are going on a mission.."
Allura thought, ..a mission?..ugh!.. She said, "What now?"
Coran continued
to smile. "No..it's not a difficult mission..you are going to take some time off!"
Allura stood up and said,
"Time off? Did Keith..?" Coran shook his head and said,"No, Keith did not ground you..we just all
thought that you've been irritable lately and needed some time off to relax."
Allura sat down again
and said, "Oh, yeah..time off to do paperwork..right?"
Coran said, "No, princess..I mean a real time
out for you and you alone. No paperwork. No duties. No Zarkon. nothing. Just time to think... and dream."
Allura
crossed her legs and folded her arms.
"Hmph! And where is this Nirvana, Coran? In my
room? Or perhaps in the caves."
Coran walked over to a small safe, opened it and came over to
where she sat. In his hand he held a small datacard. He said, "it's in another galaxy, Princess."
He
handed her the card and she turned it over in her hand. On one side was the Royal Seal of Arus, but
on the other side was a different seal..A gold lion on a blue background of white lillies.
She looked
up and said, "What is this, Coran?"
He replied, "That is a passkey to the royal residence of the House of
Richleau on the planet of Canesian." Allura furrowed her brow and said,
"Canesian? I've never
heard of that planet." Coran smiled and said, "Of course not, it is in another galaxy." Upon seeing
Allura's look, Coran explained."Long ago, when he was a young man, your father encountered a young prince who had been wounded in battle and had been left for dead in his ship.
This young man had been in disguise so no one knew he was of royal blood. Your father rescued the
young man before his ship exploded and treated him. The young man was grateful to your father
and he revealed that he was Prince Raull of the planet Canesian. Prince Raull explained that his
planet was on the other side of a small wormhole and that through his technology, could only be
accessed by the royal family if needed. Of course the royal family never used the wormhole, but
Prince Raull was of an adventurous nature and wanted to explore our galaxy.
Your father took the
prince back to Canesian via the wormhole, and your father and the prince vowed lifelong friendship.
As a gesture of this friendship, the prince gave your father this passkey to open the wormhole and visit
his planet whenever he, his family and the immediate court members needed to get away. .Canesian
is a beautiful planet, much like Arus.Canesian's people are humanoid, with just a touch of the Drule
race within them. They are a peaceful race and enjoy much prosperity, although truthfully theirs is a
simple existence..it is a very nice place to be.."
Allura sat there fascinated, "You mean you've been
there, Coran?"
He nodded, "Yes, your aunt Lida and I would go along with your mother and father
before you were born."
He said sadly, "After Lida died, I could not bear to go anymore. We had so
many happy times there." He looked at her steadily. "But..your mother and I used to make your father
go whenever the pressures of everything got to him. They even took you there a few times - of
course, you wouldn't remember that."
Allura looked down at the card and sighed, "It sounds nice
Coran, but I have to stay- I mean Voltron and -"
Coran shook his head. "We've already contacted
Sven and he will be here before you leave." Allura asked, "But what about -"
Coran, as if he were
reading her mind said, "There is nothing pressing here..and aren't you the one who always says "you
are responsible for the affairs of the kingdom if anything happens?" I had to do this when your mother
and father went away for a rest. Everyone needs to get away, princess - even you.."
Allura shook her
head and actually smiled. She said, "Sounds like you took care of everything - wait! What about
Nanny? She won't like me going off alone."
Coran said, "She knows already, princess. She doesn't
like it, but she knows that the young prince will keep an eye on you while you're there and that you
will be safe from Zarkon. The wormhole is secret and cannot be detected, even when it's opened.
That's why you need the passkey. It informs the royal house that you are a guest and they will direct
you into the wormhole."
Allura leaned back in her chair and said, "Oh, Coran..I'm sorry about how I've
been lately, I'm - I'm just tired of fighting so hard all the time. If it isn't Zarkon, it's Lotor, or it's
something else. I wish I could be free just for awhile and not have to worry so..."
Coran said, "That's
why we're insisting that you go, princess. Dr Gorma agrees as well. Your stress is affecting you and
you need a rest. Canesian will be the perfect place for you."
Allura thought about it and said, "Yes, I
think it would, " Coran.. wait, you said, a young prince- that wouldn't be same prince that father - "
He shook his head, "No this is his son, Prince Devonn. His father died and just like you, he rules his
planet. I have already contacted him about your arrival. He will respect your privacy.."
Allura thought,
..good, I have enough problems with princes already..She was thinking of a certain white-haired
prince as she thought this.
Coran said, "Well, your majesty, what do you say? Is it a yes?" Allura
looked down at the passkey and thought,..why not? I've never really had any time for just myself..it
will be nice for a change..
She looked up and smiled,"It's a yes, Coran!"
The royal advisor smiled and
said, "I knew you'd come around, princess.."
Castle Doom
Prince Lotor rolled over in his large bed and sighed. Another day, another chewing out by his father.
He didn't think he could stand much more of it. Even when he did things right, his father would still
blame him for some failure or another. And when it came to Voltron, his father went into rages! So far
his father had him thrown in prison twice and had threatened to have him killed many more times
than that. Lotor's strategy lately had been to stay out of his way. Soon though, he would rule his
father's empire and would no longer have to hide from his father's wrath. And when he was ruler, he
would have Allura by his side as his Queen.
Lotor turned over on his back and sighed heavily again. Allura..she always seemed to elude him.
The one he wanted most of all in the universe always seemed to slip from his grasp. There were
times when he thought he should just forget about trying to win her and just marry someone, but he
couldn't - he just couldn't. The unshakable truth was that he loved her. He who never loved anyone
except perhaps his mother when he was young, loved her. He tried forgetting her with liquor, women,
drugs, everything, but her face came to his mind and his heart would turn over. He couldn't stop
loving her, even when she refused him. It hurt him so, though he would never admit it. If she loved
him, he could do anything.
He was afraid though. Afraid that she would be lost to him in death and it would be his fault. All the
times he had to defeat Voltron on orders from his father he had prayed in his heart that she wouldn't
be killed. He wished she could just stop fighting him. He would take care of her, see to her safety and
the whole universe could go hang. She wouldn't have to fight anymore. She would only have love
and comfort from him the rest of her days. He would see to it.
However, she kept fighting him. He knew why. It was because of his father and because she feared
that he would be just like him. Lotor grimaced. His father never loved anything. He, on the other
hand, found out that he could love. Now if only he could convince her of that!
Suddenly, Lotor had an idea. He reached over to his nightstand and pressed a small hidden button.
A small secret drawer popped out. He reached in and drew out a small datacard. Looking at it, he
smiled. On one side was his personal seal - a gold and turquoise phoenix. His father did not know
that Lotor had his own seal. Lotor hated the mark his father used, and so he created this one. Lotor
turned the card over and saw other royal seal - this one a gold lion on a blue ground with lillies - the
seal of the Royal House of Richleau. His friend, Prince Devonn, ruled the planet of Canesian in the
Velan Galaxy. Of course it was only accessed by a secret wormhole that only he and the immediate
royal family of the planet knew about.
A few years ago, he had ran into this prince on Tyrus, where they had gotten completely
drunk and Devonn foolishly insulted some alien Darvaas in the pleasure house that they had been
at. The Darvaas didn't take kindly to their parentage being slurred, and so they decided to teach
Devonn a lesson. Lotor who was drunk, but not too drunk to fight, fought the Darvaas ( who were big
and ungainly) with his lasersword and killed them. Of course the owner of the establishment,
knowing who Lotor's father was, didn't protest much. Devonn had been so grateful that he gave Lotor
the passkey to the wormhole. Devonn gave him an open invitation to come to his planet and stay at
the royal residence whenever he wanted. The royal family never used it anymore, and Devonn
preferred to stay with his paramours in town. Lotor would never need to inform anyone of his stay, for
his seal on the passkey would be acknowledged - his prints upon the key verified. Lotor had taken
the passkey and swore that his father would never know of this wormhole's existence, for he would
desire to conquer the new galaxy immediately. Lotor's seal was placed upon the other side of the card setting it. Devonn activated it using a small pen scanner he carried with him - a royal authorization of sorts..
Canesian would be his and Devonn's secret.
From that time on, they were friends. Lotor never had any friends in his galaxy, for all stood in fear of
his temper and rages. Devonn merely laughed them off. He was a good friend and an interresting
drinking partner who could match Lotor drink per drink. His reputation with women was as bad as
Lotor's was. They seemed to evenly matched, both physically and mentally.
Arus, The Castle of Lions
Chapter Two
Lotor turned over on his side and sighed again. He needed to get out of here for awhile, but where?
Tyrus? No..too busy, too noisy..He wanted someplace quiet, where he could rest without worrying
that his father would summon him for something or other. He was tired. Tired of being his father's
whipping boy, the scapegoat. Tired of fighting Voltron and losing. Tired of the drinking and the
endless parade of nameless slave girls. Even his pleasures with them were beginning to be
tiresome.
Lotor turned the passkey in his hand and thought..yes, Canesian would be good..get together with
Devonn..relax...maybe spend some time alone too..well not too alone. Perhaps Devonn could spare
some of his women for him. He wasn't a monk after all. Lotor sighed. He rather have Allura in his
arms more than any other woman Devonn could give him. He wished he could just take her there
with him, but he knew that she was too well guarded. He would have to go by himself.
Lotor sat up and placed the passkey upon his nightstand. Looking at his chron, he saw that it was still
early. He would go to Canesian before anyone was up. His father was used to his disappearing for
days.
Lotor smiled and thought, ..yes, some time off will be the best thing for me..He got up and proceeded
to get ready to go...