As the VF team and Lotor fought the roebeasts as the mighty Voltron, under the castle in the tombs, Zarkon faced the ghost of his enemy, Alfor. Zarkon, even in this unusual situation, faced his earthly enemy with a degree of arrogance.
Zarkon said, "So, you haunt this castle! The rumors were true.."
Alfor came closer and said, "Your time has come, Zarkon..."
Zarkon yelled, "You can do nothing, spirit! Not in your realm of the dead..this castle, this world, your daughter, Voltron - everything is mine!!"
Alfor's eyes blazed with anger and he said, "Your arrogance is as it always was, my enemy..you thought me weak, and you think the same of my daughter and her protectors, but they are not!! You think yourself invincible- you are not! Even now, your plans unravel!"
Zarkon said, "Even as a spirit, Alfor - you talk too much. My plans are set and I will succeed! I will take your precious daughter and she will carry my heir!! Aren't you proud?" Zarkon laughed fiendishly.
The light around Alfor suddenly changed, and his ghost solidified. Zarkon leapt back in astonishment but the now solid Alfor grabbed Zarkon by the collar and said quietly, "You have threatened my Allura once too often, devilspawn...I cannot stay in this realm long enough to end your life, Zarkon - it is not allowed. But I will bestow the same fate upon you that you did your son!!"
Alfor's voice rose, echoing in the tombs. "Hear me!! I, Alfor, exact revenge upon the house of Zarkon on behalf of my daughter and the son of Shahyra!!!
Alfor took his other hand and placed it on Zarkon's face. Zarkon could not shake his hand off. In fact, he could not move at all.
He gasped, "What deviltry is this?"
Alfor did not respond but said, "You deliberately cursed your own offspring..now I curse you, Zarkon!" Alfor intoned, "Metal to skin..Skin to metal..vengence mine I take in death...your's son's fate is now your own! He belongs to you no more!!"
Alfor released Zarkon and the whole castle seemed to shake. A howl went through the castle and Zarkon screamed in pain as he went to his knees, clutching at his head.
Meanwhile, Voltron fought the robeasts successfully, using the blazing sword. The robeasts were no match for the formiable weapon, for they were not quite full strength yet. As Voltron pulled away from the last robeast, Lotor, in Blue Lion gasped and held his head. Pain seemed to be in every part of his body. He screamed a blood-curdling scream as pain,extreme pain came in wave after wave through his body. He thought that perhaps Hagar's spell still had it's hold upon him after all. Vaguely, though the haze of pain, he could hear Akira's voice through the comm, saying ,"Blue Lion! Lotor! What's going on! Answer!"
Lotor screamed again. His face felt like it was melting!! Akira's voice came through again, sounding like an annoying gnat in Lotor's ears. Lotor yelled, "Shut up!! Get us down, Akira!! Must get Allura-my fa-th-agghhh!!!"
Akira said, "We're going down, Lotor."
Voltron set down and Keith leaped out of Black Lion. He ran to Blue Lion and opened the hatch. He did not like Lotor,hated him as a matter of fact, but he was no Zarkon. He would leave no one in pain, not even Lotor. As his eyes adjusted to the darkened interior of Blue Lion, he saw Lotor slumped over the controls, unconscious, but murmuring, "Allura, Allura.." Keith raised him up and nearly dropped him when he saw what he saw.
Lotor's face was his own again: the handsome, chiseled face of the Prince of Doom. His skin the same azure blue it had been before that dreadful day of battle. His face was not the perfect face it had been, for there were slight scars upon it, but it was his own as well as his body.
Keith thought,..what the hell? Then suddenly a familar voice came into his thoughts. ..Keith,you must come to the tombs..bring the son of Shahyra with you..hurry..hurry..you and the others will witness my justice...
Keith thought,..it's Alfor! Bring the son of..? He glanced at Lotor and thought,..he must be her son.
Keith carried Lotor out to the astonishment of the other VF members and said, "Guys, we gotta hurry to the tombs and I'll explain later! It's Alfor!" The others looked at him and nodded. They knew that if Alfor had something to do with it, it was important. They hurried to the castle.
Alfor left the screaming Zarkon and went to his daughter. He held her head in his lap and her eyes fluttered open.
She said, "Father.." then she reached out with her hand and touched his arm. She said, "Father, you're alive. Then this has all been a dream."
Alfor shook his head sadly and said,"No, Allura, it is not.I must go back soon."
Tears sprang to her eyes and she said, "No,don't go, I need you..I can't rule alone."
Alfor smiled and said, "You do an excellent job, Allura.and I must go..the dead cannot live again, my daughter.."
Allura said, "I miss you and mother.."
He said, 'I know, but you are strong, and your friends give you strength.."
Allura said faintly, "Coran.."
Alfor said, "He lives still..and you will too. You must go on, Allura.."
She said, "It's hard."
Alfor nodded. "Yes, it is, my daughter."
He looked at Allura's troubled face and said, "You worry about -"
Allura said, "Lotor."
Alfor smiled, "Do not worry, I have taken care of that."
Alfor raised his head and said, "Your friends come, daughter. Now you must witness this and let others know." Allura was puzzled at this but she didn't ask questions. Alfor helped her down off his tomb. Then he stood to greet his daughter's defenders.
The Voltron Force, along with Keith carrying an unconscious Lotor came down to the tombs. Keith set Lotor down on the floor and straightened up. He was shocked as the rest of the team were when they saw a solid-looking Alfor.
Lotor, on the ground, was coming to. He groaned and opened his eyes. Something was different here. His eyes. He could see the same out of both of them. He sat up and looked at himself. He looked at his hands. They were both the same. He pinched the skin. It was real. Hardly believing, he touched his face and felt smooth skin. He said wonderingly, "What goes on here?" He looked open mouthed at Alfor and said, "You.."
Alfor said, "Yes, son of Shahyra..you are whole again. Because you defended Arus and my daughter out of love for her, your affliction has been transferred to the one who well derserves it."
Alfor turned to the Voltron Force and said, "Behold.." An image of a retreating Zarkon,his face more hideous than Lotor's had ever been, appeared on the wall.
Keith said, "But, sire, he is getting away."
Alfor nodded and said, "Yes, we of the light cannot kill them now, but soon in the future, all evil shall be destroyed. He will try again to conquer, but this time he cannot hide behind good deeds. Zarkon's evil now reflects completely upon himself."
Lotor said, 'But Amalgamus, and my father - "
Alfor said, "Amalgamus? His primary program wiped out the one Hagar placed in him." he added with a twinkle in his eye. "It was I who placed the primary program within him without their knowledge..he will vouch for you, son of Shahyra, as will my daughter and her defenders."
Keith and the others looked at each other quickly and agreed. Although Lotor had done heinous deeds in the past, he had defended Arus for Allura. He did not do it for any ulterior motive. They knew he did not have to, for he had thought her dead, but he did it anyway. They would vouch for him, although whether the Alliance or the Galaxy Garrison would forgive was the another matter all together..
Lotor looked around quickly. "Allura!" She was where he left her, and not caring whether anyone was watching, he crawled over to where she was at and held her. He was prepared for the worst, but he saw the faint rise of her chest and rejoiced in his heart. She lives!!
He whispered, "Allura..you live..you live..." and he kissed her forehead.
Alfor smiled at this scene and said, "Son of Shahyra..before I go..there is someone who wishes to see you."
Lotor looked up and beside Alfor, a tall blond woman appeared. He recoginized her from long ago as a small child and from his dreams. He whispered, "Mother?."
The blond woman solidified and came forward to touch Lotor's brow. "Yes, my son..it is I. I didn't not leave you long ago as your father told you..he killed me."
She saw Lotor's face cloud over in anger, and she said, "No, my son..vengance upon your father will not bring me back. I am happy here..I only wish a new life for you, my son. Turn away from your father's path, Lotor...your love for Alfor's child has guided you, now you must go on.."
Lotor said wonderingly, "But I don't know the way, mother..all I have known is what father taught me."
She smiled and brushed back his hair as she had done when he was small. "She will guide you, my son..she will heal the breach..it is her destiny and yours, my son..I must go now."
Lotor said, "No, please, Mother..I've missed you for so long.."
She smiled sadly, and said, "My son, the dead cannot come back, but I am alive in your heart as long as you remember me." She started to fade and said, "Remember, I have and always will love you, my son."
She faded and Lotor bent his head down and felt a tide of emotion sweep over him. He hadn't felt this way since his mother had left him so long ago. He looked down at Allura and saw she had her eyes open. He smiled as she reached her hand up and touched his face.
Alfor looked at the Voltron Force and said, "You have always fought well for my planet and my daughter..now you must help this young man become like you..."
Keith and the others thought, ..Lotor..like us?..
Alfor smiled knowingly and said, "A man can change for the better - or the worse. It resides in all of us..this potential for good and evil..." Alfor frowned. "But beware..evil still abounds, and even when all seems at peace, there is still unrest inside..evil never dies..but one day, good shall vanquish it for good..until then, the battle goes on.."
Alfor was starting to fade, and Allura said, "Father.."
Alfor said, "Daughter, goodbye..I love you..tell Coran I miss our poker games.." He smiled wryly. "Goodbye, Lotor...you have done well..Voltron Force..farewell.." Then he faded and was gone
Allura and Coran were rushed to the medlab where Dr Gorma was able to treat their injuries. Coran was extremely fortunate that the sword had missed his heart. However,it was touch and go for awhile and all were worried that he wouldn't make it. Allura substained head injuries and had to be operated on to relieve the swelling on her brain. She too, was touch and go for awhile and Lotor stayed anxiously by her side between the times that he had to speak with Galaxy Garrison and Alliance officials. Many Alliance doctors came to see him as well, for the physical changes in him were miraculous. His mental state was more balanced now, compared to three years ago. This wasn't to say that the former Prince of Doom was a perfect angel, but compared to the bitter and angry man of even a week ago, he was changed.
Lotor stayed on with Allura in the Castle of Lions and both she and the VF team vouched his integrity to the Alliance and Galaxy Garrison officials who at first were skeptical, but allowed it as the new evidence against Zarkon was revealed by Amalgamus.
Zarkon and Hagar (who had survived after all) were considered dangerous and at large. Unfortunately, the Alliance and the Garrison both lost a quarter of their ships when Hagar's spell gas was released into the vents. The pilots of these ships went to parts unknown, but their destination was feared to be the desolate planet of Doom,for GG and Alliance scans had revealed new activity there. It was feared that Zarkon, ( who was rumored to be a more hideous creature) and Hagar would be up to their old tricks again soon.
The Voltron Force remained on alert, Keith was placed in temporary assignment to Arus during this time. There was conflict between he and Lotor when Allura recovered, for Lotor did not want her to fly the Blue Lion. Sven who was now married to Princess Romelle and living on Pollux, came to solve the piloting problem as least for now. Life went on and changed for all. Especially for Allura and Lotor. They spent much time together, both sharing each other's inner selves, a task that came easier with time.
And then - "My beautiful Allura, will you - ?"
Allura placed a finger across Lotor's lips before he could finish.
"Yes, I will marry you, Lotor - and..." The princess removed her finger from Lotor's lips and gave him a soft lingering kiss.
"You were right...I do love you."
Lotor was speechless, so instead he kissed his precious princess back.
And so began their legendary reign...
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