Ayli thrashed about in her bed. She was in the throes of a horrible nightmare. She had tangled herself in her blankets, and in her dream she felt the arms of her father were crushing her. She couldn't breathe and tried to cry out. The nightmare Zarkon laughed mightily and declared, "Don't try and resist me, Ayli! You will die as your sister and mother before you! You don't really believe their deaths were accident, do you?" The evil king was squeezing the life from her. Suddenly she saw her brother running toward her. HE would protect her! "Lotor!" she cried. She reached her free hand toward him, but he never seemed to be any nearer. She was going to die! Ayli woke suddenly and found her cheeks damp with tears. What had woken her? A gloved hand touched her shoulder, and she spun to face the person behind her.

"Ayli, are you all right?" Lotor asked.

Ayli sighed with relief and launched herself into her brother's arms. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed. "I had that horrible dream about father again! He was trying to kill me!"

Lotor petted Ayli's silver hair and picked her up. "I'll never let him hurt you." He walked with her to a nearby chair and sat.

Ayli put her arms around his neck and laid her head against his shoulder. "What if it isn't a dream? Maybe it's the future! I still don't know all about the Sight. Maybe what I saw is something to come!" she wailed.

"Hush, little sister. It was only a dream. Our evil father will never put a harmful hand on you! I'd kill him first! It was only a dream." Lotor tried to comfort his beloved sister and hate for his father stirred in his heart again.

"Lotor, I don't think mother and Intaya's deaths were as we were told. I think father is responsible, some how. Their deaths just don't make sense," Ayli stated. Ayli was still shook up by her realistic dream, but being in the strong arms of her brother steadily calmed her. Lotor had always protected her, and she felt safe when he was near.

"Ayli, I have my doubts, as well. I don't believe mother would have killed herself. She was too strong. She never would have let father get to her. Likewise, Intaya seemed healthy. I think she was poisoned!" Lotor's voice broke with emotion. He had loved his mother and Intaya dearly. They were both beautiful and kind. The pain of losing them both had been almost unbearable. He had never believed the reports of their passing, and visions of their deaths haunted him. If he ever discovered Zarkon was responsible his revenge would be swift and complete.
Ayli looked up at her brother's handsome face and studied it. Sorrow, anger, and shame moved across it. She understood his sorrow and anger, but he had no reason to feel shame. Startled by this insight, Ayli reached up and touched his cheek. "Lotor, you don't feel responsible for what happened, do you?" His silence answered her question. "No, you must not. There was nothing you could do. You were only 10 when mother died and away in battle when Intaya succumbed. You could not have saved them!" Ayli cried.

"Maybe you're right, but I feel as though there was something I could have done," he stated flatly.

"Let's talk about pleasant things, please!" Ayli asked, eager to bring her brother out of his sudden dark mood. "What are you going to buy me to wear to Karnyval?"

Lotor laughed loudly. "Why you greedy little wench! Who said I was getting you anything?" he said.

Ayli smiled and said slyly "Oh, you know you will!"

"Of course I will. What color would you like the dress to be?"

"Lavender. It will go with my violet eyes nicely, don't you think?" Ayli got up and pretended to dance around the room with an invisible partner. "And make sure there's a lot of movement to the skirt. I don't want to trip at my first ball!"

"You'll be fine. I'll have to drive the suitors away with my sword!" Lotor teased. He started to rise from the chair.

Ayli saw this and flung herself back into his lap. "Oh no, you don't!" she said. "I had a horrible nightmare and you're going to stay here until I'm asleep." She snuggled up to him.
Lotor smiled and put his feet up on a nearby footstool. Soon they were both asleep and dreaming. Ayli dreamed of dancing at the ball in the arms of a handsome suitor. Lotor dreamed of the upcoming ball as well, but the partner in HIS arms was Allura.