It was Christmas Eve on Arus, and most Aruns were asleep - or trying to be.
The Christmas traditions brought by the space explorers after they arrived on Arus had quickly taken hold with the Arus citizens who merged it into their time honored holiday of the 'Lightbringer',
Otherwise known as Jesus.
It had been quite a surprise for the space explorers to find out that they worshiped the same God. War with Zarkon had decimated their hopes and dreams. Indeed, before the space explorers came and resurrected Voltron, it was all they could do to survive.
But for now, Arus was in fact at peace - the entire galaxy was. A peace truce had been called and so far, every planet, including Doom - was silent.
However, just in case, Castle Control was ready in case Voltron was needed.
The Voltron Force had done a great job of decorating the orphan's home that was within walking distance of the Castle of Lions. Green holly, velvet red ribbons, and simple ornaments decked the halls. Bayberry candles were lit,not only giving the newly constructed great room a rosy cheery glow, but filled the room with their wonderful smell.
The large tree in the center of the room gave off the smell of fresh pine - or rather something similar, for this was no pine tree from Earth, but from Arus. It was called 'The Eternity Tree' for it's beauty never faded, even when it was uprooted. It's wood was highly valued, and it lasted a very long time, so this tree would never be extinct - thus it's name.
Although the Eternity Tree was a beautiful tree, it had only served as building material in the past, but since the arrival of the space explorers from Earth, the Eternity Tree was given a new service - that of a Christmas Tree.
Tonight the Princess of Arus would tell The Story to the orphans who were sitting on the homemade rug that covered the wooden floor. A fire was lit in the fireplace, giving the room a wonderful warmth that defied the cold outside. Keith, ever mindful of any vulnerabities in any situation, set the rest of the rest of Voltron Force on 'parameter patrol' promising the team that they wouldn't miss out on their Christmas celebrations later that evening.
Little did they know that they would have an unexpected guest.
King Zarkon was not in a good mood. For one, he was bored. For another reason, he was just mad about the temporary truce between all the worlds of several galaxies.
Normally, this wouldn't have bothered the old tyrant, but in this case, it did. That the Drule Council commanded all the Kingdoms to stand down this one night, was intolerable!
However, having the threat of his own demise brought up by the Council reined Zarkon's need to attack Arus at this time.
"How DARE they?" Zarkon growled at Witch Hagar and Prince Lotor as they stood next to both sides of his massive throne.
"HEADS WILL ROLL!" Zarkon thundered as both Hagar and Lotor backed away a step. It was not wise to be around when Zarkon started talking about an irreversible condition known as death.
Just then, Cossack entered the main doors of the throne room which faced Zarkon's throne.
Quickly he walked into Zarkon's line of sight, stopping to bow serveral times, before he reached the foot of the stairs that led to Zarkon's throne.
"YOU!!" Zarkon's voice boomed as he looked down at the hapless Cossack.
Lotor smirked as he beat a hasty retreat. He didn't know if old Hagar left, nor did he care. All Lotor knew was that sooner or later, his father would place all the blame of him. Better to be off Doom for a bit.
Until the old man dies of a heart attack or something... Lotor thought as he made his way to where his one man ship was always ready and waiting.
When Lotor climbed aboard his ship, he already knew where he was going.
Arus.
When Lotor landed his small craft on Arus, he took the precaution of hiding his ship's prescence in a 'blind spot' recently discovered by a undercover Doom spy. Lotor counted his good fortune that so far, he and his ship had not been detected. The downside to his hiding place was that according to his portable nav, the Castle of Lions was quite a long walk from where he was at. It didn't help that it was unusually cold, and flakes of white kept falling down on him.
It wasn't that he was a wimp - Lotor had been exposed to extreme heat and cold environments during his Academy years and later on, as he conquered planets for his father, Zarkon - but this odd white stuff was new to him!
It didn't help that the prince left Doom without any thermagear, but who would ever thought he'd need it on Arus?
Bah... Lotor thought disdainfully. As if any of this stupid fluff will stop me from taking Princess Allura at last!
An hour later, he was proven wrong - terribly so - as the light snow had turned into a blizzard. Lotor couldn't see his hand in front of his face and his Nav was readered useless by the whipping blizzard.
"Gods..."Lotor gasped as he trudged along. The cold! Everything was white and he was covered from head to foot in snow and ice. He used his lazon sword to light his path and melt some of the snow away, but as soon as it melted, more came.
Darkness was approaching, and the Prince knew full well he would die out here if he didn't find some shelter very soon.
Maybe when I'm dead,Lotor thought petulently,Allura will see how she missed her chance to be mine, and mourn for me.
But then he suddenly frowned, realizing that if he were dead, HE wouldn't be able to comfort her!
"Damn." Lotor muttered, his lips numb.
It was then he saw some lights ahead. A ship, maybe some peasant's home? At this point, it didn't matter. He'd commandeer it for his own use.
So intent on the lights ahead,the arrogant prince failed to see an ancient tree root and tripped, tumbling down one of the steep snowy hills.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Lotor screamed as he tumbled down the hill.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the illfortuned prince was finally stopped, hitting some sort of hard surface - not the prince knew, for he hit his head against a hard solid door.
But not just any door...
It was the front door of the orphanage!