The Princess of Arus surveyed the wavering reflection of mid-morning sunlight on the surface of the lake from the loft of her chamber balcony. The bright, hot days which had been a hallmark of nearly the entire summer showed no signs of relenting, and this would be another blustery one for the record books. A warm wind blew pleasantly against her bare skin, and she sighed. A creature of hot weather is what she’d always been.

Allura closed her eyes and listened. There was the soft rippling of the water coming up onto shore below, and somewhere in the distance, a gathering of birds sang in a melodic disharmony. It would be a great day for a picnic. She could already imagine the children playing in the fields against the majestic backdrop of the Castle of Lions, almost as if in a Norman Rockwell scene. If this were any other day, she would allow the idea of it all to whisk her away. But on this particular morning, Allura’s heart ached with tormented apprehension.

She had been up most of the night with worry over what Keith had told her. The instant she saw his face, she knew what the Space Marshall had said. His parent’s death certificates had indeed turned out to be authentic. Keith hadn’t bothered to talk about it long or share the details, nor did she want to press him, but she feared what this was going to do to him. Although he claimed to have been ready for the worst, she knew him better than to blindly accept that. He was doing what he usually did in circumstances like these; keeping things to himself. Allura knew better than to push him, so the best she could do would be to say nothing, at least for a while. Eventually, when he was ready, she knew he’d open up.

At least he seemed fine for the moment. Earlier in that morning, Allura had gone to the kitchen to see if Nanny needed a helper, but she stopped short when upon realizing that Nanny already had one. Keith stood at a far kitchen counter, clumsily chopping vegetables amidst the bustle and activity of the castle servants. Allura’s heart warmed to its very core at the vision of her dashing captain, awkwardly slicing carrots, carefully taking directions from her dear Nanny over his shoulder. Allura figured that this must have been his way of apologizing for his yelling at her the night before, but the effort alone showed something much more about this man who was always surprising her.

So organized and responsible on the surface, and yet so very complicated underneath it all. In fact, at times he seemed to be many men in one body. Protecting her planet one minute, holding her in his arms the next, and just when you think you might have him figured out, he’s kissing butt with the best of them and chopping vegetables for forgiveness. Allura wondered for a moment if she would ever completely understand the man, and then she realized that she probably didn’t want to. He was perfect the was he was, whether she understood him or not. She thought of entering, but paused as she found herself engrossed in a scene that had the Captain of the Voltron Force engaged in pleasant idol conversation with her Nanny. He had such a pleasant way about him…usually. She watched only a few silent moments before departing to ready herself for the picnic.

Allura looked down and smoothed the light, billowing material of her new spring dress. Nanny had gone through great pains to find the material, as imported good were hard to come by in a time of war, and Allura was anxious to show it off. Although it probably wasn’t as short as she had wanted it to be, Nanny had mistakenly cut the neckline just a bit too low. Still, it was tasteful, but maybe it was just enough to get the attention she was hoping for.

Allura felt more than slightly guilty for thinking such selfish impure thoughts, especially since she knew that he had other things on his mind today, but the thought of their kiss had kept her up almost the entire night. She couldn’t forget it, and she wasn’t about to let him forget it either.

As if he knew she was thinking about him, there sounded a knock at her chamber door. No doubt, her bodyguard had finished his culinary duties and had come to escort his Princess to her picnic. She headed for the door, stopped briefly in front of her dressing mirror to pat back some stray hairs, and keyed in the access code.

“Good morning, Captain Keith.”

“Good morning, Your Highness,” he answered with a slight bow. “I’ve been asked by your Nanny to escort you to the front gardens for this afternoon’s festivities.”

The humor of his contrived formality made her giggle outright. If he was still in a dark place, she couldn’t tell. His elevated spirits seemed to mirror her own.

“Thank you very much, Sir,” she replied, returning a curtsy in jest. A sudden thought interrupted the playful exchange. “Nanny asked you to escort me? Keith, what did you say to her?”

A coy grin spread across his neatly shaven countenance. “What can I say? Women love me.”

She challenged him with a look that said she didn’t buy the lame answer, but she decided against further inquisition of the matter. Whatever he did say to her Nanny, it was certainly better for the both of them. Allura already knew that Nanny would never say anything to Coran or the others about what she saw, but Nanny’s opinion was still important to her, no matter how irrational and difficult she could be at times. Apparently, Keith knew that because he had gone to such a length to make the peace, something that Allura would remember for the rest of her life.

But sweet or not, Keith was still a typical male in many ways, and it was impossible to ignore the fact that since he had first come to her door, his gaze had taken to perusing her over more than once. It was probably something that he hadn’t meant to do in such obvious fashion, but she had noticed none-the-less.

She quickly pulled the upper hand. “Do you like what you see?”

“Huh?”

“I just noticed that you seemed to be interested in something about me, since you keep staring me up and down, that is. I ask again, do you like what you see?”

Realizing that he had been caught in the act, he gave up trying to talk his way out. “I’m sorry, Allura. It’s just that you...that dress…you look…lovely.” Amazed that he managed to spit that out, he smiled brightly.

So many times before, he wanted to tell her just how beautiful she was, but it had never been his place. He watched every man who met her gush at her feet and fill her with idol compliments. No one could deny her physical beauty, but that was only how nature had created her. It was who she was in spirit that had those who knew her completely enraptured. He doubted that those other-worldly princes and foreign statesmen could ever truly appreciate her real beauty, not that he wanted them to.

“Thank you,” she replied shyly, caught off-guard of the earnest admission.

“Are you ready to go down to meet your adoring fans, Princess?”

“Actually,” she paused for a brief moment, “Could you come in here for just a minute? I need you to do something for me.”

“Uh, sure Princess.”

He said ‘sure,’ but he was far from being just that. If Nanny caught him in the Princess’ room again, he would have negated the good work done on his relationship with Nanny, and he doubted that cutting up a million carrots would make things right this time.

He quickly looked down either end of the hall and stepped inside, making sure that the door closed behind him. “What can I do for you, Your Highness?”

“Well, for starters, you had better start using my name.”

“Sorry, Allura.”

“You’re forgiven, as long as you hook me up back here.” She then turned her back to him and pushed her hair aside, revealing three small buttons that needed fastening.

He studied the slim line of her bare back through the loosely hanging material. The skin seemed to match the flawless perfection of her face. He actually felt more like unfastening the remaining buttons, but he quickly checked the urge by biting down hard on his own tongue.

“You just had to do this to me, didn’t you?”

She grinned victoriously. “What ever are you talking about? I can’t reach them, that’s all.”

Fine. If she was going to torture him, he was going to give her a taste of her own flirtatious medicine. Running his fingertips lightly along her bare skin, he meandered his way to the unfastened area with discriminating care. Then slowly, he hooked each button into its proper slit, making certain to accidentally exhaled across the exposed flesh of her neck with each hot breath. Finally, he lowered his hands to his side.

“Finished. Oh, wait a second.” His careful hand urged her to loosen the hold on the hair she’d pulled aside, and when it fell back into place against her back, he arranged the curls one by one into their proper place.

She remained still, much to her credit, until the very end when he’d run his fingers through her hair in a crude comb. She shuddered from the act, and he had only to guess that her cheeks were slightly flush with embarrassment, the way they were when she was surprised or astonished by something of her own behavior.

“Cold, Allura?”

She turned around, pink cheeks and all.

“Not going to let me off for that?” She asked meekly.

“It doesn’t seem like either of us is playing fair today, does it? Well then,” he continued after a brief pause, “We should go before someone or someNanny misses us.”

She would have rather had him to herself, but she took the arm he offered, and they headed through the maze of hallway for the front exit.

Keith wondered more than once if he should remind Allura about the dangers of this idea, but he knew it would do no good. She was going to this picnic, with or without him. He preferred it to be the former, so he would have to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. As they reached the exit, Keith felt the all too familiar pang of worry.

“Allura?”

“Yes.”

“You promised me that you would stay close. Don’t leave me, okay?”

“You’re being paranoid.”

“Say you won’t leave me, or you’re not going.”

“Fine, just don’t be a stick in the mud all day. I’d like to have some fun.”

“Hey, I’m fun.”

She smiled as they stepped into the summer morning air.

As her perfectly pointed shoes met with green grassy carpet, she allowed herself the opportunity to appreciate the surroundings. Everything was bright, clear, and nearly blinding, just as all really nice days are, and it would seem that the past few weeks of damp humidity had finally given way to a warm, dry sunshine. Arus’ best summer flora was in full bloom and the countryside was littered with natural bouquets of colorful arrangements. It was the perfect day for a picnic.

Allura smiled in approval. Dozens of children from the local villages played about the wide expanse of fresh, healthy lawn that surrounded the castle; most engaged in an overly crowded soccer match. Others jumped rope, ran races, and skipped jacks. Allura’s grin broadened when she saw that the rest of the team was already present, supervising various activities, running from one place to the next at the behest of various children pleading for their attention.

Nanny and a handful of the castle kitchen staff were frantically organizing the spread of that day’s feast on various tables. Some of the adult guests were also helping prepare the lunch, if they weren’t already busy attending to their own, or other’s children.

The Princess met the scene with a quiet appreciation and headed for a large group of adults, some of which she recognized as town leaders. She was hoping to keep the day as informal as possible by not talking too much business, but considering who her escort happened to be, she was already at a disadvantage for having a day of complete leisure.

“Chancellor Davis, I’m so happy that you could make it.”

Allura took his hands in her own, regarding him with affection. The Chancellor governed the region closest to the castle and had frequent audiences with the Princess, usually after an attack had wreaked its destruction over the territory. Unfortunately, due to its proximity to the castle, it was an all too familiar occurrence. Although the circumstances of their meetings were usually not pleasant ones, the two had become good friends. Allura held a great deal of respect for his leadership abilities, but what endeared him most to her was that he was the approximate age that her father would have been if he were still alive. Although they had never even met, Allura found certain striking similarities in the two, both in action and appearance. She doubted if her father would mind the comparison. Chancellor Davis was a fine man.

“Good morning, Your Majesty. What a lovely idea to have this picnic today! My little girl all but dragged me here long before it even started.”

Allura took a brief look around and spotted a small group of young girls skipping rope on a nearby patch of grass. She was always surprised when she had occasion to see the Chancellor’s daughter. Her thirteen years could not conceal the fact that looked a great deal like herself, wavy blond hair and all. Allura smiled. They seemed a happy family.

Just like we used to be.

“Commander Keith! Now, this is a pleasant surprise to see you out here. I thought you might be glued to the scanners right now.”

The older gentleman shook Keith’s hand, patting his shoulder with the other.

“Good for you! I’m glad to see you out here, and it’s a good thing you are too,” he remarked, gesturing with a nod in the direction of a gathering of townsfolk nearby. “It seems that a few of our younger male guests have taken quite an interest in our Princess today.”

Keith quickly glanced to his left and spotted what looked to be a group of under-sexed, over-ambitious looking youths. Keith smirked in satisfaction as the entire group turned away at his cold stare.

Just boys, was his initial thought, but the jealously was there none-the-less. Turning his attention back to the conversation, he offered a half-hearted remark. “I think she’s safe. Besides, Nanny doesn’t let Allura date commoners.”

She caught the intended jab but ignored it, not willing to give him the satisfaction. She simply replied with her own subtle form of punishment. She turned to the group of young men and waved, smiling as she did so.

The handsome couple stroll down a beaten path of one of the grassy knolls; each silent, each in their own, private thoughts.

The day had passed too quickly for Allura’s liking. The children were still fervently engaged in varied activities, but the sun that had shone so brightly earlier was beginning to hang heavy in the western sky. Soon, the happy tune of children’s laughter would be replaced by the silence of her own bedroom, a thought made her heart ache. It always seemed that all good times were too short-lived. The only thing that seemed to lift her spirits was the ever-prevalent presence of her escort. He had been unusually quiet, but she simply took in the sheer pleasure of having him close to her. She had felt a little guilty on occasion throughout the day when handfuls of children would come up to him with requests for his involvement in their activities. She had seen him do the same thing over and over; smile and promise them that he would on another day. Allura had watched the rest of the team in their fun all afternoon and wished more than anything that he could have some of his own. Allura sometimes wondered if this vigilante behavior of his was a blessing to their cause or a curse to her own. Suddenly, she seemed aware that they had wandering off from the group. Maybe she should apologize for having him sacrifice his entire day just to watch her back.

Keith had spent most of the day in silence, engaging slightly in various conversations, but for the most part, his vigilance kept his attention on the sky and his senses on alert. Having honored in military strategy at the academy, he knew all too well that an enemy was most likely to ambush when its prey was least suspecting. To counter that opportunity, Keith always expected it; today as well as every other waking and sleeping moment. Unfortunately, it didn’t allow him the time to spend with her that he had wanted. He knew from past experience that this behavior of his was not her favorite, but right now, he had something more important to worry about. Finally finding a moment alone with her, he started what he had been planning in his head all afternoon.

As if at once, each started.

“Allura…”

“Keith…”

The two immediately stopped to laugh at one another as well as themselves. Taking what might be his only moment alone with her, away from the noise of the gathering, Keith took her hands in his own. “Allura, I had a nice time today.”

She met his gaze, not bothering to hide the silly girlish pleasure that she knew must have been written all over her face. “Me too.”

Keith gathered his wits and took a deep breath. “Allura, there’s something that I have to say. Would you just listen until I’m done and not say anything?”

A strange request from him, but she nodded.

“Princess…I mean…Allura, I don’t know what you’re thinking about last night, but I…” Stumbling horribly, he began again. “There was something behind that kiss last night…on my end anyway. It wasn’t just something that happened on accident or on the account of some impulse I just had.” He paused for a long moment. “I’ve always wanted to do that. I’ve always wanted to hold you…kiss you. Allura, there’s something that I have to tell you.”

He cleared his throat, trying to remember how he had planned this last night. He slowly bent to one knee, taking her hand in his own. On certain formal occasions prior to this moment, he had knelt before his Princess in accordance with Arusian tradition, but this time was different. Now, she was not a Princess, but a woman, one who he could no longer live without.

“Allura, you know how much that I love planet Arus and its people, and I would gladly give my life in defending its right to exist in peace. You know how much I respect you and your position as its ruler, but there is one thing that you don’t know; Allura, I love you.”

A surge of relief came over him, and with it, the power to say everything that he had so longed to. His words ran away with him, and he let them, for they were his truth, and truth is something that will roll out of control if dammed for too long. In tidal the words came, “I’ve loved you ever since I saw you at the top of that staircase. I tried to tell myself that it wasn’t love – that it was something else – but I can’t kid myself anymore.”

Keith noticed that her stance was starting to falter, but he couldn’t stop. He was a man on quest who knew no fear. He tried to speak more slowly. “If you had never been born a Princess, and I just saw you across some crowded room, I still would have fallen in love with you.” He paused. “And if one day we lose everything, I will still love you. Allura, I’m not a prince, but I would move heaven and hell for you. Would you marry me?”

Her ears received the words, but they disbelieved them. Did she hear that right? At the most inopportune moment in her life, her throat suddenly closed, and a lump prevented what she so desperately wanted to say. She looked up for a moment and took pause before she changed her life. This was something she wanted to remember always.

A second later, not much more than two, and the moment was shattered. A dark shadow suddenly blocked the afternoon sun, and the laser blasts began to fall like rain from the sky.

Keith quickly bolted to his feet, awareness engulfing him. A panic immediately ensued in the near distance, as everyone began running for the castle, pushing and screaming as deafening blasts shook the ground beneath them.

Keith quickly surveyed the situation. Two Doom battle cruisers almost directly above. Somehow, they had avoided the censors and were now dangerously low in the sky. For only two ships, they were absolutely littering the ground with fire. As if the animal suddenly awoke, Keith quickly went into a mode and grabbed Allura by the arm, pulling her toward the castle.

The laser fire was thunderous, and he suddenly realized that calling for his teammates would be useless. Fortunately, he could already see that Lance, Pidge, and Hunk were almost to the castle entrance. They were going for the lions, just as they were supposed to do. Keith thought that he saw Lance turn his head and acknowledge his position, but he wasn’t sure.

He ran with Allura in tow like a man possessed but stopped as he felt her slip from his grasp. Chaos was exploding around them as parents were screaming for their children. The Doom cruisers were descending faster, and laser fire ripped through the air, hitting the ground, the castle, and its victims.

“Keith!” He could see her screaming, but he could barely make out the words as they found themselves in the thick of heavy fire. “We have to help these people!”

He nodded. Keith knew that she would never leave her people, but he wasn’t about to get her killed because of it. “I’ll help them! You get to your lion!”

She almost protested, but she knew that he would rather drag her into the castle by her ankles than let her stay outside. Someone needed to get the people inside, and she knew that he would. Unconsciously, she delayed a moment, her body betraying what her heart wanted to do.

Keith quickly took off for the opposite end of the lawn. Three young children had become pinned down by fire and were hiding behind rocks. Unfortunately, their young years could never have told them that rock would not even slow the burning heat of a lazon beam. Keith increased his pace, no longer bothering to take the time to dodge laser blasts.

Looking to his left, he saw that the nightmare was about to explode. The cruisers had released a dozen or so skull tanks that started to land just beyond the castle moat. Soldiers quickly multiplied from seemingly nowhere, and they were crossing the bridge, encroaching rapidly on the front lawn.

Reaching the children, he grabbed all three and fell back to retreat through the cover of trees that closely lined the castle wall. As he was running, Keith surveyed the terrain. It seemed as if Doom had yet again claimed a handful more of victims. Luckily, none of them looked to be children. Then again, they were always someone’s children. He cleared the thought from his mind and quickened his pace. Suddenly, a familiar, mechanical hum filled the air, and as he heard a lion’s roar in the distance, he knew he was going to make it.

Allura finally made it to the front entrance, picking up anyone she could carry on the way. Before heading in, she threw a quick glance over her shoulder to find Keith in the distance. He was running for a few children pinned down from their own fear. A new lump came up in her throat when she saw the heavy fire that he was under. At that moment, she was overwhelmed by the need to get to her lion. In her lion she could help him.

She turned to run inside but was stopped by a faint cry in the distance. On the other far end of the lawn, three scared girls were hunched down behind an embankment, afraid for their lives and not able to move. Allura’s gut came up in her throat.

“The Chancellor’s daughter!”

She screamed out loud, and began a furious scramble to the girls. She had promised Keith not to stop for anything, but she didn’t have a choice. Ducking and dodging laser fire, they seemed to be aiming right for her. Somehow, she knew that Lotor was not the one behind this attack. For as evil a monster he was, she knew he would never go after her with the intent of murdering her. Then again, he might if he knew what Keith had just asked her.

Almost to the girls, Allura’s horror increased as she saw the sheer number of Doom soldiers that were beginning to land just beyond the main bridge. They were coming, and fast.

She finally made it to the low embankment, all the while trying desperately to hide her own panic. “It’s going to be all right girls! Follow me!”

The laser fire abruptly stopped, leaving a ringing in her ears. In the distance, she could hear the lions coming. At that moment, she had only one thought.

Get to the castle.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

Allura was suddenly tackled to the ground. Fortunately, no one seemed interested in the girls who were getting away safely.

“Get up!” a gruff voice ordered.

She was dragged to her feet by her hair, something that she definitely didn’t appreciate. “Hands off, asshole!” Allura was pleased to see that it was Drule soldier, not a mechanical robot, who had been on the receiving end of the comment.

She quickly surveyed the situation for any escape as Keith had trained her to do. But she was outnumbered, out-armed, and in serious trouble.

Come on Lance. Where the hell are you?

Keith had somehow managed to get back to the entrance safely, children in tow. Before heading inside to join the others, he quickly scanned the lawn, hoping to find no more stragglers. Doom soldiers were approaching fast, and the doors would have to be closed and locked right after him.

Expecting to find no one, his gaze came to rest on a figure in the distance. “Allura.” She wasn’t going to make it.

For once in his life, he forgot everything he ever learned. Armed with only a blaster, he took off to battle two dozen Doom soldiers. One way or the other, he was going to get her out of there.

Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out his communicator, already pre-set to Lance’s frequency. In just a short moment, the lions would be on top of them. They would assume that everyone had reached safety by now, and they would open fire, taking out both friend and foe.

“Lance!” He struggled for any bit of communication skills. “Hold your fire! Allura and I are still out here! I repeat, hold your fire!”

At that moment, three colored blurs flew dangerously low overhead. Lance didn’t immediately respond, but Keith knew he had heard. As if on cue, all three craft suddenly pulled up and decreased speed to circle around without firing a shot.

Through the engines, Keith couldn’t hear the voice on the other end of the com link. “Can you repeat that? Keith, what are you still doing out there?!”

Lance’s call went unanswered.

As Keith ran up the last hill that would give way to the Princess’ position, he held his breath. His fears became a reality when he reached the top. They had her. Keith drew his weapon. “Let her go!”

Immediately, he found two dozen blasters aimed his way.

“Well, well,” one of the soldiers stated coldly, “We came for the worm, but we caught the fish.” His humored mocking suddenly turned serious. “Drop your weapon, Commander.”

Keith knew that his fate was sealed, but he still had to get her out of there. “I know you’re here for me. Let her go, and I’ll come peacefully.”

The same Drule let out a hearty laugh. “You’re coming, peacefully or not. Come peacefully…and maybe I won’t make your girlfriend sit on my lap on the way to planet Doom.”

Keith dropped his blaster, not willing to take any chances with her life. He eased down the hill, noting the soldiers that now surrounded them from all sides. He looked for escape; there was none.

“Allura,” he said. “Come here.”

“Go ahead, honey,” the Drule commander mocked, becoming more jovial by the moment. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

A silent Keith and his Princess watched as a skull tank landed on the front lawn not twenty meters from their position.

Suddenly, a static gave way to a frantic voice from the link in Keith’s front pocket. The Doom commander quickly snatched it from its place.

“Keith? What’s going on down there? We can’t see you.”

The Drule commander continued to revel in his glory. “Voltron Force; we have your Princess and your Commander down here. We will leave without incident, but if you choose to retaliate, please be aware that my men get awfully trigger happy when they get shot at.”

There was a brief pause from the other end. “Where are you taking them?”

The Drule commander threw the link to the ground and blasted it to ash.

As they were forced into a side door in the skull tank, Keith continually analyzed the situation for escape. He could risk his life with an attempt, but it was doubtful that they would both get away unscathed. He pulled her close, knowing only one thing at that moment; they would have to pry her from his cold, dead fingers before he would let her out of his sight. His thoughts quickly led to Lotor, and then to Zarkon. The cards had been dealt, and he was going to have to play this hand without even a lowly pair to speak of.

He threw a sidelong glance out the small viewing window, and as he surveyed the castle disappearing into the distance, his soldier’s mind began to work. With a dozen or so armed Drules watching their every move, it seemed that escape was impossible, at least for the moment. Survival was more the current priority. Keith stole a quick glance to his side and noted the Princess next to him. He had to give her credit for her cool exterior. If she was nervous, it didn’t show. He wished he could feel the same. As they appeared to be headed for Doom, Lotor would soon enter into the equation. Keith had a fleeting thought of what might lie ahead, but quickly pushed it aside with a great effort. He realized that he would most likely die today, but he only hoped that first, he could find some way of getting her back home.

Keith’s attention abruptly shifted back to reality when he realized that they weren’t going back to Doom. Their ship was docking into one of the Doom cruisers, some distance away from Arus, but not too far to make escape impossible. Keith put his senses on alert and waited for his opportunity.

As they were led through a series of corridors, Keith noted every turn and landmark. They were going to have to run fast, without the time to stop and ask for directions. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the Princess seemed to be doing the same thing. He had trained her well.

She strode confidently, her 5’3” frame looking much more. Keith was never sure whether this ability was due to her being a Princess or her being the most beautiful human being in the galaxy. He frowned a little as he noted her dirty, tattered dress, not that it looked unbecoming on her.

He quickly brought himself back to his surroundings. He didn’t have the luxury of allowing himself to drift back to the moment they had just shared together not twenty minutes before. It took him almost three years to say to her what he did, and it had been completely ruined. The thought only made him more angry, and so he put it aside. He would need a clear mind to get them out alive.

As they entered a large, high-ceiling chamber, Keith immediately took note of the large viewing screen and the image on it - Arus. Obviously, they were on the command bridge. His theory was confirmed when almost instantly, he was aware of a heavy presence in the room. Keith was struck with a quick apprehension that engulfed him, something that he hoped didn’t show on his face. Instinctively, he took Allura’s hand in his own as they were brought before him.

Galaxy Garrison protocol called for “no unnecessary conversation” in a hostage situation. Answer none of the enemy’s questions, save name, rank, and serial number. Unfortunately, Zarkon was no ordinary enemy, and Garrison protocol was going to prove useless.

The same loose-tongued Drule commander that had been on Arus approached them from behind. “Kneel to your King!” He pushed Allura to the ground, only to be swiftly repaid with a kick to the shin as she jumped to her feet.

Keith quickly put himself between the Princess and her attacker, waiting to take the laser blast that was sure to follow. There was none. The Drule commander suddenly backed away, despite the rage that still flamed in his eyes.

Keith turned around to see the mighty King of Doom descending his throne, his expression blank, his demeanor calm. He stopped an uncomfortable distance in front of the Voltron Captain who was trying his best to put himself in front of his Princess.

Zarkon seemed to survey the situation for a moment, a gesture that made Keith extremely nervous. At this point, Keith almost wished that he was dealing with Lotor. At least Lotor was a fool who couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. Zarkon was different. In the last encounter with his enemy, Keith had started to understand why Doom had become such a power in the first place. Lotor was an idiot, but Zarkon was cold, calculating, intelligent, and careful. If they were going to get out alive, Keith was going to have to be astute. Zarkon wasn’t the type to make mistakes.

“Captain Keith. Princess Allura. Welcome.”

Keith said nothing, replying with a cold, hard stare.

Zarkon bowed slightly to the Princess. “I apologize for the manner in which you were brought to me, but I’m afraid that it was a necessity. You see, sometimes you prove to be a little on the dangerous side.”

Keith never flinched, as the much taller King stepped even closer.

“Well, Commander. We meet again.”

At that moment, the two large metal doors to the chamber slid open in a fury, revealing a familiar annoyance. He stormed in, breathing heavily, his boots hammering the hard, cold floor. “Father! Why wasn’t I told that we had prisoners! You never tell me anything! I could have led the attack and captured them if you would have let me! Oh, hello Allura. You look lovely today.”

The King, obviously displeased, spoke slowly. “Lotor, behave yourself and greet our other guest.”

Lotor regarded his archenemy with disgust, then triumph. “Can I kill him, Father?”

Allura would not remain silent. She was a Princess, and no one was going to treat them like this. She ducked out from behind Keith’s protective body. “As ruler of Planet Arus, I demand that we be returned immediately! The lions will be coming for us soon anyway, so you’ll just be saving yourself the trouble.”

Zarkon regarded the irate Princess with an affectionate tone. “My sweet, naive child. Even if your lions knew where we were, which they don’t, they wouldn’t risk coming after us for fear of harming you. And as for returning you to your home, that will depend.”

Keith stole a glance from the Princess, attempting to silence her. Any more said would only complicate the situation. Again, he looked for escape and found none.

Zarkon was almost amused as he watched the Captain discretely search the chamber for a way out. He was going to prove to be a valuable warrior indeed. That is, after the proper training.

Zarkon, turning his back to his son, regarded his protégé seriously. “The deal stands. In exchange, my armies will never again enter Arusian airspace, and the Princess shall be safely returned.”

“What?! Father! What is this?”

Zarkon ignored the plea.

Allura’s reaction almost seemed to match that of Lotor’s as she addressed her father’s enemy. “Do you even think that he would consider that? He works for me, thank you very much!”

She stepped forward, but Keith grabbed a hold of her arm to keep her from going further. Usually, Keith admired her lack of fear in the face of the enemy, but this time was different. He was starting to realize that she was missing the brevity of the situation. “Allura,” he said, urging her to be silent.

He regarded his enemy coolly. “And if I don’t accept?”

Zarkon, not seemingly phased by the question, replied calmly. “You will die, and I will feed your Princess to my son for lunch. Then your Planet Arus will burn, along with your friends.”

Keith stole a quick look from Lotor, and the decision was made. Keith shuddered from the thought of what Lotor would do if he got his hands on her. It was a fate worse than death, and he would rather give his own life than destroy hers. Even now, Lotor stunk of anger and lust, his eyes pinned on his prey. There was no choice. Keith resigned to defeat...for the moment. “Fine. You win.”

“Keith?” The Princess pulled desperately on his arm, as if trying to bring him back to his senses. She just couldn’t believe this nightmare. It was like a dream that happens so quickly that you can’t control it. Just when she finally had him, he was being taken away.

Keith was so busy with Allura, he didn’t notice the squadron of guards hauling off an insistent Lotor. Apparently, Allura and Lotor seemed to agree on something for once.

The mighty King simply regarded the situation with an air of amusement. He was screwing his enemy and his son in one blow. He relished the power of it all and reminded himself why he was in fact King. But Zarkon was growing anxious to return to Doom. His location was secure but only temporarily. He wasn’t about to underestimate the Voltron Force, with or without their captain.

Turning to a nearby soldier, he ushered the quick order. “Take the Princess back to Arus.”

Allura grew even more insistent as panic overtook her. If she left, she just knew that something terrible would happen to him. She couldn’t leave him to die, not after all that he had done for her, after all they had gone through, and all that they were going to go through. She wasn’t about to leave the future father of her children in the clutches of her worst enemy…her father’s murderer.

Was this really happening? As the tears fell, she searched his eyes. At that last moment, she thought she saw everything; terror, bravery, concern, sadness, and love. She knew he was doing this to save her life, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered at that moment but staying together. As she felt a rough hand pulling her away, she moaned in anguish.

With her cry, Keith felt a pain in his heart that almost made him break right there. If this was to be their last time together, he didn’t want her to remember it as being painful. Aware of the hands upon her, he addressed his captor. “Can we have just one minute?”

The old King motioned the guards to hold up. “You have two minutes.”

Keith quickly turned his attention back to his Princess. This had to be fast. “Allura, calm down. You have to listen to me, okay? You have to be strong right now. The rest of the team needs you.”

Nearly ambivalent to his surroundings, he held her face up to his own, making sure each word was heard. “You need to do something for me, okay? You need to tell Lance right away that we have a situation 461. Can you remember that? A situation 461.”

She nodded without understanding.

“Allura, there’s something else you need to do for me. Don’t do anything stupid, like trying to come after me. Don’t get yourself killed. Stay close to Lance. Listen to what he tells you. Can you do that?”

“Keith, I won’t leave you!”

“Allura, listen to me. You have to trust me right now.”

Somehow, those words struck a chord as her eyes reflected understanding. If anything, she knew to trust him when he said so. He had never let her down before, and she had no reason to doubt him now. She suddenly straightened herself and let him go. Not bothering to dry her tear stained cheeks, she cleared her throat. She needed to give him the will to come back to her, the will to live. “Yes,” she said. “The answer is yes.”

“What?”

“If you promise to come back to me, I will.”

Not exactly the romantic moment he had always dreamed of, but at that instant, he knew more bliss than most men realize in their entire lives. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her fervently as if it might be the last time.

But soon, his dream ended, and two Drule soldiers pulled her from his grasp and from the bridge.

Soon thereafter, he watched in silence on the view screen as a shuttle entered Arusian airspace and landed safely. His Princess, his future wife, was safe. No matter what his consequence, he had fulfilled his duty.

After almost a half an hour of complete silence, Keith turned to his captor, not knowing whether or not to expect something. He looked around the room at the dozens of Drule soldiers, probably all just waiting to pull out their blasters and put him to the ground. He almost wanted to give them a reason.

“Why me?” he asked flatly.

“Not important” was the answer that he got.

After another moment of silence, the King proceeded to ascend back to his throne. Sitting down, he visibly seemed to relax. Zarkon regarded his captive with a new, casual tone.

“Welcome home, Commander.”

Keith swallowed hard. He was going to find a way out, but he would wait for his opportunity. That is, if he lived. He stood in silence, not knowing whether this moment or the next would be his last. But one fact remained obvious; if Zarkon had wanted him dead, he would be already.

Even after all of the training he had gone through at the academy, nothing he ever learned prepared him for what was happening now. He was going to have to keep a level head to get out of this alive. However, at this particular moment, he was more concerned about his sanity than his life as the hate that he usually held deep within was coming dangerously close to his conscious mind.

“Zarkon; one question, if you will.”

The King nodded.

“If I am to be, quote-unquote, working for you now, am I higher in rank than that guy?”

With that, Keith turned and pointed to the Drule commander who had brought him into this situation in the first place - the same one who had viciously knocked his future wife to the ground like some sort of animal. The one who was currently rolling his eyes, obviously still riding quite high on his most recent victory.

The Great King laughed. “Actually, yes.”

Keith motioned to a young soldier on his right and spoke without pause, motioning to the now-concerned Drule Commander. “Kill him.”

Not even a second’s hesitation passed, and a young soldier drew his blaster and struck the Drule commander square between the eyes, killing him dead.

The King sat in silence of the event, seemingly unaffected by it. He simply smiled and relaxed back into his grandiose throne.